Oasis 7: R & R at the Haunted Museum pt 1
-=--=--=--=--<* Roleplay Nexus: Museum of Reflections(#2701R) *>=--=--=--=--=-
This former manor, now museum is set into the Redridge Mountains. The two-story manor had been home to one of Alexandria's more unfortunate noble families, who had not survived the Taaran Scourge. Recently renovated by the Kashani, that family has spared few expenses, though there is work to be done.
The western wing is badly damaged still, and the northern tower has collapsed in a heap of rubble. Yet, the center of the structure has been restored, as well as its eastern (garden) wing.
The opening of the manor is its veranda, supported by tall, stone columns. Beyond that is the grand entry. Here, and in a few other places within the museum, refreshments may be had and a sampling of Alexandrias arts may be seen. Past that, what was once a ballroom has been transformed into a museum room proper.
More artwork, also local, is featured for anyone to persuse.
EXTRAS: +view
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Beaglefinder A bumbly, four-legged beagle. 0s 23h
Lucy Dark-haired Gnome swordswoman. 40s 41m
Sarcis Thin, pale green skin, black hair, and black eyes. 11s 1m
Shym'r Red-haired Llyranesi 14s 13m
Sylvi Gnome gal with a woodcutters axe and pet kitty cat 58s 1h
Walery A pretty average-looking human. With a death ray. 21s 2h
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Lahar's Generator(#2566I)
The Medical Arts Side Room(#3151)
The Central Galleria(#3187)
The Garden Wing(#3188)
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= Exits -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
Roleplay Nexus <RN>
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"A SSMALL FAVOR." And here, the merchant pauses, his golden eyes glittering with rage. "REND THEM. LET NOTHING REMIAIN OF HISS ACTSS, THISS DISSCIPLE OF HETH."
The merchant Tangisir has seen better days. He fills the main hall of the Temple of Vardama, his eyes hallowed pits of glittering fire. Beside him rests a young noblewoman, with her chin held high. She shivers, faintly. Also there is a Mourner. A single Mourner, Mourner Bacia.
"I apologize," she says, as she removes her glasses to wipe at her eyes. "We only just finished the runes. I'm afraid everyone else is passed out."
Sylvi smiles "Hi! I'm your gal then, or rather Thunder here is your cat, hes fantastic at rending things with his claws." she says cheerfully, indicating the sizable black panther behind her. "The Knights of Happy Valley are here to serve... and well rend in this case. Where is the offending person?"
Walery is here with his death ray. Leaving no remains is its job. That's what the flame mods is for. "I am ready to assist," he says. His tone is maybe a little -too- eager? There's no actual cackling, but he seems like the sort of person who cackles.
Lucy has partially disconnected.
GAME: Lucy has partially disconnected.
JOBS: Job 85 has been created by Durrankar in RPP: Durrankar: Durrankar join Stir
GAME: Durrankar has disconnected. <Netfailure>
Lucy glances at the other adventurers out of the corner of her eye. 'Rend them'? That's not the kind of thing she usually hears at the start of an adventure. But she feels she's still pretty new at this. "Ah...yes I'm sure we can, ah, assist you." She listens to hear the answer to the all-important question of 'where to start'.
A smile slides along the Oruch's black-lips, painted that color with a fine brush. A reach up to sweep back some of her mane of hair over a pointed ear and Sarcis responds as well, "Rending is something that adventurers are quite good at. So I'd say you've asked the right lot." She gives an arch of her crafted brows, looking about to the others, then back to the Mourner and the merchant. "It's not a problem of course, just point us in the right direction.
Shym'r says, "That's an unusual request....I'm guessing this person really ticked you off for you to want us to rend them.....right?" The voice is a bit too calm for this...."
Sylvi leans over to Shym'r "Probably touched a painting with a 'No touching' sign by it."
Mourner Bacia stares at Sylvi. This is a Mourner who has no subtlety left. Who has been operating for the past 48 hours without sleep.
Therefore, the zombified stare she directs Sylvi's way is pretty epic.
There's even that touch of drool.
"I'm afraid...I'm afraid we don't know," Lady Kiya Kashani replies, her voice halting. "What's important now is we recover the heart of Alexandria. So many--so many! Crafters and artists lent their heart and soul to the opening, and now their works are just trapped inside...did you. Did you hear what happened?" she asks them.
