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BOOK TWO ***** * * The 8 player characters contained in this writing are copyright * 1991 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. * The dungeons and non-player characters contained herein are from * TSR's module, A1, and are copyright 1980 by TSR, Inc. Although * they are reprinted after a fashion in this story writeup, they * are not being used for profit or personal gain in any way. In * this spirit, verbatim text and maps from the module have been * avoided. I would encourage anyone who does not own the Slaver * series, that is, TSR modules A1-A4, to buy them, as much more * enjoyment will come from actually playing them rather than from * reading about one party's experiences within. * ***** ----------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 5th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 4th/3rd/4th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 4th/4th level grey elf priest/mage (NG) Halbarad, 5th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 5th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 6th level human thief (N) Peyote, 4th/4th level half-elf fighter/druid (N) Rob, 6th level human priest (LG) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- XVI. Highport The party had been resting for some time in Havenhill, at no cost to themselves. All good things must come to an end, though, and so one day the Baron (Trevor) who had been their host approached them with an offer of prospective employment. Trevor: Ahem...I may have found you fine adventurers something else to challenge you...something truly worthy of your diverse talents. Belphanior: Maybe he's just trying to get rid of us. Halbarad: Anyway...? Trevor: For many years now, countries in this area have been subject to raids from slavers. A number of coastal towns have had their populaces depleted as these vile ones came by sea and took innocent men, women, and children. After a long time - too long a time - the rulers of the lands affected have put aside their differences and resolved to find a way to end this problem. The brazen attacks on villages and towns are at an all time high. Some have been burned to the ground, and all the residents taken. Mongo: So where do we fit in? Trevor: I have spoken of you at the council meetings, and recommended your group to the king of Ulek. Because of this, the job is yours, if you want it. Peldor: Now hold on a second here! How much are we getting paid for this? Ged: What matters money in a situation like this? Innocents are being harmed! The wrath of Boccob waits to descend! Peldor: Yeah, right. Belphanior: Slavers? I'm in. I hold no love for slavers. Peyote: Who does? Trevor: The deal is, if you can track down the ringleader(s) of this operation, and put an end to it once and for all, and you return and show proof of this... Peldor: Proof?! The deeds of Peldor need no PROOF! Trevor: ...then you will be paid an appropriately sizable sum. Perhaps in land, or training in the area, or whatever. Alindyar: Why not just take a fleet of well-armed troops and crush the slavers' base in a straightforward way? Why send in a party? Trevor: Good question. It has been decided that an attack en masse might eliminate the first slaver outpost, but then the others, as well as those behind the operation, would never be located. This approach, one of stealth, is much more likely to succeed. Alindyar: I see. Trevor: So, what do you think? Halbarad: Tenuous terms indeed. But we accept them. Peldor: We do? Ged: Well then. Let us be briefed, and be off! Belphanior: Death to the slavers! And so, the merry band was on its way. They talked to an escaped slave who was in the care of the king, and found that the first checkpoint for slavers was in the city of Highport, in the Pomarj. They got directions to a ruined temple compound from the slave, as well as the location of a secret entrance at the back of the temple which was used to ferry some of the slaves into the place (e.g. this slave). With this in mind, they set out for Highport, posing as slavers in the hope of passing into the city unnoticed. Rob: Me? A slaver? Wow. Peyote: All I need now is a whip... Alindyar: It shouldn't be very hard for me. All I have to do is take off my hood, and anybody will believe anything about me. Peldor: Eek! It's a drow! It's a drow! Ha! Belphanior: I wouldn't mind people having a fear reaction to me... The party traveled through the plains in the eastern region of Ulek for four days. Near the end of the third day they crossed the southern part of the Jewel River (near where it empties into the Azure Sea). As the group entered the Pomarj, the terrain became hilly, then leveled out into plains. After a couple more days, they saw a city ahead, its old walls inviting the adventurous and chaotic...Highport. guard at gate: Hey! Whassis all about? Why you come to Highport? Halbarad: (trying to act evil) Har, har! We're wandering slavers, just passing through. other guard: What slavers have _elves_ in their band? Huh?! Belphanior: Shut your trap, weasel! We do as we please! Whether or not I am an elf, I _can_ be one nasty motherfucker! Would you care to cross blades with me and find out? guard: Err...no, thas' okay. We believes you, yes we does. Mongo: Good! Then I won't have to smash your heads into bloody pulp. We slavers don't waste time at city gates, you know! Alindyar: (unhoods himself) Make no incident of our passing. Or _I_ will come back and deal with you personally. guard: No problem... Peyote: The city beckons, dudes. The party entered the city. Never ones to waste time, they followed the directions they had been given by the escaped slave, and made their way to the ruined temple near one edge of the city. Sneaking around to the rear of the place, they stayed back in some nearby ruins and simply watched (wasting time? heh heh). They noticed that every now and then a guard or two walked along the outside of the place, but few if any of these diligent watchmen (and watchorcs) patrolled the back. Obviously, they thought their secret entrance to be unknown, or secure. After two minutes of pondering, the party realized that the methods used to level the orc keep many months ago did not apply here. Cautiously, they snuck up to the place where the secret door was supposed to be. Peldor: (examining the stony wall) Where _is_ the blasted thing? Belphanior: You dummy. Here, look! See this tiny crack in the wall? Peldor: Yeah. I saw that. Just testing you. Belphanior: The hinges must be on this side...here, it opens this way. Peldor: Wait, check for traps...aha! There's a rope across the hinge side, on the inside side of the door. Obviously it is part of the trigger mechanism for some deadly trap. Belphanior: Well, cut it then! (produces a thin knife and sticks it through the slit, slicing the rope with a downward motion) DM: Sproing! Peldor: Huh? Rob: Sproing? DM: Something heavy slams against the other side of the secret door with great force, cracking some of the plaster on this side. Belphanior: Wonderful. Now I open the door. (opens it with some difficulty, revealing a wooden board at chest height across the doorway. The board has various spikes and nails driven into it, and these were imbedded in the door.) Cool! Halbarad: Out of the way, thieves. There could be danger within. Ged: I cast light on something. Rob: Here, use my mace. Ged: Yeah. You're not doing anything anyway, so you can hold this lit mace aloft for us. Peyote: Geez, that's bright. Halbarad, Mongo, and Belphanior formed the front rank, with Ged, Rob, and Peyote in the middle, and Alindyar and Peldor in the rear of the party. They were now in a ten foot wide, thirty foot long corridor which ended in a "T", going to the west and east. Belphanior: Let's go east! (they do) Peyote: Go east, young men... DM: You find a door. Belphanior: Can we hear anything at the door? I listen just in case there is something to hear. DM: Nope. Mongo: Belphanior, open the friggin' door. If there's anything in the room, I'll take care of it for you. Me an' my hammer, that is. Belphanior: (opens the door carefully) DM: You see an empty, burnt-up room. The floor is covered with a large quantity of debris. Mongo: We enter the room and look around. Belphanior: Search the rubble. Anything? DM: Nope. The eastern wall seems to have been maintained moreso than the rest of the room, but... Peldor: I search that wall for secret or concealed doors. DM: No luck. Peldor: Well, fuck. Peyote: No thanks. The party headed back to the T-junction, then went west, through a door to the north, then along a corridor, northward, which ended at an east-facing door. DM: This wooden door is charred; a couple of boards are gone. It looks pretty weak, though the hinges and the doorknob are melted. Mongo: Well, kick it down! Halbarad: No, wait. We can do this quietly, can't we? Stealth... Mongo: Phmph! Belphanior: We look through the missing boards' holes into the room beyond; what's in there? DM: The room is also burnt up pretty badly. The ceiling has all but collapsed, except for the fringes of the room, and the above floor is visible. Trash and crap cover the floor, and a sickly stench comes through the door. Rob: Crap? You mean real crap on the floor? DM: No, junk. Rob: Oh. Belphanior: Go smell it and see if it's crap, Rob. I'll push your nose in it. Heh heh. Rob: No thanks. Belphanior: Will the door open? DM: No, it's wedged or stuck. Mongo: Enough of this. I back up, and barrel into the door. DM: Okay...it shatters, leaving the hinges behind. You fall amongst the rubble. Halbarad: Belphanior and I will follow him. Standing, that is. DM: Okay. As you enter the room, a number of howling fiends leap from the ledge above and nearby the door, landing all around the three in the room. Some also face you in the middle row, Rob, Ged, and Peyote. They hiss and snarl as they attack you all. Peyote: Most odious. DM: Yes, they do stink. Rob: Do they look like undead? Ghouls, maybe? DM: Could be... Rob: Back, rotten ones! Take your infected carcasses away from here! Far away, hopefully! I say, BEGONE!! (attempts to turn undead) Ged: Hey, that's _my_ line. DM: Eight of the things cower in one corner, obviously scared of the renegade holy man and his glowing holy symbol. Two of the monsters do not retreat, however. Everyone make a save versus poison. ALL: What?!?!?!? DM: Stench... Halbarad: (makes the save, lays into a ghast with his axe) Die! Mongo: (fails his save) Ugh! (vomits on a nearby wall) BLEAARGH!! Belphanior: (makes his save) How revolting. Really, Mongo, you ought to keep that to yourself. (attacks the other ghast) Ged: (fails save, is nauseated) Rob: Hey, don't look for a target here! (makes his save easily) Peyote: (fails his save, doubles over in nausea) Vomit? Urgh. Alindyar: (makes his save) Maybe it was the fact that I had no meal this morning... Peldor: (makes his save) Peldor would NEVER throw up with no good targets nearby. Can I get around for a backstab? DM: Nope, too many people are in your way. ghast#1: (missed Halbarad, now suffering for it) Aaagh! Halbarad: I said die, evil thing! (cough cough) Phew. Mongo: (swings feebly, but misses, as he is still sick) ghast#2: (claws and gropes at Belphanior) Belphanior: Elves are _immune_ to ghoul paralyzation! Heh heh. DM: They're not ghouls...roll a save, Belphanior. Belphanior: (rolls, fails) Shit! It figures! (paralyzed) Peyote: Never fear dude! I have arrived on the scene! (slashes at the elf's erstwhile opponent, wounding it grieviously) Rob: (hits the same ghast with his magical flail) In the name of the most holy, Trithereon, I strike! Peldor: I move into combat now, pushing past the sickly minion of Boccob there. Ged: Ugh. Huh? What was that? Halbarad: (mops the floor with his ghast, slaying the stinking thing) ghast#2: (claws Peyote) Peyote: (makes his paralyzation save) Whew. Close one, dude. Peldor: (attacks the ghast from the front, as he can't get in position for a good backstab. The undead monster is killed anyway, though.) Mongo: Good job guys. Anybody got a spare towel? Halbarad: We try to help Belphanior back to a useful state. Peldor: I search the ledges where the monsters came from. Ged: I watch Peldor search. Peyote: I watch Ged watching Peldor. Rob: I heal the wounded and bind their injuries. DM: Peldor finds six good-sized gems and a potion bottle. Ged: Good for him. DM: Belphanior recovers after a number of minutes. Belphanior: Good for me. The party went through the single exit, a door in the northern wall. They found a passage which ended in some stairs going up. At the top of the stairs was a broken-down door. Mongo: Obviously, someone with my door-opening talents has been here already. DM: Behind the fragmented door is a room with almost no floor. Across the pit you can see an open doorway. The floor and walls appear to have been gutted by fire. The hole in what used to be the floor is deep, extending down to the level below, which also has a burnt-up floor. About thirty feet down is a cellar floor. A narrow, charred section of floor leads along the left wall, and another, more sturdy piece leads along the right wall. Also, across the middle of the room is a long, wide wooden beam, narrow and slightly warped, by the look of it. Peldor: Obviously, someone with my fire-making talents has been here already as well. Alindyar: Perhaps that one and the opener of doors are one and the same person... Belphanior: That would be someone of MY talents. Total destruction. Hmm. Which path to take? Ged: I cast a feather fall on myself and someone else who wishes to take the sturdy walkway to the right. Peyote: Me! Ged: Okay, you too. I can get about five people with this spell. Belphanior: I'll try the center plank and see what happens. Ged: Okay, I'll include you in the feather fall as well. And also Mongo, since he'll probably fall no matter which way he goes. Mongo: Hey! Ged: ...due of course to his tremendous weight. Also Alindyar. Belphanior: (starting across the beam, which is wobbling and making a creaking sound) Uh-oh. Ged: (starting off across the right path) Peyote: Hey, let me go first. I am better suited to deal with any potential attackers, if any come. (starts across ledge) Peldor: (throws a small rock at the left ledge, which collapses at even this minute impact) Good thing we didn't try THAT way... Belphanior: (successfully across) Hey guys, it's okay! Halbarad: (follows in the path of the elf) Peyote: (having reached the middle of the right path, all seems to be well) Whoa! (a loose board shifts, dumping a chunk of the wall on the half-elf and knocking him off the ledge) Ged: (to DM) Is the pathway still passable? DM: No, it's been obliterated. Peyote: (slowly floating down to the cellar floor far below, with glowing bastard sword in hand) Somebody throw me a rope! Shortly, all of the characters (except Peyote) were across. He searched the rubble below, but could find nothing, and so climbed back up to join the others. Belphanior moved the beam, pushing it into the darkness thirty feet down; the elf figured that it was already obvious that intruders had been this way and so it wouldn't hurt to cover their backs. Only after this did somebody point out that their only (so far) escape route was now cut off. Oh well. next time: riot in the dungeons ************************************************************************ NOTES: I'm in a particularly jovial mood right now. I love writing these things. I looked through my mailbox and realized that the fan count (that is, the total number of people who have given me positive feedback) for my narratives had exceeded 50 before Christmas! While that may not seem like a lot, I am impressed anyway. Also one note: Alindyar, while not evil like most other drow, is by no means good-aligned. We never thought of him as fitting into the typical mold of renegade-drow-turned-hero. He could be just as violent as anybody else at times. Actually, his player seemed to be trying for the illusionist type of mage. And the 8 undead who _were_ turned were ghouls, the 2 who _weren't_ were ghasts. And, it is no coincidence that Rob is more competent right now. He was being played by another person, as he forgot to show up or some such nonsense. This other person eventually replaced Rob, as will be seen. ************************************************************************ ***** * * The 8 player characters contained in this writing are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. * The dungeons and non-player characters contained herein are from * TSR's module, A1, and are copyright 1980 by TSR, Inc. Although * they are reprinted after a fashion in this story writeup, they * are not being used for profit or personal gain in any way. In * this spirit, verbatim text and maps from the module have been * avoided. I would encourage anyone who does not own the Slaver * series, that is, TSR modules A1-A4, to buy them, as much more * enjoyment will come from actually playing them rather than from * reading about one party's experiences within. * ***** ----------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 5th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 4th/3rd/4th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 4th/4th level grey elf priest/mage (NG) Halbarad, 5th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 5th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 6th level human thief (N) Peyote, 4th/4th level half-elf fighter/druid (N) Rob, 6th level human priest (LG) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- XVII. The Sewers The intrepid party had just crossed a room with no floor... DM: You walk a short ways and then the corridor turns right. Belphanior: Well, naturally, we turn right as well. DM: There is an alcove to the right, after the turn, then the passage goes left a bit after that. Mongo: What's in the alcove? I look into it. The small alcove contained three big barrels. They seemed intact, as no leaks were visible, but Mongo quickly rectified this by punching a hole in one. A sour liquid floated within; Alindyar noted that it smelled like vinegar. The group went on, bearing left and going down a short flight of stairs into a squarish room. The place had an acrid odor to it; when the party moved to examine a pile of dirty rags that lay in front of the door, the "rags" attacked, sprouting many thin tendrils... DM: The rags attack those in the front rank. That means you, Mongo, and also Belphanior and Halbarad. Mongo: No member of the Thunderhead clan will fall prey to someone's dirty laundry! Err...I defend myself. thing: (flails dozens of sticky tentacles at the fighters) Mongo: (whipped by several) Ouch! That stings! There's some kind of crap on these tentacles, and it burns! Halbarad: (hit by four) Damn! Belphanior: (manages to dodge all but one) Hey! You'll pay for that! (slashes the thing with his sword) Halbarad: (axes the monster) Ged: (fires magic missiles at the thing, burning small craters in its sticky body) Mongo: Hell, I am so _slow_! Well...last, but not least...(smashes the monster twice with his magic hammer, sending it into one wall where it stays, unmoving) Ha! Rob: You could have just thrown the hammer. Mongo: Nah. Too close. Besides, this is more fun. I raise my most mighty weapon in triumph. Alindyar: Maybe we should burn the creature. Peldor: No, then it would stink up the whole place. What's this, treasure? Aha! (mucking through the pile of sticky slop where the thing was rooted, finds some gold coins, gems, and a ring) Ged: Hey! Put those in the Official Party Treasure Sack (tm). Don't take them for yourself! Peldor: Take it easy...I'm not in a bad mood...yet. Peyote: Let's move on down the path. Belphanior: Can we hear anything behind that door, I wonder? Hmm? DM: Nada. Belphanior: Well, I open the door and peer out then. There was a corridor beyond, splitting three ways. The western branch was short and ended in a door; the eastern branch was longer and at least two different doors were visible; the northern branch went off somewhere else and was long. The party, efficient as ever, opted for the western direction with its single door. Belphanior: Unlocked? Hah! I get my bow ready, with an arrow at the ready. Mongo, open that door. Mongo: (opens the door, revealing a stable with a few horses and some equipment and horse food. More noteworthy are the four scuzzy-looking men sitting on hay bales...) men: (leap to the attack. One of their number fumbles with a horn.) Belphanior: I knew it! I shoot the hornblower before he can sound a note! (shoots, hits, kills with a lucky shot) man#4: (would-be-hornblower) Augh! (dies) Generic combat ensued, resulting in the timely deaths of the three guards within a minute. Rob decided that this was the time to heal the wounded, and did so eloquently. Belphanior spotted a young girl in rags hiding out in the loft. girl: My rescuers! Help me, save me from those terrible slavers! Belphanior: Who the hell are you? How did you get here? girl: I am a slave. I got out of the slave pens and hid in here, but those guards came back, and I've been up in the loft for two days now. Halbarad: You must be hungry. Here, have some of my rations. girl: Oh, thank you! (eats the food ravenously) Peldor: (muttering) Goody-two-shoes...(to DM) I search the guards' bodies. DM: (to Peldor) Hmm...you get a number of gold coins. Peldor: (to DM) Well, surely one of these fools spotted me. I give them about a fourth of the coins for the party's loot sack and keep the rest for myself. DM: (to Peldor) Okay. They seem to be paying more attention to the slave girl. Peldor: (snickering) girl: What will happen now? Peldor: (snickering) Ged: We are glad to have saved you. Stay with us for protection. Halbarad: Yea. Peyote: Let's take the babe and begone! Remember this room - we may need to come here for horses or something later. The group left the stable, slave girl in tow, and went back out into the main corridor. They took the east passage, went through one door into a small, burned-up courtyard area, but found nothing of interest in there. They backed up, and followed the eastern passage until it ended near some stairs down, and also a door. Going through the door, they found themselves in a much larger, burned-up courtyard area, and proceeded to explore this outdoor place. Peyote: Yo, the sky is visible from this burned-up courtyard place... Ged: Brilliant observation. Halbarad: Be on your guard - there might be some deadly foe lurking in this miniature wasteland. Belphanior: I trudge through the charred debris, hunting for any misplaced treasure. Ged: Peldor would know all about that. DM: A tattered, hissing figure lopes out of a collapsed archway in the courtyard and heads for your group. slave girl: Eeeeeek!! Belphanior: Just one? I attack it with my sword... Belphanior: (swings his magical longsword and hits, inflicting hefty damage) Hah! Stupid ruins dweller! creature: (swats Belphanior, inflicting superficial damage) DM: Belphanior, you lose one life energy level. Belphanior: Oh shit. Help! HELP! Mongo: (hurls his enchanted warhammer at the undead beast, splattering its head into pulp) That quick enough? Belphanior: Somebody cast dispel magic on me! No, never mind that! I need healing! Protection from evil! Restoration! Ged: Calm down. It's only one life energy level. Peyote: Yeah, chill. Belphanior: Only..only one..AAAAGH!! (starts running around in circles) Ged: We can do nothing for you now, anyway, so let's get on with the exploration. Mongo: (to Belphanior) Sorry, man. (catches his hammer as it returns) Belphanior: Aaaaaa..... Peldor: Well, if he's not going to search for treasure, _I_ will. Ged: We all search for treasure, but we're more careful. If any more of those things appear, me and Rob will try to turn them. DM: The courtyard is fairly empty. Burned debris litters the place, but nothing else comes out to attack you as you search. There is an apparently bricked-up section of the courtyard to the south. Mongo: Oh yeah? I examine the stonework. How good is the workmanship there? DM: It's a pretty sturdy wall, as they go. It seems to have been kept in good shape. Halbarad: I wonder why? Someone climb over the wall. Err, how high is the thing, anyway? Peldor: (seeing that it is only about ten feet, he climbs it without a problem) Mongo: What do you see? Peldor: (scanning the courtyard) Statues. LOTS of them. And there are no exits from this part. Oh yeah, there's also a - uh, make that two - big lizardlike creatures roaming the place. Halbarad: Hmm. (looking at DM) HMM. Alindyar: Statues, eh? In what way are they posed, may I ask? DM: Crouching, kneeling, praying, defiant. Or twisted into broken positions. Yeah, that's it. Peyote: Sounds like trouble. Alindyar: Yes. Ged: Basilisks, eh? slave girl: Eeeeeek!! Belphanior: Maybe we could just sit atop the wall and pepper them with arrows? Halbarad: No, then they would definitely look at us, and someone might get stoned. Peyote: So? Halbarad: Excuse me, petrified. Peyote: Oh. Peldor: Sounds risky. Besides, I can't see any treasure in their immediate area. Ged: Why don't you go down into the courtyard and have a closer look, thief? Peldor: Umm, no thanks. Halbarad: My advice would be to ignore this part. Belphanior: Yep. I already lost a life energy level today. I don't want to push my luck. Peyote: Makes sense. Let's vamoose. Mongo: Damn. Oh well, maybe some other time, basilisks! The party went back inside, and decided to go down the stairs. Halbarad: Let's take the stairs down. Everyone Else: Okay. They descended into the darkness, which didn't last long due to the timely casting of another light spell. They were in a cavern- type place; a tunnel led to the right and left. It was dug from the surrounding soil, and was packed tightly and supported by wooden beams of dubious strength. The ceiling was a good foot to two feet higher than Belphanior's head (he was the tallest one in the group). Ged cast spells of finding traps and resistance to fire on himself. The adventurers went to the left. When the passage forked after a short time, they chose the right tunnel, which was slightly more narrow and cramped than the main one. Only one person at a time could walk abreast (though only the slave girl...ah, never mind). Mongo elected himself to be the point man (dwarf), and so it was that he burst into the first dirt-walled chamber full of giant ant workers. Mongo: Aie! We're in an anthill! (to DM) Uh, what are the ants doing anyway? DM: They _were_ just sitting there, doing giant ant things, but now they're a bit disturbed. They scuttle in your direction, pincers snapping fiercely. Mongo: Oh. (slams an ant with his hammer, crushing it) Peyote: Ick! That must have hurt! ant: (fails to bite through Mongo's plate armor) other ant: (also fails) Halbarad: (directly behind Mongo) Let me in! (leaps into the chamber) another ant: (chomps Halbarad) Halbarad: Ouch, that hurt. some other ant: (also bites the ranger) Halbarad: Damn! (chops one of the ants, cutting it in two) DM: There are still ten ants here. Oh, did I forget to mention the three bigger, even more fierce-looking ants? Here they come, too. Boy, are you guys in for it now. Peyote: Boy, are we in for it now! slave girl: Eeeeeek! Mongo: Stop that damn screaming!! Halbarad: (to DM): What exits do we see nearby? DM: There's one to the north - oh wait, about a dozen more ants are coming through it. Also one to the south. Halbarad: Are ants coming through it? DM: No. Well, not yet anyway. Halbarad: (yelling to Mongo over the din of battle) Head for the south exit there! Mongo: What?!?! Retreat?!? (gets attacked by four more giant ants, two of which actually hit him) Ouch! Fuck!! Halbarad: We'll cover the others from the ants - you can help too, Peyote - while they run that way. Cramped up in here like this, we'll be worn down in no time! Mongo: I see! Cover them we shall, then! (smashes another of the overgrown insects) Hey you back there! Go south while we fight off the ants! Ged: Check. Alindyar: What if more dangers lie through the exit? Belphanior: I shall lead the way, as I am the best fighter not busy attacking ants right now. Peldor: Whatever you say. I'll protect the girl! Ged: Yeah, right. Mongo, Halbarad, and Peyote held the savage, bloodthirsty ants at bay while the other five, plus shrieking slave girl, escaped to the south. They were in a larger tunnel now, and a big chamber was just visible to the right. Belphanior and Ged moved in this direction; Rob, Peldor, Alindyar, and the slave girl (quieted for the moment) remained in the wide intersection; Mongo, Halbarad, and Peyote fought side-by-side just inside the giant ant room, none of them willing to retreat totally just yet. Mongo: (takes another hit from giant ant pincers, is also poisoned for further damage) Damn it! We need cover fire! Peyote: Preferably a fireball. Were this a more desperate situation, I might have cause to use my wand of wonder. (chops a nearby ant in three) Halbarad: (kills two ants) The others had better find a clear path of escape very soon. Agh! (gets bitten by an ant) VERY soon! Alindyar: (preparing some spell) Peldor: (looking around, and keeping hold of the slave girl) Rob: Hm. Let's go this way. (gestures to the left, down the bigger tunnel the other way) Alindyar: Go nowhere, priest. Who knows what dark fiends lurk in these tunnels? Rob: Good point. (draws his magical flail) Belphanior: (approaching the large chamber, with Ged in tow) Ged: (preparing magic missiles) Belphanior: Whoa! There are insect-like humanoids in here, doing various minor tasks, it looks like. Ged: Hold! There is a trap there! On the floor! Belphanior: Really? Whew! Ged: It's a thin cord or rope. Should we cut it, or leave it? Belphanior: Uh...I don't know. Here come the insect men though! Insect Men: (four in number, and looking formidable indeed, they move about the chamber, weapons in hand) Belphanior: (looking through his possessions in a hurry) Ged: (fires a magic missile at the creature nearest the tunnel) Take that, chittering evil bug! Insect Man: (clashes two swords together angrily; its two shield arms wave medium-sized shields about) Chikchikchikchik!!! Belphanior: Have no fear, Ged. I have the heavy artillery now! (aims his staff at the insect men and their room) Ged: Well don't just stand there! Blast them!! Belphanior: MISKA SHA-BOOM!! (a huge bolt of lightning shoots out of the weapon, exploding into the room with a loud clap of thunder) DM: KRAK-OW!! Ged: Krak-ow? Ha ha. It seems that the bug men are no more... Neither is the chamber, from the looks of things. DM: From some other room beyond, more insect men come, stepping gingerly over the charred, sparking bodies of their dead brothers. Bloodlust shines in their multifaceted bug eyes. Never make fun of the dungeon master. Belphanior: Let's go the other way! Ged: Not a bad idea...(they run back to the others) More enemies that way! And our magic won't hold out forever! Let's go this way, to the left! Rob: Finally. Belphanior: (to the three warriors still fighting giant ants) We are _leaving_, so come on! Mongo: (straddling a heap of giant ant bodies) You guys go first, I'll come after that! Halbarad: Very well. (retreats with Peyote and joins the others) Mongo: Yah! (tosses his hammer at the closest giant ant, and backs off, falling on his rear in the tunnel with the rest) Whoops! Ged: Heh. Watch where you're going, clumsy fool. Mongo: Quiet, elf. (raises his arm, catching the returning hammer neatly) You can hold the damned bugs off next time. Halbarad: Cut the chatter! Let's get the hell out of here! The party fled down the unexplored passage at breakneck speed, closely followed by a number of giant worker ants, giant soldier ants, and aspis drones. DM: As you flee, you pass some other small tunnels on both sides... Belphanior: Fuck that! We keep running! Mongo: Uh, guys, I'm not as fast as you are...wait up! Alindyar: (stops, is passed by the running dwarf) Mongo: Hey! What are you up to?! Alindyar: I am buying us some time. (casts a web back the way they came, blocking the tunnel with thick layers of sticky spiderwebs) There, _that_ should do it. It had better do it. Halbarad: (having taken the lead) Where are we going anyway? I can barely see ahead. Belphanior: (tries to light a torch on the fly, but fails) I can't see anything. Whoever's got the torch back there, run faster! Rob: I'm going as fast as I can... The group slowed down a bit, passing a stinking side tunnel on their right. They avoided it, however, and continued on for about fifty feet to a dead-end. Belphanior: There's a hatch in the ceiling. Ged: Well open it, then! Halbarad: (pushes up on the stone lid, moving it aside with suprising ease) (to DM) I guess I climb up now. I have my weapons ready in case we are ambushed or anything like that. The ranger leaped up into the room above, ready for action. The first thing he saw was a huge statue of an orc. The stony figure was standing there with its legs spread, and its single rocky eye seemed to peer at Halbarad with contempt. All this he took in within the space of a second. Halbarad: Holy Hells! 'Tis Grummsh, god of the orcs, my sworn enemy! Then he noticed the three half-orc warriors flanking the statue, and the obviously evil priestess not five feet away, who had just turned in suprise, facing him with a sneer on her face. next time: The downfall of the Temple of Grummsh; more sewers ************************************************************************ NOTES: Humor. Such a wonderful thing. We sometimes got very little accomplished in the way of dungeon exploration or wilderness travel, but we always had fun. That's the name of the game, after all... ************************************************************************ ***** * * The 8 player characters contained in this writing are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. * The dungeons and non-player characters contained herein are from * TSR's module, A1, and are copyright 1980 by TSR, Inc. Although * they are reprinted after a fashion in this story writeup, they * are not being used for profit or personal gain in any way. In * this spirit, verbatim text and maps from the module have been * avoided. I would encourage anyone who does not own the Slaver * series, that is, TSR modules A1-A4, to buy them, as much more * enjoyment will come from actually playing them rather than from * reading about one party's experiences within. * ***** ----------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 5th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 4th/3rd/4th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 4th/4th level grey elf priest/mage (NG) Halbarad, 5th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 5th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 6th level human thief (N) Peyote, 4th/4th level half-elf fighter/druid (N) Rob, 6th level human priest (LG) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- XVIII. Orcs, harpies, & imposters Halbarad had just up popped through a floor hatch, suprising some followers of Grummsh... Halbarad: Holy Hells! 'Tis Grummsh, god of the orcs, my sworn enemy! (leaps at the priestess, chopping her with both axe and dagger and bowling her over) priestess: Curses! You'll pay for that, you goddy-two-shoes fool! half-orcs: (all three of them brandish their weapons and move to get Halbarad and save their priestess) Halbarad: Uh...HELP!! Mongo: (emerging from the floor hatch) What's this? Battle! (to DM) I shriek my war cry and brain some orcspawn! Aaaugh! (sends the hammer flying at one of the half-orcs and climbs fully out of the hole) half-orc#1: (hit by the weapon and knocked down) @#%&$*! half-orc#2: Whad's thish? Mongo: Thish ish my hammer. It's name is death, vile worshippers of the one-eyed crap-shoveler and lover of elves and halflings! half-orc#3: You'll pay for those insults, dwarf! Mongo: (catches his hammer and moves to melee the nearest half-orc) I doubt it. Belphanior: (sticks his head up through the hole) Aha! Ged: (from below) Hurry it up, up there! Something could attack us down here while you idiots are playing with yourselves! Halbarad: (quickly pressing the attack on the priestess, to keep her from casting spells) You worshipper of evil gods! Your putrid shrine comes down this day! (stabs her again with his dagger) priestess: (wounded further, whips out a mace and swats at the ranger feebly with it) Halbarad: Ugh! Mongo: (slams half-orc#1 with his hammer, slaying it) Victory for Clan Thunderhead! Belphanior: (runs for half-orc#2, screaming insanely) half-orc#2: (slashes at the elf, scoring a slight wound) Belphanior: Ouch! For that, your death shall be _twice_ as painful! (slices the humanoid, inflicting a critical hit) There!! (to DM) Double damage dice, eh? Heh heh.. half-orc#2: (perishes) Halbarad: (chops the priestess with his axe) priestess: (expires) half-orc#3: Uh-oh. (turns and flees for a door at the end of the hall) Belphanior: (tosses the longsword aside and draws his bow) I'll get the sonofabitch! (fires off an arrow, but misses) Mongo: He can't run fast enough...(hurls his hammer at the humanoid, bringing it down) Halbarad: Is it alive for questioning? Belphanior: (squinting) Doesn't look like it. Peyote: (emerging from the hatch) Wow, man. Like, what _happened_? Mongo: Just some extermination of pests. No sweat. Halbarad: We have crippled an unholy place of the orcish god Grummsh. My patroness, the Mistress of the Forests, will be pleased. (dumps some unholy water from a bowl onto the floor, and ponders the idea of pushing the statue of Grummsh over) The rest of the party, and the slave girl, came out of the sewers into the temple. Chained to a huge metal font were about a dozen slaves. A poorbox was mounted on a far wall. The evil priestess' body was searched, turning up a nice mace and a potion bottle. In addition, Ged found a good-sized cavity in the shaft from below, right under the trapdoor; this niche contained some sacks of gold, a large diamond, and some papers in a scroll tube. Peldor: (heading for that poorbox) I wonder what's in there? Halbarad: Somebody help me free these slaves. Belphanior: Okay. I hate slavery. I hope we find some more slavers to kill. (examining chains) These are pretty thick chains. Ged: Let me help...(casts a knock on the big padlock securing one end of the chains, opening it and freeing the slaves) Halbarad: What are we going to do with these people now? slaves: (scampering about) Belphanior: Uhh... Alindyar: Here, Mongo. These sacks of gold shall avail us well in the future. Can you carry them, or should I put them in my magical bag? Mongo: Shit yeah! Oof, these are heavy. You can carry them. I'm already burdened down with all the other crap we found. Alindyar: (stacking the bags into his bag of holding) This diamond is of fine quality as well. Also this mace, and this potion... Rob: We really got lucky here. Alindyar: (reading the papers) These documents detail some caravan routes and dates. I would presume they refer to slave caravans. Peyote: Good deal, man. Where's that slave babe? slave girl: (wandering around the room) Peyote: Hey, slave girl babe, don't wander off! You might get hurt. Ged: Somebody watch Peldor. Peldor: (prying at the poorbox on the wall) This thing's jammed! Suddenly, the lockbox exploded! A huge green figure seemed to grow from inside the small wooden box, its slimy skin glistening from the torchlight in the chamber. The thing dropped a small grey lump of stone on the ground, and looked at the thief. monster: (suprises Peldor, and bats him about like a pillow) Peldor: (bruised and beaten, sails off into one wall) slave girl: Eeeeek!! Alindyar: A troll! Now where did that come from? Mongo: Who gives a shit? It's killing our thief! Ged: So? Mongo: Then who would we have to risk poison needle traps and things like that? (hurls his hammer at the troll) Ged: Hm. Good point. Peyote: Way uncool, man. (charges the troll, with Belphanior and Halbarad close behind) slaves: (scampering about) shadowy figure: (emerges from behind the font and rushes toward Halbarad's exposed back) troll: (struck by Mongo's hammer, reels a bit and turns to face the trio of warriors heading for it, sparing Peldor from further mauling) Mongo: Catches his hammer, spots the figure behind the ranger but not in time) Hey, look out! shadowy figure: (backstabs Halbarad with a longsword) Die, vile do-gooder! Halbarad: (seriously injured, but alive, perhaps due to his armor) slave girl: Eeeeek!! Mongo: Shut the hell up, dammit! Belphanior: (stabs the troll) Die, motherfucker! Peyote: (chopping at the troll) The jolly green giant seems to be weakening! Alindyar: (digging for a flask of oil) Wherever did I put that flask of oil? Ged: (thinking about a spell to cast) Rob: (casts spiritual hammer, sends it at the troll) Halbarad: (bleeding profusely, turns around) Wretch! (chops and stabs his assailant, killing him) Probably also a worshipper of that foul Grummsh. Mongo: (hurls his hammer at the troll, simultaneous with Rob's magical hammer spell) troll: (dies) Alindyar: (rushing forth) Here, use this oil! (pours it onto the body) Peyote: Fire it up! (ignites the troll carcass with a torch from a nearby wall sconce) Ged: Let me help, Halbarad. (heals the ranger extensively with his magic) Rob: (heals Peldor) Brave, brave thief. Someone must care for you. Peldor: Thanks, priest. (gets up and looks among the poorbox shards for treasure) Damn! No treasure! Rob: (sees the stone the troll dropped, decides it's interesting and pockets it) Halbarad: (checking the assassin's body) This dolt should have aimed for the heart if he wanted to kill me. Peyote: You're not complaining, are you? Halbarad: No. This man has nothing of importance or use. (flings the body back to the floor in contempt) The party decided to take the door to the south. The slaves were left in the temple room, but advised to remain there until it was deemed safe for them to leave. The adventurers opened the door, and saw an old, collapsed chapel. Some large bird-like things attacked, but flew away after a few were chopped from the air. The chapel was devoid of anything interesting; the party went back into the temple and out the northern door. They were now in a long hallway full of alcoves; the alcoves were occupied by statues of orcs and strange winged monsters. Ged: (his spell is still in effect) There is a trap in the center of this passage! A section of floor is glowing to my eyes. Peldor: How useful the minions of Boccob are today. Why don't you go step on it? Halbarad: (leaps over the five-foot section Ged indicated) That was easy. Let us move on. There may be other orcs and slavers about, and that burning troll probably alerted them. Peldor: (checks for traps on the door at the end of the passage and then opens it. Beyond is a huge courtyard, open to the sky. Some orcish humanoids are taking cover behind tables and some other bulky object. Some of them have crossbows and spears. A pair of portculli block exit to the outside.) Hmm. Halbarad: More orcs! Belphanior: All right! Bloodshed! Mongo: Hey, get out of my way! They're gonna shoot at us, and I need a clear path for my hammer! Ged: Hold. (casts a sleep spell, putting seven of the orcs to sleep) Hah! Boccob speaks! Peldor: And look what happens! They all fell asleep! Ged: Grr... Halbarad: (charges the orcs - actually half-orcs - behind the bulky pushcart) (yelling in orcish) Grummsh is dead! Die! Mongo: (tosses the hammer, splattering a half-orc) Death to slavers! half-orc: (lighting a stubby torch attached to the pushcart, which is some strange device) Belphanior: (moves in on the lone orc awake behind a table) Alindyar: (uses his wand to launch a magic missile at a half-orc) Peyote: Aaaa! (charges the half-orcs also) Ged: (analyzing the situation) Rob: (hefts his flail and runs for the melee) Mongo: (catching his hammer, moves closer) Another shot seems in order here! (hurls hammer at the half-orcs manning the pushcart) Uh-oh. DM: A 1? You rolled a _1_? Ha ha, a critical fumble. On a thrown weapon... Mongo: Well at least I didn't hit myself. There's nothing to worry about. The stray hammer missed the half-orc and struck the pushcart device, punching a hole in it. The strong smell of powerful oil invaded the air, and within a half second the oil hit the burning torch...BOOM!! Halbarad, not the luckiest of adventurers this day, was blown back thirty feet. Peyote and Rob were lightly scorched by the blast. Belphanior ignored it as he killed the lone orc. The remaining half-orcs were incinerated. Mongo: (catches the hammer, which is on fire) Ouch! (tosses it aside) I need to find some water or wine or something! DM: (since Mongo said that he _tossed_ it aside, thinking about having the flaming hammer return to his hand) Naaah... Ged: Halbarad needs our help again! (moves to the ranger) Peyote: You're toasted pretty bad there, guy. Rob: (finds some herbal salve to help, and the others assist with magic) Mongo: Sorry about that. Halbarad: No problem, friend. I realize that you were just trying to help defeat the orcspawn. Alindyar: You came out rather well, Halbarad. Look at the half-orcs... Halbarad: A fate wholly deserved, no doubt. Rob: Let me go back to the doorway and get my backpack. I dropped it when I drew my mace for battle. (wanders off) Peldor: (searching the bodies for loot) Ged: Greedy today, are we? Peldor: You know it. Unnoticed by anyone, that slave girl, the one who liked to scream a lot, had arrived near the doorway. As Rob approached, she cringed in the shadows, lurking and waiting... Rob: (bends over to pick up his backpack) "girl": (slams the priest over the head with a now-clawed hand, knocking him to his knees. She moves in to strangle him, her features shifting into an amorphous form.) Rob: Uhh.. Doppleganger: (hits Rob again) Rob: (staggered, but determined; grabs his magical flail and rises, swinging the weapon at his assailant and hitting with great force) Back, evil thing! Doppleganger: (wounded seriously) Ged: (from the other room) Hey! What's going on out there? Rob: (pounds the monster again with his flail) DM: Hmm, Rob, a 20. Rob: Who can question the will of the gods? (deals the beast a terrible blow, dispatching it) Halbarad: (just arriving with sword in hand) What's this? Rob: Oh, nothing. This strange creature tried to kill me, but Trithereon granted me the holy strength to repel it. 'Twas nothing. Let's move on. (heals himself) Halbarad: ! Mongo: Well, at least we got rid of the bitch. Ged: Yea. Her incessant screeching was really starting to piss me off. Belphanior: I was thinking about backstabbing her. Ged: Well, justice is served. They decided to go through a small door to the northwest. They found a lone half-orc eating some slop, three slaves confined to one wall, and a portcullis winch. The guard tried to flee, but as the party was blocking the only exit, he didn't make it, and was slain by Belphanior before anybody else had a say. The slaves were of course freed. Peldor found a ring on the guard's finger but was unable to get it without being noticed. The group went back out into the courtyard, and into a room to the northeast. Halbarad: Ho! What's this? (inside the small room are a pair of half-orcs facing each other, one of whom has a sword. A winch is affixed to one wall, presumably for the other gate. The two half-orcs look exactly the same!) Mongo: Hey look! Twins! half-orc w/sword: Aaaa! Get away from me! (turns to flee, but finds the exit blocked by the party) Help! Help! He's not human! half-orc w/o sword: Huh? _You're_ the imposter here, shithead! half-orc w/sword: He's - it's - a shapechanger! half-orc w/o sword: No, _he's_ the shapechanger! Halbarad: Huh? Belphanior: To hell with it. Kill them both. half-orc w/o sword: (attacks the other, choking it barehanded) half-orc w/sword: Urk! (CRACK!) (neck broken, he dies) Mongo: Fuck this, it's too weird. (throws hammer at the one survivor, happening to get a critical hit) Ha! half-orc w/o sword: (dies, changing into a doppleganger) Alindyar: Another one of those! Truly, they creep about this place like worms. Belphanior: And they die like worms too. Rob: What do we do now? Peldor: Isn't it obvious? I search the bodies. (finds some gold and electrum) Bah! (thinking about all that gold that Alindyar is carrying) Alindyar: Do not even think about it, thief. Peldor: Who, me? Never! The party decided to leave the portculli down for now, but herded all the slaves into the temple. They went through a side door from the courtyard, through a winding passage, and into a decrepit garden. Halbarad: There is another door across the way... Ged: I wonder why it's so quiet in here. As if on cue, sweet singing was heard from all directions. The mesmerising song pervaded the adventurers' minds, enticing them to do strange things...four creatures, half-bird, half-woman, flew toward them. Alindyar: (makes his save) Harpies...(begins spellcasting in as un-obvious a way as possible, to increase his chances of fooling the harpies into thinking he is charmed. It works.) Belphanior: (fails his save) What beautiful music... Ged: (easily makes his save) Aaa! Foul bitch vermin! (begins to cast a spell) Halbarad: (makes his save) Damned creatures! Their evil song is most dangerous! (begins yelling a loud war cry) Mongo: (makes his save) Geez! That's the worst music I've ever heard! (draws a bead on a harpy) Peldor: (fails his save) Wow, such great music... Peyote: (fails his save, barely) What an eerie and powerful tune that is... Rob: (makes his save) Uh...