Adventure Took Place on December 7, 1999

DMaster: You requested a new set of armor, black on black, hood, etc.

Vulcuran: Yes. So I can have a more investigative style of armor.

DMaster: After the man is done taking your measurements he tells you it will be in your room in a day or two. You head out.

Vulcuran: Wander through the Throne Room, to see if anyone is there.

DMaster: The throne room is empty except a few guards, everyone has gone. It is about 4:00 -ish.

Vulcuran: Head to the Kitchen and get something to eat.

DMaster: The Kitchen is pretty busy. You see what they are making for dinner. It was a cheese and meat combination that smells incredible.

Vulcuran: Damn, wait and head to my room. I will sit down and write in my journal for awhile

DMaster: Not much to write about. You finished the other day with your journey. After a two hours of your thumb up your ass, the dinner bell goes off.

Vulcuran: Head to the royal dining area for dinner.

DMaster: Yes. Lunch is in the Kitchen area, while Dinner is always served in the royal ball room. The usual suspects are there, the King, The Baron, some Knights and a few dignitaries. The only one you see missing is Damon, the Treasurer.

Vulcuran: I will take my usual seat. Wonder where he is

DMaster: The meal goes on, with an unusual quietness. They eat, enjoy and no one really speaks.

Vulcuran: Just eat until I am full

DMaster: You finish and excuse yourself. It’s around 6 pm.

Vulcuran: Before I do, I will head off the King before he leaves.

DMaster: He was just getting out of his chair.
JER: Yes Vulc, what can I do for you?

Vulcuran: VUL: I think I am going to head to the morgue and take a look at the body of the fallen man, outside the gates.

DMaster: He gives you a blank look
JER: You do not need permission from me to do this, make it so if you want.
He walks away, shaking his head.

Vulcuran: I will head back out in my thief outfit.

DMaster: You get to your room, change and then head out with my swords and daggers.

Vulcuran: Keep my hood down, to show my face. Less likely to stop me for the first leg of my journey.

DMaster: When you leave the Castle, two guards approach you almost immediately. Once they see your face, they bow and keep moving. Its a clear sky and its a bit chilly @45 degrees, with a pretty stiff breeze, which makes it chillier. It has to be getting close to 8:00 pm.

Vulcuran: I will continue on my way

DMaster: You notice a different guard is tailing you. But once you turn to him and he sees you, he bows and walks off.

Vulcuran: This outfit is going to be more trouble than it is worth.

DMaster: You make it out of the inner gates after a few double takes from guards. The morgue is butted up against the “walls” of The Pit. It doesn’t have a building around it for at least 100 feet or so. A make shift grave yard is in front, that looks completely full… it’s long been full.

Vulcuran: Head to the morgue. Pull my hood.

DMaster: You stop, sense something. Four guards, coordinating an encounter.

Vulcuran: Stop, chuckle. Pull my hood back, look around.
VUL: I commend you on the speed you saw me and coordinated a confrontation. But I assure you, it is unnecessary.

DMaster: Three of them rush you, two with spears, shields, another with a crossbow. The final one, you recognize.

Vulcuran: Glance over, see who it is.

DMaster: Krinus comes out, bow in hand.
KRI: Then declare yourself before we give you some new bracelets.

Vulcuran: Nod my head and chuckle.
VUL: Creative Krinus, work long on that one liner, Three Star?

DMaster: Krinus’s eyes bulge, puts his bow away
KRI: Disengage, NOW! This is the Duke. Back to your patrols!
He heads over, bows.

Vulcuran: Smile at him.
VUL: That was impressive, really it was. Good job. Dismissed.

DMaster: He smiles and nods. Turns and catches up with his guards.

Vulcuran: Head to the morgue.

DMaster: You finally make it. The buildings end abruptly, and the morgue is sitting in the open, apart from being against a makeshift wall of buildings. You have been here once, a while ago, briefly, so you are not totally familiar with it. The building is large, two story and is a plain grey color. You notice the lack of windows as there is only one you can see on the entire front of the building. A few area’s that have a soft glow, here and there; Looks to be some braziers lit. A path goes around the large building, inside is grass, headstones and what looks to be a mausoleum. At the center of the circular path is another path leading to the building. Typical large poles line the pathways, as is customary in Camerondale and lanterns are hung from them, all lit. It seems to split, one goes to double doors you can see. The other dips down to what you can only imagine is the basement.

