The EARTH story - August 20, 1372
The brutal cold continues on August 20th, though the snow petered out overnight.
After walking for about an hour and a half, you come to a ruin, on the north side of the road. It looks like a small temple or religious shrine once stood here. As you approach it, Goodgulf relates a bit of the history of this area:
"This is called the Memorial Shrine of the Immortal Steele Family," the mage says. "This region was basically uninhabited even during the peak of Saltar's power. The last true human / demihuman inhabitants of the area were a powerful noble family of Cosmen stock who settled in the area shortly after Saltar was founded. The Steele Family were independent and isolationist, and wanted no part of the newly founded countries of their compatriots. By the time their distant relatives from Saltar claimed the area the family was gone; either moved to more favourable climes or dead. All that remained was the Shrine."
As you get closer to the ruin, though, you see that it is not uninhabited now.
You see a gang of people loitering about the place, watching you approach. They appear to be mostly fighters, clad in leathers, though one wears plate mail and carries a shield. There are nine of them.
"Hey, look at the losers!" one of them calls out in a jeering voice.
"What a bunch of wussies!"
"Hey tree hugger, is that mule your girlfriend?"
"And look at the fairy elves holding hands!"
"Better surrender now, or you're for it!"
Then, they start throwing snowballs at you.
Ayazin guffaws. "Mules are always male, you idiot!"
"We know!"
He gathers up a snowball and chucks it at them.
Tully says, "They are assassins sent to kill us!"
"Have you gone nuts? They're just some bullies tossing snow balls at us."
A snowball creams Aron in the kisser.
"I would have to agree with Aron," says Mikodin, a smile on his face. "They are just simple bullies, I believe. Dangerous, perhaps, because they are armed, but just bullies, nevertheless."
Tully says, "They were probably following us the whole time. Kill them before they kill us!"
"We'll see," Beth says. "If they're cowardly bullies, they'll turn tail and run once we disable their leader."
Beth casts a levitation spell on the warrior in plate mail, intending to lift him about 15 feet into the air, letting him dangle there harmlessly.
"Heh," Al mutters as he invokes a power of his ring.
A large gust of wind overtakes the snowballers, hurling the airborne missiles back at them. As they are pelted with their own grenades, Al retorts, "who is the loser now?"
"Leave them alone. They are not worth our time. Our mission is to get to the sword." Kithus tries to persuade the others and get going.
"It would be great if our mages could just put them to sleep and we could be on our way."
The men do not like this. They draw their swords and rush to attack!
Unsheathing Claw, Al waits for the them to come.
Ayazin quickly drops an Entangle spell on lot of them.
Wiping his face, Aron says, "Jerks."
If any of the men attack him, Aron will attack back, but with the intent not to kill.
Still chuckling at Aron's fate with a snowball, Mikodin calmly awaits the men, and will defend himself if attacked.
Drinor blinks in surprise at the men's impertinence - then peers over his shoulder and keeps watch for anything or anyone approaching from the rear.
Kithus half draws his sword and prepare to intercept the rush if it comes to that. He shows disgust on his face for having to waste time fighting these bullies.
One of the men hangs back and starts casting a spell at you. The druids recognise it to be an entangle spell as well.
The leader in the armour suddenly floats up into the air. He lets out a yelp and tumbles head over heels, as his inertia continues to carry him forward and over your heads.
Tully starts firing arrows at the druid. His first arrow sails wide.
Equinox throws his Rope of Entanglement at the man casting the Entangle spell, then converts to Raven form and flies over to him. As he does so, both Ayazin and the druid finish their spells. The druid is trussed up, as the grass and weeds under the snow beneath the remaining land-bound men and Al, Jo-owrn, Beth, Tracey, Drinor, Mikodin, Ayazin, Sharone, Aron, Farad and Kelar writhes and twists around your boots and snow shoes.
Kelar, Sharone, Mikodin, Drinor, Tracey, Beth, Jo-owrn and Ayazin are held fast; while Al, Aron and Farad are effectively slowed.
All of the attacking men are held as well.
Jon (invisible) takes to the air looking for others.
Equinox the raven perches atop the druid's head.
"WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON OUT THERE??!!" comes a new voice, seemingly out of the ground behind where the bullies had been standing.
