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[Respite] - Factions
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#601Jhoric had his doubts as to the necessity of such brute force, but he kept quiet. He focused his mind to sense for things of a magical nature around and in the structure. Hopefully nothing was there, or, if there was something, it was something useful.
(OOC - Jhoric is standing behind Gideon, off to one side, using Detect Magic invocation.) -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#602Jhoric stood behind Gideon as the half-ogre began his assault on the door. Opening his mind's eye to the forms of magic he was startled to see that there most certainly was magic present.
A moment later, the ancient stone yeilded to Gideon's boot, seeming far frailer then any would have expected. The stone panel shattered inwards sending shards hurting into the dark interior of the stone.
Jhoric was suddenly aware of the presence of magic more ancient then any he had yet encountered. Old and ... brittle. The next moment it felt like he had fallen into the sun - brilliance flooded his senses and he could see nothing - magic or otherwise.
Jaegarmond had noticed that his little tree had again taken cover, just moments before the door gave way to the half ogre. The next moment he felt a wave of powerful magic envelop him, vaguely hostile, but seemingly impotent against him and his shell.
Balin stood back, witnessing the violent end of the ancient stone portal, and felt.. nothing. The magic swirled about him as formless and indistinct as smoke.
Rajani felt a twinge of magical power as _something_ mystical shattered along with the door. Images from her own training flashed to the fore so breifly as to leave only impressions.
Toboran and Fafnir, standing back from the rather small opening noticed nothing, save for the odd expressions of their companions, and the destruction of the small doorway. Gideon too was aware of little more then the almost effortless destruction of the portal. Estwick yelled from his side of the structure "D'ya break something? What was that noise?"
Shortly after the sound of the stone breaking faded from memory, Jhoric found his vision returning, his companions fading back into view.
Where once was near featureless stone was now a yawning hole, four feet high and nearly as wide, with sharp, chisled edges. In front, Gideon could see a small room - very cramped for him, and what appeared to be windows?
He had not noticed it at first, but Jaegarmond was suddenly aware of the absence of his small, woody companion. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#603"Well, I will not fit in." Indeed, his shoulders were wider, especially with spiky shoulder pads!
"I'll stand watch here." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#604Balin looked in side and said, "I'll go in. It looks to be more fitted for my size anyway." Balin carefully entered the small room and looked through the windows. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#605"Whoa." Was all Jhoric could manage for a moment, he blinked a few times but could only stare at that opening. Whoa. Yes, that summed up nicely what he had just felt. After a few more moments he had to ask,
"Did anyone else feel... something? This place is most definitely magical, but it is of a magic so old... it has become brittle and ready to snap. I think we must take special precautions not to break any more magical seals." He seemed dizzy and ready to fall. "I need to sit down, and, though I am curious, I will not be going in there." He plopped ungracefully to the ground and sat holding his head. Whoa. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#606Looking around Gideon, Balin stepped into the small chamber. He was startled to see that the chamber had windows on all four wall, apparently filled with solid glass or perhaps even crystal. He could see out, but none outside could see in. As his eyes adjusted to the dimmer light within, he saw what appeared to be a corpse sitting against one of the walls, very similar in size to himself.
The figure's skull was severely damaged - its right eye socket a massive blackened crater with the wall behind bearing a dark stain about a foot wide. The skin had long since rotted away, but the figure was wearing gray leather that seemed untouched by the time that had so ravaged its owner. A strange crossbow lay beside 'him', charred in a similar manner as its owner. Nearby, an axe with tassels on its handle lay discarded.
His eyes adjusted further still, he could make out what appeared to be a trapdoor in the floor.
