Orpheus the Bold
This tiny and overgrown path has scratched your arms to the point you almost wish to cry, and the thunderous booms of the coming storm make your ears ache. This journey was nothing like what you thought it would be. The villagers were damn stubborn! Not even your silvered tongue could sway them to give you a ride to this godforsaken place. You keep sinking deeper with each step as the rain turns the clay path to sticky mud, filling your boots with filthy muck. As the first lightning strike crackles in the distance, you finally see your destination. The mansion of Lord Hosmer. A dark and sprawling place with vines and overgrowth covering the ground. The trees nearby are dead and leafless, but you would not have come this far if you were going to be deterred by such a detail.
Elijah Moore
The worst storm you have ever been in. Tracking down some fool’s lost pet is not worth travelling through this heavy rain and thunder. The winds are utterly insane, your cape lashing back and forth like an angered serpent, looking around you notice something is wrong. Horribly wrong. You don’t know where you are, the trees are bending in the wind and the shape of the land seems deformed. You have traveled these lands for years. You know them so well that they could be etched upon your heart, and you don’t know where you are. All of the places you have set up, trees whose boughs hide a fire pit and a small pile of kindling and iron rations, the places you would always head to in these situations, they are lost to you. Lightning flashes and in the distance you see the shape of the dark wooden building. Shelter.
Vinnick Varzel
Lost, you have mastery of the elements at your fingertips, ability to spin the universe to your whim and you have lost the path. The mud is starting to cake your arms and pack, making you feel sluggish on the shifting wet soil. Turning your back against the blustering wind, you decide to forge ahead, thinking you will find the path if you move in that direction for long enough. Soaked to the bone and starting to grow tired you find the footing beneath your feet has become uncomfortably slick. Your ankle twists as your soft boot catches on something. You flip down the incline past the white trunks of birch, and the black shoots of dead plants and oak trees. Dizzy and bewildered from your tumble you wipe the mud from your mouth and eyes and you see the front of a building mere yards in front of you.
Aerrodin Mayweather and Thia,
Thia and Aerrodin simply met up on the trail, heading in the same direction. They were heading in the same direction and just drifted together on the path. Small talk ensued, nothing personal, nothing really important, but they have a general idea of who the other is. As the cloud bank rolls in, there is a slight change in the small talk; the rain begins hard and starts sheeting down harder and harder. There are lightning flashes and then there is no way to hear over the pounding rain and vision is reduced to bare minimum. Pushing through the storm, the pair miss the turn in the path and see a figure picking itself up off of the ground in front of what looks to be an inn from this distance.
Where did this weather come from?! Where is my shelter that is right...over
Ugh, finding Buttons is not worth this weather fiasco. What the...is that...a house. Thank you father for leading me to secure shelter. Hopefully they take pity upon my water logged butt.
I knock on the door, and wait for a few moments while looking around for any clues of the owners. Hello...is anyone home? I sure would love to come in out of this horrible storm. I can pay for a night if that will help?
Blast it to hell, why didn't I learn that weather spell? or endure elements! confound it, I liked this robe.
He pulls his cloak tight around his robes, not that it would do much good.
I need to get out of this storm, this is no place for a wizard, think of my spellbook!
gotta make sure Maia is kept snug in my pockets, this wind would shred her.
He speaks of his familiar, the raven Maia, the only reason he had manage to make it this far towards any remote shelter.
well, creepy house is better than no house.
He trod his way around to the front of the house then peers in a window
I don't suppose you own this house?
Elijah asks as he sees Vinnick come from around a corner.
I start slightly, having heard a voice from the right of me. I turn to look at man, almost as soaked as I am, though noticeably less muddy.
No, I can't say I am. However, from the looks of the place I'd wager they have enough room to house two poor travelers.
I bring Maia out to sit upon my shoulder.
Say hello dear.
The Raven looks towards Elijah then says.
Good evening. in a surprisingly un-crow like voice.
I stare down the lane through the downpour, with my cloak drawn close and try to resist shivering.
