The next morning is overcast but still mild.
An hour after breakfast finds you back in the dungeon...in the chamber where you last battled the lurker above.
Sasha blushes and then shudders as she passes the site ...
Illyana pats Sasha on the shoulder. "You're still alive, remember? Try to keep calm, alright?"
She follows the leaders, gripping her staff tightly and staying alert ...
Raz looks toward Farad and Illyana, waiting for someone to take the lead.
Farad smiles, glad to again be back in the dungeons. "Alright everyone, here we go again. Hopefully we'll be able to spend a little more time here than we did last time."
Farad looks at the room. "How about that door, J'Harast." Farad says, as he points to the one in the east wall closest to the entrance.
J'Harast checks his weapons, looks around and smiles. "Once more into the breach dear friends, once more."
He lets out a long breath, and begin to check the door, listening for noises and checking for traps.
Hearing nothing and detecting no traps, he opens the door.
Beyond is a 10' wide passage...stretching off for 60' and out of the range of your lights to the east.
Farad nods, "Lets follow it."
Raz nods and follows Farads lead...
Illyana looks around. "Are we done with this floor yet? I thought we were. I'm almost tempted to drop down the trapdoor we found, but getting back up could be a problem."
Unbeknownst to Illyana, you are already on the next level below the one she thinks she's on.
This passage runs for 110' and continues...but in the 110' - 120' section of the north wall is a door.
Looking beyond the door, the passage runs for 60' and continues. However, there is an intersection with a 30' wide passage running southwest, in the 20' - 30' section of the south wall, past the door.
J'Harast bends an ear at the door as you stroll past, but hears nothing.
Farad will look up and down the intersection, then continues along this passage.
To the southwest, the 30' wide passage runs for 40' on the right side...then that wall turns west. On the left side it runs for 45'...then that wall turns east. After the 15' point on the left wall is a 10' wide passage running southeast.
Going up to where you had previously mapped the eastbound passage, you see that it turns south before you. Looking around this corner, you see that it runs south for 50' as measured from the back wall. After that it ends at a wierd intersection: a 10' wide passage runs northwest and a 10' wide passage runs northeast.
You head down and take a look.
To the northwest, you see that this passage meets up with the 30' wide hallway that you looked down a few minutes ago.
To the northeast, the other passage runs for 40' and ends at a wall facing east.
Yawning Pillar leans against a wall and begins to nod off, a few seconds later a startled Pillar removes himself from the wall with a jump. Shaking his head he looks around suspiciously. "Is it my imagination or are we just starting slow this time?"
With a small grin on his face, Raz looks at Pillar and says, "Patience Pillar. All good things come to those who wait."
Farad ponders his map. "East is that way... " You see him scribbling away. "What madman created this place."
Everyone looks at Pillar.
After a moment, he nods to the northeast passage that ends in a wall. "Lets check this out, perhaps we'll find a secret door. If not, we'll go back to the thirty foot passage and follow it to where it opens up."
Going northeast and checking, you find no secret doors.
You head back and go southwest.
At the limit of where you had previously mapped, the passage turns west and becomes 10' wide. However, to the east is a 10' deep, triangular-shaped niche with a pair of monsters in it, ready to eat you. Big they are, with rubbery skin, long noses, and lots of claws and teeth.
They leap out at you...
Farad moves his sword to meet their charge, and begins an attack of his own. "Trolls maybe? Hobgoblins? Anyone recognize these beasts?"
Bel looks close and says, "I'm not sure but the one on the left looks a lot like Princess Sarah after she changed back from a troll. Might be a relative."
Illyana draws her two handed sword and steps forward. "I don't remember what these things are.. but I feel as though I should. Hopefully we won't need a magic weapon to hurt them.. Could be a troll."
J'Harast attacks, long sword and dagger.
"If they are trolls, be ready with oil and fire to burn their bodies."
"I have lantern oil, but I don't know if I want to use it on them."
Raz steps back out of the range of combat and wait to see if the fighters need any assistance.
Sasha backs up and stays out of the way.
Trolls they are, and they attack Farad, Illyana and J'Harast.
Farad draws first blood, as he gashes a troll-arm open for 13 hit points of damage. The wound immediately begins to close and heal. He in turn is clawed down his arm for 5 hit points of damage, as the monster snaps its teeth at Illyana. She responds by burying her blade in the monster's gut. Stomach and intestines hang out as she withdraws the sword...then they are sucked back in...
The second troll slashes J'Harast's leathers but nothing else, as he chops open a thigh. The troll's second claw attack does 7 hit points into him as he nicks it with his dagger. It misses with its bite.
Farad nails the first troll again with his sword and it drops...but as you watch the wounds continue to close...
J'Harast opens another nasty wound on the remaining troll as he dodges its lunging claws. His dagger misses by a long shot...but so does the troll's second swinging claw. His second sword attack nearly drops the monster...but not quite.
Illyana arrives to render assistance. Her sword flashes, the troll is beheaded and collapses to the floor.
