Having entered another empty room, this one a lavish bedroom, most of the party seemed ok with it except Barreel. Sirene quick once again with her magic cast a spell to detect just that and found the chests to be protected by it and have numerous pieces inside. The Dwarf Berserker lived for the fight and not finding one here was a mite disgruntled. Moving over to the first of the three chests he kicked before Sirene, looking up to warn the party, could yell to stop him.

In a flash, the party found it self-facing three Crimson Deaths clearly the guardians of the three chests. With surprise and an initiative bonus of +4 the three floating creatures each attacked first.

The first Death seeing Ulthok moving forward toward the chests struck at him first, its single attack missing. The second Death attacking at random found itself before Aliya and again the creature’s single attack failed. With the third, it found its target to be Sirene, who having just completed the process of casting a spell found herself not ready for its attack, yet agile enough to avoid the brunt of it. The Elf Enchantress taking only 2 small points of damage.

The party facing the three Deaths’ found it was their turn to act.............

(DM OOC: Ok rd one is up so go to it. I know your posts were really for naught but Barreel did kick the chest. Right now Rayne and Roan are NPC’s as Schnozzle has not posted in a month and I have not heard from him so he is dropped. I’m looking for a player for at least Rayne and maybe a new player with a new character as the character of Roan is not that integral to the story as Rayne is. Ok next post next Sunday night after football. GO (‘add any team here but my Cowboys! )
Oh and one more thing. Yesterday August 31st 2014 was officially The Trilogy War's 10 year Anniversary. Happy Anniversary everyone lets try for 10 more shall we

Cor saw the kick and the result. "Darn ye lad, just cause ye want a fight donna mean we all do." Racking his brain, Cor seemed to remember the foes before them were undead so rather than a direct attack he raised his axe before him and spoke the words of a turning spell. "Father Odin, remove these beasties from before us and send them cowering in fear before your righteous wrath."

Barreel grinned savagely at the thought that he brought forth the crimson deaths. He had just been bored and wanted to get the party on the move faster, but things worked out even better than he could have hoped!

Then the deaths all ignored him and attacked his party members. This didn't make any sense to Barreel. Didn't he set off the magical trap? Wasn't this his glorious fight? Barreel could only watch as the first death missed Ulthok by a hair, the halfling's quick reflexes saving it. The next death also missed Aliya, but the final one struck Sirene. It didn't look like the blow hurt too much, but Sirene was the one who could have prevented this had Barreel not been so hasty. And he liked the Elf. His exuberance for battle was causing more harm than might otherwise have happened, and he was starting to feel guilty...

But no time for that! There was battle afoot! Barrell decided to start with the death that struck Sirene and gave a boisterous shout:

We sing the song
Of the under halls
Of warriors strong
When duty calls
Our Orc foes straight down we'll MOW
Shout louder lads
***DEATH FROM BELOW***

Siréne's eyes widened in horror as she watched the grungy berserker plant a swift kick into one of the chests. The low thump of impact silenced the partially formed warning in her throat. Magic permeated these chambers and had twisted around the chests in wait for any fool that would disturb its stillness. There was no telling what manner of wards had been placed, but in a place such as this she had little doubt they would be dark indeed.

As if in answer to her suspicions, a thick red miasma hissed forth. Swirling mists coalesced into three malevolent apparitions that sprung to attack. One of the foul beings leveled a hungry glare at her as it viciously lashed out. Siréne spun aside with elven grace and agility, but it was not enough to fully evade the blow. The creature's touch grazed her and brought with it a light touch of pain. Still, had it not been for the preternatural speed of her people a slight nick might instead have been a fatal blow.

A gravely rumble that was at once melodic and dour heralded the arrival of Barreel. The filthy dwarven warrior brushed past her to hurl himself into the undead beast that had attacked her.

We sing the song
of the under halls
of warriors strong.

When duty calls
our Orc foes straight down we'll mow.
Shout louder lads!
DEATH FROM BELOW!
A slow smile curled her lips at the sound of his ubiquitous battle song. The dwarf had come to her defense in some strange form of penance for unleashing the beasts upon them. In truth, the depths of his battle lust greatly disturbed her. She had seen a similar love for blood in orcs and in the twisted souls of the mad. They would have words on this matter soon, but for now, there was none the elf would rather have fighting by her side.


With a slow breath, Siréne let the retribution of the Great Goddess flow through her and into the white birch staff she held. She let loose an unearthly cry of witch rage and returned the crimson beast's blow with one of her own.

((OOC: Attacks Crimson Death that attacker her with Druid Staff of Striking and Curing. Uses 2 charges to power the attack.))

the vaporial mist struck at Alyia an missed. recoiling Alyia grimaced stumbling back against the bed. Attacking the mist with blade seemed impractical. as the swirling vapours seemed to fade an regroup in to translucent shapes.

