Chapter the Third, Silent Woman Keep — Legacy Forums

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#41

"I will come if you wish," said Iskander simply, if not enthusiastically. "Tagu, make sure Nish doesn't loot the mules..."

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#42

"Nay friend," Inan said, smoothing his hair and flashing his best sand-scoured smile, "Allow me, to accompy our companions with these most excellent women."

"I feel my talents may be of some importance"

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#43

"Fair enough."

Iskander led the mules to the stables and tied them within, and then went in to check out the accommodations.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#44

"Loot the mules!?" Nisher spluttered as he walked swiftly to catch up with Iskander as the fixer led the animals to the stables, "What do you take me for, some common pickpocket!? You should show to proper respect to..."
Nisher's ranting at iskander continued all the way into the stables. Mentally, he made a note -not- to rifle through the bags as he had planned.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#45

And with that, the companions parted. Zuan and Saano exchanged brief glances as Inan joined them. They had never seen the man smile before....
---
As Anquetiti relayed her plans of merriment and conquest to the amused and devious-looking Nisher, he in turn berated Iskander for the indignation. There was no bemusement on Iskander's face. Tagu stoically led the animals to the stable.

The stone house was sparse to put it kindly. A rectangle of gray rock, overgrown with purplish ivy. There was ample room inside, and one window. Four straw mattresses, a wooden table with an empty water-jug, and four chairs. Against one of the walls hung a long-faded symbol of St. Hurdegilda on a chain, an onyx heart. The stables were attached to the house. The old straw here stank. Hezzab and Maurban expressed their displeasure immediately upon entering.
---
They were led through the Cloister in appropriate silence. Then through a small courtyard and through huge stone double-doors, which opened as the Sisters neared. Though the three companions looked about taking measure of the place, the surroundings of the austere abbey were not worth description. Everything was simple angles of gray stone and ceilings lost in shadow. No adornments or embellishments were present, other than the occasional statue of St. Hurdegilda, carved from the same dull-gray stone as the rest of the keep.

The one feeling they all shared, was an overwhelming awareness of the complete and utter silence. No rats scurried. No bats squeaked. No broom stroke across the stone floor made a wooshing noise. It was deafeningly silent.

At one point, the three passed what appeared to be a vast stone auditorium, where dozens of white-clad Sisters, stood rigidly, shoulder to shoulder, apparently lost in silent prayer, but in reality, as Zuan, Inan, and Saano could "hear" (only in their minds), they were singing in some unknown language, at the top of their "lungs"...the Silent Choir.

The three rose up two flights of worn stone stairs and walked down along plain corridor. The two Sisters then stopped and turned to face the three. One took out a large iron key-chain and stuck a key into what looked like more stone wall, but was actually a door.The door opened without sound (naturally). Inside they could see straw-cots, water basins, table and chairs.

"Please wait here. The Abbess will see you shortly. Someone will come for you when it is time. There is bread, water, and cheese for nourishment." she motioned toward the table, then both turned and left, their steps *not* echoing along the corridor floor....

It didn't take long. As soon as one of them opened their mouth to speak and heard no sound issue forth, they knew. *They* were now silenced as well. Inan, Zuan, and Saano, could only *think* at each other now. A coin dropped on the stone floor (Zuan's quick experiment) also produced no sound.

(ooc: roll for INT checks again. You all made it, which means you can communicate telepathically amongst yourselves. (22:00:30) ChatBot: Murometz rolls 3d20 and gets 12,10,12. Perhaps the abjuration magic Anquetiti detected earlier now made sense. The entire Keep seems to be under magical spell of silence.)

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#46

Moraten Li swam as best he could. Swimming was the only way to describe his fluid movements. The stark-white horizon offered only more distance and it was impossible to gauge spatial boundaries.

Tullis’ body was somewhere nearby, but Moraten could not tell which way he should go to get there. This whole experience was maddening beyond belief. But Moraten had his code, and he would live by it, or die in the attempt.

The flying demon-heads, spewing venom, had done his partner in. ‘Ten had watched the creatures of nightmare nearly eviscerate Tullis. How he himself managed to avoid them, Moraten could not know. But watching Tullis be slain in front of his eyes, was like slow-motion torture for ‘Ten, despite the fact that it happened in moments, before ‘Ten could even help.

