The tavern is not far from the dock where the swan boat has landed.

As the party leaves the tavern to look upon the mythological ship they immediately see who is on board. Balthazar, A'Kos. Loukas, Brother Finnegan, Onfim and an older stranger.

Those on the swan ship can sea a good portion of the crew of the Heart of Oak heading their way.

Once Oleg realizes who it is in the swan boat he raises his hand in a salute and calls out..."Did you find that which you seek already?"

"Good Morning!" the monk calls to the boats passengers. "Are you friends of Oleg? I've been travelling upriver with him, though his boat has far less down than yours."

A'kos ruminates over the up then down.  He waves and offers a friendly wave to the folk from the Heart of Oak, and waits patiently to disembark from the boat.

When they finally dock, Loukas approaches Oleg with a laugh and hug, "If we'd be bloated old men surrounded by empty casks and the remains of meals past rather than the strapping warriors and seekers we are, eh?

"Now, if you're talking about that other 'thing', no. Not yet, but..."

Turning around and waving Pelles over, "How, sir, please permit me to introduce you to the finest seaman on the Black Sea. Oleg, meet Master Pelles, he knows where we need to go and as it turns out it's going to require a ship to get us there. The Gods have brought us back to Heart of Oak, Captain Oleg!"

He looks around and the others from Oleg's crew whom he has not yet met, "And it looks like you've got a hardy crew together. Need a few more rowers?"

Oleg bows his head towards the older man and says..."Well met Pelles."

Oleg points to Rudolfus and says...Rudolfus is one of our new crewmen...a christian monl, priest and sometime mage if I understand his calling correctly.. THere are a few others whoa re new to the crew as well but for the most part we have the same crew youa re used to seeing and yes, we can always use a few more hands at the oars."

He looks at his old sailing companions then at the old man and says..."We returned early from delivering Dobrynya home and were going to do a little raiding but this sounds jsut as good. Where are we headed and do we hve any time to rest here in Kiev before we leave?"

He looks at Rudulfus and gives him a short, careful nod, "Well met. I am Loukas Ouranus, Brother of Veles."

Turning back to Oleg, "Ah, I am glad to hear Dobrynya has made it home. Well done! Our intention was to present ourselves at the Palace, but depart as soon as possible otherwise."

"I might be persuaded to throw axes again, if anyone's interested," said A'kos as he leads Storm's Wind down from the forecastle of the old man's swan ship.  "I gave the gambeson I won to Jaleh, the four winds protect her, so I need something for formal occasions."

Oleg nods his head and says..."Fine, we can leave tomorrow morning then. THat should give you time to vivist Vladimir int he palace and for use to get ourselves stocked up for a trip south. Will we be stopping in Khorsun on our way past?"

So this was the Heart of Oak? Thorn had heard much of it recently, and it was most interesting to see the ship at last. He had heard of it first some years back, from a fellow countryman who went by the name Conn of Skye, and while he had not expected to ever encounter the vessel he knew that fate often had surprises in store. He smiled and nodded to all the new acquaintances, and waited for an introduction.

Ulfr has a broad smile plastered on his face, clearly happy to see old crewmates.  These were folk who always had someplace interesting to go and do!

Loukas reaches over and grabs Ulfr's shoulder affectionately in a strong grip, "It ain't us, my friend, it's the 'Heart of Oak', eh?"

Noting Thorn he kicks himself, "Oh, yes, come over here, Singer. Friends, this is Thorn beloved by ladies and tolerated by everyone else!"

Turning back to Oleg, "Aye, Captain, we'll be travelling to Arabia, so a quick stop at Khorun will permit us to check in with Miroslav as well as make sure we've got the best supply and water."

Heinrich grins, seeing the crewmates he was just getting to know before they split up. He arches an eyebrow and says, "Arabia?"

"I'll be checking in on Jaleh in Khorsun, as well," said A'kos.

Loukas gives A'kos a sympathetic nod kicking himself for forgetting the obvious and turns to Heinrich with a sort of relief smiling in recognition, "Ah, good to see you, old man! We can discuss details later, but, yes, that's the direction we'll be heading."

Onfim steps off the boat and onto the dock. He nods his head in greeting to the crew of the Heart of Oak..."I am Onfim, linguist, scholar and jack of many trades. it is a pleasure to finally meet all of you."

Onfim looks to be a man in his early 40's or perhaps older. His hair is a salt and pepper black. He is wearing a leather jack i=and is armed with a simple arming sword.

Pelles steps forward smiling broadly, almost maniacally..."Yes, to Damascus to encounter the Mad Arab!"

He bows deeply and introduces himself..."I am Pelles!"

Heinrich grins and says, "I guess I will continue to get farther from home. And who is this mad Arab?"

When Pelles speaks the Mad Arab's name Loukas is reminded that those who are mythic, and possibly immortal, have a rather different perspective things. Stepping forward he speaks with the hope of interrupting Pelles further, "We have a good deal to accomplish before we can leave, Heinrich, and discussing our work here in public probably isn't the thing we should be doing. We shall explain to everyone tomorrow morn before we depart. Until then, enjoy the day and we look forward to sailing with you tomorrow!"

"I have heard much of the City of Jasmine. I will be glad to come along."

Upon the response from Loukas, Heinrich nods his head and stays quiet, looking to see if anyone needs assistance unloading here.

Balthazar sets up a lounge chair on deck.  All his possessions are aboard, and he is ready to set sail.

Finnegan goes up and down to the crow's nest, swings around the ship, and has a marvelous time.  Every possible deck duty he enthusiastically performs, saying, "Ahoy matey" in his Irish accent.

A'kos nods at the wisdom of Loukas's warning.

"We'll be better served seeing who we need to today, as a group," he adds.  "Besides, there will be warm food, and, I'm certain, a fire where I can rest and enjoy an ale...and consider my reunion with our erstwhile companion, and my heart, Jaleh."

"I will stay with my new found companions here on the Heart of Oak while you folk visit VLadimir here in Kiev. When we stop in Khorsun, I will have a happy reunion with my bloodbrother Miroslav."

He nods at A'Kos and says..."I can understand your need to reunite with your lady. I hope she fairs well and that we are in Khorsun soon so you can be with her."

"I am looking forward to the return to Khorsun," said A'kos with a nod.  His gaze not quite so keen, it seems as if his eyes are cast far away.

"I will bide, and when it is time, I will see her."

A thought occurs, and he asks Pelles in a private moment, "We have a friend who was struck down by a mage, her soul trapped.  Do you know aught of such sorcery?"

"I know little of sorcery but I can tell you this...the grail is strong enough to cure death! How can if fail against helping your friend?" The old man says with a smile.

A'kos spends some portion of the day shopping for supplies such as he needs.  When they arrive at the palace, he pays homage as is due, and requests a private room to which he can meditate.  He eats a bit, and has his ale with the others, but then disappears early, for the remainder of the night.

The next morning he presents to the throne a painting, and says, "I will present this to her when next I see her, but I thought you would enjoy the fruits of your indulgence to my whims.

It is apparent he spent the prior night painting a portrait of Jaleh as he remembered her.


This message was last edited by the player at 15:00, Tue 18 Feb 2014.

Prince Vladimir smiles when A'Kos shows him the painting..."Just as I remember her!"

Upon seeing A'kos's painting Thorn goes to say something, thinks better of it, clears his throat, and ultimately...fails to speak as eloquently as is his wont. But he just about gets his thoughts across, politely.

"You have...done her great justice, my friend."

He clears his throat again, shifts nervously, and looks around.

"I could really use a cup of wine right now."

Vladimir claps his hands and calls out..."Wine for the bard and for the rest of us...let us drink to Jaleh!"

Servents immediately fulfill the Prince's request. Once the goblets are full. Vladimir will turn to Thorn and says..."It has been long since I have seen you Thorn. Last time I saw Unlce DObrynya in fact, you were traveling with his then."

The visit with the Prince of Kiev was a pleasant one and those who remain at the tavern also have a good night but all good things must come to and end.

Oleg is up and ready on the prescribed morning. He has the crew working to ready the Heart of Oak for it's journey south. Yrmak and Bleda the Pecheneg brothers picked up along the way are turning into able seamen under the tutelage of both Oleg and Falki.

Radvila the ships carpenter works diligently on some minor repairs that Oleg wants done before departure.

A'kos prepares for the journey, wraps the painting in oiled canvas to protect it from the elements.  There is an air of expectation about him, though he goes about his business with his usual stoicism.

Departing w/ the company, he finds his usual place at the oars on the Heart of Oak.  The effort will do him good - rhythmic, numbing him from thoughts of Jaleh and the rest of their journey.

Loukas was pleased to attend the court and pay his respects, but his mind is focused upon the weird voyage before them. He was somewhat skeptical of this quest from the beginning and while Pelles seems to be on the level, he still finds himself a bit uncertain. Perhaps the uncertainty is that for the first time in the past several years they have a new opponent in an entirely new region. It is not only that they are on an epic quest, but it is taking them to a region they have never truly operated in? Whatever it is, he manages to keep his mood steady and to avoid speaking about his concerns.

The first thing the morning after they have presented themselves at Court he is at the dock ready to go. He finds his old spot and with an enthusiastic smile explains to whomever thinks of it as theirs that they are incorrect. If nothing else, he has some new songs to sing and certainly Thorne's presence will expand their range as well, "We've miles to row and songs to sing, eh?"

Heinrich enjoys the visit to Kiev, but is ready to depart the next day, on board ship and working to prepare for the journey. He waits for everyone to return, eager to hear the details on their new expedition.

Here is a little push forward...

The trip south along the rivers is an easy one except for the portages but the ship is well crewed and makes this with as little effort as possible. Soon the Heart of Oak is in open waters and before too long the great port at Khorsun can be seen in the distance.

Oleg leans against the rail and speaks..."Friends, I know not if you want to keep sailing with me as captain or if youw ant to try and get Miroslav to come along...or how long you plan on staying here. I will elt you folk discuss it between yourselves. Just know I would be happy to sail with you to Damascus if you choose."

"It would be good to have Miroslav back with us, but the Regent of Khorsun is unlikely to have the freedom to join us. We will be here for a few days to restock the ship and check in on private matters. I suspect that we'll know within moments of seeing him whether or not he'll be able to join us.

"If he is not, I would be glad to have you as our Captain, Oleg!"

"Oleg, you are always welcome.  Like Loukas, my guess is that Miroslav has more pressing business to attend...like running the city."

"It is fine with me, Oleg. As for Miroslav, well...some people will go to any lengths to avoid adventure. Never understood it myself..."

In interest of keeping things moving and hving the group get back out to sea...

