Part 6: Freedom!

[kwll]

Seeing that there does not seem to be an immediate danger, Ozmenton moves forward towards his companions and tries to present as pleasant a face as he can to the cultist they are talking to. He witnesses the conversation unfold while peering into the room behind as much as he can.

[danhem]

OOC: Just so that i am clear, is everyone going into the room? Elethiran and Verner seem to be according to their posts, but the others I'm not sure about.

[kwll]

Ozmenton is staying outside for now, simply trying to satisfy his curiosity.

[Toad-Killer-Dog]

Verner
Lvl 2 Warrior / 1995 AP
ST 14 IQ 12 LK 15 CON 12/11 DX 12 CHR 14 WIZ 14 PA +4
Weapons: Enchanted broadsword (5D+4), 2 Spears (3D+1) Dirk (2D+1)
Armor: Mail (22 hits), Knights shield (10 hits)

Verner is for want of a better word deeply unhappy.

They are walking into the "Den" of a bunch of confirmed demon worshiping cultist and he just knows that it is all going to end in tears, however if the crazy elf thinks she can get something out of the cultist it just might be worth the risk.

Verner smiles and sets his lantern down so he can surreptitiously loosen his sword and be ready to draw and fight at a moments notice.

Once this is done Verner looks around and strains his senses to the utmost picking out any details he can discern.

Genzo
Lvl 2 Warrior (Werewolf) / 1824 AP
ST 8/24 IQ 12 LK 12 CON 16-15/48 DX 15/3 CHR 4/4 WIZ 5
PA +2/+15
Weapons: 2 Spears (3D+1), War bola (2D) 2 Dirks ( 2D+1 ) Short Saber (3D+1)
Armor: Scale ( 16 hits ) Target Shield ( 8 hits )

Genzo leads the henchmen into the room in mass in a defensive formation.

Whispering to the group " Smile and don't actually point your weapons at the nice cultists.....but seriously be ready this is probably going to get bloody"

And to Clud "Be ready old bear this could go very wrong" and gives the were-bears a pat on the neck.

Genzo also as stated before uses his enhanced lycanthropic senses to see what he can detect about the cultists and their "Den".

[apn]

OOC To confirm that Cludbear and the red tunic brigade are going into the den of fox heads. If there's a big scrap they don't want to miss out.

[danhem]

Verner and Elethiran lead the way into the chamber as the fox-masked man wave then inside. Only Ozmenton and his bodyguard Gurf remain outside in the hall. The fox-masked man regard them for a moment but then turns his attention back to his guests.

Inside, the others find themselves in a massive 60' (N-S) x 40' (W-E) chamber. The doorway is set in the middle of the eastern wall. The walls are hung with brightly colored tapestries and burning braziers stand along the walls making the room bright and warm. The air is heavy with sweet-smelling incense. At the southern end of the room are several low tables surrounded by cushions. The tables are covered with platters of food: steaming meats, strange looking roots, mushrooms, and even some fruit. There are also large flasks filled with bright red liquid. Could that be wine?

In addition to the fox-masked man, you see a total of about twenty others inside the room. They are dressed in a variety of clothes, all well-made and richly decorated. Each also wears a mask in the form of a different animal. There are birds, tigers, wolves, rats, even a bear. They all stand around the room looking at your group. The masks that they all wear hide any sign of emotion.

"Be welcome," the fox-masked man says. "Please, lay down your weapons and sit. We have plenty to share."

Your retainers seem nervous, and their hands move slowly toward the hilts of their weapons.

[kwll]

"Don't you find it awkward" asks Ozmenton to Gurf "that these people are wearing masks of animals they probably never actually saw, since they have been trapped in these caves for so many years?" The warrior scratches his head and stays silent.