The dragon makes a sympathetic noise when the noblewoman speaks, and his attention shifts to Lady Kashani for the moment. The main hall is fairly stable, quiet. That dry smell associated with corpses and the dying. Oh, and exhaustion. Definitely exhaustion.
GAME: Baz da Ork has connected.
Lucy opens her mouth to answer. She reads the Tribune after all! But then she hesitates. "Well, if you wouldn't mind telling us. From your perspective that is. There may be some vital clue we haven't heard yet..."
Walery raises a hand, "I haven't heard. I've been in the lab all week," he admits guiltily. "Did something happen?" The heart of Alexandria, he wouldn't have expected the city to even have a heart. Maybe the other end, down in the sewers...
The merchant looks over to Lucy, and nods. "PLEASSE," he responds. The Lady, shaking slightly, stands up and turns from the room for a moment.
"I heard about Lady Sandiel turning into a dragon and... err-" Sarcis knits her brow inrward, eyes dancing to the side, "-I don't really know how to say it in polite company so... uh, exploding rainbows from her mouth." A bit of a wry smile touches her lips then and a hint of color to her cheeks.
Shym'r says, "I heard a bit of what happened, ma'am. Believe it or not....there are quite a few rumors going about." She says with a sigh. She then points a thumb at Sarcis. "and yes, that....""
Lucy blinks. "Well that is -- I meant more that -- ahem. All right, well, some force invaded the museum and absconded with priceless artifacts, from the museum opening. Possibly wights or other undead?"
Sylvi looks at Sarcis "Oh I thought this was about some yelling Heth acolyte or something who did bad things and needs a stern talking to. How are we suppose to fight rainbows?" she looks over at Lucy "Right, that too. They touched museum stuff."
"I AM AFRAID THE RAINBOWSS WERE ANOTHER...DISSTATESSTEFUL MATTER. THE SSITY HAS BEEN QUITE BUSSY, OF LATE. BUT THE RESST..." the dragon says. He comes to rest one arm over the other, though not without a glance at Lady Kiya Kashani. Bacia seems ignored, for the moment.
Also, about to fall over.
"THE MUSSEUM OPENING WASS TO BE A GRAND THING. CRAFTERSS AND ARTISSTS FROM ALL OVER ALESSANDRIA CAME TO PARTISSIPATE. THE LADY," the dragon says, and then pauses. "WISSHED IT TO BE A THING OF PRIDE FOR YOUR SSITY. UNFORTUNATELY, ASS YOU SSAID, HETH THOUGHT TO PRY HISS CLAWSS IN ALEXANDRIA. ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES INFILTRATED AND FROM THE GARDEN WING...HE RIPPED A HOLE INTO THE SSIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN," the merchant growls.
"...straight into the crypts..." the Lady says. The bones on her hands stand out, from how hard she grips them together. She finally does turn around.
The dramatic effect however, is spoiled by Bacia finally giving up, and falling over.
"...THE MOURNERS HAVE BEEN WORKING WITHOUT SSLEEP TO SSEAL IT. ESCUSSE ME, COULD ONE OF YOU...MORE APPROPRIATELY SSIZED BEINGSS..."
Shym'r says, "As we can see." She says looking over to Lady Bacia. "Perhaps someone could see to her rest." She says heading over to help the mouner to some place comfortable....."
GAME: Azog has disconnected. <Netfailure>
Lucy looks relieved - she's not sure she counts as 'appropriately sized' either. But she turns back to look at the dragon. Another first, no doubt, for the young gnome. "So if they seal the hole to the crypts...does that still leave some of them on the wrong side?" She clarifies, "On the city side?"
Sylvi nods to Lucy "Right, so thats who we rend then? Those left on this side?"
GAME: Selia has disconnected. <Netfailure>
Walery will go over to help the priestess after a look around makes him realize he's the closest to her in size. The orc is huge, and the others are all small. Well, the elf is almost normal-sized. However helping isn't really in his skillset, so he mostly just stands over her wondering exactly what to do.
"I'm AWAKE!" Bacia says. She rubs at her eyes, when Walery helps her up. For Walery, it is not unlike helping support a limp puppy.
I'm afraid so. And, while we assume the binding will hold..." the Lady takes a steadying breath, before continuing. "There is coffee set aside for you, and a touch of bread and beef stew in one of the waiting rooms. It would be a kindness to me if you took some time to get to know one another, and...enjoy the hospitality before you face Thul's agents. I fear the artworks aren't going anywhere immediately...and, it would be...I should be hurt if you did not return to us."
