[03] The Ziggurat

[aspiringlich]

[pc Human, Fighter 1]Arcus[/pc] will retrieve his spear and keep an eye out for any more cultists.

[Tonneau]

After retrieving his dagger, [pc Halfling, Fighter]Tumbly[/pc] steps up and assists [pc Human,M-U]Sullivus[/pc].

"Shame we lost our holy man. Now no one will have any words said over them when they fall."

"I will be happy to do that for you" says Urtzil, appearing besides Tumbly with a waft of unpleasant air.

He waves his mummified cat at the corpse while chanting some baratone verse, then throws a handful of black granules over the corpse. Grunting, the then sits and sees about carving himself a steak from the finished leech.

[mistere29]

After retrieving his dagger, [{ steps up and assists [pc Human,M-U]Sullivus[/pc].

"Shame we lost our holy man. Now no one will have any words said over them when they fall."

"I don't pray much, I have no tongue for it, but if this any indication of what lies ahead, I think we will need to invoke the gods' favors before combat, not after."

[pc Human, Fighter]Magnus[/pc] sheaths his sword and takes up his spear. He will guard the entrance where the snake cultists came from while the rest of the party searches. If necessary to see, he will light his torch now.

[waysoftheearth]

| We now return to the dungeon-exploration scale of ten minutes per turn to play out turn 3.9.

The referee dices to determine whether another encounter will occur as a result of all the racket. 1d6=1, so all is well, for now. |

All the activities mentioned below occur.

Of note, [p Man,mail+helm,hand ax,shield,9,8/8]Biratlan[/p] loots the cultist's bodies by the light of the dying oil-fire, and finds each has a purse of 4d6=18 18 loose silver coins. They each possessed a black hood, flail, and torch (these now lying on the ground), and a religious curios--a snake ring on one's grubby finger, and a snake bracelet on the other's wrist. Symbols of the chaotic creed!

Meanwhile [p Man,cloak,dagger,open hand,12,5/5]Urtzil[/p] and [pp Man,cloak,dagger,lantern,12,4/4]Sullivus[/pp] insist on gutting the leeches by his lantern light--a foul job indeed. They contain only mucus, mud, and Vergas' gore.

| What orders for turn 3.10? |

[sully]

[pc Human,M-U]Sullivus[/pc] says, "Grab the snake jewelry and hoods. Could come in handy if we need to infiltrate their hideaway. And then let's go down that corridor and see if we can find the trail to the rest of the cult."

If there's room in Vergas' backpack, Sullivus will throw the cultists's torches (assuming they're dry) in there.

[DuBeers]

Biratlan pockets the coins and gives the flail a few test swings. Nodding to himself, he back-slings the weapon.

[discuit]

Potts rejoins the group, keeping an eye peeled for any foul beasties that may be lurking in the shadows!

OOC: Potts will be try and remain in unlit areas whilst still staying within 20-30ft of the group whenever possible.

[mistere29]

[pc Human,M-U]Sullivus[/pc] says, "Grab the snake jewelry and hoods. Could come in handy if we need to infiltrate their hideaway. And then let's go down that corridor and see if we can find the trail to the rest of the cult."

Magnus will second this suggestion.

[aspiringlich]

[pc Human,M-U]Sullivus[/pc] says, "Grab the snake jewelry and hoods. Could come in handy if we need to infiltrate their hideaway. And then let's go down that corridor and see if we can find the trail to the rest of the cult."

Magnus will second this suggestion.

Arcus is on board with this as well.

[waysoftheearth]

| Very good. Turn 3.10 begins... |

The company proceed--sans Vergas--to investigate the passage that the snake-cultists emerged from.

As [p Halfling,leather,sling,open hand,9,4/4]Potts[/p] observed previously, the passage is rather a 30ft broad avenue that is maybe 90-100ft long. The run of parallel columns continues from the piazza and into the avenue, though here these are half sunk into the graven stone walls they scale rather than standing free. The ceiling seems dramatically lower (perhaps only 10ft), but the steady but flickering orange light comes ever more brightly from beyond a pair of narrow stone doors that stand ajar at the far end.

The right-hand two-thirds of its width are filled by the slug of dark water that reaches in from the plaza before tapering off about half way in.

| What orders for turn 3.11? |