 |
| The six doors above, and the entryway, are still accessible via a narrow ledge. 1-A pair of crossed swords 2-A open tome 3-A pit trap 4-Two hands clasped in prayer 5-Three arrows 6. A tree |
The woman answers, managing to stand. "I am Sapphire Heart. I honestly don't know how long I've been here, but I will explain all I know..."
[Melliandre] "My memories. They've been tampered with. There's something, something I should be remembering, but it's not there, it's... Something is wrong." She looks at the woman in fear. "What do you know about this?"
[Haargarth] "Can you tell us how you came to be trapped in this sarcophagus, and what significance your blue robes bear?"
Sapphire Heart says, "Long ago, I'm not sure how long as I can no longer track the days, all of us were sent here by the Dominion to save Covenant. The sins of the people were placed in us, and we fought our way through a scortching desert labyrinth. During a final combat, I was knocked unconscious. When I came to that first time, it was you six that saved me. You unpetrified me and had no clue who I was. I told you what I knew, and we fought our way through a deadly moor that time.
It always ends the same. We fight, but something renders me unconscious or incapable. And then it begins again with you saving me, and asking me all the hard questions once again. Every time I awaken, it's a new place, so I don't know where we are. And, my memories before coming to this place are spotty at best. I don't remember family, or home, or life at Covenant... although I remember the name of it and the reason why I'm here.
As for my robe, it was given to me before we came here. I was quizzed about things, a part of the process maybe? And when done, I was given this robe.[Jykarra]
(OOC: See Main Post Image)
Just as you are beginning the ritual, the floor of the hallway entrance descends to become a ramp. Not steep enough to cause you to lose balance, but enough to reveal a new exit. You hear faint scratching sounds, as if from far away... perhaps from this new hallway?
The floor of this new hallway is slick with blood, and within you see a skull-like creature of rust within, slowly approaching!
Sapphire Heart looks nervous.
What are you doing?
There seems to still be a narrow ledge around the upper hallway, that you might be able to still access the upper six doors (and the one you came in on), if you're dexterous.
ReplyDelete[Melliandre]
ReplyDelete"Jykarra, what did you *do*?" Melliandre hisses quietly. She looks to Sapphire Heart. "Get back. We'll deal with you in a moment." She turns back to the skull.
"So, I see you've come to gaze upon my splendour. What do you want, besides that?" She stands ready to run if need be, moving slightly behind one of the burlier male members of the party.
[OOC]
Because obviously the best thing to do with an ominous skull thing is to ask it what it wants.
The skull does not answer in words. Instead, it melts before you, becoming a mass of rust grubs that swim in the blood pool towards you!
ReplyDeleteThe BLOODY RUST GRUB SWARM is about 20 feet away, and closing fast!
WHAT DO YOU DO!
[Vulture]
ReplyDeleteA sigh leaves Vulture's mouth, "What kind of place is this?" he states as he bites the dagger, runs to, and kicks off of, the wall up to the lip of the hall that once was. Once atop the hall floor, he makes his was to the "pit trap" door and hastily opens it.
[Jykarra]
ReplyDeleteThe wizard glances at Melliandre "Oh come on, don't tell me you've never accidentally summon swarms of rust grubs when you tried to cast a magical spell! It happens to every wizard at least once. Maybe twice..."
Pulling out the dragonscale he writes his spells on, Jykarra quickly finds the magical text he searched for. From his pouch, Jykarra quickly fishes out a small, squirming pixie. Muttering an incantation, Jykarra pops the glowing faerie into his mouth with grimace. After a moment of chewing, Jykarra leans forward and spits out the luminescent pixie blood, but rather than falling to the ground, dozens of the glowing droplets dart forward, striking the mass of rust grubs.
[OOC]
Casting magic missile. Not sure if we do the rolling, or if the DM does, but it's at a +2. If I get a 7-9, I'll draw unwelcome attention onto myself.
[Jykarra]
ReplyDeleteYour magic missile strikes true, annihilating (Rolled a 12 for 7 damage) a portion of the rust swarm. The remainder instantly retreats back into the blood, but your gut tells you this brief respite isn't going to last long. The scratching sounds coming from deep within that new hallway are getting LOUDER.
