"Gargk!" Aurion splutters, indelicately spitting into the dip. "Don't eat that, any of it! There's a reason these three are so mellow."

"Good work Vova. Now let's join the others downstairs. Last one out close the door so Haltashaar can secure it."

He heads downstairs.

17:19, Today: Aurion Moonbeak_ rolled 17 using 1d20+8.  Fort save DC17 for comestibles
This message was last edited by the player at 13:05, Fri 16 Feb.

OOC: nice to have you back Vova.

Tesseryn glances at Wrukaog, Brindle and Haplhed with a grimace. She shrugs and tries the door to the north.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:59, Fri 16 Feb.

Wrukaog grins and stands close beside Tesseryn, ready with his greataxe.

Brindle grimaces back at Tesseryn and hides behind the stairs, quickly casting a spell upon himself.  He holds his favourite wand (of magic missiles) ready for action if required.

Though the opportunity to join in the good fight against an evil wizard might not entice Vova, who seems to take his near brush with vivisection as something to be expected on the whole, if not relied upon, the disapprobation of (and threatening noises voiced by) his fated companion serves to convince him which path he should tread.  Surprise and disturbance give way to distress as he binds the three compliant figures upon the sofa while Aurion discovers bad things about the dainties on offer. 

Leaving Haltashaar to manage a few simple knots (to secure the rope betwixt the handles of the two doors on opposite sides of the passage), there is a general exodus as the large group make a beeline for the stairs to rejoin those below where Brindle takes up a position of concealment behind the stairs his trusty wand at the ready, Halphed standing at his side smiling and waving, and Wrukaog waiting with axe in hand as Tesseryn tries the door to the north ...

... which opens with suspicious ease to reveal a well lit (magically so, judging by the lack of any source) if narrow room, about fifty feet long and but fifteen wide.  The western fifteen feet or so are sealed off by metal bars which run from floor to ceiling, with a barred door allowing ingress and egress, currently closed, though the cell thus formed contains nothing but dung strewn straw on the ground.

A stone workbench, about twenty feet long is against the south wall, upon which sits a variety of jars, pestles and the like.  Twenty bottles filled with liquids of various hues sit on a shelf set above the workbench.  There is another door set in the eastern end of the northern wall, opposite the one through which you currently peer.

The room is entirely lacking in occupants.  No sign of Haffrung Helleyes here.

OOC: Map of the proceedings for Group 0 updated ...

 Vova gives a quick once-around the room that they're leaving, a process which results in their being significantly fewer comestibles around than when he began (what with Aurion having vouched for them) before scurrying out, hastily followed (or perhaps driven) by a furious-looking peacock - although the anger it's displaying seems almost pro forma at this point, since the hope that Vova won't at least investigate any mind-altering substance in his general vicinity died a lonely death some time ago.

 "So, uhm..." the sot asks as the door's being opened and much tactical-looking shenanigans are being deployed "...would this be a good time to ask what it is that folks do? In general, I mean? Other than chase after evil wizards in cramped towers?"

Wrukaog glares at Vova for a moment then shakes his greataxe threateningly.

"Wrukaog kill!" he snarls.

Then he steps into the room to open the door in the northern wall.

Brindle chuckles at Wrukaog's response to Vova.

He shakes his wand at Vova and does his best to imitate the brutal orc's tone as he says, "Brindle do magic!"

He moves out from behind the stairs so he can see into the room more easily between people's legs.

"One does what one can, you know..." Tesseryn replies distractedly, but managing another grimace for a smile.  "Free the captives, help the gnomes, thwart the evil machinations of Set.  Thatsort of thing. Taking the fight to Haffrung seems like the logical next step, but it's all rather confusing.  Do you have any ideas?"

She draws her greatswordand enters after Wrukaog.  "He's a Wizard, so best get him before he gets us."

"We're all here at the whim of our Gods." Aurion replies to Vova.

