Cavern of Wails

Usha - Friday, December 04, 2009, 10:33 PM

<OOC> Gauvain says, "Lvl 6 (3 Figher/3 Pally) HP 43, AC 24 Touch 11, Flat 23"

<OOC> Thyrson says, "Ftr/Sorcerer/Spellsword 7, HP 51, AC 16 (touch 11, ff 15)"

<OOC> Eira says, "lvl 8 sorc, hp 45, ac 14, ff 13, touch 13"

Average Party Level: 5.24

Death Consent On

Encounter 1: Shadow (7HD)

CR: 4

Encounter 2: Elite Stats Allip (8HD)

CR: 5

        As the troops have been advancing into Bludgun territory, the extent of the damage the Bludgun armies have done has become apparent. At the most recent push, the front line has come to a temporary stop near something known as the cavern of wails. Legends say that many years ago, before modern civilized laws were in place, women accused of infidelity were sealed in this cavern and left to die of starvation and thirst, or exposure. The soldiers are highly supersticious of it, for legend has prevailed for many years that their spirits haunt the cavern, even though no evidence has ever been found to support these theories. Until now. The waiing caverns, well, have been wailing. Some of the officers suspect it is some natural phenomenon, but as they cannot afford to have enemies on their backs as they advance- whatever the source- a group of adventurers, yourselves, have been dispatched to investigate. And here you are, at the mouth of the cavern, just over ten feet from floor to ceiling, and half again as much wide. The dark and damp is anything but inviting.

"Its an intriguing legend.." Eira says as the come up on the cavern. She has her familiar in her hands as she stands, squinting at the darkness.

Gauvain grunts as he looks at the cavern and nods to Eira. "Legends. I'm sure that's all they are."

Thyrson scratches his chin. "Well. It smells like a cave." He looks it up and down. "We ready?"

"There probably is some truth to the legend, more likely the guilt of the one man who did such a cruel act then of many." Eira reaches into a pocket for a sunrod. She strikes it, lighting their way.

GAME: Eira used a Sunrod.

Thyrson nods once, slowly. He pats a belt pouch, carefully, then waits to move forwards -- probably at Gauvain's elbow.

The cavern is marginally more inviting when lit up by Eira's sunrod. It looks to get narower on the vertical plane, while remaining fairly wide as one gets deeper, but you can only see about 20' into the cavern. The ground is unusually smooth for a natural cavern, and rocky, damp.

Eira does let the men lead the way, her familiar takes up a perch on her shoulder as she holds the sunrod aloft. "Its seems I've gone from airship tragedies to caves.." Probably commenting on the recent assignments she's either happened upon or been assigned.

Gauvain shakes his head and moves forward drawing his blade. "Right. Let's get this over with." He looks over the other two and shrugs. He looks over the Cavern as he enters and runs a hand along the cavern wall. "Nice big hole." he nods his head.

Thyrson unlimbers his sword as well, letting a glow leach from its blade as well. He grunts at that, nods.

as the group heads ruther inside, they find that the air inside is as damp as the ground, not unusual in such a wide, open mouthed cave. But there's still something odd about it. It's almsot as if the air is sticky, clinging to the skin and drawing the heat from it.

Despite the claims, there are no wails to be heard for now.

"Well. At least it's quiet." Gauvain comments as his boots echo through the cavern.

Thyrson seals up his ears with the wax now, "Just in case," he says. He frowns at the feel, sword held low. His head swings from side to side, carefully.

"Too quiet." Eira replies. She continues to follow behind the others, keeping a careful watch.

GAME: Eira rolls spot+2: (7)+1+2: 10

GAME: Gauvain rolls spot: (15)+2: 17

GAME: Usha rolls 1d20+8: (16)+8: 24

GAME: Eira rolls 1d20+3: (11)+3: 14

Gauvain shrugs an armored pouldron. "Quiet is a good thing." He states as he moves through the cavern. He nods to the others. "Just keep your eyes open and ears alert. There might be something of the dead variety down here. I'm just hoping it has nothing to do with the bastards who've been plaguing us lately. Thsoe blood suckers are really starting to piss me off."

What was that? A flicker? Maybe a shadow, or was it something else. Hard to tell. It's just right at the edge of perception. The air feels cold, but no enemies are within sight. Just shadows jumping around in the corners of your eye. But they're just shadows.

Gauvain looks toward where the shadows flicker. He looks tot eh others and raises an eyebrow to try and indicate what they think they should all be doing. He moves forward a little, the armored boots scraping slightly as he moves forward.

