Resurrectionist Escort Part 4

Log Info

• Title: Resurrectionist Escort Part 4
• Emitter: Whirlpool
• Characters: Dirk, Slixvah, Zofija, Shilde, Robert, Aavhash
• Place: North of Alexandria
• Time: May 9nd, 2022
• Summary: After the signal tree is lit, the party worriedly prepares for an onslaught, though none comes (yet?). They spot a lever within the tree, pull it, and make their way deeper into a hidden shelter, closing the door behind them. Finding a hastily abandonded abode, the party steps forth into a potential trap to find their contact. A trap was indeed found: already sprung, with some wights caught in a barrier, as well as their contact trapped. Safe, but trapped.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=    The Players    =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Aavhash      1m      7'4"     198 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    
    Sleek, slender, black-scaled, with a short frill between horns.   
Dirk         20m     4'11"    295 Lb     Mountain Dwarf    Male      
    A rugged old dwarf, dressed for the outdoors.                              
Robert       47s     6'3"     235 Lb     Human             Male      
    A middle-aged Cerenzan with a friendly, fatherly vibe.                     
Shilde       4m      4'4"     160 Lb     Khazad-Aul        Female    
    Tall for a dwarf, long blonde hair in a thick braid, big blue eyes.        
Slixvah      0s      5'8"     130 Lb     Eaglefolk         Female    
    A rust red and white Egalrin covered in veils, ribbons, and shawls.                         
Zofija       11m     5'8"     225 Lb     Hobgoblin         Female    
    A well-dressed Arvek-Nar with a big hammer.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  As the GM  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Whirlpool    20m     5'0"      Lb        Otyugh                      
    I am stinky!                                                             
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

Aavhash blinks at the light change and she shields her face with her hand for a moment, the loud tolling of the alarm makes her start a moment, tail whipping behind her in annoyance and surprise almost cracking like a whip. "Well everything knows we're here now." She states with all the professionalism of Captain Obvious, "Mayhap we should get inside as quickly as possible, or find a defensive position." She starts to look around for anything that might resemble said position.

Dirk's eyes get wide as tea saucers as that DONG rings out from the tree. And the lighting up bit is certainly nothing at all to do with anything found in nature. He gulps, gripping the stock of his thunderbelcher as he glances around. "Er... aye. Think that might be a good idea," he says to Aavhash. "Afore the face-eatin' fluffykittens come flyin' in on their pink an' purple wings tae take us all off tae Beddie-Bye Land."

Slixvah huffs in annoyance, her stepping behind the broader and well armored folk. "Agreed, shug. Let's form up and all that. Don't think there's an inside. Just... be ready is all."

"Oi, is that all?" Shilde asks a moment after the Dong, her expression flat. "An' 'ere I thought we'd just announce'rselves to th'rest of the wights. And maybe what brought 'em, too," she adds as she pats Rocky, then gestures for him to keep alert. She turns away from the tree to scan what she can of the surrounding bits of ground and forest.

Zofija grunts and turns around on her mount to keep her back to the tree. "Wasn't expecting the message to be so loud." The Arvek-nar grumbles. "Any of those undead left, they'll know we're here. I'm not staying to let everyone die though, if the contact doesn't show up quick enough. They weren't were they were supposed to be to begin with, so they might have just passed recently or on their way to where they were supposed to be."

GAME: Aavhash rolls perception: (16)+6: 22
GAME: Shilde rolls perception: (20)+11: 31
GAME: Slixvah rolls alertness: aliased to perception+2: (18)+9+2: 29
GAME: Zofija rolls perception: (14)+4: 18
GAME: Zofija rolls 1d20+3: (19)+3: 22
GAME: Dirk rolls Perception: (15)+7: 22

The good news is that nothing happens immediately. Perhaps you killed the only real threats in the area already?! The 'dong' sound stops echoing before long and then things are quiet again. The tree stays lit up a bit longer before that inevitably fades as well.

Still, your frantic search isn't without merit.

Slixvah and Shilde notice it fdirst, but soon the rest of you are keyed in as well. Upon the tree, there is a small notch carved into it. Reaching into it, one can find what appears to be a small lever or switch.

What it does, of course, is not clear, but just now in the distance, you hear a single cry. Might that be another wight?

Given how others notice it first, Aavhash is still looking around to make sure they're not being rushed, that and looking at her employer, Triziia. "What do you want to do? I can protect against many things, but also many I cannot." And then there is the cry off in the distance. "That is either one, or the other." She also looks at the other adventurer's, her tail lashing still behind her, if slower now.

Slixvah perks up as she peers into a notch in the tree. "Ey babe, uh... did the guy say something about a switch?" she asks, pointing it out to everyone. She gulps at the distant sound.

"...no," is what Trizzia says, "but I'd suggest we hit it anyway."

The goblin nods.

"Ah. There't is." Shilde says, face settling as the first of what she expects to be multiple cries shortly. She turns her head towards the bird lady. "Well, might's well pull the switch, aye? Don't much matter if it makes things worse at this point."

