Harlon Happytoes's page

"Lovely. You're welcome to throw water on the mold, but I'll watch from the doorway." I say, standing a little unsteadily.

"Uhhh... I'm with, Shamus," mumbles Harlon. "And happy you're still with us, Shamus. Here's your cloak back, I think you probably need it more than I do now. And Rend, you can have my waterskin, if you need it for your experiment... but how much water are we going to need to clear a path through that much mold? I guess it's worth a try... and if it works but we don't have enough water to clear a safe path, then we can just head back to town and see if there's a way to bring some barrels of water down here... if it doesn't work, well, then I guess we have no choice but to go back to town anyway." The halfling's tone suggests that one way or another, he's looking forward to leaving the cairn.

How high is the ceiling again? Just wondering if Hector could fly over the mold without being in danger of getting trapped in its frost effect...

Waiting for Dalzig's reply before I say/do anything...

Being a bit of a coward at heart (and, at best, not much of a risk taker), Harlon could easily be convinced to return to Diamond Lake.

Harlon's eyes widen in fear and disbelief as he witnesses the spread of the mold through Hector's eyes, and Shamus succumbing to the frost. "Let's get out of here! Come on Rend!" shrieks the halfling as he completes his dash to the corner of the passage while the raven takes wing. Yet instead of racing on, he hesitates a moment and peers back at his companions, his hooded features inscrutable... After a moment, Harlon utters a few more words in a shaky whisper, as Hector squawks and returns to his shoulder. "Is Shamus going to make it? You guys don't really want to go on, do you? There's no way around this mold, and if we try, it will freeze us all to death... It's not worth it... is it???"

Rend takes cover behind Harlon in the face of impending doom...

The hooded halfling turns and raises an eyebrow as he sees his towering protector crouching behind him for cover. Harlon turns his back to the burning carpet of mold, relying on Hector's sight to see observe what is going on... and run, if need be! Still holding his breath, he starts to wonder to himself... Everyone seems to think that something bad is going to happen... I wonder if I shouldn't go back down the passage to wait and see... and attempts to make a last second, quick dash for the corner. Retreats to N9, if it isn't too late...hmmm... would that be considered cheating? ;-) I'll abide by whatever the DM decides... but Rend's reaction has got Harlon freaked... The suspense is killing me! And honestly, as a player, I don't even know what happens when you set fire to brown mold!

Watching the mold slowly ignite, Harlon decides to hold his breath, anticipating some vile stink or toxic fumes.

Harlon would be in O12 or P12, possibly even sharing a square with either Karid or Rend. He would definitely stand at least 5' away from the mold, since he never suffered its freezing effects.

"Do we have enough oil to do the job? If yes, let's do it... unless someone has other suggestions? And if we don't have enough oil, I guess I won't be able to carry on," says Harlon with a shrug.

How many flasks will it take? I've got two.

"And what would we build this fire of your with?" I ask, only mildly sarcastic and unwilling to slow our exploration "The sooner we're done here the better."

"I'd rather not spend the night in this tomb, either," murmurs Harlon, who shivers at the thought. "As for Rend, he's strong... I think he'll be alright... right, Rend?"

"Rend, say something... are you alright?" asks Harlon as he approaches the half-orc to check for potential wounds, but recoils at the last moment as he senses the intense cold radiating from the half-orc.

Harlon should have two flasks of oil in Rend's backpack, although he would be reluctant to use both here... but if that's the only way to burn through the mold, he will reluctantly agree to use both flasks. I'll leave that call up to Shamus...

Harlon watches in horror as Rend falls, covered in frost. "Rend! Are you alright?" he calls out in a high pitched voice. Turning towards Karid, Shamus and Dalzig, he adds: "I don't think I want to follow Rend that way, unless we can burn a path through this patch of mold..."

Harlon cringes within the shadows of his hood as Hector heckles Rend's clumsy attempts to scale the wall. "Hector, shhh," whispers the halfling, "it isn't nice to make fun of kind Rend."