Eira stops to focus her attention for a moment, "I think the last cave gave me the.. " She reaches into her pocket with her empty hand, pulling a wand, "one can never be too careful.." She doesn't use it just yet.

GAME: Thyrson rolls spot: (9)+0: 9

Thyrson shakes head head, turning at shadows. He roots about in his ears, and clears them. "Well, that isn't helping." He keeps moving, carefully.

GAME: Thyrson rolls spot: (20)+0: 20

GAME: Usha rolls 1d20+8: (19)+8: 27

GAME: Gauvain rolls spot: (20)+2: 22

GAME: Eira rolls spot+2: (10)+1+2: 13

GAME: Eira rolls 1d20+3: (19)+3: 22

Eira rolls initiative: Roll: 6 + Bonus: 1 = Total: 7

Gauvain rolls initiative: Roll: 2 + Bonus: 1 = Total: 3

You roll initiative for Shadow: Roll: 6 + Bonus: 2 = Total: 8

GAME: Usha rolls 1d20+3: (16)+3: 19

Thyrson rolls initiative: Roll: 1 + Bonus: 1 = Total: 2

<OOC> Usha says, "Gauvain takes 1d6 strength damage"

GAME: Usha rolls 1d6: (5): 5

As they walk along, they don't notice, but they are not alone. Gauvain's shadow seems to lengthen, subtly at first, but then suddenly, it reaches up, and grips him by the throat. It begins to wail, and as it does, more wails come from deeper in the cavern. As it grips gauvain, he can feel its icy touch penetrate into his body, run through his veins and numb his muscles.

GAME: Usha rolls 1d20+2: (19)+2: 21

GAME: Usha rolls 1d6: (4): 4

<OOC> Usha says, "Thyrson takes 4 strength damage."

After a few moments, the creature releases Gauvain, seperating itself from the man's shadow, and heading towards Thyrson, its hands on his flesh, draining the strength from him too. The wails are mostly unintelliglble, but the occasional scream is for help, or for mercy, or for a quick death.

GAME: Eira casts magic missile.

GAME: Eira rolls 4d4+4: (10)+4: 14

The screams and the withering effect on the men with Eira, she reacts, letting the light source tumble from her hand as she whispers what sounds like a curse in draconic. Violet energy builds in her palm, released at the shadows. It strikes, tearing holes in the substance of its being. It recoils from its hold on Thyrson as the energy tears into it.

===== Current Initiative Order =========

----------------------------------------                               

 8                   Shadow

----------------------------------------

 7                   Eira

----------------------------------------   

 3                   Gauvain

----------------------------------------

 2                   Thyrson

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========================================

<OOC> Gauvain says, "I full attack then."

GAME: Gauvain rolls 1d20+10: (9)+10: 19

GAME: Gauvain rolls 1d20+5: (17)+5: 22

GAME: Usha rolls 1d100: (54): 54

GAME: Usha rolls 1d100: (2): 2

<OOC> Usha says, "One hit. Roll damage."

GAME: Gauvain rolls 1d10+3+1d6: (9)+3+(4): 16

Letting loose a surprised scream that cuts out as Gauvain bites his tongue and then lashes out at the shadow. "Not again. I jsut recovered." He mutters as he feels his strength ebbing away. The blade lashes twice. Once passing straight through while the other impacts the shadowy ether with a flicker of lightning.

<OOC> Usha says, "it attacks Gauvain again."

GAME: Thyrson casts Magic Missile.

GAME: Thyrson rolls 4d4+4: (9)+4: 13

GAME: Usha rolls 1d20+2: (3)+2: 5

Thyrson gathers energy around his hand, spitting syllables in the darkness. Motes of light gather up, then coalesce into four shining beams than connect his hand with the shadows. It reels back, holes opening up in the dark fabric of its being, but it is not stopped.

The creature thrashes about and wails as blasts and slashes burmn away at it's substance, and it flails out after Gauvain again, this time, but Thyrson's blast blows off its 'arm' just as it makes the attempt.

GAME: Eira casts magic missile.

GAME: Eira rolls 4d4+4: (10)+4: 14

"If these are the same ones that came with Eshranti, I am going to be very angry.." The tone of Eira's voice is deadened, the anger filling each word like a curse of death. The violet energies that dance on her fingers swirl together as they lash out, the strike tearing the shadow into nothing.