He glided across the now suddenly golden-amber nothingness, as best he could. Silver-cobalt tendrils of smoke or mist swirled in his peripheral vision.

Looking at his waist he could see the strange silvery swirl trailing from his body. It seemed an umbilical cord of sorts, and was growing fainter, a bright-silver when he first stumbled into this bizarre place (how long ago was that?), now translucent gray.

Then he spied something in the distance, a two-dimensional circular “patch”, that looked to be made from honey, but was violet-red in color. Now he was right in front of it. Now he reached out to touch it….

Moraten suddenly gasped for breath, as if he had been drowning. Around him was the silent, stone chamber which he slowly remembered. He grasped the rim of the stone fountain-pool filled with the thick, golden liquid, and pulled himself up, then over, then finally collapsed on the very real, very cold, very stone floor of the Silent Woman Keep's inner sanctum.

d**n it, he clenched his fist, even as he did not fully grasp what had just happened. He knew one thing. He would have to retrieve Tullis' corpse.

All was deathly silent.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#47

Soon, a Sister arrived and the door opened of its own accord. Behind her were another three women clad head to toe in white, and behind them, one more who could only be described as the Abbess. She too was clad in white samite, but on her chest hung an onyx-heart medallion, and her squarish headdress was adorned with gleaming-black, smooth yet twisted, bull’s horns.

“I am Abbess Ximena of the Silent Women.” She turns to Saano, “Yes, Joachim Ebellos has been here recently, and he had mentioned that he would hire one such as you. Sister Voichita has let in a demon, one more foul than words can attest to, and we have so far proved powerless to overcome him. We keep her below, in chains dusted with our patron saint's powdered bone, coating the iron.” Abbess Ximena mono-toned, “You have my leave to see to her, and to her Dispiritation. Are you ready? I trust you will act anon? Sister Gilfresa, show them to Sister Voichita..."

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#48

The shadows deepened around him, almost as if they were trying to give what comfort they could. How any place with that much light could not have shadows... The creatures of that realm never would have done what they had if he'd had the shadows to work with. He was weak and sore, but he didn't have the luxury of resting. As soon as he could, he got to his feet, swaying slightly. He wasn't fool enough to go back in that pool, not right now. But he would be back, and he would at least pull his former partner's body out.

But that could wait. He wasn't yet strong enough to survive that cursed light filled realm again.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#49

As Anquetiti relayed her plans of merriment and conquest to the amused and devious-looking Nisher, he in turn berated Iskander for the indignation. There was no bemusement on Iskander's face. Tagu stoically led the animals to the stable.

The stone house was sparse to put it kindly. A rectangle of gray rock, overgrown with purplish ivy. There was ample room inside, and one window. Four straw mattresses, a wooden table with an empty water-jug, and four chairs. Against one of the walls hung a long-faded symbol of St. Hurdegilda on a chain, an onyx heart. The stables were attached to the house. The old straw here stank. Hezzab and Maurban expressed their displeasure immediately upon entering.

Nisher conversed lightly with Anquetiti and Iskander, but his mind was clearly elsewhere - more than once he paced the room. He checked the water-jug and gave a little sigh upon noticing it was empty, and walked over to study the onyx heart on chain; he would have taken it as a souvenier had the others not been present, but as it was he simply sighed and left it there, giving a shifty glance over to Iskander. Ten minutes hadn't passed when Nisher suddenly clapped his hands together and turned to face his companions. "Alright! I am going for a... stroll. I'd love to investigate the keep further. Anyone else up for it?" He raised a brow at Iskander, Anquetiti and Tagu.

Nish wants to go explore the outside with whoever else is going to come; specifically the windows. He will look for a suitable one on either first or second floor and attempt to get access to the place. If the only suitable access is a 2nd floor window, he'll use his 'magic rope' spell as a climbing aid.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#50

"Certainly - once it gets a little darker. I'd like the sisters to think we will nicely sit in this house here all night, and wrestle thumbs."
"Also, I think there will be a secret passage, these fortified temples always have one, to an outside chapel or so."

She smiled, and jumped onto the bed. "Until then - a catnap for me."

