Castle Amber: A D&D Adventure

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 1:01 am

Kalar looks over the now-empty barrel, to make sure it's clean. Or at least, as clean as it's going to get. He removes a flask from his pack, the one carrying ashes that he's had since the castle, and dumps it into the barrel. He then gets one of the weak healing potions and dumps it in as well. Would be better if it were water, but he only has one use of the spell and he'll need it later.

He sets to work cleaning the barrel out as best as he's able, using the liquid of the potion and the ash to clean the insides. An old trick he learned while serving in the military, when soap wasn't readily available.

When he's done, he'll dump the contents onto the floor and then Create Water into the barrel. It won't be as clean as it could be, but definitely better than the vile stuff that was in it prior.

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 1:54 am

The prison woman nods her approval and shakes her manacled hands at Voulton. The manacles looks old but made of solid iron. They were connected to a chain that was connected to a piton high up on the wall. As Kalar came in and began checking on the prisoners, it became clear that one of them had died. The teeth marks in the other man and his pale skin pointed to an even darker fate. Kalar's attempts to revive him with healing spells were in vain. The man's eyes opened by he remained unable to even hold his head up or make a sound. The woman was a different story. Upon curing her, Kalar noticed a drastic improvement. He also made a note that she had no marks on her neck.
"Oh my," said the woman. "Thank you for saving me. Will I really be free from this place?" The woman looked at the party with a new found vigor and hope. Even the presence of Kalar's undead minion didn't seem to sway her hopefully outlook.
Lynda had gone over and joined Rob. Rob was currently looking over the new braced wooden door. Having lost his scorpion, he wasn't willing to get very close at all to this door and was trying his best to see what he could see from a distance.
"Um, hello?" Called out the woman, as Kalar and Voulton prepared the barrel for water. "Can you release me now please?"

Feenicks · Post by **Feenicks** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 1:57 am

Rachelle follows Lynda deeper into the dungeon. She wonders whether the party has the ability to get the prisoners back to civilization safely.

Given [s]Kalar's[/s] the party's 'ability' to get its allies killed worryingly fast, the chances for them probably aren't all that great, she thought.

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 2:00 am

"We will free you, yes. However, I have just healed you, and we have water for you. We will let you go to do as you will, but first we must know who you are. I have given my word to safeguard these people, and though I wish to see you free, I would first know who you are, where you came from, and what you're doing here. I am sure you would show the same concern in my stead, especially when carelessness would see the possible death of your comrades."

Kalar looks at the other man and considers what to do. Kalar orders one of his bloodhulks return outside and to stay in the middle of the field of battle. Just in case.

Once that is done, he holds up his holy symbol and focuses divine energy into it, trying to bring the man under his control if he is indeed what Kalar thinks he has become.

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 4:15 am

Kalar's rebuking attempt has no effect.

The woman adjusts herself, trying to gain some bit of pride. "I am Claire de Alerouge, Duchess of House Alerouge of La Frenaie. A colossus attacked the city. I was in my chateau at the time and I remember the ceiling colapsing on top of me. The next thing I knew I was chained to this wall and a living skeleton was feeding me. I have lost track of time, how long have I been here? I must get word to my family that I still live!" the woman said.

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 4:22 am

Most interesting. Kalar puts on as sincere and diplomatic a face as he can as he says:

"I see. My lady, I have no idea how to break this to you, but I have reason to believe that your entire city is now a ruin, with everyone there dead. We were at Vyones over two months ago, and a colossus attacked it. We were able to slay the creature and track the necromancer who controlled it, bringing us to this location.

"You have my condolences, my lady, but rest assured that the creature responsible for the destruction of your home is no more. Alas, I do fear that you will have no city to return to. However, you are free to travel with us until we can find you a suitable place to stay."

Kalar is still unconvinced though, and remains cautious.

"We will free you, but I fear that these manacles are too strong for us to break. Do you have any idea where the keys are, that we may find them and release you?"

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 4:40 am

Rachelle took out her 10 foot pole, which was only roughly stashed away in the first place. She motioned towards Rob and Lynda to stand back as she poked the door. Nothing happened. The group proceeded to the next door and in this way prodded each of the doors available to them. None of them seemed clearly trapped.

