Turren keeps his place in the march as they proceed.

Caith keeps a hand to the left wall from the moment she passes beyond the doorway, and lets her eyes adjust to the gloomier light of the passageways, watching where she puts her feet, and listening for the sound of descending wings over the rush of feet.

The sight of Alphail in front of her keeps her own feet moving forward, as Caith reluctantly admits to herself that this is the truth of what he told her before the wedding, that clan and country come before one couple's wishes.

He is enough though, enough for me, and that is more worth fighting for... she thinks to herself, and keeps moving, counting intersections and turns as she goes, a trail of greasy deer fat streaks and handprints on the wall behind her.

In reply to Aphail MacRoach (msg # 2):

"You heard it too then. Not sure where its from, but something is ahead of us or we're being followed. Something tells me that we are expected."
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:29, Fri 18 Sept 2020.

Osric moves ahead cautiously, eyes scanning for danger his highly tuned Combat Instincts primed for assault.  He grips Ghost Eye tightly and prays silently to the old gods to bring some fair toe to toe battle rather than this skulking and creeping in the dark.

OOC Osric and I suspect Aphail and others can track. Is there any sign of recent passage through the maze?

Usopi, from his position behind Gat and ahead of Aphail, ensured that his shield hand was always the one less restricted by the confines of the maze. If any threat came from above or from the walls around them his shield would be ready to provide cover, not only for his own body but to those of the companions nearest him. If an attack came from the front or the rear he would have more time to figure out how to react or to prepare a strike.

"Have we any choice but to advance? We might leave the leftmost path at the next opportunity, but we would also be leaving our interpretation of the ghost's warning. We might retreat, but as you say it may be behind us, and if not we would simply be back where we began." Usopi asked, eyes narrowing as he tried to look past Osric's broad form to the path ahead of them.

Doron sheaths his sword and draws his dagger instead as he follows the party into the claustrophobic passageway.



He nods at Aphail and Deise's words, and after a brief moment of thought, whispers in a low voice. "Our party is too large. Strings out too far in this dark godforsaken maze. We should move together in 3 groups of 4 each. Each group to possess lanterns or torches to be lit if needed."

The prince turns to the Usopi, then looks down at his faithful hound Gat. "My good man. Any way we can have him venture ahead as a scout, while we follow behind?" He turns back to Aphail. "And mayhap you good sir can move ahead and look for tracks? See which way we should go?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:20, Fri 18 Sept 2020.

In reply to Prince Doron (msg # 6):

Deise raises a surprised eye as the Prince speaks with a calm and sensible authority that seems at odds with the rakish tales all have heard. Surprised that the Chief has been silent and wondering if there is some power play here between the rightful heir and the ambitious clan chief.

“Aye your highness. Right ye are. What you have asked of Aphail up front, I’ll happily do on the rear. I’m sure he don’t need the likes ‘O me to tell ye this feels like like a snare. With us all lined up ready to be plucked from front, top and behind. Perhaps if I can offer counsel, that when we split we remain with sight of the lamplight glare?”

Leaf makes her way into position in the middle group, using the light from her CANDLE to see in front of her.

'As long as by "scouting ahead" one means two paces ahead, and as long as our three groups remain at arm's reach of each, it all seems reasonable,' Sir Turren muses quietly to the gloom.

Being central he trains his Javelin up so that anything descending upon the middle unit will be spitted for Leaf and Giles to roast at their leisure.

'I suggest we keep keep mobile, Your Highness,' the knight mentions to Prince Doron. 'If anyone gets attacked we might consider fighting on the move where possible. Take it or leave it.'

An unwelcome memory flashes back to Turren. He inwardly banishes the red-hot screams and raining oil, returning to this quieter, colder hell.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:37, Sun 20 Sept 2020.

Confused by her own cause of concern coming home to roost at high speed, Caith swiftly looks upwards, but sees no attack from above incoming, and turns to look back at Alphail in inquiry, following his gaze.



Caith nods glumly in agreement with Deise, as his reasoning is difficult to argue with and reluctantly mutters the conclusion of "...Or both." in reply.

Alphail nods in agreement with Deise and Caith's answers, then looks to Colm for a moment as if to ask a question when Doron speaks.



The hunter quietly says "Aye." to this plan, and if startled by the young prince's air of command, shows no sign of it.



"Aye." Alphail replies, glad the knight has considered that difficulty as well, and moves up front quietly after offering "The one who gave us the clue may not know anything after his death of this place..."

He shrugs and finishes his remark "...So it's worth looking for newer signs of intruders than him."



Alphail nods and moves closer to the front to look for tracks.



The hunter looks somewhat dubious about this precise order lasting ten seconds in a battle...



...Let alone in a running battle, but remains silent and offers no argument against the Knight's plan.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:53, Sun 20 Sept 2020.

Caith listens, gathers her unlit lantern and hangs it from her staff.
She whispers to Alphail "Does 'Now' count as 'When needed' or nay?"

"Maybe. Better light it and lend me it, while I take a look about, Aye?" Alphail answers in a reassuring whisper, hiding his worry at the indecision in her tone.

Doron watches in quiet appreciation as the party considers and then accepts the plan, with several individuals stepping up with various suggestions to improve on it and bring it further. The prince is quickly reminded of how this group of brave men and women gathered and was formed, not at anyone's command or any compulsion, but willingly, risking life and limb for a cause they each believed in, in his or her own manner. He thought to himself: Perhaps...if Brigantia be willing, we would all survive this hellish place and finally get to enjoy the rightful fruits of our sacrifice together. Perhaps...



Doron nods at Deise. "Our rear will be well-watched with you there Deise." He turns to look towards the front and rear of the party. "And yes, individuals of each group should keep within the group's own lamplight. If anything were to happen, each group should try to keep within sight of the other 2 groups."


The prince nods in agreement and appreciation. "We are indeed well-served with you at the head of our column Aphail."


Doron nods in agreement with the knight. "Right. Let's keep moving everyone."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:40, Sun 20 Sept 2020.

Colm glowered under hooded eyes as the Prince stepped up, he still did not trust that the Prince was not some stooge of Kilndeds and that this entire disaster still lay at the feet of that old spider....but he could not fault Doron for finding himself out her in the vast...

He looked to his cousin and Leofwyn wondering if they, or his old friend Brannon, or even the strange southerner Giles could feel the darkness of this place eating into their bones like he could...it was taking all his concentration not to let the flames of his Goddess loose and burn this entire place to the ground....
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:46, Sun 20 Sept 2020.

At the front of the group Gat suddenly stiffened and belled even as Aphail saw a slight ripple in the shadows at the upcoming junction.

To the rear Deises eyes scanned behind the group and as he heard Gats alert he also noted a slight discrepency in the way the shadows lay behind them...damn, they were good.



OOC:

Ok, we be in combat.  Only Gat, Aphail and Deise have seen anything but everyone knows there is something about 30m away from Aphail/Deise.

Enemy Initiative is 16. If your reflexes are higher than that feel free to post an action.

Well, at least both groups screwing up their stealth rolls meant you guys didn't get a Shock Attack on you.

07:47, Today: GM rolled 10 using 2d10.  STEALTH 24 - PER 13/12.
07:47, Today: GM rolled 15 using 2d10.  STEALTH 24 - PER 13/12.
07:47, Today: GM rolled 11 using 2d10.  STEALTH 24 - PER 13/12.
07:47, Today: GM rolled 15 using 2d10.  STEALTH 24 - PER 13/12.
07:47, Today: GM rolled 10 using 2d10.  STEALTH 24 - PER 13/12.
07:47, Today: GM rolled 2 using 2d10.  STEALTH 24 - PER 13/12.

In reply to Colm Cernach (msg # 15):

"Well chief, your Prince has found his balls at last. Better late than never, eh Chief.
We'd best hang back and let other two groups move on. Somethin's here. I just feel it. 'Tis close in the dark, maybe just behind us. I'll be the eyes in the back 'ye're head, right. If I say "NOW", close ye're eyes then when you here the bang, attack with all ye got.."

Uthen turned and, nocking an arrow snapped a shot over Colms left shoulder...

The shaft thudded into one of the advancing figures, but there was no cry of pain.

OOC:

15:50, Today: GM, on behalf of Sir Uthen of Sadley, rolled 6 using 1d6.  ABR.

15:49, Today: GM, on behalf of Sir Uthen of Sadley, rolled 11 using 1d20.  ATT 18 - MOD 6.

Alphail looks twice at the darkness, whispers "Trouble!" to Usopi, then swiftly drops lower to the ground to place the lantern close to the left wall. The arrow that comes to his now free hand is one of his own crafting, and it takes but a moment to light it from the lantern, and string it to fire.

The shaft flew true striking one of the hidden figures and setting its clothing afire for a moment or so...it did not cry out but the flickering flames illuminated three forms.

OOC: Alphail is aiming low with a fire arrow. Why? Kneecap height if it hits, lighting up the attackers for a little while if not.




Lsr Fire Arrows -4ATT, -2ABR, +d4

18:16, Today: GM, on behalf of Aphail MacRoach, rolled 3 using 1d6-2.  ABR.

18:16, Today: GM, on behalf of Aphail MacRoach, rolled 5 using 1d20.  ATT 13 - MOD 6.

18:17, Today: GM, on behalf of Aphail MacRoach, rolled 4 using 1d4.  Fire Damage. -8 hp.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:19, Mon 21 Sept 2020.

Brannon moves as if to ready his bow, then realising that he hasn't a hope of hitting anything in this darkness, readies his sword and shield instead, peering in the direction that Deise is looking.

In reply to Brannon Darrow (msg # 20):

Seconds after jesting with Colm, Deise drops to a crouch, dagger ready to throw. Poised to JUMP at the hidden foe if necessary.

A razored rain of cresent moon blades materialised out of the darkness and thudding into those in the front ranks.  Most of them were stopped by superior armour, but three struck home.

Gat stumbled slightly but shrugged off the effects as he snarled and charged the enemy.

Aphail and Deise slumped to the ground immediately.

[5 blank lines suppressed]

OOC:

18:31, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 1, rolled 3,3 using 1d20,1d2+1. -2 hp Gat.
18:31, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 1, rolled 6,2 using 1d20,1d2+1.
18:30, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 1, rolled 2,2 using 1d20,1d2+1.


18:34, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 2, rolled 8,3 using 1d20,1d2+1.
18:34, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 2, rolled 1,2 using 1d20,1d2+1. -2 hp Aphail.
18:34, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 2, rolled 9,3 using 1d20,1d2+1.


18:36, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 3, rolled 12,2 using 1d20,1d2+1.
18:36, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 3, rolled 5,2 using 1d20,1d2+1.
18:36, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 3, rolled 17,3 using 1d20,1d2+1. Osric unhurt.


18:38, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 4, rolled 2,2 using 1d20,1d2+1.
18:38, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 4, rolled 17,3 using 1d20,1d2+1.
18:38, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 4, rolled 8,3 using 1d20,1d2+1. -2 hp Deise.


18:41, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 5, rolled 11,3 using 1d20,1d2+1. Brannon unhurt.
18:40, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 5, rolled 10,2 using 1d20,1d2+1.
18:40, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 5, rolled 7,2 using 1d20,1d2+1.


18:43, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 6, rolled 19,2 using 1d20,1d2+1.
18:43, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 6, rolled 16,2 using 1d20,1d2+1. Colm unhurt.
18:43, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 6, rolled 15,3 using 1d20,1d2+1.

Poison Save:

19:05, Today: GM, on behalf of Deise, rolled 16 using 3d6. Fail. Drops to 0 hp unconcious
19:04, Today: GM, on behalf of Aphail MacRoach, rolled 13 using 3d6. Fail. Drops to 0 hp unconcious
19:04, Today: GM, for the NPC Gat, rolled 9 using 3d6. Succeeds

In reply to GM (msg # 22):

OOC: to what extent does Amulet of Sovereignty over Violence help mitigate the damage:?

“Ugghh, . . . Damn . . .”

OOC:

You take 1 hp dam from the blade. It doesn't protect against the poison.

In reply to GM (msg # 24):

Giles casts Darksight and scans the direction which the attack came from

Doron grits his teeth and curses under his breath as sounds of battle breaks out both from the front and the rear of the party. Via the crazy lantern light, the prince gets a vague sense that someone has been downed at each of the two ends.

He looks to the back of the column as his calm voice rings out clearly to his companions. "HeathFather! Sir Uthen! Fighting retreat! Armor to the rear! Bring the wounded! To me!" Doron claps Turren on one of his polished pauldron and looks into the clear calm eyes of the raven-haired knight beside him. The prince nods at at the knight and gestures towards the back of the party. "Help them Turren. They need you. Bring everyone. Nobody gets left behind."

Drawing his sword, Doron pushes past Leofwyn and Caith, moving forward quickly to the front of the party. He takes a quick look at Aphail on the ground, then looks up and charges the enemy.

OOC: As fast as he can, Doron moves to the front of the party. When he sees that Osric and Usopi have charged forward, he will join in too and charge the enemy.

Leofwyn looks to the group at the back and sees a body on the ground. She then shifts her eyes forward to see a similar scene.

Leofwyn turns to Caith, and offers the first idea that enters her mind. "If you go forward, and I go back, we could try to drag whoever has been hit, back here to the middle ground."


(If Caith agrees:)

Grateful for her CANDLE spell freeing up her hands, Leaf runs back towards the slumped figure on the ground. "Oh no, Deise.." she whispers as she grips his arms to pull him back to the middle ground, and hopefully Caith's healing.

As the scouts and Gat seemed to spot something Usopi tensed, waiting for the shoe to drop. The shower of blades flying in from up ahead sent Aphail falling, but Gat rushed forward on the attack. Usopi charged ahead as well, using the flames Aphail’s arrow had set on the enemy’s form to help aim his assault.

"Aye." Caith answers curtly as she moves as swiftly as she can, twisting shape into a leaping wolf that follows her lantern's light to Alphail's still form on the ground.

OOC: Caith looks for signs of life, injury, anything she can see to explain the sudden change from active combatant to falling down and comatose before carrying/dragging Alphail back from the firing line and out of the lamp light.

When she finds a fingernail moon of metal wedged through gaps his brigandine's plates, and an unknown substance coating it, the she wolf's muzzle wrinkles at the scent, her lupine eyes narrow, and she leaps again, this time carrying a comatose hunter grasped by the scruff of their warcoat with her. Seconds later he lies next to Deise.

The wolf's senses finds another blade, twin to the first.

The wolfwitch shifts form, and with hands emerging into being from fur and claws plucks the slivers of blood slick metal away from her stricken comrades, holds them aloft and whispers a single multi-syllable word in a tongue that is but fragments of a once vast language of creation.

OOC: Caith casts ANTIDOTE to break down the substance that afflicts Alphail and Deise.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:02, Thu 24 Sept 2020.

Colm sent small bursts of flame up into the air to fall as embers illuminating the area.

In reply to Colm Cernach (msg # 30):

Osric, Gat and Usopi dashed forwards towards the enemy even as Caith came up and dragged Aphail back away from the field.

Doron slips past the others in the narrow confines and follows Osric and co. some 10m behind.

As Leofwyn moves back she is followed by Turren and Giles, she reaches Deise as the two men join up with Uthen and Brannon and begin to approach the enemy at the rear.

OOC:


Current Positions:

DH1
DH2,DH3
(10m)
Gat,Osric,Usopi
(10m)
Doron
(10m)
Colm
Caith, Aphail
Leofwyn,Deise
Turren,Giles
(5m)
Uthen,Brannon
(20m)
DH4,DH5
DH6.

