Acer, Ranthir and deep slumber
Subject: Acer
Ragnar nods and starts down the hallway at a measured pace, trying to keep his clanking to a minimum. At each door he pauses and glances inside before moving on.
OOC: Yes, Ragnar is attempting to move silently in full plate. Its a fairly instinctive thing despite its futility.
From: Kevin
Subject: Acer
OOC: You know, mithral full plate would be a great addition to our dwarf friend. Not that it makes him move any faster, but its quieter.
Would make for a nice Christmas present (or whatever holiday dwarf's give each other presents).
From: Mark
Subject: Acer
As Salix starts to head down the narrow hallway Ragnar grabs his arm. "Maybe I should go first? I can see in the dark and my plate armor would make a lousy snack for any thing that would want to have me for lunch. And if there are any more undead hiding back there, I am the best qualified to handle them." Salix starts to protest but stops short. They were so close now, he was sure. This was not the time to rush in and get himself or others killed. Ragnar had turned those wight things and he could see in the dark. Handing the dwarf the key ring he says "Go ahead, but be careful and call for help if you need it. Mund and I will be right out here."
Ragnar nods and with his back to the east wall, heads down the hall way. His sword and shield ready, he shuffles as quietly as he can, which is not saying much. Mund grimaces and starts to move to go take Ragnar's place when Salix puts a restraining hand on his shoulder "Being quiet is not the main goal here, finding Acer is. Your fast, so if he gets into trouble, move as fast as you can to help him." The barbarian nods and grips his ax even tighter.
First cell is empty. Seems to have a bunch of straw on the stone floor and that was about it. There were places for chains to be locked or bolted on. Keep moving. Second cell, a body. The dwarf signals to the others that he is going in. a quick step through the open door and he can see that it is the decayed body of some poor victim of the temple. Ragnar taps it once with his metal shod boot, but this provokes no response. Time to move on.
Third door, open and empty. Fourth door, open with another body. This one seems only recently dead. A young human woman, maybe mid twenties, a small rag doll still held in her dead hands. The womans throat had been slit, the cut making a mocking smile under the grimace on the face above. Keep moving. The fifth door also open and empty. The sixth door. Ragnar looks at the lock and at the keys. In the dark they all appear the same so he choose one and starts trying them, one at a time. On the fourth try, the lock clicks. Putting the keys back on his belt, Ragnar pulls the door open and looks in.
Along the back wall is a human shaped figure. It lies on the floor, its back to the door. Ragnar takes a step into the cell, checking to make sure the body is alone. Except for a few spiders and bugs, the cell is empty. He steps back out and gives a quick whistle to get the others attention. He sees Mund's torch appear in the doorway. "One body, have not checked to see if it is alive. Room is empty. Come on down Salix, you get to have the honors."
The dwarf moves aside as Salix runs down the short hallway and into the room. Mund follows a few steps behind. He stops at the fourth cell, as the dead woman body shows up in his torch light. He looks at the woman for a second, wondering what about her looks familiar. Then he has it. She's wearing the same material as the little girl was. He shakes his head and moves on down next to the cleric.
The druid approaches the body on the floor carefully. Remembering what had been done to Sephira, he steels himself. Kneeling down he rolls the body over. His heart leaps in his chest. It's him. The Stormfather. Acer. Quickly checking for a pulse, he finds one, it is weak but there. Salix makes a quick inspection, trying to determine Acer's condition. Just like Sephira he had been blinded. His hands had been cut off. However, this time they had cut Acer's tongue from his head. Leaning down next to the old man Salix whispers in his ear "Acer, it's me, Salix. Can you hear me? We've come to rescue you." When there is no response for several seconds Salix whispers again "Where verdant forest meets azure skies."
Seconds later there seems to be a response. There is feeble movement in his legs and arms. His head moves, trying to find the sound that had brought him out of his trance. Acer is alive.
Out in the guard room Kal is just starting to head down the hallway when he hears a loud clanking sound coming from somewhere down the hallway ahead of him. It sound like there might be three or four people running in heavy metal armor.
Back in the antechamber Surin takes his torch quickly puts it out. In the dark he sees that there is light coming from the hall way to the east, where the rail line is. He steps into the shadows (Hide, take 10, 10+18=28), his ax ready in his hand.
OODM: Actions?
From: Randy
Subject: Acer
OOC: I'm back from a too short vacation (aren't they all). Where is Ranthir during this? Did he stay in the room with the wights or did he go back to Harp?
From: Derek
Subject: Acer
OOC: Is Allistair aware of anything that's happening anywhere?
IC: Since there aren't any sounds of battle from the cells, Ally decides those in the cells are safe, and goes back to the room where harp and Kal are.
From: Mark
Subject: Acer
It depends on where he is. If he is in the guard room he knows that Kal was heading out the door to take another look down the hallway. If he was still in the torture chamber, then he knows that Ragnar and Mund and Salix have gone down the hall with the cells.
You tell me where you want Ally to be: either in the guard room or in the torture chamber.
From: Mark
Subject: Acer
I have Ran still in the torture chamber. he can move to wherever he wants. Just give me a location.
From: Randy
Subject: Ranthir
Ran, hearing the commotion from the barracks, calls out "Fall back! There is no retreat from here!" He stays in position, hoping Harp and Kal can hear him. This was a much more defensible position than that crowded room.
OOC: Ran will do this as soon as he hears anything from the barracks.
From: Mark
Subject: Ranthir
Not sure what you mean by commotion in the barracks. Harp and Kal are in guard room, with Kal just outside the door. He has heard noise comming from down the hallway, which sounds like people moving in armor.
Right now Ran is in the torture chamber near the hallway leading to the guardroom.
Ally is in the guard room now as well. Give me a square location where you want Ranthir and I will let you know what he sees and hears.
From: Kevin
Subject: Ranthir
OOC: Randy, what commotion are you referring to? Kal heard clanking sound down the hallway he expected it to come from. Harp is ready at the door to try and hold the door closed and is ready to cast bulls strength on himself when he sees them turn the corner. Surin is back by the pit trap, having set it so it can be manually triggered. He has heard clanking coming down the rail line the whole group used maybe 1/2 hour to an hour ago. The creatures in the rail line so far do not know that Surin is hiding there, and the guards that were getting suited up (the ones Kal just heard) know there is something going on in the barracks, but not what. Let Mark know where you want Ran (in the torture chamber, back in the barracks with Harp, where ever).
From: Karl
Subject: Acer
"Ragnar", Salix calls out. "It's the Stormfather. Come here quickly. I need your best healing prayer."
Salix will whisper to the Stormfather, "My friend has powerful healing from his god. He will help you regain some of your strength." After Ragnar heals the Stormfather, (assuming he does), Salix will ask acer if he can take the wild shape. If so he will suggest the stormfather take the shape of something small enough for Salix to carry out to safety.
From: Josh
Subject: Deep slumber
There's a 3rd level spell that puts 10HD creatures to sleep. I remember we were talking about this a while ago.