Alyia's hand brushed the silk bedding, giving her an idea. if they could some how trap it. Not knowing if it would work any better then trying to stab mist she ripped the bedding apart pulling out the top sheet an dousing it with oil of burning from her pack. knotting the ends of the sheets to give them slight weight. Alyia tossed the sheet in the air over the mist.

(if it doesn't miraculously fail)

as the sheet settled over the mist not wanting to give it time to move, Aliya fumbled with her flint cursing.

"quick some one ignite it!" Aliya hissed fighting the urge to fire ball the lot.

Before the thief could reach the chests a crimson mist materialized from each. Barreel’s kick had released their guardians. The first seeing Ulthok moving forward toward the chests struck at him first, its single attack missed. Having fought undead before the mage knew there was no telling just was best to stop them. Drawing his +3 Short Sword of Lighting Quickness the Halfling strikes twice on the thing that had just struck at him. The mage hoped the magic in sword that gave it enanced powers would prove it harmful to the chest guardian.

For Barreel and the rest of the party facing 3 horrid creatures such as these, creatures only hit by magical weapons, normally would be somewhat daunting. However, this time the party’s reactions were dead on. Though caused by the death of an undead creature the Mists themselves were not undead, yet Cor’s turning caused them to pause. In minutes, the now stationary Mists were destroyed. Barreels axe finishing one, Ulthok’s sword another and Sirene’s staff the third. Clearly, unlike other Crimson Mists these seemed weaker then most, perhaps being kept as guardians unable to feed had sapped their strength.

With their guardians gone, the chests remained locked, yet the party’s lone thief quickly took care of that. In quick succession he opened all three chests to find within them along with normal clothing and 3 bags of gold the following.

1 Potion of a watery black liquid.
2 Dark red potions the fluid as thick as blood.
A pair of jeweled Anklets
A set of Bone & Marble Dice
A wand crafted of bone
A fancy hat with a matching cloak
In addition, a set of Bagpipes.

Quickly storing the new Items the party moved back into the hall once more, but at a quick command from Aliya stopped.

“STOP! Do you hear that?” Asked the Fighter/Mage as all turned to listen, hearing only silence, not a single sound. For the first time since attacking, the castle was quiet as a tomb................

(DM OOC: Ok short post but I did not want to take you further without giving you a chance ask yourselves why the silence. Good luck, watch football, and next post next Sunday the 14th)

Odin's might had given the creatures pause and the party took advantage of that to dispatch them quickly. The chests produced several items of interest but none that could be quickly identified so into the bag they went for further study later. As the group prepared to move on, a call went out to listen. Hard as he tried the old dwarf could hear nothing, and that was strange. "Las, ye be right. Tis a most unnatural silence. In my experience such is never a harbinger of good." Cor wondered what it meant. "What say ye all, shall we move or take position here for a bit and see what comes?"

As the death in front of him died, Barreel turned to the next only to find that all were slain. The battle over, he turned to Siréne to first apologize to her, then to the party for his hasty actions, "Lass-" he rumbled before Aliya's words cut him short.

“STOP! Do you hear that?”
He froze mid sentence and listened, and didn't hear anything. Barreel didn't know what to think of this and was about to ask what everyone else thought when Cor beat him to it.

"Las, ye be right. Tis a most unnatural silence. In my experience such is never a harbinger of good. What say ye all, shall we move or take position here for a bit and see what comes?"
Barreel's first thought was to keep moving. He never did well with sitting still and doing nothing, but that is what caused these last problems in the first place. He decided to wait and see what everyone else thought before commenting himself.

The party had guessed right that the mists would could be deflected by their weapons. In short order all three had been dispatched leaving the chests ready for inspection. Opening the locks was quick and easy for Ulthok and the contects were quickly reviewed and those of possible value were placed in sack of holding for better inspection later.
The grouped moved into the hall when Aliya signaled them to halt.

“STOP! Do you hear that?” all turned to listen, hearing only silence, not a single sound. For the first time since attacking, the castle was quiet as a tomb................ Barely above a whisper Cor responded. "Las, ye be right. Tis a most unnatural silence. In my experience such is never a harbinger of good…………..What say ye all, shall we move or take position here for a bit and see what comes?" The small mage moved back the front of the party, “If the fighting is stopped, then that most likely means there are none of the teams left to fight. Also if another team had freed the queen these walls would be falling on our heads as the castle crashes to the ground. ….We can’t stop to be caught and trapped by all enemy that is left. Better to keep moving, at least that way we may still find the Queen… Back to those stairs..time is not on our side, but don’t rush foolishly, check for hidden passages or secret doors..a shortcut may still be a way to complete our mission.” The Halfling drew deeply on his skills and senses to check the halls and walls as he led the party on.

