[Ptolus/AD&D] IC Thread #1a - Delbaeth (Ulas, Othos)

[Benoist]

DM: This thread addresses the actions of Othos and Ulas as they visit Delbaeth the elf in the upper rooms of the Gold Ladder. If you are playing any other character, you are still in the main room at that moment. See that thread to see what's going there.
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Cadfan leaves the main room of the Gold Ladder through its south-western door (left-hand side of the room on the map). Othos and Ulas are walking through what looks like a lounge, with sofas and small tables, probably for the customers of the inn to drink, smoke and relax away from the noise of the main room. There is a flight of stairs there that you then climb, which leads you up to the inn’s rooms.

Cadfan walks down a corridor, and then stops in front of one of the doors which must lead to ones of the guests’ rooms. “I’ll stay back and let you do what it is you do. But don’t push the elf too far, alright? I don’t want him to suffer more than he needs to. Alright?”

He looks at you for a few seconds, trying to make his point through his stare, and then opens the door silently.

The first thing you notice when you come in is the stench of burnt hair and flesh, along with something more animal, like sweat. The room itself is plain and functional, comfortable without being fancy. There are a couple of chairs, the burned remains of the elf's robes resting on one of them, a few pieces of furniture aligned against the walls, including a table with a pitcher full of water, a curved plate for ablutions and towels, and of course, a bed, where the elf is resting, though ‘resting’ probably isn’t the proper word.

The elf is tall, and slender. Though his face, arms and legs are covered with second and even third-degree burns in places, his torso and abdomen are mostly unscathed, probably because of the garments he was wearing when he was set on fire.

He seems asleep at the moment, though his head moves from side to side erratically while resting on a linen pillow. His limbs shake every now and then with uncontrollable spasms. His breath is very shallow, and he seems to mutter, or whisper, as if talking through a bad dream.

What do you do?
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Ptolus/AD&D Threads on the RPG Site
Pre-game Chat
Player Characters
Experience Points
Out-of-character thread #1
People and Places of Ptolus
In-character thread #1 - The Gold Ladder
In-character thread #1a - Delbaeth
In-character thread #2 - Underground (part 1)
In-character thread #2b - Limbus Sanguineum
In-character thread #3 - Back to the Surface

[winkingbishop]

Othos makes enough noise at the door and crossing the room to signal his presence, but tries to walk slowly and carefully so as not to startle the injured the elf.  Before speaking, he stoops slowly and inspects his injuries further.  He checks to see if he was tended by a professional healer or if this was an "in-house" job.  

OOC: In other words, is the elf still lacking hp or has is healed up and suffering from sustained serious wounds?

[Benoist]

The elf's epiderm suffered an enormous amount of damage. You get the feeling that he is not dying, but that prayers might ease his pain to some extent.

DM: In other words, the elf is not about to die (or a priori, might not, depending on how his condition evolves from there), and does have hit points, but is under great pain. Though healing spells might not be needed per se, in terms of hit points, to save his life, they might ease his suffering.

[winkingbishop]

Othos closes his eyes and begins to mutter in a very archaic and formal Dwarven, quietly at first, but his prayer builds in volume. He holds one hand outstretched over the elf's charred chest until it begins to glow softly and finishes his chant with a triumphant: "╓ ┬┬ ╓ ╥"

Cure Light Wounds on the crispy elf (1d8=4)

His voice growing calm again, he says: "You are in the house of Ollom and have been blessed by the Dwarf Lord Mocharum.  I am Friar Othos and I am with a group of explorers trying to find Angharad's uncle.  Please, I wish you to have peace but we must know what fell upon you and the brothers of St. Fharlang."

[Benoist]

DM: Delbaeth rolls Survive Resurrection: 50. He survives (failure would not have killed him but would have made him sink further into dementia).
Is Delbaeth coming back to consciousness? Roll: 62. Yes. He is now conscious.

The elf opens his eyes, which are light brown, almost golden. You can see the flesh around them crack as his traits try to find a comfortable expression but fail to do so. It seems to take a long time for him to understand your words. He tries to move, but must give up as pain surges throughout his body: "The friars. Bertold. We... they were searching for clues. Everything seemed to go so well. We'd open the inn, and everything would go well. The friars would find refuge."

