Chapter 23: Genesis of Evil

[Urson]

Jerome
Jerome startles, stung by the "Not rescuing little girls" comment. As soon as he's able, he'll start working his way under the stone gate.

[Inferno]

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.







Ghostly, unseen Rudolf examines the exquisite details etched upon the stonegate of the heinous subterranean shrine. He discovers arcane runes that seem to have been chipped away. But he finds no hidden dangers laying in wait.

"...everywhere - the voice was everywhere..." Mouser shudders, pale and shivering.

Ingrid and Brevos call out for Urdur. There is no reply. Nor does the grey druid see any clouds of frost to betray the spectral gnome's presence.

Rudolf and Jerome peer beneath the monolithic portal, but their view is obscured by a figure moving under the gate with a torch, coming right toward them! Telkis suddenly emerges out of the darkness and the cold of the black gap beneath the stonegate. If Urdur is with him, lurking invisibly, none can say.

The frightful demon voices beyond threshold shriek again!

"You are a gift to The Nothing! The Nothing!”


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 5 feet. Grey areas are water.





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: 5/5 1st lvl and 4/4 2nd lvl
  Jerome, Human Paladin 3: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 16/20, Laying Hands: 1/1
  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
  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: 3/3 1st lvl and 2/2 2nd lvl

PC Magic:

• Invisibility x2 (Urdur): Targets: self and Rudolf.
  Detect Magic (Bo): Duration: 6 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 is ready to slide under the gate when Telkis returns. He stops to hear what the bold little Gnome can tell them about the other side.
He's ready to jeer back at the voice beyond the gate- to try and boost his own lagging courage, if nothing else- but then he remembers the tale of Simon of Goznic, and says nothing.

[ChubbyPixie]

"Two doors. Look like gaping mouths. One going north, one going south. Cold room full of leering faces... we were stepping on them. Don't know if they're real - Urdur said it was a spell," he looks to his side where Urdur should be and adds:"He came out with me... Urdur?"

[SocraticLawyer]

I'm here says the unseen little gnome. Its cold back there!

I think we may have tripped some kind of alarm. I think the voice is a magic mouth, a type of phantasm that makes noise when you find it. In any event, nothing scary tried to kill us. If we are going to explore the rooms down there, we should do so as a group.

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

Assuming everyone is all right, even if a bit shaken by what you've seen, we should figure out our next step before going any further. Do we wish to go north or south? I feel we should know what we are going to do when we enter so we have no confusion. At this point, we should consider ourselves in hostile territory. Which door are we going to? Who is checking the door- if anyone? What order are we travelling? The more sure we are of exactly what we are doing, the better. We should all stay together, especially those we cannot see. Speak up periodically so we know you are still with us and unharmed. I fear getting separated in this place could be fatal.

[wolfpack]

I found faint footprints in the rubble, leading from the cave, along the wharf and into the stonegate. I believe s there were one or two adults, women perhaps, and a small child. Likely the girl we seek and more of the cursed witches.

[ChubbyPixie]

“Perhaps there will be signs inside of which door the tracks themselves enter?” says Telkis.

In truth, he never understood tracking. Clear signs of passage to those trained in the art we’re all but invisible to his eye. He sometimes wondered if they were making it up, just following a hunch.

[Urson]

Jerome
You've got the truth of it, Sister Ingrid.

[rredmond]

"You have some knowledge of runes, yes Mouser? Have you seen these," Rudolf throws some dirt on to the runes he's discovered, to make it more obvious to the party. "Perhaps there's a 'back door', so we don't have to go this way," Rudolf says to the rest stroking his invisible nonexistent beard. "Hopefully, it isn't by the water. Hobbits aren't very... floaty," he says with a smile, "the only tracks we've seen go through these gates?" As he talks Rudolf will walk the south wall to see if there's anything odd about it, or if it becomes different in any way - like one wall is temporary, or a hidden entrance way or anything like that. He's going to check the eastern docking bay next, but the water makes him nervous.

Rudolf will walk the worked southern wall about half-way, just past the second docking bay, just to see if he'll get lucky - but still be within view of the party (if he feels he's getting out of view of the party, then that's where he'll stop). Then he'll walk back along the wall checking for secret doors, as much as time will allow. If the party starts to move, or anything bad comes into this area, he moves double-time back to the party.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo continues looking under the gate to see if anything from inside is coming towards them.