But, as you watch, its wounds start to close...and a new head begins to grow out of the stump of its neck!
Seeing that magic is indeed in play, Raz yells out, "Step back towards me fighters!" and prepares to cast a sleep spell on the monsters.
"Sasha, get your staff lit. Someone, get oil ready. These are trolls, and we need the fire to kill them. Keep chopping them while they are down. Keep them down." yells J'Harast has he continues to keep attacking the creature, trying to keep his attacks centered on the chest and head.
"Already doing it ... " Sasha calls back, lighting her staff in the usual way .. wrapping oil-soaked canvas around it and all ...
"Raz, no need for the spell!"
Farad pauses long enough to draw forth two vials of oil. Pouring them over the bodies of the trolls, he motions for Sasha to light them up.
Farad then plunges his blade into the trolls until they are alight.
Realizing his mistake in judgement, Raz stops casting the sleep spell and waits to see what unfolds.
"I have extra oil if we need it. I suppose flint and steel will do just as nicely as Sasha's staff." Illyana helps Sasha light the trolls up.
Soon the trolls are in flames. By the time that they have been reduced to ashes they seem to be truly dead.
"Well done everyone it looks like we may want ot invest in all of us carrying a flask or two of oil though."
Kelar looks around the alcove that were hiding in. Apart from from a neat pile of troll-excrement, the place is barren.
Looking west down the passage, you see that it runs for 60' and on...so you pack up and head down there. It runs for an additional 60' on the north wall, 70' on the south...ending at a blank wall facing northwest.
You head down and poke about, but find nothing.
Bel inquires wether anyone needs a healing spell.
"Unless I have totally missed something, this is it for now unless we open another door. Thus lets go to the one we found on the north wall of the long east passage."
Farad tells J'Harast which way to go, and waving off any healing for the moment, is ready to move.
Opening that door, you discover a parallel passage on the other side. It is 10' wide. To the east, it runs for 60' and on. There is a door in the 40' - 50' section of the north wall.
To the west, it runs for 60' and on.
"Wagons, East!" says Farad.
"Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz" slumped against a far wall Pillar has fallen asleep.
Farad looks with disgust at the sleeping cleric. "Should we leave him here? I would have thought he would be excited about this... "
"Pillar," Illyana says softly. "Pillar, wake up." She looks around. "The only time someone fell asleep at one of my drills early on, we all walked out silently and left him there.. the poor boy nearly died of fright when he woke up. No one fell asleep after that again." She smiles. "Not that I would do that to him. I prefer the more direct approach."
With that, Illyana takes her sword and whaps Pillar with the flat of the blade across his legs just below his knees. When Pillar wakes up, Illyana acts like nothing happened.
Bouncing up with a startled expression on his face Pillar blinks a few times focuses on the people around him, a blank look spread across his face. "Oh right, yeah, lets go."
Heading east, you stop at the door and J'Harast listens at it while the rest of you look ahead. Beyond the door, the passage runs for another 60' and ends.
J'Harast reports that he hears low voices through the door. He cannot make out what they are saying, though.
Farad smiles. "Pillar, are you ready?" Farad nods for the door to be opened.
"Careful.. could be anything. Spell casters possibly." cautions Illyana.
Farad and J'Harast hit the door and it bursts open. Beyond is a room (20' X 30': 10' east, 10' west, 20' north). The north wall is a checkerboard of glowing red and green squares. You have no time to contemplate them, though, for confronting you are seven ghouls.
J'Harast will stand ready to attack once the clerics have taken a go at convincing these creatures to leave.
Sasha strides forward, holding her holy symbol in one hand and her lit staff in teh other.
"Begone wretched undead creatures .. by the power of Isis I command thee!"
"Huh? Wazzat?" they say, looking perplexed but still intent on your demise.
Poor Sasha.
"Pillar, want to give it a try?" If this doesn't work, Illyana will take the more direct approach and slam the door in the critters face.
Farad is already in the door, sword in hand, rushing the creatures and preparing to skewer them.
Illyana curses, holding her hand to her head. "Never mind we can all do the suicide thing." She shouts to Farad, "Just ignore the advantage we had by letting them come through the door one at a time, why don't you?"
Farad curses back. "Best to kill such evil quickly! And only a couple won't be turned I would bet."
Illyana mutters to herself, "If none are turned Farad will be chopped to bits.." She calls out, "You fool, they can paralyse you with a touch!"
"Us elves are a bit more resistant to such things..."
"In case you haven't noticed, not everyone in the party is an elf.. but that no longer matters." Illyana keeps swinging her sword around.
Bel responds, "Resistant to common sense and logic, yes I've noticed that about the few Elves I've known."
"We tried it your way once, and the things ran about and attacked us from the rear. Best to get their attention right now. I know I can handle the things."
"Illyana, switch places with Kalar, he is also an elf and has our resistance." says J'Harast.
"You can drag me out of the way if they paralize me.. otherwise I'll be fine."
Farad is just inside the room, while J'Harast and Illyana hold the door. Three of the horrible undead attack...one apiece.
