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13:33, 16th April 2024 (GMT+0)

Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids.

Posted by The RaconteurFor group 0
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 483 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Fri 2 May 2014
at 17:59
  • msg #327

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato shook his head.  "Yet capacity for redemption is not the same as interest in redemption.  Theoretically, yes, any intelligent humanoid might be able to be redeemed.  But you don't find many of Sarenrae's paladins seeking to redeem gnolls or orcs.  And the intelligent undead are beyond redemption, yes?  Their very existence is grounded in evil."

Cato looked around the grim room.  "I find it hard to believe that the people who chose to work with these implements day in and day out would have been very interested in redemption.  And if they wouldn't even consider it, do they really have the capacity for redemption?"

The wizard shook his head again.  "I think greater minds than us have spent years debating these very ideas, and there is still doubt about it.  So what does it come down to?  Should we do the greatest good for the greatest number by killing those who commit evil?  Or are we sacrificing potentially good souls to an eternity in an evil afterlife by killing them without redeeming them?"
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 62 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Fri 2 May 2014
at 20:23
  • msg #328

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr grinned happily as the Most Wonderful Girl in the World told him she loved him.  He happily walked arm-in-arm with her to help with the search of the prison.  As he worked, he looked up from the ginger movement of dusty bones to grin at Liseth, who was watching him.  “I think that’s a good plan.  You staying nearby, I mean.  You never know when there might be an emergency, um, requiring your presence.”

Kerr suddenly found himself blushing.

Recovering slightly, he offered the young blonde both a bashful grin and his arm for the short walk down the eastern corridor.  But what they found in the room at the end of the passageway caused Liseth to tighten her grip on his arm and wiped the smile right off Kerr’s face.  The room’s insidious purpose, the infliction of horrible pain on others, was impossible to miss.

Kerr nodded glumly at Kellan’s expression of incredulity.  Whoever had used this room HAD to be broken in some way.  The use of such devices on unwilling captives was . . . well, it was evil.  Just evil.

“I think you’re right, Kellan.  I think these people are broken.  But sadly there are a lot of broken people in the world, and Lamashtu’s promises of power and immortality sound good when you feel like you’re powerless and friendless.”  Kerr ran his hand down the grain of the wood of the torture table, giving it a look of distaste.  “Of course, some people just enjoy hurting other people.  For the fun of it.”

He listened to the back-and-forth between Pisca and Liseth regarding what might have made Lamashtu-worshippers do the things they do.  “I don’t think it’s necessarily an either-or thing.  It’s both.  Some people are predisposed towards evil, and will gravitate that way no matter how good their upbringing.  And some people are predisposed towards good; they will be okay even though they might have been raised in squalor, want, or depravity.”

He knocked on the table for emphasis.  “But I think upbringing has something to do with it too.  I don’t mean poverty, though.  The vast majority of poor people I know, and really a lot of Sandpoint fits in that description, are very moral.  And there certainly isn’t any lack of stories regarding rich people who are near-psychopaths.  In fact, now that I think about it, it might be harder for a rich person to be good than for a poor person.”

He pondered the matter for a moment.  “No, I think the upbringing part revolves around whether your family gave you boundaries and moral instruction.  I think that’s where the,” he gestured at Pisca, “Thrunes fail, for example.”

Kerr nodded along with Cato.  “I think anyone can be redeemed.  It’s only a question of their realizing that they need redemption, and having the will to go through what is necessary for redemption.  But I think even people who work with implements such as these can come to realize the evil of what they’re doing.”  He raised one of the now-dull knives.  “In fact, I think it might be easier to realize you need redemption when you are doing something like this, inflicting pain on people right in front of you whom you can see, than if you engage in evil at a distance.  For example, someone who signed papers condemning these poor wretches to this sort of torture.”  He put the knife back on the table.  “When it’s less immediate and visceral, evil is easier to ignore.  Or to rationalize.”

Kerr patted his bow.  "But just because people have the capacity for redemption doesn't mean they don't deserve the consequences of their evil.  They've still made their choices.  And the fact that they still have the opportunity to change their path doesn't mean that they shouldn't be punished for the path that they've chosen."


