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Post by xerxez on Feb 6, 2024 16:38:25 GMT -6
The party reacts as one, weapons ready and prepared for anything.
As your muscles and senses recoil in preparation for an imminent attack, seconds pass by and Balesh, and soon others, realize the man on the stair is not advancing.
He is standing as still as a statue, and the realization dawns upon all of you that he is indeed a man, and he appears as though he was in flight upon the stair, but was stayed by some invisible hand.
Growing horror grips all who witness the man as you realize he has been there for many days, at least, and that the tearing at his eyes and face appear to be from exposure to the sea spray and perhaps birds which have plucked out his eyes.
He appears decomposed only by the elements, and not by death.....
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Post by chicagowiz on Feb 7, 2024 15:16:22 GMT -6
I let out a hiss and slowly peer through the door to see if I can see beyond the strange tableaux, further down into the hold.
"I had thought this to be a Tsóggu. Such creatures are... unpleasant."
"This, though... has the mark of enchantment. Ware touching that thing."
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Post by xerxez on Feb 7, 2024 16:56:48 GMT -6
I let out a hiss and slowly peer through the door to see if I can see beyond the strange tableaux, further down into the hold. "I had thought this to be a Tsóggu. Such creatures are... unpleasant." "This, though... has the mark of enchantment. Ware touching that thing." Karunaz has already joined you all quickly at the sound of Tekar's warnings. "Yes," he says. "He has the semblance of a Drowned One. To meet the gaze of such a demon of the waters opens one to being paralyzed and devoured alive. This poor wretch has the look of a sea raider, but what enchantment holds him there I cannot guess...." Balesh is upon the step, directly before the eyeless man, and he and the Flame Warrior can both see down into the darkness, where there is a faint yellow luminescence as of the glow of torches or lanterns somewhere beyond the landing. The stair is wide enough to slip past the weird figure and go down behind him but likely not without brief contact.
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flightcommander
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Post by flightcommander on Feb 7, 2024 20:25:23 GMT -6
"What do we do?" Mi'kimu looks to the others. "Throw it overboard? Take its head? Or perhaps we lasso it using some of the deck ropes, and drag it away from the doorway.
"In any case, we need to go below if we indeed intend to understand what happened here. If we balk at that, I say we fire the vessel and leave. There is no sense in letting it drift ashore."
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Post by xerxez on Feb 7, 2024 22:50:48 GMT -6
"What do we do?" Mi'kimu looks to the others. "Throw it overboard? Take its head? Or perhaps we lasso it using some of the deck ropes, and drag it away from the doorway. "In any case, we need to go below if we indeed intend to understand what happened here. If we balk at that, I say we fire the vessel and leave. There is no sense in letting drift ashore." The Shen steps towards the doorway. "The Jungle Cat speaks truly." He urges Balesh to move and grasps the grotesque figure in his scaly arms and hauls him forth to the open deck. The limbs move only slightly as the great Demon Warrior pulls him out and throws him down. To the ghastly amazement of all of you, as the body lands it retains it's posture of flight, now absurdly upon its side, as if in rigor mortis. Bak-Suul roars, striking his sword upon the deck. "D**n every sorcerer in the world! Blades will put an end to spell slinging....if Bak'Suul should become a statue, he will have a wizard hanging from his steel to join him!"
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flightcommander
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Post by flightcommander on Feb 8, 2024 2:39:13 GMT -6
"La!" Mi'kimu shouts in approval at Bak-Suul's uh decision-making, then steps closer to the stairwell, torch in hand — axe in the other — and peers inward.
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Post by makofan on Feb 8, 2024 7:17:30 GMT -6
"Someone needs to watch our paralyzed pirate" says Bálesh. "I will head downstairs. Someone follow me with a light"
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Post by chicagowiz on Feb 8, 2024 16:37:30 GMT -6
Tekar joins Bálesh. "I will come with. Observe the faint glow of light in the distance. We must be cautious. Whom or what did this to our friend may still be here."
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Post by xerxez on Feb 8, 2024 22:51:56 GMT -6
Descending the stair, Balesh and Tekar traverse a landing which switches the direction of the stair to end towards the forward of the hull.
Mi'kimu follows close behind, trailed by Karunaz, Amiyala, Doshi, and the Shen.
Coming to the floor of a lower deck, they behold an open door set in a wooden wall.
