Brought to the Island of Caer Morien, the group arrives in the Tempest by Admiral-Lord Domonico Malvici. During their trip several of sailors on board shared tales with the group about the supposed presence of a dark force in some of the ruins - one even heard there was laughter escaping the deepest parts of the caves, and some villagers had gone missing. Others just laughed at that sailor and said he had drunk too much that day. Either way the trip to Caer Morien was an easy one. The wind aiding a swift journey.

On arriving on the island, a welcome was made by one of the Mayors of a local town who introduced himself to the group -

"You must be the team here to find out what is going on in those caves. Good! Well, I don't want to keep you. I am Mayor Gideon and we have had six go missing including my son. One of my soldiers went into the cavern and came running out. He's been speaking nonsense since. But you look like might be a bit better than him. When you are ready, let me know and I shall have some sherpas help you to the ruins on the north side of the town. There is a climb down to start, so I hope you brought rope with you."

Jules is here with his bag filled with various liquor and a change of clothes, oh a jar of honey. He's not really the type to be prepared for anything except social gathering. In spite of that, the man seems quite upbeat and happy about it all. This may be a rather dark sign that his son went crazy but you'd never guess it by the look of this man. He runs his fingers through his ponytail as he looks to the various nobles who will actually be giving direction. He does bow to the mayor and says, "De-lighted to see you my good man. Jules Fabron, your servant." He then moves to the side.

Domonico has finished making sure that the sailors of the Tempest have secured the ship and are getting themselves resting and finishes by whispering a prayer to and kissing the prayer beads in his hand. At Gideon's words Domonico nods, "I have brought climbing gear and rope. From my conversations with Artorious in the past he has told me of the cliffs of Caer Morien so... I thought it best to bring." Jules gets a look , one of many that the stern Malvici has given the man on the voyage.

Drake is the sort of man who yearns for adventure into the unknown, and decided to take a chance on an exploratory trip that satisfy this craving. This is his first time sailing with Domonico but gives him an opportunity to trust the man and his navigation skills, having no real experience with sailing himself. The conversations about the dark force, as interesting as they are, do not seem to worry him... in fact, there was a certain bit of anticipation it seemed as he listened to the tales. Perhaps the rumors are true, which would lead something exciting happening. The women aboard the ship will discover quickly that Drake is a bit of a flirt, but he doesn't push boundaries in close quarters. Considering the ship is a cramped way to travel and everyone must by necessity get along, it wouldn't do to make the trip more difficult with any kind of bad behavior.

Drake has a helm strapped to his back and a sword at his side, wearing otherwise leathers when he goes to meet the mayor. It's not a diplomatic mission, after all. He brought the necessary gear for climbing, being no stranger either to the out-of-doors. Jules' comment about servitude seems to amuse him. He's curious how this man fares in a conflict situation. "I'll be ready at any time. It doesn't seem like we should delay."

Eirene introduces herself to the mayor. "Eirene Malvici, Voice of the house. We won't let our vassals go without aide," she says in her rough voice. "I'm also a physician if your man needs the attendance, but it sounds more mind than body. We'll get to the bottom of this fuckery. It takes more than spooky cave to do me any harm. Besides," she says with a disarming smile, "my hair is already part white." She plucks at a braded silver-white strand of her salt-and-pepper hair. "I think we are fairly ready to go, unless you think we can get info from your rescued man."



Clara is sticking near Jules, donned in her leather armor with her axe ready at her side. She is carrying medical supplies along with her exploring supplies today, apparently ready to help make sure no one dies this afternoon. The shaman stands there quietly and lets everyone else do the talking after simply introducing herself as "Lady Clara Crovane."

Clara gets Stormy Leather Pants from Black Leather Side Bag With Stormy Quartz Skulls.

Clara gets Stormy Leather Gloves from Black Leather Side Bag With Stormy Quartz Skulls.

Clara gets Stormy Leather Cloak from Black Leather Side Bag With Stormy Quartz Skulls.

Clara gets Stormy Leather Tunic from Black Leather Side Bag With Stormy Quartz Skulls.

Clara gets Stormy Leather Boots from Black Leather Side Bag With Stormy Quartz Skulls.

Clara gets Stormy Leather Helm from Black Leather Side Bag With Stormy Quartz Skulls.

Clara gets Leather and Pyrope Skull Hair Wrap from Black Leather Side Bag With Stormy Quartz Skulls.

Clara gets Stormy Leather Bracers from Black Leather Side Bag With Stormy Quartz Skulls.

Everyone else is introducing themselves so--"Lady Thea Malvici. Physician as well,"a slight smile there. She's dressed in her leathers, possibly had been off helping her brother with the sailors.

During the trip, scholar that she was, Kaia would be one of those taking notes on all the tales being shared by the sailors. By the time they arrived at land, she would be walking amongst the group, making her way off the ship with her backpack on her back and her rubicund bow slung over her shoulder. Her eyes fixating on the mayor as he spoke. A smile given at the last remark. As a member of the SoE she's prepared. "As the group has said, I believe we are set to go." She would echo, and then offer the man a nod. "Kaia Malvici, good to meet you sir." She would introduce herself before moving aside, close to her family.



"You can try Lady Eirene if you want. But I do not think he knows anything. We saw some movements on the north side of the town and sent him off until he came back babbling about water."

The Mayor sighed and shook his head, tired from this but still. Here came heroes to save the day.

"There two will see you on your way then. Thank you. Everyone."

He turned to indicate two shorter men carrying wooden staffs as they nodded silently and began to march off from the docks to the northern side of the town. Through it and across the fields. Not saying a word.

Jules glances to the various nobles to determine the direction to head. He bounces on the balls of his feet and as Lord Domonico makes his way here or there, he seems to largely avoid the man. Still, he's largely listening for his name to be bellowed out or some little request that he might be able to fulfill. As Clara had been largely around him, he does seem to attempt to remain close to her.

Eirene glances at Thea and Clara, her fellow medical experts. "Did you want to see if we can coax information out of the poor man. I admit, my psychological healing is mostly limited to smacking people around and telling them to snap out of it," she jokes. "I'm game with either staying for now or going."

Domonico looks to the Malvici ladies and rubs his chin, "You can see if he knows anything. Intelligence would be ideal before we move in further. However if he is unable to provide us with useful information then we should press on."

Drake naturally looks to the ladies, his eyes falling on the quite-small Clara, and then, at Kaia as well, momentarily considering. "If anyone is uncertain climbing, don't hestitate to ask for help. I believe I could carry some of you, if it came to it." A quick glance at Domonico, as Drake assumes he'd volunteer likewise. Though the Wyrmguard is also brave enough to try to blaze a trail, should it come to that, the guides know the way for now and he trusts them.

Once on their way to the northern side of the town. "Hmm...quite chatty, aren't they?" would comment Kaia, to none in particular, with some amusement as they continued to walk through the streets. Her gear making a clinking noise here and there as a lantern bumped against some clasp in the backpack, as well as her bow. Or a subtle swishing sound as some of the rope rubbed against the leather or something else dangling from it which was probably useful. A glance given to Drake "Are you assuming that I'll have trouble climbing because I'm small, Lord Wyrmguard?" she would ask quite pointedly after his remark, with a raised brow and perhaps some sass.



Clara looks to Eirene and shrugs her shoulder. "I'm not well versed in psychological healin' either." She pauses. "I'm abou' in the same boat that ya are, Lady Eirene. I'm a combat medic... I don' do the touchy feely thin' very much." She offers a smile and looks over to Drake. "I should be good."

Thea lifts her eyebrow,"Im um-Not touchy feely at all--so." Well arent they great women. HA! Her gold-flecked greens turn toward Drake and the young Malvici appears amused,"I can climb just fine, but thanks,"ready to move--or stay.