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#607Fafnir stuck his head through the opening, "What has happened here? No matter,mysteries are like the morning fog, it can be cleared with the light of truth. We will find out the purpose of this place and why our long dead friend is here." He then attempted to slide his large bulk through the small opening.(reptillian as he was he was somewhat used to fitting through smaller spaces.) -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#608Kou'rha had to contain himself from gasping too audibly as one of the Others - a particularly large one, who seemed to be covered in some sort of shiny bone - shattered the stone and created a gaping hole in it. Clearly this was not one of Uorl'han's creations, they would not break so easily. The Others may have left it; perhaps it was a storage bin? The Alun kept his eyes sharp as the Small One entered the thing. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#609"Please, I will not enter the vessel," Rajani said, feeling something of dread come upon her, the confined space seemed ominous even in the clearing, even more so for the twinge she felt when it was opened, "I would see to the composition of the body, if someone would bring it out." She said. The dead rest better when properly cared for, and judging from the way the wound lloked self inflicted, it would be best if this one remained among those who slumber eternal. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#610"Very well. Here, Fafnir, help me bring this thing out." With that Balin began to lift the corpse, hoping that it would stay together. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#611Carefully so as to not destroy the corpse, Fafnir gently raised the corpse. With Balin's help he brought it out of the apparent tomb. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#612Hauling the corpse into the better light outside showed that the corpse had worn a thick beard in life. It held together suprisingly well given its apparent age.
Rajani had not seen such an injury before, though she had heard descriptions from others of her order. Such injuries - a hole burned completely through the body,and with such violence, were only possible through sorcery. Perhaps a heated ballista bolt could do the same, but there were no sign of that. Besides, an ancient aura seemed to cling to the victim like the smell of rot.
The figure had little apart from its leathery armor, its axe, and another blade sheathed at its belt. No packs for provisions, no water horn or other supporting equipment. Even his cloth leggings were light.
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#613"This fellow looks like he lived here; he's almost in his undies - for a dwarf. Whoever came here to offer him violence?" Gideon rubbed his chin. "I can't shake the feeling that this ... block... is a part of a bigger settlement. Was. Might be." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#614Rajani knelt next to the corpse. She was not yet blessed enough among those who had walked the path to speak with the departed, but she wished intently that she could know what happened to this man. She also wished she knew his customs. The dwarves didnt seem to be made for pyres as men. something told her, her intuition perhaps, that for him, it was the eternal embrace of the earth.
"I would dig him a grave if anyone has a spade they could spare." Rajani said. She had already asked much of them with the shambler pyre, she would not ask that which she would do herself. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#615"Estwick, borrow me a spade please, I will make myself useful."
Gideon started digging. What you wish that others do to you, do unto them. And he sure wished that one day, someone would bother to give him the final rites. He wouldn't make a good ghost. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#616"Actually, Gideon, this may have been a type of guard post or something, rather than a house. There isn't very much room and no storage space," Balin replied.
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#617Fafnir noticed that something was odd about the head of the dead dwarf's axe. It did not look to him like steel as he would expect. It appeared that the axehead was some type of odd .. stone?
Jagermond, having noticed that his little tree was not on his shoulder, looked about. The grass had gone yellow all about the stone structure, and he saw the little tree on the ground nearby. It was still green, but immobile.
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#618"When you are through rummaging through the guard post or the house or whatever it may have been, please have a car and do something to close it again." Rajani said. "We still dont know what drove this soul it's end." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#619"Perhaps we should have a look at his worldly possessions," Rajani said. It would be unseeming fomr him to be passed into the earth without something to hold in his hands." she said, inspecting his body. She was curious to know what sort of spell or device had caused the lethal injury. She was also curious to know why he had done it. It did look self-inflicted. "It would also be foolish to bury up all of his valuables with him when our need is fresh." She stood, observing the corpse. So many mysteries. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#620"As much as I respect your opinion, Lady", Toboran said mildly, "As you have the most, ah, experience, in these matters. I don not enjoy the thought of disturbing this poor soul any further than we have. His seems a sad tale, and the sadder the tale, the less it should be disturbed." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#621"Well, if I was dead and you came across me, I'd want you to take anything you needed. See, if I was dead and was to go to the Golden Halls, I'd need no worldly things anymore; if I was to go to the Hells, I'd hardly be allowed to take anything along."
He poked his head into the structure's door.
