Chapter 29: Sacrament of Blasphemy

[Urson]

Jerome
Jerome moves in behind Telkis, clearly restraining himself from a headlong charge. He whispers prayers to St Cuthbert.

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

The cleric casts another healing spell upon Grey Mouser before stepping toward the warmth of the church.

Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=2

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur follows Telkis into the chapel, scared and weak but also eager for warmth. He grabs a rock if there are any around.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo is quite concerned when his freezing friends suddenly walk right through the only doorway, very worried that anyone inside will be able to see them enter through the front doors.

He remains outside for a moment, peeking in through the cracked door to see if his friends are accosted in any way before following them.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser looks around on the ground for a rock, at least, to use as a weapon if needed.

[Inferno]

The Church of Saint Pentival, The Ashblood Colony, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Thirty-seven. Night. Saturday, December 17th, 576 CY
Freezing, clear







At the door of the ominous chapel of an ancient age, Mouser and Urdur arm themselves with stones as Ingrid strengthens the enfeebled thief with blessings of health and fortitude. (+2 to HP, STR and CON)

The creak of the church door seems deafening to the freezing escapees as they steal inside. Long Bo remains outside a moment, shivering in the cold, watching them cautiously advance, bare feet on smooth stone.

The air here is warmer than outside, but not remotely warm. Incense fills their noses and distant hymns to Saint Pentival fill their ears.

They peer west. Past twin ladders to the bell tower, they can see a portion of the nave (C:03).



The congregation chamber of the Dissenters of Pelor is dimly lit by two humble candle chandeliers.

Songs of devotion and reverence emanate from behind the altar, where lies the pit to the Thing.


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 5 feet.





PC Status:

Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 3/4: Move: 12", AC: 7, HP: 12/19, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl (-7 to STR and CON)
Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 5: Move: 12", AC: 10, HP: 25/25, Spells: 0/5 1st lvl, 0/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl, Light spell
Jerome, Human Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 10, HP: 20/20, Laying Hands: 0/1
Long Bo, Human Druid 5: Move: 12", AC: 9, HP: 38/38, Spells: 6/6 1st lvl, 3/4 2nd lvl, 1/2 3rd lvl
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 34/34
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 7, HP: 5/11, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl (-6 to STR and CON)

PC Magic:

Protection From Evil, 10' Radius (Jerome)
Light (Ingrid): Duration: 92 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)

[ChubbyPixie]

Hugging the right wall, Telkis will steal up to the corner of the doorway into the nave and peer in to get a better view of the place and what might await them there.

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur sneaks in with the group as quietly as he can.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo enters last, ready to get closer to the fire, if there is any.

Seeing his friends moving deeper inside undetected, he tries to stay out of sight of the bad singers, making for the southern alcove to get a better look around the area.

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

Realizing she might not have many more opportunities to heal her party members, Ingrid takes advantage of the noise and distance. As quietly as she can, the priestess once more summons the curative powers of Holy Tritherion in an attempt to rid their stealthiest member of the lingering malaise. She will then move closer to Urdur to heal him next.

Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=8
Converted one 3rd level slot into 3 healing spells, using one.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser flexes his fingers and toes to bring some warmth back into them. He clutches his rock and also moves along the southern alcove to find some concealment in the shadows.

[Urson]

Jerome
Still muttering angry prayers, Jerome moves to the east end of the main sanctuary. He keeps low, watching the unbelievers and lunatics.

[Inferno]

The Church of Saint Pentival, The Ashblood Colony, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Thirty-seven. Night. Saturday, December 17th, 576 CY
Freezing, clear







In the secret church beyond the woods, the breathless silence is suddenly broken by Ingrid's prayers as she tends to Mouser's grievous affliction. (+8 to HP, STR and CON)

Nothing in the forbidding chapel stirs in response.

The doomed heroes creep past the ladders to the bell tower, and reach twin fonts of holy water (near C:02). From there, flickering candles and Ingrid's holy light reveal the nave is devoid of life (C:03).

Steps lead up to a curtain-lined sanctuary (C:04) where, above the altar, looms the ancient symbol of the Order of the Knights of the March!

Past long pews and great columns can be glimpsed fragments of alcoves in the shadows. (a-i) Each holds a stained glass window, bricked up behind, depicting Saint Pentival in life, before he was martyred by the wicked servants of the dark lord, Vecna.




Past confessional booths (C:05), lies one of two wooden doors set into the western wall.

The sacred psalms grow louder with every step.


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 5 feet.





PC Status:

Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 3/4: Move: 12", AC: 7, HP: 19/19, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 5: Move: 12", AC: 10, HP: 25/25, Spells: 2/5 1st lvl, 0/5 2nd lvl, 1/2 3rd lvl, Light spell
Jerome, Human Paladin 3: Move: 12", AC: 10, HP: 20/20, Laying Hands: 0/1
Long Bo, Human Druid 5: Move: 12", AC: 9, HP: 38/38, Spells: 6/6 1st lvl, 3/4 2nd lvl, 1/2 3rd lvl
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 34/34
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 7, HP: 5/11, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl (-6 to STR and CON)

PC Magic:

Protection From Evil, 10' Radius (Jerome)
Light (Ingrid): Duration: 91 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)

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

Calling upon the beneficience of Holy Tritherion one more time, Ingrid restores vitality to Urdur.

Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=4

[Urson]

Jerome

(C05 is barely visible, on the lower side of the map. (for anyone who's having trouble finding it, like I did)
Jerome moves to the Northern holy water font, anoints himself with a wet finger from the font, and then moves West along the north side of the building.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo moves to the southern holy water font, but most certainly not to anoint himself. There he looks around for any empty vessels he might fill with the water for future use. He also looks around for candles or anything else they might locate in a church, before cautiously heading up the southern aisle towards the closed confessionals.

He wonders what manner of horrible tales were told inside the tiny chamber of lies.

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis takes to the aisle on the north side of the nave, making his way towards the back of the church between the columns. He glances at each stained glass window as he passes, making his way to the western door on that side.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser feels whole again. At least physically. He continues along the southern wall. Seeing the strange cross symbol he can't help but think that there must have been some useful weapons in that pit below. They just happened to open the wrong one....

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur quietly thanks Ingrid for once again restoring his strength. He follows the cleric further into the building.

[Inferno]

(C05 is barely visible, on the lower side of the map. (for anyone who's having trouble finding it, like I did)

Thanks for helping out, Urson. Sorry about that!