(049) The Blasted Abbey

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
(Posted retrospectively for the benefit of those who weren't there)

Highbough and Olaf are here.

Highbough:
Assuming Highbough wins the game of rock-paper-scissors-lizard-elf, he will start climbing down the rope to see what lies below the illusion...

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Waysoftheearth:
The game of rock-parchment-knives goes as predictably as Highbough anticipated, and so he wins the opportunity to descend first.

From Olaf's point of view it is as though the old, cloaked Elf wriggles through a pond's surface, vanishing from view entirely as he passes beyond.

From Highbough's point of view, he experiences a slight resistance as he pushes through the illusionary surface... somewhat like breaking through thick cobwebs. And then....

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Highbough:
Highbough vanishes from sight beneath the illusion. A few seconds later, the rope goes slack.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Waysoftheearth:
Highbough wriggles down Olaf's rope, penetrating the bizarre surface which somehow baffles ordinary sight.

But once he has passed through it, his eyes are affronted by the sore truth!

The Abbey is a forlorn wreck, charred by fire, blasphemed by grotesque graffiti, and decorated with foul skins and carcasses strung up like trophies. The ground is blackened with ash and densely littered with skulls and bones. Fires smoulder and black tar bubbles in pits dug into the earth, and rotted heads gawk sightlessly, spitted upon pikes staved into the suffering earth.

Looking back toward Olaf and the real world, Highbough finds he can scarcely see anything more than a grey haze beyond the enchanted surface...

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Olaf:
Olaf will follow him...

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Waysoftheearth:
Olaf swiftly takes up the slackened rope, turns about and rappels through the enchanted surface after the crazy old Elf...

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Mushgnome:
Ack! Highbough gags and retches at this affront against nature. But he gathers his wits and leans on the Ire Spear for reassurance. He tries to get the lay of the land. What lies between him and the chapel, and what can he see, are there any doors/windows/entrances? Any movement or noises?

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Wote:
Olaf rappels down the rope to find himself in the same horrible scene -- Highbough is leaning up his spear nearby, survey the awful abbey in all its grotesqueness.

The awful reality is of the same basic proportion as it appeared from the roof tops:


....................................
..........Outer Wall................
....=============================...
====......|__........./.............
..........|..|......./..............
..........|__|......|.Rear of.......
..--------'..\......|..Chapel.......
.........O...Bell....\..............
..........H..Tower....\.............
....................................
..............Interior..............
................Garden..............


The bell-tower is still largely intact, although blacked and blasphemed.

The large arched windows at the rear of the chapel were once filled with beautiful stained-glass windows, but these are now smashed, leaving a gaping opening in the rear wall -- about 60ft from the duo's current position.

However, a crude pit has been dug all around the perimeter at the foot of the abbey wall, in which a foul black tar broils and burns with a low but nauseous green flame.

Some 60ft further around the abbey's wall is the proper entrance. A great black double door flung wide open stands beneath a huge Gothic arch that is riddled with gargoyles. A stout timber bridge has been laid over the burning moat, but there are two figures standing on the far side of the bridge -- entirely cowled in heavy black robes so that their features are completely concealed. They seem alert but partially preoccupied with what is going on just out of sight inside the abbey -- At their feet are three large-looking wolves circling restlessly -- completely unchained!

Thank Thuul that the wretched pong form the fires seems to have baffled their noses...

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Olaf:
It is much as Olaf expected. There would be no reason to hide the true from the outside if it wasn't an awful truth!

OOC where are the two black robed men and wolves?

Olaf makes silent signal to Highbrow to keep silent move with him out of sight of the black robed men and their wolves...hopefully, taking cover behind the bell tower.

Olaf will whisper to Highbough, "Yet us climb up into the bell tower. My bow will have good effect there as will your spells."

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Wote:

  Code:

................................................
..........Outer Wall.....................=======
....====================================........
====......|__........%/.........................
..........|..|......%/..........................
..........|__|.....%|.Rear of...................
..--------'........%|..Chapel...................
.........O..........%\..........................
..........H..........%\.........................
......................%'--------------..........
.......................%%%%%%%%%%%%%..|.........
.............................%%%%%%%%.|...Bridge.
.................................%%%%%|___|__...
....................................%%%%|.V|%%%%
.....................................%%%|..|%%%.
.......................................w.PP.w...
.................Interior................w......
................Desolation......................

% burning tar pit
P black robed "priest"
w Wolf