The Revered Daughter shakes her head, No, at the minotaur's query.
Jackun was steadfastly ignoring Caitlyns's question. Perhaps he hadn't magicked the Kender, Thistle could make him self scarce when he wanted to. Considering where they where this worried her, no doubt he was making mischief!
By then she noticed her companions giving the dancing spirits hard looks. She'd seen those kind of looks before, "Erm I'm not sure that's a good idea!" she breathed, "Maybe they're not hostile anyway? I mean they've had ample opportunity while we stand here nattering"
On a hunch she took a step forwards and called out into the room, "Hullo?"
Jackun was steadfastly ignoring Caitlyns's question. Perhaps he hadn't magicked the Kender, Thistle could make him self scarce when he wanted to. Considering where they where this worried her, no doubt he was making mischief!
By then she noticed her companions giving the dancing spirits hard looks. She'd seen those kind of looks before, "Erm I'm not sure that's a good idea!" she breathed, "Maybe they're not hostile anyway? I mean they've had ample opportunity while we stand here nattering"
On a hunch she took a step forwards and called out into the room, "Hullo?"
The spirits, which shone with faint evil to Mittens' senses but nothing so strong as powerful undead should show, made no reply to Caitlyn but a chorus of laughter as they continued their dance.
Should I go and say hi?
Caitlyn nearly jumped out of her skin when Thistle spoke, behind her too! After a moment to recover she replied, "Erm sure. I get the sense they're mostly interested in dancing. Maybe uh it's only safe to cross if we do the foxtrot..."
Thistletorp grins and inches his way down towards the nearer door.
Thistletorp grins and inches his way down towards the nearer door.
Thistletorp made his way to the door in the hall's northern end. There he heard nothing but the ghostly music to which the dancers spun and a somewhat more pronounced chill than usual for Skullcap.
"Well if he can make it, what about me?" Thought Caitlyn. Resisting the temptation to dance, she moved to join Thistle.
"Well if he can make it, what about me?" Thought Caitlyn. Resisting the temptation to dance, she moved to join Thistle.
Caitlyn passed through the chamber, unmolested.
The Revered Daughter will follow
Caitlyn glanced at Thistletorp, "Well that was boring, shall we try and open the door?"
The Revered Daughter will follow
As soon as Mariel and Mittens took to the floor all the phantoms turned as one. They stopped their dancing and erupted in laughter, which they accompanied with mocking expressions and rude gestures.
The Revered Daughter shakes her head. Come along Mittens.
A spell on his lips the Wizard also steps onto the floor to head to the door. This is perhaps the most uncomfortable the group has ever seen the MInotaur.
A spell on his lips the Wizard also steps onto the floor to head to the door. This is perhaps the most uncomfortable the group has ever seen the MInotaur.
As Jakun passed, the dancers graciously made way for him with smiles and deferential bows.
The Minotaur reaches the other door, still discomforted by the courtesy shown to him, then he pauses realizing that the "presence" with him no doubt has something to do with the looks of respect.
He peers into the other room his Familiar's eyes scanning it as well.
.
With a prayer on her lips, she readies for what will take place next.
The Minotaur reaches the other door, still discomforted by the courtesy shown to him, then he pauses realizing that the "presence" with him no doubt has something to do with the looks of respect.
He peers into the other room his Familiar's eyes scanning it as well.
.
The Minotaur reaches the other door, still discomforted by the courtesy shown to him, then he pauses realizing that the "presence" with him no doubt has something to do with the looks of respect.
He peers into the other room his Familiar's eyes scanning it as well.
.
Loren cautiously follows the others into the room. To avoid provoking the spirits, he takes the additional step of sheathing his sword.
Seeing the others joining her, Caitlyn tries the door to see if it's locked. If it's unlocked, she opens it a little and looks to see what is behind it.
The Companions found themselves looking into a smaller chamber, bare save for some debris and shadowy figures, almost wisps of darkness, skulking near the walls. As soon as the door opened, all turned toward Jakun and bowed deeply.
