Otis brought with him a map of the area showing Hommlet, Nulb and the temple in  their approximate locations.  He marked it up with the druid's bowl and traced out a route to the south of Nulb that they could follow to the temple.  This was almost entirely within the Gnarley which would shield them for prying eyes but had the obvious dangers of traveling through it. The distance was approximately 12 miles and would take the better part of a day if they were being cautious.






This message was last edited by the GM at 00:08, Thu 11 Nov 2010.

Iviana fairly quivers as she looks at Otis's map, a sparkle in her eyes that matches almost exactly those of the ferret peering over her shoulder.  She shakes her head sadly, though, and says softly, "Poor Nulb.  It really can't help but fall under the shadow.  Thank you, Otis."  The solemnity in her tone isn't entirely matched by the eager tension in her muscles.  "We should probably keep the map here; we don't want to risk it leading anything back here, should it be dropped, or...should its holder fall," she suggests.

With a longing glance out the cave entrance, she adds, "I'd suggest leaving in the morning...perhaps a little before first light.  We don't want to get there after dark."

"It's not that complicated.  Let's memorise it and dstroy it."  Tindo looks at the map when it is offered, and few moments later after it is shown to her.  "Okay I'm good."

OOC:  In my book anyone with a 19 int has to be good for a photographic memory.

Yew looked at the map, too. He muttered to himself as he also endeavoured to commit the route and its limited landmarks to memory.

"The trail heads south and curves around to the east, bending left all the way there. About a third of the way to the temple it crosses the road I travelled to Nulb."

It seemed straight forward enough.

Gwythe glances briefly at the map, tilting his head to one side. "I'll take it if you don't want it." he says to Tindoome. "Worth too much to throw it away."

"We should leave the map with the dryad, she can look after it so it doesn't fall into hands unworthy." Ronalt suggested after looking over the map and mentally noting the various landmarks.

Kalador looked at the map. He wasn't good at memorizing things, but he did his best. He said, "Leaving it with the dryad might be a good idea,but whart if someone discovers she has it or attacks her on general principle?"

"I think we worry needlessly.  The map is not detailed, and it doesn't really tell us anything other than a general location.  Besides there are no written instructions other than easily found landmarks.  Let's just give it to Gwythe for safe keeping and take the chance he's not going to be killed and plundered before we can get to him."

"Have you tried to catch a dryad on her home turf?"
"It will be safe with her." Ronalt replied.

"It tells us little we don't already know," Iviana agrees, "But hopefully, the things we seek don't even know this place exists, and it says that very clearly.  The dryad seems a good choice; she's already as endangered by our association as she's going to be, I'm afraid," she votes.

(OOC: Gwythe doesn't care where the map goes, it's no use to him except for its value. The idea of destroying it just seemed bizarre, so the Dryad having it is fine)

The next morning started fine but chilly, they quickly packed and having given the map to the Dryad moved off in the direction indicated.  Most of the route was not a trail taking more the form of animal runs though the undergrowth. The going was dry and firm to begin with, but there were places where streams had backed up producing boggier ground.

With Ronalt taking the lead, they had little problem finding their way.  Several times he guided them past forest creatures and in the marshier areas steered them around likely places for giant toads or reptiles.

Mid afternoon and the clouds rolled in... Rain began to fall, light at first then settling into a steady downpour.  Those with bows did their best to protect the strings but all were pretty well soaked through by the time they got close to their goal.  Almost perceptively at first, the woodland began to thin out.  This was not the edge of a forest they would expect but more some sort of blight on the land driving the living wood into decay.  Perhaps it was the malign presence of the temple or perhaps some natural cause, the overall effect was depressing.

OOC: there are four hours of daylight remaining and by Ronalt's estimate you are about a mile from the temple.

Gwythe initially looks around with interest at the land that they are travelling through, but as the rain starts to fall pulls his hood over his face and walks along downtrodden, uninterested and simply seeking to reach their destination.

As they get closer he stops, interested in the thinned out trees. He breaks off a branch and inspects it closely, before throwing it to the side of the path and following along behind the others.

Turning to Ronalt Tindo asks, "It's probably less likely someone is on the lookout for travellers in this downpour, but is it safer to approach the temple for shelter and to investigate now, or do we wait for the night to pass?"

"Well I would prefer to observe the temple to see if their is a roving guard patrol. However with this rain, I can see the need for folk to get into someplace where it is dry. Even if it be in the evil temple."
"Lets move a little closer and observe the temple using the lay of the land to hide our passage."

OOC: Is Yesil still with the group?

Kalador didn't mind the rain. He thought it was somewhat refreshing. Kalador agreed with observing the temple first. He said, "I agree with observing the temple. We can then tell when the guards come on and go off duty perhaps."

As they marched through the forest Yew was surprised that such a strong group moved so slowly. They were heavily armed, of course, which explained it. He silently practiced the mental techniques of calmness and patience he had learnt during his years at the monastery.

When they came closer to the temple he understood their caution was justified.

"Patience is often rewarded," he observed philosophically, "but an evil temple is likely to have both human and humanoid guards - humans on guard during the day then humanoids who can see at night. Night is probably their strongest time and our weakest. If there are guard patrols we may learn the best way to enter by watching them but if the temple itself is enough of a fortress they may not even patrol outside at all. Perhaps we should get close enough to watch for an hour. Then, if there are no patrols we can still try to find a way inside before nightfall."

Gwythe examined the snapped off wood, it looked rotten inside as if someone had been poisoning it.

Up ahead the could see that the vegetation die out well before they reached their goal leaving the ground exposed. The rain continued to fall.

Ladies and gentlemen I give you the words of Gary Gygax himself.

As you approach the Temple area, the vegetation is disconcerting—dead trees with a skeletal appearance, scrub growth twisted and unnaturally colored, all unhealthy and sickly looking or exceptionally robust and disgusting. The ruins of the Temple's outer works appear as dark and overgrown mounds of gray rubble and blackish weeds. Skulls and bones of humans and humanoids gleam white here and there amidst the weeds.

A grove of some oddly stunted and unhealthy looking usk trees still grows along the northern end of the former Temple compound, and a stump of a tower juts up from the northeast corner of the shattered wall. The leprous gray Temple, however, stands intact, its arched buttresses somehow obscene with their growth of climbing vegetation.

Everything surrounding the place is disgusting. The myriad leering faces and twisting, contorted forms writhing and posturing on every face of the Temple seem to jape at the obscenities they depict. The growth in the compound is rank and noisome. Thorns clutch, burrs stick, and crushed stems either emit foul stench or raise angry weals on exposed flesh.

Worst of all, however, is the pervading fear which seems to hang over the whole area — a smothering, clinging, almost tangible cloud of vileness and horror. Sounds seem distorted, either muffled and shrill or unnaturally loud and grating. Your eyes play tricks.

You see darting movements out of the corner of your eye, just at the edge of vision; but when you shift your gaze towards such, of course, there is nothing there at all. You cannot help but wonder who or what made the maze of narrow paths through the weedy courtyard. What sort of thing would wander here and there around the ghastly edifice of Evil without shrieking and gibbering and going completely mad?

Yet the usual mundane sounds of your travel are accompanied only by the chorus of the winds, moaning through hundreds of Temple apertures built to sing like doomed souls given over to the tender mercies of demonkind, echoed by macabre croaks from the scattered flapping, hopping, leering ravens.

There is no doubt; you have come to a place of ineffable Evil. Still, it is most certainly a place for high adventure and untold treasures. It is time to ready spells, draw weapons, check equipment, and set forth into the maze of peril that awaits you inside the....

Map of the temple surroundings.  I'll trust you not to take advantage of the details...

Kalador does not care for their surroundings. He drew his bastard sword and prepared for battle.

Tindo runs her hands over her many pockets.  Again checking the location of spell components, so at a time when it may count she knows exactly where to direct her hands, to find what she needs, even in complete darkness.

Brother Yew had few preparations to make. He adjusted his grip on his halberd, bringing it up to the ready position as instructed by his teachers. Then he was ready and nodded to Ronalt.

OOC: Since we are approaching from the south I presume we will enter by the southern gate. Then approach directly to the temple?

What is our marching order? Yew is unarmoured and would be better off in the second rank or as rear guard. He can move quickly to get forward if required.

Gwythe looks around at the others and pulls out a dagger, holding it ready in one hand. After a moment's further thought, he awkwardly pulls out his sword with his off-hand holding it loosely at his side.

"Kalador and I will be the front rank."
"Yew and Arek second, the rest I am sure you will sort it out." Ronalt grinned as he saw his companions ready themselves.

Kalador looked at Ronalt with an expression as if to say, thanks for volunteering me. He moved closer to Ronalt.

With Ronalt and Kalador in the lead, the party followed Tindo's advice and circled around the outside of the temple walls. The place oppressed them, it felt like they were being watched all the time... and perhaps they were.  At several times they thought they heard the sound of movement, strangely enough outside the walls but never saw any source other than the wind.  The tower to the North East while partially collapsed looked sturdy enough at its base, but short of entering the perimeter they could tell no more. No structure, other than the temple itself, retained any understandable form.

As they moved around they heard what sounded like the howl of wolves. The cries initially from inside the perimeter was echoed by others further afield. As it was taken up it almost seemed like they were surrounded by the howls, though again nothing could be seen.

