The Cold World

[DrK]

Njal "Stormcaller" At Ramiro's words Njal looks around and grins. "Aye laddie, sorry. I forget ye canae see in the dark with yer wee surface eyes." He claps his hands togethers and the gloves marked with stars and the light illuminate, a thin beam of light shining from the palms of his hands. "Aye lad, you have a wee look around". he stands in the middle of the room, hands scanning the room to shed light on everything to give Ramiro a look around

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Activate "light at will" from Gloves of the starry sky

Njal "Stormcaller"
M NG Dwarf (Glacier Dwarf) Druid, Level 5, Init -5, HP 41/41, Speed
AC 18, Touch 11, Flat-footed 17, Fort 7, Ref 2, Will 7, Base Attack Bonus 3
+2 trip MW Tigerskull Club (Lesser Crystal of Fiery Assault) +7 (1d8+3 [+1d6 FIRE], x4)
Quaterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Darts / Sling (10 / 20 ) +4 (1d4+3 / 1d4+3 , x2)
Dragonhide (White) Breastplate, Heavy Wooden Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Condition +1 hit Greenskins, +4 Dodge vs Giants, +2 vs Spells/Poison, +2 vs Cold, +4 vs Fey



Stormrir
30 / 30 hp (4HD) Init +1 Speed 50 ft Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2
AC 17 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural +3 AC), touch 10, flat-footed 16
BAB/Grapple +3/+11
Attack: 2 hooves +6 melee (1d6+4) and bite +1 melee (1d4+2)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills/feats: Listen +5, Spot +4 / Endurance, Run
Equipment: Military saddle, Saddle bags, Std'Leather Barding

Gromnir (Wintery Huskie) - Level 3 companion
29 / 29 hp (4HD) Init +3 Speed 40 ft Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2
AC 22 (+3 Dex, +6 natural +3 armour), touch 12, flat-footed 18
BAB/Grapple +3/+6
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+4 + Trip (+3))
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +9, Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +4, Survival +2/6*
Feats: Alertness, Track, Improved Natural attack (bite) / Link, Share spells, Evasion
Equipment: MW std Leather barding

[Saintheart]

Day 6, Alkukevaasta (Early Spring)
Kirillin Manor Grounds, Valley of the Spear
After Midday, 1537

Complication Pool: 3 of 6

Tonlist had shaken her head to Njal's question about whether she could still see them, and the room had stayed silent.

In the light of Njal's gloves, Ramiro set about searching the chamber. He made a careful inspection of the grim table at the centre of the room, and then set about looking through the metal and wood cabinets. There didn't seem to be much left: two flasks of acid in ancient green glass bottles of elven make, two flasks of what Tonlist looked over and guessed were antitoxins, and ten tindertwings. The rest of the room didn't seem to contain much other than the physical furniture itself, which was old but solid wood and metal cabinetry ... and of course the metal and wood table.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

What do you do now?

[Novabomb]

Ramiro Sanda
Hmm, help me move this table there may be something underneith

Verglas, was that a real haunting, or illusionary trickery?

[DrK]

Njal "Stormcaller" Njal nods to Ramiro and walks across to clear the table, dumping the range of thing on whatever surface is handy. As they manhandle the the table he glances at the pile of stuff and then at Tonlist. "Lass, any of that worth much? Be nice to have some change for the fees that guild do charge?". then he looks back to the table and searches underneath it

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Njal "Stormcaller"
M NG Dwarf (Glacier Dwarf) Druid, Level 5, Init -5, HP 41/41, Speed
AC 18, Touch 11, Flat-footed 17, Fort 7, Ref 2, Will 7, Base Attack Bonus 3
+2 trip MW Tigerskull Club (Lesser Crystal of Fiery Assault) +7 (1d8+3 [+1d6 FIRE], x4)
Quaterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Darts / Sling (10 / 20 ) +4 (1d4+3 / 1d4+3 , x2)
Dragonhide (White) Breastplate, Heavy Wooden Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Condition +1 hit Greenskins, +4 Dodge vs Giants, +2 vs Spells/Poison, +2 vs Cold, +4 vs Fey



Stormrir
30 / 30 hp (4HD) Init +1 Speed 50 ft Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2
AC 17 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural +3 AC), touch 10, flat-footed 16
BAB/Grapple +3/+11
Attack: 2 hooves +6 melee (1d6+4) and bite +1 melee (1d4+2)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills/feats: Listen +5, Spot +4 / Endurance, Run
Equipment: Military saddle, Saddle bags, Std'Leather Barding

