Chgowiz's Server - act25-game

(NOTE: We're going to assume that Angon and @CALLIN have their discussion on the way back to the city.) 56th day of Summer, 57 AD The next morning dawns with dark clouds far to the west on the horizon. Apinro sniffs the air in that direction and makes a face. The elves pack up with a rapid efficiency and the sun is just fully above the horizon when you all set out back to the city. Angon falls in step next to CALLIN on the climb across the rocky areas leading back to the break in the city wall. "What do you know of elementals, good priest?" she asks. (edited)

"I only know what has been passed on to me. Elementals are the embodiment of each of the 4 elements. Earth, Fire, Air and Water. From how it has been explained to me, these creatures have great control over their element of domain, and while not evil, they simply see us as lesser beings that they need to mind. Similar to how we see insects. " CALLIN pauses then adds "do you think that perhaps that creature is a fire elemental?"

Angon listens to CALLIN's response and nods. "Elven lore is a bit different than human lore, in that we don't worship beings or concepts quite like you do. This you know. However, we do recognize that there may be an 'other' if you will. Beings that are not all-knowing entities granting wishes to those who pray to them, but rather they may be far advanced, much as we are advanced to the beasts and insects." "We understand well enough that there is a place of structure and order. This is called Lexius, and this place, our world that your tongue calls Etinerra, is within it. It is taught that there is an opposite place, called Chaosius, that is as it sounds, chaotic and unstructured. Elven lore says that beings called demons come from here and it may be that the Dark Ones did as well. There is a third place, called Etherius, that is the potential for one or the either. It is from this place that those who learn the arcane arts derive their power from. Etherius is woven by the caster into power and that power is used as the caster wills it." Angon pauses to see if CALLIN has any questions, then continues. . (edited)

13:33

"My apologies if you already know this, but I speak of it to say that there is Elven lore that says that the Elementals may be beings that created the world of Etinerra. That they used the three planes to create this world and shape for their own purposes. Only the most powerful of mages have delved deep into the mysteries of the Elementals. When they have been seen on our lands, these are not the actual Elementals, rather they are avatars, living embodiments of the element that they are a part of." "I am not learned enough to speak much more." Angon says apologetically. "I know that my Master felt that the Doom that fell upon our lands might have troubled the Elementals. If indeed what Orinu said is true, that an Elemental was part of the destruction of Ramathia, then what you saw may have been some image of its avatar. They have powerful, wild magic, and it could perhaps have been a cause of the many troubling things we've seen." The elven mage pauses again to see if CALLIN (or anyone else) has questions. (edited)

"That would make sense. From what you are saying, and my own limited knowledge, it seems that this avatar is attempting to balance things back to the elements core. I would think it best to avoid dealing with this avatar if we can avoid it."

"Back to the plaza and the Church of Zorus then."

1

Angon shakes her head. "You may be right, it is hard to tell what the motivations of such a powerful being might be. Orinu had said that some from the city tried to control the Elemental. It could have been reacting to that as well. I agree, though, we should try to avoid it!"

The elven scouts carefully pick their way back up the slope of the lava flow towards the break in the wall that will take you back to the Temple plaza. The scene is similar to the one when you first came upon the plaza yesterday. Skeletons lying across the ground. Claudia murmurs a prayer to herself, almost involuntarily, then glances at CALLIN and TAKASHI, finally at BELLESH, almost embarassed. "I can't get the sight of those figures out of my head..." she says in a low voice. "It was just so horrible..." BELLESH might have his hands full, however, as the young winged panther takes an interest in running among the bones and playing with them!

"Never apologize for prayer Claudia! It eases the mind, cleansed the spirit. These are always good things" giving her a warm smile

"No worries Claudia, we just have to be careful that the same thing doesn't happen to us... JELLESH!" Bellesh calls after the kid panther, admonishing him for playing with the bones, but with an amused tone in his voice. (edited)

Claudia nods and smiles gratefully at @CALLIN. She takes position behind @TAKASHI (Alan) after you've moved through the broken area of the wall and are in the plaza itself. Jellish seems to think this is lots of fun and dashes off! He runs towards the "back" temples that butt up against the wall you just came through, to your left, zigzagging around the remains. Angon glances at @Graian with a wry grin. "Familiars can be... full of life sometimes!" Apinro grins, relaxing a bit and motions to @ATACIUS (Gabriel) to follow! (edited)

TAKASHI: "Take heart, Claudia. You are with friends, and we'll do our best to not anger those who linger here."

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - Jellesh seems to be getting further away, about 1/2 across the plaza, near the back area of the temples.

09:25

@TAKASHI (Alan) - Claudia nods and looks around, as if to see who might be lingering about. Indrian has an impatient look about her as she waits to move forwards to the temple and underground.

ATACIUS will grin back at Apinro and follow him.

BELLESH will try to reach out mentally to Jellesh and see if he can send him a message, a feeling that he'd like the panther to return. If that doesn't work, he'll walk over to the cat and see what he's up to.

Apinro seems eager to get back to the temple and he moves quickly through the skeletal remains towards the doors. He looks back to see if ATACIUS is following. Jellesh looks up at the young mage and the overwhelming feelings of PLAYRUNHIDEPOUNCE fill your mind! The closer you get to the playful kitten, the more it moves around, playfully batting at you and then jumping back. Several times, it opens its wings as if it wants to fly. Indrian looks with some impatience at both Apinro/ATACIUS and BELLESH.

09:02

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) , @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)

(To speed things up, it will take two turns for BELLESH to finally catch up to Jellesh and get the playful cat secured. This was all accompanied by a lot of noise and activity, and by the time it was finished, all of the Elves were wincing and looking nervously at the street and alleys that emptied into the plaza. Once secured, you get into the temple and then back down into the temple catacombs. Apinro and ATACIUS are already there, nosing about. Nothing seems disturbed or changed from when you left the night before. What do you want to do now, @SouthernSeas PCs?)

"There was a door with a foul odor you wished to examine @ATACIUS (Gabriel) . Or was that just @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) eating something that didn't sit well again" he says smiling at the young man

"A bit of both but couldn't say which was fouler!"

Bellesh grins and says, "I should get you both with a Stinking Cloud spell for that!"

"I told you to be careful what you eat @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) no need for a stinking cloud, we had enough of that yesterday" CALLIN then steps up to @ATACIUS (Gabriel) side to prepare to check the next door

ATACIUS will first cover his nose and mouth to avoid the stink, then proceed to listen at the door and finally, if unable to open it normally, proceed to use his trade tools to pick the lock.

Just to remind you of where you're at - in the sarcophagus room, there was a door to the right. Beyond the door is a passageway which progresses forward a few paces, then turns to the right. There is a different looking door in the left wall at the turn. For a moment, there is a faint smell of something. Different, and slightly abrasive, the kind of tickle that might make you sneeze. @Graian - as you pass through the sarcophagus room, something feels "wrong" about the wall to your left. @ATACIUS (Gabriel) This door is different. It is more reinforced, with two horizontal bars across it that meet in the locking mechanism in the middle. It's a hefty lock, and the key that would have opened it is huge. The bars are thick. Your first attempt at picking the lock goes badly, as one of your tools bends quite a bit! The lock itself seems to have suffered from some sort of effect that has caused the internal mechanisms to become stuck. The lock itself is simple, but just very hefty. You believe that with time, and some encouragement from a hammer, you might be able to unlock it. Having been close enough to the door, there is a definite smell, burnt and sulfurous. (edited)

"Opening this door will take a while. Do you want to keep going through the corridor while I work on this lock?" he asks his companions as he looks at his bent lockpicking tool. "I'm going to need a new set at this pace..."

GRAIAN will stop for a moment and examine the wall, he calls out quietly to the other "Not quite sure what it is, but definitely something different about this wall."

@Graian - the work is well done, and it's a very subtle edge that you find that forms a square. It looks wide enough for three figures to stand by side. It's as tall as you are. You would have to chip away the plaster to get to the wall itself.

BELLESH will go to GRAIAN and try to help with figuring out the wall.

ATACIUS will take out his hammer, an iron spike if needed, form one of his satchels and wrap it with some cloth to muffle the sound. He will start working on the stubborn lock.

TAKASHI will watch over ATACIUS as he works, making sure that the noises don't stir up anyone or anything that might catch him unaware.

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - it looks like you'd need to remove the plaster covering the edge that @Graian has found, then probably a crowbar or something similar to slide into the edge/narrow gap. @ATACIUS (Gabriel) - the banging is muffled, but the impacts on the door make it shake and rattle. After a turn, the mechanism seems to be releasing a bit, you feel some movement from the lock.

TAKASHI: "Claudia, perhaps your axe edge could assist @BELLESH and @Graian a bit?"

CALLIN will help to chip away the plaster with his hammer. "Many hands makes light work"

Claudia nods happily and goes off to where BELLESH, CALLIN and GRAIAN are at. In short order (2 turns), they all manage to chip off the decorative plaster and reveal a gap between blocks. The gap shows that perhaps the section of wall can be moved. @ATACIUS, while the others work on the wall, you manage to get the lock moving to where the bars retract -just- enough. The door can be swung open now, if you wish.

"Perhaps we should hold our breath, or cover our mouth and nose before opeing the door?

@ATACIUS (Gabriel), do you want to open the door?

ATACIUS will look at @TAKASHI (Alan) as if looking for approval to open the door. (edited)

TAKASHI nods at ATACIUS. "I'm ready if you are..."

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) @TAKASHI (Alan) - the door GROOOOOOOOAAAAAANS open with a horrible, metal-groaning, wood-creaking, dirt-crunching noise that seems to echo EVERYWHERE! Beyond the door is what appears to be a natural passageway going immediately to the left. It's a cramped, tight tunnel. The smell is a wee bit stronger - definitely burnt sulfur and a hint of what reminds you of molten metal. Just whiffs of it, though. The passageway goes a short distance and then splits into a "Y". What will you do now?

TAKASHI look at ATACIUS, surprised at the noise that the door made. He'll pause and listen closely to see if he can discern any noises coming from the natural passageway.

BELLESH asks around to see if anyone has a crowbar or something similar that would fit in the space between the block and the wall.

!roll 1d6

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) rolled 4.

@TAKASHI (Alan) - you don't hear any sound from down the passageway, although BELLESH's voice does echo a bit down that way, now that the door is open.

CALLIN adjusts his weapons, the universal sign of being rest to move forward when the rest of the group is ready

TAKASHI motions to the others looking at the secret door. TAKASHI: "Do you want to try and open that first, or explore down these natural caverns? Whatever we decide, we should stick together."

CALLIN will ponder for a moment and draw out the trident and place it near the secret door, attempting to find a way to use it to open the door. Perhaps it is the key, physical or magical.

09:59

"Perhaps this Trident is a key to open such a hidden door"

@CALLIN The staff thrums when you bring it close to the wall and huge block. There is a corresponding thrum from behind the block that you can feel for a moment, then it ceases for the staff and unknown source. (edited)

BELLESH takes a peek to see if he can see anything through the opening.

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - there is no opening. The block did not move.

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) - not understanding; wasn't there a crack that we were going to try and fit a crowbar in? That's what he's trying ti look into

"there is something behind that stone that is tied to this trident" Callin says. He will then examine the stone block trying to find a release or keyhole or lever

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) understood. The crack is tight enough that you can't really see through it - the workmanship is high quality. You should be able to wedge a crowbar in there, but it will not be easy! @CALLIN After some time of looking around the block, it looks like there is no keyhole or lever. However, on the floor, there are grooves that line up with the block. They are slight indentations, barely visible. It might indicate the block was pushed into place.

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) look here! Perhaps this giant block slides back out of place?

ATACIUS will close the recently opened door and heed the cleric's call.

TAKASHI will help the little one put the door back in place, then follow him to the other room.

The door closes with a similar GROOOOOOOAAAAANNNNNN but with less grinding of dirt and debris. @ATACIUS (Gabriel) , what do you want to look for/at? (edited)

First he will clear the debris and check the floor in front of the newly discovered door. Then he will look if there's any mechanism to open it, maybe clearing a bit more around the crack that can be seen.

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) Sure, that takes you a turn to complete. There doesn't appear to be a mechanism, at least one that you can see. The grooves/scrapes along the floor, and the way the block was placed makes you think that the block was shoved into the wall and its weight serves as the means by which entry is prevented. (edited)

"SHall we try and move this large rock? "

@SouthernSeas - what do you want to do? (My wandering monster dice grow impatient...)

TAKASHI: "I don't have a crowbar to try and move this block out of the way. Can any of your levitation magic help us with this, @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) and @Graian ?"

ATACIUS: "Why don't we leave this as it is and go check the one already open? I have a feeling that the two are connected..."

CALLIN nods to @ATACIUS (Gabriel) seems like a smart plan. We can always check this out after, should we not find another way in.

TAKASHI nods. "Alright then, back to making that horrendous noise again..." TAKASHI will walk back to the door he and @ATACIUS (Gabriel) opened a minute or so ago.

The door reopens again, this time the noise seems a tiny bit less horrendous. You can see the short passageway splitting into a "Y" up ahead. What will you do?

Is the passage to the right closer toward the secret door? If so I got to go that way

@CALLIN - from your viewpoint, the passage to the left would be closer to the sarcophagus room. It is dark, what will be your light source? Indrian details two elven scouts to remain in the main hallway that leads from the storage room to the room of skulls/urns. She intends on having a chain of rear guards that will move with the party. Angon and Almanin stop their examination of the block in the wall and come over to the door. Apinro comes as well, but he wrinkles his nose at the smell and shakes his head slowly.

BELLESH follows Angon and Almanin and waits anxiously for @@Graian to come with his lantern so he can get a peek at what's beyond the door! (edited)

"I would vote for the passage to the left first. It seems closer to that other passage

"That is fine with me, @CALLIN . I'll follow the one with the light in the front, and you can fall in behind me. Claudia, you then follow."

"Sounds like a plan!"

@TAKASHI (Alan) has a light source (torch? lantern?) and moves up to the front, with @CALLIN and Claudia behind him. The light's glow shows that the air is dusty, the walls are of a dark rock that feel pitted to the touch. The passageway narrows, then widens, then narrows again. The smell of sulfur and burnt metal is a bit stronger here. After slow shuffling along the narrow passageway for ten to twelve paces (Roman paces), you hear an odd noise up ahead of you. You don't see anything ahead of you, just the passageway continuing into darkness. What will you do?

I have a lantern @TAKASHI (Alan) can use if he doesn't have onr

TAKASHI will use CALLIN's offered lantern.

13:12

TAKASHI: "ATACIUS, do you want to scout ahead a bit without this lantern interfering with your vision?"

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - do you scout ahead?

CALLIN taps @TAKASHI (Alan) on the shoulder, and points ahead in the darkness with one hand, while tapping his ear with the other.

ATACIUS will scout slightly ahead of the edge of the light...

GRAIAN movs forward next to @TAKASHI (Alan) and motions him to shield the lantern

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - the passageway continues forward for a bit, and then it branches to the right while continuing straight ahead, narrowing again to a tight squeeze. The sound, which now seems to resemble shuffling, scraping sounds, is definitely coming down from the passageway ahead. It is louder to you, but you don't see anything in the darkness. Which direction do you want to go?

Will keep to the left passage...

CALLIN will be on @TAKASHI (Alan) heels. Listening as best he can

As ATACIUS moves forward, TAKASHI will wait 30 seconds or so before following him, slowly making his way ahead and shielding the lantern so as to provide just enough light to navigate by.

@TAKASHI (Alan) it is a hood lantern so you should have some decent control of light flow :)

1

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - A little bit beyond the branch, you come to another intersection, where a passageway on the right meets up with yours. In front of you, the passageway widens out into a much wider passage, probably 2 to 3 paces wide. The sound is much louder now and it is coming from somewhere beyond where the wide passage vanishes into darkness! It sounds like there are multiple sources of the shuffling sound. It is not steady either. There will be bursts of noise, then quiet. There are bits of organic debris at your feet, and the smell of sulfur/burnt metal is much stronger. What do you do?

He will turn back and meet the rest to inform in husshed voice of what's ahead. "The passage widens and I heard many shuffling sounds but saw nothing..."

@SouthernSeas What do you want to do?

"Shuffling could be the sound of more undead " should we continue and attempt to purge this place, or should we explore other passages?" My concern is if we leave them, they will eventually follow us and strike from behind. I prefer my enemies in front of me"

TAKASHI: "Agreed. Let's try and actually see what lies before us. This whole island is filled with surprises, isn't it?"

BELLESH nods. "Shuffling sounds, could be dangerous... you go first!"

CALLIN chuckles at @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) honesty. "We will take the front Bellish. Just make sure nothing sneaks up behind us."

@ATACIUS (Gabriel), do you want to be near the front, or the back? At word of possible danger, Indrian comes to the front as well, joining Claudia behind TAKASHI. Angon and Almanin stay back with the other elven scouts, five of whom are close. The remaining five are still at the door that leads into these tunnels. Apinro is between the elves and the PCs.

ATACIUS will stay with Apinro.

TAKASHI, seeing all ready to advance, will move cautiously towards the shuffling sounds.

Carefully, with TAKASHI's lantern dimly revealing what you see, you venture forward towards the sound. The organic debris looks to be bits and pieces of bone and other soft things that you can only guess at. The light reveals that this wider passageway opens into a chamber, whose furthest walls you can't see. The sulfur/burnt metal smell grows stronger, and seems to be coming from your left. The sound stops as you step forward, into an area where the organic debris has formed a carpet over the rocky ground. Your light reveals the forms of several large creatures! They seem to have many legs and black and brown bodies. A moment or two of silence passes, and parts of the creatures bodies seem to vibrate or shiver. They are clustered close together so it is hard to get an exact count, and you are certain that they know you are there! What will you do?

BELLESH, poking his head to the side to try and get a better look at the creatures from behind @TAKASHI (Alan) and the others, raises his hands as if to prepare to cast a spell but stops when he sees them standing there unthreatening. "D-Do you think we can talk to them?" He asks nervously.

"Spiders, why did it have to be spiders" CALLIN things to himself, not daring to speak the words out loud. @DM (Michael/Chgowiz) you say they are large, like too large to come down the passage? Or at least single file down the passage? Or more they can all swarm in here in the passage

@CALLIN They look man-sized, or maybe a little bigger. It's possible they couldn't get through the narrow passageway further behind you, but they could get to where you are now or the immediate wide passage behind you. I should also note that they don't exactly look like spiders, since you're thinking about it. There is something about their bodies, they look "hard".

TAKASHI will try and speak to the creatures, in the hope that they might be able to communicate. "We are visitors here, and wish you no harm. Do you understand the language of man?"

The creatures shuffle a bit and one of them moves enough so that you can see it better. It has a carapace and resembles a beetle, but as big as a human! It doesn't respond.

Glad he didn't say spiders out loud he mutters "giant beetles? What kind of cursed place is this! It hasn't rushed yet. That is a good sign. "

As he tries to see more of what they are as he hears Callin mutter giant beetles. "How big is giant?" he asks, and will be ready to move or cast if need be.

If you all are not going to react, we'll see where this goes...

BELLESH pulls out a bit of his rations and tosses it gently in the direction of the floor in front of the creatures.

!roll 2d6

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) rolled 6. (4 + 2 = 6)

One of the creatures comes forward hesitantly, a darker colored individual than the lighter/more reddish colored one that you first saw. It seems to touch?/taste? the bit of food, then backs away a bit. It, too, ruffles two areas on its carapace. Maybe segments or wings?

CALLIN will also pull out some rations and toss them out for the creature to taste.

!roll 2d6

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) rolled 5. (3 + 2 = 5)

@CALLIN - much the same reaction, this time from the first lighter colored creature. It doesn't seem to like or want your ration. Apinro fidgets and mutters something under his breath. Claudia sniffs the air. "That burning smell comes from over there, I think... " she says, pointing to the left. You can't see anything burning or even where the chamber ends, just the wall heading off to the left (and right.) The other creatures shuffle around a bit, many of them ruffling their carapaces.

" @The_Libero_82 have you ever seen anything like this before?"

"Giant beetles, god knows what they eat when they get hungry. turning to @CALLIN "I dont think we should wait around to see. (edited)

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) is there any other passages we can see beyond the giant beetles? Is there anything else here?

21:05

"true @The_Libero_82 , but we don't want them to sneak up behind us and eat is either. Best to see their intentions now, while we are ready"

@CALLIN - from where you are standing, you can see that the passageway you came from opens into this chamber and the left/right walls continue beyond what your light source shows. You cannot see beyond about 30' in front of you, where the mass of creatures are. There is that burnt metal/sulfur smell that is coming from the left side of the chamber.

Can we pass the beetles to go down the left passage?

There is room to pass by the creatures to go to the left in this chamber (you don't see a passage to the left, only the passage behind you that you just came from)

hand on axe ready to swing I will slowly make my way down the passage "come on, this way"

BELLESH makes sure that his familiar is staying close, and follows Jalmàn off to the left.

CALLIN nods and follows @The_Libero_82 as well

(I'm assuming that @The_Libero_82 meant to the left in the cavern you're in...) As you make your way to the left, you see that the cavern continues on for a good distance, even moving forward a couple of paces, you still cannot see the rear of it in the dim, flickering torchlight. The creatures shift around, continuing to ruffle their hard carapaces, but they remain quiescent. After a couple of paces, TAKASHI's torchlight reveals a rough passageway to the left. The sulfur/burnt metal smell more noticeable from it. As the rear of the party comes into the chamber following the lead, you hear Apinro gasp and begin to mutter what sounds like a prayer. It seems he doesn't like the sight of those creatures. @Graian, you hear him use the Elven words "eaters flesh."

GRAIAN waits for Apinro to finish and turns to him. Speaking carefully in Elven and gesturing to the beetles and then to the party while making eating gestures, he asks him if these creature would eat us.

( @DM (Michael/Chgowiz) does the walls of the cavern look like solidified molten rock? )

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - good question! They don't quite look like the lava flow you saw outside. Most of the island is from the volcano, so the rock itself is igneous, but it doesn't look like the cavern was made recently.

watching this I look to the nearest place to get away from the creatures

10:24

"Let's go down here" pointing to the passage on the left "if they attack at least we can pick them off one by one" (edited)

BELLESH will cautiously follow the others down the passageway but will look back from time to time to try and see if the beetle-like creatures are doing anything.

ATACIUS will stay with GRAIAN and Apinro.

@Graian Apinro has you repeat yourself a few times, but eventually, he understands and he nods vigorously. He pantomimes falling down and makes "creepy crawly" motions with his hands coming over him and making chomping sounds.

GRAIAN nods at Aprino showing he understands. "Atacius, it seems these creatures prefer flesh to rations. We should warn the others, and be ready, let's pass the word along the line."

The elves nod grimly at @Graian 's words. Indrian keeps a close eye on the creatures. Claudia, upon hearing this, turns pale and moves closer to TAKASHI, almost involuntarily. She glances to BELLESH. Jellish seems unconcerned with the creatures, but is stepping carefully around the debris to avoid getting it on his paws. This passage winds in an "S" fashion and you come upon several crudely chiseled steps that lead downwards, beyond the reach of the torch light. The smell is stronger here, as is a brief feeling of warm, humid air.

"Come on @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) let's keep going"

CALLIN will press on with @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) and @The_Libero_82

"It seems as if the creatures aren't hungry at the moment, Claudia. If we give them space, it seems as if they aren't too interested in us at the moment."

These stairs descend about twenty feet and end at a heavy door. It's swollen into the frame.

Is there a means to open the door? What is the door made of?

The door is made of thick wood. There is a heavily corroded metal ring to the right side, and the rusted locking mechanism seems to take a large key.

I try the door to see if I can open it

It doesn't open from a simple pull or push. The wood appears to have swollen into the door frame. It might also be locked.

"@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro), @CALLIN, any ideas?"

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) is it bowed out toward us? Is the swelling look like it is from pressure building up inside? (edited)

@CALLIN - it's not bowed or swelling. It feels warm and humid by the door.

Bellesh will brush over the door lightly with his fingertips. Does it feel hot?

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - no, it doesn't seem to be hot, just a bit damp.

