Ascaria takes his hairpin, casts Light and hands it to Mort. He takes a torch and, carefully, walks down the path behind Tynan and Sol.
At Mort's suggestion, Tynan follows ten feet behind Solrisa. Keeping tight hold of the rope, he looks back at Ascaria.
"Keep hold of the rope, should anything happen."
The wooden beam is quite sturdy. No sway can be felt as you step onto it firmly, and begin to walk down its length towards the opposite end of the room.
As Solrisa gains roughly fifteen feet down the beam, both she and Tynan are caught in a volley of iron spheres that fire from both sides of the room, emanating from holes which are quite difficult to see among the geometric patterns.
"Ouch. That's gotta hurt. Gotta be careful."
Sol turns and looks at Tynan and Ascaria.
"Oh! Why don't you wait here until I get across? I'll be fine and I need you all to draw me back if bad things happen," Sol says, taking the lighted hairpin into her own hair.
"There is no need for the rest of you to risk yourselves."
Tynan hears multiple wooshing sounds as iron spheres fly from the walls, one of them striking his arm.
Tynan drops quickly, flattening himself to avoid being struck again, but keeps hold of the rope should Solrisa be knocked from the walkway..
"Stay back Ascaria!"
AC:16(F:12, T:14); HP:12/16; Saves:F3,R7,W1
Reflex
Sol falls.
"Thanks."
Mortimer accepts the hairpin and repins it to his cowlick creating something of a weak but very organic miner's helmet.
Laying on his back with his heels dug into the ground, he stares at the unpretentious ceiling.
Who has the time for all this intricate stonework? Slaves?
He yawns heartily then bolts upright upon hearing what sounds like heavy objects hurtling through the air.
What the -- that can't be good.
Alarmed, he very gently tugs at the rope and bellows "' everyone alright over there?!"
A sudden jerk on the rope serves to confirm his fear. He digs in his heels and starts reeling in the rope.
"Stay back Ascaria!"
Ascaria lets go of the rope and crouches down on the platform. He peers of into the darkness wondering what's next.
What's next?!
Solrisa plummets ten feet to the ball-covered floor, jerking on the rope. Tynan avoids another possible yank off the beam for the length of rope separating the two.
Among the spheres, three withered, severed hands animate, as if woken by the ripple of motion from Solrisa's fall. They begin to... search.
The iron spheres cease to fire, for the moment.
Mortimer begins to reel in those tethered to the rope.
Sol stands and draws her long sword.
She slashes at the rope so she is no longer tethered and won't fall to her doom.
to hit;
damage.
Looking over the edge to check on Solrisa, Tynan spots movement amongst the spheres, and shouts a warning.
"Look out, Solrisa! There are hands crawling toward you. I count at least three of them."
Feeling Mort begin to tug the rope, Tynan releases his grip on it so that he can more easily pull Solrisa up. Remaining in his flattened position, Tynan begins to scramble back toward the yawn entrance.
I've had it with all these traps...
"Look out, Solrisa! There are hands crawling toward you. I count at least three of them."
She slashes at the rope so she is no longer tethered and won't fall to her doom.
Ascaria backs up and shouts, "Sol don't be daft, Mort is trying to pull you to safety, Tynan says there's more undead coming at you. "
"There are hands crawling toward you."
"Sol don't be daft [...] Climb!"
Mortimer continues hauling.
"Sol -- hang on! Tynan -- if you're still on the bridge try to pull her straight out up if you can."
He is unwilling at the moment to give up his carefully anchored purchase in case someone else falls.
Tynan spots three bodiless hands rising from the spheres, alerting all to their presence. Solrisa tries to free herself of Mort's lifeline, and fails. Mortimer begins to reel in the Risafish, while Ascaria counsels the fallen to rise up.
It becomes apparent after a while that trying to act within the prismatic chamber, any actions taken would likely suffer from the distraction.
Round 1, Init 21
Sol smiles up at Mort and moves to join her friends up top. She, still not quite seeing the hands (or maybe she does), double moves, waiting to be hoisted up.
AC=17
HP=14/20
Right hand =
Left hand =
Round 1, Init 14
Mortimer continues to haul in his catch with everything he's got for everything he's worth.
Solrisa gains the wall under the Yawn, and waits patiently for the muscled Mortimer to hoist her skywards.