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#51

"Just keep in mind that our thoughts may not be our own here, even if you choose not to 'speak' them. " said Iskander. He noticed Nish's glance, especially since the thought had crossed his mind as well. But, it did not look valuable enough to bother with, and Iskander was no kelptomaniac. Antagonizing the sisters was not something he was willing to do at the moment.

Now, if others wished to, he had no argument with that.

"Too many would likely defeat your purpose, Nish, but I will keep a lookout from this house. My presence here might distract them from you. "

Iskander was too tense to sleep, and not ready to brave the countless bedbugs that likely infested the straw. When the time came, it would be the floor and his blanket. Instead he went over to the window and looked outside at the keep.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#52

Zuan made a formal bow to the Abbess. "Thank you, Very Reverend Abbess," he thought. The merchant priest knew little of this kind of magic, certainly not of exorcism. It didn't frighten him, but it did make him uncomfortable.

"Have you any preparations to make, gentlemen?" he thought - and dared not think much else, lest the Sisters "hear" more than he wished.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#53

They were led once more into the catacombs of the abbey. It was strange; the longer the intense silence lingered, the more deafening it became in their minds. An almost uncontrollable urge to scream out loud persisted among them. One could go mad like this, Inan thought, as he followed the Midnight Guardian and the trade-priest…

They arrived.

It was a solid stone and metal-grating door, like the others scattered about the keep. Sister Gilfresa paused and turned to Saano.

“Sister Voichita is inside. If you feel the tide is turning against you, flee the room, and lock this door. There are magicks cast upon it, as well as her chains, to keep the “presence” from escaping Sister Voichita’s body and desecrating the entire Keep. May St. Hurdegilda’s onyx heart, steel yours in turn.”

With that, Sister Gilfresa opened the door, and turned to go.

Inside was a plain rectangular room of stone. In the middle of the room, sat a woman—young girl really--in a lotus position. Her head was cast down toward her chest, as if she was sleeping. Her straw-hair was matted and she reeked of bodily fluids. Eight thick chains, two on each wrist, and two on each ankle, extended from her in the center of the room, to the four walls around her.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#54

Moraten tensed his ears to see if he could hear any sounds, then almost laughed at himself when he remembered. No, he would not hear anything of course. Before returning to that gooey hell, he would need to recuperate, regroup, and then somehow...

Making his way to the door of the room, Moraten slowly opened it and looked about. A hallway, yes he remembered this, though for some odd reason, he could not recall the way Tullis and him had originally come. Which floor? Which window? Which stairs? This whole place was madness.

Left or right, it seemed, were his only choices, if he wanted to leave this room. Oh yes, and it was deathly quiet both ways, naturally.

Suddenly, he spotted something, and moved back against the door to not be seen himself. He caught a glimpse of one of the Keep's Sisters, all in white, leading three men, all quite different in appearence, up a staircase, at the far end of the corridor.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#55

As the sun came to rest, so rose Anquetiti, stretching, flexing, catching the last rays on her face.
"Time to prowl, Nish" she purred, and bound her hair into a pony tail, rubbed soot on her face to hide its sheen, and headed out.

I guess Nish is looking for low windows, I am looking for hidden entrances and clues. Roll my 'getting into places where you're not supposed to be' skill, please.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#56

Evening. The mountains hid their beloved Sun early here in Canagadi.

Nisher glanced up at the imposing Keep, his eyes darting to and fro, examining windows and climbing angles. The shadows were playful, at once teasing and frustrating him. The higher the better, he finally surmised, and chose an inviting second-floor window, over-looking the cloister.

Nisher was ready to roll, and took out his spellwriting tome.

Anquetiti was searching as well. Searching for anything out of the ordinary or unusual, anything that may resemble a secret door or entrance, or anything else for that matter...

(ooc: Sorry, i even tried twice! :lol: Murometz rolls 1d20 and gets 7.(16:08:40) ChatBot: Murometz rolls 1d20 and gets 6)

At this point Iskander and Tagu quietly came up behind the dynamic duo. Both had frowns on their faces, easily seen in the slippery moonlight.

"Why?" mouthed the ever-quiet Tagu.

