Adventure the First

[badger2305]

Mottán smiles slightly at the actions of the party. He checks over the straps of his own armor, rests a hand on the hilt of his sword, and then says, "I've waited as long as I could. We will go."

With that, Dresu leads the party out of the room, and down another passageway that is obviously part of the large smithy of the Salarvyani armorer. The passage turns several times and goes deeper, and the party can clearly sense that they are in the basements of Bushetra's armory - or perhaps nearby? Only by the light of two torches is it possible to see along the dim, shadowed hallways.

Reaching a verdigris-encrusted gate, Dresu pulls out a stout key and fits it into a lock. The only sign of an opening was a very slight nick of bright metal next to the keyhole. Turning the key, there is a noiseless motion of metal rods and stays, and Dresu swings the gate open. "There you are, my lord. I cannot go further, but I will check back ever four kiren to see if you have returned."

Mottán motions for the party to go through the gate - he keeps a wary eye for anything waiting in the darkness. The two slaves keep close to him. "Move ahead, and take the first passageway to the left."

Referee note: now what do you do?

[Baron]

Kimesh checks his armor one last time, readies his weapons, says a quick prayer under his breath, then forms up with his companions. He is quite interested in seeing the fabled underworld, but intends to take all precautions to stay alive! He uses all his senses, looking, listening, staying aware of air currents, temperature and smell.

[greentongue]

Kogush hefted his mace and stepped through the gateway behind his shield. He moved forward to see as far as was lighted, while remaining alert for anything threatening or even out of the ordinary.

He looked for "the passage on the left" while checking for any other doors or passageways.
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[rleduc]

Batikan steps to the fore with Kogush, his eyes straining to see beyond the edge of the torchlight. He is careful to watch both above and below, as well as forward.

[Baron]

Stepping neatly into the second rank, Kimesh motions to one of the torch bearers to move up with him.

"We'll need the light up here," he says quietly, and scans the area while waiting for the others.

[Achán hiNidráne]

Nyara finshes buckling a greave to her thigh, puts on the helmet, then takes up her shield and mace. Shala, her older sister who was an officer in the royal guard, would laugh at a courtesan trying to "play soldier." Nyara frowned, to herself. After the carnage that destroyed her homeland, she didn't know if Shala was still alive or not. Nyara would give anything to hear her make that jibe.

Nyara shook her head to clear the thought from her head. It was time to put such thoughts from her mind. She hustled up to march next to Mottán. As they entered the underworld, her sharp eyes scanned the walls and floor for any sign of hidden doors or traps.

[badger2305]

The passageway has a fairly high ceiling - over 20 feet tall - and was once an alleyway, as far as anyone can tell. Old, moldy plaster crumbles off of even older walls, and the blank walls of what was once the ground floor of clanhouses and other buildings are blotchy with moss and decay.

After about 30 feet, a narrow doorway presents itself. The passage is no more than about five feet wide at the widest and almost immediately begins sloping downwards. As the party moves down the passageway, it jogs somewhat to the left, and a series of shallow stone steps begins to assert itself. In the torchlight the party can see that the roof of the passage has come down to no more than 12 feet overhead. There is a break in the passageway, about five feet across, forcing the party to jump unsteadily to the other side, which is also about three feet lower than your jumping-off point. From the darkness below, you hear the sound of rushing water.

Going about 100 feet further, the passageway comes to a doorway. Beyond the doorway lies a chamber. It might have been a clanhouse entry, or perhaps a temple antechamber. Whatever it once was, the chamber has seven sides, with a hallway going to the north and another to the south; the doorway enters from the east/southeast.

"Here is where we can pause briefly, and the particulars of our mission can be revealed to you," says Mottán.

[greentongue]

Kogush surveys the room top to bottom from the entrance and discreetly uses a marking stick to make a symbol like a 'K' on the wall of the entryway. He then listens to Mottán with interest.
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[Baron]

Kimesh inspects the area as they pass through, feeling alive and on top of his game. "Invigorating!" he says quietly to no one in particular, and the young man has a grin on his face.

Once arriving in the chamber, he inclines his head to Mottan and replies, "I am eager to hear what you have to say, Noble Leader of Great Wisdom."

[badger2305]

Mottán looks around very carefully, and then exhales completely. Jaru and Kemul stand ready, the latter holding a torch so that the young nobleman can see everyone.

"The friend I am searching for is a lay-priest of the Doomed Prince. His name is Ténkurel, and I last saw him with several guards who were fighting off our pursuers as we made our escape. As for our foes, they were spawn of the Temple of Sarku - undead and other servitors of the Worm."

