Chapter 33: Nightmare House

[jemmus]

Faron
Maybe better to do that after our evil counterparts and the spiderlings have left the room? If the spiderlings do leave the room?

[ChubbyPixie]

"Give it a try, Ingrid. If nothing happens, we can always try one of these other mirrors," says Telkis.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo nods in agreement but keeps his distance, just in case.

[SocraticLawyer]

Stepping away from the mirrors, Urdur asks, Does anyone know who Lord Blackchapel is? We should try to get to him before our dark reflections do.

Also, there is likely a wampir somewhere in the mansion. It may be what was behind the murders in the waking world. We probably ought to stop it, if we can.


As he waits for one of the bigger members of the party to smash the mirror, Urdur takes another torch from his pack and lights it.

[Urson]

Jerome
Jerome licks his dry lips, aching for a bit of wine. By all means, priestess. He steps aside with an 'after you' gesture.

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

Raising her enchanted mace, the cleric gives the others a small smile. Well, here goes nothing... she says, smashing the mirror as in her vision.

[Inferno]

Inside the Haunted Mirror, The Accursed Mansion, The Dreamlands
Day Three. Midday? Monday, December 26th, 576 CY





The doomed heroes are trapped within a strange mirror-realm by their own dark reflections.

Trusting in her divine prophecy, Ingrid raises her enchanted mace against the haunted mirror and shatters it, just as she foresaw!



SKRRAAAASSHHH!!!

A rushing vertigo maelstrom of infinite reflections spirals upon them!




When the dizzying sensation subsides, the heroes are all splayed across the frigid, dusty floor of the abandoned, dilapidated manor from their own world!




Outside, Hookhill's oppressive gloom chokes the daylight.

Behind them hangs a large broken mirror with only a wall behind it.


Actions?!




PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 18/22
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 4/5: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 19/21, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 5: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 13/25, Spells: 0/5 1st lvl, 3/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl
Jerome, Human Paladin 4: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 19/23, Laying Hands: 0/1
Long Bo, Human Druid 6: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 31/41, Spells: 6/6 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl, 1/1 4th lvl
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 28/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 14/15, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl, 1/1 3rd lvl

PC Magic:

Protection From Evil, 10' Radius (Jerome)

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 stands up, dusting off chips of glass. He smiles with relief at being back in Hookhill, but then his face clouds as he realizes they didn't complete their mission.

[SocraticLawyer]

We are back in the waking world, says Urdur, unable to keep the wonder from his voice. Shaking his head, he turns his thoughts to their current situation.

We may have stopped the killer, although there are certainly others from the Dreamlands that can do as much or worse.

Our doppelgangers intend to present themselves to Lord Blackchapel. Perhaps we should do likewise. If we get there first, we may be able to preempt any damage they may cause.

It may also be worthwhile to examine this mansion further. The mirror showed a room with sorcerous tomes that may aid our quest.

Looking down at his disheveled appearance, the little gnome says, And a bath would be welcome, or at least a fresh set of clothes.

If the others agree, Urdur continues to explore the mansion, hoping to find the library. If they have time, he reviews the books he lifted from the Dreamlands.

Post edited.

[jemmus]

Faron looks around, trying to sort and comprehend the situation. "The mirror... It was the source for the Dreamworld's manifestation? But only on the pagan festival days?"

Sunlight shines through the gray, depressing skies of Hookhill. He puts his slim glowing longsword into its sheath. Right Urdur, our mirror selves. At large and on the loose, unless the disappeared with the Dreamworld. I certainly have no idea how these things work-- and might not give full trust to anyone who says they do.

I would agree, we should quickly explore, and pack away anything at we think might can be sold. We're back in ruddy slum Blackchapel and need food, lodging and baths. And mostly still dead broke.

By the way, to add to the list-- a drink wouldn't be half bad either.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo looks around at their current surroundings, trying to determine if anything has changed in the real world while they were away.

"I suggest we investigate that 2nd floor room where we found the weird locked coffin."

If there are no objections, he searches the dilapidated mansion along with the others.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser also takes a minute to process all that's happened. He wonders aloud, "Do you really think we got the killer?.."

[Urson]

Jerome
Jertome frowns, forcing himself to think clearly. Who are the two fastest of us? They should hie for Lord Blackchapel as fast as possible.

[Inferno]

The Abandoned Manor, Blackchapel, Hookhill, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Three. Midday? Monday, December 26th, 576 CY







The doomed heroes have passed through the looking glass, back to the waking world of Men.

