Giga Games 1

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ Giga Games 1 / Giga Games.iso / net / d_d / caltech / fluff / adventrs / book4 < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1993-06-22 | 376.0 KB | 9,015 lines

BOOK FOUR ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to persons or characters * either real or fictional is purely coincidental. Copying and/or * distribution of these stories is permissible only under the one * condition that no part of them will be used or sold for profit. * In that case, I hope you enjoy them. ***** ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY: Alindyar, 9th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 6th/6rd/7th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 7th/7th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 7th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 8th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 9th level human thief (N) Peyote, 7th/8th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 10/15/570 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: afternoon Place: The city of Loftwick, capital of the Yeomanry ------------------------------------------------------------------ L. Baptism by Fire Just now, the party was somewhat saddened to learn that their primary priest, Rob, was called back to Keoland by his diety. Peyote: Well, I'll be. The dude's really gone. Belphanior: Hmm. (truly saddened by the departure of his main entertainment) I'll miss him. I really will. Mongo: He really wasn't a bad guy, for a priest. Alindyar: Perhaps we shall see the lad in the future. Peldor: (realizes that Rob may have had some useful items in his possession) Darn it! I missed my chance... Ged: I guess this makes _me_ the only priest now. Peyote: I'm good for half a priest, man. Peldor: Only half a priest? We never have half a priest at home... Halbarad: Nay! We need to find another priest. Peyote: What?! Ged: Bah. _I_ am all the priest this party needs. Mongo: Another one couldn't hurt, pal. Belphanior: Yeah! Get another one! Peyote: We have one and a half now. That's fine. I agree with Ged, we don't need another Rob walking around. Peldor: Well, don't get another _Rob_. Get the new and improved model. Alindyar: My vote goes for another priest. Halbarad: How about this: We post a note stating our need, and see who comes to talk to us? Mongo: Fine, but let's also say that he has to be voted in by _all_ of us. Peyote: That would tend to eliminate bad ones. Peldor: Get one with loads of money and items. Alindyar: Auditions? Ged: I still say no, but clearly I'm outvoted here. Do as you will, but if I don't like a prospect, I'm not going to vote for him. Halbarad: Fine. That is fair enough. I'll make up a notice and find a place to post it. With that, the party members went about their business for that day. Halbarad and Mongo were in charge of posting the notice, and did so with flair, tacking up several at the main intersections on all the main streets. The notes proclaimed the need for an experienced priest to join an active, good- aligned group of adventurers. Applicants were to meet Mongo the dwarf at the Blasted Beholder Inn (the party's current lodging place) between noon and dusk... The sign went up at late afternoon. The next day, after the various adventurers agreed to come by the inn every hour to check up on Mongo, the dwarf sat down at a table and began counting a stack of coins. Shortly... lad: Excuse me. Sir? Mongo: Huh? lad: I'm here to see about that priest position. Mongo: Hmph. You don't look like much. What's your story? lad: I'm Foldor the Brave! I will be a great priest one day! Mongo: One day? What do you mean, one day? Have you had any experience? Ever killed a giant? An ogre? lad: Err...no. Mongo: Even an orc? lad: Umm...no. Aren't you people going to train me? Mongo: Huh?! We need an experienced priest, not a green lad! Can you even cast spells? lad: Err...not yet. I haven't chosen any one religion yet. Mongo: Argh! Get out of here! You'd get killed within a week! Come back when you can DO something! lad: (about to cry) But...but... Mongo: Awww. It's okay. Listen, kid. It's not that we don't _want_ you. It's just that, well, we're always out there fighting dragons and stuff like that. You would get eaten, having had no experience and all, and then we would have to come back here and tell your mother all about it. lad: ... Mongo: The world's a dangerous place. Go and talk to your parents, find a temple to join, and maybe we'll take a look at you in a few years. lad: well, okay. Mongo: Here. (fishes something out of a pocket) This is a giant's eye. Take it with you, and think of it as you are learning in the temple. For good luck. (winks at the kid) lad: Oh, boy! A giant's eye! Thanks! (scampers off) Wait 'till I show Mom! (gone) Mongo: Sheez. And so it went. There were a dozen more applicants, most of whom were not skilled enough for the party's liking. Two were actually brought out to an abandoned field, to prove their worth to the group. The first, however, was of some odd religion, and Ged did not care for his beliefs, and thus vetoed him (perhaps it was because the grey elf did not want another priest in the party...). The second proved decent in skill, but was quite clumsy, and knew not the use of a single weapon. Peldor and Mongo both vetoed this one outright. Before dusk, the group gathered outside the inn, weary and irritated. Mongo: What a fuckin' waste of my time! Ged: I told you guys, we _don't_ need another priest in the party. Peldor: Most of those people were losers anyway. Peyote: That one young lady showed promise... Alindyar: ...But she was yet unskilled enough for the sort of quests that we embark upon. Peldor: Aw, come on! She was a fox! Ged: Yep, but that's not why we hire people. Besides, if we had her in the party, you'd trip a lot more often. Alindyar: The wench of distraction... Peyote: Trip? Halbarad: Perhaps we do not need another after all. Mongo: What's that? Nearby, a commotion was afoot. Apparently a group of ruffians were waylaying some innocent victim in a nearby alley, where they had just chased him or her... Peyote: Where are the town guards? Ged: Not here, obviously. We have to help! (draws his morningstar and runs for the alley) Boccob! Mongo: Yeah! Fight! (lumbers after the elf) Peldor: Wait...ah, forget it. Another mess to get into. Halbarad: We are obligated to assist those in need... The others followed Ged and Mongo to the alley, where an unusual sight awaited them all. There were six unsavory- looking men circled around a single person. This latter individual was tall, and wearing dark grey robes with a hood (a priest of some sort?). ruffian#1: That's far enough, friend. We know you've got to have plenty of cash inside that robe, there. Make this easy on yourself and hand it over. ruffian#2: Yeah. Then we won't have to bust you up...too much. ruffian#3: Har har. robed one: (speaks with a thick accent) I refuse. I do not bow to common thugs. Leave. ruffian#1: Your funeral, buddy! (charges the person, club in hand) robed one: I think not. (he dodges, lighting-quick, and brings a fist up into the ruffian's stomach) ruffian#1: OOF! (sails into a wall, hard) Belphanior: Did you see that?! (excitedly) What speed! Mongo: Hit him pretty hard, too. Strong guy. Alindyar: How know you that it is a male? (remembering the early days, when some of the party thought that he was a female) Peldor: That was clearly a male voice... Ged: (about to join combat, he hesitates for an instant) ruffian#2: Hey! He decked Clyde! (charges the lone robed figure) robed one: (spins about and kicks the brigand in the side of the head, knocking him down) I thought I told you to leave. ruffian#3: Argh! (charges) ruffian#4: (charges) robed one: (ducks, punches one in the face, then sweeps the other with his leg, knocking him over) Peyote: Good move, dude. ruffian#3: (face mashed) Yagh! (reels back and falls) ruffian#4: (tripped) Yie! (falls) robed one: (elbows the downed one in the crotch) ruffian#4: Ooooooof. Urgh. Ged: Hah! Halbarad: I think that this fellow has no need of our help. ruffian#5: (grabs the robed one from behind) ruffian#6: (punches him) Har! Hold him still, while I bust him up! ruffian#5: Ha ha. robed one: Bad idea. (breaks the ruffian's hold by hitting his face with the back of his head) ruffian#5: Argh! (holding his broken nose) Bushted mah... robed one: (grabs the man) That is for sticking your nose where it does not belong. (kicks him with a loud crunching sound) ruffian#5: (falls quietly) ruffian#6: Huh? What'd you do to Spike?! robed one: I gave him the boot. (advances on the last of his assailants) ruffian#6: Aaaa! (turns and flees) <WHAP!> (ran right into Mongo's steel-armored chest) Urk...(falls, unconscious) Mongo: Stupid dimwit. Ged: (walks up to robed one) Nice job there. robed one: (wheels, fists up) Ged: Yie! (backs up a bit) Hold it! We're here to help! robed one: Need no help. Trash taken out now. For good. Ged: Well, we _were_ going to help, but you did a fine job all by yourself. Are you all right? robed one: Fine. Mongo: Nice fighting there. Where'd you learn all that? robed one: Long ago. Ged: Oh. Well, say, we were sort of looking for a new companion, and, well, I was thinking... robed one: What happened to the old one? Mongo: He had to go away. Ged: Are you hungry? I'd be happy to buy you dinner while we talked about it. robed one: (shakes the elf's hand) I am called Rillen. Peyote: (whispering) His hand's black. Alindyar: So? Peldor: If that's a drow, then I'm a fairie. Ged: (returning the handshake) I am Ged. Mongo: Mongo, at your service. (clasps hands with the man) Belphanior: I am Belphanior. (shakes hands with Rillen, who stands several inches higher than the elf, who is the tallest of the party) Do you gamble? Rillen: No. Bad luck. And so forth. They went back to the inn and had a hearty, hot dinner. Rillen let his hood down, revealing an ebon, human face of indeterminate age. Their new friend related a few details of his history - he was a wandering warrior from a faraway land, on a mission to learn of the world. He had trained in a monestary for many years, achieving great control of mind, body, and spirit, and then left and traveled for many leagues. He called himself an expert with the longbow, staff, and his bare hands. Ged: Do you wish to join our party? Halbarad: Now wait one moment! You said that we had no need of another priest - why should we need another _warrior_, of all things?! Mongo: Aw, come on. We could use a guy like him. Halbarad: At least, we need to test his skill in battle. Peyote: Hmm. (casts a Detect Evil on Rillen, discretely, finding none at all) Well, he is not malevolent... Halbarad: Stranger, are you skilled in combat? Peldor: Do _you_ want to try and wrestle with him? Rillen: Never said I would join... Ged: Hey, there's safety in numbers on the open road. Rillen: ...But would like to try. For awhile. Halbarad: You said you can fire a bow? Let us see, then. Mongo: Bitchin'! (they all go outside, and find a nearby field) Halbarad: (pulls out his bow) I am going to fire a few of these arrows into that post, way over there. (proceeds to do so, one at a time, and soon there are four arrows in the thick wooden post) Now, my friend, can _you_ do as well? Rillen: Hmph. (pulls his bow out) Watch. Peyote: Hmm. Rillen: (draws and fires ten arrows, all of which hit and form a circle around the ranger's arrows) Hah. (looking mighty smug) Ged: Yea! Mongo: (happy) Peyote: Far out! Halbarad: All right, I concede defeat. Your archery is on such a level as to rival mine. But what use are you in melee? Bare-handed combat is fine, but can you use that quarterstaff? Rillen: (whirls the staff around in an intricate series of maneuvers) Come try me. _If_ you wish. Halbarad: No, my good man. I do not need to fight with you. Is that staff of any use against armored foes, though? Rillen: Yes. (suddenly, a wicked, foot-long blade of steel pops out from one end of the staff) Belphanior: I'm impressed. Halbarad: (walks up and shakes the tall man's hand) You have proven yourself to me. Does anyone object to this man joining the party? all: No! Ged: Welcome, Rillen. Mongo: Back to the inn! This calls for a round of drinks! On me! Peldor: Hey! Count me in! (they all return to the tavern and at least some have too much to drink, as the moon rises...) Over the next days, the adventurers split into small groups and searched for possible missions to undertake. Finally, after the second day, they all met for dinner and heard the findings of Halbarad and Peyote. Halbarad: Rumor has it that a small town to the northwest is under continual attack by giants. Mongo: Giants! Peyote: ...and let's not forget that the giants are rumored to have much in the way of treasure. Halbarad: A force of thirty or so soldiers was sent a week ago, but no word has come back. Peyote: Should we go, we can get in on the action before the Loftwick militia is called in. That means more glory, and more loot, and... Halbarad: Let us not forget the matter of helping the innocents of the village. Peyote: The village people, yeah. Ged: For that reason, I say we should go. The oppressed masses need our help! Peldor: They do? Belphanior: Oh, come now. Giants! Just think of the treasure! Like he said. Peldor: Okay. Rillen: Plan sounds good to me. Alindyar: Agreed. Let us go and meet giants. Mongo: Fuck yeah! Halbarad: Shall we depart tomorrow, then? all: Yea! So, they got a good final night's sleep before their departure the next day. Provisions for two weeks were bought, for the town (some place called Fleer) was but three days' journey away. The warrior, Rillen, already had a mount, a large, magnificent horse which had obviously cost him a good sum of money. The group rode northwest after breakfast, in a good mood, and for the next three days, they moved on happily, camping on the roadside when night fell, and riding by daylight. ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY: Alindyar, 9th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 6th/6rd/7th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 7th/7th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 7th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 8th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 9th level human thief (N) Peyote, 7th/8th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rillen, 8th level human fighter (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 10/19/570 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: afternoon Place: the wilderness of the Yeomanry ------------------------------------------------------------------ After the third day on the road, the party reached the small town of Fleer, riding into it one afternoon. The place was a small one, but yet, at midday, most of the businesses were closed. A few people wandered the streets dejectedly. There was a lot of dust in the air, and the party found themselves thirsty. They walked for a time before finding an open inn, aptly named the Dead Tumbleweed Inn, and entered the place. Mongo: Barkeep! Ale, please! barkeep: (morosely draws a mug of ale and hands it to the dwarf) Halbarad: I shall have one too. barkeep: (gets that too, still looking quite blank) Peyote: What's the deal here? You'd think someone died. Suddenly, a huge ogre strutted into the inn, causing the double doors to swing back and forth violently. The beast sauntered up to the bar, grinning. ogre: Hey, gimme a beer! barkeep: (hands the humanoid the beer shortly) ogre: (guzzling half of the drink immediately) Hey! Hey you! (pushes Mongo) Mongo: Watch it, pal. ogre: (stands up) Huh? (kicks the dwarf's stool out from under him) Rillen: Not very nice. ogre: Haw haw! What's your beef, dwarf? Mongo: (gets up, and punches the ogre in the groin) I told you to watch it! ogre: (spits out beer) Urgh. (draws a big sword) You'll pay for that, shorty! Mongo: (dodges the ogre's blow, and bashes him in the chest with a suddenly-drawn hammer) No way, shithead! ogre: <SMACK!