Play@YSDC

"Me. Do."

True to his word, Gog smashes his mighty fists into the rock wall, apparently oblivious to the bruising and bleeding this causes to his huge hands. The cavern echoes with the sound of his colossal blows. After some time has passed, this ceases, to be replaced by the sound of the giant's heavy breathing, this task being somewhat difficult even for one of his strength. Mixed with this, as expected, is the sound of many serpents hissing. Yet another sound mixes with these, one of a much more pleasing nature. It is a woman's voice, low and sweet, speaking in a way that is half-chanting and half-singing, in a language that the educated Doctor North will surely know to be ancient Greek, and most likely recognize as one of the most famous lyrics of the greatest poetess of that time and place, which may be rendered, if only in weak and tepid fashion, into the English tongue thus:

Again love, the limb-loosener, rattles me
bittersweet,
irresistible,
a crawling beast.
As a wind in the mountains
assaults an oak,
Love shook my breast.

Judging by a heavy sigh he produces, Gog appears to be entranced by the voice, although he can certainly not understand it.

"Woman . . ." he says, in a voice less booming than usual.
The woman continues to croon affectionate words in the Attic tongue to the giant, who can be heard laughing in delight. His heavy footsteps are heard walking in the direction of her voice slowly.

Using the giant’s footsteps and laughter, a blindfolded Lepus heads towards the woman’s voice, mirrored disk held aloft so that it might catch her reflection.

"Keep your eyes closed, Gog," cautions William, gripping his sword.

"Not woman, Gog!" says Henry as he too advances, using the cane to feel his way as well as the sounds for guidance. "Monster! Stay back from it, and remember not to look! Remember all those statues? That's what happens to people who look at it! They turn to stone!"

Behind, Vincent speaks a rapid incantation in an attempt to Beguile the giant into heeding their words of warning.

Rooter wrote:Behind, Vincent speaks a rapid incantation in an attempt to Beguile the giant into heeding their words of warning.

As if, somewhere deep within his thick skull, Gog somehow realizes the wisdom of this warning, he ceases his march forward toward the tempting voice, judging by the way his booming footsteps cease to echo within the cavern.

"Me. No. Look."

The hissing sound which has always been present grows more frenzied, as of an animal deprived of its prize.

jp1885 wrote:
Using the giant’s footsteps and laughter, a blindfolded Lepus heads towards the woman’s voice, mirrored disk held aloft so that it might catch her reflection.

Sightless as he is, it appears that the serpentine hissing is enough of a clue to direct Lepus toward his intended target. The hissing sound ceases, to be replaced with a woman's scream, which cuts off suddenly, to be followed by a crashing noise.

Assuming that the scream and crashing sound heralds success, Lepus risks a peek from under his blindfold.

"Be you vanquished, oh foul creature? Eh?"

"Well done!" says Henry, feeling around for the Gorgon with his cane to see if she has truly turned to stone.

The investigators discover that, true to the tales of the ancients, the creature has been, so to speak, hoist with her own petard. What appears to be an unusually fine, if macabre, statue of a woman in the simple robes of a Grecian lady of the age of heroes, albeit one with serpents for hair, lies upon the ground, an expression of hate and terror upon her marble face. Bending down as low as he can from his great height, Gog strokes her alabaster cheek with surprising tenderness for one of such great stature.

"Pretty. Pretty."

Capering a little, Lepus chortles.

“She be yours forever oh giant. Now let us inspect the Gorgon’s lair, yesno?”

He will search the chamber for anything of interest.

"Indeed," says Henry, removing his blindfold now that it is safe to look upon the Gorgon and helps in the search. "It is okay to look now. Let us see what else we can find. Then we will need to go through the other door. The other object we found is the weapon we need to slay whatever is making that clicking noise."

It was, perhaps, not the most fortunate of ideas to investigate the lair of the Gorgon, for it appears that the the searching of the adventurers has stirred into action a nest of those creatures associated with the slain monster; to wit, venomous serpents, such as the one which Cleopatra brought to her bosom as her final action.
Despite this error in strategy, it seems that Fortune has partly smiled upon the party, as there is only one viper to be found in the nest, coiled and ready to strike in defense of the many eggs she has evidently recently brought into the world.
With the speed and accuracy with which Odysseus was said to wield his bow, the viper strikes at Gog, perhaps simply because he is the largest target, sinking her fangs deep into the giant's ankle. The huge man howls with pain unashamedly.
Bleeding profusely from his wound -- which may be a blessing in disguise, as it could serve to wash away the serpent's natural poisons -- Gog grows red with fury and attempts to stomp upon the viper with his uninjured foot.
The wily creature scurries out of range, avoiding the giant's step, which crashes into the ground with a loud boom. She prepares to attack the intruders again.

“Mayhap we should leave yon serpent to it’s nest, yesno? An amulet protects old Lepus from poisons. Get behind me, hm?”

Shielding his companions, the wanderer removes his ragged coat, ready to confound the snake should it pounce.

DEX 15 if required,[dice]0[/dice]

"Yes, we must withdraw, Gog," says Henry, ushering the giant behind Lepus and toward the chamber entrance. "She is only defending her eggs, as any mother would. If we leave her alone, she will return the favour. Come, let me see to your wound."

The movement of Lepus's coat, done with the grace of those bold Spaniards who battle bulls for the entertainment of cheering crowds, serves to protect the party as they make a careful withdrawal.

Once they're safe from the snake, Henry applies his wondrous healing device to Gog again to heal his wound. They'll need the giant at full strength in the next battle.

"The disk proved effective against the gorgon," says William. "So it is likely the other beast will be one susceptible to its bladed partber. Unfortunately, defeating the gorgon does not seem to have brought us closer to opening the door."

"Going by the verse," says Henry, "I think the door will open automatically when the foes in both secret rooms have been defeated. Whoever is the most agile among us should wield the bladed weapon. Though as a physician I have a steady hand, that is probably not me."

"I shall essay it," says William. He wraps some cloth around his hand before gripping the base of the object.

OOC:   Lepus has the highest Dex at 15 - William has 12 with +1 from Soldier.