Bands of Power - Game thread

It was hundreds of years ago, in the northern territories ruled by the ancient dwarf lords when Gorffrey, a skillful fire master forged the bands for their king. They are encrusted with two dozen rubies of different sizes each. The face of the bygone king is sculpted on their surfaces. The ancient dwarven magic in the bands gave the king abnormal strength, vitality, and stamina. The intricate spells cast into the bands would help him outlive all his contenders.

The bands caused unrest in the kingdom. Word traveled fast, and it did not take long for assassins to appear. The king was murdered, and the bands stolen. Civil war followed, and before they knew it, all those involved forgot why they were fighting in the first place. The bands were stored away and were soon forgotten, hoping no one would ever seek their might again.

The arcane bands were lost to the world for centuries. Lost until a mage named Hartvigg, through arcane serendipity, perceived their energy and triangulated their location. Hoping to find out more about them but not to risk his skin, he hired a group of foolhardy adventurers to help him explore the vault. Hartvigg claims the bands must be hidden somewhere inside. He provides a rough map to the lone woods; a few day’s travel and then past the village of Greenvale. He describes what path to take beneath the shrouded bows to locate the ancient dungeon’s entrance.

The party had only a little trouble finding what must be the entrance they sought, but without the signs and hints of Hartvigg’s map they would have thought it just a root choked and mouldering hill. Centuries of forest detritus, and perhaps purposeful burial, had smothered the low squat structure. The cycles of the seasons provided much camouflage.

The villagers of Greenvale had flocked to you when you passed through. They had babbled about empty farmsteads and missing villagers. They yammered like so many children talking over each other until the Old Man of the village had arrived to calm things. The fear in their eyes was real though. Perhaps this structure was the Old Barrow they mentioned in hushed tones as they begged our aid in returning their kin and ridding them of whatever evil plagued them.

After a few minutes of investigation an entrance into the mound was located. Someone had hacked away roots and brush to partially expose what must be two stone doors. The roots of the trees which had grown upon the mound had wormed their way into the cracks and crannies, pushing one door askew and’s whoever came before had widened the opening, leaving the way open. It was plain to all that there were a number of tracks leading in and out by those careless of the step. Some tracks were obscured in wide swathes leading inside which were in turn trodden over.
The forest gloom hangs overhead while the pitch black portal lay ahead. The weak and filtered light of the dying sun barely penetrates the darkness, but more than enough to see the broad steps leading downwards.

With the light of the torch Berith can tell that there seen to be a few different people who have been through here. There is evidence of tracks of different sizes, all shod in some kind of footwear, even a human child’s or a halfling’s thought you don’t remember any halflings in the village. The tracks aren’t distinct enough to her eyes to tell much more.

As Berith studies the tracks leading in and out of the entrance, Borgo slides forwards to peer down the stairs. They good down farther than he first assumed, about 30’ or so. He can just make out part of what must be a landing or floor of a room with a few leaves laying scattered on the visible flag stones.

The stairway itself is about 20’ wide, finely made with smooth walls of close fitting dressed stone. The walls leading down are unadorned, but the even a clod can tell this place was dwarven wrought.

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (10)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak
Lattremond
Bereth
Elspeath
Albrecht

As Borgo starts slowly and carefully down the broad steps, the large pack obscures much of his scrawny frame, making him look much like a large tortoise to those above. His soft boots make hardly any sound on the smooth stone and those who wondered at the obsessive neatness of his pack and kit now understand its purpose as he makes his way silently downwards. Berith starts down shortly after the stealthy Goblin, a torch held out in front, pushing the darkness away while the rest of the group comes down after her. No one can match Borgo's furtive movements, but Elspaeth's mail shatters the silence with its soft chinking and rubbing against her gambeson and the leather of her pack. Perhaps, if heard by others, it will hide Borgo's featherlight steps.

As Borgo reaches the bottom step, the dancing crescent of torchlight expands outwards, allowing him an almost full 30' view into the room. Gesturing slowly for the party to halt where they are, he studies the way ahead.

There are a few leaves and twigs that have made their way in, but the surface seems largely clean and clear except for two piles of bones, one close by and the other just visible at the edge of the torchlight. The air's musty humidity is cut by a slight, acrid tang that teases your nose. The stone floor extends out from the steps in all directions, but 10' in front of the stair begins a massive, angular pattern of inlaid silvery metal and stone. The light of the torch only reveals the closest portion of it, revealing about 20' past where the regular flooring stopped and showing it to be at least 20' from side to side. It appears to be some kind of geometric focal point of the room. The outer 5' is formed from blocky, interwoven Dwarven runes. The central area appears to have a symbol carved or etched into it. No walls can be seen, and the light only extends about 5' or so to the left and right of the edge of the entrance.

Silence greets you. What do you do?

As the party gathers near the bottom of the stair...

Lattremond studies what he can see of the pattern and while unsure of the specific purpose it serves it is obviously a focal point for the room. Is it purely decorative? Though given the arrangement of the runes, some religious significance is likely. Perhaps when more of the room is visible a definitive purpose will become clear, though given that the stairway entrance opens into this room, it's more than likely....

Bringing up the rear, Albrecht can see the runes graven in the floor and can plainly make out the larger ones, "Great Ord, Giver of Law..." There are smaller runes as well, but they aren't clear under the torchlight from this distance.

As Berith and Borgo move into the room, the torchlight brings more of the pattern and the rest of the room into view. The pattern is large, at least 30' wide, taking up most of the middle of the room and you guess it to be a hexagon or parallelogon. The design in the center resolves into a stylized anvil emblazoned with the symbol of Ord, an eye encircled by runes. Both Borgo and Berith can see the room is 60' wide at this end, with two sturdy carved columns to the left and right of the stairs. The walls are smooth, with cornices of geometric carvings in bas relief.

Borgo heads toward his main interest, the skeleton about 10’ away, just in front of where the pattern begins. The torchlight reveals that there are three to be seen besides Borgo’s current target. One is loosely scattered on the pattern about 20’ away from the stair. The third is about 30’ away to the right, near the column there. As Borgo moves up to the bones, he can tell by the length and thickness of the bones, it seems to be a full skeleton, that these are likely the remains of Dwarves. They rest amidst a low pile of dust and debris, perhaps all that remains of their flesh and clothing. There are no artifacts or weapons nearby.

Some of the dust swirls in a small gust but it isn’t until the bones start to vibrate that Borgo realizes he feels no breeze upon his cheek. Stepping back as the bones link and attach with a hollow clatter, Borgo shouts a warning as the bones rise up from the ground. Three skeletons stand before you, their sockets filled with a baleful red light. They are quickly joined by a fourth pair of burning coals that appear in the far darkness before another skeleton steps into the light.

Even Albrecht, the farthest in back, can feel the malign intent in those burning eyes.

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (10)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak
Lattremond
Bereth
Elspeath
Albrecht
Skeletons

Backpedaling furiously, Borgo unlimbers his bow and makes a hurried shot. As the arrow passes to the left of the undead thing a ragged howl rings out from the stairs and a hulking form crashes down on the flags next to little Goblin and charges skeleton with it’s huge sword sweeping downwards in a savage blow. The heavy blade passes through the old bones with little resistance, splitting bone and sending the whole skeletal structure to the ground in pieces.

Borgo’s shot misses, but even with the shouting, he heard his arrow crash into something hard close behind the veil of darkness; the far wall must not be more than another 20-30 feet into the black. Thak utterly destroys the skeleton on the left that Borgo started next to.

Everyone is within Near of the two closest skeletons (the one ahead and closest on the symbol, the one near the column to the right). The farthest skeleton, also on the symbol, is within near of Berith and Thak

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (10)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak
Lattremond
BerIth
Elspeath
Albrecht
3x Skeletons

As the battle begins, Lattremond bounds over the final steps to engage the closest skeleton on the runic pattern. Berith moves quickly to the right, aiming to cut off the foe near the large column. Though past his prime, the priest wields his blade with practiced skill. His steel shears straight through the skeletal rib cage—a blow that would have killed any living person—but it only staggers the creature back a step.