Gromnir (Wintery Huskie) - Level 3 companion
29 / 29 hp (4HD) Init +3 Speed 40 ft Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2
AC 22 (+3 Dex, +6 natural +3 armour), touch 12, flat-footed 18
BAB/Grapple +3/+6
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+4 + Trip (+3))
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +9, Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +4, Survival +2/6*
Feats: Alertness, Track, Improved Natural attack (bite) / Link, Share spells, Evasion
Equipment: MW std Leather barding

[/QUOTE]

[Saintheart]

Day 6, Alkukevaasta (Early Spring)
Kirillin Manor Grounds, Valley of the Spear
After Midday, 1537

Complication Pool: 3 of 6

The table, in ages past, had been fixed to the floor with metal pins driven deep into the stone floor. But the march of time had - at least in this case - stamped over the pins, and some long-ago moisture had festered into rust. Though it produced a metallic scream not unlike that of a dying child, the pins gave way and the table was separated from the floor. However, despite a careful inspection of the stone floor beneath it, there didn't seem to be anything underneath it, and the underside of the table was only thick with ancient, dead mould.

Tonlist had been humming a little tune that Njal thought at some points he might have recognised, but she was doing so quietly and there were points where the melody skittered away from the one he knew. The little mouth-music didn't seem to have much purpose other than to steady the red-haired dwarven woman's nerves; Njal had noticed her fingers trembling as she picked through the contents of the cabinets. Eventually, she looked up at him and Ramiro. "'Tis all mundane stuff, I'm thinkin'. Bu' tha's odd in its way, too. Th' acids and countertoxins must'a bin here for centuries if they date bac' t' when this place was in use. Bu' ... they look, feel, smell, sound ..." And she held one of the green bottles up to her ear, giving it a careful shake, "...like they w's brewed yesterday. Dunno if they'd be worth more than th' sort o' thing ye could ge' from an alchemiser at Hardwalker Hall, bu' they'll work fine enough I think."

She glanced around the room again. "An' ... shivers me skin t' talk about, bu ... I think those ... people ... shapes ... ghosts, what we saw ... I heard o' such. They'd no' be Forsaken, more like ... like ... like th' echoes of old songs, drifting in th' arches of great halls. Th' singers, an' th' songs, are long gone, bu' the power of th' song ... and the violence of th' singers ... a little o' its' force remains. Mi' be in a place such a' this, where there was ... blood, suffering ... there mi' be many such echoes." She shook her head. "What ye wan' do now?"

Spoiler: OOC

Show

What do you do now?

As a reminder again, you're on the second floor. Here's what you've seen of it so far:



All the other doors on this level are locked, didn't open to Ramiro's hand, as Ramiro already knows.

The first floor, below, is here:



There's still four doors visible down there so far that you haven't gone near yet.

[Novabomb]

Ramiro Sanda
Content there is nothing else of value in this room, he heads across the way.
He launches a barrage of fire at the door.
Just in case. he states before attempting to open it.

[Saintheart]

Day 6, Alkukevaasta (Early Spring)
Kirillin Manor Grounds, Valley of the Spear
Afternoon, 1537

Complication Pool: 3 of 6

The light had shifted a little as the afternoon came on. It was cold in the long hallway connecting the rooms to one another, and the smell of the charred, burnt thing in the door had mostly dissipated in a draft that had picked up from back down the hall, towards the stairway, bringing strange, wordless echoes from the rest of the building.

Ramiro unleashed his talent on the door opposite. Once again a great wash of cleansing flame, light, and heat leapt from his hands and lit on the ancient frame. The aged wood whumped as the blast bit greedily into the fuel, sending a wave of heat and smoke up as it instantly charred.

In this, there was both good news and better news. The good news was that no creature screamed in outrage or pain or tried to spring at Ramiro from the door's structure, and even better was that while this door had not opened to his hand when he'd experimentally tried it earlier, some crucial damage was done to the frame such that the wood gave a crack like bones breaking and sagged, ajar in its frame. It could be opened without having to resort to lockpicking at all. Which, after waiting several moments for the smoke and heat to die away, Ramiro did.

The room beyond, visible once Ramiro had carefully pushed the door open, seemed of a similar nature to the one they'd just left. It was certainly of the same dimensions. However, it was a dark twin to the room opposite. Greasy alchemical-looking stains covered the walls and peeling cabinets of the ruined chamber. Ichorous trails oozed towards a floor layered with shattered glass and warped shapes of metal which Ramiro surmised were some sort of chiurgeon's tools. At the room's centre crouched another, uncomfortable-looking iron table, threaded through with charred leather harnesses. A thick, humanoid-shaped layer of ash and charred debris lay piled upon it.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

What do you do?