"When you are ready...one of the acolytes will take you down, to an entry point near the Garden wing. I'm..."
"I'm awake!" Bacia says again, popping up again, briefly.
Aaaaand then falls over.
"ONE OF THE ACOLYTESS..." the merchant says, sounding amused for the first time. Once again, the gravity of the situation is punctuated by Bacia's snoring.
Walery will keep propping the priestess up and keep her from falling over. It seems like the thing to do for the momwnt. He could make a machine to do it, given time and parts, but he's not back at the lab.
"'Get to know each other'?" Lucy repeats. It's now official. Strangest. Adventure. Yet. "Well...sure." She looks around for the coffee and snacks. "My name is Lucinda," she offers the others. "But you can call me Lucy. I'm a fencer!"
Dubtle is totally here.
Dubtle is holding on to his staff and a big, fat raven sits on his shoulder. He seems ready to help! Eager, even.
Sylvi nods "Of course! And oh, I am Sylvi Sprocket and this here is Thunder!" she says as she mounts up onto the black jaguar following her.
GAME: Jenner has disconnected. <Netfailure>
Walery says to the others, "Mick Walery, here. Ready to shoot things with fire." He taps the artificer things attached to him, something like a rifle and an exoskeleton with plates.
GAME: Dubtle refreshes spells.
Shym'r says, "Shym'r......Trapfinder and other things....."
"Hullo again. I recognize some of you from previous jobs," adds Dubtle, rolling his shoulder. "Let's get this mess sorted out to the best of our ability! Navos would be very upset with me if any history is lost."
Lucy takes an experimental sip of coffee. Then her eyes widen and she drinks more. "Well undead. It could be worse I mean the city has had its share of demon problems lately. Undead are slow. Oh! But I don't remember do they still have vital organs like regular living beings?" Is it your imagination or did her cadence of speech just increase.
Sarcis listens to each, tilting her head a bit to the side, she was going to give Bacia a hand but was a bit distracted there and Walery beat her to it. So instead she gives another slow smile, a quirk of a crafted brow as she listens to each introduced in turn. "I'm Sarcis." She adds to the mix, her accent decidedly Alexandrian, and a hand placed on her chest with the sound of rustling chain as she does, "I'm a bit of a tracker and archer in a way, among my other talents."
As you speak, a young acolyte begins to walk your way. He carries a tray. On it are cups of coffee, and several bowls of hot, piping food. He walks swiftly, one step sure in front of the other. And yet, he looks exhausted.
Shym'r doesn't take the coffee, but she does take some of the food. "Ahhh...here we go."
Sarcis gladly takes a cup of coffee but skips the food. An amused smile as she gives it a sip and casts her eyes over toward Bacia for another moment. "Oh," The Oruch's eyes flick back down to cup in her hand, another smile, "This is quite delightful." A look up toward the acolyte, "Is it Veyshan? It tastes like it."
GAME: Zant has connected.
Sylvi drinks coffee and chomps on the snacks, feeding Thunder aything meat-like offered which the Jaguar eats from the palm of her hand. "Right. So we are going to rend things then?"
"I'm delighted to say it is," the acolyte says, with a bow of his head towards Sarcis. The young man then begins to pass out yet more cups, and hot, piping bowls. Perhaps coffee doesn't go with stew, but caffeine seems to be the name of the evening. The noblewoman and her merchant friend seem to have retired for the moment. "My name is Acolyte Veranti Shamois, at your service. I will take you to the entry, as soon as you are ready." he says.
Bacia is...well, she's asleep, after 48 hours or more awake. She isn't going to notice much. If anything.
Walery will take food and coffee. He's not as worn out as these priests are, but he does keep long hours in his lab. "Thank you," he murmurs softly. He seems friendly enough, checking his gear before we begin.
GAME: Shym'r rolls knowledge/local: (6)+9: 15
GAME: Shym'r rolls knowledge/nature: Trained Use Only: 0
GAME: Sarcis rolls knowledge/nature: (15)+8: 23
GAME: Walery rolls knowledge/military theory: (3)+10: 13
GAME: Sylvi rolls knowledge/local: (17)+6: 23
GAME: Whiteout has disconnected. <Netfailure>
Lucy tugs her rapier a few inches from its sheath and then slides it home again, checking that it's as smooth and easy as ever. She takes a small stone out and holds it in her off-hand. When she opens the hand the gem begins to emit light and rise into the air, but she catches it again before it gets above head-height (the stone dims to its normal color). "I'm ready!"