Berith’s skeleton attempts to block her strike with an upraised arm, but her blade crashes through its lower and upper arm bones, leaving the limb a jagged shard.

Elspaeth uses her elevated position on the stair to good advantage, aiming her heavy bolt just over Lattremond’s shoulder. Sighting on the yellowed forehead of his foe, she gently squeezes the release. The thwack of the string and the crash of the bolt against the far wall happen almost simultaneously as the skeleton’s skull is flung from its spine. The bony figure collapses to the floor, while the skull, now bearing large, ragged holes front and back, spins to a stop a few feet away.

The closest skeleton on the pattern is destroyed. I'm interpreting RedRage's "in the middle of the design" to be the closest one. Berith's foe is still standing, as is the farthest one.

Lattremond, Berith and Thak are currently witihn near of both remaining skeletons. Albrecht, Borgo and Eslpeath, on or near the stair, are within Near of the skeleton to the right, near the column.

As Berith moves towards the column, bringing the light to her, she illuminates the wall just behind and two massive closed stone doors. Behind her, Thak and the scattered bones at his fee are nearly consumed by the darkness.

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (10)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak
Lattremond
BerIth
Elspeath
Albrecht
2x Skeletons

With spasmodic ratcheting motion the skeletons attack!

The one armed skeleton swats at Berith. The thin bones harbour an unexpected strength and the blow smothers Berith’s parry to strike her heavily on the shoulder, leaving her arm tingling, but her grip on the torch still secure.

The sole remaining intact skeleton clacks forwards quickly with both arms raised overhead for a double fisted strike at Thak. Before Thak has time recover from his own strike, it is upon him. Its fists downward sweep smashing into the warrior’s head with a "thock!"

Okay! The one armed Skeleton has struck Berith heavily and the intact skeleton has give Thak a solid blow.

Everyone is withing near of the two adversaries: the one to the right near the column with Bertih and the one on the that just rang Thak's bell.

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (10)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak 3/7HP
Lattremond
BerIth 5/10HP
Elspeath
Albrecht
2x Skeletons

Round Two:

Borgo takes a few steps back up the stairs and to the right to get a clear shot around Thak. He knocks, draws and releases in one fluid motion and the arrow strikes home, piercing through the skeleton's skull.

Intact Skeleton has taken 4 damaage.

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (10)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak
Lattremond
BerIth
Elspeath
Albrecht
2x Skeletons (7/11, 6/11)

Round Two:

Thak's rage echos around the chamber as his blade sends another shower of bones to the floor.

Seeing that the warrior had felled his adversary, Lattremond, rushes to assist Berith but the skeleton manages to step inside his guard and evade the hacking blow. When the undead shifts it's malevolence onto the preist, Berith takes the opening, but only managers to send a few shards of bone from the already ruined shoulder.

Berith can feel the baleful eyes upon her as the skeleton turns it eyes upon her and Elspeath's glancing bolt does not shift it's evil intent as it shoulders Lattremord away and turns to face her. Albrecht's growled curse is the only warning before she is shoved aside by the large man, but his hasty chop only stikes air.

As Albrecht's forms fills the Skeleton's line of sight, it stikes before he can recover slamming it's fist into the Dwarf's head. It's the last move the thing makes as the adventurers then smash it to the ground in a rain of blows. The light in it's rolling skull fades to black just before Albrecht smashes it underfoot.

The rooms is left in silence now but for the heavy breathing of the party.

Combat is over. All the skeleton's are down. Albrecht took 4 damage there at the end. Albrecht, Berith and Lattremond are near the column with the only source of light. Thak is standing on the symbol at the edge of the torchlight, and Borgo and Elspeath are on the stair.

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (10)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak 3/7HP
Lattremond
BerIth 5/10HP
Elspeath
Albrecht 8/12HP

Berith's torchlight has revealed some of the right hand wall of the room along with the two massive stone doors. Each is adorned with the same geometric patterns as the cornices with a large anvil and Eye of Ord spanning both. Each door sports a massive ring of iron and Albrecht can plainly tell that unless cleverly hinged, each door will require the effort of several to open. The torchlight still doesn't reach the far end of the room.

As your breaths slow and the dust settles from fallen bones you hear the muffled rumble of thunder from the stairwell. Those dark clouds must have moved closer since you entered the forest.

So you've illuminated 30' from the center of the room all the way to the right hand side. If the Symbol is in the center of the room and it were a square, you imagince it might about 60' square with another column on the left in the darkness. As the torch has moved, only the rightmost part of the room is light, though.

Do you investigate the doors? Peruse the symbol in the floor more closely? Explore the darkness? Or entertain what other interests you might have?

The doors are wide and give impression of great weight. Though blocky and large, the carving is exacting. Someone to a long time doing it. Or was really skilled.

Borgo takes a few minutes to investigate the two doors; the broad surfaces, the anvil with the eye, the heavy pull rings, hinges and straps. Borgo’s honed senses and crafty fingers can find no obvious means that they might be locked and his skill at finding hidden dangers leaves him confident that there is no danger. As long as they aren’t barred in some way, they should pull open into this room. …with some considerable effort.

The door is unlocked and untrapped.

As Berith moves the torch towards Albrecht and Lattremond, Borgo looks back in concern until he sees where she stops. There is still plenty of light to finish his investigation of the doors and he’s nearly done anyway.

The torchlight reveals that the design is hexagonal in shape and 30’ across and abuts the wall to your right, directly across from the stairwell, part of which is also come into view along with another column and pile of bones. These are much like the others but do not animate and attack you. The skull is missing. Perhaps that’s why.

Lattremond, though he cannot read the runes, determines this to be a religious text of some kind; almost definitely a prayer of some type. He has seen similar symbology and motifs in other buildings before. Perhaps this was part of consecrating the place to Ord. Glancing back at the double doors emblazoned with the anvil and Eye of Ord, if things follow other past examples, any room behind them should be of religious significance.

Albrecht can read much of it from where he stands. It’s definitely a prayer to Ord.

"Great Architect, Giver of Law, We, your hammer and shield, stand ready. In the cold stillness of the mountain heart, we find your truth— That form arises from chaos, and strength from discipline.
Guide our hands to strike with precision, Our shields to hold fast against the tide of madness. Let our lines be as unbreakable as the stone of our halls, And our purpose as clear as a newly forged blade.
We ask not for victory, but for order in the face of fury. We seek not power, but the strength to enforce your will. For we are the anvil upon which your perfect world will be shaped."

Thak’s rough palm is cooled by the cold metal. The thick ring move stiffly in its mount as pressure is applied, but it doesn’t squeak. The sturdiness of the handle and its mounting informs him that some effort will be required to open this door.

Is Thak doing anything in particular here other than simply touching a handle?

Thak's efforts are in vain. He has neither the strengh or weight to pull the door open on his own and soon abandons the effort as Berith's torchlight draws away, leaving this side of the room in darkness.

Berith makes a partial circuit of the pattern with torch held out before her. She remembers that Thak and Lattremond had stepped on the pattern without ill effect during the fight and takes a few tentative steps onto the pattern itself as she stop on the opposite site.

The other members of the party are carried around the room in the wake of Berith's torchlight and are now standing near the edge of the pattern in front of the stairs except for those who chose to stand with her. Lattremond, eyes wary nearly draws his sword as another pile of bone is brought into the light, but these too remain inert and unmoving. As Berith comes to a stop, the light reveals the rest of the room while leaving the right side in darkness. The left side of the room (from the vantage point of the stairs) is a mirror of the right. Twin columns suppor the stone ceiling on either side of another set of closed double doors. These are much alike the others, equally monolithic, but without the great anvil and Eye engraved upon them.

