Major Manor Mishap
Log Info
- Title: Major Manor Mishap
- Place: A Very Unusual Manor
- Summary: A local noble is currently having issues with their estate, and is hiring several seasoned adventurers to get to the bottom of it.
The Alexandrian Mountainside, Late Night.
A job had recently come in to the Alexandrian Adventurer's guild, seeking experienced adventurers to look into matters for one of the noble estates. The lord of the house has put out a request to ensure that their home will be fit for the arrival of him and his wife, who will be returning shortly. The tomb on the property was recently ransacked, and they are concerned of other further problems. The group is to clear this out during the night, to give the servants time to clean the day after prior to the arrival.
To this effect, there has been a carriage prepared for all of you at the guild, manned by a Halfling driver, to take you to your destination. They wait patiently for the party, already being there before the group gathers.
Arriving to the carriage - set to deliver him and the others to the noble estate - Harkashan takes his time to get seated. His big tail making it a bit hard for anyone who is going to sit next to him, so they may have to deal with an extra 'pillow' behind their backs.
"A ransacked tomb." Harkashan grumbles. Leave it to the Deathsinger to be particularly peeved at trouble in a place of rest. "Let's just hope the tomb was not ransacking itself."
Once they finally arrive and Harkashan gets out of the carriage, it takes him a bit to get rid of the pins and needles in his tail from being stuck in there for a while, before looking to those who await their arrival - presumably the staff.
"What can you tell us about what happened to the tomb area? Were things broken and taken?" Pause. "Wrenched open from outside or inside?"
The approach of the artificer isn't exactly... what one might refer to as... subtle. The night is dark, and the cart that she drives rattles along the road. The forty-eight individually suspended mini-tank treads making more noise than a troop of cavalry.
To light the way, the cap on her head shines a beam out in a 60 degree arc ahead of her as she uses the handles and foot-pedals to guide the cart along.
It should be noted that the cart, while noisy and convenient, is not faster than a walking person. But what it lacks in speed, it makes up for in the enthusiastic grin of Alaryn in the driver's seat. That and the fact that it carries -all- of her gear wherever she goes.
And so, pulling up to the estate, she sets the parking brake and turns off the mana-drive before climbing out of the driver's seat. Once down, she reaches up and adjusts the shiny stainless steel framework that turns her hat from a 60 degree arc to a 360 degree shine while walking around the left side to open a concealed hatch where she keeps her adventuring gear stowed.
Sometimes, you take work for a good cause. Other times, you do so because you need the cash to throw at certain enchanters you know. Rune took this job for the later reason. "Why does it always have to be night time?" She murmurs to herself. Then, putting on a distinctly posh accent, she answers herself, "Because the servants need time to clean up." Back to normal, she scoffs, "Nobles..."
Of course, all of this is /before/ she disembarks from the carriage and goes into 'work mode' Rune. The one that is all seriousness and that feigned demeanor of respectability. Glancing over at Alaryn, she can't help but have a quirk at the corner of her mouth, "At least she always knows how to make an entrance."
Then, to Harkashan, Rune notes, "Sounds like we might be more in your wheelhouse." The Makari did have a some experience with dealing with the dead and undead.
Readying herself, the half-elf draws out her two blades, lightly flipping them in her grip before leaving the socializing and questions to others, at least for now.
Regally present, ever pleasant, probably not a pheasant, it's Slixvah Unmesi! Said rainbow-ribbon clad egalrin woman was waltzing out of the guild hall, stepping her way up onto carriage. "Heya hon, thankies fo' ya biz,
Really wanting to just fly up there, she suffers the carriage ride before stepping out with the others and streeetching. Her sky blue gaze drifts over to the cart. And her wings droop briefly before she rolls her shoulders and squints against the shining light.
The esoteric arcanist reaches into her robes, pulls out a light cedar wand with a little strip of bandage dangling off the handle, and twirls it around to hold out towards the artificer. "Alaryn, ya boo-boo stick," she hums.
Though, Slix can't help but quietly snort at Rune's antics in the cart.
Ah, Guild work. No sewers; no dark woods filled with monsters, just honest work in civilized sections of the world, like a manor of average, well doing citizen. Aelwyn looked nothing but content about this. To celebrate, he even had his new leather cloak on off to one shoulder; the other carrying a light line of red silk.
Riding most of the way hanging on to the outside of the carriage, the Dragoon easily disembarked. "... Tread." He bows his head towards Alaryn, with a wide-eyed look. That was a contraption. Then he looks towards Slixvah. "Looking forward to the overtime tonight?" He asks with a twisted grin on his face. Rune and Harkashan receives a bow of his head as well. "This one will look forward to working together."
The ride to the manor is uneventful, and the Lucht man driving them is not one for much in the way of conversation. The location in question is far on the edge of the noble's district, where the civilized land of Alexandria threatens to meet the forests surrounding it. You come upon the tall stone walls of the manor, wrought iron and spiked gate already open to allow the vehicles passage through. Finally it comes to a stop near to the main entrance to the building, a massive structure of grey stone, with the windows currently closed up and curtained. On the approach, you can spot a white washed stone structure behind it, and a servant's house off near the gate.
"I'll be waiting for you all to finish up, so don't go taking too long, alright?" The Lucht states as they hop off to hitch the horses nearby.
Glancing over, Alaryn reaches up to switch off the cap of light. At least it's not causing a glare for anyone else now. She smiles to Slix and gives a mock fencing salute as she accepts the wand... using the wand for said salute before she tucks it into little leather holster she had bought just for that wand. "Perfect timing. Thanks!" she admits.
And then she pulls out a long rifle... well it's smooth bore. But you know.. from the compartment in her cart. That is tucked into a pouch about a foot deep. Don't think about it too hard, you'll hurt your brain. Then a pistol joins it in a separate pouch.
Lastly, she pulls a rack of cartridges out and loads three or four into her bandolier to top it off. Then she nods and says, "If I need more than two hundred sixty shots... we are doing -something- wrong." she states before she turns towards the gateman. "Ever think about having graveyards cleared out when the sun is up? Tends to make the job a bit easier." she says before she shrugs and reaches up to adjust her hat-framework before turning it back on to shine in that 60 degree forward arc. What? She's human. She can't the dark. That's why she has a cheater cheater hat.
GAME: Rune rolls knowledge/local: (2)+8: 10 GAME: Harkashan rolls Knowledge/History+2: (12)+7+2: 21 GAME: Slixvah rolls knowledge/local: (12)+6: 18 GAME: Aelwyn rolls knowledge/local: (12)+2: 14
With the driver being less than helpful, Rune looks towards Slixvah who seems to share some of her sentiment, and mouths 'don't go taking too long' with a roll of her eyes. Nobles. Sigh. Of course, this is done when the man's back is turned.
Taking a moment to pull something out from underneath her clothing, Rune touches a strange amulet before stowing it away again. There is a subtle shift in her appearance that is hard to notice in the dim light. She lifts the hood of her cloak to hide the effect from prying eyes.
