Relan and Darian are fit to adventure, so you at last return to the dungeon to complete your map.
Heading down the unexplored passage, you find that it runs for about 10' before opening up into an oblong cave (30' X 50', oriented northwest - southeast). The stream that also flowed down this passage forks in this chamber, to flow around a large, moss covered island in the centre. A fence of long steel spikes and rope surrounds the two forks of the stream and the island. A plaque by the fence reads -
"Uniduck island"
The cave appears to be empty after you search it, so you head back to the cavern where you killed the cretin and search it again for secret doors.
This time you find one...in the southeast wall. Opening it, you enter a narrow, winding passage that runs generally southeast for some 30', before you come to a cavern.
Stalactites and stalagmites circle the perimeter of the room, but in the centre all such obstructions have been cleared. Situated at one end of the clearing is a finely polished mahogany desk, behind which sits a blue plush chair. A set of bookshelves stand against the far wall and covering the floor is an exquisite silver threaded rug. One corner of this rug has been pulled back, revealing a trap door in the floor.
Darian goes over to the bookshelves and starts going through the books looking for anything interesting. "We might as well explore this room before we go down. And when we do go down, I wonder if we should make sure that there is no way that the trapdoor can't be blocked from up here. I would sure hate to get trapped down there."
On the bookshelves are various tax manuals. You get the impression that some books are missing, as there are gaps in the shelf spaces.
In the desk drawers are files containing records various employees, as well as notes on various creatures (what and how much they eat, etc.).
You get the impression that this is - or was - Zandos' office.
Then, at the back of one drawer, Darian discovers a secret compartment. In it, you discover a ruby, wrapped in a soft coth. It glows brightly...illuminating everything out to a 60' range.
Then, the lucky elf finds another secret compartment, in the chair beneath the seat. In it are 350gp.
You note that the rug is of fine quality, as well...
Gwenned will help search the room. After that, he'll make for the trap door. "Let's see what the second level is like, shall we?"
It is an easy job to open and remove the trap door from its hinges.
Under it is a shaft...descending into darkness. Rungs go down one side.
One by one, you climb down...
...and end up in a 20' square room, with stone walls. The shaft is in the southwest 10' square...from there the room runs 10' north and 10' east. The air is cold and dry. The ceiling is 10' high. A 10' wide rusty iron door is set in the middle of the north wall. The door has no ornamentation or visible locks of any kind.
Then, from the other side of the door come the sounds of heavy bolts and latches slowly unlocking. The door groans open, moving towards you. You see that the door is nearly 3' thick.
Standing in the doorway is a 7' tall man, ghostly pale, looking as if he has been stitched together from pieces of dead bodies. He wears a tattered black waistcoat and carries a tray covered with an iron bowl. He speaks to you in a low monotone -
"What-is-the-password?"
Darian takes out the gem and looks at the cloth it was wrapped in to see if there is anything written on it.
There is nothing.
Gwenned whispers to the party, should we try "Zando?"
"Sounds-close-enough-for-me," says the golem, hearing him.
He then bows and removes the lid of his tray. Revealed is a pile of treats...sugar cookies frosted with whipped sour cream with a mouse head in the centre of each.
He offers them to you.
Stump will politely decline.
"No-you-must-take-one," the golem replies in its halting fashion, offering them again.
Relan whispers to Lore, "Take one, try to use some slight of hand and see what he does if he thinks you've eaten one."
Lore grins like an idiot and takes one.
Satisfied, the golem turns to Darian.
Darian takes one, but does not eat it.
Stump then takes one from the golem as well.
Relan says aloud, "Everything in this place has been odd, but purpose seems to be the entertainment and comfort of guests. Maybe we should try one."
Relan and Gwenned each take a treat, and the golem is satisfied.
Not seeming to care if you eat them or not, the golem steps aside and you enter the next chamber.
This is a 10' X 20' room (10' north, 5' east, 5' west, door in middle of north wall).
The golem closes and locks the door behind you, then goes to the north door, unlocks several bolts and latches on it, and opens it wide.
Ahead of you is a stone corridor, dank and stinking, lit by flickering torches imbedded in the walls. The corridor teems with scurrying creatures. Five goblins rush by carrying armloads of boxes and sacks. Several bugbears pass the other way carrying long wooden planks. They in turn pass two orcs pushing a cart overloaded with meat scraps and other garbage. Two fierce looking ogres armed with large swords stalk by. They all glance in your direction but none of them show much interest in your group.
Strange.
The passage runs east - west. It is 10' wide for the first 10' in either direction, then opens out to the north, becoming 20' wide, as it continues east and west.
The golem ushers you out into the hall, closes and locks the door behind you, then walks away, leaving you.
"Here, let me try one. I have a pretty strong constitution."
Gwenned takes a bite of his cookie.
It tastes good. The mouse head is crunchy.
Darian looks at the treat in his hand. "I suggest we continue to hold onto these treats. They may be the only thing preventing these creatures from attacking us. I'm not sure if putting them in a pouch is a good idea, but I'm willing to try since if something comes at me I can turn invisible. But, I would suggest that I stand away from you before I try this."
The rest of you stand aside while Darian puts the cookie away.
None of the monsters give you more than a passing glance.
Stump will look both ways as he pops the cookie into his mouth.
Nothing strange seems to happen to him.
"Well, let's see what we can't find." Gwenned makes for the first door or passage he sees...which is the door across from the entrance.
This door opens to reveal a large hall...and you move in to see its full dimensions. From the door the walls go left and right for 5', then north for 10'. From these points the walls go east and west, respectively, for 40', then north for 30', and then close up. So, it is 30' X 100' chamber with a 10' deep, 20' wide alcove in the south wall. You see no other exits.
This place appears to have been the site of a recent battle. It is filled with overturned tables and broken chairs. Papers and broken dishes litter the floor. A goblin with a knife in his back is slumped over one of the chairs. Three dead orcs are piled in a corner.
Darian keeps his treat in his pouch not desiring to eat a mouse head.
Looking around the hall Darian says, "I wonder if our competitors have been here. That would probably explain this battle. I doubt that they left anything behind, but we should be sure. And we probably should close the doors and post a couple of guards. I'd like to search for secret doors if no one has any objections to my assignment."
