July 6th is another pleasantly mild day.
After breakfast, you plan out your actions. The ruin is about a half a mile away.
Aldarin turns toward MacTavish, "Do you know if these ruins are inhabited or ever were? "
McTavish takes out a pipe, presses tobacco into it, puts the end in his mouth and lights it.
"Used to be stuffed full of monsters," he says at last. "That's why the party I joined was exploring it. We cleaned it out...but that was 30 years ago. Who knows what's in it now..."
At the small brook, Humphrey remembering what Illyana said and fills up his water skins. He takes a quick swig.
"Hmm, this is good water. McTavish, have you been to this pool before, or know anyone who has. I was just wondering, what sort of different things can happen from drinking it? I hope it tastes good. As I said before, I'll be more than glad to be the first to take a drink."
"Well, yes I have been there," the dwarf replies. "Drinking from it makes you stronger and tougher...like me!"
Kelar says, "Okay just to get everything out in the open. Don't worry bout food or water. I have plenty and shouldn't run out unless something happens to me.
"McTavish what should we expect as in resistance to getting to the pool?"
McTavish shrugs.
"You've got me there. It's been 30 years since I last set foot in the dungeon."
Standing against a rock Pillar says "I say we go in, beat the crap out of some monsters, get to the pool, drink from the pool and get out".
Raz grins at Pillar.
"That's nice", he says, "Thank you for sharing that with us Pillar."
You then see Raz go over and collect some water from the stream...filling up one of his empty wineskins with it.
"I think he's right," says McTavish.
Farad laughs. "Sounds like a plan. McTavish, you know the route, lead on."
Farad takes his place near the front of the line, and makes sure his pouch with mapping materials is available.
You return to the path, and follow it along the ridgetop to the summit of Su El.
The peak is relatively free of trees, and you find that you have a commanding view of the surrounding region. To the west - the direction that you have come from - you see the line of the Canabar River as it meanders through the forest. It curves northeast...until it joins with a much larger river that flows down from out of the distant north, north-northwest of you and some 40 miles distant as the crow flies. At that point you can barely make out what looks to be a city...and a long bridge crossing the large river.
"The large river is the Mississippi," says McTavish. "What a stupid name. Glad I can't write...I'd never be able to spell it. The city is Derextar...it's a ruin. We'll be heading up that way and crossing the bridge into the Eastern Lands."
The Mississippi flows southeast and then south...passing some 40 miles east of Su El. At the nearest point, on this side, you can see another settlement on the shore of the river.
"Traton," says the dwarf, pointing. "Another ruin," he chuckles. "That was where we first met Yuri. He was poking around there hunting evil or something."
To the north, west and east of you, the forest stretches to the horizon. To the south, though, many miles away, the forest ends and you see grasslands. To the southeast, on the horizon, you see a range of mountains.
"The Galdan Mountains. Golgar is on the south side of them."
You turn your attentions to the ruin atop the summit. It is but a small, humble castle, 110' X 150', oriented east - west. It has three towers, each about 30' in diameter...two are at the northwest and southwest corners, respectively, and jut out an additional 10' from the main walls. The last is in the middle of the east wall, and is contained within the dimensions of the castle.
As you walk around the outside of the ruin, McTavish tells you a bit of its history.
"I guess you know that in Elven, Su El means the 'arrival mountain'," he says. "It's supposedly the place where greater men - that's your ancestors - " he adds to the humans present, "- Landed on Earth when they returned to colonise it many thousands of years past. It's a pretty stratiegic location...and many castles were built here over the millenia. This little place was the last one...built by some noble who claimed this area as his fief after Saltar fell 600-odd years ago. It was intended to protect the area from the orcs and barbarians who were sweeping down out of the north from Urguth.
"Meanwhile, my ancestors had delved some pretty deep mines into this hill. I don't know what they mined...that was long before my time."
There is but one official entrance into the ruin...a 10' wide gate passage in the middle of the west wall. It runs for 20' and ends where it opens out into the courtyard. The arch over the entrance has long-ago collapsed, and the ground is littered with rubble. The walls are 20' high.
Looking closer, you see many tracks in the dirt, leading into the courtyard.
"Orcies," McTavish says with a feral grin. "Shall we enter..?"
"Orcs? Any volunteers to see how many? Can someone tell by the ground?" asks Illyana.
Raz, looking doubtful, says "guess so."
"Lets just enter. They probably will hide from the likes of us," says Kelar. "Everyone be ready for anything is all I can suggest."
Humphrey smiles and continues quizzing McTavish about the pool:
"What I meant was, does it do anything else, like make one less quicker. Most dwarves do not care about quickness, but I would hate to become less dextrous, even though I would become stronger."
McTavish thinks. This is not easy for him.
"I think it makes you quicker, too," he says at last.
Farad laughs, "But perhaps less intelligent?"
Aldarin: "Can you recall enough of the interior to give us a rough idea how it is laid out?"
"Of course," McTavish replies, tapping his temple. "I have a photogenic memory. The dungeon has...ahhh...three levels. The first two are the dungeon areas for this castle...the bottom one is where the mines are.
"The pool is on the third level."
"It has been a while since you have been here. Things may have changed since then. I seriously doubt someone else would dig out a new level, but one never knows what could happen." cautions Illyana.
"Aye," replies the dwarf. "But monsters have a habit of moving back in..."
Pillar stares at the entrance "Hmmm lets kill... some orcs, and get to the pool, I have a feeling that too much dallience will only lead to a greater surprise".
Britan slowly looks all around and listens very carfully for any sound and then says, " Well Pillar right now I would perfer to be a little cautious as not to get surprised and over run by 100 orc's. But I am also Eager to get to this pool of power."
