Remulos sat at his desk in his office in the semi-underground temle of Hades Dis Pater,  and rubbed his forehead.
The saturnine cult of the devourer had taken a firm grip on his city, opening a hellgate and causing street collapse in the Redlight district after slaughtering a small neighborhood, and desecrating an abandoned temple of Atlas just a few hundred yards away from the Hadereum itself.
 Acolyte Flavius had written dozens of licensing for adventurers to hunt them, and had even established licensing for resupplying stations in the undercity to keep the hunters at work, but it was time for the servants of Hades to put an end to the diabolical and nefarious necromantic activities of this upstart cult. Demons of several tupes hadbeen seen, along with undead whose very existence was an affront.

In reply to Plutocrat Remulos (msg # 1):

Hograth had been sent by a dream from the divine lord to Northport. He did not know the details, but if his god wanted him here, then he would go. Having secured membership at the adventurers guild, he came to the temple to see what he could do. Just the walk there was enough to suggest the problem, but he entered nonetheless.

A pair of Hadereum temple guard flanked the Gnoll as he entered the office, his wrists shacked in front, his fur worn thin where the manacles had chaffed him raw.

The musky scent of the creature seemed to fill the underground space, and he made no move to resist as the guards herded him into the corner and dropped the sack containing all his worldly possessions onto the floor nearby.

The broad canine head swiveled as he glanced this way and that, taking in the furnishings of the office and his nostrils flared slightly as he took in the myriad scent, the oil on their swords, the whiff of incense and hints of ink and paper.

He waited expectantly, just glad to be up and moving, somewhere besides his cramped cell.

In reply to Urrun (msg # 3):

"Sit"

The command came after a glance, but well after the canine smell entered the room.

The Dwarf glanced over at the creature.

"I think we have better uses for him than a cell, if he is willing. Are you willing to work out your salvation, dog-man?"

The chains of the manacles rattled as the Gnoll eased into the chair provided, the wood creaking and straining under his bulk as he settled.

He listened to the brusqe offer, his ears twitching and swiveling seemingly on their own accord before he nodded and glanced between the Dwarf and the Human.

"I can work" he nodded slightly, a glint of long yellowed teeth.

In reply to Urrun (msg # 5):

"Good."

He glanced around, a little irritated. But only a little.

"Can we get these chains off him then?"

There was an exchange of looks between the guards and Remulos, a nod, and one of them fished out the key from a lanyard attached to his belt.

The Gnoll held out his wrists as the guards unlocked the manacles, the heavy looking shackles coming away to reveal the red, angry looking flesh beneath the matted fur. The Gnoll immediately rubbed at his irritated skin and flexed his long hands slowly.

He glanced at the large sack, but let it be for now as he looked back to the Dwarf. "I'm called Urrun" he began "Just looking at you..." He continued in between the growl in the back of his throat and the occasional clicking of teeth "Makes me think this is more than just digging ditches?"

In reply to Urrun (msg # 7):

"Hograth. We will let this gentleman tell the story, but I have heard rumours of undead and demons. If you lack silver, we may have to sort that out before we go to work."

He looked to the man behind the desk.

"We waiting for anyone else?"

An old man wearing aging Shevnian mail entered the office. His eyes have dark circles around them, but he seems fit and alert.

"There is a demonic stench in this city. I have heard you are looking to root it out. I wish to join in this effort."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:09, Tue 18 July 2017.

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 9):

The high priest nods.
"Goran, isn't it? I hear of you from the Temple of the Seven. Your gods are no threat to us, and we have a common enemy in your Chernabog. Hograth, welcome. Urrun, the penalty for pussong on the temple wall is usually castration, but we have graver things to be concerned about. That which is under the earth belongs to Hades, but some have been using the ancient byways beneath this place to work against His will. I will need to send you, along with an agent of the Department of Aquaducts and Sewers, into the undercity to root out what several dozen members of the Adventurers Guild have only scratched the surface of."

Urrun perked up a little at the Plutocrats words,  first at "castration" of course during which he suppressed a shudder, but again when the nature of the proffered trade became more clear.

He seemed hesitant at first, almost suspicious as the details were lined out.

"You... want me to hunt Humans?" he asked, obviously finding the notion hard to believe.

"Yes, the priests at the Temple of the Seven have welcomed me since I arrived in the city. And the blessed god Hors is warmth and protection, not a threat to anyone. But I am glad we agree that the proper place for the dead is in the ground."

He smiles at hearing the charges against Urrun's, decides not to offer his hand to the beastman in case he hadn't been permitted to wash since his crime, and instead introduces himself to the dwarf.

"I am Goran, shining the light of Hors into the shadows most gods overlook. You look to be a stout warrior."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:37, Tue 18 July 2017.

"Goran, Hograth" he looked to each in turn as he repeated the names, obviously trying to commit them to memory.

"And I am Urrun" he sat back, hands upon his knees. The Gnoll was obviously eager to be away from this place, and to check his belongings, but he held himself in check for the time being.

"Where do we meet this...agent?" he asked the Plutocrats.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:16, Wed 19 July 2017.

In reply to Urrun (msg # 13):

"Hograth Podkarmen, Holy warrior of Hades and specialist in putting the living dead down."

He turns back to the plutocrat to hear the answer to Urruns question.

As the Plutocrat discusses the mission, the guards let in a stocky and muscular Dwarf.  Around his head I'd a bandanna, and his black beard is kept in two tight forks.  He is dressed in black and gray clothing, with the dried skulls of various vermin hanging around his waist.  At his belt is a stout dagger, heavy spiked mace, and a case of bolts, while across his back is a beautiful and well crafted crossbow.  The butt is carved in an intricate, twinning pattern.

He waits by the door, leaning on the frame until they cease talking.

In reply to Ketil Deepwalker (msg # 15):

"This is Ketil Deepwalker, who oversees some of the repairs constantly being done in the undercity, and who endeavors to keep down incursions of vermin to the surface. He will assist you in your search, as he is in possession of a key that will open the majority of gates below.
He will help you penetrate the Saturnines lairs. I have some of their remains to show you."
The priest leads you into an antechamber, where a body lies on top of a table under a sheet, which he pulls back.

"Part of the initiation rite of these heretics is to dye their
robes in a barrel of cuttlefish which they prompt to release their ink by
drowning a cat in the barrel. This leaves them with black stained hands,
and many of them with scars on their faces and arms from the claws of the
xats they kill. They also wear these small crescent daggers, tucked into
wooden cross forms, so that they resemble monks in service to the
Tripartate god that is worshipped in the cathedral. Harmless as those sort
are, these definitely  are not. The other mark of distinction is not a
constant. Many of them are missing toes, and one expedition discovered a
box full of them among the possessions of a succubus. What their motives truly are is sadly a matter of conjecture, although recently, they managed to assassinate every divinet, oracle, and prophet within the confines of the city. No seers remain, to my knowledge. We recovered some of the tools for divination they had stolen, but none here have the gift or skills to use them."

In reply to Plutocrat Remulos (msg # 16):

Hograth tries to think of the connection between missing digits and Succubi...

[Private to GM: Rolled 2 over hidden lore(demons)...any bonii?]

Urrun listened as his former captor explained the nature of the task he was to perform, although the Gnoll offered little as far as body language or his opinion one way or another.

When he sensed the man was done, he leaned forward slightly. "So you want us to kill them...these people with the black hands" he half asked, half clarified.

In reply to Urrun (msg # 18):

"They must be stopped, but if at all possible, bring them in for questioning. They have an inclination towards suicide, and are granted some boon by thatvwhich they serve wbich prevents them from being reanimated, or even to have their spirits called upon for questioning. We had a licensed necromancer try... these people truck with demons, and raise those they murder into a horrid unlife. They must be stopped. The dead belong dead, and demons belong in the underworld."