Then, speaking louder so as to be heard clearly by all: "Burning oil it is, I guess? Or can we just scrape it away?" He gingerly pokes the tip of his spear at the fungus, pulling it back quickly lest some secretion from the vegetation should damage his weapon.

Harlon keeps on looking at the floating miniatures. "So that's all they're supposed to do is float around above the palms of the statues? While that's certainly interesting, I was somehow expecting... more... Guess it's off to the last room, then... If it would help, I have a few flasks of oil... They're in Rend's backpack, though."

"Wow," whispers Harlon behind Shamus, as he watches the palace float into the air. "How did they design that, Karid? And why?". Sensing the halfling's nervousness, Hector cocks his head from left to right, and keeps an eye on the party's back.

Spot check: 17 + 5 = 22.

I believe that we were first going to try to place some of the items we found in the hands of the statues we walked by, before checking the last room on this level. As for my response to your question, please see the discussion thread...

Harlon Happytoes wrote:

(this may require handing a few more items to Rend, in order to maintain a light level of encumbrance... if the half-orc will allow...;-)

Sure, tell me what you would like Rend to carry and I'll add it to my character sheet.

2 flasks of oil and a hooded lantern, for a total of 4 lbs.... thanks!

Seeing Harlon eyeing the set of tools, Rend nods to the halfling. "Souls of artifact do not pass on with those of their owners. Objects are to be used, and in finding this cache, we are duty-bound."

With that, Rend reaches into the alcove and retrieves the set of architectural devices and hands them to Harlon. "There is an orcish saying 'Rag Na-raak' which, contrary to what many of my half-brethren would tell you, carries a much deeper meaning than simple theft."

[/ooc]

Harlon gasps in disbelief as Rend hands him the tools. Speechless, and his beaming smile invisible beneath his hood, the halfling follows the half-orc hurriedly as the rope holding up the stone block creaks. "Rag Na-raak," whispers Harlon to himself. Hector is strangely silent, observing the tools intently from his perch on his master's shoulder. Harlon tries to guess at the value of the tools. Then, remembering where he is, he does what he can to stow the tools in his pack before following the others (this may require handing a few more items to Rend, in order to maintain a light level of encumbrance... if the half-orc will allow...;-)

Spoiler for DM:

The alcove revealed by the stone slab is elaborately detailed. It features a large recessed shelf bearing a set of finely crafted architect's tools -- a plumb bob, a square angle, a pair of metal sticks that seem to be joined together at one end, and a set of hammers, chisels, and other stone flaking and shaping tools.

Harlon listens to the translations provided by Karid and Dalzig with baited breath. Then, after having taken in the strange inscriptions in the alcove, the apprentice carpenter's eyes fall upon the architect's tools that lay on the recessed shelf. "Wow..." he whispers, barely audibly. "Who are the Wind Dukes of Aaqa, Karid? And when was this battle of Pesh? That Nartoc must really have been a gifted craftsman... and his tools, so magnificent, despite having been here all this time... I wonder if they might be..."

The halfling reaches tentatively for the tools (but they presumably are too high for him to reach, and even if he could reach them, he would stop himself when his hands were within a few inches of them...)
Even Hector is silent and still.

"What if that demon, Mishka, is still around," murmurs Harlon with a shudder, his back turned to the party and arms outstretched towards the tools, but hands still not touching them.

Harlon breathes a sigh of relief as Rend drags the body and nothing happens. He tries to get a better look at the glyphs.

Knowledge (arcana): 1 + 4 = 5; Decipher Script: 4 + 3 = 7... crap all around...

