| Akallabeth |
'Daughter?!? I don't remember Lucienne saying anything about being from Castle Loony,...'
Akallabeth winces in pain as he slides relatively quietly to stand next to Kegi peeking through the crack in the door. He furrows his brows in confusion when the woman calls Lucienne her Daughter, and his eyes go wide when the barkeep goes flying.
Akallabeth watches as the lookalikes hoist Lucienne's body up between them, and march out the door in step. He silently mouths the word 'Bizarre', but remains otherwise still as the 'queen' takes her leave.
Akallabeth looks at the others, like him all injured and looking like escapees from the Mourning, and asks softly,... "Does anybody have a clue as to what just happened? Or who that was?"
Akallabeth then nods to Kegi, and slowly pushes the door quietly open to make sure the coast is clear.
Using signals he had almost forgotten from his previous life, he taps Kegi on the shoulder, points to his eyes, and then the door to indicate Kegi should watch the departing group. He then moves to check on the barkeep.
| Kegi |
"I don't know who it be. But she 'as Lucienne's body. Are ye fit ta travel? If not, I think ye can stay 'ere."
After waiting for most of the procession to disappear from sight, I follow, keeping to the shadows as much as possible. I figure with the amount of noise they are making it should not be hard to keep tabs on them from a distance.
| Akallabeth |
Akallabeth quickly checks the condition of the barkeep, How is he? Injured? Dead? That might change my next/future actions.
Then he limps to join the others at the window. "I don't want to leave Kegi out there alone, though he's probably in better shape than the three of us together. Unless somebody has a better idea, If he starts to get too far away, I want to follow him close enough to keep him in sight. How are you doing? I know you both look like I feel,..."
I believe I am +3 HP, where is everyone else at?
| JSL |
how far do you want to follow them?"
Until they arrive at a destination. As long as they are moving, I'll stay with them. If they enter a structure, I will take note of its location and ask around as to its purpose. If they stop in the open, I will not approach, but will try to observe what they are doing.
| Logos |
You follow as stealthily as possible, although little seems needed.
The Party continues deeper into the castle, walking into a secret door in the town commons, and up a huge and abandoned flight of stairs. You pass the occasional window here, and see a bleak and forlorn sky, starless, pitch black, and perhaps more disturbingly without trace of a horizon.
Continuing going up the winding spiral staircase, you stop as a armed and guarded watch post is reached, which promptly admits the party of look alikes and Lucienne body. The Watch post is a small scale motif of a castle, built out of embossed stonework. Small windows peek out of miniature parapets. Guards can be seen behind, they all , from what you can see look alike. Pretty pale checked , red lipped, lithe. The Heavy Doors clang shut, and are ratcheted and clanked tight.
The heavy footsteps of a watch can be heard threw the echoey stonework. You stop and turn back, nausea overcoming you, a deep weariness and a thought that perhaps you pushed too hard after coming really close to dying.
You make it back to the Alehouse, the Barkeep waiting for you. " You should have stayed in, but it was easier for you to see than to try to convince you i suppose."
everyone (kegi included) collapses into the clean pallets, and the next few days pass in a haze of broth, beer, and much sleep.
(everyone is fully rested, anyone who spent a action point to stabilize can have it back)
Maddocks body is gone by the time you guys manage to rouse yourself from the barkeeps care. he says " You guys are soft, sloppy, and gonna get yourself killed. Stay here with me I've trained worst into better before and I can do it again, if the prophecies right, let me tell you a little bit about the castle your in and why you might find it so strange..."
I wouldn't worry about the days, the yo yo from dead to adventuring has always been an annoyance of mine, so consider the 3 days freebies or rather I'm guaranteeing you a 10th level raise dead if you get back which gives you a week to settle things out. of course higher level spells don't have such restrictions
| Akallabeth |
Works for me, Thank you.
Akallabeth sits up on one elbow, just now realizing how close he came to cashing in permanently.
'Heh. Commander always said that I can't do things the easy way.'
