Abraxxus looks around the room cautiously from the doorway. He reaches for some sort of large object and rolls it into the room. If all checks out safely then he will enter the room cautiously and examine the corpses.
Abraxxus finds a piece of a large urn somewhere and rolls it into the room, nothing happens. He steps in, nothing happens. The half dragon takes a closer look at the corpses, but there is still no apparent cause of death. No wounds, no blood, no broken bones as far as you can tell.
"Perhaps. That is unfortunate as our new ally here said there would potentially be many traps around the platform above. Only a fool would rush up there without careful investigation knowing that."
"We have to get up there some how, so what ever works is fine by me. If we can get all these defenses back in operation, we can truly start this mission's heart." Blau says, as he secures loose objects and put's himself in an upright position, ready for the lift at his belt.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?" "Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied ― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
"If our current fodder has already cleared his way through any traps with brute force, yes using the bathook seems reasonable. It does take a certain amount of... dexterity...however." Kiven glances at the stone man. "Perhaps Jack any any others that prefer had best wait for us to find the stairwell from the top."
Kiven begins making his way up to where they can use the bathook with the others.
"I will go last, as I should be able to halt anyone otherwise plummeting to their demise."
"Calarel, do you prefer to exercise patience in favor of the stairwell, or the more adventurous route?" (He of course says 'adventurous' with a good deal of disdain for any affinity for the thrill of all of this.)
With a wide grin, Blau answers the haughty elf-lord "Oh, I think that my ability to climb will be more than adequate for this task, Kiven. MY Lord supports me in any endeavors where I seek glory in His name."
Once the bathook is in place, and his turn is indicated, Blau scrambles up the rope, surprisingly agile.
Climb (Touch of Law) 18.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?" "Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied ― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
In response to the question, Celarel looks to Grumblejack, her face twisting, before wordlessly grasping onto the rod and accelerating upwards. The acolyte, Halthus, joins you as well, apparently quite eager to see how the high priests lived.
Soon enough, almost everyone is on the third floor. There's no sign of Abraxxus, but two doors are open to the east and west of your position.
Meanwhile Abraxxus has looted the bodies, finding them disappointingly free of gold. He does pick up a few fine weapons however. Moving on, he passes into a long hall with a half dozen cages with strong locks. They're currently empty.
The next room is considerably more... interesting in its own right. Based on the moldering cushions, furniture, artwork, and most especially the tools left behind, this appears to have been a highly hedonistic brothel. The murals on the walls have been badly defaced, but scenes remain of explicit and depraved sexual acts between all manner of creatures, demons included.
Abraxxus finds a +1 fire greataxe, two masterwork shortbows, and a knobkerrie with a returning enchantment
Abraxxus' eyes widen at the sights in this room. He examines the room closely to see if he is missing anything of importance. The weapons he picked up are draped over his bulky left shoulder.
Some of the details shock even him. He hears a clanking noise behind him. Turning around he somewhat quietly walks back down the hallway. Seeing his friends begin clambering up he laughs. " Nothing to worry about so far up here. Just a few bodies of lesser races. And these...." He drops the weapons he found and holds up the new axe. The haft is 4 feet long and is topped by a huge blade. It is hooked at the bottom of the blade.
He points to the brothel area. " If you do not have a strong mind, do not go in there. It is quite......disturbing. "
"Although I would have theorized that little would disturb me at this point in our venture, that which even Abraxxus finds troubling may prove that logic to be flawed."
Kiven moves on with the exploration, following their meat shield and looking for anything magical along the way.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Blau moves with the group, examining the chambers as they go.
Perceptions: 22, 27, 17, 18
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?" "Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied ― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
Abraxxus points to a small pile of weapons on the side of the corridor. " Someone might want to look through those. I found this axe with those. " He holds the huge axe out. The half drake nods to one chamber with an opened door. " I took them off of 3 corpses. They had no signs of anything that might have killed them. " He shrugs.
OOC: He found the following in addition to the axe. two masterwork shortbows, and a knobkerrie with a returning enchantment.
The group presses on. The next room carries a palpable, and very very unpleasant presence to it. It is mostly empty save for a simple seat on one side. Upon entering, Celarel groans and slumps to the floor. She seems to be having to use effort just to keep breathing.
The entire room has a minor divination aura to it, with runework inscribed all across the area. The bench has an enchantment as well, it is a twin to that of the thrones on the floors below. When you look, this one is inscribed with the syllable "Nen"
When you move on across the hall, you find yourself in a small guard post. Of immediate interest is the not so fresh corpse and the copious blood strewn about the room. Stripped of all gear and clothing, his hands, feet, eyes, ears and genitals are all missing, and the stumps of his limbs cauterized. A small incision was made in his abdomen, and his intestines removed without actually severing them, apparently so that his tormentor could arrange them in various patterns, some of it resembles writing, though if so the rot has made it illegible.