"I think this will lead to lava flows should we continue. This door may take a bit of work to open should we wish to move forward"

If we cant open the door where do u want to go?

Angon, Indrian and Alman (the three elven leaders) come forward to discuss with the PCs. "Remember that we're here on Search." Angon says gently. "Do you think we'll find evidence of the elves coming to Ramathia down there, whereever there is?"

"You're right Angon, we haven't had much luck finding that here. Where would you like to go?"

"I'm not entirely sure." Angon says. "We've seen a bit of the city. What do we know about it? Do you think we'll find something down here or up there? I know it's dangerous, with the unliving about up there..."

"Let's get out of here before these creatures take interest in us!" the littleling, trusting Apinro's concerns, urges those ahead in hushed tones. (edited)

"Agreed. We seem to be well beneath the surface here. The only other thing of interest was the secret door made of the large stone slab. I'm not sure if we have anything that can move that large of a piece of rock, though."

"I did memorize the spell of Strength this morning, if you want me to cast it and give it a try. I don't know if that would be enough, though... we'd probably need all of us on it together, and a crowbar would help..."

"Can try"

"Would the spell that strengthen's Takashi allow us time to both handle this door and the block?" Angon asks.

"I think so... but it would probably work better if I cast it on @The_Libero_82 instead. He looks a little bigger, and the stronger you are to start, the stronger the spell will make you."

"Perhaps we should track back. Do you think with all of us and some rope we could drag out that stone? Or is it too large? If so , I would suggest moving on"

"Don't let me take you away from this path, if you think it would be fruitful." Angon says in an apologetic tone. "You're more experienced at these sorts of things than we are, you proved that at the Athenum. I'm just wondering what's down there..." she nods to the stuck door. "... and what else is in the city. The clues were found in an old book in the Athenum. So I wonder where we might find something similar here."

" @The_Libero_82 , would you like me to cast the spell on you so you can take another crack at that door?"

"Sure we can try, can someone assist me?"

I can help you

Bellesh begins what sounds like a low mumbling, and starts motioning with his arms and creating various signs with his fingers in a pattern. The spell ends with one of Bellesh's hands in a clenched fist, which he touches to Jalman's shoulder to cast the Strength spell upon him.

I crack my neck, do a few lunges and pull out some chalk from my bag wiping it on my hands and clapping in a white cloud " @CALLIN you ready?" walking over to the door

CALLIN nods and goes to assist @The_Libero_82 in moving the large stone

ATACIUS rolls his eyes and keeps watching the creatures...

@CALLIN - I think you are still at the door in the tunnels, not at the stone block in the sarcophagus room...

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) I thought we were heading back.

@CALLIN - that's why I wanted to bring this up... @The_Libero_82 is reacting to the door, the actions haven't been to return past the creatures and back into the sarcophagus room... I believe he and @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) intend on the door first.

Ahh. In that case I'm leaving more toward the don't open it and head back route

OK, so let's back up a bit - RETCON to before @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) cast the Strength spell... lets's use #act25-ooc to make sure everyone's on the same page

Reversing direction, the party heads back towards the temple catacombs. The elves pass first through the room with the creatures, the PCs following close behind.

15:54

!roll 2d6

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) rolled 7. (6 + 1 = 7)

The creatures do not react much towards your cautious passage, continuing to shuffle and flutter their carapaces. The remainder of the journey is uneventful and soon enough, you're back in the sarcophagus room, facing the east wall where the plaster was removed from the gap that outlines what you believe to be a secret door. What will you do?

looks at the plaster and wall to see if I can see a blockage or rocks I can move to open a hole in the wall

@The_Libero_82 - The immediate area around where the plaster has already been cleared off looks solid. If you want to search the rest of the walls, that will take some time - on the order of an hour or so. Is that what you want to do?

17:04

( @The_Libero_82 - when the PCs previously inspected this area, it looks like a huge solid block was pushed into place, unlike the rest of the area which is likely carved/shaped from existing rock or built up. There are scrape marks on the floor where this was shoved into place.)

" @CALLIN keep watch, I need to check out this wall" I will search the wall

( @The_Libero_82 - not sure if you remember how old school games work, but as you spend time doing things, I keep track of time and roll up for wandering encounters. Which can cause problems and delay things. So spend your time wisely!)

17:09

@SouthernSeas - what do the rest of you do while Jalman is busy inspecting the walls? It will take about 8 turns for him to complete this.

I will still search this could be important

CALLIN will stand watch. Mostly keeping an eye out for the large bugs to come rushing down the hall. Was there a door we could shut and lock there? I recall it was rusty and squeeky. Can we close it and lock it?

17:14

"Should some of us head back up and see about the next building while we check the door?

"I think it best if we close the passageway behind us and then stick together."

@CALLIN and @TAKASHI (Alan) - you return to the door that leads out of the temple area into the natural caverns. There are no creatures here and although it's quite loud in complaining about being moved, the door shuts. The rest of the elves, bored and curious, wander about a bit. Indrian and the scouts leave to search the room with the stools and statues. It resembles an area for worship. There were a few items that were left there that perhaps were used in rites. The water smells like seawater, but is somehow fresh. None of the elves touched it, the items or anything else in the room. They also report that there was another exit in the room, which has a passageway leading to another chamber with more "ordinary" stone coffins in it, stacked on top of each other. That chamber has a passageway that connects with the passage that @ATACIUS (Gabriel) saw when he found the door that lead to the natural passages. Angon and Almanin spend some time looking at the sarcophagus and the plaque that bears the strange script, discussing it with @Graian and @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro). Angon complains at not having brought more scrolls with useful spells, such as one that could allow her to read this script. They end up taking a rubbing, just in case it becomes important. 8 turns pass while @The_Libero_82 painstakingly inspects the walls and plaster. After that time, two things are obvious - this room was painstakingly built with precision and care, and the only obvious place of note is the large block that has been fitted into the wall, leaving an obvious tiny gap between it and the other walls. What will you do now (edited)

BELLESH finishes his conversation with Angon... he'd like to learn that spell for reading things too! (One of the languages he's studied is Ancient Human, so he may be able to make something out). He looks to see if @The_Libero_82 and @CALLIN are ready, as well as anyone else who wants to help with the block. There should have been ample time to determine if anyone in the party had a crowbar or if anything similar could be found in the vicinity. If all looks ready, he'll cast his Strength spell on @The_Libero_82 (as above).

I lumber up ready for action

CALLIN steps up as well ready to help move this giant stone....

ATACIUS has some iron spikes if they can be of use.

(Just waiting on @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)'s results to the Strength spell to continue...)

@The_Libero_82 - BELLESH's spell brings you to the maximum strength possible for a human being. How would you like to proceed with the block that is in the wall?

finding a grip at the edge of the block I will try to pull out the block with Thor's mighty strength (edited)

The block is wide enough that you have to work one end, then the other. Although there's no place for you to get a grip, with your strength, you can push through the plaster and stone to make your own grips. It takes about a turn but you work the block backwards in a rocking pattern to where you expose what lies beyond it! The chamber is much smaller, and it extends to the right of the opening that @The_Libero_82 has revealed. It's extremely plain as well, with no decorations on the walls. There is an extremely finely crafted stone sarcophagus in the middle of room, covered in the strange script that you've seen elsewhere in the tomb. There is also a staff, similar to the one that @CALLIN took from the bedchambers, floating horizontally above the sarcophagus. What will you do?

CALLIN will draw the other staff and see if it does anything as he approaches the staff

BELLESH: "Another one? That's amazing! I wonder what this one's about..."

@CALLIN - as you draw the staff from your back and hold it, it seems to vibrate more and more as you get nearer to the sarcophagus and other staff. It gets more difficult to hold the nearer you get.

Is it trying to pull toward or away from the other staff?

Neither, it's just vibrating in your hands.

CALLIN will keep a firm grip and attempt to touch one staff to another.

Hmm... to keep that firm grip, in order to get that close, you'll need to make a minor Strength check (same as what you'd need to open a stuck door)

Ok is that ad20 roll?

It's a d6 roll, based on your STR value - for 14, you need a 1-2

17:03

The staff vibrates itself out of your hands and goes flying towards the staff that is horizontal, which goes vertical! The two circle each other for a moment. You start to see a ghostly figure forming in the center of where the staves are circling.

BELLESH tries to get to one side of the opening, so that he can take cover behind the wall but still poke his head out to look through the opening into the chamber to see and hear what's going on.

CALLIN steps forward hands raised in a nonthreatening geasture. "I am Callin priest of the LIGHT. It seems the staff of Zorus has found it's twin. May I ask your name?" (edited)

@CALLIN, as you get closer, you see that the figure is spinning as well, but as it grows more substantial, the spinning slows down until eventually, it is facing you. It is somewhat translucent, as if looking at a ghost. It is speaking... ".. for I have come from the place of all priests, as we attend to Zorus and bask in His Glory and Grace [you can hear the capital letters]! And now that you, High Priest of Zorus, have summoned me, speak and I shall share the wisdom of those who've come before you. We will speak as one, as we are all one in Zorus. I shall..." ... and then the ghostly priest stops mid-sentence as CALLIN speaks. "Who are you? You are not a High Priest of Zorus, nay, you are not even one of the flock!" (edited)

"I am CALLIN priest of the LIGHT. And yes I am not from your flock. And while I do not follow your Tennants, we do share the same morals. I spoke with the spirit bestowed upon the staff of Zorus, and while I could not swear to the Faith of Zorus, I offered to carry the staff and bestow it upon someone of the Faith so it would not be imprisoned in this long forgotten Temple. We have also returned the pendant of your faith from the priestess we found to your sacred resting place. As all of good faith should have their last rights honored and observed. I can offer you the same. A chance to leave this place in search of one with your Faith, should you wish."

!roll 2d6

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) rolled 4. (3 + 1 = 4)

"Outsider! Intruder! Defiler! The staff of Zorus is not for the likes of you!" the ghost thunders. It points a spectral hand. "Get out of here!" Those of you in the sarcophagus room see that the lid is starting to vibrate. A elven scout calls back "The skulls, they are starting to move!" Apinro lets out a yelp and starts to run out of the sarcophagus room back into the skull room. You can't understand his babbling, but his intent is clear - to leave!

"it seems that Zorus no longer favors the LIGHT. We should leave. " CALLIN says backing out of the room

What will the rest of you do?

"I think it best that we leave now. Quickly!"

"C'mon!" BELLESH says to anyone near him, and starts heading for the exit.

Claudia makes sure to keep close to TAKASHI as he leaves. Angon and Almanin move quickly in front of GRAIAN and BELLESH. The elven scouts move out of the way to serve as rear guard as the party flees back through the priests' room. The skulls are indeed moving about in their niches and several of them have glows in their eye sockets! You get to the storage room. Apinro has already jumped up to grab the ladder in the ceiling of the entryway. You hear behind you, Indrian yelling. "The lid of the sarcophagus has come off! Quickly!"

ATACIUS is determined to show how fast littlelings can run!

The PCs get up the ladder quickly and come out to see that the giant status of Zorus is vibrating! Below, you can hear shouts as the elves come spilling up the ladder. "There's a darkness coming from the coffin!" "The skulls, they're floating! Those eyes!" @TAKASHI (Alan) - you feel a chill come over you. The spot where the lesser wraith touched you burns with an intense cold, similar to how it felt when it happened. The world seems to spin, and you feel similar to how you feel when you are having a horrible nightmare. The last to come out is Indrian, and she is as white as a sheet! "There is something down there and it is angry! We need to leave this place!"

CALLIN seeing @TAKASHI (Alan) seem a bit off. "TAKASHI, are you OK? Come on, let your feet run free!" CALLIN says helping to guide him straight

BELLESH hurries towards the door to the temple, intending to leave. He looks back a few times as he goes to make sure his familiar and Claudia are making it through the bones ok.

"Brothers and sisters, we need to LEAVE NOW. The same evil that touched me earlier is boiling up from below, and we do not want to be here when it arrives! Let us get back to our camp and regroup, now!"

Just as Indrian clears the entrance to the catacombs and begins to move away from the temple, the whole temple begins to shake as a wailing cry of anger comes from below! The giant statue of Zorus sways back and forth, and then topples over with a thunderous noise on top of the catacomb hole! You exit into the plaza where it is quiet. Behind you, the temple shudders a few more times and a bit of its burnt roof collapses. A cloud of dust and debris belches from the doorway. Apinro is standing next to Angon and Almanin, keening in fright. "Master, are you alright?" Claudia whispers to @TAKASHI (Alan). (edited)

CALLIN scratches his head looking at the collapse of the building. "I guess we are done with that building. Is everyone alright?" CALLIN will scan the group looking to see that all are there, and uninjured

TAKASHI nods to Claudia. "I am well, though a bit shaken. It looks as if brother CALLIN is correct - our investigations into the temple appear to be over. Thankfully, it has also collapsed on whatever was coming out of the sarcophagus."

ATACIUS shakes his head. "I would never understand these gods. That one should be grateful that we unburied it after all these years. It should be angry at whatever did this to the city and not at us!"

GRAIAN sighs thankfully, "There is certainly much to beware of in this place. I think we should look for another building that may have been a source of source of knowledge." He pats Callin on the back, "Well my friend, you have certainly had an impact on this this place in the short time you have been here."

TAKASHI chuckles at GRAIAN's comments. "I doubt the island has seen this much activity since the doom!"

Apinro's keening quiets down a bit and he looks somewhat ashamed now. He is muttering softly to himself and kicking some of the bones that are nearby, while keeping a wary eye on the temple. Almanin, Angon and Indrian come up to you all to discuss. "Where do we go now?" Angon asks gently. "Do you wish to return to camp or press on?" @TAKASHI (Alan), that feeling of cold and dread is still there, but it's like what ringing ears are like - you can feel it, but only if you concentrate on it.

"Angon," BELLESH asks, "Where do you think your people might have gone when they were here? Do you think it would be better to look closer to the shore for evidence?"

"That's a very good question!" Angon says to BELLESH. (@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) ) "I had asked the same to the Elder and he said he did not know." There's a momentary change in her demeanor, and then she visibly brightens her face and continues. "Considering the island, they could have landed anywhere. That's why I had hoped to find a library or some place of learning. If there were books or artifacts of when we arrived, they would be there." Angon looks at @ATACIUS (Gabriel). "Could we see that note again that you found? Wasn't there something about books and mysteries?" (edited)

ATACIUS rummages through his satchels and produces the map with notes he found in the apothecary's store, which he handles to Angon.

13:44

"Learn the TRUTH!" it screams in big, bright, red letters that are still vibrant. "Join the QUEST for KNOWLEDGE that THEY don't want you to KNOW!" The map seems to wind through the town to the NE side, close to the ocean. Written on the back is a note "Marlin found some sort of book on hidden caves and secrets. He's always got something going on, but this seems to be real."

BELLESH nods enthusiastically. "Near the shore and hidden secrets... we should go!"

"A curious note. It doesn't seem to be from an educator or sage, or maybe this is how human sages share knowledge?" Almanin comments, looking over @ATACIUS (Gabriel)'s shoulder at the note.

"I don't really know, but I'd like to believe that they are just a bit more rigorous!" ATACIUS responds with a chuckle. (edited)

So, we head North and exit the city through the crumbled wall and turn East towards the sea?

"Unless we can see another building here that looks like it might be a library or center of learning."

There's nothing obvious in the temple area that denotes a library or university type of location.

(I like Atacius' plan, that should help us avoid the undead on the way there)

I say lets go with @ATACIUS (Gabriel) plan.

Let's do it!

GRAIAN gives a small shrug, "I can't think of a better idea, there does not seem to be an obvious place to investigate here."

Once again, you head back westward, through the plaza of temples, and reaching the broken area, climb through and head north along the curving wall. In the daylight, it's not quite as hard to navigate the rocky area and soon enough, you're back to the scrub trees and grasses. You head further north, with elven scouts ahead taking a look. There are a few broken huts and small shacks along the wall in this area, but as you get closer to the coast, that changes. There are now clusters of small, simple buildings, open and empty, with only a few bits of debris and forgotten household items remaining. Birds have made their homes in many of these and rise up screeching at being disturbed. The sound of the ocean is soothing, although the dark clouds are gathering further along the horizon, perhaps for a late day storm. You come up to a point where the ground suddenly drops downwards, a sharp cliff of volcanic rock and rubble that descends about thirty feet or so towards a beach. The beach goes on to the left towards the volcano. To the right, it ends with the wall next to the ocean itself, but beyond that, you see what appears to be another harbor or dock area on a small island. There are some ships here, but they are lying on their side on the ground or half sunken into the water. It appears that the wall does open at this point. One obstacle that the elven scouts point out: you have several hundred paces of water to navigate to get to the harbor/docks island, and the water looks like it gets deep quickly.

Are any of the ships laying down in a way we could use a mast to climb up the wall?

!roll 1d6

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) rolled 3.

In looking for ships like that, you can see that the wall is open near the harbor island and there might be bridges that link the island to the mainland.

CALLIN will also scan the larger ships for perhaps a lifeboat that seems in working order. Perhaps someone could swim over to bring back for the group....

08:33

"I see an opening in the wall there" CALLIN says pointing. "I think I see bridges back there as well"

@CALLIN - to do that, you'll need to get to the island and search the ships.

1

"Should we swim out to some of the ships to see if there is a boat we could use to get us across?" @DM (Michael/Chgowiz) how close is the nearest ship large enough to have life boats? // perhaps those sailing elves would have better luck scanning the ships for lifeboats

"Any boat or ship might have lifeboats." Indrian says. She takes a long look at the island and purses her lips. "They look rather weather-beaten, but I would think some of them in the middle of island look large enough to have been merchant vessels. Those usually had some sort of small boats on them."

"It just seems like it may be better to find a usable boat sending a couple people through the water so we can carry our heavier gear across. I am fairly certain I would sink to the bottom should I try to swim with my armor and gear" Callin smiles. "I do offer to make the swim, although I will need to leave my gear with someone while I do"

Indrian offers to detail a couple of elven scouts to guard anything left behind for now.

CALLIN will take off his armor and pack. Leaving only his clothes, his hand axe and Symbol of the Light. The warmth he feels from the symbol helps mitigate the sense of feeling very very vulnerable right now. CALLIN will confirm the ship they noted as a merchant ship and look to see if anyone wants to join him for a dip. And then wades his way in and begins to swim to the ship.

10:36

(oh and no shirt or boots. sorry )

BELLESH looks over the flier/map they found before while CALLIN is swimming.

@CALLIN - the water is warm! The swim to the island is quick and quiet. As you get closer, you see there is a lot of smaller bits of debris scattered around it. The wreckage of small huts and perhaps cranes are scattered among the wrecks of ships and boats. You see several inanimate skeletons lying about right as you step onto the sandy shore. It takes you a bit of time clambering around and over debris before you get to the larger ships that are nearest the center of this small island. (OOC: The island is no more than a city block big.) It is quiet - very quiet, aside from the cries of sea birds and your footsteps crunching on the wood and sand. The ship is a mess, and will never sail again. It's hull has been torn open in several areas and the rocky ballast has spilled out along with debris from the interior. It will take some investigating through the wreckage to find a boat. The rest of you on the shore see CALLIN make it safely to the harbor island and then disappear among the ships and boats. @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - What else is BELLESH looking for on the flier?

10:02

Indrian looks at everyone else to see if they will join the priest on the island. She is removing her armor to join him.

TAKASHI will remove all of his armor and most of his clothes to make the swim with CALLIN an free of encumbrance as possible. "Between the two of us, we should be able to find and return with a boat, if any are in good enough shape."

@TAKASHI (Alan) - great! Then you are with @CALLIN as he does his initial exploration of the island. Claudia would want to come with you, but will remain behind if you direct her to.

So long as she is a strong swimmer, TAKASHI will have her come with him.

She joins you gladly! She nimbly climbs over some of the ships' masts and rigging, a bit of childlike joy in her movements.

ATACIUS nudges BELLESH when Claudia dips into the water.

1

BELLESH hasn't been looking for anything in particular on the flier, just checking it over carefully for anything that might have been missed. At Atacius' nudging however, he looks up and stands transfixed by the sight of Claudia dipping into the water. (And Indrian taking off her armor, if she's still doing that)

Lucky for @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)/BELLESH, Claudia nor Indrian notice him staring...

(Hey, he's 15, wadda you expect?)

TAKASHI and Claudia (and CALLIN?) will search around the destroyed ship to see if there is a ship's boat in tact. Hopefully it will have faired better over time than the larger, and heavier ship.

Yes CALLIN is searching the ship for anything we can use to cart the others over. A life boat, ect

So, it seems that as @CALLIN and @TAKASHI (Alan) are searching for a boat, they become entangled and entrapped in the debris and rigging, to the point where it's not possible to use weapons to free yourselves. You're not in any immediate danger, but you will need help to get out. Claudia is not next to you when this happens...

"Ack! @TAKASHI (Alan) I got tangled up in the rigging. Are you free? Claudia?"

"Me as well, @CALLIN . Claudia, a hand would be appreciated to help your incompetent master out of this predicament!"

You hear a startled squeak and Claudia comes high-tailing it from around the other side of the ship, nimbly dodging the fallen masts, rigging and debris! "There's something moving in the ship!" she yells and then she stops, realizing the predicament you two are in! Her mouth makes a wide open O.

Those on the shore, do we see what's going on?

@ATACIUS (Gabriel), unfortunately, no. They are in amidst the ships and debris.

14:28

(However, should the shouting get loud enough, there's a good chance you'll hear it. Let's see how CALLIN/TAKASHI (and perhaps Indrian) handle all this...)

Just thought that if maybe Indrian left scouts atop of the cliff, they could se something, better than us down at the beach.

Hm. I'll give it a 2 in 6 that Indrian would have done that... let's see!

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) rolled 4.

!roll 1d6

14:52

Apparently, she felt that there was no need. I'll give it a 1 in 6 that they notice something's amiss...

14:52

!roll 1d6

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) rolled 5.

The scouts are too busy looking at the pretty fish in the water, or trying to convince Apinro that he should take them somewhere more interesting...

I tried but the dices doesn't like you guys

1

"Quickly get us cut loose! Before whatever is on this ship comes across us!"

"Claudia, quickly and carefully work on CALLIN, then both of you can free me. Let's hope that whatever is here isn't too hungry."

16:10

TAKASHI will strain against whatever is catching him, trying to figure out what is catching him up.

CALLIN will attempt to break himself free from the rigging. Twisting and pulli g , hoping to find a weak point. //Bend bars to get free

@TAKASHI (Alan) - the rigging has caught up around your arms and your feet are tangled in debris that the rigging is dragging with it. Straining against it might work! @CALLIN - in your case, you were climbing over some debris and fell in, getting tangled in rigging and what perhaps is some old cloth or burlap. It's a soggy, tangled mess. You both can extricate yourselves, given time, or you can force the issue by trying to use brute force. That could, however, make things worse! If you want to still try to force the issue, Bend Bars is a percentage check. You now hear scrabbling and an odd muttering coming from somewhere behind the ship.

After feeling the strength of the rigging, TAKASHI doesn't think he is strong enough to break free. Plus, he is all about maintaining calm and proceeding along the path, so he will take his time and extricate himself as he is able, carefully working his way out of this predicament if possible.

Like a pesky knot, it is not about brute force, it is about patience. CALLIN will chose to take his timeworking his way free. Not trying to force the issue. If Claudia can make it to me to assist, I will do my best to keep her calm in the situation and guide her to help the process not further tangle me up.

Claudia looks between @CALLIN and @TAKASHI and moves to one of the two trapped adventurers! (roll: 1d2)

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) rolled 2.

She moves towards @TAKASHI and begins loosening some of the rigging that has wrapped around his legs, which will free him quickly! The scrabbling gets louder and now you're hearing what sounds like actual words in the muttering. It's not clear what is being said, but whoever/whatever it is, they sound annoyed or angry! Just as TAKASHI's legs and arms are about to be free, a figure comes visible from behind the ship! It has strange armor on, it's waving some sort of object around and it's nimbly darting through the rubble! "Get ye away from me! I was napping!" it shrieks as it gets closer! Claudia lets out a shriek of her own and dashes away! (TAKASHI, you are free, CALLIN, you will be free next "round"). From the shoreline, Angon waves at @ATACIUS (Gabriel) and BELLESH/@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro). "I think there's someone else on the island, I just saw something move and I think I heard Claudia yell out!"

