Endgame Posted May 18, 2015 Author Posted May 18, 2015 Warlen's compass points north, towards the mountains. The party's furious diggings unearth various bits of bone. However, Vindsval, being the physically strongest of the trio, succeeds in piercing through the upturned soil to find the most telling piece of evidence: A very recent direwolf skull. Direwolf Skull: The remains of a direwolf. Whatever destroyed it did a good job... The skull has been stripped of any organic matter besides the bone itself. Will the party go Northward, to forge towards the fallen metoer, or Westward, to better assess the plight o the forest? Quote
Asphalt Posted May 18, 2015 Posted May 18, 2015 I have never known anything that could strip the flesh so cleanly and leave not a mark or burn. What could have done this? Vindsval places the skull in his bags and looks over at Warlen. It would seem I was correct, our word to the boy would take us North. Quote
Dannylonglegs Posted May 18, 2015 Posted May 18, 2015 (edited) "I think we aught to better assess the plight of the forest." Stated Sylph. "I say we go West... but it's up to the party leader, of course." Edited May 18, 2015 by Dannylonglegs Quote
Endgame Posted May 19, 2015 Author Posted May 19, 2015 QM Note: Just waiting for Annie's ultimatum. Quote
Kintobor Posted May 19, 2015 Posted May 19, 2015 "We'll head West. If we can figure out what happened here, we'll have a better understanding of what lies ahead." Quote
Endgame Posted May 19, 2015 Author Posted May 19, 2015 (edited) The party forges onwards, and finds themselves standing in the shadow of an old, weathered tower. The once sturdy tower was now weather, caked in dirt, moss, and decay. Vegetation was beginning to creep up the sides of the structure, perching in the mortar of the brick, taking over slowly. Two notes are posted on the side of the tower - one very old, one new. Sealing the front door is some heavy iron chains, so recent they have yet to rust from exposure to the elements. With it, there is a note, written on the side of the tower with a still-wet substance: Leave this place, lest you join The Sacrifice. -Savato Edited May 19, 2015 by Endgame Quote
Dannylonglegs Posted May 19, 2015 Posted May 19, 2015 Sylph stepped forward to inspect the old sign. Quote
Asphalt Posted May 19, 2015 Posted May 19, 2015 Vindsval and Poe look over Slyph to Inspect the new sign. Quote
Kintobor Posted May 19, 2015 Posted May 19, 2015 Annienal pulls out her handkerchief and begins to wipe the sweat from her forehead. She begins to sweat profusely at the sight of the ominous messages. "Throlar, why don't we, um.... not open the door. This has bad idea written all over." Annienal begins to space herself away from the investigating party and the building. Quote
Duvors Posted May 19, 2015 Posted May 19, 2015 Annienal pulls out her handkerchief and begins to wipe the sweat from her forehead. She begins to sweat profusely at the sight of the ominous messages. "Throlar, why don't we, um.... not open the door. This has bad idea written all over." Annienal begins to space herself away from the investigating party and the building. "And leave ourselves in the dark? Never know what all of this means? No." Quote
Endgame Posted May 19, 2015 Author Posted May 19, 2015 (edited) Sylph stepped forward to inspect the old sign. The old sign was caked in dirt and rain, and was decaying due to many, many years of rough weather. Some of the letters couldn't be read, but the meaning was clear. "Pr-perty -f t-e Hunti-g Guild of Ul-nd" Vindsval and Poe look over Slyph to Inspect the new sign. Vindsval reads the much, much newer sign. It read: "Fair warning. This tower isn't what it used to be. The structure remains mostly stable... But certain points of it, like as the roof and back wall of the base, are decaying quick. If you need to use this place as a shelter or resting point, go ahead, but exercise caution. -Miller" "That's ominous." Throlar tested the door. The door refused to open. Edited May 19, 2015 by Endgame Quote
Dannylonglegs Posted May 19, 2015 Posted May 19, 2015 The door refused to open. "Perhaps it could use some magical coercion?" suggested Sylph. "This used to be a Hunting guild tower by the looks of the sign. It's in pretty rough shape though. I say we break in and see what that bloody message means." Quote
Endgame Posted May 19, 2015 Author Posted May 19, 2015 <Caw, just looks like plain old chains to me. Sturdy ones, though.> Poe glides over to the chains, perches on one, and pecks at the other with his beak. He squawks in pain as his beak makes contact, then flutters back to his perch on Vndsval. <Ow! They're tough alright - my beak couldn't even make a dent. Too thick to wrap around with my peak, too. Caw...> Quote
Asphalt Posted May 20, 2015 Posted May 20, 2015 Vindsval grins as his new friend attempts to help. "You have a stout heart my friend, perhaps I will be able to budge them." Vindsval grasps the chain in his massive right fist and pulls hard, putting his significant weight behind the action. Quote