You walk through the entranceway and enter the courtyard. It measures 100' X 50' (20' north, 20' south, 100' east; doors in west wall, north and south ends; doors in north wall: 30' - 40', 50' - 60', 80' - 90' and 90' - 100' sections; doors in east wall, north and south ends; doors in south wall: 50' - 60' and 80' - 90' sections). The courtyard is deserted. Small heaps of stone and rubble lie scattered about.
McTavish looks about...lost in thought.
"30 years..." he mutters, then clears his throat and relights his pipe. "Stairs. We need to find the stairs into the dungeon. They're through this door," he says, heading for the door in the northwest corner.
Reaching it, he bashes it open. Beyond is a passage running north - south, 5' wide. To the north it runs for 25'...turning east after 20'. There is a door in the last 10' section of the east wall, and another small door in the last 10' section of the west wall. To the south it turns west in the next 10' section.
"Hmmm...south," he says, and goes and looks around the corner to the west. The passage immediately turns north again. You note some small holes in the south wall...through which you can see into the entrance passage outside. To the north, you see that the passage runs for 35' or so from the back wall...before ending at a rubble-strewn flight of stairs...curving upwards.
"Damn. Wrong direction," McTavish says, and turns back to explore in the other direction.
You return to the entrance door and continue north.
Looking around the corner to the east, you see that the passage continues for 40' and then ends. There is a door in the last 10' section of the south wall. McTavish pauses and thinks again...before opening the door at the corner.
Revealed is a room (20' X 30'), completely empty.
The dwarf is starting to get irritated...as he opens the door in the west wall. A small, semicircular-shaped store room is revealed. It is barren.
He turns and goes thundering down the east passage and bashes the door open. This leads into another empty room (20' X 20': 10' east, 20' south; doo in south wall, west corner). He charges across this room and opens the south door...revealing the courtyard.
McTavish growls.
"It's here somewhere," he says with a curse, before opening the next door to the east. Another empty room (20' X 20': door in north wall west corner; door in east wall south corner).
"Blast it!" he exclaims. "Someone's been and changed the place since I was here last!"
He opens the east door...revealing a dining hall (20' X 30': 20' north, 20' east; door in east wall south corner; door in south wall east corner). Two long tables run the length of this room. There are a few broken chairs in here as well.
Illyana looks around. "Has this place changed much? Or have you just been away a long time?"
She checks the counters.
"I left here in the spring of 1341," McTavish replies, before admitting, "Maybe my memory of the place ain't as good as I thought it was."
McTavish turns and opens the door in the north wall. Beyond is a landing (5' X 10', oriented east - west). To the east a flight of stairs goes up for a few feet, ending in a pile of rubble. To the west, a flight of stairs descends into darkness.
"Aha!" says the dwarf with satisfaction. "I knew they were here all along, of course. Shall we go down them?"
Raz nods, but waits for the fighters to take the lead before following.
Illyana frowns. "Changed the place? Building don't just up and change at will. Maybe something happened which we don't know about?"
You head downstairs.
Thestairs descend for perhaps 50'...ending at a 10' square landing with an opening to the south.
You look through the opening...and see several passages. One runs south for 60' and on. There is a door in every 10' section of the east and west walls, but for the first one on the east. In the latter is a passage running east.
You look down there.
This passage runs for 50'...turning south after 40'. In the 20' - 30' section of the south wall is a passage running south. There is a door in the east wall, facing you.
"Urmmm...dungeon cells," says McTavish, eyeing the many doors. "We go east."
You head down to the first passage running south. It runs for 50' before ending at a cave-in. Again, there are doors in ever section on both sides of the passage. You also note a small hole in the rubble at the end.
You continue to the corner and look south. In that direction, the passage runs for 50' on the right, 40' on the left, before ending at another cave-in. There is a single door down there...in the east wall, last section.
McTavish leads you down there and opens it. You also note another small hole in the rubble at the end of the passage, as well.
Through the door is a room (20' X 40': 10' north, 40' east; door in north wall, 10' - 20' section). In here are a dozen orcs.
"Hehehe," says McTavish, drawing his sword.
The orcs seem to have been taken off guard.
"Stand back!" says Raz stepping towards the front of the group...and casting a fireball into the grouped orcs if he deems it safe to do so.
However, a number of little voices convince Raz that it is not safe to do so...so he doesn't...
Farad points to the orcs and says the quick words of a sleep spell.
11 of the orcs fall.
He then draws his blade and charges.
Illyana draws her sword. "Someone has to get to the north door, there may be more orcs past it."
Sword drawn, Aldarin moves forward to attack.
Grinning Pillar chortles and says "Oh tally ho and all that" and charges into battle.
"Well as we move along I am begining to wonder if this is really such a great idea after all."
Kelar draws his scimitars and move in to deal some damage.
" Well, Well, Well It seem we are carving our way through the Evils of the world again, Purging it of the Infadells." says Britan.
McTavish is on the last orc first, and cuts him down with ease.
After that you dispatch with the sleeping orcs post haste.
The room has a long table down the centre, and much junk. Completing the scene is a large chest in the northeast corner.
"You don't suppose the orcs would keep someone inside one of those?" asks Illyana, regarding the cells.
"We could check," replies McTavish.
You go back and check all the cells...to discover that they are all empty.
You return to the orc room and open the north door. Beyond is a chamber (20' X 30': 10' west, 30' north; door in middle of west wall, passage in west wall, north corner running west). Once a smithy, perhaps, there is a firepit at the entrance to the west passage. A hole in the ceiling above it is plugged with refuse. A few bones on the floor complete the decor.
You open the west door, to see the passage that you came down earlier. Looking down the west passage in the northwest corner, you see that it is not a passage at all, but rather a 10' deep alcove with a door at the back.
You open the door. Beyond is a 10' wide, 30' long store room (30' west). Apart from some hobbit bones, the place is barren.
"Hmmm..." says McTavish. "Must be a secret door around here. Do you want to look for one, or open that chest?"
Farad nods, and begins looking for secret doors. Aldarin and Kelar help out.
