After Zander brings back the second body, he pauses for a moment, and looks quite uncomfortable, as you would think someone who just lugged a bunch of bloody bodies around would. However, he's still got one body left to dump, and he departs once more. When he comes back, hands covered in sticky, half congealed blood, he looks downright queasy. Once he dumps the last body, he just stands there shaking, looking at his bloodied hands. Then the smell hits him. He retches, and holds his hands far away from him, so that the stench can be as far away as possible without him removing his hands and chucking them across the room. He then allows his hands to ignite, in the hopes of burning away the gore. Big mistake. The smell that follows is ten times worse, and when it hits him, Zander's stomach gives up, hurling chunks of half digested food through his lips and onto the ground. He collapses, throwing up more until there's nothing left, and he is left dry heaving. Finally, when he is done, he takes a look at himself. Not a week ago he was living the high life, as a member of the noble house of Lladros. He had anything he ever wanted or could need, life was perfect! Now, where was he? Traipsing about with a bunch of stubby-legged fuzzy vagrants, sticking swords into anything that looked are them sideways! His nice clothes were ruined, spattered with blood and stomach acid, ripped and torn in a million places. But at the moment he didn't care about his clothes. He just wanted to go home...
But he can't, can he? Because of the... thing inside him. Its power is the reason he was cast out, in the first place. Destroying half of a floor in a blaze of black fire didn't earn you any favors with your family. Even now the thing coiled around his soul, and sent its tendrils coursing through him, through his entire body. This false god, which had come to him with promises of good luck and power and everything that he'd ever want, could feel his every movement, sense his every touch. In a way it was him now, and that's what scared him the most. There were moments when everything went dark. When the darkness enveloped him and trapped him away inside. He could still feel, he could still see, but it wasn't him acting. No. It had to be it. And Zander feared what it would do next.
And so, he lay there, trembling in a pile of his own sick, the tears and snot running down his face. He didn't care who saw him. All he could hear was laughter. Silent laughter, originating from within him. It bounced around inside of him, steadily getting louder and louder, higher in pitch, until it was nothing but a ringing, louder than anything he had ever heard, blocking out everything.
Zander lay there, hearing nothing, feeling nothing, until someone touched him, or tried to get his attention. When that happened, he suddenly snapped out of it, and began to lead them out, without a word, just a beckoning hand. He walked onward, through bloodstained rooms, over lifeless bodies, uncaring, unfeeling. Once he got out of the place, he just lay down beside the entrance, eyes open, devoid of thought, devoid of sight, devoid of feeling, until they slowly closed, and Zander drifted away to sleep.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
After Zander had tossed the first body down into the crevasse and turned to retrieve the second, Alisa and Harbin climbed back down. They removed the bloody cloak from the dead Redband, laid it beside Thel, rolled the body of the carpenter onto the cloak, and folded it over him to contain the body in its partially eviscerated state. During that, a second body had been tossed down into the crevasse. Alisa looks worried as she meets her husband's eye. "Let's get him out of here," Harbin says. The two struggle to lift the body up the crevasse wall. In the end, Mirna and her children have to help, their tear-stained faces eager to retrieve their husband and father. The five work together and have just gotten the body to the surface when Zander throws the third body into the crevasse.
As Zander begins tossing his cookies, Mirna hurries to his side. "Oh, my. Sir, are you OK?" she asks, kneeling beside him. She places a hand on his back and coos over him as he continues to bring up everything in his stomach. After letting him rest for a minute or so, Mirna rubs his back. "Can ... can you make it out?"
Zander gets up without a word and leads the group out through the southern hidden entrance. Harbin and Alisa carry one end of the cloak-wrapped body, and Mirna and her children carry the other, making it not too difficult of a task. Just before entering the tunnel, Zander barely notices the telepathic message: "Thank you." As the group exits the tunnel, they look around. One of them recognizes they are south of Tresendar Manor and the townies begin making their way toward home. Zander lets them go. Without the others noticing, he lays down just outside the tunnel and finally drifts off to sleep.
OOC: Everyone gets 20 XP for getting the prisoners out alive and 90 XP more for negotiating a truce with the nothic.
OOC2: So, technically, all of you are outside of the Redbrand hideout, though you're not together, and each "group" doesn't know where the other is.