"Ah, a trapdoor! Search that too, or shrink me with a spell and let me at it!" -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#622Jaegarmond ignored the others for the moment. They seemed to have the body well in hand, and he wasn't likely to be of any more help that Rajani or one of the other spellweavers at determining the cause of death. Besides, his attention was firmly rooted in what had happened to his leafy companion. The Dunshar leaned down and examined his former companion, trying to determine what was wrong with it. -
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#623Fafnir picked up the axe and began looking it over. "Hey, this edge is no stone I have seen. Balin perhaps your dwarven experience has led you to this mineral before?" He said holding the axe out away from his body as if to ward off any spirits within. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#624Balin took the axe and examined it. "I did not immediately recognize it but perhaps a closer inspection might reveal more clues," Balin replied. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#625The axe felt light in Balin's hand, and was as well made a weapon as he had ever handled. The head was of stone, but so carefully carved and polished so that not a single chisel mark remained. It was as thin as a metal head would have been, so that seemed to indicate that its hardness could not be much less. The stone itself was unfamiliar to him, though it seemed akin to a strong, blue stone called Kladak, found only in the deepest of his people's mines. Apart from being a good hard stone, and virtually immune to heat, it was never considered useful for making weapons.
Jaegarmond looked down at his woody companion, and again noticed nothing apart from the small plant was green anywhere near. That had not been the case before the doorway was sundered, he was sure of that. Since the tree did not visibly breath, nor have a pulse, Jaegarmond could not tell if his companion was alive or not. That he had not 'wilted' or lost his leaves gave him some measure of hope.
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#626Jhoric was still sitting on the ground, but feeling better. He hoped that some of the magic had dissipated by now, but was still curious as to what it could do. It seemed to have withered some of the vegetation nearby. Jaegarmond's little tree friend was apparently affected, but not to the same extent as the rest.
Jhoric focused his energies and sent his magical senses outward. Like soft tendrils of smoke, he could see them touching the axe, the armor, and even daring towards the open fort, he sat quietly, full absorbed in his reconnaissance, and waited for a reply from the magic within him. -
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#627Kou'rha peered down as the Small One took the axe into his hand. Even from a distance, the Alun could tell it was of fine craftsmanship. None of his tribe could even create such a fine blade, but it still stirred a memory... Something the Elders had, something he had seen touted overhead and spoken of with great reverence.
Kou'rha suddenly remembered! It was a sacred thing, yes. An ancient thing, not of here but of those before. What now was it doing in the hands of these grave-robbers Others? A low growl rumbled from his throat. If these were the ways of the Others, it would be difficult to venture out with such folk of so little etiquette and proper reverence. They were... un-Alun. -
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#628Rajani helped big out the grave as best she could, but here efforts were pale compared to Gideon and his spade, but she was not detered. Once a suitable amount of earth was moved she prepared the body to be entered into the earth while the others investigated the relics and the strange room the hirsute corpse was previously occupying. Once the body was in place, she felt around her purse and came up with a pair of small coins. They were gold clad coins from Endkelton, stamped with the three headed lion of the Lord of the Mount. Aside from the small amount of gold over a metal core they were almost worthless in trade in Respite. She placed a coin over each eye, whispering under her breath the Hymn of Passage. The melody hung in her throat, he was a stranger to her, she knew nothing of him. She had no words to pass him along, but there was the hymn.
It brought unpleasant memories, the death of her father and his burial. The death of her grandmother and hers as well. She wiped at her brow, sweat dripping down her nose. She pulled herself up, she felt a flush of shame across her face. She did not know him, but that was no excuse for doing something poorly. She closed her eyes, placing both hands over her heart. Head lifted she sang.
Let not the sun go down on my wrath
I let it shake the world
Vengeance is the grudge I bear
Flag of reckoning unfurled
You are the architect
Of your own demise
So smile no more
I am the gatekeeper,
And you are mine for evermore
Come greet the reaper
You know the time is nigh
This is the day of reckoning,
Your time to die
Brave men they spin in fear
At the sound of my voice
Say goodbye to life so dear
You no longer have a choice
Burnt black and silent,
Rust and blood
Upon my reaper’s blade
I come collect the tolls
Gather up all the debts unpaid
I call when you least expect
But when you deserve it the most
Behold the timekeeper
The end is getting close
Come greet the reaper
You know the time is nigh
This is the day of reckoning,
Your time to die
Brave men they spin in fear
At the sound of my voice
Say goodbye to life so dear
You no longer have a choice
The dead no longer have
A cross to bear
The dead no longer have
Need to despair
Death has come
And set the snare
Death will come
When you are unaware
The misbegotten have the gall
To think them safe and sound
They try to cheat the reaper
Scatter, hide, no matter, found
The wheel of life is standing still
For them it turns no more
Now comes the soul keeper
And you become my whore
Come greet the reaper
You know the time is nigh
This is the day of reckoning,
Your time to die
Brave men they spin in fear
At the sound of my voice
Say goodbye to life so dear
You no longer have a choice
She felt herself shaking after the last word died on her lips.