Jules looks to the women talking it over then says, "If you need someone to talk to him ... perhaps I could calm him down ... if you wish to go that direction."



Following the lead of the sherpas, the team goes around a bend and comes to the jagged edge of the cliff. The sherpas step to the very edge of it, the wind picking up slightly and brushing through their hair. They point on down as they indicate the bottom where a flat stone structure can be seen at the bottom of the clifftop -

"I wish there was another way to say this but, this is where we are leaving you to fend for yourselves. We'll hold the rope though while you head on down. Good luck."

They smile slightly, the only words they have said since the group have been travelling for nearly twenty minutes either up a hill or through open grassland. Slowly, the sherpas nodded to each other and watched. Probably relieved.

Jules checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 10 higher. Jules rolled a critical!

Eirene checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 4 higher.

Kaia checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 4 higher.

Clara checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 9 higher.

Domonico checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 30 higher.

Thea checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 2 lower.

Drake checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 38 higher.

Domonico prepares the ropes, makes sure everyone is secured before he leads the way down, confident in his ability as he moves. "Watch your footing... There's no guarentee that this cliff is suited for climbing down..."



After silently walking with the sherpas and the group for some time in silence, Clara starts tying off the rope to in a secure way. Once she's certain she's not going to fall to her death she begins climbing down and at least to start the woman seems like she at least knows what she's doing... in theory... but anything can happen.

Drake chuckles at the defiance he's recieving. "No," he says to Kaia. "I never underestimate a woman. But you WOULD be light enough for me to carry if it came to that." Now Drake does seem to be quite a capable climber, but decides to bring up the rear on the descent. He's watching to make sure that nobody falters below him. He rubs his hands together though it's kind of an idle gesture, as they are gloved. He prefers fingerless gloves that aid in his grip, so his hands on the rope are strong enough. When Thea seems to flater a bit just below him, he lets one hand go and offers his to make sure things are fine.

Eirene stows her rubicund weapons across the back of her leather longcoat and climbs carefully, gloved hand gripping the rope tightly. She's not the best at it, going slowly and watching her footing, but the lanky woman manages without slipping or letting go of anything. She grimaces, effort showing on her face.

Jules seems completely engrossed by the rugged terrain of the area, ever entranced. He places one hand over his eyes to shade them a bit as he looks about more closely to the path they'll need to take. As he prepares to his descent down he ensures he's properly gripping the rope then begins to slide his way down. His eyes shifting about here and there as he descends but yet he isn't really looking about where he's going, instead he's enjoying the scenery even as it darkens. His footing seems to just easily catch on one rock here or there without much thought to it all. He's just happy to be here Jules.

There's a bit of laughter sent in return to Drake's response. "Well, I suppose you do make a good point. However, I think I shall be fine this time. Thank you, either way. Hopefully I won't embarras myself.~" she chimes with a chuckle, and then, once Domonico moves in to lead the group downwards - perhaps after a few others- Kaia follows. Her climbing skills aren't terrible but neither are they impressive. At the very least, she's gone a step forward in her training since her very first expedition and did not make a splat of herself on the ground when setting foot on the surface.

After securing herself with her rope and making sure the rest of her equipment is tight, Thea begins her climb. And she's doing great until, well SHIT! Her foot catches SOMETHING and she starts to slide! Luckily and thankfully she sees Drake's hand and Thea quickly reached up, grabbing it. Steading herself, Thea is able to continue the climb with no issue



The group begins to make their way down, a gust of breeze catches across and snags one of the ropes against the top causing Lady Thea Malvici to swing a bit more than the rest of the group until Lord Drake Wymguard steadied her.

The rest continue to move down, the sherpas calling down them them -

"You there yet?"

Clearly they want out.

Eirene checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 14 higher.

Domonico checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 38 higher.

Clara checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 31 higher.

Drake checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 33 higher.

Kaia checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 12 higher.

Thea checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 4 higher.

Jules checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 12 higher.

Jules continues along and down the path that the rope directs them. He's quite cheerful but of course there's that bit of strain that comes so continuing onward gives a hint of sweat through it all and yet there he is still trucking cheerfully. One point or another giving him the 'Ohh' of some thing that amazes him in its own way. As they draw towards the bottom, he cheerfully says, "Quite a lovely climb, dear me but going up." He shakes his head and laughs softly.

Domonico calls back up, "Nearly there!" The Malvici Admiral is sure footed and reaches the bottom without issue, helping each person down when they near the bottom. "Thea... Remember the training in the rigging? That will help now."

Eirene calls out to Domonico, "I'm glad you made me do that PT." The eldest of the Malvici adventurers settles down at the base, letting out a phew of relief as she touches solid ground once more.



When Thea is blown by the wind, Clara looks worried but as Thea is caught the Crovane Lady relaxes and finishes her climb down. She sets food on the ground and looks up to make sure everyone else is coming down alright. She smiles as each person slowly makes their way the last stretch to the ground.

Drake asissts, and then focuses on his own climbing, deftly lowering to the bottom without any additional need to aid or any slip-ups of his own. He does seem to agree with Jules. "Hopefully, if we find survivors, they'll be healthy enough to climb up on their own, but at least we have the medics here to aid them."

After a couple of others, Kaia switfly makes her way off the rope and steps around the area, curious eyes moving about to take in the scenery they've been left with now that they're down here. Her smile goes up for Jules words. "Oh, surely, it will be a pain." she concedes, as she pulls a flask, from one of the pockets of her backpack, and takes a pull at it - whatever it is (surely water).

For the love of--"Right. Rigging,"Thea thinks aloud as she slowly starts the descent back down. Positive she isnt going to be blown away-"Remind me to eat more when we get back,"she jokes as she eventually lands on solid ground. Thea looks over at everyone and takes a flask from her hip,"Drink anyone?"



As the group arrives at the bottom of the cliff-side, they are greeted with a sizable ruined ground floor of what looks like used to be a temple which continues underground. Little remains of the walls around the outside, however a number of columns rise up where the roof once was.

After a short walk around to the front to where the entrance once was, the new entrance to the building can be seen. A staircase that leads down is flanked by lit lanterns either side.

There seems to be no sign of life except, WELL, that fire didn't come here alone.

Eirene actually DOES NOT DRINK. But her kin would know she's dry sober when she's actually working. It's only when she's in civilian life is she a lush. Which is just a term for 'rich drunk.' "Someone's down here it looks like." She takes down one of the lanterns and examines it to make sure it has fuel.

Drake actually does accept the flask, and takes just one nip from it, before he hands it back. "I don't need liquid courage, but I'll take one just for luck." He smirks, then he boldly goes on forward. The lit torches get his attention, causing a slight "Hm" in agreement with Eirene's assessment. A wary hand moves to his sheathed blade. It never hurts to be prepared.



Clara shakes her head at the offer of a drink. "No, but maybe later when we're back on the ship... I am not overly fond of sailin' so the distraction could be a benefit." She looks to Jules and smiles. "I was worried it would be you I was patchin' up." She teases with a light tone. "Probably good ya didn' fall because Lady Mikani would have killed me."

As they move further in, Kaia raises a brow at the lit lanterns. "Odd...I thought this place was meant to be abandoned..." she says, moving closer to examine them as well when Eirene takes one down. "Anything weird about it?"

Jules looks at the temple and gives another 'Ohh!' Of amazement in its own way. His eyes scan across it and take in the sight of it all. He's all smiles as he stands there. After a moment he turns to look at Clara and laughs, "Dear me, if Lady Mikani gives you grief I will certainly give her a piece of my mind." His tone teasing as he speaks. He looks over the temple again then whispers something to Clara with a smile.

Domonico quickly looks around the ruined Temple, looking to see if there is any immediate threat before he goes to join the others near the entrance. "I wonder how much of Caer Morien Count Artorius never got around to exploring?" he muses before he draws Warspite from it's sheath and stalks towards the front, looking down the steps carefully.