"After you died - you do know you're dead I hope, hate to be the one to break that to you - your gods saw fit to send you here to help out. As it was explained to us, there's a Dark Tower occupied by followers of Set, and a White Tower occupied by followers of Mitra (gnomes mostly), and the two towers are stuck in a centuries-long battle, well, stalemate actually, as neither side seems to be actively going at the other.".

He gives a long-suffering glare at Tesseryn's back. "Until our ex-paladin chose a side for us. There's no stopping him or her - we're literally unable to harm each other, but feel free to try it!"

OOC: out of time...will write more later to further confuse Vova :-)

"These four dervishes," he indicates the other quieter members of the party, "were also captives; like you they were freed by us, and they now share our path.  They seem to be sworn enemies of Set. The gnoll, Gratchscartch, we also met down here in these tunnels. If you want to speak with him I suggest you first make him a sandwich. Leisha, with the blue ribbon, was with us from the start and may discuss philosophy with you, or not.

And I prefer magic of all types, except the mind-bending type. Its hard enough making up my own mind without having to take on that burden for others." He favours Brindle with a smirk.

"Oh, and at least Tesseryn is genuine when she asks for your ideas - she'll change course as easily as a hover fly. If the apparently inevitable violent showdown with Haffrung Helleyes is not your thing then feel free to propose an alternative."

Taking note of Vova's scrupulous selection of everything he'd advised to avoid, Aurion asks "So, Vova, what did you do to get yourself noticed by your gods, and what do you suppose they'd hoped you might do here?"

A tiny viper whispering in his ear with a ticklish forked tongue reminds Aurion to ask, "Yes, ah ... what's with the peacock?"

The door to the north joins a depressingly long line of similar portals which have given you difficulty recently.  It stubbornly, willfully even, refuses to budge even a smidgeon as Wrukaog pulls (and pushes, just in case) on the handle, seemingly rather locked, though lacking such a thing as an actual keyhole. It's all terribly, terribly sad ...

... but as Tesseryn comes up behind the big Orc (something entirely not recommended), the door abruptly rethinks its position and gives way with some alacrity to reveal a slightly larger yet darkened room beyond, perhaps sixty feet long by twenty feet wide.

While the south wall where you stand is fashioned from dressed stonework, the western and northern walls are formed by solid and suitably craggy rock, damp and mossy as one might expect in the circumstances.  Narrow openings (barely five feet wide) at the eastern ends of the south and north walls lead south, north-west and west, while the east wall itself is the balefully familiar black marble that suggests you're in unwelcome proximity to the outer facade of the Black Tower of Set.

Speaking of being near to things that one might wish to be ... the room is entirely populated by one brownish reptile-like creature, that appears to have outgrown its dwelling, being perhaps twenty feet long and with rather an abundance of sinuous necks and heads, its tough hide scraping roughly against stone as it turns six pairs of amber eyes in your direction, staring balefully at Wrukaog.
OOC: Map of the proceedings for Group 0 updated ...

Brindle can see Wrukaog and sees the door open in front of him. He can't see what is in the room beyond Wrukaog but that scraping sound gave the impression of something big and Wrukaog's sudden tensing and raising his greataxe is an all-too-familiar sign of imminent violence. So Brindle casts a spell at the big orc and he suddenly doubles in size.

Only then does Brindle dash forward to enter the workshop.

OOC: Cast Enlarge Person on Wrukaog.

Wrukaog was already leaning forward and gathering himself to attack the hydra before he suddenly found himself growing larger, through the doorway and closer to the giant reptile. That just made him even more angry and fuelled the rage that was always bubbling just below the surface and uncontrollable rage suddenly engulfed his mind. He was now so big and so close to the hydra that he only needed to step forward a single pace to reach the hydra with his oversized greataxe.

He swung his greataxe wildly at the giant lizard and followed through with a second blow as well.

OOC: Power attack!