This message was last edited by the player at 20:46, Fri 02 May 2014.
The Raconteur
GM, 927 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Fri 2 May 2014
at 20:23
  • msg #329

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Finding absolutely no traps whatsoever, hidden or otherwise, Pisca opened the southern stone door as slowly and sneakily as she could.  Unfortunately, this resulted in an alarmingly-loud creak that resounded through both rooms and could not fail to warn the occupants of either that someone was at the door.  Fortunately, there did not seem to be anyone in the adjoining room to react to the noise.

Pisca winced at the sound and waited for some sort of rampaging, wrathful monster to burst from the recently-revealed room.  When none was forthcoming, she stuck her head through the aperture between the door and the frame to see what she could see.

What she saw were the crumbling remnants of several chairs and a long table cluttering the floor of the room.  To the south stood three stone doors, each bearing that strange symbol that resembled a seven-pointed star.  To Pisca's eye, the room resembled a study, although time and what seemed like some person or being's occasional expressions of frustration had taken their toll.  Nothing stirred; it seemed deserted.

Pisca opened the door wider and entered the study-like chamber.  Her brief search of the rubble found fragments of countless books and scrolls covered with bits of spiky writing in a strange language.  Pisca's keen gnomish eyes even spotted what seemed to be the one undamaged document in the room, located discreetly under a chair.  But her attempt to read the page could make neither heads nor tails of it.

OOC:

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D  = Door      G = Pisca (she's a Gnome, right?  So as not to confuse her with Pools)
A  = Altar     L = Liseth
S  = Stairs    K = Kellan
P  = Pool      C = Cato
               R = Kerr

DL = Pisca's Dancing Lights


Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 900 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 2 May 2014
at 21:41
  • msg #330

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Books, books, books, books!  And nothing that's any good!"  The gnome gave an overly dramatic sigh.  Into one hand, she placed her head, to declare her gnomish disappointment.  With the other hand she held out the lone undamaged document.  "Cato?  Cato, could you take a look at this please?  The one salvageable thing in this room and the gnome can't read it.  The world is so sad now."

"But wait!  I could!"  Pisca snatched the document back, gazing at it in a new, once again eager light.  Which then faded and dwindled and died away.  "But no.  I could read it if it were magic.  But, it's best if you try first.  You're the scholar.  Brodie would want it that way."  She held out her hand again with the document in it.  "He would," she added solemnly.

"I'll just check these other doors here.  Maybe I'll find some books of Ustalavan Camp Stories behind one of them.  Or Ancient Tian Poetry.  Something.  Something.  Anything for the library."

Perception checks, both to search for traps and to listen at the doors.  Stealth check to open the door unseen.

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message-All but Kerr 20m, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 22/24
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 487 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Sat 3 May 2014
at 00:55
  • msg #331

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato perked up at the mention of a readable scroll.  He made a comically formal bow to Kerr and Liseth.  "If you'll exceed me, our discussion about morality will have to wait.  If appears my skills with the written word are needed elsewhere."  Cato quickly crossed the threshold and entered the new room, eager both to leave behind the vile room filled with instruments of torture and examine a new piece of ancient history, one that promised to take his mind off more current concerns, if only momentarily.

"Let's have a look at that scroll, Pisca."  Cato eagerly examined the scroll.  "Unfortunately, I didn't prepare read magic for this excursion, though I can always do that tomorrow.  I can try to decipher it anyway if it's magical writing, or just see if it's normal language."

OOC:
Try Linguistics first, then Spellcraft if I can't decipher it.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 535 posts
Former Red Shirt
Sat 3 May 2014
at 19:26
  • msg #332

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan lingered outside the decaying study, helping himself to another mouthfull of water from his skin, which he swished around in his mouth before he swallowed.  As he wrapped his cloak a little tighter around himself and watched for any more threats, he pondered what Kerr had said.

If Tsuto had recieved a more loving childhood...would he have taken the route he did? Or would he have ran off regardless. He imagined the kind of hatred one would have to possess to seek out the kind of people he did, to agree to attack his own fathers shop filled with defenseless workers with a tribe of goblins in tow.

Where did it start?

And did Lamashtu have a hand in it? Much like Liseth believing that she had seen the gods themselves, what if Tsuto had recieved a visit of some kind? Or this Nualia? That would be enough to make a person feel special, he was sure. But enough to turn your back on all that was wholesome and good in the world? What future could they possibly hope to see in that?

