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Solvistania glances at Durathoin, a look of surprise at the note of vehemence in his voice. She sighs, but does not object further.
She then turns to address the others, especially Gilian, "If we are to destroy the abominations, then we need to gather as much information as possible. Pebbles, can you recall exactly how many of the bodies you saw? Where they were situated? What weapons they are armed with? any other useful items of information you remember?"
"Pebble does not remember... Sorry."
"Woah, people, before we get all fired up about breaking this barrier, can we sit down two minutes and think? There are 16 rooms we can get to in this site. It is possible that they all come to the same room, but there may be other informations about what is going on here somewhere else.
So I suggest we all refrain our murdering instincts and have a look at the other rooms or tunnels first. There may be an archive room somewhere or tunnels without walking dead."
"By the way, you did a really good job, Pebble. Now we are not as bind as we were.", says Gilian.
"In ages past dwarves were the undisputed masters of Runic magics. Where elves worked their rituals in water and men in blood, dwarves worked in stone. Though not nearly so complex, their wards were as permanent as magic can be made. These sigils are intended to keep spirits from crossing thresholds. Usually they were used defensively to keep the Order of Shadow's minions from passing through their walls. These seem to be the opposite, designed to keep such creatures in. This place is a prison."
"Whatever. I'm getting bored as hell listening to all these flapping lips. These levers and lifts make it damn hard for me to do my job. Hey Pebbles, what say you and I go have a look around? You can be my thumbs when we run into stuff that needs 'em. We can come back if we run into anything that looks different than what we've already seen."
"Whatever. I'm getting bored as hell listening to all these flapping lips. These levers and lifts make it damn hard for me to do my job. Hey Pebbles, what say you and I go have a look around? You can be my thumbs when we run into stuff that needs 'em. We can come back if we run into anything that looks different than what we've already seen."
"I would like to do that. I love those rooms that go up and down. We used to play like that with my brothers"
"Woah, people, before we get all fired up about breaking this barrier, can we sit down two minutes and think? There are 16 rooms we can get to in this site. It is possible that they all come to the same room, but there may be other informations about what is going on here somewhere else.
So I suggest we all refrain our murdering instincts and have a look at the other rooms or tunnels first. There may be an archive room somewhere or tunnels without walking dead."
Chops smashes his Liberation against the barrier as he leans on it. "You need to stop making sense girl." He presses his forehead against the barrier and attempts to locate the one elf in the room.
Ilona chuckles.
"That's our Gillian, keeping us alive in more ways than one."
While the group continues to examine the rune-carved stone Muni and Pebble disappear down the lifts. A short while later they return.
"This place is huge. Looks like it used to be some kinda dwarven city. Now it's just crawlin' with Fell. This rock seems sorta like a plug stuck in the top of an ant hill. You break it, nasty things are going t' come pourin' out. You mentioned that it keeps undead from crossin' it. I don't think it should stop any of us. Well, except maybe Ragnar. Has anyone tried just walking through it?"
While the group continues to examine the rune-carved stone Muni and Pebble disappear down the lifts. A short while later they return.
"This place is huge. Looks like it used to be some kinda dwarven city. Now it's just crawlin' with Fell. This rock seems sorta like a plug stuck in the top of an ant hill. You break it, nasty things are going t' come pourin' out. You mentioned that it keeps undead from crossin' it. I don't think it should stop any of us. Well, except maybe Ragnar. Has anyone tried just walking through it?"
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Once again you return to the chamber with the platforms and strange statues. From there you go to the second corridor-tunnel and come to the second set of descending-ascending stone rooms. You enter the first room and Pebble pulls the lever and then joins you through the stone.
After several long moments - much longer than those you spent descending the last time - you find yourself at the entrance of a short corridor. The walls are carved with images of Sun and Moon and with interwoven web of tiny runes. But, most of the runes are destroyed seemingly with heavy blows of blunt objects. After several yards, you exit the corridor and find yourself in a large chamber with vaulted ceiling covered with frescoes depicting night sky. Jewels that the stars are made of shine with soft light, so the chamber is bright enough to read. It reminds you of the chamber beneath the broken tower so far away and seemingly long ago. From the central chamber eight equally spaced corridors lead somewhere else. The center of the chamber was once a place of calm and tranquility, with small stone benches placed in a circle, but now the benches are broken and there are dried bones scattered among the broken pieces of stone. There are places in the marble-tiled floor that seem melted, like there was a pool of acid there, and other places where marble cracked and is blackened.
