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Innate power is a blessing...Accept the path of origin...It flows in the blood...Look with the third eye...Focus on the result...Harness the birthright...Control the release...Use the natural gifts...
Fener caughs a bit and moves up to R12 and examines the pile there.
Rudy follows as soon as there is space to squeeze by.
Nästród looks at the statues to see if they have a religious or historical significance.
"Take care, Nastrod," Celif says quietly. "I've read of statues that... aren't really statues at all." She looks ahead into the dimness. "And there are an awful lot of them," she adds a bit nervously.
"Yes! You are right," he says as he taps one gently with his axe.
Seeing how far ahead the scouts have gone I decide to start moving silently after them. Moving to T-11
Observing my surroundings in the room with the bone pyramid.
Celif lifts her glowing mace higher and stares into the dimness ahead in an effort to pick out any missed details. She then moves cautiously ahead to T12 and looks over the bone pyramid, trying to recall if she's ever read of anything like this.
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I say to my companions, Sounds like the people in that room might be the Swamp Witch and Cayden. Perhaps we can still rescue Cayden . . .
I move forward to P-6 and reach out and try opening the door.
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Running as fast as his lame leg will carry him, Nästród runs over to pull Imowen away from the door.
Gezzo moves through the party and into the room. He waves his hands in front of the statues.
This is horrible! Abominations! Someone has made crimes against nature and shall be brought to justice! Don't hesitate, my friends, whoever opens this door we must attack! And don't just stand in the doorway!
Celif's head snaps up and around as she hears a rapid succession of sounds including Nastrod's unmistakable shuffle-running and Gezzo's warning.
"Somethings up, we'd better get in there!" she says to Thorgrim as she starts heading towards R7.
I charge towards the door stopping at P-5 drop my torch at P-6 and give the door a solid kick
Hearing the sudden excitement from ahead, Argyros moves forward, sword at the ready.
As Thorgrim tears past her, Celif attempts to reach out and tag him.
Fener hearing all the noise moves to S6, Rudy at his side S5.
Fener cast light and touches the doorway at R10 on the way through to ensure we can see.
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You all feel a warmth as Celif casts Bless, providing a +1 bonus to attack rolls and +1 for saves against fear. She also manages to touch Thorgrim, casting Bull's Strength upon him.
Thorgrim gives the doors a solid kick (at +11 with the Bulls Strength). The doors move slightly inward, then resume their current position, accompanied by a loud "BANG" from the blow.
You all hear a gruff voice say, What we do? Someone wants in.
A woman's voice states: Sit down, children, let us see if these outsiders will be willing to talk. Remember your lessons. What is the first thing to do to protect yourselves? After a pause... Very good! I see that you are learning quickly! Stay seated.
After a moment, the woman's voice is much closer to the doors. I know who is out there. I will say you outsiders are either determined, or have no common sense when it comes to heeding warnings. Are you willing to talk, or are you just willing to die?
The doors apparently remaining shut for the moment, Celif closes her eyes, raises a hand towards the doorway, and chants under her breath.
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You are only able to determine the surface thoughts of one of these individuals. The thoughts center around anger and frustration, and this creature also thinks that you are all fools, because you are too late to stop what is about to happen with the grand plan. If you will not accept this person's idea of reason, then you must all perish.
Her eyes still closed in concentration, hand remaining extended towards the door, Celif speaks quietly.
"At least seven in there, could be more if the room's large or my probe's blocked by structures or will. One is quite smart, likely the witch. Two are... not bright. Typical, the rest."
Celif remains focused, attempting to probe more deeply for their thoughts.
"I can only read one of them... angry... frustrated... considers us fools... can't stop the grand plan, we're too late... either see reason or die..."
Celif's brow furrows, and she frowns. "Reads almost like the witch's thoughts, but she's the last I'd expect to successfully read. Could she not be as strong as we think, or perhaps just a pawn to something more powerful?"
Fener calls out to Thorgrim. Try that door again. You almost had it last time.
I will assist you.
Strength to assist Thorgrim the next time he trys the door
I draw my axe and give the door a much firmer kick, with assistance from Fener!
Rage kick:
Gezzo places his hand on the door. He closes his eyes and concentrates.
Nästród! Do not pull on me! I hiss in a whisper as I move toward the left, pushing Nästród in front of me, just before Thorgrim smashes a well-placed kick into the doors where we had been standing!
Then we hear the voices from the other side of the doors, and Thorgrim and Fener smash at the doors again!
You two are going to hurt one of us! I say, indicating Thorgrim and Fener. Celif and Gezzo, look out!
Celif, what were you saying about the swamp witch being a pawn in the grand plan?
We need to stop and think and plan for a bit. This forceful smashing is getting us no where!
Flug, what do you make of all this?
Flug is staring at the wall when Imowen grabs his attention. He replies, "He's mad that trusts in the tameness of a wolf. I like not fair terms and a villain's mind."
Celif continues to keep her voice low in the hopes of not being overheard on the other side of the door. She answers Imowen in broken sentences and a bit distractedly, her focus still on thought grazing. "I... don't know. Thoughts of some 'grand plan' and how foolish we are to interfere because we can't stop 'what is about to happen.' No hints of what that is yet."
"Not sure I'm reading the witch. Seems the sort of things she'd think. Surely she would have the strongest will in the room. Surprised she would be one I could read. Wondering if she's as powerful as she seems or if someone, something else is behind all this."
She opens her eyes briefly to glance at Imowen. "Maybe leading questions -- without hinting in any way that we're mind-grazing -- might lead to revealing thoughts?"
Standing beside Celif, Argyros nods in agreement.