He looks the barkeep in the face, ands nods. "I am grateful, and as you have been so generous so far, it would be boorish of me to refuse you now. Please, tell me a story about a castle,..." Akallabeth smiles, and lays back down, his mind racing as he listens to every word,...
| Aerianna ir'Thurion |
Aerianna rests quitely for the three days spent at the inn, hoping to heal her aching wounds and digest all that's happened in the last few days. On the morning of the third day she rises and goes to stand at a window and look out upon the strange place that seems to be their new home, at least for now "Four days ago we were on contract to kill a merchant. No we're in with this group of oddballs fighting some dreadul evil. I miss the good ol days when things were simple." she sighs to herself.
At the barkeeper's offer she turns to face him, her demeanor subtly different, more open and younger somehow. "Thank you. We are grateful for your hospitality and would be honored if you would aid us in defeating our foe and recovering our companion's body and perhaps a way out of this place and back to our home of Sharn." she says with a slight smile "Do we owe you anything for your assistance? I fear that we have little of value but perhaps something can be arranged. May I inquire as to your name sir? I am Aerianna ir'Thurion of Cyre. We would be glad to hear your wisdom regarding this place" and sits down, listening.
| Logos |
The man shutters a little bit before pulling a stool over, which creaks laboriously under his weight. warning long, notes in ooc
" First of all, I have been here since the beginning, and I have been here for 10,004 years 2 months as near as I can tell. Castle Stratosphere was built at the height of the reign of Khagan Kleops the first, Khan of the hobgoblin empire, overlord of the goblin and koboldic races to south, defeater of the the tree rats below the empires star, lord commander of the unbeatable bugbear armies, friend of the western orcs and fierce enemy to the southern Elfs. The Castle was completed roughly a year into the invasion by the abominations from beyond, designed to take advantage of the far realm in such a way to create a timeless place where the Khagun may take shelter if such things came to that."
Looking up somewhat bashfully he says "My name is Kronus of adar, son of Kruptius the pirate. I was the first man to set foot in the western lands, what I believe you refer to as the Galifar empire today. I of course was promptly captured and tormented a bit, before the emperor saw that my homelands could be used against the elves, where i became an advisor of his, perhaps even a bit of a spy for him. "
" One of the lesser Khans a brash lord dedicated to fornification and pleasure was breaking ranks. He killed a lot of troops and lost a lot of important battles, until he was recalled to the capital. their was no evidence against him, so the Khagan waited and I watched. The Khan , who now styles himself Khagun the everlasting. Contacted the Abominations ,the Daelkyr and made a deal, he would deliver them victory and they would give him free reign."
Stopping to wipe the sweat off his brow, the barkeep seems about to explain how this may seem fantastical but is not before doing a double take and continuing.
"He brought a force of abominations and stormed the castle, activating the launch procedures that would take us to the halfway point between our realm and the far realms. I tried to stop him, me and the sailors that had come with me, but we were too late... I fought me and him to the death of each other that first night. "
"Imagine my surprise when we both awoke the next morning. We fought some more, until we realized that whatever was on that top floor was destined to be reborn every morning or so often. Forever. The top floors of this castle are fit for a king and everlasting, in a sort of loop of time. The lower levels are not so lucky, the men i brought with me did would they could to survive, stealing food, and growing what they could under the artificial light. The village and the commons and the knighthood was included as a sort of lark for the khagun, if he should ever fancy seeing what commoner life was like from his immortal perch, a handful of his best knights were also on board, guarding something, perhaps the most precious things that could be. Trees from the garden of life and death. I think they power this place, but i digress"
"The beings in the middle layers experienced time normally with no rebirth, but the khan saw no need to slay them, granting them amnesty a measure of his courtesy. some of the humans were taken as breeding stock for the slaves that he still uses, the rest where just left here. Some time in the knights disagreed with the stealing ways of some of the villagers and they separated, this village and their abbey on the other side. continuing he says "small populations, breed over a lot is not the best for the intellect generally, this village got more greedy,and dastardly until eventually we became known as the rogues, and they much the same but bastards bloody cruel, known as the knaves."
"Sometime ago the trees, they were only saplings of the real thing you understand, but these shrubberies were stolen, I don't know who. But the knaves now slaughter anyone they come across, although they don't go far from the abbey."
"I took, a book with me when i was banished from up above. A book of prophecy that said the only way to get out of this place, to end my eternity here was to find the " ahem 'Survivors of the blast of ice and snow, Daughter to the regent dead, while the remainder hid and fled, hunted from above and below, they came by cat and got to go, taking time and all things with them.' "
"I've been waiting here 10,000 years for you, and I'm sorry I didn't help earlier but if I had you wouldn't be the ones I was looking for would you..."
| Akallabeth |
Akallabeth propped himself back up on one elbow as the large man finished his tale. For a moment he just looked at the barkeep, then he lay back down, stare at the ceiling and murmured,... "I hate prophecies."
