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Post by greentongue on Oct 17, 2015 14:02:40 GMT -6
Huruyan: Walking to avoid stirring up to much mud Huruyan heads for the double doors. Carefully without touching anything Huruyan looks through the gap between the doors.
Beyond the doors is a corridor between lines of warriors in full armor with the Scarlet and White Checked colors of Chegarra. The warriors are standing at Present Arms.
This stretches ahead for what looks like a hundred feet.
A quick swivel to the left and right shows that the columns of men are three deep.
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Post by greentongue on Oct 17, 2015 14:03:41 GMT -6
Huruyan: Huruyan watches the silt floating near his feet carefully to see if he can determine a water flow direction, which might give a clue to where the water is coming from. After that he enters the room and heads for the far end, once again watching carefully for anything that might hint of the waters origins, and of coarse for anything that looks dangerous or wrong.
Kumahl: Kumahl follows in Huruyan's footsteps so as not to make the water any murkier. He stands a few feet from the doorway with the body between himself and Huruyan. He bends slowly and investigates the body, looking for perceivable colors, markings, or anything that can be used to identify the "dead" body. He tries to identify cause of death if possible.
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Post by greentongue on Oct 17, 2015 14:04:20 GMT -6
The mud covering the body and the lack of light masked some details but on it's sides the fabric clearly showed the checkered pattern of Chegarra. The patterns in the mud around the body makes it look like the flow of water had pushed it to where it is now. The posture indicated that the body was freshly dead when pushed here by the water. There may be more wounds that can't be seen but you can see that his throat had been slit open.
The silt stirred up from walking flows with the eddies of the movement but otherwise hangs in place.
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Post by greentongue on Oct 17, 2015 14:06:11 GMT -6
Huruyan please roll a D100 to get higher than a 60. [Private to Huruyan: ... to avoid being hypnotized by the lovely dark-haired maiden you have just seen ahead.]
Huruyan: Rolled 46
She is so beautiful...
Kumahl: Kumahl changes his focus from the corpse to Huruyan. "Brother, stay focused or you will join the dead here. Can you hear me? Say something!"
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Post by greentongue on Oct 20, 2015 17:39:36 GMT -6
Huruyan please roll a D20 to get higher than a 13. [Private to Huruyan: for your saving throw against paralyzation/hypnosis of 14. As a level II Adventurer.]
In the distance Kumahl sees Huruyan slowly moving to the left of the corridor and into the first row of standing figures.
[Private to Huruyan: You move towards the lovely dark-haired maiden. Your mind is completely filled with her serene face and the gentile motion of her hair. You vaguely hear a sound.]
Huruyan: rolled a 1!!!
"Pretty hair"
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Post by greentongue on Oct 20, 2015 17:41:20 GMT -6
Kumahl: Kumahl again following in Huruyan's footsteps, stays focused on Huruyan's back.
[Private to GM: When Kumahl is close enough to reach Huruyan's lower legs with his staff, Kumahl will attempt to hook Huruyan's leg. Looking to trip Huruyan and distract.]
"HURUYAN! STOP!"
With gentle tugs Kumahl pulled the breathing hose through the hands of the assistants as he moved forward.
Kumahl saw the Gem on Huruyan's chest shining between the rows and then shadowed as he moved deeper between them. Some of the decorations on the wall behind were lighted such that it looked as if there were more ranks of warriors standing behind the three.
Suddenly the light disappeared as if he had entered another room. What little light there was in The Chamber of the Assembled Host, vanished.
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Post by greentongue on Oct 22, 2015 17:31:25 GMT -6
Huruyan please roll a D20 to get higher than a 13. [Private to Huruyan: For a second you are disoriented as you go from standing to laying on your back with nothing under you. You pull yourself out of the hole under you with swimming strokes. You are just out of reach of the maiden and it almost feels as if she is concerned by that.]
Huruyan: rolled 6
As Kumahl moved slowly forward in the pitch black towards where he had last seen Huruyan, his eyes slowly adjusted to the dark.
He saw a dim glow back lighting the standing figures, in the direction Huruyan had vanished.
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Post by greentongue on Oct 22, 2015 17:32:13 GMT -6
Kumahl: Kumahl curses to himself. These are one of those times when he is grateful for his pious and focused attitude to life. Nothing to distract himself from his goals.
Kumahl pauses for a moment, utters a silent prayer for Huruyan, and shakes the hoses to let those up top know he needed more hose. He also realizes that casting light here will be difficult as it will only light up the inside of his suit.
