Phietadix
Shadow Lord
This whole place is making me uneasy. I scan carefully what I can see of the temple.
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Dragon's Egg - Act II
- Thread starter Steerpike
- Start date
SeverinR
Valar Lord
I will kneel listening and watching, if nothing is noticed, I will make a tactical withdrawl, not just return with my back to the temple. I will not concentrate so much on stealth but I will keep looking back to make sure nothing was hiding waiting for me to let my guard down.
If nothing happens on the way back, I will relay what I saw...or didn't see.
"There is nothing there that I can see, the snow would cover any tracks quickly, but no sounds, no tracks. The building looks old, and run down, neglected if not totally abandoned. No ambush, no traps."
"With dis storm, we might consider seeking shelter in the temple. Of course, with all stealth and tact we can to avoid any attacks from inside."
If nothing happens on the way back, I will relay what I saw...or didn't see.
"There is nothing there that I can see, the snow would cover any tracks quickly, but no sounds, no tracks. The building looks old, and run down, neglected if not totally abandoned. No ambush, no traps."
"With dis storm, we might consider seeking shelter in the temple. Of course, with all stealth and tact we can to avoid any attacks from inside."
"Thank you, Aliron. I think Burnbright needs the shelter.
"I suggest you and Ankari lead the way with your watchful eyes. When we get to the doorway, the three of us will stay close. We'll wait for Sir Matthew to secure his horse so he can be close.
"There may be no enemy inside or there may be armies from every circle of hell. If who or what we see is capable of speech, we must remain calm and use words before weapons.
"I mean to say this kindly: No quarreling if we see any living thing inside. Debate can be healthy in the right time and place, but lack of solidarity is weakness if seen by a potential enemy. To a potential friend, it makes us untrustworthy. Please, let us bear that in mind."
"I suggest you and Ankari lead the way with your watchful eyes. When we get to the doorway, the three of us will stay close. We'll wait for Sir Matthew to secure his horse so he can be close.
"There may be no enemy inside or there may be armies from every circle of hell. If who or what we see is capable of speech, we must remain calm and use words before weapons.
"I mean to say this kindly: No quarreling if we see any living thing inside. Debate can be healthy in the right time and place, but lack of solidarity is weakness if seen by a potential enemy. To a potential friend, it makes us untrustworthy. Please, let us bear that in mind."
Phietadix
Shadow Lord
As I secure my horse, I take five Javalins with me, just to be safe. Then I follow Baldhart inside.
SeverinR
Valar Lord
"Best way to size up a mark is while you engage them in conversation, determine if they are a fool who needs to share their wealth, an unprofitable encounter not worth the trouble, or the destroyer looking to kill."
"I will cover the entrance with my bow as you approach it, I am of no use in close doorway combat or in parlaying a deal, I don't have a trusting pretty face nor use fancy words...
as most have noticed. Ya can't sneak behind someone when they are blocking the door."
"If you think the door might have a trap I can check it when the entrance is safe."
"I will cover the entrance with my bow as you approach it, I am of no use in close doorway combat or in parlaying a deal, I don't have a trusting pretty face nor use fancy words...
as most have noticed. Ya can't sneak behind someone when they are blocking the door."
"If you think the door might have a trap I can check it when the entrance is safe."
Sparkie
Dark Lord
After hearing Baldhart's last words, I'm tempted to ask 'That's directed at me, then?' But I keep my thoughts to myself. She witnessed Ankari's blatant disregard, and I know she's fair-minded, so I doubt she would be stating that last bit just for my benefit.
"Alright then. Everyone stay close. Let's see what this place has to offer."
"Alright then. Everyone stay close. Let's see what this place has to offer."
"Right. I appreciate you checking the door. If it's locked, can you pick it? I'll admit that I rather enjoy breaking a door down, now that I've done it. But it's not very subtle. And even if we don't have company, I prefer not to bring the wind and snow in with us."
- Thread starter
- #48
((Before you guys go on - there is no door. The outer structure is a large stone wall that forms a courtyard. It is open and you can just ride/walk into it. The temple proper is a building within the walls, and the front of that is open as well. The only door so far is the one Mauve sees inside the temple building itself, and that one is broken 
)).
)).
SeverinR
Valar Lord
[So as we approach would we see the door from where we are?]
If the entrance way looks to be unoccupied I will move up to check it for traps, looking for any signs of people, tracks, or anything out of the ordinary.
"There is no door, but traps can be laid in narrow entrance ways. The snow made it hard to tell, I wasn't sure until I got closer."
check traps [1d20+3] = 16+3 = 19
Hand near my sword, in case of attack.