Perhaps most disturbing, if all of this was done carefully enough, the victim could have survived for a day or more lying on the floor here, and even more while it was being done if it were spread out.
It is difficult to say for certain what race this man was, but its more slender than the other bodies, and has been here for about as long. It seems likely that this was the ranger Aiden Kael.
A pair of deep gravelly voices can be heard beyond the next door, speaking in abyssal. For a time, one of them starts reciting something, it sounds like poetry of all things?
For a bit of context in imagining the first room. Think of a Sith meditation chamber. All that rage, pain, and hate seething from the walls to the point that it can be felt even by non force sensitives. This isn't exactly like that, but the effect is in a similar league. Staying within is likely not advisable for any of you, but Celarel in particular is badly affected.
Eya raises her hand as if to tell the group to halt, she sends a message into everyone's minds, "I think we have some demons here. Hold on while I translate."
She takes notes on what the two say.
"You simply must hear this piece dear brother, I've spent a fortnight on it." "By all means, I am giddy with anticipation." "Fire falls from the sky, you can't run any longer from your fate. I see the terror in your eyes, and I can taste my hate. It lingers on my tongue as delicious ecstasy, a black and deadly ink. And as I stretch my claws, you've run out of time to think. You begged for this attention, you have it, I have your scent to track. But now you see its the end, with a vicious painful attack. The heat tears into your skin, it sinks so deep into your bones. And no one can hear your screams, even as they fade to moans."
"How lovely dear brother, but where am I in it? Surely you wouldn't leave me out" "I'm working on a second stanza for that." "I look forward to it."
Eya then says over the Message link, "Brothers? These may be the ones Halthus warned us about, Hexor and Vexor. They may help us if we can convince them that we are here to free their god. Or we could try and avoid them for now to see if we can find their command amulets. What do you say? My vote is we try to avoid them for now and explore more. Oh and we should keep Celarel away from that room. It's probably not safe for any of us for too long either. The room likely divines visions from the Abyss, the chaotic plane of demons. One may learn something if they meditate here, but one would also likely go insane unless their mind is strong."
Blau responds in kind as quietly as wisdom indicates "By all means! No need to disturb their composition and lose our lives like these poor fools did. Although, I certainly would be interested in this room, in the future."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?" "Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied ― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
The group quietly backs away, and then instead opens the door to the north from the entry hall.
You find yourself in yet another temple, this one both smaller and far grander than any of the others. Brilliant bas reliefs depict daemons of every sort engaged in countless acts of wanton evil, callous destruction and inhuman savagery. Rows of pews allow a congregation of the chosen to gather. The podium is doubtless where foul sermons of Abaddon’s wisdom and bile were delivered to those gatherings.
At the front of the chamber are four shrines. A white shrine decorated with bas relief depictions of open pits of the dead and lepers crying in anguish. Ashrine of red stone decorated with cruel iron weaponry and scenes of slaughter. A shrine of black stone decorated with images of mortals wasting away from hunger and starvation. A shrine of pale green stone adorned with a skull with two coins over its eyes and an inscription of jagged abyssal writing which reads “Behold a pale horse. Its rider is Death and all shall follow him.”
Behind and above them all is a large bas-relief image of Vetra-Kali sitting crosslegged holding his greatest work, his masterpiece, a vial of some sort. Below the vial is inscribed a name ‘The Tears of Achlys.’ Vetra-Kali also holds three blades and a strange jagged key with an Abyssal inscription “Hail Vetra-Kali”. The three eyed daemon prince pays homage to the four shrines, but there is no doubt that this fane is built primarily to honor him. On all the other walls are litanies of the deeds of this monster. It was Vetra-Kali who crossed the great void and came to the prime material plane to establish the Sons of the Pale Horseman.
Shortly after you enter the room, shadows begin to gather before you into four distinct and vaguely humanoid shapes, one considerably larger than the rest. The largest of the three towers above you, baleful eyes regarding you with pure malice. It raises a hand, "Welcome to my temple living ones, it is good you have come, I need more souls for my army." The thing raises the arm further, clearly preparing to attack.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Abraxxus looks around the room cautiously from the doorway. He reaches for some sort of large object and rolls it into the room. If all checks out safely then he will enter the room cautiously and examine the corpses.
Perception: @Kyrroeth game_die
Result: 1d20 (16) + 6
Total: 22
Abraxxus finds a piece of a large urn somewhere and rolls it into the room, nothing happens. He steps in, nothing happens. The half dragon takes a closer look at the corpses, but there is still no apparent cause of death. No wounds, no blood, no broken bones as far as you can tell.
