Anauroch - The Great Desert

[Omen of Peace]

"I believe I could, with the help of my silent invisible companions."

The way he says it, he actually seems serious.

[OOC]
Haven't had much time, but I can at least not hold the game hostage.

[Sohala]

The dwarf stood passively, watching the giant at work.


The dark skinned person stiffened at the mention of others, but the canine seemed not to react, "Excellent." It made a gesture to follow, and then moved back to where its counterpart was still engrossed in a large sheet of parchment.

I think it is safe to assume you follow, or at least get closer.

When you get closer, you see the parchment is halfway covered in a rather detailed map of the complex you are presently in, but with an unknown tunnel system. There are also some small notes for each room, as well as detailed information on some sort of ring device at the farthest point. Overall the map is of masterful quality.

[Brainpiercing]

As the giant shoveled into the rubble - which happened with frightful speed - new enormous clouds of stone dust billowed away from the pile and began covering everything, and everyone, in the central cavern. Soon he had cleared enough to show the foundation of the central fortress - a giant slab, smoothly fitted over whatever was below. There was an adamantine trapdoor, strangely untouched in all the destruction above, that assumably led to the inner sanctum, with a lock in it.

To those aware of it, it glowed with magic, while looking quite mundane to the casual observer.

[Private for MARC]

Some scrap of memory klicked into place in the Construct's inorganic brain. He knew he had the key, or rather, was the key.

[ooc for MARC]

What's underneath... I'll give you some freedom with that. This is your backstory, you should have some say. Mostly there will be religious artifacts of less material than ideological value. But maybe some tomes of knowledge? Records of the people who lived here? It's up to you. The only thing that's not there is large amounts of gold - basically the most valuable things down here are the remains of the Jaslach. But in order to give Torgthen something to work with... maybe scrolls and parchments, magical inks, some rare metals in refined form.

Of course there should be a few remains of the last, late, priests, too, who were sealed in with the artifacts in their charge when the fortress came under attack. So maybe some rather minor magic items of use to a non-fighting priest... All the combat worthy items were pooled for the defence of the town, and have long since been plundered.

[Thistledown Thurbertaut]

The Marc leads the way, glowing chest lanterns lighting the way into a massive vault.  Mighty doors are sealed there with a strange circular lock.  Walking up to it, Marc's hands shift once again, this time a strange mechanical rod sliding out from the wrist.  He inserts it into the center of the door and the rod starts to spin.  As it does so, a loud mechanical creaking gives presence to some kind of inner gear works.  After about 10 seconds of booming and banging, the seal is broken and the vault doors open.

OOC for BP:

Sorry, I got nothing.  What you posted in your last spoiler sounds good, I'd be merely regurgitating.  Honestly I think what needs to happen is for the game to move on to the next plot point...feels like we have been stuck in this big room for too long...

[Brainpiercing]

Alright....

As the huge construct opened the vault door, a cloud of old stench poured out into the central hall. Age old decay, putrid fumes of decomposition, dust and fungi, which in turn had decayed, assaulted the nostrils of the bystanders. The vault had been sealed hermetically, and whatever had been in it, stayed in it. The air was humid and warm. All the walls were tiled or stuccoed over lead and adamantine lined magically shaped stone.

Inside, Eternal Flame lanterns still illuminated the frescos and arches of the inner sanctum. The cavern was very quickly too small for the MARC in his normal size, and it stretched for about 40 yards into the rock, with two intersections at rightangles.

On the right at the first intersection there was a small chapel. Two decomposed half-dragon corpses lay there, their knees still on the small bench before the Altar of the Gold Dragon, still clutching their holy symbols. [worth 100 gp each to a collector] The gilded jade statue of a Great Wyrm Gold Dragon was largely untouched by time. [worth 500gp to a collector] A nearly completely rotten tome lay on a pedestal to the left of the Altar.

On the left were living quarters. Two bunk beds, a cabinet, two chests. Four half-dragon acolytes lay in the beds, their hands clasped over their chests, clutching ritual daggers. [Four mw silver daggers.]