Wrukaog_ rolled 13,14 using d20+12,d20+7.  To hit hydra, raging, power attack 7. – 13,14
LOL - I think he missed!

Without so much as backward glance or battle cry, Tesseryn steps with measured stride in Wrukaog's wake, passing left of raging orc and quickly among the watching nest of sinuous necks with sword high to parry bites and pierce deeply the scaly body beyond.

21:52, Today: Tesseryn Brightsoul rolled 20 using 1d20+7.  attack hydra - combat expertise +5 AC
21:53, Today: Tesseryn Brightsoul rolled 11 using 2d6+7.  dmg hydra.

Being next in line, Aurion glides forward eagerly to take a peek at the object of the commotion up ahead that has the fighters rushing in and Brindle casting already. He stops to the right of the door and gapes. Looking back he reports to the gaggle behind "Its a hydra with four, five, no, six heads! Exactly what Wrukaog was hoping for."

Not to be outdone by the halfling he casts from the safety of the doorway, shooting a crackling ray of electricity that snakes past the oversized orc and on towards the hydra.

22:15, Today: Aurion Moonbeak_ rolled 9 using 1d20+4.  ranged touch - seeking ray
22:16, Today: Aurion Moonbeak_ rolled 13 using 4d6.  electrical damage.

Once more, derring-do triumphs over derring-don't !  The sight of a huge, six-headed, yellow toothed reptile of indeterminate temperament might cause less staunch beings to race off and change their trousers, but not our heroes !

Wrukaog races forwards, doubling in size as Brindle thoughtfully casts a spell upon him, though as he gives way to the red mists of battle, the big Orc's preference for hearty swings of his great axe proves rather ineffectual as the Hydra's heads duck and weave.

Sneaking past, Tesseryn's only slightly less manic charge proves more fruitful as the ex-Paladin dodges the snapping jaws to plunge her blade into the creature's exposed breast, eliciting a hiss of pain.

Aurion, sensibly standing waaay back, launches a ray of electrical energy that appropriately snakes it's way into the fray ... only to discharge into the floor at the Hydra's feet, blackening the stone. 

With no Elf now before him to offer any measure of support, Vova, licking his lips, staggers on his way down the stairs, his hand grasping at the wall to steady himself, oblivious to the calls from the crowd behind him who either want to know what's happening or are keen to join in.

Faced with a large foe that failed to connect on three heads and a smaller but seemingly deadlier one on the others, the Hydra chooses to lash out at both.  Tesseryn's metal shell proves proof as the creatures teeth fail to penetrate her armour, but Wrukaog is not so lucky as two of the heads chomp down on the big Orc ! 

OOC: Map of the proceedings for Group 0 updated ...

 The energy in Vova's response has something of the quality of a wandering bob-a-job princeling being introduced to a frothing village lunatic, as the rake smiles approvingly at Wrukaog and announces "Oh, how terribly interesting, and how long have you been killing?" - while Brindle and Tess's reply see a slightly more honest, or at least animate sort of grin that curdles a little at the mention of 'wizards', "Hold on, who..?"

 Which is when Aurion informs him that he's dead. This generates a brief pause and a look of bafflement shot the way of Vic, who in a rare show of solidarity contrives to shrug his wings in the fashion of someone who also doesn't know what's going on with that. Vova holds up a finger, opens his mouth, clothes it again then sniffs himself a time or two in... places before looking puzzled "I... think I'd notice if I was dead. Wouldn't I?"

 The squonq sound from Vic at this point, while containing no actual words as such manages to convey the idea that there have been times when Vova wouldn't have noticed if he was being killed, let alone actually dead and that, as such his credulity fails the credibility test.

 "Done..?" he then asks, sounding even more puzzled by that only to blanche and look back at the peacock, who stares flatly at him as he asks "Oh bugger me, I didn't end up back on that bloody island, did I?", momentarily skipping the question from the viper (which Vic addresses by turning to eye the smaller snake and explaining 'Squonk' in an expressive sort of 'I did not sign up for this' coupled with a bit of 'what can a familiar do?' sort of fashion).

