Ingaran Adventures 63: The cursed room

The Ingaran Adventures
Episode 63
“The cursed room.”

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                                    Lord Issic: Half Human, Half Gold Dragon Warrior
                                    Lady India: A gypsy Bard/Shadow Dancer
                                    Lord Phaidon: A Tamer of the Beasts
                                    Lord Alexander Maximus: The Gauntlet of Athena

                                    Cthaat Angartha: The first Blood Owl
                                    Zografos, Lord Domnhall: A yuan-ti slayer of mind flayers
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After packing away the tomes that they found, Alexander said, “On for the glory of Athena and Alisander’s liberation from evil.”

The stairway down loomed before them. The stairs wound around, and had very shallow steps. The grim walls were carved as snake-scales and had a coating of slime on them. The steps sounded hollow as they walked down them, echoing and ringing out. A white vapor curled menacingly around their ankles as they descended. The stairs terminated at…a door! The door was grim and vile, and they got the sense that it was laughing at them all.

Phaidon had grown weary of the doors in this place, “Check the door and then open it. We have no time for this.” Since no one else advanced on the door, Phaidon checked it himself and then opened the door. The door squealed open with a screech that was reminiscent of demons howling.

The room beyond was completely dark. The blackness was deep, and menacing, and horrible. They could hear slithering and sighing in the darkness. Issic was the only one who could make out three pairs of glowing red eyes in the darkness because of his draconic vision. Alexander summoned up the power of Athena and a cone of light twenty feet in length sprang forth from his eye sockets. The darkness absorbed Alexander’s light, consuming it as a snake devours an egg.

A hissing, sibilant voice carried to them from the baleful darkness, “One of you must remain with us for a spell if the rest of you would continue.”

Issic challenged the voice, “Come out into the light foul creatures of darkness or you shall see nothing but darkness!”

Three voices hissed at Issic.

Issic was not going to let whatever lurked in that room to get the better of him. He filled his powerful lungs and spewed intense flames into the room.

Zografos could not believe the way these fools ‘killed first and asked questions later’. He had learned that even associating with unsavory creatures had its rewards. Zografos yelled, “If you are peaceable and if these idiots don't kill you, I'll stay behind so the others can go forward!”

As Issic’s flames filled the room, the creatures within cried out in anguish and anger and the darkness that filled the room, suddenly withdrew. At first glance the creatures they saw appeared to be well proportioned human females, but a closer look revealed a hideous face crowned with writhing, hissing snakes instead of hair. One of the Medusas had crumpled to the floor, burning to death.

Alexander screamed out, “Don't look at their faces!”

Alexander’s cry was too late, and the heroes felt pain as the gazes of the Medusas attempted to petrify them where they stood. Everyone’s bodies held strong against the horrible attack, but Antaeus and Axylus, Phaidon’s panthers were not so lucky. The two great beasts immediately turned to stone where they had stood.

Zografos leapt into the room, grabbed up the two remaining Medusas and shadow jumped away.

Issic stepped into the room and removed the dying Medusa’s head from its shoulders.

Alexander walked into the room and examined the headless medusa. Phaidon walked over to check on his panthers, but he knew the legends and knew there was nothing he could do for them.

The medusa’s body had nothing but a quiver of arrows and a short skirt of silk. The room was fairly well appointed, with divans and cushions all about, and several chests and cabinets.

Phaidon was visibly upset, but they had no time to stop, “Search the room or move on?”

Alexander replied kindly, “Search the room.”

India asked, “Where did Zografos go! Where did he take those, those... monsters?”

Phaidon almost snapped at India because he was upset, “I do not know. Let him go, he made his choice. He will suffer the consequences.”

They found nothing of a magic nature in the room and a cabinet full of stone hands with fingers extended, phalluses and heads with their tongues hanging out, all very lifelike.