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Post by greentongue on Oct 22, 2015 17:33:48 GMT -6
Kumahl continued slowly forward in the pitch black towards the dim glow ahead. He was sure that as where Huruyan went.
As he got nearer he could see that the glow was coming through a hexagonal frame. Beyond the frame in the distance, through the water, was a shimmery surface that was the source of light.
The frame was like a window at the bottom of a lake looking up.
[Private to Huruyan: As you get closer to the maiden she backs away. The maiden's face has a look of concern but you are unsure of what because she fills your world and you can think of nothing else.]
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Post by greentongue on Oct 22, 2015 17:35:17 GMT -6
Kumahl: Kumahl stopped before the window. Looking around he spied a statue holding a spiked club. Closing one eye, he pointed his finger at the head of the spiked club and spoke, "To disperse the darkness one must call forth the LIGHT." As the light begins to coalesce and brighten, Kumahl opens his closed eye and avoids being blinded.
Taking a deep breath, Kumahl calms and focuses himself. Looking up at the window, he tries to judge if this might have been the source of the water. He then looks down at the floor to see where Huruyan's footstep my lead.
Once he is certain that Huruyan had gone towards the window, Kumahl again focuses himself. "My mind to your mind, Your mind to my mind, Speak to me."
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Post by greentongue on Oct 22, 2015 17:36:58 GMT -6
The light from the club revealed the swirled path that Huruyan had followed lead into this hex shaped doorway. It abruptly went to the left as if broken to the side of his previous path. The angle of the stirred up mud trail seemed wrong.
Also, the doorway is revealed as a thin frame leaned against one of the standing warriors. Its material looked like some sort of shell with the bottom piece thicker and flattened. It is not being supported by the nearby warrior but is touching him.
Kumahl's mind began to fill with a maiden's face that had a look of concern. The longer Kumahl remained in contact with Huruyan's mind the more his was drawn towards the face to the exclusion of all else.
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Post by greentongue on Oct 22, 2015 17:38:01 GMT -6
Kumahl: Kumahl drops the Telepathy spell.
Fearing for his friend, Kumahl looks for signs that the water came from the window. He also searches for a means to cover the window. All with out moving from where he stopped earlier.
Kumahl noticed that except for where Huruyan's walking had stirred up the mud, the flow marks were all outward from the doorway.
If Kumahl had a way to attach them, he thought could take enough shields from the warriors and use them to cover the doorway.
[Private to Huruyan: Strangely, you continue to advance toward the maiden and she continues to retreat.]
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Post by greentongue on Oct 22, 2015 17:39:06 GMT -6
Kumahl: Checking the nearest shield, Kumahl checks on the weight. then the straps that would keep the shield on the arm. Looking around, he tries to find several long spears that he could attach the shields to. Kumahl is thinking of crosshatching the spears with the shields at the sections where the spears cross.
Judging the Height and Width of the window, Kumahl looks to see if he could lay the window on the floor. Hoping to use the water to float the weight and gently set the window on the floor. He looks for somewhere to tie his ropes so that he could have a secure line to climb back out of the window.
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Post by greentongue on Oct 22, 2015 17:39:45 GMT -6
As Kumahl is surveying the area around the doorway, he noticed that its back side looks like a mirror.
It is too wide to lay down between the standing warriors but if it was drug out to the middle it would fit easily.
A rope could be tied around any of the nearby warriors to provide an anchor and with enough time, the spears could be gathered. There are plenty of shields.
Kumahl devised a method to guide the doorway frame using ropes and the statues.
Being careful not to let anything pass into the doorway itself, he was soon able to slide the doorway out between the rows of warriors. He then carefully lowered it to the floor so that it lay there facing such that looking down into it showed the glowing shiny surface through the water deep on the other side.
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Post by greentongue on Oct 22, 2015 17:40:18 GMT -6
Kumahl: Kumahl breaths deep and tries to focus himself. He then tries to figure out how much time he has before the LIGHT goes out. Kumahl grabs the Lighted Mace and props it up so that the light shines down on the floor between the statues.
With the mirror moved, Kumahl begins studying the mirror frame, looking for signs and figures, anything that might identify the mirror, its function, or means for activation.
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Post by greentongue on Oct 22, 2015 17:41:54 GMT -6
Kumahl felt that two thirds of the Light generation has passed but it was still bright enough to see that the doorway was segmented at each of its six joints.
The more he looked at it the more it reminded him of one of the artifacts his clan had back on the island. That artifact had been made by Hlyss and had the same marbling.
