Elek braced himself and was ready for the bats to assault and as one flies at him he slices it basically in half, one half flops onto the ground the other drops into the water with a sploosh.
and she stabs the other with her spear, her spear pierce's it but doesn't seem to really bother the creature much.
the zombie human moans and groans as it crawls its way across the bridge closer to Elek. Its dragging itself along, Celeste fires an acid ray at the zombie but misses and hits a length of rope along the rope bridge, causing one of the ancient ropes to snap. The bridge teeters and sways.
Initiative Round 1 - Bold may post
Elek - make an AoO
Lucius
Maud - make your readied attack
Zombie Bat 7 damage
Celeste
Zombie Human
Badahir
"What? Zombies?!" Badahir rushes forward after the others, bringing Elek's crossbow to bear. "Is that some sort of corpse?! Because that man smells like a corpse!"
With that, he launches a bolt toward the man-shaped zombie, teeth gritted.
Badahir fires a bolt straight into one of the zombies but it seems to have no effect on the creature. The piercing nature of crossbow bolts or even Maud's longspear seem particularly ineffective!
The Cardinal rushes forward, intoning a prayer and releasing a blast of holy energy that sweeps over the undead.
The bat is blown to pieces by the holy energy, its skin shriveling and melting as it disintegrates. The zombie similarly takes considerable damage.
Initiative Round 2 - Bold may post
Elek
Maud
Celeste
Zombie Human 6 damage
Badahir
Lucius
Celeste steps forwards, then hurls an acid dart at the zombie.
The walking dead, or crawling dead in this case' Elek looks from Celeste to the Cardinal. "Za dead brought back to life? Zis is truly evil." He turns back to the crawling creature, and studies it more a moment. Möge Gott Gnade auf deiner Seele haben." He then chops at the neck of the creature, attempting to make it's return to death quick.
"May God have mercy on you soul."
Elek slices down, chopping the reanimated human corpse into two pieces.
It struggles and flops about a bit before finally lying still.
Searching around this area, you guys find some detritus and are able to piece together he must floated in from some other cave along this underground river.
Heading on deeper into the tunnel you follow Lucius' directions, avoiding getting lost in the maze of tunnels down here.
After about an hour of walking, you guys start to ascend very rapidly until you reach an end where an old, rickety metal ladder is nailed into the rock. It leads up about 10 feet to a wooden trapdoor.
'A body is a body. Sure this one isn't pretty.' Celeste moves on after examining the body.
"Gentlemen, first, if you please." She mockingly gestures Elek to proceed.
'Well it certainly appears to have been a man at one point in time. Didn't die like any man I have ever seen.' After the rotted body stops flopping Elek kicks it one time to see if it would continue moving. When it lies still, keeping the sword held high for the light it gives, he nods forward, across the now teetering bridge. As they cross, he nods to the burned rope and asks Celeste. "Neat trick, Yah, Is zere some vay you can control it better?"
'gentleman first, she's not wrong, and I probably deserve it for the crack back a the bridge.' Elek glares at Celeste for the briefest of seconds, then nods. whispering. "You are right of course Fräulein. Elek, grabs hold of the ladder with his left hand, testing its strength. He then sheaths the Messer, casting them into temporary darkness, as he climbs the ladder he asks. "Can you cast za light on somezing else so I may look at za trapdoor. Zen vee will douse za light before vee open za doors." When he gets to the top he listens carefully at the trap door.
"The only control I have on it is what its cast on. And I can only light up a single object at a time." Celeste answers matter of factly.
Celeste says some arcane sounding words, "Lumos", then gestures, and her dagger begins to glow. She holds it upraised, letting its light spill over so Elek can see.
|
Lucius examines the body, although it doesn't take much for his trained eye to deduce the signs. "This man is recently dead and has been reanimated by some sort of necromantic force. I posit that he is the source of the infection for the bats. Regardless there is nothing more to be found here." Lucius says a short prayer over the body before leading the party on.
At the grate he listens carefully, trying to make out what he can.
"If that's the case, we better burn the body to prevent infection from spreading, in case any other cave dewellers get infected. She takes out flint and steel to set the body alight.
Badahir reloads Elek's crossbow and starts on after the Bohemian. "I have never fought a foe that simply didn't feel my shots," he mumbles. "Even the demons show some rage..."
You guys quickly burn the body, it incinerates easily, while Badahir examines the bridge, it isn't the most structurally sound bridge and would be best if traveled in ones and twos and no more than that at a time.
Given a little bit of work you could probably reinforce the bridge, repair the ropes and replace any worn out boards.
Heading on down the tunnel, the trapdoor looks all clear, you guys don't hear anything, its pretty eerily quiet.
Elek taking point climbs up the ladder, grunting with effort to push the trapdoor open it sounds like some debris may have fallen on top of it but Elek is able to push it open. You are in a partially collapsed basement of a townhouse. Open sky is visible and despite the calmness the blue skies present you know only Hell awaits.