"I"m sure it was them," Gwenned says, looking at the knife in the goblin's back. "Go ahead and search, I'll stand guard. If we don't find anything, why don't we go back and talk to the laborers back in the other room, they may know of another exit."
Gwenned and Stump guard the door while the others search.
Searching the room, you find nothing but 24ep and 10sp on the bodies. The papers contain only meaningless scribbles...the kind people make when they are forced to sit in on boring meetings...
Darian, with Lore helping, discover no secret doors.
You reopen the door and return to the hallway.
You head east to where it opens up to 20' in width and look ahead. The passage runs for 50', but turns north after 40' and becomes 10' wide.
You turn about and go west to where the passage opens up to 20' width and take a look down in that direction. It heads west for 50', then narrows down to 10' width again from the north and continues west. However, in the 40' - 50' section of the north wall is a 10' wide passage heading north.
Gwenned pauses, "Let's take the north passage."
You head west.
At the point where the passage narrows you look further west. You see that the passage continues for 60', turning north after 50'.
Looking north from the intersection where you currently stand, you see that this passage only runs for 10', before opening up into a chamber.
You head north to the chamber.
It is 20' X 30' (30' north, 10' west; door in south wall beside you, door in north wall east corner, passage in east wall northernmost 10' section, passage in north wall westernmost 10' section, passage in west wall southernmost 10' section). Otherwise, the place is uninteresting...being more of a meeting of passages rather than a chamber per se.
From where you stand in the southeast corner of this area, you can see down the west passage. It runs for 40', after which it ends at a "T" intersection with a 10' wide passage running north - south.
"How about the door in the north wall eastmost 10' section? It's probably a room."
Stump says "Let's go."
Lore will follow the rest of the group.
You do so...pausing to look down the east and north passages first.
To the east, the passage runs for 80' and beyond, with another passage running north in the 20' - 30' section.
To the north, that passage runs in that direction for 80' and beyond, with a passage in the 10' - 20' section of the east wall, a door in the 30' - 40' section of the east wall, a passage in the 40' - 50' section of the west wall, and a passage in the 50' - 60' section of the east wall.
You open the door before you. It opens into a large closet (10' X 30', 10' north, 20' east). It is a dark place containing rows of wooden shelves filled with towels, bedding and rags. Piles of dirty laundry are stacked at the back. Aprons, smocks and similar garments in all sizes hang on hooks along the walls.
You search the place but find nothing of value.
"Alright, let's try the north again, the first passage in the 20' section of the east wall." says Gwenned.
Stump goes to look down the two passageways.
Lore will follow the rest of the group.
You go north and look east. In that direction, the passage runs for 30', after which it ends at a "T" intersection with a passage running north - south.
Stump dashes off and looks down the west passage, 20' further up the hall. He sees that it runs west for 40', after which it ends at a "T" intersection with a passage running north - south. There is a door in the last 10' section of the north wall of this passage.
"Wow, talk about a maze. I could sure use a map right about now.", says Lore frowning. "Well, that door seems the most promising". Lore starts to walk towards the door.
Darian agrees.
"And I sure would feel better if we assigned a rearguard and picked a marching order that made sense. I just know one of these times were going to get attacked and all the fighter types will be in the back.
Lore stops and turns. "You know, that makes a lot of sense." A smile passes across Lore's face, "yeah, I really like that idea. What do you suggest?"
"Well, a thief at the front to look for traps. A row of fighters behind the thief and a row of fighters at the back. Mages and clerics in the middle as they need to concentrate to cast spells. Of course, I'm a fighter/mage so I'm not sure where I should be."
Lore shakes his head..."Figures.... Well, I'm a mage/theif so I guess that puts me near the front. Do we have any scouts in our group?"
Gwenned smiles, "I would suggest that I, who am a scout and a fighter -- a ranger, that is -- take the front along with Stump (You do have theieving abilities, don't you Stumo>). Darian, since you're a fighter/mage, why don't you take up the rear. Relan and Lore, why don't you two take the middle, since we need both of your spell-casting abilities. Is that everybody?"
Relan smiles slightly. "We are an odd group. I am a cleric, but St. Ctuhburt has blessed me with a strength that rivals many warriors. I am not a timid choir boy like many of my brothers"
"I'm all set."
That settled, you head for the door 10' back down the passage to the south.
Opening it, you see a 30' square room (10' north, 10' south, 30' east). This looks like a large bedroom of sorts. A black silk robe has been carefully laid across a large straw sleeping mat. There is a chest at the foot of the sleeping mat. There is a wooden desk in the northeast corner. Atop it is an ink pot, feather pen and a parchment.
Otherwise, the place is deserted.
Lore carefully enters the room, and moves towards the chest. Once there he checks it for traps and, finding none, attempts to open it.
Inside he finds clothing - sized for a fair-sized humanoid - and a leather pouch. Opening this, he pulls out 10sp and 8gp.
Relan will move towards the desk and investigate witout opening any drawers yet.
Atop the desk as previously mentioned are an ink pot, a feather pen and a piece of parchment. The latter, he sees, contains many boxes and check marks on it. The word "ME" is scrawled in large letters across the top. The cleric uses his brains and recognises this item to be a seating plan, with "ME" in a position of honour.
Darian turns his back on the party and stands in the doorway with his sword drawn guarding against any surprises from outside the room.
Nothing or no one disturbs you while you complete your search. You find nothing else of interest or value.
Lore says, "I want to search this room further. It seems like the OTHER group always finds tons of treasure in our wake." Lore will search the entire room carefully...looking under rugs, under the bed, in the sheets on the bed, in the black robe...everywhere in hopes of finding more treasure or a secret door.
He does so but finds absolutely nothing.
Gwenned consoles the elf.
"Don't worry Lore, they missed the ample treasure in the room above, didn't they?? Let's move on to the passages that Stump was investigating. Was it the West passage?"
Relan says, "Did you check the desk? How about the pot? Is the ink special? Any maps or inventory sheets in the drawers?"
A further search of these places turns up nothing of interest. The ink appears to be normal.
Lore shrugs.."Oh hell...let's get out of here." Lore waits for the others to leave the room, and then follows.
