It is almost a pleasant walk through the snow back to Snurre's old lair.
Brennon had awakened very early, since he was bothered by his dreams. Steps outside to catch a breath of cool frigid air. Closing his eyes he traces the scar upon his face, trying not to remember the horrible dreams. Dreams of when he was a much younger apprentice. He clears his mind by completing some simple streches, and sits to meditate for a short stint. He sits that way in the quiet morning light until the others awaken. Feeling refreshed he prepares for the day's adventure.
Jon thinks, well the light may affect his newly acquired outfit even while invisible so takes out a normal cloak to keep the sunlight at bay.
Humphrey says, "I feel that I need just a bit more experience and I will be ready to train. I would like to gain that experience first before we go off to train."
Ayazin says, "Train? Hmm, I also feel like I need one more trip to the dungeon before I'm quite ready enough. Then I would be quite eager to go."
Brennon falls in line with the others, and follows them where they lead.
Aldarin asks, "Brennon, what skills do you possess? It may be helpful to know what each person's capabilities are before we run into trouble. I myself am a warrior-mage."
"I have arts in the realm of magic, at least my teacher taught me everything he knew. I was on my way to the city in search of someone more versed in the field to continue my teachngs, that was until I was waylaid here. "
"Downstairs, I guess," says Jo-owrn, and leads the way. Leslie turns invisible. Tabrina is already so. Laurie brings up the rear, with Rameen at her side.
You return to the bottom level, to the area where you battled the giants. This time, though, you head north to where it opens up instead of west to the cave where you rescued Brennon. This opens up into a fairly large cave (right wall runs east southeast for about 15', east-northeast for 10' (tunnel going southeast), east for 30' (tunnel going south at end), north for 40', northwest for about 15', west-southwest for 30', west for 20', west-northwest for about 20', south for 25' (pool in north corner, passage running west in 5' - 15' section), then close it up). The place is deserted, but mineral deposits in the walls seem to make the cave sparkle. Upon close inspection, though, you find nothing of value.
You check out the passages.
The southeast passage runs for about 15', then meets up with the tunnel that brought you north from the wyvern chamber. This passage continues east for about 15', then turning north and taking you back to the glittering cave (southeast corner).
You cross the cave and exit via the west passage.
This tunnel turns west-southwest after 10', and runs that way for 120' (tunnel running south in 15' - 20' section; tunnel running northwest in 40' - 50' section; tunnel running north in 85' - 95' section). At the end, it opens up into a cave, and a ruddy glow comes from there.
You check out the south passage, to find that it ends after 30'.
You continue down to the northwest passage. It runs in that direction for 10', then turns northeast. It runs northeast for 30' and ends.
You head down to the north passage. It runs roughly north for 30', then opens up into a cave to the northeast.
Blocking your way up there, though, are two ogres.
"The square of the hypoteneuse!" they bellow at you in ogrish, and move to attack.
"Death to those who invoke the name of that dread god!" Farad yells as he leaps forward to attack with his sword.
Humphrey flashes both swords and moves to meet the attack, "Here's the two remaining sides waiting for the right angle."
Ayazin draws his scimitar and guards the rear, as usual.
Jon - invisible - moves forward looking for an opportunity to backstab.
Raz, who hasn't bothered to turn invisible yet, looks at the orges and quickly decides to let the fighters handle them. He keeps out of the range of comabt for now and waits contently for the orges to be slaughtered.
Sharone shakes her head . "This will be messy "
She then looks around to make sure this is not a diversion for another attack.
Brennon steps closer to the wall of the hallway, trying to stay a little from a direct line of fire from the Ogres. He casts a magic missle at the closest to the group and then tries to cautiously move along the wall and try to find an opprotunity to get past the ogres to attack from behind.
His missile burns into the ogre moving against Farad.
Aldarin steps up behind the wall of fighters and lets loose a Color Spray into the faces of the rushing ogres as they near.
A tidal wave of clashing colours engulfs the ogres, sending them sprawling to the floor, unconscious.
Farad and Humphrey are on them in an instant, slashing their throats.
"RRRROAR!" you hear from up the passage, as voices yell out in a more traditional form of ogrish. Charging towards Farad and Humphrey down the north passage come three more ogres.
