Chp. 7 - Intrigue in the Court of Chaos

[Grognardsw]

"Nah, that was me great gran-pappy who went in there!" village elder Simpson answers Fingal. He points to the map. "We all know where the cave is, right here. Stairs lead right up to it."

[AleBelly]

A predatory grin washes over Wulfhart's face as he looks at the wench. "The sooner we leave the sooner we return" says the large warrior. "Off to the cave then. You coming with us, Snake Man?"

[thesniperknight1]

Gagel laughs to the point of falling on the floor, "Oh...oh....", he catches his breath, "I think I love you old man"

[Pulpatoon]

Porphyry: "Let us not rush off imprudently. I still want an accounting: number children missing, number of animals. Does this activity coincide with the lunar cycle or any other mystic phenomenon? We should interview a few witnesses—parents of the missing children and so forth. You never know what scrap of information will be the clue that save our—and the children's—lives."

[Hotgoblin]

Groyn nods in agreement with Porphyr...You's always thinking and asking the best questions!!! Mumbling..Bene, It's gotta be them hooves that makes him smarter than us!!

[saalaria]

"Yessss I will come, I have nothing elssse to do today. Which way do we go?"

[Grognardsw]

Village elder Simpson snorts and answers Porphyry the satyr's questions. "We accounted for all children except the missing four. We'll put them in the big barn to keep an eye on them. The disappearance of animal and children was spread across the last month, so I don't think it corresponds to the moon."

Interviews with distraught parents of the missing children yields some information: The kids, ages 6-9, were off playing and never came back. Kids know the area well and wouldn't likely get lost. Had there been an accident the body would have been found. They have no enemies and people in the village trust each other. No aggressive animal predators are known in the area, or humanoid monsters.

The next day, well fed and attended to, the party of adventurers strikes out for the reputed cave of the cultists. Following a map provided by village elder Simpson, it takes about an hour-and-a-half through the forest and up an increasingly steep hill. As it becomes dangerously mountainous and steep, they come upon stairs carved into the side and make their way up. Then a few hundred feet from the top...

Actions?

- Asherrion and Eryndir please let me know your spell selections for the day. Thanks.

[greyarea]

Asherrion prepares Charm Person and Magic Missile for the day.

Let's investigate carefully. I don't think we should touch that stone table.

[OGRE MAGE]

Fingal will take a close look around the area to see if he can tell if anyone has been here recently. He does a cursory check for any traps or other things that will kill us.

[1d100] = 88

[doughx99]

Niles carefully starts up the stairs to investigate.

[AleBelly]

Wulfhart advances with his old buddy Fingal. He will guard him with sword ready, but doesn't touch anything first.

[Grognardsw]

Fingal's trained eye sees no signs of recent activity upon the landing or altar stone. A bit surprising.

On the altar stone there are carved runes around a pentagram symbol:



The rock is blood stained, but the stains are many years old.

Beyond the altar there yawns a 6' wide, 8' tall passageway into the mountain.

[saalaria]

Swilbosh examines the altar, checking for secret compartments and so on.

[OGRE MAGE]

Fingal will double check the caves entrance for hidden dangers.

Well, we only lost about 8 people the last time we explored a cave, so.........who wants to go in first? He says with a sarcastic chuckle.

Find traps: [1d100] = 14

[greyarea]

Asherrion, elf(?)

Asherrion offers to lead into the dark. We need to rescue children, so at least our cause is noble!

[thesniperknight1]

"Damn it, the noble ones always survives and slimy bastards like me vanquish.....Oh well, I am up for death!", he follows Asherrion.

[doughx99]

Niles follows along into the cave entrance.

[AleBelly]

Wulfhart examines the symbol on the altar before entering the cave with the others. After a moment, he laughs. "Looks like you, Porphyry! Maybe your uncle...." he laughs a bit too long and a bit too loudly at his joke.

[Grognardsw]

Fingal studies the area in front of the passageway. It's been two years since he's exercised his trap searching skills, but the thief is fairly sure there are no looming traps.

Wulfhart the northern warrior studies the pentagram and the beast within it. Yes, it does bear some resemblance to Porphyry.

Just then, the whole sun-lit sky suddenly turns gray and fuzzy with shimmering dots and lines...

It lasts but a second, then the sun-lit sky returns. It is disconcerting.

Asherrion the gray steps forward as the other adventurers fall into their marching order. Light from the outside illuminates the first 10' or so of the corridor, which winds some and opens after 15' into a cave. The corridor and cave has an unusual amount of bugs crawling, jumping and flittering about. The deformed elf picks up no heat sources in the chamber with his infravision besides the bugs. To accommodate the humans in the group, somebody lights a torch. Revealed is a circular cave 30' wide at its broadest point (see map.) There are no exits other than the passageway the party came in. The most notable feature of the room is a life-sized statue of a regally dressed man with a skull face. The top and back of the skull are missing and hollowed out, with a depression within, the area connecting to the open eye sockets. The thin 3" base of the statue has many runes and symbols that no one knows how to read.

Map

[greyarea]

Asherrion will inspect the statue closely. He will attempt to put his head in the skull and peer through the eyes.