Instead, it is Alaryn's hat that draws her attention, "That's certainly useful. Usually Harkashan just lights the way like a giant firefly in plate armor."
Slixvah rolls her eyes at Aewlyn, chuckling as she ambles up to him after eyeing everyone. "Please, I don't wanna do another ova night shift," she coos, walking past him. Her wing brushes him, and a sudden breeze wafts by him. "Let's jus' get thi' done clean and quick, ye?"
Thankful the blinding light was eliminated, she gives a return nod at the salute. "Mhmm. Betta ta have and no' need than the flipside." Speaking of. "A moment, hons."
She draws a wand out, one that's black with a red feather on it. There's a flick, a rush of washes past her, and she walks up to a vine on the wall. "Sorry, need ta use ya," she murmurs to the plant before intoning in a chant, "Iveg em uryo givro." Her hand alights in a murky green before touching the vine. It rapidly decays, the light crawling up her arm and flashing her eyes green.
She rolls her shoulders, joining the party while sharing a look to Rune with a light grin. "Just clean it up," she double speaks. Finish the job, and... well. Leave that to interpretation. Spying Alaryn's method of illumination, she also reaches up, plucks a feather, murmurs a simple incantation before it glows a soft pale white. She sticks it in her head plumage. "Good idea. But, manor, not graveyard." She pauses. "... I think th' guild did work here befo', killed some undead in the crypts? Supposed cleared durin' th' wight invasion, but... well, glad ya here Hark fo' this."
GAME: Slixvah used a Wand of Mage Armor. GAME: Slixvah casts Light. Caster Level: 7 DC: 15 GAME: Slixvah casts False Life. Caster Level: 7 DC: 17 GAME: Slixvah rolls 1d10+witch: (4)+7: 11 <OOC> Slixvah says, "Hex: Ward on Aelwyn. +2 deflection AC/+2 resist on saves until hit or fail save"
Nodding her head,Alaryn says. "Right. Inside." That said, she draws out her smaller firearm, the pistol. "Easier to use indoors where I won't bang it on everything." she explains.
Then she doublechecks her rod of lightning (Death Ray) and all that jazz.
Then, her face all smiles, she reaches up and lowers her goggles down over her eyes. "Let's do this." she says with the enthusiasm of a neophyte.
Harkashan will have chuckled at Rune's interpretation of what nobles sound like because... well... sometimes they do sound like that in this region.
"We will be quick as we can be." Harkashan bids to the Lucht as he begins to move towards the mansion. Indeed, as she mentioned, this seems to be more in Harkashan's wheelhouse, if the Tomb is at all involved.
But then, a ways towards the mansion, he stops. There's this little huff of his, as he seems to kind of 'lose his place' for a moment. Rune has seen this with him before. Those moments of Deja Vu. But usually they come with a grimace of pain...
There's this huff from him, a breath released, and he takes a moment to look around. Rooting himself back in the moment. Taking Rune's hand if she'll let him. Something physical. There's a questioning sound, before he offers to the Lucht; "I am sorry for the Noble Family's loss." With a bow of his head.
"It is very possible that, with the recent passing of the young masters, something may have happened. A longer term spell perhaps, drawing them up. But let's check out the Manor. I fear I am not sure I am able to detect any undead were I right at the moment." As he carries on inside. "Teams of two, fan out and sweep?" He offers. Harkashan isn't against splitting parties.
Aelwyn adjusts the cloak off his shoulder as Slixvah moves past him; he was still not very used to it. "Hmmh, this one thought the last one wound up being enjoyable in the end." The Dragoon replies with a flicker of his tongue at the egalrin. The lights being toggled on and off and magics weaved; he himself simply begins to slide his javelins out of the wagon.
They are strapped on him in a... pretty haphazard fashion, since he does not carry a holster for them.
Pulling the leather straps tigther, the ruddy sith-makar eyes Rune and Harkashan. "And what of the last group? Still roaming the halls?" Hopefully not. Then he tilts his head and flicks his head. "Tch, this one supposes there are worse times to go on moonlight walks together." Flash of his teeth as he looks each in turn in the eye.
GAME: Harkashan rolls Perception: (5)+5: 10 GAME: Alaryn rolls perception: (18)+10: 28 GAME: Slixvah rolls alertness: aliased to perception+2: (12)+13+2: 27 GAME: Rune rolls perception: (13)+16: 29
The massive wooden doors leading into the manor are slightly ajar on one side, and yield easily to your entrance.
The inside is, not particularly prepared for any nobles to be living inside it. The main hall looks to be in disrepair, the paint on the walls chipped, gouged and scratched in various places, and furniture made for invited gets upturned, or smashed outright. the stairwell leading to the upper level was smashed completely, leaving a pile of wooden scrap where it once was. On the far end, it looked as if someone had dug straight through the stone wall, with a large steel gate in place over the hole, which appeared to lead to a crude set of steps downwards. On the gate are two circular indentations. The other two walls each have a door leading out of the room.
As you are investigating, there is a distinct sound of the door behind you slamming shut, and the audible sound of a lock being clicked closed.
"Huh." comments Alaryn as she looks back over her shoulder. "They either think that whatever is in here is so dangerous that we need to be locked in, or they set a trap for us. Either way... the only way out is through, or so they thought. Rune... do you want to see if you can work the lock on the door?"
Then she tilts her head and smirks, "The carraige is also leaving. Good thing nobody can drive my cart but me. So, what do we want to do?" she asks.
Rune seems about to head towards the manor when Harkashan seems to stumble in his path forward. The rogue halts, keeping a watchful eye upon his strange behavior. It had been getting worse as of late. "Everything okay, big-guy?" As he reaches for her hand, the girl accepts it, giving a squeeze of her fingers around clawed digits. "Shake it off, we need your mind focused on the here and now."
Of course, there is a look of surprise when he mentions something about family loss, coupled with Slixvah's bit of information that previous work had been done here. However, it is Aelwyn's comment that still has her expression seemingly light, "Not what I think most people would be expecting if they said they enjoyed moonlit walks." A soft laugh follows, "Though probably appropriate for most of us."
Adventurers are a strange sort.
As they head towards the manor, Rune is just through the door when a quick movement catches her eye and /SLAM/ - *click*. "Oh, that little shit." Her eyes narrow as she looks towards the door. "I normally try not to punch people smaller than me, but for some people, I may very well make an exception."
Looking to Alaryn, Rune seems to consider, "Since the doors were open before we came in, I'd say there wasn't that much concern about keeping something from escaping. This seems aimed at us." With the suggestion, Rune reaches into one of the bags at the side of her belt and takes out a set of tools. "I can take a bash at it."
GAME: Rune rolls disable device + 3: (19)+15+3: 37
Slixvah side eyes Alaryn's enthusiasm, her slowly reaching into a robe and pulling a wavy looking dagger. She twirls it between her fingers before giving it a flip and catching it inverted. She glances to Harkashan, watching him have his moment. She squints a bit, a tinge of concern crossing her features before filing that little stutter away for later. "Noted. Ain't a fan of splittin' tho', especially since we got some shenanigans afoot, potentially."