> (falls down, and stays still) Rillen: Good fighting. You shut him up. Mongo: Nah. Any fool can take an ogre down - it just takes a little speed and a strong fighting arm. barkeep: (a look of terror on his pallid face) Now you've done it! Halbarad: I beg your pardon? barkeep: Now they'll kill us all! We're doomed! (sobs in miserable terror) Alindyar: Didst I miss something? Peyote: What's your trip, dude? The adventurers were eventually able to get the man's story out of him. It seemed that the ogre was a member of a large band of ogres and giant-types that had been terrorizing the small town recently. These ruffians went wherever they pleased, robbing and killing at will. No one could stop their reign of terror. Mongo: No one, my ass! WE will stop them! Halbarad: Hear, hear. Rillen: Where are these...giants? barkeep: Uh...they're out there to the northwest somewhere. They make their lair within an hour's ride, that is certain. Peyote: Okay. Stay here. We'll go find these ogres and such. Peldor: We will? Belphanior: Come on, live a little. Besides, it's time for _blood_. Alindyar: 'Tis a good thing that I have memorized some useful spells this day. Without further ado, the group rode for the northwest. As fate would have it, they didn't have far to go... Halbarad: What is that? (petting his horse) The mounts are nervous. Peyote: Hmm. Peldor: I don't see anybody. Ged: (preparing a spell) Let's be ready, anyway. The horses would have none of it, though. They were in a positive panic, bucking and whinnying frantically. Even the large, noble horse ridden by Rillen was upset. Before too long, the party could not continue to ride. Halbarad's best attempts to calm them failed, and finally the party dismounted in disgust and took the horses back a bit. As they tried to keep the animals from running, Peldor thought he saw something. Peldor: Eh? Belphanior: What's that? Peldor: I think we are being stalked... Mongo: Fuck that! (pulls out his hammer and moves twenty feet up the trail) Halbarad: Hold on. (draws his dagger and axe) What is out there? Peldor: I'm not sure. Peyote: Maybe we should get in formation. (they do, and move somewhat onward, leaving the horses a hundred feet back) Rillen: This smells like ambush. Ged: (readying a spell) Tell me about it... Suddenly, huge forms appeared all around the party. Whether they were invisible, or hidden in the tall brush and grass, or appeared from thin air was uncertain, but they definitely were here for business, fully decked in armor and all well-armed. All of them carried either large rocks or spears as well as more conventional weapons. There were three who were quite obviously giants, as well as a big, smelly ettin, a troll, an ogre with blue skin, and the strangest of all - a huge, maybe twenty-five foot tall humanoid, with a single huge eye glaring from his head far above. This being towered over the tallest of the others by a full eight feet. The two dozen ogres with this bunch seemed puny in contrast. Peldor: What the hell is THAT?!? black-skinned giant: You! How DARE you slay one of my ogres?! So you wish to challenge us, eh? (looks around) Heh, heh. Fortunately for us, we were informed of your presence, so we thought we would come out to greet you personally. other giant: Har har. Mongo: Huh?!? (fingering his hammer) Peldor: (invisible, using his ring to tie one ogre's boot laces together) Ged: You're really funny. (quietly working on his spell) black-skinned giant: We will have none of that, now. Prepare to meet your maker. party: (scrambling to get into a better defensive position) All the giants hurled their missiles, as Ged frantically tried to get his spell cast. FIRE GIANT 5 OGRES 5 OGRES Mongo Halbarad HILL GIANT Ged STONE GIANT Belphanior Peyote 5 OGRES Alindyar 5 OGRES Peldor Rillen TROLL OGRE MAGE ETTIN CYCLOPS 3 OGRES ogre: (trips) Wha....? Peldor: Ha ha. Belphanior: Oh shit! (hit by a spear, and grazed by a boulder) Alindyar: (nicked by a spear) Ouch. Ged: (hit by two spears, spell ruined) Damn! Boccob will see you pay for that! Halbarad: (hit by a rock and a spear) Argh! Mongo: (hit by two rocks) Agh! Fuck! Peldor: (invisible, dodges some missiles easily) Peyote: (hit by a rock and a spear) Dude! Rillen: (dodges some missiles) You will regret that, big men. The giants and such closed, as the mages quickly tried to get new spells cast... Peldor: (invisible, chops the ettin, scoring a deep wound) ettin: Aargh! (the two heads start biting at each other) Peldor: (becomes visible) Uh-oh. They're confused already. Belphanior: (casts Color Spray on the ogres charging him) Here, enjoy. ogres: (four of the five are knocked unconscious) Belphanior: (draws his lightning wand) Hill giant: (chops Belphanior, knocking him back) Har har! Belphanior: (quite seriously wounded now) Fuck! Just wait until I blast you, wiseguy. Fire giant: (chops at Mongo, grazing his armor and making sparks) Damn! Stay still, bug! Stone giant: (bashes Halbarad with a huge club) Smash you! Halbarad: Argh! Ged: Yes! (casts Haste on everyone) Boccob is with us today! Alindyar: (casts Fear on the flank of opponents near the ranger and half-elf) ogres: (seven of the ten flee) Aaaaa! ogres: (the other three) Huh? (they advance) Stone giant: (ignores the spell) Bah. Ogre mage: (launches a Cone of Cold at the party, hitting most of them, though most also save successfully) Rillen: Cold. Cold wind. Peyote: Yikes! Alindyar: Brr. Ged: Aaargh! Mongo: (armor frosted) Dammit. Belphanior: Aaaagh! You'll get it for that. Peyote: For sure. ogre: (swings at Belphanior, but misses) ogre: (slashes Mongo, but the dwarf's armor deflects the blow) ogre: (swipes at Mongo, but misses) ogre: (slashes at Halbarad, but misses) ogre: (stabs at Peyote, but misses) ogre: (slashes Peyote, injuring him) Yeah! Peyote: (reels, but still manages to guzzle his potion of super-heroism) Mmmmm. ogre: Uh-oh. ogre: This not good. Peyote: (gains three levels, +3 to hit, 18 hp) You guys are dog meat! ogre: No, that for supper last night. ogre: Shut up and get dat guy! Peldor: (slashes the ettin, wounding it) Fall, slow one. Rillen: (smashes the cyclops in the knee with his staff) I will knock you down. Cyclops: Bah. ettin: (chops Peldor, twice) Die, puny man! Peldor: Ugh...now I dislike ettins... Rillen: (swats at the cyclops again, but misses, barely) Halbarad: (chops and slashes the stone giant, hitting with both attacks) Take that, stony fiend. Rillen: (bashes the cyclops again, in the belly) You are one _big_ person. Cyclops: Grunt. Mongo: (smashes the fire giant) Take that, shitlips! Peyote: (chops one of his ogres, wounding it) Troll: (pummels Peldor) Grblk! Peldor: Agh... Rillen: (smashes the cyclops on the arm) Cyclops: Ow. Halbarad: (chops and slashes the stone giant, hitting with only the axe though) Mongo: (bashes the fire giant in the thigh) I'll take you down a foot at a time if I have to! Peyote: (misses the ogre he just wounded) Cyclops: (swats Rillen with considerable force) Rillen: Aaaaaaaa! (grunting in primal pain) Mongo: (bashes at the giant again, but uneffectively) Peyote: (slashes the ogre again, slaying it) Ho! One down! Halbarad: (chops at the stone giant twice with his axe, hitting once) Stone giant: <grunt> Mongo: (smashes the giant in the foot, hard) That's for having smelly feet! Fire giant: Cease your mindless prattle! assorted other foes: (trying to get into position to melee the party - not all of the giants and ogres can reach them) Belphanior: (waving his wand about, blasts the hill giant and the five ogres next to it) Hill giant: Yargh! (singed) ogres: (all five are toasted) FIRE GIANT STONE GIANT Mongo Halbarad HILL GIANT Ged OGRE Belphanior Peyote OGRE Alindyar OGRE Peldor Rillen TROLL OGRE MAGE ETTIN CYCLOPS 3 OGRES Rillen: (to cyclops) Try this. (the blade pops out from his staff, and he slashes the cyclops, wounding it again) Cyclops: Huh? Belphanior: (blasts the ogre and hill giant in front of him with his wand) Ha ha! ogre: (disintegrates into a black and red smear) Hill giant: AARGH! (his hair is all gone) AAA! (chops Belphanior, but misses) AAAAA! Belphanior: Whew. Peldor: (slashes at the ettin, but misses) Hey, that burnt hair sure does stink! Rillen: (stabs the cyclops, gashing its leg) Shake a leg. Cyclops: Urgh! Fire giant: (chops at Mongo, but the dwarf dashes between his legs) Damn! Mongo: (smashes the giant right in the groin) Ha! Fire giant: Argh! You will die! Ged: By Boccob, I call forth the tentacles of doom! (casts Evard's Black Tentacles upon the ettin and the three ogres nearby it) Hah, fools! Taste the mighty magic of Boccob! Ettin: Huh?! (snagged by three of the ebon things, snaps two of them) Yargh! ogre: (snagged by three, snaps one) Agh! I is trapped! ogre: (snared by two, snaps both) Huh?! ogre: (snared by two, snaps one) Yarg! Rillen: Magic must not taste very good. Ged: Hah. Stupid ogres! Rillen: (slashes the cyclops - a critical hit!) Yes! Cyclops: (pierced through the heart, dies!) rgg... Rillen: Glad to see he got my point... Ged: Yes! Great going, Rillen! Now somebody get that damned ogre mage! Alindyar: I am about to do that very thing. Mongo: (misses fire giant) Damn! Alindyar: (fires five missiles from his wand, at the ogre mage) Ogre mage: Argh! (hit by all the missiles, wounded) Drow! You shall roast for that! (goes airborne) Alindyar: Hmm. Belphanior: (blasts the hill giant with yet another bolt of lightning, taking some reflected damage himself) Ya! Hill giant: AAARGH! Stand still, flea! Peldor: (slashes at the ettin, but his blade is deflected by the monster's armor) Damn! Rillen: (retrieving his weapon from the cyclops' body) Halbarad: (chops stone giant, and slashes it with his dagger) ogre: (chops Peyote) ogre: (misses Peyote) Mongo: (pounds fire giant) Fall, you mountain! Fire giant: Never! ogre: (slashes at RIllen, hits) Rillen: Eh? ogre: (slashes at Peldor, misses) ogre: (can't attack, since he's blocked by his comrades) Ettin: (bashes Peldor, hitting once and missing once) I get you! Peldor: (more than half-dead, literally) Agh... Peyote: (chops ogre, hits) ogre: Agh! ogre: (chops at Belphanior, but misses) Belphanior: Whew. Stone giant: (bashes Halbarad) Ha. Halbarad: (feeling some ribs break) Agh! Troll: (lunging for Peldor, fumbles and trips...) Peldor: (can't help but laugh, even in this situation) Hah. Halbarad: (chops and stabs the stone giant, but misses both times) Damn! Peyote: (slashes the ogre, killing it) Hah. Bad luck, dude. Mongo: (bashes the fire giant _again_) Die, dammit! Ogre mage: (uses his Sleep power on the party from the air, but fortunately they all save...!) By the gods! I do not believe it! Alindyar: Believe it. Peyote: (slices at another ogre, but misses) FIRE GIANT STONE GIANT Mongo Halbarad HILL GIANT Ged OGRE Belphanior Peyote Alindyar Peldor TROLL Rillen OGRE MAGE ETTIN <airborne> 3 OGRES Belphanior: (blasts the hill giant) Die! Hill giant: (dies, headless and extremely charred) Belphanior: Wow. Peldor: (misses the ettin, fumbling, and his sword sails off into the dirt) Whoops. Ettin: Heh heh. Rillen: (attacking a tentacled ogre, slashes it deeply) Looks like you are all tied up... ogre: Agh! Alindyar: (getting his carpet out) Fire giant: (misses Mongo with his huge axe) Arg! Die! Mongo: (bashes the giant in the knee) Fall! Fall, damn you! Peyote: (slashes his ogre, killing it) Sorry, dude. Rude deal. Stone giant: (hits Halbarad with his stone club, knocking him out) Ha. Halbarad: (unconscious and bleeding internally) Ged: Somebody help him! Rillen: (dices an ogre with his staff, slaying it) Mongo: (misses the giant) Hey, watch it! You almost stepped on me! Fire giant: SHUT UP! Ogre mage: (airborne) Now you see me...(goes invisible) Alindyar: Curses! (goes aerial on the carpet and starts spellcasting) Troll: (mauls the defenseless Peldor) Rargh! Peldor: (smashed, bloody, comatose; falls to the ground) Troll: (moving toward Ged and Rillen) Rrgh. Rarg! Rillen: (slashes another tentacle-tied ogre, killing it) Ged: Eh? (spots the troll coming for him) Fortunately I am ready for you, green fiend! (casts a Lightning Bolt in the direction of the troll, and incidentally, the ettin) Ha! Chew electric death, snarling curs!! Ettin: Eyaaaaaaaa! (blasted into small bits, dies) Troll: YEARGH! (blackened and missing chunks) AARGH! Ged: Ha! Boccob's might proves superior once more! Mongo: (bashes fire giant, hearing ribs and more crunch) Fire giant: (falls, dead at last) Mongo: Hah! Mongo triumphs! Alindyar: (having cast Detect Invisibility, he can now see the ogre mage floating nearby - but doesn't let the creature know that...) Belphanior: (running into position, he blasts the troll directly with his wand) Troll: (melted) Ged: Thanks for finishing that scum off. (pulls out his morningstar) Belphanior: Noooo problem. Peyote: (slashes at the stone giant, but its tough hide deflects the blow) Damn. Ogre mage: (attempts to Charm Alindyar) You know, it _really_ would be in your best interest to drop your carpet onto your dwarven friend there. Othewise, he is apt to hurt someone with that dreadful hammer of his. Alindyar: (sweating) No...HA! You shall have to do better than that, you floating blue turnip. Ogre mage: Turnip? Halbarad (dead) STONE GIANT Mongo Ged Peyote Belphanior Alindyar <airborne> Peldor (dead) Rillen OGRE MAGE OGRE <airborne> Belphanior: (heading for the ogre) Time to wrap this up. Rillen: (slashes at the ogre, but misses) Damn! I never miss! ogre mage: (looking around) Alindyar: Pay attention. (blasts the humanoid with his own bolt of lightning) Ogre mage: Bah. (the bolt is mostly deflected, and rebounds into Alindyar!) Alindyar: <ZAP> Agh! (falls, unconscious and in spasms) Ogre mage: (becomes visible) Hah. So much for YOU. Mongo: Hey! Get down from there, you! (hurls his hammer, hitting the ogre mage hard) Ogre mage: Agh! (stunned, falls to the ground) Ged: (thinking of a double play, dashes up and hits the humanoid with his morningstar, killing it) Yes! Ogre mage: No fair...(expires) Mongo: (catches his hammer) Get some oil and burn that fucker! Remember the last blue ogres we fought? Ged: Yeah. (thinking about a Burning Hands on the body) Belphanior: (moves up and backstabs the last ogre, killing it) Mongo: (saw the whole thing) Backstab? Ged: Hey! You fight like a thief! Peyote: (slashes at the stone giant, misses) Huh? Stone giant: Argh! (swats the half-elf, knocking him to the dirt, bleeding and unconscious) Mongo: Fuck! (throws hammer at the giant, but misses by a hair) FUCK!! Ged: (runs up and smashes his weapon into the giant's stomach) Stone giant: Urk. (perishes, falling to the ground with a loud thump) Ged: Boccob! Mongo: Help the wounded! Ged: Oh, yeah. (starts binding wounds and healing the comatose) Geez, these guys are pretty bad off... Belphanior: I'm suprised that none of us are actually un-recoverable. Ged: It's a close thing, my friend. Mongo: (lighting the oil he poured on the ogre mage's body) Rillen: Why do you burn the body? Mongo: He may jump back up again and cause trouble. Rillen: (watching the blaze) Not any more. THE STATUS OF THE PARTY: Alindyar : - 7 hp Belphanior : 11 Ged : 21 Halbarad : - 4 Mongo : 18 Peldor : - 2 Peyote : - 1 Rillen : 12 Soon, the four worst wounded were...stabilized, and the others set about forming a defensive perimeter. Next, Ged cast a Detect Magic spell, and the party set about confiscating the dead group's magic items and other loot: fire giant : three potions (all smashed) stone giant : strange rock hill giant : (undersized, for him) morningstar ogre mage : exotic ring, plus two potions (one smashed) ogres : (various) scimitar, pick, two-handed sword There were also several hundred coins and a few gems, as well some cheap jewelry. Peyote shocked Ged, Mongo, and even Rillen by kicking back and turning into a large dog, a bloodhound to be specific. The half-elf/dog sniffed around the whole area, quickly picking up the scent of the evil humanoids. He loped off, and chased the scent to a hidden cave about a mile away. Returning to the others, he became human once more and briefed them. Belphanior wandered off in search of the horses, and was able to recover six of them. The group (those who were awake) did not feel up to exploring the lair just yet, and so they rested and built a camp for the rest of the day. The party camped overnight off the path, guarding their wounded carefully and making sure that they were well- prepared for an ambush (Belphanior set a number of traps around the campsite). Nothing came to bother them, though they were paranoid (rightfully so). The next morning, the four wounded were able to ride, although too weak for any combat situations. The party checked the hidden cave, and Mongo helped Peyote and Rillen try to move the massive boulder blocking the entrance - to no avail. Peldor tried to help using his ring's power, and Ged also tied strong ropes to the six horses in a clever use of both his rope skills and his horsemanship abilities. It wasn't until Halbarad loaned his gauntlets of strength to the grey elf that the combined force being exerted finally moved the boulder. Only a foot-wide crack was made, though, for the ropes began to snap. Belphanior slipped into the narrow opening, followed by Mongo. The others waited outside... Shortly, the pair returned, with news of piles of loot and chests of coins. Belphanior had disarmed the traps on the latter, since Mongo told him flat out that his third occupation was no longer a secret...the adventurers decided to stay in this place, since it seemed fairly safe and also contained a lot of new treasure. They made their camp inside the cave, and remained there for three more days before returning to Fleer, well-healed and loaded with treasure. After the token stop in Fleer (which was rewarded with cheers and singing by the locals), they bought two horses and rode back to Loftwick for treasure division and possible training. THE LOOT (MAGIC ITEMS ONLY): (Identified beforehand, for a change, by Ged) strange meteorite - Peldor morningstar +3 - Ged ring of spell turning - Ged potion of healing - Alindyar scimitar +1 - Peldor pick +1 - Mongo 2H sword +1 - Peyote cloak of comfort - Halbarad ioun stone - Peyote potion of undead control - Belphanior big shovel - Mongo wand of illumination - Rillen hand axe +2 - Halbarad quiver - Belphanior crystal ball - Alindyar horseshoes - Rillen In brief, only Halbarad and Peldor were in need of training. They spent several weeks doing this, while the others waited in boredom. The cold of winter was suddenly (it seemed) upon the adventurers. Soon... ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY: Alindyar, 9th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 6th/6rd/7th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 7th/7th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 8th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 8th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 10th level human thief (N) Peyote, 7th/8th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rillen, 8th level human fighter (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 12/02/570 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: afternoon Place: Loftwick, capital of the Yeomanry ------------------------------------------------------------------ In a private room within the latest tavern (the Daring Dancer Inn), Belphanior was talking to Peldor... Belphanior: Say, why don't we check out the prospects in this city? Peldor: Now THAT, my friend, is a damned good idea... next time: Midnight escapades FTP SITE: tybalt.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) ******************************************************************** NOTES: This is the grand 50th episode, thus its length. At a length of 40K, this is the biggest one I've ever posted. The battle with the giants bacame one of the party's most talked- about of the party's adventures. They were actually a lot more worried during the battle than I have probably showed. Now, on to other things... Another fighter? Is this a good idea? Perhaps not, but yet, this is how it happened. Rillen's player had run Rob's character the previous session, but since Rob showed no signs of playing that month (or any other), the player wanted his own character. The new warrior Rillen is essentially a fighter, specializing in his bare hands and the quarterstaff, and proficient with the longbow. Penalties? He is not allowed to use any other weapon(s), period. He spent his entire life training with two weapons of choice, and unarmed combat. This is the cheap and easy way to build a monk - there was no Warrior's handbook when we were playing... When you read Rillen's lines, think of an Arnold Schwarzenegger who can fight very well. That's how he was played - and the many countless lines from movies and bad puns were hilarious (to us, at least...). ******************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to persons or characters * either real or fictional is purely coincidental. Copying and/or * distribution of these stories is permissible only under the one * condition that no part of them will be used or sold for profit. * In that case, I hope you enjoy them. ***** ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY: Alindyar, 9th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 6th/6th/7th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 7th/7th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 8th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 8th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 10th level human thief (N) Peyote, 7th/8th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rillen, 8th level human fighter (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 12/02/570 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: afternoon Place: Loftwick, capital of the Yeomanry ------------------------------------------------------------------ LI. Midnight Madness *FORWARD* : This episode, due to the nature of the source material, has been written in "real" fiction format. If you can't stand this writing style, skip the episode - nothing earth-shattering for the party as a whole happens in it. Otherwise, read on and enjoy... Belphanior had his longsword halfway out of its sheath when he heard the door open, but relaxed as he watched Peldor enter the small room. "Did you get the things we need?", aksed the elf of his fellow thief. Peldor held up a fairly full sack in reply. "Of course I did." Belphanior nodded, pleased. "Well, I'm about ready to go here." Peldor carefully opened the black cloth bag, and several tools and other things emptied onto a dirty wooden table. "Good. Let's get this stuff packed and get to where we're going. The night is getting older, and we don't have a thing to show for it yet." The pair had been busy while their companions rested and took care of business in the last few days. They had decided to take a look at some of the places in Loftwick - not the kind of look that the average citizen approved of, granted, but a thief had to earn his living nonetheless. After several places had been scouted and thoroughly cased out, the two had settled on an old tower outside the city itself. This building, known as the Tower of the Lost Mage, was a forgotten structure, rumored to have long ago been the home of a powerful mage. Nothing had been seen of heard from the tower in years, though, and the locals were scared of the place, shunning it at every chance. The tales of the Lost Mage repelled them quite effectively. it seemed. Stupid, thought Belphanior as he made a last check of his various tools and weapons. A mage's lair could contain any number of useful things. Who knew what mighty magics and lost treasures were gathering dust in the tower, just waiting to be put to better use? Peldor, being of like mind, was just as ready to break into the building. Belphanior was in a pleasant mood, for a change. The human thief and he had never worked together before, but both were confident in themselves as well as each other. Truly something great was bound to happen this night. As the moon Celene waxed high in the dark sky overhead, the elf made a final equipment check. Grappling hooks, thin cord, lockpicks, soot, a bottle of grease, daggers, poison, glue - everything seemed to be in place. Peldor was similarly engaged, though he apparently tended to carry fewer small items than Belphanior. Ah, well, thought Belphanior. Each to their own. Peldor spoke up. "Let's do it." They checked outside the door to the small room, which they had rented in this shabby inn at the edge of town. No one was nearby, and the pair strolled out into the street. They wore normal-appearing civilian garb, in order to pass as anything but what they were; Peldor in addition was disguised, sporting pads and high shoes, and appeared to be a tall, bloated noble of some kind. They left the city on horseback, bidding the guards good night, and rode from Loftwick. Since the place was the capital of a predominantly lawful kingdom, brigands were scarce, and few people ever encountered trouble near the city after sunset (or before it, for that matter). Had they still been in the Wild Coast, Belphanior thought, they no doubt would have been fighting off bandits by now. He whispered in hushed tones to Peldor, and they looked back to assure no pursuit before spurring their horses off the path. There was nothing back there to justify the elf's paranoia, though, and he relaxed and looked to the northeast. The pair of mounts carried their riders through short grass, and after a few minutes, a tall, shadowed spire of stone loomed before them - the Tower! They tied their horses several hundred feet from the place and left a bit of food and drink, just in case. The animals seemed a bit jumpy tonight - Belphanior wondered aloud if it was something about the tower that was spooking them. "Who knows?", whispered Peldor. "Let's go clean that place out and get back for some sleep." Belphanior loosened his sword in its sheath and doffed his civilian clothes, as did his companion. The garments were piled up and put in the mounts' saddlebags, and the thieves' working clothes were exposed now - flat black bodysuits, rough-soled boots, thin leather gloves. Not that it mattered right now, thought Belphanior as he sipped the potion he had purchased at the alchemist's shop across town a week past. The elf faded from sight, as invisible as the night air itself; Peldor, not one to be outdone, sheathed his sword and also went invisible. They carefully walked toward the tower, wary of tricks or traps set in the grass, but none presented themselves, and so momentarily the pair stood at the base of the tower. For the first time, they were able to get a good look at it. The thing was about a hundred feet high, by both of their estimations, and perhaps forty feet in diameter. It was constructed of reddish-brown bricks (almost the color of blood, thought Belphanior) which were old, yet looked to be sturdy. There were but four windows, all at a height of just more than halfway up, and spaced equidistantly around the tower's circumference. At the top was a five- foot ledge, in an alternating square pattern (more learned mages might have termed it a "square wave"). Even from the ground, it was obvious that the windows were heavily barred and not passable; the bars were set in a tight pattern, and to cut through them would have made too much noise. Using a series of slight whispered words in a secret cant, the thieves agreed to search the base of the tower. They both knew that louder noises could give them away, should any men or creatures be nearby, for the night was very, very quiet - maybe TOO quiet. Either there were no insects in this part of the land, or they were silenced this night, perhaps watching and listening to things unknown. Within a minute, the two had met at the other side, both having found the same thing - no doors or entrances of any kind at the tower's base. With this in mind, Belphanior found his coiled rope, slung it around his neck and one shoulder, and began to climb the face of the tower. The large stones it was made of provided adequate handholds, and shortly the elf had reached one of the windows. One look was enough to confirm his suspicions - the windows were impassable. The roof seemed to be a better choice for now. Peldor, unable to see this result, decided that it was time for he, too, to make the climb, and started doing so. Momentarily, Belphanior reached the roof of the place, stepping onto it only after eyeing it and assuring himself that no fell creatures lurked there. He soon heard the slight scraping of gloves on rock, and his hissed syllables were answered by his companion. Damn, thought the elf, this invisibility is unpractical when two co-workers cannot even see each other. They hadn't considered this slight problem, and he made a mental note to ponder it at a more opportune time. Peldor had already figured this out, though, as he slipped his shortsword from its sheath and became visible. Using hand signs, he conveyed his opinion that silence might be more valuable at this point than invisibility. Belphanior slapped his friend on the shoulder lightly, negating the magical effect of the sipped potion, and both thieves then regarded the soot-smeared, shadowy forms of the other. As the tower was bound to be darkened inside, the invisibility would not have made much difference anyway, and the ability to use thieves' hand signals seemed more important right now. They checked the floor of the roof area for hatches or other means of entry; this process took many minutes, considering the size of the rooftop and the presence of shadows. It was Peldor, though, who found the hatch, a small, two-foot stone block separated from the roof around it by a hairline crack. Belphanior helped his friend, wedging several thin but strong metal slivers into the crack. With a bit of levering and pushing, the pair were able to push the thin hatch open just an inch, and Peldor put a small crowbar in to hold it there. The hatch seemed to be composed of a thin stone skin, laid on top of a metal plate which was an inch thick. While the thing was somewhat heavy, both thieves were fairly strong, and they were able to pry the hatch open and get a look down below. Belphanior, with the benefit of his elvish infravision, was able to make out an empty room under the roof. Some kind of shaft went downward, on the opposite side of the chamber from them, but nothing that gave off heat was here. First the elf dropped down, then Peldor followed. Using his ring, the latter thief slowly lowered the heavy hatch, closing them into the room with a muffled thumping sound. Peldor was irritated by the sound, which seemed to echo loudly through the large chamber, but he knew that his control with the magical ring was getting better all the time. Why, at first he had been unable to lift a dagger from the ground! It was only after weeks of constant practice and trial-and-error that he had refined his shaky aptitude with the thing into true skill and finesse. Peldor ceased his musings and lit a small hooded lantern. With a dimming lens in place, and the hood, the item gave off only a round cone of light in a single direction. After all, he thought, not all of us have infravision, and I sure don't want to rely on Belphanior's sight alone here in this dark place. Belphanior squinted as his eyes slowly adjusted to the light, and then they turned to search this circular room. It was slightly smaller than the outside of the tower, perhaps allowing for an outer wall at least two feet in thickness. There were two dusty skeletons in the center of the chamber - unmoving, Belphanior saw as he approached. Still, one never knew... The corpses were riddled with darts, though, and seemed truly dead. Peldor pointed out a depressed flagstone in the floor near one skeleton's feet - obviously a trap, triggered some time ago by these unfortunates. There was a thick dust covering the bodies, and it was just now that both thieves noticed a number of footprints around the room. Two sets belonged to the fellows lying dead before them, but there were three more leading to the shaft nearby. The thieves glanced at each other - someone else had made it farther than this. Searching the bodies yielded the expected result, a lack of anything useful, and the pair moved over to the shaft. It was on the western side of the tower, whereas the hatch from the roof was on the extreme eastern side, and they peered over the edge of the semicircular, five-foot radius shaft. It was plainly obvious that it went down... and down...and down. Farther than they could see, the tube descended into the murky blackness. Belphanior noticed a steel spike driven into the floor right next to the shaft, and tugged at it, finding it firmly embedded in the stone. A rotted rope fragment was tied into the eyehole of the spike; they tore this out and secured their own rope in it. This item was knotted every five feet of its length, in order to facilitate climbing efforts, and could support both thieves' weight easily. After shining the lantern down and seeing nothing but a series of ledges, of the floors below, they tossed the rope down to the next level and descended. The level beneath was identical to the first, but for the large chest in the center of the circular chamber. Several old footprints were visible in here, and vague scuffle marks dotted the floor near the chest. Belphanior thanked the unknown gods for granting him the foresight to examine the dusty floor beforehand, and signalled Peldor to check for traps on the chest as he prepared a spell. The human did so, soon signing the lack of traps, and Belphanior activated the spell he had cast, which would allow him to deliver a jolt of electricity to the first living thing he touched. Peldor, sensing that the time was right, opened the chest and leaped back. Fortunately, his quick reflexes moved him back, for immediately, a large, glistening mass of slime flowed out of the chest onto the very spot where the thief had stood not one second ago. Peldor's shortsword whistled from its sheath as he assumed a defensive posture. The ooze flowed toward him with frightening speed, and the thief backed up quickly. Belphanior's heart pumped, and the adrenaline flowed through his system. A blob! Who knew what it was? Who knew if it could eat his weapons and armor? Taking no chances with these things, the elf instead took advantage of the thing's advance towards Peldor to leap behind it and tap it lightly. There was a loud <ZAP> as the hefty shock was delivered, and the jelly thrashed about, burned severely; the elf leaped several feet back and drew his own weapon, grinning smugly. So it COULD be hurt! Good. That usually meant that it could be killed, he thought. Spurred on by the knowledge that the creature could in fact be harmed, Peldor took the offensive, dodging a pseudopod as he slashed the oozing mass. A deep cut opened in its opaque skin, and a watery liquid flowed out freely. The thing was wild now, slapping at whichever thief was nearest to it, but they dodged its attacks while slicing with their weapons, and within a minute the jelly was still. It's blood, or whatever the clear liquid was, formed a puddle around the deflated mass, and the pair deftly sidestepped this mess and checked the chest from which it had flowed, finding it empty. They supposed that at least some of those who had come this way previously had found the jelly and been eaten by it. In any