Finally the monster is beaten to the ground, and with a final puff of steam, it expires before your very eyes. The owl leaves Callum and disappears, while Callum falls into a heap on the floor.
Callum lies still and you can finally survey the room more fully. The stone sarcophagus sits proudly on its plinth and at its foot lies the decomposed body of a warrior, shield and spear still by its side. As you turn it over you notice there is a hand axe trapped under the body and lying under it are a numbers of gold coins in the remains of a pouch. Slightly closer inspection shows that both the shield and the hand axe seem to have weathered time better that the other items. Indeed the spear shaft almost collapses, it is so rotten, as you go to pick it up.
The metal monster sighs quietly with escaping steam, but the red glow continues to illuminate the room
As Callum slips into unconsciousness, his body seems to shrink to it's normal proportions and the horrible distortions vanish, leaving the true extent of his horrific burns and cuts visible.
Taking a deep breath, Elsbeth sheaths her weapon, rubbing her eyes. She watches as Callum collapses and her eyes widen. She rushes over to the fallen warrior, quickly kneeling by his side.
"Ye had to be taken over, didn't ye, bonny lad," she whispers. Placing her hands on him, she bows her head and prays.
CLW
Rolf watches as the spear shaft crumbles beneath his touch. He collects the shield and small axe before returning his attentions to the others. He smiles down at Elsbeth and waits patiently while she tends Callum. Once done, he says, "My thanks, Elsbeth. Please tend Callum and Madelyn."
Moving beside Peter, he shows the sage the shield. "Do you know anything of this?" he asks.
Elsbeth nods. "I had to do something," she whispers."
"Will he be alright," asks Edgar, concernedly of Elsbeth, as he peers down from atop the door, his curiosity about the owl forgotten.
Callum stirs slightly under Elsbeth's ministrations.
Peter is about to move into the small room with the others when Rolf fetches him the shield. He looks at the markings - a dark green background with a silver saltire - and appears to think for a moment or two. Finally he replies "They are not markings I am familiar with. However, I can look them up later if you like."
Kerim busies himself by holding Callum upright whilst Elsbeth works her magics upon him, quite thankful that the Barbarian dealt the metal beast a telling strike.
From his position he views the room in the dull red light. His eyes resting upon the glow.
With Callum propped against a wall, and the swords and shields etc covered by Rolf, Kerim moves off to investigate the fallen metal construct. He has out a variety of small tools for disarming traps, picking at the statue with them.
OOC: I am looking for a means to extract the source of the glow. Such a light source would be useful, and perhaps fetch a decent enough price or make a useful gift.
** EDITED December 28, 2001, 11:30 am **
Callum groans and staggers to his feet. "What was..." he starts, then looks around. "I just couldna stop myself." He points at the corpse. "It was him!"
He turns to Zhiri and speaks surprisingly softly. "You should have a care, lassie. Ye're a lucky one that I fell at the end there. Ye should try and no' put harm my way when the riastarthae is on me, for ye wouldna want me thinkin' ye an enemy!"
** EDITED December 28, 2001, 11:57 am **
"Yes, Peter, I would like that very much." Rolf says in response to Peter's offer to look up the heraldry markings of the shield later. But his attention is snared by the words of the staggering Callum. He moves to help support the warrior. "Callum, what do you mean, 'It was him!'?"
As Callum sits up, Edgar's agitation eases and he settles down atop the door.
"It was him ?" he echoes the warrior's words. "You mean the owl ?"
Your ship is at the quay. The earthworks are shown. The soldiers' camp is among the lines just above the quay. The lines themselves are the remains of banks and ditches.
Meeleek continues to talk to the guard, while Corellon stands by the side of the ship, wacthing his old shipmates unload.
The man drops Meeleek's coin into a pouch, and then replies. "I don't rightly know sir. I bin here two days like the rest, sir. I know there was giant living in that place over there." he says pointing to the earthworks. "But I ain't privvy to the Earl's Council, sir."