Chapter 23: Genesis of Evil

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo is again disgusted by the actions of his so called friends. "At this rate, we will kill each other long before we ever meet this charming Mr. Nothing."

Wishing to move ahead before his spell wanes completely, Long Bo slips under the gate. Once inside, he looks around the room at the walls or anything else he sees in each direction.

[Inferno]

The Lost Shrine of Ancient Evil, the Dark Mountain, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Twenty. Long after midnight. Thursday, December 1st, 576 CY
Freezing cold, clear.







At the stonegate of the heinous shrine, Rudolf nearly sacrifices Jerome to The Nothing before Urdur's mesmerism compels them to stop!

Merciful amnesia preserves the fragile sanity of those cursed with greater understanding. They recover their strength and regain their wits. As Mouser apologizes weakly, Brevos and Rudolf snatch up their dropped weapons in confusion and bewilderment. Jerome lowers the dagger from his neck and, with a devout prayer, heals the wound near his heart with his hands ... the very hands that sought to cut his own throat mere moments ago. (+6hp)

“Let’s go in. Standing around here will help nothing,” Telkis says with resignation.

Now visible to mortal eyes, Urdur says humbly, "I know not whether my spell has cleared your minds fully, or only temporarily. To be safe, you might want to dispose of your weapons for now. Just for a few minutes...."

Despite the softness of these words, Rudolf, Jerome, Brevos and Mouser cannot help but comply. Surprised by their own actions, they gently lay all their weapons on the ground before the stonegate!



Then Long Bo suddenly ducks under the monolithic portal and, from the frigid darkness beyond the threshold, horrific daemonic voices shriek once more!

"You are a gift to The Nothing! The Nothing!”


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 5 feet. Greyer areas are water.





PC Status:

• Brevos, Half-Elf Ranger 3: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 31/31
  Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 3/4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 19/19, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
  Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 4: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 22/22, Spells: 4/5 1st lvl and 4/4 2nd lvl
  Jerome, Human Paladin 3: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 14/20, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Rudolf Rassendyll, Halfling Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 16/16
  Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 4: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 34/34
  Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 11/11, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl and 2/2 2nd lvl

PC Magic:

• Read Magic (Mouser) Duration: 3 rounds
  Hypnotism (Urdur): Duration: 3 rounds. Targets: Rudolf, Jerome, Brevos, Mouser

Player Resources:

• Tale of Terror (the story so far)
  A Dark and Terrible World (maps)
  Blasphemous Iconography (the story so far in images)
  Desperate Struggles (clues and player notes)

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

Pick up your weapons, guys. Now that Bo has gone inside, we can tarry here no longer. With that, she follows the druid.

[SocraticLawyer]

Oops, says Urdur. Pick your weapons back up. Just dont hurt yourselves or any of us. He follows the group inside.

[rredmond]

Rudolf picks up his sword and looks up incredulously at the others heading in. “The gate itself is ensorcelling us, I can’t imagine what will happen inside. Can’t help that little girl if we’re dead.” Now painfully visible Rudolf will be one of the last to pass the gates if the others don’t listen to what he feels are his reasonable arguments.

[wolfpack]

Brevos grabs Brood and slides under the gates

[Urson]

Jerome
Jerome collects his weapon and hurries under the stonegate. Once he's under, he faces away from the gate to help defend the others.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser picks up his weapons also and follows.

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis ducks back into the cursed edifice on Long Bo’s heels and wonders how many of them will ever exit this place.

[Inferno]

DM:

Following directly behind Long Bo, the heroes rush in where angels fear to tread.

Only terrible things await them in... Chapter 24: Human Sacrifices