If the entrance way looks to be unoccupied I will move up to check it for traps, looking for any signs of people, tracks, or anything out of the ordinary.
"There is no door, but traps can be laid in narrow entrance ways. The snow made it hard to tell, I wasn't sure until I got closer."
check traps [1d20+3] = 16+3 = 19
Hand near my sword, in case of attack.
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- Thread starter
- #50
((No, on approach to the structure you can't see into the temple building itself, or really anything of note until you go into the courtyard. I'll give people a bit of time to revise what they want to do, then move ahead assuming the party will be moving into the courtyard)).
((Broken... uh... I didn't do it!))
* * * * *
Upon closer inspeaction there is no door to enter. I simply follow Aliron and Ankari, prepared to step up with sword in hand if that is necessary.
"We're just being cautious," I tell Burnbright. "The men know what they are doing."
I guide her back a few steps, so now we're near Rydh and Cadell.
"Cadell..." I show him the knife in my boot. "You seemed to be glad to rid yourself of this blade. I had a strange dream last night about a fish demon. It was eating a man's leg. Or could it have been a woman's. A person's leg, anyway. I can't help but wonder if the knife brought me that dream."
I turn to Rydh.
"Well, you're the expert on spiritual matters. Do you think the knife has any connection? I really wasn't thinking about fish demons at all, and in fact, I had a fun day of shopping. Am I a fool to blame a knife for a strange dream?
"You held it, too. I wonder if either of you dreamt of fish demons while in possession of the stone knife."
Why do you wonder, Badly? Why not toss the damned thing over a cliff and be done with it? You don't need the knife at all! If you're disarmed, you're better off yanking a weapon from an enemy's hands.
My next sacrifice to Brynhild...
No! Don't tear your clothes off! It's unbecoming! Forget the sacrifice!
Nissa, I won't destroy things I own. Those were desperate attempts to please my goddess since I had no time to think of a proper sacrifice. And money has come too easily. To donate my gold would only burden my friends who have proven quite generous. Yes, friends. They bicker and argue too much, but I care very deeply about all of them.
And to answer your question, I can't toss the knife and leave it to be found. My sacrifice is to bear this burden. I hope the knife really is cursed. If we can defeat the taint here, then I can handle the taint from this knife.
No, you can't, Baldy.
I can't?
Not alone.
* * * * *
((Cue Dokken's Dream Warriors.))
* * * * *
Upon closer inspeaction there is no door to enter. I simply follow Aliron and Ankari, prepared to step up with sword in hand if that is necessary.
"We're just being cautious," I tell Burnbright. "The men know what they are doing."
I guide her back a few steps, so now we're near Rydh and Cadell.
"Cadell..." I show him the knife in my boot. "You seemed to be glad to rid yourself of this blade. I had a strange dream last night about a fish demon. It was eating a man's leg. Or could it have been a woman's. A person's leg, anyway. I can't help but wonder if the knife brought me that dream."
I turn to Rydh.
"Well, you're the expert on spiritual matters. Do you think the knife has any connection? I really wasn't thinking about fish demons at all, and in fact, I had a fun day of shopping. Am I a fool to blame a knife for a strange dream?
"You held it, too. I wonder if either of you dreamt of fish demons while in possession of the stone knife."
Why do you wonder, Badly? Why not toss the damned thing over a cliff and be done with it? You don't need the knife at all! If you're disarmed, you're better off yanking a weapon from an enemy's hands.
My next sacrifice to Brynhild...
No! Don't tear your clothes off! It's unbecoming! Forget the sacrifice!
Nissa, I won't destroy things I own. Those were desperate attempts to please my goddess since I had no time to think of a proper sacrifice. And money has come too easily. To donate my gold would only burden my friends who have proven quite generous. Yes, friends. They bicker and argue too much, but I care very deeply about all of them.
And to answer your question, I can't toss the knife and leave it to be found. My sacrifice is to bear this burden. I hope the knife really is cursed. If we can defeat the taint here, then I can handle the taint from this knife.
No, you can't, Baldy.
I can't?
Not alone.
* * * * *
((Cue Dokken's Dream Warriors.))
Nihal
Valar Lord
((Assuming I saw nothing special anywhere... Sorry, I was waiting the answer.))
I glance at the broken door again, a conflict taking place in my mind. It won't hurt if I just take a peek. Decided, I walk over the door and I try to see through the gaps, avoiding to touch it.
((If it's too dark inside.))
It's of no use. My fingers feel a little stiff - from the cold, probably - as I fumble my pouches and pull out a thin chain. The quartz pendant swings in the air as I tie the chain around my wrist and hold it forward, over my spear's blade. I take a deep breath and chant in a low voice, focusing the magic on the crystal.
[1d20+2] = 9+2 = 11 #Cast Light
No! I feel the spell quickly slipping away from my control and resist the temptation of cursing out loud, trying to tame the spell.
[1d20+2] = 12+2 = 14 #Save?
((Guys, my timing is a little off, so I'm backtracking a little. Since you got only two horses plus a child, you're going to take more than 5min to cover all the distance.
I didn't prepare this spell beforehand. It's a lvl 0 and I failed by 1 point, I'm not sure of how the save throws work yet. Light spells are cursed, hah!
Unless the door falls over her or there is a trap, when you notice the flash arrive I think Mauve would be already gone, either taking the stairs or the door.))
I glance at the broken door again, a conflict taking place in my mind. It won't hurt if I just take a peek. Decided, I walk over the door and I try to see through the gaps, avoiding to touch it.
((If it's too dark inside.))
It's of no use. My fingers feel a little stiff - from the cold, probably - as I fumble my pouches and pull out a thin chain. The quartz pendant swings in the air as I tie the chain around my wrist and hold it forward, over my spear's blade. I take a deep breath and chant in a low voice, focusing the magic on the crystal.
[1d20+2] = 9+2 = 11 #Cast Light
No! I feel the spell quickly slipping away from my control and resist the temptation of cursing out loud, trying to tame the spell.
[1d20+2] = 12+2 = 14 #Save?
((Guys, my timing is a little off, so I'm backtracking a little. Since you got only two horses plus a child, you're going to take more than 5min to cover all the distance.
I didn't prepare this spell beforehand. It's a lvl 0 and I failed by 1 point, I'm not sure of how the save throws work yet. Light spells are cursed, hah!
Unless the door falls over her or there is a trap, when you notice the flash arrive I think Mauve would be already gone, either taking the stairs or the door.))
- Thread starter
- #53
((OK, we'll try to synchronize the timelines a bit to make it easier)).
Mauve
You notice nothing else of interest in the area. The doorway hides a stone staircase that descends into the ground beneath the temple. It is too dark to see anything other than the dim outline of the first couple of stairs. You begin the incantation necessary to create a point of light to illuminate the area, but the magic quickly unravels as you try to cast the spell. Luckily, you are able to contain the unwinding threads of magic before they run away into the environment and cause harm. There is a brief flash as the magic is contained - enough for you to see that the stairs are steep and run at least fifteen feet below the surface.
The Party
Aliron and Ankari peer into the courtyard first, pressed against the walls of the entryway to present a scarce target to any foes that might we watching. The courtyard is covered with snow, most of which has blown against the southern walls of the temple. The remains of a campfire are scattered across an area of the courtyard to your right, near the north wall. The remains are largely covered in snow, but the shape and occasional piece of charred wood is enough to tell you what it was. A small stack of wood is against the wall near where the fire was made.
Although the campfire remains are clearly days old, there are fresh tracks in the snow around the campfire and the stack of wood. They move across the courtyard and then follow the southern wall as though someone were hugging the stone close as they moved. The tracks disappear into the temple itself, which is dark from your vantage point. A central doorway leads into the main temple building, and you can see a bit of light from two side doors as well. As you are watching the area, there is a sudden and unnatural flash of light from within the dark temple building. The light gives you only a brief view of the interior of the temple, revealing some sort of statute, and then all goes dark again.
Burnbright continues to be cold and miserable, and thus uncharacteristically silent. Her ears prick up at talk of the dagger, however. She cranes her neck to get a better view of the stone knife. "You think it's magic?"
Mauve
You notice nothing else of interest in the area. The doorway hides a stone staircase that descends into the ground beneath the temple. It is too dark to see anything other than the dim outline of the first couple of stairs. You begin the incantation necessary to create a point of light to illuminate the area, but the magic quickly unravels as you try to cast the spell. Luckily, you are able to contain the unwinding threads of magic before they run away into the environment and cause harm. There is a brief flash as the magic is contained - enough for you to see that the stairs are steep and run at least fifteen feet below the surface.
The Party
Aliron and Ankari peer into the courtyard first, pressed against the walls of the entryway to present a scarce target to any foes that might we watching. The courtyard is covered with snow, most of which has blown against the southern walls of the temple. The remains of a campfire are scattered across an area of the courtyard to your right, near the north wall. The remains are largely covered in snow, but the shape and occasional piece of charred wood is enough to tell you what it was. A small stack of wood is against the wall near where the fire was made.
