Mists Over the Musarde, Chapter Three

[Lord Skybolt]

Alain gives a ok sign to Dorgio in response him signing not to cast the spell . As Alain was only going to cast it if they made hostile actions toward the party any way . And signs to the rest of the party that we should follow the things .

[steveflam]

Norzak looks back at the others once the shambling things are gone. He points to himself, then motions with two fingers walking. Then he points to the others, one by one and the same thing. He shows his ten fingers, then counts them down. Both hands forward right after, so you get the idea wait ten seconds before going after him. He doesn't forget the old finger to the lips either.

Nodding once, he turns and follows after the things. Go ahead an' see what they're doin' the dwarf relays to his shadow. He relies on his keen darkvision to lead him into the dark.

OOC: Norzak is basically saying let's go one at a time and give me ten seconds before you follow.....

[Lord Skybolt]

Alain gives a thumbs up sign that he understands him .

[Le Noir Faineant]

Cirdan is still in the back, cowering in the shadows, the blade of his sword painted black so it doesn't shine in the dim light...

[Adam]

Bennedict looks in curiosity at the retreating figures, his interest piqued by their odd behavior. He nods in understanding at Norzak and steps toward the hallway, so he can fire down it if Norzak needs aid.

[ewancummins]

Norzak's POV:

Norzak follows the shuffling figures into the dark hallway. Once away from Dorgio's light, the dwarf's darkvision becomes active and he sees the outlines of the humanoids ahead of him and of the hall through which they are walking. Norzak spots something small moving along the wall beside him- a mouse? Whatever it is, it is very fast! The little creature speeds on ahead of Norzak, down the wall past the shuffling figures.

from the POV of the rest of the party:

The rest of the party sees Norzak enter the hall, trailing the slow moving masked men. Once he's walked beyond the circle of light cast by Dorgio's glowing spear, the dwarf can be seen only as a murky outline, fast fading into the enveloping gloom of the hallway. It must surely have been ten seconds by now....

[Adam]

As the dwarf fades away into the dark, Bennedict looks at Dorgio. "I'm thinking walking dead," he says, "They make good mindless laborers, if you don't mind the smell. Shall we?"

He gestures with his head towards the hall, and turns to follow the dwarf.

[Lord Skybolt]

Alain :"I agree with your assessment of those things, after you my good fellows . " gesturing that they should go before him .

[ewancummins]

Jon slips in the hall just ahead of Bennedict, followed by the stealthy Buckman. The tracker whispers to Benn-

''Best you let us poke around up ahead, Doc. Aint no telling what's down this hall.''

[Adam]

"I will follow close behind," he whispers, "No use finding something if you don't know what it is."

[ewancummins]

The rest of the party follows. The hall is narrow enough that it is easiest to walk in single file. The hall turns at a sharp right angle about twenty paces down, continues for another dozen paces, and opens into a circular chamber.

The room is about forty feet around, with a vaulted brick ceiling that must be fifteen feet high and three open doorways spaced evenly in the round wall [including the corridor ending the hallway through which the party has moved]. All along the wall are torches set into iron sconces. Curiously, all these torches are inverted, burning upside down. Yet more strange is the behaviour of the smoke and flames emitted by the burning torches- rather than rising, these actually curl downwards towards the floor. In the center of the room is a mirrorlike pool of shimmering black fluid- possibly water , about six feet across. Around the watery disk stand three figures in sable robes, wearing baroque masks of metal and glass- masks that depict the heads of animals. One is a rat, another a monstrous fly, and the third appears to be a carrion crow. A number of small braziers rest on the floor near the pool, sickly sweet clouds of incense smoke seeping out from them and crawling across the flagstones, seemingly heavier than the air.

The shuffling figures you've all been tailing amble into the room and take up positions to either side of the corridor through which you must pass to enter. There they remain motionless and silent.

[ewancummins]

Jon slips past Norzak and darts behind the last of the shamblers. The boy enters the room without making anymore noise than a creeping mouse, and hides behind one of the shuffling workers, pressed into a shadowy niche in the wall about ten feet from the corridor.


The figure in the crow mask near the pool points to Jon's hiding place and cries out:

''Take him!''

With that command, the shamblers near Jon [five of them] converge on the boy with groping hands.

[ewancummins]

Jon plunges his knife into the side of one of the shamblers as it turns to attack him. The masked creature doesn't so much as let out a groan, even though the knife must be tickling the cockles of its heart! Not a drop of blood spills forth, either.

[steveflam]

Norzak sneaks out of his hiding place when he sees Jon in trouble. He doesn't say anything to the others, but is sure they'll act accordingly. The party see him sneak behind the first shambling thing. Unless they have really good darkvision they can see him attack the shambling. Those who can see well enough will see something else entirely - Norzak and his shadow flanking the thing from behind and attacking it.

Sneak attack and flank with Shadow from behind. Roll away, ewan. Norzak is using his sword.

[ewancummins]

Norzak sneaks out of his hiding place when he sees Jon in trouble. He doesn't say anything to the others, but is sure they'll act accordingly. The party see him sneak behind the first shambling thing. Unless they have really good darkvision they can see him attack the shambling. Those who can see well enough will see something else entirely - Norzak and his shadow flanking the thing from behind and attacking it.

Sneak attack and flank with Shadow from behind. Roll away, ewan. Norzak is using his sword.

Norzak and his shadow easily outmaneuver the shambler, and the dwarf stabs it deep in the vitals- to no apparent effect: no blood, no screams, nothing!

Well, Norzak has got its attention at least. The creature turns to face the little dwarf. It's pallid hands reach out to snatch him. The cold hands close around Norzak's left arm, the icy cold fingers mangling his flesh!

Jon struggles in the grip of two of the other creatures, while one pummels the boy mercilessly with clumsy blows of its balled fists.