[apn]

Name: Elethiran Shir'Taan (Female elf) Type: Warrior-Wizard Kin: Elf Level: 2 AP: 2223
ST 13 IQ 18 LK 18 CON 8 DX 18 CHR 32 WIZ 12/12 Personal Adds: +13 Missile Adds: +16
Weapons: Poniard (x5) (2D) (50wu total) Short Sword (3D) (30wu) light crossbow (4D) (120wu) + 14 Quarrels (14wu) Makeshift Staff (15/36)
Armour: Scale (8 hits+1) (200wu) Buckler (3 hits+1) (75wu) (13 hits total)
4 pots of healing salve

Name: Clud Magaladannannon Type: Warrior Kin: Were-Bear Level: 2 AP: 1299(Were-Form)
ST 11(39) IQ 14 LK 15 CON 10(31/35) DX 3(3) CHR 13 WIZ 11 Personal Adds: -3 Were-form: +24 Missile Adds: missile? eh? with 3 dex?
Weapons: Club (3D) (50wu) Bank (dagger) (2D+3) (20wu) Armour: Werebear scale armour: 8 hits, 10 ST needed, 1500 wu (bear form)


"Excuse me, but I'd rather we kept our weapons, but didn't have to use them." Smiles Elethiran sweetly. "We're just passing through, so we'll not eat any of your - doubtless - precious supplies." She glances at Verner and continues to smile at the masked people. "Can you tell us who you are, what you are doing here and which gods you worship? I ask only so that we do not insult you in some way, or otherwise cause offence."

Elethiran smiles the whole time, but her eyes are open and she's watching for any sudden moves.

[Toad-Killer-Dog]

Verner
Lvl 2 Warrior / 1995 AP
ST 14 IQ 12 LK 15 CON 12/11 DX 12 CHR 14 WIZ 14 PA +4
Weapons: Enchanted broadsword (5D+4), 2 Spears (3D+1) Dirk (2D+1)
Armor: Mail (22 hits), Knights shield (10 hits)

Verner frowns at Elethiran and whispers in her ear " When we get eaten by the crazy animal mask people I hope they serve you in some kind of blasphemous fondue"

"Get the word to Clud and Genzo this is going south and tell our religious friends to get ready to express their theological differences with extreme violence"

Speaking up to the Animal cultists and fox mask in particular "I'm sorry but we are on a tight schedule and moments could lead to the untimely deaths of innocents"

"However if you could be so kind as to direct us to the refuges from the upper levels I'm sure that your compassion would be both a credit to your god and well remembered by the other civilized inhabitants of the temple"

Verner surreptitiously readies to draw his sword and remove the mask of the fox cultist.....and the face underneath it.

Genzo
Lvl 2 Warrior (Werewolf) / 1824 AP
ST 8/24 IQ 12 LK 12 CON 16-15/48 DX 15/3 CHR 4/4 WIZ 5
PA +2/+15
Weapons: 2 Spears (3D+1), War bola (2D) 2 Dirks ( 2D+1 ) Short Saber (3D+1)
Armor: Scale ( 16 hits ) Target Shield ( 8 hits )

Genzo stares daggers into the back of Verners head still stretching his senses to the utmost to detect anything about the cultists, the food or the temple itself.

Leaning over to whisper and to the henchmen "Form up and get ready to extract the Princes and the Teutonic Twits, stay together shields out and work as a team"

"Kill anyone who looks like a spell-caster first, spear them DEAD, then anyone with a missile weapon, otherwise take them as they come and remember we leave NO ONE behind"

OOC: Could Genzo not detect anything out of the ordinary?

[danhem]

The fox-masked man shrugs as you refuse to relinquish your weapons.

"So be it," he says. "You may keep your weapons. We wish no violence upon you, yet you seem ready to inflict it upon us which is why I asked you to set them aside."

"As I said my Lady," the fox-masked man says to Elethiran, "we worship the mighty Zargon who set us free from our former masters and oppressors. He is a most kind and benevolent god. Do you not see the bounty we have? This is all thanks to him."

As Verner begins his own questioning, the fox-masked man's demeanor appears unchanged.

"I know of no refugees here; only the followers of Zargon, though we are a diverse group with some less social that others. But Zargon loves all, not just the beautiful or civilized."

"Are you sure that you will not join us for our feast?"

OOC: Genzo senses nothing unusual. Their "hosts" appear human and hold no weapons. The food looks and smells delicious.

[kwll]

Ozmenton is somewhat annoyed by all this delaying nonsense. He enters the room and addresses their host, Gurf on his trail. "Good friend, pardon my inquiring impoliteness but we are new here, and maybe understandably curious. Can I ask if this room encompasses all of your group's domain, or if you happen to venture elsewhere from time to time? Also, do you have contacts with those more or less social groups you mention? And where are they?"