Another little sip and Sarcis smiles a little wider, "Ooo, Cinnamon and..." She takes another little sniff, "Cardamom. I don't know what the last one is." Her lips curve into a frown, glancing about to the others. She's not really sure if the others care that much about it, but she's enjoying the bit of civility all the same. Another sip of the coffee, she'll be taking the cup with her unless the acolyte insists.
Sylvi nods to Sarcis "Veyshanti I believe. Good stuff." she adds with a smile.
Sniffing at the coffee, Shym'r tilts her head a bit. "Nice smell. What sort of blend is the coffee?" She asks quietly....
GAME: Terewin has connected.
"The merchant just imported it. I'm supposed to tell him your reactions," the acolyte says, with a brief smile. He looks so tired, does this Veranti Shamois. But, at least his on his feet.
Walery drinnks Artificer coffee. He's not used to the foofoo flavors. He drinks it for the tongue-scouring capabilities it possesses. It's good coffee, he won't argue. Much more upscale than he's used to. You wouldn't use this stuff to loosen lugnuts.
GAME: Baz da Ork has disconnected. <Netfailure>
Carefully, Dubtle reaches out to take a little sip hismelf before too much longer. "I've never been much for coffee, but the way they're talking about it..."
He's totally late to the party, here, but he's going to try it at last.
The Museum had been an impressive building. Today, it looks designed by the graveyard school of architecture. The grand, two story manor now boasts broken walls and crumbling roofwork. The tower on its furthest wing doesn't even pretend to be a tower any longer. Instead, it is a spinal column of stairs, left raw and exposed to the elements.
Surrounding the building, and carved in stones placed into the earth, are intricate runes.
Around the western wing, it looks as though someone's begun to erect a sort of protective wall. However, it is the eastern wing you're concerned with.
The acolyte, Veranti Shamois, leads you to the eastern wing. What had been a massive, interior gardenspace is now a blighted wreckage. One could swear you see eyes peering at you.
"The Mourners have given me the means to create an opening. ...it may only last for a seconds, though," Acolyte Shamois tells you.
GAME: Shym'r rolls perception: (19)+10: 29
GAME: Lucy rolls perception: (14)+11: 25
GAME: Dubtle rolls Perception: (5)+3: 8
GAME: Dubtle rolls Spellcraft: (17)+10: 27
GAME: Walery rolls perception: (16)+7: 23
GAME: Dubtle rolls Knowledge/Religion: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Walery rolls spellcraft: (10)+10: 20
GAME: Sylvi rolls perception: (14)+2: 16
GAME: Sylvi rolls knowledge/nobility: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Sarcis rolls Perception: (9)+10: 19
GAME: Sarcis rolls Spellcraft: (4)+8: 12
GAME: Sarcis rolls Knowledge/Religion: (20)+8: 28
GAME: Zant has disconnected. <Quit>
Lucy inches as close to the wall as she can without actually touching it. She releases her Ioun torch to float in lazy circles above her head. Rather than her rapier she holds a tiny shortspear in her hand, point reversed and ready to throw.
GAME: Sarcis has reconnected.
Sarcis has reconnected.
Sarcis looks over the wards, the greenery, all of it as they're guided along and her mouth curves, "Hmm. This is interesting." She seems to look toward sides, toward something that she thinks she sees but... Then off to the symbols. Her mouth curves into a deep frown, moving back and away from them. She doesn't seem to much care for the symbols. "Mmm, powerful Verdaman symbols."
"Ah, these runes," says Dubtle, kneeling down by one. He reaches out towards one but doesn't quite touch it.
"They're part of the ward. To those of the faith, they'll feel cold. You can see the sigils for it on the margins." He extends his hand further towards it, then stops. "Sensile," he adds, with a nod. "
Sylvi nods to the others "Right, good magic things then? Means we are going to the right place?" she says holding her axe tight as she rides forward on her panther. "Keep an eye out..." she murmers to the mount.
Walery peers back, and hefts his death ray, checking the charge again nervously. He flips the selector back and forth a few times, leaves it set to FIRE. If there was a zetting for ALL THE FIRE EVER, he would set that setting. He looks over the runes, nods approvingly.