case, the next level would hopefully show how many had survived the blob's attack. Peldor cleaned his sword on a rag, checking to see if the magical weapon was dissolving or not. He had once lost another sword in this manner, but there seemed to be no damage to the fine weapon, and the thief discarded the rag and tossed the rope down to the next level. This time it was Peldor who went down first. The third floor of the tower was piled full of wooden crates. The pair of thieves noticed several footprints here, and some of the boxes had been rummaged through - so someone HAD avoided the monster above and made it down! The crates contained nothing of interest, mostly jugs of wine and rotten foodstuffs ridden with worms. Disgusted, Peldor signalled for a quick search of the chamber before the next descent. They found nothing else here, and once again went down. Belphanior touched down on the cold stone floor, as Peldor guarded above before lowering himself as well. This level was some kind of dining hall, with a large wooden table and four chairs. To the north was a massive oven, and a pile of coal with a shovel rested next to it. This was the location of the four outside windows, with their thick, crisscrossed bars, and Peldor extinguished the lantern. It could always be re-lit, and the moonlight in here was plenty enough to see by. The thieves searched the whole area thoroughly, but found nothing of interest. The oven, when opened on its creaky hinges, was empty save for a few dead ants. Belphanior checked under the table and behind the oven, but turned up nothing. Then Peldor signalled his irritation, and they went down to the next level, Belphanior going first and lighting the lantarn when he got down. Peldor followed shortly. The fifth level down was as empty as most of the others. A large chest faced the pair from the opposite (eastern) wall, and they carefully moved toward it, checking the floor for any traps. There were still footprints, and signs of combat - a broken arrow, a smashed sword, and a few bones. Belphanior prepared another spell, as Peldor examined the chest. Right then, without warning, a cloud of vapor appeared in the center of the room, behind Peldor and to the side of Belphanior. The greenish-hued gases quickly solidified into some reptilian thing; over eight feet tall, it almost scraped the ceiling of the chamber. The monster was apparently unafraid of anything else that might be nearby, as it shrieked a hideous cry of anger and charged Belphanior, who had the misfortune of being closer to it. His exclaimed "Oh, shit!" was almost all he had time to do - almost. The elf let his spell go as the thing bore down on him, and a spray of bright colors lit up the dim room - until they hit the beast, and dissolved. Grinning, the humanoid lizard took a swipe at the elf with its clawed paw, and he was hurled back into a wall, three bloody gashes scoring his shirt. As the big monster turned to face Peldor, the thief was already in motion. He buried his sword in its back, and the thing screamed in pain (and anger, thought Belphanior as he shakily stood). Whirling about, it tore the sword from Peldor's hands, and then moved in on him. "Uh-oh!", exclaimed the thief, as he leaped back a full ten feet, courtesy of his wondrous magical boots. "Belphanior! Do something here, I'm down to a dagger here!" As Peldor faced off against the creature, dagger in hand, the thing snatched him from the ground, attempting to bite with that mouthful of razor-edged teeth... Peldor was yelling as he scraped the ceiling, held fast in the thing's iron grip. "Let go of me, you oversized lizard!", he spat as he stabbed the thing's shoulder with his enchanted knife. Black ichor spurted out, rewarding the thief's efforts somewhat, but not enough, as those huge jaws crunched down on his armored chest! Just then, Belphanior hacked the monster right in its midsection, and from behind, taking full advantage of its occupation with Peldor to select the best angle for his blade. The elf's attack was not in vain, for the thing was cut to its very spine, and hurled Peldor to the floor, whirling about. It's rapid turning motion only aggravated the grievious wound, ripping the skin and muscle further, and the elf stabbed it in the neck as he saw an opening. The thing grunted several times, trying in vain to stop the dark blood pouring from its throat, but after a few seconds of this, it fell to the ground and was silent. Belphanior moved to the side of Peldor, who lay gasping on the dusty floor. "Stay still. Did it get you bad?" Peldor seemed shaky as he answered, mumbling. "Not really. It barely punched through my armor, here. I think your attack caught it just in time, though; if it had had another second to chomp down hard, I'd be cut in half. I owe you one." Belphanior found a potion in his pouch, and proferred it to his companion. "This is elixir of healing, have some to help your wounds." Peldor took the metal bottle gratefully. "Thanks." He downed about half of the bottle's contents, and returned it to the elf, who then finished off the rest. "Ahh!", said Belphanior, "Damned good stuff!" Peldor nodded in agreement, and they got to their feet and cleaned up, feeling much better already. Peldor recovered his sword, and then Belphanior doused the carcass with powerful acid, in the event that it might decide to come back to life. The chest was opened, and the pair at last found something useful. Inside the old wooden container were several bags of gold, a pouch with ten small gems of good quality, and three stoppered potion bottles as well. All this but the gold was put in Peldor's backpack; the coinage was too heavy to lug around and could be recovered on the way out. He checked the chest for false bottoms, but it had none, so they both prepared to go down to the next floor. It was immediately evident that there was something strange about the sixth floor, for its dimensions inside were bigger than the outside tower walls. The vertical shaft opened onto a semi-circular, empty room with a door, which was ajar and led to a forty-by-thirty rectangular room - much to big to fit into the tower dimensions. "Boy, I'd like to have the spells that set THIS floor up", mentioned Belphanior casually as the two entered the area. It was a bedroom, with a large bed, a dresser, a small ceramic washbasin, and a larger ceramic tub. The bed was covered with dust, and although it was made up neatly, it was empty. Peldor searched underneath, finding a long, narrow wooden box, while the elf checked the dresser's drawers, finding a pair of leather boots, a folded cloak, and a small belt. The tub and basin were empty and dry. Peldor recovered a few things from the box: some strange papers, assorted mothballs, and a gnarled wooden staff. Belphanior examined the papers, but they all crumbled in his hands at his touch, leaving only brittle fragments. "Fuck!", the elf exclaimed. "Damn things fell apart on me." Peldor seemed not to care, smiling as he loaded up the other things they had found. "I think we've got enough here, already." The angry elf glared at him, then relaxed. "I guess so." Climbing down again, they came upon a circular library of some sort. At least this room fit within the space it should have, thought Peldor as he examined the bookshelves. Finding a book, he reached to pull it out - and yanked his hand back, as a mild shock hit him. "So this place is trapped", said Belphanior. The elf also tried for a book, gingerly touching some random title, and was also jolted, causing his hair to stand on end. "Well, someone doesn't want these books to go anywhere. Great." He briefly considered blasting the whole chamber with his lightning wand, but decided against it. For now. Peldor led the way down to the next level - and for the first time, they were able to see the bottom of the shaft, about twenty feet below. There were two more floors left, counting the one they were currently disembarking onto. It was a laboratory, with many features. Clockwise from their left were seven tubes mounted at a forty-five degree angle from the floor (or wall), of different sizes; a workbench covered with papers and strange devices; four large stone vats; a nearly empty workbench with three potion bottles in a green metal case. The angled tubes were checked first. Three of them were of appropriate size for a typical magical wand, and all were empty. Two more were rod-sized, also both empty. The last two were bigger, staff-sized, and one held a metallic staff. On the table, Belphanior found two parchments that seemed to be spell formulae, and took these carefully. The rest of the debris seemed to be junk, so they left it alone, except for a small, twisted lump of unknown metal, which Belphanior put in his pocket. The first of the vats contained murky water; the second was filled with yellow, acrid fluid; the third had salty liquid (which Belphanior quickly recognized as brine); the fourth was full of oil like that used in lanterns and torches. Peldor dipped a scrap of metal from the bench into the yellow vat, and the item was quickly dissolved. The pair of thieves saw no use in examining the vats any further and moved on to the second table. The three potion bottles were taken, and they left this room. Belphanior grabbed the metal staff as an afterthought, placing it near the edge so they would remember it later. The next, and last, level had a stone wall which blocked most of the area of the tower's circle; both thieves looked for secret doors, and Peldor found a sliding stone slab to the north. This led into another long, narrow strip of a room, and another such door. This second door had a strip of metal in the floor, which neither thief saw due to all the dust; they were both shocked as they stepped on it, and actually had to rest for many minutes to recover. The elf cursed the builder of this tower. "That wasn't a very nice thing to do..." Peldor forged on, not overly bothered by the trap. Beyond the second door was a chest; when they neared it, a disembodied voice proclaimed, "I CAN'T SAY I BLAME YOU...". "Weird", offered Peldor as he examined the chest. This time, his efforts were not wasted, for he found not one, but a pair of needle traps on the thing. Inside the chest were several interesting things: a pouch of large diamonds, a sack of platinum coins, a pouch of strange platinum orbs, and a heavy, bound tome. The pair collected these items, and searched the walls and floor for more secret doors, with no success. They next climbed back to the roof, collecting the coins and staff - Peldor rigged one sack so that it could be attached to their rope and pulled up, laden with coins. His leatherworking skills no doubt proved useful in this particular endeavor. Within half an hour, the pair were back on the roof, with all the things they wished to take from the place. The moon was still high in the night sky, and several hours remained before the sun came up. The two thieves had detached their rope from the tower's main shaft, and they now used it to lower several sackfuls of loot down the tower face. After Belphanior climbed down using the rope, Peldor detached it and climbed down by hand. Once everything was on the ground, the pair made their way back to the horses (who had slept through all the excitement) and loaded the sleepy mounts up. They changed back into the other clothes, and buried the bulky treasure (i.e. the coins) about fifty feet off of the main path back into Loftwick, to avoid attention at the gate. Re-entering the city, the two companions went to their cheap inn, had the horses stabled, entered their room, locked the door, and slept a long and fitful sleep. Late the next morning, they awoke, had baths, and went to the inn's common room for breakfast. The place was abuzz with news, and everybody was excited, for it seemed that the dreaded Tower of the Lost Mage had crumbled overnight. With this ill omen gone, most of the superstitous townfolk felt much relieved. The innkeeper commented to the pair, "Wonder how in the hells THAT happened?" Peldor cast him a sidelong glance, and replied, "Ah, I bet someone just went out there last night and pushed it down." The barkeep burst into hysterics. "Yeah, right! Hah hah!" Belphanior gave his friend an evil look, but couldn't resist cracking a smile too... THE LOOT: 4123 gp 10 garnets (100 gp) potion of healing - B potion of extra-healing - P potion of flying - P gnarled staff - P boots & cloak of elvenkind - B belt of ? (Priests only) - P metal staff (nonmagical) twisted lump of metal (nonmagical) scroll papers - B potion of super-heroism - B potion ? - P potion ? - B 667 pp 22 platinum orbs ( ~50 pp each) tome - B Most of the items were identified by a mage that the two hired discreetly. The staff could not be identified, nor could two of the potions (they were classified as powerful though). The scroll papers contained three first-level mage spells, and the tome contained sixteen more - a real prize for Belphanior. The tome's spells were linked by a single common denominator - they were all spells of someone named Otiluke... Peldor for some reason elected to drink his unknown potion that day. He observed no outward effects, but later, when at the market selling off some of his loot, he noticed that he was constantly able to get the best prices from those he dealt with. The only problem was, that damned ring of truth on his finger prevented him from telling any lies... next time: the split FTP SITE: tybalt.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) ******************************************************************** NOTES: Did any of you notice that Belphanior has been a "6rd" level mage since episode 20? I sure didn't...thanks to one of my newer readers for pointing this out. The reason for the delay in part 51 has been the fact that I left all the notes in another city and had to have one of my brothers mail them to me. Fortunately he's also an Adventurers fan. This episode is dedicated to Eric, my youngest brother, for enabling it to be written this month instead of next month. This episode is noteworthy because it is the first time since way back in part 11 that I have used, exclusively, the standard fiction format. It was just obvious that this adventure, that of the two thieves, couldn't be done in my usual format. This episode is also significant in that it pushes the total length of my work over the 1 Mb mark. This is a milestone, as I never thought I'd produce a million characters of text on ANY subject. Anyway, I'm sort of happy about the whole thing. ******************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to persons or characters * either real or fictional is purely coincidental. Copying and/or * distribution of these stories is permissible only under the one * condition that no part of them will be used or sold for profit. * In that case, I hope you enjoy them. ***** ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY: Alindyar, 9th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 6th/6th/7th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 7th/7th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 8th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 8th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 10th level human thief (N) Peyote, 7th/8th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rillen, 8th level human fighter (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 12/04/570 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: midmorning Place: Loftwick, capital of the Yeomanry ------------------------------------------------------------------ LII. The Split The bulk of the party has done nothing much since episode 50. Several party members got rid of minor magical weapons - Mongo his pick, Peldor his scimitar, and Peyote his two-handed sword. In addition, Belphanior traded Halbarad a number of magical arrows in return for the ranger's small bottle of endless smoke and both were happier afterward. Belphanior and Peldor did keep themselves occupied by going to an old mage's tower in Loftwick and robbing it. The party is currently having a discussion over breakfast. Belphanior: In light of recent...events, I think it would be in our best interests to leave this city. Peldor: This kingdom too. Ged: Been busy, have you? Peldor: ...I cannot tell a lie. We have. Peyote: Where will we go, dudes? Halbarad: I, for one, like these "fringe-of-the-world" lands that we have been in recently. The wilderness beckons to me. Mongo: Bah. Let's head for the mountains. Peldor: Yea! Ged: There are a lot of places in the world that we have yet to see. Alindyar: Perhaps it is better that way... Peyote: Let's go to Greyhawk! Rillen: What is...Greyhawk? Ged: Greyhawk! The biggest and most prosperous city in the whole world! Halbarad: It is said that there is more wealth and magic there than any other place. Belphanior: Plus, there are bound to be many interesting things to do in a city like that. Peldor: (envisioning night after night of robberies in such a place) Sounds fine to me. Halbarad: Hrmph. Mongo: Hell, I'm in. What else do we have to do these days? Ged: Only Boccob knows. Alindyar: Interesting. Halbarad: We could ride north and eastward, perhaps making the trip in two months. Peldor: (pulls out a map) Hmm. Mongo: Hey! That's just like the map Rob had! Ged: Where'd you get a map like his? Peldor: Hmm. (unable to lie, due to the ring he is wearing) I borrowed it from the priest before he left us. Halbarad: (to Ged) Why did he admit it? Ged: (shrugging) How should I know? Mongo: Borrowed?!?! Bullshit! Peldor: Ah, come on. He probably would have forgotten about it sooner or later anyway. Belphanior: (looking at the map) We could save some time if we used the rivers... Peyote: No way, dude! The wilderness is out there, waiting for us! Ged: No, he's right. We could make it to Greyhawk in a fortnight using the waterways. Besides, I haven't used my mariner skills in a long time. Halbarad: I wish to go by land. Belphanior: Sea! Peyote: Land! Ged: Sea! Rillen: This is a stupid argument. Much bickering and blabbering ensued. When the smoke cleared, it was also clear that there were strong arguments and opinions for both the land and sea travel routes. In fact, the party was basically split in half on the issue. A simple solution became obvious - the party would divide into two sub-parties of four adventurers each, and go to Greyhawk their own way. They could meet there months later and regroup. Absurd yet practical, this turned out to be the only acceptable way for everyone. So it was that the party split for the next few months... THE SEA GROUP: Ged, Belphanior, Mongo, Rillen ROUTE: NE through Little Hills; enter the Hold of the Sea Princes and follow Javan River south and east to Monmurg; get a ship and sail NE along the coast to the western Pomarj; get onto land and travel to hills; find mouth of the Jewel River and follow into Suss Forest; leave river and head for Elredd; get a ship and sail into the Woolly Bay, northward; enter land via the Selintan River, near Hardby; follow the river into Greyhawk THE LAND GROUP: Halbarad, Peyote, Peldor, Alindyar ROUTE: Travel from Loftwick to the Dreadwood Forest; through forest to Gradsul and then on to Gryrax, through the western Pomarj toward Highport; then enter Suss Forest via the Jewel River; follow it to the Gnarley Forest and then go through this woodland to Dyvers; go east, to the Selintan River and follow to Greyhawk As might be seen, the two paths crossed in several places - but both sides still wanted to do it their way, and that way only. They agreed that whoever got to the city of Greyhawk first would post a notice at all public places (Halbarad was firmly convinced that the land route was faster, while Ged tried but failed to convince him of the sea route's advantages). With these things settled (?), everyone planned to pack up and leave Loftwick as soon as possible. But there was a slight bit of business that Peldor wanted to tend to first. He discussed with Ged the option of trading his belt (an item that only a priest could use) for the elf's rope of climbing - and the favor of a remove curse spell on the thief's ring. Ged identified both items, successfully - the belt repelled nonmagical missiles, and the ring Peldor already knew about. Impressed by the bronze dragon's display of exceptionally good judgement in giving Peldor the truth ring, Ged offered the thief only the rope, citing his diety's strict views as contrary to a spell-casting that would benefit a base thief. Peldor grudgingly accepted, though, and made the trade, figuring that he could find a less gullible priest somewhere else. Thus, he got a rope of climbing, and Ged got a belt of protection from normal missiles. Both were actually happy afterward, as it turned out. The next day saw the party split - the sea group was well on its way by noontime. The race was on! next time: Pirates! FTP SITE: tybalt.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) ******************************************************************** NOTES: For simplicity, the doings of the two groups will have to be chronicled in the order in which we played them. This means that the sea group will dominate the next few postings, followed by the adventures of the land group. The routes described above are just vague notes I scribbled down ahead of time, as the players were discussing travel paths and cheerfully marking up my map. I don't have the Greyhawk map with me, but the notes should help if you are familiar with the game world; the party is deep within the western half of the world map... Due to popular demand, I have included below the item lists for the various adventurers at this point in time, and to the best of their knowledge...upon reflection, it is fairly obvious that this was a high-magic campaign, but such was life... >- ALINDYAR dagger +2 wand of magic missiles wand of illusion carpet of flying bag of holding crystal ball manual adamantine bar bracers of defense ac6 robes of protection +3 amulet of life protection ring of mind shielding potion of flying 2 potions of extra-healing jug of (5 potions of) invisibility BELPHANIOR longsword +2 longsword +1, dancing longsword +1, luck blade (amount of wishes left, if any, is UNKNOWN) 13 arrows +2 staff of thunder and lightning (almost empty) wand of lightning ring of wizardry (doubles 1st level spells castable) ring of spell storing (friends, shatter, jump) bowl of summoning water elementals quiver of Ehlonna gauntlets of dexterity boots & cloak of elvenkind tome of Otiluke spells eversmoking bottle bracers of defense ac4 2 potions of undead control potion of super-heroism potion of extra-healing potion of ? flask of curses (unopened...yet) GED morningstar +3 sling +2, of seeking ring of shooting stars ring of water breathing (not worn) stone horse Boccob's blessed book book of exalted deeds (unread yet) chain mail +2 small shield +2 belt vs. normal missiles rod of absorption ring of spell turning HALBARAD battle axe +3 hand axe +2 dagger +2 longbow +2 9 arrows +1 red arrow ring of warmth ring of animal friendship gauntlets of ogre power gem of seeing cloak of comfort horn leather armor +3 potion of fire resistance potion of speed MONGO hammer +4, dwarven thrower (augmented by magical water from the dungeon of Aranor the Mad, this weapon used to be only +3) longsword +3 crossbow of speed ring of regeneration ring of fire resistance chime of opening necklace of adaption mattock plate mail +3 medium shield +1 jug of (5 potions of) extra-healing potion of fire giant strength potion of heroism PELDOR short sword +1, of Lyons (makes the wielder invisible until the weapon is unsheathed) dagger +3, of throwing ring of free action (not worn) ring of telekinesis ring of truth (not removable; allows wearer to detect any lies heard but also prevents wearer from uttering a lie; this ring was the bronze dragons' gift to Peldor...) luckstone hat of disguise rope of climbing boots of striding and springing pouch of accessibility strange meteorite (demonstrates no powers, but seems to be resistant to any and all damage; weighs 25 lbs.) gnarled staff leather armor +2 cloak of protection +2 2 potions of longevity (only knows what one of them is) potion of extra-healing potion of flying PEYOTE bastard sword +3, frost brand 3 javelins of lightning wand of wonder ring of invisibility ring of earth elemental command (he's almost figured this out) rose ioun stone (grants +1 protection) pale lavender ioun stone (absorbs up to 4th level spells) scroll (1/2/3/4/5/6 level druidic spells) scroll (4/4/4/5/5/6 level druidic spells) ring of protection +2 potion of dimunition potion of super-heroism jug of (5 potions of) healing RILLEN quarterstaff +3 longbow +2 wand of illumination horseshoes of speed (currently on his horse) robes of protection +4 gloves of missile snaring >- A few miscellaneous notes: Peldor has already figured out that one of the potions he got from the mage tower, which he quaffed soon after he got it, was some sort of charisma-booster (Philter of Persuasiveness); what he doesn't know is that it was one of two _permanent effect_ potions left there long ago. Belphanior, as we know, got the other potion from that pair. It's a permanent Potion of Intimidation... Belphanior's flask of curses is set and ready to render him insane as soon as he opens it (he thinks it's just another potion). Don't even ask for their spell lists :) ******************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to persons or characters * either real or fictional is utterly coincidental. Copying and/or * distribution of these stories is permissible only under the one * condition that no part of them will be used or sold for profit. * In that case, I hope you enjoy them. ***** ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY (temporarily split up; this is the "sea" group): Belphanior, 6th/6th/7th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 7th/7th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 8th level dwarf fighter (CG) Rillen, 8th level human fighter (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 12/07/570 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: afternoon Place: northeast of Loftwick, in the Yeomanry ------------------------------------------------------------------ LIII. Pirates! The group who wanted to travel to Greyhawk by sea has gotten underway - this bunch consisting of Belphanior, Ged, Mongo, and Rillen. They have been moving northwest through the Yeomanry for several days... Belphanior: It sure is deserted out here. Ged: Of course it is. That's why this is the wilderness. Mongo: (obviously bored) Is this as good for you guys as it is for me? Rillen: No. Belphanior: Hey, look there! Someone is coming! Mongo: (grasping his hammer) Maybe it's goblins or something. Rillen: It looks like a patrol. guardsman: Ho there! Ged: Ho! other guardsman: What do you here? Rillen: Do? I do what I wish. Mongo: Do what? Rillen: What in the hell are you talking about...? Ged: (to first guardsman) Hey, pal, what's _your_ business? first guardsman: Well met, travelers. We are simply some of the land's militia, checking for orcs and bandits and such. Mongo: Well, that's not _us_. Rillen: I am no orc. second guardsman: Of course not. We shall continue on our way. Happy travails! Ged: (watching the troops ride away) Those guys were...weird. Belphanior: (fingering his sword) For a minute there, it was almost as if they wanted trouble. Rillen: Bah. If anyone attacks us, _I_ will show them what trouble is all about. They rode on for another week or so, passing a large merchant caravan, a small town, and a band of dwarves, halflings, and men headed into the Joten Mountains on a raid. Eventually, the group entered the Little Hills, so named because of the over- shadowing mountains to the northwest. The hills were the home of many halflings and gnomes who were renowned for their great ferocity in battle. Belphanior: Ha ha! I've yet to meet the halfling who has any use in a fight! Mongo: Hey, you've got to watch out for the little fuckers. They may not be too strong, but they'll pick your pockets clean in a heartbeat. Rillen: What is a...halfling? Ged: What?!? Rillen: I do not know what that is. Mongo: Haven't you been in the world for long enough to have figured this out by now? Rillen: No. Belphanior: They're little guys, usually not even waist-high. They usually tend to act like thieves, purse-snatching and pocket-picking and such. Ged: Oh boy. You're one to talk. Belphanior: Just making an observation. Rillen: I will remember what you have told me. In case I ever meet one of these halfdings. Mongo: Halflings. Rillen: Right. They camped and traveled for a few days in the hills, safe in this peaceful (at least, when the giants from the mountains weren't raiding southeast) area. A couple of days later, they encountered a patrol... Mongo: Son of a bitch! Here comes a whole swarm of little varmints! Ged: What do you...oh. Belphanior: Halflings. There some are, Rillen. Rillen: Hmm. halfling: (marching up to the party) Hey there! State your name and business in our hills! Belphanior: Now look here, you- Ged: We are moving northward, small friends, and are simply riding through your kingdoms. We mean no harm. Mongo: (looking about suspiciously, as he holds on to his pouches) Rillen: So these are halflings. other halfling: Yeah! What of it? Rillen: You look like children to me. (looming over the tiny one) What of it? halfling: ulp. Ged: Now, now. (pats Rillen on the shoulder) It won't do to go bothering the local folk of the hills. (turns to leader) We'll just go on about our merry way. Halfling Leader: Yup. That is, after you pay the toll of the hillfolk. Ged: What?! Belphanior: Aaa! Highway robbery! A noble warrior like myself cannot possibly stoop to such depths as to pay off midget bandits! halfling: We're not bandits, we _live_ here. And you have to pay the toll. other halflings: (doing their best to look menacing) Mongo: Bah. I could give a shit less. _I_ am not paying you little pests. halfling: Grr... Ged: (checking his pockets) I guess _someone_ will have to pay up here. Belphanior: I'll get it. Mongo: ?!? Belphanior: I changed my outlook toward this business. Here. (hands the leader a pouch of coins) Have this token of our inestimable gratitude. Halfling Leader: Wow. Err, gee, thanks. You may pass. (he leads the fifty of so halflings on their way, all of them jabbering excitedly) Ged: (looking back as they ride away) Thanks for your, well, uncharacteristic donation back there. How noble of you. Belphanior: Think nothing at all of it. I certainly didn't. Especially since I just unloaded about a hundred copper coins painted as gold... Mongo: All RIGHT!! (slaps the elf on the back) Way to go!! Rillen: Hmm. I guess they got just what they deserved. Belphanior: I like to think so. Ged: Well. There was nothing wrong with that. Toll! Bah! (looking back again) But let's ride faster for a while. Just in case. Mongo: Yeah, we wouldn't want to invoke the wrath of the halflings! Hah hah! Belphanior: Heh. Rillen: (smiling, an unusual occurence) Ged: Hm. The group rode on, exiting the hills the next day and then reaching the Javan River soon after that. It was now a full ten days since they had left the city of Loftwick. The river was quite wide and deep - the Javan was the longest river on the continent, though the party was surely unaware of this interesting geographical fact. Ged: Wonderful. There's no way in the Hells that we can ford that thing. Not even on horseback. Mongo: We could ride along it, maybe northward, until we find a bridge or a barge or something. Rillen: (gazing at the river) I have never seen such a thing as this before! Ged: Welcome to the civilized world, pal. Belphanior: (producing a small box) Here's what we need. (trots down to the river's edge) Ged: Wonderful. How is _that_ thing going to help us get across the river? Mongo: Yeah, how?!? Rillen: It looks like a boat. For a rat. Ged: Yeah, th- ahh, no comment. Belphanior: (ignoring them, says a few command words) Watch this. O ye of little faith. Suddenly, the small box quivered and shook, and then...grew! The thing lengthened, tapering to a point at one end. Several other wooden planks appeared and multiplied. The box began to look like a large boat; a mast appeared as if from nowhere and sails grew like weeds upon this spire of wood. Oars and their slots materialized. Within the span of a minute, the party was looking at a fully-outfitted and decked ship for fifteen or more. The vessel was well over 20' long and 8' wide; it now lay most of the way onto the riverbank, just waiting for someone to sail it into the wide river. Ged: Boccob's glory! Where did you get THAT?!?!? I want one! Belphanior: Oh, some forgotten mage lent it to me. Heh heh. Mongo: Yeah. (rapping on the wooden deck) Seems solid enough for use, anyway. Good and sturdy. Rillen: What an item. Ged: (hops onto the ship) This baby's got _everything_! Belphanior: Yep. Let's raise the sail and get on our way! Mongo: Yeah! (he climbs aboard) Ged: I'll operate the sail. Mongo, you get the rudder. Mongo: But I don't know how! Ged: Don't worry, I'll guide you along. Rillen: (deftly vaults onto the main deck, using his staff) What about the horses? Ged: Hey, look! There's a neat little hatch here! They can trot up this ramp, onto the ship. Mongo: Imagine that. Belphanior: How convenient. I didn't even know it had _that_. Rillen: (leads the horses onto the ship) There is nowhere for them to go. They will have to stay on deck. Ged: Oh well. Mongo: Just make sure they don't crap on us. Belphanior: (looking sour) I can only assume that we're going downstream, toward the sea. Ged: That would seem to make sense. Unless you can produce a dozen strong rowers to fight the current...? Belphanior: No, I don't have such an item. Yet. They worked the ship free of the shore, and were soon sailing at a fairly rapid clip down the Javan River. Rillen: I guess you could say that we caught the last ship out. Ged dominated this portion of the journey, as he had a good bit of sailing experience under his belt. The grey elf was obviously having quite a time of it, too, as he operated the sails and guided Mongo at the rudder. The group moved for a day, with Ged teaching some of the basics to the others when he could. At night, they lit a lantern an hung it in the prow of the ship, sleeping in shifts of two so that they could go by night too; there was no telling what dangers lay in wait on the dark, unknown shores of this strange land. The night was uneventful, and early in the morning they went by a merchant barge, waving happily to the confused traders. Hours later, an unusual encounter took place... Ged: Hey, look at those little children on the shore. Mongo: Hi, guys! (waving) kid on shore: (throws a rock, hitting the ship's hull) Feh! Belphanior: What the...?!? other kids: (also throwing rocks at the party, and laughing; there are about a dozen of them) Mongo: What are those little shits up to? Rillen: Maybe they are getting their rocks off. Ged: The little weasels! Belphanior: I've half a mind to blast them... Mongo: Someone should spank the bastards! Ged: Here, watch the ship. (casts a spell, and pyrotechnics appear in the sky overhead, dazzling the children, who run about in glee, the party's boat forgotten) Belphanior: You should have used the fireworks to zap THEM, not wasted the spell in the air. Ged: No harm done. Rillen: There they go...