"apologies for disturbing your slumber, we were unaware of anyone on this ship. If this is your home I am truly sorry for trespassing and will happily depart once I'm free from the rigging I have stumbled into" Callin says hoping to calm the fellow down

The figure turns towards @CALLIN and you see that it's an older, white haired man with a scraggly beard. He wears a rusty cooking pot with a big hole on top of his head. His "armor" is a mish-mosh of pieces and bits strung together. His weapon is a club that has two nails in its end. "Eh? Home? This ain't me home! It's me nap place for every third day so that I can get some fish! Ever'un knows that the fish run every third day with the waves! But you'll disturb them and then I'll go hungry!" he yells, spittle flying out of his mouth where very few teeth remain.

"Sorry for the disturbance, my friend. We have ineptly become entangled in this rigging while looking for a small skiff to bring our friends over to this island."

"If we have disturbed the fish this day for you, I'm certain we can offer you the food you have lost from our actions. We have supplies available. I am CALLIN Priest of Light, and tangler of rigging" He says as he tries to unwind himself

Back on the other side, BELLESH is waving back at Angon and calling to her, "Do you need help?"

"I'm not sure! I think I see your friends talking to someone or something... " she trails off, squinting towards the island.

12:25

"Eh? Stuck? Well, stop wiggling like a netted gulper and let yourself fall out!" the man snaps. "Clanking and shrieking and making noise and all I wanted was to have a nap before the run and rain..." Muttering, he assists CALLIN out of the remaining rigging. "My, ye two are dressed well, ye aren't from the Town Guard, are ye? The city's not what she used ta be, and ye've got to take care of the undead but you know..." and he trails off, chewing his beard and scratching himself. Claudia, having caught on that this isn't an immediate threat, comes back and stares at the old man with open curiosity and a bit of disbelief.

"there are still town guard? CALLIN asks we have seen nothing but undead inside the walls of the city. We come from the mainland. " And thank you for unbinding me. " CALLIN says offering the man his hand

The man squints suspiciously at CALLIN, licks his own hand, smells at CALLIN's hand and then shakes it. "Nobody's alive on the mainland. All dead." he says in a matter of fact voice. "You're the town guard, way ye be dressed. Of course the unliving walk, damn bone walkers with the flames. They kill ye if they catch ye! Aint' caught me yet, hee hee!" and he does a little jig. He spies Claudia and he stops dead in his tracks. He goes to one knee, bows his head and lays his club at her feet. "Me high'ess, is an honor. Ye've been gone too long. But ye've returned. We be takin' back yer city, then?"

CALLIN raises his eyebrow at that one, and turns to Claudia... "Your Highness?" (edited)

TAKASHI chuckles at this turn of events. "And all this time, you've been calling ME master?"

Claudia freezes in shock at the old man's actions. She turns to @TAKASHI (Alan) and whispers "I don't know what he's going on about... what do I do??"

17:44

Indrian comes up to the others, quietly and cautiously, her sword drawn. She makes her presence known to @CALLIN and @TAKASHI (Alan) - motioning as if to ask if she should intervene?

17:44

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) , @Graian and @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)/BELLESH, Angon and Almanin are pointing out where you can see this scene unfolding. They look tiny, but clearly there's a stranger among your friends!

TAKASHI sees the arrival of Indrian, and motions that all is ok. "He must have mistaken you for someone in his past, Claudia."

17:49

"Does she remind you of a queen from the past, friend? We are from the mainland, and have come here looking for what was, and what caused things to be as they are now. (motioning towards Indrian) Especially this one's kin, who name Ramathia as their old, lost home."

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) "Oh no BELLESH, I hope he's not asking her..." (edited)

1

The man stands awkwardly, almost falling over but recovering by grabbing onto CALLIN's shield and steadying himself. He stands at attention, with his "club" held as if a polearm. "Me high'ess, ready to march!" he proclaims. Then, his face changes a bit. "Al'th'... damn dead will stop ye. And IT still lives, still hunting me, af'er all this time. Nobody to talk to poor Herm. Jungle folk all run away. Nobody left..." and he sniffles. He realizes that TAKASHI is talking to him and he peers at the warrior. "Wassat? What caused all this? Damn kids and their ways! Won't live to the gods, wanted to mess with things that shouldn't be messed wi'! Wouldn't do their prayers, or their duties! Now look at this mess! No wonder IT came to kill us all! I feared th' princess was dead, but here she is!" He smiles a toothless grin at Claudia, who still looks dumbfounded at the addled man. Indrian nods to TAKASHI and sheathes her sword. She motions to the wrecks. "I've seen a boat tangled in the rigging that might be seaworthy, but it's a quick swim for us to come here. I'll signal the others and we'll get the boat freed to get our supplies." She moves off towards the rest to urge them to come across, leaving you all with "Herm."

"How long ago did the Princess flee? If I might ask" CALLIN asks gently, hoping not to send him off into another rant

Bellesh pulls back his hood and stares across the water at them, frowning as he tries to make out what's going on. "It doesn't look like they're fighting with... whoever it is. What do you think, Jellesh?" he asks, looking down at his familiar.

Jellesh is fascinated with the small fish that he can see swimming in the water. He keeps opening and closing his wings as if he'd like to try swimming! Herm looks at CALLIN with some confusion. "Ye were there! Ye helped her onto her ship, fleein' th' burnin' mountain and the 'rates! They ships were attackin', all a mess w' so many sinkin' and dyin', and then Enteroz created the whirlpool... madness!" and then Herm trails off in silence, looking at all of you with an air of disbelief. "But... ye died tha' awful day... all of ye... dead... tha' means...." and then a shriek builds up in his chest and explodes! "YE BE SPIRITS!!!" and he drops his club in fright and goes running off, screaming as if death itself nipped at his heels! Claudia, shocked at the old man's reaction, lets out a little shriek herself and and moves behind TAKASHI. "What is wrong with him?" she whispers as Herm makes his way through the tangled wreck of ships away from you.

"by the LIGHT, we are not spirits. We are flesh and blood same as you! If we were spirits would be have been tangled up in the rigging?" Callin calls out to the man.

After watching the man flee in terror, TAKASHI listens to Claudia's question. He pauses a moment before he responds...

18:01

"Claudia, man is a social creature. When left in isolation with no one else to be with, to share one's life, a person can ... lose a sense of time, place, and self. On my journey West after ... all that happened, I had a few week-long or more stretches of isolation between civilized areas where I began to feel hints of this myself."

18:02

TAKASHI looks after the men running away, then continues. "Imagine what being alone for years might do to you? I pity this man, and think it would do us well to help him if possible." (edited)

When he sees the man run away he says to BELLESH "Well, looks like she said no..." @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)

2

BELLESH grins at the sight of the man fleeing from Claudia. "I'll bet Claudia threatened to thump him!"

What will you all do now?

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) Did the old man respond to my call out? I was rather loud so that he would be able to hear.

@CALLIN - he did not. You do hear him scrabbling around on the other side of ship and his wails and muttering are not getting more faint, so he is still close by.

CALLIN looks to the others and says "He may be our best bet to really understand what happened here. Let me try and get him back" And CALLIN will head off after the man. ( not aggressively, more like the pleading boyfriend chasing after his angry girlfriend in every rom com ) "Please Herm, you are the first person we have found we can truly communicate with. We mean no harm, only to understand. Please we only have questions. Perhaps our charge is related to the princess? Don't you want to know? aren't you at least a bit curious? Perhaps the LIGHT is shining down on us, to cure this place, sending an heir to the thrown unbeknownst to her? Sounds like something from a book!"

@CALLIN - Circling the ship, you see that Herm has created a rough lean-to against the keel, using bits and pieces from the debris lying around. He is huddled against the hull, his knees pulled up to his chest and his arms protecting his head, which is bent over. "The spirits are here, they've crossed the water and the symbols of the gods, nothing can protect me now..." he moans and then he whimpers. He starts whispering to himself, sounding like a subvocal prayer said over and over. He doesn't seem very aware of your presence.

I go up to his lean-to as calm as possible. "Herm, we are not spirits, and while they do exist, that is not what we are. I am flesh and blood just as you. Please we are new to this place, and your wisdom is most valuable. We can provide food, and other supplies for your help, should you be willing. I would also like to know more about the Princess you speak of. I wonder perhaps if Claudia is her Heir. Please Herm" And CALLIN will extend his hand out to the man.

In the meantime ATACIUS builds a sand castle. "Storm the castle JELLESH!" he beckons the winged creature. (edited)

At the word "food", Herm suddenly stands up. "Food? Yes, it is dinnertime indeedy! Let us be off to dinner!" He turns and heads off, towards another large ship that is keel down and looks relatively intact. Jellesh is fascinated by what @ATACIUS (Gabriel) is doing in the sand, circling the littleling. As he finishes and beckons to the panther, it makes a leap to jump on the castle, which promptly breaks into several parts. The cat makes a disgusted noise and paws around a minute, then opens his wings and stretches them.

CALLIN will follow after Herm. "So what is it that you eat around here mostly? Fish?"

Claudia tip toes behind @CALLIN to listen, keeping out of sight. She glances back to @TAKASHI to see if he's joining the conversation. "Fish, fish, day and night. Fish, fish, cook it up right!" Herm sings a doggerel. He smiles at CALLIN. "So nice to see the town guard is back. Have you come for supper?"

"we have come for your wisdom. We have not been to this place, yet you have lived here for years. Perhaps you can be a guide to the city? We are looking for the great library" Callin says. " And we have food as well back at shore should you wish to eat with my fellows. Otherwise fish here suits me just fine"

TAKASHI will follow CALLIN and Claudia, careful not to interrupt the priest's attempted connection with Herm.

@TAKASHI (Alan), you hear Indrian call for some help near another one of the ships. Claudia goes to see what the elven warrior wants. It seems she's found a seaworthy boat and is trying to extricate it from the rigging and debris. Meanwhile, Herm is looking at @CALLIN suspiciously. "I be ready for a fine meal, but the food shops in the city are all gone. Where th' Guard set up th' barracks that they kin provide vittles?"

to Herm: "we have come by ship as we are not from inside the city, we come to explore the city and see what can be salvaged. We have food from the ship. It may not be fine, but it may be a change from fish" (edited)

TAKASHI will head over to help Indrian and Claudia try and free up the boat from the debris littered on the shore.

After a few minutes, the three of you are able to extricate the small boat. Indrian nods to @TAKASHI (Alan) , grabs some planks to serve as oars and with your help, gets the boat to the edge of the island. In a few minutes, she reaches @Graian , @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)/BELLESH and @ATACIUS (Gabriel) and the other gathered elves. It takes a bit of time, but eventually, the full party is now on the island. Meanwhile, Herm waits for @CALLIN's response!

Herm looks confused. "The Town Guard has a fleet? Well, that speaks well for you to retake the city. By all means, let us go to your encampment and feast like kings! With the Princess's permission, of course..." He stands and gathers a few odd trinkets lying around his lean-to, stuffs them in a crude leather pouch and faces @CALLIN with a salute! "Ready m'lord!"

CALLIN will head off to find the rest of the group and board the vessel to get the rest of the group.

GRAIAN looks at Takashi with a quizzical look, "M'lord, Princess? Looks like we missed something important."

The elves are gathered around the boat, looking around at the island and the wreckage with curiosity. As @CALLIN approaches with Herm, they turn to him with great interest. "You have made a friend, good priest?" Angon inquires. Herm straightens up and stands stiffly as if at attention.

"Aye Angon, this is Herm. He has been here since the Royalty fled. I have offered him food and to dine with us. Hopefully he can help us piece together what has happened here." CALLIN turns to Herm. "Herm, this is Angon"

Herm bows in a regal fashion towards everyone. "Quite an army, worthy to retake the city from the foulness that lives here! I am ready to join you! Except..." and he looks around... "... I seem to have lost my sword. Confound it, that thing runs away from me all the time. Mind of its own, it has...." and he looks as if he's going to go wandering off.

"Herm we have need of your local expertise. We are unfamiliar with the current layout of the city, and we could use your knowledge to help guide us. Do the remains of the Library still stand? And could you point them out to us?"

Herm frowns. "Expertise, I have, but an empty stomach I have as well. Are we not going to have a repast? We can discuss these military matters over a fine wine and meat!" Angon smiles. "It is late, @CALLIN, perhaps we can encamp here among the ships. Allow those who wish to explore and see what might have been left behind that is useful, as @ATACIUS (Gabriel) seems eager to explore. We can make sure our friend is well fed and see what he knows. What do you think?"

"Of course" Callin says to both Herm and Angon. "Let us get your belly full Herm!" CALLIN adds as he begins to help setup camp.

"Dinner Time Jellesh, what do you think? " the young mage asks, smiling down at his familiar as he reaches to pet him on the head. (edited)

TAKASHI will help to set up camp and prepare a meal with CALLIN. Afterwards, he will go with ATACIUS to see what can be found in the wreckage of these ships.

ATACIUS "Explore with an empty belly and you will only find more hunger!" exclaims the littleling after the meal. "Come TAKASHI, let's see if Herm left something in those wreckages..."

56th day of Summer, 57AD - evening The late day storm does indeed come and go quickly, as most of these squalls do. You take shelter in the ship next to Herm's lean-to. It looks as if at one point it had been a merchant vessel, with the debris of shipping containers littering the hold. Fabrics and perhaps food, but both have long succumbed to the elements. Dinner, such as it is with traveling rations as the main course, is an interesting affair. Herm is quite mad and his rambling monologues on the effects of wind on sand, on how cats are the spawn of evil and yet his favorite pastime to watch, on how the stones in Ramathia aren't yet rolling, but he's sure that they will like the did on the day... at any point, when the conversation comes close to the subject of the destruction of the city, his mind seems to skitter away. It's obvious that this is not by intent or the act of someone who is hiding something, rather this seems to be Herm's coping mechanism for dealing with the tragedy! There are a few bits that do come out from gentle prodding: - The exodus from Ramathia was marked by pure chaos and tragedy. The scene from the temple plaza was the result of "IT" inflicting some sort of attack on various parts of the city, while "IT"'s presence caused many to lose their senses from fear and strike out. Tension had been high in the city following religious strife as "the gods suddenly went silent." .. (edited)

11:42

- The 'unliving' that patrol the city could be the effects of "IT" or the accident of an attempt by the leaders of the city to fight "IT". They are not great in numbers, but they are uncanny in being drawn to activity. At this, Apinro seems to understand and nod in agreement. - There is a portion of the city of that is simply gone. It seems that this is centered around some areas of learning. It seems that perhaps a great library was once part of this area. - Herm himself was most likely an officer in the military forces of the Duchy, or a high ranking officer in the Town Guard. He was familiar with the nobility of Ramathia, as well as powerful figures like priestesses/priests and mages. I'll hold off here to see if you have any follow up questions before I move on to the exploration the next day (as it will be too late in the day to safely move around the wreckage.)

11:43

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - for tonight, Jellish is content to just eat. He does seem rather drawn to Herm, at one point contentedly curling up in the old man's lap and grooming his wings.

ATACIUS "We need to find information about the times before Men (that's what the Elves are looking for) and wealth (to fund further expeditions and make this venture lucrative), so do you Master Herm know about any places that might hold these things and had survived the Fall of Ramathia?"

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - beyond what he had already mentioned about the great library? He sits and thinks for awhile, patting Jellish absent-mindedly. "There was a odd shop or two that folks would whisper if you needed something fixed, or a tonic, or a bit of... " he drops to a whisper "magic done, you could go there, or if you wanted an odd bit of knowledge to be found in dusty tomes and moldy scrolls. I seem to recall a fine Magister Perry who had such a shop. I haven't seen him in, oh, ages, if that's your sort of thing. He might have what you're looking for! He loved his history, practically looked like he came from it! Ha!"

Bellesh's ears perk up. "Do you think you could lead us to Magister Perry's shop? We could protect you as we go through town."

TAKASHI looks dismayed at Herm's words. "We have come all this way, suffered so much, and the library is gone?" His eyes seem to dim as he focuses his attention somewhere within the flames of the campfire.

"Have Faith @TAKASHI (Alan) . Perhaps the Library is gone, but that must not be the only source of knowledge this place holds. I'm sure we can find what we need should we look hard enough." a twinge of sadness passes over CALLIN's eyes as he stares at the man, feeling his hurt as if it was his own.

ATACIUS describes Herm the apothecary shop (?) where we found the map in case it's the same place he's talking about.

Herm's eyes soften at @TAKASHI (Alan)'s sadness and you see a bit of the old soldier as he squeezes the young warrior's shoulder. "Too much was lost and it was senseless, but that is life and we can either march on or fall to the side." he says in a gentle voice. Then he hears @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)/BELLESH's question and his eyes twirl again, his voice taking on a sing-song pitch. "Walk carefully, walk quickly, walk quietly like mices! To the Magister's house we go! Hurrah!" He stops suddenly at @ATACIUS (Gabriel)'s description and question. "No, doesn't sound like a place I remember, although a lot of shops would come and go, come and go, like the rain, come and go... " and he hums a song about walking quietly and coming and going.

Bellesh leans over to @ATACIUS (Gabriel) and whispers, a little too loudly, "This old coot is as mad as a spring hare." He then gets up and walks around to @TAKASHI (Alan). "I'm sorry, Takashi... I wanted to see that library, too. I think you said you thought we should go and look through those old ships, when do you think we should do that? Can we do that now?"

ATACIUS chuckles at @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) /BELLESH comment. "Well, I say we go now my young friend!" clapping his hands and looking at the rest. "C'mon lads, look lively now!"

Bellesh smiles and nods at @ATACIUS (Gabriel), then walks over to pick up his backpack and start strapping it on.

"Yes, now that we've dined, let's take a look and see what we can find."

CALLIN chuckles and the rhyme

(repeat of what I accidentally posted in OOC) There are three ships nearby that you end up finding are large enough and intact enough to explore. @ATACIUS (Gabriel) , the first ship that you explore seems to have collided with a large sea creature before it was beached, or perhaps it beached because it collided with the creature! Various bits of the creature's skin and dried flesh are still strewn around the hold. The odd thing is that after your exploration of that ship, you notice the smell of strawberries surrounding you! If only that were the case for everyone else, because all they smell is horrible, stinky, rotting fish! @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) /BELLESH , a ship that you and Jellish explore is partly in the water still. The partially flooded hold has become a home for a school of pink, octopoid-like creatures. Jellesh seems interested in playing with them and bats into the water, but they skitter away. Once Jellesh is finished, you notice that he's now coated in some slippery substance that makes it hard to hold him! @CALLIN , the ship you explore is was tightly packed and the hold is full of wrecked crates. Jutting out of the wreckage is the tip of a golden obelisk! Judging by the size of the tip, this thing might be very large! There might be more ships further down the island, if you want. The sun is now setting. (edited)

GRAIAN watches the group go off to explore, he has been silently listening to the ramblings of Herm. "Angon, if the library has truly gone that will make our task much more difficult. Given the importance, perhaps we should at least see if there is anything left in that area, I am sure there would have been cellars."

CALLIN will attempt to pry free some wreckage to get a better look at the golden obelisk! If anyone is near by he will call out to them as well.

BELLESH will see if Jellesh is in any distress from the oily coating, and if he can still walk. He'll also look in the water to see if the stuff looks to have come from the creatures, or somewhere else. If Jellesh is ok, they'll head back to camp to get him cleaned up.

@Graian - Angon nods, her face sad. "It's hard to tell, it would be a serious blow if that were true. Do you think we should have him take us to where it used to be? Or follow the clue in the map that @ATACIUS (Gabriel) found?"

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) / Jellesh is very annoyed at first with the coating and licks at it, but it must taste terrible judging by his reaction. After a few minutes, though, he's interested in other things, so it doesn't seem to be in distress. The oil seems to be floating on the surface, in small (coin sized) streaks and slicks. It is concentrated around the areas that the creatures are swimming. @CALLIN - you can move a bit of the debris and can see that this thing may be easily as tall as the largest human or elf you've ever seen, but to move more debris to get to it, you'll need someone with more strength!

CALLIN calls out to @Cynric "This rubble is too heavy for me to move on my own! I need your help. I think I found something, an obelisk!"

“I am coming, my friend”, answers Cynric. Cynric goes to meet Callin and prepares to help him move the debris around the obelisk

@TAKASHI (Alan) - Your ship is a little off to one side, away from the group of ships that your friends are searching. It's a smaller ship and there is a lifeboat that is attached to it by an old, rotting rope. The seaweed that has dried on the rope is a black-grey. In the lifeboat are two inanimate skeletons lying on the bottom, side by side. There are shreds of clothing on them.

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) will try to find the source of that sweet smell.

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - YOU are the source of the sweet smell.

12:18

(At least to you...)

GRAIAN thinks for a moment, "The map is more relative I think, we should discuss with the others and see if we can match up the locations, if we can get a description from Herm."

Angon nods to @Graian. "Or at least we'll have a direction to go in. I feel we may have gotten a bit lost." She drops her voice low so that only the elf can hear her. "There is something about this place, though. When we were in the catacombs, and near that door... I felt something. As if I were near something old, very old. Did you feel that?"

@CALLIN and @Cynric - after the strong fighter is able to move some of the heavier planks, you can see the base. The obelisk seems to have crashed through the hold's deck and into the bilge, where it rests on top of the ballast. There are odd symbols inscribed all over this obelisk. (edited)

15:00

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - as you get closer to the small camp that the elves and PCs have created, some elves look at you with astonishment and move away, holding their noses!

ATACIUS enthusiasm sinks like a stone in the water when he sees thier reaction. He will go back to the ship and mark the place by carving a DO NOT ENTER with his dagger. Then he will grab a piece of skin and dried flesh before going back.

"Well isnt' this interesting @Cynric I wonder what @Graian and the rest of the elves will make of these odd symbols" // @DM (Michael/Chgowiz) - these symbols don't match anything we found in the catacombs earlier right?

Yes, very interesting. I would be happy to help, but I don’t much about religions or other languages.

TAKASHI, wary of the skeletons in the boat but curious nonetheless, will examine them more carefully and closely. Do the clothes they wear show any heraldry? Any pockets or other items of interest?

Do I see where the obelisk stood when it was standing? Or was it some freight into the ship? (edited)

@TAKASHI (Alan) - there is hardly any clothing left, so there are no pockets or any indication of who they might have been. Only scraps and bits that are faded. They were a darker cloth, but are now a dirty gray. The boat itself is unremarkable, aside from the fact that it is connected to the smaller ship. One thing you do note are what appear to be gouges of some sort along the top edge of the boat, at the stern.

09:39

@Cynric - There are ropes and leather straps still attached to it. Perhaps that means it was freight? @CALLIN - the symbols are as indecipherable as the script you saw in the temple, but they don't look to be the same.

09:41

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - having returned back to the camp, Almanin and Indrian approach you carefully, holding cloth in front of their noses and mouths. "My friend, what happened?!" Almanin exclaims. "What did you find? Is that the source of that horrible stench?" He points to the skin and flesh, which, by the way, has left a very pleasant cloud of strawberry scent around you.

ATACIUS "That seem to be the case!" exclaims the littleling, a hint of dismay in his voice. "I thought this strawberry scent was a blessing, but looks like a crude joke! Perhaps it's a curse or some kind of sorcery! Will I always smell like this?" He throws his arms to the sky and sits on the sand staring at the horizon.

"Strawberries!" Almanin and Indrian both exclaim. "If only that were the case my friend, but I've not smelled that sort of odor since my days of sailing and stumbling onto a carcass of a deep sea swimmer!" Indrian chuckles. "I'm not sure why you're smelling sweet fruit. Where did you find this skin at?"

09:50

(She makes sure NOT to touch it)

ATACIUS "I was in that ship over there! I think the ship was transporting a strange creature to or from some menagerie. Maybe it was attacked by the same creature that attacked us and then the ship crashed into the island." the littleling tells the elves standing up.

