The next morning Valdar returns, with Al's hole, but minus the dwarves.
"Boy...they were pretty pissed when they came around," he comments. "Oh well...they're Stiff's problem, now...and Oh Well's, too."
Angst speaks.
"Occa did you have to override their sense of honour, or are you without feeling for the honour of those who have been captured. The dwarves may have died in the next encounter but at least they would have died knowing that they were worth something, and not just a lot of trussed up little lambs awaiting the knife of the butcher, or a herdsman to rescue them from the knife. You gave them no choice to decide on their own fate and decided for them. Are you responsible for the lives of us all or are we our own person's who can decide on our own fate, and so were the dwarves.
"Let us move on ."
Occa says, "I am responsible for the ignorant and the weak because I am neither. If they spend the rest of their days hating me...that is no problem with me...at least they will have more days to spend. I do not pretend to be fair and would not wager someone's life, as you would, in order to make my point. You have not met any creatures in this dungeon yet...so you do not know what it is like. I will forgive your ignorance, but you will see shortly that it would have cost them their lives. You may be able to live with that, but I won't if I can stop it."
"He was in the army once," says Pharian to Angst, as though that explained everything.
Gonzo pipes in "Me dinks dis place big enough for many clans. If not populated wid good peoples, den da evil ones come back. Me likes dwarven folk and dwarven folk make good place to live. If you don't like dwarven place to live, den you find other place to live."
"Me invite me clan to live here, but dey has new home, maybe dey like it better. If not, and dey come back, den we have good folk to protect that which we is working so hard to clean up."
"Now if youse pleases, lets git on wid da job we is here ta do. KARUMBA!"
You head north from the chamber where you found the troublesome dwarves...probably arguing as you go.
After 60' there is a 4-way intersection with a 10' wide passage running east - west.
You look each way.
To the east, the passage runs for 40'...then turns northeast.
To the north, this passage continues on for 50'...after which it opens up into a chamber.
To the west, the passage runs for 40'...then opens up into another chamber.
From this latter direction comes a disgusting odour...accompanied by six trolls...
They are about 30' away...
Pharian pulls out a wand, aims it at the nearest troll, and says "Yowza!".
Suddenly a field of daisies springs up around the trolls.
They stop, defecate on them, and then resume their charge.
Then Pharian puts on his ring of invisibility.
Cannon Fodder pulls out his wand of wonder and points it at the trolls saying "Surprise."
One of the trolls suddenly enlarges...to the size of a fire giant.
Occa looks around for invisible foes.
He sees none.
Angst draws the two new swords and moves forward to attack.
BrightAxe will cast Prayer, then attack the trolls full out happily swinging two hand axes...he'll be a wimp and back out if he falls to 10 % of his hitpoints and look around for people to bind or cast cure lights on.
"woo-hoo it's fighting time !"
Darian pulls out his sword and moves up in front of the mages, but does not charge the trolls. "Folks, let the mages have the first volley. The fighters can take care of whatever is left standing. I do wish I had kept that flametongue, though..."
"If someone has a torch, they might want to get it ready. I think that is the only way to prevent them from regenerating..."
Angst, Darian and Arrrgh! meet the trolls as Brightaxe completes his prayer.
Angst begins the fun by easily connecting with his bastard sword. The troll staggers under the blow...but comes back clawing and biting for 6 hit points of damage.
Darian misses badly with his new longsword while the troll on him is unable to penetrate his stoneskin.
Arrrgh! also misses badly to start..then suffers 5 hit points of damage.
Brightaxe and Gonzo move up to join the melee...as does Al.
"Smooth move, Occa Jr.," Al says with a smile to Cannon Fodder as he slices and dices his way through the trolls. He looks carefully to see what his new sword does....
Easily ducking under a swinging claw, Al chops at the troll with the khopesh sword...then dodges another claw and chops again...leaving the monster badly wounded.
Brightaxe is whacking troll meat !
...or trying to...as both he and the troll miss...
Darian attacks the troll again. "Mages, you might want to do something a little more effective than cast daisies and make our opponents larger... Maybe a lightning bolt or two? Some magic missle, perhaps?"
Darian is missed three more times - once thanks only to the stoneskin spell upon him - but this time lands a solid hit with his frost brand.
"Hold your horses Darian." Jesse says, as she casts three magic missles at the trolls.
The troll on Angst drops, Darian's troll is all but killed, and Arrrgh's troll is hurt.
Cannon Fodder looks over at Pharian and says, "Cool...two wands of wonder in one group." He gives the big thumbs up and points his wand that way again, "Surprise!"
Occa considers making some popcorn, but then realizes there won't be enough time.
A lightning bolt crackles forth from the wand and strikes Gonzo's troll...damaging him somewhat.
Suddenly Pharian appears at the far end of the passage...behind the trolls, as he lets loose with a magic missile spell. The troll on Brightaxe is badly hurt.
Angst turns and helps out Darian and easily kills the monster.
Arrrgh! takes another 7 hit points of damage before chopping off the troll's offending arm...then he and the monster trade misses for awhile.
Gonzo contorts his face, imagining what it would look like to be troll-faced... and wades into the attack with a loud "KAAAAAARUUUUUUUUUUUUBA!!!!!!!!"
Gonzo joins in the fun...nearly killing his troll with one swing...before finishing it off with his second.
Next, Arrrgh! and the troll on him continue to miss each other, as Al polishes off his troll and Brightaxe does likewise with a final flurry of his two axes.
Angst helps out Arrrgh! next and makes short work of the final troll.
BrightAxe feels good and looks to see if anyone needs a cure light.
"Save your spells, Brightaxe. I can heal more efficiently." Darian moves over to Arrrgh!, puts his hand on the wounds and concentrates on healing them.
"Don't ask, Brightaxe," Orlon remarks. "I don't feel like getting into another discussion, or agruement if you wish, about Darian and his psionics. Just let him do his thing."
Darian flashes Orlon a friendly smile. "Thanks, Orlon. You're learning, I see. But, what's an agruement?"
"Now you know why I took up map maker as a hobby and not writing tomes," Orlon tells Darian.
Darian chuckles.
Jesse begins to sing, "Map maker, map maker. Make me a map."
Arrrgh! is healed.
Orlon will take a look at the chamber that the trolls came from. Angst follows him.
It is small and filthy (20' square, 10' north, door in east wall to your right).
Once a small torture chamber, little remains of its original function but for a number of rusted chains hanging high up along the walls, and a fire pit in the centre...now filled with filth and garbage.
The door to your right has a small, barred window in it.
You search the chamber...and discover a grand total of 2000gp.
You take a look through the barred window in the east door...
You see a 10' square room with some chains and shackles hanging from the walls.
Opening the door, you go in and search this room.
Immediately, you notice that one of the flagstones in the floor is loose...
Prying it up, you find more goodies underneath: 2000pp and a pendant worth 2400gp.
Occa says, "Let's go back to the main chamber with all those corridors and head down one of them."
Occa will head back that way with Cannon Fodder leading...of course, since neither has any sense of direction they will probably turn down any corridor they don't think the party has been down before.
You return to the dwarf's chamber and head east.
This 30' foot wide passage runs for 70' and ends.
Valdar checks for secret doors but turns up nothing.
You return to the chamber.
You next head south...down the eastern of the two southbound passages.
This passage also runs for 70'...turning west after 60' and becoming 10' wide. To the east, it runs for 30' and then ends at a chamber (20' X 30': 10' north, 10' south, 20' west; opening in north wall west half, 10' wide passage running south out of south wall west half, opening in south and east walls southeast corner). This chamber is bare.
You go and look though the openings and down the passages.
To the north is a 20' wide passage running east - west. To the west it runs for 60'...opening up into a chamber right at the limit of your vision. To the east it turns north, remaining 20' wide...and heads for the dwarf chamber. Right across from you is a 10' wide passage running northwest.
You go and look down the passage to the south.
This passage runs for 60' and on.
You go and look through the southeast opening.
This is actually a 20' wide passage running south (10' east). It runs in that direction for 60' and on.
You head down this latter passage.
This passage runs an additional 20' and ends at a rough wall. A few ancient digging tools are here. In the 0' - 10' section is an opening in the west wall...connecting it to the parallel passage to the west. It occurs to you that perhaps all of these passages that you have explored in this complex were once mining tunnels...cut in twisting and erratic paths through the rock as the dwarves followed veins of ore. As the veins played out the dwarves then finished the passages and converted them and the mining chambers that opened off of them into their living areas.
