Ashlyn winces a little as the noise from Marot's blasts echo's through the stairwell, but nethertheless she seems pleased that the warlock is trying to solve the problem of the wall.
"Well it seems we have no other option than to try the other stairs at this point, however tomorrow we could try again to go through this wall. For now, let us be off to the stairs behind the dining room."
Ashlyn, with her sable raven on her shoulder, walks to the altar where she kneels briefly before turning and walking to the doorway of the chapel where she waits for Jarrith to preceed her as they head for the second stairwell.
Tessa had retreated into the chapel while Marot made his attempt. She spent a few moments in (relatively) quiet contemplation. As the others came back out of the stairwell, she ventured a brief response. "If we cannot find another way in, I can pray for assistance tomorrow, but such a prayer would be of comparable power to the location spell I was granted today. Hopefully another entrance will be discovered..."
Jarrith leads the way back to the other spiral stairway. Doing so, they pass the room where the group previously had their "meal" with the mysterious Lord Sergei. A quick look in shows the room empty, the chandelier still beaming its light over the now empty tables.
Soon, the group is at the stair, a thin whistling of air rising from the depths and spiraling by. All look pensively down into the darkness.
OOC: I need marching order and any other preparations one has made. I'm assuming y'all have not cast locate object as of yet.
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
Avron keeps quiet during the first part of the exploration of the castle. The stillness of the place unnerved him, his eyes darting to every shadow. A potion is in hand, ready to drink if combat starts.
Jarrith looks at the other members of the party at the top of the stairs and begins going through a mental calculation. He closes his eyes and tries to stratagize as best he can, then opens them quickly.
"All right... here's the situation. We want to get down into the crypts and get the sword reawakened without causing too much havoc down there. The Flames knows who or what is down there waiting for us." He moves up the group and circles them in. "I can pray to Hide five of you From all Undead. They will not see, hear, smell or notice you in any way... so long as you do not attack nor interact with any of them. This will allow the five of you to find the tomb with hopefully a minimum of incident."
He glances at Khensu, then looks at the others. "The three of us who will not be enchanted will stay further away from the other five. Khensu, myself, and one of you can stay back... probably down there at the base of the stairs. If we three avoid entering the crypts, perhaps we'll not alert anything that might be down there. But we'll still be within shouting distance, should something go wrong. Unless the creature is extremely intelligent and has a reason to suspect you down there, the five of you warded can scream at the top of your lungs and you still won't be noticed."
**********
If the group is okay with it, Jarrith will cast Hide From Undead (50 minute duration) on the five that will look for the tomb. Jarrith, Khensu and one other who might be least helpful in awakened the sword (Ravika?) can stay out of the crypts themselves back on the stairs, so as to not alert anything.
Jarrith will also cast Magic Circle Against Evil (50 minute duration) on himself, so that he, Khensu, and whomever stays behind is warded against mental control or domination (on the off-chance that any vampires come looking for them while the others are Hidden.
Jarrith looks at the other members of the party at the top of the stairs and begins going through a mental calculation. He closes his eyes and tries to stratagize as best he can, then opens them quickly.
"All right... here's the situation. We want to get down into the crypts and get the sword reawakened without causing too much havoc down there. The Flames knows who or what is down there waiting for us." He moves up the group and circles them in. "I can pray to Hide five of you From all Undead. They will not see, hear, smell or notice you in any way... so long as you do not attack nor interact with any of them. This will allow the five of you to find the tomb with hopefully a minimum of incident."
He glances at Khensu, then looks at the others. "The three of us who will not be enchanted will stay further away from the other five. Khensu, myself, and one of you can stay back... probably down there at the base of the stairs. If we three avoid entering the crypts, perhaps we'll not alert anything that might be down there. But we'll still be within shouting distance, should something go wrong. Unless the creature is extremely intelligent and has a reason to suspect you down there, the five of you warded can scream at the top of your lungs and you still won't be noticed."
**********
If the group is okay with it, Jarrith will cast Hide From Undead (50 minute duration) on the five that will look for the tomb. Jarrith, Khensu and one other who might be least helpful in awakened the sword (Ravika?) can stay out of the crypts themselves back on the stairs, so as to not alert anything.
Jarrith will also cast Magic Circle Against Evil (50 minute duration) on himself, so that he, Khensu, and whomever stays behind is warded against mental control or domination (on the off-chance that any vampires come looking for them while the others are Hidden.
"I have no desire to travel underground battling the undead. They are not my foe. I will await you here once you're done. I will consult the spirits to discuss the future." Ravika says, a shudder escaping her as she considers the crypts.
Ladreth considers the options before him, he could stand and guard, fighting off whatever came at those that stayed behind, or he could accompany the rest down into the crypts, hiding. While subterfuge had never been a forte for the large half-orc, he knew that if things did end up going wrong down below, they could use a blade like his. Much as he was loathe to skulk in shadows, he figured for now this was probably for the best.