After nearly two hours of searching, the elves finally come up with a secret door: in the orc room, east wall, south corner.
McTavish opens it, revealing a passage running east for 30', after which it ends at a "T" intersection with a passage running north-south.
"I remember this!" exclaims the dwarf with something resembling confidence, and he swaggers down to the intersection.
To the north, the passage runs for 20' and ends at a door. To the south, it runs for 60' and on. There is a door in the east wall, 0' - 10' section and another in the 20' - 30' section.
"North door," says McTavish, and goes and bashes it open. After four attempts he finally gets it open. Beyond is a barracks (40' X 50": 10' east, 30' west, 40' north; door in east wall, south corner). There are four rows of 12 pallets in here...but little else.
McTavish bashes the east door open.
Revealed is another 40' X 50' room (30' north, 50' east; door in south wall, west corner; door in south wall, 30' - 40' section). A large mess hall, there are many smashed tables and benches in here.
"West door," says McTavish, and he opens it. Beyond is a kitchen (20' X 30': 20' south, 20' east). A long wooden table runs along the centre of the room, there are counters along the west and south walls with shelves above them, and a cooking fireplace in the southwest corner.
"Hmmm...made a wrong turn..."
The dwarf is about to close the door when Raz notices the glint of something shiny in the cold ashes of the fireplace...
Humphrey:
"What is it that had caught your eye Raz?"
Farad also wants to open the chest we found earlier...
You head back and open the chest.
Inside you find 1000cp.
"Lets leave the copper for now, and get it when we leave this area." says Farad.
Pillar exclaims "Yes brilliant idea" and wanders off quickly, but comes back "Hey lets go!!"
Raz goes back into the kitchen, over to the fireplace and examines the area in more detail.
Buried in the ashes he finds a ring, an earring, a bracelet, a necklace, another ring, a broach and a monacle.
Digging deeper, he finds a scroll, a shortbow, a sheathed longsword and another scroll.
McTavish takes the sword and pulls it out. The blade glows nicely.
"Anyone need a magic sword?" he asks. "I've already got one."
Illyana looks around. "Has this place changed much? Or have you just been away a long time?" She checks the counters.
"I left here in the spring of 1341," McTavish replies, before admitting, "Maybe my memory of the place ain't as good as I thought it was."
While you debate the fate of the weaponry, McTavish heads off. You follow, as he opens the second door in the south wall of the mess hall.
Beyond is a 10' wide passage running south for 20'...turning east after 10'.
You head down and look around the corner. From the back wall it runs for 50'...turning south after 40'. There is a door in the last section of the north wall.
You go to the corner and look south. From the back wall it runs for 70' and into darkness. There is a door in the east wall, 10' - 20' section, and two more doors on either side in the 60' - 70' section.
McTavish opens the door in the north wall.
This leads to a room (20' X 30': 20' north, 20' east; door directly across from you in the north wall; door in west wall south corner). A long bench is near the north wall...a shorter one is near the south.
McTavish opens the west door. Beyond is a burial chamber (20' X 20': 20' west, 10' north). There are four caskets in here. All of them are closed.
The dwarf chuckles.
"Wanna open some coffins..?" he asks.
Farad makes interested noises concerning the magic sword.
"Anyone else?" asks McTavish. "Maybe you can arm wrestle for it..."
He laughs an inscrutable laugh.
Illyana doesn't have one - J'Harast was carrying last I saw it.
"As to the rest, we should get them identified."
"Where?" asks the dwarf. "Can Raz do it?"
Before th group is bone-headed enough to get into another combat situation, Raz...
1. Examines all of the items in detail
None of the jewelry looks to be excessively valuble.
2. Tries to read the scroll/determine what they do
Scroll #1: ventroloquism, Tenser's floating disk, read magic
Scroll #2: protection from lycanthropes
3. Puts on both rings (alternating between the two)..
Nothing appears to happen.
4. Hands the earing to someone else to try it on (he doesn't wear earings normally)... 5. puts on the necklace...
While wearing each items he will ask everyone if they can see him...
"Yup," says McTavish.
Try to pass through a wall
He walks into the wall.
put his hand lightly over a flame
"Ow!"
ask someone to hit him gently
"Ow again!"
Farad asks to see the rings.
He tries each on. "I wish I had increased stamina and constitution."
Nothing appears to happen.
"So much for wishful thinking."
Farad hands the rings back.
Humphrey smiles:
"I would like to have a magical sword, but since it is a long sword and I prefer short swords, I will yeild claim to Farad. Raz way to go to spot this stuff. Do any of you mind if a look though the monacle?"
Humphrey takes a look through it. Things seen through it are slightly magnified.
Britan looks around and says" I don't have a Magical sword either and long swords are my perfered weapon If no one want's to claim it or can use it I would greatly be glad to take care of it and use it in a good and noble manner."
Aldarin: "I also use Long Sword as my primary weapon. If Farad already has a magical weapon it might be more benificial if I use thus one. If not, I would like to wear the amulet/brooch or one of the rings."
Pillar jumps up and down, nothing seems to happen. "Hey lets open these things" Pillar looks at a coffin.
Illyana shakes her head. "Just like last time, we open a small hole into one and peek inside. I don't want to be attacked by vampires with little or no magical weapons floating through the party."
"You're the cleric, you get elected. Try and turn anything if it jumps out at you." says Farad, before continuing, "I'll take this blade. I have a bit more experience in its use and can put it to better effect."
McTavish chuckles at Farad's logic, but hands it to him anyway.
"I think we'll find lots more swords in here, if ye want to look for them," he says. "As for opening coffins, it sounds like you want to leave them be. We can do them later...after we get to the pool..."
He turns and opens the other door out of the room.
This opens in a 10' long passage running north. After that, it opens up into a large cave.
You move forward for a look.
