Astrillith looks at Pac, and nods "I agree" she then turns her head towards Vondal "I said this before, and i say again, this group is a magnet to strays and lost ones, we will become a rescue team and not an adventuring team soon"
"So as we sally forth and whatnot, how about we offer to the Gods blessings?" She says as she holds out her holy symbol. With a quick prayer."Joy Bringer, I give unto you blessings. Please guide us and protect us on this journey. May joy fill us and keep us through even the darkest of delves. Heart and Soul lit with a fire only the dreadest of dread can even attempt to shatter!" Olga says as she then smiles.
"Not a divine blessing, no spell, just devotional praise and blessing. Do any of you wish to add? It never hurts to petition your GOd for aid!" She says as she smiles pleasantly. The simple movements she made were graceful and deliberate, but also soft. Strange seeing such a tall, statuesque woman in such armor as jovial.
The dwarf looked around to the others, then shrugged to himself andf stepped forward.
"Father. It's Vondal. I'm here with the rest of The Balanced Coin. I'm speaking Common so the others can understand. We are in Undermountain, and have the potential to make a dragon's hoard in coin. Bless us with your Luck and Shrewd Business Savy, Oh Merchant King! Tell Mother I said hello. Much love. Vondal."
Olga listens and will go through her memory so she can access her education among the troupe.
The bugbear stood off to the side, seething with rage. He gnashed his teeth in anger, blood flowing from his lips, staining his lips and chin brilliant red. that damn thing! to resist me like that he thinks to himself, recalling his earlier defeat, and loss of his stock.
Baxchoghul, come here a voice like an rock slide reverberates within the walls of the large room.
Baxchoghul the bugbear swallows quickly, and wipes away the blood on his lips. He steps quickly before the source of the voice, and drops to his stomach, laying prostrate before it.
Master he says into the stone floor.
Rise the voice intones.
Baxchoghul promptly leaps to his feet, refusing to wipe the grim and dirt from his robes. To do so is a sign of disrespect in the eyes of the one who commands, and Bax would not do such a thing.
Baxchoghul. What happened? the voice rumbles. dust falls from the ceiling high above.
We- I, I was surprised Master. Bax says, quickly taking responsibility. His master hated the use of We when responsibility was to be identified.
How so? the voice grinds
I- bax swallows I failed to post a sentry on the door that led into the experimentation chamber. bax started. because of this, several explorers were able to open the silent door and catch us unawares. Luckily the orcs were able to respond quickly.
a long, low growl vibrates Bax's chest, but no words are said.
And, well, i barely had time to do much of anything. And, he pauses, bracing himself i felt it was more important to protect the book than allow these fiends the opportunity to discover our goals.
The voice groans lower yet, anger heavy upon its voice You thought?
Bax winces his eyes shut, afraid to see the killing blow....
but no blow lands.
This was good thinking. Tell me. what became of the winged elf mutants? the voice chimes, soft as a thrown boulder crashes upon a city's wall.
They were left behind- bax begins, only to be cut off with a heavy slap that shakes the room.
I know that! But were they infected with the Pestilence?
YE-YE-YES MASTER! Bax screams out in fear.
ahh, good. How long ago
two days ago Bax replies quickly.
Ah. Most excellent. one more day and they shall begin to infect others...
a vertical green light appears to the side of the voice. it slices the air, and rotates open. its border shimmers with an off green light, highlighting the room and its contents.
Baxchoghul looks up quickly at his master, and then shies away from the horrible visage. he tries his hardest to forget the horror that is his masters features.
Movement catches his eye, and he watches as massive, muscle bound ugly creatures begin to lumber and stamp through the portal. Bax holds his place, but desperately wishes he could fling himself against the wall, away from these hideous ogres. Pale white skin hang with flab and fat upon large frames. Pus and open sores cover their bodies, leaving yellow and green stains upon the pale, almost dead, flesh. leather covers their groins, but fail to conceal the massive organs that swing between their legs. The stench assails Baxchoghul's nostrils, and he winces as the stench stains his sense of smell.
as he watches, an orge begins to step through the portal, only to have it suddenly snap shut, severing leg and arm from the rest of the body. both limbs fall to the ground wetly, spreading thick garish blue blood onto the stones. The previous ogre stops and turns around. it sees the body parts on the ground, and picks them up. immediately the arm is stuffed into its mouth and he grinds on the meat.