Cyncic shouts " GRAIAN, sirs Elves, would you come to see this obelisk? What do you think? Does it, or the writings on it, mean something to you?" (edited)

GRAIAN turns around and looks at where Callin and Cynric are, "Angon, our services are needed, maybe there is more to see here after all. Shall we?" He starts walking towards the ships.

Bellesh heads over to where he's hearing the shouting coming from.

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - Indrian looks like she is curious, but the smell is making her hesitate to investigate. Do you want her to come with you? @Graian and @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)/BELLESH - following CYNRIC's shout, you climb onto and into the ship that is lying mostly on its side. The hold is a tangle of debris, but your eyes are drawn to the gleaming, golden obelisk jutting out. CALLIN and CYNRIC are standing next to it, and it's obviously larger than they are.

"Wow, look at that!", Bellesh exclaims, "Do you think it's made of real gold?" He moves closer to see if he can recognize the script.

TAKASHI will make note of the seemingly acceptable life boat, and move over towards where the others are gathered in front of the obelisk. "Now THAT would be difficult to get back home, I think!"

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)/BELLESH - it's as strange of a script as what you saw in the temple. Not quite the same, but close. Angon, who accompanied @Graian, nods at @TAKASHI (Alan)'s statement. "It would require a crane, to be sure. While we could probably approach this harbor, with the wreckage, it would be tricky." She looks at the warrior. "What did you find?"

ATACIUS "If you want to come and see be warned you can end up like this..." he warns the elf. "...but I'll be thankful if you can find how to get rid of it!"

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) Is the obelisk made of stone, of golden color, or is it pure gold, the metal?

GRAIAN moves through the debris and examines the obelisk and symbols.

It appears to be gold, whether it's gold leaf or solid, you'll need to examine it closely to figure it out

@Graian - This is fine craftsmanship. Despite the rough handling, many of the details and carvings still look like they were just finishing. There are enough gouges and indentations from the shipwreck that this appears to be solid gold - or an extremely thick layer of gold! The symbols are definitely not arcane, and they resemble the script that you saw in the temple of Zorus - but not quite the same either. There are different figures on this obelisk.

"Solid... gold? Doesn't that mean that we're rich?" Bellesh asks softly, eyes bulging.

« Maybe we could pull it out if we tie it well. We should try to haul this golden obelisk » says Cynric.

Angon chuckles. "It would certainly pay for a few Searches for the future, should our Search here find us a direction to the Elven homeland!"

@SouthernSeas - what would you like to do now?

What did Indrian do? Did she go to investigate with ATACIUS?

Aha! I missed that post! Indrian will indeed come with you, but she will take great pains in avoiding the creature's remains. She looks at the carcass and shakes her head. "What a mess." she says. "It could be a deep swimmer. It's very rare, maybe once a generation, but we will snag one in our lines. They're an odd looking creature, and no two seem to be the same. I've heard stories that they have strange properties, but nothing about a smell." And she glances at you with an odd look. However, at some point, she must have come into contact with whatever causes the odor. She sniffs the air with a curious look on her face. "Why am I smelling riverberries?" she asks. What you notice is a HORRIBLE smell coming from her now!

1

Almanin has followed @ATACIUS (Gabriel) and Indrian and upon hearing her say "deep swimmer", he calls out (having stayed out of the wreck) "If you've found a deep one, collect some bones! They can be used for the inks needed for mages to inscribe incantations!"

ATACIUS gives Indrian a sorry look as he grimaces. "I'm afraid that's not how riverberries smell my friend." (Do I still smell strawberries?) He turns to Almanin as he speaks and give him the "why don't you pick them yourself" look. "If the mages can remove this awful smell afterwards, I'll get you all the bones you need!"

Indrian gives @ATACIUS (Gabriel) a look of horror. "Oh no... ". Yes, you still smell strawberries when you are not within ten feet or so of Indrian, but when you're near her, that horrible smell coming from her overpowers the sweet smell. Almanin catches a whiff of you both and gulps and backs up. "Well... umm... I can tell you that many will pay well for such things... and I'm sure it will wear off soon..."

"Oh they will pay handsomely, yes they will..." he says to Almanin. "C'mon Indrian, let's get those bones. There's nothing we can do now and it can't get any worse, right?"

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - Indrian explains that you both will have to find something to wrap the bones in so that the smell doesn't escape. Perhaps back at the main camp, like a barrel or chest or something. @ATACIUS please roll a d10 and tell me what you get.

TAKASHI responds to Angon's query - "I found a small boat that seems to be in fairly good shape except for the skeletal remains of two humanoids, and apparent markings on the gunwales. Perhaps a sea creature attempted to grasp and sink the boat, or its contents?"

« Maybe our friend Atacius could look closely at the obelisk to see if there is something like a hidden compartment somewhere on it. If there is not, we could hide the obelisk under some feet of sand and note with precision where it is, and come back later with the proper ship and tools to bring it back to civilization », Cynric continues.

"IF the symbols mean nothing, I would suggest coming back for it when we have a proper ship to load it upon. We should instead continue to explore

Agreed

Angon nods in agreement with @CALLIN. Meanwhile, after collecting the bones, @ATACIUS (Gabriel) and Indrian return to the camp with Almanin, who is keeping a distance from the two. The other elven scouts whistle in astonishment as they take in the smell from the littleling and elf leader. "What have you done, o' Indrian!" they call out in amusement, while holding their noses. "You and the littleling have found something quite pungent!" (edited)

ATACIUS Will grab one of the bones and chase the mocking elves. "Come here and I will show you how pungent!" (edited)

The elves run away and soon it has turned into a game of hide and seek as they find bits of debris and some of the smaller ships to hide from @ATACIUS (Gabriel). Indrian takes several dips in the ocean and scrubs at her skin with sand, but the smell is still very present. @SouthernSeas - what do you want to do now, having explored some of the ships. The sun is setting on the day.

11:53

@TAKASHI (Alan) - Angon goes over to the boat with you and looks around at the skeletons (respectfully) and the scratches. To her, they seem smaller than a creature, perhaps the former passengers made those marks?

« We should sleep for now and resume our exploration with Herm tomorrow. I volunteer to take the first watch. », says Cynric.

CALLIN wants to avoid antyhing that @ATACIUS (Gabriel) and Indrian have touched, and head back with ships to our camp. We can load up and cross in the morning with fresh eyes, wits and perhaps smell...

Mid of night, 56th/57th day of Summer, 57AD @TAKASHI (Alan) - you awake to moans and calls for help. Should you look, the sounds are coming in the direction of the small boat you investigated, although you can't see it from where you are at. @SouthernSeas - everyone else, the elves are sleeping soundly, so close to the sea, with the ocean waves lulling them to a deep rest. It could be that those sounds are peaceful to you? Or not? You do not hear the sounds that TAKASHI is hearing, however. (edited)

Bellesh looks worried. "Takashi, do you think maybe you're hearing those sounds because of that... thing, what hit you in the city before?"

Always ready to help, Cynric makes sure his armor is in place, draws his scimitar, and takes his shield. He adds: "Do you want us to go see what is the origin of this mysterious sound? "

TAKASHI looks towards the boat, and then rouses his friends. "I'm not sure what is making those noises, but I feel it would be wise to investigate. Wake an elf or two to keep sentry while we look, please."

10:44

After making sure that one or two sets of elven eyes are on the camp, TAKASHI will make his way carefully over towards the small boat he investigated earlier, prepared with sword in hand just in case.

BELLESH will see if he can borrow a torch or lamp from someone to light up and follows behind.

Cynric follows his friends.

@TAKASHI (Alan) - the elves are puzzled, as they don't hear any sounds. Indrian summons the guards and they report no movement or activity on the island or in the city as far as they can tell. None have ventured over the bridge yet. @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) / BELLESH has a torch from the campfire. The flickering light makes weird shadows on the wreckage as you wind your way through it. @Cynric - you are the most armored one here, following behind. @TAKASHI (Alan) - the moaning and shouts become more frantic as you get closer to the area. When you arrive, the boat is there on the beach, but it is also in the water! The boat in the water is occupied by two figures, an older man and woman. It is hard to make them out, but you can see their frantic motions and gestures as they look around them in a panicked manner. Your wound from the wraith is very cold.

CALLIN will gear himself up. "Indeed friend if you hear something let us go investigate" CALLIN will go with @TAKASHI (Alan) and if he can see the the two figures I will do my best to see what is making the moaning sounds. Now that I am awake do I hear the moaning and shouts?

@CALLIN You do not hear any sounds, nor do you see what TAKASHI is seeing. Only the empty ocean reflecting the stars, and the empty small boat on the beach, with the two inanimate skeletons slumped over inside.

CALLIN will stare off across the water adn then look to his old friend @TAKASHI (Alan) "What is it that you hear? I see nothing but open water"

"It is as if I am seeing a vision from the past... Two people in this boat but freshly arrived on these shores, an older man and woman. They are scared and confused... Perhaps this is a vision from the doom that came to Ramathia?"

11:23

TAKASHI rubs the wound the wraith gave him, attempting to restore some little warmth back into it. "Damned wound is cold as the grave, as if it wants to lead me there itself!"

@TAKASHI (Alan) - the man is a wiry man with a thin moustache. He looks straight at you, and he begins rowing hard in your direction! He stops screaming and starts saying something, but you can't quite make it out. What will you do?

14:26

@SouthernSeas - for everyone else - the air around TAKASHI becomes cold and you can see his breath! What will you do?

BELLESH looks around to see if someone is casting a spell at Takashi, thinking he might be able to counter it. "Takashi... are you okay?"

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) / BELLESH - how would you feel or know if a spell was being cast? What would that look/feel like?

To his experience, it would be someone waving their hands, fingers, and arms in certain way, and probably chanting arcane words.

BELLESH definitely does not see anyone doing such act - it is just you all and the elves here - Herm is back at the elven camp, sleeping soundly.

So no hidden casters as far as Bellesh can tell. He'll bring the torch over by Takashi, in case he needs to warm himself. The young mage will also look at the spot where Takashi was wounded, trying to figure out what's going on.

TAKASHI, seeing the ghostly man try and make his way towards him, will wade into the shallow water to try and bring the "boat" in to shore gently. "I see you, friend. Be calm, for I am here to help..."

Callin will draw out his holy symbol and start chanting a prayer. "May the LiGHT shine upon us and wash away the darkness. May the light warm the cold of wounds passed. May the LiGHT guide us and restore us. May it vanish those not meant to be. //Turn undead

Cynric drops his shield on the beach, and follows Takashi into the ocean, scimitar out. He’s ready to act upon any threat that could harm Takashi, even to grab him if he’d fall into the water.

@Cynric - you see TAKASHI step out into the water, but you don't see anything else. You are not seeing what he's seeing.

@TAKASHI (Alan) - As you finish your words "I am here to help...." both the man and woman look at you and now you hear their words. "... the black... the black... the black..." Their mouths open wide, and continue to open beyond what a normal mouth should be able to open! Their eyes go wide and their iris roll back! A blackness pours from their mouths, their eyes, their noses and ears! What will you do? The rest of you... see CALLIN raise his holy symbol and utter his prayer, and although a light shines from the holy symbol, it is small and as dim as a candle.

« What do you see, TAKASHI? Are we in danger? Is there someone there? »

TAKASHI quickly backs away from what he can't quite believe he is seeing. "The blackness oozes from their eyes, mouth, and nose like foulness seeping from a wound. GET BACK!"

When he hears Takashi’s warning, Cynric quickly backs to the beach, where are standing the others.

@TAKASHI (Alan) - Your wraith wound BURNS with a chill. You probably can describe how it hurts far better than I could. The black flows over the sides of the boat and onto the surface of the ocean like a viscous oil slick, but absorbing all of the light from the stars, BELLESH's torch and CALLIN's holy symbol. The man and woman claw and scratch at the seat and the gunwale, leaving deep scratches as they rend their nails and tips of fingers into bloody shreds. Their skin begins to dissolve and their monotone chant of "the black... the black..." is lost in a gurgling choke, which then stops. The rest of you... see TAKASHI lurch backwards, and there is a faint patina of frost on the water when he steps on the beach. The air around him steams like an ice cube plunged into warm water. What will you do?

CALLIN feeling the cold wrap around @TAKASHI (Alan) fears for his friends safety. Looking at the dim glow on his Holy Symbol CALLIN sees that this force is dark and strong. He gathers his will and begins chanting this time stronger, more clip to his words, more force in his voice. "May the LIGHT shine upon thee my Friend, may it shield you from the darkness, may it bathe you in its warmth! May it wash away the fear and doubt, and fill you with Hope and resolve!" CALLIN will cast LIGHT on @TAKASHI (Alan) Sending with it all CALLINS Hope, Faith and Will into his friend.

09:22

CALLIN is also prepared for that cold to burn him and will not remove his hand and take whatever pain is required to help his friend

@CALLIN - as you cast the spell, a horrible sight is suddenly revealed to you by the power of the Light (and spell!). A wave of utter blackness is sweeping from a swirling vortex of strange energy that is floating above the water about twenty feet from the shoreline. The black is like I described to TAKASHI, a viscous looking area that is inexorably moving towards you both! What will you do now?

Bellesh takes off his cloak and is prepared to wrap it around Takashi, looking more and more concerned. (edited)

CALLIN will step in front of @TAKASHI (Alan) and with Shield and Holy Symbol held aloft. // Does it seem to be coming from the boat? Or from somewhere else in the water? (edited)

Cynric goes back where Callin is standing, readying his weapon, to make sure to be at the right place to help his fellow party members if they need.

@CALLIN - the boat is behind you, on the beach. You are not seeing the boat/figures that TAKASHI sees, only the darkness. @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) / BELLESH - you don't see what TAKASHI and CALLIN are seeing! (I'll assume you're not casting then.) @Cynric - as you get close to TAKASHI, you feel like you've stepped into a freezing mist. @CALLIN and @TAKASHI (Alan) - the black is moving quickly, sweeping up into a wave form that towers several feet above and before you! It crashes down...

CALLIN stands in defiance of the black wave Holy Symbol held high. "The LIGHT shines upon me, it shatters the darkness, the LIGHT protects and warms us, down to the core. Our Faith shall not waiver or break, We shall stand against the darkness and rise against it as the sun rises each day. We shall cast the darkness away!"

TAKASHI draws Flinnigan's revenge, that blade found deep in the depths of that other foul dungeon close to Appleton, remembering how it's light seemed to cleave the darkness and brought peace to Flinnigan's deceased wife. He wields it with confidence, and attempts to cleave the dark wave in two, a fierce glint in his eye. "You'll not take me without my say, damn you to hell!"

@CALLIN / @TAKASHI (Alan) - what would it look like if you managed to hold off the darkness from sweeping over you? (and I haven't forgotten the failed save... )

CALLIN's Holy symbol would ignite into a glorious light that would in turn trigger the Light in Sir Flinniagn's shield causing the LIGHT to sear through the night sky. To everyone else it would simply be like CALLIN turned into the sun lighting the world around them. But to himself and @TAKASHI (Alan) it would be like searing the edges of the dark wave that comes crashing in, as it attempts to slam on top of them it would simply part around the light, sizzling away and recoiling from the light. More would wash over the Shield, but not break past. CALLIN would stand legs quivering, sweat pouring from his face from the FIGHT going on will against will. Faith against darkness. His shield held high to battle against that wave of darkness. // At least that is my thoughts

(edited)

1

TAKASHI would see the darkness part as the sword swept through it, and then notice as the cut continued to disintegrate the dark wave until it receded.

Nice! couldn't have described it better myself. @CALLIN - you feel a warmth come over you and images of humans, elves, littlelings all standing together, hands joined, flash in front of you and then fade in a bright light, which then fades and you are again seeing the ocean, the horizon and the starry sky. @TAKASHI (Alan) - the warmth from CALLIN's Light washes over you and for a moment, the freezing cold seems to recede. The black vanishes, the boat is once again on the beach, the inanimate skeletons lying in it. Then... you feel weak! (You have suffered a temporary CON loss of 4 points. How TAKASHI would react to that? You will recover it at the rate of 1 CON/day that you have rest and no combat/major activity. If you do have those activities, it simply stays at the current rate, which would continue once you are resting again.)

13:21

The rest of you ... See CALLIN and TAKASHI "fight" against something, with CALLIN casting a spell and wielding his shield and holy symbol, along with TAKASHI wielding his sword. (see above!!!) Angon and Almanin react with shouts! Indrian calls out to the other elves to be ready and draws her sword. Everyone is looking about, but they see nothing, which alarms the elves even more.

Once the battle is over, CALLIN will look behind him to his friend @TAKASHI (Alan) seeing that he is weak but still alive and breathing, CALLIN will fall to his knees exhausted! Hands sinking into the sand breathing heavy as the sweat drips down into the sand turning it into small pools of mud. " @TAKASHI (Alan) " he pants "are .... are you ok"

Bellesh, having backed away from Takashi when he drew his sword, will approach him and Callin again... cautiously. "It wasn't... Him, was it?" (edited)

Cynric asks « What was that darkness? Is it some foul creature that wants us to fail in our mission to help the Elves? »

CALLIN rocks back to his knees still panting but answers @Cynric "It is that which feeds the undead Cynric. It poisons those bodies whos souls have passed on to the LIGHT. Some can even harness that dark power and cause lasting wounds." CALLIN casts a sad glance to his friend @TAKASHI (Alan) "Be wary of their power, and keep your Faith strong in the LIGHT, for it will always shine bright and cast away the darkness should you have Faith" CALLIN will take a few moments more to gather his strength and stand back up heading to @TAKASHI (Alan) to see what he can do for his friend.

@SouthernSeas (I'll wait to hear from everyone that they're ready before continuing on. In case y'all might want to discuss what just happened and tend to TAKASHI.) (edited)

(Doesn't look like they feel like talking about it much right now; I'm ready to move on.)

" @TAKASHI (Alan) are you ok? Can you stand?"

TAKASHI stumbles to his knees as he feels the strength ebb from his body, just as the darkness ebbed from the light back to where it came from. "That ... thing... stole something from me. Similar to the undead we encountered before. I need to rest and sleep."

TAKASHI will struggle up from the sand, and take one last look into the boat of the dead before heading back.

CALLIN will help @TAKASHI (Alan) up and help get him back to camp.

Cynric helps as well, while staying alert in case of something coming back to attack Takashi.

13:18

He adds: « Do you think we sould bury the skeletons, to ensure their souls rest in peace?”

@TAKASHI (Alan) - wedged underneath the seat where the skeletons sit, caught by a flicker of BELLESH's torch, you see what appears to be a leather-bound journal with a metal clasp. It is black and hard to see, the glint of the lock just catches your eye. (edited)

"Wait one second..." TAKASHI will reach into the boat and try to get his hands on the leather-bound tomre. "What could this be? Perhaps something from the end times of Ramathia itself?"

Cynric approaches to look at the book, alongside Takashi. (edited)

The book is bound in black leather. The surface is cracked, dried with age and exposure. The paper looks to be wrinked and fragile, perhaps wet at one point, as some of the pages stick together. The book falls open to the last entry. It is written hurriedly, the ink blotting and smearing in some spots. "29th Summer, 1165 The captain has decided that we are to be removed from the ship. Another two crewmen disappeared last night and she has had enough. She says that the mages of Ramathia can settle our fate. Viola is frightened. She fears the little boat that they are going to force us into will be swamped. I don't know why the captain believes any are alive in Ramathia. The mountain burns. The city burns. We have heard brief moments of screaming or shouting? It's so hard to tell. I'm so tired. So is Viola. We don't sleep at night, only the <smear> is there, when we close our eyes. In the black of sightlessness, <smear> no hope. Only <smear> death awaits all of us. I only wish Viola hadn't come with me on that damn expedition... The first mate is knocking on the cabin door and Viola holds the door shut, begging for our lives. I must go now." There is more to the journal, but it will take time (and better light) to get through it. (edited)

« These people seem to have met a terrible death. Let’s get back to the campsite to read the rest of this book. », adds Cynric.

"Aye. I desperately need some rest, and fresh eyes to examine the book in the morning."

Bellesh's hands twitch towards the book for a moment, but then Takashi's words register and he nods with a sigh, and heads back to his sleeping roll. Before falling asleep, he lets everyone know about the slippery substance that he and Jellesh had found, and resolves to go have another look at those creatures that seem to have been responsible for it in the morning.

57th day of Summer, 57AD The day dawns hot, as if summer is reluctant to give up on it's claim to the season, despite what the calendar says. The elves rouse themselves and prepare to break camp. Herm is already up and is performing what appear to be marching drills, calling out cadences and commands while he performs them. Do any of you spell-casters wish to change/memorize different spells before we continue? (edited)

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) Graian will keep his default set today.

18:37

As they are having breakfast GRAIAN suggests that they examine the book a little more before leaving the camp, "There may be some useful information that could give us more clues about what happened here."

Bellesh is fine with his current spell list. (edited)

Cynric sits near Graian to hear what long lost knowledge might come from that book.

The book is very fragile, it requires a very light touch to look through. By the time you are finished, it is midday. The book is written by a human man named Samuel, who is married to a human woman named Viola. The journal covers a period of two years, before the Doom and then immediately after. Viola was an assistant to a mage named Gellinis. Gellinis sent Viola all over the island of Ramathia in search of odd items - roots, rocks and animals for spell components. She was apparently quite good at it! Samuel would accompany her on many of these trips and it seems that at first, they were happy. @Graian , you recognize that as time goes on, the components that Viola was being sent to collect were more dangerous to obtain and linked to darker magicks! Some of these trips required the assistance of magical potions and spells, and an apprentice mage named Hester would accompany her. Samuel also began to have doubts about these trips, but Viola assured him over and over that Gellinis was a good and trustworthy man. Gellenis then sent Viola to investigate a series of caves that lay near the (then dormant) volcano. Samuel was not thrilled about this at all. His grandparents had been of the people who lived outside Ramathia, and they spoke of the volcano with a great deal of respect, and of the caves with a mixture of reverence and fear. He grew up with stories of "the fire god" and of "the black shadows" when he was a young boy and he shares his fears in his writings. (edited)

12:40

... Then the narrative changes. Or at least the tone that Sameul writes in. Where his earlier writings were full of love and happiness and his hopes for the future, the entries change to read cold. Almost factual. Hester lost his life exploring these caves in investigating a "strange set of ruins", Samuel never found his body. There's also references to Samuel being hired by Gellinis to explore the caves and make a map. Gellenis was sending Samuel at a frantic pace into them to explore further, Viola coming with him. Then, the entries stop, for nearly a year. When Samuel picks up pen again, it is just after the weeks of The Doom, as Ramathia is beginning to evacuate its citizens. Samuel and Viola take refuge on a ship that is remaining outside the area of ash and debris from the volcanic eruptions, to rescue any that make it. Crewmen start disappearing under strange circumstances over the period of several days and Samuel made reference to "the blackness" and "Malachai's wrath". Bits of emotion come through, but these are full of regret, sadness and fear. Angon has been reading along with you and once you're done with the narrative, she shakes her head. "This place seems truly accursed. With the unliving, the destruction, the wreckage and the mad." She glances at Herm who is busy setting up a "fortified position to repel invaders" by stacking broken bits of wood on top of each other. (edited)

CALLIN is ok with his spell selections

1

"That is well said, Angon. I fear that these folk stirred up forced beneath the earth that awoke and took their vengeance on this island. Do any of you know what Malachai's wrath might refer to?"

Angon shakes her head. "No, I do not, perhaps a local legend?" She looks at Almanin who shrugs his shoulders.

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) During any of my religious studies did I ever cover other theologies to better convert those to the LIGHT and if so, did Malachai ever come up?

@CALLIN - based on your experience and who you are, I think it's very likely you have heard of some of the pagan gods, and this one would have been mentioned. A god of lies and secret plots, of hidden knives and treachery. However you heard of him, through old wives' tales or stories, that's up to you!

Maybe we should ask Herm about those caves. He might know where to look for the entrance... if we decide to go exploring them.

@Cynric - Herm has built a sand berm inside his debris-wood fort and is peering out looking for "invaders". He motions you to join him, putting his finger to his lips. "Shhh.... THEY might hear you!"