At the next intersection, the right turn led to a library. A few hundred tomes and scrolls lay and stood accurately aligned on ebon shelves, two reading desks of gilded ebony were in the centre. Anything non-magical was in dire shape - fungi and moisture had eaten at the paper for a thousand years or more. In between were a few in wondrously perfect shape. Decay could not touch magical protection. [13 prepared, but empty scrolls, one spellbook (Arcane,30 SRD spells from levels 1 -7), 4 scrolls of Ray of Resurgence (1st Divine, LEoF 29), 1 Know Bloodline (3rd Divine, LEoF 29), 1 Sakkratar's Triple Strike (5th Arcane, LEoF 30), 1d10 scrolls of 1st level SRD spells (arcane or divine), 1d6 scrolls of 2nd to 3rd level SRD spells, 1d4 scrolls of 4th level SRD spells, 1d3 scrolls of 5th level SRD spells, 1d2 of 6th level SRD spells.]
The desks contained two jars of silver lined ink whose magical aura shone through their black jade jars.

The left turn led to a store room, where artifacts of religious value lay on shelves of gilded ebony or stone. [worth 2000gp total to collectors]. There were also two more jars of magical ink.

The straight passage led to the main sanctum, a large hall like a church with benches before a large altar and a huge statue of a Gold Dragon, similar to the smaller one in the chapel. Both side walls were a crypt, containing coffins in open spaces or engraved slabs covering coffins of temple dignitaries.

[Sohala]

“It smells more like a tomb than a temple.”   The dwarf thought to himself, as he made his way forward. He advanced slowly, taking in the design and architecture of the previously sealed off section.

Take 10 on both search (17) and spot (18) as we go, detect magic up constantly.

When he came to the chapel, the dwarf’s heart sank. “They prayed to their last breath…they deserve better, a proper burial.” Looking towards the statue the dwarf paused, debating the taking of religious items. “Their faith shouldn’t be marred by petty tomb raiding, but what is to stop others?” The dwarf gave a sigh and stashed the idol into his backpack, carefully. Passing back by the bodies again, he noticed a glint, looking closer he realized what it was. With a murmured promise to use them for good, the dwarf stashed those too in his bag.

The dwarf crossed the hall, and was saddened even more by the discovery of more bodies. Reverently he took each of the daggers, whispering a short prayer over each body. He went over to the cabinet and chests. Using his hammer, the dwarf eased each open.

Double checking contents and will move on.

Any books of lore make it by chance?

[Omen of Peace]

The halfling followed into the mausoleum, curious to see the dwarf appropriate various items under the nose of the quick-to-anger construct. He had little interest in items that would weigh him down - he was slow enough as it was.

"You must have known them?" he asks the Marc.

[Brainpiercing]

On the surface

Devanar was being interrogated. And as tended to be the case often, the truth wasn't getting him anywhere. The one thing he was omitting was where his compatriots were - he had told his captors that they had gone to scout the surroundings. Which was - in a sense - still true. He also, quite truthfully, did not know where exactly there were at this point in time. Still, they were not leaving him be.
His bugbear interrogator sat straddling a rock in the shade of a palm tree, while Devanar was forced to sit under the burning sun - his bare scalp slowly turning crimson. His lip was bleeding from a punch in the face, and his midriff was aching from being kicked in the stomach - but such was just the done thing when interrogating someone.

The other bugbears were milling about the oasis. All of them looked dangerous, armed to the teeth, battle hardened, experienced - and most probably Strong Childs every one of them. Devanar was not sure he could even take on one of them in one to one battle.

The question the interrogator kept riding one was why they had been following them. And Devanar repeatedly said that they had been looking for tracks of demons, not bugbears. The bugbears had not seen any demons, hence they found this explanation little convincing.

And so a new round of identical questions started, intermingled with increasing threats.

[McPoyo]

Sequestered just over the next dune a scant 30 yards away, the small creature crouched low to the sand. While creeping this close to the bugbears might be seen as extremely foolhardy by most, Isul had spent his life among deserts and knew how to avoid detection. His fur indistinguishable from the color of the sand around him, and his gear in a small pile below the level of the dune, Isul had little to fear from his prey. [Hide 33]

He had been tracking this group for a while, wondering if they would cause trouble for the locals. So far, the unfortunate man roasting out in the sun had seemed not to give up answers his interrogators had wanted, or they would have progressed with their plans for him. It was a shame the only nearby place to hide was up-wind of the oasis, Isul would have liked to hear the conversation. [Listen 8]

