Chp. 7 - Intrigue in the Court of Chaos

[thesniperknight1]

Gagel stares at his arm in amusement, he wiggles it and laughs like a little kid with keys jingling in front of him. He goes around to the group and shows it almost pridefully and laughs harder, "Look! Look!", he repeats over and over again

[AleBelly]

After seeing his pal Fingal still alive, Wulfhart tries to cheer him up. "Sure, the burns are bad. But at least the scars can't make you any uglier!"

Wulfhart will sit for awhile to see if the inked curses fade after the "death" of the ink monster.

[greyarea]

Asherrion, the gray ink, moves himself (he is, after all a puddle of ink) as if he shakes his head. He spells out on the ground, Oh, it will take time to recover. I can't seem to blot out those images, nor brush them aside. At least I didn't die, but I'm afraid this sentence will draw me out for some time.

Is Asherrion permanently insane or is he now recovering? I'm not sure I can keep up the ink puns...

updated to account for the fact that he is still a puddle.

[ChubbyPixie]

Wrenly the Brown, MU

Expecting an immediate return to normal as the blot expires, Wrenly unconsciously holds his breath, then let's it out slowly as he realizes... he's still a drawing. He makes a mental note to check out how good a job he did drawing his face the next time he encounters a mirrored surface. He hopes its not too creepy... He guesses being a drawing is better than being dead...

"Perhaps with some rest our condition will wane?" he suggests. "note to self: prepare two offensive spells at earliest convenience..."

[Inferno]

Sleestak, lizardman shaman:

Even the ancient reptile had to admit that the humankin fought bravely... eventually. It was the least they could do given their greed and powerlust released the horror in the first place. The medicine man knew these mercenaries weren't here to cleanse the evil from this unholy place, but merely to rob it.

But it was also clear now that Sleestak couldn't prevail in his visionquest alone. As much as it pained his wisdom and his pride, he needed to ally with these foolhardy fortune hunters. Sleestak still longed to have words with his lizard brother. He had many questions.

But first the skull-masked shaman rasped to the company in that strange, alien tongue Men called Common: "Humankin, if you know a safe place to rest, I can attempt to cure us. I don't know if I will succeed. But I will try."

[Pulpatoon]

Porphyry leaps back from the puddle of ink as it begins to move, fearing a fresh attack. Noticing the words forming, he says, "I do believe this is Asherrion. He has the worst luck in maintaining phenotype, doesn't he? From elf to grey-skinned melon head, to ink puddle, to pun-riddled sentence. If anyone has any blotter paper on them, we should probably just put him out of his misery. The next step down the ladder is a limerick, I believe."

[doughx99]

Niles unable to move or speak is unsure what to do thinks to himself ( someone carry me out of here)

[saalaria]

Swilbosh too is struggling, he shakes his head, rubs his eyes.

"Doessss nothing clear thissss madnesss? You all look sssstranger than normal!"

[Hotgoblin]

Groyn speaks up...If one of yous can help get me britches off, we can soak Asherion up with me skivvies !!! Bene could roll in his puddle too! Or ain't those good ideas? Alls I know is that we need to get outta here!!!

[greyarea]

Asherrion pools and then writes 978-0060724276, then bobs, appearing to look at your expectedly.

[Hotgoblin]

Groyn gets close the puddle that is Asherion and says...I'm ok, you're ok. Is that correct? What say yous?

[Grognardsw]

The adventurers are relieved to be alive, even if blackened or in other states of existence. They wonder if the ink monster's effects are permanent. There are two exits from this great hall, in the northeast and northwest corners of the room.

[OGRE MAGE]

While the entire party licks their wounds, Fingal retrieves two sacks and some cordage from his pack. He pulls the sacks over his precious but badly burned magic boots, tying them in several places in hopes that it will keep them from falling apart any further.

I don't suppose any of you two dimensional spell casters would have a spell to mend these would ya?

Fingal then proceeds to the intersection and checks for traps in both directions.

Any preference as to which direction?

[ChubbyPixie]

Wrenly the Brown, MU

I don't suppose any of you two dimensional spell casters would have a spell to mend these would ya?

"Ahem!... I could Identify them for you if you like. I beg your pardon, sir, but I seem to have miscalculated in my spell preparation for today... it appears I have underestimated the degree of peril. Incidentally, I have heard of a sort of Mending incantation, but I don't believe it is applicable to magical boots or magical items of any kind, for that matter. I shall look into it at the soonest opportunity." Wrenly smiles at Fingal in a way he deems friendly, but which probably comes across a bit creepy, given his hastily drawn, clownish leer.

"I propose we begin to the right. Or Northwest. However this is merely a gut feeling I have. As you all are a bit more experienced in this sort of thing, I leave it to you." With that, Wrenly has a good look at the altar, to try to determine if there is more to it than meets the eye. Not that he's particularly experienced in this sort of thing, either...

[Pulpatoon]

Porphyry: "Asherrion, you appear to have some control over your form. Are you mobile? What about the rest of you who have been... afflicted? It may well be that our best chance to curing any of you lot is delving further. The malfeasants who set that tome as watchdog to their lair must have had counter-magics in case their hound bit its masters."

[AleBelly]

Seeing his pal Fingal in a dreadful state, Wulfhart silently moves to within 5' of him to protect him from a sudden attack while he checks for traps.

Still unable to believe his friends antics jumping into the pit, he mutters to himself "I've known bold thieves and old thieves, but no old bold thieves."

[Grognardsw]

The adventurers discuss their bodily predicament. Sleestak the lizardman shaman offers healing to those injured while Fingal the Bold Thief secures his boots and inspects for traps in the two corridors exiting the room. Both seem safe and the party proceeds down the right (east) passageway. It proceeds 40' and ends with three doors: one east in front of the party, one in the north wall and one in the south wall.
Map

[saalaria]

Swilbosh looks to the thief, or at least in his direction.

"Will you check the doors too? Or want me to open one?"

[thesniperknight1]

Gagel removes his ring and puts it back in his pocket, "I don't think they are trapped, with that monster protecting the entrance, the chances of surviving are slim"

[OGRE MAGE]

Seeing his pal Fingal in a dreadful state, Wulfhart silently moves to within 5' of him to protect him from a sudden attack while he checks for traps.

Still unable to believe his friends antics jumping into the pit, he mutters to himself "I've known bold thieves and old thieves, but no old bold thieves."

Fingal replies, Well, if ya didn't know any young, stupid thieves......you do now!

"Ahem!... I could Identify them for you if you like. I beg your pardon, sir, but I seem to have miscalculated in my spell preparation for today... it appears I have underestimated the degree of peril. Incidentally, I have heard of a sort of Mending incantation, but I don't believe it is applicable to magical boots or magical items of any kind, for that matter. I shall look into it at the soonest opportunity." Wrenly smiles at Fingal in a way he deems friendly, but which probably comes across a bit creepy, given his hastily drawn, clownish leer.

Thank you Wrenly, I would certainly appreciate anything you could do for them. I've grown rather attached to their power and would feel naked without them now. The thief can hardly look at the oddly smiling wizard without cracking a smirk.


He then proceeds to check the three doors for traps.

[1d100] = 12