OOC; I followed Tindo's instructions as no one complained.

OOC:  Because it was a sound plan until the wolves started gathering.

Drawing his bastard sword, Kalador looked to see if the wolves, if that's what they were, would attack. If so, he wanted to be ready.

Preparing an arrow for his bow, Ronalt scanned the grounds for the wolves hoping to at least wound a few before they closed.

Gwythe looks around in confusion at the noise, but doesn't draw his sword, his hand instead going up to his jerkin. He spits on the ground and seeks the source of the sound.

Yew also looks around with his halberd ready for a fight. He would rather keep moving but is not about to go it alone if the rest of the group decides to make a stand here instead.

Looking around as well Tindo speaks the thought the others may have, "To be cut to pieces by a pack of wolves is pointless.  Let us make for the temple and take our chances there." She looks to the others for agreement.

Iviana's knuckles have been white on her flail since the start of the walk around.  "I think we should try to make for the tower," she says, nodding her head towards it.  "If we can," honesty compels her to add, as another howl floats through the air.

The wolf howls continue to echo around the temple and surroundings.  For the moment they do not seem to be getting any louder allowing some respite to consider actions and plan their approach. At Iviana's urging the tower looked like a good place to start.

Studying it, it was clear that there was little or no chance of getting inside without gaining access to the temple ground, short of scaling the walls and hoping for access from above. To access from the temple grounds, they would either have to return to the entrance or scrambled over the ruined walls entangled with vines.

OOC: On the temple map you were about '11 o'clock' when the wolves started up.

Kalador quietly said, "Should we climb over those ruined walls? I feel the gate might be too heavily guarded."

"Yes, up and over," Yew agrees. "That is the shortest route."

Tindo nods her head in agreement and waits for the others to lead out.

Kalador will wait for other opinions. If none are forthcoming, he'll head to the ruined walls and will attempt to climb over.

The half-elven monk matches Kalador stride for stride then begins climbing the wall too. His agility and climbing skill is immediately obvious.

Assuming he reaches the top without problems he will quickly pull out a coil of rope, find something secure to tie one end to and toss the other end down to the others to assist their climb.

Tindo proves to be very agile, but takes the offered rope to assist anyway.  She thanks Yew for his assistance as she gains the top .

Iviana stays on the ground to guard while the first people climb up.

Gwythe watches the others climb up the wall for a minute, and then across at Iviana. He shrugs and looks up and down the line of the wall, and then out into the distance, trying to find the source of the noises.

Scoping the ground below on the other side, Tindo just jumps down if it is clear.  (She's looking out that she can see there's no sign of wolf movement inside the walls.)

If the other side of the wall is clear, he'll jump down and prepare to fight off wolves. He'll draw his bastard sword in preparation.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:14, Wed 15 Dec 2010.

Yew remains standing on the top of the low remnants of the wall to help everyone else across as well as keeping watch all around.

Arek approached the crumbled wall and looked up towards it's top.
"Yer just gunna stan' ther' 'r ya guna pull me up?" His staffsling poked into Yew's ribs, punctuating his words with discomfort...

Brother Yew checked the reflexive swing of his halberd as soon as he realised it was just an ally seeking his attention.

"So sorry, Master Blackiron. I seem to have overlooked you."

The slender monk reached down to offer Arek a hand then braced himself to take the dwarf's weight.

Iviana crouches down next to Arek, and gets ready to help push from underneath as soon as he has some purchase getting up.  She does this entirely without a word, and largely without looking directly at him.

Everyone has little difficulty scrambling to the top of rubble that was the wall.  Even Arek after some assistance. As they gazed about across the court yard they saw that temple of course dominated the scene.  Between them and it were some low trees or shrubs.  The remnants of raised building are there to be seen but only one, to the south west of their position, has enough left to even begin guess its purpose.

As with all of the razed works of the Temple, the outlines of this place are discernible even though the whole is tumbled, burned and broken. Broken bricks, bits of charred beams, and broken plaster are heaped in the shell of the lower storey. Parts of a narrow outside stairway on the north side can be seen through the rubble.

At least some few the sounds of wolves come from the direction of the building.  Even as they look, the howls begin to die down barely perceptible at first but finally, with one last mournful cry, there was only the sound of the wind and some crows crawing on the tower's crumbling upper-works.

OOC: Current location on the wall, just west of the tower 'A'.
The building is marked 'B' on the map.
Anything in italics is directly from the module.

Ronalt whispers, "Shall we check out where the wolves or hounds are near that building or go straight for the temple."
"I know if we have to leave, I would like to think the wolves or hounds are all unavailable to snap at our heels."
Answering his own words and thoughts, "Over to the build lets make sure it is empty."
Using the wall to hide his profile, Ronalt moved quietly towards the old building bow nocked with arrow; ready for trouble.

Kalador nodded and said, "Ronalt is right. Better to be safe than sorry." He followed Ronalt, his bastard sword ready for action.

Yew nodded silently but stayed to help Arek down before following Ronalt and Kalador.

Gwythe pulls his way up to the top of the wall, gazing down at the temple and the trees. He'll follow the others down the wall, but trail some way behind cautiously, a dagger held in each hand.

Tindo falls in behind Brother Yew as the others lead off.

The party successfully negotiate their way down and into the temple grounds.  The only concern in going this way was how to exit quickly should the need arise...

Approaching the ruins they could see signs of wolves or hounds but no sound of them.  The crows in the tower settled down as the depart towards the ruins.  The building's collapse looks much more extensive the closer they get.  Approaching from the north east the only entrance visible is the stairs up now it looks as though this is a dead end.

OOC:

sorry for the crappy map

                         PARTY



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Kalador looked around and said, "They have wolves or hounds doing guard work, but where are they? Looks like this could be a dead end. Uh no pun intended."

Yew looks at the two sides of the building that he can see and decides this simply isn't enough information to base any decisions on. He hurries forward as quietly as he can to peer around the southeast corner of the building.

Tindo likewise moves forward so she has at least got the solid stone of the building behind her.  She felt exposed out here and liked the stone for its ability to cut down the number of angles attack could come from.  She runs her hand along the wall before her, wishing a door would just appear.

Stumping along towards the rear of the party, Arek held his sling staff ready as he nervously looked around. Too many bushes he thought, too many hiding places.
"Com'on, com'on. Soon'r we're undergroun' tha better fer all."

The party skirted the wall reaching the corner and peering around.  Ahead they could see another opening in the wall though without going further they could not tell if this was blocked. The silence was broken only by the wind and the ravens in the tower behind.  Looking back they could see that three of them had taken to the wing and were heading in their general direction.

OOC: see note in the OOC about the state of this map....

                                                     xxxxxxxx
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                                                     xxxxxxxx Tower
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                     Party

The halfelf monk quietly walked further westward beside the wall of the building until he reached the opening. Then he stopped and peeked cautiously around the corner to see what was inside.

With his longsword drawn, Kalador followed Brother Yew. One never knew what might pop out of an opening. Better to be safe than sorry.

Iviana stays to the back, flail resting over her shoulder.  She has a definite tension, and watches the ravens with more interest than fear.

Tindo waits for the all clear to be given before she continues, watching the ravens like Iviana.

Brother Yew followed the wall along to the expected doorway followed closely by Kalador.  They were not the most silent pair but even so there was no sign of activity either monsters or wolves.  Behind them the others waited some watching the ravens of which another two had taken wing. All five circled for height, catching some unseen thermal.  Gradually they drifted closer.



OOC: finally some map progress....

Current map



close-up of corner of building

Kalador stepped forward towards the door. He said, "Allow me Brother Yew." Placing his sword back in its sheath, he gave the door a good push. He hoped that there was nothing immediately past the door.

Moving quietly forward, Ronalt focused his bow towards the doorway.

"I'm not sure what it is, but there's something unusual about those birds.  I don't think they are what they seem.  Let's get indoors."  Tindo moves to follow the others, glancing up to the sky regularly.

Gwythe glances up at the birds a couple of times, and follows along behind the others, his back to the wall and a dagger held in his throwing hand.

Arek looked skyward with a look of deep suspicion. Never one for open spaces at the best of times, being so close to an evil temple had him almost to the point of jumping at shadows.
Moving slowly toward the doorway, he placed a stone into the pouch of his staff sling, drew back behind him and sent the missile hurtling skyward towards the circling birds.

Yew stepped forward beside Kalador with his halberd ready to strike if danger threatened.

"I think they're actually growing," Iviana marvels.  With a small nod, she moves closer to the wall, and follows towards the doorway.  Despite the overall apprehension, she still looks almost ready to break out skipping.

Areks sling shot is true and hits one of the ravens which by now had assumed gigantic proportions. It caused it to briefly slow.

Kalador kicked in the door revealing some stairs going down but nothing else.  Almost as if this was a cue, a whistle sounded towards the temple. It was hard to say whether of the howling of wolves or the screeching of the ravens, both immediately following, was the louder. Wolves began to appear from the thicket. At the same time the first three ravens began a dive on the party.  Well behind, the remaining ravens took off from the tower, seven more in all.

OOC: So I need actions with a d10 individual initiative, dex modifiers apply.  Let me know if I have your position wrong....