"I just want to keep Sandpoint safe and happy" the farm boy chimed in rather simply "If we can pull that off I figure we are doing pretty good" he grinned to Liseth and Kerr before glancing in to see how Pisca and Cato were coming along
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 863 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Sat 3 May 2014
at 22:27
  • msg #333

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"I...um.  Hmm."  Liseth had never really had a discussion about her core beliefs before.  Not that it was a bad thing to do so; Father Garrick had taught her that such discussion helped you learn more about yourself and explore your beliefs.  "It might be that wicked people aren't interested in redemption, that's true.  But there is always the chance for redemption.  It's up to other people to show them that what they are doing is wrong and convince them to seek it out."

Liseth nodded along while Kerr spoke, once again happy that he was with them.  He talked as though he had thought about these things before.  "That's another thing that Sarenrae teaches.  Everyone can change; anybody, no matter how cruel or evil can seek redemption.  But, sometimes they are too resistant.  They don't want to change, or they don't think that what they are doing is wrong.  Sarenrae says that, in that case, it might be best if they had justice dealt to them for the evil that they've done.  To keep them from continuing their evil.  That's why Sarenrae's paladins are more concerned with protecting people than trying to redeem villains and monsters."

"I just...I just don't think that I can do that.  Kill someone; even if they were completely evil."  Liseth fidgeted with her hands, "I would want to do everything I could to help them first.  To convince them that they should seek redemption for the evil things they might have done."  Liseth grasped Kerr's hand, "Maybe that's why Sarenrae wants me to have a protector."

She didn't realize that Cato had excused himself to explore the antechamber, and Liseth found herself talking with Kerr and Kellan.  She looked around the torture chamber again and decided to stop focusing on the horrible implements.

"I want to keep Sandpoint safe too Kellan.  We all do.  I just hope that it doesn't mean we have to kill everyone who is threatening it."  She shrugged, "It would be really nice if we could find Tsuto and convince him to come back to Sandpoint and live with his sister, don't you think?  After everything that has happened, I think that it would make Ms Kaijitsu very happy."

The girl glanced into the antechamber where Pisca and Cato were examining documents, then looked across at the other door exiting the torture room, then back to Kellan.  "Maybe we should see what's through there while they look through the...um...library.  It would go quicker that way..."  She left out reiterating why they should want to move more quickly.  Cato probably didn't want to think too much about it.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 536 posts
Former Red Shirt
Mon 5 May 2014
at 05:01
  • msg #334

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan seemed to consider Listens suggestion. He could peek through the door, it was probably another little corridor or room, but this being an truly ancient ruin and knowing his own luck it would probably have a trap or something attached to it.

Piscataway had been doing an excellent job being careful with the doors, and while they had not found anything yet the extra few moments it took did not really hurt them...normally at least.

"We should probably hold off..." he replied as he looked to the door "It only takes one time, ya know?" He rapped on the door to the study "How we lookin guys?" His own little brand of encouragement, and a somewhat subtle reminder that Cato would be needing medical attention sooner than later.
The Raconteur
GM, 929 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Mon 5 May 2014
at 17:02
  • msg #335

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Pisca listened at and examined the three stone doors with uncharacteristic patience, but was unable to either hear or find anything out of the ordinary.  The stone did not speak to her in any way, perhaps due to her lack of Dwarf blood.

She tentatively opened the west-most portal.  It slowly creaked open, revealing what looked like a five-by-five prison cell containing the skeleton of a deformed humanoid with three brittle arms.  A search of the small area found nothing more.

Pisca opened the middle door to find the same sort enclosed space, only this time the skeleton had an enormous, misshapen skull.  Again, the room seemed to contain nothing apart from the skeleton and ages worth of dust.

The third door revealed a space similar to the other two; this one’s skeleton had an enormous rib cage reaching all the way down to its pelvis, a pelvis with stunted leg bones strewn beneath its strangely flat girth.  As far as Pisca could tell, the third cell also contained nothing aside from the remains of its unfortunate occupant.

What caused the skeletons’ deformities, and how the devices in the larger room to the north contributed to those disfigurations, was probably best left un-thought-about.