Urrun uncrossed his arms and placed his hands upon the examination table before he leaned in close to the corpse. He started with the hands, sniffing loudly and swiftly before he worked his way around the body, lingering on the hems of the robe, the hair and a few others places before he stood back up straight and nodded to himself slightly.

"If you want them alive we might need a few things, a few of those shackles you had me in would help...and maybe something to soften them up a bit, a stick or a mace..." he asked as he looked back to the Plutocrat.

"So this dwarf can lead us to where these vile cultists lair? What can you tell us of the undercity?"

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 21):

Hograth listened and looked for now. Prisoners were not his thing, but he would ask questions when the others had answers.

"Perhaps."  He answers the human.  "I know the sewers and under ways of the city well.  You will need to be prepared for more then just cultists and their lifeless minions."  His deep baritone voice rasps out.  He walks over to the corpse of the cultist, and carefully examines it for clues.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 02:06, Sun 23 July 2017.

Urrun gave the Dwarf who had just joined them his attention, the sewer experts demeanor obviously backing up his warning.

"What do you mean?" The Gnoll asked as one "eyebrow" raised slightly.

In reply to Urrun (msg # 24):

The priest sighs.
"In addition to this demon cult and the undead left in their wake,
I  hear tales of ghulae, trolls, carrion worms and assorted variety of
those multilegged lizards called slorn. As some of that area ties in with
 the sewer system, there are doubtless rats of various types.
 Also, during the plague of two score years past, many were buried in mass
graves or simply entombed without proper rites, resulting in abominations
 of unlife that must be put down. Several of the goblinoid peoples that are among the citizenry also dwell more under the city than in it."

Urrun did not exactly look enthusiastic as the Plutocrats listed off the myriad dangers that they might face in the sewers below. But bound as he was to the agreement he could not exactly back out now.

"Cities..." He growled under his breath. "How many of these people do you want killed or captured?...before you consider my part done in this?"

In reply to Urrun (msg # 26):

"Don't worry, Doggie. If you are a good boy I am sure we can offer you more than a simple pardon."

The dwarf was not speaking harshly, but in relatively comforting tones, if a little condescending.

The gnoll did not seem to take any offense, rather he seemed more interested in the hint of a reward. He looked back to the Plutocrat as he scratched behind one ear idly. "So I take it that's a no on the shackles then?"

In reply to Urrun (msg # 28):

"In addition to the set of shackles you have on your person, we will give you another set. You will be paid for a days labor at the expected rate  of 6 silvers (Hograth, your share will be adjusted for your tithe.) In addition, as you are working directly for us, you will be exempt  from the 30% fee for items found, paying instead a simple tithe, with the exception of Master Deepwalker, who has always had the privilege of keeping anything he can carry on his person as a member of the NDAS."


Ooc-6 silvers is $120, the going rate. Tithing is 10% and NDAS emplotyees always go untaxed.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 15:44, Wed 26 July 2017.

"And we will be helping to end this terrible blight on humanity."

In reply to Plutocrat Remulos (msg # 29):

"There you go."

He probably would have scratched him behind his ears if they were not several feet above him. Turning back to the plutocrat

"The keys to the shackles would be good to. And to any gates we may need to pass through, but our other Dwarven friend already has them, right?"

"Sounds fair" The Gnoll replied with a nod as he half circled the supine corpse. "Was there anything else? Or should we get started?" he asked as he glanced back to the others.

In reply to Urrun (msg # 32):

Acolyte Flavius will escort yu to the rined temple of Atlas, which had been desecrated by the unholy acts of the Saturnines. Search from that point.,"

In reply to Plutocrat Remulos (msg # 33):

"Right. Lets move out then..."

He takes the keys and second set of shackles and puts them in his pack and readies himself to follow Flavius.

Goran mutters a prayer to the light at the beginning of a voyage and then follows the others.

Ketil follows the accolyte, his pack resting easily on his shoulders.
Soon enough they would be tested by the under city, and he hoped most of them would survive.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:48, Thu 27 July 2017.

Urrun back tracked some to take up his road worn satchel, and slipped the strap over one shoulder before he started looking through the contents as they walked.

"I'm going to need food" he said somewhat to himself as he continued to paw through the belongings. "And something to hit these people with that won't open them up"

In reply to Urrun (msg # 37):

"I would not worry about not opening them up for now. Those that survive might just be better maimed, and those that don't can be your rations, yes?"

Urrun looked up conspicuously and glanced around, specifically to their escort before he continued. "I'm not going to say I haven't done it" he admitted with a slight shrug "But here in the city people get angry over all sorts of things, what you eat, where you piss, how you smell..." He trailed off when it looked like they would not be taking a detour. "These people's are probably eating something down there...we can probably just take theirs"

In reply to Urrun (msg # 39):

Hograth acknowledged the good idea, and grasped his axe as if he were keen to use it.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 40):

The junior plutocrat leads you out of the domed Temple, and on a disused path into the hills of the temple district. Built on the west side of the valley that cradles Northport, the hills of the temple district are green and almost parklike, with overgrown ruins of disued temples, and the manicured lawns of whitewashed active ones.


The area is almost tranquil when compared to the bustling districts to the east. The paths are ancient, built mostly of smoothworn hexoganal granite pavers, althoygh some of the smaller pathways are of slate.

Ahead lies a partialy collapsed building, something that might have been a collonaded dome before half the hilside fell onto it.  A broken marble statue of a muscular man bearing a set of corroded bronze bsnds suggesting a sphere is choked with vines.

By the time they reached the ruined dome, Urrun had shrugged into his leather cuirass and fastened his weapons belt around his relatively narrow canine waist. It was his good fortune that the same principles that made for easy overland travel also applied to squeezing through mouldering ruins, and for the most part the Gnoll was fairly "slick", with little to hang him up or rag him down on their journey. Of course he was not as well armored as Dwarven acolyte, but few were.

"So this is it?" he half growled as he stepped forward and knelt down, his amber eyes taking in the lay of the land amid the overgrowth and vine covered rubble. His nostrils flared as he sniffed the air, stood, and began to advance slowing...keeping a wary eye out for sign, scent or any hints at what else might call this place home.

In reply to Urrun (msg # 42):

A faint sickly sweet odor pervades the ruin; somewhere near there is death, in quantity.

"Smells like something died" Urrun grumbled as he stood. "A lot of something...watch your step"

The Gnoll began to pick his way towards the opening in the dome, moving slowly as he picked his way towards the crevasse

Goran unslings his morningstar as they approach the ruins. His nostrils flare as the smell of death that pervades the area becomes detectable to his human nose.

"Ending this cult will be a worthy pursuit. Death comes to those who do not respect it."

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 45):

Hograth, axe and shield in hand, moves quickly with them. His crossbow is not far.

"As long as they stay dead..."

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 46):

The area of the ruined temple does not have any obvious entrance,; it is probably buried under half the hillside.

Some of the surface of the dome is visible.

[Private to Ketil Deepwalker: make an architecture roll to find a week point you could use forced entry on]

Urrun approached the dome, looking for any cracks or other damage that might give them entrance to the underground, but failing that he would attempt to follow the rotting scent to its point of origin.

In reply to Urrun (msg # 48):

Hograth turns to his fellow Dwarf.

"Presumably people have entered here. Dare I ask how?"

Ketil searches around the area, looking for something.  His crossbow is held ready in his hands as he explores.  His sharp eyes picking out various details.

[Private to GM: 20:24, Today: Ketil Deepwalker rolled 10 using 1d20.  IQ roll.]

In reply to Ketil Deepwalker (msg # 50):

"From what I heard, they found a route through the undercity, but they did not leave us with a map."