"It sounds like you need to improve communication between you and your contacts. Too much information seems up in the air." The Arvek-nar grumbles. "Well, it's worth a shot, and the sooner we see what's going on, the better. Best to get it out of the way now so we can leave if we have to."

Dirk's grip tightens around his rifle as that cry rings out, making him startle. He swings the weapon up, swiftly snapping it around from shadow to shadow. And there's a -lot- of shadows in this wood. "Oh Blessed Lady, keep an' protect me," he whimpers quietly. He pauses in his gun-pointing when he hears mention of a 'switch' being pressed. He looks over his shoulder with wide eyes. Blink blink. "Is... is that a good idea?" he asks. "What if it makes the tree come tae life an' try tae eat us all?"

Slixvah, seeing as most people aren't going to do it, she boops the switch. "Ain't got time little goobers.

There's an immediate rumble. The base of the tree and its roots seem to split as a way down is opened, a set of stairs descending into darkness.

"... /of course/," replies Trizzia. She dismisses her donkey and glances towards her goblin. "I suspect we rang the doorbell, but that he's not answering is a concern. Let's head in?" she offers.

Aavhash nods, "Lets." And she looks to the stairs, looks at her sword, and decides to leave it hung up. Instead she draws shield and cold iron morningstar. "Closer quarters." She says and moves to the tree, "Go." She looks out into the woods, guarding their entrance to the passage. Except for...

"I do not know if your companion will safely fit in there." Aavhash says to Zofija, "Maybe have it watch from above until our return?" She asks, "Never had a friend like that. Don't know right way to handle it."

Shilde doesn't hesitate. With Aavhash looking like she's ready to hold the line against anything that might come while the rest of them file in, she hops down on to the stairs to follow them into darkness. A sharp smack on her hips signals Rocky to follow.

Slixvah blinks, then rubs the side of her face. "... I sure hope they can fit, 'cause I don't wanna deal with wight eated babes," she grumbles before going downstairs.

Dirk looks furtively over his shoulder at that opening in the tree. "Oh, piss up my arse," he groans. A rustle in the underbrush snaps his gaze back to the forested gloom, and he gulps. "Och, don't go intae the spooky scary tree, Dirk," he mutters. There's another rustle, and he turns, trotting into the tree as fast as his tubby stride can carry him. In the gloom beyond, a squirrel munches at an acorn, blissfully unaware of the terror it has inspired.

"Alright, lets head in and see what's up." Zofija grunts, hefting her hammer and hopping off her mount. "Yeah, probably can't. Alright then, Screech. You can wait up in the boughs of the tree. But if you see any of those creatures from before, or anything like them coming out of the forest here, you either glide over them, or in another direction if you can, and you run back as quick as you can to Alexandria, got it? We'll be fine, and don't try to fight them on your own."

The griffon utters it's namesake, and manages to tear it's way up the tree, looking like a very large eagle from the front as they waited, and shifted to get comfortable. "Supposed to be a way of dismissing them temporary, never tried it. Weird ritual stuff I never got around to. And it's not particularly pleasant for them, I heard. Anyways, down we go." The Arvek-nar grumbles, going down as well.

Down the steps, then, into the darkness.

twin lights begin to spring into existence along the way down, marking your passage, but never casting their light so far that the shadows are chased away fully.

It is quiet down here, actually, and it smells pleasently of the forest.

The steps creak.

When at least you reach the bottom, you're on a landing that opens into a wider, warmed chamber. A hearth sits inactive at the center of the room and it us surrounded by a variety of haphazardly arranged accoutrements. A makeshift bed sits just far enough away from it to to avoid rolling in in one 's sleep, for example, and stacks of books are here and there. In fact, some of them appear overturned and scattered, as if someone knocked it all over. Half-eaten dinner sits scattered across the floor.

Aavhash looks for a way to shut the 'door' behind them so that hopefully nothing unexpected follows them into the tree and into these tight confines. When they finally reach the bottom and have some more open space Aavhash looks around and hmms, "Messy nest." Her 'lips' curl in a slight sneer.

Apparently, she thinks whoever lives here just lives this way.

Slixvah ambles in, shuddering a sigh of relief as they're in some supposed place of safety. "... weird. Almost like they just.. up and left.." she murmurs, eyeing the makeshift bed HEAVILY.

A nap sounds grand.

"Aye," Shilde says, agreeing with.. well, perhaps both Aavhash and Slixvah. Rocky, of course, immediately goes for the half eaten dinner on the floor. Shilde doesn't stop him.. too late to even try. Instead she starts poking around, looking for signs of a struggle. Signs of a lack of struggle. A quick scan of book titles, assuming they're in a language she knows.

Down, down to whatever awaited them in the lower areas. Maybe their contact was a goblin? But there wasn't much to tell from where they were. Aside from the mess. The arvek-nar grunts, and looks around. "Seems they left in a hurry. Maybe they were attacked, or rushed off? They could have a panic room here, maybe. Maybe tracks showing where they went?"

