[Nexus] Temples of Dalachrech I

[happyturtle]

Hermitage Guest Room

Brand points in the direction of the slave quarters, but I don't know if that's the direction of Elizabethele's room or not. He takes a pair of cooking knives from his pack to carry one in each hand, and leaves the rest (carefully wrapped in a leather carrier that has a slot for each knife and then rolls up for storage) in an outer pocket of his backpack.

He considers just leaving the backpack behind, but he knows magic can be done on people's possessions. If he needs to, he'll drop the pack in the halls to make it easier for him to move, but for now, he'll keep it with him.

[Shadowcaller]

[Outside the Hermitage]

The light given off by the elemental seems to dim along with the heat it's giving off, giving the elemental the impression it's made of cooling magma rather then burning fire.

"We better take care of any scouts before we move on if we like to surprise them, of course, we are here to drawn attention to ourselves... any ideas? I'm not sure we can afford any delays now. The others must be getting in position as we speak."

[Wolfbane]

Hermitage Guest Room

Waterstrider looks at the kevlar vest as if he's been insulted. That, and his form likely just isn't compatible with one. His chest is massive compared to a regular human's. He waves it off and just follows along the pair, keeping his ears and nose on the search for anything heading their way.

[Earl of Purple]

Hermitage- To the Slave Quarters

The slaves are kept in a room near the barracks on the floor above. Elezibethele and Azurelle have their quarters on the same floor as the guest room, as the chamber Justin spent overnight was originally intended for a cleric-in-training or low-ranking paladin, but it was empty and looked after so turned over for their use.

[Darkcomet]

[Outside the Hermitage]

DC shrugs. "Say the word and I'll charge. I have a stealth cloak, if you want me to be slightly more subtle about it."

[Morty]

[Outside the Hermitage]

It would be useful to take care of the scouts, but we're a little pressed for time. Let's head onwards, Wenomir says. I don't think there can be many things in this forest more dangerous than us.

[Earl of Purple]

Outside The Hermitage- Forest

Something rustles as it jumps from a tree ahead of the group. It's an ettercap- an ugly brown-skinned humanoid with long, gangly limbs that don't look sufficient to hold up its bloated, pot-bellied body. Its head is long, vaguely horse-shaped, and ends with a cluster of four eyes and spider-like mandibles and fangs. "Ahead liesz the Hermitage to Dalachrech. Who are you? What isz your purposze, and are the priesztsz expectingk you?" The ettercap's voice is low and hissing.

[OrchestraHc]

To the Slave Quarters

Ooooo... Tough guy. Justin shrugs and puts the armor on himself before heading out. He's got those rougish spot checks and the long range weapons so he'll try and take the lead, following Brands directions at the major turns. He tightens his duffle bag around his back to avoid jangling noises. The speed is swift and silent. No need to attract undue attention or dawdle and wait for it.

[happyturtle]

Hermitage - To the Slave Quarters

Brand points directions as they go. Sneak sneak sneak...

[Wolfbane]

Hermitage - To The Slave Quarters

Waterstrider's paws prove to be quite silent on the floor when he wishes to be, and during their sneaking, he keeps an ear out for the sounds of centipedes or other similar creatures in the hallways.

[Earl of Purple]

Hermitage- To The Slave Quarters

Most of the route has a large number of doors on either side, though all the doors are closed. At the moment, there are three doors to choose from- one on the left and two on the right. The door on the left is rather ornate and has a two-tailed scorpion inscribed upon a plaque above the name 'Grand Mistress Azurelle D'Langley, Supreme Commander of the Order of the Centipede'. The doors on the right have similar plaques, both blank, although do not possess the same amount of decoration. The door in the middle is closest to whomever is in the middle, whilst the doors on the right are closer to the person in front and behind.

Waterstrider, meanwhile, can hear something clicking from around the corner, slowly getting louder. It sounds like a centipede, although it's rather far away so they have the time to all go through one door should they so choose. It's also very large.

[Darkcomet]

[Outside the Hermitage - Forest]

When the ettercap appears, DC responds by being entirely unsubtle about the situation, in his own way.

Namely, his eyes briefly flare red, and the creature is targeted by a rather blunt mind control attempt, the psychic attempting to plant a command in the ettercap's head.

We urgently require an audience with the priests in the Hermitage. You will escort us there immediately.

[happyturtle]

Hermitage - to the slave quarters

If the directions given by the slaves to Brand are detailed enough, he'll point at the door that leads to them, or his best guess. Or does the hallway continue on past the doors?

[Earl of Purple]

Hermitage- To The Slave Quarters

((Note: Nothing changes in this post; it's clarification to the layout))

The stairs are just around the corner where the centipede is coming from. The three doors are all unlocked and lead into rooms rather than hallways or corridors. What type of room must be determined by passing through the door. The group could turn back; a corner lies behind, as well as in front, though that hallway's layout is much the same but with four doors all on the same side and regularly spaced arrowslits in the other wall.

[Shadowcaller]

[Outside the Hermitage - Forest]

Depending on what the effects of DC's mind control is Cessie will either speak to the creature or cast a force cage over it. She will basically delay her action here until the first effect is resolved.

[Morty]

[Outside the Hermitage - Forest]

Wenomir also decides to stay silent until he knows whether DC's mind-control attempt works.

[OrchestraHc]

Hermitage-To the Slave Quarters.

Provided Waterstrider is giving the heads-up, Justin will rush to Azurelle's room, and becon the others to follow. He knows Azurelle isn't in, and he's also quite interested in what she might have in her room. He hasn't stolen anything since he got here, it might be time to rectify that.