“Alexander, can you help out the boys?” Phaidon asked as he opened a drawer. Inside of the drawer was a cobra which immediately struck at Phaidon. It missed and Phaidon did what Phaidon does best, he riddled the poor creature with arrows and it died where it was pinned to the dresser.

Phaidon casually removed his arrows from the carcass and threw the dead cobra behind the dresser.

Alexander barely saw what happened as he was answering Phaidon’s earlier question, “I fear I cannot restore then, the first of the gorgons was once a priestess of Athena but they were turned against her by Poseidon during their famous battles. As such, they are resistant to Athena's power, I wizard however can help them. We will return ....”

Alexander stopped at the sound of Phaidon’s arrows impacting the dresser, “Are you ok?”

Phaidon smiled as he slid his arrows into his quiver, “It missed. I did not. Very well. I do not like that idea, but we have no choice.”

India said, “We should continue on. I wish we'd get a message or something from Zografos.”

Phaidon asked “Can you contact him, Alexander?”

“I could but he has no power over them any longer...”

India wrinkled her brow. “I don't understand.”

Phaidon realized that Alexander was still talking about Poseidon, “No, I mean Zografos. I should have made myself clearer.”

India nodded, “Yes, can you contact Zografos?”

Alexander was on a roll. He loved to talk about the history of the Ingaran Gods, “When he and Athena made peace they rejected the Ingaran gods and thus they serve as a warning to the gods themselves. Do not make war on each other or suffer under the fate you wish for your fellow deity.”

Suddenly, they heard a loud banging noise from upstairs. The noise started to clatter its way downstairs.

Phaidon nocked an arrow as Alexander returned to the subject of Zografos, “Oh, yes I could ...” Alexander readied his pilum.

Issic looked at India suspiciously “Why are you so concerned about Zografos now when you wanted to kill him before we set out?”

India shot Issic a basic look of hatred. “I don't want him making goody-goody with those monsters and then using them to stab us all in the back, leaving us all for dead down here!”

India continued her ranting, “He's as much a monster as they are these days! Utterly alien to us now.”

“Do you know something that we don't?”

The banging on the stairs got louder, closer, quieter, closer, then louder and even closer.

India hissed, “Yes.”

Alexander spoke, “I hate to interrupt but we need you attention here now.”

Phaidon said, “It must be the eye again.”

The noise stopped and a flash of light ripped through the room. Suddenly they noticed letters on the walls, written in red over the tapestries and stones, a red ink that dripped ominously in the cold, in the dark, deep in the earth. Everyone could plainly read the words that formed in front of them. The letters spelled out a dire message. 'Help Phaidon Welcome Home'

Phaidon was puzzled, “What in Athena's name does that mean?”

India got angry, “Why did they write that?”

Phaidon responded, “Do you know what it means?”

“It must be Zografos' doing. He is trying to scare us.”

Issic moved towards the stairs to look for the source of the noises. He found nothing there except little bitty foot prints in blood. Rat-shaped foot prints. The three rats in the room clustered in a corner, seemingly afraid.

India continued her tirade on Zografos, “I bet he engineered this entire excursion. He wasn't afraid of the door, remember. He probably had this whole thing scouted out and sent us here to kill us so he can get in power with Ares and Ordiss Ool.”

Cthaat said, “I don't think so. I am not sure where Zografos has gone, but he probably has taken those monsters to some hellish land of shadow and darkness.”

Phaidon continued talking to India, “While that is entirely possible. I do not think he would risk Athena's wrath. I believe someone is trying to pit us against each other.”

Cthaat said, “I think that person is India.”

Phaidon raised an eyebrow, “What?” He could not imagine why Cthaat would say such a thing.

India screamed at Cthaat, “You bitch!” She whipped out her rapier intending to kill Cthaat.

Cthaat drew her sword in response and took a defensive stance. Phaidon stepped between them, “Stop it, this instant!” He thought to himself, “Has everyone gone mad?”

India stepped around Phaidon and took a stab at Cthaat who moved around Phaidon the opposite direction to avoid the blow.

