Ghosts of Gauntcliff: Chapter Five

[Ken of Ghastria]

Primeiro yells at the fleeing shadow creature, "That's right, you've failed again! In death as in your life... SERVANT!" Hearing Everline, he brings his sunrod over to Dorgio, hoping that he can help the priest clear his vision.

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Dorgio grins broadly as he sees the spell strike the creature, but his look of triumph quickly turns to shock as the trendrils envelop his face. Instinctively one hand goes to his eyes, to make sure no lasting damage has been done to his person. "Nothing, I can see nothing!"

"It is magic, foul magic, I think" he says, though he sounds unsure of his words. He chokes down his grip on his spear, holding it just beneath the spearhead so he can use it as a crude walking stick. "But we can't stop, we must push on, find out what else lies in this dungeon besides that beast."

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"That bastard comes first," Everline growls, the hand holding her wand shaking with fury not at all suppressed. "He dies before dawn!"

[steveflam]

BENN & JUERGIN




Benn and Jürgen walk back towards the open fields, only to find a forest of tall, leafless trees standing where the grassy meadows had been a short time ago. The warm breeze still carries the scent of roasting meat, though, and by following their noses, the two Lamordians find their way to a small campfire. The fire burns in a rock-lined pit dug in the middle of a barren clearing. A bent, gray haired man with bronze skin folded and creased like old leather sits beside the fire, turning a hunk of meat on a spit. The old man wears a doeskin blanket on his back, and little else besides a loin clout. As they draw near, Benn and Jürgen notice a hunting knife sticking out of the bundle behind the cook, hilt-first.
The stranger looks up and smiles through his wispy beard.

‘’Odddaaaggarrooyyhum.’’

"Hello" is what Juergin offers to the strange looking man in Lamordian, Mordentish and Darkonian.

He is of course smiling and the smell of meat makes his stomach grumble, reminding him he has not had a decent meal since he got to this accursed place. And again "We are travelers who have lost our way. Can you help us? We seek to find the small one eyed goblin people and get back home," he says in all three languages.

[ewancummins]

IN THE FOREST, BESIDE THE COOKFIRE

The man by the fire waves in a friendly fashion and motions for Jürgen to come closer. He points to the cooking meat.

''Huulnemoornayauuuu"

The old man leans forward and pinches Jürgen’s cheek with his right thumb and forefinger. His pinch is cold and hard, like being grabbed with an ice-seller's iron tongs. He holds on tight to the boy's cheek.

''Eeehhheeeka. Eeheeeka rummbheee."

The strange old man licks his leathery lips and smiles again. Jürgen sees that the stranger's teeth are filed to sharp points...

[ewancummins]

THE DUNGEON

Dorgio grins broadly as he sees the spell strike the creature, but his look of triumph quickly turns to shock as the trendrils envelop his face. Instinctively one hand goes to his eyes, to make sure no lasting damage has been done to his person. "Nothing, I can see nothing!"

"It is magic, foul magic, I think" he says, though he sounds unsure of his words. He chokes down his grip on his spear, holding it just beneath the spearhead so he can use it as a crude walking stick. "But we can't stop, we must push on, find out what else lies in this dungeon besides that beast."

Walking a short distance with the spear as an aid, Dorgio finds that his vision clears partially. He sees as through a glass, darkly.
Looking back to the spot where he had fired the bolt, he sees the tendrils of blackness writhing in slow motion, like dying snakes.

[steveflam]

Juergin frowns. To him it appears that the old codger is doing to his cheek what a grandmother would do to their child. His teeth are another tale entirely. The lad doesn't want to scare or offend the old man either so he just smiles at him comfortingly. He points to the meat roasting and mimics eating to himself and Benn. "Yes?" His head bobs up and down slowly so he hopes the oldster understands he and Benn are hungry.

[ewancummins]

THE LEAFLESS WOODS

Juergin frowns. To him it appears that the old codger is doing to his cheek what a grandmother would do to their child. His teeth are another tale entirely. The lad doesn't want to scare or offend the old man either so he just smiles at him comfortingly. He points to the meat roasting and mimics eating to himself and Benn. "Yes?" His head bobs up and down slowly so he hopes the oldster understands he and Benn are hungry.

The old man doesn't let go of the boy's cheek. The grip is starting to hurt. With his other hand, he rubs his belly.

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

"Over here!" he tells the others. "I can see something barely...is the creature wounded?"

[ewancummins]

THE DUNGEON


A tall figure lurches out of the shadow ahead of the party--Petrie with his hand-and-a-half sword extended in a double fisted grip.
The big swordsman asks,
''What the hell is going on? Where is that monster?"

[steveflam]

THE LEAFLESS WOODS

Juergin mumbles something and Dark One moves into the forest.

[ewancummins]

THE LEAFLESS WOODS

Juergin mumbles something and Dark One moves into the forest.

The old man suddenly yanks Jürgen close, while opening his sharp toothed mouth impossibly wide!

[steveflam]

Juergin thinks quickly and jabs the man in the mouth with his pole!

[Ken of Ghastria]

THE DUNGEON

Primeiro drops his rapier and picks up the morningstar that Everline tossed over to him. He feels its enchantment -- its desire to smash -- immediately.

A tall figure lurches out of the shadow ahead of the party--Petrie with his hand-and-a-half sword extended in a double fisted grip.
The big swordsman asks,
''What the hell is going on? Where is that monster?"

"Over here, I think...." says Primeiro, eyeing the spot that Dorgio has indicated. As soon as he sees the tendrils, he swings down at them with the morningstar.

[ewancummins]

THE DUNGEON

Primeiro drops his rapier and picks up the morningstar that Everline tossed over to him. He feels its enchantment -- its desire to smash -- immediately.

A tall figure lurches out of the shadow ahead of the party--Petrie with his hand-and-a-half sword extended in a double fisted grip.
The big swordsman asks,
''What the hell is going on? Where is that monster?"

"Over here, I think...." says Primeiro, eyeing the spot that Dorgio has indicated. As soon as he sees the tendrils, he swings down at them with the morningstar.

The morningstar passes through the tendrils as if those were nothing but shadows or smoke, and smashes into the floor with a dull thud.