Mottán grimaces slightly. "We were...in something of a race. A new discovery had been made in the upper reaches of the Engsvanyali stratification of the Underworld, something having to do with the Fall of Ganga - or so it was thought. What we did not know was that the prelates of the Worm-lord were also aware of the find. So just as we were closing in on the precise location, we were assailed by Qol and Mrur - some shave-pated egg-sucking priest commanded them to harry us."

Mottán pauses and considers carefully the door to the east. "Past this door is the entryway into a narrow corridor leading to a secret chamber. Were I Ténkurel, this is where I would go to ground. Watch and be ready for the sudden appearance of Undead!"

[badger2305]

The door requires some special machinations to open. Mottán fortunately seems to have what is needed to get the door open. As it creaks open gently, a narrow corridor is revealed, no more than a single person wide (and an exceedingly thin person, at that!). It climbs steadily upwards on a slope, and then turns to the left rather sharply.

After the turn, there is a stairway climbing fairly steeply, with small colored stones in the wall every third step. The ceiling is lost in the darkness above.

Suddenly, from ahead and from behind, Mrur emerge from the darkness. Their armor is a ghastly caricature of ancient Tsolyani military dress, and they take almost no time to move up silently, ready to strike.

Referee note: what does each of you want to do as the combat begins?

[greentongue]

Kogush hunkered down behind his shield as the Mrur approached down the narrow stairs. He hoped that Batikan would be able to reach over him while he struck at the lower body of the one in front.
"Anyone know if these things burn?" he asked his companions.
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[rleduc]

Bátikan falls in behind Kogush, to strike the enemy as space allows. He hopes Nyara's new armor preserves her and curses that we should be one armed warrior short to protect the rear ranks. With luck, Kimesh's spear shall find its mark in the narrow space, either in front or to the rear. In answer to Kogush, he shouts, "If Lord Vimuhla wills it, they will burn; yet on this narrow staircase, we may ourselves become part of the sacrifice!"

[Baron]

Kimesh feels his heart race at the thought of facing undead creatures, but resigns himself to his fate. 'After all, a man must accept what is on his skein,' he thinks to himself.

Entering the narrow passage, he feels a premonition, then dismisses it as foolishness. Feeling some alarm at the rearrangement necessary in their formation, the young man sees his worst fears realized as they are attacked by the living dead!

A musty smell comes to him as he takes a better grip on his spear, and attempts to work out his plan of attack. "Are we attacked from the rear as well? I see undead approaching from the fore!" he shouts.

To the torch-bearer he says, "Be sure and give the warriors ahead enough light to defend themselves!" Realizing that light is vital, he is prepared to step back if he had to let the torchbearer ahead of him, and will try and keep aware of conditions both ahead and behind.

[Achán hiNidráne]

Nyára fought to suppress a shudder as the undead monstrosities approached. While a deity of Change, dread Lord Sárku was nearly as opposed to her Emerald Goddess as the stuffy, matronly, Lady Avánthe. Lady Dlamélish wanted her followers to indulge in the joys and sensations of the Now, but the worshippers of the Worm God desired to sacrifice pleasure and beauty to watch Lord Hrü u's change throughout all time as desiccated, decayed husks.

Just like the ones shambling toward her and her companions.

Nyára raised her shield higher and swung her mace back, ready to strike

[badger2305]

There is only space for one person - or monster - to fight. Worse, the Mrur further up the stairs take advantage of their higher position to plunge a spear directly down onto Mottan. There is a sudden spray of blood as the spearpoint evidently penetrates the young nobleman's armor. Nevertheless, Mottan grimly strikes back, shearing right through the exposed spine of the undead, which then collapses on the staircase.

In the rear, despite readying himself, Kimesh is struck by an axe. The blade bites deeply, and Kimesh's return blow misses utterly. There is not enough room for any of the rest of the party to respond to the savage onslaught - the stairs are simply too narrow.

[Baron]

With a startled cry of disbelief, Kimesh is staggered by an axe blow. Halfheartedly, he attempts to impale the foe with a spear thrust, but sinks to the stone.

[rleduc]

Hearing the cry from the rear, Bátikan attempts to turn and pass the torch bearer behind him to give what support he can to the rear. Depending on space, if possible, he will try to pull Kimesh behind the lines to the middle, although his confidence is low that this is possible without one side, fore or rear, winning some space forward.

[greentongue]

While the Mrur are engaged with Mottan, Kogush evaluates the situation and if Mottan goes down Kogush will press forward into the crumbling ranks of the Mrur.
We are surrounded, we must break through or be overwhelmed, he thinks.

If Mottan goes down, Kogush will press the Mrur back with his rush forward, to allow Mottan to be dragged back to any healing available.

If Mottan holds, Kogush will stand ready to press forward.
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