Rima says "If you'd like, I'll ask Father Grimburrow to come over to the Lorrimor place tomorrow - er, later today - and test thse items. Perhaps we can divine their purpose or use, or if they simply need to be destroyed. We can also try to remove any curses on them, if such exist."
"I don't think we can destroy these."
"Hy dunno about dat." Gkirkhan growls, "Hy bet a spellbook burns pretty goot."
"Removing curses is fine, but these items are filled with magic and destroying magic is like pouring wine in the street...."
Wood adds a grin...
"Or giving away well earned treasure."
I agree. We cannot destroy these, but to have them examined by these priests... It is a generous offer.
"Fine."
Gkirkhan walks back to the mansion and leaves the spellbook in the professors office. He eats the supper Kendra had had prepared, thanks her for it, and retires to his room, but he doesn't go to sleep just yet.
Everyone who wants it gets a good night's sleep.
In the morning, Father Grimburrow will come to the house to examine the items.
Wood goes back to get the spellbook.
Wood invites Vertielle for a walk.
She smiles at the mention of her brashness.
Calistria's grace things didn't go any worse, but yes, I think it illustrated the potential gains.
Vertielle returns to the house with two ales, and knocks on Gkirkhan's door.
Here, I thought you might appreciate a drink. I know this business with magic and spirits and such is not so much your... well, it doesn't play to your strengths.
Gkiekhan gives Vertielle a wry smile.
"It is okay. Hy know Hy am not the smartest person in this group."
Gkirkhan motions for Vertielle to enter and closes the door.
"Hy don't want the others to know about this. Can hyu keep a secret?"
Eva does her morning excerises.
Tentatively, she puts a hand on Gkirkhan's chest.
Tell me, what weight do you carry here?
"Hy am afraid. Hy am angry. Hy see these things, these unnatural things, happening and Hy think, 'what if they tried to control people instead of the dead?'"
Gkirkhan sits on the bed and props his elbows on his knees, his folded hands hide his mouth, but the words are still clear.
"Those that are behind this are wizards. Hy know that much. Magic can take control of hyur mind and body. It can make hyu kill people hyu don't want to. Hy don't want to kill hyu. Hy like hyu, all of hyu, even Wood. Hy don't mind fighting. One of my favorite things was fighting in taverns. But fighting against something Hy can't see, or find, or even touch, scares me. What if Hy lose, what if Hy hurt hyu, or Que, or Eva, or even Wood? Hy don't think Hy can live with that."
Vertielle joins Gkirkhan on the bed, her own feet barely touching the floor. She flicks her hair over one shoulder, and turns to face him.
These wizards control the dead because it is all they can, or because they truly fear death. We will find those that did this, and I think your blade will sing to them before they are buried.
She slides slightly closer, putting an arm through his and resting her head on his shoulder.
Magic comes naturally to me, and sometimes... I wish it did not. I fear it sometimes, too, but magic itself is a tool, an art, nothing more.
Oh boy, to be here under other circumstances...
"'Then lean on me. Hy will be hyur shield. Hy will be hyur courage. Let Death come, for we will not fear it.' These were the words taught to me by my mother."
Gkirkhan sits there for a long silent moment, his face a mask of puzzlement. Then he asks Vertielle something.
"Hy can only remember once that Hy said something about my sword singing in common around hyu. Is there something hyu would like to tell me."
Perhaps this is not the best time...
Vertielle smiles.
I have a good memory.
She chuckles a little.
And I speak Orc.
Next morning, just after your breakfast, Father Grimburrow arrives, with an acolyte carrying two boxes.
"I have communed with the Lady of Graves this morning and she spoke to me in her role of Lady of Prophecy. These items you found, may I see them?"
He will examine each item carefully. "Hm. I do not completely understand her meaning, however, prophecy is intended as a guide. I can tell you that these items, while cursed, are not magical in and of themselves."
He pauses, thinking deeply. "Pharasma sent me a dream, and in that dream I heard this chant:"
"Past a body with no head
Bloody axe sends him to bed
Shed some blood and play the pipe
As stirges fail, a soul falls ripe
As splatters spell out names so bright
Then page by page the author fight
With a hammer killed his wife
Now hammer's shame will take his life
Should tricksy father tell a lie
If you believe, then you will die"
He pauses, as if to assure himself he spoke accurately. "I'm not sure of the meaning, but, like all prophecy I'm certain it will become clear when neccesary. Meanwhile, I have two items for you, one a loan and one a gift."
From the smaller of the boxes, he lifts out a wand. "This provides cure moderate wounds and can be used 19 more times. Use it as you see fit in your explorations."
From the other box he lifts a silvered mace. "This weapon I can only loan, but I'm sure it's enchantment will aid Pharasma's goals."
"Then hyu know what Hy..."
He closes them and buries his face in his hands as the realization hits him.
"Alas, hyu know my dark secret!" he cries as he falls over on the bed. "Hy find the women of the world irresistible."
He's being a ham. Still embarrassed, but a ham none-the-less. You can even see his big goofy grin beneath his hands.