Vulcuran: Head for the building.

DMaster: You step on the circular pathway, a smell of incense is now very apparent.

Vulcuran: Head towards the main double doors.

DMaster: You approach and it is what appears to be large brass braziers, but they are also filled with what you figure is incense or spices to mask the smell. The closer you get, it starts to mix with an unpleasent death like stench.

Vulcuran: Makes sense. Go to the double door.

DMaster: A man about 6 ft tall and a decent build. He has on over-alls and has a small hat on. He ripped the doors open, turned and was locking them up. He did not notice you.

Vulcuran: VUL: If I can borrow a moment of your time, sir.

DMaster: He jumps as high as one could jump.
MAN: Jebeezahova! My god man!
He dropped his keys, turns around wide eyes.

Vulcuran: Chuckle a little
VUL: My apologies my good man.

DMaster: MAN: Oh this is funny, huh? Scaring an aging man half to death on a night such as this. I have half a mind to report you to the guards.

Vulcuran: Look at him, pull my hood down.
VUL: I am hear to look at the body…

DMaster: You did not finish your sentence.
MAN: I’m sorry no viewing for tonight, please come back tomorrow between Risen Sun and Sunken Sun.
He leans down and picks up his keys.

Vulcuran: Wait for him to look at me.

DMaster: He fumbles with his keys, leaning back to try and see which one he needs. Then glances back over to you.
MAN: I’m sorry are you deaf or something? We are closed come back tomorrow.
He says with a scoff.

Vulcuran: VUL: Again, apologies. I am Vulcuran, Duke of Camerondale. I am inquiring about examining the body that was found outside the gates.

DMaster: MAN: Yes and I am Jeramiah, great King of this fine realm.
He says with a chuckle. He is done locking the door, turns and sees you still standing there.

Vulcuran: VUL: Well, my King, you surely have changed and your job description has really gotten weird.

DMaster: MAN: Now I am getting a bit annoyed, it has been a long day and I just want to go home. Be on your way or I can have the guards take you away.
Standing there, wider eyes, unsure now.

Vulcuran: This is getting me no where, figure this could help hone my skills.
VUL: My apologies, I will take my leave.
Pull the hood and walk out to the graveyard, try and disappear into the farther buildings.

DMaster: MAN: Tomorrow. You can come in then, ok?
He repeats himself frustrated. The man, adjusts his hat and walks away.

Vulcuran: Keep hidden. Wait for him to leave.

DMaster: He looks to be walking for the closest guard house. It is what you expected really. Time to test yourself.

Vulcuran: Sneak around to the best entry point where I would be seen the least amount.

DMaster: You dodge in and out of the alleyway’s until you hit the makeshift wall. You make your way along it, and get to the building. There is one window on this side. It is ground level.

Vulcuran: Go to the window see if I can open it.

DMaster: It is locked.

Vulcuran: Investigate it, see if I can unlock it, and get in.

DMaster: After a little investigation you find your picks and “ping” the window is unlocked, you slowly push the window open, climb inside and then close the windows behind you.

Vulcuran: Look around.

DMaster: Some light is coming in, you can see what appears to be a 20×30 room, 10 foot ceilings with some scones on the wall that have been recently snuffed out. There is a desk, lots of shelving’s with books, journals, etc. a few chests and a table or two with chairs.

Vulcuran: Probably that mans office. Find my way out and to the area with the bodies.

DMaster: You walk out, keeping low. It looks to be a viewing area, open, fancy rugs, tables, many chairs, and an area where they would display the body. This is not only the largest morgue in the city it doubles for a funeral home. You remember its a way to cover costs. There is a half circle wide stairs leading up to the second floor. You can see the double doors he must of went out of, and there is light coming through the small window. Most likely now guards looking in.

Vulcuran: Get down and into the mess of chairs, keep an eye out. They will probably have a quick look around outside and leave.

