(050) The Heart of Woe

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Mon May 20, 2013 12:15 pm

waysoftheearth wrote:
Gustave and Highbough make out the door just as the ash cloud rushes past them, and for a moment neither can make out anything much at all in the swirling choke.

But in a few moments the cloud subsides and they find themselves in a dim, 10ft wide passage. Some way up which there are corpses heaped upon the floor...

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Mon May 20, 2013 12:25 pm

waysoftheearth wrote:
Armando shelters behind the burned out alter, and swipes the ruinous bowl and candellabra just as the choking cloud washes over him too, but sheltering under his cloak and holding his breath for half a minute, he suffers no ill effect.

Olaf flees from the very midst of it meanwhile, making ground on the tar giant, he vaults the alter, and dives right out the rear window to land with a thump in a cloud of ash not half an inch from the tar moat that encircles the rear of the abbey. Ulric is there too.

Armando hears/feels several deep thuds as the tar giant follows after Olaf a few strides, then stops as its quarry vanishes from sight. He waits a few more moments in trepidation, observing the red beam of the monster's gaze scanning the whole width of the abbey... searching...

From his position, he judges it to be positioned about 20ft from him, and hopes fervently that the ash piled upon his cloak will hide him further from any laser sight the thing might posses.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Mon May 20, 2013 9:51 pm

tonneau wrote:
Lacking other options, and finding himself alone, Gustave tiptoes (somewhat comically in plate-armour, but gracefully nonetheless) up the passageway toward the pile of corpses, hoping againts hope that it was created by his comrades rather than with his comrades.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Tue May 21, 2013 1:43 am

mushgnome wrote:
Highbough holds position in the 10' passageway, and hopes the thing can't see invisible...

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Tue May 21, 2013 4:26 am

eris wrote:
Olaf stays low as he moves around the inside of the tar ditch toward the bridge. If he sees the group there he'll wave at them to warn them not to go inside the building.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Tue May 21, 2013 8:26 pm

danhem wrote:
Ulric follows after Olaf, not wanting to risk getting caught alone and unsure as to the effect of his fiery magic on the creature.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Tue May 21, 2013 11:08 pm

waysoftheearth wrote:
Very well.

Ulric and Olaf stay low, outside the abbey. Olaf skirts around the corner to see what's keeping Rufus, Torben and Guntram... it looks like Guntram is back to normal size and incapacitated, as Rufus and Torben are carrying him across the gardens.

Meanwhile, Armando holds his breath behind the altar...

Invisible Highbough remains.... invisible, observing the ash cloud settle, and some semblance of visibility returns to the abbey proper. The 12ft tall... being... is standing solemnly between the tar crater and the altar, it's head turning to look about in a strangely repeated pattern...

Out in the passage, Gustave approaches the bodies to see that they have been awfully decapitated. They are the corpses of four large, furry wolfmen, bearing many wounds. It must have been a terrible fight -- fortunately he doesn't spy any of his fellows among the dead.

He does, however, spy a closed door some 20ft further down the passage to his right...

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Tue May 21, 2013 11:43 pm

mushgnome wrote:
Invisible Highbough leaves the guardian apparition behind and catches up with his friends, giving a quick "hey guys!" so there are no invisibility-fueled friendly fire incidents. (Looking at you, Ulric! Flaming invisible Elf? A ghastly thought!!)

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Tue May 21, 2013 11:58 pm

tonneau wrote:
Emboldened by his new found muscular prowess (in lifting mighty beams single-handedly), Gustave continues to tiptoe down the passageway, leaving the garish pile and flaming daemon behind him.

He listens intently at the door before trying it...

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Wed May 22, 2013 2:53 pm

flightcommander wrote:
Assuming there's enough light behind the altar in the dim, smoky room, Armando visually inspects the bowl and candelabra. Do they appear ... wholesome? Are there any writings, comprehensible or otherwise?

In all other respects, Armando remains silent and as motionless as possible, hoping the terrible guardian eventually returns to wherever it came from.