OOC:

   P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X   Y  Z AA BB CC DD EE FF GG HH II JJ KK LL MM NN OO
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  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--XDDXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
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26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+


D  = Door      G = Pisca (she's a Gnome, right?  So as not to confuse her with Pools)
A  = Altar     L = Liseth
S  = Stairs    K = Kellan
P  = Pool      C = Cato
               R = Kerr

DL = Pisca's Dancing Lights


Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 905 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 5 May 2014
at 18:12
  • msg #336

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

The hands of the gnome were on her hips, and there was a frown on her attractive gnomish face.  "This ... was not the book repository," she said, stating something rather of the obvious.  For a moment she gave the symbol on each door a hard look of scrutiny.

"Cato, could you examine these rooms for magic?"  It was hard to make a polite request while harboring deep suspicions with regards to the purpose of the doors and the small rooms behind them.  With recognition of such difficulty, Pisca added, "Please?"  I have two hunches as to what these rooms might have been used for.  The first one is magical in nature.  The second is not."

"First, it's possible that Runelord Lady Alaznist was putting together her own super team.  These rooms in some way accelerated mutation.  Perhaps by bombarding the inhabitants with high degrees of arcane particles.  The use of arcane particles would explain why the doors aren't open or transparent so that they could watch the mutations as they were taking place.  Most of the results, as you can see from the examples presented in these poor victims, are non-beneficial.  But, with enough subjects, they were bound to get four or six beneficial mutations, developing super powered beings that Alaznist could form into a super team to fight for Wrath.  Task Force W.  Or, maybe, The Angry Birds.  Something.  They'd think of a good name."

"Second, maybe this was the naughty room.  This was where Alaznist put all of the bad mutants.  She locked them here, each alone in their small, dark, soundproof cells where they slowly lost all touch with the outside world and went mad."  Pisca breathed in a tragic breath and shook her head.  "Now, *that* is evil, Lysa.  Pure and incarnate.  It's not an act of wickedness that a Runelord can take back or apologize for.  It's evil that stems from what they are.  And that is Ee Vee Aye El:  Evil."

"Sure.  Anything is possible.  In theory, it's possible for me to put the moon in my pocket.  But it's not something that you'd really want to count on."

"It would be really interesting to know whether there's any magic on those rooms, Cato," the gnome suggested again.  She gave the cells one more hard piercing look before turning and walking back out into what she'd christened, the Room of Devices.

"I'm going to take a look at this door, alright?"  Pisca was back to whispering.  But, for Kerr Mollin's sake she used a normal, mundane whisper this time, rather than her magic one.

Knowledge Arcana to determine the function of the small cells.

Perception check, to search for traps and to listen at the eastern door.  Stealth check to open the door unseen.

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message-All but Kerr 20m, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 22/24
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 537 posts
Former Red Shirt
Mon 5 May 2014
at 18:16
  • msg #337

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan peeked now and then as the cells were opened, then paused with a concerned look on his face that rapidly grew worried. He moved towards Listen, gently attempting to guide her towards the safety of the room as he assumed her place in the center of the room as he spoke.

"Did you he...yeah, guys...Guys! they're coming!"

He lowered his pole arm and focused on the Eastern door while occasionally glancing to the west in the case that it had been a strange echo.

OOC: If Liseth does not feel like moving just let me know : )
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 864 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Mon 5 May 2014
at 19:31
  • msg #338

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

With her stomach threatening to revolt, Liseth nodded weakly at Pisca's description of the malformed skeletons as an act of pure evil.  There was nothing that she could say, or wanted to say, to counter that.  She could only imagine the incredible pain and torment inflicted on those poor souls in order to...alter them in such a way.

"You don't think that..." the girl started when Pisca went to check the next door; then stopped suddenly and listened.  Immediately her eyes fell and she paled at the thought of what the sound of distant howling must mean.

"I heard them too...it sounds like more Rune Dogs...angry Rune Dogs."  Liseth said as Kellan guided her towards the uncertain safety of the deformed skeleton room.  She took advantage of Kellan's nearness to channel a small bit of the divine into him; to prepare for the doubtlessly coming battle.  "May Erastil grant you the endurance to face your enemies."

The acolyte paused just at the door, looking inside with a very uncertain and disturbed frown.  She swallowed, hard, when her eyes went over the misshapen forms of the skeletons.  With a shiver, she could not keep herself from imagining those horrible skeletons springing to life and pouncing on her.