Cynric answers the call and goes to Herm. “Can I get inside your fort?”, he asks? (edited)

Herm waves you in and bids you to hunker down. "They come, you know. Sometimes you'll see them on the ramparts. They don't cross the bridge, probably because they know I am here and will stop them!" When you look towards the city, you can indeed see that there are short merlons at the top of the wall. Nothing is there though.

Cynric whispers: "Who are the ones you fear? The invaders of the city that you escaped long ago?"

Herm, seeing that @Cynric is serious, nods and drops his voice a whisper. "The bonewalkers and the unliving in flames are the ones to watch out for. Other things too... I used to hear of things living in the sewers, of a King of Garbage, of all sorts of creepies and ghoulies that you don't want to run into. THEY know I'm here, they're going to come for me. I know it!"

"Forewarned is forearmed", adds Cynric in the same tone, implying to totally agree with Herm . "To your knowledge, were those monsters originally coming from the volcano? From the Underworld near the volcano?"

Over the course of an hour, Herm proceeds to explain to you how the madness overtook the city of Ramathia - probably a combination of hysteria and the effects of the captured elemental avatar that the mages had imprisoned at the University. Once it escaped and rampaged through the city, those who were burned or killed seemed to fall into the state of unliving, and strange creatures arose who were wreathed in flame or seemed to be made of flame. Herm isn't sure exactly, but as a witness to seeing the events unfold, he tells them to you in a clear and (mostly) sane sounding voice. One effect that the creature had was to destroy the area that it had been imprisoned in. Now there is just a huge hole whose bottom is a bubbling lake of lava. When it reached the temple area, and had destroyed several of the temples, it returned to the hole and sank into the lava. Herm is convinced it still lives there. The undead were formed mostly from militia and military forces that had attempted to stop the elemental, or who were killed. They still exist and patrol the city. There were a few survivors left in the city, but they were quickly cut down by the unliving. Those few who managed to get out... Herm believes they went to join the "jungle dwellers". Then Herm proceeds to tell you that there is a cave system near the volcano! It lies on the western side of the island. It is hard to approach by either foot or by sea, the former goes near dangerous vents and close to the volcano's crater; the latter goes through razor sharp reefs formed by the lava. The caves were the focus of many stories and myths, but Herm wasn't a student of history or fantasy, so he didn't pay them much mind. He's not sure if the rumored creatures in the sewers came from the stories of the caves, or if they were true.

14:10

Prior to the Doom falling, he had seen several corpses of dog-sized rats and other strange looking creatures brought from the sewers, and the legend of the "King of the Garbage Pit" was very well known to all, although never substantiated. It could have been a Thieves Guild leader, or just the fancy of the less fortunate who made the sewers their home.

"That must have been scary times for you", Cynric adds. "You have been very courageous to stay here and watch. Why didn't you join the jungle people? Wouldn't you have been safer there?"

Herm starts to stand, then bumps his head on the wood and nearly topples the fort! He hunches over as dignified as possible. "I am an officer of the Watch and Court! I will not abandon my post!" and he clicks his heels together.

"You are a man of honor, I understand. I've been the esquire of a knight before coming with these adventurers, and nothing would have me leave that knight without his consent", Cynric adds before thanking Herm and leaving him at his watch. Cynric goes back to the others and tells them what he just learned.

Bellesh is miffed by the news. "So the one place what we wanted to find most has been burned down and turned into a lake of lava? That's just great!"

« Hum... If there’s a chance that there would be former residents of Ramathia living with those Herm calls the Jungle Dwellers, one option could be to search for them in the jungle, with the hope to learn exactly what we’re searching for », Cynric adds, almost thinking aloud.

"I fear that we won't find anything in the way of historical documents down in the cave near fire and lava - only more death."

"Where do we go to next then, Takashi? We could look for folks what survived out in the jungle, like Cynric says, but I don't think we met any when we were with those people before..."

"Historical documents?" Herm interrupts, having walked up behind CYNRIC. "Historical documents, you say? Why, the Royal Records had many historical documents! Deeds! Proclamations! Birth Records! The Princess wanted them all saved, but we knew that there was so little time to get away. Yes, and that is why she's returned aha! To see the records and restore the city! Yes, Princess, I will take you there!" he proclaims, sweeping a bow before Claudia. He then straightens up. "Of course, there are the unliving ... "

CALLIN polishes his holy symbol at that comment. "We can stand against the unliving should we need too. But it is best to avoid them if we can."

Bellesh nods in agreement with CALLIN and says "Yeah, we can beat 'em! Or, at least, go around. And I can help to protect the Princess too." Grinning at her, he does his best to mimic Herm's bow to Claudia. "Besides," he continues, "finding those Royal Records sounds like the best way to learn about the history of the elves here. Right, Angon?"

TAKASHI shivers uncontrollably at the mention of the undead, as a sharp jolt of cold courses through his body. "If you can lead us there, then perhaps that is our best way forward. We thank you for your bravery."

« Agreed », says Cynric, also looking somewhat fearful to meet these undeads, as he never saw creatures like this before. (edited)

Angon and Indrian look concerned. "Do we want to risk the unliving?" Indrian asks. "I would not want to travel openly." Herm frowns and mutters to himself, kicking some sand around. "Can't sneak in, too many. Have to fly or burrow..."

"Do you know of a way to enter in the city by an underground path?", asks Cynric to Herm. (edited)

"Into? No, just by the bridge here, or the front gates, but those are guarded by the unliving! There might be breaches in the wall from the volcano, you know. There were the sewers once in the city but... " and he shivers. (edited)

Graian listens to the exchange, "We have made it in and out before, does take some care. Now we know where we are going, " he looks at Herm with a little concern showing, "it will be better than our blind wandering earlier." (edited)

Bellesh nods. "I think so too, and better than the sewers... yuck" he says, making a face. "Herm... did you say something about flying? Did the people have a way to fly into the city back then?" He glances over at Jellesh's wings.

The day before, ATACIUS kept his distance during all the ordeal at the beach involving CALLIN and TAKASHI. He then spent the nigth at some distance from the group, not wanting his foul smell to disturb the rest. Is the smell still there the next morning? If so, he will go to Indrian and see how she's doing.

"Herm . Should we find a way in avoiding the unliving...as we have done before, could you still guide us once inside?"

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - Will you do anything to try to reduce the smell?

08:40

@CALLIN - Herm straightens up to attention. "We shall fight them in the streets, we shall fight them in the alleys, we shall fight them building to building and we will never give in to our foes!" he says gravely. He has a small stick in his hand that he grips like a weapon. He points to Apinro with a grin. "That young feller knows how to hide from things. HE will be my assistant." Herm looks around for other volunteers.

08:41

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) Herm gives a laugh. "All the mages fly, don't cha know. Archmagister Jotellen used to fly... " and he drops his voice to a loud whisper with an apologetic glance at Claudia "... without undergarments. Scandalous!"

"With Herm's guidance, Anpiro's ablilities and Callin's holy symbol, I feel confident. The Light will protect us and we will be able to help our elven friends. I'm in!" adds Cynric.

CALLIN nods to @Cynric "May the LIGHT shine upon us all in this quest"

ATACIUS will wash and rub sand to take the smell away. If that doesn't work he will ask Apinro for help. Maybe there's some plant that will do the trick.

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - upon approach, Apinro wrinkles his nose, and then bursts out laughing. He holds his nose, but takes you by the arm over to the beach. He grabs clumps of wet seagrass and drapes it over you. After a few minutes, the sweet smell of strawberries lessens. He motions that you're to keep wearing the seagrass on your shoulders and around your neck. Indrian just shakes her head ruefully and copies what you're doing... and sure enough, the smell is greatly reduced!

Herm indicates that the first order of business is to move across the bridge into the city.

BELLESH: "I'm ready!"

CYNRIC: « Ready! »

"Ready." Shudder

Callin makes sure his holy symbol clean and ready adjusts his gear and nods "ready"

GRAIAN "Once more we go."

Midday, 57th day of Summer, 57AD The elves strike camp efficiently while Herm goes off to "prepare" for entering the city. After awhile, he returns, dressed in a ragged, stained orange and white tunic that bears the heraldry of the city of Ramathia. He has a battered metal cap on his head and he is bearing what looks like a wooden sword. He marches up and attempts to usher everyone into "parade order" but is mostly unsuccessful. Eventually, Angon and Almanin walk on either side of him and persuade him to allow the elves to scout out first. The bridge is wide with ramps that lead up to it. At the far end is a gatehouse, not quite as imposing as the one you saw earlier, but sturdy looking nonetheless. To the left, behind the city wall, appears to be a keep with three towers peeking over the wall. To the right, you can see what appear to be ordinary buildings, though of a finer look than the buildings you've seen up to now. Herm holds up his sword as if to signal to march. "So, ye be wanting to go to the Keep, to Magister Perry's house or... to the hole?" At that last option, he shudders a bit but regains his confidence and nods. "Which are we off to?"

CYNRIC « The Royal Records that you talked about earlier, Herm, where would you think they were kept? At the Keep or at the Magister’s house? »

1

Herm pauses, with his sword help up. "Well, that be in the Keep!" he answers proudly.

"Ok, to the Keep and then to Magister Perry's after that if we can", Bellesh adds, "he was supposed to be really interested in history, you said."

"Agreed, let us make our way to the keep"

"And let us hope to miss any restless undead."

As you approach the gatehouse, several of Indrian's scouts are already peering through ruined gates that are still hanging by their rusty hinges, but smashed open. They signal that it is safe to continue. Stepping through the gates, you see a tunnel-like walkway that leads into the city. The walls to the left and right are as high as they are on the outside of the city. Before you are scattered inanimate skeletons scattered thickly across the walkway. It appears that the city's inhabitants were fleeing and fell. The elven scouts gingerly and very slowly step around the bones. Herm lets out a subvocal moan, but still steps foward, slowly. Continue on?

Cynric adds:"Let's press on"

CALLIN insures that his Holy Symbol is at the ready and presses on

Bellesh continues on, trying to keep Jellesh from playing with the bones.

TAKASHI looks warily at the skeletons on the ground, then follows in the footsteps of the elven scouts.

Your advance is slow. The skeletons show signs of having been disturbed, perhaps by scavengers or someone passing through them. Like last time, Jellesh seems interested in playing with the remains, making it difficult for BELLESH to keep ahold of him to move forward! The elven scouts get to where the walkway enters into the city proper at a T intersection. The road appears as large as the main road you had traveled when you first entered the city. They signal back that all is clear. Looking to the left, in the direction of the keep, there is a plaza with a dry fountain in the middle, surrounded by inanimate skeletons. The gates of the keep look to be blocked by a portcullis. To the right, along the main road, there are many buildings, some of which appear to have burned or had their roofs and upper floors smashed. Apinro looks around and then in halting speech, gets the point across to Angon and GRAIAN that he has never been here before, that his people avoided coming here. He seems nervous. In answer to CYNRIC, Herm replies. "Why they were kept in the great libraries. There were several in the Keep, you know. Everyone loved to read!" (You are at the intersection, where the elves and Indrian have stopped to discuss.)

« I am sure there were many scholars in this great ancient city. » Cynric waves in the keep’s direction. « Are we going? »

"Maybe some of us can go back, climb the walls and find a way to lift that portcullis?" suggests the seagrass-wrapped littleling. (edited)

Indrian looks at @ATACIUS (Gabriel) with some concern. "Do you think it's safe, my friend? The last gate we encountered... " and she looks at TAKASHI with a grim look.

ATACIUS lifts a finger and opens his mouth to answer Indrian, but quickly dismiss the idea.

What would you like to do, @SouthernSeas?

"I will go help you open the Portculus @ATACIUS (Gabriel) " CALLIN says nodding

« I can help with that », adds Cynric

( @TAKASHI (Alan) , @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) , @Graian - any thoughts on what you'd like to do)

"I'm worried the opening the portcullis might be loud and draw attention to us from afar. If the gates haven't been moved in quite some time, then I imagine that they will be loud - don't you think?"

"Perhaps we should all scale the walls?

TAKASHI looks at the buildings closest to the keep - are they close enough to get over the walls?

BELLESH: "We should probably check out the fountain and the rest of the area on the way there first; make sure nothing nasty is around."

ATACIUS nods in approval at TAKASH's and BELLESH's comments.

Agreeing with his comrades, Cynric tells them that he will cautiously approach the first collapsed building to the right, and motions to do so. (edited)

@CALLIN For those heavily armored, it might be a difficult climb, but doable. @TAKASHI (Alan) - there are no buildings close to the keep wall, there's a gap of about 60' around the wall. The walkway you are in serves as part of that gap. On the other side of the keep, there's another large gap. @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)/BELLESH - from where you are at, it looks like there are skeletons lying on the ground. @Cynric - the building looks like something smashed into it from the front, and a good portion of it is rubble. Other buildings nearby look like they were hit as well, but not as bad. Debris, pieces of furniture and the occasional personal effects are on the ground in a jumble.

Cynric moves carefully and silently (or so he hopes) in the walkway, along the wall of the collapsed buildings to the right, towards the keep, to look inside the second building, to make sure there’s no one there.

The collapsed buildings are in the opposite direction of the Keep. Plaza <==*==>Collapsed Buildings and "residential" looking area Keep W -Wall- a -Wall- -Wall- -Wall- -Wall- -Wall- -Wall- Ocean l Ocean Ocean Ocean Ocean Ocean k w a y

19:12

There is nobody in the collapsed buildings - this happened many years ago.

Bellesh will cautiously approach the fountain to inspect it more closely, maintaining a distance of 10 feet or so.

TAKASHI and Claudia will move with BELLESH, making sure that he is protected if attacked. "The only other thing we might be able to look for is the sally port, an escape hatch that most keeps have."

Cynric [realizing his mistake

] follows Bellesh as well.

GRAIAN will go with Bellesh towards the fountain, keeping a keen eye open for any signs of movement around them.

CALLIN will move with the rest of the group as well to avoid a climb unless @ATACIUS (Gabriel) needs help

ATACIUS will move ahead staying with Apinro, watching the jungleman reactions as we enter the city.

This plaza is similar to the Temple plaza in the fine stonework and upscale feel to the place. It's also similar in that there are skeletons lying all about, although there are markedly fewer here than there were near the temples. The fountain, from afar, is tall with many small sculptures and what appear to be gold and silver embelleshments on it, though they look faded. There is no water flowing on it. As you get closer, you see that there's a flame dancing on the surface of the pooled water. Getting even closer, the water appears crystal clear, bright and clean. What will you do?

BELLESH seems intrigued by the flame and studies it with wonder. Does it seem to be giving off heat? He tosses a silver into the fountain for good luck.

Cynric approaches the fountain carefully and looks more closely at the sculptures. What do they evoke? Are they statues, or figures?

GRAIAN studies the flame to determine if he can understand what it is.

ATACIUS looks at the buildings surrounding the plaza, trying to figure out what they used to be.

TAKASHI is puzzled by the flaming water. "That is not something one sees every day." Does TAKASHI notice any bubbles in the liquid, or is it completely still?

The flame is almost transparent, but flickers with orange and yellow tips. It doesn't seem to give off heat, at least from where you are standing (next to the fountain pool). The water is not bubbling and aside from the flame that dances across the surface, appears to be still. It is clear and clean - no debris or even signs of anything in the pool. @Cynric - the sculptures are of stylized human faces - various emotions (happy, sad, mad) and male/female/androgynous genders. It looks like an older style of sculpture. They are very well detailed. @ATACIUS (Gabriel) - the buildings look more functional, maybe warehouses, armories, barracks? There are several entrances to each and the windows are barred. Although now, the doors hang open on several of them and it looks like some of the windows are broken. @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) /BELLESH - as soon as the silver coin touches the surface of the water, the flames begin to form a gyre! The water also mixes into the vortex. What will you do?

CALLIN will examine the flame. Is there anything like this in the Temples of the LIGHT? LIke an everlasting flame to show LIGHT in the darkness?

@CALLIN It resembles what you might imagine an everlasting flame might look like, but you get no divine sense from it, like you do when you've been around the Temples of Light and the Pools of Prayer within them.

"This does not have the presence of the LIGHT upon it. Perhaps it is of a magical construct?"

"It must be! Look how clean the water is, and no heat from the fire..." BELLESH gingerly extends his hand towards the fountain, and tries to dip his forefinger into the water and bring it back to his tongue, to test the taste.

14:33

He also tries to figure out more about the gyre. Does the silver coin seem to be the focal point?

Cynric looks cautiously in the fountain. Does he see the bottom? Is the coin still visible?

The gyre seems to react to @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)/BELLESH's touch! It moves closer to him, taller than half as compared to the young mage. It seems to be formed out of the water, but surrounded by the flame. BELLESH, you don't bring any water back to taste. When you withdrew your finger, nothing was on it. The coin is still on the surface. You can see the bottom - it is completely clean.

"Does this gyre have anything to do with the one we saw in the harbor, I wonder?"

BELLESH takes a slow step back, keeping his eyes on the gyre. "Is it... alive?"

ATACIUS will elbow Apinro and nod towards the nearest building. What are the elves doing?

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) and Apinro - the elves have spread out in a semicircle about 60 feet away from the fountain, between the fountain and the buildings. They are keeping an eye both on what is going on at the fountain and at the buildings. @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) /BELLESH - the gyre isn't as turbulent and the figure seems to have solidified a bit - inasmuch that the water doesn't seem to be like a vortex, but almost a solid. The flame has formed a nimbus around it. An odd whisper of a voice comes from it, sounding as if someone was speaking into a stream of flowing water. "A voice. A voice of man. After all this time, could it be?" (edited)

Bellesh frowns, peering intently into the figure, like he's looking for the source of the voice. "Yes," he replies softly, "there are men here, women too... who are you?"

Cynric waves to the people around him to lower the tone of their voice,so that Bellesh can hear clearly the voice that comes from the fountain. (edited)

CALLIN silences himself to listen to the former figure and @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) speak. //Is the form looking around or moving in anyway?

GRAIAN listens to the conversation between Bellesh and the figure.

The gyre started in a random position, but has moved deliberately towards BELLESH as it formed into the water-like figure outlined in the fire. So long, so, so long... no voices, no voices at all, just the wind and flame. And now... you are here! Here. Why? What brings you here?

"Well, we... we wanted to find out what happened; and to help the elves... they wanted to know about their history here."

"A seeker of what has been lost... searching for knowledge. Who are you, and those around you?"

"I'm not sure what you mean, we're just people... humans, elves, a littleling. I'm called Bellesh. Are you... were you once a person, too? I've never seen anything like you."

"I see... Bellesh. I am lonely, drawn here and yet alone. I found this place, after much darkness and flame. I remember... screams. Fear. Death. And now... you are here! Alive. So alive..."

"Well, um, let us know if we can help!" Bellesh says, waving for as many of the others as possible to come closer. "We can tell you what we've found out, and if you can try and remember as much as you can, maybe we can put the pieces together."

TAKASHI warily approaches the fountain, keeping an eye on the unnatural water.

Cynric moves closer to Bellesh, so that the Thing can « see » him.

CALLIN will examine the creature in the fountain. Does it feel unholy? Or simply magical?

GRAIAN will hang back a little, wary of the creature and not trusting its intent.

ATACIUS will peer into the nearest warehouse/barrack if Apinro goes with him.

@CALLIN - The LIGHT is clouded in your mind when you contemplate this creature. There is no clear path as to whether this creature is good or evil. It is very unnatural! @Cynric and @TAKASHI (Alan) - Claudia comes up behind you both and whispers "Is that the same flame that we saw on the unliving?" @ATACIUS (Gabriel) Apinro nods and you both approach one of the buildings. It is a mess on the inside, with furniture arranged in haphazard ways, as if it had pushed aside. There are tatters of tapestries and banners. Several skeletons lie here, with evidence of having worn leather and chain armor. Their weapons lie at their side, tarnished from the years. Apinro looks back at the folks around the fountain and then at you, grins and carefully walks into the structure. @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) / BELLESH Angon and Almanin approach as well, standing behind you and in front of @Graian. "BELLESH, be careful..." Almanin whispers. Indrian and the elves also move closer, but remain some distance away from the fountain in their semicircle. "Yesss... help me. I was in the dark, hungry... so hungry. The earth shook. My place... my home... lost! The rocks fell! I felt the water. I felt the fear. I came. I burned! I saw them, so many, dead. Dying. I'm lonely. I stay, my home. I still burn!"

“What do you think, @TAKASHI (Alan) TAKASHI? This thing speaks of Darkness, remembers many details but does not tell us it’s name... As if it was to be hidden from us. It said it burned... It seems to be a victim of the attack, not an attacker”, whispers Cynric, frightened.

"@Cynric , Claudia thinks that this flame resembles the one we saw on the unliving, though my memory of that is clouded. I would say that we should be extremely careful with this... being."

Bellesh keeps talking with it quietly, trying to understand. "Ok, well, maybe if your home is lost and you can't go back, maybe we can help you to make the best of your new home, here..."

"this does not bare the same coldness that slithers with the darkness of the unliving. It is not the same. Though if it can be trusted is yet to be seen" Callin says attempting to answer @Cynric @TAKASHI (Alan) and Claudia

"Are there more of you returning? Is man returning to the city?" The thing seems to ripple and shudder, it's mental voice in BELLESH's head sounds excited. "To have life around me again, to not be hungry, it would be wonderful."

15:06

@TAKASHI (Alan) , @CALLIN - Herm is looking suspiciously at the mass of water communicating with BELLESH. He's chewing his bottom lip, his eyes narrowed. You can hear him whispering "Think... think... this ... "

Belaldur turns to look at the others around him and asks, "Are you hearing all this? It's saying it wants to know if people are going to be coming back to the city again, so it won't be hungry."

CALLIN will take an subconscious step back. "Herm - what was this fountain before? What was this place?"

Cynric, seeing Herm’s reaction, tells Takashi and Claudia, in a whisper, that he does not trust this entity.

"It was the fountain of the Keep, a place for gathering, parades, festivals. It was a place of peace and celebration. Nothing like this in it..." Herm says, his eyes never leaving the mass of water. "Something about that thing in it tickles me though, something I should remember... something about below..."

TAKASHI thinks a moment. "It sounds as if this being perhaps lived below, and then when the doom came, it was forced from its home and had to come up here."

ATACIUS follows the junglaman into the abandoned building...

CALLIN will look around for a manhole or some other access point to below the street...

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - Apinro begins going through the junk, tossing aside weapons and other items. He picks up a ceramic mug that is intact and tucks it into his bag. He works his way across the room, peering at items and picking up odds and ends to look at them. He finds what appears to be a slide-whistle but doesn't seem to understand how it works, waving it around like a wand. What will you do? @CALLIN further away, towards the center of the plaza, there are two circular drainage grates. They appear heavy - metal and corroded. @TAKASHI (Alan) Herm nods... "You might be right... I wish this old brainpan had a few extra sparks... " @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) /BELLESH The thing quivers more. "Tell me, what will you do now that you are here?"

"I found some grates to head down below, perhaps we should have a look below to see where this thing came from?"

Cynric carefully approaches one of the grate, trying to evaluate if he would be able to lift it. He also listens if he hears any sound coming from inside the hole blocked by the grate.

Bellesh pauses for a minute, thinking. Finally, he replies, "Well, we're going to keep looking for that last knowledge. Do you think you could help us to find it? If we went back and told everyone we were successful, there might be a lot of people what would want to come back here, and then you'd never be alone again." (edited)

ATACIUS motions Apinro to give him the whistle, mimics the way to use it but put it away. He then tries to tell him "Not here. Later. Keep looking." in sign language.

TAKASHI approaches the fountain, to stand near BELLESH, and motions for Claudia to follow him. "What exactly do you need to feed upon? Perhaps we could help."