Out of what can only be an opening leading to a flight of stairs going down into the obligatory dungeon below comes a big fat old hill giant.
"FUN WOW!" he yells, spotting you. He bellows back down the stairs. "HEY! BIG FIGHT UP HERE!!"
He then advances to attack!
Kithus tries to put himself between the giant and his entangled companions with his sword fully drawn, adopting a defensive stance, ready to counter attack.
"Hold! Leave us and you will not get hurt."
The giant guffaws at Kithus.
"HA HA HA! YOU TALK LIKE SOME STUPID RANGER!"
Drinor and Ayazin do nothing.
Both of the druid's pets are held. The mule, however, struggles free.
Mikodin, held fast, attempts to wriggle free enough to yell, "Can anyone cast a 'Dispel Magic' on this area?"
Sharone casts her Dispel Magic. "Let's hope this works."
"Alright!" Al says as he invokes the power of his ring and flies after the hill giant, blade in hand.
While slowly trying to get out of the area of entanglement, Aron pulls out his crossbow and takes a shot at the hill giant.
Tully says, "I told you they were assassins! They work for the hill giants! Kill them all!"
He fires as many arrows as he can. "Toss a fireball down that hole someone!"
As Aron fights his way through the weeds grabbing at him, he says, "Don't know if they're assassins, but anyone working for a hill giant is usually a bad guy. How about we deal with them after we've dealt with the big guys?"
Aldarin extends his arm and forks a lightning bolt into the hill giant's chest and the the human caster. "Hill Giants are evil by nature and should be treated as such."
Equinox jumps down from the Druid, converts to human form on the way to the ground, and shouts: "Not at the Druid, Aldarin: you will destroy my rope!"
Fearing that Aldarin had not heard him about blasting the druid with the lightning bolt, in order to protect his rope, Equinox orders his rope to uncoil the attacking druid and return to him.
Tully backs away from the entangled group..trying to not be in the area covered by the dispel magic.
"Don't cast dispel magic on us....you will knock out all of our magic as well and then we won't have the use of my tent...or anything else!" shouts Kelar as he tries to work himself free without success.
Fun things start happening.
The giant swings his club at Kithus, but the ranger is faster and lays open a massive wound across the monsters lower abdomen with his shiny new magic two-handed sword.
"HEY! YOU ARE A RANGER!" exclaims the giant, as he struggles to keep his entrails from tumbling out with one hand while he swings with the other. His swing goes wild.
Then Leslie appears behind him out of thin air and stabs him with her longsword. The giant gives up and drops dead, his guts spewing out over the bloody snow.
A quarrel and an arrow whiz past the rangers.
Sharone's dispel magic goes off, and the entangle spell that the enemy druid cast upon you is ended.
Next, Aldarin's lightning bolt goes off, striking both entangled druids. The enemy druid is struck squarely and drops unconscious, while Equinox takes only a glancing blow for 10 hit points.
And finally, eight new monsters come bounding up out of the dungeon to attack you. Most curious looking they are: each resembles a large red beach ball but with a tiny mouth, six eyes on stalks and a pair of rather heavily clawed lags.
"Oh, no!" says Leslie. "Gorbels! I HATE these things!"
"Why, what do they do?" asks Aron.
"They're STUPID!" replies the ranger.
The battle between the forces of Good (personified by most of you) and Evil (personified by the bright red animated beach balls) commences.
Whatever they are called, Mikodin decides to engage them with his new magic axe.
"Take this!" the monk screams, as he slices into the nearest red beach ball.
Kithus quickly runs toward Mikodin, so that he would not be outnumbered too badly.
The beach ball moves faster, though, and, like a scene out of The Prisoner, jumps up, grabs his chest for 2 hit points of damage with its claws, and buries his face in its body. Mikodin starts to smother. The monk swings his axe wildly and it connects.
The gorbel explodes with a deafening 'POP', and Mikodin takes a further 3 hit points of damage.
At the same time Aldarin lets fly 2 sets of magic missiles into the first two to appear, 1 spell per creature, "If I'm not mistaken, these beasts explode when slain, so I suggest missile weapons."
Two more gorbels explode harmlessly.
Al pulls out his wand of magic missiles and fires a missile at the nearest one after hearing the warning that they might explode on contact.
A fourth gorbel is dispatched.