Ashlyn nods slowly as Jarrith speaks, and then responds, "That is a truly devious plan. I do like it ... but I an unsure if now is the time for it. We do not yet know how to get to the crypts, and I fully expect this second stairwell to lead down to a kitchen or some such thing given that the dining room is just down the corridor from here and we have not seen any other sign of a kitchen in the areas that we have explored already."
"Perhaps we should all proceed together for now?"
Ashlyn is silent for a few short moments and then, remembering a passage from the 'Cannons of the Knittes of the Ravven' she turns towards Jarrith and stepping towards him she mentions quietly "From what I recall of the ritual required to reawaken the blade, it will require a full eight hours of ritual and prayer, so it will be no quick thing."
"Quite right, milady," says Marot as he half bows towards her in a regal fashion,"There is every bit of chance that we would run into the larder or guest bedroom by going down."
"For all we know, the crypts, in this place, could be on the roof."
As they fall in line walking through the corridors of the castle, he notices himself walking next to Avron. Shaking his head, he mutters aloud,"What did I do to the rest of you to deserve this?"
The warlock still thought the man was a loose cannon and a banana short of a fruit salad.
Avron walks along with the others. Eventually, Marot strides next to him.
Quote:
As they fall in line walking through the corridors of the castle, he notices himself walking next to Avron. Shaking his head, he mutters aloud,"What did I do to the rest of you to deserve this?"
The scholar scratches his arm where the abberant mark was and mumbles "If it is a kitchen maybe we could stop for a snack..."
Gathering close, the group makes its way through the dark, cobweb infested stair. No one—no one living, that is—has step this way in some time. Jarrith keeps his blades handy, with Ashlyn's vigilant watch by his side.
The stair ends at a short, empty hall. Creeping forward, Jarrith makes is halfway to the door when he feels more than hears a slight... click.
Trap!
The Stalker, the Flame protecting him, launches himself forward, barely escaping the mechanism. As Ashlyn's eyes open wide in realization, two thick stone slabs drop with lighting speed, closing off the middle 10 ft. section of hallway. Terrible grinding noises issue from within, then the stones rise, revealing an empty corridor! [Jarrith succeeds on Ref; Ashlyn, Marot, and Avron fail]
Ashlyn presses against the stone in vain as its shoots up with amazing speed. Then the walls glow a sickly green, and Marot and Avron barely have time to register the magical trap before the sickly light fills the chamber. The trap is too strong for the mad archivist, who collapses unconsciousness.
That Which Lies Beneath (Surprise Round)
As quickly as it started, the stone rests, the slabs opening away to reveal a small landing at the top of one stair and the bottom of another. An alcove to the north holds a leering stone statue, while the alcove to the south is a disquieting piece made all of chains. There is little time to recognize them as they spring into motion!
The leering statue steps forward and claws at the Ashlyn, bypassing her startled defenses [4hp] But she has no time to react as a portrait on the wall before Marot that bears an uncanny resemblance to the missing Ireena appears to gesture and cast a spell! Everyone's muscles freeze for a moment, but Marot is held in place as the others fight it off! [Marot held]. In the other alcove, the chains around the statue begin to move of their own according, slowing building up speed!
Down below, the others stare stunned at the sudden void where their friends were. Suddenly, Ladreth cries out in pain something unseen claws at him, drawing blood! An airy hiss fills the room now! [Something hidden hits Ladreth; 11hp]
That Which Lies Beneath (Round 1)
Marot attempts to fight the magic hold him, but cannot, and remains frozen. [Save fails; still paralyzed]
The statuary and portrait continue their assault. The statue tears into the the startled paladin, but only one claw strikes true. [1 attack hit; 4 hp] The portrait laughs evilly and seems to cast another spell, but Ashlyn's muscles resist the compulsion. [Save made]. The mass of chains steps forward, lashing in all direction. The sleeping Avron and the paralyzed Marot cannot avoid them, and the chains cut a deep wound! They hold it together enough not to bleed and Avron is cruelly awoken. [No save for Avron and Marot; 30hp; Fort successful v. bleeding; the two are still looking very bad.]
[This is a split combat with those that were whisked away on the Prime Map (lower) and those downstairs on the Unprime Map (upper). No one is clear where the other group went other than 'up.'
You think the whistling noise is coming from behind you (towards the stair) somewhere.
Ladreth
The attack came from somewhere ahead of you (away from the stair)
Ravika
[Listen]
Ravika's keen senses pick up the source of the airy disturbance—a large creature looms in the void between the Stalker of the Silver Flame and the rest of the group. [Ravika has pinpointed the creature, but it still has concealment (50% miss chance)]
Avron
Pressed against the floor, Avron is awakened suddenly by the pain of the attack. Glancing around, he is fascinated by the specimens before him.
[Kn: Nature]
The statue is a trick, a living creature of earth. Tomes have been written on the gargoyle, and their dim witted manner and cunning way of hiding. He knows their stoney hide can be easily overcome by magic.