"Cato, you...you could tell if they were undead skeletons, right?"  Liseth's hands were fidgeting, and she kept looking over the skeletons as well as glancing behind herself to see how everyone else was doing.

OOC: Cast Virtue on Kellan (1 Temporary Hit Point); 10 Rounds
This message was last edited by the player at 19:32, Mon 05 May 2014.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 489 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Mon 5 May 2014
at 20:42
  • msg #339

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato looked up from his study of the scroll.  "Yes, definitively magic.  It's a scroll of Flaming Sphere.  Could be helpful, and if we don't need it today, maybe I can add it to my spell book."  Speaking about future plans made Cato feel somewhat better.  If he had plans for the future, it meant that the grim fate promised by the Skulls was avoidable.  Cato trailed off as the familiar Thassilonian burned to life in front of him, then extinguished before anyone noticed.  Cato's face went pale, and the silence dragged on.  "Has anyone else seen anything strange lately?  I just saw some more flaming letters, promising doom.  At first, I thought it might have been the Quasit, but she was obviously surprised to see us, and I just saw some more.  So it's not her.  Something is still alive and controlling things down here, unless it's some very powerful and ancient magic that's still active after all these centuries...like the magic preserving the wood and these skeletons, I suppose."

Cato rubbed his eyes and looked up at Pisca.  "Sure, I can scan the cells for active magic.  It'll probably take a little while.  There's almost certainly that preservative magic, or the skeletons would have long since crumbled to dust.  But I can try to see if there's anything else."

Just as Cato was about to cast the spell and start his observation, he heard Kellan's warning.  "Maybe I'll leave that examination for later.  When we're not under threat of attack again."  He glanced back at the decrepit skeletons. "I haven't been able to check them yet, Liseth, but I could detect a necromantic aura if I took the time."

Cato considered again.  "Maybe it would be worth it to not be taken by surprise.  Like those skeletons back in the vault in Sandpoint."  Cato involuntarily grimaced at the memory of being attacked.  "We certainly would want to avoid that."

Cato stepped closer to the spell, and cast Detect Magic, scanning the cells for active auras, looking specifically for Necromantic energy and anything other than the preservative magic he had earlier observed maintaining the wooden walkways in the other jail.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 906 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 5 May 2014
at 20:59
  • msg #340

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

What?????

"What?"  Standing in from of the eastern door, Pisca made an exaggerated face of puzzled enquiry directed at Lysa and Stomper.  Puzzlement gave way to annoyance, which could look similar to puzzlement, but with more frowny eyebrows.  The gnome shook her head and cast her eyes to the heavens which she knew to be somewhere up above a hundred feet of rock and stone above their heads.  With a quick dip into her pouch she took out a shim and shoved it under the door.  A swift kick of her booted foot wedged the door shut, temporarily barring the portal to anyone not expecting this particular door to be balky and intransigent.

Then, with a sigh, Pisca returned to the mutant creation chamber.  "What?  I don't hear anything."  And she tipped her head to listen once again.

And yet, silence reigned.  And reigned.  And reigned some more.  With a queer look for her human friends, the gnome returned to the eastern door, removed the shim, and opened the door as quietly as she could for a peek.

Stealth check to open the door and Perception to see what might be on the other side.

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message-All but Kerr 20m, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 22/24
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

This message was last edited by the player at 21:12, Mon 05 May 2014.
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 865 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Mon 5 May 2014
at 21:13
  • msg #341

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"It...they stopped."  Liseth looked around in bewilderment, then down towards Pisca, "I heard howling, just like the Rune Dogs might make.  It sounded like there was more than one of them too."  She shook her head as though she might clear her ears that way, then cocked her head again to try and hear the howling once more.

"I can't hear it anymore.  The howling sound stopped as soon as you came back into the room to check the door, Pisca..."  Liseth frowned and continued to fidget, "You heard it too, didn't you Kellan?  Did you hear anything Kerr?"

"Cato, you said that you saw those magic fire letters again, right?"  Liseth suddenly had a sneaking suspicion that she really hoped was correct, "Maybe the howling wasn't real?  It could be another magical thing trying to scare us away; an..."  Liseth searched for the proper word regarding magical noises, "illusion."
The Raconteur
GM, 930 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Mon 5 May 2014
at 21:45
  • msg #342

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Pisca slowly cracked open the door and peeked around the edge.  She stopped.  She looked.  She listened.

