Very good, then, we are decided. Tilurn, if you would be so kind to despose of these scum? We need to get moving to our destination, per the Professor's message. Let's either break camp and head on our way now, or finish out the night and get an early start. I suggest the former because of the attack on the town.
Tampalasan bows and relents with a smirk. "I never said we actually would let him go."
Tilurn moves behind the Orc, takes out his greatsword, and then pauses. His countenance takes on a look of immense anger as he enters a rage. He takes one swing at the orc endeavouring to separate the orc's head from its body.
Power Attack:
Damage:
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@Tilurn
As you bring your blade on the unsuspecting orc, images of people fron your village filled with hatred and your mother defending you flash in front of your eyes. An inhuman rage fills you. The sword passes through the neck of the orc effortlessly, just as if you were cutting butter. His head rolls away and black blood spurts several times from his severed neck, as his body slumps to the ground. The deed is done.
@Orson
As you search the orc, you disregard his obvious apparel consisting of a falchion at his belt, three more javelins and a studded leather armor. The orc reeks of musk and dung, but as you rummage through his pockets, you fish out three small bars made out of gold and a small moonstone. You also find some food the look of which almost makes you heave and his mundane goods which seem of a much worse quality then the goods you posses.
We need to kill the other orc too. We can't risk him to report back at this Gmork. And we need to press on, no time for resting now.
Oberon gather his things and prepares to leave.
I agree...let's move this along. We've a job to do.
Narnel also gathers his supplies in preparation to leave.
Leaving the killing to those more skilled, Tampalasan gathers his belongings and folds up the tent.
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Orson takes the bars and the moonstone to make it look like bandits killed them. He looks down at the Orc he tried to save and says in a sadden tone, ”Your actions and the actions of your tribe have outweighed the mercy we would normally bestow, but let the moon guide your soul to a better place.” With that Orson delivers a quick jab from his spear into the orc’s chest granting him a swift death.
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The spear goes in the orc's chest and he gurgles a dying gasp.
If you search the other two orcs, each carries the same small gold bars. The other two do not have gems.
You make good progress that night and the following day, and nothing happens during the day. You can see smoke billowing to the sky on the horizon, but no new messengers arrive.
Rest of the trip passes uneventfully, you are not disturbed by animals or anyone else. You pass the great forest without any problem and soon, enter mountainous region. The mountains are pretty rough, and sometimes there are treacherous rifts in the stone or high cliffs, but with time and effort, you soon find the entrance to the dwarven repository of Kazel Zalam.
The entrance is very well hidden, and if not being watched directly from the front, it is easily mistaken for natural rock formations. But when viewed from the front, it is revealed in all it's magnificence. The carvings are beautiful and artistic, and it leaves you in a sense of awe. The space beyond the entrance is dark.
Is this the place? Shall we go inside? says Oberon, lighting up his torch.
Indeed, let us proceed.
Tampalasan meditates momentarily, and a quartet of lights appear, surrounding his head. They rotate in a circle outward, coming to rest two ahead, and two behind him.
"Let us enter."
I prefer to be near the front so that I can adequately serach for traps.
Narnel draws his bow.
Perception:
Hama:
Tilurn falls into line behind Narnel, his greatsword hanging loosely at his side but within easy reach if trouble comes their way.
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@Narnel&Tilurn
As you enter the corridor leading to the interior of the compound, you immediately notice that something is wrong as the wooden door that should lift into a recess in the ceilling is smashed into pieces. A strong smell of blood can be sensed in the area. While narnel searches for possible traps, Tilurn, you notice bodies of several dwarves lying butchered at the steps of the room.
The room is square shaped, sixty by sixty feet, with two thick pillars holding the arched ceilling. Second half of the room is a little raised and a small slope leads up to it. Two corridors, one on the left and the other on the right side of the room lead away into darkness.
Dwarven bodies seem hacked at even after they have died and exposed skin seems gnawed on. There are splashes of black blood on the floor.
Narnel, you do not find any nasty surprises waiting for you.
Narnel waves the others forward.
Coast is clear, but prepare yourself for the slaughterhouse. This must be Kazel Zalam, the Dwarven depository that our Dwarf friend spoke of. We need to recover that Tome, if whoever did this has not done so already.
