Part 5: A Fistful of Gold

[danhem]

Elethiran opens the door. It offers a little more resistance than some of the other doors you've encountered, but it is not difficult.

As the door opens you hear a grinding noise beneath your feet. This is followed by the sound of stone grinding on stone behind you and the astonished shouts of the apprentice wizards to the rear of the group.

The two statues at the other end of the hall have turned so that their spears are pointed at you. Suddenly liquid begins to spray out of the ends of the spears covering the two apprentices on watch at the rear of the party. These two wizards collapse on the floor screaming.

More of the liquid sprays out hitting the second pair of wizards. You can see smoke rising from where the liquid hits their clothing and skin. They too cry out in pain. The liquid is burning them!

The liquid continues to spray out of the statues. It appears to be extending farther down the corridor.

[kwll]

Ozmenton goes out of the way as fast as possible, sticking to the wall. "CLOSE THIS DOOR! CLOSE THIS DOOR NOW!!!" he screams, as he crawls slowly towards the statues to put himself out of reach of the acid spray.

[apn]

OOC I just re-read my last message and it probably comes across as sarcastic - which is not my intention in any way at all! Apologies to anyone who thought of it that way. No insult was intended.

Verner was indeed intended to take point with Elethiran dropping back in the ranks.

Regardless, the way I understand it, the statues are behind us and the jet of acid is getting closer - thus forcing us to stand here and suffer an agonising death, or duck inside the room and shut the door behind us (or move out of range of the acid)

Have I got the wrong end of the stick? Perhaps 'move in the opposite direction of the agonising acid death' will cover it

[danhem]

OOC: I didn't read it that way at all apn.

You have the situation right.

Through the now open door is the quickest way away from the acid spraying statues.

Alternatively you could run toward the statues in hopes of avoiding the acid until you get past them. I believe that is Ozmenton's strategy.

There are other options too, but I'll let you decide.

Just to note, you don't have much time to stand and ponder your next action or discuss strategies in character.

I suppose that you could all run off in different directions.

[apn]

Elethiran
(Elven Warrior-Wizard lvl 2 Att: 3d6+13 Def: 11 Con: 8 Wiz: 12/12 16/36 Point Makeshift Staff AP:1606

Clud
(Were-Bear Warrior lvl 2 Att: 1d6+24 Def: none Con: 35Wiz: 11 AP:1250)

"Inside! Before the acid takes us!" shouts Elethiran, but even as she says the words she has the nasty feeling that the trap was designed to funnel people into the room - and indeed, possibly into another trap.

ACTIONS:

Cludbear and Elethiran go into the room, Elethiran with her eyes open looking for traps. Cludbear shields her with his own body as best he can from the acid, cause he's a nice chap.

[Toad-Killer-Dog]

Verner
(Human Warrior lvl 2 Att: 5D+7 Def: 26 Con: 011/12 AP:147)

"Right all ahead!"

Saying this Verner throws open the door shield and sword at the ready and charges into the room ready to duck, dodge, jump or roll as needed.

Ready also to cry a warning to the others should he meet a gruesome fate.


Genzo
(Were-Wolf Warrior lvl 1 Att: H - 3d6+4 W - 1D6+18 Def: 0 Con: h- 14/14 W - 48/48 AP:106)

follows Verner and tries to get a feel of the new room as fast as possible.

[danhem]

Balgar and Falcnor follow the majority and rush into the chamber behind the others.

At the rear of the column, the two unscathed apprentice wizards grab their two wounded and screaming, but still standing, comrades and begin to drag them toward the door.

OOC: I'll wait until I get a final OK on Ozmenton's actions before posting anything further.

[kwll]

Seeing that nobody is really listening to him and attempts to take cover inside the room, Ozmenton rushes this way as well, still keeping close to the wall.

[apn]

Elethiran
(Elven Warrior-Wizard lvl 2 Att: 3d6+13 Def: 11 Con: 8 Wiz: 12/12 16/36 Point Makeshift Staff AP:1606

Clud
(Were-Bear Warrior lvl 2 Att: 1d6+24 Def: none Con: 35Wiz: 11 AP:1250)

Once inside the chamber Elethiran makes sure to check for traps, pitfalls, ambush... 'it feels like we've been forced of funnelled here' she thinks.

"Everyone stay put for a minute - let me find out if there's anything to be wary of! Ozmenton! Be ready with your magic!" she calls out in a half bossy, half request way.

Cludbear considers a section of wall, glances at his backside, then gives a bear like shrug and is about to sit down. He glances where he's about to sit... just in case.

ACTIONS:

Elethiran to search, search, search!

[danhem]

You all rush through the open doorway and into the chamber beyond to escape the streams of acid. The streams continue to advance until they reach the doorway. The walls and floor of corridor are covered in the caustic smelling liquid. The bodies of the two fallen apprentice wizards smolder where they lie.

The two wounded wizards continue to scream in pain. You can see their flesh is badly burned. Their comrades lay them down and kneel beside them just inside the chamber.

The walls of the chamber are covered in clean white drapes. The floor is covered in a green carpet. In the northeast corner of the chamber is an altar covered with a green and white cloth. On the altar is a 3' tall statue of a woman holding a sword and a sheaf of wheat. On each side of the statue is a tall, burning, white candle. In front of the altar are three burning braziers. The room is surprisingly clean, but appears to be empty.

An initial visual inspection reveals no obvious traps inside the chamber and none of the wizards sense any magic.

[apn]

Elethiran
(Elven Warrior-Wizard lvl 2 Att: 3d6+13 Def: 11 Con: 8 Wiz: 12/12 16/36 Point Makeshift Staff AP:1606

Clud
(Were-Bear Warrior lvl 2 Att: 1d6+24 Def: none Con: 35Wiz: 11 AP:1250)

Elethiran looks sadly at the wounded wizards. "If only there was a Cleric available." she murmurs.

Cludbear turns and huffs "gruuuargh?"

Elethiran rolls her eyes and explains "Clerics are wandering clergy men or women who perform services for their deity in return for favours, some of which include the ability to heal. Usually the wounds that can be healed are light, but those look serious."

Cludbear shrugs, wondering if Elethiran is speaking in an alien language.

The Elf moves to the drapes to carefully look behind each, then looks under the carpet and finally moves to the alter (OOC Though someone may well get there before her I expect).

ACTIONS:

Elethiran searches behind drapes, under carpet, then moves on to alter, unless someone else searches and finds something first

[Toad-Killer-Dog]

Verner
(Human Warrior lvl 2 Att: 5D+7 Def: 26 Con: 011/12 AP:147)

Verner goes to the unwounded acolytes.

"Do you recognize this chamber or the trappings on the altar?"

Saying this Verner takes up a guard position at the front of the group.

Genzo
(Were-Wolf Warrior lvl 1 Att: H - 3d6+4 W - 1D6+18 Def: 0 Con: h- 14/14 W - 48/48 AP:106)

Genzo uses his lupine senses to try and determine if any lurking creatures are concealed in the chamber and then examines the walls and floor for traps, concealed doors or niches and then guards the door they entered through.

[kwll]

Ozmenton looks at his wounded wizard companions, half disgusted and half terrified. "But... But who or what built this horrible trap in there?" he asks, anguished by the fact that not only men and creatures, but the walls as well could be hostile. His eyes goes from one wizard to another, interrogative.

[danhem]

The apprentice wizards tend to their wounded comrades, muttering strange words while they apply bandages.

"It could have only been the Warrior Maidens," one says to Ozmenton. "Those statues were carved in their image."

"That is a shrine to Madarua," the other says to Verner's question. "This must be her temple."

Balgar and Falcnor take up guard on the doorway leading back toward the statues and the rotating chamber.

Genzo sniffs around the room and finds that it is heavy with the scent of the Warrior Maidens. But, coupled with the heavy smell of incense, he cannot find any definite trails.

Genzo works with Elethiran to begin looking behind the drapes. There is only solid wall behind each one. Beneath the carpet there is only stone floor.

Elethiran begins to move toward the altar and Genzo turns back to help watch the open door.

The liquid has now stopped spraying from the statues and all is silent in the corridor.

That silence is suddenly broken by the sound of grinding stone. The rotating chamber is moving.

"We've got company!" Balgar shouts.

[kwll]

Ozmenton only has the time to remember the painful time he spent with the warrior maidens, adding the recent events to the pile, before he hears Balgar's shout. He braces himself and holds tight his staff, preparing to use his magic.