The Dragoon gets a snort from the eglarin. "Funny." She eyes each of the group as they filter in, one hand idly wafting fingers through the air, like they were coasting an unseen eddy. Her eyes narrow at the space before them. "... hrmm-" A door slams. Slix whirls around with dagger up. "-Ceiwen drown your carrots," she spits. "Alaryn, bless your heart, it's a trap, plain and simple. I can't teleport us out since we still in the city. Can take a crack at the locks if ya want..."
Aelwyn saw nothing wrong. He heard nothing wrong. He tasted - in the air - nothing wrong. Therefore the sudden shut of the door and the others' annoyance takes time for him to parse. The glaive is lowered from his shoulder, a javelin is pulled to the right and he moves to take a stance, starting to look around the room.
"Hmmh, if this is a trap, either one of us is _extremely_ valuable," The Dragoon ruminates, "Or there is something that is greedy for adventurers and unwilling to pay for the drink." He clicks his teeth. The draconian takes a few steps steps forward towards the dug up hole in the far end, standing in guard in case something tries to crawl up at them.
"Hmm, yeah, I'll be alright..." He answers Rune, rubbing along the side of his snout for a moment. "Just a flash for a moment. I'm still here." He answers her, traveling with her. Appreciating the squeeze of her fingers around those digits of his.
Then, the door locks, and Harkashan huffs. "So that's why the cart's driver didn't want to talk to us at all." He grunts. "I just thought he hadn't heard me." He puts his hands at his hips and shakes his head for a moment.
"Alright. The Adventurer's Guild can deal with that after this. They really need to vet better. For now, let's deal with whatever this is." He notes, releasing his posture a bit. "You try the doors though." He adds, stepping a bit to the side to let her get to work.
He then looks to Slix. "Try the doors first, then try the ominous grate?" He offers, feeling like something or someone who wants them in here no doubt has set up something that adventurers of their skill level would have too much trouble getting out of the regular way.
"Let's show them that they've underestimated us."
Crouching near the door, Rune takes out a couple of picks and begins to work the lock, listening with one pointed ear against it as if she were listening to tumblers. There's remarkable skill to it, and an audible sound of her clicking bits of the lock into place and then...
Nothing.
Rune lifts her ear from the door and scowls at it. "So... problem." She removes the picks from the door and looks around at the others. "I think I've got all the tumblers, but it's still not working. I've worked against magical locks before, and this seems to be a relatively high level one."
Sliding her tools back into their case, Rune shakes her head and pushes to her feet, tucking it away in her belt. "So, unless someone has some pretty high powered counter-magic, I'd say we should focus on dealing with whatever we're trapped in here with."
"Well, I've recently loaded a magic dispel into my lightning rod." offers Alaryn with a shrug, "But... why don't we just do the mission and worry about the way out when we are done. After all, the guild didn't hire us out to walk in and walk out like it was the hokey pokey."
That said, she pats her death ray rod in its holster. "But it's good to have a fallback." she adds.
Slixvah glances over to Aelwyn as he ambles forward some. "Everyone is valuable in some measure, too bad we priceless," she coos, trying to keep the frustration of her cool tone. Harkashan's rallying statement gets a grin to cross her beak, and she rolls her shoulders.
Like a spool of ribbon unraveling, the feathers on her wings extend outward, hitting the floor before bouncing back up to waft behind her on an unseen breeze. "Yes, Hark, let's show them they've underestimated us," she coos, eyeing Rune working on the lock. Her brows raise at how quick its worked with. But her feathered brows furrow soon after. "... I can probably break the magic on it, but... if somethin' is in here, we betta deal wit' that first. Don' wanna get flanked up on when we tryin' ta bust thru."
A glance to Alaryn. She glares. Opens her beak, decides better of it, clack it shut.
Aelwyn turns his head. "Tch, Ribbon, the feathered bane of those longing eyes of the bar," The Dragoon rumbles, "Everyone has their price in the end." Tail sways behind him and he shows off his teeth in his typical macabre grin. "Even if she is damn near priceless."
The ruddy sith-makar nods his head at the others, before picking up his javelin and glaive once more. "This one can head out the front. Lava, wish to be this one's shield?" Tail sway.
Harkashan nods his head to Slixvah, and indeed steps to the door on the right. "Someone come with me." He's not going to tell who should go where. Nobody has appointed him as team leader or anything like that. Touching the door and opening it to peek inside.
GAME: Harkashan rolls Perception: (12)+5: 17
Initially, Alaryn would have offered to have Hark's back, but she figures that this one should go to Aelwyn or Rune. They seem to know Hark better. So she just hefts her gear and stays silent. Yes, silent. It's hard for her. How does she manage that? Thinking about a new idea to invent while everyone else is preparing for combat. What? ADHD, remember?
Inside the right door checked by the Makari is a hall, in equal disarray as the one prior. The windows behind the curtain were barred, the metal embedded into the stonework around them, and various stands and shelves were knocked down or pulverized. The scratches show up on the floor, in a steady line towards one of the rooms on the north side.
GAME: Slixvah rolls survival: (3)+3: 6 GAME: Aelwyn rolls survival: (13)+1: 14 GAME: Harkashan rolls Survival: (19)+5: 24
The Dragoon follows Harkashan; and then with an unnecessary sinuous and slow motion from his body, Aelwyn slides the javelin back into the strap. "Hmmh. Perhaps we should consider breaking down the wall and setting the rest of the mansion on fire?" He helpfully suggests as he moves to carefully drag his toeclaws over the scratches.
"Shall we follow?"
Slix's spirits are lifted some from Aelwyn's compliment, her frustrated expression melting to a focus. Seeing as no one was really giving directions, she makes a few quiet clicks in her throat. "Flutter stick behind Hark, Ruru then Alaryn and me," she advises.
Seeing the damage, especially the scratches, gets the egalrin's feathers to floof up. "... it's like a tornado of blades rolled through..." she intones. One of those feathers flowing behind her /animates/, twisting and curling through the air to poke Rune on the shoulder. "Ruru, if somethin' pops up, you're gonna get some mojo. Jus' lettin' ya kno'."
With Harkashan moving towards the door on the right, Rune gathers her weapons once more, making sure they are at the ready. As Harkashan seems to choose their path, Rune ends up a few steps behind.
"Oh, trust me, if we don't get paid, I certainly wouldn't mind making that the final fate of this place." She murmurs to Aelwyn.
With Slixvah offering marching orders, Rune nods her head and takes her place in the group. The poke to her shoulder has the rogue glancing towards the colorful bird, "Not a problem. I'm pretty used to spells getting tossed my way."
"Let's not go starting a fire in this district and risk setting other houses on fire." Harkashan answers Aelwyn with a bit of a grunt, as he opens the door. Beyond... scratches.
"Hrrm..." As a Deathsinger, he has seen these kinds of things before, he believes.