Alexander yelled out in a loud, booming voice, “STOP IT THIS SECOND! ATHENA WILL NOT HAVE HER HEROES DESTORYING EACH OTHER!!!!” Alexander’s normally soothingly golden eyes were now red with anger.

Cthaat backed away obeying Alexander. India pressed the attack, but Phaidon stepped in front of her again, “India, please stop!” Alexander also moved between India and Cthaat

Issic balled up his fist in an effort to knock India unconscious, but she lashed at him with her rapier and he backed off, the rapier glancing harmlessly of his draconic hide. India stepped forward, but Phaidon stopped her. She lunged at Cthaat over Phaidon and Alexander quickly unsnapped his armour and it crashed to the ground. Alexander purposefully stepped into the path of India’s attack and her rapier slid completely through his shoulder to the hilt. Issic pressed forward again hoping to render India unconscious, but Alexander took that blow as well.

Alexander screamed as he stumbled back in agony, “STOP THIS I SAY!”

India backed away, “Are you a monster too, Alexander, that my sword does nothing to you?”

Alexander continued, “Fools, my friends have left and been replaced with fools. India, were you not there when the Gods of Ingaran came to Inzeladun for the first time and ages? Did you not see them bless me with ceaseless life? I have nothing to fear. No blade, nor earthly storm.”

India stamped her feat, “Well, I am scared to death down here! I do not have to put up with her!”

Alexander pulled India’s rapier out of his shoulder and sliced his forearm with it. He did not bleed, but golden tears wept from the vein, “I fear this however. I fear that this blessing we be a curse.”

India looked in wonder at the wound. “You are a monster.”

Phaidon spoke lovingly to India, “He is not a monster, he is touched by the Gods. We need to sort this out before we continue.”

Alexander continued, “I fear that after all this time you will leave your senses and attack each other like animals.”

Cthaat said, “I did no such thing. I just offered an opinion.”

India growled at her and moved towards her. Phaidon impeded her movement, wondering what had come over them.

Alexander continued, hoping to calm everyone down with his words, his truth, “I fear that the Gods have given me what I wish. And oh what do the Gods do when they wish to destroy a man but first give him what he wishes. I wish to see you all happy and safe India. I wish to see Ingara free and the world safe and I fear the Gods have done this to me to give me just that. But to give it to me not now, when I have comrades and friends to share it with, but rather after I am broken and alone eons from now. I would sooner go into this viper pit naked and weaponless then go into it alone.”

The noise barely allowed Alexander to finish as it started up again. The noise seemed to emanate from all about them.

Bang!

India looked sheepish and said, “I am sorry, Alexander. I apologize, Cthaat.”

Alexander continued, “But how I go is up to all of you.”

Cthaat spoke up, “I accept, India. I am sorry I said it.”

Phaidon sighed and relaxed.

Alexander said, “Do not let the pitiful magician's tricks of this place trick you into turning on each other. This darkness is nothing compared to the darkness we have already faced.”

Bang!

Alexander resumed, “We have been into the earth and we have been to hell but we have over come. And we shall over come again but only together. OK?”

India said, “As you say, Alexander.”

Bang!

Phaidon not thinking slapped his hand on Alexander’s shoulder, “This place has us all on edge. Put your armor back on and we shall give ol' bang bang a good thrashing!”

Cthaat whispered to Issic so no one else could hear, “I want you to kill her later, okay?” Issic gave Cthaat a knowing wink.

Alexander wrenched in pain, “Please watch it, it might not kill me but it still hurts like hell.”

“Sorry about that, Alexander.”

Bang!

The noise continued.

Bang!

“It is ok; just help me put my armor back on.”

Phaidon helped Alexander with his armor. Phaidon’s patience had worn thin with everyone acting mad. Yet, his senses were ever tuned to the happenings around him. He had grown tired of the trio of rats that continued to follow them about. Assuming they were were-rats, Phaidon yelled at them as he helped Alexander, “You! In the corner! If you are scared, I suggest you leave before we kill you.”

