Latovius extinguishes all but one torch in the main entryway, shadows fill the large room. He disappears from your sight briefly and you catch his silhouette enter the training room that the others had a short while ago. You follow after him.
The wardrobe contains a range of clothing, mostly the inexpensive types worn by commoners as well as plenty of cold weather clothing for a man. Once the dangers of the wardrobe are fully exhausted, the four grown men do not allow themselves a moment to relax for there is a very menacing and comfortable looking bed in the corner of the room. What horrors could be hidden within the soft and welcoming sheets? With the same apprehension and sense of dread our heroes investigate the only unchecked piece of furniture for hidden dangers or foes; finding a metal lock box instead of enemies with weapons at the ready.
"Which gave you boys more trouble while we were gone? The hobs and orcs or the bed there?" Latovious asked while leaning on the door jamb with a smile on his face laughing quietly at the four men with weapons drawn standing around a bed. The thief tossed a sheathed sword to both Brion and Erik that had been slung over his left shoulder. Latovius made his way to the strongbox and used Revit's key to open it. "Well, well Master Revit what have we here? Anyways I found those fancy blades in the armory, put 'em to good use on the Black Knight's forces you two. Markas or Timonius do you know what these liquids are, potions I’d wager? Shall we get moving?"
You immediately recognize one of the potions as a potion of healing.
Louis tells the others about The 2 black suits of armor, and the other weapons and chests in the armory, and that he had check the front doors and for now it seems quiet, AND that they should continue to search for the two dames. Louis also takes a moment offer his old sword to anyone who could use it.
"Thanks Latovius. I'm sure I can find a wench to give me change for this diamond don't you think Erik? I'll hold onto the potions for right now."
"Latovius if you have room for gold the chest in the next room has plenty for you. Timonius that potion (pointing to it) is a potion of cure light wounds. I know not what the other one is. I agree with Louis that we need to keep searching for the damsels and we still have one unsearched door by the lizard men's room. The black suits of armor could come in handy if a ruse were necessary. Perhaps Brion and Erik should suit up? What do you think comrades?"
"I agree. Brion and Erik, why don't you two suit up in better armor if it fits?"
"Well I'm pretty sure those young ladies will be behind that door. Let's go."
"Would you have us take the bed as well Markas? We are on borrowed time and the plate armor that Brion and Erik already wear will do for now. If your ladies are still alive Louis, the iron door in the grand hall is the only place where they could be. Darken the great hall while I work on the locked door and then I shall take rear guard." Latovius advises after rising from the now empty strongbox. Everyone arrives in the training room without incident.
"Let's go Latovius!"
Patience as Petra teaches, while his joking can raise your ire, Latovius' skills are necessary thought Markas...
Markas hobbled into the great hall and started work on darkening the hall as the Thief instructed.
Leaving the training room all but Louis and Latovius notice that the entry way has been darkened, a single torch is the only light in the entire room. Markas and Brion similarly put out the many of the torches in the great hall while it takes Latovius some time to get the iron door open. The thief then falls back to the wall between the double doors from the entrance closing one and leaving the other open just a crack.
The rest of the group ready and rush into the room beyond the iron door and ...
The room is dimly lit by a lantern with a red shade over it. The air smells heavily of burnt incense and decay. On the south wall is a tapestry showing a priest smiting a group of wizards. An altar stands against the eastern wall. Above it sits a statue made of black stone and it is carved into the shape of a dragon-like beast. Hanging between the hands of the figure and bound by thick hemp rope is the naked corpse of a young woman. Her stomach has been sliced open and the contents of her chest cavity rest in various bowls and vessels on the altar below her. A tiny, blackened, and malformed body of an infant lies in a ceremonial vessel half full of what you would guess is its mother's blood.
"Oohh no, why has this happened? What foul things have occurred here? Markas, we have to take this poor girl down. This is terrible."
[dm] What are Timonius' hit points?[/dm]
"Louis, do you know this poor girl? Please say no."
"This is an abomination! What beasts could do such a thing! Yes Timonius let's get her down. And what of the child does it live?"
The contents of the vessel holding the infant begin to swirl at the approach of Markas and Timonius approach, sloshing up the sides of the bowl. The sloshing becomes more agitated as you near within 20 feet of the altar. The liquid approaches the top of the vessel but does not spill out as both Markas and Timonius freeze in place at the unexpected occurrence.