'Collapsed, no wonder it was heavier than expected.' Elek draws the messer, and begins to move about the basement quietly, looking for the steps or an other means of getting out of the pit.
Badahir stays right behind the Bohemian. He keeps the crossbow at the ready, and the arquebus easily within reach.
As you guys are climbing out of the secret escape hatch, exploring the ruins of this town house you guys find that this house belong to a lesser known Count Giardina. As you guys search the house, you notice not far is another town house, maybe a hundred yards away that looks significantly more intact.
The Giardina's are an Ancient Palermitan family, who also enjoys nobility in Messina. They were an older line of Italian nobility but didn't enjoy any of the success of some of the other's. You can't even think of a single cardinal, general or really anyone of note to have come from the Giardina family. Makes it all the more odd they owned a townhouse that sat right on top of the exit for a secret passage from the Holy See
You guys are also nearby a cathedral or Basilica of some sort, it looks rather well intact. It may have survived being sacked, for now.
The Basilica of Saint Sabina is a historical church on the Aventine Hill in Rome, Italy. It is a titular minor basilica and mother church of the Roman Catholic Order of Preachers, better known as the Dominicans.
However, together you guys bumble around the ruins of this townhouse and end up collapsing a large section of rubble sending a plume of dust into the air and creating a rather large crashing sound. It won't be long before a roving band of demons or worse comes to investigate!
'Crud, I should have watched my step better, to nervous about demons I need to settle down or I will get us all killed.' Brushing up against a piece of burnt timber, Elek causes it to give way, making a racket. He whispers a curse under his breath."Verdammt" Realizing what he had said, he apologizes and states the obvious. "Pardon my language, za cloud of dust vill draw investigators, vee must flee, can vee make it to za chapel across za vay?"
"D@mn it!" Celeste curses under her breath. "We'd better keep moving before something comes to investigate the ruckus. Why do I have to be saddled with a bunch of clumsy idiots?"
Celeste introduces, in her best lecuturer voice, the famous cathedral close to them that looks significantly intact, "That's the Basilica of Saint Sabina is a historical church on the Aventine Hill in Rome, Italy. It is a titular minor basilica and mother church of the Roman Catholic Order of Preachers, better known as the Dominicans."
"It may have survived being sacked. Why don't we check it out?" She suggests helpfully.
'huh, what a good idea, I wish I had thought of it.' Elek roles his eye, 'Ya, lets." Elek steps into the shadow of the doorway to the street and looks both ways.
"Do not dismiss the idea of killing whatever comes for us so hastily," Badahir mutters. "That bascila is largely intact. Should the demons seem manageable, we could fire at them safely from behind its walls before running down the remainder.
"But I'm more interested in that townhouse. If I remember correctly from my maps and books, the family that dwelt there is entirely insignificant - nobility with branches in both Palermiti and Messina, a family named Giardina, but no great men of which to speak. But if they are so below notice..." The Janissary squints at the building. "Why are they situated above this most secret of passageways?
"So let's either take up defensive positions in the bascila or get inside that house and start searching for whatever may be useful!"
'The house may work as well.' Elek looks back over his shoulders, and asks, "Vould survivors be more likely in za house or za church?"
"In times of need, men will always flock to holy places for sanctuary."
"To the church we go, then," Celeste smirks. "As if any sanctuary could be found in this hell."
Celeste also peeks out for a look.
"After we get everyone out of the church and back in by the passage way, I vote we check if there are any usable supplies in the church."
|
"Indeed Badahir, many people of all religions will find sanctuary from whatever evils lie in their path. Perhaps some survivors have found a place to hid inside? I definitely think it's worth a look"
At Celeste's mention of supplies Maud nods and says " we should only take what would be usable to us, heaven forbid we sack a holy place even if it is only a minor basilica."
Before heading out across the street she looks out.
|
|
The Cardinal does not say anything much during the discussion, apart from nodding at the information the others imparted. He makes a mental note of the family name once he recalls it however, agreeing with the Turk that it seems most peculiar. A trip to the Vatican archives may be necessary here. Not now! Focus Lucius!
Luckily it is not him that sets off the minor landslide, so he simply follows the group as they head to the basilica, mentally readying himself for whatever they may face.
"Once we get the survivors out safely into the passage, they won't have any use for the supplies right?" Celeste answers pragmatically. "Better we take them, then some demons chance over the abandoned church and destroy or ruin, instead."
"The supplies are, afterall,"she gives a smirk, "Better off in our hands."
'And who will carry all of this loot?' Elek, turns to the group, "Celeste is correct, nothing of use should be left in za chapel. But vee should send za supplies vee find vit anyone vee find. Za city needs help und vee can only carry so much." He then crosses the road to the Basilica, stopping and checking the doors, before he waives the party on.
Snapping into action, you guys make a break for the Basilica. Rushing across the open ground, you guys make it to the doors of the Basilica but find them hard to push open!
Elek and Maud put their backs into it, pushing the doors open an intense smell overcomes you guys before your eyes really have a chance to adjust to the darkness inside.
