Chapter 25: Hell Vomits Forth The Damned

[Urson]

Jerome
Jerome nods his gratitude and takes the pint, drinking half of it at one go. He finishes it quickly, and gestures for another.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo inquires about lodging, ready to sleep for at least a full day.

“I presume our old room is still vacant?”

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur perks up at the mention of a room for the night. If it is available, he goes to sleep as soon as is practicable. In the meantime, he helps himself to an ale.

[wolfpack]

Brevos whispers to Bo

the others had best prepare the wolvesbane

[ravenn4544]

Mouser pulls his gaze from the symbol. Sleeps sounds like an idea long overdue. Remembering his loss of equipment, he'll inquire as to if any general gear is for sale.

[ChubbyPixie]

Feeling like death warmed over, Telkis will eat and drink what he can, then retire for the night. He decides the matter of his funds left here for safekeeping can wait until the morning.

[Urson]

Jerome
Jerome finishes 3 pints before he finds a bed. He is oddly quiet, his face blank, a 1000-yard stare in his eyes.

[Inferno]

Banemourne, the Dark Mountains, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Twenty. Night. Thursday, December 1st, 576 CY
Freezing cold, overcast, windy.







Rudolf can't help but glance out the window at the dread mountain. His harsh, defiant words and those of Ingrid Esthof cast a pall across the rustic public house. A few frightened patrons genuflect at the symbol on the wall to ward off any evil that should befall them in the proximity of such blasphemy.

"...If'n ye say so, master hobbit," Tulach quietly agrees as he busies himself with bringing Jerome more ale.

After the strangers eat and drink their fill, the careworn barkeep leads the weary adventurers through the wind and the snow back to their abandoned shack.



Mouser sees the general mercantile where tomorrow he might be able to replenish his supplies.

Inside their derelict shanty, the wood burning stove is cold and the rows of bunks unmade beneath the watchful eye on the wall.



"... Ah bid ye guid nicht," Tulach says as he leaves. The exhausted heroes light a fire, set the night watch and finally rest.

For the first time since they entered the mountains, unspeakable horrors from beyond the fragile veil of this world do not haunt their dreams.

But deep in the night, while on watch, Jerome and Rudolf suddenly realize Amity Mantle is awake and staring at them from an arm's length away at the edge of the darkness.





Actions, Jerome and Rudolf?!






PC Status:

Brevos, Half-Elf Ranger 4: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 21/36
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 3/4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 7/19, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl
Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 5: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 14/25, Spells: 2/5 1st lvl, 2/5 2nd lvl, 0/2 3rd lvl
Jerome, Human Paladin 3: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 7/20, Laying Hands: 0/1
Long Bo, Human Druid 5: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 36/38, Spells: 3/6 1st lvl, 0/4 2nd lvl, 0/2 3rd lvl, -1 to Strength
Rudolf Rassendyll, Halfling Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 13/16
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 4: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 3/34
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 1/11, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl, 0/2 2nd lvl

PC Magic:

None currently.

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 has been quiet and broody since they reached the inn, and his drinking didn't change that a bit. At first, he doesn't even notice the little girl. When he does, he actually smiles, ignoring the appearance of empty eye sockets.
Hi, little one! Are you feeling better? He strokes her hair in the way adults always seem to stroke children's hair when the child has been sick.
I'm Jerome. My friends and I are taking you home, OK?

[rredmond]

She's standing?
Rudolf keeps his eyes on the girl, especially as Jerome moves forward. Her weirdness, plus the weirdness of everything going on has him distrustful of... well, of everything. He takes a step back, out of arms reach, and to the opposite of Jerome (so if Jerome is on his left he edges right and vice versa), as he moves he slowly takes out his rope and puts a slipknot at the end of it. He tries to keep an encouraging smile on his face, but feels the cold sweat going down his back, and he hopes to Brandobaris that his paranoia is not justified. He's looking to flank, or even get behind the girl, but will take the utmost caution in doing so!

[Inferno]

DM:

The horror continues in... Chapter 26: The Possession of Amity Mantle