Sapphire Heart asks, "Which way? You've seen this place more than I have, what is this place? We have to MOVE."
Sapphire Heart is a raven haired beauty, with stunning blue eyes and gorgeous curves. She has an intensity about her that suggests she is no helpless damsel, despite you having freed her from the sarcophagus. You immediately get the sense that protecting those she cares about is important to her.
[Vulture] - Apologies, which pit trap door are you opening? In the previous room, the trap door in the ceiling?
ReplyDelete[ooc]
ReplyDeleteone of the 6 doors in the previous area
Haargath takes up a defensive position in front of the sapphire lady. Bloody wizard, stop trolling us with your failing spells. He waits for Vulture to report back.
ReplyDelete[Vulture]
ReplyDeleteWhen Vulture touches the door with the pit trap engraving, it opens effortlessly inward.
Beyond is a 60 foot trap gauntlet in which swing many bladed pendulums. The floor is littered with spiked pit traps (just enough to catch a single leg).
Grinning green devil faces paint the walls, and out of their mouths begin to emerge vorpal sawblades.
At the end is a single door of bronze, and a three-headed humanoid statue stands next to it... much like a doorman... almost suggesting that it would open it for you if you made it safely through.
[OOC]
DeleteAwesome :D
[Vulture]
ReplyDeletePeering into the room, a bead of sweat forms and rolls down Vulture's face, for the risk of running this room may be too much to bare.
"A deadly trial lay through this door, but I feel as though I am the only one that would even come close to completing this challenge." He yells down to his companions. "Someone come open another door and see what's behind it."
Melliandre retreats from the horrors below and scans the doors.
ReplyDelete"Typical," she says, sniffing in disdain as she notes the symbols. "No one thinks of we Bards." She shrugs and pulls open the door marked with praying hands, peering inside even as she calls to the others. "You lot! Open these doors, the ones that have symbols that make sense to your profession!"
[Sorne]
ReplyDeleteThe elf eyes the oncoming swarm with interest and kneels to get closer to their level. He wracks his brain for a predator form that would eat them to satisfy the ever-hungering darkness that his sin has become. Sorne's eye's unfocus for a moment as a shadow passes over his face.
At the last possible moment, he bites his lip hard. Blood immediately bursts forth and the elf's eye's clear. He leaps forward and lands on his wooden shield, using his weight to crush the soft-bodied grubs underneath.
[Tech]
Hack & Bash!
9 + 1 = 10
5 damage.
[Sorne]
ReplyDeleteThe magic missile drove off the rust grubs for a bit, but I'll retcon and add your damage to the mix. It might make a difference. Read above about the 3/12 11:59 post for what happens.
[Melliandre]
Like the door Vulture opened, Melliandre touches the door with the praying hands and it opens easily inward. The chamber beyond is large, and considering the nearby door is just a few yards away, fits impossibly in that space.
This new chamber seems to be a sancutary. Within it you discover...
The Cloister: A circle of lit candles, the smell of incense in the air. When you focus on this, a whisper on the wind tells you, "peace through meditation."
The Transept: A wooden kneeler in front of a altar of gold. A beholder idol hovers above the altar, it's many eyes focused on the empty space where a worshipper should be. When you focus on this, the whisper says, "pray to a higher power."
The Penance Hall: The walls are covered in an array of spikes instruments of self-harm. When you focus on this, the whisper says, "Flagellation brings absolution."
Beyond all these is a triangular portal of white mist. When you look at this portal, the whisper says, "Choose the greatest and approach, bastion of faith."
[Jykarra]
ReplyDeletePleased with himself for tending to the rust grubs, the wizard opens up the door with the tome & peers inside
[Jykrarra]
ReplyDeleteUnlike the others, this door does not open to your touch. You sense magic at work here on this one - the telltale aura of a Arcane Lock upon it.
Just then, you sense the fire of eldritch eyes upon your psyche. Searching, sensing a new foe. Probing for your mind's hidden breach! From beyond the closed door, a powerful Id Insinuation rolls toward you like the wave of the first sea.
WHAT DO YOU DO!
Well, if everyone else is opening doors, Haargarth will climb up and open the door marked with three arrows. Assuming nothing terrible leaps out at him, he'll try to get a look into the door marked with a tree as well.
