[Ptolus/AD&D] IC Thread #2b - Limbus Sanguineum

[Imperator]

A 14.

[Benoist]

Your opponents hesitate. Your defiance, and the fact the three of them didn't manage to overpower you initially, makes them pause for the moment. You have the initiative, could try to interact with them, attack them, or whatever else you might decide to take advantage of this stalemate.

[Imperator]

Your opponents hesitate. Your defiance, and the fact the three of them didn't manage to overpower you initially, makes them pause for the moment. You have the initiative, could try to interact with them, attack them, or whatever else you might decide to take advantage of this stalemate.

I will cautiously move so I stanv over Rissthil's body, and make sure none of them can hurt him. I don't break eye contact with them, and try to look as hulking as possible.

[Benoist]

They stay where they are. You can see each one of them looking at you carefully, searching for any sign of weakness in your stance and demeanor.

One of them finally steps forward. He seems less afraid than the others. He is also taller by a couple of inches. Half of his face has been deeply scarred by some kind of burn. The shape of his skull is quite visible through his skin. It's hard to make out the color of his eyes.

He just stands there in front of you and nods approvingly. "Gul-gâsh," he finally says.

You have no idea what that means.

[Imperator]

They stay where they are. You can see each one of them looking at you carefully, searching for any sign of weakness in your stance and demeanor.

One of them finally steps forward. He seems less afraid than the others. He is also taller by a couple of inches. Half of his face has been deeply scarred by some kind of burn. The shape of his skull is quite visible through his skin. It's hard to make out the color of his eyes.

He just stands there in front of you and nods approvingly. "Gul-gâsh," he finally says.

You have no idea what that means.

I point at myself and say "Gareth."

[Benoist]

"Kroak," the large orc answers, pointing at his own chest. He then adds : "Gurpatûlluk orgamosh. Kar-takûl?"

[Imperator]

"Kroak," the large orc answers, pointing at his own chest. He then adds : "Gurpatûlluk orgamosh. Kar-takûl?"

I lower a bit my weapon, so I look a bit less aggresive (I DO NOT SHEATH THE SWORD) and make a gesture, maybe shrugging my shoulders to show I can't speak their language.

[Benoist]

The orcs seem to be more confused, if not more afraid, than you are. They look at their leader, the one who just talked to you, wondering what's going to happen now.

The orc points at himself. He then mimics the act of running silently, hides back in the shadows of the edge of the empty pool for a moment after showing that spot, and then emerges again. He wonders if you understand. He points at you, then at his own chest, and puts his back against one of his men's, pointing at the both of them. "Gûrn shak?"

He looks genuinely frustrated, but tries to keep his voice low, both to not scare you away, and visibly because he is concerned about your present situation and what might be lurking in the shadows around.

[Imperator]

The orcs seem to be more confused, if not more afraid, than you are. They look at their leader, the one who just talked to you, wondering what's going to happen now.

The orc points at himself. He then mimics the act of running silently, hides back in the shadows of the edge of the empty pool for a moment after showing that spot, and then emerges again. He wonders if you understand. He points at you, then at his own chest, and puts his back against one of his men's, pointing at the both of them. "Gûrn shak?"

He looks genuinely frustrated, but tries to keep his voice low, both to not scare you away, and visibly because he is concerned about your present situation and what might be lurking in the shadows around.

OK, I point at myself, and at my fellow companion, mimic a big scary monster and me falling to the ground. i mimc both of us waking up in this place.

Also, I look around looking for a suitable way of lifting my fallne friend outta here.

[Benoist]

The orcs look at your demonstration, trying to explain what happened to you and how you got there. They don't seem to understand all the subtleties, but they seem to grasp the gist of it all.

 When they see you start towards Rissthil to move his body from the pool, the largest orc moves towards you and extends his hand to stop you. He then lifts a finger to his deformed lips, and whispers something to one of his men. This fellow then starts to look around the edge of the pool, probably checking out if there's anything moving in your vicinity. He turns his head back and nods.

The large orc seems satisfied. He starts helping you with Rissthil.

[Imperator]

The orcs look at your demonstration, trying to explain what happened to you and how you got there. They don't seem to understand all the subtleties, but they seem to grasp the gist of it all.

 When they see you start towards Rissthil to move his body from the pool, the largest orc moves towards you and extends his hand to stop you. He then lifts a finger to his deformed lips, and whispers something to one of his men. This fellow then starts to look around the edge of the pool, probably checking out if there's anything moving in your vicinity. He turns his head back and nods.

The large orc seems satisfied. He starts helping you with Rissthil.

I bow my head to him and proceed helping Riss' body out. Once we got it, I will point to the sentry and will shrug in a questioning gesture. I want to see if they can tell me what are they hiding of.

[Benoist]

You get Rissthil body's out together. Away, probably by the dais area, the music is still going, lingering along the corridors, reverberating against the walls of the complex. Just next to you, and behind the chief assisting you too, you can see these strange plants which have taken over the frescos of this room, with these large sacks or bubbles of luminescent bile hanging from their sides, and things floating within.

You gesture to the orc, and he seems to understand. He gestures all around him. "Kobrûk kapûl" he says matter-of-factly, though you do not understand what he means.

[Imperator]

You get Rissthil body's out together. Away, probably by the dais area, the music is still going, lingering along the corridors, reverberating against the walls of the complex. Just next to you, and behind the chief assisting you too, you can see these strange plants which have taken over the frescos of this room, with these large sacks or bubbles of luminescent bile hanging from their sides, and things floating within.

You gesture to the orc, and he seems to understand. He gestures all around him. "Kobrûk kapûl" he says matter-of-factly, though you do not understand what he means.

OK, first I will stealthily approach the main hallway while gesturing the orcs to wait in silence. I want to listen in case there's something coming that way. If all's clear, I will go back and approach the statue that seems to be at the other side of the pool, while pointing at it and shrugging questioningly.

[Benoist]

Gareth checks the main hallway. Nothing seems to be coming from the south. The darkness north beyond the lanterns seems quiet, if a bit disconcerting in its own peculiar way.

Gareth gets back into the room. One of the orcs got out on the other side of the dried pool. The chief is by Rissthil's body. The last orc still stands on guard by the edge of the pool, down there.

The statue seems to beckon Gareth towards the dais at the end of the room's curve. It is a complex composition showing multiple horned characters all intertwined and mingled together. They are all springing from the depths of the earth, reaching for a man at the center of the whole scene who is wearing noble robes. The demons are pulling the man's robes apart and feeding on bits of his flesh, but the man doesn't seem to care. He is looking up, not down, towards the high heavens. He is brandishing a staff. On top of the staff, you can see what looks like a shard of crystal. In the heavens above, there is a pyramidal shape, and in the center of this shape, an all-seeing eye, lidless, sleepless.



That is a work of great craftsmanship.

On each side of the statue, Gareth can see there are torches burning with violet flames. They cast their lights onto the sculpture in such a way as to make it seem distant, and yet vibrant, as if the scene was taking place in another place and time.

[Imperator]

I want to inspect closely the statue without touching it, looking for any crack or sign of mechanism. By the way, is there any exit of this chamber behind the statue?

(Apologies for the delay, the forum didn't notify me of your post. And BTW, you have moved Riss' counter instead of mine )