Mists Over the Musarde, Chapter Three

[ewancummins]

Jon staggers over to Norzak, and plops down on the ground, leaning on the spade he carries. The boy looks scuffed up, with minor injuries to his face and hands.

Buckman disentangles the mortal remains of the Doctor from his net and begins methodically searching the dead man's person.

Denys, holding a torch, wobbles across the floor and leans against the wall not far from Dorgio. The heavy-set cloth seller looks like he's going to be sick.

''Is is over? Great Ezra, those dead things....Ugh! Horrible. Are you all right, Dorgio?''


Over by the pool, Norzak and Alain see no sign of movement within, no bubbles, nothing. The surface of the black liquid is calm now, the ripples caused by Rat-Mask's dive into it have died away.

[steveflam]

"Ye okay lad?" Norzak asks Jon. Then he looks ot the others. "Whutter ya thinking bout the rat masked man? This a portal? Or is he in there, dead?"

[Lord Skybolt]

Alain seeing that Norzak is keeping watch at the pool, walk's over to Benn and says:"Can you take a look at this ?" Pointing at his pistol wound .

[Adam]

"My healing ability is somewhat tapped," Benn says, "Perhaps Dorgio can help."

With that he walks over to the pool, kneeling to examine it more closely. "I have a suspicion, Herr Norzak, that the object of our search has been found."

[steveflam]

"Do ye mean what I thinks ye mean?"

[Lord Skybolt]

Wanderering over to Dorgio, Alain says to him:" Can you make sure this pistol wound is not any more serious than it looks ." pointing to his wound .

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

''Is is over? Great Ezra, those dead things....Ugh! Horrible. Are you all right, Dorgio?''

"Mostly over. Some of those creatures who ran, they may yet return. But we should make short work of them if they do, with their masters dealt with."

The priest coughs, then chants a healing prayer. He sighs when he is done, clearly relieved of some of his pain. "I am managing. I am thanking you, my friend. And you too, Jon!" he says in the boys direction. "I am owing you both a few drinks when we are done here."

Wanderering over to Dorgio, Alain says to him:" Can you make sure this pistol wound is not any more serious than it looks ." pointing to his wound .

Dorgio nods, and then chants a healing prayer for Alain. "Those weapons, such wounds they cause. I am glad we finally have somebody who is knowing how to use them," he says, looking at Buckman for amoment. "Glad in a way, at least."

"I have a suspicion, Herr Norzak, that the object of our search has been found."

"I am hoping you are wrong, my friend. But it is a sight, yes?" Dorgio walks over to the pool, examining it.

[steveflam]

Norzak looks at Benn. "So whut yer sayin is thass a magic door? We goin thru or not?"

[Le Noir Faineant]

Cirdan's voice is weak under the helmet.

"I need a medic..."

[ewancummins]

The glittering surface of the black pool seems to be undergoing some sort of change. The edges appear to hardening and losing their luster, undergoing a metamorphosis from liquid to solid. At the current rate of transformation, it will be something under an hour before the whole surface has solidified.

Denys joins Dorgio at the side of the pool.

''Euh...what is going on? Is it freezing, somehow? Drying out?''

[Lord Skybolt]

"My's thanks also ."Feeling where the wound was moments ago. Going over to the pool as it solidifies before there eyes . Commenting to Dorgio ." So do you have any idea what this is ?" Alain glancing at the pool .

[Lord Skybolt]

Alain thinking about how this portal would be opened . He start's a through search of the room .

[ewancummins]

Buckman crouches over the Doctor's remains, rifling through the dead man's pockets. Anything that looks valuable [ a set of surgical tools, an amber pendant, some pocket change] he places into his napsack.

''Take a look at this. What do you make of it?''

Alain thinking about how this portal would be opened . He start's a through search of the room .

Alain's search uncovers two things which had previously escaped the party's notice; a palm-sized metal plaque set into the flagstones near the pool and a large wooden chest, tucked away in an alcove set into the wall. The chest is secured with a heavy padlock.

Anyone searching the remains of the zombies finds nothing of value, and hardly anything else, besides. The fallen druagr likewise carries nothing. His robe is shredded and his fly-visaged mask is wrecked- shattered by Cirdan's sword blow.

[Lord Skybolt]

"In response to Buckman question ."I'm a little busy . Why don't you ask Dorgio or Benn about that ." As Alain is taking out some tools from his pack back . It seems that he is checking the chest he found and it's lock for traps . He is taking particular care and time when he does so .

[Adam]

Bennedict strokes his chin, thoughtfully. "I would be eager to see what is on the other side, but look here." He points at the solidifying liquid around the edges of the pool. "It appears to be closing up. Without knowing how to reopen it, we could be trapping ourselves on the other side, with no idea of how to get back or even where we are. No, let's look around a bit first. One way or another, we'll find out where this thing goes. I am confident of that. But for now, patience."

Bennedict turns eagerly towards Buckman and his display of the doctor's belongings. He gives the Hazlani mage's corpse a vile look, before turning to the pile. He begins to handle the objects with interest, muttering a prayer to reveal magical auras. Staring at them in concentration, he mutters "Dorgio, you may want to see to Cirdan. I've healed many of his injuries, but the Druagr likely drained much of his life force. Restoring it is beyond my ability."