Claws rake down the breastplate of Farad's armour to no avail. He in turn chops the ghoul down with a single stab...sending fresh blood and gore everywhere.
J'Harast dodges two claw attacks and scores a glancing blow with Illyana's longsword, before missing with his dagger.
Illyana lunges gracefully with her old sword and opens an ugly gash down the creature's front...but not quite killing it. She is missed in turn.
"Dammit ... I'm so sick of this!" Sasha shouts, glaring at the monsters. She relights her staff and charges into the room.
Farad continues the assault, "Begone vermin! Back to the grave with you!"
He has two ghouls on him, now. Missing with his sword, the monster bites a chunk out of his ear for 2 hit points of damage. The second ghoul then trims his fingernails for 1 hit point of damage.
J'Harast continues his attack. He is clawed for 3 hit points of damage, before nailing the ghoul with his borrowed longsword...then he is bitten for 3 hit points. Finally, his dagger strikes home, nearly killing the monster.
"If you guys would like to step inside some of us could get at them also. Pillar are you asleep again there is a fight and you are just standing there with your jaw open." says Kelar, as he too moves in.
"Oh I suppose" getting his holy symbol ready Pillar says in a booming voice "Go away undead ghouls".
Turning to the rest of the party "Hey do you think it will work?".
"Not likely!" say the monsters, laughing at him.
Aldarin rushes forward to attack also, "Foul undead, taste my steel."
Illyana finishes another ghoul off next, as Sasha squares off with a new one. The ghoul yanks out a handful of her lusterous red hair, doing 1 hit point of damage in the process as she whaps it on the head with her stave. It in turn bites her on the wrist for 3 more hit points.
Checking up on Kelar, we see him get scratched for 2 hit points, then hickeyed on the neck for 1 more. He misses with his attacks.
J'Harast is clawed down the face for 2 more hit points before finally killing the offending ghoul.
Farad also polishes off his foe this round.
Aldarin, meanwhile, confronts the second ghoul that had been trying to get at Farad. His first swing connects, and more blood flies through the air. The ghoul claws at him for 3 hit points of damage.
Illyana moves over to help Sasha, and another ghoul drops post-haste.
Two remain, as you close in on them.
Aldarin and his ghoul trade misses, as Farad plunges his blade into its back and kills it. Kelar scores a good hit into the last ghoul, then is scratched for 2 more hit points. J'Harast helps him out, and a moment later the monster dies.
All of the monsters are dead.
Searching them, you discover that the bodies are warm...which is unusual for undead.
You find no treasure in the room...but those glowing panels on the north wall look interesting...
Illyana scratches her head. "That was unique.. were they really undead? Or just really nasty looking living creatures?" She looks over at Sasha. "Your hair looks fine, although it may need a trim here and there."
"Curious, very curious." mutter J'Harast. "I would ask that you all let me examine this area carefully before we proceed. Could someone watch the wall for changes in the patterns while I search. I have a feeling that these changing lights may be keyed to movement in the room."
The glowing panels are constant. They do not change.
J'Harast wipes his weapons off and places them back in their holders and begins a very careful search of the room. Starting at the door, working around the room counterclockwise. Floor, walls and ceiling, if he can.
Farad smiles. "Some sort of magic I would say..." He touches one of them...a green one.
Suddenly, the elf seems to change before your eyes. He seems to stand taller, more handsome and dashing. He appears to you to be more of a great leader...sort of like Bob Dole...or Margaret Thatcher...
Illyana frowns. "Farad, anything feel different?"
"Why yes, my dear. I feel quite well, thank you very much. Why don't you see for yourself and try one of the squares out yourself."
Sasha's mouth falls open in surprise and she stares at Farad. "Excuse me...?"
Farad shrugs. "Do what you will. It matters not at all to me. But you could use the extra charm the green tiles provide. Standing there with your mouth open as you are only makes you look the simpleton."
Sasha grins then, looking relieved. "Oh, for some reason I thought the green tile had changed you. I see now that is not the case."
J'Harast looks at Farad. "I think that he's been cursed. Farad, how do you feel?"
Farad points to the wall. "The green squares allow one a bit more influence over the common man... But I wonder if the red squares cancel that out, and are baneful, or if they help in a different way."
"Anyone care to try?"
Bel pulls out his hammer and says, "Anyone who makes a move toward a tile and they get it in the back of the head. Farad one more word and I nail you in the mouth. Anyone have a dispel handy or a banish...Pillar, Sasha."
Farad looks at Bel.
"Come come now Bel. What has gotten into you. The tiles, at least the green ones, are beneficial. There is no need to use violence here. These others can make up their own minds. They do not need you to make it for them."
"Bel, how can you be so sure. It sounds like Farad is ok, even though he is a little conservative for my tastes." asks J'Harast.