Domonico wields Warspite, an alaricite xiphos.

Thea nods her head and takes a quick sip. She doesn't drink working either, but she almost blew off. Putting the flask away, she steps off with the othera-well sort of. Thea starts to look around, for anything--footprints or anything!

Thea wields Skystrike, the finely crafted diamondplate kopis.

Clara wields The Icy Stare of Death.

Jules bends over to pick up some appropriately sized rocks, stuffing some in his pockets and a couple in his hands. He is looking at the rocks and smiling, maybe there'll be some special gems, probably just rocks - alas.

Eirene wields basket-hilted longsword with a blood red blade.



Clara listens to Jules whisper and shakes her head once. "Let's hope we don' have ta have that conversation with her." She looks at the entrance a bit leery. She can't help but smile when he bends over and picks up a rock. Now that she's down there though and there are signs of life she pulls out her axe and readies herself for possible confrontation.

Eirene checked wits + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 18 higher.

Her glance moving away from the lit lantern in Eirene's hands, Kaia's attention moves downwards to the stairway. She could have sworn she heard voices, two to be precise. "Shh...I hear someone...no, wait. There's more...two." she tells them in a hushed tone, as she too takes her bow off her shoulder and readies it just in case. She begins to slowly move downwards, taking in the faint trail of mud going down and then up. Actually, there's various trails, as if someone had been dragged. Part of the trail still being wet. "Hmm...someone was dragged down here...look." she points at the muddy trail. Her eyes then lifting to the inside that awaited. Squinting.

Kaia wields Heartpiercer a black locust wood and rubicund recurve bow.

Eirene narrows her eyes as she kneels alongside the base of pillar. "Yeah, the ground here is wet," she concurs with Kia. Holding the lantern aloft in her off hand, she draws her Lycene-styled basket hilt blade and looks like a fencer for all her positioning. "I'm probably not the best to go first," she offers. "We'll likely need the light though." She pauses to observe the architecture and muses, "Late Reckoning I bet..."

Domonico hold his hand up to get peoples attention and gestures with his fingers that 'there is something down there'. He looks around and puts a finger to his lips before considering further down the stairs, Warspite held low and to the ready.

Thea too has stepped over to the staircase. She looks over to Kaia and nods, pointing out tbe footprints,"They seem busy--goiing back and forth and,"she twitches her lips a bit and continues, crouching down,"This does serm fresh--the muddy trail may have been a wet body.." We have a mystery on our hands!

As the group inspected around the floor, with several eyeing the staircase and noticing a few things odd. A murmur to those near the entrance was heard. The lanterns flickered, the wind almost howling against the cliff-edge.

"Alright. I'll check it out."

A single voice lifted, and a clank was heard coming up the staircase to reveal a blue cloaked man. Surprised to see everyone, he quickly reached and drew out a steel short sword.

Kaia checked command + leadership at difficulty 35, rolling 36 higher.

Kaia being one of those closet to the entrance, and with her bow ready, almost immediately takes notice of the cloaked man as he steps out. Her bow lifted, with a bow pointing pretty much to the man's face, the little lady squints at him and pretty much barks at him. "Hold there! Who are you and why are you down here?!"

Eirene's about to bark an order as well but Kaia beats her to the punch. She instead gives a small prideful smile and waits, lantern still in hand. The Malvici takes in the man and tries to identify any unusal markers, style of robes, symbols or crests, all that.

Drake pulls his blade out, and starts to move more slowly and quietly at the gesture for stealth. He would volunteer to scout ahead, but... apparently the group was already spotted. A single man comes around the corner, and faces down.... Well, a considerably well-armed party, by Drake's estimation. He has his blade brandished, but there's no need for everyone to shout, so when Kaia lets out a decidedly commanding instruction, he just nods in her direction. Then he looks to see what the man's disposition is, as, if he's foolish enough to attack anyway, Drake will spring into the defense.

Jules is looking about at the temple it would seem and nearly didn't notice the man arriving till Kaia barks out. He's about to say something when he notices the man coming and he draws his hand back to hurl a rock but he's not chucking that baby until he gives the man the opportunity to respond. His eyes twitching here and there among the group as though he's almost looking for some sign to act.

Martino GM Roll checked zealous(4) + manipulation(2) at difficulty 71, rolling 28 lower.

Thea eyes Jules' rock and lifts her eyebrow. How good is aim? Seriously...When Kaia calls out, it's not surprising at all-and so she hangs near her sister in laws side, blade at her side. Waiting to see which way this will go-while checking out the man's features.

Lifting his hands as the arrow is aimed right at his face, the hooded man glances past it and notices the others around. More of them than just him.

"You got me. I'm Salvio. Please."

His hands lifted up to push down his hood from his face as he continued to speak.

"I am not here to cause trouble. Nor my friend. See. Let me get them for you. You are here to worship with us? Yes? That's it isn't it?"

Awkwardly he laughed. Glancing again as he tried to step slowly back.



Clara is taking a soldier's role today, weapon drawn but standing in wait for orders. She does put herself in between the individual in the temple and Jules, however. She tilts her head at Salvio and narrows her gaze, not believing what he's saying perhaps?

Domonico watches Salvio intensely, the Malvici Admiral clearly tensed and ready to act if necessary. If there is a threat then he is ready for it.

Drake checked charm + manipulation at difficulty 15, rolling 13 higher.

Jules checked charm + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 40 higher.

Kaia checked perception + empathy at difficulty 15, rolling 17 higher.

Thea checked charm + manipulation at difficulty 15, rolling 27 higher.

Drake has no idea what the man is here to worship but... the thing he thinks is right to do in this situation, at least to find more information, is to just play along. So, he seems to lower his weapon. Maybe the rest of the group will think he's also crazy, because he seems to say it quite smoothly, and happily start to walk forward. "Well, all right then. No harm in learning a little more about your religion. I guess this is the place to be."

Clara checked perception + empathy at difficulty 15, rolling 5 higher.

At first Kaia simply glares at the man, her eyes squinting at him as he speaks. She's learned not to be too trustful of people, specially in the Lyceum lands. She takes a moment to examine him proper, listening carefully to his words, the tone, and his actions. In the end, she lowers the bow slowly and allows for the others to take in on the 'playing along' game.



Clara remains silent but it's clear to anyone without eyes that she doesn't believe a damn thing this guy is saying. Either way, she remains quiet and lets those with better word skills do the talking.

Domonico does not speak, quite happy in this instance to follow the other's lead in this, but keeps Warspite to hand.

Jules whispers to Clara quickly and then hesitantly looks to the man and actually speaks up here, "We ... are but our path has been somewhat difficult." His eyes look about, "We've had some opposition along the path. If we're hesitant, perhaps you'll understand?" His tone rather questioning, "If you don't mind me asking, do you indeed worship" He then leaves it blank as if to see if the man will fill in the void of what they are worshipping but there's a hesitant expectation in his expression and he looks to the others as if to communicate they might indeed have reason to be excited too.



Smiling unease, Salvio turned his sword and slide it down into his sheath.

"Glad to hear it. We are soon to perform a ritual even."

Looking beyond the group, he saw two more blue hooded men walk up the stairs cutting off the escape behind. Salvio lifted his right hand to greet them.

"These folk here are to learn more about us. Shall we show them down?"

He smiled slightly and turned away, walking down the staircase and speaking with every-step.

"Just a little bit more to go. It's just down the bottom here. Then we turn left."

For any who followed his lead down, without a light, it quickly got dark. Very dark.

Jules checked perception + artwork at difficulty 15, rolling 34 higher.

Jules checked perception + occult at difficulty 15, rolling 14 higher.

