You realize with heart-wrenching sadness that Lucky Bear is also yet possessed by life, however changed it might be...With your knowledge of the ritual being asked of you...you're certain she could be.....the one......the thought sticks out like a bright red stubbed toe of anger in your mind...
Lucky Bear whines and nudges your hand. She begins to step towards the dais...
Erven stands up with the realization, looks to the others and points out Lucky Bear walking to the altar. "She wants to give her life for us. So that we won't die." He looks down, words hard to find. "I can't stand it. I can't stand the death, this house. The one thing that is good from this house, this dog, this life, this dog who seems to love me, and I have to give that up? I just can't stand it! Tell me, what do you think we should do?" Erven can't bring himself to do it, he keeps staring at Lucky who is walking to the altar, and he's shaking his head.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
“You don’t understand.” Sho says back, locking eyes with Talion, “What good will it do if we all die here? Look around you. Twelve cultists and that one monster - we can’t fight them all.”
“I promised you this.” He continues, “I promised that you’ll walk out of this house alive. Your work is not yet finished and your destiny will not be thwarted- That’s what you said. You die here, you will be offering your servitude all the same.” He grits his teeth, and gets Talion’s hands off him sharply.
Talion remains in front of the priest, blocking his way. "You are twisting my words, but I promised you that we would all walk out alive. If the price of our freedom is that your servitude here, then that is unacceptable."
"I can be stubborn: rest assured that, with or without you, we will fight this thing. I'd prefer that you were fighting on our side when we do."
Talion grins, relief plain on his face, "Because if we are going to survive this, then we will need your help." He starts handing things back to the priest, examining the amulet as he does so, "Besides, I did promise we'd all get out. Can't have someone accusing me of going back on my word, even though I am only a cutpursethroat."
Sho's not taking back his things. He stands there, unmoving, cold and mute, then abruptly starts south towards the rank refuse pile, to examine what is underneath. (around K4)
Talion hurriedly stows the items, and frowns when Sho does not take the medallion, but stows it carefully inside his own armour. He continues to try to stop the priest moving to the south, following him if necessary, and looking anxiously at Onyx to either attack the creature, or help Talion stop Sho.
Bertolt answers the question by getting his crossbow and aiming at the nearest of the strange figures, waiting for any sign of aggression before he makes a move. "I am in agreement. While I may be an "old man" as some of you have so eloquently called me, I would rather not perish today."
Erven shoos Lucky Bear away from the altar, gives her a good scratch, but clearly indicating to her that he would not be sacrificing her on the altar. "You are with me, and always will be!"
He readies his rapier and shield, moves to J12 and tries to slip into the shadows, awaiting whatever is in the alcove to come out, planning to flank and attack. He hides in anticipation of this.
Stealth : 17
Initiative : 10
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Talion finally releases Sho when he realizes that the die has been cast. As the vial of alchemical fire flies through the air he takes one last glance at the priest, then focuses his rage, frustration and malice on the thing that has been tormenting them all. If one moment in his life must define him, then this will be it: One of the few moments where his heart, his mind and his body all unite for a singular outcome, not for himself, but for something larger.
Onyx moves to H7, casting protection from evil and good on himself, and prepares his rebellion against Sho's nihilism.
Onyx, as you move and cast your spell, it takes hold around you, wrapping you in a warm blanket. As you move to H7, you feel a compulsion to complete the ritual. The altar sits in front of you, shining with the blood of countless victims - some innocent and some not-so-innocent. It puts a black, inky taste in your mouth. But on the dais you are and while the compulsion to sacrifice a life on the altar is strong, your tether to your god is stronger. You get the sense that if you were to leave the dais without completing the ritual, something really bad would happen.....It has the effect of you weighing your options - it's only a dog....if we die, we perpetuate this evil house....if we sacrifice and get out of here, we can burn it down....I could escape!...... Onyx only:
The small voice in your head comes back. Why not sacrifice the dog? If you deny them the sacrifice, they won't let you leave...
Sho's not taking back his things. He stands there, unmoving, cold and mute, then abruptly starts south towards the rank refuse pile, to examine what is underneath. (around K4)
Talion hurriedly stows the items, and frowns when Sho does not take the medallion, but stows it carefully inside his own armour. He continues to try to stop the priest moving to the south, following him if necessary, and looking anxiously at Onyx to either attack the creature, or help Talion stop Sho.
