Tony walks up to the door and listens for activity on the other side.
Unless we plan to stay another night in here, I would hesitate to use more resources before we even leave the tomb.
"It's worth the resource to make sure you are fit to fight, Reynaud"
Belle casts a CLW on him
Are we done with the healing? Can we start prepping for the opening of the door? I never found out - do the doors open inward or outward and can they be jammed from outside?
I was thinking of having an earth elemental do the honors of opening the door. Thoughts?
After listening at the door for awhile, to determine that nothing is waiting immediately on the other side, Tony undoes the lock.
No time. We're heading out. Steady, friends.
Reynaud assumes total defense, after drawing his sword and fastening his shield.
Belle casts Summon Monster II from the wand as the door is being opened.
One note: as soon as the door opened Belle summoned some Celestial Dogs outside the door, hoping they would engage any ghouls that laid in wait or set of any traps they left for us to find.
But it looks like that was another wasted charge :(
"Probably one of the ghouls just waiting for the right moment to eat us all."
The bulky humanoid seems to move heavily as he approaches - the clear sound of scraping armor more than evident.
Pausing momentarily, and from afar, its hands seem to be momentarily tracing the designs around the well - it does stop dead in its tracks however, as you all emerge from the mausoleum.
As the heavenly dogs growl, a grunt is heard in reply, as well as a crack of a whip, louder than you have ever heard - and then a guttural, harsh voice, seemingly aimed at the summoned animals - "What are you boys doing out here all on your own? You living or unliving?" - the crack of the whip is heard again as the silhouette comes into sight.
A massive half orc, fully clad in heavy plate, squares off against the enormous dogs - "You sure you want to go against me? Maybe you win, but not without a fight" - he growls back, moving in measured steps.
His whip is unusual. Larger than norma land apparently heavier, it seems made from braids of jagged metallic wire, dragging along behind the ironclad combatant - the scowl in his face his evident, as well as the symbol around his neck. A sword crossing a wing.
Taking notice of your presence, his posture tenses even further - "Are you friend or foe?" - he grunts, eyes gleaming red - "Out here there isn't much time to decide, so call your dogs off now, or prepare to fight" - the half-orc adds, now gripping the massive whip in two hands.
"I can't call them off, but since they are not attacking you it must mean you are not an enemy. they have a sense for that sort of thing. They should..." *poof*
the dogs vanish as suddenly as they appeared.
"...ah. Go back home in a little bit.
"So, you don't look like a ghoul. We are here to explore the tombs and are most CERTAINLY NOT undead. Well, except for Tessai, but that's a long story. What are YOU doing here?"
Tony scopes out the area as soon as the door swings open.
Upon seeing the massive half-orc, he is filled with a sense of relief. Someone alive, so much better than the talking dead.
"Hey, stranger. You didn't happen to see a bunch of deranged flesh eaters on your way over. They be hobbling about out here. Whatchu doing out here though"
"I can't call them off, but since they are not attacking you it must mean you are not an enemy. they have a sense for that sort of thing. They should..." *poof*
the dogs vanish as suddenly as they appeared.
"...ah. Go back home in a little bit.
"So, you don't look like a ghoul. We are here to explore the tombs and are most CERTAINLY NOT undead. Well, except for Tessai, but that's a long story. What are YOU doing here?"
Seeming to relax slightly as the dogs disappear, the half-orc nods at Belle - "No ghoul here girl. And my business here is my own" - he grunts, pondering the beautiful elf addressing him - "Let's just say I've got a score to settle with some sniveling, coward demon worshipers who did me wrong some time ago, and I've heard they holed up here" - he spits - "What about YOU?"
Upon seeing the massive half-orc, he is filled with a sense of relief. Someone alive, so much better than the talking dead.
