(024) The Ravine Door

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The pair move cautiously toward this new intersection, Victor keeping a grim eye behind, Olaf focussed on what lies ahead. The passages thus far have all been littered with detritus, and none too few rats and centipedes have been seen to scurry away as the Men approach.

However, as Olaf nears the T intersection, he notes that some 40ft or so up the passage directly ahead, the way appears to be clear of such mess. He frowns, then peers around the corner to the right. Another passageway greets him, leading on into the gloom to another intersection at the limits of his eyesight, but there is a sense of dampness this way.

"What is that smell?" complains Victor.

There is indeed a whiff of... crushed ants perhaps? on the otherwise stale air.

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:

The pair move cautiously toward this new intersection, Victor keeping a grim eye behind, Olaf focussed on what lies ahead. The passages thus far have all been littered with detritus, and none too few rats and centipedes have been seen to scurry away as the Men approach.

However, as Olaf nears the T intersection, he notes that some 40ft or so up the passage directly ahead, the way appears to be clear of such mess. He frowns, then peers around the corner to the right. Another passageway greets him, leading on into the gloom to another intersection at the limits of his eyesight, but there is a sense of dampness this way.

"What is that smell?" complains Victor.

There is indeed a whiff of... crushed ants perhaps? on the otherwise stale air.

"I don't like the corridor being clear of debris." Olaf says grimly, "That's not right...something must have swept it clean..."

"And I don't think going to the right will get us *up*, it seems to be damp that direction...like the river or something." Olaf says grimly, "Maybe we should retrace our steps and try the Ogre's back door."

"There was a passage back there that we never really explored." says Olaf, "Yeah, let's do that."

Olaf turns and heads back the way he came, "Sorry, Victor, but I my instincts say going forward is a bad idea. So let's try going back and trying another route."

OOC: So, shoot me, but that's what Olaf thinks. [img]images/smiley/smiley.png[/img]

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:

"I don't like the corridor being clear of debris." Olaf says grimly, "That's not right...something must have swept it clean..."

"And I don't think going to the right will get us *up*, it seems to be damp that direction...like the river or something."

Olaf doesn't sense a river is nearby... but an increased humidity perhaps. The air carries an acrid tang. Perhaps it's an evil bog or fen?

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Victor squints for a moment, scratching at his stubbly jaw, then comes to a decision.

"Let's get on with it then," he growls, and spits. And then turns about and starts back toward the door to the Ogre lair.

(1d6)

It is tiring, all this trudging about with heavy sacks of silver, but none too soon the pair arrive back in the corpse littered ante in front of the double door to the Ogre lair.

Olaf's Resplendent Sceptre continues to shine its brilliant blue white light, but did it give a flicker just now?

What next?

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:
Through the double doors. There was an exit back there what we didn't explore before (right?) we can explore it now.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
On the great double doors to the Ogres' Lair there is a bold inscription in the common tongue, which reads:


TRUCE IS BROKEN, MAGGOTTS!
GO AWAY OR WE EET YOU!!!



Victor merely grunts at it unhappily (Olaf doesn't recall whether the grim fighter can read or not...)

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:

On the great double doors to the Ogres' Lair there is a bold inscription in the common tongue, which reads:


TRUCE IS BROKEN, MAGGOTTS!
GO AWAY OR WE EET YOU!!!



Victor merely grunts at it unhappily (Olaf doesn't recall whether the grim fighter can read or not...)

Olaf peeks through the partly opened doors, and if he doesn't see any dangers inside will push them open a little wider and move into the lair.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Olaf pushes the door in just a crack and peers in through the two finger crack...

...within the musty chamber is all dark, the shaft of blue light from the scepter a probing blade of illumination. A quiet shaking sound reaches the two Men. Chika-chika-chika-chika. It is strangely repetitive for a few moments, though Olaf cannot see the source.

And then it stops utterly.

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:

Olaf pushes the door in just a crack and peers in through the two finger crack...

...within the musty chamber is all dark, the shaft of blue light from the scepter a probing blade of illumination. A quiet shaking sound reaches the two Men. Chika-chika-chika-chika. It is strangely repetitive for a few moments, though Olaf cannot see the source.

And then it stops utterly.

Olaf whispers, "Drop your sack and prepare for a fight."

He will do so himself, dropping the sack and taking his sword in one hand, still holding the scepter in the other. Olaf looks about to see if there is a sconce, or crack in the wall, that can hold the scepter and if there is he will place it there and take up his shield, if there is not, it will be scepter in one hand and sword in the other.

Once the two are prepared, Olaf will shove one of the doors open with a mighty push and step back prepared for what might come out and attack.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Olaf thrusts the door wide out as he and Victor both back off in preparation to face any enemy. Light flood into the room pushes long shadows, but despite the frantic shaking sound there is no foe to be seen.

Olaf barely has time to scan the walls for a place to rest the sceptre before a horrible menace suddenly appears at the top of the doorway. It is a ghastly armoured octopus, its tentacles questing before a chitinous helmet the size of an Ogre's head. And it glides easily forward, flowing down the outside of the wall like a putrescent wave with dozens of body segments now following after the head, each driven on by a sea of a thousand clicking legs chika-chika-chika-chika!

"Gad!" spits Victor at the sight of the enormous thing.

Neither side is surprised.

What to do?