Barty's "Princes of the Apocalypse"

Aldric ascends the steps to a curious hole in the wall with a metal lever set alongside it. Peering through the small hole, he can see into another small room on the opposite side, where two closed iron chests rest on the floor.

After peering into the hole, Aldric turns and scowls at the new elf. "Two chests." He looks at the lever then motions for Melek to go back down the stairs. "I'd like to see what this lever does, but I don't think we should until we've rested."

The old knight follows the handsome elf back to the others. "One hour," he says brusquely.

He then marches south to the wall just inside and to the right of the entrance to the workshop and sits down as comfortably as he can while still wielding his shield and axe. He does remove his kettle helm and wipes away some sweat, despite the cooler temperatures of being inside a mountain.

Closing his eyes, he opens his ears and monitors the mountain around them for any sounds of danger.

Melek nods in acknowledgement, and returns to the workshop area, taking time to inspect and clean his recovered gear, as well as get a better look at his rescuers. Once they are settled he asks them collectively what prompted them to explore this dungeon. After hearing their responses, he shares the following:

I spake truly when I said that I came here seeking a great evil. But I am certain now that this 'Lord of Lance Rock' is not the evil I sought...

It was a dream that brought me hither: a dream of a man, far beneath the earth, and yet part of it. His magic warped and molded the ground itself into great creatures, and his altar caused quakes in the land sufficient to bury entire towns. Never in my dream did I behold his face, but in my visions he... Melek pauses and shivers, but doesn't finish his last sentence before continuing... No, I'm sure this Lord of Lance Rock is not he, neither are his undead creations the beings I saw formed of the earth. I do not see the connection, if any exists, but my search must continue.

After a moment, Melek asks another question: Perchance, did any of thee learn ought of a plague in the town nearby? A plague of disfigurement?

Rumble started to smile, a touch relieved at the words of the old knight. They were but two simple words, but no sweeter ones have passed through the earth genasi ears since confirming the defeat of the Lord of Lance Rock. But naturally, he couldn't -- wouldn't misconstrue them as permission to take it complete at ease. Rumble would go on to find some succor in laying against the cooler stone of a nearby wall, but at least a little busy by tending to his gear and keeping a passive watch on things.

Before he could drift into absentminded introspection, Melek's request draws him back, and with a sleepy smile he answered: "While I can't necessarily speak fer everyone, I do believe the general consensus that there's a lotta trouble brewing in the region. And duty, if not other alike obligations demand that we do what we can to deal with these troubles, starting with Lance Rock." He explained as much, then paused, opening the floor for the others to speak and clarify anything else. He went on to listen with rapt attention, but in the end could but grimly shake his head to the side. "First time I'm hearing of any such things. And here I dared to think the strangest thing happening the valley was bird folk possibly kidnapping settlers... no, not settlers, but, uhmm... ugh, the word is escape'n me right now."

Arkun looks up as he’s sorting through the workshop, looking at the leftover fingers, parts, evidence of foul experiments, looking for any notebook or diary about the Lord of Lance Rock.  “Hmmm.  No, nothing about a plague of disfigurement.  A host of other problems to tackle, but I don’t recall that..”. He watches Aldric come back down the stairs and sit down to rest, the group is told that they have one hour to rest.  The wood elf is not used to being ordered around, he bites back a snarky reply and just gives an odd look at the old knight, then keeps rummaging around.  As he sees the knight start to settle and get comfortable, closing his eyes, he holds up his right hand and wiggles it in a funny way, causing the sound of some soft snoring to echo through the workshop, followed by a smell of lavender.  A grin comes to his face and he keeps looking, but finally trudges up the stairs to look at what was seen up there before coming down, and then going to the passage that they entered this room from to the north and listens, trying to hear any sound in the distance.  

All is quiet in Lance Rock aside from the ongoing conversation. The dead lie still in death as they belong without the presence of the necromancer, allowing you a chance to truly rest your limbs and eyes for a brief time.

OOC: Each character has gained the benefits of a short rest. If you would like to roll hit dice with this rest, please do so with your next post. You can refer back to the previous posted map of what has been seen in Lance Rock thus far if you would like to explore further, or if you would like to leave at this point, just let me know.

Hit die (1): 8

Aldric does not react in any perceivable way to Arkun's druidcraft. And he does not participate in the small bit of conversation concerning dreams of plagues of disfigurement. After about 30 minutes of silent vigil, the old knight begins creating his own sounds of snoring — and his are not created by magic.

When the others feel the hour is up, Aldric continues to snooze, his body still somewhat upright, but fairly crumpled in on itself. They begin to look at each other, and as if someone had said something, Aldric's armor begins to creak and rattle as he rouses. His limbs move gingerly and with purpose as he slowly gets back to his fee. Plenty of grunts and growled complaints rumble low through the workshop.

Once on his feet and his helm back on his green head, the half-orc looks around to see the others either outright or surreptitiously watching him to see if he was going to make it without help. He grunts one more time as if to say, "Show's over."

After walking back to the foot of the winding staircase, he addresses the others: "There's a chamber you can see through that small hole at the top of the stairs. The chamber contains two solitary chests. There is a lever beside the hole. I do not know whether the lever activates a trap or if it unlocks the chests. My suggestion is that we throw the lever now to see what happens." He looks around at the others, clearly wanting them to voice their own opinions, but his stance would indicate that if anyone is going up the stairs, he intends it to be him.

