Chapter 3: Two if By Sea

[matt_s]

Stavard pauses for a moment to see if the silence of the castle lasts, then almost contemptuously pulls the spear from the shattered wrack of the skeleton. The dead should not walk in life, for it is not their path. Let us press on and see what other riches or horrors lie in this ancient place.

[8w_gremlin]

Brother Koji 

"An Excellent throw, let us now see if we have woken the dead, and need to flee to the relative safety of the boat" koji moves his hammer to his other hand, and adjusts his shield, before taking the hammer back, just to be ready.

[TheWhitefire]

"Well," Harlan mumbles "Guess that means they can die, so to speak." He jots a note down in his journal, before looking towards one of the exits. "Let's go deeper, see what we can find. Hopefully this place is... less cursed than the last, I guess."

[Powderhorn]

Summer, Day 34 - Dusk

Within the walls of the castle, a keep rises above as the center point of the defenses. Large, weather-worn oaken doors are inside. Above, empty window frames suggest a lack of maintenance to the whole.

 

[TheWhitefire]

"Hm. Well, on first blush it certainly looks just as cursed as the last." Harlan mutters, before walking up to one of the oak doors and looking it over, paying particular attention to the hinges and slats of the door.

[matt_s]

Of course it's cursed, that's the foul miasma lurking beyond the veil as the old timers would say, responded Stavard. After listening and examining the door, he extends the pole and gives the door a good RAP, RAP and stands back and waits.

[Powderhorn]

Summer, Day 34 - Dusk

The door is rapped sharply, though the ancient wood dulls the sound. A moment passes. Then a second. Then a third. Nothing seems to happen in response.

 

[matt_s]

Stavard pries the door open with what implements they have at hand, hatchet, spear, and spear-haft.

[Powderhorn]

Summer, Day 34 - Dusk

The door resists only briefly - while there was a bar behind it, time has made an enemy of it and the door - after a few minute's work, easily swings open. Inside, a dark hallway leads to three more doors - one to the left, one to the front, and one to the right.

 

[matt_s]

If there's no difference we can tell between the three, I vote left, postulates Stavard.

[8w_gremlin]

Brother Koji 

"I have always liked going left, I know some do not like it as they feel it is sinister, but it makes me happy" koji moves to follow Stavard

[Powderhorn]

Summer, Day 34 - Dusk

Turning to the left, the door is not locked. Inside, row upon row of gleaming suits of chain, spears, and swords fill the room. A brazier burns merrily along immediately next to the door, and torches to the right illuminate the room further.

 

Map

 

[matt_s]

Strange, it seems that this place has been... prepared for our coming. A welcome that may not be welcome, it could be said. comments Stavard.

The dead may walk, and so why not suits of armor wield weapons meant for warrior of flesh?

He picks up a few small pebbles and plink! plink! tosses them at the suits. While he does this, he tries to notice whether the brazier radiates heat and if the heat is proportionate to its size and vigor. He then stands back and plinks a stone into the brazier for good measure, followed by a leaf or some other bit of organic and therefore inflammable matter.

[8w_gremlin]

Brother Koji 

"or perhaps the dead need light to see just as we do? " koji pulls his hammer and shield closer, just incase

[Powderhorn]

Dungeon Master

No heat is felt from the brazier, and when organic matter is tossed into it, it does not burn. The illusion, dispelled by these efforts, reveals instead a dark room, unlit by anything beyond faint moonlight.