Looking around the chamber and the corridors, Duncan tries to determine everything he can. He observes all the markings on the floor, and damage done to the place, trying to somehow understand what had happened there, combining his scarce knowledge of magics, history and war tactics.
Solvistania resists the urge to rush into the chamber, searching for any scraps of knowledge that may still exist. She calmly waits for Duncan and the others to proceed before murmering a cantrip, and scanning the closest walls in the chamber for Magical auras. Once she gets close to the walls, she looks over the runes, trying to determine their nature.
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Solvistania resists the urge to rush into the chamber, searching for any scraps of knowledge that may still exist. She calmly waits for Duncan and the others to proceed before murmering a cantrip, and scanning the closest walls in the chamber for Magical auras.
Unsheathing his new blade, Duncan whispers to the group: "I hear footsteps from the first corridor to the left, be ready."
Holding his shield up and sword at ready, he slowly turns towards the sound, his back turned to Solvistania. "Anang, what do you make of this?", he adds quietly. "If you don't hear or see much more than me, maybe you could sneak to the entrance of the corridor and take a look. We are right behind you if you need us."
Chops moves forward on point towards the left corridor with Anang, his 250 pounds of muscle and grit, making not a sound. His black skin seems to disappear in the darkness of the ancient structure. It's like he is not even there.
Solvistania nods at Duncan's warning, and retreats closer to the knight. She murmers a quick spell of protection, and soon a familiar aura of force surrounds her slender form.
"Pebble, keep watching the other tunnels wile we deal with whatever comes." adds Gilian, taking out her weapon.
Taking her position behind the main fighters, she reproduce Solistania casting.
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Chops moves forward on point towards the left corridor with Anang, his 250 pounds of muscle and grit, making not a sound. His black skin seems to disappear in the darkness of the ancient structure. It's like he is not even there.
Chops remains where he is while Anang reports back.
At Duncan's warning Sorok readies himself for battle. He moves to the front of the main group while staying well behind Anang and Chops as they move ahead to scout, listening for the footsteps Duncan had mentioned.
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At Duncan's warning Sorok readies himself for battle. He moves to the front of the main group while staying well behind Anang and Chops as they move ahead to scout, listening for the footsteps Duncan had mentioned.
1d20+10
With a silent flicker of motion Ilona draws Requiem, heer movements shifting from her normal provocative bounce to a creep of deadly grace.
With a silent flicker of motion Ilona draws Requiem, her movements shifting from her normal provocative bounce to a creep of deadly grace.
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Heartbeat by heartbeat it grows colder in the central chamber. Footsteps are now loud enough that everyone can hear them. One set of measured steps echo down the corridor. The other are more louder - a shambling uneven gait, followed by strange scrapping and dragging sound. Several moments later, a tall figure appears from the diffused shadows of the corridor. The person is very tall, almost equal in height to the great Dorn, but slender as Solvistania. Dressed in a long all-concealing silvery robes with wide sleeves with interwoven golden runes on the hem and down the middle, the figure is androgynous in appearance. High collar decorated with the same golden runes hides the neck and the head and face are covered with a golden coif and a silver mask with black runes on the cheeks. Longfingered hands are covered by white kid-skin gloves and in the right hand that person holds long golden chain, as slender as a strand of spider-silk, but attached to a crude iron collar on a neck of equally crude creature.
Slightly larger than a dwarf and dwarven in general shape, misshapen necrotic body was once hairy, which is obvious by the patches left on its burned and tattered skin. Gray muscles covered in mucus dance openly on the body parts from which the skin is thorn and wounds around rusty iron spikes that penetrate the creatures nipples seep with puss. Leather mask covers the creatures head, with the exception of mouth, which are wide open and slavering. Terrible stink wafts from the broken teeth, interspaced with iron nails.
The person holding the chain stops at the corridor exit, in front of Anang and Chops, standing there for a long heartbeat. Then, it turns the head towards the creature on the chain and says: "Look, Thorg, we have visitors! How delightful!" using Erenlander.
The vision of both creatures send a long shiver down the neck of the diminutive healer. All the energy she uses for healing seems to coalesce in her hands as if wanting to strike on its own.
"Who are you to be still moving after all this time down here?"
Solvistania steps closer to Duncan, as if for protection from this unseen threat. She stares at the stranger and his 'pet' but says nothing. Her eyes drink in every detail, and she sifts through her vast stores of knowledge for any clues to his orgins...
Tightening his grip on his axe, Chops grits his teeth but says nothing as he alternates his gaze between The Gimp and The Scarecrow. He steels himself for combat, but waits for a sign of hostility from the newcomer, or a word from one of his companions.