He turns his head to smile at the barkeep to take the sting out of his words. "Taken literally, They're always so darn,... painful."
"Well," He mused after a few more moments. "That explains a lot, actually. About the Castle I mean. That explains why we couldn't identify where we were, or what magic is powering this place, it's from what we sometimes call 'The Lost Art'. We had no references to identify it with!"
Akallabeth looked at the barkeep again, "I don't suppose your book of prophesy told you what needs to happen after you find 'us'?"
| Logos |
the training begins with a simple meditation while miming crude martial arts moves...
or so you thought, it turns out that 10,000 years is a pretty long time to work on a system of martial arts. What at first seems crude is revealed merely to be simple and practical. You look back over the month of relentless training, the harsh imponderable koans, the pointless tasks, the harsh slaps of the big stick that the barkeep didn't bring out until after the first few days.
New Skill
Iaijatsu: Iaijatsu skill checks may replace initiative checks, anyone with 5 or more ranks in Iaijatsu gains quick draw as a free feat, anyone with 15 or more ranks in Iaijatsu may confirm criticals with swords with a Iaijatsu skill check instead of normally. Improved initiative does not apply to Iaijatsu checks although skill focus Iaijatsu does.
And between all this somewhat perplexing, but relaxing training. You all tutored privately with the Barkeep as well, Occasionally as peers when your skill sets overlap. Akallabeth and Romulus learn more about magic, which although the Barkeep can't cast, his teachings about spell craft and concentration are surprisingly valuable. Kegi and Aerienne both learn about the fine art of combat, with long drills dedicated to letting them fight better quicker faster and stay alive longer. Aerienne also sneaked about enough to learn skills as a rogue, being caught in the barkeeps own room and instead of scolded simple instructed how not to get caught next time. Kegi also learned the fine art of the hunt, hunting the tiny dormouse's that the barkeep inevitably sent him after.
looking back at the month you wonder where did it go? and you realize that the lack of outside indicators of time, makes time in this place positively whizz by, a small consolation to the barkeeps 10,000 years.
You also learn more about the surroundings, The knights are as mysterious as ever but once every fortnight they send a lone knight to the edge of the village who promptly yells out "NI" and the barkeep comes out with a large pack of provisions which satisfying him, causes him to yell "NI" again, and leave. Following him you now know how to get to the knights. Careful trips up to the gatehouse of upstairs also tested your skills and allowed you a bit more insight into the upstairs. Hobgoblins rules almost the entirety of the upstairs , with human servants being the norm. These humans due to much the respawning and careful selection , and magical enchantment are indistinguishable. You also seen the lady again, walking on the arms of a darkly red cloaked, tall man with a alluring voice, talking about "soon my dear, soon"
The Barkeep also shows you a little bit about below, where the remainder of the force that the traitor khan brought with him, still lives. The wear of time is none to kind here and those devilish cheshire cats run free, apparently part of the force that the little khan brought. Its always abandoned when you go but you feel that has more to do with the barkeep than you. The barkeep wakes you one morning to shown you a creature he caught down there. Going into the kitchen you see what looks like a grossly mutilated child, its arms pulled out 3 times as long as it ought to be and its cheeks ripped off. Horrid black skin ends in spines and spiny pads where the hands ought to be. Its moving ferouciously fast about the little cage before suddenly their is a pop, and its slumps over dead melting into a pool of ichor like a deep sea creature brought out of its depth.
On the final day of your training, the barkeep has a small present for each of you
romulus
Akallabeth
Kegi
Aerienne
and says "now leave and do you deeds you will find no more succor here"
| Akallabeth |
Akallabeth places his wide brimmed hat on his head at a rakish angle, and tips the brim to the barkeep.
"We appreciate it. Rest assured that your time with us was not ill spent."
He turns to the others, and checks to see that his longsword is loose in its sheath.
"By all means, let us go speak to Lucienne's mother. And I'd like the opportunity for a little quality time with her companion. Lead on Kegi."
| Logos |
Their are at least 2 guards at any time on the gate, althought sometimes as many as 4 or 5 as the shift changes, and sergents and such come and oversee the operation.