[Kn: Arcana]
An interesting case, if unusual, is the "portrait." It is said that Dannon d'Cannith had a similar defense, a portrait of his lost brother that would rain down supernatural attacks on the unwary so long as it sees them. It is not a living creature, but a magical construct.
[Kn: Arcana]
But this one, this thing of chain and magic, Avron knows well. He had seen one in Morgrave once, constructed by a Cannith Mastermaker for military use. A golem of common material, its defense were a mass of chains that flay the flesh and strip away the vigor of those with lesser fortitude. Like all of their ilk, the golem of chains resisted all magic, save that of electricity which slowed it for a time and fire which hastened and repaired it.
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
Once she has a chance to react, Ashlyn gives a command to her raven and then steps towards what she deems is the most dangerous threat, the strange spellcasting picture on the wall. She then reaches out and grabs the picture off the wall and then drops it facedown on the floor beneath her feet.
She then draws her sword and turns to face the statue, which the sable raven has been flying around in an attempt to baffle it. As she faces the statue, Ashlyn yells to Marot and Arvon, "Get out of here, retreat past me and up the stairs. You should be able to pass safely."
[Korppi: Baffle vs statue (Will save vs DC15 or statue(G) cannot make AoO's)]
[Ashlyn: 5ft step to E'3']
[Ashlyn: Take picture off wall (Move action) - Provokes AoO if Statue(G) is not baffled]
[Ashlyn: Drop picture facedown on floor (Free action)]
[Ashlyn: Draw sword (Move action)]
Last edited by Stormwind; 13th June 2009 at 08:10 PM..
Stalwart even in the face of surprise, Ashlyn calls Kopri to action. The raven darts at the creature again and again, and the statue can to little by try to fend it off. [Baffled][/size]
Moving aside, the knight reaches for the painting. It sneers at her as she does so, but seems to scream as Ashlyn wrenches it from the wall, revealing a safe behind. Dropping it so all it can see is the wall, Ashlyn guardedly draws her weapon, waiting for what is next. [Str check succeeds; portrait now has no LoS. Marot is still held]
[Jarrith still up downstairs; Avron then Marot upstairs]
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
"What the--?!?" Jarrith shouts, as he rolls back to his feet following the dive forward. As he watches with amazement the corridor filling and then emptying of a large stone slab, he isn't paying attention when something attacks Ladreth.
The halfork's pained yell is enough to snap him back, and the Stalker takes a quick spy of the floor in front of him, noticing where the floor is trapped.
"You want me over there, people... you're gonna have to back up a bit! This section of the floor isn't safe for us to walk on, which means I'm gonna have to jump it!"
(OOC: If I can jump into an occupied space and then pass through it to finish my move in an unoccupied one, Jarrith will leap into Tessa's square on the way to stopping on the stair at C6. And if by some chance the invisible creature that attacked Ladreth is on this section of the stair, as opposed to the section beneath Khensu and Ladreth at AB7... then I will try to find and attack an invisible target.)
Jarrith braces himself and attempts to leap over the empty space. It is only as he feels something slam into his chest and tear his flesh that he realizes his mistake... whatever is in the room, is between him at the others! [Found at least one square containing a creature (A3). AoO for entering square hits Jarrith for 11hp]
Staggering back, the Stalker stabs at the air before him and manages to hit... something. But there is something off about the hit, something he cannot place without sight. [Hit, 6hp]
Tessa had been caught off guard by the sudden and dramatic effect of the trap. For a moment she simply stood, looking almost comically surprised, as she turned her head this way and that, trying to figure out just what kind of threat they were facing. At first she was unsure even which direction the attack against Ladreth had come from- but Jarrith's reaction showed where at least one enemy was (give or take).
Tessa took a brief moment to put the lantern down at her feet, then raised her open hand and let the fiery power of Onatar pour forth...
OOC: Move action to put her lantern down gently; Defensively casting Burning Hands (Concentration +12 vs. DC 16); aiming the cone partially into the wall, so the effect hits B 2-4 and some wall but misses Jarrith. If there is any foe in those squares, it has DC 16 REF for half of 5d4 fire.
Tessa puts down her lantern and then calls forth the fires of Ontar within. The rush is undeniable, and suddenly all the area around her was filled with flame! A deep bellow filled the hall as something large was caught in the burst. [12 fire]
Draconic Jarrith, Tessa)
Those that speak draconic recognize the bellow as a curse against the cleansing fire.
Jarrith
[Sense Motive]
Jarith's trained instincts tell him something is off about the creature's reaction. It is as if it is fighting half-heartedly, as if its heart was not in it...
The hissing sound boils like a storm, and once again Ladreth feels something unseen tear at him, though another blow just smashes hard into his armor. [1 miss; one hit; 8hp] Jarrith then feels something crush his colarbone, a bite of sharp teeth. [5hp]
![stonegod's Expedition to Castle Ravenloft: Ch. III [IC]](http://www.enworld.org/forum/iconimages/playing-game/stonegods-expedition-castle-ravenloft-ch-iii-ic_ltr.gif)
Linear Mode
And yet another word from our sponsors