Vondal whips some sweat from his brow and smiles. "Well then! I think that's about all of'em. 'cept maybe ones in town, but we can figure zhat one later. Fer now. Low lets back down. Still got those skeletons to dea-..."Vondal freezes, then pinches the bridge of his nose. "No. I-I refuse to think that hole was only way."Without really explaining his thoughts further, a determined gold dwarf makes his way back down the way the came up into the building to find another secret path(hopefully with help). One that preferably allow them to make it into the main chamber, and avoid having to walk all the way around again.
Perception: 14(if investigation possible +2 instead).
Though if he finds nothing or convinced to just go around, he only puts up a token resistance to the idea. Either way, once back inside and the skeletons are 'dealt' with, the prisoners are roped up together and lead out through the main cave mouth.
Such was the plan at least...
(@DDP: Just to clarify, not doing the whole skeleton bit for bonus XP or anything like that. Just being a good Samaritan to prevent their "use". Not sure it'd be fair to grant it if not already done so anyways given we can ready attacks and wipe them with a turn or too.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Re-entering the "cellar", Vondal searches the walls and does in fact find another secret door in the southwest corner of the room. It leads to a 40-foot hallway with two bends that empties into the large room with the crevasse. Reorienting himself, Vondal continues to lead the merry band of dwarves north. Adrom looks around quite a bit, having not yet seen this part of the hideout. Something catches Karl's eye as he follows along, and he looks over into the crevasse to see three Redbrands, two still clad in their scarlet cloaks, lying at the bottom of the crevasse. The group follows the crevasse north, re-enters the storeroom, passes through the secret door there, and finds themselves in the hallway leading south into the crypt.
If Karl decides to inform the group in passing about the bodies, Vondal has a look as well. Then something clicks, prompting the gold dwarf to silently usher everyone along again behind him. Only once they are clear of the cavern does he reveal his thoughts on the matter... though if none seemed all that bothered or pieced things together, Vondal was more than happily leaves things be.
"Alright. We are almost there. Let's start with the one furthest away from rest(by the prison) and move to rest. While they may not react to red cloaks, that may change if they are assaulted. So timing is everything."As Vondal is explains things, he trades out Chaff Cutter for Clever Sever. "Adrom. If your not so confident about using that mace of yours, or there no room, we will be counting on your blessing being at ready. Everyone agreed?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Vondal would've sighed, his attempt to keep the attraction down to a minimum. "Aye. Back to the mouth. No doubt 'ad to bribe the toll keeper for moving so large a group through territory."He explained. "But we can worry 'bout that later, Uncle. Didn't look like Zander or others in trouble. Boy doesn't fully know the meaning of subtle, after all." He reminded, and if there's no other objection continued to lead the way.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Nif nods in agreement. "Aye, I think you are right Uncle." Nif will turn to lead the group back to the crevasse and look for signs of Zander, just before he starts off he turns back to the group. "Hold up. What about this Glass staff? We are yet to see sign of him?"
Vondal raises a brow, and a small smile creeped into his expression... with some mix of mild annoyance behind it too. "Hate to break it to you, Nif. But given warning our 'friend' gave earlier and the bag by the fountain, pretty sure he's buggered off."He expresses. "'ow he managed to slip past us, I got no clue. I presume wizard magic tho'."He frowns, and started to tug at the side of his beard in thought. After a moment or two of this, he curtly shakes his head.
"If you're all that worried 'bout the boy, we can check back at entrance. Even head to town -- once we grab the prisoners, 'nd see if decide to grab a few drinks on us 'stead of head back. Like promise."He puts up a finger. "But under /no/ circumstance should we go snooping in that crevice itself. The skeletons are one thing. Overstepping bounds are another. Deal?" He says, the exhaustion of the morning (day's?) events bleeding into his voice.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
(@DDP: Vondal still wishes to at least round up the prisoners, so no killing skellies I suppose. In fact, let me just do this real quick..)
"All in due time, Brother. Prisoners first. I rather not lose anymore rations, or fight peculiar on over that forgotten detail. Should take no more than minute." With that, short of being physically dragged out of the cave, Vondal leads the effort of carrying any unconscious/goading the two bound red brands and the imprisoned one by the skellies out. Seeing as Jess and Miller were at least somewhat cooperative, he gives them at least some slack and doesn't go out of his way to goad them along. But a careful is kept on them all the same if someone didn't need to carry them out.
(@DDP: If the imprisoned one was stripped of his cloak -- though don't believe that happened -- Vondal will scavenge some spare ones from the nearby storage closet or the fountain area if given the chance. Even if that means quite a bit of sprinting around.)
Vondal convinces the group to help him retrieve the three guards. They make sure their hands are bound, then wake them and usher them through the tunnel. As they reach the light of day once again, someone notices Zander sleeping by the entrance, and the group halts.
Unless one or two others rush to the man's side ahead of him, Vondal breaks away first to check on his condition. "Hn. Just asleep."Vondal chuckles, but the mirth isn't fall there having seen the dried tears and snot. 'Boy must've been scared out of his mind this whole time' He thought grimly. Eventually, he starts putting away his weapons to toss the man onto a shoulder. "Mn.. Alright, alright. Let us get to townhall, or see to Sildar. He'll know what do with this lot." He looks back to the most familiar of the duo. "While not guarantee, if sincere enough in words, you might get away with some extensive community service. My advice? Swallow your pride. Do whatever good work you are given chance to do, and never --EVER act so shortsighted again. Are we clear, Mr. Miller and Mr. Jess?"
Unless the others had a mind to do otherwise, Vondal continues on towards town hall. Though if they pass by Qelline's place, he makes sure to at least give her an awkward passing wave.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
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After Zander brings back the second body, he pauses for a moment, and looks quite uncomfortable, as you would think someone who just lugged a bunch of bloody bodies around would. However, he's still got one body left to dump, and he departs once more. When he comes back, hands covered in sticky, half congealed blood, he looks downright queasy. Once he dumps the last body, he just stands there shaking, looking at his bloodied hands. Then the smell hits him. He retches, and holds his hands far away from him, so that the stench can be as far away as possible without him removing his hands and chucking them across the room. He then allows his hands to ignite, in the hopes of burning away the gore. Big mistake. The smell that follows is ten times worse, and when it hits him, Zander's stomach gives up, hurling chunks of half digested food through his lips and onto the ground. He collapses, throwing up more until there's nothing left, and he is left dry heaving. Finally, when he is done, he takes a look at himself. Not a week ago he was living the high life, as a member of the noble house of Lladros. He had anything he ever wanted or could need, life was perfect! Now, where was he? Traipsing about with a bunch of stubby-legged fuzzy vagrants, sticking swords into anything that looked are them sideways! His nice clothes were ruined, spattered with blood and stomach acid, ripped and torn in a million places. But at the moment he didn't care about his clothes. He just wanted to go home...
But he can't, can he? Because of the... thing inside him. Its power is the reason he was cast out, in the first place. Destroying half of a floor in a blaze of black fire didn't earn you any favors with your family. Even now the thing coiled around his soul, and sent its tendrils coursing through him, through his entire body. This false god, which had come to him with promises of good luck and power and everything that he'd ever want, could feel his every movement, sense his every touch. In a way it was him now, and that's what scared him the most. There were moments when everything went dark. When the darkness enveloped him and trapped him away inside. He could still feel, he could still see, but it wasn't him acting. No. It had to be it. And Zander feared what it would do next.
And so, he lay there, trembling in a pile of his own sick, the tears and snot running down his face. He didn't care who saw him. All he could hear was laughter. Silent laughter, originating from within him. It bounced around inside of him, steadily getting louder and louder, higher in pitch, until it was nothing but a ringing, louder than anything he had ever heard, blocking out everything.
Zander lay there, hearing nothing, feeling nothing, until someone touched him, or tried to get his attention. When that happened, he suddenly snapped out of it, and began to lead them out, without a word, just a beckoning hand. He walked onward, through bloodstained rooms, over lifeless bodies, uncaring, unfeeling. Once he got out of the place, he just lay down beside the entrance, eyes open, devoid of thought, devoid of sight, devoid of feeling, until they slowly closed, and Zander drifted away to sleep.
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
After Zander had tossed the first body down into the crevasse and turned to retrieve the second, Alisa and Harbin climbed back down. They removed the bloody cloak from the dead Redband, laid it beside Thel, rolled the body of the carpenter onto the cloak, and folded it over him to contain the body in its partially eviscerated state. During that, a second body had been tossed down into the crevasse. Alisa looks worried as she meets her husband's eye. "Let's get him out of here," Harbin says. The two struggle to lift the body up the crevasse wall. In the end, Mirna and her children have to help, their tear-stained faces eager to retrieve their husband and father. The five work together and have just gotten the body to the surface when Zander throws the third body into the crevasse.
As Zander begins tossing his cookies, Mirna hurries to his side. "Oh, my. Sir, are you OK?" she asks, kneeling beside him. She places a hand on his back and coos over him as he continues to bring up everything in his stomach. After letting him rest for a minute or so, Mirna rubs his back. "Can ... can you make it out?"
Zander gets up without a word and leads the group out through the southern hidden entrance. Harbin and Alisa carry one end of the cloak-wrapped body, and Mirna and her children carry the other, making it not too difficult of a task. Just before entering the tunnel, Zander barely notices the telepathic message: "Thank you." As the group exits the tunnel, they look around. One of them recognizes they are south of Tresendar Manor and the townies begin making their way toward home. Zander lets them go. Without the others noticing, he lays down just outside the tunnel and finally drifts off to sleep.
OOC: Everyone gets 20 XP for getting the prisoners out alive and 90 XP more for negotiating a truce with the nothic.
OOC2: So, technically, all of you are outside of the Redbrand hideout, though you're not together, and each "group" doesn't know where the other is.
Vondal whips some sweat from his brow and smiles. "Well then! I think that's about all of'em. 'cept maybe ones in town, but we can figure zhat one later. Fer now. Low lets back down. Still got those skeletons to dea-..." Vondal freezes, then pinches the bridge of his nose. "No. I-I refuse to think that hole was only way." Without really explaining his thoughts further, a determined gold dwarf makes his way back down the way the came up into the building to find another secret path(hopefully with help). One that preferably allow them to make it into the main chamber, and avoid having to walk all the way around again.
Perception: 14(if investigation possible +2 instead).
Though if he finds nothing or convinced to just go around, he only puts up a token resistance to the idea. Either way, once back inside and the skeletons are 'dealt' with, the prisoners are roped up together and lead out through the main cave mouth.
Such was the plan at least...
(@DDP: Just to clarify, not doing the whole skeleton bit for bonus XP or anything like that. Just being a good Samaritan to prevent their "use". Not sure it'd be fair to grant it if not already done so anyways given we can ready attacks and wipe them with a turn or too.)
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Re-entering the "cellar", Vondal searches the walls and does in fact find another secret door in the southwest corner of the room. It leads to a 40-foot hallway with two bends that empties into the large room with the crevasse. Reorienting himself, Vondal continues to lead the merry band of dwarves north. Adrom looks around quite a bit, having not yet seen this part of the hideout. Something catches Karl's eye as he follows along, and he looks over into the crevasse to see three Redbrands, two still clad in their scarlet cloaks, lying at the bottom of the crevasse. The group follows the crevasse north, re-enters the storeroom, passes through the secret door there, and finds themselves in the hallway leading south into the crypt.
OOC: Tell me what you do at this point.
nif just follows behind Vondal, keeping his eyes out.
perception: 14
If Karl decides to inform the group in passing about the bodies, Vondal has a look as well. Then something clicks, prompting the gold dwarf to silently usher everyone along again behind him. Only once they are clear of the cavern does he reveal his thoughts on the matter... though if none seemed all that bothered or pieced things together, Vondal was more than happily leaves things be.
"Alright. We are almost there. Let's start with the one furthest away from rest(by the prison) and move to rest. While they may not react to red cloaks, that may change if they are assaulted. So timing is everything." As Vondal is explains things, he trades out Chaff Cutter for Clever Sever. "Adrom. If your not so confident about using that mace of yours, or there no room, we will be counting on your blessing being at ready. Everyone agreed?"
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Karl would have said “hey guys, don’t look now but there are more bodies down in the crevasse. Wasn’t that the direction Zander went?”