You leave the room and head for the corner to the west...meeting an orc just scurrying around it. He is carrying an enormous stack of dishes that prevents him from seeing where he is going. All of you jump aside and out of his way but for good old Stump. The two collide, and dishes go flying everywhere, smashing to smithereens.
The orc and Stump are sitting on the floor, looking at each other.
"Now look whatcha did, ya big palooka!" the orcs snarls, to Stump.
He is furious.
Darian attempts to find any unbroken plates and hands them to the orc saying, "Well, at least these ones survived."
"Say, what are you doing, anyway? Do you work for Zando? Just who is it that is making you/paying you all for this work?"
Gwenned helps to pick up unbroken plates.
The orcs picks himself up and mutters to himself.
"Ahhh get lost," he says, and runs back the way he came, leaving you holding the unbroken plates.
"Who's this Zando guy, anyway?" he calls back over his shoulder.
Stump will look down the hallway that the orc ran down.
He went west, then north.
Heading down to the west, then, you look north. In that direction, the passage runs for 60' and beyond, with a 10' wide passage running east in the 30' - 40' section.
Looking south, the passage runs for 60' and beyond, with a door in the east wall, 40' - 50' section.
You are currently standing beside an unopened door as well.
It is midmorning. Apart from some monsters running about, all is as it should be.
Stump suggests that you open the door beside you, so you do.
This opens into a large storage room (30' X 40': 30' east, 30' north). In here are shelves stacked with iron plates, wooden cups and eating utensils carved from bone. There are a few covered wooden barrels along one wall. In the back of the room is a large crystal fountain nearly 10' in diameter. The fountain is filled with a golden liquid that has a greenish tinge.
Darian takes one of the plates from the shelves and dips a piece of it in the fountain to see if anything happens. "I wouldn't suggest sticking a hand in there or trying to drink it, just yet. Let's see what it does to iron."
What the liquid does is to suddenly gather itself up into a translucent, jelly-like blob complete with clawed legs and a number of pipe-like protrusions sticking out of its midsection.
Darian pulls the plate and his hand away from the fountain quickly and steps back. "Hey, does anyone know what this things is?"
Relan quickly says, "Don't show hostility. For all we know, this is merely the dishwasher. He has made no threatening move towards us, as have none of the inhabitants of this level."
In reply to this the thing shoots two high pressure jets of water at Darian, striking him both times and sending him tumbling. As a result he suffers 5 hit points of damage, is drenched, but also squeaky clean, too...as is the plate he holds.
Darian scrambles to his feet, sopping wet.
"Well, know we know what it does. Of course, now I'm badly wounded and am in need of some healing. Geez, that thing has a quite a spray!"
"I stand corrected," Relan says as he moves towards Darian and prepares to cast a CLW. Darian is healed for 2 hit points.
Stump who had been circling the room at the wall, keeping his distance from the water-thing, suddenly leaps to attack it with his longsword.
Darian shouts.
"Gwenned, Lore, stop that fool! He's going to get hurt and maybe get the rest of us injured as well."
Stump stops in his tracks and says "Aw, c'mon guys. Are we just going to analyze this dungeon, or what?"
"Easy Stump. Better just to let this thing be and move on."
Gwenned will motion the others out of the room.
You head back out into the hall, leaving the dishwasher be.
You are at a "T" intersection.
Gwenned laughs, "I hear you Stump. But I think our battles are better fought elsewhere. This creature was just part of your normal dungeon clean-up crew. No treasure, no glory, no nothin' except for a lot of hurt and a lot of wasted effort."
"Did we miss any doors from where we came? If not, I vote North," says Relan, ever the Ollie fan.
"Let's head north and take the first right or left we find."
You do so.
Looking down the passage to the east, 30' up from the previous one, you see that it runs in that direction for 40', after which it concludes at a "T" intersection with a passage running north-south. However, in the first 10' section of the north wall is a door, and in the 20' - 30' section of the same wall is another door.
There are two ogres standing guard outside of this second door. They eye you but say nothing.
Looking farther up the north passage, you see that it extends a further 40' and beyond. There is a door in the last 10' section of the right hand wall.
Lore looks towards the others..."Where to now?"
Stump will go north to the door on the right hand side.
"The door it is," Says Gwenned.
Lore moves to the door, checking carefully for traps before opening it.
Lore finds no traps, but you all smell the delicious aroma of roasting meat wafting out from behind this door...mixed in with some definitely less appetizing odours that are difficult to identify.
You open the door, to see a large kitchen (50' X 70': 10' north, 30' south, 70' east; door in north wall, 50' - 60' section). The place is a flurry of activity. You see bugbear chefs and assistants working at benches and counters plucking and preparing some sort of fowl for cooking, goblins scrubbing pots and pans while more of them stir the contents of steaming pots atop iron stoves, while other bugbears work at another counter chopping vegetables and kneading bread dough.
As you stand there in the doorway looking about, an imposing bugbear wearing a greasy apron and holding a large iron spoon appears and looks at you all with disgust.
"Don't stand there like idiots," he says, "There's still a lot of work to do! Follow me!"
Gwenned stops, flabbergasted, "I have never in my life seen so many well-behaved humanoids before! Say sir, not to slow you down or anything, but we're actually working for the man up above. Could you tell us what's going on here? I mean, who are we setting the table for? Don't worry, we've been helping (a slight snicker). . .with the dishes that is."
The bugbear ignores the ranger's questions.
"You, an' you," he says, singling out Gwenned and Lore, "Come wi' me. The rest o' you go over an help wi' th' dishes."
The bugbear leads the elf and the ranger over to the stoves. The rest of you make your way over to the sink.
Now that you are within you have a better view of what is happening. Eight bugbears along the west wall are removing dead sea gulls from a large pile, chopping off their heads, plucking them, and then impaling them on spits to roast over a large fire pit. Six goblins - along with Relan, Darian and Stump, now - wash dishes and pans at a long sink that runs half of the length of the east wall. Seven more goblins stir sizzling pans and boiling pots on three iron stoves along the south wall...this is where Gwenned and Lore are led. Five bugbears work at a counter along the west wall kneading black dough and chopping vegetables. Four bugbear guards circulate throughout the room to make sure that everyone keeps busy.
Over at the stoves, Garcan - the head chef, by the way - stops and speaks to Lore.