DMaster: You see the light go away. Then you hear what seems to be the door being unlocked.

Vulcuran: Shit, dammit. Why would they be coming in, I mean really. Look for better cover.

DMaster: You slide into an alcove that has a curtain drawn across, there are a few coats and you almost stumble over a boot or two. Looks to be a coat closet of sorts.

Vulcuran: Keep an eye out and don’t move.

DMaster: You hear them talking.
GUARD: He said the guy was big, and dressed like a thug.
VOICE: With everything going on, I don’t want to take a chance. A quick looksee here to make sure…
You recognize that voice anywhere, a very good friend and Captain of the guards, Thorin.

Vulcuran: I will laugh loudly.

DMaster: The two guards and Thorin all pull their weapons looking over to the closet.

Vulcuran: VUL: Two guards and the Captain, who is butt ugly and sucks at knuckle bones, impressive.
Laugh again.
VUL: I swear Britney had to be blind to marry the likes of you.

DMaster: The guards are exchanging looks, Thorin pulls back a bit, raises an eyebrow. He even snorts a little in a chuckle.
THOR: You have me at a disadvantage, creeper, you seem to know me…

Vulcuran: VUL: I hope so, I stood up with you for your wedding.
Walk out with a big smile.

DMaster: THOR: Vulcuran you dirty sly dog. What the hell are you doing here?
He looks at the guards, smiles and shakes his head.
THOR: Dismissed, this is the Duke.
They bow a bit and head out, closing the door behind them.

Vulcuran: Walk over shake his hand.
VUL: What are you doing here? With a simple B&E investigation?

DMaster: THOR: I was just about ready to head home, making my rounds and the Funeral Director or undertaker is at the guard house causing a stink. So I decided to come look, after the crazy deaths outside the walls and such, even with Nanny’s attempt on her life… who knows.

Vulcuran: VUL: Makes sense.

DMaster: He looks you over, raises an eyebrow.
THOR: What is with the get up?

Vulcuran: VUL: I am trying to not look like a Duke, people tend to clam up when Royalty is involved. So I figured I could take a look at the bodies then make a sweep of the city here and there to see if there is anything unusual going on.

DMaster: He nods and waves you on.
THOR: Lets go take a look then, I think the morgue is through this door and down into the basement. Prepare yourself for some seriously odd smells. Worse than my bathroom this morning.

Vulcuran: Chuckle.
VUL: Ok, lets go.
Start moving.

DMaster: You get close and he gives you a playful nudge,
THOR: Britney blind, really? You jackass.

Vulcuran: Laugh and smile at him.
VUL: Yeah, truth hurts sometimes.

DMaster: He shakes his head, playfully tilts his head back and walks to the door opens it. He was not kidding. A weird spice, incense death smell wafts out. He grabs his hand lantern, lifts the hood.

Vulcuran: VUL: So how have things been? How is Britney? Tired of you yet?
Say with playfulness and a chuckle.

DMaster: THOR: It has only been 2 months my man. We have decided to try for a baby. So, you know, lots of the ol’ poke and roll.

Vulcuran: Stop walking, look at him.
VUL: Poke… and… roll?
Continue, shake my head and walk to the stairs.

DMaster: He laughs. You two head down the stairs, and there is a wide hallway that is at least 25 feet wide. The ceiling is low, roughly 8-9 feet. More sconces on the wall, recently snuffed out. From what you can tell, each side of the huge hallway has open entrance-ways to other rooms, there appears to be a door at the end of this hallway too. The lantern is swaying a bit, so odd shadows are cast.
THOR: Jebus!
He jumps and then laughs, at jumping from shadows.
THOR: Not a place you want shadows to be scaring you.

Vulcuran: VUL: Need a new pair of nickers?

DMaster: He goes to laugh and he stops when you hear a giggle from farther in the basement.

Vulcuran: VUL: Tell me you heard that. Are we sure everything in the morgue is dead.
Pull my sword out, get lower.

DMaster: THOR: I assume so. An echo maybe?
He also draws his weapon, and now is slowly moving forward.

