1. The Cloakwood

As Stella finishes tending to wounds, she perks up at the mention of scrolls and a spellbook. Even if she couldn't use it, they could be sold for a lot.

"Where?" she asks simply.

Stephan

Jan 16, 2024 7:20 pm

Stephan points to a side chamber. "Probably in his creepy altar room. I... never went in there..."

Aiwë Shelur

gardensun

Jan 16, 2024 7:23 pm

"Creepy altar room?" Aiwë goes to look, gesturing for Stephan to follow her. She abandons the silence spell with relief.

Jan 16, 2024 7:31 pm

Stephan groans stiffly as he rises, still with arms bound. "Okay..."

The altar room reminds Aiwe a bit of Mulahey's lair. That same sense of unease, of something lurking. Of evil. It would seem that Davaeorn was a devout follower of an awful deity. One entire wall of the chamber is painstakingly carved to resemble a grinning skull with a river of blood droplets swirling about it. The black altar in the middle of the room is adorned with the same motifs.

Resting on the altar is a closed tome.

Stella

Carcabob

Jan 16, 2024 7:46 pm

"So it IS a cult!" Stella mutters with a mix of satisfaction and disgust peering inside. Her eyes briefly tinkle between a curious green and a sickened green.

She started to wonder whether the robes were cursed...She glances to Aldous, whom she had given the robes to. "We might want to avoid putting those on..." she says, eyeing them. "They might be cursed...Unlikely, but perhaps we should wait until we find a cleric or more powerful wizard who can remove it, if needed."

She turns back to the chamber and tilts her head towards the book. "I can see why you don't want it," she says to Stephan. "Maybe we should just destroy it? With the kind of enhancements he has, it might survive the flooding...though it could have some answers too..."

She studies the room for glyphs and possible traps.

Last edited January 16, 2024 7:47 pm

Rolls

Investigation - (1d20+5)

(6) + 5 = 11

Jan 16, 2024 7:53 pm

Dieter watches the lift for a while, he notices a younger guard make his way to the lift. The guard is a bit disheveled and clearly has been crying. Dieter knew his type, Dieter used to be him. the guard was lower on the pecking order and at an establishment like this that meant hazing. The difference between Him and Dieter is that Dieter wouldn’t work for these people which in turn meant he didn’t work with people that hazed him… at least not anymore. seeing no one else coming Dieter simply climbs on the lift with the guard.

Through careful application Dieter has learned that the best place to hide is sometimes right in front of the subject themselves. The guard doesn’t see him, he doesn’t want to see him. Nobody wants to see a 6’2" fully armoured thing glide out of the darkness especially in his moment of weakness. Besides the whole thing was an oxymoron, an impossibility.

When the lift reaches the bottom the guard comes to his senses and turns to look at the intruder..but he’s gone, like he was never there.
He wanted to go home, he was too deep and his dad was right. He didn’t care anymore about the iron throne’s benefits or pension plan, his armour didn’t fit right and his socks are damp. He doesn’t get off the lift like he should he simply activated the lift back to the surface and hopefully home.

Jan 16, 2024 8:15 pm

Dieter pauses for a moment A thousand scenarios playing out in his mind. Was he alone? What spilled this blood? He couldn’t see, could his opponent see? Who would be advantaged by the light? He formulates a plan.

Dieter puts his hand in the blood and presses his hand prints into each of his breasts then he draws a trail from each eye slit down like tears flowing then joined by three fingers down where his mouth would be. Satisfied he lights a torch then draws his Longsword with both hands

They would fear him, and he will win.

Rolls

Intimidation - (1D20+3)

(18) + 3 = 21

Aiwë Shelur

gardensun

Jan 16, 2024 8:38 pm

"Stunning iconography," Aiwë says, only a little sarcastic. "I think you're right, Stella. Definitely a cult." She looks at Koveras. "Good money says Rieltar's part of it. This display ringing any bells, Blood?"

Jan 16, 2024 9:02 pm

Ready for a fight, Dieter does his best to see through the darkness surrounding him, looking for any clue as to what he faces.

After a long moment, he can hear the soft click of claws on stone. The barest rattling of a growl. The two dead-gray eyes staring at him.

It's the dread wolf that accompanied them into the mine.

It's a heavy moment, looking into that empty stare. Once again, Dieter can feel the repressed memories surfacing of the desperate escape from his first home...

...the claws of branches whipping across his face as he runs... the snarls of pursuit... the wailing of a scared child... "HELP!!!"

Dieter comes back to himself in the dark, sweat-slicked hands gripping his longsword. The eyes are gone! Is he even facing in the same direction as before his memories took hold?

Rolls

Mystery Roll - (1d20)

(13) = 13

Druid Woman

Jan 16, 2024 9:04 pm

Then a dim light blossoms before him, held in the hand of a human woman dressed in bark and bone. A dark green tattoo weeps from her left eye down her cheek. Her eyes, glowing dimly with magic, peer intently at Dieter. "Painted with blood..."

It's then that Dieter notices two corpses in the passage. Both wear the insignia of the Iron Throne, and both have their throats ripped out.

The human holds the magical light a little higher. "Who are you?"

Jan 16, 2024 9:09 pm

"I am you by another name" Dieter replies. His grip on his sword doesn’t change but he doesn’t make any aggressive moments.

Aldous Silvershield

Jan 16, 2024 9:11 pm

Aldous holds the robes up to his neck as though checking the fit. "Cursed? Cool!" He winks at Stella to show he's joking. "Actually, I was wondering why you handed these to me. I figured it was just to hold them for a minute. Isn't that what gentlemen do, hold stuff for ladies?"

He gives the robes a more serious look. "They don't exactly give off an aura of nice, you know?"

Koveras

Jan 16, 2024 9:13 pm

Koveras stares grimly at the morbid designs. "It seems Davaeorn shared an interest with Rieltar beyond the Iron Throne. This is the symbol of Bhaal. The god of the man who murdered my mother."

Aiwë Shelur

gardensun

Jan 16, 2024 9:18 pm

Aiwë puts a hand on Koveras' arm briefly, then walks around examining the room.

"I'm wondering if there even is a distinction between the Iron Throne and this cult of Bhaal, at least for the uppers."

Last edited January 16, 2024 9:19 pm

Rolls

Religion (Who Bhaal?) - (1d20)

(15) = 15

Druid Woman

Jan 16, 2024 9:18 pm

The woman flinches as if slapped. There's confusion in her eyes. And fear.

(Insight: Dieter gets the impression that this woman isn't used to dealing with either emotion. If he strikes now, she's probably too distracted to defend herself.)

Jan 16, 2024 9:21 pm

Seeing her eyes off him for a moment he steps into the shadow

Rolls

🦇 - (1D20+9, 1D20+9)

1D20+9 : (15) + 9 = 24

1D20+9 : (3) + 9 = 12

Jan 16, 2024 9:26 pm

(Religion: Bhaal is the Lord of Murder, god of assassins and ritualistic killings. Or, at least he was. He was killed during the Time of Troubles, an era of upheaval in which the gods were cast from their thrones down to the mortal realms and forced to walk the earth as men and women.

These days, only the most dark-hearted and secretive dare to revere the Dread Lord. Dead as he is, they receive nothing from him in return for their debased murders.)

Druid Woman

Jan 16, 2024 9:31 pm

Quickly, silently Dieter slips out of sight. Peering from the darkness, he sees the woman's eyes refocus, then widen in surprise. It lasts only a moment, and then she growls low in her throat. It's a dark, primal sound, and Dieter watches her form quickly melt into that of the dread wolf.

The light goes out.

The growl does not.

OOC:

Roll initiative!

If you get an 11 or higher, you can act first.

Rolls

Mystery Roll

Jan 16, 2024 9:34 pm