"I think I remember this," says the dwarf. The cave is big, and roughly "L" shaped. To your right, a wall runs east for about 30', before curving south and running in that direction for about another 90'. Then the wall runs northeast for 30' and then north again. It runs north for about 120'...then west for 90' or so...then south to close up matters. The northern portion of the cave is taken up by a lake. There is room to walk all around it, though, and not get wet...except where a stream flows into it out of the north wall. A second stream flows out of the south side of the lake, down the long side of the "L", and finally disappears down a hole in the floor near the south end of the cavern.
The place is deserted.
You walk about...while McTavish appears to be looking for something. Finally, he stops and picks up a spike that was lying there. It is old and rusted.
Simultaneously, Aldarin notices a secret door...in the south wall, west corner.
"Good!" says the dwarf, and bashes it open. Beyond is a passage running south for about 10'...ending at a flight of stairs heading down...
"Next level?" he asks.
It is early afternoon.
"Well you did say the pool is on the third level, so I guess we go down to the next level." says Humphrey.
You head downstairs.
The stairs conclude at passage that runs south for 20'. In each section of the west wall, passages run from.
You look down each one.
The first passage runs west for 20' and then opens up into a chamber.
The second - southernmost - passage immediately turns south.
McTavish goes down the latter passage.
>From the back wall, it runs south for 50'...turning east after 40'. Looking around, you see that it runs for 30' from the back wall...turning south again after 20'. Looking around this corner, you see that it next runs south for 30' in total...turning east after 20'.
You go and look...to see that it dead-ends after another 10'.
"Shit," mutters McTavish.
You return to the landing and enter the chamber.
It measures 30' X 70' (10' north, 10' south, 70' west; doors in each section of the west wall). In the middle of the chamber stand two enormous headless statues: warriors.
You approach them cautiously...but nothing funny happens until you try to walk by them.
Then, the missing heads appear atop the statues...and they speak:
"When you confront the room of vapours, remember us, and Three Magic Words."
The heads disappear again.
"Whatever," mutters McTavish, and opens the southernmost door.
This opens into a passage running south, for 10' and immediately turning east again.
You go this way.
>From the back wall the passage runs east for 60' and on. There is another passage running south in the 30' - 40' section.
You go down and look.
This passage runs south for 40'...then turns southwest. Another passage runs west in the 10' - 20' section...and there is a door directly across the hall from it.
McTavish - acting like someone who knows where they are going - turns south, and follows the passage as it turns southwest.
After 40' the passage opens up to the south, and you find yourselves looking into a chamber (30' X 50': 40' west, 30' south; opening into another chamber in east wall north corner; doors in every section of the south wall but the easternmost one.
Apart from a long table in here, the place is barren.
McTavish goes and opens the easternmost door.
Beyond is a passage running south for 30'...ending at a door.
You go down and open it.
This reveals a room (20' X 40': 10' east, 20' west, 20' south). There is a pallet in the northwest corner, a workbench in the southeast and shelves in the northeast. A number of scrolls and papers are on the bench. There is a box on one of the shelves. A chest sits beside the bench.
Two men are in here. The first is clad in black robes, and is at the bench...pouring a steaming liquid from one test tube into another. The second wears leather armour and has a mace. He stands by the first man...watching intently.
"Yes?" the first man says, looking up when you open the door. "Who are you? what do you want?"
Aldarin casts a Color Spray at them and prepares for melee.
They both drop to the floor, unconscious.
"Great work!" says McTavish. "Shall we stick 'em and search the joint?"
Illyana blinks. "Woah, that was fast. Tie them up and strip them, I want to know what they are carrying. This place looks like a lab. Raz can you tell me what the bubbling stuff is, and take a look around this place? We'll wake them up and ask some questions, I want to know what they were doing here. Farad, don't say anything, I don't want a repeat of last time. No name dropping by anyone either, got it?"
Farad moves to stick the unconscious men. "Lets search them too."
"I want them alive, remember?" says Illyana.
"Oh alright. But I'm not toting them back to some authority for trial."
"What are you worried about remember you are everyones jury."
Kelar helps Raz search the place and look over the scrolls and papers.
"I'm just stating that I'll not be responsible for them if you chose to let them live. I guess you just volunteered for that job, Kelar."
"Trial, for what? I want to know if they know anything. If they prove to be trouble, then they won't be anymore. If they are willing to simply leave, I'll let them go, considering that they hadn't done anything."
Searching, you find a scroll on the man with the now smashed test tubes. Over on the bench, three of the scrolls look to contain magical writings.
Flinging open the box on the shelf, you find that it is filled with platinum pieces.
Opening the chest, you find a sheathed longsword and a suit of plate mail...sized for a dwarf.
McTavish's eyes light up at the sight of this...
With a groan, the two men start to regain consciousness.
"What the..?" the man in the robes says, upon discovering that he is bound.
Farad holds up the head of the bound man. "A few questions if you please and we will release you." He seems as charming as you've ever seen him. "Speak carefully. My friend here," noding to the dwarf, "has a temper."
McTavish growls on cue, and lights his longsword.
"First, who are you and what are you doing down here."
"I - I am Peter the Presto...that is Sean the Ever-Devout."
"You forgot the second part. What are you doing down here."
"We live here."
"Why would you want to live down here? Isn't it dangerous?" asks Illyana.
He shrugs...or tries to.
"Second, tell us what you know about these times we found on you."
"These whats you found on us??"
"You heard me. These items here. What do these things do."
"My scrolls? There are spells on them."
"Finally, have you been to the magical pool?"
"Yes."
"Do you know where it is and what creatures guard it or lie between us and it?"
"Yes. Go through the north door from the statue room...take the north passage from the cave...bear right at the first fork in the tunnel. Once you get downstairs, bear east at every intersection.
"It is unguarded."
He looks nervous.
Farad pats his hand to the mans cheek. "Good boy."
The man looks unhappy.
"Now, what is the vapour room?"
