TWO HUNDRED NINETY SIX
(I/C)
Giving the wreckage about the chamber a satisfied look, Wyn smiled at the party and headed towards the wight. “Good job, mes amis. I’ll check out de wight’s body en anyting on dat side of de room.”
Kovid meanwhile headed right back to the door and cracked it open, peering into the hall.
“Um, what are you doing?” Lannis asked, his copies repeating his actions.
“Checking the hall and verifying the map,” he said, noting the passage ended beyond here which made sense in relation to his map so far.”
“That’s great,” the Magic User uttered, looking across the chamber towards the cabinet. “Your addition to this party is immeasurable.”
The elf was stripping the Hobgoblin Wedding ring and armband set from the wight and Lyra took it, checking it against the one she had. “Matched set.”
Brendon looked it over (Thief Int>12, no roll) More than doubles the value. “Complete set of 4 pieces makes it worth 125 crowns back at Specularum.”
Nodding, Lyra stowed it in her pack (Increase weight to [8], Qty to 2, and value from 50 to 125 crowns) and looked over her three Guardians.
Pointing to the other chamber, Wyn asked, “Cen someone keep an ear to de doors in case we be making enough of a racket to bring tings dis way?”
“I’ll go,” Lyra said, “And I’ll bring the Trio with me.”
“Tres bien. Oh, and Priestess,” Wyn asked with a pointing finger, “did you do sometin different wit yer hair dis mornin? You just look positively glowin at dis moment.”
“Thanks,” she smiled, “I feel positively splendid.”
The elf got up and followed Lyra and Brendon to the other chamber while Kovid, Abraxas, and Lannis were checking over the wight’s chamber. “While I be tinkin’ bout it, two tings I suggest you be tryin wit de Guardians.”
Brendon commented, “Since Lyra can tell how badly the Guardians are maybe we leave the one with the most damage alone and witte down the others. It’ll make it easier on us when they get stronger.”
“Not a bad idea,” the elf nodded. “But for de immediate, first, command them to tell you what might be hidden in dis room.”
She frowned, ear at the door. “I don’t think it works like that. I can control them but can’t force them to do anything I don’t know or reveal anything they do.
“You are going to face death before this is over,” Chuckles the Guardian said.
“Yeah, an’ dats de second ting. Command dem to not say a damn word to see if we cen get dem to be quiet while goin through de halls. Can’t have dem announcing our presence, can we?”
“I’ll try,” she muttered, looking them over. It took some concentration because after almost 30 seconds the other 2 looked like they were going to talk but struggled instead, jaws moving and eyes flashing…but they didn’t say anything. Finally Lyra released the breath she was holding in and relaxed. “That was a pain in the ass.” She frowned. “I was fighting against the entire weight of whatever negative force powers them. It’s doable, but it means I’m at a stop during the time I try to keep them from talking. Just a heads up.”
The groups were looking everything over, turning shelves aside, moving tables, chairs, and looking through the cabinets and shelves. There were about 8 or so busted wine glasses in the wight’s chamber, from when it dumped the table over. And Abraxas verified that one of the casks was still sealed and in good shape. “It’s bueno,” he said, leaning down to look it over. “It’s stamped Stoutmeadow Jector Ale, Casked 326 CE.”
Kovid sighed, “That makes it 8 years old.” He looked it over. “Cherry wood barrel as well.”
“That’s pretty good,” both Abraxas and Brendon said in unison.
“Yeah. And only 1 cask left.” The dwarf frowned. “Barely 10 gallons.”
“Yeah,” Lannis nodded, “So little. I don’t know how you’re going to survive on only 100 lbs of ale in a barrel. I weep for your loss.”
There was a copper brazier in the room but it had only ash in it and was cool. And finally the cabinet by the ale casks was closed. A quick look showed nothing going on about it and peering inside there was a single uniform within. Looking it over it was the livery of the Ispan’s Palace Guards in green, gold, and white; complete with pants, shirt, doublet, hose, tabard, and hat.
“Fancy threads,” Abraxas hoisted it up and held it against his chest, much to small and thin. “And not built for me.”
(Given the size, Brendon and Lannis could wear it tight, but it’s made for an elf – Wyn would be best fit – if you want to take it.)