Gkirkhan listens to Father Grimburrow's tale and ponders the meaning of the words, but his eyes brighten visibly when the priest pulls out the mace. Gkirkhan whispers to Vertielle:
Ha! You're as open as a book, you ham. Get some sleep, we've much to do in the morning.
She catches him with an obviously comical stern glare as he formulates his "plenty to do now" quip, but he might voice it nonetheless.
See, some magic is fun
She says it with an evil glint in her eye.
I could use the wand, though I'm sure Eva would appreciate it's abilities as well. Perhaps she would be better off using her time to hit things.
"It seems the bad guys need to get finished off by their own weapons. Is that how any of you read this prophecy?"
At the arrival of dawn Wood prepares his spells and gets ready for another foray to the 'Stone'.
"Hy dunno, but we'd better finish this before we have a big mess of those beasties from last night on our hands."
After a night'S sleep Que rises and first does her morning practices before joining the others for breakfast.
After Grimburrow recites the poem Que turns towards the others.
"It seems that we still need those accursed items. So let's take them with us for our next forray to the prison, but keep an eye on each other while using one."
Assuming everyone heads up to Harrowstone after Father Grimburrow's visit, where do you want to explore first?
It seems appropriate that we would cleanse the Chapel of the Prison.
Vertielle consults her map.
However, this outer wall to the furnace room and the training room are open to the elements; making sure the prison is clear, at least to the auditorium, should give us reasonable assurance we won't be trapped between evils. It also gives us a good opportunity to explore the infirmary, which may hold vital supplies.
I suggest we enter the prison via the old furnace room. It'll allow us to enter the infirmary without having to deal with the troublesome foyer.
Que nods.
"Yes, that foyer was really creepy. Let's try your way Vertielle."
"Well, Hy guess Hy will lead?"
Will you enter through the door or try to climb through the ruined wall?
Vertielle casts a series of spells over the rubble, her eyes a vibrant green.
She wishes Gkirkhan luck, and follows with a more powerful invocation, linking all her comrades by voice.
A huge stone furnace dominates the far wall of this room as you enter. The mouth of the furnace seems large enough for a child to climb inside. The soot-caked copper plaque over the furnace reads 'Ember Maw'.
The ancient fire burned away the entire east wall of this room, providing a panoramic, if eerie, view of the lake beyond. That same lake has gradually expanded into the room, floodind the eastern half.
Perception checks, please.
"Ember Maw... someone must have had a strange sense of humor..."
Que laughs nervously, her eyes darting through the room
Gkirkhan carefully picks his way over the rumble and moves any pieces that might cause problems for the others. Que's comment brings a smile to his lips.
"Not so strange for goblins and orcs. They'd probably think it the greatest joke in the world."
Wood stays behind Gkirkan. He wants to hide behind a bigger target and begins to enlarge Gkirkan. Per/Will
He stops before the spell is even begun after losing an internal struggle with himself.
I'm not sure I want to know why they baptized it so.
As the group clambers in, Que notices something odd.
The 'face' of the furnace begins to animate, forming into a leering, skull-like visage of metal and bars.
Then everyone hears a roar as a firey tongue lashes out at Eva.
Gkirkhan turns his head towards Vertielle.
Just... just... HIT IT! With... SOMETHING!
Init
Will Save
Wood grumbles, forces himself to concentrate, and begins to enlarge Gkirkan.
"Okay, dunno if it's gonna work though."
Gkirkhan rushes up to the furnace from hell while readying his hammer. His powerful arms bring the hammer down, hard.
Gkirkhan slams the hot metal grate of the funace with his hammer.
Vertielle calms her breathing a little, trying to recall anything about such a spirit, but it's hard to focus with a furnace trying to kill you, and she didn't pay much attention in theology class.
Damn, but I wish I had now...
Maybe holy water will destroy the flames!
Vertielle rummages on her belt, but pales when she realizes she used it yesterday.
Que screams out in surprise and shock as the flame tongue lashes out for Eva and she pulls a flask of holy water from her belt, throwing it right into the mouth of the skull like visage,
Map: HarrowstoneGndFloor: http://i1100.photobucket.com/albums/g403/Azure_Zero8/Carrion%20Crown/Harrow stoneGndFloor.jpg; you are in S19
[spoiler=Ember_Maw_Haunt]HP13-3=10[/b]
Initiative Order:
Que (209)
Gkirkhan (18)
Vertielle (13)
Wood (11)
Ember Maw (6)
"Vertielle, use your haunt siphon as a bomb, the one you contained yesterday."
That would flood it with the power of unlife! I think that unwise, Wood.
Initiative Order:
Que (20)
Gkirkhan (18)
Vertielle (13)
Evangline (12)
Wood (11)
Ember Maw (6)
Place yourselves in the furnace room. We are still in round 1; the hit on Evangline was the surprise round as was Que's tossing the holy water.
"Maybe you are right Vertielle."
Realizing the haunt is not physical, Wood throws his vial of holy water on the creature. Enlarging Gkirkan can wait.