Campus pulls on a stern look, but for unknown reasons sticks her tongue out.
The eye flicks from one speaker to another quickly, listening and taking in the word and actions of those gathered before it. It seems to respond to every question or action...or look in the very same manner. That is - it does next to nothing.
Winter sighs, and shakes her head. That's all it says....ever.
Do you suppose it is requesting a pass phrase to open up its door?
What have I become...
A member of the Huhl clan inhales a deep breath.
"OPEN OR BE BROKEN YOU STUPID DOOR!"
Ramul was growing increasingly frustrated at the wall creature's refusal to answer their questions or to move at all. Ramul supposes he can't fault the thing for refusing to speak to him since he did try to kill it, but if it is intelligent, it seems like it should say more than one line.
The kineticist winces at Klassalka's attempt to force the door to open itself. Still, it is looking more and more likely that the party will have to resort to violence again to make any progress. With no other obvious ways forward, brute force might be the only option.
To his companions, hopefully in a voice the eye can't hear, Ramul whispers, "Perhaps we should discuss an alternate plan away from the wall. We may have to use less diplomatic methods if we're going to get through. I'm not sure it fully comprehends what we're saying to it, if it comprehends at all."
With diplomacy and intimidation appearing to fail, and Ramul suggesting a recentering of their strategy, Ulfric can't help but agree.
"I concur with Ramul, our current tactics are not working." Ulfric says with a sigh.
There must be more to this area than meets the eye...
Winter narrows her eyes as she stares at the door. A pass phrase or action, perhaps...it may have something to do with its question...though I don't know how to tell or show it what it is either. I mean, of course...we don't know either. Physically, it seems to have taken on the tough exterior of the wall itself, so if it can be damaged, I'd imagine we'd have to use whatever would typically damage a brick wall.
She winces at her own words. I hate guessing about something so...pecuilar.
The wall does its part when confronted by Klassalka's anger....it just stares.
Ramul scratches one of his ears at the strange situation the party found itself in. What was to be done? Perhaps the solution was less complicated than they were trying to make it.
"The eye's question is 'who am I become,'" Ramul begins. "Perhaps we just tell it what it's become? 'You've become a wall.' Seems like it's worth trying. There could be other obvious answers like 'You've become evil' or 'You've become an eye.'"
Ramul looks at the others to gauge their response and shrugs. "It's just a thought. I realize it may be a bit far-fetched."
Go for it Ramul. What would it hurt?
But in any case, how about a pick or shovel? How about that hammer we found with the centipede?
Ramul is surprised when Campus goes along with his suggestion. Of all his companions, he thought her the least likely to acquiesce. He wasn't sure what it was, but she didn't seem to like him much.
Still, he is grateful for her willingness in this situation. With a nod, he walks closer to the eye, but nowhere near melee range.
"You have become a wall. You have become evil. You have become an eye. Those are what you have become."
"C'mon wall, can't you just open up?" Klassalka tries one last attempt.
It appears to be an eye, built into fungus, in a wall. Tears smell of ammonia. Its voice sounds with three drowned voices. The pupil of its eye has a mouth. An abomination.
The wall merely looks at Ramul, unblinking. His words have no apparent effect.
The hammer would work well to break away any crumbling rock and perhaps clear out the smaller pieces, but it would take many blows to go through the eye, based upon what results Ramul and Ulfric had with their weapons. The natural hardness of the wall itself is quite an effective defense.
Unless we have a heavy ballista or explosives, we will not get through this wall with brute force.
"Perhaps it's time for those with ranged attacks to try defeating it from afar. We should move all the patients as far away as possible to try not to upset them."
After a moment's pause, Ramul adds, "Unfortunately, I won't be much help in that regard as my abilities rely on being right next to my opponents."
Winter looks from Campus to Ramul, and sighs, apparently thinking that you were going to do this no matter what she said. Very well, please give me a few moments to make arrangements within the chapel to try and keep everyone as comfortable and calm as possible.
She leaves for a few moments, then returns with Captain York and two of his men, all three wielding crossbows. She offers a shrug. May as well help you, in the hope of getting this done as quickly as possible. Its in all of our best interests for you to get past this wall, in any event.
There might be a more intelligent solution, but I am willing to try a frontal assault by all of us. It can only attack one of us at a time...maybe.
Winter, do you have available any heavy weapons? A great hammer, perhaps?
Ahh, I see what you are thinking Ramul. An army of arrows, might kill the eye. Still, the direct approach might better conserve our men's resources. Consider, I can .. Campus continues in length
"Your spear does seem fearsome, Campus. Perhaps we shall bring down this wall yet... so to speak."
Campus nods to Ramul appreciatively. Let us do this thing then.
"My arrows aren't doing any good in the quiver," Klassalka says, ready to join in.
Campus Enlarges Herself and Thrust the spear at the eye repeatedly.
Campus moves 5' feet forward, now smaller, and attacks from 10' feet away.
Campus, sweat on her brow, sits down winded and frustrated.
Ulfric stands by watching as Campus works. If he had a lengthy weapon he would aid her, but none of his gear could hope to scratch the wall.