It seems that this would answer the question as to why the passages are so random in their directions, anyway...
You check the parallel passage to the west.
It ends immediately to your left.
Finding nothing down here, you return to the last chamber you visited, go through the opening to the north and down the west passage to the chamber that you glimpsed down there.
This turns out to be the chamber where the party torched the land lampreys. Four exits go out of this chamber. A 5' wide passage heading north makes for the area where you fought the red dragons. To the west is the 40' wide passage with the murals. Another passage runs west that is unexplored...and a last passage runs southwest...unexplored as well.
"Let's go southwest." suggests Darian.
Occa says, "Okay, Southwest it is..."
Cannon Fodder heads off that way.
"Okay with me...southwest I follow..." says Brightaxe.
You go southwest.
After 60' on the right hand wall is a passage running west. This passage continues beyond the intersection for another 50' before ending at a wall facing south.
To the west, this new passage runs for 60' and on...along the right wall.
Valdar dashes down southwest, checks for secret doors without luck, then rejoins you.
You go west.
This passage runs west for another 60'...before ending at a "T" intersection with a 20' wide passage running north - south.
To the south, this passage runs 40' and ends. To the north, it runs for 30'...then there is another "T" intersection with a 10' wide passage running east - west.
You go north and take a look.
To the west, this passage runs for 60' and on. There is a door in the 10' - 20' section of the north wall.
To the east, it runs for 60' and on. In the 10' - 20' and 50' - 60' sections of the north wall are passages running north.
"Let's check out the door in the west passage. Cannon Fodder, should you check for monsters?"
Cannon Fodder says, "Probably."
Cannon Fodder runs down the corridor.
"I guess that means he was out of charges on his wand of enemy detection?" wonders Darian.
"How is that not checking for monsters ?"
BrightAxe is starting to really like Cannon Fodder.
"It's not that it isn't, it's just that it's not as safe."
"After we are done with behind the door, we should head west, as we have been to the east and the two north corridors that way," Orlon tells the party. He then gets ready to cast a prayer if the party encounters any monsters.
Angst trots off after Cannon Fodder, down the passage to the west.
"By the way what is the marching order?" he asks over his shoulder.
Jesse looks at Angst, "What's a marching order?" the bard asks, "We usually play follow the leader. We're not real organized here, more of chaos than anything else. Except for Al, over there, who's a bit too uptight for us."
"Jesse, this is for you," Al says as he sticks out his tongue at her and smiles.
Occa has his unseen servant open the door.
Beyond is a chamber (20' X 30': 10' east, 10' west, 20' north). A reception chamber, some smashed and broken old wooden chairs are all that remain of the furnishings. A tattered old curtain hangs over the east wall, northernmost 10' of it. From behind it come feminine voices and moaning noises...
"Ohhhhhh...baby...come on...I want it....mmmmmmm...."
Then, you hear the sound of running feet from down the passage to the west. It is Cannon Fodder...running back towards you with three frost giants in hot pursuit.
He successfully detected some enemies...and he didn't even need his wand to do it...
He gallops past Angst...leaving the ranger to face them...
Occa will have his unseen servant tear down the curtain. "This should be interesting."
The curtain comes down...revealing an opening in the east wall. The wall on the right side runs northeast for 10'...then the whole thing opens up into another chamber to the north.
"Uh-uh-uh...come to us..."
Angst charges the giants so that they do not get an advantage of the charge.
Whith a clash of weapons the giants attack the ranger.
Angst is nailed for 17 hit points of damage. He replies in kind and lands a devastating hit on a frost giant.
Another giant attacks...but misses.
Jesse will let rip a lightning bolt spell at the giants. "You can't have him. He's mine." she says as she casts her spell.
Two giants take the forked bolt and howl in pain.
As soon as Cannon Fodder feels he is safe, he whirls about with his wand of wonder and say, "Surprise!"
Suddenly Cannon Fodder shrinks...until he is only 6" tall.
He gives Pharian the big thumbs up as he hopes for the double whammy.
Occa will watch the room to see what is behind the curtain...if obviously evil, he will lightning bolt it.
Thus far the source of the voices remains out of sight around the corner.
"Pllllease..? We want you all..!"
"Good Job Mr. Fodder! You detect enemies with the best of them." Brightaxe pauses wishing he had saved that prayer instead of throwing it on stupid trolls while the inital magic volley rips into the giants, then with a blood lust reserved for giants he takes his dwarven body into the mingle and make icy giant chunks.
With Brightaxe, Arrrgh! and Gonzo also move up.
Pharian looses a magic missle at the giants, then turns his attention to the passageway behind the curtain.
The giant that clobbered Angst is looking very badly injured...his flesh dropping off in flaming chunks...after Pharian's missile strikes him.
Angst punches upwards with his sword, finishing the monster off by disemboweling him.
The other giant swings his club, though, and the ranger takes another 16 hit points of damage.
BrightAxe sings a giant slaying song... while he does what he does best .... whackity whack whackity whack.
His first axe bounces off of an armoured kneecap...then a club crashes down from above...and hits the floor beside him. Brightaxe's second axe connects...cutting the already injured giant.
Gonzo charges after the second giant...easily skewering the monster with his flame tongue.
The giant drops in flames.
Arrrgh! helps out Brightaxe and does so by chopping a large chunk of foot off of the monster.
Orlon attacks the giants. "Big bruiser, do your stuff," he cries out.
The giant is indeed bruised by the mace...
Occa casts wizard eye and sends it around the corner.
He sees six leucrotta.
Darian draws his sword and steps in front of Occa to protect him against the source of those voices. He makes no move to enter the chamber, though.
Cannon Fodder shrugs at his height and says, "Well, I guess I really am average size finally." He points his little wand at the last giant and says, "Surprise!"
Suddenly the giant slows down.....
"Have at thee, foul beasts." Al says as he charges the giant w/Claw.
The paladin lands the final blow...and there are three dead frost giants lying on the floor.
Jesse takes out her wand of magic missiles...and then puts it away again.
As the battle ends, the leucrotta decide that their ruse is not going to work, and so come charging into the chamber...to come face to face with the elf-warrior Darian.
Darian blocks the entrance as best he can trying to keep the leucrotta away from the spellcasters until the other fighters can help. "Occa, you might want to use that lightning bolt now."
"Hey cutie," says a leucrotta, as it and another attack the elf. Both of them miss badly. Darian also misses.
Brightaxe rushes back to help Darian...and commences whacking off chunks of meat from a third leucrotta.
"Darian, would you like to handle this by yourself ?" Al asks with a grin as he readies himself, but awaiting Darian's answer.
"Sure, Al, I'll gladly accept some assistance. If I wasn't worried about the mages, I might take them myself, but I don't think that's wise right now."
"Hey Darian. Why don't you use your psionics on these creatures? Or would you like some help with them?" Orlon asks as he prepares to move in to battle the Leucrotta.
"Yeah...try healing them!" adds Valdar with a chuckle.
"Are they psionic creatures? If not, then there's no use. Ray Jay told me that you have to be very powerful in order to attack non-psionic creatures and I'm apparently not that powerful."
"It's nice to know that you still have a grasp on reality, unlike some folks," Orlon smirks at Darian.
Darian grins as he fights the leucrotta. "Hey, when you are one of the wimps of the party, you learn your limitations fast or you die often. Even when you learn them quickly, you die occasionally. Especially if the rest of the folks in the party don't have a grasp on reality."
"Reality?" asks Valdar. "What's that?"
Orlon moves with Big Bruiser and you hear leucrotta bones crunch...
"Time to get down to business," Al snarls as he swings at the closest enemy...
As Al swings he is bitten for 10 hit points of damage...before connecting himself and sending up a shower of leucrotta blood. He swings again...and the leucrotta drops dead.
Angst keeps a close watch down the passage to the west...just in case more giants are about.
Jesse will again take out the wand of magic missiles and point it at the new foes, "Dance damn you." she says
A missile spits forth and hits the last leucrotta...who is moving to attack Al.
Occa smiles and lets loose his lightning bolt, splitting it before it hits the foul leucrotta. He says to Darian, "How did you know I was thinking of using lightning bolt?"
"You mentioned it earlier..."
Two of the monsters are blown to smithereens...the second creature on Darian and the monster who just got magic missiled.
Cannon Fodder points his miniature wand of wonder at them and says, "Surprise!" in a very small voice.
A strong gust of wind blows over the scene of the battle.
"You know Cannon Fodder, that wand hasn't been terribly useful so far..."
