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By Carey Sauerbrun
The Harem
[DM]
The small band finally moves to the edge of the trees and makes their way to the top of the small rise.
They are immediately able to take in the 'clearing'. In actuality, the rise is on is a peak in the hills - the ground on the other side drops away in a long, shallow slope, (as opposed to the medium slope that the group has been traversing the last few days) sparcely covered in scrub (no trees). The 'clearing' is much more than an open area in the forest - the trees break away to the left and right (hugging the rise), and the members of the group can see that the area remains free of trees for a good quarter mile (straight ahead).
Ahead and slightly to the left (downslope), everyone can see what must be the weathered tower of some sort of ruin. He can only see the tower and the top of the main building, because the structure is build in a low-lying area of the open space.
What catches the attention of the group immediately, however, is that there are two figures, a good distance down slope, locked in combat. One is obviously an orc, though larger than normal, while the other is a Jannesar. Scattered about the slope between the group and the combatants are several bodies, orcs and Jannesaries both.
Of the possible captive adventurers that may have been dragged along by the orcs, there is on sign, however, from the group's position, they can also see Corin ghosting along among the scrub, bow at the ready. He's just over a hundred feet from the combatants (they are about 200 feet from the ridge).
Even as those on the ridge take in the situation, the orc slams a heavy blow into the Jannesar, staggering the warrior. The orc bellows his glee and moves to strike again.
[DM]
"We won't save the Jannesar if we stand here all day, will we?" This, she says to no one in particular. With her spell selection limited to range, Mililani advances with haste, moving closer to the combating orc and jannesar.
"Manure-Mouth! It's true! You're mother was a dark elf and you know it! You pig-faced infidel of Mystra!" She yells with disgusted gusto and authority that usually belittles her soft-spoken voice. She advances to orc with no weapons drawn.
Her holy symbol however glows with intent.
At the sound of Mililani's shout, the orc, who up until then fully intent on destroying the Jannesar, jerks around to face the approaching adventurers…
Hasnafar, knowing his ranged weapon cannot hit the Orc from this distance, keeps pace with the group as they move forward. He looks around to see if anything else besides the group is stirring…
Saying nothing and moving as quietly as his speed and armor will allow, Authari moves toward the battle while loading his crossbow…
Brianna also moves forward with the group, not having anything that would be reliable at that range…
Amber grits her teeth and says in a low voice, "these hills seem to crawl with orcs, where do they all come from?" She takes hold of her spear and also moves closer to the combat area.
Corin, much closer to the two combatants, watches the orc turn to face the newcomers. The ranger watches as the orc's eyes track his companions, and then he sees them go wide as the orc refocuses on him. Or, more specifically, on his drawn bow…
The arrow flies, flashing across the distance…
In spite of the distance between the ranger and his target, the arrow flies true, perhaps aided a bit by the orc's futile effort to get out of the arrow's path. The shaft thuds home as the orc spins to run, punching in just below it's shoulder blade. The orc takes one staggering step forward before dropping to it's knees. The movement continues, and soon the orc is face-down.
The Jannesar, holding his sword defensively, jerks about warily. He too had heard Mililani's shout, but had kept his eyes on the orc until just then.
Straightening, the warrior relaxes a bit. He doesn't put his blade away though. Somewhat wearily, he says, “Ho! My thanks!”
[OOC - combat over. Nice rolls for the shot, JP! The only thing living on the sloping plain is the Jannesar. As for Brianna, she'll continue to tag along until something happens to her. I'll be sending out a call for a replacement character as well. If any of you know anyone willing to join in, let me know.]
[Corin]
“Ilmater bless your companions and ease their journey to his realm.” Corin greets the warrior, “What happened?” The ranger lowers his bow, but something in his stance indicates that he's not quite comfortable yet with the situation as he closes the distance between himself and the Jannesar warrior. “Oh, those are my companions.” The ranger adds as an afterthought as his eyes glance at the downed orc to see if it is moving or not.
[Amber]
"Nice aim, Corin!" the sorceress calls over to the man. Walking over to the dead orc and the jannesar she asks, "What happened here Jannesar?"
[DM]
The Jannesar winces at the mention of all of his fallen companions. He looks about the field, stunned at the devistation that greets his eyes. "I, uh..." After a moment, the young man (somewhere around Corin's age is his best guess) pulls himself together and says, "we got hit from the trees, pretty much where your friends came out. We weren't expecting an attack, but the commander had out sentries - but they must have been taken out first."
