Start of #Sharn buffer: Wed Dec 12 20:38:00 2007 [17:41:57] [The party just entered the center of the labyrinthine citadel to be faced with an elaborately constructed room, with some kind of stone altar before a man-sized statue of a demonic dragon, identified as Khyber, the Dragon Below by Aurelis.] [17:42:02] [Session Start] [17:42:09] * NovaSeaker is now known as Aurelis [17:42:15] "De voices, dey gone now." [17:42:43] Why are they gone? [17:42:57] "Mine are still there!" [17:43:10] * Loharath strides into the room and begins running his hands over the statue, looking for secrets [17:43:13] "All one of them. But he behaves himself much more." [17:43:28] [Pause] [17:43:54] (Loharath place yourself in the first five-foot square you would have entered that's adjacent to the stone slab.) [17:44:19] (Everyone else move yourselves in if you would have followed Loharath's advance.) [17:48:09] [As Loharath moves sto step around the stone slab, the eye of the Khyber statue flare a malign violet. From it's mouth a wave of chilling shadow explodes into the room, enveloping everyone.] [17:48:43] [Unpause] [17:48:48] [Reflex Saves] [17:54:24] [The shadow passes and a pale frost cakes the room... except for the six alcoves on each side of the chamber.] [17:54:30] [Everyone's Turn] [17:54:36] * Phanos grunts, l ooking half-frozen to death. His hand waves over his own chest, healing himself. [17:54:45] * Marianysa dives for an alcove. [17:54:48] [Aurelis makes a run for an alcove.] [17:55:41] * Aurora takes a swing at the statue with her mace, then runs for an alcove. [17:55:58] * Loharath backs away towards an alcove, glaring at the statue. [17:57:19] * Aurora doesn't really swing very well at all, though. It barely even counts as a swing. [17:57:28] "Mon, dees got me runnin outta juju here, all dese traps and monstahs." [17:57:48] Cursed statue, making a coward's move like that! [17:59:24] [Khyber Trap's Turn] [17:59:55] [Another wave of shadow bursts across the alcoves, but doesn't spread into it. However, Phanos's plant-encrusted zombies are starting to get frost-bitten.] [18:01:52] [Everyone's Turn] [18:02:47] "Mari?! Are you not skilled with traps!?" [18:03:59] * Aurora rushes over to Mari and holds out her holy symbol. She starts casting, and Mari feels a lot warmer. [18:04:00] Give me a minute! [18:04:06] Here you go! [18:04:12] "I'll cover you!" [18:05:03] * Phanos orders them into alcoves [18:05:10] [Loharath's manifested flame fails to dent the statue.] [18:11:36] [Mari moves out as Loharath attacks the statue ineffectively. She works with her tools and manages to clog the exhaust pipe that was pumping ice cold shadow into the room.] [18:12:16] [Aurora passes Mari and moves into the alcove the artificer was just taking cover in, then reaches out and layers her in a protective field.] [18:13:19] [The room remains sealed.] [18:13:32] [Everyone's Turn Again.] [18:13:44] "Great work Marianysa." [18:14:00] "Now we gots to finds us a way out..Thankya big fo savin us dere girlie..we'd have died ten time without ya." [18:14:03] "Indeed. If you weren't here we all would have certainly perished." [18:14:09] * Phanos calls his dogs back to him, petting them. [18:15:11] * Aurora rushes to the alcove across the hall, pausing to cast Resist Elements on Loharath on the way. [18:15:30] * Marianysa grins sheepishly. "Thanks." [18:15:52] [Khyber Trap's Turn] [18:16:51] [Suddenly the ceilings of four of the alcoves come slamming down. Fortunately, Phanos was standing in one of the two alcoves that wasn't dangerous. Unfortunately, Aurora wasn't.] [18:18:10] [Checks mark safe alcoves.] [18:19:19] [The column is deflected by the pure force of Aurora's faith.] [18:19:25] [Everyone's Turn] [18:19:26] * Phanos casually steps OUT of his alcove. [18:19:56] "Well this COULD have been much more disastrous." [18:20:23] Thank the Flame for that... [18:20:25] * Phanos walks to Aurelis, casting a