Chapter 24: Human Sacrifices

[rredmond]

Rudolf puts a copper piece in the mouth, without putting his fingers in there in any way. If there's time and if nothing happens to the copper, he checks the lock and key closer, without removing the key if he can.
Find and Remove Traps upon the door methinks.

[wolfpack]

impossible to track here so No leads on where to go.

[Inferno]

Within 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.





"Look Upon the Twin Inquisitors! Look Upon the Exalted Interrogator! Look Upon the Praetor-Pontifex!" urge the writhing visages in the floor!

The grey druid lights a torch and slowly creeps eastward atop the ghastly faces of torment and lamentation. The black shadows melt before his advance, revealing an angle in the vast hall.

Meanwhile, with trepidation, Rudolf cautiously inspects the frightful northern door, its lock and key.



His coin test triggers nothing. And no lurking deathtraps are uncovered or activated by his careful expert examination. He quietly relates these discoveries to his fellow human sacrifices.


Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 5 feet. Greyer areas are water.

Map:






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
  Long Bo, Human Druid 4: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 30/30, Spells: 5/6 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl and 2/2 3rd lvl, Torch
  Rudolf Rassendyll, Halfling Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 16/16
  Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 4: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 34/34, Torch
  Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 11/11, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl and 2/2 2nd lvl, Torch

PC Magic:

• None currently.

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)

[rredmond]

Rudolf gives the doorknob and inquisitive look and stamps on the nose of one of the writhing faces in the floor. "Trap it may be, perhaps I missed something, perhaps it's magical," he takes his rope from its place on his belt and makes a noose, "either way it's good to be cautious. Assuming it isn't locked, I say we use the rope to pull her open, with no one standing in front of the door mind you, but to both sides just in case. If it is locked," he sighs, "I declared it safe, I'll turn the key." Unless someone stops him, he'll carefully loop the rope around the doorknob, trying very hard still not to get his skin in there... he'll give up the copper for lost at this poing.
Rudolf is also ready for one of the brawnier types to knock him out of the way and wrench the door open. In that instance he dodges to the side rolling out of the direct line of the door opening. His mother always said, better safe than sorry.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser will help Rudolf open the door.

[Urson]

Jerome
Jerome joins in on the rope, ready to pull. On the signal, he pulls with all his strength.

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis will move to hug the northern wall about 15 feet to the east side of the door, scowling at the repulsive faces as he steps on and over them.

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

If we are concerned the door may still be trapped, I will ask Holy Tritherion to let me know for sure. She will cast Find Traps.

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur waits, torch in one hand, dagger in the other, a comfortable distance from the door as it is opened.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo moves 10 feet southeast to the corner of the hallway and peers around the edge with his torch to see how far the room continues.

[wolfpack]

Brevos stays on guard watching their back

[Inferno]

Within 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.






In the hellish chamber of screams, the unspeakable faces in the floor shriek:

"Look Upon Eizethrat Nexx and Gorgulos Nexx!
Look Upon Vorgen Pox, Nazir An-Azat and Aetheldredd Aleph!
Look Upon Aervik Narn and Carnithrax Maximus!
All Resting for Eternity in Deathly Splendour within The Tombs of the Greater Repugnances!"

Ingrid Esthof prays devoutly for miraculous vision to perceive any hidden threats lurking here, whether crafted by demons, sorcerers or mortals. Her sacred sight reveals none.

Long Bo peers around the southeast corner and discovers double doors; fearsome twin demon visages matching the two doors behind him!

Rudolf turns the bronze key in the ghastly faced northern door. CLICK!
The hobbit rogue, Mouser and Jerome try with all their might to pull the door open with a rope tied around its knob. It's no use. Then they push the door inward and it opens onto an unlit, richly appointed room whose contents are covered in dust.



Three empty chairs face the heroes.

A grand fireplace stands dark and cold.

A great book as thick as a human torso lies open upon an ornate desk.



A stag’s head is mounted on one wall.

A mirror hangs over a table on which sits a shattered human skull with a dagger through its eye.



A severed human hand rests upon another table.

A door is mounted into the eastern wall. It depicts no demonic face.

And two levers project from the wall in the southwest corner.


Actions?!


Map Detail:

Asterisk by door doesn't represent anything. One square = 5 feet. Greyer areas are water.

Map:






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
  Long Bo, Human Druid 4: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 30/30, Spells: 5/6 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl and 2/2 3rd lvl, Torch
  Rudolf Rassendyll, Halfling Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 16/16
  Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 4: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 34/34, Torch
  Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 11/11, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl and 2/2 2nd lvl, Torch

PC Magic:

• Find Traps (Ingrid): Duration: 29 rounds

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)

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis will enter the new room and, on a hunch, inspect the walls and ceiling for structural soundness.

“What’s the hand about?” he asks, repulsed, looking to the more learned of the group.“Some sort of evil ritual?

[Urson]

Jerome
Jerome holds position in the larger room for the moment. He calms himself and thinks carefully about the names that have been called out by the faces. Do any of them ring any bells? Are any of them 'typical' for a particular race or non-human species?

[ravenn4544]

Mouser moves to investigate the ancient tome.

[wolfpack]

Brevos calls out to mouser

careful what you read, remember your past mistakes

brevos will look for any source of recent movement within the room

[1d100] = 22

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo moves back to the others and tells them about the next set of doors he's found.

He ushers inside anyone who wants to enter the room before following behind them.

He waits for a moment to find out if the faces continue to shriek. If they do, and everyone enters the room, he will try closing the doors behind them to see if that stops the annoying shouting.

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

The cleric will slowly scan the room, looking for any traps before they stumble into one.

[rredmond]

Rudolf grabs his rope and follows the others into the room, able to tear his eyes from the levers, I bet they're fun! He scans the ceiling and the room quickly, to make sure there's nothing amiss amongst the dust, then he moves to check the eastern door in the room to see if it's locked or trapped, though he pauses when he sees Ingrid "perhaps you first?" he'll offer to the curate.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser gives Brevos a look after his comment and turns toward the book as he mumbles, "I got your 'past mistakes' right here, fellah".