Ziona
First Post
For Your Own Good
As the companions entered the room, the stench of rotting corpses assailed their nostrils. The walls were lined with eight recessed alcoves that each contained smashed caskets, and the floor was littered with dead rats and bloodied debris.
“It stinks in here,” said Lox with disgust.
As the halfling spoke, hunched human forms began to stir around the room. Within a moment, twelve ghouls were upright and ready to attack the heroes.
“Oh boy,” said Lox. “This looks scary…”
“Stand back,” commanded Ziona.
The half-drow strode forward with confidence and clasped her holy symbol of Eilistraee.
“Unholy abominations!” she bellowed, “The Dark Maiden compels you to leave this place of death and torment!”
Her companions watched as she channeled her faith and used the power of her Goddess to destroy the ghouls, their ashes falling around the room like darkened snow.
“Incredible,” said Dent.
“Such is the power of faith,” said Ziona with reverence.
The party looked around the large room, which had only a narrow corridor leading out. After looking a short while, Venus found a four inch indentation in the center of the room. He called Lox over to inspect it, and the group gathered around to see what the rogue would find.
“I think it’s a trap door,” said Lox rubbing his chin. “As far as I can tell, it’s a trapped trap door…but if you’ll give me just a moment…”
Lox’s nimble fingers utilized his lockpicks and managed to disable the trap and unlock the door.
“Perhaps I should open the door,” said Venus. “I believe that I have more immunities than I had in the past. It should be used to our advantage.”
No one argued with his logic, and he opened the stone, trap door. He dropped down into the corridor and peered into the darkness. His night vision allowed him to see to the end of the corridor, where he could make out a door. There were also frescoes on the wall depicting an Elven warrior maiden of great beauty.
“It’s okay…you can drop down,” he called to the group.
One by one they lowered themselves into the hidden corridor and, after looking at the frescoes, made their way towards the door. As they opened the door and entered, they found the corpse of an elven woman dressed in fine chainmail. In her hands she held a finely crafted longsword.
“It appears to be the elven warrior from the hall frescoes,” said Dent.
“Yes,” agreed Ziona. “It looks as though she were a warrior of Corellon Larethian.”
“Is this one gonna jump up at us?” asked Lox worriedly.
“I do not believe so,” said Ziona.
“Do you think this place is protected somehow?” asked Drexel. “Judging by the cobwebs and dust, I would assume this place has not been entered in quite sometime.”
“I am not sure,” replied Ziona.
“It’s only a matter of time before they defile the place,” said Venus.
“Maybe the followers of ol’ one-eye didn’t find the hidden door like we have,” said Doc.
“Perhaps we should take her items for safe keeping from the followers of Gruumsh,” suggested Drexel.
“I am not so sure we should disturb her rest,” said Ziona.
“I thought you said she wasn’t gonna get up like the others?” said Lox nervously.
“I just think that if the followers of Gruumsh manage to find her sanctuary, they will likely destroy this place and the items she apparently holds dear,” said Drexel. “It is not disrespect to find a safe haven for her belongings. Rappan Athuk is not known for it’s heroism, it’s known for being evil. If she is a hero of Corellon Larethian, she deserves a finer resting place than this foul dungeon.”
“Perhaps you are right,” said Ziona.
“Don’t worry,” said Doc with his usual spunk. “We’re doing this in her best interest.”
Doc reached down and picked up the maiden’s sword. He handed it to Dent, who wrapped it lovingly in cloth and packed it away. Just then, the maiden’s corpse sat upright and reached out it’s hand towards the group. Her mouth opened into a silent scream, and a black tear ran from her eye and splashed quietly onto the floor. Then, her body began to darken as it crumbled into ashes and drifted around the room. All that was left on the stone table top was the chainmail armor that had adorned the elf maiden’s body.
“Great Eilistraee, no!” cried Ziona. “What have we done?”
Ziona knelt in silent prayer to her Goddess, requesting forgiveness for their misguided actions and for the soul of the unknown warrior.
As the party stood horrified, the walls within the room darkened and began to bleed. Drexel clasped his friend’s arm and urged her to get up. As they walked through the corridor to leave, they found the frescoes immortalizing the warrior had melted, and symbols of Gruumsh appeared on the walls.
