The Old Observatory
Moderator: patransom
Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
“Doesn't matter...” Tex moves to 1211 and opens the door.
Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
The party moves cautiously farther into the old observatory. Marcus wonders aloud, “Which of the two doors do we open?” Tex replies, “Doesn't matter...” and takes decisive action, throwing open the southernmost door to reveal:
The revolting stench of rotting flesh roils from the open door. In the room beyond, ten chairs surround an oblong dining table situated parallel to the door. Along the south wall, a wide staircase leads to an upper floor. There is a wooden door below the stairs and two more doors line the north wall. A sagging antique wooden shelf dominates the east wall, looking like it might collapse at any moment.
Three tall candles on the dining table illuminate a sight of terror. With the exception of the seat at the eastern end, each of the chairs surrounding the table holds an awkwardly seated humanoid figure. The nine bodies are in various stages of decomposition. Some sit with splendid posture, paused as if midway through a sumptuous feast. Others slump treacherously close to the floor.
Heaping plates of apparently fresh food sit before each of the diners, but the empty place setting features a clean plate and set of utensils. Several bottles of red wine rest upon the table, and each of the corpses sits before a half-finished glass. A fly passes nearby, its there-not-there buzz breaking the eerie silence.
The revolting stench of rotting flesh roils from the open door. In the room beyond, ten chairs surround an oblong dining table situated parallel to the door. Along the south wall, a wide staircase leads to an upper floor. There is a wooden door below the stairs and two more doors line the north wall. A sagging antique wooden shelf dominates the east wall, looking like it might collapse at any moment.
Three tall candles on the dining table illuminate a sight of terror. With the exception of the seat at the eastern end, each of the chairs surrounding the table holds an awkwardly seated humanoid figure. The nine bodies are in various stages of decomposition. Some sit with splendid posture, paused as if midway through a sumptuous feast. Others slump treacherously close to the floor.
Heaping plates of apparently fresh food sit before each of the diners, but the empty place setting features a clean plate and set of utensils. Several bottles of red wine rest upon the table, and each of the corpses sits before a half-finished glass. A fly passes nearby, its there-not-there buzz breaking the eerie silence.
OUT OF CHARACTER |
I've not placed the corpses on the map, because they don't appear to be animated, but they are located in each of the chairs except the one at 0409. |
ACTIVE EFFECTS |
Texudus TreeBender - 6 hp damage |
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Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
a cautious tone Marcus warns: “Be alert and stay clear of the table. It could be an illusion that banquet, but touching something on the table could be the trigger for something I'd care not to have happen. I can have my servant check the area and see if the table is the trap. What do you say?” Marcus waits for a response,
Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
Lola moves up, takes a look in and replies “"I agree, I think having your invisible friend check things out would be good."”
Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
“Whatever you do, don't drink the wine,” Cyrius cautions after the scene is described to him, still watching the door adjacent to 1315.
Over on Discord, I go by Gryphon
"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, for if you hit a man with a plowshare, he's going to know he's been hit." - The Wisdom of Nodwick
"Nothing says love like two hundred feet of parachute cable and a cargo net." - Fred Jones, Scooby Doo: Mystery Inc.
"I know, the first rule of Robot Fight Club is, you don't talk about Robot Fight Club." - Jack Darby, Transformers Prime
"Always. Expect. Ninjas." - Sydney Scoville, Grrl Power
- Cyrius of the Sudden Blade, human soulknife
- Jephthryam Davian, human tinkerer
"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, for if you hit a man with a plowshare, he's going to know he's been hit." - The Wisdom of Nodwick
"Nothing says love like two hundred feet of parachute cable and a cargo net." - Fred Jones, Scooby Doo: Mystery Inc.
"I know, the first rule of Robot Fight Club is, you don't talk about Robot Fight Club." - Jack Darby, Transformers Prime
"Always. Expect. Ninjas." - Sydney Scoville, Grrl Power
- Cyrius of the Sudden Blade, human soulknife
- Jephthryam Davian, human tinkerer
Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
“Aye, suddenly I'm not very hungry anyway. Send your servant in.” Tex Backs up a step to 1312.
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Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
Marcus orders his servant into the room and begin tampering with the table and seated "guests".
Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
Marcus gives his servant a series of instructions aimed at disturbing the gruesome "dining" scene. First, he has the servant move various plates, utensils, and wine glasses out of reach of the corpses. Next, he has the servant go so far as to adjust the position of some of the "dinner guests," moving the arms of some and tilting the position of others. The unseen servant accomplishes all of this without anything unexpected occurring.
Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
“Ok, that's a little disturbing.” Tex says as he walks into the room, on guard. Walking toward the shelves at the far end.
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Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
Marcus enters the room. “Be careful what you touch.” Marcus goes to the stairs to see what he sees.
Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
Cyrius withdraws to 1312, still watching the door adjacent to 1315 but ready to enter the Banquet Hall of Horror if his comrades need help.
Over on Discord, I go by Gryphon
"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, for if you hit a man with a plowshare, he's going to know he's been hit." - The Wisdom of Nodwick
"Nothing says love like two hundred feet of parachute cable and a cargo net." - Fred Jones, Scooby Doo: Mystery Inc.
"I know, the first rule of Robot Fight Club is, you don't talk about Robot Fight Club." - Jack Darby, Transformers Prime
"Always. Expect. Ninjas." - Sydney Scoville, Grrl Power
- Cyrius of the Sudden Blade, human soulknife
- Jephthryam Davian, human tinkerer
"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, for if you hit a man with a plowshare, he's going to know he's been hit." - The Wisdom of Nodwick
"Nothing says love like two hundred feet of parachute cable and a cargo net." - Fred Jones, Scooby Doo: Mystery Inc.
"I know, the first rule of Robot Fight Club is, you don't talk about Robot Fight Club." - Jack Darby, Transformers Prime
"Always. Expect. Ninjas." - Sydney Scoville, Grrl Power
- Cyrius of the Sudden Blade, human soulknife
- Jephthryam Davian, human tinkerer
Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
OUT OF CHARACTER |
Yes, a good name for the room. In the adventure as written, it's just called "Feasting Hall," but I like your name better. |
Tex, Marcus, and Lola enter the Banquet Hall of Horror (TM), while Cyrius waits just outside guarding the door.
Moving over to the shelves, Tex notes that they hold a set of silver dining utensils that are much nicer than the ones currently in "use" by the corpses. His dwarven sense for such things tells him the items on the shelf contain a high percentage of real silver.
Looking up the steep stairs, Marcus can see that they open into another large chamber above, but he cannot make out any more than the edge of the floor at the top of the stairs due to the angle. He would have to ascend at least halfway up the stairs to get a view of what's at the top.
ACTIVE EFFECTS |
Texudus TreeBender - 6 hp damage |
- Duniagdra
- Divine Rank 21
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- Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2007 5:17 pm
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Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
Marcus turns from the stairs and softly says to his team, “We should check this floor entirely. Brace for whatever, I'm going to start opening doors.” Marcus then commands the servant to open the door under the ascending stairs. He assumes it the reveal a closet and or stairs descending.
Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
Agreed, and there's quite a bit of silver over here. We might consider picking that up on teh way out.
Tex readies to pierce any enemies that come out of that door.
Tex readies to pierce any enemies that come out of that door.
Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
Marcus' servant opens the door beneath the stairs. The space beyond appears to be a storage closet. It contains four chairs and eight copper candle stands.
ACTIVE EFFECTS |
Texudus TreeBender - 6 hp damage |
- Duniagdra
- Divine Rank 21
- Posts: 2266
- Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2007 5:17 pm
- Location: Newark, New Jersey, USA
- Contact:
Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
Milton directs the servant to open the other two doors in succession, as long as no threat presents itself from the first door opened, if there is, then it simply steps aside and waits for the threat to be handled before opening the next.
Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
tex walks to the other side of the table (0607) and readies a shot as the first door is opened. then moves to 1007 for the 2nd door, ready there as well.
Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
Cyrius remains where he is, watching that door adjacent to 1315.
OUT OF CHARACTER |
It's probably a broom closet or servant's quarters... but just in case... |
Over on Discord, I go by Gryphon
"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, for if you hit a man with a plowshare, he's going to know he's been hit." - The Wisdom of Nodwick
"Nothing says love like two hundred feet of parachute cable and a cargo net." - Fred Jones, Scooby Doo: Mystery Inc.