12 ogres in total stand within the room.
Excellent. We have work to do
This was good thinking. Tell me. what became of the winged elf mutants? the voice chimes, soft as a thrown boulder crashes upon a city's wall.
They were left behind- bax begins, only to be cut off with a heavy slap that shakes the room.
I know that! But were they infected with the Pestilence?
YE-YE-YES MASTER! Bax screams out in fear.
ahh, good. How long ago
two days ago Bax replies quickly.
Ah. Most excellent. one more day and they shall begin to infect others...
Simon grasps his holy symbol, "Binder, may you reveal to me the secrets of this place that I may grow in power and wisdom and use those two things for the good of all".
After his devotion to Oghma the halfling does indeed press the odd stone...
"I am Hellig, a servant of the Red Knight." says a man clad entirely in red-enameled plate, with a slight nod. "A prayer for the Grandmaster's wisdom is always a wise tactical choice." he says, before raising a shield with the Red Lady's insignia and doing just that.
"Nice circle" she drones, if one could guess, she would've rolled her eyes if that was her style
"Everyone done? We should get going."
She turns to Pac, shaking her head "Not yet. We need another time to do that"
"So Vergadin, Oghma, Red Knight, and Angst!" Olga says as she points to each of the gods she heard stopping on Astrilith at angst and giggles.
"Every Party needs a pooper, and I will get that glimmer of amusement yet!" Ogla says as she giggles,a bubbling cauldron of positivity.
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"Kelemvor" she says with her dead-pan expression "And if this goes on, i will meet him before we get to the next room"
Pac hisses at Olga, Astrillith nods as if agreeing with something the snake had said
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Vondal looks to the Joybringer priest and the grimspawn and smiles with mischevious glee.
"Aw, Moradin! This is gonna get gooood!!"
"Also, it is good to know your compatriots' dieties so if I have to preside over their last rites, I know who to call out in my eulogy speech, pray to them, or beseech them to return the spirit beck, so I can keep them alive. Which is grim, but I am beginning to feel you are more akin to pragmatic and dark reality than my own hopeful and happy!" She says, having yet to draw a weapon as she stood in plate mail and a smile.
"I do not have a particular deity that I follow. I do agree that we should be moving. Staying in one place too long seems risky." Ceirn says.
As Sister Olga invokes a benediction upon the party and it's efforts, Simon presses a small stone set into the wall. An audible click is heard within the walls, and suddenly, on silent rollers, a set of doublewide doors slide into the walls.
the glow from Simon's wrist mounted light casts back the darkness, revealing a long, wide tunnel.
about thirty feet down, the light pushes back on an emptyness, indicating a junction point.
"Do we want to close the doors behind us or try and wedge them out to ensure we have a way out?" Ceirn asks as he prepares to follow the others further in.
"Oh no, the demons will seek you out! I will pray you do not fall before you find a deity for you. I am biased, but the Lady of Joy would welcome you. If not, I recommend at least Kelemvor; he protects all who come to his throne. A cold deity, he dutifully carries out. Or so his clergy says, " Olga says with a smile, stepping gracefully as she walks.
"Do we want to close the doors behind us or try and wedge them out to ensure we have a way out?" Ceirn asks as he prepares to follow the others further in.
"Wedge", Vondal says decisively. "Anyone got anything better than some crossbow bolts to wedge this door open?"
"It would be prudent to mark the area." She pulls out a piece of Chalk and draws a quick symbol of Lliira, with an arrow pointing back the way they came.
"I have pitons" She says, reaching into a pouch and pulling out a box. She opens it and pulls out some pitons.
"I wish I had a bigger bag." She says stuffing the thing back into the bag, as she had set the climbing hammer to the side.
"I always provide. Thanks to you"
She nods at Pac then turns her head to the group
"We should press on, if you want, Pac is willing to scout ahead. He is rather good at being stealthy. But I do not wish for him to venture too far ahead"
"Yes, wedging is a sound option. I don't have anything better for that purpose than pitons."
The door is easy to wedge with a couple of pitons. Placed in between stone wall and sliding stone door, a few hammer blows sets the stout iron in place.
Pac slithers quickly down the long hallway, slithering so quickly it seems to be gliding on air. it goes down and stops momentarily at the junction.
To your right, it is a short hall. it dead ends and then jumps out to its own left and right. To your left, the hall continues on. a set of stairs descend shortly until they meet with a pillar. beyond it goes until the far side, at the furthest extend of my vision, i see stairs that go up. straight ahead of you, the hall extends on to the limits of my sight.
She turns to the group and reports what Pac finds
To the right, it is a short hall. dead ends and then jumps out to its own left and right. To the left, the hall continues on. a set of stairs descend shortly until they meet with a pillar. beyond it goes until the far side, then stairs that go up. And infront of us is is a very long hall."
"I think we just aim for the left most path each time." Ceirn says.
" I can mark our progress with Chalk. Give us a symbol and arrow. Should we get lost";Olga says as she holds out a piece of chalk.
She sighs heavily "There seems to be a magic barrier or anti magic barrier in the room with pillars, so best be on your guard" she gives warning
"Maybe we should see if an Everburning Torch goes out?" Olga suggests to the group?
" We put it in the area, then pull it back out to see what happens. Some with a light spell?" She adds as she goes to tap her chin the little Iuon torch flying about her head.
"That makes sense to me."
"Seems most safest way to test the theory. Be my guest to do so" she waves her hand and staff as a way to show to go ahead
"Who is fast and has light memorized, As I do not." She says as she pulls an Everburning torch from her bag. In her other hand, she flips out a shuriken and smiles.
" you never know"Olga says with a wide smile.
"I can shoot a bolt of energy down, but it won't light anything up." Ceirn says.
"Okay, just stay close just incase" She says as she heads down that way holding the TOrch out.
you move down the hall, and approach the junction. before you, the hall carries on before it disappears into darkness. to your right, the hall carries on for another 30 feet before it ends. the faint hint of darkness shows a further tunnel that stretches to left and right, respective of the junction.
you look to the left, and see that indeed, what Pac the snake said was true. a set of stairs drop down below the floor. a pair of pillars stand silently within the room, silent guardians in the darkness.
Simon flashes his torch down the hall to the left, to the room with the pillars. the beam illuminates the steps, and oddly enough, doesnt illuminate anything within the room.
Simon swings his torch down each stone cut hall, right and left, illuminating down each path. he does a double take and snaps the torch to the right.
did anyone else see that? he asks softly...
"No. What did you see?" Vondal asks.
"All I see are stones, and some mix of profanity and crude art here and there on the walls" Olga says, pointing to a limerick.
Had a Date in Baldur's Gate,With a Lass that was High Class, She talked about Fate, Using guts of a bass,She foretold I ate ass, Making the Date go Late as I dined on High Class Ass
"Apparently it whoever wrote it isn't a great poet" She says with a giggle.
The aasimar chuckles. "Maybe. But they have a great sense of humor!"
"That is the largest muscle in the body, perhpads the writer was some form of cannibal" she adds dryly
"I spotted something white that way. It might have been something darting back into the darkness. I think we should go that way." Ceirn says.
"That is the largest muscle in the body, perhpads the writer was some form of cannibal" she adds dryly
Vondal gives Astrillith a sly mischievous smile. "A future demonstration, perhaps."
"I spotted something white that way. It might have been something darting back into the darkness. I think we should go that way." Ceirn says.
The aasimar dwarf gives a quick nod. "But with our heads about us, then."
"I do not plan to turn to cannibalism anytime soon Vondal. That would result in severe mental problems, which would be detrimental to myself and those who survive" she shakes her head "You have rather strange tastes to ask that of me" then turning to the direction that was suggested
"Very well, I shall endeavour to keep a watchful eye on my surroundings" she lets out a heavy sigh at this prospect
"Oh fun!! Wonder what it is. Maybe it likes jokes?" She says as she laughs, then laughs harder at Astriliths and VOndal.
"Vondal, is the perfect height! Such a benefit would give a Lady a frieght..." She laughs a bit more at the sheer ridiculousness.