[DrK]

Njal "Stormcaller" As the second door opens revealing a darker and less happy room Njal reaches out and grabs Ramiro. "Aye lad, lets no go in there. It do be looking dark and misery in there. Lets be checking the next room alonng" If Ramiro pauses he moves to the next down the corridor (K9) and give sit a solid kick to open it as he approaches it warily

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Njal "Stormcaller"
M NG Dwarf (Glacier Dwarf) Druid, Level 5, Init -5, HP 41/41, Speed
AC 18, Touch 11, Flat-footed 17, Fort 7, Ref 2, Will 7, Base Attack Bonus 3
+2 trip MW Tigerskull Club (Lesser Crystal of Fiery Assault) +7 (1d8+3 [+1d6 FIRE], x4)
Quaterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Darts / Sling (10 / 20 ) +4 (1d4+3 / 1d4+3 , x2)
Dragonhide (White) Breastplate, Heavy Wooden Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Condition +1 hit Greenskins, +4 Dodge vs Giants, +2 vs Spells/Poison, +2 vs Cold, +4 vs Fey



Stormrir
30 / 30 hp (4HD) Init +1 Speed 50 ft Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2
AC 17 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural +3 AC), touch 10, flat-footed 16
BAB/Grapple +3/+11
Attack: 2 hooves +6 melee (1d6+4) and bite +1 melee (1d4+2)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills/feats: Listen +5, Spot +4 / Endurance, Run
Equipment: Military saddle, Saddle bags, Std'Leather Barding

Gromnir (Wintery Huskie) - Level 3 companion
29 / 29 hp (4HD) Init +3 Speed 40 ft Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2
AC 22 (+3 Dex, +6 natural +3 armour), touch 12, flat-footed 18
BAB/Grapple +3/+6
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+4 + Trip (+3))
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +9, Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +4, Survival +2/6*
Feats: Alertness, Track, Improved Natural attack (bite) / Link, Share spells, Evasion
Equipment: MW std Leather barding

[Saintheart]

Day 6, Alkukevaasta (Early Spring)
Kirillin Manor Grounds, Valley of the Spear
Afternoon, 1537

Complication Pool: 3 of 6

Njal's boot turned out to have much the same efficacy as Ramiro's flames. The frame gave way as Njal's bootheel crunched into the wood, splinters flying, and the door flew back on its hinges, banging hard against the wall behind it before rebounding a few inches. Dust rained from the timber and the noise echoed up and down the hallway.

If Njal had regarded the room Ramiro had opened as holding dark and misery, this one perhaps added to it.

The twenty-foot-square, flame-eaten space contained what looked like five, low-to-the-ground, man-sized cribs. Each, however, was only about two feet deep and covered by a barred, wooden lid, blackened with fire. Visible from the doorway, Njal could see three of these tortuous-looking cradles contained crammed, charred skeletons. Fire-scabbed bones dangled, still, awkwardly, through the cradle bars, as though trying to escape even long after what must have been a horrible way to die.

As the echoes of Njal's blow faded, the dwarf realised he could hear something else. Indeed all of them could. There was a faint weeping reverberating through the chamber, echoing as if coming from the very walls.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

What do you do?

[DrK]

Njal "Stormcaller" Njal jumps back, paling slightly in the horror of the room he had revealed. He reaches out and slams the door shut as hard as he can. "Nae lads, nae lasses, nought good in there. These folks did do great evil in these rooms." He spits on the floor, "Great evil and it be leeching our frae the very walls." Looking around he shrugs, "Once we been done searching this place we should fire it to destroy the legacy here."

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Close the door and peek through the next door

Njal "Stormcaller"
M NG Dwarf (Glacier Dwarf) Druid, Level 5, Init -5, HP 41/41, Speed
AC 18, Touch 11, Flat-footed 17, Fort 7, Ref 2, Will 7, Base Attack Bonus 3
+2 trip MW Tigerskull Club (Lesser Crystal of Fiery Assault) +7 (1d8+3 [+1d6 FIRE], x4)
Quaterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Darts / Sling (10 / 20 ) +4 (1d4+3 / 1d4+3 , x2)
Dragonhide (White) Breastplate, Heavy Wooden Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Condition +1 hit Greenskins, +4 Dodge vs Giants, +2 vs Spells/Poison, +2 vs Cold, +4 vs Fey



Stormrir
30 / 30 hp (4HD) Init +1 Speed 50 ft Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2
AC 17 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural +3 AC), touch 10, flat-footed 16
BAB/Grapple +3/+11
Attack: 2 hooves +6 melee (1d6+4) and bite +1 melee (1d4+2)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills/feats: Listen +5, Spot +4 / Endurance, Run
Equipment: Military saddle, Saddle bags, Std'Leather Barding

