Lifeblood 9/10 Arcane Points 11/11 Hero Points 4/5 "My master no longer," Balathu says gruffly. "But my father, yes - I fear that there is no denying that, for all that I don't know which one of us would be the more eager to. I have foresworn his evil ways, and I have no doubt that the insult of it still stings." He glances at the door. "Tikina, can you get it open?" he says.

As the trio skulked through the long-ruined building, there was a purpose to their journey, and it was soon realized, for before them stood the armory and vault. Nobody had been here in years; cobwebs and dust clung heavily to everything. Jouka began to search for suitable weapons and settled on a flail. In the hands of a man, it would have taken two hands, but for the Blue Giant, he easily hefted it in one and secured it to a wide steel and leather belt he found lying on the ground. Next, the Beast Master moved to a set of pikes. The wicked-looking spearhead was an ancient design. This weapon would serve as a spear for Jouka, though in the hands of a man, it would have been used differently. The Andrak that seemed to have bonded with Jouka paced back and forth at the entryway into the armory, clearly impatient with its bonded companion. The Blue Giant spent a few more moments collecting gear that would aid them in their travels, mostly camping gear and other necessities for an adventurer. Once he had equipped himself, he rejoined the others and addressed Balathu, "Your master is my master’s liege Lord?"

The three warily proceeded down the corridor with their new oversized friend and his pet. It seemed strange that one of Lemuria’s peak predators kept to Jouka’s heels like a domesticated soay. At the four-way intersection, Jouka indicated the right passage. To the left, they could see austere and decrepit accommodation silhouetted bin the gloom — bolstered beds reduced to tatters and near to ruin. Balathu knew that the morgal needed no rest as long as they were well fed. These chambers were likely scarcely used except for meditation. To the right was a short corridor opening to a large room that housed a sort of dusty armory. Many examples that lined the racks and stands were exotic, including the Halakhian kir, as well as crude weapons from the tribes of Qo and Qush, and ancient tools of war for which none of them could accurately name. There were giant-sized weapons as well. Some items appeared to be trophies from the battle at the Hydral Chasm dating from the previous age. There were shields emblazoned with the coat of arms from fallen and forgotten cities, and examples of hauberks, mail, and piecemeal garments sized for men of dubious height (or perhaps not crafted for men at all). Most were useless and moldering, but some defied the cruelty of the edges and still held their keenness. A door of solid bronze, or so it appeared, stood in the opposite side between the racks and displays. A massive padlock and chain secured it fast. Player Expendables Asara Tikina Balathu Jouka Hero Points 2 Hero Points 3 Hero Points 4 Hero Points 4 Lifeblood 14 Lifeblood 8 Lifeblood 9 Lifeblood 14 Arcane Points 11 Fate Points 0 OOC Notes Jouka can find what he needs, and so can the rest of you who might be interested in such exotic arms. An examination of the door yields the same difficulties to bypass as the doors in the previous area (formidable (-6) and tough (-2)) for force and thievery related tasks, respectively.

Barbarian 2 | Hunter 1 | Soldier 0 | Mercenary 0 || Strength 2 | Agility 2 | Mind 0 | Appeal 0 Melee 2 | Ranged 0 | Defense 2 | Initiative 1 || Hero Points 2 / 5 | Lifeblood 14 / 14 Equipment: Battle harness (-1), Sword, Axes (2) The Valgardian Blade: AttackAttack:drop(3d6,lowest,1)+4 | DamageDamage:drop(2d6,lowest,1)+2 || Twin Axes: AttackMelee: 2d6+4 | Thrown: 2d6+2 | DamageMelee: 1d6+2 | Thrown: 1d6+1 "Boys and girls, you know what vaults mean? Treasure.." Hero Points!

No worries. I'm trveling today, so I'll post either tomorrow or very late tonight.

"Those double doors are how I was brought in," Jouka declares, gesturing towards the imposing entrance. "We can leave the same way, but first I need to get some gear from the vaults." He points down the north corridor. "I believe the vaults are in this direction." With resolve in his eyes, the blue giant rolls up his prayer mat and uses the attached strap to sling it across his back. Tatonka trots up beside its new companion, awaiting his lead

Sorry for the slow posting rate, I had a long weekend. I will get a post out this afternoon. I need to get some gear.