"Hey, stranger. You didn't happen to see a bunch of deranged flesh eaters on your way over. They be hobbling about out here. Whatchu doing out here though"
"Deranged flesh eaters?" - he opens his eyes wide - "Can't say I have, though I did hear some crazy yowling and screaming far a ways last night while I was camping - didn't feel like going out and look for it though" - he chuckles.
Reynaud, sensing a cease in hostilities, sheathes his weapon.
That's the reason we were in this crypt overnight. That yowling was probably the ghouls that our new friend here mentioned.
He offers out a hand
Reynaud. I'm here for the same reason you are. I think the others are mostly here for treasure within Rappan Athuk, however.
"Well met" - the half-orc extends his hand to Reynaud - "I am Garrosh" - he nods.
"You were holed up in there because of ghouls? Sounds nasty" - he grumbles - "They gone now you think?" - then looks around - "And treasure is never a bad thing, though I'm not sure I would pick this place to start looking"
Shrugging it away, he follows through - "You've got a debt to repay too? Good! I intend to let them have it. Hard!"
"Actually, I'm here for ART. Another long story which I'm starting to fear might get cut short soon."
I am Agyen. I am here to destroy undead in the name of Pharasma.
"Actually, I'm here for ART. Another long story which I'm starting to fear might get cut short soon."
Garrosh laughs heartily - "Who an I to say this or that reason is best? If you are here for art, then power to you Miss...?"
I am Agyen. I am here to destroy undead in the name of Pharasma.
"Straight to the point" - Garrosh gives an appreciative nod at Agyen - "Well met lad"
Turning to the group in general, he adds - "Have you managed to uncover anything about this wretched place so far? If you are willing to share, that is"
"Actually, I'm here for ART. Another long story which I'm starting to fear might get cut short soon."Garrosh laughs heartily - "Who an I to say this or that reason is best? If you are here for art, then power to you Miss...?"
Belle. Just Belle, unless you speak Elven?
"I speak a few languages, definitely none as pleasant as Elven unfortunately" - Garrosh chuckles - "Belle it is then"
It seems you will be traveling with us. We're looking for an entrance to the dungeon. All we know is they say not to go down the well and these crypts all seem useless.
"If that is how you put it Reynaud" - again Garrosh laughs out loud - "I wouldn't mind joining you, since it seems we are at least going in the same direction. And I guess you are going through too much bother if you simply wanted to kill and rob me - you being five and all" - he looks around, taking note of the silent man in the back - "Who is this Tessai then? Some form of undead?"
It seems you will be traveling with us. We're looking for an entrance to the dungeon. All we know is they say not to go down the well and these crypts all seem useless.
"Well, to be fair, that southern one may have an entrance. It was protected by some nasty gargoyles, but they've been dealt with. That's how we lost Tessai. I say that she may be undead since we saw her ghost or spirit or whatever it was leave and return her body during the night. Her body is in there."
She points back at where they came from.
"Bad business, those gargoyles. Then, as we were sorting things out after the battle a pack of ghouls descended on us and drove us in the building there. We were exhausted and would have been easy meat in a fight. And I don't say 'meat' lightly."
*shudder*
"They tried to bargain for Tessai's body. For what unholy purpose I can only guess, but one of them kept mentioning eating parts of her - well, and us too. It didn't seem picky. Though the other one wanted to make a deal. Quite intelligent ghouls, not at all what I expected. But all their deals had to do with feeding them parts of us or Tessai and I for one preferred a fight to that. I'm sure you understand."
She looks searchingly at his half-orc face looking for an encouraging sign.
It seems you will be traveling with us. We're looking for an entrance to the dungeon. All we know is they say not to go down the well and these crypts all seem useless."Well, to be fair, that southern one may have an entrance. It was protected by some nasty gargoyles, but they've been dealt with. That's how we lost Tessai. I say that she may be undead since we saw her ghost or spirit or whatever it was leave and return her body during the night. Her body is in there."
She points back at where they came from.
Garrosh frowns deeply - "I an sorry for the loss of your companion - and I am worried at your recount of what you have witnessed - perhaps we should give your friend a proper burial away from this place? Allow her some peace?" - he inquires.