[apn]

Name: Elethiran Shir'Taan (Female elf) Type: Warrior-Wizard Kin: Elf Level: 2 AP: 2223
ST 13 IQ 18 LK 18 CON 8 DX 18 CHR 32 WIZ 12/12 Personal Adds: +13 Missile Adds: +16
Weapons: Poniard (x5) (2D) (50wu total) Short Sword (3D) (30wu) light crossbow (4D) (120wu) + 14 Quarrels (14wu) Makeshift Staff (15/36)
Armour: Scale (8 hits+1) (200wu) Buckler (3 hits+1) (75wu) (13 hits total)
4 pots of healing salve

Name: Clud Magaladannannon Type: Warrior Kin: Were-Bear Level: 2 AP: 1299(Were-Form)
ST 11(39) IQ 14 LK 15 CON 10(31/35) DX 3(3) CHR 13 WIZ 11 Personal Adds: -3 Were-form: +24 Missile Adds: missile? eh? with 3 dex?
Weapons: Club (3D) (50wu) Bank (dagger) (2D+3) (20wu) Armour: Werebear scale armour: 8 hits, 10 ST needed, 1500 wu (bear form)


Elethiran adds to the words Ozmenton speaks "Pardon us for not giving up our weapons. We mean no harm or we'd have attacked already, it's just that in our line of business - delving - been unable to defend ones self could be considered dereliction of duty at best, gross stupidity at worst, and a mistake not often repeated."

"Grrrawwwurggh" said Cludbear

Elethiran smiles at the bear and translates "He says it's not a mistake that is made twice because you are usually dead after the first time. As for your food, we have a fine range of provisions that taste somewhere between sawdust and dead leaves from the bottom of your shoe. Were we to eat such fine fayre as on offer here I fear it would upset our palates."

Even as she says the words the Elf's stomach growls and she blushes, prettily.

Turning to Verner she makes a flicking motion with her head as if to suggest "Shall we go?"

[Toad-Killer-Dog]

Verner
Lvl 2 Warrior / 1995 AP
ST 14 IQ 12 LK 15 CON 12/11 DX 12 CHR 14 WIZ 14 PA +4
Weapons: Enchanted broadsword (5D+4), 2 Spears (3D+1) Dirk (2D+1)
Armor: Mail (22 hits), Knights shield (10 hits)

Verner smiles and motions for everyone to back out of the room.

"Well you nice folks have a good day and please enjoy your feast doubly for us, perhaps we'll stop back when we've found those pesky refugees"

"I'm sure that they would appreciate your hospitality"

Saying this Verner backs out of the room never turning from the cultists.

Whispering to Elethiran " I have a hammer in my pack do you think we should spike the door closed behind us"

Genzo
Lvl 2 Warrior (Werewolf) / 1824 AP
ST 8/24 IQ 12 LK 12 CON 16-15/48 DX 15/3 CHR 4/4 WIZ 5
PA +2/+15
Weapons: 2 Spears (3D+1), War bola (2D) 2 Dirks ( 2D+1 ) Short Saber (3D+1)
Armor: Scale ( 16 hits ) Target Shield ( 8 hits )

Genzo keeps the henchmen in formation and makes sure that there is not a pileup getting through the door.

"Okay people lets leave the nice folks to their meal and be on about our business"

[danhem]

Sept 30, 2013 4:54:52 GMT -5 kwll said:

Ozmenton is somewhat annoyed by all this delaying nonsense. He enters the room and addresses their host, Gurf on his trail. "Good friend, pardon my inquiring impoliteness but we are new here, and maybe understandably curious. Can I ask if this room encompasses all of your group's domain, or if you happen to venture elsewhere from time to time? Also, do you have contacts with those more or less social groups you mention? And where are they?"

"We move freely about this tier of the great pyramid," the fox-masked man says to Ozmenton, "and to the levels below. The other live here and below. We have few reasons to interact with them, but they are also believers of Zargon and so are our brothers."

[danhem]

"Well, if you you must go then so be it," the fox-masked man says.

"SO BE IT," the others suddenly say in unison.

"May you soon feel the embrace of Zargon," the fox-faced man says. "He is always watching."

As you back out of the room, the animal-masked throng makes not effort to stop you.