Berith stands about 5' in on the 'left' side of the hexagonal pattern about equadistant from end near the stair and the end which abuts the wall. The prayer pattern itself is about 10' in depth so she is approximately in the middle of it. The unadormed center of the design is hexagonal as well, but of plain grey stone, perhaps carved from a single slab or piece of stone. The room itself is not quite a square being ~60' from left to right (set of doors to set of doors) and ~50 from front to back (staris to wall)

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (9)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak 3/7HP
Lattremond
BerIth 5/10HP
Elspeath
Albrecht 8/12HP[/quote]

Borgo spends the next few minutes going over the stone doors and comes away sure that there is no trap or locks to be seen. The doors seem to be as weighty as those on the other side of the room.

No traps or locks on these doors either. They just appear prodigiously heavy.

Borgo spends the next few minutes going over the stone doors and comes away sure that there is no trap or locks to be seen. The doors seem to be as weighty as those on the other side of the room.

No traps or locks on these doors either. They just appear prodigiously heavy.

Weight of numbers can make up for individual strength in many cases. :)

Thak's veins stand out from his forhead as he heaves on the iron ring by himself. Perhaps it jiggled a bit but it's obvious he's not going to shift any of these door on his own.

Though a relatively nimble fighter and imbued with uncommon grit, the Half-orc does not overwhelm his foe with strength. The knight and Dwarf are plainly broader of back and have more heavily muscled arms. The warlock might even give him trouble in an arm wrestling match. This task is going to take a bit of cooperation as the doors are too massive for one or even two people to shift.

Also, which doors are we tryign to open? Anvil (right of the stairs) or Plain (left of the stairs)

Oops! Double post!

Berith, hands the torch off to Borgo before joining the others at the door's ring, while the last too stand ready with crossbow and sword.

The three warriors are easily able to grip the iron ring together. Though a bit crowded together they are able to pull without getting in one anothers way. Setting their feet, they pull mightily at the door. At first nothing seems to happen, but with a smooth gliding movement and a whisper of soft grating the 6 inch thick door swings ponderously open, revealing a short hall which opens out into another dark chamber and silence.

The warriors relase the ring, and ready themselves.

I assume the 5' wide door is pulled fully open. Lattremond stands with his back to the closed door sword at the ready. Elspeath stands about 10" from the partially open portal ready, crossbow aimed down the hall and ready to leap aside if needs be. Borgo stands near her but occluded from view of anything in the hall by the closed door.

The hall seems to be 10' wide, the width of the two doors themselves. The floor walls and ceiling are similarly made to the main room. The torch Borgo now holds out casts light down the 20' of hallway, and you can tell that it ends there opening it another room.

Borgo creeps carefully down the hall with his knocked arrow held at the ready. He stops where the fading torchlight ends, and tilts his head a bit. The hall was quiet but for his soft footfalls and no sound comes from the darkened room ahead. The air does feel a bit more humid though and just a bit cooler.

Thak pads up after. The acrid tang in the air seems lessened in the hall and ahead. Hearing nothing, he encourage the other to follow with the light.

The hall is safely traversed leaving Borgo, Thak waiting at the precipice of darkness. I'm going to assume the party follows at thier brave companions urging. You can specify how you do so or any actions you take along the way in your next post.

A the rest follow behind, Berith's light illuminates the entire room. It is much smaller than the room you left behind being about 30' from side to side and 25' deep. You first notice two low semi-circular cisterns along the right and left walls; the source of the moist air. Each takes up most of each wall, you guess being about 15' wide and extending out about 7' into the room. The cistern walls are only about 2' high, or that is at least how high they extend above the ground. From here the water appears dark as the stone lining the inside that you can see is dark. The outside of the cistern walls are the same dark stone, with geometric patterning and runes carved in bas relief. The runes talk of purity and order.

But all thought of the these fall from your mind when the light illumens the far wall. Inset in an wide alcove is a gargantuan anvil. It must be 20' wide and easily 10'; it's upper surface brushing the ceiling. It's silvery surface shines and glints in the torchlight. It's base, waist and crown are banded with symbols and runes in praise of Ord and order, and abjurations of chaos and disorder. This is definitely a relic of religous significance. The It is either entirely made from polished steele or else somehow cleverly consturcted and plated with the metal. From this distance not seam or seals are apparent. You can't tell how far back it goes as the light drifts falls into darkness along the sides of the gigantic idol.

Other than what's described above, the room is empty and quiet. The water in the fonts is still.

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (9)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak 3/7HP
Lattremond
BerIth 5/10HP
Elspeath
Albrecht 8/12HP[/quote]

As Borgo boldly strides across the room, he finds himself quickly in front of the massive anvil and has to crane his neck and arch his back to look up at the top towering over him. Moving over from one side to the other, he can plainly tell that it extends a ways. Turning his head to listen around the side, he can tell there is more space extending into the dark, but he cannot see without more light until Berith follows behind Thak. The torch light illuminates the space between the anvile and the wall showing it to be about 10' deep with the anvil filling the entire space. The gap provided by the waist of the anvil is easily large enough to accomdate him and he can see that he could make is way behind the thing, but he'll either have to scoot in sideways, as there is not much space between the anvil and the wall, or clamber partially on the shining thing itself.

Borgo, and virtually anyone else, can make it can make around to the back of the anvil with varying degrees of awkwardness and difficulty if they like.

Thak, and Berith find themselves in front of their respective pools. They almost appear mirror-like until they are more fully lit. Each font is filled to within and inch of the it's wall's lip. His calloused mitt shatters the smooth surface of the water and his cupped hand brings clear and fresh smelling fluid to his face. Not just fresh, it smells pure and clean like that of babbling brook of icy snow melt.

With her torch both Thak and Berith can see easily see the dark smooth sides and bottom of the fonts interiors, though as Thak is on the far side of the room much detail is lost in shadow agains the dark stone. Berith can see her's clearly, and a slightly darker circle a the base of the wall which must be the source the water. The fonts are empty except for their liquid contents, and it is unclear how the water level is maintained or how this water could be kept so pure and clear. Surely some kind of mildew or algea should have taken root.

The water looks clean and clear. It smells and looks delicious and refreshing as if it just spalshed in from some leaf strewn rill from a druid's grove.

The cool bright liquid fairly tinkles down your throat. If freshness and sparkles had a taste, this would be it.

Other than being refreshing and pure, you don't feel anything other than a slightly refreshed.

Apologies, I took Borgo's "intends to" as a preparation to take later specific actions after hearing some detail about the anvil. I'll assume he's going to clamber around the other side from Lattremond.

As Lattremond moves up to the left side of the anvil and Borgo begins clambering up onto the base massive thing on the right. Lattremond clambers up as well, and both are able to make their way back towards it's rear. While not slow, the going is particularly awkward for the Priest. Borgo is able to squat entirely on the anvils curved base while Lattremond has to constantly brace his arm against the wall as he duck-walks back.

The anvil seems SOLID. When hard or metallic bits of their kit strike it's surface, the dull thunks and clanks sink into the thing as if being drawn down into it's core. Even the voices of the others seem to be drawn into the thing as if all nearby sound is drawn in and away. Lattremond can feel a mass and a permanence far deeper and stronger than and any hunk of simple block of iron or steel could house.

Both men reach the back after a few minutes of careful movement. Stopping at the back corners where the torch light fades, they can plainly see each other across the darkened space between. They can tell that the surface of the back wall and the anvil itself continue uninterupted. Though no details what so ever can be seen there are plainly no doors or openings in the wall or the back of the anvil itself.

Albrecht, watches the Human and Goblin inspect and then scamper behind the Icon of Ord. This place must have been erected by one of the more ...devout sects of Ordish worship. This is by far the largest Icon he's heard of and he has no idea how they would have gotten it here or even how they would have forged it in the first place.

Borgo and Lattremond don't see any seam, opening or even blemish on the sides of the anvil. Most of the back wall and back of the anvil are unilluminated, but looking across at where the torchlight illuminates each of them and the space they are in, they can see that the contours of the wall and the anvil itself are uninterrupted. There is no door or openings visible.