"Not done by the living..." He rumbles. "And going northwards. Let's prepare for battle and head to the northern chamber." He then tells the team. "Because it's clear multiple heavy things were being dragged along here. Into that room, and they've stayed there. Just... be ready for an ambush."
"I'll try to lead this, let my armor catch some of whatever may come." He notes, as he starts casting a few spells.
"I've seen some people do some of the dumbest things." begins Alaryn. "Who am I kidding, I've done some of those. But I have no idea what may have caused all of -this-."
That said, she nods to Slix and hoists her pistol, ready to follow behind in support.
GAME: Harkashan casts Bless. Caster Level: 6 DC: 15 GAME: Harkashan casts Magic Weapon. Caster Level: 6 DC: 15 GAME: Harkashan casts Bull's Strength. Caster Level: 6 DC: 16 <OOC> Harkashan says, "Magic Weapon & Bull's on Aelwyn" GAME: Slixvah casts Heroism. Caster Level: 7 DC: 18 GAME: Slixvah casts See Invisibility. Caster Level: 7 DC: 17 GAME: Slixvah casts S1: Shield of Faith. Caster Level: 7 DC: 16 <OOC> Slixvah says, "heroism on rune. Shield of faith on hark (+3 deflection AC). see invis on self" GAME: Alaryn casts Shield. Caster Level: 6 DC: 16
GAME: Slixvah rolls spellcraft: (15)+15: 30 GAME: Slixvah casts Dispel Magic. Caster Level: 7 DC: 18 GAME: Slixvah rolls witch: (7)+7: 14 <OOC> Slixvah says, "reroll" GAME: Slixvah rolls witch: (18)+7: 25
Slixvah narrows her eyes as the Vardaman confirms something nefarious afoot. "Good think I prepped th' heals instead of the kills," she hums. Positive energy versus undead equals massive pain.
Right. "Alright sweeties, let lil' Slix do a lil' crackin..." She begins gathering things out of the air. Each pull, faint strings can be seen. She winds it around her arm, each one seemingly going off into nothing, but looks like its going towards each member of the party.
To Rune, the wavy dagger, draws across her string like violin. "Eb hte erho fo uryo wno tsoyo..." she drones. The half-sil feeling like she woke up on the right side of the bed today.
"Eb fsea, ym iltetl prkas." A wind brushes by Harkashan, a silent yet constant gale to ward.
And to herself. "Etl em ese..." Her eyes flash white. And- Slix freezes. "... oh you little cheeky shit."
The blade flips once as she reaches out, takes multiple swipes at the air as more faint threads make faint >twangs< before she suddenly jabs down into something. "Nuekma!" she shouts. A sudden vapid sucking of air pops in front of her. Slixvah pants, steaming mana from her arms. "... little fucker was watching us."
"Wish I'd known that before you removed the senser." remarks Alaryn. "I'd have some choice words and rude gestures for him."
That said, she shrugs her shoulders and says, "Oh hell with it." She tucks her pistol into a pouch and pulls the bigass four foot long gun out as she takes a single step back. It's a good thing she is trained to fire into melee safely.
Waves of magic roll outwards, as Harkashan touches his fingers to Aelwyn's ribboned Glaive, causing a ripple of fire-like energy to burst from it. Those same thingers moving from the glaive to Aelwyn himself, causing the Child of Flame's veins to set on fire - driving energy deep throughout him.
"Alright." He Rumbles, as he and the Skysister both work to arm the party. He then looks to her as she suddenly whips her blade out at the air and jabs something. Pop?
"I guess we are someone's entertainment." He grumbles, before opening the northern door and pushing inwards, buckler ready, Khopesh drawn!
Rune had felt the magic of various individuals in the past, but Slixvah's feels like a cup of strong coffee and seems to cause her pupils to dialate slightly as she bounces on her toes. It's energizing in a way that is very different from Harkashan's softer magic. "Well, that's an interesting feeling." She inclines her head.
Then, there is some obvious magical shenanigans going on. Rune really doesn't get magic.
"Really? Oh that fucker. Okay... I've upgraded from wanting to punch him in his smug little face to shoving his tiny head into the nearest latrine until he chokes." Her hands grip her weapons more firmly, expression frustrated.
Aelwyn tilts his head as the magic starts to get weaved around him. He was not a stranger to arcane - but when Harkashan touches his glaive, his orange pupils widen. "Hnnh-!" He breathes in, stretching out as his body feels... alive. To others, it might seem his scales seemed particularly fiery tonight, with a bit of a glow to them. The short sith-makar seemed to carry himself with a wholly new step.
"Lava, one does light my fire." The Dragoon rumbles in amusement as he taps the taller sith-makar's ankles with his tail. His gaze was easily distracted by the blade, his hand running towards it. His mouth moves slightly, mouthing quiet draconic words, but he shakes his head out of it.
"Let us then, proceed with the dance." The glaive is drawn, the fire is lit. And Aelwyn is ready.
And then as everyone starts moving forward, Alaryn plucks a little emblem off of her armor. It's attached via a magnet. What? Like a fridge magnet. Either way, she breaks the ampule in the back of it, releasing the mana for the magical effect as it floats up ahead of her to form a translucent green heater shield shape... floating ahead of her.
Inside the room was a rather strange sight. What was once most likely a large and spacious office had been transformed into something else. The only signs of the original intended use were a large hardwood desk at the far end, and various certificates framed and hanged on the walls, or dislodged and broken on the ground.
Instead where the main area had been, was a massive board of white and black stone, with metal beams between the spaces in the eight cardinal directions. on the squares were large chess pieces of black and white stone matching the board, almost he size of an adult human.
On the far end with the desk was a circular stone slab, engraved with the face of a wizened old man wearing an ornate looking stone crown. The slab was stuck to the top of the desk by several thick metal bands.
Her arc of light sweeping over the room, Alaryn lifts both brows. "The actuall hell is going on here?" she asks nobody in particular.
"Did we interrupt a game, start a game, or was one just never ended here?" she adds. "I am all for live action games as much as the next girl but this is a bit ridiculous."
She sweeps the aim of her long-gun over the room, at various game pieces.... almost as if silently counting 'eanie, meanie, miney...'
GAME: Alaryn rolls intelligence: (20)+5: 25 GAME: Slixvah rolls alertness: aliased to perception+2: (14)+13+2: 29 GAME: Alaryn rolls perception: (10)+10: 20 GAME: Harkashan rolls Perception: (12)+5: 17 GAME: Rune rolls perception: (16)+16+2: 34 GAME: Aelwyn rolls perception: (1)+1: 2 (EPIC FAIL)
Harkashan grins at Aelwyn as he mentions lighting his fire, patting his shoulder as he steps into... a large room of game?
He'd been prepared for a game, but not this.
"This is... Chess." He rumbles, looking at the board. Recognizing that much. Noting the stone slab at the end of the chambers. "It would seem that whomever wishes us to go through this, desires us to solve this..." He notes.
"I am going to try something." He then notes, walking towards the chessboard, wondering if he needs to announce moves, or can step onto the board...