Gromnir (Wintery Huskie) - Level 3 companion
29 / 29 hp (4HD) Init +3 Speed 40 ft Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2
AC 22 (+3 Dex, +6 natural +3 armour), touch 12, flat-footed 18
BAB/Grapple +3/+6
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+4 + Trip (+3))
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +9, Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +4, Survival +2/6*
Feats: Alertness, Track, Improved Natural attack (bite) / Link, Share spells, Evasion
Equipment: MW std Leather barding

[Saintheart]

Day 6, Alkukevaasta (Early Spring)
Kirillin Manor Grounds, Valley of the Spear
Afternoon, 1537

Complication Pool: 3 of 6

Carefully pushing the door open wasn't particularly an option since - like all the others - it didn't open readily to his hand. However, Njal put his shoulder to the ancient wood and it gave way with a husky grunt of timber being forced.

Luckily nothing jumped out at him, because beyond the door lay a small space where a narrow, winding stairwell led upward and out of the dwarf's sight.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

What do you do?

[DrK]

Njal "Stormcaller" Njal steps back as the door gives way and looks around the room in the shadowy shades of grey from his dwarven nightvision. Looking at the others he growls "Aye, nothing in that one, but be stairs upstairs". Looking at the next door he moves towards it and pushes open the next one

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Njal "Stormcaller"
M NG Dwarf (Glacier Dwarf) Druid, Level 5, Init -5, HP 41/41, Speed
AC 18, Touch 11, Flat-footed 17, Fort 7, Ref 2, Will 7, Base Attack Bonus 3
+2 trip MW Tigerskull Club (Lesser Crystal of Fiery Assault) +7 (1d8+3 [+1d6 FIRE], x4)
Quaterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Darts / Sling (10 / 20 ) +4 (1d4+3 / 1d4+3 , x2)
Dragonhide (White) Breastplate, Heavy Wooden Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Condition +1 hit Greenskins, +4 Dodge vs Giants, +2 vs Spells/Poison, +2 vs Cold, +4 vs Fey



Stormrir
30 / 30 hp (4HD) Init +1 Speed 50 ft Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2
AC 17 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural +3 AC), touch 10, flat-footed 16
BAB/Grapple +3/+11
Attack: 2 hooves +6 melee (1d6+4) and bite +1 melee (1d4+2)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills/feats: Listen +5, Spot +4 / Endurance, Run
Equipment: Military saddle, Saddle bags, Std'Leather Barding

Gromnir (Wintery Huskie) - Level 3 companion
29 / 29 hp (4HD) Init +3 Speed 40 ft Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2
AC 22 (+3 Dex, +6 natural +3 armour), touch 12, flat-footed 18
BAB/Grapple +3/+6
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+4 + Trip (+3))
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +9, Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +4, Survival +2/6*
Feats: Alertness, Track, Improved Natural attack (bite) / Link, Share spells, Evasion
Equipment: MW std Leather barding

[Saintheart]

Day 6, Alkukevaasta (Early Spring)
Kirillin Manor Grounds, Valley of the Spear
Afternoon, 1537

Complication Pool: 3 of 6

The door Njal now came to was somewhat different to the other wooden doors they'd breached so far. This one appeared thick and looked very much intact. It was quickly clear that the door was locked, and that forcing it would take more time, effort and measures other than a simple kick.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

If you want to get this door open it'll involve picking the lock or perhaps hacking it down or otherwise destroying it. This is possible, but it will take time - advancing the Complication Pool clock by 1 and also the passing of time itself, with all that entails. What do you do?

[DrK]

Njal "Stormcaller" THe sturdy dwarf rebuffed the door looks at it angrily. Then turns to Ramiro and Tonlist. "I dinnae want to be forward about a dubious youth... but either of ye able to deal with the wee lock or do we be smashing it down." He'll eye up the door carefully as he see's if any of his companions can be subtle than hismelf with a barbed skull axe that will take some time to batter down the door.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Njal "Stormcaller"
M NG Dwarf (Glacier Dwarf) Druid, Level 5, Init -5, HP 41/41, Speed
AC 18, Touch 11, Flat-footed 17, Fort 7, Ref 2, Will 7, Base Attack Bonus 3
+2 trip MW Tigerskull Club (Lesser Crystal of Fiery Assault) +7 (1d8+3 [+1d6 FIRE], x4)
Quaterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Darts / Sling (10 / 20 ) +4 (1d4+3 / 1d4+3 , x2)
Dragonhide (White) Breastplate, Heavy Wooden Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Condition +1 hit Greenskins, +4 Dodge vs Giants, +2 vs Spells/Poison, +2 vs Cold, +4 vs Fey