And then... silence. No, actually, wait. The wailing contiunues, as the wisps of the shadow float apart, dissolving away in the ambient light of the area. There's still something deeper in the caves, screaming madly, "KILL ME NOW! KILL ME NOW AND MAKE IT QUICK!" an ear-piercing shriek, "LET ME DIEEEEEE"

The faint quirk of satisfaction on the lips of Eira is short lived when that cry comes. She stoops to collect the light source, "Do you have restoratives with you?" She asks the men.

"I'm starting to think that son of a bitch took offense to something I said." Gauvain says as the creature is blown apart. He stretches out his sword arm and grimaces slightly over how much weight the blade has seamed to gain. His head turns toward the screaming and he sighs lightly. Rest is what he needs after a soul wound like that, but he shakes his head instead. "I need to find the source of that scream." He shakes his head to Eira. "No. I do not."

Thyrson sheathes his sword, and draws out his wand. He grunts at the scream. "That does not sound good." He speaks a few, quick words, and makes the wand's tip glow. "Not at all. We should move onwards." There's danger, charge!

GAME: Thyrson casts Light.

The wailing continues, growing no quieter, but no louder either- it's not moving this way, though gven it's activity, one would guess it's aware of the adventurers presence, and making no attempt to conceal its own.

"Lets move. We will find the Priestess when we get out of here.." Eira seems to want to find the source.

Gauvain nods and moves forward, weapon at the ready and eyes alert. While moving he puts the shield to his back and grips the Bastard sword with both hands. He nods to Eira and continues to move through the cavern. The blade crackling with lightning.

Thyrson nods. "They'll want to consecrate this ground." He moves onwards, as well, wand held high.

Further and further they get, the cavern seems to go down, under the hill it is in the side of, to lower depths. It gets very narrow for a while, before quite unexpectedly opening up into wide, circular region. The room is full of skeletons, most of themd ecayed partly or completely to dust, but bruttle, age-old bones still lay about. And in the center of the wromg is a writhing mass of tattered blackness, seeming to draw the light out of the area around it. It screams.

GAME: Eira rolls will: (12)+7: 19

GAME: Gauvain rolls will: (4)+7: 11

GAME: Thyrson rolls will: (2)+9: 11

Thyrson rolls initiative: Roll: 20 + Bonus: 1 = Total: 21

GAME: Usha rolls 2d4: (3): 3

Eira rolls initiative: Roll: 17 + Bonus: 1 = Total: 18

<OOC> Usha says, "Gauvain and Thyrson are hypnotized for 3 rounds as they babble incoherently."

You roll initiative for Allip: Roll: 19 + Bonus: 2 = Total: 21

Gauvain rolls initiative: Roll: 19 + Bonus: 1 = Total: 20

<OOC> Usha says, "Allip goes first, and goes for Eira"

GAME: Usha rolls 1d20+4: (9)+4: 13

GAME: Usha rolls 1d4: (2): 2

<OOC> Usha says, "2 points of wisdom damage"

===== Current Initiative Order =========

----------------------------------------                  

 21                  Allip

----------------------------------------

 21                  Thyrson

----------------------------------------

 20                  Gauvain

---------------------------------------- 

 18                  Eira

----------------------------------------                           

========================================

All those sins come back to Gauvain and the knight drops to his knees. He starts to pray non stop and rapidly, barely catching his breath in Celestial.

GAME: Eira casts magic missile.

GAME: Eira rolls 4d4+4: (8)+4: 12

Thyrson speaks with the thick accent of Stormgarde, something suppressed in every day life. Eyes wide, eyes very wide, his words make absolutely no sense at all. They're just syllables, non-magical ones at that.

GAME: Usha rolls 1d4: (3): 3

"What is that?" Eira hasn't quite realized that her two friends have gone mad just yet. The touch inflicted on her does not leave her undamaged, it takes her a moment to focus and being to weave her spell in draconic, it does eventually come together and begin to dancing in in her palm and then strike out on the creature.

<OOC> Usha says, "Goes for Eira again."

GAME: Usha rolls 1d20+4: (13)+4: 17

GAME: Usha rolls 1d4: (2): 2

<OOC> Usha says, "And another 2 points of Wisdom drain. What's your total, now?"

<OOC> Eira says, "8"

The shadowy creacure floats over eira, it's many shadowy appendages lashing out at her, "KILL ME! KILL ME! WHY WON'T YOU KILL ME!" it screams at her, each hit dealing no damage, but causing an icy chill up her spine, causing her head to throb with an icy pain, making it hard for her to concentrate.

GAME: Eira casts magic missile.