When those of the party so inclined go to visit the Voivode of Khorsun, they see their old friend Miroslav sitting , dealing with merchant disputes and looking more haggard than they ever saw him look on the trail. His recent brush with death at the hands of the mage's poison gas cloud and the daily grind of ruling this city have taken it's toll on him.

WHen he see's his friend a light shines behind his eyes and he looks to be in better spirits immediately. With  wave of his hand he dismisses those who pester him and turns towards his friends..."It has been along time my friends...good to see you here. Surely you do not have the Grail already?"

"No, though it is keenly in our mind to retrieve it as swiftly as possible," said A'kos.  "It is good to see you, my friend.  You've the look of a man who would rather be elsewhere!"

The introduction complete, he revealed the painting of Jaleh.  "A gift for her.  I would see her if I may, and hang this where she can see it.  Perhaps it will offer her solace of some sort, though I do not know."

Loukas was happy to see his old friend, but to see his friend looking so old was concerning. Nevertheless, he did not let concern show on his face and returning Miroslav's greeting he lets A'kos speak.

"Is Dyanna still with us? Perhaps we ought to move to more, erm, secure quarters where we can discuss things we would not want our enemies to overhear?"

Upon hearing the mention of enemies,  Heinrich finds the need to adjust his boots positively unbearable.  Of course, the activity also gives him the opportunity to sweep the surroundings for anyone paying too much attention to them without being obvious.

Balthazar smiles and says, "Miroslav, you're looking well.  Have you established a harem yet?"

Miroslav laughs, smiles and stands..."Now I am concerned with a more secure location!" He leads his old friends (and whoever else has come along) to a private chamber...well stocked with wine of course which he pours for them with his own hand.

"Dyanna is fine and well along in her state. She has been under the care of Masha this whole time. A'Los I will have you lead there once we are finished speaking."

"As for being somewhere else...yes I do need to get away but I fear that I cannot at this time."

Ulfr gladly follows his old friend.  "I see how it is, for you, Miroslav.  I miss the days we fought alongside one another!  But it is a strange thing, do you know that of these Pechenegs, not all of them are so bad?  We fought some, and two of them, we brought on as crew.  They have been good men."

Dyanna ... or do you mean Jaleh?

I thought Dyanna just left.

Miroslav shakes his shaggy head then downs a goblet on wine in one long pull..."Yes, Jaleh...forgive me. My brain is addled!

He then looks to Ulfr and smiles laying a hand on the big man's shoulder..."Even among our enemies you manage to find those who are able to be our friends!"

OOC: I thought Dyanna and Miroslav were going to use the Mirror to visit Persia and attempt to negotiate a counter-alliance against the Emperor or something like that.

Taking a cup of wine for himself Loukas says, "So, my friend, to say it quickly, this is Pelles of legend who was long the keeper of the Grail. It was stolen from him by the Mad Arab, so he's going to guide the Heart of Oak to Syria where we will confront him and take it back."

Pausing he looks around, "Have I missed anything?"

Ulfr scowls in concentration a moment, then nods at Loukas, "No, I think you've summed it all up." 

"Perhaps we can shorten our trip and just step through the mirror?" asks A'kos.  "Though, I must admit, it brings me even less joy than sailing on a ship of feathers."

Miroslav smiles when he sees Medved enter the room..."Goos to see that you did not get yoruself killed!"

He turns to A'Kos and says..."Perhaps the mirror should be used? I could spare the hours that this would take rather than the weeks of a long voyage."

"Using the Mirror would certainly be quicker... But if something goes wrong and we are unable to get back through he are trapped in the Mad Arab's lair. I suppose we could find passage from Damascus home, but, Pelles, what do you know about where we are going?"

The old man shrugs his narrow shoulders..."It is hot there...dress for the heat."

Loukas gives Pelles a blank look, "Hot. Yes, erm, right.

"So, are you saying that you do not know where the Mad Arab's lair is located or that you do not know anything about the actual place."

Pelles smiles and says..."Yes!"

"Then a glance through the mirror, at the least, is worth the effort," A'kos said, offering the old man an unfriendly look.

"Better to find out what we can now, as opposed to sailing across the seas and then wandering about aimlessly."

Thorn does not appear to bothered by Pelles' revelations either way.

Heinrich listens quietly, still waiting to hear about who the Mad Arab is and how they are so sure that he has the Grail.

Ulfr scratches his beard, "Oh, I don't know.  Wandering about aimlessly has its charms as well.   I am in favor of sticking with the Heart of the Oak, but she has been my home for so long now that perhaps I am biased." 

Miroslav nods his head as he listens..."Yes, probably best to take a look through the mirror regardless of what you choose to do...either sail or walk on through the device."

He looks to Boris Goraslavich his personal retainer and says..."Fetch Dyanna...she should be here anyway. ALso tell her to bring her mirror with it, we have need of it."

A few minutes later, Dyanna arrives with Boris who is carrying her mirror. She nods to her friends and says, "It has been far to long that you have been gone. I have been stuck playing diplomat's assistant for Miroslav. Dreadfully boring."

"I see you have some new friends along with you."

She bows slightly and says, "I am Dyanna."

Loukas is very pleased to see Dyanna, "Our Spartan Guardian!", he shouts. He comes forward quickly to give her a brotherly hug, "You have been missed and, as usual despite his complaints, our 'Captain' has been blessed by your company while we've been away."

As he hugs her he finds himself surprised by the emotions he feels and suddenly finds himself quite uncomfortable. Smiling bashfully he steps back and clears his suddenly dry throat, "Yes... So, Dyanna, this is Pelles. THE Pelles. He would help us find the Grail and knows that The Mad Arab has it in Syria."

"Hello, Dyanna," A'kos smiles warmly.  "'Tis nice to see you again."

Dyana raises an eyebrow as she looks at the old man introduced as THE Pelles. Within a few moments she has her mirror set up and after a few questions asked of Pelles she has the mirror dialed in to spy upon the Mad Arab.

She shakes her head as she stares t her own reflection in the mirror.

"This Mad Arab cannot by scryed!"

She works with her mirror for a few more seconds then it changes, showing the outside of a great tower in what could only be a desert climate.

"He may be able to stop a direct scrying attempt but here is his home. Nothing stopping us or you from going straight through to his door and knocking it down."

"I am ready.  Comrades?"

Ulfr sucks in his breath, shakes his head, but answers, "I like not this sorcery, and prefer the solid planks of the Oak beneath my feet.  But if this is how it must be, I will go." 

"This is as good a time as any. I quite enjoy the sun...provided there's plenty of water to hand, of course."

Thorn strums the strings of his mandolin, a song coming to mind.

Heinrich asks quickly, "If we go there this way, how do we get back?"

"As long as I keep my concentration a door back will remain. Even if I do not keep it, I retain the location and can open the door again at will."

"Let us go with rations and water enough for a few days just in case something goes wrong. Otherwise, I am ready as well!"

"A scouting foray," said A'kos.  "We'll plant a stake so that we can find the place where the mirror spits us out.  Dyanna, keep it open for one hour.  Then check back each hour for ten minutes.  Once we determine the lay of the land, we may wish to reconnoiter back here to discuss what we've learned, and appropriate tactics moving forward."

"I would not go into this blindly, without some sort of retreat possible.  'Tis a shame you cannot come with us, Dyanna.  Your skills would be welcome."

Miroslav talks to Boris for a moment and the man leaves. Minutes later he and a few retainers return with Miroslav's arms and armor and a few packs with provisions.

Miroslav slips into his armor and gives his axe a bit of a spin and smiles at his old companions and says..."So who is going through?"

A wide grin breaks out across A'kos' weather beaten face.

"Let us be away then!"

Unsheathing his sword, A'kos takes a step through the mirror...

Loukas also grins when Miroslav decides to join, "You're not going to leave me behind!"

"Someone might as well make sure you don't get into too much trouble. Not sure who'll be watching me, but whatever..."

Thorn is patently ready.

Witht he prospect of adventure looming just just a few feet away Miroslav looks like himself again. Seeing his some Medved stir he holds up a hand and says..."I have heard you were an assest on the hourney tot eh north but it is best that you stay here while I am gone." He looks away form his son letting him know that the matter is closed and not up for discussion.

He then looks at Onfim and says..."We will need you my friend. You never know when we will have need of your linguistic talents."

Onfim nods and follows the Magyar through the portal..."I had thought as much."

Ulfr grips his spear tightly, grimaces as he approaches the portal, and passes through.

Heinrich lays an arrow across his bow, and passes through the portal with the group.

The thought that he yet again is going further away from the places he has known flits across his mind as he prepares to be alert for danger.

... if we could go back in time, just a bit (if not, no worries).

Balthazar would like to prepare a heroe's feast before everyone boldly walks through the mirror.  "Can't adventure on an empty stomach!"

Spells picked, ready to go through.  No spells ahead of time, since I don't have a clue where we are being dumped.

Miroslav lays a ham like hand on the shoulders of those stepping through...."The Hedonite wishes to create a heores feast for us before we step through. I think this is a good idea!"

A'kos halts, looks at the Hedonite with a wry expression, then says, "A feast, my friend.  No booze.  We'll need our wits about us!"

Loukas looks nonplussed at the announcement of a Hero's Feast, "Only one and no booze?"

Not sure if folks are waiting on me or not, but Balthazar serves up his heroe's feast.  I don't have time to go into the bonuses and immunities it provides right now, but I listed them before in this game.  Is there a search functionality on rpol?

Balthazar's Heroes Feast spell is cast and before you appears a full banquet, replete with a table fit for a king, chairs, dishes, utensils, food, and a special nectar-like beverage...but no booze. It takes a full hour to consume but the effects are worth it.

Any aches, pains, and maladies any of you are suffering from are gone by the end of the hour. You are immune to both poisons and panic of any sort. You also feel the effects of a bless spell (+1 on all rolls).

Once finished Miroslav stands and looks at A'Kos as if to say...lead the way.

Feeling better than he has in some time, A'kos stands, stretches and nods at Miro before turning and passing through the mirror.

"Well I must say, that was a hearty repast. My thanks, Balthazar!"

Thorn stands and smiles, even managing a florid bow. Then he checks all his equipment is with him and ready, and turns and follows A'kos through the mirror.

Loukas is impatient to get going too, so when the meal is done, which he has enjoyed despite the lack of mead or wine or any other sort of alcohol, and Miroslav indicates it is time to depart he to jumps to his feet. "Quite so, Balthazar! Now, let's get to it!", he says as he joins everyone at the mirror.

A'kos enters the mirror...and exits on the other side.  Drawing his sword, he takes several steps forward to take up a defensive posture and look about.  Not for the last time he wishes fervently that his erstwhile companion, Leo, was available to him now.  Not for the last time does he curse his cat's murderer's name.

