Ken(GM): woop woop

zomg

a full house

whatever will I do?

Fiss: rock and or roll?

Joush M.: I’m ready to go

P.P. A.: aye

Ken (GM): ROLLING

AND

ROCKING

Doc: I’m ready to move but my character is not

press F to pay respects to rod’s FP

Ken (GM): HA right

Bomrek: Jeez, why does roll20 sometimes save all the message notifications for when I tab back in. I heard 15 “BWOP”‘s all at once.

Ken (GM) where last we left our heroes HOLY SHIT LETS LIE DOWN A MINUTE

Roderick [heavy breathing]

Suðri Skornbrekker is done reloading the muskets, and leans on the railing to look at the room. He yawns, gets up, stretches as well as one can in plate armour, and walks down the stairs.

Gray stands guard, watching over the group and hunting for any other ghost or monsters lurking in the shadows of the massive room. The shrine impressive, even to the uncultured beast. “Memory, do you know anything about the creature we fought? What was that Dökkálfar?



Bomrek: Where was I last game as far as Being On Fire was concerned?

Ken (GM): Bom: crispy, extinguished, but healed. Back to 6 of 12 HP thanks to rod

Joush M.: Your beard, soaked as it was in insect and flame repellent chemicals, is fine. Your pubic hair sadly is lost in battle.

Syviis:





Ken (GM): luckily, no major wound due to liberal application of magic healthcare

Doc: wew uh

Doc: I think Rod can’t actually move in his armor until he’s rested

Ken (GM): haha

angry muttering about overarmored knightly shenanigains

Gray: Luckly Roderick’s companions seem understanding about the human noble’s limitations. Between the ghost-slaying blade and the healing, he did a man’s job today and deserves his rest.

Doc: less than 1/3 FP means half ST (round up) which gives him an extra heavy load of 72 lbs

Ken (GM) Suðri clanks down the stone steps, his stride comfy on the short spans, the looming black architecture overhead still in near-pristine condition after the centuries

Syviis follows Suðri , watching the room as she moves



(From Bomrek): So, what does Bomrek think of this tomb? What does he know about the Allfather and this tomb that wasn’t said by Suðri last game?

(To Bomrek): Suðri was on to something, about this being the old outpost. Its certainly old enough, and dwarven, and in the right place. The statue is of the Allfather, the details not quite finished, but the major aspects right. His chin is in the correct alignment 🙂

(To Bomrek): the allfather tho, he was a living being, but he was also mythic. The Gilgamesh of your histories. If this is indeed his last resting place…

Suðri Skornbrekker stops to look up at the statue from up close.



Bomrek grabs on to a railing, and pulls himself up against it, (moaning in pain) before taking a deep drink from a small pocket-flask and making his way down the stairs.

Bomrek: (Press the button in the back of the statue, see if it karate chops)

Suðri Skornbrekker glances over to the gruesome ritual table. “We need to think about what to do with the two corpses. …I would suggest using them to tame the rocs, but I don’t feel that would be pious.



Ken (GM) the statue is slightly unfinished; the major details have been carved, but the face is unfinished. The armor he is clad in is a segmented plate, but the insignia are missing. The axe, a long sharp blade, but the details not present. The ruddy stone is thick with dust of ages

Suðri Skornbrekker is feeling an itch to finish it, but doesn’t dare.

Bomrek: Did the Elf asshole indicate in any way just how long he had been inhabiting this place? The Allfather came here a LONG time ago, has this bastard just been here for that long?

Syviis walks slowly towards the table, watching for traps and magic

(To Syviis): Perception!

Syviis: rolling 3d6(2+2+1)= 5

Syviis: OH DAYUM

(To Fiss): Theres a magical aura, hidden in the altar. Coming from inside the thing. Maybe theres a drawer or panel?

It was like feeling magical electric current from heavy power lines…

P.P. A.: (Suðri talked about it, looks like he’s been here for centuries)

Bomrek: If not, he killed the descendants of the people who made this area, but they didn’t have enough time to finish such an important statue? Hmmm. Mmm, figured’



Suðri Skornbrekker looks at whatever was dropped next to the ritual altar.

(To Suðri Skornbrekker): A bucket, iron and crudely made. It’s crusted with old blood, and some kind of flakes of a golden mineral…

Suðri Skornbrekker rights the bucket with his foot and peers inside, and shrugs.



Bomrek hobbles his way down to his Dwarf companion, “The Tomb, has he broken in to the tomb proper?” he says shakily, looking about the ground for signs of digging and damage.

Syviis stops her advance, looking at the altar “There’s something hidden here…”

Syviis puts away her bow and begins to check it out

Suðri Skornbrekker lets Syviis do her work. He stops and waves Bomrek over to him. “What do you think this carpet is worth?”

Ken (GM) when Syviis lays hands on the stone sacrifice altar, the surface of it lights up with some hidden power; script in the elven tongue alights on the surface, and a panel on the face pops open with a CLICK

Bomrek turns around and stares hard at the Altar.



Syviis nervously smiles and mutters something about cats and dying due to curiosity in elvish



Gray stands guard and waits by Roderick, the brute collecting the harpoon and putting it away again, looking over with a frown at the sound in the otherwise relatively quite room. “Looks like she’s found something”



Suðri Skornbrekker: “Nay, I don’t think so. The Golem said the Vault was still holding.”

Bomrek looks at the carpet, “Hmm… I couldn’t guess” (Is it Dwarven, even?)

Ken (GM) the carpet is finely woven intricate patterns of black gold silver and bronze. The detail is exquisite, and it is plush and thick



Roderick strains his ears listening to both his comrades below and the hallway above

Suðri Skornbrekker squats down and takes a closer look. He takes off a gauntlet to feel the fabric, and whistles.

Bomrek leans down, most of his weight on the chair in his pain. “Yup, that looks like somethin’ from our markets.”



Ken (GM) the room looks unmolested; the walls still hold, no cracks or seams broken over the years. On the North wall, behind the slab of bloody white stone, is a palisade wall built into the gap with raw logs and tar, iron hinges and rough nails.





Bomrek looks subtly pleased with it, “No blood or soot either.”

(To Syviis): it reads “Those with a heart of stone”

(From Syviis): in elvish…or Dwarven? 😛

(To Syviis): Elven!

Syviis frowns and ponders thoughfully

Ken (GM) aside from the single broken chair, the table is a dark hardwood, and finely carved with shallow details of swirling patterns. The tableware is all crystal glass or shining silver, and even the box of scrap vellum seems to be made of teak.

Suðri Skornbrekker starts hefting the chairs off the carpet. “…maybe we should leave it here until we have the time and peace to sell it, not between butchering Elven warlocks and overthrowing the regent, but we should roll it up in any case.”

Bomrek nods “We’ll take it when we leave.”

Bomrek: Is this Table elf shit? I suspect it’s elf shit.

Gray looks around with a thoughtful frown as chairs shift and move under them, then turns his attention back to Roderick, offering a massive hand. “Shall we join the others?”

Roderick turns wearily to Gray. “I can barely move, healing their wounds took everything I had. I can’t even say I’d be guarding the stairs if you joined them.”

Gray nods to the knight “I could help you down there. The chairs might be a more comfortable place to catch your breath than the stone here. Or I’ll wait beside you. We will guard the doorway together.”



Syviis: “What would you Dwarves say when confronted with a riddle about a Heart of Stone?”

(To Suðri Skornbrekker): There is an old saying “to be a knight of the dwarven crown, you need to have a heart of stone”

(To Bomrek): There is an old saying “to be a knight of the dwarven crown, you need to have a heart of stone”

Suðri Skornbrekker: “I would say that any good Dwarf has a Heart of Stone,” Suðri jokes. “…but nay, there is an old saying that goes: ‘to be a knight of the dwarven crown, you need to have a heart of stone’.”

Bomrek lifts up to a full standing position, clearly pained, and turns around to Syviis. “It sounds like a popular creed or saying. Why?”

Syviis: “It’s said in Elvish here…’Those with a Heart of Stone‘”. She frowns as she looks over the altar “If this is a Dwaven Tomb, I am curious why there is Elvish here.”

Suðri Skornbrekker furrows his brow. “Strange indeed. Perhaps this was brought in by the one we just slew? No, but why would it reference that saying then…?”