[Private to Ketil Deepwalker:the very top of the dome looks like a safe place to knock a hole in it, as opposed to coming in from the base. It is about fifty feet accross, so it is probably 8 yards from the flooring...]
This message was lightly edited by the player at 01:11, Sat 29 July 2017.

In reply to Acolyte Flavius (msg # 51):

"I see. And we need to find a way through here?"

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 52):

The junior priest shrugs
"It is the only lead we have."

As the press forward Urrun stooped lower to the ground and began to cut for sign, hoping that some hint of recent passage might betray the route the cultists we're using.

[Private to GM: (Should I roll for tracking or would you prefer to do it behind the scenes?)]

In reply to Urrun (msg # 54):

Yrrun notices that for how "unused" This place is, there are a fair number of tracks in the area. At least two humans have urinated near the ruin in the past three days, and there are wax drippings and a broken flint from someones tinderbox.

The Gnoll advanced slowly, his Amber eyes sweeping across the ground before he stopped and bent over to pick up a bit of hardened wax, where he brought up and sniffed before showing it to the others.

"Well somebody's moved through here in the last few days..." He commented as he continued to search.

In reply to Urrun (msg # 56):

"If they lit torches here, the entrance cannot be far."

He looks around for a large item, perhaps the size of a door, that could hide an entrance near the wax.

[Private to GM: Rolled 1 under perception.]

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 57):

There may not be a discrete entrance here, the cult had been entering from below, but someone has been in the area.

Wax dripping would suggest candles rather than torches.


Theology or occult roll as to why outside rather than inside.

Ketil speaks, his raspy bass voice quiet in the ruins.  "We can get in, once I make a hole in the top of the dome."  His crossbow still held ready in his hands.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:16, Tue 01 Aug 2017.

In reply to Ketil Deepwalker (msg # 59):

Hograth thinks he has heard why the candles would be outside, but can't remember the details.

[Private to GM: Rolled 1 over theology skill.]

Goran pauses, and inspects the candle wax. "Hmm, if they were performing some sort of ritual..." He tries to remember the details of certain occult activities.

[Private to Narrator: 10:46, Today: Goran the Marked rolled 7 using 3d6.  Occultism 13.]
This message was last edited by the player at 14:48, Mon 31 July 2017.

"I've got nothin" he Gnoll shrugged as he continued his search

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 61):

The range of the consecration to their demon lord probably extends out of the structure, allowing them to perform rituals nearby.

"Hmm, they may not have a direct entrance here, this may just be where they can be close enough to whatever demon they pray to so that their unholy rituals can be performed.

"Maybe our bestial friend here can pick up the scent from here and track some of them back to whatever holes they hide from the sun in? We could try to take a captive there and learn more."

Goran points out the likely spots where the candles were set up for whatever ritual he thinks they performed.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:40, Tue 01 Aug 2017.

"That's a thought" Urrun agreed with a thoughtful nod. "If we can't track them in...maybe we can track them out" he combed a few of the other active patches, the fresher urine scents and the newer scuffs, looking for prints leading away from the dome proper.

In reply to Urrun (msg # 65):

Urrun starts sniffing around...


Make a tracking roll at -2

Today: Urrun rolled 9 using 3d6.  Tracking -2 (13)

In reply to Urrun (msg # 67):

There are signs of them having arrived from diverse directions, but most of them left by the same paved path you were on, which leads to a very busy thoughroughfare. Tracking will be harder from that point, but possible.

"Yeah...yeah, see this crushed spot? A group of humans met here for some time with candles..and then they left...back out this way" he narrated and pointed to what he was seeing as he walked back towards the main thoroughfare.

18:21, Today: Urrun rolled 6 using 3d6.  Tracking (15)(Penalties not calculated).

In reply to Urrun (msg # 69):

Urrun can make out the faint traces of footsteps heading toward the dockside district...

The Gnoll was persistent, one had to at least give him that. Out into the busy street he walked, slowly, carefully, his face moving slowly back and forth as passersby gave him a wider than normal berth.

Then he stopped, knelt, and scrapped a bit of dirt covered wax from in-between the flag stones with one of his blunt nails and raised it to his nose. Encouraged he moved on...down, down the road to find where a spent bit of wick had been jammed into a crushed weed on the roadside.

He followed the prints from. The crushed weed across a little dirt side path until be found himself at the docks, looking about amid the cawing of gulls and the scent of sea spray. "They came down this way..." he said aloud somewhat to himself.

In reply to Urrun (msg # 71):

Hograth followed him, wary. When he got to the docks, he asked

"Can you keep following him??"

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 72):

The trace is getting harder to follow, as the street, which is paved, becomes busier. More humans are about, almost all of them are Sahudese.

Goran is impressed with his new companion's tracking capabilities. But as they move towards more densely populated areas, he thinks they may not be able to succeed with this plan alone.

"Are you able to tell how fresh, or how frequently taken, this path is? If we lose the trail, maybe we could stake out the area and ambush them after a ritual."

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 74):

"Or capture a couple after disturbing a ritual and get the information out of them..."

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 75):

"Or you could break into the temple and find out how they  travelled below."

"I've lost it" he shook his head with a frustrated grunt. "Breaking into the temple sounds good to me...no time like the present. WHo knows how often they come this way?"

Breaking into the temple works for me, I thought there was no obvious way to break in.

"I can get us in through the top of the dome."  He says, as he heads back to the temple.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 17:11, Wed 09 Aug 2017.

In reply to Ketil Deepwalker (msg # 79):

"Whatever works. There is nothing sacred about the dome, is there?"

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 80):

The acolyte shrugs.
"The whole thing is no doubt been defiled since plague took the Atlasians forty years ago. Have at."

"Well then I guess we'll just have to crack the thing open" he agreed with a shrug and moved back towards the dome, intent on helping as best he could.

"Yes, please open up the temple for us."

Assuming this will take some time, Goran suggests taking the time to cast some spells, then recover the energy.

"Should we have a continual light?"

He also casts a spell that wraps him in a protective shimmer.

[Private to Narrator:
14:09, Today: Goran the Marked rolled 14 using 3d6.  Casting Armor (1DR) on self - 15.]

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 83):

"Perhaps a couple of continual Lights...on small stones we can put in our pockets. and on my miners lamp."

"Mr Ketil, how long will it take you to open up the temple? I can make two torch-lights if we have the time it would take for the shadows to grow a hand's length."

OOC: I can cast twice and recover energy in ~50 mins.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:52, Thu 10 Aug 2017.

"If you two want some, it won't bother me" he shrugged and rolled his neck, issuing a few muffled pops, evidently ready to get to work.

Ketil carefully begins working on the stones, securing each on with a piton and rope so it won't fall into the cavernous space below.  The ropes themselves are anchored to a solid piece of masonry nearby.  "Make your torches, It will take some time to do correctly."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 20:14, Sat 12 Aug 2017.

In reply to Ketil Deepwalker (msg # 87):

Hograth removes the wick from his helmet lamp and offers it for a continual light spell.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 88):

The work proceeds carefully...
Make a pair of breaking and entering rolls and an architecture roll to avoid collapse

Ketil works carefully, to keep the dome from collapsing as he makes an entrance hole.  His mind wholely on the task, each strike carefully placed.

[Private to GM:
20:06, Today: Ketil Deepwalker rolled 8 using 1d20.  Forced Entry.
20:06, Today: Ketil Deepwalker rolled 20 using 1d20.  Forced Entry.
20:05, Today: Ketil Deepwalker rolled 15 using 1d20, unique dice.  Architecture.

Architecture IQ(11) +3
Forced Entry Dex(13) +2
]

Goran utters a prayer to the sun god high in the sky. At first, nothing happens.

"Hors dislikes the dark world under the surface of the world. But he will grant us the power to bring light into the darkness."