So he steps onto the board, near the White Queen.
Studying the board as she climbs up onto a desk, Alaryn tilts her head. "If... if I am not mistaken..." She eyes Hark heading for the queen. "Yes. You and I have the same idea I think. Do it Hark." she adds as she hefts her Thunderbelcher. She reads the inscription and nods. "Exactly what I thought. Hark. Make the sacrifice. Go for it. I'll cover you just in case it's a live fire game."
The steaming mana from Slixvah's arms slowly dulls to looking like tiny wisps of cyan fluttering like loose strands. There's a mild smile at Aelwyn's reaction to the flaming fires of preparation, but she hsakes her head and takes a steadying breath as they advance, form up, and bust in!
Which, she is promptly stymied once entering the room. "... the heck...?" she sighs in confusion. A glance to the others, and a slow nod leaves her. "Yeah, chess aight. But... what could possibly..." Her brows raise as the lava scale says he's going to try something. "Wait don'-... ah, beans." Oh well.
A glance to the desk. She tilts her head to the side. Looks to the board. Welp.
Stepping into the room, Rune seems prepared for a fight. However, it isn't a fight that they are met with, at least not immediately. Instead, she just gives a puzzled look towards the strange game-board set before them.
"What the..."
Rune may be familiar with games of chance, but this is certainly not the sort of thing that the mercenaries she spent her formative years with would have played.
Squinting across the room, Rune starts reading out the words: "Only by giving up what he valued most in life was the king able to succeed. He was never the same after."
Standing there, Rune looks between Alaryn and Harkashan, confusion written on her features. "So... you two are playing the game?" She may be smart, but this is outside of her realms of expertise by a long shot.
GAME: Harkashan rolls Sense Motive: (6)+13: 19
As they read the inscription, Harkashan rumbles. "A solution given..." He mumbles. Halting for a moment, hearing Alaryn speak. A slow nod.
He hears Slixvah call out not to do something. But he's already standing on the board, looking back with a subtle smile. "All is okay, Skysister." He bids to her, before touching the Queen, and starting to push her to the most upper-right corner.
"You have to wonder what the creator of this particular matter wished to convey."
Aelwyn follows on after the others, but then he simply hoists up the blade over his shoulder and puts his hand on his hip. "Huh." The Dragoon lets out, hand sliding down on his hip. "It is chess played with people. This one used to be a Knight in one game."
The ruddy sith-makar did not have much else to contribute; except to tilt his head and look at Harkashan starting to push the pieces. "This one feels feeding the queen is the solution." Looking over towards the others, he nods his head. "Move around the board to see if there are anything unexpected?"
<OOC> Reithak says, "The queen piece moves easily across board, but you can hear something clicking with the tracks guiding it. You aren't certain if you want to stop moving until reaching the final destination." <OOC> Harkashan says, "He will keep pushing until it reaches the final position." <OOC> Reithak nods. Make me a reflex save, Hark GAME: Harkashan rolls Reflex: (9)+4: 13 GAME: Reithak rolls 1d6: (4): 4
The large stone queen moves effortlessly across the tracks under Harkashan's guidance, but a subtle clicking beneath the tracks keeps count of every space moved. The cleric reaches the end of the board, and there is a much louder click as the queen ceases moving.
The bishop piece next to it rumbles to life, attempting to slide into place where the queen was. The guides along the track for the queen buckle as the entire statue begins to shudder, before it explodes into a shower of blood and stone shards, some of which pierce some of the Makari's scales, while he is drenched in blood in the process.
The bishop piece continues, shoving the metal and stone off the board as it takes the place of the former royalty.
And at that, Alaryn goes pale. "Please tell me that there wasn't a person in that..." she mutters aloud. "Hark! Was there a person in the Queen? This is horrifying if that's the case."
Harkashan finishes pushing the piece, and reaches the end. A loud click, before he turns around. "Alright. I'll be right there." He rumbles, about to head back before suddenly... the Biship already moves. Slamming into the queen, causing it to buckle, and a shadow of blood and stone suddenly tears across him. Harkashan blown off of his feet slightly, sharks torn into his scales through parts of his armor.
He blinks, spitting out some of the blood, and remains dazed for a moment. Before he blinks a few times and looks to the remains.
"It... wasn't something alive." He answers the group. Still, he's a bit shaken as he heads back towards the Rook. "Let me finish this." He growls. He doesn't want anyone else getting hurt.
The sudden explosion of one of the chess pieces causes Rune to flinch, the sight of blood and material making an absolute mess. "Hark!" Despite her knowledge that he is one of the more sturdy members of their party, it doesn't quite negate the instinctive response.
"Was that..." Harkashan seems to offer reassurances that it wasn't a living person. She growls a bit, a sound that seems distinctly Makari, despite coming from the Half-sil in the process. "That sick fuck..."
Seeing the stunned cleric insisting upon completing the task, Rune looks to the others. "Are you sure that's a good idea? You're not the only sturdy one here... And you don't look completely steady."
Closing her eyes,Alaryn mutters, "Thank Reos..." as she shakes her head, "Watch out for explosions this time." she adds as she opens her eyes once more. "I've got plenty of healing if you need some when this is done."
Slixvah watches on from afar, keeping an eye on everyone and everything. And then- Explosion. Blood. She flinches, shaking her head as her feathers press down agaisnt her. Mildly shaken. "... good, but- still, something had to have the blood in the first place..." She shudders. "... sick fuck." Almost right in time with Rune too!
She glances to the half-sil. "Might as well. Now ya know ta back the heck away."
Slix gets up, walks over, and taps Hark on the shoulder with a long, long, wafting feather. "Ucofs," she chants, letting a little mote of energy leave on him before giving a mildly reassuring wink and backing off through the blood. Ugh. Its in her talons...
GAME: Slixvah casts Guidance. Caster Level: 7 DC: 15
Hearing the explosion, Aelwyn quickly springs into action. Glaive swung out to the side, he quickly steps his way to the edge of the board. Yet, he does not enter. "If one needs, this one can help." The Dragoon calls out; for his part, he seemed more focused on the situation at hand, rather than the blood. Or potential dead people. Still, the tension was evident on him,
Turning around, walks over Rune and touches her shoulder. "He won't fall like the kings." He reassures her. The Dragoon then nods at the board. "What about the other pieces? Is there anything written on them?" He glances at the king near them.
<OOC> Harkashan says, "Alright, next up, Rook takes Bishop. Harkashan will push this one as well." <OOC> Reithak says, "alright! Make another reflex save." GAME: Harkashan rolls Reflex+1: (6)+4+1: 11 GAME: Reithak rolls 1d6: (3): 3
"I'll be okay." Harkashan rumbles. Some of the blood is his, so he'll have to make sure to clean himself after this and properly heal his wounds closed. But right now, until this is done with, there is little reason to do so yet if the next one is going to explode once more. "Thank you, Skysister." He rumbles to Slixvah. "I'll be okay."
And begins to push the Rook onto the Bishop. With purpose this time. Steeling himself.