GAME: Eira rolls 4d4+4: (10)+4: 14

Thyrson continues to blather, muttering dark thoughts as he goes, hands each clawing at the other forearm.

GAME: Usha rolls 1d4: (1): 1

Gauvain's eyes are closed and he continues to pray rapidly in Celestial.

GAME: Usha rolls 1d20+4: (14)+4: 18

GAME: Usha rolls 1d4: (4): 4

<OOC> Usha says, "4 points of wisdom damage."

Eira manages to throught the cloudiness of her mind get another spell cast. She whispers in draconic, the violet light dancing spirals in her palms. Until it leaps out and strikes the creature.

The flailing form floats away form Eira, "THIS ONE CAN'T KILL ME!" it wails, plunging those dark appendages into Thyrson's skill, though eyes, nose, mouth, ears. Flailing at his mind, freezing his conscious.

GAME: Eira casts magic missile.

GAME: Eira rolls 4d4+4: (13)+4: 17

GAME: Usha rolls 1d3: (1): 1

GAME: Usha rolls 1d20+4: (15)+4: 19

GAME: Usha rolls 1d4: (4): 4

"Stop that.." Eira scolds the creature as it tries to attack the other sorcerer. Her whispers repeating, at least she remembers this spell, the energies strike, weakening the substance of the creature. "Will one of you do something?" She asks.

The creatures tendrils probe deeper and deeper into Thyrsons mind, clouding his judgement and sending him into a kind of painful stuport as it drains the energy right out of him.

<OOC> Thyrson says, "5' step back, and use the lesser empower rod to Empowered MM the allip"

GAME: Thyrson casts Magic Missile.

GAME: Thyrson rolls 6d4+6: (15)+6: 21

GAME: Gauvain rolls 1d20+7: (16)+7: 23

GAME: Usha rolls 1d100: (81): 81

<OOC> Usha says, "You embarasingly run right through the ghost. Also, it's cold and creepy. pose it."

Thyrson steps back, away from the ghostly violations, eyes still wide. His hand goes to his belt, resting on a carved rod, and he begins a long and angry incantation, words spilling from his mouth as arcane-symbols ghost into the air. Energy gathers around his hand, then blasts through the allip. Even though cavern is visible through it, its still functional.

GAME: Eira casts magic missile.

GAME: Eira rolls 4d4+4: (9)+4: 13

Snapping out of the crazily induced dementia, Gauvain stnads and runs forward. The blade trailing sparkling lightning as he moves. He brings the heavy blade down but instead of making physical connection the balde passes right through and he stumbles THROUGH the creature. Frost rolls over his armor and his breath comes out in little white puffs. He spins in place to face the thing again and growls, "I really hate these gods damned ghosts."

"You aren't the only one.." Eira draws a breath, refocusing her anger on the spirit that is shouting at them. She strikes it once more with the soft glowing energy. The spiral of missiles tearing it apart as they strike.

The spirit gives one last sigh as it is destroyed, every shred of its being banished from the physical realm. It's a few moments before the ringing in your ears stops, and you realise... silence. The cavern is silent again. And, to top it off, this seems to be a dead end. Only way to go is back.

Gauvain sheathes his blade and nods to Eira. "Well done." He looks to Thryson and then to the caster again. "Are you two alright? That thing had it's tendrils all over the two of you."

Thyrson nods, blinking stupidly in the light. He shakes his head, eyes clouded. "That... that..."

Eira stares at the empty space for a moment. The end of the cave. It takes her focus to discern things, "Well.. I think.. we can let the Myrrish know that Bludgun can't get through this way.."

Gauvain nods and gestures toward the exit. "Right. Come on. Let's get you two some rest."

Thyrson follows along, head down, blinking hard. One foot in front of the other.

Eira just nods, taking a few deep breaths as they walk, "Do you think Eshranti did this?" At least she remembers her enemy by his name.

The return journey is uneventful. While the cave is still cold and dark, the air feels less... cliostering, less clammy without the ghosts there. Though it still causes ones hackles to raise when a gust of wind cuts across the cave mouth, and causes a low moan just as the group exit.

Eira grabs onto a shoulder as she hears that sound. Obviously, her wits are not entirely with her.

Thyrson lets out a yell, and diverolls, so that he's facing back up into the cave when he gets to one knee.

Gauvain pats the hand on his shoulder and continues on. "I don't know. It certainly fits his ideals." He shrugs then looks to Thyson as he dive rolls. "Relax. Just the wind." He moves forward and nods. "It's always just the wind."