"It - it's a gas trap."
"Where is it. It doesn't happen to lie along the route you just suggested does it?"
"No..."
"Give us directions to the gas trap."
"Through the west door off the room to the north of us."
"Does the trap protect another treasure?"
"Not that we know of."
"Do you know of any other treasures that lie hidden about?"
"There are lots of monsters about...maybe they have treasures..."
"Who are the two figures in the statues we passed, and what are the three secret words?"
"I don't know."
Aldarin says, "I believe the statues said to remember the three magic words and I believe they are just that, 'THREE MAGIC WORDS'".
"How do you get past the gas trap then?"
"I don't know."
Aldarin takes the sword we retrieved from the mage & priest, "I'll see if I can't put this to good use", he then tests the weight of it in his hands and straps the scabbard to his belt.
Drawing the longsword, its blade immediately bursts into flames.
"Great!" says McTavish. "A flame tongue!"
Farad smiles. "I guess you get elected to attack the undead. I believe those swords are highly effective against them."
"I have a few questions myself..." says Kelar, "What are you studing and what spells are on the scrolls?"
"There are magic user spells, a druid spell, a protection from magic and a clerical darkness spell," Peter replies. "As for what we were studying...I think I've found a cure for indigestion!"
He glances at the spilled liquid on the floor...still bubbling and steaming slightly.
"Have you tested the pool if so what did you notince happen to yourself or if both of you tried it what did you notice about one another diffrent."
"We both felt tougher...faster...and stronger."
"What do we do with these guys?" says McTavish, dropping the suit of plate mail and the loot into a sack and slinging it over his shoulder. "I want to get you guys to that pool!"
Farad shrugs. "Kill them I think. But its Illyana's call."
Kelar goes ballistic.
"Wait a damn second. We came into thier home knocked them out and the we are going to lock them up without food or clothing. That sounds like a really good plan."
Turning to Farad with a look of horror on his face "KILL THEM???"
Pillar laughs at this statment!
"What the hell did they do to you. Ohhh wait I know they were in the wrong place at the wrong time and met you in a dungeon therfore they are evil."
"Killing them is the easiest way of insuring they are not a future threat to us or warn our enemies, whoever they may be."
Farad shrugs, as it if doesn't concern him one way or the other.
Turning back to the prisoners, Kelar says,"We will not be here long but untill we leave you might not want to come back. If you do I won't be able to stop what happens to you."
Grinning Pillar chortles at this passage.
Quickly cut the ropes binding "Get out of here"
Kelar is stopped for the moment by the cleric "Now now, patience my friend, our group leader decides what happens not you or Farad. So calm down and wait for her decision".
Pillar grins and waits for the word of the leader "Things must be done properly or not at all". Sighing Pillar continues to wait.
McTavish watches all of this with a twinkle in his eye.
"A pair of damned fools, the both of you," he says. "I don't mind killing...but I don't like killing out of hand. That's what orcs do. If these guys are happily settled in a dungeon full of evil creatures, odds are that they're evil too. Just to be sure that we don't kill some noble paladin-wannabe, though," he chortles at this, "Why don't you cast a detect evil or a know alignment on them, Pillar?"
Looking mildly detached Pillar grins "Now that would not be appropriate at this point in time, since my god has already granted the spells I need, and that is not one of them".
Pillar looks around the room rather vaguely.
"So ask him if he could change his mind and give you that one," Kelar growls. "If not then they go free!"
McTavish mutters something about useless clerics.
Illyana looks down at the two. "We could lock them in the cells upstairs which no one is using at the present.. Minus anything except clothing and food of course."
Aldarin smiles at Illyana and nods, "I like this idea, safe yet humane."
"Kill them? We're not going through this again are we? I will have to agree with Illayna Put them in a cell and leave them or let them defend there selves and die that way but not this tie them up and cut there throats again!!" says Britan.
You cart them upstairs and lock them in a cell.
A half an hour later you are back in the room with the headless statues. McTavish has changed into the fancy looking suit of plate mail and is quite pleased with himself.
Opening the north door at the east end, you see a passage running north and immediately turning east. You follow it. From the back wall it runs east for 90', turning north after 80'.
You look north.
The passage runs for a further 20' and then opens up into another cave.
Larger than the last, you think, you see the walls of this one run off to the right for about 40', before turning more or less north and running on out of your sight. To the left the wall runs west for about 45', north for ~10', and then northwest for ~15' and out of sight.
There is a waterfall in the southeast corner. Water pours out os a hole in the ceiling above with a thunderous roar...to land in a pool. The pool is about 30' wide and runs north into darkness...paralleling the east side of the cave. A narrow ledge separates the pool from the east wall.
"Which way did those guys say to go?" asks McTavish, forgetting the directions.
While you stand there, though, you notice five men standing over by the waterfall. The noise of the water drowns out their voices, but they seem to be arguing amongst themselves if their gesturing is any indication.
They do not seem to be aware of you.
"Ohh I know what we can do to these guys we can just walk over there and kill them." Kelar states sarcastically.
He moves into the shadows and waits to see what Illyana wants to do.
Humphrey quickly ducks back into the passage entrance. Both of his short swords are out.
Illyana blinks. "Cover me people, ok?"
She steps forward, "Hello, how are things going?"
The five men notice her and stop arguing.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!" they yell, as they charge her, drawing their broadswords.
Farad turns to Raz. "Sleep would be good I think, but I've used mine."
He thus jumps into the battle with his sword.
Raz steps back out of the range of combat and watches the fighters go to work.
Humphrey goes up along side Illyana protecting her right flank ready to accept the uncoming attackers.
Pillar waddles into battle with his flay singing "Hey diddle diddle the cat and the fiddle.." at the top of his lungs.
Kelar draws both swords and steps into the melee.
Britan draws his long sword and charges into battle. Singing along with Pillar as he hacks down the bad dudes.
