Vapourware [Play-by-post] Lamentations in Averoigne

[AdamReith]

Okay, Grima will allow the others to be tested and see how that works out for them. From a safe distance.

 

[AdamReith]

Spoiler

Many thanks - QQ concerning my new spell Animated Artwork.

Do statues count?

 

[nikolokolus]

Spoiler

Many thanks - QQ concerning my new spell Animated Artwork.

Do statues count?

Animated Artwork

My reading of the spell description makes it seem pretty clear that it animates 2D drawings, paintings, etc. into 3D things. So no statues. Effectiveness relates to damage, bonuses, levels, hit points, skills, etc. but would still look like a perfect 3D copy of whatever is animated. It only persists for a number of rounds equal to your level.

Grima holds himself back. Marcus turns his head and regards the fey creature posing as a man. "Come. Do not fear me, I am not your judge, the blade will judge. And should you be found wanting I am not your executioner or scourge. I was sent back for a reason, and while you have my gratitude for granting me my freedom . . . I am compelled to make assurances with the company I keep . . . If you will not take hold, then the test ends, we dapart and go our separate ways. Though I warn you now, if you impede me on my quest or I discover you are in league with my captors, I am your enemy."

 

[AdamReith]

Spoiler

Many thanks - QQ concerning my new spell Animated Artwork.

Do statues count?

Animated Artwork

My reading of the spell description makes it seem pretty clear that it animates 2D drawings, paintings, etc. into 3D things. So no statues. Effectiveness relates to levels, hit points, skills, etc. but would still look like a perfect 3D copy of whatever is animated. It only persists for a number of rounds equal to your level.

Grima holds himself back. Marcus turns his head and regards the fey creature posing as a man. "Come. Do not fear me, I am not your judge, the blade will judge. And should you be found wanting I am not your executioner or scourge. I was sent back for a reason, and while you have my gratitude for granting me my freedom . . . I am compelled to make assurances with the company I keep . . . If you will not take hold, then the test ends, we dapart and go our separate ways. Though I warn you now, if you impede me on my quest or I discover you are in league with my captors, I am your enemy."

"Well, you put me in a bit of an awkward position Marcus. What exactly are you judging? I would never profess to be one pure of heart. At my side is the mighty chaos blade, Mad Vandal. If you betray this group in this moment you shall taste it."

Grima approaches the hippy love circle but remains cautious.

Spoiler

Grima will touch the sword, gingerly, so as not to spoil things for the rest of the group. Though why the group are so quick to trust this monstrous creature he can not fathom.

 

[nikolokolus]

Grima approaches and tentatively reaches out his hand. Everyone feels a subtle thrum vibrate through the blade a moment later it passes.

Marcus speaks in a grave, ponderous tone, "Hmmmm . . . it seems as though you are all on a knife's edge; a coin flipped and landing neither heads nor tails, like Janus the two-faced one. I cannot swear myself to your service . . . yet. But, I will travel with you . . . for a fortnight. . . and observe you. If you prove to be servants of the Light so be it, but if your path veers toward the oblivion of Tartarus at any point, then I shall depart from you, so long as you do not hinder my final task or abet my foes. Do we have an accord?"

 

[AdamReith]

"Not everything is black and white Marcus. Do what you must."

Grima shrugs, content to have not been disintegrated.

"Now, how about leading us to this orb you spoke of. You gave some indication of having a sense where it might be."

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Requin regards Marcus with curiosity. "Why must you swear yourself to our service at all? Your chains are broken, you are free to go as you please, aren't you?"

 

[SoupNazi]

Spoiler

But Finn is a good, lawful boy

Finn listens to Marcus' speech, but is still in disbelief about the situation. After he's been quiet for longer than normal for him, he finally speaks up again. "Then perhaps we should return to the very first catacomb, with Marcus' aid, after all, a great evil seems to dwell there from what you've told me."

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Spoiler

But Finn is a good, lawful boy

Finn listens to Marcus' speech, but is still in disbelief about the situation. After he's been quiet for longer than normal for him, he finally speaks up again. "Then perhaps we should return to the very first catacomb, with Marcus' aid, after all, a great evil seems to dwell there from what you've told me."