While the group was searching around, Lannis called out to the other chamber, “So Lyra, how long until that potion wears off and our new friends go from passively hating us to actively hating us?”
The Cleric took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “These zombies? We only have about an hour and a half. Maybe a little more. I don’t think we should leave them alone... or alive honestly. We should go pick a fight and have them kill off as many enemies as they can - if we don’t WE will have to fight those enemies eventually and have to fight these guardians.”
The Magic User nodded, “We should bring them to bear on someone soon, like the mage, or someone who doesn't have magic or silver available."
"Perhaps we bring the Guardians to the Decapatatoros in the Garden,” the Fighter pondered, “or maybe to the Orcasas barracks? Somewhere else? Señora Loppyearya, can you detect the creatures malo like yesterday? Maybe we see the best place to bring the Guardians to attack and die off before the potion can wear off?”
“Maybe if we start running out of time we just tell them to kill each other,” Lyra frowned, getting a three-fold look from the undead. She raised her hands placating, “Sorry zombies, no nothing personal.”
“Your doom is coming swiftly,” the Guardian she referred to as Asshole intoned.
Shaking his head, Abraxas added, “And if the Guardians in the Garden die to make ours stronger, maybe we send them in to take on a Mirabellisimo or Douchechess or Teleportationing Gob like Senor Lymedisease suggested?"
“Possible,” she agreed, squinting as she sought to control the other again, preventing them from repeating what the first had said, “Also I’d appreciate if you guys shut your mouths and don’t talk anymore at all. No more noise, no shouting, no alerting others.” They all stared at one another until the compulsion to speak passed and the Cleric could relax again. “Thanks.”
As for the original Guardian side of the room, besides the broken crockery on the floor, the cabinet that had the Statue in it originally contained a well worn clay pipe and a small pouch of tobacco (enough for 1 good smoke). There was a bracelet made of woven grass, intricately plaited and showing some skill. There was also a vial in the back and Brendon shook and revealed the bottom of it had a single fat drop of some orange potion still within. “Hey,” the Scout said, handing it to Wyn, “Check it out. This still good?”
The elf looked the potion vial over, cracking the top, sniffing it, and getting a feel (Elf check, <Int Orange 10 – yes) from what it might be before smiling. “Good find, Monsieur Du Lac. It WAS a potion of Giant growth.”
“And now?”
“It still is, but dis is only a drop. So for only one minute, whoever drinks it will grow DEUX times dere normal size and be like a giant in strength and weight!”
“1 Minute?”
“Oui. 1 drop, 1 minute.” He sealed it right back up. “You all let me know who wants dis.”
(Search check: >Wis +2 thief, Brendon Red 15 – no. <Wis Wyn Orange 6)
As the group was about ready to call it quits and finished, the elf turned to look at the arch and stopped. He walked over there and was looking over the north wall with a critical eye. He pushed at some of the stones and pried at a couple, and then a small section of the wall slid over and up, amidst a spray of dust and falling grit. Within was some symbology of the four elven goddesses and a shelf with stacks and stacks of gold coins. On a section above it was a round object covered in a piece of black velvet and 30 years of dust. “Sacre blu!”
The group came over to look it over, counting the stacks swiftly and coming up with a total, while Wyn and Lannis slowly lifted the velvet covering aside. Revealing a 10” diameter crystal ball and stand (30).
“Holy shit,” they both said slowly. “Do you think it’s real?” Lannis whispered.
“Sweet gods o de swamp, I hope so.”
Meanwhile the rest of the party finished their count and rocked back on their heels. “Um guys, there is TWO THOUSAND GOLD PIECES in here.” (Everyone add 333 gold pieces (and the weight) except Brendon and Wyn – add 334)
The party stood there in shock, contemplating their new found riches and suddenly felt very very far from home.
(WMC: Red/Black 3)
Time is now Day 8, 6:21 AM
(OOC)
Explore XP: 2 Rooms @ 45 xp per – 90 xp each.
Treasure xp: 2000 divided.
Brendon and Wyn add 424 xp
Everyone else add 423 xp.
Congrats, you found the secret cache the High Priests had left behind.
Anything else the party wants to take? Who is taking the Crystal Ball (wizard or elf type to use)? Uniform? Anything else we found?
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