[Earl of Purple]

Outside The Hermitage- Forest

"I zshall take you to Elezibethele, yesz, yesz. Follow, and be keepingk up. I not sztay for sztraggelersz." It would appear that the mind control has worked, though the ettercap's mind is very different from that of a human. The ettercap turns and easily lopes off through the woods towards the fort.

The ettercap won't stop until it reaches the edge of the woodland, at the edge of the 'moat' of bare soil surrounding the Hermitage.

[Murkus]

Hermitage - Courtyard

Those outside might spot a winged humanoid in a long, black coat diving down to the fortress. He doesn't spot them, by all appearances, and lands in the courtyard unless disturbed.

Within, Percy folds up his wings and heads inside. He has a need to see Elezibethele as well.

[Harnel]

[Hermitage - Forest]

((Apologies for the delays. Apparently I was unsubscribed to this thread for whatever reason, so wasn't seeing it update))

Harnel shrugs, moving along at a good speed behind the ettercap. He's not particularly worried about getting attacked at this point since he's following behind one of the creatures that lives here.

[Earl of Purple]

Hermitage- Courtyard

The Hermitage is more of a keep than a proper castle; without a curtain wall to surround it, there's no true courtyard. However, Percival can land outside the gate, close enough that he can enter easily without worrying about the giant trapdoor spiders lurking in the 'moat' of bare ground around the Hermitage.

((There's a plot at the Hermitage with the aim of freeing the slaves; would like this to be a separate timeline?))

Riverside Temple- Kail

The Temple seems to be just another semi-detached house from the outside, with a nice red door, black slate roof, a garage and a lawn separated from the attached house by a tall hedge. The house to which it is detached is also semi-detached, with a green door, overgrown garden, red tile roof and a pile of rotting logs stacked next to the door.

Beyond the front door, however, and a completely different scene is revealed. The altar room is long, stretching across the ground floor of both houses, the intervening walls demolished and replaced with ornate doric columns where necessary. At one end of the room sits an altar, an ornate table covered with a sheet of red velvet upon which rests a golden idol representing a centipede-like creature with claws like a praying mantis, three scorpion tails and the head of a ground beetle. Many rows of pews fill the surviving space. Upon one of the pews sits a young catgirl, aged perhaps fourteen or fifteen, with long blonde hair and short fur on her ears and tail. She's wearing a short blue skirt and a matching sleeveless t-shirt.

[Morty]

[Hermitage - Forest]

Wenomir follows the ettercap. That should make things easier...

[Shadowcaller]

[Hermitage - Forest]

The Cessie elemental follows along as well, waiting for DC to start blasting the gate, that would be her cue for doing the same. If they needed destruction, destruction is what they would get.

Hermitage- Courtyard

The hermitage might not even be there once they're finished you know?

[Murkus]

Hermitage - Courtyard

Precisely. Percy's here because he's bound to Elezibethele, and has no real other aims. Mostly just reporting for duty. Though under extreme circumstances, he could always escort the temple leadership to safety.

Percival heads inside, intending to find Elezibethele at one of her usual haunts - perhaps her room, or an altar where she communes with Dalachrech?

[Earl of Purple]

Hermitage- Inside (Percy)

The gate is closed and barred, though will be opened once Percival has made himself known. If Percy is here with the plot, it's night time and Elezibethele is in bed. Azurelle is presently elsewhere. If not, then Elezibethele is probably in the main altar room.

[Murkus]

Hermitage - Altar Room

Percy's here with the plot. If it's night time, then he won't disturb his lady. Instead, he's decided to try something new. He heads toward the altar room, intending to pray before Dalachrech and ask him a few things. If he's to be bound to a demon lord this way, then he should at least know his true master.

[Earl of Purple]

Hermitage- Altar Room (Percy)

The altar room is large, with many rows of pews against its length. The entrance is opposite the main door to the Hermitage, though there's a corridor so one can go elsewhere without passing through it. At one end is a raised dais with a large, seven-feet-long stone altar on it. Branching off on either side is a large stone hook; when a sacrifice is performed, the wrists are hooked over one and the ankles are bound to the other. The altar is largely blood-free, however; brain beetles don't shed much. A glass tank rests next to the altar within which several brain beetle larvae rest, wriggling around the bottom.

[Murkus]

Hermitage - Altar Room

Percy enters the room with some apprehension, leaving the door ajar behind him. He walks solemnly amid the pews. Following proper procedure, the demon kneels before the altar, sparing the strange maggots no more than a glance. He shuts his eyes and reaches out with his mind, searching the ether for a presence.

Percival supposes he should pray, but he's not really sure what to say. He begins, in Infernal, "...Lord Dalachrech?"

[Earl of Purple]

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Altar Room

There's no booming voice or sudden vision, but all the brain beetle larvae have stopped what they are doing and are looking in Percy's direction. The same is true of a seven-foot-long centipede lurking beneath a pew- that has reared up to make it really obvious that it's paying attention. Even if Percy doesn't notice, he should get the feeling that Dalachrech is watching.

[Murkus]

Hermitage of Dalachrech - Altar Room

At first, Percy was expecting some sort of voice. He certainly knew the demon lords to be more active than true gods. He peeks one eye open, and to his general displeasure, a container-full of maggots is staring at him. The pews are at his back, however, so the centipede goes unnoticed. The feeling of being watched does not.

"I am a... servant of your high priest, Elezibethele. I am your servant," He opens his eyes and looks at the jar of bugs brain-eaters again. "I merely wish to know my master."