green hand over him. "Last green juju I got." [18:20:40] "Thank you." [18:20:46] * Marianysa looks up at the ceiling worriedly. "I hope those are the only things that come down." [18:21:20] * Aurora steps out of her alcove and, seeing that she can't reach anyone else fast enough, has the Flame protect herself against the cold. Warmth is a good feeling. [18:21:41] * Aurora steps behind the plate. [18:22:08] [About every twelve seconds or so, 4 columns slam down on random alcoves.] [18:23:01] [Puffs of cold emit from the Khyber statue as well, but Mari sufficiently cloged it's release mechanism that only a waft of chilling air rises.] [18:23:24] "We gots ta finds us a way outta ya." [18:23:37] * Phanos is suddenly glad he stepped out of an alcove. [18:27:24] [Phanos takes a keen look around the room. He notices that the top 4 inches of the stone altar is actually separate from the base. It could possibly be pushed off with tremendous effort.] [18:31:43] "Push de top dat altah statue, it fall backwads if yas push it." [18:32:02] * Phanos points to it, his dogs moving forward and attempting to nudge it over [18:33:10] Right, let's get out of here before it gets worse. [18:33:43] "Pushing things is a job for men! Not creepy corpsevine demondogs!" [18:34:52] [Loharath attempts to move the stone slab, but not particularly coordinating his efforts with Phanos's servants.] [18:36:20] "Dey aint not creepy." [18:36:39] "Exactly!" [18:36:56] "...Perhaps you should pool your efforts?" [18:37:11] I'll help too. [18:37:17] Never! A real man can push anything, if only his spirit is strong enough! [18:37:22] * Loharath redoubles his efforts [18:37:22] * Marianysa moves AWAY from the statue. [18:37:41] (You're pushing the stone slab, not the statue) [18:39:10] * Aurora watches Lohorath. [18:40:49] [After a grueling minute or two of grunting and clenching of teeth, Loharath manages to move the stone slab... a fraction of an inch. While Mari, Phanos, and Aurelis stand around and watch.] [18:41:09] ... this is dumb. [18:41:36] "I'll say. You're pushing with your back, not your legs." [18:41:49] * Aurora takes out her mace and flips it over. "Think we can lift it up enough to slip the handle inside? We can use this as leverage. [18:43:17] * Phanos joins in the pushing, despite the fact that he's incredibly weak physically. [18:43:41] "That's the spirit! Teamwork!" [18:44:23] * Marianysa pushes as well. [18:44:38] * Aurora tries to help push agian [18:44:50] [As Phanos and Mari move in to help, the little bit of extra effort slides the stone slab an inch, then two, and soon enough they've tossed it over the side of the altar. Underneath is a spiral staircase, leading into darkness.] [18:45:12] "See, was that so hard?" [18:45:21] Thanks. [18:45:27] * Aurelis stands by one of the alcoves. [18:45:33] There was one more door up here, wasn't there? [18:46:25] "dont mattah, we stuck goin one direction." [18:46:36] "Though I'm fo hopin' it leads to a safe room to rest." [18:46:41] * Loharath nods. "Down we go." He begins heading down the staircase [18:46:52] * Phanos looks to Aurelis. "Ya lazy." [18:47:01] * Phanos follows after Loh [18:47:19] Right. [18:47:21] * Aurora follows. [18:48:16] "Lazy! I was coordinating the whole endeavor!" [18:48:33] * Aurelis boasts of his usefulness all the way down the staircase. [18:48:58] * Marianysa ignores Aurelis all the way down the staircase. [18:49:58] [The exit of the trapped room that lead back into the maze did reopen, the solid stone portcullis rising again once the trap was forcibly bypassed.] [18:50:15] (Sorry, forgot to mention) [18:51:02] The door re-opened after, though [18:51:21] [At the bottom of the staircase, which feels like it stretched on for about three or four stories, Loharath steps into the raised northern side of a vaguely octagonal room.] [18:51:34] I guess we'll check it on the way up [18:52:17] [A regular wooden door, not iron-bound