Castle Amber: A D&D Adventure

Post by **Bob the Hamster** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 2:44 am

Rob heeds Kalar's suggestion that it would be good to search the corpses.

He steps up to one of the remaining newly raised zombies.

"All right, you. Raise your arms above your head. This won't take a minute."

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 2:48 am

Kalar and Rob, armed with the glasses and magic sword find and identify:

+1 Buckler
+1 Darkwood Shield
+2 Heavy Steel Shield
Bashing Heavy Steel Shield (small sized)
Masterwork Composite Shortbow (+3 Str bonus)
+1 Studded Leather (currently on an active zombie)
Antitoxin (2 doses)
+4 Half Plate (painted green)

Gizmog · Post by **Gizmog** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 2:57 am

Voulton can't believe it and his first reaction is to laugh. "We all thought he was an idiot when he painted his armor like that... and then when he tried to "blend in" with the trees.. we were dying laughing. There was this story he'd tell, he'd tell it to anyone who'd listen. How this one night he'd been drinkin, and he went out to hitch up his horses and go home.. and they were fighting him and he was fighting them, but he finally got 'em bridled up and went home." Voulton laughs even harder, remembering the crazy old man's face as he'd tell it every time.

"Next mornin he gets up and looks out the window, and there's his wagon... tied to a bear! "Y'see, I gots a way with animals" he'd say. Nobody ever believed him, but you couldn't pass a gopher on the road without him running off and tryin to shake hands with it. He didn't have any business in that castle... but he volunteered. Said a man who could talk to animals might come in handy and they believed him. Poor bastard."

"Poor Jenibelle too. She used to tell fortunes, claimed she could SEE THE FUTURE. Had the gift! She'd charge you an arm and a leg and then she'd tell you something stupid like... bad things will happen when you stay out in the rain! The Queen had real wizards.. they must've known she was full of it, but they sent her anyway. And when Zash there found out she couldn't divine a safe way through, he just made her step on everything till the traps quit shooting. He's the only "real soldier" who didn't make it."

"God, Sarge though.. I really thought he'd catch up. He was the toughest guy I knew, loved to arm wrestle and he never, EVER lost. I guess there were just too many.. even for him."

He nods to Kalar. "These are my friends from the castle too. They didn't belong there and they don't belong here." To hell with waiting for traps, Voulton starts moving his friends out of the disgusting pile and tries to arrange their bodies with some dignity. All except for Zash, he can stay where he is.

But, there are practicalities to observe. There hadn't been time for looting when things in the castle went to hell. These people had been equipped for the journey just like Voulton had, and that equipment might still be useful. After an appropriate period of re-mourning, Voulton inspects their equipment.

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 3:15 am

"If you desire, I can have my minions bring them outside for a proper burial. Of if you wish to ask them questions, I can do that for you tomorrow."

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 3:27 am

Voulton could tell his friends had been looted. Jenibelle's fortune telling had be fake, but her magic ring was real. He could see the tan line where it had been. Sarge's helmet and Zashes sash were missing too. Seeing the items Rob and Kalar were pulling off of bodies, Voulton pieced together that mostly armor was left behind by who ever or what ever looted these bodies.
Rachelle looked over the corpses. Some of them looked very fresh. They hardly smelled at all, compared tot he others. She also found a few that had flesh rotting off the bone. Some of these bodies might have been here for more than a year. Maybe even two, she thought as she saw what looked more like a skeleton covered in mold.

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 3:33 am

Kalar takes the shortbow, saying "Hrulgin will be able to make good use of this. As for the other items, I say we make use of what we can, and take the rest for selling. For now, let's regroup at the wagon to plan our next move. I don't want to be around if that beholder comes looking."

Gizmog · Post by **Gizmog** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 3:40 am

Voulton shakes his head, the mental image of Kalar's bloodhulks digging a hole and putting his friends in it the exact opposite of his idea of a dignified burial. "No, no questions. Let the dead rest. Someone's already taken some of their stuff. a ring, some sashes, a helmet. Looks like all they left was the armor. You know, I hope that when we break the curse, they come home with us. I hate to even imagine them stuck *HERE* forever."

He doesn't tell Kalar, but Voulton doesn't need a spell to hear Darrel's voice in his ear, he's been hearing it ever since sharing the story. Go on, it says. DO IT. They'll be able to see ya comin' otherwise. Ya gots ta have the element of SURPRISE. Not gonna surprise anyone in that shiny clanky stuff. Take it. TAKE IT! DO IT! DO IT!!