 OOC: Game has gone on so long, I don't even remember this. Who killed Leo?

ooc: the mage who entrapped Jaleh's spirit.  Forget his name off the top of my head.

The rest of the party follows the Magyar through the portal. Before them stands a tall tower of block. Although it is located in the city of Damascus it is isolated by ruins and looks to be on the outskirts of the city.

The tower itself easily stand well over 50 feet and is rough 25 to 30 feet in diameter. It has only a few windows and they are more like arrow slits. A single heavy wooden door is directly in front of where you came trough the portal.

The party consists of: A'Kos, Balthazar, Loukas, Ulfr, Heinrich, Thorn, Miroslav and Onfim.

Having stepped through Loukas scans the area not only for life from within the tower, but from the neighborhood about it. From where he is he also takes a look at the great wooden door for locks, etc.

ooc: how far are we from the tower?  half mile, mile, 20 feet?  Thx.

Heinrich holds his bow ready while his eyes sweep the ground. He looks for danger and any signs of passage nearby.

"Don't forget me!"  Finnegan joins the group with a bound.  Making sure he has a pair of 50 foot ropes, he starts to climb walls up the tower.  Edit: climbing on a part of the wall preferably away from city view, and not with any intervening windows.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:39, Tue 03 June 2014.

THe portal is just 50 feet from the tower.

A'kos follows Finnegan.  Once the good brother has the rope affixed to a handy outcropping, he holds it taut for the others to climb.  Carefully, he scans the surrounds for any unwanted attention - his sword he holds ready in his dominant hand in case of an alarm being raised.

While Finnegan gets on with the scaling of the tower, Thorn looks about him for any signs of wildlife. Perhaps a little bird with a song to share...

Brother Finnegan and A'Kos easily scale he walls but find that there seems to be no entrance at the higher levels. A few windows near the top but they are heavily barred and shuttered in such a way to look permanently closed.

Loukas inspects the door and does indeed find that it is locked. No sign of a trap is found.

Thorn looks to speak with wildlife but soon discovers that nothing is in the area...and not in a normal way. It is as though the wildlife avoids the area.

Heinrich cannot find any sign of passage by man or beast on the dusty ground surrounding the tower.

Ulfr watches as his nimble companions climb the tower, and inspect the area.

He glances at the door and grunts, "You want me to take care of that lock?"

Loukas raises an eyebrow when Ulfr offers to take care of the lock, "I take it you're offering to bust it? I'd like to give a go at picking it first, if you don't mind..."

Then he gives the big warrior an appraising look accompanied with a wry grin, "Though, if you've brought your own picks and tools you're welcome to give it a go once I'm done."

Having spoken to pulls out his tools and attempts to unlock the door.

Loukas can feel the tumblers click through his lock picks. The door is now unlocked but has yet to be opened.

Ulfr grins back, "Your way is likely quieter. We'll save mine as a backup," as he hefts his great Dane axe.

With a nod to Ulfr Loukas gets down to business with the lock. "Ah... There we go!", he said quietly.

Loukas steps away from the door and put his tools away, "Right. Door's open. Shall we?"

Having spoken he winks at Ulfr and looks to A'Kos and everyone else.

<checks through spells memorized list ... oops!>

Balthazar looks embarassed, "Forgot to memorize unseen servant.  Could have used that to open the door.  Oh well."

Balthazar backs far away and out of line of sight of the door, expecting one of his braver comrades to deal with it.

Finnegan calls down, "If I toss my rope down, can you tie it to the door handle so that I can yank it open by tugging from up here?"

Loukas looks up at A'kos and Brother Finnegan and waves him down, "Unless the door is magicked, we ought to get in now. I've dealt with the lock"

Turning to Balthazar, "I found no mundane traps. You want to look for magic?

"Otherwise, come my fellow warriors, let us enter the Mad Arab's sanctum... I guess they call him 'Mad', because people keep breaking into his place?"

He is ready to open the door once everyone is on the ground and gives him the signal.

"And life signs".

Balthazar casts, in order, detect invisibility, detect magic, and ESP.  He scans for signs of invisible stuff, magic, and thoughts inside the building.

"Could always be a simple crossbow trap on the inside."

Finnegan comes down.

A'kos steps out of the line of fire, and hefts his sword.

"Have a care - some unseen guardian may protect this place.  Pelles, you're the expert here, what say you?"

Ulfr hefts his shield and spear.  "If our good mage and Loukas say it's clear, that's enough for me.  I'd be honored to lead the way, if none object?" 

Balthazar's magical search does not reveal any invisible objects or foes. It also does not detect any ESP but perhaps it is just blocked but either way nothing blatant. Magic is detected but not at ground level it seems to emanate for a higher source.

Miroslav motions to the shut door with his axe and says..."By all means Ulfr...open the door!"

Pelles just shrugs his narrow shoulders when the question is asked of him..."I am only able to detect the object from this distance, I cannot tell you anything about what the Arab is doing with it. I will let you discover this for yourselve. I am far too old to undertake this with you."

A'kos shakes his head and glares at the old man with frank suspicion.  Seeing Ulfr ready to open the door, he turns his attention toward protecting his companion's flank, ready to follow within.

Ulfr grins with pleasure to be moving on, raises his shield, and opens the door.

Loukas is ready to move in as soon as the fighters are through the door.

U;fr pushes the door open...the stench of many dead things hit the party on a stale wind from the tower. The ground level is empty except for a simple table and chair in the middle. A staircase leading up and a trap door in the floor.

There is no sound no is the source of the stench visible.

A'kos readies a torch, which he holds aloft as he looks about the chamber.

Ulfr pauses a moment to see if anything untoward occurs; if nothing does, he fishes out a cloth to cover his nose and mouth to deaden the stench, and ties it in place.  He then hefts his shield and spear once more, and enters the room.

With a prayer to the Woolly One under said under his breath Loukas lets the others enter intending to take up the rear.

Nothing happens besides the stench of a long forgotten tomb. A'kos hold his torch aloft bathing the near empty room in light.

Miroslav walks deep into the room with a torch of his own. The room is now well lit showing the table and chair, trap door and ascending staircase.

ooc: any sconces to hang the torches from?

Yes, two scones. One for your torch and one for Miroslavs should you both decide to leave them here or if you have more.

Finnegan checks the trap door for traps.

A'kos sets his torch in one of the sconces, says, "May want to check these to see if there are any hidden doors these trigger."

He plays a bit with both to see if they move or rotate or any such thing.

Loukas also looks around for signs of traps, etc.

Heinrich catches up and proceeds to look for hidden triggers and traps.

No hidden traps or doors are found. With reasonable certainty you have decided that there is nothing hidden from the eye on the ground floor of this tower.

Loukas sighs, "Well, down the stairs we go then!"

Miroslav steps forward with torch in hand. Leaning his axe against the wall he grabs the handle of the door in the floor and yanks it open saying, "Down is just as good as up at this point."

He pickjs his axe back up and leans over the doorway with his torch held low illuminating the steps. A single flight of steps can be seen going down about 10 feet. It looks like there might be a light source down there as well.

ESP still up, does Balthazar sense any thoughts down there?  Or are any up?

"Who knows how deep this descends - why not explore upward first?" asks A'kos.

Ulfr nods, "A'kos makes a good point.  Perhaps we should search up first."

"To my mind there's unlikely to be anything above but dust. If anyone is aware of our presence below it also gives them more time to prepare... Or it gives us opportunity to mistakenly warn those below that we're here."

Shrugging he continues, "But the by the Woolly One I've been wrong about this stuff before, so I'll follow you up if you head that direction A'kos."

Peering down into the depths below the trap door, Balthazar shivers, "Gosh guys, I don't know.  I didn't sign up for all this dungeon stuff.  Next you're going to tell me there's a dragon down there too."  ;)

Balthazar detects thoughts from above and below but they are unreadable...not blocked just unintelligible.

A'kos frowns.

"I'll bide by the leader's decision - I was merely sharing a thought."

At the Hedonist's words, he murmurs, "A dragon - do you think it possible?"

There's a hint of intrigue in his eyes.  "I should like to ride one, if opportunity presents itself."

"What say you, Miro?"

Miroslav nods his head and shuts the trapdoor in the floor. He points to the stairs going up with his axe and says..."Lead on my friends!"

"At least we know that there is but a finite space above, so I suggest we head that way. Down below...well, there could be endless tunnels and passages and chambers down there. Best we clear the shortest route first, give ourselves something to fall back to - should the need arise.

And I only mean that such doughty warriors as yourselves might need a break at some point, no other reason."

Thorn grins as he looks to his companions.

"Hmph, indeed," mutters A'kos.

Loukas nods at Miroslav's words and turns back to A'kos, "Right, then. One minute, fellows, whilst I prepare a bit of protection for us."

He pulls out his gusli and plays a quick tune OOC: cast Protection from Evil 100' Radius

Once that is done he will indicate that he is done with a smile, "After you, my friend" As Magyar heads up the stairs Lukas will not resume his place in the marching order, but he will pull his black cow's hide cloak around him and use his Claws or the Spider to climb the up the wall as everyone else climbs the stairs. His intention is to use the shadows and to keep everyone in the party with 100' radius while being in a position to strike at any guards or attackers from an unexpected location.

A'kos draws his sword and begins to climb.

Upon reaching the next level it is clear that this is much like the first, empty. There is a staircase heading up to the next level but little else.

Ulfr looks around.  "Looks empty.  Probably the same all the way up, but we'd best check."  He raises his shield and leads the way up the stairs to the next level.

The next level is empty as well. Like the other floors it only has a staircase up. Easy to see that this staircase has door at the top of it though.

Finnegan will listen at the door, if he hears nothing he'll check it for traps, and if it is not trapped, he will try to open it.

Thorn watches the Brother closely, ready to help him out through weapons or magical means should the need arise.

Loukas remains above trying not to get dizzy from his body's odd juxtaposition above the party.

A'kos lets Finnegan by, and, his sword out, he stands watch as the Brother goes about his business.

After listening and checking for traps, Brother Finnegan determines the door is safe to open with no traps found and no noise coming from within.

The door opens with a great whoosh and an otherworldly fetid wind sweeps from the now open portal. The lack of noise is replaced by an almost howling wind and  blast of cold hits those on the stairs. No longer does the heat of the desert rule, instead it is snow and ice you find blowing through the now open door.

Miroslav smiles as the welcome blast of cold hits him square in the face..."And here we thought we were going to be overdressed for this climate."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:43, Tue 12 Aug 2014.

Ulfr grins at Miroslav, "Aye, this is more like it!"

"Never did like winter much," mutters A'kos, his sight cast within to search for enemies.  "Do not enter, Brother, until we see what this portal portends!"

