September 12th dawns sunny but with falling temperatures.
You continue travelling south.
After three hours you come to a ruined castle...a short distance off the road to your left. There is a ballot box with a sign attached to it by the road. The sign reads -
"Name the Nameless Ruin contest! You could win a free t-shirt!"
"This must be the place," mutters McTavish, as he steers his wagon towards the castle.
You approach the ruin.
Once a mighty stronghold of the Empire of Saltar, you surmise, it must have been brought down by mighty forces during the invasion by Imrimil, some 600 years past. Only a few overgrown and crumbling walls remain standing.
You dismount and walk about the area.
The place seems to be deserted...until you spot the expected flight of stairs under the lee of a still-standing wall...descending into darkness. Here, you see some tracks in the dirt.
McTavish inspects them.
"Kobolds," he snorts.
"So many places have wound up deserted. This place has seen a lot of conflict." comments Illyana, looking around.
"Looks like we'll need to go down a few levels to get to the good stuff." says Farad, regarding the tracks.
"Aye," McTavish says, nodding.
"Wonderful, grubby little critters who love to play tricks." says Illyana.
"Is that bad?", asks Raz a bit apprehensively, regarding the kobolds.
McTavish glances at him.
"Get a grip," he says.
You go downstairs.
The stairs go down to the east...and at the bottom is an octagonal-shaped chamber (left wall runs northeast for 20', then east for 10', southeast for 20', south for 10', southwest for 20', west for 10', then northwest for 20'; however, the entire last (northwestbound) side is taken up by a 20' wide passage running west).
This barren chamber holds nothing of interest.
Looking down the west passage, it runs for 60' (along the north wall) and on into dreary darkness.
You head down there.
However, in the 30' - 40' section the floor suddenly opens up under Britan, who happened to be leading, and he tumbles into a 10' deep pit for 2 hit points of damage.
With a grinding noise, the north and south walls of the pit begin to slowly move together...
"Quickly", says Raz, "get some rope down there"...
Banquo quickly flattens himself along the ground at the edge of the pit and reaches down for Britan saying, "Come on stumble-foot up you go."
Britan is hauled out in plenty of time.
You stand and wait until the walls have come together...then you merely walk across and comtinue on your way.
In total, the passage is 100' long along the north wall. At that point it opens up into an odd-shaped chamber (Right wall runs northeast for 10', then west for 40', south for 10', southeast for 10' southwest for 10', south for 10' and east for 30'. To your left is a 10' wide passage running east.).
This chamber - like the first one - is barren.
You look down the east passage.
It runs east for 60'...right at the limit of your vision it appears to open up into another chamber.
You move into this passage...but as you do so, you hear someone say -
"Oof!" behind you.
Looking back, you see a small humanoid creature, lying flat on his face behind Humphrey. He clutches a gleaming dagger...which the fighter immediately recognises as being his.
In the wall some 6' back you see a small opening that was not there a moment ago.
The monster is scrambling to his feet.
Banquo yells, "Humphrey, grab him."
He also readys a dagger to throw. If the Kobold gets away from Humphry, the Kobold gets it in the back.
Humphrey moves so that he is between the small opening and the creature, with both short swords out, one guarding the way the party has just came.
"Drop the Dagger", he says smiling.
"PPPPPPPTH!" the monster replies, throwing the dagger at Humphrey...and doing it so poorly that he imbeds the blade in his own foot...severing an artery and killing himself in the process.
Humphrey, looking dumbfaced, pulls the dagger out and tries to bind the poor creatures wounds.
It is too late..the monster is already dead.
"Ouch," winces Illyana. "I didn't think these guys were that weak."
Britan starts to laugh and says, " What a pitiful creature he was."
Banquo says, "Yup, that's a kobold. OK folks, I think it is time we rethought our marching order. Britan, I don't think you have any detect or tracking skill, correct? I also do not believe the rest of you do either, except maybe Farad. I have both and believe, against my natural inclination and better judgement, that I should lead for a while. At least until we run into the higher level resistance areas where a stronger party member should probably take over."
