Kiryl my good friend...ive never know you to soil your britches at the sight of such a jester dancing about in such garb...and one that obviously harbours starnge fetishes and fantasies....
Curral?? Pnin?? Idril??
Well, I'd like to have the magic items, whether we're going against Gorloth or Karklosh. So I say take the items, deal with Karklosh and then make a decision about Gorloth.
Lack of vegetables does sometimes cloud our speech. I say we help ourselves to Gorloth's largess and deal with this fiendish Karklosh.
Gorloth laughs yet again.
"Will you muzzle your half-elf dog or do I need do it for you?"
Based on the scabbard, Sanrael believes that Gorloth's sword is a scimitar.
even half elf dogs love chewing on bones...undead ones even...blasphemer....Falayna....spits on the memory of your living countenance...
are those poor souls on your table your sick play things for your perverted pleasures....you sick demented being....
do you serve some addle fecal matter brained idiot such as lorcan....you amuse us with your stupidity...wandering about like a cockroach...afraid of kar whatever his name is....did your whore mother teach you this blasphemous behavior? Perhaps you didnt get a pony upon your 5th year of existence...so you turn to these dark arts Sanrael laughs
very well...let us do this deed...then we will decide whats to be done with you....perhaps you can practice your juggling skills to go along with your comedic routine by the time we return Sanrael yawns
"Best not reward a yapping dog or it will never learn to properly behave. My offer is withdrawn. You may leave now."
excellent....find others to do your dirty work...perhaps klarkosh would be happy to learn of your plans...we leave now....your stench is revolting
Where does the group go?
I say we charge and take these guys out
We should step out light up some torches....do we have oil? Light these foul creatures up
Interesting that 1...hes afraid of klarkosh..2...rather than attack us...he asked us to leave...why is he avoiding a fight???
would it help if i go apoligize to the undead guy
do we have any oil? A couple torches? I will go and apologize....see if the ‘ol fella has a change if heart....obviously being paralyzed by those creatures by the fountain affected me....my life flashe before my eyes...where i had no purpose...direction...i feel i now know
Tge undead are a scourge....feeding upon the living...did you see the corpses...that could have been us if those beast had bested us..
Kiryl....tell me about this Falayna....
Kiryl looks at Sanrael with disdain-Perhaps I will tell you about my goddess another time. For now, you should search your heart and clear your mind and determine what it is you wish to do.
Clearly your companion's prior words have had no impact, but hear me now.
The creature that calls himself Gorloth is clearly no friend of good. Yet, I am no foolish paladin to call a crusade against him. Have I not already suffered all these years a slave in the quarry?
Gorloth would appear to be the source of the undead scourge we are here to abate, yet that is no certainty. In addition, our charge is merely to stop the undead from roaming the surface. We could accomplish this without having to assault Gorloth.
Even if I was to fight him, it certainly would not be now, when I am already tired and with all Falayna's blessings spent for the day. Better to be fresh and fully rested, plus maybe a magic blade in my hand. Don't you think? Maybe even more experienced from fighting troglo-whatevers and the construct maker. I certainly don't like the looks of those shadowy beings, whatever they are.
So for now, it appears that reason once more dwells in that thick skull of yours, and whatever madness previously called it home has fled. If you seek advice from me, I say this - twas your fat mouth and ill temper that got us here. You decide what happens next.
Either go back in there, grovel, and redeem us our quest, or pick another path for us to trod. I have no more words for you right now.
Kiryl angrily turns away, a stony look upon his countenance.
Sanrael ponders....deep in thought....then walks toward the door....knocking loudly on it as he approaches....
There is no response to the knocking.
Pnin is dumbfounded. And nods in agreement with Kiryl's words.
Yes, my hair was raised as soon as we entered that room. I too had the feeling that we couldn't ultimately trust Gorloth. My feline senses told me that those bodies were certainly undead and that he was a dishonorable deviant. I was simply waiting until we had left the room to explain. But now we might have the undead and Karklosh's forces to contend with as we try to finish our quest.
Are we back in the hallway before Gorloth's room? Or did he send us through the door to the troglodytes anyway? Either way, are there doors we haven't entered yet?
Sanrael reaches for the doorknob...and thinks...if you can hear me Oh mighty Gorloth...which i suspect you can....i offer sincere apologies for my behaviour...my companions were correct...too many knocks to my skull have clouded my judgement your eminenence...i know that at times stone and water must work together to accomplish like goals...not all destinations are arrived at by one path...and. Should not be so quick to judge others... forgive my words...and allow my companions...to help you...whilst you help them........then turns opens the door....
