Marduke knew that THIS was what he had conserved energy for. He tore into the wall with his full strength, hoping to pull large chunks out, causing the ceiling to cave in.


01:22, Today: Marduke the Red rolled 11,13 using 3d6,3d6 with rolls of 5,2,4,4,6,3.  Pick tricks 13- for CSL, Pick tricks 13- for CSL. Both CSLs to +1 DC.

01:24, Today: Marduke the Red rolled 4,2 using 2d6,16-3d6 with rolls of 2,2,5,6,3.  HKA damage, Pick Attack OCV 5.
Hits the wall, does 4 BODY ARMOR-PIERCING.
Full Str used.

Lungs labor to draw breath as muscles strain to continue to swing sharp steel against the onslaught.  Marduke hammers again and again against the dirt and rock of the tunnel wall, scattering fragments of the bone facade in his wake.  Tiberio reacts to a movement, checks himself, back and realizes the next demon is nearly upon the Vanir.  Even as his arm moves he knows he will not be able to bring his scimitar to bear in time...

And then there is a roar and a choking, blinding cloud of dirt and debris.  For a moment all are cast in near darkness, stumbling, coughing back and away.  In mere moments you have retreated further down the tunnel and are able to breath clearly again.  You savor the time to relax your arms and catch your breath.  No demons stumble into the torchlight in pursuit.

The respite is guaranteed not to last; you know that there will yet be more of the hell-spawn to face ere the Stygian princesses' safety is secured.  But you have weathered the nightmare and know that it is one that can bleed and die just as any man.  And in the light of that knowledge you find the terror of the demons wanes.

Recover insanity: roll EGO/5d6 and count BODY, ie: 13 EGO rolls 2.5d6

18:36, Today: Tiberio rolled 12 using 2d6+d3 with rolls of 5,6,1.

Recover insanity: 2.5 d6 : 12

The big Vanir catches his ragged breath, but the trembling he experiences isn't from exertion.

00:16, Today: Marduke the Red rolled 3,1 using 2d6,1d3 with rolls of 1,2,1.  Recover Sanity EGO 13. Recovers 1 pt.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:52, Thu 11 June 2020.

Chang Jun continues to stand guard at the edge of the torch light.

08:14, Today: Chang Jun rolled 9 using 2d6 with rolls of 5,4.  EGO 13 Recovery from Insanity.

So is that 9 or only 2?

Niamh glanced over her shoulder at the sound of the collapsing rock, hoping that her companions were not trapped within it, as well. As the dust settled and she could see them all, she managed an actual smile, feral as it was. "The princesses await, catch your breath but we must hurry," she said, in an urgent, if hushed tone.

She was prepared to lead with Chang Jun as they moved forward. Her spear had served her well, thus far, proving the dead...or whatever they were, could be killed, again.

9:59, Today: Niamh rolled 15 using 4d6 with rolls of 3,5,6,1.  Recover Insanity.

OOC He said Count the BODY. So that is 2 pts recovered.

The next few actions taken by the Aquilonian are a mix of conflicts.  He wants to breathe deep, yet the collapse has kicked up enough... material that it threatens to choke him.

He wants to move forward, tired muscles shake and argue for stillness.

Blade is put back in its place, shield is lowered to the ground and the metal cap falls so hands can seek skull to brush back.. pull back hair with both hands as he leans on a wall for support.

His lips move, without sound, for a brief few moments. What ever state his face and eyes had exposed, composure had returned, in large part only after his silent words.

"They have numbers. Being caught in an open space, surrounded; we could not survive that."

The shaking and tremors subsided, hands moved to check armor fastening and check for injury gone unnoticed in combat.

"By Mitra we need more flame, one torch will not serve our cause."

Looking to one side, the eyes of the horsemaster reassessed the Northern barbarian, discarding at least one preconception. Then, looking up at the rest of the gathered, he assessed each for determination.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:25, Fri 12 June 2020.