Weaver smiled, ‘Well if it is truly only us who walk on the side of good here then it is us who will free the queen and retrieve what we have come here for.’ He then looked to Cor, ‘There is a third option. We ready our selves and call them to us.’ Weaver took a deep breath. ‘What ever the plan is I know we will do what we have come here to do,’ he then closed his eyes, ‘or we will smile at death when she comes for us.’

“We can’t stop to be caught and trapped by all enemy that is left. Better to keep moving, at least that way we may still find the Queen… Back to those stairs... time is not on our side, but don’t rush foolishly, check for hidden passages or secret doors... a shortcut may still be a way to complete our mission.”

Weaver shook his head yes, ‘Then we will go to meet this ending we have sought after for so long.’ Weaver took up his swords and moved on with those he calls his family.

“STOP! Do you hear that?” Asked the Fighter/Mage as all turned to listen, hearing only silence, not a single sound. For the first time since attacking, the castle was quiet as a tomb................
Alyia cringed as Cor an weaver spoke in hushed whispers. Alyia followed along with the party her hand a death grip on the hilt of her sword an the other anxiously thrust into her spell pouch worrying over spell components. As Alyia took mental note what items she had left an which spells she could cast if need be.

"I like the way ye think lad and I believe Barreel will as well". Motioning to the others, "Make ready, we shall call them out." Once everyone had a moment to make ready Cor called in a loud, clear voice "All right ye wee beasties. If ya have ideas of returning ta the foul realm from which ye came now is the time ta do it."

The silence in the hallway, in fact the whole flying castle, was almost as if the calm before a storm. As the minutes ticked by and nothing and no creatures appeared, the party talking in whispers, it was agreed to bring the enemy to the them.

"All right ye wee beasties. If ya have ideas of returning ta the foul realm from which ye came now is the time ta do it." Cor yelled into the silence of the castle.

With the Dwarves words echoing through the silent halls, seconds turned to minutes, minutes became five, then ten then fifteen. Then finally floating towards them in the hallway appeared a yellow ball of magic. As it stopped and began to speak, the party could clearly see it was a magic mouth…… A yellow smiley faced living magic mouth!…………

“Really? That’s the best you have, wow ahh ok. The undead queen of the castle, my creator, wishes to in the hope of speeding things along let you know you are the only ‘good guys’ left. As such, she hopes you will allow me to lead you to her and a final face off, or battle, skirmish, cage match, whatever you want to call it. Now I know what your thinking “This could be a trap!” your right it could be, however if you decide not to follow me your Halfling friend is toast. I mean like crispy crittered as Lichy plans to roast her alive. Soooo what’s it gonna be, follow me, fight your ’good fight’ and die to the last goody two shoes. Or don’t follow me and die anyway going around and around in circles searching for a room you‘ll never find.”

With that, the Magic mouth floats quietly awaiting an answer from the party.

(DM OOC: Ok my late post sorry for the delay. So what’s ya gonna do people hmmmm . Next post this Sunday the 21st)

Ulthok prepared to head down the hall back to the stairs and searching for perhaps a secret passage to aid them. He thought their leader was of a same mind as he said, "I like the way ye think lad and I believe Barreel will as well". But then Cor changed their fate. by saying,"Make ready, we shall call them out."
In a loud, clear voice Cor called, "All right ye wee beasties. If ya have ideas of returning ta the foul realm from which ye came now is the time ta do it."
Ulthok froze in dismay, his leader had summonsed their doom.

Briefly he thought perhaps that call had gone unnoticed but then a yellow ball of magic floated towards them in the hallway. It stopped and began to speak, the party could clearly see it was a magic mouth……………

“Really? That’s the best you have, wow ahh ok. The undead queen of the castle, my creator, wishes to in the hope of speeding things along let you know you are the only ‘good guys’ left. As such, she hopes you will allow me to lead you to her and a final face off, or battle, skirmish, cage match, whatever you want to call it. Now I know what your thinking “This could be a trap!” your right it could be, however if you decide not to follow me your Halfling friend is toast. I mean like crispy crittered as Lichy plans to roast her alive. Soooo what’s it gonna be, follow me, fight your ’good fight’ and die to the last goody two shoes. Or don’t follow me and die anyway going around and around in circles searching for a room you‘ll never find.”
The Halfling reached out his thoughts to the little Faery Dragon perched on his shoulder. "We have come to the end of our journey my friend, I have but one choice here and I have tied your fate to mine thus dooming both of us. But I cannot pass this only opening to save Valene." He kissed Peri on her scaly check and without looking to see what the others were going to do starting walking toward the floating sphere.

"I accept the challenge."