Looking through the open door is easy enough and quite disturbing. On the other side of the door is a region of frozen mountainous wasteland. In the distance there seems to be some sort of huge fortress.

Ulfr can't contain a rumbling laugh.  "So much for the limited space in the tower above!" 

OOC: Does Legend Lore tell those of us that have it anything about what we're seeing, smelling, etc?

Hanging upside down behind everyone Loukas hums a bit of a country song about the coming of winter before speaking, "Yes, well, we are certainly underdressed for that one... Thorn does anything we see here say anything to you? How about you, Balthazar?

OOC Nestor: Does anyone recognise the fortress? I'm assuming the wintry land looks like any other besides that?

"I am not sure, Loukas. I have seen wintry landscapes before, but whether this one is familiar I have yet to determine..."

Looking closer, the fortress does not look like anything any of you have seen before and it looks to be long ruined.

After several long moments pondering what he sees before him through the portal, Thorn has some conclusions.

"I cannot say where this, exactly, or what it is or was...

...what I can say, and with some surety given the sky and the stars, is that this place lies...to the south.

Impossible, I know, and yet...it must."

Yves sighs and nods, "Weirder and weirder! So, do we go out into it or try another floor?"

Miroslav looks in though the door at the night sky and comments..."Thorn is correct, this is our own sky but at this time of year this has to be extremely south...so far south that I do not think I have even heard speak of!"

He looks at Loukas and replies..."All we have left is the door to the lower level on the first floor. I would guess that this is our destination but going back down and checking that door out might not be a bad idea. Maybe head back through the mirror and get some winter gear?"

Ulfr scratches his shaggy head.  "I'm possibly the least mystically inclined here, but if that" -- he points through the portal -- "is someplace else, wouldn't that mean that what we seek isn't there?"  He shrugs, "But I could easily be wrong about that."

Miroslav shrugs his broad shoulders and says with a luagh...I am surely only slightly more mystically inclined than you brother I have to say I have no idea. But looking through a door and seeing a castle nestled in some unknown lands screams the word "mystical" at me"

Loukas agrees, "Yes, well if we are to head into that wasteland we can not go as we are. It makes sense to investigate whatever is downstairs before we go back through the mirror for gear."

"Let us make haste then," A'kos said with a frown.  "All this talk of mysticism rankles."

Miroslav nods his head and says..."Let us be on our way then!"

He quickly leads the party back down to the ground level where they explore the lower level of the tower only to find that it is as mundane as the ground floor. There does not seem to be any secret or hidden doors, just a musty old cellar.

The party then heads back through the mirror, Miroslav says..."We meet back here in one hour. Gather what gear you need."

pm

Rubbing his jaw, Balthazar mutters to himself, "Forgotten gods ... forgotten city ... lays in wait, dreaming."  He shakes his head, "Aw, crap!  This could get ugly."

Finnegan returns, dressed in furs that somehow fit the contours of his figure and allow him to still perform martial arts maneuvers.

He sings:

We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
How soft your fields so green, can whisper tales of gore,
Of how we calmed the tides of war. We are your overlords.

"A fitting lay," A'kos said, his eyes fierce.  "Let us be away to this land of ice and snow then."

He is dressed to suit, with full weather gear, his scale fitted neatly over a fur-lined gambeson of some quality.  Heavy gloves sheath his hands, metal plates on their backs offering significant protection against elements and enemies alike.

Sturdy boots finish the ensemble, and he nods at the others as they drift in, eager to return.


This message was last edited by the player at 21:08, Thu 21 Aug 2014.

"Cold, why does it always have to be cold? Thought I left all this behind in Denmark..."

Despite his protestations Thorn is ready to go, and wrapped up well.

Loukas too quickly goes about gathering a heavy, fur lined cloak and boots as well as an additional layer of beneath his usual ubakha, pants and a heavier knee-length svita.

Once properly dressed he returns and is ready to return to wherever it is they had been.

"Ah, cold is refreshing," grinned A'kos.  "Much better than the scalding hot of the desert lands.  You should hear the wind howl on the steppes of my home, cradled as they are beneath the mountains."

With everyone properly outfitted and ready to go, Miroslav leads the party back through the mirror and into the sweltering hot sun of the south. Back into the tower they travel and back up the stairs to the doorway that leads to the frozen mountains.

Miroslav stands before the frozen portal surrounded by whirls of light snow and says..."Here we are...which of you has the stones to go through first?"

A'kos grins, nods and proceeds to step through.  He glances back quickly to see if the door remains visible from the wintry side...then casts about, searching the surrounds through wind and snow for any sign that he's been noticed.

Loukas is as impatient as he is, well, frightened of what lays before them. The wintery scene in mirror is so strange as they stand, overdressed for the tower's desert climate. A'kos moves first and he waits for others to do so as well intending to act as rear guard.

Without standing on ceremony Thorn follows A'kos through the portal and into the wintry landscape, one hand reaching for the pommel of his cold sword. The feel of it warms him despite his usual discomfort for these conditions.

Finnegan boldly strides on through.

Balthazar waits until everyone else has gone through.

Ulfr gladly strides through, his discomfort with the mystical portal overcome by his pleasure in the clime of his homeland.

All pass through the portal with Balthazar being the last.

The wind seems to have picked up a bit since you were through last time. Cold weather gear was a very good idea.

You stand on a great ice plain. The mountains are about a mile away and the ruins just slightly further. If there were any prints in the snow, the wind took care of them. Not a sign of life.

Ulfr huffs out a cloud of breath in the icy air, settles his furs comfortably around his shoulders, and grins.  "Ahh, this is more like it!  Better than the desert any day!"

He sets out for the mountains ahead, a smile still on his face.

"Keep an eye on my sword!" calls out A'kos over the roar of the wind.  "It is as a beacon in such weather, and such frigid climes."


He holds it aloft, and indeed, it shines like a cold blue flame.

That said, he looks toward the mountains and begins the trek.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:26, Sun 31 Aug 2014.

Loukas has been around. So far he has traveled across the Roman Sea and from Greece into Kievan lands. Throughout it all he has preferred the cold to the hot. This was not the only thing in the past few years that has made his turn from his Greek heritage to his Rus, but there's something about it that has underlined things.

When he sees Ulfr's smile he understands it and when he follows A'kos's burning sword into the snowy world outside the door he has a similar grin as well.

"Really?" says Thorn, as A'kos draws his sword. "So does mine, I believe, though I haven't had the opportunity to try before now."

The bard draws his own longsword from its scabbard, and sure enough it too suddenly flares with light.

The swords of Thorn and A'Kos shine like beacons guiding the intrepid party of adventurers across the ice plain. Despite the cold, wind and darkness the party makes good time and soon they find themselves standing before a rocky expanse that gradually turns into a a mountain of ice and rock. The ruined walls of the strange structure are a treacherous 50 feet up the incline. There looks to be an open gate in the wall but not path to get to it. You will have to climb.

"Balthazar, can you fly up there and affix my grapnel and drop a rope down?" asked A'kos.  "That would surely make the climb much more manageable."

As A'kos is talking Loukas scrambles up the cliff six feet and says, "I can also get  up there easily. It would be better to have more than one rope in place, so the two of us can place them."

Unless he is stopped he will use his Claws of the Spider to climb to the top. Once there he will be careful to peak over the side of the cliff to confirm that nobody else is up there before climbing over and begin securing his rope.

"Clever fellow," A'kos said with a grin.

Thorn takes a long look at the wall before he too climbs up, using his skills as a rogue (/thief). He calls out as he starts his climb.

"If Loukas does encounter trouble up there, he will not be alone."

Balthazar casts fly on himself and helps bring a rope up the side, as well as makes sure the other climbers don't slip.

Nevermind.  I see that Balthazar did not take fly.

He has:

9th level m-u: 4 3(+3) 3 2 1
1st) shield, charm person, detect magic, magic missile
2nd) detect invisibility**, invisibility**, ESP**, knock, mirror image, web
3rd) summon monsters I, dispel magic, slow
4th) fumble, charm monster
5th) passwall

** ring of wizardry

Ring of Spell Storing (worn by Thorn):
1st) magic missile, sleep
2nd) invisibility, stinking cloud
3rd) dispel magic

Ring of Spell Storing (worn by Finnegan):
4th) dimension door, ice storm, wizard eye

Book of Infinite Spells:
page 4) flame strike 1/day, 20% chance of page turning when used
This message was last edited by the player at 13:57, Wed 10 Sept 2014.

Ulfr, not having the catlike reflexes of some of the others, waits patiently at the bottom, eyes open for any trouble.

Thorn and Loukas get the ropes tied off easily enough and the party makes the climb with the help of said ropes. Without them it would have been a difficult climb for those not well versed in mountaineering.

In just a matter of minutes, the entire group is standing before the open gate in the wall. Now that you are close enough you see this is more of a hall than a gate but that must mean the walls are at least 20 feet thick, very strange.

"20 feet thick walls require two passwall spells, of which I only have 1 memorized today.  Let's remember this."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:41, Thu 11 Sept 2014.

Ulfr looks around suspiciously, then exchanges looks with the others, eyebrows raised.

He then enters the gate, moving cautiously down the tunnel, eyes darting about.

Loukas takes his place towards the back of the party. Even without his claws he'd be happy to climb whatever walls, but he tries to keep in mind the fact that these magical items give him a decided advantage.

A'kos travels close behind Ulfr, the light of his frost brand casting a cerulean glow.

Guided by the light at the end of the tunnel and the two glowing swords, the group makes its way through the entrance corridor. On the other side is a frozen courtyard of epic proportions...not as if built by giants but certainly something larger than a man built this structure.

Even behind the massive walls, the wind whips and howls, little chance for any sort of tracking though there does appear to be large duck like footprints that the wind sweeps and covers just about as fast as you notice them. They looked to lead up to the closest of the great frost covered stone spires.

The castle or fortress if you prefer looks to be made of different size towers all laid out in a random pattern or is it not random, regardless it looks like nothing any of you has ever seen outside of a twisted sort of architecture that is only found in dreams. In all it looks like there are twenty or so towers.

"By the Four Winds, must we search each of these towers?" growls A'kos in disgust over the howling winds.  "We'll be here for weeks, with no knowledge of how to return to the desert lands."

A thought occurs and he adds, "Did anyone mark the portal from whence we entered this frozen landscape?"

Miroslav smiles broadly and says..."Of course...it is by the snow covered rock!"

He slaps the Magyar on the shoulder and throws his head back with a great belly laugh..."I tied a red scarf to the frame of the mirror and pulled it through when I came through. The loose end of the scarf is secured to the rock."

Finnegan gleefully heads over to the nearest tower and looks for an entrance.  "This place is great!  I think we should make it our new headquarters."