Three leucrotta remain.
This time Darian lands two quick chops with his frost brand...leaving the one leucrotta badly hurt. Gonzo charges in and easily finishes off the monster.
Brightaxe chops off another piece of leucrotta...as Arrrgh! tries to help him out...but misses.
Orlon crunches his opponent again...before being bitten for 14 hit points. Al steps up and kills this leucrotta.
One monster remains...and only for a moment...as Brightaxe chops it down.
"Would one of you fine healers like to do your stuff as I have lost over half my vitality" says Angst.
You take a look around.
The passage to the west runs for 60' past the door...before ending at a circular chamber (30' diameter). The perimeter of this room is lined with stone benches. In here is a pile of giant-junk...but when you search through it you come up with 18,000gp and 2 earrings that you judge to be worth 500gp each.
You head back and look through the remains of the curtains. As previously described, this is an opening into a chamber to the north (right wall runs northeast for 10'...then east 10' north 30' (door in last 10' section), west for 60', south for 30' and east for 40'). Once a throne room, there are two large stone thrones at the west end of the chamber atop a slightly raised dias. Once bejeweled, the precious stones that once graced the thrones have long since been pried off.
You search the area, though, and behind the thrones find 1500gp.
"Sure. Would the wounded please form a line behind Angst. No shoving or pushing. There is plenty of healing for everyone. And when I run out, the clerics can take over..."
"Jesse, me dear, thanks for the aid" Al says with a smile and a nod and he turns to Darian, "could you use some of your healing on me. One of the creatures got me with a nasty bite." he finishes with a slightly pained grimace.
"Of course, Al. Get in line behind the others. I believe I have enough healing power for all of you."
Darian begins to heal the wounded.
"Thanks for the healing." says Angst.
"But, of course, Angst. It's how I earn my keep."
Darian completely heals the lot of you.
"Power to the Wimps of the party..." as BrightAxe the newest wimp.
Occa sends his unseen servant over to open the door in the wall of the throne room.
Cannon Fodder says in his wee little voice, "Hey Giant, I wish you would stop doing that...I can detect for enemies once in a while."
Pharian says, "Occa, take that damn wand away from him, would you?"
Cannon Fodder runs over to Pharian and kicks him in the big toe. "Hey, buddy, you might be 10 times my size, but I don't take crap from curmudgeons! By the way, I noticed you aren't using your wand of wonder...could I borrow it? I could then have a double barreled wand."
He giggles.
Occa sighs and says, "You should be more careful with it...one fireball and you will toast most of the group. You haven't been practicing safe usage when it comes to waving your wand around."
Cannon Fodder says, "Oh, did Tracy tell you that?"
Occa says, "Very funny, little man! Don't forget, I made you and I can make a replacement just as easily."
Cannon Fodder says, "Well, that will please Tracy to hear."
Occa grinds his teeth and says, "If we didn't need someone like you to find the traps for us...or monsters, I would do you in right now."
Cannon Fodder says, "Gotta love me." He points his wand at Occa and then thinks better of it.
The unseen servant opens the east door. Beyond is the 40' wide, pillared passage running east that you have explored previously. Immediately to your left is another door.
Occa says, "Did we open that door?" He has his unseen servant open the next door just in case.
This door opens into a passage heading west...for 60' and on.
You head down there.
After 60' it turns north.
Looking about the corner, you see that the passage runs for a further 40' and ends at a door.
You move up and open the door.
Beyond is a 10' square room (door in west wall). It is completely bare.
You open the door to the west.
This leads you to a 20' square room (10' north, 20' west). Once someone's private quarters, in here is a stone pallet, desk and wooden chair. A large painter's easel sits in the northwest corner.
Otherwise, the place is deserted.
"Are we about done this level, Orlon?" asks Valdar, trying to peer over the high priest's shoulder to get a look at the map. "Maybe it's time to move on."
Occa accidently walks into the door whilst entering the last room. At Valdar's words he says, "Let's go then...which sections are left?" He asks the mighty elf lord.
"Beats me," the elf replies, still trying to get a look at Orlon's map.
Pharian searches the desk while Valdar looks at the map.
He finds nothing.
"Hey," says Valdar, finally grabbing the map from Orlon and taking a look at it. "Let's explore to the north of the dwarve's chamber...past the 4-way where we met the trolls."
You do so. It is afternoon.
North of the 4-way intersection the passage runs for 50' and then terminates at a chamber (20' X 30': 10' east, 10' west, 20' north). Once a laundry, there are a number of stone tubs in here, fed by a rivulet of water flowing out of a hole in the southeast corner.
You search and find nothing exciting.
"It looks like we've explored this complex, then," says Valdar, hopping around excitedly. "Shall we continue east, then...down that passage on the level below?"
Orlon, hurriedly finishing the map, tells the others "If down east doesn't pan out and we're in no hurry to climb down the hole, there's an unexplored region to the east end of the 40' wide hallway we were just in.
DM comment - actually there isn't. The 40' wide hallway runs into the chamber to the east and down (the one that the southwest passage exits from). Looking down the 20' wide passage from THAT chamber, there is no passage running southeast. The room with the many doors (where you battled the dragons and lizards) lies to the NORTH of the 20' wide passage...not to the south).
There's also a door that we didn't check out at the other end of this level. From th 40' wide hallway, we would get there by west down the parallel passage to the north, then turn north, then west to a door at the end of that hallway. Any takers?"
"Let's finish this area, then, before heading east," says Valdar.
You return to the dwarf chamber and then head west. Looking up the 5' passage to the north at the end, you see that it all joins up. You head up to the large chamber to the north...then down the southwest passage to the 5' wide passage running south. This runs for 20' on the left wall, before opening up into a chamber.
You go and look.
This chamber is a little odd-shaped (left wall runs 10' east, 20' south, 20' west; right wall runs 15' west, 10' south, 10' west, then a 20' wide passage running south takes up the remaining space...it should join up with the passage to the south...).
This place was the lair of the Nehwon ghouls. Searching through the junk you find nothing of interest or value.
You next make for the entrance to this level...then go west to where the passage forks. Looking northwest, you see that this branch of the passage runs for 50' on each wall then turns northwest...and ultimately joins up with the passage that led you to the old temple.
You go through it...work your way west...and finally end up at the last unopened door at the extreme west end of the level.
Opening this door reveals the 20' passage running east (in other words, Orlon made a slight mapping error...).
"So...shall we continue east?" asks Valdar, as you pause to catch your breath.
Occa says, "Yes, Valdar...let's go East." He is already headed in that direction (assuming someone points east) before he finishes...
"East I follow" says Brightaxe.
You head back to the shaft that leads to this level, descend...and ultimately head down the wide passage that runs east.
Soon after it curves east-northeast...and runs in that direction for almost five miles...before turning east again.
Finally, it concludes before an enormous set of double doors, emblazoned with a yellow smiley face upon them.
After following this long passage for over 5 1/2 miles as it ran east-northeast, without incident, it abruptly turns east, runs for 250' in that direction, and ends at a set of 20' wide double doors. They are of stainless steel, and painted with the yellow image of a Smiley Face.
"Sick, sick," says Pharian, looking at the giant smiley face.
BrightAxe volunteers to assist in opening the doors if they are too heavy to open normally.
Cannon Fodder uses his wand to detect for enemies.
The wand pulses and points through the doors...
Darian quietly draws his sword and waits for someone to open the doors.
Al detects for evil intent at the door.
He detects none.
"Hold on just a second before you kick that door, musclehead" says Pharian to Al. "Big passage, big door, big monster, probably dragons. Let's spread out first. Mages in back." Pharian moves back about forty feet and to the left of the passage.
BrightAxe seeing the wisdom of this suggestion will volunteer to open a door while shielding himself from dragon's fire knowing a dragon's breath full force would take him out without much problem.
"Ok, good call, Pharian..." Al says before he kicks the door in.. "Horus, please Aid and protect your humble servant - warm me with your divine glory." he intones as he casts an Aid spell and then a Blessed Warmth spell on himself. "Now I am ready, heh, heh - Oh, great Horus, bless this group.." he concludes with a Bless spell on the party.
Before the door is kicked in, Orlon casts a resist fire spell, followed by a prayer spell. He then moves off to one side of the hallway.
Cannon Fodder turns invisible and then runs down the hall away from the door.
With the new sword in hand and shield ready, Al kicks the door open.