Spoiler

Finn don't pray to Mithras now, do he? Well there ya go.

 

[nikolokolus]

Marcus listens to Grima, Requin and Finn and responds to each in kind. To Grima: "Yes, the Fount of Mithras . . . I do not know where it is, but I can feel it is 'close' somehow. Perhaps this sensation will change as we draw nearer to it?" He pauses and turns to Requin, "As to my freedom . . . you are correct. I am free to go, but I am not so great a fool to think I can succeed on my own . . . So I will stay with you for a time, if you will have me, and perhaps our goals align. If not? . . . " His voice trails off. He then turns his attention to Finn, "What Catacomb do you speak of?"

 

[AdamReith]

Spoiler

Taking him to the catacomb and seeing if his skelly sense kicks in seems a capital idea.

 

[nikolokolus]

Spoiler

Finn don't pray to Mithras now, do he? Well there ya go.

Spoiler

Did I miss something? No one is converting to Mithraism from what I can see.

 

[AdamReith]

Grima suggests an excursion to the greater catacomb to the group.

"Now you just tell us if you feel the fount grow closer. Don't be shy in the slightest."

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Spoiler

Finn don't pray to Mithras now, do he? Well there ya go.

Spoiler

Did I miss something? No one is converting to Mithraism from what I can see.

Spoiler

Nix, just conjecture on my part. As a follower of Mithras, his test might be attuned to the values more likely espoused by Mithras than Christ.

 

[L'ennui]

"Seems as good a destination as any. We're due for another visit. We should be careful not to be seen with our new friend, though... no offense, Marcus, but I'm sure you understand this would be rather hard to explain to the common folk, never mind the Inquisition."

 

[AdamReith]

Grima suggests that the party could find a nice cloak and hood for their new party member. It wouldn't do to have them seen with a skeleton buddy, even at a distance.

"What do you think Marcus, would it offend your honour to hide your skeleton nature from prying eyes?"

 

[Grimgravy]

"Good ideas all around. Let's recover these fetters, given their odd material.

 

[nikolokolus]

The group files out of the tomb with Marcus tentatively following behind them. He dons the cloak offered to him and pulls the hood up and over his head, obscuring his ghoulish features. The subterfuge probably won't stand up to close scrutiny, but at a distance it seems passable.

Requin looks up and notes the position of the sun in the sky. It's probably 2 hours past noon, which means perhaps 2 hours at most of further exploration before needing to turn back for home. The mist clinging to the plateau has thinned a bit revealing dozens of visible mounds to the south, west and east. He also notices 5 very large vultures circling far overhead. Whatever they are above isn't very far away, perhaps no more than 100 paces or so to the south.

 

[SoupNazi]

While it probably won't hurt to just quickly check who or what died, Finn suggests they do just that for the free tidbit of information, but then continue to the original tomb; if only to use Marcus' time with them as effectively as possible.

 

[AdamReith]

Grima tries to find some high ground and, since the mist is clearing, uses his superior vision to check out what has the buzzards buzzing.

Also, checks and listens for wolves.

 

[nikolokolus]

Grima finds the highest ground he can, to get a good vantage point of whatever the vultures are circling -- which on this gently rolling plateau, is the top of the barrow they just emerged from. When he reaches the top of the mound he scans the ground and just barely makes out the edges of some large hole in the ground a mere 50 paces south. from this distance it's difficult to say how big it might be without something to reference, but it's probably at least 10 paces wide, possibly even 20. He shields his eyes against the warm summer sun and takes a good long look at the vultures high overhead . . . Damn, those things are big! He thinks to himself.

 

[L'ennui]

"What if there's someone alive over there? These things might just be waiting until their carrion is served, doesn't mean it's dead already."

Smashing an oversized mosquito that had already bit into his exposed neck, Guillemin wipes his hand on his trousers and points at Marcus: "Heh! Count your blessings..." He mumbles some vulgarities as he swats more bugs away.

 

[Grimgravy]

"It's not far out of the way. Let's investigate."

 

[SoupNazi]

"Allons-y."

 

[AdamReith]

If there are no wolves about, Grima doesn't see the harm in investigating this strange hole.