After that, he utters a second prayer, and then a third. The magical lights ignite.

[Private to Narrator:
20:21, Today: Goran the Marked rolled 9 using 2d6.  duration of light 2.
20:21, Today: Goran the Marked rolled 7 using 2d6.  duration of light 1.
20:17, Today: Goran the Marked rolled 12 using 3d6.  Continual Light 15 - 1 for active spell.
20:17, Today: Goran the Marked rolled 7 using 3d6.  Continual Light 15 - 1 for active spell.
20:17, Today: Goran the Marked rolled 16 using 3d6.  Continual Light 15 - 1 for active spell.]

Urrun helped Ketil where he could, mostly providing and extra hand here or there, or providing the grunt work while the Dwarf worked on the more sensitive parts. As strange as it was to see the Gnoll working side by side with the Dwarves, he did not seem bothered by the arrangement.

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 91):

"Thank you."

Hograth will return the wick to its position in his helmet.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 93):

The light spells aglow, Goran sits back to recover the spent energy.
The stine shifting operation is nearly done...

In two's and three's at a time, the Gnoll scooped up the disassembled bricks and hauled them a few paces to toss them unceremoniously into a dusty pile. Back and forth, back and forth the creature moved, barely breathing heavily as he watching the entrance grow ever wider.

In reply to Urrun (msg # 95):

His lamp lit, Hograth stows his axe and pick on his pack and assists the Dogman...keeping an eye open around him.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 96):

Ooc waiting on a corrected reroll.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 97):

By whome?

OOC: I think Ketil? There was a post in OOC about using d20s instead of 3d6, and Ketil is the only one with d20 rolls in the dice roller log.

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 99):

The dwarf carefully removes several bricks from the dome without collapsing it, releasing a foul deathly stench.  There is now an opening about a yard wide.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 100):

Hograth will ready his crossbow and look through the hole to see what he can see.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 101):

About 8 yards down from the top of the dome you can dimly make out some faint pale shapes. The smell of death is overpowering.

Urrun, who's sense of smell was (as far as he was aware) far more sensitive than the others, shook his head and widened his eyes before he blinked them clear.

"Wow, that's...potent" he coughed. He did not feel the need to remind the others that this was coming from one who had occasionally eaten carrion, so that was saying something.

"You...ah want me to help lower you down?" He asked Goran and Hograth, looking between them

In reply to Urrun (msg # 103):

"Hang on..."

He lines up the figures to see if they move or are alive/animated.

[Private to GM: Night Vision 5 help to see what they are?]

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 104):

"How about one of those lightstones?"


[Private to GM: Sorry for they break.  Family issues.]
This message was last edited by the player at 06:58, Fri 18 Aug 2017.

"We've got two already going, but I'll be happy to make you another when next we have some time to rest. Right now it looks like we may have disturbed something."

OOC: Takes me 15 mins to recover the energy, so I'll cast it next time we have a break.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:10, Fri 18 Aug 2017.

Ketil works carefully, securing the opening and tying a long rope to a solid pillar, capable of supporting twice the weight of the heaviest member of their group.  Then he slowly lowers the rope down the opening, counting out the footage as he does.  Once done, he sticks his head carefully into the hole and looks to see what he can of the space around it and below it.

In reply to Ketil Deepwalker (msg # 107):

The floor of the dome is about nine yards down. There is a mass of days old corpses below, laid out face up, wearing onky smallclothes and shoes.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 108):

Using his headlight, can Hograth see anything alive/undead?

Urrun watched as Ketil set up the anchor and fed out the rope, taking note of the knots and of how far down they were planning on climbing. Although not armored, the Gnoll was significantly larger than the others, so a healthy dose of concern for his own safety seemed mixed in.

He lingered near the opening with the others, watching, listening and trying not to breath too deeply.

In reply to Urrun (msg # 110):

Soemthing is moving around out of the light cast by the opening in the dome... and one of the bodies in the circle of light is twitching...

In reply to Narrator (msg # 111):

Hograth will turn his headlight towards the movement, with the crossbow aiming there as well...

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 112):

Something with a distorted shape darts away after the light shines on it...

[Private to Hograth Podkarmen: make an undead lore roll]
This message was last edited by the player at 19:04, Sun 20 Aug 2017.

In reply to ghula (msg # 113):

"Looks like we have undead, lets throw down some oil and light those bodies! Anybody have any spare oil?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:04, Sun 20 Aug 2017.

"I have no oil. I have two flasks of holy water, but I don't know if that would work," Goran says.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 114):

"Nobody else have oil? What about magic for burning the area? I have one flask of oil, but would prefer to keep the last one in reserve for lamps if it is needed."

Goran shakes his head. "I could ignite your blade, but to engulf an area of that size in fire is not within my capabilities."

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 117):

Hograth will get out his flask of oil and empty it on the ground and bodies below.

"All right. Someone drop a torch, then lets get down there! We all ready?"

Urrun looked down and scratched at his neck before he glanced between the Dwarves and gave a nod. "Yeah...let's get this over with"

Goran unhooks his morningstar and nods his readiness.

Ketil draws his mace and rapels down the secured rope, ready for the fight below.

In reply to Ketil Deepwalker (msg # 121):

Apparently short of torch, Hograth stows his crossbow on his pack and pulls out his axe and shield, holding his flint in his shield hand, before he realizes he will need those hands to repel down the rope. So he tucks his axe half back into his pack, where he can easily grab it, and his flint into his belt, and follows Ketil down.

Urrun waited until last, watching and waiting for the line to become unweighted before he took hold off the rope, gave one last look over the edge, then stepped off.

In reply to Urrun (msg # 123):

The ordinary lamp oil burns slowly, providing a light only barely brighter
than a torch., and mostly greases the floor, unlike alchemical fire, which
 explodes dramatically when ignited or hurled.

The room below is filled with corpses, and as you get closer
 (not rapelling, that requires a wall, and you are entering from the top
of a dome), you can see rats moving among the bodies, along with gaunt
Dog legged creatures with long claws.



Ooc: hidden lore, undead anyone?

In reply to Narrator (msg # 124):

Hograth looks at the creatures below.

[Private to GM: Rolled Exactly my Hidden Lore (Undead) skill...]

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 125):

Ghula are free willed undead natives of another plane of existence, enemies of the Hadereum, have a paralyzing touch and the ability to gate into shadow through piles of bone. Where more than three bones are in contact with eachother, they can make a gate.  This does not work with ash.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:10, Sat 26 Aug 2017.

Once on the ground, Goran mutters a brief prayer to the sun and his morningstar becomes sheathed in flame.

[Private to Narrator:
17:09, Today: Goran the Marked rolled 8 using 3d6.  Flaming weapon 15 - 1 active spell.

FP: 9/12
Power Item: 6/6

Active Spells:
1. Armour - 1 DR on self (upkeep 1-1 = 0)
2. Flaming Weapon - on self  (upkeep 1-1 = 0)]

In reply to ghula (msg # 126):

Hograth passes on this information as he lands and draws his axe and shield and looks around, scattering any bones he can see.

[Private to GM: Hograth has had continual light cast on his headlamp, just so you know.]

Urrun came last, and jumped the final few feet to land with a clatter among the decaying refuse. He came up quickly, drawing his own rusty axe from the loop at his belt as be blinked away to help his eyes adjust to the darkness.

13:10, Today: Urrun rolled 12 using 3d6.  Climb down rope (14).
This message was last edited by the player at 20:12, Sat 26 Aug 2017.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 128):

In addition to the rats erupting from some of the many corpses, about 8 ghulae are in the immediate vicinity.

Fright checks at +2 all, +4 for Hograth and Urrun

13:16, Today: Urrun rolled 11 using 3d6.  Fright Check +4 (Willpower of 10).

Goran is extremely unsteady on the rope. He may fall.