Equinox throws all five of his magic darts at one of the gorbels. His first dart strikes a monster, killing it and destroying the dart.
"Well, if they explode let's see some explosions then," states Kelar as he casts a forked lightning bolt at them.
Aron is trying to stay out of the path between the spell casters, archers and the creatures attacking.
"Okay!" shouts Kithus over the battle. He tries to pull back instead of going toward the monk and takes out his bow and arrow.
Op Code snaps out of his daydreaming and rushes to battle, longsword ready for action.
The last three gorbels go after Kithus, Op Code and Laurie, respectively.
As the first beach ball jumps at Kithus the ranger jabs it with an arrow and it detonates, hurting him for 4 hit points.
The second one leaps at Op Code but bounces off of the ranger's upraised shield. Op Code swings his longsword but the monster bounces out of the way with an evil giggle.
Rameen lets out a howl of fury as he sees a monster bearing down on his mistress. Laurie dodges the beach ball, though, and swings a rod at it, killing it and doing herself in for 3 hit points.
Ayazin pulls out a javelin and tosses it at one of the entangled swordsmen, killing him.
Drinor pulls out a crossbow and fires at the armored man who is levitating overhead.
Tully fires some arrows at the levitating warrior.
The bolts and arrows kill the helpless man.
Beth hmmphs, and figures if Leslie the Recent Giantslayer hates gorbels, they must be worth attention. Picking the last one, Beth fires off a magic missile spell at it, killing it.
Op Code, who had been fighting it, takes 4 hit points of damage.
All of the gorbels are dead but the fun is not over yet, as eight stirges come flying out of the dungeon next!
Mikodin, still smarting from the gorbel exploding in his face, prepares to meet the stirge attacks with his bare hands.
"I say we get away from the entrance to this dungeon," states Aron.
"Why?" says Devlin, "Are you afraid?"
Tully says, "He probably is trying to lead us into another trap."
"No, not afraid, but concerned that it will distract us from our mission. We can always come back."
"I agree, we should get out of here," says Kithus. "Not out of fear, but this is slowing us down. We need to get to the sword."
Devlin snorts.
"This does not constitute a distraction," he replies, "This is light exercise."
He moves to attack something...anything.
Tully fires at one of the stirges with some arrows. He misses. Seeing one diving at him, he draws his sword.
Kithus tries to do the same. The ranger nicks a stirge with an arrow.
Wand still in hand, Al aims the wand of magic missiles and fires another missile at the nearest stirge. His missile strikes a stirge.
Since she only used up one magic missile spell on the gorbel, Beth casts her other spell, sending two missiles each into two randomly chosen stirges. Her shots are accurate, and in all she shoots down three stirges.
Op Code turns his attention to the stirges. He casts faerie fire on the creatures. When one is within striking distance he will attack.
Being that his lightning bolt has not gone off, Kelar redirects it at the stirges. Again he pauses, as he realises that they will be in melee with his compatriots before he can complete the spell.
"So which one of you guys wants to go over to the hole and tell them to quit coming out? And that we will be back later for them?" says Kelar with a smirk.
Aldarin pulls his bow and begins firing arrows upon the stirges.
The elf shoots down a stirge that was diving at the still trussed up Equinox.
The battle is joined.
A stirge buries its snout in Mikodin's backside. Talk about brown nosing. The monk takes 2 hit points of damage. Trying to grab it with his hands, Mikodin fails.
Another stirge bounces off of Devlin's fancy new plate mail, and the warrior squishes it.
Drinor narrowly misses a stirge. It continues to circle him, waiting for an opening.
"Eeek!" says Tracey, as a stirge dives at her. She swings her stave at it and kills it.
Two stirges remain, on Mikodin and Drinor, when you hear some nasty hissing cries from the dungeon opening...followed by the arrival of eleven troglodytes!
Tully takes up his bow and starts shooting arrows at the trogs.
Kithus disengages himself and starts to shoot arrows at the troglodytes.
Sharone shakes out her flail and swings at a stirge.
"Can someone drop a web in that dungeon entrance? Might give us a chance to get organised."
She continues to swat the stirge.
"Sorry, mine's used up," Beth says.
Dropping his bow, Aldarin quickly turns and throws his hands out toward the group of fish-men and spouts a few words of arcane nature, causing ribbons of bright color to appear within their ranks.