Marduke catches his breath, then says [Language unknown: "a acla oneounthu me k icase ai ioprio. Utanie t tr ica mi hertr iouyinnce enfoaisi k stter ev houdayset fiatll?"]
This message was last edited by the player at 02:46, Mon 15 June 2020.

Having taken the time to recover, feeling the pressure of this... place recede, the Aquilonian stands, lifts his shield, adjust and wedge his arm into it's practiced place.

"We move and look for a way to keep the flame alive."

Looking to Syssiah, "I gave you a flask, did you use it to soak... what was at hand?"

Rising with renewed spirits even in this pit of terror you press on along the tunnel in search of the Stygian princesses.  There is time to pick through pouches or packs in search of any more liquor which might be used to create a longer lasting torch.

The going is tense, twice you are attacked; first by a lone demon which lunges from a side tunnel and then by a pair that appear drawn to the light.  But against your proven steel these are little more than distractions and you press on with their broken bodies the only marker for your passing.

At a three-way fork in the tunnel you find Satabus' broadsword; lying where Amunet must have dropped it as she carried through the right-most branch.  A fortunate find which steers you on the trail that might otherwise have left you wandering in the dark...

Bare minutes after you have found the broadsword your lit torch begins to dim and sputter.

Is the next prepared?  Have you other desperate means to create a light?  Or will you pick your way through the bone covered tunnel in the all consuming dark?

Hark!  Was that more of the nightmare clicking?

You at least have a femur with Syssiah's garment wrapped around one end.  It will burn quickly if you've not been able to treat it with anything flammable but might get you further down the tunnel.

Did anyone take Satabus' sword?

When they come across the sword, Marduke picks it up, it being a serviceable weapon. Using torn cloth from a demon's corpse, Marduke binds a sheaf of 6 arrows together....enough wood to use as a brief torch, but one that would aid them in conquering this tunnel. He offers the wrapped psuedo-torch to Syssiah for soaking and lighting if need be.

There is no sense in wasting curses on poor choices. Use what is at hand, march with what you have. Closer to the end are we than the beginning.

Accepting back the liquor, trying to spend as a third on each choice and save a third, Tiberio works with the Zamoran to prepare what had been made, nodding to the man of Vanaheim for his contribution.

Such as they are, the Aquilonian leaves the options to Syssiah.

"We move, we have the sign of the Princess, watch for more.

Mitra bless us for now we close on what the demons think of as their prize. I feel the .. illness of this place, the evil, as much as any. <Look to Syssiah as the exception> Chang, you move to free those taken when we find them.

We must find a way to limit the numbers that can attack us, knowing more will come to aid any we cut down. If we become separated, find your way up."

Looking to see the formation begin, Tiberio will take up the rear guard, scimitar ready, shield at his side, his heart heavy.

Niamh had some arrows and was willing to sacrifice them if it appeared they had enough material to actually make a functional makeshift torch with them. She hoped they had some liquor to make whatever they had last as long as possible. Otherwise they would have to keep many on hand.

Fortunately, bones and scrap material was fairly common. She was even willing to give up her own tabard. While not quite like Syssiah, she was more than comfortable in less clothing.

She also felt the sense of urgency and dread of being cooped up underground in such an ugly place. She nodded at the assertions and comments of her companions. "Speed will be key, but so is position," she agreed. "We may not get to select our battle ground, though," she said.

She was willing to be in the lead as long as needed, her spear having claimed many lives of these disturbing creatures. She could not even think of them as human. Aberations. She led them as quickly as reasonable all things considered.

The second torch is lit with the dying sparks of the first; the hungry dark is held at bay for a while longer as you continue your flight.  A handful of the denizens of the ruins fall before you ascend a step rise and the bone covered walls give way.  In shock you realize you are free of the nightmarish tunnels and stand in smaller but similar ruined structure as where you first descended; surprisingly more intact given it must be as just as old.  Night has fully fallen but the full moon lends a welcome light which helps to define the ruins nearby.

But all is not silent.

