Magnus ambles through the house, taking his time making his way toward the others calling for him. He stopped to quickly examine the bodies one more time, he walked around them, viewing them from all angles, searching for any familiar pattern.
When he was finally satisfied, he joined the others at the fireplace. As he arrived his eyes lit up at the sight of the previously undiscovered doorway. He immediately fell into examining it with rapt attention, after some time he seems satisfied to move beyond it. Tapping his staff against the floor, setting the keys a jingling, a strange light erupted from the top, bathing the surrounding area in swimming, swirling bands of white and green and blue.
ooc
Where the bodies laying in any particular pattern?
Also, if it's ok, I would like to step outside the skill challenge for a moment and test Magnus' knowledge regarding the patterns cut into the bodies of the victims.
ooc: So I've got Vixo in front scouting, Morvannon and Magnus in the middle somewhere. Grakk in the back. Kamotz behind Vrrsk't, who is suggested to be near the front with a light. So: Vixo, Vrrsk't, Kamotz, Magnus, Morvannon, Grakk? Vixo is scouting, Vrrsk't has a light of some kind (what?), Magnus has light on his staff, and Morvannon has a sunrod. Sound right?
Magnus
The cuts are clustered in four groups on each body, around the heart, hands, face, and genitals. All of the cuts are fairly shallow, and the likely cause of death in all cases was probably exsanguination. Though the cuts on the bodies are quite deliberate and carefully placed in the same places on all the bodies, they are not clean. Rather, they are ragged and bloody, as though made with a serrated blade. There are bruises around the wrists and knees on all the bodies, as if the victims were held down to prevent struggling, though hitches and jagged cuts hint that these efforts weren't entirely successful.
These patterns of cuts are consistent with rituals where the pain of the victim is part of the goal. There are a number of such rituals, devoted to the darker cults and minor deities. In some of the rituals, the only purpose is to please whatever fiendish master the celebrant serves, but in others, the ritual is used to harvest something from the victims. The careful nature of the cuts points to the latter kind of ritual. Given that all the organs and limbs are present, and it doesn't appear that any effort was made to collect the blood, it is likely that whatever was harvested in this case was intangible.
The bodies aren't arranged in any particular way that you can determine; they seem to have been casually dumped where they lay, once they were dead.
Grakk finishes inspecting his gear, get's up an moves towards the fireplace. He stares down the enterence to the steps and listens. He pauses for a few moments, turns to the group and says "Is everyone ready? If so, let's go."
A dozen narrow stairs down, the stairway turns on itself and widens, becoming more comfortable for those of you in armor. Another dozen steps end in a plain wooden door. A faint reddish glow can be seen around the door, which is slightly ajar. It opens with a touch, swinging quietly inward, and inundating you with the scent of brimstone.
The room is a large, square, stone-floored chamber, with a high ceiling of paneled wood. There are shelves around the edge of the room, as well as a low slab of stone that could be either desk or altar, depending on the nearby furnishings. It currently seems to be firmly in altar mode. But the dominant feature of the room is a large, glowing red diagram in the center of the floor, roughly circular, and rather thoroughly occupied.
The circle's occupant stands some nine feet tall, with black, curving horns extending another half foot above. Its hide is a deep gray, striated with black and red ridges that cover its thickly muscled body. It is roughly humanoid, standing upright on two clawed feet, and carrying in one hand a massive hammer of black iron. Its other hand it flexes restlessly, long black claws scything the air in anticipation. It stands naked, save for a loincloth of black metal plates hung from an iron chain around its waist. Its face is hard to make out, as it is shrouded in shadows with no obvious source, save for its burning red eyes, and the occasional reflection off of sharp, ebony fangs. It faces the far corner of the room, and looks toward you over its shoulder as you enter, but makes no other movement.
"What? Who goes there? Don't come any closer, or I'll break the circle, and this thing will kill us all!" The voice comes from the far corner, where a human figure struggles to his feet. He is a middle-aged man, of average height and lean build, and bears a slight resemblance to the childrens' bodies from upstairs. He wears a robe of dark red, belted at the waist with a silver chain, and a fine cloak. His eyes are deeply bloodshot, with dark circles beneath them, as though he has been awake for far too long.