(begins spellcasting) Harpies: (chattering to various, obviously charmed party members in Common) Belphanior: Yes, that would be a _great_ idea. (casts a color spray on Halbarad, in order to quiet him so that the beautiful music can be heard better) Halbarad: Aaah! You charmed moron! (stunned) Mongo: I always thought he was a moron anyway... Ged: (casts a spell of blindness on a harpy; it shrieks and flies into a wall) There, bitch! Boccob gives his regards! Alindyar: (trying to ignore suggestions while casting his spell, engulfs two of the harpies in a sphere of darkness) I hope that clears things up between us, monsters. some harpy: (hissing at Peyote) Peyote: Ah, yes, what a fabulous accompaniment to your lovely song. (aims his wand of wonder at Rob, Alindyar, Ged and activates it) Rob: Uh-oh. DM: It begins to rain, and you are all soaked within seconds. Peyote: Awesome! Totally awesome! Mongo: Enough of this bullshit. (hurls hammer, killing a harpy) other harpy: (the one who was blinded; flies away into the sky) harpy: (one of the ones in the darkness globe, the one who was not used as the focus of Alindyar's spell) (flies out, and away) Mongo: (catches his hammer) Ged: One of them is still there, inside that darkness! Mongo: (sends his hammer flying into the globe of blackness, scoring a hit, judging by the shriek of pain heard) Alindyar: The sphere ceases to move. Ged: Maybe the bird-bitch is dead... Mongo: Let's find out. (wanders into the globe) Alindyar: That may not be such a great idea... Ged: Hopefully it's dead. Mongo: (emerges) The bird is dead. I must have crushed its head with my blow before. Rob: I guess we have to wait until the charmed ones recover. Halbarad: (shaking off the stun effect of the color spray) Uhh. DM: The rain stops. The sun is out. Ged: (regarding Peldor, who is studying the wet flowers and smiling mindlessly all the while) Peldor: (wondering what happened to the beautiful music he was just listening to) The charm effect wore off momentarily. The group went to the other end of the garden and through the door, entering a large room empty save for some candles. Windows looked into the garden that they were just in. The adventurers made their way to another door, finding a number of slaves. A shadow on one wall appeared to be whipping the slaves, and it barked in ogrish. Pitiful screams issued from many of the captives. Halbarad: Fiends! (raises sword and curses aloud) Belphanior: (regards the room) Hmm. (to DM) I stay back and have my staff of thunder and lightning ready. DM: (to Belphanior) Okay. The slaves seem to be in great pain. Mongo: (moves toward the mass of slaves) Have no fear, we will free you. Ged: Kill that ogre, wherever it is! As they entered the chamber, the "slaves" threw off their rags and drew concealed swords, yelling as they rushed the party. They were half-orcs, not humans, and their ugly faces sneered in anger. Mongo: An ambush! A fucking ambush! Halbarad: Betrayal most foul. Peyote: Zounds, suckered again! Belphanior: (not suprised, calmly blasts the far wall with a forked bolt of lightning) Stupid orc scum. half-orcs: (most burned to a cinder, three remain) Mongo: Those must be the leaders! DM: Mongo, Halbarad, Peyote, you all take 3d6 of resudual lightning damage. Mongo: Fuck! (hurls hammer, wiping the wall with one of the three villains) That pisses me off! Halbarad: (he and the others quickly slay the other two opponents, despite their feeble attempts to melee and cast spells) Peldor: Treasure? DM: No, it all got melted. Too bad, eh? Peldor: Yeah. Oh well. The party found a trap door in the floor, but ignored it for now and went back into the hall. Three orcs had been hiding in a small alcove to the north, casting their reflections on the wall with the help of a lantern. For some reason, they thought they had a chance and attacked the party from behind, but were summarily eliminated. There was one more room in this area, but it was charred and half- collapsed, so they left. Going back to the hatch, they found that it was locked from this side. The priests used their (waning) magic to heal some wounds, while others used potions or simply bound their cuts. Mongo lifted the hatch, and the group once again descended. The cursory torch was lit, and they realized that they were in the same cavern areas as before. Quickly, they ran along one wall, soon passing the stairway they had used last time to get to this level. Past this, the tunnel continued, leading into the big room that Belphanior had blasted before. Oddly enough, none of the various monsters had shown up yet. Alindyar: Perhaps those who survived our earlier attacks have gone somewhere else, to protect their queen or something like that. Halbarad: Makes sense. Belphanior: Let's get out of this area and explore some other part of the caves, before they all come back. Peyote: Good plan. (they move through the big cave, and find a new tunnel heading north at an odd angle.) Mongo: (to DM) I examine the boards holding up the ceiling. Halbarad: Shall we take the north passage? Mongo: Let's do it. But I have an idea. Why don't we block it off, to avoid critters attacking from our back? Ged: Sounds good to me. How will we do that, though? Mongo: This stonework is shoddy. I think I could collapse it with a few seconds of destructive mining. Peldor: How about this: I'll scout ahead, with someone else, and if it looks like there's a big complex that way, we'll go ahead and trash the tunnel, and go north. Ged: Damn. I'm impressed. You have a good idea there. Alindyar: Truly. Peldor: It's about time you all began to appreciate the talents of the future prince of thieves...(leaves with Belphanior, to scout the tunnel) Ged: Prince of thieves. Hah! Soon, the thieves (thief, as far as the rest of them knew) came back, reporting a number of forkings in the passage. Mongo: That's all I needed to hear. Go on up the passage, I'll cave it in. (they do so, then he goes to work, with much noise and dust) Ged: His mining talents _do_ come in handy occasionally. Halbarad: His battle skills are more useful, though. Mongo: (wanders out of the cloud of dirt and grit he has created) Hah! I love the smell of dust! The party moved on, shortly finding a fork in the tunnel. They chose to go left, and the smell of sewer decay soon pervaded their nostrils. A short stair lay ahead...Belphanior and Halbarad scouted on, up the stairs. At the top, they saw a room containing some slave cages (occupied) and some humans and orcs apparently inspecting the slaves. The pair of adventurers retreated down the stairway and back into the tunnel, briefing the others on the situation. It was soon agreed to have the mages prepare certain spells, while the warrior types carried out a frontal assault on the room. The spell-users would serve as a second line of attack if need be. Peldor's function in the attack was uncertain. So decided, the band invaded the slave pens... next time: Slaves and slavers galore; the Slave Lord ************************************************************************ NOTES: Halbarad sure had a mean streak there. He tended to get that way when orcs were concerned. It should be obvious where boring and/or mindless encounters were briefly summarized, for the sake of getting this story done more quickly. You can probably pick out the places where the party did the unexpected, too... ************************************************************************ ***** * * The 8 player characters contained in this writing are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. * The dungeons and non-player characters contained herein are from * TSR's module, A1, and are copyright 1980 by TSR, Inc. Although * they are reprinted after a fashion in this story writeup, they * are not being used for profit or personal gain in any way. In * this spirit, verbatim text and maps from the module have been * avoided. I would encourage anyone who does not own the Slaver * series, that is, TSR modules A1-A4, to buy them, as much more * enjoyment will come from actually playing them rather than from * reading about one party's experiences within. * ***** ----------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 5th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 4th/3rd/4th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 4th/4th level grey elf priest/mage (NG) Halbarad, 5th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 5th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 6th level human thief (N) Peyote, 4th/4th level half-elf fighter/druid (N) Rob, 6th level human priest (LG) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- XIX. The Slave Lord's Den The party is moving to attack a room full of slavers and slaves. That is, they plan to attack the slavers, and free the slaves... Area attacks or spells were out, since the slaves were exposed through the bars of their cells and might get hurt. Mongo: (crouching near the top of the stairs into this chamber) Halbarad: (gives the signal, when the humans and orcs turn to look at a slave and have most of their backs to the party's location) Belphanior: (slips out into the room, stalking the slavers) Peldor: (also slips in that direction) slave inside cage: (gapes at the thieves) Peldor: (holds one finger in front of his mouth) shh. Halbarad: (poised) Peyote: (poised) Mongo: (crouching. Dwarves are generally too clumsy to poise.) Ged: (realizes that he is out of offensive mage spells, and thus stays back) Alindyar: (preparing a spell) Rob: (unsure of the best thing to do) Belphanior: (sneaking up; Peldor is nowhere to be seen) orc: (spots Belphanior) Hey! Intruders! All Slavers: (whirl about, and begin yelling and drawing weapons with obvious intent to attack) Belphanior: I love it when a plan comes together! (charges into melee) Belphanior: (slashes an orc, killing it) Die, scum! Hah hah! Halbarad: (rushes to meet one of the humans, a female warrior) Mongo: (tosses hammer at one of the other humans, sure to get a hit in such close quarters) Damn bastards. Peyote: (charges toward Halbarad) Doom comes, slaver-dudes! Ged: (to the drow) Go on up there and cast your spell. I'll cover you in case any of them get past our meat-grinders and head this way. (hefts his morningstar meaningfully) Alindyar: My thanks, fellow mage. I wonder which of our many opponents would make the best target...hm. That one seems to be a mage. Rob: Gee, I'll help too! (grabs his mace and dashes toward combat) Ged: No, you idiot...! Halbarad: (slashes the woman warrior, inflicting mighty damage) man: (a merchant-type, hit by Mongo's hammer, crushed instantly) Peyote: (chops an orc in half) Take that, mongrel! woman warrior: (swings at Halbarad with her battle axe, but the ranger deftly avoids the chop) Surrender now! We will spare you! woman warrior: Never, scum! Mongo: (catches the returning hammer) Okay, who's next? orc: (realizes that his crossbow isn't useful at this close range and stabs at Peyote with his spear, grazing the half-elf's side) orc: (stabs at Peyote, but misses) orc: (stabs at Belphanior, wounding him slightly) man: (a mage-type, casts magical missiles, one at Belphanior, one at Halbarad, one at Peyote) We are outclassed! (shouting at one of the orcs) Bring more help! orc: (farthest from the battle) Yup! (flees toward the rear of the room) Peldor: (busy picking the locks to the cell doors of the hardiest- looking slaves) Alindyar: (moving around the cells with Ged) At last, a clear shot! (casts dispel magic in the area of the mage) DM: (rolling dice) Mage: Damn! Alindyar: That should put a kink in his plans... woman warrior: (scores a cut on Halbarad with her second attack) Halbarad: Ouch! Damn it all! Rob: (has realized that he has nobody to melee, since the ten-foot wide space between the cell blocks is sort of filled by the three party warriors) Well...hey! (starts talking to the nearest caged slave, preaching the faith of Trithereon) slave: (listening, as he isn't in a position to do much else) Halbarad: (chops and stabs the woman once more, hitting with both attacks) woman warrior: Agh! You'll pay for that, pig! Peyote: (kills another orc) Belphanior: (kills the last orc, excepting he who fled) Hah! This is great! (spots the mage trying to cast some spell) You're next, chickenshit! Mage: (tries to work faster) slave: (freed by Peldor) Thanks, friend. Peldor: No problem. Here, can you use this dagger? slave: Oh yeah. Peldor: Good. Then do me a favor and kill any slaver or orc that you see. Protect my back while I free some more slaves. slave: (grins) Okay, you got it. Alindyar: This is utter chaos. Ged: Here's the rear of the cages...oh look. An orc. orc: (charges at the mages) Die elves! Ged: (swings his morningstar and hits the skinny orc, killing it) Boccob's fist swings! Boccob's fist crushes! Doom to evil! Alindyar: Let's head for the back of the slaver's ranks there. At this point, the focus of melee in the center of the two rows of cells looked something like this: .................................... Hal -><- W.W. Pey -> Mage <- Ali x <--dead orc who was going for help * Bel -> <- Ged .................................... ^ | Mongo Mage: (realizes that he is being outflanked) Agh! Mongo: (his hammer hits the mage just then, on a natural 20) Yes! Mage: (mashed halfway through the cell bars, expires) Ugh... Mongo: We need to find some more slavers! (stalks off across the room) Alindyar: I shall save my spell. The only opponent remaining is now covered by all three of the warriors. Ged: Maybe we should let her surrender. Halbarad: Surrender, woman! We have no wish to harm you! Belphanior: Really! Heh heh. (to DM) I go for a backstab. Peyote: (stabs the slaver) warrior woman: I shall never surrender to the likes of you! (hits Peyote with a critical hit, causing a massive wound and stunning the half-elf) Halbarad: (chops her down) I am truly sorry then. Belphanior: I'm not. Heh. Alindyar: (with Peldor, searching the bodies of the three humans) What is this? (holds up a paper) I have found a map! Peldor: (pockets a few large gems, then displays others) Gems! These are worth thousands in gold! We're RICH! Ged: Give those over, thief. Halbarad: (finds a neat-looking gem among the woman's possessions) This gem looks to be magical, I would guess. Peldor: (searching the mage; others are helping) Look! (finds bracers and an odd ring) Ged: We can cast a spell of magic detection on this stuff later. Peyote: Cool. Alindyar: (studying the map) This parchment plots the course of the slavers' caravan... Halbarad: Retain it then, for we may need it in the future. slave: Uh...I have some training as a warrior. I will join your group, if you want. Halbarad: That's okay. Why don't you stay with these other freed slaves and lead them out? Follow us at a distance, to keep out of whatever trouble we may find. If you are accosted by slavers, fight if they are less in number. Otherwise, you can plead insanity and surrender... slave: Okay. (rounds up the other slaves) The party rested, bound wounds, and drank what healing potions they had left. Peyote still had a few curative spells, but he wanted to save them for truly dire circumstances. There were a couple of closets adjoning the room; these contained neatly piled ropes, clothes, food, irons, etc. They found a passage going underneath the stairway up, beyond which was some kind of machine room. An insect man like those found earlier was lording it over some slaves, but attacked the party when they entered. The party warriors moved to do battle with the outnumbered bug-man, and the combat was greatly facilitated by the attacks of the slaves on their overseer. Mongo and one slave were slightly wounded, and Alindyar gave the slave a sip from his potion of healing. The group told the slaves to follow them along with the others, and they moved up the stairs, finding a door. No sounds could be heard, so they opened it and ran into another insect man. He then charged at the party, swords drawn, but they quickly made mincemeat out of him. A slit in the wall showed a nearby room, with narrow beams forming the only walkway through that chamber. There were trap doors that were hanging open. Below were many fairly deep pits, empty. One exit was visible across the network of beams, while another was near the adventurers' current location (this way did not require the crossing of the beams and led in the opposite direction). As no slaves or slavers were visible in or over these slave pits, the party chose to go the easy way, bearing east through a long corridor. When they were about fifty feet down this passage, a pair of insect men (Alindyar was calling them "aspis" by this time) charged from the room of pits toward the party. The band of slaves was still in the last room, and apparently the party was of greater priority than the slaves. DM: Apparently the party is of greater priority than the slaves, for the aspis charge you. Belphanior: Fifty feet, eh? I waste no time in blasting them with a lightning bolt from my staff. Alindyar: Use that energy sparingly, for it will run out at some point... Mongo: Wait! I want to fight them! (makes for the aspis) Belphanior: Here it comes, Mongo. Duck or fry! Mongo: (stops, drops to the ground) Damn it all! Belphanior: (fires the lightning down the hall, destroying the two aspis and collapsing a section of the hallway) Peyote: Major overkill, dude. Mongo: Hey, man, watch where you point that thing! Ged: Great! Just great! You idiot! Now we can't retreat back the way we came! Belphanior: Uh...well, then, we'll just have to be careful ahead. Ged: And lucky. Very lucky. Stop blasting everything you see and use some discretion for once! Belphanior: (meekly) Gee, sorry. I'll _never_ do it again. Halbarad: Enough of this nonsense. Mongo, Peyote, and I will lead the party. Belphanior, stay in the second rank and cast spells or something, okay? Belphanior: Check. DM: The slaves still follow you at a distance. They look spooked. Peldor: Let's find out what's down those stairs up ahead. Belphanior: (detects for traps, finds none, backs into the second rank) DM: (knows that he failed to find it) Mongo: (opens the door...the stairs suddenly become a ramp, causing EVERYBODY to slide down thirty or forty feet into some chamber, except all the slaves, who hang back.) Halbarad: @#%$&*! Mongo: Oops... Peyote: Whoa man! Belphanior: Oh shiiiiit!!! Ged: Boccob damn it! Peldor: Uh-oh. Rob: Wheeeeeee! Alindyar: This does not bode well for us... They all landed in a circular room. The main floor was about thirty feet in diameter, separated from a three-foot wide outer ledge by a ten-foot wide moat of sewage. Narrow bridges of stone crossed the moat to the north, east, and south; the stairs/ramp were to the west. There were a table and chair in an alcove to the east, beyond that bridge; a man sat there watching the party. Many crates and boxes were stacked around him; some large, furry animals surrounded him as well. A number of orcs, armed with crossbows circled the room, standing on the ledge. Man: Go get them. (the weasels run for the party) orcs: (begins to spread out, some defending the three bridges which are the only way out of the central platform) Peldor: (notices the door shut behind the party) The shit has hit the fan guys... giant weasels: (headed for the party, closing fast) Mongo: (moves to intercept them, with Halbarad and Peyote) Belphanior: (begins spellcasting) Peldor: (ready for action, awaiting an opportunity) Ged: (out of useful spells, grabs his morningstar and braces himself for combat, backing up Peyote) Rob: (begins casting the spell on his scroll) Alindyar: (casting a spell) orcs: (aiming their crossbows) Man on other side: (sips a potion; nobody notices this, as they are sort of preoccupied) weasel#1: (bites Mongo, but bounces off his plate mail) weasel#2: (bites Halbarad, locking its jaws onto him) weasel#3: (bites at Peyote, but misses) weasel#4: (bites at Mongo, locking onto his leg) weasel#5: (bites Halbarad) Belphanior: (casts a flaming sphere at the north ledge) Heh. Let's see you stay on the ledge with _that_ rolling around. orc: (ablaze) Aaaaaa! Rob: (sends a spiritual hammer at an orc on the south ledge) other orc: (fires a bolt at Ged, nicking him) Ged: Ouch! Halbarad: (chops at one of his weasels, wounding it) Damn! These animals are weasels, some of the most vicious animals there are! (tries to calm down the animals using his ranger skills, fails) And well trained... Peyote: (chops at one of the unoccupied weasels, killing it) Dude! Critical! orc: (shoots Peldor, wounding him) orc: (shoots at Alindyar, but misses) orc: (shoots at Rob, but misses) Rob: (bashes an orc with the magical hammer of force, knocking it off the ledge into the sewers below) orc: Aaaaa....(plop!) glub glub.. Ged: (hits a weasel, wounding it) Boccob's fist strikes! Let the unfaithful beware! Mongo: Fuck! Fuck! (smashes a weasel twice, killing it as it chomps on his armored leg) Damn animals! Peldor: ("backstabs" the weasel locked onto Halbarad, killing it easily) There! Peldor has aided the cause! Halbarad: Quiet, thief! Go find that weasel-master and get rid of him! Peldor: Good idea. (thinking about the treasure that he might find, heads for an edge of the center platform) Alindyar: (casts a wall of fog on the south ledge) orcs: Hey! Whassis?!?!? other orcs: (firing bolts at the party; Ged and Peldor are each hit once) Belphanior: (mentally rolls the flaming ball along the ledge, igniting another orc) Hah hah! I love it! weasel: (bites Mongo, locking on) Mongo: (smashes his attacker, wounding it) Little shits... weasel: (bites Halbarad, wounding him) orc: (fires a bolt at Belphanior, wounding him) Yah! Belphanior: Damn! (loses concentration; the flaming sphere rolls into a third victim and then falls into the sewers, burning out) Mongo: Great smell. Phew! other orc: (also hits Belphanior with a bolt) Belphanior: What in the hell do I look like, a pincushion? (the elf sheaths his sword and draws his bow) Halbarad: (chops and stabs his weasel, slaying it) Rob: (withdraws his spiritual hammer from the drow's fog and uses it to slam another orc, crushing it against a wall) Peyote: (slices at the last weasel but misses) Yikes! weasel: (bites Peyote, locking onto him) Grr. Ged: Boccob is back! (smashes the weasel on Peyote, injuring it) Peldor: (leaps the sewer moat - he has the jumping proficiency as well as a high Dexterity) Now where is that guy we saw? orc: (shoots Alindyar with a bolt, hitting him and ruining his spell) Har! Alindyar: Ruined! Damn their bones! orc: (shoots Ged again, hitting him) Belphanior: (shoots some orc with an arrow, killing it) Peldor: (wandering around in the alcove area) Come out, come out, wherever you are! Man: (invisible, going for a backstab) Peldor: (hears him and whirls about, only taking a slight cut) Now that wasn't very nice! (draws his sword) Man: (turns visible) Quiet, fool! (melee between the two thieves is underway) weasel: (sucks blood from Peyote) Peyote: A desperate situation! This is definitely a desperate situation! (pulls out the wand of wonder and aims it at the two orcs on the eastern bridge) Halbarad: No! Oh, no! Peyote: (activates the wand) Too late... two orcs: (shriek as leaves grow all over their bodies) Halbarad: (trots over and dispatches the weasel on Peyote) You got lucky, you know. Peyote: The powers of nature are at work here. Obad-hai would be pleased. Mongo: (looking around, tosses his hammer at an orc on a ledge, splattering it all over the place) Who's Obad-hai? Peyote: Obad-Hai - He of the Forests. Mongo: Oh. Of course. How could I have been so stupid? Ged: (attacks one of the leafy orcs) Boccob's anger is here for you, green ones! Plenty to go around, too! orc: (hit, killed) Ged: Yes! Let the unbeliever beware! Peyote: Speaking of the unbeliever, where's Peldor? Halbarad: He went across the moat, I think. Belphanior: (feathers another orc, slaying it) Rob: (his hammer bashes the last orc, knocking it into a wall and leaving it crushed and lifeless) Peldor: (slashes his opponent) In Hell, you may tell them that Peldor sent you! Man: Never! You will be there first! (hits Peldor) Ha! See? Peldor: (slices the other thief) I, and only I, will be king of thieves! Man: What in the world are you talking about?!? (misses Peldor) Shut the hell up, your foolish prattle distracts me! Mongo: They sure do love to yak, don't they? Ged: What else can one expect of idiotic thieves? Peyote: (cures light wounds on Halbarad, who needs it the most) Peldor: (slashes him again) Good. Rob: Go Peldor!! Peyote: Rah rah! Mongo: I'm gonna bean that thief in a second! Ged: Which one? Man: (stabs Peldor) Peldor: (misses his opponent) Man: (nicks Peldor. Worried now, he goes for another sip of his potion of invisibility) Mongo: (tosses hammer, hitting the thief's hand and shattering the potion bottle) Heh! Don't be cheating, now! Peyote: (headed across the bridge, with Halbarad, in case Peldor loses) Peldor: (gets initiative, stabs the other thief, killing him) So it is that Peldor advances another rank in the world. Ugh. (collapses from loss of blood) help me, somebody... Peyote: (casts his last minor healing spell on Peldor) That's it. My magic is done for the day. What's this? (confiscates a ring from the dead thief's hand) The party bound their (numerous) wounds; everyone had suffered at least two, except Rob, who miraculously didn't get hit by even a single bolt. Then they searched the boxes and crates, finding some slaving gear and food. One crate had some jewelry items in it, which Alindyar put into his bag of holding. There was a pile of papers on the table, detailing slaver activities in the area. One was a map like that found before. Near the alcove, Peldor found a ladder going up. The party took this, finding that it led up to a familiar dirt tunnel...the slaves had been recovered and now followed again, huddled in a group at the rear of the party; Belphanior walked with them for their own protection. Soon afterward, they reached some crude stairs going up. The band emerged into a crypt, and exited it to find an old cemetery. Ged: (detecting for evil) Whoa! Stay on the path, and let's get out of this place quick! Mongo: What? Why? Peyote: Just go. I sense it too. (they follow a path to a door and open it, finding themselves in the old temple passages once more.) Hey, we've been this way before... Rob: (communing with his god) mmmmmmmmm... Belphanior: What's that fool up to now? Alindyar: Who could possibly know? Mongo: Who cares? Rob: (coming out of his trance) Trithereon has spoken. There are no more slaves under the ground. Belphanior: Sounds like somebody is trying to tell us something. (gets a torch and many flasks of oil) Heh heh. Halbarad: What are you doing? Belphanior: (spreads the oil here and there) Well, since we are done here, I'm just making sure that no one else will ever use this place again. Ged: For once, I agree with him. (starts getting his own oil) Peyote: Hot oil party! Rob: Oh no, not that! Peldor: Where are the women? Ged: What about the evil ones still left underground? Belphanior: What _about_ them? Halbarad: (runs with Mongo to collect the other slaves that they left up here) Peyote: (opens the portculli, both of them) The party left the temple aflame. There wasn't much wood to burn, but what there was of it burned well, thanks to the dozen strategically placed flasks of oil. Halbarad: Too much trouble to return to Ulek. Let's just get some more supplies, and new horses, and follow these maps of the slave caravans. We can send the slaves off to the west after arming and armoring them. They can surely make it. Ged: Sounds good. We need provisions. Belphanior: Yeah. I need to get more oil. LOTS more oil. For next time. Peldor: Here's to next time (drinks from a flask of wine) THE MAGIC LOOT (such as it was): potion of fire resistance - Halbarad ring (from sundew room) - Belphanior mace +1 - Rob potion of speed - Mongo bracers (from mage) - Alindyar ring of ? (from mage) - Ged magical gem - Peldor ring of protection - Peyote next time: A2! More slavers! ************************************************************************ NOTES: The other modules need to take up less than four postings. I hope I can write them up more efficiently than I did this one. Also, sometimes there is the need for training on the fly, and such things. I let them get their new levels between A1 and A2, to help later. Highport had evil mages and priests of no small power, and an evil mage is still a mage; he can teach others new spells. I had no compunctions about letting the party gain levels overnight. Also, it seemed in order to get Belphanior's level restored...this cost almost all that the party had (and ALL of what the elf had) but it passed the vote and so was done. Now for some conventions for the future. If you've read this far, then you're no doubt already a fan of these postings. I have been somewhat riled by the anti-story postings in rec.games.frp lately. Of course, there has been at least one person per author that has expressed discontent for that author's writings. Tastes vary... I am not going to stop posting, because I think that many more people read these than complain about them. As far as I am concerned my stories are my sole creative outlet, and by now I have decided that this is the way I want to write them. If I want to write "real" fiction, I will start another series (one much better proofread than these are) that I feel will be truly worthy of a novel. But that will come later. First I wish to complete the chronicle of the Adventurers. I anticipate this to take quite a while, so if you really like these stories, relax, they're not going away anytime soon. I am going to start making each posting as close to 15K as I can. That way, they won't be too long for easy reading, and also, I can get more postings out of a given adventure. Also, I am going to try to post every Sunday night. If I post more frequently, so be it, but Sunday night is the official Adventurers posting time. There will _always_ be a new episode posted Sunday night, unless Ga Tech's entire network goes down... Happy trails. ************************************************************************ ***** * * The 8 player characters contained in this writing are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. * The dungeons and non-player characters contained herein are from * TSR's module, A2, and are copyright 1980 by TSR, Inc. Although * they are reprinted after a fashion in this story writeup, they * are not being used for profit or personal gain in any way. In * this spirit, verbatim text and maps from the module have been * avoided. I would encourage anyone who does not own the Slaver * series, that is, TSR modules A1-A4, to buy them, as much more * enjoyment will come from actually playing them rather than from * reading about one party's experiences within. * ***** ----------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 6th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 4th/4rd/5th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 5th/5th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 6th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 6th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 7th level human thief (N) Peyote, 5th/5th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rob, 6th level human priest of Trithereon (LG) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- XX. The Slavers' Fort The party recently plodded through the Slavers' outpost in the city of Highport. They managed to find some maps and documents which led them into the Drachensgrab Hills. After fending off some wolves and a pack of ghouls over the course of several days, the group came upon an old fort. From brief discussions with others on the road, they heard that the fort was a way station for caravans...but the papers they had found told differently. The fort was actually a cover for the slaving operation. Or was it? Ged: I seriously doubt that the slavers' operation was confined to that temple in the city. There's got to be more to it than just an orcish temple and one slimy thief. Peldor: I agree. That guy didn't seem capable of running the whole thing all by himself. Halbarad: And certainly no one meant for those documents to fall into _our_ hands... Mongo: Well, let's go in and kick some more ass! Peyote: Them's fightin' words, pardner. Belphanior: Let's invade the fort. After all, we're 2 for 2. Alindyar: I say we wait until dark and then scout the place. Halbarad: Seems sensible to me. Rob: Sense? The party waited until nightfall (actually long after), and Peldor and Belphanior went in for a closer look. They found that there was a deep ditch surrounding the fort, and climbed down inside it. After walking around the whole length of the ditch, they spotted some sort of crude rope hanging down from the curtain wall to the north of the fort. The rope looked like it went up to the second floor. Peldor found that he could actually get to the rope without having to leave the shadows. The two thieves decided that this was the best way in and went back to inform the others. Belphanior: The top wall has guards here and there. They would most likely spot us if we all tried to climb the wall. Peldor: But we are happy to report that there is a rope hanging down from a higher floor, at one point. It seems to have gone unnoticed by anybody, and felt pretty strong. Ged: Rubbish! Nobody would leave a rope just hanging down for us to climb up! Halbarad: Maybe they're orcs. Orcs are pretty stupid, you know. Alindyar: So you wish to have us all climb up this rope? Belphanior: Well...yeah, sort of. Peyote: Way dangerous, dude. Peldor: What's the matter? Can't you climb a rope? Rob: Climb? I don't know if I can do it guys. Ged: Maybe you'll fall. Then _I'll_ have to turn all the undead. Belphanior: Hey guys, I can always start shooting guards on the wall. Halbarad: Let's climb. They have no reason to suspect we are coming here... Ged: You don't call that burning temple back in Highport a reason? Belphanior: (to Peldor) Nah. Couldn't be. Rob: Burning? Fire? Did we do that? Halbarad: ...and in any case, no one would leave a rope there like that. Even a dim-witted thief would have pulled it back up. There is no reason to leave it. I say we go up. Belphanior: Second! Peyote: It's too dangerous, man. Alindyar: Logic says that we should ascend. Rob: Logic? Mongo: Logic? What use is that? Let's go free some slaves! Ged: I think it's a stupid plan, but I'll go along with it anyway. The party stalked along the ditch, and found the rope. Peldor went up first, and Alindyar went last (he had a spell all but ready to go at the first sign of trouble). Shortly, everybody was up and through the window without incident. They found themselves in a dusty passage with a door at one end. Arrow slits every ten feet or so exposed the hallway to pale shafts of moonlight. Belphanior: Say, there sure are a lot of cobwebs in here. Alindyar: Verily. It would seem that no one has used this area in quite some time. Peldor: Maybe some thief came through and murdered them all. I'll check that door. Rob: (walks into some webs and gets them all over his face) Aaaa. Mongo: I'm too short to hit any of those cobwebs. I'll check for monsters hiding in the rafters instead. Ged: Look. Someone walked through here barefoot, from the door to the window. Maybe it was whoever made that rope. Peyote: Maybe. Who knows? (to DM) I keep an eye out for ambushing spiders. Also I watch Peldor. Halbarad: Keep the noise down. Somebody might hear us. Rob: Or see us. Belphanior: Or smell us. Ged: (looking around) I get a vague feeling of uneasiness from this room... Peyote: Hmm. Yeah, man, you're right. Rob: Me too. I wonder what it is. Alindyar: Mayhap the place is haunted. Belphanior: (muttering to himself) Stupid priests. Scared of the dark. Peldor: (hears no noise, finds no trap, opens the door) Hey, guys, there's another room over here. Ged: We might have guessed that, if you hadn't spoiled it for us. Peyote: (sauntering into the room) More exits! We'll be lost in no time! Peldor: Not with Peldor to scout the way! Rob: Look, guys. Stairs! Peyote: Wow... Halbarad: Stairs up and down, and a door. Let us go up. Peldor: Shh! I hear noises. (cocks an ear) From above! Not too load, though. Sounds like someone's walking around up there. Belphanior: Much as I hate to say it, maybe we should avoid setting off an alarm here. (voices are lowered to a whisper; no one seems to be coming down, though.) Ged: Good advice. Mongo: What about down? Let's go down the stairs. Halbarad: I can't see anything down there through these windows. Peldor: Looks like a courtyard. But there's a door at the bottom of this stairway. Rob: Let's go down there. (the party proceeds to do so) DM: (rolling dice) Someone set off a trap...it was Mongo. Ged: Thanks a lot, dwarf! Mongo: Hey! Wasn't my fault! Rob: (hit by something heavy that fell and broke over his head) Ugh. DM: A blinding flash happens, followed by the sound of tinkling glass. None of you can see, as your eyes are dazzled for now. Ged: Hey, no fair. Halbarad: #&$*%@! Rob: (dazed) I'm dazed. Peyote: Dazed and confused. Even my infravision won't help here, I guess. Who's in the lead? Mongo: That'd be me...I feel for the wall and grope my way down the rest of the stairs. Rob: I move on down the stairs too. DM: ?! Can you really see that well with your eyes blinded? Rob: Sure. It's just like walking around in the dark! DM: Oh yeah? Roll your Dex or less, Rob. Rob: (rolls a 19) Oops. (slips and falls, knocking Halbarad, Peyote, and Mongo down to the bottom of the stairs with him. All four suffer some bruises, and the old door almost cracks open with the weight.) Mongo: Good going... Rob: Sorry. Peldor: I'm glad _I_ wasn't in the front... Alindyar: I am at the rear of the party. Good. I carefully sit down and wait for my sight to return. I also find my wand of magic missiles and hold it at the ready in case any noises come from the top of the stairway. Eventually they untangled themselves and unlatched the door, but not for a few minutes (their vision returned shortly). The cause of the slipping and sliding was revealed to be thousands of marbles which has been released from the glass bulb which hit Rob. An open courtyard was indeed below, its earthen ground covered with bits of trash. There was a curtain wall, complete with drawbridge and portcullis, to the north. A huge gatehouse stood to the south of the courtyard. A tunnel led into the gatehouse, but a muddy patch of disturbed ground blocked the way. The portcullis was almost all of the way down. Mongo: I smell shit. Ged: Maybe Rob did it, when he fell down the stairs. Belphanior: Maybe that patch isn't mud after all... Rob: I could go investigate it. Halbarad: Stay where you are. We'll search the courtyard. Keep your voices down, too. There are guards about. Let's search for other ways out. Or in. Peldor: You bet I will. (wanders away to the east, skirting the patch of whatever) Peyote: (searching the west area) I hear the crickets chirping... Ged: Maybe you should try and talk to them. Peyote: Hey! Not a bad idea. Thanks! Peldor found a small room to the east that had winches, presumably for the gates to the north. No one else found anything at all. The adventurers regrouped, and stepped out carefully into the mud. Mongo: Okay, okay. I'll go first. (steps out) Uh... Halbarad: It's filling my boots. Peyote: Gross. Well, at least it's not like we didn't stink already. DM: Yeah. When was the last time anyone took a bath? All: err... Rob: (gingerly enters the mud) Yuck. Mongo: I'm sunken in! Up to my thighs! I'll drown for sure! Belphanior: That's what you get for being short. (to DM) I wind up behind Rob in the line, and push him into the mud when feasible. Ged: I refuse to walk through that. (digs out his stone figurine and waves it about, chanting quietly. Within moments, a stony horse has materialized, and the elf mounts it and heads for the muck.) Hah. Boccob smiles upon his faithful. Alindyar: (unrolls his flying carpet) I, too, have no desire to wade into the deep mud. My spellbooks would be ruined. Belphanior: You guys are wimps. _My_ spellbook is inside of its very own waterproof bag. Ged: Well aren't YOU special. Peldor: (manages to talk Alindyar into letting him ride on the carpet too) Peldor always travels in style. Belphanior: (preparing to push Rob down into the mud) Suddenly, the crickets were chirping no more. Those in the lead just had time to draw their weapons, and then a giant, chitinous worm-like form erupted from the mud, spraying several adventurers with smelly brown slop. Mongo: We are under attack! (raises his hammer high) next time: The element of suprise is finally lost... ************************************************************************ NOTES: I find it odd that whoever wrote A2 could only think of one way to get the party into the fort. This party had several ideas, none of them feasible (for me to DM, anyway) so I used the rope. They had never had the chance to talk to the escaped slave who made and used that rope. A lot of slaves seemed to escape the Slave Lords early on. The reason that the party could spill a million marbles and not get caught has to do with the area of curtain wall they entered through. The humanoid guards knew that portions of the wall were haunted...at times in the past some of them had been killed within. Thus, any and all noises coming from the second floor were ignored by those on the third. Just another part of the "only one way in" trend, I suppose. The party wanted to get to the heart of the fort as soon as possible, so they didn't tarry in unnecessary combat early on. This posting is a mere 12K or so long. I am going to make shorter segments (no more 30K+ postings for now) and maybe release them more often. I like using the serial/cliffhanger approach. Hopefully the 30th episode will happen within module A4 (the best of the bunch in my opinion). ************************************************************************ ***** * * The 8 player characters contained in this writing are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. * The dungeons and non-player characters contained herein are from * TSR's module, A2, and are copyright 1980 by TSR, Inc. Although * they are reprinted after a fashion in this story writeup, they * are not being used for profit or personal gain in any way. In * this spirit, verbatim text and maps from the module have been * avoided. I would encourage anyone who does not own the Slaver * series, that is, TSR modules A1-A4, to buy them, as much more * enjoyment will come from actually playing them rather than from * reading about one party's experiences within. * ***** ----------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 6th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 4th/4rd/5th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 5th/5th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 6th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 6th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 7th level human thief (N) Peyote, 5th/5th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rob, 6th level human priest of Trithereon (LG) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- XXI. A Commotion of Sorts The party was trudging through a mud patch in the middle of the night when a large worm-like beastie burst forth and attacked... Rob: (hit in the face by mud) Augh! Ptui! Halbarad: Hark! Monster! (to DM) I charge...err, plod toward the thing. Ged: (splashed by mud from the monster's emergence) Damn! Belphanior: (bares his sword and moves to the combat) Rob: (draws his mace and moves in) I can help... Peyote: Dude. That's one big worm! (moves in on it) Peldor: (on the flying carpet with Alindyar) Hmm. Good thing we decided to stay up here. (hurls a dagger at the opponent) Alindyar: (readying a spell) I much prefer combat from such a wonderful vantage point as this. Ged: (finding that it's hard to dig through a muddy backpack with much grace) Boccob damn it all! (muttering) Now where in the Hells did I put those material components anyway? Mongo: Shit! This plate mail I'm wearing isn't helping here. Good thing that I don't need to close with the monster to fight it... Anhkheg: (shrieks, and chomps Halbarad) Halbarad: Aaaugh! I am bitten! (hurled aside by the thing) Belphanior: Take this, burrower of shit. (slashes the worm, dealing it a grievious wound) Haha! Rob: Yes, take this too! (swings but misses with his own weapon) Peyote: For Halbarad! (hacks the worm with his bastard sword, chopping off a portion of its head) Yeah! Mongo: (hurls his hammer at the monster, crushing its skull with a sickening wet sound...) Yah! Again I am victor! Rob: I thought your name was Mongo. Belphanior: (casually trips Rob) Rob: (slips and falls into the mud) Whoops! Glub glub... Ged: That wasn't nice at all. Boccob frowns upon such as you. Belphanior: Heh heh. Let him frown then. Heh. Stupid priest. Mongo: (chuckling, catches his hammer) Anhkheg: (thrashing about in death throes) rrrrr Alindyar: I see that I don't have to expend any magical energy. Just as well. There may be some better use for it in the near future, anyhow. Methinks we made too much noise here. Peldor: Hey, let's fly over the gate instead of under it. That looks like a courtyard beyond anyway. We'll wait for them there. Alindyar: An intriguing idea. Let us go. (they do, flying off into the wild black yonder) Halbarad: (pulling himself out of the mud, at the far side of the patch) @$^#%&*! Here is a portcullis, wedged open. Shall we go for it? (the others on foot come through the mud) Peyote: (wiping brown mud from his armor) Let's. Anhkheg: (dying) rrrrrRR... Belphanior: That thing sure is taking its time dying. Ged: (robes coated with slimy mud) Damn. I'm a royal mess now. The holy vestments have been soiled. Belphanior: You pissed in your pants?!?!? Ged: Hardly, fool! It's this cursed slop. Oh well. I can always have some new clothes made later. (dismounts from his stone horse after crossing the mud.) Rob: Mud doesn't taste good at all. Ptui! Belphanior: Any better than acid, Rob? Haha.. Rob: Not really. Oof! (can't lift the gate up) This is heavy. Mongo: Gimme that gate. (raises the old iron gate slowly, using his powerful stubby arms) Someone pull one of these crates over here to hold this sucker up. Halbarad: Done. Say, there sure is a lot of junk here. Anhkheg: (dies, emitting a loud, high keening) rrrrrRRRRRRRRR! Peyote: Uh-oh! Cries could be heard from the surrounding battlements. It seemed that the battle with the worm had caused a little too much commotion. Archers appeared on the ledges, their forms barely visible with the faint moonlight from the sky above. The once-quiet stockade was now filled with the noises of activity, and battle... Ged: Great! We've really done it now! Belphanior: It'll be okay. We've always got my staff, and Peyote's wand, and... Peyote: Aye! Wand of wonder! Wand of Wonder! Rob: The chant begins... Halbarad: Oh, no. No... Ged: That's just what we need. Make a bad situation worse still with idiotic magic weapons! (an arrow thunks into the ground near the grey elf) Damn! Mongo: (tosses his hammer at some shadowy figure on some shadowy wall) Let's get to cover! How about through that arch there? Halbarad: Sounds like a good plan at this point! (several arrows whiz by) The sooner the better!! Mongo: Yah! (runs for the dark tunnel going through to the just barely visible courtyard beyond, as an arrow bounces off of his plate mail) Peyote: Whoa! Let's book! The group headed for the supposed safety of the passage, which was more shelter from the growing hail of arrows than the mudpatch they had fought the worm in. They dashed in, skirting barrels, chests, bales of hay, and other convenient obstructions. A parade ground was visible beyond, then an archway appearing to go into the main keep area. There was no time for pause, though... Rob: (moving through the tunnel, something wet and sticky drips down onto him from above) What the...?! Halbarad: Ware! There are guards above! guard above: Die, intruders! (pours oil through a small, aptly named murder hole above the adventurers' heads, followed by a flaming brand) Hahahahahah! (the passage fills with flame and smoke, lighting the black tunnel) Belphanior: Bastard! (stabs his sword point upward into the narrow slit, possibly hitting the guard beyond) Halbarad: Let's get the hell into that courtyard! Is anybody on fire? Rob: Not me. Ged: Nor I. All this garbage in the passage is though. Quit blabbing and move! I have plans for the rest of my life, and being incinerated in some humanoids' fortress isn't going to help further them. Mongo: (bringing up the rear, since he had to catch his returning war hammer) Damn guards! Hey, move it up there! It's hot in here! Peyote: Miraculous. No one's aflame. Not even Rob. I don't believe it. (looks in disdain at his clothes, which are smoking) Aaa! Belphanior: We're smoldering in here! Halbarad: Truly. (emerges into the parade ground) Yie! (arrows are sailing all around this side of the tunnel) Where's that elf on the carpet?! We need air support! (an arrow nicks the ranger) Ouch! Peyote (also emerges, and surveys the situation) Say, we're pretty well lit here with the fire to our backs, dont'cha think?? Halbarad: Shut up. In the air... Alindyar: (up in the sky with Peldor, watching the business below) I think we are needed, rogue. Peldor: Aw, do we have to? It looks so much better from up here. Alindyar: Hold still there. (readying a spell) Peldor: Hey, what are you going to do? Alindyar: Just some obscurement...