Bomrek looks hard at the Altar. Was this put here by that Elf we just blasted? Or does it look like it’s part of the original stonework?

Suðri Skornbrekker walks over to take a closer look.

Bomrek taps Suðri’s hand with his, and then points at the Altar, and says in Dwarvish, “[Is this Original?]“

Ken (GM) the Altar itself is a slab of rock, intricately carved with grooves from the upper bowl. The stone is a sandy yellow, and the surface is smoothed, but a sedimentary rock, certainly, slightly rough to the touch. The rest of the chamber is a polished black. Certainly different make. There are bloody stains in the grooves nearest the bowl, as if the rituals performed had overflowed it with blood…



Suðri Skornbrekker: He replies in Dwarven: “[‘tis fine work indeed, but it seems out of place.]”



Bomrek: How should I roll to hear what Gray just said. What’s the penalty?

Ken (GM): [unless you guys are being evasive with it? no roll required, plain hearing]

Bomrek: I guess we are in a loud echo-chamber.

Joush M.: it’s likely audible at 7 yards, between penetrating voice and low frequency sound



Bomrek turns back to the others shakily, halting in his movements from the burns he’s yet to fully recover from. “H-Hey! Don’t get blood on that Carpet! It’s a [Dwarvish word]” he pauses, thinking “An ‘Heirloom‘.”

Gray nods, respectful of the Dwarf’s desire to avoid damage to the rug. It’s exotic to him, the whole room speaking of far more wealth then he’s ever really been around.

Roderick nods to the beastman. “Give me a few minutes to catch my breath, then we’ll join them.”

Gray nods to Roderick and stands guard.

Suðri Skornbrekker: “There are bloodstains near this bowl. Maybe the warlock was cutting out the hearts of his victims, and put them into the bowl, hoping to find a particularly heavy one?”

Suðri Skornbrekker turns around to look at the corpse, and to see whether anything indicates that was being done.

Syviis: “That does seem to fit with the theme of the vile souls we’ve met so far.”

Bomrek ‘s eyes widen. “He was trying to open the Crypt. He thought, at least, he needed a Heart of Stone.”

Syviis looks for signs and hints of this altar being a new addition or an old thing

Suðri Skornbrekker feels his beard, and looks worried. “The Golem did give me that key… but with Roderick tired and you injured, I do not think we should try if it fits anywhere in here, right now.”

Suðri Skornbrekker: “…wait.”

Bomrek: Are there any key holes anywhere around, even?

Suðri Skornbrekker seems to remember something! “When the Lich’s spirit had taken over my body, it said—well, thought—something to the effect of: ‘You will open the door for me,’ or ‘I will use your body to open the door.’”

Syviis: [the Elf pokes and prods things]

Suðri Skornbrekker: “He must have meant that he was going to… cut out my heart and place it here? What unpleasant thought.”

Bomrek turns a Sardonic gaze to Suðri , “I don’t suppose he meant used those skilled hands of yours to carve him a stone heart, did he?”

Suðri Skornbrekker looks up to where Roderick should be, and gives him a grateful nod. “Thanks again, Roderick, you saved me from much worse than a stab wound!”

Roderick gives a satisfied smile at having aided his comrade, though the dwarf can’t see it. His pride is tempered by the horror of realization, but he’s no longer as surprised by the foul magics they encounter. His smile fades with the realization of what he’s grown accustomed to.

Suðri Skornbrekker looks at Bomrek: “…hm, who knows. That would make sense too, but then we should see more misshapen rocks lying around the place, I’d imagine.”

Bomrek: (Na, Bomrek was basically joking with that comment, if that wasn’t clear.)

P.P. A.: (oh.okay)

P.P. A.: (Suðri is mildly-autistic enough to respond like that anyway, though)



Ken (GM) Syviis pokes and prods, and where the script on the surface glows, she finds a secret panel that slides aside! Certainly magical, disappearing into the stone at her touch!

Inside is a beautifully carved box of crystal clear glass; innumerable facets of shining cut clearness. Inside lie a half-dozen ugly red rocks about the size of your fist; ruddy and dirty looking, with veins of gold sparkling through them.

Ken (GM): [speaking of misshapen rocks…]

(To Syviis): These are Powerstones, 5FP reservoir, and definitely tainted with the darkness. Like a signature, it pops up to you with your Magic Detect vision

Suðri Skornbrekker peers inside, and tries to see if these rocks remind him of anything—like a certain key given to him by a certain spider, for example.

P.P. A.: (I forgot what it looked like)

Syviis picks up one of the stones looking it over

Suðri Skornbrekker does likewise.

(To Suðri Skornbrekker): You have one of those! From Falkirks pack! It was in with his other things he collected from Gorgoth, in his samples and collections

Suðri Skornbrekker weighs it in his hand and looks at it absent-mindedly. He strokes his beard with his other hand thinking, thinking… “…whatever did we do to all the stuff that Falkirk collected?”

Bomrek: Did Falkirk have a piece of the puzzle?

P.P. A.: apparently

Bomrek: What happened to his trinkets n’ such?

Gray studies Roderick’s expression a moment but doesn’t intrude on the human’s thoughts as they stand on the landing at the top of the stairs in the grand chamber.

Bomrek sighs at that, and looks over toward that Palisade door. Does it appear to be barred or locked at all?

Bomrek: (Also, maybe you can put those pieces together like a puzzle, and stick the key in? The key’s apparently important at some step in this, so)

Ken (GM): [falkirks potions and trinkets ended up together. whoever had his flasks should have it.]

Syviis pulls the stones out and places them in one of the pouches on her belt then turns to the door to check it out

P.P. A.: (it might be for another room though, who knows)

Ken (GM): [The door is barred on this side with a thick plank, and a short chain.]

Bomrek: (Yeah, could be.)

(I would assume Syviis would have it. Bomrek wouldn’t touch the stuff.)

Bomrek peeks through any cracks or openings around the door. Any light, movement, or sound?

Suðri Skornbrekker hands over the one he’s holding to Syviis. “I’m pretty sure Falkirk picked up something that looked like these. Did we give his potions and such back to him, or…?”

Suðri Skornbrekker readies his musket and lurks next to the door.

Syviis: “Powerstones…I don’t remember if Falkirk had them, but I wouldn’t be surprised. Mine is what helped sustain me through the wasteland.” She touches the stone hanging from a short chain on her neck; it glows with that familiar magical light.

Bomrek: “Is that what those are, Elf? Power stones? Are they.. Dwarven make?”

Gray considers the idea of power stones, glancing to Roderick. The man could use one if he’s going to draw so deeply on himself to use magic.

Bomrek draws a pistol and braces it on the dirty table, aiming toward the door.

Suðri Skornbrekker: “How are these made? Not by crystallizing sacrificial hearts, I hope?” He glances at the gory corpse.

Syviis: “I truly hope not.”

(To Suðri Skornbrekker): You remember now! The one you remember; it came out of one of those bloodroot stalks! Falkirk carved in out of the root

Suðri Skornbrekker snaps his fingers. “Those bloodroot things!”

Syviis: “Mine is created with tree resin and month long ritual involving the bathing in moonlight… but Power is Power, and certainly I would not be surprised if the vile forces we face have a darker ritual.”

Doc: [I forget, what’d we do with the wizard and the Node who teleported onto us?]

P.P. A.: [left them guarding our stuff]

Doc: eyes_emoji.jpg

Joush M.: They are back at base camp. Don’t worry, Bavieca is with them. If they get stroppy they are going to get a hoof beatdown

Suðri Skornbrekker: “I don’t understand how the …fruit, or something, of a bloodroot could be a ‘Heart of Stone’ and activate an altar with Elven runes in the Allfather’s tomb, though.” he struggles with the magical bullshit, and shrugs ” Oh well.”

Gray: “Wasn’t the spider-golem crafted from stone? Would it have a heart?” He ask

Suðri, calling over from the landing.

Suðri Skornbrekker puts down his musket and grabs his bardiche. He uses it to cut open the chain, and kicks in the door.

Syviis readies her bow just in case



Ken (GM) inside, the majesty of the old keep lies here, under a rime of dust and refuse



Syviis lowers her bow, clearly in awe, nodding her appreciation to the dwarves.