Morvannon peers into the room cautiously, aghast at what he sees there. "What are you talking about? What is that thing? Is it connected to what happened to the family upstairs?"
OOC
Augh! Invisible Castle is down again. Is there another dice-rolling site that folks use? I wanted to do a couple knowledge checks.
Mini stat
Morvannon Rinael - Level 2 Half-Elf Warlock
Passive Perception:12, Passive Insight:19, Initiative:+1 Senses: Low-light
AC:16, Fortitude:13, Reflex:15, Will:16 -- Speed:6, Size: Medium
HP: 32/32, Bloodied 16, Surge Value 8, Surges left 8/8
Action Points: 1, Second Wind: not used
Powers - Eldritch Blast
Eyebite
Warlock's Curse (minor)
Misty Step (Warlock Pact Boon) Witchfire
Scorching Burst (Dilettante power)
Thunderwave (Arcane Initiate feat)
Caiphon's Leap (Utility) Curse of the Dark Dream
Grakk steps in and looks at the statue. His heart starts to pump rapidly, not in fear, but they way that he feels before battle. He smiles, gripping his sword with both hands, ready to attack. Finally, a worthy foe! I'd be honored to fight you to the death, fiend!. He then hears the voice of the human. It takes all of his will not to step foward, calling the human's bluff. "What is this all about human! Speak quickly and don't lie. If you do, I'll know. I don't act kindly to those who cross me."
The wizard's face spasms with guilt and pain and frustrated rage, at the mention of the family upstairs. His hands shake as he holds his staff near the circle, ready to break it. "Who do I work for? I live here! This is my house! Who do you work for, murderers?"
Ah, good, were here to help you. Kamotz purposefully lays his flail down, See, no need to get jumpy, let's all relax... The shifter gives a slow look around, someone needed to talk this guy down... and from the look in Grakk's eye, he wanted the fight...
We don't want a fight, Kamotz glances at Grakk, then at Vrrsk't, just investigating, Kamotz slowly indicates his holy symbol. What happened?
At the sight of the thing in the magic circle Magnus' eyebrows shot up and he let out a low whistle. When his eyes were finally able to move beyond the monstrosity they locked onto the man behind it, narrowing.
Ooo...someone...has been opening doors...yes...ones they ought not be opening...
Just out of curiosity, how big is the room, how much room between the walls and the diagram? How far are we from the man, and how far is the man from the circle? Is he armed?
__________________ Oni
"Each man, one way.
Each horse, one stance.
Each church, one buddha.
Each master to his own technique."
Hearing Kamotz's, Grakk steps back from the ring and lets the others focus their attention on the whimpering human. Instead his eyes focus back on the statue, ready to attack if the statue makes the slightest movement.
ooc: No time for a full post just now, but here are a few answers:
Magnus
It's clearly demonic in origin, and its musculature and stance bespeak a preference for physical violence, as opposed to magic. It looks powerful. Beyond that you have no idea; your studies have not led to a description of such a demon.
Vrrsk't holds his tongue. He knows that this foul thing of darkness must be destroyed. He knows that there are ways to avoid bloodshed, but he does not know who is in the right here. He leaves it to those with more skilled tongues to sort that out. He knows one thing: he must be ready to fight. Walking toward Grakk, he lays one scaly hand on the barbarian's shoulder. "Not yet, friend. Let us see if this can be ended peacefully."
Facing Grakk, his back is to the old man in the corner. Vrrsk't drops the sunrod in his right hand and draws his flail, with a wink to Grakk indicating that he, too, would prefer to be tested against the demon. Vrrsk't casually moves near the bookshelf on the north wall, making certain that he does not appear to be any closer to the scared man in the corner. Then he waits and lets the talkers do their thing...