(casts a wall of fog near the party members on the ground, shielding them somewhat from arrow fire) That should hinder their fire a bit. Peldor: Get the bowmen! They're the real problem. Alindyar: I do not possess many offensive spells, human. My strengths lie in subtlety and concealment magic. Peldor: I can relate to that. Well, do something! They have nowhere to run down there! Alindyar: Well, there is my newest incantation...hmm... On the ground... Halbarad: (on the ground, with the others) Fog! Those in the air are with us! Rob: (peering into the air) I don't see them anywhere. Halbarad: They are with us, boy. Peyote: I wouldn't be too sure of that. Peldor might push the drow off the carpet and fly away. Ged: He'd better not. I'll make him pay for that myself if he does. Belphanior: I don't know about you guys, but I'm heading for that archway into the main keep. Coming? Halbarad: Certainly. (they all start running for the arch, about sixty feet away. The fog helps, but they still get peppered with arrows) Orc's blood! Will we never be rid of these archers?! In the air... Alindyar: I wonder where the best location for this missile is? Peldor: I don't know. How powerful is it? Alindyar: Fairly. Maybe the main gate...? Peldor: Well, I- (hit in the leg by a feathered shaft) Ouch! Alindyar: (narrowly missed by another arrow or two) Those on the ledge there have spotted us. Peldor: Hit them then! Alindyar: Well, that second floor of the keep that they stand upon is made of wood, and 'tis a big target...(waves his hands) Almost on cue with Halbarad's last shouted question, there was a tremendous explosion. Not just measly, as with Ged's magic missiles, or powerful, as with Belphanior's flame spheres. No, this burst of magical energy was strong enough to shake the ground and momentarily blind and deafen all within the stockade. One moment, the upper portion of the keep was home to a dozen bow-wielding hobgoblins; the next, it was ablaze with a huge fireball. Tongues of flame licked out in all directions, and some spattered down onto the ground far below, as the party's most skilled mage worked his wizardry. Halbarad: Holy... Peyote: DUDE! Ged: Boccob's ears! What a blast! Rob: (watching globs of burning matter raining down all around) Mongo: The drow did that?! Wow! Belphanior: (thinking about the day when he, too, will be able to cast such a spell) Halbarad: Let's get into that keep! This part looks to be made of stone, it probably won't burn for some time. Ged: Hold on one moment. Let me get this right. You want us to follow you into the bottom of a burning keep? Belphanior: We won't ever get a chance to do something like this again. Peyote: You never know, with this group... Mongo: We can't go anywhere else, dammit! They're still firing arrows at us, in case you haven't noticed! Let's go in and fight slavers until the whole place burns to the ground! Halbarad: (to DM) What are the chances of running back the way we came? DM: Well, considering that you don't know the way out from here, and the gatehouse and curtain wall are swarming with guards, and the main fortress walls are as well, you'd probably be toast. Ged: Wonderful. Either way we go, we're screwed. Pincushions or toast. Mongo: I'm going in. Is anybody coming? Belphanior: I'm with you, friend. (they move toward some sort of inner courtyard to the south) Halbarad: I will go in as well. This is a matter of do or die now. Peyote: And I. But I'll use my wand as many times as I can before I am slain! (several more arrows land nearby, one in the half-elf's shoulder) Aaa! (flees southward) Rob: (looking at Ged) You know, I think this is a _fabulous_ chance for death in service to our dieties... Ged: I suppose we do stand a better chance in there than against all these arrows. (They go in. The burning keep floor above smokes away into the night sky, as the idiotic hobgoblins and other guards try in vain to put it out) in the air... Peldor: Good call. DAMN good call. Alindyar: Thank you. That was my single most destructive spell. Peldor: No kidding. Look, the party has fled indoors. Alindyar: No matter. We shall just sail down there and follow them. Peldor: Sail? Alindyar: (Guides the carpet downward, braving arrows and flaming debris. Once on the ground, they made a run for the inner courtyard, both taking an arrow in the process.) on the ground... Through the second arch was an enclosed courtyard, with small bushes and trees. A round stone fountain stood alone in its center, with some dirty water inside. Some wooden double doors were visible to the south, at the end of the courtyard, as the party dashed through this place. Mongo peered into the water as they passed by. Halbarad: (in the lead again) Head for those doors! Mongo: (noticing that the mud all over him has dried and restricts his free movement) Hey! I'm gonna use the fountain here for a second. Belphanior: Fine. We don't want to watch you go to the bathroom. Mongo: No, I'm rinsing mud away. Blub blub... Rob: (Also leaps into the fountain, then hops out, soaking wet) Hey! That water's cold! (shivering) Ged: Stupid moron. Peldor: Hey! (further back) We're back! Alindyar: Indeed. Let us get inside before it it too late. Halbarad: Beware! Something blocks the way at the doors! Belphanior: Not for long! (charges) Two giant apes bounded out from the trees, growling fiercely at the obvious dinner items in front of them. However, the adventurers were not really in the mood, and with the help of a warhammer, a bastard sword, a battle axe, and two longswords, soon the apes weren't either. Ged knock-ed open the thick wooden doors, and the group burst into the middle point of a long corridor going left and right. They then slammed the doors shut, re-barred them, visually secured their new surroundings, and set about binding and healing wounds. Soon, arrows and arrow fragments were scattered about the floor, but the party was now ready to go on. next time: The innards of the stockade; the dungeon below ************************************************************************ NOTES: The party had this thing about fire. I know not why, but they definitely had a high pyromaniac content. Alindyar found a quite practical use for his newly-gained spell, and Belphanior's player applauded him the whole way. As should be obvious above, I had to provide a push to get them into the keep. This is excusable, since the whole ground floor of the place was stone, not wood, and the arrow fire was fairly heavy. Ad-libs often were done, although the decision made wasn't always the best one. ************************************************************************ ***** * * The 8 player characters contained in this writing are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. * The dungeons and non-player characters contained herein are from * TSR's module, A2, and are copyright 1980 by TSR, Inc. Although * they are reprinted after a fashion in this story writeup, they * are not being used for profit or personal gain in any way. In * this spirit, verbatim text and maps from the module have been * avoided. I would encourage anyone who does not own the Slaver * series, that is, TSR modules A1-A4, to buy them, as much more * enjoyment will come from actually playing them rather than from * reading about one party's experiences within. * ***** ----------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 6th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 4th/4rd/5th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 5th/5th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 6th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 6th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 7th level human thief (N) Peyote, 5th/5th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rob, 6th level human priest of Trithereon (LG) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- XXII. Tricks and Traps After Alindyar decimated the upper level of the slavers' keep with a fireball, the party fled indoors. Alarms were being sounded all over the place, and distant cries of suprise and outrage could be heard from several directions. The adventurers very hastily bound wounds, healed, etc. and were soon ready to go on. They stood in the approximate center of a long corridor, and both ways featured a door at the end. They chose to go east, that is, to the left, and rushed down the corridor, eager to find a more secure location in case of mass attack. Mongo: (trotting along) Those apes were nothing! Are there any _real_ monsters around here? Ged: Have a care as to what you hope for, dwarf. We don't need to be attacked by anything else. Peyote: Really. Belphanior: I kinda thought the carnivorous apes were neat. I'd love to have a chance to see them go to work on some of these slavers we've been running into. Mongo: Yeah, that sure does sound like fun. What's this, an unlocked door? (opens it) Aaa! (holds his hammer up in defense) A low, rumbling noise was heard, as a huge grizzly bear bore down on the party from behind the door...cries of suprise were heard from all... Mongo: Oof! (buried under the bulk of the thing, and overborne) Halbarad: (manages to dodge to one side) An evil bear! (chops it with his axe) Can there _be_ such a thing? Peyote: Gnarly! (backs up and brandishes his bastard sword) Hold it right there, grizzly one! (to DM) Perhaps I should try to subdue it, or talk to it... Belphanior: (regarding the bear, notices that it isn't moving or attacking) Peyote: (prods the beast) Halbarad: (chops at the thing again) What's this? Have I slain the thing already? Belphanior: Heh heh. Look at it. It's not alive. It's a stuffed bear! Heh heh. Good idea. Wonder who put it there? Mongo: (buried) Oof! Augh! Somebody get this blasted thing OFF OF ME!!!! Halbarad: (abashedly) Oh. (lifts the bear off of Mongo, with the help of Peyote and Belphanior) Are you well, friend Mongo? Mongo: Hmph. As well as can be expected, with fat hairy monsters leaping at me. Belphanior: Uh, guys? This may seem like a dumb question, but where are the others?!? The four noticed that the rear half of the party - Ged, Alindyar, Rob, and Peldor - had disappeared into thin air! Halbarad: Good grief! This isn't helping our situation any. Belphanior: Where the hell did they go? They couldn't have run back the way we came, we'd still see them! Peyote: A chute? Teleportation?? Disintegration??? Mongo: Who knows? We'd better find them. (to DM) I check all the stone around - walls, floor, ceiling too if I could reach it. elsewhere... Ged: (suddenly falling) Damn! Damn it! Peldor: Shit, what happened? Who blew out all the torches? Rob: Aaaaa........ Alindyar: A trap...we have fallen into a trap. Ged: (landing on his rear hard) Ouch! Brilliant observation there. Rob: (he, and the rest, all land as well) Oop! Ouch. Peldor: (lights a torch) Hmm. We're in some kind of pit here. Alindyar: It looks to be about fifteen feet to the top. I wonder how the trap was triggered. Peldor: Last thing I remember was something coming out of that door that Mongo opened. Then - Whsst! (makes a sweeping motion with his hands) Here we are! Ged: Not for long. Let's find a way up to the top, and break out or something. Alindyar: No problem there. I still have my carpet of flying. (gets the carpet out, puts himself and Ged on it) Up. (the magical item rises, slightly too fast) Stop. Stop! (BUMP! Both elves hit their heads lightly on the ceiling.) Peldor: Ha ha. Ged: For crying out loud! Can't you control that thing?! Alindyar: It is under control once more. (taps on the ceiling with his wand) Rob: Hey, the ceiling sounds hollow! Ged: Just like your head. Hey, I hear noises from the other side. Alindyar: Someone is tapping. Let us hope it is our companions and not some accursed creature. above... Mongo: Hey! I hear something! Halbarad: Tapping... Belphanior: (readies sword and investigates the area beyond the door for attackers or guards) Hmm... Peyote: (starts tapping some song on the floor with his sword hilt) Mongo: (finds an iron spike and hammers it into the floor, and strings a rope through the spike) Help me pull this floor up! Halbarad: (helps. The two manage to displace the floor somewhat, and a pit beneath is visible, containing the missing ones.) Ged: Mongo! Boy am I glad to see your ugly face! Pull us out of here! Peyote: I'll help, he's got to hold the floor open. Sheesh. Eventually those below were brought above. At Peldor's insistence the trap was left "armed"... Peldor: To avoid nasty suprises from the rear. Standard safety measure for us thieves. Halbarad: (to Belphanior, in the next room) What have you found there? Belphanior: (comes back) Not much. Here's a ramp - this must have been what the stuffed bear was sitting on, until we came along. The room is a study, and contains some casks, a table, a woodpile for the fireplace, etc. I found a box of gold. Maybe they use it to pay off the humanoids...(presents the box, as the rest enter the room) Peyote: Cool. We'll add that gold to the loot sack. Mongo: Sure, I'll carry it. Geez. Peldor: (wondering how much gold the elf skimmed from the box first) Halbarad: (checking the north and south doors) The north door is locked securely. Mayhaps we should try the southern one. There is light underneath it. Belphanior: (in a good mood) Okay. But hang on for a second. (opens his pack, pulling out a handful of sharp, spiked things) Rob: What are those? Belphanior: Caltrops. They won't get to us without a few injuries... Go on, I'll get these in place. (the party moves on. The elf opens a jar of poison and carefully coats the spikes with it.) Heh heh. Halbarad: (wondering where the honor is in such tactics, but not too goddy-goody to miss the usefulness of the caltrops) Hmph. The southern door opened into a long corridor. A door was visible at the far end, and a mirror hung to the right a few feet away. Belphanior: A mirror! I wonder if it's a one-way mirror. (to DM) I make obscene gestures at the mirror. Ged: Stop playing around and rejoin the front rank, fool. Halbarad: No time for bickering. Look! At the far end of the corridor, a trio of figures were now visible. Their bandage-swathed bodies shambled down the corridor, mindlessly seeking out the party... Ged: Aaa! Mummies! Back, spawn of evil! (waves his holy symbol of Boccob in the air) mummies: (continue) uurrrrr... Ged: Damn. Damn things. (prepares a spell) Rob: Hey, I'll try! (dashes forth, before anyone can hold him back) Leave here at once, wrapped minions of chaos! mummies: (advancing on the priest) UURRRRR... Rob: Uh-oh! (pulls out his flail) Time for a fight. Mongo: Battle! Three rotting mummies won't stop the raw power of the last son of Clan Thunderhead! Peyote: Maybe they will. Watch it, these dudes are rancid. Mongo: Rancid, shmancid! (hurls hammer at the targets) Halbarad: (brandishes axe and moves to protect Rob) Stay put, priest. I shall meet these foes. Just then, there was a loud crash and tinkling of broken glass, and Mongo's hammer came back devoid of mummy ichor. The mummies vanished as if by magic, and the door was suddenly a bit closer. Alindyar: What madness is this?!? Mongo: What in the hell...? Rob: Teleporting undead. That's a new one on me. No wonder we couldn't turn them. Halbarad: Maybe they are invisible now. Watch yourselves. Almost at the same time, the mirror behind them, the one that had so briefly occupied Belphanior, slid aside, and a tribe of smelly, armed, and screaming humanoids rushed from a hidden room to attack the rear rank of the party. Halbarad: Hobgoblins! Quick, someone protect the mages! Ged: We can fend for ourselves. Usually. (wheels about and blasts the attacking hobgoblins with a sheet of flame from his hands) Ha! Eat flaming death, mangy dogs! The burning hand of Boccob strikes! hobgoblins: (several are crisped, others are injured by the burning hands spell) Aaaaagh! Eyaaah! Alindyar: Good move. (working on a spell) Ged: Thanks. (finds his morningstar and readies it) Peldor: (moves in toward some hobgoblin) You there. Give me all of your treasure and surrender. Pronto! hobgoblin: Die, intruder! (slashes Peldor for a minor wound) Peldor: (stabs the humanoid with a mighty thrust, downing it) The next foe - where is it? Do none dare to face the deadly blade of Peldor? hobgoblin: (approaches Alindyar cautiously) Alindyar: Boo! (casts a spook spell) hobgoblin: Aaaaa! (flees in sheer terror) Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa.....(gone) Ged: (beaned on the head by a sling bullet from a big hobgoblin) Ouch! Who did that? Oh. Halbarad: (trying to get to the rear to help with the hobgoblins, but also wondering about the door and the mummies and such things) Belphanior: (to DM) Since no one's paying any attention, I wander in the direction of that first door. If I see any mummies, I charge them. DM: Sure. Belphanior: (heads off to the south) Halbarad: What to do...? Peyote: (to Halbarad) Yo, look. The mummies are back there! They're coming back! Halbarad: So they are...what in the @$&*%#! is that elf doing now, walking to greet them?! (charges after Belphanior; Peyote comes along with sword drawn) Mongo: (looking around, decides that the three can handle the mummies for now and fires his hammer off at the big hobgoblin who hit Ged with the sling bullet) Incoming! Rob: Whoa! (almost brained by the whizzing hammer) hobgoblin subchief: (actually brained by the whizzing hammer, dies) Ug. Ged: Thanks! Mongo: Anytime. (catches the warhammer) Belphanior: AAAAAAA! (charges the mummies, slashes one who isn't quite quick enough) mummy: (hideously wounded, drops) Urg... Belphanior: Huh? It had a morningstar? Halbarad: (running, and closing in fast) Here we come! Peyote: To save the day! Belphanior: Since when do mummies fight with morningstars? Peyote: Dude? (chops a "mummy" asunder, slaying it) What the...? Halbarad: (chops a "mummy" with his axe, wounding it) They do not seem to be undead. (stabs the foe with his dagger, dispatching it) Belphanior: (to DM) I unwrap one of them - one of the slain ones - and see what's under the bandages. DM: They seem to be hobgoblins. Belphanior: Is nothing as it seems in this fucking place?!? Hm. (turns to the wounded one with an evil glare, and moves in on it, sword drawn) Mongo: (in a rare show of speed, strikes first, slaying the last of the hobgoblins with a toss of his hammer) For freedom! Rob: Freedom? Mongo: Yeah. You know. Ged: Someone check behind that mirror. Peldor: I'll check the bodies. Rob: I'll help Peldor. Ged: If you helped him, then your pockets would soon be overflowing with pilfered coinage and loot. I will help. Alindyar: The mirror... Mongo: Okay, okay. I'll check it out. (peeks around behind the mirror and into the area beyond) Hey! There's a hallway here, going into a room to the south. I'll go have a look, the room probably leads into the area where the mummies, or whatever the hell they were, came from. Alindyar: (follows Mongo) Fascinating. Peldor: Silver? Is that _all_? These were poor hobgoblins! Rob: The leader here has some too...but not more than the others. Peldor: That's the idea! The leader is supposed to have better treasure than the minions. Hey, this is a nice sling, let's take it. Halbarad: (somewhat to the south) This door is false. The passage does continue to the right, though. Belphanior: (having dispatched the last of the disguised hobgoblins, he is engaged in searching their corpses) Hmm. No loot. I wonder if Peldor's faring any better? Peyote: A door. A real door, I mean. (opens it, and finds Mongo and Alindyar searching a barracks) Hey dudes! What's up? Mongo: Not much. Nothing here but straw beds, dirty food, lice, and roaches. (smashes a roach with his gloved fist) I wonder if these things have any nutritional value? Alindyar: Ask the hobgoblins. Belphanior: (searching this new room now) Hmm. Here are a few things more, Mongo. A chipped ring, a bag of walnuts, a nice knife. Rusty, though. No use to us. (throws the butcher knife neatly into the headboard of one of the beds) Bah. Halbarad: We shall take that door to the north, then. That is, as soon as the others rejoin us. Presently, they all did. A few small cuts were bandaged; Belphanior liked the mummy trick so much that he considered using it on himself. The party heard no sounds behind the door out, and so they prepared to go on. Belphanior opened the door, revealing a thickly carpeted hallway going to the north. next time: More waltzing... ************************************************************************ NOTES: Last time I said that the dungeon would come next; I under- estimated the writeup size. The dungeons will come soon...due to the lack of buildup (I am now only writing episodes one at a time due to time constraints) I can't accurately predict exactly what will happen next time. Also I said that I'd post every Sunday night. Well, as you no doubt know, I posted last Friday night. I meant to write and post one Sunday night as well, but got caught in a 2-hour delay on I-20 and couldn't get it done (homework comes first). Anyway, to make up for it, I wrote and posted the above segment tonight. This module was full of tricks and traps, like the bear/pit and the mirror/mummies. The mirror made the corridor appear longer, whereas it was actually L-shaped; the mirror was at the joint of the passage and the false door was behind it. The mummies "disappeared" when the mirror was shattered, courtesy of Mongo and his hammer, and they came back as they rounded the corner and were actually in a line of sight from the party. Let's see, this is part 22. Maybe I'll post some extra stuff that readers have been asking for (e.g. magic item lists, height, weight, age, stats, etc.) at the end of #25, for your reference. We'll see. ************************************************************************ ***** * * The 8 player characters contained in this writing are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. * The dungeons and non-player characters contained herein are from * TSR's module, A2, and are copyright 1980 by TSR, Inc. Although * they are reprinted after a fashion in this story writeup, they * are not being used for profit or personal gain in any way. In * this spirit, verbatim text and maps from the module have been * avoided. I would encourage anyone who does not own the Slaver * series, that is, TSR modules A1-A4, to buy them, as much more * enjoyment will come from actually playing them rather than from * reading about one party's experiences within. * ***** ----------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 6th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 4th/4rd/5th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 5th/5th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 6th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 6th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 7th level human thief (N) Peyote, 5th/5th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rob, 6th level human priest of Trithereon (LG) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- XXIII. Empty Rooms; the Cloaker's Lair; Pursuit; Shooting Stars; Trouble The party defeated some hobgoblins and entered a carpeted corridor. This new passage was shadowy and silent, and veered sharply left about sixty feet ahead. Mongo: Hmm. Pretty damn quiet in here, if you ask me. Peyote: Yeah. Alindyar: Methinks someone overcarpeted this hallway. Rob: It's pretty comfortable. Halbarad: Rob, watch it with that torch. Don't hold it directly above our heads. Belphanior: What's that?! (a rat scurries forth and vanishes into a hole in the wall before he can throw a dagger at it) Damn. Peldor: Guess that means no dinner for us tonight, eh? Ged: Quiet, fool. They continued along the passage, turning left, then left again. A door was visible on the left wall, and the corridor went on for about twenty feet before ending in a draped wall. The door was swinging to and fro as they approached. Halbarad: Someone cover me, I'm going in that door. (enters the room beyond) Hmm. An empty room. Nothing is here except old barrels and chests and junk. Belphanior: There's a fireplace. Let's start a fire in it. Ged: That's an idiotic idea. Besides, there's already one burning somewhere up above. Mongo: We haven't forgotten. Belphanior: There's a draft coming down this fireplace. Smells like smoke, slightly. Ged: Why don't you climb up it or something? Peldor: (finds a leather pouch near the door, containing a chisel and hammer) I wonder what these are for? Mongo: Hammer and chisel. Usually used to shape stone. Peldor: I knew _that_... Peyote: Let's depart and move on. They went to the end of the corridor, and Belphanior brushed aside the drapes there. Beyond was a continuation of the passage, without carpeting or drapes. Suddenly... Mongo: AAAAAaaaaa.....(falls into a pit) Ged: Not again! Belphanior: (peering over the edge, into a 10' wide, 10' deep pit. Mongo is at the bottom groaning in pain.) Hmph. Should've been more careful. Mongo: Ow. Halbarad: Are you okay? Mongo: Pretty much. I grazed a few spikes here, and have some new bruises, but I'll live. Throw me a rope. Peyote: (lowers a rope to the dwarf) Dude. Let me heal you. Mongo: (climbing to the top of the pit) Sure. Peyote: (works some healing magic on Mongo) Mongo: Ahh. Much better. My ring will take care of the rest, in time. Let's go on. But, dammit, from now on, any suspicious areas get checked before we walk on them. I'm sick of falling into pits! Belphanior: Seems reasonable. Peldor: Stand back. I shall leap the pit and send back a rope. (backs up, dashes forth and leaps over the pit, but then hits something above the far end and bounces back, falling into the pit) Oof! Mongo: What the hell...! Peldor: Hrmph. (gets up, brushes himself off. Somehow, he didn't impale himself on any of the spikes.) Felt like a tripwire. (to DM) I search the bottom of the pit before climbing back out, on the far side. (finds nothing; rolls to climb and is successful) DM: Okay. There's a thin black wire strung about four feet up, on the far side. Peldor: Not anymore. (cuts it with his sword) What do I see ahead? DM: The passage bends left. Peldor: Hm. I'd better get the others across. (he throws them a rope, and both ends are secured; the crossing begins.) Belphanior: I'll go last, and take this end of the rope with me. (climbs down into the pit, stepping around the spikes there) That way, no one will use our own rope to follow us. Alindyar: 'Tis a good idea. Soon, they were all across the pit. Rob healed Peldor, for the thief was somewhat bruised from his fall. The party forged onward. Halbarad: The passage continues...shall we check out this door before continuing? Mongo: Sure! Hey wait, it's locked. (prepares to kick it down) Belphanior: Wait a minute. You said that you didn't want to set off any more traps, right? Well, this is an ideal location for one. Let me check it out. Mongo: Err, okay. Belphanior: Let's see...No traps here. (a lockpick appears in his hands) Hmm. Click! There it goes. NOW we can enter safely. Mongo: Gr. (considering giving up his door-breaking ways) Halbarad: (enters the chamber, a small boxy storeroom) This place is well-stocked. Mongo: Yup. They have all kinds of good stuff here. (rummaging through the bales and crates) Ged: Tools, cloth, pots and pans. Nothing even remotely useful to us. Bah. Alindyar: What we need is a mages' storeroom, with spellbooks, scrolls, and wands... Ged: Now that would be good. Peyote: Let's split. They left this room and continued down the corridor. There was another door to the left, then the passage ended in yet another door to the west. Belphanior: (listening at the first new door) Nothing. Not that I can hear, anyway. Shall we? Peyote: Let's. (they enter a square room) Phew. Halbarad: Something's rotting in here. Ged: Let's hope that it's nothing that can attack us. Belphanior: (looking at some huge barrel-like things standing on end to the south) What are these? Barrels? Alindyar: Tuns. Rob: Huh? Belphanior: Oh. Well, they have spigots. I wonder what's inside? Halbarad: (grabs the torch from Rob's hand and holds it above one of the containers) Nothing. Just water. Peldor: (also looking into the tuns, with his lantern) This one's got a sack or something at the bottom. Do these drains work? Mongo: (comes over and tries to turn the spigot and drain the water out of it) Mmmh. Won't budge. Damn thing's busted! Peldor: We could dive for it... Mongo: Or I could smash open the barrel. It's mostly rotten anyway. Ged: Let's come back later and worry about this. Peyote: I disagree. We may not have a chance, once we run into some large pack of guards. Rob: (looking at some buckets nearby) Belphanior: (losing interest in the sack, since Peldor seems determined to get it, he wanders into a passage to the southeast) I'm going to go check this out. Alindyar: I shall accompany you. (they go south, finding a tunnel which ends in a deep well) Hmm. Belphanior: Maybe this is the main water supply for the whole place. Do you think I should poison it or something? Alindyar: I can't see why not. However, I can't see why either. It would be a most destructive act in any case. Belphanior: Yeah...I'll hold off...for now. Alindyar: There is obviously nothing of interest here. Let us go back. Belphanior: Sure thing. (they return to the others, finding that Peldor has gotten the contents of the pouch - a few gold coins, a crappy gem, and a ring) Ged: Great treasure indeed. Peldor: Bah. Halbarad: I hope that you are satisfied now. Shall we go? They went on, to the door at the end of the passage. Belphanior: I hear no noise. Ged: I feel uneasy. Peyote: As do I. Alindyar: Now that you mention it, something IS odd here. Mongo: Crap! Just open the door! (does so) Beyone was a dismal sight. The room was large, and terraced, with a series of raised stone platforms to either side. A narrow passage ran through the center of the place. On the stone steps were huddled many naked humans, staring blankly into space. They were all chained to the walls by their necks, but none seemed very inclined to escape. A number of cloaks and blankets adorned the walls. Belphanior: Slaves! Ged: They don't seem too happy. Alindyar: Who would be? Rob: Brr. This room gives me the jitters. Alindyar: Watch out for the slaves. Remember the other room, in Highport, where the "slaves" were actually slavers in disguise. Halbarad: There is a door on the opposite side, there. That looks like a hobgoblin guard, too. Is he asleep? Peldor: If so, we can change that. Peyote: (looking around uneasily as they slowly traverse the room) It's way too shadowy in here, man. Alindyar: What is that? A moan...? A low moan filled the room just then. Its unearthly sound struck terror into the hearts of all present (or tried to, anyway)... slaves: (all cowering in the shadows) Alindyar: (makes his save, and is unaffected) From whence comes that keening? Belphanior: (makes his save as well) Yeah! Where? Ged: (makes his save easily, due to high Wisdom) Boccob's bones! That sound is EVIL! (prepares magic missiles) Halbarad: (fails his save, and bolts for the door) Aaaaa! Mongo: (makes his save) Somebody make some light! Peldor: (fails his save) Aaaaa! (flees) Peyote: (makes his save) Peldor flees in terror, I see. (waves his arms about, making a spell) Rob: (makes his save) Where are those two running off to? Mongo: Who knows? Agh! (suddenly, something shadowy flits about his head, as a different moan starts) Agh! I am paralyzed! (he failed his save) Cloaker: (envelops Mongo and bites him) Mongo: Aaaaagh!!! Help! Peyote: (casts continual light on the ceiling of the room; most of the shadows nearby disappear) Alindyar: (prepares a spell) Ged: Hold still there! (blasts the cloaker with his magic missiles) Damn! It's still alive! Belphanior: (grabs at the cloaker, trying to pry it off of Mongo) Mongo: (bitten again) Belphanior: (grips the cloaker) Off you go. Cloaker: (bats Belphanior with its spiked tail) Belphanior: Ouch! Okay, motherfucker! (draws his sword) Alindyar: (casts a color spray at the cloaker) Cloaker: (fails its save miserably, and drops onto the floor) Scrh! Belphanior: A-ha! (hacks wildly at the thing) Die, demonspawn! Ged: I think it's dead now. Rob: Peldor and Halbarad ran away... Mongo: (moving about weakly) Ged: Let me help...(heals Mongo) Mongo: Thanks, I owe you one. Halbarad: (re-enters the room) We're back. Peldor: (also comes back) Some evil spell drove us away...temporarily that is. Ged: I wouldn't believe you, except I saw the monster. Otherwise your fleeing could be attributed to cowardice. Belphanior: (slays the dazed hobgoblin standing by the exit) (to DM) I check his body for anything that looks good. DM: He has a few coins, and a nice cloak. Rob: (wanders up) Did you find anything? Belphanior: (pockets the gold, but not the cloak, in time) damn. Soon, everyone was ready to go. The slaves were left here for the time being, as they would just slow the party down. The door opened into a long, winding hallway, with many doors on both sides. Rather than open all eight of them, they instead proceeded to the ninth one, at the end of the passage after it curved several times. As they listened at this door and checked for traps, a ruckus came from the south, near the slave/cloaker room. Some wandering guards had seen the party and were raising a local alarm. hobgoblins: (beating on doors as they advance on the party; they are about a hundred feet away. Others come from the rooms and join them as the whole mass runs toward the adventurers.) Intruders! Kill! Maim! Hack! Slay! Rob: Uh-oh! Mongo: (hurls his hammer at one of the lead attackers, now a mere seventy feet away) I'll never get them all in time. Alindyar: We need a lighting bolt. Belphanior: I have my staff... Mongo: (catches his bloody hammer) Ged: No! Boccob has told me, it's MY turn now! Let me to the rear of the party! (dashes out, facing the oncoming horde) Go back, yonder fools! I have the power! hobgoblins, orcs, half-orcs, humans, etc.: AARGH! ELF! KILL! Ged: Don't say I didn't try...(brandishes his hand, with the ring he found in Highport; magical energy fires off down the passage, eliminating all of the guards in an inferno of destruction. All of the doors are blasted off of their hinges, and there is silence from that direction.) Boccob shouts for vengeance! Hah! What power I have found! Peyote: Chill out, man. Belphanior: Where can I get one of those rings? Halbarad: So much for subtlety. Peldor: I hear noises behind this door. Rob: What's that odor? Mongo: Smells like roasting meat. Halbarad, open the door. I'll stand ready with my hammer (raises the hammer) Halbarad: Check. (opens the door ahead) Beyond the final door was a huge squarish room, about fifty feet to a side and over forty feet high. It was a kitchen; the center of the chamber was a large fire pit, with the immense carcass of a roasting lizard turning slowly on a chain. The room was otherwise filled with crates and kegs, and some humans... tall man: (black-skinned, about 7' tall, wearing a helm with no holes for his eyes) Fire! others: (three red-bearded barbarians) Aye! (hurl axes at the party) tall man: Fire! (ducks behind a huge barrel near the firepit) To either side of the door, hobgoblins arose from their cover of kegs and boxes, and hurled axes at the party also. Mongo: Fuck! Ambush! (hit by several axes) Augh! Halbarad: (hit by one axe, for minor damage) Move into the room! Mongo: (he and the ranger enter the room) Damn! barbarians: (duck behind tables) Belphanior: (hurdles some barrels and slices into the hobgoblins) Die a bloody death, slaver scum! hobgoblin: (slashed mortally) Agh...(dies) Peyote: (slips on his ring, goes invisible) tall man: (behind the huge barrel, kicks it toward the party) Mongo: Yah! There's a big barrel rolling our way! Halbarad: (dodges to the side) Whoa... Mongo: Uh-oh! (not quick enough to get out of the way, the dwarf is run over by the barrel) Rob: (he and Ged are in the third rank) Aaa! (they back up, as the barrel slams against the doorway and shatters with a wet crunching sound) I'm all wet! Alindyar: Enough of this foolishness. Into the room! (starts spell preparation) Ged: (likewise) Rob: (casts a blessing on the party) Peldor: (trying to get into the room) Out of my way! tall man: (advances on Halbarad) From behind the tables, the barbarians emerged once more...but they had undergone a change. No longer human, they were now in some sort of were-form. Frothing tusks and sweaty snouts ready, the wereboars bore down on the party from a different direction. Simultaneously, the hobgoblins near the door drew swords and clambered over their crates, while two others in the rear of the room lit oil flasks and grinned evilly. Halbarad: Oh shit. next time: Battle; the dungeons. ************************************************************************ NOTES: As I write this, I am sick with a cold and not feeling well at all. So excuse any grammar or continuity errors - I wouldn't be at all suprised if I have the flu... As I said, part 25 will have some blurbs of information at the end, concerning backgrounds, interests, high (and low) points of the eight adventurers, major items retained, etc. ************************************************************************ ***** * * The 8 player characters contained in this writing are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. * The dungeons and non-player characters contained herein are from * TSR's module, A2, and are copyright 1980 by TSR, Inc. Although * they are reprinted after a fashion in this story writeup, they * are not being used for profit or personal gain in any way. In * this spirit, verbatim text and maps from the module have been * avoided. I would encourage anyone who does not own the Slaver * series, that is, TSR modules A1-A4, to buy them, as much more * enjoyment will come from actually playing them rather than from * reading about one party's experiences within. * ***** ----------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 6th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 4th/4rd/5th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 5th/5th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 6th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 6th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 7th level human thief (N) Peyote, 5th/5th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rob, 6th level human priest of Trithereon (LG) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- XXIV. Battle Royal The party entered a room containing numerous opponents, some more dangerous than others... .------------ door the party entered by | (party members not shown are | still outside the room, v except for Peyote who is _____==_____ inside but invisible) | xB M 33 | B = Belphanior | 33 H 3 | M = Mongo (rolled over by barrel) | 1 222 | H = Halbarad | ## _| 1 = tall black warrior | 4 4 | 2 = three wereboars |__________| 3 = hobgoblins w/swords (x=dead one) 4 = hobgoblins w/flaming oil flasks ##= firepit (This is a 60' by 60' room with the southeast 10' by 20' section cut out. There are several doors but they are not shown above, for reasons of simplicity.) Belphanior: (chops another hobgoblin, downing it) Hah! (turns around to check out the rest of the battle) Uh-oh. hobgoblin: (slices at Belphanior but misses) Curses! Halbarad: (steps forth to meet the tall black warrior who is obviously the leader in this room) tall man: (slashes Halbarad, wounding him) Halbarad: Ah! What manner of warrior needs no eyeholes in his helm? (chops the man with his axe, nicking him) tall man: (no response) Peyote: (invisible, trying to get around behind the wereboars) Alindyar: (enters the room) Who is to be the recipient of my spell? wereboars: (headed for Alindyar, and the others coming through the doorway, and the prone Mongo) Snarl! Growl! Slobber! DM: (to Alindyar) They snarl, growl, and slobber at you. Alindyar: Hmm. They are volunteering, then. (casts a huge web at the oncoming lycanthropes, catching two firmly and the other loosely) Peyote: (still invisible, but almost snagged by the web; decides to go elsewhere) hobgoblins to east: (one of them is also webbed) Get them mages! (one slices the drow) Har har! Alindyar: You...you swine. You shall pay for that. Peldor: (leaps into the room, sword drawn) Who dares to face Peldor? hobgoblin: (the third one to the east) I does! (stabs at the thief but misses by a long shot) oops. Mongo: (overrun by the huge barrel earlier, lying on the floor) Uhh... Peldor: (chops his hobgoblin, wounding it badly) Those who face the might of Peldor never live long enough to tell of it! hobgoblin: (back to the south, hurls flaming oil at the main party but misses. This could be because he might have hit his leader if he aimed badly.) Ged: (steps into the room, noting a puddle of flaming oil nearby) What chaos! What glory! Boccob would be pleased if I demonstrated his power here! (launches magic missiles at the webbed opponents) wereboars: Agh! Snarl! (they try but fail to break free of the webbing) Peldor: Well, THAT was real useful, mage. Thanks a whole lot. Ged: Quiet, fool. (thinking about which spell to use next) hobgoblin: (also back to the south, prepares to hurl flaming oil at someone; suddenly, his head splits in half messily) ... Peyote: (becomes visible) Gross. (grabs the lit oil, which didn't shatter when the hobgoblin dropped, and runs for the webbed were- boars and hobgoblin) Halbarad: (attacks the tall leader with his dagger, but misses) Leader: (slashes at the ranger again, hitting) Halbarad: Agh! (now seriously wounded) Rob: (casts spiritual hammer, and bashes the hobgoblin Peldor had wounded, slaying it) Take that, evil slaver! Peldor: Thanks a lot, priest. Rob: No problem. (stumbles over Mongo's armored body) Oof. Peyote: (hurls the flaming oil at the webbed ones; it shatters and they burst into flame) Sorry, dudes. two wereboars: AAAAAAARRGH!!! (aflame) third wereboar: (partially webbed, bursts free and runs around while on fire, screaming) YEAAAAARGH!! Mongo: UHH...(sits up groggily) Wuzzat? Huh?!? Battle! (looks around, then bashes the hobgoblin who attacked Alindyar, felling it; then he finds his potion of speed, and slurps it down with great haste) Yum! (catches hammer) flaming wereboar: (runs into a wall) OOF! YEAAAAARGH!! Peyote: (slips ring off and on again, going invisible, and wanders away) flaming hobgoblin: (dies quickly) other flaming wereboars: (break free and run for Peldor and those near him) Peldor: (slashes a burning wereboar) Too much heat! Get away! Ged: (casts resist fire on himself and finds his morningstar) I'll help you, fool! Peldor: Oh thank you. What would I ever have done without YOU to back me up in combat? (dodges a flaming claw) Belphanior: (slashes the last of his hobgoblins, killing it) Heh. Now for something more exciting. (heads for the flaming opponents) Peyote: (slashes the other hobgoblin with oil, slaying it and turning visible) Who's that helmeted dude, Halbarad? Halbarad: I don't know, but he's a damn good swordsman! (gets hit again) Ugh! (to DM) I retreat a bit. Peyote: I'll help you out. (moves closer) Leader: (swings at the half-elf, wounding him) Peyote: Damn! flaming wereboar: (slams Peldor, smashing and burning him) AAAARGH! Peldor: (swatted aside) Uhh... Mongo: Enough! (hurls his hammer, having been hasted heartily by the potion) flaming wereboar#1: (hit by the hammer) YEAAARGH!! Mongo: (catches hammer, hurls it again) F.W.#1: (hit, dies) YEaar... <THUMP> Mongo: (catches hammer, hurls it at another foe) F.W.#2: (hit) BLEAAARGH!! Mongo: (catches hammer, which is now slightly aflame, hurls it again) F.W.#2: (hit again! Its flaming head is caved in by the flaming hammer and it dies) ...<THUMP> Mongo: (catches hammer) Hahahahahah! Triumph! (dances in glee) Ged: (bashes the other flaming wereboar) For Boccob! F.W.#3: (hit) AAAGH! (claws Ged) Ged: (takes claw damage but not fire damage, due to his spell) Hah! Rob: (bashes the burning monster with his hammer, finishing it) Halbarad: (hits leader with dagger, misses with axe) Damn! Leader: (dodging well, starts to back away) Peyote: Whew! Alindyar: (not sure which spell to cast) Hmm. Belphanior: (heads for the leader and Halbarad and Peyote) Damn. No more fiery, screaming enemies to slay. Leader: (retreats into firepit, hides behind cooking lizard) Halbarad: What in the hell's he doing? Peyote: Beats me. Leader: (now with good cover, hurls some flaming grease at them) Halbarad: Wha...?! (almost hit) Peyote: Guess that answers your question. (they both back up) Belphanior: (trotting up) He must be immune to fire, somehow. Halbarad: Obviously. Any bright ideas? Belphanior: Sure. Mongo! Mongo: (nearby) What?!?!? Peyote: We need that hammer of yours. Mongo: What do I look like, a cannon? Geez! After that, it didn't take long for the hasted dwarf to decimate the leader, who stayed in the firepit and hurled handfuls of burning grease at the party. The room was aflame in several places (and perhaps the ceiling as well, for someone remembered that there was still a fireball burning up above somewhere), so they quickly started checking the five doors at its periphery, after the priests healed Halbarad and Mongo. Ged noticed a strange letter on a table and appropriated it. The northeast door led to a room that was obviously the quarters of the wereboars, based on the boar inside and the smell...the animal attacked but was slain quickly, thanks to the still-speedy Mongo and his wonderful hammer. The northwest room had a half-orc or orc with a chef's hat and a knife; he got dusted immediately when he tried to stab Belphanior. The next door was to the southwest and led to the apparent quarters of somebody important. Halbarad: Maybe 'twas that leader-type we fought. Peldor: Nice room he's got here. Mongo: Let's search it and get the hell out of here. I want to do more fighting while I've still got this potion in my system. Belphanior: Well, there's a bed, a table, some wine, a wooden chest... Peldor: (goes for the chest) Alindyar: (examining an odd chessboard) Rob: (listening at a closet door) I hear something... Halbarad: What? Rob: Hissing. Peyote: Snakes? Belphanior: Maybe. (starts picking the sizable lock) voice: (from behind door) Icar, you snakes-belly! Release me! Halbarad: A prisoner? Alindyar: A naga? Rob: A talking snake? Peldor: There's just clothes in this chest! Damn! Belphanior: Well, so much for the lock. Someone get ready with a heavy weapon or spell. Mongo: Check. Ged: (backs up a bit, curious) Alindyar: (loses interest, checks the bed area) Peldor: (also checking the other parts of the room, in hopes of finding something useful) Rob: (drinks some wine from a bottle on the table) Mmm. Belphanior: (opens the door and gets out of the way) Halbarad: Who goes there? voice: (coming closer) aaaAAAAA! Mongo: Fuck this. (hurls hammer, meeting the onrushing source of the voice - a woman with snakes on her head - and knocking her back a good bit) Belphanior: Oh shit! Medusa! (saves, successfully) Mongo: Huh? (saves, barely) DM: Since Mongo and Belphanior were right there, and the medusa was only out for an instant, only you two had to save. Halbarad: Good. Mongo: (catches his hammer) Whew. Peyote: Seems fair. Belphanior: (slams the door) Fuck! What now? medusa: (beating on door, screaming) Halbarad: Uh...