Eirene studies the man intently with those analytical blue eyes of her. She notes the crest on his cloak and ahhs softly, giving a nod. Something's clicked in her head. "A drowning," she says softly to the others. "I think they're part of the 'Drowners of Caer.' Some cult. Maybe one of the wierd Mangatta variations." She glances at Domonico as she says it, looking mildly curious if he's heard of them.

Domonico hmms quietly to the others and Eirene, "I thought that Malvici had scoured the island of those who worshipped Mangata's dark reflection. Obviously this was not the case... and they have seduced some of the settlers here."



Clara looks to Jules and shakes her head at him in a 'not happening' kinda way after he whispers something to her. She looks then to Eirene and nods her head. "Lovely." The Shaman still looks leery of the situation and remains mostly silent, ready to defend the people she's traveled here with, white eyes peeled for 'strange' things happening in here.

Jules is moving along with the man who leads the way. Jules is attempting a friendly and engaging tone, attempting to portray himself as something of the leader to the cult while also allowing the others their opportunities to discuss silently and hopefully without the awareness of the man. He speaks here and there, attempting to garner what information he can along the way including any potential ambush or escape points should the need arise. All this is done while he attempts to be as discrete as possible and given how much time they have in their travel to where ever they're going.

Drake does not actually trust this situation at all. Rituals done in the darkness in caverns are usually bad. But he's making a good-enough show of pretending that he does...

There's enough lanterns in the group that he doesn't bother to light one of his own, keeping his eyes instead on the man that's leading him... and looking into the shadows to count, exactly how many others there are. He's doing some quick tactical plans for if - really, when - things go south. The darkness makes this a little challenging.

Thea looks over to Domonico and Eirene and her forehead wrinkles. She's already thinking and her decision is made. "I'll go--down..." I mean, why should she not, as she checks to make sure her dagger us in place(it is) and her medical supplies are in place. As is her kopis.

Eirene's headed down, cautiously. The obvious blade is sheathed so she can continue down the stairs and look less threatening, but her hand doesn't stray far from the dagger at her belt.

Eirene mutters, "Cultists ... a way ... popping up, ... mold on cheese..."

For the most part Kaia doesn't seem at ease, particularly as they had just been blocked from behind by a pair of these cloaked cultists. Quietly she proceeds to move further in, taking the lantern on her backpack and bringing it to light, surely that would make the dark path ahead easier to move through. Then, discreetly, she takes a glance at the pair moving behind them. As she does, she notices the outline of a sword held behind their robes as they move in closer to the group. Her eyes widen slightly. So much distrust! She shoots one of them a sharp look and nudges Domonico's arm, a nod and a gesture of the eyes signaling to what she saw.

Drake's eyes look behind, but he's looking down, down the stairs, and notices something else. He suddenly breaks from the group, rushing down and keeping his sword out. No more playing along now that he's seen what he's seen in the shadows. "Ambush. Down below. They're trying to pincer us in." With a sudden dart forward, and a flash of movement, he moves to disarm a man that the others likely hadn't even seen, lurking in the shadows ahead with a sword drawn and bared. Drake's flashy, red blade catches the bit of lantern light.



Wordlessly, Clara follows Jules with an eye on everything, a bit on the paranoid side of cautious. She keeps her axe at her side, wielded but not up and ready to take off heads just yet. Either way, she's ready for something to go down. When Drake speaks up she nods her head and waits for some sort of indication as to what she should do, the soldier waiting for orders or otherwie an obvious 'hit this' sign.



The two cultists closing in behind tried to heard the group in to the narrow passageway while Salvio reached the bottom of the stairs. Slowly he turned around and smiled up to the group, another step back. Unaware of Lord Drake's movements until too late.

Quickly a body is pulled out by Drake and pinned against the wall, dropping his steel sword but two more appear on the right side of the wall. Leaving three, including Salvio, at the bottom. One pinned by Drake and two behind them.

A hero sandwich with cultist bread.

"You'll pay for that!"

A hiss is heard from Salvio as he, and the others, drew out their swords.

Thea checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 25 higher.

Jules still has that stone in his hand and moves to crush it against Salvio's temple if he can manage it. As he does it, he attempts to keep the rouse up in case this goes badly and yells, "They're not drowners!" Hoping that Eirene's guess of who they were was correct. Assuming that Salvio crumples, his eyes shift to throw a rock at the next target not blocked by one of their own.

Kaia checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 25, rolling 36 higher.

Drake checked dexterity + brawl at difficulty 25, rolling 8 higher.

Jules checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 25, rolling 6 higher.

Eirene checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 4 lower.



Several blows land already upon the cultists, a quick move by Lady Thea towards one of them catching them with the dagger while Kaia's quick shot hits another from behind while the one shunted against the wall coughs loud. Attempting to spit towards Drake as he grunted.

Then there is Salvio, turning around with something of a cocky look towards the group. A smirk even until the moment that Jules is upon him. Pushing him over and bashing him with a rock.

"Ugh! Get. Them."

Salvio shoves Jules back and makes his distance from the group, attempting to pull out his sword as he got to his feet. Bloodied.

Domonico checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 46 higher.

Clara checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 31 higher.

Thea checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 48 higher.

Jules checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 25, rolling 18 higher.

Kaia checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 25, rolling 37 higher.

Domonico does not linger or hestitate after the initial surprise and he steps forward with Warspite, the alaricite blade sweeping forward in a precise, well drilled move designed to get past Salvio's guard.

With the force of the rock striking Salvio's temple, Jules takes that same rock to throw at his mouth because that smirk has a few too many teeth. Jules continues his attempt to fool them in case they end up on the wrong side of things and yells, "Pantheon worshipping fools!" His words yelled out like acid, "You're lucky you'll fall before they take you." His face curled up into some writhing hatred geared towards them. He's already pulling out his next rock while he yells.

Drake keeps his sword out and in his hand, but... only as a threat. As the man he has pinned was successfully disarmed, actually running him through would not exactly be sporting of a Champion. Drake simply winds up with his empty, left hand, and punches the cultist in the face. It should be at least enough for him to understand that Drake means business here... and that naked blade is still a source of reasonable threat. The man would clearly rather eat the fist than the sword if he values his life at all. And if he does not, then Drake will discover that soon enough by the cultist's continued actions.

Her dagger gone(damnit!), Thea goes for Skystrike. She rushes foward, no second thought and strikes--HARD! Not before her eyes turn toward Jules though, hardened for a moment.



Clara takes one of the men next to Salvio, her diamondplate axe swinging at him before he really can figure out what is going on and respond to Salvio's orders. As soon as she draws down she gets ready to draw it up again, taking a step in to try and move him backwards and away from Jules so that Jules doesn't end up with that attacker.

The word Ambush can be heard being shouted by Drake from not too far down, when Kaia is already swirling around half-way on her step, an arrow swiftly bolting off the rubicund bow to pierce straight through the leg of one of the armed cloaked men closing in on them from behind.

Eirene's hand whips out from under her coat with her rubicund dagger at the cultist nearest to her. She's fast, but not at all accurate. It's more of a strike to get the blade free and to disorient her opponent. Yeah, that's it. The slash meets nothing but open air.

Martino GM Roll checked dexterity(2) + dodge(2) at difficulty 71, rolling 36 lower.

Martino GM Roll checked dexterity(2) + dodge(2) at difficulty 31, rolling 0 higher.

Martino GM Roll checked dexterity(2) + dodge(2) at difficulty 56, rolling 29 lower.

Martino GM Roll checked dexterity(2) + dodge(2) at difficulty 48, rolling 20 lower.

Martino GM Roll checked dexterity(2) + dodge(2) at difficulty 37, rolling 22 lower.

Martino GM Roll checked dexterity(2) + medium steelsword(2) at difficulty 25, rolling 7 lower.



Taking not just one, but a second heavy blow, has Salvio firstly drop to his feet and clutched his stomach as he is speared by Lord Domonico's sword. The rock flung by Jules catching him in the face and forcing the man to land upon his back grunting. Eyes closed as he began to fade.