And so Voulton starts undoing the straps and buckles of his full-plate. It might be dangerous to do it in here, but who cares. It's going to take more than armor to get out of this. It's going to take.. CAMOFLAGE. After he gets his armor off and Darrel's old armor on, he's gonna look around and try and find that green paint.

"Who needs to be buried? We'll just make it so no sorcerors can find 'em! Ha! Haha! Hahahahah!"

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 3:57 am

The armor fit Voulton well, forming magically to his every curve. It was easier to move in then his other armor and he could feel the power it had, repelling the things armor him slightly. The green paint was still in Darrel's pack. It was as if Darrel had seen this coming to have bought so much green paint, Voulton thought to himself. Voulton began painting the bodies of his fallen friends.
Kalar and Rob had finished gathering all the magical items by this time. Kalar was using some of his new zombies to carry the things while they discussed their next move.

Feenicks · Post by **Feenicks** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 3:59 am

Rachelle, feeling uneasy around all these reanimated dead bodies, announces her intention to head back to the wagon. She'd rather mull over what to do next outside the confines of a dungeon.

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 4:15 am

Back at the wagon, Kalar discusses his findings.

"Back there, I used a spell that let me see through a zombie's eyes. I found that there was a beholder there. They're extremely powerful, and I do not want to face one of them as I am particularly vulnerable to its magic. I had intended for Lynda to face it with her anti-magic amulet, but she's off recuperating. However, we still have the amulet, and I believe either you Voulton or you Rachelle would be able to take it on alone provided you wear the amulet.

"I also discovered a shrine to Vecna there. It's worth noting that the skeleton with the silver arm had Vecna's symbol on its head as well. That's worrying, but given the proper spells and preparation, I can cut off the shrine's connection to Vecna for a few hours, which might give us some advantage.

"I also discovered that some of the doors we had previously opened had been locked and barred. That means that there is someone still in there, possibly defending against us and making ready to fight. Tomorrow, I can cast the spell again and use one of these new zombies to scout around with no danger to us.

"Lastly, there's a pool there that leads to the ghoul lands. Hrulgin, I need you to tell us everything you know about the ghoul lands and travel through them. Would it be possible to use them as a means of travel to and from the castle? And what exactly are the ghoul lands?"

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 4:32 am

"Well, to put it bluntly," says Hrulgin, "it's hell." Hrulgin thinks to himself for a moment before continuing. "I believe I was once told that it was a special hell for ghouls, wights, and some drow. It's home to true ghouls, like myself. We true ghouls separate ourselves from those mad things we saw here before. We have more sense about us. Anyways, I've also heard of the ghoul lands refered to as the white kingdom by most of the nobles there. I don't think anyone living should ever go there. Kalar, entering hell while still alive is one of the reasons I follow you. To enter the Abyss and return is not something mortals do easily."
Hrulgin spoke up again, seeming to have forgotten something important, "Oh! I found it very odd that the portal we went through brought us to a mortal realm. Everything I had ever learned told me otherwise. Portals in the hell planes are not suppose to be able to leave the hell planes. That portal was a great find. I wouldn't chance trying to find it again though."

Feenicks · Post by **Feenicks** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 4:56 am

"I thought this place was pretty much a suburb of one of the hells," Rachelle replies, picking up Lynda's amulet as she did so. Was it worth looking for that Beholder that was mentioned?

...Rachelle got up. "I'm going to talk to that beholder Kalar found, if it hasn't been boarded up already," she says, putting on the antimagic amulet as she does so. Surely it would have enough sense to stop attacking once it realized that it wasn't doing anything to her with its spells, right?

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 5:02 am

"Good idea. Do you want any of my minions to accompany you?"

Feenicks · Post by **Feenicks** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 6:02 am

"I suppose, although I might have to ask them to stay some distance away from me, if that's possible," Rachelle replied. Sure, she would be invulnerable to magic with the amulet, but the skeletons wouldn't, and she didn't want them giving away herself before she had a chance to execute her plan.

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 7:45 am

"Very well."

Kalar orders his last bloodhulk to follow Rachelle, but at a distance. He also orders it to attack anything that attacks her, but not before.

He turns to Hrulgin and says, "That is most interesting. I might attempt another venture into the ghoul lands, but not just yet. First, we need to deal with whatever else is in there. Ah, and here, this bow might be of use to you. No arrows yet though, but we'll get some the next chance we get."

While waiting for Rachelle, Kalar turns his attention to the books that could not be opened. He studies them, trying to figure out how they might be opened. He does not attempt to force them open though, as that could potentially destroy the books.