Sailors on the Starless Sea

[GlassEye]

Narančasta tries the door that leads deeper into the Keep but it seems to be stuck. He looks around at his brave companions, each of whom has become somewhat more hardened by their experience in the Keep. Still, everyone seems worn by the fights they've engaged in and the stresses of the day.

"If someone has a spike we could close this door and get some rest before moving on." He looks around at the disgusting hides and dead beast-men. "Not in here, though. Let's check and see if the room above the gatehouse is cleaner and can be closed off."

 

[Deuce Traveler]

"Works for me, though I do not have a spike myself" Boral replies. "Kurl says there is a book he wants me to read anyway." With that Boral, Tender, and Kurl move upstairs to find a place to rest.

 

[Scott DeWar]

Franko Homer and hank all check their belongings and come up empty. Then homer picks up the broken shortsword and lifts it asking, "What about this?"

 

[GlassEye]

Narančasta looks at the blade of the shortsword and nods. "That should work." With the blade wedged between the door and the doorjamb it will take quite a bit of battering, and a lot of noise, for anything below to force the door.

The door to the gatehouse's upper chamber is partially open and the group is able to easily enter. The chamber is a mess: a battle appears to have occurred here many years ago and the floor is littered with bones and rusting weapons and armor. Much of it is unusable but with a little work from Borok and Tender they are able to salvage a suit of chain for Tender and piece together a serviceable shield.

Since it is late by this time the villagers do not wish to brave the forest between Krivstad and the Keep and so opt to rest in the gatehouse until the morning when the portcullis can be raised and they can travel in the light of day. But, when the sun rises they all shamble off to resume their small lives and bring word to Krivstad of the brave deeds those who rescued them.

The broken sword is pried from the door. The door is stuck, swollen with dampness and it takes a moment to force it open. Stairs descend and cool air wafts up from the darkness. Narančasta collects the unlit torches from around the tower walls; there are only three but they'll soon be necessary.

[sblock=OOC]If you have taken damage, you heal 1 hp overnight.[/sblock]

 

[Scott DeWar]

[sblock=ooc funny] Jakob heals, Oh never mind. He died.[/sblock]

GE, got the PDF's finally.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

After the night is up, the trio of Kurl, Tender and Boral seem a bit more confident and sure of themselves. They had survived various horrors and survived the day.

Boral says, "It was hard to see Betsy go, but I feel better knowing I am sending her off to safety. I need to survive this so I can take proper care of her, but at least if something happens to me she will carry on to feed others with her magical milk."

Tender does the tough task of patting the tall Boral on the shoulder. "You're an odd lad, but I promise to do my best by you in order to get you back in one piece. Just stay behind me and let my sword and shield do the nastier work up front."

Kurl says mysteriously as he fingers his new tonc, "And do not forget the studies I have taught you from the grimoire, Boral. It is odd that I could never claim the magic within for myself while you have embraced them so easily. Still, I too have gotten something of what I desired. A new power and a new understanding that I am eager to employ."

 

[GlassEye]

With Tender and Homer taking the lead so that their infravision gives the best advantage the group descends the stairs into the region below the Keep. The air is cool and damp and the torches of those that follow behind glimmer brightly in the dark. Tender pauses for an instant on the broad stone steps. The faint whiff of gold teases the dwarf's nose. Several stones farther down three gold pieces lie forgotten on the gray stone step but Tender is certain that there is more wealth somewhere nearby. Several steps farther down Tender spies a door concealed in the wall that is standing ajar.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

The dwarf moves to pick up the three gold coins and examines them closely. Tender whispers to those behind him, "I smell some more gold around here somewhere. And just up ahead I see a door that is ajar."

"I don't get it," Boral whispers to those near him. "Is he saying that the door is in the shape of a jar, or the door is some magical jar containing something inside?"

Kurl sighs. "I'm not sure if I should just thump you on the head now, or whether you are just trying to get a rise out of me. Start searching the corridor walls for a concealed entrance."

Kurl and Boral start searching either side of the corridor, while Tender creeps forward to take a look past the nearby doorway.

 

[Scott DeWar]

door - jar conundrum:

Homer just sighs,hank shakes his head, but Frako stops and scratches his head. "how can a door be a jar? can you see through it like a jar? If it is a jar is it no longer a door?"

 

[GlassEye]

Tender sees the door and goes beyond a few steps but it looks like much the same until the stairs turn and continue out of sight. Boral and Kurl easily find the door, just a section of movable wall, really, and are able to peer into the room beyond. A narrow hall leads into a slightly larger room. Dusty cobwebs hang from the low ceiling. A trio of upended chests rest in the shadows in the rear of the chamber amid a scattering of coins. Tracks in the dust record the path of recent looters.