[GRIM TALES] Wulf Ratbane's SLAVELORDS of CYDONIA

[Old One]

Brigitta

Brigitta pauses near the entrance and inhales deeply, drinking in the charnel smell and cataloging against cadavers in various states of decay - from vivisection room to battlefield - that she has encountered during her travels.

[OCC: She will "take 10" on either Healing, Profession: Physician or Knowledge:Anatomy, whichever seems most appropriate in an attempt to try to identify the stench and likely age from her experience]

As resiliant as her nostrils are, bile rises in her throat. She forces it back down with a strained smile, plucks vial of camphor from her kits a dabs a bit under her nose. She turns to the ex-soldier and speaks softly, "This may indeed be the heart of our search, Mr. Haskins...have a care as you venture forward."

Her knuckles turn white as she clamps her small hand around the Webley's grip.

~ OO

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

"I smell a corpse... or corpses..." Brigitta said.

Haskins sniffed. "No, smells like stagnant water... water and deep mud... Why I remember this one campaign..."

"No," said Joshua flatly. "It's snakes. Ever come up on a big den of rattlers in a pile of logs or rocks? That's snakes you're smelling."

 

[nakia]

"I smell a corpse... or corpses..." Brigitta said.

Haskins sniffed. "No, smells like stagnant water... water and deep mud... Why I remember this one campaign..."

"No," said Joshua flatly. "It's snakes. Ever come up on a big den of rattlers in a pile of logs or rocks? That's snakes you're smelling."

Teddy looked back over his shoulder at the group. His eyes narrowed and a half smile crept across his face. Teddy was the dumb one, the heavy, to them. They didn't ask his opinion because they thought he had nothing to add. Everyone said they knew what that foul smell was, everyone was trying to pretend they weren't afraid. But Teddy knew better. All their schooling, all their travels, all their supposed experience, all their bravado stopped at the entrance to this temple. They were all in the same boat now -- stuck in some damn jungle, bathed in sweat and stench, and completely clueless as to what waited inside. At least Teddy knew when he was out of his element. And he knew what came next.

Teddy stows his baseball bat, pulls out his shotgun, checks the shells, and goes inside the temple.

 

[BryonD]

Joshua will step forward to where Teddy was.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Quick side note: It seems I'm going to be a lot more free to post than most of you guys. I don't want that to frustrate anybody. Generally speaking, unless I'm answering a question directly asked, I'll wait until I have at least 3 responses before adding any kind of "addendum" to my posts; and I'll never add any addendum after a post that is begging for a unanimous reply.

Just a reminder. If you're sitting around wondering why I haven't updated, it's probably because I am waiting for a 'quorum.' Sometimes just hopping into the thread to let me know you're out there will prompt an update.

 

[ragboy]

"Snakes, bodies, mud," Rawley murmurs. "Another day in the jungle, smells like to me."

T. Rawley pulls his pistol and moves up next to Joshua.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

They spread out and quickly scouted the temple. Haskins found polished silver mirrors on the north and south walls designed to hold and reflect torchlight, so he and Bill methodically placed more torches until the entire temple was lit.

The center of the room was dominated by a large, shallow pool of stagnant water-- the source, but not the only source, of the muddy smell.

For at the far end of the temple stood an altar, and behind that altar was another snake's mouth facade. The snake's mouth gaped widely, revealing a staircase that led down into darkness.

A foul stench roiled up the stairs and through the mouth of the snake.

E-Adventure tile maps copyright Ed Bourelle and Skeleton Key Games. Used with permission.
Tiles shown are available in Sacred Temples, Cave Chambers, and Cave Details.[/QUOTE]

 

[BryonD]

Joshua will move to inspect the steps and raised area for signs of recent passage. Roll sent

"Hang back a second Teddy. Let's see if anyone actually tolerates this stench"

 

[Fenris]

Haskins will move to inspect the large central pool and see if it contains anything of note (a body etc.) If there is a stick lying about he will test the depth.

 

[Old One]

Brigitta

Brigitta circles the pool, inspecting the perimeter and then moves to the alter. She takes care to ensure the reassuring bulk of Teddy is between her and the stair way down.

[OOC: She performs a perfunctory search of the two areas noted above. Rolls sent. EDIT: She barely notices there is a pool and an alter, with rolls of 5 & 6...I knew I shoulda "taken 10" !]

~ OO