There was no clear way to activate or deactivate the doorway beside passing through it once assembled.
The mud stirred up by Huruyan's passing into the doorway has starting to drift to the left.
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Post by greentongue on Oct 22, 2015 17:43:14 GMT -6
Kumahl: Is this the doorway with the dead body in it? Drifting left, if I am facing the doorway previously referenced?
GM: No, it is the doorway you lowered onto the floor.
Kumahl: So the water is flowing down the row between the soldier statues away from the propped open door with the dead body?
GM: There is no flow between the soldier statues. What little flow there is is on the other side of the doorway and looks to be drag from Huruyan's walking.
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Post by greentongue on Oct 22, 2015 17:43:57 GMT -6
Kumahl: Careful not to touch the glass of the mirror, Kumahl carefully peers into the window/mirror.
-- Looking down into the doorway Kumahl saw the glowing shiny surface through the water deep on the other side. Closer to the entrance of the doorway was the mud stirred up by Huruyan's passing into the doorway. That stirred up silt had starting to slowly drift to the left following the trail and settle up.
Around the edge of the doorway are weeds growing down into the water towards the shiny surface in the distance.
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Post by greentongue on Oct 22, 2015 17:45:27 GMT -6
Kumahl: Kumahl leaves the window mirror on the floor and returns to the doorway with the body in it. As carefully as he can, he will roll the body onto its back, and then drag it back towards the steps and away from wall with the open door. Once the body has been moved, Kumahl will open the door as far as possible.
Returning to the window mirror, Kumahl intends to drag it towards the doorway and the stairs. Eventually, he would like to get it propped in an upright position in the entry way against the wall with the open door.
-- Kumahl moved the body and opened the two main doors as far as possible. All this activity had stirred up a lot of the slit and the water was starting to get murky. He was in the process of dragging the doorway frame back towards the stairs, when his light slowly faded out.
A few steps later he saw through the doorway a human sized form that looked like a mermaid. It drifted closer from the opposite side of the doorway, from the trail Huruyan had left.
It was looking back over its shoulder and had not yet noticed Kumahl.
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Post by greentongue on Oct 26, 2015 18:40:06 GMT -6
Kumahl: Kumahl puts himself out of view of the mirror face, without losing focus on the mermaid on the otherside. He attempts to be perfectly still and hope that the oncoming darkness from the light spell going out gives him some extra cover.
--- As the mermaid gets closer, Kumahl sees Huruyan stumbling forward after it.
A deadly game of follow the leader plays out before Kumahl.
Neither take any notice of him.
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Post by greentongue on Oct 26, 2015 18:40:46 GMT -6
Kumahl had drug the door frame five feet away from the double doors at the beginning of The Chamber of the Assembled Host. The stairs are twenty feet across the room from the double doors. So, a total of twenty five feet away from the frame currently.
The lanterns on the stairs are providing a dim light around the frame.
Kumahl: Kumahl waits near the window mirror until the mermaid, he feels is within striking distance, he then uses his hunting knife from his calf sheath to stab her in the back and then cut his way down.
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Post by greentongue on Oct 26, 2015 18:42:01 GMT -6
Kumahl: As quick as he can, Kumahl thrusts his staff in the window mirror and attempts to hook the mermaid around the neck.
20:11, Today: Kumahl rolled 23 using 1d20+3 ((20)).[to hit]
--- Striking like a snake, Kumahl snagged the Chashkeri around the neck and yanked. It must have been due to the Chashkeri looking over its shoulder at the time because, after the yank, its head was at an unnatural angle and it stopped moving.
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Post by greentongue on Oct 26, 2015 18:43:44 GMT -6
Huruyan: Where is she? Huruyan stops moving and stands dejectedly. She's gone.
"What happened? What's going on? Where did she go?!"
Kumahl: Kumahl pulls Huruyan through the window mirror, grasps him by the head, "Sometimes it would be easier if you would tell me where you were going, instead of playing hide and seek."
--- When Kumahl pulled Huruyan he fell up though the portal and then back down again.
Kumahl was able to pull him aside, out of it, onto the muddy floor of the entry room.
The body of the mermaid slowly drifted towards the doorway and the weeds, in the current made by Huruyan.
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Post by greentongue on Oct 26, 2015 18:44:38 GMT -6
Huruyan: Huruyan sits on the floor in the mud with a sad dreamy face.
Kumahl: Kumahl leaves Huruyan sitting where he was and begins again to move the mirrored doorway out into the entry hall. Every ten feet or so, he looks into the doorway to check on approaching mermaids and what not. Once the doorway is in the entryway, Kumahl will begin body extractions to the stairwell.
