(036) The Remains of the Day

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:
Olaf slides his sword into its scabbard and takes his scepter from his belt and raises it, "Aurora!" he says squinting his eyes slightly in anticipation of its bright light.

[waysoftheearth]

doctorx wrote:

The Ante Chamber
(Guntram, Gustave, Josiane, Highbough, Dorgan)

Gustave and Dorgan return from their foray, while Josiane fetches out two more torches and, one in each hand, lights them from the torch Guntram previously set in the nook of a statue's elbow.

In anything, the recent rumbling came from the passage down which Dieter and company have vanished. Of them, however, there is now no sign.

Highbough seems lost in thought...

"Our friends are in peril," says Josiane earnestly; "We must aid them."

She rams the torches she carries into the walls of the antechamber and snatches up her sword and shield.

"Dorgan, Highbough, with me," she says briskly; "Gustave, Guntram; Will you hold here and guard our escape?" She nods towards the left-hand passage; "I fear danger may come from yonder also."

[waysoftheearth]

tonneau wrote:
"My dear, " replies Gustave, a troubled smile on his face, "your every wish is my command."

"Dorgan...", he calls out after them, "...take care."

He refits his shield before noting Highbough's vacant look, and checks to see if the old elf has finally drifted into the next world.

[waysoftheearth]

rleduc wrote:
"Oh aye, m'lady. Ser Gustave, if you would watch one passage, I'll watch t'other.". Guntrum prepares to move to whichever passage Gustave does not take, assuming the rest of the party will deal with the third passage. He'll take shelter with a view of the passage as before, staying in the side of his passage that is closer to Gustave.

[waysoftheearth]

ehiker133 wrote:
Desmond turns towards the first room and readies his axe.

"Hurry up with that light!"

[waysoftheearth]

mushgnome wrote:
Highbough notices all the lit torches and realizes his lantern is needed elsewhere. He follows Josiane off to the right...

[waysoftheearth]

sulldawga wrote:
Dorgan stops to look at Gustave before he follows Josiane deeper into the tomb.

"You should come with us. No point in splittin' up. We can fight our way out together."

Then he is gone, melting into the shadows.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
A Passage between Vaults
(Pelenwin, Wibert, Desmond/Mondes, Olaf, Ulric, Dieter)

Olaf draws the archaic specter forth and utters the unfamiliar word of command and a tiny light of pale blue hue springs into existence, then blazes to dazzling brightness, hungrily eating the dark, so that all present are bathed in its white-blue glare.

Those ahead of Olaf (Pelenwin, Wibert and Desmond/Mondes) find the way amply lit all of a sudden, while Olaf, Ulric and Dieter's are forced to shield their eyes a moment.

"Ghad!" swears Mondes, "I think I liked not-seeing better!"

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The First Vault
(Pelenwin in the doorway, the Wibert and Desmond/Mondes behind him in the passage)

"Holy Seal protect us!" breathes Pelenwin as the full horror of the situation is revealed to his eyes.

The "sinister" crack of the floor therein has proved fell indeed, for the three leveled terraces that made up the floor of the first vault have sunken deeper into the depths, such that there is no longer any floor at all!

Instead the stonework has receded to reveal a 5ft wide stone stair that circles down into a cavernously dark pit beneath. But out of these depths cometh a ghastly parade of ambling corpses and cadavers. The multitude of walking dead give low moans and grunts and shuddering gurgles as they pitch and stagger upward like puppets whose strings have been abruptly severed.

The pong of them is powerful, even in the cold air -- there is no way through without meeting them in battle.

The leading monsters are just reaching the lip of the stair, not 20ft from Pelenwin. They shield their awful, sunken eyes from the offensive glare and hiss and spit violently.

What now?

(if you retreat immediately you might outrun them)

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The Right Passage
(Josiane, Highbough, Dorgan)

Josiane leads the brave trio down the cold, dark passage after Dieter and company.

Suddenly, some 60ft ahead, a cold blue light illuminates a chamber at the end of the passage way... the air is cold as they push forth.