No need to let the lady know you're a pansy just yet, Aerrodin
I turn to offer Thia my cloak, then quickly reconsider. Instead, I turn back and peer down the road once more, watching the unknown figure for a moment, torn between the need to make sure their alright, and a certainty that this figure means trouble.
I start to strap on my shield as I look over my shoulder to Thia.
What do you think: is this as suspicious as it looks to me? We've definitely gotten off the beaten track...
Chuckling nervously, I turn my gaze back down the road uncertainly, trying to make out the figure and what they are about.
Finally seeing the house, my mood lightens. I start singing an aria, to forget the weather:
I suddenly stop when I see there are people near the house. So there are people here after all. I knew it all along, those villagers were just trying to scare me and play tricks on me.
I shake my head as I get closer to them and the house.
"Hello friends. My name is Orpheus. Are you the welcoming party from the village? Here to see if I really walked all the way up here by myself? Well, if you are: congratulations, here I am. And in this terrible weather, too. You picked the best time to fool a stranger. But tell me, is there a stream nearby, where I can fill up my barrel? Or should I just let it stand outside in the rain?"
I begin to speak, to Vinnick, the stop abruptly as the crow...actually...speak?!
Hello, my name is Eli.
Once I get my wits about me after a moment, I restart and finish.
Hi, my name is Elijah. Just as I was hoping was not the case. You are not the owner. Hm, it looks like there are others as I look back towards the road.
When Orpheus introduces himself, I laugh slightly.
No, we are not the welcoming party. I am, as well as Vinnick I presume are trying to get the hell out of this blasted rain storm.
I set down the barrel and start unloading its content (lots of trail rations) onto the porch.
While doing this I start a casual discussion with Elijah.
"So, Elijah, you aren't from around here, I assume? The villagers assured me nobody from around here would ever go near this place."
Well, I am not from this exact town, no. I grew up in the woods, not far from here, and am skilled in not getting lost...usually. This storm however, has got me turned all sorts of backwards. I got lost, I hate to say it, but luckily I found this building.
After pausing a moment, I think back to what Orpheus has said about villagers told him that nobody would ever go near this place
What do you mean...villagers would never go near this place? Is there magical wards on it. I have heard tales about houses with magic to thwart of would be thieves?, I ask in tone that is both inquisitive with a hint of worry/skepticism.
"A ward? Considering all of us meeting here by chance, that wouldn't be a very good ward, eh? They are just afraid of their own ghost stories, as far as I can tell." I shrug and look up from my work for a moment. "Who knows if there is any true core to their stories? Maybe if we are lucky we find something inside and the long trip through the rain wasn't all for nothing."
The storm is increasing in its ferocity, wind lashes all around you, the rain blowing in almost parallel to the ground. Your eyes becomes sightless as a bolt strikes only a few dozen feet away from the gathered group.
Elijah's knowledge of the spring storms tells him that the storm could begin hailing, or perhaps begin tearing trees out of the ground.
Vinnick stumbles backward from the lightning strike, his back thudding the door and it opens just enough for him to fall inside.
Aerrodin, you cannot see very well through all of this wind and rain, but you know for sure that the storm seems to be getting worse.
The pounding rain and blustering winds drown out your words even as you open your mouth, The raindrops sting the flesh of your faces and the precipitation fills your mouth, like you are trying to speak underwater.
Seeing the door fall open as Orpheus lands back-first against it, I figures I am not breaking in should the authorities show up.
I grab my pack, and trudge inside. Once inside, I take a quick glance around, to try and notice anything odd, our of place or strange with the interior of the home.
If nothing peeks my interest/concern, I will begin to unpack my backpack, and do my best to ring out the rain soaked clothes I am in.
I take the piles of field rations and throw them into the house through the open door.
Next, I grab the person next to me by the shoulder.
I scream into his ear.
Then I run to the barrel, which I hope is at least half full from the rain by now, and start pushing and shoving it towards the door.
***
Once inside, I start looking for a dry piece of cloth I could wipe my face with.
Perception to look for a towel:
Knowledge (any) to recognize peculiar tings in the house:
Visibility outside was merely poor, inside it is utterly black, except the crack of light making its way in through the open door.