A'kos offers a scowl to both companions, but heads to the nearest behind Finnegan.

"Let's do this," he mutters, eyes sharp and alert for danger.

ooc: he's searching about and above, walls, sky, portals etc.

"I guess there are enough towers that we could take at least one each for our own use.

Pity about the atrocious weather and the possible chance of impending doom, but I guess we'll have to see about that..."

Thorn smiles too, and then follows A'kos into the nearest tower.

The brave heroes trudge through the snow as the frozen wind whips their faces. Brother FInnegan is the first to come to the nearest spire. He finds, and the others soon see that there is no door, just a doorway that is partially blocked by a snow drift. As you look around, it seems that this is the case for almost all the spires that you can see...except one. Clearly something has recently plowed through the drift blocking the door of the spire just a few over from the first spire you have visited.

Loukas finds himself less excited about this place than other Brother, but that does not make him less cautious as he follows the party into the creepy place.

Turning about everyone can see that the entrances to all but one tower are blocked. Thorn states the obvious.

"Well it looks like we have a trail, or at least a point of investigation. Who will lead the way?"

From his obvious reluctance to step forward, Thorn clearly does not wish to do so.

A'kos hefts his sword and silently led the way to the entrance with the tracks leading to a portal.  Once the party is gathered, he asks, "Anyone care to check for traps?"

Loukas nods in response to A'kos, "Care to join me, Thorn? Four eyes are better than two with this stuff, eh?"

He moves forward carefully. While this place seems empty the path they entered on was plowed, so someone or at least something is about, so his care is not only in the search for traps, but to attempt to avoid being spotted while searching.

At Loukas's invitation Thorn mods, and smiles as he moves forwards.

"Of course. After all, what could possibly go wrong?"

Both Thorn and Loukas give the entrance a thorough inspection and find it free of traps completely. Just a normal, if a bit large, doorway.

Loukas moves a bit deeper through the entry way to confirm and then shrugs heading back to the entry way he waves to the group to signal that everything is clear.

OOC: Has anyone dropped Balthazar a note?
This message was lightly edited by the player at 20:38, Wed 22 Oct 2014.

Ulfr grins and nods his shaggy head.  "Good enough!" he says, and stalks forward.

Satisfied with Loukas's and Thorn's work, A'kos nods at Ulfr and joins him on the march through the portal.

"A bit large," he mused aloud.  "I wonder if that presages a like sized individual awaiting us within."

Balthazar looks up, scanning the whole tower.  Any other entrances/exits/windows on it?  Does the top look like it is flat or conical?

The top of the tower is conical but more severe than the onion domes in the land of the Rus. There are windows but they are more like window slits less than a foot wide and three feet long.

"Does anybody have gaseous form ability?  We could get some great scouting done by going through those window slits."

Loukas looks at the wizard, "We've been travelling together for years, most of us... I've never seen anyone turn gaseous, though sitting with A'kos after a dinner of bean soup I've wondered if he wasn't turning into gas."

Finnegan cautiously approaches the exposed entrance and scans the interior.

Ulfr grins and allows a deep rumble of laughter at Loukas' comment, but keeps his eyes forward and shield high as he moves forward.

There is enough room for both A'Kos and the overly large Ulfr to go through the doorway side by side. Except for it's great size, the ground level of the tower looks much the same as the tower in the desert.

There does not seem to be a staircase to a lower level though as int he desert tower but there is a staircase to a higher level, It is a long wide winding staircase that leads to the floor above. This room has a very high ceiling, at least 30 feet.

Other than the great size, the first thing you all notice is that even with an open doorway tot he elements, the room is fairly comfortable, at least near freezing rather than the sub zero temps on the outside.

Snow has been tracked across the white stone floor. It looks like large duck foot prints headed in the direction of the stairs.

Miroslav throws back the hood of his fur lined cloak and takes a good long look at the room, with his eyes settling on the winding staircase..."It would see m that that is our goal right there. We must be watchful for whatever it is that made those tracks though."

Loukas blanches when he notes the duck foot prints, "By the woolly one!", he says under his breath.

When Miroslav speaks he nods with a sly smile and replies in a low voice, "I'll use the walls and ceiling and scout ahead and do my best not to be seen!"

Moving to the nearest wall he uses his Gusli's charm to make himself invisible and climbs it using his Claws of the Spider and will continue up using the ceiling whenever possible not only to make the climb easier, but to make it harder to note him if the duck-thing or whatever it is just happens to be able to detect invisibility.

Balthazar examines the prints and realizes with a gasp where the party is:

DUCK TOWER!
This message was last edited by the player at 14:35, Wed 29 Oct 2014.

Duck footprints and an invisible friend climbing the walls...Thorn's amusement is piqued.

"Wish I could do that.." he says of Loukas, "..though maybe it would drive me quackers."

Finnegan starts slowly up the staircase, moving as silently as he can and testing each stair for traps.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:12, Fri 31 Oct 2014.

A'kos mutters, "If it quacks like a duck..."

Just as Brother Finnegan starts to ascend the stairs the large door at the top of the long stair case bursts open,. letting a hot gush of air fill the lower chamber.

A few seconds late a large black and white creature comes through the door. It stands roughly two meters tall and has a stout body that is almost a tube. It has two short legs that end in a sort of webbed foot and a small head with small eyes and a strange long beak like mouth. It has two upper limbs that resemble wings but there is no way this creature would be expected to be able to fly.

It barrels down the staircase as if it is on a mission but it also looks to be very afraid. Brother Finnegan is able to sidestep the creature as it hurls itself towards the bottom of the stairs with no thought on stopping.

Once past the monk it waddles out the door with amazing speed considering the shortness of it's legs.

The door at the top of the stair case remains open and warm air billows forth as well as an eerie greenish light.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:13, Mon 03 Nov 2014.

"Um, what was that?" asks A'kos, pressing himself against the wall as the thing goes hurtling by.

From higher up the wall of the staircase Loukas watches the thing quickly totter past them in a bit of a shock, "I don't know.", he says in reply to A'kos, "But given its movement and attitude I'd say we need to approach whatever is in the next room carefully."

"That, ahh..." Thorn begins to speak then pauses, and frowns, but then continues. "That would be the Great Auk, a flightless bird. But I have never seen one anywhere near as big as that before, not even close.

Given that, and the warm air and green light above...I'd suspect sorcery at work."

Finnegan chuckles, "Guess I'll have to count on the luck of the Irish then" and he continues on carefully heading up the stairs.

Balthazar remains on the ground floor, but draws his scimitar of defending, putting all its power on defense.  In his other hand he draws his wand of negation, and points it at the doorway upstairs.

Loukas moves when Finnegan moves, but pauses at the lintel above the doorway to let the fast moving Brother from another Religion enter the room, before he follows.

Ulfr moves up the stairway, craning to see through it if he may.  His step is light for such a big man, but under his breath, his mutter can be heard, "That was an awful big, funny-looking duck..." 

Before either the invisible Loukas or the Irish monk can gain the doorway at the top of the stairs a figure appears...a tall figure of a decayed man, nearly skeletal, stands dressed in the robes of a desert dweller. He leans out of the doorway and speaks...

"I am happy to see that you have braved the cold and found me. I of course know who you are and you know who I am. We could go ahead and destroy each other or at least die trying or you could listen to the offer I make to you."

Loukas stops short when the Mad Arab appears in the doorway. His guess is that the powerful wizard can probably see him or at least has detected him, but he is uncertain. For that reason he opts not to speak and potentially give away his presence. At least not yet...

His recollection of their last meeting with a powerful mage still fresh, A'kos stays where he is.

"What are your terms?" he calls out, curious in spite of himself.

The Mad Arab's skeletal face twists into as much of a grin as is possible when A'Kos replies. He withdraws back into the upper chamber and says..."Come see for yourself what I have been working on here. No fear, If I wanted to kill you I would have already been working towards that end when you came through the portal."

"Not the most reassuring invite I've ever had..."

Thorn makes no move toward the chamber, at least until someone else does.

Finnegan will go with you.

"Better one of us should go, in case it is a trap," A'kos said.  "I will go into the fiend's lair.  Should I not come out in a suitable amount of time, decide what you will."

So saying, A'kos sheathes his blade and enters the Mad Arab's inner sanctum.

"I am here, Arab.  What is the bargain you spoke of?"

PM

Balthazar mutters to whoever is in the back with him, "I bet he's going to propose a drinking challenge, using the Grail as the vessel.  At least, that's what I would do."

"As the gods themselves intended," replies Thorn to Balthazar with a smile.

Miroslav claps a meaty hand on A'Kos's shoulder and follows him intot he room. He glances at Ulfr as if to ask...Will you be joining us?

Finnegan skips forward.  "I can't wait to find out how you've turned the Grail into a duck factory."

Ulfr grits his teeth, nods in return to Miroslav, and enters the chamber with his companions.

The trio of warriors enter the Mad Arabs chamber with A'Kos in the lead.
The room is warm and very large. The ceiling and floors above have clearly been removed and the way is clear all the way to the top of the tower...but there seems to be something more than just a ceiling above them, it looks more like the night sky but closer if you can imagine such a thing.

The large room is set up like some sort of archaic magical laboratory with a golden chalice in the center of it all floating over an open portal in the middle of the room.

With his skeletal face still twisted in it's horrid grin, the lich speaks..."I have used the sacred holy relic of the Christians for my own purposes these last few years. My followers resurrected me with it. Since then I have used it as a phylactery for my own essence. I have recently discovered that it also acts as a beacon of sorts.

It's power is such that it has attracted attention of a great power, an old  god, long forgotten by our world, but we are not forgotten by him, he is "The Lurker at the Threshold". He will call the old gods home when he arrives.

Now we can fight and who knows the outcome or we can work together. The old gods are coming, drawn here by Yog-Sothoth, the Lurker. They will need men to do their bidding here on earth. Would it not be better to serve your future masters in important positions rather than be slaves/"

The walls of the room come alive and it is clear that you were never alone with the lich as dozens of robed men wearing cloaks that blend into the night sky like scenery of the room step forward and chant in unison..."Yog-Sothoth knows the gate. Yog-Sothoth is the gate. Yog-Sothoth is the key and guardian of the gate. Past, present, future, all are one in Yog-Sothoth. He knows where the Old Ones broke through of old, and where They shall break through again. He knows where They have trod earth's fields, and where They still tread them, and why no one can behold Them as They tread."

Those of you outside the room can clearly hear the speech of th lich and the chanting.

"That sounds like our cue," says Thorn from outside the room. Immediately he does two things: he draws his frost sword, and at the same time he begins to sing - a melodious yet heartening dirge that will embolden his comrades.