The surreal sensation of being in a nightmare passes, and with it, the hazy uncertainty of what is dream and what is reality.

Remembrance congeals like blood:

They've returned to the great, ruined manor in Blackchapel, Hookhill's largest slum.

When the stars are right, the abandoned mansion can traverse dimensions to the frightful Dreamlands. There exist heinous abominations and the unspeakable god thought to be "sleeping" that long haunted their nightmares.

The next holy day is New Year's Eve, five nights from now. Then the execrable denizens of the Dreamlands will cross over and stalk the streets of Blackchapel once more, killing young girls!

The heroes remember the strange portals in the mirror realm depicted only scenes from the Dreamlands; this mansion unruined, in a state of transcendent opulence and beauty. Their sinister reflections remain in the Dreamlands. And so to does the arcane library that Urdur hungers for.

They have never heard of "Lord Blackchapel" before it was uttered by their dark counterparts, but homeless vagabonds in Blackchapel said this abandoned manor was once the home of "a great Lord and Lady."

Urdur possesses books he brought from the Dreamlands; evidence that they haven't dreamed all this.

The heroes now stand on the second floor of the abandoned manse, in the very corridor where they were trapped in the magic mirror.

Except now everything is in ruin.



They search the wreck of the second floor. Like their search of the first floor, it is slow and dangerous work. The rotten floorboards threaten to collapse beneath their feet at any moment, plunging them down to certain death.

They slowly navigate the ruin of lost majesty and grandeur. With an eerie deja vu they remember certain forlorn walls and now-empty floors, but find none of the occupants nor accoutrements that resided there in the Dreamlands. After painstaking, dangerous hours they have explored the unsafe remains of the second floor finding nothing but lifeless, ruined splendor and abject desolation.

Outside, night descends upon the wretched city.

Five days until the Hookhill Ripper strikes again.


Actions and plans for tonight?




PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 18/22
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 4/5: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 19/21, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 5: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 13/25, Spells: 0/5 1st lvl, 3/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl
Jerome, Human Paladin 4: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 19/23, Laying Hands: 0/1
Long Bo, Human Druid 6: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 31/41, Spells: 6/6 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl, 1/1 4th lvl
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 28/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 5: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 14/15, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl, 1/1 3rd lvl

PC Magic:

Protection From Evil, 10' Radius (Jerome)

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)

[jemmus]

Faron
Well that's disappointing. No even a copper or a busted up old lamp. Should clear out of here and have a meal and ale and rest up? This time without getting our pockets picked? I still have some coins.

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

Before we leave, I have something I need to do. Ingrid then places her hand on Long Bo's shoulder, asking Holy Tritherion to heal him. She then does the same for Telkis

First two are on Bo, Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=5
Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=2
Mext two are on Telkis.
Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=3
Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=6

[SocraticLawyer]

I have a few silvers yet as well, says Urdur. I also have an extra blade from the thugs who tried to attack us. Perhaps I can sell it in the market.

Urdur goes with the group. He suggests the market first, hoping to sell his shortsword. He also would purchase some clean clothes* and replenish any missing spell components, if necessary (and feasible). He would also purchase some flasks of oil, if available.

His next priority would be securing shelter and food (and a bath?) at an inn. He'll study the books from the Dreamlands if he has time.

*I mean, we were in the sewers at one point, right?
Urdur is probably a nasty mess right now....

[Urson]

Jerome
Jerome still looks a bit dazed, unsure what is real abd what was a horrible nightmare.

Yes, let's get out of this firetrap and regroup. We still need to try and stop the Ripper. Mentally, he begins an inventory, trying to decide what posessions he'll sell to raise some cash.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo thanks their priestess, taking a final look out the window at the packed streets below, remembering he has no coin and nothing to sell. "It seems that no danger remains in this place as it sits. We could set up camp in one of these rooms, if necessary, since there is nobody else at home at the moment and the townies seem to fear it enough to ignore."

He sniffs himself before continuing. "I too would very much enjoy a hot bath and some clean clothes, however. I could probably create a nice bath in here with my magic, if we only had an intact metal tub of some kind."

He moves back to the entrance foyer to see if that area also looks the same as it did when they tested walking outside while in the Dreamlands.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser is also unsure of what to do. "It's dark out there - and it doesn't seem like a danger here anymore now that the house is back to the way it was. I like the idea of regrouping and figuring out our next steps with a bath - but maybe we do that in the morning"