Nisher had no answer for the body-guard, nor did he even acknowledge Tagu. Instead, he cast his spell, and began to climb.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#57

The spellwriter chose the appropriate page in his tome and ran a hand over it. The ink slipped away from the page as the magical energy was infused with him. With a nervous look around, Nisher Stryne flung the rope in his other hand straight upwards. When it reached the peak of it's flight, one end of the rope remained suspended in the air, while the other end unravelled down - causing Nish to jump back in surprise as the tip whipped him in the face!
"Mother Fu..."
The scrawny man glared back at Tagu, Iskander and Anquetiti, daring them to comment.

Nish shimmied up the rope in a practiced manner - he had done this many times before. With a glance down to the others, he motioned up with his hand, "This rope won't last forever! Now or never, you lot!" The spellwriter grunted as he lifted himself up to the peak of his rope and studied the window. Three vertical bars adorned the entrance, however they were not so close that the skinny spellwriter could slip right between them - into the window. Before he so brazenly leaps through, however, Nish takes a good look into the room.
(Perception roll, success!)
A plain room. It was dim within, but Nish could spot something which worried him; there were two single beds in the room, and two forms slumbered in them; sleeping sisters! Nisher hesitated momentarily then looked down at his companions once again. "Two asleep," he whispered softly, before raising his index finger to his lips. Nish was not going to back out now, though - he slipped his body through the bars and landed softly onto the ground.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#58

Sense suggested that he ought to avoid the group. The sisters probably wouldn't take kindly to his presence, and he had no idea who their visitors were. Could be bounty hunters for all he knew, and bounty hunters weren't exactly on the top of his 'favorite people ever' list.

On the other hand, he'd gotten completely turned around in here. He had no idea which way the door was, or which window would be safe to exit. The men would ultimately have to leave, and presumably they'd be shown the way out. He could just follow them when that happened...

He'd wait for now, out of sight, and then trail them outside. Then he could resupply and recover his strength, and come back with a better plan.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#59

'Ten was about to sneak back into the room with the golden pool, seemed a good place to hide and wait, when he spotted another. A figure dressed in drabby clothing, and obviously up to no good by the looks of it, in the shadows of the walled-torches. The slim man, some forty feet away down the corridor, seemed to consider something, then duck back into whichever room he had just emerged from.

-----

Nish landed, a jolt of excitement shooting through him. The jolt subsided quickly as he looked around. There was nothing to focus on, as his eyes adjusted to the dark. Two beds, two sleeping Sisters--how titillating, he sniggered-- two chairs, a table stained with tallow, some scrolls, and an icon of St. Hurdegilda--obnoxious looking woman, Nish thought-- carved into one of the walls in bas-relief. Oh there's something, he spied. Chamber-pots beside the beds, except strangely the pots reeked strongly of vinegar.

Nish sighed and looked about once more. Nothing. Time to expand his exploration. Tip-toeing to the door, he opens it and peaks about, A hallway stretched both right and left. A gargoyle torch-sconce carved into the wall, seemed to leer at Nish.

Silence, he realized then. The entire keep was drowned in utter silence. Nish turned and saw Anquetiti, lithe as a dancer pirouette across the floor toward him from the window. He could not tell if Iskander and Tagu followed.

Nisher opened his mouth to whisper something to Anquetiti but no sound came. One of the Sisters stirred, but remained sleeping.

Anquetiti focused and "thought" at Nisher. No good. Nisher's mind did not register. The raid was starting off less than ideally.

(ooc: INT checks to communicate amongst yourselves with telepathy. Poor, poor, Nish. he can't catch a break. Anquetiti makes it (22:36:54) ChatBot: Murometz rolls 2d20 and gets 1,19)

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#60

Zuan looked curiously at the woman before them. He thought she was perhaps a pretty woman, but it was impossible to tell beneath the chains and stench.

He began to clear his throat to speak before hearing nothing and remembering the keep's strange enchantment. "Sister Voichita," he began, hoping the woman's affliction didn't affect her "hearing". "We are here on behalf of your dear brother Joachim. He has heard of your... condition and has sent Master Saano to draw the demon from you. Saano is a Midnight Guardian, the best exorcist money can buy. If you will kindly permit him..."

Coursi nodded at Saano to begin his work. Meanwhile, the merchant priest examined the room with an appraiser's eye, trying to get a sense of the condition they were in.

