|
Author
|
Comment
|
Jubilex
Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 4780
(11/8/05 7:24 am)
|
The Vault of Salhaug, Part II
Madragar scans the area, pacing through the ruins of the Haven while searching for signs of residual magic. He finds none there, nor is there any enchantment lingering in the fungus room.
Draxim drops his pack on the balcony, walks down the short staircase to the floor of the fungus room, and then heads west. The corridor is thick with hanging black lichen and the walls are encrusted with mold. He picks his way through the thicket carefully.
After pulling aside a curtain of quivering, narrow mushroom stalks Draxim sees an intersection about fifteen feet from the fungus room. The passage continues west and south. Draxim perceives a subtle amber glow emanating from somewhere down the southern branch.
|
Kenner
Draxim
Posts: 1466
(11/8/05 9:53 am)
|
Oh Look Enoki Mushrooms grumgrumgrum
Draxim listens for any noise then silently as possible, returns to his companions to report.
|
squarefodder
Khelzhad
Posts: 824
(11/8/05 10:20 am)
|
Re: Oh Look Enoki Mushrooms grumgrumgrum
While Draxim bravely probes the mushroom pass, Khelzhad asks cousin Pogar to accompany him in exploring the back hallway.
[If Pogar agrees, they will explore the hall behind the secret door. If Pogar doesn't then Khelzhad will stay put.]
|
doggius
Pogar
Posts: 1354
(11/8/05 1:56 pm)
|
Re: Oh Look Enoki Mushrooms grumgrumgrum
"Eye Lad" Pogar says enthusiastically. "If'n we'r lucky" Pogar starts with that tell tale gleam in his eyes, "we might'n be the lads that'll be the hero's, eh?" Pogar continues jokingly.
As the cousins move away from the group, Pogar looks at Khelzhad somberly, gone is the enthusiastic demeanor, for once, Pogar seems very serious.
"Ye be me own kin, ye'r me cousin, but, yer like me own brother. Me fate'd be unknown, just like yers be." Pogar starts in their native language. It seems to Khelzhad that Pogar is trying to say something that is unlike him.
"BAH" Pogar says. Ye be know'n how I feel about ye. Dont go an get yersel kill'd. Yer mamma wouldna let me live it down. Anyway, who be tellin me mamma an pappa what happen'd ta me? Yer the story teller, Lad. Don't get yersel in too much trouble. Pogar finishes, again switched into his native language.
With a somber pat on Khelzhad's back Pogar turns away and starts moving forward, closer to his fate.
|
squarefodder
Khelzhad
Posts: 825
(11/8/05 2:11 pm)
|
Mushrooms grumgrumgrum
"Together we left our home under ground, and together we will return. I know the fate that will come to me if I return with ill news for the Stonecrusher clan.", Khelzhad responds. In his mind he envisions a dozen axe blades coming at him while his mother scolds him: "Suit yourself. I told you not to mix with that clan of laborers." Khelzhad shakes off the these daydreams of home as he and Pogar proceed into the dark corridor.
Edited by: squarefodder at: 11/8/05 2:12 pm
|
Jubilex
Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 4781
(11/8/05 2:54 pm)
|
Re: Mushrooms grumgrumgrum
Leaving the rest of the group staring blankly at each other, the dwarves fan out in search of adventure. Khelzhad and Pogar pass back through the secret door and, rather than head east back into the armory, they turn west. After less than sixty feet of blank stone walls forming a simple corridor they come upon a descending ramp. About fifty feet down the ramp they can see that it plunges into water of some unknown depth. The corridor seems to level off at that point as well and continues on toward the west with about eight feet of clearance between the water and the ceiling. At the top of the ramp the ceiling is about ten feet high so, unless the height of the passage changes at the bottom of the ramp, Khelzhad and Pogar surmise that the water is only a couple feet deep.
[Map of armory level.]
Edited by: Jubilex at: 11/8/05 3:07 pm
|
squarefodder
Khelzhad
Posts: 826
(11/8/05 3:22 pm)
|
Re: Mushrooms grumgrumgrum
"Bah", scoffs the bard disapprovingly at the water. " I like it not, but let's move to the bottom and see if there are exits - and watch out for chillerserpents."
Crossbow ready, Khelzhad and Pogar proceed down the ramp far enough to get a glance into the room. If his darkvison reveals no immediate danger, he will illuminate a copper piece and wedge it into the straps at the front of his crossbow to get a complete look at the room.
[Light]
|
doggius
Pogar
Posts: 1355
(11/8/05 4:09 pm)
|
Re: Mushrooms grumgrumgrum
Eye, last time me an water met, it wasna good show, was it Pogar says, looking at the water with his cousin.
Pogar will slink down the ramp, next to his cousin, as that old feeling set in, when they both were out in the wilds of the underground together. The sense of anticipation, not knowing what creature lurked around the corner, yet determined to move forward.
Wiping his mind of his soft moment and the fear of either of them returning to their homelands with grave news of the others demise, Pogar steels his nerves and readies himself and continues on forward, more confidently and much more comfortable.
|
yucatanyeti
Sangraal
Posts: 1686
(11/8/05 5:30 pm)
|
Door that mocks me
Sangraal looks at Madragar.
"Do you want to give the door a shot?"
[OOC: Nolan See if you can dispel magic the door if you want. Does anyone have a way to boost his chances? Will take 20 help? hero point?]
|
Ulwe
Ulwe
Posts: 1657
(11/8/05 6:59 pm)
|
Re: Door that mocks me
"Khelzhad's Song seemed to help Zhuun. He could Inspire Competance in Madragar's attempt. "
Ulwe is agitated at the group spreading out in such a hostile and foreboding place, especially with the high stakes of the Companions' quest. He calls out not too loudly but hopefully loud enough for the Ghuruskalli and Draxim to return.
|
Jubilex
Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 4782
(11/9/05 9:00 am)
|
Re: Door that mocks me
Khelzhad and Pogar are too far away to hear Ulwe.
The two dwarves inch down the ramp to the waterline. There they see that the corridor continues for about twenty feet before it comes to a dead end. They guess that there is another secret door down there somewhere.
Khelzhad's light reveals that the water is about two or three feet deep.
|
squarefodder
Khelzhad
Posts: 828
(11/9/05 10:30 am)
|
Re: Door that mocks me
The glow of Khelzhad's coin-light heralds the return of the Ghuraskalli as they enter the fungus cave. They report their findings to the others and listen to Draxim's report of the fungus cave and the thoughts on dispelling the door.
Khelzhad thinks he could help the wizard concentrate on disarming the door [as long as it is a skill, not a feat or special ability].
"All the same, I would think we should first verify what the glow is that Drax found as it is more in the direction we should be headed."
|
doggius
Pogar
Posts: 1356
(11/9/05 10:39 am)
|
Re: Door that mocks me
Looking at the group, as his cousin and he walk back, Pogar nods his head in agreement with Khelzhad.
"Eye, me thinks we should be head'n down thata way" he says as he points down the direction that they just came from.
"We'v been waste'n a bunch o' time wit this door here. We need ta be move'n on." Pogar says plainly and obviously ready to do something but play with the thick door.
|
Ulwe
Ulwe
Posts: 1658
(11/9/05 10:47 am)
|
Re: Door that mocks me
"Agreed Song-wise. Let us explore the corridor Draxim has found. There may be a way around yon door. However it was locked and trapped. One would not go through such measures without reason. There must be something on the otherside that our foes do not want us to reach."
[Ulwe votes with the pushy dwarves to explore Draxim's find further. ]
|
Kenner
Draxim
Posts: 1467
(11/9/05 11:23 am)
|
Re: Door that mocks me
"Aye Ulwe, but who's to say who put it like that. Maybe it was that Giant what put that door there to keep the Chaos legions away? That would explain the great heap of stone of a door that even a bruiser like Pogar can't budge. Anyway, it makes no sense to bang our head on it when there's other places we can look. "
[That's 4, I declare a quorum ]
The companions proceed through the Enoki mushroom curtain and head toward the amber glow.
Marching Order:
Pogar/Draxim
Sangraal/Ulwe
Tsai
Khelzhad/Madragar
Atan/Janes
|
doggius
Pogar
Posts: 1358
(11/9/05 11:52 am)
|
Re: Door that mocks me
[OOC: I want to be up front...Oh wait, I am.... Feeling stupid today...Anyways, back to the game]
As Pogar and Draxim walk down the corridor, Pogar finds something amusing, and you can see a smirk on his face.
Ye gots the young'n Draxim, makin no a sound, yet mesel bang'n an makin a bunch o sound. Ima sure we be sneak'n up on the ole beasties Pogar thinks to himself, which causes him to break into the smirk.
As the trek moves along, Pogar continues to think of the dire need to finish this task, regardless of his life. Traversing his mind is the faces of all those in the group.
Pogar had noticed that Atan has a cool demeanor when faced with insurmoutable odds. Me sees why the others look ta 'im fer leadership. The lads got it Pogar muses to himself.
The stoic look Madragars face and the numerous tatoos that paint his body, something that Pogar does not understand. Mages Pogar thinks. Bah! He's a good one, ev'n if me understand'n of the magics aint there. I like 'em He continues.
The faith and love of Yelm that Sangraal has, has caused Pogar to look deeper within himself. Looking past himself and to the heavens, although, through Pogar's life, his ability to seek the skies had been limited, until he joined his cousin on a "suicide mission", as his momma said.
The passion that Ulwe holds. With Ulwe's face comes the argument that they had regarding the vile of the troll-kin's blood. Me thinks that Ulwe be wrong in no want'n ta use it, but the lads gotta right ta speak 'is mind. Images of Ulwe, throwing caution to the wind and jumping onto the water to save Pogar also passes on through the memory banks. As that image came and went, Pogar turned and looked back at him. If Ulwe was paying attention, he would see a somber look on Pogar's face, one that has replaced the typical confident and blood thrusty twinkle in his eyes that is normally there. Pogar, while looking at Ulwe, will give a slight nod, in thanks, and turns back.
Also, the amazing change in Janes's demeanor has caught Pogar off guard. Lad, caught the bug, me thinks Pogar thinks to himself when his thoughts land on Janes.
He looks at Draxim, as Draxim is looking back and forth down the corridor, seeking any traps or anything that could be precieved as a trap. Lad's a young'n but me thinks hes see enough o the world ta understand what be goin on. He's a good kid....
Then his cousin's smiling face and melodic songs comes to mind. Its almost too much for him. Knowing that this group of strangers, who has become close, close enough for this rugged and tough dwarf to view them as his own clan.
Deep down in his heart, Pogar knows that soon he will see someone in the clan perish if not himself. While walking Pogar bows his head for a moment and offers up a silent prayer.
Me thinks it'd be time fer me ta be askin ye a favor, Yelm, Orlanth, Humkat er any o ye. If'n the cards are ta say that one o' us be ta meet ye on the other side, take me 'n let me friends live on. Pogar silently pleads to the unseen masters of the universe. As they plod along, a single tear escapse from Pogar's left eye. With a quick flip of his dirty hand, he wipes away the tear, leaving a dirty streak across his left cheek.
Bah! Pogar begins to berate himself. I be a fight'n dwarf. How is me ma and pa gonna look on me, head'n ta a fight wit a tear in me eye? Me ancestors be look'n down upon us, and me, the fighter be shedding tears. Yer a dwarf lad, start actin like one! Screams through his head.
With that, Pogar decides to just plod along and let fate deal him whatever hand that may be, although Pogar would rather die first than to see anyone of those around him die at the hands of Chaos. With that thought running through his mind, Pogar can feel his blood slowly warming up, anticipating the fight for good and the defeat of evil running over the lands.
|
Kenner
Draxim
Posts: 1469
(11/9/05 12:45 pm)
|
Re: Door that mocks me
Draxim surreptitously offers Pogar his catch-all blue hanky, with a look that says 'I understand, but get ahold of yourself!'
[ Use Sleight of Hand to escape the other party members' notice. ]
|
Jubilex
Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 4783
(11/9/05 2:28 pm)
|
Re: Door that mocks me
With Pogar and Draxim in the lead the group pushes through the fungus of unusual size that nearly fills the lower corridor. At the intersection (where Ulwe detects the faint smell of sea water) they follow the amber glow and head south, soon breaking free of the slick mushrooms and vile, stinking mold and into a clear passageway which travels for thirty feet or so then turns east.
Draxim approaches with caution and peeks around the corner. Thirty feet of corridor narrows slighty and through an open portal to the east he sees a simple chamber dominated by a raised dais. The surface of the circular stone, rising about three feet off the featureless floor, shimmers and undulates as if it were on fire, or perhaps covered in moving water. Yet, the fiery-liquid flickers through a variety of autumnal hues - brown, amber, gold, and hints of yellow and red.
[Map updated.]
|
squarefodder
Khelzhad
Posts: 829
(11/9/05 3:45 pm)
|
Re: Door that mocks me
Khelzhad staggers forward a few steps mesmerized by the glowing colors until his caution catches up with him and he stops.
"True-Spear, can your elf-eyes sense the hand of chaos in there?"
|
doggius
Pogar
Posts: 1360
(11/9/05 3:50 pm)
|
Re: Door that mocks me
As Draxim playfully gives Pogar a bit of a rub, Pogar looks at Draxim, stoicly. With a slight nod of acknowledgment, Pogar turns his head back to watch where he is walking.
Once they reach the corridor, Pogar waits as Draxim moves off to peer around the corner. As Ulwe mentions the sea water the Ilbog immediately rush to his mind.
Turning to Tsai Pogar says softly "Be the Ilbog who they say they be? Trapped by honor to follow chaos or be they chaos beings through an through?"
|
Kenner
Draxim
Posts: 1471
(11/9/05 6:04 pm)
|
1+1+1 = EVIL!
[ Do the colours remind us of the pervasive light that shifted between colours in the dungeon below the wasp riders? We encountered it when we met the Ghuruskali and fought Joru remember? Remember the light that actually shone through the walls? The time that Madragar fought Joru and he let him go and we could never figure out why? Hey wait a minute... ]
The swirling lights remind Draxim of that time and those circumstances under which Madragar survived the might of Joru. Why would such a one let him live unless it suited his purpose, or the purpose of one he served? It never made any sense; that and the funny way that Madragar has been acting lately. He then turns toward Madragar. He opens his mouth and shuts it again then shakes his head and mutters "impossible". Then he thinks about being in the bodies of the Dragonnewts. "The best way to stay undiscovered was to say as little as possible," he thinks to himself, "just like Madragar has been doing ever since we met that Tsai. Then there was Kezib, Humakt take him. He was taken over and was almost the death of us all. Urox save me I pray it isn't so." He finishes his internal monologue, and makes up his mind.
First he stops the party's progress with a hand in the air. He makes sure his protection from Chaos is activated and encourages the other party members to do the same. He then makes sure to encourage Madragar to activate his, if he hasn't already.
"Madragar, you should turn on the gift of Utama. We almost lost you once, you need all the protection you can get." He then waits to see the mage's reaction. Not wanting to believe, but not willing to face the consequences of the Gorgon in the ascendant wizard's body unprepared.
Edited by: Kenner at: 11/9/05 6:06 pm
|
Topic Commands
Click to receive email notification of replies 
Click to stop receiving email notification of replies