Barbarian 2 | Hunter 1 | Soldier 0 | Mercenary 0 || Strength 2 | Agility 2 | Mind 0 | Appeal 0 Melee 2 | Ranged 0 | Defense 2 | Initiative 1 || Hero Points 2 / 5 | Lifeblood 14 / 14 Equipment: Battle harness (-1), Sword, Axes (2) The Valgardian Blade: AttackAttack:drop(3d6,lowest,1)+4 | DamageDamage:drop(2d6,lowest,1)+2 || Twin Axes: AttackMelee: 2d6+4 | Thrown: 2d6+2 | DamageMelee: 1d6+2 | Thrown: 1d6+1 "Allow me ahead of you, but warn me if you see something.." Hero Points!

Lifeblood 9/10 Arcane Points 11/11 Hero Points 4/5 "Walk cautiously, friends," Balathu says grimly over his shoulder. "No doubt treachery lurks behind every corner. For such is the way of Zalut, most wicked of cities." He cautiously turns the corner to the north, peering into the gloom to try to make out any dangers ahead.

The gloom that permeated the passageway flooded Balathu's awareness with familiar sensations and memories. Perhaps it was no more than a subliminal intimation, but thoughts of the decrepit and twisted architecture of Zalut and the depredations of its shadow inhabiting denizens filled his mind. There were no sounds, and the musty smells of a building in decay and mouldering furnishings indicated little recent use. From what he could perceive by the ambient lighting, the darkened corridor passed straight west, terminating in a pair of double doors. He surmised that these were the outside doors. Two open doorways turned north and south off of the main passage mid-way forward at a four-way intersection. Their contents were hidden from view. Player Expendables Asara Tikina Balathu Jouka Hero Points 2 Hero Points 3 Hero Points 4 Hero Points 4 Lifeblood 14 Lifeblood 8 Lifeblood 9 Lifeblood 14 Arcane Points 11 Fate Points 0 OOC Notes Jouka will know this passageway from his entry into the place upon arriving in Lysor.

Lifeblood 9/10 Arcane Points 11/11 Hero Points 4/5 Gripping his sword, Balathu cautiously steps into one of the lower passages...

Finding a switch hidden in the wall, Tikina activated the mechanism. With a thunderous grating, the massive doors reset to their open position — not only the one in which the three had entered, but two others leaving the circular room on the lower level. Eerie quiet greeted them from these alternate darkened passages. Player Expendables Asara Tikina Balathu Jouka Hero Points 2 Hero Points 3 Hero Points 4 Hero Points 4 Lifeblood 14 Lifeblood 8 Lifeblood 9 Lifeblood 14 Arcane Points 11 Fate Points 0 OOC Notes

Tɪᴋɪɴᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Tʜɪᴇғ Lifeblood: 8 / 8 Defence: 1 Hero Points: 3 “Um, thanks…” she said upon receiving her bloody dagger back. A few seconds passed as she looked mutely between it, the blue giant, and the men whom he had used it to slay. Not entirely able to keep from grimacing, Tikina then produced a badly stained rag from one of her countless pockets and used it to clean the weapon as best she could before sheathing it again. “Getting out of this place, I'd say,” the thief replied to Asara. “Sooner rather than, uh, later,” she added upon glimpsing the tentacled thing high overhead. “Umm…” Sniffing, she made a beeline for the great doors trapping them all in this pit. It ranked, no doubt, quite high on the list of tight spots she had gotten herself out of – but second only, perhaps, to her talent for getting into places she was not meant to enter was her skill at getting out of places she was not supposed to leave. It was with this curiously confident mindset that Tikina subjected the doors and their immediate environs to a close examination: probing the stone framing them for concealed catches, running her hands over their bronze plating in case in case any parts of responded to her touch. She even produced a small ear trumpet from the satchel containing the tools of her trade, using it to listen closely as she systemically rapped her knuckle against the doors in hopes of discerning their hidden interior workings, if there were any. Mechanics That's Mind + Thief, then, plus a thieves' tools bonus die.

There are several sealed bolt holes around the perimeter of the room with firmly closed doors that shut after the slorths (slorths! say that three times fast) entered. Jouka's masters would never permit him to have his weapons there, but he remembers passing an armory along the main corridor inside the palace. There he can find whatever best suits him in any size or whatever.

Can we see how those Slorths gained entry into the chamber? Does Jouka have any idea where is gear is? weapons at least

You are right! See how I can't be trusted with numbers and such? You wouldn't want me as your tax accountant. So that means a total of 5 damage, 2.5 returned (rounded to 3) + 1 for his physician career. Back to 9. I've updated my last post. Sure, your choice is mostly tied to your description. So if keenness and observational skills are part of it, then Mind makes the most sense. For thieves' tools, you can go wild. Perhaps she has some sort of tiny ball ping hammer made of silver which helps resonate against hollow structures. Who knows? If you can come up with an interesting tool, describe it to get that benefit. I'm not picky provided its not some sort of atomic powered x-ray device.