The Jannesar waves a hand at the orc he'd been fighting. "That big bastard cut his way through three of my friends. I think he was the leader of the band, or at least one of the better fighters. He got held up with Crandel though. Cran almost had him..." Obviously, Crandel hadn't managed to hold the big orc though.
"Some of the orcs, I'm not sure how many, broke past and headed for the H--, ah, the tower." The Jannesar suddenly seems a bit nervous. "Commander Galt and a few of the others took out after them, but the rest of us stayed here to hold back the rest of the orcs. And now," the young man looks about the field once more, "it looks like I'm it."
As he finishes the tale, the others in the group approach. (OOC - they're all close enough to hear the last paragraph above).
[OOC - JP, Corin can't sense anything more than a weary exhaustion from the Jannesar - he certainly seems sincere enough. The Jannesar is carrying a functional long sword. He's wearing a black chain shirt over a black uniform (right down to his boots). There's a stylized wyvern on the sleeve of his shirt (just below where the chain shirt reaches). The orc might still be alive, though he's fading fast. He wears well made scale mail, and wields a nasty morningstar.]
[DM]
“Then there is not much time to lose.” Corin states, “If the rest of the orcs are the same type of fighters as what you encountered here, I fear for the commander and his troops. I would hazard a guess that the tuskers would not let their best fighters remain here and leave the main objective to lesser troops.” Corin gives the young warrior another glance to assess the man's situation, “Are you up for it?”
Throwing a look over his shoulder to his companions, the Tethyrian adds, “Fight's not over yet. We're headed that way.” With the tip of his bow, Corin indicates a weathered tower of some sort of ruin. Only the tower and the top of the main building is visible, because the structure is built in a low-lying area of the open space.
"Yeah, I'm alright." While the Janessar has got some wounds, the young man seems to be ready to move on.
"I am sorry for your loss Janessar" Amber says. "I am Amber yr Fadila el Sanasar" the beautiful sorceress adds as she straightens up.
The young man, already turning toward the tower, looks at the new arrivals and blinks. "I'm Uther il'Candilar," he says, with a nod. Then, he begins to move toward the tower with Corin at his side.
Hasnafar pauses by the downed orc and ends whatever hope it had of recovering with his rapier. He then quickly goes through it's gear...
As they move down the slope, Corin explains a little more to the Janessar warrior, “We have been attacked yesterday by orcs, and have been on their trail since. Their tracks led here, and by your account, our quarry seems to have moved on. We follow.”
Amber sighs and glances over at the now oh so dead orc. "Ready as I will ever be" she plucks back a strand of hair from her eyes and sets it back behind her left ear.
Mililani, looking on with interest, moves with the rest of the group toward the tower.
Authari nods his assent to the ranger, keeping his crossbow loaded and ready. Looking at the Janessar, he asks, "I'm afraid that we've gotten a bit off our route in chasing these orcs. I've not seen a map with a marking for that tower on it. Can you tell us a bit about the tower and where we are?"
The group moves together down the slope toward the tower. Uther glances over at Authari hesitantly, and then at the others in the group. "You already know what it is, don't you?"
At that moment, the group comes over the last rise and gazes down into the hollow that the tower occupies, though it's actually more of a heavily overgrown and somewhat dilapidated palace. They can all easily see what must have once been a servant / supply entry. It's wide enough to allow wagons to enter. Of the main entry, there's no sign...
"It's the Harem, you know," Uther says, softly, gazing down at the ruin. "The Lost Harem of Syl-pasha Hakeem al'Noari himself..."
[Corin]
“Well, if the tuskers are having their way, it'll be surely lost.” Corin says while continuing towards the ruin, “Let's move and see if we can oust the unwanted visitors to the Syl-pasha's harem.” Pulling another arrow from his quiver and setting to his bow, the ranger advances, ears and eyes open towards the ruined palace.
[Mililani]
"If Syl-Pasha al'Noari was a jealous man, the entrance maybe trapped and warded," replies the priestess. "Who knows what dangers may lurk in the tower?" We should exercise caution." Looking at Amber, she says, "Can you see auras of magic and spells arcane? I fear I need to conserve any prayers as we may need them later."