Again Harkashan pushes a piece down the board, this time, a stone tower even larger than the makari himself. It slides down the tracks until it meets the bishop in front of it. Again, the piece buckles and shudders, before yet again it explodes in a spray of blood. The tower takes the brunt of it, but chunks are broken off from the force of the explosion, and the bishops staff is flung like a javelin away from it, sailing past the cleric, and taking a large slice through his arm with it.
The chess board shudders again, as the king moves a single space away.
The touch to Rune's shoulder has her turning to look at Aelwyn. There is a slight tensing in her muscles, but it fades quickly as the ruddy-scaled Makari offers his support. "I know... I know." She trusts that if Harkashan says he has this, then he does.
"We're going to have to drag him to the TarRaCe again after this." She has no idea how much of the blood is from the statues and how much is from Harkashan, himself. "Not as if that's usually a problem." She tries to lighten the mood, but then the second statue goes off and another flinch shakes her form.
"I... really don't like this."
Peering over the top after flinching from the explosion once more, Alaryn shakes her head, "Well shit. That wasn't... it's not. Huh.." She tilts her head the left and closes her eyes, visualizing moves.
Then her hands come up as if conducting a symphony. "Okay. Hark. The bishop nearest you. Our bishop. Forward one to the left. I don't recall the position names, but that should pin the king for good. That is, if I am not being an idjut."
The staff slices Harkashan, but he's at least ready for the shock of the explosion this time. Taking a deep breath just before he pushes the Rook into place. The violent force tearing past him...
And he lets out a breath. Looking intense. "Okay..." He looks back. "Next..."
He returns to the Bishop. He positions himself, looking like he's about to move the Bishop into the North-east space, when Alaryn calls out to him. He looks up, looking at the position. Realizing that the King could have struck the Rook if he'd gone through with that.
"Ah... thank you." He notes, and then actually pushes it North-West one square. "That should let the Pawn protect it. Good eye, Alaryn." Feeling a heat in his chest.
Slixvah winces as there's more bloody explosions, her shifting on her feet and keeping her breathing steady. "I don' like this either, Ruru," she huffs, grinding her beak. There's another calculated measure, and Slixvah holds a hand up. "Lemme try again- or... not."
She rubs her face as the piece is sliding into its final position. "I have wisdom afta this..."
Aelwyn flashes his teeth. "And this one and certain lady off the bar will make sure Lava knows all his regrets by the morning." He sways his tail, looking as relaxed and playful as he ever did. A motion that disappears when he hears a second explosion.
Quietly, the Dragoon moves by the edge of the board once more, getting into position. Just in case something more freaky happens to crawl out of that board.
With the final piece in place, the party braces for another explosion, or multiple. but instead, there is none. The head of the stone king near harkashan falls to the floor with a loud thud, shattering into pieces against the floor. The stump where the head just was drips with more blood, but also shines with a glint of metal from what appears to be a handle to a key.
The metal bars keeping the stone slab on the desk snap away and into the desk, leaving it freed.
Harkashan braces for a rain of blood and rock...
But nothing happens. Well, not nothing. But not that. He watches as the King falls, and the sound of mechanical locks continues. "I'm starting to feel like this is all just a test of someone who has far too much money." He grunts.
"Surely, the former owners of this place didn't put this here... I hope." He grunts, looking at his wounds. Using his hands to stroke some of the blood off of his body.
He doesn't have prestidigitation or the like.
When there is no final explosion, Rune gives a slight sigh of relief before she glances around, "Probably safe to step on the board now?" She really doens't know much about magic or mechanics or any of the things that might have gone into this strange puzzle.
However, as the head topples forward, Rune catches just a faint glint of something in the 'stump' that remains. "Someone should go check out the desk." She advises, while heading onto the board to join Harkashan.
"Too much money and too little sense." Rune sighs, then reaches up to try to feel around and grab the handle of whatever it is sticking out of the decapitated neck of the statue.
Slix tenses as the game is complete, set, and match. But nothing more than the other king is beheaded, more blood dripping to the ground. A long, long sigh escapes her. "Guh. Hark, almost gave me a heart attack, shug," she says, shaking her hands off as one of the animated feathers takes the dagger for her.
She peers at the desk at Rune's instruction, her approaching. As she passes by Hark's efforts to cleanse himself, fingers waggle, sparkles sloughing off the blood and grime for him.
Slixvah looks at the desk.
GAME: Slixvah rolls alertness: aliased to perception+2: (3)+13+2: 18 <OOC> Harkashan says, "Spending a level 1 spell to heal." GAME: Harkashan casts Shield of Faith. Caster Level: 6 DC: 15 GAME: Harkashan rolls 1d8+6: (8)+6: 14
The desk Alaryn is standing upon. She looks at herself, then down at her feet. "Let me guess. You need this." she remarks as she points downward. Then she jumps down off of the desk to get out of the way. "There we go." she offers as she gestures to the desk with a flourish.
Aelwyn also relaxes when the explosions stop; he glances behind himself towards the rest of the party. Then he rolls his shoulders. "Coin can get one many things. Especially lives."
Rumbling, he follows on after everyone else; but he stays somewhere in the middle of the room to stand in guard.
"Well, at least there's something I could have done about that." Harkashan answers Slixvah, trying to bring some light to the moment as she mentions almost having a heart-attack.
An appreciative rumble follows, with the blood washing off of his body. Still, that ends up exposing his wounds, and the blood that still drips from him that is his own, where pieces of marble had embedded into his body.
He then touches some of the Lavastones on his body and works a quick spell, sealing those wounds. Those pieces of marble dropping down from his body with loud little 'clatters' to the floor.
"What've you found?" He then asks Rune, looking at the key. "Ever the keen-eyed one."
Jumping down,Alaryn begins navigating her way across the room. "Good eye Rune." she remarks as she moves along.
Not quite -daintily-, but she works her way around pieces here and there and ends up with the rest of the party. She looks to Hark and was about to offer to heal him, but he healed himself and she shrugs her shoulders. "If you are a priest, then your healing is far more flexible than my own. Mine is dedicated. Perhaps let me waste mine in the future and save yours for when flexibility is important?" she asks.
Wiping some of the blood off the piece of metal she pulled out of the statue's neck, Rune turns it over in her hand, "Looks like some sort of key. Maybe to one of the other doors?" She suggests.
Which is just about the time that she looks over and sees pieces of marble start falling out of Harkashan's wounds as they heal. She takes a breath, lifting a hand as if to say something, but then seems to leave it at that, shutting her trap.
"We should figure out what this asshole wants next from us." She waggles the key.
Slixvah can't help but snort at Harkashan for that." Puh-lease. I don't need ta be buried or cremated jus' yet. I still got li- I dunoo, four centuries left in me. I'm only thirty, sugar."
She ambles forward, rifling through the desk and finding a few documents. She reads them through quickly. "Huh. Correspondences. Talking about... stuff that happened a while back. Looks li' right around the wight problems."