Sho and Talion move down the ledge towards the back of the room. A couple of things happen during this time: - Sho you get to K4 with Talion several feet behind, trying to talk his sense into you. - Bertolt, Talion and Sho, you notice that, while the secret door is still open, a few tangling vines have apparently dropped down to block the way...they look like normal vines... - Erven, the same thing happens at the portcullis door - a few stringy vines have dropped down at some point in the last several minutes... - Sho, standing as close as you are to the refuse pile, you look closely at it while opening your senses to its essence [nature check, it's the same mod]. You feel a great power nestled within the pile, along with a immeasurable pain and anger. There is no doubt this is a dormant, undead entity. It is seemingly only waiting on some trigger event...
He readies his rapier and shield, moves to J12 and tries to slip into the shadows, awaiting whatever is in the alcove to come out, planning to flank and attack. He hides in anticipation of this.
Stealth : 17
Initiative : 10
Lucky Bear squirms in your arms, wet and smelly, and you push her back. She barks at you in protest but stays about 10 feet in front of the portcullis, for now... Erven, you think you have hidden as well as can be expected with no traditional form of cover; using the mist and shadows, you feel yourself hidden from view...
Catching Talion's expression as he watches the odd couple argue, Onyx nods.
"I wouldn't get that close, Sho!"
With that, he lobs the flask at the mound of refuse.
"Lathander, light my fire."
Attack, with Inspiration: 19
Initiative (presumably): 15
The vial flies through the air at the pile of refuse. It lands among the sticks and algae, throwing up a cloud of small, now-angry, buzzing insects. It doesn't do anything - maybe the bottle wasn't hit hard enough? you think for a moment...then all of a sudden, it flares to life - the liquid inside exposed to the oxygen in the room - dealing 4 fire damage to the partially submerged refuse pile. Nothing happens for a second, other than more smoke entering the room - the effect of the fire on the wet stuff. Suddenly, the chanting stops. The drumming stops. The echoes too, eventually stop. A sound like from twisting wood splintering can be heard. Then a sucking, gasping sound as if a giant was trying to breath in as deeply as possible, can be heard. The drums start again, this time in double-time with a pronounced deep beat on the final cadence: ba-bum-bum-BOOM!ba-bum-bum-BOOM! ba-bum-bum-BOOM! And then the chanting begins once more. Those who don't know Infernal or Abyssal will hear this new chant as: "Larqmazm zmy dytihyr, sy isicyl zmyy! Larqmazm zmy dytihyr, sy isicyl zmyy!” It sickens your ears and a terrible feeling births itself in your chests...
Sho and Onyx only:
"Lorghoth the Decayer, we awaken thee!”
At the change in the chant, the refuse pile begins to shake and gurgle. The sickening sound of muffled snapping bones can be heard as a figure begins to take shape before you. This large...thing...is covered in green algae, vines, twigs, and sports a water line of sorts where it was submerged in the rank liquid. It begins to shake most of the detritus off of it, throwing water and slime outwards. It nearly fills the entire cave that it was in, you'd guess it would be at least 10 feet tall if it stood straight up. But it doesn't stand straight - it is a bit hunched and misshapen, a mistake of existence or, more likely, the result of dabbling in something far beyond understanding... The thing before you, now mostly clear of debris, is a misshapen, pinkish-gray fleshy mound of rotting and decaying material. There are exposed bones, stringy pieces of waterlogged flesh and tendon barely hanging on, and insects and bugs chomping at it all. Horrifyingly, all over its form, you can make out faces, some that you can recognize - Gustav Durst, Madame Durst, Esme and others you don't recognize - all of the faces push against the flesh from the inside, and all scream, cry, and gibber nonsensically...you recognize the words "Help"and "No" and "Kill me" several times over. The central section where you'd think the "main" head to be, is a contorted, cherubic face - you recognize the face of baby Walter immediately - under which is a large mouth filled with sharp teeth. This mouth also gibbers and cries madly - typical baby crying but wildly unnerving and out of place here - slobbering drool around that hisses and steams when it hits the water or walls. [all, sorry I don't have a good picture of this creature - hopefully the above description is an okay description! Bottom line, it's big disgusting, rotting, fleshy sack of moaning, crying, gibbering, undeath that has been activated by your denial of the cult. This is the "She," the Ancient, the Land...]
As soon as he realizes that the roots are sprouting over the doors, Talion shouts "It's filling the doors with roots! We'll be trapped..." he looks to Onyx, wondering if the man will fall back or continue with the attack. He glances at the doors, then back to the warrior.
Erven looks into Lucky Bear's eyes. He rubs his back and connects with him, talks to him. "Oh lucky bear, my little lucky bear..."