The anvil is undeniably solid steel, though defnitely special in some way. Lattremond suspects that it has been imbued with some device power related to Ord. It feels grounded as if the thing might be rooted in the bones of the World itself. He definitely believes it to be an idol representing Ord and this room likely a place of worship or for the performing of rites.

Berith's light reflects off of the silvery metal as she moves closer. The geometric decorations are finely etched into the metal as is the Eye of Org and the plainly religious Dwarven text. You recognize the runes around the Eye as those bearing the "20 Names of Ord", but the meaning behind the Dwarven text decorating the anvil elude you.

Berith's hand slides along the smooth cool surface and comes away clean without the fainted evidence of dust. As she rests her full palm upon it, she can feel it's weight and density. It's surety. She's sure that Ord's presence is somehow part of the anvil. Not like he is here or aware this room, but like a soft breeze brushing her cheek whose source is a raging hurricane far far over the horizon.

While you do know that not all worshippers of Ord choose the same icon or idol to represent Ord's presense on the mortal plane, you've not specifically heard of anvil's being one of them. Though given this place was built by Dwarves, it doesn't seem any stranger than living underground or other Dwarvish things. This is obviously some kind of small chapel or prayer room though the lack of benches or the remnants of prayer mats makes you wonder if this place was peopled by some strange ascetic sect of Ord.

As Berith moves over to Borgo's side, there is a squawk from the left and Lattremond hurriedly backs out from his side of the anvil lest he have to sit in darkness. The light grows a bit brighter for Borgo, but it only make the line of the shadow more stark. Berith will either have to clamber back as well, pass the torch to Borgo for him to illuminate the back of the anvil.

I'm presuming Lattremond doesn't want to sit in the dark as the light would be blocked from most of his side of the anvil when Berith moves.

Borgo hears the squawk just before he sees Lattremond duck back behind the anvil. He's initally unsure what's going on until he notices the light dim on that side and grow brighter on his. The line cut by the anvil's shadow across the back wall grows sharper, but he's going to need to either light a torch or bring Berith's back here to see clearly all the way across the back of the anvil and the wall behind.

Borgo's torches ignites with soft "woof" and holding the torch carefully, he inches his way to the back of the giant steel idol. There is plenty of room for him to move past the rounded corner move along the full length of the anvil. Borgo spends a good while checking both wall and the bright metal surface itself, but finds no indication of entry or exit. Though near the center along the back wall of the anvil is a oval impression about two (Goblin) handspans across. It is contains a few Dwarven rune sitting below a set of crossed hammer and tongs. Above the tongs are three four pointed stars. It reminds him of the kind of mark left by the seal or stamp a master blacksmith might use to mark his craft.

Looking upwards, the goblin is certain without even trying that trying to jump up from this cramped space to reach the top would be nearly impossible.

After a few minutes, the team see the eerie light coming from behind the anvil beging to brighten on the left. The Goblin makes his way out from the side Lattremond exited, stopping now and again on the way to check the surfaces.

Clambering down to joint the rest of the group, the Goblin shrugs.

Borgo and Lattremond are certain that anvil is either solid or thickly built with no visible seams or opening. As well, there are no doors, openings, seams, cracks or otherwise along the walls of recess that the anvil occupies. With regards to trying to access the top of the anvil, Borgo judges it impossible without powerful magic. Not just because of the awkwardness (from the back), but the torchlight shows there is less than a one inch gap between the ceiling and the top of the anvil.

Borgo reports the seal he saw on the back of the anvil, and most agree his impression seems plausible. Albrecht, sits in thought for a moment and comments that there was a Steel Drummer, a Grandmaster Smith, named Jannik Smaragdbeisser from Kupferhalterung in the east. This sounds like how his seal is described in stories, though he's been dead over 300 years and had been retired for 200 before that.

Regarding Borgo's torch, will you keep it alight or douse it now?


Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (8)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak 3/7HP
Lattremond
BerIth 5/10HP
Elspeath
Albrecht 8/12HP

Thak's fist make a meaty smack, that makes more people than Elspaeth wince. This is followed immediately by a sharp intake of breath and a cry as he hops and capers with his fist cradled to his chest. Though now silent, it's plain to see he's in great pain.

The blow of Berith's pommel is much less exciting, ending with a dull "Kang!" that jars her hand and arm, and fills the room. Changing hands to work the feeling back into her palm, she notes that there is now a bit of a flat spot on her pommel. Looking at where she struck the anvil, no blemish can be seen.

Borgo douses his torch as no one takes it from him and stands watch near the entrance back to the hall.

Thak's hand is quite sore along the bottom edge. After a bit of tentative flexing he doesn't think he's broken anything, but he's sure it will be painful to the touch for a few days. Berith's pommel now has a mark to remind her of when she tried to use it to hammer an anvil.

The giant icon to Ord in the shape of an anvil appears to be just that. There is something mystical about it but it doesn't seem to hold any secrets for you or maybe even for anyone else but those who once belonged to those skeletons.

So you've investigated the Anvil, and now find yourselves in the room in front of it and the recess it occupies. You stand in the damp air with the still pools, the ripples from your earlier investigations having settled.

We can just say Borgo never lit a torch as it was used for so litle time.

The party make their way down the hall and back to the first room and instinctively walking near the stairs and light filtering down from the entrance. Reaching the massive doors on the other side, they set to work and together are able to pull on open.

With the door come air comes the heavy with the scent of old paper other subtle smells that Elspaeth and Lattremond recognise from apothecaries.

The room’s far wall is within the torchlight but slants away from you and extends out into darkness and the room itself is not so barren as the others were. To the left of the door you see a large set of book cases. It is full of bound volumes, scrolls and bundles of paper. To the right of the door is a large stone chest, long and low with a flat wooden top. The far wall is lined by a long work bench strewn with various accoutrements of alchemy: bottles and vials, small jars and tins, papers and’s books, etc. it extends off into the darkness as well. You can see a couple of chairs at the workbench.

The room is 30’ wide near the entrance and the slanted far wall, about 30’ away, gets farther away as you look to the right. Darkness fills the area to the right past the chest.

As you prepare to enter, you notice that Albrecht is not there. You aren’t sure whether he stayed behind for some reason or slipped up the stairs as you passed. Whatever he did or whatever befell him, it happened silently.

You’ve found yourselves at the entrance to some kind of library and laboratory. The scent of old books nearly is strong but the acrid tang still lingers.

Albrecht is no longer with you. What do the remaining party members do?

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (8)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak 3/7HP
Lattremond
BerIth 5/10HP
Elspeath

Waving the others to be quiet, Borgo enters with eyes wide, stopping periodically with head cocked to listen for any dangers not yet seen. Following about 10 feet behind, Berith moves in behing to illuminate the way ahead for the Goblin.

The room is unusually shaped; kind of bent to the right as if around a kind of corner. The workbench extends about 50 feet with space for many to work and there is evidence of space for several scriveners, as well as two places for alchemists or apothecarys where lay several bunches of brown dry herb among vials and beakers, some of which appear to still contain liquid or powders. There is no dust or cobwebs. This room seems as if it had been sealed shut and nothing had entered since it was shut. Given the apparent state of visible papers, heavily yellowed, that was long ago.

The opposite side of the room from the slanted wall has a kind of jagged angled wall. Farther in from the long chest there are a few crates, and at the far end of the room are two sturdy wooden chests, neither of which appears to a hasp or lock. These are flanked by chest high stone statues featuring Anvils with the Eye of Ord surmounted on intricately carved columns.

The room is silent but for your own soft breaths. Dead. No new knowledge has been discovered or set down in writing here for a long time.

You have carefully walked the length of the room. There is no apparent danger.

Thak approaches the workbench and sees it is laden with myriad implements of chemistry and bookwork: Pots, tins and small boxes; vials, beakers and bowls; bundled twigs, leaves and bark; brittle quills, papers and dried ink pots. Sniffing dismissively at the work of bookworms and pot stirrers, he turns his attention to be chests that Borgo is scrutinizing as Berith brings the torch close and starts looking through the documents there.