"Can any of the druids use their earth magic to plug up the hole?"
Kelar again tries and get his lightning bolt spell off and then draw swords and start making his way towards the opening.
"Yeah, baby!" Al says as he sheathes his wand and then draws Claw with his right hand. "Bring it on, you stinky ass bastards."
Drinor continues to slash away at the stirge with his flaming sword, switching to dagger if it manages to attach itself to him.
The stirge nails him right between the eyes, sucking him for 1 hit point of blood and giving him a sinus headache. The paladin manages to plunge his dagger into it, though, killing the monster.
Ayazin shifts into Peregrine Falcon form and flies over to the dungeon opening, peering down into the opening to see if anything is coming up after the troglodytes.
The troglodytes scatter, making your hopes of killing them en masse with lightning bolts rather moot. They throw their javelins and close for the kill.
Mikodin is sucked for 3 more hit points as he still has troubles grappling the monster on his rump. Sharone swings wildly at the stirge but misses.
One of Tully's arrows strikes home.
Kithus gets one arrow off before he takes a javelin in the arm for 8 hit points. Then, he finds himself in melee with a very angry troglodyte.
Aldarin's colour spray sends three troglodytes into the snow, unconscious. A javelin whizzes past his ear and he finds himself confronting another troglodyte.
Kelar jumps over and kills an unconscious trog.
Al slays a second trog, as Jo-owrn does in a third.
"Why me?" wails Tracey, as a javelin hits her for 6 hit points. She swings her stave at the monster and misses.
Vardui pops into view and speaks a quick spell. Six troglodytes drop, asleep. He speaks again the same spell and the rest drop, as does the stirge on Mikodin.
Suddenly it is quiet around here.
From down the stairs leading into the dungeon, though, you hear several shouts. The voices appear to be speaking dwarven.
Understanding Dwarven, Al listens to see if they are friend of foe, his blade ready if the need is there.
Aldarin moves into a spot where he can see into the entrance of the cave and when he spots the next group of creatures coming forth he will cast his web spell, attempting to capture them and clog up the entrance.
"Should we kill the trogs before they wake up or should we wait?" asks Kithus to the rest of the group, after he wields his sword and puts away the bow.
"Kill them, as they will kill us or others after they awake!" as Al cuts the throat of the nearest troglodyte.
"Aye," says Jo-owrn.
As most of you converge on the entrance to the dungeon you hear more dwarven cries, followed by a swarm of bolts flying up out of the darkness.
Next, Jon comes flying out of the dungeon entrance as if the hounds of Hell were after him. Perhaps they are. Two light quarrels stick out of him. He holds Sucker, the cursed longsword.
"KIll him!" shouts a voice from below, which sounds suspiciously like Geerzo.
"We must kill him!" comes an answering cry, and you hear the sounds of heavily shod feet pounding up the stairs.
Perhaps ten dwarves burst out into the daylight, and stop dead when they see the large party arrayed before them.
"Cancel that!" says Geerzo the shortsword, now being held by one of the dwarves.
"Retreat!" say the dwarves, and turn and run back downstairs.
Seconds later, you hear more noises, curses, and words in troglodyte from within the dungeon.
Jon looses a lightning bolt down the opening.
Jon's bolt blasts down the stairs, catching the mob of dwarves who are trying to get past a mob of troglodytes who were behind them. The dwarves are blown to bits.
"Owww!" says Geezo, as the shortsword flies up into the air. A troglodyte catches him on the way down.
"More firepower please. I want to have a word with Geerzo. There is someone or thing in pain down there but I couldn't get close. It is moaning. Would someone heal me if possible?"
"How about let's come back and fight this another day?"
Jon says, "Aron, there is someone in pain down there, and my magical sword. I'm asking for help now."
Aldarin attempts to capture the troglodytes in his web spell while also clogging the entrance to the cave. "I for one do not wish to leave these evil creatures to their misdeeds until another day. The gods only know what foul deeds they may commit while we continue our journeys. I agree time is of the essence to our mission but I do believe with the combined might of our group at the present moment, it would take little effort to end these vile beast's depredations before continuing."
"He's right, Aaron. His magical sword is down there. How, I don't know, but someone needs our help down there also. I am wounded, and in need of healing," Mikodin continues, "But I am ready to assist my friend, Jon, and to help whoever is in need of aid down there. It's our duty."