Insight : 15
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
You realize with heart-wrenching sadness that Lucky Bear is also yet possessed by life, however changed it might be...With your knowledge of the ritual being asked of you...you're certain she could be.....the one......the thought sticks out like a bright red stubbed toe of anger in your mind...
Lucky Bear whines and nudges your hand. She begins to step towards the dais...
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Erven stands up with the realization, looks to the others and points out Lucky Bear walking to the altar. "She wants to give her life for us. So that we won't die." He looks down, words hard to find. "I can't stand it. I can't stand the death, this house. The one thing that is good from this house, this dog, this life, this dog who seems to love me, and I have to give that up? I just can't stand it! Tell me, what do you think we should do?" Erven can't bring himself to do it, he keeps staring at Lucky who is walking to the altar, and he's shaking his head.
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Talion briefly turns his eyes away from Sho to look at the dog, "All, or none! Lucky Bear is one of us."
"Erven, get that stupid dog back here, he's worse than Sho!" His voice cracks with the last words, and he keeps trying to restrain the priest.
“You don’t understand.” Sho says back, locking eyes with Talion, “What good will it do if we all die here? Look around you. Twelve cultists and that one monster - we can’t fight them all.”
“I promised you this.” He continues, “I promised that you’ll walk out of this house alive. Your work is not yet finished and your destiny will not be thwarted - That’s what you said. You die here, you will be offering your servitude all the same.” He grits his teeth, and gets Talion’s hands off him sharply.
Talion remains in front of the priest, blocking his way. "You are twisting my words, but I promised you that we would all walk out alive. If the price of our freedom is that your servitude here, then that is unacceptable."
"I can be stubborn: rest assured that, with or without you, we will fight this thing. I'd prefer that you were fighting on our side when we do."
Sho stares at Talion incredulously, then finally moves away his eyes.
"You could walk away free. Back where you were, like the house never happened." He whispers, tired. "Why do you have to be so stubborn?"
Talion grins, relief plain on his face, "Because if we are going to survive this, then we will need your help." He starts handing things back to the priest, examining the amulet as he does so, "Besides, I did promise we'd all get out. Can't have someone accusing me of going back on my word, even though I am only a cutpurse
throat."Sho's not taking back his things. He stands there, unmoving, cold and mute, then abruptly starts south towards the rank refuse pile, to examine what is underneath. (around K4)
Intelligence (?): 19 . If Religion +2.
Talion hurriedly stows the items, and frowns when Sho does not take the medallion, but stows it carefully inside his own armour. He continues to try to stop the priest moving to the south, following him if necessary, and looking anxiously at Onyx to either attack the creature, or help Talion stop Sho.
Catching Talion's expression as he watches the odd couple argue, Onyx nods.
"I wouldn't get that close, Sho!"
With that, he lobs the flask at the mound of refuse.
"Lathander, light my fire."
Attack, with Inspiration: 19
Initiative (presumably): 15
Another medical problem. Indefinite hiatus. Sorry, all.
Bertolt answers the question by getting his crossbow and aiming at the nearest of the strange figures, waiting for any sign of aggression before he makes a move. "I am in agreement. While I may be an "old man" as some of you have so eloquently called me, I would rather not perish today."
Erven shoos Lucky Bear away from the altar, gives her a good scratch, but clearly indicating to her that he would not be sacrificing her on the altar. "You are with me, and always will be!"
He readies his rapier and shield, moves to J12 and tries to slip into the shadows, awaiting whatever is in the alcove to come out, planning to flank and attack. He hides in anticipation of this.
Stealth : 17
Initiative : 10
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Talion finally releases Sho when he realizes that the die has been cast. As the vial of alchemical fire flies through the air he takes one last glance at the priest, then focuses his rage, frustration and malice on the thing that has been tormenting them all. If one moment in his life must define him, then this will be it: One of the few moments where his heart, his mind and his body all unite for a singular outcome, not for himself, but for something larger.
Initiative: 6
Onyx, as you move and cast your spell, it takes hold around you, wrapping you in a warm blanket. As you move to H7, you feel a compulsion to complete the ritual. The altar sits in front of you, shining with the blood of countless victims - some innocent and some not-so-innocent. It puts a black, inky taste in your mouth. But on the dais you are and while the compulsion to sacrifice a life on the altar is strong, your tether to your god is stronger. You get the sense that if you were to leave the dais without completing the ritual, something really bad would happen.....It has the effect of you weighing your options - it's only a dog....if we die, we perpetuate this evil house....if we sacrifice and get out of here, we can burn it down....I could escape!......