Just to be clear the wolves are not attacking yet, but are behaving aggressively.  The first three ravens are attacking, the two behind them will be in position to attack in the following round and the remaining seven on round four.  The wolves look much larger than usual and the ravens are about a ten foot wingspan.

Gwythe glances behind at the rapidly growing birds, and then turns and breaks away from the wall, jumping over some of the bits of rubble at the bottom of the pile. He'll then dash towards the doorway, stopping just outside it and looking for a target.

OOC: 20:25, Today: Gwythe rolled 8 using 1d10+1. initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:28, Sun 06 Feb 2011.

Taking a quick look at both the wolves and the ravens Tindo shouts, "THE DOORWAY, RUN" as she also dashes forward.

21:11, Today: Tindoome Uurraumo rolled 5 using 1d10+3. Initiative.  Yikes.

Yew took a step back to the wall beside the doorway. He readied his halberd to slash at one of the giant ravens if one of them came close enough to be hit.

OOC: 18:59, Today: Brother Yew rolled 8 using 1d10+3. Initiative.

Kalador will enter the stairway and will push his comrades down if necessary. "Come on everyone, down the stairs, move,move,move!!!"



You rolled 5 using 1d10 ((5)).

Initiative: 2
Ronalt turns slightly at the call, spotting a wolf as he did.
His bow already ready he stepped towards the doorway, and fired at the wolf.
Private to GM: Bow/arrow attack:
Ronalt de Gault rolled 19 using 1d20. Arrow 1 (HIT)
Ronalt de Gault rolled 6 using 1d6. Arrow 1 damage. 6 damage
Ronalt de Gault rolled 3 using 1d20. Arrow 2. (MISS)]
This message was last edited by the player at 07:27, Mon 07 Feb 2011.

Arek peered upward to assess the effectiveness of his stone. He was only partly satisfied at the successful hit, but turned and ran as fast as his short legs could carry him to the safety and comfort of the stairway down.
"Gi' ou'ta mah way!"

Initiative: 9

Iviana realizes that if she turns to fight, even for a moment, she'll be stranding herself outside.  She rushes for the doorway.

OOC: Initiative 3

Most of the party headed down the stairs until only Ronalt and Brother Yew were left outside.  Somewhat surprisingly the wolves and ravens do not press the attack.  The giant birds wheeled away at the last minute while the wolves seemed content to close up and stand watching the party.

At the base of the stairs there was a 20'x20' room with three doors off, one on each wall and all closed.

OOC: I showed the doors as open as they are more obvious in that configuration.

OOC: Can I be stopped just outside the door (as per my post) or at the top of the stairs?

Tindo stops where she is in the room, wondering why the others have not come down the stairs, but prepared to wait until they do.

Slowly retreating to the doorway, Ronalt put a pair of arrows into the wounded wolf. "Someone is controlling them, so they force us inside. Brother Yew, best you get inside and protect the others. I will be down in a moment, once I get the door shut."

Ronalt's Arrows rolled 14 to hit unmodified for 1 damage.
Arrow 2 rolled 19 to hit unmodified for 4 damage.

Kalador looked around the room. He wondered where the doors led and what sort of trap they may be in now.

Yew glanced at Ronalt and paused for a moment as though about to ask a question but then just nodded and hurried inside. His eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness as he descended the stairs to join Tindo, Kalador and Iviana in the room downstairs. He took up a position facing the north and east doors with his halberd ready in his hands as though he expected enemies to arrive at any moment.

"Does anyone have a lantern?" he asked. "Humans can't see in the dark as we can."

consider it done, I'll update the map next turn.

Kalador checked in his pouch and said, "I have a candle, if that would help."

Apologetically, Iviana shakes her head.  "I've lived among the elves for a long time...I also only carry candles these days."

Grumbling, moaning and complaining about humans and their poor eyesight the entire time, Arek moved further inside, shrugged off his pack and withdrew the glowing chairleg he'd enchanted some time before.
"This do ya?" he asked as bright, magical light spilled into the far corners of the room.

Ronalt closes the door and bars it if able before joining his companions downstairs.
"I have a lantern. How long with the magic light last Arek?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:17, Fri 18 Feb 2011.

Arek looked at Ronalt like he'd just grown a second head.
"I' lasted a few weeks 'lready... Wha' da you t'ink?
The chairleg was well known to all - he'd first enchanted it in the caverns under the moat house, and brought it out again during the recovery after the ogre magi's attack.

Ronalt shrugged,"magic isn't something I am well versed in Arek. Sometimes even the simple questions seem oblivious to those whom have mastered the art."

Brother Yew glanced around as Arek brought light to the room.

"Yes, I believe that will be very satisfactory, Master Arek," he agreed.

He looked at the chair leg thoughtfully and asked, "Would the light remain if you whittled the wood or would the light be whittled away as well? If you broke it in half would you have two light sources?"

Arek casually tossed the magical torch to Yew.
"Try i' an see."
He didn't add "break it, you bought it".

Ronalt readied his lantern so they could inspect the room and its exits.

Ronalt had hurt one of the wolves badly and it made to lunge for him as he barred the door. Fortunately it missed as he finally got the frail wood in place. The ease that Kaldor had employed to kick it down before showed it would not hold against any determined assault.

The room was now brightly lit... and crowded, the door shut. Any tracks on the floor are long erased.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:11, Thu 24 Feb 2011.

Looking around at everyone present Tindo comments, "Well I guess we've just got to decide which door to open then, and I suggest that one," she points to the door just barred, "is not an option.  Anyone here particularly good at hearing?"

"Eh? Wha'd ya say? Ya wan'na go back ou' there?"

Tindo ignores the grumpy old bugger.

Yew caught the chair leg torch with one hand and looked at it curiously.

"Thank you Master Arek, it will please me to experiment with it later but not now as I need both hands for my halberd."

He passed it back to the dwarven priest and moved toward the eastern door. He began inspecting the door, looking for any sign of traps.

Kalador will move next to the Brother. He was ready to kick this door down too if need be and no traps were found of course.

Gwythe waits at the top of the stairs, his shoulder seeking to hold the door in place. "Pick a door!" he snarls. "This is no place to get trapped by wolves and giant birds."

All of the sudden, Iviana laughs.  She can't help it.  "Sorry, Gwythe," she calls back.  "It's my first try.  Next time I'll try to pick someplace with better service."

Kalador and Brother Yew checked out the eastern door finding no sings of traps.  It was a simple unlocked door that would open towards them.

At the top of the stairs a nervous Gwythe urged them on.

Kalador looked at Brother Yew and said, "Let me go first Brother Yew. We do not know what is on the other side." Kalador will proceed past the door with his sword at the ready.

Yew bowed slightly to Kalador and backed away. He watched as the halforc opened the eastern door then (unless there is some threat waiting beyond the eastern door) he went to the northern door and began checking for traps there as well.

Ronalt waited for the trapsmiths to do their work and give the all clear.

Tindo waits patiently a little on edge.

Kalador opened the door.  Beyond was a corridor leading east before turning north. A passage lead south about halfway along the corridor. Brother Yew inspected the northern door but could not discern any traps.

Kalador said, "Looks like there's a corridor leading east and then north. There's another passage going to the south as well."

"Let's see what's behind door number two," Yew whispered. He pulled the northern door open then quickly adopted a defensive stance with his halberd ready to ward off any attackers.

The door to the north opened onto a corridor which appeared to open out into a room.

Gwythe watches the group below in increasing puzzlement. "Hey!" he yells, adjusting his body position against the broken door. "When I leave this door they're going to be coming through. Would you hurry the hell up and go through a door?!" He kicks at the nearby wall in frustration.

Yew frowned for a moment when Gwyhte yelled but moments later the brief flicker of emotion had vanished. He nodded silently and quietly slipped down the short northern corridor to see what the northern room had to offer.

Kalador turned and followed Brother Yew. He felt it was better to be safe than sorry.

Brother Yew moved forward followed by Kalador. The others waited the outcome but heard it rather than saw it!  There was a crash combined with a yell from the good brother as a pit opened up underneath him exposing many very sharp spikes.  Yew's agility paid off as he managed to leap across the pit even as the ground gave way.

Upon hearing the sound of the floor dropping and hasty movements from Brother Yew, Ronalt turned his direction concerned trouble had arrived.

"A trap," Yew announced. His voice showed no sign of surprise. "Yes. That would be why we were chased in here. I wonder how many more there are? Don't come in. It is just a circular room with no other way out. It doesn't feel right, though. It is cold in there and there is no dust on the floor, just 4 unlit torches in 4 sconces around the walls."

"Try the other door," he suggests to those behind him. "There is no way forward here."

However he remains where he is and peers around at the walls and ceiling, looking for any sign of gaps in the wall or anything lurking above the door.

"What would keep it so clean and cold?" he wonders aloud. "Strong winds? Water? Magic or monster?"

Finally he jabs forward with the base of his halberd, striking the floor inside the room solidly although he remains ready to leap back over the pit at the first sign of trouble.

Tindo speaks to Brither Yew "Being kept clean, maybe from constant use, but I have no thoughts on why it's so cold." 

She turns to include everyone from where she had moved forward to reply to Brother Yew, "May I make a suggestion.  Let us tackle one corridor at a time.  Close the door to the other corridor and let us finsih our investigation of this one now.