"Well, Karid, what does the lever do? Are you going to pull it?" Hector echoes Harlon's question, squawking with apparent impatience. Harlon's tone once again becomes the ice cold monotone that he had exhibited when first entering the cairn. A steady cloud of frigid steam emerges from the depths of his hood. He shifts from one foot to the other, trying to keep his feet warm on Shamus's cloak. "Or... since Dalzig supposedly is favoured by the goddess of death... perhaps he should be the one to pull the lever? One way or another, Rend should not be the one to pull the lever..." A hint of warmth returns to his voice as the halfling mentions the half-orc's name. "Nor I," he adds.

Harlon takes a few steps back after he identifies the lever and Shamus calls to Karid, peering at his companions cautiously from around the corner of the pillar. Better let them figure out what it does... For all I know, it could be another death trap or elevator...

Hector returns to Harlon's shoulder. "Rend, are you coming?" asks the hooded halfling, following Shamus to the stone block, careful to avoid stepping on the brown carpet. Once there, both he and Hector take a close look at the block, not touching anything just yet...

"Shamus, do you think there might be traps here?"

Spot: 10 + 5 = 15; Search: 20 + 2 = 22(!!!) once Shamus has confirmed that there aren't any traps in the area...

"And what about that stone block on the other side of the pillar? We haven't looked at that yet..."

"Harlon, can you have Hector fly around and see what he sees? Birds have keen sight and he's not likely to be spotted if he stays in the shadows,"

"He did flit about the bunks, but... I don't think he spotted anything... nothing living, or immediately threatening, anyway. I'm not sure that I want to go further inside this room, but you be my guest, Shamus... after all, it does seem to be empty. And if you'd rather not, well, there's still that stone door beyond the pillar to investigate, as well as the other chamber..."

You find little of interest. In fact, you don't even find much in the way of dust. For a tomb that has lain mostly undisturbed for untold centuries, it is remarkably free of dust and cobwebs.

"Strange... I don't know what to make of this place," murmurs Harlon, stepping once again on the part of Shamus's cloak that drags on the floor in order to warm his feet. "Why is there no dust or cobwebs on the bunks? I have a bad feeling..."

Buoyed both by Hector's recovery and a new room to explore, Rend calls back to his companions. "Hey, come look at this. Seems like someone lived here once. I wonder why..."

Rend passes through the archway and begins a cursory search of the bunk room.

Search: 1d20-1 = 6

Harlon promptly joins Rend, as Hector hops from bunk to bunk. "Who do you think would have lived down here? And where are they now?"

Spot check: 5 + 5 = 10...

Harlon Happytoes wrote:

The garment is long enough that it drags on the floor, enabling the halfling to place a layer of cloth between his naked feet and the cold ground. "Wake up, Hector, come on, wake up..."

Finally, after a few minutes, Hector rouses and squawks his irritation loudly.

Harlon releases a loud sigh of relief. "Hector, you poor bird, I'm so glad you're alive! I thought I lost you! Are you well enough to fly?" The raven flaps its wings and flies off, circling the chamber...

Spot check using Hector's modifier: 8 + 5 = 13...

"I don't think torches would do much. Damn I should've brought a warm blanket or a wool cloak." I say.

The desperation in Harlon's voice moves me to an uncommon act of generosity. "Ah, to hell with it." I mutter and take off my cloak, handing it to Harlon "Here wrap yourself in this and keep your bird close so he doesn't freeze to death." I say before retreating back to my spot in the door, shivering a little and giving a little cough. "Wonderful. Now my damn cold is going to come back. Why did I come here?" I think to myself, watching my breath turn into mist and form patterns in the air.

Harlon seems completely taken aback by Shamus's generosity. "Th-th-th-thank you," he managers to stammer through chattering teeth, as he wraps himself in the cloak. "You're almost as nice as Rend is... even though he didn't offer me his cloak," he adds indignantly. The garment is long enough that it drags on the floor, enabling the halfling to place a layer of cloth between his naked feet and the cold ground. "Wake up, Hector, come on, wake up..."