I assume I'd be using the Mind attribute for that prospective Thief roll, rather than Agility? And what about my thieves' tools? I have to admit I am not entirely sure how they could be useful in looking for a hidden trigger.

Hmm... I hate to say this, but I think I was down 5 LP, not just 2? I got bitten twice, and I was at 8 LP when I saw you roll a 3 on damage.

Asara’s question went unanswered by her companions for the moment when a shadow passed between them and the stars. Looking up, they saw the lambent eye of the many tentacled thing against which they had vied earlier that evening — or another like it. The strange caustic smell wafted down with it. In a flash, it disappeared. Player Expendables Asara Tikina Balathu Jouka Hero Points 2 Hero Points 3 Hero Points 4 Hero Points 4 Lifeblood 14 Lifeblood 8 Lifeblood 9 Lifeblood 14 Arcane Points 11 Fate Points 0 OOC Notes Balathu gets 2 LB back for the brief rest with the use of his Physician career. Note that egress from their trap is possible by climbing the chains to the skylight (except for Tatonka). You can make a Formidable (-6) task to batter the bronze doors, or use a Thief career with a Tough (-2) task to find a hidden catch or trigger against the doors.

Barbarian 2 | Hunter 1 | Soldier 0 | Mercenary 0 || Strength 2 | Agility 2 | Mind 0 | Appeal 0 Melee 2 | Ranged 0 | Defense 2 | Initiative 1 || Hero Points 2 / 5 | Lifeblood 14 / 14 Equipment: Battle harness (-1), Sword, Axes (2) The Valgardian Blade: AttackAttack:drop(3d6,lowest,1)+4 | DamageDamage:drop(2d6,lowest,1)+2 || Twin Axes: AttackMelee: 2d6+4 | Thrown: 2d6+2 | DamageMelee: 1d6+2 | Thrown: 1d6+1 "Well, i don't like the sound of that at all, what is our next plan?" Hero Points!

Lifeblood 5/10 Arcane Points 11/11 Hero Points 4/5 A few mumbled oaths in Sorceric heralds Balathu's reluctant return to the land of the waking. His wounds are burning, his gut is roiling, and his every muscle feels like he's been sat on by a sarkolith. His professional recommendation, as a physician of note, is several months' of bed rest. Small chance of that, he supposes. "Did... did you say Bhanomuzz?" he groans. He grimaces, squeezing his eyes shut. "Then we were right. Bhanomuzz serves my father Nur-Yunna. If he is here, then his master's hand is at work."

“Not likely,” Jouka says while walking toward the other captives, Tatonka trots up beside the blue giant as he crosses the space to where the prisoners are. ”Bhanomuzz, my master, and his companions are not only vile sorcerers but they are also Morgal.” Jouka lays his free hand on one of the bound slaves and says a small prayer before plunging the knife into his heart. He then moves on to the next prisoner who looks up at him with pleading eyes. The Blue Giant says another prayer and likewise slays him. As he moves on to the next Jouka continues. “He and his companions are not human, they are a coven of Morgal that sailed here in haste to search for an artifact known as the script, I overheard them talk about it over many nights while they feasted on the lifeblood of these unlucky souls.” Jouka continues on his grisly task. “We were oarsmen on the ship, they did not find my blood palatable so left me alone.” With his grisly task complete he offers the young girl her dagger back. “They are in league with a circle of yellow Druids followers of Morgazzon the mad I think.”

I have not forgotten about you guys, Mondays suck sometimes but I will get a post out soon please bear with me.

Barbarian 2 | Hunter 1 | Soldier 0 | Mercenary 0 || Strength 2 | Agility 2 | Mind 0 | Appeal 0 Melee 2 | Ranged 0 | Defense 2 | Initiative 1 || Hero Points 2 / 5 | Lifeblood 14 / 14 Equipment: Battle harness (-1), Sword, Axes (2) The Valgardian Blade: AttackAttack:drop(3d6,lowest,1)+4 | DamageDamage:drop(2d6,lowest,1)+2 || Twin Axes: AttackMelee: 2d6+4 | Thrown: 2d6+2 | DamageMelee: 1d6+2 | Thrown: 1d6+1 "It seems he may have succumbed.. A shame we no longer have our alchemist with us.." she eyes the large blue man "Well big boy i don't suppose you know if your captors kept any antidote around?" Hero Points!

I think so. I’ll correct my last post to make sure it doesn’t repeat going forward. And that’s a note for everyone. Don’t trust my numbers…