At the moment we have the potential of being attacked from all four sides which makes me very nervous.  Let us pick a route and follow it until we know there is no further danger that can come from it.  The doors at least help to deaden some of the noise we are making."

She continues to Brother Yew, "Have you tried pulling any of the light scones up or down?  They may activate or open something in the room."

The is a loud thump as Brother Yew slams the end of his halberd on the stone floor of the circular room.  Nothing happens....

At least not immediately... quiet at first but growing gradually louder there was a grating sound something like an ungreased wheel starting to move and protesting about it. Curiously this was not coming from the room but from the base of the stairs.


OOC:  There is as yet no sign of what is causing the noise and no reason you should not see the circular room as it currently is....

Gwythe looks at the stairs in alarm, and then, after a moment's hesitation, bounds down the stairs, leaping over the bottom half a dozen and down onto the floor, rolling onto the ground and picking himself up.

Kalador stopped short when he saw the floor give way. He said, "Brother, we will figure away to get you back across the pit in safety." Turning as he heardd the noise from the stairs, Kalador will make ready to defend himself with his sword.

It looks like the corridor and the pit are only five feet wide, which would be a simple matter for the young monk to leap back across. Yew waits no longer but simply leaps across the pit and rolls past Kalador's legs back into the main room. He springs back to his feet and bows respectfully to Tindo. (If it is supposed to be 10 feet wide he may need a run up. In that case he would move into and across the circular room, tapping the floor ahead of him with his halberd to detect any more pits, then run back and leap across the pit.)

"I distrust the cold in that chamber. I do not wish to be trapped in there," he explained. "Let us explore the other corridors first."

Tindo can't help herself, smiling as the monk bows respectfully.  It's obvious she's also impressed with his display of skill and good sense.  "Smart move brother, we don't need to court unnecessary danger.  That room can be investigated later when we have cleared out the more obvious dangers here." 

Kalador smiled and said, "Good jump there Brother. Let's see what is coming from under the stairs and then we can check the corridor I found." He made ready to defend himself from whatever was coming from the direction of the stairs.

OOC: the corridors are five foot wide.

Gwythe's instinct proved right if a bit premature.

The grating sound stopped to be replaced by the noise of a rolling ball. It seemed to take an age, but probably no more than five seconds before with a loud 'thump' it banged into something. There was a slight pause then the sound of something ratcheting, getting slower as it seamed to work harder.  Then there was a loud 'click' followed by a 'sproing'.  Some plaster crumbled and fell off roof at the foot of the stairs, followed by a crash as a portcullis dropped to block the exit.

From where she stands Tindo keenly observes,  "Nothing like the finality of no retreat to harden our resolve.  It's kill or be killed from here on in."  She indicates the door previously opened,  "We know that doorway is not trapped.  Shall we proceed?"

"We also have this door next to me. SHall we open it as well just to see if anything lurks nearby now the porticullis has dropped." Ronalt asks.

"Yes please, Master Ronalt," Brother Yew agrees enthusiastically. All those years of study and discipline still have not suppressed his natural curiosity.

Gwythe picks himself up and dust himself off before pulling out his weapon. "Come on adventure, they said." he mutters to no one in particular.

Iviana looks at Gwythe.  "Or you could have gone to prison," she reminds him.  Then she glances up at the fallen portcullis.  "I suppose this is a bit like trying both at once."

The party checked the door and detecting no traps opened it. They looked onto a short corridor with a door across the end.

"Someone is adept at listening at wooden doors should check the one yonder to the west." Ronalt suggested shining the lantern down the western corridor.

Kalador said, "I will do that if no one else wants to."

"It's not that I don't want to, I just I wonder why we need to bother.  What are we going to hear that's going to make us stop and decide not to go through the thing?

Bust it open, expect a fight, and lets get out of this place, it's giving me the creeps to be trapped inside.

"Caution and careful actions will gain us more than kicking in doors."
"Kalador please listen and check the door while we all be quiet so the task can be done promptly." Ronalt watched Tindoome, a little disappointed in the bravado.

Kalador moved forward and checked the door out.  To the best of his abilities he could neither hear anything nor find evidence of further traps.

Kalador looked back at his friends and said, "Sounds all clear to me. I can't see any other traps."

"Open the door and we will cover you." Ronalt suggests ready with blade and lantern.

Brother Yew headed toward the eastern corridor.

"I will check this other corridor for traps," he whispered. "If you run into trouble I will return swiftly."

He again uses the butt of his halberd to probe the floor in the eastern corridor but this time he places it quietly and presses down hard rather than thumping it loudly as he did before. Clearly he is determined not to be caught by another pit trap or anything triggered by pressure on the floor or a tripwire.

Kalador nodded and slowly opened the door. As he does, he'll try to stay away from the opening, so as not to get hit by anything that might be fired by someone on the other side.

Kaldor opened the door which pulled back easily. It took a few seconds for his eyes to adjust to the reduced lighting, but beyond he could see what was obviously a small temple of some sort.




Brother Yew tip-tapped his way along the other corridor pausing at the first junction then at the end.  Both passageways continued a short distance to end in a door.

Kalador shook his head and said, "There is something wrong with these tapesteries . He looked around for any treasure.

Tindo moves into the temple room behind Kalador, to take a look at the tapesteries from the middle of the room.  Unless there is something obviously wrong about them she will ask, "Why do you say that?"

She gazes to the idol at the end of the room, what does it depict?

Ronalt stays on guard ready, observing Kalador.
He moves in closer(5ft behind Kalador) so to shine the light into the room if it is in darkness.

Gwythe squeezes through to the temple entrance, looking around for a second before stepping into the room, his sword now in his hand. He'll stop in the middle of the room, looking around carefully and up to take in the room fully.

The young monk decides against moving out of sight of the party and turns back from his brief scouting mission. He reports simply, "Two more corridors ending in two more doors."

He follows the others into the temple and after an appraising glance around the room he turns his attention to the first of the tapestries south of the door. He uses his halberd to lift it away from the wall so he can see the back of it and whatever might be behind it.

Iviana taps briefly at the portcullis with her flail.  "At least that ought to keep the wolves out," she says, largely to herself, as Brother Yew goes past.  Then she follows along to the west, going into the temple also.  She walks along by the walls, looking at the tapestries.

Years of dust littered the floor, the pews, the tapestries but strangely enough not the repulsive looking pot bellied idol standing with hands outstretched at the far end of the chamber. The tapestries depicted scenes of murder and mayhem.

OOC: This is an interim post as a few things need to play out before I can make a full update.

Kalador turned and replied, "Tin, when I looked at this tapestry, I got the strangest feeling. Like it was drawing me in or something. Watch yourself around here."

"Yeah" Tindo absentmindedly replies as she gazes at one of the tapestries a little pre-occupied.

PM

Gwythe peers curiously at one of the tapestries, lowering his sword.

Brother Yew had approached the tapestry from the side and his first thought was to lift it with his halberd rather than look at the pattern. Nonetheless he still glimpsed it and his movements slowed as he approached.  He stops and shakes his head then angrily reaches forward and rips the tapestry down from the wall so it falls in a crumpled heap on the floor.

He looks around swiftly at his companions and sees what has happened. Looking only at the floor he advances on the next tapestry with his mind set on destruction.

Turning at the noise Tindo comments a little taken back at Brother Yew's seemingly violent reaction, "Okay so they aren't to my taste, but do they offend you that much?"

As Brother Yew pulled the first tapestry down there was a crackle of electricity and he was jolted backwards by and electrical discharge. The tapestry fell to the floor smoke slowly rising from it. Gwythe and Iviana each approached different tapestries and after a few second reached out to touch them. Any immediate effects hidden by their bodies from the rest of the party.

OOC: Gwythe and Iviana, have an action round before everyone can update.

Gwythe steps closer to the tapestry, which seems to be conveying some sort of orgiastic scene. He pays no attention to the other tapestry's effects upon Brother Yew, pulling instead at his jerkin, dropping it and his knives to the ground before stepping into the tapestry... and passing into it, his sword falling to the ground as he does so.

As he's adopted into the scene he steps further forward into the scene, looking about in wonder at his new surroundings.

(OOC: Apparently that was a bad time to roll a 1.)

Across the room, Iviana peers interestedly at a temple scene, showing the very Idol present in the room, with a priest standing at the altar, cutting out a sacrifice's heart.  She doesn't look especially entranced as she approaches - just curious.  She reaches out, as if to smooth out a spot for a better look...

And then jumps back with a shriek, dropping something that wasn't in her hand a moment before.  With a splortch, a heart hits the floor, spattering fresh blood as it lands.  Her flail falls from her other hand, skittering a few feet across the floor.

"Bloody Hell," Tindo exclaims in shock as Gwythe steps into the tapestry, dropping his weapons.  She wheels startled as Iviana shrieks, watching the heart drop to the floor, closely followed by Iviana's mace.

"I have nothing to combat this magic, what shall we do for Gwythe?" she quickly pants looking to the others.

Guarding the corridor so they have a way to defend themselves if foes arrive.
"When the other tapestries were destroyed did anything fall free?" Ronalt asked, "Either we use magic to dispel the evil magic or we destroy the tapestry and hope he falls out."

"Destroying the other tapestries might not be a bad idea, but we've got no idea whether the magic is actually evil.  Destroying the tapestry he is in may well trap him in the other dimension, as might a dispel spell.  We may have little choice but to wait and see if he tires himself out and retires back here.

