The Arwich Grinder

[GlassEye]

UP ABOVE: Badr Balik follows Godwin down the hallway to the left peering over Godwin's shoulder. "Ah, broo..." He looks up, eyes wide and bulging, as the ceiling sinks under the heavy tread. "What is THAT?"

DOWN BELOW: Rogett Lammerson stares at Balin horrified by the sudden outburst of violence by the dwarf. He turns suddenly, kneels and deposits his dinner through one of the holes in the floor. He stands "You never even gave them a chance to explain what's going on here before you killed them!"

Randow Lammerson avoids looking at anyone, particularly his brother. He's also trying to avoid looking at the floor which doesn't really give him much to look at and so he stares at the ceiling. Randow looks a bit greenish around the gills as well.

Abram Cove goes over to Ward Curwen and does a quick search looking for any clues to what the devil is going on here and, if truth be told, a bit of coin to line his pocket. "Look to our own dead, if you're of such a mind," he says motioning Rogett towards Zorathus.

Rogett Will save (1d20+1=2)
Randow Will save (1d20=4)
Rogett, Randow, & Abram at -1d

[MrHemlocks]

Balin, seeing Zoranthus falling to the ground never to move again, least of his own free will, attacks the women. He screeches out a LOUD dwarven war call while his blade makes contact with the torch wielding Curwen.

INT=17
ROLL TO HIT=Output: roll to hit:[1d20+1]=11+1=12 Balin will burn luck, if needed, in order to hit.
Damage: Output: damage [1d6+1]=3+1=4

Seeing that Lammersons group does nothing, Pratel also swings away at the torch bearing women. Feeling his club hit puts a smile on his face...

Output: To hit: [1d20+1]=11+1=12
Output: To damage: [1d4+1]=3+1=4

[GlassEye]

MrHemlocks, she's already dead (hence the XP award in Raven Crowking's previous post).

[MrHemlocks]

MrHemlocks, she's already dead (hence the XP award in Raven Crowking's previous post).

Being that my characters are the only ones to attack both man and woman I know when they are dead or not.

[GlassEye]

I don't know what I've done to incite hostility from you throughout this game, MrHemlocks, but I don't appreciate it.

[drpete]

Before Balin can act, the woman turns on him (Init 19), swings her torch (9), Balin feels the heat of it, before he strikes her, and she falls.

All present gain 2 XP; Balin gains +1 Luck for being active. Some Gods, be they the Gods of Law or those of Chaos, are smiling upon him, somewhere.

I'm not sure what we're fighting about, but the man and woman are dead... Sorry about my delay, I'll try to post tonight.

[drpete]

Up above:
Godwin looks up at the ceiling, trying to guess what giant thing is above him. "I don't know... Where do you think the stairs are?" Godwin moves to the next door to check it.

Down below:
Milo stares, eyes wide "You just... killed them? What the hell is going on here? Do we know? Let's find out before we kill any more people, ok...?"

Bill grabs up the woman's torch, and drops it down one of the holes, hoping to see what the heck is down there.

Robin goes to the hallway where the couple came from, to see if there's anyone else down the hall.

[fireinthedust]

OOC: posts on a pbp board, like emails, can "look" more hostile than they're intended. I've gotten in trouble unintentionally like that. Maybe it's just an accident of phrasing?

Sorry about the delay again; I keep forgetting to check back!!! Guh.


IC: ABOVE

Bron runs to the dead Curwin's body and sees if she is familiar. The beautiful Curwin lass?

[Raven_Crowking]

ABOVE: There is a door opposite the closet, and a door at the end of the hall, as well as two doors past the staircase before the hallway turns (now to your left). I am not sure which door you mean to open. Counterclockwise to the left would be the door at the end of the hall.

BELOW: Neither of the two dead Curwens was carrying any coin. They were Ward and Caroline Curwen, a married couple.

Looking to the south, you can see the flickering light of firelight, probably a torch, and hear an aged voice chanting in a vile but unknown tongue.

[MrHemlocks]

Leaning up against a wall, Balin and Pratel let the Lammerson brothers and Milo pass them by. Balin watches the passing threesome and mumbles out, "go ahead mates lead the way. We will catch up with you in a minute."

[GlassEye]

ABOVE: Badr Balik checks the door across from the closet. "Yes, there must be stairs up there somewhere around here. Though I'm not sure I'm in a hurry to find out what that thing is."

BELOW: Abram Cove follows after Robin down the southern hall with the flickering light. He makes sure his club is in hand and ready since he doesn't like the sound of the chanting.

Randow Lammerson readies his club as well. He's not as convinced his brother has the right of it; maybe Balin was right to go in swinging.

Rogett Lammerson winces. The chanting is resounding in his head and giving him a headache. "That, that chanting... It's not right."

[drpete]

Up above:
Godwin will open the door at the end of the hall.

Down below:
Robin will advance down the hall, sword in hand.

Milo wasn't actually passing Balin, just staring at him, but when it becomes obvious that Balin is waiting for him to go ahead, he will follow Robin.

