November 16, 1372

The next day the party returns to the dungeon beneath the Tower of Golgar.

Niko turns invisible and draws Dwarf's Envy (unflamed).

Kadlian looks at the map. "We should check out the two rooms next to the treasure room.  And from there we can look at the room across the hall."

Niko peers at the map. "Haven't we already been in the meat locker room? Or are you talking about the double doors south of the treasure room and the room at the southwest corner of the meat locker room?"

"Actually, I should have said two rooms, period. The one south of the treasure room and the one across the hall."

"Ah," Niko says sagaciously, as he nods his head. "I take it then that we've explored that other unmarked room on your map?"

"Yes. I just did not know what to call it. It was uninteresting."

"Well, then...I propose that we name that room after you. The Kadlian room!" Niko says with a nod of his head and a mischievous grin.

"And I will call the Meat Locker, Niko's room."

Dor asks Kadlian, "Am I still up front or back in the back now that we are up to full strength?"

"You and Niko will trade positions. For now, we will let Niko stay up front."

Niko snorts. "At least until I blow myself up again."

Niko turns to Dor. "Hey!  Maybe Kadlian will let you take point next to me!"

Lerelith hangs out where the party would like him to, but he will begin to use his tracking ability to look for signs of recent activity (as in since we were last there) in the dungeon as we move.

He spots no tracks.

"Which room was it you ran into trouble last time? Did you finish those folks off, or retreat first?"

"We killed everything that came at us.  But, we retreated into Niko's paradise when we had a breather, afraid more would come.  At that point, most of us were severly wounded, with Niko being dead.  It took us nearly a month before we were able to return.  And, by then, two goblins had cleaned up the bodies and moved the treasure to one room."

"Now, I want to see what else is around here."

"Ragnar is a fledgling cleric, as is Lerelith. I underwent a ritual to become a different kind of ranger.  I can now cast wizardly magics."

Kadlian thumps his platemail as an explanation.

Returning to the room where you battled the two goblins and collected the treasure, you open the door to the south of it. This reveals a long room (20' X 50': 20' west, 40' south; door in north wall west corner; door in south wall east corner). This is a storage room, and you spend awhile searching it. Going through the boxes, crates, stacks of metal rods and stacks of animal hides, you find nothing of value.

Opening the north door off of this room obviously reveals the smithy where the goblins resided.

Opening the south door turns up another large room (60' X 100': 50' west, 100' south; door in west wall 70' - 80' section as measured from north; door in south wall east corner). Another barracks hall, in here are six rows of 12 pallets each. The place appears to have been ransacked already, and you turn up no loot.

As you are searching, though, the west door opens and out charge five more goblins, shortswords drawn!

"Hey!" shouts one of them, clearly the leader, "Hands offa the merchandise!"

Trinity is invisible with his ring and keeps his eyes open for what he may see in case there are other baddies around.

Malvis takes a cue from Trinity, and activates his ring and turns invisible, also.

An invisible Niko quickly tells Kadlian, "I've got the leader."

He then sidesteps the lesser goblins to engage the leader.  He willll flame his cutlass as he attacks.

Kadlian draws his frostbrand and Sinclair dagger.  "Hlarn, Vastelle, pick up the two, please.  Dor, if any get by, they are yours."

Kadlian moves up quickly to engage at least one goblin, if not two.

"Sorry, you haven't paid your taxes...the collection agency is here!"

The dwarf engages the first goblin that comes nearby.

Dor stands ready to protect the magic users from this mighty army of hobgoblins. He will also remain on guard against an attacking eyelash or perhaps a particularly threatening hangnail.

Trinity, who is invisible, speaks, "He's so studly. See how Dorie flexes his muscles."

Three of the goblins engage Niko, Kadlian and Hlarn, respectively, while the others face Dor and Vastelle.

With a clash of arms the forces of Good and Neutrality meet those of Evil.

Dor and Bill the talking longsword make short work of the first goblin, and Trinity sighs.

Kadlian the Mighty First Edition Ranger barely touches the next one and he explodes into little pieces.

Niko sends his foe down in flames.

Hlarn rather easily avoids a goblin attack and chops his enemy in half.

That leaves Vastelle, who dodges the attack of the last goblin and then disembowels him.

You hardly worked up a sweat this time.

You enter their room, and see that it is 20' X 30' (20' west, 20' south). In here are five beds, each with a chest. Looting the place, you find 1000cp, 5 gems (10gp, 50gp, 70gp, 20gp and 1000gp). 1000sp, a gem (1000gp) and 2000ep.

You head over to that south door in the barracks and open it.

This is an armoury (30' X 30': 30' south, 20' west; door in the south wall east corner; door in the west wall north corner). In here is an assortment of spears, scimitars, swords and axes. Examining them, none of them seem to be of much quality.

You open the west door and see another room (30' X 30': 30' west, 20' south; door in the west wall south corner; door in the middle of the south wall). In here are many odds and ends of goblin armour, boots, cloaks and helmets. Again, there is nothing of any value.

You open the west door and see a large mess hall (30' X 50': 20' north, 50' west). In here are rows of tables and benches, all quite uninteresting.

You return to the room filled with odds and ends and open the south door. Here, you see a 10' wide passage running east - west. There is a door right across from you in the south. To the east, the passage runs for 40' and ends at a door. There is another door in the north wall at the end, which you realise leads back into the armoury next door. To the west, the passage runs for 60' and on, and if Kadlian's mapping is accurate, you realise will take you back to the secret entrance to this level.

You open that door to the south, and see a passage running south for 20', turning west after 10'. There is a door facing you in the south wall.

You move south to the corner. Looking west, you see that the passage extends for 80' from the back wall. There is a door in every 10' section of the right wall; seven in all. Each is barred with a length of stout wood. There is also a second door in the south wall, right next to the first one.

You open the first door in the south wall, and see a 10' square room. In here are a table and two chairs. Otherwise it is empty.

You open the second door in the south wall and look into a small torture chamber (10' X 20': 10' south, 10' west). There is a bench in the centre of the place, as well as a good collection branding irons, a brazier (cold), chains, straps, knives, an iron maiden and some whips. Tied to the bench is a dead shedu. His wings are plucked, his body is covered in burns and cuts.

You find nothing of value in here, though the mages wonder about the shedu feathers which are lying about...

You work your way west, opening the doors in the north wall.

The first cell is empty.

The second one contains eight dead brownies. They appear to have starved.

The next cell is empty.

The fourth cell contains a dead bugbear, hanging in chains from the back wall.

The next two cells are empty.

The last cell contains a dead chimera. You remember killing him, as a matter of fact.

You reenter the main east - west passage through the secret door and go east to the door at the end. Opening it, you look out into another passage, running north - south. There is a door right across from you in the east wall.

Looking north, the passage runs for 60' and on. There is a door in the east wall, 10' - 20' section.

Looking south, the passage runs for 60' and ends at a very stout door. There are 10' wide openings in both walls immediately south of where you stand. There is also a door in the east wall, 40' - 50' section.

You move south.

The openings contain two flights of stairs. One flight ascends to the west; the other descends to the east.

You continue south to the door in the east wall and open it. This reveals a guard room (20' X 20': 10' north, 20' east; door in east wall north corner). It is deserted.

You open that door to the northeast and see another barracks hall (40' X 50': 30' north, 50' east). There are pallets along the walls, clearly designed for larger-than-human-sized creatures, as well as tables, benches and chairs. The place has already been looted by your goblin friends, but behind a pile of spears in the northeast corner you find a door in the north wall.

You open this door, and see a 10' wide passage running east - west. To the west, it runs for 40' and ends at a door. To the east, it runs for 60' and on.

You head west and open the door at the end. This opens into a 20' square room (20' west, 10' north; door in west wall south corner; door in east wall north section). It is rather bare.

Opening the east door reveals a 10' square room, also uninteresting.

Opening the west door takes you back to the north - south passage, just north of the stairs.

Niko turns invisible and unflames his cutlass as he awaits orders.

"Let us go check the door that probably leads out.  Might be nice to unlock it.  From there, well, we can go north and fill in the rest of this map before I have to get a new piece of parchment for further east. This place is huge!"

You head back south to the door at the end of the passage. It is barred but not locked. Removing the bar, you open, and find yourselves looking outside. The first time you approached this dungeon you recall that there wee several large trolls guarding this door. They are no more.

You go north to the first door in the east wall. Opening it, you see an odd-shaped room (right wall runs east for 30', south for 10', east for 40', north for 80' (doors in the 10' - 20', 40' - 50' and 50' - 60' sections as measured from the south) then west for 70' and south to close up). Yet another deserted barracks hall, you search through the pallets and miscellaneous furnishings but turn up nothing.

You open the southernmost door in the east wall, and see another mess hall (30' X 50': 10' north, 10' south, 50' east), which is deserted and uninteresting.

Opening the next door turns up a store room full of boxes (20' X 30': 10' south, 30' east; door in middle of north wall). Searching through it all turns up a lot of miscellaneous clothes and such but nothing of value.

Opening the door in the middle of the north wall, you see another barracks, apparently for the officers (30' X 30': 10' east, 10' west, 30' north; door in west wall south section). This place contains the usual furnishings, and has already been looted.

Returning to the main barracks hall through the west door, you exit to the north - south passage. Continuing north, you come to another door in the east wall, 70' past the last one. Opening this one, you see a large kitchen (40' square: 30' north, 40' east; door in east wall south section). In here are several stoves, tables, counters, cabinets and stools. The fire is lit in one of the stoves, and four men are in here cooking lunch. They are scruffy, unarmoured and unarmed, though you see several piles of gear over in a corner.

"Errr, what der you want?" growls one of them, apparently not expecting visitors.

An invisible Niko replies, "Yer six months behind on da rent and we're here ta collect!"

There is a pause.

"We'll have th' money for ya soon!" says one of the others.

"Ya," says a third.

Niko shakes his invisible head. "Sorry, unless ya gots da money now, you're gonna hafta leave.  Dem are da rulez."

They look at each other.

"Guess we gotta go," says the first.

They head over to the corner and start collecting their things.

"Just a second," growls Kadlian.  "What happened to the others?  This place is emptier than we expected."

"Can't talk. Gotta go."

Niko puts a hand on Kadlian's shoulder, "Yo!  Calm down, Boss.  It's not their fault they don't have da rent.  Lettem finish lunch first.  Then maybe weez can give some money if their willin' ta help us make sure no other squatters are hangin' round.  Whatta ya say guyz?  Interested in makin' a couple of silver?"

They look up.

"How much?"

Niko chuckles, "Depends, of course, on how much help ya guys are.  But dontcha worry, Boss here's a good guy.  What are youse even guys doin' here? And whose yer boss?"

There is another pause.

"We's here ta get youse money..." says the first one, starting to sound a little suspicious. "An' what's yer name again?"

"We did not give it. And start spilling what you know or you are going to start spilling your guts."

Niko chuckles again. "Had ta be difficult, didntcha?"

They look at each other uncertainly.

"What ya wanta know?"

"Who is your boss?"

The man shrugs.

"We don't know. We been waitin' fer someone t' show up. Th' place is pretty deserted, ain't it?"

"How did you hear about this place, then?"

"From a guy in Calamlad," the man replies, "He was recruitin' mercenaries t' fight in some dwarf war in th' east. Told us to meet here, gave us directions an' sent us on our way."

Niko asks, "Ummm...where's Calamlad?"

"It's the capitol of Amlad, west of here," says Vastelle.

"Other than you, have you seen any mercenaries?"

They shake their heads.

"He signed up some other guys but they were sent east by a diff'rent route, north of th' mountains."

"How much longer were you going to wait?"

They look at each other.

"Prob'ly not much longer," says the first man.

"And what happened to this place?  Last time we were in here, they were orcs, ogres, goblins and the rest roaming around. Damn quiet right now."

"You can say that again. Been that way for th' week we's been here."

"How many weeks has that been?"

"Just a week."

"Six days," corrects the heretofore silent fourth man.

"Whatever."

"Six days. And what side of the dwarf war are you supposed to be fighting on?"

"Don't know the name of them, but they's fightin' the dwarves."

"Not particulary worried about the side, as long as you get paid, eh?"

They shrug as one.

"Gotta pay the rent," explains the second man.

"Hlarn, Ragnar, can one of you get a reading on these mercenaries?"

"I would have to pray again to Thor, Lord Kadlian.  It would not take much time, however.  Perhaps half an hour?"

Kadlian looks at Hlarn, awaiting a response from him before replying back to Ragnar.

The dwarf focuses on the mercenaries.

"Does anyone else think it's strange that if the entire first floor was inhabited, that no one from the other levels came out to find out what happened?"

Niko chimes in, "Well, if youse guyz haven't seen anyone, have youse guyz done some explorin'?"

"A bit. Just empty, pilfered rooms."

Niko looks at the dwarf expectantly.

"They appear to be what they say they are and are just mercenaries...not devoted followers of evil."

Dor adds, "They are telling the truth, if this ring works."

He holds up his hand with the ring of truth on it.

Kadlian nods. "Good to know, Dor. And thank you, Hlarn."

Niko says to one of the mercs, "So, now dat we know youz guyz aren't evil, how good are youz in a fight?  Ever been in one?  And what kinda other skillz ya got?"

"You need some good sword arms?" asks one of them, "That's us!"

Niko tries to estimate how battle seasoned these mercs are.

They look like standard soldier types...young men in their early twenties, weather beaten features...apparently they have spent a lot of time outdoors.

Niko becomes visible. "Well, good sword arms maybe a start, but fer Boss here ta accept ya, ya gots to have odder skills."

Niko look to Kadlian. "Taint dat right, Boss?"

"Right.  Just plain fighters, well, we have a few of those already and I am not sure if we need anymore.  Unless, of course, you are willing to be the first ones to attack in a fight."

"Hey!" says the first man, "We ain't no stinkin' monster fodder!"

Niko looks back to the mercenaries. "So, wot odder skills ya got?  Are any of youse
guyz mages or clerics?"

Kadlian looks at the mercenaries. "Answer Niko's questions about your skills. If you are of any use, maybe we will hire you."

Kadlian waits for an answer before saying anything further.

They shake their heads.

"I can ride a horse," offers one of them.

Hlarn chimes in, "And what do you know about this dwarf war you were hired for as well?  Which dwarven nation were you going to be attacking?"

"Don't know," says the first man, "Some place way out east."

"The one that Nolthen is attacking.  Saltar is lending the dwarves aid. The name escapes me right now."

Niko shakes his head and says to no one in particular, "What are they teaching the youth of today?"

Looking back at Kadlian, "Well, Boss?"

"Stay here."

Kadlian motions the rest of the group to the other side of the room to have a quiet discussion.

Niko nods, "OK, Boss."

Looking back at the mercenaries, Niko pulls out a pair of dice and rattles them in his hand, "So, youse guyz gots any money?"

"If we did, do ya think we'd be here?"

"Well?  Do we want to add them to our group? We could let them have a half a share each of any treasure we find. And have a chance at any magical items that are found. Or, we can let them go on their way."

"Why waste time on them? Send them packing, they are worthless and will bolt at the first opportunity, and besides we have super Dor," says Trinity.

"Because if we run into the same kind of population growth on the second floor of this tower, we are going to need all the extra swords we can find.  But, I want everyone to agree to this before I make them an offer."

"Why don't we ask them if any of them want to stick with us?" Dor suggests. "Those that want in, get to stay in. Those that don't, we suggest they leave because it is going to get dangerous as we clear out this place."

Malvis shrugs his shoulders, but adds, "As a mage, I have noticed that many tend to quickly leave the main body of this group to attack. Those of us less able to defend directly in a melee suffer for that. I, for one, would like them to join us. If told to stay back as a line of defense for some of us spellcasters, they could be quite valuable, yet not be 'monster fodder', or get in the way of some tactics, like Trinity's fondness for launching fireballs while flying around."

"Malvis, that is a good point.  But, do you trust them enough to guard you and the other spellcasters?"

Trinity pipes in, "I trust them about as far as I can throw studly Dor."

"With or without magic?"

"This is not really about trust," says Malvis. "I am sure they are smart enough not to turn on me, and if they run, well, I am no worse off than before.  And, if they stay with us for a couple of battles, they will probably see the benefits of staying on in a more-or-less permanent capacity."

Niko shakes his head. "You're worse off if you're expecting them to cover your backside and they run off on you without you knowing.  However, they're not completely green, so under normal battle conditions I think we can trust them. However, if trust is an issue, we might want to run a Detect Charm on them later."

Niko saunters over to the gang while still keeping both eyes on the mercs. He then whispers his suggestion that they keep the mercenaries after testing them and pay them a flat rate per day to provide coverage for the spellcasters, but above the going rate and a potential bonus based on their contributions to ensure their loyalty.

"Better idea than what I had.  What is the going rate?"

Niko grins, "Well, what did you expect from a genius?"

Niko continues, "You're best off also assigning them to report to someone directly they're going to be protecting and not you.  Despite my best judgement, I'd say Rage is the best candidate since she's the lead and primary spellcaster needing physical protection in battle.  We might even try and some of them large shields to form a wall if need be.  Also, we should just ask them a few more question using Dor's Ring of Truth."

"They can report to Hlarn. And, I will let you, Hlarn and Dor do the questioning. Once you three seem satisfied, they can talk to me. For now, I will find a chair to sit in. To make it appear that I am more important than I really am."

Niko grins. "If you really want to seem important, tell Dor to get on all fours and use him as a chair!"

Kadlian chuckles.  "No, it would be even more impressive to use a woman or two women for that.  However, that is not appropriate.  Go, you three, and find out if they want to be hired."

Niko shakes his head. "Nah, that wouldn't be more impressive, as you'd probably land on your arse!"

Hlarn shakes his head.  "I personally would prefer to send them on their way.  I agree  with Trinity, and do not trust these folks. They are common mercenaries for sale to the highest bidder.  While they might not run in a battle, they will be witnesses to what we are capable of, and might easily be bought in the future by others seeking information about us.

"If we need protection for the mages, then I suggest in the future some of us seek to  hire proper henchmen who are more likely to share our interests and goals."

Kadlian looks around the group and nods. "Okay. Niko, send them on their way.  Tell them if we see them again in this tower, they will be considered a foe."

Niko rolls his eyes. "You people. Always so suspicious. And what's wrong with mercs?  They're not evil.  And it's not like you checked to see if they're good folk.  I think you're making a hasty decision and not taking advantage of a good situation."

"Niko, you raise a good point. We are suspicious. Hlarn, Trinity, what would make you more comfortable?  After all, if we hire them, then are they not henchmen?  How do we know that these four are not likely to share our interests and goals?"

Niko sighs. "Okay, tell you what. Lemme take charge of them and I'll cover the rear. My armor isn't that protective or that silent, so have Dor take point for now. This will free up Hlarn to wade into battle with you and Dor up front. Galin and the new guy can be the second line.  The four mercs will each protect Trinity, Sally, Malvis and Ragnar.  Vastelle will cover the rear and I'll cover hers.

"Of course, this is not quite an optimal marching order, but if we followed my earlier suggestion of smoking everyone out, we could plant ourselves at the exit and set up to mow down those who come out!"

"Forget it!" says one of the mercenaries, who has edged over and has been listening in, "If youse guys can't make a decision this simple wit'out waffling forever, we don't want no part of youse in a combat situation!"

They turn and depart, leaving their lunches uneaten.

Hlarn gives an evil laugh. "Our plan to steal their lunches worked!"

He packs them away for later.

The young Ranger keeps a hawk-like eye on the strangers to see if they appear to be acting suspiciously, or taking away any treasure.

Niko shrugs. "Oh, well. Where to next, oh fearless leader?"

Kadlian laughs as they leave. "And that is why I am such a dictator when we are in combat situations."

"Okay, let us continue to explore.  We can start with the door off the kitchen, here.  And then work our way further up north."

You open the door in the east wall and see another store room (40' X 50': 30' north, 50' east). Apparently someone was planning on feeding quite a few people here, for the place is filled with boxes, sacks, crates and barrels filled with various foodstuffs. You find barrels of butter, cooking oils, lard, apples and fruits; sacks of grains, flours, salt and sugar; crates of dried biscuits, hard tack, dried meats, eating and cooking utensils and other such items.

After taking what you want, you return to the passage and head north again. After 100' you reach another door in the east wall. The door where you met the goblins and acquired their huge treasure is right across the way.

Opening the east door, you are confronted with a huge drill and training room. Upon exploring it you see that it measures 90' X 150' (60' south, 80' north, 90' east; door in east wall 40' - 50' section as measured from the north). Apart from a heap of straw dummies in the north, the place is empty.

Opening that east door, you see a smaller room (30' X 40': 10' north, 10' south, 40' east). A store room, in here are more practice dummies, spears, wooden swords and junk. None of it is of value.

You continue north to the "T" intersection and turn right. From the intersection the passage runs for 210', turning south after 200'. There is a door in the south wall, 160' - 170' section.

You open the door.

Before you is another large room (70' X 80': 30' east, 30' west, 80' south; door in west wall 10' - 20' section as measured from the north). Apparently a place for archery practice, there is a row of targets along the south wall.

Opening the door in the west wall you see a store room (30' X 40': 10' north, 10' south, 40' west). In here are numerous longbows and shortbows - but no composite bows. There are also boxes of strings and an infinite number of arrows. Everything appears to be of good quality.

Moving on, you return to the passage and go east to the corner. Looking south, the passage runs for as far as you can see.

You walk south.

In the 160' - 170' section as measured from the back wall you finally come to a pair of doors...one on the left and one on the right. Looking south from the doors the passage continues. There is another door on the right in the 0' - 10' section and a fourth door in the 30' - 40' section on the right.

You open the first door on the right.

This is yet another barracks hall, though bare (70' X 80': 70' north. 70' west; doors in the west wall 20' - 30' and 30' - 40' sections as measured from the south).

After ascertaining that the place is truly bare you open the southern door in the west wall, and discover another bare room (20' X 40': 10' south, 40' west; door in north wall east section).

You open the north door and see a room of the same dimensions (30' west, 20' north; door in east wall south section) which is also barren.

You make your way back to the passage and open the east door.

This reveals a 10' wide passage running east for 30'. After that it ends at a "T" intersection with a passage running north - south. The stonework here is of noticeably inferior quality, the resident dwarf sees, compared to the rest of the complex. A door leans against the north wall. A door is inset in the south wall, middle section.

Opening the south door, you see a partially excavated room (about 25' X 30': 10' east, 10' west, about 25' south. The south section of this room is a bare rock face. Picks, shovels and several carts are in here...none of it of any value.

You return to the passage and go east to the intersection. Looking north and south, you see that the passage extends for only 10' in each direction before ending at rough rock faces. More tools lie about.

You return to the main north - south passage and open the door next to the large, bare barracks. Through it you see a mess hall (30' square: 30' west, 20' south; door in middle of south wall). A mess hall, in here are tables and benches.

Opening the south door you confront another large barracks hall (odd shaped: right wall runs west for 80' (doors in 40' - 50' and 50' - 60' sections), south for 50', east for 20', south for 30', east for 80' (door in southwest corner), north for 80' (door in northernmost section) and west for 10'.

This room is occupied by nine kobolds, who take one look at you and immediately surrender.

"Spare us!" they wail, groveling on the floor at the feet of the obvious leader of the party, the charismatic Galil.

Niko shakes his head, "Oh, crap! I hope this isn't going to happen too often."

"Me too. Now what?"

"There is a prison back that way that apparently held some of their friends. Let's put them there and we can release them later if we wish."

"That is fine with me."

Niko frowns. "I'd hardly call brownies friends to kobolds, but it's definitely a place to put them. What will we do with them afterwards?"

"I was thinking more of the bugbear and chimera, but at least you remember the place. As for what to do with them, there is no need to decide now.  I'm thinking they might make nice trap detectors...if they survive, they get their freedom. If not, well..." The dwarf shrugs.

Niko shrugs back. "If you say so, but I think Galil will object..."

Niko shrugs again and turns to the cavalier. "Well, Galil, what does your moral code say we should do now? If we let them live, we either have to lock them in a room or have someone guard them."

Galil, however, is silent.

Niko looks around. "Does anyone get the feeling that maybe we did clear out this whole level?  Maybe we should just skip to another level."

Hlarn nods. "I'm game. Nothing but the dregs of society here."

"Do you really want to take that chance? Besides mapping this level out completely will let us know all the passages up and down.  Plus, we might find more treasure that we missed."

Niko shrugs. "I guess...I just have the feeling that the longer we delay down here, the more time we give whatever is lurking around to prepare for us. In fact, I'm still surprised that those lame goblins were able to pile all that treasure together without someone else here taking it away from them."

Hlarn shrugs. "You're the boss. Just keep in mind that if we spend more than an hour wandering around on this level, we've lost the use of several of the protection spells that aid us... "

"Which protection spells?"

"Nothing we couldn't do without, but every little bit helps."

Hlarn counts down the list on his thick fingers. "First of course are the endure heat  and cold spells we've cast on the primary fighters and Trinity. Those will protect you from a single application of fire or cold, whichever comes first. Trinity could release a fireball around herself and remain unharmed for instance, although we didn't have enough to go around the whole party..."

Counting another digit, "Then there is the protection against evil aura I'm giving out that surrounds anyone within ten feet of me. That will keep devils, demons and the like from getting too close, not to mention greatly helping all of us in both attacking and defense against evil creatures."

Tugging on his ring finger, he continues, "Also, I've got several detection spells, such as detect traps and detect evil running...obviously the former is something that is certainly useful for casual exploring. Detect evil not so much, except when we encounter mercenaries of dubious motivation."

Pulling his pinky, he finishes. "And finally, I've got some personal protection spells I cast on myself to help if I encounter undead or someone trying to spoil my spells using magic missiles."

"Is there anything I can do to assist ye, Hlarn? I am not nearly as powerful as you. I only pray to Thor for healing spells and some hold persons/silence spells," says Ragnar.

Kadlian sighs.  "Okay, we check the doors off this room, then head back to the cells, leave the kobolds, and go to the stairs. Should we go up or down, though?"

"We don't want to have our prisoners starve, so we need to leave them some of the food we found, too." Dor adds.

Niko laughs. "And how long did you think we were going to leave them there, Dor? I doubt they would starve even in a day or two."

Malvis frowns, then says, "But Dor is right. We might be planning to be back in a day or two, but you never know what might happen..."

Niko grins. "Okay...we'll leave them with your rations and waterskin, then."

Malvis smiles at Niko, and says, "We don't have to quite that far, now, do we?  We have some lunches that can be spared, I believe."

"True, but they're more likely to die of thirst than hunger, so they'll still need some water."

"Right. The three rule. Three minutes without air, three days without water and three weeks without food."

"What about three days without a kind word from Dor?" says Trinity. "I've made my intentions known, offered my feelings and yet, the single word he says to me is to get him a beer,"  the man complains. "You try and try and give your heart to a man, and how does he repay you?"

"That is three years."

Dor looks at Trinity.

"And when I asked for a beer, all I got was it dumped on my head."

"To which I apologized, and tried to make it up to you, Dorie-poo. And you have done nothing.  Nothing I say, to tell me your true feelings for me.  I've given you my heart and everything,"  says Trinity. "But you...you...brute."

You hear the invisible mage beginning to sniffle.

Niko belches and suggests, "Maybe she wanted a pat on the behind.  Women like that!  Just ask any wench."

"No, don't imprison us!" say the cowering kobolds. "We will serve you!"

Niko glowers at the kobolds. "Be quiet! It's not like you've got a say here."

Niko pauses and then continues, "However, maybe you can be useful.  Who were you serving?  And what do you know about the rest of this tower?"

Lerelith chimes in, "Perhaps they already know where a number of the dangers on the next level are, they would certainly earn their lives if they provided us with information that proved useful."

"W-we know lots about it!" says one of them.

"About the big guy upstairs," says another.

"And the hordes of undead."

"And the demons."

"And the big dragon downstairs."

"But we won't tell you unless you spare us!" they chorus.

"Well, we could kill you and then ask your spirits. So, tell us what you know and then we will spare you."

They crawl over to Kadlian and lick his boots in gratitude, covering his footwear in kobold slobber.

Niko comments, "I wonder if that's where that term comes from..."

"Where do we begin?"

"What is upstairs?"

"The boss was upstairs, but we think he left. At the top of the tower. He an' his friends took off over a month ago. All that's up there now are undead. Ugh!"

"What kind of undead?"

"Ghouls, spectres...we don't know what else!" The kobolds shiver.

"Don't forget the dragon guarding the door to the tower!"

They shiver in unison.

"What kind of dragon?  And which door?"

"And what is downstairs?"

"Just some caves. Maybe some deserters."

"What are the caves used for?"

"Not much that we know of."

"And what is this place being used for?"

"The Black Wizard across the River was using this as a gathering place for the army he was assembling to fight the dwarves in the east. He was recruiting from all over the western lands. It all fell apart a month or two back when some big party invaded...yikes! That's you!"

They resume licking Kadlian's boots.

"Yes, it was us. So, everything we fought was gathered for his army? We did not fight that many.  How many creatures were here when we decimated this floor last month?  And just what kind of friends did the wizard have?"

"Other things have moved into the city, y'know! An' this was only one of his gathering points. There was another fort to the east, and a third to the north."

"The Wizard had some lesser Wizards, along with clerics and warriors."

Niko interjects, "Yeah, and what color is that dragon downstairs? And how big is it?"

"A big red one! The likes never seen before on Earth!"

"Yeah," adds another kobold, wiping his chin on Niko's shirt tail, "The boss imported him from another world!"

"Was it Lower Middle Earth?"

"Something like that."

Niko swats the kobold hanging on his shirt tail as he rubs his ring of fire resistance and wonders just how much protection it will provide. "Hey, Hlarn...how good is that spell of yours?  And I think we're going to need a lot of stoneskins, Trinity."

"It also sounds more interesting than a bunch of undead...or demons."

"Oh good Niko, let them know we can cast second order spells," says Trinity. "So they can run off and tell their masters. Unless of course Galil wants us to do something with them. And Dorie-poo, well he could take the dragon himself, I bet."

"Bah!  These guys can't even count up to one, much less know what second order spells are. Plus, their masters left the tower a month ago."

Dor answers, "We have evil to slay. Dragons and undead. In the name of Silverbeard, they will all be dispatched."

Per Kadlian's last orders, you open those remaining doors along the north wall. The eastern door reveals a bare room (30' X 40': 30' east, 40' north). The last door in the north wall reveals another bare room (40' square: 30' west, 40' north).

You open the south door, and look into a passage running east - west.

To the east, it runs for 60' and on.

To the west, it runs for 60' and on.

You resume your interrogation of the kobolds.

"The city? The deserted city? Where?"

The kobolds shrug.

"They're scattered around. It's a big city."

"It is. That is why I asked."

"And where are the forts to the west and to the north?"

"The flank forts!" say the kobolds.

"Milord," says Wizbang, "I imagine that one of them is the fort that we visited while most of you were off adventuring with the arch mage Occa. The one Callie kept wanting to return to."

"Was that the north fort or the west one?"

"We visited the west one," replies Wizbang. "That was with Logan and Dor."

"We did not do a lot of exploration as Logan suffers from attention deficit syndrome and insisted on moving on. But that was where Umboth acquired his followers," adds Vastelle.

"Then after we clean up this place, we see if the other group has found the sword. If not, we go after one of the other forts."

"What door is the dragon guarding?"

"The door into the tower."

"The front door?  We did not see a dragon."

"The door into the Tower itself. Two levels above us."

Niko looks puzzled and asks the kobolds, "Above us?  Didn't you tell us that the dragon was below?"

"We got mixed up, bub!"

"So, if this is not considered part of the Tower, what is this area called?"

"The dungeon under the Tower," they reply.

"And this dungeon extends how many floors below us and above us?"

"A couple either way, maybe?"

"And where are these demons?"

"Upstairs somewhere," the humanoids reply, "We ain't never been there...but we've heard th' gossip."

"Right. What about this level? Is there anyone left other than you?"

Kadlian shows him the map.

"Not that we know of," they tell you.

Kadlian nods. "Good enough.  Okay, let us get them into that cell. Dor, we can provision them for a week, okay?"

"Yes, but we may need to teleport back here if we are somehow delayed or otherwise directed elsewhere during our adventure," he answers. "Trinity, would you please memorize this place, in case we need to teleport here?"

"Excuse me? Excuse me? Do you think I am some device to be used at your convenience? 'Trinity, get me a beer.' 'Trinity memorize this place,'" the mage says. "I give you my heart, and this is how you treat me?"

The mage begins to cry.

"No, no, don't imprison us!" they wail.

"Why not?  We spared your lives in exchange for information.  But, I have no intention of bring you with us as we explore this area. I do not want to be betrayed when we encounter some of your friends."

"No, no, then just leave us here!"

They recommence licking Kadlian's boots.

Galil's brows rise slightly in disgust at the display.  "Lord Kadlian, I would burn those boots at the first opportunity. These creatures have no right to beg for any conditions of their surrender, they should be happy that their lives have been spared at all. Let's put them in the cell with provisions and move along."

"As soon as we get back to the inn, I will."

Galil turns to the creatures. "Be thankful that you are still alive as we could just as easily have destroyed you instead as that is the way of things these days. Count your blessings instead of complaining."

They stop licking Kadlian's boots and grovel before the obvious leader of the party.

"Yes Mistress," they say.

Niko prompts the kobolds in a tone of authority. "Well, what are you waiting for?  Your Mistress' boots need cleaning!"

Dor begins laughing. "That's a good one, Niko."

Niko smirks, "Well, at least someone around here has a sense of humor."

"Not without Mistress's permission," they reply.

Kadlian puts his hand on the hilt of his sword. "The first one to do that, dies.  Niko, cut it out."

Niko shrugs. "OK, Boss..."

He mumbles as he moves off, "...But she started it."

Niko then giggles and nudges Dor, "So much for championing the weak and trodden upon, eh?"

"If you had wanted to kill the creatures because of their part in the deaths of those we found, you should have said so earlier - before their surrender was accepted.  I do not know what role, if any, they,played in those deaths though I suspect that their only crime is to loot what is left behind by those more powerful and evil," Galil replies as she adjusts her gloves and then her armor in preparation for continuing on.

Niko shakes his head with a grin and a bow. "I would not want to interfere with Mistress and her kobolds."

Trinity, in his new manly voice, sounding like the famous bard Bing Crosby, begins to sing:

"When I'm worried and I can't sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep.
And I fall asleep counting my blessings. 
When my bankroll is getting small. 
I think of when I had none at all. 
And I fall asleep counting my blessings

I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads. 
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds. 
If you're worried and you can't sleep. 
Just count your blessings instead of sheep. 
And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings"

Kadlian smiles.  "Okay, let us get going.  Time is wasting."

"I say we finish looking around here for the day and then spend the night preparing to face the red dragon. And if it's as big as these kobolds say, I say we unload everything we have at it. Does anyone know anything about these Middle Earth dragons?"

"I do not even know where Middle Earth is. But, they said the door to this tower. We have already seen the door to this tower. There was no dragon."

Hlarn comments. "As you know, I'm not of this world. My teachers, however, are masters of traversing the infinite planes, and had an extremely strong interest in the hunting and capturing of various types of dragons."

Hlarn fingers his signet ring, which has a dragon emblem engraved on one side of the band.

"In their travels they spoke of several realities where such creatures existed in forms much stronger than could ever be found here or on their own home worlds. They did not call such a place 'middle earth', but perhaps the species are similar."

"If so, then they are very similar to dragons of our world, but their powers are
augmented.  Their armor is harder and they are able to attack very quickly.  They are also much more resistant to magics cast against them.  It will be mostly up to us fighters to finish the beast off...but that is made difficult as well because these dragons have a caustic poison for blood.  Each stroke is as likely to harm us as well as the dragon. Luckily there are low level spells that can be cast to slow the effects of poison.

"My studies say that the very sight of these beasts makes even the strongest tremble in fear.  This is important to know, because dragons of our worlds only show this ability while in flight, and then only among the unskilled.  With this beast most of us will have to fight the urge to just run and flee.

"There are spells protecting against fear, but their durations are limited, and often they expire after the first exposure."

Hlarn looks at Galil. "Luckily however we have a cavalier among us who I presume does not know the meaning of fear. Unfortunately only those standing nearby her will be immune...and when fighting dragons you don't want to bunch up.

"These dragons are also usually spell casters, and are very adept at charms and,other spells of that sort. We will need to protect ourselves against being manipulated.

"Other than that, they are still very similar to their lesser cousins. Their eyesight is extremely adept, so that hidden or invisible creatures are usually detected by them. They often have various breath weapons which can be used repeatedly. Sneaking up upon it will only be possible if we catch the creature napping."

"Great. Sounds like we should invite Yuri and Zanax to help out."

Niko frowns. "Who's Yuri and why would we want to invite a straight-laced paladin with a map on his butt?"

"Yuri is a famous paladin. Hlarn, another dwarf named Drandar, Yuri, a protegee' of Yuri's named Illyandra and myself took on a large tribe of orcs and killed them all. Yuri was very handy in a fight and is a well-renowned dragon killer.

"And with two additional paladins, also helping protect from fear, we would have an additional advantage."

Hlarn frowns. "I don't mind Zanax. We both know him well enough to know where he stands on issues, and he knows us and would follow our lead and take our advice. But Yuri is just as likely to want to do things his own way.  He would nominate himself the boss and charge right in. He's already stolen one dragon from me. I don't want to share another."

Kadlian snorts in frustration. "Hlarn, this is not about stealing. It is about making sure that everyone makes it. Some of our party members are just starting out in their careers. They would not likely survive more than one blast of dragon breath.

"I'm not sure even the experienced party members would survive a blast of dragon breath. If you're worried about it, perhaps we should see if Occa or other members of the MAIN party are available, then.  Some of those guys are really tough.

"We could ask for some help, should we find it. Probably better than asking Yuri would be to ask for help from Gilstrock and Occa. And maybe Robert. And Darian. I think he can absorb dragon breath with his psionics. That might be a very useful shield...

"Here's another question...I have doubts about our own survival in a fight like that.  What about the greenhorns?"

"We let them observe the fight, if possible. If they are to learn, they need to be there. But, we also need to figure out a way to let them survive."

Niko shrugs. "You don't learn much from watching...but you're more likely to survive, I guess.  Perhaps we should invest in some higher magics..."

Niko turns to Hlarn. "Hlarn, I've heard that there are powerful clerical spells that will bring a person back to safety when triggered by that person. Do ya know what I'm talkin about?"

Hlarn nods. "Yes, the spell is called Word of Recall, but unfortunately it is pretty much a personal spell. Besides which it is also a sixth order magic, which is beyond me without preparation..."

Hlarn smiles. "And that reminds me. I do have access to a sixth order spell that can help us in this task.  I can bring forth a magical feast that will not only protect up to eleven of us not only against poison, but also against fear. It lasts for up to twelve hours after we eat.  Its not something I can cast on the spur of the moment however, and it requires those who partake to not be interrupted for the whole duration of the meal."

Niko grins as his stomach growls. "I'm always up for a feast!"

"And speaking of sixth order magics...I can lead us to the dragon directly using the Find the Path spell.  Its been awhile since I've had access to it, but if I recall the spell is remarkably able to locate objects or creatures without any knowledge of the area around us.  Perhaps I and someone able to teleport could go in well protected and locate the dragon and get an idea where it can be found for future scrying."

Niko shakes his head. "Wouldn't that likely arouse the dragon if you physically go there to locate it?"

Hlarn nods. "Which is why I want someone with me who can get us out of there quickly. I'm willing to poke once and risk arousing the dragon to find out where its located. That is a far safer plan than accidentally stumbling upon the creature."

Niko snorts and claps the dwarf on the back. "Brave and stupid.  That's the way I like 'em!"

He then squints his eyes at Hlarn. "Or perhaps yer tryin ta hog da dragon all,ta yerself!"

Hlarn grins. "Who, me? I'd never do such a thing."

Dor's ring throbs strongly at that, and Hlarn's voice rises to a high pitched squeak.

Niko snorts. "Yeah, right...and my mama's a hobgoblin, too!"

Niko's voice also squeaks.

Lerelith coughs and says, "Perhaps we should use magic to determine if these guys are telling the truth, that there even IS a dragon here."

Hlarn nods toward Dor. "The ring of truth should determine if they believe there is a dragon present or not. I can confirm it later by speaking with Silverbeard, as well as when I question the spirits of the dead we found."

Niko suggests, "Maybe it's worth finding or killing someone higher up in the food chain so that we can get better information."

Hlarn nods. "Stealing was only my last point, and of least concern. Our safety is of course the most critical thing I was considering. Under whose leadership do you think most of us will survive?  Yours or Yuri's? Every time Yuri is here, he is often the one who takes charge. Our success against the dragon will depend on careful planning, not just rushing in to finish off the creature. In any case, Yuri's protection will not safeguard anyone here from the dragon's breath. His shield isn't that large."

"You have a point, Hlarn."

"As you said... last time we fought with Yuri we took out a number of monsters...but have you forgotten how that occurred?  We were standing there for hours with bodies beyond count...unable to advance or retreat because we would lose our choke point. If there had been more powerful creatures present to force us back, it could have been a catastrophe. We stirred the hornets den, and were lucky that what came out was mostly harmless."

Kadlian grins at the memory. "I remember. That was quite a day. And you are just sore because I racked up the biggest tally. Although, you are correct, if we had not held that choke point, things would have been troublesome."

"But in any case, I think our first priority is to find out exactly where this dragon's lair is located. This isn't a creature we want to stumble accidentally upon.  Let's see if our kobold friends can point us toward it. I'm still not exactly certain where. First they say below, then they say above..."

They shake their heads.

"Upstairs somewhere...that's all we heard from someone who was told by someone else. You think we'd actually go lookin' for a dragon?"

Niko ponders for a moment and then begins to laugh. He turns to Dor. "Maybe these guys are smarter than us!"

"Will the hero potion help with the fear thing?" Dor asks.

Niko nods. "It should help, but we'll probably take other precautions...Protection from Fear and Protection from Evil should help, too."

"You know, I am wondering if we should be talking about our plans in front of these creatures," Dor mentions to Kadlian.

Niko belches. "Hmmm...maybe Trinity should teleport them somewhere far away after we finish questioning them..."

Hlarn smiles. "That's a good idea. We know of plenty of dungeons in the middle of nowhere where their presence won't harm the human population, but they could have a good chance of finding others of their kind."

"No. We lock them in the prison as planned. In fact, let us put them there now. They are not going to reveal anything else that is useful and we are just wasting time."

"I think he meant at a much later time...not right now. They can sit out in the prison till we are done here, then we'll send them away."

Niko nods. "Yup, afterwards. So, where are we off to next, oh, fearless leader?"

"That we can do, then. The prison and then we finish off this level. And then...we head downstairs and poke around there for a while."

"I do not think they really know."

"An even better reason not to just go wandering around, although this level is likely to be fairly safe from dragons. Most likely it is underground, as I doubt the building could withstand the weight of the dragon...unless, of course, the dragon can polymorph..."

"Then what do you suggest? Stay here and do nothing? Without a crystal ball, we cannot see anything. I think we go up and start exploring, carefully. The dragon would have to be in a huge room. We do not enter any large rooms. We can just wander the hallways."

"What happened to the crystal ball? Also, there are other clerical and mage spells which can duplicate/simulate that effect...Wizard's Eye, Clairvoyance, etc. I say we finish exploring this level and head back for a little research and reloading for dragon."

"Back with Kailar, I believe. And the other spells have to be memorized, right?"

"Well, after we're done exploring this level, let's go find Kailar and do some...oh, what do they call it...virtual exploring! I've got this other spell, Magic Mirror, which I think does something similar to the crystal ball, too."

"Of course, there's still the question of what to do with these kobolds..."

"No there isn't," Galil replies, "They will be secured and provisioned.  The only question that remains is how to rid this place of the dragon, if in fact such a dragon exists."

"That's a short term solution...do you wonder if those brownies starved during the month we were away from here? Plus, what are you planning to do with them afterwards? Leave them here to harrass the villagers?  Take them with you as your retainers?"

"Retainers? I think not. However, they have been given a chance at life, it is up to them to make the most of it. Escape is not impossible for them, though if ever I see them doing evil again, I will not accept surrender."

Galil turns to Lord Kadlian. "I do not recall if any of the villagers ever mentioned being set upon by a dragon, though it is possible he has enough to sustain him without leaving this tower."

"I believe dragons eat in great quantities, but not that often. In fact, if it's been a month since he's been fed, he might be getting hungry..."

Galil nods. "Perhaps we should formulate a plan to supply the dragon with food - as a distraction so that we can better attack and minimize the danger to the party members who might quail at such a mission."

Niko ponders a moment. "Hmmm...thy plan may have some merit."

He turns to the kobolds. "Were any of you involved in feeding the dragon or know what it was fed and how often?"

They shake their heads as one.

"You are correct. We have not heard of reports of a dragon. But, other than the bandits in the ruined city, they did not know of the demon or any of the other things we have found. Likely, the wizard kept a tight reign on his forces. He probably did not want to be noticed."

Galil nods. "Indeed. Which also means that he is quite powerful if he could control such a creature as a dragon. Let us hope we do not run into him before we run into the dragon."

Niko shakes his head. "At this point, we might be better off scrying or using a Wizard's Eye.  Based on what they've said already, I wouldn't trust directions from these guys."

"The door is underground. Perhaps it is an invisible tower?"

Kadlian frowns. "When did they say the door was underground? They just said it was downstairs."

At long last you march the wailing kobolds over to the prison area and shut them in a cell.

Their woebegone cries follow you as you head back east to the room where you found them.

You exit their room through the south door and go west. The passage runs that way for 100' before ending at a door. Opening it, you see a 20' square room that you have visited previously. A door to the west opens out just north of the stairs.

You head back east and follow the passage past the exit from the kobold room. It runs for 80' in all, turning north after 70' and leading you to a previously explored area. However, there is a door in the south wall at the corner.

You open this door.

Before you is a room (40' X 50': 40' south, 40' west; door in west wall north section). In here is a large supply of shovels, picks, axes, sledge hammers, spikes, wedges and lumber.

You open the west door and see another room (40' X 60': 30' south, 60' west; doors in west wall north section and west wall 20' - 30' section as measured from the north). This room is quite bare.

You open the west doors, and see two identical 20' X 30' rooms (10' south, 30' west). They are also bare.

It appears that you have finished this level, so you go downstairs.

The stairs descend to the east for about 100', before ending in an enormous cavern. To your right, a rough wall heads approximately south-southwest for 25', then turns southwest and out of your sight. The left wall runs north for about 10', east for about 30', east-southeast for about 25', and then north and out of your sight. The ceiling arches up and out of your sight.

Niko turns invisible and draws Dwarf's Envy, "Which way, Boss?"

Niko also checks for secret doors and treasure with Dwarf's Envy.

He detects neither.

Malvis uses his ring and turns invisible also.

"Niko, head southwest and check it out. Lerelith, peek out around to the left. Do not go out of eyesight, just take a look."

A disembodied voice replies, "Aye, aye, mon capitan!"

Niko heads southwest as quietly as possible.

The invisible Trinity rolls his eyes. "Here we go again."

Lerelith nods and heads in the direction indicated.

"Lerelith, the prearranged signal for danger is a scream," says Trinity. "If you come across danger, give a shout."

Lerelith smiles and replies, "I think I can handle that."

"That's what the last scout said," replies Trinity. "What was his name again?" he asks Malvis.

"We just called him 'Spot', because of the mark he left on the wall," the invisible Malvis answers.

"Ah yes. It's hard to remember all the scouts we have had," says Trinity. "Well, Lerelith, good luck."

Niko, invisible though he may be, is not very quiet, so his progress is easily tracked. After a few moments he returns, to report that the right wall continues southwest for about 20', then turns west-southwest for another 20' or so, then heads northwest and out of his sight around the corner. He also reports that he could see another wall of the cavern to the south from his vantage point, about 55' away, running roughly west-southwest - east-northeast.

Lerelith, meanwhile, returns and reports that the left wall actually runs northeast for about 20', then turns north and out of sight. In the first 5' section, though, is an opening into a narrow passage running northwest.

Niko grumbles at the curse of metal armor...other than the smell, that is.

Hlarn casts another find traps spell, the original having expired almost an hour ago.

Trinity speaks, "Hey Bill, what is the good and lawful thing to do when you are in love with someone and they don't pay attention to you. Can you smite them?"

Bill does not answer.

Niko looks at Kadlian expectantly. "Which way, Boss? Do we check out that opening?"

Kadlian nods. "Lerelith, go first. Niko, give him your ring of invisibility for a bit. We need a scout and he is the quietest we have right now.

"Lerelith, peek into that opening for about 10 feet or so. If you are unable to see, back out before that happens. And then head north for a bit and see what is there. Also, see if you can locate a right wall."

"Say Malvis, how about calling the new scout, tidbit? As in a monster tidbit. Or is bait better?" says Trinity.

Malvis laughs, then says, "Well, I think monsterbaiter might be misconstrued, so let's stick with 'tidbit'. It has a nice ring to it. If he actually survives a few fights, we can re-think the name, but that doesn't seem likely."

Niko shakes his head. "No, no, no...I got one better...what do you call that piece of food that gets stuck between your teeth?  That's what we should name him!"

"Considering there's a dragon roaming around here, I'd call him a snack. Cannon Fodder would be better, but that's already been taken."

"Thought of that, but snack implies a more complete meal, while Tidbit is just a part of a snack. If anything, the whole group would be a dragon snack," says Trinity, "HEY, that's a great name for our merry band. We can me the 'Dragon Snacks.'"

Niko frowns. "No thanks. I'd rather we were the dragon snackers."

Niko grumpily takes off his ring of invisibility and hands it to Lerelith. "Ya betta take good care of it."

"Well, that might increase Tidbit's survival from minutes to hours."

Niko shakes his head. "Methinks he won't be hangin' onto it dat long."

As Niko walks back toward the group, he snorts. "Harumph! Silent my ass!"

"In fact, your ass was silent, which is unusual for you," says Trinity, "But you did sound like you needed a good oiling, tin man."

Niko shrugs. "Can't help it...my cloak doesn't protect me well enough to not wear armor. Edelle hates the smell."

"If you took a bath now and then, that smell thing would go away," says Trinity.

Lerelith takes the ring and puts it on, making sure he is in fact, invisible.

"Thank you, Niko, I will return it to you in due course. Do we have anyone scanning for traps?  Invisibility won't stop a poison needle or pit trap. Perhaps you should hold off on my heroic nickname until such a time as it is earned, preferably not by dying."

Niko waves the half-elf off. "Whatever! Dead or alive, just don't let that ring off your finger until I get it back!"

Lerelith then cautiously and quietly approaches the opening. He scans with his half-elven infravision. He uses his tracking skill to check the floor ahead for signs of anything unusual that might indicate a trap. He advances as instructed to gain a better idea of the layout and any features of interest.

"Lerelith, if you are uncomfortable with this assignment, then do not do it. We will find another way to achieve our goal."

While waiting for Lerelith, Niko takes out his spell components for detect invisibility.

After a bit the half elf actually returns, alive and in one piece.

He reports that the passage is roughly 5' - 10' wide and runs northwest for about 20', turning west after that. He noticed a number of tracks going both ways in the passage at one point...small metal shod feet made them, he thinks.

Returning to the cave as instructed, he continued east along the north wall and looked north, seeing that it continued in that direction for about 30', then turned east again for roughly 25', then rounded a corner to the north again.

Niko asks the half elf. "Made by a two or four footed creature?"

"Good question, Niko."

Niko frowns. "My mama didn't raise no fool."

"Okay, we follow the narrow passage. Single file, with me in the lead. Followed by Hlarn and then Niko. Lerelith, you bring up the rear with Galil and Dor."

As Lerelith heads toward the rear, Niko coughs twice and sticks his hand, palm up, expectantly.

Lerelith returns the ring to Niko.

Niko puts the ring back on and turns invisible.

You head up the passage to the corner and continue west...actually sightly north of west. It runs that way for about 50', then turns northwest. You follow it for about another 40', then it turns more north-northwest. Looking ahead, you see that it runs that way for another 40', then angles north.

As you start up the north-northwest section Vastelle clears her throat and says, "Secret door!"

She points to the left side of the tunnel, first 10' section.

"Open it."

Kadlian, with drawn swords waits for someone to figure out the trick to open it and then he steps through.

Niko searches around for a mechanism to open the door, while grumbling, "Never a thief around when you need one.  Next time, we bring Edelle..."

Lerelith asks, "Is that trap spell still running? Looking at those tracks a bit more, by the way, I am pretty sure they are shod in metal."

Trinity offers to cast invisibility on the door to see if there is anything interesting beyond. Alternatively, he can cast knock on the door.

Meanwhile, Niko belches at the door, setting off a pressure sensitive trigger which causes a portion of the tunnel wall to slide off to one side, revealing a passage of dressed stone. It is 10' wide and runs west for about 15'. After that is a small chamber.

You advance and look into the chamber.

It measures 20' square (10' north, 20' west). There are no visible exits. There are coins, gems and jewelry scattered about on the floor, plus some other items of interest. You count 4000ep, 20 enormous sapphires (5000gp ea.), 19 articles of fancy jewelry (1100gp ea.), a glowing longsword and two vials.

Niko smirks and takes another swig of brandy for good measure.

Niko draws Dwarf's Envy and searches for secret doors.

"Bill. You can detect magic. Which of these items radiates magic?" Dor asks.

"By gosh, the longsword and the vials do!"

"That was brilliant, Dor. Way to use your head," says Trinity. "See how smart he is? Even if he rejects my every effort, my affection, my wants and needs. He's still one smart cookie."

Dor smiles at Trinity. "I always thought I was a smart cookie. Now it is confirmed by no less than our lead enchantress, I mean enchanter. Err, I'm confused."

Niko hands Dor a flask of brandy. "Here, take a swig of this. It won't help the confusion, but you'll care less."

"Save it till we get outta here," Dor answers. "For now, I need to stay sharp."

Lerelith uses tracking to see if any tracks do anything interesting, liking walking into a wall...

He finds no tracks in this room.

"Nice spot you found, Vastelle. Hlarn, any sign of a trap? If not, let us gather up the loot and let us keep looking."

The dwarf looks around. "I'll let you know if I see anything."

He lets you know that he sees no traps.

"Niko, did you turn up anything on more secret doors?"

"Best not test them here. We can augury out most of the cursed items back at camp and prevent some mishaps." Hlarn gives a careful look at Trinity's new butch form. "I'm surprised you folks didn't do that while I was gone."

Niko frowns. "It happened when Trinity was identifying the last horde. I think you were here, though..."

"I was not going to point that small, little, ity-bitty fact out," says Trinity.

"Why are you looking at me like that, short-round?" says Trinity to the dwarf. "I only have eyes for Dor."

"And as to auguries, well, I live life on the edge. Chaos rules."

Niko shakes his head. "No, no...you're doing it wrong. It's 'Chaos rules!' with an emphasis on 'rules.'"

"Like this? Chaos RULES...."

Niko nods. "That's closer...try this...'Chaos RULEZ!!!'

"Notice the slight inflection on the word 'rules.'"

"Ah, I see. So then it would be best said as: Chaos RULEZZZZ!" says the mage.

Niko nods and claps his hands. "Yes!  That's it!  Very good!"

Dor turns to Trinity. "Actually, it is Law and Order that rules. In fact, by following the rules you get order."

Dor smiles at his own logic.

Niko wonders how long before the dragon hears the party yapping and decides to make flambe out of Dor.

"Don't blame me. I didn't even realize there was unknown treasure until Trinity had already spent time identifying it. Remember I'd just gotten back. I had to spend most of my time learning my new companion's names, not to mention old companion's who've gone and changed their name since last I saw them," Hlarn says as he gives another glance at Trinity. "Anyway, all that's very difficult to do between empty glasses of ale."

Trinity looks at Hlarn. "And just what are you insinuating?"

Hlarn shrugs. "I'm not insinuating anything. Just noting that you weren't called Trinity  when last I was around."

"I was... different then. We've changed," replies Trinity. "Did not Lord Kadlian fill you in on the details?"

Hlarn nods. "Oh yes, I understand the circumstances, as best as anybody but you can understand such things anyway."

"I was a bit sketchy on the details, Trinity. Felt that you two should talk about it, if you wished. I only hit the highlights."

"Not much to say, actually. CF choose poorly," replies Trinity, "And Rage took a trip."

Kadlian rolls his eyes at all of this. "If everyone has pocketed everything that can be carried, let us move on."

Niko stuffs several pieces of jewelry into his pouches and turns invisible again.

Dor uses his spare robe to gingerly pick up the sword (not touching the hilt with his bare hand). He puts it in his empty scabbard. Bill remains in his hand.

Galil nods and takes her place, trying to clank as quietly as possible in her freshly burnished armor. She is attired once more in her lavender and sage trimmed cloak with matching gloves and boots, and has had a matching scabbard made for her newfound sword.

You return to the passage and continue your exploration. 30' or so beyond the secret door the passage turns north. It is only about 5' wide at this point so you move in single file. After another 40' it angles more to the north-northeast...runs that way for 40', then north for about 20'. After that it ends at a "T" intersection with another rough tunnel running approximately east - west. This new tunnel is 10' - 15' wide.

Looking east, the tunnel runs for 60' and on.

Looking west, the tunnel runs for perhaps 20', then opens up into a cave. From this direction you see a ruddy, flickering glow and smell smoke, as well as the odour of barbecuing meat. You also hear the sounds of guttural humanoid voices...nattering away in Kobold.

"I move we explore by fireball," says Trinity, "'cause Chaos Rulz."

Kadlian grins and draws his longsword and sinclair dagger. "Anyone for kobold-kobob? I am going to check ahead, just to get a lay of the land. Trinity, if you see me sheathe my dagger, drop a fireball about twenty feet ahead of me.

"If I start swinging my weapons at kobolds, everyone just come running."

Niko grumbles something about Kadlian being a glory hound.

Kadlian give Niko a bit of a smile. "Does it not just get your panties in a bunch?"

Niko snorts. "No, but I know who's panties I'd like to get into!"

He then turns to Trinity. "Just make sure you get it in the cave...otherwise, kobolds won't be the only thing you're roasting."

"Indeed.  That is why the rest of you should stay back. I will have my frostbrand out and it will protect me. And it should also limit the backlash, if there is any."

Niko snorts again, but says nothing more.

Kadlian advances while the rest of you wait.

Reaching the cave entrance, he sees a cave about 45' X 30', oriented east - west. A 10' wide rough tunnel exits out of the far end. In here are several dozen kobolds. Some of them are roasting some dead rats over a fire for dinner. The rest, however, are waiting to attack, apparently having been tipped off by Trinity's voice that they were having company.

While a half a dozen of the little humanoids jump the ranger, another eighteen or so rush past him and down the passage at the rest of you.

"Attack! Trinity, Malvis, Wizbang, winnow down the odds. The rest of you, protect those mages."

Kadlian starts killing kobolds.

The ranger kills a kobold without much ado, but the other five swarm him, trying to grab him and getting underfoot. One of them trips up Kadlian and down he goes. A kobold punches him in the kisser, then yelps -

"Ow!"

- as his tiny fist is stopped by Kadlian's stoneskin spell.

Malvis yawns, then casts color spray at the nearest onrushing kobolds.

Two onrushing kobolds are struck unconscious. The remainder continue to onrush.

Niko gets an annoyed look. "What am I, chopped liver?"

Niko waits to see the effects of the other spell casters.

"You are, if you do not start killing some kobolds. I hear they like their elf liver raw."

Niko attacks any kobolds that manage to reach the other spell casters and then turns invisible again.

Trinity, who's invisible thanks to his ring, waits to see what happens with the fighters dealing with the kobolds. He will do his best to see if anything else comes down the hall at them.

Dor protects Trinity, knowing the grief it will cause him later.

Lerelith closes ranks and draws his sword.

Galil moves so that she can be most effective in protecting those mages that might be close to her. She silently watches Lord Kadlian's progress and keeps her eyes out for any strays, attacking them swiftly if they come near.

Since Trinity isn't casting, Niko casts sleep after Malvis' spell before going into hand-to-hand combat with his cutlass and dagger.

Ten kobolds fall asleep.

Wizbang does likewise...twice.

The rest of the kobolds nod off...including the kobolds climbing over Kadlian.

You proceed to kill them.

Searching the monsters and cave, you find nothing of interest or value.

Kadlian gets up. "Thank you Niko and Wizbang. Trinity, any reason you decided to hang back?"

"Yes, they were kobolds, and it would have given the youngster fighter types some practice," replies the mage. "It was a waste of spell power. 'Sides, I don't memorize spells like sleep."

Niko snorts. "Yeah, and they would have been swarming all over you like ants at a picnic!"

"I highly doubt that. Further, to effectively take them out, a quick fireball would have done it, but it seemed our leader decided to rush to the van and so, fireballing was not an option."

"Only because I wanted to make sure we were only facing kobolds. What if there were innocents being held here? Unfortunately, too much noise was made and they were waiting for us. I was quite ready to have you drop a fireball on them, if it was just the enemy in the room. But, I needed to know that, first."

Galil nods in agreement. "All settled then, let's move on - more quietly this time."

While the group argues, Lerelith makes sure that the kobolds are properly, and permanently, dealt with.  When he gets to the last one, he says, "Only one left alive, do you wish to question him, or shall I finish this messy business?"

"Please finish so we can move on," Galil replies.

Niko chuckles. "Should we interrogate all of them and spare their lives, too?"

"No!"

Niko shrugs. "Oh, well..."

"Chaos RULEZ," calls the invisible Trinity.

Niko snickers.

"I somehow doubt that," mumbles Malvis as he turns invisible.

Niko whispers back, "Oh, no...it's true.  I read it in the paper this morning."

"Really?  I think I let my subscription at the library lapse while I've been out here adventuring. How much do you tip the paperboy?" says Malvis quizzically.

Niko shakes his head. "Not too much. It's either several weeks late or in bad condition by the time they get it to me..."

"Done," says the half elf, and kills the last kobold.

"We go west."

Niko turns invisible again.

The west tunnel widens out to about 12' just after exiting the cave and turns west-southwest. After 40' it turns southwest, and after another 20' it goes south-southeast. It runs that way for about 30', then south for 30', and finally southwest for 10'. After that it concludes at another large cavern.

Shining your lights about, again you cannot see the full dimensions of the place.

The right wall runs northwest for about 12', then turns north.

The left wall runs south for about 30', then angles southeast.

The cave seems to be rather damp in places.

It is late afternoon.

Hlarn has taken a new head and stuffed it in his bag. After tying it up securely, he again takes his position and follows Kadlian's lead.

Niko draws Dwarf's Envy and checks for good, evil, secret doors and treasure.

The sword does not tingle.

"Dor, ask Bill to check for magic as well, please."

Kadlian waits for both of them to report on their findings before making a decision on where to go.

"This is another large cavern that could conceivably hold a dragon. If neither of the swords picks up anything, we will explore it.  Otherwise, we will duck back."

"Unless anyone has a better idea, that is."

Niko frowns. "It's certainly large enough, but I thought that the kobolds said the dragon was upstairs? Also, it's a bit damp for a red dragon, no?"

"I am not certain the kobolds knew the truth. I do not wish to take any chances."

"Bill, any magic in here? Or gems for that matter?" Dor inquires.

"Not close by, Dor me lad!" replies the sword.

"Thank you, Bill. Niko, did you detect anything?"

The sword does not tingle, and Niko tells you so.

As you ponder these particular implications, you hear a loud bellow, or actually several of them, from the northwest. You hear the heavy clump of enormous feet, and then you see an enormous green hydra of five heads comes trundling into view!

It is about 50' away.

"Hlarn, Dor, Niko and I will meet it head on. The rest of the fighters hold in reserve and keep that beast from the magic-users."

"Trinity, unload that fireball. We will attack in its wake. And then follow it up with magic missile spells to keep softening it up.
Wizbang, Malvis and Niko, hit it with whatever you got."

Kadlian casts a magic missile at it just to keep in practice. After that, he draws his frostbrand and sinclair dagger and then waits for the fireball and charges in behind it.

His missile pings the monster.

Niko waits invisibly for the fireball with Dwarf's Envy and his sinclair dagger in hand.

Malvis takes out his Wand of Steam, and unloads it upon the creature.

The wand shoots out a jet of superheated steam, engulfing the hydra. From within the cloud you hear five screams of agony...then silence.

The wand crumbles away to powder in Malvis' hand.

After several minutes the steam cloud clears and you see the hydra lying dead on the floor...cooked to death.

Trinity's fireball is clearly not necessary, and it is doubtful that he even heard Kadlian's order, for he was busy making goo-goo eyes at Dor.

Kadlian stands in awed silence and then puts his weapons away.

"Um... Yeah."

He clears his throat in embarrassment. "Well, that was a let down. Malvis, nice use of the wand."

Hlarn yawns. "With enemies such as these, one wonders why Silverbeard warned me it was urgent I return to these lands."

He grins. "Well, we should just consider it a warm up exercise...there is undoubtably something nastier down below. Everyone stay sharp."

Lerelith stays sharp. The cave is large, so he switches to his shortbow.

Niko is stunned and for a moment cannot say anything. That soon passes as he grumbles, "Wimpiest hydra I've ever seen..."

"So... Shall we see where it lived? Might find something nice."

Kadlian heads towards the direction it came from.

Hlarn follows.

Niko becomes visible and lights Dwarf's Envy to get a better view of the cave.

You head northwest. This area of the cave starts out about 70' wide, you discover, narrowing to about 10' wide after about 60', where it ends. At the extreme northwest end you find a scattering of treasure: 2000cp, a necklace (1400gp) and a pendant (800gp).

You return to the entrance and then follow the left wall south.

It runs that way for about 60', southwest for about 20', south for about 10', southeast for about 20', south for about 20', west for about 25', north for about 20', and northwest for about 20'. This area comprises a large niche or alcove in the cave. In the middle of it is a pool, about 12' in diameter. Its waters are calm and dark.

"Anyone have a lower water spell?" the mage asks. "I can do it with a fireball. I could cast a detect magic spell, as my spidy sense is tingling again.

"Oh, wait, that's a different sense," says the man in the kilt. "Still getting used to this body."

Niko shakes his head. "No lower water spell, but my cloak will allow me to scout the pool...assuming it's water."

Niko shudders, reminded of a previous experience in Hell.

"Niko, care to take a plunge and explore?"

"I would advise against that," says Trinity, "Until we make some study of the water."

Niko nods and inspects the water's edge first. He dips a normal dagger into the water.

"Deep water and this heavy armor, do not mix," Dor answers. "Is there some sort of path around this pool?"

"Niko, wait a second."

"I've got a bad feeling about this," says Trinity, making sure he's invisible, and behind Dor.

Kadlian's warning comes too late.

Quick as a snake, something slithers up the blade and over Niko's hand and arm! It is grey and slimy, and burns into him for 9 hit points of damage.

The dagger blade starts to corrode and crumble.

"Told you it was a bad idea," says Trinity.

Niko retorts, "Not as bad as boiled hydra!"

Dor strips off his armor and anything metal he will leave behind. He grabs a wooden tent stake (the sharpest he can find) out of his backpack and heads towards the pool.

"Everyone, back away from the pool now. Quickly."

Kadlian draws his frostbrand, faces the water and slowly backs away.

"Trinity, Hlarn, figure something out that we can use against whatever is in that pool."

"I'm thinking a quick freeze would be good," says Trinity.

"Do it."

Lerelith shoots near him in the water, hoping to distract the creature long enough for Niko to be able to get back to safety.

The arrow makes a splash in the pool.

Niko drops the dagger and attacks the grey and slimy thing with a flaming Dwarf's Envy.

The ooze is now covering his arm and enveloping his shoulder. The elf takes another 11 hit points of damage. His chain mail starts to crumble as he strikes the creature with his flame tongue. The blade does damage - 11 hit points both to the monster and Niko - but then its fire goes out as it too begins to corrode. Niko's second swing with Dwarf's Envy kills the ooze, and the blade snaps...but not before Niko inflicts another 12 hit points of damage on himself.

The remains of Niko's chain mail drops to the floor of the cave in pieces. His arm is badly mangled.

"Hlarn, check on Niko."

Kadlian sighs at the idiocy. "We will find you another magical sword. The chain mail will be harder to locate."

Niko cradles his mangled arm and curses as he heads back towards the others.

He glances at Kadlian. "It's a cutlass, not a sword...and I have another option besides that armor."

Niko sits down and sulks over his wound and loss of Dwarf's Envy.

Hlarn nods over to Kadlian to hold Niko while he makes certain Niko's arm is straight and in proper position. He splints the arm and then casts an Aid spell to help strengthen the fighter.

Hlarn looks over at Niko. "I'll do a more proper job when we get back to base and you'll be healed up by tomorrow, but that should help for now."

Turning to the rest of the party, he adds, "In the meanwhile, I suggest we head back and get Niko restocked."

"Agreed. Our day has been more than entertaining."

Niko frowns. "What about lobbing a few spells into the water?"

Hlarn shakes his head. "I can come prepared next time to lower the water and we can  see what lies beneath. You don't want to ruin a perfectly good magic item that might lie hidden by blasting away recklessly, though."

Dor starts putting his armor back on. When he is done, he picks up Bill and asks if he detects any magic or gems in the vicinity.

"Nothing around here!" says the sword.

"Niko, I have a magic sword in this sheath that we don't know anything about. You interested?"

You return to New Golgar. It is early evening and you are in time for a late dinner at the inn.

next day...

return to November, 1372 page.