(the ship is outdistancing the shore- bound tots) Farewell, little imps. Belphanior: (makes an obscene gesture at the children) They sailed on for another day and a half, passing at one point a war galley docked at a small town, at another point a beached wreck. Late in the afternoon of the day following the encounter with the unruly children, an accident looked unavoidable, as... Ged: Holy Boccob! Mongo: What...? Shit! Belphanior: That ship behind us is coming fast! And it looks out of control! Rillen: (covers his eyes from the sun with a hand) Why are all those people running around on deck screaming? Ged: They're out of control for sure! They may hit us! Belphanior: (trying to think of a quick spell) Damn. The other ship, a galley somewhat larger than Belphanior's magical ship, drew close as its crew tried to steer it away. They seemed to regain control, though, turning the galley to the side before it could ram the party's vessel. Suddenly, though, the sailors on the other deck hurled hooks over, and the sharp steel dug into the party's ship, pulling the two boats close. Ged: By the gods! They mean to board us! It's base deception, at its basest! Belphanior: To hell with that! (slices a hooked rope) Rillen: What is going on? Mongo: Battle! Rillen: This I understand. (begins whirling his staff) pirates: (throw planks over; the wide wooden slats have hooks at both ends, and three of them sink in, virtually connecting the two ships with eight-foot-long walkways) 'at's it, boyos! Throw 'em over! Board her! Ged: (runs to the rudder, fighting the larger ship's effect on the party's) Fight them off! Mongo: No shit! (heads for one plank, and the pirates who are already crossing it) Hey! Belphanior: (thinking about his magical bowl) Ged! This may be the time for the water elemental! Ged: Gods, no! That thing'll sink both ships! Do something else instead! Rillen: (climbs aboard a plank) You. Get off of our ship. Now. pirates: Har har! Outta the way, blackie! (the first one charges the warrior) Rillen: (whirling his staff meaningfully) As you wish. (bashes the lead pirate in the head, sending him into the water below) Maybe that will knock some sense into you. Mongo: Yarrrrr! (charges the pirates on another plank) pirates: That thar dwarf is crazy as a loon! Mongo: (smashes the first pirate in the knee, and then bowls through him, attacking the next one) first pirate: Aaaa! (grabs the edge of the plank as he continues to scream in agony) Aaaaaa! Belphanior: (standing at the third plank) pirate: Har har, elf. Back off, now. We won't hurt ye. other pirate: Much! pirate: Har! The elf doesn't even have his sword drawn. Whassamatter, pointy-ears? Don't know how to use that pigsticker? Har har! Belphanior: (grabs his end of the board and begins to lift) pirates: Eh? Yie! Belphanior: (turning the board, manages to dislodge it and tip it into the river; the pirates fall back into their ship though, not the river, as the elf had hoped might happen) Heh. See who gets the last laugh. Rillen: (knocks another pirate's cutlass aside, and then hits the wielder himself, knocking him back into his ship with a crushed ribcage) What is the matter? Can't catch your breath? other pirate: Yaa! (charges Rillen, but misses with his attack) Mongo: (knocks over his second pirate, and leaps onto their deck) Ha! Mongo conquers all! two pirate bowmen: (fire arrows at Ged, three of which are right on target, but get deflected by the elf's magical belt and bury themselves in the deck nearby instead) Huh? Ged: Damn fools! Here I am trying to guide the ships - a lost cause, it would seem - and they fire at me! Well, I'll show _them_. (begins spellcasting) Belphanior: (moves to the plank which Mongo crossed over, and boards it) pirate: (the one with the smashed knee, trying to pull himself up onto the plank) Aaaa! Eh? Belphanior: (standing above him) Hi there. pirate: (grins mindlessly) ...oh shit! (lets go as the elf slashes at him, and falls into the river and is lost immediately) Belphanior: Stupid shit. Ged: (fires magical missiles at the archers, hitting both of them twice each) pirate archers: (both perish) Ged: That's Boccob's justice for you! See what becomes of those who would attack the helpless! Rillen: Helpless? I think not. (parries another pirate attack) pirate: (slashes Mongo, denting his plate armor) pirate: (slashes at Belphanior, missing by far) The battle continued, with men, dwarf, elves, and horses (remember them?) milling about everywhere. Utter chaos was prevalent... Mongo: (on the pirate ship, heads for the steersman) Hey! Hey you! pirate: (turns) Huh?! Mongo: (clubs the unfortunate with his hammer, twice; the second blow misses terribly and hits the rudder assembly instead - smashing it...) Uh-oh! pirate steersman: (slain anyway) Ged: (looks to both sides) Oh crap! We're headed for the shore! Belphanior: (stabs another pirate, then kicks him off the plank) What?!? Ged: If we don't get disconnected from the pirate galley soon, we'll smash apart into matchwood! Belphanior: Oh. (leaps back onto the party's ship) Rillen: (swats two more pirates, knocking one overboard) Mongo! Come back! Mongo: (fighting three pirates at once) Huh?!? Belphanior: (draws his wand) Get back, Mongo! (blasts the pirate ship with a bolt of lightning, snapping its mast and setting the sails ablaze) Mongo: HOLY SHIT!! All right, all right! I'm coming! (starts making his way back to the planks) Rillen: Eh? Aaaaah! (the plank he is standing on has just cracked apart due to the stress between the ships) Aaaaah! (leaps backwards, catching the deck rail of the party's ship with one hand) Aaaaah! Ged: Oh, quit playing. (grabs the big man and pulls him on board) Belphanior: Come on, Mongo! Ged: Blast some of the pirates! That's what's keeping him over there - they won't quit fighting with him! Mongo: (smashes a pirate, pulverizing his head in a spray of crimson) Let me out! Get the fuck outta my way, you bastards! Ugh! (takes a hit in the belly) Damnit! Belphanior: (blasts the enemy ship again - this bolt hits it midships, at the waterline) Ha! Ged: OH SHIT! They're sinking! Belphanior: So? Good! Ged: No, you idiot! If THEY sink, then WE sink! We're still attached to their ship! And Mongo will sink too! Belphanior: Oh. Rillen: (smashes the last plank with a powerful blow or two of his hand) Someone get the ropes! Get them! Belphanior: (dashes off, stashing the wand as he finds a knife) Okay! Ged: Mongo! Mongo: (swamped by attackers, who seem determined to keep him on their ship) Aaargh! Ged: Mongo, you're SINKING! Get back here! Mongo: Sinking? pirates: Sinking?!?! Ged: (prepares a spell) They're going under! Belphanior: (slashes the last of the ropes) That's it! Mongo: (breaks free of his attackers, leaving another dead and several wounded) On my way! (runs for the deck closest to the party's ship, grabbing a big piece of the broken mast on the way) Gangway! Ged: (trying to cast Water Breathing on the dwarf) This would be the best use I've ever had for THIS spell...! (suddenly realizes that he has to touch the recipient) Damn! Damn it! Mongo: (jumps off the deck - and gets about two feet, before the weight of his armor pulls him down into the river...) Oh SHIIIIIIIIT! <SPLASH> Glub glub! Rillen: Man overboard! Or, dwarf... Belphanior: (digging for rope) Fuck! Fuck! Ged: (watching the pirates' ship) They're sinking! And so is Mongo! No, wait! He's clinging to that mast! But the current's carrying him! He's getting away! The pirates are sunk! (steers their own ship away from the shore, just in time) Whew! Damn! Rillen: Throw the rope! We'll only get one chance! Belphanior: Yeah! (has the thing untangled) Rillen: Throw it! Throw it! Belphanior: (hurls his rope's grappling hook, with one end of the rope tied to it, far past the river-borne dwarf) Ged: You missed! Belphanior: No, I overshot him. Hopefully he'll be able to grab on to the rope! Rillen: Did he get it? Ged: Can't tell...Wait! He's got it! Belphanior: Let's reel him in, before he sinks. Presently, they had pulled Mongo back onto the boat. The dwarf was soaking wet and coughing water, but otherwise alive and well. Mongo: Dammit! I HATE the water! (stomping about the ship) Ged: Hey, knock it off, pal. You're dripping on me! Mongo: Why, you- (wrings a shirtsleeve out over the elf's head) Ha! Rillen: (chuckling) Belphanior: Heh heh. Ged: Okay, okay. Let's get back on course and have a drink. Mongo: Ha. Okay, but I get to dry off first. Ged: Of course. Otherwise we'll all be soaked like you, the way you're splashing about. They continued, that night and then the next two days, and finally, on 12/23/570, they entered the harbor-city called Momburg - the capital of the Hold of the Sea Princes. next time: Slaves, the sea monster, and other fun in the Azure Sea FTP SITE: tybalt.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) ******************************************************************** NOTES: I must have goofed in the item descriptions last time - Belphanior's character sheet that I have in this adventure's folder lists him as having the folding boat. I know that they used it to get onto the river; I have either forgotten to list the thing in the treasure lists or listed it but not updated the list that went into the end of the last posting. In any case, the elf does have the boat. Only Belphanior's lucky throw kept Mongo from getting away in the river. Some of the difficulties of rapid-river combat became apparent during this adventure... ******************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to persons or characters * either real or fictional is utterly coincidental. Copying and/or * distribution of these stories is permissible only under the one * condition that no part of them will be used or sold for profit. * In that case, I hope you enjoy them. ***** ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY (temporarily split up; this is the "sea" group): Belphanior, 6th/6th/7th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 7th/7th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 8th level dwarf fighter (CG) Rillen, 8th level human fighter (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 12/23/570 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: late afternoon Place: Momburg, capital of the Hold of the Sea Princes ------------------------------------------------------------------ LIV. Out to Sea! The "sea" group has arrived in the city of Momburg, capital of the villanous Sea Princes domain, after a somewhat tedious trek through the wild plains and hills to the west. Winter was here by now, and with a vengeance; the cold air found its way into even the smallest seams of their clothes. Belphanior: Kind of nippy out here... Rillen: This new city should have a place for us to stay. Mongo: What sort of place is this? They're all dressed funny. Ged: I talked with some priests about this land before. Belphanior: ...and? Ged: The Sea Princes rule this region, and Flotsam Isle, and Jetsom Isle, and Fairwind Isle, and...(unfolds a map)...hell, they rule the whole damned bay. The Jerlea Bay, that is. Belphanior: Hey! Did you steal that map from Peldor? Ged: Surely you jest. Rillen: These people. Are they bad? Ged: Slavers, I have heard. Belphanior: (fingering his swordhilt) Heh. Then they will taste my steel sooner or later. Ged: Try not to kill anybody here. Mongo: Slavers, huh? You think they're related to the other ones, who had that castle in the mountains? Rillen: Other ones? Ged: Who knows? Anyway, this is a rough place. I suggest that we take care of our business here and leave. Rillen: What _is_ our business here? Mongo: Yeah. Good question. Ged: I think we need a bigger boat, to go out on the ocean. Mongo: Ocean? Rillen: Ocean? I have never seen an ocean before. Ged: (dreaming about the wonders of the open ocean) Belphanior: Maybe Mongo will fall in... Mongo: Hey! That's not funny! Ged: You need a flotation device, pal. Belphanior: Bigger boat, eh? Let's go to the docks, then. Rillen: Sounds good to me. (they go) As the four walked through the city, malicious eyes were upon them at every turn, it seemed. Ruffians, thugs, whores - all these and more seemed plentiful here in Momburg. Most obvious, though, was the abundance of slaves. Chained, bound, or collared wretches were present at every turn. Some were being dragged or led by sullen masters, others roamed about, seemingly freely; but the aura of oppression was almost tangible in all cases. Ged: Ths place is pitiful. Mongo: Poor slaves. We should do something. Belphanior: If I had the power, I would bring this land to its knees... Ged: We can't just declare war on an entire country, guys. Mongo: Why not? Ged: Because we can't win. Mongo: Why not? Belphanior: We'd need an army. Which we _don't_ have. Rillen: Hmm. Why not? Mongo: Don't worry about it. Ged: There they are...the docks. Ahead were Momburg's links with the open sea - an extensive series of wooden docks, filled in some places with ships and boats of all sorts, mostly empty in others. There was actually a small bay-like area, which was about twenty leagues across, with an "opening" perhaps ten leagues wide, to the north of the city. The mass that was Jetsom Island loomed out there to the east somewhere, outside the neck of the bay. Beyond that, to the south, were the other two islands. Northward was the continent itself, which was claimed by Keoland. Eastward, however, lay a seemingly infinite blue expanse - the Azure Sea! It was here that Ged wished to sail, once a suitable ship had been procured. Belphanior: I don't see any "Ship for sale" signs... Ged: We'll just have to ask around. Rillen: Maybe someone will give us a good deal. Mongo: How much does a good ship cost, anyways? Ged: It depends. A small ship could cost only five thousand or so pieces of gold. A big galleon, on the other hand, could run us up to fifty thousand or more... Rillen: That is a lot of money for a ship. Belphanior: We also need a crew, don't forget that. Mongo: Cripes! Fifty thousand! Fuck that! Ged: We'll just have to see. Rillen: (talking to some bum) Do you know where there are any ships for sale? bum: ey, nah. 