Ok Everyone at the front end can close and engage this round, passageway is only 2 people wide.  Those at the rear can full move to close but not engage this round.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:56, Thu 24 Sept 2020.

Usopi pushed onward, getting in front of Gat. The hound was strong and tough, but the knight saw no need for Gat to stand on the front lines. Besides, if the fighting toward the rear of their line took a turn for the worse Gat would be able to reach them much faster than any of the bipedal fighters.

He swung with his mace the moment he got within range of the figures who'd ambushed their group.

Osric’s snarl matches Gat’s as he charges forward and closes the gap to their opponents. His finely honed Combat Instincts are poised to anticipate his foe’s every move.  He cleaves mightily at the same ambusher Usopi is striking at, keen to blood his magnificent silver blade and to wipe away the taint of cowardice he experienced on the approach to Nem.

OOC 19:41, Today: Osric Grim rolled 11,12 using 1d20,1d10+4.  Ghost Eye, ABR for hopefully a massive 9HP damage! That hits DEF 13 so fingers crossed we can strike back! "

Sir Turren salutes the prince with growing respect and falls in with Leaf and Giles, helping as needed, but ready to break into combat at a blink. He follows his orders to the letter.

As Leaf begins hauling Deise backwards, her eyes catch a glimpse of the figures, illuminated by Colm's cinders.

Wanting to help, but not wanting to do any of her friends harm, she looks around for anything she might be able to use. Her eyes came to the strange plants at the top of the wall, and without thinking too much about the nature of these plants, she attempts to call on them to aide her and her companions.

OOC: Leaf casts ROOTS for 5MP.

Brannon glances uneasily at Uthen and gives him a curt nod. "I lack your martial prowess, Sir Uthen, but I shall do my best. The Hearthmother bless and protect us..."

Otherwise he keeps his eyes on the enemy, sword and shield at the ready to engage them.

Colm called on the elemental forces of air to still his mind and stimulate currents of thought and intellect.

In reply to Colm Cernach (msg # 37):

Assuming Giles Darksight spell takes effect he will follow up with a casting of Mystic Blast at the nearest adversary he can “see”

2nd Round:

Caith drops the twin blades into the rag on her lap, ties and scoops the bundle aside for now then puts a hand to Alphail's throat, feeling for a pulse, and listening to his breathing, hoping and praying that her cobbled together shambles of an antidote did the trick.

The hedgewitch turns to Deise and repeats her rapid examination, murmuring the same  word as she tries to heal a hurt she barely comprehends, working by instinct and experience as much as reasoning now.

OCC: Caith casts ANTIDOTE on Deise.

Caith hurriedly pulls a green glass bottle from one of her many belt pouches, and slices the wax sealing it's stopper open with a thumbnail as she drags the stealthy little man into a more upright position against her, intent on slowly pouring a healing elixir down his throat.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:03, Fri 25 Sept 2020.

Sir Uthen moved forward engaging the enemy beside Brannon as his opponents did the same. His opponent ducked under the blow easily as he lunged forward.

Two daggers flew out of the darkness towards both Giles and Doron both struck the men in the chest but their armour prevented any real harm.

There was a flurry of blades at both ends of the group, the four pairs of fighters weaved and ducked but most were unable to land a blow, Usopi found an opening and thrust at his enemys heart, he hit but the blow was stymied by something beneath its sable outfit.  His enemy slid its own blade along his own with sickening force driving the point of its blade straight through his breastplate. Osrics blade cut effortlessly into the dark form before him but he saw no blood issue from the wound. Brannon fought valiantly but failed to land a hit.

Giles focused his internal energies and glared at one of the forms before him...

Leofwyn calls on her command of nature and some of the vines descend and wrap around one of the cloaked forms holding it fast.

Gat darted forth between Usopis legs and lunged at his masters attacker, but his fangs weren't able to penetrate.

Doron nocked an arrow and fired at the figure that threw a dagger at him. The shaft flew true but there was no reaction from the struck figure to show it even felt it.

Colms intellect and senses sharpened in response to his dweomer.

Unable to directly engage, Turren nocked one of his fae arrows and fired at the one who had attacked Giles. The arrow thudded hard into the centre of the figures chest with no reaction.

Having now brought Aphail back to conciousness, Caith turned to Deise and cast the same dweomer on him.


OOC:

DH1
DH2,DH3
Gat,Osric,Usopi
Doron
(10m)
Colm
Caith, Aphail
Leofwyn,Deise
(5m)
Turren,Giles
Uthen,Brannon
DH4,DH5
DH6.



16:16, Today: GM, on behalf of Sir Uthen of Sadley, rolled 10,6 using 1d20,1d8.  ATT 18 - DEF 10.


20:47, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 6, rolled 12,1 using 1d20,1d3.  ATT 18 - MOD 4.Hits Giles but fails ABR.

20:46, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 1, rolled 4,2 using 1d20,1d3.  ATT 18 - MOD 4. Hits Doron but fails ABR.

21:00, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 5, rolled 13,6 using 1d20,1d8.  ATT 18 - DEF 8. vs Brannon. Miss.

20:58, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 4, rolled 10,8 using 1d20,1d8.  ATT 18 - DEF 13. vs Uthen. Miss.

20:57, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 3, rolled 6,8 using 1d20,1d8.  ATT 18 - DEF 10. vs Usopi. Hit.
21:02, Today: GM, on behalf of Usopi Venia, rolled 5 using 1d6.  Shield. Fail. -4 hp Usopi.

20:55, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 2, rolled 2,2 using 1d20,1d8.  ATT 18 - DEF 18. vs Osric. Miss.

Caith casts Antidote on Aphail restoring him to conciousness on 1 hp.  Next round she will do the same for Deise.

19:41, Today: Osric Grim rolled 11,12 using 1d20,1d10+4. -9 hp to DH2

21:11, Today: GM, on behalf of Usopi Venia, rolled 8,1 using 1d20,1d6.  ATT 18 - DEF 10.

21:14, Today: GM, on behalf of Brannon Darrow, rolled 20,6 using 1d20,1d8.  ATT 13 - DEF 10.

21:11, Today: GM, on behalf of Usopi Venia, rolled 8,1 using 1d20,1d6.  ATT 18 - DEF 10.

21:26, Today: GM, on behalf of Giles, rolled 19 using 2d10.  SPD 16 vs EVA 6.Miss.


09:46, Today: GM, for the NPC Gat, rolled 20,1 using 1d20,1d4.  ATT 20 - DEF 0.

22:34, Yesterday: GM, on behalf of Leofwyn, rolled 6 using 2d10.  SPD 16 vs EVA 6.

22:34, Yesterday: GM, on behalf of Leofwyn, rolled 18 using 2d10.  SPD 16 vs EVA 6.

09:56, Today: GM, on behalf of Prince Doron, rolled 3,2 using 1d20,1d6+1.  ATT 19 - MOD 4.


10:23, Today: GM, on behalf of Sir Turren Uvedale, rolled 4,5 using 1d20,1d6+3.  ATT 20 - MOD 4. - 7 hp to DH6.

This message was last edited by the GM at 00:34, Sat 26 Sept 2020.

Teeth grit, Sir Turren lets off a second fey arrow at the same vile knave, keen to give Giles heavy fire support.

'Giles if you need to switch with me in a beat, say the word my man!'

In reply to Sir Turren Uvedale (msg # 41):

“My thanks Sir Turren all is well at present” Giles takes the chance of another casting of Mystic Blast- and narrowly avoids psychic overload. Biting hard on his lip he resolves to use his sword in future rounds
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:47, Sat 26 Sept 2020.

Osric’s eyebrows arch in surprise that his foe still stands after his first mighty blow.  He quickly reverses his blade and deals a brutal backhanded blow aiming to separate his foe from his head!

OOC 17:12, Today: Osric Grim rolled 11,5 using 1d20,1d10+4.  Ghost Eye, ABR for hopefully 9HP damage hits DEF 13

Alphail mutters "Whathefek..." as he finds himself not where he thought he was, and naught but a small bloody wound to show for the clawing that made him weak as a kitten moments ago.

"I am grateful to still be breathing, Lady..." he says in thanks, eyes to the grey canopy the sky hides behind for a second, then cautiously lifts himself a little higher as he looks about, seeking further information on the current state of the expedition.

Leaf's heart lifts as she sees Aphail sit up, and smiles as Caith turns to Diese.

Having immobilised one of the enemies at the back, Leaf turns to see if she can help similarly at the front. Running forward, she looks around for the largest gathering of vines before calling them down, too.

OOC: Leofwyn casts ROOTS for 5MP.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:20, Fri 02 Oct 2020.

Usopi frowned as his attack was absorbed by some sort of armor beneath the enemy’s cloak. Shortly after he winced and inhaled sharply through gritted teeth at the returning blow from his opponent. He steadied himself and then attacked again with his mace, hoping to perform better this time.

Brannon is clearly out of his depth against these warriors. It is all he can do to parry the incoming blows, and he can barely bring his shield to bear, never mind find a gap in their guard.

11:26, Today: Brannon Darrow rolled 18,5,6 using d20,d8,d6.  Sword, ABR, shield, Attack 13

"Aye, ye and all..." Caith says, the gratitude in her tone evident, even if her next words are a scolding "Hold still, ye daft man! By the look of yer palid brow, the claw that struck ye was tipped with more than mere metal, and I nay yet ken with what exactly, but nay anything pleasant."

The hedgewitch drags Deise onto her lap with her right hand, and continues her work of healing.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:18, Thu 01 Oct 2020.

At Caiths healing Aphail rises and nocks an arrow firing at the enemy, focusing his mind to shoot between his companions and into the enemy beyond. But despite the healing his wounds still trouble him and he misses.

Gat tears savagely into the enemies attacking his master, ripping free a huge gobbet of flesh in his wicked jaws.

The enemy closes, their skilled blows striking the companions hard, but it seems they have rarely fought enemies so heavily armoured as blows that would have killed are deflected by breastplates and pauldrons.

Two daggers flew, one glanced off of Dorons breastplate, the other sank deep into Giles shoulder.( -3hp)

Sir Uthen strikes but his blow is ducked but the lightning faced cloaked figure.

Caith heals Aphail and pulls Deise closer to do the same for him.

Leofwyn turns and again calls on nature to aid her, the strange vines seem to resist her call but her wellspring of power will not be denied and the figure who just threw a dagger at Doron finds both its arms pulled up and outward suspending it in the air.

Giles raises an eyebrow at the figure who just hit him with a thrown dagger, the figure suddenly stumbles backwards as if struck heavily about the face...and is swaying slightly.

As Giles enemy is staggered Sir Turren nocks another fay arrow and fires, taking the figure in the centre of the face and dropping it to the ground.

Prince Doron fires another of his heirloom arrows at the figure in the second rank, but the shaft doesn't seem to penetrate fully.

Nodding to Caith, Colm presses a Healing Potion to Aphails lips.

Deise is concious and tries to rise but Caith begs him to wait for healing.

Osric strikes out at his enemy that had just delivered a stunning blow to him, his blade hums with barely contained power as it cuts down through the figure, sundering it in two in a gout of black blood.

Brannon holds out against the assault, but is unable to land a blow. Usopi fares no better.





OOC:

Position:
DH1 (Immobilised)
DH2( Dead),DH3(Wounded)
Gat,Osric,Usopi
Doron
(10m)
Colm
Caith, Aphail
Leofwyn,Deise
(5m)
Turren,Giles
Uthen,Brannon
DH4,DH5
DH6.( Dead)

Initiative:

Aphail
Gat
Dark Hearts
Sir Uthen
Caith
Leofwyn
Giles
Prince Doron
Sir Turren
Colm
Deise
Osric
Brannon
Usopi



08:32, Today: GM, on behalf of Aphail MacRoach, rolled 15 using 1d20.  ATT 18 ( Precise Shot) - MOD 6.Miss.

08:40, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 5, rolled 17,2 using 1d20,1d8+1.  ATT 18 - DEF 8. vs Brannon. Miss.

08:39, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 4, rolled 2,4 using 1d20,1d8+1.  ATT 18 - DEF 13. vs Uthen. Hit. ABR Fail.

08:39, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 3, rolled 8,2 using 1d20,1d8+1.  ATT 18 - DEF 10. vs Usopi. Hit. ABR Fail.

08:39, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 2, rolled 17,5 using 1d20,1d8+1.  ATT 18 - DEF 18. vs Osric. Miss.

08:37, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 6, rolled 11,4 using 1d20,1d3+1.  ATT 18 - MOD 4. Hit. -3 hp Giles.

08:37, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 1, rolled 5,3 using 1d20,1d3+1.  ATT 18 - MOD 4.
Hit. ABR Fail.

08:34, Today: GM, for the NPC Gat, rolled 11,4 using 1d20,1d4.  ATT 20 - DEF 0.

08:48, Today: GM, on behalf of Sir Uthen of Sadley, rolled 11,3 using 1d20,1d8.  ATT 18 - DEF 10. Miss.

Caith: Greater Healing on Aphail.

Leofwyn casts Roots.
08:51, Today: GM, on behalf of Leofwyn, rolled 5 using 2d10.  SPD 16 vs EVA 6.

08:51, Today: GM, on behalf of Leofwyn, rolled 8 using 2d10.  SPD 16 vs EVA 6.


08:57, Today: GM, on behalf of Giles, rolled 9 using 2d10.  SPD 16 vs EVA 6.

08:58, Today: GM, on behalf of Giles, rolled 10 using 3d6-1.

09:01, Today: GM, on behalf of Prince Doron, rolled 11,2 using 1d20,1d6+1.  ATT 19 - MOD 4.

OOC 17:12, Today: Osric Grim rolled 11,5 using 1d20,1d10+4.  Ghost Eye, ABR for hopefully 9HP damage hits DEF 13

In reply to GM (msg # 49):

'Bless you Giles,' Turren calls, 'Bloody nice!'

The knight rushes in now, dropping his bow as Falchorus flashes free in his fists, poised as he comes.

'Brannon! At your service, sir!'

OOC: Sir Turren will aid Brannon, either in melee, relieving Brannon, or at close range with a throw over his shoulder. Sir Turren will throw the magic javelin at Brannon's foe if Brannon does not wish to fall back or can't fall back, or if there is no room in the press yet for Sir Turren. If there is a melee opportunity there, Turren will default to that. Otherwise, go for the throw.

In reply to Caith Cernach (msg # 48):

“Mmm...uuigghhh”
Deise’s body convulses as Caith administers the healing and purges the poison from the tiny and now frail Cornumbrian.
Bile and vomit spew forth as the deadly toxins are expelled in the most sudden and violent way possible. As He  begins to move, Caith presses down to remind him that he is going nowhere just now.
Green eyes wide open, he grabs Caiths wrist tightly and silently lip syncs a sincere “Thank you Caith”

"Thank you, Sir Turren!" Brannon does his best to step back out of the combat and allow the knight past. "Your sword arm is a good way stronger than mine..."

Osric grins fiercely as his mighty enchanted blade hews the fiend in two.  This is what he was born for, the deadly dance. Before his foe’s body has hit the ground he rounds upon the wounded attacker and feints high and low before stabbing his gleaming sword towards his enemy’s midsection.

He grunts at Sir Usopi “Finish the other one!”  motioning with his head towards the entangled attacker.

OOC 21:57, Today: Osric Grim rolled 7,6 using 1d20,1d10+4.  Ghost Eye and ABR for hopefully 9HP damage. Hits DEF 17

Usopi nodded at Osric’s targeting suggestion and pushed forward, intending to move past the wounded enemy in front of them to attack the immobilized target that was now wrapped in vines. Hopefully it would be easier for him to hit this one.