“I fear we have made a grave mistake,” said Ziona sadly. “Eilistraee forgive us.”
The group was somber and silent as they moved through the narrow corridor, which ended with a stone door. Lox approached it and took out his lockpicks. Half-heartedly, he unlocked the door and swung it open. As he did, a stone portcullis fell, narrowly missing Doc, who tumbled out of it’s way. Now Doc and Lox were on one side of the portcullis, while Drexel, Ziona, Dent and Venus were on the other side with Rossal and Glindil.
“Now what?” said Venus impatiently.
“Can we lift the portcullis?” asked Doc.
“Wait,” said Dent. “Listen…”
As the party waited, they heard a faint sizzling sound in the corridor. Dent looked up, and to his dismay, saw a black, jelly-like substance on the ceiling.
“Whatever it is,” he called, “it’s above us.”
Everyone looked up to see the black pudding drop from the ceiling and land near the portcullis. Dent approached the odd creature and chopped into it with his axe. As he pulled the axe away from the gelatinous creature, he saw that the blade was deteriorating and watched as it split in two.
“It’s acidic!” he cried. “It destroyed my axe!”
Rossal flew up from Ziona’s shoulder and hovered above them, and fired two Magic Missiles into the creature. It recoiled slightly, and a wisp of smoke curled into the air. Below Rossal, a great fiery beam shot forth from Ziona and struck the black pudding, which also caused it to smoke slightly.
Meanwhile, Doc struggled with the stone portcullis, which didn’t seem to budge whatsoever. Next to him, Lox pulled out his Rod of Wonder. (This certainly seemed like a time of need to the halfling!)
Lox pointed the rod at the pudding and shouted, “ROD OF WONDER!”
Suddenly the halfling was plunged into darkness. Frightened by the sudden loss of vision, Lox began shouting about going blind.
The pudding stretched itself out at Venus, but did not make contact with the vampire. Drexel’s spidery words filled the corridor for a moment before a bolt of lightening shot out and destroyed their acidic foe. However, being “blind,” Lox could not see that the threat was gone, and continued to call upon his Rod of Wonder for assistance. The heroes found themselves dodging a lightening bolt that came careening from the dark spot near Doc.
“Settle down, Roundy!”
Ziona cast daylight and dispelled the magical darkness that surrounded Lox.
“Oh, thank you, Miss Ziona. I thought I was blinded!”
“Lox, what were you thinking?” cried Dent. “You could have injured one of us!”
“Where did he get such an item, anyhow?” asked Drexel.
“I gave it to him,” said Dent. “It belonged to our friend Nuttin.”
“Well, I’m not so sure it was wise to give such an item to a halfling,” said Drexel.
“Perhaps you should not use the item until you learn more about it, Lox,” said Ziona.
“It’s mine,” protested Lox. “Why can’t I use it?”
“You just shot a lightening bolt at us,” said Venus, “and you’re asking why you can’t have it back?”
“I explained to you before, Lox,” said Dent. “You must only use it when the need arises. It can be dangerous to everyone if it’s misused.”
“Which is precisely why Lox should not carry such a powerful item,” said Drexel.
“It’s mine! I’m not giving it away.”
“I think it’s interesting,” said Doc. “Let’s have a look at it.”
Lox held his hand open and let Doc look at the rod. As he did, Drexel used mage hand to snatch the rod from the halfling.
“Hey! Thaaat’s miiiine!”
“And it shall be yours again once you learn some discipline,” said Drexel, holding the rod behind his back.
Rossal, communicating silently with Drexel, hovered behind him and took the rod, and tucked it away in Ziona’s cloak.
“Lox, it’s for your own good,” said Dent.
“Yeah, well remember what happened last time we did something for someone’s own good? She turned to ashes,” said Lox in frustration.
Ziona shot Lox a look of shock, but Dent stepped in and said firmly, “Just be patient, and you’ll get the rod back.”
“You just need to learn to be responsible with it, lil’ buddy,” said Doc. “Now, what about this portcullis?”
“You bet I’ll get it back,” grumbled Lox to himself.
The group did not notice the sulking halfling. They were too busy discussing a way to raise the portcullis.