Suddenly the air is filled with darts, coming from the southwest.
A dart pierces Beth for 1 hit point of damage. She collapses to the floor, asleep.
Ayazin is struck by another for 3 hit points of damage. He yawns mightily, but fights off the waves of drowsiness that threaten to engulf him.
Moving towards you from that direction, you now see over a dozen drow, armed with small crossbows and shortswords. Their apparent leader, though, is wearing field plate armour.
Brennon presses himself closer to the wall, hoping it provides some shelter from the attack.
Sharone casts a 'prayer', then she drags Beth away from the action, remove the dart and try to awaken the sleeping beauty.
Jon moves aside to a safe area and puts on drow boots while drawing Geerzo. Hidden within his cloak he asks Geerzo quietly, "Can you see anyone invisible? I'm looking for the other possible drow leader."
"Sorry, bub, only you!" says the sword.
Farad turns to Humphrey. "Engage the drow. I can finish off the ogres by myself."
Humphrey does as Farad says and attacks the Drow.
The elf points his finger and sends a bolt of lightning down the passage and then runs down it and hopefully out of direct sight of the drow.
His bolt strikes all three of them, leaving two badly hurt and one a bit singed. Then they are on him, and Farad is whacked for 9 hit points of damage.
Aldarin spins and blasts a forked lightning bolt into the knot of drow, making sure one of the branches hits the drow in field plate.
His bolt strikes five of them, including the heavily armoured one, with no effect.
"Save your spells," says Jo-owrn, as he rushes forward.
Aldarin then pulls his sword and readies himself for melee while fumbling with a pouch at his belt.
Brennon stands amazed at the casting of the lightning bolts. Being a novice in the field, he hopes one day he might be able to do that, too.
Ayazin unleashes a mindblast at the drow and casts Barkskin in preparation for melee. He does not rush forward to meet the drow, but lets them advance toward him.
The drow do not seem to notice his psionic acrobatics.
Brennon tries to maintain position behind the fighters, trying to assist with Beth. He has his daggers drawn and will tries to help should any other ogres or drow manage to get past the fighters.
Laurie comes over and begins to cast a spell on Beth.
Suddenly it becomes darker around Sharone, as her continual light seems to be extinguished. At the same time, Humphrey and Jo-owrn light up, as they are faerie-fired.
The first of the drow reach you.
Humphrey is stabbed for 6 hit points. He replies, and nails his assailant.
Leslie suddenly appears in the air above another drow, as her longsword and dagger flash. She easily takes a drow down, and turns invisible again.
Jo-owrn connects with his bastard sword, as he dodges a stab by a drow shortsword.
Aldarin is cut for 4 hit points, but he lashes out with his flaming sword, nearly toppling the drow.
Laurie completes her spell, and Beth groans and awakens.
Jon moves to attack the drow leader in field plate from behind with Geerzo.
"Let's get them," says Kelar as he moves in with his new falchion and scimitar.
Ayazin goes after the nearest drow with his scimitar. A drow manages to miss him when everything indicates otherwise, as he in turn slices into his attacker.
Aldarin continues his assault upon the drow and attempts to flick one of his magical cards over the heads of the drow so as to summon some help on their backside.
None of the drow are affected.
The elf plunges his flame tongue into the drow in front of him, killing him. Another drow attacks immediately, though, but misses.
"Remember, save your spells for others. These guys won't notice it," states Kelar as he moves up to help.
He greets a drow with his new blade, opening up a nasty wound. The drow fans with his shortsword, but Kelar then misses with his scimitar.
"Woah," Beth says. "Thanks for pulling me out of that."
She stands up and tries to ascertain what's going on up ahead.
"I am glad to see you awake, and not more seriously injured," Brennon says.
Wiping the sleep from her eyes, Beth moves forward and fires a magic missile spell into whichever of the ogres on Farad currently appears more healthy.
The healthiest looking ogre drops dead, as Beth's missiles blast into it.
Using the wall, Brennon moves towards Farad.
Farad looks at Brennon. "I have these... help the others with the drow."
Brennon, hearing what Farad says, turns towards the others to help in fighting the drow. He moves towards the group, eyeing for any spellcasters. He throws a dagger at the leader, but it flies wide.