[Private to Narrator: Rolls
17:41, Today: Goran the Marked rolled 14 using 3d6.  Climbing (DX-5) = 7 .
17:42, Today: Goran the Marked rolled 13 using 3d6.  Fright Check +2 (Will 14).]

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 132):

Hograth has clearly done this before. He has no trouble with the rope.

[Private to GM: Rolled 6 under skill.
Rolled 7 under unmodified will of 14, so target 18, right? Was that including Combat reflexes?]

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 133):

Unmoved by the appearance of the ghouls, or the rats exploding out of days old corpses, you are ready to deal with the ghouls

In reply to Narrator (msg # 134):

Hograth steps forward and swings his axe at the nearest abomination.

[Private to GM: Rolled 10 under axe skill, silver axe, 12 cut damage.]

OOC: did Goran make it down?
This message was last edited by the player at 18:10, Mon 28 Aug 2017.

Seemingly surrounded, Urrun shuffled closer to Hograth, back to back, and let his lips pull back in a deep, rolling warning growl that echoed in the enclosed space. His ears laid back and his eyes seemed to grow wider in the dark as his yellowed teeth flashed in the half light.

Just before the Ghul closed he lunged forward and swung from the side with his axe with both hands.

[Private to GM: 11:54, Today: Secret Roll: Urrun rolled 11 using 2d4+4.  Axe Damage.
11:53, Today: Secret Roll: Urrun rolled 7 using 3d6.  Location.
11:53, Today: Secret Roll: Urrun rolled 15 using 3d6.  Axe vs Ghoul, any available target (16).
]

Ketil moves to flank Urrun and Hograth, using the back-to-back pair as an anvil to strike from.  He swings his spiked mace at OE of the oncoming ghuls.

In reply to Ketil Deepwalker (msg # 138):

Two ghouls are nearly split in half by Urrun and Horgath, Gorun has landed, Ketil needs to see if he hit.

Passing a note.

[Private to GM: 19:28, Today: Ketil Deepwalker rolled 10 using 3d6 ((1,4,5)).
 Mace Dex +3 (16).]

In reply to Ketil Deepwalker (msg # 140):

Ketil's mace smashes through another of the shambling things.

In reply to ghula (msg # 141):

Hograth gets ready to chop the next one that gets within range.

[Private to GM: Rolled 3 under attack to hit, 6 cut damage (silver)]

Urrun stifled a gag as he laid the Ghul open, then let out a thunderous series of barks that seemed overly loud in the underground chamber before he caught sight of the next one and let his axe fall.


[Private to GM: 09:59, Today: Secret Roll: Urrun rolled 9 using 2d4+4.  Axe Damage.
09:58, Today: Secret Roll: Urrun rolled 8 using 3d6.  Location.
09:58, Today: Secret Roll: Urrun rolled 12 using 3d6.  Axe vs Ghoul, any available target (16).]

Goran unsteadily makes it down the rope, but quickly joins the fray. He swings his flaming morningstar at the nearest Ghula.

[Private to Narrator:
14:33, Today: Goran the Marked rolled 9 using 3d6.  Morningstar 15.
14:34, Today: Goran the Marked rolled 7 using 2d6+4.  Morningstar damage.]

Meeping amongst each other, the ghouls back off. Two are badly injured, the last is buring. Two intact ghouls grab a wounded one by the arms and retreat, a lone ghoul dives into a pike of half eaten bodies and disappears.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:12, Sat 02 Sept 2017.

Urrun looked around warily as the Ghulae retreated, picking his chops and stiffing a bark as they fell into a full retreat.

"You two ok?" He growled.

Goran betrays the faintest hint of a smirk, in the flickering light of his flaming weapon.

"Yes, we seem to have routed them easily."

[Private to Narrator:

FP: 9/12
Power Item: 6/6

Active Spells:
1. Armour - 1 DR on self (upkeep 1-1 = 0)
2. Flaming Weapon - on self  (upkeep 1-1 = 0)]
This message was last edited by the player at 13:21, Sat 02 Sept 2017.

In reply to Urrun (msg # 146):

Hograth follows them, trying to kill them, as far as the entrance of the room.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 148):

The ghula tries to claw at Hograth as he pursues!

Dodge or parry to avoid- what is DR?

In reply to ghula (msg # 149):

Hograth slashes at the arm trying to claw him.

[Private to GM: Parry 12 + shield DB? Rolled 7 anyway, 5 damage.]

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 150):

The parrying  axe blade cleaves through the arm, leaving it dangling by a scrap of rubbery gray flesh, and tarry black blood oozes out of the stump.

Urrun watched as the Dwarf gave Chase and then have a hearty laugh to disperse some of the lingering nervousness as the Ghul's arm was cut free of it's rotting body.

"Good! Good...this one will teach them to fear us"

He looked Goran up and down. "You alright?"

In reply to Urrun (msg # 152):

The room you are in has one unwounded ghula, one armless one, two moderately injured ones dragging a gravely injured one, about twenty bodies that are human, one odd looking set of bones surrounded by a black stain, and one other stripped down body with horns. There appear to be several exits, along with dozens of rats...

In reply to Urrun (msg # 152):

Hograth quickly lashes out at the Ghoul.

[Private to GM: Rolled 6 under to attack, 9 damage.]

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 154):

The nearly armless ghoul collapses in a spray of black gunk as Hograth's axe nearly splits it in twain!

In reply to Narrator (msg # 155):

Hograth will continue to the door.

"Search the room for clues or donations for Hadereum, then light that oil so the rest of these bodies stay dead."

Ketil moves in, swinging his mace at the nearest ghul.

[Private to GM: 20:00, Today: Ketil Deepwalker rolled 8 using 3d6 ((3,4,1)).
]

In no rush to close with the undead again, Urrun slips his axe back into his belt, and seemed to be getting ready to procure some other item or weapon.

In reply to Ketil Deepwalker (msg # 157):

The ghul is knocked back with a crunch.

[PRIVATE to Ketil Deepwalker: our convention is to roll damage along with the roll to hit in ordervto speed play- the roll might be wasted on a good dodge but we can keep rolling. These ghouls are principally mooks so it will go down in another hit]

In reply to ghula (msg # 159):

Unrelenting, Hograth strikes out at the nearest undead creature to him as well, until there are no more...

[Private to GM: Rolled 4 under attack, 12 cutting damage.]

Urrun, his axe now dangling back in the ring in his belt, drew out a sling, the cords trailing as it uncoiled from it's pouch.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 160):

The blow drops one of the injured ghulae that were dragging the greviously wounded one, and the other one dives into a pile of corpses and disappears.

Urrun finished loading a sling stone and looked about, wary of any more surprises.

"Anybody hurt?" he called as he moved nearer to the pair.

In reply to Urrun (msg # 163):

Hograth looks around for more targets.

"Lets ignite that oil and burn these corpses now."

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 164):

The remaing wounded ghulae scramble under the corpse pile and vanish.

Meanwhile, the lantern oil ignights, and sets several rats on fire.

The stench of burning hair and singed flesh is abusive, even to Urrun's jaded senses.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 165):

Hograth will check the corpses as he piles them onto the fire.

"Need to burn them all, to avoid more undead."

Ketil moves quickly to burn as many of the corpses as possible.  The foul stench nearly chocking as it fills the room.

In reply to Ketil Deepwalker (msg # 167):

Burning a score of bodies will make the air unbrwatheable and yake far more fuel than one vial of lantern oil... more like a cord or two of wood, or rbree barrels of charcoal or ten dlasks of slchemical fire or a barrel of lantern oil.