The Adventure Continues…
As the companions entered the room, the stench of rotting corpses assailed their nostrils. The walls were lined with eight recessed alcoves that each contained smashed caskets, and the floor was littered with dead rats and bloodied debris.
“It stinks in here,” said Lox with disgust.
As the halfling spoke, hunched human forms began to stir around the room. Within a moment, twelve ghouls were upright and ready to attack the heroes.
“Oh boy,” said Lox. “This looks scary…”
“Stand back,” commanded Ziona.
The half-drow strode forward with confidence and clasped her holy symbol of Eilistraee.
“Unholy abominations!” she bellowed, “The Dark Maiden compels you to leave this place of death and torment!”
Her companions watched as she channeled her faith and used the power of her Goddess to destroy the ghouls, their ashes falling around the room like darkened snow.
“Incredible,” said Dent.
“Such is the power of faith,” said Ziona with reverence.
The party looked around the large room, which had only a narrow corridor leading out. After looking a short while, Venus found a four inch indentation in the center of the room. He called Lox over to inspect it, and the group gathered around to see what the rogue would find.
“I think it’s a trap door,” said Lox rubbing his chin. “As far as I can tell, it’s a trapped trap door…but if you’ll give me just a moment…”
Lox’s nimble fingers utilized his lockpicks and managed to disable the trap and unlock the door.
“Perhaps I should open the door,” said Venus. “I believe that I have more immunities than I had in the past. It should be used to our advantage.”
No one argued with his logic, and he opened the stone, trap door. He dropped down into the corridor and peered into the darkness. His night vision allowed him to see to the end of the corridor, where he could make out a door. There were also frescoes on the wall depicting an Elven warrior maiden of great beauty.
“It’s okay…you can drop down,” he called to the group.
One by one they lowered themselves into the hidden corridor and, after looking at the frescoes, made their way towards the door. As they opened the door and entered, they found the corpse of an elven woman dressed in fine chainmail. In her hands she held a finely crafted longsword.
“It appears to be the elven warrior from the hall frescoes,” said Dent.
“Yes,” agreed Ziona. “It looks as though she were a warrior of Corellon Larethian.”
“Is this one gonna jump up at us?” asked Lox worriedly.
“I do not believe so,” said Ziona.
“Do you think this place is protected somehow?” asked Drexel. “Judging by the cobwebs and dust, I would assume this place has not been entered in quite sometime.”
“I am not sure,” replied Ziona.
“It’s only a matter of time before they defile the place,” said Venus.
“Maybe the followers of ol’ one-eye didn’t find the hidden door like we have,” said Doc.
“Perhaps we should take her items for safe keeping from the followers of Gruumsh,” suggested Drexel.
“I am not so sure we should disturb her rest,” said Ziona.
“I thought you said she wasn’t gonna get up like the others?” said Lox nervously.
“I just think that if the followers of Gruumsh manage to find her sanctuary, they will likely destroy this place and the items she apparently holds dear,” said Drexel. “It is not disrespect to find a safe haven for her belongings. Rappan Athuk is not known for it’s heroism, it’s known for being evil. If she is a hero of Corellon Larethian, she deserves a finer resting place than this foul dungeon.”
“Perhaps you are right,” said Ziona.
“Don’t worry,” said Doc with his usual spunk. “We’re doing this in her best interest.”
Doc reached down and picked up the maiden’s sword. He handed it to Dent, who wrapped it lovingly in cloth and packed it away. Just then, the maiden’s corpse sat upright and reached out it’s hand towards the group. Her mouth opened into a silent scream, and a black tear ran from her eye and splashed quietly onto the floor. Then, her body began to darken as it crumbled into ashes and drifted around the room. All that was left on the stone table top was the chainmail armor that had adorned the elf maiden’s body.
“Great Eilistraee, no!” cried Ziona. “What have we done?”
Ziona knelt in silent prayer to her Goddess, requesting forgiveness for their misguided actions and for the soul of the unknown warrior.
As the party stood horrified, the walls within the room darkened and began to bleed. Drexel clasped his friend’s arm and urged her to get up. As they walked through the corridor to leave, they found the frescoes immortalizing the warrior had melted, and symbols of Gruumsh appeared on the walls.