"I know, the first rule of Robot Fight Club is, you don't talk about Robot Fight Club." - Jack Darby, Transformers Prime
"Always. Expect. Ninjas." - Sydney Scoville, Grrl Power
- Cyrius of the Sudden Blade, human soulknife
- Jephthryam Davian, human tinkerer
"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, for if you hit a man with a plowshare, he's going to know he's been hit." - The Wisdom of Nodwick
"Nothing says love like two hundred feet of parachute cable and a cargo net." - Fred Jones, Scooby Doo: Mystery Inc.
"I know, the first rule of Robot Fight Club is, you don't talk about Robot Fight Club." - Jack Darby, Transformers Prime
"Always. Expect. Ninjas." - Sydney Scoville, Grrl Power
- Cyrius of the Sudden Blade, human soulknife
- Jephthryam Davian, human tinkerer
Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
Tex covers the doors while Marcus' servant opens them. Both doors, it turns out, lead to the same room, which appears to be a rather sparsely furnished kitchen. On a long counter at the far wall of the room, you can see the following: an enormous
wheel of cheese, a moldy loaf of bread, several strips of stringy cured meat, and several shoddy-looking knives. There is another door that leads east out of the kitchen.
wheel of cheese, a moldy loaf of bread, several strips of stringy cured meat, and several shoddy-looking knives. There is another door that leads east out of the kitchen.
ACTIVE EFFECTS |
Texudus TreeBender - 6 hp damage |
- Duniagdra
- Divine Rank 21
- Posts: 2266
- Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2007 5:17 pm
- Location: Newark, New Jersey, USA
- Contact:
Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
“This other door in the kitchen is likely a pantry. I'm going to open it anyhow, since we've done so as far. I'd like to have a look at the door in the hall though as well. There's a chance it may lead down.” Marcus will open the pantry door with this servant, then go to the hall and open the other door.
Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
After his servant opens the other door in the kitchen, Marcus peers in and confirms that it is a pantry. The shelves are mostly empty, holding only a handful of spices and dried food. Moving back into the corridor, Marcus commands his servant to open the last door there. The servant, however, is unsuccessful. The door only creaks at the servant's repeated efforts to open it, suggesting it is stuck or locked.
Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
Cyrius will move to 1416 to back up whoever examines the last door.
Over on Discord, I go by Gryphon
"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, for if you hit a man with a plowshare, he's going to know he's been hit." - The Wisdom of Nodwick
"Nothing says love like two hundred feet of parachute cable and a cargo net." - Fred Jones, Scooby Doo: Mystery Inc.
"I know, the first rule of Robot Fight Club is, you don't talk about Robot Fight Club." - Jack Darby, Transformers Prime
"Always. Expect. Ninjas." - Sydney Scoville, Grrl Power
- Cyrius of the Sudden Blade, human soulknife
- Jephthryam Davian, human tinkerer
"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, for if you hit a man with a plowshare, he's going to know he's been hit." - The Wisdom of Nodwick
"Nothing says love like two hundred feet of parachute cable and a cargo net." - Fred Jones, Scooby Doo: Mystery Inc.
"I know, the first rule of Robot Fight Club is, you don't talk about Robot Fight Club." - Jack Darby, Transformers Prime
"Always. Expect. Ninjas." - Sydney Scoville, Grrl Power
- Cyrius of the Sudden Blade, human soulknife
- Jephthryam Davian, human tinkerer
- Duniagdra
- Divine Rank 21
- Posts: 2266
- Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2007 5:17 pm
- Location: Newark, New Jersey, USA
- Contact:
Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
“We need someone with skill or strength to open this door. If it's locked, it's bound to hide something worth knowing.”
Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
Lola will move to 1414 to help guard and see what is in the last room.
Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
Tex will move in that direction as well. put him at 1413
Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
The party gathers around the last unopened door, but no one volunteers to open it...
ACTIVE EFFECTS |
Texudus TreeBender - 6 hp damage |
Re: [Active Thread] The Old Observatory
“"We can all stand here at look at the door, but that will do no good. I do not have the strength if it is stuck or locked. Maybe someone else has the necessary strength??"”