Meanwhile, hands pursue. Two of the withered mockeries of life leap onto the walls, using various handholds to crawl, spider-like, across the surface, making painfully good time in pursuit.
The grounded hand finds its way to the lower regions of Solrisa, and it grasps for whatever purchase it can find.
Mortimer successfully lifts Solrisa from the floor! He manages awkwardly to bring her up to the beam's platform, the hand failing to tag along. Solrisa is able to secure herself to the beam in a sitting position.
The mockeries of life are Crawling Hands. [ooc]For every 5 points you beat the DC, you may ask a question.
Round 1, Init 11
Tynan quickly moves the rest of the way off the wooden walkway, and pulls out his short sword, ready to strike at any hands which might attempt to attack the others.
AC:16(F:12, T:14); HP:12/16; Saves:F3,R7,W1
Round 1, Init 21, AoO
Sol gets angry with the handy hands.
to hit;
damage.
AC=17
HP=14/20
Right hand = long sword
Left hand =
Round: 1, Initiative: 2
Weapon Equipped = Sling (cold iron bullet)
Cold Iron Bullets (6/10), Silver Bullets (10/10)
Conditions = None
Channel Energy (1/5) (1d6+1)
Amiable Blunder (1/1) (if Diplomacy failed by >5, reroll to avoid worsening attitude)
Ranged Attack: BAB +1, Dex +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 2, Concentration +6)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark, Comprehend Languages, Message, Read Magic
Zero (14): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Spark, Stabilize
First (15): (1/5) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Liberating Command
Ascaria see’s Sol hoisted up quickly, ”Great!”
Then he sees the hands climbing the walls, ”Not Great!”
He takes out and loads his sling, stepping back 5' to give the fighters room to maneuver.
Sol takes a moment to get a 'hand'le on the crawly things.
Know (Religion)
I think they are some sort of presti-digit-ation.
Solrisa retreats, her feet sinking gently into the spheres as she manages to gain the wall beneath the Yawn. Mortimer, empowered by the Muleback Cords, easily hefts the fallen girl, lifting her from the floor. Tynan declines further iron volleys, gaining sure footing, and preparing to dissect further what has already been dissected. Ascaria arms himself against the hands.
From the back of the room, an eerie glow arises, as the form of a smallish boy becomes visible. He hovers above the beam.
He looks stricken, as you return towards the entrance.
"Noooooo! Forward!! Not back!!"
Round 2, Init 21
"Thank you! But I'll need room to fight."
Solrisa stands, trying to wriggle free of the helpful hands that bind her so that she might attack the crawly ones that close.
She lashes out with her long sword at the nearby crawler, using both hands to slash powerfully.
to hit;
damage.
to hit;
damage.
Solrisa splits a hand, three fingers falling to one side of the beam, two fingers to the other side.
Almost in response, both remaining hands close the distance from their climb, each attacking from opposite sides.
Round 2, Init 11
Tynan studies the nearest hand clawing at Solrisa, and takes a careful stab at it.
Caution seems to win out, as Tynan makes sure he's not stabbing at Solrisa's mysteriously manly hands.
"These things are faster than they look!"
Round: 2, Initiative: 2
Weapon Equipped = Sling (cold iron bullet)
Cold Iron Bullets (5/10), Silver Bullets (10/10)
Conditions = None
Channel Energy (1/5) (1d6+1)
Amiable Blunder (1/1) (if Diplomacy failed by >5, reroll to avoid worsening attitude)
Ranged Attack: BAB +1, Dex +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 2, Concentration +6)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark, Comprehend Languages, Message, Read Magic
Zero (14): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Spark, Stabilize
First (15): (1/5) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Liberating Command
Ascaria can barely see the hands among the warriors, but he tries to thread a sling stone in there anyway. Maybe I’ll be lucky!
(cover, combat)
Shrugging and stepping back, he reloads his sling. Well that was close anyway. Just need to try harder, they make this fighting thing look so easy!
Round 2, Init 14
Mortimer, horrified at the thought other rogue body parts might be around, drops the rope and attacks one of the hands.
for
for
He manages to step on one squarely crushing it a bit, but when he attempts to kick it, the hand proves to be more dexterous than he anticipates. He nearly looses his balance as his foot goes whooshing by the wee wilful appendage.