"I want you to taste this," he says. "Give me your honest opinion."
He offers each of them a spoonful of thin gray soup with black lumps in it.
"Cream of leech," he says. "Eat it!"
Gwenned pauses for a moment to make sure none of the lumps are still moving and gives it a taste, expecting the worst.
He gets it. The soup tastes as grotesque as it looks, with a slippery, slimy consistency that is hard to describe. His stomach churns, but he manages to keep matters under control.
Realizing that he's in big trouble if he doesn't, Lore tastes the soup, trying to keep a pleasent face.
Not for long. His face puckers up, he heaves, and vomits the contents of his stomach on a passing goblin. He takes 2 hit points of damage due to nausea as well.
"So," says Garcan. "What do you think? A little more salt, maybe?"
Meanwhile, Stump, Darian and Relan are with the goblin dishwashers.
Stump asks "What can we do to help?"
"Here," says a goblin. "You dry."
"Gonna be quite the shindig tonight, eh?" says another to you.
"It's a helluva soup, chef. Salt? Yes, a little more. You know, with a soup this good, if you made it spicier, it would take the house by storm I'll bet."
Garcan beams, and the sight is enough to make you lose your lunch.
"Good, good. It's got to be perfect for t'night's do, y'know."
Grimacing while wiping the vomit from him, Lore says, "Yeah, looks like it's going to be a big one. A friend of mine was asking what it is all about and if he could join us. I wasn't sure what to say..... what would you suggest I tell him?"
"Only invited guests, bub," the bugbear moves to another stove, and takes a forkful out of a large, shallow iron tray. "Try this. Steamed beetle and goat cheese casserole. Eat it!"
"Ah, no thanks.", says Lore backing away.
"I warn't asking you...I was ordering you!" Garcan replies, and whacks Lore on the nose with his spoon for 4 hit points of damage. "Now have a taste...c'mon."
Gwenned looks at the fried beetles, reminds himself that yes, he's a ranger and is used to eating some strange foods out in the wild.
Muttering under his breath, "I can't believe I'm actually holding a conversation with a bugbear," he tastes a morsel.
Once again his stomach churns, especially when he realizes that the beetles are still somewhat undercooked...to the point of not being dead yet. He heaves, and upchucks into the casserole dish. He also takes a hit point of damage.
"Well? Well?" prompts Garcan.
Meanwhile, Stump - over washing dishes with the others - asks a goblin, "Who's the guest of honour at this festival?"
"Don't know," says the goblin. "Mortykraken's invited all of the evil gods, devils, demons and whatnots in the multiverse. Should be quite a bash if they all come."
"Silence!" commands a bugbear guard, coming over to you and glaring. "Work harder, or it's the swill pits for the lot o' you!"
The goblin shuts up and scrubs his dirty pans with renewed vigour.
Stump tells the bugbear "I have to relieve myself. Could you please show me to the washroom?"
The bugbear glares at Stump.
"Foller me," he grunts and heads for the door.
Stump follows.
As Stump leaves, Gwenned says to Garcan, "That one needs a little more time. The spices haven't quite dissolved yet."
"Well chef, you should really have your impressed tonight. I mean, this meal will be a real hit. Well, someone's been calling me to go help bring in the plates. With your permission, Lore and I will go take care of that."
Garcan suddenly realizes what time it is.
"It's time to prepare the main course!" he exclaims. "Who want t'volunteer fer butcher duty?"
He looks about the kitchen expectantly. There are no volunteers. He curses, then faces Gwenned, Relan, Darian and Lore.
"Okay, then, you guys get the job. Take 'em to the butchering room!" he orders the remaining bugbear guards.
He hands each of you a meat cleaver and sends you on your way.
The bugbears lead you north up the passage. After 10' there is another passage running east; they turn down there. It runs east for 40', but turns north after 30'. In that direction it runs for 90' (from the back wall) and ends. There is a door in the 10' - 20' section of the west wall (measured from the corner), and a 20' wide passage heading west in the 30' - 40' section.
The bugbears lead you to the door. Various scratching and clawing noises can be heard from behind it. A bugbear opens the door, and the other two hustle you all in.
Confronting you is a carrion crawler.
"Kill it, will you? It's supposed to be the main course!" says the first bugbear, and slams the door shut.
Gwenned draws his weapons, "If anyone has a nifty spell, now would be a good time! How about a sleep spell, Lore?"
Gwenned will wait for any spells before he attacks.
Lore says, "okay...you guys give me some cover while I cast a sleep spell on that thing (hope it works)." Keeping his distance from the monster, Lore waves his hands in mysical gestures and casts a sleep spell on the monster.
Darian looks at his fellow companions. "As soon as Lore puts it to sleep, I suggest we strategically place ourselves around the carrion crawler so that we kill it instantly."
The carrion crawler leaps at Gwenned, lashing at him with its 8 tentacles. One hits him, and he is paralysed.
Lore's spell goes off, and Relan and Gwenned go to sleep...the crawler is not affected, and prepares to eat the ranger.
Lore kicks Relan, who groans and wakes up.
Darian puts down his meat cleaver and draws his sword. "Let me take the shot at this creature. And wait for me to reappear." Darian turns invisible, moves a few steps to the side from where he was and attacks the creature.
Alas, Darian completely flubs his attack, doing little more than succeeding in stirring up a breeze with his wild swing.
The carrion crawler twists about and lashes at him, apparently not concerned with Darian's continued invisibility, whipping him across the face. The elf freezes up solid.
Lore next kicks Gwenned to wake him and succeeds, but the ranger remains paralysed, and helpless.
He will then turn and see if he can open the door behind him and try to escape.
The door will not open...apparently being held shut from the other side.
"Got that thing killed, yet?" asks a bugbear through the door, and you hear his companions chuckle.
"There must be a way out of here!", yells Lore. Lore moves quickly, examining everything in the room, trying to find another way out of the room.
There is none, and he ends up being chased around by the carrion crawler.
Relan will draw his mace and attacks the crawler with all his might. "Die, foul and wretched creature!"
Ignoring the cleric in favour of Lore, Relan lands a solid hit on the crawler for 7 hit points of damage. The crawler twists about to go after the cleric, so Lore then skewers it with his shortsword for 1 hit point.