A low staccato bark, fading in and out in a rhythmic form carries on the wind.  Searching for the direction to its source you spy lights of some taller structure perhaps 300 yards away.  After a few moments a Shemetish horn blows in the distance, dispelling any hope that the asshuri might had abandoned their search.

As your eyes adjust to the gloom you are able to recognize the sheer size of the nearby construct, black against the black of the night, built no doubt of the same ebony stone.  There is no question where the daughters of Shem have been taken, you can feel the ill pulsating from its interior.  If you are to free Amunet and Neferet, you must enter the Black Ziggurat of Zahal-sar and face the king of demons.



Conquering the tunnels is emboldening; roll to recover sanity.

Syssiah & Niamh have KS skills they may roll to try to understand more about the chanting coming from the ziggurat.   I may have missed some so if you think you have an appropriate skill for the current situation feel free to roll it.

In fact, that's a good rule in general.  Never hurts to throw in a roll with a post if you think it might apply to the situation.

When you leave your current shelter will you keep the torch burning or extinguish it?
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:24, Fri 19 June 2020.

Marduke says "Those who are most stealthy should take scouting positions. I doubt these monstrousities left guards, but best to spearhead with those who can kill guards quietly." He hopes the knowledgeable woman will translate. He places his foot upon the stairs, knowing his skills were needed then.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:52, Sat 20 June 2020.

Tiberio looks to the distant structure, his ears listening for the translation of the barbarian's native tongue.

"Shields first, spears second. Count turns.."

A brief and low prayer utters from the horse master's lips.


10:37, Today: Tiberio rolled 4,3 using 2d6,d3 with rolls of 2,2,3.  Out of tunnels, Sanity recover.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:38, Fri 19 June 2020.

Chang Jun had no words for the sight, but none were needed. They needed to move quickly if they were to free the princesses. He moved in behind those with shields as they moved forward, ever watchful for more of the aberrations from the tunnels.

12:15, Today: Chang Jun rolled 10 using 2d6 with rolls of 4,6.  Recovery from Insanity. 3
This message was last edited by the player at 16:16, Fri 19 June 2020.

Marduke gets a firm grip on himself and is fully prepared to meet the demons aboveground. His blade and those of others showed the monstrousities to be mortal.

08:27, Today: Marduke the Red rolled 12,3 using 2d6,1d3 with rolls of 6,6,3.  Recover Sanity EGO 13. Max roll! Recover 5 Sanity Points.

While she was glad to be out of the tunnels, but the giant structure now before her stood ominously imposing. The change was no better to her, having lived her entire life essentially outdoors, cities and structures and being underground were not comfortable to begin with. These were worse for the dark spirits attached so intimately with them.

Niamh was always ready to translate Marduke's comments when needed. He struggled through Kothic reasonably well, but some things needed nuance. She had always had a knack for languages and it showed in just how quickly she picked up new ones.

She offered her spear to Syssiah. "To hold, until I need it. Stay close, princess," she said with an encouraging smile, as she got her bow ready. She had sacrifice a few arrows, but she still had a few and maybe she could take out a few of their enemies at distance before needing to go to melee.

She moved as stealthily as she could, but she was not trained for such outside of hunting wild prey in her homelands. And she stayed relatively close to Syssiah, so she could obtain her spear, again, if she needed it.

11:05, Today: Niamh rolled 13 using 4d6 with rolls of 3,1,5,4.  Recover Sanity (EGO 20).

Marduke starts up the stairs, semi-crouching to make use of the shadows still obscuring the sides of the stairs. As he moves upwards, his trained senses stay alert to rhe presence of any sentries posted. This was not that far removed from the raids he conducted over the Aesir borders a year before.


 23:53, Today: Marduke the Red rolled 11 using 3d6 with rolls of 5,4,2.  Perception 13-.

23:53, Today: Marduke the Red rolled 11 using 3d6 with rolls of 1,6,4.  Stealth 12-.

Everyone please provide PER and Stealth rolls.