The animated feathers seem to lift up the circular stone slab with relative ease despite the egalrin's small frame. She looks it over. "... it's got indentions on the otha side of they face..." she murmurs, walking over to the others.
Harkashan nods at Alaryn. "I will keep that in mind. But right now, 'more' people being able to heal is something I'd prefer. There is no knowing what comes next. If we are split up, or trapped, it is better more of us can do this." He rumbles.
The man then playfully snaps his teeth at Slixvah, in the way a bird might playfully clatter their beak. A sign of amusement?
He leaves the others to figure out this puzzle. "We still have more of the mansion to explore." He remarks. "Unless there is a way forward from this room, let's backtrack and try the next one. Perhaps there is a way to open the grate in the main hall."
Nodding her head, Alaryn shrugs, "Okay. Let's go and figure the rest of this out." she states as she stands, looking briefly like some musket-holding soldier. Until she grins and destroys the whole image of solemn seriousness.
"After you guys." she says, lifting her weapon to take aim forward.
Aelwyn walks on after the others, carefully staying away from all the other chess pieces. "Hmmh, not quite hard as stone." The sith-makar says as he pats with a fist Harkashan's armor. "Try to be gentler next time, Shield."
Other than that, the Dragoon stays quiet for the time being, letting the others do the investigating. He was not particularly well known for his cranial skills.
As the group comes back together, Rune hands off the key to Harkashan, since he seemed intent upon acting as their leader and meat-shield. Her eyes shift past the hulking chess pieces towards Slixvah, "Let's hold on to that, it might be part of some other contraption that asshole built in here."
So, she grabs for her weapons and falls back into step, ready to move on and see what other shenanigans await them.
"I will try to be." Harkashan answers Aelwyn as he starts on his way back to the hall, to try the left door that had not yet been attempted. A peek first, of course, then a push if nothing dangerous appeared on this side.
"You have to wonder what it was that scraped the halls to the chess room though. It didn't come back out..." He shakes his head. "Was it the chess pieces?" He accepts the key Rune offers, and on they go.
Slixvah giggles at the playful snapping from Hark, her attention switch to Rune. "Hrmm. Key. Flagstone. Maybes we gotta get somethin' mo' sorted under tha' gate, maybe tha' key unlocks it that Ruru found? But, ye, our spells be tickin'. Let's get this bread." She follows after, dagger ready.
The door on the left from the main entrance is locked, but the handle to it matches the silver on the key Rune found. Sure enough, the key fits the lock, and the door swings open easily. Following it is another hall much like the first, with several doors in it, and furniture in equal disrepair. This time however, there is a trail of something dark red trailing around a corner, and down steps towards the basement.
"Well, dark and red. That's not like... super ominous or anything." mutters Alaryn as she lifts her goggles and then lowers them back into place. She checks her translucent shield energy, nods to see it's stoll holding strong... and points at the basement door with her long-gun. "Are we heading down then? I mean why not just jump through -all- of their hoops?"
GAME: Harkashan rolls Survival: (16)+5: 21 <OOC> Harkashan says, "(Is that blood?)"
Door unlocked, Harkashan motions for the rest of the group. He realizes he isn't exactly the most observant of the bunch - but at least he's spotting the trail of dark red here. "I don't think we have much choice in the matter." Harkashan grunts at Alaryn, though he can understand her frustration with the situation at hand. "But, we push on."
This is followed by a huff and a snort of his nose. "Stale wine." He points out, grunting at the red on the floor. "Guessing it may be a wine cellar?"
"Tch, as in any play, one goes through the motions until one finds the scriptwriter with the end of a knife." Aelwyn remarks with an odd cheer in his voice, swaying his tail behind him. The Dragoon moves to look down the steps. "We shall find out, won't we?"
Slixvah files in after the others, the light on her feather casting long shadows. She lets out a breath, beak clacking softly as fingers regrip the dagger. "Stale wine, one can hope," Slix says after. A glance to Aelwyn, a little flicker of a smile before she gestures on. "We press, friends."
A locked door. This one, however, they have a key for, which means that Rune doesn't have to break out her tools and ply her skills to the matter. "Whatever his intentions, it's clear our mastermind wanted us to go this way. Otherwise we wouldn't have been left a key." At least, she can /hope/ there is a more intelligent thought process to all this and that it isn't just random.
There is a look towards Harkashan, then back towards the others. "After the puzzle board, I'm grateful for less blood where we can help it. Come on, let's continue." But she does mutter a growling curse in Draconic along the way.
The party presses on, guided by innate senses and magical light as they head further down into the depths of this manor. It's not too long until they reach the entrance to what is clearly the wine cellar. Several dozen racks line the walls, filled with all manner of sizes of wooden casks.
Although, wine cellars did not usually have guillotines within them. Standing in the center of the room, it was almost comically large, with an opening much too big for the head of any not a giant or similarly massive humanoids. A set of steps are off to one side of the device, in order to actually reach the rope for the mechanism.
Aelwyn tilts his head as the party starts to head deeper into the wine cellar. "... think Sharkie would be interested in Wighntage?" The ruddy sith-makar quietly asks from Slixvah. "Seems like we even have a cask opener for the bar." There's a flash of teeth, but then the seriousness starts to settle in.
"This one will look around the room," He says to the rest of the party, as he moves to make sure nothing was still moving down there.
<OOC> Harkashan says, "Time to... well, go knocking on some Wooden Casks to find the one that stands out." GAME: Aelwyn rolls perception: (15)+1: 16 GAME: Harkashan rolls Perception: (6)+5: 11 <OOC> Reithak says, "anyone else searching at the moment?" GAME: Slixvah rolls alertness: aliased to perception+2: (13)+13+2: 28 GAME: Rune rolls perception: (19)+16+2: 37
Slixvah shakes her head. "At least the mastermind doesn't get to see the stupid games they've made," she huffs, glancing over their shoulders to where the sensor was following them once before as she heads down.
She blinks at the display before them. The smell was vaguely familiar, having worked at the TarRaCe for a decent while now. She glances to Aelwyn. "Mayhaps Rish-Rish is. I think she'd find it funny," she quips back before nodding with Aelwyn. "Yeah, let's check stuff. I'm worried we're gonna find one full of- actually, naw, I ain't finishing that."
She joins the others in checking the place.
Arriving down below, Harkashan agrees with the assessment of Aelwyn. "Let's look for a Cask that stands out." He remarks, and starts wandering through the cellar in the search of one that well... looks like it would go well in a guillotine.
"And that I am more than happy about. Remind me to buy you a drink to show my gratitude." Rune offers the colorful Eglarin.
As they head down into the cellar, her eyes sweep about, looking at the wine barrels and then to the guillotine in the room. "Well, if nothing else, he's certainly got a flare for the dramatic."
At Harkashan's suggestion, Rune starts to look at the various wine casks, tapping on a few. "Do you hear that?" She murmurs, "That is... not normal." Tap tap. "There's liquid, but... it's like it might be inside another container?" Tap tap tap.
"Weird."
