CH 4: Heart of Darkness

[Breila]

While they are standing and waiting for Grey and Areilon to come back, Ouragana divides her attention between Maua and the space around them, hoping to spot anyone who approaches.

"Wait, Val, we should all stay together" she reminds the half-orc. "If we look in here and know who or what is inside, we don't need to watch our backs for someone coming out" she suggests.

[Jenara]

"I suspect someone is." Arei agrees, "Allow me and Grey to go first, and perhaps Joyceln, you say you hid in shadows as a child?" The Elf asks, moving to the doorway, "We need to catch them unawares, give us the best chance of survival."

[HorizonsDream]

"I doubt I will be of much help," Jocelyn admits. "I haven't continued the practice since I decided to become a cleric."

[JadedDM]

While Val considers whether she should listen to Ouragana or not, Jocelyn decides to wait behind.

Thus, it is left to Areilon and Grey. They slip inside, down the stairs, as quietly as they can. Once they enter, what they find is...unexpected.

The room below is large and spacious, with little in the way of furniture. There are numerous candles all over the place, but only a handful are still lit, and are about to die out soon. The wax of the candles has melted considerably, suggesting the candles were lit sometime last night.

There are six tribals in here, but they are all unconscious, on the ground, and in various states of undress. The room reeks of body odor and incense. There are clay cups strewn about, some still holding some kind of liquid in them. The tribals do not stir, and seem quite out of it. There is a ceremonial drum sitting on the other side of the room. There are no other exits visible.

[Jenara]

"Some kind of ritual..." Arei suggests, looking for something to tie them all up with, "They were probably doing some strange magic to drive us off..." She moves over to the drum. Sniffing a cup as she does so.

[JadedDM]

"Or they just really know how to party," Grey comments. There is no rope available, and the strange drink has a sharp and pungent odor; not like anything Areilon has smelled before. It might be some kind of moonshine, but it's hard to tell.

The drum is of simple construction, the kind of thing you might see in a museum these days. It's small, mostly wooden in construction, and has a pair of animal tails attached to it.

[Jenara]

"Go and get the others, someone should stay up top, I suggest that they bring Maua down too.." Arei comments looking at the drum with interest.

[JadedDM]

Grey heads back outside, to the others. "Clear, sort of. There's six of 'em in there, but they're passed out cold."

[Breila]

"I'll watch outside and alert you if someone comes, unless you need me down there" Ouragana says.

[JadedDM]

Grey nods, then grabs Maua. "Areilon wants her for something," he explains, and leads her downstairs. Dalaim follows, but Oren decides to guard the exit with Ouragana.

[Jenara]

Wandering round slowly she checks the fallen tribals again, whatever they drunk it was pretty powerful.

[Nuke]

Val peeks inside with the others but backs out as the place reeks of mind altering drugs.

"I will watch the door" is all she says." Let the others decide how to deal with that, I know how I would. she thinks to herself.

Val plants herself at the doorway, bow in hand, watching for unwelcome visitors.

sorry for the missed reply

[HorizonsDream]

Jocelyn moves inside with the others, and pauses upon seeing the scene. "Wow, what did they do?"

[JadedDM]

"Some kind of mass ritual from the looks of it, likely of some religious significance, I'd wager," Dalaim says, scratching his beard.

Once inside, Maua looks around and suddenly starts shouting at the top of her voice. "Kuamka! Wengine ni kuvamia! Waonye mganga!"

"Gonto's eyes, someone shut her up!" Dalaim exclaims.

[HorizonsDream]

Jocelyn walks over to Manu and puts her hand over her mouth to keep her quiet. "Why do you assume it is religious?" she asks.