Vapourware [Play-by-post] Lamentations in Averoigne

[ERYFKRAD]

If there are wolves about, Requin doesn't see the harm in throwing them in this hole.

 

[Snorkack]

Daphne unpacks her Wolvesbane, hoping that it actually does somethi,g against wolves.
Further, she tries to engage Marcus in small talk, hoping to learn something about his crime, and about the people (or forces) he is after.

 

[nikolokolus]

While the troupe makes the short walk to the sinkhole, Marcus walks stiffly and slowly over the rolling turf and Daphne hangs back a bit and attempts to probe his past. Marcus is cool and distant (perhaps not unexpected after more than 1,000 years trapped in the dark in his horrific curst state) but is cordial, and open up a bit, when asked about what life was like and other little questions. His voice is reedy, world-weary and unsettling, "Hmmmmm . . . it's a long story lady, but I will tell you a bit of it, if you have the ear to listen . . ." He then goes into a bit of detail about his life as a Praetorian, being recruited into the Mithraic Mysteries, and as he ascended grades, recounts learning the true purpose of the Cult; to oppose some ur-god of chaos, that has taken many names and many forms down through millennia: Set, Ahriman, Nergal, etc. He and his companions came to southern Gaul hunting a heretical sect founded by a sorcerer-priest that, several hundred years before he was born, claimed to be the incarnate avatar of Aita, the dead Etruscan god of the underworld and death. He was believed to have stolen some great and powerful codex or tablet from deep antiquity from the Great Library at Alexandria, thereafter returned to Rome where he spread discord, and divided the priesthoods of Dispater and Orcus, then fled with some of these heretics to Gaul. All of this occuring several hundred years before the Roman Conquest. Marcus is cut off as you arrive at the site of a great hole in the ground . . .

You come to the spot where it looks as though a mound has collapsed into the earth below. Peering over the edge reveals a very dim chamber only partially illuminated by the mid-afternoon sun -- Fifteen paces in diameter, and perhaps just as deep. There are numerous nooks, alcoves and darkened recesses in the earthen walls of this deep well, and it looks as though there are numerous piles of yellow bones of unnamable creatures littering the rubble strewn floor of dressed flagstone. The five vultures are still circling high overhead. Marcus leans over and casually remarks, "Odd . . ."

 

[ERYFKRAD]

yellow bones of unnamable creatures

Requin looks at the bones and wonders if he has seen their like in his forays into the wild. Drawing upon his considerable experience he concludes that yes, they are indeed dead.

 

[SoupNazi]

Finn kicks one of the smaller stones down and watches it fall with anticipation.

 

[nikolokolus]

Dem Bones

A mix of small and large animal bones. Impossible to ID without getting up close

 

[AdamReith]

Grima attempts to spy what might have got the Vultures attention. Usually they prefer a little meat on their bones.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Dem Bones

A mix of small and large animal bones. Impossible to ID without getting up close

Spoiler

Could always lower someone down the rope if we want.

 

[nikolokolus]

It takes over a second for Finn's stone to strike the bottom. It clatters loudly and echoes up the well. Marcus turns his head to regard Finn for a moment, then turns his gaze back into the well, wordlessly.

Grima strains his eys into the dark, and all he can surmise is that some of the bones must still have flesh on them. Based on the godawful smell of rotting flesh, this seems like a reasonable assumption. Grima looks up again at the circling vultures. Christ they are big! What is it with big-ass animals around here?

 

[AdamReith]

"Must be something fresh down there, might be worth checking out."

Grima flips down into the pit and checks it out with his lantern.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

"Must be something fresh down there, might be worth checking out."

Grima flips down into the pit and checks it out with his lantern.

Requin throws a rope down in exasperated anticipation.

 

[AdamReith]

"Must be something fresh down there, might be worth checking out."

Grima flips down into the pit and checks it out with his lantern.

Requin throws a rope down in exasperated anticipation.

