Mists over the Musarde, Chapter Four

ewancummins · Post by **ewancummins** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:38 pm

Wat makes certain that the group full waterskins and some food for the night.

Preparations are finished.

The party sets out on its expedition.
The way is somewhat familiar to you all by now, and you make good time, despite occasionally being held up by nagging thornbushes or tripping on loose stones that go unseen in the shadowy illumination of the deep woods.

The air has cooled just a bit from the heat of mid-day, but it's still warm and humid enough to make all of you damp with sweat by the time you've crossed the woods and reached the desolation of the clearing that surrounds Wolutha's lair.
Standing at the southern edge of the circular waste-ground, you can all [except for Alain, of course] see the tumbledown stronghold waiting for you, atop the bald hill in the center of the clearing. By now, the shadows of evening have grown long and the sun has sunk halfway into the treeline to your left, a spreading its golden aura over the green summer foliage.

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg12 ... 1ac220.jpg

Lord Skybolt · Post by **Lord Skybolt** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:34 am

Alain thinking to himself that it's good he's not a wizard or he would not have spells ready to possibly help the group with on this excursion as puts on his gear(1) .

1.Standard Load Gear

P.S. Wat can use his crossbow .

Brock Marsh Runoff · Post by **Brock Marsh Runoff** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:24 pm

"I am not sure how much fire will hurt her," he tells Norzak. "She has a taste for fiery attacks herself." He unconsciously rubs his shoulder where her gout of flame had scorched him through his armor. "The tanglefoot bag, though, that might be useful if we are runnning into Van Diecks."

He stops, and gazes as the setting sun. "Morninglord protect us as the darkness falls."

JMaytr · Post by **JMaytr** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 3:01 pm

"You leave Van Dieks to me. I'll use his curse against him and if I am slain, then..."

Jonathan is quiet for a moment.

"I will be able to hurt Van Dieks. My attack could buy us time we need. Prepare your spells for the witch alone."

ewancummins · Post by **ewancummins** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 3:12 pm

Wat, still leading Alain by the sleeve, steps up to the edge of the clearing and looks out across the dead grass to the central mound and the brooding ruin atop it.

To no one in particular, he softly voices the question-

''Do you think that She knows we come for her?''

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:19 pm

Bennedict wipes sweat from his brow with a handkerchief. "It is likely," he responds, "She seems to know much that goes on in her domain. If she is prepared, so are we. That is as best as we can hope for."

Lord Skybolt · Post by **Lord Skybolt** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 12:13 am

Alain steps forward with the aide of Wat ."Come on guys lets get this witch killing party going ."And with that asks Wat to start leading him towards the keep .

ewancummins · Post by **ewancummins** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 12:22 am

With Wat's aid, the blind man moves towards the Keep while his comrades hesitate.

Perhaps their courage has failed?

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 1:35 am

Bennedict follows closely behind, his expression waxen and pail. One way or another, this was going to be the end.

steveflam · Post by **steveflam** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 11:04 am

Once they arrive at the keep, Norzak tells the others "Awright, Imma cast me spell ta detect tha ghosties so me shadow kinna use it. Then 'es gonna go look aroun' a bit. I wanna go in too an look aroun' see if I can get tha bitch out a hidin."

Brock Marsh Runoff · Post by **Brock Marsh Runoff** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 11:52 am

His knuckles are white as he clutches his spear and stares at the keep. "If I were Wolutha," he wonders aloud, "Where would I be keeping my remains? <i>Would</i> I even keep them? I found the skull, but I am thinking that was a man's. The only other bones were the children..."

ewancummins · Post by **ewancummins** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 11:59 am

Even as Norzak and his tenebrous twin inflitrate Wolutha's stronghold, the sun slips below the western horizon, and the fading glory of the day gives way to evening twlight. For those of you with merely human eyes: shadows deepen and blur, colors fade; and the world becomes dimmer, though true night has not yet arrived.

ewancummins · Post by **ewancummins** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 1:51 pm

Norzak experiences a tugging sensation coming from the northeast tower [the only one still standing its full height- the same one he and his friends had explored and in which they'd first encountered the witch-queen]. His spell has located Wolutha.

A tiny point of light appears in the uppermost window of the tower, and swiftly grows larger as if getting closer to you...

Time is measured in heartbeats as the terrible moment passes:
Jon leaps into a shallow ditch in the courtyard, taking cover.
Wat grabs Alain and throws him to the ground, then leaps on top of the blind man.
Before the rest of you can react, bright flames explode from a point in the midst of the party! A dull roar fills your ears, drowning out a warning cry from someone [Norzak?].

In the wake of the fiery blast, the air is thick with soot and the stink of sulphur.

Norzak screams as he burns like a torch; his jars of alchemists' fire have ignited, adding fuel to the flames engulfing his flailing body. Benn, Cirdan, and Dorgio are all scorched badly, with painful burns all over their exposed skin. Wat lays on top of Alain, unmoving.

JMaytr · Post by **JMaytr** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 2:39 pm

Jonathan sees Norzak on fire and moves to put him out by grabbing hand fulls of dirt to douse the flames.

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 4:50 pm

"Mein Gott! Take cover!" Bennedict turns towards Wat and Alain, grabbing the old man by the overcoat and dragging his limp form towards the first thing he can see that would protect them from further blasts.

Café de Nuit

Welcome, friends, to our establishment.

Mists over the Musarde, Chapter Four