OOC: Bard song gives +1 to hit and damage to a bard's companions, but takes two rounds to activate. He is allowed to fight in melee as he does, so I'm thinking start singing this round and fight and sing next round before the bonus kicks in (lasts for one turn).

And yes, I'm assuming we're fighting and rejecting his 'kind' offer. :)

As the Arab speaks, A'kos face becomes grim.  Anger colors the cheeks and jaw a crimson color, and his eyes are stormclouds.  As the chanting begins, he snarls, "I am familiar with such soul binding as you speak of.  It is foul and evil, and any godling predisposed to its use is as well.  I reject your offer, deader, and reject you."

With that, A'kos attacks the Mad Arab, his frost brand flashing brightly, its blue glow sending shadows scampering around the room.

The Falcon darts forward to attack the lich with fury:

15:44, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 11 using 1d8+8. dmg 2.
15:44, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 12 using 1d8+8. dmg 1.
15:44, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 19 using 1d20+5. to hit, attack 2.
15:44, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 9 using 1d20+5. to hit att 1.


15:42, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 6 using 1d6+2. initiative.


ooc: keep in mind any fires w/in 100' are extinguished by the frost brand.

OOC: Loukas Ouranus rolled 5 using 1d6. Initiative.

A'kos's move should not have taken Loukas by surprise, and given the Brother of Veles' quick reflexes and training 'surprise' is a relative term, but it does. Since it seems that the Mad Arab cannot see through his invisibility, Loukas intends to make the best use of it
This message was last edited by the player at 17:32, Fri 28 Nov 2014.

His companions leaping into the fray, Ulfr does likewise, swinging his axe at the abomination, or any of the robed ones who try to interfere.


18:08, Today: Ulfr rolled 6 using 1d20. attack with axe.
Yeah... not so great.  I'm still a little vague on what my to hit and bonuses are supposed to be.

Balthazar sighs, "Actually, would have liked to know more about these Old Gods ... but as a devout Christian I can't in good conscience allow the Grail to be defiled like this."

OOC: Before declaring his action, I need to re-read what the wand of negation does.

Does Finnegan think it is possible to run in, jump up and grab the chalice?  Grabbing it and dimension dooring out is what I'm contemplating.  Maybe a battle map will help.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:56, Tue 25 Nov 2014.

It would definitely be possible to jump and grab the grail but it is unclear if it is just floating freely to be grabbed or locked in lace somehow. Also there is the portal to consider, what is on the other side? Plenty of room though to do what you describe...it will not be easy is all I can tell you without giving things away.

I missed the part about the open portal the first time around.  I'm having a hard time visualizing this chamber, to be honest.

Anyway, the good Brother Finnegan will pull out a jo stick in each hand and two weapon fight the nearest robed henchmen.  I don't know whether you allow the strength bonus to hit and damage for monks like I do, but assuming you do the factors are:

18 str (+1 to hit, +2 to damage)
18 dex (primary hand jo stick at no penalty, off hand jo stick at -1)
monk damage bonus (+2 to damage)
jo stick (1-6 damage vs. medium)

I can't remember whether we are still on the same day of a Hero's Feast from Balthazar, but there's no reason I recall why we wouldn't have done that, so that should be another +1 to hit.

Balthazar is down on the ground level and I really have no idea what, if any, of the battle he can see, nor if he is even capable of putting himself into a position where he can.  It depends on who is where on the stairs.

He'll cast summon monster I, however, targeting their entry into the chamber above, to get things started, to give all those robed followers some extra targets that aren't the party members.  As per the spell they will appear in 1-4 rounds, but that's probably a roll the DM should make.

Bolstered by the song of the bard, A'Kos is the first to move and his frost brand slashes first left then right. The first attack misses but the second slashes across the fiends arm causing a great billow of steam as the freezing blade contacts the devilishly hot flesh of the Mad Arab.

Ulfr brings his axe into play just a second after the Falcon attacks and like the Magyar, his first attack misses but the second score a deep cut on the Lich's thigh causing the Mad Arab to howl.

Miroslav is right there as well and like his two companions misses once and hits the second time.

Just as Miroslav is chopping at the Lich with his axe, Loukas is able to get behind the Mad Arab and hit him with an open handed strike knocking the fiend forward but he retains his footing.

Brother Finnegan leaps into the fray with his two jo sticks whirling, he engages one of the robed henchmen in the act of drawing his scimitar. His first attack is picked off by the henchmen with the pommel of the scimitar but the second one land solidly on the henchmens head, wobbling him slightly...these henchmen seem to be wearing some sort of armor under their robes.

The air in the chamber begins to shimmer slightly, most likely the beginning of Balthazar's spell taking effect.

Thorn's inspirational song soars higher as he approaches the area of the fight...he should be able to attack next round.

Still somewhat wobbled, the lich throws his arms into the air then brings them down violently. Shards of ice fling down from the ceiling slashing into the exposed flesh of those who attack the Mad Arab. A'Kos, Ulfr and Miroslav take some heavy damage as well as Loukas who is now no longer invisible.

The henchman that Finnegan is engaged with manages to return the monks favor and cut his forearm with his wicked curved scimitar.

The rest of the henchmen are held at bay by the falling ice shards. They will not be so withdrawn the next round.

Leaking blood down face and neck from the rain of ice shards, A'kos offers a grim mask to the lich and attacks again:

15:13, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 9 using 1d8+8. dmg 2.

15:13, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 11 using 1d8+8. dmg 1.

15:13, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 9 using 1d20+5. att 2.

15:13, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 15 using 1d20+5. att 1.

ooc: the dice roller hates me.  that is all.

Loukas's strike was satisfying, but the ice shards that the Liche replies with more than repays him. He manages to keep himself together and recover even if his shoulders and face are now covered with bloody cuts and abrasions. He shakes his head, blood flying around him he smiles appreciatively as he grabs his Gusli,  "I guess that was fair, my friend!"

With that he begins playing a tune and sings the following chastushka,


In your desert robes you talk of Old Gods,
But your unholy schemes we shall subvert
This weather's all wrong for your togs,
So to Hell we'll send you for a heavier skirt


OOC: Casting Protection from Evil 100'

Assuming Balthazar can move up to where he can see, he casts slow on 9 of the robed henchmen.

"Finnegan, fall back."

Edit: Gotta figure slow + summoned monsters should keep them all busy for quite some time.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:24, Tue 09 Dec 2014.

Finnegan executes a fighting withdrawal, meaning he'll counterattack if an enemy chooses to stay engaged with him, otherwise he'll cautiously backpedal out of the room.

Just going to attack for Ulfr this round and since Thorn said he was going to attack next round I will get his roll as well just to get things rolling,

Thorn's song is joined by Loukas's gusli and while they are both performing different tunes, they meld into one as the magic from both fill the room, one of them giving inspiration and the other casting a web of protection from the spells and powers of the lich known as the Mad Arab.

Balthazar's magic causes all but three of the robed henchmen to move as if they were in a vat of honey and as this happens 8 half-orc Pechenegs appear in the room with arrows knocked, they each let two arrows fly at the still moving Henchmen and manage to kill all three.

The lich easily avoids the blow of the bard but he is not so lucky with the sword of A'Kos and the axes of both Ulfr and Miroslav as each of these land solidly wounding the undead creature deeply.

The henchman that is engaged with Finnegan is one of the ones not slowed by the Hedonite's spell. He cuts the Irish monk on the right thigh with his curved blade. Brother Finnegan swipes at the hooded figure with his jo sticks but is ineffective.

A the three fighters score hevily on the Lick and look of almost concern passes over the skeletal face as he swings both of his arms slapping both Thorn and Miroslave with opens hands...they feel the cold of the grave enter their body as the flesh of the Lich hits their armor.

Situation:
All but Balthazar are somewhat engaged with either the Henchmen (Finnegan) or with the Lich. The henchmmen(2) not dealing with Finnegan are trying to deal witht he Pechenegs.

Balthazar casts mirror image.

Finnegan withdraws further out of the room, and hopes his foe is picked off by a Pecheneg.  If not, Balthazar will come to his rescue next round.

As soon as the Gusli's power has taken effect, Loukas pushes it back over his shoulder and focuses  himself as the music swirls about him. Once he is done he takes a quick breath and throws himself at The Mad Arab, "It's called fur ya, undead twit!"

Ulfr, still bleeding from the myriad little cuts of the ice, lets loose with a flurry of blows from his axe.


OOC:  Still not quite sure of bonuses and what not, but:

23:28, Today: Ulfr rolled 14 using 1d20. attack with axe.

23:27, Today: Ulfr rolled 13 using 1d20. attack with axe.

Best guess, I think there's a +1 from the feast, +1 from the music(?), +1 from ST, +2 from specialization, +2 from the axe, total bonus of +7?  I think also +7 to damage, slightly different mix...

As the Mad Arab attacks the other two, A'kos drives his sword down at the monster's shoulder:

17:57, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 13 using 1d8+8 with rolls of 5. dmg att 2.

17:57, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 12 using 1d8+8. dmg att 1.

17:56, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 9 using 1d20+5. att 2.

17:56, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 22 using 1d20+5. to hit att 1.

ooc: 9 likely doesn't hit the lich, thus the strikethrough on the dmg from the 2nd attack.

Brother Finnegan manages to fall back to Balthazar's position just as a mirror image of the mage appears next to him. The robed figure he was engaged with is dropped, like the rest of the figure with the arrows loosed from the bows of the pechenegs summoned by the Hedonite.

A'Kos and Ulfr fall upon the lich just as Loukas hits it from behind. A'Kos hits it with the tip of his blade ripping across the skeletal face, his back swing misses but drive the Lich into Ulfr's axe as the huge Northman hacks at the skeletal body twice with his axe. Loukas blasts the lick in the back as Thorn also cuts the fiend on the upper arm. A dry wound opens letting a bit of dusty blood join the rest already spilled by the others.


Miroslav strikes last but he hits the Lich twice with his mighty axe causing the Mad Arab to drop to one knee as the blade rips and hacks away at the dry flesh.(nice time for a crit!)

The Mad Arab from his position kneeling on the ground scoops up some of his own powdered flash and blood from the ground and tosses it into the air as he leaps to his feet and backs away chanting in a tongue even Balthazar has not heard before.

All ten of the dead robed figure rise tot heir feet gripping their weapons reanimated by the magic of the Lich.

Tee air in the room shimmers slightly as the grail in it's place over the void glows a dark green as streams of liquid light pour forth and bathe the Mad Arab causing his wounds to close. He looks the worse for wear but clearing the Grail has healed him nearly to full capacity.

A'kos, seeing the Mad Arab's recovery, tries a different tack, and in one smooth motion, pulls his spear from the straps of his backpack and launches it toward the floating chalice.

