CHAPTER 1: First Steps into a Larger World

[dtspurrier1]

Bruno moves up to the other two

[flightcommander]

Cneve peers into the crevice, hoping that some of the light from the bonfire illuminates whatever lies beyond.

[chicagowiz]

I will follow Tormon's example and prepare myself.

[tombowings]

Cneve approaches the crevice and gazes inside. His eyes, acutely adapted to flicking of firelight, spy within a man, chained in a tiny sliver of between the cavern walls. He is thin, his ribs nearly protruding from his chest. Manacles bind his wrists, securing him to the stones. "Abasire" the man croaks hoarsely. The man is Zinon, though Cneve knows it not.

"What thinks you of this sound I hear?" he says. "Have they finally come release us from this inferno for some transgression committed long beyond what we can remember? If so, isn't is clear we must live our days from now marking each action as a part of redemption? Would that a bard would remember me long after I'm gone in song as that hero that helped someone. I'm sorry old friend, that I am here alone facing this..."

[Bastet1002]

"Who...?" caughs Zinon. "Abasire, it must be tricks that the light plays on eyes and ears. But, alas it may not be an evil deceiver, Abasire."

"Stranger who looks like a man," says Zinon. "I assume you are. This is Abasire and my name is Zinon. Abasire and I know very little. Chains always bind us - maybe punish us. What lies beyond this crevice? Abasire says a reward of learning and knowledge. Can you unlock us that we may look and talk with you? Are you recently freed as well? Are you alone like us? Don't worry I won't hurt you... I could be a new friend if you do..."

[tombowings]

At the sound of approaching voices, Tormon and Carig duck behind the bend. The close proximity of the flames nips at their foreheads.

Bruno, too, returns back down through the shadows to investigate. It is he who the first to see the figures. Gray and cruel, he recognizes them as stemming from the same breed of degenerate men who brought their gruel and carried away their chamber pots. They carry heavy sticks, a formidable a weapon as the rock he carries.

The hunched half-men pause at the intersection in front of the mural. They gaze up at Bruno, though darkness shrouds his body and the crackling flames mask his footsteps.

"Up me thinks they went," growls the the skinnier of the two. His white hair droops down past his shoulders.

"Why they always go up," the other agrees, his white hair shorter than the other. His lips thin, smile toothy. "Always predictable they is. Different beastie shapes, same instincts."

"An example should me make of them?" the first asks.

The second beasts his stick against the ground. "Been two long since we tasted flesh. Oh, how covet I another pinch of man flesh."

"What a cruel master we serve. But alas." The long haired degenerate starts up the tunnel towards the place where Bruno stands, fifteen feet away. Another few steps and they're bound to spot him.

---

The gray degenerates:

[dtspurrier1]

Bruno runs back to the tunnel away from the bad men in hopes he finds a better weapon

[flightcommander]

Cneve looks about for a way to free Zinon from his shackles — perhaps a rock would do? He looks around to see if the man is chained to a fixture, or merely hobbled. "I am not alone, my companions are out yonder in a larger cave. We are recently freed, by whose hand and to what purpose, we do not know. There is a bonfire. There are ... others as well. Let's hurry."

[Bastet1002]

"Thank you," voices Zinon hoarsely looking furtively about for danger.

[flightcommander]

Apr 5, 2023 22:44:46 GMT -6 tombowings said:

Manacles bind his wrists, securing him to the stones.

"Ah, I see now where you are bound. Help me crush these chains with a rock, if you can." Cneve does his best to sort out how he might free Zinon from the manacles. He is neither bright, nor strong, but perhaps his encouragement will help Zinon escape his bonds.

[tombowings]

Apr 6, 2023 23:30:32 GMT -6 flightcommander said:

"Ah, I see now where you are bound. Help me crush these chains with a rock, if you can." Cneve does his best to sort out how he might free Zinon from the manacles. He is neither bright, nor strong, but perhaps his encouragement will help Zinon escape his bonds.

Cneve remembers Bruno was carrying a large stone and that Tormon and Carig had gone back down the darken passage to retrieve a pair of their own.

[Blackcraft]

OOC: Is the creature still near Tormon and Carig? If so, I'd like to peek around the corner to get a look at it. I assume our backs are pressed against the wall.

[tombowings]

Apr 7, 2023 7:37:14 GMT -6 Blackcraft said:

OOC: Is the creature still near Tormon and Carig? If so, I'd like to peek around the corner to get a look at it. I assume our backs are pressed against the wall.

Yes. Tormon and Carig can easily get a peek at the creatures. They can probably surprise the degenerates, too, if our heroes attack now.

[chicagowiz]

Apr 7, 2023 7:45:16 GMT -6 tombowings said:

Apr 7, 2023 7:37:14 GMT -6 Blackcraft said:

OOC: Is the creature still near Tormon and Carig? If so, I'd like to peek around the corner to get a look at it. I assume our backs are pressed against the wall.

Yes. Tormon and Carig can easily get a peek at the creatures. They can probably surprise the degenerates, too, if out heroes attack now.

I nod to Tormon to indicate I'm ready if he is. (here we go with an actual "rash" action!) Lets try to concentrate on one together (if possible).

[Blackcraft]

Tormon nods in agreement. "Let’s rush the closest one," he says.

He takes one peek around the corner then quietly rushes the nearest enemy.

[tombowings]

Bruno's foray back down the tunnel is short. He turns tails and flees back up toward Cneve and Sabastian. The degenerate react immediately. Bruno quickly discovers that, despite his comparatively lethargic existence, he is faster than the hunched pursuers hobbling after him. Before Bruno reaches the upper landing, Tormonand Carig are on the creature's tails. Tormon raises his large stone above his head. It crashes down, splitting his victim's skull. Crimson blood floods over its white hair as its body collapses and begins to roll down the slope.

