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Chapter 6: Scratching the Surface.

Posted by RaddekFor group 0
Raddek
GM, 116 posts
Mon 5 Dec 2016
at 02:57
  • msg #1

Chapter 6: Scratching the Surface

Exams.  It had turned out to be one of the worst experiences of any of the students, though they had only observed the upper classmen's anxiety as of yet.  The tests were taken four times during a full student career - once each year and a half.  The results of performing poorly in any of those could range from unfortunate to disastrous.  The common refrain from the professors was that the school needed to keep only the students with both the desire and the potential to learn at the college, then they would further distinguish students by ability in order to send them to the Templars, the mages corps of the army or to the rank and file of the individual units.  This first set of exams were designed to test their knowledge and to remove all those who could not meet the standard, usually to fill roles in the regular army.  Though there were only few each year who would not meet this bar the common fact was that there would be some who would be sent away to start the worst form of repayment.  For most, it was fear of the consequences rather than the chances of failure that stoked their panic.  Still, some of the bottom students already seemed to have resigned to their fate.  Elliot Strange, the boy who had previously been in Judoc's hall had become pale and brooding; the thick bags under his eyes seemed to be growing by the day.

As for Judoc, he was not overly concerned.  His good reputation he had earned in the town had not carried itself back to the college (indeed he was sure there were murmurings about him with both his fellow students and some of the staff, one of the brothers he did not know had greeted him one day as 'Judoc the Pacifist') but he performed well in all of his classes and those teachers who did know him seemed to respond reasonably well with the noted exception of Brother Loke, who still seemed to reserve for Judoc a special sort of torture each time he walked into the classroom.  The only thing that gave Judoc pause was the fact that the tests were not all standardized.  Though classroom magic was tested in both writing and application, it could be in a varying manner of ways and some of the upperclassmen had said that the tests could even be individual or unique depending on the student.  Most likely, Grobbik would be the only one with specialized exams... Judoc no longer saw the goblin in any of his regular classes.  Incredibly, Grobbik seemed to spend most of his time with brother Loke, a thought that had often made Judoc gag when he considered it.

The afternoon was drawing to a close and the evening blossomed, the sunset having thrown a red glow through the windows of the outer rooms of the castle.  Judoc had just finished his evening meal and set back towards the Hall of Soldiers.  As he walked, he passed through the main entrance hall and marveled at the high arched doors.  The oak and steel plated monstrosities were closed this evening to ward off the chill winds of autumn that had already started to seige the walls.  But a flicker of red catches Judoc's eye and he looks towards the corner of the room just in time to see the sillouette of Elliot pushing his way into a servant's cooridor.  Strangest of all, that small gasp of reflected light that had caught his attention in the first place had come from what Judoc was certain was the hilt of a sword strapped tho his back.  Judoc's mind whirrs with the possibilities but one thing is certain: something is amiss.

OOC:  A couple of background notes that your character would know.  Firstly, servants coordiors are not strictly out of bounds, though they are simply not used by most of the students and the professor staff.  Instead, they serve as an exclusive throughfare for the numerous service staff of the castle so that the interaction between the childrend of nobility and common maids are kept at a minimum.  Weapons on grounds however, are regulated.  At times they are allowed for ceremonial purposes, such as visiting dignitaries or Templar promotions, though since these events are so few and far between almost no one is seen with a sword other than Baron Graves, who always keeps it on his person.  You've never seen anyone punished specifically for having a sword in the coorridors, but you would imagine the punishment would be severe, even drastic if it were to be brandished or used.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:57, Tue 01 May 2018.
Judoc the Merciful
player, 66 posts
Mon 5 Dec 2016
at 05:12
  • msg #2

Scratching the Surface

Exams are fast approaching, but Judoc is not overly concerned.  The biggest annoyance is that the students have to take exams at all.  Surely by now the teaching staff would recognize his brilliance and let him waive what was frankly a waste of time.  Judoc has devoured his class material, and he constantly wants to know more, more, more, but his professors know that he knows this stuff.  Even Loke must realize that Judoc has mastered everything that he has been taught.  Still, much like the arena was, the exams are another avenue to show off what Judoc has learned, and he is actually looking forward to demonstrating his brilliance.

The day is ending, and Judoc's thoughts are on dinner and more study before bed, so when he first sees the glint of light, he doesn't pay it much attention.  Then, his senses register that what he saw was the reflection of the sunset against metal, and the metal was a sword blade on the back of Elliot.