Borgo spends a few minutes looking over the two chests at the far end of the room and eventually, confident of his own assessment, touches one lightly before setting his palm down upon it. Not having died, he slowly lifts the lid of the first chest. The unassuming exterior belies the chests more interesting purpose. The intererior is padded and lined with some kind of felt. The thickly padded bottom features 8 recesses for storing delicate items,and two are occupied by small stoppered glass bottles.

As Borgo chortles softly to himself, Berith begins looking over the papers. They are written in Dwarven script, or at least the top sheets are. As she grabs the first sheaf the pages crumble to bits. Touching another pile with her finger, the paper cracks, splits and comes away in small chunks. Perhaps the bound books on the shelves will have fared better.

Okay, Thak is standing near the workbench dismissively. Borgo has searched the two chests and found no indication traps or anything else of interest with the two wooden chest. The one he has opened contains two ...potions? Berith's initial investigation of the documents on the workbench provide little insights into the place, but perhaps someone will have better luck at the bookcase?

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (4)
NOTE: Was counting down from 10 instead of 6 (i.e. 60 minutes). Derp.

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak 3/7HP
Lattremond
BerIth 5/10HP
Elspeath

Lattremond steps up to the bookshelf, turning to keep his shadow from blocking the light as he scans the shelves for items of interest. Most of the bundles of paper and scrolls look to be in terrible condition, crumbling at his touch, but the bound books look in better shape. Most of the spines that are labelled are clearly written in Dwarven. Ingoring those, Lattremond finds a few which in Common. Handing one to Elspeath as she appears at his side, the two begin scanning through their small horde. The subject matter is plain. Alchemy. They are all in bad shape, but enough of the pages survive that doesn't take too confim it. A Treatis on the Uses of Barks, Leaves, Saps of Trees and Shrubs. This was next to one on Fruits, nuts and galls. One about powders of crushed gems, stone and clays. And Two particularly damaged books are related to embuing items with magical properties. It is too damaged to make much out of it and what can been read is too esoteric and fragmented be useful.

On the far side of the room, Borgo retreives both bottles from their nooks easily. Turning to hold one up and then other against the light. The fluid contained in the first is clear and thin, moving freely agains the sides of the bottle as you give it a little shake. The myriad tiny flecks of gold and silver swirl around inside, with a tiny glint of blue, red or green appearing here and there as well. The second bottle is about the same size but substantially heavier. The glass itself is thicker but it must be impregnated with lead or some other metal to be this hefty. There are four distinct marks on the side which may indicate dosages. The contents also give the apearance of being more substantial. It is a thicker dark red liquid which only passes some of the torchlight through. Gently shaking this bottle generates slow opalescent eddies of oranges and yellows.

As Berith carries the torch to the back of the room, she carries Lattremond and Elspeath along in her wake of light. Noting the colored glints coming from the upheld bottles, they set their ragged tomes down on the edge of the workbench come for a closer look. Handing the potions off to Lattremond and Elspeath, he turns to the second chest and lifts it's lid. Looking back briefly as Thak looms over his shoulder, he pushes it back fully to expose a small purse of coins amist a set of more intact books. The books are plainly religious; the cracked covers are emblazoned with Ord's symbol and a quick glance at the yellowed pages show dull and peeling illuminated Dwarven runes. The purse though, that clicks merrily in his grasp. A quick look inside and a discerning toss tells Borgo it holds about 30 gold.

Alright, I forgot to confirm ealier, that yes, as with the Anvil room, there there are no other apparent exits than the one entered from. The bookcase, long workbench and the two chests have been investigated, leaving the crates and the long container.

You've found two potions of some description one sparkly and one red. Further investigate can be taken as the old sniff and taste test can be done without harm. Lattremond or Elspeath can give me an Intelligence roll if they do so, and we'll see how much they can determine about their properties. In addition the group has recovered 30GP in coin. I am presuming that Elspeath and Lattremond are each holding a potion, being those most likely to know somtheing about them.

The bookshelf doesn't seem to turn up much as most of the content is in Dwarven, too brittle/damage to withstand scrutiny or both. The texts you read cover topics related to alchemy and the crafting of magical items. Tantalizing topics for those inclined to read, but unfortunately the books are in an unusable state.

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (3)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak 3/7HP
Lattremond
BerIth 5/10HP
Elspeath

Borgo turns to display his find to the others and stops short, squinting into the darkness. A soft shuffle of footfalls comes from the other end of the room, as if a booted foot stumbled. Your all stop tensely and turn as Berith's and Thak's hands instinctively find the hilts of their weapson. Albrecht steps awkwardly into the light. It is him, but he wears a black hood or sack over his head and appears to have spilled something over his shoulders and chest. He takes one more unsteady step forwards and stops before opening one small eye tentatively, and then another, and another, and the hood undulates as many scattered eyes blink open. These are quickly followed by several small mouths which begin to mutter and yap, the sound of which generates a faint buzzing and pain between the eyes. The head turns quickly this way and that as if giving different eyes a clear view of you, and he... it comes.

Albrecht returns, but not as you last saw him. The warrior's axe and javalins somewhere, but he still wears his pack and his dagger is sheathed at his side. The noise the thing is making is grating and unpleasant. You are all positive you would develop a headache if you had to listen to it for too long, but it is not harmful. That cannot be said for the things apparent intent.

Combat is initiatied. Everyone is down in the south part of the room near the chests with Elspeath, Berith and Lattremond nearst the creature's approach. The creature is Near to everyone and coming in hot.

Berith hodls the torch, and Lattremond and Elspeath each hold a potion. Whoever posts first can decide which one they are holding if they care.

What do you do?

Deftly tucking the small pouch under his belt, Borgo quickly grabs his bow, grabs an arrow and then knocks, aims and fires in quck succession. The complication of having to aim between his companions causes shot to go wide, but he still hits the not-Albrecht in the shoulder, but it's halting steps are not slowed.

Not-Albrecht take an arrow to the shoulder for 4 damage.

Eslpaeth surmises in the moments before company arrives that this concoction has something to do with fire or heat... unless it's a sweet and cinnamony syrup for confections. She will need to spend some time later investigating it more closely.

This doesn't count as her combat action.

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (3)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak 3/7HP
Lattremond
BerIth 5/10HP
Elspeath/
not-Albrecht

Haha! Nice! It's obviously a miss, but give me a Dex Save for that one, please. Let's see if you keep hold of your Greatsword. :D

I'll adjudicate the result when we work out what the remaining members are doing.

As the Thak charges, the blade of his great sword cutting a great circle in the air all the eyes of the creature turn to fix thier weird stare upon him. Whether unnerved or just unlucky, his fingers slip. The blow never lands as Thak scrambles to maintain his grip.

The black cephalon is slick and wet in the torchlight and you can see that the neck and shoulders are wet with greyish translucent fluid running down onto it's chest. The grey contrasts sharply with bright red as the wound from Borgo's begins to bleed. The acrid semll has grown more intense as this creature appoached.

Thak's fluffed his attack, but maintians his grip on his sword. Looking for Lattremond and Berith's actions.


Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (3)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak 3/7HP
Lattremond
BerIth 5/10HP
Elspeath/
not-Albrecht

The Cleric stands tall holding his longsword before him with palm held against the upright blade near the hilt. Uttering a short benediction for aid from Saint Terragnis, Lattremond pulls the blade across the flat of his hand and a soft eldritch glow suffuses the metal.

Berith steps up to strike with her sword, but several eyes catch hers in the moment and it is as if time slows. She can tell they are plainly misaligned; scattered across the head. The one where an ear should be is upside down. They seem to slowly drift across the slick surface. The moment passes and she finds herself recovering from a missed blow and she pulls back to gain some distance moving to the left corner behind the others from the creature.

Elspeath backs into the corner on the right as the soft glow erupts from Lattremond's blade. With Elspaeth out of the way and Thak bypasssed she has a clear view of the thing and her loosed bolt sinks to the quills in Albrecht's leather armor. The bolts heavy blow sends the creature stumbling a few steps to the side, but it does not fall.