Vulcuran: VUL: Maybe, but let’s not take any chances
Saying that in much lower tones now.

DMaster: The both of you are creeping. You are much quieter than Thorin, though he is not doing too bad. You get to the crossways of sorts, with the two open entryways. He shines his light the one way and you can see a preparation room, tables, clothes, some shirts and dresses, etc. But nothing that is moving. He shines it the other way and you can see what looks to be stone slabs, stains of what you assume is blood. Baskets with towels and such in them, but again nothing that moves. He points at the far door.

Vulcuran: Nod my head and agree pointing at the same door.

DMaster: Once you get to the door, you can see it is ajar. An odd cool breeze is coming from it. This is what you know is the cold storage. It is fairly expensive to upkeep considering it takes potions of cold, which are expensive, to keep the room at a lower temperature.

Vulcuran: Point at the door and put three fingers up, indicating I will count to three.

DMaster: He nods his head, places the lantern down across the hall to not interrupt any visual you could get.

Vulcuran: Three, Two, One; Saying quietly, then rip open the door. Jump in, sword at the ready.

DMaster: He jumps in with you. The front of this room is fairly narrow, shelves with bodies on them. It opens up after about 15 feet. A stagnant, smelly cold air is around you. You can almost see your breath now. A rustling is heard farther in the back, where it opens up.

Vulcuran: Look at Thorin, shrug my shoulders. Start to slowly move forward.

DMaster: As you get close to the opened area, it looks to be another preparation area, a few tables, buckets and such. The far wall is also lined with shelves and bodies. Then both of you look to the left, and see one of the bodies is smoldering and some peeks of fire coming through the wrappings. It is the farthest body, and that takes you a good 20 feet off the entrance way.

Vulcuran: VUL: Are you kidding me, body is on fire!
Grab any towel or such and go to it.

DMaster: Thorin follows suit, finds a bucket of half water, half blood and almost all ice and tosses it on the body. A low hiss sounds from the fire being doused. A sound comes from behind you.

Vulcuran: Turn and look.

DMaster: There is a figure, hood drawn all in black, standing, leaning against the entranceway to the open area that you just came through. A weird grumbly voice, one that you know that is not natural.
FIG: The smell down here, yeah it’s not so, hot, is it.
It has a weird giggle.

Vulcuran: VUL: Declare yourself.
Get in a stance.

DMaster: Thorin wrinkles his nose.
THOR: Really? That is what you came up with? I should arrest you for a horrible use of a pun.
It shrugs its shoulders. Pulls out a bottle. Both of you see, it has red contents in it, a slight warm glow.

Vulcuran: VUL: Fire potion!

DMaster: The figure throws it far down the other side of the open area, a good 20 feet from the figure. It explodes. The figure dashes down the narrow hallway portion and out of your view.

Vulcuran: VUL: Get the guards, and get water wagons. I am making chase.
Say that as I dart for the entrance way and down the narrow hallway.

DMaster: With the haste of the action, you did not see a wire from one side to the other. You take a few steps in full sprint, and your feet hit a wire, it wraps around your legs, making you slam hard to the ground, head first, taking some damage and sliding about 6-7 feet. Your sword going even further.

Vulcuran: VUL: Dammit! That hurt!

DMaster: You reach for your legs and they are wrapped pretty good. As you try to untangle the wire, you glance up and the figure stands there, just outside the door.

Vulcuran: VUL: When I get my hands on you…
Try and get through the wire.

DMaster: The figure looks farther in, then back at you.
FIG: How was the vacation? I mean you just went on a trip. Should of waited for, ahem, fall.
By then Thorin is heading down the narrow passageway.
THOR: Oh my god, you are the worst!
The mystery person, closes the door and you hear it lock.

Vulcuran: Eyes get big
VUL: Shit shit shit!

DMaster: THOR: Did they just lock the door? how fucking rude!
He gets to you and helps you up.

Vulcuran: VUL: I’ll see if I can pick the lock.

DMaster: THOR: Good luck, lock is on the other side. Thankfully this is only a thick wooden door.
He races back to the open area that is now quickly filling with smoke, flickers of the fire now can be seen.