Waiting for Amber's reply she checks her gear one last time and readies her shield and her hefty mace.
[Hasnafar]
Hasnafar calls out to the others before they leave the Orc bodies, “Anyone need a morning star or splint mail… they look like they were crafted by someone who knew what they were doing.”
ooc: mw morning star, mw splint mail
Hasnafar glides forward and starts investigating the entrance…
ooc: search +5
[Mililani]
"You mentioned something about arms and armor Do they look orcish in design or were they built by the hand's of another?" she says. "Do you see any insignias with the orcs? Maybe I can identify them?"
[Amber]
The sorceress glances down on the ruined structure as well. At Corin's comment she ads "Wouldn't we count as unwanted visitors as well?!" Turning to the priestess she answers her query with a head shake. "I am sorry but I can't cast that my powers are not based on knowledge like a wizards. I know what I know and I am afraid I don't know what you want me to know" She follows after in Corins track trying not to make to much racket.
[Mililani]
"You're a sorceress?" replies the priestess with one eye arched in fascination. "There are those in the Mystran Faith who would find interest in your abilities." She pauses then continues. "Can you light a torch or a lantern?"
[Amber]
"Yes, my father was a wizard but I guess I found my own way to magic." Her eyes take on a distant look but soon return to the now as she stops her walking. "Well no I can't do that either I am afraid, but I do know how to summon balls of light that fly around at my discretion." She waits for the rest to catch up with her from their looting. "I guess they could be put in a lantern for light. They don't last verey long though, I think my father called them Dancing Lights or something like that"
[DM]
The Harem is more of a small castle set in a depression before the party.
As for lighting - there is none. What windows (or rather, openings that used to be windows) that can be seen are rather high up, and are dark. There is a tower rising over all, but even that is only a bit higher than the group now - the place really is built in a pretty deep depression, and that is overgrown with greenery/plants/trees. Even the tower is covered in vines and such.
As the group talks, they descend the slope (covering the last 60' or so, to stand before the tunnel entry (30' across). Light from outside illuminates a good seventy feet into the tunnel but the shadows close in after that. Only 20 feet into the tunnel, a massive portcullis can be seen, down, blocking the way forward.
Two bodies can be seen in the shadows. One, slumped against the wall, sports an arrow in his chest - one of Uther's comrades. The other, which turns out to be an orc, is crushed under the portcullis.
[OOC - the group is now at the entrance of the tunnel, twenty feet from the Portcullis.
[Corin]
The ranger places a hand on Hasnafar's shoulder, stopping the man before he can move closer to the entrance. “Let me look for tracks first before we disturb them with our passage. It'll help tell the tale of what occurred here. Keep an eye out for trouble.” Corin turns around and motions for the others to stop, before tucking the arrow back in his quiver. Squatting, he examines the ground in front of the entrance, slowly and deliberately moving about.
[Amber]
"How we gonna get in with the portcullis down. Maybe it could be lifted or bent but it sure looks sturdy." the sorceress says as she looks into the gloom of the tunnel. Taking care not to step so as to distburb the ground she remains where she is while Corin studies the ground for signs of what ocurred here. Patting the mule she ads "What should we do with the mule, with all the orcs around here I wouldn't want to leave him outside."
[Authari]
Staying behind Corin in order to avoid obscuring any tracks, the young warrior sets down his shield, and rummages in his pack for a moment, before pulling out a lit torch. Passing his hand through the flame to show that it doesn't burn, he grins sheepishly as he looks at the others and says, "A little something I appropriated from the family cellars before I left home."
[Mililani]
"Yes, I have heard of Dancing Lights," she replies candidly. "I hope to learn the spell myself sometime soon." She removes her backpack and rummages through it contents. She pulls out a hooded lantern. "Place them in here. If we need more light, I can light the wick using a cantrip."
Once finished, she slings her backpack and shield over her shoulder. She holds her mace with one hand and the hooded lantern with the other.
[Amber]
"As I said they don't last very long, so I think I'will wait until we are actually inside before I begin to cast them. I only have acess to cast 6 of them before my mind says no more" she looks at Corin as he studies the ground for tracks and the like. "I sure hope that was the last of the orcs" she says and nods with her head in the direction of the peirced orc corpse under the portcullis.