Bill will wait to see if the torch illuminates the space below. If he still can't see down into the holes, he'll follow the group.

[Raven_Crowking]

ABOVE: The door at the end of the hall opens onto a large bedroom. This room is noisome with the foul reek of sulphur and other scents less identifiable, but more disturbing. Apart from the expected furniture, there is a small shelf of mouldering books.

The door opposite the closet contains a bed and a chest. It appears to be a boy's room.

BELOW: The passage gives way into what appears to be a natural cavern, arriving on a wide ledge lit by a lurid torch ensconced on the wall. Beyond the ledge spreads a large cavern, the floor of the cavern lost in the darkness below, although a viscous bubbling and splattering noise arises from it. An old man - it appears to be Grandpa Ike Curwen - is chanting, holding Bessie Curwen (who appears to be in a kind of daze) with one hand. Bessie Curwen is garlanded in flowers, like a May Queen, and dressed in her best gown, as she stands idly by the chanting old man, swaying softly with his repellent words.

[Raven_Crowking]

ABOVE: The door at the end of the hall opens onto a large bedroom. This room is noisome with the foul reek of sulphur and other scents less identifiable, but more disturbing. Apart from the expected furniture, there is a small shelf of mouldering books.

The door opposite the closet contains a bed and a chest. It appears to be a boy's room.

BELOW: The passage gives way into what appears to be a natural cavern, arriving on a wide ledge lit by a lurid torch ensconced on the wall. Beyond the ledge spreads a large cavern, the floor of the cavern lost in the darkness below, although a viscous bubbling and splattering noise arises from it. An old man - it appears to be Grandpa Ike Curwen - is chanting, holding Bessie Curwen (who appears to be in a kind of daze) with one hand. Bessie Curwen is garlanded in flowers, like a May Queen, and dressed in her best gown, as she stands idly by the chanting old man, swaying softly with his repellent words.

[MrHemlocks]

Seeing the older man chanting and 'evil' hymn, Balin and Pratel charge him. Both clubs secure heavy hits on the man; while forcefully trying to knock the man off balance and into the pit below.


Int Roll:Output: To hit: [1d20] = 18

Balin's Attack:
Output: To hit: [1d20+1]=17+1=18
Output: To hit: [1d4+1]=4+1=5



Pratel Attack:
Output: To hit: [1d20+1]=4+1=5 --he will burn as much luck as needed in order to secure a hit!
Output: To hit: [1d4+1]=2+1=3

[fireinthedust]

Above: Bron and his Herbalist helper go over to look at the books. The old woman clucks as she looks at the titles. Bron, however, looks around for the cause of the sulpherous smell.

"Brimstone! Looks like one of the Curwens was into sorcery! If there was any doubt... I can't believe Bessy Curwin would do this. And that old man back there, asleep, seems an unlikely culprit. Where are the other Curwens? We should regroup with the rest of our comrades and see if anyone has found a sign of the rest of the family."

[GlassEye]

ABOVE: Badr Balik sniffs the air suspiciously. "Seems things were not in accordance with goodness and decency on Curwen farm. And I would agree with regrouping with the rest if we knew where they were."

BELOW: When Balin and Pratel give old Grandpa Curwen the bum-rush Randow Lammerson reaches out and grabs Bessie Curwen to prevent her from being toppled over the edge with him. Rogett Lammerson stares out at the scene with all the horror of the righteous faced with disturbing evil. Abram Cove looks furtively around, not liking what he's seeing (and not seeing, below). He tosses his torch into the pit in hopes of catching a glimpse of what is down there.

[Raven_Crowking]

ABOVE: The source of the odours cannot be identified. They linger in the room as though from an unseen presence.

Only a third of the words of any of the books are legible, but they are disturbing to look at. The mould seems to have gotten into the illustrations not randomly, but to highlight certain disgusting abnormalities of the creatures depicted in. These books are The Booke of the Gates of Life and Death, Wonders of ye Darke, and The Book of Eibon Stars.

BELOW: Balin and Pratel have no problems with old Grandpa Curwen, who dies with a shriek. As Randow grabs Bessie Curwen, she lashes out at him with a dagger (17 to hit, 2 damage)!

As Abram Cove throws his torch downward, illuminating a cave floor full of bubbling mud, an amorphous column of mud rises 50’ from the muck below. It has has seven writhing tentacles, each tens of feet long....it can easily reach all of you. Roll for initiative.

[GlassEye]

ABOVE: The word 'Stars' catches Badr Balik's attention and he runs his finger down the spine of the book. He is sorely tempted and hesitates but this isn't why they are here so he tears his attention away and steps back into the hall. He looks for the next door. "There must be a stair around here somewhere." (I'm a bit confused as to the layout of the hall and doors. Badr will go to check the next door on this side if there is one or start on the other side if not.)