Vulcuran: Run and throw myself against the door.

DMaster: The door gives a little, but not much. It hurt your shoulder too.
THOR: Here I have a chair!
He runs and slams it against the door. It barely moves it but breaks the chair into multiple pieces. Thorin turns and looks down the corridor, smoke starting to get to you now and flames can now be seen.

Vulcuran: VUL: Not how I wanted to end this day!
Start kicking the door as hard as I can.

DMaster: The door gives a little here and there. But among the chaos, you think you hear a “ka-ching” sound.
THOR: Keep going Vulc, or I can start doing it!

Vulcuran: Stop and try the door handle.

DMaster: It swings open.
THOR: What the?

Vulcuran: Step out and look around. Now I am paranoid.

DMaster: Thorin bolts from the room, and you go to grab him… but it was too late.
THOR: Let’s get the hell…
Is all he got out. You saw another wire like trap, and he ran directly into it.

Vulcuran: VUL: Thorin!

DMaster: He runs through it, and he also takes a header, but a vial of smoky liquid drops to the floor, crashing and breaking. The room has sparks and smoke billowing everywhere, and your eyes start to burn

Vulcuran: VUL: Smoke potion!

DMaster: THOR: You Think!!!!??
Thorin is on the ground flipping all around grabbing for the wire around his legs.

Vulcuran: Grab him, carry him out of the hallway and up the stairs. But taking my time to make sure nothing else is going to jump out at us.

DMaster: You make it to the top of the stairs, not nearly as fast as you would of liked but you get there. Smoke is now billowing out from that door.

Vulcuran: Head for the double doors.

DMaster: You head for the double doors and suddenly your legs are wrapped up again and you fall hard to the ground. Thorin goes sprawling across the floor. by now he all but took off the wire.
THOR: What the hell is going on here?!
He is red faced and extremely angry.

Vulcuran: VUL: Someone is going to pay for this, someone is going to die!
Calm down for a moment, unwrap my legs and stand up.

DMaster: Thorin is at the double doors, he is waving his sword around, to make sure there are no more wires.

Vulcuran: Once it is clear, head out.

DMaster: You two head out, door opens and smoke starts to pile out. Between the smoke potion and the fire, it’s quite the pillar of smoke wafting out.

Vulcuran: VUL: This. This was a dogs breakfast.

DMaster: Thorin is already heading to the guard house yelling to bring the water wagons and get the guards. Shortly after, the City bell rings out, and a mass of people and guards come piling in. Thorin comes back to you. His face a bit dirty, a few scrapes and bruises. You look about the same.

Vulcuran: VUL: Why did they want to torch a body, or better yet an entire morgue?
Rub my chin looking back at the morgue.

DMaster: In between barking out commands, he looks over.
THOR: I don’t know. Not sure burning the whole place down was their goal, but when we interrupted…

Vulcuran: Look at him and nod.
VUL: They made sure the job was done.

DMaster: The response was faster than you expected and after about 10-15 minutes guards and people are now leaving the building with empty buckets and such. It appears the fire is out. A lead guard comes over and reports only the body room and a bit of the preparation room in the bottom had damage. The body room is almost completely burnt.

Vulcuran: VUL: Mission accomplished. Whatever body was in there, that they didn’t want us to find or investigate, is now long gone.

DMaster: Thorin nods his head and walks over closer.
THOR: Well we know which one it was in the room. So maybe we can get the records and find out.
He glances over to someone.
THOR: Oh he will know.
Up walks the funeral director, in PJ bottoms and a wrinkly top. His eyes wide looking at the smoke coming from the morgue. He glances over to you.

Vulcuran: Look at him.
VUL: Is it tomorrow yet?
Say this with a little bit of playfulness and then realizing maybe not the best idea.

DMaster: The man’s eyes bulge and his face flushes
MAN: YOU! What do you think you are doing, I told you…
He lunges for you, only to have Thorin stop him.
THOR: This is the Duke of Camerondale, you will mind your manners sir!
The undertaker looks at him, wide eyes, then back to you.