ReplyDelete[OOC]
Well gents, besides the cursory view of what we see when the door is opened, we'll have to go one at a time. UNLESS YOU ALL WANT TO SPLIT THE PARTY and tackle multiple ones. Might actually be easier to overcome the pit traps if only one of us needs to head that way instead of seven...
And Jon, you KNOW there's an illithid behind that door, right? RIGHT?
[OOC] WHATEVER, I CAN TOTALLY TAKE ON THE ILLITHID
Delete[Haargarth]
ReplyDeleteThe doors (marked with the three arrows, and the tree) must not like you, because neither react to your touch and do not open!
Meanwhile...
From the lower tunnel, the scratching sound intensifies. Something is indeed coming. Three fiery cherub angels emerge from that new tunnel to float among you. They scream in unison, "It's time to feed! The BEHEMOTH's path is clear!"
A grim portent has come to pass!!!
The three angels incinerate to ash that falls quickly to the floor, and the chamber takes on a nauseatingly foul odor of rotting fish.
Ha, well, that settles that issue then. I'm clearly no ranger or druid to open one of these passageways. Shall we bounce into one of the two open doors or do either of our druids want to open up the tree way? It might be less threatening than the trap gauntlet...
Delete[Vulture]
ReplyDeleteStomach turning from the stench, Vulture pulls his cowl up over his nose to block the overwhelming smell. He carefully surveys the trial that has been placed before him, for this could be the end of him.
[Tech]
Discern Realities
roll(7)+wis(1)= 8
Ask one question: What should I be on the lookout for?
[Vulture]
ReplyDeleteWhat should you be on the lookout for?
"I'll fucking tell you what," comes the voice from nowhere. The voice of that shmuck demon Corson who got eaten. But only Vulture can hear it.
"Look for the real game. The one that's being played ON you. You're all reacting to the bullshit around you. It's all FAKE. STOP IT. Take action! TAKE CONTROL."
Then Corson's voice goes silent.
OOC: I fucking love Dungeon World. BTW, totally off topic, watching Wolf of Wall Street on Amazon Prime.
[Vulture]
ReplyDelete"Take control?" He says to himself. Staring into the menacing gauntlet, Vulture yells out, "How are we supposed to stop this? To control it? Corson, you blubbering moron, enough of your riddles!"
[Haargarth]
ReplyDeleteFaced with a trap gauntlet or combat, Haargarth chooses the latter, something he at least knows about. Crourstix held high, he enters the bloody tunnel the cherubs flew out of. Someone bring light, we've got a behemoth to kill.
[OOC]
Well, if no one else is going to act...
[Azul Khadon]
ReplyDelete'Do not hesitate, my friend,' I console, placing small hand upon wiry shoulder. 'I shall stead the way!'
The Khamsa flashes, and through the dissipating light flies the Desert Lark of Dawn Yet to Come! The small bird flits about, its uncannily human eyes drinking in every detail. The small bird darts about the room, evading the low-swinging pendulous blades and resting upon the head of the 3-headed Statue.
[Tech]
Shapeshift: 2d6+2= 8! Hold 2 to make moves related to my form. Spending 1 immediately to fly through the gauntlet.
[Jykarra]
ReplyDeleteThe Wizard steps up behind Vulture & looks at the trap gauntlet beyond.
"Oh....umm....
I want you to know I have complete faith in you."
With a firm (but not forceful) hand on Vulture's back, Jykarra nudges the rogue into the gauntlet.
[OOC: oops, forgot to refresh the page. If the bird gets through safely, I'll not try and nudge the rogue towards potential death]
Delete[OOC]
DeleteThanks for the support lol
[Vulture]
ReplyDeleteCorson's voice does not reply, possibly leaving Vulture with more questions than answers.
[Haargarth]
Haargarth enters the lower tunnel, and just as the tunnel begins to form the beginnings of a maze, the behemoth is upon him. It is a pure mass of eyes, teeth, and the the absorbed grasping arms of consumed angels. Tentacles and spikes. And 144 horns of rusted iron. The light about it dimishes, as it actively destroys life and light.