The man disarmed by Drake dropped his sword and struggled there. His hands reaching to grapple upon his shoulders and attempt to throw him down the stairs. But unable to move the larger Lord.

Caught by Clara's axe, the man attempted to jump back but instead the axe was far too quick. With a huge blow, she caught him on his right shoulder and dug in. Chewing away at his skin forcing him to cry out and recklessly he attempted to swing towards her with his sword hand.

Already hit by a dagger of Thea's, the cultist was already badly wounded and groaned as he was hit hard and down the stairs he tumbled crashing into a dead heap at the bottom.

That arrow from Kaia, flying quick through the air, caught the man square in the upper thigh and quickly he lost blood. Grabbing his thigh he collapsed down.

The last cultist, one stood before Lady Eirene, stepped back and missed her swing and attempted to counter. But instead caught only the air.

Martino GM Roll checked dexterity(2) + medium steelsword(3) at difficulty 20, rolling 14 higher.

Clara checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 34, rolling 4 higher.

Drake checked dexterity + brawl at difficulty 25, rolling 14 higher.

Jules checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 25, rolling 2 lower.

Kaia checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 25, rolling 32 higher.

Domonico checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 48 higher.

Eirene checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 5 higher.

Clara checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 11 higher.

Thea checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 30 higher.

Martino GM Roll checked dexterity(2) + dodge(2) at difficulty 39, rolling 10 lower.

Martino GM Roll checked dexterity(2) + dodge(2) at difficulty 73, rolling 66 lower.

Martino GM Roll checked dexterity(2) + dodge(2) at difficulty 30, rolling 8 lower.

Martino GM Roll checked dexterity(2) + dodge(2) at difficulty 36, rolling 2 lower.

Martino GM Roll checked dexterity(2) + dodge(2) at difficulty 57, rolling 17 lower.

Drake checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 25, rolling 16 higher.

Martino GM Roll checked strength(2) + brawl(1) at difficulty 41, rolling 30 lower.

Domonico spins on his heel and leaps forward as the one against Clara raises his weapon to strike. That was all he managed before Domonico disarms him... at the elbow, Warspite cutting through flesh and bone with ease as he flanks the man in tandem with his sister Thea.

Drake has hands on his shoulders, as the man is clearly trying to throw him. A stupid idea, in Drake's mind. He doesn't move from the spot at all at the attempt... just rolling his weight back just slightly and looking the man in the eye. "Do you want to live?" he asks him. It's really just a simple question - there's no need for him to belabor it. After all, some of the cultists are dead already, struck down in their failed ambush attempt. But Drake isn't stopping what he was doing just because of that. He punches the man in the stomach, burying his fist into the solarplexus. "Then SIT DOWN!"



Expecting not to kill the man in one swing, the tiny axe wielding Crovane uses the upswing of her axe to try and stop the weapon before it hits her but then... well, the arm is simply gone. Clara is splattered with blood as she takes a 45 degree step out of Thea's way and then lets her axe crash down at the guys neck. Its a soft area, the neck, but the woman is small and doesn't have a ton of muscle so it might not tear through the spine. Either way, she is covered in blood at the end.

One man falls down, and then Kaia's eyes set on the other moving on torwards Eirene. Her bow rising once more and another arrow flying across to pierce through somewhere in his torso, likely not lethal.

Jules curls his arm back to prepare to chuck the rock at the man Eirene is handling. He seems to shift and draw for one direction and another. Just as he's going to release he gasps, "Is that a brocaded collar!?" He has look of utter amazement and looks enchanted, forgetting his pretending entirely. The rock flies wide and misses it and he squints, "Oh ... eww! It's his chest hair coming out!" He shivers and draws his hand to take out another rock to prepare to chuck.

Following in after her brother and the small Crovane, Thea swings her diamondplated kopis. She swings hard in the gut, slicing the man with new force. The woman stands theres there, retracting her blade, covered in blood.

Eirene's got the blade free so she's able to actually do something with it this time. As Kaia's arrow sinks into the man's armor, sbe makes a slash for his arm. Her eyes narrow at Jules' monologue but she says nothing, concentrating on her fight.



The cultist that attempted a swing back to Clara, swung hard their sword but was caught without a sword arm any longer by Lord Domonico's strike. And Thea's razor-sharp swipe across his stomach. Utterly cut, he collapsed down without a moment to pause as a sinewy heap upon the stairs.

Standing before Lady Eirene, another cultist attempted to make a move forward but was struck first by an surprise arrow catching him in the chest winding him and then the blow from Eirene. Staggering back, he glanced across to the cultist being beaten by Lord Drake.

"Yield. We..."

The cultist hit hard in the abdomen by Drake slides back down against the back of the floor and sits down now. Coughing loudly as he's left unarmed.

"Coward!"

The cultist stood before Eirene and Kaia drops his sword and brings a dagger up to his throat. Cutting himself sharp across his neck and collapsing back. Blood quickly pouring over his neck.



As there is now some quiet - a soft, distant chanting can be heard, presumably from the corridors beyond.

At the foot of the stairs, the lanterns further along the hallway flicker and they are left with a choice. A closed door to the left or an open hallway and presumably where the chanting is coming from.

Eirene isn't entirely surprised. No. She doesn't even try to stop the flow of blood as the man slashes his own throat. The Malvici cleans her blade, barely bloodied as it is. "How cooperative do you want to be," she asks of the captive. "Because I'm a doctor and can break every bone in your hand while naming them," she says cooly.



Coughing loudly, the cultist choked out and spat down onto the floor. A drop of blood landing between his legs before he lifted his eyes up to Eirene and answered -

"What do you want to know? Look. I'm not stupid. I can see when you've got me."

He leaned forward and spat again, exhaling hard.

Drake points his blade at the man sitting on the ground, who surrendered. This is his method of keeping the man at least at bay. That's his contribution for now, while the others question the man. Drake also gestures to the door, with a point, but he doesn't want to stop what he's currently doing. "Clear that exit," he suggests.

With the people largely handled, Jules is quick to gather together what he can off Salvio's body and quickly throws it on, armor and cloak. He's not yet bothering with the other man who's being handled by the rest of the crowd. He looks through each body as quickly as he can, looking for any information or removing any clothing that might be able to help disguise them from whoever might be chanting. He might also have been checking for any loose coins (hopefully nothing curse) or jewels as well. Yes, he's properly looting.He generally speaks to those present, "Does anyone know who they were or anything about them?"



Covered in blood, Clara grabs onto Jules and pushes the man back into the wall. "Speak clear and speak fast because so help me Jules if you are one of these fuckers I will something off." She's not taking any chances with the things Jules' yelled in combat. She's also not yet harming Jules, just threatening him. She doesn't need to be intimidating exactly... its pretty clear she's not joking! She watches him with her white eyes narrowed upon him.

Jules stumbles back at the push and blinks and looks at Clara confused, "What? Of course I'm one of them! What are you even talking about?" He holds his hands up, hopefully anything worth grabbing is securely tucked away.

Eirene slides her dagger back into her belt with a firm satisfied nod. "Good," she says to the prisoner. "What exactly are you Drowned ones doing? And gods help me, if you have sacrificed any of the townsfolk..." She pauses as Clara starts to interrogate Jules. "The fuck," she says, growling. "One heretic at a time please..."

Domonico moves close to Clara and Jules, Warspite still low and ready as his eyes flit between the two."



"You want to go into our food cupboard? You've come here to rob us?!"

The cultist replies to Drake with his eyebrows lifting up, exhaling as he pushed himself up from the floor and remained unarmed. Groggy as anything, he slowly stepped down the staircase and made his way towards the door with his back to the group. Reaching to a keyring, he slotted it into the doorway and twisted it open.