I cast dancing lights into the room:
I hold up four fingers of my hand, palm facing inwards.
"Lights," I mumble. A glowing orb appears at the tip of each of my fingers, "here, here, here, and here." With each 'here' I mumble, one of the lights separates from my finger, escapes into the direction where I am pointing the finger and starts illuminating the room.
This is the worst storm I've ever seen I think to myself as I trudge down the path. A shiver goes down my spine as water leaks through my cloak and rolls under my armor. Being out here is miserable.
I'm not paying attention to anything but putting one foot in front of the other when I hear Aerrodin speak. Looking up I see what he's focused on; there are other people out here. Behind them is either an inn or a house; who cares, it's shelter!
"Suspicious or not they've got shelter over there. I'll take the risk to get out of this blasted storm." I don't wait for Aerrodin before I stride off to the house. He can do what he wants but I'm sick of being in the rain. If these guys are friendly then great, if not I've got my great axe Betsy.
I stride up the steps and knock on the opened door. "Hello? Are you guys taking in travelers?" I call out. I have one hand resting on Betsy's hilt, just in case.
The darkness is thick, but the bardic spell summons four glowing orbs which illuminates the shadows, layers of dust and dirt cover the majority of the floor space.
The room has a wide carpet covering the floor in a strip down the center heading north from where the party stands, their wet and mud-spattered boots further staining the soiled fabric. The wind whips through the house with a whistling shriek and disturbs dust, while outside pushing the clawed branches of the vegetation against the walls making long scrapes against the roofing. The spell's illumination showing tapestries that are hung on the walls and a shattered mirror on the western wall. There is a massive staircase at the north end of the hall, and two doors on the western wall, and a single door to the east.
This mansion used to be an opulent palace of splendor, but it has fallen to ruin, and people see that the banisters have been shattered and broken, and the grand staircase has absent steps. You to see that there are a few low tables near the walls, and a pair flanking the staircase, and a single bookcase on the far wall on the eastern side of the room, mirroring the position of the second door on the west wall.
I watch Thia briefly as she takes off towards the manor door, taking a deep breath as she does so. She didn't mean anything by it, I'm sure. She's just anxious to get out of the storm.
I shake my head once to clear out the caustic retorts that come to mind, then take off after her briskly, taking a moment to transfer my holy symbol from my pocket to my shield arm. I leave my Morningstar looped in my belt.
I don't wait for a response from the others when I get to the front door. This certaintly isn't an inn. I walk past those in the entrance and stride over to the center of the room, taking in the forsaken opulence of the room. So much like home...
"Yes, come in already. There might be ghosts in this house, but they can't be worse than the storm outside." I tell the newcomer as I gesture her to come inside.
Then I take a look around the newly illuminated room. "Ah, looks like I won't find a towel in here that isn't covered all over in cobwebs." I say, a bit disappointedly. I wipe the water from my face and wring it out of my hair and clothes, as good as I can without a towel.
"Anyone wants to join me in exploring this place? Might help us pass the time while we are waiting for the storm to end."
dear me, that was quite the tumble!
I tap my walking staff twice on the floor, then tap it with my index finger and speak Aduro and it begins to shine with a bright light.
A little bit of mobile light then. My good sir, by change are you a wizard as well? I do love meeting other students of the arcane.
he stops after entering into the house a ways.
None of you would happen to know what this place is or who it belongs to would you? I appears to be abandoned... I say let us make place to sit and wait out this storm.
with a snap of the finger and a word Tersus an unseen force begins to clear away dirt and grime from the wizards robes.
After that he will make his way over to the bookcase, natural curiosity drawing him to potential tomes and see if their are any remaining books that could catch his interest.
I hear someone speak of ghosts and turn to speak to the other arcane user.
ghosts? what do you mean ghosts? and to be frank I am rather tired after that ordeal outside, I should like to rest and dry off a bit, perhaps I will be lucky enough to find a good book here.
I turn towards Orpheus Wonderful. A thrill seeking lunatic that want's to explore a haunted house and rouse an undead army for kicks and giggles.