Suddenly Jon appears behind the leader as Geezo flashes, but the drow must have heard something, for he spins around with unnatural quickness and attacks also. Jon is scored for 8 hit points, as he opens up a wound on the leader. He is sliced again, though, for 9 hit points as Geezo is turned by his field plate. The leader - who is obviously hasted - presses his attack as Jon tries to back up. Jon is hit for another 5 hit points and then for 4 more, leaving him barely standing.
Farad easily cuts down one of the remaining ogres, while the last one fans.
Humphrey also continues fighting drow.
Still lit up like a christmas tree, the fighter sidesteps a drow blade, and kills the offending dark elf.
Beside him, Jo-owrn kills another.
Another drow attacks Humphrey, but misses.
Britan squares off against a drow, and carves a large chunk out of him.
Leslie nails a drow with her frost brand, killing it.
"Barf me out!" says a familiar voice, as the valley-girl demonette appears beside Sharone and gazes into her eyes.
Suddenly, Sharone thinks that this chick is her best friend.
"Let's like, go and paint our nails or something!" the demon suggests.
Sharone thinks thats a great idea and takes off her backpack to rumage around for her makeup.
"Beth or Farad kill that thing quick. She is going to probably do something we don't like with Sharone," says Kelar when he hears the voice.
He continues attacking the drow but if he gets a chance he will cast a magic missile spell at the demonette. The elf connects as the drow fans, but does not quite finish him off. Kelar then fans with his other weapon.
"Anybody want a bagel?" Beth asks. She casts Polymorph Other upon the demonette, trying to turn her into a bagel (raisin, toasted, with cream cheese).
The spell does not affect her.
Brennon will attack any drow that gets close to him with his dagger.
Jon tries to avoid battle with leader. His avoidance and parrying tactics fail, and he drops after being struck for 9 hit points of damage.
"Rameen, get him," commands Laurie, as Leslie suddenly appears over the drow leader, striking him twice.
The dwarf rushes forward to retreive the fallen elf.
Aldarin charges through the remaining drow to attack the leader on Jon. The drow that he was meleeing jumps after him, stabbing the elf for 3 hit points.
Farad tries to finish off the last ogre, and does so with ease.
He rushes back down the tunnel to join the rest of you.
Ayazin continues melee with the drow. The druid is gashed for 7 hit points as his blade also cuts into the drow. His wolf leaps at him but misses.
Humphrey keeps hacking away at another drow, and kills him immediately.
Beside him, Jo-owrn injures another, and Britan kills a third.
Sharone and the demon-girl turn and start strolling away, as Farad rounds the corner and glowers at the latter. However, his glare does not affect her, and he gets no indication that she is psionic.
The battle continues.
Jo-owrn finishes off his drow and looks around.
Aldarin takes 7 more hit points as he attacks the drow leader, who is concentrating on Leslie. He misses.
Kelar suffers 3 hit points as he again misses with both weapons. Britan rushes over to his aid and kills the offending drow.
Ayazin is again sliced for 5 hit points, before he chops down his attacking drow.
Humphrey turns to deal with the second drow that has been bothering him, and ends his life with a quick sword thrust.
The leader attacks Leslie with unnatural speed, as Rameen grabs Jon and drags him back to Laurie. His blade slices through the air at her but inexplicably misses. Her frost brand does not, and he is gravely wounded. He misses again, as she plunges her dagger into his eye and kills him.
Suddenly Tabrina appears and lights up the tunnel with a display of magic missiles, directed at the demonette, as Farad rushes her. They bounce off her. She tries again, and this time they get through, blazing into her back.
"Groty!" she exclaims, spinning around just in time to meet Farad's blade with her own.
Tabrina unloads a third spell, but the demon's magic resistance serves her well.
Farad is chopped by the demon's blade for 9 hit points of damage, then he chops into her with his own, and she drops dead.
Sharone's head clears.
One drow remains, and Aldarin turns on him with Kelar at his side. The elves press the attack, and the drow drops.
Laurie, meanwhile, has been tending to Jon. Before your eyes his body heals and becomes whole again.