"Will the alarm voice simply stop now that we've exited? Let's wait and see. I do agree with making a solid plan for all of us before entering again. Following the tracks seems as good a plan as any, if we can find the path once inside."

"Perhaps we would benefit from reading these inscriptions before we decide, as Rudolf suggests." He looks to the mage types and shrugs.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser peers at the inscription and see if he can find something familiar or readable. He'll hold of on using his precious spells to read it unless it's the only option.

[Inferno]

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.







Mouser gazes upon the meticulous, elegantly engraved horrors depicted on the ancient stonegate. Without the aid of magic, he cannot decipher any inscription.

Brevos grimly confirms the tracks of the condemned witches and the innocent little girl lead to the stonegate.

Unseen, Rudolf searches the southern wall for a secret entrance, to no avail. He continues the search, edging away from the monolithic portal.

The grey druid peers under the gate into freezing black abyss. To his eldritch vision, the entire chamber beyond the threshold is steeped in foul sorcery. And from that cold dark maw, the eerie sounds they first detected in the graveyard can be heard, still alien and unidentifiable.

Again, so close to their dread goal, the heroes falter momentarily. The fear is palpable. They steel their resolve.


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 5 feet. Greyer areas are water.





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: 5/5 1st lvl and 4/4 2nd lvl
  Jerome, Human Paladin 3: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 16/20, Laying Hands: 1/1
  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
  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: 3/3 1st lvl and 2/2 2nd lvl

PC Magic:

• Invisibility x2 (Urdur): Targets: self and Rudolf.
  Detect Magic (Bo): Duration: 4 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)

[ravenn4544]

Mouser will cast read magic and attempt to read the message...

[ravenn4544]

The spell is cast and Mouser gains understanding. He reads the inscriptions on the stonegate:

"This is The Fifth Octacle!"
Now Mouser sees that the damaged cuneiforms are mystical protection runes, sundered long ago, indicating the shrine was once defended like a fortress.

"This is The Greater Servitude!”
There is what appears to be an incomplete sorcerous formula for trapping and channeling the energies of tortured and obedient souls in some kind of liquid.

And then Mouser reads:

“All Who Enter here are a Gift to The Nothing! We Hail The Nothing and Freely Offer Everything There Is Unto It!”

Mouser stands back and takes in what he has read. He shares with the group the unholy writings... not yet sure what to make of it. The vile nature of physically capturing a victim's pain into a tangible form is somehow.. curious.

The magic runs it's course and the gate becomes indecipherable again.. he shakes his head to clear the incongruous visions that arose from the translation...

[Inferno]

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.







Mouser reads the dread words inscribed upon the stonegate aloud and his voice changes, becoming like unto the inhuman daemonic shrieks from beyond its fearsome threshold!

Mouser says:

“All Who Enter here are a Gift to The Nothing! We Hail The Nothing and Freely Offer Everything There Is Unto It!”

And suddenly, the sorcerous language changes everything. The heroes feel a cataclysmic shift in themselves, in their minds.

The potent words of power undulate all around them and suddenly, it all becomes crystal clear. Mouser realizes he knows what the words mean. He has known all along. The implications. The resonance. How could he have ever forgotten? Of course. This is what was meant to be. How could it be otherwise?


Everyone, please Save vs Spells.


Map:

One square = 5 feet. Greyer areas are water.





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: 5/5 1st lvl and 4/4 2nd lvl
  Jerome, Human Paladin 3: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 16/20, Laying Hands: 1/1
  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
  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: 3/3 1st lvl and 2/2 2nd lvl

PC Magic:

• Invisibility x2 (Urdur): Targets: self and Rudolf.
  Detect Magic (Bo): Duration: 4 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)

[ravenn4544]

Save vs spells (12) [1d20] = 18

OOC: sorry if this turns out bad

[rredmond]

Save vs. Spells (11): [1d20] = 1
Oof, well that's just perfect timing... what is it Inferno? 4d6c1 six times?

[Urson]

Jerome

Save vs Spells: 14

Stat check [1d20] = 1

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis feels like his mind is being turned inside out. He holds on for dear life:
Save vs. Spells (13): [1d20] = 15