As it is, scent and vision are compromised.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:26, Thu 14 Sept 2017.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 168):

What will not burn will be scattered. But time will be given for it to burn, and the air to clear, during which time Hograth will stand gaurd at the entrance.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 169):

With only one har of lantern oil you are burning hair and singeing skin only.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:26, Thu 14 Sept 2017.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 170):

Fine, then separating the bodies so there is not a pile of them...

"Digging through this pile of bodies could expose us to their filthy air. Should we press on to our quest's goal?"

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 172):

"We need to separate them so the Ghouls cannot return..."

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 173):

As Hograth had determined earlier about ghouls, if three bones are stacked together, a ghoul can use it as a gate to and from their world,

"Very well, let's get to work then." Goran moves to assist Hograth in moving the bodies.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 174):

As does Hograth, using his axe to drag the bodies apart. Slower, but safer...

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 176):

A few minutes later you have the bodies all separated, blocking re-rentry by the ghouls.
You are in an immense circular room, 25 yards accross, surmounted by the dome.  The outer walls are pilastered and have arched entrances at each of the cardinal directions.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 177):

Hograth looks around.

"Where to now?"

"Ketil, do you know this area of the underground?"

Ketil scans the area, considering their position.

[Private to GM: 20:31, Today: Ketil Deepwalker rolled 12 using 3d6.  Architecture.

20:31, Today: Ketil Deepwalker rolled 5 using 3d6.  survival, subteranean.

]

In reply to Ketil Deepwalker (msg # 180):

This area may have been above the surface, and is probably two to three stories above the temple access level of the causeway above the sewers (sewer level is 2 levels below street, and you are up a hill) There are known to be slorn in the vicinity.

"We're about three stories above the sewers.  There have been Slorn encountered nearby."

In reply to Ketil Deepwalker (msg # 182):

"Good. Where to from here?"

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 183):

There are fur exits from the room.

With no strong indications about where to go next, Goran guesses. "North?"

Ketil moves cautiously to each of the doors in turn, searching each and the proceeding roughly thirty feet past them, attempting to discern which was most likely to head down.

In reply to Ketil Deepwalker (msg # 186):

Through the north door is a crescent shaped room with a collapsed stairway down.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 187):

Hograth accompanies Ketil on his searches after putting his axe away and drawing and readying his crossbow.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 188):

The Eastern room, also crescent shaped, has stacks of broken items of some arcane nature.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 189):

The southern room has an antechamber and a set of steep stairs down.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 190):

Hograth looks to Kentil.

"So, which one?"

"Should we travel down the steps to the south? They seem to be the only way down still intact."

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 192):

The western room also has some stripped, dead cultists in it... and no stairs.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 193):

Hograth will separate these bodies as well.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 194):

Once the bodies are separated, you find your way back into the south room.
The stairway down is about a yard and a half wide, and is open to the left side. A stink of death and a faint rustling sound comes from the darkness below.

Goran approaches the stairs, and shines the light from his glowing stone down into it.

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 196):

The reflection of several pairs of eyes looks back up at you.

"Looks like there's something monstrous waiting for us down these steps. Let's proceed with caution."

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 198):

Hograth approaches, axe and shield ready, and points his headlight into the murky depths.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 199):

Four man size, rodent like shapes covered with long quills look up at you from where they are feasting on more bodies.

In reply to Giant maned rats (msg # 200):

Hogarth holds his shield up, covering a comically large portion of his body, readies his axe and approaches the nearest one.

Goran raises his own shield and steps into a fighting formation with Hograth.

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 202):

You descend the stairs slowly. The ratthings circle round the base of the stairs, preventing flanking. Their quils look oily in th light.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 203):

"Looks like some kind of Poison on those quills...Don't get hit. Stop here for a minute to see f they can come up the stairs...if not, my crossbow may be a better option."

"I can hold the line if you want to try." Goran says, and steps forward. He readies his shield to receive a charge.

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 205):

One of the rats goes back to gnaw on a corpse.

In reply to Giant maned rats (msg # 206):

Hograth drops back and stows his axe, before drawing his crossbow, all the while holding up his shield.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 207):

Cocking and loading the crossbow is a two handed job...

In reply to Narrator (msg # 208):

Crossbow was cocked (and loaded, but bolt later removed) when he was coming down into the
 structure...he will use 2 hands when he has the crossbow in hand to load it, but the shield
 stays on his arm. It takes too long to remove it, and it does not need removing to fire a
crossbow, as I understand. It is just unreadied.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:43, Tue 10 Oct 2017.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 209):

fire when ready

In reply to Narrator (msg # 210):

Hograth aims very carefully at one of the rat things at the base of the stairs, aiming at the vitals if it has any with his silver bolt.

[Private to GM:
03:50, Today: Hograth Podkarmen rolled 7 using 3d6+4.  Damage, silver bolt. Minimum damage, really?
03:50, Today: Hograth Podkarmen rolled 6 using 3d6.  Hidden Lore (Undead) to know vitals/weaknesses/dangers of this creature.
03:47, Today: Hograth Podkarmen rolled 6 using 3d6.  Crossbow, attack, Vitals.
Skill, 16 +1(Quality) +1(Bond)+6(Acc)-3(Range, <20ft)-3(Vitals)=18, rolled 12 under target
03:50, Today: Hograth Podkarmen rolled 7 using 3d6+4.  Damage, silver bolt. Minimum damage, really?
]

Ketil aims his crossbow down the stairs at the creatures, waiting for Hogarth's shot before firing his own.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 211):

The bolt strikes the rat thing true, impaling it in the vitals, and it coughs up blood and falls over. This was a living creature, and never one you have ever heard of as being undead...

In reply to Narrator (msg # 213):

Hograth raises his sheild and prepares for its friends to attack, dropping the crossbow to slide to his back on it's sling as he readies his axe.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 214):

The next rat thing in line bites at Hograth's leg!

[Private to Hograth Podkarmen: block parry dodge or take 5 cutting before DR]

Goran swings his morningstar at the rat as it pushes past him to Hograth!

[Private to Narrator:

13:27, Today: Goran the Marked rolled 6 using 3d6.  Morningstar 15.
13:28, Today: Goran the Marked rolled 12 using 2d6+4.  morningstar damage (including +2 fire damage).

FP: 9/12
Power Item: 6/6

Active Spells:
1. Armour - 1 DR on self (upkeep 1-1 = 0)
2. Flaming Weapon - on self  (upkeep 1-1 = 0)]
This message was last edited by the player at 17:30, Fri 13 Oct 2017.

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 216):

Hograth manages to ready his axe just in time, and brings it down on the creatures head as it tries to bite him.

[Private to GM: Rolled 4 under parry without shield, rolled 3 under attack to hit, rolled 10 damage. If bite, that would be to head, right? Silver coated axe...]

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 217):

The rat dies a bloody death,but may have scraped you with its long quills.
[Private to Hograth Podkarmen: 6 pts impaling before limb DR if that pemetrates, take 1pt poison if HT fail][Private to Goran the Marked: 5pts impaling before DR, if it penetrates, HT roll or take 1pt poison]
This message was last edited by the player at 12:21, Sat 21 Oct 2017.

In reply to Giant maned rats (msg # 218):

Goran's mail, shored up by the orison earlier, holds back the quills.

[Private to Narrator:

DR= 4 (Mail) + 1 (Armour spell)

FP: 9/12
Power Item: 6/6

Active Spells:
1. Armour - 1 DR on self (upkeep 1-1 = 0)
2. Flaming Weapon - on self  (upkeep 1-1 = 0)]

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 219):

The remaining rat scuttles away with a rattle of quills.

Hograth?

In reply to Giant maned rats (msg # 220):

Hograth will step forward, axe still ready to deal with whatever rat is closest, but keeping the shield up. Those quills worry him.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 221):

Recheck msg 218. Had a typo in a pm

In reply to Narrator (msg # 222):

For clarity:
The steps are a yard wide and have no railing
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:13, Sun 29 Oct 2017.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 223):

OK, narrower than I imagined. Still, Hograth sleeps well back from them, unless he has no choice. Is there room for us both to advance safely to the bottom?