Ken (GM) piles of garbage, filth and rags lie atop of old bones, meat, and scurrying insects fleeing the light. The old keep thrones sit at the far end, gilded and shining like gimlets.

On the far wall, a vault door.

To the sides; passages, one heaped with refuse and flies, the other barren



Suðri Skornbrekker picks his musket back up and carefully steps inside. He is enraged by what he sees. “How DARE that scum turn this hall into a—” he holds back a swear in this place: “…a trash heap!”

Bomrek limps in, pistol in hand. He stares at the grandeur of the thrones in awe.

Doc: (have ten minutes passed?)

Ken (GM): [at least, yeah]

Roderick musters his strength and clambers to his feet. “Still tired, but I should be able to keep up. Let’s go,” he nods at Gray, following the others down the stairs.

Suðri Skornbrekker mumbles to himself, in Dwarven: “[How are we going to clean this up… just burn it? Maybe we should just tell the hillforts and have them send some Dwarves later, this would take us too long.]”

Bomrek: (Oh shit)

Bomrek: Can Bomrek tell what the hell that person is. Is he alive and standing, or?

Suðri Skornbrekker is looking the other direction, and will only notice if alerted.

Ken (GM) on the West side, a heap of bodies in various states of desiccation lie. Their stench is horrible when you approach, but on top, a small figure seems to be perched behind some of them, watching you.

His face is scarred, and furrowed. Bald head and orange beard. His dark black eyes flicker in the torchlight, squinting

Gray nods to Roderick and comes after, walking down the steps and starting after the others. He’d been worrying when they left his sight.

Bomrek says in Dwarvish, “[Found someone here, give me a hand Suðri]”



Suðri Skornbrekker turns around, and comes over. “Someone?”



Ken (GM) a croaking voice rises up from the heap “Dwarf?” it says, in an almost reverent whisper



Bomrek points to the figure down the hall, gesturing with his pistol but not yet pointing it at him.



Suðri Skornbrekker replies, in Dwarven: “[Dwarf!]”



Ken (GM) He rises up then, to a few meager feet but he is bulky and rough looking. He has rags draped over boiled leathers, and what skin you see is pale and sunken. “[I am dwarf!]” He excitedly whispers back

Bomrek: (As far as Government Territories go, whose are we in right now? Elf? Nobodys? Dwarf?)

Bomrek: “[How have you come to be here? Who are you?]” Bomrek says in Dwarvish

Suðri Skornbrekker: “[By the Allfather! Were you brought here by the wicked warlock, or…?]”

Gash: ” I am Gash! I sell my sword to the Rovers, the men. I was in the South when the Beastmen came!” He answers loudly, excitedly in the Holder tongue; his voice seems happy, overjoyed, but he keeps the severe look, keeps his distance from you all.

“Then, the elves took me” and he points a crooked shaking hand at Syviis

Gray keeps pace with Roderick, the Beastman walking into the chamber beyond the log wall, looking around, scenting the air and reaching out with other senses. Alert for traps or danger as Suðri and Bomrek speak to the new man.

(To Gray): Stinks of refuse, death, and a dwarf. One scent, pungent, everywhere in here. Only him.

Suðri Skornbrekker takes a step over and pats her back. “[This one is okay. She kills evil Elves with us. …which is most of them, so far.]”

Syviis nods sadly

Bomrek: [“She is one of the good ones”]

P.P. A.: (oneS?)

Doc: BASED

Gash: “She is not his servant? The old one, the dark wizard?” his voice hushed, fearful

Syviis: “I serve no darkness, good Dwarf.”

Bomrek shakes his head, and tries to draw the Dwarf out of the space, waving his hand for him to come forward.

Suðri proudly hits his chestplate. “That one is no more. We shot him, incinerated his flesh, crushed his bones, and then exorcised his spirit. He’s gone for good.”

“We have been hunting his hooded servants for a few days.”



Gash steps out of the heap, picking his steps deftly, eyes always level on Syviis. He stands there in the doorway, not quite sure. From here, you see his tattoos now; deep red on his pale skin, not bloodstains, but deeply scarred brands and intricate patterns on his face and hands

(To Suðri Skornbrekker): He’s a criminal. Banished from the realm and forbidden to return. A Murderer.

(To Bomrek): He’s a criminal. Banished from the realm and forbidden to return. A Murderer.

Bomrek ‘s eyes look over to Suðri’s, searching for recognition.

Bomrek: [Bomrek used to be a guardsman, he’d probably have some semblance of understanding of certain things. What level of murder would result in this, but not execution?]

(To Bomrek): You banish only those who would be troublesome to have killed, even in a justified crime. Either hes politically connected, or his guilt could not infallibly be proven…



Syviis senses it might be better to remove herself.: “I’ll go investigate the magical trappings outside. I’ll leave you fellows to tend to him.”

Gray nods to Syviis as she passes, frowning a touch but understanding it as he looks around the chamber slowly, still alert for danger and remaining silent.

Syviis takes a moment to steel herself, then investigates the items on the table, looking for books, scrolls, items, etc

Suðri Skornbrekker furrows his brow and takes a step closer to Bomrek, and whispers: “I think he has paid amply for his crimes, if what he says is true.”

He turns to the shabby dwarf “What have they done to you; and how many else did they bring here?” He seems more cautious than before, and likewise keeps a respectful distance.

Bomrek whispers back, pretending to cough into his hand “A murderer can not be trusted, not fully. Be watchful.”

Suðri Skornbrekker: “Mhm,” Suðri affirms, nodding faintly.



Roderick: rolling 3d6 vs 11 Diagnosis to guess at how healthy the dude is (2+2+1)= 5

Doc: wew that should do it even with range penalties

(To Roderick): He’s good, malnourished but surviving. He seems well watered, but starved for weeks. No body fat left



Gash: “My band, we were moving a caravan to the Greyhold, Timberkeep, when they attacked! Fell out of the sky like rain, landed among us and cut ankles and knees, hamstringed us! I was struck in the head, unconscious. When I awoke, we were here in the hole, with the thrones…”

Bomrek: “Were they all taken? Out that door?” Bomrek swings his body around some, pointing to the door they came in from.

Gash keeps his head down, but points vaguely to the door “They were pulled out there, by some… blackness. An invisible darkness with an elven face. I have not seen them since, but I heard their screaming…”

Bomrek nods thoughtfully. “You said your name was ‘Gash’? That sounds like but a nickname. What is your full name, friend?”



(To Syviis): There are writings in elvish (formulas and notes regarding some sort of ‘golden crystal’ as well as several small jars and flasks of bloody fluids, golden dusts, and mineral samples. What seems apart from it all is a crystal bottle with a iron stopper, full of dark blue water. Its cold to the touch, almost icy, and it weighs much more than you’d think from its size…

(To Syviis): Cuuuuuurious?

(From Syviis): oh, hell yes. She’s Curious. Shewill carefully poke and prod everything that isn’t a dark power portal, basically. She’s very much understanding that here is more raw power and magic, less dark.

Suðri Skornbrekker: “His ‘band,’ huh?” he mumbles to Bomrek, but keeps listening.

Gash: “I have always been Gash, friend, I have known no other name. I was raised on it. Who are you? What is this great beast? The knight?”

Bomrek: “They’re our companions, traveling with us here, to this place. We came to vanquish the evil Elves that lived here.” Bomrek says slowly.

Suðri Skornbrekker: “The knight was the one who dealt the death knell to that Dark Elf; and the beast is no less mighty a warrior,” Suðri answers proudly of his companions.

Gray stands there, being a truly great beast.

Gray: rolling 3d6 vs 14 Perception with Night Vision 5 and +4 to Scent from Discriminatory Scent, or Detect (Spirits) with Precise(2+2+5)= 9



Bomrek: [Incidentally, does he seem to be lying, when he says his only name is Gash? Is that unusual? No clan name, nothin’?]

Ken(GM): [Detect Liiiiiiies?]

Bomrek: What’s the default on that even?

Bomrek: Lets hope for somethin’ good.

rolling 3d6(2+2+4)= 8

P.P. A.: >Defaults: Perception-6, Body Language-4, or Psychology-4.

Bomrek: Nope, that’s a fail right there for me.