To answer Pnin's question the group returned to the previous hallway. You have explored all the doors you are aware of except the one in Gorloth's sanctuary.
Sanrael opens the door to the Gorloth room again. Gorloth is nowhere to be seen. The two dead humans are gone from the tables. However the two shadowy creatures have moved forward standing in front of the doorway occupied by Sanrael. They are both about 10' in front of the doorway with about 5' between them, the hover menacingly a few inches above the floor but show no sign of approaching closer.
please.....i wish to speak with Gorloth....and make amends...tell him the half elf dog with
An addled brain wishes to do his bidding...
The shadowy figures don’t react to Sanrael’s words. You are not sure they are even capable of speech.
Hmmmm
Sanrael takes one slow step forward....
The shadowy creatures glide forward towards you, clearly you are not welcome at this time.
What weapons do the wield....can i tell anything from them....
Oh screw it.....Sanrael walks back into the hallway and keeps walking im heading back to the winery
perhaps without me you can strike a bargain and do the deeds of such a foul evil creature.....
sanrael drops the ring of protection...and belt...and lays it on the ground...and begins to make his way out
Sanrael, my friend, I see that making a deal with foul creatures goes against the nature of your being. I think it does to all of us.
Curral picks up Sanrael's gear and hands it to him.
None of us trusted Gorloth. We just figured we'd get some gear from him and then take care of it later. Don't be discouraged. We have a long way to go before we regain our freedom. I'd rather have your sword by my side when we do it.
Curral puts his arm around Sanrael.
We're going to have a few more disagreements as a party, I'm sure. It's times like theses were friendships are forged.
Onward fellow freedom finders, you don't want to miss any of my upcoming dirges. You might wish you were undead. hahahaha.
Yes, Curral has the right of it. Besides, I don't think you will make it back to the winery alone. And we might not make it any deeper without you!
Pnin points at the door.
If the only way forward is to kill the zombies in there, then let's kill the zombies in there! I too wanted to see what was behind Gorloth's curtain. Besides, I have a few more lives to spare anyway.
Sanrael stops....and nods....you are right...i shall not make that mistake and l will bite my tongue...those are not mere zombies...theyre some ethereal guardians....and would not let me pass....
We do as we must. Sometimes we will do things we will never wish to. We may even regret such deeds, but if we look at the larger landscapes of our lives, these deeds will be minuscule.
I also do not believe we will regain our freedom without your help. By not joining us you would condemn all of us to slavery or death. That is no minor decision, but would affect everything for all time. And then you might pause in the future and regret your words and actions. Come with us with an open heart and willingness to compromise if necessary. Let us together gain our freedom and kill the individuals and creatures which allowed the institution of slavery in the first place.
Return to the winery to rest or back into Gorloth's sanctuary or some other action?
What does everyone think....im sorry i forced us into a corner....what chance have we of passing through the chamber...
Maybe fire flaming arrows into the curtain??
Or barrel forward without any healing.
ok....im ok resting up....here or back at The winery.....
perhaps we need to talk to someone....kiryl....youre right...i have an ill temper...disdain for undead or not...and a big mouth
Kiryl does his level best to ignore the recent unpleasantness and emotional histrionics-A rest is definitely in order, and we may as well rest here.
The way ahead is guarded by wraiths and the way behind is currently clear and we need but secure the one door. No point in returning to town as we have done naught but discover a name that may or may not be the source of the roaming undead we were sent here to remediate.
In the meantime we should all take a peek at the potential foes and see if can figure anything out about them.
Kiryl does as described and tries to figure out what the shadowy things are:
Then takes the last watch
Knowledge Religion or Knowledge Dungeoneering would be applicable for anyone that has those skills.
Pnin takes first watch and a peek at the enemies.
Take third watch
sanrael opens door and watches the guardians....trying to recall stories from his youth
Sanrael will take first watch sinve hes staring at guardians already...
Curral?
Curral watches the shadow creatures and recalls some lore concerning them: Because of their insubstantial bodies they can only be hurt by magic, mundane weapons are useless against them. Even most magical attacks inflict less damage than normal. The chilling touch of the creatures ignores armor and drains strength.
The night passes quietly.