Jon says, "The dwarves couldn't get away because the troglodytes were blocking the corridor. We only needed to kill the dwarves and them can take our time if the party wants..."
Tully says, "Why did you go down there?"
Jon replies, "Scouting to see what else was coming. It's not a trap and the dwarves are getting away and you can see the bolts in me. I would like assistance to kill them to say nothing of recovering my sword...PLEASE."
Tully looks to the others. "This might be a trap...."
"Perhaps so," says the voice of Goodgulf, seemingly rising into the air. You hear him start to speak a spell.
"Whatever it is, we are not prepared for it. Jon - what did you see down there?"
Jon answers, "I only went a little way down the stairs and corridor...heard moaning...was going to investigate when the stirges came. One of them hit me. I tried to kill it and found I had a cursed sword. Dropped Geerzo, killed the stirge and the 10 dwarves came round a corner. Leader picked up Geerzo, who said kill me. Retreated outside."
"The moaning could have come from one of the trogs or dwarves, or something else. I'm not against helping Jon in recovering his weapon, as long as we do it sensibly."
Looking to the spell casters in the party, "Are there any blessings or magics that you can use to see what is down there?"
"The stairs lead to a corridor. 30' down on the left is a corridor. The moaning came I think from straight ahead. I only got to before the bend in the corridor."
"YE-HAH!" Al says as he jumps down the steps and starts swinging with abandon. He starts singing an old Tantras beer hall ditty, "99 dwarves on the wall, 99 dwarves on the wall, kill one, knock 'em to the side, 98 dwarves on the wall..."
Goodgulf sighs and cancels his spell.
Jon says, "Thanks, Al..."
"Come on, Al," says Kithus, laughing, "We don't have to add insult to injury."
Op Code asks, "Can one of you spell users send a fireball down there? That should quiet them."
"That's what I was going to do," comments the invisible Goodgulf, floating somewhere overhead, "Until Al got in the way."
Jon says, "Well something else then. Slow or web, maybe or levitate the dwarf with the magical weapon so he can't get away."
"Good idea!" Tully says. Then he pauses and says, "Unless there is explosive gas in there or something. Then this whole area could be caught in a fireball of titanic proportions. Such things have happened before. Of course, it would be difficult to breathe in there if that was the case. Even so, the dwarves might have released a gas in there not to explode the area, but to kill us when we went down in there!"
Drinor says, "Bah! Ridiculous! If you're afraid to fight, stay up here and feed the horses. Get out of the way, knave!"
He charges gleefully down the stairs after Alhamet.
"I like you, Drinor!" booms Devlin. "You do things by the book!"
He goes in as well.
Jon takes a big breath. "Well, I have already thrown a lightning bolt and I was just down there and it isn't a trap."
"No offense, but you could be a doppleganger for all we know. This whole thing could be a trap. Maybe there is a reason you aren't holding our friend's intelligent sword...it would shock a doppleganger. Maybe you just assumed his form!
"Someone should check Jon out to make sure it is him."
Jon answers, "Good point. How many half elfs do you know that have a cursed sword named Sucker? And who can throw lightning bolts? That usually sneaks away? And is really not happy about loosing the magical weapon? And the sword and dwarf said kill him? Then ooops or words to that effect? Well then, I suggest you throw a fireball down there and that will fix the trap if there was one...which there isn't."
"So what if there is an explosive gas in there? We are outside! We will stand aside just in case the explosion shoots outward." Op Code responds. "And besides, my experience with dwarves says that they are not that advanced."
Tully says, "Ok."
He doesn't looked convinced, though.
"Let's not underestimate our enemies. This may not be just dwarves. We have already seen trogs and other interesting things that came out of there. Most likely this is a ploy to slow us down. In that case, who knows what might be down there, even the prisoner could be a undercover agent working to other parties going to the Sword," cautions Kithus.
"You'll never know what's down there unless we check it out. And let's not debate ad nauseum whether it is better to check this place out or think it is a waste of time. Debating is the true time waster in this universe," Op Code answers back.
Looking over at Jon and Aron, Kelar says, "Your argument is moot now. We have companions down in the hole," grumbles Kelar as he goes in after them. "And next time, Jon, if you lose your magic weapon then you might not be as stupid as to go into a hole where lots of bad guys are coming out of."