Joush M.: Gray has Body Language at 14

(To Gray): He seems to be telling the truth; he’s defensive and seems quite afraid of the two dwarves in particular, around where he asked on the name though, no fear. Hes not being deceptive on that.

Suðri Skornbrekker: [9] vPer 12-6

P.P. A.: ditto

Bomrek: Well. He’s unarmed, isn’t he? Nothing on’m but rags?

S’problably fine.

Gray can generally read people well, even in dim light. Of course, it goes either way… the beast is exceptionally easy to read, but also nods, seeming satisfied by the man’s answer.

(From Syviis): she already has plans to drain the dark taint out of the power stones and let them recharge in pure mana, but that’s another thing for another time. She won’t tap them in battle, unless lives are at stake

(To Syviis): You poke and prod; seems the bottle of water is just water, smells like it when you open the bottle at least. And when you pour some out, its icy cool clear water….and then, it doesn’t stop pouring out! and the flow quickens!

(From Syviis): did I totally just find a Decanter of Endless Water? 😛



Ken (GM) you hear the rush of water splashing everywhere in the next room

Bomrek: Which next room. The statue room?

Syviis laughs and stoppers the container.

(To Syviis): Aside from the decanter, there is a wood stove, table and chairs, the rug, various notes, and a set of high quality alchemists gear (+1). Otherwise, the lich lived spartan

(From Syviis): will take the notes (unless they are quickly research-able) and the decanter…never ever turn down a source of fresh (or salt) water



Gray turns his head, wondering why Syviis decided to take a shower now.

Suðri Skornbrekker turns around looking puzzled, but shrugs it off. “Whose are all these corpses? Other victims of the Dark Elf?” Suðri points at the heap of rotting flesh.

Gash looks over his shoulder at the heap “That is what is left over from the dark creatures work. Some of them had food. None of them had anything that could help us escape”



Suðri Skornbrekker shakes his head wearily. “…us?”

Bomrek nods solemnly, and looks a little moved by the poor Dwarf’s story. “Suðri… Attend to him. I need to examine that throne, for a moment.” Bomrek hobbles painfully toward the golden throne, holstering his pistol as he does so. What’s it like up close? Extra shiny?

Suðri Skornbrekker: “That gold isn’t running away,” he laughs.

Bomrek sits his ass down on one of the lowest steps of the throne, not the throne itself, as to be respectful. Standing for that long was beginning to take it’s toll.

Gray looks around the room, hunting around them and standing guard as he holds the coiled rope and barbed spear.

(To Gray): refuse, filth and scavenger bugs. Some of those small basilisk lizards. all scuttle in your coming.



Ken(GM)the thrones are beautiful; carved from stone then inlaid with golden leaf, the details are immaculate still even under the dust.

On the left, a Lord’s seat. Beside him, his Guardmaster’s.

To the right, his wive’s throne. Hers in ebony and jet. His in marble and gold

Ken (GM) On the far wall behind the throne, the vault door looms.

Bomrek’d sit on the guardmaster’s seat then.



Suðri Skornbrekker: “Were there other survivors?” Suðri asks Gash.

Gash nods, slowly. Holds up four fingers “he cut out their hearts”

Suðri Skornbrekker looks to the ground. “…so he did do that.”

Roderick glances back at the entrance. Obvious, in hindsight.

Suðri Skornbrekker: “They are avenged now. Was he going to cut out yours later?”

Gash looks away from Suðri as he asks his question, a dark look on his face

Suðri Skornbrekker: “…a grim question, sorry.”

(From Bomrek): So if this guy was Banished, what am I obligated to treat him as, being a former Guardsman. Are we disallowed to give them any help at all? Disallowed to let them back within Dwarf lands? What’s the fine print on this.

(To Bomrek): Fine print is, “He is forever to roam lands no this home, his body to lie in rest un-interred, his spirit to wander, forever”

Bomrek sits on his chair tenderly, his chin on his fist, and his elbow on his knee, staring at Gash.



Gray nods to Gash. “We will see you returned to safety if we can. We make to clear this place of horrors and invaders, then will head north. You may accompany us or go your own way… But I would thank you to help us understand this place, and what happened here.”

Gash: “Where are we Beastman? Some deadly tomb in Gorgoth? I have not seen the sun in weeks!”

Suðri Skornbrekker motions behind his back to Gray not to say too much. “It seems ’tis a tomb our ancestors built, some kind of outpost, though long fallen.” He looks across the room. “…we wanted to tidy it up a little before leaving; whoever lies buried here, they do not deserve a sullied grave with the gore of Elves.”

Gray nods to the man, rather then try to lie he simply nods in agreement with

Suðri’s vague description of the place.



(From Bomrek): Oh Shid, does this hallowed ground count as “his home”? Am I going to have to evict this asshole in a quick second’?

(To Bomrek): This is an ancient dwarven homestead. He is an outcast

(From Bomrek): So, I’m obligated to kick this guy the hell out of here, technically? Eesh.



Suðri Skornbrekker: “Above ground, it is all in ruin, overgrown and strewn with yet more corpses.”

Gash: “Then I am truly in hell” he says darkly

Suðri Skornbrekker smiles for a moment, but his smile vanishes as he remembers the state of the world. “…we all are, these days. But there are yet corners of hell where at least the sun still shines, and most corpses are of our enemies.”

Syviis walks back over to Gray and sighs. “Nothing of importance from the Lich, but I suspect this is not the only den of evil here.”

Gray nods in agreement in Syviis. “We will stand on guard. It’s likely we will have more work to do before the day is done, and we’ve yet to confront the cultist or roc”

Bomrek straightens his back, with some clear pain, and yells to Suðri , and motions him ‘over here’ with his hands.

Ken (GM): [that should be another ten minutes, for Rod-FP, FYI]

Doc: (FP updated, now at half)

Syviis: [does/can Rod use Power Stones as well?]

Ken (GM): [yep, Powerstones are kosher for his Stuff. It has the Magic-10% modifier, after all]



Suðri Skornbrekker nods to Gash. “We will take a quick look to see if any of his servants still hide here, then get you outside.” Then he walks to Bomrek. “What is it?”

Bomrek whispers in Common, “He has to leave; his brands banish him from the homelands… but this is hallowed ground. We’re in Dwarf land, by my reckoning. We can’t abide his crimes, or ignore his punishment. I certainly can’t.” He says, referencing his past, tapping his breastplate.

“Lets open this vault” he gestures with his head to the large metal door behind him. “I can only abide him so much time here.”

(To Suðri Skornbrekker): The magic in the key tells you, even from your pocket, that is where it should be. Home.

Suðri Skornbrekker whispers back: “I wanted to get him out first, then explore further. There is no need for a murderer to see the secrets of this tomb. We’ll get him out, give him some food, and send him on his way, then come back down and open the vault.”

Bomrek breathes deep, thinking with a tinge of worry across his brow. “I worry we’ll be drawn away if we waste any more time.. but” He looks back at the vault door. After a moment, he makes a small huff noise through his mustache, and says “Do what you want.”

Gray walks after Suðri and Bomrek, looking around for danger as he goes, tense, ready as they come to the far end of the room and he looks to the door.



Syviis walks to a good vantage point to provide cover (and to not be in direct offensive sight of Gash, still feeling the sting of his fear of elves)



Gash steps to rod, clasps a fist to his breast “M’lord, Sir, might I have a sword, help you on your quests? This place is evil, but I can still stand, still fight.”

Doc: (would Rod have heard that he’s a murderer)

Suðri Skornbrekker: “You are still injured, Roderick still exhausted; the tomb won’t run away,” he raises his voice a little: “Besides, there might still be the Dark Elf’s henchmen about; we should send them to their master if they dare to return hither.”

Bomrek: “We won’t be in better shape any time soon.” Bomrek says, thinking it over.

(I think Rod wouldn’t be aware. We’ve been whispering about it the entire time.)

Gray nods, letting Suðri and Bomrek take the lead here. It’s a dwarven tomb and he respects it’s importance to them.



