|
Post by xerxez on Jun 10, 2023 17:40:21 GMT -6
Balesh is amazed and stunned. He bows deeply, and says reverently "I feel unworthy for such a gift bestowed upon me. Truly this is a wonder" ooc: BTW, Balesh will be looking at any corpses they happen upon for armor he can scavenge, as currently he has noneBalesh walks over to the stream and examines the persons of two priestesses and a priest of Hri'hyal. Each wears a mace-- apparently they were ambushed and too surprised to even draw their weapons. Indeed, under their robes, Balesh finds armor- the Priestesses wear leather and the Priest wears a long hauberk of chainmail! In spite of the ravaged condition of the bodies, all three are serviceable and Balesh could make use of it, as could Fi'ru who is unarmored. In addition, he finds some personal effects on each of the dead. These are in total: 60 Copper 56 Silver 50 Kaitar 4 pcs of Religious Jewelry which are well wrought and of obvious high value. 2 bone tubes about 10" long and topped with wax sealed caps. 3 Ritual Daggers, the handles being heavy of silver in the shape of a nubile maiden and a small rectangular emerald set in each cross-piece. (As previously stated, 2 sets of leather armor and a hauberk of Chainmail, steel.) The dead Hluturgu carry nothing but their weapons and strange fetish bracelets and neclaces of bone, feather, shell and stone strung upon knotted leather cords.
|
|
|
Post by makofan on Jun 10, 2023 20:16:38 GMT -6
Balesh is unaware of the customs of this place. he asks his patron "This hauberk could better protect me on this journey, and thus strengthen our cause. This unfortunate soul has no more use of it. But I unaware of the customs of this place, and whether taking it would be disrespectful"
|
|
|
Post by xerxez on Jun 10, 2023 23:20:11 GMT -6
Balesh is unaware of the customs of this place. he asks his patron "This hauberk could better protect me on this journey, and thus strengthen our cause. This unfortunate soul has no more use of it. But I unaware of the customs of this place, and whether taking it would be disrespectful" The Dark Flame son looks upon him contemplatively, then at the dead acolytes. A dark smile takes shape upon his visage. VORTUMOI: "You have noble manners for an Outlander, and such caution will serve you well in this land. But take freely from these dead. They mean nothing. To my Temple, what happened here is beautiful. Only have a look inside those scroll-cases. The material wealth is yours, I count it not from the percentage covenanted upon at our feast at the Clan-house."
|
|
flightcommander
Level 6 Magician
"I become drunk as circumstances dictate."
Posts: 370
|
Post by flightcommander on Jun 11, 2023 17:00:17 GMT -6
[OOC: I'm not exactly sure what Vortumoi suggested — that we should look inside the tubes? I would have assumed he would want us to immediately hand them over. Or maybe he wants us to unseal them first, in case ... ?]
"Good work, Bálesh!"
Mi'kímu tries to fit one of the girlish suits of leather armor to Fi'ru. "This one might suit you, what do you think? The bloodstains make you look quite fierce!"
|
|
|
Post by scottenkainen on Jun 11, 2023 18:47:27 GMT -6
N'Rasa did not correct Vortumoi, but allowed him to continue thinking she could summon winged serpents.
At his bidding, she took the two scrollcases - for she had guessed that's what they might be too -- and opened them one at a time to inspect the contents.
|
|
|
Post by makofan on Jun 11, 2023 19:34:27 GMT -6
Balesh dons the steel hauberk, an incredible find
|
|
|
Post by xerxez on Jun 11, 2023 21:54:43 GMT -6
N'Rasa did not correct Vortumoi, but allowed him to continue thinking she could summon winged serpents. At his bidding, she took the two scrollcases - for she had guessed that's what they might be too -- and opened them one at a time to inspect the contents. Upon breaking the wax seal upon one scrollcase, the Shamaness draws forth a scroll bound with three strings. Along it's edge are a series of glyphs and some Tsolyani Script. Although N'rasa is not fluent in Tsolyani, she doesrecognize a magical scroll when she sees one... The other case contains a rolled up missive. She unfurls it and sees a brief message in Tsolyani with what looks like a list below it and a final note below that. There is nothing arcane about this latter scroll, it appears to the Shamaness to be a simple letter. She is unable to read either scroll....but she knows Charbok and Mohammad can read some Tsolyani scripture.