Perception check: Dozus rolls 1d20 and gets 19.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#61

From the ground, the bars seemed too closely placed for Iskander. Doubly so for Tagu. This venture was ill concieved in the first place, and the excuses made themselves up easily. Any other keep, he may have beat Nish inside, but this place disturbed him, deeply.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#62

Well. This place was just full of surprises, wasn't it? Maybe Tallus wasn't the only one who'd heard stories of the great treasure said to be here. 'Ten still didn't know if there even was such a thing, or if it was just a play-pretend to draw men to their deaths.

He'd be willing to believe either at the moment.

He didn't think he'd been spotted, but it might be a good idea to hide in the shadows the next time someone was about.

[Fade Into Shadows the next time someone comes into the hall.]

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#63

Anquetiti sneaked after Nish, far more concerned with her surroundings and far less with disdain.
Grinning, she stole one of the neatly folded outfits and stuck it in her pack; musing, she examined the basrelief of St. Hurdegilda, then caught up with her sneaky fellow.

Unable to speak to him in any meaningful way - how different from the normal state? - she pointed at some hanging chains and mimed having her wrists bound, then ended with a question mark.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#64

Inan was amused by the spells of silence that covered the building, and the sister's telepathic communication. There were hermits in the desert who had taken vows of silence, and he had spent three months with one of them. There had been no mind to mind communication, but rather the hermit had given Inan his amulet he now wore and had taught him how to become a djinn fighter. They had stared eye to eye, and had grappled with each other and fought in matches that were as much training as outright hostility. Inan had cursed and swore at first but had slowly learned how to control his mind, his fleeting thoughts and fluttering impulses.

When he was ready, Inan intended to travel back to the broken plinth of rocks a day past the Three Palms Oasis where the hermit lived. He was going to beat the old djinn fighter in a wrestling match and then he intended to learn the Boulder Shattered Fist technique from him.

But more to the present, the sun baked holy man was making mental notes of his surroundings, of the pillars that held the building and the walls that carried weight and the ones that were there for looks. Before he had become a djinn fighter, Inan had once been a stone cutter and builder.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#65

They spotted the monstrosities almost simultaneously...

Zuan was casting his "eye of appraisal" about the room, and Inan was studying the masonry. Saano was lost in thought (double-thought?) with his sister and examining his possessions. He laid out a cloth on the floor, unrolling it. Vials of some kind of silvery liquid could be seen inside. Saano was focused. He had to prepare first, and for the moment ignored the sleeping girl.

As Zuan looked about he noticed the white-powdery substance on the chains, he noticed that Sister Voichita was apparently sitting over a hole of some sort, in the stone floor, her legs wide-enough apart to keep her from falling through. He noticed a single window, letting in slivers of moonlight...

Then he looked up, and when he did, Inan was already staring up as well....

Amidst the high rafters, nearly unseen in the shadows of the cathedral ceiling, hovered two monstrosities from nightmare. Zuan nearly wretched involuntarily. He had only heard of these things in fanciful books...

Inan was stoic, but overtly alert.

Two grotesque, disembodied female heads, their bloody-red entrails and organs hanging freely from their necks, their intestines appearing as tails, floated high above in the near-darkness, leering down at the three exorcists. It was as if some being of great strength and force had literally ripped the heads, together with spine and guts, from the torsos of two women (Sisters?), and be-magicked them into some kind of horrific new life-form.

The two heads and entrails began to descend...mouths agape, their bloodshot eyes focused on their prey.

Sister Voichita sat motionless in the middle of the room, head down.

(ooc: ChatBot: Murometz rolls 2d20 and gets 18,16. Murometz rolls 1d20 and gets 18. You all save against fright! So, you don't run out of the room in utter fear. Unless you want to.)

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#66

Inan raised his arms, beckoning for the creatures to come towards him, draw the enemy close so that they might dance better with the devil. He felt the amulet against his chest go cold as he let the djinn rise to the surface. He didn't rush the transformation, he let it rise like a bread. His muscles rippled and thickened, and his skin took on a green hue. He started to grow in stature as the spirit of the djinn billowed out through his mortal flesh and blood. He heart beat, the rope around his waist slipped loose as he rapidly outgrew it. His hair turned black and billowed down his back in a mane that would leave even the most vain woman sick with envy.

