Chapter 24: Human Sacrifices

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur follows Brevos. He touches nothing.

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis will hover monetarily between the altar and the bridge, ready to help where trouble first raises its infernal head.

He feels certain the altar is bad news. He feels equally certain the bridge leads to some new, yet unseen doom. He'll eye the bridge over for structural integrity, hopefully before anyone actually steps on it.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo slowly enters the next grisly room of death, staying behind Telkis and ready to save people in either direction.

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

The cleric starts toward the bridge, then abruptly changes course when she sees Mouser and Jerome head to the altar. She follows at a short distance, holy symbol in hand, ready to act if either appear to fall under the sway of evil in this cursed place.

[Inferno]

Chapel of Abominations, The Lost Shrine of Ancient Evil
The Dark Mountains, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Twenty. Long after midnight. Thursday, December 1st, 576 CY







The shrine of atrocities fills the heroes with a nameless dread. With trepidation and unease, they enter of their own volition. All except Rudolf who stands at the threshold's precipice.

Under Ingrid's careful watch, Jerome and Mouser approach the sacrilegious altar. The haggard paladin defiantly whispers, "I am no monster," as if to convince himself.

In the shadow of the frightful Dark Mother, they find the profane, blood-stained altar adorned with lit candles, strange skulls, a golden bowl filled with black opaque unholy water, and a serpentine sacrificial dagger identical to the one that Urdur found in the Hell Mouth and buried in the haunted wood.



Mouser detects no lurking threats here... of a mechanical nature. Jerome begins murmuring prayers hypnotically, his white-knuckled fist gripping his holy symbol tight. (Jerome and Mouser, please see PMs)

Beneath the chained skulls, Telkis judges the low stone bridge to be structurally sound. Brevos and Urdur move to its edge and the gnomish conjurer's torch pushes back the shadows to reveal a grand hallway with high, vaulted ceilings beyond the bridge (9). It proceeds from the unholy altar into darkness.



And from that darkness emanates the eerie unrelenting tone that is the only sound to disturb the crypt-like silence.


Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 5 feet. Asterisks and black dots by the room numbers don't represent anything. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.

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: 3/5 1st lvl and 4/4 2nd lvl
  Jerome, Human Paladin 3: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 20/20, 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: 9 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)

[rredmond]

Rudolf moves in to stand with Urdur and the ranger by the cadaver bridge. "Evil altars have brought us no gain, nothing but woe," he says to the others, "I'm not sure why this one would be any different. It would be better to explore this room, methinks, after dealing with Praetor-Whathisface."

[ravenn4544]

Mouser eyes the dagger greedily, "look at that thing.. that's unique, eh?"

[Urson]

Jerome
Jerome takes a moment before he replies. It's horriffic. But, I still have to admire the metalworking skill. Someone took great care with it. I see no reason to stay- shall we move on? He turns to walk toward the people looking at the bone bridge.

[wolfpack]

No it isn't unique, it is just like the one we had to bury because it was full of evil and warped minds. leave it be.

[OGRE MAGE]

Before moving to the bridge, Bo looks around at the far walls and near the statue, tapping stone with the butt of his spear as he snoops.

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur shudders involuntarily upon seeing the dagger. He follows the group across the bridge, a sense of dread increasing with every step.

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

Please do not touch the dagger or anything else on that...that...profane thing. Items such as those are largely responsible for all the problems we have faced since leaving the Hellmouth. You may feel you are free from any influence, but it is an insidious evil and you may not realize it has taken control of you until it is too late.

[ChubbyPixie]

"Ten gold says he touches the dagger," ( ) mutters Telkis under his breath, as he, too, moves toward the bridge. He'll try to peer over the edge to see what the bridge spans. He feels certain he won't like what he sees.

[Inferno]

Chapel of Abominations, The Lost Shrine of Ancient Evil
The Dark Mountains, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Twenty. Long after midnight. Thursday, December 1st, 576 CY







Beneath the chained skulls, the heroes gather at the threshold of the corpse bridge. But none dare set foot upon it. Water flows beneath, silent, dark and slow.

Under Ingrid's stern gaze, Mouser stands at the unholy altar and caresses the forbidden dagger with his eyes. Nearby, the grey druid tests the ancient stonework but finds neither falsity nor hollowness.

At the brink of the cadaverous span, the gathering light reveals more of their deathly path ahead. Details of the magnificent towering corridor slowly emerge.


(view towards the heroes and the altar)

The oppressive architecture's symbolism implies it is a lichway, the path by which the dead are carried to the grave. Its vast looming walls are lined end to end with stone slabs, each bearing inscriptions in the same blasphemous, arcane language as the stonegate.

And still, from the black shadows beyond their torchlights' reach, comes that ceaseless, unsettling sound.


Actions?!


Map Detail:

One square = 5 feet. Asterisks and black dots by the room numbers don't represent anything. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.

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: 3/5 1st lvl and 4/4 2nd lvl
  Jerome, Human Paladin 3: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 20/20, 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: 8 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)

[Urson]

Jerome
Jerome sloshes a little water into the wineskin he drained, then drinks whatever he can get from it.
He steps forward. I am no expert in traps, so I shouldn't lead. But I will gladly be first behind the scout.

[wolfpack]

Brevos will go ahead and start across the bridge

[ravenn4544]

Mouser knows he should leave the dagger behind. And does. "What's happening to me? Leaving all these artifacts?" he thinks.

He does offer to scout up front as the group moves forward to search for traps.

[rredmond]

Rudolf will attempt to jump in front of the ranger, ”perhaps we should check that the dead have no facility in setting traps first,” he says with a grim smile. ”Or maybe let Ingrid, if she is still imbued with her god’s powers, take a peek before we head across,” he adds rubbing his chin, “if traveling with you all has taught me anything it’s to be more careful, and trust to luck less!”

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

Smiling, Ingrid replies to Rudolf. Holy Tritherion's blessing still flows through me, so I am able to detect traps for a little while longer. I would be very willing to lead our way across the bridge in case we should encounter either traps set to thwart unwelcome guests or the restless dead. If, however, someone really wishes to go first, I shall not stop them. She will lead the way if that is the wish of the others, or if anyone feels strongly about being in front, she will allow them to do so.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo doesn’t offer to lead the way. Staying towards the center of the party, he follows the others across the lichway with his torch held high. He keeps a sharp eye and ear out for any trouble, knowing they are probably walking right into it.