First will be Huruyan, then the mermaid, and last the fallen guard. Kumahl will then reclaim his staff and join everyone above the water. Hopefully the mirrored doorway is in viewing distance of those on the stairs.
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Post by greentongue on Oct 26, 2015 18:45:24 GMT -6
Junior Priest Khivasha: "What's wrong with Huruyan?"
"Have you found the source of the water?"
"What is that over there that you brought back?"
"Can we help?"
Kumahl: Taking off the Helm to speak with Junior Priest Khivasha, Kumahl addresses his third question first. "That Brother Khivasha is a Hyls Doorway. Someone stood this up in the room to the right of the entryway, amongst the statues."
Gathering some air into his lungs and enjoying not having the Helm on for a bit Kumahl continues, "Brother Huruyan was mesmerized by a mermaid. I killed the mermaid but Huruyan was quite enchanted with her. I will bring him up soon."
As he is putting back on the Helm, Kumahl stops, "Brother Khivasha, have you seen this doorway before? Or know how it got here?"
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Post by greentongue on Oct 26, 2015 18:46:31 GMT -6
Junior Priest Khivasha: "A Hlyss Doorway what is that?" "How could Hlyss get here? I am certain they can't swim." "Did you see any Hlyss?"
"Mesmerized by a mermaid you say?" "That may explain why the diviners had such trouble."
Kumahl: "No Hylss that I have seen, however one of the guards here had his throat cut and was laying the doorway on the right as if he had been pushed through it."
"I believe the water game in through the Hylss Doorway. Silt and sediments on the floor are similar to those found on the otherside of the doorway."
"As to helping, would you be able to cast a light spell on a mace, I was previously using as a torch?"
Kumahl finishes securing the Helm, heads back into water and returns with Huruyan first, then he pulls the mermaid through the doorway and set her on the steps. Last is the dead guard. Kumahl hopes that Khavisha can oblige such a request and provide him with light.
"One last thing before I head back. See if you can bring Huruyan back to his senses."
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Post by greentongue on Oct 26, 2015 18:47:12 GMT -6
Junior Priest Khivasha: "A Light spell? Yes, I can do that." "Lanterns don't so work well underwater."
Junior Priest Khivasha cast a light spell on the mace that Kumakl indicated.
I don't see any marks on Huruyan.
While Kumahl is busy, Junior Priest Khivasha tries to get Huruyan to focus on something besides the maiden in his mind.
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Post by greentongue on Oct 26, 2015 18:48:17 GMT -6
Kumahl: "I am guessing the water came in through the Hylls Doorway. I am not certain how to get the water to return through the doorway. Maybe I can go through and reposition both doorways and drain the water."
--- Soon Kumahl had everything arranged to his satisfaction.
Huruyan was still babbling about the maiden but had lucid moments in between.
Junior Priest Khivasha: "You could do that?" "That would be a blessing."
"Did you find out if the main shrine had been violated and the eye stolen?"
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Post by greentongue on Oct 26, 2015 18:49:59 GMT -6
Kumahl: Remembering the search for the Eye, Kumahl asks for a direction he could search in, as he has gotten a bit side tracked with the Doorway and all.
Junior Priest Khivasha: "The compartment that holds the eye is in the base of the statue at the end of The Chamber of the Assembled Host."
"If you have a way to drain the water, we can all go look."
Kumahl: Kumahl comes to those holding the float for the Helm, thanks them for keeping an eye on it. Taking the float in hand, he heads through the Hyls Doorway.
When Kumahl gets through he attempts to get his bearings and begins looking for a means to move the doorway up above the current level of the water.
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Post by greentongue on Oct 26, 2015 18:50:51 GMT -6
When Kumahl passed through the Hlyss doorway his world twisted and when his float pulled him upright, he found himself on the bottom of a shallow lake.
The doorway he had passed through looked the same on this side except it was laying in the mud on the bottom. There were some slide marks as if it had slid down-slope a little to get there.
On two sides there was a trail in the mud where someone had shuffled the bottom in a wandering path around the lake.
Climbing up the direction the doorway had slid down, he rose out of the water and could see the extent of the small lake. There was a small stream feeding into one side in the distance and a marshy area where some of the water drained out.
His emergence from the water caused some nearby birds to take flight with a few squawks.
There was a opening in the palmetto scrub along the nearest lake shore edge.
The angle of the sun indicated that not much time had passed since they had entered the Tsu'urum.
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