Att: 9 after adjustments.

ooc: yeah, it's official, the dice roller in this game hates me.  Some really bad rolls this go around. 

OOC Question that affects tactics: how was the Mab Arab able to cast a spell in a round in which he took damage before he started?  Are we not playing with spell disruption?

Balthazar, now mirror imaged, dual-wielding scimitars (one +4, the other +2) flies into action attacking the risen minions, who are presumably zombies now.  DM can roll for me.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:58, Sat 20 Dec 2014.

Finnegan moves back in, standing side-to-side with Balthazar dual-wielding jo-sticks.

Between Balthazar, Finnegan, and the summoned Pechenegs we should kill these minions.  Again.  Hopefully the rest of the party can figure out how to take down the lich.  There's always the "do-more-damage-than-he-can-take-before-he-gets-to-go" strategy :)
This message was last edited by the player at 18:01, Sat 20 Dec 2014.

Spell disruption is in effect but the Mad Arab does notseem to be effected by it. He is near godlike in his abilities. You guys have done a buttload of damage to him and now he has healed most of that...like I said he is going to be tough.

Gulp.  C'mon guys, we need more crits!

When the Mad Arab heals himself Loukas wonders why anyone else could not use the Grail's power.

As he ponders this the Brother of Veles moves in for another strike. This time he wheels about and attempts to attack from the opposite side as he had before figuring that keeping the undead magus off guard might help as well.

Ulfr pauses for a moment when he sees the monster heal itself, then grunts, and resumes hacking away.

OOC:

16:08, Today: Ulfr rolled 13 using 1d20.
16:08, Today: Ulfr rolled 10 using 1d20. attack with axe.

Not sure what I roll for damage with a Dane Axe wielded one handed (since he's got a shield as well).

Again, I think, best guess, is that Ulfr is currently +7 to hit and damage.

Balthazar and Brother Finnegan with the help of the Pecheneg archers take the small horde of zombies down without too much effort but it does keep some of the lich's enemies busy for a while as he deals with the warrior who are on him.

A'Kos throws his spear at the holy relic but only wobbles it a bit as Ulfr moves on the Lich once again with his axe. He cuts deep into the fiends shoulder. Powdery blood spills onto the white floor of the room but the lich seems unaffected.

Loukas takes advantage of the hit and circles around to the other side and blasts the Lich in the back with an open handed strike to the spine.

Still caught up in song, Thorn swings his blade at the Lich and scores a deep gash on the creatures ribs, more powdered blood pours forth.

Miroslav sees A'Kos throw his spear at the Grail and follows the Falcon's train of thought. Rather than trying to throw something at the artifact he attempts to grab it as he leaps over the void...but things do not go as planned. He leaps and grabs the Grail but it is not free floating, something holds it there, something not strong enough to hold the weight of the Grail and the bear-like Rus warrior. Both Miroslav and the Grail fall into the portal below.

The Lich known as the Mad Arab steps back from the combat and howls in rage as he sees the Grail carried away through the portal. He throws his head back and smashes a small vial around his neck on the floor near his feet and is quickly engulfed in a red smoke. Just a second or two pass and the smoke begins to clear, and you see a horrific site before you, the Mad Arab has turned himself into a huge red dragon faster than any of you could have imagined possible.

Loukas felt his blow hit, but could not tell its effectiveness. When Miroslav jumps up and comes down with the Grail he thinks, Why didn't I think of that?

When the Mad Arab pulls away from the fight, but rather than fleeing turns itself into a Red Dragon he says, "Shit."

His first thought is to cast and Entangle spell, but given that from what he has heard a Red Dragon can breath fire he figures he is best off keeping moving himself. Accordingly, he uses his speed to move away from his comrades and to flank the Mad Arabian Dragon again.

As he does so he sings in his mellifluous tenor (all the better to be annoying he figures),

"Oh, Lichie-Pooooo
"He whose blood is as dusty as his farts,
"I say to youuuuuuu:
"I'm rubber you're glue.
"Whatever you say bounces off of me,
"And sticks to youuuuuuuuuu!"

Oh my this is getting exciting!

While I figure out my next move, questions about how monks work:



1. Can an open handed strike harm a creature that requires +1 or better weapon to hit?
2. Does an open handed strike require a save vs. paralyzation, as if the lich had touched him?

***************

Also, with Miroslav grabbing the grail and falling into the portal, I don't think I've visualized the room very well.  Can Balthazar jump into the portal too, or is the dragon now blocking it?

Either way, Balthazar calls out to Thorn, "The ring's dispel magic could turn the dragon back into the lich".

Singing with gusto as he merrily hacks and slashes at the Lich, Thorn still manages to hear Balthazar's call. The bard can understand the reasoning but shakes his head, still smiling amidst his song.

OOC: a Ring of Spell Storing allows the user to cast the ring's spells as a caster of appropriate level - which would be 5th level in the case of dispel magic. Allowing for the difference in levels I'd say there's zero chance it working against a lich, who will be 18th level plus. Even at Balthazar's level it would be a struggle! But a red dragon makes a nice target for frost swords...

He continues about his business, aiming for the bigger target now presented.


18:05, Today: Thorn rolled 26 using 1d20+6. attack roll, longsword.
18:05, Today: Thorn rolled 8 using 1d12+6. dmg.

OOC: Damage should be +7, not +6, and now that I think of it Thorn should be specialized in Longsword, which is another +1/+2.

Nice time for a crit, did someone say? :) Can't recall if we have a house rule on damage..?

GrrrraaaahhhhHHHHHHHHH!  Friggin' dice roller!!!

09:09, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 11 using 1d12+8 with rolls of 3. dmg 2.

09:09, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 12 using 1d12+8 with rolls of 4. dmg 1.

09:09, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 7 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 2. to hit 2.

09:08, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 14 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 9. to hit.

A'kos sees Miro plunge - his first thought is to follow after until the Lich turns into a dragon.  Blinking once, he does not hesitate, but attacks the drake as quickly as he may.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:11, Tue 06 Jan 2015.

OOC: We've been playing it that it casts at the level of the caster who put the spell into the ring.  My take is that the language in the item description about caster of appropriate level is for a ring found with spells already in it.  But yeah, with Balthazar only 9th, even if the lich is only 18th, 18 - 9 = 9,x2 = 18, 50 - 18 = 32, not great odds.

Balthazar is correct, it's not great odds but it is a chance to not have to face a dragon in a room so small. But it is totally up to you, keep the crit damage or take a shot at canceling the transformation.

As for the open hand working as a +1 attack...yes I am good with that, not a real fan of the +whatever needed to attack a creature. I go case by case with that rule. Now as for Loukas putting himself in harms way by just touching the Lich...I guess I dropped the ball there but too late now:)

I am still waiting for an answer to this question.  But assuming the answer is yes he can get into it, Balthazar shouts, "We came for the Grail not to battle the Mad Arab!  Follow Miroslav!"

Balthazar dives into the portal after Miroslav.  Gotta figure that with the cube, we'll find an extra-dimensional way out if we need to.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 20:04, Wed 07 Jan 2015.

OOC: Here I would like Brother Finnegan to dive in after Balthazar, but the DM may want to make a henchmen morale check to do so.  Of course, sticking around means facing a dragon, so maybe he'd prefer to jump through the portal.

Sorry, thought I answered that but see I didn't. Yes you can get to the portal and jump through. Just make sure you pause to see what is on the other side...or not:)

Ulfr in inclined to agree with Balthazar on this one, and Miroslav was his captain... he plunges through the portal after Miroslav.

Didn't realize anything through the portal was visible.  Balthazar takes that pause to see ...

The draco-lich's attention is drawn to Loukas and he fills his chest ready to spew flame but it is too soon in this new body. The heat has not built up yet.

As the flames build the dragon feels the blades of two frost swords slice into his body. Steam mixed with blood bellow from the two wounds as the dragon roars in pain. The Pecheneg archers all loose arrows at the dragon and all but one fail to find soft flesh.

Ulfr follows Miroslav into the portal as Balthazar stops short at the edge and looks in.

With his great foreclaws the dragon reaches for Loukas but only manages to tear at him a little as the Brother of Veles slips away. The great head of the beast whips around and his jaws slash at the Magyar catching him on his left shoulder. He gives him a quick shake like a dog with a rabbit and the magyar falls to the ground but is able to retain his footing.

Dragon is injured but still more than able to fight. Ulfr and Miroslav are gone through the portal. Balthazar is looking through the portal. Brother Finnegan is unsure of what he wants to do and waits for a moment. Thorn. Loukas and A'Kos still stand facing the dragon.

Loukas fears that escape without destroying the Liche will only result in the Mad Arab eventually coming after them. Given what is going on in their world this seems like leaving an enemy like this behind them is hardly better than having actually recovered THE Holy Grail from him.

Since A'kos's and Thorn's strikes seem to have good effect, the Brother of Veles attempts to strike again from the great Draco-Liche-thingy's flank and as he does so he sings out, "May the merry waters of Veles' cool your sad flames and end your unlife, Mad One!"

Seeing Loukas stay where he is and continue his assault against the lich-dragon, Thorn smiles and does likewise. He too does not wish the Mad Arab to follow them, and so he swings again - and swings true.

21:17, Today: Thorn rolled 20 using 1d20+7. attack roll, longsword.
21:17, Today: Thorn rolled 26 using 1d20+7. attack roll, longsword.
21:17, Today: Thorn rolled 11 using 1d12+9. dmg.
21:17, Today: Thorn rolled 10 using 1d12+9. dmg.


OOC: Two hits! Two crappy damage rolls!! :(

"..."  Not sure if the rest of the group can hear Ulfr through the portal or not.

Damn, just made it!

22:32, Today: Balthazar the Hedonite rolled 18 using 1d20.

Balthazar stays sane and decides not to jump through the portal.  "Grail's lost, probably our friends too."

Balthazar tags the dragon with a 5 dice magic missile.

22:34, Today: Balthazar the Hedonite rolled 19 using 5d4+5.

"Finnegan fall back into the hall, away from any potential dragon breath."

Finnegan backs way out and is on reserve.

18:20, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 20 using 1d12+8 with rolls of 12. dmg 1.

18:19, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 17 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 12. to hit 2.

18:19, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 6 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 1. to hit 1.


A'kos takes another couple of whacks.  misses on the first w/ a natty 1.  Good grief.

Balthazar invites everyone to play 'Spin the Grail' while we wait for the combat to resume.

You guys did enough collective damage to change the course of the dracolich's actions this round. I actually thought i had a couple of you this go round until I did the math

A great rumble can be heard from the belly of the undead dragon creature and the rotten innards of the beast begin to glow as it's temperature rises. It looks towards the Brother of Veles and prepares to exhale a flaming reply tot he monks insults when it is hit by the magic missile attack of the Hedonite followed by two strikes from Thorn and a single but very heavy sword stroke from the Falcon. Loukas is able to strike the beast as well.