She heard nothing.  Whatever the howling was that Liseth and Kellan had heard, it wasn't coming from this direction.  At least, it wasn't coming from this direction NOW.

Nothing moved.

All she observed was a tunnel, much like the ones the group had traversed before in height, width, and stone construction, only this time descending, descending via staircase further into the bowels of the earth below Sandpoint.  Pisca could only see about 25 feet of corridor before it disappeared down into the depths of the complex.

The air seemed . . . cooler . . . on the other side of the door.  But other than that, the passageway gave no sign of its destination nor any indication of recent use.

OOC:

   P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X   Y  Z AA BB CC DD EE FF GG HH II JJ KK LL MM NN OO
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-9|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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-8|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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-5|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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  XXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
-2|  |  |  X  |  | K|  X  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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D  = Door      G = Pisca (she's a Gnome, right?  So as not to confuse her with Pools)
A  = Altar     L = Liseth
S  = Stairs    K = Kellan
P  = Pool      C = Cato
               R = Kerr

DL = Pisca's Dancing Lights


This message was last edited by the GM at 21:46, Mon 05 May 2014.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 538 posts
Former Red Shirt
Mon 5 May 2014
at 21:48
  • msg #343

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Oh yeah, I heard it" he assured Liseth without taking his eyes off the eastern door "And yeah, it stopped right as you came in Pisca...I would guess more than one but the echos do strange things down here" he found that his mouth had gone a little dry and licked his lips in anticipation.

With intense concentration he watchd Pisca place the shim, wait, then open it back up. He looked ready to lay into whatever lay beyond the door, his body visably tensing up.

And then...nothing, more tunnel. He breathed a little sigh of relief and shook out his limbs

"Looks like were not done yet..." he said as he peered into the darkness, steeling himself for whatever lay down there.
Kerr Mollin
NPC, 63 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Mon 5 May 2014
at 21:52
  • msg #344

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


Kerr fidgeted, a little uncomfortably.  "I didn't hear anything," he said, not wanting to gainsay Liseth but also wanting to be truthful.  "But that doesn't mean it wasn't real.  I mean, you both heard it, right?"  He gestured to Kellan.  "And I was concentrating on watching back down the corridor we came from."

The young acolyte looked around the room, as if checking for vents or other means by which sound might make it into the room.  "I don't really see anything that would carry sound."  He frowned.  "But we heard howling earlier, right?  Back before we met the quasit?  Near that storeroom?"

He rubbed his chin with the thumb and forefinger of his free hand.  "It's certainly mysterious.  But Cato's been seeing the flaming letters, right?  Not only here but back there, in the same place.  Maybe it is some sort of magical trigger, or something.  Illusions can consist of sound as well as visuals, right?"  He looked to Cato for confirmation.  "Maybe the flaming letters and the howling are some sort of a package deal?"  He looked uncomfortably uncertain.  "Or something."


Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 908 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 6 May 2014
at 13:02
  • msg #345

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

The gnome gave her four human friends the queerest of looks.  Then she remembered the baying of Rune Dogs that she'd heard just as they entered these Thassilonian ruins.  Oh well.  So much for the idea of the wonderful sensory Expe-arium.  Maybe it was just an ordinary unused room after all.

"Maybe these ruins are haunted," Pisca suggested, even as she surveyed the downward-going stairs.  "Maybe a rather gloomy fire elemental with a penchant for writing in the air with its finger died here long ago.  Maybe it was a prisoner of Alaznist or Quasit Girl who were trying to extract the secret of central heating from it.  It died in agony and haunts these ruins to this day."

The gnome lapsed into silence as she began a careful walk down the stairs, feeling her way foot by foot, probing for trigger steps that might convert the stairs into a slide that would propel her hapless group of Town Defenders into a pit of Carrion Crawlers.  Or enraged Fire Beetles.  Or feral badgers.

"And dogs," the gnome added in reference to her previous speculations regarding the hauntings that they'd experienced.  "The fire elemental would have owned dogs.  Dogs that mourned its passing and roam these halls to this day as disembodied voices.  No wonder they abandoned this place.  Do you know how annoying that could be every day all the time?"