Farad looks at his formerly nicotine stained fingers and raps them to his head. "Bel, you are making a mistake. Like every other liberal I know, you have a program that you want to force on people because you care for them. But you don't give them a choice in the matter, and the results are always the same. Mediocrity is the result, and you don't care if your program actually helps them or not, so long as you try. Take a chance. Free enterprise is what we are about here. Adventurers are what made this country what it is today... burning the midnight oil across the fruited plain. And did we get our money and gold by accepting government handouts or living off the public dole? No! We took a chance and it paid off. That is why we are the greatest nation on the earth today!
"Thus, J'Harast. I won't tell you to touch the tile or not. I'll let you choose to do as you see fit. But I won't threaten to shut you up or force your hand like Bel here if I disagree."
Bel growls at Farad and says, "Since when have you cared about what anyone thinks or needs other than yourself and your quests. Any time as radical a change occurrs in someone as has happened to you I am suspicious. And why do we need to try it now? We can examine things, discuss, analyse and then test them if we feel like it. When someone trys to hurry you along it usually means they have an agenda, usually one they wrap in appearances of glory or adventure. I repeat WHY DO WE HAVE TO TEST THE TILES NOW? Their not going anywhere. To quote many wise people, "When something seems to good to be true, it usually is and you can't get something for nothing". What is the cost of your change?"
Farad smiles. "Now you are making some sense. We don't have to test them now. But I chose to do so, and didn't threaten anyone here as you have done. As for the cost of my change, I do not know. It is not that great of one to me. I can feel that my voice has grown stonger, and I feel as if I have a better grasp of how to motivate people. But I have always had these things."
"Do as you see fit, but threaten us again, and I will run you through."
Grinning, Sasha reaches out and touches the red tile. Touching it, nothing obvious seems to happen.
Bel grabs Sasha by the collar and pulls her back out of reach of the tiles...but too late.
Raz looking very upset says, "Frigging politics....can't even escape them by adventuring!" Raz then gives Farad and Bel a very serious look..."Can it you two...and YOU Bel...if you lay one hand on anyone I'll blast you to oblivion!"
Bel says, "Raz, J'Harast, Pillar, Illyanna think, when would Sasha ever do anything as amateurish as touch an unexamined magical object that has already been demonstrted to have a drastic effect on people? She has every door checked before we enter. And when would she let Farad talk her into anything! She is an experienced, canny adventurer, what she has just done is the sign of a fool, or a rank amateur. Farad is the first, She is neither so she is not in her right mind."
Farad's charming smile belies the hostility in his voice. "Be careful with who you call the fool."
Farad stands there before Bel. "Unhand her and let her do as she pleases, while you still have a hand to do so with."
You can hear the confidence in his tone, and know he will carry out his threat. But he has made no reach for his weapon.
Farad turns to Pillar. "I don't think you've cast any spells today. Can you memorize an augury, and ask if touching the red tile is harmful?"
Bel says, "Wait a minute, let me cast a detect on the walls and people. It should give me an idea of what is going on." With that Bel starts to cast a detect magic.
Farad smiles. "Hmmm. I think we can say the wall is magical. My guess would be alteration magic. You'll probably not find out more than that."
J'Harast sighs, his face long and sad. "Well, well, well. We were doing so well. We were. It seemed that we might even be able to work together."
Farad has a disgusted look cross his face. He turns from Bel and begins searching the room.
"J'Harast, if you will check the end of this east passage while we wait for any secret doors."
"Aye, aye." replies the elf. "Bel, please let Sasha go. Farad, you say you are ok, and I believe you.
"When you are all finished, and have competed this bickering, please come and get me. I will be guarding the hall."
The elf turns to Sasha, his voice soft. "Please be careful, Sasha."
He then moves towards the door.
Illyana shakes her head. "I don't want anyone else touching the tiles - at least until we figure out exactly what it is they do. Farad claims it didn't do anything, but naturally we're going to doubt that since that is how curses usually work."
She looks around the room. "I don't need the fighting between anyone, not now. We'll just leave this room for now.. and perhaps later we can convince someone to help us identify the things - assuming that no one can do it now. Yuri can at least look over Farad.. if the effects are truely beneficial like he says, then I'm sure he won't mind a bit."
Farad smiles. "Not at all. Yuri is a shining example of all that is right in the world. It a shame more people can't be like him."
"SSPPPPPfffftft" Pillar snorts, "Oh yes all hail the wise and powerful, indeed a way to success. Lets go before someone turns into a frog".
Bel stops casting his spell.
Bel says, "Finally some sense. I will agree to not do anything if no one touches a tile until Yuri analyses Farad. If Farad passes I withdraw all objections."
Aldarin speaks up, "I suggest we leave the tiles until later, they don't look like they are going anywhere. Also, since Farad has volunteered to be the guinea pig, it will give us time to monitor him to see if the magic of the tiles have any side effects."
That little conflict settled, you leave the congoleum room.
J'Harast is at the end of the hall searching for secret doors, when suddenly a dollop of oil, followed by a cinder, drops on him, and he goes up in flames...for 8 hit points of damage.
And no...he does not find any secret doors.
Illyana scans the ceiling around J'Harast.
"Probably a vent hole in the roof. If you can find it, plug it up."