Mortimer takes Solrisa's lead, almost finishing a hand in one strike. Tynan assesses body mass ratios, and declines a riskier attack which might end in nicking the sister. Ascaria slings a stone so mightily, it might have finished the fisticuffs, had it not been for friendly proximity.
The ghostly boy looks on, a less painful look on his face, now that it appears the hands are failing to drive the visitors off. "That's it! Give 'em heck! They're measly hands, after all!" The spirit eases forward, but lurches to a stop.
Round 2, Init 21
Sol continues her rampage against the hands, first striking at the one Mort damaged. She 5' steps back and swings.
to hit;
damage.
to hit;
damage.
AC=17
HP=14/20
Right hand = long sword
Left hand =
Round 3, Init 14
Mortimer tries his feet in battle again.
for
for
His right foot makes a solid connection with the last hand he hit as he attempts to kick it off of the platform. His left foot comes down hard on the second hand.
Still squirming?
Two well-placed stomps, and the hands cease to seek. They fall onto the iron spheres below, like dead spiders.
The ghost boy cheers. "Well done, you! Bet there are no rats 'round your barn, eh?" He starts to drift along the beam, then stops. He starts to beckon you to follow him back along the beam.
On closer examination, the boy appears to have a rather large gash across his temple and forehead. The indentation has an almost circular edge to it.
The boy is, in fact, a ghost.
Tynan looks from the wooden walkway to the ghostly boy, then stops with arms crossed over his chest.
"So kid, are we going to have more of those iron spheres flying at us? I'm getting really tired of you dragging us through traps that could kill us. If you want us to help you, you have to help us."
"Iron spheres...? I'm not sure about that. Those traps, bah! You're better than those, come on. You jumped all those fences. Way better than the rest of them."
Tynan studies the ghostly boy and lets out a frustrated sigh.
"Maybe you should remind me why I should even bother... I mean, look at everyone who got hurt because of everything you didn't tell us."
Tynan prepares to discern the truth behind whatever the ghost may say in response.
Sol looks around for more crawly grabby hands before affixing the ghost with the Dragon's Eyes.
"Why didn't you say something!? I could have been hurt!" Sol flashes angry.
She looks. She looks deep within the ghost.
Know (religion) - Q: how to free?
Ascaria watches as the hands are dispatched and he puts away his sling.
He listens as the others communicate with the boy. He moves up and tugs on Tynans shirt whispering, "Are we not going to the end of the path?"
He waits to hear what the boy might say.
"Are we not going to the end of the path?"
Tynan whispers back to Ascaria. "We need to know if he's leading us into even more traps. I'm thinking this spirit is what lured the children here, and we know how that ended for them..."
"Bet there are no rats 'round your barn, eh?"
Mortimer can't help but think of Aesur's distant haunted demeanor as he gazes at the apprarition before the party.
He's just a kid... except unlike Aesur -- he's got both feet in the grave.
"Which one are you, what's your name? How long have you been here? What happened to the other children? Were you the one luring them here? Why?!"
I wish Pillette was here. She's so much better at interrogation than the rest of us.
Regaining some composure, he takes a breath and turns to Sol and Tynan.
"Actually, did the metal balls fan out of the holes one by one as you passed -- or did they also shoot out over the platform in front of Sol too? In other words -- do you think that if we space ourselves we can just run past this?"
He'll volunteer to try this first if it did indeed appear to be a fanout as they passed the holes in the wall.
The boy looks at Tynan, then the others, before a look of revelation passes across his face. "OH! The balls! Yeah, those weren't very good to me, too. I forget sometimes." The boy looks at Solrisa. "Sorry about that."
Your Eyes see nothing more than a little, translucent boy. Of ghosts, you know something. This boy likely can't rest, his spirit seems tied to this very room. Whispers were possible in the prismatic chamber, but this is the first time any of you have laid eyes on him. It is common enough knowledge that a proper burial might do the trick.
The ghost listens to Mortimer, his face scrunching to keep track of the questions. "My name's Alastor. Alastor Land. We've got a farm outside of Diamond Lake, my family does." As Mortimer turns to Sol and Tynan to ask his questions, the ghost boy scowls, and flies directly at the big man.
Mortimer suddenly realizes he's been targeted by the Ghost for some reason.
"My name's Alastor. Alastor Land [...]"
I wasn't expecting an answer so soon...
"What -- what is it?!! Something I said?!" He trails off, visibly distracted by some internal struggle which appears to be escalating.