Vulcuran: VUL: My apologies sir. This was not my intent.
Nod to him.

DMaster: Thorin calms him down. You both head in through the lighter smoke. The way from the double doors to the door down, looks to be trashed, ripped carpet, mud, dirt, water, smoke. You both make it down to the wide hallway, a few guards still there picking up a bucket or two and bringing up burnt towels or debris. The funeral director comes down, and it looks as though he is about to cry.
THOR: Do you have records of who was kept where in that room?
He points to the cold storage. The director nods his head slowly.
THOR: Snap out of it. We need your assistance.
MAN: I have to go back to my home, I take them with me, for reasons such as this.
The man heads back upstairs to retrieve the records.

Vulcuran: I will look around to see if anything is out of place. Look into the other rooms.

DMaster: You glance in and for the most part they are untouched. The damage was mostly in the storage area and it held the fire well, because of its construction. After a glance into the preparation room, something catches your eye.

Vulcuran: Walk in and look, very carefully.

DMaster: The room is fairly big, 25ft x 40ft in length. Tables, towels and such here, things that are needed for preparing the dead. But there is a faint reflection from the sconces and lanterns lit. It appears to be another wire. It is sitting at the basement entrance way out of the morgue, bottom of the stairs.

Vulcuran: Examine it closely,
VUL: No one come in this room, do you hear me, no one!

DMaster: Thorin sticks his head in, looks your way.
THOR: No? Ok!
After further examination there are metal bolts in each wall, with holes drilled in the end, hooked together with a wire. It looks as though there is a vial, with another wire leading to it. Ready to trigger once someone walked through it. Looks and smells like a stink potion.

Vulcuran: VUL: Glad we didn’t hit that one.
Look it over again, then head back to Thorin out in the hallway.

DMaster: The guards are crowded down the middle of the hallway up the stairs, looks like they are daisy chaining the bodies out.

Vulcuran: Walk to Thorin
VUL: There is an untriggered trap in there. I want to keep it untouched for further investigation.

DMaster: Just then you hear what seems like a door slamming shut. It came from behind you and the room.

Vulcuran: Eyes bulge
VUL: NO! Don’t come down this…

DMaster: It was too late, the funeral director made it to the bottom of the stairs. The wire triggers and wraps his legs. He goes sprawling on the floor, books and notes sliding across the room. A distinctive smash of a bottle is heard.

Vulcuran: Turn and run out.
VUL: Make haste, a stink potion just dropped in that room

DMaster: You can hear the undertaker screaming in frustration and then start to cough uncontrollably. You can already start to smell the rancid scent.

Vulcuran: Give Thorin a look.
VUL: We need to leave now.

DMaster: He nods his head.
THOR: Everyone, drop what you are doing, head out, now, Make haste.
The two of you bring up the rear, get to the top and close the door. You both walk outside, exchanging glances and almost chuckling.

Vulcuran: VUL: The undertaker… well he is not having a good day.

DMaster: After about a half hour, the smell clears enough to deal with it. The rest of the bodies are beginning to be pulled again. The undertaker finally makes it out and everyone avoids him, it is worse than a family of Skunks. Thorin gets the documents and you figure out; the body it was trying to burn initially, was the latest body that was found just outside the gates.

Vulcuran: VUL: Weird, why would they want to do that. If it is, who I think it is, this was one hell of a costly operation.

DMaster: Thorin gives you a look, and back to the book. Then nods his head.
THOR: Little to no question, that was the body. Someone trying to cover something up? I mean the word is out essentially it probably was a…

Vulcuran: Elbow him in the gut. Give him a look.

DMaster: THOR: Ouch!
He doubles over a little then looks at you.
THOR: Probably, an accident with his cart, or something…
Thorin trails off giving you a sharp look. A guard walks up to you.

Vulcuran: VUL: Guard, report.

DMaster: GUARD: The King needs to speak with you forthwith, M’Lord.

Vulcuran: Nod my head.
VUL: Tell him I am on my way.

DMaster: Thorin looks at you and nods his head
THOR: I got it from here Vulc, go.

Vulcuran: Nod to him, make sure I have my sword and head to the Castle.