Off the Beaten Track

load previous
Jan 5, 2022 8:11 pm
Albert looks in the direction of Cook's finger, visibly startled by the sudden scream, and leans sideways to see what's behind the captain. Not even considering that cook could be pointing to the captain herself. "Who? Where? What do you see?"
Jan 6, 2022 9:28 am
"Hells below!" Rook swears, slapping his hand over the mouth of the old man. He glanced over at the Captain, and hissed urgently to her. "We have to do something about him; his mind is broken, he's too mad to be trusted loose. We should truss him up and gag him, or we'll have this addle brained cove calling up the devils themselves with that screeching. That's if he don't just decide to knife us first when we ain't looking."
Jan 6, 2022 9:37 am
The captain also looks behind her to see who Cook is pointing too. It is only after Rook's comment that she realises, with a laugh, it is her.

"You are right. We can't leave him..." She concedes. "But strange things are afoot, and I don't think we would have gotten here without his... help?" She sounds uncertain that the last word is the correct one.

"Um... Try calm him down." She says not wanting to make things worse by approaching the frightened man herself. "Then we can decide what to do...

"But... I think we should take him with us?" Again, her language sounds like a statement but is inflected like a question. She seems to be assuming you are going on, going to examine the temple.
• Has anyone seen any sign of bandits?
Jan 6, 2022 4:08 pm
Mrrmhpph...urgmmmmm....mrmnma
Jan 6, 2022 4:30 pm
"Watch out there, Rook. He might bite you!" Albert says, half joking half serious. He relaxes a bit again after being shaken up by that scream.
"I agree, we can't leave him here, who knows how much attention he'll draw to himself standing here alone."

"Speaking of going into the temple... has anyone seen a door? This just looks like a blank wall to me." he says, walking closer and looking around for a way in. "Rook, can you bring him closer? He seemed to know the way so far."
Jan 6, 2022 4:36 pm
OOC:
Everyone approaching closer: Give me a +WIS roll.
Jan 6, 2022 10:23 pm
Rook stayed in place and continued to struggle with the old man; he had a wiry strength despite his age. He winced when Albert mentioned biting; he hadn't considered it, and he could only hope that Albert hadn't just sparked that idea in the madman's head. "Get a hold of yourself, man!" he hissed in the old man's ear. "Be silent! I'm not joking about gagging you continue that wailing! Are you ready to be sensible? Nod once if you understand."
Jan 6, 2022 11:02 pm
Albert nears the wall.

Rolls

Approaching temple - (2d6+2)

(51) + 2 = 8

Jan 7, 2022 8:48 am
- Albert -

Raynor promised answers, and there are definitely answers here... But does this really feel like Raynor's style? Would you know? Sneaking into an abandoned temple does not exactly scream 'conquest and fire'.

Nevertheless, something draws you onwards. Just think of the glory if you could tame and claim this temple!
Jan 7, 2022 9:28 am
As Albert ponders about the annoyingly vague ways of the gods he realizes Fire might actually help here. He looks back at the group and yells, loud enough to cross the distance, but hopefully not too loud to draw unwanted attention. "Does anyone have a torch? I think we might need it to find a way in."
Jan 7, 2022 3:53 pm
Cook struggles a for a bit in Rook's grasp but eventually settles down. The look of terror passes from his face, but he keeps a wary eye on the captain. He nods once.
Jan 9, 2022 2:39 am
"OK... but I mean it." Rook grumbles as he eventually takes his hand off the old man's mouth, ready to clamp down again if the squawking resumes. After a few moments of blessed silence, he finally turns the old man loose. "I'm watching you, greybeard."

He looked up as Albert called for torches. "Yeah, I've got a few... wait, did you seriously come out here with nothing more than that broom?"
OOC:
All of this is assuming that Cook does in fact stay quiet. If he starts screaming again, Rook will clamp his hand back over his mouth and not let go. He can talk to Albert while holding Cook.

Rolls

Influenced by the temple? - (2d6+1)

(33) + 1 = 7

Jan 9, 2022 6:29 am
"If you two are quite done roughhousing." The captain says, a tad dismissively. "Light up and let's go."

The captain seems fully intent on openly walking up to the temple, which seems a bit at odds with her caution during the trip so far. Asha seems OK with it, as well.

Albert, it all seems quiet and deserted to you. No reason not to approach.
OOC:
Rook Give us a +WIS roll.
OOC:
Cook Give us a +WIS roll it you are compos mentis enough to decide to approach or not.
Jan 9, 2022 6:41 am
- Rook -

Something niggles at the back of your mind, but it might just be your paranoia? Everyone else seems to think it is OK to approach, and you can't see any reason not to. But, maybe, you should keep your wits about you and remain vigilant? But you were going to do that anyway, right?
Jan 9, 2022 7:13 am
Rook frowned a bit as he pulled a torch out his satchel, and sparked it with flint and steel. Roughhousing? It was your face that he was screaming at... he thought bitterly. The captain kept being both insistent on continuing forward, and while also claiming to know nothing of what awaited them, and in that moment he decided he wouldn't be be caught as a sap in whatever her ploy might.

"Here you are, captain." He thrust the torch into her hands. "Probably best for you to carry it, so you can spot whatever you are looking for." As she proceeded forward, he hung back a bit before following. If trouble did start, let it focus on her; he wanted to be able to slip into the shadows.
Jan 9, 2022 9:42 am
"Thank you, Rook." The captain says, taking the torch and approaching [b]Albert[/b with am implicit offer that can take it if he wants, or she will carry it.

She is looking around, interested, and appears confident and unworried.
Jan 9, 2022 11:34 am
Albert holds out his hand to accept the torch when offered. "Ah, perfect. Now let's see if there's a way in." He gets closer to the wall hoping that, if there *is* a way in, Raynor will guide him to it. That's pretty much the reason why I'm here, isn't it?

"I only bring the things I expect to need, by the way, Rook." Albert says as Rook gets closer, not shifting his attention from the wall he's inspecting. "I wasn't exactly planning on a late night stroll through the fog. Normally I'd be cozy by a campfire by now." There's a hint of annoyance to be found in his voice but he ends his sentence with a short chuckle to not start any arguments. It's already turning out to be a long day, no need to make it worse.

Let's just get inside this temple and then maybe we'll find a nice place to rest for the night.
"Does anyone see any markings or levers or anything?"
Jan 9, 2022 11:48 am
- Everyone -

The outer wall of the temple is overgrown with vines, but not to the extent that you would not be able to locate any entrances or such.

As your eyes scan along the walls towards the corner, there is a heart-stopping moment when you think you spot someone crouching above, looking in your direction. But then --your eyes adjusted to the light-- you can tell that it is a grotesque statue, also covered with vines. There is another one 'watching' the other approach, around the corner, you can assume they probably perch atop each corner, but so far you only have knowledge of this one (each side of the outer wall is long enough that it would take upwards of five minutes to walk the perimeter if it were not overgrown, and more like half an hour as it is).

Close to the corner where you are, you can see an entryway. It appears open, but you would need to get closer to be sure. There also appears to be another, larger one further along, that one is probably for wagons and the near one for pedestrians, and logic says there is probably another pedestrian gate on the far side, if they adhere to normal ideas of symmetry.

All is quiet. It sounds deserted.

What do you do?
Jan 10, 2022 12:13 am
Cook remains quiet. As the Captain passes by, he shrinks away from her. He looks at the temple in longing and then at the Captain in fear. The look goes back and forth between the two as Cook tries to come to some decision. In the end, fear wins out and Cook turns to leave - only to be met by the wall of fog. That is apparently the worse option and Cook scurries back to join the group. He cowers at the rear, staying as far from the Captain as possible.

(holding back, not gack)
Last edited January 10, 2022 12:14 am

Rolls

Wisdom, if still needed, holding gack - (2d6+0)

(51) = 6

Jan 10, 2022 6:59 am
- Cook -

The closer you get to the temple building the clearer your mind becomes... calmer, more focussed, to the point where you can not think why you were worried in the first place.

This place was meant for you. With a little bit of effort you can rule here, and everything that is wrong in the world or with your life can be put right, made good... excelently-good!

The captain does not matter, the others who came here with you do not matter. The temple and its power is meant for you!
What do you do?
And after we know that: Does anyone else notice the change in Cook? Does anyone do anything to hold him back?
load next

You do not have permission to post in this thread.