GAME: Aavhash rolls perception: (12)+6: 18

Aavhash spots something that cannot be resisted!

A switch.

The black-scaled Sith-Makar presses it before heading down further. "That should close it." She says with all the surefire knowledge of an idiot.

Dirk glances around the tumbled room, shaggy white brows furrowed in consternation. "Either they left in a yuge bloody hurry, or there was a fight in here," he says. "Either way... I'm nae likin' the looks o' this." He shifts from foot to foot, peering hither and yon, looking to see if he can pick up any trace or track of Trizia's contact. Tracking inside a house is a lot harder than following a trail in the wood, but he does give it the old college try.

...there's a rumble. From above. It would appear that the surefire idiot was right! That did close the door.

Probably fortunately.

Beyond this room, however, sits a doorway on the other end of it. It appears to be slightly ajar.

Slixvah nods towards Zofija. "Muscles has a point, prolly still 'round here somewhere."

She glances ahead. Then gestures towards the ajar door. "Well.. there ya go."

Shilde picks up one of the books, flips through it.. then tosses it aside with a 'pah'. Then she looks to the door. "Almost seems like an invitation," she mutters. "Well, not gettin' paid t'sit 'round." Another pat on her hip.. Rocky is a little slower to respond, this time, as absorbed as he is in 'tidying up' the abandoned meal, but he does pull himself away to follow Shilde when she pulls (pushes?) open the door enough to walk through, traps be damned.

"Good thinking there. Seems this contact put a bit of thought into this place." Zofi nods approvingly, glancing to the door that was now ajar. "Which makes this whole mess all the more concerning. We don't have time to waste still though, so we need to keep pushing forward. "

Trizzia eyes the way up, then she and the goblin poke around a little.

"Well, this looks like his things," she murmurs, "So he was hiding in here. I think he wasn't expecting the wights. Let's look around...."

She nods towards the door, letting the others chart the course.

After Shilde opens the door, a cold draft blows through the area, revealing a tunnel further down, sloping ever ahead.

"Hello?! Is someone there?!" calls a voice.

Once more taking up the rear guard position, Aavhash moves with the others to the door and upon hearing the voice call down the tunnel she asks the others, "Is trap." She announces firmly, "If scared enough to leave meal, why announce presence? Should stay hidden no?" She shakes her morningstar, making the chain rattle slightly and she brings her shield up, expecting the worst.

Slixvah raises a feathered brow as they approach, her pulling out her dagger and twirling it through her fingers. "... uh, heya sugar! You uh... hey you got a callsign for this guy?" she asks of their charge.

"That *is* his voice," says Trizzia, warily, "doesn't mean it's not a trap."

"Belwick, is that you?"

"TRIZZIA?! YOU MADE IT!"

She puts a hand over her face. "Yep, that's him. Still doesn't mean it's not a trap."

Dirk frowns dourly. "Is there anyone -else- down there with 'im?" he mutters quietly to his friend. After the wight fight on wight night, he's seeing wights everywhere. He racks the slide of his thunderbelcher, setting his jaw. "I'm nae likin' this, not one wee little bit. -Summat- stinks 'bout all this."

"Bah. If's a trap, we're committed. Get yer magiks ready, get yer weapons up, but best way's forward, by my thinkin'." Shilde says, not even slowing. Dwarven trap finding at its finest.

"Could be a trap, something pretending to be him, yeah." Zofija grunts. "In which case, guess I'll go first so it's not someone else getting jumped."

With that, the arvek-nar shoulders her hammer again, pushing past the others and leading the way down. "You there, sithmakar person. You take the back in case anything's trying to ambush us as we go."

Slixvah gives a soft sigh, a little trill of a bird song subvocalized as she twirls her dagger to a reverse grip as she follows in at the back of the group. "Keep it straight, ya hear?" she murmurs, tapping the blade at the air against nothing tangible.

"Aavhash." The appropriately titled Sith-Makar tells Zofija, "Is my name." She was already taking up the rear guard position so doesn't have any qualms otherwise, but she does hiss her name a bit bitingly at being so called. She doesn't walk backwards, because she doesn't want to trip over her tail, but she does check behind them in regular intervals as they head towards the trap.

Er the voice.

Down. Down you go.

"Over here!"

You follow the sound of the voice down a hallway, down, down, down further. Finally, there you have it. There's a halfling! Another halfling, that is, who's standing in an alcove, behind what appears to be a purplish wall of energ you can see him through. In front of him are two wights, yes, like the ones you fought outside. They're pressed wordlessly against the invisible wall, trapped in *another* barrier of their own, hissing menacingly, if quietly.

They are seperated from you by a *third* barrier, which seems to be blocking the way further into this space.

"The magical defenses work," he calls out to you, "but I'm a bit... trapped."

He coughs once. "Help?"

-End Scene-