Ken(GM): [Rod can see, theres a big dwarven rune on his face in red. Reads murderer. You notice it as he gets closer, comes in to the light]

Doc: subtle

Ken (GM): [Dwarven justice system man]

Adolf S.: What can we say, the Dwarves are really good at making warning labels

Joush M.: He also has one on his back that says “the state of California says this dwarf contains materials known to cause cancer”



Suðri Skornbrekker whispers some more: “The Elf revealed that there were more Golems inside; they might react badly to seeing a branded murderer. Getting rid of him should really come first.”

Bomrek: “Deposit him on the surface, with the Wizards. They’ll keep him safe enough until we can all leave this place.”

Suðri Skornbrekker nods. “Yea.”

Roderick shakes his head. “You are branded a murderer, and I doubt that it was the elves who labeled you with a dwarven rune.”

Gash looks wide-eyed at Rod, then backs up a step, hands up “S-sir! I am not…I didnt mean to….”

Bomrek: “He’s been Banished, Rod” Bomrek yells across the space. “He’s alive for a reason.”

Suðri Skornbrekker turns around and nods to affirm what Bomrek said.

Gray: “An Exile… He hasn’t violated the terms of his punishment by choice.” Gray perhaps more forgiving then many about this sort of thing.

Gash: “WHAT DO YOU KNOW OF EXILE, HALF-BREED?!” he screams the words, wheeling to face Gray, wholly un-intimidated by the size difference “YOUR PEOPLE INVADED THESE LANDS! YOU BEASTS! DOGS!” He spits

Doc: hey cool it with the antisemitic remarks

P.P. A.: lel

Syviis walks over to Gray’s side.”good sir Dwarf, I think you’ve said your piece. Shall I escort you to the surface?”

Bomrek mutters to himself “Perhaps we should have checked him for a dagger.”

Gray: “I’m Scorned, and understand you have been though horrors most can’t imagine.” He says calmly to the dwarf, expression almost sad as he looks to the sharp tempered man, then nodding thankfully to Syviis.

Suðri Skornbrekker walks over and between Gray and the Dwarf: speaking Dwarven “[They did, but he is none of them, and I shan’t allow you to compare him to them. But let us be out of this foul tomb.]”

Gash: “Let me pass and I will leave you in peace, Brothers” he says, grim darkness on his face

Suðri Skornbrekker: “[We have a few humans who travelled with us and stayed behind; if you want, we can bring you to them so you can eat something proper and rest.]”

Gash: “If the elves are dead, Ill just leave. No need to overburden you all” He begins backing along the wall, eyes on you each in turn, shuffling for the door on shaking steps

Suðri Skornbrekker looks worried. “If you wish; but be careful, a few of his servants might still be up and about, flying on their giant birds.”

Roderick turns to avoid showing his back

Suðri Skornbrekker: “…and try to run straight out; there is some giant spider prowling the ruins!” he calls after him.

Gray considers a moment. “Be very careful leaving. A stone spider in the tunnels may take you for an intruder”

Suðri Skornbrekker: “…it might really be better if you let Bomrek or me accompany you.”

Gash: “[Fuck the elves!]” He calls out in the dwarvish, dashing up the stairs and to the ruins above

Syviis sighs. In elvish “[Of course…]“

Joush M.: Pretty solid last words though

Gray watches him go, considering a moment, then nodding. “He’s going to die up there” He observes.



Suðri Skornbrekker looks disappointed, and nods to Gray. “We could go after him, but… he seems to know where he is heading.”

Bomrek: “Hahah” Bomrek laughs, and turns back to the Vault. “Suðri, the key?”

Suðri Skornbrekker hangs his shoulders, and walks over to Bomrek, waiting a few moments and listening, to make sure Gash has truly left.

Ken (GM) the only noise you hear is the crackle of torches on the walls, and the drip of water somewhere in the dark

Gray: “What was that sound of water before, Syviis?”

Syviis: “A decanter that creates water, or at least stores a great deal more than it’s size would indicate. Useful I suspect.”

Suðri Skornbrekker takes out the key, and turns around, addressing the party: “Let me re-stipulate: the Dark Elf revealed to me that there are more Golems behind this door. They may or may not obey us; maybe they are to test anyone who enters the tomb. To be safe, I would ask you, Gray and Syviis, to stand a back a little.”



Bomrek gets up too, hobbling back to one of the pillars and leaning on it stiffly, a pistol in his hand.

Syviis nods and stands ready, but not threatening with her bow

Gray: “Very. An intersting find” He agrees with Syviis, then nodding at Suðri’s words, adjusting his gear and backing up, standing in the shadow of a pillar. “Ready”

Suðri Skornbrekker: “Second, that stone altar: if this is indeed the Tomb of the All-Father, then maybe we first need to activate that to prove that we have the ‘Heart of Stone’, or else the Vault will reject us. …or that thing was out here by some Elves, and activating it will brand us as enemies. Any thoughts? Should we try putting the heart-thing Falkirk picked up in it, if anyone has it with them?”

Syviis: “You know more of your kin’s magic than I, but I will do my best to watch for hotspots”

Bomrek nods, “I’d say so”

P.P. A.: ^in response to “should we try putting the heart-thing in it”?

Bomrek: Yup. Bomrek doesn’t know a thing about Magic.

Aside from it being bad, unless it’s good.

P.P. A.: Who took Falkirk’s potions and shit?

Joush M.: Uhh..hmm. I don’t know. I think it was packed into group stuff. Gray could be carrying it in that case. Hopefully we didn’t leave it back in the loot pile

Doc: Rod isn’t carrying anything except weapons



Ken (GM): [gray should have it, in the collective carry pile]

[last I recall at least. It doesn’t weigh much, and he carries a lot]

[I am assuming as the GM you have it at least :P]

P.P. A.: I think the problem is that we never specified

I know that we took Falkirk’s stuff with us when we left the Dreugar Keep

and then we also took everything with us when we left the Ansible

Bomrek: I’d say either Syviis or Gray’d have it

P.P. A.: yeah, probably Gray

We didn’t specify giving Falkirk all his stuff back, so we presumably kept it

Syviis: [Syviis has the staff and powerstones, and now a canteen, but very little else for mobility’s sake]

P.P. A.: (actually, kind a rude that we didn’t do that)

Ken (GM): [well, stop arguing about it 😛 you have at least found his notes and trinkets tucked away. He had a jar with bloodroot vine in it [dead now] another jar with a bloodroot heart, and his notebooks]

Suðri Skornbrekker suggests taking a look at his notes first to see if he wrote anything about the Heart

Bomrek: Oh, well I doubt the secret is just the bloodroot heart. Lets just open up the vault, ‘prolly the best option.

Gray checks his supplies, setting out the things Falkirk had left with them that he didn’t take when they parted company. The towering beast looking to the journal. “I should return this to him..” Then opening the jar to offer it to the dwarves, offering the notebook as well.

Suðri Skornbrekker suggests that Syviis just puts the Heart there since she’s an Elf, can read the runes, and can also sense if any evil magic starts emanating from it.

Suðri Skornbrekker also considers the Bomrek option though

Doc: >The Bomrek Option

Bomrek: Bomrek will one day invent the mobile stab wagon, to kill Elves on the go, no matter what ghetto they’re rounded up n.



Ken (GM) the heart in the jar was cut from a bloodroot near Glardenfen. Falkirk kept the sample in a mason jar, and kept it well preserved. It is a red stone, nearly translucent, with veins of darker rock interspersed. It’s roughly the size of a human heart, or a closed fist, and seems to resemble a mans blood organ. It does NOT however, have the golden veins you see in the others retrieved from the altar

Syviis nods “I can place it if you think that’s safest.”

Suðri Skornbrekker heads to the altar-place and sets up his musket a bit away from it. “I mean, whatever this stuff with the Heart is, it’s Elven Magic, so it’s probably bad. We could just ignore it…I say we vote; who is for bothering with the Heart?”

Suðri Skornbrekker does not raise his arm, but seems hesitant.



Syviis: curiosity intensifies “The power-stones we found might also be able to activate some of the mechanisms here.”

Gray: “It dosn’t seem to be stone. I’d trust your instincts on the matter, Suðri”

Bomrek: I’d say throw the heart in the bowl

see what happens.

Suðri Skornbrekker: “Might be that nothing happens. It just looks similar is all. Bah, just throw it in. If nothing happens, fine; if something appears we shoot it back to wherever it crawled from.”

Suðri Skornbrekker puts a musket besides him and starts aiming in the direction of the altar.