Relan conks it again for 4 hit points of damage. The monster is badly wounded, now, but still it lashes out with four of its tentacles. Three miss, but the last one lashes him, raising a nasty welt that immediately goes numb. Fortunately for him, though, the numbness does not spread. Lore, meanwhile, nicks it again for 2 hit points of damage. Another tentacle whips out, and this time Relan is paralysed.
The cleric bought Lore enough time, though, and as the monster turns to deal with the elf, he plunges his shortsword deep into one of its eyes...killing it.
There is silence.
Gwenned groans, as the paralysis starts to wear off of him.
After a moment the door opens.
"Got 'im killed?" asks a bugbear, and you see that there are now four of them. "Good. Back to the kitchen, then."
They come in, lead Lore out, and pick up the rest of you...still stiff as pokers.
They take you back to the kitchen. Rounding the corner to the south, you see Stump, his back to you. He turns about as you approach.
"Back to the kitchen with you, too," says a bugbear to him.
Stump joins the party, and you are all taken back to the kitchen. By the time you arrive the paralysis has pretty well worn off of Gwenned, Darian and Relan.
"Got that crawler killed?" asks Garcan. "Good. Thanks. I don't need you no more here...go find something else to do."
You are chivvied back into the hall and left alone.
Gwenned does makes his best effort to thank Relan and Lore, but finds it difficult being paralyzed as he is.
Lore leans up against a wall. Wiping his brow, he says, "Wow that was a close one! I got lucky....." Lore looks at the rest of the party ...." so what kind of shape is everyone in? I'm only slightly hurt."
Most of you are hurt, but none seriously, so Relan saves his spell.
As Garcon goes to close the door, Stump goes to follow him.
"There must be something I can do. One more pair of hands will get the job done faster."
Lore grabs Stump's collar. With a serious look upon his face Lore growls at Stump,..."do you want to die? Let's get clear of here so that we can straighten things out!"
Under a fit of hysteria Stump, on hearing Lore, Stump says "Thank you very much. I owe you one. I was very confused as to what I saw. The last thing I remember is all but one of you being stiff and were brought back into the room by a bunch of bugbears. I hope that I am not already suffering from adventuring burnout. Pleas forgive me for any stupid acts of mine."
Lore relaxes abit..."That's okay...I've been kind of out of it myself for awhile." Lore looks around at the group, "So does anyone know what time it is and where we are exactly? I'm thinking that we really need to get back up to the surface and straighten things out. On the other hand, it might be wise to find out who this big fuss is for. Has anyone been keeping a map of this level? Maybe we can find another way into the dinning hall itself. I don't know...what do you people think?"
Stump asks Lore "Haven't I shown you the map lately. Here is the map again. There is one other way into the kitchen that we know of, but we haven't mapped the other side yet where the door is. There are a couple of guards outside room #2. Do you want to go therre or try to get to the other kitchen door via hallways, or what?"
Gwenned, now thawed to the point that his mouth works again, looks at the map.
"Based on your map, it looks like we could keep going north. It would be nice to get out of this area; I'd rather not be "employed" again."
Stump sys "You heard right. North sounds like a good direction. Is everyone game?"
Darian shakes off the last of the effects of the paralyzation.
"Sure, I'm game."
Lore says, "Sounds good to me. Let's get going." Lore walks north.
Gwenned continues as you head north.
"By the way, what did the cook say about the guests? Did I hear him right or did he say something about 'evil gods'?"
It is afternoon, and you are hungry. The headless mouse cookies were not that sustaining. Otherwise, you do not feel too bad. Other than battling the carrion crawler, you have not been engaged in any activities more strenuous than walking around or washing dishes, today.
You head north past the east passage that took you to the carrion crawler room. Beyond that intersection, the passage runs for 50', but turns east after 30', becoming 20' wide when it does.
You move up and look around the corner. The passage runs east (from the back wall) for 40', after which is a "T" intersection with a passage running north-south. Also, there is a door in the 15' - 25' section of the north wall.
Lore says, "Let's check out that door." After waiting for agreement, Lore moves to the door, and check for traps and sounds.....If he finds none...Lore will open it.
Sorry, but due to a printing error in the module I gave you the wrong size for the door. It is in the 10' - 30' section, being 20' wide. It is made of iron, and when Lore puts his cauliflower ear to it, it feels cold.
Hearing nothing and finding no traps, Lore opens it. Despise the size of the door, it swings easily aside.
A blast of cold air hits you. You are looking into a freezer (30' X 40': 10' east, 10' west, 30' north).
Frost covers the walls, and heavy slabs of frozen meat hang from hooks in the ceiling. At the back of the room is a block of ice 20' across and 15' high. The block is almost completely covered by a black cloth.
A large white toad sits in the centre of the room, facing the door and regarding you with unblinking eyes.
Gwenned moves to shut the freezer door as fast as he can.
"I've never seen a white toad before, but I have a feeling it's nothing ordinary. Everybody get a missile weapon ready. Relan, since you're a man of faith, why don't you open the door when Stump, Darian, and I are ready to fire. SOund OK?"
Gwenned gets out his bow and knocks an arrow, gets into position and waits for the others to do so.
Stump suggests to seach the room, keeping an eye on the frog.
"Was the creature alive?" Relan ponders the question for a moment. "I have heard tales of giants and dragons that live in the coldest regions, but a 'frost toad' is new to me. But i can realy think of no better guardian for a meat freezer than a cold-loving insectivore. I'm sure he keeps the humanoids out. But is he a threat to us or the people above?"
Lore says, "All I know is that it is not bothering me, nor is it guarding anythign I want. I think we should leave it alone." Lore steps aside and folds his arms, waiting for the others to act.
Darian nods.
"I don't think so and I agree with Lore that we should leave it alone."
"Oh, very well. Let's keep going"
Gwenned moves on.
Lore follows Gwenned with a small grin on his face.
You move east down the hall, then.
Reaching the "T" intersection, you look both ways.
To the north the passage runs for 30' and then ends.
To the south the passage runs for 40', turning back to the west after 30'. In the middle of the west wall is a door...open...and as you watch you see four goblins come out, carring the carrion crawler that Lore, Relan, Darian and Gwenned recently killed. The head south and around the corner, evidently making for the kitchen.
