Joryn's eyes go wide as Lohmi's sword disintegrated. He runs to the northwestern curtain and flings it open."I'll see this foul altar for myself! What blade are you talking about?"
The northeast curtain is flung wide open, revealing an alcove and altar. The altar itself is made of black stone, inscribed with words in Abyssal. Atop the altar is a pair of iron hand braziers lit with a fire that produces an oily, black smoke. Could be a blade (and some other items?) on the altar too... hard to tell without getting closer. Obscured partially by the smoke, you see a beautiful stained-glass window set 10 feet above the altar. It depicts a three-headed balor demon with its arms thrown up in worship.OOC: Note: Finding didn't see the stained-glass window on first glance. Bad perception roll.
Meanwhile, Ambrose ambles up to the blood-filled font and casts Detect Magic. He can sense necromantic/transmutation magic about the font, and also another odd enchantment aura from something within the font, perhaps sunk under the thick blood?
Tharl grimaces "I suggest we avoid the mural. I prefer the known element of traps and monsters to a certain unknown." Turning to Lohmi, he sees the sword turn to dust. "That's a bad turn of luck brother. Do you have other weapons? I can give you my spear or my morning star if you are in need, though they are poor replacements for your blade."
Turning to Tharl, "Alas, I don't think either would be a suitable replacement. There is but one suitable replacement nearby." Angrily, Lohmi moves after Joryn. Intent on grabbing the cursed dagger from the altar. That would at least not leave him defenseless.
Finding whispers to the spirits. "What happens when out time runs out?"
The voices of Nole and Elon sound like they're coming from near the curtain-covered mural, as they respond in unison, "Look and see what will happen to you! Your time is up!"
As if by invisible hands, the western curtain is ripped down, exposing the mural behind it. It is horrific, disgusting, yet tantalizing, showing demons doing unspeakable acts to the people of your town! You can't help but feel the conflicting forces of disgust and arousal as you take the mural in.
The mural is attacking your mind!
OOC: Combat begins, but who/what are you fighting exactly?
Round 1
22 The MURAL (done)
19 Finding
18 Galad
17 Lohmi
15 Vondal
15 Joryn
14 Tharl
09 Ambrose
Due date for this post is Monday 23:59.
Map included above. I guestimated your locations based on your posts, but if you feel you would have been somewhere else, just let me know and we'll get it ironed out.
For those of you who are fathers, Happy Father's Day!
MilwaukeeJoe
The voices of Nole and Elon sound like they're coming from near the curtain-covered mural, as they respond in unison, "Look and see what will happen to you! Your time is up!" As if by invisible hands, the western curtain is ripped down, exposing the mural behind it. It is horrific, disgusting, yet tantalizing, showing demons doing unspeakable acts to the people of your town! You can't help but feel the conflicting forces of disgust and arousal as you take the mural in.
The mural is attacking your mind!
OOC: Combat begins, but who/what are you fighting exactly?
Round 1
22 The MURAL (done)19 Finding
18 Galad
17 Lohmi
15 Vondal
15 Joryn
14 Tharl
09 Ambrose
Due date for this post is Monday 23:59.
Map included above. I guestimated your locations based on your posts, but if you feel you would have been somewhere else, just let me know and we'll get it ironed out.
For those of you who are fathers, Happy Father's Day!
MilwaukeeJoe
Vondal yells ... "Close your eyes1 Do not stare at the mural! Come with me!" ... He turns and takes off in the opposite direction.
ReplyDeleteOOC: Since Vondal mentioned it, I will reveal the following:
ReplyDeleteAvert Gaze: Dungeoneers may avert their gaze as a minor action. Doing so grants a +5 bonus to defenses against the mural's attacks until they choose to end this effect as a minor action. However, dungeoneers averting their gaze grant combat advantage to all other enemies.
Ambrose mentions to Lohmi to keep the dust safe in his sheath. The powder is magical residue called residuum that is valuable for magical enhancements.
ReplyDeleteAmbrose will avert his gaze but still tries to determine the magical effects the mural has and possible ways to combat it. "The spirits tried to trick us into viewing that mural earlier as a way out." ... "Spirits do you deny it?!"
ReplyDeleteLohmi immediately averts his gaze from the mural, fully knowing it's effects.
ReplyDelete"The mural will try to control you! Look away!" he shouts, running forward to grab the dagger.
While averting his gaze, Ambrose leans toward the central font to attempt overturning it, spilling the blood away from himself.
ReplyDeleteTharl looks away from the mural and moves towards the stairs. He keeps his first leveled in case danger comes from that direction.
ReplyDeleteTech: move to H14. Use standard action to summon spirit companion in K11.
(Only if this makes sense) ... Vondal shall head for the stairs along with Tharl.
ReplyDeleteVondal runs/bounds to the bottom of the stairs and curses under his breath for a moment and calls out ... "The frigging double doors are locked, there are manacles on the floor here too."
ReplyDeleteThe spirits answer Ambrose by singing in a children's nursery rhyme style, "We're going to kill you, spill your blood and drink it up!"
ReplyDeleteAmbrose tries to topple the blood font... wow is it heavy! He can't even budge it.
Tech: Rolled a 7, not enough. Could try again next round if you wish!