Gray stands by and considers a moment, then nods. “Aye” And.. well, throws it in. Placing the heart in the apparent heart receptacle.

P.P. A.: what if we supposed to open the vault to get an army of Golems to then sick at anything the heart might summon?

uuuh

Suðri Skornbrekker looks to Bomrek to make sure he has his weapons out too.

Bomrek: I figure he was trying to open a secret thing to get power from there.

Power’s probably not evil, these are Dwarves we’re talking about here.

An eternal force of good.

P.P. A.: Elven runes tho

(regarding the altar)

(whatever is in the Vault is definitely Dwarven and Good)

Ken (GM) the heart falls into the bowl with a THUNK. There is a small amount of blood still in the bowl which splashes a bit. You all feel a small tingle of magic…

(To Syviis): They activated a rune of joining, conjuration. Its waiting for a mage to supply power

Syviis sighs and pulls an arrow, focusing her power on it like she normally does, then touches it to the runes.

Suðri Skornbrekker waits anxiously and watches the altar through his iron sight

Bomrek: “So.. You ‘got a gold hoard at home?” Bomrek asks Rod conversationally.

Roderick scowls underneath his visor. “Not anymore.”



Ken (GM) the spark of elf storm magic alights on the bowl, and the contents hover in there, a few inches in the air! The blood washes over the stone, and twists and turns. In a few seconds, the stone shines brightly (like the others) with new veins of gold where the dark veins once were! It falls back to the bowl with a dull clatter



Suðri Skornbrekker: “…uh.”

Gray watches thoughtfully, studying it, gaze on the heart as it falls back into the bowl before falling, the beast tilting his head to the side. “Huhumm”

Suðri Skornbrekker: “Well, now we know what this does.” He picks his weapons back up. “If you can use the hearts of animals for this, this seems like a good portable source of magic for Syviis.”

(To Syviis): Your Magic sight reveals, it is now a 1 fatigue point Powerstone

Gray lifts the heart, turning it in his hands, studying the veins thoughtfully before he sets it back down. “The door next?”

Bomrek: “When I go back to the mountainholmes, I’m going to make a bed of gold bars..” Bomrek says, looking up into the air just a bit, eyes full of imagination.

Suðri Skornbrekker: “Yea. Sorry for wasting everyone’s time with that suggestion.”

Bomrek: “I’ll sleep on it, to remind me of Humility” he nods his head to himself.

Syviis takes the heart, marveling in the process she just witnessed, but then returns her attention to the matters at hand

Suðri Skornbrekker brings his arsenal over to the door, and gets out the key.

Bomrek nods to Suðri , and tightens his grip on his pistol.

Gray: “It’s no trouble, Suðri . We’ve all had thoughts that didn’t prove out”

Gray walks back closer, ready to fight.

Suðri Skornbrekker waits until everyone is in position, and reverently inserts the key into its hole.

Ken (GM) the key slides home easily and turns with a solid CHUNK.

A rapid response of CLAK CLAK CLAK tells you the mechanisms are working after all this time. The door tips in a step, swings to the side and then rolls out of your way. The vault itself looms darkly but begins to glow from inside with a golden light



Bomrek takes a few steps forward, peering into the space.

Suðri Skornbrekker has his visor open and is able to reach for his coin immediately if need be.

P.P. A.: I hope we really did kill the Dark Elf and it didn’t just pretend to be gone and hides in the recesses of Suðri’s mind so he can now get inside the vault.

But I haven’t seen any indicators of that

Doc: eyes_emoji.jpg

Bomrek: Elves are too dumb for a plan like that PPA.

Ken (GM) GOLD! It covers every surface of the room! Floors, walls, ceiling! The glow brightens and you see its scaled over every conceivable place! All the bricks, all the heaps of coins, all the lumps, gold! The walls have long thin crystals of a dull rosy red reaching inwards, pointing to the center, a heap of coins and other things there crawling with more gold, with a single arm protruding, holding up a milky white and gold crystal.



Suðri Skornbrekker ‘s eyes widen at the sight of such luster, such wealth, such splendor.

Bomrek steps past Suðri into the room, eyes locked on the contents of the room.

Gray: “That looks like a trap”

Suðri Skornbrekker hesitantly steps inside as well.

Gray calls out as he closes in, frowning deeply as he looks into the blinding splendor.

Bomrek: (What’s the moral situation here regarding this Hoard? Would we be obligated to bring it back to the homelands? Leave it here? Are we in the right to take it ourselves?)

Ken (GM) the arm holding the crystal quivers… or rather, the crystal in it’s grip stirs

“Do you have pure hearts, Dwarves?” a disembodied genderless voice asks

(To Syviis): You can see with your magic vision, that crystal is an elemental spirit

Suðri Skornbrekker calls out to the room: “I am Suðri Skornbrekker. I have come here to find—”

The voice cuts him off.

Gray growls, skin crawling as every instinct screams at him to be ready to fight. Stowing that heavy spear he instead touches the hilt of the massive Ogre broadsword.



Bomrek raises his pistol, and looks around the room hastily. “Who-“

Bomrek: Oh, the voice, is it in Dwarvish?

Or is it mind-voice

Ken (GM): everyone who hears it understands it

Ken (GM) Gray’s sword comes free, and licks with green flame in the dark, the lime light glowing brightly as the metal is free of the scabbard

(To Gray): You can see with your spirit vision, that crystal is an elemental spirit

Suðri Skornbrekker: “I am a simple Dwarf. My hands are stained with blood, but I wish to wash them clean, and I have come here to seek something that may aid me in his quest,” Suðri calls out to the room. “If you mean those unsettling Blood-Heart things, we have those too, but those seem evil, not pure.”

Syviis: “The crystal itself is alive…an elemental,” she says, loud enough for the dwarves to hear, but not to interrupt

Suðri Skornbrekker turns to Syviis and nods.

Bomrek looks to Suðri , and lowers his pistol a few degrees. “I am Bomrek Zirilkeskal, I was a guardsman, my heart is pure.”

Gray looks to the blade then the room, tense. “Memory, I need to See now..” Calling the magic up, studying the room with shamanic vision, staring at the crystal. “Aye.” He agrees with Syviis. Trusting none of this.

Ken (GM) The voice exults! “Receive this gift then! Servants of the Empire rejoice! You will be Paragons of the Dwarven Empire!” the voice rises in timber, joyous, exultant!



Suðri Skornbrekker: “Tell me, Crystal: if you guard this place as the All-Father commanded, and you wish to test us, then do so—we are prepared. If you are some evil Elf magic thing, then just say so now, so we can do more productive things.”

Bomrek ‘s eyes soften, and he looks at Suthri. “Paragons, eh?”



Gray: “It’s never that easy, Bomrek. What would they bait a trap with to catch you? Gold and honors?”



Ken (GM): “Step forward and receive thy gifts”



Bomrek: “I don’t see any casks, so they’ve got two our of three, Gray.”

Gray bites back whatever else he might have said. Reminding himself to trust the dwarves.

Suðri Skornbrekker looks over to Bomrek, and speaks faintly: “It would be an honor indeed, but I am wary. How sad that we’ve come to fear ambush and evil even in the hallowed halls of our forefathers.”

“Do you trust this? …if the murderer was still with us, we could have seen how the Crystal would have treated him.”

Bomrek nods slowly at the thought, and then says “Lets ask it a few questions.”

Bomrek addresses the room, loudly “Crystal, who put you here, and for what purpose?”

Suðri Skornbrekker nods, and awaits an answer.



Ken (GM): “We are the servants of the AllFather, the Lord Creator, Master of metals and ruler of All The Earths” the voice intones, rising in volume, echoing out from the vault into the dank room so that dust falls from the walls

“HE put us here, to serve YOU, his children”

Suðri Skornbrekker looks to Bomrek for a moment, and shakes off his doubts. “Who are we if we cannot even trust our ancestors any more, who built this place. If this Crystal deceives us, it will pay dearly for using the All-Father’s name in vain, and for desecrating this tomb, and we will make it pay and drive it out.”

Bomrek takes a step forward and examines the arm holding the crystal. Does it look like a Dwarves?

Ken (GM) as Bomrek steps forward, the crystal shimmers, splits, and a chunk of stone flies off like a magnet, slapping to his breast directly over his heart!