Looking over at Aldarin, Kelar continues, "As much as I agree with you about getting rid of these evil creatures, time is of the essence. You might remember that there is another group of people searching for something that they can't find until we find our item. Would be bad if they overlook something because we are playing."
"I am with Kelar," says Equinox, "If we have to deal with these things let us do it fast and move on. We should get that Sword as quickly as possible because we are in a race and because the more time we waste out here the colder it is going to get. I don't think we are going to be able to continue our quest if we are do not find the Bridge before the really cold weather hits."
"We weren't arguing, merely stating opinions. And as far as being moot, I can't hear the fat lady singing yet. I'm staying up here until I know what's down there. I'm not afraid, I'm just not reckless...today at least. Giants, stirges, trogs and dwarves coming out of a hole in a short period of time just doesn't make sense to me."
"I think, it is easy enough explained. Either we are really unlucky... or lucky depend on how one sees it, or this is set up purposefully. Since I don't believe too much in luck, although, I would like to have it once in awhile, so I think it is a set up," explains Kithus, trying to make logic out of the situation.
Op Code looks at Kithus, "Why does everything has to be logical? Can't you just accept the fact that chaos is present in our world?"
"Yeah!" chimes in Vardui.
"I accept chaos, what I can't accept is coincidence," replies Kithus. "I believe connections are there, maybe we just don't see them clearly."
Op Code replies, "All I'm saying is, after we are all here, either toss a fireball down there then explore, or seal the entrance up and continue on our merry way."
"Equinox, can you seal it up?" asks Aron.
Drinor, Devlin and Kelar rush down to join Al as Aldarin releases his spell ahead of the cavalier. Eight of the troglodytes are caught.
Al handily chops into the biggest troglodyte - the one with Geerzo - while that blade is bounced off of Al's ego. Al's next swing polishes off the monster.
Drinor makes quick work of another trog.
Devlin sidesteps a javelin being used as a thrusting weapon and chops a third monster in half.
Kelar sticks a webbed troglodyte.
All of the remaining monsters are held in the webbing, and for once no more seem to be forthcoming.
Vardui, in the background, has been dispatching sleeping monsters.
Laurie takes out a wand, points it at the entangled area, and speaks a word. A ray shoots out of it and the spell is cancelled. Equinox is finally freed.
"If you like," suggests Goodgulf, still floating overhead, to Al, Drinor, Devlin and Kelar, "I can send my fireball down there, now."
"It's like this," says Leslie. "We have a little conflict at hand. Some people want to get on after the Sword, which is fine. That's what your mission is. My mission, though, is to deal with nests of evil like what this dungeon apparently is. That is why we moved up here two years ago. No problem. There are about twenty people in this party right now. I suggest we split up for the time being. Those who want to continue on can do so. Jo-owrn, can you be their guide? Those who want to explore and clear out this dungeon with me can stay here. When we are done we will teleport out and rejoin you. Is that acceptable?"
"Sounds good to me," says Jo-owrn.
Op Code and Kithus continue their deep philosophical discussion.
"You're starting to sound like a Paladin! I can't stand Paladins, ever since I adventured with one years ago. He got on my nerves all the time." Op Code shudders.
"Here, here!" agrees Vardui.
"Did you ever think that maybe you got on his nerves?" harrumphs Drinor.
Op Code shakes his head. "More like he got on everyone else's nerves."
"Do not fear, I am not a paladin. I am pure, 100% ranger," replies Kithus with a chuckle. "It is just that mother nature could be heartless. One learns the preciousness of life after awhile."
Op Code nods, "Good! Let's keep it that way. As the saying goes 'Rangers rule, Paladins drool'."
"I totally agree." replies Kithus, "Before we get into any more arguments, should we get started?"
Drinor looks aghast at Op Code's words. "I can't believe you! I'm standing right here and you're insulting me and my profession. I don't expect all my companions in arms to be paragons of virtue, but the least you can do is not be rude. And I can assure you, I do not drool."
Op Code replies, "You know the old saying, 'Once burnt, twice shy'."
"Come on, guys, let's not fight among us. If there is any frustration, let's take it out on the monsters. Now, if we hurry, we would catch up in no time," soothes Kithus. "I am sure Op is just teasing."
