Chapter 32: From Beyond

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur shakes his head in response to Jerome's question, though no one sees him do it. I know of no way to close the portal behind us. Either we wait here for our quarry to find us, or we explore this level.

[jemmus]

Faron
I agree about exploring this level.. He moves forward at the center of the room, sword drawn.

[ChubbyPixie]

Though uneasy, Telkis is reluctantly impressed. On a whim, he'll remove the small silver mirror from his pack and look at the room in its reflection.

"I heard a story as a kid that fairy stuff doesn't show in a mirror. Might be a load of goat manure, though..." he says.

[Inferno]

The Accursed Mansion, Blackchapel, Hookhill, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Two. Nightfall. Sunday, December 25th, 576 CY







In the mansion that transcends reality itself, the doomed heroes stand astonished. Their disbelieving eyes gape at the unrivalled beauty and elegance that suddenly, impossibly surrounds them.

Long Bo peers beneath the grand curving staircase and finds an alcove holding candelabra and statuary. Mouser sees two balconies high upon the northern wall. Telkis observes the incomparable environs through his hand mirror and its peerless majesty remains.

They confer in incredulous whispers, weighing the options before them. But none yet dare venture deeper.


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 10 feet.





PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 19/22, Invisible
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 5: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 18/25, Spells: 4/5 1st lvl, 5/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl
Jerome, Human Paladin 4: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 20/23, Laying Hands: 1/1
Long Bo, Human Druid 5: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 35/38, Spells: 5/6 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 33/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 11/11, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl, Invisible

PC Magic:

Protection From Evil, 10' Radius (Jerome)
Invisibility (Urdur): Targets: Urdur and Faron

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 pauses by the fire a moment, hoping the physical heat will help drive off the spiritual chill he gets from this place. He then moves to the opening of the corridor, standing at the edge so he can see without being seen.

[jemmus]

Invisible Faron moves forward to the center of the great circular floor and beyond, looking left and right. He uses his eyes to try to get a visual layout off the hall-- its walls, its doorways, its decorations and features.

[ChubbyPixie]

"Let's scout this place out," says Telkis.

He'll move north and to the right, as cautiously and quietly as he can, feeling exposed in this enormous room surrounded by balconies and alcoves. He'll poke his head around the corner to see what this section of the room reveals.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser nods in agreement and he too moves. He'll head west and north following the wall and keeping out of sight of the balconies if he can and using the shadows to conceal himself. He moves silently.

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur follows the others as they scout these new environs. Urdur examines the walls and floors for safety.

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

Nodding at Telkis' words, the cleric attempts to follow behind him as quietly as she can.

[OGRE MAGE]

Long Bo makes a closer inspection of the candelabra and statuary, prodding things from a distance with his spear shaft initially.

[Inferno]

The Accursed Mansion, Blackchapel, Hookhill, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Two. Nightfall. Sunday, December 25th, 576 CY







In the surreal beauty of the unearthly, restored mansion, Long Bo investigates the alcove beneath the elegant, curving stair. His spear shaft confirms its contents are no illusion. Such dazzling opulence stands in stark contrast to the abject slums that might still be just outside.

Meanwhile, the rest of the doomed heroes edge toward the open arch. They peer through it and see part of a magnificent dining room with crimson walls laid out for Winter Solstice End.



There are drops of blood on the tablecloth and suddenly, there is movement on the high, shadowed ceiling.

With rising horror, the adventurers realize what other festive decorations are here.



The vaults are hung with people cocooned in spider silk. There might be six, and some of them are twitching... still alive!


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 10 feet.





PC Status:

Faron, Human Thief 5: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 19/22, Invisible
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 5: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 18/25, Spells: 4/5 1st lvl, 5/5 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl
Jerome, Human Paladin 4: Move: 9", AC: 3(1), HP: 20/23, Laying Hands: 1/1
Long Bo, Human Druid 5: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 35/38, Spells: 5/6 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl, 2/2 3rd lvl
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 5: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 33/37
Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 11/11, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl, Invisible

PC Magic:

Protection From Evil, 10' Radius (Jerome)
Invisibility (Urdur): Targets: Urdur and Faron

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)

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo rejoins the others with his eyes on the ceiling the whole way.

“At least we aren’t late for dinner. I wonder if we are meant to join them for the feast.”

The druid lights a torch while watching above carefully.

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

The cleric looks around, watchful for any other movement. We have to help them! Some of them are still alive! she whispers.

[Urson]

Jerome
Jerome steps into the room, his hand going to his blade. He looks around the room, ready for a giant spider (he thinks).
How high are these sacrifices?

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur sees the twitching bodies above them. He immediately looks for spiders on the walls and ceilings. If he sees none, he begins to wonder how they can safely bring the poor encased souls down.

I'm not much of a climber myself. But I have some rope. Perhaps one of us could climb up there, tie one end to those poor folks, cut them loose, and slowly lower them down to us....? One at a time?

How high up are the spider victims? Is this plan even feasible?

[ChubbyPixie]

"I've got a bad feeling about this..." comes a voice from near the floor. It's Telkis.

Useless at climbing, he'll instead stow Cranach and slowly remove his bow while scanning the ceiling for spiders. Or anything, really. Giant silk worms? Given all they've seen, nothing would surprise him at this point.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser scans the ceiling. "I could make the climb, but what the hell is up there that put those poor bastards up there?!?"

[jemmus]

Mouser, should we climb together? Faron says. Two better than one for dealing with something that might be up there.

[Inferno]

How high up are the spider victims? Is this plan even feasible?

35 feet.

There's one way to find out.