OOC: Not very long, would be one min
Looking at the torch Authari is holding her eyes shines up, is that an evertorch? My mother could cast spells that could make other spells permanent. I am afraid she died before she could ever teach my father the same. She fell during a skirmish into Memnonmar a year ago, her spellbook as well as her body lies somwhere in that gods forsaken ruin. She clears her throat and swipes at her eyes as some tears begin to form in her eyes.
[Corin]
“My guess is that most of the orcs are inside.” Corin says while rising and moving a little forward towards the portcullis. “It looks like two distinct groups have entered the complex through here; one of them being the orcs, the other either the Janissaries or one of the other groups that set out before us.”
Apparently done with reading the signs, the ranger straightens and looks back, “Both groups have been able to lift the portcullis one way or another using a lot of force or some sort of levering mechanism.” Turning to the surviving Janessar, he asks, “You wouldn't happen to know the way would you?”
[Uther]
Uther, moving to kneel near the Janessar corpse, shakes his head. "I've never been near the entry before - we were supposed to guard the approaches. Couldn't we just lift it?"
Fingering the arrow in the downed Janessar's chest, he adds, "This is an orc arrow. They must have been waiting when Benin ," Uther indicates his fallen friend, "and the others got here." He checks the man over and shakes his head. "It looks like the others took anything useful Benin had on him - even his blade is missing."
[Corin]
“It looks like the orcs somehow entered the complex.” Corin says while looking over at the fallen Janessar, “Yet one of them was felled by the portcullis… either a trap or a deliberate kill. Your comrades in arms came afterward, one of them – Benin – was felled by an orc arrow. The others somehow chased the orcs deeper into the complex… or the orcs had left only a small rearguard while venturing deeper.”
Corin turns back towards the green-oxidized bronze portcullis and points at the marks on the ground. “The pursuing Janissary lifted the gate, took Benin 's equipment and followed in, dropping the portcullis back, piercing the fallen orc a second time. As evidenced by the wounds. Somehow the lifting was done in relative leisure, there's only evidence of a light skirmish in the area and there are no other bodies in sight – unlike the field before.”
Peering into the gloomy darkness beyond the portcullis, the ranger pauses for a moment. “I wonder if we should try to enter here, or try and locate another means of entering the complex. The potential advantage of going this way is that we more or less know what is ahead, and any traps or other nasty surprises are likely sprung by the orcs…”
[Amber]
The sorceress wipes her tears and moves forward towards the portcullis and Corin. "Here is as good as any I guess. Do you know how long ago it all happened?" She queries the man. "Besides, if the strongest help out it looks like it could work."
[Mililani]
With the torch burning brightly, the priestess places her lantern back into her backpack and readies her weapon and shield once again. As she's about to move towards Amber, to comfort her in her bref time of grief, corin speaks.
[Corin]
“About an hour or two I would say… probably closer to one…” Corin replies, “…based on Uther's account. Maybe Brianna or Mililani can tell by the state of the bodies.”
[Mililani]
Without so much as removing her silk veils, Corin can see her expression of clear irritation in her blue eyes and her brow. "I can you they died recently," she says. "But my knowledge of medicine extends to healing the wounded, not necromancy and death." Mililani moves forward to examine the bodies, first without touching them.
[Brianna]
Brianna moves forward to check the bodies as well. "Vell, I am not sure I can help vit dis..."
Neither woman is able to tell anything more than Corin has already come up with.
[Mililani]
"I was thinking," Mililani says. "Maybe we can raise the gate high enough and wedge something under it. Maybe a shield at both ends of the gate. We have three strong men, that maybe enough it get it up and us under it."
[Amber]
"Once it is open those on the other side can help as well to hold it open. I am not claiming to be strong, but I think at least I can help with that" Amber chirps in.
[Authari]
"Perhaps the orcs did the same thing," says Authari, as he bends down to inspect the portcullis, looking for rust knocked off by orcish hands, or signs of anything used to prop the gate up. "Although, you'd think they would leave the gate up in case they needed to make a hasty exit."
[Corin]
The ranger places a hand on Hasnafar's shoulder, stopping the man before he can move closer to the entrance. “Let me look for tracks first before we disturb them with our passage. It'll help tell the tale of what occurred here. Keep an eye out for trouble.” Corin turns around and motions for the others to stop, before tucking the arrow back in his quiver. Squatting, he examines the ground in front of the entrance, slowly and deliberately moving about.