Narnel begins to examine the bodies to determine if he can tell what may have killed the dwarves.
Can any of yopu determine who or what may have done this by the wounds?
Oberon kneels and shines his torch on the dead bodies, trying to make something out of their wounds.
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@ Oberon and Narnel
Wounds were made by curved slashing weapons which haven't been sharpened in quite a while. One dwarf was killed by having a blunt object inserted into his skull, through his helm. The tooth marks suggest a jaw slightly larger then a human's.
@Orson
You find tracks made by boots, left in blood, most of them human sized, but one seems to be twice as big, and the distance between steps twice as long as a human's would be.
Looks like some crude weapon weilding humanoids of some sort and one larger beast with a nasty bite may have done this. Could be our Orc friends along with a Troll, or something of the like...just a guess though
It certainly looks like that. Shall we press foward? I suggest we go to the opposite way of the tracks.
"I am honored to follow the paradprajna."
As Narnel examines the room for any tomes, he studies the two exits as well.
Percep[tion:
Orson, which way do the tracks lead?
Tilurn assists in searching the room for clues. . Are there any clues about which corridor may have been used by the intruders? We should choose that one first. I much rather catch them by surprise then the other way around. I can lead the way down the darkened corridor with my dark vision.
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@Everyone searching the room
What was found is pretty much what i described, but, clutched in one dwarf's hand was a small vial filled with a clear liquid.
The tracks lead through the east corridor. It slopes upward and curves sharply due west, as if it connects the entry chamber with another chamber which is north of this one and raised up several feet. It seems that the western corridor does the same.
Let me go first. I can move ahead in the darkness, that way we will not alert anything that may be there with our light. Stay back about 30 feet. If I see something, I'll come back to report.
Tilurn proceeds down the east corridor, and try's to hide in the shadows of the corridor.
Narnel simply shakes his head. When Tilurn returns, he says,
I know you have great vision in the darkness, warrior, but that will not help you if you cannot find or disable the simplest of traps. I do not recommend you heading off alone again. We all have skills, and the Professor would not have pulled us together without trying to make use of all of them.
"If we must not send our eyes ahead, perhaps we should sent our light ahead?"
To demonstrate, Tampalasan's glowing orbs shake and shudder as they move through the room, apparently of their own accord.
I really don't care about who goes first, just as long as somebody actually goes. Staying here is no use for anyone.
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Orson shows Tilurn the tracks before he goes on ahead. "If you lose the trail wait for us to catch up and I will find it again. If these creatures are what we think they are then the dark cover might not be that useful since they are more keen in the dark then yourself. I think you should have at least Narnel to go with you just in case."
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@Tilurn
You go up the slope of the corridor, being careful not to step on anything that would crack and clatter. Soon, the lights of Tampalasan's spell fade leaving you in total darkness. Perfect for your night vision. You see everything around you as if drawn by charcoal on white paper. You enter a large chamber, and it seems to be directly adjacent to the entry chamber but at least ten feet higher. The chamber is fifty feet long and fifty feet wide, but the last ten feet is an upwards slope leading to a corridor leading norh. Two large pillars half buried in the slope, half in the chamber support the curved ceilling.
You hear breathing of several creatures, and luckily you notice them before they noticed you. Three orcs are sitting on the slope, their feet dangling of it silently talking among themselves. Unfortunately, you cannot make out what it is that they are saying.
Narnel will quietly whisper in Tilurn's ear.
Stay put and be ready to attack when the lights go on.
Stealth:
When he reaches the others, he whispers.
There are enemies ahead. I need someone to douse the room with light after I get in position, then we can all rush in.
Tampalasan nods and prepares to send light into the room.
Oberon is ready to fight, and casts magic weapon on his polearm, waiting for a signal.
Narnel sneaks back to just inside the room and draws an arrow pointed in the general vicinity of the sounds of conversation, awaiting the light.
Stealth:
Tilurn nods in agreement to Narnel's suggestion. He pulls out his greatsword quietly and waits to attack.
Initiative:
Initiative:
Initiative:
Oberon charges at the nearest orc with his bardiche, and attacks him as soon as he's in reach.
Tilurn charges the 3rd Orc and strikes with his greatsword.
Narnel lets fly at the nearest Orc.
LB ATT:
LB DAM w/Sneak ATT: