Unable to offer any better advice or skill than Brian in regards to the trapped safe, Savas follows Aletta out into the hall.
Search Posts
Savas steps into the room and begins a methodical search and examination of the room and its various contents.
Stepping further into the room, Savas looks for anything that might be of value or aide in solving the mystery of the cursed castle.
Savas nods to himself having confirmed his arrows were less effective than he'd hoped. Fists, feet, or staff weren't likely to do much better. So he readies another arrow. Aiming for the creature outlined with Karhu's magic and where its heart may have once resided, he releases the string of his bow hoping to disrupt the undead spirit's presence as much as possible.
Savas stays well back from the energy pilfering undead and instead fires an arrow into the room to see if the steel tips have any affect on the unholy creatures.
Seeing the room is not, in fact, another water closet of similar design. Savas slips through the door and to the side curious to see what lady might still dwell in such a finely appointed chamber.
Seeing another cramped space through the door, Savas waits in the hall, doing his best to cover Aletta and Brian with his bow.
Savas stays well back and fires an arrow at the ooze.
"I'm unhurt" Savas says to Karhu. "I can stand watch if we wish to take a short break." He adds moving to where he has a reasonable view of the main hall and its many doors. "What have you found Brian?" He inquires over his shoulder to where the bard is busy examining the supposedly magic filled chest.
Since his arrows seem to be causing harm to the creature, he sends another streaking into the one remaining glob of repulsive goop.
Having recovered from the ghosts of his own past, Savas recenters himself, nocks another arrow and let's it fly. This time the shaft rips directly into the ooze to hopefully disrupt whatever magics give such things form and being.
Savas shoots another arrow. This time aiming for the one already damaged by his arrow and Karhu's fire. Unfortunately, Brian's insult of the creatures parentage momentarily triggers a flashback for the monk. The man's years were plagued by one Konstantine Vanderwiller IV, the third son of a minor local lord who constantly harassed and insulted the other children of the village. The 'yo mamma' catalogue being the one and only insult of the young lord's repertoire when he was busy twisting arms or stomping feet. Things reached a head when Savas and four of the other village boys united one evening to teach Vanderwiller a lesson. Using an old bear skin of one of the boys fathers, they crafted a rudimentary grizzly to scare their tormentor while he returned home along the wooden path outside the village. Unfortunately the prank went astray when the frame beneath the bearskin collapsed revealing the players underneath. The cowardly young lord, having wet himself in his initial panic, was clearly planning to be ruthless in his revenge. Everyone scattered in panic from the older and stronger lordling. Much to his misfortune, he chose to follow Savas. Running for what he feared was his life, young Savas ducked into a cave, Konstantine hot on his heels. The lordling threw a large stone, along with an insult regarding his mothers heritage, toward his fleeing quarry who managed to duck aside at the last moment. The thunk of the stone against something soft was quickly followed by a bone chilling growl that froze both youth in their tracks. A pair of gleaming, golden eyes came charging toward the entrance of the cave. The huffing of the massive lungs like a blacksmith's bellows. Savas flung himself into a narrow nook of stone barely able to fit his skinny frame. Caught in the open Vanderwiller had no chance to escape the huge owlbear as it burst from the cave in a fury of teeth and mauling claws. Hunkered in his tiny stone sanctuary, Savas listened to the lordling's dying screams and the snap of his bones as the five hundred pound beast tore the boy limb from limb and fed upon his remains. Its hunger satiated, the great creature returned to its lair within the cave and a cold, shaking, stiff Savas was eventually able to slip away. The nightmares would trouble him until he progressed far along his monkish path. The startling flash of from the past causes the monk's arrow to fly high and shatter against the far wall doing little harm except to his own pride and memories.
Savas puts nocks another arrow, draws, and releases. The feather shaft zips past Brian toward the creature that now blocks his passage.
Savas grabs and holds a cloth over his nose and mouth while the slime burns away. Not liking the look of the oddly black ceiling, the monk nocks an arrow to his shortbow. Kneeling down within the door frame, he lets the arrow fly into the center of the darkness, hoping the shaft simply shatters against hard stone rather than the soft snick of stell entering flesh.