He stepped into a pretty debauched scenario," Tindo looks at the tapestry a little closer.  "What are they doing to those sheep and goats?"

OOC:  It's an orgiastic scene, I could resist stepping over the line. :o).

Tindo stared at the tapestry.

Tindo looks at the tapestry, then looks to the idol, then back at the tapestry.  "It's just a hunch," she says pointing to the idol at the northern end of the room, "but I think that has something to do with what's going on here.  I do not know how to stop anothers magic but if anyone does, I think we should start with the idol, or maybe smash it up."

She follows on after a brief psause, "Whatever we're going to do, we better get something done quickly before Gwythe starts getting busy.  Some of those things he's approaching are definitley not human, and the one he's approaching now," she turns her head on it's side a little, stepping back a grimace on her face as she looks away in disgust, "Oh my god, it shouldn't be able to do that."

She moves closer to the idol, the tapestry now a second thought.  Does anything appear significant with this pot bellied idol?  Some place to start inspection?

Leaning his staff sling against the wall, Arek withdrew a vial from his belt pouch and approached the tapestry that had swallowed Gwythe,
"Wha' yer get yerself inta now lad?" he grumbled, unstoppering the vial and splashing it's contents over his image.
Arek wasn't sure it would have much of an effect, but holy water in what was almost certainly an evil temple couldn't make it worse...
This message was last edited by the player at 13:40, Fri 01 Apr 2011.

"Oh, they're most certainly evil," Iviana growls, stepping away from the heart, keeping her eyes down.  She scoops her flail back up quickly, and then turns towards the others, and hesitates, still shaken, not entirely sure which of the two to try to help.  Her pause is brief, though, before she runs over towards the tapestry that swallowed Gwythe, watching to see what happens with Arek's holy water, Lydia's symbol gripped firmly in her free hand.

OOC: If the water brings him out, of course, that's awesome; if not, or if it seems to be working but not enough, she'll cast Protection from Evil, touching Gwythe's `depiction' in the painting.

Kalador shook his head at what Gwythe did. He said, "I knew there was something wrong with these tapesteries. Should we examine the idol and see if there is something special about it?" He started to walk over to the idol to examine it.

"DOE' TOUCH'IT!" Arek yelled urgently as Kalador approached the idol.
"Yew, check i' ou'"

Not understanding what the dwarf was trying to say, Tindo peers around the idol, making sure she doesn't touch anything for her own sake and safety.

Kalador will also examine the idol without touching. If Arek, said don't touch, he wasn't going to touch.

Standing in the entrance to the room with the idol, the light shining so to illuminate the room and the short corridor so Ronalt could maintain a guard.
'last thing they needed now was to be assaulted.'

The slender monk looked decidedly less composed after that shocking experience than he had before. There was a nasty burn on his arm and shoulder where the electrical discharge from the tapestry had struck him despite his instinctive reaction to dodge out of the way.

He glanced at the dwarven cleric and hesitated for a moment before bowing and heading toward the great stone statue. He approached warily and faithfully followed Arek's instruction not to touch it as his eyes searched it for any sign of traps or hidden openings.

Unfortunately Areks's use of holy water had little effect, perhaps Gwythe slowed slightly but did not stop.  Iviana then tried to cast dispel evil Gwythe's image again showing little if any reaction.  Meanwhile Kalador, Tindo and Yew approached the real idol to check it out.





OOC: just a reminder of the layout... (everyone except Ronalt started in the room...



And for those that remember.... (The Idol in this room is much smaller!)


This message was last edited by the GM at 22:52, Tue 05 Apr 2011.

Kalador looked closely at the hands. He said, "Brother Yew, why is there blood coming from it's hands? Is it...Gwythe's blood?"

Gwythe pauses slightly, gazing around at his surroundings, before continuing to step deeper into the mural. He runs his hands through his hair, shaking his head slightly.

(OOC: not sure how graphic you want this to get, given the game isn't R rated!)

Brother Yew looked back at the tapestry and its unexpected offering that had startled Iviana so badly.

"I don't have the heart to tell you," he responded to Kalador.

He continued searching the statue and the area around it.

Tindo continues her inspection, looking behind the statue without touching it.

Shaking his head at the apparent lack of effectiveness of the holy water or Iviana's prayer, Arek focused his attention on the statue and began the chant. Maybe it wouldn't do a thing, but everone within earshot would at least get a bit of a lift from the battle hymn...

A little confused to why he was in the temple proper and why he had a sudden surge of paladin like zeal to crush evil where ever it was found. Or why his blade was bare and he had a twitch in his eye.
"This altar we can push it over and shatter it, can't we." Ronalt suggested eagerly.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:39, Tue 12 Apr 2011.

"It seems the most practical use for it.  Why don't we pick up a pew together and use it like a battering ram to topple it?"  Tindo doesn't make any eye contact with anyone as she says that, so it's hard to tell if she is being serious.

"Why don't you throw some of that holy water on the alter Arek?"

Liking the idea, Ronalt stowed his blade and put the lantern down to grab a pew bench, "Someone grab the other end so we can get this statue all busted up."
OOC: Ronalt has turned into a soccer hooligan,

Tindo does just that, but it's clear that just holding it up is about all she can manage.  Unless someonelse helps out she will likely drop it before she takes too many steps.

Kalador said, "Destroying it sounds good to me." He went to help Tidoome.

Arek just looked at Tindo while continuing to chant, his hands going through the motions of the spell he was casting...

Iviana turns reluctantly away from the tapestry, nodding.  "It can't hurt..."  She tucks her flail away, pulls out a vial of water of her own, and then rushes over to splash it towards  the altar.  Lydia's symbol held in her other hand, she prays as she does so, "Lydia, please shed your light in this dark place, and help to guide our friend back to us!"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:37, Thu 14 Apr 2011.

Hearing the conversation behind him Yew abandoned the search of the statue and began to back away to a safe distance from the statue and altar. One shocking experience was enough to teach him to be wary in this temple, especially as he was not sure he would survive a second time. He looked around for other alternatives.

"I wonder if Gwythe would fall out if we pulled that tapestry down," he wondered aloud. "I have rope. Does anyone have a grappling hook?"

Brother Yew knew immediately his question would go unanswered, at least in the way he hoped. Days of associating with the rest of the party had not revealed anything even close to resembling a grapnel amongst the collective equipment...

Things seemed to happen in slow motion.... in some cases very slow motion...

The pew was picked up by Ronalt and Tindo, who began their attack as Kakaldor approached to help. Iviana took out her vial of water and rushed forward to pour it on the statue...

In mid stride, Kalador noticed what Iviana was about to do. He said, "No Iviana, don't do that." He will rush over and attempt to knock the vial from her hand.

Ronalt continues his efforts with the pew, religious fevour coursing through his veins.

Out of the corner of his eye Brother Yew noticed Iviana pick up the heart instead of her vial of holy water. As she approached the statue he joined Kalador in his shout of protest.

"Iviana, stop!"

He started to run back from the tapestry where Gwythe is trapped but it would take a miracle to reach her in time.

As does Ronalt, Tindo continues with her efforts with the pew.

"It's important," Iviana says, fervently, hurrying to complete her task before those trying to intercept her can get in the way.

"E'ery body STOP!" Arek yelled the command, sacrificing the spell he was casting to lunge in front of Iviana and hopefully prevent catastrophe.

Kalador will try to stop Iviana by grappling her. They had to stop her somehow. He said, "Arek, somebody has to stop her."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:12, Tue 03 May 2011.

For once Yew seems stymied.  Not so Kalador who launches himself at Iviana and succeeds getting a grip on her arm as Arek smashes into her other elbow. Iviana is intent on reaching the statue and tries desperately to throw the heart into its out stretched hands. Peer pressure pays off, as it flops at her feet giving a feeble beat.

Ronalt and Tindo pick-up momentum and smash into the statue which reels from the blow.  Teetering on its pedestal it rocks backwards and forwards... and forwards... and forwards... until it rolls off, its outstretched hands seemingly grasping for the heart.

OOC: the dice roller really loved you guys..... well for while.

Kalador has Iviana in an arm lock.

Everyone has a chance to do something but they need to roll 1 on a d10 for initiative (including any dex bonus)

Struggling with Kalador to keep Iviana in check, Arek attempted to swing a foot around and kick the heart away from the falling statue. Although he couldn't say what may happen if the two met, he was willing to suffer a crushed leg to prevent finding out!

Initiative 7

As Kalador holds Iviana in a lock, a weasel suddenly ripples out of her backpack and lunges towards his face.  With an irritated growl, Iviana slides her own foot under the heart and kicks it up into the air...

Tindo drops her end of the pew.  It was just too heavy to hold after the initial successful charge.  She's watching all the commotion not really sure what is going on, but waiting to see if the statue shatters as it hits the stone floor.

Brother Yew hurries forward, chasing the heart and swinging his halberd as he goes. He tries to kick the heart away to the other end of the room.

"Arek, should we kill it? Once it stops beating it may no longer be of use to the god of this temple. Or what do you think would happen if we tossed it back into one of the tapestries? Maybe the one Gwythe is in? Is there any way to know what is the best course to take?"