(OOC : sorry for late post but currently travelling - back tonight Manila time)
DM - Storm King's Thunder - The Gods Respond
DM - Four bards walk into a bar...
Cracitus Tibicen (Tibi) - Aarokocra - Rogue [Swashbuckler] / Fighter [Battlemaster]
Vondal would've sighed, his attempt to keep the attraction down to a minimum. "Aye. Back to the mouth. No doubt 'ad to bribe the toll keeper for moving so large a group through territory." He explained. "But we can worry 'bout that later, Uncle. Didn't look like Zander or others in trouble. Boy doesn't fully know the meaning of subtle, after all." He reminded, and if there's no other objection continued to lead the way.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Nif nods in agreement. "Aye, I think you are right Uncle." Nif will turn to lead the group back to the crevasse and look for signs of Zander, just before he starts off he turns back to the group. "Hold up. What about this Glass staff? We are yet to see sign of him?"
Vondal raises a brow, and a small smile creeped into his expression... with some mix of mild annoyance behind it too. "Hate to break it to you, Nif. But given warning our 'friend' gave earlier and the bag by the fountain, pretty sure he's buggered off." He expresses. "'ow he managed to slip past us, I got no clue. I presume wizard magic tho'." He frowns, and started to tug at the side of his beard in thought. After a moment or two of this, he curtly shakes his head.
"If you're all that worried 'bout the boy, we can check back at entrance. Even head to town -- once we grab the prisoners, 'nd see if decide to grab a few drinks on us 'stead of head back. Like promise." He puts up a finger. "But under /no/ circumstance should we go snooping in that crevice itself. The skeletons are one thing. Overstepping bounds are another. Deal?" He says, the exhaustion of the morning (day's?) events bleeding into his voice.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
NIf nods in agreement. "Lets find Zander and head home. Have a few drinks. We still have other problems like the Orcs to deal with."
OOC: So you're no longer heading for the skellies?
(@DDP: Vondal still wishes to at least round up the prisoners, so no killing skellies I suppose. In fact, let me just do this real quick..)
"All in due time, Brother. Prisoners first. I rather not lose anymore rations, or fight peculiar on over that forgotten detail. Should take no more than minute." With that, short of being physically dragged out of the cave, Vondal leads the effort of carrying any unconscious/goading the two bound red brands and the imprisoned one by the skellies out. Seeing as Jess and Miller were at least somewhat cooperative, he gives them at least some slack and doesn't go out of his way to goad them along. But a careful is kept on them all the same if someone didn't need to carry them out.
(@DDP: If the imprisoned one was stripped of his cloak -- though don't believe that happened -- Vondal will scavenge some spare ones from the nearby storage closet or the fountain area if given the chance. Even if that means quite a bit of sprinting around.)
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
OK. Do you leave by way of the tunnel or the stairs?
(@DDP: The tunnel.)
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
(yeah tunnel!)
Looks like its via the tunnel
DM - Storm King's Thunder - The Gods Respond
DM - Four bards walk into a bar...
Cracitus Tibicen (Tibi) - Aarokocra - Rogue [Swashbuckler] / Fighter [Battlemaster]
(Tunnel it is!)
PbP Character: A few ;)
Vondal convinces the group to help him retrieve the three guards. They make sure their hands are bound, then wake them and usher them through the tunnel. As they reach the light of day once again, someone notices Zander sleeping by the entrance, and the group halts.
Unless one or two others rush to the man's side ahead of him, Vondal breaks away first to check on his condition. "Hn. Just asleep." Vondal chuckles, but the mirth isn't fall there having seen the dried tears and snot. 'Boy must've been scared out of his mind this whole time' He thought grimly. Eventually, he starts putting away his weapons to toss the man onto a shoulder. "Mn.. Alright, alright. Let us get to townhall, or see to Sildar. He'll know what do with this lot." He looks back to the most familiar of the duo. "While not guarantee, if sincere enough in words, you might get away with some extensive community service. My advice? Swallow your pride. Do whatever good work you are given chance to do, and never --EVER act so shortsighted again. Are we clear, Mr. Miller and Mr. Jess?"
Unless the others had a mind to do otherwise, Vondal continues on towards town hall. Though if they pass by Qelline's place, he makes sure to at least give her an awkward passing wave.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.