Revealed is a chamber (hexagonal shaped: wall to your right runs southeast for 20', northeast for 20' (entire section taken up by a flight of stairs), north for 20' (pair of double doors take up this section), northwest for 20' (entire section taken up by a flight of stairs), then southwest for 20'.
This relatively small but impressive looking hall is dominated by the large flights of stairs that run off of the northeastern and southeastern walls, respectively. The northeast flight goes up...the southeast flight goes down. The floors and stairs are both of marble, now stained and filthy. The ceiling arches some 30' overhead.
The place seems to be deserted...however, Occa with his robe notices seven invisible will-o-wisps moving towards you...
Angst moves in and to the right of the door as soon as it opens.
Brightaxe follows the first wave of fighters through the door.
When Angst sees that there are no immediate foes he backs up and gets a flour bomb out of his pack, which he throws in the general direction towards the centre of the room.
A cloud of flour dust rises up into the air and slowly spreads...
Occa says, "Invisible will-o-wisps."
He magic missles the suckers...
His first batch of missiles soar up into the air and strike something still invisible.
Suddenly two wisps become visible above Occa. Sparks shoot from them. The mage dodges one...but the other strikes him for 8 hit points.
Finding himself under attack, the mage is unable to release the rest of his spells.
"Can someone remove their invisibility? They might be easier to see, then."
Darian moves forward with the other fighters to engage the will-o-wisps.
Another becomes visible over him...but the elf dodges its attack. He swings his sword and connects with the thing.
Jesse will hang back waiting to see the creatures.
One becomes visible...as it attacks her for 8 hit points of damage.
"Dance Damn you" she says. A magic missile flies out of her wand and strikes the wisp.
Angst finds himself hit for 4 hit points of damage by another wisp...but he replies...and misses badly.
Al jumps aside from a wisp attack...swinging his falchion sword as he does so and landing a lovely hit...followed by a second hit almost as deadly as the first!
Brightaxe is missed...but he misses with both axes...
With a yell Gonzo springs out of the shadows and skewers the wisp attacking Brightaxe with his flame tongue! The wisp is badly hurt.
BrightAxe will try his swing again..."grrrrr..."
He plunges his axe into the sphere of light...raising a shower of sparks. His other axe misses, though.
Orlon will cast a True Seeing. If he sees any new enemies, he will announce them to the party. He will then move in to strike a will-o-wisp with his 'big bruiser'.
He sees nothing with his spell and then moves to help out Occa.
Occa will once again magic missle away at the will-o-wisps.
As he stands and incants, he is hit twice more for 17 hit points of damage...and his next magic missile spell is ruined.
Darian continues to battle the will-o-wisp above him. "Valdar, help Occa."
"Oh all right," grumps the mighty elf lord...and he lets loose with a dazzling cavalcade of magic missiles.
Two spells blow away the first wisp on the mage...the next three kill the other one...and his last spells put a large dent in the monster attacking Darian.
"Well, I'm out," he says.
Darian, meanwhile, waves his frost brand around with little effect before getting zapped for 8 hit points. This motivates him to hit the wisp...almost killing it.
Jesse releases another missile from her wand before getting hit for 5 hit points of damage.
"Die, you flaming balls of annoyance."
Al easily connects...before getting zapped for 12 hit points. His next swing kills the wisp.
Angst misses with both attacks...as he dodges the wisp's attacks...
Gonzo easily finishes off the wisp attacking Brightaxe.
Three monsters remain...as Occa...free of attackers, now...unloads two missile spells to conclude this round's festivities. A single missile kills the monster on Darian...so he redirects the balance of that spell onto Jesse's will-o-wisp. His next spell still does not kill it.
Jesse takes a further 8 hit points of damage, as Occa continues to fire magic missiles about. It takes almost the entire next spell to kill the monster...after which he redirects his firepower at the wisp attacking Angst. He expends the balance of his spells on this last wisp...and still it lives.
Angst, meanwhile, takes 2 hit points of damage as he misses again. Al moves over, though, and makes short work of this last monster.
Just as you think you can relax for a moment, though, Orlon - peering through the flour dust cloud - sees the doors to the east silently opening...as a large black snout pokes its way out...
"Thanks, Valdar." says Darian...then spies the black dragon.
BrightAxe will jump out of the way.
Gonzo disappears into the shadows
Darian dives for cover and says, "Dragon? If so, teach it some manners with a few lightning bolts."
The High Priest has a better idea, though...
Orlon utters a holy word "Rolaids" towards the dragon.
"BURP!" says the black dragon and freezes up solid.
Al quickly sheaths his new sword and lashes out with Beak (axe of hurling), crushing the wyrm's skull in with a single blow and killing it.
No one else expended any of their spells.
With that little threat out of the way, you look around.
Noticing a pile of junk in a corner of this chamber, you search it and find the will-o-wisp's treasure: 4666cp, 90 gems worth 100gp each, and 23 various and sundry pieces of jewelry worth 1200gp each.
You scoop it up and go and look through the doorway to the east.
A grand entrance chamber of some sort, once, perhaps it was the formal hall of the dwarf-lord who ruled this area. It is oval-shaped (80' X 40' oriented east - west; 10' wide passage running south starting at the widest point in the south wall and extending 10' east of there.
This dragon had only a small treasure trove, you note, as you go over and count it out...5750sp, 7500ep, 19 gems worth a measily 10gp each.
You go to the south passage and look south.
This passage extends for 60' and on. In the 20' - 40' section of its west wall is a 20' wide passage running southwest.
Darian picks himself off the ground and looks around sheepishly. "Oh well, who knew?"
BrightAxe gets up after his dive... "I was just trying a new style of tumbling attack... ahem... I don't think it's for me"
"Now, who needs healing. I know a number of us took some wounds from those will-o-wisps." Darian heals himself first.
Occa says, "I need healing."
Darian heals him and anyone else who speaks up.
Orlon tells Occa "If thou need some more healing, then healed thou shalt be."
"Horus, please heal your wounded servant." Al says as he casts a cure light wounds on himself until he is healed.
Darian again flexes his mental muscles and heals everyone up.
"Go see what's down that passageway to the south," says Pharian to Cannon Fodder, "while we stuff all this money in the hole."
"For a small treasure like this, that was a waste of a spell," Orlon mentions.
Cannon Fodder says, "Up yours giant!" He kicks Pharian in the foot and shakes his miniscule fist up at him. "No one orders me around."
"Would he be more useful if you enlarged him?" Pharian asks Occa. "He could walk faster then. On the other hand, maybe that would be a bad idea. It's easier to tell you two apart this way."
"They would still have the same mentality though." Orlon says, being sarcastic.
BrightAxe likes having someone in the party smaller than he. He always liked Cannon Fodder anyways,... he has the right approach in life. It's just now he feels more akin to him.
Cannon Fodder does see if his wand of detect enemies picks up anything. He walks by the entrance of each passage way so that his 60 range extends down each hall as far as possible.
His wand detects no enemies.
Once that is done, he will head down the South passage to were the other passage intersects and see if the wand detects anything else.
His wand detects no enemies.
Occa says after Cannon Fodder has moved down the hallway. "I think I like him better this size...he is easier to forget."
Occa smiles.
Down at the intersection, you see that the south passage continues in that direction for 60' and on past the intersection. To the southwest, the 20' wide passage runs for 60' and on, as well.
"Let's go southwest."
You all head down 60' to the southwest...and find yourselves at a 4-way intersection with a 10' wide passage running north - south.
To the north, the passage runs 40' on the right wall and 50' on the left...before ending at a door.
To the south, the passage runs for 60' (left wall) / 50' (right wall)...and continues.
To the southwest, the 20' wide passage continues on for 50'...after which is an intersection whose full extent you cannot see.
Cannon Fodder's wand still does not pick up any enemies.
It is late afternoon.
"Let's go check out the door to the north." suggests Darian.
CF says, "Okay.." He heads up the corridor to the north door and tries to detect enemies.
He detects none.
Occa then opens the door with his unseen servant.
BrightAxe follows merrily.
Beyond is a 10' wide passage running northwest for 30'...after which is a "T" intersection with a passage running east - west.
You head up and take a look.
To the east, the passage runs for 30' on the right wall and 20' on the left, before ending at a wall facing northeast.
To the west, the passage runs for 20' and then opens up into a chamber.
While the rest of you go west, Valdar goes east and checks for secret doors.
"As I expected...a secret door!" he tells you when he catches up with you at the chamber. "Bet it opens back up into the will-o-wisp chamber."