Stormrir
30 / 30 hp (4HD) Init +1 Speed 50 ft Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2
AC 17 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural +3 AC), touch 10, flat-footed 16
BAB/Grapple +3/+11
Attack: 2 hooves +6 melee (1d6+4) and bite +1 melee (1d4+2)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills/feats: Listen +5, Spot +4 / Endurance, Run
Equipment: Military saddle, Saddle bags, Std'Leather Barding

Gromnir (Wintery Huskie) - Level 3 companion
29 / 29 hp (4HD) Init +3 Speed 40 ft Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2
AC 22 (+3 Dex, +6 natural +3 armour), touch 12, flat-footed 18
BAB/Grapple +3/+6
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+4 + Trip (+3))
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +9, Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +4, Survival +2/6*
Feats: Alertness, Track, Improved Natural attack (bite) / Link, Share spells, Evasion
Equipment: MW std Leather barding

[Saintheart]

Day 6, Alkukevaasta (Early Spring)
Kirillin Manor Grounds, Valley of the Spear
Afternoon, 1537

Complication Pool: 4 of 6

It took a few minutes of discussion, but in the end they decided brute force was probably the best door-opener.

Njal's tigerskull club proved to be equal to the challenge, at least with the ancient elven crystal that spewed licks of flame along with its blows. It took a few minutes of loud, crashing thunks against the door ... noises that seemed to warp into screams in the echoes down the hallway ... but finally the old lock gave way under relentless assault, and the wooden door crashed open to Njal's boot.

Here, the stagnant breath of old water lingered, wafting from a pair of rusted iron tubs filled to the brim with tainted water. The room's purpose was unclear, filled only with the tubs, an overturned writing desk, numerous items that looked like manacles ... and a hulking contraption of fused metal and rotting wood. Comprising this device was a large oak disk, strangely untouched by fire and affixed with four leather restraints, standing upright upon a base of deteriorating metal. From the device's frame, a long metal crank presented itself.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

What do you do?

[DrK]

Njal "Stormcaller" Njal looks at the room, a frown on his face. "Ah, I dinnae like this. I don't know what that be but it don't look good." Looking suspiciously at the water in the tanks and the weird contraption he advanced cautiously towards the desk and waved over Ramiro and Tonlist. "Can you help me have a look. I dinnae spek or read that elven script. So help be good frae ye both."

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Njal "Stormcaller"
M NG Dwarf (Glacier Dwarf) Druid, Level 5, Init -5, HP 41/41, Speed
AC 18, Touch 11, Flat-footed 17, Fort 7, Ref 2, Will 7, Base Attack Bonus 3
+2 trip MW Tigerskull Club (Lesser Crystal of Fiery Assault) +7 (1d8+3 [+1d6 FIRE], x4)
Quaterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Darts / Sling (10 / 20 ) +4 (1d4+3 / 1d4+3 , x2)
Dragonhide (White) Breastplate, Heavy Wooden Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Condition +1 hit Greenskins, +4 Dodge vs Giants, +2 vs Spells/Poison, +2 vs Cold, +4 vs Fey



Stormrir
30 / 30 hp (4HD) Init +1 Speed 50 ft Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2
AC 17 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural +3 AC), touch 10, flat-footed 16
BAB/Grapple +3/+11
Attack: 2 hooves +6 melee (1d6+4) and bite +1 melee (1d4+2)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills/feats: Listen +5, Spot +4 / Endurance, Run
Equipment: Military saddle, Saddle bags, Std'Leather Barding

Gromnir (Wintery Huskie) - Level 3 companion
29 / 29 hp (4HD) Init +3 Speed 40 ft Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2
AC 22 (+3 Dex, +6 natural +3 armour), touch 12, flat-footed 18
BAB/Grapple +3/+6
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+4 + Trip (+3))
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +9, Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +4, Survival +2/6*
Feats: Alertness, Track, Improved Natural attack (bite) / Link, Share spells, Evasion
Equipment: MW std Leather barding

[Saintheart]

Day 6, Alkukevaasta (Early Spring)
Kirillin Manor Grounds, Valley of the Spear
Afternoon, 1537

Complication Pool: 5 of 6

Tonlist cautiously crossed to the upended desk and set about searching through it. The oaken wood was decades, perhaps centuries old, and had been marred by fire and then by expansion and cold, but she eventually pried open a swollen draw with the point of her longspear. With a grainy groan, the draw popped open, allowing her to get her hand into it and free its contents.