'eck it out over dere, dou'. Dey might. urp! Rillen: Thanks a lot. I think. Ged: There's a nice one. (looking at a ship, a big one with several sails) I wonder if it's for sale. Rillen: Sail? Ged: Never mind. Mongo: Hey, look. There's one that looks abandoned. merchant: (strolling up) Whaddya need? Belphanior: We seek to buy a large vessel. Ged: Yea. We need a ship, preferably one of the oar-driven types, with a mast and sail. merchant: Ah! I have just the thing. I assume that you can pay the costs, for they are quite substantial... Mongo: Don't you worry, buddy. We're good for it. merchant: Follow me. (he leads them down another dock to a long ship tied to the wooden posts of the dock) Here she is. Ged: Wow. The vessel was a standard longship, something that only Ged had seen before. It was seventy-five feet in length, and about twenty feet in width. There were two dozen oars on either side, meant to be operated by one oarsman apiece (large galleys had oars that had to be operated by two or three people). A single large mast jutted from the ship's middle, suitable for a square sail to be fitted for additional propulsion. As they boarded the ship, they found that it had ample space for cargo and supplies. Ged knew that this sort of ship was quite seaworthy and could venture safely across the open sea if need be. Ged: (knocking of the hull) It seems to be in good shape. merchant: Of course! I would not try to sell such fine ones as you an ill-maintained vessel. I would have sold it long ago, since I have others, but no one is in the market for a large ship these days. Sigh... Mongo: Well, _we_ are. Belphanior: (to Ged) How many crewmen will we have to get? Ged: Not too many...How much for the ship? merchant: Uhh...fully outfitted with sail and oars, fifteen thousand in gold. Ged: Bah! Sail and oars are supposed to come with the ship! Five thousand! merchant: Thirteen! Mongo: You shark! Six! Rillen: (to Belphanior) What is a "shark"? Belphanior: It's a sea monster that eats other fish. And men. Rillen: This is a man, not a monster. What...? Belphanior: Never mind. merchant: Twelve thousand. Ged: Eight. merchant: Eleven. Mongo: Ten! That's our final offer! Take it or leave it! merchant: Okay, okay. Ten it is. We shall have to go to my office inland to sign the paperwork. Ged: We need a moneychanger or jeweler to cash in some gems for the money. Rillen: (not sure that this is a wise investment) Hmm. merchant: Okay, I'll take you to all those places. Within a two-hour span, the money had been exchanged for the rights to the ship. Belphanior and Rillen went to the ship to guard it, while Ged and Mongo went to find a crew to man it... Ged: Why get a crew? All we need are oarsmen. We could get some slaves! Mongo: Hey, I'm no slaver! Ged: I was thinking of freeing them later. Mongo: Oh. Yeah! That way, we get a crew, and they get their freedom! Everybody wins! Good idea! Ged: Where are the auction blocks, anyway? Mongo: Dunno. Let's go this way. (they wander off) meanwhile, on the docks... ruffian: Hey, looks like someone's bought this longship from ol' Traxius. other ruffian: Har! Let's have a look-see. Maybe there's some good stuff aboard already! third ruffian: Yeah! Think there's any little girlies here too? Rillen: (appears) What do you people think you are doing? ruffian#1: Har! Look there! It's a big black ape! Rillen: Ape? ruffian#2: Out of our way, buddy. We're from the dock boss' gang! We have the right to look over your ship. ruffian#3: And take what we want! Har har! Rillen: (yelling) Belphanior! Belphanior: (voice muffled, since he is below decks nearby) What is it? Rillen: There are some people here who say that they have to look at the ship and take things! Belphanior: (still below decks) What the fuck?!?!? No way! Keep them off the ship! Rillen: I am afraid I will have to ask you to leave. ruffian#1: Haw! (rushes at the warrior, club raised) See how you like to get bashed, you big ox! Taste hard wood! Rillen: (trips the goon, grabbing his wooden club) No thank you. (forcibly crams the end of the wooden pole into the man's mouth) Does it taste good to you? I hope so. ruffian#1: (screaming and blubbering as teeth fly everywhere) BLGHRGH! AAARGH! ruffian#2: Get him! ruffian#3: I dunno, he looks pretty big. ruffian#2: (grabs the bloody ruffian#1) Let's get the hell out of here then! (they flee, dragging their wounded comrade) Belphanior: (appears from below-decks, sword in hand) What was all that commotion? Rillen: I got rid of those people. They wanted to rob us, I think. But I made one of them eat his weapon. Belphanior: Really? Cool! Rillen: Do you think they will be back? Belphanior: Who knows? Their kind is usually too stupid to know any better. We'd better be ready, just in case. Rillen: Okay. soon... Rillen: Here come some more people! Belphanior: (leaps on deck) Whoa! Those aren't people, they're ogres! ogre: Hey! Hey youse! Youse busted up Duekus here! So now we come to bust YOU up! other ogres: (yelling; there are eight of them in all) Belphanior: Hold them off. (begins a spell) Rillen: Right. (grabs his bow, which he had ready, and begins to pepper the group with arrows) Stay back. ogres: Agh! Ouch! (the warrior is shooting them in the knees, and has nailed two so far) Belphanior: (launches a color spray at the group) Take that! ogres: Yagh! (five of them fall unconscious, while the others gaps in amazement) Huh? Rillen: Ha ha. Caught you looking... Belphanior: What's that, a mob coming up the dock? Shit! Rillen: (peering) It looks like Ged and Mongo. They have some new friends also. Ged and Mongo were marching up the dock, and behind them was a group of fifty newly purchased slaves carrying bundles of food and supplies. Mongo: Hey guys! We're home! Ged: Looks like trouble there. Mongo: I'll be damned! Ogres! Ged: It didn't take those two long to get into trouble, did it? Ah well, it's probably Belphanior's fault, anyway. Mongo: (yelling to the ogres) Off the docks! Now! You're in the way! ogres: (unsure of what would be best) Duh? Mongo: (hurls his hammer at one, knocking it off the dock and into the water) Go on! Jump into the water! NOW! ogres: (the other two who are awake leap off the dock) Aaaa! <SPLASH> Glub glub. Mongo: (turns to the slaves) As you walk by, make sure you get a chance to step on those unconscious ogres there. Feel free to kick them into the water, if you want. Ged: But hurry up and get onto the ship. Within five minutes, everyone was aboard, and Belphanior and Ged were raising the sail as Mongo and Rillen helped distribute the oars to the slaves. Ged: Let's get a move on! More trouble may be on the way! Belphanior: Why? Ged: The slavers in the city didn't seem too happy when we told the slaves that we would free them once we got on the ship... Belphanior: (pulling a rope to raise a corner of the sail) I was going to ask you about that...the slavery issue... Ged: We decided to buy them, and then free them. It seemed like they'd work harder that way, and anyway I am not one to keep slaves in captivity. Belphanior: Me neither. I applaud your judgement. Ged: Me too, Boccob knows. But I think the town guard may come after us. It's not good to just buy a ship and sail away with a lot of freed slaves, in the capital of a land whose main trade is the slave trade...but I think we did the right thing. Belphanior: Yeah. I also think we're ready. Mongo: Oars, check! Rudder, check! Ged: Sail, check! Let's get out to sea! Row, men, row! Belphanior and Rillen untied and reeled in the docking ropes and pulled up the anchor as well. Within minutes, the large ship was headed toward sea. It was late afternoon by now, and the four adventurers took a well-deserved rest and had supper while the ex-slaves rowed the vessel out to sea (they had been resting for many days on the auction block...). The fifty men Ged and Mongo had selected, all strong and in good shape, were no doubt pleased immensely that they were to be freed. Since Ged and Mongo had also bought enough food for all of them for at least two weeks, all bases seemed covered. The large ship moved northeastward, navigated by Ged using the stars and his knowledge of seamanship and navigation. Despite Ged's fears, no one pursued them, and the night was peaceful. They had the rowers work in shifts, so half could get some rest while the other half rowed. Ged and Mongo took turns manning the rudder, and the sail was lowered until the morning. In the morning, Ged raised the sail, and the ship moved at a brisk clip. By noon, they were through the bay's mouth and passing Jetsom Isle; a few merchant-type ships were spotted nearby, but nothing more. Belphanior took a liking to the small area at the top of the mast, and appointed himself as the ship's lookout. Ged theorized that the elf just wanted to have the best position from which to cast spells at any enemies who might appear in the sea...They headed north and east on a course roughly paralleling the shoreline, but far out from it, beyond the range of vision. Ged relied on his navigational skills to keep the party on the right course. Nothing of significance happened for two days, but at that time a smaller ship seemed likely to attack the party's ship. It was a coaster, a sixty-foot vessel with sails, and there were perhaps twenty crewmen on board, seasoned pirates all. These sea dogs brought their ship close to the party's ship. They lasted only five minutes, though, when faced with Ged's and Belphanior's spells, Rillen's longbow, and Mongo's hammer. After all the seaborne brigands were slain, the party found that the smaller ship carried nine slaves. More interesting, perhaps, was the large crack that Belphanior's lightning wand had made in the coaster's hull; the pirate ship was slowly sinking. It was cleaned out, and the nine slaves were then formally freed, which made them very happy. One happened to know the use of a rudder and sail, and Ged appointed this fellow to help steer the ship when he got tired. The next two days were uneventful, except for the pair of large slave galleys that sailed by. These did not molest the party's vessel, however, and were left alone. Early in the next morning, the party spotted some wreckage, and had the rowers stop for a bit. There was quite a bit of wood, as well as some pieces of rope, cloth, oil, and other debris. Mongo: Hey! There's a guy hanging onto that piece of wood! Ged: Somebody toss him a rope. Rillen: (lassoes the man, and pulls him to the ship) Belphanior: He looks quite...wet. Mongo: Yeah. Well, this _is_ the sea, you know. Rillen: (hoists the fellow up onto the ship) Ged: (examining him) He's alive. Here, help me push his stomach. Mongo: Why?!? survivor: (belching out seawater) Bleargh! Cough! (falls unconscious) Mongo: Oh. Rillen: What can we do with him? Ged: Let's set him up to rest. We don't want him to die of stress. (to gawking ex-slaves) You! You! Go get some blankets from below, before this man freezes to death! They carried the fellow into a cabin, where it was much warmer, and let him rest while Ged got the rowers working again. The ship continued on for about an hour, and then the man woke up. survivor: (sits up) Aaaa! It's killing us all! Help! Mongo: (restrains the man) Calm down, friend. You're okay now. survivor: Huh? (looks around) Monster? Where _am_ I? Mongo: We pulled you aboard. survivor: Aboard? Then we're still at sea? Aaaaaa! Ged: (enters the cabin) What is _he_ screaming about? Mongo: Something about a sea monster. survivor: ...It attacked our ship! It ATE our ship! Ged: Who are you? What was this monster? survivor: (calming down a bit) I am Durgan. We had a big galley, a merchant ship. A terrible monster got the ship and smashed it. It came out of nowhere! Mongo: Hmm. Durgan: I was hurled away. It must have been too busy to notice me. Ged: What did the thing look like? Durgan: Uh...it was- Rillen: (suddenly appears from above) You should come up. There is some big monster coming toward the ship. Mongo: Holy shit! (they all go up, including Durgan) Above, Belphanior was standing up in the crow's nest, his gaze fixed on something very large off the port bow. Most of the rowers were watching it as well; it was five or six hundred feet away from the ship but was approaching fast. Durgan: Eyahhhh! (pointing at it) That's it! That's it! The monster looked like an octopus or squid, but was much, much larger than any normal such beast. It spanned at least fifty feet, if not more, and two huge eyes glared at those on the ship - its prey. next time: Some slaves get chomped; more pirates FTP SITE: tybalt.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) ******************************************************************** NOTES: Read Peter Benchley's novel _Beast_ for more tales of big squids. This posting is long overdue, but then again, so are some good grades for me... ******************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to persons or characters * either real or fictional is utterly coincidental. Copying and/or * distribution of these stories is permissible only under the one * condition that no part of them will be used or sold for profit. * In that case, I hope you enjoy them. ***** ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY (temporarily split up; this is the "sea" group): Belphanior, 6th/6th/7th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 7th/7th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 8th level dwarf fighter (CG) Rillen, 8th level human fighter (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 12/27/570 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: afternoon Place: somewhere in the Azure Sea, far from the coast ------------------------------------------------------------------ LV. The Squid The "sea" group had set out to sea, fending off pirates and most recently rescuing a survivor from the water. This fellow was in the process of describing the monster that wrecked his ship when the thing made it easier by showing up in the flesh. Durgan: Eyahhhh! (pointing at it) That's it! That's it! Mongo: Son of a fuckin' bitch! That's the biggest damn fish I ever saw! Rillen: It does not look like a fish to _me_. (draws his bow) Ged: That squid will crack open this ship like a nutshell, if it gets to us. Belphanior: (in crows' nest, muttering to himself) If? That should be _when_... slaves/rowers in general: Aaaaaaa! Ged: Stop panicking! Somebody get that thing! Mongo: It's out of hammer range! (guzzles his potion of heroism) Ahhh. AHHHH! Rillen: (fires an arrow at the monster, but it falls short) Even I cannot hit it from here. We need a catapult. Belphanior: (emulating Mongo, drinks down one of his unknown potions) Ahh! Hey! (his eyes have turned reddish and glow slightly) What the fuck?!? Ged: Quit playing with yourself up there and help us out! Belphanior: Right! (draws his wand of lightning) giant squid: (closing on the ship) Belphanior: (launches a lightning bolt at the thing) Take this, you slime from the deep! giant squid: (blasted by the energy, flagellates about in the water as arcs of electricity skip off in all directions) some slave: Aaaa! It's still coming! It's still coming! Rillen: I think you made it mad... Mongo: Mad?! I'll show it mad! (hurls his hammer, which hits the squid but doesn't seem to faze it much) Ged: (prepares a spell) Rillen: (fires another arrow, hitting a random tentacle) The monster is upon us! giant squid: RRRRKKK! (flails at the ship, snatching five of the slaves) slaves: Aaaaagh! Aieeeeee! (they're being chomped as the squid lowers them into its beak, one by one) Mongo: (catches his hammer) Boy, he sure is hungry! (fires the hammer again, at a tentacle holding a slave) giant squid: RRRR? (drops the slave into the water and goes after Mongo instead) Mongo: (to slaves) Somebody get that man out of the water! Ged: Back, scaly horror! (casts another lightning bolt at the thing, hitting it head-on) Since you seem to like lightning so much, eat that! giant squid: RRRRRRRKKKKKK! (swats at Ged with a tentacle, but misses) Ged: (dashing for cover) slave in water: Glub glub! other slaves: (trying to throw him a rope) Rillen: Bah. (tosses his bow aside, and readies his staff, pointing the bladed end at a nearby tentacle) slaves: (running everywhere screaming) Aaaaa! giant squid: (now has two arms around the ship, and the rest are hunting prey on deck) Belphanior: (still in the crows' nest) Shit. I can't fire another lightning bolt, or I'll get the people on deck. Mongo: (looking up) Why are you talking to yourself up there? Belphanior: (ignores the dwarf, and prepares a spell) Rillen: (slashes a tentacle with his weapon, sending dark ichor spurting everywhere) Ugh. Ged: (menaced by a tentacle) Yie! (blasts the appendage with four magical missiles) Get the hell away from me! giant squid: (end of its tentacle burned off) slaves: (manage to pull their comrade out of the water at last) Ged: Good job, guys. Belphanior: (hurls five small globes - Melf's Minute Meteors - at the squid's head, hitting with three of them) Yeah! Ged: Way to go! giant squid: (flailing its arms in irritation) RRRRKK! Rillen: (slices the tentacle in front of him again) Go grab somebody else. Mongo: (preparing to throw his hammer) Huh? (a tentacle has surrounded him) Shit! Rillen: (to squid) I didn't mean for you to grab HIM. giant squid: (grabs Mongo with its tentacle) RRRRR! Mongo: Let go of me, you fucker! (beats on the appandage which is slowly squeezing him) Argh! Ged: Damn! It's got Mongo! giant squid: (grabs a few more slaves) Belphanior: (looking around, thinking) giant squid: (crushing Mongo, as it draws him to its maw) Mongo: Yargh! It's gonna eat me! (throws his hammer at the beaked mouth at close range, chipping it) Leggo! Leggo! Rillen: (stabbing the tentacle that holds Mongo) The thing will not let go of him! Ged: (preparing a spell) Shit! It's also got the ship in its grasp! The hull is creaking! Belphanior: This calls for desperate measures! (uses his ring's Jump spell, as he grabs a staff, and leaps off the crows' nest) Ged: What the...? Rillen: He thinks he can fly. Belphanior: (lands precariously on the squid's head) Okay, ugly, it's time to die. (points the staff at the squid's eye) giant squid: RRRRRRR! (reels in some tentacles to swat this new insect) Ged: What in the hell do you think you're doing over there?!? Rillen: Maybe he wants to test the monster's sight. Belphanior: (yelling at the squid) Yeah, that's it! Here's the pressure test! (fires the staff, using its last four charges to produce its mightiest effect, the thunderclap/ lightning stroke) Hahahah! KA-KRAAMMMM! There was a tremendous noise, deafening everyone, and a great bolt of lightning hit the squid dead-on in the eye. The shockwave sent water in all directions, and the ship rocked back and forth with the power of the blast. All those on deck were bowled over, some of the less fortunate falling into the sea on the opposite side. Mongo was hurled into the ship as well, crashing through a deck rail and into the mast, stunned. A cloud of smoke appeared, with a stench not unlike that of poorly cooked