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#629Once Rajani's song was finished Balin spoke, "Where I come from warriors can become connected with their weapons and from what I know of the stone this weapon was made from, it was probably of value. But right now it is not of much worth to any of us. I suggest that we bury it with the body in case he attempts to reclaim it dispite the burial." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#630In reply to Balin, Fafnir spoke "A warrior would do well to rest with his weapons. The dwarfs request is reasonable, and I have no want for a return visit from the dead. Let him have his weapon and his honor as he departs." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#631Jhoric's spell threw back the veils of the otherworld as his eyes ceased seeing the material world. The fallen one's axe and armor both glowed brightly in those other lights.
Another image superimposed itself upon that one - the axe, or one like it, embedded deep within the plant he saw in his dream, the plant's flesh withering as the blade cut in.
Within the small structure where the dwarf-thing apparently died, the dim light of fading magic was also present, as well as the lingering aura of something else perhaps...
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#632Jhoric stood up and spoke softly
"I- I do not know how to explain how I know this, but, it seems that axe may be a potent weapon against our leafy enemies. And the axe, and the armor, are most definitely magical in nature. I think we should use them if we can. In my past we didn't care much for the needs of the dead, so I have no problems with whatever you decide to do. Just remember, we may be burying ourselves with that axe."
Jhoric then stared into that tiny opening once more.
"Is anyone going to check out that trap door? I feel like there is more to this." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#633Jaegarmond was intrigued with the new status of his companion. Very obviously the magical wave that had bypassed him had affected his little companion, perhaps changing him back to that which he so resembled and likely descended from. He touched the sapling, trying to discern whether it had sunk roots deep into the ground, or even if it still held awareness. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#634"If you seem to think it is that important, Jhoric", Toboran said, "Then I believe that we should keep the axe with us. Also, I will see to the trapdoor. I am used to exploration, though it is usually under the clear sky."
Toboran stooped and entered the small building and went to inspect the trapdoor. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#635The trapdoor was quite unadorned. Little more then a stone plug with a handled carved into it. It bore no symbols or any other adornment.
He did notice a small pouch, seeming of the same material as the dead dwarves armor, cast aside into a corner.
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#636The small tree was neither rooted, nor responsive, though it still _felt_ alive. Jaegarmond also noticed that heavy clouds had began to move in, darkening the sky.
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#637Oblivious to the ominous signs, Gideon poked his nose into the structure's opening, rapt with curiosity at what they'd find. -
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#638Rajani looked skyward, concern building in her. The plants had withered, and now the heavens looked offended at the opening of the crypt. She paused in her digging.
"This bodes ill." She closed her eyes, the invocation of caution was simple, almost reflexive.
(OOC - Detect Evil) -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#639Toboran reached out and grabbed the pouch and pulled it gently open.
"What have we here?" -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#640Rajani opened herself to the forces at hand, probing for evil in all its forms.
She was surprised to feel... nothing. Not quite nothing - there was a lingering malice in the air, but it seemed ancient, dry, impotent. There might have been evil here once, but time has dulled its bite. Whatever was at hand now, seemed at worst, indifferent.
The weather had indeed picked up quickly, but looking up she saw nothing unnatural at its pace, but it did look like rain was coming, and soon.
Gideon saw Toboran pick up a small leather pouch. The Ranger opened it, and leaning towards the door to use the now dimming daylight, he saw within a number of what appeared to be dried seeds. Somewhat familiar with plants and herbs, he was unable to identify the species, but it seemed somewhat familiar..