The elven scouts and Indrian, go over to @CALLIN to see what he's found. @Cynric - it looks like it would take some leverage, and perhaps something removing the corrosion, to get the grate up. @ATACIUS (Gabriel) Apinro looks disappointed when you take the whistle from him and you tuck it away. He nods after you motion to move around. Moving around some shelves, you see the stairs leading to the second level. (Are you looking for anything specific or just looking around? There's mostly common, ordinary items one would find in a guard barracks, although showing signs of decay after fifty years.) Angon and Almanin remain with @Graian , watching @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) /BELLESH talk to the watery creature. @TAKASHI (Alan) - as you get closer, you start to "hear" the thing speaking. It's a whisper in your mind. "Come closer..." it says with a happy voice, to TAKASHI, BELLESH and Claudia. "Show me what it is, what you seek, what you are looking for, what you desire... I will show you what I know..." (edited)

TAKASHI shivers uncontrollably, but tries to picture Elves here on Ramathia, books of long lost wisdom and learning.

ATACIUS will snap his fingers to call Apinro's atention and point up the stairs. Maybe we can find something interesting or valuable there.

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - you see the slide whistle in Apinro's hand, and he tries to surreptitiously slide it into his bag. He looks at you with an innocent look and nods to go up the stairs.

Seeing that he will not be up to lift the grate without some help, Cynric walks back towards Herm and asks him if he remembers where those holes ended up.

ATACIUS smiles at the jungleman and proceeds upstairs.

(Does anyone else want to "show" the water creature what you're looking for?)

@Cynric perhaps with both of us and the elves we could loft this grate. But I fear it will be noisy

( @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - do you want to do anything before I continue on?)

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) (I'm good, Bellesh is just waiting to see what happens with Takashi and studying the entity as best he can. Let me know if he senses any ill-intent, but it seems rather alien and hard to read)

GRAIAN looks at Angon and Almanin, "This is a strange creature. With everything that is going on here I do not trust it, but I also hesitate to lose the opportunity to find more information that may help us. However, as it has been waiting here for so long I suspect it will be here if we want to come back. I see Atacius has gone exploring with our guide, perhaps we should head in that direction so we are not too far away." (edited)

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - BELLESH doesn't sense anything beyond what you've heard from the creature. The voice is alien indeed! OK, so you're not concentrating on images, just TAKASHI is. Got it! @Graian Algon and Almanin seem as if they'd rather stay and observe the creature, but they are willing to follow you. The mass of water shifts around in the fountain to draw closer to @TAKASHI (Alan). "Yessss... yes, so vivid, ssssooo bright, sooooo alivvvveeee...." it whispers in the warrior's mind. You catch glimpses of people moving about slowly, backwards even? It's as if you are blinking furiously, and the images are a jumble. Then it is dark, visuals of light and dark places, flickering wildly. While this happens in TAKASHI's mind, its form seems to change, to elongate and rise upwards. (edited)

TAKASHI attempts to break his attention from the creature, and actively backs away from it as quickly as possible. "NOOOOO!"

Can I please get an initiative roll from someone in the party?

BELLESH yells at the creature, both mentally and out loud, "Hey! Don't hurt him, leave him alone! You can look in my mind instead!" He fills his mind with images of the nice, peaceful village of Appleton.

CALLIN throws his hammer on the air and bellows "the LIGHT will shine upon thee and cast away the shadows of deceit and betrayal. Should you be dispatched in the process know that your heart and soul was not pure! Bath in the greatness that is the LIGHT!"

1

@Graian what would you like to do? ( @ATACIUS (Gabriel) - I saw your note on the ooc, do you think ATACIUS would hear @CALLIN's bellow and @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) /BELLESH's shout?)

ATACIUS rushes to looks outside into the plaza from a window of the barrack's second floor.

AUTOLYCUS rushes up behind ATACIUS and tries to peer over the short adventurer to see what is going on. "Can you see what is going on my friend?"

GRAIAN turns around as he hears the noise behind him.

BELLESH yells at the creature, both mentally and out loud, "Hey! Don't hurt him, leave him alone! You can look in my mind instead!" He fills his mind with images of the nice, peaceful village of Appleton. It seems, though, that the creature is ignoring BELLESH at the moment, it's attention fully on TAKASHI. As the creature's form seems to take on the shape of a serpent, TAKASHI backs away from it as quickly as possible. "NOOOOO!" the fighter yells. Claudia readies her axe and stay to TAKASHI's right side, slightly behind, a concerned look on her face. At this, CALLIN throws his hammer on the air and bellows "The LIGHT will shine upon thee and cast away the shadows of deceit and betrayal. Should you be dispatched in the process know that your heart and soul was not pure! Bathe in the greatness that is the LIGHT!" The hammer turns glowing white and shoots from the cleric's hand towards the creature, smashing into it! The shape seems to be disrupted and the creature recoils! It's lunge toward TAKASHI is thrown off! The hammer dances around the creature, looking to strike again! Both Cynric and Indrian sprint towards the creature, blades flashing but neither seem to be able to do much against the watery form. The rest of the elves form a defensive ring around the combatants, while Angon and Almanin back up. GRAIAN and BELLESH stand ready. Apinro comes up behind ATACIUS and AUTOLYCUS, and he hops behind the two, trying to see out the window! TAKASHI and BELLESH, you both "hear" the creature wail in your minds. "The painnnn, it hurtsssssss!" What will you do now? (edited)

Bellesh begins to cast the spell of magic missiles.

ATACIUS will look around from his vantage point to see if all the yelling has attracted unwanted attention.

AUTOLYCUS manages to squeak, "Is that a water snake attacking TAKASHI?" Disbelief is evident in the young man's voice. "Perhaps CALLIN has this well in hand..." Still he slips a bullet into the pouch of his sling preparing it for action.

GRAIAN will prepare to cast Magic Missiles at the creature

Cynric prepares himself to strike one more time. (edited)

@TAKASHI (Alan) , @CALLIN - what are your actions, gentlemen?

CALLIN will Bellow again. "The LIGHT has shown your true nature! A deceiver of darkness! May the LIGHT bathe upon you and shatter the darkness in your soul!" And again will lash out with the spirit weapon!

TAKASHI regains his composure after seeing that the creature can, in fact, be hurt. He wields Flinigan's Rage with a purpose, and slashes viciously at the water creature. "You will not prey on me today, fiend!"

The creature howls from the attacks on it and its form twists into unbelievable spirals and knots as it bends and weaves to attack the brave TAKASHI. Having seized the initiative, it wraps itself around the warrior and drags him into the pond! Only his frantically waving hands are above the water as he thrashes for air! "The LIGHT has shown your true nature! A deceiver of darkness! May the LIGHT bathe upon you and shatter the darkness in your soul!" CALLIN bellows, but with the creature thrashing about, he's unable to land any blows that do damage. Neither are Cynric or Indrian, the creature's twisting and turning making it difficult for either warrior to connect with it in a way that damages it. Claudia lets out a fierce cry at seeing her mentor taken by the creature! She slices her axe into it's watery mass, but the blade seems to slip through the form like a blade through water - not much of it's form is disrupted! However, two bright magical darts shoot from the outstretched hand of BELLESH and smash into the creature and it again howls in the mage's mind. The water form retreats, gathering itself above TAKASHI's form in the water. "Yessss... now will feeeeeed...." BELLESH hears the thing say triumphantly. Then, GRAIAN finishes his spell and two more bright magical bolts smash into the creature's form. The entire mass seems to shiver and shake and then collapses back into fountain! "NOOOOOOO... don't doooooo thisssssss!" the creature screams and then there is silence in the mage's mind. What will you all do now?

TAKASHI will slowly extricate himself from the pond, dripping wet. "I'm getting the feeling that this place doesn't like me."

14:52

"Thank you CALLIN, BELLESH, and GRAIAN - it appears as if our weapons had very little effect upon the creature, but your sorcery saved the day."

" @TAKASHI (Alan) of course it does not like you. This is a place of darkness, and you answer back with the LIGHT of man, creatures like this detest us for such things. I know you are not a follower of the LIGHT but it shines through you none the less. "

"But it DOES like you Takashi" Bellesh grins, giving the warrior a helping hand out of the pond, "for dinner!"

TAKASHI chuckles at his companion's good-natured comments. "I think I will be happy when we get back to Appleton and leave this accursed island. Still, it would be good to return this place back to what it was before. However, I think that will take some time, and many more lives."

It only takes about a minute for the drenched warrior to get out of the fountain. What will you do now?

Bellesh will walk slowly around the fountain, looking closely at the bottom of it and the center to see if he can spot anything else unusual about it.

AUTOLYCUS will take the bullet out of the sling's pouch and return it to his belt pouch. Since the excitement seems to be over he looks to @ATACIUS (Gabriel) and asks, "That seemed exciting, do you think we should join them or continue to search the building?" (edited)

Seeing that the immediate danger is now gone, Cynric looks towards the keep to see if something new has come up, if there is movement over there.

@SouthernSeas - and the rest of you, what will you be doing? Claudia will walk towards her mentor with concern on her face. Angon and Almanin will stand and speak in low tones to each other. Indrian goes to rejoin the elven scouts. Apinro shrugs and goes to investigate the third floor of the building. Herm starts to say something to BELLESH, then pauses, a confused look on his face.

GRAIAN will join Bellesh and Herm by the fountain, looking to see if there is any sign of the dancing flame. As he approaches he calls out in a gentle voice, "Herm, does this remind of something?"

@Jason | Nerds' RPG Variety Cast "Things look under control down there. Let's take a look at the rest of the building." He will follow Apinro upstairs.

"Sounds good to me." AUTOLYCUS follows @ATACIUS (Gabriel) and Apinro to the third deck.

TAKASHI motions to Claudia that he is fine. "I'm wet, but unharmed. Perhaps even cleaner than before!"

" we did find a grate to check down below if we want to try and find out what that thing was. Or we can press on." CALLIN looks to Herm for some possible direction on the best place to look

Herm turns to answer GRAIAN, then twists back around, SHRIEKS!!!, and points at the fountain in alarm! "Nooooo... you mustn't fight soooo... it will only make it harderrrrrr...." says in the voice in BELLESH's head! Once again, the watery mass starts to form in front of the young mage! What will you do now? (FYI @CALLIN, by my calculations, as this is round 5 of combat, you have 3 rounds left on your Spiritual Hammer.)

Bellesh runs back towards @Graian and the others, shouting "It's back!"

CALLIN immediately sends the spirit hammer back into the fray. " Creature of darkness you are not welcome here, be repelled by the LIGHT! Embrace that which is good, so your soul can be free!"

TAKASHI backs away from the creature, urging Claudia to come with him. "Herm thinks we shouldn't fight it, brother. Perhaps we should just stay away from its lair?"

BELLESH: "What did it do to you, Takashi? When it grabbed you, it said it was feeding. Did it hurt you?"

// @TAKASHI (Alan) I think the warning was in BELLESH's head not from Herm... but maybe I missed something.

@CALLIN , You didn't miss anything, but perhaps @TAKASHI (Alan) is roleplaying? :)

13:22

@Graian , @ATACIUS (Gabriel) , @Jason | Nerds' RPG Variety Cast - with the creature reforming in the fountain, what do you want to do?

"Did you hear that? It sounded like CALLIN!" AUTOLYCUS turns and heads down to the street level to rejoin the party members at the fountain fumbling for a sling bullet along the way.

GRAIAN sees Callin send his hammer back towards the creature and prepares Magic Missiles

Cynric pulls out his short bow as quickly as he can, and fires an arrow at the creature. (edited)

ATACIUS will approach a window and ready his sling.

(Starting round 1 - all dice rolls happen in #dice-rolls if you want to ever follow along)

A bullet whistles from ATACIUS sling, arrows thrummm through the air from CYNRIC's and elven bows, and CALLIN's spiritual hammer lashes out at the reforming water creature as it spirals into a liquid gyre! Herm dashes away from the fountain, following TAKASHI and Claudia. Although the spiritual hammer seem to hit several times, the creature doesn't seem very affected by the impacts. As BELLESH runs back towards GRAIAN and the others, shouting, the elven mage speaks in the odd, inflected tones and two magical darts shoot from his fingertips and arc into the creature. It shudders again, its painful howls echoing in BELLESH's mind! It's form seems to become disrupted, as before, from the spell's impacts. "I WILL FEED!" the creature roars and it grows to an impossibly tall size, maybe ten feet in length! It twists through the air, swaying like a serpent, but there is nobody in range! AUTOLYCUS, you reach the bottom of the stairs and are now out of the building - you will be able to use your sling next round! (BTW, BELLESH, I forgot to mention, you did see something at the bottom of the fountain, in the drains that feed whatever mechanism causes the water to flow. It might have been coins or something else, your view was disturbed as the creature regained its form.) "Why won't this thing die? Why can't we hurt it?" calls out Indrian. What will you do now? (edited)

// ack I messed up. I missed the part where it said it was in BELLESH's head - d'oh!

13:07

TAKASHI stares in wonder at the giant creature. "Our weapons seem to have no effect on it. Stay out of it's range lest it pull you in and drown you!"

"It doesn't have a normal body... I don't think it feeds like normal either, I think it feeds on thoughts! Takashi, when it was grabbing at you before, what was going on in your mind? What did it feel like?" Bellesh asks.

"The creature is in pain, and wants to feed. It asked me, in my mind, to think of things, bright and lively scenes, which it seemed to like the most. I saw brief glimpses of this city in busier times, before the doom, but they were jumbled and confused."

Bellesh looks thoughtful and turns to Herm. "Herm, do you remember this happening before, with this weird water thing? And with what Takashi said?"

Angon and Almanin, looking very distressed, motion frantically to TAKASHI and BELLESH. "We should flee to one of these buildings, rather than talk out here! That thing... it might grow even bigger!" Indrian starts motioning the elven scouts towards the building that ATACIUS, Apinro and AUTOLYCUS had been in.

"I think it may be best to stay away from this creature! I don't think we are doing anything but upsetting it!"

Still aiming at the creature, but not firing again, Cynric moves to regroup with the elves, making sure to stay out of the reach of the creature.

CALLIN will start to move back however not until the rest of the party has had a chance to retreat.

Bellesh nods and hurries into the building that Atacius went into, making sure Jellesh is following.

The creature sways back and forth as it watches you all enter the building. At its current height, even as large as it seems to be, you are now well beyond its reach. BELLESH, as you get further away, the "voice" grows more faint... and more plaintive and desperate! "Sooo.... alone.... soooo... hungry..... alll... gone....." Angon and Almanin both come over to TAKASHI, who is being attended to by a very concerned (and now somewhat mother-hennish) Claudia. "Are you alright?" Angon asks, her voice tinged with concern. "You have taken the brunt of this city and it's strange inhabitants."

10:59

Herm nods slowly in answer to BELLESH's question. "Aye, lad... in one of the expeditions below, for the Guard, there was a group of brave youngsters who ran into a strange pool of water that had something. Three of them lost their life, drowned below. They said it was a "snake of water", which made no sense t' me until now."

"It talked again in my head as we were leaving..." Bellesh tells everyone, "it sounded so hungry, and lonely! I saw something at the bottom of the fountain earlier too, in the drains, it could have been coins but I couldn't see very well. Do you think that might have something to do with keeping it fed?"

Herm shakes his head. "My good man, I don't know. T'was a terrifying sight to behold, and understand, the sewers were a strange place - a hive of thieves and ne'er-do-wells and the unfortunate who had no home and no coin. One heard many things and it wasn't unusual for a guard or two to be lost every now 'n again." The more he talks about the Guards and the past, the more his speech becomes normal. He straightens up and you catch a glimpse that Herm must've been a self-assured, capable officer. Then the moment passes and he is digging in his ear, muttering about "ear worms that jump out 'o the dirt and burrow into your brainpan!"

Bellesh pats Herm on the back reassuringly and turns to the others. "So, what do we do now?"

"Don't put your ear in dirt!" Herm whispers. "The worms... they'll crawl in and crawl out ... on the other side!" He nods vigorously.

"We know, thank you Herm... we've got some smelly stuff that helps keep away the worms you can try."

"I am fine, thank you for your concern. I think it is safe to say that I will not mind the sight of Ramathia well behind me when we sail back to Skalfier! Where to next in this city of the damned?"

ATACIUS seeing everyone is falling back to the building he's in, will turn and look for Apinro and what he's found. Maybe take a look himself around the place.

Cynric enters the discussion: "Our options are to enter the keep by the gate or go down to explore through the sewers, right?"

Bellesh nods.

AUTOLYCUS decides to stay and see what the others do, no reason. To head back upstairs if the decision is to go into the sewers.

( @SouthernSeas - what would you like to do? You entered the city on the idea that the keep might have older documents, or you can investigate what might be at "Magister Perry's" house, or "The Hole" or ... ? )

« My opinion would be that we try to enter the Keep to find those long forgotten documents», says Cynric, adding that he will abide by the consensus of his fellow and more experienced comrades.

"I agree @Cynric , the keep is most likely our best bet, as it is the most secure, and would have weathered an attack the best." CALLIN says then adds "Perhaps under that grate we could get under the walls?" he says looking to @ATACIUS (Gabriel) and @Jason | Nerds' RPG Variety Cast (edited)

"Yes, let's continue onto the keep first, then perhap's the magister's house, and only then do we see what lies at the bottom of the hole."

CALLIN nods at @TAKASHI (Alan) statement

Indrian steps up. "Then we are decided. We have enough distance to circle around the fountain, as long as that thing grows no larger. However, how will we get into the keep itself. That portcullis was made to keep out an army... and I'll wager it's protected against enchantments as well!"

"Do you think the inhabitants had a hidden sally-port that may have been used once the doom began?" TAKASHI looks to HERM - "Do you recall that from your days as guard?"

Before going out to the keep, did ATACIUS and Apinro found anything interesting in the barracks?

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - give me a d6 roll for yourself and a d6 roll for Apinro. @Jason | Nerds' RPG Variety Cast - please do a d6 as well.

@Jason | Nerds' RPG Variety Cast - you find a pair of stilts that have a name "Oscar" engraved on them. They would raise you up about four or five feet. They look very well made, and a bit of wood still gleams from a polishing given over 50 years ago before they were left behind. (edited)

For the rest of @SouthernSeas ... Indrian, Angon and Almanin join you all to discuss. Herm nods at @TAKASHI (Alan)'s question. "Yes, it would be through the sewers. There was a secret way from the donjon's lower levels into the sewers and then out." (edited)

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - one of the offices on the upper floor was locked, requiring a bit of picking to encourage to open. Once inside, it looks as if this place is untouched. Everything is neatly placed, with a thick layer of dust covering it all - none of the helter-skelter appearance of the other rooms. On the floor, propped up in the corner, is a thick piece of an opaque substance. It looks like something might be within!

« I believe I could, with some help, lift the grate to enter into the sewer hole » , adds Cynric.

ATACIUS will look around trying to figure out who this place belonged to, then try to find any documents (or valuables) that might have survived and lastly carefully inspect the misterious substance...

AUTOLYCUS looks at @Cynric , "If that is the way we are going let's get that grate up, the sooner we are away from here the happier I'll be. I'll help you with the grate." (edited)

1

Cynric looks at the @SouthernSeas people gathered in the place: « We’d go lift the grate to enter by the sewers. Is it ok with every one?”

BELLESH: "I guess so... if anyone wants some extra strength to lift the grate, tell me... I learned a great spell for that!"

TAKASHI looks uneasy at going underground, but figures that may the best course of action. He'll move to the grate and lend a hand in lifting it, if possible.

THOSE IN THE PLAZA: It takes some time (2 turns) between all of you to pry up the grate, but you do not attract any attention! There is a shaft that looks somewhat narrow, with a set of corroded metal rungs that look to be the "ladder" down. "Now, it is a maze down there." Herm warns. "Tunnels branching into tunnels, leading up and down, here and there. We must be cautious! You men have trained well, but under the ground is a different world, not like what you see here on the surface. Stick to your training, take care of each other and you'll be just fine!" He straightens up and salutes you all in an archaic fashion. Indrian shakes her head. "I like these undergrounds not one bit." She snaps her fingers and four elves spring forward and clamber down the stairs. You hear an exclamation of surprise and then a voice comes up. "It's clear... but beware the bones!"

09:30

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - It appears to have been an officer of some sort, a Lieutenant Marsha Allons. Judging by the letters on her desk, she was serving as one of the Duchy's soldiers on the island. The last letter speaks of her looking forward to coming home soon and hoping that rumors of strange happenings are just that, rumors. The lump is a strange piece, a smoky, opaque material that is hard to the touch. A tiny, wizened creature is entombed within, naked, proportioned like a humanoid creature.

ATACIUS will take out a hammer and an iron spike and gently hammer the spike into the solid substance...

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - are you trying to stay away from the figure, or free it?

Trying to chip away some of that substance.

GRAIAN looks at Herm "I have chalk Herm, we can mark our direction at junctions and as we move down the tunnels" He will wait to follow Takashi and Callin down the steps.

AUTOLYCUS looks around, “should we wait and all go down together? I know we spilt up a lot but this seems like a pretty dangerous place.”

Cynric runs into the building to tell Bellesh and Atacius that we’re going into the sewers, now.

CALLIN will climb down to join the elves and see what is underground

BELLESH is there already, not looking too pleased about having to go down into the sewers, but he'll wait for his turn to climb down. He'll try to figure out a way to carry Jellesh with him as he goes, either holding him with one hand or letting him ride in his backpack. (edited)

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) After a turn or so, you manage to break off a piece with your spike. It has the consistency of a soft crystal. @Graian - Herm nods to you. "Good lad!" Apinro notices @Cynric, peers out the window to see the group going down the sewer opening and lets out a concerned moan. He runs down out of the house, goes up to Angon and starts to babble at him. @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - JELLESH doesn't appear to be too damn pleased with this, but he will go in your pack.

09:49

For those of you who go down... the rungs go down a fair distance, at least three or four person-heights. At the bottom is a slight drop, and you see that the floor under the rungs is covered with skeletons! The elves have tried to clear a few away, but there are dozens of bodies here. You will land with a CRUNCH/CRACKLE as your boots step on the bones, breaking them. You are in passageway that is a tight square, then leading to the "east" (I'm using this as rough directions for those of you mapping). The square is probably 4 or 5 paces wide and long. The walls are of reinforce mason bricks, but time and lack of maintenance has left them in shoddy shape. The "floor" is of flagstone. There is a trench in the center, about a foot deep, with dried muck and debris in piles along it. There is a narrow lip, about a person wide, on either side of the trench. It is warm and humid down here. There is no natural lighting here where you are at, save the light from the grate opening above.

After Cynric has told the ones that are still in the building that the group is going down, he rushes back to rejoin the main group into the sewers, fearing to be left behind.

TAKASHI will climb down into the sewers, assisting Claudia if needed. "Good thing I just had a bath before we head into the sewers... At least these haven't been used in some time."

AUTOLYCUS is in no hurry to go in the sewers, especially since he may be 'volunteered' to go in front due to his special set of skills, so he hangs back and waits to go last.

ATACIUS hears Cynric's call and starts to answer "But I've found this..." and with a sigh puts away his tools and pockets the piece of crystal. He closes the door on his way out and proceeds downstairs and out to the plaza. He trots towards the group to tell about his findings and show them the piece of crystal.

Now that you all (except for AUTOLYCUS, who is waiting at the top of the ladder) are down in the square passage (the passage goes in a tight square, then towards the east, you are at the X). What would you like to do next? --------- X | --- (edited)

Bellesh is ready to head down the passage, walking on a "lip" if someone wants to lead the way.

TAKASHI turns to HERM - "Can you guide us to the sally port? I will lead up front with your keen eyes and wit at my side as the path finder."

"and I will be a step behind" CALLIN adds

TAKASHI nod, and motions for Claudia to stick close to the front group.

@TAKASHI (Alan) Herm looks confused and unsure, but since there is only one way forward, he points to it and says "That way!" (edited)

« I volunteer to take the lead. Should I light a torch? », asks Cynric. « I won’t see anything in the dark. »

ATACIUS reaches AUTOLYCUS. "Hey, where's everyone? Where are we going? Look I found this creature all covered in this..." and takes out the piece of crystal. (edited)

GRAIAN will follow Callin, as they head down the passage way, keeping an eye on the walls and ceiling.