Aldarin replies, "Actually I also have both skills, but if you wish I will act as backup for you."
Afterwards Humphrey looks at the party "Shall we explore this entrance here."
He puts the dagger away. "I wonder if it is cursed?"
Looking into the opening that the creature evidently came out of, all you see is a small niche. Apart form some small stones, a pewter buckle and a leather hat, the place is bare.
"Let's go east," says McTavish.
60' down, the passage opens up into a large chamber (40' X 60': 30' south, 60' east; 10' wide passage running south out of south wall, east corner; 10' wide passage running southeast out of east wall north corner).
In here are three giant frogs...similar to what you once fought in the Megadungeon last spring. Of course they launch themselves at you...
Britan leaps foward tword the Giant frogs and begins to hack the froggies to pieces with his long sword. " Anyone for frog legs tonight looks like there will be plenty."
Sharone holding a lantern in one hand and her mace in the other positions herself to give the fighters as much light as possible.
" I think my mace will turn your frogs legs into puree, anyway you seem to have everything under control"
She stand ready to assist if anyone looks like they need help.
Raz steps back out of the range of combat and keeps and eye on the rear...ready to cast magic missle spells if need be.
Illyana draws her sword. "Strange creatures living down here."
"Nothing stranger than anywhere else we've seen."
Farad attacks with his sword.
Humphrey pulls his two short swords and attacks, "Great jumping jupiter, Farad".
Banquo quips back, "Holy Hopping Horned Toads Humph," and draws his sword while advancing. He is careful to watch the fangs and mouths to prevent bites or being spat on. "Are these creatures poisonous?"
The frogs leap through the air at you...landing and attacking Humphrey, Aldarin and Raz!
Humphrey dodges the long sticky tongue that comes snaking towards him, and kills the frog with a single blow.
Aldarin likewise dodges a tongue...then misses with his flame tongue.
Raz runs back...but the frog lands on top of him...swallowing him almost completely!
The two topple to the floor.
Only the soles of Raz's feet remain visible...sticking out of the masticating monster's mouth. He takes 7 hit points of damage.
The rest of you attack.
McTavish kills the frog attacking Aldarin.
Farad steps up to the last frog and kills it...being careful not to stick Raz in the process.
You help to free the mage from the craw of the dead frog, while McTavish and Banquo look for loot.
They find a grand total of 9sp.
"Big deal," says McTavish. "If you're finished horsing around with that dead frog, Raz, let's go."
You look down the southeast passage. It runs for 60' and ends at a door facing east.
You look down the south passage. It also runs for 60' before ending at a door.
"By the gods!", exclaims Raz as he is extracted from the dead body of the frog. You notice that Raz's bottom lip is cut and that he is bruised abit, but besides that he seems pretty much okay. "That's the last time I hold off casting spells", he says when he has finally gotton a grip on himself.
Kelar chuckles.
"You know Raz it could have been your robes swirling around you that confused it.
"Or he was just trying to get away from Humphrey and the boy wonder over there."
Banquo grins and says, "Knowing Raz it was just that his fly was open. Now, from watching Raz in bars, this repulses most human creatures but frogs have strange tastes."
Humphrey smiles at Raz as he gets out of the frog, "Raz, you are always looking for spell components in the most unusual places."
Banquo says, "Not a bad idea."
He draws a dagger and prceeds to perform some minor surgery on the mouth of one of the frogs. He pulls out a vial and collects something in it, stores it in his pack. "Ok, let's go. Aldarin, I did not mean to usurp you if you would like to lead. I just saw that Britan did not seem to have those skills. Perhaps we should alternate...your turn."
He motions Aldarin forward and falls into second place for now.
As the pary continues to walk onward, Raz is heard quielty muttering to himself.."...do I look like a fly?", he is heard to ask himself.
You head down the southeast passage to the door.
Opening it, you see a room (20' X 20': 10' south, 20' east; door in west wall south corner; door in north wall east corner; door in south wall east corner). Apart from all the doors, the room is bare.
