Ch. 3: Hell's Bells

[Scott308]

Risdac Egargi

The giant shakes his head. I do not have any magic memorized that may help in that regard, unfortunately. As for where we go from here, I think that plan is sound. I, too, prefer not permitting something to approach us from behind.

[Inferno]

The Unseen Servant:

Rool Diov
“Do we have any means of remote viewing? I can use my ring of invisibility to pad forward, but there might be scenarios where a magical reconnaissance is warranted.”

With no mystic vision available, the humble sensei will likewise render himself hidden to the minds of men, and scout ahead with Rool.

"This passageway," (A on Norjax's map) "was covered with water, my friend. We should not encounter traps in these floors."


Famous last words.

[Zhym]

The Unseen Servant makes himself unseen. Rool does likewise. The two proceed forward to scout out the room ... and quickly realize that they have no light sources (and even if they did, invisible lights provide no illumination). It is pitch black; they might be eaten by a grue.

In the interest of not wasting time:
The rest of the party follows not far behind, shedding enough light for everyone to see by. At the 15' ledge down into the former pool, Khogeki runs down the face in a controlled fall. Everyone else uses ropes or is lowered down by Risdac. No point in belaboring high level characters safely dropping 15', but remember that it's there.

According to Rool's plan, the party heads toward the starboard passage that Khogeki briefly scouted. The short passage leads down to a room that's about 20' or so across from port to starboard and perhaps 50' from fore to aft. The wall is slick and dark almost to the 20' ceiling, showing that the room had been full of murky water before Malibran wished the water away.

On the starboard wall, across from the sole entry into the room, six skeletal corpses hang from rusty chains in the wall, where they would have been under water. To the aft, another stone snake juts out of the wall. A chain hangs from its neck. A leather sack lies on the floor, tethered to the other end of the chain.

-----
Status: Malibran (H LG C20[13](Pholtus)): 64/90; Khogeki (H LN M16): 77/78; Odilo (1/2E NG MU17): 34/54; Xale (D NG C14[9](Dalt)/F13): 74/75; Risdac (Giant NG MU17): 55/58; Tanner (H CG F19): 104/107; Rool (H LN T20): 84/85; Hallagad (H LG P15(Pelor)): 44/93
Effects: None
Light Sources: Continual light coin (Tanner); Continual light dagger (Odilo)

[Rex]

Xale

Xale will wait a few minutes for any sign from the scouts, then move in and cover the skeletons in case they animate.

[ravenn4544]

Malibran also waits for the front ranks to investigate.

OOC: Malibran cast light on his shield before setting off.

[GreyWolfVT]

Odilo merely eyes the situation and doesn't attempt touching the skeleton, chain or leather sack.

[Urson]

Tanner

Tanner proceeds cautiously toward the carved snake. He's investigating it as thoroughly as he can, getting no closer than 3' away and touching NOTHING. He's not looking For anything, just gathering information.

[Zhym]

The snake's mouth is about midway up the 20' wall, BTW.

[Inferno]

The disembodied voice of the The Unseen Servant speaks plainly and humbly, "While in Perdition, what shall be our philosophy regarding objects such as these, my friends? Avoid them as obvious traps laid by the denizens of Hell? Or risk investigation in the hopes they hold something that can aid us in our quest to save Vorkath?"

[Rex]

Xale

"Perhaps it is best if we allow ourselves and our faith to guide us. If it strikes you as needing to be investigated then it most likely does."

[Norjax]

Rool Diov, Master Thief

Rool removes his ring of invisibility and motions Malibran to move forward and illuminate the room.

Once visible, Rool will examine the ceiling for holes, hatches and doors. He cautiously looks at the skeletons for any items of interest and scans the visible areas of the sack to see if it would have been buoyant when the room was filled with water.

OOC: Can Rool tell if water was in contact with the ceiling?

[Zhym]

Most of the party eyes the room warily, avoiding touching anything. Xale keeps an eye on the skeletal corpses, which just hang there, dark moss clinging to their bones.

The Unseen Servant asks what the party's philosophy should be regarding objects they find—avoid them, as obvious traps, or investigate them, in hopes that whey they find might aid their quest? Xale answers that faith should guide them.

Rool removes his ring of invisibility and motions Malibran forward to illuminate the room. The master thief checks the ceiling and walls. He sees no holes, hatches, or doors on the ceiling. The water line seems to end just at the top of the room. He turns his attention to the sack, which may well have been buoyant when the room was full of water.

-----
Status: Malibran (H LG C20[13](Pholtus)): 64/90; Khogeki (H LN M16): 77/78; Odilo (1/2E NG MU17): 34/54; Xale (D NG C14[9](Dalt)/F13): 74/75; Risdac (Giant NG MU17): 55/58; Tanner (H CG F19): 104/107; Rool (H LN T20): 84/85; Hallagad (H LG P15(Pelor)): 44/93
Effects: None
Light Sources: Continual light coin (Tanner); Continual light dagger (Odilo); Light (on Shield, Malibran): 18 turns

[Inferno]

The Unseen Servant:

Xale
"Perhaps it is best if we allow ourselves and our faith to guide us. If it strikes you as needing to be investigated then it most likely does."

The passive monk waits to see if anyone is so moved. When no one steps forward, his disembodied voice asks, "Shall we proceed to the next chamber, in accordance with Rool's plan?"

[Rex]

Xale

"Yes, I think we should keep moving at the moment."

[GreyWolfVT]

Odilo "Yes I to agree we should keep moving."

[Scott308]

Risdac Egargi

There is no point in delaying further. If we are determined to explore more of the ship, let us press on.

[Urson]

Tanner

Hold one- But stay well clear, so that the Fool Killer doesn't take one of you by accident.

Tanner uses his sword tip to slit open a seam of the bag on the chain, allowing the contents to spill out.

[Norjax]

Rool Diov

Rool concurs, “Let’s move on.” After assuming his position, he once gain places his ring of invisibility on his finger.

[Zhym]

The consensus seems to be to leave well enough alone and move on. As people start to leave, Tanner bids them to wait. "Hold on," he says, "but stay well clear, so that the Fool Killer doesn't take one of you by accident."

He uses his sword to slice the bag open. A vial filled with yellowish liquid speckled with silver flakes rolls out of the bag. Broken glass in a puddle of similarly-colored liquid lies in the opened bag, along with a ring made of dull, dark gray metal.

-----
Status: Malibran (H LG C20[13](Pholtus)): 64/90; Khogeki (H LN M16): 77/78; Odilo (1/2E NG MU17): 34/54; Xale (D NG C14[9](Dalt)/F13): 74/75; Risdac (Giant NG MU17): 55/58; Tanner (H CG F19): 104/107; Rool (H LN T20): 84/85; Hallagad (H LG P15(Pelor)): 44/93
Effects: None
Light Sources: Continual light coin (Tanner); Continual light dagger (Odilo); Light (on Shield, Malibran): 18 turns

[Urson]

Tanner

The old warrior nods, as if to himself, then cautiously picks up the unbroken vial and the ring.

He displays them to the others. Shall we try to idebntify them now, or just hold them for the moment?

If the decision is to hold them, he places them in a pouch and readies himself to move on.