|
|
|
Post by xerxez on Jun 11, 2023 21:59:30 GMT -6
Balesh dons the steel hauberk, an incredible find The hauberk fits Balesh well. GM Note: I randomly determined what armor type the trio had on and you got lucky! Chainmail and a shield now bring your AC to 4!
|
|
|
Post by xerxez on Jun 11, 2023 22:06:33 GMT -6
[OOC: I'm not exactly sure what Vortumoi suggested — that we should look inside the tubes? I would have assumed he would want us to immediately hand them over. Or maybe he wants us to unseal them first, in case ... ?] "Good work, Bálesh!" Mi'kímu tries to fit one of the girlish suits of leather armor to Fi'ru. "This one might suit you, what do you think? The bloodstains make you look quite fierce!" Mi'kimu sees N'rasa opening the scroll cases as Fi'ru dons the leather armor proudly. FI'RU: "Thank you, Master. I am afraid, and do not like killing. But I like us staying alive, and I like victory... it is a sweet fruit to eat in the face of death."
|
|
flightcommander
Level 6 Magician
"I become drunk as circumstances dictate."
Posts: 370
|
Post by flightcommander on Jun 11, 2023 23:10:25 GMT -6
[OOC — just remembered I already bought leather armor for Fi'ru, lol. Sorry. Maybe one of the porters can wear this one.]
"Ha, the more fiercely you present yourself, the less you must kill! Fi'ru, if we survive this venture and return to the city, you may take leave of my service as you please. For my part, I am afraid as well — these are strange lands peopled with fearsome creatures. But I feel we shall prevail. In the meantime, wield that spear as a shield, and follow our orders."
|
|
|
Post by xerxez on Jun 12, 2023 7:23:58 GMT -6
[OOC — just remembered I already bought leather armor for Fi'ru, lol. Sorry. Maybe one of the porters can wear this one.] "Ha, the more fiercely you present yourself, the less you must kill! Fi'ru, if we survive this venture and return to the city, you may take leave of my service as you please. For my part, I am afraid as well — these are strange lands peopled with fearsome creatures. But I feel we shall prevail. In the meantime, wield that spear as a shield, and follow our orders." I forgot as well!
|
|
|
Post by xerxez on Jun 12, 2023 7:39:37 GMT -6
[OOC — just remembered I already bought leather armor for Fi'ru, lol. Sorry. Maybe one of the porters can wear this one.] "Ha, the more fiercely you present yourself, the less you must kill! Fi'ru, if we survive this venture and return to the city, you may take leave of my service as you please. For my part, I am afraid as well — these are strange lands peopled with fearsome creatures. But I feel we shall prevail. In the meantime, wield that spear as a shield, and follow our orders." Fi'ru nods. FI'RU: "And return to cleaning up Hmélu dung? Whether in oath bond or free, I desire to travel wherever you and your companions may roam. I have no one in Jàkalla and indeed in the wide world. Now I have some destiny worth fighting for, thanks to you."
|
|
|
Post by dtspurrier1 on Jun 12, 2023 8:49:23 GMT -6
Being healed, Mahammad offers thanks and will also look for salvageable loot.
|
|
flightcommander
Level 6 Magician
"I become drunk as circumstances dictate."
Posts: 370
|
Post by flightcommander on Jun 13, 2023 1:20:16 GMT -6
"N'rasa, what appears on these scrolls? I am illiterate, and can make nothing of that chicken scratch. Perhaps Karunaz can help?"
|
|
|
Post by dtspurrier1 on Jun 13, 2023 12:44:46 GMT -6
mahammad tries to see what the chicken scratch says
|
|
|
Post by xerxez on Jun 13, 2023 13:15:49 GMT -6
(Being exhausted yesterday I did not get a chance to post- will update tonight after work.)
|
|
|
Post by scottenkainen on Jun 13, 2023 21:51:55 GMT -6
N'Rasa handed both scrolls to anyone who thought they might be able to glean meaning from them.
|
|
|
Post by xerxez on Jun 13, 2023 22:25:00 GMT -6
Mohammad takes the scrolls.
Vortumoi watches him carefully but makes no move to stop the Priest of Qon.
MOHAMMAD: You look at the thrice bound scroll and discern it is magical.
You have heard of these spell scrolls, though you know nothing of their making.
The script on the outter edge states that it is a Spell of Rotting Plague.
The second is a note. It reads:
B., Revered Priestess of the Emerald Light:
Our rituals have been successful, but alas, we require more slaves.
