Vapourware [Play-by-post] Lamentations in Averoigne

[AdamReith]

"I suppose if we ever need to relieve ourselves down here, we now know where the locals go."

Grima wishes to proceed to next room.

 

[nikolokolus]

Finn notes the map you've been keeping and has a hunch that something might be hidden behind the north wall of vaulted chamber as he's tapping the pommel of his sword against the north wall, just outside the chamber, he hears a distinct "hollow" sound along a section of wall. Pushing on a few blocks of masonry doesn't activate any secret door handles or whatnot.

 

[nikolokolus]

Unsure of how to open the door, Requin and Finn decide that the only thing left to do is make their own doorway. They spend about 30 minutes battering down the wall, while others stand guard and thankfully none of the racket attracts any unwanted attention. An opening is revealed and a chamber full of dust and cobwebs. The space is "L" shaped and goes north for about 20 feet before making a right hand turn to the east for 20 feet. There are footprints in the heavy dust and dozens of alcoves along the wall. In the back of the chamber are two fully laden backpacks.

 

[AdamReith]

Grima investigates the backpacks.

 

[nikolokolus]

Finn first pushes the packs backward with his wooden poll, and nothing hideous happens (like falling rocks, mechanical scorpions leaping out, etc.). Satisfied that they don't pose any immediate danger, he kneels down and empties the packs out on to the floor, inside he finds the following: A fifty-foot long coil of hemp rope, well-preserved in linseed oil, two small hammers and chisels, a clutch of 4 arrows with gleaming bronze points, and two containers of some bluish-white liquid in semi-opaque crystal flasks.

 

[AdamReith]

Grima shall take the arrows.

 

[SoupNazi]

Once the loot is distributed, Finn suggests that if everyone agrees, they backtrack to the southwestern door in order to explore he "borders" of the crypt.

 

[nikolokolus]

The door at the southwestern wall in the southwestern corner of the explored area is made of wood and similarly warped as most of the other wooden doors have been. Requin slots in a prybar and tests the door, it should prove no great obstacle if the company decides to pry it open.

 

[L'ennui]

"Wonder what's in those flasks, anyone want a sip? Anyone?" Guillemin quips sardonically as they make their way southwest.

He leans in to listen at the door, and probes the edges with his tool.

 

[nikolokolus]

Guillemin listens for along time at the door and then carefully inspects its surface and the join with the door frame for any signs of traps. About ten minutes later he pulls back and shrugs. There is no noise he can detect beyond and if the door is trapped the trap-maker was beyond devious in his design.

 

[SoupNazi]

Ah, well. Finn employs his signature move of opening the door by running into it shield-first, taking the helm position once they're inside.

 

[nikolokolus]

Finn bursts through the door just as Requin prys it open with his prybar and stumbles to a halt in a passageway that slopes down to the south at a gradual decline and turns to the west at the edge of his lantern light. There is a passage with a low ceiling to the left (east) that is just barely illuminated to its terminal end. The passage to the south has a door set into an eastern wall where it makes a turn to the west and the eastern passage is devoid of doors, arches or other decoration.

 

[L'ennui]

"I think we should explore this first floor before going further down. What do you think, boss?" Guillemin turns to Finn expectantly, happy to let the eager adventurer take responsibility.

 

[Grimgravy]

"How long before we need to head back to town?"

 

[nikolokolus]

Everyone puts their head together and sloshes their lanterns to guess how much oil might be left. It seems like it might be pushing 4 hours past noon, but it's far from an exact measurement.

 

[SoupNazi]

"Perhaps it's best we leave for Les Hiboux. Unless you all would like to experiment with sleeping here, like I did the other week. Can't say I recommend it. My guess is, we have about 5 hours of daylight left, which is just about enough to get us back to the village..."

 

[nikolokolus]

Not wishing to push their luck, the troupe files back to the entrance and one-by-one climbs the ladder to the barrow above. When the flip open the hatch of the trap door they look around and are instantly put on edge. Someone or something has been here since they passed below. The rope suspended over the hole in the floor has been ripped out and causually tossed aside and the metal tripod has been knocked over to one side. There are deep gouges in the stone around the lip of the well to the crypts below and little fresh scuffs on the flagstone are visible all around the room, and back up the stairs to the surface . . .

 

[SoupNazi]

Finn kneels down and closely examines the scuff marks and gouges, trying to identify what sort of foul beast could be so strong as to cut into stone.

Spoiler

 

[nikolokolus]

Something with talons or very long claws. Your first instinct is to say "wolf," but bigger somehow.

 

[SoupNazi]

Finn rushes out to look for Sancho!

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Finn rushes out to look for Sancho!

Not for the last time does Requin follow Finn with a sense of exasperation.

 

[nikolokolus]

Finn rushes out of the barrow and is greeted by a sickening sight. In the lee of the mound, near the stairwell, there is a huge bload soaked patch of turf. Bloody drag marks disappear into the mist. There is no sign of Rolf or of poor old Sancho the mule. The mist has started to close in and visibility is quite bad right now -- perhaps no more than 20 to 40 paces out.

 

[SoupNazi]

 

[L'ennui]

Guillemin whispers: "Not looking good, I'm afraid... Should we follow the blood trail? I'm not sure we'll like what we find."

 

[AdamReith]

Grima says: "We should return to Les Hiboux, this may have been the work of harpys."