Everyone inside the room with the altar nearly leap out of their skins as two coins clank loudly off of the open iron door. They ricochet into the room from the great hall and come to rest on different spots on the floor. No one is able to discern any other sounds from outside the room and the only sounds to be heard are the sloshing of the liquid within the vessel on the altar.
"Latovius do you have any knowledge of a trap like this? Timonius does your arcane knowledge give you any idea of what could be in the vessel? I am at a loss as to what this ghastly evil is and could use council as to our next actions."
"This is beyond my meager training Markas."
Louis has to identify the woman, he moves closer to get a look at her face
Timonius looks about in the gloomy room for either of the coins that had ricocheted into the room but they must have rolled out of his immediate view because he is unable to spot either immediately.
Markas is unsure if Latovius was able to hear his request for assistance and Timonius's response does nothing to calm his worry. The cleric's caution is unheeded by Louis as the fighter steps forward to determine who the unfortunate woman above the altar was. As Louis draws closer to the altar in the dim light of the room the swirling contents of the vessel suddenly explode upward and outward violently in a crimson spray. More liquid erupts from the vessel then it had any possibly right to contain showering everyone and everything in the room in an instant.
At being covered by such filth Markas begins to feel an overcoming fear well up within him. His years of clerical training and prayer allow him to suppress the emotion before it overtakes him. At the same instant the cleric feels an ancient evil inflict upon him some sort of curse.
At being covered by such filth Louis begins to feel an overcoming fear well up within him but the feeling is easily brushed aside for the determined fighter. Just after the emotion fades, Louis feels an ancient evil inflict upon him some sort of curse.
I don't remember how to do the rolling. I'm just going to try something
Here goes nothing
I'm going to think Timonius is toast.....again......
At being covered by such filth Timonius begins to feel an overcoming fear well up within him that he can not suppress. Without thinking his feet, body, and mind can't make up their minds on which way to go. Timonius just knows that he has to flee from this horror.
Markas and Louis watch as Timonius and Erik are overcome with the fear that they had experienced. The pair run, thrash, flail, and sob uncontrollably for about twenty seconds before they are able to get their emotions in check.
Louis looks up from his ordeal to see if he recognizes zee woman
Despite the previous feelings of fear, Markas mustered all of his Petra given courage and moved forward as quick as his hurt leg would allow intent on knocking over the vessel with the foul fluid.
"Erik. Are you alright? What happened? I've never felt such fear and I've lived on the shores of Lake Ganim!"
Timonius's eyes catch movement at the far end of the great hall. Both of the doors from the castle entrance to the great hall open simultaneously shedding a small amount of additional light into the great darkened room from the single torch beyond the doors. The shadows and distance do not allow the mage to determine who or how many exactly are entering the hall but he's fairly certain that he's been spotted. He winces as he realizes that standing in the doorway from the red lit castle chapel has made him an easy target. "You there! What are you doing in my sanctum? Get over here and explain what exactly has happened here or I'll flay the skin from your bones!" A loud voice calls out from the darkness somewhere near the doors.
Louis sets his shield down and wipes the still dripping blood from his eyes and forehead with the back of that relatively clean hand. It takes a moment for the warrior's vision to clear and when it does he sees that blood continues to drip down from the corpse suspended above the altar making it difficult for the fighter to be 100% certain but he does not believe the woman is Adrianna or anyone that he knows for that matter. As Louis is finishing up his assessment of the victim he hears shouting from outside the room. The words are hard to make out from Louis's current location but he notices that Timonius remains in the doorway making him an easy silhouette to target.
Markas shook his head violently in an attempt to clear the blood and gore that was clouding his vision. With blood running into his eyes even after the effort the cleric is able to see through the ichor that the vessel is no longer upon the altar, instead it has come to rest on the ground a few feet away from where he now stands. The body of the infant that had eerily rested in the bowl is also nowhere to be found at the moment. Markas tries to push out the disturbing chaos of his current situation and search through his memory for any of his studies or lessons that might be prove useful in identifying what deity or faith they might be dealing with. Markas's thoughts quickly settle and he is fairly certain that they face a follower or followers of Orcus.
"I was chased here by lizardmen but after locking the door I realized I was lost. Pardon my intrusion. I have lost Sassafras."
"My friend, how did you get past the lizardmen? I'll tell you that if the door hadn't been unlocked into this room I may not have survived. I feared for my life. I appreciate you leaving it unlocked.