The sudden activity happens quickly.
As Mortimer attempts to ascertain the dynamics of the iron sphere volleys along the beam, Alastor approaches the large man, taking in the disparity of height with a brief look of glee. Then Alastor passes into Mortimer.
His voice changes in his second question. "Something I said?!" The register rises, and the question is asked again. "Something I said?!" The giant of a man pats his hands together several times, the universal sign of immense satisfaction in oneself. He turns to the others, pulling up his pants.
" is much better." Mortimer punches the air, then postures much like a muscle man might. Then, he seems to remember that there are others present.
"Now, I have been here a long time. I left my family behind. I am really sorry that I did that. I am unable to leave the way you came because... because I'm probably cursed, but I am able to push through the far wall. Beyond is a wondrous chamber of strange carvings and a big pillar of air. OH! And I found a catch on the other side of the door that opens it without a problem. I’ll trigger it for you if you take my bones from here and bury them on my family farmstead just beyond Diamond Lake. My family would like that, I think. Do this for me, and I will be free. Then I won't have to keep calling out for help."
Mortimer reaches out, and strokes Solrisa's hair.
Everything Mortim...er, Alastor says seems genuine and free of deception.
Sol neither acknowledges nor minds Mort's stroking...she understands this is a different situation that does not require violence.
Good thing Rae is not around to see this.
"Tell me again how you died? And how did you get by the iron balls? How do we get by the balls?" Sol asks of Mortastor.
AC 17, 21 on AoO; 18/19 HP
BAB = +3 (level 2)
ToHit = 1d20+7
RHit = 1d20+7-2
LHit = 1d20+7-2
Fort+3 Reflex+4 Will+1
Initiative+2
CMD = 18, 17 if flat footed
His voice stolen, Mortimer decides to go with it and stops struggling to keep his body from becoming Alastor's human marionette.
He turns to the others, pulling up his pants.
"Thanks for that at least. Are you in my head? It's crowded in here suddenly -- you're in my head. This isn't really the safest place for anyone to be, you know. My head gets hit a lot.
"Now, I have been here a long time [ ... ]"
"Is this what you meant by 'we can talk proper'? Seems a bit ... less than optimal."
"[...] take my bones from here and bury them [...] "
Seems reasonable. Feel free to use me to beat them into submission should they refuse.
Mortimer reaches out, and strokes Solrisa's hair.
Alastor, that's not appropriate. You really shouldn't be doing that.
Despite his admonition, he continues to put up no resistance to the ghost's manipulation of his own body.
Whoa, I can feel that... that is ... soft.
Tynan watches in disbelief as the ghost overtakes Mortimer. His stomach drops as he watches Not-Mort stroke Solrisa's hair.
Oh no... we really need to be careful now, as he could do terrible things...
Studying Not-Mort, Tynan speaks, but doesn't move. "Alastor, is it? Where are your bones at so we can retrieve them? Are they in the chamber with the strange carvings?"
AC:16(F:12, T:14); HP:12/16; Saves:F3,R7,W1
Ascaria's jaw drops. "Stand of Flamingos!" tumbles from his lips.
He stares at the new Mort, and wonders what's next.
He hears, dimly, Tynan's question. He wonders if they're the bones he moved to the entrance, ready for burial.
"Are your bones by the entrance?"
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"Tell me again how you died? And how did you get by the iron balls? How do we get by the balls?"
Mortimer-not-Mortimer rubs his chin, smiling. "I don't remember anything, really, after I tried to run the beam. My guess is a ball took me down." He rubs his chin again, seeming to enjoy the texture.
After a moment, Mort-not-Mort raises his hand, a single finger gesturing for a moment's pause. His eyes roll up into his head, leaving only the whites showing.
Thanks for that at least. Are you in my head? It's crowded in here suddenly -- you're in my head. This isn't really the safest place for anyone to be, you know. My head gets hit a lot.
Not your head, the whole thing. This is great... well, if only for the little time I'm gonna stay...
Is this what you meant by 'we can talk proper'? Seems a bit ... less than optimal.
Well, I needed you closer, so I could talk to you guys eye-to-eye, like men.
Alastor, that's not appropriate. You really shouldn't be doing that. Whoa, I can feel that... that is ... soft.
Sorry, it's just... I'll never have another chance to...