Softly murmuring a few words in a gravelly tongue, he decided to wait and see how things progressed. If the bugbears looked like they were becoming agitated, or the man seemed like he would come to harm, Isul would have to step in. It was a shame he hadn't anticipated needing to protect another from the hot sun, he knew a spell that would have kept the religious servant from the harmful effects of sunburn and dehydration. [Spot 24]

(OOC)

Hide: 33
Spot:24
Listen: 8

Aura Check: 13 vs bugbears

(Brainpiercing Only)

The words I whispered we're in Terran to my earth elemental companion. I'm going to send him over to the oasis to get an accurate count of the number of foes I might face off against if combat becomes necessary. He will use his earthglide to stay below the sand and out of sight, and detect via tremorsense.

Anything my Truesight picks up out of the ordinary?

My character stuff will be posted in the thread for it tomorrow morning, around 10 EST (GMT-5)

[Brainpiercing]

On the surface
There were five Bugbears in this particular group. They were all dressed in smoothly fitting leather or breastplates, and covered everything with what looked like rags the color of sand, but what was actually very effective in obscuring them from view in the desert. They bore scimitars or falchions, and short bows. Some hat light spiked shields.

[Auras: 15, 12, 12, 15, 10]

The interrogation went on for a while. Occasionally Devanar was kicked again, but overall, it seemed the bugbears were too hot to become bothered with strenuous torture. After some time one of them seemed to perk, then got up from his lounging position in the shade, and walked over to the priest in the sun.

'We've found your demons, priest', he said gruffly, and louder than previously. 'Count yourself lucky, this time.'

Devanar took this as a sign that his interrogation was coming to a close, and wiped the sweat from his brow.
'I told you.' He shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. 'Where did you find them?'

The Bugbear stared at him for a moment as if in internal debate, then shrugged.
'North-east of here. A few miles.'

He turned away and waved in a circle above his head.
'We're moving out', he shouted to his troops.  With some groaning, the Bugbears packed up their gear and began jogging off into the desert, very quickly blending in with their surroundings.

The fat old priest in the sun slowly got up, and heaved his bulk into the shade. Surveying his scrummaged gear he smacked his fist into his hand in frustration. They had taken all the small pieces of value - his little gold and sentimental jewelry, his healing belt, his neverending rations, and most terribly, the metamagic rod that the church of Lathandar had loaned him. They had left him his weapon and breastplate, and the horse was still there. But the shame weighed heavily on the priest. Thinking himself alone, what little of his pride remained was not enough to contain it. He leaned against the wall of the hut and sobbed a little.

[McPoyo]

Over the next dune

Isul slipped his bandolier over his shoulder, settling it around his small frame, and quietly walked across the sands to the oasis. The elderly priest, though his health did not seem terribly endangered, seemed defeated in spirit. Isul briefly contemplated waiting until the priest's shoulders stopped shaking and he composed himself, but tossed aside that notion with the desire to learn where the bugbears were headed. This mans pride was worth less than that information, especially if the bugbears were raiders headed towards a settlement or caravan route.

The dog-sized rodent stopped roughly twenty feet from the old priest, and softly called to him in Common "Are your injuries severe?"

[Brainpiercing]

Devanar stopped sniveling suddenly, instantly sobering up, and grabbed his morning star, spinning around.
'Who are you?' he demanded with unnecessary brusqueness. But then he didn't even see anyone at first - at least no person. Surely... he frowned, and let his eyes scan left and right...

[McPoyo]

The priest didn't appear to see Isul, or at least recognize him as the speaker. "I see why the bugbears were able to sneak up on him. Certainly not the most astute clergyman I've met," Isul thought to himself as he willed his fur to change colors from the dun-color that matched the Anauroch's shifting sands so well to a darker, almost mahogany, brown. This made him stand out against his weathered headband and bandolier as well as the desert backdrop.

Standing upright on his rear legs, he answered "I am Isul, the Walker of the Sands." He wasn't sure why heincluded his full title, but perhaps the old man had heard of his activities against invaders of the desert and those who harassed caravans. "I ask again, are you seriously injured?" He carefully kept his voice soft, though pitched to travel to the old priest's ears, sound carried quite a bit further in the desert, after all. While Isul knew he had no reason to fear the old man's combat ability, taking on a band of Strong Children bugbears without the element of surprise wasn't a course of action he was particularly fond of entertaining. Especially since he knew he would be unable to protect the old man in the process.