This chamber is square (30' X 30': 10' north, 10' south, 30' west; 5' wide passage running west out of west wall, 15' - 20' section as measured from the north; 10' wide passage running southwest out of west wall, southernmost portion; 10' wide passage running south out of south wall, east end). The walls are lined with stone benches...otherwise it is barren.
You look down each passage.
The 5' wide passage runs west for 60' and on.
The southwest passage also runs for 60' and on.
The south passage does likewise.
Darian tries to look at Orlon's map. "I guess we should make sure that the secret door does connect to the will-o-wisp lair. And then maybe we should go west at this point?"
BrightAxe agrees pleasantly.
You head back and open the secret door.
Sure enough...it opens into the entrance chamber to this area.
You return to the square chamber and head west down the 5' wide passage.
After 60' is another chamber (30' X 30': 15' north, 10' south, 30' west).
This chamber is quite bare.
"Valdar, are there any secret doors around here? If not, I guess you should check along the passage on our way back and if we still find nothing then maybe we should head down the southwest passage..."
"We shall soon see," says the elf, drawing his longsword out and then prancing about the room with it.
BrightAxe follows Joyfully.
Darian eyes the dwarf critically. "You're starting to sound like Valdar now. Perhaps you should team up with him..."
Occa eyes BrightAxe suspiciously and says, "He is awfully joyful for a dwarf, isn't he."
"I guess you've never seen snow white !
"Hi - Ho
"Hi - Ho...."
"Secret door over here," the blade says...referring to the south wall, east corner of the chamber...
"I thought so! Shall we check it out?"
Occa has his unseen servant open the secret door.
Orlon tells Occa sarcastically "It must be nice having a servant. I bet it even brings you your breakfast and coffee to you each morning. Doesn't it Occa?"
Occa says, "Jealous, Orlon? You could always summon an aerial servant." He chuckles.
The unseen servant struggles but finally gets the door open. Beyond is a 10' wide passage running south...for 50' on the left wall and 60' on the right...at which point it ends at a passage running northeast - southwest.
You go trotting down there and take a look.
To the northeast, the passage runs back to the chamber with the stone benches.
To the southwest, the passage runs for 60' and on. In the 10' - 20' section of the left wall is a door. In the 40' - 50' section of the right wall is another door.
Cannon Fodder goes up to the first door and sees if he can detect any enemies.
He detects none.
Occa has the unseen servant open the door.
The door opens into a 10' wide passage running southeast for 30' on the left wall...at which point it ends at a passage running north - south.
You head down and take a look.
To the south the passage runs for 50' and ends. To the north it turns east immediately...becoming 50' wide with a tall arched ceiling supported by a double row of pillars.
"No secret doors," says Valdar, after going south and checking.
You go north and east.
>From the back wall the wide passage runs for 70'...after which is a "T" intersection with a 10' wide passage running north - south. Also, in the 30' - 50' section of the south wall is a 20' wide passage running southeast.
You go forth and look down passages.
To the southeast, the right wall runs for 30'...then turns southwest, while the left wall runs for 20' and then turns north.
You go to the "T" intersection to the east.
To the north, this latest passage runs 60' and ends at the chamber with the stone benches.
To the south, it runs for 60' and ends. In the 10' - 30' section of the east wall is a 20' wide passage running northeast. In the 20' - 40' section of the west wall is an opening. In the 30' - 50' section of the east wall is another 20' wide passage running southeast.
You go south to this crazy intersection and look.
To the northeast, this passage runs for 60' and on. There is an intersection with a 10' wide passage running north - south in the last 10' section. You have been this way already.
Looking through the opening to the west, you see two more passages...both 20' wide. One runs northwest...back to the 50' wide passage. The other runs southwest for 20'(left wall) / 30' (right wall), before ending at a wall facing south.
Looking southeast, you see that this last passage runs for 10' (right wall) / 20' (left wall)...then turns east and becomes 10' wide.
After Valdar looks for secret doors at the the dead ends, you go east down the last passage.
From the left corner, the passage runs for 60' and on. In the 30' - 40' section is a passage running north.
However...out of the darkness to the east you hear hissing war cries...as over a dozen lizard men come into your view...bent on making a meal of you...
They are just under 60' away.
Occa lobs a fireball down toward the lizard men.
Pharian asks Occa's unseen servant to pop him some popcorn. Then he looks around behind them to make sure they don't get surprised by anything bigger than lizard men.
"Occa, next time we take a break can you analyze my new sword ? I would really appreciate it." Al says. As he sees the lizard men, he sheathes his new sword, pulls out Beak and throws it at the largest Lizard man... as he says, "Eat this, you piece of luggage."
BrightAxe cheerily waits for the initial onslaught of artillery, then, with the friendliness reserved for a drunken bloodfest over giant carcasses, he charges forward enthusiastically to attack the lizardmen with his two handaxes.
Unfortunately, all that is left of the enemy once Al's axe and Occa's fireball are through with them are some torched, burning corpses.
Occa's unseen servant serves you all popcorn, and you continue east.
Coming to the intersection with the northbound passage, you look both ways.
To the north, this passage runs for 60' and on...presumably to terminate at the oval chamber where you killed the black dragon. In the 40' - 50' section is a passage running southeast.
To the east, the passage runs for 60' and on. There is a passage running northwest in the 40' - 50' section...which it turns out joins up with the southeast passage mentioned in the last paragraph.
You continue east.
50' past the northwest passage the east passage ends.
"No secret doors," says Valdar.
Checking the northwest passage, you find nothing of interest up there, either.
"Boring," says the mighty elf lord. "Want to work our way back west again and try out that other door we saw?"
You do so...and shortly find yourselves back in the southwestbound passage, inspecting the door in the right wall. Looking further down the passage, you see that it runs for another 30' (right wall) before opening up into a chamber to the west. In the 20' - 30' section of the right wall is an opening to the north, too.
It's just as well that you are looking down in that direction, too, for coming towards you are three beautiful but ghastly pale females, dressed in polyester evening gowns and wearing plastic high heels.
"We are for you...oh beautiful men," says one, opening her arms...among other things.
"I want the short one," says another, smiling invitingly at Cannon Fodder.
"I want the old man...he looks so experienced," says the last, eyeing Pharian.
Al detects for evil intent. Finding some, he throws Beak at the one going for Occa, as he speaks, "Pharian, give her a kiss, maybe she can loosen you up a bit, you've been such a grouch lately." he finishes with the rare smile.
The axe flies true and leaves a bloody gash across the face of one of the women...before returning to Al.
The woman utters a blood-curdling scream and runs at Al.
"Begone you foul, but beautiful denizens!" Orlon shouts as he attempts to turn them.
"Ohhhhh...look! A cleric!" says the second woman.
"Pretty useless, though, isn't he?"
"Get the feeling he doesn't like us girls, though?"
"He probably prefers sheep!"
Brightaxe shows them his holy symbol of Clanggedin Silverbeard, "back you beardless babes !"
"When we get our hands on you we'll make your beard curl!" laughs number three...showing no sign whatsoever of being turned.
Jesse speaks, disgust in her voice, "God, can't you find anything better in your wardrobe. You look like fifties throwbacks." she says as she casts a lightning bolt.
The forked bolt strikes two of the women. The first - already hurt by Al's axe, screams again as her polyester gown is melted and burned by the bolt. The second one also utters a howl of pain as her beehive hairdo slowly collapses.
Occa lightning bolts one of the women...blowing her away.
He follows that up with a disintegrate spell. A ray shoots from his outstretched finger...but the woman aiming her affections at Pharian dodges it.
Cannon Fodder points his wand down the hall and says, "Surprise!"
The woman bearing down on him suddenly grows until she is 9' tall.
They are on you.
Pharian winks out of sight...but fractionally too late, as lady number two kisses him hard and bloodies his face for 9 hit points of damage.
Woman number three - the tall girl - grabs Cannon Fodder and stuffs him up her dress somewhere.
"OHHH!!! that feels good!" she says, lapsing into spasms of pleasure or something.
It is evening.
To defend his poor buddy Cannon Fodder, BrightAxe lunges at the one treating him as (a back scratcher?) ... "I'll get you outta there..." he screams attacking the woman as soon as he gets his axes out.
"MMMMMPH!" says Cannon Fodder from some undisclosed location.
"More...more..." the woman moans, reaching for Brightaxe and giving him a bloody hickey for 9 hit points of damage. The dwarf connects with one axe, doing some minor damage.
Jesse points her wand at one of the women and says, "Dance damn you," casting two volleys of magic missiles.