"Keep an eye on dem big-ass vultures while I'm down here yo!"

 

[ERYFKRAD]

"Must be something fresh down there, might be worth checking out."

Grima flips down into the pit and checks it out with his lantern.

Requin throws a rope down in exasperated anticipation.

"Keep an eye on dem big-ass vultures while I'm down here yo!"

Requin wordlessly arms his cudgel in the other hand.

 

[Grimgravy]

Ganelon keeps a wary eye on the birds and surrounding landscape.

 

[nikolokolus]

So Requin is rappelling/absailing down? Who is holding on to the rope? How is it secured? There are no trees here, just some crumbling masonry blocks at the edge, and a few loose stones scattered around the ground near the lip.

 

[nikolokolus]

"Must be something fresh down there, might be worth checking out."

Grima flips down into the pit and checks it out with his lantern.

Acrobatics

Your acrobatics roll can mitigate the first 10 feet of a fall, to take no damage, but after that physics are not on your side. It's fifty feet deep . . . and rubble strewn at the bottom. You sure about that?

 

[AdamReith]

"Must be something fresh down there, might be worth checking out."

Grima flips down into the pit and checks it out with his lantern.

Acrobatics

Your acrobatics roll can mitigate the first 10 feet of a fall, to take no damage, but after that physics are not on your side. It's fifty feet deep . . . and rubble strewn at the bottom. You sure about that?

Oh I thought it was 15 feet deep!

Forget that so. Grima happy to hold the rope for Requin, anchoring it to some masonary or whatever is available.

 

[L'ennui]

While the others start working with the rope, Guillemin checks the surroundings for the nearest possible cover from the vultures, if it comes to that.

 

[nikolokolus]

While the others start working with the rope, Guillemin checks the surroundings for the nearest possible cover from the vultures, if it comes to that.

Guillemin's survey of the surroundings leaves a lot to be desired. There are two small copses of hoary looking scrub pines about 70 paces away. One to the northwest and the other southwest. It's bleak, open and shrouded with mist beyond about 100 paces, so it's impossible to say what else is nearby.

 

[L'ennui]

"Hope you're good with that crossbow, Finn." He spits into his hands and goes to help Grima hold the rope.

 

[SoupNazi]

Finn lifts his head to look at the circling vultures. First he loads a bolt in, then he leans his crossbow casually against a shoulder and keeps an eye out on the vultures. "So do I, mon ami."

 

[ERYFKRAD]

So Requin is rappelling/absailing down? Who is holding on to the rope? How is it secured? There are no trees here, just some crumbling masonry blocks at the edge, and a few loose stones scattered around the ground near the lip.

No I threw the rope down in case flipper here needed to climb back up.

 

[AdamReith]

So Requin is rappelling/absailing down? Who is holding on to the rope? How is it secured? There are no trees here, just some crumbling masonry blocks at the edge, and a few loose stones scattered around the ground near the lip.

No I threw the rope down in case flipper here needed to climb back up.

Grima goes down the rope so.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

So Requin is rappelling/absailing down? Who is holding on to the rope? How is it secured? There are no trees here, just some crumbling masonry blocks at the edge, and a few loose stones scattered around the ground near the lip.

No I threw the rope down in case flipper here needed to climb back up.

Grima goes down the rope so.

Spoiler

How much will you pay for Requin to keep holding the rope?

 

[AdamReith]

So Requin is rappelling/absailing down? Who is holding on to the rope? How is it secured? There are no trees here, just some crumbling masonry blocks at the edge, and a few loose stones scattered around the ground near the lip.

No I threw the rope down in case flipper here needed to climb back up.

Grima goes down the rope so.

Spoiler

How much will you pay for Requin to keep holding the rope?

Spoiler

Remember Marcus will deduct friendship points from you if you let go and we will never find his magic bird bath.

Is that a chance you are willing to take? Well... is it? Punk?

Grima goes down the rope.