The New Room - move 1

The new location combines with the tension of a quick getaway to fray nerves. Unannounced nervousness is covered by quick action and outward calm.

Alion, Brin, Qwyn and Ronak all hold torches as the party begins to move.

I don't need this" Qwyn gestures to the torch he's holding, "Anyone want it?"

Inara looks around, her soft eyes hardening slightly while her voice takes on an even tone. "I told you we would be fine... as for now... Stones, could you give me a layout to the shit-strewn hell you just took us to?"

Stones’s previous excursion to this location is obvious as he confidently begins walking the perimeter of the room, checking the section of wall that has no dust for secret passages. "I don't know the area well. I ported here from home and snuck out past some priests I believe. It was easy to go out the door but perhaps there is another way..."

Voss moves to the bed, then drops to his knees to check under it. No monsters there.

Ronak watches Stones with interest. "I have never heard of secret passages in the temple. Travel through the areas--" he shudders as though lost in a far past memory"--required a special amulet."

Inara perks up at special amulet. “Ronak, any description on this so-called special amulet?"

Ronak, still looking tired from having his throat cut earlier in the night, replies, "“I guess amulet is the wrong description It is a coat of mail with small snails inlaid. It renders--" Ronak grabs the sides of his head in anguish.

Whatever he is trying to tell you of the power has caused him great pain! Brin puts his hand on the fat man’s arm in a soothing manner.

Voss moves to the window, examining it closely. He provides running commentary as he whispers about what he sees.

The windows are pieces of glass in window frames that have been cleverly added to the stone window sills. It is excellent carpentry/stonework as someone took the effort to put in the wood BEFORE the stone set.

The windows are all covered with glass, so you can see out them clearly. There are no locks on the windows and no way to open them.

You look out and judge you are most likely on the second story of some type of well constructed building. You think well constructed since everything is stone. You are probably about fifteen feet from the ground. You cannot see any other parts of the temple.

Snow covers the ground in the direction you look, a field about 100 yards long ending in a long row of trees. Six above ground vaults protrude at various points in the field. You know they are vaults since you recognize the symbols of various Gods carved in stone in the form of gargoyles. You don't recall the names of the Gods though.

Whatever it is you are definitely ATOP a hill as far in the distance you can see the trees give way to the buildings of the town.

Inara glances around at the entire assembled company. Remsfeld grunt behind her, casting a wary gaze on all.

"Yyaaaaa.... Because I have a feeling I'll be scouting ahead," says Inara. Remsfeld's eyes widen at that information.

Qwyn douses his torch by smashing it against a part of cement on the floor. He then speaks, "Inara, if you go scouting, don't go too far from the main group by yourself. Elby, how are you feeling? Do you think you'd be up for accompanying Inara?"

Elby shakes his head no, accompanying the gesture with phlegm filled cough.

Voss looks over from his spot at the window, "Of course we can watch Elbeneth. But we must figure out what our plan of attack is. We can't go far with one so sick as this.”

Radegast smiles at the assembled group.

"This is strangely fitting. In my past, I once burned down a temple and then headed straight to a bar. Funny how things come back around."

Inara looks over in alarm, "Radegast, no burning shit.”

Stones continues searching under the tapestry as well. The tapestries are moth eaten to the point where you can barely make out the scenes. It appears to be pictures of men holding their hands toward the skies with light coming down from the heavens.

There is nothing behind them.

"--and unless we need all that light, I suggest we covering the windows or douse the torches,” adds Stones from behind one of the tapestries.

He pops out his head, sparing a quick glance at Radegast, and says with a grin, "we need to stop burning things down"

Voss continues on with his thoughts. His words come out in a half-accusatory manner.

"Either someone must stay behind, like the Paladin and child and a couple more while we others strike quickly and end this.”

He looks around the rest of the room, as though waiting for his words to be challenged.

"As a ranger, I'm willing to range and see what lies ahead, with anyone else willing to. Stones. What can you tell us of the temple layout? Its contents?"

Meanwhile Inara moves close to the door, Remsfeld closely behind her. Where she is silent his plate armor offers the rather un-melodic sound of metal-on-metal. It seems doubly loud given the silence of the morning.

Inara crouches down next to the door. She has one hand under her robe, apparently taking a manual inventory of her equipment. She looks up before proceeding.

“Stones, this door isn't going to blow up when I try and open it, will it? What... I'm serious. I live with dwarves. I'm a trader. I don't use magic.”

Stones moves from a tapestry to the window, looking out the windows carefully, trying to see but not be seen. “The door is wizard locked, but it will open for me when we are ready to move, or if you would like to do some recognizance."

Voss’s description was certainly accurate.

Stones looks toward the rest of the party, “As best I can remember, this doorway leads to a short hallway and then some stairs out a door below. After that I just walked straight into town."

Voss adds in irritation, "Those trained in magic may have sensed its use here. Every moment we remain, we may be losing the element of surprise.”

Stones looks pensive and then says, "Oh, I did forget a detail or two...for instance: There is a circular window right outside the door - large enough for a person to fit out (maybe not Ronak.). There is also a set of stairs. I went down the them, which ended at a dead end wall - where I listened and heard muffled sounds. I then went back up the steps, opened the window and leaped 15 foot to the snow below. I then walked around the side of the building 300 yards then the funeral began others joined in and I slipped in to join the mourners unnoticed."

"I will lead out the door when we are ready to go," Radegast offers.

Having heard enough Qwyn steps up onto the bed, he does not raise his voice, instead simply changing his tone. It catches your attention though.

"Folks, if I may make a suggestion here ... let's figure out our plan of attack before we decide on any immediate actions.

The first issue, as I see it, is we need to figure out what we want to do here and it what order. Are we here to kill every priest of Cholme we encounter; find out more information about the portal; or just figure out a way to get our collective selves to a safer location? The second issue I see is that we have several party members who are ill-equipped for battle currently—“ Qwyn gestures to Ronak, Elby and Brin, “--and we need to figure out a good way to safeguard them regardless of our ultimate quest."

"So, can we figure out the first issue now? What do we want to do? I'm amenable to any of the three suggestions I made earlier."

It strikes you as a pretty good idea to figure out the plan. Especially as the room seems secure.