Judoc's curiosity kicks into overdrive as he wonders what Elliot is doing with a sword and where he is going.  His feet automatically move to follow Elliot and see where the other student is headed.  Judoc himself had not bothered to spend any time in weapons training, although he figured he would need to at some point, just to add to his versatility, but for Elliot, who was probably doomed to a position as probably an enlisted man in the Megalan army, or, if he was lucky, a commission as an officer, the youth was probably honing his combat skills in preparation for that day.  Could he be going to a secret lesson?  Or was Elliot headed to fight another duel, this time with steel instead of the fire that had immolated Mariana?

Judoc quickens his pace.  Whatever was about to happen is worth knowing, he is sure.
Raddek
GM, 117 posts
Wed 7 Dec 2016
at 03:43
  • msg #3

Scratching the Surface

Dripping with superiority and a thirst to know Elliot's secrets, Judoc sets off in pursuit of the young man.  In truth, Elliot was a perfect example of the prejudice that this school evolved around.  He family was wealthy and landed and moderately well connected which inevitably led to his to his position at the school.  Beside that he was a total dunce and completely unprepared for the school work.  Many of the others in the Hall of Bishops and Hall of Nobles were the same, likely wealthy but not necessarily with the skill required to back up the expectations of their placement.  If it had nothing else going for it, Judoc thought, those who started in the Hall of Soldiers were much more likely to be highly skilled, even if the attrition rate as of yet of his own classmates may have belied that fact.  He pushed his way into the servant's corridor just in time to watch the hem of Elliot's pant leg whisk around a corner through a narrow doorway.  Grinning with the intrigue, Judoc follows his quarry through the portal, finding himself in a spiral staircase leading in both directions.  Listening for a moment to gather his best guess of which way the other has traveled, Judoc surmises the most likely chance is down due to the echoing footsteps in that direction.  Judoc hesitates for a moment, like the corridor itself, the cellars were almost exclusively a service personnel area.  It was where their dining areas and sleeping quarters were kept as well as the storage for food and supplies for the castle.  Though he had no knowledge to know that the area was explicitly prohibited, neither had he any reason for why a student wound need to head below grounds.  Having come thus far, Judoc rushes downwards, careful to make as little noise as possible on the stone steps.

The change from the surface to below is not sudden, but is unerringly noticeable upon stepping to the landing below.  The air below is crisp and cold, summoning up goose pimples onto Judoc's skin.  His shoulders and back shudder in an involuntary shiver as his breath rises in a wet fog, reaching upwards towards the warm air above before it evaporates into nothingness.  Though none of the natural light from the castle above penetrates, there are sconces set in the stairwell with small stones which cast an eerie pale green light which serves to illuminate the whole area with a perpetual duskish glow.  Uncertain as to where Strange has made his escape, Judoc peeks his head into the hallway.  Though he still does not see any of the servicemen (likely many are still in the kitchens or dining rooms) he spies a single figure down the corridor facing the outer walls and gesturing with his hands in the unmistakable manner of spellcraft.
Judoc the Merciful
player, 67 posts
Wed 7 Dec 2016
at 03:59
  • msg #4

Scratching the Surface

Where could Elliot be going?  What was the student doing down here in the servants' corridors?  Privately, Judoc hopes Elliot is doing something that could potentially get him in trouble, not out of any desire to see Elliot fail yet again, but just as a break from the monotony of studying.

He is torn between a desire not to let Elliot get too far ahead and care not to be heard by the pursued.  When he gets to the staircase, he pauses for a moment, listening, weighing his options.  Footsteps seem to be coming from below, so Judoc heads down the staircase, taking care to make as little noise as possible while still moving as rapidly as he can allow himself to go.

When he reaches the bottom, he hugs along one wall.  He shivers slightly in the chill, damp air.  What is Elliot up to?  Why down here, of all places?

He pauses when he sees the figure at the end of the corridor.  Elliot?  What spell is he casting?  Earth to Air?  Judoc creeps closer, trying to see what Elliot is casting.  Perhaps he will be able to catch the incantation. He hopes it is not Walk through Earth.  It will be impossible to follow Elliot any further if that spell is used, since that spell is regrettably not part of Judoc's spell repertoire.
Raddek
GM, 118 posts
Thu 8 Dec 2016
at 03:24
  • msg #5

Scratching the Surface

Judoc just edges closer and watches for a moment as Elliot(?) works through his spell.  He does not dare get too close yet, though he tries his best catch some small part of the incantation.  However, before he has the opportunity the shade pushes his way back through the wall and disappears.  Judoc quickens his pace and finds himself at another door where the man disappeared, this one with a key lock and a bolt drawn back on the opposite side, now standing ajar.  Peering in quietly, Judoc sees another set of stairs making it's way downwards.  The sconces which dot the corridors of the cellar are no longer present here, though a single one stands empty at the entrance to the doorway and Judoc can see the faintest trace of a pale green leaching away from the bottom of the staircase.  Itching to know more, Judoc pushes his way forward, enough light just barely making it's way onto the staircase for him to move slowly downward.

Judoc's mind races as he makes his footfalls as silent as possible.  He did not know what lay below the cellars, or even that there was a level of the castle further down.  The possibilities seemed endless with the magical nature of the grounds and the centuries-old structure but his mind does not have long to ponder the possibilities before he finds himself standing on the bottom step.

The room is open with no guide to the stairs but the wall.  From the faint pale glimmer of light ahead, Judoc can make out a long room with a low ceiling.  Two rows of shelves break the room in three down the long axis and the right hand aisle is where the light is strongest.  Still yet wanting to keep out of sight, Judoc makes his way down the middle aisle, keeping an obscured view through the shelves that are packed with bottles and bags of food stores and drink.  After only a few dozen yards Judoc slows and stops, kneeling down to observe.

Elliot, unmistakably, stands with his back to Judoc, facing the wall in front of him.  The sword still stretches across his back, sheathed in a leather case that wraps around his tunic.  His left hand holds the small ball of pale green light and his right hand is stretched forward, feeling the stone of the wall...  Strangest of all, the light around is not entirely coming from the stone.  Instead, there is a pencil thin outline that shines a bright blue traced through the gaps in the masonry that partition three feet across of the wall.

OOC:  Sorry if the description of the cellar leaves you somewhat confused as to the setup.  If I had any skill whatsoever with mapping software I might gen something up, but in any case, I'm not sure it would be worth the effort.  You are probably only two or three yards from Elliot though he has his back turned to you and there is a row of shelves in between the two of you.  Right now you are staring through what seem to be a rack of wine bottles that is half filled so your view is partially obstructed.  There are periodic gaps in the shelving about every four yards, so it is possible to make your way across to the other aisles without going all the way to the end.  You are most certainly entirely alone at this point and you doubt that if you were found that it could be blamed on absentminded wanderings nor confusion - though again you couldn't say for sure that where you are is actually off limits.  Let me know if there is any action that you would have taken on the way down.
Judoc the Merciful
player, 68 posts
Tue 13 Dec 2016
at 03:34
  • msg #6

Scratching the Surface

Stealthily making his way down the corridor, Judoc pauses to remove one of the glowing stones and pocket it before continuing down the corridor.  He reaches the door Eliot had magically unlocked and smiles to himself.  Although Judoc's command of spell casting continues to grow, there is still much to learn.  He slips through the door, following the furtive figure.

He makes his way down the stairs, carefully so he doesn't trip and break his neck, but quick enough not to be left behind.  As he descends down the stairs in this unfamiliar part of the castle, he tries to guess where Eliot is going.  Some romantic tryst, perhaps?  Or a secret lesson, swordplay, perhaps?  Or is Eliot running away?  Has he had enough of the Templars' lessons and is deciding to strike out on his own?  And why is Judoc following Eliot, anyway?  How is any of this his business?  He grins in spite of himself, enjoying this cat-and-mouse spying game.  Eliot no doubt has secrets, and Judoc is eager to learn just what these might be.

If Judoc is found here by castle staff, what will he say?  It would be easy enough to fabricate some reason for being down here.  He had been wandering the castle grounds, noticed a hallway he had never been down, and had come across the staircase.  Natural curiosity, no doubt about it.  There had been no warning not to explore this part of the castle.  He had just been exploring, that's all.

He reaches the long room with the shelves, some storeroom, perhaps, and he creeps along, doing his best to make as little sound as possible.  He finally gets a good glimpse of the man he is pursuing.  Yes, it's unmistakeably Eliot.  What could that mysterious blue light be?  Curiouser and curiouser.   He tries to get a better view without revealing himself to Eliot and whoever the other student may be meeting down here.