Tharl can see down the stairs. The wrought iron door at the bottom has silver pull rings and a lock. A set of manacles lies on the ground in front of the door. Vondal races right down the stairs to the door, and nothing accosts him.
Meanwhile, Tharl's trusty bear spiritual companion appears next to the blood font!
To the north, Lohmi ascends to the altar and boldly takes the dagger from it. The dagger has a pommel carved from jet in the image of a leering demon. Its serpentine blade is made of the same material, casting no reflection despite its smooth surface!
OOC: I gave Ambrose two attempts, considering the font toppling a move action. Second roll was only 12. Needed a 13! D'oh.
ReplyDeleteOOC: Sorry I've been quiet as of late. Things at work got kind of crazy. I just got caught up with the posts.
ReplyDeleteGalad grimaces at the situation and charges forward, crashing into the fountain of blood, trying to knock it over.
Tech: Move to I13, standard Strength + 1 vs fountain
OOC: Finding is actually at N12
ReplyDeleteSwallowing her terror, Finding crosses the room to assist Galad in knocking over the basin.
tech: move to J13. On my phone and can't check stats for the rest, sorry.
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ReplyDeleteOOC: Can't close the curtain on the mural; the curtain has been torn down and lies on the floor... Care to change your action?
ReplyDeleteOOC: Yes I would! :)
ReplyDeleteJoryn sees the flimsy members of his party struggling with the font in the center of the room and rushes over to lend his aid. He grasps the edges of the font and hurls it outward to spill the blood before any foul ritual can be attempted from it.
Tech:
Minor action, avert gaze from mural
Move action, move to J10
Standard action, attempt to flip the font and spill the blood away from Ambrose.
"If someone has a cup or bowl or use the fallen curtain, maybe splashing the mural with the other font water can disenchant the mural like Lohmi's sword! Don't touch it yourself though!" Ambrose yells out a suggestion.
ReplyDelete"Was the magic in the water or wash basin?" he asks the one who checked out the magical nature of the water font.
Ambrose thinks of ways to disenchant the mural.
Tech:
Archane check?
OOC: Adventuring kits should have a waterskin, right?
ReplyDeleteArcana check to see if the water would help with the mural.
Was the mural something painted on the wall?
The combined strength of Galad, Finding, Joryn and Ambrose is more than enough to topple the blood-filled font and spill the blood onto the floor. Everyone is careful not to get any of the blood onto themselves, and there really isn't all that much there. Just enough to make a small puddle on the floor. The font itself does not fare well, a large chunk of it cracking away as it collides with the floor. It will never hold liquid again!
ReplyDeleteMidst the sounds of splashing blood and cracking stone, you also hear the sound of metal dashing against the floor! Seeking the source, you see that the blood-filled font contained a silver holy symbol within. What exactly it is is unknown at the moment until you take a closer look. The holy symbol is in the puddle of blood.
Meanwhile, both Ambrose and Lohmi know that if they apply enough magical pressure against the mural, they might be able to disrupt its power. Lohmi is correct that using the water of the water-filled basin will help with this effect.
Tech: Yes, the mural is painted directly onto the stone of the wall. To disable the mural, you must achieve 12 successes before you reach 6 failures. Arcana can be used for this. I won't disclose the DC at this point. You can do a skill check as a move action, meaning you could do 2 per round each (or 3 with an action point). Using the water from the font on it will give you an automatic 3 successes.
Lohmi pulls his waterskin from his pack, dumping the contents on the floor as well as his dagger before rushing over to the font. He carefully fills the skin.
ReplyDelete"Someone else hand me an empty skin and take this one to splash it on the mural. If I fill the skins, we won't risk losing any more magical items."
He then gesture toward Ambrose and Finding. "You two can apply some direct arcane pressure on the mural. It should allow us to destroy it."
OOC: Dropping the shiny new dagger and the contents of the waterskin.
OOC: Note, you're not sure if repeated applications of the special water on the mural will have any effect beyond the first...
ReplyDeleteWeeping with the effort of keeping herself together, Finding turns and puts everything into trying to disrupt the effects of the mural.
ReplyDeleteTech: 2 x Arcana checks on mural (Arcana +9)
Joryn turns away from the mural, averting his eyes from it's foul imagery, and strides towards the incense filled altar.
ReplyDelete"I'm wasted on these magics. Give me something to fight!"
He sniffs the air at the altar and considers what evil might be lurking here.
Tech:
Move to altar, Religion check (+6) on incense and imagery of stained glass window
"Finding, we can assist each other too." Ambrose also attempts to disrupt the mural.
ReplyDeleteIf they don't have much success these first attempts, he suggests, "I'll take the primary focus to disrupt the mural. With your aid, the attempt will be more powerful."
Tech: 2 x Arcana checks on mural (Arcana +11)
Ambrose maintains an averted gaze as much as possible.
ReplyDelete"Joryn, or anyone with more clerical training, after you have searched the alter area, can you try to see if the silver holy symbol from the blood font can be of any use?"
ReplyDeleteHearing the sound of glass and metal falling and cracking Vondal is hesitant on either going in the direction he started or turning back to help his companions ... "Does anyone need my help?!" he shouts without turning around.
ReplyDeleteAmbrose yells basck to Vondal, "We are fine for now. Going to try and neutralize the mural. Is the way open where you are? We will eventually need a way out."
ReplyDelete