Surviving the Death Wyverns' Crucible and claiming your first planet, you have teleported back to the Ashen Ambulatory, stepping out of the Scrying Mirror.
A new crusader joins you as well, teleporting in from the infernal stronghold gate.
OOC: I have reposted the Ashen Ambulatory below, adding comments in red bold italics of discoveries you have had when you last were here. I'll let the new crusader describe himself.
Full-Length Scrying Mirror
A full length mirror is set into the crackling brimstone walls here. The copper frame is etched with a proverb in the Abyssal script: “No beauty without envy, no love without jealousy.”
By looking into it and incurring 3 points of blight, you many ask your reflection to show them one object or creature in the Fane, even if you have not seen it before. The mirror will show you the vision for one round before disappearing.
Marilith StatueThe statue is of a six-armed, serpent-tailed demoness (pictured) that smells of lilacs.
Font of Blighted Warding
You come close to the fountain and see that it is hewn from translucent precious stone, mixed with obsidian, in which quivering organs are embedded.
You may drink of this fountain to gain temporary hit points equal to your healing surge value, but each time you do so, you incur 1 point of blight. Like all temporary hit points, these do not stack with one another. The THP last until beaten out of you.
 |
| Click for a larger version. |
A rusted iron portcullis blocks access through a wooden archway clutched by black vines. Chunks of petrified demon princes lie strewn before the gate. Beyond, a courtyard of dead trees is visible beneath the fiery underworld sky. A casual inspection of this rusty gate makes you think that this could be easily lifted.
Crucified Angel
The upper body of an angel has been crucified to the wall here. Gore cakes the wall, and its spine hangs down like a long chain. Thick frost covers the entire grisly display. The angel's spine has been made into a pull-chain mechanism that goes into the wall. There is a seam of a secret door behind the angel.
Succubus Mural
The image of a succubus has been painted onto the wall here. However, the wall is open, two halves rotated away at the center of the succubus painting revealing a short passageway and stairs leading up and out of sight.
Fountain of Blighted Haste
The teeth of pit fiends float in the grey water of this fountain. A marble idol carved in the likeness of a hooded figure wielding a trident stands in the center of the water.
Dungeoneers may drink of this fountain to gain an action point, but each time incurs 2 points of Blight.
Iron Portal
A huge square of rusted iron is bolted to the wall here. An ochre portal that reeks of acid swirls within the square. The portal teleports you to the Death Wyverns' Crucible.
Hourglass Keyhole
An obsidian hourglass-shaped keyhole is set into the otherwise featureless wall. It looks as if the key needed would be the kind that would fit in your hand, aka a "normal sized" key. Of course, one might be able to pick the lock if their skills are good enough.
[Gardain Feybane]
ReplyDeleteAs the crusaders are teleported back into the Ambulatory, a sudden rush of air and change in pressure results in the appearance of a stout, burly fellow dressed in heavy leathers and dark-toned, polished platemail. In a language that sounds like a pair of bullfrogs gargling riverstones, he stomps the stone floor with his hobnailed boots, trying to keep his composure as another torrent of coarse, curtly grumbled words spill through his thickly plaited beard. The cause of his disgruntled outburst becomes clear as the top half of a rough hewn quarterstaff is visible sticking out of the stone wall.
After tugging at the staff for a few minutes, straining and grunting as his gloved hands slip off of the smooth bark, he lets out a guttural roar and draws an ancient looking axe from over his shoulder. In a series of blows, each punctuated by another growling swear in his gravelly tongue, the wrist-thick staff has been reduced to splinters. His shoulders heaving, the dwarven man turns to look each member of the party up and down for a moment. His dark brown eyes sparkle for a moment before he nods and slips his shield from its place strapped to his pack and fits the leather straps over his forearm.
His shield secured, the dwarf reaches into a bulging pouch at his waist and flings a handful of glinting curls of metal over the gathered crusaders. “Ah-HAH!” He bellows, clanging his axe against his embossed shield as he hops back several steps, watching your reactions with keenly.
Tech: Throw a handful of cold iron shavings onto the party and move to R13.
[Palim]
ReplyDeleteThe tall kalashtar eyes the dwarf. Though battered, cut, and covered in disgusting stubstances, he takes in the dwarf's strange actions with his usual serenity. "You are here for the heresiarch, I suppose. Be careful in this place. We have already lost one of us." As he says this he turns slightly, as if to hide his face. Gathering himself somewhat, he sinks to his knees, now sitting back on his feet and legs. Closing his eyes, he lays his hands on his knees and remains still. After a moment: "For my failure to protect our friend Turen, I must atone. Leave me."
Tech: Short rest, then I'll use a healing word on myself. 21+3d6 HP back to me.
OOC: Welcome back! Maybe it'll be a tradition that your first Grind4e character always has to die before we succeed. :)
Palim heals up 35 hp (now at 43 hp) and is down to 4 surges.
Delete[Gardain]
ReplyDeleteHis axe still at the ready, the dwarf eyes the tall cleric, his eyes going wide as the Kalashtar’s voice echoes directly into his head. He shoves a thick finger into his ear and wiggles it violently as he watches the cleric closely. “Can ye no a’least move yer lips whenst ye does tha’?” He adjusts his grip on the haft of his axe as he nods in affirmation at the now kneeling cleric. “Aye, ahm here faer the Heresiarch, tae poot an end tae it an’ its aevil ways.” He spits to the side, keeping a close eye on Palim before he smirks, the jagged shards of cold iron braided into his beard jangling against each other as his lips curve upward. “Seems ye pass’d, ye no ha’ changed ferm, no ha’ ye braken oot intae hives an’ began waillin a’ th’ walls. Ye nae be a fae.”