Chamois presses his hands together. Then, begins whispering a series of long passages. Indeed, you stand there for several minutes before something happens, and the sweaty acolyte steps back to allow you past.
The runes don't glow, exactly. They just become more COLD. Then, two in front of you become dull and smoke-like.
Beyond is a blight of a building. And of course, those eyes, the occasional shuffling sound. ...the scent of the air is suddenly dry, almost rotten.
Dubtle has left.
GAME: Stirling has disconnected. <Quit>
GAME: Walery rolls will: (20)+2: 22 (CRITICAL SUCCESS)
Sarcis looks about, and then carefully steps through the spot where the runes are more smoky.
Shym'r slides her way ahead a bit.....and makes sure to keep herself hidden so everyone can get a heads up.....
Sylvi follows along, ignorance is bliss in this case as she carefully watches for anything to jump out at them.
Dubtle has arrived.
Walery touches a place on his armor, and it pulzes for a moment as he spins arond, cradling his death ray in one arm. But nothing to shoot at. Something tried to grab me," he explains.
Walery touches a place on his armor, and it pulzes for a moment as he spins arond, cradling his death ray in one arm. But nothing to shoot at. "Something tried to grab me," he explains. (OOC: fixed)
GAME: You reset Dubtle's refresh time.
GAME: Dubtle refreshes spells.
So, you end up in front of in what was once a garden. Pieces of bric-a-brack can be found. From your notes, there had been an artistic mirror of note here. It would be good to recover it, though at the moment, there's...a skeletal, ghost-like humanoid shuffling through the bramble, at its furthest edges. Perhaps it hasn't seen you yet.
And then, then you hear it chuckle.
GAME: Walery rolls will: (6)+2: 8
GAME: Beaglefinder rolls 1d4: (2): 2
GAME: Shym'r rolls will: (17)+4: 21
GAME: Lucy rolls will: (15)+3: 18
GAME: Sarcis rolls will: (10)+9: 19
GAME: Sylvi rolls will: (10)+0: 10
GAME: Shym'r rolls stealth: (18)+9: 27
GAME: Sylvi rolls 3: (13)+3: 16
GAME: Dubtle rolls Will: (16)+7: 23
Walery acks, bacppedals a couple steps, then turns to run. But there is no escape. Waaaauuuughhhhhh!
Sylvi has much the same reaction, pulling Thunder around and away from the way she came. "WHHAAATTTTT..." Thunder seems confused.
The skeletal figure fades more slowly than it had appeared. Some of you see it rising quickly into the air before it's gone completely. And then, all of you have other problems.
Several, other problems. Three creatures lurch forward from the shrubbery, their jaws hanging looselike from their skulls. They wear the remains of a festive evening, and their clothes appear relatively fresh.
GAME: Dubtle rolls Knowledge/Religion: (2)+5: 7
GAME: Sarcis rolls knowledge/religion: (3)+8: 11
As soon as she felt uneasy....Shym'r hides behind a corner. "Shit....."
GAME: Stjepan has disconnected. <Netfailure>
GAME: Elisabeth has connected.
GAME: Shym'r rolls initiative: 1 + 3 = 4
Sarcis reaches up, a sweep of a hand to pull back some hair behind an ear before grabbing at an arrow to nock it on her bowstring. "I know this might be a real shock, but they're undead. And... don't let them bite you." She nods her head, smiling a by wryly.
GAME: Sarcis rolls initiative: 9 + 7 = 16
GAME: Walery rolls initiative: 15 + 4 = 19
GAME: Sylvi rolls initiative: 20 + 1 = 21
GAME: Elisabeth has disconnected. <Netfailure>
GAME: Lucy rolls initiative: 12 + 3 + +2 = 17
GAME: You roll initiative for Biteys: Roll: 11 + Bonus: 4 = Total: 15
GAME: Dubtle rolls initiative: 6 + 2 = 8
Lucy hefts her spear to throw. "Right...don't let them -- " her eyes fly open wide. "They bite?!"
GAME: Beaglefinder advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 21.
It is now Sylvi's turn! Walery is next!
GAME: Note Flat-footed on Sylvi ended.
GAME: Beaglefinder advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 19.
It is now Walery's turn! Lucy is next!
GAME: Note Flat-footed on Walery ended.
GAME: Beaglefinder advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 17.
It is now Lucy's turn! Sarcis is next!