(moves to one side of door and draws back his axe, motioning to Belphanior to open the door again) (to DM) I don't look at her, I just chop her good. Mongo: (prepares hammer) (to DM) Me neither. As soon as that door opens, I hurl! Peyote: (averts his eyes) Watch out, everybody! Ged: (turns away) Rob: Huh? Peyote: (grabs Rob and propels him out of harm's way) Belphanior: (opens the door) Medusa: (runs partially out, dragging a chain from her neck) Halbarad: (chops her legs) Mongo: (tosses hammer at her) medusa: Ugh. (dies) Ged: So much for that. What brave warriors you all are. Peyote: (grabs a blanket and covers the body) Belphanior: I want the head! I want the head! DM: Err...It's crushed beyond hope by Mongo's hammer. Belphanior: Oh. How big is the closet? DM: About ten feet by ten feet. Ged: Treasure chest. (pointing at one inside the medusa's room) Peldor: Huh? (wanders into the closet and picks the lock) Belphanior: What's inside? Gold! Gems! Bracelets! Oh my! Peldor: Here's a scroll, and a coffer too. Oh wait, it's locked. (goes to work on the coffer) Belphanior: (reading scroll) I can't make diddly-squat out of this. Ged: Give me that! (swipes it) Eh? Alindyar: Let me see. Hmm. Strange script indeed. Raised dots. Peldor: Got it! Now what's inside? Halbarad: (to Peldor) I'm watching you. Peldor: Of course. Watching the master at work. Peyote: What'd we get? Peldor: Hmm. Two potions, a scroll, a ring, and a token. Mongo: Here, let me take those off your hands. (puts the loot into his sack) Alindyar: All of this furniture is bolted securely to the floor, but for the bed, and I have found a trapdoor under that. Halbarad: Good work. Ged: Let's go, then. Down into some slavers' dungeon, no doubt. Mongo: (realizes that his potion is wearing off) Damn! DM: The roof caves in, and you see that it's on fire. All of it. Peyote: Let's coast. The party opened the trapdoor and descended about forty feet into an L-shaped corridor, about sixty feet total length. Belphanior went in first... Belphanior: I'll climb down first. DM: As you grab the rungs, you notice that the top two are sharp, and they cut your hands. Belphanior: Okay. Watch out guys. (continues climbing) They all reached the bottom, and shortly thereafter Belphanior fell asleep from the poison on the rungs... The party decided that this would be a good time to camp. They found a secret door to the northwest, but left it for now and set up camp. The mages studies their spell books, the priests healed all remaining wounds and prayed, and the warriors rested. Also Peldor went back up (carefully) and ensured that the hatch would not open easily from above (he also re-poisoned the rungs with some _real_ poison from Belphanior's jar...) next time: Slaver dungeons ************************************************************************ NOTES: Mongo sure did have a time with that potion of speed. Not only did he hit all four times, but one of his rolls was a 20 if my memory serves me right. Otherwise, they entered that room in trouble, but in the space of a minute, they had the situation well in hand. They had a lot of good dice rolls too. Everybody has been asking about the great ring that Ged used last time. It is a ring of shooting stars. Truth to tell, I F@$#&% up. I let the meteor swarm power work underground, when it wasn't supposed to...since this actually happened, I decided to let it go in the writing too. At the time, all those 1 and 2 HD types were charging for the party and no one really wanted such a boring battle anyway. I never let the ring do that underground again. So far, A1 has taken 4 postings, and A2 has taken 5 (it may be done at #25, maybe not). At this rate, the Slaver series will have used more postings than the previous adventures. Not to worry, there are many more adventures after the Slavers...MANY more. I'm hunting for an ftp site...maybe tybalt... ************************************************************************ ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. * The dungeons and non-player characters contained herein are from * TSR's module, A2, and are copyright 1980 by TSR, Inc. Specific * text and maps from them have been avoided, and I encourage anyone * who enjoys reading about them to buy and play the whole "A" series. ***** ----------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 6th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 4th/4rd/5th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 5th/5th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 6th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 6th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 7th level human thief (N) Peyote, 5th/5th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rob, 6th level human priest of Trithereon (LG) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- XXV. Markessa & Company The party, having rested and recuperated, prepares to go through the (formerly) secret door at the end of their small L-shaped camp/ hideaway in the dungeons beneath the slavers' stockade. Due to the noises that they heard from above, throughout the night, they have reason to believe that the fire(s) they have caused and seen are out of control, and chaos reigns in the stockade itself. It is also a sure bet at this point that the occupants of this dungeon are aware that there are intruders in the area... Belphanior: (listening at the door) I hear some scratching. Are we ready to go? Mongo: (raises hammer meaningfully) Hell yeah! Peldor: Just about. (puts caltrops at the base of the ladder up) In case of pursuit. Halbarad: Belphanior, you open the door. I'll go through first, in case we have to fight, followed by Mongo and Peyote. Peyote: Sure, I'll go. Alindyar: The plan sounds fine to me. Belphanior: Okay. (lifts the latch) Halbarad: (enters) Wha...?! Big wolf: Snarl! (leaps for Halbarad's throat) Halbarad: Aie! (bitten in the shoulder, suprised) Damn! Mongo: Hang on! (runs forth) Peyote: Dude? Belphanior: Wolf! Other big wolf: (across the hall about 20') Howl! (starts a very loud howling) Ged: Uh-oh. Belphanior: Wolves! Mongo: (slams the wolf biting Halbarad) Get off him! Wolf: (ribs crack) growl... Belphanior: (seeing that the second wolf is chained to the far wall, he strolls up to it and stalks it with his longsword ready) Alindyar: (fires a magic missile from his wand, at the first wolf) Peyote: (chops the first wolf) Leave him be! wolf: (dies) Halbarad: Ugh! Somebody help me staunch this $@%#&*! bleeding shoulder! Peyote: Yonder beast, and this slain one, seem evil, even for wolves. Mongo: No shit. Halbarad: They are worgs, gigantic evil cousins of normal wolves. I do not think that they can be tamed by us, or any lawful group... Mongo: Good, 'cause I'm sick of that other one's damned howling! (moves to the west and throws his hammer at it, narrowly missing Belphanior's head before it crunches into the monstrous animal) Belphanior: Hey! Watch where you throw that! You could put somebody's eye out with that thing! Alindyar: 'Tis an understatement... Rob: Let me help. (heals Halbarad) second wolf: (still howling) Halbarad: Silence that companion beast, before every creature in this dungeon comes looking for us! Belphanior: (slices the worg again, for the second time) Worg#2: (dies) Awooo....urk. Mongo: _Much_ better. Ged: (to Alindyar) I guess we'd better get our heavy magic ready, for now we're sure to run into the worst of trouble. Alindyar: Aye. Belphanior: There's a door nearby, to the north, and another farther, to the south. Which one to take? (wanders northward) Halbarad: Where are you going? Belphanior: I don't want to tarry here too long. There may be more wolves about. Mongo: Yeah. And where there's wolves, there's usually goblins too. (also heads north) Which wouldn't be so bad. I'm sort of out of practice in melee, and goblins are a pretty good challenge... Halbarad: Fine. North we go, then. Alindyar: (prepares a color spray) Hmm. Ged: (prepares magic missiles) Ho. Belphanior: (listens at the northern door, hears nothing at all) Hm. (opens the door and leaps all the way in) Beyond the door was a huge room, over sixty feet in length and more than forty wide. Its high, sloping ceiling looked about fifty feet or so from the floor. All but the northern part of the chamber had a raised balcony around the perimeter; this ledge was about ten feet higher than the floor. The place was obviously a laboratory, for it was filled with tables, bookshelves, flasks, and other arcane toys. More importantly, there were about a dozen goblins, most of them in strategic positions along the ledge, with bows ready. They chattered and screeched in excitement as the party entered the room, and then raised their bows. Belphanior: Fuck! (looks around, spotting a goblin about ten feet to his front and left) You! Die! (rushes the goblin) Goblin: Yie! (points his shortsword at the crazed oncoming elf) Halbarad: (enters the room) Goblins! Belphanior: We can clearly see that! (dodges a thrust from his foe) Mongo: (enters the room) Shit! They're everywhere! goblin: (some random one, shoots an arrow at Mongo) Mongo: (the missile bounces off of his plate mail) Fuck! Peyote: (enters the room, just in time to be nicked by an arrow) Whoa! Battlezone! (slips on his ring and goes invisible) goblin: (on balcony) Hey! Where'd he go? Rob: What's going on? (enters the room holding a lantern in one hand and a flail in the other) Oh. Belphanior: (missed by an arrow) Damn snivelling fools! (slices his foe, decapitating it with a lucky strike) Hah! (turns to face another goblin, this one about twenty feet away at a table in the center of the room) slender female elf: (far to the north of the room) Get them! Kill them all! (casts a spell on herself) Belphanior: Not very friendly, girl. goblins: (above the doorway, they push a large wooden tun over onto those below) Har har! Mongo: Oh no! Not again! Alindyar: Another tun... The barrel shattered all over Halbarad, Mongo, Peyote, and Rob, doing minor damage but soaking them in brine. The lantern went out in a flash. Rob: Hey, I can't see. Halbarad: Shut up. Mongo: (hit by an arrow) Fuck this bullshit. I am nobody's target practice dummy! They're not the only ones who can see in the dark! (hurls hammer at a goblin on the balcony to the left) goblin: (head crushed) Peyote: (fuming about the waste of a good invisibility, heads for the female elf to the rear of the room) Halbarad: Phew! This brine stinks! (feels for a wall and gets out of the way of those who can see) Rob: (still in the way, pushed aside by Mongo) Huh? Ged: (enters the room, almost totally dry of brine) Boccob's wrath has arrived! Repent! (fires three magic missiles at the distant elven woman, hitting her and eliciting a cry of pain and anger) Mongo: (catches his hammer) Yeah! That bitch is next! Alindyar: (enters the room, looks around for the largest number of goblins) Ged: (nicked by an arrow) Boccob damn it! Belphanior: (launches a flaming sphere at the table in the center of the room, specifically at the goblin next to it) Let there be LIGHT!!! goblin: (the target, ignited in a burst of flame) Aaagh! Belphanior: Heh heh. The room was somewhat illuminated by this new light source. The shadows above, on the balcony, indicated positions of goblins, who were still firing a lot of arrows. Belphanior: (to DM) I look at the stuff in this room closely. What sort of laboratory does it seem to be? DM: (to Belphanior) There are tools like saws, drills, etc. plus a lot of body parts and limbs. Belphanior: A torture chamber? What is that elven girl up to? DM: Who knows? Mongo: (hit by one arrow, missed by another) Damn goblins. Halbarad: (a sitting duck, nailed by two arrows) Agh! Belphanior: (to DM) I head for the goblin whom I just ignited. DM: Okay. Alindyar: (launches a color spray at three goblins above and to the left of the door) Goblins: (those three; rendered unconscious) Peldor: (just enters the room, but can barely see) Hmm. (wanders off to the right) something behind bars to right: Growl! Peldor: What was that? goblin: (above Peldor and the source of the growl) Ha. See how you like this. (pulls a lever, and the bars next to Peldor raise) Big furry monster: (lumbers out) GRAARR! Peldor: Uh-oh. Belphanior: (walks by the tables in the center of the room) thing on table: (a deformed man-like thing, with a strange clawed arm and a melted-looking mouth) Croak! Croak! Belphanior: Holy shit! What in the hell are YOU?!? thing: (continues to croak miserably) Belphanior: (moves around behind it and backstabs it, successfully, as it fails to turn around much or move away) Well, the least I can do is put you out of your misery. thing: (dies) Belphanior: (looking with hatred at the female elf) Who would do this to anyone? (to DM) This isn't funny. I send the flaming sphere straight at her. As fast as possible. Peyote: (still toward the eastern fringe of the room; attacked by a goblin who ran out from the north) Hey! (chops at the humanoid) goblin: (dies, courtesy of the half-elf's magical bastard sword) Peldor: (suprised by the owlbear that ran out of the cage at him, is clawed by a paw) Agh! Somebody come help me put this thing out of my misery! Halbarad: On my way. Mongo: (hurls hammer at a goblin on the balcony who is drawing a bead on someone) goblin: (hit critically, dies messily) Aaaa... Mongo: Yeah! Rob: We need more light. (casts continual light on top of the helmet of a goblin to the north, not on the balcony) goblin: Aie! (can't see too well now, stumbles around hacking at the air with his shortsword) Halbarad: (moves to help Peldor) Mongo: (catches his hammer, turns to face the female elf) female elf: (fires magic missiles at Belphanior, to disrupt his concentration on the flaming sphere, which is getting rather close by this time) Belphanior: Agh! Stupid bitch! Alindyar: (casts darkness, 15' radius on the three goblins above Peldor and the owlbear) goblins: Aaaaa! (one falls off the ledge, in front of the monster) owlbear: (stomps on the unfortunate goblin) GRRR!! Peldor: Ha ha. Ged: Time for melee! (pulls out his morningstar and charges the owlbear) Peldor: (stabs the owlbear) Peldor takes no shit from any monster! Mongo: (launches his hammer at the elf to the north) female elf: (hit by the weapon) Aie! (staggers, her spell disrupted) flaming sphere: (sitting now by a table that is too high for it to roll over. The table is on fire now, though.) (blaze) Mongo: (catches hammer) Halbarad: (chops and stabs the owlbear, hitting with the dagger but not the axe) Back, fell beast! Ged: (hits it with morningstar) Boccob commands it! female elf: (launches lightning bolt at Belphanior) Ha ha! Die! Belphanior: Whoa! (dodges aside, taking only some damage from the electrical bolt) Aaagh! Geez! The bolt continued on, to hit Mongo (who failed to save and thus took full damage, and was knocked down) before it went on. The dwarf's plate armor made an excellent conduction path for the bolt to go down into the floor, but nevertheless, Halbarad and Ged got slight shocks from residual electricity because they were somewhat in its path. Mongo: (smoking) Aaaaagh! @#%$&*! fucking damn shit bitch!! Belphanior: (causes his flaming sphere to go around the table) female elf: (runs for a door) Belphanior: No way. No way! (the sphere outruns her and collides with her, setting her on fire) Burn, torturer of hapless ones! female elf: (aflame) Aaaaa! Belphanior: Justice is served. Mongo: Hey, good job! (hurls hammer at the flaming form, hitting) Let's take no chances with her. She zapped us good. Belphanior: Of course. Rob: (attacks the c. light-ed goblin with his flail, slaying it) There. I have done something useful. Ged: About time... Halbarad: (hits the owlbear again) owlbear: (seriously wounded now; paws Halbarad twice) GRAAR!! Halbarad: Augh! Ged: (hits the monster also) Boccob! Peldor: (stabs it; the thing dies) Hah! Peldor's foes fall like wheat before the scythe! Now where's the treasure? Peyote never reached the female elf, for she died afire in moments. The party searched the room, finding all manner of strange devices typically used by alchemists. They also found a number of body parts from different creatures, preserved in brine. Peldor found some gold on the goblins' bodies, and Alindyar found some parchments with names, descriptions, and maps. Belphanior retained a few odd items he saw. The elf's body was burned fairly thoroughly, so she had nothing of any value left. There was a second owlbear, in another cage that hadn't been opened thanks to Alindyar's color spray on those goblins (yes, Belphanior killed them in their sleep). The party left it here for now. Some healing took place, and then the door to the northwest was the next one taken. Belphanior: Say, am I the official, designated door-opener now? Halbarad: Sure. Ged: Now just open the door. Belphanior: (opens door; beyond is a large room with many doors and a hallway going off to the south out of sight (also with more doors along its length) Wow. Halbarad: Let us go north. We might as well be consistent. (the party heads through the easternmost of the doors on the northern wall) next time: More slaver leaders... ************************************************************************ NOTES: I got mail from somebody named Scott stating a number of points that I as a DM should probably have been more strict on. Unfortunately I lost your email address, Scott, and only retain a copy of your mail. Please mail me again so I can reply to your myriad comments... In a general sense, all readers should remember that these writeups, while detailed, cannot cover everything that happened. Maybe I forgot some things since we played. Maybe I skip things sometimes for efficiency. Maybe I add things sometimes, for convenience. I take all of the many editor's liberties when I write these stories, so people who are after 100% rules- and continuity- correct stories won't find them here. I'm in it to chronicle the deeds and humor that we experienced over two and a half years of playing, no more, no less. Even during the active times of the campaign, I missed things and forgot certain rules. Now, as I write up these stories, I am not overly interested in criticisms on how I DM-ed two or three years ago. On to other topics. In case you don't have the module, Markessa was the evil elven woman who got toasted. She figured that her lightning bolt would be sufficient to stop Belphanior and Mongo, and she (well, I, the DM) noticed that the two were lined up, so...but she figured wrong. By the time that I realized that she should have retreated, Belphanior's player pointed out to me the movement rate of the spell (flaming sphere). I had to let Markessa get hit, and she was rather weak at that point. Still, the battle was fun. Now for some (silver anniversary/25th episode) fun stuff. I don't want to give away too many specific details, because if I do, someone will nab me at some point in the future with a contradiction, and I don't want that to happen. Other than that, enjoy the following data and I'll update it every 25th episode! ALINDYAR (6th level drow elven mage) (Neutral) height: 5'9" weight: 104 lbs age: 124 yrs hair: white eyes: dk. brown land of origin: Underdark diety: ? preferred weapon: spells (dagger) armor: bracers of defense highs: Int, Dex, 120' infravision, always levelheaded lows: Str, weakness in bright sunlight, racial conflicts w/others likes: peace & quiet, magic dislikes: bigotry, senseless actions major magic items: robe+1, bracers ac6, bag of holding, carpet of flying, wand of magic missiles common spells: fireball, dispel magic, web, wall of fog goals: to become powerful enough to enjoy things he likes w/o fear of attacks or violence BELPHANIOR (4th/4th/5th level high elven fighter/mage/thief) (C.N.) height: 6'1" weight: 117 lbs age: 119 yrs hair: lt. brown eyes: black land of origin: Wild Coast diety: none yet preferred weapon: longsword armor: bracers of defense highs: Dex, Int, good combat abilities, versatility lows: Wis, Chr, reckless nature, curiousity likes: chaos, combat, death dislikes: slavery, torture, boredom major magic items: ring of wizardry (1st level spells), longsword +1, staff of Thunder & Lightning, bracers ac4 common spells: flaming sphere, color spray goals: to live a life of danger and thrills GED (5th/5th level grey elven mage/priest) (Neutral Good) height: 5'8" weight: 101 yrs age: 107 yrs hair: gold eyes: green land of origin: Celene diety: Boccob preferred weapon: morningstar armor: chain mail, small shield highs: Int, Wis, versatility w/magic, good knowledge of spells, looks out for party, takes over leadership of party at times lows: Str, Chr, tempermental likes: magic, magic items dislikes: Peldor, undead major magical items: ring of water breathing, stone horse, small shield +2, ring of shooting stars common spells: magic missile, sleep, identify, burnign hands, haste goals: to spread the word of Boccob while vanquishing evil foes HALBARAD (6th level human ranger) (Neutral Good) height: 5'10" weight: 186 lbs age: 26 yrs hair: brown eyes: grey land of origin: Furyondy diety: Elhonna preferred weapon: battle axe, dagger armor: leather highs: Con, Dex, good sense of right and wrong, quasi-leader at times lows: takes some things too seriously likes: outdoors, animals dislikes: corruption of likes, and orcs... major magical items: battle axe +1, dagger +2, leather armor +3, gem of seeing goals: to own and maintain his own happy little forest MONGO (6th level dwarven fighter) (Chaotic Good) height: 4'0" weight: 154 lbs age: 68 yrs hair: black eyes: red land of origin: Flinty Hills diety: ? preferred weapon: war hammer armor: plate mail, medium shield highs: Str, Con, aggressiveness, hard to injure, loyal to party lows: Int, Wis, Dex likes: cooking, battle, weapons, the underground dislikes: giants, humanoids, sitting around dungeons doing nothing even remotely useful major magical items: hammer +3, dwarven thrower, medium shield +1, ring of regeneration, chime of opening goals: to become a general in some army PELDOR (7th level human thief) (Neutral) height: 5'11" weight: 161 lbs age: 18 yrs hair: brown eyes: black land of origin: unknown diety: none preferred weapon: short sword, knife armor: leather highs: Int, Dex, Con, Str, good thief, incredible luck, comedian of group lows: Wis, untrusted by some likes: stealing, backstabbing, having a lot of money, adventure dislikes: Boccob & associated minions major magical items: shortsword +1, +4 vs. reptiles, knife +3, pouch of accessibility, luckstone goals: to run his own thieves' guild in a major city PEYOTE (5th/5th level half-elf fighter/druid) (Neutral) height: 5'6" weight: 132 lbs age: 22 yrs hair: brown eyes: brown land of origin: Vesve Forest diety: Obad-Hai preferred weapon: bastard sword armor: hide armor highs: Str, Chr, tries to do the right thing lows: Int, Con, irritating style of talking, short-sighted at times likes: typical druidic things dislikes: undead, evil beings, noisy things major magical items: ring of invisibility, wand of wonder, bastard sword +3, Frost Brand, ring of protection +2 goals: to become the world's most successful wandering druid ROB (6th level human priest) (Lawful Good) height: 5'10" weight: 171 lbs age: 19 yrs hair: blond eyes: blue land of origin: Keoland diety: Trithereon preferred weapon: flail armor: banded(!), medium shield highs: Wis, Int, healing powers, source of many jokes lows: Str, low attention span, tendency to do really stupid things likes: being a priest dislikes: having to deal with evil beings and religions major magical items: footman's flail +1, mace +1, necklace of prayer beads HIGHEST STR: Mongo HIGHEST INT: Alindyar HIGHEST WIS: Ged, Rob HIGHEST DEX: Peldor HIGHEST CON: Mongo HIGHEST CHR: Peldor MOST HP: Mongo (60 hp) LEAST HP: Alindyar (25 hp) IMPORTANT NOTICE !!! Thanks to garyf@tybalt.caltech.edu, there is now an anonymous ftp site for these stories (tybalt.caltech.edu) so you can get them there. They are in /pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers. Have fun. ************************************************************************ ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. * The dungeons and non-player characters contained herein are from * TSR's module, A2, and are copyright 1980 by TSR, Inc. Specific * text and maps from them have been avoided, and I encourage anyone * who enjoys reading about them to buy and play the whole "A" series. ***** ----------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 6th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 4th/4rd/5th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 5th/5th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 6th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 6th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 7th level human thief (N) Peyote, 5th/5th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rob, 6th level human priest of Trithereon (LG) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- XXVI. Miscellany The party was in a large room with numerous doors. They picked the northeastern door and went through it. Beyond was a hallway veering off to the left. After going around this corner, they saw six doors, evenly spaced with three to either side. Mongo: I wonder what the hell's in here? Peyote: Here comes the answer. Look! Advancing on the party were three furry humanoids, snarling and slobbering the whole way. It wasn't hard to figure out just what they were... Alindyar: Lolth's breasts! Werewolves! Rob: Aaa! We are undone! Halbarad: Not to worry. There are only three of them. Though, they _are_ werewolves. Ged: Your grasp of the obvious is simply amazing. Mongo: Fuck this! (hurls his hammer at extremely close range) Quit your yapping and start your zapping, mage! Peldor: Hey, that wasn't bad. werewolf#2: (hit by the hammer, injured) Yoooooow! Belphanior: (charges forth) Die, child eaters! Halbarad: (advances as well) Aye! Peyote: Child eaters? Mongo: (catches hammer, and raises it as he lumbers toward the impending melee) Prepare to be smashed, wolf-heads! Belphanior: (slashes at a werewolf, injuring it) Take that! werewolf#1: (suprised at being wounded by a weapon, recoils) Aaaawl! Ged: What pitiful war cries these beasts make. (fires away a trio of magical missiles at werewolf#1) For Boccob! werewolf#1: (hit, singed, hurt - this just isn't his day) Argh! werewolf#3: (claws at Halbarad, but misses) Awoo? Halbarad: Stay back, evil thing! (chops and stabs the lycanthrope, wounding it) werewolf#2: (claws Mongo, injuring him slightly in one arm) Snarl! Mongo: Ouch! Dammit! I'd better not catch any diseases from you! Rob: I can help. (casts a spiritual hammer) Let the hammer swing! Peldor: Stop babbling, priest. (starts moving around trying to get behind somebody and stab them) Alindyar: (casts spider climb on himself) Hmm. Peyote: (trying to get into the melee, but blocked because the passage is but 10' wide) Damn. Ged: Come on! Drive them back! Rob: Huh? Who? Halbarad: We are trying... Mongo: (slams werewolf#2 with his hammer, and hears bones splinter) Yea! Werewolf#2: Aaarrr! Alindyar: (removing his boots and gloves) Belphanior: (parrying attacks from werewolf#1) I shall gut you yet! Werewolf#1: Hrrg! Arg! Mongo: (smashes his opponent once more, dispatching it) Hah! Death to all evil wolf-heads! Rob: (tries to hit a werewolf with his spiritual hammer, but gets a "1" and fumbles...the hammer flies past the opponents and sails down the long hallway, out of control for the time being) Darnit! Alindyar: (climbing onto the ceiling) The view is nice from up here... The second round of combat was punctuated by new arrivals...from a room to the north and west, two huge, furry humanoids emerged, grinning, bastard swords in hand. Also, from a room farther up the hall, a tall, gaunt, skeletal man strode out into the hallway, frowning. Mongo: Hey! Who are _those_ goons? Peyote: Easy. Bastards with bastard swords. (runs through the opening in the werewolf ranks that Mongo created, and charges the two bugbears) Mongo: (moves forward, eyeing the new opponents warily) Peldor: Ahh. New, worthy opponents for Peldor! Ged: Hush, fool. I shall help you, though only Boccob knows why. I am about to cast an invisibility spell upon you, so go forth and do something of use. (taps Peldor on the forehead) Peldor: Hey, sure thing. (goes invisible and heads for melee) Thanks! Ged: Remember, only one attack - then the magic will fade. Halbarad: (chops his werewolf with his axe, though his dagger misses) Vile @$&%#*! Meet your maker in hell! werewolf#3: Aargh! (swipes the ranger with a claw, slashing open his shirt) Halbarad: Ugh! For that you shall pay tenfold, beast! werewolf#1: (misses Belphanior with its deadly claws) A-woo! Belphanior: (slices the were-beast, wounding it yet further) Heh. Peyote: (up the hall) Buggerbears! Taste steel, dudes! (slices a bugbear, wounding it slightly) bugbear#1: (stabs at Peyote, wounding him) Heh. bugbear#2: (slashes Peyote, also wounding him) Big words, for little elfkin. Peyote: Argh...somebody help! Mongo: Coming! (he stops running, and tosses his hammer, slamming one of the bugbears in the head) Ha! bugbear: Aaagh! Peyote: Hey, good shot. tall gaunt man: Hmm. 'Twill never do. (takes to the air, unsheathing a very big sword) Peyote: Huh? Mongo: Hey! You're not a bird! (catches his hammer) Get down from there! tall gaunt man: As you wish. (soars down and bats the dwarf with his two-handed sword) Mongo: Ouch! Fuck! That hurt! Rob: (regains control of his spiritual hammer and swings it at the gaunt one in the air above Mongo) Leave him be! (unfortunately, the attack misses) Agh! Oh for two. gaunt one: What foolishness is this? A priest? Rob: (watching his spiritual hammer slam into the wall) Oh! I can't look. Ged: Phft. If we weren't in combat, this would be funny. Alindyar: (mumbling) What have we here? This is no ordinary mage or warrior. Let us see. (casts a phantasmal force, conjuring the image of a demon-bat, and sends it at the gaunt man) gaunt one: Bah. Such illusions have no power over me. Come down, mage who would be a spider. (flies toward Alindyar) Halbarad: (chops and stabs werewolf#3, hitting only with the dagger) werewolf#3: Urk. (dies) Halbarad: Good riddance. werewolf#1: Raaargh! (claws Belphanior) Belphanior: Fuck! (slashes at the beast, but misses) Double fuck! Halbarad: Need you some help, elf? Belphanior: Couldn't hurt. Rob: (gives up on the hammer and casts a cure light wounds on Halbarad) I can help too. Halbarad: My thanks, priest. Ged: Boccob strikes! (bashes werewolf#1 with his morningstar) werewolf#1: (shrugs away the blow) Grr... Ged: Boccob didn't strike hard enough, it seems. Peyote: (swings and connects his sword with bugbear#1) At last! bugbear#2: Bah. (slices the half-elf again, wounding him further) bugbear#1: (tries to hit Mongo, but the dwarf dodges aside) Grak! Mongo: Say it again, pal. (slams the beast with his hammer, and hits it in the groin) Ha! See how you like THAT! bugbear#1: Uuuhhhh...(falls over, stunned) bugbear#2: (suddenly convulses, as a sword tip emerges from his hairy chest) Aaagh! Peldor: (appears behind the humanoid) Peldor is here! As this wretched beast just found out... bugbear#2: Urk. (dies realizing the true greatness of Peldor) Peyote: Thanks, dude. gaunt man: A drow?! Here?! No matter. (slashes Alindyar, who is on the ceiling above, with his sword, wounding him seriously) Alindyar: Agh...(falls from his supposed place of safety, and lands on the floor hard) Oof. gaunt man: I know not what one of you is doing in my area of the complex, but you should not have come here. Alindyar: You are correct. I am in great pain as a result of coming here. Agh... gaunt man: A dark elf with a sense of humor? What madness transpires here? Further, where is Markessa? Where is Icar? What in the hells is happening? (looks around) Alindyar: Markessa? Icar? Mongo: That's for us to know, and you to never find out, bud. Taste hammer! (throws his hammer, but misses!) Shit! gaunt man: You offend me, short thick one. (points at Mongo...a cone of ice and frost blasts the dwarf, as well as Peyote and Peldor who are nearby. The remaining bugbear is also hit, though the gaunt man seems not to care much. Halbarad and the others are whipped by the snow and sleet as well, though not as badly, as they are farther away. Alindyar landed in on the opposite side of the gaunt man and thus is the only one not hit by the cold.) Halbarad: Agh! What was THAT?!? Belphanior: Brr...a mage at the end of the hall, maybe? werewolf: Grr...Brr...Awooo! Rob: Ouch! Ged: By Boccob's holy might! Who just blasted us?!? Halbarad: That hovering fellow fighting the others - it was he. Rob: He? Oh, _him_. Ged: Well, "HE" is about to get it. (dashes forth to get closer) Mongo: Brr! Fuck! Shit! Crap! Peldor: (frozen badly, falls unconscious) Peyote: (likewise) Mongo: They're dead! gaunt man: Perhaps. Or perhaps merely frozen. Mongo: They'd better not be dead! Or you'll pay! gaunt man: I doubt it. (turns back toward Alindyar) Now to rid myself of you, mage. Alindyar: (begins spell preparations) Belphanior: (slices the last werewolf, #1, slaying it) Hah! At last! Halbarad: Look yonder! The others are sorely pressed! Ged: I already know that. You don't miss a thing, do you? Belphanior: (sprinting toward Mongo and the others to the north) Mongo: (cursing heartily about having a bad initiative roll) gaunt man: (very near Alindyar) My sword thirsts, mage. Alindyar: _That_ is not my problem. _This_ is your problem, however. (launches a color spray at the man, gambling that he is of lesser magical skill than Alindyar himself.) gaunt man: Oh. (falls unconscious) Alindyar: The gamble pays off...ohh (dizzy from loss of blood) Mongo: Whew. I never would have hammered him to a pulp in time. Alindyar: We really should do something about him before he awakens. Belphanior: (arrives on the scene) No problem. (cuts the man's throat) There, all better now. I wonder if he has any spellbooks? Ged: You ruthless bastard! Belphanior: What? You would have slain the fool yourself. I just expedited the process. Ged: True... Rob: Look at him! Look! Alindyar: What of him...oh. (the dead gaunt man's body changes, into a much larger and uglier form...one that the party knows from past experience to be that of an ogre mage.) Ged: No wonder he was so hard to kill. Alindyar: Someone burn the body, else he will regenerate and plague us once more. Belphanior: Noooo problem. Got a torch right here. Mongo: Bah. Somebody help me thaw these two. (indicates Peldor and Peyote) Rob: (pulls out a tinderbox) ... The priests healed the party extensively. No one was uninjured, and many were worse than moderately wounded. There was a general consensus to find a place to hole up for awhile and rest. First, however, the rooms from which the recently deceased attackers had come were searched. There were six such chambers. Belphanior first locked and wedged shut the door into this whole area, in case of further attacks. Peldor searched all the bodies in the vicinity once he was healed, but found nothing earth-shaking. The warriors piles the carrion into a heap, and then led the party into the rooms. Mongo: (entering the first door) Hey! Who're you? human in padded armor: (holding a loaded crossbow at the party) I am called Carlstar. I am an engineer and a miner. What is your business here? Belphanior: Well, it's real simple. We just killed all those fools out in the hallway. Were they your friends? Carlstar: Hardly. And I heard the battle. You said you killed them all? The werewolves too? Mongo: Yeah. So? Carlstar: Thank the gods. Those monsters scared the hell out of me. Mongo: Put the crossbow down, buddy. There are eight of us. Rob: Eight is enough... Halbarad: You are safe now, in any case. Did those evil ones force you to work for them? Carlstar: They hired me. Not to say that it was the best job in the world, but they sort of kept me here after I got hired. Those damn werewolves... Mongo: Fishbait, now. Belphanior: Along with all the other assholes. Carlstar: Say, in light of the current situation- Ged: Which is...? Calrstar: -you seem to be eliminating my employers, I would like to get the hell out of this rats' nest and back to civilized lands. I could lead you out of here... Ged: Now there's a sensible idea. Halbarad: Wait. What of the slaves, who are bound to be down here? No pun intended. Belphanior: Ah, yes. The slaves. That means more slavers to kill! Carlstar: There are some slave pens. I could lead you to them as well. Mongo: Time to bust some more heads! Halbarad: Here's the deal. We will accompany you to these slave pens and free the slaves, and then take them, and yourself, out of here. In return, you show us the way, and get protection and security. Carlstar: Hmm...sounds like an offer I can't refuse. (shakes the ranger's hand) I'm not a bad fighter, either, by the way. Belphanior: We'll see about that. Halbarad: Alright. Let us search these other chambers. Carlstar: (gathers his personal possessions) Peldor: Say, do you need a hand with those? Mongo: (enters another door) And who might YOU be? human: Eyah! I'm Fyndax! I'm just the alchemist! Don't hurt me! Belphanior: Relax, pal. You're not big and ugly enough. Halbarad: However, we cannot just let you go, as you might warn some slavers or somesuch. Therefore, you too shall accompany us. I can only assume you've met Carlstar? Fyndax: Yes, that's right. Short time, no see, sapper. Carlstar: Yeah. Get your stuff. We're heading out of this place. Mongo: (enters the third door) Phew! Smelly room! Belphanior: Judging from the mess, I'd guess this to be the bugbears' pen. Halbarad: Likely. Carlstar: Actually, it is. Was. Peldor: Let's just search it for treasure, and begone. Ged: Sure. Just search away. I'm watching. Peldor: (finds nothing useful) They must have carried all their loot on their persons. Mongo: (enters the fourth door) A pencil-pusher! scribe: Hm. If you've come here for your bonuses, they're across the hall. I don't have them anymore. Carlstar: ... Fyndax: ... Mongo: Bonuses? For what? Belphanior: We don't even know you, and the room across the hall is empty, since we killed the bugbears who lived there, and you look goofy to me. Nice try, but no luck. scribe: Aaaaa! (pushes over the table and charges the party, screaming like a madman but waving a sword wildly) Mongo: Whoa! (being the obvious target of the scribe, he bashes him with his hammer, crushing his head) Self-defense! Really! Twerp. Belphanior: (sword at the ready) Damn. Carlstar: Never did like that guy, anyway. He sniveled a lot, and was in good with the leaders of the operation. Alindyar: Death is not something to be taken lightly. Ged: Quiet, Confucius. Alindyar: Beg your pardon? Ged: Never mind. Peldor: (already searching the room) Hey, I found some documentation. Halbarad: Let me see that. Hmm. Alindyar: (also looking) This slave ring is quite extensive, judging from these records. Belphanior: Like I said, more slavers to cut down... Mongo: (enters the fifth door) Hmph. A hairy room. Lots of hair. And beds for three. Ged: Gee, I wonder who lived here. Rob: This is unusual, going to their quarters _after_ they're slain. Peldor: (looking about disgustedly) No treasure. What, were these people all paupers? Mongo: (enters the sixth door) Hey, nice place! Alindyar: This would logically be the quarters of the ogre mage. Carlstar: Yup. Peldor: (searching) There's some gold, on this desk. (slips some single coins into his sleeve, successfully) Not much else, though. Alindyar: (examining a potted plant hanging from a chain) Hmm. Interesting plant. Halbarad: Where else can we go? Belphanior: (to Peldor) Search for secret doors! Peldor: Hey! I search for secret doors. Belphanior: I'll help. I'm an elf. They found one, to the north...it led to a passage about 40' by 10' by 10' which turned out to connect to the werewolves' room. Near the east end (the ogre mage's room) there was a one foot by one foot square hole. Another room was visible at the other end. Metal track-like things ran down the length of the shaft, and a metal cord dangled from this side and ran into the shaft as well. Belphanior: That's the treasure room. I just know it! Peldor: But how can we get in there? Mongo: (to DM) If I shucked my armor, could I fit? DM: No way. Mongo: Well, fuck. Halbarad: Perhaps a spell? Alindyar: Not I. None of my magic will aid us here. Rob: Nah. Peyote: Hey, I'm a druid! Ged: Agh...Boccob damn it!! I have no spell of shrinking! Belphanior: Fuck. Mongo: I think I can see a lot of chests down there... Belphanior: Shut up. You're not making this any better. Peldor: Even the mighty Peldor is at a loss here. Ged: All that loot...and we can't get at it! Aaaaaagh!!!!! Halbarad: Let us rest here, and think about it overnight. Mayhap some solution will come to us. In any case, we shall get some rest. Rob: And some spells back. Peyote: Aye. Peldor: The haul of a lifetime, and we aren't going to get it. I will have you know that Peldor, for one, shall not sleep well this night. Ged: Aaagh...damn. Damn. Damn. Halbarad: 'Tis time to make camp, my friends. And they camped for the night in the secret passage... next time: Freeing the slaves through the use of excessive force! ************************************************************************ NOTES: I gave the ogre mage two actions per round, just for kicks. Module A2 will be concluded with the next episode. I never thought that these modules would consume so many episodes. Well, it's not like there's a finite supply (of episodes). Stories available for anonymous ftp at: tybalt.caltech.edu in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers ************************************************************************ ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. * The dungeons and non-player characters contained herein are from * TSR's module, A2, and are copyright 1980 by TSR, Inc. Specific * text and maps from them have been avoided, and I encourage anyone * who enjoys reading about them to buy and play the whole "A" series. ***** ----------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 6th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 4th/4rd/5th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 5th/5th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 6th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 6th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 7th level human thief (N) Peyote, 5th/5th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rob, 6th level human priest of Trithereon (LG) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- XXVII. Mopping Up The party has camped for the night in a secret treasure passage, within ten feet of a number of chests chock full of glorious loot that they can't get at (due to the small, 1' wide tunnel leading from the passage they are in to the treasure room; no one can fit through this tunnel via physical or magical means). Having appropriated a couple of hirelings of the dungeon's masters, the party intends to use these two (Carlstar and Fyndax) to guide them to the main slave area (where the party can free the slaves) and then lead them out of this dungeon complex. Mongo: Get a move on! Let's get out of this cursed tunnel and go kick some slaver ass! Belphanior: My sword will speak for me... Halbarad: (making sure that nothing and nobody is being left behind) Aye. Let us find these slaves. The party exited the secret passage and went back into the large area with many doors. Their guides advised them to avoid wasting time in a passage to the north, as that contained more hirelings, and instead led them to a door on the western wall. Mongo: You said the slaves were in here? Carlstar: Here's the place. They're all in here, almost a hunnert of 'em. Watch out for the guards, though - they're a mean lot. Halbarad: We are well equipped to deal with them, I am sure. Belphanior: Damn straight! Peyote: (slips on his ring and goes invisible) Alindyar: (thinking about preparing a spell) Ged: (prepares his sleep spell) Belphanior: (listening at the door) I don't hear anything... Mongo: You will soon. Out of my way. (opens the door and rushes in) The room was basically several rows of cells, divided on all sides and bounded on the top by bars. A 10' wide path led about sixty feet to a flight of stairs leading up to a platform which overlooked the whole chamber. The ceiling was about twenty feet high. There were easily a dozen cells, probably more, as there appeared to be another stairway going down from the platform on the opposite side of the room, leading to other cells not directly accessible from the party's current location. The cells were filled with slaves, and the only thing they all had in common was the simple white tunics they wore. Many races, human, demi- human, and humanoid, were represented here, and both male and female slaves were visible. Mongo: Well, well, well. What's this? Slave central? hobgoblin: (coming down the stairway on this side) Hey! You! What are you doing in here?! (other hobgoblins follow the first) Ged: Let me through. (pushes his way to the front) Halt, fools! Mongo: Hey, watch who you're pushing, pal! hobgoblins: Elf! Elf! Elf in the pens! (they charge) Ged: (casts a sleep spell) hobgoblins: (all five of them fall fast asleep) zzzz... Ged: Idiots. Mongo: Look, there's more guards! gnolls: (two of them are standing at the top of the stairs wondering if they should approach the grey elf) Mongo: Don't just stand there, dog-faces! (hurls his hammer, bashing one of the humanoids in the chest) gnoll#1: (feels ribs crack) Hrrrhk! gnoll#2: (draws sword) Stay away from me! Belphanior: He's mine! (runs for the stairs) gnoll#1: (also draws sword) Come an' git it, elf! gnoll#2: Sound the alarm! Flee! gnoll#1: Get back here, doofus! Help me fight! Mongo: (catches his hammer) Halbarad: (charges the gnolls) Peldor: (to DM) Can I climb one of the cells? DM: If you can pass a DEX check... Peldor: (rolls successfully) Yes! (climbs atop a bank of cells and starts running for the other side of the room, much to the alarm of some of the slaves below his feet) Peyote: (casts a spell at the platform above, and a swarm of insects appears and attacks gnoll#2) gnoll#2: Aaaaa! Git 'em offa me!! Peyote: (turns visible) That's what you get for being slavers, dude. Carlstar: Ho-hum. I think I'll just stay here and watch. Fyndax: Sounds reasonable to me. Belphanior: (bounds up the stairs and attacks gnoll#1, slashing it in the side) Die, scum! gnoll#1: Eyah! (nicks the elf with his weapon) gnoll#2: (batting at the insects covering his head) Rob: Gross. Alindyar: (draws his wand and blasts gnoll#2 in the torso with two magic missiles) Halbarad: (arrives at the stairs) I am here! Ged: (draws morningstar and dashes for the melee) Boccob comes too! Mongo: (hurls his hammer at gnoll#2, downing it) Hah! Alindyar: Methinks Boccob may not be fast enough, then. Peldor: (leaps off of the cages onto the floor on the opposite side of the room, and heads up the stairs there) Peldor is on the way! Have no fear! slaves: (watching Peldor in awe) Halbarad: (chops gnoll#1, slaying it) So much for this measly battle. Mongo: Yeah! (catches his hammer) Where's some REAL battle?!? Peldor: (arrives on the balcony, spots the insects eating gnoll#2's head) Gross. (starts looking for treasure) Ged: (at the foot of the stairs) Hmm. Alindyar: 'Tis time to think of freeing these slaves. Rob: (standing at the foot of the stairs) Belphanior: (at the top of the stairs, examining the gnolls) What's this? Bugs? Gross. Halbarad: (cleaning his axe on the gnoll's tunic) Agreed. There must be millions of them. That poor gnoll. Belphanior: I would have slain him cleanly. Ged: Almost a hundred slaves here... Carlstar: Told you so. Belphanior: (comes back down the stairs and checks the hobgoblins for gold as he cuts their throats) Rob: Hey, what are you doing? Belphanior: What does it look like? I'm making sure these dolts don't come back to bother us later. Go away. Rob: Gee... Mongo: (eyeing some dwarves with their beards shaved off) Geez. Rob: What's up guys? (talking with a some halflings and a badly beaten gnome; he casts a healing spell on the gnome) Peyote: Dudes? (two nasty-looking men are eyeing him from within their cell) Halbarad: Here is what we need. (snatches a ring of keys from a peg in the wall) Now we shall get these unfortunates out of this hell-hole. Belphanior: (leering at one man in a cell, who was yelling for the over- seers during the whole battle) Peldor: (talking to an attractive young woman in a cell with three men) Ged: (orating to a cell full of children) You may thank Boccob for your rescue. child: Who's Boccob? Ged: Boccob is the lord of all magic, the greatest of the dieties above. He is the sun from which all things spring forth, the well of all the worlds. Furthermore... Halbarad: Enough preaching to the tots. Take some of these keys and free them instead. Ged: As I was saying, Boccob works in strange and mysterious ways. (he takes some keys and starts opening cell doors) Peldor: (picks the lock to the cell with the woman in it) I'll get you out of here, damsel. woman: Oh thank you! (runs forth and hugs the thief) Whatever I can give you in return, I shall...willingly. Peldor: We'll talk about this later, babe. Peyote: (observing a lithe, shaven-headed prisoner) Dude? shaven-headed one: Oooohhhhmmmm... Peyote: Gnarly! Free this guy! Within ten minutes, all of the slaves were free. The larger cells to the north contained many listless, apathetic slaves who seemed unable to do anything useful except follow orders. Ged tried to minister to these unfortunates. The other slaves were generally okay, though there were a few who looked like troublemakers... Belphanior: (shouting at the masses from the platform above) We will do what we can to protect you, but if I catch any of you terrorizing the others, I will deal with you as I did with him! (holds up a bloody gnoll head for all to see) Rob: (trying to cover the children's eyes) children: waaaa! Mongo: For crying out loud. Ged: (looking over slaves to make sure they are in shape to travel) female halfling: (one of the "docile" ones, she gestures wildly to Ged) Ged: What's this? What are you trying to show me? (talks in several languages to her, eliciting no response other than a frenzied pointing at the cell next to her, which has a hole in the back wall) Alindyar: Mayhaps she is daft. Ged: Maybe. (casts an ESP spell and touches his hands to her head) Alindyar: The ESP spell, I see. What says her mind? Ged: ...young girl...clawed hands...taken through the wall... Mongo: What the hell's he up to? Alindyar: He reads her thoughts. Ged: Huh! Peyote: What's up? Ged: There are some sort of creatures beyond that hole, and they seem to have stolen a girl from one of the cells. Mongo: A girl, eh? Then we must go get her! Halbarad: IF she yet lives. Mongo: Hey, mage. (taps Ged on the shoulder) Ged: Eh? Mongo: Put one of your light spells onto my hammer. Ged: Sure. (does so) Mongo: I'm going in. Belphanior: Not without me, you're not. Halbarad: Someone should stay here and watch the slaves. We also need to find the exit. The slaves were herded and led out of the area and south, down a long passage carved from stone. Ged, Alindyar, Halbarad, and Peyote went with them; Mongo, Belphanior, Peldor, and Rob went into the hole in the cell wall. << As the first group had a more interesting encounter, that will be detailed here. The others found a colony of strange, deformed humanoids, who did not attack them; they also found a young human girl and retrieved her from the deranged cave-things. Belphanior had to cast a flame sphere as they retreated, for the things seemed about to attack the four for taking the girl. The sphere was left blocking the hole in the cell wall after they came back out. -TM >> Halbarad: (wandering southward) There is a large open area ahead. Ged: I hear talking. Peyote: Yea. Carlstar: Watch out. There's other slavers here. They're everywhere. Fyndax: Agreed. The four adventurers, with nearly a hundred slaves behind them, plus the miner and the alchemist, entered a large carven chamber with a huge tunnel going downward at one side. The room had eight occupants, and one of them whirled to face the intruders, his hood falling to reveal jet-black skin and flowing white hair. Alindyar: Lolth's bones! Dark elves! Ged: Suprised to see your kin? Alindyar: Quiet! drow: Who are you people? (his companions draw their javelins) What do you here in the slaver's compound? Alindyar: Now hear this. (throws back his hood) drow: One of our brothers. What strange company you keep, my friend. Ged: Hey... Alindyar: Silence! I am Alindyar Rillifsbane, late of that drow clan, and these are my companions. We are leading these slaves from here. All of the slavers who you have dealt with are dead. Furthermore, there are yet more of us coming, as well as these slaves (gestures to the scores of slaves behind him and the others) who are desperate for their freedom. I plead with you to return to the bowels of the earth and leave us be without incident. I have no wish to unleash the mighty magicks which I command upon any of you. Ged: Hey! drow: Hmm. We have no wish to fight, either, if the slavers are indeed gone. And I do believe you. We shall go. Alindyar: (watching them suspiciously) drow: (they all retreat into the cavernous tunnel) Ged: Slick. Real slick, drow. Alindyar: It was as I stated. I had no wish to fight with them. Halbarad: Well done, in any case. Though perhaps it was our duty to apprehend them, seeing as they are evil beings and such. Ged: Then why don't YOU follow them down that tunnel and apprehend them? Halbarad: Err...okay. They continued on, through another passage going upwards. This one wound for many yards, eventually leading to a hillside exit. Some hobgoblins took one look at the party and fled, shrieking. Soon after this, the other four adventurers and the rescued girl rejoined the party and the slaves. The group noted that the stockade was muchly gutted, apparently very badly, and took their leave of the area shortly, only pausing to go back into the dungeons and gather some food for the hundred or so slaves to carry. Thus began the journey westward, for most of the party members felt that it was their duty to see that the refugees made it back to civilization alive and well. Perhaps only Peldor had a less noble motivation for escorting the horde of slaves... For whatever reason(s), the party had an easy time getting out of the Pomarj. They journeyed for many days, trailing a horde of freed slaves. Some of these were lost or fled to their own fates, by Ged's reckoning (he often counted the former slaves to see how many were still there), but the vast majority stayed with the party. Several minor encounters might have delayed the group, if not for their power and skill... Perhaps a week and a half later, the motley crew arrived in some civilized area of Ulek, and within another two days were safe and sound and muchly praised by the local rulers. They trained for a short time, divided what loot they had found in the stockade and dungeons, and examined the maps they had taken. It was obvious that there was yet another slaver stronghold still deeper within the Drachensgrab Hills, and after re-stocking their supplies and provisions, they set out to find this place. THE LOOT (magical items only): sling +2 - Ged ring of ? - Mongo cloak +2 - Peldor potion of ? - Belphanior potion of ? - Peyote priest scroll - Rob ring of warmth - Halbarad strange token - Alindyar * Item choosing determined by each character rolling a d20 with the highest roller picking first, etc. next time: The trek back into the Pomarj ************************************************************************ NOTES: Incredible! 