As Louis is finishing up his assessment of the victim he hears shouting from outside the room. The words are hard to make out from Louis's current location but he notices that Timonius remains in the doorway making him an easy silhouette to target. Louis goes to Timonius and pulls him into the room.
You make yourself quite a target, who's out there? Louis asks Timonious
Markas wiped the blood from his eyes and scanned the evil room for the child or any other potential combatants. In a hushed voice the cleric said, "What is going on Timonius?"
"My lord is the prince of lies, the prince of death, and the prince of rebirth fool! You do him a disservice with such weak attempts at honoring his name. Kill him!" The voice cried from the shadows at Timonius, the mage could make out at least three shapes converging upon him including the speaker.
Louis heard the command for Timonius to be killed just as he had gained the doorway to the great hall. With an even greater sense of urgency the fighter reached out and grabbed the elderly mage and pulled him into the temple room with all of his strength. Timonius's feet left the ground and he landed roughly on the floor of the red lit room. Louis slammed the door and pressed his weight against it, Erik and Brion lent their might as well to the effort.
"What the.....ungh? Ouch! Thanks Louis! There are at least three people out there and as usual, they want to kill me! Hey Latovius where did those guys come from?"
"Louis try puting one or your spikes in the door jam. That would help holding the door shut. As much as I would like to investigate this evil room we need an exit and I only see one door that hasn't been checked." With that being said Markas moved to the uninvestigated door and tried to open it.
"I think that's a good idea Markas but we can't leave enemies behind in this place. I think we open the door. We are six to only three or four of them. What say you? Latovius, you stand at the side of the door and when we open it and they barge in feel free to check out their backs while we work over their fronts."
acting in round 2
Timonius's questions for Latovius go unanswered in the chaos unfolding in the room as the wizard busies himself with preparing his blowgun and trying to have a conversation with Markas. The cleric of Petra takes some steps towards the far door while ordering Louis to drive a spike into either a stone and mortar wall or the iron door frame to delay whoever was pursuing Timonius. The odd request perplexes the fighter at the same time that ...
Several attempts from the other side of the iron door to open it are met with failure. Eventually the door is shoved open just enough after one mighty attempt and the head of a battle axe is wedged into the gap that was temporarily created by the heroic effort. "How dare you scum rise against me! Kill all of our foes but leave the prisoners be! You two, go to your people and bring all of them including the prisoner! GO NOW!" A commanding voice echoed off the walls of the great hall and could be easily heard by those inside the altar room. Moments after the axe is wedged into the door frame, the iron door is forced open and foes surge into the poorly lit altar room ready to carry out their orders.
Brion tries to recover and swing at the first foe through the door but his swing is wide. A leather clad fighter pushes his way past the three recovering fighters and into the room, as he passes Louis he stabs the fighter savagely with his sword.
Louis recognizes the commanding voice as the Dark Knight's from their meeting on the jousting field.
"Hey you jerkoffs, leave Louis alone! Take this!"
Horrors in the room, the Black Knight's minions smashing through the door, and Petra's fool errand boy off trying to get the lot of us killed!
With that thought Markas shook out the cobwebs in his head and then moved to strike the closest of enemies.
Louis swings around following his attacker Zo it iz you... Zee Black Knight! Ho Ho have at you swine!
[dice = Louis attacks Black Knight or "Snail" icon:] 1d20; 1d8; [/dice]
x
acting in round 2
Timonius's taunt has no more effect then his errant blowgun shot on the dangerous man standing less then ten feet from the mage. Markas also fails to hit the same man a mere second later.
The men who had forced the door open as well as their allies outside in the great hall crowd the newly opened portal. Their numbers are greater than Timonius had first counted and several men swung their weapons at the three fighters holding the door. One of the blows clangs off the metal door frame fractions of a inch from Erik's face but all others fail to land. Erik responded to the growing number of attackers by gutting one of them who had foolishly stepped within his reach.
The first blow gun attack of his life had not gone as Timonius had imagined. In his daydreams of glory on Whore Island Timonius had played out the scenario in his head oh so many times. Hordes of chaotic and frenzied enemies would be dispatched in an almost effortless fashion by strike after strike of blow gun darts. What had gone wrong? No time to consider that now. There was no thinking-only action. His chest working like a bellows in a blacksmithy Timonius raises his blow gun. He would not miss again!
"The power of myrtle berries commands you! The power of myrtle berries commands you! Take this!"