Chapter 7 -- In Search of a Book Seller

[jcftao]

Tarmo presses his ear to the door. All is quiet. After checking the door for traps, he pushes it open.

A long dark hallway confronts the group. Bits of rubble are on the stone flagged floor. A draft of air hits the group as they examine the passageway.

Actions?

[merias]

"Shall we?" Tarmo asks the others. He'll proceed down the corridor, hand axe in one hand, torch in the other.

[jcftao]

Tarmo leads the group down a dusty and cramped corridor.

Cells (for monks) line the walls and a heavy wooden door sits at the end of the tunnel.

All is quiet, but each of the adventurers feel a fullness in their head...a pressure of some kind...and your ears begin ringing.

Actions?

[Etarr_the_Good]

Balthar says "I sense Sorcerey", in a loud whisper. "Shall we search these rooms for its source or head for the far door?"

[merias]

"Let us move out of here as soon as we can," Tarmo says, heading towards the door to the south. He'll glance in the cells as he passes them, however.

[jcftao]

The cells are all damp and smell of mildew. Rotted wooden frames lie on the floor...long forgotten pieces of a yesteryear when holy men inhabited these quarters.

Checking the cells as he goes, Tarmo is alert for any sign of danger.

The wooden door at the end of the hallway is rotted and in bad shape. Through a gap in the wood, Tarmo hears voices...sounds of arguing. Through the crack, Tarmo can see russet colored robes and one different fellow wearing black robes. Their hoods are drawn up so he can't make out any features. Tarmo doesn't know for sure, but at least three cultists are in the room.

Actions?

[merias]

Do we still feel the pressure? Did it change at all as we got nearer to the room at the end of the hall?

I'm thinking we draw the three cultists out to us - we can ambush them from the cells on either side of the hall?

[jcftao]

Tarmo uses his acute hearing to listen at the rotted door.

He hears one of the cultists droning with a rhythmic cadence and can barely make out the black robed cultist gesturing. His outstretched hands are reaching for something...and then Tarmo can see it.

The cultist is reaching out to another of the straw effigies. This one seems larger and quite heavily built. The straw figure is floating and twisting slowly in the air as the cultist drones on, reaching for it.

The pressure in Tarmo's skull feels like it is increasing.

Actions?

OOC--Balthar (that is, his player) is on vacation right now so I'll be playing for him until July 25 I believe.

[merias]

Tarmo backs down the hall and cries out in alarm in an effort to draw out the cultists, hoping they will come through the door. He waits with bow drawn.

[Etarr_the_Good]

Balthar as at the ready to strike after Tarmo unleashes his ranged attack - hiding, if possible, inside the door frame.