"Take what you want."

He pushed it open as he inhaled hard, still attempting to catch his breath. His blue eyes turning to Eirene to answer her question while his back against the wall.

"We are helping them understand. They are not sacrificed. They join us. The water helps them. It helps us all when we drink enough of it in. Some reject the water. But they become water in the end. We all do."

He smiled while saying that, his right hand pressing against the bruise already forming from Drake's punch.

Domonico checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 5 lower.



"Pantheon worshippin' fools is what ya said?" Clara questions him. "What the hell was that?" She watches Jules but nods at Eirene, stepping back from Jules. "She's right that one first... but soon... you explain that comment to us." She then looks like she's distracted by something. "There are ghosts down here..." She says absently. "I can feel them, see them..."

Thea listens to the cultist, her eyes huge,"What?"looking over at Domonico and Eirene.

Drake of course had no idea if it was the food when he said that, so ... it made sense to check. Someone can pick up the keys and verify the man wasn't lying. He doesn't otherwise know what this is implying but the answer to the question seems like it's bad enough. Clara's comment surprises him, and he glances over at her. "Tie him up," he suggests, though it's not really an order.

Once the door is set open, Kaia steps in and looks at the stuff, kicking one of the sacks, rolling one of the barrels over and then lifting the lid on a box to make sure it was really a cupboard and nothing more. After all, they had lied already, had they not?

Jules laughs at Clara and shakes his head, "Dear me." He grows more serious then, "I said that in case we lost we could still put a matter that it was confusion and not actually enemies." He shakes his head, "When the battle was going, I didn't want to lower it ... it'd add to the element of believability." His hands are held up, "Or if more of them came and we were overrun ... there's still the story." He is more serious, completely serious at this point.

Domonico snarls in anger at the cultists words and the he is there, pushing the man against the wall, Warspite against his throat, "You speak heresy against Mangata. I should cut your throat here and now and make you drown on your own blood!"

Eirene says, "Oh so you just poison their minds then, that's so much a relief," as she looks at their captive. "Stand down, Dom. We have lives to save, and he should answer for his crimes... Southport justice proper." The Voice of Malvici gives him a 'look'. She fully expects him to comply. "We still don't know what drove that one man mad. And there's the chance this guy is under their compulsion too, just another victim."



FOR THOSE IN THE STORAGE ROOM:

The chill air of this room cuts to your very bones. Small icicles have formed on the ceiling, so low is the temperature. Two crates line the North wall flanked by three barrels on one side and a single barrel on the other.

As one is kicked over, salted fish lands and drags along the floor.

The whole time, your breath on show in this frozen room.

FOR THOSE NEAR CULTIST:

Laughing for a moment, the cultist turned towards Domonico and smirked.

"You would be saving me. When they hear. I will be gone."

But hearing from Eirene strikes more fear in him, and a glance towards Drake he accepted his fate. Wrists lifted up, he allowed someone to tie him up as he nudged his chin towards the left half of the hallway.

"Watch out in there. They will not welcome you like Salvio did."

He glanced down to the floor, to his certainly very dead comrade.



Clara stares at Jules, dumbfounded by his response. "Are ya tryin' ta get yerself killed? What if we had turned on ya mid-battle and cut yer damn head off?" She looks to Drake and then back to Jules. "I've half a mind ta tie ya up as he suggests just fer the novelty of it. Spirits! That was the dumbest thing Jules. I thought I was gonna have ta kill ya fer just a moment. Don' do that shit." She takes a deep centering breath. "Be careful." She grumps at him and then starts looking around with eyes of wonder like she's some insane person... she might be, who knows! She starts trying to talk to the air around them like there is someone there with them, someone they cannot see or hear. She glances every so often over to the cultist that Eirene is talking to, listening to him while trying to get the air to talk back.

Thea starts basically ransacking the storage room, cutting things open with the dagger she grabbed in pasding from the dead body. DAMN IT'S COLD, she can see her breath! Thea kicks over a barrel of salted fish and other things. Well I guess this time he wasn't lying. "Well Damn!"


Fortunately climbing means they have plenty of rope. But now Drake is going to head down that other hallway. He's a bit emboldened now and wants to make sure this situation is all wrapped up nicely.... if there ARE any people who are not cultists who can be rescued, that would be a mercy, but it's looking somewhat unlikely. "Then I will welcome them with my blade."

Jules looks to Domonico and says, "You remember when I suggested you sleep with the one lady and convince her to let us go? I didn't move to worship nothing evil." He looks to Clara and then asks, "And Lord Mirk would vouch for me on several fronts. I think Archlector Hamish would vouch, maybe Blessed Brigida ... she doesn't know me so well though." He considers further, "I think I could probably get a multitude of people to vouch." He sighs and shakes his head, "I was still trying to kill them with you, I don't get why you'd kill me. I didn't think I'd confuse you all." He glances around and waits to see if Domonico lowers his blade as he's told.

Drake nearly does a spit-take at Domonico's comment. "Well now did that work?" he asks. "Lucky you."

A shiver or two run through Kaia's spine as she moves about in the storage room. "Nothing here! He sss-ssspeaks t-the t-truth --for once-ce." she says in a bit of a stuttering manner, the last bit almost a whisper, before preoceeding to move out of the room and regrouping with the others. Her eyes moving torwards the chanting that can be heard in the distance.

Domonico growls before he looks to Eirene and takes a moment before he nods, "Very well..." Jules gets a look that does not seem pleased at all. "You. Shut up. Do not speak to me again. You have been testing my patience."



Grinning slightly, the cultist stood there glancing about the group as they argued gradually in front of him.

Laughing to himself while his hands were bound and he left tied for someone to collect up later.

"Good luck."

A sinister tone, somewhat, played within his voice.

Eirene gives Domonico a sharp nod as he backs down. She glances at Drake and then to the store-room. "Lock him up in there until we can deal with the rest," the woman suggests to Kaia and Thea. "And Clara - is there someone... something with us?" Jules is given a glare but her focus shifts back to the shaman.

Jules nods to the two present and seems content to just allow them to depart and says, "Yes, my lord." To Domonico and a shameful looking nod to Clara. He glances around though, "Did anyone else hear the chanting earlier? I'm thinking maybe we ought to ... prepare for that?" He's not sure what anyone else has been doing during this time though. He's trying to go back to getting armor and cloak from the dead Salvio though. A glance is given over his shoulder though in case he's going to be thrown around again.

Thea has started out of the cold room(Disappointed by the way) and starts left of the corridor, following something completely different......

Kaia takes a glance at the tied up cultist, some anger filling her entirely as he so smugly wished them good luck. She would move in to drag him into the storage room, sending a kick right across his face before closing the door on him. "There we go. All done!" she'd say, before taking a glance at where Thea was headed to. A nod shot in agreement to some comments made by the others. "Yes. Let's get a move on, soon it'll be even darker and we're still barely at the entrance." she reminds them, before moving right after Thea.



"Aye, ghosts..." Clara answers Eirene. "Long dead... They are dressed in ornate clothes... clokes made of gold..." She looks to the air again and starts again with a simple "Hello." And then looks to Eirene. "I can try talkin' to them now but honestly... usually if I focus on it they vanish... but I can try an' see what they know... or we can move on an' I can try when we come back. How should we proceed?"



You are all brought into a room with a steel door set in the eastern alcove. In the centre of the room stands a font with no water within it - but flanking that steel door are two black statues of the same woman, their hands raised in the air.

Eirene continues to speak quietly with Clara as they cautiously proceed. She draws her basket hilted blade this time and keeps it at the ready. "Maybe they know about any secret passages? Or what might have turned that poor guy's brains to mush?"

Drake arrives in the room and looks around, checking the corners, and looking to see if they are about to be ambushed again by anyone else. He's a bit on edge after what just happened and doesn't want to take any chances. The woman is... interesting, though he doesn't know what she symbolizes. "Does anyone... recognize that woman?"