Some sort of leatherbound, dusty book came out.
"'Tis no' a tome o' knowledge," she said, brushing away the dust and flipping a couple of pages. "More a kin' o' diary 'r journ'l. Like a ledger," she said. The dwarven bard flipped a few pages. Her face wrinkled. "Some o' it's no' writt'n in Common tongue. 'tis ... well, th' flowin' script's like elven. I dinnae know th' tongue - we mi' ha' t' find a schol'r who read th' slavemasters' tongue t' translate it."

She flipped a few more pages. "Oh, wait - no' all o' it's in elven. Th' script's ol', bu' 'tis Common here. Wi' some elven ha'way through. Strange. And..."

She stopped talking, flipping through more pages. Her face grew grim within the halo of her red hair. "'Tis some record o' wha' things were done t' those kept here. Some sort o' ... attempted ... remedies." She indicated the page before her, reading out the entry to those with her, her performer's voice echoing in the gloom. "'Day Fourteen of Method Apresun. Bath was heated with flame to point of near boil. Subject did not appear to respond to same. Withdrawal as normal, placement in chair, restraints applied and bleed applied to upper arms this time. Subject appeared to respond somewhat, small indication of thaumaturgical auraic interactions. Attempted infusion of Thalassamonis. Ended auraic interaction, subject lost consciousness. Returned subject to cell to recover for next iteration of Method Apresun.'"

She bit her lip and flipped onward, this time frowning at a new entry and taking several long moments, tracing a thick finger from line to line before looking at Njal and Ramiro again. The look on her face was even more grim, and she nodded at the oak disk with its leather restraints, and the metal crank attached to it. "Th' most recen' entries're in Common. There were three ... inmates, patients ... were used t' test tha' spinning wheel there. All three o' them died durin' th' tests."

She slapped the book shut with a dusty thump.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

What do you do?

[DrK]

Njal "Stormcaller" Njal looks at the others as Tonlist reads the words. "It do be sounding nasty. Testing on use lowly cattle fer them elves. But not sure what those rights and rituals were eh? Would be good to know and find out so we could be giving the best advice." he looks at Tonlist and Ramniro, "Any idea what any of that means"

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Njal "Stormcaller"
M NG Dwarf (Glacier Dwarf) Druid, Level 5, Init -5, HP 41/41, Speed
AC 18, Touch 11, Flat-footed 17, Fort 7, Ref 2, Will 7, Base Attack Bonus 3
+2 trip MW Tigerskull Club (Lesser Crystal of Fiery Assault) +7 (1d8+3 [+1d6 FIRE], x4)
Quaterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Darts / Sling (10 / 20 ) +4 (1d4+3 / 1d4+3 , x2)
Dragonhide (White) Breastplate, Heavy Wooden Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Condition +1 hit Greenskins, +4 Dodge vs Giants, +2 vs Spells/Poison, +2 vs Cold, +4 vs Fey



Stormrir
30 / 30 hp (4HD) Init +1 Speed 50 ft Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2
AC 17 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural +3 AC), touch 10, flat-footed 16
BAB/Grapple +3/+11
Attack: 2 hooves +6 melee (1d6+4) and bite +1 melee (1d4+2)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills/feats: Listen +5, Spot +4 / Endurance, Run
Equipment: Military saddle, Saddle bags, Std'Leather Barding

Gromnir (Wintery Huskie) - Level 3 companion
29 / 29 hp (4HD) Init +3 Speed 40 ft Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2
AC 22 (+3 Dex, +6 natural +3 armour), touch 12, flat-footed 18
BAB/Grapple +3/+6
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+4 + Trip (+3))
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +9, Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +4, Survival +2/6*
Feats: Alertness, Track, Improved Natural attack (bite) / Link, Share spells, Evasion
Equipment: MW std Leather barding

[/QUOTE]

[Novabomb]

Ramiro Sanda
I do not. But if this was used to the detriment of the subjects, then perhaps we should destroy it so that others do not run afoul of it later.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Some Knowledge Checks:
Martial Lore: (1d20+10)[26]
History: (1d20+3)[17]

[Saintheart]

Day 6, Alkukevaasta (Early Spring)
Kirillin Manor Grounds, Valley of the Spear
Afternoon, 1537

Complication Pool: 5 of 6

Tonlist's face was grim. "Based on th' stories I heard, this place, Kirillin Manor, was a kind of' refuge or hospital or summat for slaves who were - aberrant, mad. Murderers, lunatics, accursed, ye ken. Elven masters supposedly want'd t' try t' treat them. This stuff soun's like w's some kind o' attempt a' medicine, but cruel. Verra' cruel," she said again, looking at the book in her hand once more. "Bu' somethin' still doesn' add up. F'r a start, th' book here's half in elven, half in Common. I dinnae ken why th' slavemasters would write in Common. Mayhap th' Illumians they ha' here migh' have had reason to so write, but dinnae why a combination in th' same book. And th' book mentioned 'Thalassamonis'. I heard 'tis a herb ... doesn' grow on Horizon anymore, no' since th' Rebellion an th' elves turned th' world cold. Stories said it only grows down where 'tis still a little warm, on the Archipelago. Th' stories say it makes a wizard's spell stronger if he chews th' leaf before he speaks th' words. Ne'er heard o' it used for medicine before. Dunno why it'd be used t' treat madmen. Or prisoners."