He was the djinn, at least for a short time. (STR - 18, DEX - 11, CON - 21) The tattoos glowed across his skin, electric blue against stony tough green flesh. When they came into reach, Inan leaped into the air, his dagger like teethed bared as he snarled with a reptilian hiss. His claws gleamed as he reached for the heads.

Inan attacks when he can, the Djinn is impatient and demands blood. Grapple, rip, tear, bite, etc.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#67

"Bashad's blessed beard!" Coursi exclaimed mentally, biting back bile at the sight of the accursed monsters.

The shock of seeing the dismembered corpses flying down softened the surprise of Inan's sudden transformation from a desert vagrant to a viridian djinn. The merchant simply didn't have the forethought to be alarmed at them both.

Instead, he pulled a cobre from his purse and dropped it silently into his blessed coffer. He cast his hands out and prayed, "Divine Broker, banish this evil from Your merchant's presence and guard me from their ill fortune!"

Cast Protection from Evil

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#68

(ooc: Much rolling was done in chat with witnesses)

The scene turned immediately to chaos.

"...and guard me from their ill fortune!"

He intoned, while backing up toward the door intuitively. The spell was cast and now Zuan looked on wide-eyed.

Saano was snapped from his meditation instantly, to his credit, and in one swift motion, put down his "tools" and hefted his bow, firing two rapid missiles at one of the grotesque horrors descending upon them. One hit, spearing a bloody, graying lung, and getting stuck in the organ, the other sailing just wide of the creature's hideous, saliva-drooling face. Distracted and pained by the arrow, the penanggalan missed, as it attempted to devour Saano's face with a single bite, at the culmination of its dive.

Inan, who shot up into the air, suddenly an unrecognizable monstrosity carved of verdigris, met the entrails-dragging head, head-on (sorry). The monster gaped in surprise itself, Zuan noticed from below, as it saw the mighty djinn rear up. Shrieking silently, the creature dove at Inan's throat, as he also roared silently, seeking to thrash it.

The detached head-n-guts lunged and missed Inan as it tried to wrap itself around his throat with her ropy entrails, but Inan did not miss in turn, striking the creature with his great clawed hand, then mangling it again with his other. The force of impact sent the penanggalan flying, against its will, into the far wall. It dead-cat bounced, then its eyes grew an even bloodier shade of red, and it advanced once more at Inan.

Broker be merciful, thought Zuan.

(ooc: that's a round and a half. Your turn again.)

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#69

And fade into shadows he did...as 'Ten saw two figures emerge from a chamber down the corridor once more. This time the drably-clothed man, and what had to be the figure of a woman, lithe and graceful, with him.

-----

The room held nothing of interest, besides the two shadowy forms of the Sisters, covered beneath blankets in their beds, and the strong stench of vinegar. Nisher and Anquetiti stepped out into the hall. Nisher was beside himself. the inability to communicate or for that matter, hear any bloody thing, was beginning to drive him mad. Anquetiti smiled, her facial features blackened, and awaited Nisher's responce. They stood in the hallway right outside the door of the room. Shadows, cast from the meager light of the gargoyle-headed wall-torches, danced about the lengthy corridor.

It was quiet.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#70

Nish watched Anquetiti dumbly as she performed her motions. It took a moment for him to register what she was trying to communicate. Ah, she wants to tie the sleeping women up, perhaps! Nisher grinned at Anquetiti lecherously - it was just as well he could not communicate, but his eyes gave away his thoughts nonetheless!
He hesitated for a moment, then shook his head at the woman. While binding the silent sisters would be a good - and entertaining - move in his thoughts, he worried that if they woke them in the binding they may be able to use their thought-speak to call for aid! Instead, he motioned Anquetiti on with a hand. It was time to explore back through the door he peeked through earlier, but not before taking a closer look at those chamber pots! Nish snuck over to one of the pots and took a glance in, query on his face as to the peculiar smell.

Finally, the Spellwriter flipped open his book and turned to a tried-and-true page. With a wave 'goodbye' to Anquetiti, he pressed his palm on the page, absorbing the ink and spell within, his form shimmering away.