"Of course I am. Paladins don't have a sense of humor," Op Code laughs. "Let's go get those monsters."
"That's not funny," grumbles Drinor, more to himself than anyone else.
Jon comments, "Op Code, there are times when I feel as though we think very much alike. Now, if we'd had a Paladin here they would have been into the battle and I wouldn't have had any trouble at all getting Geerzo back."
"Hey!" says Drinor, waving his holy symbol around in the air in front of Jon, "What do you think I am? I'm a Paladin. And I was into the battle and you got your sword back."
Jon bows in front of Drinor.
"My apologies. There are so many in this group I have yet to learn all's stations in life. Thanks for getting the sword back. Suppose you want to lead after the moaning now. Um, did I forget to mention it may not be human? I didn't get long enough to listen before I was threatened. Any ideas on how to get rid of this cursed sword?"
Jon goes and retrieves his sword. "Thanks guys...Um, I appear to still have a cursed sword that a remove curse didn't work on. Anyone got any ideas? I might have to go and get some real help somewhere. I think Geerzo and I need a real good talk now."
"Not you again!" says Geerzo, clearly unimpressed with the turn of events.
Jon says, "Well Geerzo, that was fun. Do you want to explain what went on down there? In particular the 'KILL HIM' bit? I intend to listen very carefully to what you have to say. After all if I have to destroy one cursed sword it might as well be two...or three. No, perhaps you would like to tell me more about your history....please do start.."
"Are you threatening me?" says the sword. "Watch it, buster, or I might spill the beans about you to your so-called friends! Of course I preferred that dwarf to you! I could control him!"
Jon moves to the side for a bit of privacy.
"Okay Geerzo. Fair call. Perhaps it's time we parted company, anyway. Let's discuss this after the battle in the next couple of days. I would be interested in your history anyway and perhaps we can come to a mutually agreeable separation."
"I don't have a history!" snaps the shortsword, "I'm just a happy-go-lucky sword! Enchanted by some mage in Demon's Neck long ago!"
"I will be going after the sword," says Aron.
Aldarin nods. "I agree with Leslie, although I know that the mission for the sword is imperative I also can not with good conscience leave this nest of evil to ravage the countryside. I volunteer to stay here with the good lady to assist in eradicating these vile beasts and hopefully we will be able to catch up with the rest of you before you reach your destination."
Mikodin nods along with the rest, and volunteers, "I'll stay with Jon. I think he needs a trusted friend at this point. Someone to calm him, and help him try and find a solution to his curse."
"What was the curse? I mean I know a sword is cursed, but what kind of curse is on the sword?" asks Kithus curiously, then more seriously, "I would also like to stay and help friend Jon. I would have like if everyone stayed or went, but I guess a division is inevitable."
The small hawk circling nearby drops to the ground and changes back into Ayazin.
"I for one am dead sick of dungeons and caverns, and I'm not eager to enter another just yet. I'll follow Jo-owrn just to keep the sky over my head."
Drinor sighs. "I am bound by my word to seek the Sword... but also bound by my sacred warrior vows to seek out evil and protect the weak from the wicked. If there is evil to be routed here, I cannot in good conscience pass by, especially if there is a chance that innocent souls may be suffering here. As long as we will rejoin the quest for the Sword later, I will stay here with Leslie."
"Works for me," Al says with a smile, liking Leslie's idea. "Equinox, if that's alright, I would like to join up with you later. As a warrior of Thor, I can not allow this scourge to continue if it is in my power to stop it!"
"It is entirely up to you, Al," Equinox replies, "but I believe that Thor told us to find that Sword. I am personally seeking the Sword for two reasons, both of which suggest that we should not allow ourselves to be distracted. First, because I believe that Thor told us to find it, and second, because I believe that finding the Sword is the only hope we have for rescuing our comrades Occa and Zanax whose souls are currently trapped in the underworld. You may have a third reason, to halt the spread of evil. If so, then you should consider the possibility that finding the Sword may have a greater impact on the spread of evil than stamping out the evil in this area."
"This is why Thor paired us, my brawn, your brains," Al says with a hearty chuckle. "Lady Leslie, I will regretfully pass on such an enjoyable prospect until the Sword is found. Once found, I will be back by your side, Thor willing, to combat the evils that face us."
