With Brindle and Wrukaog's encouragement, having returned in triumph, Aurion now retraces his steps with equal accomplishment, leading the way to the top of the stairs, nonchalantly walking through the solid wall at the top.  Forewarned, you follow the Elf and find yourselves in an entirely empty room, perhaps forty feet wide by twenty feet long, with only a set of drapes hanging on the southern wall for furnishings.

With a wave of his long fingers, Aurion points out the illusion of the wall that covers the opening to the stairs, the sweep of his hand indicating that the illusion spreads across the entire north wall.

Even so, he approaches the drapes cautiously, pulling the drapes carefully aside to reveal a small chapel of the unholy kind.  A black, eight foot tall basalt statue of the evil god Set with twinkling eyes stands in an alcove to the south between two unlit braziers.  There is a far less ominous door to the east.

Stepping forward a pace, the Elf holds up the ring of the now deceased mayor and you all enjoy seeing the statue move, almost imperceptibly, at his approach, as if shifting position slightly, though it offers no other response.

Crossing to the door (whether the statue's glass eyes follow him or not, is a matter for scholarly debate), Aurion opens it to uncover a corridor stretching northwards out of sight.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Using the serpent ring to keep the statue at bay, Aurion ushers the party through the shrine and into the passage. "I don't know where this leads. We shall see. I've already checked behind the statue for valuables - there were none. Make free with the eyes if you must, although I cannot guarantee the statue will agree." Once they're all through he'll close the door to the shrine and head up to the front of the line to explore some more, this time with backup.

Tesseryn moves ahead into the passage, his eyes having no trouble seeing in the dark.  He'll keep going until he finds another branching or door, but wait for Aurion to catch up before entering either.

Leaving the statue behind you and closing the door, you head off down the passageway ... which Tesseryn, Brindle and Wrukaog soon realise they've trod before !

Sure enough, as you follow it along and quickly scale the stone stairs that you find at the far end, you find yourselves back in the passage that stretched between the pool with the guardian water-spirit and the cells where the ex-prisoners were held.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated (you're now back on the second level of the dungeon complex) ...

"Well that solves Wrukaog's problem. Come along, there a another shrine just around the corner that needs to be explored." Aurion heads back past the pool and along to yet another shrine to Set. This time he enters with the mayor's ring held high.

Tesseryn has no objection and follows Aurion as swiftly as his heavy armour allows.

Wrukaog looks slightly disappointed that there wasn't actually anyone else to fight on the way  out but for once he doesn't grumble about it. Perhaps the promise of another shrine to pillage explore is enough of a sweetener after all of the previous excitement.

Brindle offers no objection either. As they all follow Aurion on his marvelous mystery tour of the subterranean shrines of Set he drops back for a quick question with each of the others to check they are all fit and healthy enough to continue.

The Mayor's ring proves effective in quelling the attentions of the water creature, in its pool and Aurion leads you on with the tempting prospect of another evil temple.

As you walk, guided by Tesseryn's pace, Brindle concernedly questions everyone as to their well-being, judging the scratches suffered by the ex-Paladin and the minor cuts that Wrukaog swears quite eloquently are carkin' nothin' are nothing to worry about ... though now he consider the matter, your guiding Elf confesses to feeling a bit off, though knows not the cause.

The end of the passageway whence Aurion leads you is blocked by a solid wall of stone but the Elf's slender fingers unerringly locate a stone projection that moves beneath his touch ...

The stone grinds noisily as it swings aside to reveal another temple to Set, very similar to the one on the level above with awful mosaics lining the walls, a black marble floor with gold tracery, and a black-stone statue of the god, some twenty feet tall standing prominently against the east wall.  The statue is flanked by burning braziers and behind it is the same cold black stone that is the outer wall of the Dark Tower.  This temple lacks the wooden pews but instead has a blood-stained altar, complete with the corpse of what was assumedly the latest sacrificial victim to meet his end thereupon. 

An opening at the western end of the room provides a glimpse of a similarly decorated room beyond.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Though Aurion's earlier description had convinced Haltashaar that the poor wretch on the altar was not his friend Vastavaar, he ne'ertheless peers through and around those crowd before him to catch a glimpse, just to be certain.