Taking a look in the chamber pot then using his sight unseen spell before creeping out into the next room/hall.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#71

'Ten watched the pair curiously from his spot in the shadows. This just kept getting odder. He'd feel more comfortable if he could hear anything; he was starting to wonder if he hadn't gone deaf in that strange realm he'd been in. He could see in the dark, better than most, but sight wasn't the only way to get a warning of something approaching. He couldn't see into the room the group had gone into, not from his vantage point.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#72

Nisher neared a bed, and glanced into one of the chamber pots, sniffing. It was too dark to make out, but whatever was inside did not smell of urine. Instead, it looked like a clear liquid, and smelled exactly like vinegar did. In fact, the chamber pots were filled with vinegar, or at least a passable imposter.

Anquetiti glanced down the hall suddenly, sensing...something? No nothing. Just shadows. She ducked back in the room to check on Nisher's doings, only to see him sniffing at a chamberpot, then waving to her, and suddenly vanishing with a grin on his face.

---

'Ten watched. These people were acting stranger by the minute. In, out, some sort of silent communication, then back in room. d**nation!

Ah, they emerge again. Or rather, the woman emerged. She could not see the other. Now what, Moraten thought? Perhaps he could convince them to help him find Tullis body? Perhaps not. They were thieves, of this there was little doubt. All he would have to do is mention the "treasures" of the Keep. Or did they know already? Did they know where it was? Decisions, thought Moraten, and idly fingered his stolen key-ring. What to do next?

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#73

From the belt of his kaftan, Zuan drew his own hand crossbow and loaded it. Taking aim at the penanggalan that had attacked Saano, Zuan loosed the bolt as it flew silently at the monstrous form.

Attack roll: Dozus rolls 1d20 and gets 8.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#74

The Djinn-Inan pulsed with energy, the fury of the long repressed djinn was exultant to be spattered with gore, and the next best thing to f***ing a woman was ripping one apart. It lunged again at the penanggalan seeking to grapple with it again, claws outstretched.

Inan wants to grapple with the penanggalan and then attempt a feat of strength and rip it apart, like a wishbone

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#75

Saano

Son-of-a--! Saano had no more time to fire arrows, not with that monstrosity up close and personal. He hated fighting close-quarters like this. But preparation is key when fighting things that love to rend and tear, and a Guardian is nothing if not prepared. Letting his bow fall to the ground, he grabbed the heretofore-ignored pair of fighting sticks kept on his legs and dropped into a classic fighting stance. One stick forward for attack, one stick held close for defense.

It's been a while since you've used those, the melodious voice noted in his head, Think you'll be able to avoid hurting yourself?

A grin broke through the grim determination on his face. What's a little pain between friends? And hey, with a pretty face like that, she must be overflowing with suitors. Gotta make a good impression, after all.

With a soundless cry of violence, Saano jumped forward to strike at the penanggalan that had gotten the jump on him.

OOC: Switch to melee fighting sticks and attack the penanggalan.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#76

Iskander stood outside the keep, blissfully unware of the havoc unfolding within.
"Should have brought some cards or dice."

Iskander began poking about, maybe the hidden door Anquetiti was yammering about was nearby. At the very least it gave him something to do.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#77

Iskander looked about, not easy to do in near darkness, while Tagu took the hint and began walking along the wall feeling the stone. The moon was half-bright, what did they say about that again, perfect for a thief? Or for a city guardsman? The debate raged on the streets of Zola-Garsa, Iskander smirked in the dark, as he looked about.

Twenty minutes later they had found nothing, except a single crossbow bolt stuck in the loamy ground, point-first, a few yards from the wall.

Tired of circling the Keep (and trying to do so without being noticed of course) they gave up. They were standing in some hedge, along the wall, on the opposite side of the abbey from where Nisher and Anquetiti made their evening climb. Breathing hard, Tagu leaned against the wall, and suddenly felt it jar. Iskander noticed and approached. After some minutes, the two somehow managed to slide and push a stone block aside, and...

Iskander remembered such things. Once while a soldier on the wrong side of a siege, he was told of the ancient keeps and monasteries of the north, peppered with hidey-holes, secret escape routes and passages. They had used one to escape the siege that night.