He turns a stern eye towards the rest of the group, curled shavings of cold-iron still clinging to the filth of the crucible that soaks their bodies. “Whae aboot th’ rest auf ye?” He asks, leveling his axe towards them. “Any itchin’? Bernin’? Sudin desire tae hug a tree?”
OOC: I certainly hope not! I’m satisfied with the way he died though, I’d be willing to bet if I hadn’t thought of that risky Indiana-Jones move to get everyone out of the muck we might have lost more than just Turen!
[Palim]
ReplyDeleteRising rejuvenated, Palim looks at the dwarf. "I'm afraid not, Master Dwarf." But his eyes betray his amusement at their new companion. "Come. We have much to do if we are to, ah, 'poot an end' to this place's master." Palim strides down the hall, visiting both fountains and collecting a portion of each's contents, and an extra portion of the hasting potion. Stoppering all three vials, Palim tosses one to Gardain. "Here. Consider it a welcoming present. I'm sure we'll need it, and you are less tainted than the rest of us."
Now in the northwestern corridor of the area, Palim contemplates the archway and the gruesome angel, chin in his hand. "My guess is these are the two most promising avenues. What say you all?"
Tech: Take two servings of the blighted haste potion into vials for later use, giving one to Gardain. Take one serving of blighted warding potion into another vial.
OOC: Where to guys?
[Gardain]
ReplyDeleteGiving the remaining members of the party a suspicious, narrow-eyed look as he tucks away the vial of ichor, the dwarf follows behind Palim, hammering the flat of his axe blade against his shield. “Aye, let us be on. Lead th’ way, mind-speaker.”
OOC: The angel seems as good a place to start as any.
OOC: Woops, I forgot the succubus passageway we opened. That seems promising, since it's a "secret" we figured out.
Delete"Now where was I before we all NEARLY PERISHED on a rescue mission? Oh, yes..." Kallista walks to the angel and enacts the Speak with Dead ritual, asking it about its death, how it came to be part of the mechanism, and what traps/treasures might lie beyond the door.
ReplyDeleteYour Religion roll is enough to ask but a single question. Make it count!
Delete"How may we safely open the door to which your body is bound?"
DeleteShazi gathers her senses and steps up to So-Tin. "If you *ever* do that again I'll kill you myself!" she shouts at him at point blank range.
ReplyDeleteShe steps back and stands in the middle of the hall. "Now what?"
OOC: Use surges as needed to heal up full. And I vote for the angel's secret door, but I'll go where the party goes.
OOC: It wasn't So-tin that activated the portal...
DeleteOOC: That would be my dear Palim. :P
DeleteOOC: Oops. Well, pretend I yell at you, too. :P
ReplyDelete[Gardain]
ReplyDeleteAs the silent cleric and arcane mistress deliberate on the grotesque angel, the dwarven cavalier begins to pace back and forth along the smoky, stifling corridor, his hobnailed boots scratching furrows into the stone. Huffing through his thick red beard, he begins fiddling with the shards of cold-iron plaited into the mass of well-groomed facial hair as he grows restless.
After another half dozen turns, he suddenly stops and noisily clears his throat, dislodging a wad of phlegm and spitting it into the rivulet of magma that courses along the edge of the wall. “Can we no be speedin’ things up a bit? Ah’ll no be bent o’ knee to nae star-god an’ its spewin’ falsehoods if I cannae help it.” He strides forward and peers intently at the eviscerated celestial hung against the cracked stonework. “Hae ye anythin’ ta say or shall we jes be on and merry aboot this unsavory business?”
[Gardain]
ReplyDeleteWith a growl of frustration, the dwarf rummages into his bulging belt pouch and tosses another handful of curly dark-iron shavings on the pair of muttering sages as he forms several hand-signs warding off spirits and trickery. “Bewitch’d ye both must be! He ha’ work tae do and ye stand idly by!”
Stamping his booted feet, his armor clanking with each step, the stocky fellow tramps towards the opened mural. Staying well clear of Shazi, keeping his back turned away from her as he narrows his eyes and gestures with pointed fingers that he’s watching her, the stout paladin heads into the passageway leading upwards as he grumbles under his breath. “If there be among ye able bodies a being o’ stout heart an’ a mind tae poot an end tae this monstrosity, I beg ye follow. Ah’ll no be found wantin’ for action whenst ah go afore th’ Gods!”
With a determined step, the newest crusader walks into the darkness of the staircase and out of sight.
Head through the passageway at O1
[Palim]
DeletePalim follows the dwarf.
[Kallista]
ReplyDeleteAs Gardain and Palim begin to explore beyond the succubus mural's passage (a big post to come later today), Kallista receives an answer from the crucified angel.
"Pull on my spine, that has been so horrifically altered. It is the opening mechanism that will take you safely past this secret door..."
For Gardain, Palim and whomever want to join them, you may post in the Pleasure Crypts.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I will also keep this post open while there are crusaders here. You may pull the spine-chain if you so desire, and open this most intriguing secret door behind the crucified angel.
I do not force you to stay together as a party, and you may go where you wish!
Shazi takes up the rear with the rest of the group.
ReplyDeleteWith barely concealed relish, Kallista yanks the spine of the angel, muttering her thanks as it falls silent once more.
ReplyDeletePulling the spine of the angel opens the secret door! Proceed on to the Prison of Frozen Gods if you dare...
DeleteI think I'm going to cut off commentary here to not have three open commentable posts. Two is enough. :)