The Quest Begins

[acererak]

The morning air is crisp and clean, holding just a hint of chill. The party makes its way by horse several miles north of Vartis along a winding road that skirts the edge of Mithril Lake. Mists cling to the shoreline as lark calls punctuate the silence. Here and there smoke can be seen rising from a fisherman's hut. Several small boats dot the shimmering waters of the lake. When you reach the two rowboats waiting for you along a rocky stretch of shore the sherrif's men set up camp.

The trip across the lake is quiet. As you near the island of the dead the smell of smoke is still strong. The party disembarks from their boats and ascends the stone steps that face the shore. At the top of the plateau a truly impressive spectacle awaits. Every building in the temple complex has been laid low. A mass of rubble, timber, charred bone and scraps is the only thing to greet you. What could have caused this? How many times can lightning strike in one place? Was this the gods? Some sorcerous device? An invading army?

You search the rubble for some time. There is no sign of the living. The only dead are the corpses of some livestock. It is nearly noon when Eugene and Caby, who happen to have been walking close to each other, sight what is obviously a trap door set into the earth itself in the area where the main temple once stood......

Begin turn one....

[Distorted Humor]

Atticus looks over the ruin. Seeing the ruins, the bodies, and the trapdoor.

"We should bury the dead, not only is it the correct thing, but it will prevent them from becoming horrors."

[Alethan]

Atticus looks over the ruin. Seeing the ruins, the bodies, and the trapdoor.

"We should bury the dead, not only is it the correct thing, but it will prevent them from becoming horrors."

There is no sign of the living. The only dead are the corpses of some livestock.

"What's that, Atticus? You want to bury the cows?"Caby asks with a raised eyebrow. "I think we'll be safe enough leaving them as they lay..."

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

Caby stoops to examine the trap door. Is it opened? Closed? If closed, how does it open? If opened, what does she see inside?

[Distorted Humor]

Atticus looks at the Halfling "You never met a Zombie Cow now have you. Some things once seen cannot be unseen. There flesh lumbering at you, pike in hand, flies swarming. The Horror."

(OCC: opps)

Atticus being mostly useless in looking at trap doors, keeps a lookout for the party, keeping a eye out for the goat corpse, as a Zombie Goat would be bad too...

[Alethan]

Atticus looks at the Halfling "You never met a Zombie Cow now have you... "

lol. You live up to your name, good sir.

[dmw71]

Atticus looks at the Halfling "You never met a Zombie Cow now have you."

Zombie cows? What madness is that? Eugene wonders to himself as he overhears the cleric speaking. He shakes his head in disbelief before returning his attention to the trap door.

It's closed. That's a good sign, he thinks, but for no particular reason. Eugene, while he doesn't look forward to it, kneels down in the wreckage surrounding the trap door and brings his ear to within an inch or two of its surface to see if he can hear anything below. "Shhhh..." he waves his companions quiet as he strains to listen.

[Alethan]

Atticus looks at the Halfling "You never met a Zombie Cow now have you. Some things once seen cannot be unseen. There flesh lumbering at you, pike in hand, flies swarming. The Horror."

Caby looks up from her examination of the door and stares at the cleric with wide eyes, not sure if she should believe him... or believe him to be mad.

[acererak]

Turn 1
Eugene kneels amidst the wreckage and strains to hear any sounds coming from below. He is met with only silence. A closer examination of the wreckage surrounding the trap door reveals that the remnants of a block and tackle lie strewn close to the door. Additionally, you realize that the area you are in is comprised of flagstones that must have been part of the floor of the main temple's lower level.

[Xaxyx]

"Right then, time for action!" Boldus suddenly exclaims. "Stand ready!"

Reaching down with two hands, he'll grasp the ring or handle of the trap door, and attempt to heave it open.

[Distorted Humor]

Atticus steps back from the trapdoor as it is opened.

[dmw71]

"Right then, time for action!" Boldus suddenly exclaims. "Stand ready!"

Reaching down with two hands, he'll grasp the ring or handle of the trap door, and attempt to heave it open.

Eugene steps back as well. He has is obligatory 10-foot pole held held out in front of him.

[Alethan]

"Right then, time for action!" Boldus suddenly exclaims. "Stand ready!"

Reaching down with two hands, he'll grasp the ring or handle of the trap door, and attempt to heave it open.

Caby draws her short sword, moves into a wide balanced stance, and nervously nods to Boldus that she's ready.

[acererak]

Boldus, ever a dwarf of action, grips the iron ring and easily pulls the trap door open. A pair of rough hewn shallow steps are easily visible to all leading down into the darkness. The only sound a flight of crows that took to the air from a nearby tree as the door was heaved open. The stairs appear to descend at least 15 feet or so.

[Alethan]

Caby then draws her hand axe with her left hand and looks around to see if anyone appears to want to lead the way...

[dmw71]

Cabby then draws her hand axe with her left hand and looks around to see if anyone appears to want to lead the way...

"Look no further, my diminutive friend." Eugene says confidently. He rests his 10' pole against side as he fetches a torch from his pack and lights it. "Here, hold this for me," he says to Gaby as he returns his flint and steel into his backpack and brings his 10' pole to hand. "Follow closely behind... but not too close." he says with a wink.

He peers into the opening and, before stepping down himself, he uses his 10' pole to apply pressure in various places along each step, testing to make sure it will support him.

[Alethan]

"GABY?" Caby says, incredulously with a raised eye brow. "You think I talk too much already?"

Then she smiles as he tries to hand her a torch and looks down at the weapons in both hands.

"Maybe someone else can hold the arrow beacon? My hands are a bit full..."

[dmw71]

"GABY?" Caby says, incredulously with a raised eye brow. "You think I talk too much already?"

"Caby. Gaby. No offense." He observes the halfling with her hands full. "Ah, yes, perhaps you're right." He scans the group of remaining party members. "Perhaps one of the men of faith would like to follow me next?" he say, holding the torch out to whichever accept it first, Atticus or Brother Kytan.

[saalaria]

Kytan hefts his mace and prepares for action.

OOC - hi all I'm back in the uk. Dont think we have decided an MO have we? I'll propose something on the OOC thread and see what you think.

[Distorted Humor]

Atticus is a "Hindmost" and leads from the rear.

[acererak]

Eugene slowly descends the steps probing carefully with the 10' pole. The steps appear to be sturdy and well traveled. The only sound that can be heard is the steady tapping that Eugene is doing. The steps open up into a room, approximately 25' (east/west axis)by 30'(north to south). The stair opening is part of the south wall. In the flickering torchlight a few things are apparent. All four walls are marked with writing in various hands using various methods ( scratching, chiseling, etc.) It is hard to make out the writing further without approaching a wall closer. The ceiling of this chamber is high, almost 15 feet. A large statue dominates the area in front of the north wall. The statue is about 12 feet tall, it is of a large man whose muscular body is covered in ancient glyphs. His head is bald and he is clad only in a loincloth. Between his legs rests a large couldron lying with its opening facing the stairs as you descend. The floor of this chamber is well worn.