Chapter 13 - Azurpenia's Prison

[Nuke66]

Galan roots through his pack, apparently forgetting he threw out his spoiled food.

[AleBelly]

After looking at Sagthistle's character sheet and given Arnulf's history, I think it extremely unlikely they would join Chet in attacking.

It is a surreal sight indeed. The finely attired, pale-skinned men and half-elves rush the birdmen carrying the leading foot of the goat skull arch. "What does it represent?!" one cries angrily. The bird men move gracefully, dodging as they look for openings to attack their assailants. Steel flashes.

"Great Mullein has fallen!" cries one of the crow-men. He refers to the motionless body with a knife protruding from its back. The pool of blood expands slowly on the stone floor. Around him, two crow men face off three surprise attackers. Perhaps still shaken from the surprise death of their comrade, their short swords fail to find their target. The finely attired palies do better. Two of the three gash their opponents through their robes, but they fight on.

Meanwhile, the trio of birdmen carrying the leading edge of the arch have just enough time to prepare themselves for the charge of the other three palies. Two crowmen gang up on a single palie, gutting him as he draws his knife. It clatters to the ground, dropped from his lifeless grasp. The third crowman nearly decapitates another palie, its neck spurting blood onto several goat skulls, who watch disapprovingly. The third palie, however, growls as he gains some measure of revenge. He stabs a crowman in the abdomen. Crimson spreads from the puncture in the orange robe.

There are two crowmen fighting three palies near the entrance to the gallery. Inside the room, three crowmen face off against a lone, pale human - its eyes crazy with anger.

A voice booms from behind a bird mask. "Join us strangers! Helps us dispatch these cannibals and we will share the proceeds of this bounty!" With all the confusion, it's difficult to tell from which crow-man this appeal comes.

Chronia offers a blasé response to Yenny's inquiry as the gnome makes it back towards the room. "These wretches are obsessed with the art in the gallery. You see how they react to those taking it."

Dandelion continues to chide Tempus for digging into her pack. Chet clutches his polearm, itching to use it in battle. But which side is right, if any? Arnulf looks as if he's about to soil himself.

Actions?

Date: 16 Culling, Year 42
Time: 20:11
Conditions: 54F, calm, room dark and damp
Known Spells in Effect: Yenny under some sort of hunger enchantment; Galan, Tempus wracked
Light bearers: Lamps in rooms - Angus' lantern has 3.5 hours worth of oil left in it but is unlit.
Intended Direction of Travel:
Injury Status: Chet lightly wounded

[enn.in.me]

Yenny is stand defensively, shield at the ready. She leaves at the doorway in case somebody comes running through. "Not our fight, Chet." she says calmly. "Not yet anyway."

[Zhym]

In Chronia's room...
Chronia smiles. "No, Azurpenia is beautiful in her own way, though I haven't looked upon her face in quite awhile. She was here before I was. I have heard she was placed here to assuage the jealous fears of mortal men. She certainly did - and does, have her enemies.

But I've found good and evil to be abstractions, dear Angus. I was good - I've never cause anyone harm deliberately. And the men and women I knew, powerful men and women, were also considered good. But my curse - they called it power, mind you - caused distrust. I, a good person, caused good people to do what were considered bad things. But that doesn't make sense, does it?"

Angus thinks this over. "Nooo..." he drawls, "I reckon that ain't so strange. I done seen paragons of virtue what were sumbitches and evil critters what were smooth as silk straight out of the worm's bottom. Begging your pardon, ma'am. 'Cepting I don't know as you can rightly call it making people do bad things if it weren't deliberate."

Hearing the commotion outside, Angus bows his head to Chronia, "Well, I reckon I'd better look into what's causing all the ruckus out there. Before I go, you got any advice for me on who's good and who's bad in this place?"

[onlyme]

Dandelion listens for the response.

[tkrexx]

Hyde's eyes are glued to the strange battle unfolding before him. Whichever side wins will be considerably weaker for their trouble, and perhaps thus more inclined to cooperate with his tribe.

[Nuke66]

Galan, too, is confused. He ponders what is happening, trying to make sense of it.

[CAI4]

Yenny is stand defensively, shield at the ready. She leaves at the doorway in case somebody comes running through. "Not our fight, Chet." she says calmly. "Not yet anyway."

"All right" replies Chet dejectedly. "But can we fight the next bad people we see?"

[Storm11]

Tempus sulks off into the corner to sulk, watching the fight carefully

[AleBelly]

In Chronia's room...
Chronia smiles. "No, Azurpenia is beautiful in her own way, though I haven't looked upon her face in quite awhile. She was here before I was. I have heard she was placed here to assuage the jealous fears of mortal men. She certainly did - and does, have her enemies.

But I've found good and evil to be abstractions, dear Angus. I was good - I've never cause anyone harm deliberately. And the men and women I knew, powerful men and women, were also considered good. But my curse - they called it power, mind you - caused distrust. I, a good person, caused good people to do what were considered bad things. But that doesn't make sense, does it?"