"Masssster," hissed dozens of voices.
Jakun's eyes narrow, perhaps there was some benefit to the shade attaching itself to the Wizard. He pauses for a moment, how would a megalomaniacal Arch Wizard treat his minions? Jakun would just have to wing it, "I have returned. I seek an item, wielded by a dwarven warrior. Where is it? As you know, I tolerate failure... poorly".
Caitlyn gives Jackun a sharp look, and he hands grip the hilt of her weapon tightly. She turns to stare at the shadowy figures with open disapproval.
Jakun's eyes narrow, perhaps there was some benefit to the shade attaching itself to the Wizard. He pauses for a moment, how would a megalomaniacal Arch Wizard treat his minions? Jakun would just have to wing it, "I have returned. I seek an item, wielded by a dwarven warrior. Where is it? As you know, I tolerate failure... poorly".
"Masssssster," the figures say as one. "The dwarf died at your handsssss. Did you forget?"
"Long have we waited. Are thessse bright onessssss for usss?"
Thistletorp stare at the figures in wonder. WoooooooooOOOOOOOoooooow
Jakun sneers at the figures, "Yes, I have indeed forgotten, a Millennia of memories crowds the thoughts of even one so great as I. Remind me.
No, these are my slaves, once my use for them is complete I shall deposit them here where you can show them your tender mercies..."
Likewise Caitlyn positively glowers at the mage. Of course she was reasonably certain this was a ruse, but it didn't mean she had to like it.
Jakun sneers at the figures, "Yes, I have indeed forgotten, a Millennia of memories crowds the thoughts of even one so great as I. Remind me.
No, these are my slaves, once my use for them is complete I shall deposit them here where you can show them your tender mercies..."
"All died at your handssss. All will die at your handssss," the shadows whispered. "The dwarvessss came. Many. Warriors. Their hammersss gleamed and we tassssted them. Hard steel. Flesh. Muscle. Our bones broke. Our flesh bruised. We lay battered and broken. Then you came. The black moon shone in your eyes and all died."
Jakun nods to the minions, "Indeed and I have returned once more. Remain here, I shall summon you as needed where you will once more taste the warm blood of the short-stout folk".
He withdraws and motions for the others to follow him closing the door behind him.
"Only certain death awaits you all within. Come let us retreat to a space where the dead do not salivate or dance to discuss further..."
Jakun takes his leave also form the ball room, what he had to say was for the ears of his companions only.
A sad look over comes the Revered Daughter's face.
Caitlyn tells the others, "There's nothing for us here, lets try the eastern door."
Gritting her teeth, she talks over to the eastern door, ignoring the hungry voices and listens at the door.
"YaaaaY!!! Thistletorp bounces over to the next door and checks it out with Caitlyn
(for traps)
The eastern doors, where Thistletorp found no traps at all, opened to show a collapsed, molted blue-black wall mere feet beyond.
Thistletorp bounves to the other doors to test them each in turn.
Thistletorp bounves to the other doors to test them each in turn.
Thistletorh rechecked all the doors in the dancing hall and found nothing new, which made them decidedly boring. That left the Companions with the island in the pool, the ominous doors they passed up before to the far west, or descending further in the shaft that ran through Skullcap's heart.
Should we check the doors we passed? the Revered Daughter asks.
"Yes Revered Daughter, I suppose that would be for the best. It seems that the spectre which has attached itself to me would know where to go but at what price? He may set the guardians of this place against you all, I think it wise that we left such magic well enough alone.
Know that if I must play the part of evil wizard again to stave off combat with the restless dead I shall do so, be not alarmed".
One tends to become what they associate with she says ssoftly and sadly.
One tends to become what they associate with she says ssoftly and sadly.
Caitlyn scowled at the dead end. Turning to Mariel she replied, "Perhaps we should. Preferably finding one without the restless dead behind..."