@SouthernSeas - there is a great deal of noise as you all climb down the ladder and gather in this square area. Bones clatter (and crunch) under your feet. (OOC: I use cardinal directions N/S/E/W only from the perspective of giving a common set of directions - this doesn't mean you're truly moving in those directions!) The passageway runs east a few paces, then turns right and runs south for more than ten paces. You pass by smaller sluices and catch basins that smell horrible. There are four elven scouts ahead of you, stepping carefully, swords drawn. One has a torch that casts a dim, flickering, shadowy light on the crumbling masonry and flagstone floor. The passage turns to the left and runs east again, vanishing into the darkness. One of the elven scouts looks back at you all, waiting for someone to indicate if they should continue moving into the unknown. Indrian motions for them to proceed. Apinro is muttering to himself, perhaps in an appeal to whatever gods/desses he believes in. Herm looks deep in thought, a frown on his face. The humidity and dampness muffles the sound of your footsteps as you proceed down the long passage that seems to go dozens of paces. The sewer then turns to the left (north), a short few paces, it turns left(west) yet again for a long distance. It then turns right (north) and turns right again (east) and runs a good long while. It feels like you've been down here nearly an hour! Herm is growing more and more agitated the further along you go, although it is not clear why. By the time you are proceeding straight again east, he is practically gibbering in confusion and alarm! Angon and Almanin are on either side of him, and they look to you all with concern. "Something is not right." Angon says.

TAKASHI turns to Herm, and looks into the man's eyes. "Herm, what is it? Ramathia needs you now more than ever!" He turns towards Claudia and makes sure that Herm sees her as he speaks. "We can't let her down, man. Pull yourself together!"

“We’re a large group, Herm. We’ll protect you, and with your guidance, we’ll avoid the danger the best we can.” adds Cynric, while he lights a torch and stows his shield on his back.

AUTOLYCUS brings @ATACIUS (Gabriel) quickly up to speed with the new plan to go through the sewers. "A coffin of crystal or a tomb? Don't insects cover themselves with something similar before a transformation into something else? Very curious. Still we had better catch up with the group and come back to this mystery later, unless you think they will be ok and want to go back and investigate on our own?" (edited)

ATACIUS "We can come back later. Let's stick with the group." He puts the crystal away and climbs down the ladder into the sewers.

AUTOLYCUS reluctantly follows ATACIUS down the ladder into the damp darkness.

CALLIN will close his eyes and clutch his holy symbol "the LIGHT shines upon us, even with darkness all around it stands bright, flooding our hearts and souls. Let the LIGHt in, let it warm our hearts and fill our soul for in the darkest hour is when the LIGHT shines brightest."

19:37

He then places his hand on Herm "what is it Herm, be our guide.what do you see?"

Herm looks distraught. "No, no, no, no, no NO! I'm not afraid... well, I am afraid, you know, spiders and things that get into your ears... but no... there is something... I wish I could remember! We MUST be careful!" He beats his palms into his forehead several times and shakes his head.

AUTOLYCUS shakes his head, "This isn't good..." as he catches up to the group.

@SouthernSeas - press on? Go back? Wait for Herm to melt down? Or... ?

ATACIUS will move forward until he reaches CALLIN and Herm. Seeing the hermit's tantrum he'll try to get him out of the loop. "Ahem... excuse me, Herm, right? Hey, did you know Lt. Marsha Allons, back in the day?"

"Well we haven't seen a 'Sally Port' or whatever Takashi was looking for yet," Bellesh says as Atacius steps away with Herm. "But I'm pretty sure we can't count on Herm to lead us to it. Should we keep looking or head back?"

"We can go back and try to get over the walls, somehow if anyone has any ideas."

"At the very least we should have someone take Herm back up, I don't think it is wise to keep him down here in his present state."

Herm shakes his head vigorously at AUTOLYCUS's suggestion. "No! You will not know how to get in... if ... if...." and he trails off, his face framed in doubt. He frowns in concentration at ATACIUS's question. "No... don't remember that name. Most of the Lieutenants were on wall and harbor duty, and they weren't in the Keep." What do you want to do now?

« I say we should press on », says Cynric.

11:39

« Herm, as fighters, we have to ensure the safety of everyone here, including Claudia »

CALLIN looks to the group. "Darkness surrounds this foul place. I'm not sure if there is a good path. Should we wish to explore further, we will come across darkness. We can go back to climb the wall, but it may be difficult for those of us weighed down. " He looks to @TAKASHI (Alan) and then back to himself. "I would not wish to be without my armor should something decide to climb out after us"

11:52

"I think @Cynric is right in this matter, should we with to proceed, it may be best to be down here."

"All right, let us carry on, then. Herm, as soldiers we must press on and due our duty to get into the keep and find what may be left. You can follow behind me, with Claudia, as her protection. Let us press on."

Continuing on, this east-running corridor is as long as the previous east/west passages. Then, up ahead, Indrian raises a hand in a "wait" motion. One of the elven scouts whispers something to her and she moves back to the rest of you. "The scouts say that the corridor turns to the south and remains south-running, which is a change to what we've seen for a bit. They also say there is an odd odor to the air."

"Herm, does south takes us under del Keep?"

Herm nods reluctantly to @ATACIUS (Gabriel). "Be careful.... " he says in an uncertain voice. "Do we continue on?" Indrian asks the @SouthernSeas party members.

"We've come this far, and I think we are all committed to pressing on, so let's head south. I don't like the smell here - it smells of death..."

CALLIN nods.

Cynric makes sure that he has his scimitar and his torch firmly in hand and prepares to press on.

Indrian nods at the direction of the party and motions to the elven scouts to continue. They spread out a bit, 2 scouts go ahead, then 2 follow at some distance behind, moving cautiously. They slowly step just to the edge of torchlight from the main group, quietly. It is in that quiet that a rubbing noise is heard that ends in a click! The left scout in the rear most group turns to Indrian. "The floor has shifted under my feet!" he says in a worried voice, then "What is happening..." He lefts one foot and you can see there's some sort of viscous black substance on it, dripping off. "The floor is sinking!" the other rear elven scout exclaims. "And we're sticking to it!" The two scouts in front suddenly seem to be struggling to move, pulling up one leg, then the other what you might see if someone was stuck in mud. "GET OUT!" Herm suddenly yells. "GET OUT! IT'S THE FIRE WARD!" Indrian leaps towards her scouts, but with a WHOOOOOOOSH, the corridor bursts into flames! The scouts scream in agony, and the intense heat flashes over all of you, while it becomes extremely hard to breath! What will you do?

Suddenly Herm's advice makes perfect sense and Bellesh is looking for a way OUT... away from the flame!

"Fall back!" Callin barks as he does his best to pull his tunic over his face and back away from the flames

TAKASHI struggles with his decision for a split second, then decides to leap forward and try and help the scouts and Indrian escape from the flames.

GRAIAN pulling his cloak around his body and face, begins to move back.

AUTOLYCUS' self preservation instincts kick in and he runs back the way they came!

Atacius also quickly moves back.

@TAKASHI (Alan) - Indrian is a few seconds ahead of you (plus a few feet forward of you) and she reaches a scout who has succumbed to the flames. Indrian also suffers from the flames as well! The scout you reach is burned horribly, but alive! You pull her from the flames as the fire licks at your skin and metal! (TAKASHI takes 2 hp of damage from flames.) The rest of you are forced back several paces down the east/west corridor before the heat is bearable. You can feel the air moving towards the flaming corridor and the eerie flickering light makes shadows dance on the walls. "By the blackness of the deepest ocean, what a horrible trap!" Almanin gasps. Indrian's face is streaked with tears as she holds the dead elf in her arms. TAKASHI, the elf that you rescued is severely wounded and gasping in pain.

"CALLIN, can you ease his pain and restore some of the life that's been taken from him by the flames?"

@SouthernSeas - you have moved back to a bit of safety, with a severely injured elf and a slightly injured Indrian and TAKASHI. @CALLIN - it doesn't take but a moment to know that the best thing you can do for this elf is give them whatever comfort they need in their last moments.

Cynric does a quick prayer to the god of Light, in the hope of helping those courageous but unlucky elves.

A tear streaks down CALLIN s face as he realizes there is nothing to be done to help the elf. He lays his hands upon him and chants. "The LIGHt shines upon you and shows you the sea. You have done you people proud, and your actions has saved many. Rest now master Elf for you have journeyed long and hard, and now it is your time to be at peace." Callin then looks at the other elves for more guidance.

GRAIN moves up to Callin and lays a hand upon his shoulder. "My friend, there was nothing you could have done but thank you for understanding the life we live. None on this journey are ignorant of the perils that may befall us and accept that risk willingly, understanding that there is much at stake for all our people." (edited)

Angon puts a hand on @CALLIN's other shoulder. "You are a good soul, priest, and your grief is felt by all of us. Thank you." She motions to one of the six remaining scouts, who hands her a blanket, which she places over the elf's body. "We will remove her, and the others, when we have regained their shells." Angon says in a voice that brooks no dissent. She coughs, the smoke still thick and lingering in the hallway. She looks at @SouthernSeas and asks. "What now? Is there a way around this accursed trap?"

CALLIN will look to @ATACIUS (Gabriel) and @Jason | Nerds' RPG Variety Cast "Is there a way around this trap? Is it done?"

ATACIUS ponders @CALLIN question for a brief moment. "According to what Herm yelled looks like a magical trap. If we are to proceed this way looking for this kind of traps, it'll be at a much slower pace. Maybe Herm knows if there are more of these ahead."

AUTOLYCUS nods as @ATACIUS (Gabriel) speaks. “I am willing to scout ahead but anything Herm can tell us about the types of traps will greatly add the process.”

Herm has a distraught look on his face and tears roll down his cheeks. "So sorry... stupid, stupid memory. The fire wards. Devils fire, they called it when they put it in. Nasty thing there... every ten feet or so, invaders would sink into pool of oil and sparkers would fire the oil. Couldn't remember, though there is a way around, somewhere right before the trap begins..."

11:46

"Just the heavy gate that used to be enchanted against enchantments." Herm answers @ATACIUS (Gabriel) "... if I remember correctly."

11:46

Herm doesn't remember anything more, @Jason | Nerds' RPG Variety Cast

AUTOLYCUS starts to slowly move forward to where the trap was and check the wall on the left hand side for a secret door.

@Jason | Nerds' RPG Variety Cast - what are you looking for? How are you checking?

Herm said, "a way around, somewhere right before the trap begins" so AUTOLYCUS is checking the walls from the floor to as high as he can reach for any bit that moves or turns or depresses hoping to find a possible trigger for a secret door.

ATACIUS will do likewise on the right side of the tunnel. He'll borrow CALLIN's lantern and some chalk from GRAIAN, and then proceed to check the wall with his magnifying glass for loose mortar. At any "candidate" place he'll use some chalk powder for evidence of air drafts that might show the presence of a secret door seam. (edited)

TAKASHI takes brother CALLIN aside. "Is there anything you can do that might help Herm? Or is his deterioration mental as opposed to the physical healing you can assist?"

After some time, @ATACIUS (Gabriel) and @Jason | Nerds' RPG Variety Cast find that there is a strange current of air in the corner of passageway when it turns from E/W to N/S and leads into the trapped section. Poking and prodding, you find two flagstones in the floor that seem to react when you touch them. Herm watches you with interest, then a torch seems to be lit in his mind. He walks up to those two stones, taps the right with his foot, then the left, then he gives the east wall a SHOVE and a secret door opens with a rough, stone rubbing sound. "Right, Left, Push!" he announces in a sing-song voice. Beyond, the passageway quickly fills with smoke from the trapped passageway. (Movement will be limited with all the smoke in the corridors. Figure about 6"/turn now.)

Bellesh has been sitting, petting his winged kitten and trying to shake the images of burning robed figures he's had in his head ever since the fire trap incident. Upon hearing the stone door open, he rises and prepares to enter.

" @TAKASHI (Alan) the LIGHT is the will of man. And a big part of that is his free will. I can not change his mind any more than I can change yours. I think we can only attempt to heed his warnings and fears more quickly" (edited)

"Understood. It seems as if something clouds his mind, and I've seen and experienced something similar when attacked by evil. Great job on finding the secret passageway, @ATACIUS (Gabriel) , @Jason | Nerds' RPG Variety Cast , and Herm! Who shall lead the way? Perhaps one more likely to spot traps than I?"

AUTOLYCUS gulps audibly, "OK, I will go first, does anyone have a pole? I find myself underequipped at the moment."

@Jason | Nerds' RPG Variety Cast "Fear not my friend for I will go with you, but my guess is this passage is safe and no pole will be needed."

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) "Thank you, that gives me no small sense of security."

Cynric enters in the corridor, following his two friends from a short distance.

Indrian holds up her hand. "My scouts will recover the bodies and we will follow. We do not leave our dead on the shores alone." She grimaces. "They must be given back to the sea." The remaining six scouts nod. They start poking the passageway with poles and spears. For those of you entering the secret passage... it goes forward (east) about ten paces or so, then to turns right (south). In the corner of the turn, on the north wall, is a shut door. There is no discernable noise coming from it. The south-running passageway continues for six to eight paces, then turns right again (to the west).

"Shall we see what is behind this door?"

CALLIN nods to TAKASHI. "Yes let us continue. " He takes a quick glance back to Herm.

@CALLIN Herm still seems distraught, but that seems directed at Almanin, who is still with you all. Angon remained behind with Indrian as the Searcher of this party. He keeps saying "I'm so sorry." to the elf, to the point where the mage seems overwhelmed.

16:20

@TAKASHI (Alan) - The door is still and will require some muscle to open. (1d6 vs your Minor STR test/Open Doors - you can use #dice-rolls and do !roll 1d6)

@TAKASHI (Alan) rolled 4.

CALLIN will help @TAKASHI (Alan) with the door if needed

Cynric can join Takashi and Callin to help open this door. (edited)

TAKASHI, with the help of CALLIN is able to open the door easily! The chamber is small and has a musty smell. A dim glow comes from a rod set in a sconce on the wall. There is a rotted cot here, and a desk with a chair, a wardrobe - the whole area gives the appearance of having been some sort of quarters. @SouthernSeas

"Hmmm, perhaps a guard's quarters protecting this entrance / exit? And what is this... a magical light?" TAKASHI examines the rod set in the sconce.

ATACIUS will check the desk for any papers of interest.

BELLESH looks under the cot.

@TAKASHI (Alan) - it's a simple metal rod that seems to be glowing, albiet dimly. You figure it's shining no brighter than a candle. @ATACIUS (Gabriel) - there are no papers, but someone got bored at one point and scratched "Hellen was here" into the surface. @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - BELLESH finds dust and a box underneath, covered in dust.

BELLESH carefully pulls out the box and tries to blow the dust off so he can get a better look. Is there a lid that could be taken off, or a lock that would need to be opened? Any marks of any kind on the box?

ATACIUS will chuckle and shift his atention to the wardrobe then.

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - it's a simple wood box with a sliding lid. @ATACIUS (Gabriel) - inside the wardrobe are several tunics with a heraldic symbol centered on the chest. All are the same, white with yellow/green shoulders and short sleeves. The symbol looks like this:

09:58

("or a griffin statant vert, per bend vert a two fish paired argent" - for those playing the SCA heraldric home game)

"Hmmm, a different design but the same colors of Skalfier Keep..." thinks the littleling while taking one of them to look at it. "Hey Herm! Recognize these?" he calls to the old guard. (I love heraldry btw) (edited)

Herm's face changes when you show him the tunics. He takes one in his hands, the stiff and fragile fabric crackling in his fingers. Several tears roll down his cheeks and then he "stiffens" up. "Those days aren't coming back..." he says softly.

ATACIUS will carefully folds one up and put it into one of his satchels. (edited)

BELLESH slowly slides back the lid to the box to look inside.

TAKASHI will attempt to remove the softly glowing rod from the sconce. "Might come in handy..."

Cynric looks at the ceiling, to see if there’s anything unusual.

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - the fabric tears easily as you fold it up and put it in the satchel. The symbol stitching stays intact, though. @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) - inside are dice and playing cards and what looks like some paper and a piece of charcoal. One of the papers has two names "Georgius" and "Shell" and some numbers underneath. @TAKASHI (Alan) - the rod slides easily out. It's light, maybe the weight of a small knife. Apinro seems VERY curious about what you've found, making comments that you don't need to understand to know they are admiring... and maybe a bit envious! @Cynric - it's a bit grimy, but nothing unusual about the stones above. @SouthernSeas - what do you want to do now? (edited)

BELLESH closes the lid to the box with the game inside and puts it into his backpack. He goes over by Takashi to get a better look at the cool light he's found.

TAKASHI notices Apnro's interest, and offers it to the diminutive native. "Apinro, you have bravely led us into the city many times, risking your own life for us. Please take this light rod and bring it back to your people, and share it with them. Please think of it as a gift of friendship from all of us."

Apinro looks hesitant at first, but once he understands that @TAKASHI (Alan) is giving the rod to him, he smiles broadly and pats the warrior on his back. He holds up the rod and speaks in his language. @Graian, you hear words expressing thanks and what seems to be some sort of promise. What do you all want to do now?

Keep going down the corridor I guess

Agreed

CALLIN agrees with the others. Continue down the hall

Forward! Fight on!

GRAIAN grins at Takashi, "In case you are wondering those were words of thanks..."

TAKASHI nods at Apinro's words, and smiles. "We would have been dead two times over if not for his knowledge, so it is my way of saying 'Thank you!'. If we're lucky, maybe we'll find another similar item as we move farther into the keep."

Although Apinro doesn't seem to understand your words, @TAKASHI (Alan) , he does seem to get the gist of what you are saying. He raises the rod to you as a sign of thanks. Indrian and the scouts return, their faces grim. They are covered in soot, ash and there is some sort of odd-smelling, sticky substance on their pants and leggings. It is the same odd smell you had caught hints of when you had moved close to this area originally. "The dead have been moved close to the entrance." Indrian says in a flat voice. She looks at @ATACIUS (Gabriel) "My friend, the scouts have come to respect your skills. They want to know if you are willing to walk with them forward of the group to ... see if there are more demonic devices in this forsaken place." She shoots an angry look at Herm.

ATACIUS will bow to Indrian. "I thank you for your words my friend. Tell your scouts it will be an honor to lead the way with them."

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - you lead the way down the short passage and then it turns to the right. After a short distance, it turns back left (south) and runs a long distance. The smoke hangs heavy in this long corridor. It also feels oddly warm in this area too.

What does the smoke smell of? Wood, oil, coal, tar?

@Cynric - Herm is next to you, and he's whispering something to himself. It seems to be a prayer of sorts... but it's not to the Light. @ATACIUS (Gabriel) - it's the same smell from the smoke in the other corridor - burning oil.

BELLESH: "Did we set off fires everywhere?"

Cynric walks a little slower to try to hear some words in Herm’s mutterings.

ATACIUS will try to see if there are any recent scorching marks on the walls before proceeding forward.

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - the passageway is dusty and dirty from lack of use, but there is no evidence of burning here. @Cynric - "Tyr protect me... may the light of the Lady shine through me..." is what you catch snatches of in his muttering. It takes a turn to move forward before the passageway changes. The passageway makes a right turn (west). It continues on and vanishes into the darkness. In the corner of the turn, on the southern wall, there is a wooden door.

GRAIAN taps Indrian on the shoulder, "perhaps we should listen at that door, see what may lay beyond it."

Indrian nods to @Graian - "A sensible idea..." and she looks at @ATACIUS (Gabriel) .

ATACIUS will nod to Indrian an approach the door and press his ear at the door.

TAKASHI will try to be vewwwy, vewwwy, quiet. ;>

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - as you get close to the door, you see your breath! The air is chilly here and there is a faint rime of frost on the wooden surface. Your ears pick out a susurrus of movement, but it's nothing like footsteps. @TAKASHI (Alan) - you feel a chill come across you, and your wraith-wound aches a bit.

As he sees ATACIUS listen to the door, Cynric puts his hand on Herm's hand to warn him that something may happen sooner than later in that direction.

ATACIUS recedes from the faintly frosted wooden door. "There's some kind of movement but not like footsteps. That is highly unusual and it gives me the creeps..." he reports back.

TAKASHI nods at ATACIUS' words. "My wound from that accursed undead is throbbing like it calls to its master. Damnable undead should rest in the ground, not be walking around the underbelly of this abandoned city!"

"It seems that there are more of these vile creatures on the other side of this door. Should we turn back? Or should we attempt to smite them? I feel that we will be encountering these creatures no matter which way we go, and perhaps at least here we can funnel them and control the flow of them."

"I have a spell ready to put something to sleep," Bellesh gulps, "but if it's undead like Takashi thinks, they won't sleep, the dead don't sleep..." He shivers. "Why is it so cold, though?"

I think Callin speaks wisely. If we can fight them one at the time, we’ll have better odds to get the upper hand, adds Cynric.

"Agreed."

CALLIN places his hand on @TAKASHI (Alan) shoulder. "I'll take point. With Sir Flinigan's and the power of the LIGHT" I say shaking out my Holy Symbol" I can take the rush." (edited)

OK, so you are in an L shaped corridor. The door is to the south in the corner - with a leg going west and a leg going north. Indrian and the scouts take up positions behind you all in each leg, to prevent you from being flanked. Claudia, Angon and Almanin take up ready positions, while Apinro stands behind @ATACIUS (Gabriel) and raises up the rod that @TAKASHI (Alan) gave him as if it is a weapon. What do you want to do?

CALLIN takes point readying his shield and clutching his Holy Symbol. "May the LIGHT shine upon us this day, as we smite those not meant to walk this earth. May the LIGHT warm our hearts, our souls and feed the frenzy of battle that will ensue!" Callin finishes his prayer and nods to @ATACIUS (Gabriel) to open the door

ATACIUS nods back at CALLIN. He readies his silver dagger and uses his cloak to grab the door's handle, not wanting to touch that eerie frost directly. Then he pushes the door open...

Cynric raises his shield and makes sure he has a sure grip on the handle of his scimitar.

TAKASHI readies Flinnigan's wrath, keeps his shield at the ready, and steels his nerves as best he can for what lies beyond the threshold.

GRAIAN will be ready with his final Magic Missile

BELLESH rubs his hands together as he watches on, either from the cold or in anticipation.

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - the door is difficult to open and it makes a loud groan. As you open it, a flickering light can be seen, not quite bright like a torch, but similar in how it looks... and yet different too. More white, more like a fog than light. There are many figures standing in ranks and order facing away from you towards the back of this rectangular room. On the wall are rotted tapestries, and to the back is a small stand with a podium. A figure stands at that podium. The figures seem ethereal, their bodies slightly transparent. They appear to be dressed in similar livery, with like armor and weapons. They look like men at arms. The figure at the podium has somewhat more elaborate armor, and there is a small flicker of flame around it. There are sounds coming from the figure at the podium... whispers and moans.

@DM (Michael/Chgowiz) do these "ghosts" look like the the creatures we fought before? Or do they seem more like cursed soldiers of battle? Do their markings have any affiliation to the LIGHT or perhaps the same markings we saw in the temple earlier?

If they’re willing to communicate with, maybe we will know more about what happened here and if the knowledge we are looking for can still be recovered.

Atacius motions Herm to come near and whispers to him "Who were they?"

TAKASHI shivers uncontrollably, as the blood drains from his face. "What causes these men to stand at attention even in their death?"

"Perhaps they are unaware they have fallen. Their bodies have past on, but their spirits remain strong." CALLIN says

"Perhaps Herm will recognize some of these lost warriors."

Bellesh stands near the others, staring wide-eyed through the doorway but making sure the others, especially Herm, has enough room to see. He focuses on the figure at the podium, watching for any sign of movement and trying to see if he can understand any words among the whispers and moans.

"Herm? Do you recognize these guys?"

GRAIAN is a little surpirsed by the sight and is a little concerned this could become unmanageable if it turns nasty. He will closely watch the one up front.

Herm peers around @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)/BELLESH and @ATACIUS (Gabriel) and shakes his head. "Those poor souls, ah... Captain Shelby. Still at her post...." he says in a sorrowful voice. He takes a step into the room. The one he called "Captain Shelby" - the figure at the stand - turns towards the door that you are gathered at. It raises an arm and shrieks! The cry rings and echoes, rising in pitch and tone until it is unbearable. The other figures pivot and shriek as well! It is a cry of pain, of anguish. Herm drops to his knees, tears streaming down his face. "Yes!" he calls out. "Yes, I am guilty! I'm so sorry!" The elves look at all of you, wanting to know what to do!

