Jammers: Turn 11, Chapter 7 Summary

The Ongoing adventures of my Spelljammer PBEM game.

Here's the Jammers web address:

http://jammers.s5.com/

Comments, questions always welcome:)

----------- = Meanwhile, elsewhere...
*********** = Later...

IC:

Holland frowns, "Well, I'm glad we brought the tools.  Who wants to
take first turn?"

Raken steps forward "I'll help clear some rock. I need the exercise
after the long trip to get here." He lays his weapons & armor to one
corner of the entrance and takes up a shovel. He then begins to haul
dirt and rock out from the blocked passage.

"I will work beside you, Raken. Ives, hoom, do you wish to alternate
with me for the heavy work? The other watches on guard," Nilaroo
suggests as he ascends the rubble pile. "Look out below," he says, as
he uses the shovel to lever free some of the larger debris.

"I do, what!" Ives proclaims. Stripping off his jacket and shirt Ives
goes to work shifting rocks with easy heaves.

Allagan says, "Let me know when you want to switch out Raken and I
will take your place."

Raken nods, "Much appreciated, hopefully it won't take long for us to
clear this mess." he says between dumping shovel-loads of dirt.

"You're doing a great job," Sekeht says encouragingly.

"Talus."  Ferric calls out as he looks around the cavern for an
alternate opening.

Talus' voice is heard coming from outside the tunnel, "Um, guys.. The
logbook mentioned that some of the burnt bodies _floated_ out of the
temple. That would
imply water, which would imply that there is water on the other side
of that cave-in, so I would be a little careful when clearing it out."

"Right," replies Nilaroo, as he shifts his body around, moving debris
from a side angle instead of straight on.

Freneth drops his sack on the ground. Opening it, he pulls out one of
the picks, and offers it over to those working on clearing the load.

Dhebun takes the pick firmly, and smiles a satisfied smile as he
feels its weight in his hands. "Thanks anzhal. If I have to watch
these dunderheads do this much longer I should go mad." Dhebun steps
forward, with a look of determination and begins to clear the rubble
with skill.

"This one is not as well built for this. Perhaps I should step
outside, and keep an eye out," Freneth grabs up his sack, and
reattaches it to his belt, then steps easily outside, and keeps an
eye out on the waters surrounding the entrance.

Pausing from moving rocks Ives turns and looks at Holland "Holland
keep an eye out what! Don't want to let critters eat you before I
have a chance to kill them" Grinning Ives turns back to his work and
starts humming a common drinking tune.

Holland looks at the statues at the sides of the tunnel entrance
while the others are moving the rubble and then asks, "Raken, if this
sphere was the center of the 'Cold Ones' or 'Fish's empire, why are
there human statues at the entrance to this temple?

"I have heard of a race of frog-folk who worship a goddess with human
feet and a lobster's head. Maybe the statue was of her," Sekeht says.
"I don't remember what they're called, but they could be these Cold
Ones."

Freneth adds from by the water, "Perhaps these Cold Ones were not the
only one that lived here. Perhaps they conquered human tribes with
their great lizards. Or perhaps men such as those we visited came
after and built these great structures after they were thrown from
the heavens."

Raken pauses, and leans on his shovel. "Hmmmm, interesting thought,
Sekeht. Though I think such creatures are indeed fish, I have not
seen much reference to them." He considers for a moment. "Since we do
not have an accurate description of the 'Cold Ones', there are many
possibilities, Holland. For instance, perhaps the Cold Ones used
humans as slaves, and the figures before us represent that slavery.
Or maybe the ancient humans worked side by side with the Cold Ones to
build a powerful empire together. Or perhaps, the Cold Ones had a
human appearance at one time, but had qualities of fish as well. Or
perhaps... they were human... the villagers related somehow. Though I
doubt it, its not entirely out of the realm of possibilities. The
Empire of the Cold Ones is an ancient empire, old at the dawn of
history. I doubt we'll uncover all of its secrets at its front door!"
He smiles and gets back to work.

