Chapter 6: The Iron Door mission

[drpete]

Date: Eurale 14, 8:50 am
Season: Mid Fall
Weather: Cold and Windy
Moon phase: Waxing Gibbous
Location: Mountain Stair

After taking a couple of days to order goods (and a house to store them in!) and rest up from the exertions of the last trip, the group heads back up to the main doors, determined to find a way into the iron door that had defeated them on their last trip.

The area around the top of the mountain is dusted with snow, but this morning a stiff wind blows the cold morning air.

As you climb the mountain, you pass the ape man tower. He seems fine, though his dwelling continues to have the sense of a slaughterhouse rather than a home. You see rats and other vermin picking through the bones of humans and various animals for scraps of food. The ape man lets you go by, but you recall that Climent had been managing the feeding of the ape man for you since you left for Adamas, and this responsibility will now be yours again.

About 15 minutes after passing the ape man, you spy a pack of about a dozen wolves about 130 yards away. The wolves look at you, and perk up their ears. You can tell that they are out hunting, but they do not otherwise react to you immediately.

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I'm sort of glossing over the ape man stuff. If you want to deal with him more explicitly, let me know, and we can move this encounter to before the apeman. Otherwise, once your sheet is updated, join in

[bobloblah]

Brother Galen puffs out a plume in the chill air before speaking, "...would be odd for wolves to bother with so large a group..."

Ajax lets out a low, rumbling growl, pulling the leather strap on his collar taut in Galen's hand, "Easy, boy... let's see if there's trouble before we make some."

[Dogma]

"It would be odd for them to attack this early in the season. After a few weeks of snow though they tend to get a bit hungrier and a bit less cautious."replied Ranulf. "I'll think I'll keep Lucille here handy though,'he adds, patting his arbalest, "Just in case they get frisky."

[kalstone]

Solaine readies her composite bow, but agrees. "Hopefully, they will leave us alone."

[barkman]

Randolpho prepares a stone in his sling, the weapon traditionally used by shepherds to clear wolves from the flock.

[Zorroroaster]

Torgyr hefts his crossbow as well, squinting at the wolves.

"Let's wait and see what they do. We might get one good volley in before they are on us. Hopefully they pass us by."

[Dogma]

"Or maybe they need a little encouragement." Ranulf raises his arms and advances slightly towards the wolves and starts yelling. "Go on! Get out of here you mangy curs! Hooyah!"

(Can you intimidate animals?)

[barkman]

(Only by your smell Ranulf)

[drpete]

"Or maybe they need a little encouragement." Ranulf raises his arms and advances slightly towards the wolves and starts yelling. "Go on! Get out of here you mangy curs! Hooyah!"

(Can you intimidate animals?)

Sure, why not? It's probably the kind of thing you are doing, even...

[Dogma]

(Only by your smell Ranulf)

Ranulf is very fastidious. He baths twice a year whether he needs it or not.

[drpete]

The well-fed wolves size you up from a distance. They don't seem eager to act, and they don't seem to react to Ranulf's shouting. After a few minutes, they seem to make up their minds, and head off down the mountain at a leisurely pace.

[Zorroroaster]

Torgyr looks at Ranulf with a wry expression.

"I suppose the rumours about you are true. You really are a wolf. Thanks for telling them off."

[Stirling]

Quinn

"A couple of pelts each would keep us warm in winter. Get them in the way back then. " Quinn wraps his winter poncho around him more and trudges on. Do we notice any boots prints in the snow, particularly around the entrance?

[Dogma]

"Nah, as long as they leave us alone, we'll leave them alone. Live and let live." replies Ranulf to Quinn. "We find enough trouble up there,"he points up the mountain, "without looking for trouble down here too."

He pulls his cloak closer against the chill and continues trudging up the path.

[drpete]

Date: Eurale 14, 9:20 am
Season: Mid Fall
Weather: Cold and Windy
Moon phase: Waxing Gibbous
Location: Red Door

Moving on up the stairs, you notice a few sets of tracks in the snow. It is hard to tell if the disturbances are human or humanoid, but at least one small group has been through here.

Not far from the door, you see the carcasses of some animals that at first seem to be dogs. Closer inspection shows them to be giant rat carcasses, which seem to have been well gnawed by something. Probably the wolves.

The large red doors, as ususl, are slightly ajar.

[Zorroroaster]

"Ok, let's form up and get some lanterns going. We talked about visiting the Oracle and asking about how to open the iron door. Let's make haste."

Torgyr will poke his head inside out of the wind and have a quick listen before opening the door wide and stepping through.

[drpete]

Torgyr notices nothing out of the ordinary, and he opens the door and steps through. Nothing strance happens. Are you guys going down?

[Stirling]

Quinn Coburg

Quinn will follow Torgyr through the red doors and head towards the statue hallway.

[Dogma]

Torgyr notices nothing out of the ordinary, and he opens the door and steps through. Nothing strance happens. Are you guys going down?

Yup. let's head on down. Mapping speed even though we know the way...don;t want to blunder into anything that might be wondering around. We'll listen at the west door of room 1 before going through. Otherwise I think we can head right to the oracle face.

[barkman]

"Do we want to waste today's question on how to open the door? It would only answer Climent and I in High Thulian, so with Climent gone, we likely only get one. Perhaps I should try the door again first?"