Perhaps it would be better to stay put. The dead will have enough trouble resting tonight without us tramping around. That besides, who the hell are you?" I ask, trying to keep the contempt from my voice.
To Vinnick I respond: "A wizard? Well, yes, in a way I am: I am a wizard of the stage, a student of the magical art that is the opera. But if you are talking about the bookish arcane wizardry, I must disappoint you: I only dabble in it. I know a stage trick or two, nothing more. About the ghosts, I don't know either, but I intend to find out." I gesture towards the staircase invitingly. "Do you want to join me? We might find a good book or a bed for you as well."
I frown at Aerrodin's remark, feeling almost insulted.
"Good sir, I am Orpheus the Bold. I am a man of the opera. I came to this place to research its history for a piece I am writing. But if you don't mind me asking: why the hell do you come to a spook house if you are afraid of disturbing the dead?"
I quirk an eyebrow as Aerrodin strides right in the door. Lucky for him these people seem friendly, if a bit odd. I try to wring the water out of my cloak before walking inside.
"We didn't know it was haunted" I respond before Aerrodin can. "We were just caught out in that damn storm and this place offered shelter" In my head I add 'Who comes to a haunted house on purpose?'
I study this opera wizard guy. He doesn't look like much of a fighter. If he's going to go tramping through an abandoned house he'll need someone to keep him safe. I sigh. It feels like my old job's catching up with me. Getting in the middle of fights and keeping people safe already. Feels like home.
"If you're going to go explore the house I suppose I'll come along. Safety in numbers and all that."
After a few steps, you all hear a scraping noise, and then a creaking. Finally it ends with a huge bang. The door has blown shut.
Hhmmm. Really I'd wager it's safer near the door. I've seen a couple of spooks on my journeys, I'd rather fight the weather than some of the things I have seen. I say shuddering slightly.
The door suddenly slams shut
Then again... perhaps not.
Lets hope its not, and that the locals are just giving nature's credit to spooks and undead.
That being said, I have a rather strong curiosity to find out more about this place and, perhaps, any hidden secrets and treasures it might find. Give me 15 minutes to prepare and I will accompany you. Ah yes, I am Vinnick, Vinnick Varzel at your service.
Preparing detect secret doors
"Thia" I respond to Vinnick. I turn around and try to open the front door, throwing my weight into it.
When light is produced, and illuminates the area, I turn to the creator of it, Thank you, that makes looking at out current..err..dwelling easier to see.
As everyone talks about hauntings and other strange activity, I will go towards the pair of tables flanking the staircase and search for any helpful information, drawers, secret caches, etc.
As the wind catches the doors and thrusts them close, I jump, slightly startled at the sudden sound.
What was..oh just the door shut hard by the wind. All this talk about spooks, come on guys. You don't believe in all that nonsense, do you?
"Thia" I respond to Vinnick. I turn around and try to open the front door, throwing my weight into it.
Grabbing the handle and yanking with all of your might, you manage to pry the door open a few inches, the floorboards are scratching and pulling at bottom of the door, and then with the horrible shriek of tearing metal the handle comes off in your palm.
When light is produced, and illuminates the area, I turn to the creator of it, Thank you, that makes looking at out current..err..dwelling easier to see.
As everyone talks about hauntings and other strange activity, I will go towards the pair of tables flanking the staircase and search for any helpful information, drawers, secret caches, etc.
perception take 20 = 28
Your searching the drawers has revealed a few papers that pertain to the normal everyday workings of a manor. An invoice and a fund balancing paper are found on a thin sheet of vellum, you hear some form of crackling, humming sound from the opening of the eastern hallway, barely not drowned out by the pounding of the rain.
Hey, guys. Come here for a sec. I swear I hear a humming sound coming from the eastern hall way. Are one of you wizards or bards, just messing with me?
I search the other table for anything useful as before.
with a snap of the finger and a word Tersus an unseen force begins to clear away dirt and grime from the wizards robes.