" Hey Diddle Diddle the cat and the Fiddle.."
"AAAAAAAA!" the enemy cries, as they start foaming at the mouths.
The battle is joined...
The first man to reach you bounces his sword off of Illyana's armour. She in turn misses with one swing but smushes him with the next.
Farad is nailed for 6 hit points of damage before the elf cuts his adversary down.
Humphrey never stops smiling as he kills his enemy with a single sword thrust.
Pillar and his foe trade misses.
Britan dodges a chop of the broadsword and then stabs the fighter twice...killing him.
Aldarin, eager to try out his new sword, helps out Pillar and soon torches the enemy fighter.
It is all over in a minute.
Searching the bodies, you find nothing of value on them.
Kelar searches the bodies quickly. He also watches out for anymore people coming.
"Anyone know why they might have started foaming? I have heard of people going crazy when they fight but this is something new."
"Just damned berserkers," says McTavish, looking about. "They go wild with battle-lust."
Humphrey goes to the waterfall, to see if he can figure out what they were arguing about.
Over there, cooling in the water, is a bottle of wine.
The path between the east wall of the cave and the water is about 5' wide. After about 50' it becomes wider.
It is midafternoon.
"Hey guys check this out a bottle of wine"
Humphrey reaches in and gets the bottle. He will check to make sure that there are no creatures in the water.
The water is cold and clean...and nothing bites his arm off when he takes the bottle out.
"Berserkers huh! interesting but not very effective were they."
Britan cleans his sword off of one of the dead Berserkers bodies.
"I hope this is not what that pool will do to us if or when we drink of it?"
"Didn't have that effect on me," says McTavish.
Illyana shakes her head. "Attack, and they surrender. Say hello and they attack. Strange place we are in."
"Such is the nature of evil. It thrives on chaos. When law does not keep men in line, all manner of wickedness appears."
Farad turns to the dwarf, "Is this the pool we are seeking?"
"Naw," McTavish answers. "Unless my photogenic memory is flawed and that magic user's directions are wrong. Let's go."
You move on, staying by the left wall.
The wall runs west for about 40', then angles north-northwest for ~100', where there is a 10' wide passage running west southwest. Beyond that, the wall continues north for 20', where there is another 10' wide passage running roughly northwest.
The waterfall at the far end of the cave is not so deafening at this point. From the waterfall, a stream flowed north into a small lake. Out of the far side of the lake flowed another stream. This terminates just beyond this tunnel opening, where it flows down a sink hole in the floor.
Suddenly, without warning, a bugbear jumps Farad from out of the tunnel! All of you are taken off guard as it chops at the elf with a rusty broadsword for 8 hit points of damage.
Kelar and Illyana are able to react first, as it attacks again...
Illyana attacks the bugbear. "Watch the exits!"
The bugbear turns and attacks Illyana.
His blade bounces off of her plate mail.
Illyana swings...and fans.
Kelar does likewise...with both weapons.
Illyana fans again, as the bugbear nicks her for 4 hit points of damage.
She nails him with her next swing, though, and the monster drops dead.
"Well, that was fun," says McTavish, when suddenly three dogs materialise around you.
"Arf! Arf!" they say, wagging their tails and making a general fuss of you. They seem to particularily like Farad, Kelar, Illyana and Humphrey...jumping up and licking their faces. They think considerably less of Pillar, as they go over, cock their legs, and give his feet a yellow shower.
"Blink dogs!" says McTavish, looking amused. "They won't hurt us...I think. Now...I wonder if this is the passage that we should go down?"
Illyana giggles. "Cute dogs!"
Illyana laughs. "I wonder where they come from?"
In reply to McTavish's question, she says, "Is it? I thought you would be the one to know."
"Ahhh...of course," he replies. "I was just testing you."
Humphrey pets one of the blink dogs and offers the dog some trail rations.
"Where did you come from pup?"
"Arf! Arf!"
Looking rather angry Pillar says "I'll give you blink dogs" and kicks one, "Blink on that you mongrel".
"Yelp!" says a blink dog. "Grrrrr...."
"Pillar you kick one again and I will do the same to you."
"McTavish what are blink dogs? I have never heard of them." Kelar bends over and pets the one Pillar kicked. "Good boy."
"They're lawful good animals. They have this ability to teleport about," replies the dwarf.
Kelar says, "I must agree with you there I do not think I would enjoy berserking. It could cause problems for spell casting.
"McTavish do you berserk when in battle?"
"Naw, I try to keep my head about me."
You leave the dogs and head up the passage. It runs roughly west-northwest for ~40'...then west for 20', then forks. One branch runs west-southwest...the other runs west-northwest.
McTavish leads you right.
After ~20' this passage runs west...for the next 70'...where it ends at a door.
McTavish bashes it open. Beyond is a room (10' X 20': 10' west, 10' south; stairs heading down from west wall, south portion). Otherwise, the place is bare.
You head downstairs.
At the bottom is a finished passage, running west for 50', turning south after 40'. There is a door in the 30' - 40' section of the north wall.
"Bear left," mutters McTavish, as you go past the door and look south. The passage immediately doubles back to the east.
You head east.
From the back wall, the passage runs for 90' in total, turning south again after 80'. Looking south, you see that it immediately doubles back to the west again. From the back wall it runs for 60' and on. In the 10' - 20', 20' - 30', 30' - 40' and 40' - 50' sections are passages running south.
"Bear left," mutters McTavish, and takes the first of these passages.
This passage runs south for 20'...turning east after 10'.
You turn east.
In total this passage runs for 50', turning south after 40'.
You look south, to see that it immediately turns east again.
In total, this passage runs for 30', then opens up into a chamber (30' X 40': 10' north, 10' south, 40' east; passage continues east out of east wall, middle section).
In the middle of this chamber is a statue of an orc-headed eagle, facing you. You get the impression that it is watching you. All of you sense a feeling of evil coming from it.