The creatures soft warbling mulitudinous muttering grows louder, making your eardrums tickle and itch as the thing swings back towards Thak with a powerful arm aimed at Half-orc's head. It attacked Thak without turning. The creature can see behind as well as in front.

While still off his guard from nearly dropping his sword, Thak is far from flat footed and brings up an arm to deflect most of the force of the strike.

Okay! Borgo and Elspaeth have feathered the un-Albrecht for 10 damage, but it has not fallen. Thak was struck for another 1 damage.

Berith and Elspaeth are between the statues and the chests in the room, with Lattremond and Borgo in the area before the chests. Thak and un-Albrecht and a bit farther away. Everyone is within Close of everyone else.

Elspaeth, Lattremond please give me a Save against DC10 with Advantage. Lattremond use Wisdom and Elspaeth Charisma. If you fail, you find the creature mutters too distracting and must make any spell casting checks at disadvantage on your next turn.

Okay, we're back at the top of the order. Post as you may!


Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (3)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak 2/7HP
Lattremond
BerIth 5/10HP
Elspeath
un-Albrecht

Under Construction

Borgo's rebuke seems to lend his arrow power. It stikes the center of the un-Albrecht's chest and it sag; it's movements now slow and laboured. The babblings quiet to a soft susurration as the un-Albrecht takes a drunken step toward Thak and begins to slow sink down to the ground. As the body slow, the head seems to roil in agitation, though quieted, the small mouths work manically and the eyes flutter, but for those fixed on Thak. A large flattened bulge swells on the side of the head facing the Orcish warrior as the eyes and mouths stream in that direction. Realizing what is about to happen just before it springs, Thak smacks it out of air with swift flick cut.

Unsure if the danger is past Elspaeth, maintains her aim on the still form while Lattremond maintains his penumbral guard.

You survey what lay before you. Albrecht's dead form crumpled on the flagstones, his head swollen, red and eyeless. The quiescent, lumpy, black splat a few feet away. The dull ache remains, but you can feel it easing quickly.

The thing is slain and Albrecht... released? What does the party do now? You can see that Albrecht wears a seemingly empty backpack, and has a dagger and belt pouch at his waist.

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (3)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak 2/7HP
Lattremond
BerIth 5/10HP
Elspeath

The pack appears empty or at least lightly packed, and when you open it you can see it is empty. Either the pack was emptied sometime before or he didn’t bring any gear other than his weapons.

Yeah, nah. He actually did bring an empty pack! Maybe he was planning on max loot?

@dante_dark: Yes, please. Give me an Int Roll against a DC12, as you look around the room for likely signs of a hidden portal of some sort.

Anyone else doing anything? Two of your have potentially interesting potions on your persons. You've a corpse and a splat? I think Borgo was going to do some more snooping?

Borgo stands watching as Thak and Lattremond "bumble" squinting and tapping at the walls. Berith accomodatingly repositions herself to allow her torchlight to cover the room, avoiding the lumply black mess. After a few moments, Borgo shakes his head and moves about the room giving the rooms remaining furnishings a quick once over. The crates, move relatively easily being seemingly empty or partly filled with books and scrolls; whether they were being packed away or unpacked, you do not know. He walks by the workbench to the bookcase which is made of thick wood and wouldn't be easy to move, laden as it is. After a quick scan, he disregards it and moves to the large stone chest opposite. Thak has his foot upon it's wooden lid as he leans over listening at the cold stone of the wall behind. Waving the Warrior away, Borgo removes the lid and sets it aside. The bottom of the chest is covered in old yellowed scrolls and bundled paper, but he notices that the floor of this stone walled chest is appearently wooden. Clearing some of the papers aside, he can find a small cut-out in the wood, which allows him to lift the flooring up slightly. Piling the crumbling papers on the side of the chest and removing the floor reveals a downward passage with a metal rung buried in the stone. A ladder leading down into darkness.

Lattremond abandons his futile efforts at searching after he see Borgo looking about. Remebering the two potions, with one tucked hastily under his belt, he return to their investigation. Taking the red potion from Elsbaeth, he holds it up and swishes it around. He can also see the strange eddies in the thick red fluid. He can see where Eslpaeth was going, but can determine no more than she with just his eyes.

As Borgo moves away from the bookshelf, Elspeath appoaches it and vainly tries shifting it. Quickly, giving this up she begins pulling at bound volumes and shifting papers, but no hidden mechanism is found before Borgo announces his find.

The party naturally congregates near the downward passage to have a look. Even with Berith's torch right above it, you can't see the bottom. The passage itself is well made, being lined with stone for 10-20 feet, before giving way to what seems to be natural stone that have been carved out for at least another 10'. The rungs that you can see all appear well made and sound. No rust or corrosion is apparent. Cool dry air drifts up from below, carrying the acrid smell you with it. No sounds can be heard.

Okay! Secret passage located! What will you find down in the darkness should you dare plumb it's depth?!

The Potions? You'll need to do more than look at them to try to get a good idea of what they might do.


Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (2)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak 2/7HP
Lattremond
BerIth 5/10HP
Elspeath

Borgo and Thak, prepare for their descent. The little investigator pulls the torch from the two loops securing it to his pack and double checks the fastenings aren't left too loose. Quickly checking the rest of his gear as proof against droppage, he lights his torch and clambers into the chests opening preparing to descend. The rungs are indeed secure, and he makes his way down into the tunnel a very short way. He has room to shift and look below without blocking the torchlight.

Looking back up, he can hear Thak stowing his weapon just before a meaty hand grabs the edge and a big Orky face peers down at him.

Okay, Borgo and Thak are prepared to head down. Has anyone been doing anything in the last few of minutes? Anything before they head down?

Borgo begins the awkward climb down the ladder, with the others following after one by one. Every 5 rungs or so, he casts a glance downwards and it isn't long before he sees the floor below come into view. He's only descended about 20 or so feet, before an opening and the flags below are revealed by the torchlight.

Thak halts his own progress as he sees the Goblin slow and the floor come into dim view turns to wave up at Eslpeath who has only just started to come down.

You surmise the tunnel to be about 50' long from top to bottom. The exit is opposite the ladder so those coming down are currently facing away from it (and above it). There are 20'-25' to the opening and about 30' to the floor itself. In the moment of silence while everyone has stopped questioningly, you don't hear much but the soft crackle and whoosh of your torch in the closeness of the tunnel.

Borgo, Thak and Berith have mounted the stairs, with Elsaeth at the top half poking out of the chest. Berith and Lattremond remain upstairs with the corpses. ...Mwah ha ha haaaa!

Apologies if I wasn’t clear. You are currently 20’ down a 50’ vertical tunnel. You have 30’ of ladder climbing down the tunnel to go before you set your feet upon the floor.

You can see the floor down below you (30’). You can tell that there is an exit to the tunnel. The exit appears about 5’ high, so you have 25 more feet to go before you might be exposed before you see wherever it leads, presuming you just climb down "normally".

I didn’t want to make decisions for you guys about how you might choose to proceed so stopped to tell you what you are seeing partway down.

Climbing farther down, Borgo stops just above where the entrance to the tunnel. The torches light extends out into the space through to the floor beyond but he can’t see more than about a stretch of floor about 10’ square outside of the tunnel with no walls evident.

You are stopped just above the entrance with torches crackling softly. You are all in the tunnel now with Virgo just above the exit.
If you try something, give me a roll. If you can tie it to a skill your class or background would provide you, do so with advantage.

Off you guys instead want to spend some time instead (10 mins, say listening quietly or carefully manoeuvring one of you down partially unseen, or ???) just tell me what you do and describe hope you do it.

Borgo climbs quietly down the last few rungs all the while cursing the need for a torch. He’s sure he made hardly a sound but there was nothing to be done about the beacon light in the darkness.
Pressing himself against the tunnel wall he peeked around the lip of the exit.