OOC:  Judoc would have taken one of the glowing stones and put it in his pocket.
Raddek
GM, 119 posts
Tue 13 Dec 2016
at 19:09
  • msg #7

Scratching the Surface

Judoc stays silent as Elliot continues to search his way across the wall, playing a mental game into each of Elliot's and his own psyche.  It is not long however, before something happens to interrupt his thought.  Some catch is released, and the faint blue lines in the walls fade into a deepening gap, the stones of the wall receding away before they slide neatly to the side.  Judoc finds himself looking at a secret doorway that opens into utter darkness...  Elliot picks his stone off the floor in a swift motion and moves on through the doorway into the darkness.  Waiting a moment, Judoc follows silently, until just before the opening his boot crinkles on the floor like the rustling of parchment.  Elliot is far enough away that he does not seem to notice, at least, the light keeps receding away, but Judoc can't help but wonder what he has stepped on...

OOC:  Without light, the area you are in would be in utter darkness.  Elliot's source is already fading away, making the penalty significant for you if you wish to follow even at a moderate distance.  Let me know 1. If you plan on following or if you want to look at what it is you've stepped on 2. How close you plan to follow 3. If you wanted to take your lighted stone out to do so.
Judoc the Merciful
player, 69 posts
Wed 14 Dec 2016
at 04:59
  • msg #8

Scratching the Surface

Secret doors.  Old, disused storerooms.  What the devil is Elliot playing at?  And just how far is to far to take this pursuit?  For all Judoc knows, Elliot has joined a flesh-eating cult and is even now scurrying off to his latest barbecue.  But whatever it is, Judoc is more convinced now than ever that this is information worth knowing.

As Elliot's light recedes into the new secret tunnel, Judoc withdraws his own glowing stone.  His boots crunch on something underfoot.  Parchment, perhaps?  Or perhaps the dried husks of insects?  If he stops, he may lose Ellliot in these catacombs, but perhaps this is something important.  His curiosity gets the better of him, and he bends down, holding his light to get a better look at what he has stepped on.

OOC:  Stop to take a look at what is on the ground.  Judoc will keep some distance away from Elliot as he trails him, about as far back as he's been keeping if possible.
Raddek
GM, 120 posts
Wed 14 Dec 2016
at 16:01
  • msg #9

Scratching the Surface

Secret doors, disused store rooms...  The whole chase had Judoc's curiosity aflame.  Knowing that he might have just moments to check to ensure Elliot did not get too far he bends down to check the page below he feet, bringing the stone out of his pocket to see by.  However, the page is simply a small sheet of parchment, perhaps six inches long, rolled just enough to be stuffed in a pocket.  The only markings on it are indented markings of Judoc's own boot from where he accidentally trod.  Looking up, Judoc can see a short way into the space beyond the castle.  Before him is a cavern, or perhaps more correctly put, a tunnel carved from the earth.  He sees another five feet beyond the castle wall the dim reflections of his stone shining back from a smooth earthen surface that curves upward.  It seems the tunnel goes both to the right and left beyond the walls, paralleling the storage room itself.

OOC:  Sorry, normally I like to take some liberties with the character's actions to speed along the process, but we are getting to the point where the specifics may have fairly significant outcomes to the story line.  Elliot now has a 30 second or so head start on you and you haven't any notion of where he's gone other than outside the door and towards the left.  Assuming you still intend to follow Elliot, roll at Stealth-2
Judoc the Merciful
player, 70 posts
Thu 15 Dec 2016
at 04:38
  • msg #10

Scratching the Surface

Bending down, Judoc scoops up the piece of parchment and examines it with his glowing stone.  He doesn't know what he is expecting - a secret map?  A new spell?  A recipe for delicious homemade molasses cookies? - but is disappointed to find that the paper is blank.  Just a part of this storeroom's detritus, then.  He absentmindedly rolls it back up, sticks in his pocket, and steps into the dark tunnel, holding his magical light.

His stopping to examine the paper has given Elliot precious seconds on him.  He spends but half a moment taking in this new place, a cavern here under the school.  He wonders if other people use this place for secret meetings.  It would be perfect for some secret society, its members meeting, hooded, to discuss dark secrets or forbidden knowledge.  Elliot had gone to the left, so Judoc does the same, his pace quickening in a bid to regain some of the lost time.
Raddek
GM, 121 posts
Fri 16 Dec 2016
at 02:41
  • msg #11

Scratching the Surface

Disappointed by the blankness of the page, Judoc stuffs it away on his person and sets his mind to more interesting matters, where the hell were they going anyway?  Certain that the pause has given his quarry precious seconds to extend his lead, Judoc whisks his way through the portal and into the tunnel.

