IC XV

[thirdkingdom]

Severi gauges the size and character of the room the battle took place in.

This room is virtually identical to the hall they just passed through, except it is at 90 degrees to the first one. The archway between the two is set in the eastern corner of the southern wall, and the new room is 30 feet deep and extends a total of 90 feet west. Another archway is set in the western wall, and a closed door is centered in the northern wall. There are a total of twelve niches lining the north and south walls, six in each. Each niche contains some sort of figure, encrusted with a thick layer of the waxen substance that covers all the surfaces in this place. If anything, the waxy material seems thicker in this room.

[Atlictoatl]

Vanco Basou
"Curious that they should appear to be without gender," Vanco muses. "I wonder how they reproduce." He tries to use his knowledge of healing to see if there are any more abnormalities about the ur-orcs -- and more importantly, if they have any obvious vulnerabilities.

Tev Meren, Fighter

"Well, they called something down here 'Mother'. I think it had something to do with the pillars. I kinda think that gnome might have turned into something if we hadn't cut him down."

[phil285]

Vanco Basou, cleric
"From a pure sense of enquiry, it would have been interesting to know what would have happened to that gnome. But I do not think we could wish that on any living creature.
"Perhaps we should check the door and then these niches?"
With that, Vanco cautiously looks more closely at one of the niches with a figure.
"Do you think more horrors such as these lurk here?"

[Wyzard]

Severi takes up his sword, and begins forcefully probing the wax-covered figures. Are they stone beneath, or flesh that can be cut?

[Atlictoatl]

Tev Meren, Fighter

Tev stands nearby as Severi tests the figures, halberd at the ready.

[Koren n'Rhys]

Quint Kacie
Seeing Severi reaching to probe the figure, Quint calls out in a low voice: "Careful. Remember what happened to my staff. Though it did seem to react differently to the touch of steel."

He too moves to inspect one of the niches, to determine if the "figures" are entrapped victims or something else entirely.

[thirdkingdom]

The waxy coating on the figures do not have the same sponginess as that composing the carnivorous columns. Rather, it is rather hard and brittle, and within a minute or two Severi has chipped and prized enough of the material away to reveal stone below; it looks like he has revealed the carved folds of a tunic.

[Wyzard]

Severi the Silvertongued, Elf

"Hmm. I'm not sure what these statues signify, but they are not likely vital to our current purpose. Having cleared this chamber, let's go back and check the other two passages from the room with the pillars, and then ignite them as we had originally planned."

[Koren n'Rhys]

Quint Kacie
"I have to agree. it seems many of these chambers once served some other purpose - perhaps for the city above, or an older society it's built upon. Whatever evil has befallen it seems to be slowly overtaking the entire complex and perverting it for some new, unknown purpose."

Quint will go back, or not, as the group decides. He still carries the oil and is ready to do what is needed to ignite the pillars when the time comes.

[phil285]

Vanco Basou, cleric
Vanco is content to return to ignite the pillars.

[Atlictoatl]

Tev Meren, Fighter

As is Tev.

[Alethan]

Rhys nods in agreement, as well.

[thirdkingdom]

Felmont 3, AC 1000
The Caves under the Forgotten City
10:25 am
15 turns elapsed

The adventurers return to the initial hall, and after listening carefully open the door to the circular room where the gnomish trader was found glued to the column. The room is now deserted, and no sign of the previous events can be detected. The column itself no longer bears the burn and scorch marks the companions inflicted upon it during their last visit.

[phil285]

Vanco Basou, cleric
"How much damage did you do to the column with fire previously?"

I guess it heals fairly effectively, unless it was only superficially scorched last time round. Are we still for burning it? I'm content to do so.

[Koren n'Rhys]

Quint Kacie
Moving to the column that had been burned last time, Quint slowly circles it, examining the thing and making occasional sounds of puzzlement or interest.
"Most extraordinary! The damage we were able to inflict last time was likely superficial, but it did elicit a definite response. I'm not sure we can truly destroy what now resides here with mere oil and fire, but we can hope to cause enough discomfort to perhaps drive it away and cleanse this place through our efforts."

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

"Of course, burning them again might elicit a hostile response from anything nearby that is drawn to the fire and smoke..."

Just wondering if burning the columns might generate one (or more) wandering monster checks...

[phil285]

Vanco Basou
"So... should we then leave the columns alone? Their foulness may offend us but if they do not actively attack us, do we harm ourselves more by burning them again?"

[Wyzard]

Vanco Basou, cleric
"How much damage did you do to the column with fire previously?"

I guess it heals fairly effectively, unless it was only superficially scorched last time round. Are we still for burning it? I'm content to do so.

"Not enough."

Rhys the Traveler

"Of course, burning them again might elicit a hostile response from anything nearby that is drawn to the fire and smoke..."

Just wondering if burning the columns might generate one (or more) wandering monster checks...

"That's my plan. Any remaining ur-orcs will come a-running when their mother gets torched. We clean the area out, then light up the pillars to shake out any that are still hiding somewhere."

[Alethan]

Rhys

Rhys shrugs and draws his sword. "Burn it, then..."

He positions himself near the far entrances, along side the wall, and tries to blend into the shadows so he can attack anything that comes running from behind.

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

"That's my plan. Any remaining ur-orcs will come a-running when their mother gets torched. We clean the area out, then light up the pillars to shake out any that are still hiding somewhere."

"Fine, let them come and taste my sword then".