__________________
Vrrsk't
Vrrsk't - Dragonborn Paladin 2
Initiative +2 Passive perception 13 Passive Insight 13
AC 22 For 16 Ref 15 Will 14
HP 35/35 Bloodied 17 Surge value 10 Surges: 11/12
Speed:5 | AP: 0 | 2nd Wind: unused
Basic Melee: Flail +7 (1d10+4)
Powers:
Holy Strike Bolstering Strike Lay on Hands x1 Radiant Smite
Sun Strike
Channel Divinity
Dragon Breath Paladin's Judgment (used)
Martyr's Blessing
Catein
Catein- Warforged Invoker 1
Initiative +0 Passive perception 14 Passive Insight 19
AC 16 For 14 Ref 11 Will 16
HP 26/27 Bloodied 13 Surge value 6 Surges: 7/9
Speed:5 | AP: 1 | 2nd Wind: unused
Basic Melee: Spiked Gauntlet +4, 1d6+2
Powers: Avenging Light Grasping Shards Thunder of Judgment
Channel Divinity
Warforged Resolve Binding Invocation of Chains (used)
Kamotz watches the exchange between Vrrsk't and Grakk, his hackles raise slightly. The nose of the shifter sniffs once, twice. Familiar sensations built up, good sensations... Kamotz smelled the intent of the Pack, felt the need for a fight, to bring down the big prey. His adrenaline began to pick up slightly, deep down he felt the urge to smite, to rain down righteous wrath.
"Yes, Vrrsk't...you are right." Grakk says to his comrade, then nods to Vrrsk't in such a way to let him know that he understands his intent. As Vrrsk't moves east along the northen wall, Grakk slowly moves south along the western wall so that he could be in good position to flank the demon with Vrrsk't if the demon moves. Grakk stops at a position southwest of the circle, holding his great blade with both hands, with the blade resting on his shoulder. His eyes continue to watch the demon statue for movement.
"You're... investigating? And you wear Lauto's mark. Yes, you can't be with them! What happened? Well, my name is Varonus Morenson. I own an import business for fine textiles. Our offices are in... but that doesn't matter.
For twelve years, now, I have, as the dwarf says, been opening doors I shouldn't have been opening. I was... just bored, really. I mean, textile imports aren't exactly what I dreamed of, when I was young, and I'm not getting any younger. I just wanted some excitement, and when I stumbled across that book, well... I never did anything with what I summoned; never sent them on rampages or anything. I had them build this room for me in secret, kept it from my family. It was my secret, my way to get away and be myself for a bit.
Well, it turns out, someone noticed. I started to get notes, left in places no one but me would look. Threats, telling me that they knew what I was, and they had a job for me, and that they wouldn't take no for an answer. Left me instructions, how to contact them, passwords... But I did nothing. I thought... At first I thought it was a prank, but it kept happening. The threats got worse, said they'd go after my family, said I could work for them or feed them. One day, a zombie came into my shop, in broad daylight, and went after the customers! It was just one, and the guards got it, but I got a note saying it was just a warning, that my time was running out. I got scared. I wanted nothing to do with them, but who could I go to? I couldn't explain why they wanted me.
Then, they came... broke into the house, black robes, big serrated knives... Well, I fled here. And I started to summon something, to protect myself. I, uh, well, I was in a hurry, and I wanted something powerful enough to protect me. I cut some corners, doubled the reagents. I... may have stuttered. I got this." he waves at the circle. The demon just stands there, tense, waiting.
"I've never summoned anything like this. I don't even know what it is. I can't command it. I can't even banish it. It's all I can do to contain it. I've been holding the circle ever since. But I'm out of components. The circle is weakening. I... I'm weakening. I don't even know what day it is. And they never came. All this, and they didn't find me here. Or maybe they just left me." He laughs, bitterly.
"You should go."
It has been at least two days since the family upstairs were killed, which explains the man's exhaustion.
insight 16 (passive is ok)
He's being mostly truthful, but he didn't quite meet your eyes when he said that he never used his summoned demons for anything.
Kamotz smiles, I've got good news. You're small fish Varonus, and we are after big fish. If you will cooperate with our investigation, I'll do my best to make sure you get out of trouble. We can protect you, and I'm sure the Temple will have use of talents like yours. In a safe environment Varonus. Come stand behind us, and out of the way, we shall send this thing back from whence it came... One way, or another. Kamotz slowly bends down and picks up his flail, hefting it with both hands, Any advice? Kamotz asks the wizard, thinking he may know the things strengths and weakness'.
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