Jon regains consciousness to find that he has been healed for all of his damage, save 2 hit points, courtesy of Laurie. All of the drow are dead, as are the ogres and the aludemon.
You search the bodies.
On the aludemon, you find that her leather halter top and shorts are very nice looking...
The ogres had no treasure. Nor did the drow, except for the leader. From him, you take his buckler, his field plate armour (elf-sized), and a book.
Leslie checks these items for magic, and indeed they are.
You go north, whence the ogres came.
After 30' there is a small cave (right wall runs east for 20', north for15', west for 30', and south to close). The place is littered with bones, but you find no treasure.
Laurie picks up a bone. It appears to be fresh-chewed.
"A friend of yours?" she asks Brennon.
You return to the scene of the battle agains the drow, and head southwest to the the cave where they came from.
It is quite a large place, and bisected by a river of lava, which explains the ruddy glow that you saw earlier (right wall runs north for 20', northeast for 20', northwest for 15', southwest for 40', north and out of sight; left wall runs south for 20', south-southeast for 20', south for 20', west for 90', west-southwest for 40', northwest for 20', northeast for 20', north-northeast for 40', northeast for 30' (passage running north-northwest in first 20'), then north-northwest out of sight.
The river of lava flows from the southwest to the northeast corners, and is some 30' - 40' wide. The lava bubbles continuously, and the place stinks of sulphur and heated rock. It is extremely hot in here. The ceiling is some 60' overhead. A rope bridge spans the river.
Now, the place is deserted.
Aldarin salvaged one of the Drow's cloak, a pair of boots that may fit him, and a short sword. He wrapped them all tightly in cloth and stowed them away.
Humphrey takes a few as well.
Ayazin says, "I believe I recognize this place from Jo'owrn's description. It it the entrance to the Underdark, yes? Then we have cleared the entire stronghold down to this point. I suggest we make this a good stopping place -- I recall that Humphrey wanted to train soon, and it would be prudent to recharge our spells before entering. This may be a very different sort of adventure before us, and we might want to prepare differently for it."
Jo-owrn nods, and points across the river of lava.
"That tunnel leads down into the underworld, all right," he says.
"This may be a good time to train and prepare," says Leslie.
As an aside to Farad, he says, "I noticed that you attacked that demoness psionically. Are demons particularly susceptible to mental attacks?"
Brennon picks up the book and examines the cover.
It is clearly a travelling spell book.
"Alas, poor Mikodin."
Laurie, however, is not finished with him.
"I will resurrect him."
She unhooks a rod from her belt and holds it over the bone. She closes her eyes and chants strange words.
Flesh begins to grow on the bone...with muscles, tendons, and more bones sprouting forth.
It is not a pretty sight, but you have seen worse.
The shape of a man takes form, and the body begins to cover itself with flesh.
Suddenly, it shivers and breathes.
The dead man returns to life, to find a priestess wearing the holy symbol of Tyr holding a rod over him. He is naked and cold, even though the air is hot in this cave.
"Well," says another woman, standing nearby, admiring the sight.
"By all the gods above," Brennon says never seeing anyone ever brought back from the dead before. "It is good to see you again, my friend."
There is quite a group of people present, though the formerly dead man recognises only Brennon amongst them.
"Your name is Mikodin, I am told?" inquires the priestess, putting the rod away.
"Maybe this is a good place to stop, and prepare for what lies ahead?" Brennon says. "I could stand to spend a few minutes memorizing a spell."
Jon agrees.
"Yeah. Let's stop for a bit."
Farad begins healing everyone fully. "I too could take some time to relearn my lightning bolt spell, but other than that its still early and we could keep travelling."
Ayazin says, "True, and I have all my spells. But Beth is out of polymorph, Brennon may be out of spells, and I'm sure Humphrey needs to train... and possibly Brennon and myself as well. In any case, my heart isn't set on it, but it does seem like a convenient stopping point."
The elf looks over at the group's leader, Jo'owrn. "Do you know anything about that form of demon? I had though all such beasts had mental abilities like my own, but apparently she did not."
Jo-owrn looks away from the just resurrected man.
"No, I don't know much about demonkind. Giants and such are my beat."
"I think she may have been an aludemon," says Leslie, who has spent considerably more time on the lower planes. "They are actually the result of a demon-human mating, I think."