Farad nods to the smouldering J'Harast. "If you are ready, we'll go back down and see what's on the other end of the hall."
Bel whistles and says, "Hey J', you taken a few hits while we have been down here. Do you need a heal or are you still ok?"
"That," says J'Harast, "Is how not to find a trap. I would recommend that you do not try this at home, leave it to the thick skulled." J'harast taps his head.
Waving Bel off, "I'm fine, for now. Let's keep going."
Sasha goes to J'Harast, concern in her eyes. "Are you alright .. shall I heal you?"
"Actually that burn hurts more than I thought. Yes, please." the elf responds, quietly.
Sasha smiles gently. "And where does it hurt?" She touches his head lightly, "There?" She casts a healing spell on him.
J'Harast is healed for 6 hit points.
"Much better...Thank you." he says, returning Sasha's smile a twinkle in his eyes.
To Farad, J'Harast asks, "Where to next, navigator."
"Further down the hall, other direction."
"Aye Aye." replies the elf, and begins to head towards that direction, being more careful than before looking for traps, tripwires and pressure plates.
Raz comes running out of the room where you recently battled the ghouls.
"Everybody wait! We missed something important back there!", says Raz, "Those tiles are VERY important. I went back and studied them further....the green tile increases your charisma and the red increases your experience (level!) at the cost of your comliness." Raz then looks at the people who touched the tiles..."Why didn't you guys tell us what they did?"
Sasha frowns, "I did ... maybe you weren't listening ... " She grins.
Farad smiles, giving an oh so sweet look at Bel. "I did."
Farad goes back into the room and touches the red tile then.
Bel says, "Well that won't cost YOU anything."
Farad gains a level, loses a point of constitution, and drops dead of the system shock.
Sasha looks around .. eyeing Raz .. Bel ... Kelar ...
Illyana gives Sasha a strange look, but says nothing.
Raz is shocked beyond belief.."Oh no!....I didn't know..Farad!"...Raz then kneels down by Farad and stares up at the rest of the group, "Pillar?....Sasha?.....is there anything you can do?"
Bel, as quickly as he can, casts a heal on Farad and says, "There is no such thing as a free ride."
His heal has no effect.
Sasha looks stunned and casts a healing spell on him ...
"I don't know that this will do anything ... " She says helplessly after the casting, tears forming in her eyes.
It does not.
J'Harast looks down at the corpse. "Farad, we never got along, but I will miss you."
Turning to Illyana, "Do you think that we can ask your friends, the ones in the keep near here, to help. Or at Castle Yuri's. I do not know if we wish to risk another trip to Sandas, and we do not know anyone in the other town we have heard of."
Illyana's eyes go wide. "What?!? The fool, I knew there was a cost. Sometimes I wonder if people really listen to me. I warned them not to try it." She sighs and shakes her head, and walks to the door.
Illyana sighs. "Again we run to them? What would that accomplish, but to tell them that we can't handle ourselves? I've never asked Yuri if he has such a device, although it would not surprise me if he did. He wasn't home when we were there, and there is no telling when he will return."
She looks up at the wall. "I suppose we could always offer to them this accursed thing, powerful as is. They won't mind the chance at new power.. I for one will not touch it - not ever. Even if I knew for a fact that I would suffer no loss from it. Power is something earned, not given. The rest of you can do as you will." She then walks out into the hallway.
J'Harast looks at Illyanas back and then at everyone else. "Please wait here, I'll be back in a moment."
He then goes into the hall with Illyana and closes the door behind him.
Sasha steps up to the door. Winking at the others, she shamelessly listens at the door.
Grumbling Pillar sits down and cleans his weapon "We should kill something else not our party members..."
Casually, Kelar grabs Sasha and pulls her away form the door. "If he wanted you to hear he would have asked you to join him."
Sasha laughs, "I know that ... but I want to know ... " Though she lets Kelar pull her away from the door, pouting all the way.
"You know that is kind of cute...maybe you could use that on the next undead we meet. They will probably run away laughing."
Sasha blushes and looks as if she wants to slap Kelar, but them laughs instead.
Taking a step back "I did say it was cute. Don't need to get angry or anything."
"Are we sure that her touching that wall didn't affect her in some other way. She sure is getting testy about everything." Kelar says laughing.
"Testy?!" Sasha snaps, stamping her foot. "How would you like it if all your enemies made fun of the way you did magic or weilded your sword ... it's downright ... well ... something ... I hate those nasty things making fun of me!" Sasha replies, trying hard to be angry, but ending up laughing quite heartily.
"Oh never mind ... just wait though ... just wait ... I'll fix them ..." Sasha adds, grinning.
"You know .. it is very disheartening to be constantly insulted by creatures like that .. I don't undersstand it ... they don't seem to fear Isis here .. or perhaps I am simply not devout enough ... or something .." Sasha sighs.
"What could they be talking about? I hate not knowing ... I know it is rude to listen at doors and all .. but still .. " Sasha grumbles, though smiling.
"You know curiosity did kill the cat. Just wait I am sure when we need to know they will tell us."