Angus thinks this over. "Nooo..." he drawls, "I reckon that ain't so strange. I done seen paragons of virtue what were sumbitches and evil critters what were smooth as silk straight out of the worm's bottom. Begging your pardon, ma'am. 'Cepting I don't know as you can rightly call it making people do bad things if it weren't deliberate."

Hearing the commotion outside, Angus bows his head to Chronia, "Well, I reckon I'd better look into what's causing all the ruckus out there. Before I go, you got any advice for me on who's good and who's bad in this place?"

"There is much bickering, conniving, and fighting here" replies Chronia. "Who is good and bad depends on who you befriend and who you anger. But there are some who will be helpful. The robed caretakers of this place wear the masks of plain-faced women. I know not why. They dwell in another world, but visit to maintain this place. They are peaceful, and can be helpful, as long as you do not harm their people. But they disclose nothing. You may also see the ghost of a boy. He is pure kindness, and will lead you to safety. As for bad, well, the plant-woman who grows in the walls is a nasty thing. Watch out for her root. She helps nobody, it seems."

Meanwhile, in Chronia's cramped anteroom, the battle turns quickly in the crowmen's favor. Our heroes observe the battle, and see the crowmen are more agile and skilled with their blades. The finely-dressed pale creatures inflict a couple of minor wounds, but two of them are killed by the crowmen in battle. Two 'cannibals' (as the crowmen refer to them) remain near the door. Fear crosses their faces. One shouts "These aesthetics are poor!". The other nods, and they begin to retreat back into the gallery. The crowmen do not seem interested in following them. Instead they begin to rifle through the pockets of the fallen - four of the pale humans/half-elves and the crowmen.

"Make haste before they inform the curator!" orders one of the crowmen. "Black Mullein, ready your magic in case these strangers hinder us. Move!" The birdmen, save one, begin to carry the arch again. Their struggle is apparent, now with only two on a side instead of three.

Actions?


Date: 16 Culling, Year 42
Time: 20:13
Conditions: 54F, calm, room dark and damp
Known Spells in Effect: Yenny under some sort of hunger enchantment; Galan, Tempus wracked
Light bearers: Lamps in rooms - Angus' lantern has 3.5 hours worth of oil left in it but is unlit.
Intended Direction of Travel:
Injury Status: Chet lightly wounded

[CAI4]

Chet creeps over to the door and whispers to Yenny and Angus, out of earshot of the crowmen.

Yenny and Angus, check private fora...

[Storm11]

Can those observing these crowmen tell which one black Mullein is? If Tempus could do so he will try and charm the spell user if they are still within range.

Tempus moves towards the doorway and watches the crowmen intently.

[tkrexx]

Magic! Hyde whispers almost desperately, but only so those very close can hear. We needs to spread out, and he moves away from the others, tho not so close to the bird-men.

Nicely done, yeahh! The Shaggy Half-Orc grins, You guys got some fight to yous, hah? Why yous think maybe we'd be helping you against them Palefaces? Done fine on your own, yeahh, real fine. Uh, who be the "Curator? Is that you? He speaks to the bird face who does the bossing.

[AleBelly]

Tempus sulks off into the corner to sulk, watching the fight carefully

Given the masks and identical dress, it isn't possible to determine who is who, but you might be able to figure it out from other clues...

[Storm11]

If one of them reaches into a pocket to withdraw some material components or starts actually spell casting Tempus will mark him and next round try and charm him both as extra magical fire power for the group and possible guide through the prison.

[onlyme]

DAndelion registers the idea that ghostly boy is good. vine woman bad. She asks the others,

Shall we continue?

[AleBelly]

Magic! Hyde whispers almost desperately, but only so those very close can hear. We needs to spread out, and he moves away from the others, tho not so close to the bird-men.

Nicely done, yeahh! The Shaggy Half-Orc grins, You guys got some fight to yous, hah? Why yous think maybe we'd be helping you against them Palefaces? Done fine on your own, yeahh, real fine. Uh, who be the "Curator? Is that you? He speaks to the bird face who does the bossing.

"The curator is not a you, he, or she. The curator is an it!" A couple of the other birds murmur incomprehensibly, perhaps a bit nervous. "Just thought you might want to earn some coin by helpin' us. That's why I asked. Won't be long before those savages come back for dinner" the birdman says, pointing at the now lifeless bodies. "No more time to chat with those that won't help us!" and with that, the five birdmen begin to carry the arch through to the room where the chess pieces are. As they pass out of the room, the two crowmen carrying the rear end of the arch begin bickering in a shrill gibberish language.

The party watches them carefully as they leave. Dandelion suggests moving on.

Actions?

[enn.in.me]

I think if we can go through that door," says Yenny, pointing to the door in the SE of Chronia's room, "we might be able to ambush the ambushers. That would make Chet happy and perhaps give us a little more freedom of movement."

[tkrexx]

Hyde simply watches the route the bird-men take thru the chessroom, for future reference.

[Zhym]

I think if we can go through that door," says Yenny, pointing to the door in the SE of Chronia's room, "we might be able to ambush the ambushers. That would make Chet happy and perhaps give us a little more freedom of movement."

"Good a notion as any, I reckon," says Angus.