Perhaps 30 feet, the stairs provide a fair amount of cover but those last 20 feet are in plain sight.
Nope, the gate almost never opens , occassionally ( I mean like once that you've seen in your training) a servant or a messanger is sent out for something. other than that they seem content to stay at home.
| Kegi |
I report these fact to the others and offer the following:
"Arienna an' me could take these 'ere. But that leaves us no way in. I doubt they can open th' gate from outside, anyway. What we need ta do is take out th' guards an' act in their places 'til the shift change. Then we make our way inside an' none are th' wiser. Though we 'ave ta draw th' guards away from the gate ta take 'em; else," I motion to windows overlooking the court, "th' ruse is up 'fore it's begun. There bein' more o' us than them - we 'ave some of us go in as prisoners, p'rhaps."
Han, Luke, and Chewie from Episode IV, anyone?
| Akallabeth |
"The trick will be too draw them over to chase after us. If we attack with too few, they'll likely ignore us or drive us off. If we attack with too many, they'll hole up and NEVER come out. Does anybody have a sure-fire insult that's never failed?" Akallabeth asks, smirking.
Apparently the last month has done wonders for whatever has ailed him. He seems to be the smarmy, tough-exterior, heart-of-gold Private Inquisitive that first met Kegi and Romulus all those,... weeks, ago?
| Kegi |
"Akallabeth, ye an' Aerianna hide behind th' stairs 'ere. Rom and me approach. I will pretend ta be some Authority figure who 'as captured Rom. Rom escapes an' runs back 'ere. I yell at 'em ta chase. They chase. Once they back 'ere, ye an' Aerianna take 'em out. If any come back at me - well, I was aimin' for Rom, as they say." I pat my bow and quiver as I conclude.
| Akallabeth |
Akallabeth stroked his goatee as he contemplated Kegi's plan for tactical flaws. He didn't see any glaring ones.
"Yes, if Rom 'injures' you to escape, and you fall to the ground, yelling at the guards to give chase, then YOU follow THEM back towards us,... Yes, that might work. At least I don't see anything wrong with it." He smiles. "Sounds like a plan."
| Kegi |
"Ok. Ye take cover 'ere," I motion Akallabeth and Aerianna into the shadow of the stairs.
Rom and I walk towards the gatepost. He is in front with his hands behind his back. I am a pace behind with my hand on my sword. Once within about 20 feet, I hail the guards.
"Ho there, good man! I 'ave 'ere a prisoner who I took in a plot ta murder the Kag..."
In a flash, my sword is in Rom's hand and I am on the ground pretending to nurse a broken nose.
"Don't jus' stand 'ere! After 'im!"
| Logos |
Kegi plays dead and Romulus starts running, when a sole being comes out of the gate. full plate and helm make it difficult to tell if it is a hobgoblin or a man beneath.
Then an unexpected shriek comes from the other guards man, and splays halfway out of the door, keeping the automatically closing door open, as a gaunt and disheveled Lucienne steps outside the doors, Running as she goes she yells "Run Run Run" , as a heavy klaxon and the stomp of hobnailed boots comes closer.
(Presuming everyone skedaddles)
Lucienne embraces everyone, looking them firmly in the eye and saying thanks , even stopping to give Romulus an impish kiss on the check. Back in the safety of the middle layer she relates whats happened so far. She was brought back to life , by the very vampire who absconded with her mother, threw the use of powerful magic known as raise dead. She has been kept as prisoner for all these weeks until she could manage to escape, which was just now.
don't worry I am getting in touch with luciennes player via email
| Lucienne |
This is my third attempt at this. If it doesn't work, I'll try again Monday.
Lucienne's eyes look impossibly tired, her hair is matted in a mess; she is wearing a simple, dirty shift, unbelted, and a single shoe.
"My friends, we have to get away, immediately" she says, her voice hoarse. She looks around and setttles on Kegi, "Back...back where we first met the knaves. Is that safe?"
| Akallabeth |
Akallabeth's first response is a slack-jawed gape, cleverly covered by running like crazy.
Once they found themselves in a hiding spot, Akallabeth looked Lucienne over with a more critical eye. He finally seemed to be convinced that it really was Lucienne, and not some doppleganger or undead reincarnation of her. He grinned, like a kid in a candy store.