The rats sat up and looked at Phaidon in alarm. They put up their little arms in surrender.

Issic spoke to the rats, “Where is your master?”

One rat looks at the others and whispered so only Phaidon could hear, “This is one violent bunch of folks. Kills medusas for hissing and threatens to kill rats for being scared!”

The rats ignored mighty Issic. Cthaat and India backed away. India hissed, “Kill them!”

Alexander summoned up the power of Athena to listen to what the rats were thinking. He staggered back as he received the thoughts. Thoughts so vile, so dark, they were such that no mind should ever bear - contemplations of eternal damnation and soulless voids of sheer evil. The thoughts he detected were of vileness, violence and blood thirst, the thoughts of monsters. The thoughts were so black and dire that Alexander felt himself swimming in the void of their sinkhole of evil, but he did not succumb to insanity. Instead, he so around their thoughts and corralled them, and he knew them for what they were - vampires. He even knew their names. Aendryal was the largest rat, with the black fur and the grey striping. Barshelei was the smallest rat, with brown fur and white stockings. Irani Bel was the third rat, with white fur and pink feet and tail. The three rats giggled.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Alexander addressed the vampires, “Aendryal, I grow tired of these tricks. I demand that you and your compatriots, Barshelei and Irani Bel show yourselves.”

The noise got louder and faster, a beat that ran in time with India's beating heart. Aendryal formed into mist, and then coalesced into her humanoid form, a beautiful woman, naked save for a strip of fur that hung down in front of her wide girdle that supported her sword.

Alexander noticed that Aendryal reflexively winced with every bang.

“Kill her now!” shouted India.

The other two rats also started to form into beautiful women. One was dressed in a torn and dirty gown that once looked regal and delicate. The other was dressed in a man's clothes, including a wide-brimmed farmers hat from Drychtnoth. Alexander held up his hand to stop India.

“Kill them!” insisted India, drawing her sword. The beating sounds increased their frantic pace. India screamed in frustration at Alexander, but did not advance further.

“Why are you here and what do you know of this place?” asked Alexander.

Aendryal gave the group a wry smile. “I am here to help you, at Zografos' request.”

India screamed again. “I told you! I told you! He's evil and...” she ran out of words. They could tell she was so frustrated she was about to burst.

Phaidon tried to comfort India as he gave Alexander a confused glance.

India hissed, “My father was right about all of you. Every last damn one of you.”

Aendryal smiled and shook her head. “If she grows claws, I am leaving. To Hell with Zografos. I ain't messing with no demon.”

Phaidon tried to soothe India as he spoke to her kindly, “India...you know you cannot believe a word your father says.”

Silence. The banging stopped.

Alexander continued his interrogation of Aendryal, “Fine you want to help, tell me of all you know about this place.”

Aendryal shrugged, “I really don't know much at all. We are just military support actually. And we get to eat anyone left for dead so that the ghosts here don't get them.”

India fumed, whispering under her breath, her green eyes turning into dark slits, “I don't want her help.”

“You will have to understand if we are less trusting of you than Zografos. So I have a request, to prove that you are on our side.”

Aendryal shrugged, “Make your request.”

“You are to take Phaidon’s stone panthers back to Zografos’ house safely. You can come back after that has been done.”

Suddenly, Zografos appeared from a shadowy corner of the room.

Aendryal nodded, “Me personally, or can I send one of my two, uh, lovers?”

Zografos unsuccessfully tried to cover a look of shock upon seeing the vampires out in their true forms.

India whipped around, pointing her sword in Zografos' general direction, looking to Alexander for permission to skewer him.

Alexander held up his hand again to stop India, “You personally, take one or both of the others with you if you wish.”

Aendryal shrugged, “See ya, Zog.” She motioned to her two companions and they picked up the statues and walked up the stairs.