Ken (GM): “ANOTHER TO THE RANKS! REJOICE!” the voice clarion calls!

Suðri Skornbrekker ‘s lofty thoughts are interrupted by these events.



Bomrek grabs his breast and stumbles backward. What the fuck?

Ken (GM) there is a gnashing of metal, the sounds of rending steel, as the crystal twists on the metal armor! The crystal grows and crawls across his rings of mail, entwining themselves to the metal!

(To Bomrek): You feel a pinch, and then ROLLING PAIN in your chest. Roll HT



Suðri Skornbrekker: “…let me reconsider. What happened?”



Gray takes a half step forward. “Bomrek!”



Bomrek: rolling 3d6(2+2+4)= 8

pass

“Ahhgh, what in the hells?!”

Bomrek: (I think I’m turning into Tony Stark)

(To Bomrek): There is a pain in your chest under the thing, but also waves of warmth, softness following, like drugs hitting your system



Roderick tenses his grip on his sword, ready to strike but having no idea how he could even do so



P.P. A.: tfw Suðri was about to follow up his mini-speech by going ahead and grabbing the crystal

P.P. A.: saved by too much talking

Bomrek step back and leans against the wall, sliding down into the gold piled on the ground.

Suðri Skornbrekker takes out his bardiche. “Bomrek!”

Ken (GM) the metal of the dwarf’s armor bends and rolls, twisted by the stone on Bomreks chest. The golden color melts away, replaced by the blue grey of the steel. The crystal GROWS and SPREADS

Bomrek: (Okay, maybe more Silver Surfer than Tony Stark)

Suðri Skornbrekker tries hitting the crystal!

Suðri Skornbrekker: [9]v 16 +/. whatever modifiers

P.P. A.: what I mean is hitting the crystal on Bomrek (since it’s spreading, whatever part is most prominent, and doesn’t also hurt Bomrek) with the Bardiche

Ken (GM) tendrils of white crystal spread out, lashing to Bomrek, weaving in and out of his leathers, punching through his clothes, slithering along his chest through the metal, twisting it into itself as it passes



Gray tries to step forward and get that off of Bomrek!

Joush M.: (After Suðri stabs him with a giant axe, I guess)



Ken (GM) the blade slams into Bomrek! The head slamming into crystal, parting it in all directions…and then it is stuck! The crystal clinging to it, climbing up the head of the blade and slithering THROUGH it like snakes in water!



Suðri Skornbrekker immediately lets go of the weapon“This is definitely bad!”

Bomrek: (This reminds me of that episode of Stargate, actually)



Ken (GM): Gray steps in to intervene!

Gray tries to grab the crystal and pull it off!

Suðri Skornbrekker takes a step back to get Gray through. And draws his sword, just in case.

Suðri Skornbrekker thinks for a moment and sheathes his sword again, instead picking up the lighter one of his muskets



Roderick: (To GM) rolling 3d6 vs 12 Thaumatology ???(2+1+5)= 8

(To Roderick): Its an elemental; its consuming metal and growing. Like mold.

[no roll required :P]



Ken (GM): “Interlopers! The ceremony is SACRED! Blasphemers! The birth of this new soldier must complete!” the voice rings out, emanating from the crystal and resonating in Bomrek’s chest like a drum!

Suðri Skornbrekker aims at the crystal in the middle of the room. Takes a second to aim, and fires.

P.P. A.: Modifiers? (SM in particular)

Bomrek: “What is happening?” Bomrek drunkenly mutters aloud

Ken (GM) The musket shot rings out like a gong! Lead slaps into the crystal…and is consumed. Instead of exploding, the crystal spreads, growing, crawling.

Suðri Skornbrekker [curses in Dwarven]

Gray interlopes boldly, grabbing the crystal to try and rip it free before it can claim the man!

Ken (GM) Gray’s hands are strong, his claws sharp; the crystals snap, break! Chunks fly off, shatter in his hands, but it continues!

…until suddenly it stops!

Ken (GM) the wooden haft of the glaive falls, clatters to the floor, bouncing off the gold dully.

Bomrek is lying on the floor, bewildered, but his chest is now encased in a shell of metal; close fitting, like a perfectly sculpted piece of armor. Veins of white crawl through it, in the dull pale crystaline color, but the blue grey steel of his armor shines true



Gray: “Bomrek, are you still with us?” He tries to see if the dwarf’s intact, kneeling, staring down to it, growling a touch and looking to the strange armor then to the man. “Did it hurt you?!”

Roderick: “Heart of Stone…” Roderick mutters. “Perhaps this is what was meant?”

Suðri Skornbrekker squeezes past Gray, also worried about his fellow Dwarf.

(To Bomrek): You cant feel any pain anymore

(To Bomrek): You feel GREAT. Invigorated. Kinda like whiskey drunk, but none of the blur

Bomrek: “It hurt, but.. it soothed at the same time.” Bomrek looks confused, troubled, and looks down at it. He doesn’t seem to be pained.

Bomrek puts his hands down on the gold, pushing himself up the wall, and staring down at the piece of armor on his chest.

Suðri Skornbrekker: “Thank the All-Father—I was worried the crystal might engulf you, or swallow you.”

(To Suðri Skornbrekker): You can see the place where you shanked him, where the color of the metal is different, just like your weapon’s head was



Ken (GM): “Another is born to the fold; Rejoice”

Bomrek ‘s expression switches back and forth between a very light smile, and confused concern. Certainly hovering more around Neutral than any other direction.

Gray: “Bomrek, can you hear and understand me?” He kneels on the floor near the dwarf, frowning deeply.

Bomrek: (So, is it like a piece of chest plate, or more like a skin tight aluminum foil kinda fit?)



(From P.P. A.): speaking of which: did the crystal assimilate the blade of the bardiche and my bardiche is now a crystal bardiche?

(To Suðri Skornbrekker): Your bardiche is now headless, just a haft of wood

(From P.P. A.): oh



Ken (GM) Bomrek moves, testing, prodding; the armor moves like living scales, segmented perfectly, an Aegis like none other. The armor is thick, but not bulky.

Bomrek: “Yes. Yes I’m still here Gray” He says, laughing at the end, shaking his head back and forth very slowly in thought. He raps his knuckles against the metal.



Ken (GM) the sound is like knocking on a rock wall

Suðri Skornbrekker picks up the headless shaft of his former bardiche, and pokes the spot where he hit the crystal. “Look at that—did the blade get merged with it? The colour of the armor there resembles the color of the metal…in what used to be my weapon.”

Bomrek ‘s eyes glare at you both, looking you hard in the eyes. “What is this?” he asks, more calm than angry or scared.

(To Gray): The spirit is gone…and Bomrek is different now

(To Syviis): The spirit is gone…and Bomrek is different now



Ken (GM): “Will the other bear the burden of Imperial Might?” The voice speaks the question, breaking the reverie.

Bomrek moves past Gray, staring hard at the Crystal. “Hah, what in the nine hells is this?”

Gray: “You are bound to the power here, infused and Marked by it. It’s changed you.”

Suðri Skornbrekker: “…maybe it was nothing bad, after all. I fear I might have overreacted.” He turns to the Crystal he shot. “I apologize for reacting so rashly; we have seen many horrors, and are painted by it.

But ‘ere I too receive this honour, please tell us all that it entails.”



Syviis: “Whatever happened is not a simple trick, Good Dwarves…be careful.”

Gray: “Suori.. everything has a price. I don’t think that armor comes off”

Suðri Skornbrekker looks at Gray and shrugs. “If it isn’t too uncomfortable.” He looks at the crystal in the middle of the room, ready to step forward, but hoping for an answer first.



Ken (GM): “Step forward; receive thy gifts” It instructs

Bomrek looks angrily down at the Crystal, “Haha, Crystal, what is this? What have you done to my mail?”

Bomrek: (This thing is just on my chest, right? Not on my back, arms, legs, etc?)

Ken (GM): [Covers your chest all the way around. Stops neatly at your beltline , neck, and armpits]

Gray nearly reaches out to stop him, clearly mistrusting this still as he kneels there on the gold-veined marble in the gleaming room.



