(036) The Remains of the Day

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The First Vault
(Gustave, Dorgan)

Gustave and Dorgan note a new, bright blue light appear and are greatly encouraged to see Dieter and Co. returning via the opposite door-arch -- Ulric carries with him a burning blue-white flare.

And what is more, the dead immediately hiss and, shielding their eyes from the light, they all turn about and stagger off toward the new comers! Three of them jerk and heave right through the remains of Highbough's burning oil (3d6; 5, 5, 6) and the first of them (previously burned) collapses in the flames. The other pair shamble out afire, fixated upon the light.

Gustave and Dorgan hew into the backs of the remaining pair (2d20=20! 20!) (!!) both cleaving mighty blows for (3dd=5,2,2 and 4,2,5) 7 and 6 hit-points respectively -- Gustave dashes the foul head off his foe, and Dorgan smashes his axe right through the enemy's spine. Both foes tumble off the edge of the stair and crash to the floor 30ft below. The stair seems cleared!

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The First Vault
(Guntram, Highbough, Josiane)

Meanwhile, in the passage, Guntram and Highbough array themselves to face whatever new horror might come down the passage, and observe as the last of the torches in the ante-chamber is extinguished. Ahead, all is pitch dark.

Josiane (1d6=2!) stutters a moment with all the jostling for position around her, and has lost her verse! The purity of her chant is ended suddenly, and the cold dark all around presses in once more, seeming heavier and more oppressive than ever in the absence of her prayer.

Guntram and Highbough feel their skin prickling in awful anticipation, and the dark ahead seems blacker than pitch. Something is there, Guntram is sure.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The Third Vault

Pelenwin (presently on but 1 hit point) and Wibert both fall to their knees before separate coffers of coin and start emptying the content into their treasure gatherer's sacks excitedly.

Wibert is still imagining all the exquisite sweets and pastries he will be able to afford when there comes a sudden, loud grinding of stone. Both of them look up just in time to see a great stone door drop into place, sealing them in with a resounding thud. They are trapped!

"Whooooo ailsssss mhhyyyy peeeacessss?" comes a terrible whisper like cold ashes crumbling into a forlorn autumn breeze.

The pair of them are afraid.

[waysoftheearth]

rleduc wrote:
"Have we another unlit torch?" Guntrum asks? "I'd soon light another and throw this one down the hall some ways." "And if anyone wants to carry a torch so as I can retrieve my shield, I'd thank'ee."

[waysoftheearth]

doctorx wrote:
Josiane gasps for breath, wiping beads of sweat from her brow before snatching up her flask of oil. "The stair is clear! Advance towards the others!" she gasps.

She will reach to take Guntrum's torch and hold it steady for him; "Give me a moment and I will attempt to recover my prayer," she says, "but I cannot guarrantee to do so. Best we regroup to face together whatever blocks our escape."

[waysoftheearth]

tonneau wrote:
Gustave is too gleeful at his second beheading for the afternoon to notice the growing panic and chill behind him.

"Ha haaa!", he cries leaping after the retreating corpses, sword flailing wildly in the air (narrowly missing Dorgan's beard on passing)
"Now you know the wrath of The Gustave - now you flee!", he continues to taunt the largely unfazed foe as he pursues them.

[waysoftheearth]

doctorx wrote:

Gustave is too gleeful at his second beheading for the afternoon to notice the growing panic and chill behind him.

"Ha haaa!", he cries leaping after the retreating corpses, sword flailing wildly in the air (narrowly missing Dorgan's beard on passing)
"Now you know the wrath of The Gustave - now you flee!", he continues to taunt the largely unfazed foe as he pursues them.

"That's the spirit," says Josiane weakly, pleased The Gustave is at least heading in the right direction...

[waysoftheearth]

mushgnome wrote:
Highbough barks and hisses a challenge in the Infernal Tongue: "Who goes there? Show yourself!"

(OOC: If sentient undead or necromancers approach, best know now!)

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:
OOC: Do I understand it that there is a pit between Olaf and company and the other group and the only way for the two groups to come together is by one or the other going down the stairs on one side and back up on the other?

"I think we should beat a hasty retreat to the surface and return better prepared for these demons." Olaf says to those around him, "Ulric did you see how those monsters turned and came for the light of the scepter? I think you should lower it and damp its light by saying (OOC: What is it again? [img]images/smiley/smiley.png[/img] I never remember and have to look it up everytime.) before it attracts more of the undead."

[waysoftheearth]

coffee wrote:

OOC: Do I understand it that there is a pit between Olaf and company and the other group and the only way for the two groups to come together is by one or the other going down the stairs on one side and back up on the other?

Me, too!

"I think we should beat a hasty retreat to the surface and return better prepared for these demons." Olaf says to those around him, "Ulric did you see how those monsters turned and came for the light of the scepter? I think you should lower it and damp its light by saying (OOC: What is it again? [img]images/smiley/smiley.png[/img] I never remember and have to look it up everytime.) before it attracts more of the undead."

"But if we take this light away, we'll all be in darkness," Dieter mutters, pointing toward the rest of the party. "Notice how their torches are all going out?"


(Dieter has the glimmerings of a plan, but could use a current map to flesh it out more...)