India screamed in frustration again. “You are letting them leave! They are killers!”

Phaidon did not like the idea of his most hated enemy providing ‘safety’ for his panthers, “I have got to admit, Alexander. I do not understand this one.”

Zografos said, “I go to the trouble of getting us some help and you send them AWAY? That was an idiot move.”

India hissed, “Don’t insult Alexander!”

Alexander communicated to Aendryal mentally, “You must understand that your presence here does more harm to the group effort than good.”

Issic leaned over and whispered to India so only she could hear, “Keep to the mission. When Zografos becomes the mission, and I have little doubt that he will become the mission, he will be dealt with in the proper manner.”

Aendryal thought back to Alexander, “Ah, but my existence does the world more harm than good. I am used to that.”

India sighed. “Okay, Issic,” she whispered.

Phaidon spoke to Zografos, “Did you write that?” He pointed to the message on the wall.

Zografos said, “Why the Hell would I write something like that? I was busy having sex with the medusas to save your butts. When would I have had the time?”

India rolled her eyes. “Oh gods. How could you do that?”

Zografos said, “What? They had hot bodies!”

Phaidon shuddered at the mental images that flashed through his head. “Where are they now?”

Alexander spoke angrily, “Zog, I have reached the end of my patience with you. You will stop your constant questioning of my orders on the battle field or you will leave. I tolerate you despite your constant evil acts. While I do thank you for getting what info you could out of the Medusas, I am sure that you were more interested in copulating with them than our safety. You must come to the realization that I know things you do not and my action while...”

Zografos cut Alexander off, “What orders on the battlefield did I question?” Zografos was confused and a bit outraged at the admonition. “You attacked the medusas that did nothing toward you and showed no ill will!” Zografos was absolutely furious.

Alexander said nothing and pointed in the direction of Aendryal and Phaidon’s panthers.

“That was AFTER you attacked them! When did I turn out to be the bad guy! I saved your butts!”

India said, “Let's kill him.”

Zografos already tired of this foolishness and said, “Let's go.”

Alexander continued, “I don't know, let’s see. When you began consorting with vampires or illithids or were creatures or became a damned Yuan-ti!”

“Hey, you gotta do things to survive here, buddy,” said Zografos.

Zografos continued, “If any of you wants to challenge me individually, let's go. Oh and honorably.”

Alexander continued to admonish Zografos, “I have not taken one action against you despite all of this and you still question my tolerance.”

Cthaat said, “Let's just drop this. He has not harmed any of us in any way. This damned place is making all of us turn on each other.”

India said, “Shut up, Cthaat.”

Zografos replied, “There is no question of your tolerance at all, Alexander. If you think I am a villain, then challenge me openly and fight a gentleman's fight here.”

Cthaat drew her sword, looking at India.

Maniacal sounding laughter boomed and echoed through the entire area. Seemingly nowhere and everywhere all at once.

“If we were to take part in a gentlemanly fight you would lose because you, despite all the perversions you have undergone, are still just a scared little mortal. I will not fight you because it is a waste of my time.”

Cthaat said, “Alexander! Don't antagonize him! He commands a lot of power.”

Alexander finished, “As I was saying. We will continue on. We will not threaten each other. We will not fight among ourselves.”

Cthaat said, “Agreed! Let's go on from here!”

Alexander continued, “We will rescue the priests because, if all of you have forgotten, they came with me to Tartus and rescued the majority of you from death. You will work together to do this. Then, after we have done this we will do our best to save the city. Then, and only then, we will settle our differences, hopefully peacefully. But, if you all want to kill each other over your simple little slights then you have my permission.”

The laughter continued to boom around, and then fade away.

Alexander looked around waiting for acknowledgement from everyone.

India said, “Agreed.”

Zografos agreed, but added, “There are gentlemanly duels that do not involve death.”

Phaidon nodded.

Cthaat said, “Agreed.”

Zografos approached the next door.