CALLIN steps to Herm's side. "Herm, what are you guilty of? Did you run from your post? Why are they angry?" He says keeping a sharp eye on the army

BELLESH winces in pain from the loud noise and cries, "Come back, guys! Come back!" while gesturing frantically with his arms for them to come out of the room.

The elves look alarmed at BELLESH's warning and even JELLESH lets out a loud "MWAAAOWR!" and raises his wings in alarm, perched on top of the young mage's pack!

At BELLESH command, ATACIUS grabs Herm by the collar and tries to pull him out of the room. "@CALLIN help me out!"

Cynric jumps in to help ATACIUS and grabs Herm by the shoulders, directing him out of the room.

TAKASHI winces at the screams, and will make a general retreat with the rest of the team, out of the door.

Callin grabs Herm and helps pull him out.

GRAIAN's ears hurt and his body phyically shudders. He backs up a little to make sure there is soace for everyone to get out of the room.

You are all back out in the hallway, it is L shaped with the leg behind you going back north, the way you came. The leg to your right, going west, vanishes into darkness.

12:37

Herm makes a shuddering noise, as a "face" appears in the wall, as if the figure is stepping into/through the wall. It is of a human woman, mid-aged, looking grimly at the old man.

Are the figures all still shrieking back in the room?

CALLIN turns to the ghostly figure. "Good day Ma' Lady. I am CALLIN of the LIGHT, may I ask your name?"

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) Yes, they stopped when Herm went out of sight. @CALLIN The woman lets out a long moan, full of pain, anger and death. "We cannot leave, in this unlife, and yet you live!" she says, looking at Herm. He's sunk to his knees again, weeping soundlessly.

"I may be able to help you with that. What has trapped you in this unlife?" CALLIN asks calm in his voice

TAKASHI watches CALLIN's attempt to parlay with the undead. He thinks to himself, "this should be interesting..." (edited)

A halo of ghostly flame erupts around the woman's figure. She wails in pain. "We are the unliving, cursed by the thing that brought ruin to this place! HE..." and she points to Herm. "HE is the coward who abandoned us to our fate! HE should be here with us, in this hell that we are cursed to live in!" Herm continues weeping, but he nods in affirmation of the accusation. "I couldn't... I couldn't.... leave my daughter to die..." he gasps. "I had to make sure... she made it away... I would take it back... that's why I stayed behind... " and he descends into sobs. The figure stands above him, her finger pointed to him like a dagger.

CALLIN looks to HERM and then back to the woman. "I am sorry you have been cursed to the unliving. Perhaps I can with the Power of the LIGHT break this curse. As for HERM he was a man whom only wished to protect his daughter, and had he not done so, we would have never found you. I give you my word that I will do whatever I can to free you of the shackles of this curse. I will try to free you myself now, but if I must deal with the thing that brought ruin to this place, then I will go there."

GRAIAN relaxes a little, "He may have left you at the time, but he has indeed stayed here guarding and watching above. What can you tell us about what happened? The more we know the better chance we have of releasing you from this curse."

The figure's hand wavers a bit and the woman's unearthly voice drips with pain. "Did we not have our own beloveds, our own children as well? What I would not have given to have died at the side of my family. But, instead, we exist in this damnation!" The figure turns towards @CALLIN and @Graian . "We all suffered, we all paid the price for the folly of those who would tamper with forces beyond their control. We, who cannot die! When it came for us, something about it... we felt the flames, but then, we were not consumed! Instead, we remain as we were... except for its flames that constantly flicker... constantly burning!"

BELLESH looks very pained and distressed and... guilty? By what the woman is saying, especially when she mentions the flames. He walks up softly behind @CALLIN and @Graian and whispers to them, "Is there nothing we can do to help them? Maybe something with the Light, or magic, or... both? Maybe if we could find out more about how this happened, we could find a way to reverse it? I mean, hopefully without having to go near to... IT. The thing what caused all this."

"if I may. We found a soul I a previous chamber that we helped lay to rest and pass on. I would guess that your here for an unfinished quest. I would like to help you move on,and break this curse. You note the flicker and burning of flames. Can you feel the direction they are coming from?"

The woman holds out her arm. The halo runs up and down the outstretched limb. It is nearly transparent, and burns with an odd green/red glow. The flame doesn't seem to consuming her, rather it is a part of her. "The flames are always there. I can feel HIM through them, as well as I can feel the others so cursed, those who would be free... and those who now serve HIM."

07:54

She holds out her other hand in supplication. "I see by your symbol that you are some sort of priest. I would beg you to pray for our souls, but I fear they are lost. If you are to release us, please pray to Zorus, his priest was strong and opposed the might of the Fire Bringer, but HE was too strong and struck the good priest down."

07:57

Meanwhile, Apinro tugs on @ATACIUS (Gabriel) shirt sleeve and points down the corridor into the darkness and jabbers a bit. @Graian , you understand enough of him to know that he's suggesting someone go down that way to see what they can see.

ATACIUS will nod at Apinro and start walking dowm the corridor. He will motion to any elven scout that's around to follow him.

"we have found the two staffs of Zorris. Perhaps with their power and your prayer we could release you from this bond. I am willing to stand against the Fire Bringer and free you. But may I ask you to guide us through this place avoiding those who serve him? It would be best to save our strength for him" CALLIN and the spirit (edited)

TAKASHI will meander down the corridor with ATACIUS and Apinro. Someone has to keep these two out of trouble! (plus, TAKASHI's not lovin' the whole "I see dead people vibe").

The woman spirit starts at the name 'Zorus' when @CALLIN says it. "You have the holiest of staves? You are blessed indeed. I did not take you for a priest of the God of Waves and Depths. You may be able to free us of this curse, the ones who bear the Staff of the Deeps are mighty." She frowns then. "I would be willing to guide you but know that the cursed can feel through us, just as we feel them. Indeed, there are some in the Keep above, keeping watch." ----- @TAKASHI (Alan) , @ATACIUS (Gabriel) and Apinro move (west) down the corridor. Apinro is very cautious, stopping often to smell and to peer ahead. He holds the softly glowing rod that the warrior gave him, as if it were some sort of talisman to ward off anything ahead. The smell of oily smoke is strong here and it grows stronger the further down the corridor you go. Eventually, as the light behind you grows very dim, you come upon a portcullis to your right. A great deal of smoke hangs low and the smell is very strong. The corridor continues on to west. You can make out a passageway beyond the portcullis that runs straight away (north) from you. It's hard to see in the very dim light, but it could be that there is a section of floor that is sunk down in that passage, about ten feet away.

ATACIUS Are the walls blackened like we've seen before? Any sooth on its surface? Does the portcullis looks rusty? Any mechanism on our side to lift it?

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - the walls are blackened from smoke that seems to have come from the passageway beyond the portcullis, and there's even a bit of heat that you can feel from the metal. It smells like the fire was very recent. The portcullis itself is pitted and there's a very thin sheen of corrosion on the surface below the soot, but the metal is intact. A quick peer around doesn't reveal any obvious mechanisms to lift it.

"I will do everything I can to free you, but we must do what we can to avoid this dark foes. A guide would be most useful"

@TAKASHI (Alan) "This looks like an explosion happened here not long ago. Just like the one we triggered before."

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) "Indeed, it does my friend. I still have scorch marks that bear witness to our previous encounter. I'd prefer to avoid that again, if possible." TAKASHI chuckles a bit. "Do you see any hidden mechanism to move this portcullis?"

ATACIUS will motion Apinro to come closer and aid his search for hidden mechanism with the glowing rod. "I'm afraid to light a torch..."

Captain's Shelby figure shivers. "It is a great risk. If HE senses what I do, THEY will come, and they may take control of us. We would be unable to resist!" She drops to her knees. "On behalf of all of us, I beg you... release us from this curse! I will tell you anything you wish to know, but we are unliving in a hell that we wish to be free of!" (@CALLIN - Take a look at your spells that you have available to you, and see what you think might be used to free these poor souls) --- @ATACIUS (Gabriel) and @TAKASHI (Alan) - Judging by how there are large chains are connected to the gate, the mechanism could be anywhere, but the gears would be large. It would probably be somewhere where the mechanism would be accessible and maintainable. Who might know? --- @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) , @Graian , @Cynric - the other figures in the room had gathered close to the door where you first entered, but they are listening to Captain Shelby. When she drops to her knees, they do so as well! The room itself looks mundane and forgotten, with rusting weapons on racks against the wall, shields and helms on pegs on the walls.

BELLESH tries to have a talk with the folks he feels he has the most in common with - the elf wizards: Graian, Angon and Almanin. "I don't know how Callin's faith-magic works", he says, "but I know he'd never give up the Light to follow Zorus. Do you think there's a chance somebody else would be able to use that staff? What about that Herm fella? I just really want to help these folks, and maybe help Herm make up for what he did before, too."

10:05

At the end of the chat, he says "I want to try and see if I can go in that room and look for some clues." and walks over to the door. He tentatively takes a step into the room, avoiding the ghostly figures on their knees, and watches to see if they react.

Cynric follows the path Bellesh traces in the room, with the intention of looking more closely at the porticullis and at the corrosion at the base of it.

TAKASHI looks at the chains, grimaces a bit, then turns to ATACIUS and Apinro. "That looks very closed. And heavy. Perhaps we'll find a way to open it elsewhere?"

ATACIUS smiles at the thought. "We'll have to keep exploring this place! Let's go my friends."

@Cynric The room itself doesn't have the portcullis. That is down the corridor. Here's a view of what you're looking at. You all came in from the north. The ghosts are in #2. The Portcullis (and @ATACIUS (Gabriel) and @TAKASHI (Alan) and Apinro) are at the P. (edited)

If the ghosts don't react, BELLESH will tentatively explore the rest of the room, making sure Jellesh remains on his shoulder so as not to disturb anything. He'll look over the weapon racks and area with the pegs to see if he can spot anything unusual.

Atacius will motion @TAKASHI (Alan) and Apinro to explore ahead a bit more.

TAKASH will follow ATACIUS and Apinro to see what trouble they will lead him into next. ;>

1

GRAIAN, realizing that the figures do not pose a threat relaxes. He considers Bellish's musing about Zorus. Certainly a follower might be better and have a chance, Herm did stay here after all. With these thoughts running through his mind he notices Bellesh and Cynric go into the room. Sighing, he moves to the Eastern side of the door to give himself the best view of the room and the corridor.

Cynric moves cautiously to stand next to the door in room #2 , and listen at that door.

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) (BELLISH) and @Cynric - moving through the room is not difficult. When you get close to a ghostly figure, an intense cold seems to radiate from them. It feels like it might "burn" if you get too close! They do not respond to you and indeed they move out of the way. They are focused on Captain Shelby's plea and @CALLIN's response. Everything in this room looks ill-kept and falling apart - think of a basement that has had moisture and damp air attacking the contents. Musty smells and corroded weapons, rotting wooden fixtures and tapestries.

10:06

@Cynric - you hear nothing at the door, it doesn't look like it's been opened in a long time.

10:08

@Graian - as you watch the young mage and warrior explore the mustering room, Angon whispers "Do you think that the good priest can release these souls from their torment? Would it be wise? I don't think we want to raise much attention... the stout warrior still bears the mark of our encounter with the unliving!"

10:11

@TAKASHI (Alan) - as you venture further from the light, it's getting extremely difficult to follow ATACIUS and Apinro. The young islander seems to have a sixth sense about him, and the littleling's ability to see in the dark is helping him, but you are at a disadvantage! The dim glow from the lantern behind you grows more dim. @ATACIUS (Gabriel) - you see ahead, maybe eight to ten paces, that there is a side passage to your left. The main corridor continues onwards. There is a mass of debris at the intersection, looking like sewer flotsam.

CALLIN begins prepping the area for his Ritual. "Know that I am preparing to release you. It would be best for you to all gather close as I do. As this will be very taxing and the closer you are the better chance my LIGHT may fall upon you. " He turns to those still in the room with him. "What I am doing will most certainly draw the attention of those of Darkness. I am prepared to face them for the freedom of these souls. I do not blame you if you do not share my Faith, and should you not want to stand against them, perhaps you should follow the others." CALLIN then pulls out his Holy Symbol hanging from a chain around his neck. He runs his hands over the polished symbol and smiles and thinks to himself. This is what the LIGHT's purpose is. Defending those from Darkness that are unable to do so. There IS no greater purpose. This is my calling, my duty. He then returns to the Ritual.... First casting Protection from Evil on himself. Summoning his powerful speaking voice CALLIN begins. "May the LIGHT Shine upon me, may it bath me in it's warm glow, may it shine upon any darkness which wishes to cling to me. May it wash away all that is tainted and impure!" And then as he walks in a circle pouring out the Holy water he begins his Chant. "Darkness poisons this land and those poor souls that have been left here, A curse, a bane, a punishment for being good and loyal. This punishment is a betrayal of what is right, just and pure! It is an ABOMINATION! Let the LIGHT SHINE bright upon those that have been wrongly cursed. Let them feel the warm glow upon their souls. May the LIGHT burn away the darkness that entraps these souls! Let the LIGHT wash upon their bodies, the spirits, shattering the chains cast upon them. Let the LIGHT set them FREE! " And on that last word CALLIN will attempt to turn the undead sending the Darkness away from the spirits souls!

TAKASHI stop as @ATACIUS (Gabriel) and Apinro effortlessly navigate the dark. "I'm afraid that I will have to head back to the others, as my eyes aren't as adept in this darkness as yours are. Don't wander off too far!"

GRAIAN whispers back to Angon, "I am not sure if he can free them, we are certainly up against a dark a powerful being, however, it will not be for the lack of Faith or effort. One thing I am sure of is that we should prepare for something to come our way that is not happy with us."

Upon hearing CALLIN’s ritual, Cynric stops listening at the door, turns around and whispers a quick prayer to the Light, hoping that It will hear the message that CALLIN is adressing in his prayer.

As BELLESH looks over the items in the room, he will be sure not to touch anything, and keep an eye out for any movement or other signs of anything that might be living in this environment. When @CALLIN begins his ritual, Bellesh will go stand by @Cynric by the closed door to watch. When Callin mentions drawing attention of "those of Darkness" he begins to look nervous, and after that point begins to look around the room every now and then during the ritual, as if worried that an unseen enemy may appear.

When ATACIUS noticesthat @TAKASHI (Alan) is falling back, he will motion Apinro to use the glowing wand.

Those of you watching @CALLIN see a warm glow appear around him as he speaks, growing brighter and brighter as he consecrates the ground. The ghosts all move towards the sphere, stretching out their hands towards it. Some drift through the walls, even through @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro)/BELLESH and @Cynric! The ghosts' touch feels cold to you, CALLIN, and somehow through that touch, you sense something else... a greater presence, and it feels like a burning touch that is searing your flesh. At the same time, Apinro ducks sheepishly at @ATACIUS (Gabriel)'s prompt and turns towards @TAKASHI (Alan), proffering the rod back to the warrior. TAKASHI, a sense of cold burning washes over you, radiating from the place where the wraith touched you! (CALLIN, see #act24-ooc )

TAKASHI stops dead in his tracks and attempts to rub some warmth into the location affected by the wraith's touch. "Damn thing acts up at the most unusual times!"

10:56

TAKASHI will take the rod offered to him by Apinro. "Thanks for letting me borrow this, friend! My eyes aren't quite as good as yours in this darkness."

Apinro ducks his head and nods, sheepishly. He points to his eyes and jabbers. You get the sense he's comfortable moving around in the dark. The rod is like a dim candle but now you can see well enough to move forward without tripping over anything. As @ATACIUS (Gabriel) , @TAKASHI (Alan) and Apinro move ahead, you come to the T intersection. The side passage runs south about 8 to 10 paces, then turns to the left (east). The main passage that you are in continues forward (to the west) into the darkness.

16:03

@Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) / BELLESH - standing next to the door with @Cynric, it looks like some effort will need to be made to wrench or smash this door open.

16:06

@CALLIN - the coldness fades, and with it, the nimbus of flames that wreathed the ghosts. They turn to each other, in wonder and their joyous exclamations fill the mustering room! A few of them are already beginning to fade. "Praise the gods and blessed ancestors!" exclaims Captain Shelby. What seem to be tears are running down her cheek. "We are freed! We are free!" She sinks to her knees in front of you. "You have done us a service that I cannot begin to repay you for. I will get to see my husband, my daughter, my family again. Thank you so much!"

"It is my calling to spread LIGHT to the world Captain Shelby, may you be at peace! Give thanks to Herm, as without him I would have never found you! Perhaps it was fate that had Herm flee so that you might one day be saved."

« Congratulations CALLIN. Your faith and righteousness have done a wonderful achievement for those poor souls, trapped here for so long », says Cynric. « When you will be ready, I’ll try to open this door »

CALLIN sags a bit from the effort but turns to @Cynric and nods. " I am ready. But where are the others? @TAKASHI (Alan) @ATACIUS (Gabriel) ? Spreading ourselves too thin may be foolish. " He then heads toward Herm. "Herm it was your actions that allowed for the freedom of your brothers and sisters in arms. Do not be ashamed, your actions saved their souls. " he says resting a hand on the mans shoulder.

Atacius will stop at the intersection and look back the way they came, then turns to @TAKASHI (Alan). "This is a good spot to wait for the rest." (edited)

BELLESH smiles at seeing that Callin was successful and the spirits are being freed. After Cynric and Callin's interaction, he looks up at the warrior and says, "Hey @Cynric, when the time is right, let me know and I can cast a spell that can help you get that door open, easy!"

I think CALLIN speaks wisely. Let’s regroup with the others and decide what we do as a group, adds Cynric, heading for the corridor. I’ll ask our friends to come back in this room to talk about our plans for the exploration.

Bellesh nods and digs into his pocket to see if he can find a bit of food for his familiar to nibble on as they wait.

@CALLIN (interrupting you prior to you turning to HERM)... The ghost of Shelby looks slightly less substantial, but she reaches out an arm to you. You briefly feel a "touch", but it is more of a cold whisper than anything. "I don't know why you are here, but if I can help... " She looks to you to see what you will say. @Doc (Bellesh/Brother Calandro) JELLISH has been hesitant and uncomfortable around the unliving. He's hunkered down in a pocket, emitting low growls every now again, especially when you get close to one.

"Thank you Captain Shelby. My friends are searching for documents of their history. Perhaps you could show us the way to the Library. And if you would be so kind as to forgive Herm l. Without him I fear I never would have found you."

Apinro, @TAKASHI (Alan) and ATACIUS are keeping watch on both corridors at the intersection. Though @TAKASHI (Alan) can probably sense ATACIUS eagerness to walk down the side passage and peek around the corner, as the littleling keeps looking in that direction, wiggling the toes of his hairy feet and fidgeting with his dagger.

"Hmmmm. Seems as though you are leaning towards that side passage, eh @ATACIUS (Gabriel) ? I don't want us to get too far from the rest of the group... Just take a quick peek, maybe?"

ATACIUS eyes light up at his friend suggestion. "Yes, just a quick peek, promise!" he says as he leaves his satchels on the ground, and make sure the rest of his stuff secure to reduce any unwanted noise. He motions Apinro to stay, gives @TAKASHI (Alan) a thumbs up, and proceed cautiously forward on the side passage. "Just a peek, in and out, your promised..." he keep saying to himself.

@CALLIN - Shelby's figure shudders and she looks beyond you... "I see them... " she whispers and then she directs her focus back you. "The library... yes. To the south of the mustering hall are stairs, leading up to the main floor. It was barricaded, you will have to bring down the door. Once through, the grand staircase leads to the second floor. The library was to the back. It is, I believe, mostly intact. The rear of the keep saw little fighting." She shudders again and she is visibly fading. "Beware... those more under his sway are in the keep. They will know... they will know... " and she groans. She reaches beyond you and whispers ".. I am coming." Herm stands beside the priest and bows to Shelby. "I will see them to the library, Captain. Go. You have earned your rest, far more than anyone else. Your faith and honor will not be forgotten." Shelby nods and salutes the bowing old soldier. She reaches out again through and beyond CALLIN. The priest hears her whisper "My beloveds... I'm coming..." ... and she fades away. A sense of peace washes over those who see the last of the ghosts fade.

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - you go down the side passage to where it turns to the left (east). Another eight to ten paces, the passage turns to the south. At that turn, in the east wall, is a shut door. What will you do?

CALLIN nods and says "May you finally be at Peace Captain Shelby" CALLIN then turns to Herm and says "You saved them from that eternal curse. Good work Herm. Now can you lead us to the Library like the Captain said?"

ATACIUS will pause for a moment at the turn, and pay atention to any distinctive sound, odor or detail (light beyond the door, soot on the walls, liquids on the floor, etc) before quietly going back to Takashi and Apinro.

GRAIAN comes up to Callin, "You have great strength in your Faith my friend, there are many I know that would not have been able to free them. We have some idea now of how to get to the library, I fear there are many challenges on the way we must make sure we are prepared,I suspect your Faith will be critical to our success. We should regroup, though, I fear that I spirited little friend has gone wandering!" (edited)

"thank you @Graian , us let us gather and make way to the Library. "

@ATACIUS (Gabriel) - this door appears a bit more "hefty" than the other ones you've seen. There is more iron support/banding on it, and the lock looks bigger. Once you return to the other two, Apinro jabbers away and then looks at you expectantly.

10:41

@CALLIN - Herm wipes away the tears that were streaming down his face. "Would that I could see such peace brought to all who suffer like this in the city... but I fear it would take an army of priests like you." He nods. "'Tis where I was taking you as well, but her warning... 'they will know...' frightens me."

10:41

@SouthernSeas - are you done exploring the sewers?

"It is good they know. For the LIGHT burns bright, and it WILL cast away this darkness. " CALLIN stays with a renewed vigor in his voice.

A great evil has been taken away through CALLIN by the power of the Light.

11:22

we have done a good deed that will have repercussions for a long time. let's continue this momentum and continue our journey to help our elf friends.

Cynric

we have done a good deed that will have repercussions for a long time. let's continue this momentum and continue our journey to help our elf friends.

At that, Angon smiles a little - the first time she's smiled since the death of the elven scouts to the fire trap. "The Search must continue!" she says in a low voice. "Hope is the sunlight that shines through the darkest of clouds on the sea's horizon."

Bellesh looks at the door he's standing near, and with a wistful smile raps it once gently with his knuckles, whispering "Next time." He turns and joins the others and says, "I'm ready. Can you show us the way, Herm?"

Using sign language ATACIUS tries to explain Apinro he found a closed door and that the three of us should go back to the group.

Cynric checks his armor and shield, before firmly grasping his scimitar and engaging behind the elves and his fellow adventurers.

TAKASHI will herd ATACIUS and Apinro back to where we left the group earlier.

Apinro looks excited at first, but then disappointed when both @ATACIUS (Gabriel) and @TAKASHI (Alan) start going back to rejoin the group. When all are assembled, Herm leads you over to the mustering room and the door on the east wall. After some tugs and pulls by the strongest in the group, the door reluctant opens, SCREECHING and GROANING in protest from the decades of being shut. Beyond is a passageway that leads to the left (south). Herm takes you down this passage a short distance and you reach an intersection. There is a side passage to your left (east). The passage you are in goes further south a few paces then turns to the right. "This way..." Herm says, pointing to the left. A few paces later, you come to another square room, with a large stone stair leading upwards. "Beyond is the main floor of the Keep." Herm explains. "Further west, if we'd stayed on that tunnel, leads to the portcullis winch which protects the main, trapped passage into the sewers." There is a large door at the top of the stairs. It is barred from your side with a thick beam, as well as extra planks of wood that have been nailed into it! @TAKASHI (Alan) , you feel a whisper of cold from your wound. Angon and Almanin look at the door and frown. "They didn't want anyone to leave... or to enter from the Keep? What lies beyond?" Herm has no answer. What will you do?

"The dead. The dead lie beyond, just as they did in the streets of this dead city. I feel it in my very bones."

"Are we... prepared for this?"

« I can help with removing those planks if you wish », adds Cynric.