Klassalka assists in the attack by loosing a flight of arrows into the mix
Like Ulfric, Ramul stands back and lets Campus and Klassalka work. He hopes they can kill the thing without anyone else getting hurt. If this tactic didn't work, they might have to get a bit more creative.
"My arrows seem useless. I could try to chop it down..."
I believe mighty blows are needed to bring this down. But it would take all of us hitting it with everything we have.
Stowing her bow, Huhl draws her sword, "Mighty blows I can do."
Though the blows from Campus do indeed seem mighty, the eye seems to gradually heal itself as it takes damage. At the end of the onslaught, it is damaged for certain, but is quickly healing.
Klassalka's arrows seem to do nothing but aggravate it. The eye thrashes about wildly, seeking flesh on witch to take its revenge. However, the distance to its assailants proves too far.
The eye in the wall was proving to be frustratingly resilient. Though Campus had struck true several times, it seemed to have a way of recovering its health.
A thought crossed Ramul's mind, but it was a far-fetched one, perhaps even more so than just telling the eye what it had become.
"Wait here a moment," Ramul says to the others before walking away.
He goes to where they left the supplies they found and finds the small steel mirror. Returning to the others, he stands at the same distance from the creature that Campus had when she attacked it.
"Now," Ramul says, pointing the mirror at the eye, "See what you have become."
[ooc ] Dang...I bet we'd have to get a crit or two close in time, from several attackers have much of a chance
[/ooc]
Campus looks curiously at Ramul. If it wants a better look, there is that big standing mirror.
When Ramul puts the mirror in front of the wall, the eye focuses on it, the fangs inside it retreating. It seems to change, appearing more as the eye of a sorrowful man than a hideous aberration.
The yellow fungus crackles as it dries, then begins to fall off, disappearing into a substance like ash, but with a putrid greenish yellow color.
Once it withers away, the eye follows, and beyond it you can see the outline of an iron bound oak door.
Campus picks up her cold iron spear with sore arms.
Well then. Let us see what we find.
Campus goes to the oak door, and pushes on it with the butt of her spear.
Ramul lowers the mirror in surprise after the thing fades away. He looks at it himself and for a moment is afraid he'll wither away too.
"Well then, indeed. I guess that's one way of dealing with it. Maybe now we can finally find out what in the seven hells is going on here."
Of all the solutions...
Readying his gear, Ulfric walks up beside campus and readies his sword and shield defensively.
"I hope the abomination wasn't here to protect us from what's on the other side..." Ulfric says as Campus opens the door.
Wait!
Winter rushes forward, shock and concern evident on her face. She looks at the door, then at the pile of ash on the floor, and shakes her head. Look, I appreciate what you want to do - I, we - all of us in fact, have been waiting for something to help us, and we didn't know what. I think that our fates lie with you, and with however you can deal with what you'll find beyond that door.
Please, know that this chapel will always be open to you. While we can't offer much in the way of arms or those to wield them, we can offer food, safety, and shelter should you need it. Please, come back here whenever you need respite. Until then, this way will be barred and guarded. When you return, use the phrase "The river flows as judgement is made."
We thank you Winter. Turning to her companions
Perhaps we should wait until tomorrow. We have fought already, and I am weary...and have expended some of my power...and we should make preparations is we are to be away. Rations, and such. Before then, perhaps I can be of service to more of your people in some way?
"Thank you, Winter," Ramul says. "We'll definitely remember that and if I had to guess, I would say we'll be taking you up on your offer more than once in the days to come."
Ramul glances down at Winter's Pharasman necklace before saying, "Pharasma was wise to appoint you as guardian over these people."
Ramul nods in agreement with Campus. "That does seem best."
Leaning in close, he whispers to the cleric, "If you have any channeling left, I would appreciate one directed this way, since we're resting for the night anyway."
Ramul nods again at Campus. "Much appreciated."
"I agree, we should rest for the night." Ulfric says. "And thank you for the offer of shelter winter, it is most needed in times such as these."
'"The morning, then."
The evening passed uneventfully, though everyone was one edge, including some of the more vocal patients. At one point, Artemis came to the group and thanked them for continuing out into the unknown, but made sure to tell them that he wasn't going.
Winter was there, at the now removed curtain, when you were ready to proceed. She uttered a few kind words and of course impressed upon you how urgent it was to get these people to safety, as if you weren't aware.
Without any further fanfare, you open the door into the unknown...
You enter into a large room that, according to Winter's description, should be the entry hall. White tile, spiderwebbed with cracks, lines the walls of this cathedral-like hall. A prominent, oval desk faces staunch double doors, while hard benches and portraits of somber doctors line the walls. Regal stairs ascend toward a second floor, but rubble has crushed the upper flights, blocking passage. Lofty windows, gridded by bars, reveal yellow mist seething just beyond.
Not promising.
I'd hoped to see the last of that mist in my dreams...or whatever that horrid prelude to this waking nightmare was.
Varinder chuckles morbidly. Look at yonder window! An old friend awaits!
"We've been in worse situations. We'll figure out a way forward. Does anyone have some rope?
"I think I'm also going to examine that rubble to make sure nothing unpleasant like centipedes lurks underneath."