You know where to send them- I am sending three of our Circle back to you to help you make preparations and proper selection.
Send the ten we agreed upon earlier, but also bring the Outlander who came to us by way of the Encircling Serpent... D.
You know the one, lovely and defiant.
We have sweet balms here to quell her rebel spirit and cause her to quite enjoy what is in store for her.
But wait until the High Day nears...that leaves you weeks to perform your rites as the Moons come into their proper paths.
V.
VORTUMOI TO MOHAMMAD: "Well, Holy Man...what does it say? Unimportant to our mission but good to keep an ear out on these Skin-Cultists. As for that magical scroll you hold, I will take it.
And as for the rest of you, gather yourselves- we will travel two hours more and then make night camp by a good spring and an old ruin. After rising with dawn tomorrow, the Tomb will only be a four hour march. Let us first drag all of these corpses off into the over-growth."
|
|
|
Post by makofan on Jun 14, 2023 7:55:49 GMT -6
The coins and ritual daggers were also gathered, just in case we missed saying that somewhere
|
|
|
Post by dtspurrier1 on Jun 14, 2023 9:00:07 GMT -6
Mahammad says, " if no one wants the chainmail I can use it and put my leather back in. The scrolls are different. One is magical and by its name should be destroyed. I details a spell called the rotting plague. The note is different. " Mahammad takes a swig of water and reads the letter" B., Revered Priestess of the Emerald Light:
Our rituals have been successful, but alas, we require more slaves.
You know where to send them- I am sending three of our Circle back to you to help you make preparations and proper selection.
Send the ten we agreed upon earlier, but also bring the Outlander who came to us by way of the Encircling Serpent... D.
You know the one, lovely and defiant.
We have sweet balms here to quell her rebel spirit and cause her to quite enjoy what is in store for her.
But wait until the High Day nears...that leaves you weeks to perform your rites as the Moons come into their proper paths.
V."
|
|
flightcommander
Level 6 Magician
"I become drunk as circumstances dictate."
Posts: 370
|
Post by flightcommander on Jun 14, 2023 20:26:28 GMT -6
"Thank you for identifying the magical scroll. Please hand it over to Virtumoi at once." Mi'kímu helps attend to the corpses, and prepares the party to leave.
|
|
|
Post by makofan on Jun 15, 2023 7:42:12 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by dtspurrier1 on Jun 15, 2023 9:56:25 GMT -6
Mohammad hands over the scroll and comments, " lets continue then."
|
|
|
Post by xerxez on Jun 15, 2023 20:33:01 GMT -6
I'm sorry to say I've felt ill since lunch today.
I hope to get to posting tomorrow again.
I am enjoying your responses and roleplaying.
Good evening.
|
|
|
Post by scottenkainen on Jun 15, 2023 21:34:23 GMT -6
((Get well soon!))
N'Rasa hoped there were enough spoils that she would get a share later; she was still proud of her distracting fly, even if she never killed a single foeman.
When they prepared to camp for the night, she was concerned about the ruined structure there. "Perhaps we should scout it out first...make sure it is empty."
|
|
|
Post by makofan on Jun 16, 2023 6:17:43 GMT -6
ooc: It's my parent's 70th Wedding Anniversary this weekend, so I am planning to be away the next three days
|
|
|
Post by dtspurrier1 on Jun 16, 2023 8:56:44 GMT -6
get well soon and congradulations on Makofan your parents anniversary
|
|
|
Post by xerxez on Jun 16, 2023 20:30:13 GMT -6
(Congrats on your parents anniversary makofan, that is awesome!
I was going to update tonite but I have some images to add and having trouble. I need a good desktop so I will do this tomorrow at the library.
I have a family guest arriving Sunday so posting may be brief during the following week but tomorrow's post will get the party into the heart of the adventure!
While I have my guest I will try to reply via mobile on my breaks when I can.