It’s another large room you think. You can see the walls to your left and right, but the way ahead is shrouded in inky darkness. To the left at the edge of the light you can dimly see the legs of a statue. To the right can see the wall is broken by a stairway leading up. It is about about 25’ away from you, but you can only see the edge and part of the first couple of steps.

The room itself is a shambles. There are tossed and overturned desks and chairs and stools scattered about. Papers and scrivener’s supplies also litter the floor.

About 20’ away poking from behind a jumble of desks, you see a corpse. Or parts at least. Two lower legs and feet and a hand. Unlike the remains you found above these are not skeletal; they are fleshed but appear pallid and blotchy.

Okay! Borgo steps down quietly and does his best to remain unseen. There is room for one more to squeeze down next to him at the bottom, but that’s it.

It’s 30" to the wall on the left and the statue is barely visible at the edge of the light along that wall. The wall on the right is 20’ away with the edge of the stairwell being 20’ along that wall. The jumble of desks with the bits is about 20’ ahead and a bit to the left.

The room is a mess. You can walk through it with ease but anything else might prove difficult. There are a few things to take cover behind if needed but the torches obviously advertise your presence.

What do you do?

Borgo creeps carefully to the left, making way for the others. In the flickering light, he’s not sure if it’s his movement or a trick of the shadows but it seems like the limbs shift slightly, very slowly. He finds that they are obscured from view in his new position, but he has no trouble pointing them out to Thak as the Warrior makes his way down and exits the tunnel, quickly scanning the illuminated area as he does so.

Thak can see that the room is indeed a shambles as if the room were taken up by a child and shaken as a rattle. The statue's legs appear to be robed, with part of one leg expose as if stepping forwards and he sees where the stairs are as well. Stopping briefly to sight the limbs pointed out by the little Footpad, they are slowly pulled back behind the furniture and out of sight. As the others begin coming down the ladder, Thak walks crouched over to jumble of desk the limbs dissappeared behind. At his approach there are two clunks in quick succession, followed by a soft squeak as if something wooden were shifted across the floor. Pulling his blade, Thak looks around the side and jumps back as something crashes into the pile knocking part of it over and sending a broken chair across the floor and the air is filled with a mind-bending multithroated yowling. This is followed shortly by more from farther away in the darkness.

Borgo has snuck around the lip of the tunnel exit and moved to the left about 5' (on the statue side) to make way. Thak has climbed down and moved to the right (to the stair side) about the same distance, but less quietly. Thak surmises that something has been disturbed by their disturbance of the quietude and darkness. Borgo, doesn't see the limbs pull back, but he does see Thak duck back behind the desk.

Those up the tunnel think they might have heard something from below, but then hear the crashed and preternatural caophony. Looking down they can see that the way is clear. Berith's torch gutters fitfully. It's fuel is close to being expended. She knows that Borgo's torch is fresh.


Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (1)
Borgo - Torch (10)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak 2/7HP
Lattremond
BerIth 5/10HP
Elspeath

The remaining three can make it down and get set before combat starts. The first two just outside the tunnel and the last person is stuck in the tunnel behind the other two. So Elspaeth and Lattremond, with Berith behind.

Everyone is within Near of the pile of desks and what lay obsucred behind. You can't see it, but you get a sense of movement from behind. Something is coming and has company in the darkness.

Here is a representation of the room you have entered. The white square to the top right of the image is the bottom of the tunnel you entered by. The squiggles represent the approximate locations of large piles of jumbled furniture, though there are chairs and detritus scattered about. The far end is obscured by darkness. Borgo is on the right (to the left of the entrance as he entered the room). Elspaeth and Lattremond are just in front of the entrance. Berith inside. Thak right up against the jumble directly in front of the tunnel entrance.

By the bountiful hand of Ord, assuming he will still holds sway here, the creatures seem to be slow to act. What do you do?!




Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (1)
Borgo - Torch (10)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak 2/7HP
Lattremond
BerIth 5/10HP
Elspeath
Lurker in the Dark

Yes there are. He can see one in the corner of the room to his right and he can reach it easily. Yes he can scurry over and set it torch in the sconce and ready his bow. Do you want to stay in the corner or move elsewhere; you still have a bit of movement left. Just edit you post aobve to descibe his posititioning.

How is Thak entreating the Thing in Shadow? Is he calling out loudly from behind the upturned desk waving his hand above his head? Moving around the jumble to stand before it? Moving elsewhwere or holding his place? Just edit you post above to describe it.

Remember the torch has a 30' radius, and Berith has her torch as well, she's currently positioned in the tunnel exit, but her light would extend outwards 30' from there.

Alright, I'll go with my interpretation of Thaks attempt at connecting with whatever is thrashing around.

Thak, with back to the upturned table, raises his hand above his head, palm open, as he tried to communicate with someone or something beyond view. His last words have barely left his lilps before the caucaphony increases to a piercing multitude of wails and rolling mass of flailing limbs crawls and rolls into view and pummels Thak with twitching hands and feet.



With his sword by his side and arm in the air, Thak is caught with his guard down. The keening beast's assault beats Thak down to the floor. The warriors body crumples awkwardly as the creature twitches and jerks above him.

Almost as quickly another of the horrific things careens into view knocking furniture out of the way as it approaches.

You see two creatures in near distance from you all. Each is composed of many mismatched arms and legs protruding from a lump mass of a black tarry substance. Between the limbs you see the black wetness is dotted serveral eyes and mouths. The keening noise is driving a wedge between your ears.

Both of the creatures are within view of all of you having come around the piled furniture. The one that attacked Thak stands over his still form.

Spell casters must make a spell casting checks with disadvantage while suffering the auditory assault. A spell casting check (not at disadvantage) must be made each round to mainain conentration.


Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (1)
Borgo - Torch (10)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak 0/7HP
Lattremond
BerIth 5/10HP
Elspeath
2x Limb Howlers

We’ve done Thanksgiving early at mine. Spent most of yesterday and today cooking and whatnot. Happy holiday to those that celebrate it, or at least have it off. :)

Borgo arrow finds its mark amongst the mass of arms and legs and the whole mass shivers at the blow. The thing leans towards Borgo, seeming to turn its attention to the Goblin.

Borgo’s arrow lands to some effect! Limb Howler takes 4 damage

Lattremond and Berith come before you in the nitiativeor. Just waiting on what they do before I adjudicate it.

The two monstrocities are close enough that their acrid stink assaults you noses. You can all see that the twitching mismatched limbs seem to be embedded in tarry black masses. The full length of some limbs are visible with a bit of hip or shoulder apparent. Some are partly embeded and a few are almost completely subsumed. The black and glistening central blobs are perhaps two or three times the volume of human torso. You see the vacant mismatched eyes and dribbling yammering mouths and shiver.

If the stalwart priest is rattled by horrors, he doesn't show it. He immediately steps forward with sword at the ready, and smites beast standing over Thak's still form. Berith meets the second foe as it arrives with torch held high and blade bared.

The first creature recoils from Lattremond's appoach, limbs flailing, but his blade stikes true carving the thigh of an upraised leg and slashing the black center. It keens loudly as thin black ichor pours from the broad wound in one of the legs.

Berith hews at the second abomonination with a savage stroke, but one of it drops from a scuttling walk to a strange rolling. As the thing quickly rolls aside a flailing arm bats aside her blade. Several fingers fly to the ground nearby, but the thing seems unfazed.

From Lattremond's left there is a sharp 'thwap' and a bolt from Elspaeth's crossbow passes straight through his opponent to bury itself in the table behind. The creature's limbs convulse and go limp as all it's mouth's loose their voices. It seems to deflate as the black mass pours a rank fluid onto the flagstones. Elspaeth wasn't sure she was aiming at anything in particular, but whatever her bolt passed through must have been vital.

Without apparent reaction to the fate of it's companion the remaining abomination sets upon Berith with a hail of feet and fists, but dealing her only a glancing blow.

The first creature has been laid low by the combined strkes of Borgo, Lattremond and Elspaeth. The second is unharmed and assailing Berith.