Spoiler: OOC

Show

What do you do?

[DrK]

Njal "Stormcaller" Njal shakes his head at Tonlist's words. "I dinnae like this place. Every room be another horror to shake us." Spitting on the ground he looks at the next set of doors down the corridor, "Come on then. lassie, lets be sweeping the rest of this place and then we can be burning it down."

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Njal "Stormcaller"
M NG Dwarf (Glacier Dwarf) Druid, Level 5, Init -5, HP 41/41, Speed
AC 18, Touch 11, Flat-footed 17, Fort 7, Ref 2, Will 7, Base Attack Bonus 3
+2 trip MW Tigerskull Club (Lesser Crystal of Fiery Assault) +7 (1d8+3 [+1d6 FIRE], x4)
Quaterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Darts / Sling (10 / 20 ) +4 (1d4+3 / 1d4+3 , x2)
Dragonhide (White) Breastplate, Heavy Wooden Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Condition +1 hit Greenskins, +4 Dodge vs Giants, +2 vs Spells/Poison, +2 vs Cold, +4 vs Fey



Stormrir
30 / 30 hp (4HD) Init +1 Speed 50 ft Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2
AC 17 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural +3 AC), touch 10, flat-footed 16
BAB/Grapple +3/+11
Attack: 2 hooves +6 melee (1d6+4) and bite +1 melee (1d4+2)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills/feats: Listen +5, Spot +4 / Endurance, Run
Equipment: Military saddle, Saddle bags, Std'Leather Barding

Gromnir (Wintery Huskie) - Level 3 companion
29 / 29 hp (4HD) Init +3 Speed 40 ft Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2
AC 22 (+3 Dex, +6 natural +3 armour), touch 12, flat-footed 18
BAB/Grapple +3/+6
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+4 + Trip (+3))
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +9, Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +4, Survival +2/6*
Feats: Alertness, Track, Improved Natural attack (bite) / Link, Share spells, Evasion
Equipment: MW std Leather barding

[Novabomb]

Ramiro Sanda

Then lets start this way (Indicates north)

[Saintheart]

Day 6, Alkukevaasta (Early Spring)
Kirillin Manor Grounds, Valley of the Spear
Afternoon, 1537

Complication Pool: 0 of 6

The little group headed up to the northernmost door on the upper floor. It took several moments of combined burning and bashing, with noises echoing down the corridor, but the old wood finally gave way, exposing this room as well.

This chamber was larger than the cells and theatres of horrors they'd encountered on this floor so far. Elongated, the room they'd come into was fifty feet by twenty feet by the look of it, with no doors outward. They'd come in at the middle of it. It was windowless, but there were still curtains. Once white but now yellowed and blackened by age and smoke, the mouldering cloth swayed spectrally through this long ... ward? .... separating numerous incinerated beds. On one bed nearby, glimpsed through a swaying gap, a layer of ash and singed sheets obscured a peculiar bulge. Ramiro was quick to notice ominous-looking red-brown stains beneath that bed.

To the west, a small wooden desk still seemed to be standing, and at the east end stood an ancient oaken cabinet and two barrels.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

What do you do?

(I will get round to doing a more complete map so you've got a better picture of where you've been and the salient features in the rooms so far.)

[Novabomb]

Ramiro Sanda
Choosing to not gaze upon the dead, walks passed the beds, and started rifling through the desk carefully.

[Saintheart]

Day 6, Alkukevaasta (Early Spring)
Kirillin Manor Grounds, Valley of the Spear
Afternoon, 1537

Complication Pool: 0 of 6

The sounds of Ramiro looking through the ancient desk - the slide of draws, the click of wood, the hiss of dust - seemed preternatually loud in the stillness.

And the stillness revealed nothing. There were two tiny scraps of paper in one draw which crumbled to dust at the young man's touch, and despite a careful look, there was nothing to be found in the desk except perhaps for firewood that might be made from its form.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

What do you do?

[Novabomb]

Ramiro Sanda
Nothing in the desk
Then pops the lid on the barrel to see if its contents were something non-perishable.