Instead of letting the fire flow the dracolich retreats a few steps and with a flurry of gestures from it's fore-claws in the air and a some strange draconic speech, it vanishes form sight.

The hall goes silent but retains much of the warmth that the dracolich had created in his attempt at billowing fire. The portal is still open but no sign of Ulfr or Miroslav.

A sense of strong sense of relief passes over Loukas when the Mad Arab disappears. He goes to a knee and utters a semi-prayer. Standing after having caught his breath and recovering himself somewhat he glances at the portal, "I hope we are somehow managing to collect some powerful friends through these adventures, because, comrades, we seem to be acquiring powerful enemies at an appalling rate."

Moving to the portal he looks through in an attempt to see if he can determine where it leads and whether or not Miroslav and Ulfr are visible.

A'kos joins the monk in searching the portal, concerned at Miro and Ulfr's fates.

"Without enemies, the world would be a boring place," he muses, half aloud.  "Though, I suspect, a peaceful one."

"Yeah, I'm not going to rest easy until we figure out where our friend the Mab Arab has gone.  Well, I doubt we'll be able to rescue our friends or the Grail, but what do you guys think?"  Balthazar has already looked into the portal and barely avoided insanity; he has no wish to do so again.

Both Loukas and A'Kos rush over to the portal and look through.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:45, Mon 02 Mar 2015.

Ulfr...

In reply to Nestor (msg # 309):


Loukas into the portal begins to respond to Balthazar, "Yes, that will..."

But he pauses with an audible gasp.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:18, Mon 02 Mar 2015.

The eyes of Loukas glaze over as the madness comes over him. He does not howl and  drool or even run away. Instead he sits down right next to the portal and goes silent.

A'kos looks in with Loukas and...

13:15, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 11 using 1d20. Madness Roll.

ooc: Uh Oh...

A'Kos drops to the floor of the chamber next to Loukas. His face goes blank and his eyes also glaze over. It is not that they are terrified, it is more along the lines of having seen something that they cannot fully take in.

OOC:  Weeee!!!!!  This is, ah, interesting...?

ooc: Nothing like a sentient pool of vomit to make things - as you say - interesting...

Seeing his friends sit and stare, Balthazar sighs, and wonders about the mental faculties of his friends.  He goes and once more looks through the portal to see what is happening to his other friends and the Grail.

He also calls to Brother Finnegan, "Without looking into the portal, please take these gentlemen downstairs."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:23, Tue 03 Mar 2015.

Brother Finnegan gently escorts Loukas and A'Kos down the staircase leaving Balthazar and Thorn alone in the much damages upper chamber. This room, while tore up from the battle and from having a huge dragon roiling around in it, is still full of the treasure and lab equipment of the Mad Arab.

"If it's all the same to you, I shall pass on even so much as a glance into the portal, as having a whole party of drooling idiots - well, drooling more than usual - does not exactly lend itself to progress.

Now, as to this loot-strewn chamber...where do you want to start?"

Thorn will take a look around and then cast Detect Magic. Although he expects most everything will light up, perhaps some will stand out from the rest.

PM

Just as Thorn casts his spell to detect magic two heads pop out of the portal, Miroslav and Ulfr climb from the portal and stand next to it. Miroslav carries the grail in his hand.

The room fairly glows with the magic contained. It will take a while to gather the items up and look through them

Miroslav smiles and holds up the jewel goblet and says..."I believe this is what we came for?"

He then looks around and frowns..."A'Kos, Loukas, Finnegan? The Lich?"

Ulfr stands with a huge smile splitting his face, grinning from ear to ear.  "Yes!  Where have our companions got to?"  He spares a glance over his shoulder, "And, does anyone know aught of closing mystic portals?  I'm thinking we may not want to have this one open."

"Good to see the two of you!  And thanks for not making me go in there!  Finnegan escorted A'kos and Loukas downstairs, they weren't looking too good.  So what happened in there?  How did you manage to get the grail?  Oh, and the lich teleported away.  I'm sure he hasn't gone too far, so let's get this stuff and then figure out our next move."

Miroslav smiles when he hears that Loukas and A'Kos are not dead then replies to Balthazar...:"I never lost my grip on the grail, jsut my footing. I held ontot he thing for dear life once I fell through."

He holds the cup up once again and says..."Does this thing not posse4ss healing properties? Can we help our friends with it?"

Then looking back at the open portal..."Ulfr has never been wiser, we need that shut as soon as possible. If we came through it who knows what will follow."

As Thorn takes in the effect of his spell he is surprised by a strong pulse of magic directly overhead in what must be the chamber above the room you are in. There is a staircase along the wall that would seem to lead tot he next level. It has been damaged by the dracolich but is still usable.

Balthazar directs Miroslav down the stairs so he can use the Grail on the insane people.  Then he tries to figure out how to shut the portal.

"Mommy"  mumble, mumble, mumble  "Mommy"

Miroslav goes down the stairs to look in on his wounded friends. Without wasting a second he hurries from the building and fills the grail with snow. He quickly comes back in and holds the grail over one of the braziers melting the snow to liquid.

He first sets the grail to the lips of A'Kos then to Loukas's lips. Both me instantly snap out of their stupor and not only that but their wounds are completely healed.

Seeing the effects of the grail on his friends, Miroslav sips a bit of the water himself and smiles as he feels his wounds mend.

Smiling at his now healed comrades he says..."We best join our friends up stairs and get that potal closed...also get everyone healed up with this magical cup!"

Balthazar whips out his wand of negation, points it at the portal, and zaps it.

From the DMG

Wand of Negation: This device operates to negate the spell or spell-like
function(s) of rods, staves, wands and other magical items. The individual
with the negation wand points the device, and a pale gray beam shoots
forth to touch the target - device or individual. This will totally negate any
wand function, and make any other spell or spell-like function from a
device 75% likely to be negated, whether it is a low-level spell, or even if
it is an ultra-powerful spell. Operation of the wand requires but 1 segment
of a round. It can function but once per round, and each negation drains 1
charge. The wand cannot be recharged.

Balthazar's wand of negation does just what it is supposed to do and the portal winks out of existence.

Darkness and a maelstrom of emotion swirl within the confines of the Magyar's mind, terrifying him beyond his capacity to endure.  Frozen, like a lamb beneath the wolf's gaze, he awaits the fall of doom.  Eons and seconds pass timelessly, the moments a torment to him.

A sudden shock of cold, pure and clean, pulls him forth.  Light surrounds him, gentle and unsullied, without color.  A calm whisper, wordless, recalls to him senses.  As if his eyes opened for the first time, he looks up and sees the cup held in Miro's large hand.  Tasteless, he savors the rich flavor of the water within the grail, smiles wanly as brief recollections of his imprisonment within a cage of insanity flee, troubling him no more.

Pensive, he stands, reflects silently on the powers he's mingled with, understanding neither, fearing both.  He says nothing as Miro leads the way once again upstairs, though his heart skips as he gazes upon the portal once more - he does not draw near, having tasted already the consequences of such an action...rather he awaits Balthazar, hoping fervently the puissant mage can indeed close the portal to whatever realm lay open beyond.

Once the spell his complete, he releases breath he did not realize he'd been holding in a great sigh of relief.

Balthazar too realizes he was holding his breath and starts to breathe easily now.  He turns to face his comrades:

"Gentlemen, I want to thank you all for following me on this quest.  The Grail is a priceless artifact of healing, and it is especially important to me and other Hedonites.  Our life style tends to involve injury - caution isn't exactly our motto - and the Grail is the perfect antidote.  I see 3 options for us:
1) We keep it for ourselves and bring it on our adventures, at least for a time.
2) We bring it to the Vatican.  I'm skeptical that they'd allow anybody access to it, and that it's healing powers may go to waste.
3) We bring it to the Hedonite Headquarters in Jerusalem.  They will *richly* reward us for this artifact, I can assure you.

As you think over your answer, remember that the Mad Arab is vanquished, but not beaten.  We will yet have to deal with him.  In the meantime, let's grab all the other treasure, and someone needs to investigate the top floor of this tower."

Balthazar casts detect magic.

Ulfr grins and shakes his shaggy head in admiration as Balthazar quickly deals with the looming threat of the portal.  "Marvelous!" he exclaims.

He lets out a cry of exultation as the others return.  "Aye!  So the cup has helped indeed!"  He suddenly takes note of his own wounds suffered, ignored to this point in the battle and his aethereal joy ride.

In reply to Miroslav (msg # 330):

The world Loukas thought he knew was one of potential. One could make things happen, sure, but things happened even if one did nothing and from those things came other things. This is why he felt drawn to Veles the god of wealth and song and magick -- the god of things made. The god of promise and potential.

However, when he looked through that portal he saw not only a terrifyingly horrible visage, he saw futility. He saw destruction and obliteration. The god he saw, whomever it is, exerted a potency that destroyed any possibility for anything but obliteration to exist.

His world view was so twisted and torn by the view that it ripped apart everything. He could not form a thought as each time he began it seemed to fly apart. Being a willful fellow he continued trying to form thoughts. A word or two or three would form and then it would be flayed apart by the sight he recalled. Confusion. Nothing.

He felt water on his lips. He felt water in his throat. As his body swallowed there seemed to rise a glorious warmth. The warmth rose from his belly to his head and as it did so words came together and as the words condensed a sentence formed and this time it barreled to a conclusion, What... The... Fuck... Is...

As he is completing the sentence in his mind he realizes that it is Miroslav in front of him holding a beautiful chalice. His eyes brighten and an enormous relieved smile washes over his face and Loukas blurts, "That?" Enough time for a relieved breath passes and as he jumps forward as he is letting the breath out hugging the big Rus like a child seeing his father for the first time in years.

"By the Gods!", he says as he is joyfully hugging, "Miroslav!" Realizing what he is doing and that A'kos and Ulfr are also present he steps back, "Good to see you fellows too!"

When Ulfr makes his exclamation he looks around taking stock of things, "Thank the Woolly One, it does! You're okay, A'kos?"

Once the four have rejoined the rest of the party he greets everyone abashedly realizing as they move up the stairs that he has pissed himself and who knows what else since looking through that horrible portal. He is careful where he stands when the return.

When Balthazar asks his questions he sighs, "I don't know. Should we not give it back to The Fisher King?

"The Mad Arab still exists and having seen what I have seen I know that this is not the worst news. What he was trying to unleash whether by perverting the power of the Grail or whatever his plan was was far worse than having pissed him off."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:03, Thu 12 Mar 2015.