Onyx only:
The small voice in your head comes back. Why not sacrifice the dog? If you deny them the sacrifice, they won't let you leave...
Sho and Talion move down the ledge towards the back of the room. A couple of things happen during this time:
- Sho you get to K4 with Talion several feet behind, trying to talk his sense into you.
- Bertolt, Talion and Sho, you notice that, while the secret door is still open, a few tangling vines have apparently dropped down to block the way...they look like normal vines...
- Erven, the same thing happens at the portcullis door - a few stringy vines have dropped down at some point in the last several minutes...
- Sho, standing as close as you are to the refuse pile, you look closely at it while opening your senses to its essence [nature check, it's the same mod]. You feel a great power nestled within the pile, along with a immeasurable pain and anger. There is no doubt this is a dormant, undead entity. It is seemingly only waiting on some trigger event...
Lucky Bear squirms in your arms, wet and smelly, and you push her back. She barks at you in protest but stays about 10 feet in front of the portcullis, for now...
Erven, you think you have hidden as well as can be expected with no traditional form of cover; using the mist and shadows, you feel yourself hidden from view...
The vial flies through the air at the pile of refuse. It lands among the sticks and algae, throwing up a cloud of small, now-angry, buzzing insects. It doesn't do anything - maybe the bottle wasn't hit hard enough? you think for a moment...then all of a sudden, it flares to life - the liquid inside exposed to the oxygen in the room - dealing 4 fire damage to the partially submerged refuse pile. Nothing happens for a second, other than more smoke entering the room - the effect of the fire on the wet stuff.
Suddenly, the chanting stops. The drumming stops. The echoes too, eventually stop. A sound like from twisting wood splintering can be heard. Then a sucking, gasping sound as if a giant was trying to breath in as deeply as possible, can be heard. The drums start again, this time in double-time with a pronounced deep beat on the final cadence: ba-bum-bum-BOOM! ba-bum-bum-BOOM! ba-bum-bum-BOOM! And then the chanting begins once more. Those who don't know Infernal or Abyssal will hear this new chant as: "Larqmazm zmy dytihyr, sy isicyl zmyy! Larqmazm zmy dytihyr, sy isicyl zmyy!” It sickens your ears and a terrible feeling births itself in your chests...
Sho and Onyx only:
"Lorghoth the Decayer, we awaken thee!”
At the change in the chant, the refuse pile begins to shake and gurgle. The sickening sound of muffled snapping bones can be heard as a figure begins to take shape before you. This large...thing...is covered in green algae, vines, twigs, and sports a water line of sorts where it was submerged in the rank liquid. It begins to shake most of the detritus off of it, throwing water and slime outwards. It nearly fills the entire cave that it was in, you'd guess it would be at least 10 feet tall if it stood straight up. But it doesn't stand straight - it is a bit hunched and misshapen, a mistake of existence or, more likely, the result of dabbling in something far beyond understanding...
The thing before you, now mostly clear of debris, is a misshapen, pinkish-gray fleshy mound of rotting and decaying material. There are exposed bones, stringy pieces of waterlogged flesh and tendon barely hanging on, and insects and bugs chomping at it all. Horrifyingly, all over its form, you can make out faces, some that you can recognize - Gustav Durst, Madame Durst, Esme and others you don't recognize - all of the faces push against the flesh from the inside, and all scream, cry, and gibber nonsensically...you recognize the words "Help" and "No" and "Kill me" several times over. The central section where you'd think the "main" head to be, is a contorted, cherubic face - you recognize the face of baby Walter immediately - under which is a large mouth filled with sharp teeth. This mouth also gibbers and cries madly - typical baby crying but wildly unnerving and out of place here - slobbering drool around that hisses and steams when it hits the water or walls.
[all, sorry I don't have a good picture of this creature - hopefully the above description is an okay description! Bottom line, it's big disgusting, rotting, fleshy sack of moaning, crying, gibbering, undeath that has been activated by your denial of the cult. This is the "She," the Ancient, the Land...]
I think it's time we all roll initiative!
Thing - 9
Initiatives:
Onyx - 15
Erven - 10
Talion - 6
MAP
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
As soon as he realizes that the roots are sprouting over the doors, Talion shouts "It's filling the doors with roots! We'll be trapped..." he looks to Onyx, wondering if the man will fall back or continue with the attack. He glances at the doors, then back to the warrior.
Initiative: 15
@DM: (1) is the water an impediment to movement, and (2) how big is this thing - will it fit through the doors?
Nature: 11
You’re pretty certain they are 2 vine blights.
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons