Two weeks pass just like that, and suddenly Dor is trained...stronger...faster...but still no smarter.
In the meantime, Clarvis is crowned Emperor, and raises the Sceptre of the Gods.
In his coronation speech he proclaims a new Empire of Saltar, and claims back all of the lands, peoples and territories once claimed by the old Empire at its peak. To back that up he orders a full mobilisation of the Empire. He also announces that the Empire is mounting a search of the other two Accutrements of Power, as well as for all of the other great artifacts which were lost when the Empire collapsed six centuries past.
The populace applauds him.
There is other news as well. In late May the armies of Nolthen counterattacked the invading dwarves of Kludar, but were beaten back. The dwarves - led by their general, Lord McTavish - resumed their slow advance northwards along the shore of Lac Olith.
In early June, heavy ship movements were observed along the Mississippi River. Transports - obviously Nolthenese though they flew no flag - have been seen moving slowly up the river, apparently heading home. These movements continue.
On June 26th Rage suggests you all head down and go exploring.
Malvis would not think of letting Rage go alone, so he will accompany her, after casting invisibility on himself.
"I cannot let you go alone into these depths," Malvis informs Rage.
"I will go."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah...I'll go. Do we have a plan if that lich shows up again?" Niko inquires.
"Yes, everybody runs away," the mage says. "Alternatively, I cast rock to mud on the ceiling above him and then everybody runs away.
"Seriously, I don't know as much about the relative resistance to magic that liches have, and I would suspect it would have lots of protections on it. Most I can do is a minor globe, protecting up to third order spells, so fireballs are an option, if everyone is within the region as well."
"Hmmm...not the very best plan I've heard..." Niko shrugs. "But I guess it'll have to do...what about those who need training?"
"Never been much on the advance planning aspect of this job," Rage replies, "I'm more than willing to listen to other ideas, but since most magics will not affect the lich, I am trying to think of options outside the bun."
"Well, I'm not very keen on taking on a lich...so I was thinking maybe of flooding him out...or maybe sending in some of our own summoned creatures in there..."
"Summoned creatures? Who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters!" the mage sings and begins dancing around the room. "I ain't afraid of no ghost. Yea, yea, yea, yea."
Rage continues for a few more minutes.
"I don't think I know that spell," she says, suddenly sitting down, "Odds are that we will encounter him when he thinks we are at our weakest. Since we are going into his lair and all. Thus, I suspect being ready with the spells will be best, for those around him. Oh, and Malvis, illusions don't work on the undead."
"I am aware that many undead do not 'see' illusions, mistress," says Malvis smoothly. "But I thought that an intelligent undead, such as a lich, may be more susceptible. After all, you did go invisible, a spell of the school of Illusion, I believe. If he truly does not 'see' illusions, our invisibility is of no consequence. And even if what you say is true, I will go to battle the creatures that do have organs of vision, leaving the lich in your capable hands."
Malvis bows to Rage as he says this last, the blushes at his forwardness towards the mage.
Rage shakes her head. "Our lich did see me, and knew I was casting a spell, which is why he used some high powered spell to stop me, probably one of the Bigsby spells. I was protected against lower order spells, so that indicates his strengths. As for going invisible, it is a good standard practice, since we do not know what other creatures we will encounter down there, and many normal critters will not be able to see us, and thus give us the element of surprise."
"Ah, I see, mistress. I was unaware that the lich saw you so clearly the first time. Let us hope that we encounter more than just undead, at least for my sake!" Malvis concludes with a slight smile.
"I suspect we will," the mage replies, "I suspect we will."
Kadlian clears his throat, coming back to reality after having a hideous day dream where he slaved in front of a computer for a week for about every waking moment.
"Rage, how about we make a foray into another section of the lich's domain and test his defenses there?
"Kailar, Rage, any way of making sure we are not scried upon? I would like to discuss an idea and be fairly sure the lich is not capable of hearing it."
Rage, who missed Kadlian's comments, looks up. "I am not sure how best to prevent a scrying.
"There might be a spell that would allow us to block scrying, but I do not possess it at the moment and it may take some extensive research to find it."
"I believe a 'Dispel Magic' will block it temporarily, if it is occurring at the moment one casts it. I believe it renders the means inoperable for a time, about 24 hours." Malvis grins in delight, happy to have something to say in matters arcane with such august mages. "So someone could cast it on the area around us just before we entered the areas where we expect to encounter the lich, and he would never know we are coming. At least, he wouldn't know by scrying."
You head across town to the deserted moat house which was the conclusion of your tour of the entrances to the dungeon previously, and head in.
Niko makes sure his Ring of Fire Resistance is on.
Rage turns invisible with her ring, then casts wizard eye to explore.
The upper areas of the small castle are deserted, so you head downstairs.
The stairs head down to the west. At the bottom is a 10' wide passage running north - south. To the north it runs for 40' and ends at a door. To the south it runs for 20' and ends. There are more doors: in every 10' section of the east wall; and in the west wall (as measured from the north) in the 20' - 30', 40' - 50' (across from the stairs) and southernmost sections.
You pause and procrastinate for a time. Clearly extensive planning is required at this point. You do not want to make any rash moves. An orderly system of investigation based on a strict hierarchy of command must be evolved. Perhaps a committee?
"So, who's mapping?"
"Kadlian usually maps," Rage says. The mage sends her wizard eye down the southern passage looking for secret and hidden doors in the passageway.
She sees none.
"I have a new plan, let's send Dor to open the doors, and I can peek in with my wizard eye, and let you know what I see," the mage says, rubbing her hands with anticipation.
"The problem with that plan, Rage, is that we only have two clerics. Hardly enough to keep him alive."
"Well, if there is something, I'll let him know," the mage says, "And he can always run away."
Kadlian snorts. "That is what I am worried about. He is not smart enough to run away from tough fights."
"Evolution has very strict rules, Kadlian," the woman says. "Dor, will you run away from a really bad fight and let us help you?"
Dor ponders this. After a minute of the gnashing of misaligned gears that make up his thought process, he answers, "Well I don't mind opening the doors. And since I don't have a magic weapon, I can't kill mummies and ghouls and lichs and such, so I guess I would have to."
Kadlian rolls his eyes. "Okay..."
"I want to get this over as quick as possible. We still have to figure out how to save Zanax, remember?" the mage says. "We could recon by fireball if you prefer."
"No, go ahead."
Kadlian looks over at Kailar. "Any luck with the spell research?"
"Let us try the door across from the stairs. Kailar, you have point."
The gnome bustles across the passage and listens at the door.
He hears nothing but the rumble of Sir's stomach.
"Dor, if you would do the honors," the mage says.
Dor clanks over and looks at his wooden counterpart for a moment, before opening it.
Through the doorway you see a bare room (10' X 20': 10' west, 10' north). There is nothing of interest to be seen.
However, just as you reach this conclusion you hear the unmistakable sound of someone breaking wind from up the passage to the north. Looking that way, you see that the third door up on the right has been opened, and four orcs are standing there watching you curiously.
Kadlian waves. "Hi. The boss sent us to find an empty room to store our stuff. Is this one okay?"
Kadlian points at the door they have just opened.
"What's with yer ears, man?" one of the orcs asks.
"They are pointy, orc. Now, answer the question. We got orders from the boss to stow our gear and then get back out there and pretend we are on their side so we can cause trouble without being suspected."
He points up.
Niko claps Kad on the back. "Let me take care of this..."
He then starts slowly advancing toward the orcs (cutlass and dagger already in hand). He says to the orcs in a calm but threatening voice, "Now, my friends, what we have here is a failure to communicate. My friend back there just asked you a question...please be polite and answer him."
The orcs regard Niko warily.
"'Oo's the boss?" one of them asks suspiciously.
"The lich, of course."
Kadlian shudders. "Nasty creature, but the pay is pretty good."
Niko shakes his head and sighs as he lights his cutlass. Still advancing, he replies, "You couldn't just be polite and answer my friend's question...had to be rude, didn't ya? I just hope the boss don't take yer funeral costs from my wages..."
"You work for the lich??" the orc says, as they draw their scimitars, "Yer all as evil as th' day is long! At 'em boys!"
"You mean you're not?" Niko says with incredulity.
Kadlian laughs. "And you are dead!"
They pour out through the doorway and attack! There are ten of them.
Niko holds his ground and retaliates if attacked.
Kadlian draws his swords and moves to Niko's side. "Dor, guard the rear."
"If anyone starts firing arrows, the rest of you head into the empty room."
Malvis, sensing that a non-lethal means of stopping the orc attack is called for, sends forth colored rays of light toward the orcs, hoping to drop as many of them as possible to limit the bloodshed.
Five orcs drop.
"OK," Malvis says evenly after the spell goes off, "If you don't want to join your friends, stop attacking and we'll discuss this like mature adults. We aren't evil, and aren't working for the lich. We thought you were."
"So you lied to us, ye bastards!" an orc cries at Malvis as he attacks Niko. "Why should we trust you now?"
The battle is joined.
Two years ago this would have been a challenging battle, but you have come a long way, baby, in the ensuing time. After a few moments of intense swordplay the five remaining orcs lie dead on the floor, while Kadlian and Niko nurse a couple of minor wounds for their efforts (7 and 8 hit points of damage, respectively).
Rage, meanwhile, has sent her eyeball into the room that they came out of, and reports that it measures 10' square. There are a number of bedrolls and backpacks in there.
Nuanna nudges one of the five stunned orcs and says to Malvis, "What are you going to do with them? Convert them?"
Melissa giggles at what is apparently an 'in' joke.
Next, the northernmost door in the west wall opens, and three horrific little creatures stagger out. Vaguely human like, they stand about 3' tall, with skin a dead grey in colour. They have long claws and sharp teeth. Those of you who explored the Black Keep and the Temple of Tyaa recall battling their ilk in those foul dungeons. They are manes demons.
"Well, they are tied up now," says Malvis somewhat defensively, "So at least we can talk to them. Why on earth did they call us 'evil', I wonder? Especially with them working alongside demons."
Niko wipes off his dagger on one of the dead orcs.
He then surveys the carnage. "Wow...another set of non-evil orcs! Will wonders never cease!"
"Tie them up and we shall see if we can get answers."
Kadlian turns to the demons.
"And these orcs were calling us evil? What are they doing with demons in their midst?"
Niko, weapons still drawn, asks the demons, "Care to dance?"
"What it is with pirates and dancing? Reminds me of Captain Feathersword," the mage says offhandedly.
"Hey! I ain't no pirate! I'm an honest merchant. I hate pirates! Pirates sank me ship, ya know!" Niko says with a huff.
"Fine, what is it with sailors and singing?" the woman asks
Dor watches the battle. If someone from the party drops, he will pick up their sword and step in.
"Rage, can you soften them up a bit? Niko, Vastelle and I will tackle the hand to hand combat. Dor, remind me to get Sian to loan his sword to you if he is going to sit in the Inn. That way you will have a magical weapon."
Rage obliges, casting a magic missile spell at the creatures. It only takes one spell to reduce all three of them to foul little puffs of smoke, the odour of which remind you of Niko's beer breath.
The smoke quickly clears.
The room they came out of, you quickly discover, measures 10' X 30' (10' west, 20' north). A search of the room reveals nothing. You do likewise to the orc's room, turning up nothing until Nuanna notices a stone slab shifting slightly under her feet.
Lifting the slab reveals a space underneath, filled by two chests. Opening the chests reveals the orc's treasure trove: 9000cp, 6000sp, 4 gems (8gp ea.) and 8 vials.
By this time someone or other has tied up the five orcs, and Malvis' spell has worn off.
They glare at you balefully.
Kadlian looks down at his swords, shrugs and puts them in their sheaths.
"Wow..."
He looks over at Niko. "Makes you wonder why we are needed..."
"Gotta remember to map this..."
Kadlian moves over to the orcs. "Now, you are going to answer some of my earlier questions. See, I wanted to avoid a fight, if possible. Not because I was worried that you would hurt us, but more that I am trying to become a kinder, gentler ranger, especially to orcs. But, you messed that up. If our young mage had not put you out, you would be dead like your friends over there.
"So, you get a chance to live. You are going to tell us about lives down here, where they live, what the hierarchy of monsters is and what your general plan is. If you do not, then you die, slowly. If you do, well, I am sure we can come to an understanding where you get to live, just not around here."
"Don't feed us ter yer boss!"
"Then answer my questions!" yells Kadlian in their faces.
"What questions?"
In Kadlian's best sergeant voice he says, "What else lives down here, where do they live, what is the hierarchy of monsters and what is the plan!"
Malvis simply rolls his eyes at this exchange, and wonders if orcs could ever be good sources of information about anything.
"Monsters, bandits, mushrooms, frogs, kobolds, hobgoblins, goblins, ghouls!" they recite. "Seen 'em around! What hierarchy? What plan?"
Malvis steps forward gingerly, clears his throat, and addresses the orcs in a quiet voice. "Ah, I'm the one who put you out with the light show. I know other interesting magic spells that you might not like as much. Could you tell me who your boss is? And where the lich can usually be found? And just what you are all doing down here?"
"You don't know where your own boss, is, slimeball?" asks the self-proclaimed leader.
Malvis, not used to completely chaotic conversations from creatures who fail to realize when they are contradicting themselves, leaves further questioning to Kadlian and others who can make more sense of the orc answers.
Kadlian resumes his interrogation.
"Who is in charge of you guys?"
"I am!" says an orc.
Kadlian growls back, "Not any more. I am!"
"Not on yer life, mate! We don't take no orders from th' lackeys of a stinkin' undead!"
"Then you can be his next meal. Your choice."
They make raspberries at Kadlian.
"Who makes the orders?"
"I do!" says another orc.
"I do!"
"And what are you doing here?"
"Trying to eke out a living stealing from the evil humans on the surface, just like you must be!"
Kadlian laughs. "Do we look like we eke out anything?"
"Who makes sure that you guys do not fight with the bandits and the other monsters?"
"We love to fight with the other monsters!" says the last orc.
Niko chuckles at the conversation. "Chaos! Pure chaos! I love it!"
"Good, then you are going to show us where they live. We will give you back your weapons and you will have the bonus of attacking first. And, if you try to run away, we will catch you again and feed you to the lich." Kadlian leers at him. "See, our boss is trying to figure out why you guys are around and why you are complicating his plans."
Throughout this conversation Kadlian's voice has been rising steadily higher in pitch. At this point is becomes a piercing shriek, and his nose suddenly grows by about six inches.
The orcs regard this latest event with curious expressions.
"So, what were the demons doing around here? Our boss failed to mention anything about demons."
"Fight yer own battles, scum! Gruumsh will remember us!"
In unison they spit at Kadlian.
Kadlian grins as he wipes off the spittle. "Fine. We are leaving them here, tied up. We will see what finds them here like that."
"As long as it ain't Mister Leechee!"
"Um, I don't think that's right," Dor pipes up. "It's okay for us to kill evil creatures in battle, but I don't think it's right to take captives and then just abandon them."
He looks at Kadlian. "I know you are in charge and all, but I just have to tell you what I think."
"I offered to let me come with us and they do not want that. And we cannot leave them behind us plotting our deaths. So, this is it. Whatever comes by can let me go or kill them."
"Actually, sir," Dor answers, "they said they did not want to follow you. But maybe they will cooperate with me or Niko. I don't think they are evil since they want to kill the lich."
Dor turns to the tied up orcs.
"If we loose your bonds, do you promise not to attack us, but rather attack the evil creatures that have taken over around here?"
"Of course, sir!" an orc responds, his voice rising to a high pitched squeak.
Niko chuckles and hands Kadlian a hanky. "Here, Pinnochio...let me try."
Kadlian waves a hand at them. "Fine. Kill 'em if you get bored."
Niko regards the orcs. "So, are you still interested in fighting whatever creatures lurk down here?"
"Not as lackeys of him or his boss!" they reply, glaring at the elf with the probiscus.
"Fair enough...you wouldn't be the first. How much of these catacombs have you explored?"
"This passage an' th' next," says one of the orcs.
"Hmmm...that's not very much. Would you be willing to fight by my side if I let you go?"
"In return fer what?" asks one of them.
"The five of you would split a share of the treasure we find."
"Never!" says another, trying to kick at his companion. "They all work for th' lich!"
Niko rolls his eyes back. "Oh, please. You don't really believe that, do you?
"I need you to promise that you will not attack me or my friends, too."
"Even if you attack us first? No way, lich-lover!"
"Ummm...considering the fact that you're tied up right now, it doesn't seem too likely that we'd release you just to kill you..."
"Where did you get the idea that we work for the lich or even like the lich?" Dor asks, perplexed. "We are here to kill the lich."
"Then why did the th' guy wit' th' nose say you was workin' for 'im?"
Rage, tired of all the talk, turns invisible again with her ring. "Let them go, if they bother us again, they will die. I think that they know this, and let's get a move on. I want to go kill the lich."
The monsters must be getting bored as well, for suddenly the door to the south of the orc room opens and out hops a giant toad!
"Croak croak," it says, as it leaps at Dor.
"You tell 'em, toadie!" cheer the orcs.
At the same time, you hear a deafening -
"WHOOPWHOOP WHOOPWHOOP WHOOPWHOOP WHOOPWHOOP WHOOPWHOOP WHOOPWHOOP"
- through the last door on the east side of the passage.
"Oh, do shut up!" Niko tells the orcs, as he goes to engage the toad.
Dor battles the toad, waiting for it to tell him something before it dies.
"Someone help Dor with the toad. I will check out the shriekers."
Dor does not appear to need much help as his first swing with his longsword connects. The toad bites him for 8 hit points.
Niko jumps into the fray and connects with his cutlass.
"Croak croak," says the toad one last time, as it croaks.
Kadlian heads up to the door and opens it quickly, his swords at the ready.
Through the door is another 10' square room. In here are a pair of wailing shriekers, surrounded by an enormous pile of treasure.
Thinking that it looks a little too easy, Kadlian sheathes his shortsword, draws a dagger and throws it a one of the shriekers.
His dagger embeds itself in a shrieker.
"AROOOO!! AROOOO!! AROOOO!! AROOOO!! AROOOO!! AROOOO!! AROOOO!!" wail the mushrooms.
Next you hear the pitter-patter of little feet through the door to the north. The door flies open, and a dozen bandits pour through, looking for some fun and frolic!
"Great! Go get 'em!" cheer the orcs, adding to the din.
"Shaddap!" say the bandits, as they attack you!
Kadlian turns from the shrieker door to face the bandits.
Niko snorts at the bandits.
"Almost as pathetic as these orcs!" as he lets fly a sleep spell and then moves to enter the fray with his blazing cutlass and molecular dagger.
All of the bandits drop in their tracks, snoring loudly. One of the orcs nods off as well.
Vastelle moves up and starts slaying them.
"Murderous elf!" wail the orcs, "We knew it all along!"
"Kailar, can you go silence the shriekers please!"
Rage moves towards the doorway of the shrieker room.
Kailar, after picking up one of the orc weapons, enters the room and hacks the shriekers apart.
Seeing Kailar moving in, Rage falls back.
"WHEEEEE! WHEEEEE! WHEEEEE! WHEEEEE! WHEEEEE! WHEEEEE! Ack!" say the shriekers as they expire.
However, once again you hear the sounds of creatures approaching, and nine kobolds come galloping through the north door. This time, though, Wizbang, who had planned on sending a sleep spell at the bandits, is ready, and five of the newest arrivals drop. Rage follows up with magic missiles, and with two spells blows the last four to bits.
Silence reigns.
You check out the treasure in the shrieker room, finding two rings, two wands, a small cube of adamantite, an enormous shovel, a shield, a suit of leather armour (human sized), two longswords, 6 arrows and a spear.
Kadlian sheathes his swords. "Well done, everyone. Not worthy foes, but everyone handled themselves perfectly."
"Ooohhh!" Niko exclaims as he investigates the cube. "I've heard about these things...comes in handy when you're fighting a war..."
"What is it?"
"Some wizard created these cubes that expand into this huge impenetrable tower. This one guy I knew used this cube as a trap...he put it on the ground in front of us as a swarm of orcs were charging...we held our ground and just as they got to us, he used the magic word/phrase and BOOM! Up appeared this tower that either crushed or catapulted the orcs to oblivion. It definitely turned the tide of the battle!"
Niko casts Detect Magic and investigates the cube. He then sees if he can find out anything more about the other magic items.
Malvis looks at the tied-up orcs, bandits, kobolds, etc. and slowly shakes his head. "Perhaps next time I'll use a more powerful spell that will simply kill all of them. it seems that taking prisoners, while noble in intent, could become a serious liablility for an adventuring group. I must remember this fact in the future."
"Killing in battle would definitely limit the arguments after the fact."
"As an Illusionist, Niko," Malvis continues, now facing the mage, "I can use very few magic items. Perhaps if one of those wands were useable by an illusionist, the group might not mind if I were to possess it?"
"Let us wait until everything is identified, Malvis. Then we can divide up the treasure."
All of the toys radiate magic.
"Wand of Fear"
Wand: nothing discernable
Cube: alteration/conjuration
"Tower of someone or another..."
Spade: evocation
shield: conjuration/summoning
leather armour: conjuration/summoning
longsword: conjuration/summoning
longsword: conjuration/summoning
arrows: conjuration/summoning
spear: conjuration/summoning
"Can't tell anything about the weapons or armor."
Kadlian looks confused. "How were you able to tell anything about them? I thought only bards could do that without an identify spell."
Niko winks. "You just gotta know what you're looking for..."
"You know, I have always wondered why this stuff is not being used by the monsters we fight. I mean, why store the magical items in here if you can use it? Certainly the bandits or orcs could have used the shield, swords and spear if they could not figure out how to use the other stuff."
"Some days it is better not to ask questions like that," the mage says, "Lest anyone get any ideas. I don't like even odds, and let's try to keep it that way."
"Kad, what are we going to do with all our prisoners?"
Kadlian rubs an eye. "I have no idea. I do not really want prisoners, but we cannot just let them go down here. We will find ourselves constantly getting ambushed. Rage, how about teleporting them somewhere where they would not be in a position to hurt anyone?"
"Haul their sorry asses out of there and let the local justice system deal with them," the mage says. "Or kill them."
"The local justice system. I like that, Rage. Let us do that now and we can come back a little later and mop up some more locals."
"Okay, troops, let us get these bandits, kobolds and orcs over to the local constabulary. Then, we will discuss what to do next."
Niko helps tie up the bad guys, making sure they're all linked together.
While they are doing that, Rage sends her wizard eye through the north door. Through it is a 10' wide passage heading east for 50' in all, turning south after 40' (door in north wall at east end, door in east wall). Heading south, the eye follows the passage for another 70', at which point it ends (doors in the west wall: every section but the 10' - 20' and last sections; doors in the east wall: first three 10' sections, then the 40' - 50', and 60' - 70' sections as measured from the north wall).
At this point the eye can go no further.
You then awaken and march the prisoners out of the dungeon. You create quite a stir as you lead them through the town to the Baron Greeshan's Keep, where the town constabulary is located. The local officials are more than happy to take them off of your hands, and promise you a large reward for your labours.
It is dinnertime by the time you finish up, so you head back to the inn.
Over dinner you plan your next move...
Niko sits next to Edelle. He smiles and asks, "Any chance you have Identify already memorized? Perhaps one of those items might be useful to you..."
"Sorry," she replies.
"I was thinking about splitting up the party into two parts. Let one group continue through the castle, picking off some of the easier monsters while another group goes through the inn's secret door and eliminates some undead. This way, we can split the lich's attention. What do the rest of you think?"
"I don't like that idea," the mage says. "First, if the lich finds the other group, they are not strong enough to handle it, and do not have the magic power necessary. Second, if they were in trouble, they would not have help and back up. However, it seems that your followers should make that choice."
Niko jumps in. "I agree that we shouldn't split up. The lich might see the divided party and pick off your followers. It would be foolhardy to split up."
Kadlian shrugs. "Well, it was a thought."
"Hey, I have a question since we are not splitting up," Dor pipes in after an uncharacteristically long silence. "Are summoning and conjuration good things or a bad things? They sound kind of bad to me. But if it is a good thing, I might need something like one of those longswords to fight the undead creatures when we go back down to face the lich and such."
"Wait till Rage finishes her Identify spell..." Niko responds.
"Dor, getting you a magical weapon is a high priority. Do not be concerned about it."