(OOC)

How long did they keep him in the sun?

Also, taking 10 to see if he has suffered from dehydration or heat exhaustion, for a [Heal 15]

[Brainpiercing]

[ooc]

Sorry, I somehow forgot this....I've also not really been using the environmental effects in Sandstorm - they seemed overly harsh, but I to be honest, it's been a while since I've read them.

On the surface
Devanar blinked, and only then managed to connect the voice to the rodent that was now standing near him. He shook his head and grinned weakly.
'Well.... met, Isul, Walker of the Sands. Please excuse my... oversight. I am Devanar, Priest of Lathander from the town of Lundeth. My injuries... are not severe, from what I can tell. In any case, being a priest... I should be able to take care of them.'
He spoke hesitantly, as if searching for words.
'Thank you for your concern. I am somewhat weakened, and would very much like to have a drink of water in the shade. I'm not unhappy for the company, either.'
He moved to retrieve his canteen, and sat down in the empty doorway of the hut.
'So, honoured Isul, what brings you here?'

[McPoyo]

[Ooc]

iirc, they are less harsh than the DMGs, but I may be remembering them wrong. Either way, my Local Drought ability is being actively surpressed.

"I had been following those bugbears since I came across their tracks yesterday. They had a surety of movement that didn't seem like a wandering raiding party, but I couldn't be sure. Do you know anything of their purpose or desires? Maybe where they were headed when they left?" While obviously probing with his questions, the large rodent seemed preoccupied and mildly distracted, almost as though the last part was more him musing outloud. If their intentions we're raiding, they wouldn't have left this priest here with his horse. Maybe I'm worrying about this too much. I need to re-center my thoughts and focus, Isul thought.

Turning his full attention back to Devanar, Isul continued "The desert, however, is my home. It is as much a part of me as I it. An aging Lathanderite wandering the wastes alone is much more out of place." [Sense Motive 18 to his response]

[OOC]

Also, if his canteen is dry, or looks to shortly be so, I will pull one of my many spares from inside my bandolier and offer it to him.

[Brainpiercing]

There is a description of how the tracks look a few pages back, including the obfuscation attempts.

On the surface
Devanar leaned back against the door post and sighed, while drinking from his canteen.
'It seems we have also been following the bugbears, when in fact we were searching for demons. We had lost their tracks a half a day ago, and decided to come to this watering hole in the hopes of picking something up here. My compatriots found some sort of cave, and are exploring it right now. They should eventually return.'

[McPoyo]

On the surface

Isul studied the fat priest for a moment. Unsure where to go with the conversation. He knew he would have no difficulty continuing to trail the bugbears, though he did question the wisdom of that course of action. They weren't just brutish pillagers down from the mountains, he was nearly certain. They were too deep into the desert, for starters. The priest also would not have been left alive and free, nevermind his horse, if they were just out to raid. Combined with what he had seen while trailing them, they appeared to have strong organization and a purpose. Isul decided to give up following them for now.

The Lathanderite, on the other hand, was worth probing for more information, and Isul had plenty of questions he wanted to probe.

"Why did you not follow your friends? You seem," here Isul made a pointed glance at the heavy and heat trapping armor of Devanar with a slight pause, "ill-equipped for an extended trip through the Anauroch." The large rodent-like creature settled down on the sand in a comfortable sitting position. "Better yet, if you were hunting a band of demons, why did they go to explore a cave? Were there signs the demons had passed through it?"

[Brainpiercing]

On the surface
Devanar grunted and frowned.
'Ill-equipped indeed. However, one has to make do with what one has. My compatriots entered the cave because, well... One of our group actually fell in, and then decided to go exploring on his own, it seems. The others just followed after him.'

[McPoyo]

On the surface

"Perhaps it would be best that they be retrieved then. Why did you not go with them, or remind them of their task?"

[Brainpiercing]

On the surface
'The hole was quite narrow. I did not wish to go through it', Devanar said crossly, irritated at this constant probing.
'But perhaps you wish to go after them, and alert them to the Bugbear threat? I am certain they would be grateful.'

Devanar suddenly found himself craving for alcohol - a sip of whisky or just a cool glass of ale would be the most wondrous thing at this moment. He frowned more from crushing those wishes.