(026) Happenstance in Ket

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 11:08 pm

waysoftheearth wrote:
Dorgan makes his way down the passage to the first pair of torches mounted on the wall (60ft from the door). 40ft further on he can now see that the series of "windows" in the left hand wall are actually a series of 2ft wide openings in the stone wall that reach almost from floor to ceiling. Each is covered by a lattice of rusty iron bars which prevent any egress.

As Dorgan gets closer a foul scent reaches his nose, and an unexpected chill touches his skin. It appears from the play of Mads' torchlight that all of the openings look into a single, bleak stone chamber on the other side of the wall.

What is that foul smell? Rotting meat?

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 2:12 am

sulldawga wrote:
"By the gods! Bring that light closer, Mads. What sorta madness goes on down here?"

The tone of Dorgan's voice turns more serious.

"Watch yerself, people. The last time I smelled that smell, I got attacked by the dead!"

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 1:01 pm

doctorx wrote:
"Keep clear of the bars as far as you may!" Josiane says sternly to the others; "Let no-one come within arm's reach!"

Once they are closer to the first of the barred gates she will take a look inside, insofar as the light of the torch allows and providing she does not have to get within grabbing distance to do so.

She has her sword drawn and her shield raised, just in case...

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 11:42 am

waysoftheearth wrote:
The company bunches up on the far side of the wall, peering through the barred openings without getting too close.

By the light of Mads' sputtering torch, the space beyond appears to be an especially bleak stone chamber, perhaps 60 feet long, and almost as wide. The stench comes from the macabre assortment of rotting carcasses that litter the space. What are those? Dogs? Goats? And even Men... all bearing grievous wounds. Long, deep gashes that split them open.

In the centre of the room, three iron stakes are riven into the stone, forming a triangle some 20ft across. Cold chain ties each to an iron manacle that hangs about the wrist or ankles of an exhausted girl kneeling between the stakes.

Her head hangs listlessly before her, with long white hair covering her features almost entirely, and reaching to the stone. She seems to be... naked. And also entirely oblivious...

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 5:05 pm

sulldawga wrote:
"This be not what it seems. Why bind a girl so securely, less'n she ain't no little girl?"
(/b)
Perhaps it's the poor light and the flickering shadows but Dorgan looks extremely uncomfortable to you. He's fidgeting and bouncing from one foot to the other, like he can't wait to get out of there.

"I know you'll think me daft but I say put a bolt in her leg and let's see how she reacts. Be she a girl, she'll live. Be she something else... we'll see her true colors and right quick."

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 7:08 pm

doctorx wrote:

sulldawga wrote:"This be not what it seems. Why bind a girl so securely, less'n she ain't no little girl?"

(/b)
Perhaps it's the poor light and the flickering shadows but Dorgan looks extremely uncomfortable to you. He's fidgeting and bouncing from one foot to the other, like he can't wait to get out of there.

"I know you'll think me daft but I say put a bolt in her leg and let's see how she reacts. Be she a girl, she'll live. Be she something else... we'll see her true colors and right quick."(/quote)

"Alas, no! I cannot countenance such actions!" says Josiane in shocked tones; "It has been my fear that innocents have been compelled to be a part of Grumolg's 'games.' This may prove to be one such!"

She takes a deep breath and moves a little closer to the bars (though she is still wary to keep enough distance that any sudden lunge from the chained figure would be unable to reach her).

"Young lady?" she calls softly in reassuring tones; "Can you hear me? Be not afraid; my companions and I are here to aid you. Who are you and how do you come to be here? Raise your head and speak to us, I pray you!"

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Sat Sep 24, 2011 12:21 am

waysoftheearth wrote:
Percy narrows his eyes, looking at the potential target.

"A bolt through the thigh might still kill a Man," he advises cautiously, "And even the slightest mishap could see it through the groin or guts, and that wouldn't be well..."

And so Josiane makes her approach instead.

At first the girl does not seem to notice, but eventually she raises her head very slowly to stare, baffled, through her long messy hair at the offensive brightness of Mads' torch light.

You seen now her pale flesh is bruised and scratched, and her eyes seem to wander far from what is before her. She does not respond to speech, for clearly she is greatly fatigued and scarcely cognisant of her surrounds.

"There is no access to that foul place from here," notes Mads sourly. The only access appears to be via a rusted iron door in the opposite wall...

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Sat Sep 24, 2011 1:02 am

sulldawga wrote:
"This be madness..." Dorgan harrumphs through his beard.

"Do any of you recognize her? Mayhap she's the daughter of some nobleman or such."

waysoftheearth wrote:"There is no access to that foul place from here," notes Mads sourly. The only access appears to be via a rusted iron door in the opposite wall...

"Well, if we're to free this lass, then let's get on with figurin' out how ta get in there!"

The dwarf will continue down the corridor, not waiting for his comrades to follow, until the darkness is too deep for him to continue.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Sat Sep 24, 2011 11:36 am

doctorx wrote:
"More like she is some poor child of the streets the fiends who control this place thought no-one would miss," says Josiane in response to Dorgan's speculations; "but no matter who she is I will aid her if I may."

(O.O.C: Sorry for being thick, but I'm a little confused as to where the iron door is. On first reading I thought it was our side of the bars. On re-reading I'm thinking it's actually on the opposite side. [img]images/smiley/tongue.png[/img] If so, Josiane will follow Dorgan. If she can get at the door, however, she listens at it.

Again, apologies. I'm a bit dozy at the moment - sleep patterns being severely disrupted by the Rugby World Cup... [img]images/smiley/cheesy.png[/img]

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Sat Sep 24, 2011 11:54 pm

waysoftheearth wrote:
Yes, the door is on the opposite side of the chamber; it can't be reached from here.

Dorgan proceeds down the passageway ahead of the others. Josiane notes that the girl does not even turn her head to follow their progress.

In a dozen strides the company have passed the girl's cell, and in a score more they reach a + intersection wherein two unlit torches are a-fixed to diagonally opposite corners. Mads reaches up and puts his own torch to the nearer of these so that it sputters to a flame, while the others observe that the rank odour of fouled meat lingers in the damp air.

From here everyone can see that there are similar iron bars built into both sides of the passage walls ahead, while those to the left and to the right appear grim and featureless.

The girl's cell was on the left behind you, so presumably you would need to turn left to circle around it.