Beyond the door is the source of the light...and in the room beyond they can glimpse shadows of figures seated at a table-- in that room hang blazing lanterns.
They can be seen hanging on one wall through the door and the light from the area out of sight indicates there are also lanterns strung on the opposite wall, all lit.
From it comes the sound of creaking timbers of the hull and also plates and glasses sliding back and forth.
Upon initial inspection it appears to be some sort of galley.
The shadows of the figures do not move.
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flightcommander
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Post by flightcommander on Feb 8, 2024 23:10:21 GMT -6
[OOC: Shadows? Do I understand this correctly, the party only see shadows, but no figures casting them? Do we actually see plates and glasses sliding back and forth, or just hear them?]
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Post by xerxez on Feb 10, 2024 5:14:19 GMT -6
[OOC: Shadows? Do I understand this correctly, the party only see shadows, but no figures casting them? Do we actually see plates and glasses sliding back and forth, or just hear them?] To be clearer, from the bottom of the stair your vantage is such that you see a room beyond, where the lantern lights within it reveal, upon the one wall you can glimpse through the open door, the shadows of figures seated as a table. You only hear the table ware moving and being sea men are familiar with the sound of moving objects upon a craft. Your immediate sense is that you stand near a door to a dinner galley or captain's quarters, where it is common for the captain and his officers to eat.
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Post by chicagowiz on Feb 10, 2024 8:12:34 GMT -6
Tekar: "The crew within may be ensorcelled much as the man on the stairs. This is a place of misfortune. I begin to agree with Mi'kimu's counsel of retreat and firing the boat."
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flightcommander
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Post by flightcommander on Feb 11, 2024 20:04:26 GMT -6
Mi'kimu quietly peers into the room.
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Post by xerxez on Feb 11, 2024 21:25:10 GMT -6
Mi'kimu quietly peers into the room. Looking in you see a dinner party... or what was one. There is a galley with a long table and chairs about it occupied by six sea men, armed with scabbard-ed swords and in various postures of attending a meal now gone. One leans upon the table here, another there, while one appears to be sitting in a pose of silent laughter. All have goblets raised in mid-air as if at a bout of drinking, eating and conversation. Their faces are jovial, though all look a rough and dangerous lot. But all sit as still as if they were stone statues as the cups, plates, and bowls of their feast slide back and forth upon the table, empty of food. To one side of the table is a man who appears to have just risen from a chair (a seventh figure), his sword drawn, his face contorted in surprise,as though he faced off an unseen foe. He, too, is frozen as if a statue. The room is strewn with odd items, including chests. A massive pile of Kaitars sits upon the table, clinking with the ship's movement...there are necklaces as well, rings, and jewels. Beyond the table on the far side of the galley is a door which, in your experiences, would lead to a private cabin. The sight is freakish and eerie, given the stillness and silence of the crew combined with their apparent postures of animated discourse. Lit lanterns illuminate this scene, swinging from hooks upon the walls. Unlike the man topside, none of these bear the punishment of the sea forces. You could almost expect them at any moment to burst into life, and they do, indeed, appear to be living in every respect except they make no sound and do not move even in breath.
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Post by chicagowiz on Feb 12, 2024 8:09:08 GMT -6
Tekar almost makes a visible motion of supplication to HIS LORD for strength.
He takes several steps backwards. "A trap and one not worth taking. Lest you end up like those men there, trapped forever. We must leave and fire this boat."
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flightcommander
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Post by flightcommander on Feb 12, 2024 21:23:24 GMT -6
"That is, however, a grand amount of kaitars ..."
[OOC: Does the passage continue past this open doorway?]
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Post by chicagowiz on Feb 13, 2024 12:29:50 GMT -6
"That is, however, a grand amount of kaitars ..." The loveliest of traps is not any less deadly.
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Post by makofan on Feb 13, 2024 18:38:11 GMT -6
"I think we should pick and choose our dangers while we can" says Bálesh. "There is sorcery here I cannot fathom. Let us eave before the same fate befalls us"
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flightcommander
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Post by flightcommander on Feb 14, 2024 1:27:23 GMT -6
"I say we tug the thread a bit further. These men were clearly surprised by whatever befell them — but we, we learn from their misfortune, and are wary. Let's play that advantage a while longer."