Sasha nods, "You are right I suppose ... but still ... my mother always told me not to whisper in public .. that it was rude .. and while they aren't whispering exactly ... oh nevermind .. guess I'm just nosey .. but I really wish I knew what they were talking about .. "
Suddenly the door opens, and J'Harast and Illyana return.
Sasha walks up to them, looking from one to the other. "Well? What did you both talk about?" She asks, bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet, obviously impatient and very curious.
"Yes and ignorance of what your fellow party members are doing leads to betrayel, please enlighten us on your little conversation, before I get really angry". Visibly fuming Pillar picks up his flail and shield.
Next, Illyana leads Sasha out into the passage and the door closes again.
"Hey? What?" Sasha frowns, following Illyana out ...
After waiting for what seems like an interminable period for Sasha and Illyana to return, you finally open the door.
The two of them are standing there in the hall. Sasha seems to be at a loss for words, for once.
"Well let's get going. I hope someone else besides mister corpse here remembers how to get out." says Kelar. "Lets discuss changing jobs back at the keep. Farrad isn't getting any better by us discussing what we should actually be. No offense Sasha I think you do a wonderful job. Though having babies can be fun to at least the making of them anyway. Come lets get going."
"Let's go," says Illyana.
"Sure ... why not ... " Sasha replies, looking impatient and frustrated.
With a look of utter disbelief on his face Pillar's jaw drops wide open and he starts doing a impromptue impression of a blowfish.
"But... but.... there are so many monsters to kill... and so little time, we can't just keep going back to the castle every three seconds... Its embarassing". Looking a touch perturbed Pillar continues "I think we should at least bring something back other than a corpse to show of our exploits?"
Illyana loks at him.
"I suppose then when one of our supposed 'exploits' chases us out of here because we can't kill it you'll think to come back for the body? I'm not leaving Farad's body behind on the chance that some creature will come along and decide to make it his dinner!" She looks around the group. "It would help as well if you people listened to me sometimes as opposed to doing your own thing. I am tired of idiots getting themselves killed because someone refused to listen to my orders!" She glares at Pillar, "Go ahead, run around, kill things if you like. When you die your body will be food for whatever killed you! I am at least pulling Farad's body out of here since I don't want to carry it around with us down here. I was made the leader since no one else wanted the job, since no one else wanted to care. Until the rest of this group gets off its lazy ass and opposes me as a _unified_ group, I am in charge here."
"OOoo." says Pillar.
Raz grins and says, "Nice speech."
Bel stands up ram-rod straight, his right arm whips out at a 45 degree angle, palm down and flat and says, "Yahvol Mein Furher." And proceeds to follow Pillar and J'Harast out walking with his legs moving very stiffly forward and his arms in sync.
J'Harast rolls his eyes at Bel. "Bel, please stop that. Your attitude does not help the situation."
J'Harast looks around, "I will carry Farad's body when we are outside. If someone will carry him to the entrance, this way I will be able to scout our way back."
"Give me the worthless lump of meat I will carry it".
Pillar hefts up the body and waits impatiently to leave the dungeon.
And so you go marching out of the dungeon, out of the urinal, and back down through the woods to the road.
Apart from startling some rabbits along the way, you have no encounters.
It is very late in the evening when you arrive at Castle Yuri, but of course the fortress is alive with light: a mighty Bastion of Good, standing tall above the ever strengthening waves of evil which attempt to batter it.
"Yuri is back," says the guard to Illyana. "Did you want to see him? I think he's still awake."
"If possible, yes I would. I have a few questions I would like to ask him."
You soon find yourselves in Yuri's smoking room, where he sits before a roaring blaze holding his usual snifter of brandy.
He rises to greet you. He looks tired.
"Illyana and the rest of you!" he says warmly. Then, he spots the bundle which J'Harast holds. "Hmmm...a casualty?"
"Unfortuanetly yes, and another elf as well. We found a wall in the dungeon which raised our skills but at a cost of weakening something, and Farad turned out to be more frail than he appeared to be. I don't know if a rod would restore him, hey may not survive the process. Would such a device happen to be in your possession, or do we have to search out the others again?"
Leaping forward Pillar answers "Why yes in fact another one, some fool played with fire and fortunately got crisped. Maybe it will teach some wisdom... ". Turning to the rest of the party Pillar continues "I will let the others explain as they seem to view it as a boon rather than a bane".
Smirking wickedly Pillar moves back onto a wall and leans in some shadow, all you can see is a wide grin of pearly teeth.
Yuri eyes Pillar, or rather his cheshire cat-like grin, then looks at a servant, standing unobtrusively by the door.
"Where's Waldo?" he says. The servant hurries out.
Illyana glances at Pillar, quite unhappy. "Yet I suppose you in your infinite wisdom know better? You were the one who suggested we leave Farad's body behind and keep killing things."