A mass and tangle of bodies rests against the door, bloody smears now pool where the doors pushed the bodies aside.
There was a massacre inside this Basilica, Badahir and Maud are overcome by the smell of rotting flesh and start to retch.
'My God, what have I brought them to.' Elek wretches, choking back bile. "Mein Gott im Himmel. In everyvone in, vee must get out of za streets." Looking at the others as Maud and Badahir react the worst.
After everyone goes in the church, Elek closes the door behind them. "I'm sorry my friends, I did not know, or I vould not have come to zis Hölle, but za demons vould not expect us to be in here."
Celeste bites her lip to keep herself from throwing up.
"Do you think there would be any survivors? Maybe some of them managed to bar some rooms?" Celeste asks Elek in a subdued voice, shocked by the massacre, but not wanting to show it.
"Or do you think that everyone's dead?"
Walking in the chapel, Elek shrugs his shoulders, as he wipes back a tear with his left hand, drawing his messer with his right. "I do not know, but zee shall see, ja?"
Badahir does not speak, not at first. He clutches his stomach and stumbles off to a corner of the room, falling to his knees before vomiting and gagging.
"Prophet forgive me," he rasps, "but I do not think- I do not think I can stomach this. I've fought in sieges and never met a smell like this..."
Badahir slowly pushes himself up and takes in his surroundings, trying to focus.
"I'll... I'll watch for the demons," he mutters. "You - You do what you will."
Stepping inside you guys close the door most of the way, leaving it just open enough for Badahir to watch the roads outside. Stained glass windows splattered with blood cast dirty sun rays into the basilica.
There are a number of doors leading throughout the building, taking point Elek and Maud open the first closest door. More bodies are strewn across the ground, gruesome claw marks have savaged these poor people. It looks like a chamber pot room. However no creature remains.'
Its eerily quiet, only a faint dripping sound can be heard, the old creak of wood now and again.
"This is one huge mess...looks like demon work." Celeste mutters as she kneels down and examines the clawed up bodies.
"Dretches.They are dangerous and filled with a driving need to spread ruin and dismay. The lowly dretch is as hideous and foul as it is cruel, even if it lacks the strength and power to realize its need to brutalize others in its native realm. The lot of the dretch's existence is to serve more powerful demons as victims, and only the lucky few survive long enough to evolve.Yes, there are worse things then dretches."
"Elek, you'd better take my cold iron dagger. Can any of you tell how long since the creature was here? I have a bad feeling about this..."Her voice trails off uncertainly, as she looks nervously around for any dretches lying in ambush.
"What are we going to do with the bodies? We cant just leave them here, but starting a fire might draw unwanted attention. "Celeste asks the party.
Celeste extends her magical senses in search of not just physical desecration but magical desecration.
'So a demon did this, a Dretche? I didn't believe there were more than one kind. How does she know so much... I keep forgetting she is a witch..' Elek, stunned, slowly moves through the building, keeping an eye out.
'A dagger, what does she think I'm going to do with a dagger' Elek rolls his eyes a little and accepts the dagger this time, tucking it in his belt. "I don't know vat ve can do for zem now, zey are at least laid on holy ground, ja. Not zat it helped zem stay alive. Let us search in an orderly fashion so Badahir vill know vere ve are."
Nodding to the musketeer, Elek points to the left, "Ve vill vork in a clockvise fashion, every so often vaiving to him so if he hears somezing he vill know it's us or not." Elek then goes to the first room and opens the door.
|
|
Lucius manages to contain his disgust at the smell as they enter the basilica, that stench has been wafting over Rome far too often in recent days. Seeing the destruction he drops to his knees, fishes out his crucifix and begins to pray. "Pater sactus, I commend these souls to your care..."
Even a passing glance is enough to tell him that this is the work of demons, although the wanton cruelty is indicative of the lower orders. Hearing Celeste confirm his thoughts causes the cardinal a grim nod of satisfaction.
"I imagine it will be a dressing room, or a repository for cloaks." He comments, when Celeste asks about the room. He makes no move to investigate however. Instead he walks among the victims, closing eyes and making what peace he can for their bodies as his eyes look for anything useful left behind.
This first room looks like a simple bedroom, it has a bed, a small table and some book shelves.
The bed is a disheveled mess, a monk was dismembered on the it. It looks like something was chewing or eating on him as well but decided against finishing him.
Maud surveys the room while Elek checks out some stairs off to the entrance of the building, looking for anything of note. Before she gets the chance to really search though, Elek breaks off to follow a set of stairs.
Heading up the stairs they end in a small door which opens into a tiny office. Inside is a tiny red demon with a forked tongue, bat wings and a fat tubby belly flitting around the room.
It glares angrily at Elek as he opens the door and hisses something foul.
Round 1 - Bold is up
Elek
Maud
Badahir
Imp
Celeste
Lucius
'What the devil, I thought they would be bigger' Elek calls behind him, "zere is vone up here!" as he studies the creature for a moment then steps in the room and chops at the creature with his messer.