You should know where you are, now.
Lore shakes his head, "This maze is confusing. Are there any unexplored passageways left that are away from the kitchen?"
Stump says "There are lots." He pulls out the map and points to where they can go next.
Lore nods, "Good. You led and I'll follow you Stump."
Stump will lead the party to where he pointed to on the map.
You head back to the passage, past the entrance to this level where you sampled the headless mouse cookies, and east this time.
Looking north, you see that the passage runs north for 20', then opens up into a chamber area to the east.
Before you can move up there, though, you see a strange sight...an animated broom whisking its way down the passage towards you, sweeping the floor clean of dirt and debris. It is about 20' away, and moving slowly closer.
"Last thing I want right now is to pick a fight with a broom. Let's get out of the way and let it pass."
Gwenned will attempt to do just that.
"I agree!" Relan says hastily. "I'm remembering what the dishwasher did when we got too close!" Relan tries to move aside as well.
Darian gets a sheepish look on his face at the reminder of the dishwasher and steps next to Relan. "I don't want another experience like that!"
Stump will side-step the broom with Gwenned.
You all retreat, and the broom goes sweeping past you.
Moving north again, you look into the chamber (20' X 20': 10' east, 20' north; passage in east wall south half, passage in north wall east half, passage in west wall north half, broken door in east wall north half).
This chamber is barren, being just another open space where a series of passages meet.
You look up each passage and through the broken door.
To the east the passage runs for 20' and ends. There is a door in the last 10' section, in the south wall.
To the north, this passage runs for 60', turning west after 50' There is a door in the end wall, facing you. In the 20' - 30' section is a four-way intersection with a passage running east - west.
To the west the last passage runs for 60' and beyond.
You go over to the door that opens off of this chamber.
The door is completely shattered. Wood splinters are scattered about as if something burst through it. Beyond lies a 20' X 30' room (20' east, 20' north). It is bare.
Suddenly you become aware of another presence with you. It is Vs Spy, the dwarf who so abruptly vanished at the dinner table on your first evening at Castle Greyhawk.
Lore mumbles, "first animated brooms and now this..." In a much clearer voice he continues, "So what have you been up to Vs Spy?"
"Hello, Vs Spy. What are you doing here?"
Vs. Spy, after looking himself over to see if he is complete, shakes his head and confusingly mumbles "Ohh man. Where am I?" Seeing the other characters, he asks "Who are you? Oh I remember. Aren't you the lot that were in the tavern with the rest of my comrades? Where is this place?"
Answering Darian's question "Last thing I remember is being in the tavern and disappearing all of a sudden. It seems like I was in some type of animated suspension. I kept having one dream after another. Man were they wild ones. I kept seeing characters being teleported around and being changed into different outfits. I have to lay off that cheap stuff you get in taverns. It reminds me of some pills I got from those Bugger boys once."
Vs. Spy takes his place at the back of the marching order and you go into the room with the smashed door to search it. You find nothing. The place is barren.
Stump will go to the 4 way intersection and look all ways.
"We're following you, Stump." says Gwenned, then follows Stump.
You head north to the four-way intersection and take a look. To the east the passage runs for 20' and ends. To the north it continues as previously described. To the west it runs for 60' and beyond; there are doors in the north wall, 0' - 10' section and 40' - 50' section; and another door in the south wall, 30' - 40' section.
"Shall we check out the door in the 0-10' section?"
Lore nods. "Sounds good to me." Lore goes over and checks out the door, opening it if it seems safe.
Lore listens, and hears the sounds of hammering, sawing and other construction-type noises. Sounds of shouting are mixed with loud banging and screams, too.
Lore will carefully open the door a crack so that he can peer inside.
This is a large room...actually two large rooms (20' X 80': 20' north, 70' west; broken down wall running north-south at the 40' point as measured from the east wall; door in south wall immediately past the broken down wall).
In here are 12 ogres and 40 orcs, working. The broken down wall has been removed - after a fashion - to give them more space. The monsters are busy building furniture...including a wooden chair 30' tall...that is, when they are not squabbling amongst themselves. The orcs are continually slapping at each other and tossing hammers across the room, while the ogres laugh and goad them on.
Standing by the door is a very large ogre...obviously in charge of matters.
He turns as Lore cracks open the door. In a flash he has grabbed the elf by a pointy ear, flung the door open, and pulled him in.
"Good!" he growls. "We need help. Get in here, the lot of you!"
Stump talks to the ogre "We are a busy lot, but we can take time out to help you. How can we be of help?"
"Get over there and pound nails into boards!" he says, chivvying the lot of you over to a corner where eight orcs are already at work.
You take up hammers, nails and boards and begin pounding.
After a few minutes, Gwenned feels a nail hit him in the ear.
"He-he-he..." smirks an orc. "Wimpy human."
"Look at the elves, though," chuckles another orc. "Regular pansies, they are."
"Couldn't hit a nail if their lives depended on it," says a third.
"Arrrr, but don't turn yer backs t' them!" says yet another, flicking a second nail...this one at Darian...
Lore looks about at the nails flying about the room. "Listen, we have a job to do here! If we don't get this done soon all we will all be in big trouble, so come on quit playing and start working."
"Ohhh, listen to the fruitcake elf! Bein' overseer, he is! What're they payin' ya for this, elfy? They gonna let you have a nice elf-boy after th' banquet t'nite?"
More nails shower Lore, as the other orcs laugh at him.
"An' lookitthe stupid dwarf over there!" says another, motioning to Vs. Spy. "He's so dumb he can't tell which end of the hammer to hold!"
Darian ignores the orcs, for now.
Gwenned, however, grabs a handful of nails, his hatred of orcs glowing on his angry face: "If you so much as wimper at me again, I'll crucify you with these nails, punk. Wanna try your luck?"
Gwenned stands about 1 foot from his face, ready for a retaliatory strike.
The orc grabs the ranger by the nose and gives it a twist.
"It wuz crooked, wussy. I jest straightened it for you," he laughs.
"Oh boy. Here we go." Relan loosens his mace as Gwenned's face turns purple with rage, then prepares to cast a spell.