Several things are immediately apparent:  Firstly, the passage to the right is nothing of the sort, instead the tunnel continues only another few yards, just long enough for the segment off wall that had parted from the castle to slide open on it's casters or slide, only a few inches beyond the far end of the exposed secret door the passageway ends unceremoniously in a mound of rubble that climbs to the ceiling.  Secondly, unlike the turning corridors of the castle, or the alleyways of the storage, this segment of tunnel is unerringly straight and barren of cover.  Ahead, Judoc can see the black silhouette of Elliot haloed by the pale glow echoing off the walls all around him.  It is so blasted dark!.  Thirdly, it seems Elliot had not been going nearly as fast as he expected... though it had seemed like minutes, Elliot had only moved a few dozen paces.  His stone still held in his left hand for light, Judoc edges his way forward.

But not for long.  The walls had been so smooth he didn't expect it, the light so poor he hadn't noticed it: the small knuckle sized bit of stone that was just off the center of the path.  He hadn't even kicked it hard, just hard enough to clatter a foot down before clattering to a stop, the echoes reverberating off the close quarters.  Perhaps it had not been enough, perhaps he would not hear, but Judoc knows already that he is not so lucky as he watches the light shift from an even sheen to unbalanced and the silhouette ahead gains a pale outline as the face comes into partial relief.  "Show yourself!"  The whisper is harsh and accusatory and seems to resound a thousand times in his eardrums as it bounces off the walls at every angle...

OOC:  Sorry, stealth roll was straight up with a modifier for poor lighting (all your physical actions will be at -2 down here even with your light source out).  You are not entirely sure that Elliot has seen you yet but you don't hold good odds for yourself, especially with the ball of light in your hand.  However, you doubt very much that he would be able to recognize you with the shadows cast on your face if he has.
Judoc the Merciful
player, 71 posts
Mon 19 Dec 2016
at 05:42
  • msg #12

Scratching the Surface

As he enters this new area, one thing becomes apparent to Judoc -  someone has created this tunnel.  No natural formation would be so straight.  Some kind of escape route, he muses, or a bolthole in case the castle was assaulted.  He wonders where the tunnel leads.  Probably somewhere outside the castle walls, if it is an escape route.

He is surprised to see that Elliot has not travelled very far down the tunnel.  Following him will be relatively easy.  And then, he carelessly kicks a rock, and Elliot's head swivels back.  The voice is harsh.  How will Elliot react to being followed?  Will he erupt in fury as he did when he killed Mariana?  But there is nowhere to hide down here, and Judoc is holding a glowing stone.

"Elliot, it's me, Judoc," he calls softly.  "I saw you walking through the servants' corridor, and I was curious where you were going.  What are you doing down here?"
Elliot Strange
NPC, 8 posts
Mon 19 Dec 2016
at 19:07
  • msg #13

Scratching the Surface

"Oh, thank the gods."  Elliot staggers backward into the wall of the tunnel, slouching and bending at the hips and knees slightly as the small of his back rests for a moment against the tapered walls.  His voice seems tired and afraid as if the unexpected visitor had nearly given him a heart attack.  "I had thought... but you can help me!" Elliot finishes strongly as he pushes himself back to near full height and takes a step forward in Judoc's direction his eyes shining with the pale reflection of the stone held in his hands.  "Judoc, you have to help me!  It's that damn imp!  The one from last year - it's still here and I have to kill it, will you help me?"

OOC:  It is now about 1750 in the afternoon.  You would be plunged into total darkness if not for the two stones.  Not sure if you have read back through the thread Dancing with the Devil link to a message in this game but your character would likely have heard something about the journey when the three returned back from their little expedition.  You can assume that they returned back immediately following the last post and passed along all the info or at least the big details.  Feel free to pillage from the thread or stay in the dark as you want.
Judoc the Merciful
player, 72 posts
Tue 20 Dec 2016
at 16:41
  • msg #14

Scratching the Surface

Quietly, Judoc says, "Oh, so that's why you're down here."  That explains the sword, then.

Judoc remembers when the demon had been summoned.  What a shit storm that had been.  Andros had not been the right student to lead that ritual, although it was really Giles' fault for breaking the circle.  If Loke had tasked Judoc with leading the spell, none of the fallout would have happened. Elliot had blamed himself, Judoc remembered.  Why was he always running himself down?  Sure, he's not a very talented wizard, but there is power in him.  What else could explain that terrible fight with Mariana?

"You should have asked for my help last time you went hunting the thing," he says softly.  His pulse is quickening, the adrenaline starting to kick in.  This may be pretty entertaining.  "Never mind.  You have me now.  So did you ever find the demon?"  Demon hunting would be decent sport.  Judoc has never bothered to learn much about demon lore besides what he's picked up anecdotally.  Mess up a spell, and a demon could get summoned, and then you're in some serious trouble.  Well, Judoc had very nearly blasted the thing with his fireball before, and he was getting better all the time.