Harlon shivers uncontrollably. His vain attempts to remain warm and to revive Hector keep the focus of his attention away from the party's surroundings. "Come on Hector, please, wake up," he keeps whispering to the raven as he crouches and cradles the bird to his breast, beneath his threadbare cloak. The voice that emanates from the shadows of the halfling's hood is tinged with fear and worry -- it sounds as though he were on the verge of tears. "What will Malphas do if I can't..."

Harlon starts to sniffle, but it is difficult to determine if it is due to the cold or due to his concerns for the raven. "Maybe we should light some more torches to keep warm... otherwise we'll all freeze to death..." I knew it was a bad idea to come here...

Spot check: 1 + 1 = 2... yay, back to my old form...

Thanks for the map, DM. Earlier posts suggest that both Harlon and Karid would be observing the remains of the creature with Rend. So I would guess that Harlon is presently squeezing/sharing a space with Rend (most likely) or Karid, in either square O-10 or P-10... DM's call...

“He pauses and says, “Gentlemen, strange magic abounds in this place. I suggest we regroup near the entrance and attempt to learn all we can of this place. With some study, assistance, and luck, I may be able to provide some valuable information about our surroundings. Rushing headlong into whatever challenge rears it’s head or eyeballs at us may prove to be our downfall.”

"Entrance? Do you mean the entrance to the cairn, Karid, or the entrance to this chamber?" asks Harlon absent-mindedly as he again attempts to revive Hector by shaking him gently.

Seeing your breath is nothing. It isn't cold until the air feels like mini shards of glass and the wind shear causes your eyes to tear and form tiny icicles on your eyelashes. fyi that happens at about -30C/-22F. Sometimes I love Canada...

I'm in Calgary... where are you? Still, a barefoot halfling migh get chilly toes if he can see his breath and he's walking on a stone floor... ;-)

Harlon retrieves Hector's inert body, tucks it into his cloak, and then hustles to join his companions by the dead thing. "What is that thing? And why is it so cold down here?" he asks as he kneels to rub his cold, bare feet, teeth chattering.

Harlon, having readied an action in case of attack on his compatriots, may make an attack on the thing as it blasts Shamus. It will have to be a ranged attack, as it is perched high enough to be just out of melee range for you.

Thanks, but Harlon has no intention of throwing his spear, so he'll have to pass on the opportunity...

Harlon advances to within 10' of Rend, holding his spear at the ready in case something should attack them.

Seeing that Rend is alright (for the time being) and that Shamus is moving to deactivate the trap, Harlon gently places Hector's limp form on the ground, out of harm's way, and assumes a defensive posture with his spear.

Readies an action... if something should harm Rend, then Harlon will attack...

"REND!!! LOOK OUT!!!" Panic is evident in Harlon's voice.

Has Hector awakened, by any chance?

Spot check: 8 + 1 = 9.

Harlon races up to Rend's position and takes the raven from the half-orc's gigantic (by halfling standards) hands, while looking warrily at the statues. "Thanks, Rend, that was brave of you!" he says in an urgent whisper. He takes a few quick steps back towards the door, lest he too should become victimized by the magic emmanating from the statues. "Hector, wake up! Please, for Malphas's, sake..." The halfling shakes the bird gently in one hand, while clutching his spear in the other, glancing alertly from the raven and back again at the statues...

Aaahhh! Wait for me, wait for me! Initiative: 15 + 3 = 18.

As Shamus moves cautiously toward the small black shape, Karid examines a statue, and Dalzig and Harlon hesitate behind, Rend grows impatient and marches down the hall.

"You'll never find what's down here unless you keep going, Shamus," he says as he passes you. He stops at the shape and crouches down, dimly lit by the gnome's dancing lights hovering at the end of the hallway.

"It's Harlon's bird. Looks like it's dead."

"Dead?! No, that can't be!" For a moment, Harlon seems agitated, but quickly regains his composure. "I think that if he were dead, I would have felt him... pass away... Maybe he's just asleep or unconscious?" The halfling starts to advance towards Rend's position, but stops as he notices the glow emanating from the nearby.