"And you just lost yours!" Gwenned attacks with every intention of skewering him. Skewer him he does, and the orc drops dead in an instant.
Seeing that all hope is lost of getting out of the room without a fight, Lore pulls out his short sword and defends himself against a charging orc. Both of them trade misses.
Darian sighs and also pulls out his sword to defend himself. He has no designs on attacking anyone, however, but he keep a spell on his lips. An orc comes at him, swinging his hammer, and nails the elf for 2 hit points of damage. Darian misses.
Vs. Spy will aim his wand at a group of orcs, orating "Look at that!"
A ray shoots out of the wand and hits an orc. Suddenly the humanoid enlarges to the size of an ogre.
"GRRRRRRRR!!!!" he says, and charges at the dwarf.
Relan, meanwhile, is blessing the party while Stump stands nearby on guard.
The rest of the monsters in the room are coming over and forming a circle around the combatants. Some are cheering and goading you on, while others are making bets.
Lore continues to defend himself as best he can.
The orc on him gains initiative but then fans on his swing. Lore thrusts with his blade, imbedding it deep into the humanoid's belly. The monster drops with a final curse.
Relan will draw his mace. "What in the 356th level of hell was that, Spy? Who's side are you on?"
An orc charges at the cleric but misses. Relan conks him as he goes by and cracks his skull in half.
"OOPS!" Vs. Spy will take out his broad sword and attack the Ogre-sized humanoid.
The orc-ogre hits first but only succeeds in bouncing his scimitar off of the dwarf's shield. Vs. Spy chops at him with his broadsword and kills him handily.
Gwenned will go to intercept the Ogre, but seeing that his help is no longer needed, veers instead and kills another orc.
Stump will proceed to attack a humanoid with his long sword. He misses. So does the orc.
The orc on Darian misses this time but the elf does not, and suddenly only two of the 8 orcs remain alive. The crowd about you is cheering, booing, and generally having a great time.
Stump tries to hit his orc again and does so. Orc guts and blood spew everywhere, as the monster drops dead. The last orc goes for Lore, but the elf is ready and plunges his shortsword down the monster's throat and then gives it a twist. The orc coughs up blood and expires.
The crowd cheers, for the most part.
"Awright, break it up! Break it up!" yells Scrud the ogre boss. "Youse guys, get outta here! I don't need no troublemakers in here!"
A moment later you all find yourselves hustled out of the room and back into the hallway.
It is getting on towards late afternoon.
Wiping the remains of two dead orcs from his cloak and robe, Lore looks at the other members of the group and says, "I don't know about any of you, but I think I've had enough for one day. It's getting late. Let's go back to the inn and rest up. I'd like to memorize another spell."
"Sounds good to me as well," Relan adds. "I have 1 cure left if we need it, but maybe we should leave the rest of this level for tomorrow."
"I think that's wise. It's been a long day" says Gwenned.
"Good." says Lore as he starts to walk in a direction that leads out of the dugeon.
Stump heartily agrees with Lore "I need a good stiff drink after today's action. One problem though. How do we get past the bouncer, who's disguised as a golem, at the front door?"
"Let's deal with that when we get there." Lore continues to walk towards the exit.
You return to the door at the southernmost extremity of the dungeon through which you came when you entered this level.
It is closed and locked.
There is no sign of the golem.
"Looks like we'd better find a room to hole up in. Got that map Stump?" asks the ranger.
"Wait. I'll try and pick the lock..." Lore moves over to the door and tries to pick the lock and open it.
After a few moments of tinkering the thief gets the lock open.
Beyond is another room...and another locked door.
Again Lore goes to work, but this time he is unsuccessful.
"Hey! Get out of there and get back to work!" shouts a voice from behind you. Turning about, you see a bugbear guard standing there glaring at you. "There's still lots to do before tonight! Move on!"
"We were told to leave after some orcs picked a fight with us. So, we were trying to do just that. Except that we can't seem to find our way. But, if you want us to do something else, then I suppose we should follow you."
Frustrated, Lore bursts out..."Why don't we just kill this guy so that I can take another shot at this door!"
"Kill me!!??" exclaims the bugbear. "It's to the swill pit for the lot of you for that!"
The bugbear whistles, and a dozen other guards come running up. They charge you, and overpower you. You are all trussed up, then carried away...through the halls of this level to the room whose doorway is guarded by the two ogres...right next to the lavatory that Stump visited earlier today...
They open the door and toss you all in.
You land in a pit, 30' deep. Each of you only take 6 hit points of damage...for your landing is somewhat cushioned by a layer of stinking sludge at the bottom. Not enough for Darian and Lore, though, as both are struck unconscious.
As you stagger to your feet you hear a rumble from above...and suddenly you are drenched in a torrent of sewage and rotting kitchen waste, which pours into the pit, filling it to a depth of 4' or so. Gwenned, Stump and Vs. Spy are nauseated, and take 3 hit points of damage apiece. Relan, however, is struck on the head by a large bone, and takes 7 hit points of damage.
He falls unconscious into the sewage, joining Lore and Darian...who are slowly drowning in it.
Next, several ropes are dropped to you by the ogres and bugbears above.
"Awrighty, you've had yer punishment," calls down one of them. "Come up when yer ready."
"Quick, V-spy! Keep Lore from dying while I work on Relan. THen i'll move to Darian!"
Thanks to your quick actions the three of you are able to keep Lore, Darian and Relan from dying.
Using the ropes and your muscles, you are able to get them and yourselves out of the swill pit.
Waiting at the top are the ogres, with buckets of water, which they dump over you, washing the worst of the swill off of you, and reviving the three unconscious party members.
Relan, Lore and Darian awaken to find themselves lying on the floor in the passage outside of the swill pit room, as the two ogres dumps buckets of water over them and Gwenned, Stump and Vs. Spy. The worst of the swill has been washed off of you all, though the three previously unconscious people know that it will be a week before they are sufficiently recovered from their injuries to feel like their old, happy-go-lucky selves again.
But the time to rest is not now, however.
"C'mon," says an ogre, tossing the last bucket of water over Lore and then plonking the bucket on his head, "Ever'body's t' report t' th' main hall. The party is about to begin..."
Lore, all of the resistance knocked out of him, silently gets up and follows the orders of the ogre.