Although the campfire remains are clearly days old, there are fresh tracks in the snow around the campfire and the stack of wood. They move across the courtyard and then follow the southern wall as though someone were hugging the stone close as they moved. The tracks disappear into the temple itself, which is dark from your vantage point. A central doorway leads into the main temple building, and you can see a bit of light from two side doors as well. As you are watching the area, there is a sudden and unnatural flash of light from within the dark temple building. The light gives you only a brief view of the interior of the temple, revealing some sort of statute, and then all goes dark again.
Burnbright continues to be cold and miserable, and thus uncharacteristically silent. Her ears prick up at talk of the dagger, however. She cranes her neck to get a better view of the stone knife. "You think it's magic?"
Phietadix
Shadow Lord
((Since you're letting us revise our actions, I'm riding in instead of walking))
I become instantly alert. What was that light? Whatever it is lights don't come out of nowhere. Someone else is here.
I become instantly alert. What was that light? Whatever it is lights don't come out of nowhere. Someone else is here.
"I hope so," I tell Burnbright.
"Oh... but speaking of magic..."
I remain silent. I saw a flash of light. Sir Matthew's alerted expression confirms he saw it, too. We all did. I keep my place in line, slightly closer to the front, but still letting Aliron and Ankari take the lead.
I lead in combat, not in stealth.
"Oh... but speaking of magic..."
I remain silent. I saw a flash of light. Sir Matthew's alerted expression confirms he saw it, too. We all did. I keep my place in line, slightly closer to the front, but still letting Aliron and Ankari take the lead.
I lead in combat, not in stealth.
Nihal
Valar Lord
Mauve, you fool! My hands shake as I listen to the wind. Stupid, stupid! All for a slim chance of finding power!! Why didn't I wait?! The wind sounds wild and I know that there may be no hiding place upstairs. In a clear day I may dare to sneak out a window of the second floor, but not today, not now.
Darkness! I try to open the door. I'm going to push, pull and even bash the remaining hinge if needed. I must get out of sight now!
[1d20+2] = 17+2 = 19 #DEX for the first attempt; [1d20] = 18 #If brute force is needed
I close the door behind me. ((if I succeeded and it can be done))
Darkness! I try to open the door. I'm going to push, pull and even bash the remaining hinge if needed. I must get out of sight now!
[1d20+2] = 17+2 = 19 #DEX for the first attempt; [1d20] = 18 #If brute force is needed
I close the door behind me. ((if I succeeded and it can be done))
Sparkie
Dark Lord
I look to Baldhart and begin to answer to her question, but before I can answerI see the flash out of the corner of my eye. Everyone stops for an instant, then everyone's guard goes up, most notably Matthew's.
"I could be wrong," I say, "but that seemed like magic to me. What else could do that besides lightning?"
"I could be wrong," I say, "but that seemed like magic to me. What else could do that besides lightning?"
- Thread starter
- #58
Mauve
The door is hanging on one hinge and not hard to open. You manage to slip inside and then close the door enough to give it some semblance of normalcy. The air coming up the stairs from below is damp and cold. With the door pulled closed very little light gets through to you, even though the door is broken.
The door is hanging on one hinge and not hard to open. You manage to slip inside and then close the door enough to give it some semblance of normalcy. The air coming up the stairs from below is damp and cold. With the door pulled closed very little light gets through to you, even though the door is broken.
Nihal
Valar Lord
Placing one of my hands on the wall, I quickly advance as far the dim light allows. No way I'm going to cast another light. When the darkness wins I lower my spear and gently scratch the ground ahead with the blade, attempting to feel my way.
Easy now.
When the step disappears I know it ended, so I lower the spear a little more until I find the next one and tiptoe next to the blade. As I try to not trip I find some comfort in thought of not being the first to take this path. Hopefully, all the traps are gone by now...
Easy now.
When the step disappears I know it ended, so I lower the spear a little more until I find the next one and tiptoe next to the blade. As I try to not trip I find some comfort in thought of not being the first to take this path. Hopefully, all the traps are gone by now...
SeverinR
Valar Lord
"The tracks couldn't be too old..." The flash stop my words, then speak softly "I assume there is someone human-like, ahead of us. At least they walk on two legs. I suggest, I don't profess to be a leader, we procede with caution. My silent movement is severely limited by the snow, I can step in the tracks and make less noise, but I would not risk my life just on the chance I could sneak up on the person or persons. One set of tracks could be more then one person if they follow in line."
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