"Bad business, those gargoyles. Then, as we were sorting things out after the battle a pack of ghouls descended on us and drove us in the building there. We were exhausted and would have been easy meat in a fight. And I don't say 'meat' lightly."
*shudder*
"They tried to bargain for Tessai's body. For what unholy purpose I can only guess, but one of them kept mentioning eating parts of her - well, and us too. It didn't seem picky. Though the other one wanted to make a deal. Quite intelligent ghouls, not at all what I expected. But all their deals had to do with feeding them parts of us or Tessai and I for one preferred a fight to that. I'm sure you understand."
She looks searchingly at his half-orc face looking for an encouraging sign.
"You took the right path, at least as far as I see it" - he snarls - "Hell would be cold before I fed whatever parts of one of my companions to anything or anyone. I'm sure you will welcome any opportunity to pay back in kind to these critters that were beset upon you. I for one wouldn't mind exchanging some 'pleasantries' with them if they rear their ugly head"
"Personally, I'm not the vengeful type. Life is too long and too full for that. And this place has a rumor for eating vengeful types for lunch and I'm beginning to believe it. I'll be happy if we just take something away from all this and don't end up like Tessai."
|
"Well, as to that, we're hoping the Gargoyles we took out left a little treasure in their lair which hasn't been taken by the ghouls. We were just about to go search for it when we met you. After that, well we were going back to town to bury our dead, replenish our supplies and maybe buy some new things. We'd appreciate someone guarding our back while we did all that, if you're interested."
"I'm Magnus, by the way. Magnus Tate, investigator of ancient magics. Hoping to learn some new magic tricks in this god-forsaken place."
"Leave the vengeance for the suicidal. I prefer making a profit for being out in this gods' forsaken hole. Names Tony. I break vaults and locks. Undo the surprisingly regular death trap. I generally just try to help people not die." he says in a way to introduce himself to the Garrosh and the rest of the group.
"Hmmmm, ok then, no retribution" - Garrosh shrugs - "Up to you, but I'm not sure I am getting your plan quite right Magnus" - he adds - "You are hoping the gargoyles left some sort of treasure, so that you have the means to go back to town, replenish your supplies and bury your dead? Is that it? What if there is no treasure?" - the half-orc wonders - "In any case it doesn't matter - let's go looking for that treasure of yours" - he chuckles.
"And well met to you and Tony" - he finishes to the two companions.
"OK. But lets just check out the building - no deeper, OK? We have a body to bury and supplies to buy"
And then there's pill
she thinks, as she glances at his last known location
I wonder if he's alright.
The party moves towards the southern mauseleum. Belle has the key and will hand it over to Tony.
"We found this in a secret compartment by the statue. It might help open a door and you seem like a door opener type."
"Let's check it then" - the half-orc nods.
Belle gradually slows to a halt and reflexively gets her drawing stuff out. You all, except for the newer members, recognize that look.
Reynaud sits down in surrender as Belle begins drawing.
Well, since we're to be here awhile, Tony, mind looking for any rocks or crossbows or heavens know what else is most likely lying in wait to kill us? I doubt this is going to be so easy. Perhaps Magnus, you ought to check for magic as well? I doubt the gargoyles were doing maintenance on that door, and it's clearly too shiny for a 1000 or however many year-old mausoleum.
"Oh, and see if the new guy know how to use that wand."
She says distractedly.
"Name's Garrosh, old girl" - the half-orc grunts.
"What are we waiting for then?"
"Name's Garrosh, old girl" - the half-orc grunts.
"What are we waiting for then?"
"Hmmm? Oh, you go ahead. I just have to finish this. It beautiful, isn't it?"
Tony stops both of them and goes up first.
Tony slowly walks up to the imposing doors, scanning the floor and walls for organized cervices.
Tony steps up to the door and begins fiddling with the lock