"I don't know if you are deaf or just simple, what I said was that we shouldn't just return with the corpse... Treasure to pay for the resurrection would have been nice neh? Of course if you care to insult me again I will take this matter further". Flexing Pillar moves away from the wall "I do care for my fellow party members, but I don't see the point in trekking all the way to a dungeon encountering one item which trough some stupidity kills a member of our party and then having to trek back like whipped curs".
Getting up a full head of steam Pillar continues some more "If you are so simple you cannot make a distinction between me not wanted to leave a dungeon without some treasure or leaving the a corpse behind. Then I think you are a bit simple in the head".
"Well...you could leave a body behind while you continued hunting down evil to destroy," says Yuri, "As long as you can be sure that nothing will happen upon it and eat it during your absence."
"Which is the point Pillar refuses to acknowledge - we couldn't guarantee the safety of the body unless we carried it with us. If we were to lose a second party member, that would make a retreat far more difficult. When would you draw the line, Pillar? When there were too many dead for you to carry?"
J'Harast looks at Pillar and then turns to the paladin Yuri.
"Sir, forgive Pillar, he is 'touched' by the gods and by the bottle. It is late and we should all be getting to bed. In the morning, we can continue this discussion. For your hospitality, sir, I thank you, and would seek an audience with you."
'Not as touched as some it seems, at least I dont have a group of assasins hounding my steps, at least I havn't been embraced by death yet. Would you like to know why, because I dont mess with things I shouldn't and I cant be bothered pissing off my guild or church". Turning to Yuri he states "If I am rude forgive me but I speak honestly and I cant stand stupidity".
"It may be that you can't stand stupidity but you do not speak honestly. You have griped about getting into a fight since you rejoined this party...then when one apears you stand around and watch or more likely fall asleep. Than when one of our members died you decide that it would be more fun to leave him and go hunt something for you to kill. You were not at all looking for treasure you just wanted something to entertain you! It sounds good now but if I recall you said let us leave him and go kill something or something quite close."
"When have I lied?, I did not say leave him, that was something Illyana inferred, I was quite ready to carry the corpse and put it down when battle erupted".
"As soon as Farad is feeling up to speed again we should head back. As Pillar has pointed out many times now we didn't really gain anything on our last trip."
"Ohh and one more thing if anyone does what they did last time out by not following what Illyana said they will have to deal with me. I can understand people are curious but what some of you did was just plain stupid. And then some of the rest of us didn't help matters any by what we did to cope with the situation. If you have a problem with this to bad because I am sick of having every thing that is important be dealt with on an individual basis. If Illyana thinks it is dangerous and says leave it alone than do it. If she tells you to shut up than do it. She is the leader...she has that right."
Sasha blushes deeply. "I am ... sorry. I will ... well ... do better next time ... " She bows to Illyana, "Please forgive my rash actions, I will endeavor not to repeat them in the future."
"True she may have that right, and should such a situation arise it would be wise to follow one command. However please lets not make such decisions in private without talking to the rest of the party. I for one dont find it at all fair and I find it very rude, and dangerous"
"I made the decision myself, J'Harast said nothing to that affect to me. Neither did I mention it to Sasha. Had anyone else suggested such an idea, I would have mentioned it. Besides which, isn't it true that a body which needs to be raised has to be done rather quickly for the attempt to succeed? I don't know how long we could have carried his body around and have been safe at the same time."
"After all this talking I think I need a drink. Sasha would you like to accompany me for something a little stronger than milk?" concludes Kelar.
"Yes ... please!" Sasha replies, moving to stand next to Kelar.
"Nonsense," says Yuri, holding up his hand. "A matter such as this should be attended to as soon as possible. Who is it? Farad? The noble paladin-wannabe? We shall see if he can be resurrected. Then you can go to bed. In the morning we shall break our fast together and then you can be on your way."
"I also have a question concerning a few ghoul looking creatures which cannot be turned and surprisingly they are warm blooded. Do you have any idea what they could be?" asks Illyana.
"Psuedo-undead," says the paladin. "Living creatures that have evolved such that they resemble undead...but they aren't. They can still be nasty, though."
At this point the servant returns with Waldo, a cleric of Odin.
"Resurrect him, will you?" asks Yuri.
Waldo rakes out an ornate ivory rod, prays, waves it over the corpse which J'Harast still holds, and stands back.
The corpse wriggles.
Farad opens his eyes.
"Now that's better!" exclaims Yuri. "I think drinks are in order! What will you have? Sasha, your usual milk?"
Farad coughs. His body looks wracked by the experience. "Guess you were right, Bel, it does have a cost. But perhaps the gain was worth it."
Farad turns to the cleric. "I owe you my life. For an elf, that is quite a debt. How may I repay you?"
"Go forth and destroy evil wherever it lurks!" says Yuri, puffing out his chest. "Just try not to get killed again, that's all! When you have earned some money, a donation to Odin would be appreciated."
Raz smiles brightly, "Welcome back Farad!"