You head in to poke about.
As soom as you are all in, the door behind you slams shut...and you feel a downward motion...
"Far out!" says McTavish. "An elevator room!"
After a moment or two it stops.
Since Humphrey is closest to the door that shut on them, he will see if there is a button to push or if he can force the door open.
There is no button. There is a knob, though.
"How do we get it to go back?" wonders Illyana.
"We'll worry about that later. Lets see what's beyond the door now." says Farad.
"I really hate these rooms. What do you find so exciting about them McTavish?" says Kelar.
"Always something new," McTavish replies.
"Humphrey hold that thought. Don't open it untill we are ready who knows what is waiting for us on the other side."
Sharone looks around the room. " Which door are we going to investigate first?"
"Perhaps securing the others might also be a good idea cause we really don't know how deep we are and the last thing we want is defending different directions"
She looks around the group awaiting there response.
Britan looks at Sharone and says, "Well if there is anything behind these doors you can just about bet that they will not be friends of ours."
"Seal the rest of the doors. Lets go out the same one we entered." says Farad.
"Sounds good to me." Britan says as he begins to help seal the doors.
McTavish takes some spikes out his pack and you jam the other doors shut.
You reopen the northwest door.
Beyond is a room (hexagonal-shaped: right wall runs northwest for 10', southwest for 10', south for 20', southeast for 10' (door), then northeast for 10' (door to your left). The place is barren but for an enormous pile of coins...gold and platinum...thousands of them...sitting there like they owned the place.
"Oho!" says McTavish, an avaricious glint in his eyes.
You head in, Aldarin leading, taking all of the usual precautions and searching for all of the usual things such as traps, hidden creatures and concealed doors.
The treasure pile looks to be exactly what it is.
Suddenly you become aware of the fact that Raz seems to have acquired an extra shadow, that is following him around. It vaguely resembles the shadow that the departed party member Sasha had...before Rane and J'Harast murdered her...
"Let's take the loot," says McTavish, "Then open another door."
Farad smiles. "Sho me da money!"
Raz's head whips around and looks at the shadow following him. He studies the shadow intently for a few seconds before following the group. He keeps a close eye on the shadow while doing so though. You notice that Raz looks abit nervous.
"What? I never understand these places at all." says Illyana for some reason. "Shadows again? Did Sasha lose hers?"
Farad then notices the shadow.
"A darn tween. When I can go back to the ethereal I'll slay it. But for now you are the lucky one Raz and the rest of us will be down on our luck.
"Relax Raz. If anyone should be nervous is is us. You have all the benefits of the thing."
"What is it? What does it do?", asks Raz, a bit embarrassed that he doesn't remember anything about Sasha's shadow.
"What's a tween?" asks Illyana.
"An ethereal creature that likes to help people. Unfortunately, while the thing helps the person it links to, it does so at the expense of everyone else around. So Raz will be extremely lucky now, and the rest of us will not be. Luckily our enemies will also be equally as unlucky in its presence."
"ahh.", nods Raz, now understanding the shadows nature. He still looks a little nervous still. "Is there anyway to communicate with it?", he asks.
Britan watches the Shadow and the rest as the gather up coins and watches to make sure nothing happens.
You count the coins...7000gp and 6000pp.
You return to the elevator room and open the south door after removing the spike.
Beyond is a large room (40' X 40': 10' west, 20' east, 40' south), with three men and a woman in it, dressed in normal clothes and armed with broadswords.
The men jump Humphrey and Aldarin before they can react. Humphrey is missed by a wide margin...but Aldarin is cut for 8 hit points.
Raz launches a volley of magic missles at the people.
The man attacking Aldarin is badly hurt.
"Hel.. Guess not." Illyana draws her sword.
Humphrey uses both swords to defend himself against his attackers.
The big fighter barges in, forcing the man back and allowing Illyana to attack the woman. However, Humphrey fans badly with his glowing shortsword, and takes a chop for 6 hit points of damage. The fighter connects with his second weapon, but the blade bounces right off of the man.