He approaches her, kisses her right cheek then her left.
"Until then," he says with a bow.
Leslie stares at Al, an uncertain look in her eyes, and touches her hand to her cheek.
"I-I'm sure it will only be for a few days," she says. "Unless this dungeon is more difficult than it appears to be."
"Be careful.. I will leave a few for you to beat up on," he says with a smile to her.
Al prepares himself to move on.
"I look forward then to our continued companionship," says Equinox with a laugh and a smile.
Sharone shakes her head. " This is a difficult decision, but I think that staying with Leslie will give me the experience I need to undertake the search for the sword, assuming we get back to the other group in time."
Op Code agrees, "I'm game to help Leslie out."
Goodgulf and Vardui have been talking together in low voices.
"I will stay here with Leslie," says the elf. "That way I can teleport us to rejoin you when we are done."
"I'll go after the sword," says Goodgulf.
"I'm leaving," announces Farad, and he fades off into obscurity.
Jon says, "Well perhaps Farad can take me to....ooohh he's gone somewhere. Damn. Vardui, have you ever experienced a sword that was so hard to get rid of?"
"Oh sure," replies Vardui with a short laugh. "An exorcism or a wish should do it in."
Jon replies, "Vardui, is an exorcism something that a cleric can cast? Leslie, can you cast this? I feel very reluctant to go down a dungeon when I'm carrying a cursed weapon. Otherwise perhaps someone could take me somewhere where I could get one."
"Laurie can cast it," replies the ranger, "Perhaps Sharone as well."
Drinor butts in, "Maybe now you've learned your lesson about cursed magic. If I were you I'd save my pennies for when we're back in Sandas and you can go see Ray Jay. As for this dungeon, try staying out of combat and don't stray too far ahead of the group. If you must attack, use a bow, or throw a spell."
"I'm not going into no stinking dungeon!" says the claustrophobic druid Grim. "They give me the willies."
"As it stands, it looks like Aldarin, Drinor, Jon, Kithus, Leslie, Mikodin, Op Code, and Vardui will be staying to clear out the dungeon and Al, Equinox, Goodulf, Grim, Jo-owrn, and myself will be going ahead in search of the Sword? Is this correct and who have I missed?"
Sharone is also staying with Leslie.
"I will stay with Leslie as well," adds Laurie.
"Do I have Tyr's blessing in pursuing the Sword instead of staying with you and investigating this dungeon?"
"You certainly do, O faithful Aron. It is a long walk yet to the area where Jo-owrn thinks the bridge may be," replies Laurie. "I am sure we will rejoin you before then."
"If we get so far as Slave Lake before you join us then we will stop there," comments Jo-owrn.
Tully says, "I will stay with Leslie."
Jon says, "Ummmm do we have a healer staying with us?"
He motions to the bolts sticking out of his anatomy.
Jon walks over to Sharone.
"Can you help with the healing and the cursed sword? The last spell appears not to have worked..."
The party divides for the time being.
Devlin, Al, Grim, Beth, Goodgulf, Ayazin, Jo-owrn, Aron, Kelar and Equinox continue the trek.
Drinor, Op Code, Jon, Tracey, Aldarin, Sharone, Kithus, Tully, Mikodin, Vardui, Rameen, Leslie and Laurie prepare to enter the dungeon.
There is a battered signpost that the humans you originally encountered were loitering around. You pause and read it -
West: To Maenaddwyn and the Valley of the Trolls.
Then the party with Jo-owrn leading, sets off.
As the group led by Leslie head into the dungeon, Devlin, Al, Grim, Beth, Goodgulf, Ayazin, Jo-owrn, Aron, Kelar and Equinox set out down the snow covered road. It is still bitter cold, and there is 33" of snow on the ground. Jo-owrn sets a brisk pace for you, and being more skilled in snowshoes than any of you, soon starts to leave you behind. Looking over his shoulder and seeing you falling back, he slows down and lets you catch up. After that he maintains a more moderate pace.
It is late morning under a leaden sky, To your left looms the Northern Flank Range, its peaks hidden in the clouds. The road seems to be following their northerly slopes, bearing slightly south of west.
You walk until the light starts to fade late in the evening, then make a camp. The night passes without incident, safe inside Kelar's tent.