Suðri Skornbrekker: “I will gladly serve the All-Father, and trust His work, strange though it seems; but tell me first what duties I shall bear, so I may know whether I am ready for them.”



Ken (GM): “Righteousness, Justice, Duty: You will be the utmost of the Empire. The First among Brothers. The Stalwart Gems.”

“Yours is to serve the AllFather, as we all must. So say we all”



P.P. A.: does that name ring any bell? (“the Stelwart Gems”)

Ken (GM): [yeah, the histories spoke of the forefathers collectively as such; they all took names from precious stones. Amethyst, Ruby, Jet, Emerald…]

Syviis: [AND STEVEN!]

Bomrek: (Neat, I wonder if I can be Hematite. That’s an awesome Gem.)



Suðri Skornbrekker raises his head. “Very well.” He steps forward, nodding confidently to Gray behind him.

Ken (GM) the cystal flashes, splits, and leaps!

(To Suðri Skornbrekker): HT check

Joush M.: not his area 11!

Suðri Skornbrekker: 11v12

Bomrek: (Suthri tries to matrix-dodge it, so it lands on Gray instead)

(roll for kung-fu)

(To Suðri Skornbrekker): You are stabbed in the heart!… But then it feels better…

Suðri Skornbrekker staggers a bit, but looks focused, and curious.

Ken (GM) the crystal surges across Suðri chest, consuming his chest piece, transforming plate and link into something so much more. The carapace grows and slithers, climbs his torso in all directions.

When it is done, moments later, a gleaming armor vest sits on him. The color is pure, end to end, shining metal.

Suðri Skornbrekker also realizes what this whole “you need a heart of stone to be a knight of the all-father” stuff was about, now, and it reassures him of his choice.



Ken (GM): “Rise Brothers, Sons of the AllFather. Warriors, clad in his works! REJOICE”

Suðri Skornbrekker stands straight and salutes, to no-one in particular.

Gray watches, troubled, but nods to them. Reminding himself he trust them to make their own choices.

(To Gray): You notice, up here next to them, a smattering of red dust that seems to be falling out of their chestpieces… It litters the floor in a small shower

…and the red crystal on the walls looks very similar. Just like the Aether-stone you found in the Dreugar mine. The Thaum. It smells the same



Suðri Skornbrekker: “I need a new Bardiche, though,” Suðri says to himself; “maybe we can stop back at the town after we are done here.”

(To Suðri Skornbrekker): Youre struck with a hunger pang just then, when mentioning the weapon. Your guts react instantly. And youre craving….ore?

Gray scowls and reaches down, hand running across the floor. Claws nearly scratching the gold as he lifts his fingers, studying the red dust collected from the stone floor. “Aether dust. The red dust of the Dreugar.” He says, then speaks to the dwarves “It falls from you”

Suðri Skornbrekker makes a surprised eypression and facepalms, but then turns around to hear Gray. “…that is not g— Hm.”

Roderick would feel very hypocritical condemning them for recklessness in forming pacts with unknown powers

Ken (GM): HAHAHAHHAHAH

Roderick thinks at least they won’t be able to condemn him for it, either

Bomrek: Ayy, Bomrek didn’t form no pact, he bent down to look at a valuable.

Once again Bomrek has done nothing wrong.

That’s another Chapter for his book.

Suðri Skornbrekker strokes his beard. “The Dreugar were mining it and handling it somewhat haphazardly, no? So… it might precede them, or out ancestors knew to use it more wisely,” he reassures himself. “…by the way, does anyone have any… rocks?”

(From P.P. A.): Those blood-hearts did not feel like stones, or minerals; or did they?

(From P.P. A.): also, does any of the gold strewn around here look appetizing?

(To P.P. A.): Yes. Yes it does

Bomrek: >does anyone have any rocks

Gray snaps his fingers hard, seeing if the dust will react with the flash and flare of fine gunpowder dust mistreated the same way.

Ken (GM) the crystals seems to evaporate as gray holds them up, disappearing from his hand even as he snaps his fingers

Memory: “GRAY! NO! NOT THE DUST!”

Gray winces at the call, leaveing the dust alone and instead turning his attention on the raven. “What about the dust?”

Memory surges into view now, seeming to pry herself from Gray’s hide, screeching. Red sparks crawl up his arm to her inky form

“Thats pure magic! Thaum! Deadly delicious!” She hops back along his arm, dodging the magical red motes, her voice crazed and frantic

Bomrek: (>Deadly delicious)

(Is this shit grimdark fruit loops?)



Suðri Skornbrekker sighs.

Doc: what do I roll to see if Rod knows that dwarves don’t actually eat rocks

Bomrek shrugs “Guess touching this won’t make it any worse”. Bomrek bends over, grasps the arm holding the crystal, and yanks it up above the gold pile.

Suðri Skornbrekker: “Grey, Bomrek, friends. I know now the cost of this pact.”



Suðri Skornbrekker walks over to a pile of gold coins in the corner of the room.



Gray winces as he rises, drawing back from it and avoiding it, waiting for the magic to fade and considering the sparks. “Aye.. Thank you for nameing it. I’ll be careful of it.. And warn Syviis. She reacted poorly to the stuff before”

Suðri Skornbrekker takes a few coins in his hand. He facepalms with his other hand, and starts laughing.

He turns to them: “Behold!” and stuffs the handful of coins in his mouth.

Ken (GM) the coins disappear into his gullet!

(To Suðri Skornbrekker): Roll HT

(From Suðri Skornbrekker): 10v12

Bomrek looks at Suthri, just as confused and as surprised by this as anyone.

It takes a few moments, and then Bomrek yells out “Hey! These are valuable!” and points down at the coins.

Doc: “This is no time for dwarven party tricks”

Ken (GM) He seems pained for a moment, doubles over, but then stands up as a chunk of golden metal starts to push it’s way out of his chest, over his heart.

Gray: “No trick. Power needs to be fed”

(To Suðri Skornbrekker): This HURTS

Doc: (rod didn’t actually say that)

Bomrek: (Jesus, I’m really good you said heart and not some other portion of him.)

(To Suðri Skornbrekker): Roll VS weaponcraft

(To Suðri Skornbrekker): defaults to a 9 for you

(From Suðri Skornbrekker): what does that default—

(From Suðri Skornbrekker): ok 9v9

(From Suðri Skornbrekker): wew

Suðri Skornbrekker looks pained, but concentrated.

Ken (GM) Suðri screams and yanks out of his chest a thin yet full formed Glaive-head, just like his old one!

Bomrek draws out his flask, looks at the rectangular bar of gold, and then back at his flask. He starts wondering if he can make whiskey bouillon this way.

Suðri Skornbrekker holds it, and looks at it.

Gray winces at the brutal display, watching distrubed and considering a moment before he simply nods.

Suðri Skornbrekker sits down on the pile of gold coins, and holds his head in his hands.He yells, breaking into laughter: “What?!”



Ken (GM): UNTIL NEXT WEEK

Syviis wat

Fiss: Hehe

Roderick same tbh

P.P. A.: this is truly dwarven magic

definitely the all-father’s

Ken (GM): finest quality

Doc: magic, bad: lets you shoot fire from your hands and destroy your enemies

P.P. A.: though if I had known that it works that way, I would have eaten something other than gold

Doc: magic, good: lets you eat coins and turn them into axes

P.P. A.: I don’t think a golden blade is a good idea

but I guess it’s better than nothing

Bomrek: Maybe it’s uh

P.P. A.: maybe it’s super-gold because it went through my digestive system

Bomrek: coated with that shit, what is it. The titanium they use on gold ‘Deagles.

That shit is insanely hard and an A+++ finish

Joush M.: Collapsed structure gold/bronze alloy, for all your dwarfy needs.

Ken (GM): 4 xp for erryone!

much RP. Much plot!

MUCHO MUCHO

P.P. A.: this session man

Fiss: FOR THE PLOT

Ken (GM): WAAAAAUGH

P.P. A.: I was anxious all the while, expecting some complex traps and worrying in which order you wander us to do things, and whether the altar or the vault would be a trap

and then I got the power to eat rocks and shit weapons

*wanted

Bomrek: Hey,

now we can eat nails for breakfast and shit tacks mid-day at work.

P.P. A.: Grey can eat out fallen enemies, and we can eat their weapons!