McTavish snorts and barges into the chamber...to be stopped cold as he sets foot inside.
The same happens to all of you...something prevents you from entering the chamber.
Illyana blinks. "Was that supposed to happen? How do we get inside?"
"Beats me. Any ideas?" asks McTavish.
You see Raz looking about his person..."Damn", he says under his breath, "I no longer have that wand of negation..hmmm..wait a minute.." Raz then takes the two rings that he found earlier, tries them on alternatively and attempts to enter the chamber.
Nothing happens. Whatever prevents you from entering is still there.
"You had a wand of negation an' ye lost it??!!" says McTavish. "You dumb shit!"
Raz barely gives McTavish any notice as he continues to search through his possessions.
Illyana shakes her head. "We had to sell something to resurrect him.. and I for one would prefer him alive rather than dead!"
Grinning Pillar says "Hey cool an evil eagle" and stares intently around the room looking for clues. "Orcs, eagles, hmmm let me think..."
Illyana looks up and down at the entrance. "Three magic words?"
Nothing happens.
Aldarin answers, "I thought the room where we suppose to use the 'magic words' was supposed to be guarded by 2 statues, not just one?"
Humphrey says, "McTavish do you remember this being here, when you were here last? We may not need to get through here to get to the pool, should we try other ways first?"
McTavish scratches his beard, and some fleas jump out of it.
"Yeah...I think it was here before...but I don't remember how we delt with it."
He pauses.
"Look...before ye get pissed off at me for not remembering all the details of this dungeon, p'haps I should explain the situation as it was 30-odd years ago.
"Me an' my brother were travellin' from the east, when we came to Adford. There, we met the party of adventurers that was explorin' this place. They hired us...as cooks and hunters...to keep them provided with food while they was down here adventurin'. I only came into this dungeon once...when they took me an' Angus down to the pool to drink from it.
"We only became full-fledged members - as it were - of the party after we all left here and went to Strabath."
McTavish takes out his pipe, tamps tobacco into it, and lights it.
"So, Humphrey, there may be another way to this pool...but I don't know it."
Aldarin steps up with flaming sword and attempts to stick it part of the way into the door. "McTavish, what did it feel like when you tried to step through?"
"Like walking into a wall of force. Hard, like."
His sword is stopped from entering the chamber.
"Looks like we need to figure out the key to this place. It probably means exploring around a bit. Lets go back and ask our captives if they know how to get in here." says Farad.
You turn away and head back up to the first level...to the cells where you imprisoned the magic user and cleric.
Unbarring the door and openign the cell, you are surprised to see the place swarming with giant rats. There must be a dozen of them at least in here...all dining on the men you imprisoned.
Obviously the rats have eaten them alive...for little remains of them now but bone and gristle.
When you open the door, the rats scurry for a previously unnoticed bolt-hole in a back corner of the cell.
Farad laughs. "Ah, so this is how the merciful keep their prisoners. I must endevour to be merciful more often."
Mumbling under his breath, Kelar says, "God I should have just let Farad kill them."
Speaking up, he continues, "Next time can we try and not make people suffer. They did us no harm and had to die this way. I don't htink I can come up with a worse way to.
"Let us be gone this place makes me want to get sick."
Farad smiles. "Be right back."
He drops most of his pack (things that would catch in a tunnel) and holding his sword out before him enters the tunnels.
The rest of you wait...
Pillar waits twirling his flail "I bet we hear a scream in less than a minute? 5 gold anyone want to take me up?".
"Yer on!" says McTavish.
Aldarin: "Pillar, as a priest don't you have the ability to dispel certain magic?"
"Yep" Pillar exclaims.
"Why don't we go and try to dispel whatever magic that statue is putting out, then?" asks McTavish. "It would beat standing around here like idiots while that fool Farad is gettin' himself killed by rats."
Aldarin strips off his pack and crawls in a little ways (about 15 feet) with a dagger in hand. "Let's see if I can see Farad's body."
Grumbling Pillar gives McTavish 5 gold "Stupid elf, Okay lets go back to the magic eagle with an orc head and I can try this dispel magic... Happy now". Mumbling about elves and their voices Pillar leaves the room.
"Voices? You're hearing voices?" asks McTavish, as he inspects each and every gold coin minutely.
Once he is done, he sets off after Pillar.
The remainder of you follow.
Humphrey is following Pillar...along with the rest of you.
You return to the entrance to the chamber with the idol.
Pillar casts dispel magic.
McTavish tries to enter...and encounters no resistance this time.
You all follow him in.
Walking up to the statue, you realise that it is of gold...and looks quite valuble.
"We should come back and get that," says the dwarf...then leads you on down the passage that exits to the east.
However, as you enter the passage, a previously unnoticed secret door in the first 10' section of the north wall opens, and two ogres jump out at you!
Kelar and Illyana find themselves under attack...as with an incredible display of ineptitude...the ogres both miss.
"Shit!" they exclaim in unison.
Illyana jumps. "Where do these guys come from?" She attacks the ogre.
"I think that is the last thing you will remeber doing" says Kelar, quickly drawing and attacking the ogres.
Britan says, "First you say it then you do it," as he steps into battle with his long sword drawn and ready to shicabob some ogres .
Raz steps back out of the range of combat. If any of his friends look like they are in trouble or if one of the Orges decides to move his way, then Raz will cast magic missle at them.
"Haaa Haaa, you stupid ogres are complete morons aren't you" Pillar taunts the ogres with some bravado "Stupid Stupid ignorant buffoons".
"Yeah?" they reply, still in chorus. "So what's your point??"
Humphrey runs behind the ogres and lets his two swords do the talking.
Illyana and the ogre both miss each other.
Kelar, though, is conked on the head for 10 hit points of damage. He replies in kind, though, driving both blades into the second ogre's belly.