Seeing Osric slice one of the beings in two, Leaf turns around to the back of the group, to see if they need more help. She watches as Turren engages in close combat, and refrains from altering the stones around them, for fear of hitting Turren or Brannon.

She resorts to pulling out her dagger from Deise, but instantly she know she could do no good with it against these beings.

The knife in her hand reminds her of Diese, and so she stows her dagger and kneels down next to Caith. "I can continue assisting Deise if you would like to join the fight. I believe I have done all I can at this time, without putting our own in danger."

Her eyes catch Colm giving Aphail a healing potion, so Leaf shuffles through her pack and pulls out her own potion, "How can I help him?"

Caith looks happier about Alphail's shot missing his comrades than upset that it missed the foe he aimed at, and happier still that she's not missing a husband right now herself.



"Whatever was in ye nay mixed well with whatever is on the edge of their blades." Caith complains to the Cornumbrian, gathering facts even from the stinking mess in front of her.

Despite her angry tone, the looks she gives Deise is a gentle one, and the hand that wipes vomit from his face has no harm in it, as she senses an odd kinship to the angry little man's determination to cheat the reaper in her own dismally bitter nature held in check by only by a fearful hope that the gods ken hearts better than most mere mortals do.



...Nay yet a Hearth Father, well, nay by the city's fancy standards, but still a healer at heart... Caith silently muses philosophically to herself, all while dealing with Deise's malady ...Then there's still hope...

The wolf still looms large in her mind though, a rage at the pack's hurts silently waiting to be unleashed, prowling in the darkness at the edges of her vision even now. It is all she can do not to snarl when Leaf speaks to her, so Caith simply listens at first, silence seeming wiser than words spoken in anger.



"With that..." Caith says softly, her voice huskier than usual with the strain of keeping a human tongue in her mouth, pointing at the bottle in Leaf's hand.

She turns her head to nod towards Colm attending to Alphail, with a similar green glass bottle in hand as she adds in assurance "...Like that, safe now the other agent at work is neutralized."

"Will yer new garden help me rise above this lot without hanging me out like dirty laundry to die?" Caith asks Leaf, an idea glimmering greenly in her own eyes now as she looks upwards to a helping limb of a different kind.

OOC: If Leaf still has power over the vines, then they'll make a good way for Caith and anyone else nimble enough to do so to climb up the wall and get a LOS on the nearest foes.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:24, Tue 06 Oct 2020.

The ashen faced assassin looks apologetically to Caith.“Sorry girl, had to be done. Better out than in. Can you get me back on my feet, those bastards are gonna pay for this . . . I tired of being shat on . . .”

Deise will struggle to first kneel, where he takes out a punch containing a vial marked only with the image of a skull. Unstopped if the contents he coats three throwing stars with poison. “As ye reap so shall ye sow.” whispers the small man with a manic grin.
Checking his belt for access to knives, he pulls a flash pellet and holds it for access in a gloved hand.
Let’s go.

OOC: the healing potion - how much does that restore?

In reply to Deise (msg # 57):

OOC: +7 Health Points back for skulling the entire bottle.
So consider yourself encouraged to drink up... :)

Deise takes advantage of the 5m distance between himself and the group of Turren/Giles/Uthen/Brandon and run up to jump and somersault over the heads of the combatants - seeking to land behind the assailants.

Assuming this succeeds could it be considered as a Shock Attack given that The line of sight between the assailants and Deise is blocked by four of our group?

Aphail fired again, his shaft thudded into the chest of Uthens opponent, but didn't seem to penetrate.

Gat tears savagely into the enemies attacking his master, but his teeth couldn't penetrate the enemies boots.

As Brannon retreats his foe strikes but the blow goes wide, Usopi fends off his own but Uthens foe finds a gap in his armour and rams his blade home in the doughty knight.


Sir Uthen strikes but his injury takes the strength from the blow..

Caith stood and looked towards the melee in both directions, towards one end it seemed to be dying down but where she could hear Turrens voice it was still intense. Colm moves up beside her with an intense expression.

Leofwyn gave Deise a healing potion.

Giles fires his bow but the arrow goes wide.

Prince Doron fires another of his heirloom arrows striking Usopis foe as Usopi rages forward and slaughters the suspended man where he hangs. Osric destroys the staggering figure just after Dorons shaft hits.

Deise takes the proffered Healing Potion and attempts to leap over three rows of active combatants. He runs and easily clears Brannon and Giles, but Uthens sudden upthrust of his shield as he is stabbed throws Deise slightly off course and he almost impacts with the enemy...landing roughly he is unable to release his flash pellet and almost loses his grasp on it.

Brannon holds out against the assault, but is unable to land a blow as he retreats, Sir Turren fills his place but his thrust is evaded.





OOC:

Position:
DH1 (Dead)
DH2( Dead),DH3(Dead)
Gat,Osric,Usopi
Doron
(10m)
Colm
Caith, Aphail
Leofwyn,Deise
(5m)
Turren,Giles
Uthen,Brannon
DH4,DH5
DH6.( Dead)

Initiative:

Aphail
Gat
Dark Hearts
Sir Uthen
Caith
Leofwyn
Giles
Prince Doron
Sir Turren
Colm
Deise
Osric
Brannon
Usopi




17:41, Today: GM, on behalf of Aphail MacRoach, rolled 5,3 using 1d20,1d6.  ATT 18 - MOD 6.

17:45, Today: GM, for the NPC Gat, rolled 6,1 using 1d20,1d4.

17:50, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 5, rolled 20,2 using 1d20,1d8+1.  ATT 18 - DEF 8. vs Brannon. Miss.

17:49, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 4, rolled 8,7 using 1d20,1d8+1.  ATT 18 - DEF 13. vs Uthen. Hit. ( -4 hp Uthen.)

17:51, Today: GM, for the NPC Darkheart 3, rolled 11,7 using 1d20,1d8+1.  ATT 18 - DEF 10. vs Usopi. Miss.


17:57, Today: GM, on behalf of Sir Uthen of Sadley, rolled 18,7 using 1d20,1d8.  ATT 18 - DEF 10. Miss.

Caith: Reconaissance.

Leofwyn heals Deise.

18:03, Today: GM, on behalf of Giles, rolled 17,2 using 1d20,1d6.  ATT 17 - MOD 6.Miss.

18:08, Today: GM, on behalf of Prince Doron, rolled 10,5 using 1d20,1d6+1.  ATT 19 - MOD 6.

21:57, Today: Osric Grim rolled 7,6 using 1d20,1d10+4.  Ghost Eye and ABR for hopefully 9HP damage. Hits DEF 17

19:04, Today: GM, on behalf of Sir Turren Uvedale, rolled 13,3 using 1d20,2d4+1.  ATT 18 - DEF 10.

Deise Jump Skill autoclears 1st Row.
19:17, Today: GM, on behalf of Deise, rolled 19 using 1d20.  Reflexes check to clear 2 rows of combatants. Fail.
19:17, Today: GM, on behalf of Deise, rolled 11 using 1d20.  Reflexes check to clear 3 rows of combatants. Success.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:30, Wed 07 Oct 2020.

In reply to GM (msg # 60):

OOC: 10:44, Today: Deise rolled 31 using 3d20 ((4,8,19))
First two stars hit the assailant, third one is well off the mark

ABR: Today: Deise rolled 2 using 1d2+1 ((1)). 49, Today: Deise rolled 3 using 1d2+1 ((2)).

If they make it past the armour, we get 2HP of damage each, plus Normal Poson.



Deise runs and  asttmble jumps over the heads Turren and Giles, before clipping someghing in the dim air. Just about rights himself before clearing the heads of the enemies.

As he hits the ground he almost loses his grip on the pellet. Struggling to get into a fighting crouch, he flings three glistening stars when time allows.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:58, Wed 07 Oct 2020.

Sir Turren fights on, thrust and counter, steady feet.

With the opponents at the front of the column defeated, Usopi turned to look back toward the rear. There was still the commotion of combat, but no dire cries for aid and more than enough front line fighters freed up to respond to any such calls if they came.

He looked back toward the corner around which their opponents had come from. It was possible that more waited just around the bend, hoping that the warriors at the front would turn and expose their flanks. Instead Usopi pushed forward until he reached the corner and turned to look down the corridor. Hopefully there were no more enemies there.

Caith pats the strange creepers, gently as one would a horse of uncertain temper, then climbs over a thick tendril, and looks to Leofwyn as she says "If ye can persuade this wild thicket here to take me up and over thataway, I'll see what can be done..."

'Thataway', as indicated by her outflung left hand, is towards Turren, and Uthen's end of the fight.

She looks to Colm as she adds with a green eyed glance of reassurance to her cousin  "I will ken the nature of our foes better from up there."

Leofwyn summons one of the vines down to hover next to Caith. As she steps over it, the vine begins to twist and curl around her leg and then waist, holding her fast.

OOC: Leaf casts RAW POWER for ___MP

(GM, feel free to add an MP amount that is appropriate for this. I am leaving the 'success' of this to you as well, as I don't want to take liberties with this spell.)

Aphail fired threading the arrow and striking Turrens opponent in the chest.

Gat nosed at the dead figures on the ground before him.

The two robed figures fought fiercely but Uthen and Usopi struck them down as two more shafts bristled in them from Doron and Brannon and small blades sank into them from the crouched form of Deise behind.

Leofwyn sculpted a ladder of sorts for Caith who climbed well above the fray to see that all was now well.

The maze fell silent once more, even the cries of the hawks had stilled.

Keeping one eye down the passage Osric will search their opponents (or what’s left of them) for anything interesting/useful and to see what manner of foul being they are.

'Right,' Sir Turren watches his opponent drop.

The knight collects his spent magic arrows, using a dagger to ensure they come free intact.

Turren then apologizes to the group in general, and prays aloud as he decapitates each of the fell knights down his end of the column. He blesses each with a simple sign to further discourage any devilish notions of reanimation. Half satisfied, but quite pale for the grim work, he falls into rank.

'Don't rightly trust them,' he eventually offers further justification. Signs himself again.

In reply to Sir Turren Uvedale (msg # 68):

“No apologies Turren, they deserve no better.”

Deise searches the decapitated bodies and then retries his shooting stars from their corpses.

OOC: they are human? Is their anything of significance on them?

In reply to Deise (msg # 69):

Those that search the dead find that they are men, though with skin so pale it is almost translucent and with eyes of solid onyx.

They are armed with iron swords and wear reinforced leathers beneath their cloaks, there are brands of a great eye burned into their skin.

In reply to Deise (msg # 69):
“Turren, take a look at this brand. Can you get Caith, Brannon and Brother Giles, they’ll be wantin to see this.”

Deise moves away from the bodies and closer to colleagues keeping eyes and ears peeled for threats. The sudden quiet is most unsettling.

Usopi kept an eye around the next corner, waiting for the group to be ready to move on. It would not do to be taken by surprise while they nursed their wounds and searched the bodies.

'Caith, Giles, Brannon?' Sir Turren motions, 'friend Deise wants you to view these poor wretches. Osric and Sir Usopi's eyes read right that there could be further ambushes as we linger. We aught to be moving as soon as we're able. We're tactically sound on the move compared to prolonged halts.'

'Says the soldier who just spent time reorganising the dead,' he adds with dry irony, tapping his own breast plate.

Sir Turren goes back to scanning the gloom, Falchorus ready.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:09, Thu 15 Oct 2020.

Brannon nods. "Aye, Sir Turren. I'll come and take a look. I'd like to know what the denizens of this forsaken city are..."

He heads off to view the bodies, and see what can be gleaned of them...

“This is a fell place!” Osric curses, forming up to proceed, his grip tightens on his magnificent gleaming blade. He scans the gloom alert for danger from any direction.

Caith safe in the grasp of an unexpected ally in the maze rises up and looks down to see her comrades triumph over their foes. She smiles at the sight, and pats the vines again as she murmurs "Thank ye for your aid, high leaping Greenwood Horse." to her odd steed as she takes stock of the situation, and keeps a wary eye out for hawks as well.

OOC: Can Caith see any other silent foes lurking around from her vantage point? Also, can she get a look at the maze layout near the PCs from higher up?

Once satisfied all is well, and taking not of any useful details from above, the hedgewitch climbs down from her high hedgehorse, and attends to more practical matters...

She asks calmly "Did anyone else other than Alphail and Deise get wounded by one of those footpad's little metal claws? If so, speak up now. The blades that struck them were poisoned, or cursed in a way that acted like a poison."



Caith stifles her protest at this desecration of the dead, nods, and simply accepts the fact that there are evidently some foes who do not lie quiet in their graves once slain, if they ever had any grave to their names to begin with.





"Another another pair of eyes can see more than one." Caith agrees, and goes to take a look at the evidence as quickly as possible, then move on before more trouble arrives.

Leaf keeps her vines in the ladder form, and coaxes them to rest against the wall. Having a sudden thought, she climbs the roots, and pulls herself up onto the top of the ledge.

She looks around to see if she, and perhaps someone else, could climb along and direct the group.

Though the vines seem reluctant to assist Caith and Leofwyn make their way to the top of the wall and standing upon it can see across the top of the labyrinth in the dim light....some 100m away at the centre it seems to open up into a square courtyard, around the courtyard there are strange organic shapes clumped on the top of the walls and the squat huddled shapes of the Hawks of Nem shift fitfully atop the walls, some of them turn to regard Leofwyn and Caith but other than that they do not react.

Looking down no further enemies can be seen...

Brannon can make out little about them that the others could not.

"It means nothing to me, I'm afraid." Brannon sighs, and makes notes of the odd appearance of their attackers, and a sketch of the symbol. "This city is ancient... and we are the first scholars to have made it this far to study."

Usopi looked back down the corridor towards the group, ”Is any of their equipment magical in nature? I was struck with one of their blades but did not suffer the poisonous effects apparent on their thrown daggers.” he glanced down at his wound, as if only just remembering it, ”Oh, and I am wounded, but only lightly if we must conserve our healing capabilities.”

In reply to Brannon Darrow (msg # 80):
“Different to the other symbols we’ve seen though, Brannon?”


Deise stands and stretches, still aching from whatever poison was on the blade. Wary as to possible attack, but quietly content at being still alive. We scans about to notice that all of his colleagues are still here.

Looking toward the Chief and the Prince, “Which way now, eh?”

In reply to Deise (msg # 82):

Sir Turren looks to the Prince, then up to Leaf.

'Any joy, m'lady?' he calls up to her. 'On as we were?'

Brannon nods gravely. "It is. At least that tells us something, if only that we don't really know what we're up against... I can't work out who our foe is here. What do they want with the Hearthflame in a place like this? To melt this ice? The Hearthflame could do that, sure enough, but who among the frozen denizens of this city would wish to do that? They've lasted centuries like this. What changed now?"

Osric forms up next to Usopi, ready to proceed.

Leofwyn points towards the courtyard ahead, and leans down to limit her shouting. "We need to keep heading this way. Caith and I will stay up here to make sure we don't go astray."

She stands back up again and turns to Caith, "If that's ok with you?"

In reply to Leofwyn (msg # 86):

'Alright!' Turren's voice echoes around them.

Osric nods at Leaf’s suggestion and proceeds forward cautiously scanning for hidden dangers and opponents.

Usopi nodded and moved forward alongside Osric, ready to raise his shield to block any surprise attacks.