[Initiative: rolled 2, -3 for dex, +1 for unarmed attack speed factor = 0?]
OOC: Edited after a quick refresher on the rules.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:51, Fri 20 May 2011.

Kalador attempted to knock the weasel thing away from his face, while still holding onto Iviana. With one free hand, he managed to grab the weasel and throw it against the nearest wall.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:36, Sun 22 May 2011.

Time again seemed to be in slow motion, Brother Yew tried to kick the heart away before Iviana could cause more damage.  It looked a good plan until... the Idol moved! It hands stretched out and partially blocking Yew's kick as it made what seemed an incredible move to clutch the heart out of the air.



Immediately the temple rang to the sound of laughter that echoed and rolled around. The heart pumped more blood than was possible.  The idol drenched in blood took on a rosy hew and the laughter increased in volume! Subtly beneath this the sound of water? No blood! Gallons of it started pouring from each tapestry.  In one pool, a naked human, covered in blood could be seen writhing either in pain or ecstasy. It took a few seconds to realise that this was Gwythe and slightly longer to realise he was trying to get back into the tapestry, the torrent of blood seemingly the only thing stopping him...




OOC: Gwythe is sort of hidden by the blood torrent in the map... You have a few but not many rounds before the blood will begin to fill the temple. The door is still open to the rest of the rooms....

btw: the dice roller really hates you now, Johna Lomu could not have done it better... or maybe Iviana's right and this is a good thing....

13:17, Today: DM rolled 23 using 1d20+3. more idle stuff.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:24, Tue 24 May 2011.

PM

Ronalt ran for the door, the blood coursing out of the tapestries was just a little too much.

Brother Yew turned and dashed toward Gwythe. He tried to grab him and tow him toward the door.

pms
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:14, Wed 25 May 2011.

Seeing Brother Yew struggling with Gwythe, Tindo tries to grab an arm and help pull him towards the exit shouting as she does so,

"Gwythe snap out of it, they're trying to kill you."

Whether it was true or not she didn't care, she just wanted his attention long enough for him to realise where he was.

Gwythe looks around at the blood pouring all over him, watching the fluid cascade of his naked shoulders and down to the floor. As others grab him, he looks about in a daze, slipping on the floor and half falling to the ground.

He is a bit of a dead weight and difficult to move.

Yew kept trying to help hustle Gwythe out of the temple.

"Someone bring that pew as well," he suggested. "We can try to use it to hold the temple door closed behind us to stop this whole place from drowning in blood."

Iviana, too, laughs, as the blood starts pouring out.  There's nothing, say, maniacal, about it - it's just a bright, happy sound.

"See?" she asks, blood pooling around her ankles, her tone pointing out that they'd never have tried to stop her if they'd just realized what she was doing, and clearly everything is OK now.

Ronalt got out into the corridor without trouble as Yew and Tindo wrestled Gwythe towards the door despite his attempts to re-enter the tapestry. Iviana seemed to be enjoying herself.

OOC: Kalador and Arek can act twice this round as they haven't posted yet
Yew and Tindo will manage to get the sex addled Gwythe into the corridor this round.

Glancing back to his companions to see they had moved towards the corridor out of the blood room, he continued forwards away from the terrible gory room.

Gwythe suddenly snaps out of his daze and allows himself to be pulled along by his companions until they are outside the room. Once there he pauses outside the doorway, staring back inside. "What happened?" he yells, as the blood red fluid starts to stream past him.

"The tapestries are traps for the mind," Yew explains quickly to Gwythe. "You succumbed to one. Do not go back in or we may never be able to rescue you again. Now the statue is flooding the temple with blood and we must close and bar the door as soon as the others are out."

He raised his voice to call to Iviana and the others still in the room.

"Lady Iviana, Gwythe is confused about what is happening here. Please come here and explain it to him."

"Arek and Kalador, please come quickly and bring that pew with you!"

"Hang on!" Iviana calls back.  She crouches down by the fallen statue, setting a shoulder to it.  "Hey, Kalador, help me get this thing back up!"

Kalador went to pick up the pew as best he could. He said, "Of course Brother Yew. Help me out wil you Arek."

Grumbling and muttering, Arek struggled to keep his footing in the slippery blood while hauling the pew behind him, not quite sure what Yew had in mind.

Brother Yew frowned as Iviana seemed so intent on the fallen statue she had forgotten who her friends were.

"It has her bewitched," he murmured. "If we can get her out of the temple she may snap out of it."

He called to Iviana once more.

"Iviana, come here! Help us close the door and secure it while the temple fills with blood. The statue is hollow and will float back upright again."

Iviana shakes her head, grunting slightly as she shifts her position.  "Yew," she calls back, "If this thing was hollow, I wouldn't need Kalador's help.  If anything..." her muscles tense again, and she shakes her head, "It's heavier than it looks.  I'll come help with the door as soon as we get this!" she promises, looking hopefully to Kalador again.

Everyone except Iviana ended in the hallway, which was now crowded. Ronalt moved forwards seemingly to make space.  Beyond him, towards the entrance hall they could make out that a dim light was coming from the left. (OOC:from the circular room) Iviana still struggled with the idol now becoming as covered in blood as Gwythe though unlike him she was still clothed.

"beware the torches have been lit we may have company." Ronalt harshly whispers to his companions as he readies his blade as he moved towards the circular room.

Gwythe absently wipes some of the blood off his body, still somewhat dazed. After a few seconds, he glances around for a weapon, peering back into the blood-filled room in frustration.

(OOC: Gwythe has certainly lost his throwing knives as they were in his jerkin, which he removed. What about his sword which was in his belt? - with or without?)

Yew sighs. It was worth a try.

"Come on then, Kalador. Change of plan. Let's help Iviana out."

"Out of the temple, that is," he added in a whisper to Kalador.

He walked back in until he was alongside Iviana beside the idol.

Seeing Yew come back in to help, Iviana looks relieved, and sets herself again for a big push on the statue.

Realising the situation with Iviana, Tindo whispers under her breath to Brother Yew as he moves off.

"If she turns violent do not risk entering into combat with her.  Let me know and I will put her to sleep."

Whilst brother Yew moves off she tries to assist the naked Gwythe pulling a dagger from her belt, all the time smirking at his nakedness.  "I have a dagger you could use loverboy."

Arek thrust his glowing chair leg at Gwythe.
"Use that as a club lad."
"An' som'bod gi' 'im sum clothes!"

Gwythe looks down at his body, covered in blood, and shrugs. He takes both the club - in his right - and the dagger, in his left, reversing the blade for a stabbing motion.

He turns his attention down the corridor from whence they came, ready should the lights get closer.

"We half-elves are difficult to put to sleep," Yew whispered back to Tindo before he entered the room.

OOC: NPCing Kalador to keep the momentum up... unless his player vehemently disagrees he will go along with Brother Yew's plan.  IC:

Kalador agreed to help the monk and joined him in the temple next to Iviana and the idol. He waited for Yew's cue to start the 'rescue' mission.

"Are you ready, Kalador? All together on the count of three. Grab and lift. Then we can get out of here."

Yew paused a moment to make sure Kalador understood then he began the count.

"One, two, three!"

He grabbed at Iviana's arm and attempted to lift her up and start moving her toward the door.

Swallowing as he viewed the room with its new additions, "oh demon piss."
Stepping back, he turned to his companions, "Arek you should see this, a blood marked pentagram is upon the floor."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:15, Sun 05 June 2011.

Kalador nodded and replied, "I'm ready Brother Yew." He grabbed Iviana's other arm and lifted her up. Upon hearing about the pentagram, Kalador said, "Brother Yew, what can that pentagram mean?"

Arek trotted to Ronalt to observe for himself the phenomenon.
"Yep, tha's pure evil fer ya, ri' there."
"Wha're gonna do 'bou' it?"

"Run!"

Kalador and Yew dragged Iviana to the corridor without any difficulty.  The half-elf looked disappointed but otherwise was compliant.  The door was slammed and the pew laid against it.  It was quite an effective barrier though some blood had run out into the corridor already.  It was clear however that if the temple continued to fill the door would not hold for long.

To the north as Ronalt had said, the circular room now was illuminated by torches in the sconces. Those that chose to look could also confirm his and Areks pronouncement. A pentagram had been painted on the floor in fresh blood.  There was no sign of drips or splashes from the corridor so whoever had painted it used a different source, or was very careful.

The stairs were still blocked by the portculis that had fallen in place earlier.

"I think going in there will invite little more than trouble," Tindo remarks as she looks into the room with the penagram.  "Shall we move on and check out this other passage.  We can always come back to investigate this later, once we have cleared out those that may worship here." 

Kalador nodded and said, "Tindoome is right. No sense in inviting trouble. Let's move on." He still wasn't sure what the pentagram meant, but it couldn't be good.

Gwythe swings his new club quickly around in a circle, getting used to the feeling of the weight, and then peers with interest down the corridor that they have yet to explore. "Light." he mutters. "Someone with a torch needs to lead the way."

"Tha' be you then," Arek teased, knowing full well that naked and armed with nothing more than a dagger and glowing chair leg, Gwythe was the last person who should be leading the way.
But at least he looked dangerous and homocidal, covered in slowly drying blood as he was.

A barely audible snicker escapes Tindo's lips, quickly muffled by a hand.