"Lead the way, Elliot.  Time to send this hellspawn back to the pit, eh?"  He grins to himself.  He had already defeated Death.  Now, it was time to conquer Evil.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:06, Tue 20 Dec 2016.
Elliot Strange
NPC, 9 posts
Tue 20 Dec 2016
at 19:51
  • msg #15

Scratching the Surface

Thinking the jaunt a decidedly good sport, Judoc rapidly agrees to continue the search with Elliot.  "No."  The other answers to his question, "We never found him down here, but it's definitely still down here.  The... It's down here, and I've got to find it and kill it."  He leaves the phrase lamely there as he pushes forward into the darkness again, slightly bent over to keep his tall frame from scraping the short roof of the tunnel, this time with Judoc just a few steps behind him.

"Weird this tunnel down here right?"  Elliot says conversationally as he picks his way forward.  "Who would have ever known?  I mean, we found the cave exit last year that came out up near the bluffs, but still..."

The pale stone glittering in his left hand held aloft, Elliot pushes his way forward down the gently sloping tunnel.  It is perhaps only a few minutes of traveling thus before the scene changes abruptly.  The tunnel mouth opens into a gaping cave, the floor dropping down a few feet into the opening as it expands in every direction.  Reflections of the pale stone come back in glimmers from portions of the ceiling where stalactites just barely drip downwards from the ceiling that arcs upwards another ten feet.  The floor is rockier than the smooth tunnel surfaces but it seems mostly unmolested, though there is an easy path that arcs clockwise around the room.  To the other side, the stones and rough earth continue out to the edge of their vision though Judoc can see flickers of reflected light returning in the distance.

OOC:  Unfortunately, your light does not spread out very far, even with the two fairly close together, your range of unobscured vision is about 2 yards.  You can see beyond that at a penalty, though you can't make out details at a distance like you would be able to even on a moonless night.  You can tell that to the left is an easier path, straight ahead and to the right are rougher path, though it all seems to be in the same 'room' or 'cave'.  The ceiling goes up about 10 feet from the floor, that is the only real hard dimension that you can make out before your vision fades into blackness.  Make two rolls against Perception, one at -3 and one at default.  Also, let me know if you want to take any particular direction or if you just want to follow Elliot still.
Judoc the Merciful
player, 73 posts
Wed 21 Dec 2016
at 09:27
  • msg #16

Scratching the Surface

"There's probably all kinds of hidden places around here," Judoc says quietly.  "How did you find this tunnel, anyway?"  He follows behind Eliot, the light from both young men's glowing stones giving a faint illumination to their surroundings.  The tunnel transitions to a cave, a natural-looking structure this time, and Judoc takes a moment to look around him.

This hidden place has its own natural sort of beauty with the stalactites and stalagmites growing in the silence.  He wonders if the other students ever come down here, or any of the teachers.  Surely the Templars know of this place.  He could see it being used for secret society meetings or initiations, or romantic trysts.

"So you tracked the demon down here?" he asks quietly.  What did demons do once they were summoned to this world?  A vacation from hell sounds like an extraordinary good deal.  If it were Judoc, he'd spend the time living it up, enjoying choice foods and the finest female companionship, not holed up down here under the earth, doing God knows what.  However, it made sense to hide from prying eyes.  Why hadn't the Templars banished the thing rather than letting it run free?

OOC:  Judoc is content to let Elliot lead for now.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 12:53, Wed 21 Dec 2016.
Elliot Strange
NPC, 10 posts
Wed 21 Dec 2016
at 18:59
  • msg #17

Scratching the Surface

As Judoc muses along the way, Elliot seems much more devoted to the task at hand and when he is asked about how he found the tunnel he simply shrugs.  "Knew it was down here somewhere, got a spell from the mages guild to find it, made the doorway stand out like it was outlined in light.  Just had to find the switch to get it open."  He turns his head in each direction as if evaluating the choices ahead of him.  It is perhaps a few more moments of silence before Judoc asks again as to Elliot's knowledge of the caves.  "No, I didn't track him, but I knew he'd be down here, found the cave last year right?..  You hear that?  I think it came from this way."  Elliot points off towards the right, into the rockier parts of the cave.  "C'mon, that imp is probably the only thing down here."