In reply to Leofwyn (msg # 86):

Deise nods, and chuckles turning to the others, “Seems as though the leadership has passed from the Prince to two witches sitting on a wall.”

Looking up at Caith and Leaf, “A damn fine pair ye make up there, m’ladies. Lead on, your followers are eager to do your bidding.”

Osric grins widely at Deise’s wit, feeling relief that even here, in the frozen heart of evil, humour and defiant human spirit stand boldly against the dark.

Caith nodded grimly, " Aye."

Colm and Prince Doron completed their whispered conversation and followed the others, Colm with a scowl on his face.

The companions traced their way carefully through the maze trailing their hands on the left-most wall as Caith and Leofwyn guided from above.  The two women called out that they were nearing the centre of the labyrinth....

Within the maze:

This is a wide courtyard open to the twilight sky above. Its flagstones are splattered with the ordure and shattered bits of bone dropped by the hawks nesting above. The courtyard is enclosed by a cloister on the ground floor, its arches overhung by rich growths of mauve-coloured ivy.

There is another gallery along the top of the cloister, similarly overhung by ivy and reached by a staircase in the northwest corner. There is a green, stagnant pool of water at the
centre of the courtyard. Four totemic pillars just wider than a man stand at the four corners of the pool.

Brannon notes they are carved crudely, in a similar way to ancient druidic circles, to represent all the elements apart from Water. There are narrow doorways in the totems’ faces that one person can squeeze through at a time.

Both Colm and Brannon note that everything here seems built to human stature, and frown slightly as they're research had led them to believe Nem to be a Fomorian edifice....perhaps this place was built for their mortal vassals....

On the Wall:

As Leofwyn and Caith approach the courtyard they are coming nearer and nearer the nests of the 'hawks', strange fungal growths larger than a cottage are clustered about the top of the courtyard.  Thousands of bones litter the wall tops and are woven into the myconic forms, some of the hawks begin to rise from their repose..their myriad black eyes staring blankly at the two women...their tendrils lift up and wave as if tasting the air...

Sir Turren stays in formation, moving with the group. He swaps out javelin for bow, fits arrow to string.

Caith looks briefly at the eye-shaped brand on the bodies of the slain, and turns pale at the sight, looking not to Brannon, but to Giles and Osric as she speaks what little wisdom she has to offer on the matter.

"A toothpick that will take yer eye out for looking at it the wrong way..." she mutters in uneasy contemplation "...A fragile beauty that be but empty shells, or a glass hammer of seven years breaking."

Having no further answer that she can speak of to that conundrum, she turns to other matters.



Caith scratches her head then offers "Given the swiftness that it took effect with on the others, yet ye seem yet unharmed but for the wound, could be the agent they used on their lesser tools was one they could nay spare enough of to coat their larger weaponry with as well. As to their equipment? I may be to look with power to ken any enchantment upon it if ye nay need healing, but that could take time that we may nay have to spare."

OOC: Caith will look at the bodies and their equipment if needed, but it's up to rest of the party if she does so right now in game. Fairest answer I can give as a player and a PC there.

She adds with a craftier  expression on her face "They do have the look of a servant's garb about them to just my own two eyes. Masks and cloaks could be useful though if there are more inhabitants here with eyes to beguile, for few in power pay much heed to the comings and goings of lesser folk about them."



Caith nods as she says quietly "I nay mind the shrubbery being a bit livelier than is usual."



"They watch, but nay attack?" Caith murmurs to Leofwyn, looking puzzled at the organic shapes beyond the hawks "What odd nests are yon birds guarding then?"

Fascinated by the unknown before her, yet still wary of trouble, the hedgewitch quietly leaves the matter of reporting the situation above to the rest of the group to Leaf while she studies the increasingly stranger ecology atop the heart of the maze's heights.



Caith looks to Leofwyn, slowly puts a hand in front of her eyes like a blindfold, then mimics the blank stare of the birds by way of silently pointing out a raptor that hunts by scent and sound rather than sight, at least as far as she understands sight.

With unhurried movements, careful to disturb as little air as possible as she does  so, Caith gathers a pinch of fungal powder, the gift of Mimir Village's folk from one of her belt pouches into the palm of her hand, holds it before her like a dandelion's unruly elder crown of seeds, then blows it in front of her towards the now restless birds.

"If this nay works, prepare for trouble." is all she mutters by way of warning to Leofwyn.

"Oh aye, two fine ladies of high society there, Deise. Yet here we are down below, fresh from death's door, and all ready to go knock on it again!" Alphail agrees in dour humour, but nonetheless grateful to be alive to complain about it.

There is a genuine grin on his face as he slyly opines to the Cornumbrian "I am indeed a well off man, blessed with a wife who is the very soul of kindness."

The smile dims a little at the sight of Laird Colm in a foul mood, but as that same  temper is a gift that goes with the Cernach ancestry as much as blazing red hair, and as swift to soothe by just deeds as it is to rouse by injustice, he simply waits a little before asking him "Onward then?" with the respect due to a clan's chief.

Above

The hawks trill to each other but seem to lose interest in Caith and Leofwyn for the moment.

Colm storms into the courtyard, " Darkness, Fire, Earth, Air...and this fetid pond is Water....but which to enter? Brannon?"

"Fire is our element, Hearth Father." Brannon suggests. "Though I am not sure I trust anything in this place. Are these for blessing? Or Sacrifice? I will take my chance with the Fire Totem, if need be. I have most trust of our Lady to protect us there, and if not - well, what better way to die than in our Lady's arms?"
This message was last edited by the player at 08:18, Wed 28 Oct 2020.

" Yes, ours....but not theirs....I am unsure."

"They nay mind us? Then mayhap they are more maze creeper than bird now..." Caith mutters softly to Leofwyn as she begins to dimly understand what manner of life the hawks have become.

"Where did all these bones in this high flown graveyard come from?" she ponders, then answers her own question glumly with another grimmer one "The old city's inhabitants?"

"A maze that nay loves the sky's water. A plant that feeds on bones yet drinks nay water..." Caith stops as the urgency of the thought pushes through her own reluctance to speak it "...The answer is in the blood."

The expression on Caith face is one of woe unending, as she realizes just where she has come to of her own free will, and that there is no escape from the consequences of misdeeds done in the past, even if it was not her own hand that did the deed.

"I feel as if I know this place of old, yet I have never been here afore." she says to Leofwyn in utter truthfulness.

"If I am nay mistaken in a memory I should nay have in my head at all, but for the whim  of a most wilful old woman, they are vessels of a sort..." she adds with a knowing look at the larger fungal growths.

The voice that speaks now does not sound like Caith's as she intones in an old woman's wavering but spiteful whisper "The price of passage is blood and harvest."

Her left hand draws Trust from it's sheath, but it is her own thumb she pricks with it, for this is a price that must be paid willingly, and smears the drops onto a fragment of hard bread that she holds tightly onto as she gazes at the eagle's nest and murmurs words only a little younger than time itself.

In reply to GM (msg # 101):

As Brannon and Colm inspect the totemic columns, Deise will undertake a careful recon of the cloistered yard.

Usopi stood warily at the front of the group as they stepped under the cloister that surrounded the courtyard. He eyed the gallery above until Colm strode forward into the courtyard and began discussing the totems and which they ought to enter. As they were not immediately met by a hail of poison daggers the large knight shrugged and made his way towards the stairs to the balcony.

They had reached the center of the maze, and it made sense that the path forward was through the seemingly ritualistic structures located at its core. However, there was no harm in examining the floor above for any alternate routes, or perhaps clues as to the meaning of the courtyard itself. He moved up the stairs slowly. He raised his shield in front of him as he went. The attack from earlier had proven that their enemies included skilled ambushers.

Deise weaves between the stone forms, bone fragments and patches of mauve creeper....as he passes the pool he notes its acrid scent...

Usopi walked up the stairs into the cloister overlooking the courtyard, above him he could hear strange scratches on the stone, and wondered that if it were the hawks why were they not falling on those exposed in the courtyard?

All was bare and dusty up here...no one had been here for many centuries.

Wary of the sounds of the hawks above, Usopi made his way into the cloister and looked out toward the central courtyard. It did not appear as if the level was in regular use, and with no visible doors exposed artifacts it seemed as if there was little point remaining on the upper floor. The only other thing he could think of was that viewing the courtyard from above might reveal some hidden aspect of their arrangment, but if that was not the case he would simply make his way back to the main floor and see what the more intellectually gifted party members would decide to do.

Time seemed to come to a halt for both Leofwyn and Caith as the falling snowflakes hung motionless in the air.

A man strode out of the spaces between the snowflakes, he was ancient and there was about him the shape of many things that were not men.

" You have called on the gods in a place that knows only one...and he does not share his power. Even in sleep he grasps it."

" You ask for transport below...but it already lies before you....they have only one master here and in their footsteps you must tread."

" You look here upon the last children of the Hawk of Achill, who supped on the blood of heroes and saw all things since the beginning of time.  The Isle of Achill, which lies between the worlds, is a place of fell horrors but before our deaths I shared words with that ancient thing and I learned of Balors crime."

The sky darkened overhead and the air grew colder as he spoke the word.

The man chuckled grimly and dust spilled from his lips.

" The Mountain That Glares does not frighten the dead."

" I cannot give you that which you desire, cailleach phiseogach.  But I warn of what lies below.  The mountain stirs, and if he wakes then the world of mortals will fall to ruin."

The man bowed to the two women then vanished from sight.

In reply to GM (msg # 105):

OOC - presuming that Deise does not witness the events involving Caith and Leaf.

“That pool smells bad, almost burnt if that’s possible. Wonder why it’s not frozen like everything else around here?”
Deise pinches up his face in disgust before carefully circumnavigating the cloister, keeping an eye on the entrance as well as the pool.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:12, Sat 31 Oct 2020.

Caith carefully schools her expression to one of solemnity despite the rude reply that springs swiftly to mind, but not her lips as she offers instead the pragmatic observation of "There is little else for him to cling to here."



The hedgewitch nods, then looks puzzled by this riddle of a reply, but makes no further comment on it, and patiently awaits what other wisdom can be gleaned from the graveyard dweller's lore.



Caith points out, politely as she can while keeping her own fear in check that "Aye, but the living are usually far less bold than the dead."



The sorceress, pale but not shaking, bows to apparently naught but thin air, still respectful for all that it seems the action of a madwoman. She places the fragments of blood flecked bread gently on the ground in offering with steady hands.

"I was wrong afore." Caith says softly to Leofwyn, in a tone calmer than she truly feels "This is nay a path I know well, nor a god who would listen to the likes of me that we are dealing with here. Yet that we must do somehow, and that's that."

That said, she murmurs "Time we got back to the rest." as she glances warily at the hawks, all that remains of the heirs of Achill, and prepares to climb down back to ground level to find the way.

( Caith and Leofwyn getting back down will either be three MP from Leaf to shape the foliage, or you could creep in amongst the Hawks and lower yourselves down to the level Usopi is on with a successful Reflexes check.)

Osric looks sceptically at the various portals and turns to Doron and Colm and says “Which way?”

Colm glared at him, " These statues and the pool represent the elements....Brannon is inclined to go for the most familiar to us, Fire."

" I am....unsure....this is a place of Darkness...though Water has always been known as a passage to the Underworld...what do you think?"

“Drowning or burnt alive - not much of a choice” Osric observed grimly. “Not much for swimmin. How’s about we try this fire one then eh?”

With Colm’s confirmation Osric will quickly duck through the Fire Portal, sword drawn, ready for trouble.

OOC: If Leaf has the MP left to tell the shrubbery to cooperate, then it's probably the quicker and safer option. If not, then Caith could try her luck with TANGLEROOTS I guess?

Otherwise the two of them climbing down quiet like under the hawk's beaks to Usopi is the only way.

Sir Turren stays in formation, as best he can, moving with the bulk of the group. He quickly swaps back to his Javelin and shoulders the bow as Leaf and Caith reappear more closely at hand.

Caith and Leaf clamber back down from the top of the wall and enter the courtyard.

( Lets go with Tangleroots.)

Colm shrugged....figuring better Osric than himself or his old friend...

The fire totem represents a sharp, angular being with hair carved into the shape of flames and
fierce red painted marks scored into its cheeks.

As Osric steps within what seemed a door from without is nothing more than a tight chamber within the statue. Suddenly the temperature increases markedly and Osric is only able to escape being badly burned by throwing himself bodily back out into the courtyard.

OOC:


17:31, Today: GM, on behalf of Osric Grim, rolled 6 using 1d20.

Turren will rush forward to help Osric up.

Osric pats down his singed hair and furs.

“Guess that’s not the way forward then unless I had to say the magic words or be a fire eatin imp or something!”

Osric looks skeptically at Colm and says “Any other suggestions?”

Colm rounded on Osric, " I do not know! This whole place is a blasphemy...It is a place where Darkness rules...then Darkness should be the way forward...but if we do not follow it...will it allow us to pass.", he finished weakly his sudden anger replaced by weariness as he sank to one knee.

In reply to Colm Cernach (msg # 122):

" I wish I had something to offer....Ladies? This seems a matter of dweomers and ancient tales."

Osric nods silent thanks to Sir Turren for his courtesy.

“Maybe we shoulda kept one of the ambushers alive to show us the way?” Osric muses ruefully before noting “but they did seem awful keen on dyin” a wolfish grin on his face.

“Anyone keen to try the next door?” Osric says looking around the assembled party.

In reply to Osric Grim (msg # 124):

Sir Turren nods back to Osric in good grace, and steps back into his position from whence he broke ranks.

He eyes the demonic doors with a raised brow, and does not volunteer himself for further suggested experimentation with said doors.

Devils he'd fight, but not tricks and traps infernal of nature. He signs himself and keeps on guard.

Caith glumly watches the birds devour her offering to another, and climbs onto the waiting vine ladder. She stops, struck by a thought, then mutters "If those vinegar-basted blind birds truly be all that is left of eggs stolen from another world, then mayhap they ken the way back to it?"

The hedgewitch plucks a bedraggled feather from the nest's debris of bones, grave mold and dust as she considers the possibilities of that thought and once again descends into the the shadowy depths of the maze, and the chamber of confusing choices.



OOC: OK boss. MP cost noted on Caith's Charsheet.



Caith winces in sympathy, but holds her tongue for the moment, instead simply looking to see what damage has been done.







Caith replies pensively "The Lai..." then stops and steps down from an uncomfortable formality to continue in a more friendly manner "Colm put his finger on the the tangle of it afore, Doron. 'Tis nay a path that can nay easily be kenned by one who follows another path."

She looks to the statue marked with red than Osric leapt from scorched.
"Flame? Maybe so, but that is nay the Sun Sister's face as I know it. So this is nay a place hallowed to Her or her kin..." she concludes, looking apologetically to Colm, Brannon and Alphail as she speaks the only comfort she can in this quandary.

"I was told by one who claimed to know more that 'They have only one master here and in their footsteps ye must tread.' but just how did their master travel?"

Caith sounds more puzzled than afraid as she adds "All the underworlds I know of from the tales are reached by water, so I had previously sought a ship from the dead of this place, but it seems that is of little use here, for they told me..."

In a solemn voice, grave with portent she recites "You have called on the gods in a place that knows only one...and he does not share his power. Even in sleep he grasps it."

She says more pragmatically in a rather less solemn tone "First thing a great many men do when they slowly begin to waken from a long coma, but have nay yet opened their eyes, or come truly yet to their senses? They feel about for their 'family jewels'. Tells ye what they value most, if ye ask me."

Her impish tone does not deny the seriousness of her words as she explains "The dead man also told me this, high above in yonder hawk nest..."

"You ask for transport below...but it already lies before you....they have only one master here and in their footsteps you must tread."

"You look here upon the last children of the Hawk of Achill, who supped on the blood of heroes and saw all things since the beginning of time.  The Isle of Achill, which lies between the worlds, is a place of fell horrors but before our deaths I shared words with that ancient thing and I learned of Balors crime."

" The Mountain That Glares does not frighten the dead."

"Then he laughed, and it was nay a nice laugh, if ye get my drift, for the mildewed dust of the graveyard was all he breathed." Caith offers in her own practical tone before again giving living breath to a dead man's words.

" I cannot give you that which you desire, cailleach phiseogach.  But I warn of what lies below.  The mountain stirs, and if he wakes then the world of mortals will fall to ruin."

Caith says in a voice long weary of riddles and rites as she reasons "I have known darkness, aye, and the fear of death in it. I have called on ancient  folk for aid by blood and harvest afore. But the folk who built this place were older even than the dead of long ago, and they kept their secrets well."

"So we must reason, as best we can, as they did to find the path they took." and looks to Colm as she asks him "Mayhap there's a use to that ancient blade ye carry that's nay battle after all. I have nay the prowess to hold it to use as a drowsing rod to seek it's old wielder with, but the trick of it is simple enough, if ye are willing to try."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:06, Tue 03 Nov 2020.

"Not the only ones, from the looks of things." Brannon grins, clapping Osric on the shoulder. "I do not normally commend rashness, but on this occasion you beat me to it. I was prepared to risk the fire, so I will chance the next that we need - though if someone has a good solution to this puzzle, I would hear it." He muses. "Why is the water at the centre? This is not a merely decorative choice. You are right, Hearth Father, that I would have though darkness would be venerated in this place... but who knows how ancient this place is? The last strange pool we encountered with an altar was a prison for some Fomorian ancient. Might this not be the same? Perhaps these human scale totems are not for worship but sacrifice to something in the pool?" Brannon cautiously approaches the brackish water, and peers in uneasily, as if he feared what might look back.

OOC: Can we see the bottom of the pool? If this is obviously a three-inch deep puddle, then Brannon's really over-reacting! xD

Usopi descended from the balcony as he spotted Caith and Leaf using the cooperative vines to clamber down to the courtyard. It appeared that the balcony served no real purpose, although perhaps it had been an observation platform in eons past.

Once at the ground level he considered the words of Felix Drajanus. He had found a stairway at the center of the maze by taking the sinister path. Though the 'Sinister Path' likely referred to the left-hand path through the maze, which had already proven to be accurate. He grimaced as he examined the totems.

First, he moved back to where they had left the maze and looked out at the courtyard, determining if any one of the pillars was the leftmost from the perspective of the entrance to the chamber. It was unlikely but worth checking.

After this he moved toward the pillar Osric had thrown himself from. Usopi withdrew the small wooden carving he'd received from the folk of Clan Lamell, curious if it bore any similarity to the figure presented by the totem.

Next, he moved to the totem which represented Earth. He examined the outside, as well as the doorway carved into it. Then he stuck his head inside, though he did not follow it with his body. Perhaps its traps were activated by the presence of life, in which case his head would be easier to withdraw then his entire body, and if the trap was not activated he could at least examine the inside of the totem.

His plan was to go from earth, to air, to darkness and examine each one in turn in the same manner, but of course if you wanted to make Gatanadese laugh you only had to tell him your plans. Usopi smiled to himself as he inserted his head in to the earth pillar.

It is difficult to gauge the pools depth, it is covered by a strange yellowish scum that smells so acrid that his nostrils burn from leaning over it.

The water itself contains no algae, or living things and seems almost greyish in hue making it impossible to see the bottom.

The stone interior of the totem suddenly clashed together, threatening to smash Usopis head like an egg...but the usually rather ponderous knight managed to pull his head clear just in time.



20:37, Today: GM, on behalf of Usopi Venia, rolled 2 using 1d20.  Reflexes.4.

Usopi coughs nervously as he stares in to the earth totem that had only barely failed to crush his skull.

After a moment to gather himself he said, ”It appears any extent traps do not require one’s entire body to enter before triggering.” he reached a hand up to the top of his head as if to reassure himself that he was not missing the tip, ”The pillar representing darkness seems to be the ‘sinister’ path, though Perhaps further experiments ought to be performed by someone more gifted in agility. Both Osric and my attempts seem to have spared us solely due to our reaction speeds, and in my specific case a not insignificant amount of Gatanadese’s good will.”

He looked toward Brannon who was examining the pool, ”We could test it’s depth by tying one of our ropes to a weight and seeing how deep it sinks before it reaches the bottom.”
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:03, Tue 03 Nov 2020.

OOC are there any rocks or pebbles we could toss into the pool or could we hack down some vines and use them to gauge the pool’s depth?

OOC: There are stone chips that have weathered off the totems, it would take quite a while but you could gather enough vines to make a short piece of rope...or just use rope...

OOC looks at feet and shuffles awkwardly...yes let’s do that. Rope anyone? Knife Deise?

In reply to Osric Grim (msg # 134):

“Ya big man, take care o’her now. That water doesn’t seem right. Smell burning me nose like that. We’ll find out soon enough whether it’s actually water or some vile liquid.

Just so ye all now, there’s a place I can retreat to inside myself where flame does not hurt so much. If ye lift me, I can go to the flame and look inside for what is there.”
This message was last edited by the player at 13:31, Tue 03 Nov 2020.

Brannon whips around on hearing the stones clash together. Seeing Usopi unhurt, he lets out a sigh of relief. "I think we can agree, if anything, that these totems are meant to kill. Perhaps we should not chance the others."

He listens to Usopi and Deise's suggestions. "Acid, then? It might well be. Either way, we should be careful of it. Aye, testing its depth with a rope and stone would work."

He rummages in his pack to find a rope, then looking up towards Usopi and Deise, he says: "Shall we?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:37, Tue 03 Nov 2020.

Prince Doron nods his agreement. "Plumb its depths, and let's see.."
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:15, Wed 04 Nov 2020.

Sir Turren turns his nose up at the pool. Keeps on his guard.

A stone chip is tied to the rope and is lowered into the pool, as soon as it breaches the surface the stone fizzes and dissolves and the rope burns away to nothing...

...for a moment all is calm and then suddenly the pool surface erupts, everyone dives back to avoid being burned.

Rising from the pool dripping with acrid scum and gray liquid is a horrific form.

A crudely carved stone head crowned with curving rams horns, eyes that are pits of red fire and beneath the head three long grey whipping tentacles.  The head itself is of a size with the totems and its mouth full of grinding stone teeth looks like it could swallow Deise whole.


OOC:

And we're in combat again.  Not gonna lie, we may lose some folks here.

Caith, no answer to her suggestion of drowsing the path by bog iron blade forthcoming from Colm, shrugs, discards the idea for the moment, and considers the possibilities from what is already known through daring investigation of the room by her comrades.

She contemplates the statue-alcoves, shudders at the thought of steeping inside an apparent oven as Osric did, then the pool, looking for some insight into the minds that made them. The stink of burning alchemy in her nostrils leads her to nod in agreement with the experiment of finding it's depths with stone and rope, even if she doubts the rope will return.

Racking her brains for what little she can recall on such burns from treating forge injuries gained in etching blades, both fresh water and soapwort are in short supply here, and woodash may be the best she can do to tame the bite in the pool's contents.

As she turns to ask Colm his opinion on an alchemical puzzle, the loud Ker-aaang! of metal snapping shut is hard to ignore, and again, Caith winces in sympathy, this time wondering at Usopi's bravery.

"If the gods I know of truly have no power here, then we must be the most fortunate fools in Glissom to still be alive now." she mutters, crossing fire and earth from her list, and staring uneasily at the sentinels of air and darkness as she wonders what nasty tricks they play in turn.

It dawns on her that the stairs down that the dead Selinite general spoke of might be naught but a dreadful pun, as each statue does seem to be staring down into the  pool of quite probable death, and she grins mirthlessly at the joke.

"Mayhap the maze lurkers had some protection against this stuff..." she begins to suggest, when the pool erupts into dire life.

The only suggestion she makes after that is one spat in words that burn that which sorcery can summon.

OOC: Caith casts WITCHFLAME (1MP) at the pool's inhabitant and runs for the cover of vines if TANGLEROOTS is still running.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:51, Wed 04 Nov 2020.

Once certain he was clear of the splashed acid, Usopi registered the beast that had caused the eruption of water from the pool. He drew his mace and shield as he threw himself behind the totem of eartth that had only recently been the thing trying to kill him.

If the pool was acid, he would have to wait for it to leave the pool, perhaps to make it's way toward he or one of the other members of the group. As soon as it left the pool he would make rush toward it and hopefully strike at one of the tentacles with his mace. Hopefully it didn't attack via projectiles.

In reply to GM (msg # 139):

“Oh no, . . . RUNNNN.”

With the unnatural movement and spitting of acid, Deise sprints for cover behind the nearest totem, trying to steady his once more shattered nerves to survey the situation.
OOC: Osric - yes a tactical map would be of great help. Given the clear warning from the bossman, let’s commit to some tactics  to try and get out of this as best we can.

Sir Turren withdraws at a steady pace keeping at least four meters between he and the thing. Having no shield Turren swaps out yet again to his bow and nocks a faerie arrow.

He backs up to the original entrance, past the first two totems, but keeps his weapon aimed toward this new horror. He launches an arrow as time permits, and as others present a clear moment, still edging back, a silent prayer. Reloading...

OOC: Amended after a quick look at the map and better understanding of the enemy.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:19, Thu 05 Nov 2020.

OOC – seconded/thirded? Rough map would be handy.

Until that occurs, Doron takes whatever cover he can and readies arms.

Leaf jumps backwards in surprise, and makes her way towards the fire totem, aiming to hide behind it. Simultaneously, she runs her hands down her arms, from her shoulders to her wrists; a slight, warm glow eminating from her hands.

OOC: Leaf casts PROTECTION FROM FIRE 5MP.

Alphail stands by the maze entrance to the chamber, and keeps an eye out for further trouble, close to the cover of vines as he dares, still wary of a plant that is like no other he has seen.

As it turns out, the vines are at least friendlier than the rest of the room's furnishings.

He keeps Turren's gift arrow close to hand, bow ready, and waits for wisdom to come to him, a more patient hunter than his partner.

The creature that springs from the pool that burns by water is an answer he cannot fathom, so he aims up on the only weak point he can guess at, a glowering crimson eye.

OOC: Alphail aims for an eye, and fires at the waterbeast.

This message was last edited by the player at 05:56, Fri 06 Nov 2020.

In reply to Aphail MacRoach (msg # 150):

Deise knocks and arrow and aims at the beast.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/XerccWrARAyTZwAh9

Aphail aims for an eye, and fires at the horror.  His shaft flies true and buries itself in the stony flesh just beneath the left eye.

Usopi holds Gats collar to prevent him from venturing into the acid pool.

Eager to prove his bravery Sir Uthen charged at the creature his blade missing as it jinked to the left...

Caith conjured a lance of emerald flame but it struck only the stone wall.

Leofwyn retreated and summoned energies to protect herself.

Giles stayed back and fired his bow, his arrow struck the side of the stone facade but shattered on impact.

Prince Doron took cover and fired his bow, the arrow sinking in below Aphails.

Sir Turren retreated towards the entrance and fired his fay shaft striking it between its burning eyes.

Colms eyes blazed and he called upon Brigantia to strike the abomination down, the things form began to glow with inner heat but then the heat fled, Colm looked bereft.

Deise knocks and arrow and aims at the beast, but it goes wide.

Osric charged at the creature with his blade, his dweomered blade cutting deep into the stony flesh of the tentacle.

Brannon fired his bow, and was somewhat buoyed to see it strike home.

The strange being shuddered and tentacles struck out towards Uthen, Colm and Osric but all three men managed to avoid being struck.

As they did an acrid greenish fog began spilling from its mouth stinging their eyes and making the creature itself difficult to see as the miasma spilled out to fill the courtyard.

Usopi charged in as well his weapon crashing into the stony form, though it did not seem to feel it.




OOC:

Initiative:

Aphail
Gat
Sir Uthen
Caith
Leofwyn
Giles
Prince Doron
Sir Turren
Colm
Deise
Osric
Brannon
Usopi


10:39, Today: GM, on behalf of Aphail MacRoach, rolled 4,4 using 1d20,1d6.  Precise Shot: ATT 20 - MOD 2. HIT
10:43, Today: GM, on behalf of Sir Uthen of Sadley, rolled 14,1 using 1d20,1d8.  ATT 18 - DEF 6. MISS
10:47, Today: GM, on behalf of Caith Cernach, rolled 18,11 using 2d10,1d6+6.  SPD 12 vs EVA 6. MISS
10:52, Today: GM, on behalf of Giles, rolled 17,3 using 1d20,1d6.  ATT 17 - MOD 0. HIT
10:55, Today: GM, on behalf of Prince Doron, rolled 10,6 using 1d20,1d6+1.  ATT 18 - MOD 0. HIT.
10:58, Today: GM, on behalf of Sir Turren Uvedale, rolled 8,8 using 1d20,1d6+3.  ATT 20 - MOD 0. HIT
11:04, Today: GM, on behalf of Colm Cernach, rolled 16 using 2d10.  MA 23 - MD 12. MISS
11:07, Today: GM, on behalf of Deise, rolled 18,4 using 1d20,1d6.  ATT 16 - DEF 0. MISS
11:15, Today: GM, on behalf of Osric Grim, rolled 9,14 using 1d20,1d10+4.  ATT 24 - DEF 6. HIT
11:18, Today: GM, on behalf of Brannon Darrow, rolled 5,4 using 1d20,1d6.  ATT 13 - MOD 0. HIT

11:51, Today: GM, for the NPC Grandiak, rolled 15,4 using 1d20,1d10.  ATT 20 - DEF 18. vs Osric.MISS

11:50, Today: GM, for the NPC Grandiak, rolled 12,9 using 1d20,1d10.  ATT 20 - DEF 11. vs Colm.MISS

11:48, Today: GM, for the NPC Grandiak, rolled 14,7 using 1d20,1d10.  ATT 20 - DEF 13. vs Uthen.MISS

11:55, Today: GM, on behalf of Usopi Venia, rolled 16,3 using 1d20,1d6.  ATT 18 - DEF 0.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:58, Sat 07 Nov 2020.

Seeing that the creature seemed not to feel the blow from his Mace, Usopi dropped the mundane weapon and withdrew Moralltach. Even if the berserk rage of the blade overtook him once the battle was completed, a magically enraged Usopi would be much less a threat than whatever this fell acid being was.

With the sword in hand, Usopi made to strike at one of the three tentacles, hoping that the weapon's unnatural edge might simply lop the appendage from the beast.

Prince Doron will continue to loose arrows at the obscenity. He wonders whether there was any sign that the abomination was hurt in the slightest by the missiles?

Osric grips Ghost Eye tightly and quickly scans their surroundings wary of an ambush now that the party is engaged by the horror from the acid pool.

“Keep a watch for ambush!” he shouts before savagely slashing upwards with his shining blade.

OOC 09:17, Today: Osric Grim rolled 15,10 using 1d20,d10+4.  Ghost Eye and ABR for hopefully 9HP damage. Hits DEF 9 or less.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:18, Sat 07 Nov 2020.

Sir Turren fires a fay arrow at the monster again when an opportunity presents. He keeps back from the strange green fog for now, interested to see how long it lingers.