Aldarin smiles, "Demon-human mating.... Now that's an interesting concept."
"Indeed..." says Leslie thoughtfully.
Farad looks disgusted. "Its a revolting concept. The mortal side of the bargain rarely survives to see their offspring."
Mikodin, nude and shivering despite the heat, speaks up, "I am glad you are all capable of debating the finer points of demon's habits, but I, for one, would appreciate any spare clothing any of you could spare. For some reason, i am somewhat chilled; a temporary discomfort, I am sure, but for modesty's sake, I think some clothes would be nice."
With that, Mikodin surveys the assembled group and waits hopefully for some clothes. Once some is provided, he continues, "I am Mikodin, as you all seem aware, a student of the martial arts. And who do I have the pleasure of speaking to?"
This last remark is made almost jovially, the clothing seeming to bouy Mikodin's spirits.
"I need to alter my spell list a bit, and some training wouldn't go astray," offers Sharone.
Jon says, "Sharone, could I try investigate the leather halter & shorts, please?"
Sharone looks strangely at Jon. " Elves do have some odd tendencies. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come..."
Jon asks, "Has anybody claimed/carrying the book or investigated it?"
He turns invisible again.
In the end, you decide to head back. You all pile into Leslie's portable hole, and when you pile out again you are somewhere else, courtesy of Tabrina and her teleport spell.
You are in a large temple, clearly devoted to Tyr, Laurie's patron.
The traveling spell book contains three spells: affect normal fires, protection from evil and detect evil.
Humphrey, who is on vacation, announces that he would like to train.
Farad gets around to replying to Ayazin.
"I have always believed my gifts were directly bestowed by the higher gods. It is a True Power granted to their faithful. But not to all... only those possessing the finest qualities can be so gifted. Those followers of lesser mind or ability also gain gifts, but of lesser skill. The paladin's ability to heal, for instance."
Aldarin yawns.
Ayazin, however, nods. "I have also seen my abilities as somehow divinely related, though it is strange that I have viewed them mostly as a curse rather than a blessing. I have one such ability -- levitation -- rather than your assortment of much more useful skills such as plane travel and healing. So perhaps these higher gods have smiled upon you and spat upon me in the same way."
"Since all things have balance, many minions of the lower planes also have such abilities, and servants gifted such as myself can fight them directly on this exalted level, where combat takes place much faster than physical reality can."
Leslie makes a funny gagging noise in the back of her throat.
"I am no stranger to mental combat -- my brothers taught me many techniques of offense and defense. But I have little experience with creatures of the lower planes. If mental combat can be used effectively against them, I shall be glad, and I will fight them that way more often. But it didn't appear to me that this girl from hell was affected."
Brennon will take the spell book, but will allow others to look at it if they want to.
Jon says, "I would like to learn the spells from the travelling book while the others train, if nobody minds. Where is the best place to study around here?"
"There are plenty of quiet rooms," says Laurie.
"Sure, I guess that is okay," Brennon says.
Brennon, after looking at what lies within the spellbook will put it away, pull his regular travelling spell book from his back pack, and take a few hours relearning his magic mislle spell. Then he will wait to find out what the others are planning next.
The priestess turns to Mikodin.
"I am Laurie, and I serve Tyr," she says by way of introduction. The motions to the dwarf, the other lady and the slightly built mage. "These people are Rameen, my henchman; Leslie, a ranger; and Tabrina, a mage."
Rameen is a dwarf, heavily armed and usually quiet. He tends to stay close to Laurie.
Leslie is a beautiful young woman, though she wears plate mail and gauntlets.
Tabrina - despite the name - is a man, though slender and with feminine mannerisms.
A male ranger - middle aged - also speaks. "My name's Jo-owrn. We're huntin' drow. Yer welcome to come along if you want."
You return Mikodin's clothes and equipment, which you picked up when you rescued Brennon.
"You know," says Leslie, eying the loot, "If none of you elven types are interested in that magic field plate, then I have a follower who could use it."
Humphrey requests a teleport back to the city of Sandas - the home base for this party - so that he can train. Raz also requests transport there, too...announcing that he has had enough of cold weather adventuring for awhile.