GAME: Note Flat-footed on Lucy ended.
Sylvi yanks on the reigns and guide Thunder to get as far away as possible from the big evil monsters. "WHATISTHATOHGOODNESSWHAT..." she cries out as she urges Thunder to flee.
GAME: Lucy rolls ranged-2: (16)+8+-2: 22
GAME: Lucy rolls 1d4+5: (3)+5: 8
GAME: Beaglefinder advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 16.
It is now Sarcis' turn! Biteys is next!
GAME: Note Flat-footed on Sarcis ended.
Lucy lets her little spear fly, then quickly draws her rapier and turns sideways, in a guard stance. "Guys, don't panic!" she shrieks. "We can do this!!"
GAME: Aznara has disconnected. <Netfailure>
GAME: Sarcis rolls BowPBS: aliased to Weapon5 +1: (1)+8+1: 10 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Beaglefinder advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 15.
It is now Biteys' turn! Dubtle is next!
Sarcis was too caught up in looking at those creatures, a stumble as she lets loose of the arrow and it hits the ground, ricocheting up and toward the ceiling where it sticks in a crack. "Oh damn it!" She mutters as she continues to backpeddal away from the creatures.
GAME: Delilah has connected.
GAME: Beaglefinder rolls 1d20+5: (8)+5: 13
GAME: Beaglefinder rolls 1d20+3: (1)+3: 4 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Lucy rolls fort: (7)+3: 10
GAME: Beaglefinder rolls 1d6+4: (1)+4: 5
GAME: Terewin has disconnected. <Netfailure>
"RHaaaauuuuugh!" the creature with the spear in it side lurches after the one who'd stabbed it. Its joints swing with the awkwardness of the undead and what had once been fine clothes for a cultural opening hang in tatters. It swings, lunging at her just as Sarcis said it would.
But then there's the stench. A green tint blooms under Lucy's skin. The ill-gotten gains of a robbed grave, that stench, spills out over the battlefield.
Another soon follows behind, this one leaner and its claws not as sharp. The last, the third, lurches ineffectively after Sarcis.
GAME: Beaglefinder advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 8.
It is now Dubtle's turn! Shym'r is next!
GAME: Note Flat-footed on Dubtle ended.
GAME: Dubtle rolls 1d6: (3): 3
GAME: Dubtle casts Molten Orb. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16
GAME: Beaglefinder rolls 1d20+2: (16)+2: 18
GAME: Beaglefinder rolls 1d20+4: (11)+4: 15
GAME: Beaglefinder advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 4.
It is now Shym'r's turn! Sylvi is next!
GAME: Note Flat-footed on Shym'r ended.
GAME: Shym'r rolls ranged: (17)+5: 22
GAME: Shym'r rolls 1d8: (5): 5
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Beaglefinder advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 21.
It is now Sylvi's turn! Walery is next!
"..ewuugh! What are those?!"
Dubtle holds his hand up and red, glowing orb forms in his fist and around it. He spins around once and hurls it as hard as he can!
... it doesn't go too far. He's ot very strong, okay?
It does, at least, land behind two of them, burning both of them a little bit.
Peeking around the corner, just as Dubtle releases his molten orb, Shym'r had her pistol already drawn.....at least for the moment. Shym'r rounds the corner and fires one shot into the monstrosity's head. She then goes back behind cover. "Can't stay here...." She says as she starts to shimmy away...
GAME: Sylvi rolls weapon1+2-1: (7)+7+2+-1: 15
GAME: Sylvi rolls 1d10+4+3: (9)+4+3: 16
GAME: Beaglefinder advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 19.
It is now Walery's turn! Lucy is next!
Walery activates his titan armor.
GAME: Walery activates his Titan Armor, gaining: +4 Dex
GAME: Walery rolls 1d20+8: (3)+8: 11
Sylvi turns Thunder around and brandishes her axe "They tricked us! Knights of Happy Valley go forth!" she cries out as Thunder claws against the ground to launch into a ferocious charge, her axe easily lopping the head off of an enemy.
GAME: Walery rolls 2d6+5: (7)+5: 12
GAME: Walery rolls perception: (3)+7: 10
GAME: Beaglefinder advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 17.
It is now Lucy's turn! Sarcis is next!
