IC XI

[chap126]

Anohir, Priest

"We'll have to check if the bodies are down there when we get back," he says carefully following them after what Severi revealed about the missing chunks of floor.

[thirdkingdom]

All seems relatively calm on the ground floor. Twelve of the men-at-arms are asleep; the rest along with the bandit guides sit slightly apart, either snoozing, cleaning their weapons or chattering amongst themselves. Olgbol is pressed up against a wall, lather covering his tusks and eyes rolling wildly. Those adventurers who were upstairs recognize the two men-at-arms whose faces they saw on the dead; both are sound asleep, the one bound, the other free.

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

"Lets get out of here. The bad magic in this place is worse than the storms".

[shaidar]

Mursley, MU

"Bad magic? What happened upstairs? We had a fight over cheating at cards and this fellow tried to kill the other, and would have succeeded if not for some holy healing. I put the offenders to sleep with a spell to get the situation under control."

[thirdkingdom]

So the group consensus is to leave and brave the storm?

[chap126]

Anohir, Priest

"I'd say the magic was spooky, but not particularly dangerous, unless you believe it caused the fighting? We need rest if we're going to begin to take on the orcish compound, and we're not going to find any out in that storm. Let's just keep a good rotation of watchers and pass the night."

[Grognardsw]

Aquar, cleric

"I think we risk further mischief and danger sleeping here," comments Aquar. "If we stay, we should remain on the first floor and set the watches apart from each other, so fights do not break out among them."

Aquar questions the mercenary who he healed. "What brought words to fighting? What were you feeling? Do you normally move to brawling so quickly? How do you feel now about what you did? Did you feel influenced by anything?"

[Wyzard]

Severi opines that there might be minimal risk if the upstairs is not further tampered with, and that the men should be allowed to sleep at least a few hours if such a thing is possible.

[shaidar]

Mursley, MU

Anohir, Priest

"I'd say the magic was spooky, but not particularly dangerous, unless you believe it caused the fighting? We need rest if we're going to begin to take on the orcish compound, and we're not going to find any out in that storm. Let's just keep a good rotation of watchers and pass the night."

"I agree, we need to rest, just keep our wits about us as we do. I'm all out of spells"

Has Mursley had enough rest to get spells back?

[thirdkingdom]

Aquar, cleric

"I think we risk further mischief and danger sleeping here," comments Aquar. "If we stay, we should remain on the first floor and set the watches apart from each other, so fights do not break out among them."

Aquar questions the mercenary who he healed. "What brought words to fighting? What were you feeling? Do you normally move to brawling so quickly? How do you feel now about what you did? Did you feel influenced by anything?"

Injured Mecenary

"Twasn't anything I said, sir. Joram just went crazy, started accusing us all of cheating him at cards. I felt fine. Tell the truth of it, he kind of looked like that orc over there does now, all crazy in the eyes." Olgbol has indeed worked himself up into a silent lather. Blood is streaming down his hands from the ropes biting into his wrists, and the orc's eyes are rolled up into his head, so that all that is visible are the bloodshot whites.

The rain started at 4 am, so I'm going to say the spellcasters'll need a couple more hours of sleep in order to regain spells.

[chap126]

Anohir, Priest

"All magic must have a power source of some kind. If we could just locate and destroy it, we could get some rest. It must be somewhere nearby. Distance matters in magic."

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

As long as they aren't going anywhere for the night, Rhys takes a turn and does a search of the main floor, looking for hidden and secret passages.

Just to make sure he doesn't miss something, might not be a bad idea to have anyone else who isn't studying spells to do the same thing.

[Wyzard]

I think Severi actually has his spells back, since he would have re-learned them yesterday. If that's so, then he can help search. Also, we should take the Orc outside and see if being away from the tower clears his head.

Other possibility: It only drives one person crazy at a time. Keeping the orc imprisoned and alive basically contains the madness.

[Grognardsw]

Aquar, cleric

"Hmmm, yes, demonic possession. I have heard of such things," says Aquar to the mercenary. "Thank you. Rest up."

The cleric shares the news with the others. He looks at the writhing orc, not feeling sorry for him. He doesn't think he can Turn such a creature, as it doesn't sound like the undead he knows. But the cleric will try, just so the ghosts can be expelled and the group sleep safely.

"We can only hope it is contained in the orc," says Aquar to Severi's comment. "But if you found three bodies up there..."

Aquar approaches the orc, staying 10' from it. He puts his weapons to the side. "If I get possessed, put me to sleep. Gently!"

"By the power and purity of Procan!" starts Aquar, launching into a Turn on the ghost or demon within the orc.

[thirdkingdom]

Rhys finds nothing of interest on the first floor. It seems to be cleaner than expected, given the apparent age of the tower and lack of maintenance.

Aquar calls upon his deity in an attempt to drive forth any evil spirits. His efforts do not appear to make any appreciable difference.

[Wyzard]

Severi mentions, in passing, that the true state of the tower is hidden by illusion, and that it is much more decrepit than it appears. He advises that the characters not attempt to ascend above the ground level again.

[thirdkingdom]

So, are y'all waking up the other sleeping (magically) mercenaries?

[Wyzard]

Well, the whole point of this operation is to let them get some rest before we go attack the orcs. Might as well let them sleep a while.

Or have I mistaken our purpose?

[Grognardsw]

Aquar, cleric

"Let sleeping dogs lie" says Aquar of the dozing mercenaries.

"It seems we are split on staying here. Then let us remain, but should another altercation arise we should definately recamp elsewhere."

[thirdkingdom]

Well, the whole point of this operation is to let them get some rest before we go attack the orcs. Might as well let them sleep a while.

Or have I mistaken our purpose?

My question was poorly worded. Twelve of the mercenaries -- including the one who started the trouble -- are in a magically induced sleep. I wanted to know if the PCs were going to wake them soonish or just let them sleep. According to the spell, they won't wake up on their own.