like the ones in the maze above, leads further south.] [18:52:47] Looks like there's only one way to go. Who wants the honors? [18:53:20] "I gon leave dat to de ballsy one." [18:53:21] I will, of course. [18:53:36] * Phanos takes a knee and pets his dogs back to full hp. [18:53:37] * Loharath goes to the door and pushes it open. "What a silly question." [18:54:46] [Places yourselves?] [18:56:55] [Loharath opens the door to a small hallway. There seems to be some purpose to this room, however, as dirty muddy boots are piled toward the north and the further south you go the cleaner the floor is.] [18:57:55] [There 's another regular door on the souther end.] [18:58:41] ... does this room actually have a PURPOSE? [18:59:01] * Loharath pushes open the next door [18:59:05] "Looks like a mud room. Like someone actually lives beyond." [18:59:22] * Phanos grunts. [18:59:38] * Loharath (~CharlesHB@c-75-68-53-181.hsd1.nh.comcast.net) Quit (Read error: Connection reset by peer) [18:59:48] * Loharath (~CharlesHB@c-75-68-53-181.hsd1.nh.comcast.net) has joined #Sharn [18:59:57] "You sho wes ready fo dis?" [19:00:22] "I aint got no good juju left, we's huyt.. et cet." [19:01:10] * Loharath heads inside and looks around the corner. "The power of our spirit will carry us through!" [19:01:24] [Loharath opens the door and is immediately faced with a mural of Khorvaire, painted across a twenty-foot-wide wall. To the east and west, doors lead to other rooms. From the play of shadows, Loharath can make out that the mural continues around the bend.] [19:03:02] * Phanos steps up with the rest of the group [19:04:25] [Loharath's eyes are drawn to focus on the mural further, and he sees for an instant that Lake Brey is filled with amneotic fluid polluted with the fetal corpses of aborted children. Then he blinks and it's a depiction of a normal lake.] [19:05:19] [Everyone that looks at the mural, make a will save.] [19:05:21] Flame! That was horrible for a second until it stopped being horrible. [19:06:20] [Loharath turns the corner and sees a map of Xen'drik, the jungle continent.] [19:06:54] What happened? [19:07:35] * Aurelis walks into the room with the mural and that shrieks. [19:07:39] then* [19:07:57] Lake Brey was filled with aborted fetus blood and womb-fluid. [19:08:13] * Aurelis starts babbling. "the mouths.. the hideous glorious mouths and teeth with eyes and eyes with teeth." [19:09:19] Eew [19:09:21] ... Aurelis? [19:09:34] [Everyone else sees a passing depiction of horror. The towers of Sharn turning into cut and bleeding phalluses rotting in the sun, the jungles of Xen'drik becoming the putrid remains of people drowned in their own vomit. For everyone but Aurelis, the vision lasts just for a moment." [19:09:36] ] [19:09:45] Holy shit. [19:10:10] "Mon, dats gross." [19:10:23] "Les jus go, no sense in stayin here." [19:10:27] * Aurelis starts clawing at his eyes. "I can SEE! I can SEE! WHY WONT IT LET ME STOP SEEING?!" [19:10:43] * Loharath leaps at Aurelis to tackle him [19:10:50] * Phanos looks to Aurelis. [19:12:27] Eew. [19:12:33] Someone restrain him. Keep his eyes pointed DOWN [19:12:47] I'm *trying*, damn it. [19:13:09] "Pounch him." [19:13:14] * Loharath gets Aurelis in a headlock and pushes him to the ground. "Aurelis! Clench your teeth!" [19:13:17] [Loharath tries to restrain him. Aurelis screams until his throat is hoarse and tries to punch Loharath.] [19:14:28] [Aurelis trashes in Loharath's grasp and in about a minute he calms down.] [19:14:37] Aurelis? Are you okay now? [19:14:52] "hah... hah..." [19:15:00] "what... what the fuck was that?" [19:15:21] The murals are evil. Keep your eyes closed. [19:15:28] "Dont look at dem pictahs." [19:15:33] We're going to get to the heart of this, and then we're going to burn this shithole down in purifying flame. [19:15:44] "Wait... wait..." [19:15:44] We're not going back. We've dealt with too much to go back now. [19:16:08] "The