[ooc: using track feat, spot and search skills, trying to determine what occurred besides the presence of two corpses]
[Hasnafar]
Hasnafar moves up with the ranger and uses his own keen senses to look around…
[Hasnafar]
Hasnafar calls out to the others before they leave the Orc bodies, “Anyone need a morning star or splint mail… they look like they were crafted by someone who knew what they were doing.”
[Mililani]
"Grab the morning star and leave the armor. We can retrieve it later," she says. "I wish to look at it. It may make a better weapon than my mace."
[Hasnafar]
Hasnafar simply looks over at Mililani and replies, “You want it, you carry it. I was just letting people know it was there for the taking.” He continues to move away from the body of the Orc…
With the rest of the group moving around next to the portcullis, Hasnafar moves over to the side of the entrance and starts searching…
[Mililani]
"Maybe there's a secret door in the area," Mililani replies. "Orcs are belligerent and stupid, but it look as of this ran for the portcullis and it dropped on him. Of course, This is my best guess."
[Authari]
"I don't know...you can see here where they grabbed the bars," says the young warrior, pointing to the lower portion of the portcullis.
[Corin]
“While it sure looks like the portcullis is the likely cause of death, can you be sure?” The Tethyrian ranger asks Mililani as he nods to Authari confirming his countryman's findings, “What if the orc was felled when the gate was still open. It just happened that he dropped dead underneath the bronze construct, which was later hoisted up at least twice. And that, priestess, is no guess, but a fact.”
[Corin]
“Maybe you are better in track reading then I am, but if you look about, I see no footprints ‘disappearing' into walls.” Corin shakes his head and looks towards the exit where Hasnafar is looking for something, “Hasnafar, anything you've found outside the entrance?”
[Hasnafar]
Hasnafar shakes his head, “Nothing. We'll have to heft that thing and one of us should scoot under and see if there is a mechanism to open it from the other side, or just lock it in place so everyone else can just slide under.”
[Mililani]
"Then I suggest we lift the gate up, but quietly and enter," she says.
[Mililani]
The Priestess walks back and retrieves the masterwork morning star from the body that Hasnafar was rummaging.
[DM]
For several minutes, the ranger, Hasnafar and Authari, with some input from the others, examine the huge portcullis. Corin can tell that it has been raised at least twice recently, and he shares this with the group. From all indications, the orc beneath the port was caught as it fell, and then again as it was raised once more and then dropped.
Everyone can see to the end of the hall (barely) and can make out that a good fifty feet beyond the portcullis the thirty foot hall ends and two other passages begin. Mililani can see just a bit further...
Even as the decision is made to raise the port (as quietly as possible), from out of the darkness ahead a wail of fear and anguish rises and then ends abruptly. None of the group can tell from which passage the sound came from, but as there is nothing within the thirty foot passage, then the source must be further within the Harem.
[Corin]
“Authari, Uther, are you ready?” Corin asks his countryman as he squats near the portcullis and grabs hold of the lower bar. “On the count of three we lift.” Looking over his shoulder he says to the Amber, Brianna, Hasnafar and the returning Mililani, “As soon as there is room enough to go underneath, move. One needs to cover the hallway with a ranged weapon, while the others can help keep the gate up.”
[Uther]
Uther nods his agreement, crouching to take a good hold of the lowest bar. "Ready when you are." His voice is firm and steady, but his face is a bit pale - possibly a result of hearing the recent scream and wondering if another of his mates just died...
[Brianna]
Brianna works her way forward to the port, taking up a position near the dead orc. "I vill help lift too. Every leetle bit vill help, I tink."
[Authari]
The young warrior nods his head in assent as he lays aside his shield, and slings his axe. Setting his crossbow on the ground, he says, "Anyone want to point that down the hallway, be my guest," as he steps up and grabs the portcullis.
[Mililani]
"I'll cover the hallway," she says. "There are two more portcullis at the intersection, both are lowered." She slings her shield and her mace then moves to retrieve her crossbow. Once on the other side of the portcullis, she loads her crossbow and proceeds towards the intersection progressing slowly every five feet. She stops short of it.
[Amber]
"I can take it" Amber says and grabs hold of the crossbow, glancing as she do so at Mililani.
[DM]
With Hasnafar's statement, Corin nods to those at the portcullis and counts...
"One, two, Three!"