Savas pulls a flask of oil from his pack and then slices a length of cloth from the nearest tapestry with his dagger. Stuffing the cloth into oil until short end sticks out of the flask. Lighting the rag from the nearest sconce, he quickly tosses the now burning flask hard into the center of the room to see if the makeshift fire bomb has any effect upon the slime.
Savas stands well clear of the door, ready to assist inside should a trap or other hazard be revealed.
Savas shakes his head as he looks into the room. "There is nothing in that chest worth walking in that muck." He says, nose twitching with the smell coming off the slime covered floor. "I say we move on to something other than the broken privy system."
Savas follows Brian back out into the main hall and moves to see what might be beyond the next door along the northern wall.
"Unusual creatures indeed." Savas says kneeling down to take a closer look at one of the things to see if it resembles anything he may have seen or heard about over the years.
Recalling the words of their host he suppresses a shiver. "Perhaps they are a warning for us not to fail in our task." He says stepping back with a growing sense of revulsion. "The most likely explanation would be they are...were...folk such as ourselves. Brought here unwillingly and somehow transformed by the dangers lurking within this cursed place." "Or by our very bored hosts."
Tapping his long practiced meditative studies, Savas holds his breath for several seconds to avoid inhaling any of the toxic gas that manifests in the air around him and nullifying the spiders magic. To escape the cloud, he steps up between Brian and Aletta and with two hands wrapped around his staff jams it into the spiders midsection. He tries to follow up with a quick kick, but steps in the gore of the first spider thing killed. His foot slips and it is all he can do to avoid falling backward into the muck.
Savas waits by the door his staff held in a casual at-the-ready stance. As soon as one of the illuminated arachnids approaches the door he springs into action with staff and a booted foot.
It looks like its going to ba a strong storm. Good luck and stay safe.
Not needing to answer nature's call at the moment Savas leaves the narrow hall. Looking down the long, mirrored hall, the monk moves toward the next door on down the same side of the room as the commode. He waits for the others to catch up before he finally tries to open it.
Savas waits patiently for his sight to return. The pause offering him a chance to ease the bruises and soreness still remaining from his earlier bout with the construct. The darkness slowly gives way to dim blurriness and finally his usual clear vision. The gaudy hall is a welcome sight but he is careful to shade his eyes and be prepared for a repeat of the trick as Aletta wages her verbal assault upon the hapless door and then swings in open.
Hoping the current state of his vision is nothing permanent, Savas sighs and starts carefully tapping his staff as he moves back toward the stairs. With Rakbura in tow, the monk cautiiously and carefully navigates his way back down to the main floor to regroup with the others.
Not recalling the distance to the stairs nor exactly how far he has to the edge of the catwalk, Savas, with Rakbura in tow, uses his staff to tap-tap his way to the wall. With something solid on one side, the monk pauses a moment and simply waits for his eyes to clear. "An odd trap if there is no real danger. Be careful my friends, if there are no live enemies, perhaps pits have opened in the floors or some other nefarious obstacle placed where it wasn't before." He says slowly, carefully exploring the area around him with the staff.
Block works for me.
"Bah!" Is all Savas can say slamming his eyes closed against the sudden nova of light. But the brilliant red orbs floating in front of his closed eyes alerts him to being too late in doing so. Knowing now is likely the time something or someone will strike, he positions his staff defensively and listens again for any sign of trouble beyond the expected shouts of his comrades.
"Hmmmm...that's not good." Savas murmurs as he slides his staff free and listens for any sound that might indicate a door opening or the arrival of some other threat.
Savas chuckles as he recognizes Aletta's ancient tune. One he'd heard often enough in his youth. Before he can recall hum the next line of lyrics, the monk is forced to shade his eyes and squint as the teifling adds to the growing illumination within the grand passage. With all of the mirrors and shining, polished surfaces reflecting the increasing candlelight back and forth upon itself, it was getting almost painfully bright. "Let's start with the North." He answers Brian's query moving in that direction.