"Oh-oh," says McTavish, noticing this.
Illyana attacks the woman with her old two-handed sword...but the blade does not hurt her.
"Oh-oh again," says McTavish, as he watches from the rear with Banquo.
Illyana in turn is struck for 3 hit points of damage.
"Don't hog all the action folks," as Farad tries to get in on the attack using his sword.
Darting in behind Illyana, he goes to her aid. Using his glowing longsword, he opens up a nasty wound across the woman's breast.
Aldarin attacks, and cuts down the man attacking him without difficulty.
As the corpse hits the floor it suddenly transforms into a large rat.
"Wererats!" exclaims McTavish, from a safe distance.
Kelar draws his newfound scimitar and heads into the battle, making sure that the medallion is on the outside of his shirt.
"Well at least we know that someone else is as lucky as us."
The elf attacks the wererat on Humphrey, but misses with both weapons.
Seeing the wererats Raz unloads another round of magic missles at the offending creatures...
His missiles kill both remaining creatures...who transform into large rats.
Searching the room and the bodies, you find no loot.
"North door," says McTavish, going back into the elevator room.
That door opens to reveal a 10' wide passage running northeast for as far as you can see. In the 50' - 60' section of the left wall is a door.
You head up to the door.
Looking ahead, you see that the passage continues for a further 60', then opens up to the north at the limit of your vision.
You open the door.
Beyond is an odd-shaped chamber (wall to your right runs northeast for 20', west for 70', south for 30', east for 40'; 20' wide passage in north wall last 20' section running north; 10' wide passage running west out of middle of west wall).
This place is bare but for a few coins lying on the floor. Picking them up, you find that you are 6pp richer.
You look up the passages.
To the north, the 20' wide hallway runs for 60' and on.
To the west, the 10' wide passage runs for 60' and on.
"West," says Farad.
You go west.
50' down the passage, though, the floor suddenly opens up beneath Aldarin and Banquo...revealing a shaft.
They fall out of sight.
McTavish and Farad, right behind them, fall down the shaft as well.
Aldarin, Banquo, McTavish and Farad each take 22 hit points when they hit the bottom.
Banquo is knocked unconscious by the fall.
Those remaining above shine their lights down the shaft, to see the rest some 50' down...apparently on another level.
At the bottom, a 10' wide passage runs east - west...60' east (turns south after 50'), and 60' west and on.
Banquo is bleeding heavily.
Britan looks down the hole and says, "Everyone ok, we will see if there is any rope to drop down to you guys."
Aldarin is looking really bad as he says, "I think I'm going to probably need some healing before we carry on...", rubbing various body parts that are now aching. "A great pair of scouts we are."
Farad heals everyone as best he can. "Great. Looks like we might be stuck here a week or so while this fellow recooperates."
Banquo, a notorious sleeptalker, says,"Ouch! I don't wanna go to school Mom."
Shakes his head he wakes up, and says,"Aldarin! Get in the back, my turn to lead...Assuming I can still walk after that fall."
Farad suggests we climb back up and retreat until Banquo is well enough to again travel. "But at least we have found a deep level now. Maybe there will be something other than kobolds down there."
Farad shouts upward. "Toss down a rope!"
Raz takes his rope out from his back pack..ties one end to something nearby - namely Humphrey - and throws the other end down the shaft.
"Let's see in the back I have people still my daggers and kill themselves with them, in the front they fall down on the job and get hurt. I'll stick back here." says Humphrey.
Kelar helps Humphrey with the rope.
"Farad what is down there anything?"
You climb back up the shaft, Farad helping Banquo up.
Sharone takes her first-aide kit out and bandages Banquo's wounds.
"Does anyone else require help ?" she looks around the group.
You return to the elevator room...enter it...and wait...for five hours.
Suddenly the door slams shut, and up you go...
Reaching the top level, you make your exit from the dungeon.
It is evening when you get back outside.
You move some distance away and make your camp...settling in for the next week while Banquo regains his strength.