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 224):

A good shove with a weapon would knock the dead rat off the steps,

ST roll plus dodge vs quill. Two rats are dead, the third has scuttled off.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 225):

Can he use the axe/shield at full extension to avoid the dodge roll?

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 226):

Shield skill could be used to push off the rats.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 227):

Will do that, taking extra time to be sure.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 228):

With the stairs clear, you get down into the  large room below, which has an archway straight accross from the base of the stairs, and another straight accross. Several broken statues are here, along with fourstripped corpses that have been chewed to the bone in places. There are gnaw marks on the bones, and the fingers and toes are gone.

"Do we need to separate these bones as well?" Goran asks.

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 230):

If they are not stacked; ghulae need three bones from different corpses in the same hex.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 231):

"Absolutely. Separate them, and lay them respectfully. Or burn them if they are cultist and you have means."

He begins to do so.

Goran touches the morningstar that is still imbued with holy flames to anything flammable on the corpses, but also moves to separate the bones.

[Private to Narrator:

FP: 9/12
Power Item: 6/6

Active Spells:
1. Armour - 1 DR on self (upkeep 1-1 = 0)
2. Flaming Weapon - on self  (upkeep 1-1 = 0)]

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 233):

The dead and chewed cultists have little on besides smallclothes, and hose in one or two cases. One has stained socks on, generally not too much to burn.


Urun can smell a faint odor of incense, the odor of spiked rat thing, and something acrid and unnatural.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 234):

Once the bodies are separated, Hograth will ask Urun if he smells anything unusual, and where.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 235):

bump...

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 236):

The bouda sniffs the air. Carrion he is used to, even comfortable with,
But this is something different. Acrid, reminiscent of the smell of air after a lighting strike, and faintly nauseating.

"There was something here, something unnatural.  And incense."

In reply to Urrun (msg # 237):

Hograth tries to determine what he means.

[Private to GM: Not really sure what to roll, but he wants to work out what happened here...]

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 238):

Demons and other, possibly worse things were reported to have been fought here. Urrun had smelled the remains of a demon in the large room under the dome. This apparently, was something else.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 239):

Another demon, or some other foul creature?

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 240):

There is no sign of a summoning circle in this space, but there is an archway, through which you can see another archway. Urrun indicates that second space as being the source of the `other` odor, whearas the first room smells of incense.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 241):

Hograth will check the room before moving towards the next. No point in leaving things to be done twice...

Goran will move on when Hograth is ready.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 242):

There are the gnawed bodies, the bodues ofvthe two maned rats and shattered statues that look like they were pushed off the top of the stairs. There is a large archway to the left, at the base of the stairs, and the smaller one to the right, leading to an anteroom to another archway.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 244):

Hograth will separate the bodies, ensuring valuables are removed, and lay them neatly, respectfully and separately along a wall before readying axe and shield and heading to the next room.

[Ooc: Where are the others at this point?]

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 245):

Once Hograth is done, Goran suggests - "Shall we try the path to the right?"

OOC: they seem to have dropped out.

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 246):

The bouda sniffs at the antechamber.
"Incense."

In reply to Urrun (msg # 247):

"Incense for devil worship, no doubt. Lets keep going, carefully."

He moves on to the next room, axe and shield ready.

[OOC: Yes, I figured we lost the players unfortunately. Was wondering where the characters were...]

Urrun follows, axe ready, sniffing the air...

In reply to Urrun (msg # 249):

The incense in the anteroom is old, and not demonic in flavor.

This large room is cold and dark, and there are scuffed markings on the floor in some type of summoning circle. The air smells of ozone and something unfamiliar.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 250):

Hograth will check the room, both for exits and any other items of note, ensuring all bodies are separated.

Smellz like Lightening was here.... hit here.

In reply to Urrun (msg # 252):

Demon lore to recognize summoning details

In reply to Narrator (msg # 253):

"Hmmm, this seems familiar..."

[Private to GM: 4 under Hidden Lore(Demons)]

The symbols and the diagram are not srandard for demonology, something else was summoned from beyond the stars.




Anyone got elder lore?

Goran looks stumped.

OOC: Hidden Lore (Spirit Lore) only.

Urrun listens carefully for any noises he can't identify immediately ....





[Private to GM:  13:54, Today: Urrun rolled 13 using 3d6.  Hearing..  Believe that is spot on]

In reply to Urrun (msg # 257):

From the far exit, the one at the base of the stairs, Urrun can hear something distant and indistinct.

Urrun motions for silence then points toward those stairs... I hear something.

In reply to Urrun (msg # 259):

"This is something much older and more evil than any demons I have heard about. Something from beyond the stars...and if that noise is it, we should be ready for the worst."

[OOC: Nope, just Hidden lore(demons) and Hidden Lore(Undead). No CoC skills here...perhaps someone else has Occultism? Would it help?]

Goran nods to Urrun and takes a few slow and careful steps to get into position to defend against attack from the steps.

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 261):

The sound coming from the doorway past the stairs is a scraping, hissing sound.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 262):

Hograth will prepare the Crossbow, loading it with a regular bolt but having a silver one in hand to swap them out just in case. His Axe dangles from his shield, ready to be readied at a moments notice as he waits...

Urrun tries to identify this noise and smell with anything he may have encountered before. He puts a large projectile in his sling.






[Private to GM: 14:14, Today: Urrun rolled 10 using 3d6.  ID smell & sounds. No problem wth hearing or smelling...may have an issue remembering these though, as IQ is 9]

In reply to Urrun (msg # 264):

The odor vaguely  reminds Urrun of snakes.

I Think Big Snake ...

In reply to Urrun (msg # 266):

"Devils like snakes, so that may not be any improvement..."

He watches carefully with his crossbow now readied.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 267):

The sound echoes, though it were coming from a fair distance, a bellow and hiss.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 268):

"Hopefully they are two different evils, fighting each other..."

"Agreed, I don't like the sound of demon snakes..." Goran says.

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 270):

Another odor becomes stronger upon approaching that doorway, even the dwarf and human can smell it- rotting fish.

"Something foul is coming. We should prepare for a fight," Goran says. He readies his weapons holds his shield high.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 271):

"Hmmm, what causes that smell except, well, rotting fish?"

Orcs carrying dinner or Cultists carrying the crap they use.....




[Private to GM: Assumed he had some previous experiences]

In reply to Urrun (msg # 274):

Urrun may be able to sift out more scents...

Roll at -2

Urrun sniffs, his nose in the air and moving back and forth a little...





[Private to GM: 21:02, Today: Urrun rolled 9 using 3d6.  Smell. Beat the smell -2 by 4!]

In reply to Urrun (msg # 276):

Urrun can smell a mixture of rotten shellfish, brine, and dead cat, and live reptile.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 277):

Hograth will stay beside him, to cover him in case of attack with his crossbow.

Goran looks to Urrun for clues as to what might be coming.

Smell is rotting shell fish, dead cat and salted water ... also serpent I think.

In reply to Urrun (msg # 280):
There is a distant sound of something scraping on metal.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 281):

"Lets keep moving slowly and carefully, separating bodies as we go."

"Sounds good. Lead the way."

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 283):

You enter a curving hallway. The smell of briny rot is stronger. To the right it is stronger, and to the left is the scraping sound.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 284):

We continue, with Goran leading and Hograth following closely with crossbow ready.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 285):

Toward the rot smell or toward the scraping noise?

In reply to Narrator (msg # 286):

Scraping noise, if both directions seem equally secure...