NOTE: I accidentally include a strength bonus when calculating the damage against Thak. Should have been 2hp damage. He still would have gone down as he only had 2hp left.

The party is up

Oh! I used the adjective "tarry" to describe black coloration it thick blobby appearance. Despite the acrid smell, nothing makes you think these things would be particularly flammable.

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (1)
Borgo - Torch (10)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak 0/7HP
Lattremond
BerIth 5/10HP
Elspeath
Flaccid Limb Howler
1x Limb Howlers

Seeing the creature standing over Thak has been dealt with, Borgo quickly stores his bow and sprints over to begin his ministrations on the prostrate Half-orc. After a few moments of attention, Borgo is able to rouse the Warrior.

Thak, tries to rise as the sounds of fighting and the remaining creatures warble assault his ears, but only manages to roll over to vomit on the floor near Borgo.

Thak finds himself groggily awakened, laying on the floor near a pile of vomit and with his legs wet from some rank liquid. He's half laying on his sword. He’s got 1hp. He’s up.

Borgo’s skills as a doctor cover any requirements for reviving someone.

Thak still lay near the end of the pile of furniture. Borgo having finished his treatments squats down near the recovering warrior with Lattremond standing over them protectively. Berith contends with the Limb Horror a few feet to their right. Elspaeth, farther away from the fray stands with spent crossbow cradled in her arms.

Okay team, Thak can take an action, unless he is opting to let the other deal with the beast while he recovers himself more.

What do you do?

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (1)
Borgo - Torch (10)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak 1/7HP
Lattremond
BerIth 4/10HP
Elspeath
Flaccid Limb Howler
1x Limb Howlers

Grabing the upturned edge of a table, Thak hauls himself up on unsteady feet with the greatsword's weigh almost dragging him back down. Planting his feet firmly with determination in his eye, the warrior grips the great blade in both hands and launches himself at the abomination.

It's eyes watch his approach but it failsto deflect the blow and skirls in pain as Thak's blade cleaves a small arm and sinks into the black mass.

The creature takes 4 damage from Thak' attack.

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (1)
Borgo - Torch (10)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak 1/7HP
Lattremond
BerIth 4/10HP
Elspeath
Flaccid Limb Howler
1x Limb Howlers 4/?HP[/quote]

As Thak almost stumbles back in recovering from his clumsy strike, Lattremond see an opportunity and lunges forwards to carve a shallow trench in it black hide.

The creature battered for another 2 damage from Lattremonds's blow. Though Berith is up next, Elspaeth doesn't need to wait for that post. Post away and I'll sort it out.

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (1)
Borgo - Torch (10)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak 1/7HP
Lattremond
BerIth 4/10HP
Elspeath
Flaccid Limb Howler
1x Limb Howlers -6HP

Berith swings just as Latrremond’s blade licks the creatures flesh. The creature wild gyration throws off her blow and it is batted away by flailing limbs.

Elspaeth quickly reloads her weapon and waits for an opportunity to fire as her companions swat and bash at their foe. Just as Berith recovers from here missed strike and opening appears and Elspaeth’s quarrel is loosed.

The bolt passes through the thing like it isn’t there and spikes the stairs, rebounding into the darkness. The creature jerks to a stop, collapsing in a silent heap. Some of the limbs twitch a jerk for a moment, before the black core sags as black fluid leaks out onto the floor.

Okay. The second creature is finished. The room grows silent except for your heavy breathing.

The carcasses, if that is what they can be called lay before you in the torchlight. Assemblages of mismatched limbs protruding from slowly liquifying black blobs. The many eyes are now sightless and the slack mouths now hang open.

Berith’s torch burns fitfully, obviously on its last legs.

Light Sources:
Berith - Torch (1)
Borgo - Torch (10)

Initiative Order:
Borgo
Thak 3/7HP
Lattremond
BerIth 4/10HP
Elspeath

Presuming safety for the moment, Borgo gets Thak to sit again the wall near the tunnel and way from the mess on the floor. Handing his torch off to Lattremond, he opens up the warrior's bag and pulls out his old Healer's kit. It was too much for him to pack along confortably and Thak had agreed to carry it for him, and good for him he did.

After a few minutes giving Thak a once over and forcing him to chew some herbs and swallow a tincture, he give the warrior a firm pat on the back, "Try dodging next time."

A little Retcon from me. With no tools onhand, Borgo wouldnt' be able to do much to help Thak more than he already has. With a healer's kit his skills allow him to do much more than the uninitiated. I should have thought about this at the start and suggested you purchase one given you have no healing spells available. So I am assuming you spent 5gp to buy one and had Thak carry it as it would put you over your inventory max.

So in the hands of a trained Chirurgeon a healing kit can be used to heal for 1d6+1HP, or to cure some natural posions once a day per person. It has supplies enough for 10 uses.

Well, I guess 3 hitpoints is better than 1.

Post if anyone else wants to do anything in the few minutes before Borgo finished with Thak.

At the end of Borgo's ministrations, Berith's torch will sputter out, leaving you with Borgo's torch (now held by Lattremond) for a light source.

The group are clustered up near the tunnel exit of the room. You can see the beginnings of the stairs to your right and a large statue along the left wall.

The head and shoulders of the statue are in shape now that Borgo has moved away from that side of the room, but it a depiction of a Dwarven religious figure’s. A robed monk or priest of some kind.

The head and shoulders of the statue are in shape now that Borgo has moved away from that side of the room, but it a depiction of a Dwarven religious figure’s. A robed monk or priest of some kind.

As the others begin to move about, you carry the light closer to the statue. You don’t recognise anything specific about it. It’s impressive in size and finely crafted. Moving a toppled chair uncovers a plaque near the base. You cannot parse the runes, but it appears to be a name; perhaps the name of the person represented.

Borgo and Thak take the lead in searching with the others standing guard. You all move about the room in your circle of light uncovering the full shape of the room and picking through the detritus. Berith’s torch fails leaving you with Borgo’s torch still burning.

Thak initially grabs one of the legs of the grotesqueries to pull it aside, but the carcass doesn’t move, the leg comes away as if nothing remains to hold it in place. He drags the limb out of the muck revealing a ragged end coated in black goo. Dropping it, he spares the remains from further attempts at moving.

You pick through some of the mess with Borgo at least attempting to make as little noise as possible. After a while you determine that some of the mess here must have come from other rooms as there appears to be the remains of at least one bed in addition to desks and chairs and a few cupboards.

You do find a few things of interest. You reveal the full view of the stairs, which leads upwards perhaps 20’ and into an open space you can’t see much of other than a bit of stonework ceiling. You also find another massive statue of a darden religious or scholarly figure. It also bears a runic plaque. Lastly is a set of double doors on the opposite end of the room from the tunnel mouth where you entered. One side appears to be ajar.

The room itself is approximately 40-50 feet long and about 30 feet wide.

Okay. You’ve had a poke around the items in the room and the bodies and statues.

The bodies are just a mess. You’ll need to rummage around in the liquifying black masses if you wanted to really search them and you are sure that the lumps you can see are not going to be treasure.

The furniture holds nothing of interest to you. Much of it is broken, damaged and stained. The paper scattered on the floor are yellowed and crumbling. There is also bits of scattered rags of desiccated cloth lay about. Near the wall between the stairs you find a pile of ragged and torn clothing of different types; none of it whole.

The statues seem to need just some monuments.

If anyone wants to do anything in particular here, describe what it is.

There seems to be three exits. The stairs up. The far stairs down out the way you came, up the tunnel.

This is the room as you see it. The squiggles indicate particularly large piles or groups of junk.



The stairs leading up are actually 30-40' up. You can tell there are no doors at the top, but cannot see anything in the space above. Through the double doors, you can see stairs leading down into the darkness.

The acrid stench in the air remains strong. You wonder how long you will have this smell in your noses when you leave.

The party congregates at the base of stairs. The even stone steps lead up and away a good 40'. The soft crackle of Borgo's torch is all that you hear.