"You see, the alternative that you're talking about, Illusion Magic, is problematic.  Magic has purpose.  It's directed with intent.  What's the purpose of flaming letters?  Especially if not everyone can see them?  What's the sense of hearing dogs down here underground?  To scare us?  To make us uneasy?  Even I can think of better things than the sound of dogs.  Clanky chains.  Rattling bones.  The sound of vicious hamsters that want to burrow up your anus."

"Lets get some light down here."  And with those words, Pisca directed her gnome-shaped light to proceed her.

Perception for traps.  Stealth as a generally good idea.

Send Dancing Lights down 20ft ahead.

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message-All but Kerr 20m, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 22/24
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 490 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Tue 6 May 2014
at 16:52
  • msg #346

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Cato turned from his study of the cells, and rejoined his companions in the outer room.  He listened to the discussion about the mysterious manifestations they had all seen in the complex.

He nodded at Kerr.  "Yes, illusions can be multi-sensory things.  Simple ones are usually only sight or sound, like Ghost Sound or Minor Image, but very detailed illusions can be much more complex.  There's a higher-level spell that can make a person's worst fear attack them, which can actually kill."

He considered a little further.  "It's possible these are the remnants of some sort of ancient magical defense or warning system.  Not all spells might survive the ages well.  I don't think there's much research into how well spells work after being 'on' for millenia.  Maybe these were once more directed, or more harmful, but now their energy has degraded to the point where all they can do is produce dire warnings in flame or strange noises."  Cato shrugged.  "I'm sure Brodert would love to investigate more."  Cato smiled.  "Come to think of it, so would I.  It'd certainly be a unique avenue for research.  There's not many places where you'll find still-active examples of Thassilonian magic.  It's certainly something majestic to consider.  I wonder if the Runelords ever suspected this magic would outlive them...or their empire."

Cato ceased his rumination as Pisca directed her lights down the next hallway.  No reason to call attention to to their group.
The Raconteur
GM, 931 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Tue 6 May 2014
at 20:10
  • msg #347

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids


The gnome-shaped dancing lights moved down, down, down the plunging stairway until they emerged into a large room that appeared at the bottom.  Pisca, following the illumination of her summoned apparition closely, but not TOO closely, peered out from the safety of the corridor at what it was that her light revealed.

What she saw was that the ceiling of this strangely-cold chamber arched to a vaulted height of twenty feet; even the gnome could tell it was of the same Thassilonian-era construction that had marked the rest of the complex.  The room's far end tapered into the same sort of rounded arc as the quasit's temple.  What looked like yet another passageway ran off to parts unknown about twenty to twenty-five feet down the southern wall.

More interestingly, perhaps, the floor contained eleven wooden lids strewn haphazardly over eleven five-foot-wide pits in the ground.  As Pisca listened silently, she could hear strange shuffling sounds echoing up from the darkness within the pits and, every so often, a low moan.

OOC:

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  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+


D  = Door      G = Pisca (she's a Gnome, right?  So as not to confuse her with Pools)
A  = Altar     L = Liseth
S  = Stairs    K = Kellan
P  = Pool      C = Cato
T  = Pit       R = Kerr

DL = Pisca's Dancing Lights


This message was last edited by the GM at 20:11, Tue 06 May 2014.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 909 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 6 May 2014
at 20:44
  • msg #348

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"Pits," whispered the gnome through her magic.  "With lids.  The pits all have lids," she said.  And then, inexplicably, the gnome added, "Silly rabbit."

"There's ... shuffling coming from the pits.  And ... low moans.  And ... I don't think that means lawn games either."

"There's another door to the south.  I'm going to slip down along the wall in that direction so you can come off the stairway.  I wouldn't recommend stepping on any of the lids."

Pisca slipped around the corner with a wary eye on the Spooky Pits.  As she sidled along the wall to the corner the gnome took a moment to direct the gnome-shaped light to a place next the pit that a charging Rune Dog might fall into, on the off hand chance that a charging Rune Dog were to come charging in a very Rune-Dog-ish way out of the southern door.

"I'm going to see what's in that door," Pisca whispered back to the others.  "Warn me if undead dealers of playing cards burst out of the pits, will you?"  And Pisca continued on her way, this time along the south wall toward the door.

Perception for traps.  And Stealth as a generally good idea.

Position:  FF-1
Dancing Lights: GG-4

Active Effects:  Antitoxin 1h, Message-All but Kerr 20m, Dancing Lights 1m

AC15
HP 22/24
Archaeologist's Luck: 2/7
Used:  Antitoxin, Arrows -3

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 867 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 24/24
Tue 6 May 2014
at 21:17
  • msg #349

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

If Cato was finished examining those horrendous skeletons, Liseth was at least reasonably satisfied that they weren't undead.  Reasonably satisfied.  After the wizard left the skeleton room, the small acolyte cast a final squeamish glance at the misshapen occupants before closing the door.  Just for good measure.

Liseth quickly got into her spot behind Cato and in front of Kerr when everyone started following Pisca down into the latest tunnel.  She listened to Cato and Pisca talk about their theories on fire ghosts and illusion magic, often casting an anxious glance to the rear of the group in order to reassure herself that there were no malformed skeletons stalking them.  And to remind herself that Kerr was right there behind her, ready to protect her if they were.

"The last time we saw those fire letters was when we were entering the ruin, wasn't it?"  The diminutive blonde added to the conversation, knowing full well that she would only make herself a nervous wreck should she keep thinking about those horrible skeletons coming to life behind them.  "Maybe that means that this way leads to another entrance?  And they were warding each way in to frighten people away?"  Liseth ended hopefully, "That could mean that we might find a way back out soon!"

Unfortunately, that was not to be.  At least, not just yet.  Rather than the exit she hoped for, what was found turned out to be another big room, like the demon's temple.  Except with lids all over.  Covering what Pisca claimed to be undead-filled pits.

Now that the moaning had been mentioned, Liseth could hear it as well, "Rune Dogs moan like that too..."  As she said it, Liseth did not know which would be worse.  Undead or Rune Dogs.  Either way, the girl planned to give those pits a lot of space.

Which appeared difficult, seeing as they were spaced all over the big room.

"Be careful Pisca.  That door might lead underneath us...  Deciding that it might be safest to stay in the stairway passage, Liseth watched Pisca from the bottom; letting Cato and Kellan do whatever investigating that thought was necessary.  While she stayed with Kerr.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 540 posts
Former Red Shirt
Tue 6 May 2014
at 22:06
  • msg #350

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

Kellan seemed hesitant at first, but was more or less pulled along by the more daunting prospect of their scout being overwhelmed by a surprise attack. He had no desire to see what was making such terrible noises and skirted the pits with one arm dragging softly against the wall as he went.

"Can you imagine how long it must have taken to build all this?" he asked quietly as they went "All the stone you would have to quarry and move...all the excavation, and for what?" He guessed that the Thassolonians must have had some serious resources at their disposal back in the day.

"Were prpbably going to have to come back and kill whatever is in there...pour some burning oil down there, or shoot whatever it.is with arrows...that is if they cant just climb out some other way..."

It was a little odd, how unconcerned he was with whatever was down there. On any other day the very sound of a moan like that would have chilled his blood and sent him at a brisk pace towards the exit. But after what they had accomplished today he was almost desensitized to the mystery, and just eager to be done with their task.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 492 posts
Have arcana, will travel.
Wed 7 May 2014
at 00:54
  • msg #351

Re: Chapter #7:  Catacomb Kids

"I think, however much power, wealth and magic you assume the ancient Thassilonians had, they had more.  Have ever been to Magnimar, Kellan?  Seen the Irespan?  It's a massive bridge, built on a gigantic scale.  Only a part of it remains today, but it casts a substantial portion of the city into shadow.  It's over 300 feet tall.  Really, compared to something of that scale, this little basement is nothing.  If you could craft stone into a bridge hundreds of feet tall and miles long, carving out this little space would be the work of an afternoon.  You could bind a group of earth elementals to carve through the earth, perhaps."  Cato shrugged.  "Actually, what's more impressive is that it's still here after all these years.  That's much more powerful magic than making it in the first place.  I mean, you could make a house.  But could you make a house that lasted for 7,000 years?"

Cato looked uneasily at the pits.  "We shouldn't leave potentially dangerous creatures down here.  If they're truly trapped, it would be easy to eliminate them with ranged weapons.  If they're not...well, we wouldn't want them attacking town.  It's possible they're only there out of fear of the Quasit.  Without her presence, they might become bolder."
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