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 287):

You notice some smeared writing on the floor, as if something written had had water poured over it, making a path. As you proceed you hear a loud slam of something on metal from further down the curved hallway.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 288):

Checking for other exits, Hograth proceeds behind his friend, crossbow ready.

Urrun stays behind the armored men and in front of the last man. Given his limited armor, he's not leading.

Goran proceeds forward, weapon and shield at the ready.

"Let's bring the sun god's light to this unholy place, hein?"

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 291):

Something large slams into a metallic gate at the end of the hall. It is caly and seems to have the wrong number of feet, all of which have long claws.

In reply to scaly thing (msg # 292):

Can we see it?

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 293):

The thing has dark green scales, and appears roughly the size of a horse, from what you can see theough the gate.

"Any idea what that thing is? Should we try to kill it from this side of the gate?"

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 295):

"It does not seem able to hit us here...lets stop and see."

He stops and looks for something to brace his crossbow on, like Goran's shoulder. If he can, he will take very long and careful aim at whatever passes for its head, making sure to aim through the bars.

[Ooc: What penalties is he looking at?]

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 296):

Shooting through the grate at anything other than point blank range is -6. Point blank is -2 but has its own problems

In reply to Narrator (msg # 297):

Hograth braces and aims very carefully, taking his time to hit the creature where he supposes it's vital organs might be through the bars.

[Private to GM: Rolled 9, needed 12 to hit vitals though bars, with 3 seconds aiming. 14 imp damage, x3 multiplier if he actually guesses where the vitals are...]

Urrun watches, but doesn't think he could avoid the bars ... he isn't sure his pellets would do much either.

Goran thinks steady thoughts as Hograth lines up the shot.

The creature hisses noxiously, and a foul ichor seeps out of its mouth. It collapses on the gate, breathing raspily, but its eyes are unfocused.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:33, Fri 05 Jan 2018.

"Give it another to make sure it's finished," Goran encourages.

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 302):

"Right. Let that cloud dissipitate well away from us too."

He begins winding the cranequin until the heavy cable is drawn, before reloading the bow. He then braces the weapon, and once again takes a carefully aimed shot at the creatures vitals through the bars, bracing against Goran once again. The process takes about 20 seconds, since he is taking his time to make sure the cloud stays away.

[Private to GM: Skill 16 +2 balance, bond +6 acc, +2 extra time, +1 braced, +1 determined, -6 bars, -3 vitals = 19, rolled 14, 19 imp damage to vitals, x3.]
This message was last edited by the player at 23:01, Sat 06 Jan 2018.

The thing is jolted back by the impact, and ichor streams out of both wounds. For a few seconds it is still, rhen you can hear a faint wheeze...

The thing is jolted back by the impact, and ichor streams out of both wounds. For a few seconds it is still, rhen you can hear a faint wheeze...

The thing is jolted back by the impact, and ichor streams out of both wounds. For a few seconds it is still, rhen you can hear a faint wheeze...

The thing is jolted back by the impact, and ichor streams out of both wounds. For a few seconds it is still, rhen you can hear a faint wheeze...

The thing is jolted back by the impact, and ichor streams out of both wounds. For a few seconds it is still, rhen you can hear a faint wheeze...

The thing is jolted back by the impact, and ichor streams out of both wounds. For a few seconds it is still, rhen you can hear a faint wheeze...

The thing is jolted back by the impact, and ichor streams out of both wounds. For a few seconds it is still, rhen you can hear a faint wheeze...

In reply to scaly thing (msg # 305):

"Wow, seven jolts. Perhaps one more to be sure..."

He begins winding the cranequin until the heavy cable is drawn, before reloading the bow. He then braces the weapon, and once again takes a carefully aimed shot at the creatures head through the bars, bracing against Goran once again. The process takes about 20 seconds, since he is taking his time to make sure the cloud stays away.

[Private to GM: Skill 16 +2 balance, bond +6 acc, +2 extra time, +1 braced, +1 determined, -6 bars, -7 vitals = 15, rolled 12, 20 imp damage to head, x4.]

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 306):

More ichor spurts out of it... and finally it is still.



You have learned that Slorn are Hard to Kill.

In reply to scaly thing (msg # 307):

Hograth reloads his crossbow, readies it and is then ready to continue on.

Goran gets up from his position as impromptu bipod and stretches.

"Should we see if we can force our way through this gate? Or head another way?"

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 309):

"Perhaps we should cut this thing up to see if it has eaten anything useful? I have heard some critters might do that..."

"We'll have to get past the gate to do that."

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 311):

"Then perhaps we should. Can we close the gate after us?"

Goran advances to inspect the bars, looking for some way to open them.

Urrun goes forward to look at this beast...  his senses alert for danger.

In reply to Urrun (msg # 314):

Sadly the gate opens outward... but a handy dwarf ought be able to remove the hinges even through tbe bars.

"Is Ketil still with us? Can he disassemble this gate for us?" Goran asks to the room at large.

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 316):

"I hope so. Dwarven though I be, I an more handy with an axe than in a workshop. We will want to reassemble it afterwards"

He gives a shove to see if he can push the critter away with the gate.

[Private to GM: 5 under lifting ST. Pushing gate and slorn.]

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 317):

The slorn weighs as much as a horse. There were some wooden staves in the debris upstairs that could be used to push it through the bars.


Amazing you can read through my typos!
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:32, Wed 17 Jan 2018.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 318):

"Perhaps with a few staves from upstairs. I can guard here with the crossbow until someone gets back with them..."

I go ...

In reply to Urrun (msg # 320):

In the opposite side of the large dome room, there are a set of three other crescent shaped rooms. One has a number of smashed arcane items, and amongst them are a set of poles previously used to carry something.

Urrun remains alert as he goes there, he takes four of the poles and heads back, listening and sniffing as he goes.

In reply to Urrun (msg # 322):

Urrun returns with the poles, and you all set about pushing the slorn away from the door.


Ooc 4 ST rolls, lifting counts.

"Thank you for these, Urrun."

Goran helps heave with the poles.

Passed by 0
12:12, Today: Goran the Marked rolled 13 using 3d6.  Goran ST roll 13.

No big effort





[Private to GM: 11:24, Today: Urrun rolled 13 using 3d6.  ST.  Made by 3]

In reply to Urrun (msg # 325):

Hograth heaves the pole effectively, holding his shield in his other hand...

Do we have a fourth member?

[Private to GM: Rolled 7 under, I had him do it one handed to show how easy it was, but please edit that if he would not succeed one handed!]

Ketil give a mighty shove, and collectively you push the eight-legged beast back far enough to get the door open, once it is unlocked...
Ketil reches into his tool kit and brandishes a torsion wrench and an awl.
"Luckily for us, I brough a key."
With a deft flick of his wrist, the rusty lock grinds open.

In reply to Ketil Deepwalker (msg # 327):

"Ah, that is more like it. Now, how can we best search this beast's body?" he asks gruffly, his gravelly voice seeming suited to their current location.

"I have no skill to go spelunking in that corpse. I say we push past and see what lies beyond."

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 329):

"I have heard they can eat valuables. I would prefer to check...is their blood or stomach unusually acidic?"

"I have no idea, but take a look. I'll keep watch."

Me watch too

In reply to Urrun (msg # 332):

Hograth finds a high spot behind the creature, where he will have access to some fluids to clean the axe (away from the internal mess that he expects to come from the critter) once the internals leak out, before accurately cutting into it with his axe. He will then quickly clean his axe in something other that gore from the creature before using one of the poles to poke around inside the critter.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 333):

Hograth slices into the armored belly of the beast. Voluminous entrails flow out with a spatter, along with the quilled remains of one of the giant maned rats, some goblin sized bones, and a dark metal wrist fetter attached with a chain to a metal rod with some protrusions. Ketil looks at it intently.

Smells bad...