Eirene checked intellect + occult at difficulty 30, rolling 24 higher.

Thea checked intellect + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 5 lower.

Domonico checked intellect at difficulty 30, rolling 8 lower.

Jules checked intellect + occult at difficulty 30, rolling 12 lower.

Kaia checked intellect + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 2 lower.

Clara checked intellect + occult at difficulty 30, rolling 14 higher.

Domonico looks up at the statues and takes the prayer beads out to kiss them again, whispering some words to Mangata and wishing he was at sea right now.



Clara reaches out towards the statue. "Stand back..." She gives everyone a minute to take a step back and then she points to the statue. "It's hand twists... Might be a passage, Lady Eirine... might be a trap though too." She goes back to trying to engage the ghosts.

Jules spots the woman statues and looks as though he might be about to make a comment when he turns to spot Domonico. He bits his lip and apparently decides now might be the better time to exercise silence. His eyes drift up to the statue again and he walks up to it where he holds out a onyx stone he is actually got stashed in his bag and he squints between the two. When Clara says to stand back he does indeed, several steps but he then asks generally, "Would someone please tell me these are not the same stone?" He seems actually to look worried.



As the group walks towards the statues flanking the doors. They notice a wheel upon the steel door. A round wheel. Like most wheels.

The room feeling like it moves somewhat, the spirits being disturbed murmur and talk to each other. Seemingly whispering while, all the time, the chanting can be heard on the other side of the door. A cry out for help even.

Domonico hmmms, "We need to get through there."

Eirene walks up to the statues and starts to look them over. She squints at the hands but otherwise tries to examine the faces and robes. "Yeahhh, this is onyx," she says to Jules, not looking happy. "This is the reflection of the seas," she says grimly, glancing at the praying nephew of hers. "And it's probably some kind of lock on the doors we'll have to get past to get to their sanctum..."



Clara scratches her head. "I can um..." She nods to the hands. "Looks like they rotate in a certain way. A pattern but I can't make out what the pattern is... The ghosts are using it but I can't..." She grumps at the lack of being able to see well. "We move both hands... and then turn the wheel on the door... I just don't know what direction we move and turn things..."

Drake hears a cry for help... and that's enough for him. He rushes forward, pulling his hands on the wheel. "There's only two ways it can turn. But if there's a problem getting it wrong then I don't want to doom us all by doing that." So he doesn't turn it, but looks to see if anyone has a guess, to the left or right.

"WAIT!" shouts Kaia. "Don't twist that hand!" she shouts in a panicked tone. "There's something here!" she explains, and then reads aloud for them all: Turn her hands to face and allow the water to rush in. For our God will help the world clense and clean itself." once finished she glances to them. "He said the water turns them into one of them...the water might be what's driving them mad." she suggests.

Jules makes his way up towards the statues and examines them closely, especially for any wording, another language or otherwise. His eyes squint and he scans about for any mechanisms or methods to determine. He's not moving anything and allowing the others room to act as they wish.

Thea listens to Kaia and looks at the statue. Then the door. "Well how the hells do we open the door then?"moving to look, hands definitely not touching anything.

Eirene looks for signs of wear on the statues and the surrounding area. Per Kaia's warning, she doesn't touch the hands. But she looks for someplace that's been touched often enough or moved. She hmmms to herself, glancing at Clara. "Do they know how to open the doors," she asks.

Kaia takes a look around, taking note of the fountain in the center. "Hmm...perhaps twisting the hands will turn on that fountain?" she suggests as an alternative.



"Excuse me, how do we open the door?" Clara asks politely to the ghosts she is seeing. Then she turns back to the statue and suddenly turns the hands to face one another, leaving the statue to look like it is praying before them.



Placing the hands in the correct position before turning the wheel results in the sound of gears quickly turning from within the door and that final, heavy, 'clunk' is heard - the door unlocks. As the door slowly swings open you all become aware of shouting and a struggle coming from much further inside someone.

"NO! You cannot make me join your God!"

With the door swung open the group walk through the hallway.

As everyone moves through the hallway, each are greeted with sobbing beyond the bars of each cell. Several huddles bodies in each one, and their faces pitiful. Begging for freedom. They hush while you continue past and make your way into an irregularly shaped room lit with burning torches.

The room is dominated by a large raised stone pool and several pews in front of it. There is a luxurious blue carpet with a golden snake sewn through the carpet and behind the pool there is a blue tapestry depicting that same snake in various poses. Two sarcophagi are at the front of the room.

Halfway up the stairs there are two black robed cultists drag a young boy towards the pool, that boy shouting and screaming. Kicking his legs out furiously while the cultists move him closer. Standing at the bottom of the stairs a tall, hooded man wearing a golden cloak is present.

Slowly that man turns his head to face you all - his white bony fingertip lifting up as he yells -

"Get out!"

He makes his way back up the staircase slowly, his arms tossing his cloak down to the floor.

Drake just starts running.

He's got to catch up with the boy, no matter what risk this has toward him -- and this means that hes's going to get to him as fast as he can, even if it means shoving over his capturers or risking injury to himself. There's enough here to kill the lead cultist... so he has no concern about him getting rolled either.

"I am Eirene Malvici, voice of House Malvici. By my command, you are to release the prisoners and submit yourself to the justice of Southport." She levels her sword at the man. "Or prepare to meet your dark fucking goddess." Even as she speaks, she is striding forward with anger etched on her face.



Clara looks around at the cells and snarls and then moves forward towards the boy and cultist, cautiously. She gives him a moment to submit before taking further action.

Drake checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 47 higher.

From afar, just as Drake barges in to the rescue of that lad, and Clara and others move forward, she lifts her bow and aims at one of those hooded cultist holding the boy. An arrow rapidly flying across the room. But, does it bring one of them down?

At the commanding voice of Eirene, Thea steps forward with her family, blade in hand. Her gold-flecked green eyes blazing angry, as she barely waits for the decision. Thea is ready to go, the moment they say NO..

Domonico looks at the cultist and stalks towards him, Warspite held ready as the Malvici Admiral heads straight for him along with Eirene and Thea. "You two flank him. I'll take him head on."

Kaia checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 25, rolling 27 higher.

Domonico checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 26 higher.



"You won't take me or any of these today. Malvici. Know that you have reached only one post of us Drowned. You are here in my temple. Kirin's domain."

Kirin stood there and reached forward, towards Eirene. His right arm stretching in a thick tendril of human flesh to seemingly catch her off guard and wrap about her midriff.

The two cultist continue to drag the boy up, Kirin unable to catch Drake's charge before he collides his shoulder up into the two cultists and shove them down into the water where they struggle to breath. The boy scooped up, saved by Drake, as he stood at the top of the stairs keeping the child away from the scene below. The two cultists lift up from the water and, each, caught suddenly with a arrow from Kaia's bow between their eyes.

Thea checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 44 higher.

And, those two cultists, obvs dying from that.

Drake will make sure to get the boy to somewhere safe, as fast as possible, and out of the way of initial combat. He fades away for now giving others a clearer shot while he protects the child.

Martino GM Roll checked strength(2) + brawl(4) at difficulty 15, rolling 16 higher.

Eirene checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 31, rolling 6 higher. Eirene rolled a critical!

Eirene checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 19 higher.

Martino GM Roll checked dexterity(2) + dodge(2) at difficulty 51, rolling 11 lower.

Martino GM Roll checked dexterity(2) + dodge(2) at difficulty 69, rolling 45 lower.

Martino GM Roll checked dexterity(2) + dodge(2) at difficulty 49, rolling 23 lower.



Clara turns when she sees that everyone else has the cultists handled. Instead she starts assessing the victims to see if any of them are injured, even if through the cell doors. She searches for a way in, checking to see if the doors are locked by keys or otherwise.

