Return To The Ruins (Warlords Palace)

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus

"Someone is here that either controles the gargoyle or could get the objects without approaching it somehow. Maybe with a rope and a hook.

Either way, this is not good news. It's exactly what I feared. Someone has taken advantage of our almost dying in here. Not to mention the two companions we lost.

We have to be even more careful than we thought.

Let's us comb this first level and see if anything has changed, or if we find any unpleasant surprises."

[Monsieur Rose]

Kainaxarthos

"It seems the bird doesn't spot anything amiss. Perhaps there are tracks around?" Kain moves to a chokepoint and tries to spot signs of recent passing.

"Where first?" Kain isn't aware, I think, but the player wants to know if the idol and drawings are still around.

[Rex]

Drest

Drest will be keeping his eye out for any sign of new tracks or signs of passage since they were here last.

Track - Wilderness, 7:12
Track - Non-Wilderness, 9:12

[shaidar]

Xenos

"Let's check the room in the south-east corner first, then make our way through the rooms along the east wall. That will naturally take us through to the kitchen to the north and the stairs down. Oh...the gargoyle, I don't think it was specifically protecting the items as the bottom of the stairs, just the whole stairs and the area at the top, I think it said something about the Warlord's bedroom.""

[hedgeknight]

Ceana

Replying to Xenos, "Sounds like a plan, lead on."

[Ahlmzhad]

Xenos

"Let's check the room in the south-east corner first, then make our way through the rooms along the east wall. That will naturally take us through to the kitchen to the north and the stairs down. On...the gargoyle, I don't think it was specifically protecting the items as the bottom of the stairs, just the whole stairs and the area at the top, I think it said something about the Warlord's bedroom.""

"So what is all this about the gargoyle speaking?"

[Rex]

Drest

Drest leads the way.

Following Xeno's plan.

[shaidar]

Xenos

"Let's check the room in the south-east corner first, then make our way through the rooms along the east wall. That will naturally take us through to the kitchen to the north and the stairs down. On...the gargoyle, I don't think it was specifically protecting the items as the bottom of the stairs, just the whole stairs and the area at the top, I think it said something about the Warlord's bedroom.""

"So what is all this about the gargoyle speaking?"

Xenos

"If you get too close it animates and warns you off. If you want to try it then go to the bottom of the vine covered stairs."

[The_Wanderer]

Xenos

"...If you want to try it then go to the bottom of the vine covered stairs."

Cyril

"Ideally with your shield up...if you have one."

[hedgeknight]

Drest leads the way.
Following Xeno's plan.

Ceana

The druid keeps an arrow ready and follows Drest, motioning for Kain and Belloc to come along.

[Monsieur Rose]

Kainaxarthos

He looks up from his futile tracking attempt and follows the group.

[Ahlmzhad]

Taibhse

"Well, if that's all it did then I doubt that pile was what it was guarding, but rather what lies in the chamber beyond."

He keeps his bow ready and makes sure his shield and axe are loose, moving with the others.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Zakath Desert
The Ruined Warlords Palace
Afternoon

C.jpeg (48.63 KiB) Viewed 1234 times

Checking the former slaves rooms, the idol on the table is no longer present, but the lifelike charcoal drawing of the great and powerful Cthulhu remains where it was on the wall.

The items at the base of the stairs, found earlier but left alone, are no longer there, though the statue like gargoyle still sits atop its perch in the room above.

The rooms searched earlier are all still empty and void of any threats, but disturbing tracks are found in the dirt between a few of them. Drest takes a closer look, quite sure these tracks were either made by very large snakes, or something that might have a similar body form.

The kitchen area is cold, its fires no longer burning, but the stench of a combination of rotting meat, burnt flesh, and offal is just as powerful as it was on your last visit.

The stairs in the corner leading down to the lower level remain dark and quiet.

Actions?

Xenos (DS3) AC5 17/17
Drest (Sc4) AC7 22/22
Kainaxarthos (C2) AC6 11/11
Cyril (Pr2) AC8 7/7
Ceana (D2) AC5 13/13
Akhilleus (F3) AC4 32/32
Taibhse (Sh1) AC7 7/7
Belloc (M1) AC6 9/9
Sik (Ba1) AC5 12/12

Apparently someone wasn't paying attention to what happens to abandoned characters in my games.

[silifi]

Sorry, I've been laid out for the last couple days with the flu.

Sik frowns in disgust at the smell from the kitchen. "It appears the human inhabitants may have abandoned this place - all for the better. But the creatures remain."

Sik checks to see if there are any tracks going down the stairway.

[1d12]=6

[Rex]

Drest

"Some sort of giant snake thing, not surprising I suppose. We should be prepared for anything. Down now?"

If we agree to going down Drest will lead the way.

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus

"Aye. Let's go down. Maybe some snake-men were here, checking what has happened to their brethren and followers.

Last time we left after having explored one room where we were attaked by some kind of rocky viking dwarves. We reckon there was more to be seen in that room. Maybe a hallwway, doors, or something. But it is too dark. We need light, ideally from someone with a free hand." He explains to the ones who weren't here before.

He gets his sword and shield ready.

[shaidar]

Xenos lights a torch, carrying it in his off-hand.

[Monsieur Rose]

Kainaxarthos

"Sik. Was Cthulhu the diety the slaves worshipped or the snakes?" He appreciates the drawing for its beauty. "I don't speak ill of any deities, but that one is something."

Kain offers to hold Xenos' torch or lights one himself. "Is this the only way down?"

He doesn't care to go first, or last.

[shaidar]

Xenos

"We should have at least three torches. The dwarves tried to extinguish them the last time we were here."

[silifi]

Sik nods his head. "Yes, Kthulhu was the diety they worshipped - a traditional diety of the Esquimaux. For my part I always found him strange - but if he would strike down the slavers, I'd put a good word in for any demon."

Sik follows closely behind Drest, attempting to move silently, axe at the ready.