With the grinding of something up above the ceiling, all four of the people at the port turn beat-red with effort as the grate lifts off the ground. The impaled orc rises slightly with it, but then, with a wet slurp, comes off the spikes and settles to the floor again. When the tips of the spikes lining the bottom of the port are just shy of four feet off the ground, the grinding above rises to a shriek of metal, and the port stops. It resists any further movement up.
Mililani, Hasnafar and Amber all scuttle under the port quickly. Amber's mule, with an annoyed bray, is barely able to make it under, scraping between two of the spikes. All three keep wary eyes on the end of the thirty foot wide passage. The mule shakes his head and then ignores everyone.
"Easy!" Uther says, slowly removing his hands and eyeing the thing warily. "I think it's stuck."
The port remains where it is as the others also slowly let go.
[Hasnafar]
Hasnafar waits for the others to open the portcullis, knowing he wasn't strong enough to help.
Once the others are through, he scoots under himself. On the other side, he pulls out a hand crossbow, and starts searching for a mechanism for the gate.
[DM]
While Hasnafar is able to conduct a thorough search of the area immediately around the port (he can see most of the way down the passage), he is unable to discover any sort of mechanism that might affect the portcullis.
To either side, on each wall, he notices that there are brackets that might once have held torches (two on each side - the closest two are ten feet from the port, the other pair are twenty feet past them and barely visible in the shadows).
He also notices that, a good twenty feet further in, the dirt covering the floor thins out and, beyond that point, the original slate cobbles of the passage are visible.
[Amber]
"Wow, I can't believe we are finally inside." she pats the mule but still holding the lead rope, afraid that the creature might otherwise bolt if given the chance. Amber sure knew she would if she was a mule and put in the same position.
[Corin]
“Don't venture too far.” Corin glances upward to where the bronze gate slides into the ceiling, “I'll have to leave my horse outside if this gate is stuck. I'll be right back, keep alert.” With that the ranger ducks back under the portcullis and moves towards his horse, intent on removing the items he wants to take along…
[ooc: Corin will move outside to picket his horse somewhere, should Uther offer his aid in pointing out where the other horses are, the ranger will accept. He'll bring his saddlebags and the 2nd quiver along as carry-on luggage…]
[Amber]
The sorceress looks ahead into the gloom, her lent crossbow lined down the hallway.
[Authari]
After scooting under the portcullis, Authari retrieves his magical torch and raises it high, peering around the hallway. Heeding the ranger's words, he is careful to wander no further down the hallway than the first set of sconces.
[Hasnafar]
Hasnafar shakes his head, and says, “I don't see anyway of holding it… be careful, I wouldn't want to get stuck in here.”
He moves over to the next portcullis, doing a quick look for traps along the way. Once there, he starts looking around carefully…
Making sure no one is near the ‘bald' spot on the ground, he tries twisting and turning the brackets… just in case.
“Careful of that spot, it might be a ‘bad' spot”, he says casually.
[Mililani]
"The priestess nods to Corin's reply and says, "make haste good companion." With that she slowly advances to towards the intersection on the hall. She keeps a mental note of where Hasnafar walks and avoids any 'bad spots' he mentions. Once at the intersection, she peers around each corner and lets her elven inherited sight drink the deeply of the darkness.
[DM]
Together, Corin and Uther move outside once more to picket Corin's horse with the Janessar mounts. Even as they re-enter the entry tunnel, the portcullis, with a whining squeal, pulls free of its jam and slams to the ground (squirting a bit more orc juice into the entry). With some effort, it is again raised by the group, and once more jams open.
Once the Janessar and the Ranger are once again back with the others (on the same side of the entry), there is a general movement toward the end of the passage.
Amber, with mule in tow, pauses about ten feet back from the end of the passage. Corin's saddlebags have been added with little difficulty to the animal's load, though the mule does seem a bit surly about it. Brianna pauses nearby as well, looking at the walls curiously. (OOC: The walls are functional stone, no decorations other than the sconces).
In the light of Authari's torch, Hasnafar and Mililani can clearly see that not only are there two portcullises blocking passages to the front, there are also two more (one to either side) that block passages going in those directions.
After some moving about (letting the others check out the passages and giving Hasnafar and Corin an opportunity to examine tracks and search for traps), everyone has been able to see the options available to the group.