8 episodes for one puny module! Well, maybe it wasn't such a puny module after all. What's even more incredible is the reaction to the use of color spray, a 1st level spell, to off the ogre mage in the last episode. Bah. In the campaign I was in in the mid-80s (1st edition AD&D) the high-level mages could cast the magic missile spell and get 8, 9, maybe 10 or more missiles out of it, for damage totals of 25+ hp on the average. This first level spell many times won a battle for us. The level of a spell should not limit what that spell can do...especially with thinking players like Ged and Alindyar. If this episode seems hastily done, it was - I wanted to get it done and posted tonight but was running out of time. Apologies to any who really wanted to read about how Belphanior and Mongo dealt with the cavelings. About the eight drow - Alindyar really tried to diplomacize rather than fight, and we were all tired that night, and drow are not idiots, after all. They can see when they will be beaten, and when a retreat is the best option. Those who have the module may note that the drow originally had slaves - I decided that they had sent their slaves away and were late in returning to the Underdark, thus their meeting with the party. The party opted to continue the series of modules rather than challenge a likely drow city under the earth... Sometimes it is a DM's perrogative to alter a module slightly, most often this happens when it's 3 am and everyone is really tired but also wants to get the adventure finished. ************************************************************************ ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. * The dungeons and non-player characters contained herein are from * TSR's module, A3, and are copyright 1980 by TSR, Inc. Specific * text and maps from them have been avoided, and I encourage anyone * who enjoys reading about them to buy and play the whole "A" series. ***** ----------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 6th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 5th/4rd/5th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 5th/5th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 6th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 6th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 7th level human thief (N) Peyote, 5th/6th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rob, 6th level human priest of Trithereon (LG) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- XXVIII. Closing In The party recently mowed through the slavers' stockade, eliminating the leaders of that operation and in the process freeing scores of slaves. They led most of these back into "safe" lands, then spent a short time restocking their supplies and training. Next, following the documents they had found in the fort, they journeyed again into the Pomarj. There were signs pointing to the existence of a secret base that the slavers used, somewhere deeper in the Drachensgrab Hills, and the party meant to find it. Besides, the nobles and other sponsors of this mission paid them a handsome sum for their efforts thus far, and more funding was surely forthcoming. They have been traveling into the Pomarj for well over a week, following the information they had. Some tribe of hobgoblins tried to make trouble no less than three times in the course of a two-day period, but were repelled (permanently the third time...). Right now, the eight adventurers are within a mountainous peak. They have explored the numerous caverns and found that they all lead to the same four passages, all carved from the surrounding rock (i.e. man-made rather than natural). It is obvious that one of these passages leads to their goal... Mongo: Good. I'm ready to bust some more heads, dammit. Those dumb hobgoblins were no fun at all. Halbarad: Let us take the rightmost passage. That way we can go with the right wall and minimize our chances of getting lost. Ged: Lost? Us? Never! Rob: I'm lost right now... Belphanior: Fuck this. I'm going in. (draws his sword and wanders into the leftmost passage, just to annoy Halbarad) Mongo: Right on! (lumbers after the elf) Alindyar: Well...(he, and everyone else, follows them in) After further examination, the party found that the leftmost three passages converged at a large square room with a single exit. Ged: Well. Really clever. I bet that SOMEone thought this would fool us... Belphanior: Not a chance! Say, what are these? (holds up one of a pair of long strips of some cured hide-like material) Phew! They're rotten! Peyote: Truly, they do reek, whatever they are. Meat, maybe? Alindyar: They look like dragon tongues to me... Mongo: Just great. Dragons. Rob: (to DM) I examine the tongues. Peldor: Quit playing with that garbage. Belphanior: Bah. I wonder where this passage leads? Rob: (sticking his fingers in his mouth) Hey guys, it's salt! Mongo: Huh? Rob: These tongues have salt all along the bottoms. It looks ground into them. Ged: How interesting. Mongo, maybe you could cook them for us? Mongo: Yeah! It's been a hell of a long time since I've had a chance to cook anything unusual! Halbarad: Later, maybe. If you want to keep those, then you can carry them. We need to move on. Belphanior: (heads off down the passage, with the other seven following) Rob: (discards the thing he was examining and lights a torch) Hey, wait up! Mongo: (second in line) There's a door ahead! Belphanior: So there is. Maybe something interesting will happen now. Suddenly, the floor fell out from beneath the leading adventurers, and Belphanior, Mongo, Halbarad, and Peyote landed on a mountain of some white powder and slid down out of sight... Mongo: What the f...aaaagh!!! Shit... Halbarad: @$%#&^*! Belphanior: Someone will pay for thissssss..... Peyote: Aaaaaaa......(disappears somewhere below, as do the other three) Ged: Holy Boccob! What happened? Rob: The fl- Ged: Nevermind. Alindyar, let's get that carpet of yours and follow them. I have no desire to sink into a pile of powder. Alindyar: Certainly. (unpacks his carpet of flying and begins unrolling it) Peldor: There's no way in hell that I'm going blind into that sand. Ged: Don't desert us now, O mighty and faithful thief. Rob: They may need our help! (leaps down and slides away) Wheeee...! Peldor: What a dope. Hey, I have an idea! (runs back the way they came) Ged: Get back here, you coward! Damn! Thieves! I never trusted that moron anyway! Alindyar: Who knows what he is up to? Ah, here's the carpet. Let us go. Ged: Check. (climbs on, and they sail down into the darkness) Good thing we have infravision... below... Mongo: Oof! (lands on his butt at the foot of a pile of salt, inside a large, high-ceilinged room) What in the HELL?!?! Belphanior: (also lands, beside the dwarf) Something's wrong... gnolls: (about ten of them, they aim crossbows at the warriors) Peyote: (lands) Uh-oh! Halbarad: (lands; miraculously, his lantern remains in hand and lit) Ugh! What are those humanoids aiming weapons at us for? gnoll leader: Heh. Not much, for an invading party...all warriors... Belphanior: I guess they mean to kill us...(starts to rise) Hey, why is everything so slow all of a sudden?!? I can barely move! Peyote: Indeed...we are afflicted by evil magic! Mongo: As if I wasn't slow enough already! gnolls: Heh-heh. Die, intruders! (they open fire) Halbarad: (hit by two bolts) Agh! Peyote: (hit by two bolts) Ugh! Mongo: (pierced by one bolt, while three bounce off his armor) Huh? Belphanior: (hit by two bolts) Fuck! You shall pay for that, slime! gnoll leader: Har har! I doubt it, elf! Reload, everybody! Rob: Whoaaaaaa......Uff! (rolls out from the chute and into Peyote) Hi guys! Peyote: Watch it, dude. We've been slowed... Rob: Hey, you're right. Mongo: We're gonna be pincushions! gnoll: Hey, look! A priest! gnolls: (some of them fire again, mostly at Rob) Rob: Ouch! Agh! Ugh! other gnolls: (four of them have drawn swords and are approaching the party) Alindyar: (he and Ged sail from above, flying over the heads of all the gnolls) What in Lolth's name...? Ged: Boccob! (leaps from the carpet, and starts incanting) Alindyar: (stops the carpet and begins spellcasting also) I wonder... gnoll leader: Wha...! Mages! Get them! Kill! Belphanior: (swings at a gnoll, but misses) Shit! Halbarad: (chops at a gnoll, but misses) gnoll: (slashes Mongo, and hits) Die, dwarf! gnoll: (slashes Halbarad, and hits) Har har! Ged: Sleep, by the power of Boccob! (casts a sleep spell at the gnolls who are approaching him and the drow) gnolls: Zzzz...(three fall fast asleep) gnoll leader: Whoa! Peyote: (slices a gnoll, wounding it) Back off, evil one. Rob: (his spellcasting interrupted already, he swings his flail at a gnoll, but misses) Too slow! Alindyar: Let the magic be undone! (casts a dispel magic at everyone) Mongo: (fires his hammer at a gnoll, hitting and wounding it) Hey! HEY! I'm not slow anymore! Belphanior: Me neither! It worked, mage! Alindyar: I thought it might. gnoll: (approaching the two magi, turns around and tries to figure out what its best course of action would be) Mongo: (catches his hammer) Belphanior: (slashes a gnoll, wounding it) Ha! Perish, scumsucker! Peldor: (flies from the slide above, riding one of the "tongues" found earlier; he hits a gnoll square in the chest) AAAAaaaaaa! Peldor is here! And just in time, too! (jumps off of the cursing gnoll) Ged: The fool returns...(casts heat metal on two of the gnolls) Ha! Let's see you hold on to those swords now! gnoll: Huh? Whassa elf talkin' about? other gnoll: I dunno. Let's get 'im! first gnoll: Yah! Halbarad: (chops and stabs a gnoll, wounding it badly) Peyote: (hacks the gnoll he hit before, slaying it) Good riddance! gnoll: (stabs at Halbarad, but misses) Huh? gnoll: (slices at Peyote, nicking him) gnoll leader: Get them! Kill them! (two of his gnolls are beside him) Alindyar: (taps the leader on the head with his staff) Excuse me... gnoll leader: Eh? (turns around) Alindyar: (blasts him, and the others, with a color spray) gnolls: (all three pass out from the stunning display of bright lights) Ged: Hey, nice job there! gnoll: (attacks Mongo, but his sword bounces off of the dwarf's armor) Mongo: Stupid humanoid! Now I'm REALLY pissed! (bashes the gnoll over the head with his hammer, injuring it) Get the hell out of my way! gnoll: (looks around for a place to run to) Peldor: (backstabs the gnoll, slaying it) gnoll: (approaching Ged) Hey! Agh! My sword! (drops the weapon, as it is blistering his hands) Aaa! Ged: Stupid fool. (prepares another spell) Belphanior: (slays the gnoll he wounded earlier) Mongo: (hurls his hammer at the blistered gnoll, slaying it) Hah. Peldor: (slitting the throats of the sleeping and unconscious ones) Peyote: Hey, watch it with the pocket-picking there, rogue! Halbarad: Sigh...must you kill them? Belphanior: Yes! (steps on the throat of a prone gnoll, crushing it beneath his boot) It's the only way. Rob: (heals himself) Aaahh! Halbarad: Friend Ged, could you assist the wounded? Ged: Sure. (casts a healing spell on the ranger, and on Belphanior) Rob: I'll help too! (heals Mongo and Peyote) Peldor: (stacking coins from the gnolls in a pile) Treasure... Peyote: You're not trying to pocket it...?! Peldor: Of course not. Let's see...twenty electrum, and sixty gold. Ged: What's he up to? Halbarad: I know not. He is worrying me. Peldor: ...and this nice amulet, looks like gold. What's this, a paper? Bah. Here. Ged: (examining the piece of paper) This is awful thick. Alindyar: Mayhaps there is hidden writing on it, or magic...? Belphanior: (inspecting the room) Say, there are six exits from here. Mongo: Let's check them out. (they begin doing so) Halbarad: Wait- Ged: Aha! I knew it! (pries the thick sheet of paper apart, into two thin pieces covering a third in the middle) A map! Peyote: Bogus. Alindyar: What does it depict? Ged: Uh...this chamber. See, this exit is marked. Halbarad: Hmm. They didn't go that way. Let us wait on those two would-be scouts to return. Soon after, they did. All exits but the marked one were dead-ends. The valid exit led to a large cavern lit by strange fungi; it was of indeterminate height and over a hundred feet in breadth. Stalactites and stalagmites were visible everywhere. Rob: Hey! I remember the last cavern like this that we were in! I got stabbed by one of those spikey things that stick to ceilings! Ged: They call them PIERCERS, Rob. Rob: Whatever. I don't want to get hit again, and this room looks like a prime candidate for a piercer community! So let's be careful! Halbarad: Of course. Belphanior: There's a door, on the far side, directly opposite us. Halbarad: Why don't a couple of us scout, while the rest stay back and wait? Belphanior: Sounds good to me. (dashes for the far door) Halbarad: ...I will go as well. (follows the elf) Mongo: I should go too. My armor- Ged: You're too slow. They'd get you for sure. Alindyar: IF there are indeed piercers here. inside the room... Belphanior: (about halfway to the door) Hmm. Awful quiet in here. Halbarad: Having caught up to him, they are both jogging along) Yes. piercer: (drops, almost hitting the elf) Thunk! Belphanior: Yah! (runs faster) Halbarad: (missed by a piercer) Whoa. piercer: Thunk! Belphanior: Fuck! This door is false! Halbarad: More are dropping... piercers: Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Belphanior: Hey! There's light coming from behind that big boulder over there! (points to it) Halbarad: Indeed! Run for it! (another piercer misses him) piercer: Thunk! Belphanior: Good idea! at the entrance... Rob: See! I told you so! Ged: Good boy. Alindyar: Look yonder. They have vanished behind that large rock. Peldor: As shall we. (runs toward the boulder) Ged: Let's go, everybody. (they all run) piercers: Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Ged: Boccob's holy hands! They're everywhere! Rob: (manages to dodge a piercer attack) Yeah! piercer: Thunk! Mongo: (slower than everybody else, gets nicked by a falling piercer) piercer: Snick! Mongo: Agh! Damned rock! Take that! (slams the thing with his hammer, and keeps running) They all made it through the cavern, entering a largish chamber which contained five more gnolls and three large, slobbering dog-like beasts. The gnolls were pelting Belphanior and Halbarad with bloody meat from buckets, which was probably why the dog-things were slavering so. They barked loudly as they charged the party. The gnolls hurled the entire buckets toward the adventurers and drew longbows. next time: the fire goo; the acid goo; a monster; the evil lord ANONYMOUS FTP SITE: tybalt.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) ************************************************************************ NOTES: I love this module! After the last two, a relatively straight- forward dungeon crawl was welcome. Now Mongo can do what he does best! Well, school here at GT starts back this week. But, since I'm not really in school, I should be able to put out more than one episode per week...hopefully I'll be up to the frequency I was this past fall, that is, 2-3 per week. Posting times will vary - Sunday night is no longer the designated time. However, they should come more often than they have been...they will simply appear whenever I write them up. ************************************************************************ ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. * The dungeons and non-player characters contained herein are from * TSR's module, A3, and are copyright 1980 by TSR, Inc. Specific * text and maps from them have been avoided, and I encourage anyone * who enjoys reading about them to buy and play the whole "A" series. ***** ----------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 6th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 5th/4rd/5th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 5th/5th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 6th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 6th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 7th level human thief (N) Peyote, 5th/6th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rob, 6th level human priest of Trithereon (LG) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- XXIX. Traps, Traps, & more Traps The party has interrupted feeding time and now _they_ are dinner... Belphanior: (covered with a hurled bucket of bloody meat) Cool! Halbarad: (also splashed, though not so heavily) Ugh. first dog-thing: (bites at Belphanior but misses) Snarl! second dog-thing: (bites Halbarad) Chomp! Mongo: (charges the third dog-thing) Come and get it, mutt! third dog-thing: (bites Mongo's armored leg, but only breaks some teeth) <crunch> Yowl! Peldor: Time for someone to get backstabbed...(begins creeping along a wall at the edge of the room) Peyote: Redrum! Redrum! (moves to help Halbarad) Alindyar: (hangs back outside of the room, preparing a spell) Rob: Hey! I'll get rid of this scroll with only one spell on it! (whips out an old scroll and starts spellcasting) Ged: (casting a spell) Damned smelly humanoids...I'll show them. (fires a trio of magical missiles, at three separate gnolls) gnolls: Agh! Ow! Ugh! Ged: Ha ha! Chew on that, fools! Peldor: Puny mage... gnoll: (fires an arrow at the thief, grazing him) Snort. Peldor: Hey, watch it, pal. Ged: <chuckle> gnoll: (fires an arrow at Mongo, but it breaks on the dwarf's armor) gnoll: (fires an arrow at Rob, but misses) gnoll: (fires an arrow at Ged, nicking him) Ged: Fool! You shall pay dearly for that cowardly attack! gnoll: (fires an arrow at Halbarad, but "fumbles", hitting one of the dog-things instead) oops... Belphanior: What a shitty shot you are. (slashes his opponent, and wounds it) Away, dog-breath. Alindyar: Let light cease...(casts a sphere of darkness, enveloping the three gnolls not at the fringes of the room) gnolls: Yie! (much confused babbling is heard from within the spell effect) Rob: Hey! (his spiritual hammer was headed for one of those gnolls and is now obscured by the darkness) Halbarad: These foul dogs will not give up! (chops his opponent with his axe, but misses with his dagger) Curses! Peyote: (slices Halbarad's canine adversary, wounding it heavily) Alindyar: (pulls out his wand) Mongo: (slams his opponent, twice, with his hammer) Take that, mutt! dog-thing: Yelp! Peldor: (headed for an exposed back, but the gnoll somehow detects him and spins around, sword in hand) gnoll: No sneak on me! Peldor: Out of my way, villain. (stabs the gnoll, wounding it) gnoll: (slashes at the thief, who easily ducks under its clumsy blow) Ged: (unhooks his morningstar) Boccob's fist is coming... Halbarad: (chops and slices his opponent) Away, I say! dog-thing: (gravely injured now) Yowl! Peyote: (stabs the monster, slaying it) There...it's cool now. Halbarad: Muchly obliged, friend. dog-thing: (bites Belphanior again) Chomp. Belphanior: Enough, dog-lips! (slices the thing, wounding it even further) Ged: (bashes the beast with his weapon, caving in its head) dog-thing: Urr...(dies) Belphanior: I didn't know you cared. Ged: That's okay, I don't. (heads for the other dog-thing, the one fighting Mongo) Boccob! Mongo: (bashes his opponent once, breaking some ribs) Get the hell off of me! Rob: (flailing his spiritual hammer about inside the darkness wildly) Oomph! I hit something! gnoll: (from somewhere within the darkness) Yargh! Alindyar: Take that, fiend. (fires two magic missiles from his wand, hitting Peldor's gnoll and bringing it down) Ged: Hey, you missed Peldor. dog-thing: (bites Mongo, wounding him slightly) Snarl! Mongo: Argh! Peldor: Thanks, mage. (to DM) Hey, remember when I chose the non- weapon proficiency of blind-fighting? DM: Uh, yeah. Peldor: (looks around, grins evilly, and heads into the darkness sphere) gnoll: (sword drawn, he charges toward Belphanior) Die, elf! Belphanior: (charges the gnoll, screaming wildly) Aaaaaa! gnoll: Yaah! (he and Belphanior duel for a bit) Ged: (smashes Mongo's opponent, wounding it badly) Boccob speaks, you lice-ridden fleabag! Mongo: (hits the thing with his hammer, slaying it) Thanks, buddy. Ged: My pleasure. Mongo: You're not too bad in combat, you know. Ged: I do my best. Rob: (pulls his spiritual hammer out of the darkness, afraid of hitting Peldor) Ged: Where'd that crazy thief go? Belphanior: (slays his gnoll) Arr! I am triumphant once more! From within the darkness, swordplay could be heard. Without warning, the head of a gnoll flew out and landed near Rob... Rob: (bashes the head with his spell, pulping it) Yuch! gnoll: (dashes from the darkness, but meets Peyote and is felled shortly) Alindyar: Enough nonsense. (cancels the darkness, revealing Peldor standing behind the last gnoll, about to stab it) gnoll: Eyah! Peldor: (backstabs the humanoid, killing it) What grace! What beauty in motion! Ged: What foolishness. (casts a minor healing spell on himself) Belphanior: (covered in blood, a lot of it his own, staggers) Ugh... Peyote: (heals Belphanior) Rob: (heals Belphanior) Belphanior: Ahh...I needed that. Maybe I should learn the priestly ways, so I can heal myself. Ged: I hear the god of war is looking for clergy these days... Meanwhile, while all this healing is going on... Peldor: There. (having bound his cut, he is emptying the pouches of the gnolls onto the floor) Plenty for all. Alindyar: (examining one of the coins) Hmm. Mongo: Here's the loot sack. It could use some filling, you know. Peldor: Yea. Well, these guys weren't totally broke. Mongo: Nope. (scrapes the small pile of coins into the sack) Peldor: (unnoticed, he slips a golden ring down his sleeve) Not at all. soon... Halbarad: This door is unopened. Let us get to the bottom of this place once and for all. Mongo: Yeah! Belphanior: I want to kill some slavers... They advenced through the door and followed a passage through a simple maze-like area, then came upon a room. This new chamber was over sixty feet long, about thirty feet wide, and perhaps twenty feet high. Right in front of the party, stone steps descended into a pool of whitish goo. The stuff bubbled madly; similar stairs rose up from the other end of the room, about fifty feet distant. A narrow stone slab bridged the entire pool, but the strangest thing here was the bluish field exactly halfway across the room. It snapped and crackled and leaped about, and seemed to totally fill the width and height of the place; had it not been semi-transparent, the adventurers would have thought it to be the end of the room. Peyote: Far out! Belphanior: What's that odor? Ozone? Ged: Smells like it. Alindyar: Tread with caution... Mongo: What kind of stupid room is this?! Rob: (bends down and touches the pool) Hey, it's not acid! Belphanior: (inching toward Rob) Ged: ...(to Mongo) Think he'll do it? Mongo: Dunno. Rob: (tasting the goo) Mmm. Peldor: (muttering something about the uselessness of priests, he climbs onto the stone archway, quietly slipping on a nice golden ring first) Halbarad: That crackling blue field may mean trouble. Peldor: Obviously. But how else can legends of Peldor's daring be made? (walks carefully out toward the field) I shall triumph. Peyote: Way uncool. Alindyar: Perhaps we should stop him. He could get fried up there. Ged: Nah. That's his job. Belphanior: (pushes Rob into the goo with his boot) oops...snicker. Rob: Whaooolp...glmgph! (falls down the stairs into the goo) Ged: Ho-hum (looking toward the ceiling) Alindyar: What...? How did the lad manage to fall in?! Belphanior: Beats me. Rob: (his head surfaces) Blugmph...! <cough cough> I'm okay, guys! Halbarad: (climbs waist-deep into the goo, to help Rob out) Worry not, priest. Peyote: Yeah... Rob: It's okay. <cough> It's ingestable - I can _breathe_ it! Peyote: Stop yelling. Alindyar: What insanity. (gets his flying carpet) I have a means out of this predicament, fortunately. Ged: Hey, I'm with you. Only a total idiot would go through the slime. Rob: I mean, we can breathe the stuff. It's like air. Ahem. Urg. Ged: See what I mean? Peldor: (on the bridge) Hmm. (regarding the energy field in front of him) Maybe I put my foot in my mouth. (takes a wooden rod and pokes it into the blue fire) Yie! That tingles! (hurls the rod through the field, watching it land in the goo on the other side) Well, if it can make it, so can I. (to DM) I leap through the blue energy, coming off the ground as I go through, and land on the other side of the stone bridge. DM: Sure. Ged: What's that idiot - oh, no! Peldor: (leaps into the energy......ZORCH!!) YARGH! (singed, he falls off the bridge and disappears into the goo, over 20' from the others) Peyote: Well, at least he can breathe in it. Belphanior: Hunh..! (dives into the goo and quickly disappears) Ged: (to Alindyar) I figure that we should be able to fly through the field, since we're not grounded if we're airborne. Alindyar: Grounded? Ged: Er...nevermind. Let's go. (they float off slowly toward the field; the grey elf draws his morningstar) Alindyar: We shall be back for any of you who want a ride. Peyote: Sure... Halbarad: Well, _I_ think that the goo underneath the field will protect us from the shock. Peyote: Sounds reasonable. Let's go for it. Mongo: Wait. I'll go first. No telling what monsters may be out there about to eat us. Hell, for all we know, they already got Peldor and the elf. (he strides out into the goo and quickly submerges) Halbarad: (follows the dwarf) Peyote: You go first, Rob; I'll bring up the rear. Rob: Sure. (they both go) meanwhile... Peldor: (undergoo, singed a bit but alive and well; he remembers that he can breathe this stuff but doesn't really want to, so he is holding his breath. He finds that he can move quickly and easily in the thick, soupy goo. He also bumps into something hard on the floor of the pool and picks it up.) Belphanior: (swimming with great difficulty in Peldor's general direction and freely breathing the goo - quite an unnerving sensation) Alindyar & Ged: (pass through the field harmlessly, though their hair sticks straight out now) Mongo: (doesn't even bother to hold his breath, as he is plodding slowly through the goo with his plate mail and shield; freely breathing the stuff, which nauseates him a bit) Halbarad: (trying to keep his head up, but it's not as easy as it might seem. Finally gives in and drinks goo; doesn't like it) Rob: (breathing the goo, and talking underneath the surface to make big bubbles) Peyote: (breathing the goo, and following Rob; it occurs to him that goop-breathing may the most gnarly thing he's done so far in life) When Peldor came up the stairs, barely out of breath (for he traversed the thirty feet or so rather quickly), he found Ged and Alindyar waiting at the open exit to the room. The others followed presently. Ged: What in Boccob's name is going on here?!?!?!? (his morningstar is stuck fast to his chainmail) Argh! My small shield here is trying to do the same thing! Alindyar: (rolling up his carpet) Fascinating. Small metallic objects on my own person are moving strangely...'tis fortunate that I carry very little metal. Unlike you, my friend. Ged: Oh, shut up. (gives up on the morningstar and leaves it glued across his chestplate) Peldor: Huh? (his weapons are moving, trying to fly off and stick to Ged's armor) Stay away from me, you wierdo. (wipes goo from his eyes) Ged: But...(moves away from the stairs and the goo) Damn. Belphanior: (emerges) <cough cough> Odd. Ged: You're probably all infected with some internal disease now. Belphanior: <cough> Why is your morningstar attached to your armor? Mongo: (emerges from the goo, covered with the white stuff, just like Peldor) Ptui! Glurg! Retch! Fuck! Presently, they all came up. Though the six who went through the goo were able to get the stuff out of their eyes and faces, it was quite difficult to get any more off, as the goo was sticky and seemed to be slowly hardening. Though they could still move about, this new coating slightly impaired their movements and was otherwise irritating. The party continued onward, and soon the corridor split in two. Both passages led to the same door, though. Peldor found no traps, and the door opened to reveal a 30' long, slightly wider room. A thick rope hung from the center of the ceiling (20' high). Alindyar: No exits present themselves. Halbarad: Aye. That is one thick rope, there. Belphanior: Let's pull the rope! Mongo: No! We need to check the room for stuff. Halbarad: But it is empty... Peldor: Secret doors! Belphanior: Fuck it. We'll pull the rope and _then_ check. Mongo: No way! Peyote: Way! Ged: Cease your prattle, dolts. Rob: Yeah! Dolts! Peldor: I'll check the room. (sticks his head in, looks both ways, pulls his head back) It's empty, all right. Belphanior: (gets some rope) I'll tie this to the big rope in there and then we'll all get back and pull. No risk. Peldor: Sounds good. I bet a big stone block comes down and crushes anyone in the room. Ged: Could have its uses. Peldor: Of course, we won't _be_ in the room. Belphanior: (uses his skill with ropes and knots to tie his comparitively puny rope onto the giant one, and comes back) All set. Alindyar: (steps to the rear and unrolls his carpet) Mongo: (handed the rope) Okay, let's pull! Peyote: Unh! Belphanior: Ugh! Mongo: Grr! THUNK! THUNK! The floor split in half, the two pieces (on hinges) slamming down, revealing a bubbling pit under the "floor" of the room. An acrid smell drifted up fairly quickly. As this happened, a flush section of wall on the far side of the room opened (away from the party) and a section of corridor could be seen beyond. Peldor: Good trap. Though not as good as my suggestion. Belphanior: Hey Rob, don't jump. Rob: Okay. Halbarad: Deadly stuff, that acid... Peyote: How will we ever get across? Alindyar: (holds up his carpet) Peyote: Ah. Within minutes, all were safely across, ferried by the drow one at a time. Those who had walked through the goo found that the slimy stuff had crusted over on their bodies, not unlike very old milk...the secret passage led around some turns to another room, about forty feet square but only ten feet high. Halbarad: What in the hells is _that_?! Alindyar: A statue. 'Twould seem to depict a roper. Mongo: A what? Ged: Just another deadly subterranean monster. Alindyar: Verily - but they are definitely not made of stone. Belphanior: Look, it's half-covering a hole in the floor. Peyote: Walk with caution, dudes. (steps into the chamber and looks around) Belphanior: Statues can die too, you know. (enters the room) Halbarad: Aye, but they are tougher than living fiends. (enters the room) Mongo: (brandishes his hammer) No statue gets the best of ME !! statue: (suddenly launches its tentacles at the lead adventurers) Mongo: (watches a stonelike appendage sail over his head) Hmph! Halbarad: (hit by a tentacle) Urk. Belphanior: (closest to the thing, hit by two, missed by a third) Uk. The adventurers watched in horror as Halbarad and Belphanior instantly became very rigid, and they assumed the color of stone...as well as the texture... Mongo: Holy shit! That freakin' thing TURNED THEM TO STONE !!! next time: the evil lord (really!) ANONYMOUS FTP SITE: tybalt.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) ************************************************************************ NOTES: Peldor has blind-fighting (as do Belphanior and Halbarad). Useful skill... Peldor found a ring of free action, for those who want to know; that's why he wasn't encumbered beneath the goo. ************************************************************************ ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. * The dungeons and non-player characters contained herein are from * TSR's module, A3, and are copyright 1980 by TSR, Inc. Specific * text and maps from them have been avoided, and I encourage anyone * who enjoys reading about them to buy and play the whole "A" series. ***** ----------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 6th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 5th/4rd/5th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 5th/5th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 6th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 6th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 7th level human thief (N) Peyote, 5th/6th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rob, 6th level human priest of Trithereon (LG) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- XXX. Ghouls, Gnolls, and Rust The party ran into a statue of a roper, which somehow attacked them. Ah, the wonders of adventuring. Halbarad and Belphanior were petrified by the monster's stony touch as the others gaped in mute horror... Mongo: Holy shit! That freakin' thing TURNED THEM TO STONE !!! Ged: Uh-oh. Peyote: Rude deal. Alindyar: Take the offensive! Yon creature will surely petrify more of us soon... (starts digging through his backpack) Peldor: (pondering the chances of a backstab) Rob: (examining the stony forms of his companions) Neat! Alindyar: (finds his wand and uses it to launch three magical missiles at the thing) storoper: Rrr! Glk! (tiny pits are burned in its rocky hide) Peldor: (hurls a dagger at the thing, but the weapon just bounces off of its hide) Damn! Mongo: Good try... Rob: (chanting as he casts a spell) Peyote: Get it! (charges the thing, waving his bastard sword) storoper: Blk! (lashes out with its tentacles) Peyote: (hit by several of them) Aie! (being slowly pulled to the monster's tooth-filled maw) Help! storoper: (its other tentacles fail to snare Mongo) Rrk! Mongo: AAAARG!!! (hurls his hammer at the monster with mighty force) Die, crudsucker! storoper: (hit hard by the enchanted weapon) Urg! Hss! Ged: Die, foul abomination! (strides forth and blasts the beast with soem burning hands) Burn! Boccob's bright abd holy flames will CONSUME you! (the monster is seared badly, and flagellates wildly as it shrieks) Mongo: (catches his hammer) That's the spirit! Fry the fuckin' thing! Rob: (smashes the monster with a spiritual hammer) Take that, you stoner! Peyote: Huh? Mongo: (throws his hammer again, hitting again) Hah! Had enough? storoper: (shrieks) Mongo: Guess not...(catches his weapon) Ged: Look! Halbarad and Belphanior are coming back to life! Rob: Wow! Mongo: (notices that the pair are ignoring the monster) Hey... Halbarad: (shambles forth and chops at Mongo, injuring him) Mongo: Agh! What gives?! Belphanior: (attacks Peldor, but misses) Peldor: Keep away from me! Alindyar: They are vexed! The creature must be responsible...slay it! (blasts the storoper again with three magic missiles) storoper: Hlk! (badly injured now) Mongo: (wastes his attack parrying Halbarad's dagger thrust) Shit! Peyote: (very close to the monster's mouth now, and weakened by its secretions) Ugh...I will not be your lunch, turd-with-arms! I will NOT!! (slashes the monster, and narrowly hits it) storoper: Rgg...! (topples onto its side, dead) Rob: Hooray! Halbarad: (begins to wander about listlessly) Belphanior: (likewise) Ged: Thank Boccob. Peldor: Don't thank him, thank Peyote... Peyote: (cutting himself free of the tentacles around his legs) Yeah. Rob: What about those guys? Ged: (examining the pair) They seem braindead. For Belphanior, that's nothing new, but still... Mongo: Well, they're not attacking us anymore, at least. Rob: Yeah. They're all better now! Alindyar: Mayhap we should rest and camp. Mongo: For a while, at least. My magic ring needs time to do its work. Rob: Yeah! And I need to heal some wounded... Peldor: (searching the monster's carcass for pockets, unsuccessfully) Hmm. I wonder where that hole goes? Ged: Jump in and find out. Mongo: Maybe you should wait until we're all ready to go. Peyote: Hey, I'll scout with you. Peldor: Let's go, then. Peyote: Right on! (they go down the hole in the floor and into a tunnel) The other four (six) waited, and waited. The two "enchanted" ones finally returned to normal after two hours. The thief and the half-elf had long since returned by this time, reporting a maze of dead-end passages and a door concealing a deadly spike trap. Peldor found and triggered the latter item harmlessly and had the door beyond opened within ten minutes of his and Peyote's departure. The two had scouted somewhat beyond that, and found a locked door. They deemed it prudent to wait for the others before opening this second door, and then returned to the others. Halbarad and Belphanior both seemed quite irritated by recent events, and neither one was talking much. It was noted that the party was low on magic and health; they would have to camp before too much longer. The eight adventurers made their way to the locked door, and Peldor went to work on it immediately. Mongo: (hefting his hammer) That turd-shaped thing really pissed me off! Somebody's gonna pay for putting it there! Rob: Why would they want to pay YOU ? Ged: Quiet, fool. Peldor: Got it! Get ready...(opens the door) Beyond this door was a large pillared hall, with a throne at the far end. Between this throne and the party was a big dinosaur-like monster, with an armored shell and a stubby tail ending in an armored ball. Six gnolls were standing to one side of the throne; six ghouls were on the other side. The seat itself was occupied by a giant skinny gnoll. This fellow carried a large flail with three heads. Everything but the giant gnoll advanced on the party. Rob: Hey! A dinosaur! Ged: Quiet, idiot savant. This is no time for your prattle. Peldor: (he honestly forgot to back up to the rear of the party and is now in the way) Uh... Belphanior: Go on! Attack something! Mongo: Yeah! Get the hell out of the way so the rest of us can get in! Peldor: Uh...(charges the dinosaur, with the intention of leaping over its low-riding head and landing on its back) DM: Oh yeah? Let's see a DEX check, then. Peldor: No problem...(rolls a 20, FAILING the check) Uh-oh. (trips over the beast's head and falls on top of it, hacking wildly) Haste makes one sloppy... Ged: Haste? Belphanior: Yah! (uses his ring of spell storing to JUMP over the dinosaur - and Peldor - and lands behind them, facing the horde of gnolls and ghouls) Ha! Who dies first? Peyote: (saunters toward Peldor and his foe) Mongo: Aha! So many targets! (looking around because he didn't get a good initiative roll) Peldor: (trying to stab his opponent) Huh? dinosaur: (shimmers and fades, becoming a much smaller creature) Alindyar: Eh? Peldor: (watching his magical shortsword dissolve) ...! Ged: Rust monster! It's a rust monster, not a dinosaur! Alindyar: Beware, thief! Mongo: Rust...monster...?...! AGH! KEEP AWAY FROM ME, YOU TINY LITTLE ARMOR EATER!!! (breaks for one side of the room) Peldor: My sword...you ate my sword... rust monster: Rrr. Rrr! Rob: (thinking quickly for once, casts a light spell directly on the rust monster's eyes) There! Maybe that'll help. rust monster: (scurries about the room as people get out of its way) Alindyar: (advances, ignoring the rust monster) Belphanior! Move aside! Belphanior: Aside? Alindyar: Quickly! Belphanior: (uses his jump spell from the ring, since it's still in effect, and leaps far to one side) Alindyar: (casts a web across the entire width of the room, getting most of the oncoming attackers) That should hold them. Belphanior: (stabs a gnoll that didn't get webbed) gnoll: (vanishes upon being hit) Belphanior: Huh? Ged: (preparing a spell) Halbarad: (trying to find an opponent not in the webs) Peyote: (slips on his ring and goes invisible) Alindyar: (noticing that there are no bodies inside his web) What is this? Belphanior: Illusions! They are illusions! Ged: (casts Haste on those nearest him - Halbarad, Mongo, Rob, Peldor, and of course himself) Illusions?! Agh! I have wasted my spell for the sake of a mob of illusions! Peldor: No you haven't. After all, _I_ get to use it... Mongo: (tosses his hammer at a ghoul, hitting and dispelling the thing) Damn! I want to hit something REAL! Belphanior: I know what you mean. I for one want to see some blood and guts! Halbarad: (sheathes his sword and starts rummaging through his backpack) rust monster: (ambling about, in the general direction of Mongo since it doesn't need eyes to smell his metal possessions) Mongo: Agh! Stay back! Belphanior: I've got an idea. (starts to cast a spell) Mongo: Well, whatever it is, hurry it up! That thing can run faster than me! giant gnoll on throne: (unnoticed by all, understandably, he waves his hand) The adventurers suddenly felt themselves gripped with terror...the urge to flee took hold over some... Rob: Aaaaaa! (breaks for the entrance) Alindyar: (ignores the wave of terror and begins spellcasting) Halbarad: (holds his ground; he is now peering at the party's opponents through his blue gem) Mongo: I'm not afraid! I'm not leaving! ...just keep that damned rust monster away... Belphanior: (makes his save as well; casts a Grease spell on the rust monster and then runs toward it) Ged: (with his great mental faculties, the grey elf easily resists the fear spell) Boccob's ears! What IS that thing in the chair? Peyote: (out of the fear range anyway; notices some gnolls hiding behind pillars, their backs turned to him as they draw bows on the others; he casts a spell) Peldor: (somehow out of the spell's area of effect; draws his magical knife) Ged: (runs after Rob to try and catch him. Actually, this won't be hard, since Rob is ridiculously overloaded in relation to his measly strength) Come back here, you idiot! (then again, Rob _is_ hasted) Halbarad: (yelling) All of these foes are illusions, except those gnolls behind the pillars! The thing on the throne is an old man! Alindyar: What revelations. Peyote: (becomes visible as his Warp Wood spell turns all five gnolls' arrows into useless junk) Righteous! gnolls: (cursing, they draw swords) Mongo: Geezer on the throne, huh? (hurls his hammer in that direction with great force...but it hits something and bounces back) Fuck! Halbarad: What was that? Mongo: I don't know, but my hammer didn't break it! (catches the hammer as it comes back) Dammit. Alindyar: (creates a wall of fog around the throne) big gnoll/old man: (cursing audibly) Belphanior: (kicks the rust monster toward the entrance door) Ow. rust monster: (greased by the spell, it slides rapidly and totally out of control along the floor) rrr? Ged: (looking back as he exits, chasing Rob) What the...? Belphanior: Incoming! Ged: (runs around the corner before the rust monster can slide into him) Peldor: (moving Haste-ily along one wall toward the rear of the room) Mongo: (throws his hammer three times more, since he got hasted; the gnoll who was his target gets hit twice and is badly wounded) Belphanior: (quick to react to current events, he runs along the opposite wall from Peldor) Peldor: (reaches the point of whatever barrier stopped Mongo's hammer; notices that it is a semi-circular glass wall and goes around it with caution) Halbarad: (lays into a gnoll with full hasted force...) gnoll: agh... Peyote: (chops another gnoll) gnoll: agh... old man on throne: (emerges from the fog, headed for one far corner of the room) Belphanior: Hold it! old man: (leering at the elf) Belphanior: Uh-oh...(charges the man, screaming...) old man: (points at Belphanior, and a green beam of energy lances him) Belphanior: (falls to the ground) old man: (laughing) Alindyar: (casts a spider climb on himself and takes to a wall) Mongo: (smashes a gnoll twice, hurting it badly) Take that, fur-head! Halbarad: Look yonder! That sorceror has felled the elf! old man: (fiddling with a section of wall) Peldor: (sprints forth and stabs the old man in the back with his knife) old man: Agh! Peldor: You're not going anywhere... old man: We'll see about that, assassin! (begins another spell) Halbarad: (finishes his opponent) Peyote: (takes a hit, then slays his as well) Peldor: (hasted, he acts just moments before the old man, stabbing him and ruining his spell) Surrender, and I will be merciful - and quick! old man: Gurk... Mongo: (takes a hit on purpose while aiming his hammer at the old man) gnoll: Die, dwarf! The master will live on! Mongo: Ugh! Not for much longer! (throws the hammer, hitting the man in the chest and knocking the wind out of him as well as breaking several ribs) And then it's YOUR turn, gnoll! old man: Agh! Peldor: (attacks again, slaying the spellcaster) That's for Belphanior, you fiend. old man: ...go to hellllll....(dies) Peldor: Possibly. Mongo: Good riddance. Now what's wrong with that damned elf?! After this, the remaining gnolls were mopped up in no time. Ged used a spell to get rid of Rob's fear, and brought the priest back shortly. Belphanior lay on the floor, unmoving but alive; Alindyar and Ged both figured that he was magically paralyzed. Peldor propped him against a wall and put a helmet over his head. The old man had some bracers and a dagger, which were confiscated. Peldor asked, and was allowed to use the sword he had found earlier (in the goo) since his other sword was rusted away. Speaking of rust, the rust monster was scrabbling in the corner, too slippery to get any traction for long. Nobody had any real burning desire to kill the thing, so they left it out in the hallway and locked the door. Peldor found a secret door after a while, which led to a long tunnel - obviously some means of escape for the late sorceror. Peldor noticed with awe that his (temporary at least) new sword had an invisible blade. Rob tried to touch it and cut his finger. The party camped for the night, studying spellbooks, healing, and eating a fabulous dinner (Mongo had procured a lot of foodstuffs the last time they were in a city) despite Mongo's insinuations that the storoper might have found its way into the stew... next time: The Slavers' hidden city ANONYMOUS FTP SITE: tybalt.