Turren is also prepared to engage in melee with any enemy that strays too close to Aphail whilst the pair share the threshold to the yard.

He reaches for another enchanted arrow, quite sure this beast will look the better with further elfin facial piercings.

Caith does not waste her breath on cursing her aim or her luck, but briskly backs away to the cover of the vines, frantically racking her brains for some clue to the nature of the creature before her.

Blow after blow of her comrades strikes home, but it seems to have little effect on the beast from the pool, and her heart skips a beat as the tentacles flail towards her kinsman, her future king and the knight of the beehive, then beats again as they duck and weave out of the beast's grasp.

Only Turren and Alphail's fey gift arrows strike true, as far as she can see, and that does not even make the capricious creature so much as blink in reaction. That observation leads the hedgewitch to the nagging possibility that all is not as it seems.

Even a fay touched arrow does not hang in the air by itself, so Caith reasons, something yet unseen must lie beneath the surface of the water's sentinel tough hide.

Even as she thinks on it, the stone head's mouth chews the air noisily with rock shard teeth, then spits forth a cloud of foul smelling fog, like a wounded Kracken of the sailor's tales flinging great clouds of ink at it's foes to confuse them.

"Two can play at that game..." she says with a thin smile, then firmly tells the mazevines in a far older tongue that it is flowering season right now, and they'd better get cracking if they don't want to miss out.

In reply to GM (msg # 152):

Calmly shrugging off the missed arrow, Deise takes in the layout of the battle scene. Noticing that he is on his own and that Usooi, Leaf and Gat are also relatively isolated he moves quickly to support his colleagues on the left flank of the cloister.

OOC: Deise will sprint to support Usopi and Leaf. He will sprint around the back of the cloister columns as far from the beast and totems as he can.

Seeing his arrow strike but do seemingly nothing to the creature, Brannon tries a different tack. Raising his holy symbol of Brigantia he cries: "Back, fiend! Back to the fetid depths from which you came! In the name of the Hearth Mother, I rebuke you!"

17:26, Today: Brannon Darrow rolled 20 using 1d20+6.  Exorcism attempt (d20+rank) on tentacle head thing.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/XerccWrARAyTZwAh9

Aphail adjusted his aims and fired again but the thick greenish fog made it difficult to sight and his shaft shattered on the wall.

Usopi told Gat to stay as he drew Moralltach.

Sir Uthen swung his blade again but breathed in some of the choking fog and was left gasping.

Caiths hands spun and weaved as she attempted a summoning ritual that was more than a little outside her purview.  She got the distinct impression that the foliage in question loathed her utterly but it responded to the old calling and did as bid...dampening the more astringent qualities of the fog but not dissipating it as much as she'd hoped...also she began to suspect that there were other qualities to the heady pollen now hanging in the air...as her eyes became slightly unfocused....

Leofwyn ducked around and slipped with the Fire Totem, which glowed red hot and filled with flames.

Giles fired his bow again, but the arrow disappeared into the fog.

Prince Doron stayed in cover and fired his bow, the arrow .

Sir Turren stayed still and fired his fay shaft striking it in the forehead.

Colm again called upon Brigantia to strike the abomination down, the things form began to glow with inner heat but this time the heat continued to grow blackening the stone and causing small flames to break through the stony surface.

Deise ran around next to Leofwyn and fired another arrow which struck the body of the creature.

Osric cut at the creature again cutting off a tentacle, which immediately began to grow once more....blindingly fast...until it was whole once more.

Brannon rebuked the figure but its implacable stony contenance did not even seem to register his words.

The strange being shuddered again and tentacles struck out towards Uthen, Colm and Osric once more, Colm and Uthen managed to avoid being struck but the tendril punched straight through Osrics armour as if it were paper, he felt the tip of the tentacle suddenly split and broaden anchoring within him as it quickly began dragging him towards the pool its immense strength pulling the huge man like he weighed no more than a trout on a line....Osrics eyes widened as he saw it meant to cast him into the acidic pool.

The creatures teeth ground together like an avalanche, its eyes began to glow brighter and brighter and then a storm of red light tumbled out from its eyes to engulf Giles.  Giles screamed in agony and tumbled to the ground unmoving.

Usopi attacked with Morraltach, the blade cutting through the tentacle....but the loathsome limb grew back immediately.




OOC:

Initiative:

Aphail
Gat
Sir Uthen
Caith
Leofwyn
Giles
Prince Doron
Sir Turren
Colm
Deise
Osric
Brannon
Usopi


11:28, Today: GM, on behalf of Aphail MacRoach, rolled 18,5 using 1d20,1d6.  Precise Shot: ATT 20 - MOD 6. MISS.

11:30, Today: GM, on behalf of Sir Uthen of Sadley, rolled 20,4 using 1d20,1d8.  ATT 18 - DEF 6.MISS

Caith ( -2 MP)

13:38, Today: GM, on behalf of Giles, rolled 15,6 using 1d20,1d6.  ATT 17 - MOD 6.MISS

13:41, Today: GM, on behalf of Prince Doron, rolled 14,7 using 1d20,1d6+1.  ATT 18 - MOD 6.MISS.

13:44, Today: GM, on behalf of Sir Turren Uvedale, rolled 11,8 using 1d20,1d6+3.  ATT 20 - MOD 6.HIT


13:47, Today: GM, on behalf of Colm Cernach, rolled 6 using 2d10.  MA 23 - MD 12.HIT

15:45, Today: GM, on behalf of Deise, rolled 7,4 using 1d20,1d6.  ATT 16 - MOD 6.HIT

09:17, Today: Osric Grim rolled 15,10 using 1d20,d10+4.  Ghost Eye and ABR for hopefully 9HP damage. Hits DEF 9 or less. HIT


15:54, Today: GM, on behalf of NPC Grandiak, rolled 2,10 using 1d20,1d10.  ATT 20 - DEF 18. vs Osric. HIT ( -8 hp Osric )

15:55, Today: GM, for the NPC Grandiak, rolled 18,2 using 1d20,1d10.  ATT 20 - DEF 11. vs Colm. MISS

15:59, Today: GM, for the NPC Grandiak, rolled 11,2 using 1d20,1d10.  ATT 20 - DEF 13. vs Uthen. MISS


16:14, Today: GM, for the NPC Grandiak, rolled 3 using 2d10.  SPD 16 vs EVA 5 vs Giles.

16:16, Today: GM, for the NPC Grandiak, rolled 16 using 3d10-3. (-16 hp Giles)


16:21, Today: GM, on behalf of Usopi Venia, rolled 15,9 using 1d20,1d10+2.  ATT 20 - DEF 0.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:26, Tue 10 Nov 2020.

Sir Turren watches the mess through green haze as his latest arrow cracks home.

As he sees Osric flail toward the pool, Sir Turren snaps words close to blasphemy (a rare thing!)as his bow drops.

Grapple and rope come spinning overhead as the knight casts desperately at the monster, hoping to snare the tentacle that has Osric.

OOC: If Turren can snare or hook or wrap it, Turren's going to throw every ounce of his weight on that rope, maybe buying others precious seconds at the least, or maybe dragging this thing full out beyond the totems, if miracles happen.

Figuring his best chance may be to sever the tentacle which has skewered him, to the extent he is able Osric will try to hack through the tentacle with his mighty magical blade.

OOC 10:44, Today: Osric Grim rolled 4,7 using D20,d10+4.  Ghost Eye and ABR for hopefully 9HP damage! Hits DEF 20 subject to any modifiers for being skewered!
This message was last edited by the player at 01:02, Wed 11 Nov 2020.

In reply to Osric Grim (msg # 162):

Having witnessed the near evisceration of Brother Giles and Osric, Deise moves back well beyond the reach of the dread beasts tentacles. He uncorks a vial of poison and dips two arrow heads in the vile greenish liquid. Roaring at Uthen,
“Uthen, rub this on your blade. No questions, just do it.”

Deise aims at the beast with the first poisoned arrow.

OOC: 13:10, Today: Deise rolled 13 using 1d20 ((13))
 13:13, Today: Deise rolled 3 using 1d6 ((3)).

Does that hit?
Damage - 4hp plus poison.

Though Doron would be more than willing to engage the tentacle that holds Osric, for now he looses an arrow...

22:35, Today: Prince Doron rolled 18 using 1d20.

Usopi was as surprised by the beam of red light that exploded from the creature's face as by the tentacle's ability to regenerate. The capabilities of the foul beast inflamed his ire. Devestating ranged attacks and invulnerable reaching arms struck him as abominable abilities to be bent to the service of foul, world ending gods. Imagine the good such powers could achieve in service to a brighter diety like Gatanades!

No matter! If striking at the limbs served no purpose, then Usopi would turn his blood hungry sword to the head of the beast. He pulled Morraltach up above his head and swung downward in the hopes of slashing across one of the beasts eyes.

Caith, now aware that even the plants of this strange place loathe her presence, and that her flowering companion is less an ally in inclination than anticipated, opts to put that hatred of herself to better use as she keeps her eyes on where the screams of agony in was most likely Giles's voice came from.

"Ye don't like me, Greenwood Steed? Aye well, most folk nay take to me at all, so yer nay alone in that." she mutters in dour agreement, then politely tells the mazevines to drop her off near where she last saw the southerner scholar, and in exchange, she'll leave the mazevines in peace rather than turning them into wood ashes for the pool's bite-water.

It does not strike her as strange in any way that the plant looks more equine than floral at the moment, nor that anyone would talk to a plant, let alone one that probably wants to strangle them.

Indeed, it seems quite natural to be flung through the air, as if thrown from an unwilling horse's back and in the curious calm of utter indifference to her fate, a graceful landing of some kind seems possible as she sails towards the ground somewhere through the fog.

OOC: Assuming Caith lands alright, where she intended, and that her Greenwoods pony doesn't drop her headfirst into the ground, she will cast GREATER HEALING (3MP) on Giles ASAP.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:11, Thu 12 Nov 2020.

Engulfed in flames, but seeing no door or hole open up, Leofwyn steps backwards until the flames die down. As she turns away, she hears and then sees, Giles fall to the ground.

Her heart drops, and she looks away to see Osric impaled by a tentacle. Her first instinct is to run away, but in her quick glances around the room, she sees that is not an option. Instead, she turns back to the creature in the middle of the room.

Leaf watches as Usopi unsheaths Morraltach, aiming to attack the creature's head, and instinctively moves to assist his attack.

OOC: Leaf casts RAW POWER for 3MP. She is aiming to (at the very least) create some form of crack in the creature's head, so that when the sword hits it, there is a higher chance of damage. At most, she would try to damage it's eyes.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:35, Sat 14 Nov 2020.

Seeing that his words had no effect, Brannon grimly draws another arrow, and fires it at the creature.

10:43, Today: Brannon Darrow rolled 5,1 using d20,d6 with rolls of 5,1.  Arrow, ABR.

Stupid ABR roll! xD

https://photos.app.goo.gl/XerccWrARAyTZwAh9

Aphail fires again at the horror, finding it hard to see through the fog...he cursed as it went wide.

Gat whined and milled about, wanting to engage the foe but obeying his master.

Sir Uthen hacked away at his foe desperately, his blade not catching its unatural form.

Caith is transported by the vines...slightly more roughly than absolutely necessary...she moves to Giles and summons healing energies.

Leofwyn shapes her hands into a wrenching shape and reaches out towards the creature.  She feels the magic try to lock onto the creature but her dweomer recoils from its unatural form...

Giles looks up at Caith, " Thankyou." He looks at the creature and reaches out with his mind but a terrible headache erupts and he growls in frustration.

Though Doron would be more than willing to engage the tentacle that holds Osric, for now he looses an arrow...which disappears into the gloom.

Sir Turren threw his grapple and managed to snag Osric, holding him in place before he was dragged into the acid pool.

Colm charged in and swung his blade at the creature with a curse.....

Deise fired a poisoned arrow which glanced off the body of the creature.

Held in place momentarily by Turren, Osric was able to find enough leverage to swing his blade cuttig himself free.

Brannon fired again but could not find his target.

The strange being shuddered again and the tentacles whipped around, one struck out at Caith as she healed Giles but it plunged into the ground next to her, two more flew out...one plunged into Colms abdomen and the other into Uthens thigh....both men began to be dragged towards the pool. ( -8 hp Colm and Uthen)

The creatures teeth ground together like an avalanche, its eyes began to glow brighter and brighter but nothing spilled out from them this time.

Usopi attacked with Morraltach again the blade cutting deep into the head the creature began to list to one side and cracks began appearing all over it but it was still active....




OOC:

Initiative:

Aphail
Gat
Sir Uthen
Caith
Leofwyn
Giles
Prince Doron
Sir Turren
Colm
Deise
Osric
Brannon
Usopi


11:28, Today: GM, on behalf of Aphail MacRoach, rolled 16,5 using 1d20,1d6.  Precise Shot: ATT 20 - MOD 6. MISS.

11:30, Today: GM, on behalf of Sir Uthen of Sadley, rolled 17,2 using 1d20,1d8.  ATT 18 - DEF 6.MISS

Caith casts Greater Healing

13:38, Today: GM, on behalf of Giles, rolled 15,6 using 1d20,1d6.  ATT 17 - MOD 6.MISS

22:35, Today: Prince Doron rolled 18 using 1d20.  ATT 18 - MOD 6.MISS.

13:44, Today: GM, on behalf of Sir Turren Uvedale, rolled 11,8 using 1d20,1d6+3.  ATT 20 - MOD 6.HIT



17:27, Today: GM, on behalf of Colm Cernach, rolled 7,11 using 1d20,1d8+3.  ATT 16.

13:10, Today: Deise rolled 13 using 1d20 ((13))
 13:13, Today: Deise rolled 3 using 1d6 ((3)).  ATT 16 - MOD 6.MISS.

10:44, Today: Osric Grim rolled 4,7 using D20,d10+4.  Ghost Eye and ABR for hopefully 9HP damage.  HIT

10:43, Today: Brannon Darrow rolled 5,1 using d20,d6 with rolls of 5,1.  Arrow, ABR.

15:54, Today: GM, on behalf of NPC Grandiak, rolled 2,10 using 1d20,1d10.  ATT 20 - DEF 7. vs Caith. MISS

15:55, Today: GM, for the NPC Grandiak, rolled 1,8 using 1d20,1d10.  ATT 20 - DEF 11. vs Colm. HIT

15:59, Today: GM, for the NPC Grandiak, rolled 5,7 using 1d20,1d10.  ATT 20 - DEF 13. vs Uthen. HIT

16:21, Today: GM, on behalf of Usopi Venia, rolled 10,6 using 1d20,1d10+2.  ATT 20 - DEF 0.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:00, Mon 16 Nov 2020.

In reply to GM (msg # 169):

With very few of the ranged attacks landing, Deise backs up the stairs to get a better shot from above.

The second poisoned arrow is drawn back before being let loose at the beast.

OOC: 20:59, Today: Deise rolled 18 using 1d20 ((18)).

The arrow veers wildly away from the beast and into the distance.

“Shit”

Usopi was encouraged by the deep gash his blade had opened in the creature's head, as well as the other signs of its waning health. Drawing back Moralltach again, he swung now from left to right, hoping to split the thing in to quarters with another mighty blow. Surely the beast deserved the just wrath of Gatanadese for its service in such a foul place!

As soon as Sir Turren feels slack on the rope he lets out a triumphant cry.

He takes two measured bounds forward, casts Falchorus at the terrible eye.