[Corin]
“Ok, before we go any further and decide which direction to go, we better decide on how we go forward.” Corin says as he straightens up from examining the area in front of the four portcullises. “Hasnafar, it seems you know how to look for nasty surprises, probably better than I can. You'd make a good scout – if you're ok with that role. My experience underground is limited, but reading tracks is a skill that would function underground…” The ranger frowns a little as he looks at the floor in the hallways, “…Though it'll be difficult on these surfaces.”
“Mililani, Brianna, Amber, I suggest you make up the next section, your magic would be of use from behind Hasnafar and me. Amber, with that spear of yours, you can also aid Hasnafar and me if we're forced into a melee fight. Priestess…” Corin switches to look at the follower of Mystra, “…While you would be able to be in the front judging by your attire and weaponry, yet if you would be in front of Authari – who I would suggest take the rear – you could be in a position to quickly aid either the front or the rear if we get in any sort of trouble.”
“Brianna, aside from your magic, do you know how to use a crossbow? Let's see, we have Mil's and Authari's… that makes two, is there a third crossbow?” Without waiting for an answer the ranger continues, “Regardless, if there is no magic immediately needed or available, you could team up with either the priestess or Authari and aid in reloading the crossbow. A two man team – one loader, one who fires – equipped with two crossbows to rotate between them, makes for a deadly artillery team.”
[Mililani]
Mililani waits courteously for Corin to finish, then she chimes.
"I would rather be in the rear of the group," she says candidly. "My training and zeal was geared towards self-defense not heavy combat. I can support the party with the Prayers of Mystra the best I can and load a crossbow or two." A mischievous elvish smile can be seen in the dim light of the hallway. "I know watching our flank will put me in danger, but my eyesight is better against the darkness."
[Authari]
Embarrassed, the young Tethyrian stammers a bit, "Umm..well, I think maybe Corin's suggestion has some merit, milady. My mail," as he slaps his chest to emphasize his point, "might better ward a blow from behind; and besides, I am little more than a guard, whereas loosing you to a sneak attack would leave the others sorely bereft of your magical prowess."
[Mililani] Once Authari has spoken she says, "Uh, to help with our choice of direction, I can see a door at the end of the Southwest passage, but barely. Maybe a peek behind the door? Hmmm?" Her sapphire blue eyes widen, her narrow shoulders shrug upwards as if expecting permission or a consensus in agreement. Again, her smile is mischievous and warm.
[Authari]
"Aye, I think that way would be best. It looks to lead straight into the heart of the Harem, and might help us bypass those orcs. As long as we don't go wading into the midden," Authari jests, as he points down the stairway.
[Amber]
Amber holds the crossbow meekly and if given the chance offers it back to Authari, instead grabbing hold of her spear (or "walking stick"). "I wouldn't mind helping out upfront. I have some offensive spells as well that might come in handy besides the lights and shielding force of magic." she says and pats the mule yet again. "But I don't mind being in the middle safe and sound, at least when there are walls on both sides of me. " she ads in with a forced smile.
[Corin]
“If there wasn't a door, would you have chosen the same route?” Corin asks Mililani, then motions to forestall an answer, “Doesn't matter, that is the way we should go. Only this portcullis has been raised recently. And while there are tracks behind the other portcullis, where the hallway runs parallel, it one doesn't show any traces of recently having been opened.”
[Authari]
"Do you think the orcs know where they are going, then, that we should follow them? Or is this just the best route in?" earnestly asks the young warrior.
[Authari]
Authari accepts the crossbow back from Amber, making sure that it remains cocked and loaded. "I guess if those tuskers are in there ahead of us, it would pay to be ready for them. I can't hold the torch and keep the crossbow ready," he says, "would one of you care to keep up with it?"
[Corin]
“Right now this seems to be the best route in. We need to deal with the tuskers first.” The Tethyrian replies to his countryman, while motioning for Hasnafar to come over. “We've done one portcullis by lifting it, while it is certainly an option to do so here too, I'd suggest we look for the mechanism to raise it.” The ranger's eyes rove over the portcullis, the ceiling and the walls next to the gate to see if there.
[Mililani]
"Mililani laughs softly as his face turns red. Her breath billows from under her veil. "I did not mean to embarrass you good friend. You're point is well-taken. I'll stay in your forefront but closer to you." She stops as pause for a moment. "I'm curious about your expertise. What weapons skills do you possess? Are you a holy warrior, a paladin?"