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Post by xerxez on Feb 14, 2024 4:19:58 GMT -6
"That is, however, a grand amount of kaitars ..." [OOC: Does the passage continue past this open doorway?] Sorry, I'll try to get a sketch up later today. To be clearer, you have come to the bottom of the stair into a landing, looking into the galley from there past the still sea men you see another wall across the galley with a door set in it. KARUNAZ: "True is the saying the kurru'ku blames the trap, not itself...yet though Balesh and Tekar speak wisely, I would learn what happened here...and see if even greater treasure lies within this doomed ship. But we have a priest here...Mohammad...might the magic of your gods be of use here?"
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Post by chicagowiz on Feb 14, 2024 7:55:09 GMT -6
Tekar holds his counsel and his disagreement. He will move away from the door, allowing others to move forth and peer into the galley if they wish.
He walks up the stairs past the immobile individual and relays what they have found to those above.
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flightcommander
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Post by flightcommander on Feb 17, 2024 22:40:59 GMT -6
The man with his sword drawn — which was is he facing? Towards the doorway we stand at? Or towards the closed door opposite? Or ... somewhere else?
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Post by xerxez on Feb 18, 2024 19:46:14 GMT -6
The man with his sword drawn — which was is he facing? Towards the doorway we stand at? Or towards the closed door opposite? Or ... somewhere else? Apologies for my silence! There are cats to blame.The man with his sword drawn faces away from your party, looking into the galley as if some invisible foe stood by the table. He looks frozen in a full battle rage. Now that you all see him, you surmise that the wretch upon the stair was perhaps fleeing from the scene below. Mohammad has a spell which may be of use here but I am hesitant to assume a PC action. I'm new to PbP ettiquette:)
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Post by makofan on Feb 20, 2024 7:12:37 GMT -6
I think, when learning a new game, some advice from the DM to new players is not a bad idea at all. Plus, in a pbp game, there is not as much engagement, as you are devoting 5 minutes every few days, so half the time you can't remember what character you have, what you can do, and what is going on
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Post by xerxez on Feb 21, 2024 23:47:26 GMT -6
I think, when learning a new game, some advice from the DM to new players is not a bad idea at all. Plus, in a pbp game, there is not as much engagement, as you are devoting 5 minutes every few days, so half the time you can't remember what character you have, what you can do, and what is going on Thank you makofan. Is there anything in particular I an advise upon? Please let me know.
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Post by makofan on Feb 22, 2024 7:16:55 GMT -6
Not for Bálesh. He has a companion eager for adventure, and a bit rash, and a wiser and more esteemed companion along also. He is thinking it wise to listen to the experienced one
But reminding Mohammed of what he can do, and what it might do, would be ok. But Mohammed would have to agree. He may want to figure it out for himself now that you have made that hint
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Post by dtspurrier1 on Feb 22, 2024 14:19:02 GMT -6
( sorry for the delay) I have read all of the posts and have caught up. for some reason this website did not alert me of the postings)
Mohammad seeing what has transpired Mohammad says, " great goddess protect our group from this undead." Mohammad will try to turn undead if nothing happens then he will detect evil
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flightcommander
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Post by flightcommander on Feb 22, 2024 15:57:55 GMT -6
[OOC — a little mud-map of where we are would still be useful, at least for me — I'm still unclear about the layout. Mi'kimu would prefer to investigate the door across the room, at least, before leaving — but awaits the results of Mohammad's prayers. And to be honest, Mi'kimu wonders if these poor souls, wretches though they may be, can yet be saved from whatever spell they are under.]
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Post by xerxez on Feb 23, 2024 20:47:00 GMT -6
Apologies for the delay in a graphic. Here is the environment. The stair from above leads into the outer room where the party now stands at the open door way. The galley room is 25 x 25. The table is marked T on the graphic where the immobile sea raiders sit. The squares around the table are chairs. The round marks on the walls are portholes of covered glass. The circle with the x in it is the standing seaman and in the wall beyond the table is the door.
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flightcommander
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Post by flightcommander on Feb 24, 2024 0:43:47 GMT -6
"Mohammad, I do not believe these men to be undead — I believe them to be caught in a spell, or a curse. "There is plunder about. Perhaps they pirated a ship, or a sea-port, and took aboard some accursed item, or a dangerous captive. [OOC — dtspurrier1 maybe detect evil is the way to go here. Or perhaps you could try to remove the curse on the sailor with his sword drawn — we might have to subdue him, but if we could speak to him, he might provide a clue as to what happened here.]
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