“I fear we have made a grave mistake,” said Ziona sadly. “Eilistraee forgive us.”
The group was somber and silent as they moved through the narrow corridor, which ended with a stone door. Lox approached it and took out his lockpicks. Half-heartedly, he unlocked the door and swung it open. As he did, a stone portcullis fell, narrowly missing Doc, who tumbled out of it’s way. Now Doc and Lox were on one side of the portcullis, while Drexel, Ziona, Dent and Venus were on the other side with Rossal and Glindil.
“Now what?” said Venus impatiently.
“Can we lift the portcullis?” asked Doc.
“Wait,” said Dent. “Listen…”
As the party waited, they heard a faint sizzling sound in the corridor. Dent looked up, and to his dismay, saw a black, jelly-like substance on the ceiling.
“Whatever it is,” he called, “it’s above us.”
Everyone looked up to see the black pudding drop from the ceiling and land near the portcullis. Dent approached the odd creature and chopped into it with his axe. As he pulled the axe away from the gelatinous creature, he saw that the blade was deteriorating and watched as it split in two.
“It’s acidic!” he cried. “It destroyed my axe!”
Rossal flew up from Ziona’s shoulder and hovered above them, and fired two Magic Missiles into the creature. It recoiled slightly, and a wisp of smoke curled into the air. Below Rossal, a great fiery beam shot forth from Ziona and struck the black pudding, which also caused it to smoke slightly.
Meanwhile, Doc struggled with the stone portcullis, which didn’t seem to budge whatsoever. Next to him, Lox pulled out his Rod of Wonder. (This certainly seemed like a time of need to the halfling!)
Lox pointed the rod at the pudding and shouted, “ROD OF WONDER!”
Suddenly the halfling was plunged into darkness. Frightened by the sudden loss of vision, Lox began shouting about going blind.
The pudding stretched itself out at Venus, but did not make contact with the vampire. Drexel’s spidery words filled the corridor for a moment before a bolt of lightening shot out and destroyed their acidic foe. However, being “blind,” Lox could not see that the threat was gone, and continued to call upon his Rod of Wonder for assistance. The heroes found themselves dodging a lightening bolt that came careening from the dark spot near Doc.
“Settle down, Roundy!”
Ziona cast daylight and dispelled the magical darkness that surrounded Lox.
“Oh, thank you, Miss Ziona. I thought I was blinded!”
“Lox, what were you thinking?” cried Dent. “You could have injured one of us!”
“Where did he get such an item, anyhow?” asked Drexel.
“I gave it to him,” said Dent. “It belonged to our friend Nuttin.”
“Well, I’m not so sure it was wise to give such an item to a halfling,” said Drexel.
“Perhaps you should not use the item until you learn more about it, Lox,” said Ziona.
“It’s mine,” protested Lox. “Why can’t I use it?”
“You just shot a lightening bolt at us,” said Venus, “and you’re asking why you can’t have it back?”
“I explained to you before, Lox,” said Dent. “You must only use it when the need arises. It can be dangerous to everyone if it’s misused.”
“Which is precisely why Lox should not carry such a powerful item,” said Drexel.
“It’s mine! I’m not giving it away.”
“I think it’s interesting,” said Doc. “Let’s have a look at it.”
Lox held his hand open and let Doc look at the rod. As he did, Drexel used mage hand to snatch the rod from the halfling.
“Hey! Thaaat’s miiiine!”
“And it shall be yours again once you learn some discipline,” said Drexel, holding the rod behind his back.
Rossal, communicating silently with Drexel, hovered behind him and took the rod, and tucked it away in Ziona’s cloak.
“Lox, it’s for your own good,” said Dent.
“Yeah, well remember what happened last time we did something for someone’s own good? She turned to ashes,” said Lox in frustration.
Ziona shot Lox a look of shock, but Dent stepped in and said firmly, “Just be patient, and you’ll get the rod back.”
“You just need to learn to be responsible with it, lil’ buddy,” said Doc. “Now, what about this portcullis?”
“You bet I’ll get it back,” grumbled Lox to himself.
The group did not notice the sulking halfling. They were too busy discussing a way to raise the portcullis.
The Adventure Continues…
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