[Authari-new]
Authari smiles meekly as he answers, "No, lady, I aspire to no such title. I am a wine-sellers son by birth, and received some schooling at a college of... Arts, in Riatavin, but my funds ran out, and my father refused to pay my tuition after I would not come home to aid the family business. I took a job as caravan guard to Manshaka, but my pay was only enough to cover my 'expenses'." Patting his axe and mail, he continues, "There were no caravans heading back to Riatavin, so I determined to make my own way home, but tales of the Harem brought me to Hardoak Pass ...I guess I thought there was easy coin to be made by adventuring."
[Mililani]
She nods her head. "Arts, as in the Art? It seems we're two peas in the same pod. I plan to venture North in safety to Candlekeep, then Baldur's Gate once I've made enough fortune to help my ailing father and for supplies in my craft. Could you use a companion, to Riatavin, once we complete this adventure?"
[Hasnafar]
Hasnafar pauses for a moment from his searching, and then casually walks over to Corin. In a quiet voice he says, “I've found nothing secret, nor anything that resembles a device to control these gates. It is either on the other side of these walls, or above us… with the possibility of creatures watching us even now. Let's get going quickly.”
[Corin]
“I don't disagree.” Corin replies, then turns towards the portcullis and bends through his knees to put his hands under the framework, “Let's see if we can lift this gate too. Team, once more on the count of three…”
[DM]
With the logistics of just how the group plans to move into the Harem sorted out, the adventurers force the next portcullis in a similar manner to the first. The only difference is that this port rises to about the seven foot level before grinding and squealing to a stop.
With Hasnafar and Corin in the lead, followed by Amber and Uther, Amber's mule and Brianna, Mililani and then Authari, the group makes its way into the passage that they've chosen. The group can see that the walls of the passage, unlike those in the entry area, were at one time plastered smooth. Most of this has crumbled away, but there are still patches here and there. The wall sconces continue, though there still isn't anything in them. As the extreme limit of the light of Authari's torch (which is currently at the back of the party with Authari) inches down the passage (throwing interesting shadows everywhere), it isn't long before the door that Mililani was able to see comes into view. Just beyond the door, a crumpled form can be seen on the floor...
With a grinding wail, the portcullis behind the group breaks free even as Hasnafar and Corin reach the door. With the rear sealed off, and the need for light up ahead, Mililani and Authari both close the distance with the rest of the group.
In the flickering light of the torch, it can be seen that the body is an orc, sprawled at the base of the wall to the left.
[Mililani]
"Feh, Is it my imagination or is the darkness getting thicker?" Mililani breaks into her backpack and retrieves her hooded lantern. "What did they do here?" asks the priestess. "Did they take leave of their senses and slaughter themselves? Doesn't matter, I wish to examine the orc," she says as she lights the lantern.
However, she does not break ranks and approach the deceased.
[DM]
Mililani's lantern pushes the darkness back a bit, and much of the passage becomes visible, though it continues in a straight line to the limits of sight. [OOC - 30 radius of good vision, out to 60' shrouded in shadows, beyond that, darkness. Everyone can see to the red line that used to designate Mililani's sight, with difficulty. Mililani can now see clearly to the red line (due to her lowlight vision) and can see another sixty feet through shadows. If left lit, the lantern will continue to burn for 6 hours.] This adds enough light for Corin and Hasnafar to see that the orc looks as if he has some sort of burns about his hands and face, and much of his gear has been damaged.
[Corin]
“Painful.” Corin comments off-hand at the sight of the burn-marks on the orc, “What would it have handled that caused flames to erupt into his hands and face – trying to eat a burning torch?” The ranger's sarcasm holds no mirth, and coldly he looks from the body, past Hasnafar to the door. Stepping forward to let Amber, her Mule and Uther pass, the ranger offers the room to Hasnafar, “What do you think? Something from behind that door that got him?”
[Authari]
"I can't see enough of the thing to tell much...are they merely burns, or does it have marks where something has hit or clawed at it? Could be that it ran afoul of one of it's kin, but I'd be willing to bet it didn't trip and fall upon it's own torch."
[Hasnafar]
Hasnafar shakes his head, “Probably a trap… main question is… did it reset or was it a one shot. I'll take a look.”
Moving forward carefully, the rogue starts searching….
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