Hoping that they might learn something from this creature and avoid a fight, Duncan says politely:"Sir, we are dreadfully sorry for intruding like this, but we come with no ill intentions. And I have to admit that we are surprised that we encountered you down here. My name is Duncan. Pray, tell us, who might you, our host, be?"
Purple flames dance along Requiem's length as Ilona stands silently, calm focused, an eyebrow arched slightly at the spectacle in front of them.
"You must be the welcoming committee."She says with a heart stopping smile
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The vision of both creatures send a long shiver down the neck of the diminutive healer. All the energy she uses for healing seems to coalesce in her hands as if wanting to strike on its own.
"Who are you to be still moving after all this time down here?"
"Well, I am a librarian, of course. And I really move but rarely. I have Thorg to do the moving. Are you a good boy, Thorg? Of course you are!"
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Solvistania steps closer to Duncan, as if for protection from this unseen threat. She stares at the stranger and his 'pet' but says nothing. Her eyes drink in every detail, and she sifts through her vast stores of knowledge for any clues to his orgins...
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Tightening his grip on his axe, Chops grits his teeth but says nothing as he alternates his gaze between The Gimp and The Scarecrow. He steels himself for combat, but waits for a sign of hostility from the newcomer, or a word from one of his companions.
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Hoping that they might learn something from this creature and avoid a fight, Duncan says politely:"Sir, we are dreadfully sorry for intruding like this, but we come with no ill intentions. And I have to admit that we are surprised that we encountered you down here. My name is Duncan. Pray, tell us, who might you, our host, be?"
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1d20
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"Well, as to who I am - I really doubt that you can comprehend that. As to what I am, I have told your diminutive friend already."
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Purple flames dance along Requiem's length as Ilona stands silently, calm focused, an eyebrow arched slightly at the spectacle in front of them.
"You must be the welcoming committee."She says with a heart stopping smile
1d20+17
"Oh, I do welcome you indeed! I am most surprised to see you here. I have not had any visitors in such a long time. Well, long for your kind, of course. Not for that handsome Danisil. Oh my, but he is dark and delicious, isn't he?"
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"Well, pretty thing, do you have something to say or did cat got your tongue?" the librarian asks, and then looks at Felina. "Why, perhaps this cat?" the person in silver mask adds. "And what are you?" turning to Solvistania librarian asks. "You seem to be something new?" For the several heartbeats the librarian is silent. "Well, it is settled then. I shall accept the lovely dark one and this new white one as your payment for disturbing my peace. The rest of you may depart freely."
Solvistania gives the elf a stare that would turn a normal man’s blood to ice. She ignores his questions, and responds ”I am not a trophy to be added to your collection for your amusement. Now tell us, what is your name?’
"Well, pretty thing, do you have something to say or did cat got your tongue?" the librarian asks, and then looks at Felina. "Why, perhaps this cat?" the person in silver mask adds. "And what are you?" turning to Solvistania librarian asks. "You seem to be something new?" For the several heartbeats the librarian is silent. "Well, it is settled then. I shall accept the lovely dark one and this new white one as your payment for disturbing my peace. The rest of you may depart freely."
"Before this degenerates, you may want to reconsider. If you are a librarian, tell us about the battle that happened here and the reason some of the other levels are infected with fell."
Ilona smiles, for those that have come to know her there is a subtle difference in it, an amusement that comes seconds before a more volatile reaction.
"Solvistania and Aang are free, not posessions. They are not owned to be used as payment. They are however, under my protection. There are bonds that tie us all so I mean it from the bottom of my heart when I say that you cannot have them."
She can feel Chops practically quivering in the air behind her, sense Ragnar's outrage building, even feel Giillian's resignation at how quickly the meeting was about to devolve into violence.
She focuses, her presence becoming overwhelminly intense, filling the senses as she looks at the chained masked creatue with a grin.
Chops stands firm, glaring alternately between the two creatures in front of him. He can't help but want to bury his axe in the things face, but he holds, listening to the conversation taking place in a language he does not know. After Solvistania speaks, he does as well in the Trader's Tongue.
"Solvi, Love. Am I hitting this thing or not?"
She can feel Chops practically quivering in the air behind her, sense Ragnar's outrage building, even feel Giillian's resignation at how quickly the meeting was about to devolve into violence.
The person holding the chain stops at the corridor exit, in front of Anang and Chops, standing there for a long heartbeat. Then, it turns the head towards the creature on the chain and says: "Look, Thorg, we have visitors! How delightful!" using Erenlander
Solvistania respons in the same tongue, "Soon, I think. Patience, love, give him a chance to redeem himself."