 It's around this point where Vova manages to look a little dizzy, as if he's eaten something which disagrees with him - but since he seems to agree with it there's probably no harm done since he promptly makes an 'Oooh' sound and does another sweep of the room to collect the (presumably drugged) snacks, swaying alarmingly as he does so. This occupies the early part of the Hydra encounter and appears to leave him profoundly ill-equipped to offer much assistance going forward although he does happily exclaim "Kitty!" upon seeing the creature and start pelting it with sweetmeats from his newly-filled pockets.

Giant Wrukaog only has room in his head for one plan at a time at the best of times. This isn't the best of times, but he is still fully committed to his first plan, so he swings his giant-sized greataxe again and again at the body of the hydra.
Wrukaog_ rolled 32,27 using d20+12,d20+7.  To hit hydra, raging, power attack 7. – 32,27 - two potential critical hits!
Wrukaog_ rolled 14,15 using d20+12,d20+7.  Confirm critical hits with both attacks? – 14,15 - apparently not.
Wrukaog_ rolled 38,43 using 3d6+35,3d6+35.  Damage on hydra, 2 big hits. – 38,43

With Wrukaog back in form, Tesseryn has an inkling that the battle may soon be over, therefore abandoning caution and hacking at the hydra's body with gusto.

The crackling and blackening of the cobbles cause her to side step warily.  "Aim higher!" she calls to Aurion, with only a hint of merriment.

When the meaty treats start raining raining down she glances back to the doorway and catches Vova's eye.  "Make way for Gratchscartch!" she grins.

08:00, Today: Tesseryn Brightsoul rolled 23,13 using 1d20+8,1d20+3.  attack hydra, power attack+4
08:01, Today: Tesseryn Brightsoul rolled 23,18 using 1d20+8,1d20+3.  damage. dice roller error, i forgot to delete the previous multi-roll
08:02, Today: Tesseryn Brightsoul rolled 22 using 2d6+15.  damage.

"Its a metaphor." Aurion explains, "I've darkened the doorstep, now you make good on the threat."

"Or possibly not dead..." he replies to a confused-looking Vova. "Perhaps there are many ways one can become a chosen champion of their gods. You'd remember a life-changing event life death. So perhaps you were simply sent? Which god was it, if you don't mind me asking? That's usually a good clue as to what they'd hope you'll do here."

He readies another falsely-named Seeking Ray in case the hydra looks likely to bite the oversized orc again.

Brindle grins at Vova's antics and Aurion's bizarre questions but doesn't try to interrupt either of them. Instead he ducks under Aurion's outstretched arm and scurries across the eastern end of the hydra's lair to have a quick look down the passageways that lead off from that end of the room.

Much hilarity ensues.

Having finally gained some perspective on his new outlook, Wrukaog wields his great axe with gusto if not abandon, the Bigger Orc carving up the six-headed beast like a turkey (any sort of game bird really, which might not sit well with Vic), leaving the ex-Paladin to lean in with her sword to deliver the coup de grace, handily slaying the Hydra and sparing the need for Aurion to trouble himself at all, much to the relief of the stone flags.

It is left to Vova, reeling and only somewhat conscious, an entirely familiar state of being for him, to lurch forward and ceremoniously shower the corpse with dainties.  Somewhere at the rear of the pack Gratchscartch's ears twitch at the mention of his name, but the Gnoll's nose knows there's no meal for him in the offing and he holds his ground, preferring to have a good scratch while he waits.

Sensing that the combat would be resolved, Brindle had scampered across to the nearby corner to peer down the many passageways leading off, only to discover that they branch yet further, though the one leading southwards down the edge of Black Tower goes for something a bit different, opening out into a wider chamber with the barest hint of a doorway at the furthest reaches of sight.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...