Hemiantus seems nervous and his rat runs and hides into the familiar satchel.
<<I don't know, we have no good way of fighting an allip. This might be suicide. Let us see if we can find anything that might help us deal with it.>>
<<I have this blade and a way of enchanting it. Lets see what is there. I still thing it might be someone needing our help. But we can be ready to run as well. >
Hemiantus scratches his head.
<<If I were in a dangerous place with foes around and in trouble, I would not wail. I would stay as quiet as possible to not attract attention, no?>>
<Perhaps it is the ghost of someone who was in trouble, but doesn't yet realize it is dead? Or perhaps it is the wind, passing through some cracks... or who knows what else. At any rate, no way of moving this door on this side. If we are on the right path we will not be going back this way I think.>
Medghar pulls out his still loaded pistol, ready for anything physical.
Highly nervous, Hemiantus stays near the back of the party, carefully stowing his companion.
Og is crazy, but I'm not going to let him drag me to an early death. Not until I have completed my other mission.
"Maybe seeing all of his friends murdered just drove one of the Mayor's pals to the brink though? But I'll admit leaping to the most horrifying conclusion is probably appropriate in the circumstances... If an Allip is undead Disrupt Undead would work on it right?"
Medghar looks at the door and shrugs.
"Was anyone paying attention when their class was going over magical knocking? I think I missed that week due to being laid up in the infirmary for second degree burns after my gun... aheh... exploded after channeling pure heat energy with powder still inside it." The gnome looks honestly a bit embarrassed at the memory.
Seeing the bones does not fill Hemiantus with confidence.
<<Yeah, let's leave this room. We're not looking for a howling thing, we're looking for the Everflame. This does not concern us.>>
Og moves to the southern door, and before trying anything else he knocks. Hello? he says through the door. We are friends. Do you need help?
<<Everyone drop, there's someone behind the door with a loaded crossbow!>>
The wizard then falls prone.
<I think Og got its attention, perhaps it will open the door for us then.> Medghar points his pistol right at the door. "Well, if it is undead perhaps it is time to try the fusion of spells and firepower I have been practicing. Range probably is the best one to use as fuel, I doubt I will need the extra 10 paces of accuracy."
Erald hold himself ready to hurl a splintered spear eyeing the door nervously, "Hello? We are here from Kassen, we mean you no harm - standard caveats and exemptions apply."
We really would like to help. Might we come in?
"Probably true, though perhaps they just don't speak common."
The gnome shuffles up to where the other hallway branches off before the formerly wailing door, standing in such a way that he can see said door, but also duck out of sight of it, if the need arises.
<<Someone is in there, and they are afraid. Can someone a little more smooth than I try to talk them out?>>
<Well... maybe so. Though we are here to get a flame, so he isn't entirely wrong. Besides, stone can burn but often times it is a waste of heat.>
Turning to the door, Medghar switches back to common.
"If you don't want to open the door that is fine. Can you at least give us directions to the flame? We have this fancy lantern from the town that needs a good light put into it. After that we promise to leave you here to your exciting life of living in a stone tomb far from society. Well, living society anyway."
The gnome keeps the gun pointed toward the door as he says this.
"We were sent here from Kassen, had a big to do, got given the special lantern... We even got pranked by that daft old wizard, Whathisface? Lives in a tower likes illusions? Look if we can help you we will, this is all turning out to be more horrific than it was supposed to be, but well, heroes get more girls than undead stinking villains." Erald class, his tone soothing and sincere.
<No offence William.>
"W-what? Kassen? No, this is some...just some...hoax of the damned! Get back, I'll fire!"
Hemiantus sends his sensors under the door to see whom they are dealing with.
"How about if I carefully stick my fingers under the door so you can see I am human and alive?" Asks Erald placatingly, "You can let us know whatever proof you need and we will try to provide it - as long as it does not harm us, etcetera. I could tell you a dirty limerick? Or um, describe this one time me and Daniella Welling, discovered a novel use for prestidigitation..."
"For you to not die of starvation hiding in a tomb?" Erald replies rubbing his temple.
Rolling his eyes Erald produces some of his rations and slides them beneath the door, "That really is not a long term solution you know."
Erald cocks an eyebrow, "Alive see. Don't suppose you have any idea how to open the switch operated door behind us do you Mister...?"
They took your sister? Og pipes in. Those undead bastards. If she is still alive then I will do my best to rescue her. But we need to get you out of here. We have a safe camp just outside. .
Medghar looks at the man with pity.
"Well, so far we have found some of those bones...they do, in fact, burn to splinters if you get the paraffin hot enough. And we can't go yet. We have a flame to find first. Come with us. You will be safer along side us than hiding." The gnome pats his gun lovingly to demonstrate that point. "And you would then know without shadow of doubt the fate of your sister. Would that not bring comfort to you? And bragging rights later?"
The gnome imitates Roldare's voice for a moment, "Hey gorgeous, did you hear that I helped rescue my sister from an entire legion of undead monsters? Yeah, that was me guiding and aiding those strange wizards. They only slowed me down, if I wasn't waiting for their arrival I would have saved her days beforehand." Medghar laughs boisterously at his own imitation.
This does look like a secure room. Perhaps would could rest here when we need to rest, seeing that the only way we know out is closed to us. Did you say the supplies include healing droughts? I see that you are armed with a crosswbow. What other skills do you possess?
|
William Smiles devilishly," okay, you want to stay up here alone in the dark with nothing but a crossbow. that's fine with me... just make sure you get a shot from that crossbow off, right between the ribs of the skelly, right before your entrails are torn out and used to decorate the walls" William chuckles at the visual.
<Trying to convince him we are not evil necromantic types William, you are not helping! Also good chance you will get shot if you frighten a man at his wits end holding a crossbow...>
"Good good, come with us you will to find the flame in the dark. You may avoid the lower levels if you desire, but ensure you are safe during it... and try not to shoot one of us when we come back out." The gnome looks at the potato as he says this, picking it up by the bolt embedded in it.
<So if he accidentally skewers you with a bolt upon our return to this level, Will, do you want to be burned or buried? If buried I will ensure that the quote of "Oh, don't worry, I can dodge crossbow bolts," is inscribed upon it after your name and pertinent dates.> The gnome follows this thought with the mental image of him dancing on said grave drunkenly.
Hemiantus gets up from the floor and dusts himself off, feeling a bit foolish.
His rat pokes its head from out of the satchel, smelling the air and looking around a bit.
<<I think we have weirded out this unstable man quite enough. Let's just let him be. He's obviously been through a lot.>>