BELOW: Randow Lammerson gasps as Bessie Curwen cuts him. The wound is deep and the blood from the cut soaks his shirt front but he is standing (though not with any solidity). "What the Jimmy?!" Randow clutches his stomach then stares uncomprehendingly at his bloody hand. His eyes track from his hand to the knife-wielding Curwen and his eyes narrow. Randow lashes out in retaliation with his club but his dizziness throws off his attack.

Rogett Lammerson steps up to defend his brother and take a swing at Bessie Curwen. Unfortunately, he recoils from the horror of the column of mud and its tentacles and so his swing at Bessie is quite wild.

Abram Cove gets a horrible sinking feeling. "How do we fight this?" Clubs against this thing? They can't even reach it. He takes a step back, slips his club in his belt and yanks free his sling, though he isn't certain the sling will have any effect either.


Initiative (1d20=7)
Randow club (1d16=5)
Rogett club (1d16-1=1)<--I looked at the wrong character for this roll so this is edited.

[fireinthedust]

ABOVE: Bron has his sword out. "Mind the strange things in the homes of wizards. We should move on, find out what's going on, then come back for these books. No sense carrying them around when trouble's afoot."

With that, they follow Goodwin, looking to regroup with the others.

The herbalist clucks her teeth, but gives the room a quick glance, wondering if there could be an invisible spirit following them.

OOC: Luck roll? [roll]1d20+2[/roll]

[drpete]

Up above:
Godwin moves to take the books, then changes his mind, and moves to the next door with Badr.

Down below:
Initiative: [1d20+2] =9
Robin calls "We interrupted the sacrifice! Finish it!" He scrambles, looking for actual signs of whatever they were doing... Is there a dagger or maybe some meat that they might have been using for a sacrifice?

Milo looks for shelter... Maybe an actual door to somewhere, that might be closed?

Bill takes off running back toward the room with the holes.

[MrHemlocks]

Balin and Pratel, seeing the long tentacles reaching out of the pit run back the way them came!

ooc...The intent of the attack on the old man was to have him fall into the pit, earlier post, after the attack. Did it happen? Figure he would be a good offering to whatever waits below.

Output: int roll [1d20] = 14 --- They will burn luck points to secure a win on the INT roll..if needed.

[Raven_Crowking]

ABOVE: The doors moving left from the stairs have been opened. There are two doors, one on either side of the hall, moving right from the stairs, and then the hall bends to your left. As you contemplate which door to open first, there is again a movement overhead, making the ceiling bulge out beneath it, and causing dust to fall from the ceiling. Somewhere down the hall, from around the bend, a woman screams.

BELOW: There is no door, nor any sign of meat. Grandpa Ike had a dagger which went spinning into the muck below with his death (mercifully, the torch Abram threw has been smothered, and you cannot see down there any more), and Bessie still has a dagger. Speaking of which, at 19, she strikes at Randow, trying to finish what she started. 16 to hit, 1 point of damage.

Balin and Pratel run back to the previous room, pell-mell down the darkened corridor. A moment later, Bill follows them.

Seven tentacles of mud shoot out toward the ledge - one strikes at Randow, and it would be funny how poorly it misses at another time (natural 1). Two strike at Rogett (18+2 = 20, 5+2 = 7; 1 damage), one at Abram (10+2 = 12, 2 damage), two at Milo as he seeks cover (12+2 = 14, 2+2 = 4, 2 damage), and one at Robin (15+2 = 17, 3 damage). Any character struck by a tentacle must succeed in a DC 10 Strength check or be pulled from his feet and brought 10’ toward the 50' column of obscene mud. These characters are now held by tentacles of ooze.

"Ai! Sliggeth!" Bessie Curwen cries.

[fireinthedust]

ABOVE: Brom, sword drawn, leaps towards the sound of the scream, followed by the trapper and the others. When he gets to where the scream came from he readies himself to hack apart any fool enough to attack them.

[GlassEye]

ABOVE: Though he is no warrior Badr Balik draws his dagger and rushes after Brom.

BELOW: Bessie Curwen is deadly accurate with her dagger. Randow Lammerson drops to the ground at her feet, staring lifeless at the dark ceiling of the cavern as his blood pools on the ledge and drips over into the darkness.

Rogett Lammerson cries out as he sees his brother fall to Bessie's knife but barely has chance to do more before the tentacle of ooze snatches him up and drags him towards the edge. He begins loudly praying to all the gods of Law whose names he can remember. In his frenzy to get free he smashes at the tentacle with his club.

Abram Cove feels the crushing grasp of the tentacle of ooze and thinks it might have cracked a rib. Though he is wrapped up in it he fights against it and avoids being dragged towards whatever fell fate it has in store for them. "Bill! The axe!" yells Abram as he scrambles on the ledge to reach the axe poor Milo dropped when the ditch digger was killed by the tentacle. IF he manages to reach it Abram will swing it at the tentacle in hopes of breaking it and freeing himself.

Rogett STR1 (1d20-1=6)
Rogett atk (1d16-1=13), hit?
If so, Rogett dmg (1d4-1=0)
Abram STR (1d20+2=20)
Abram atk (1d16+2=4)