After that he will make his way over to the bookcase, natural curiosity drawing him to potential tomes and see if their are any remaining books that could catch his interest.
This bookcase is made of sturdy wood, which has withstood the test of time very well. It has ornate carvings and strong, straight shelves. It has a few mounds of rotted leather and moldering papers, gathering what little information is still legible you realize that they were books on nobility and pricing of local good in years long past.
Hey, guys. Come here for a sec. I swear I hear a humming sound coming from the eastern hall way. Are one of you wizards or bards, just messing with me?
I search the other table for anything useful as before.
Perception, 20=28
The other drawer is very tightly stuck, though there are writing instruments left on top of it, covered in cobwebs , yanking on the drawer produces no results, you would have to break it open. However, you spot a small rusty key behind one of the empty inkwells sitting on the table.
I drop the handle. "Ugh. I don't think we're getting out that way." I could chop it down if I had a few hours...maybe days, this door is freaking huge I think to myself.
I'm distracted from further thoughts by Elijah's question. I move over to him and try to listen for the same sound.
Hm, I can't believe I didn't spot the key until now
I use the key on the locked drawer, and open it up to see what is inside.
I shrug, convinced that the rest of the group is determined to explore the mansion, but still not convinced that it's a good idea. While everyone else explores the room, I take a moment or two to prepare. I toss down my blanket and four wrapped food rations with the provisions that Orpheus brought, make sure that my scroll case is firmly attached to my belt, and look around the room.
There must be a low window or weak spot in the outer wall that we could leave through if we needed out in a hurry.
while the others ply away at the desk, I begin to grow curious as to where the doors lead. Perhaps an actual library? one with something more useful and Interesting then the simple toils of a merchant. I wonder.
I walk down the corridor to glance up the staircase, using my staff to illuminate most things.
Then I head too the eastern door and attempts to open it. Taking my light with me.
I'm distracted from further thoughts by Elijah's question. I move over to him and try to listen for the same sound.
There must be a low window or weak spot in the outer wall that we could leave through if we needed out in a hurry.
When Thia walk over to Elijah, you hear the sound... it seems to be a rustling clicking noise.
Aerrodin doesn't see any obvious weak spots in the entry hall, but there may be some in other rooms, though when noone is looking the door makes creaking and scrapes as it begins to force itself shut once again.
Then I head too the eastern door and attempts to open it. Taking my light with me.
You begin to push on the door and it makes a very loud scraping.
All of a sudden the rustling clicks become a very loud hum. Some sort of creatures come out of the darkness of the hallway.
A trio of half-foot long hard shelled, bulbous eyed winged insects take to the air as you approach. The buzz of the hardened wings moving rapidly is half drowned by the rain, but the angry drone of the fat insects is distinct. In the darkened room it is hard to make out what exactly the creatures are, but the stinger that is a sixth of the creatures’ length is quite obvious.
Insect 1
While the other insects are hard and glossy, this one is dusky grey in color, and moves slower than the other two
Insect 2
The oaky brown shell of this pest is smooth and whole, and looks much younger
Insect 3
This vermin is disgusting, but seems to be the average between the other bugs.
Before I can even take a good look into the room some horrid insect creatures barge their way into the main room.
God, they look horrid!
I back away from the things as I rummage through my mind of what to do.
Finally I decide the best approach is the strong approach.
Ahah!
I point my index finger at the closest one and fire off an acid orb.
You cannot say anything about this knowledge until your turn (represents time identifying it and thinking about the species.)
Knowledge Nature DC 11/Profession Guide 13
The creature you are looking at is a female of a particular species of botfly, which has grown to an abnormal size. This insect attacks with a painful sting, and are generally found in warmer climates.
Knowledge Nature DC 16/Profession Guide 18
Stings from this creature inject eggs into the body. If allowed to hatch, the host is eaten alive by ravenous larvae.
I stare at the creatures, transfixed by their appearance. "What in the hells are those?"
1d20+4
Before I can even take a good look into the room some horrid insect creatures barge their way into the main room.
God, they look horrid!
I back away from the things as I rummage through my mind of what to do.