Ronalt moved forward with his lantern, advancing down the hall to the first intersection, blade in hand. 'he now missed the forest. A safer place than in these horrid halls.'

"Could that thing summon something in behind us?" Yew asked Arek, glancing nervously at the pentagram. "Make sure someone watches our rear."

Yew hurried after Ronalt to offer advice.

"Beware of traps. Test the floor before you step on it. I checked this main corridor before but not the side corridors or doors yet. Let me check the first corridor and door on the right. Gwythe, will you check the left corridor at the end of this one?"

He made his way to the righthand corridor and tested the floor, walls and ceiling with the butt of his halberd before moving forward to check the door for traps.

"Me'be," he shrugged non-committally.
Arek peered with a purpose first at the naked form of Gwythe, then Iviana, then Kalador. All three stood within an inch of being the same height.
"Anyone gonna give tha' lad a cloak 're som'tin'?"

Iviana is unclasping hers - bloodsoaked as it is, it even matches Gwythe's current style.  "You know," she says, passing it over to him, "We almost had it.  One more heave, and I think it would've been done.  Do you want to borrow my sword, too?" she offers to Gwythe, indicating the shortsword that she always wears at her side, but never uses.  His state of undress doesn't seem to bother her, particularly, although her lips quirk a little when Yew mentions `watching our rear'.

If Gwythe does, indeed, go to check the door Yew has asked him to, Iviana will follow a few steps behind, guarding.

Gwythe takes the cloak and pulls it around himself, wiping some of the blood off his chest as he does so. He grins at Iviana in realisation of how he look. He'll then step forward carefully to the end of the corridor and peer around the corner in the dim light.

Gwythe, Yew, Iviana and Ronalt moved down the corridor. Ronalt reached the intersection without mishap and looking around saw it was exactly as Brother Yew had described.  Likewise a now cloaked Gwythe, with Iviana close behind, reached the end and looking round the corner saw the door ahead as had been described by Yew.

Yew moved towards the southern door checking for traps with his halberd. He reached the door unscathed.

OOC: Phew.... I think Iviana should get some extra xp for covering Gwythe!
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:35, Thu 09 June 2011.

Tindo would be tagging along with the others, not wanting to be left just looking down the corridor after the others.

OOC:  Yes we took a secret vote, and think 1,000,000xp ought to cover it.

Arek moved up to just behind Yew having recovered his staff sling.
"Yer gonna open i' 'r' loo' at i' all day?"

"We need to find another way out. This place is giving me the a cold chill in my soul." Ronalt muttered as he shone the light down the corridor hoping to determine if it was a dead end or an avenue of escape.

Gwythe crouches down to his knees, pushing Ronalt and Iviana's torches back down the corridor.


After that he'll step forward carefully, motioning the torches forward again, and tap solidly with his chair leg on the floor in front of him with each step.

Yew ignored Arek's question and went about the business of checking the door for traps.

Kalador followed Tindoome. No sense in being left alone. He supposed that he'd be watching  their rear.

At their respective doors, neither Gwythe or Brother Yew found any traps.

Impatient to move along, Arek reached past Yew and openned the door.

Arek pushed the door open.  Beyond was a room which initially dark brightened considerably as torches lit.  It was obviously a bedroom, not just that but a priest's bedroom and quite ornate.

Immediately opposite the door was a small shrine with an even smaller copy of the  potbellied idol.  Two candles were lit flanking the idol and a wicked looking rusted knife lay before it.  to their right was a writing desk of some description with the bed on their left and a dresser in the far corner.

Arek stumped into the room, eyeing everything within with great suspicion.
"I' be priest chamber' fer sure," he stated with authority, dust stirring from his movement.
Knocking a cobweb down with his staffsling, he approached the idol.
"Tha' b' blood on tha' knife?"

Tindo squeezes into the room, turning to look at the writing desk, though she does not touch anything. Is there anything on the desk itself?

Yew headed over to the eastern side of the room, walking around the bed to get to the eastern wall. He stood at the northern side of the dresser and used his halberd to slide open the drawers of the dresser.

Kalador stepped into the room and started to look around. He didn't want to touch the small idol, it might be some sort of trap. He said, "Since there's cobwebs around, I'd say the priest hasn't been back to his room in sometime." Looking at Brother Yew, he said, "Brother Yew, is it safe to touch the idol and other objects in this room?"

Yew looked back at Kalador from his awkward position beside the dresser.

"I do not know. I cannot check everything. It takes too long and we do not have time. Imagine you are the person setting traps here. Where would you aim your traps? Do not place yourself where they would expect you to be. Be careful what you touch. Use a blade or something else to move things instead. Think, also, where would you want to have a secret door for a quick escape if this was your home? It should be safe to look under the bed if you are uncertain where to begin."

"Ah wouldn'na b' puttin' traps anywhere in 'ere. Too much chance o' settin' 'em off goin' ta relieve yerself at night."

Yew nodded thoughtfully, appreciating the insight offered by the more experienced cleric.

"Perhaps just the idol might be protected by a trap, if it is valuable. Only a thief is likely to touch it."

Iviana waits outside, watching over Gwythe and over the corridor.

Gwythe also will say in the corridor, looking occasionally at the others in the room, but otherwise pausing to try and wipe some more of the blood off his skin.

Lifting his lantern up so to shine down the corridor past his two companions, Ronalt wished to make sure they had eyes on any new threats.

Kalador listened to Arek and Bro. Yew. He looked around the room, making sure to not touch the idol.

OOC: this is a bit of a filler as RL is biting hard... IC:

The does not seem to be any traps.  The dresser drawers opened by Yew contained clothes and little else.

Blood or rust on the knife? It was hard to tell but if it was blood it had long since dried.

There were a few items on the desk.  Quills, writing paper the usual paraphernalia.  There was a central drawer and two on each side of the desk which may contain more.

Kalador decided to look at the desk drawers. He'll try to open them by their handles. If that doesn't work, he'll use a knife to jimmy them open.

Since Tindo is right in front of the desk, she will pull the draws open by their handles first, but if any are locked, and a quick look under the desk does not reveal a key, she will move back out into the corridor if they are forced.

"Just clothes in here and robes over there on the back of the door," Yew sums up his findings quickly.

"We need to find another way out of here quickly. Tindo, your elven eyes are good at spotting secret doors, are they not? Can you help me search these walls?" he indicates the south and east walls of the room, which seem likely to be the outer walls of this underground complex. He turns to search the eastern wall.

"Has Gwythe found another exit beyond the door at the end of the corridor?" he asks. Obviously he cannot see what Gwythe and the others are doing out in the corridor.

Tindo turns to help Brother Yew to look for secret doors, after she has tried the draws.  If any of them require jimmying she leaves that tasks to the others.

Kalador and Tindo opened various drawers each finding something of inters.  Of secret doors there seemed no sign.

Tindo picks up and drops onto the desk top the items she finds as she goes through the draws.  Various writing equipment including quills and parchment, along with a bone scroll case with the image of the pot bellied god engraved on it.  She picks up the scroll case as Kalador pushes his way in, and she moves aside with a frown at his manners.

"I haven't got it memorised, but it might be an idea to detect magic on this case before it is opened.  If it is magically trapped, a spell will be able to detect any danger." 

Kalador wasn't one for good manners when it came to finding loot. When he found the leather bound book, he said, "Maybe there are spells listed in this book, if anyone can read it. Also, found this inkwell with what looks like red ink. Could the ink be blood?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:58, Sun 17 July 2011.

Brother Yew finished his search of the wall without finding any secret doors so he rejoined the others in the hallway.

"The shrine in there suggests it was a priest's bedroom. Priests do not use spellbooks. A book of religious texts and prayers, perhaps, or possibly a diary? Arek or Iviana are more likely to be able to determine what the book and scroll case contain," he suggested.

"We found no other way out so we need to go forward. Gwythe, can you open that next door yet?"

Gwythe nods and moves forward to the other door, pausing for a few seconds to allow the others to exit the other room and prepare themselves.

[once they've done that I'll open the door]

Kalador nodded to Brother Yew and exited the room. He will give the book and ink to either Arek or Iviana, at the first opportunity.

Arek accepted the book, flipped it open and attempted to ascertain it's contents while the next door was investigated.

Feeling like he was slowly collecting dust in the corridor.
"What is further along this corridor?" Ronalt asked his nearby companions as he shone the light ahead.

Gwythe opened the last door, or not quite as it turned out.  Beyond was a room that seemed to serve as a kitchen and dining area combined with some sort of laboratory.  To his left there was a partially open door which judging by the lingering aroma had been a toilet.

Gwythe steps carefully into the room and off to the right, clearing the doorway and peering around in the dim light.

As soon as the way is clear Brother Yew makes his way forward too. He turns his attention to the tapestry or curtain on the eastern wall then cautiously checks behind it.

The room seemed no different when Brother Yew and Gwythe entered.  No pits were encountered, the lights did not go off and the faint smell lingered. Reaching the tapestry Yew did not suffer any apparent effects and checked behind it.

"Chec' it all out and we migh' rest fer a bit."
"Set a guard a' the entry an' we should be safe."

"Safe, yes, if we do not drown in blood," Yew responded. "This tapestry shows a pentagram similar to the one in the circular room. The creatures lining up to step into it appear to be doing so willingly. Perhaps it is a way out of here? Arek, are you able to seek divine guidance whether such a course would augur well for us?"