The first of her missiles flies true, scorching the tall girl's eyebrow.
Al goes to help out Pharian. The woman spins about as he comes withing striking range and kisses him on the lips for 9 hit points of damage. Al dances around her...seemingly striking her at will with the khopesh sword. By the time he is finished she is badly bloodied and has this terrible run in her stockings.
GONZO goes for his usual mode of attack, giving a mighty "KARUMBA" as he reveals his tactical motivations. With his flame tongue he lands a devastating hit...but still she stands.
Finding himself free of her clutches, Pharian casts a lightning bolt at the one who attacked him.
The lady on Al is blown apart.
Orlon yells at the tall girl "I do not like sheep!" He then pulls out his big bruiser and tells the tall one "How would you like to take this on for size?" as he molests her with it.
Unfortunately the cleric misses by a country mile.
Angst attacks the last foe.
"This looks a lot more dangerous than the last few encounters, To Honour and thus to Glory...."
He lands a hard hit on the tall girl.
Jesse's second missile strikes her as well.
"This is too much!" she exclaims, reaching for Brightaxe again. This time the dwarf dodges her, as he chops off another piece of her anatomy with his axe. Gonzo actually misses with his first attack but more than makes up for it with his second, as he lops a leg off and kills her.
Cannon Fodder wriggles out from under the folds of her smouldering gown. You don't know where he got to, but he looks pleased...
"Jolly good shot with the bolt," Al says to Pharian as he wipes the remaining blood off of himself. "What in the hells were those creatures ?" he asks as he check himself for any more wounds. "Good fighting team.." he concludes.
"What were those creatures as I have never seen one before." asks Angst.
Inspecting the remains, you note that they resemble vampires...right down to the fangs...but no one feels as if any of their life energy has been drained...
"Must be pseudo-undead," pronounces Valdar.
You open the door that you were about to open before you were so rudely interrupted. Beyond is a room (triangular-shaped: right wall runs northeast for 20', then west for 30' (door in centre) and finally south for 30').
A large heap of broken furniture lies in the northeast corner. A dirty cotton smock lies in the centre of the room.
Al detects for evil intent in the room, and then says, "Um, watch the ceilings and the walls, I don't like the look of this." he comments as he holds blade and shield in hand.
He detects no evil intent.
Cannon Fodder detects for magic, evil, and invisible.
Cannon Fodder detects nothing.
He says to Valdar, "Wanna check for secret doors?"
"Oh all right," says Valdar...but his sword turns up nothing as well.
Cannon Fodder detects for enemies near the door.
Again, nothing.
Occa has his unseen servant open the door.
BrightAxe will cast his 2 curelights on himself...healing himself completely...then he falls in line with the rest of the group and treks onward pleasurably.
To the north is another room (20' X 30': 10' east, 10' west, 20' north: door in north wall east corner). This room is barren.
You open the next door to the north.
This leads you to a small room (10' X 20': 10' north, 10' west; door in west wall). Apart from a cheap fob lying on the floor, there is nothing of interest in here. However, Darian does notice a secret door...in the north wall west corner.
Cannon Fodder seeks enemies again...and detects some through this secret door...
Cannon Fodder runs out of the room to hide behind the entranceway door.
Pharian joins Cannon Fodder and then turns invisible to boot.
Orlon asks the party "Hey, you want to check out where those pseudo-vampires came from before we go any further?"
"Shut up, Orlon," says Valdar.
BrightAxe steps to the side of a door and is ready to charge in after the initial volley of artillery goes through. He smiles as he waits.
Occa says, "I guess we are ready." He has his unseen servant open the secret door after stepping back.
The servant thrashes at the door with little effect. Suddenly it flies open...and a fireball detonates in your midst...engulfing the 10' X 20' room, the room to the south, and the room from whence it came, to the north.
Cannon Fodder is destroyed.
Angst, Brightaxe, Jesse, Valdar, Al, Arrrgh!, Orlon, Occa and Gonzo take 22 hit points of damage.
Darian takes 12 hit points.
Pharian take 43 hit points.
The room beyond is 30' X 30': (30' north, 20' west). In here is a party of adventurers, it would appear, wearing the insignia of the dragons. They are clustered close around a magic user...who is gesturing again...
Occa dimension doors behind the party in the other room. He starts incanting a mirror image spell.
One of the men surrounding the mage in the middle of the party turns about and says -
"SLEEP!"
- however nothing happens, and suddenly there are eight Occas. The mage immediately begins another spell.
BrightAxe says "ouch!" gingerly and charges forward hoping to kill at least one of them before he goes down.
"Smeg off" Jesse yells as she casts a lightning bolt at the mage.
The bolt is stopped cold some 5' away from its target.
Darian grabs his wand of fire at his belt, points it at the enemy and barks "Joseph O'Neil Jr.".
Again, the three rooms are engulfed in flames.
Darian takes 8 hit points of damage.
Occa, Gonzo, Angst, Brightaxe, Jesse, Pharian, Arrrgh! and Orlon take 12 hit points.
Al is unharmed.
Pharian is unconscious and near death.
Occa's spell is spoiled.
None of the enemy take any damage. In fact, they are laughing at Darian.
"Pour it on folks. We need to soften them up so that they can be easily killed." says Darian, smoking somewhat.
"Who on earth are these guys?" says Angst as he allows the Mages to attack, then goes charging in.
Arrrgh!, Al and Gonzo charge in to attack as well.
Valdar steps up and releases his rope of entanglement. It snakes through the air and immediately trusses up all eight of the enemy party.
Angst moves to quickly disarm the closest foes.
The mage in the middle sarts to speak arcane words. The ranger conks him over the head with the flat of his sword and he goes limp...his spell incomplete.
Then Angst ties them with ordinary rope, and blindfolds and gags any spell casters, disarming them as he goes.
"Sorry folks, I blew it." says Darian.
Darian kneels down next to Pharian and begins to heal him.
Occa quickly runs over to the spell caster and slits his throat with a handy dagger. He then does the rest of the party in, leaving only two fighters alive.
There were nine in the party: apparently two magic users, four fighters and three clerics. The latter had holy symbols of Tiamat around their now bloody necks.
Off of them you find the following which seem to be of interest of value: A scroll, a wand, some travelling spell books, a suit of field plate, a shield, a shortsword, a suit of field plate, a mace, a potion, a scroll, a bag, a suit of leather armour, another travelling spell book, a ring, a scimitar, a suit of full plate armour and a potion.
Searching the room, you find in amongst the junk 615cp, 410ep, 5 diamonds worth 2000gp each, a potion, a leather pouch and a scroll.
"Secret door over here," announces Valdar's sword, referring to the middle of the north wall.
"MMMMFFFF!" says one of the bound and gagged fighters.
BrightAxe asks meekly "healing? please ?? anyone I'm fresh out."
He is very glad though he cast his spells right before that last encounter....phew
"Before we go anywhere, folks, let's get everyone healed back up to full strength. Otherwise, we should consider setting up camp and resting. We're not in any condition to play with anyone else right now." says Darian.
Orlon quickly goes to work healing. He heals Pharian.
Pharian is fully restored...minus 1 hit point. He casts a cure critical wounds into himself and Occa....for 21 and 23 hit points respectively.
He casts cure serious wounds into Arrgh and Gonzo...for 9 and 10 hit points.
Into Jesse, Brightaxe, and Angst, he casts a cure light wounds...for 4 and 1 hit point.
Jesse refuses Orlon's healing. "Let someone else benefit from the healing, I should be ok." she says.
"That cleans me out of healing spells." Orlon informs the party.
Occa goes and gets Cannon Fodders stuff and then goes back to the door and detects for enemies with the wand.
Occa will ungag the fighter for a moment and say, "What do you have to say?"
The fighter grins.
"Good fight!" he replies. "I think that elf over there is on our side, though," he adds with a nod and a wink at Darian.
"I would tend to agree with the resting up for a day," says Angst, then he turns to Occa. "Why did you slay all the group after I had rendered them incapable of actions? When you have only two to question they can lie more easily and you often require more corroboration.
"It is also more profitable to take such persons back to civilization for trial"
"Perhaps," agrees Valdar. "Except that we are far from civilisation...excepting for the town of Inner Sanctum, which is under the sway of the dragons that these fellows served."
Turning to the fighter, Angst says, "Be very quiet or otherwise I will clobber you"
"Yessir!" says the fighter, then says no more.
You find nothing else on them but for some mundane supplies (rations, waterskins, tinderboxes, etc.)