The woman shrugged at Kalar, "I don't know of any keys. May I speak to someone less scary, perhaps you, large man, will be able to free me?"

Gizmog · Post by **Gizmog** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 4:57 am

Voulton gets out his biggest sharpest axe and takes a swing at the chains.

Post by **Bob the Hamster** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 4:58 am

"Well, all the doors pass the poke-test" Rob says, impressed with Rachelle's simple but wise forethought. "How about if we open that flimsy looking door now, and wait on the other doors until Voulton and Kalar are done in there?

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 5:33 am

"Very well, if my presence disturbs you, I shall take my leave."

Kalar gathers his minions to himself, along with the bloodhulk he sent out, and makes to join up with Rob and co.

Before leaving the room, he says to Voulton, "Be careful, we don't know what's going on yet."

When he meets up with the rest, he tells Rob, "If you're going to open one of those doors, let one of my skeletons or a bloodhulk do it. Them, we can afford to lose. One of us, not so much."

He takes a look at the lantern they've been using and says, "Here, this might be better than that lantern." He reaches into his pack and retrieves a sunrod. He holds it firmly in one hand and strikes one end against his tower shield, activating it. He hands it to Rob and says, "Take it. I no longer need light to see, but this should be of use to you. It's far brighter than that lantern, and lasts about as long."

Turning to Lynda, he says, "Do you still have that snake of yours? I have an idea as to how to scout this area out with minimal threat to ourselves."

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 7:02 am

Voulton's axe snaps the old chains with a loud, CLINK! The woman flinches horribly at the sound. She falls tot he ground as she flinches. As the chain falls from the wall she realizes that she is free. Hands still bond by manacles, she stands up. She wobbles a bit but gains her balance without falling a second time. "Thank you so much. I don't suppose to have something else for me to wear? My petticoat is filthy. I do not wish to walk around like this." The woman then began to use the water to clean the dirt off her face rather than drink it.

Kalar joined the others and helped them explore the flimsy looking door. It opened to a hallway with two more doors and a continued hallway that bent out of sight.

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 8:37 am

"Right, lads, I believe my minions and I shall take point this time. But keep close to me, and be ready to attack anything hostile."

Kalar orders one blood hulk and two skeletons to stay ahead of him while the rest follow. He keeps his sword ready, using it to scout around for any traps. He makes for the door closest to them, ordering one of the bloodhulks to attempt opening the door after he's ascertained that it's not trapped.

Kalar also keeps his eye out for anything that might be living, rats, spiders, insects, whatever. He has a plan, but he'll need some small living animal in order to enact it.

Opening the door that leads south between 17 and 18.

Gizmog · Post by **Gizmog** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 7:14 pm

Voulton shakes his head, he doesn't have anything to wear. The fact that she'd worry about something silly like that and then wash with the water rather than drinking it reminds him of someone... reminds him of LYNDA. Someone's just been added to the Traitor Watchlist!

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 11:04 pm

"Very well then, how do we get out of here? If everyone else in my family truly is dead, that leaves me the sole heir. I must stake my claim at once, before usurpers swoop in," said Claire. Voulton looked around. Everyone else had left the room and he wasn't sure how best to handle this woman.

Kalar's skeleton opened the crude door. This room is full of dusty boxes. The boxes have been cracked open and the contains can be seen aroudn the ground. Whatever was in these boxes has long since crumbled to the ages. Books with faded words, dirty capes, tattered boots, and stinky furs make up some of the things found in the room.
Kalar could feel Bill was very close by.

Gizmog · Post by **Gizmog** » Fri Jun 26, 2015 12:14 am

Voulton switches back to his shield and a throwing axe after having dealt with the chains. Why isn't there an axe that talks to people? He sighs and tries to be diplomatic:

"Duchess de Alerouge, we still have business to attend to here. I don't know what it was like when you were imprisoned here, but the woods are no longer safe to travel. I have to go and help my friends, and when we've completed our task we can escort you to safety."

Not mentioning that this safety might be a road just outside of Vyones, or maybe even the peaceful fishing village they'd travelled through and not her obviously preferred La Frenale. Damned nobles.

"For now, you should stay here. Have some food and water, get used to moving around again. If you see or hear anything, yell as loud as you can. And try not to worry about Kalar... he *IS* scary, but his heart's in the right place. Do you understand?"