[Saintheart]

Day 6, Alkukevaasta (Early Spring)
Kirillin Manor Grounds, Valley of the Spear
Afternoon, 1537

Complication Pool: 0 of 6

Ramiro didn't make it to the barrel.

To get to the casks, he had to pass by the bed with the peculiar bulge, and which had stains beneath it.

The bulge moved.

Which was to say, the sheets on the bed suddenly tossed themselves off the thin mattress, as though a body beneath them had moved them. But no body was visible. And something shifted from the mattress, the ancient material softening as though something had stood from the bed and had now moved.

As Tonlist moaned in fear, Ramiro's senses came alive, all his training coming to the fore. Something was in the room. Something he couldn't see. He couldn't place it, but he was sure they weren't alone in here.

Tight quarters. Beds and furniture in a room only fifty feet long and twenty feet wide, lit by the illumination from Njal's standing spell. The dwarf was on edge by the door already, and his wolf growled in warning...

Spoiler: OOC

Show

What do you do?

[Novabomb]

Ramiro Sanda
Where is it?
He speaks as he moves in front of the desk, having failed to spot it, he allows his shadow to elongate as he puts back to a corner.
The bright flames that follow dance in concert with the flame.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Swift action, enter Child of the shadow stance (Gain concealment if moved at least 10 ft in the round)
Move action, move in front of the desk, and then to a corner (I assume this is at least 10 feet)
Std action, initiate hatchling's flame. If the entity is in the AOE, DC 15 for (3d6+3)[11] fire damage.

[DrK]

Njal "Stormcaller" Freezing the dwarf looks into the chamber where Ramiro had vanished. "What was it? What did ye see Ramiro?" Njal with the dog at his heels plants himself firmly in the doorway. "Get back here, we'll hold here and see what's occuring." He makes sure his shield is tight and the club is held in his fist as watches the big room carefully

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Njal "Stormcaller"
M NG Dwarf (Glacier Dwarf) Druid, Level 5, Init -5, HP 41/41, Speed
AC 18, Touch 11, Flat-footed 17, Fort 7, Ref 2, Will 7, Base Attack Bonus 3
+2 trip MW Tigerskull Club (Lesser Crystal of Fiery Assault) +7 (1d8+3 [+1d6 FIRE], x4)
Quaterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Darts / Sling (10 / 20 ) +4 (1d4+3 / 1d4+3 , x2)
Dragonhide (White) Breastplate, Heavy Wooden Shield (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Condition +1 hit Greenskins, +4 Dodge vs Giants, +2 vs Spells/Poison, +2 vs Cold, +4 vs Fey



Stormrir
30 / 30 hp (4HD) Init +1 Speed 50 ft Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2
AC 17 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural +3 AC), touch 10, flat-footed 16
BAB/Grapple +3/+11
Attack: 2 hooves +6 melee (1d6+4) and bite +1 melee (1d4+2)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills/feats: Listen +5, Spot +4 / Endurance, Run
Equipment: Military saddle, Saddle bags, Std'Leather Barding

Gromnir (Wintery Huskie) - Level 3 companion
29 / 29 hp (4HD) Init +3 Speed 40 ft Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2
AC 22 (+3 Dex, +6 natural +3 armour), touch 12, flat-footed 18
BAB/Grapple +3/+6
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+4 + Trip (+3))
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +9, Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +4, Survival +2/6*
Feats: Alertness, Track, Improved Natural attack (bite) / Link, Share spells, Evasion
Equipment: MW std Leather barding

[Saintheart]

Day 6, Alkukevaasta (Early Spring)
Kirillin Manor Grounds, Valley of the Spear
Afternoon, 1537

Complication Pool: 0 of 6

Ramiro's instinctive leap to the corner and blasting the air before him with fire didn't seem to reveal anything.

Njal was tense, at the door, his wolf beside him, growling. He was on alert, dwarven eyes gleaming in the darkness, the light of his spell illuminating the room in a cold blue radiance. There seemed to be nothing.

Nothing hit him.

It had the force of a blow, cold, colder than any wind he'd trudged into in the mountains, cutting through his tough skin, to bone, to the soul, and he could feel his heart skip a beat, his blood chilling, even as a great, spreading bruise appeared on his midsection as though conjured there...

And still. There was nothing to be seen. The gleaming torchlight was still unbroken, no horror appeared...

Spoiler: Tactical Map

Show

Spoiler: Tactical Notes

Show

Njal takes a negative level and 11 hitpoints' damage.

Initiative Order:
Ramiro
(Something Awful)
Njal/Gromrir
Tonlist