Iviana moves over to look at the "lab" portion of the room, looking over the cluttered desk in the corner.

Ronalt entered the room and looked around with out touching, "There is a setting for two here."
Moving to the torch sconce on the western wall, Ronalt gave it a pull to see if it moved. He then moved to the northern one and did the same.

The party mill about the room pondering their chances of rest against the flow of blood from the temple.

Kalador stepped in the room with the others. He said, "Well we have to do something or drown right? I say we step into the pentegram and take a chance."

Brother Yew pales at the suggestion.

"I think that should be our last resort, only if the flood escapes the temple. First, let us search everywhere for a secret way out of here. Tindo, your elven eyes will be even sharper than mine at finding such things. Will you help me search?"

He immediately turns to searching the outside walls for secret doors.

Without comment Tindo also moves to the task of looking for hidden or concealed ways.

Iviana picks up a large rough ruby, hefting it with a curious expression.  "This looks like it might be important.  The statue had ruby eyes," she notes.  "There are also a few potions over here that look...done, whatever they are."

Despite Ronalt's tugging on the torches there was no obvious difference. Tindo perhaps guided by instinct check behind the tapestry again.

From where she is half coverd behind the tapestry Tindo calls out.  "Here Brother Yew, you were right."  Waiting for him to come back to the tapestry she then traces her finger along a crack the width of a pixies hair.  "It's very hard to see, but there is something here." 

Pushing the tapestry aside she shows everyone the secret doorway.  "We have a means of escape or at least going further."

Tindo will defer to the fighters going first.

Brother Yew is delighted that Tindo has found what may prove to be a way out of this trap but he remains as cautious as ever.

"Well done, Tindo. It will take me a minute or two to check for any traps here before we try the door."

He begins methodically searching the secret door for any sign of traps.

With a shrug, Iviana tucks the gem into her pack, assuming it will either be important or worth something later.  Then she picks up the three potions, one at a time, looking them over and sniffing at them cautiously before nestling them carefully in her belt pouch.

Kalador shrugged his shoulders. At least there was a way out. He waited for Brother Yew to check for traps. He said, "I bet that Ruby is wrth a lot Iviana."

Brother Yew inspected the secret door... now obvious to him have had it pointed out.

Joining the few near the tapestry, ready to investigate the next corridor.
Ronalt had his lantern ready and his sword back in his hand.

Gwythe grunts as Tindo finds the door, stepping closer and half pulling the tapestry down from the wall so that access to the door is clear.

He'll look up and down at the door, looking for an obvious way to open it, unwilling yet to put his weight on it.

[OOC: Sorry, laptop powercord died, been without computer for a week!]

"I have found nothing dangerous," Yew announced.

He stepped back from the secret door to allow others access.

"A ruby?" he asked Iviana. "I am glad you can tell. I would not have known it, nor whether it could serve any useful purpose."

As best Gwythe could figure out, it looked like the door opened by pushing on it.  There did not seem to be a lock or handle.

Ignoring everything that was going on around him, Arek sat himself down in the slightly too large (for a dwarf) chair and continued to peruse the priests book.
It was clear he had no intention of moving along for hours to come...
This message was last edited by the player at 15:38, Sat 13 Aug 2011.

Since no one seems to want to take the lead, Tindo will push on the door where it looks like it will open.

"Oh, allow me, Mistress Tindo," Yew offered belatedly. He stepped forward with his halberd, too late to open the door for Tindo but at least he would be in time to back her up if there was any trouble.

Kalador followed Brother Yew's example. He drew his sword and made ready for action.

Arek continuted to read as Yew opened the supiciously untrapped and unlocked door of doom!
With a creak of long unoiled hinges, and a sprinkling of dust, the door eased open to reveal....

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
THE STORAGE CLOSET OF DISPAIR!

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 00:49, Fri 19 Aug 2011.

OOC: The assistant must have an inside track here... IC:

The door opened onto a small room.  What ever had been its original purpose was unclear, its current or recent use all to obvious. Bodies! Almost all skeletal; some with sinew attached; a few with flesh remnants long turned to leather; some even partially clothed were heaped in the room.  With some, it was obvious their ribs had been smashed..... perhaps in an effort to remove their heart.  There was little smell, the decay long since complete.  On a shelf in the background was a statuette of the pot bellied god. It seemed content to survey the carnage of yore.... almost as if sated after a good meal...



OOC: The room is 10x15, at a rough estimate there were remains of at least 20 humans and demi-humans.

Arek continued to read, leaving the store room up to others to deal with.
What he'd found so far was interesting, but not a lot of immediate use. Maybe the other 500 pages or so would hold useful clues....

Kalador stepped into the room. He doubted there would be anything of value here, but he had to be sure. He said, "By Pyremius' blood, look at all the corpses. The priests of this little god, certainly enjoyed their work didn't they." He began to look around the room for anything of value.

Tindo stands by the doorway, not really entering the room, but not letting the door close either.

Brother Yew stepped in amongst the corpses to continue the search for more secret doors. He began at the back wall, tapping gently with the hilt of a dagger as he searched for another hollow section of panelling.

While his companions checked the new room, Ronalt kept a watch on the corridor they had used to reach the priest's room.

The search of the walls produced no new doors, the only entrance seemingly the way that Yew came in. Kalador's search was hampered by the sheer number of corpses and detached bones but perhaps it would not be unfruitful. In any event none of the skeletons came back life as some might have thought.

Kalador looked and said, "Well, not much here. I found five good arrows for anyone who wants them, a bone scroll case and a scimitar." He looked into the purse to see what sort of coins were inside. He thought he'd keep the coins and the scimitar, unless someone else wanted it.

Brother Yew looked a little bit disappointed that the closet wasn't a way out after all.

"Do you think we could tunnel out through the ceiling somewhere, or are you all so keen for adventure that you'll even risk walking into that bloody pentagram as shown on the tapestry?" he asked.

Arek kept reading. He knew the answer was in the book somewhere...
All he needed was the time, and peace and quiet, to find it.

"Is there anything in the scrollcase?" Iviana asks Kalador.

Gwythe watches Arek for some time, having lost interest in the room when it didn't spring to life.

After a minute he approaches the dwarf to stand in front of him. "What are you doing with that book?" he asks in frustration.

Arek paused, looked up at Gwythe and with some annoyance replied, "Read'n."
"Yer should learn 'ow som'time."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:38, Fri 09 Sept 2011.

"Nice." Tindo observes as she overhears Arek, seeming to criticise the dwarf and his reaction without saying so directly.  She does become a little more interested in the interaction between Gwythe and Arek though, turning to observe them both.

Even for Arek, who wasn't the most pleasant at the best of times, this seems a little more aggressive than usual.  He'd been obsessed with that book since he opened it.  Had they not really noticed how obsessed, simply because of his gruff grating nature?

"It would be wise to let him read in peace," Yew suggested. "The book belonged to the priests of this place and may tell us more about what lies beyond the pentagram  or more about this complex."

He briefly inspected the little statuette, lifting it to see if anything was underneath or on the base, and tapping it to see if it was hollow. After that he gave up on the small room crammed with corpses and turned his attention to searching the toilet instead. Maybe there would be a way out, even if no one would want to use it.

Gwythe peers at the book in curiousity for a few seconds, but unable to make any sense of it, looks away and shrugs.

Kalador replied, "No or at least nothing I can make out."

Brother Yew looked at the base of the statue. As he lifted it off the shelf.... nothing happened. Kalador looked at the scroll case, pronouncing on its contents though it was hard to determine if he was correct without opening it.

Arek continued to study.

Yew read out the series of letters on the label on the base of the small statue.

He shrugged his shoulders to indicate they meant nothing to him.

He put the statuette back and turned his attention to the ceiling of this small storeroom, using his halberd to determine what the ceiling was made of and whether it might be possible to break through and escape that way. The length of the halberd allowed him to reach the ceiling without standing directly beneath the area he was poking at.

Kalador said, "It looks like it comes apart here. Should I open it?" He didn't want to open it and have them all be vaporised or something.

For some reason Yew imagined Kalador was inspecting one of the statues, so his words caused the monk to look around in alarm. He relaxed considerably when he saw the halforc just holding a scrollcase.

"You might as well," he agreed, "it might contain a map or something else useful."

Iviana hides a smile, and nods her agreement.  "It's most likely to have paper in it," she assures the half-orc, "If anything at all."

Brother Yew tapped at the roof with his halberd and succeeded in dislodging a dead spider and some dust. The stone roof however remained solid.

OOC All the roofs are either stone slab or arched, offering no hope to bury through without resort to magic. Stone to mud or something like that.

Kalador nods and opens the scrollcase.

Kalador opened the case to find that two scrolls were inside with obvious magic writings on them.

Kalador said, "Well, we have twoscrolls here. They seem to have magic writing on them. Can anyone decipher this writing?"

Yew shook his head in answer to Kalador's question. He went back out to the corridor south of this room and began systematically searching the walls for another secret door.

"Not without some time to study," Iviana replies.  "But given that, yes.  Tindoome?"

"Likewise Iviana I would need time to rest and study first."

Kalador handed the scroll to Iviana. He said, "Here you go Iviana. See if you or Tindoome can make sense of it."