I feel ok again and no more On Call!)
|
|
|
Post by xerxez on Jun 17, 2023 13:37:27 GMT -6
Vortumoi receives the scrolls and hands the letter back to Mohammad, keeping the magic scroll. VORTUMOI: "The slave missive I care nothing for- unfortunates kidnapped by Hri'Hyal or Dla'melish cultists. But this spell is powerful- it can be used against an enemy to make their flesh rot upon their bones in a single instant. Quite useful. Let us go." As told, the trek lasts only a while longer until you come to an old ruin by a spring, perhaps once a guard barracks. Investigation shows it clear. As night and its strange songs and sounds come from the fauna, a fire is made and some H'melu meat cooked and Chumetl passed about. Vortumoi eats and then addresses you all. VORTUMOI: "Now that we draw near the tomb, I will tell you a few things to better prepare us. The Bedjnallan prince laid there was named Be'jordi. He was a renowned poet and scholar of his era. But the records of where he was laid to rest were lost long ago. He worshipped K'sarul, Lord of Magick and Secret Knowledge. My uncle recently discovered, after long searching, archives in our Temple library. Dusty and tattered, they yet revealed not only the tomb's location but also that Be'jordi's complete works and a great deal of treasure was interred with the Poet Prince. The poetry itself would be worth all the treasure in the tomb, as but fragments of his works remain to inspire Tsolyani singers and poets to this day. I possess one page of one of the Prince's poems. I have memorized it. It says: 'Time to beauty's cheek brings dust The safest tomb will fall to mould Time to the warrior's iron brings rust Even sun-fires in time turn cold!
Only the undying Mind holds sure The Truth once held, forever pure!'Outlanders, I now tell you the archives spoke of a fierce Guardian within the depths of the tomb who watches over the prince, and that this poem fragment is somehow a means or contains some clue of placating the Outer Guardian. Even my superior intellect has been unable to decipher the exact use of these words to calm the Guardian, so perhaps upon reaching the lower reaches of the tomb we will gather more knowledge. I doubt barbarians such as yourselves could unriddle the mystery, but I am willing to let you try as even I, Vortumoi, have failed so far. But no matter- if we cannot placate the Outer Gaurdian we shall slay it! Now sleep, we shall take turns at watch again." Next morning you begin your journey again and after many boggy and reeking trails you come to the crest of a cliff. Looking down you see ruins of a city!! Incredibly old, it is sinking into the swamps but it's once proud structures, tilted and tumbling under the vines, still inspires awe. A three tiered ziggurat of incredible size sits in the city center. Jungle birds wheel over head. To your amazement you see smoke rising from areas of the city! Someone is down there... KARUNAZ: "Behold, N'gala, Bedjnallan city dedicated to the Dancing Maiden. That ziggurat was her Temple, until the goddess destroyed her own people. Legends say it was over the thwarted possession of a Demon lover. We will not trespass there as the Temples of Dla'melish and Hri'hyal yet claim its precincts under Imperial Writ. Be'jordi's tomb lies further west, well outside their environs." You journey along the cliff until finding a waterfall with an old carved staircase leading down to the lower lands. After a few hours you arrive at great mound capped by a crumbling stone structure. The mound is overgrown with jungle growth but the upper structure still stands like an ancient sentinel. Vortumoi seems quite animated. VORTUMOI: "There it is! If we attain the summit the archives speak of a stair which leads down into Be'jordi's tomb! Come, we must begin!" All of you have been hearing the jungle sounds of birds and small creatures around you but suddenly a hideous moaning howl curdles your blood! From the upper ruin's door there emerges a hideous winged creature! In horror you realize it is like a patched and stitched quilt of skins stretched over a muscular frame-- it's chest is a collage of stitched together shriveled face-skins of dead men, and it's head is put together as a child might clumsily assemble a puzzle. The skins it is sewn together with are black with rot and age, cured by some ancient and unknown black art. Old sewn up intestines hang out of it's belly and it's only adornment is old, matted filthy hair such as one would see upon a long interred corpse. Long sharp claws hand at it's sides as it's bat-like leathery wings unfurl. With an evil cry it leaps from the summit and soars towards you all, eyes burning with malevolent hatred and a cold blue light! Karunaz gives a shout: "VOROD'LA! Porters, flee!"But before anyone can run, the hideous humanoid swoops upon a porter and one of your tribal brothers, Den, gives a gurgling croak as the monster's claw tears his throat out-- he falls dead to the forest floor! GM Note:
Roll for surprise, d6 for party and for Vorod'la. No surprise.
Rolled for Initiative, 2d6. Party- 4 Vorod'la- 6.
Randomly determined target, Vorod'la rolled 19 on attack, did 6 points damage, killing the 1 HD Porter instantly.
The Party may now declare actions.
|
|
|
Post by makofan on Jun 18, 2023 18:28:06 GMT -6
Balesh cries "Quickly, let us overwhelm it". He rushes forward with his sword and shield, hoping others follow
|
|