Judoc steps down through the mouth of the cave and is immediately struck by the fetid tang of excrement, though it is not overwhelming.  He presses his sleeve to his lower nose for a moment, steeling himself to deal with the offensive stench but does not tarry long before he presses off to follow Elliot.  The path is rocky, and though at first Judoc strives to make his steps as silent as possible, he quickly finds that Elliot has no skill at walking quietly, and no matter how noisily he plods, he's still likely to be drown out by the noise coming from two steps ahead of him.

It is perhaps another few minutes of a crawling pace that the two walk in echelon, each holding their stones up in order to see the earth in front of them and to keep from falling flat on their faces with the ever tumultuous and slickening floor.  Whole and broken stones litter the floors, and here and there the drips of moisture from the ceiling splash on the floor before blending into the slick surface and disappearing.  It seems their course still leads gradually downwards, the miasma of the stench slackening slightly though it still assaults Judoc's senses.  This time, when Elliot hears a noise, Judoc does not need to be warned.  It seems to come from the ceiling, the whispered (or far off) voice speaking in high pitch like a child or a bird:

"Mało ludzi obserwować oczy, Ghelbech wyśmiewa i poganiaczy i pries, on kopnięć i claws prywatność pozostanie zbyt! i z trupa make gulasz"

Elliot halts in his tracks, the back of his head darting this way and that as he searches for the source.  Likewise, Judoc tenses as he searches for the culprit...

OOC:  Roll vs. IQ, if you succeed, you realize that Elliot is being purposefully evasive in the answers to your questions.  Not that it may help you much at this point, since he's entirely focused now on finding the imp.  The cavern seems to be edging downwards as you go.  You haven't exactly traveled that far, probably about 100 to 150 yards at best.  The floor below you is getting progressively more moist in the low areas although the ceiling above still only drips moisture from the few limestone spars above.  Roll two more perception checks, each at -3.  Label one 'surroundings' and the other 'initiative'.  If you wish to take any other action along the walk in the cave, please post it now (i.e. any other spells you wish to have active).  I'm assuming that you have your powerstone still around your neck but did not bring your staff.  If you did bring it, consider it unready in your right hand with the light stone in your left hand.
Judoc the Merciful
player, 74 posts
Sat 24 Dec 2016
at 03:49
  • msg #18

Scratching the Surface

"What was the spell?" Judoc asks.  The more Elliot talks, the more questions Judoc finds himself having.  Elliot's story doesn't make a lot of sense.  How had he known the tunnel was here?  How did he know it connected to that cave he had found where the demon had been holed up?  How had he known there was an entrance into the tunnel?  Very strange.  "So this tunnel you found.  How did you know it ended in that abandoned cellar?"  The switch, huh?  So was that door sealed magically then?  Intriguing.

When Elliot hears something, Judoc just shrugs and follows.  Elliot had apparently been down here before, and Judoc is content to let the other student lead for now.  As they enter the cave, a horrid stench assaults his senses, and he nearly gags from the smell of filth.  "What the hell is that?  Did we just wander under the castle privy?"  The smell is horrible.  Bat guano, maybe?  It smelled like no cave Judoc had ever been in.

He grimaces as Elliot rambles along ahead of him.  Had no one ever taught him to not make quite so much noise when trying to sneak up on supernatural entities?

When he hears the voice, Judoc stops walking.  Sounds like the demon, he thinks.  "Get ready," he whispers to Elliot.
Raddek
GM, 122 posts
Sat 24 Dec 2016
at 05:36
  • msg #19

Scratching the Surface

It was odd.   The whole situation.   Skulking under the castle in caves that seemed both of man and natural make, reeking of feces and seeking a demon who had not been seen in over a year - but Elliot seemed sure he was down here...  Apart from that, besides bringing a sword, and knowing the right area to search, Elliot seemed woefully unprepared for the task as he tromped along down the path, seemingly waiting for Judoc to solve his problems for him.  As Judoc hears the voice, and warns Elliot, the other pulls his sword from his scabbard but seems to wander with his eyes, searching for the beast... but Judoc on the other hand, can see full well the dangers closing in on them.

Just ahead, the glittering reflections of the light seem to close down, as if the tunnel is coming to its end.  However where the ceiling drops down, so does the floor.  The glittering reflections drop into blackness for perhaps a foot and a half to two feet above the floor only a few paces away.  And as he is recognizing the transition in the caves, Judoc also discerns a pair of glittering returns climbing out from the blackness, now edging upwards and pausing for a moment.  "Żegnaj ludzi."  the voice comes from the beast, the high pitched wail again as Judoc can just barely make out the significant features of the demon in the pale light.  But with a flash, the thing charges straight at the pair of mages, shrieking in rage!