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) ************************************************************************ NOTES: A clarification on the previous episode: Peldor slipped the golden ring into his sleeve - this was the ring of free action. The object that he bumped into under the goo was a shortsword. Though I didn't mention it, he was unable to conceal this sword and thus it went into the party's loot sack (to be divided later). I would like to dedicate this episode to the Georgia State Patrol, who after years of not catching me speeding were finally able to get me today. What fine, fine civil servants. I hope they use my (hefty) fine for something remotely useful. ************************************************************************ ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. * The dungeons and non-player characters contained herein are from * TSR's module, A3, and are copyright 1980 by TSR, Inc. Specific * text and maps from them have been avoided, and I encourage anyone * who enjoys reading about them to buy and play the whole "A" series. ***** ----------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 6th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 5th/4rd/5th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 5th/5th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 6th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 6th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 7th level human thief (N) Peyote, 5th/6th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rob, 6th level human priest of Trithereon (LG) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- XXXI. Into the Slavers' City The party camped overnight in the throne room of an evil mage/ illusionist. Since the secret exit they found seemed to be a long passage leading out of any dungeon-type environment, they thought it safe to camp in the last room of the place. Having rested, healed, rememorized, and prayed, they are now ready to explore the underground tunnel... Alindyar: It has occurred to me that we may end up somewhere in the Underdark. Halbarad: We had best be careful then. Rob: What's an Underdark? Ged: Never mind, twit. Let's go onward... Mongo: Yeah! (opens the door, which Peldor just unlocked again, and forges on into a tunnel) The party traveled for about half an hour through the underground passage, and then saw daylight from a barred gate ahead. Mongo and Halbarad opened the thing, and the group stepped through the opening and various shrubs which concealed it. They were on the slope of a hill, on a large island, in the center of a lake. The lake was in turn inside a huge volcanic crater, which rose high above the lake and island both, hiding them very effectively from the outside world. Rob: Wow! Neat-O! Ged: No wonder all the slaves seem to disappear... Peyote: Surely there is some way into this place from the surrounding lands. Halbarad: Yes...look there. (points to a narrow pass on one inner slope of the crater; many guards are visible there, appearing as vague dots at this distance) 'Twould seem that there is but one way to enter this hideaway. Ged: Yea...and a dozen good men could defend that pass against many more invaders. Mongo: They've got it real good for themselves here, that's for sure. Belphanior: I wonder what we can do to change that... Alindyar: 'Tis fortunate that we are well-concealed in these shrubs. It would not do for us to be seen. Peldor: We need some kind of disguise though. Halbarad: Let us camp here for a time, and watch. Maybe something will present itself. Mongo: I say we charge in there at nightfall and maim the slavers! Ged: Wouldn't work. Peldor: Stealth is called for here... Peyote: Let's watch and wait, dudes. See what's up, then go down there after we've scoped out the place. They remained hidden for the rest of the day, planning to do something at nightfall. It was noted that there was occasional traffic into the city. Guards seemed more plentiful at the northern walls, presumably since the buildings there were reminiscent of wealthier residents. At dusk, the party moved cautiously down the hillside and headed for the southern gate to the city. They were still fairly far away when: Halbarad: Look yonder! Some travellers approach... Alindyar: There are eight of them. How very coincidental. Belphanior: Rob! Get that silence spell ready! Ged: What are you going to do, mug them? Belphanior: Actually, I'd prefer to kill them, but for your sake, we'll just talk with them. If they act up, though, we may have to use some force... Ged: Well, stop yapping - here they are. dandy: (well-dressed and sneering) Who are YOU people? other dandy: Hmph. They obviously should have come in as slaves, by the looks of them. third dandy: OB-viously. Out of our path, peasants. Mongo: Hey! Who are you calling a peasant?!? dandy: Eeew! It's a dwarf. dandy#2: Grody! Away, flea-ridden subhumanoid beast! dandy#3: You'd think the guards would have gotten rid of wandering louts by now. Halbarad: We are but weary travelers, seeking to bed down for the night and purchase some slaves on the morrow. Have you any advice? dandy#1: Take baths. You people are just filthy! dandy#2: Horrid! Alindyar: How is the slave business? dandy#3: I don't talk to _peasants_. Now step aside, there, there. Peyote: What is your problem?! Lighten up, guys. dandy#1: Aside, elfscum. We have pressing business in Suderham. What would the guards do if we had to report you for obstruction of your obvious superiors? Belphanior: What would YOU do if I had to cut your ears off and feed them to you? Heh heh. dandy#2: Are you THREATENING us?!? dandy#3: It can't be! Ged: But it is! Both I and Boccob have had enough of your prattle. If you would, Rob... Rob: Huh? Oh. Mongo: And me! One more insult and I'm ramming this hammer up your- dandy#1: Agh! Terror! Horror! Killers! Guar- Rob: (just cast his silence 15' radius on the eight nobles) Quiet, O foppish ones. Even _I_ am sick of your smart mouths. And I'm a pretty tolerant kind of guy. Mongo: Way to go Rob! Peyote: Yeah, way! Halbarad: Drag them aside, into those bushes, there. Ged: But keep them all together, for the spell. Belphanior: (close enough to the dandies to also be silenced, but draws his sword and menaces them) Mongo: (raises his hammer meaningfully) Just try it. Go ahead, make my day! Peldor: (liberating their moneypouches) Soon, the eight nobles were bound and gagged, and the silence spell was cancelled. Questioning revealed that the city was indeed Suderham, the City of the Nine. Most residents were from nearby lands; all were loyal to one or another of these Slave Lords. The nine rulers stayed in a citadel, well-guarded and nigh-impregnable, in the northern region of the city. When prompted further, the speaker said no more - until Belphanior's blade drew a drop of blood from the noble's neck. Then the man blabbered about rumored underground passages in the city. Mongo: Good enough. Let's find these tunnels and collapse them or something like that. Peldor: Hey, these jerks have papers which should get us into the city. Ged: Good. Why don't we take their clothes, too? Then our armor and other gear would be well hidden. Halbarad: That sounds like a workable plan. Ged: Of course it's a workable plan. I thought of it. Peyote: Way to go, dude! Mongo: Do you think they'll have anything that'll fit me? After some time, the nobles' garments were in place on the adventurers (though Mongo had to cut the bottom off of his so it wouldn't drag on the ground). The party left the fops unconscious, bound, and gagged (though Belphanior had killed one before he was stopped by Ged). By the time they headed back to the city, the sun was setting; a red glow lit up the high rim of the crater in a hellish way. Belphanior: Cool! The party went right up to the city's south gate, as planned. guard: Okay, let's see your papers. Halbarad: (first in line, hands the stolen papers over to the greasy- looking guard) Certainly. guard: Hmm. What's your business? Belphanior: We're here to get some slaves for our master, the great and dreaded Iuz. (he presents his papers as well) Peldor: After all, it's mining season, and he wants plenty of new ones to dig in his silver mines. guard: Okay, go on through. Buy some for me! Har har! Halbarad: (leading them into the city) Where shall we start? Ged: I don't know, but here comes some bum... beggar: Alms! Alms! Alms for the poor! Rob: Aww. Ged: Here, have a gold piece. (hands the unfortunate a coin) Peldor: How generous of you. Ged: Boccob often helps the needy, after all. He is a generous god. Peldor: That's Boccob - the paragon of generosity, all right. beggar: (whispering) Hey! I'm from the lords who hired you! No time for talk now - seek out the ivory paladin! Halbarad: Paladin? beggar: (scurries off) Peldor: (runs after him, looks around, comes back) Whoever he was, he's gone. Fast little bugger... Alindyar: I seem to recall that our employers did mention agents in the field... Halbarad: Um...so where do we want to go? Mongo: Food! I'm hungry and also sick of road food! Let's find us a tavern. The paladin can wait. Peldor: Sounds good. I'm also starving. Belphanior: Me too, as a matter of fact. Alindyar: And I as well. < At this point, the players and DM order out for 3 large pizzas! > Alindyar: There are some taverns, up ahead and to the right. Mongo: (soon after, spying one tavern that seems too quiet) Forget this place! It's not kickin'! Belphanior: That one there - the "Fighting Man's Haven". Loud, and lively too. Mongo: Perfect! (strides right in) Peldor: Beer! (dashes after the dwarf) Ged: Wait...damn. The party entered the place, to find Mongo and Peldor already hard at work drinking from a huge pitcher of cheap beer. The pair had found a suitably large table, and a suitably cute serving wench as well. wench: What'll it be, boys? Mongo: Bring us a boar! A roast boar! wench: A leg, or some ribs, or what? Peldor: The whole damn boar! Ged: I'd like some steamed potatoes, and wine. Halbarad: I'll share their boar. Ale to drink, please. Peyote: Ditto for me, babe. Belphanior: Do you have pheasant here? wench: Sure thing. You want one? Belphanior: Yup. (guzzling some of the beer) Urp! Alindyar: I should like a loaf of bread, and a flagon of your finest wine. wench: That's twenty gold for a bottle! You got that much? Peldor: It's on me! (slaps a pouch full of gold onto the table) Just keep the food and drink coming! wench: (laughing in glee as she makes the money disappear) Sure thing, cutie-pie! (runs off) Rob: Hey! I didn't get to order! Alindyar: My thanks, thief. Peldor: No problem, heh heh. (empties his mug) It was those dandies' money, anyway. Mongo: They don't take our coins here - they have to be minted in this city, see. Peldor: Fortunately, we have soem coins that WERE minted here... Mongo: Urp! local: (wandering up) Hey, friend! (slaps Belphanior on the back) Belphanior: A-hem! (regarding the man evilly) local: 'Ow 'bout a song wif' us?!? (belches) Belphanior: I don- Peldor: Sure! (refills his mug and joins in with the nearby table, and Mongo follows suit shortly, much to the crowd's approval...) Several hours later, the party left the tavern, full of food as well as drink. Mongo seemed fairly sober despite the large amount of beer he had ingested. But as for Peldor... Ged: So what next? The ivory paladin? Peldor: Guess so. (hails a passing group of guards) Ho! My fine friends! What a fine night this is for a stroll! Could you by any chance direct us to the Ivory Paladin? guard leader: A drunk, eh? Let me see your passes. Peldor: Passes, passes, kiss my- Ged: (kicks the thief in the rear) Quiet, you fool! Peldor: Ow. Halbarad: (shows the guard his pass) Excuse my friend there, he's had just a bit too much tonight. guard leader: No problem, just keep him quiet. We have no room for troublemakers and drunks here. And, there is no "Ivory Paladin" in the city - but you might try the White Knight, through that alleyway there. Halbarad: Our thanks. Good night to you. guard patrol: (marches on) Peldor: But I want to SING! Mongo: Can't hold your liquor, can you? Heh heh. Ged: Maybe we should put a silence spell on him... Peldor: The almighty Peldor can never be silenced! Halbarad: Quiet, thief. If you get us thrown in jail, I will pummel you soundly. Peldor: Pummel, shmummel! No one wants to have any fun! Peyote: (helps to support the drunken thief) Mongo: (observing a nearby armor shop with interest; unfortunately the place is closed for the night) The party followed the guard's directions and found a large tavern, with a sign depicting a white knight hanging over the door. They went inside, and Belphanior and Halbarad went to talk to the barkeep while the others sat at a table. The place seemed busy yet not obnoxious. Halbarad: Friend barkeep, we seek knowledge. barkeep: (a fat, greasy human) Sure, sonny. (holds his hand out meaningfully) Don't we all? Belphanior: (puts a hundred gold coins into the man's sweaty palm) What have you to say now? barkeep: Well! Generous travellers indeed! Remember this: Not all who lie are resting! And, furthermore, you can learn from the knowledge that never dies! Here, have a beer! (pushes two mugs out, and waddles over to the other side of the bar to help somebody else) Halbarad: Hmm. Belphanior: Useless. Let's get the hell out of here before I kill him. The party left the tavern, and wandered on. Next door to the tavern was a quiet place with a sign over its door. The wooden sign showed a cluster of red roses. Peyote: (peeking in) Hmm. Ged: What? What is it? Peyote: You'll like this. It's a whorehouse... Ged: Oh really...? Peldor: A WHOREhouse?!? (breaks free of Peyote and disappears through the door) Belphanior: Hold on. I'll recover him. (strides into the brothel) inside: Peldor: Well hello there, madam. madame: Greetings, fine sir. Choose any room you like - business is bad tonight and all my rooms are open. Peldor: Bad business, eh? Not for long! madame: Oh, you're a handsome one, I see. Just pick a room and have at it! Peldor: Don't mind if I do. Belphanior: (entering) Excuse me, miss. Peldor: Aw, no! Just when I was about to score! madame: What's this, a chaperone? Belphanior: No, I'm just here to keep this fool out of trouble. madame: Well, you're welcome to stay, too. You're awful...big. For an elf. We could find somebody for you. Belphanior: Err....umm... Peldor: Come on! To hell with the others! Wild women await! (gestures to the hallway of rooms) Belphanior: Hmm. Some other time, maybe. We really must go. (grabs Peldor by the collar and forcibly drags him out as the thief protests loudly) outside: Ged: Aha. The fool returns. Peldor: I'll be back, madam! Belphanior: Let's get a move on. (they continue down the street, passing another house of ill repute before taking a series of left turns) Mongo: Hey, there's a blacksmith shop! Aw, they're closed too. Maybe we should come back in the daytime. Alindyar: Let us not forget our mission here. We have no time to tarry in this place. Halbarad: Aye. Let the whores wait for another time. Peldor: Hmph! Rob: (casts neutralize poison on Peldor, rendering him significantly more sober) There. Peldor: Hey! What gives?! Rob: We may need your great skills soon. Peldor: ... Ged: You'll thank us in the morning. The adventurers passed another noisy pub, but didn't go inside (much to Peldor's chagrin). Soon after, they noticed a stone building with strange marks and sigils on its doors and walls. Belphanior: (raises his eyebrows) Peldor: Hey! Let's move on...that place is a guildhouse of the worst kind. Ged: What, a thieves' guild? Peldor: No, worse. An assassins' guild! Peyote: Move on, let's go. Assassins aren't nearly mellow enough to make good company. Besides, they tend to kill people. Halbarad: Sensible observation. What's this, homes up ahead? Belphanior: Seems like it. Peldor: Let's explore them. Maybe we can get some loot out of this night, since you guys won't let me have any fun. Ged: Steal nothing. But we shall explore. Mongo: I'm getting bored. (tries a door, to find it securely locked) Ged: That place up ahead looks to be another tavern. Alindyar: Judging by the clientele, 'tis an upper-scale place. Mongo: Then we definitely don't belong there... They circled the tavern and headed back in the direction they came from, as it was obvious that they were getting into the high- class section of town, and a majority vote determined that they weren't yet ready to risk a confrontation with someone in power. Actually, there was a huge castle right next to them - almost certainly the Slave Lords' keep - and many, many guards patrolled the high walls. Halbarad: Let's move on. (they walk back southward, into the darker shadows away from the citadel) Mongo: Hey, there's that blacksmith shop again. Must be the rear door. Belphanior: (trying another residential door, which is also locked) Damn. Peldor: You'd think that SOMEone would be kind enough to leave a door open for us. Ged: Only if they were utter fools... Mongo: Hey, this one's open! (pushes open the door to someone's house) Halbarad: I like this not. Peldor, why don't you go in, since you are now able, and scout the place for us? Rob: Yeah, why don't you- Peldor: Shh! (sneaks in) Before long, the thief came back, reporting that the place was very well-furnished but apparently abandoned. They entered the house, locked the door behind them, and proceeded to rest and search the premises for clues about the city, the Slave Lords, or anything else. Peldor made a point to check everything in every room, but even he was suprised when Belphanior found a hatch under a rug in one bedroom... Belphanior: Aha! (the two thieves are the only ones in this room, as others are checking other rooms or resting) Peldor: How'd you get that?! How did you know there would be a secret door under the rug? Belphanior: Always check under the rug. Surveys have shown that it's the number one choice to put something. Of course, half the time they put a trap there instead... Peldor: Well done, anyway. Belphanior: I don't want to tip them off yet that I'm a thief. You take credit for the discovery. Peldor: Sure thing...hey, nice jewelry box here. Nice rings inside, too...(they shake hands before cleaning out the room) About fifteen minutes later, they finished looking around and met to discuss options from here. Peldor informed the others of the secret hatch that he found. Halbarad: It is well after midnight. Perhaps too far after... Alindyar: (looking out a window at the stars) By my estimation, we have no more than an hour until the sun proceeds to rise. Peldor: Plenty of time. Belphanior: Maybe. Peyote: NOT! We'd get caught in the early morning hubbub. Ged: Considering that we don't even know where the damned passage leads, I vote that we wait. Rob: Yeah! Mongo: But what if the owners of this house come back? Peldor: Nah. They're obviously on vacation. Look at the dust in this place! It's been at least a month since anybody came here. Belphanior: Agreed. There's no chance that they'll decide to come back tomorrow, of all days. Halbarad: We could sleep here, and check the passage tomorrow night. Peyote: Yeah...then we'd have many hours to blow. Instead of just one. Ged: Agreed. Let us sleep. I, for one, need it. Thus, they bedded down for the night, in someone else's house, in a hidden city on an island in a lake, inside a dead volcano crater in the middle of hostile lands... next time: the guardian; torched; the killer blob; torched again ************************************************************************ I have gotten practically _no_ mail about these in the last two weeks (only from a few die-hard fans :). Are they not coming often enough, or do they suck, or is everyone getting them from the ftp site, or what? Seriously, if no one reads them, I'll lose the desire to write them. Reader feedback is what keeps me at it when I'm in a slump, and I'm definitely in a slump right now. At one time, I had a dozen email notes each time I posted a new part - total # respondents w/o repetition was >> 100 !! Now, the mighty river has become but a trickle. What's going on? tmiller@prism.gatech.edu ************************************************************************ ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. * The dungeons and non-player characters contained herein are from * TSR's module, A3, and are copyright 1980 by TSR, Inc. Specific * text and maps from them have been avoided, and I encourage anyone * who enjoys reading about them to buy and play the whole "A" series. ***** -------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 6th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 5th/4rd/5th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 5th/5th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 6th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 6th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 7th level human thief (N) Peyote, 5th/6th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rob, 6th level human priest of Trithereon (LG) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 4/21/570 C.Y. Time: early morning Place: the city of Suderham, hidden in the Drachengrab Mountains -------------------------------------------------------------------- XXXII. Challenges Galore The party had broken (walked) into an abandoned (?) house and decided to stay there for the night. It didn't hurt at all that they located a secret hatchway. How very convenient. Morning saw them eating a hasty meal and preparing to brave whatever was below. Mongo: Damn. I'm out of eggs. Rob: Huh? Mongo: Nevermind. They were all smashed up anyway. No use but to attract ants. Belphanior: (sitting in a corner sharpening his sword) Halbarad: Let us clean up and be on our way. Peyote: Merry way. Halbarad: Right. Ged: (to Belphanior) Not hungry? Belphanior: Nah. I never eat before I go underground. It makes me sick. Alindyar: Odd. Mongo: I don't see how in the bloody hell you can stand to go without breakfast. Me, I'd get eaten by my own belly before too long! Peldor: (checking his gear) I'm ready. Let those below tremble in awe of the mighty Peldor's coming! Ged: Yeah, right. Halbarad: (grasping the ring to the hatch) Let's get this cover up... Mongo: Sure, I'll help. (helps the ranger lift the hatch, exposing a dark, square shaft and a ladder, both going down) Rob: Gee, it sure is _dark_ in there. Belphanior: (considering pushing the priest down the tunnel) Nah. Might need him later. Hey, I'll go down first! Ged: What noble logic. Rob: (lights a lantern, illuminating a floor about thirty feet below) I'm ready now! Belphanior: (loosens his sword in its sheath and descends, soon followed by the others) The shaft did bottom out below, and a ten foot square, horizontal corridor led to the west. They began to follow it. Rob: Phew! It sure does stink in here. Mongo: Hey, it wasn't me. Belphanior: <cough> (draws his sword) Peyote: Quaffer... Ged: Try to control yourself next time, Rob. Alindyar: This corridor seems to have been long unused. Mongo: (examining the stonework of the walls) It's fairly recent. Maybe ten years old. Sort of looks like a sewer passage... Halbarad: Hark! The way turns ahead. Peyote: Way...(draws his sword) Mongo: (he and Belphanior round the corner) There's a big room up ahead. We're going in. Right, elf? Belphanior: Check. I'm with you. A short distance ahead was a large hexagonal chamber. The ceiling was higher here - maybe twenty feet - and covered with some sort of mineral deposit. It appeared quite wet. A giant figure stood in the center of the room; it appeared to have metal skin. Mongo: Nope, this definitely isn't any normal kind of sewer. Belphanior: (fearlessly strides forth) figure: Flee now, or I shall breathe poison death upon you all! Belphanior: (backs up) Death? Rob: (raises his lantern) Death? Ged: Is that a GOLEM?!? Alindyar: 'Twould appear so...an iron golem. Ged: Maybe we should reason with it. Alindyar: Meybe we should leave. Mongo: Fuck that! (approaches the thing) Who are you?!? figure: (unmoving, regards the dwarf) Mongo: What do you want?!? figure: (still does nothing) Mongo: To hell with HIM. (heads for a passageway in the southern wall) I'm going elsewhere. Belphanior: (skirts the figure cautiously, keeping it at swordpoint all the while) Halbarad: Um...follow them, but keep to the fringe of the room. Ged: Maybe some of us should go around the other edge of the room in case it breathes. Alindyar: Sensible idea. Peyote: All right! Halbarad, Alindyar, and Peldor went along the east wall; Ged, Rob, and Peyote went along the west wall. Throughout all this, the thing in the middle of the room remained impassive. Mongo: Hurry up, guys! There's a whole new passage to be explored over here! Belphanior: (peering into the darkness) Soon, they regrouped at the southern passage and went down it. Peldor kept a lookout to the rear in case the would-be golem came after them. After about two hundred feet, the new passage led to a ladder going up thirty feet to a hatch... Ged: Looks familiar. Halbarad: We could not have come far. Mongo: No way, maybe three hundred feet south of where we came in. Halbarad: We are no doubt still below the city. I would suggest that we avoid resurfacing just yet. Ged: I agree. What would be the point? Belphanior: Maybe that golem-thing is guarding a secret door. Peldor: Let's go back. I'll search while you all cover my back. Ged: Fat chance. Rob: I could try to turn the golem-thing. Peyote: Get out of town! Hold that lantern and keep quiet. Halbarad: Back we go, then. (they all return to the larger room) Peldor: (starts searching the wall) Belphanior: (he and Mongo start searching the other wall) Rob: (addressing the golem-thing) Who sent you? Ged: (watching both of them warily) Halbarad: (looking around nervously) I feel that we are missing something... Peyote: (sword drawn, strolling about looking at the ceiling) Ho- hum... Alindyar: (regarding the golem) Shoddy construction, in my humble opinion. Peldor: Bingo! Rob: Huh? Peldor: (chipping away limestone with a chisel) This door is, err, was, concealed. Mongo: What's that, a passage behind it? (walks up and pulls on a sheet of thin stone, exposing a good bit of the door) Halbarad: This is definitely a new way to continue. Peyote: It's the choice of a NEW generation... Belphanior: Let's take it. Out of my way. (heads into the new passage) Mongo: Hey, wait up! (he, and the rest, follow) Peldor: (watching the still-unmoving figure in the room behind) The passage was once more ten feet square. It led a short way to the west, then turned sharply left and went on for at least a hundred feet. Belphanior: (in the lead with Mongo) Hold that lantern higher! We need more light up here! Mongo: Or turn the damned thing off. My infravision would work too. Rob: Okay, okay. Belphanior: Make it snaAAaaaaaa...(falls into a now-open pit) Mongo: Yie! (falls too) Halbarad: (looking down into the pit, where the pair are laying not eight feet below, in a bed of soft sand...) Hmm... Belphanior: I hope there's not an ant lion underneath. Mongo: Ant? Lion? Is that like an owlbear? Peldor: (in the rear) Eh? (notices a large section of stone from the wall right behind him slide away; a gleaming nozzle is exposed, and strange hissing sounds are coming from it) Eh?! Alindyar: What is that? Peldor: I don't know, but I don't want to know! Out of the way! (he runs forth and attempts to jump the pit) Ged: Uh-oh! (also runs for the pit) Peldor: (clears the pit's rim easily and rolls to his feet on the opposite side) I think I'll keep backing up... Ged: (tries to jump across the pit as well, but misses the far edge and slams into the wall, then lands in the powdery sand) Agh! My back! Belphanior: Quit whining. Mongo: What the hell's going on up there?! What are you people running from? Alindyar: Hmm. Yonder contraption has some fell purpose, I am sure. There is no time for the carpet...(runs and jumps right into the pit, with suprising grace) Oof! Halbarad: No time at all. I shall jump too. (sails clumsily into the pit) Peyote: What is that nipple? Rob: (looking around wildly, trying to decide what to do) Peyote: That pit seems awful full. I think I'll stay up here, man. Rob: (runs toward the nozzle) I'll stop it! Peyote: (backing up to the edge of the pit) Get back here, pinhead! You don't want to be THAT close! Rob: I can make it! I'll just plug it with my flail! I'll- << WHOOOOOSH!! >> Peyote: (caught by a huge gout of flame, crisped somewhat mildly, and falls back on top of everyone in the pit) Whoops. BAD call. Ged: Well, look at that flame overhead. Wonder where Rob made his last stand against it... Belphanior: Serves the imbecile right. Mongo: The poor little guy. Peyote: (putting out tiny flames on his shirt) I tried to warn him. Alindyar: Observe - the flame ceases. Mongo: Hey, someone get on my shoulders and climb back up. Peldor: (looking over the far edge, down into the pit) Are you okay? Halbarad: We are. The priest...well, that is another matter. Peldor: I see him over there. He's actually moving around. Looks a lot like a big charred worm though. Halbarad: (climbs out of the pit on Rob's side) Priest? Rob: Uhh... Halbarad: Don't try to move. That was a stupid thing you did. Brave, but stupid. Rob: I'm okay, I'm okay. Ged: (peeking over the rim of the pit) Boccob's beard! The dolt lives! (various adventurers are emerging from the pit now) Peldor: He managed to dodge to one side as the flame came. Sort of. Rob: (totally black, his outfit is shredded as well as burned, and all the metal of his armor is blackened; some small bits have actually melted and run) I think I avoided the worst of it. Peyote: NOT! Heh heh. Ged: (regarding the smoking priest) Rob, your hair is all burned away. Peyote: Crispy critter... Rob: I shall live on. It takes more than that to put away a holy man such as myself. Belphanior: If you say so. Rob: (feeling his stubble) Alindyar: (floating up on his carpet) We should ensure that yon flame-spouter is extinct... Ged: It's not making any more noise. Peyote: Must be all blasted out, after Rob. Ho ho. Mongo: Hey! Someone get me out of this pit! Soon, they were all across the pit. Rob healed himself of the not insignificant wounds he had incurred. Peldor had scouted ahead just a bit, and reported a door with no noise audible from behind (actually he was sick of finding no treasure and hoped to come upon some before everyone else joined him). Alindyar stayed in the center of the party on his carpet, about four feet above the floor. Mongo: I'll open the door. Hey, it's unlocked! Oh well... Beyond was a forty foot square room, with a twenty foot ceiling again. Alindyar: Ah! Freedom of motion! Belphanior: I see two doors in the far wall. I'll take the eastern one. Mongo: I'll take the western one, then. Halbarad: Caution. They may be trapped. Rob: Watch out for nozzles in the walls... Peldor: (looking around for secret doors or treasure) Ho-hum. Mongo: (headed for the western door) Hm? Hey! HEY! I can't move! My feet are stuck! Ged: How...? Mongo: Aaaagh! I hate being stuck! (rough tendrils are rising from the floor and batting at him) What the fuck?!?! Where in the hell did THOSE come from?! (swinging his hammer around) Belphanior: Seems like I picked the wrong door...(leaps to the dwarf's side, hacking at the brownish bludgeons) Huh? Alindyar: 'Tis a mimic! Ged: Hey! I was about to say that! Alindyar: My apologies. Ged: Boccob damn it! What spells have I to deal with a monster like this?! Alindyar: That creature is no easy mark... Belphanior: Hey, I'm stuck too! (trying in vain to move his feet) Mongo: (slams the ground with his hammer) Take THAT, living floor! Belphanior: (severs a blob from its tendril) Whee! Peyote: Gnarly! Just gnarly! (moves closer, sword drawn, but watches the floor suspiciously) tendril: (whacks Mongo hard, snaring his hammer arm in the process) Mongo: AGH! It's got me good now! Help! Halbarad: (lays into the thing with his axe and dagger) Alindyar: (sitting cross-legged on his carpet, digging in his pack for something) Rob: (dashes forth to attack, but his feet get stuck too, and he falls over) <ROLLED A 1 ON d20...> Ooooops...! Peyote: (chops at the floor, wounding the mimic) Lo! I found it! Or part of it! Halbarad: Good work! Keep at it! Peldor: (attacks a stray tentacle, cutting it, but is careful not to get mired to the floor) Ged: (sputtering in anger) I'll bash it, by Boccob! (runs up and slams his morningstar into the monster heavily) Mongo: Hey! The blasted thing lost its grip! (starts pounding the now-flaccid mimic/floor/tendrils with his hammer) Peyote: Good going, elfdude. You dealt with it. Mongo: You killed it! (looking around) Yea! Ged: Well, I... Mongo: (shaking Ged's hand) What a true heroic feat! We'll make a warrior out of you yet! Rob: (trying to stand up without slipping) What happened? Ged: Do you need healing? Mongo: Nah. I'm barely bruised. It takes more than that thing to stop a Thunderhead. Save your magic. Ged: As you will. Belphanior: This door is false (has opened the eastern door to a blank wall). Peldor: (at the western door) This one isn't. Let's take it. Rob: (was going to remind the party to search for treasure under the mimic but thinks better of it) They went through the door and almost immediately turned leftward. Before them was a long corridor lit by fiery torches set into the wall every ten feet or so. It was quite warm in here. Mongo: (plodding off down the passage) Give me something I can fight! No glue monsters, just a giant or two! Or even an orc, for crying out loud! Halbarad: Orc? Belphanior: I have a feeling that you won't be disappointed before too long. Alindyar: This heat grows nigh unbearable... Ged: No shit. Whew! Peldor: Puny mage. Peyote: (sweating profusely) I can barely stand this dire heatwave, dudes. Let's mosey on out of here. Suddenly the walls to either side slid away, and a pair of large black hounds emerged, one to either side. Without warning, they breathed gouts of flame at the tightly-packed party. All were hit, for various degrees of injury. Alindyar: Fire-breathing hounds! I have heard tales of these. Ged: Indeed. Alindyar: Some say they come from the hells. Ged: Shall we philosophize on the matter, or help the others?! Alindyar: Ah, of course. (begins spellcasting as his carpet rises a bit) Wait...I have no useful spells for close quarters such as these. (starts looking for his wand) Mongo: Agh! We're like sardines in a can here! Belphanior: (charges one of the things, batting Rob out of his way as he does do) You'll pay for that, mutt! hound#1: Grr... Halbarad: (attacks the other hound with his axe as it prepares to breathe again - his armor is smoldering) Foul vermin! Away with you! Rob: (backs off, to the west, and starts casting a spell) Peldor: (trying to sneak into the alcove of hound#1) Peyote: (moves with Halbarad to double-team hound#2) hound#2: (bites Halbarad, wounding him only slightly) Grr... hound#1: (breathes fire at Belphanior) Belphanior: Agh! Die, motherfucker! (slashes the beast, wounding it a bit) I'll kill you for that! Rob: (taps the crazed elf) There. Belphanior: Stay away from me, you! Can't you see that I'm trying to wage war here?! Rob: But...I have given you a spell of resistance to heat and fire. Belphanior: Oh. Alindyar: (blasts hound#1 with magic missiles from his wand) hound#1: Yoooowl! Ged: (casts blindness on hound#1) Boccob take your sight, evil beast! hound#1: (blinded) Awoooowl! Ged: This just isn't your day, is it? hound#1: (trying to get a good guess as to where to breathe) Peldor: (finds that he can't get by the two warriors battling the second hound, and starts moving further down the corridor) Mongo: Lemme at 'em! Lemme at 'em! (can't find a place to fit into the melee) Shit. hound#2: (breathes fire on Halbarad and Peyote, singing them again) Halbarad: Agh! (chops the monster, but his dagger stab misses) Peyote: Woo! (slices the hound...it falls, dying) Natch! Halbarad: What was that? Peyote: Nothing. hound#1: (breathes fire on Belphanior) Belphanior: (protected by Rob's spell, he feels no pain) Ahh. This is too easy...(hacks the monster to death within two minutes) Meanwhile, Peldor had advanced to the end of the passage (it turned rightward) and was peering carefully around the corner. Unfortunately he was only human and as such had no infravision. Thus, he had no warning when a three foot long crossbow bolt flew out of the darkness to the north and pinned him to the wall, transfixing his arm. All he heard were heavy footfalls and a slammed door somewhere ahead. Peldor: AAGH! Mongo: Hey! The thief got ambushed! Ged: Serves him right. But, let's go help him out. Halbarad: Aye. (they all run westward to the corner) Belphanior: (stays behind, having spotted gem-studded collars on the hell hounds) Ah... nearby... Peyote: What happened, dude? Peldor: Someone shot me, what does it look like?! Agh! Mongo: Nailed you to that wall good, too. Ged: We need some clippers, or something. Peldor: Bah. Just get me off of this wall. Mongo: (grabs the tail end of the inch-thick bolt) You sure? Peldor: I can take it. Mongo: O-kay... Halbarad: When Mongo breaks the bolt, we'll pull the thief off of it. Peyote: Sure thing. Mongo: Grr...<SNAP> Peldor: YEAAAAARGH!!!!! Halbarad: (he and Peyote get Peldor safely to the ground) Ged: That's a nasty hole there (pressing a cloth to stop the blood flow) Peldor: AAAARGH! Peyote: Medic! Rob: I'm here. Don't worry. (heals Peldor, twice) Do you feel any better, brave thief? Peldor: Ahhh.......yeah. Oh yeah. Ged: Enough. Let's get some light on this passage to the north. Halbarad: (explores said area, finding a lengthy corridor leading to a heavy door) Rob: (to Peldor) I know how it is to do one thing when everyone else is doing something else. I sympathize with you. Peldor: I owe you one. Rob: Think nothing of it. Ged: Say, who's missing? Suddenly, a loud cry of pain came from the east. Belphanior was staggering toward the party, a gem-studded dog collar grasped in one hand... Ged: Wha...? Belphanior: <gasp> Poison... (falls to his knees) next time: minotaur madness; cubic jello; the muck-thing; serpents; the doom of the party... ANONYMOUS FTP SITE: tybalt.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) *********************************************************************** NOTES: Well. It's been only two days, i.e. about 48 hours, since my last posting. The distress signal did not go unheard. I got no less than 36 email messages, all of them positive and encouraging. So: I think I was having a slight case of the "cry wolf" syndrome. I just was in momentary doubt as to whether or not there were still fans out there. However, I doubt no more. Do not worry, the stories will continue. If I was in a slump then, I'm on a high wave now. Funny how these things work out...I extend a heartfelt thanks to all who sent me mail. I will wrap up module A3 with the next posting (part 33) and get into A4, the best of the series in my opinion. *********************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. * The dungeons and non-player characters contained herein are from * TSR's module, A3, and are copyright 1980 by TSR, Inc. Specific * text and maps from them have been avoided, and I encourage anyone * who enjoys reading about them to buy and play the whole "A" series. ***** -------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 6th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 5th/4rd/5th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 5th/5th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 6th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 6th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 7th level human thief (N) Peyote, 5th/6th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rob, 6th level human priest of Trithereon (LG) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 4/21/570 C.Y. Time: late morning Place: the city of Suderham, hidden in the Drachengrab Mountains -------------------------------------------------------------------- XXXIII. A Fitting End The party was trying to get its act together when Belphanior came stumbling from the last encounter area... Belphanior: <gasp> Poison... (falls to his knees) Rob: Hey?! What's wrong with HIM?! Ged: Poison? Peldor: Must have been those dog's collars, since he's got one in his hand and he's gasping. Halbarad: Are you priests capable of stopping poisons? Ged: Nah. Not that he deserves it anyway. Rob: Oh come now. He's sometimes helpful. Ged: Occasionally, yes. But he kills too many people. And I don't have any poison antidotes, anyway. Peldor: Gem-studded dog collars. Can't believe I missed those. Belphanior: (staggers up to the others) I will...live. Ged: How's that? Belphanior: Don't know. But the poison has weakened me. Could use some healing magic... Peyote: Okay, okay. Stop begging, man. (heals the elf) Belphanior: Ahh...must have been old poison or something. Well, in any case, be careful when handling these collars, err, this one collar here. (holds it aloft) It's got poison on all the spikes. Alindyar: I will be sure to remember that. Mongo: (visibly bored) Enough about poison and dogs! Let's go! (kicks down the door ahead) Halbarad: Hmm. (they are looking into a rectangular passage with a door to either side) Peyote: Which way? Ged: Let's go right. Peyote: Way! Right. Right way. Rob: Huh? Belphanior: (listening at a door) I don't hear anything. Mongo: Okay then. (opens the door, revealing another rectangular passage, with two doors to the left and a dead-end to the south) Halbarad: Shall we take the near door, or the far? Peyote: Far. Out. Ged: It doesn't really matter, does it? Let's open the far door. Peldor: (checking the south end for secret doors, finding none) Mongo: (opens the far door, and sees a short corridor veering off to the left) Belphanior: What's that ahead, at the turn? Alindyar: Observe. The floor, and ceiling, and walls as well, are metallic. Mongo: Not stone. But why? Peyote: Who knows? Halbarad: It could be a trap. Ged: Could be. Why don't we let Peldor check it out? Peldor: That's me, always doing the dirty work. Alindyar: Who can read those strange sigils on the metal wall? Belphanior: (squinting) That whole section looks like a door. Peldor: Hey, I can read that! It says, "DANGER. NO ENTRY." Belphanior: Hmm. A warning on the door. Ged: I think somebody is trying to tell us something. Alindyar: Touch it not. Peldor: Bah. Doors like this were meant for thieves to open. (checking for traps) Eventually. Mongo: (moving northward) Hey! I think this door here (points to his left) is the "near door" from the last hallway. Rob: Ah. Mongo: But this door here is new. Hurry up and stop playing back there. I smell monsters. So does my hammer. Peldor: (finds a thin coppery wire going into the wall at chest level) Now, what's THIS? Ged: Let me see that. Hmm. Halbarad: Check the wall there. Alindyar: Do not touch the wall. Belphanior: (thinks about having Rob volunteer to touch the wall, but decides to give him a break) Rob: (thinking about touching the wall anyway) Mongo: (to the north, eyeing that door and fingering his hammer anxiously) Grr...hurry up, guys! Halbarad: (halfway between the metallic door/area and the dwarf) Peldor: (pries open a hidden wall compartment, revealing a glass bottle covered with foil. The lid has a copper rod within it, which is connected to the copper wire. There is a second rod attached to the outside, with another wire going into the wall.) Alindyar: Arcane. Ged: This is a battery. Oops. DM: (to Ged) FRP characters don't know about batteries. Peldor: Maybe it's a bomb. DM: Watch it, buster. Ged: Let's leave it alone, before someone - or all of us - get fried. DM: GOOD idea. Mongo: Okay, all right, fuck this! (kicks open the door he has been examining) I'll make some action! Suddenly, a huge crossbow bolt zipped out of the darkness and hit the dwarf in the chest! Mongo: Oof! (just sees a large, shadowy figure flee) Hey! Hey you! Get back here! (throws his hammer into the darkness) Halbarad: What?! Are you hurt? Rob: (runs forth) Hurt? Mongo: Damn! (catches the hammer) Missed him! Halbarad: Are you injured? Are you ill? Rob: Yes, are you? Mongo: Missed that fucker! Huh? No, I'm okay. The damned bolt bounced off my armor, see? (holds up the broken quarrel) Halbarad: What a relief. Rob: What good armor. Ged: (to the south; they have abandoned the idea of tinkering further with the door and bottle) Let's go. Mongo has found another way. Peldor: (wondering if he could procure the bottle for later use) Belphanior: (to Mongo) Hey, let's move onward. Mongo: Yeah! Ged: (to Peldor) Leave that bottle alone, fool. Peldor: Oh, alright. Mongo: (leading the way northward) The tunnel goes left...and so do I! Peyote: Way to tell us, guy. Halbarad: There is a larger chamber ahead... Mongo: Good. If that means I can smash whoever shot at me... They entered a higher-topped room. Pots of coals were hanging from the walls, and these lit the room with a dull red glow. Some very detailed carvings decorated the walls. A large, hairy figure stood in one corner over a pile of bones and meat. The thing had a pair of large, curved horns on its head. It pointed a giant crossbow at the adventurers... Alindyar: 'Tis a minotaur. Mongo: That's him! That's the one who shot me! Peldor: Hey, he shot me too! Ged: Well, that goes to show that he was half-smart. Mongo: He's gonna be half-DEAD! (thorws his hammer with mighty force) Take that, bull-shit head! Hey! A _20_!! minotaur: (fires his weapon simultaneously) Mongo: (hit with the bolt, though it doesn't puncture his armor) OUCH! That's gonna make a nice bruise! minotaur: (hit square in the head with the hammer) Rargh! Mongo: Ha! I bet that hurts! (catches his hammer) Heh heh! minotaur: (tosses the crossbow aside and hefts a large battleaxe) Halbarad: Nice axe. (charges the monster, beating Mongo, who is just to slow to charge any but the shortest distances) Mongo: Hey! Belphanior: (looks to the north, where several doors are visible) Peldor: (looking at the fat sack on the minotaur's belt) Rob: (looking at the ceiling) Ged: (casting a spell) Boccob comes to assist us... minotaur: (meets Halbarad's advance, and chops at him with its axe) Rargh! Halbarad: (grazed) Yagh! (swipes at the thing, but misses) Ged: (fires a ray from his palm, at the monster) Take that! minotaur: (struck by the ray, it shrivels somewhat) Argh! Ged: Boccob withers the evil ones! Back, fell beast! Mongo: Good. But now it's MY turn. Again. (launches his hammer at the thing) minotaur: (bats at the hammer, keeping it from hitting him) Mongo: Fuck!! Ged: But look. The thing is weaker now, obviously because of my mighty magicks. Belphanior: (in the larger area to the north, he opens the northeastern door and wanders into a new passage) Peldor: Hey! Where are you going without me?! (follows the elf) Wait up! Mongo: (catches his hammer) Damn it! Ged: Hit it again, Mongo! Alindyar: (strolls toward the minotaur) Away from here, foul one! (blasts the beast with a color spray) minotaur: (blinks as it is assaulted by the swirling rainbow of colors) Halbarad: (stabs the monster with his dagger) Aha! A hit! Alindyar: But look! The creature ignores the spell! minotaur: (sure enough, it is lumbering toward the party) Mongo: Well, it won't ingore ME! (hurls his weapon again) minotaur: (hit in the chest by the hammer) Urgh! (dies) Ged: Yeah! Good shot. Mongo: Thanks. That's what that bastard gets for ambushing me...and Peldor is avenged too. Ged: Hey, where is that varmint, anyway? Peyote: The thief and the elf went up thataway, for reasons unbeknownst to me. Halbarad: Well, let us follow them. Ged: I hate to be a Peldor, but get the monster's stuff. Mongo: (collects a pouch) Hey, platinum! Peyote: Cool! Halbarad: Get the axe, and the crossbow too. Ged: Just in case. Rob: That's an awfully big crossbow. meanwhile... Belphanior: Wha...!? (barely dodges a whizzing bolt from the darkness) Peldor: Hey, watch it with the traps! Be careful, for crying out loud. (lights a torch) Ah, now _I_ can see too. Belphanior: Okay, okay. Look, that was a plate trigger. Nice trap, but they didn't set it up to aim right. Peldor: Still, let's not take any chances. Ha! Listen to me, I'm starting to sound like Halbarad. Belphanior: Boy, I'd like to stab that fucker in the back. Peldor: Well, we might need them for now. Wait a while - maybe a few months. Then we'll get them if you want. Belphanior: Yeah, but they _irritate_ me. Peldor: They're not such bad folks. You just have to not let them see some things. (opens a door after checking it for traps) Besides, we can trust them. Belphanior: More doors...what a maze. (listens at the next door) Nothing behind this one either. Nothing we can hear, anyway. Peldor: Open it. (they do - beyond is a small L-shaped room) Belphanior: Look. A treasure stash! Peldor: Electrum?! These were poor monsters! Belphanior: Okay, let's take about half the electrum. We really should leave some for the others - they're doing such a good job fighting and all. Peldor: Gems! Three of them! Belphanior: Hey, a pouch. Wonder if it's magical? Oh well, I'll take it just in case. YOU wouldn't understand magic, after all. Peldor: Fine, but I get the gems. Belphanior: Deal. Magic is so much more interesting anyway. Peldor: Listen, here they come. Let's vamoose! soon... Belphanior: So THERE you are! (he and Peldor have snuck around a looping passage after closing the door to the loot chamber, so they appear to have come from another direction) Ged: What have you found here? Belphanior: Err..just a lot of traps. Let's go north. Peldor: What did that minotaur have? Peyote: Just some platinum. Peldor: Good. At least it wasn't something puny. Like electrum. Rob: Puny. Mongo: How about this door to the north? Peldor: Hey, let me check that for you... They went on to find a small L-shaped room with a couple hundred electrum coins inside, and some small gems too (Peldor got rid of a few of his cheapest baubles from previous adventures). This area of the maze had another trap plate, which they avoided, and a dead-end. The party went back westward, into another section of the minotaur's maze - Peldor's keen trap-checking abilities saved the party from a couple more crossbow bolt traps. There were more loops and dead-ends this way...finally they chose a new door, which led over seventy feet to a slightly larger room. Mongo: (entering the room, with Halbarad) Hey, this room's all emptyyyyyy...