See what you can learn Celif, I would know what I am getting involved in rather than mindlessly charging in and killing.
"Someone else will need to engage her in the conversion... I must stay focused on this or it will slip away. And even so, I can only graze through her surface thoughts. Impressions, emotions, fleeting bits... it's not mind reading or telepathy in any sense. But perhaps if we're clever..."
"Every one stand down." he says in hushed tones to the party.
Then in a loud voice he calls to the individual who addressed them. "We are willing to *talk*. We have no wish to cause necessary harm," Nästród says, casting a meaningful glance at Fener, "We rescued the boy from the river and he is under our protection. Let him go and so will we."
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Your attempts to smash down the door seem fruitless. I appears that something is holding them shut - perhaps they are barred on the opposite side.
Woman's voice: So...because your dimwitted efforts to smash things comes to naught, you have perhaps come to a modicum of common sense? I wish to see you with my own eyes, but any effort on your part to cause harm will result in nothing but violence and vengeance upon you. We are willing to open the doors, but only if you swear an oath that you will enter with no intent to provoke an attack. As I have already informed you, your efforts to "rescue" the boy, while laudable in their own right, are misguided and too late. The boy is my son, and you shall NOT have him. He is here for a purpose, and that purpose is being fulfilled!
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You continue to feel the surface thoughts of the one individual - determined, willful, and angry. There are also thoughts that perhaps the ignorant fools on the other side of the doors might become useful.
You also now detect the thoughts of two other individuals. These thoughts are rather base, and center around cruelty, brutality and savagery. The thoughts are looking forward to seeing the misery of others, especially those on the other side of the doors.
"I am Nästród, Oracle of the Dasun. You have my word," he says looking questioningly at Fener again, "as long as you and your compatriots also swear to raise neither arms nor spell in hostile intent against us during the conversation and for several minutes thereafter until we should quit this place."
In a whisper to Imowen, "Hide. This could be a treachery from her."
No doubt! OK. What about the rest of our group? I will try and assist you with the diplomacy.
Diplomacy:
Stealth (hide):
I disappear into the shadows . . .
"What?!" Celif hisses sharply at Nastrod when he makes his pledge. "Not good, not good, we can't promise that!" she declares as forcefully as she's able while whispering. "She is angry... deceitful... thinking she can use us to her advantage."
"Oh wait, what's... wait, I..." She pauses for a few moments. "I... I've touched two oth... oh my... two others now. Sadistic cruelty, animalistic thoughts almost painful in their brutality... delight in the misery of others..."
She looks at Nastrod, the mental anguish apparent, the color drained from her face.
"They're looking forward to seeing us suffer!"
I say softly to my companions
I will back you up Nästród, if this goes to the dogs the witch must be our priority. If we do not attempt to solve this like civilized people we are no better than they. We must also look at the larger picture, we are trying to bring civilization to the tribes in the swamp.
"'Dogs'... oh... I've never tried to thought-graze an animal before... those two brutal not-bright minds, maybe they're beasts?"
Gezzo rocks on his back, holding his head. He moans in pain. Lryhla whimpers sympathetically while nuzzling Gezzo. Gezzo holds a hand up and shakes it, pointing to the door.
E...e...evil...g..g...great evil. P..P..Promise nothing!
Aside to the party: "I *know* she is likely evil. But we are not. Let's try to resolve this peacefully--it's best for Cayden if we do. Besides, we need some questions answered."
In a loud voice towards the door: "What say you? Will you parlay in good faith and with the only the truth?"
Celif starts to say something, then spins around at the sounds of a thud and yelp, followed by moaning and Gezzo's proclamation. She points at him as he points at the door.
"You see?" she hisses at Nastrod and Thorgrim. "Septimus teaches us to sacrifice, to embrace knowledge and differing viewpoints -- but we must have wisdom enough to know where the line is drawn. What was it Flug warned against? 'Fair terms and a villain's mind?' Truly, any 'deal' made with evil is a fool's bargain!"
She looks introspective and remorseful. "I too wish this to be resolved peacefully and fairly. And we still don't know the whole story; we might even be in the wrong here! But if we pledge peace and sweetness in a situation such as this... either we shackle ourselves, or we make an unkeepable promise. I tell you true: The person whose mind I'm grazing in there," she says, tipping her head towards the door, "has no interest in consideration or playing fair. 'Good faith?' Expect neither truth nor good anything from her!"
This evil is against the natural order of things. It is naive to think they will negotiate with good will. I say we play along until the door is open and attack and eliminate this evil.
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Woman's Voice: Nästród, an Oracle of the Dasun. Being Dasun you, of all people, should understand the trials of being part human and part something else...never accepted into the mainstream...being a subject of scorn and ridicule. Those who consider themselves "pure" of bloodline think nothing of subjugating, killing, and stealing from others. I doubt you will parlay in good faith, and why should we believe you?
Children...stand up, turn, and face the doors. Perhaps it is time to see and hear for yourselves what outsiders are really like. They say they wish to talk. Let us see. Open the doors!
You hear someone slide something across the doors, and then they open! Two massive Ogres flank the entrance to what appears to be an ancient temple of some sort. Several rows of pews march toward the front, where a dias stands. Half a dozen Beastmen stand in front of the pews, facing you.
The room is lit and warmed by four braziers situated along the walls, burning brightly with coal. There are no other creatures visible.
Woman's Voice: Well? Are you coming in, or not?
"No. We don't trust you either. You want to talk you can come out."
"Wise decision Nastrod," whispers Celif. "Keep the playing field as level as possible. Gezzo, are you alright?"
She scans the part of the room she can see from where she stands. "Can anyone see the witch?"