IC: Dichotomy's Age of Worms Redux, Part V(b)

[Dichotomy]

With the others following, Erdolliel leads the way to the south end of the maze. The hall turns to the left. None of the trio hear or see anything.

 

[TiCaudata]

Erdolliel turns and continues East.[sblock=oc]hide +15 move silently +15 spot +13 listen +13 move so as not to incur penalty, E as far as we can go, then N until we can go East again, then East again.[/sblock]

 

[o3caudata]

Wordlessly, Kushnak continues along behind Erdolliel.

 

[Dichotomy]

Erdolliel makes her way further ahead. Apparently, the denizens of the maze have either fled or were all defeated, as there is no resistance. Soon enough, Erdolliel exhausts this section of the maze and finds a closed door leading to the south.

 

[TiCaudata]

Erdolliel checks the floor and the door for traps and then checks the door for locks.[sblock=oc]Search +16 the floor in front of the door for traps first, and then the door for traps and disarm (+14) any that she comes across. Check the door for locks and open (+13) any found. Finally, open the door and look through.[/sblock]

 

[Dichotomy]

Erdolliel finds neither traps nor locks on the door. The elf opens the door and, thankful, confirms that there wasn't some trap that she missed.

The door opens on a large chamber with a vaulted ceiling high above, lit by the same pale blue everburning torches the rest of this place sports. Along the west wall, a macabre assembly of vats and tubes connects to a table with numerous straps and a strange silver helmet. On the far side of the room, a raised dais supports a throne.

Erdolliel's eyes are first drawn to the body of one of the alien-like creatures, covered in blood, lying in the middle of the floor. But, then, she immediately sees a figure on the throne, who stands up at her entrance.

"Who?" a familiar voice begins as the man stands up.

Standing on the throne is the sage of Diamond Lake, Allustan. While he saw or heard the door open, Erdolliel must still have enough of a cling to the shadows that he cannot see her.

[sblock=OOC]A is Allustan; X is the dead doppelganger (I know YOU both know what they are, even though Erd and Kush don't).

I had to hunt for a post with Allustan talking to recall what color I used... Well, I apparently used red. That's no good, since Erd is using it. But no one currently has green...[/sblock]

 

[TiCaudata]

Erdolliel only hesitates a second before motioning for Kushnak to continue.[sblock=oc]Ready scorching ray on A if he makes any hostile actions spellcasting or otherwise. 2 rays 4d6 fire damage each and 4d6 sneak attack.[/sblock]

 

[o3caudata]

Kushnak gives Erdolliel a quizzical look before squeezing past her and walking into the room.

"Allustan. What are you doing here?"

[sblock=oc]Move 15' S of the door and 10' E. Sword is still drawn. Not sure if i can actually assign my dodge bonus out of combat, but as i'm fairly sure were about to be in combat i'll say dodge on A just cause.[/sblock]

 

[TiCaudata]

[sblock=oc]ditto to the potential dodge on A... and I didn't explicitly say that Erdolliel was staying hidden and not moving at all, so I'm explicitly saying it now.[/sblock]

 

[Dichotomy]

Nethezar also moves past Erdolliel. "The sage?" he asks Kushnak. Of course, any answer becomes moot as Nethezar sees with his own eyes.

"A warm reception, indeed. I was following the trail of the group of you. Where are the others?"

Before any response can even be made, Allustan continues, "No matter; we can get to that. There is a compartment I found in this throne, but I fear it may be trapped."