walls.... they're maps of Khorvaire and Xen'drik. Did you look at the others?" [19:16:31] [So far, after the first instantaneous flash of horror, looking at the paintings had no further effect.] [19:16:35] THey're maps of Khorvaire and Xen'drik, yeah... do you think there's important stuff marked down? [19:16:50] * Phanos turns the corner he's standing by, just barely, to peep the mural. [19:16:52] "It's just something... something I heard... twice..." [19:17:17] What did you hear? [19:17:29] What's that? [19:18:12] [Phanos spies another continent. He's not so familiar with this one, except for the barrier-island off the northwestern shore of the landmass, marked as "Totem Beach". It must be the whole of Argonessen, the legenary home of dragons.] [19:18:27] "That psion we fought." [19:18:52] "He said 'he is hidden beyond the four corners of the world' just before you killed him, Mari." [19:19:14] You think he's talking about this map? [19:20:02] "The map told me so...." [19:20:10] "Me homes somewhere round somewhere on dis one over here." [19:20:13] * Marianysa frowns. "Huh. Why would he do that?" [19:20:50] Well, clearly, we need to break through the map. Perhaps it's the evil on the other side which corrupts the image. [19:21:45] Either way, the map is moderately evil. We'd be doing the world a favor by destroying it. [19:21:56] * Phanos has his scythe out in a flash. He attempts to dig it into the map. [19:22:09] Yeah. BUt maybe there's something about the corners. Maybe. [19:23:51] * Loharath draws his sword and hacks into the map. "I'm not willing to take that risk." [19:24:09] (One second) [19:24:10] ... hm. How do you break magic stuff? [19:25:03] "Generally, you just hit it harder." [19:25:12] * Loharath shrugs. "Mari, any ideas?" [19:25:40] "Or if you happen to be some sort of arcane genius the likes of which Khorvaire has not seen in centuries, you'd Disjoin them." [19:26:50] * Phanos casts detect magic, examining the walls to see if hes provided any further insight [19:28:05] Not really. [19:28:24] Well, maybe. [19:29:40] * Marianysa shudders as she moves closer to the mural. [19:32:26] "Chanty an mutation juj on dis wall, ya." [19:32:47] "It sings and mutates?" [19:33:38] It's just painted on, isn't it? [19:34:11] WHat do you usually remove paint with? [19:34:46] "I takes off me face paint wif watah." [19:35:08] "We are currently lacking in ethanol." [19:35:43] "Thought we were going to try and find a way inside?" [19:36:15] "Mari, you're good at finding small things. He got in there somehow, find out how." [19:36:57] I guess that works too. [19:37:02] * Loharath nods [19:37:29] Maybe there's a switch? [19:37:45] * Phanos pours some water from his waterskin over the painting, trying to rub the paint off. [19:39:19] * Aurora looks over the mural [19:40:01] [Marianysa works her way around the mural, finding nothing wrong with Khorvaire, Xen'drik, or Argonessen. On Sarlona, however, there's a slight bump accompanying the depiction of an egg-shaped monolith, noted on the map as being a "hanabli atlas"] [19:40:45] [THe painting doesn't smudge with Phanos's water.] [19:41:09] * Phanos shrugs, and decides to drink some water and wat some rations at this point. [19:42:15] * Marianysa frowns. "Hmm...take a look at this, guys." [19:42:23] * Aurora walks over. "What's this?' [19:43:02] * Loharath looks at it. "How odd." [19:43:03] * Phanos moves over with a mouthful of salad. "An egg?" [19:43:44] It's the World Anchor. [19:44:00] Or a World Anchor. [19:44:10] And it's on the island of the Inspired. [19:44:53] "Foreign diplomats?" [19:45:30] Baby-killing madmen. [19:45:39] That sounds frightening. [19:45:55] "What? Nonsense." [19:46:22] "I've met with Inspired on rare occasions when I was still a valued member of my House." [19:46:35] "They are charming and the picture of civility." [19:46:55] Yes. So are Rakshasa. [19:47:09] I killed one when he was trying to