CH 9: To the Walls of Pax Tharkas

[JadedDM]

Caramon frowns. "You're talking about wraith."

"Wraith?" Eben asks. "I'm guessing they're not particularly friendly with a name like that."

Caramon shakes his head. "Soul eaters. My brother faced one during his Test...oops, not supposed to talk about that. Anyway, if they touch you, they can suck your soul right from your body. Plus, nothing can touch them but spells and magic weapons. So if we run into any, I'm pretty useless."

"Hmm, same here," Eben says. "I like my sword, but there's nothing magical about it."

[Jerrard]

"A Wraith, yes that is what it sounds like." Sturm rubs his head, touching Brightblade. "This Blade has been in my family for many years, I am sure it would stand up to the task." He stops, looking down the passage once more. "But I do not think that we should fight them, rather help them be free."

[Breila]

"Wraith, you say?" Goldmoon frowns. "If I'm not mistaken, chasing them away would be close to the limit of my current power. We should avoid them" she advises.

[Jerrard]

"Then we go the other way." Sturm replies simply, "Laurana is that ok with you?"

[Jenara]

Laurana gives Sturm a quick nod, before ruffling Magpie's hair, "Yes, for now we go the other way, sorry I went off alone, perhaps it was foolish." Her voice is very small, subdued even, she takes Magpies hand a moment before returning to the lead.

"He mean to me." Magpie mutters giving Eben an evil glance, "He mean." she grabs Lauranas leg, holding her tight.

[HorizonsDream]

Tika shivers a bit at the mention of creatures that can suck out the soul of a person. The idea kind of scared her. "I don't like this place," Tika says. "So let's continue on as fast as possible so we can get out of here."

[JadedDM]

Eben ignores the gully dwarf's accusation. He had not even said a word to or about her, much less been mean to her.

The party follows the southern tunnel for about four minutes before it opens out into a larger chamber. It's an eerie, gigantic hall that has long since fallen into decay. To the south are many tall columns that rise to a lofty ceiling, as well as a few that have fallen over and litter the center of the room like the felled vallenwood trees of Solace. From behind the ruble comes a chittering and scratching.

A huge granite throne sits against the left wall, flanked by a large statue. The stone guardian is a warrior three times the size of a man and armed with a broad, granite sword.

Dwarfed by its guardian, the decayed remains of a man sit atop the throne. Gaunt, empty sockets and bared teeth stare from an ancient skull. A worn, once-regal cloak covers his body; a sheathed sword lies across his lap.

[HorizonsDream]

Tika looks around the room quietly before her eyes rest upon the sword. "Oh my," she says, seemingly in a trace as she takes a few steps towards it before she stops herself. There could be anything in this room, and she didn't want to be the target of its attack if there was anything in there.

[Nuke]

"I know we are on a mission, but it is hard to pass up loot like this, especially if we can escape without issue." Riverwind starts to approach the remains with his sword and dagger drawn.

[Kafen]

"We really should get a closer look." Tas says and starts to walk towards the chair. (( Unless somebody tries to stop him. ))

[Breila]

Goldmoon in turn looks at the statue. Does it resemble the statue of Mishakal in any way, could it be a representation of one of the other Old Gods?

[Jenara]

Stepping forwards slowly Laurana looks at the statue, her mouth open in awe. "Can it be? Surely not." advancing on the remains she kneels reverently in the dust. "I think this is a long lost hero."

(does the figure look elven? Int check 10. Is there any writing on it?)

(ooc: magpie is female, she reacts the same way any woman would to the way Eben looked at her, while she is used to being treated like garbage she thinks that she is important now! )

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(Jerrard)

"Laurana be carefull, Caramon cover that entrance." (he points further south.) "I will cover this. The rest of you be quick, we are targets here."

Moving near Tika he keeps brightblade drawn. "I wish i knew where we are."

[JadedDM]

As Goldmoon approaches, taking the light with her, the rest of the eastern half of the chamber is illuminated. It turns out there are two statues, each flanking the throne. Neither resembles a god that Goldmoon knows of; rather they seem more like silent bodyguards.

Laurana recognizes the dead man as the ancient hero and founder of the Qualinesti, Kith-Kanan. The elven prince and his dwarf comrades built the fortress of Pax Tharkas during the Age of Dreams.

The blade that sits over his lap is surely Wyrmslayer, the weapon he was said to wield against dragons. It's a magnificent two-handed sword.

Wyrmslayer.jpg (104.46 KiB) Viewed 5020 times

Caramon moves as far south as he can, but sees no entrance at all, just a wall. He looks back at Sturm and shrugs, not understanding.

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(OOC: Not that it matters, but I'm not sure what you're talking about. Eben didn't look at Magpie at all. In fact, he made it a point to ignore her entirely.)

[Kafen]

Seeing as the group chooses not to stop him, Tas moves to the sword in order to get a good look at it. Reaching out, he ponders the shiny nature of things with more than a hint of excitement in his eye.

[Jerrard]

"A Hero? He certainly looks like one. Tas Do not get any closer for now." Sturm keeps his ground, "Sorry Caramon, I thought there was another way out, one we couldn't see so well in the light."

"Laurana, what is this?"