Savas waits for the man's answer, but if none is forthcoming he will politely excuse himself and follow Aletta.
"Do you know why Etienne would have cursed all of his family?" Savas asks before they depart. "Was he simply mad or did some act...or acts by members of the family drive him to do such a thing?"
Savas gives Karhu a welcome smile of thanks as he breathes easier following the man's healing ministrations. Continuing to wipe blood and sweat from his face he tips his head thoughtfully at Jean Louis. Indeed, the man could afford to wager so much gold because so far, it has never left. Pulling his thoughts away from the gold and potential salvation of his family back home he thinks instead on this curse he and his companions must now lift or perish in this rather elegant tomb. He bows his head to Jean Louis. "If I might inquire, why did your brother curse you? We're there other members of your family also cursed or are you the only one here besides your constructs and...err..servants." He asks directing the last toward the unfortunate creature now serving wine.
Breathing hard and clearly a bit staggered from the match, Savas bows to the man and graciously accepts the prize after dabbing blood from his cut lip. The weight of the coin causes him to suck in a painful breath as his bruised ribs complain at such an additional burden and he quickly places the prize on the nearest table. He also can't help but be amazed that this man in this lost castle, where ever it may be, has such wealth that he can lose on a bet more than an entire village might earn in a single lifetime or more. The question is, how do I get such a prize back home?" Thoughts fill his mind as Aletta launches her barrage of questions. A puzzled frown marks his face, or would if his eye wasn't busy swelling shut. "Perhaps such a fortune can be lost because it never really leaves? The thought sends a shiver of concern down his spine as he listens with interest to the man's answers.
Another blow staggers Savas and his reserves were gone. I have to end this now. He thinks to himself. His eyes watch the magen, but there are no tells, no slips of motion to signal a weakness. Nothing a normal person might unwittingly share with an opponent. Only those cold blank eyes. But then Savas notices a twitch in the magen's right leg. A slight stutter to its step. Perhaps some of his earlier hits had caused more damage than was recognizable. The creature didn't bleed or bruise or swell. How would one know. Knowing the suspected weakness was his only hope, he circles and moves. Forces the magen to ride heavily one that leg. Finally he feels the moment. The construct is just off balance enough. Quickly the monk flies forward fists striking like twin hammers guided by his own waining strength and that of Brian's magic. The first blow lands but mostly glances off the rubbery skin. It is the second blow the crushes the construct's nose and eye. Sends it reeling backward arms suddenly flailing to regain a balance it cannot recover.
Bleeding from a cut lip and feeling the area around his ribs begin to swell, Savas staggers back. Once again he calls upon his reserves feeling his capacity run dangerously low. But unwilling to give in, he reengages. His first blow is off the mark once again while the second connects.
Savas winces and a grunt escapes his lips when the magen's punch catches him low in the side. He tries to counter punch but the pain still radiating from his gut throws the blow off. Given the circumstance he takes a few steps back to recenter and call upon the inner well of his mind and body. Opening himself up to that ever present internal resource of strength and power he dances forward landing a quick blow that hits with a resounding crack. At the same time he lets part of the energy calm and relax the aggravated muscle tissue in his side.
The magen punched hard, but not nearly as hard as Master Vilnus. He still carried a small scar above his right eye where the old man had caught him with a surprise move that no man of that age should have been able to do. Something Savas still couldn't match to this day. Schooling his mind his focuses on a spot the constructs midsection. Although unlucky to cause the same amounts of discomfort that a living being would feel, it was solid practice and an better target as he starts to find a bit of a rhythm. Ducking in fast, he delivers two quick blows and slips back into once again into a defensive posture.
Although only a construct, Savas still bows his head to the magen as he would to any opponent at the beginning of such a contest. He then takes a step back before stepping forward with a testing jab that does little more than distract the creature to create a potential opening for a stronger follow up strike.
