Chapter 330: The Red Chapel

Chapter 330: The Red Chapel

The sound of a pipe organ swelled, accompanied by the strange sound of a hundred ghouls forcing their deformed throats to provide a chorus of chanting to go along with the deep rumblings of the organ. Huge lamps dangled from the ceiling on chains, their red glow growing each second as the music swelled. The ghouls seated in rotting pews or sprawled on the floor stood up and began moving toward the group of humans that had rudely interrupted the proceedings. The choir in the loft above kept up their chant and hoped there would be enough left for them to have a snack.

The group in the center of the room quickly sorted themselves into a defensive formation, with Ben and Suzette in the center and Ozzy standing between Layla and Billy. But the expected charge didn't come. Over two hundred ghouls formed a circle around them, humming and swaying in time with the sounds coming from the organ and the choir.

This gave Ben time to appreciate the décor. "I don't believe our guide to this level was the only churchman who lives down here. This rivals some of the biggest cathedrals I've seen, especially regarding tackiness and an over-use of the color red." Stone buttresses arched upward, supporting a roof painted with scenes of sharp-toothed cherubs terrorizing peasants while overhead, angels with red eyes and swords dripping with gore watched with approval. Rotting teakwood antiques were crumbling to dust, and rotted red rugs covered the stained stone flooring. Their entrance was through a circular area of the missing ceiling, and their landing area was a stone circle 20' in diameter and a foot thick, made of dark red stone. Nearby was a pile of broken stone, some carved with parts of runes. The ghouls had partially put the pieces in order, like a gigantic jigsaw puzzle.

Red velvet, ' golden' ornaments and chains created a gaudy, overdone look everywhere. The gold showed a tarnish and a green tint that true gold would never have. The ghouls matched the setting. Most of their skin was gone, showing bloody muscle underneath, especially on their heads. Huge oversized fangs gave them the look of two-legged piranhas. Long jagged claws made their hands look comically large and horribly dangerous. Each was clothed in the rags of a hooded red robe. Suzette stared at the closest until she could identify its level.

Squirmie was hovering over Rolly.

Suzette yelled at her. "Maybe a little info from the HR department? What the hell are we facing? I'm having trouble identifying them."

Identity is a pale substitute for the senses of a predator! Assess Prey is much better.>

Rolly petted her wing. "Now, now, pretty bug. Not everyone has all the levels we do, especially not when we work together. A good, Fearless Leader passes on helpful information to the troops."

Rawhead Ghouls, with 2000 Health each, low mitigation, and avoidance balanced by hyper-aggression and increased damage. The only reason they aren't attacking is because they are awaiting their swarm leader to give the command.>

A figure appeared on a dais at the room's end as if on cue. It was as close to ten feet tall and clad in a robe of much finer quality than the other ghouls. It spoke in a loud, low voice as it raised its clawed hands toward the ceiling. "Is it not as I foretold? Once the blood altar was carved, we had only to wait, and the living would come to us, bringing their fresh blood in the quantities we needed to anoint the Blood Altar and carve the runes that will give us power in the city. Not even the Baron will stand against us!"

A voice from the ceiling made Sartorius look upward. "Just a small point I'd like to bring up. If you would be so kind as to look closely at the handsome man and lovely woman in the black and red colors adorned with the heraldry of the Baron and Baroness of Gadobhra, you'll see that you owe me a bonus for sending you a present."

The huge ghoul stared in amazement and then laughed. "Ah, priest, you did well. Indeed, I will owe you a little extra. A leg from each?"

"Thank you, that will go well with the wine. I look forward to a lovely battle. But don't mind me, I'm going to find a safer spot to watch from; these tiles crumble so easily. I look forward to the rest of your rousing sermon." He scrambled away from the opening as a dozen flagstones came loose from the edge.

"As you should, this will be one of my best! It's not often I have the nobility I am ranting against show up for the sermon in person." He paused, raised his arms, and spoke to the assembled undead. "My friends...nay, let us be truthful, for are we not related by the blood we have drank together? Let us come together as a family. And if one member of the family is wronged, is it not an assault against the entire family? I can see it in your eyes and drooling mouths that you agree with me. We have repeatedly sought peaceful discourse with the Baron and his hateful minions, only to be rebuked. Why only a short time ago, we sent a diplomat, the esteemed Bone Gnawer. And how was he met? The Baron and his bloody Butcher destroyed him for no reason! We have only to look back over the years..." his voice droned on and on while the ghouls watched.

Billy took out a cigar and lit it. "He reminds me of Vern in some ways. More eloquent, and frankly, he's better dressed."