Eirene's commanding voice echoes through the hall as she presents herself as a target; back straight, blade pointed, and standing defiantly in the open. The fleshy extremity lashes out towards her but she stands her ground, showing no fear or surprise. She gives the other Malvici the perfect opportunity to attack. As the tendril shoots towards her she side-steps and takes a clean strike against it with the rubicund blade in hand. It's as neat and clean a maneuver as any could wish for.

Thea sneaks in, blade raised-with a final look at the cages, the Malvici growls and lunges in cleanly through Kirin, her face blank mask.

Domonico works in concert with the other Malvicis, his leafshaped xiphos singing through the air and striking true as Domonico sets to doing one of the things that he does best.

Jules looks around and he's mesmerized by the arms of Kirin, perhaps a bit too long and says to himself, "Something's not right with that." He has a momentary dry heave before he composes himself. He puts the rock away and pulls out his jar of grade A flammible Laurent honey and chucks it over towards Kirin and then moves to chuck the torch afterwards immediately afterwards.

Jules checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 25, rolling 20 higher. Jules rolled a critical!

Jules checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 25, rolling 9 lower.

Kaia checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 25, rolling 9 higher.



That tendril that ripped forward to Eirene is slashed hard and dripping down onto the floor is a black sludge-like blood. A hiss is heard from Kirin as he continues to step back and attempts to get closer to the top of the staircase and into the large pool of water at the top.

He swings that dripping black arm towards Thea and Domonico, attempting to slap across both in a deft swing while his right arm swirls and attempts to spear in Kaia's direction.



Growling loudly, Kirin turned towards Jules and stared him down.

"You're next. And take those robes off. You are UNWORTHY."



Clara grabs onto the bolt of the first cell and pulls it until the cell unlocks. She opens the door and bends over to help a girl that is crawling towards her. "It'll be alright. We'll getcha back to yer parents. Are you hurt?" She starts to look over the woman and see if she can provide her with any care while the combat is stil going on.

Martino GM Roll checked strength(2) + brawl(4) at difficulty 15, rolling 9 higher.

Martino GM Roll checked strength(2) + brawl(4) at difficulty 15, rolling 10 higher.

Martino GM Roll checked strength(2) + brawl(4) at difficulty 15, rolling 20 higher.

Domonico checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 24, rolling 26 higher.

Thea checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 25, rolling 39 higher.

Kaia checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 35, rolling 41 higher. Kaia rolled a critical!

Kaia wields a steel and red gold serpent hairpin with sapphire eyes.

Thea checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 50 higher.

Eirene checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 24 higher.

Domonico checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 42 higher.

Jules checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 25, rolling 36 higher.

Kaia checked strength + small wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 4 lower.

Kaia wields Heartpiercer a black locust wood and rubicund recurve bow.

Kaia checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 25, rolling 18 higher.

Martino GM Roll checked dexterity(2) + dodge(2) at difficulty 75, rolling 60 lower.

Martino GM Roll checked dexterity(2) + dodge(2) at difficulty 49, rolling 22 lower.

Martino GM Roll checked dexterity(2) + dodge(2) at difficulty 67, rolling 53 lower.

Martino GM Roll checked dexterity(2) + dodge(2) at difficulty 43, rolling 21 lower.

Looking about for another torch as the first failed, Jules reaches for the next one in something of a panic. As he grabs one and hurls it towards the man who's arms look even worse than Jules' it seems to make its way true and he calls out, "You don't look good enough to get me out of them!" His eyes shift about wildly though as he's ready to run away in terror in spite of his words!

"Abyssal fuck," Eirene curses as she engages the cultist again. Her bloodied crimson rapier slashes again at his midsection as she tears a rip into his robes.

"MALVICI!" comes the cry from Domonico's lips as he comes up after ducking under the cultist's attempted strike, his move taking him around behind Kirin. One hand grabs at the vile man's shoulder to hold him steady as Warspite punches through the man's lower back, the alaricite blade emerging from Kirin's gut as the Admiral holds the foe tight for the other Malvici to smite.

When the limb is heading her way, Kaia makes a somewhat acrobatic spin - tossing Heartpiercer aside and pulling out the serpent hairpin, adorning her hair, midair to attempt to stab at the flesh of Kirin. That, however, did not work. She was successful on dodging, but not on stabbing the pointed end into his skin.

Landing on the ground, in a somewhat cat-like pose, she would reach out for her bow once more (which had conveniently fallen nearby) and attempt to take another shot. That one, at least, seemed to succeed! The rest was up to her kin and the rest of the party.

While her brother holds Kirin, Thea strides forward. Holding the kopis with both hands, she stabs in clear in the chest. Her gold-flecked green eyes not once leaving his face.



That tendril attempted to spear Kaia but instead crashed down into the ground as Kirin continued to step back to the water. Nearly there, nearly free. His arm flailed wildly to attempt a massive swing towards Domonico and Thea but both dodged out the way.

Covered in sugar from Jules' honey, the fling of the torch caught the bottom of the honey and set part of his cloak gradually on fire. He screamed louder, the creature struggling now.

With Eirene's blow, he recoils and is quickly followed up with a sharp blow from Kaia's arrow striking him hard once more. His arms draw back in on himself, attempting to form something of a defense from both Domonico and Thea's charge as the two come forward.

Unable to, Thea's strike has Kirin slump to the ground, he melts away there and into the puddle before the heroes.

The light in the room lifting as the once present 'man' collapsed down and gave up leaving just you in the room with the sarcophagus and the now thankful villagers.

Now, back on her feet once more, Kaia paces forward --her gaze set on the pair of sarcophagus just before them. With not much hesitation, now that the threat had been defeated, she pushes them open. But, what awaits inside?

Eirene nudges the corpse; or what's left of it anyhow, with the tip of her blade. She stabs it again to be sure. Then she stabs it with an alaricite tipped scalpel. Juuuuust to be sure. She takes no chances. She instantly sets on helping the prisoners be free but looks over her shoulder at Kaia curiously.



Pushing open the leftmost sarcophagus finds a decent sized chest as well as several fine blue stones that, on first glance, look like sapphires.

While the right sarcophagus finds a ancient skeletal warrior clutching a heavy stone longsword over it's chest.

With the door open, Thea looks at the skeleton and--the sword. Her eyes turn inquisitive as she asks,"Who do you think that was?"

Domonico narrows his eyes as he looks at the stone weapon before, out of curiousity, taking the blade and examining it. His foe defeated, the martial Malvici is content to look at weaponry.

Jules isn't martial and isn't looking for such things but does dig around and looks generally for anything of interest.



Now that the group have all cleared out the temple and this mysterious ruin, rescued the villagers as well, the trip back to the village is made in triumph. Although around the cliff so taking a lot longer.

Upon arrival the Mayor welcomes the returning party with open arms and cheer. Calling out for a celebration being held in the honour of the brave group at the local inn. Free food, board provided as well for as long as the group needed until the winds picked up and the sail back to Arx could happen.


The winds fill the sails of the Tempest and Domonico navigates the caravel back towards Arx, using neither map nor stars as he relishes being on the open sea again, the Mangatan blessed ship cutting through the waters smoothly. En route, Domonico whispers another prayer and drops the sapphire into the sea... an offering to the Goddess of Sea and Sky.

Jules has progressively become more comfortable with the sea these days. He spends much of the trip looking over the edge. He still avoids Domonico but most everyone else is given regular greetings and pleasantries. Domonico gets the best pleasantry, the absence of Jules company.

Eirene does her best to remind the villagers that their liege lords are here for them in her role as Voice of Malvici. And she happily partakes of the offered food and drink. Job' doine. She can drink now. The freezer-stashed cultist? Likely going to face justice once they get back to Southport.