The pair peered within. All dark. Empty torch sconces along the earthen walls of a passage leading into the bowels of the Keep. Tagu looked at Iskander. What was that phrase from that famous book, "primordial tunnels in perpetual darkness"? The eerie passage reminded Iskander of that tale.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#78

With a soundless cry of violence

Zuan fired, missing his target. Funny thing, he actually shot the missile through the tiny window on the opposite wall, and the bolt sailed out into the night. A good shot if he had been aiming for the window.

This was not the trade-priest's milieu, yet he found himself without panic. Perhaps he was cut out for a life of danger, along with his profits. That thought perished quickly, as Zuan was suddenly lashed by a whip of viscera, the guts wrapping themselves around his throat like many animated serpents. The disgusting head of the creature was reeling itself toward him, following its own entrails, as Zuan struggled, his hands at his own throat, dropping the crossbow, eyes bulging. In moments the head would be upon him.

Came Saano...

His first strike missed the oncoming creature, possessed as it was of surprising celerity, and it was this miss which caused the penanggalan to swerve, and suddenly lash out at Zuan instead. Saano shouted silently, as the trade-priest was being strangled, then with a well-timed leap struck with his second Yatok, bashing the creature (which had its eyes on Zuan for a moment) squarely on the back of its filthy skull. Surely, if this chamber allowed sound, the sickening plop of a melon popping would be heard now. The penanggalan's head opened up, but no blood shot forth. For a moment thought Saano, he could see the brain inside the skull, as a huge gash opened up.

"Well done!" Sana cheered "But do not tarry, again, again!" she insisted, as they both watched the penanggalan release its slimy hold on Zuan's neck, and veer off, as if drunk, or like a wounded shark. The creature suddenly shot upward, toward the darkness of the rafters, seeking escape.

The djinn raged and sought to grapple the hideous thing coming at him. It hissed, Like a spitting cobra and a spray of poisonous saliva, mixed with blood, pus and bile shot from its mouth in a jet at Inan. Despite his size, the djinn dove sideways, and avoided the spray. As it reared, Inan grabbed it by its skull with one meaty, taloned hand, while grabbing the spine and dangling viscera in one clutch with the other. Every muscle rippled green along his torso, and he opened his mouth to scream again, but nothing came. The Penanggalan then bit into his shoulder with its many fish-sharp teeth. Inan ignored the pain, and what was no doubt some sort of venom, now coursing through him. Instead, another sickening sound was saved them, by the chamber's spell of silence. In one fierce pull, Inan tore the creature in two, sending viscera and spine to smash into one wall, and the grotesque skull itself against another, likewise smashed into fragments.

Inan roared again. No sound came.

Sister Voichita still sat motionless in the center of the room. Head still down.

The Wounded Penanggalan was escaping into the darkness, high into the rafters, where even the djinn could not reach.

Zuan massaged his neck.

(ooc: Zuan took 3 points of damage from gut-choke. Inan took 3 from bite, and will lose 1 hp an hour until he dies, unless healed magically or by a priest/cleric/sister/monk/etc. Regular rest won't help. Saano rolled a nat. 20 attack, Inan rolled two hits to tear the other asunder. The remaining Penanggalan is very fast, and sought escape with its round. You each can get a missile attack of some sort i suppose, but otherwise, its in the darkness of the cathedral ceiling and gone.)

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#79

Heedless of the battle raging elsewhere in the keep, Anna prowled along the shadowed walls, on the lookout for foul play, or any hint of something out of the ordinary, worth investigating.
Or pilfering, if the opportunity arose.

She was most interested in something these holy women, or their dark guest, might know of have that would allow her to learn more, to know more about whatever it was that she escaped that day when she saw the Mark, and ran from her own family. Caring about mother, father, siblings, that was one thing. Being carried by the very same into the Chamber of Lipless Mouths and tied at the edge of the Eye of Terror, that was another thing entirely.

'It's everybody's duty to protect the people by giving yourself if you see the Sign of the Chosen...'

Well, screw duty.
Someone had to have something that would earn her respite and freedom, true freedom. Be it a wizard, a priest, a hermit; she'd keep looking.

Re: Silent Woman Keep

#80

The veridian Djinn was not yet spent, it charged after the fleeing head and entrails monster that was escaping.

If Inan/Djinn can catch it, another grappling attack, but rather than rip and tear, Inan would like to do his own version of Loki and Hulk's dialog scene.