He suddenly yells: "BLUE! The BLUE DOOR! The markings burn my mind! We didn't know what to do with the lights! But the Door opened! It shouldn't have opened!"

He tries to get out of his bed, but he very obviously shouldn't.

[Cole]

He tries to get out of his bed, but he very obviously shouldn't.

"Stay still, rest, Delbaeth. We are going to take care of this."

Ulas turns to Othos, and whispers,

"Clues to what?"

[Benoist]

Delbaeth just cannot take the effort and collapses back onto the matress. "The place. We had to know what that place was before sending people down the well. We were making progress. It is some kind of shrine. Or a tomb. There are frescos. Altars. The place is huge."

He pants.

[winkingbishop]

Ulas turns to Othos, and whispers,

"Clues to what?"

Othos mutters back quietly, "Understanding the origin of the place, methinks."

Returning his attention to the elf, he asks, "What kind of clues do you mean?  Did anyone recognize the altars or did you encounter any creatures down there?"

[Benoist]

Returning his attention to the elf, he asks, "What kind of clues do you mean?  Did anyone recognize the altars or did you encounter any creatures down there?"

"I'm not sure. There was a friar. Josian? Jetro? He... He was dabbling into the arts. I was there to look over the operation with Bertold. I wasn't involved in that field work."

Delbaeth coughs. A deep rasping sound. He pants again. "They thought the place was dedicated to somebody, or something, that had been involved in some war or another. We were asking for more information when all Hells broke loose."

"There was a door at the end of the main corridor. A sort of metal door. It wouldn't open without some command. But it did. And then all sorts of creatures, goblins, trolls. They all rushed in. Then there was the explosion. Bertold was gone. He was gone. I didn't know where to find him! I looked around and one of the friars' heads flew over my face!"

He coughs again, and spits some black ichor. "I had to get out. I had to warn somebody. Anybody. So I flew, but the flames followed me. Everything was spinning around me. I thought I hadn't made it back up when the flames reached me..."

[winkingbishop]

Othos nods sadly while listening to the tragic tale.  When the elf finishes his words, Othos asks: "I am sorry that I do not understand completely and more sorry that I must dwell on the subject, but... Well, you say this strange door could not be opened by your team?  Yet something, something unknown caused it to open and that is when the creatures attacked?  Do you think they created the explosion through some kind of magic or a tool?"  

Waiting patiently for an answer first, he will then ask, "And Bertold, do you know if he vanished prior to the battle or as the chaos ensued?"

[Benoist]

Othos nods sadly while listening to the tragic tale.  When the elf finishes his words, Othos asks: "I am sorry that I do not understand completely and more sorry that I must dwell on the subject, but... Well, you say this strange door could not be opened by your team?  Yet something, something unknown caused it to open and that is when the creatures attacked?  Do you think they created the explosion through some kind of magic or a tool?"  

"Maybe. I do not know. The door opened on its own. Maybe we did something that opened it. Or maybe it was opened from the outside, beyond the door. I do not know."

He thinks. Tries to remember. "I remember the door opening. Then the chaos. And then - explosion. I'm pretty sure that's how it went."

Waiting patiently for an answer first, he will then ask, "And Bertold, do you know if he vanished prior to the battle or as the chaos ensued?"

"I ... don't know. I'm not sure. All I remember, is that, when all became chaos and flame, I tried to grab Bertold, and he wasn't there anymore."

Delbaeth tries to straighten up, looks at Cadfan, and tries to smile weakly. His face distorts as a wave of pain washes over his whole body instead. Cadfan is visibly worried.

"I wish I could help you more. I'm trying."

[winkingbishop]

Friar Othos nods grimly.  "It was brave to seek Bertold before taking flight.  And without your report there would be no hope left for Angharad.  You have done well and deserve your rest.  Before I take my leave, Ulas may have some questions.  Is there anything you wish to speak of before I depart?"

[Benoist]

Delbaeth shakes his head to indicate a negative, seemingly confused.

[Cole]

"Better if we leave him be now, Friar."

Ulas turns to Delbaeth and says, "Thank you. Rest as well as you can."

He nods politely to Cadfan and returns to the main room.

[Benoist]

Cadfan stays with his elf friend for a short while. You are making your way back to the main room.