"Hey, that's not fair!" the monster exclaims. "You're not supposed to hit us!"
Britan is next, and lands a perfect miss.
Humphrey sticks a shortsword in the already injured ogre, followed by another, and the monster drops.
The remaining ogre again fans...as does Illyana. The cavalier connects, though, and blood gushes forth.
He hits again, and the ogre falls dead on top of his friend.
To the north, in the first 10' section of the passage, is a secret doorway leading into a 10' square room. The place is littered with junk: chewed bones and garbage, mostly. Searching, though, you find 1000ep in here.
As you come back out, Farad and Aldarin join you. They are uninjured.
"Good," says McTavish, seeing Farad and and Aldarin. "Let's get on with matters."
The passage that exits east from the idol chamber runs for 30' in total, and ends at a door. The secret door that the ogres came through is in the first 10' section of the north wall.
The dwarf makes for the east door and bashes it open.
Beyond is a 10' square room.
In here is a fountain. Green water gushes out of the mouth of a stone nymph. The water twinkles and looks alive. The scent invigorates you.
"This is it," says McTavish.
Kelar glances around see if there is anyone around.
You have the place to yourselves.
"Well Humphrey you said you wanted to be first...go ahead."
"How much do we need to drink?" wonders Illyana.
"Just a swig, I suppose." replies McTavish.
Humphrey goes forth to the water and takes a good drink.
Farad also drinks deeply.
Illyana nods. "Time to get this over with."
She takes a drink.
"Wow, I feel stronger, healthier and, " Humphrey pulls out both swords and whirls them around in an impressive display of grace, "and more graceful. You guys this is great stuff."
Humphrey is excited about his improvements goes over to McTavish,
"McTavish I owe you a few drinks for this. How long does the effect of the pool last, or is it permanent?"
"It's permanent as far as I'm concerned," replies the dwarf. "And I drank from it over 30 years ago."
Britan says " ok I am game." And takes a long drink.
"Well none of you seem to be having any side effects."
Kelar walks over and takes a drink.
Aldarin strides over and take a long drink, "Let's see if this thing really works."
Britan says " OK I am game." And takes a long drink.
Briatn "Wow I do feel stronger and healthier this pool is amazing."
"Well none of you seem to be having any side effects."
Raz steps forward and takes a drink from the pool.
Farad tries to get the statue.
The statue is too heavy and bulky for you to move.
"We'll get it on our way out," says McTavish.
"So, are we ready to head out now? McTavish, where can we sell this thing?" asks Farad.
The dwarf shrugs.
"Beats me. Don't think there'd be much of a market for it in Adford."
"Couldn't we melt the thing down if we needed the cash? Should we even bother?" asks Illyana.
"I'd bother," replies McTavish. "It looks to me like it might be worth around 5000gp."
Raz shakes his head slowly, "I think we should leave the statue where it is...we've got what we came for...and this statue is just too big and too bothersome to deal with. I don't think 5,000gp is worth it."
Pillar drinks heartily from the pool and looks up with a strange glint in his eyes, "Come let us leave this place and find an Inn, there we can drink some ale and tell some stories... Quick time is short and more orcs will come if we dally".
"Don't want to poke around this dungeon any further?" asks McTavish. "Seems to be a pretty rich place..."
Raz nods, "Indeed, this seems to be a place of high magic...I'd like to stay longer myself."
Aldarin smiles and nods, "I agree, I feel like taking on a hundred orcs."
Squinting hard at the dwarf Pillar stands silent for a moment then peers around "By the Dark planes of hell perhaps you are right, Indeed we are all fit and healthy, onwards ever onwards. May naught stand in our way, TO VICTORY OR DEATH".
Raz gives Pillar and funny look and says, "Well....I wouldn't go THAT far".
Farad agrees.
"Sure, we might as well."
"Maybe, depends on how much more you can tell us on the size of the place. How big was it again?" asks Illyana.
"It was big...if I recall it right," says McTavish. "I've been in bigger, though."
It is early evening.
"Well, why don't we start at the top and do this right." says Farad.
"Would we be safe spending the night here? If so, then we should keep going. If not, then I would want to get to a safe place."
"Why not back to camp?" asks McTavish. "It's close by...and all my beer is there."
Humphrey says, smiling: "Well, we all seem happy with the results of this trip. Raz, you should take some of this stuff and analyze it. I am sure it will lose it's magical properties, but I would bet it would still be worth checking out."
All of you feel much stronger and healthier...no one died and no one was sex-changed.
Raz will take one of his flasks and fill it full of the pool's magical liquid for future analysis. Looking about at the other party members, he asks if any of them could catch a live mouse or rabbit for him.
Going back into the room with the statue, Humphrey and Farad find that together they can lift it off its pedestal and carry it.
You return to the top level of the dungeon, and return to the room where you battled the orcs.
Illyana shakes her head. "Big statue, lets leave it here."
"Like hell," snorts McTavish, an avaricious glint in his eye.
"I agree with Farad though, time to break out the maps and start from the top." She yawns. "Tomorrow though. Was anyone hurt?"
Kelar and Illyana are hurt.
"I think I'd rather bury it outside where our camp is rather than leave it down here where anyone can take it. We can't just leave every piece of treasure sitting because its too big. If we can't get it now, we bury it where we know where it is in the future." says Farad.
"It can go on my wagon," says the dwarf.
"Got any magical protections to keep people from just riding away with it?" asks Farad.
"Sure do," says McTavish, drawing his longsword and smiling.
Britan asks, " is there any other type of home defense ?"
You head out...bringing the statue with you.
It is early evening by the time you reach your camp.
Looking pensive Pillar sidles over to the dwarf "Ale you have ale on that cart of yours, quick break it out man. One could die of thirst waiting for you".
McTavish is more than willing to oblige...
Sitting down with some brew Pillar begins to sing happy little tunes until he passes out quite content.
The night is uneventful.