OOC: Turren will still linger back, just by Aphail. He's convinced this thing's going to burst like a naphtha grenade the way it's smoking and heating within the outer crust.

Doron fires off one more arrow at the beast.



19:46, Today: Prince Doron rolled 4 using 1d20. Hit roll

19:47, Today: Prince Doron rolled 4 using 1d6+1. ABR

Osric tears the remains of the tentacle out of his body with a growl and launches forward to strike at the head of the infernal creature with his shining blade.

OOC 08:26, Today: Osric Grim rolled 6,14 using 1d20,d10+4.  Ghost Eye and ABR for hopefully 9HP damage. Hits vs DEF 17 and would cut through a tank’s armour! :-)

While not a heroic landing, nor particularly graceful, the hedgewitch pragmatically concedes that any landing one can walk away from is a good one, and simply gets on with the task at hand.



"Nay thank me 'til we're done with this place and headed homeward." Caith replies, but with a nod of acceptance nonetheless. The grimace Giles makes along with the growl gets a chip of dried willow bark thrust at him and the curt instruction of "Chew on that, and move out the way afore..."

OOC: Willow bark is the precursor to modern Asprin, so Caith is serious in that request.



Caith measures the distance between herself and the pseudopod that just slapped the ground near her and Giles in a heartbeat.

"Quick! Grab that. Use it as a rope to drag the lot back from the pit!" she suggests with some urgency to Giles, then dives towards the attacking tentacle, intent on grabbing before it can get out of her reach.

OOC: Caith's plan is quite mad, but she intends to wrap the tentacle around the nearest of the four pool sentinels as a tethering rope for an overgrown airborne octopus with delusions of grandeur in dire need of taking down.

Alphail nods to Turren as he watches for the great ugly face above the haze, not the tentacles as he draws a bead on the waterbeast once again, aiming up on the fey arrow's gleam in the green fog, his earlier shot that struck it's stony hide just below the left eye being a beacon now for it's swift brothers in battle.

A man with a charm against surprises in the dark can warn of danger and snipe at a foe at the same time, for Artia is said to prize patience and cunning as much as she does courage.

Unable to reach this 'unnatural form' with her power, Leaf redirects her efforts to the well directly next to it, hoping to create/move/grow a part of the wall to cover as much of the deeep hole as she can.


OOC: Re-purposing the 3MP of RAW POWER (GM approved)

https://photos.app.goo.gl/XerccWrARAyTZwAh9

Aphail fires again at the horror striking it in the forehead.

Gat huffed and sank to the ground as he watched the fight.

Sir Uthen desperately tried to cut himself free as he was hauled towards the acid pool.

Caith grabs hold of the tentacle but is stunned by its unatural strength as it lifts her off the ground...

Leofwyn pulls at the strange stone surrounding the pool and stretches it across the surface, to block off most of the surface......

Giles does as Caith asks and leaps onto the same tentacle, together they are able to weigh it down but do little else...

Doron fires again his shaft burying itself in the creatures left eye....it begins shuddering even more violently and lists badly to the left...

Sir Turren hauled back and threw Falchorus with all his might and the heirloom spear sank into the creatures right eye.....

The stone visage immediately crashed to the ground and within moments the tentacles had crumbled to ash and a few seconds later the head had done the same...
All was quiet in the courtyard once more except for the groans of the wounded.




OOC:

Initiative:

Aphail
Gat
Sir Uthen
Caith
Leofwyn
Giles
Prince Doron
Sir Turren
Colm
Deise
Osric
Brannon
Usopi


Today: GM, on behalf of Aphail MacRoach, rolled 4,4 using 1d20,1d6.  Precise Shot: ATT 20 - MOD 6. HIT.

Today: GM, on behalf of Sir Uthen of Sadley, rolled 20,1 using 1d20,1d8.  ATT 18 - DEF 6.MISS

19:46, Today: Prince Doron rolled 4 using 1d20. Hit roll

19:47, Today: Prince Doron rolled 4 using 1d6+1. ABR

20:29, Today: GM, on behalf of Sir Turren Uvedale, rolled 6,4 using 1d20,1d8+1 ((6,3)).

Caith abruptly find herself in the unnatural embrace of naught but ashes, her previous frantic struggle against a limb of evil now suddenly one of haplessly grabbing at handfuls of falling grey powder, then the rather more urgent priority of finding a safe spot to land.

It occurs to her in hindsight that grabbing the tentacle and trying to use it as a giant tow rope was probably not the best plan under the circumstances.

It also occurs to her, once she has landed (In if not the most graceful of ways, at least in one piece!) that it has become very quiet in the last few moments.

"Where'd that bloody beast go?!" Caith asks uncertain in tone, still in some confusion as to the sudden change in conditions, and looking around for the others as her ears catch the quieter sounds of human pain and suffering rather than the clanging din of battle against an unearthly being.

"Wait a minute, did we just win?!" Caith asks, louder this time, incredulous at an unexpected victory, then starts counting the cost in harm done. Figuring Giles must be the closest if he was holding down the same tentacle as she was a moment ago, she attempts to locate him first.

Sir Turren slaps Aphail on the shoulder sportingly, 'Well shot.'

The Knight wraps some cloth around his neck, nose and mouth, torn from his tabard. Turren won't remove the cloth until the strange mist dissipates entirely. He scoops up his bow.

Turren marches back in, nodding respectfully to Prince Doron as he passes. Sir Turren reaches the fallen devil, grips Falchorus, thrusts inward, down, twists, plants a boot, withdraws.

'Lady Caith,' Turren wipes and stows his javelin. 'Direct me as needed for the wounded. I'm yours to command.'

OOC: Turren will see to his rope and try to retrieve his fay arrows (except Aphail's one) after the needs of the wounded are seen to.

Sir Turrens boot just sinks up to the knee in the giant pile of ash that is all that is left of the creature, Falchorus comes free without any effort at all.

Usopi, preparing to swing his mighty sword, faltered as the creature turned in to ash. Seeing their victory he hesitates, wary that the blade might attempt to control him. When it seems calm he heaves a sigh of relief and stows the weapon.

He took a moment to catch his breath as Turren offered to help Caith with the wounded, and knowing he would be little help in that regard he turned his mind back to the puzzle.

"It would seem we have only the darkness and air totems to try now, and since no one seemed particularly concerned with air before the tentacle creature attacked, perhaps Darkness is the best chance to move forward?"

Alphail, still looking and listening for trouble, jumps a little at the slap, but grins as he replies quietly, after another cautious glance towards the fog  "Likewise."

"Better find the others." the hunter suggests, even as he takes note of the knight's precautions against the air's additional contents.

"A forge worker's smoke mask?" Alphail asks doubtfully, but concedes "That's wise, I suppose, but will it work against this stuff?"

Despite his unconvinced expression, he improvises a cloth mask of his own, and goes in search of the others, and a fey arrow last seen adorning a giant's stone mask.

'Ah, we used to do it sometimes with damp cloth if we were engaged near burning places in the wars. It may not serve here, but I have a nasty habit of erring on the side of caution, my friend.'

Caith, startled out of her wondering at the pile of ash, but glad of the voice behind the mask to know the knight replies sternly "I nay command, only suggest, ye rake, all be it strongly sometimes, but I'll accept any help ye be offering."

The concern in her voice is not well hidden as she asks "Have ye seen Alphail, or any of the others? The beastie grabbed Captain Colm and Sir Uthen, and I lost sight of them in the warring cloud. Scholar Giles was still alive, nay in the best of shape, but alive last I saw him when we were trying drag that the beast and them with it back from the pool..."

The hedgewitch counts heads and seeks comrades, glad to see Sir Usopi alive, blade sheathed and Gat nearby him. She looks further, in search of Lady Leofwyn, Deise, Hearthwarden Brannon, Osric, and Prince Doron.



"Maybe that is the path their minions took?" Caith offers cautiously as she considers "It seems the path the one we seek took was nay water or fire, and the war of air was fought out here, so what else is left?"

Still conducting triage she adds "Mayhap the ashes of the beastie we fought might tame the bite of the pool's burning water? Was nay made of wood though..."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:29, Sun 22 Nov 2020.

In reply to Caith Cernach (msg # 186):

Relief, relief and plenty of it seeing the best implode. Deise cautiously climbs down the stairs and begins to retrieve his spent arrows. He silently counts out all his companions.
“What from the pit of the seven hells was that?”

Hearing Usopi suggest the dark path, the small cowardly man ventures forth. “Friends, I’m not brave nor much of a shot in a fight. But I’ve traveled a dark path for much of my life. I’ll willingly chance that path for ye. ‘Tis the least I can do t’be of use. But let’s rest first and gather the wounded.”

Osric examines his wound and grins wolfishly at Deise and nods.

“Good plan. We couldna have the Prince or a Laird open their own door now eh?”

"Cunning is kin to courage..." Alphail says over his shoulder, but in a grudgingly approving tone for all he is intent on his handiwork "...And just as well, for her sister is a most fierce tempered woman."

With a splash of water from the waterskin from his pack to complete it, the hunter dons his own mask, hiding the gentle smile at his own face at the questioning voice of the herbwife cutting through the fog to his ears.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:32, Mon 23 Nov 2020.

Brannon pauses as the sounds of fighting cease, giving way to silence, then the murmer of voices. He backs up to the wall, and does his best to find the entrance to the courtyard, mindful that somewhere in the fog there is an enormous pool of acid that he doesn't want to blunder into.

At last he calls out. "Ho there! 'Tis Brannon! Are all well?"

Leaf relaxes with the others, and then responds when they call out through the mist.

She makes her way over to Giles, and pulls out her Mimir blanket, hoping to offer him some respite as they rested. As she unfolded the blanket, some of the roasted apples almost fall to the floor, but she catches them, and puts them in her pocket before they can land in any acid or ash. They were cold now, but she hoped they would still taste better than her fresh ones.

After giving Giles the blanket, she turns to see Uthen limping to sit down. She moves quickly to assist him and then offers him one of the roasted apples from her pocket. "It's not much, but hopefully it'll do you some good."

She then offers one of the roasted apples to Osric, as she gently guides him towards Caith. "Here you are. Although, you may not feel much like eating at the moment," she says, gesturing to his stomach wound.

“Thanks for the food and kindness Lady Leaf. Battling foul fiends always give a man an appetite!” he says through a grimace of pain.

Osric follows the tiny magician’s lead to Caith and asks “How fares Giles the Slayer?”

In reply to Osric Grim (msg # 188):

"Hah! I'm quite capable of opening my own doors, Grim."

Rake. God knows. The knight thinks back to a ghost life, long behind, cloaked in tarnished memory. For all that he forgot, why must he remember the dark? He absently rubs his cheek and jaw, thankful the cloth hides his blushing. 'Here,' Turren motions to Aphail as the bowman manifests nearby. 'Here safe and deadly as ever, M'lady.'

Sir Turren busies himself then, helping Caith and Leaf as they tend to the wounded.

To Leofwyn: 'M'lady, glad to see you unburnt. Here we thought we were in danger of freezing!' He looks over at Giles. 'Will he be alright?'

This message was last edited by the player at 23:00, Mon 23 Nov 2020.

Following Leaf's response, and the sound of Sir Turren's voice, Brannon makes his way over to them. Seeing them through the fog, his face registers first relief and then concern. "So few? What happened? Did the beast pull them back to its lair, or did we...?"

 “As you say lord prince” Osric says with an insolent grin

In reply to Osric Grim (msg # 196):

" Those that are injured, seek healing. We can not sit around here all day."

Colm drew a potion bottle from his backpack and quaffed it.

" Air or Darkness? I think none of us want to chance Water."

Caith's anxious expression becomes a little less worried as she says more cheerfully "Two of ye lived to tell the tale? Then fools we may be, but still fortunate ones!"

Looking from one masked man to the other she murmurs "A strange fashion indeed, but a well coordinated one. I ken the common sense behind it."

The hedgewitch pulls three triangular white-ish cloth armslings from her belt pouch of remedies, and fashions a mask of them for herself.

That done, she simply asks "Help me find the rest. The ashes can wait. Nay point sweeping them up while the air in here is still thick enough to cut slices from."

The quiet tapping of her staff along the floor as she attempts to find her way in the fog is a beacon of sorts, all be it one punctuated with muffled tart comments on the builders of the chamber taste in arcane positioning.

"Bloody unbalanced, that's it is. A bucket for elemental forces with no lid to keep it contained without spilling out all over the place! Air to the side? Makes nay sense at all, if Water is at the base of the structure. Why Darkness as a pillar if Water is a pit?"

Her grumblings cease when she finds there are more than three survivors to be found, and the healer begins sorting out who is most in need, regardless of social station, faith or country of origin.

Caith also strongly suggests everyone get a damped cloth mask on, at least until the air clears.

OOC: Triage has no respect for anything but how close a patient is to death at the time, so Caith is trying to figure out how badly injured people are before she spends her remaining MP/Potion/Fungi Powder as required.

In reply to Colm Cernach (msg # 197):

Deise travels through the mist and at Colms question responds, “Chief, I scout the dark way for us. No good at flying so I’ll leave air to someone else, eh!”

" In you go then.", Colm said flatly.

"T'was nay like any creature I have ever seen flying through the air afore." Caith answers with a shrug "Nor have I heard tell of any aquatic creature that lives in forge strength bitewater."



Caith looks approving, if slightly surprised at the small man's offer, and doubtful about any time for rest, but is already at work gathering the wounded.



"Better for hearing ye still live, Hearthwarden."



"Ye are wise in that assessment, Lady Leofwyn, but I will see what can be done." Caith says in a pensive tone, surveying the bellows spear-like wound calmly as she turns from checking on Giles.



"I nay ken what happened to the waterbeast yet, just there's a lot of ashes about. Still looking for Colm and Uthen." is all the hedgewitch offers at this stage.



"Aye." the sorceress says in terse agreement, but noticeably more cheerful at hearing him speak, then looking to Alphail.



Still puzzled by the arrangement of the elements in the chamber, Caith cautiously offers the opinion of "Of the three choices left, Darkness seems more likely than Water or Air."



"Better tie a rope to Deise first..." Caith retorts, but given the situation, hastily adds "I would nay put it past this place to have another maze within darkness, Hearth Father."

OOC: Better drink up that potion, Deise.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:24, Wed 25 Nov 2020.

In reply to Caith Cernach (msg # 201):

Deise removes the healing potion from his boot and quads the lot, washed down with some sweet sweet cider.
OOC: how many hp are replenished from the potion? 7 hp

“Thanks mistress Caith. Osric, Uthen, Turren would ye stand ready, well just in case. I’ll tie this around my waist - anything not right then yank hard.”

Once the necessary precautions are taken, Deise will draw a dagger and walk straight into the portal.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:49, Wed 25 Nov 2020.

Osric gives Deise a friendly clap on the shoulder with his giant hand and says “Leave a couple of the bastards for us to kill eh? And three quick tugs on the rope and we’ll haul yer back so fast yer head will spin!”

Once Caith has worked her healing magic Osric takes a firm grip on the rope and braces his mighty frame to haul Deise out of trouble in need.

Deise entered the Darkness statue and vanished from the sight of the others...

OOC what happened to the rope? Is it taut or slack?

The rope is taut into the darkness and then goes slack cut off cleanly at the edge of the darkness within.

Osric pulls in the empty rope and holds up the end.

“What now? Do we wait or go after him?”

Ghost Eye on hand Osric casts suspicious glances around the centre of the maze, wary of ambush now whilst licking their wounds.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:33, Thu 26 Nov 2020.