Mort-not-Mort's eyes come back to front, and he shakes his head a little.
"Alastor, is it? Where are your bones at so we can retrieve them? Are they in the chamber with the strange carvings?"
"Are your bones by the entrance?"
The giant points, down at the iron spheres, towards the end of the beam on the other side of the room. "There. They're down there. Along with the others."
Mort-not-Mort looks back at the group, his cheeks reddening a little. "If I could ask for one more thing? Once, you take my bones out of here, and then you bury them, I think I stop being here. I get to pass on." The giant looks at Solrisa.
"Do you think I could kiss you? I never had a chance when I wasn't dead. I'll understand if you don't want to. Tiff wouldn't either."
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AC 17, 21 on AoO; 18/19 HP
BAB = +3 (level 2)
ToHit = 1d20+7
RHit = 1d20+7-2
LHit = 1d20+7-2
Fort+3 Reflex+4 Will+1
Initiative+2
CMD = 18, 17 if flat footed
He rubs his chin again, seeming to enjoy the texture.
What the ... 4 o'clock already? ... I just shaved...
(Pointing across the chasm) "There. [My bones are] down there. Along with the others."
Did you say there's a latch on the other side of the door that is across this chasm? That must mean there's another way in -- which means there's a way to the other side without having to deal with these stupid iron balls. Did you happen to see another way into the chamber with the pillar of air while you were over there? Maybe another exit you can't get past?
"Do you think I could kiss you? [...]"
Touched by the Ghost's yearning for any sort of physical input, Mortimer continues to not resist.
Tiff? Uh, hey -- Alastor! Do you know how to do that? They don't like it if it's sloppy. You gotta be real -- careful. Have you ever done that before? You need any help?
He suddenly recalls something.
She might just haul off on you whether she lets you kiss her or not. If so, just try to avoid getting hit in my face. You can use my shoulder blade as a sheild -- try to soften it up a bit though. It's all muscle and bone. Just don't ever hit back.
"Do you think I could kiss you?"
Sol recoils.
"What?" Sol blurts, trying to understand the question. "No. You weren't honest with me and I don't trust you. How could I trust someone who would let me walk across that and let me get hurt?"
Sol continues.
"And now you're in my friend. You didn't even ask him first."
Sol crosses her arms, considering. She looks at the others, then over the edge where the bones supposedly lie.
She uses the rope to climb down and begins to look for the bones of the boy.
Did you say there's a latch on the other side of the door that is across this chasm? That must mean there's another way in -- which means there's a way to the other side without having to deal with these stupid iron balls. Did you happen to see another way into the chamber with the pillar of air while you were over there? Maybe another exit you can't get past?
I looked all over that room, Mortimer. The only way in and out is that latched door, I can tell you. Don't worry though. I'll get the latch for you. I promise.
Tiff? Uh, hey -- Alastor! Do you know how to do that? They don't like it if it's sloppy. You gotta be real -- careful. Have you ever done that before? You need any help?
She might just haul off on you whether she lets you kiss her or not. If so, just try to avoid getting hit in my face. You can use my shoulder blade as a shield -- try to soften it up a bit though. It's all muscle and bone. Just don't ever hit back.
Be...careful...and don't ever hit back. Got it. Thanks.
"No."
Mort-not-Mort's shoulders slump, and the giant of a man somehow looks smaller, as Solrisa chastises that which lies within.
Yeah, she's a lot like Tiff, 'cept Tiff never wore armor like that. She's not wrong, is she? Thanks for your advice anyways, Mort. I wish I didn't die. I'll bet we could have been friends in life...
Alastor peels away from Mortimer's large frame, rising from his shoulder blades, then floating along with Solrisa as she gains the floor and proceeds across the room.
It doesn't take long, especially when Alastor hovers directly above his bones and points. Once he's sure Solrisa retrieved the entirety of his skeleton, he moves about the floor, pointing at various items that might interest the tomb raiders.
66gp, 24sp, MW dagger, Amulet(iron and bone), MW Banded Mail armor
Ascaria lets out a long breath, surprised he'd been breathing so shallowly, as Alastor leaves Mort. He then tries to pace the plank as Sol searches among the iron balls, but the trap resetting has him concerned so he paces a tighter circle near the entrance instead.
As the items are brought forth, he casts Detect Magic and attempts to identify any lingering auras.