Hit Die(1): 5

Unfortunately, as pleasant a distraction as any ongoing conversation might've been over the hour, the discomfort of a still mending body diminished any idle entertainment and concern for things beyond matters at Lance Rock. But if asked at any point, or even if it should be hinted further collaboration between the party and Melek after concluding matters in the Rock, Rumble at least showed whole hearted agreement in a grin, a thumbs up, and sharp affirmative nod.

If not for the dulling of pain, then perhaps one of the others announce an end to the hour's respite. Regardless of what the case maybe, it only occurred after the hour was up that some time could've been invested into learning more about the wand. Yet, after a bit of embarrassed chuckling, the matter is quietly dismissed without another word or thought beyond some absentminded promise to find time later. Until then, he'd climb to his feet, unsteady at first, but eventually a surge of self-assuredness sees the earth genasi letting out a triumphant groan in standing tall once more!

He then makes sure that if he's not the first, he's at least a close second in offering Aldric a hand up, noticing only belatedly (as he was no stranger to tuning out snorers) the Orc's state of affairs. "Mn. Sounds fair enough, sir. Just in case though, we prolly aughta limit the number of folk going up there to test the lever to two at most in the event it is a trap." He then holds up a hand. "That said, permission to play trap vole, sir? U-uh, I mean, w-well, you know what I meant... sir." Rumbles bows his head in clear embarrassment.

Arkun trudges after the two military men, waiting to see which one of them decides to throw themselves in front of the likely trapped door.  He waits to give whatever help he can give the Dudley Do Wrongs as they decide who will take the needle in the palm first.  Right before they start and come to their decision, Arkun will clap the "lucky" one on the shoulder with his hand, saying in Elvish "Good Luck!" in their ear, and power emanates from his hand into them, casting guidance for their attempt.  Then he will back down a few steps to get out of the blast radius.  

OOC: Awaiting further action here before resolving.

As before, Melek is ready to assist. However he has seen the narrow passage, and knows that he would be more help waiting in the workshop, ready to assist Rumble and Aldrich as needed.

Aldric scowls at Rumble for the span of a few heartbeats until he finally turns and begins marching up the stairs. "Wait here," the old knight throws over his shoulder. He climbs, stowing his axe away. As soon as he reaches the top, the half-orc places his free hand on the lever, maneuvers so that he can see as much as possible of the chamber beyond through the hole, and pulls the lever.

Having bowed his head already in embarrassment, Rumble misses the scowl, but Aldric's words couldn't have been clearer, prompting the genasi to look up sharply to the knight with worry. Yet, knowing the old Orc wouldn't be deterred, he bit back any retort or words of protest, and went on to at least keep watch from the base of the stairs. But not without remaining poised, if subtly so, ready to charge up the very same steps to aid the orc at a moment's notice.

The lever resists Aldric's pull to a degree before enough force shunts it down into its opposite position. The movement of the lever is accompanied by a loud bang from the opposite side of the wall. Dust and small debris is blasted out through the small hole that peers into the other room as the ceiling of that room appears to cave in. After no small amount of noise from the rockfall, when the dust settles, the chests in the opposite room seem to have been completely buried by rock.

Rumble tensed up at the noise, before instinctively looked to the ceiling searching for any tall tale signs of cracks spreading out from the nearby chamber. Seeing none however, the young knight wasted no further time before trying to rush up the stairs to check on Aldric. But had it been clear from the base of them that the old orc was alright, worry remained etched in the knight's face. "If I didn't know any better, and I aughta consider'n where I'm from, that sounded pretty darn close to a cave-in. Huh... Guess that fella weren't completely mad." He further noted, sighed through his nose, and then looked to the others. "Seems that also might just leave only one other passage to check out then. That being of course that, uhh, eastern tunnel near that entry chamber."

Arkun shrugs as the stones come down, then walks down the steps and toward the way they came, waiting for the others to catch up.  “Eastern tunnel, sounds good.  Then maybe we can get out of here..”  He looks back to make sure everyone is okay.  

Aldric waves a hand in front of his face and coughs a couple of times, turning away from the hole and the dust until it has settled for the most part. Looking back in, he shakes his head. "Whatever is in those chests is lost forever," he says more to himself than to the others. He figures they were probably just bait anyway.

He turns and trudges down the stairs, catching the others mentioning the Eastern tunnel. "Watch for more traps!" he yells, sounding like an impatient parent. He hurries to catch up. "Just because the so-called 'Lord' is dead doesn't mean this place is safe!"

Melek gives Aldric a brief nod of acknowledgement... Both to back up Arkun's warning of vigilance, and as praise for facing the danger alone. With no other words necessary, he joins the other knights in exploring onward.

The journey back through several caverns is much quieter, with the undead you slayed during your passage into Lance Rock strewn around, unmoving. The grim reminders of the Lord of Lance Rock's activity do not disturb you as you leave his workshop, traversing back toward the entrance, passing it to walk down a short passage into another chamber.

Motionless humanoid figures dressed in dirty clothes or scraps of armor are propped against the walls of this cave. Some are little more than skeletons with wisps of hair and skin stretched tightly over their bones. Others are fresher. A few old shortswords lie on the dusty floor.

A cursory glance at the room by Melek is enough to convince him there is nothing here to aid his search. He departs the room and waits by the exit of the guard cave, preparing to leave.