"Rend, look out! Something's coming out of the statue!"

"Did you hear that?" asks Harlon nervously. "I heard something... slithering, maybe? That better not be some sort of demonic snake... and it better not be getting ready to eat Hector!!!"

The halfling takes a step back from the half-open door, and cranes his hooded head back to stare up at Shamus and Rend. "Shamus, you strike me as being a very stealthy fella, far stealthier than I, or Rend, or anyone else in the party for that matter," whispers Harlon from the depths of his hood. "I think it would be wise if you went ahead first... and with your knack for detecting traps and all... if anyone here can scout ahead safely and successfully, it's you!"

"NO!!! Something's happened to Hector! It felt as though he were falling asleep in mid-flight... then, all went black... I think he fell under some spell... Please forgive me, Malphas..." Harlon's voice trails off as he utters those last few words. His knuckles turn white as he tightens his grip on his spear, while trying to catch a sign of Hector -- or anything else -- in the gloom beyond the half open door...

Spot: 16 + 1 = 17; Listen: 11 + 3 = 14.

Hector's Will save: 4 + 2 = 6... ugh...

Harlon squeezes in beside Rend and peers through the half open door. "Yes, I do smell that awful odour, Shamus... and where would such a strong breeze come from, so deep underground? And those strange statues... I have a bad feeling about this place... Fly, Hector... let me see with your eyes... let no harm befall Rend..."

As the raven hops off Harlon's shoulder and swoops down the tunnel, the halfling places a hand to his forehead, lowers his eyes and concentrates...

Spot: 18 + 5 = 23...

Still here and ready to go...

Rend hears the elevator descending and waits patiently for the doors to open. He's surprised to see his companions inside, though, and clasps Shamus on the back.

"I knew you'd come look for me. It's nice to have reliable friends for a change. You too, Harlon. Now, maybe you guys can help me move this stone."

Seeing his companions groping in the darkness, he adds, "Didn't you guys bring a torch?"

"Rend, you're alright!" whispers Harlon with what sounds like genuine concern. His tone at this moment contrasts sharply with the unfriendly demeanour he has shown towards his other companions of late. "You know I would never abandon you." Hector caws once, echoing -- or mocking perhaps? -- Harlon's declaration.

"Shamus, where's your torch?"

Harlon nervously inspects the inside of the cylinder, looking for both noteworthy features in the cylinder's design/construction as well as for signs of Rend's passage. Hector squawks a few times from the halfling's shoulder.

Search check, if necessary: 1 + 2 = 3... ugh...

As the doors close, Dalzig speaks up confidently. "I'm sure he'll be right back."

When the doors open and are empty, a frown comes on his face. "Maybe someone should go after him. I'll stay here and make sure no one defiles the sarcophagus." Dalzig slowly walks back to the sarcophagus.

"I'll go," says Harlon with some apprehension. Clutching his spear nervously, he enters the chamber with Hector perched on his shoulder. "Kharid, Shamus, are you coming?"

Rend grimaces as he slides down the chain, the flesh tearing away from his hands. Once he falls below the lip of the tunnel, he regains his composure and steadies himself before slowly climbing down the rest of the way. As he finally jumps to the ground, he turns to face Harlon and Shamus, who are looking at him with concern and indifference respectively.

"There's a stone face up there with red swirly eyes. I was paralyzed for what seemed like forever as the wind blew harder and harder. We need to find a way to shut it off...maybe Kharid has an idea."

His ordeal forgotten, Rend lopes to the center of the chamber where Dalzig is attempting to rotate the sarcophagus. Following his lead, Rend moves next to the gnome and pushes (clockwise).

Harlon looks at the half-orc in wonder, as the latter walks nonchalantly to the sarcophagus. "You saw the face screaming silent doom... and lived... and your hands, Rend, someone should take a look at your hands," the halfling says in a quavering voice.