(050) The Heart of Woe

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 12:08 am

danhem wrote:

sulldawga wrote:Dorgan returns the wave and walks over to shake Olaf's hand. "Glad ta see ya all. I was starting ta think we might never get back. Have ya faced any shapechangers like us?"

"Shapeshifters?" Ulric says in surprise. "No. We faced a massive creature, similar to a wolf but the size of a pony and then pack of normal-sized wolves. We killed the large creature while the wolves fled in the face of our giant. We met Olaf and Highbough out here; they reported robed priests fleeing into the abbey. We pursued them inside and found the place a burned out ruin with a pit of boiling tar in center of the floor. We started searching for the relics but a great fire-belching automaton came out and forced us to retreat in different directions."

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 12:10 am

danhem wrote:
"Gustave, how is it that you came to meet with the others?" Ulric asks. "I assume you found a way around to the main entrance? Is there any sign of those we left outside?"

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 12:32 am

eris wrote:

doctorx wrote:Josiane hurries up to the others, relieved to see they are all intact.

"My Lord is well?" she offers up to Olaf anxiously and a little shyly.

"That is - the affliction has not worsened in this corrupted atmosphere?" she adds swiftly.

'I feel fine.' Olaf says, 'Can't say I care for this place too much though!'

'The Sisters have a real problem here!'

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 12:38 am

eris wrote:
'We didn't run into shape shifters, either. Just a giant deamon. With eyes that shoot fire. Came out of a tarpit in the middle of the Sanctuary, in there.' Olaf says.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 12:43 am

mushgnome wrote:
"The casters of this place are masters of illusion," speaks the disembodied voice of Highbough. "Their magic was strong enough to hide the destruction of the entire Abbey from outside eyes. We should assume that nothing in this place is real: a pit of molten tar could be a harmless illusion, a creature might be phantasm, a deadly trap disguised as a harmless object. They may have powers to cloud our minds or even turn us against each other. Tread lightly, my companions!"

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 12:57 am

tonneau wrote:

danhem wrote:"Gustave, how is it that you came to meet with the others?" Ulric asks. "I assume you found a way around to the main entrance? Is there any sign of those we left outside?"

"My dear flamefingers", replies Gustave, "it was a close thing indeed. The beast all but covered me in searing ash ere I slipped though a doorway."

"The way leads though to the entrace, it would seem. I came across these rogues", he adds, sweeping a mailed had across the new arrivals, "resting in the library."

"We saw naught of our estranged camp-minders, though there was a dead wolf near the main door which none of us could lay claim to."

He starts as the Voice of Highbough suddenly preaches from empty air beside him.

"I do wish he would stop doing that", he mutters, "though for once his council is wise"

Post by **mgtremaine** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 1:22 am

mgtremaine wrote:
Wen would consider Highbough words..."A glamour upon the entire abbey, that is impressive. What is our next move? We found a small cache of items and silver deep under the Library. I have no idea if these are the things that you were tasked to find.".

Wen would reveal the items that were brought up from the nest.

small assortment of religious curios; rosary beads, a tiny Enigma on a bracelet, a walking staff topped with an Enigma, a censor, two more tiny daggers, two broach pins, a small prayer book, a pouch of dry tea, and half a dozen soft purses that, combined, contain a total of 56 silver coins.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 3:03 am

danhem wrote:
"I do not think that Olaf's blasted shield was an illusion," Ulric says to Highbough (wherever he may be), "though I agree, much of what we see may not be real. I personally don't care to test the pit of burning tar myself."

"We seem to have bloodied our hosts. I'd hate to leave with so little gained, however. The Sisters will demand their relics to restore Olaf, and that is why we are here. Perhaps we could search the inside of the abbey as a group and then see if we can find our comrades outside in addition to our supplies? After that we can secure the front gate and then check those buildings and passages on the surface that we have not yet investigated. I would like to see this library as well; there may be many mysteries hidden there. Maybe then we can try those stairs down we found earlier."

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 3:41 am

sulldawga wrote:
Dorgan snorts at Ulric's comment.

"I'll be impressed if ya find anything in the library. It's burnt to a crisp. Maybe we oughta see if yer tar golem is gone home to mama or not. After that, I like the sound of goin' down stairs, since I think there's some silver below us."

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 6:03 am

flightcommander wrote:

danhem wrote:"I'd hate to leave with so little gained, however ..."

"Ahem!" Armando draws aside his cloak to reveal to the party the silvered relics, namely the bowl and candelabra, which he snatched from the altar. "There is yet more I have discovered Â€Â” all bearing the designs of Thuul-worship Â€Â” but surely this is no place to exhibit it. The automaton of the tar pit might at any moment burst forth from within, or any other dire foe for that matter. Might we not be safer beyond the gates?"