There is a bit of clattering - a little bit of hissing - and some touching as Aelwyn moves amongst the barrels. "See any good vintage, Ribbon?" He calls out - he didn't really work the bar himself, after all. He keeps sliding around the barrels, before his attention is drawn by the blade.
Then he winds up staring at the blade. His orange pupils narrow and widen, as his beastly chest with its inner fire lit rumbles.
"Only the... kings head... was able to... last?" A moment of pause. "Only a king's head was able to sate their thirst for... vengeance."
The Dragoon straightens and holds his glaive across his shoulders. "Anyone carry a head of a king?"
Harkashan rumbles, "Didn't someone find an indented rock?" He asks Aelwyn, as he comes back after failing to find much of anything. Luckily, Rune has had more luck, remarking of a container within a container.
"Well, that's probably what we're looking for. Aelwyn, can you help carry this into the Guillotine?" He taps on the barrel Rune has found.
The beribboned egalrin woman shifts about the space, her checking under and over things with a beat of a wing. "I will gladly take ya up on that, Ruru," she hums. But after Rune points out that anomaly of the casks, she joins in, tapping with the butt of her dagger. "... huh. Yeah, I hear that."
She shakes her head at Aelwyn. "Naw, can't read the dates, maybe spoiled." The witch blinks at Aelwyn. "... wuh? Uh. Maybe th' head of the king in the chess board? Hark, these casks all sound odd. Not jus' that one."
She goes back to the stairs, picking up that indented stone circle with a face on it. Looking it back over. "... th' gate had indents on it. Me thinks this hangs on the gate? But it also fits in the guillotine. Maybe we can get the chess head, 'cause I feel like this thing is a red herring fo' the blade. Good find, by the by, Flutter."
"I mean, if all of the casks sound odd, that suggests the King's head is what is needed here. The suggestion that only the King's head is able to last, maybe we should just try that. Perhaps the casks contain some kind of explosive blood again." Harkashan proposes - after Slixvah gets back with the King's head. "Let's try it. If it doesn't work, we try something else."
"I think Slixvah has the right of it. We probably need the King's head from the game room. We should try that first so we don't risk damaging the stone slab." Rune suggests.
She seems about to offer to head back, but the Eglarin is faster at it and leaves Rune standing at the steps.
Aelwyn nods his head towards Harkashan. "This one will help Ribbon." The Dragoon says and moves to help the egalrin carry the head. Yet the egalrin is off like that once again. "... Now Twin can understand how this one feels sometimes." He rumbles in amusement, hand on his hip. "Left with nothing but a feather."
Slixvah huffs. "Yeeeeah. Maybe exploding blood. Please, not again..."
She holds a finger. "Be right back, cuties." And jogs up the stairs. A minute later, she returns, the king's head wrapped up in feathers that seemingly support the weight with minor hinderance. And its leaking too. Which is not happy about getting all over her feathers. She gets it to the execution device and balances it. "Sorry, sorry, jus' tryin' ta make it quick as my mojo on Hark gonna pop soon..." she tries to explain. "Someone wanna do the honors of regicide?"
The Dragoon watches Slixvah return, and he bows his head towards her. "This one will." He rumbles and picks up his glaive. He hops by the side of the guillotine, and moves on to pull the lever after Slixvah is done and settled with the head. TarRaCe branded teamwork! Knock your head off!
Slixvah is able to return with the head of the statue, which is mostly soaked on one side from sitting within the pool of blood. balanced precariously on the cutting room floor, the witch is able to keep it there while the rope is pulled. The blade whistles through the air, cleaving through the stone skull, or seeming to, as it breaks into two pieces on impact, one clattering against the stone floor, the other, against the wood. each side has digits upon it, two on one, side, one on the other.
With the numbers exposed, Harkashan goes on the search. "So next we slice the correct Cask." He rumbles out loud as he disappears amongst the wine-barrels once more. If he finds the right one, he'll drag it to the Slicer. If not... well, someone else will have to do so!
With the triumphant return of Slixvah, carrying the head of their fallen foe, Rune joins the others a bit closer to the guillotine. Not close enough to be in splatter range, though.
As the head splits neatly in two, Rune reports, "Looks like we have numbers!" She calls out, "We've got a 93 and a 5. May not be in that order." Suggesting that it could be 593 or 935, perhaps.
Slixvah winces as some of her feathers are shorn, them fluttering and withering away to nothing as they pull back. She peers down at the halves. Glance. Glance. "... Yeah Ruru? Maybe a cask has tha' year? 'cause I doubt we lookin' for a year 593," she offers, helping to search and aiding in any lifting that need be done.
Aelwyn will also join the search for the said cask. "Hmmh, an annoying way of hindering progress." The Dragoon rumbles as he takes his sweet time eyeing the labels.
"I've got one!" Harkashan soon calls out. "9-3-5. I think it's this one." He taps the barrel a few times. "It's got some strange gouging around the barrel in a specific spot. I think that may be intended to line up with the blade." He calls out, drawing it out, and moving it to the guillotine and paring it up for a slice.
"Aelwyn, want to do the honors again?" Stepping back.
The Dragoon bows his head. "As Lava desires," Aelwyn rumbles back with a flash of his teeth. "Who is this one but one to serve?" He then moves to help the cask into its correct spot; before moving to pull on the lever again.
The blade is hoisted up overhead, or cask in this case, and set in place again. There's a moment where Aelwyn can realize how much taller he is than Harkashan in the moment, before the lever is pulled. Again it comes whistling down, biting through the wooden barrel, which, unfortunately, ends up leaving a spray of blood off to the sides, while the top thuds to the ground. Underneath the blood and bits of broken glass can be seen another stone slab, this one of a regal looking woman wearing a matching crown to the one on the other slab.
Once again, red spills over Harkashan. And by the time the spray has completed, Harkashan has turned to the rest of the group and is kind of just motioning his hands, trying to splatter some of the 'blood' off of his body. Grumping a bit. Looking like wet lizard.
As with before, Rune makes sure to stay out of the immediate splatter zone as the device activates. Leaving Harkashan to take the brunt of the spray. He did kind of walk into that one, so she can't help but look as if slightly containing laughter at his grumpy response.
"Looks like we've got another stone tablet." There is a look towards Slixvah. "I think that leaves us one path left, right?"
Aelwyn takes a spill of that blood too; but he was leaning away from worst of it. He leans down and looks at Harkashan. "This one feels as if Lava should have expected that." The Dragoon rumbles in amusement - before sliding down and moving to help the other sith-makar get the worst of the blood off.
Slixvah is standing near it as it comes down. And is absolutely covered in the ichor. There's some rustling as she stands there, stunned. And a muffled, tinny voice chirps from her robes. "Unmesi, I swear by the Grand Tapestry I will unmake you!" something comedically complains.
Slix raises a hand, stone faced, as she cleans herself and Hark with a waggle of her fingers. "Sorry Fid- *hurk* Fidah..."
A shaky sigh escapes her as she looks at the stone. "... yep. One way left ta go."