Pharian wakes up with a start, looks around, gathers his dignity, and sullenly sniffs his charred robe.
Pharian says, "Next time we meet evil adventurers, let's expect that they are going to have minor spell immunity going and hit them with cones of cold and such rather than fireballs and lightning bolts. OK?"
"Um, sure... But they hit us with a fireball... Why don't we have a minor spell immunity going? And who are these guys?"
"Good point," says Pharian, scratching his stubbly goatee thoughfully. "If we ever know we are about to fight some magic users, we should try that."
"One question... How did they know we were there?"
"We weren't exactly being stealthy or trying to be quiet. My being a dwarf in plate could've been sound enough to be able to here us," Brightaxe says with a grin.
"Probably because Occa's unseen servant was beating on the door for five minutes, first," replies Valdar.
Darian looks puzzled. "It was? I must've missed that..."
Brightaxe agrees that it is time to stop for the night.
Angst concurs.
"I still vote for resting up as I am now below 50 % vitality. We can also interogate the prisoners properly."
To the tied up fighter, he says, "What can you tell us of your paymasters, and just because I do not believe in killing in cold blood does not mean that I will not inflict pain upon those who caused some one to die who I was begining to like for his sense of humour and free spirit."
He shrugs.
"It was him who killed 'im," he replies, nodding to the dead mage behind him. "As to who pays me, it's the dragons."
To Occa, the ranger says, "I hope that you can create Cannon Fodder again I found him to be a refreashing and bubbly person in this place."
Orlon eyes Angst "You're starting to sound like a Paladin. One in the party is enough. Is there something about yourself that we should know?"
"Darian, I could use some healing, if you can spare it." Al asks as he wipes the blood from his face. "If we are resting, Occa, or Pharian, could either of you analyze my khopesh sword for me ??" he asks in a polite tone.
"Let me see what I have left." Darian attempts to heal himself and anyone else that is still wounded.
"I vote for going back to home base, will someone give me a hand with these trash" Angst says, pulling the two fighters to their feet moving them twowards the hole, by thier ears
Occa says, "Okay...back to camp it is. Everyone into the portable hole and we will go immediately."
Orlon agrees with Occa "Let's head back to basecamp to recover and check out this new stuff."
Occa says to Angst, "I like killing evil things...it's fun." he gives Angst a demented smile and then says, "Yes, I can recreate Cannon Fodder...in fact...." He goes over to the dead mage and collects some of his blood into a tube. "Let's go."
A few minutes later you are back in the base camp. It is dark. The weather is overcast, windy and raining.
Once you climb out of the portable hole, Arrrgh! announces that he wishes to do some training. Gilstrock, who is still wandering about, offers to train him.
Woody, hearing that Arrrgh! won't be adventuring for awhile, offers to step in and take his place.
"Wow, quite a spread," says one of the prisoners, looking about.
Occa says, "Can anyone divine if there are any cursed items in this pile?" (of recently acquired treasure)
Orlon will cast Commune. "Are there any cursed items in this recently acquired pile of treasure before me?"
"YES."
"Does the chain mail that Darian is interested in offer a better degree of protection than the chain mail that he is wearing?"
"NO."
"Does my staff #1, which is large and awkward, require charges to use?"
"NO."
"Are there any more monsters remaining in the dungeon level that we just left?"
"YES."
"Does the wand I possess require charges to use?"
"NO."
He tells the others "Any other questions you want me to ask, let me know."
"Can you ask about my sword ? Does it allow me to strike easier ? Does it have any other abilities of than that ?" Al asks Orlon to ask.
"Even though you are a paladin, you are useful to this party, so I shall ask." Orlon tells Al. "Does Al's sword give him at least a 10% better chance to successfully hit an opponent in battle than a non-magical sword?"
"YES...EVEN THOUGH HE IS A PALADIN."
"Could you tell me how good these swords are as they seemed to destroy Trolls and giants with no problem ," requests Angst.
"Since you are not a Paladin, I will ask." Continuing with his commune, Orlon asks "Are the swords that Angst has an interest cause more damage amongst trolls and giants than other monsters?"
"NO."
Separating the pile of magic items into;
Group A: A scroll, a wand, some travelling spell books, a suit of field plate, a shield, a shortsword, a suit of field plate, a mace, a potion, a scroll
Group B: a bag, a suit of leather armour, another travelling spell book, a ring, a scimitar, a suit of full plate armour, a potion, a potion, a leather pouch and a scroll.
Orlon asks "Are there any cursed items in group A?"
"NO."
"Are there any cursed items in group B?"
"YES."
"You guys are making me nuts. What is this some kind of anti-Paladin conspiracy. What else about my sword can you learn, Orlon, despite the fact that I am a Paladin ??" Al asks with a half smile.
"I like paladins, in small numbers, it is just that i can not abide by your strict code. I have my own code of honour, It is probably very similar in some respects but we will probably disagree on certain issues" says Angst.
"Does Al's sword have other benefits besides improving his chance of successfully hitting opponents?" Orlon asks.
"YES."
"Considering what that mage told Occa, you might want to make a new group that includes just the scroll and scan group B again..." suggests Darian.
"Is the scroll in group B the only cursed item in the group?" Orlon asks.
"YES."
With that information, Orlon will look at the other scroll to see if he recognizes any.
The other scroll reads protection from water elementals.
Angst goes to the dwarves.
"Will you guard these scum while we decide on how to question them? Maybe you would like to join in"
The dwarves are sulking.
"You have dishonoured us," says the leader. "We want no part of you."
"I did not dishonour you, I bargained in good faith it was others of the party that over ruled and over played their hand, The mage has no honour especially as he kills unconcious foes, before we have questioned them."
Occa says, "Shut up Angst...you are starting to annoy me."
To Occa, Angst says, "I am sorry that you have felt insulted but I also was insulted by what you did to the dwarves and the group we defeated"
"These two here were in the pay of the dragons, I thought that you may have brethren that need avenging. If you can impress the leaders then maybe some of you can come with us on the next trip, but you do have to impress the leaders."
BrightAxe goes over to the Dwarves and tells them they are to go to a small ceremony for Silverbeard and then try to study the battles where Dwarves foolishly rushed into battle without being prepared. "Silverbeard doesn't want foolhardy fighters he wants fighters prepared to be victors at all costs." BrightAxe will then have a small ceremony for them to cleanse their consciousness for not fighting and hopefully prepare them for a future fight.
"We are not foolish," they reply in true pig-headed dwarf fashion.
Jesse smiles, "I'll sing to them, perhaps that will inspire them to talk a bit." the bard offers as she takes her lute and begins to tune it.
Jesse walks over to the group and begins to tell tales of heroism and bravery, all with a dwarven bent to them.
The tales and songs she sings are in Dwarven.
She starts with the creation of the world by the dwarven gods, and then onto famous battles.
At first they just sit and glare...but after a time their mood softens...
By the time you finish they are all sobbing uncontrollably.
"You're right!" they say, still weeping from the bard's tales. "We are not fit to be dwarves. We should have been elves!"
With that they take out their razors and start shaving their beards off.
Jesse continues playing...now working to build their esteem back.
"Hey! What's wrong with elves?" asks Darian.
"Well. You don't have beards for one thing." replies Silvervein.
"There's nothing wrong with that..."
"As if it wasn't obvious, take a look at yourself..." says Brightaxe.
"Excuse me? Who has been healing you everytime you get hurt? An elf! So don't go complaining there's something wrong with elves."
"Let's not take all the credit now!" Orlon eyes Darian.
"Oh, sorry Orlon. Did you heal him the last time? Well, then, I stand corrected... The bigotry coming from Brightaxe and the band of dwarves there overcame my sensibilities. My apologies."
Orlon slaps Darian on the back "No need for apologies as long as the party benefits from your actions."
Darian grins. "You mean when my contribution is aggregated, right? I mean, there've been a few times when I've hurt you folks..."
"At least you haven't killed us yet." Orlon laughs.
"You came damn close, in my case," says Pharian.
"Well, I haven't been trying very hard." Darian gives him a nasty little grin. "But, I could work at it, if you wish."
"Of course there ain't...if'n elves weren't all a bunch of chinless wonders as well." adds Silvervein.
Darian shakes his head. "I had no idea that you were bigots. Neither did I expect such words to come from you, Brightaxe. The rest of the group doesn't seem to have a problem with elves or dwarves. We're treated as individuals and folks react to our personalities not our race. Perhaps you should try to behave that way as well."