Endgame Posted May 20, 2015 Author Posted May 20, 2015 Vindsval grips with his single, powerful hand and begins to pull, tying to tear the chains off. He grunts and gasps, forced to stop as he begins to feel his shoulder about to dislocate from its socket. Whoever chained the door knew what they were doing. The party would need to find some other entrance, or area of weakness, to enter the tower... Quote
Asphalt Posted May 20, 2015 Posted May 20, 2015 It would seem that the front of this tower at least is as strong as it ever was. The sign mentioned a weakness is the rear of the structure. Let us explore that direction. Vindsval flexes his shoulder to get the soreness out and proceeds around the tower to the back, looking for the "decay" mentioned by "miller." Quote
Endgame Posted May 20, 2015 Author Posted May 20, 2015 As the party begins their short jaunt to the backside of the tower, Poe speaks up. <So, uh, you guys are "heroes", right? That just a title, or, like, your actual jobs?> Quote
Kintobor Posted May 20, 2015 Posted May 20, 2015 Annie sighs in relief knowing the door is locked tight, but becomes tense again when the party begins to venture around the back. "Guys, the warning in red liquid said that the... um... Sacrifice was waiting for us inside, and I really would like to keep my life away from any sacrifices... guys?..." Annienal follows them, not wanting to be left alone, but continually looks behind her to ensure no one, or no thing, is following them and fiddling her thumbs. As the party begins their short jaunt to the backside of the tower, Poe speaks up. <So, uh, you guys are "heroes", right? That just a title, or, like, your actual jobs?> Annienal jumps slight at the birds cawing, not entirely sure what it's saying. "Um.... S-sylph? W-what's the bird saying?" Quote
Duvors Posted May 20, 2015 Posted May 20, 2015 Annie sighs in relief knowing the door is locked tight, but becomes tense again when the party begins to venture around the back. "Guys, the warning in red liquid said that the... um... Sacrifice was waiting for us inside, and I really would like to keep my life away from any sacrifices... guys?..." Annienal follows them, not wanting to be left alone, but continually looks behind her to ensure no one, or no thing, is following them and fiddling her thumbs. "Look, if you're thinking that red stuff was blood, it wasn't, believe me. Blood turns brown when it dries. And anyway what are mysterious scrawls warning of sacrifices for but investigating? This might all be pertinent you know." Quote
Endgame Posted May 20, 2015 Author Posted May 20, 2015 (edited) The party heads around back, and, sure enough, the bricks fall with just a few pokes of pickaxes and shovels. Vindsval manages to tear a hole large enough for even him to squeeze through, and they find themselves within the confines of the old tower. Inside the main foyer, besides the accmulation of debris and plantlife, all there was in the room was a spiral staircase upwards. The party ascends... They find the main function of the tower: A telescope, aimed directly at the thick, dense forest the party would eventually have to push through. Before they can inspect or catch a glimpse through the telescope, they feel a rush of cold wind apparate behind them. A man garbed in odd, concealing clothing manifests behind the party. His gloves, robes, and helmet all seemed to be crafted from things found in nature. He had traces of mud on his clothes, yet he still looked a pristine white. Tendrils of moss go up and down his staff. In one of his hands he clutches an odd devices. "I left a warning for good reason." Edited May 20, 2015 by Endgame Quote
Asphalt Posted May 20, 2015 Posted May 20, 2015 (edited) Vindsval quickly glances back and forth between Slyph and the Entity, he cannot help but see the striking similarities between the two, but the intense contrast between them as well. Like a coin with one side polished and the other left to weather. Vindsval turns directly to the Entity and bows his head. "Greetings, I called Vindsval, Called the Half-Born. May the Wanderer reveal your path. We have travelled here to investigate the destruction of the forest outside. We are here only to gain a greater vantage. We wish only to solve the mystery effecting the area." Edited May 20, 2015 by Asphalt Quote
Endgame Posted May 20, 2015 Author Posted May 20, 2015 "I know exactly why you're here, up in the watchtower. And that is exactly why I'm here to put an end to it." Quote
Asphalt Posted May 20, 2015 Posted May 20, 2015 "You presume much guardian, but you know us not. I spoke the truth to you, do you answer my candidness with thinly veiled threats?" Quote
Endgame Posted May 20, 2015 Author Posted May 20, 2015 (edited) "I have no reason to doubt you're telling me the truth, greenskin. You mistakenly think I'm here to help you." Edited May 20, 2015 by Endgame Quote
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