OOC:  I realize this is slightly unfair as you would have more time to ask questions and change your mind in game but instead of peddling backwards, I'm going to keep moving the game forwards and answer your above comments in OOC:  Firstly "What was the spell?"  Elliot answers: "See Secrets."  He does not elaborate farther.  As to "So this tunnel you found.  How did you know it ended in that abandoned cellar?" Elliot merely grunts and beckons Judoc to quiet down, as if Elliot is listening for the beast.  For now, the conversation line is closed down, but if you want to bring it up again after the fight you are more than welcome.  Elliot is in general not a strong personality (when you knew him well at least) and you have little doubt that you get him to answer whatever you want if you put your foot down hard enough.

Combat:  The imp is 6 yards ahead to your 1 o'clock.  Elliot is looking straight ahead and may not have seen the demon yet.  It seems the demon has spent the last turn crawling up a steep incline that ends in the cave you are currently in but he does not get his footing before he starts bolting towards the two of you.  The drop in the cavern (to the lower level that the imp climbed from) begins at your left 11 O'clock at about eight yards, is closest at right 1 O'clock where the imp is (about 6 yards) and seems to edge back outwards to your right 3 O'clock at a much further distance.  There are no real obstructions to your maneuvering, although the footing is slippery and small stones are strewn all about the ground (-2 to footing and physical actions).  Give me 2 turns of combat.

This message was last edited by the GM at 05:38, Sat 24 Dec 2016.
Judoc the Merciful
player, 76 posts
Wed 28 Dec 2016
at 10:50
  • msg #20

Scratching the Surface

Elliot's answers had been far from satisfactory.  How had he known that the secret door was there?  Someone must have told him.  Someone had sent Elliot down here to finish off the demon.  but who?  The most likely person is Brother Loke, but the question remains why the Templars hadn't simply cleaned up this spell gone wrong in the first place.

Now the prey approaches.  "There he is, right ahead!" Judoc calls out, and begins drawing on the mana around him to coalesce into defensive armor.  The drop off to the side concerns him, but with his magics, he can simply fly down if needed.  The young mage gestures with his hands, concentrating on the spell.  He hopes Elliot knows how to use that sword.

OOC:  Concentrate.
Raddek
GM, 125 posts
Wed 28 Dec 2016
at 20:20
  • msg #21

Scratching the Surface

Even as Judoc speaks out to his friend, the minor infernal runs at full speed his claws slashing out in front of him straight at Judoc.  Though Judoc need not move far to avoid the attack, the imps body does not slow, and careens right past him, nearly running full force into his hip.  The thing spins at a stop, crouching down as it stares at the two as Judoc spins to face him, his foot slipping slightly on the wet rock surface below.  Now behind him, Elliot flashes his sword from its sheath as he turns, seeming to find the imp at the last second.

As for Judoc, the mana conjures around him, solidifying into a solid layer with his skin.  Now the mage looks forward, looking for an opening to the infernal's defenses.

OOC:  I did one round of combat, since it only takes 1 second to cast armor.  I realize that most of the last combat were all two seconds to cast, but that was based on the spells you were casting with extended casting time.  The imps attack missed and he has now run past you and turned to face you.  I took the liberty of turning your character as well to still stay facing him.  Go ahead and give me 2 turns of combat.

Note that any step and or retreating actions will require a DX roll, and some skills may be at a modifier for the poor footing, so feel free to roll attacks/defenses, but please don't necessarily make any assumptions about success.

Imp
NPC, 1 post
Wed 28 Dec 2016
at 20:31
  • msg #22

Scratching the Surface

The thing in front of them glowing in the dim light of the pale spheres seems even more foreboding than their first sight a year ago...  It hunches downwards to just under three feet in height, it's eyes flickering with blue demon's fire as it stares at the pair of reunited friends.  Its body is lithe and long, though its body is coursed with sinuous muscles.  Atop it's head are squat and dull horns and from it's back sprout horrid spiked wings like an evil Cupid.  Its face is long and drawn down to a pointed chin with a horrid wide mouth drawn into a permanent smile that gapes with pointed teeth.  The thing leans forward, his front claws gripping the stone floor in front of him making himself even smaller than his short frame.

"Przeszkadzać Barbatos za skarb, ale zamiast tego pragniesz Ghelbech wyśle do grobu." The thing spits, though it seems to be talking more to itself than the other two.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 22:11, Wed 28 Dec 2016.
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