Dhebun looks up from his labor and nods to Raken. "I would agree, the
greatest secrets of this people are, doubtless, concealed within.
Still, I agree with Holland that it seems odd. Why build such
colossal statues of men, unless their gods or ancestors were Men? Or
were the statues crafted here later, by the ancestors of the island
folk, to warn against what lay within or to ward against it?" The
dwarf eyes the ruined statues with more interest.

Leera refrains from taking part in the rubble clearing activities.
Rather, she keeps a wary eye on the surrounding water and terrain,
watching for signs of movement.

Keeping an arrow knocked Ferric continues to search for another
passage but he has no success.

After fifteen minutes of skilled work by Dhebun and the muscles of
Ives and Nilaroo the passage is cleared enough to allow the group to
pass. There is no water on the other side, a hazy light illuminates
the other side. One can easily see that the passage goes on for
another twenty feet and then opens into a larger room.

"If there's anyone in there," Sekeht whispers, "then I'm sure they
heard us digging."

Raken shrugs. "I kinda doubt anything *living* is in there, otherwise
we'd see more signs of life. The Undead are a different matter
altogether..." He wipes the sweat from his brow and retrieves his
gear. "Holland, who goes first?"

Holland replies, "Talus, why don't you take the lead and scout things
out for us. Then by pairs: Ives and Nilaroo; followed by Freneth and
Dhebun; followed by Allagan and Sekeht; followed by Leera and myself;
followed by Raken and Kain; with Ferric following as rear guard. If
the tunnels get to cramped break down to a single file line until
through the cramped portions."

At the mention of undead Leera looks concerned for a moment. "Raken,
do you have power over them? Or Allagan?"

Raken nods negative. "Celestian does not grant me the boon of
banishing such abominations," he taps his sword, "but I suppose I
could say I have *some* power over them... if you consider hacking
them back into the grave having 'power over them'..." he says with a
wink.

Allagan replies, "My Father does not trifle with such creatures
either. A strong arm and stout steel should suffice."

Holland says, "Allagan, now would be a good time for the remaining
protection spells, before we venture in any further."

Allagan nods his head and casts blessings on Holland, Leera and
himself to help them endure the expected heat.

After dusting himself off Ives slips his shirt and jacket back on.
Patting his pistols, Ives slings his shield over his back and picks
up his polearm.

Dhebun slings his satchel across his shoulder and furrows his brows.
Frowning he turns to Holland. "Something was troubling me about this
cave-in, and I know now what it is. This was not a natural rock fall,
this was purposefully done, by someone who wanted this tunnel
blocked. Oh, they tried to make it look like an act of Mahl, but I'll
wager my beard that it wasn't!"

"On purpose, Dhebun?" Sekeht says. "Do you think it was done recently?"

Dhebun turns to Sekeht and nods. "On purpose Sekeht, that's plain to
me at least. As to recent..maybe, its rather hard to tell that for
certain."

Raken clasps Sekeht on the shoulder and laughs.  "I would wager it
was more likely done by the last group of explorers to keep from
being eaten by some horror inside, just as it was about to grab a few
of them for a midmorning snack. By the by, you did say you wanted to
go in first, right?"

Sekeht smirks. "I am not afraid, Raken. Besides, Holland has already
assigned us our order of entry."

"Yes, and a fine job he did," Raken replies, "what with lots of fresh
meat between me and the monsters..." he manages to get out before a
fit of chuckling set in. "Ah, sorry Sekeht, I haven't been this
excited in months. Not since I left Greyspace for Bralspace."

Freneth's face evidence a little worry as he takes the pick back from
Dhebun, and places it back into his sack. After securing the bag, he
takes his atatl out, as well as a javelin. "Perhaps those that we
have been racing arrived before us?"

Holland asks, "Is everyone ready?"

Raken nods and takes his position.

"Raring to go what!" Ives declares as he makes his way up to the entrance.

Nodding Ferric waits until the others have gone through then follows
closely, bow knocked and ready.