He will loot the corpses hoping for something good. Afterwards he will move to the next room.
Loot perception: 25
Perception in next room: 14
Eya looks over to Kiven and asks, "Is it time for the bathook?"
"Perhaps. That is unfortunate as our new ally here said there would potentially be many traps around the platform above. Only a fool would rush up there without careful investigation knowing that."
"Where is Abraxxus?"
"He rushed up there without careful investigation," Eya replies. "Time to follow? With the hook?"
"We have to get up there some how, so what ever works is fine by me. If we can get all these defenses back in operation, we can truly start this mission's heart." Blau says, as he secures loose objects and put's himself in an upright position, ready for the lift at his belt.
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?"
"Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied
― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
"If our current fodder has already cleared his way through any traps with brute force, yes using the bathook seems reasonable. It does take a certain amount of... dexterity...however." Kiven glances at the stone man. "Perhaps Jack any any others that prefer had best wait for us to find the stairwell from the top."
Kiven begins making his way up to where they can use the bathook with the others.
"I will go last, as I should be able to halt anyone otherwise plummeting to their demise."
"Calarel, do you prefer to exercise patience in favor of the stairwell, or the more adventurous route?" (He of course says 'adventurous' with a good deal of disdain for any affinity for the thrill of all of this.)
With a wide grin, Blau answers the haughty elf-lord "Oh, I think that my ability to climb will be more than adequate for this task, Kiven. MY Lord supports me in any endeavors where I seek glory in His name."
Once the bathook is in place, and his turn is indicated, Blau scrambles up the rope, surprisingly agile.
Climb (Touch of Law) 18.
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?"
"Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied
― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
In response to the question, Celarel looks to Grumblejack, her face twisting, before wordlessly grasping onto the rod and accelerating upwards. The acolyte, Halthus, joins you as well, apparently quite eager to see how the high priests lived.
Soon enough, almost everyone is on the third floor. There's no sign of Abraxxus, but two doors are open to the east and west of your position.
Meanwhile Abraxxus has looted the bodies, finding them disappointingly free of gold. He does pick up a few fine weapons however. Moving on, he passes into a long hall with a half dozen cages with strong locks. They're currently empty.
The next room is considerably more... interesting in its own right. Based on the moldering cushions, furniture, artwork, and most especially the tools left behind, this appears to have been a highly hedonistic brothel. The murals on the walls have been badly defaced, but scenes remain of explicit and depraved sexual acts between all manner of creatures, demons included.
Abraxxus finds a +1 fire greataxe, two masterwork shortbows, and a knobkerrie with a returning enchantment
Abraxxus' eyes widen at the sights in this room. He examines the room closely to see if he is missing anything of importance. The weapons he picked up are draped over his bulky left shoulder.
Perception: @Kyrroeth game_die
Result: 1d20 (13) + 6
Total: 19
Some of the details shock even him. He hears a clanking noise behind him. Turning around he somewhat quietly walks back down the hallway. Seeing his friends begin clambering up he laughs. " Nothing to worry about so far up here. Just a few bodies of lesser races. And these...." He drops the weapons he found and holds up the new axe. The haft is 4 feet long and is topped by a huge blade. It is hooked at the bottom of the blade.
He points to the brothel area. " If you do not have a strong mind, do not go in there. It is quite......disturbing. "
"Although I would have theorized that little would disturb me at this point in our venture, that which even Abraxxus finds troubling may prove that logic to be flawed."
Kiven moves on with the exploration, following their meat shield and looking for anything magical along the way.
Blau moves with the group, examining the chambers as they go.
Perceptions: 22, 27, 17, 18
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?"
"Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied
― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
Abraxxus points to a small pile of weapons on the side of the corridor. " Someone might want to look through those. I found this axe with those. " He holds the huge axe out. The half drake nods to one chamber with an opened door. " I took them off of 3 corpses. They had no signs of anything that might have killed them. " He shrugs.
OOC: He found the following in addition to the axe. two masterwork shortbows, and a knobkerrie with a returning enchantment.
Eya stashes the items away in her magic bag then says to the group, "Shall we investigate these rooms?"
Room above 3-8 then loop around to look at the rooms to the left and right of 3-1.
The group presses on. The next room carries a palpable, and very very unpleasant presence to it. It is mostly empty save for a simple seat on one side. Upon entering, Celarel groans and slumps to the floor. She seems to be having to use effort just to keep breathing.