arrange the death of Sanliata. This was his sword. [19:47:09] < Aurelis> "...What? No they aren't." [19:47:24] * Aurelis blinks at Loharath. [19:47:54] Exactly. [19:47:54] "I see. Well surely you wouldn't say that any single politian on Khorvaire represents us all." [19:48:27] Well, what is this bump doing here, then? [19:48:55] * Aurelis shrugs and presses it. [19:49:06] The brothers of Harath have been fighting them for centuries. They're a walking cancer, and they deserve nothing more than the burning justice of the Silver Flame. [19:49:26] [The wall moves in and to the side. The scene inside is... grotesque.] [19:52:04] [On top of a metal table lies a humanoid body. The torso is split open and pinned to each side. The person's arms and legs are chained to the corners of the table, and his heart lies on his chest and his lungs to his side. With a shock, you realize that the heart is still beating and the lungs are still breathing.] [19:52:34] * MZ (rustangel@ip-112-005.atvci.net) has joined #sharn [19:52:52] [In the corner of the room a bizzare mix of brass and cold iron wire encircles a golden ring with a focusing crystal set in it, with wires extending to the table.] [19:52:58] Oh my god. [19:53:04] * Marianysa retches. [19:53:08] ... eugh. [19:53:32] * Phanos (rustangel@ip-112-005.atvci.net) Quit (Ping timeout) [19:53:38] ... eugh. [19:53:39] [Pinned to the wall behind the dissected, living person, are patches of skin with dragonmarks on them, each looking dead and worn.] [19:53:41] * Loharath grits his teeth [19:53:48] * MZ is now known as Phanos [19:53:53] [Each identical.] [19:54:15] [To the right is a wooden work table with various blood-splattered tools, and notes.] [19:55:41] ... I can't decide between putting this person out of his misery or putting him back together and freeing him and seeing if he's still sane. [19:56:05] "Would you be?" [19:56:06] Well, none of these objects, nor the individual, is evil. We ought to do what we can/ [19:56:16] Probably not. [19:56:18] * Aurelis Aurelis approaches in morbid curiosity, looking at the dragonmarks pinned to the wall like a study of how deep a dragonmark actually reaches. [19:56:25] * Loharath (~CharlesHB@c-75-68-53-181.hsd1.nh.comcast.net) Quit (Read error: Connection reset by peer) [19:57:55] "...I think.... I think we made a mistake in choosing the Citadel." [19:58:11] "This isn't like anything we've seen the Rakshasa do..." [19:58:52] * Aurora looks away for a moment. "Okay, let's collect our knowledge." [19:59:05] This place was put down ages ago. Or believed to have been put down ages ago. [19:59:09] What are you talking about? There was that other guy with all the wires... [19:59:13] This place is filled with madmen. [19:59:29] ANd yes, this here is reminding me an awful lot of ravers. [20:00:12] And this place has something to do with Sarlona. [20:00:22] Does that about cover it? [20:00:48] "There's also an innocent man on that table you might have a chance to save." [20:01:18] R... right. [20:01:26] I suppose we should put him back together first... [20:01:32] He might be the only one with answers. [20:01:56] "Well, I aint no doctah." [20:01:58] * Aurora looks over the notes uneasily. [20:02:55] [Aurora doesn't know the language they're written in, but she realizes that the notes are written in several languages. THey also look torn from different books and penned by different authors.] [20:03:48] Can any of you read this? [20:04:02] (See #exalted) [20:06:20] * Aurora passes the notes around [20:08:19] * Phanos clears his throat, speaking in broken, proper common. "Dis De Elvish: They will gather when raving madness is stolen and the search for rain begins. Four become five as black scales bring flesh to bear against rage, and only then will he be able to create his mysteries when he betrays Death's secrets to the eternal." [20:09:38] * Aurora frowns. [20:09:45] "Dis de Draconic: The Purity of Wrath will fail in his (youngest)[Q$#@#%Qt?] endeavor when the (past)[@%@#%F?] of home is discovered. The Pinnacle of Cloud's Destiny will reveal itself only when the (lesser self)[DSAF#$!