With grim relief, he tells you that, "This man was one of the merchants with the caravan. He sold woodcarvings, I believe."  A poor epitaph.

Aurion swans into the awful temple, holding aloft the Mayor's ring that has served him so well so far. He has a head full of new spells that he has just puzzled out while sneaking alone through dark passages and is feeling pretty pleased with himself. As he walks he relays what his detections have revealed: a magical aura upon the statue, a strong one with the feel of abjuration and enchantment, and a faint trace upon the wall and ceilings, that of conjuration. "Nothing to worry about really." He heads for the back to see what may be lurking around the corner there.

Tesseryn is not feeling anywhere near as pleased with himself, or confident that the room is safe.  Sword drawn, he approaches the corpse on the slab to search and work out why it has been left here.  Maybe there will be some clue as to where Vastavaar may be held, and whether he may still be alive." he announces grimly as he clanks into the room.

Wrukaog squeezes through the secret doorway to follow Tesseryn into the evil temple, stopping on the western side of the altar to have a good look at the huge statue of Set and practicing his own imitation of the menacing snarl on the statue's face.

Brindle has a quick word with Valshalla before following the others into the temple.

"Would you mind giving Wrukaog another dose from that wand of Lesser Vigor, please? I have a feeling he may need it soon enough."

Then he hurries to stay close to Tesseryn.

"Vastavaar !" cries Haltashaar delightedly.  "Vastavaar Speartongue !  My friend !  Don't worry !  We have recovered your armour !" He grins at Brindle as he steps towards the Gnoll only to retreat as a wall of flame erupts in the opening between the two rooms. 

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

In reply to Skald (msg # 806):

Edging cautiously forward head lowered with ears flattened Grartchscartch approaches the conjunction of both rooms.  He pauses a moment as Haltashaar addresses him by the name Vastavaar Speartongue, at first a touch confused then briefly providing a toothy smile of recognition.  That is until he notices the others, whereupon his smile is quickly supplanted with a snarl.

He pauses, momentarily confused, should he advance and greet Haltashaar or retreat from the rest, smile or snarl, retreat or attack?  Thankfully the need to make a decision is soon taken away from him as the wall of flame suddenly erupts in front of him, dividing the two rooms.

Recoiling a few paces back reflexively raises his arms to shielding himself from it then a moment later snaps a furtive glance behind him, expecting to see another such flame wall trap him.  When it fails to materialize his face adopts a cruel malicious, visage,made worse in the flickering light of the wall of flame.

With an accusative tone and using the flail which he now brandishes he points it like a weather persons pointy stick, and  proceeds to scald Haltashaar.  Haltashaar is either the perpetrator of the flame wall or in league with those who are responsible. Amid a storm of globs of spittle he barks "Harrrtsharrr you furrrless currr.  You trrrick me, trrry catch me, sell to filth" now indicating the party with his flail.

Sensing the flame wall, whilst possibly trapping him, also bars Haltarshar and the filth from approaching he drawls out "filth" and in doing so develops a sense of bravado rising up to near his full 7ft height.

Grartchscartch then lets loose a Hyena laugh of his kin, throwing his head back to reveal a maw full of stained teeth, of which there are many - not to mention sharp.

"Barrrt me smarrrterrr, me get way, me go wherrre I rrreverrred" He gestures behind him "Therrre me call harrrnting trrribe and trrrack you.  Track filth.  Me win big battle.  Me victorrr.  Me farrr smarrrterrr"  Smiling nastily he adds "Then me have long fun, me have many new trrrophies then"

He lets out another laugh backing further away from the wall of flame, back from  whence he came from to make good his escape this prison with the promise of terrible retribution.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:10, Fri 23 Apr 2021.

"That's Vastavaar?!"  Tesseryn rounds on Haltashar, appalled and pointing accusingly towards the gnoll with his sword.  " I wonder who's side he's on?  Clearly not ours.  I fear we must stop him lest he join with the Sheriff or with Ishpemo's band."

Glancing up at Wrukaog, Tesseryn remembers his mistaken first impression of the Orc.  A mishappen goblin champion of Grum-Gog he'd thought him.  And yet the Orc has proven himself a worthy companion.  Perhaps Vastavaar should be given the benefit of the doubt.