"And elves are over sensitive too", BrightAxe starts laughing offering to take Darian into town to get blown away drunk...
"If you'd been persecuted for most of your life because of your differences to others, I'd bet you'd be a little sensitive about the subject as well..."
"By persecuted do you mean having your entire family, friends, and clan killed by a horde of dragons who took over your homeland and made a slave of you ?" BrightAxe asks...
"No, I mean having rocks thrown at you, people attempting to kill you just because you have a silver streak in your hair. Even my own family didn't want me around them when the neighbors found out. What you are describing is wholesale slaughter and slavery. Much worse than persecution."
Becoming more cleric-like for the disturbed Darian "Our gods put us here for tribulations to make us strong. If we let these tribulations break us we have failed. Let us grow strong together and try to enjoy this life we have."
"I'm here aren't I? I didn't give up after 105 years of persecution. But, that doesn't mean that I have to tolerate bigotry. Dwarves are different than elves who are different than humans. There's nothing wrong with being any particular race. We all of have our strengths and our weaknesses, but that doesn't make one better than the other."
"I'm all for enjoying your company, but keep the insults about elves out of your conversation. And keep the others in check as well. A fight over an insult would be foolish, but that doesn't mean that I wouldn't do it."
Pharian looks up at Darian. "That would be foolish," he says. "When you keep the company of people with with thick skulls, you've got to have a thick skin. Honestly, Darian, you act like such the victim. Brightaxe is right-- just get over it. All this suffering is tedious."
"Who said I was suffering? I'm just not going to tolerate any racial slurs. If you've got a problem with that, let me know."
"If I could keep others in check, I believe I would be called King BrightAxe, not BrightAxe the wanderer." BrightAxe smiles "Why do you suppose I'm here?"
BrightAxe pauses.
"Everyone here must have some reason why they aren't happily married living an easy life somewhere. It's kind of self-centered of you to think you're the only one here with problems."
Almost stopping he adds "I won't be insulting you, but if life doesn't allow you to enjoy yourself, why bother living?"
"Those dwarves we rescued seem to fear you. Surely that gives you enough power over them to suggest to them that they keep their insults to themselves."
"And I know I'm not the only one with problems. Did I suggest otherwise? But, the racial slurs don't help anyone. They cause uneccessary pain and anger in those insulted. Why seek that kind of pain among your allies? You just end up pushing those people away that care the most."
From the background, Jesse hears and sees clapping from a source she would have least expected to enjoy her music. Al wipes the tear from his eye as he walks up to her and whispers in her ear, "You are quite talented, young lady."
He kisses her softly on her cheek and goes back to his tent to rest and pray.
"All people have a use some where, Maybe your use will be to prevent the complex being used for evil purposes after we have cleared it out. " says Angst to the dwarves.
"Perhaps...if we're fit to do even that in the eyes of Moradin and Silverbeard," the now cleanshaven - and chinless - dwarves say.
To group Angst says, "If the ring is not cursed and is usable by me then I would like to make first pick on that item."
Angst spits on the ground.
"I am not a Paladin i could not abide the strictness of the regime, all that pious, lawfulness. I just don't like killing in cold blood. It seems to me that if you do that then you are becoming like those you are are trying to defeat."
Jesse laughs, "It seems we still have a consensus. Al, you are really in the minority. However he's handy to have along, especially in a fight. He still needs reminding of his place though." the bard says as she snaps her fingers. "Vader, Occa, can one of you teach me that summon cream pie trick, I could really use that in my act and right now I have such an overwhelming desire to start a pie fight."
Al sticks his tongue out at Jesse, "Despite this female's belief that I am rigid.. she is incorrect, I have a code that I live by. The utter destruction of evil and I am the arm of Vengeance. When I have a moment to breathe from this overwhelming responsibility, I enjoy the comfort of a female or two."
Jesse looks sternly at Al, before laughing, "You best be prepared to use that tongue if you're going to stick it out at me." she says, "And I never thought that you were rigid, in my experience, those who posture like you always do are doing it to cover up some other deficts."
"Alas, there are no deficits that I am hiding... except for a tragic event that occurred many years ago that has transformed me into the man I am today." Al says in a soft voice to Jesse.
Jesse looks at Al, "You mean you _are_ a eunich?" she says jokingly.
"No," Al says with a serious face. "My wife and child were ritually sacrificed in front of my eyes. I was powerless to stop them. Once I held the severed head of the priest that slew them, I felt some sort of satisfaction..." he responds with a tear in his eye. "Anyway, that was a long time ago and apparently, a world away."
He makes a faint smile.
Jesse gets a tear in her eye, "I... I... I'm sorry" she says solmenly. "I understand the pain that you felt, and still feel." she says softly. "Perhaps later," she says, "We can talk more."
"And I am always prepared to use it.. Would you like to discuss it further elsewhere ??"
"Well, no." Jesse replies.
"Well, it was worth a shot !" Al remarks with a smirk. "Are there any women on this world that aren't trying to kill us ?" he asks, "That are available or willing to be." he finishes with another stick of his tongue at Jesse.
"That depends on who's asking and what they are willing to do to woo a woman." she replies invitingly.
Occa will say to the fighters we captured. "Start telling us everything you know about the mountain. Locations of monsters, layouts and so forth. I would recommend you do it in order to save yourselves."
He holds the rod of alertnetss with the detect lie function running.
The fighters look at each other and gulp.
"The area that you found us in has three levels," says one nervously. "From there tunnels lead northeast, east and southeast to the Three Barriers...Air, Water and Fire. Air is northeast, fire is east and water is southeast. Air and Water are built under watch towers...and there are passages leading both to the outside and further east from both. Fire is deep underground, and from it five passages exit. One comes here, one each go to air and water, and two more go east to more strongholds. One of these passages leads to the Node, while another leads to a secret escape tunnel to the northeast. The Node tales you on to Dragon Hall, where Tiamatlet lives with her entourage."
"Can we go, now?" asks the other.
"Ha!" says Pharian. "Not yet. I want to know if you knew anything of our party before you attacked us. Had you been sent to look for us or were you in the dungeon for some other reason?"
"Heard someone knockin' at the door," the first fighter replies. "Ole Acco always was one to shoot first and ask questions after..."
"We heard that there were adventurers trashin' the western area of the mines...but no, we weren't sent after you." says the second man.
As Al hears this, he responds, "Tiamat herself.. let's go and eradicate her. I have battled one of her avatar's on my world, any chance to wipe such evil from any plane will be a job well done. Let's gear up and go !!!"
Angst says to the men, "Who said anything about letting you go, I did not, I think that you will be kept here until we have finished doing the job that we are here for. You will be prisioners from a long time unless you can give us more details on the monsters and traps that we will meet. especially on how to de-activate the traps. Here is a sheet of paper, draw the complex as much as you can remember. If we do not come back i believe that the people here will not be very happy"
The two men look disappointed to hear this.
"We couldn't map this place out if we tried," says the second man. "We always left the mapping to Jock-o."
"I still would like to claim the ring and if no one else can use the leather armour that as well" says Angst.
"Occa, Pharian, Cannon or the new guy, can anyone of you analyze my sword for me ?" Al asks with his best voice.
Occa says to the fighters, "Is this all you know that can help us? Think hard."
"Sorry...we're just henchmen," says the one. "We did what we were told, fought what we were told to fight. We didn't ask questions."
Occa says to the henchman. "Okay. You have a choice of converting from your evil ways to more chaotic and neutral ways, or dying. I will allow you to choose the manner of your death if you decided on that...within reason, of course. Pick now."
"No problem!" they say in chorus. "Evil sucks, anyway!"
Occa says, "Okay. I want to introduce you to Tracy."
He pulls some shackles out of the community chest and says, "Of course, you realize we will have to shackle your legs so that you cannot run off and tell the dragons about us or our camp."
He pauses and says, "Once you have converted, you will be given full right, good pay and a share of treasure. You will be well taken care of by all of us since we work as a team. We will also, take the shackles off."
As an afterthought, he says, "You had better not pretend to convert either. I will be able to tell with my magic...and we know the consequences of such things, don't we?" he smiles.
"Yes...master..." they reply in unison.
Occa says, "Don't call me that!"
"Sorry...master..."
Occa throws up his hands and says, "I am not anyone's master."
He walks off.
Tracy appears in her merry widow and thigh-high Willystomper boots.
"You will accompany me, slaves," she says to the two men. "Let the training begin."
"Yes...mistress..."
They follow her...