The rest of you follow, some being supported by others.
It is evening.
You are led towards a large room to the north. (From the swill room, you head east down the passage, then north at the "T" intersection. This runs north for 20', turning east after 10'; then east for 50' in total, turning south after 40'. In the 30' - 40' section of the north wall, though, is another passage heading north. You turn this way. This north passage runs for 50', turning east after 40'; then east for >100'. In the 55' - 75' section of the north wall is a large set of doors...you are led to them.)
Going through the double doors you see swarms of goblins, orcs, bugbears and ogres. They are chattering excitedly.
You enter.
This is an enormous room (120' X 90': 25' east, 75' west, 90' north; door in south wall 10' - 20' section as measured from the west). The place has been prepared for a magnificent banquet. There are tables and chairs for hundreds of guests. The tables are loaded with platters of roasted sea gulls along with serving dishes of soups, casseroles and other treats from the kitchen. The tables also contain frosted floating eyes and centrepieces of strangleweed and retch globes. On a platter on the main table parallel to the north wall is the roasted carrion crawler with a retch globe stuck in its mouth. In the centre of the room is the fountain that attacked you earlier. Against the west wall is an enormous block of ice...with some sort of dinosaur encased within it.
Near the middle of the main table are two 30' high chairs...they look familiar. Seated in them are an ogre and a bugbear...trying to look impressive. Behind them a lurker above has been nailed to the north wall. The greeting -
"WELCOME HELLSPAWN"
- is painted across its body in large red letters.
Once you are inside, four ogre guards hand you pitchers of water.
"Keep ever'body's glasses filled," they tell you.
You get to work as best you can.
"This is not good," Gwenned tells you. "What kind of shape are you all in? I'm not in good shape by any means, I took some fair damage back there."
"I am not so good myself. I have one more cure left, if my head will stop spinning long enough to remember the words." Relan reluctantly fills a water glass.
The hours pass...and you all work hard at keeping everyone's water glasses filled.
By 10 minutes to midnight, everyone is there...about 400 humanoids of varying species, shapes and sizes.
At five minutes to midnight several servers bang iron gongs. The room falls silent.
Tension is high as the final minutes crawl by.
Midnight arrives.
Nothing happens.
More time passes.
No one moves a muscle.
Still nothing.
An hour goes by. The ogre and the bugbear at the head table shift about uneasily in their 30' high chairs. Some of the other creatures start to mutter. Two orcs begin an argument. One breaks a retch globe over the other's head.
Just as it looks like a good fight is about to break out, the room starts to tremble...gently at forst, then hard enough to rattle the glasses. The room becomes silent again as the tremours increase.
There is a crack of thunder from outside the south wall, and the door slams to the floor. Standing in the doorway is a horned fiend over 13' tall...but devilishly handsome. Three 12' high monstrosities accompany him.
Asmodeus studies the room, shaking his head in disbelief. At last he speaks, in a deep, rich voice like thunder...
"WHO DARES TO SUMMON - "
Suddenly a middle-aged man in a purple robe with a pot belly and greasy hair leaps to his feet, and Asmodeus stops in mid-sentence. The magic user thrusts his hands in the air and cries -
"Let the dead arise!"
Instantly, every roasted sea gull in the room jumps up and begins to dance on the table tops.
Asmodues watches the sea gulls for a moment, then erupts in a roar of laughter. You are all deafened. He and the pit fiends raise their hands slightly, and suddenly nine fires erupt in various places around the room.
Then, they vanish...though the smell of brimstone lingers.
The entire room is ablaze. The monsters suddenly panic, and all go fighting and screaming for the exit in one mad mob.
One of the fires is burning near the block of ice...melting it.
Lore will look around for alternative exits. He spots the second door in the south wall, which is locked.
GWenned will follow Lore as fast as he can, motioning the others over. "We'd better get out of here if we want to live, I suspect."
You go over it. The other humanoids are fighting each other to get out though the main entrance. The ice block melts.
Lore fumbles with his tools, and drops them. Picking them up, he attempts to pick the lock. However, after five minutes of trying you all realize that he is too badly hurt to have any luck with the door. His vision is blurry, his hands tremble, and after serving drinks for hours he feels as if he is ready to collapse.
By this time all of the humanoid monsters are out of the chamber, though a number of fresh-killed corpses litter the floor. The main doorway is open, and the sounds of the the humanoids can be heard as they flee from the banquet hall.
The dinosaur - now thawed - bellows loudly. Looking over, you see a trap door in the floor where the ice block used to rest.
The dinosaur lumbers across the chamber and out through the door as well.
The fires continue to burn out of control. The room is filled with smoke.
Lore says, "Let's see if we can make it to that trap door. We need to find a place to hide for the night so we can rest" Lore goes over to the trap door and tries to open it.
Relan lumbers behind Lore. "St. Cuthbert be with us, may this passage lead us to safety!"
"Run for it, boys!" Gwenned will help any party members over there that are still hurt badly, and open the trapdoor if it's not already.
The trap door is a simple wooden affair in the floor.
There is a small plaque mounted on it. It reads -
"To the next level. Do not enter unless you are very healthy or have a serious death wish."
Opening the trap door, you see a flight of stairs heading downwards to the east.
The room is now empty but for yourselves. The main doors remain open.
Seeing the sign, Lore says, "Well, it looks like the main door is our only option." Lore will look quickly around the room for valuables that he can carry and then quickly exit the room through the main doors.
The rest of you follow as best you can.
It is easy to follow the trail of the humanoids...in fact it leads straight to the entrance to this level. There, you find the doors which barred your exit to have been smashed apart by the mob.
You head upstairs to the first level.
There, the trail continues through Zando's level, and up the stairs to the Citadel Union.
Reaching the so-called civilized areas of Castle Greyhawk again, you find the populace in an uproar.
It seems that a large, panic stricken mob of several hundred humanoids suddenly burst out of the dungeon levels below, ran through the Citadel Union and across the castle grounds, and then out through the main gate without paying the exit toll.
Just wait until Akitrom hears about this.
It is about 0300 on Sunsebb 3, 381.
You return to your quarters and hit the sack after a long day of adventuring.
Darian, Lore and Relan are out of action for the next week...