(the two lead adventurers fall via a tilting slab of stone, falling about 3' onto a soft, squishy mass) Halbarad: What is this? Mongo: What the fuck...AGH! IT BURNS! Halbarad: AGH! Rob: (almost yells just for the hell of it) Alindyar: The mass below appears as a gelatinous cube. Ged: You're right! Quick, help them! Peyote: But how? Belphanior: (casting a spell) Halbarad: (paralyzed from the goo's enzymes) ... Mongo: (not paralyzed, bashing the slop beneath him) Die, slop monster! Ged: (casting a spell) Rob: (begins chanting) Peldor: (backs up, in preparation for jumping the pit) Belphanior: (launches a sphere of flame into the pit, maneuvering it around Mongo and the unmoving Halbarad) gelatin: (badly burned) Ged: (launches three magical missiles into the mass) Take this sign of Boccob's might! gelatin: (now has three deep furrows dug into it) Alindyar: (uses his wand to blast three more missiles into the thing) Good idea, Ged. Ged: Thanks. Hold on, Mongo! We'll get you out of there! Mongo: Hurry it up! This shitheap is eating us alive! Peldor: (dashes forth and leaps over the pit, but falls barely short, catching the far edge but slamming into the wall) Oof! Peyote: (waving his sword about uselessly) Way to go, dude! Belphanior: (making his sphere roll about, melting swaths of gelatin wherever it goes) Peyote: (reaches down and hacks the gel, slicing a deep rent in it) Yeah! ...I think. Belphanior: (trying to burn a hole around the two adventurers stuck in the gel) Halbarad: (silently moans as he is burned further by the gel) Mongo: (loudly yells as he is burned further) YARGH! Alindyar: (blasts the mass three more times, and it convulses and then melts all at once) Mongo: Hey, that did it! The stuff doesn't burn anymore! Peldor: What's that I see under all that melted goo? Mongo: Why, it looks like treasure! Too bad you're not down here to get your grubby hands on it! Ged: Second that. Belphanior: (climbing down into the pit now) Peldor: (peering over the edge) Well, get it anyway! We'll split it up later! Since Peldor was looking over the edge, toward the others, he never saw the second gelatinous cube come silently around the corner behind him... Peldor: Wha...?! (he is pushed down into the pit, as this new cube falls on top of Halbarad, Mongo, Belphanior, and him) Blbb! Mongo: Glbb! Belphanior: Fclbb! Peyote: Oh shit! Ged: Boccob, we need you now, if ever! (casts another spell) Rob: (finally stops chanting and casts a spiritual hammer) Peyote: (lays into this new cube, slashing a deep cut in it) Alindyar: (would love to cast his fireball, but thinks better of it) Ged: (blasts the thing with a burning hands spell) Take that! gelatin: (a large piece of it is melted away, exposing Mongo's helmet) Ged: Agh! More power! Blast it! Kill it! Rob: (slams the gel with his magical hammer of energy, making a weird splattering noise) Eh? Alindyar: (fires three magical missiles at it, and it melts as did the first) Whew. This fine wand has proven quite valuable recently. Ged: Are they okay? Eventually, the gel-covered ones were pulled out. Halbarad and Peldor were paralyzed, and all four were injured from the goo's caustic secretions. Ged and Rob used more healing magic to help the wounded, and then they all had to wait about one quarter of an hour for the paralysis to fade. The treasure from beneath the goo consisted of some gold coins, a longsword, a suit of human-sized chain mail armor, and a rose-colored crystalline gem. Mongo stashed all of these in his sack, and the party ate lunch before continuing (they also checked the next section of passage to make sure that no more gelatinous cubes were forthcoming...). The passage led into a huge cavern, about a hundred and a half feet in diameter. The ceiling was high and covered with stalactites. Rob winced. The place was illuminated by some strange glowing fungi, but most of it consisted of a large, swampy lake. This water had some dead fish with leeches, and also various scum floating around. A shore was visible, ahead and slightly to the right side. A narrow row of rubbery turf- like material formed a pathway of sorts to the far shore. Odd shrubbery dotted this path. The explorers could see some kind of opening in the cavern wall by the far shore. Belphanior: I see leeches. I don't like leeches. Let's go along the path. Rob: Sounds good to me. Even I wouldn't try to swim in that lake. Mongo: (eyeing the lake) I don't like this. Who knows what has died in that lake? Ged: Not me. Alindyar: (readying a spell) Halbarad: The path it is, then. (they advance, he and Mongo leading the way) Mongo: This stuff underfoot is getting worse... Halbarad: What's THAT?! heap of rotting vegetation: (rises and lumbers toward them) Mongo: What in the FUCK? (throws his hammer at the thing) heap: (hit by the weapon, but doesn't seem to notice) Alindyar: Move aside, so that I can bespell it! Mongo: Sure thing. Belphanior: (steps to the side) Go for it. Mongo: (catches his hammer) Yeah! Halbarad: What is your plan? Alindyar: (casts a web onto the thing) That... heap: (swats at the strands of webbing covering it) Halbarad: Aha! The thing is pinned. heap: (pulls at the web, un-anchoring it since the wet, moist ground won't hold the web) Ged: Uh-oh. Peyote: (casts an entangle spell on it) Whoa! That should work! heap: (slowed somewhat by the spell) Ged: We need a better plan here... Rob: (lights a torch) Peyote: Yeah! Burn it. Ged: (preparing a spell) Halbarad: (trying to get a good angle to attack, but the web is complicating things) Rob: (throws the flaming torch at the thing, igniting both it and the web) Peyote: Way to go! Peldor: (feeling useless) I can't even get around it. Belphanior: (casts a spell) This'll help. (fires a magical arrow from his fingertip) heap: (hit by the spell and splashed with acid) ssss... Ged: Here's some more, muck-thing! (strides forth and shoots fans of flame from his hands, burning the monster more) Peyote: Major overkill. heap: (staggers into the lake) Ged: Um... Mongo: It better not come back out of that lake! Halbarad: (readying his axe) Rob: (looking about nervously) heap: (shambles out of the dark lake toward the party) Mongo: For crying out loud! Halbarad: (steps up and slashes the thing with his axe) heap: (wounded slightly, bats the ranger with a slimy appendage) Halbarad: Whoulf! (knocked back a good ten feet) The monster is strong! Mongo: (hurls his hammer at close range) Keep back! heap: (hit, but doesn't relent) Ged: Boccob! Rob: Aie! (backs up, even though he is in the back of the party) Peldor: (runs past the place where the monster was before it dunked itself) heap: (doesn't notice Peldor, rather swats Mongo with its "arm") Mongo: Argh! (wounded) Damned muck-thing! (catches his hammer) Peyote: This is definitely a desperate situation! (digging for his wand) Ged: Oh, no! Alindyar: (sends a phantasmal force at the thing) heap: (ignores the illusion) Alindyar: Eep. Halbarad: (stabs at the foe with his dagger, but can't penetrate very far) Why will it not falter?!? Mongo: 'Cause it's too stupid! (since the thing is upon him, he can't throw his hammer) Take this, muck-o! (deals the monster a mighty blow) heap: (flailing at the dwarf) Mongo: Agh! Help me, guys! Belphanior: (slashes at the thing, scoring a fairly deep blow) Ged: Be blind, by Boccob! (casts a blindness spell on the muck monster) heap: (obviously unaffected) Ged: Cripes... Rob: (praying) Belphanior: (stabs the thing again, but not as hard) Eh? heap: (pounds the elf) Belphanior: Agh! Halbarad: (chops and stabs it again) heap: (bats the ranger, hitting with great force) Halbarad: Ouch! heap: (looking around, but too late - Peldor is in position behind it now) Peldor: (backstabs the thing, very successfully) Die, swamp beast! heap: (falls, finally) Peyote: No fair! I didn't get to use the wand yet! Peldor: Ha! Peldor saves the day! As always! Ged: Shut up. We're too tired for this tirade. Peyote: (heals Belphanior and Halbarad) Rob: (heals Halbarad) Ged: (heals Mongo) Mongo: Thanks, I'm hurting here. Halbarad: Let us rest, bind wounds- Peldor: Treasure! Look what I've found! (holds aloft a potion) Ged: Amazing. Peldor: But that's not all! (holds up a sword and some gauntlets) Halbarad: Good job. Mongo: I'll take those. Peldor: What, I can't wear the gauntlets? Ged: Not right now. We have further to go before worrying about that. Peldor: Oh, all right. But I deserve them for killing that thing. Soon, they reached the far shore... Mongo: Hey, what are those? Halbarad: A pair of huge serpents! Rob: Aie! Ged: Crap. We're worn down enough as it is. Peyote: (pointing his wand, obviously kept in hand in case of a further foe) Not to fear, dudes! Ged: Nooooo!! Peyote: (fires the wand at the snakes) snake: (one of them turns to stone) other snake: (regarding its late companion curiously) Peyote: See? See?! Mongo: Whatever. (throws his hammer, hitting the remaining snake) snake: (staggers) Peyote: Don't charge it! I want to use the wand again! Ged: No! You'll stop getting lucky sometime. (casts a spell) Belphanior: (runs toward the monster) Come, Halbarad! I now challenge you to help me kill this monster! Halbarad: Hold that wand, Peyote! I must help the elf! (he charges as well) Belphanior: (slashes the snake, wounding it) Halbarad: (chops and stabs the snake, wounding it worse) Mongo: (fires his hammer at the snake, wounding it even more) Rob: Hey, 1-2-3 !! Ged: (casts magic missiles, bombarding the snake and slaying it) Hah! Boccob's power flows! Peldor: Like piss... Alindyar: Still, the monster is vanquished. Peyote: My wand will be sheathed for now, then. Ged: Forever, hopefully. Keep that thing out of our battles. Mongo: Look, there's a long corridor behind the snakes! Halbarad: Take it, then. (they all do) Ged: Lots of lamps here. Belphanior: It dead-ends. Why is that? Peldor: Let me check for traps on the floor. (does so, getting ahead of the party) No traps. Hmm. Maybe a door here? Ged: Seems sensible. Peldor: Aha! There IS a door here. (opens the concealed door) Uh-oh. (draws his sword) Halbarad: (looking beyond) Prepare for battle, friends. Beyond was a huge room, well-lit by many torches. There were nine large chairs set in a semicircle, facing the door they had just come through. Five of these had occupants - well-dressed men, some in armor, some with weapons, but all very dangerous- looking. A spiral staircase went upward in one corner of the room. Some of the men pointed at the party. Mongo: Get them! (charges) men: (laughing) Halbarad: Why can we not hear them? man on center throne: (he has an eyepatch; makes a signal to someone) Peldor: Whoa! (moves forward as a wall of stone slams down right behind him) What gives?! Ged: I don't like this. Peldor: Me neither. Mongo: (runs forward, but bounces off of an invisible wall) Oof! Who put THAT there?!? Ged: Foul magic! Alindyar: Mayhap I can dispel it. (starts spellcasting) Peyote: Uh, we're out of time, guys. A tiny panel popped open in the ceiling, just long enough for a flask to be hurled into the midst of the party. Belphanior tried to catch it, but failed. The vial shattered, and thick green gas billowed over the adventurers! Rob: <cough> (falls unconscious) Alindyar: (his spell interrupted, he slips away as well) Halbarad: Kaff! Break through! (tries to get around the invisible barrier, but there IS no way around it, and he falls too) Peyote: Bogus...(drops) Ged: Boccob damn it! (faces the five men) To hell with you! To hell with you all! I'll...I'll...I...(falls to the floor) Peldor: <cough cough> (grasping his luckstone and trying to hold his breath; it doesn't help. He falls too.) Belphanior: Someone will die for this...(drops unconscious) Mongo: Shit! Damn! Fuck! (pounds repeatedly at the magical wall with his hammer) You fuckin' cowards! I'll mash you into pulp when I get through this wall! You're dead meat! DEAD!! D....shit...(finally succumbs to the gas) The sound of silence follows... Man with eyepatch: (to some lackeys who have suddenly appeared) You know what to do with them... lackeys: (begin dragging the unconscious adventurers away) Big priest: So these are the pests who have caused us so much trouble. Man with patch: Not to worry, Mordrammo. They shan't bother us again. Ever again. (to lackeys) Strip their possessions and throw them in the dungeons! Ha ha! I've always wanted to say that!! others: (laughing) next time: Is this the end? The Adventurers face their greatest challenge yet, as they are locked in the dungeons without any weapons, items, or spells! ANONYMOUS FTP SITE: tybalt.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) *********************************************************************** NOTES: I played the tournament version since I like this part the best...no items of any kind. Only wits and non-weapon proficiencies to rely on. Heh heh. *********************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. * The dungeons and non-player characters contained herein are from * TSR's module, A4, and are copyright 1980 by TSR, Inc. Specific * text and maps from them have been avoided, and I encourage anyone * who enjoys reading about them to buy and play the whole "A" series. ***** -------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 6th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 5th/4rd/5th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 5th/5th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 6th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 6th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 7th level human thief (N) Peyote, 5th/6th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rob, 6th level human priest of Trithereon (LG) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: ? (presumably sometime after 4/21) Time: ? Place: the Slave Lords' dungeon in Suderham -------------------------------------------------------------------- PROLOGUE: In the last writing, the party was knocked out by a devious gas trap on the verge of fighting the Slave Lords. Now, if you haven't read the module, this little explanation will help. The module, A4, has some text describing how the party spell-casters used up all their remaining spells in worthy, yet futile attempts to free the party. I'm not sure that this is enough for some parties - I know that this one wasn't too happy with it. But, it IS a tournament module after all, so that's the way I feel it should be played. Anyway, the module has the captors depriving the spell-users of food and good rest in order to keep their spells from being re-learned or prayed for. The priests are still able to squeak a few by, however: GED: cure light wounds (2), create water PEYOTE: cure light wounds (2), purify food & drink ROB: cure light wounds, resist cold I just thought this little explanation would help those who don't have the module but might wonder about the setting the adventurers have been placed in. And now, without further ado: XXXIV. Prisoners Mongo: (waking up) Hey! Peldor: (sitting up, looking around) You're awake too? Mongo: Seems that way, doesn't it? Peldor: Well, I can't see anything in this darkness. Mongo: I can. Not that there's anything to see. Peldor: Is everyone here? Mongo: Yep. All eight of us. Belphanior: (stands up) Hey, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore. Mongo: Kansas? Peldor: Are we in a room, or a pit, or what? Mongo: It's a big cave-type place. Maybe thirty feet across, with four exits. I can't see a ceiling. Peldor: (playing with the sand beneath his feet) Hmm. Belphanior: Hey! Where are my clothes?!? Mongo: That's it! No clothes! I knew something else was wrong! Peldor: Well, I don't know about you guys, but I've got a loincloth on. Brr. Mongo: Loincloth? What's that? All I've got is this rag here. Belphanior: They took my weapons! They took everything! Peldor: Yep. Mongo: So they've got all our stuff. Even my hammer. Grr. Peldor: Those bastards. Ged: Yawn. (sits up) Hey, what gives? Belphanior: Nobody. We've been seriously fucked over. Mongo: (wandering around the chamber) Peldor: (looking blindly about) Ged: Hey, I have a headache. And all my spells are shot, too! Belphanior: Me too. I think they purposely kept us from sleeping and eating right. Deprivation works on us mages, you know. Mongo: Food? I'm hungry! Ged: No food here, either. Belphanior: (trying to climb a wall) Mongo: (waking up Halbarad) Ged: What's this? (picks up a tube that was on the floor) I found a scroll tube! Halbarad: Where are we? I cannot see... Mongo: We're in somebody's dungeon. Alindyar: (wakes up) Hmm. Peyote: (sits up) Dudes? What gives? Ged: (opening the tube) Hey, there's a scroll in here! Peldor: Read it! Ged: I can't. There's no light. Alindyar: Obviously, much has transpired. I only vaguely recall our captors keeping us from studying spells. I trust that you have the same problems? Belphanior: (falls from the wall) Oof! The damned walls are too crumbly to climb. Yea, those dolts prevented any of us spell- casters from doing anything useful right about now. Ged: I have a couple of holy spells left, somehow. Peyote: Yeah, me too, man. They didn't block everything. Mongo: Oh, I feel so much safer now. Rob: (rolls over, into Mongo's leg) Huh?? Mongo: Get up, you. Rob: Ugh. I feel sick. Ged: They could have at least given us some decent clothes. Mongo: Well, they didn't, so let's get a move on. One of these tunnels has a slight glow far down it. I figured that even you blind people would have seen that by now. Rob: (sits straight up) Hey! I can't see! I'm blind! Blind as a bat!! Ged: I guess I'll just hold on to this tube for now, until we find some way to read the paper inside it. Rob: Where are my clothes?! I'm cold! And I'm exposed! Halbarad: Please stop complaining. Mongo: Yeah, peewee. Rob: (mumbling to himself about the lack of respect priests get these days) Peyote: Well, we had better corral the sightless ones together to keep them from running into walls. Ged: (glances at Rob) Yup. Belphanior: I say that we go a different way than the dimly-lit one. Obviously that's just what they want us to do. Mongo: I don't think they really care about us anymore. Why not just kill us? Why this? Alindyar: I seem to recall some priests discussing feeding us to the Earth Dragon... Ged: Ah. That explains EVERYthing. Mongo: Fuck! I'm not gonna be food for any dragon! Not without a fight, anyway! Belphanior: My sentiments exactly. Ged: Let's go this way. (points to the approximate east) Here, Halbarad, you hold on to my shoulders, and Rob, hold on to his, and Peldor hold on to Rob. Peyote, you stay in the back and watch out for anything coming from the rear. Peldor: Hey, watch what you say. We're all half-naked here, remember? Ged: Whatever. But we don't want to be ambushed in the dark by any monsters. Belphanior: I'll lead the way. Even though this IS the dimly- lit passage. I'm ready to kill something. Mongo: Hey, wait for me! I'm still the strongest. Alindyar: I suppose I shall just remain in the center of the party. Ged: Sure. Alindyar: Wait, I have the farthest-reaching infravision. Belphanior: Well, stay near the front of the group then. Suddenly, the ground shook, and dust fell from the walls and ceiling... Mongo: An earthquake? Shit, this place'll never survive that! Ged: Neither will we. Halbarad: Let us make haste. Mongo: This tunnel's awful narrow. We'll have to march single file. THE MARCHING ORDER (* = no infravision) : Peyote Peldor Rob Halbarad Ged Alindyar Belphanior Mongo -> * * * shortly... Mongo: Hey! That little light is moving back as we advance! Belphanior: Oh, if I only had my bow... Mongo: Fuck that. If I only had my hammer...well, then we'd see some serious ass-kicking, that's for sure. Peyote: For sure. Ged: If I had all my spells- Halbarad: Enough about the spells, and the weapons. At least you can all see. I can't even do that. We need to stop bickering and make a better lot for ourselves. Rob: Yeah! Peyote: Pronto! Mongo: What's that?! Something just brushed my feet! Belphanior: And mine too! Alindyar: It felt like swirling sand. Peyote: Sounds cool. Mongo: Where'd that floating light go? Hey, wha- WHAAAAP! Mongo: (flies back, reeling) Agh! Belphanior: What in the hell?! Alindyar: Beware! Something attacks! Ged: Get back! Retreat! We're useless in the dark! Whatever it is, I can't see it either! (they back up) Belphanior: (grabs Mongo and pulls him back) Come on! Mongo: Uhh... Peldor: What's happening? Ged: Strategic withdrawal. Peyote: (running back into the main chamber, followed by the others) Rob: (trips and falls) Whoops. Halbarad: (trips over Rob) Oof. Ged: For crying out loud! Belphanior: (to Mongo) Are you okay? Mongo: Just a little bruised, that's all. That felt like SAND that hit me - I feel scraped. I'm bleeding. Ged: I still have one or two minor healing spells... Mongo: Nah. I'm fine. Let's go back there and fight! Halbarad: (having gotten up) That is NOT a good idea. If you with infravision can't see whatever attacked Mongo, then none of us can fight it. Ged: Besides, we don't have any weapons. Rob: (unable to see, he is addressing the far wall) Yeah! Peldor: Well, let's go another way. Mongo: Hey, there's that tiny light again. Ged: Maybe it's a monster. Alindyar: Perhaps it seeks to lure us astray. Belphanior: If I had a sword, I'd lead it to hell... Ged: Let's go this way (points south) Rob: Okay! (looking north) Mongo: (leads the way into the southern exit) soon... Mongo: Ow! What the- Belphanior: What? Mongo: I stepped on something. Feels like a splinter or eight. (holds something aloft) Hey, I found a club! Alindyar: What of the splinters? Ged: Are they wooden? Because if they are, maybe we can use them to make fire! Mongo: (collecting splinters from the ground) They feel like wood. Smell like wood. Hmm. TASTE like wood. Alindyar: That would seem to lead to only one conclusion. Ged: Are they big enough to use as weapons? Mongo: I doubt it. But they're dry. If we can make a spark, I bet we could burn these. Here. (hands them to Ged to carry) Ged: Gee, thanks. (puts them in the tube along with the scroll) Belphanior: What's that club you found? Mongo: I think it's somebody's bone. Big one, too. (hefting the thigh bone) Not bad, for a club. I think I'll hang on to this for the next encounter. Belphanior: Sure. Mongo: Now they're in trouble. Now I have a weapon. (swinging the bone about easily) Just wait! Halbarad: Let us move on, please. I want light. Soon, after choosing the left fork of a splitting passage, they came upon another fork. They went left again, just for the sake of consistency. A few minutes later... Mongo: Huh?! Belphanior: What now? Mongo: I stepped in something. I really hope it's not what I think it is. Rob: Huh? Mongo: (sniffing his finger which he just dipped into whatever it is he stepped in) Bah. This is pitch. Peyote: Throw what? Where? Ged: Tar, you fool. Belphanior: Is there a lot? Mongo: Not really. It's just a small puddle, off to the left here. Watch it. Alindyar: If we had a flame source, we could use it for fuel. Ged: Maybe we can come back here later then, if we find one. Mongo: Yeah. (moves on a bit) Belphanior: I smell something. Mongo: Phew! Peyote: Most foul. I hope I don't get sick and blow chunks. Mongo: Shh! There's an open area ahead. They moved around a final kink in the tunnel and into a larger chamber. Right in front of their feet was an apparently bottomless chasm, about twenty feet wide. On the far side was a big cavern, full of small holes. These were teeming with gigantic ants, which crawled across the floors and walls everywhere. They carried food and other unrecognizable items. The gap was bridged by a bizarre construct, made of giant ants' shriveled bodies. The ants seemed to be ignoring the party, and all were on the other side of the ant-bridge. Belphanior: Is that a larva they're carrying over there? I've always wanted to eat one of those. Rob: Gross. Peyote: Dude, I'm definitely going to have to hurl if you do that. Mongo: Even with my infravision, I still can't make out any details of anything. Alindyar: Those insects may have something useful. Halbarad: (still unable to see any of this) Is it worth the risk? Peldor: (also blind) Not in my opinion. Mongo: Then let's go. Unless you want to fight them. I'm ready for battle. Ged: I think that we should save our energy for foes more menacing than giant ants. Halbarad: Agreed. Let us seek a flame source. ...and so they went back to the second fork, and took its rightward branch... Mongo: Yah! (swatting overhead) Belphanior: Something touched me! Mongo: There's big hairy tentacles overhead! Watch out! Ged: I don't see anything giving off heat. Peyote: I smell roots. Alindyar: The things are not moving of their own accord - only due to you hitting them. Methinks they are harmless. Mongo: Hey, they ARE roots! Good call, druid! Ged: Can we eat them? Peyote: (examining the roots) I don't see why not. But of more importance is this: We must be close to the surface, if we are seeing roots. Maybe a way to escape is nearby. Mongo: Let's get to it, then. (moves on) Ged: (trying to figure out how to cut the roots loose) Peldor: (looking around blindly) Rob: (ditto) Belphanior: (watching the roots suspiciously) soon... Mongo: There's a pool ahead. Cold water, too. Ged: Gee, how useful. Belphanior: Not really. But there are fish there. And we can eat fish. Mongo: But we have to catch them first. Belphanior: Oh, yeah. Alindyar: Look, there is some wood washed up on the shore. Mongo: (moving toward the edge of the water) I'll get it. Suddenly, something chittered and emerged from the pool with a clicking sound, bowling over the dwarf in the process! next time: Attack of the fifty-foot crab! (no, just kidding) Dinner for all! And the party finally finds a light source! ANONYMOUS FTP SITE: tybalt.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) *********************************************************************** NOTES: This episode got delayed a bit by various side-effects of the rioting caused by the Rodney King business (a verdict that I don't think I agree with, by the way). I do live near downtown Atlanta, after all. I'm just glad I don't live in Los Angeles... I should be able to get another part done by Thursday if not any earlier. Someday I'm going to write six or seven and post one a day for a week. *********************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. * The dungeons and non-player characters contained herein are from * TSR's module, A4, and are copyright 1980 by TSR, Inc. Specific * text and maps from them have been avoided, and I encourage anyone * who enjoys reading about them to buy and play the whole "A" series. ***** -------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 6th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 5th/4rd/5th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 5th/5th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 6th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 6th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 7th level human thief (N) Peyote, 5th/6th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rob, 6th level human priest of Trithereon (LG) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: ? (presumably sometime after 4/21) Time: about thirty minutes since the party woke up Place: the Slave Lords' dungeon in Suderham -------------------------------------------------------------------- XXXV. Collection Time Mongo: (knocked over by something that leaped out of the water) Yah! Belphanior: Kill it! (charges toward whatever is assaulting the dwarf, but stops short, realizing that he has no weapons) Yipe. Mongo: (bashes his assailant with his bone/club) Get the hell off of me! creature: (chittering, moves toward Belphanior) Belphanior: Yah! (runs around, chased by the thing) Halbarad: I do not know which I would rather have more right now, sight or an axe. (he, Peldor, and Rob still can't see, as they have no infravision) Peldor: I'd take sight. Mongo: I'd take the axe. Rob: Axe? Ged: Watch out! The thing's still attacking! Belphanior: I'll punch it! (swings at the creature, but misses) Whoops! Peldor: (trying to find a way to apply his blind-fighting skills) Mongo: I'll get the bastard! (bashes it again with his club, and it slows down considerably) Belphanior: (kicks at it, doing insignificant damage) creature: (charges Mongo again, biting him) Mongo: OW! Leave me the hell alone! Alindyar: (scrutinizing the thing with his infravision) The attacker appears to have the shape of a huge crustacean. Mongo: Huh?!?! Ged: Yep, you're right. It's a crab, I think. Mongo: Crab?! I've been attacked by a CRAB?! Eyagh! (smashes the creature again, and a wet splatter is heard) Peyote: I think you brained it. Gross. Mongo: (examining the carcass in the darkness) I think it IS a big crab! Peldor: Ah, if we only had a fire... Mongo: Oh, we will. But for now, someone needs to carry this crab body around. (looking at Peldor) Peldor: Uh... Ged: Yeah, you do it, Peldor. You're fairly strong, and otherwise useless in this darkness. Peldor: (grumbling, he gingerly grabs the crab by a leg) Fine, but I get first dibs on the meat. Halbarad: (manages to get to the water's edge) Ged: Hey, stay away from there! There might be another one of those crabs. Halbarad: (tasting the water) This is fresh water. Ged: So? Mongo: Wait a minute... Halbarad: Caverns usually do not have fresh water inside of them. Peyote: Yeah, dude, you're on to something! Mongo: He's right. Even the dumbest kobold miner knows that. Ged: I see. So this pool may lead to an outlet somewhere. Alindyar: ...such as that large freshwater lake surrounding the island that we are underneath. Belphanior: I'll check the pool. It's not like I have anything that can't get wet. Mongo: Wait for me! (wades out into the water, club brandished) Ged: We'll wait here, I guess. (picks up the two pieces of wood that were washed up on the shore) Hey, these are too wet to burn, but they might serve as clubs. Peyote: (hefting one) Aye. Belphanior: Give me one of those. (snatches one and swims out into the pool) Nice fishies...(submerges) Mongo: (finding that he can float rather well when unarmored) Hmm, it's a good thing that I once learned how to swim. Peyote: Where's that elf? Belphanior: (surfaces on cue) There is an exit from here, under the surface. Ged: Hmm. Sounds like a possibility. Mongo: Well, what are we waiting for?! Let's go swim and check it out! Belphanior: Okay. (they take deep breaths and go under) Peldor: If we don't find light and heat soon, I may eat this crab raw... over a minute later... Alindyar: Something is coming... Belphanior: (surfaces) <cough> Mongo: (walks up onto the shore) Whew! Ged: Well? What's the story? Belphanior: Mongo can hold his breath longer than me, that's what. Mongo: The underwater tunnel continues for a while, but forks off fairly far down. Belphanior: We didn't want to risk going any farther, since we were running out of air by that point. Mongo: Yeah. Well at least you were. Anyway, there's also some funny worm-like things in the tunnel pretty close to us. I didn't want to see what they were, though. You never know... Belphanior: The water seemed charged nearby them. I think they're electric eels, myself. Halbarad: Well, it seems that at least some of us cannot make that swim. Even IF there is a way out. Mongo: (wondering just how long he can hold his breath) I'd be willing to try for a farther swim. Ged: But what if there's nothing out there? Not a chance. We'll go back another way and see what we find. Peyote: Look on the bright side. At least we found something we can eat later. It wasn't a total loss. Peldor: Let's find heat then. I'm getting hungry. Mongo: Bah. You think you're getting hungry?! I could eat ten of those crabs right now! Ged: Well, let's reverse our marching order in this cave, and go back... THE MARCHING ORDER (* = no infravision) : <- Mongo Belphanior Alindyar Ged Halbarad Rob Peldor Peyote * * * Suddenly, as they went back in a somewhat northward direction, the ground trembled again, raining dirt and small rock bits all over the adventurers. This tremor seemed a bit more violent than the first one. Mongo: Damned shitty construction. You'd never see dwarves build a dungeon this feeble, that's for sure. Ged: I think someone's trying to tell us something... Belphanior: (silent as the party treks back several hundred feet) They eventually (and confusedly, it must be added) made their way back to the main chamber of the dungeon. Since the first two passages were adjacent, they chose the next one in line (there were four exits from the main area, total) and slowly marched down it. Shortly... Mongo: Hey! What's that freakin' glow ahead? Halbarad: Glow? What glow? Belphanior: It's a greenish aura. Maybe fifty feet ahead of us. Halbarad: (his pupils finally adjusting to this new, dim lighting) I see it. Peldor: Light! At last! Rob: Ow. (covering his eyes) Ged: Rob, you've got the eyes of a bat. Alindyar: Wait. Bats have no eyes. Ged: Yup. Rob: But... Mongo: Let's find out what the hell's going on up there. Shh. Peyote: Be vewwy, vewwy quiet. (holding his finger in front of his mouth) The party entered a larger chamber, which was quite damp and filled with typical cave formations. One stalactite had obviously fallen recently, for it was shattered all over the floor of the cavern. There were a number of small, rounded fungi clustered in the center of the place - these were the source of the strange glowing light. Each was about two feet high and perhaps half a foot thick. There were two larger fungi in the center of the smaller ones, both over five feet in height. Halbarad: Shriekers! Alindyar: Actually, that one with the appendages does not appear to be a typical shrieker. The other, however, is definitely a member of that species. Peyote: Say what?!? Ged: He means that the one with the funny little arms might not be a shrieker, but the other one is. Alindyar: Is that not what I said? Mongo: Not by me, pal. Rob: The little guys seem to be worshipping the bigger ones. Peldor: Aww... Ged: Hey, I have an idea. Let's get one or two of the small ones and use them for light. Well, at least until we get a chance to build a fire. Halbarad: I agree. Peldor: Me too. Rob: Yeah! Mongo: How do we know that they won't rot us or something? Belphanior: Good question. Alindyar: I think that the smaller fungi are harmless. I know nothing of the larger ones, however. Mongo: Well, I'll just reach out and reel one in with this bone. (does so) big fungus with arms: (scuttles forth suddenly, flailing its tentacles at the dwarf) other big fungus w/o arms: SHRIEK!!! Mongo: (dodging wildly) Yagh! little fungus: (scrambling about frantically, ambles near Peyote) Peyote: Eh? Peldor: Grab that fungus! Peyote: Come here, small light-emitting dude. (snatches up the fungus) Yuck. Slimy. Cold, too. Belphanior: (backing up to let Mongo retreat) Mongo: (hit by one of two branches) OUCH! Fuck! FUCK! THAT HURTS! EYAGH! (the DM made him save vs. death, and he barely made it...) Ged: Calm down. (he and Belphanior pull Mongo back) big flailing fungus: (moves back to the center of the room) shrieker: SHRIEK!!! Mongo: Ouch! That shit HURT! Let's get the fuck out of here! Belphanior: Fine by me. We got what we came for, anyway. Peyote: (holds up the little fungus) Well, guys, there's now a fungus among us. Ged: You get to carry it. The party returned to the main chamber, the one they had woken up in, and proceeded to go back to the first passage they had tried earlier (the one with the sand monster or whatever it was). But first: Ged: Let's look over what we have so far. Alindyar: Verily. BELPHANIOR : wooden club GED : scroll tube, dry wood scraps HALBARAD : wooden club MONGO : thigh bone PELDOR : giant crab carcass PEYOTE : squirming, glowing fungus Ged: By Boccob! I forgot all about that scroll tube! Bring that fungus over here! Peyote: (rushes over as the elf opens the tube and unrolls the parchment) Here he is. (holds the vegetable aloft) Ged: What's this? A message? Halbarad: What does it say? Ged: "This is the best I could do to help. May your gods be with you. If you escape, your equipment is being held on the Slave Lords' private boat, the Water Dragon, at the Suderham docks. Signed, your friend from the gate." Belphanior: That beggar! Peldor: Yeah, him. Ged: But wait, there's more! It's not one scroll, it's three! Belphanior: (looking intently over Ged's shoulder) What's on them? Alindyar: (also very curious) Yes, what? Ged: Hmm. This one spell seems to be the one for reading magic, but it's permanent. Mongo: So? Belphanior: That means we can use it over and over, to read all of the spells. Just like the read magic spell found in all of our spellbooks. Alindyar: How thoughtful. Ged: Let's see. Affect Normal Fires, Light, Jump. And the Read Magic. And on this one: Spider Climb, Feign Death, Dig. Peldor: Why would anyone want to feign death? Ged: Never mind that. The third one has: Audible Glamer, Dancing Lights, Wall of Fog, and Invisibility. Alindyar: That third scroll sounds interesting. Belphanior: Well, I'll be damned! Now we have more chance than we did. Ged: Yep. Remind me to thank that guy if - when - we get out of this place. Mongo: Speaking of which, let's get to it! Peyote: Right on! (holds the fungus high) Let's go, dudes! soon... Mongo: There's that glowing light ahead. Again. Belphanior: Let's not get caught by the sand thing again. Ged: I have another idea. If several of us, well, you, rush into the sand, someone might get through. I'll use the healing spells I have left to help anyone who gets hurt. Then, if feasible, those who got by can attack the monster from behind, and overwhelm it. Peldor: Even me? Ged: Even you. Mongo: Fuck. I'll stay and fight the thing while others run. Belphanior: Sounds like a plan. Let's do it. Alindyar: Peyote, hold the fungus on high to let the warriors see well. Peyote: Check. (does so) Mongo: (runs for the sand, evading a number of tiny sandy blobs which are obviously no threat) Where are you, you big glob of shit?!? Peldor: (runs behind him, as does Belphanior) Belphanior: Yaaaaa! Halbarad: (backs up Mongo) sand-thing: (rears up; it appears as a large mass of sand with a few pseudopods) Mongo: (swings at it with the bone, but doesn't land a solid enough blow) Fuck! sand-thing: (bashes Mongo hard) Mongo: Cripes! Peldor: (leaps over a large portion of the sand and then runs farther) Belphanior: (dashes through the sandy area, screaming and waving his club about wildly) Halbarad: (swats at the sand-thing with his club, hitting it) Ged: Boccob's ears! The two fools made it! Both of them! Peyote: Way cool. Peldor: (behind the sand-thing now) Gimme that club. I'll backstab it good! Belphanior: Hey! I'll get it. You stay back. (charges at the approximate rear of the mass of sand, and manages to land a blow somehow) Peldor: (wanders back into the tunnel beyond somewhat, following the dim glow which just reappeared) Belphanior: Hey! Get back here! sand-thing: (attacks Mongo again, slamming him into a wall) Mongo: Fuck! I'm hurt bad! Halbarad: (bashes ineffectually at the creature with his club) Rob: I'll try to help! (strolls up and casts a create water spell right in the middle of the sand monster) Ged: Great. Now it's WET sand. That hurts more. Alindyar: No, look! The monster moves more slowly now! Rob: Yeah, it does, doesn't it? Yay for me! Belphanior: (swipes at the thing, but misses) Mongo: (cursing loudly) Yeaargh! (bashes the monster with the bone, spraying sand everywhere) meanwhile... Peldor: (following the dim light) What's this? (picks up a skull after checking for spiders inside, and also a rusty dagger) Yeah! Hey, where'd the light go? (backs up quickly) in the main battle... Halbarad: (bashes the sandy mass with his club, hitting and spreading a lot of sand everywhere) sand-thing: (collapses) Belphanior: Hey, I think you killed it. Mongo: It's about fucking time! Ugh. I'm hurt. Ged: (casts a healing spell on the dwarf) There, rest for a bit. Peyote: (sets the fungus down) Where's the thief? Peldor: (reappears) Here I am! Look, I found a skull! Ged: Oh boy. The wonders of the modern world... Mongo: Well, we managed to kill that friggin' thing while you were back there playing with yourself. Alindyar: Was there anything of note back there? Peldor: Nope. The passage dead-ended, and I found this skull. No one even had the sense to hide a gem or something inside it. Ged: Okay then. Let's move out. Peyote: The light's getting dimmer...HEY! fungus: (wandering away) Peyote: (runs after it and grabs it) Don't leave! We still need you. fungus: (trembling slightly) Peldor: Maybe you should get a leash for him, or something. Ged: I think we should check some of the places we ignored when we couldn't really see. Halbarad: Agreed. The party made their way back to the pitch pool, and Ged gave all the scrolls to Alindyar before filling the scroll tube with pitch and sealing it. Then the group went back to the giant ant cavern to have a look. Mongo: They're still at it. Digging away mindlessly. Peyote: Whoa, dude. Look at those two. They've got something in their mandibles. A dagger? Peldor: (squinting) Boy, we sure could use a dagger right about now. No, one's got a sharp stone bit, and the other has what looks like an iron spike. Halbarad: Is the stone glossy? Peldor: Looks like it. Ged: Do you think it's flint? Alindyar: Aha. Halbarad: If we could get those, we might be able to make a fire. Flint and steel... Ged: Good idea. But how to implement it? Alindyar: 'Tis simple. We can use the scrolls that we were given. Perhaps a dancing lights spell to one side? Ged: ...and an audible glamer to complement it! Belphanior: Don't forget the invisibility for he who goes to get the things. Peyote: But, dudes, you're assuming that the ants with the goodies will drop them and run over. Halbarad: Not a bad assumption. Giant ants are just more mindless insects, after all. Mongo: Hey, this sounds like a good plan. I'll be the backup man, in case we have to splatter any ants. Alindyar: I shall cast the spells, since I have the most skill at casting. Ged: That, my friend, is debatable. But go ahead. After you are concentrating on the two illusion-type spells, I'll cast the invisibility. On Belphanior. Then he can go across the ant-bridge and try for the items. Belphanior: I'm ready. Alindyar: And I as well. Alindyar: (casts the two spells on a niche in the end of the cave farthest from the two ants with the tools) Ged: (opens another scroll) Okay...by Boccob, I hope this works! Peyote: (holds up the fungus to enable good spellcasting) giant ants: (all of them scuttle to investigate the strange moving lights and weird sounds coming from the far end of the cave) Alindyar: (concentrating, but easily able to create these effects) Ged: (casts invisibility on Belphanior) Belphanior: (takes his wooden club and starts across the ant carcass bridge; he realizes that he would be more stable on all fours and so crawls across) Peldor: (whispering) Look! The ants DID drop their stuff! Go get it! Rob: Wow. Belphanior: (runs across, picks up the two items, and then crawls back) ants: (a few stragglers, they begin to cross the bridge to get a better whiff of the elf) Belphanior: (across now) Fuck that. (lifts his end of the bridge, and hurls the whole thing into the chasm below) Peldor: I guess they won't be chasing us out of here. Ged: Good job! Belphanior: (turning visible after the bridge maneuver) Aw, darn. Alindyar: Shall we retreat? Halbarad: Let us go back to the pool room. I think that we should examine it more closely. Belphanior: But we'd be trapped there if anything attacked. Mongo: We need a camp. That place has water and is also very defensible. Let's go. soon, in the pool room... Ged: Okay, let's see what we've got now... ALINDYAR : three scrolls BELPHANIOR : wooden club, sharp piece of flint, iron spike GED : scroll tube full of pitch, dry wood scraps HALBARAD : wooden club MONGO : thigh bone PELDOR : giant crab carcass, skull, rusty dagger (secret) PEYOTE : squirming, glowing fungus ROB : nothing... Halbarad: (striking the flint on the spike, he makes sparks and applies them to some of the wood bits, making a small flame) Ged: (pours some pitch onto the flame, making it a small fire) Rob: Phew! Peldor: (with Mongo's help, he rips apart the dead crab and roasts the pieces) Dinner! Peyote: (casts purify water on the pool, unsure if it will work) Well, now we can maybe drink this water. Belphanior: (tries to catch some fish from the pool with his bare hands, unsuccessfully) Damn! Quick little buggers! Halbarad: (tries the same thing, successfully; he gets three) Now we have fish, too. Mongo: All right! (a feast of sorts commences) next time: More dungeon denizens and perils; escape! ANONYMOUS FTP SITE: tybalt.