Bel starts to say something, then decides not to and says, "I am a permanent pessimist but it is your decision. I acted that way because it appearred to me that you were deliberatly influencing people to touch the tiles and not saying why. That wasn't like you and I thought you were mind-controlled. Then when Sasha touched a tile I was sure of it. I still think something was screwy but hope that we will be a little more carefull around things like that in the future. And I repeat, it was your decision, and will still be next time, I just got upset when other people got involved. I am glad you are back farad, good fighters are hard to replace."
Farad smiles. "Thank you all."
Farad turns to Yuri. "And thank you. But I think I'll be the one having milk. This experience seems to have weakened my body heavily. I feel somewhat frail at the moment."
Sasha laughs, shaking her head. "Yuri ... if this were any other ... ah, nevermind. No, I would prefer some mead or wine thank you." Sasha replies.
She turns to regard Farad and softly asks, "How do you feel ... I'm glad Waldo was able to .. well, bring you back .. though you are insufferable at times." She smiles softly.
"Thank you, Yuri. A most generous offer." says Illyana.
"Ahhhh...pseudo-undead," says the paladin, remember Illyana's question. "No, they do not usually have the powers of the undead they mimic."
"What did they evolve from?" Sasha asks, finally breaking her pensive silence. "I mean ... are they created by something, or the result of some magics against living persons? I don't understand ... but they do share one thing with their cousins ... they make fun of me too." Sasha adds with a rueful laugh.
"I do not know where they came from," Yuri replies. "But I don't like them."
You head for the dining room, where a late dinner is being served.
Later, while eating, Farad confides to you. "I feel touched. Perhaps it was that my soul sailed into the heavens... perhaps it is that I have a new chance at life. Whatever the reason, I know my calling has been blessed by the gods. When I awoke today, I knew that if I only tried I could heal the sick, even curing disease. Such is the gift given to true paladins, and it has been granted to me."
"I just hope you don't start up a cult of people who purposely try to die to gain power. A rather strange notion, but people can believe anything if they try. Anyway, welcome back from your slumber, although I for one didn't think you were that frail." says Illyana.
Bel coughs and hits his chest as if he is having trouble swallowing something and says, "Touched, yea I'd say that's accurate. Pillar say something appropriate."
A small smile flits across Yuri's facial features.
Sasha regards Farad with some surprise, and perhaps a bit of trepidation.
She glances from Yuri to Farad and back again, frowning slightly. She grins then, "I suppose you will now be making us drink milk and all like Yuri?"
"Why do you suppose you would have been granted such a gift ... " Sasha asks after a while, looking pensive again.
Farad looks stunned. "Because of my high moral stance of course."
Sasha nods, still looking pensive. "I envy you your ... strength of character."
Sasha sighs heavily.
"You should. I am a direct agent of the gods. My justice is blessed by the High Powers. They have shown me the path, and I have followed it truly. Evil must be vanquished. I see now that some people can change. Perhaps this is why I could not heal before. But I see also that we can not coddle those who wish to turn away from darkness. Rather we must use fire. Through torment will the evil burn away and the light shine forth brighter than before. I will see J'Harast become something he only dreams about, a champion of goodness. He will die before he has a chance to fail. I will see these dungeons we explore clensed of evil. I will see that house blessed to the higher gods and rinsed of the stain that mars this city. I will eventually root out the wickedness of the thieves guild, and expose all who are their henchmen. The innkeep of the Drunken Dwarf will rue the day he turned from the light. So have the gods decreed."
You can almost hear the heavenly "Amen" being sung as Farad's charisma is in full force...
"Bravo!" says Yuri, lapping it all up. "May the gods be with you!"
Illyana starts to nod off part of the way through, but stays awake through it all. "Yuri repeats practically the same speech during prayers - not mentioning the dungeon mind you. I have enough trouble with this party to worry about every little evil detail."
Raz laughs quietly, but says nothing.
Aldarin says to Farad, "I'm always glad to know another person with the healing arts", smiling ever so slightly, "but oh what a cost...."
"I just hope you don't start up a cult of people who purposely try to die to gain power. A rather strange notion, but people can believe anything if they try. Anyway, welcome back from your slumber, although I for one didn't think you were that frail."
"To die for a cause can be one of the greatest things a person can do."
"Depends on the cause. I for one would rather survive if possible."
"I was not frail, at least not any more frail than the average man. But I have never had much in the way of endurance. A long race will see me tire, as will an even contest of arms that progresses longer than the first few minutes."
"Mine is the strength of speed. I am quick and can hit hard, but only for a short time."
"And the wall sapped something of what endurance I had from me. The raising did so yet again. I fear that if I die again, I shall not survive the process of returning."
"I'm surprised you returned this time. I didn't think your chances were very high. Perhaps we should ask Yuri about the wall, he may know something of it. We did learn that those undead we fought weren't truely dead so Sasha I suppose can rest easier now."
"Yes, the wall! A true gift of the gods it is!" Yuri replies. "But, no gift is free, as Farad has learned. There are a number of such powers in the world...I know of another such thing at a dungeon called Su El, to the north of Strabath...and I believe there is a magic pool at the Black Keep, north of Sandas in the Borderlands, too."
After you have eaten your fill you go to bed.