Finally I decide the best approach is the strong approach.Ahah!
I point my index finger at the closest one and fire off an acid orb.
The insect is hit by the orb of glowing green, which disintegrates a portion of the creature, but its hissing and clicking do not cease as a piece of its carapace drips off onto the floor.
Target, Insect 3
Targeting Vinnick
(hit) 1 point of damage and make a fortitude save.
The angered insect responds by flying directly at Vinnick, landing on his left arm briefly and stabbing the bloated syringe of a stinger through his robe and deep into his bicep
Vinnick: 17
Insect 3: 16
Orpheus the Bold
Insect 1: 14,
Elijah: 6 Insect 2: 6,
Aerrodin: 5
Thia: 3
I try to recall whether I have ever heard of bugs like those - but in vain. Nothing comes to mind.
I draw my bow and shoot an arrow at the third insect (the one that seems of average age).
Before releasing the arrow though, I close my eyes and concentrate on my weapon. I lightly pluck its string and listen to the sound it makes. Only when I am sure I have attuned myself to the music of the weapon, I open my eyes again and release the arrow.
Knowledge (any) to identify the bugs
Arcane strike.
Attack
Damage , counts as magic
I try to recall whether I have ever heard of bugs like those - but in vain. Nothing comes to mind.
I draw my bow and shoot an arrow at the third insect (the one that seems of average age).
Before releasing the arrow though, I close my eyes and concentrate on my weapon. I lightly pluck its string and listen to the sound it makes. Only when I am sure I have attuned myself to the music of the weapon, I open my eyes again and release the arrow.
** spoiler omitted **
Orpheus turns after Vinnick has been stung, aiming at the creature as he brings his shortbow to bear. Orpheus closes his eyes after he pulls back the arrow, his fingers briefly touch his cheek, then the string slips out from between his fingers, just barely before his eyes fully open.
The arrow hums as it travels swiftly through the short distance between you and him, catching him unexpectedly just underneath the collarbone on the left side and piercing all the way through.
The most shiny and healthy looking of the insects buzzes directly at Orpheus, its stinger stabs at your chest but hits your armor, not breaking through to hit you. You swing your bow at the thing, keeping it from landing on you.
Vinnick takes the damage from Orpheus' shot
Target, Orpheus
(no hit)
I wince when I see where my arrow has hit.
Suddenly an arrow catches me in the throat, I scream as I fall to the flow MURDERER!
I am too focused on the drawer, and the random rusty key to notice what is going on around me. When combat starts, and I finally get my bearings straight, I turn around and focus on the flying annoyance. I see their shape, color, and other identifying characteristics, I realize what they are.
Guys, these botfly, er rather larger species of them. They are usually only found in warmer climates. Whatever you do, don't get bit, lest you want to be eaten alive from the inside out.
After telling the group a brief explanation, I move forward, drawing my hand-axe as I go along. Then upon nearing the enemy, I take a hack at the oaky brown husked one, who appears to be the baby of the trio.
Swinging the weapon, a crescent of silver, you slice past the creature, nearly hitting it.
These overgrown vermin are aggressive, even the eldest bug, though its movements are sluggish it still flies over to Thia, and attempts to sting her. though the creature is determined, its sting simply bounces off the woman's armor, its sickly grey shell perched briefly upon her shoulder like a twisted parody of a bird.
Startled by the sudden burst of angry buzzing and flashes of glossed brown and grey in the dim light, I recover when I hear Vinnick's strangled cry. I focus briefly on the phoenix emblem in my shield hand, speaking the words a sanitas lux, causing a faint white flame to appear in my hand. I then rush over to Vinnick, and press the flame into his shoulder, hoping that the energy I give him is enough for him to fully recover.
I snarl at the insect that tried to sting me. "Not today bug!" I draw Betsy and swing powerfully at the beast
Aerrodin's holy blessing flows through Vinnick knitting the torn flesh, but the arrow is still lodged inside of his shoulder.
Thia swings her massive axe, but the weapon is large, and she has thrown all of her weight behind it, missing the agile insect and burying the edge into the floor.