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) *********************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. * The dungeons and non-player characters contained herein are from * TSR's module, A4, and are copyright 1980 by TSR, Inc. Specific * text and maps from them have been avoided, and I encourage anyone * who enjoys reading about them to buy and play the whole "A" series. ***** -------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 6th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 5th/4rd/5th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 5th/5th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 6th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 6th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 7th level human thief (N) Peyote, 5th/6th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rob, 6th level human priest of Trithereon (LG) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: ? (presumably sometime after 4/21) Time: about an hour since the party woke up Place: the Slave Lords' dungeon in Suderham -------------------------------------------------------------------- XXXVI. Escape The party has collected various (normally worthless) items and managed to build a small fire. They also have had workable, though dim, light for a while now due to a small glowing fungus they picked up earlier. ALINDYAR : three scrolls (A: Wall of Fog; B: Spider Climb, Feign Death, Dig; C: Affect Normal Fires, Light, Jump, Read Magic) BELPHANIOR : wooden club, sharp piece of flint, iron spike GED : scroll tube full of pitch, dry wood scraps HALBARAD : wooden club MONGO : thigh bone PELDOR : giant crab carcass, skull, rusty dagger (secret) PEYOTE : squirming, glowing fungus ROB : nothing... They have eaten the crab and rested a bit, and are now ready to search in earnest for a means of escape. As they prepare to move out, the ground trembles again, this time more severely than the last. Small chunks of rock fall around the party, and the entire ceiling seems to leak dust. Mongo: Son of a bitch! This place isn't gonna last much longer, at this rate! Ged: Maybe the gods are angry, or something. Peldor: Maybe Boccob finally realized what a fool his servant is and now wants to kill him. Rob: You think so? Ged: Bah. You're just jealous because MY god is mightier than YOUR god. Halbarad: Let us proceed. I weary of this place. Alindyar: Aye. Belphanior: (gives the sharp piece of flint to Halbarad for use as a weapon, and arms himself with the iron spike) Mongo: Let's get the hell out of here, then! They headed northward, passing the hanging roots, and soon were back in the main chamber (the one where they all woke up). Since there was one passage from this cavern that they had not yet taken, the adventurers elected to pursue this exit... Mongo: Hey, I smell water ahead. Belphanior: (right behind the dwarf) How in the hells can you smell water? Mongo: Dunno. Just runs in the Thunderhead family, I guess. Ged: Look, there's a cavern ahead. (they all enter it) Peyote: Whoa, dudes. More water! Mongo: It's another underground pool. Halbarad: The water is as clear as air, almost. See the fish? Rob: Hey, yeah! Fish! Ged: That's so incredible. Belphanior: Let's check for exits. (strides into the pool) Alindyar: Look there. A small stream is feeding this chamber, from that passage. (points to one of two exits from the area) Peldor: Maybe that's a way out. I think we should go that way. Ged: Hush, fool. Belphanior: (getting deeper in, up to his chest now) This pool is MUCH deeper than that other one. Maybe there is something bigger hiding in here. Ged: So? Swim out and check anyway. Rob: This pool is a lot bigger than the other one, too. It goes back at least fifty feet. Alindyar: 'Twould require hours of searching to check the whole of it. Mongo: He doesn't really have much of a weapon. An iron spike is pretty puny. (he is in up to his knees) I couldn't even stand up as far out as he is, anyway. Halbarad: I would prefer to check the dry tunnels, myself. Belphanior: (to DM) I peer into the deeper part. Can I see any big black shapes out there? DM: Not really. But you definitely can't see the whole pool either. Belphanior: (thinking heavily) Let's come back here later. I do not wish to chance an attack in which I will have no good help. (backs up somewhat) Mongo: Hey! I resent that! I am great help in battle! I just can't fight underwater. Maybe I'll learn someday, though. Rob: First you have to learn how to breathe water. Halbarad: Shall we take the northern passage, with the stream, or the southern one? Peldor: Northern. Ged: Southern. Peyote: Who cares? Mongo: Bah. (heads south) Belphanior: I'm with him. (follows Mongo) Halbarad: It is settled then, I guess. (they all follow) soon... Mongo: (looking at the wall near a sharp turn in the tunnel) Eh? What's this? Belphanior: Good question. Stone chips? Mongo: Flint. They're flint chips, just like the sharp piece that Halbarad has. Someone collect some. Rob: (scrapes up a pile of flint chips) Mongo: (rounding the corner) What's this, now? Hey! Coal! There's a vein of coal here! Peyote: Dude! Let's get some of it! (sets the glowing fungus down and starts grabbing bits of coal) little glowing fungus: (slowly wandering away) Peldor: (moves to intercept the thing) Stick around, slimy. Ged: I think it's time to make torches now. We have all the ingredients. Two wooden clubs, pitch to coat them, flint and steel to ignite them... Alindyar: (he helps Ged construct two makeshift torches) Peyote: Good. Can we lose the fungus now? Halbarad: That should be fine. The torches will provide much better light anyway, and heat too. (he makes sparks and ignites the rest of Ged's dry wood scraps, producing a small flame, and momentarily one of the torches is burning) Peldor: Do we need both of them burning right now? Ged: Nah. Just one should be okay for now. See how much better the light is already? Rob: Ow, that hurts my eyes. Ged: Somehow I knew it would. Quit whining. Mongo: We can use the coal to make a REAL fire when both of the torches have burned out later. Belphanior: (now he has an iron spike, Mongo has a bone, Halbarad has a sharp piece of flint, Peyote has the burning torch, and Ged is carrying the unlit one) Let's go. Mongo: (leading the group again; they are continuing down the passage) something ahead: grr... Belphanior: What the fuck was THAT?!? Halbarad: It sounded like an animal. Mongo: Well, it had better stay the hell away from me. Or I'll bust it good! animal: (emerges into the light) Grrr! Mongo: It's a beaver! Halbarad: Nay, a badger. Let me try to communicate with it. (steps forth) Belphanior: Whatever you say, pal. Alindyar: I would say a giant badger. Giant badger: GRRR! Halbarad: (making growling animal noises at the animal) Rob: What's he up to? Peyote: Dude, he's trying to soothe the savage beast. Rob: Huh? Halbarad: (backing up) This fellow is quite angry and savage. We should not invade his territory. Giant badger: (regarding the party intently, teeth bared) Ged: You're saying that we should go back and pick another passage because of some ANIMAL?!? Halbarad: Well, yes. What right have we to disturb him? Mongo: Bah. Double bah. Let's just do something. Rob: Well, we shouldn't really fight an animal that's not evil. Ged: I have to agree with that. But this is so STUPID! Halbarad: We can come back here later if we have to. Belphanior: (somewhat amused) Let's take the other way out of the pool room, the tunnel with the stream. Peldor: (wondering what use rangers and druids have in life) After going back into the room with the big pool and then travelling through about two hundred feet of cavern tunnels, the party entered another chamber. This place had quite a bit of water dripping from the ceiling. There were large pointed rock formations on the floor and roof of the place. Many unusual fungi were growing here among the stalagmites, all of various shaped, sizes, and hues. A hellish, red glow lit up the room. Peyote: Awesome! Nine-foot fungus lords! Belphanior: I want to know where that red glow is coming from. (starts searching the chamber) Mongo: (watching the fungi suspiciously, thigh bone at the ready) These slimy fuckers had better not attack us. If they do, I'll splatter them all over the place! Peyote: Chill out, man. It's just vegetation. Halbarad: (also searching the chamber) Rob: I wonder if they're good to eat? Ged: Don't push your luck. Belphanior: Hey! I found bugs! Mongo: (rushing to look) Big fat beetles! Alindyar: Fire beetles, it seems. They are relatively harmless, and vegetarians besides. Ged: Well, that explains the fungi. beetles: (ignoring the party as they chow down on fungi) Mongo: Well, they look happy. (heads down one of two exits from this fungi forest - the other exit is sort of blocked by the beetles) Seems that this is our day to let monsters choose which ways we DON'T go. Halbarad: This is apt to happen when one has no real weapons. Belphanior: I tire of this pattern. Something or somebody has to die soon. Ged: Let's hope not. (he, and the rest, follow them) They went down a long, curving tunnel, and found themselves at the intersection of three other tunnels. Mongo: Let's go get a better look at those passages. "stalagmite": (suddenly shoots tentacles at the dwarf) Mongo: Wha-! (hit by several of the sticky strands) Agh! Alindyar: 'Tis another one of those roper creatures. Ware the tentacles! Peldor: Ah, it doesn't look that dangerous. Belphanior: (dodges a tentacle) Yipes. Ged: Lemme see those scrolls! Belphanior: (rushes the monster, stabbing it with his iron spike) Die, foul thing! Die! Mongo: (bashes weakly at the thing with his bone club) I don't have any strength left... Ged: Weakness! A weakness effect! Halbarad: (leaps at the monster, slashing at it with his sharp bit of flint, but misses) Damn! roper: (recoils anyway) Peyote: (dashes forth and pokes his torch at the monster, burning it) Leave that dwarf alone, bogus turdage! Ged: Aaa! These scrolls have no useful attack spells! If only I had my normal spells! (grabs his half-full tube of pitch) Rob: What can I do? (looks around) roper: (slowly pulling Mongo toward its big, grinning maw) Ged: (runs up and hurls his pitch-tube at the monster) What?! YEAH! (he rolled a 20!) Boccob! roper: (splashed with the black pitch) ...? Belphanior: (pokes it again with his spike, wounding it) Mongo: Help! Help! Peyote: Here I come, dude! (bashes the roper with his torch, igniting the pitch on it by sticking the burning wood onto the splashed area) Yeah! Hey, I just lost the torch... Halbarad: (hits the thing with his flint scrap) roper: Gggg! (goes limp and falls, somewhat ablaze) Belphanior: Phew, that stinks! (begins trying to put out the fire at the same time as he tries to cut open the monster's torso) This spike isn't much good for this. Give me that flint. (grabs Halbarad's weapon) Ah, much better for the gutting...(proceeds to splatter the nearby area with gore) Mongo: (unsteady on his feet) I feel so weak... Ged: Let's rest here for a while. Maybe you'll get some of your strength back. Peldor: I'll scout one of these other passages. Halbarad: Be careful. We cannot get too spread out here. Belphanior: Aha! (pulls two gems, one small, the other big, from the roper's gut) Treasure! (he managed to stash the medium-sized gem in his loincloth) Mongo: Let's go on. I can fight. Ged: No. We rest for at least ten minutes. You're too weak, and we need the rest anyway. Peldor: (coming back after five minutes or so) One of these tunnels dead-ends, another leads to a deep crevasse. Ged: How wide is the crevasse? Peldor: About twenty feet. I think I could jump it, or else climb around it via the walls - they're pretty rough, with a lot of good handholds. Belphanior: (tightening his loincloth) Alindyar: By what means would the rest of us cross the chasm? Halbarad: We need rope. Rob: Rope? Peyote: We have no ropes, man. Ged: What about the hanging roots from that other place? Mongo: Ugh. We don't really want to go all the way back there. Do we? Peldor: Not really. Rob: What about the arms of the monster we just killed? Ged: Hey! Yeah! Good idea, Rob! (he examines one of the roper strands) These are pretty long, maybe twenty feet. Halbarad: I'll see if we can cut one off. (uses his flint to saw a tentacle off) They can be cut! (excitedly, he cuts three more off; the other two were burned away by the fire) Peyote: Good idea, Rob. Peldor: Good idea, Rob. Mongo: Good idea, Rob. Halbarad: Good idea, Rob. Alindyar: Good idea, Rob. Belphanior: Okay, okay. Good idea, Rob. Rob: Gee, thanks guys. Peldor: Give me an end - tie two together. I'll tie an end around my waist, and climb across. (he does so and begins the perilous horizontal climb) If I fall, you can all pull me back up. That is, if the rope holds. Ged: I never thought I'd be saying this, but be careful there. Peldor: I'm touched. (halfway across) Halbarad: The thief is going to make it. Rob: Go Peldor! Peldor: (successfully crosses the crevasse) Ha. I owe it all to my cheering section. Hey, I need a way to secure this rope. Belphanior: (grudgingly) Here. (tosses his iron spike over) Peldor: (catches it) Aha. But I need a hammer. Mongo: Someone throw him this bone. (Peyote does) Peldor: (ties the roper strand to the spike, and hammers it into the rock) There. Now cross. Minutes later, they had all crossed. Mongo regained his full strength just before his turn to cross, and so had no trouble (even at half strength, he was still stronger than some of the others...). Peldor pulled the rope back and left it coiled on the party's side of the chasm. They went on to an open chamber ahead. Mongo: Hey, there's a draft in here! Halbarad: Open air! Ged: Look, there's a narrow rock tunnel cut into the ceiling. It goes straight up. Belphanior: We could climb up that, if we could get up there. Alindyar: 'Tis a chimney, of sorts. Peldor: I'll just climb up...Ow! Hey, the walls are covered with this slime stuff! It's acidic! (looking around at the other walls) They're ALL covered with this shit. Belphanior: (decides that there's no way for either of them to climb this wall, between the slipperiness and the acid) Fuck. Peyote: How will we reach that shaft? It must be twenty feet to the ceiling. Ged: Let's see. Jump? Alindyar: Yea. Utilize the spell on the scroll. Ged: (casts it on Peldor) There you go. Peldor: (braces himself, aims, then leaps up into the opening) Wheeee! I'm in! There are ledges up here, so all of you can probably climb. I feel a breeze! Belphanior: (just itching to get up there) Hurry it up. Ged: Well, check out the tunnel! See where it goes! Peldor: Okay! (climbs up) very soon... Peldor: (way up there) Shit! It's a dead end! Oh, they can't hear me. (descends to tell the party) About halfway down, a large spider leaped from its concealed position and attacked the thief. Before he knew what was going on, he had been bitten. DM: The thing bites you. Peldor: Bites? Oh, shit. Poison! Hmm. Since I already got bit, I might as well grab the spider. Is it near me? DM: Yes... Peldor: Good. I grab it and let myself fall, trying to make it land on bottom. DM: ! Okay...(much dice rolling and also a saving throw follow) You are both falling. The spider looks as suprised as, well, as a spider can be. Mongo: What the f-?! (he jumps backwards as Peldor falls through the ceiling's chimney, grappling with a large spider) Peldor: Look out beloooow!! (he falls unceremoniously on top of the spider as both hit the ground hard) SQUISH!! Peyote: Ugh. Totally gross. Ged: I wonder how he managed this. Mongo: Hey, thief! Are you okay? Peldor: (slowly rising to his feet) Agh. I'll live. That bug there (gesturing to the mashed mess underneath him) took the brunt of the blow. Yech. (scraping spider guts off of himself) Alindyar: Pray tell, did the spider have a lair? Peldor: I think so. It definitely wasn't in the main tunnel, or I would have seen it. Hmm. I'll just take a jump back up there and have a closer look. Ged: Yea, the jump spell should still be good. Go for it. Belphanior: Here, take the "rope" we made. (ties the other two roper tentacles onto the main rope, which he just went back to retrieve; now the rope is about eighty feet long) Peldor: Will do. (aims and leaps up again, then begins his second climb) Spiders beware...Peldor the creative spider- killer is coming... About halfway up, the thief found a well-hidden chamber (of course, now it wasn't well-hidden, since the resident had sprung out of it...) and explored it carefully. The nest was comprised of brush and sticks, among which Peldor found a small pouch of electrum coins - and two gems! He secreted one of the gems in his loincloth, then followed the breeze he was feeling. Shortly he had located a narrow, forty-foot tunnel; a pinprick of light was barely visible at the far end. Excited now, he followed the passage and emerged behind a toppled tree in a small grove of trees. The thief spent only a few moments smelling the aroma of freedom. He went back, found a rock outcropping in the lair of the spider, and secured the roper rope to it. Then he yelled down the shaft, telling the others to come up in order of weight (lightest ones first) since the rocks he used to anchor the rope didn't look totally solid. soon... Alindyar: (climbing up into the spider lair) Never did I think that I would be this happy to see the sun's light... Ged: (arrives soon after) Boccob be blessed. Does that passage lead out, Peldor? Peldor: Sure thing. Ged: Yea! Belphanior: (arrives shortly thereafter) Smell that air! and so on...at last, Mongo made it up the rope. The party went through the tunnel and emerged into the daylight. Just then, there was a tremendous earth tremor, and the ground shook hard enough to knock some of the adventurers down. Much of the foilage in the grove was tangled, but they moved through it and went westward down a slope, heading for a nearby road. Once they reached this, they saw that many trees had fallen across the road. More tremors shook the ground - and now shouting could be heard from the northwest (the road went in a northwest-southeast direction). Peyote: Dude. The forest to the west is ablaze not too far from here. I can hear the trees screaming. Halbarad: Aye. This whole island may overturn soon, it seems. Mongo: Look there! Lava! Ged: Holy shit. We're in a volcano crater, remember? Belphanior: We'd better get the hell off of this island, fast, or we're going to fry. Hell, the whole crater may collapse. Peldor: Something is on fire that way, too... Mongo: Maybe it's the city. Belphanior: Heh. Someone beat me to it. The party rounded a corner and finally had a view of the city of Suderham. The south wall had crumbled, but worse, some kind of yellow gas was coming from the area south of the city and billowing right over the fallen wall and into the city. Mongo: Uh-oh! Gas! Peyote: Looks pretty gnarly, dudes. Halbarad: How in the nine hells are we going to get off of this island? next time: The grand finale ANONYMOUS FTP SITE: tybalt.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) *********************************************************************** NOTES: The 2nd edition JUMP spell allows a 30' vertical leap, and Peldor has jumping talent anyway. The module/1st edition AD&D game JUMP spell allows only a 10' vertical leap. I was in a good mood at the time. Just thought I'd clear this up for he/she who might catch it... I would have finished and posted this last night, but the GT base- ball team played a superb game, and then the Braves went into the 16th inning against Pittsburgh. Too bad they lost, but it was one hell of a game. It lasted until 12:50 a.m. I wasn't ready to post this morning...and you should all know by now that I never put out any postings during working hours (8 am - 5 pm EST). Anyway, this should be wrapped up in one more posting, so after part 37 the A4 module will be concluded (I don't care if it takes a 30K posting to depict the big battle, I _will_ fit it into the next posting!). *********************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. * The dungeons and non-player characters contained herein are from * TSR's module, A4, and are copyright 1980 by TSR, Inc. Specific * text and maps from them have been avoided, and I encourage anyone * who enjoys reading about them to buy and play the whole "A" series. ***** -------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 6th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 5th/4rd/5th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 5th/5th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 6th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 6th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 7th level human thief (N) Peyote, 5th/6th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rob, 6th level human priest of Trithereon (LG) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: ? (presumably sometime after 4/21) Time: about two hours since the party woke up Place: the Isle of the Slave Lords, now torn by volcanic eruption -------------------------------------------------------------------- XXXVII. The Downfall of the Slave Lords The party is standing on a road watching the burning forest to one side and some kind of noxious volcanic gas billowing into the ruined city of Suderham on the other. Mongo: Uh-oh! Gas! Peyote: Looks pretty gnarly, dudes. Halbarad: How in the nine hells are we going to get off of this island? Ged: The concealed tunnel that we used to go under the lake- ah, damn. It's in that hill over there. Peldor: Which is now burning. Just swell. Alindyar: Surely there must be a dock somewhere nearby. Ged: That's right! We'll take a boat and cross the lake, and then get the hell out of this crater! Mongo: Say no more! (runs toward the distant yet visible shore, giving the city a fairly wide berth) Let's go! Halbarad: Well, what are we waiting for? (follows, as do the others; they cut through a field of grain) Peldor: What's that? (pointing) Mongo: Hey, look out ahead! Giant farm animals! Halbarad: Goats! They are charging us! Ged: Run for it! (they all split up to present less targets for the berserk animals) We can fight them off! Peldor: (squinting as he runs) I see docks, and boats too! Peyote: Let's get to them! Mongo: (slows down) <huff huff> Fuck this. I can't run fast enough. I'll FIGHT, by the gods! (hefts his bone- club and waits for the nearest giant goat) Come and get it, you oversized animal! goat: (charges the dwarf) other goats: (turning around) Alindyar: (stops also, and pulls out a scroll) Mongo: AAAAAA! (bashes the goat as it rams him) Grr! Take that! And that! goat: (smashed severely) Rrrr...(keels over in pain) Mongo: Ha ha! Oh, here come some more! I'll take you ALL on! Come and be pulverized! Come ON!! Alindyar: Nay, dwarf. (casts a wall of fog from the scroll, placing it around the remaining three goats) We have not the time to dally here. Let us be off. Leave the farm animals be. Mongo: Aw, shit. Okay, let's catch up to the rest! (they jog in that direction) nearby... Belphanior: Where in the hell did the dwarf and the drow go? Peldor: Never mind that. Look ahead, there! Ged: Holy... Up ahead was a grisly scene. Scores of half-clothed people, probably former slaves, were engaging in the ultimate revenge. While some sharpened wooden spikes, others held struggling city guardsmen and slavers. Every so often, a stake would be finished and then the mob would grab one of their ex-masters and shove them onto the long spike, as the rest cheered. A number of impaled bodies already littered the vicinity. Belphanior: Cool! Peyote: Not! These dudes have lost it, man. Let's get to the boat while we still can. Halbarad: Surely those men do not all deserve this fate. Ged: No way. (strides forth and yells) What is going on here?!?! ex-slave: We're getting rid of these bastards! Wanna help? Ged: No, that's okay. Must they all be speared though? ex-slave: Yea! These scum whipped and beat us for months! They stole us from our homes, separated us from our very families, and sold some of us! other ex-slave: They also raped the women and killed any of us who resisted! They must die! Ged: (faltering) ... Peldor: (grabs Ged) Come on, leave them. There's no sense arguing with an angry mob like this. Ged: Uh...okay. (wondering about justifying such revenge unto evil ones) Belphanior: (persuades some of the mob members to give him their knives) We may need these. (pays them a few golden coins) Thanks. Halbarad: Here comes Mongo! And Alindyar as well. Mongo: <huff> We got rid of the goats. Alindyar: So to speak. Peyote: Okay, there's the dock. Or docks. Rob: Let's run for it! (they do) momentarily... Mongo: Hey! Who's that?! Belphanior: He must be a stray guard of the Slave Lords! I'll get him! (charges the man) man: (holds up his hands) Wait! Belphanior: Huh? Are you a spell-caster?! man: I mean you no harm! (slowly walking toward them with his hands above his head) Peldor: Hey! I know that guy! He's the "beggar" from the city gate! Ged: So it was you who left us the scrolls. man: Yes. Yes! I am called Selzen. (shakes hands with Ged, and then some of the others) I am in disguise, you see. I am an agent of those who hired you. Peyote: You'd better get a new disguise, man. If that mob gets ahold of you, your goose is cooked. Mongo: Roasted. Selzen: (shucking his slaver officer insignia) Yeah. Well, those crazies aren't the only trouble here. Did you know that there are little fire men running around? They're setting everything they touch on fire! I shit you not. Belphanior: Sounds like fun. Selzen: Really. There are also some looters around, taking everything they can get. And, here and there are monsters that broke free, or just appeared. Who knows where THEY came from? This island is getting too hot for my liking. Ged: So, are we going to get a boat, or what? Mongo: Yeah! We need to get the boat, get the fuck off of this island before we wind up dead! Selzen: Well, there are a number of boats. The best one would be the Water Dragon. That's the Slave Lords' private boat. There are others, but mobs are fighting over them. Rob: Why don't they all unite and storm the big boat? Selzen: (wearily) Because they fear the power of those Slave Lords who remain. Ged: What do you mean, remain? Selzen: Some of them were killed in the last earth tremor, when the castle collasped. Mongo: We've got to get on that boat! They've got our stuff, right? Selzen: Yes. All of your possessions are there. Halbarad: Well, we cannot let the lords get away. Then this whole operation would have been for naught. Belphanior: I agree. Let's take the boat! Selzen: Oh, I managed to lift these other scrolls from the keep before the last big tremor collapsed it. Here. Peldor: A man after my own heart. Rob: What a guy. Selzen: There is a priests' scroll, and a mages' scroll. Ged: (examining both) I think we should heal ourselves to the best of our ability, and then try to take over that boat and defeat the Slave Lords. Halbarad: Who among us is the worst wounded? Mongo: Well, I'm pretty bad off. Belphanior: I could use some healing too. Peldor: Hey, I fell over fifty feet! I'm hurt too! Rob: I'm not hurt, myself. Ged: Well, this priest scroll has nothing but healing magic. Mongo: Good. Healing commenced, followed by the identification of the spells on the mage scroll. Selzen had a magical lens that had the ability to enable the user to read magical writings. The scroll contained the spells Sleep, Invisibility, Strength, Dispel Magic, and Hold Person. The party moved toward the Water Dragon. Mongo: Quick, cast some of those spells on us, and let's go kick some ass! Belphanior: I'm partial to the strength spell, myself. Alindyar: (casts the strength spell on Belphanior) Ged: (casts the invisibility spell on Peldor) There. Go and do something useful. Selzen: I'll just remain in the rear of the party. I'm dead tired. Peldor: (thinking that maybe Selzen is a thief) Belphanior: Here, I got these daggers from the mob (doles one out to Halbarad, Peldor, and Peyote, keeping the last for himself) Ged: Armed by the mob... Mongo: I'll hang on to this bone for now, thanks. (the party moves toward the slavers' private dock) Belphanior: Look at those people on this end of the dock. Ged: More slaves, obviously. Ex-slaves. Mongo: Hey, you people! mob: (some members turn to face him) Mongo: Follow us! We're taking this boat! man in rags: No! Mongo: No?!? What do you mean, no?!? man: The Slave Lords are too powerful for us. Belphanior: Stop whining. We mean to crush them. Stand with us or stand aside. mob: (moves back as the party steps on the dock) ... ogre: (about thirty feet back on the dock, eyeing the mob warily) Hey, you! Stay back or die! men: (two sergeants with longswords) Yeah! Mongo: In a pig's eye! (charges the ogre) Die, shithead! ogre: Arg! (charges the dwarf) Belphanior: Aaaaaaa! (charges at one of the men, screaming at the top of his lungs) Halbarad: (charges the other man) Peyote: (charges as well) Peldor: (invisible, and saving it for a better time, he hangs back) Ged: (leads Alindyar, Rob, and Selzen along the dock in the wake of the warriors) Let's go, guys! ogre: (swings at Mongo) Arg! Mongo: (dodges between the humanoid's legs, causing him to miss, and then clubs him in the groin) Heh! Take THAT! ogre: Argh... Belphanior: (stabs his foe in the chest, slaying him) Ha! Who dies next?! (looking around) Halbarad: (slashes at his opponent, hitting him in the arm) Surrender, scoundrel! man: Get off our dock, shithead! (swings at the ranger, nicking him) Ha! Peyote: Allow me. (slashes the man, slaying him) He should have taken your advice. Halbarad: Yes. (turning to the ogre) ogre: I'm gonna mash you inta stuffin', dwarf! Mongo: No way, slowpoke! ogre: Argh! (swings his two-handed sword at Mongo, scoring a minor wound across the dwarf's chest) Har har! Mongo: ARGH! You'll pay for that! Belphanior: (backstabs the ogre, slicing its head in half) He sure did. Heh. Let's take the boat now! Peyote: Wait, dude. Get their weapons! (grabs the ogre's two-handed sword) Close enough to what I'm used to. Belphanior: (grabs one longsword) Ah, at last. Now they will all pay. Mongo: (grabs the other longsword) I used to use one of these, a long time ago. Halbarad: Old skills never die. (picks up a dagger that Belphanior discarded; now he has two) I shall take the pair of daggers. At least until I find a battleaxe... Peyote: We're re-armed now! Let's go! Ged: (looking at one of the scrolls) We may need that one soon... Alindyar: Verily. I shall get this one. Peldor: (still invisible) I'll just wait. Selzen: (unsheathing his longsword) The battle will be much fiercer now. Prepare for the worst. Halbarad: Onward, men. And dwarf. And elves. And...oh, to hell with it. Charge! The party ran up the dock, but a wave of eight humans with swords was charging at them. Ged: I'll get them! (casts a spell from the scroll) Maybe if I'm lucky I'll get all eight. men: (five of them fall fast asleep) Zzzz.. three awake men: ...Die! (they continue) Ged: Not bad, not bad. Belphanior: (gleefully runs up and cuts one down) Ha ha! Peldor: (invisible, he picks up the fallen man's longsword) Halbarad: (facing another) Leap from the dock and swim away, or perish. man: (looking fearfully into the water) But there's undead in there! Halbarad: (advancing) I see none. man: Aaaa! (leaps into the water and swims madly for shore) Peyote: (he and Mongo just forced the third man into the water as well, but wounded) So much for those dudes! Peldor: (still invisible, he notices the people on the boat and quietly, invisibly slinks toward the bow of the vessel) Mongo: Hey, there's some goofy-looking people in that boat. Belphanior: (charging down the dock) Then they die too! half-orc with shortsword: No, you die, elf! Belphanior: We'll see! (they close on each other, as a man in robes leaps gracefully onto the dock as well) Halbarad: (charges this new foe) Fight me, you scoundrel! robed man: Certainly. Peyote: (charges at no one in particular) Time to lose it all, evil slaver dudes! Mongo: (ambles on up behind the others) Wait up! robed monk: Hai! (slams the ranger with an open hand) Halbarad: Agh! Belphanior: Die, scum! (slashes the half-orc, wounding him) half-orc: Arg! You'll pay for that, elf! drow priestess/warrior in boat: They must all die! woman: They will, Edralve. I'll see to that! (dives overboard) human mage: It is either them, or us. They seem very powerful, and dangerous. (begins spellcasting) robed priest in boat: (casting a spell) The Dragon shall triumph, never fear. (turns suddenly, hearing a "thump" on the deck nearby him) What was that? Peldor: (moving around silently, throws his rusty dagger over the edge of the boat, where it lands in the water with a "bloop") priest: What WAS that?!? (looks overboard) Peldor: (moving further along the boat) Peyote: (moves up to help Belphanior) I'm here, dude! Belphanior: (notices for the first time that the half-orc has something green coating his blade) Watch out! He is using poison! half-orc: That's right! Taste it, why don't you?! (he slices the elf, nicking him) Har! Belphanior: Argh! (saving...successful) Not deep enough, jerkoff! Peyote: (slashes the half-orc with a truly mighty blow) half-orc: ARGH! Fuck! Halbarad: (playing the feinting game with the robed monk, he stabs him suddenly, scoring a major wound) Slaver scum! We are the arm of justice! monk: Bah. (slaps Halbarad again) Halbarad: Agh! (slashes the monk with his other dagger, hitting him again) We shall see which wins, my knives or your hands. monk: The hands will win. Halbarad: Not if I have anything to say about it. priest on boat: (casts a spell of silence on Alindyar) Alindyar: (fortunately he moved back somewhat as Ged moved forward, so Ged isn't in the spell's radius) Rob: (close to the drow, he now gapes wordlessly) Selzen: (also in the radius of the spell) Ged: Huh? (casts a hold person spell from the scroll, at the human priest, drow priestess, and human mage) Boccob take you! priest: (unaffected) Ha. Is that all your puny god can do for you? I shall wipe the dock with you, elf. drow priestess: (held fast, grimacing) ... mage: (unaffected) Well. Aren't we fier- Urk! Peldor: (becomes visible as his longsword appears in the mage's chest) No casting spells at Ged, now. He doesn't take them very well. Hmm. (realized that he has no time to search for treasure now) mage: <gasp> (dies) Peldor: (turns to regard the drow priestess) You're next, bitch. drow priestess: (eyes the thief fearfully) ... human priest: (turning to face Peldor) You FOOL! I will enjoy destroying you! Peldor: Take it easy there, guy. Your face is turning red. Mongo: (ambles up, and unloads his fury on the monk) I've had it with you people! (slashes the evil monk with his longsword, scoring quite a blow) Surrender now or face the unleashed fury of a Thunderhead!! monk: (very badly wounded now) ugh... Ged: That's quite a speech for him. Mongo, I mean. Mongo: (turns to face the half-orc) You! You're mext! Belphanior: (swings at the half-orc, hitting again) Are you ready to die, scum? half-orc: No! (swipes at the elf, cutting him again too) Belphanior: Agh! Ged: (wondering if he should use the remaining scroll spell, dispel magic, or wait) monk: (hits Halbarad again) You will regret coming here, fool. The Brotherhood will see to that. Halbarad: Argh! Peyote: (leaps onto the boat to help Peldor) I am on the way, dude! Peldor: (grabs the drow priestess, holding his sword edge to her throat) Hey priest! One false move and this bitch gets it! priest: ... Peyote: (moving toward the priest) Mongo: (slashes the half-orc, dealing him a mighty blow) How do you like that, slaver?! half-orc: (seriously hurting now) Urg... Halbarad: (stabs at the monk, twice, with his daggers, but only hits once) Back, foul one. Back! monk: (clutches at his ruptured heart as he falls, dead) Halbarad: That's one less evil slaver to worry about. woman: (the one who dived into the water; unnoticed by all, she climbs up onto the dock behind Selzen) Selzen: (watching the combat, unsure of what he can do) Alindyar: (trying to find a way to get away from the others around him so that they won't be silenced too) Rob: (fidgeting) Ged: Ah, to hell with it. (holds off on the spell for now) priest: (uses a Command on Peldor) Sleep! Peldor: ...Zzzz...(falls, in a trance) drow priestess: (still can't move) Peyote: Uh-oh! (charges the priest, who is a good forty feet away still) priest: I'll get you first, mongrel! woman: (slinks up behind Selzen, who, alas, is still in the silenced radius of Alindyar) Selzen: (practically deaf right now, he can't hear her) woman: (makes an ugly face and backstabs Selzen) Selzen: (falls, bleeding profusely) Alindyar: (hears nothing, but feels the vibration from the spy's fall and whirls about) ... Rob: (likewise; neither he nor the drow are armed) half-orc: (feebly slashes at Belphanior, still manages to hit him somehow) Fall, elf! Belphanior: Agh! Never! Your time in life has ended, scumbag! (he cuts the evil half-orc down) And good riddance! Mongo: Yeah! (leaps onto the boat, and charges the priest) Halbarad: (sees the peril that Alindyar and Rob are in and rushes to help them) Belphanior: (screaming, he leaps onto the boat, runs past Mongo, and charges toward the priest too) Ged: (whirls, sees the woman/thief stalking Alindyar, and casts the dispel magic on Alindyar) Now use one of the spells from YOUR scroll, drow! Alindyar: Ah. At last I can speak. (opens his scroll and begins casting a spell) woman: (charging the drow now) I'll gut you, blackie! Rob: I'll stop her! (attempts a flying tackle of the drow's assailant...and rolls a 20) Yeah! (both of them go down in a heap) Stay down, woman! woman: (cursing) Get the hell off of me, priest! Alindyar: (casts a light spell into her eyes) There you are. woman: (glowing from the face) AAAAA! I'm blinded! (runs right off the pier and falls into the water) Rob: What will happen to HER? Alindyar: Who can say? woman: (floating in the lake) Aaaa! Ged: Look! There's something swimming toward her! Sure enough, there were several dark shapes in the water, closing fast on the blinded, floating Slave Lord. Within moments, they had dragged her underwater in a feeding frenzy. Rob: (agape) Say, I could have sworn those were ghouls. Ged: That's what I saw, too. Or THOUGHT I saw. Alindyar: She is gone from this world, now. Ged: We need to help Selzen there! (moves toward him) Rob: Is he...? Ged: No, he will live. Help me bind his wounds, now, quickly. on the boat... Belphanior: (slashes the priest) There will be no more slavery by you, scum! priest: I shall destroy you all!! Peyote: (also attacks the priest, hitting him hard) I concur! NOT! Mongo: (joins in the fray) Belphanior: Keep hitting him! We can't let him get a chance to cast anything! priest: (manages to get in one blow with his mace, and knocks Belphanior back a bit) Belphanior: (wiping blood from the corner of his mouth) Hits pretty hard, for a priest. Hmm. (notices the drow priestess quivering nearby) HMM. (he heads for her) Within a minute it was over. The priest refused to submit and was slain. Belphanior, it turned out, had cut the drow priestess' throat moments before. Selzen would live, thanks to the ministrations of Ged and Rob. The party cut the ropes on the boat and moved away from the island fast. Soon, they had reached the outer edge of the crater, and during this trip, they found a chest containing all their items! They equipped as best they could, for now, not forgetting to thoroughly search the rest of the boat as well as the ex-Slave Lords' bodies. Much loot was gained. They landed on the far shore, and moved rapidly though the gateway to the outside world. No one was there to offer any resistance - indeed, the group of orcs they found fled rather than try to mount their horses, and so it was that the party gained some steeds for use in their escape. As they rode away at breakneck speed, the whole mountain shook, and then collapsed, spewing rubble the size of houses all over the place. Lava flowed freely from this ruined peak, and it was with a sigh of relief that the party looked back one final time before reining their mounts in and heading them toward the safe lands far to the west. next time: A _long_ rest, and training, and commendations; the division of treasure ANONYMOUS FTP SITE: tybalt.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) *********************************************************************** NOTES: The battle with the Slave Lords went easily in the party's favor, as can be seen above. I think that the party's teamwork and efforts were well done - they deserved everything they got. Speaking of which, join us next time for massive loot debates and power/level increases... With this posting, the sum of all my postings pops past 700K in length, a minor landmark of sorts to me. I will post part 38 on Sunday, if all goes well. *********************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. ***** -------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 7th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 5th/5rd/6th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 6th/6th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 7th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 7th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 8th level human thief (N) Peyote, 6th/7th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rob, 7th level human priest of Trithereon (LG) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 5/1/570 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: midday Place: Havenhill, capital of the Principality of Ulek -------------------------------------------------------------------- XXXVIII. The Payoff The party recently returned to Ulek from the Drachengrab Mountains (in the Pomarj), where they once and for all destroyed the menace of the Slave Lords. After a week-long trek through wilderness and hostile lands (omitted from this account for convenience), they just arrived one morning in Havenhill and went to City Hall with news of their victory. Needless to say, there was a commotion of major proportions among the councilmen. While the king de-briefed the adventurers, asking about every single minor detail, riders were sent to the capitals of the other two Ulek regions (the County and the Duchy) to summon their kings or representatives thereof. After the initial questioning, the party members were put into the royal suites in the king's palace to await news from the other capitals. During this time, they chose one afternoon to lock themselves in a large room and divide the loot they had gained (with the help of the city's finest sage and magic expert, plus Peldor and Alindyar for the monetary items and Ged as a double-check on the more powerful magic items)... THE LOOT: shortsword +1, invisible (a.k.a. Sword of Lyons - whe sheathed, the sword makes the bearer invisible until such time as he attacks someone) longsword +3 battle axe +3 bracers of defense, ac4 dagger +2 rose ioun stone (increases AC and saves by +1) chain mail +1 longsword +2 gauntlets of dexterity potion of extra-healing scroll (Spider Climb, Feign Death, Dig, Affect Normal Fires) footman's mace +2 bracers of defense ac6 longsword +2 (yes, another one) evil illusionist's spellbook (11 illusion-type spells) gem (100 gp value) 27 ep gem (500) idol (~4000) 50 pp diamond (~1000) deed to land near Hardby, to the north (~1200) golden brooch w/gems (3000) platinum ring w/fire opal (5000) gemmed dagge (1100) artwork (~900) box of gems (total ~4750) Scroll detailing slave lord agents in the Sea of Gearneat area Scroll - order for the assassination of all locatable relatives of the adventurers... sage: I have identified practically all of these items for you. Ged: And we thank you. sage: For my payment, I will be happy to take that platinum ring, the diamond, and that strange idol of a dragon. Mongo: YOU'VE GOT TO BE FUCKIN' KIDDING! That's most of the good cash there! Halbarad: The sage has earned it, though. Peyote: Yeah...? Ged: Well, I suppose we must make good on our deal. Belphanior: Too bad. Peldor: Here, take those things and get out of here. (hands the named items over, muttering) Before I rob you... Alindyar: What of these two documents? Mongo: Yeah? Assassination?!?!? Ged: It's a good thing that we got that particular paper before anyone else did... Peldor: Like the Assassins' Guild. Belphanior: Damn good thing. Alindyar: Actually, I should hope that someone could find my own relatives. I would like to see them try to kill them, though. Peldor: I HAVE no living relatives, so I don't much care. Halbarad: I say that we burn that paper now. All in favor? all: Yes! Belphanior: (produces a flame quickly) Here you go. Halbarad: (holding the burning scroll) So ends one danger... Peyote: The other scroll - the one with the slaver agent dudes - the kings or whoever that are on the way will want to take a look at that. Ged: Yea. I hope they use it to find them all and bring them to justice. Halbarad: Aye. Belphanior: Oh well. On to the real treasures. We can divide the monetary stuff. Or what's left of it. As for the magic... where's the treasure prioritizer? Rob: Huh? Ged: (produces a strange die with many sides) I have it right here. I'll go first. (he rolls, then all the others; the numbers rolled determine the order of treasure picks) Alindyar: (rolled a 20) I shall take the spellbook. Ged: No! NO! Mine, mine, mine! Peldor: Now, now. Fair's fair. Ged: No fair! You always get all the magic! Waa! Alindyar: (cradling the spellbook lovingly) Peldor: Heh heh. Ged: What do you care, thief?! You pick next, anyway! Peldor: Yup. And I want...the shortsword! Belphanior: (not suprised at all) Peldor: (sheaths the weapon and turns invisible) Yeah! Ged: (worried) Belphanior: I'm next. I'll take those gauntlets. Halbarad: (picks up the battle axe) This fine axe will suit my tastes, thank you. Mongo: Me next, huh? Well, this stuff is pretty useless to me. But I'll take this longsword here (grabs the +3 one) just in case my hammer ever hits a tar baby or something. Ged: Finally! My turn! Shit. (looking over what's left) I'll settle for the scroll. Four spells is better than none. Rob: I know what _I_ want! (snatches the mace) Ah... Peyote: Well, dudes...(picks up the ioun stone and sets it spinning in an orbit around his head) Neato! Far out! Alindyar: The circle comes around to me, once again. Hmm. I shall take this fine dagger. Peldor: (picks up the potion) We usually have more than just one potion bottle...but I'll take this, anyway. Belphanior: (extremely happy today) I want the longsword here (takes the +2 one, smiling all the while) Halbarad: (looking over the suddenly-measly pile) There is nothing left that I can use. I shall forfeit my second turn. Mongo: Hey, good idea! I'll do that too! Who wants that junk? Halbarad: (pleased that he has imbued good morals to someone else) Ged: Hmm. (grabs the bracers of ac4) I guess today wasn't a total loss. Rob: (picks up some pieces of the chain mail) I'll take this armor, here. The banded armor was getting too heavy, anyway. (Rob has been moving at 9" due to far too much luggage...this new armor should change that.) Peyote: Raw deal, man. I skip too. Let's sell the rest. REMAINING MAGIC: longsword+2, bracers ac6, Belphanior's old longsword+1, Halbarad's old battle axe+1, Rob's old mace+1. Ged: Does anyone mind if I take the bracers? I want to use them to try and get new spells from some mage. Alindyar: (practically gloating over his new spellbook) I care not. Belphanior: Fine by me. You probably earned it, anyway. Mongo: Sure, take them. Bracers are for wimps. Belphanior: Hey! Halbarad: Mongo, will you help me take these gems and jewelry to some place where we can sell them? Mongo: Sure! (they scoop up all the excess stuff and go) Peldor: I guess nobody wants ME to take care of that part... Within days, the messengers started to return. The actual king of the Principality of Ulek came as well, which was no big deal since Havenhill WAS the capital of that region. It turned out that spies and informants had been watching and listening, and there had been a notable decrease in slaver-related activities. The party's safe return confirmed these reports, and they suddenly became the center of an incredible amount of congratulations and rewards. The adventurers were each given sufficient funds to train in Havenhill's best guilds and schools (no small thing, there!), totally re-arm and re-equip themselves, and rest and relax for no less than a year or so. In addition, the three kings granted each of them (even Alindyar) the status of nobility in any of the Ulek lands - this included a sizable tract of land in the approximate middle of the region. They were now recognized as heroes of the realm(s) and were free to come and go as they chose. The king of the Principality of Ulek (one Olinstad Corond) insisted that they all stay in the royal castle until they were ready to leave. The meeting room where all of this occured (only the three kings and their closest advisors and guards, and the party, were present there) went into an uproar when Ged presented the document listing the Slave Lords' agents in the area. Some very prestigous people were thus incriminated (fortunately, none of them were in the meeting chamber just then) and the orders were immediately given to find and capture all of these individuals. For this, the kings opted to give the party further rewards. A medium-sized platinum chest was brought out. They opened it and extracted eight huge sapphires, one for each adventurer, and gave them to the party members. Peldor's eyes lit up as he no doubt thought of ways to acquire the other gems, but for once the thief was totally silent about what was on his mind. The kings again thanked the party and shook each of their hands, assuring them that they would not soon be forgotten. With that, they left the kings and councillors to their devices and started training and other miscellaneous activities. A brief summary of each adventurer's activities for the next month or so follows (the new levels listed at the top of this posting reflect the training listed below): Alindyar: Studied extensively in the mages' guild, chatted with the mages there, considered becoming a specialized illusionist mage but held off for now. Notable new spells he learned: hypnotism, summon swarm, fear, confusion. The drow was quite happy these days. "Illusion spells? Me? Never...your eyes doth play tricks on you." Belphanior: Studied magic and thievery. The thieves' guild was wary of him and Peldor at first, until they realized that the single most threatening thing to the guild (the Slave Lords) had been eliminated by these two. Belphanior learned the spells of ventriloquism and Melf's minute meteors (two spells he was sure he could cause much chaos with). Also recharged the JUMP spell in his ring of spell storing. "So, tell me about your current guildmaster..." Ged: Studied magic and Boccob's ways (what there were of them, anyway - what can you expect form a god who is called "the Uncaring" ??). Notable new spells he learned: spectral hand, web, lightning bolt. The grey elf traded the bracers to a mage in Havenhill for a few spells. He found that he still did not have enough magic for his liking and wondered if he was addicted to magic. "More spells?!? Where? Where?!?" Halbarad: Trained with the city's finest warriors, and spent a lot of time in the city zoo as well. Became used to his new axe, and decided that it had a better feel than his old one. (this may have been due to his attack rate going from 1/1 up to 3/2 - which means axe/dagger/axe, then dagger/axe/dagger the next, etc. - rangers get to use two weapons at once...). He also donated large sums of gold to the homeless and poor of Havenhill. "Here, go buy yourself a meal or fifty." Mongo: Trained with Halbarad and Peyote, also with a group of dwarven guards in the palace troops. Spent most of his time playing target practice with his hammer, to the point of torn elbow tendons many days. Along with Halbarad, he sold the monetary treasure that the party had brought back, on the party's behalf. Also learned that his third "magic" ring was actually fake, and proceeded to flatten the item with his hammer (his attack rate went up, also, from 3/2 to 2/1). "Sage, if I find out that you were wrong, I'm gonna come back here and smash YOU!!" Peldor: Visited the thieves' guild, and showed off his skills whenever possible. Drew up multiple plots to rob the royal treasury just for fun. Practiced with his sword in order to get used to being invisible most of the time. "Now you see me, now you don't! Ha ha!" Peyote: Worshipped at the (sizable) temple of Obad-Hai, and also worked on his weapon-play with the other warriors. Gained access to a single fourth-level priest spell per day. Also learned to get used to the rose-colored prism that was in perpetual orbit around his head now. Spent many nights smoking strange herbs that he got from the city's black market. "Dude! Check out my satellite! Cool, isn't it?" Rob: Sequestered himself in the temple of Trithereon, praying and discussing worldly matters with the high priests, who were certainly glad to accept his hefty donations. Gained access to fourth level magic from the diety (not one, but three spells, due to Wisdom bonuses). "Huh?!" -------- It seemed that everyone was happy these days, despite the possibility of new enemies made of any who might have escaped the Slave-Lord-agent hunt...but any good group of adventurers cannot remain static for long, as we shall see soon. next time: The next mission (wait until you see what it is!) ANONYMOUS FTP SITE: tybalt.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) *********************************************************************** NOTES: What a laid-back episode, wouldn't you say? I have an idea, here goes. Tell me who your favorite adventurer is, and tell me who your least favorite is. Also give reasons - I want to know if I'm doing a good job of portraying these guys the way that I knew them. Email me your votes within the next week (by Sunday, May 17th 1992) and I'll tally them up. The winner and the loser will get an entire posting devoted to their history - what makes that adventurer the man (or elf, or dwarf) that he is, where and when he came from, what he wears, what his favorite pasttimes are, and a zillion other things that I shall draw from my memories plus whatever written material I have in my character files. This should be fun, so I ask that if you read these postings, you take a minute to mail me your opinions; I'll then take a few hours to post mine. Thanks in advance to everybody. ***********************************************************************