The victim's gibbering companion spins around before Carig can get in an attack. The beast drops to its knees. Pathetically, two white glowing eyes stare up at Carig. "Mercy!" it cries out. "Mercy for the deranged! For the cursed! For the bloodthirsty!"

---

Carig rolls a 2.
Tormon rolls a 13 to attack (+1 due to his mighty strength). He scores 6 points of damage against his foe.

[chicagowiz]

I will hold out my rock up in a threatening manner, but ask Tormon to stay his attack for a moment.

"I, Carig, would seek to know three things from you immediately! Are there more of you that will come soon? Why are we imprisoned here? Which is the safest way to travel to gain freedom from this accursed place? Speak quickly and truthfully, foul being, lest my friend bloody his rock with your blood as well!"

[Bastet1002]

"Quick the gruel men attack!" exclaims Zinon. "Abasire! Stranger! Take cover!"

[Blackcraft]

As Carig interrogates the creature, Tormon searches the corpse at his feet, wiping any blood off him and listening carefully.

[tombowings]

The kneeling degenerate looks from Carig to Tormon and back again. His glossy round eyes plead with terror. "Me - us - many of us. Many yes," he stammers, high hoarse voice quivering, barely comprehensible.

"A legion. A pack. A horde. Servants we are. Pitiful servants, who tread below the feet of our master. The Dark One. The Fallen. Bringer of Fire and of Ice - or so they say. He dwells Below. Past the river, we do not trod. They ferryman ferries us not. But for you - and for the dead - a toll will be enough. A single gold coin placed beneath your tongue. Gold, the rock that shimmers like drops of fire. More precious than life itself. Escape beyond the river you might. Though it is from above where your kind dwells. From beyond the Veil of Light. We dare not cross it. But you - I have see your kind do it. Pass right out of existence. Beyond the cave."

As the creature blabbers on, Tormon stoops down to recover the gnarled wooden crook previously carried by his slain victim. He gives it a swing. The balance is favorable to the heavy rock, better both for striking and parrying. The creature possesses nothing else, except the cloth round its loins.

[chicagowiz]

"I, Carig, am pleased that you will answer." I gesture towards the now well-armed Tormon. I will relieve the creature of his stick as well, but keep ahold of my rock.

"See that he, Tormon, and I, Carig, have equipped ourselves well. You would do well to continue to cooperate."

"Where are the others like you? Are they in between us and this river? How do we get to this river?"

[tombowings]

The loathsome creature gnashes its teeth as Carig arms himself with its weapon.

Nevertheless, it answers Carig's query. "Hundred. Thousand. I know not. Many I know. Many like me are strangers, even to myself. But follow the fire to the wine-dark sea." The creatures eyes flash to the junction where the crude mural mars the stately cavern stone. His vision trails right, guided by the flames dancing upon the ledge. "Meet the ferryman. Put the gold under your tongue, they say." The creature pauses. "Now, nothing more from me," it sneers. "Not without reassurances. Kill me anyway, you will. You brutes. You savages. You sinners!"

The creature takes an unseemly joy in uttering the final word.

[flightcommander]

Cneve, despite or perhaps because of his utter bewilderment at his current predicament, does not particularly fear the strange pale creatures. He instead focuses on freeing the chained man. He entreats the man to help.

[tombowings]

Apr 8, 2023 18:38:02 GMT -6 flightcommander said:

Cneve, despite or perhaps because of his utter bewilderment at his current predicament, does not particularly fear the strange pale creatures. He instead focuses on freeing the chained man. He entreats the man to help.

Cneve realizes the best way to break the chains is by beating it with a heavy rock. He saw Bruno dislodge one from the ledge below. Tormon and Carig went to retrieve ones of their own. Hammering the chains will ring loud through the caverns, but might still be the best course. Searching for a key may prove move dangerous (not that Cneve or any of the others know what a key is).

[chicagowiz]

"Interesting. The emphasis on us being sinners. As if we're being punished." I say to Tormon, while keeping my eyes on the creature.

"Where is the River, point the way to it. Where is the Veil, point the way to it." I say to the creature. "Speak of how we may find these, and I, Carig, will spare you, so that you may rejoin your Master."

[flightcommander]

Cneve takes leave of the chained man and runs towards his comrades to gather a rock.

[Bastet1002]

"Abasire," said Zinon. "The stranger has left us. Now the gruel men will kill him..."

"Remember your theory about us only being half alive?" continued Zinon. "Yes! I remember. Born with two arms we cannot fully move - with legs that can jump and walk - but which we can never use that way. But, most clearly we have no freedom to move about as it seems we were designed to do. But, somehow we have been free in our words and thoughts. Yes, half life... And so I theorized we were being restrained and punished. We had sinned and are held in some kind of torpor."

"Before you....left me, Abasire," said Zinon. "I remember you said this terrible nightmare, we were just waiting to awaken from. But, after you left, I realized we are somehow material, and this cave and these chains hold us back from many things that we were made to be able to do - that perhaps we craved to be. It explains that emptiness you and I continually feel... Ah... but it is hopeless, Abasire.... We had many long talks, and even after your demise - my small glimmer of hope extinguished such as a flame."

[tombowings]

OOC: I love Zinon's monologues. (+25 experience for entertaining role playing).

[Bastet1002]

OCC: Thanks! Zinon holds on to sanity by talking to his dead friend. The question is whether Zinon will ever let go of Abasire... 

[chicagowiz]

Apr 10, 2023 7:02:10 GMT -6 Bastet1002 said:

OCC: Thanks! Zinon holds on to sanity by talking to his dead friend. The question is whether Zinon will ever let go of Abasire... 

(I, Carig, certainly hope that he never lets go! )