Releasing Haltashar, Tesseryn walks as close as he may to the wall of fire.  He lowers his sword and speaks evenly to the gnoll. "Vastavaar?  I am Tesseryn, recently acquainted with Haltashar and these others.  We seek to defeat those who serve Set and the Dark Tower, and have sought to rescue you from such this last several hours.  Now explain yourself - how did you escape from Ishpemo's dungeon?"

"Filth eh?" Aurion sniffs. He approaches the flames with the mayor's ring held high, hoping but not really expecting...

In reply to Aurion Moonbeak_ (msg # 809):

As the filth approach the flame wall Grartchscartch returns to within 15ft or so, relying on it to protect him.

You lie! you all lie!  Me see thrrrough you.

Incantating with the growls and yips of his kin and holding a small iron triple headed flail aloft is obscured to all in a thick mist that billows out between him and the flame wall.

Footsteps and maniacal cackling can be heard retreating.




P.S. Apologies all, there is some name confusion between the GM and myself. Grartchscarth is spelt with an additional R from the character name or is it one less - I lost track.  My fault for picking a nuisance name I suppose.

Grinding his teeth, Tesseryn squints through the flames and mist.  "We must cut him down, before he raises the alarm!"  Left arm high to shield his face and right arm leading with drawn sword, he plunges through the wall of flame and surges blindly through the mist following the retreating footsteps.

Chuckling inwardly, but listening intently to the retreating footsteps, Aurion targets a Grease spell at the far end of the smaller room. "That may slow him down." Ah, but which 'him'?

When one finds oneself in darkest dungeon with foes all around, trust is the first to flee for higher ground. The dog-faced newcomer's words might on one hand (or paw) be viewed as a threat ... or upon the other as bravado in the face of overwhelming numbers.

Those who know Gratchscartch, from however brief acquaintance and by whatever name, merely grin broadly in the face of the Gnoll's harsh words and the cloud that swiftly surrounds him.

"Filth, hah !  Good old Vaastavaar !" smiles Haltashaar, though that mirth is quickly turned upside down to a puzzled frown as Aurion and Tesseryn seem keen to advance upon his friend.  Indeed, as the Elf holds up the Mayor's ring, the flames vanish (not that it seems that would stop the ex-Paladin's incautious charge).

[Language unknown: "Ee urat ss ntiortine Ioundebleorteve Nc adpl nellac eariv ithnotcomsta al sa our fi !"] Moram Infidel Bane asserts, speaking for the first time since you have known his as he levels his blade at Aurion's throat, while the Elf clutches his stomach.  Haltashaar follows Tesseryn into the mists yelling "Hold, hold !  Please !  He is our friend, I assure you !"

"STOP !" commands Valshalla, her eyes blazing.  "All of you !  Vaastavaar - these strangers saved us from the clutches of those who ambushed the caravan.  And the rest of you must know that Vastavaar is touched by the gods but is as much a victim of these followers of Set as we !  While we owe you a debt of gratitude be certain that we will stand by him !"

"We must trust each other if we hope to overcome the evil of Set."

"And you," she turns to Moram, eyes narrowing, "will do no such thing !"

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ... and I've now updated Gratchscartch's name to randomly remove one overly numerous 'r'   :>

Tesseryn stops and grunts in pain.  He staggers out of the mist, bent double and leaning on his sword.  He glares from Haltashar to Moram to Vashalla.  Breathing heavily he demands through gritted teeth "Since Vastavaar will not, then do you explain!  He said he seeks to bring a hunting tribe of his kin down upon us!  To make trophies of our hides!  And for what?  These past several hours we have searched and fought to rescue him!  You speak of trust.  We have earned that!  Explain!"

In no condition to speak, Aurion doubles over and pukes on Moram's shoe.

Brindle walks to the center of the temple then stops beside Vashalla. He reaches back over his shoulder to retrieve Vaastavaar's armour from his enchanted haversack. He flicks it out with a flourish to lay it out neatly on the floor in front of him.

"Is this armour really large enough for a gnoll? I'm not sure it is. If this is some kind of trick I think we should keep this armour and sell it as soon as we find a marketplace. That might just about be enough to compensate for what we have already gone though trying to find your so-called friend," he tells the priestess.