Welcome back Luc, We'd have been to get you earlier, but we were busy. Well, that, and we didn't know that you were alive!!!" He impulsively gives her a hug. Then backs away, embarrassed. "So, any idea why they bothered to bring you back? Or what they wanted with you? Scratch that, hold that thought. What DO you think about where we first met the Knaves Kegi? We pretty much broke up that crew, think it's still empty and waiting to be claimed?"
| Logos |
Lucienne gives you a hollow look, and falls silent, saying quietly " I'll talk when we get someplace safe". You guys quickly descend into the clearing where you first meet the dandy. The Bodies have been moved some time ago, but their are still some brown stains on the grey stone.
Lucienne walks off by herself asking for some "Space, and some clothes". While the rest of the party retrieves belongings, lucienne sits quietly with a far away look in her eye. She seems a little traumatized, and you all respectfully leave her alone for a bit.
The rest of you talk.
| Akallabeth |
Akallabeth watches Lucienne with obvious concern in his face. What the concern is for he doesn't say.
Quietly he gathers the others, letting Lucienne have the far corner.
"Kegi, Rom, Arieanne, I don't know that I want to imagine what she's just been through. Let's give her as much space , and time, as we can afford to. But let's try not to leave her ALONE-alone if possible. Not just because I'm worried about her own reactions, but I'm not sure that she can defend herself if we get attacked right now."
In a normal volume he continues.
"Kegi. The knaves used this room as an ambush point, so it's probably travelled enough that we don't want to park here for long, unless you want to try your hand at 'Knavery'? Let's see if we can find out where their hideout was. Or is. That may not have been all of them. I'm guessing it's nearby. Any chance you can track them?"
"Rom. I used to have a spellbook full of things for perimeter defenses and alarms. But I don't know them anymore. Do you have anything we can use for any kind of defense or alarm?"
"Arianna, I'm Sorry. Between the running, and the fighting, and the training,... I just realized I don't know anything about you. Other than I don't want you pointing those swords at ME!" HE says with a sincere smile. "If you have any skills or abilities that can help us secure our position, or help Kegi scout out the area, please let us know. "
HE looks back at Lucienne, and speaks softly once more.
"I know less about priestly magic than I do about the Gatekeepers', does anyone have any idea if there are any,...side effects, from being brought back to life? I'm thinking we can try to give Lucienne some time if we set up a base here, and use our time to see if we can locate those bushes, trees, whatever. What do you guys think?"
Sorry so long-winded. I see this as an ongoing conversation with everybody, these are just points he brings up.
| Aerianna ir'Thurion |
"Arianna, I'm Sorry. Between the running, and the fighting, and the training,... I just realized I don't know anything about you. Other than I don't want you pointing those swords at ME!" HE says with a sincere smile. "If you have any skills or abilities that can help us secure our position, or help Kegi scout out the area, please let us know. "
"My skills lie mostly in the areas of stealth, discreet information gathering, and the quite nuetralization of enemy targets." Aerianna says "I can hold my own in melee as well as open most locked doors and disable most trap mechanisms.
| Akallabeth |
"Thank you Aerianna. By tagging along with us, you seem to have inherited our problems. In case I didn't make it clear earlier, welcome." Akallabeth says, tipping his hat to her.
"I agree Rom, I think we should rely on Kegi's expertise, and Aerianna's, and see if we can string up a few alarms and traps. What do you guys think, we search out the Knave's hideout/base? It doesn't look like Lucienne is going to be joining us soon, we should find a place where we can leave her in relative safety." He adds, looking at the woman huddled in the corner.
| Logos |
The Path from the commons to the Village, is actually a series of rooms and hallways. Carefully examining the Room your in, you find a small gate somewhat hidden into the frenze that decorates the walls and behind some otherwise innocent furnishing. (In this case a half destoyed alter).
Entering into the small gate, you continue in a regulalr sized hallway to what is laid out like a small 4 room stone house, A living room and common area is furnished in castaways and broken but serviable goods, which then leads to stairs and the kitchen. Upstairs you find a larger room with pallets and blankets, presumably for the first band of bullythugs, and then a second and locked room, that has "Tennasie" Written in arcane mark across the door.