Haargarth sees it then, a mithril key lodged in the jaw of one its many mouths.
A tentacles lashes out at Haargarth, but the warrior is ready to deflect the blow!
[Azul]
Azul's flight is incredible. Dodging swinging pendulums and vorpal blades like a leaf on the wind. Just prior to landing on the statue, he is hit! A small poison dart hits his wing, and the damage is negligble... but he can feel poison beginning to work its way into his system. A sleepiness is beginning to cover over him.
When he lands upon the statue... is it the poison inducing hallucination?!? The statue's heads turns to him, and he recognizes them as the one who gave him a strange questionairre test prior to coming here. He says, "Hold true to the faith, don't allow this dungeon to deter you from what you need to do! It will try every means to tempt you away from the path. Your way lies just ahead, through that bronze door. Tell me you are with me!"
[Azul Khadon]
ReplyDeleteThe Mother Unwilling flinches; can this be true? Fighting back against the darkness encroaching upon her vision, she does a thing which has never before deterred her: she doubts. Could this really be the way? Is this some sort of reverse encouragement, sending us to our (seemingly cyclic) doom?
[Tech]
Discern Realities+2: 12!
Who's really in control here?
What here is not as it appears to be?
What should I be on the lookout for?
[OOC]
No big deal, but Azul Khadon is a woman.
OOC: Right! Sorry about that.
DeleteUpdate coming tomorrow. Tonight, fighting off con crud from Garycon. So tired.
ReplyDeleteCurrent fever holds steady all day at 100.2 to 100.8. Post tomorrow, I hope.
ReplyDeleteAzul, check your email for a private email addressing your Discern Realities. I'm finally back, antibiotics curing up my strep throat, but realized that I can't post yet until the private stuff is dealt with. :)
ReplyDelete[OOC]
DeleteAll taken care of. Back to you, Joe!
I think I'll post a summary on what's going on here, to help empower your next actions.
ReplyDelete[Sorne/Sapphire Heart]
Sorne is now an NPC, as his player needs to drop out of the game. He is standing next to Sapphire Heart, and the two of them are looking to see what you do next.
[Azul]
You have traversed the trap gauntlet and are poisoned. The three-headed statue opens the door before you, revealing a portal within. There is a fuzzy image within the portal of a massive chamber containing an enormous iron gate of barbs upon which many people have been impaled. You instantly recognize this as the Oblivion Gate, your final objective. Your view of the remainder of the chamber is unclear.
[Melliandre]
You opened the door to a sanctuary and a faith/RP challenge. Will you attempt it, or one of the other challenges?
[Vulture]
The voice of Corson recently spoke to you, and you stand at the beginning of the trap gauntlet.
[Haargarth]
You're in the lower trench/hallway, with a snarling abyssal creature about to tear off your limbs? What do you do?
[Jykarra]
You were almost mentally attacked by something behind the door with the book insignia, but you backed away. You are near Vulture. What are you doing?
Pretty sure you know what Haargarth is going to do, GM.
Delete[Azul Khadon]
ReplyDeleteThe small bird begins gagging, vomited forth what appears to be a worm. Alas, a single slender finger belonging to a woman probes around the thing's mouth, wrenching its gullet open as she tears forth from the impossibly small creature.
Crawling forth, she vomits, hands scrambling through a small woven sack for something to treat the burning poison...
[Tech]
Reverting to human form and burning a use of my Adventuring gear for an antidote.
[Azul Khadon]
DeleteStill quivering and weak from the poison, Azul enters the portal, eager to unravel the mystery of our past and destiny...
[Vulture]
ReplyDelete*Hmph* "We're running around like a bunch of imbeciles." He mutters to himself as he strafes over to the door with the three arrows upon it and opens the door to find...
Melliandre ponders the door's contents, thinking about what she's seeing and what it might mean, but decides that, for the moment, she isn't religious enough to make sense of it, and goes to stand with the others to check on their progress.
ReplyDeleteOOC: Sorry for the delay, work has me swamped. I will post a big new post on Friday. Thanks for your patience!
ReplyDeleteOOC: New post is out. Sorry Vuture, as you are about to open the door with the arrows, you are teleported with the rest. See new chamber for details.
ReplyDelete