Holland says, "Okay, Talus, go ahead, we will give you a few minutes
and then we will follow."

Talus' voice is heard coming from the mouth of the tunnel, "I'm
heading in now."

Nilaroo finishes gathering his gear and, seeing that all else is
ready, follows Talus in at Holland's mark.

Holland waits about ten minutes after Talus spoke and says, "Okay, let's go."

The group moves forward past the rubble into the large room beyond.

This large hall appears to have once been the main worship area of
the temple. It is two stories high with balconies on either side (the
dashed lines on the map). There is a rectangular hole (20'x30') in
the center of the ceiling that is open to the sky (the source of the
hazy light). Doors can be seen on the balcony level.

In the center of the wall that faces the entrance is a carved face
that fills the area from floor to ceiling. It looks like a human or
humanoid creature with its mouth agape. The carving has been cut and
defaced, making the kind of creature it was difficult to identify.

Turning to Holland, Sekeht says, "We ought to secure those doors
right off." He nods toward the left balcony and its three doors and
then toward the other side. "If there is someone or something else
here, then we're easy targets if there are archers or the like up
there."

Talus' voice is heard from rising twoards the ceiling, "There are no
traps or secret doors on the ground floor, I am checking the doors up
here now.  Surprisingly there isn't a lot of dust here."

Suddenly, Talus' voice is heard again, "Balcony Ambush!! Look out!"

Resplendent in feathers and tatoos over two dozen screaming warriors
stand from their hiding places behind the balcony and hurl javelins
down at the group below.

One of the javelins scrapes Dhebun's arm, leaving a bloody gash.

Three strike Ferric, the wooden tipped weapons stick from him like a
pin cushion.

Those thrown at Holland bounce away to no effect, unable to reach him.

Two strike Kain, who stumbles forward and then collapses in a heap on
the stone floor.

Another javelin slices through Leera's robes to leave a nick on her shoulder.

Raken also feels a javelin scratch him, though his hits his thigh.

Another javelin hits Ive's shoulder and sticks there like a lonely
porcupine quill.

Ferric instantly orients on the balcony near the voice as he pulls back on
his bowstring preparing to loose his arrow. he lets fly and fires
again at one of the natives, who drops back behind the balcony with
an arrow in his chest and another in his eye.

Talus fades into view as his chanting brings a large web down on the
natives along the north balcony. The warriors there are all trapped.

But that doesn't last. Holland looks up at the north balcony as he
chants harsh symbols that are heard but not remembered. A ball of
fire appears on the balcony just moments behind the webs. As the ball
of fire rolls along the webbed warriors the webbing crackles, pops,
and burns away fiercely. Screams and the stench of burning flesh fill
the room as the northern balcony is momentarily shrouded in smoke.

Sekeht moves behind Ferric for cover and takes some marbles from his pouch.

Raken draws his scimitar and rushes up the stairs on the south side.
"Action already!" he mutters as he runs up the stairs.

As Talus rushes to the southern stairs, Freneth rushes toward the
northern, whipping out his atatl, and fitting a javelin to it.

Allagan stands in place, his spear in hand, to provide some cover and
protection to Holland and Leera.

Nilaroo sees Raken turn for the south, and accordingly bounds up the
north stairs.

Leera quickly moves to place Allagan between her and the balcony. She
reaches for her spell components, but does not begin to cast.

Running up the south stairs Ives says "Raken keep close what! We can
double up against a single opponent and drop them faster."

Dhebun's blade rings from its sheathe as he charges for the nearest
stairs. "What a foul and dishonorable trick! They'll have cause to
regret it, KHAZAD I MENU!"

Date/Time: 1:55 pm, 7th day of the 11th Month, 5049 OC
--
"We sleep safely in our beds, only because rough men stand guard in
the night, ready to visit violence upon those who would do us harm."
H.G. Wells.

Paul Westermeyer,  westermeyer.3@???.edu
Phd Candidate, History, Ohio State University
Instructor, Humanities, Columbus State Community College