Walery finally, finally gets a hold of himself and takes a calming breath. And we're being attacked! He activates his Titan Armor, which includes a targeting device swinging in front of his eye. Drawing a bead on one monster, though you wouldn't think it was that tough to hit such a thing, he pulls the trigger of his death ray, and a lash of raw fire squirts out, if fire could shoot out like a quarrel from a bow. Whatever it is burns, though, as it strikes the target savagely.
GAME: Lucy rolls ranged-4: (15)+8+-4: 19
GAME: Walery deactivates his Titan Armor.
GAME: You clear initiatives.
GAME: Beaglefinder has cleared initiatives.
Walery deactivates his titan armor.
Lucy reaches behind her back and then whips her hand forward. A slim throwing knife spins end over end as she slings it underhanded at the last undead. On e
Lucy reaches behind her back and then whips her hand forward. A slim throwing knife spins end over end as she slings it underhanded at the last undead. Once it falls, its Lucy who looks stricken. "Wait - those clothes -- were those people?" she wails. "From the museum opening?!"
Shym'r slides back around the corner closer to the others. "Guys....we can't stay here. We made a LOT of noise here......and more of the bigger ones have got to be on the way here." She then looks down. "turned, from what it seems....."
Sarcis moves closer to the creature, getting to just about five feet away before drawing back and firing another arrow into the - hopefully re-dead - undead. Better safe than sorry, crouching next to it she'll pull out Lucy's dagger from it, tossing it back in her direction "Here ya go." A half-smile curving along her lips, she had a brace of daggers herself on her thigh, and she knows that they're not free. She takes a moment to look over the creature most closely... then the other two as her eyes grow ever wider.
"Ghasts!" Sarcis hisses out, looking about for more - or at least more undead - as they've been making a lot of noise up until this point. A turn of her head the other way. "We've been too loud. Who knows what might've heard us."
The other two lie there, and continue to burn. Crackle, under the Museum's broken shadow. As that happens, a rock flies at you from the depths of the once-garden. There are more rustling sounds. Shuffling, and pieces moving.
Sylvi looks to the others "Where we not suppose to fight them and get the paintings? Bring them on! We are warriors of Happy Valley. We will know no fear and remember our battle call, Aim for the knees!" she says with a firm nod to the others as encouragement.
Lucy
Lucy catches the
Walery eyes the gnomes, and will continue to aim for center mass when he can help it. That last shot was barely controlled, but he's feeling much better now, yes he is.
"Thank the gods," says Dubtle afgter they're dealt with. he lets out a sigh, then says, "... all right. SO what 's the plan, folks?"
Shym'r says, "I would actually prefer you guys remained quiet." She says as she looks about. "where do you want to go? I'll scout ahead if need be....and warn you if I see something."
Walery says quietly, "We should probably start with whatever's closest, to run into as few undead as we can."
Sarcis nocks another arrow with a frown and looks about once more. A raise of an eyebrow and then deeper int othe garden. "I think." She says in a quiet tone, a bit of a hum creeping into her voice, "That the closest would be the mirror." She sweeps a hand back, pulling some of her well maintained mane behind a pointed ear again. "But I'm not positive."
Sylvi nods "Right. Well then lets go grab it and bring it back. Do what we can." she says calming down a little. "Fighting more though..." she looks in the distance.
GAME: Astaren has disconnected. <Quit>
Lucy catches the dagger, examining it before putting it away. Next she retrieves her spear. A little singed by the fire spell, but it should be good for a few more throws. "I'm worried about the first one that we saw. It seemed much more formidable..." She's careful not to look at Sylvi or Waverly.
Walery says to Sarcis, "That's as good a place to start as any, and lingering is bad, too, so lets get that." He glances to Shym'r to scout, if she will?
"Then let's do that. The mirror, I mean," agrees Dubtle, giving a nod towrads Sarcis. "I"m as ready as I can be..." He sounds anxious. Unhappy. But ready.
Sarcis looks toward Shym'r, "Four eyes are better than two, and I can check to see if I find any recent movement along the way." A smile slides along her lips as she moves toward the elf, still with a nocked arrow.
Taking out her daggers, Shym'r nods to Sarcis and moves on ahead to scout. Not only for more undead, but for traps....
The wall of the garden, that once-proud iron trellis. ...it once reached up high, overhead, cloaked proudly in vines. Today, you find a wretched spot, and step over it and into the garden.
The gardenpathway winds in front of you. With Shym'r and Sarcis' help, you're able to navigate it. The sharp eyes of other members help as well. At one point, Sylvi would swear she heard a horse trotting by.
