Two snakes and a gas
Subject Update
Sorry I have not gotten the update out. The lady who works with me called in sick today so I have to do her stuff today as well. I have started the re-write of Salix and Harp and the snake, but have not finished it yet.
From: Mark
Subject two snakes and a gas
Ally curses a bit, knowing that he will be late to work, but there is no way around it. Salix needs time to meditate and ask for the blessing they will need for the day. Ally spends his time telling Sysyphys what to expect and imbuing the snake with the gaseous form spell. The snake hisses back, letting his master know that he can handle it. The little snake was looking forward to working with the nature priest. All animals held druids in high regard, even those in the service of mages. Soon Salix is done and he lies down on his bed. As Ally and Harp watch his form shimmers and melts into that of a 5 foot long snake. A few seconds later the snake moves, its tongue flicking out. The tongue touches the top of its head and the snake starts shrinking. Soon there are two tiny snakes in the room. Ally reaches down, casts the mage armor spell on Salix and the two snakes climb up his arms and under his robes. The mage nods at Harp and the two head out to the Mayor's house.
The two pass through the employee's gate 15 minutes later. Harp starts the act they had planned and pushes the mage to the ground, like they are having an argument. When Ally falls, the two snakes slither off. The mage picks himself up and he and Harp start having a bit of an argument. The two work themselves around the side of a large bush, one that blocks the view from the house and the others on the grounds. Ally quickly chants the spell for gaseous form and touches the 1/2 orc. Harp seems to dissolve in front of him, leaving only a slight mist. The mage whispers "Hurry, you only have 14 minutes. Find the other two and move like the wind." The haze, much like the morning fog, drifts off towards the yard where the snakes had been dropped off. Ally hurries to his office, ready to get in trouble for his tardiness.
Luckily for Harp, it is a still morning. He drifts across the yard, a bit bewildered by the sensations. How can he see when he has no eyes? How does he breathe? How does he hear? He is so immersed in his thoughts that he almost misses the two snakes weaving and bobbing in the yard. Finally they catch his attention and he drifts over to them. Salix hisses at Sysyphys to lead the way and the three head down the tunnel. Harp finds it odd to not be able to see in the dark. He follows the hissing of the snakes and they move as fast as they can. It is fairly easy at first, really, since there is only one way for him to go. He is also able to tell when another tunnel has joined since he can feel a part of him want to drift off and fill the new open area. However, he follows along and they are soon at the large nest where Sysyphys had beaten the head rat the day before. There are many rats here again today, but when they sense two snakes the rats back off and leave plenty of room.
Harp has been trying to keep count of the seconds, since he knows that to return to his normal form now would mean instant death. From ahead he hears a hiss and he soon finds himself in a stone hallway.
Harp looks around and to his left, about 20 feet away, is the door he was expecting. To his right about 25 feet away is the other door. Harp floats over to the door and passes under the sill with ease.
The next room is about 40 x 40 with openings in the east and west walls near the north side. There is a large table with several chairs here along with a few desks and cabinets. There are also 4 alcoves with odd creatures in them. They are about 6 feet tall with a massive build. The skin is blood red, with distended veins spread across its livid skin. The eyes are empty of intelligence but there is an evil light to them. They stand at attention in the alcoves, covered only in torn loin clothes.
Harp tears his attention from the forms and heads to the far wall. He looks down both openings. The one to the east has a solid metal door so he floats over that way and through the cracks around the door. He waits for a few seconds as Salix and Sysyphys squeeze themselves between the floor and the iron door. Soon they are through, short a few back scales, and the two snakes and the mist head down the hallway.
Sounds of suffering can be heard through the cells doors they pass. These doors are much better made then the first door. Metal frames surround the opening and the doors themselves are solid iron. Harp watches as Salix and Sysyphys slither up to the door and taste the air coming from it. Salix's head bobs up and down and Harp takes this as his signal to enter. Even though the space is very tight, Harp finds it very easy to make his misty form flow through the gap between the door and the frame. He is quickly in the room. There is a form there, covered in torn and battered robes.
The form is missing its hands, feet and eyes. The hand and feet have been amputated and cauterized while the eyes have been obviously burnt out with hot irons. The wounds are just now starting to heal, but they are red and angry. The chains are pinned through the forearms and the shins of the creature. Harp moves his form down close to the face of the person, trying to make out who it is.
OODM: I will let Kevin take it from here.
From: Derek
Subject Two snakes and a gas
Now we're getting somewhere. I guess being in that state would make it a little hard to use spells, wouldn't it?
From: Porter
Subject Two snakes and a gas
To the pain!
From: Kevin
Subject Two snakes and a gas
I will write up a response when I get home tonight.
From: Kevin
Subject Map
Mark, can I get a map of what we have seen of the dungeon area? Harp knows (and I need to know) the layout and how likely sound is to travel and what doors and how much space there is in the area.
I have to go eat dinner, run some errands, take Pat to his overnight, and then I will write up something later on
From: Mark
Subject Map
Here is the map of the cellars. The red doors are the iron ones. The one cell that is show complete is the one where Harp and the prisoner is. The strange creatures are the large "A"'s on the map.
let me know if you can not read the map.
I am going to a movie tonight so there will not be anything else from me tonight.
From: Kevin
Subject Map
Mark, is the green square the rat hole we came out of?
From: Mark
Subject Map
It is actually not the whole square, but I do not know how to get the graphic I want to show up. However, the rat hole is at the juncture of the wall and the floor in that square.