Chapter 6: Unhallowed Halls

[Storm11]

Hex staggers against the wall reeling from the boom. "Is everyone alright, yes yes yes? That might have attracted some Unwanted attention. Keep sharp friends yesyes!" he struggles to say, shaking his long topknot of golden hair as he tries to clear his minds eye and focus

[coil23]

Doubtful states, you may have the scroll in payment. I keep my word. But I don't have the hand to grasp it and give it to you. What is happening to me? And will we both be safely returned from whence we came? This bargain must be completed quickly before I dissolve completely.

[GreyWolfVT]

Kragg gets up dusts himself off "Yes lets not be doing that again."

[Inferno]

Phineas continues his trial and error experiments to save the dying men.

He gets another brainstorm. "Aha! This will do it for sure!"
The miniature man of action quickly starts connecting all the masks in the hall to their mate. "My good men, don't just stand there agog! Help me!"

[GreyWolfVT]

Kragg assists in gathering the other masks...why he is not even sure.

[Grognardsw]

"What the devil is an agog?"

Aric keeps his bow ready.

[GreyWolfVT]

Kragg looks at the barbarian and shrugs while still helping gather masks as if he is Phineas's assistant. "Don't know."

[Inferno]

"What the devil is an agog?"

"A festive libation imbibed at winter solstice," replies Phineas without looking up from his work.

[Mant72]

Phineas and Kragg hastily begin coupling the masks with their appropriate counterparts. As they finish, the luminous mural on the wall slowly separates, moving apart to once again become a pair of individual faces - one eyeless, the other mouthless.

The once unconscious Yon and Osprey start to stir.



Yon and Osprey consent to surrender the requested magicks to the hive of bizzare beings.

Yon warily approaches the mummies, wrenches the ring and scroll free from their shriveled hands, and places them before the honeycombed wall. One of the creatures near the base of the wall extends its long, prehensile tongue, and it gropes about blindly before gathering the items and drawing them into its gaping maw.

The creatures resoundingly declare, “It is done! The exchange is complete, and now, as promised, you shall be returned to your realm.” Yon is disturbed to see that his limbs, like Osprey’s, are also beginning to fade into nothingness.

The priest and spellblade suddenly find themselves buffeted by intense winds, and they are violently hurled back through the void. On parting, they are granted one final vision - a set of double doors painted to resemble a pair of eyes closed in sleep.

Yon and Osprey awaken on the cold chamber floor, surrounded by their companions, and forever changed by their otherworldly experience.

Actions?

- Coil, please add +1 to Osprey's Intelligence.

- Greyarea, please add +1 to Yon's Wisdom.

- The astral travel also aged them both:

- Yon Aging Due to Astral Travel: [2d10] = 9 Years

- Osprey Aging Due to Astral Travel: [2d10] = 14 Years

- Please make these adjustments to your character sheets. Thanks.

[greyarea]

Yon wakes up, a bit unsteady as he rises from the astral travel. He checks himself as to make sure his limbs are where they should be and his body intact. I barely remember my twenties, he muses as he feels his now older face.

He reaches down and helps up Osprey.

[Inferno]

Phineas T. Codswallop, halfling impresario:

The pint-sized puzzler quickly clicked the final mask pair together and suddenly, the mural parted and the two dying men returned to the land of the living.

"There we are, Kragg! I was certain it would do the trick! That was a close one! But you'll be all right now, gentlemen," Phineas proclaimed as he helped Yon to his feet. "No need to thank me! I only hope you've learned your lessons about meddling with things you don't understand!"

[GreyWolfVT]

Kragg shrugs again "Your welcome I guess. All I did was help where you needed me. Yes learned not to put strange things upon my face. Maybe we need to get some of that agog you were speaking of. Though I imagine it would do well with some rum in it. Or at least something stronger." the dwarf then checks on Yon and Osprey "How are you doing fellas? The masks take you on a bad trip? You both look aged by whatever befell you both."

[ravenn4544]

Wil looks upon the two awakened comrades with quiet suspicion. "What, exactly, happened to you two? Are we in danger? Was that a clue to the temple here or it's surrounds?"

[coil23]

Osprey

Osprey gives a tired sigh, feeling the age that has come upon him from the experience. He quietly explains their experience before the grotesque wall. And the sacrifice from each of us is why they sent us back, with this comment he glances at Phineas and then checks his entire person and belongings to make sure everything is still there. I had one final vision as we hurtled back to this plane: a set of double doors painted to resemble a pair of eyes closed in sleep. Did you see the same, Yon? Any ideas on what that could be? We may find that exact portal here in this place though I don't know that the vision will give us guidance on what to do then.

He turns and gives Morris a sad look. I'm afraid this must have been what befell your companions. If they had no magic to relinquish as an offering then they.... He does not finish that sentence, just gives a nod of acknowledgement to Morris for his loss.

Though the loss of the ensorcelled scroll pains him, he somehow feels sharper, more focused now. Unsure of what could be the cause, he will sit with this mystery and ponder it. But they have more pressing matters for now.

Osprey looks around and sees all of the completed masks. We were lifeless and traveling the aether and they were playing arts & crafts? I will never understand others. He makes no comment aloud, just consigns it to that long list of mysteries in this life. Even magic makes more sense than the vagaries of people. An odd thought occurs- what if the mask may prove as some proof to give passage if they encounter that portal? He takes the completed mask that he had been wearing and tucks it away in his pack.

[mjulius]

Morris Grumm, magic-user

Morris, leaning tiredly:
The upside is that you look pretty good, noting their aged demeanor, as he strokes his grayed beard with his free hand.
I should hope that my companions were merely taken into an after-life and not made mincemeat from these foul amphibians.

I certainly do like the sound doors and portals...and ways out..

[Storm11]

"The doors of sleep wasn't it hmmmm? It could be the clue we need to recover our charge and be done with this death trap yes yes!" Hex says excitedly jumping up and down.

[Inferno]

Phineas T. Codswallop expounds, "You gentlemen look simply terrible! Fortunately, I have just the ticket! Allow me to end your ignorance of a delightful new product, only recently made available to the public. I speak of none other than Mr. C. K. Pickering's Wondrous and Reliable Elixir of Pleasant Dreams. It soothes the nervous, calms the anxious, and will, I am certain, cure what ails ya!"

Upon hearing about the doors of sleep, he offers: "In show business, that's what we call a metaphor. The doors of sleep might mean slumber itself. This enigmatic, oft-mentioned portal might only be accessible in one's dreams."

Tucking away a mask pair, the small-sized snake oil salesman produces a green bottle and says, "Well. Care to give it a try? Only 25 thin gold pieces to reach the doors of sleep!"

[coil23]

Osprey eyes the bottle sourly. That looks suspiciously like the same bottle as Mr. Pickering's Wondrous Elixir of Vitality: the potent, therapeutic restorative tonic that is sure to cure what ails one. And that only cost one gold piece. [ch 3, pg 9 ] I think I'll pass.

[Inferno]

"The amazing Mr. Pickering has concocted several top-notch products, each more stupendous than the last!" explained Phineas. "Also... market forces... supply and demand.

"Who's first? No pushing please!"

[greyarea]

Yon replies, Yes, I saw that vision too. The doorway is unknown to me but I'd wager it's in this place.

I'm pretty sure it's meaning is greater than our own Codswallop's interpretation, though, he concludes while raising his hand to his offer of the elixir in the universal sign of, No, thank you.

However, Morris, I believe the doors are a way in, not out. In to where, I know not. Perhaps the Lord of Light will illuminate that for me in my communion with him.