Slow trot, slow trot...
...until they come to the middle of the garden. Where, most of it has been destroyed, leaving an open, dirt-floor'd space. As though it'd been run over by a set of drunken, rabid bulls.
The wall of the garden, that once-proud iron trellis. ...it once reached up high, overhead, cloaked proudly in vines. Today, you find a wretched spot, and step over it and into the garden.
GAME: Sarcis has partially disconnected.
GAME: Dubtle rolls Spellcraft: (20)+12: 32
GAME: Walery rolls spellcraft: (6)+10: 16
GAME: Shym'r rolls survival: (7)+2: 9
GAME: Sarcis rolls Survival: (3)+11: 14
GAME: Sarcis rolls Spellcraft: (14)+8: 22
GAME: Lucy rolls survival: (18)+2: 20
Lucy stares wide-eyed at the ruined garden. "There was something huge in here." She looks back and forth now, comparing. "More than one. And I think they were...fighting."
Sylvi looks around "You know... I could have sworn I heard hooves. Maybe like a big horse?" she suggests to the others.
Sarcis looks to Lucy and nods her head in agreement, "That's what I thought too." She starts toward the far edge of the clearing but... pauses. Her breathing a bit quicker and she looks toward the others. Backing up she says in her quiet tones still, "The air... it's not right. It's like I can't get a full breath and it's cold. I don't understand what's going on here?" She shakes her head and then looks toward Sylvi, a raise of her eyebrows once more.
GAME: Sarcis rolls Knowledge/arcana +3: (17)+8+3: 28
GAME: Sarcis rolls Knowledge/religion +3: (4)+8+3: 15
GAME: Weather has disconnected. <Quit>
Moving about the garden pathways, Dubtle stops dead after a moment. He moves towards the ege of the 'clearing', so to speak, and kneels down.
"Be careful," he murmurs.
He's looking down at one of the pieces of mirror. Breathing hard.
"Don't touch it. It's evil," he says, carefully. "The void. You can almost taste it. Or maybe that's the oxygen deprivation."
Now that Sylvi's pointed it out, you all hear the slow cadence of a hoofbeat. Clip. Clip. Why it wasn't there before, and why it required Sylvi's prompted is something to study later. No one sees anything, though.
But, maybe you glance at the mirror. A great, gaunt man stands there. His fingers are long and slender. Behind him is a great, shadow-horse. He reflects, flickering in the mirror. But when you look around, there's nothing to SEE.
Sylvi grips her axe, looking around "This is some wierd magic stuff. Easy Thunder, easy..." she says as much reinsurance to herself as to her mount.
Sarcis looks to Dubtle and nods then it's back to the tracks. The hoofs, what was said by the others, she's just pondering on it. A tap of her finger on her chin as she mulls it over. A frown creases her features, looking toward the marks on the ground, then to the hoof prints. "One of them wasn't undead." THe Oruch muses, when there's the sound of hoof beats. She takes a look of surprise, turning toward the mirror to see the figure and hear the beats. "What in the world...?" A look toward where the man should be and there's nothing there. "Oh that is just creepy."
Walery is confused by what he sees. Reflections of a figure he can't see? Stange magics, to be sure. Very strange. "We need to find what we're looking for and burn any undead trying to stop us." He's quite confused now.
Lucy looks uneasy. When she notices the reactions of others it seems to cheer her up ever so slightly - at least she's not the only one. "If that thing is somehow inside the mirror...is it safe to move?" She points at the figure with her shortspear.
Shym'r takes a deep breath to try and think better. "mmmmmf.....I'm not sure. This must be where it all is coming from...."
Whatever the mirror is NOW, isn't what it used to be. The slender, undead rider's hoofbeats pick up. A faster pace. A canter.
--and the mirror clouds. The world clouds and shifts sideways. Suddenly, there is no garden, and no twisted plants or pathways. There are no clawmarks of great beasts. Instead, there's stone.
Stone and on the wall, a painting. ...a painting of a man reading, at rest in the evening. On the shelves, a few books about accounting. This had been a records-office of some kind.
Except, most of the walls are gone. That tells you, you're on the second floor. You can see the entire museum, below. ...as well as the fading mark of Eluna in the shard Dubtle now holds. He probably doesn't remember picking it up.
Walery goes IC.
Walery has left.