Brian Rogers (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
subplotkudzu) wrote2007-01-28 08:19 pm
subplotkudzu) wrote2007-01-28 08:19 pm
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Emirikol, Part I, scene 4
Eschewing the cramped passage to his right Hiram continues straight down the passage until it opens into a room much like the one they left - same size, same central stone altar - but lacking any other exits and containing the ursine body of a bear-man lying motionless on the altar. Unable to tell if the figure were alive or dead from the entry way Hiram took several cautious steps forward and focused his senses. It was clear that the bear man was dead from the wounds on his body, and the young actor's ears filtered out the sound of his own heartbeat and breath to find the breathing of Melas (slightly labored), Deitrich (disciplined and steady), Cybele (light and unaffected)... and one other person, nervous and shallow.
Hiram rotated quickly, drawing his blade and stepping back to the altar, hoping that if the figure were behind him his allies would spot him, but knowing only he could search the other corners of the room. At this motion Melas raised his crossbow to fire where Hiram might indicate, and Hiram spotted a figure pressed against the wall to Melas' left. His yell and throw were simultaneous, as were the figures' dodge and upward swipe with his longsword, snapping the string of the crossbow and expending the bolt harmlessly into the room.
The figure continued his motion, moving to face Melas, Cyble and Deitrich outside of sword reach, leaving his back to Hiram. Deitrich lept to the right, leaving the figure blocked on three sides. Melas considered swinging the crossbow as a club (Tom: his ancestors would understand - the purpose of heirloom weapons is to kill people), but reconsidered - the man had not attacked when he might, and moved with sureity to a weaker position... indicate some gentility and great confidence. His mismatched eyes took in the man before him; a half elf by the eyebrows, piercing green eyes and tanned skin, and while the rest was hidden by a scarf, large hat and night black clothing Melas was certain he would know him, mask or no, when they next met.
Cybele prepared a spell of offense, leaving it hanging in the air, and queried the figure as to his name. "I'm afraid I cannot oblige at this time; please stand aside, gentle folk so that I might leave in peace." Hiram was still considering what to do when the figure leapt forward, forcing Melas to either crash into him or step aside and taking the brunt of the Lady Florane's arcane attack (which went off by instinct rather than intent) with a grimace. Melas chose to let the man depart, and they heard him flee down the tunnel, then the sound of rope and counterweight working - the man must have grabbed one of the taught ropes, sliced it and ridden to the roof as the weight fell. (Tom: That probably would have looked really impressive if any of us had been watching.)
Coming up with little of certainty about the masked man they scouted out the room, finding the story of the trapped beast-men leaders carved in pictograms on the walls, and the body having been already stripped of valuables, including its heart. There had been several items cut loose from the bear-mans belt, rings removed from his fingers, an amulet snapped from his neck and so on. "I took him for a gentleman but it seems he was a common tomb robber. Is there any treasure left?" (Brian: to my chagrin I can't remember who uttered that line; I will properly notate this if anyone claims it.) The only item of value remaining is a greatsword strapped under the body and barely visible under the bear-man's bulk.
Ultimately deciding that it could be a valuable clue... and valuable... Cybele strains her highly trained muscles and pulls it free, revealing a very fine blade indeed. "This ought to be worth enough to keep me alive for a few months more," the Lady Florane mutters, hissing "damnable halflings." "You're being threatened by halflings? Melas gapes. "How embarrassing." There is another effort to roll the body off the altar and reclaim the sword's sheath, and both Hiram and Deitrich take a moment to check over the altar to see if there is any more evidence of what was occurring here. Alas, there was not, and so the quartet nof nobles exit, deciding the tak the cramped southerly passage in hopes of finding out more...
Hiram rotated quickly, drawing his blade and stepping back to the altar, hoping that if the figure were behind him his allies would spot him, but knowing only he could search the other corners of the room. At this motion Melas raised his crossbow to fire where Hiram might indicate, and Hiram spotted a figure pressed against the wall to Melas' left. His yell and throw were simultaneous, as were the figures' dodge and upward swipe with his longsword, snapping the string of the crossbow and expending the bolt harmlessly into the room.
The figure continued his motion, moving to face Melas, Cyble and Deitrich outside of sword reach, leaving his back to Hiram. Deitrich lept to the right, leaving the figure blocked on three sides. Melas considered swinging the crossbow as a club (Tom: his ancestors would understand - the purpose of heirloom weapons is to kill people), but reconsidered - the man had not attacked when he might, and moved with sureity to a weaker position... indicate some gentility and great confidence. His mismatched eyes took in the man before him; a half elf by the eyebrows, piercing green eyes and tanned skin, and while the rest was hidden by a scarf, large hat and night black clothing Melas was certain he would know him, mask or no, when they next met.
Cybele prepared a spell of offense, leaving it hanging in the air, and queried the figure as to his name. "I'm afraid I cannot oblige at this time; please stand aside, gentle folk so that I might leave in peace." Hiram was still considering what to do when the figure leapt forward, forcing Melas to either crash into him or step aside and taking the brunt of the Lady Florane's arcane attack (which went off by instinct rather than intent) with a grimace. Melas chose to let the man depart, and they heard him flee down the tunnel, then the sound of rope and counterweight working - the man must have grabbed one of the taught ropes, sliced it and ridden to the roof as the weight fell. (Tom: That probably would have looked really impressive if any of us had been watching.)
Coming up with little of certainty about the masked man they scouted out the room, finding the story of the trapped beast-men leaders carved in pictograms on the walls, and the body having been already stripped of valuables, including its heart. There had been several items cut loose from the bear-mans belt, rings removed from his fingers, an amulet snapped from his neck and so on. "I took him for a gentleman but it seems he was a common tomb robber. Is there any treasure left?" (Brian: to my chagrin I can't remember who uttered that line; I will properly notate this if anyone claims it.) The only item of value remaining is a greatsword strapped under the body and barely visible under the bear-man's bulk.
Ultimately deciding that it could be a valuable clue... and valuable... Cybele strains her highly trained muscles and pulls it free, revealing a very fine blade indeed. "This ought to be worth enough to keep me alive for a few months more," the Lady Florane mutters, hissing "damnable halflings." "You're being threatened by halflings? Melas gapes. "How embarrassing." There is another effort to roll the body off the altar and reclaim the sword's sheath, and both Hiram and Deitrich take a moment to check over the altar to see if there is any more evidence of what was occurring here. Alas, there was not, and so the quartet nof nobles exit, deciding the tak the cramped southerly passage in hopes of finding out more...
To be continued.
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