The entire room has a minor divination aura to it, with runework inscribed all across the area. The bench has an enchantment as well, it is a twin to that of the thrones on the floors below. When you look, this one is inscribed with the syllable "Nen"
When you move on across the hall, you find yourself in a small guard post. Of immediate interest is the not so fresh corpse and the copious blood strewn about the room. Stripped of all gear and clothing, his hands, feet, eyes, ears and genitals are all missing, and the stumps of his limbs cauterized. A small incision was made in his abdomen, and his intestines removed without actually severing them, apparently so that his tormentor could arrange them in various patterns, some of it resembles writing, though if so the rot has made it illegible.
Perhaps most disturbing, if all of this was done carefully enough, the victim could have survived for a day or more lying on the floor here, and even more while it was being done if it were spread out.
It is difficult to say for certain what race this man was, but its more slender than the other bodies, and has been here for about as long. It seems likely that this was the ranger Aiden Kael.
A pair of deep gravelly voices can be heard beyond the next door, speaking in abyssal. For a time, one of them starts reciting something, it sounds like poetry of all things?
For a bit of context in imagining the first room. Think of a Sith meditation chamber. All that rage, pain, and hate seething from the walls to the point that it can be felt even by non force sensitives. This isn't exactly like that, but the effect is in a similar league. Staying within is likely not advisable for any of you, but Celarel in particular is badly affected.
Eya raises her hand as if to tell the group to halt, she sends a message into everyone's minds, "I think we have some demons here. Hold on while I translate."
She takes notes on what the two say.
"You simply must hear this piece dear brother, I've spent a fortnight on it."
"By all means, I am giddy with anticipation."
"Fire falls from the sky, you can't run any longer from your fate.
I see the terror in your eyes, and I can taste my hate.
It lingers on my tongue as delicious ecstasy, a black and deadly ink.
And as I stretch my claws, you've run out of time to think.
You begged for this attention, you have it, I have your scent to track.
But now you see its the end, with a vicious painful attack.
The heat tears into your skin, it sinks so deep into your bones.
And no one can hear your screams, even as they fade to moans."
"How lovely dear brother, but where am I in it? Surely you wouldn't leave me out"
"I'm working on a second stanza for that."
"I look forward to it."
Eya then says over the Message link, "Brothers? These may be the ones Halthus warned us about, Hexor and Vexor. They may help us if we can convince them that we are here to free their god. Or we could try and avoid them for now to see if we can find their command amulets. What do you say? My vote is we try to avoid them for now and explore more. Oh and we should keep Celarel away from that room. It's probably not safe for any of us for too long either. The room likely divines visions from the Abyss, the chaotic plane of demons. One may learn something if they meditate here, but one would also likely go insane unless their mind is strong."
Blau responds in kind as quietly as wisdom indicates "By all means! No need to disturb their composition and lose our lives like these poor fools did. Although, I certainly would be interested in this room, in the future."
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?"
"Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied
― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
The group quietly backs away, and then instead opens the door to the north from the entry hall.
You find yourself in yet another temple, this one both smaller and far grander than any of the others. Brilliant bas reliefs depict daemons of every sort engaged in countless acts of wanton evil, callous destruction and inhuman savagery. Rows of pews allow a congregation of the chosen to gather. The podium is doubtless where foul sermons of Abaddon’s wisdom and bile were delivered to those gatherings.
At the front of the chamber are four shrines. A white shrine decorated with bas relief depictions of open pits of the dead and lepers crying in anguish. Ashrine of red stone decorated with cruel iron weaponry and scenes of slaughter. A shrine of black stone decorated with images of mortals wasting away from hunger and starvation. A shrine of pale green stone adorned with a skull with two coins over its eyes and an inscription of jagged abyssal writing which reads “Behold a pale horse. Its rider is Death and all shall follow him.”
Behind and above them all is a large bas-relief image of Vetra-Kali sitting crosslegged holding his greatest work, his masterpiece, a vial of some sort. Below the vial is inscribed a name ‘The Tears of Achlys.’ Vetra-Kali also holds three blades and a strange jagged key with an Abyssal inscription “Hail Vetra-Kali”. The three eyed daemon prince pays homage to the four shrines, but there is no doubt that this fane is built primarily to honor him. On all the other walls are litanies of the deeds of this monster. It was Vetra-Kali who crossed the great void and came to the prime material plane to establish the Sons of the Pale Horseman.
Shortly after you enter the room, shadows begin to gather before you into four distinct and vaguely humanoid shapes, one considerably larger than the rest. The largest of the three towers above you, baleful eyes regarding you with pure malice. It raises a hand, "Welcome to my temple living ones, it is good you have come, I need more souls for my army." The thing raises the arm further, clearly preparing to attack.