Caith, having healed Osric (8 HP back) regards the cut off rope's end carefully before she answers, counting a hundred heartbeats patiently to herself.

"If this truly be a path of darkness, nay a simply a death trap, then casting my eyes within it from afar will show me nothing without a source of light."

"I have faced darkness and death afore, and if this is the way we seek, then mayhap I can send ye a message from the other side..."

She strips off her pack, kisses Alphail and hands it to him as she says "Mind that for me a little while, aye?"

Caith turns to Colm and says "If I nay make contact within a hundred heartbeats, choose what path seems best to ye, and good luck. Brannon and Usopi have seen this trick done afore."

With that, the hedgewitch walks into the darkness in search of Deise, unwilling to leave a comrade alone to face the dark.

In reply to Caith Cernach (msg # 208):

Sir Turren reaches up... His mouth hangs, then closes.

He let's his hand down as Caith Vanishes.

He give's the others a concerned look.

Collects his arrows from the ash.

Osric looks at Aphail and says with a chuckle “Caith’s a fierce one! The gods help this Fomorian if he’s hurt Deise eh? Once we’ve waited who’s next?

Alphail grimaces at the extra load, but quietly replies "Aye, for I'll following after you both if you take too long finding him!"

That said, he watches her step into the dark, helpless in the knowledge that this is no more than he asked of her in serving Cernach, and an oath is an oath.



Alphail looks to Colm, a curiously cheerful expression on his face, then looks back to Osric and says in an amused tone "Up to ten already..."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:52, Thu 26 Nov 2020.

"I'll go next." Brannon says, gravely. "Though it seems that if this is other than instant destruction, then it seems there is no way that to communicate from beyond it. If we can find no other way forward, perhaps we should just charge through en masse, rather than leaving individuals to be picked off one by one?"

He begins to check his bow, his sword and his shield, and his holy symbol, readying himself to step through. "I'd be a poor priest if I didn't trust the Heath Mother to protect me."

[OOC: Famous Last Words!]

Brannon is moments away from stepping through when a ghostly image appeared in the air around them.

It seemed to be the shadowy image of a room...steps that lead down from a podium to a pool filled with black liquid. Smoke rises up in wraith-like forms from the surface of the water. an archway stands at the other end of the pool and Deise can be seen squatting at the pools edge.

Doron holds. What is this image that appears?

Does Deise appear to be well?

OOC:

The image is as described; a room, he seems well.

Usopi examines the image and then smiles.

”It would appear that the dark totem is the correct way forward.”

In reply to Usopi Venia (msg # 216):

Sir Turren finishes stowing rope and grapple, signs himself.

'A relief.'

"Where is Caith?" Asks Leaf, looking closer at the image. "Could she be standing by her own pool somewhere else?"

"Or is it more likely that she is the one who sent us this image?"


After a few moments of thought, Leaf asks "Might it be worth us going through in pairs - just to be sure we have someone with us wherever we end up?"

She looks around at the ash on the floor, the fog around them, and the birds flying overhead. "I know I would not want to be alone in this place."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:07, Sun 29 Nov 2020.

In reply to Leofwyn (msg # 218):

Sir Turren nods to Leaf. 'Clever.'

Brannon nods. "A good though, Leaf. Well, I have volunteered to step through next. Who would care to accompany me?""

Osric grins widely “ A fine plan. Reminds me of a barn dance. Let’s pair up then an a go dance a merry jig on the heads of our enemies!”

He flourishes Ghost Eye, his shining magical blade, through the air, in time to a merry caper, quite comical on a 7’, 400lb armoured killer.

Alphail, who has been silently studying the view hanging in the air intently, abruptly turns from it's details to offer a slight modification of the plan being formed.

"Small problem with pairing up." he points out "Statue, at least from looking at the outside of it is only big enough to fit Osric by himself."

The hunter looks slightly less certain of himself when he adds "Caith said to wait a hundred heartbeats before anyone followed after her. Not sure why, but I doubt she'd have said so without a reason for it."

Alphail looks to Laird Colm, Lady Leofwyn and Hearthwarden Brannon as he offers "If the Air statue is still important to examine more closely, then I'll could try sending an arrow with a waxed thread tied onto it in there, see if it cuts it off the line as this one did? Or simply leave it be, if you think that the wiser plan?"

"We've passed our hundred heartbeats." Brannon shrugs. "Maybe that is what she had us wait for?" He nods towards the image. "Given that the flame totem burned and the earth totem crushed, what will the air totem do? A storm, perhaps? Still, there is less risk testing it with an arrow..."

He turns his eyes back to the vision. "Perhaps if I move quickly, I too will appear in the image before it fades. If I reach the pool, I'll salute you." He demonstrates making the sign of the flame across his chest. "Come, Osric. Before my nerve fails and I think better of it... I guess we will have to go in single file..."

And with that, he plunges through the archway, scared that if he stops to think about what he is doing, he will stay paralyzed with indecision forever...

OOC: I'm assuming we've passed our hundred heartbeats, anyway. That would be what, 90 seconds? A couple of minutes if you're reasonably fit?

Osric turns and winks at the remaining party members.

“I hope ter see yer on the other side - wherever that maybe! Keep a good rearguard Sir Turren!”

He then leaps sideways through the portal gap after Brandon, into the unknown.

Aphail chances his shot into the Air statue, but there is no effect to be noted.

One by one, occasionally two by two ( those individuals got to know each other extremely well in a short space of time) the companions enter the portal and immediately sense nothing, no sound, no sight. This is what true darkness is - the absence of being.

In turn you feel it begin to close around you, but something tells you not to resist...even as ever instinct screams for you to do so.


You feel yourselves plummet then step forward and stumble down a short flight of steps and see those who went before you standing by the pool in the lantern light.  You see you are in a vaulted, granite-walled hall, with two black quartz horned statues towering some 4 metres high on either side of a raised podium.

A single beam of black radiance pours down from a black circular hole in the
ceiling behind you. You stand on steps that lead down from this podium to a pool filled
with a matt black liquid. Smoke rises up in wraith-like forms from the surface of the water. The only exit to this room is an archway at its end. The pool ends just where the archway begins, but it looks like one could squeeze rather clumsily around the edge of the pool and through the archway by stretching one’s legs across. A grey swirling barrier of energy, nacreous and completely opaque, obscures the archway.

'Best kind of rearguard,' Sir Turren tells Osric as the knight manifests last. 'Uneventful...'

His voice trails off as he takes in the sights.

'Forgive ye' children fearing the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men shun the light,' he quotes from a holy sermon he'd attended over a decade ago, startling himself that he suddenly remembers the passage.

Osric glances around gripping Ghost Eye tightly, scanning the shadows for hidden dangers.

In reply to Osric Grim (msg # 227):

Colleagues emerging from the darkness see Caith and Brannon huddled on the stairs, while Deise is up to his knees in steaming black water at the end of the stairs.

Putting his index finger to his lips as he faces a plethora of newly arrived colleagues, “Hssshhhh . . . These are likely the steps that Drajan took all those years ago. Sinister though it maybe, we are on the right path. Caith reminded me we should look for the Black Star, for there he met his doom. Before then he faced beasts from beyond the grave.”

Leofwyn looks to Turren, touched by his words. "Did you make that up just then?"

She then moved so she was between Osric and Turren. "Do you two remember that trick I played on you, Osric, before Caith and Aphail's wedding?" she whispers gazing out to the water-type surface. "Do you think I would be able to walk across this liquid in the same way?"

"Perhaps I could run across, and if anything reaches out of the water, everyone could attack it? For if we walk through it, we will face what we cannot see."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:55, Wed 02 Dec 2020.

“Hah it was a grand jest! That could be a good plan.  Have Caith or Deise mentioned what they’ve seen here yet?

Osric pauses for a moment and then says “Come ter think of it, I haven’t had a bath since then...” And gripping Ghost Eye in the hope it might allow him to see through the murky water he promptly takes a deep breath, dunks his head under the water and tries to peer through the murky water.

OOC I know that’s probably kinda odd but having pondered the visions he saw within the whirlwind on the frozen lake he’s trying to figure out what visual powers the sword may grant.

OOC: The water is dark and almost inky in consistency....and quite cool despite the smoke rising from it.

Osric surges up from being submerged in the water and shakes his shaggy head like a great hound.

“Couldna see past my own nose under the water. It’s surprisingly cold so I don’t ken what this smoke or steam is” he says waving his hand back and forth through the smoke.

The hunter notes there is nothing of note, and silently proceeds through the archway.



"So that's why you're so put out?" Alphail quietly teases Caith with glance towards the pool as he mutters "On account of there being a bath involved?"

"Bit big for tipping out, even for the big fellas..." he ponders.

" So we proceed through the pool and then through that grey barrier?"

" Brannon....this must be or have been the entrance for human worshippers to the temple...would the immersion be some sort of ritual?"

Usopi took a seat on one of the lower steps as the others examined the room. While he would have shared Leaf's concern over creatures coming out of the inky pool, Deise was standing in it when they had arrived. The additional submersion of Osric's face into the liquid soothed any lingering worry Usopi might have had that the fluid itself would spawn enemies.

Reaching into his pack, he withdrew a small portion of hardtack from his rations and had a snack, extending a chunk to Gat to soothe any nerves the hound might be experiencing after the teleportation through the totem of darkness. Usopi hoped they would not have to submerge themselves to continue onward, but he could think of no way to test that necessity without simply pressing his hand to the gray barrier and observing whether or not the limb was dissolved on contact.

With no observations or mythological knowledge of his own to offer, he contented himself with consuming nutrients and awaiting a consensus on how to progress.

Brannon nods. "I have heard of such rituals: cleansing before entering a Temple is not unusual. We have already passed through Darkness to get here, so it would make sense that we are following the path of worshippers, and that they would use... liquid shadow?... to cleanse. So through the pool and then through... that." He gestures uneasily at the barrier.

In reply to Colm Cernach (msg # 234):

“Well, whether tis a ritual or no, unless we fly over, tis wading through this. While ‘tis a shallow pool here, it deepens in the middle. The water pools we’ve faced sofar have nearly done for us.”
Deise walks a little further into the pool, braved by Osrics antics, but still fearful that an attack could spur growth from the depths.

"Can everybody swim?" Asks Leaf, wondering aloud her worry of going through.

Turren shakes his head as they are 'shushed'.

'There was a night raid long ago,' Turren whispers. 'Before the raid a priest held mass and blessed us.They were his words, and the saviour before him.This place - I feel like I felt back then, and the memory came.'


Turren purses his lips. 'You could no doubt do it. Not sure if you should, m'lady.' He shrugs, but is ready.

Turren nods.

Caith looks pensive at this statement, muttering "Light is a heavier load to carry than darkness?" to herself as she considers the thought more carefully.



"Then there are likely to be more restless dead to contend with yet." the Hedgewitch says softly, then offers "We have fought dead men afore and won." in reminder of past battles against such loathsome foes.



"I did send ye all a picture..." Caith points out in a surprisingly gentle tone, for the gloomy expression on her face as she looks about the chamber, her eyes still avoiding the pool's inky surface "...And I have been told afore that is worth a thousand words."

It is all she can do to not scream "NO!" at the great northerner's cheerful dunking of his head in the pool's darkness, mindful that the wolf has already been jumping at shadows for naught in this place.



The look Caith gives Alphail is not an amused one, but nor is it a furious one as she asks in a whisper "Do ye blame me for being wary of one in a place like this?"



"Need a giant with a pickaxe for that emptying." Caith scornfully hisses in reply, then in a more thoughful tone adds "Perhaps there's a stopper at the bottom of it, like an upside down bottle?"



Caith says softly "I nay know if that is wise, but it seems that is the path before us." then shuts up as wiser heads offer their own advice on the matter.





Caith nods in glum agreement.

“Well, whether tis a ritual or no, unless we fly over, tis wading through this. While ‘tis a shallow pool here, it deepens in the middle. The water pools we’ve faced sofar have nearly done for us.”
Deise walks a little further into the pool, braved by Osrics antics, but still fearful that an attack could spur growth from the depths.

Caith shrinks deeper into her wolfskin robes, the concern on her face obvious as Deise and Osric paddle in darkness.



Caith nods as she quietly says "Like a dog, nay a dolphin, but I've nay drowned yet. I nay know if that holds true for all of us though." and looks about those assembled in the room for answers on that practical question.

"Ye could sneak around the edges of the pool mayhap, without calling on Water's strength to aid ye?" she suggests to Leaf

She offers one snippet of her own lore on the room's purpose as she says softly "It be a far grander affair than my kin's scrying afar in a bowl of inked water, and that is too dull a mirror to see visions reflected in it..." while pointing towards the shell sheen gate above the waterline "...But that is what it puts me in mind of, a giant's version of my Great Auntie's looking glass and bowl."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:00, Fri 04 Dec 2020.

As Leaf asked if everyone was able to swim and Deise mentioned that the pool grew deeper as it neared the portal Usopi grimaced. He stood from his temporary roost and moved toward the portal, a portion of hardtack still in his hand.

"I am able to swim, though will have to remove my armor to do so without risking sinking. If there is some foe on the far side it would be unfortunate to face it without proper defenses." he said as he carefully approached the edge of the door.

It appeared that if he stood with one foot on either bank of the inky pool he might be able to walk through without submerging himself, though the question of whether he could pass through without being wet was still uncertain. Slowly he pressed the hardtack toward the surface of the portal, hoping that at least the tip might pass through before he withdrew his hand to see if the biscuit returned in one piece.

" One of the armsmen should lead, either submerged or not. Those of the high household will submerge before entering the barrier."

" Caith, Leofwyn, Brannon and Doron will keep to the rear."

" Come on, get along then."

Brannon frowns. "Rather than risk the party as a whole, perhaps one of the more lightly armoured among us should test it first, to see how deep it becomes. Even if ther eis no monster, we don't want an armoured knight to sink into the depths if there is an abrupt hole... That said, we don't know that swimming is necessary, or that danger is guaranteed. I doubt I can swim without removing my own armour, but I can see how far I can get..."

Brannon undoes his pack, lays his shield and weapons to one side, and ties a rope around his waist, handing the other end to Sir Turren. "If I abruptly disappear, try to get me back. If it looks like you'll be pulled in - let go. Better that only one of us suffers."

Then, armed only with his dagger - unless anyone stops him - he walks cautiously into the pool, murmering prayers to the Hearth Mother every step of the way, to see how far he can get before he is submerged... or worse.

I'm having flashbacks to Tobias and the Necrophage or whatever it was called. Boy, did I regret that act of recklessness! xD

Sorry - nearly crossed posts with Colm, there, so I've tried to adjust it to explain Brannon's thinking!

In reply to Brannon Darrow (msg # 244):
Deise gently places his left hand on Brannons right forearm and moves close enough to whisper.
"I'll walk with you brother."

Before moving into the deep part of the water, Deise turns to Usopi and Osric.

"Men, me being but a mouse, there are items in the pack that I would rather not get damp. Can one of you giants hold my pack to keep dry. Be careful you dont open and drink anything though. Might not agree with yer delicate constitutions, eh lads."

Deise is armed with a knife and has two more in his belt as he wades into the middle of the flooded pit with the Hearthwarden of the Temple of Flame.

INNER SENSE
This message was last edited by the player at 10:44, Sat 05 Dec 2020.

Osric places Deise’s pack high on his enormous shoulders to keep it out of the water.

Sir Turren takes the rope with a slight bow. 'You know I'll not be letting go, friend. Others will aid me if need be. I have you.'


This message was last edited by the player at 10:09, Sat 05 Dec 2020.