Savas steps up and bows once again to the man. "I am ready to begin." He says.
Savas walks into the room. A smile on his face after meditating upon the finely crafted stained glass windows. Hearing the talk of wagers, fights, and champions the smile slowly fades becoming more akin to having swallowed a peach pit. The explanation of the 'person' he is expected to fight eases his concerns somewhat, but sweat still breaks out across his brow as old memories flood through his mind. Another ring, another place, another challenge. Her eyes still haunt his dreams as does the slight upturn in her nose and those fiery locks reminiscent of a smoke colored sun. He'd made a promise to himself, never again. Never again would he fight for entertainment or simple wagers. Yet, clearly the thing across the way was not truly alive. A magen the man had said. A magical construct of some sort? Perhaps. A loophole that would allow him to maintain his own honor and vow while not bringing dishonor to his companions who put him forth as champion. He bows from the waist to Jean-Louis. "Greetings honored sir." He says, in his usual quiet voice. "While I would not normally engage in such pursuits, I will not dishonor my companions by refusing your challenge. Especially if one may gain information rather than simple gold." He pauses for a moment looking over the ring and the magen. "Are there any prohibitions for the contest?"
I have a dentist appointment this morning. Will try to post later today.
Savas steps through into the hallway and gazes at the large stained glass windows looking for any clues as to who may have sponsored such a finely crafted work. "Whoever lives here is not poor or untidy." He says also noticing how the hall seems to have avoided the usual dust, grime, and cobwebs typically associated with odd castles surrounded by deadly live ending mists.
His eyes flutter open at the sound of his companion's voices. At first, Savas says nothing, wondering if the scene before him is just another nightmare, but alas he soon discovers his situation to be all too real. Wiping the sleep from his eyes, he helps Karhu with the animals and ponders what might have happened to bring them to such a richly appointed place. He recalled seeing the pair of doves take flight the previous day. Symbols of peace and safety. The two birds circled and then flew north toward the left leading path. A good omen. Moments later a scorpion scuttles across the right hand path. Danger. A warning for certain. Not such a good omen. His eyes flick toward Brian whose absolute assurance regarding the right hand path had convinced everyone it was the proper way to go. Despite the omens. He grabs his quarterstaff. "The gods have placed us upon a new path." He says. His voice quiet and filled with calm determination. "Let us discover why they have deemed such a thing necessary." He adds moving toward the northern set of doors and the hall.
I think I'm ready to go.
Keoland is my nation of origin as well. The fact that Savas was a bandit before serving his time and Aletta is a bounty hunter might make for some interesting interactions. :) I suspect Savas would have potentially purchased or received healing from Karhu at some point. Or could have worked with him after his training in the ways of mercy. Same goes for Rakbura. As for Brian, well I'm guessing any time spent in a pub we could have run into him. Bards are always getting thrown out of...I mean performing...in pubs. ;) Since we're 3rd level, it seems entirely possible we could have all adventured together at least once prior to this.
I think Savas is pretty much ready to go at this point.
I don't have that much experience with Greyhawk - I look forward to doing my reading on it, but if someone's really passionate about the series, where would you suggest I start to get a real feel for the flavor? I'm not a Greyhawk expert, but I'd kind of describe the flavor as the original D&D sandbox fantasy world. The original boxed set is little more than a map and a series of short (2-3 paragraph) descriptions of nations, places, and deities. So not a ton of fluff. Mostly "good" nations on the defensive or struggling against rising "evil" nations. Certainly more has been added over the years, but it doesn't seem as fleshed out as Forgotten Realms or Middle Earth. Some areas certainly are because so many of the classic adventures originally set in Greyhawk have been done and redone a bunch of times, but there's also a lot of other 'open' territory. Overall its very much a setting built for dungeon and wilderness adventuring. If you can find a pdf of that original boxed set guide that would be the quickest and easiest way to get a good overview. But like the GM said, it won't matter too much once we get into the module.
Rolling hit points...
Looks like average for me as well.
Change has been made. I need to double check math, but it should be okay now. |