As the two ghouls conversed, Suzette was busy, on her hands and knees, reaching through the legs of the rest of the group, quickly sketching runes in a tight circle. She went around once and added another layer beyond that when Sartorius was still ranting. "Be careful of the circle; I only have time to draw these in charcoal. And It's not going to last long, so make it count. Slowly she fed mana into the spell. The circle around them started to glow as the Hermetic Seal formed. Suzette had been carving the same runes in stone at Rowan Keep for months in the huge circle that would run around the base of the keep's walls. While part of the magic depended on the runes being drawn or carved correctly, more turned on the mage's knowledge of the runes and how well they could hold them in their mind. After carving thousands of runes, Suzette was able to create a charcoal sketch of a Hermetic Seal in only a minute, something which would take most mages hours.

The nearest rawheads became nervous, some pointing at the circle and snarling as Sartorius droned on and on. Finally, it realized what was happening and became annoyed. It looked down from his raised position and screamed at the group of humans in the center of his chapel. The ghoul's face deformed as its fangs grew larger. "If you don't appreciate a few extra moments of life, we can cut this short. Tear out their hearts!" The ghouls leaped forward and were met with sprays of fire and magic. Ozzy had been holding as much heat as he could in preparation. As the ghouls charged, he sprayed them with Butcher's Breath, doing 800 points of damage. The burning ghouls hit Suzette's barrier and rebounded. Ozzy took another breath and sent more fire at the fifty ghouls in his arc of fire. Their robes burned, adding to the heat. Only a few collapsed, but most of them were near death.

For destroying 200 Rawhead Ghouls of the Red Chapel, interrupting the Ritual of Blood, and slaying Sartorius the Red, each warrior is rewarded with the following:

30 Core Skill Points

5000 Boss Experience Points

The Title: Ghoulslayer, which grants immunity to infections or diseases caused by wounds from the undead.

Increased reputation with Hungrytown, and Mama Laveau

Baroness Layla and Baron William have attained Level 10 and qualified for the Third Tier. (Or you can stick around awhile and work on those abominable skill levels.)

An appropriately gaudy chest awaits you outside the dungeon with some tacky souvenirs of your visit!

Billy packed Layla over to the group. She was knocked out and had broken bones but was alive. Ben and Suzette did what they could to heal the group's wounds, but everyone was low on mana and stamina. Rolly and Squirmie looked like their normal selves and were nearly asleep.

From the ceiling, the sound of clapping came to them. The priest was sitting on the edge of the hole in the ceiling. "Well done. I had faith that you could do the job, but I'm so often disappointed. For once, my faith is rewarded. I'm certain you are anxious to leave this lovely area, which is wise, that was only one of the ghoulish tribes that inhabit this place, not to mention that the Dread Wolves are about to take their puppies out for a walk. They normally chew on stray bones and lone ghouls but will appreciate fresh meat."

Billy yelled up at him. "You're awful friendly for someone that pushed us into a trap."

The Priest looked affronted. "Pushed? Trapped? Why my good baron, I told no lies. You wanted to get to the Red Chapel, and I gave you precise directions that would lead you there. I admit things got messy, but that's only one way to look at it. What is that clever saying you have?: 'It's all about the bottom line.' You gained much-needed experience, you've asserted your domination over the undead, gained some petty revenge, scored a windfall of points, and accomplished your goals. The bottom line looks pretty good from where I'm sitting."

Billy grumbled a bit. Ozzy yelled up. "And what about your goals? You had a nice picnic and wine, were entertained, and I assume we took out a rival boss, making your job easier. Things have to look good from your end as well. At least until Billy finds a way back up there."

"Well spoken, Butcher. My job is simpler, for now. Sartorius was growing too powerful. But I worry about someone claiming the Blood Altar. You wouldn't mind destroying it, would you? I'd consider it a favor."

Billy crossed his arms. "Nope. I have a shopping list, and that chunk of rock lets me cross an item off it. It will take some work, but a dozen strong workers and some block and tackle will hoist the thing up to the next level, and then we'll bulldoze a path to the top."

"No! That will be horrible! You'll disturb the bone piles, rile up the tribes, and create such a mess. I'll be cleaning up after you for years, to say nothing of restacking the bones properly." The Priest was standing and looked agitated. "Barons are always so difficult. Luckily, I know of a Sisyphean solution to the problem." There was a grinding sound from a wall as stones shifted. A large section of rotted red-velvet curtains fell away to reveal a broad staircase. "There. I'm sure your brawny butcher and his helpers will have no problem rolling that stone up to the top of the dungeon.

Ozzy got his fingers under the round stone slab and heaved. It was heavy! "Holy shit! What kind of rock is this?" He got it upright and stable with Rolly's help.

"Why, the finest Red Granite, carved from the third tier of rocky strata that lies below us, down where the deep-ones sleep. It will take ages for anyone to replace it. I'd estimate it weighs barely 45 tons. Just keep a good attitude and don't let it roll back down on you. The top is only five stories above you."

In the distance, a wolf howled. Suzette went to help Rolly keep the slab upright as Ozzy lifted up each stair. Billy was assisting Layla and Squirmie scouted ahead. From behind them came the Priest's cheery voice. "Don't worry, I'll keep the puppies busy until you reach the top."