@$)?] is hunted by the Truth of Passion. Clarity of Vengence will awaken his agents from their torpor when the twice-removed returns from and to exile." [20:09:45] ...is it just me, or does that sound like that prophecy we heard before? [20:09:47] That sounds like they're talking about us. [20:10:14] "Mo Draconic. When good intentions and deception lead the Rain's Fortune to Khyber's Maw (Khyber's #$%@Q#%?), he will draw the ire of Her adopted children. The Summit of Sky's Fate will take its (vessel)[@#%!@#$f?] from them when (fallen rain)[@#%!@$!$?] has found (that which)[%^)XZC$?] should not be lost and the (devotion of that which lies beneath)[@#%(@#%*!?] threatens them all." [20:10:21] "I can't read de last two lines." [20:11:18] "I can barely make sense of the draconic stuff." [20:11:29] "Lemme see." [20:11:53] "If it bout me, metinks it be de elvish. Black scales, ya. I done told dem elves, takly wif dem, make me plantbos." [20:12:10] [Loharath snatches the last two papers.] [20:13:12] "Well this one's gibberish, but this says when somone who isn't trying to finds some book on war tactics, undefeatable rage will rise. Or something." [20:13:54] [Loharath looks at Aurora.] "Why aren't you helping that guy?" [20:14:20] "I'd love to do it myself but I can't heal injuries any more today." [20:14:35] I'm trying to figure out how. [20:15:47] The machines are keeping him alive, so I'd have to figure out how to disconnect him from the machines without killing him. [20:17:03] * Aurora gives it a try. Being very,v ery careful... [20:18:37] * Aurora makes careful use of the Silver Flame's healing power [20:18:42] * Darkheart is now known as Mauz [20:20:29] * Mauz seems strangely at peace, considering the whole vivisection matter. Eyes flutter, vision focuses... and the first thing that his body does is jerk, albeit weakly. As soon as he realizes that these are new guests, he de-tenses and exhales loudly. [20:20:50] [Maus is still chained to the table.] [20:20:56] [Mauz*] [20:21:15] Don't strain yourself. Your body's still weak. I think... [20:21:26] [THe man's shoulder, now healed, sports a least Dragonmark.] [20:23:06] Are...you okay? [20:23:59] * Mauz opens his mouth to speak... and rasps a bit. He takes a moment to try and swallow. "... bet this is a trick. Least you look cute." [20:24:32] "Taint no trick mon." [20:24:37] "Unless you trickin us." [20:24:50] True men don't use tricks! We're here to save you!" [20:25:00] "Nah, I checked him out, he's clean." [20:25:24] * Aurelis steps toward Mauz and brandishes his curved blade, which erupts into fire. [20:25:36] Oh, good. [20:25:42] [Loharath steps toward Mauz and brandishes his curved blade, which erupts into silver fire.] [20:25:57] * Aurora looks over the chains. [20:26:08] * Marianysa manages to laugh in spite of herself. "It's not a trick." [20:26:13] [With repeated strikes, Loharath cuts Mauz's chains. It takes a good deal of time.] [20:27:20] So what happened here? [20:27:45] * Mauz starts to cackle for a bit once he's free, muttering under his breath before he rolls over and lands (shakily) on his feet. "You want the pretty details or should I include the screaming?" [20:28:01] Pretty details first. [20:28:38] * Aurelis is strangely silent. [20:28:56] (Not that Mauz would know this is strange.) ... keh, what's the accents this far in the Marches, eh? They don't make visitors quite like they used to, I guess. Anyway. Sacked and dragged... wherever this is. Get me my gear and I'll go make sure that my own aren't crying themselves sick over me. [20:34:23] [The party tries to make sense of this dragonmarked stranger and what he's doing flayed alive under Sharn....] [20:34:27] [Session End.] End of #Sharn buffer Wed Dec 12 20:38:00 2007