seafood. There was silence for several moments. Ged: (shakes his head) Wow. (looking around) Rillen: (gets to his feet) That was a blast. slaves: (bumping into each other) Mongo: Ugh. (recovering consciousness slowly) The squid floated nearby the ship - or what was left of it, anyway. Its head was mostly gone, courtesy of the thunderbolt, and inky blood and guts flowed freely into the sea. The tentacles drifted aimlessly, with the waves. Ged: I wonder if the elf lived through that one. Rillen: (looks around) Ged: Hmm. Rillen: Look! There he is! (points to a red-cloaked form floating in the water about fifty feet away) Ged: Throw him a rope! The sharks will be here soon... Rillen: (gets a rope out to Belphanior on the second throw) Ah. Help me pull him in. Ged: Sure. (they reel the elf in, and pull him onto the ship) Belphanior: (barely conscious, grabbing the rope by pure instinct; he is somewhat singed) uhh. Ged: Hey, nice job there. Stupid, but it worked. Belphanior: Thanksh. <cough cough> Ged: Why are your eyes glowing red? Belphanior: Dunno. Something I drank, maybe. Where's the squid? Rillen: Around. Ged: Let's get the crew back to normal and leave the area. Belphanior: (looking around) I guess the staff is lost. Shit. Oh well, it was out of charges anyway. Soon, they were ready to get underway once more. The sea was filled with sharks and other predators, who had quite a fine meal. Belphanior and Mongo were healed, and rested for a while as Ged and Rillen and the rowers got the ship moving again. Nothing of interest happened for a day or so. A single merchant ship passed nearby, but was ignored. The second day after the squid encounter, however, a pair of vessels was sighted, approaching fast. They had large black flags raised - pirate flags! Ged: Pirates! Belphanior: Those are mighty big ships. I think I see catapults on their decks... Mongo: They'd better leave us alone! I'm not in the mood for any shit. Rillen: Maybe they just want to wave to us. Ged: Doubtful. Let's get the rowers ready for whatever may happen. Mongo: Hey, we forgot to get them some weapons or armor. Ged: Damn. Belphanior: In a fight, they'll be screwed. slaves: (milling around) Soon... man on other ship: (yelling) Ho there! Rillen: Ho? man: Take down your sails and lay down your weapons! If you obey, you will be spared! Mongo: (yelling) Now you listen here! Go away and leave us alone! pirate: (to his crewmen) Fire! A volley of deadly arrows was launched at the party's ship from both of the pirate ships. The deck shook as arrows hit it; slaves shrieked as arrows hit them. Ged stood with impunity, his belt deflecting any of the arrows that might otherwise have wounded him. The others dashed for cover, except for Belphanior, who had so far kept his head down in the crows' nest and seemed to be unnoticed. pirate: Fire the spells! robed pirate: (points, and three magic missiles fire away and hit Ged) Ha ha! pirates: (laughing) Mongo: Hey! Ged: Ouch! That hurt! So they have a mage as well. Mongo: We'd better watch out. Their mage could use one of those fireball things on us, instead of us using one of him. Belphanior: (up in the crows' nest) No. They're pirates, and they want our ship and slaves. Ex-slaves. Anyway, it would not serve their purpose to torch our ship. They'd do it if they had to...but by the time they figure out what they should have done, it will be too late for them. Rillen: I see. Belphanior: Keep them busy for a minute. I'll hit the port ship, you get the starboard one. (the port one has the mage) Ged: Okay. (yelling as he prepares a spell) Hold on! We must talk amongst ourselves about your generous offer! pirate: No funny stuff there! Stop that spellcasting or we fire the catapults! Ged: Uhh...Okay! (to the others) Hey guys, don't do anything to tip them off that we're going to fight. Rillen: (thinking about his bow and arrows and such mayhem) Belphanior: (fires a lightning bolt from his wand, hitting the port ship's mast directly and incinerating several of the pirates on deck) Ha! pirates: Aaaaa! Ged: (ducks for cover as he prepares to complete his fireball spell) Damn! Rillen: Does this mean I can shoot them now? Mongo: (fires his hammer, hitting some pirate and crushing the poor fellow's head) Yeah! War! War! Rillen: Good. (begins firing arrows) Mongo: (takes a pirate arrow in the leg) ARGH! (catches his returning hammer) Fuck! That hurts! Belphanior: (still in crows' nest, looking at the other pirate ship off the starboard bow) What's that? Hey! Hey! They're firing their catapults at us! Mongo: Incoming! Heads up, guys! Rillen: (watching big stones fly all around) Hmm. Ged: Almost ready with the spell! Belphanior: Huh? Yie! (watching a large stone sailing right at his perch in the nest) Aaaa! <CRACK!> (the boulder knocks him off, and smashes the crows' nest into splinters) slaves: (dodge aside as the elf hits the deck below) Mongo: (throws his hammer again, pulverizing a pirate archer) Ged! Torch that other ship or we're sunk! Ged: Right! (leaps up, as arrows avoid him, and casts his spell at the second ship) Boccob strikes! The other pirate ship took the fireball at the base of main mast, and her sails blazed up almost instantly. The pirates ran around, screaming and cursing. Rillen: Direct hit. Ged: Boccob smiles this day! Belphanior: (stunned, lying on deck) Where'zd go? Mongo: Hey! Watch out! (drags the elf to cover, as missiles fly everywhere) Belphanior: Thanks. Ged: I think we got their mage. That first ship is still putting up a fight though. Belphanior: (gets up) Not for long. (fires a second lightning bolt at that vessel, knocking a hole in its hull) Mongo: Damn nice toy you have there, pal. Belphanior: I know. The party got their ship away from the pirates, just in case their ships (one burning, the other sinking fast) happened to run into the party's or some other dumb thing. Doomed pirates tended to try things like that, Ged thought, and thus the party moved far away from the wrecks, leaving the pirates to their fate. Some of them got away on small boats, but were ignored as the party headed northeast. They did not have room for pirate prisoners, and anyway, such captives would have outnumbered the party's own crew, which would surely have been a problem. The next day, they moved in toward the coast, to land for a time and effect repairs - for their mast was damaged a bit, and the sail had been torn in the battle and needed some patching. They laid the anchor while the ship was about a half-mile out, and rested that night, intending to go ashore in the morning to survey their location while repairs were made. next time: The party picks the wrong place to land FTP SITE: tybalt.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) ******************************************************************** NOTES: I recommend the new movie "Universal Soldier", since it's chock full of good Arnold/Vandamme lines (which I shamelessly use in these stories as I see fit). Sorry about the gap between postings. I've been busy, as usual, and it's hard to find free time... ******************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to persons or characters * either real or fictional is utterly coincidental. Copying and/or * distribution of these stories is permissible only under the one * condition that no part of them will be used or sold for profit. * In that case, I hope you enjoy them. ***** ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY (temporarily split up; this is the "sea" group): Belphanior, 6th/6th/7th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 7th/7th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 8th level dwarf fighter (CG) Rillen, 8th level human fighter (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 12/30/570 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: early morning Place: somewhere in the Azure Sea, close to the coast ------------------------------------------------------------------ LVI. From Sea to Land The "sea" group has anchored their ship close to an unknown shore and sent an expedition to land using Belphanior's magic boat. This band consisted of Mongo and Belphanior, and about a dozen of the (ex) slaves. The others stayed aboard ship to repair the various minor damages incurred during the last few days. Mongo: (jumps out of the boat as it hits the sand) Land ho! Belphanior: (looking around) I wonder where the greeting party is? Mongo: Dunno. (to slaves/rowers) You guys help me pull this sucker ashore. (they do, and beach it above the waterline) Belphanior: I would guess that we've not yet reached the Pomarj. Mongo: That's no big deal. We're shooting for a big river or something, right? Belphanior: I think so. We'll know if we went too far, since the Pomarj and its vermin are on the eastern side of that river. Ged would know more about this... Mongo: I wonder how they're doing with fixing up the ship? on board... Ged: (to Rillen) Watch closely, here. (holds up a sail) This is how you sew one of these back together. Rillen: (popping his knuckles) Ged: See, you use a lot of thread, since heavy winds can pull a weak sail apart in seconds...Hey! Rillen: Eh? What is it? Ged: Ahhh...you really don't care about this, do you? Rillen: Not really. I want to move on, to find more adventure out in the world. When will we get moving again? Ged: As soon as I fix this damned sail, that's when. Here, hold it while I tie it back together. Rillen: (still bored) on shore... Belphanior: I think we've got a bit further to go. Let's hunt for food while they make repairs. Mongo: Okay. You, men, eight of you guard the boat. The other four come with us. rowers: (obeying) Sure. Belphanior: Wait. This is a _magical_ boat. I can fold it up and take it with me. (does so) Mongo: Oh, yeah. Well, you eight stay here and keep sight of the ship. rowers: Okay. Mongo: (to Belphanior) What's wrong with your eyes? Belphanior: (his eyes are still glowing red, ever since that battle with the giant squid) Huh? Oh, nothing. I drank a potion and they started glowing red. I don't care about it. In fact, I like it. It seems to terrify people... Mongo: Uh, okay. Right. soon... Belphanior: (leading them through short, scrubby grasslands) What's this, here? (kicks a short tree with odd fruit) Mongo: Looks like fruit to me, pal. Belphanior: We'd better get some for Ged. He likes this kind of food. (the rowers hasten to gather some fruit) Then again, it will be a real treat after days of rations and water... Mongo: (looking around) This place is dead. Let's get back to the ship and share the fruit with everyone. Belphanior: I agree - we don't want to get too far from shore. (they set about returning) later that day... Ged: Nothing?! Mongo: Nothing. This shore is wasted. Rillen: Well, there is that pile of green melons that they got on shore. Belphanior: Let's sail on further, and get to that river. Rillen: River? Ged: Okay, okay. It should be about another five days' until we get there. I wouldn't recommend trying to sail _up_ into the continent, against the water's flow. We'll sell the ship and let these men go about their way, and go by land for a bit. Mongo: Sounds like a plan. Rillen: (chomping on a melon) Mmglph. They finished the minor repairs later that day, and after a rest and a meal, they set out again. The fact that the new year rolled around was not lost on Ged, who was often watching the stars in the sky, and Mongo suggested a toast to the new year. Feeling generous, the party let their rowers share the wine, with the end result being that they ran out of liquor. Mongo wasn't too happy about this, but managed to get by. For five days, they moved parallel to the coast, observing the shore as they went. A few small towns were passed, and here and there fishermen were out and about, trying to make a living. A few times, they stopped and tried to fish, with decent success... Belphanior: I got one! I got one! (reels in a large fish) Mongo: All RIGHT! We'll eat like kings tonight! Gimme that fish! Get the cooking pots out! Rillen: (grabs the fish) Yie! That is one slippery little fish. Here. (hands it to Mongo) Mongo: Mmm. I can smell it already. Fried fish! Belphanior: Yea...I'll see if I can't get some more. Ged: Hey, look. I got a funny crab-like thing! Mongo: I'll take that, too. Crab legs... Ged: Cook this food well, then. Don't put strange spices or anything in it. Mongo: Trust me, guys. Rillen: It all smells fishy to me. And so they ate well that night and the next. Eventually, they reached the mouth of the Jewel River, but not before being menaced by a galley full of orcs. Fortunately, Ged's skill at sailing enabled the party to outrun this fearsome menace. He kept their ship from staying directly in front of the orcs' vessel, so as not to allow them to steal some of the party's wind. The delay was long enough for Belphanior to prepare his spells and items, and he liberally pounded the orcs with magic until they fled. The party reached the river the next day, and managed to get a fair sum for their ship at the port town they docked at. They bid farewell to those men who they had bought as slaves in the Sea Princes' land but who were now free men. The horses were brought up from below shortly, and the party set out to the north. They planned to follow the Jewel River northward for many leagues, including that portion of it which wound into the dreaded Suss Forest. There was one section of river which was best avoided, a loop that bent toward the Pomarj land to the east. They rode alongside the river, on the Ulek bank, for a day; it was then, near the aforementioned loop of river nearest to the Pomarj, that trouble reared its ugly head. Mongo: Hey, I smell orcs. Rillen: Not a difficult thing to do. Ged: Where? Where? Belphanior: There. (points to various orcs that have risen from the grass around the party) And there. And there... (draws his sword) Mongo: Sheesh. They're popping up like weeds! (grabs his hammer) Ged: (addressing the orcs) What do you slime want? orc chieftan: I are Gordo, of the Broken Foot tribe. We is here to take tole from all who come by. Rillen: (slowly whirling his staff) Toll? orcs: (yelling) Tole! Tole! Tole! (there are about two dozen of them) orc chieftan: Pay up! Or we get you with da spears! orcs: Yah! (hefting spears) Mongo: Bah! We pay toll to no one, especially not a bunch of dirty orcs! (hurls hammer at the chieftan) Take THAT! orc chieftan: (hit in the face by the hammer, his head is torn off and rolls around on the ground behind him) Rillen: You really knocked his block off. (dismounts, as do Mongo and Belphanior) Mongo: (grumbling) I hate fighting from horseback. other orcs: Aaaaa! Da dwarf got Gordo! Kill dem! (they all start throwing spears at the party) Belphanior: (grazed by one, spell ruined) Great. Now you've done it. (draws his sword) Ged: Hah. (the spears are curving away from him thanks to his magical belt) Boccob's might shield's me from all harm. (begins spellcasting) Mongo: (a spear bounces off of his armor) Ouch. (catches hammer) Rillen: (dodging spears, charges into battle) You pig-men should have left while you had the chance. Belphanior: (slashes an orc, killing it) Death! Death! Mongo: (bashes an onrushing orc, dropping it) Away, orcish shitheads! (to Ged) Boy, Halbarad would love this! Ged: Quiet, now. (casts a Stinking Cloud at a mass of orcs) orcs: (many don't make their saves) Kaff! Gack! PHEW! Ged: Hah! Boccob really showed them! Look, they're too stupid to leave the cloud! Rillen: Phew. That cloud of yours smells worse than the orcs do. (smashes an orc, knocking it aside) Belphanior: (chops another orc, slaying it) Hah! orc: I'll get him! I'll get him! (hurls a spear at Ged) Ged: (faces the orc as the weapon veers away) You! orc: (looking around fearfully) Me? Ged: (points at orc) Flee or die! orc: Aaaaaa! (runs away at full tilt) other orcs: Look! Beezus ran away! Mongo: (slams another orc, crushing its chest) There sure are a lot of these bastards! orcs: (check morale, fail) Aaaa! We is lost! Run! (they begin an unorganized retreat into the river) Aaa! Belphanior: (cheerfully chopping down stragglers) Heh heh. Soon, most of the orcs had fled across the river and back into their own land. All others were now dead. The party rested and bound their (minor) wounds, and then rode on at a faster pace, in case the orcs returned with, say, a few hundred friends. No such danger manifested itself, though, and they were unbothered for another whole day. At dusk of the second day on land, they came upon the Suss Forest's edge. The dark, gnarled trees looked menacing and evil in the dim light. Rillen: Is it wise to go in THERE? I mean, at nightfall? Belphanior: Sure! Let's do it. Ged: Good point. Maybe we'll camp a bit away from the edge of the place and continue on the morrow. Belphanior: Hmm. Mongo: Whatever. Let's eat. There was an attack on the camp that night, from a band of eight goblins riding large wolves. The party's spells helped them fend off this threat, though Rillen and his staff were the big hero of the battle - the warrior slew three goblins and two worgs while only taking two hits himself. Mongo was quite impressed, comparing Rillen's skill on a bad day to Halbarad's or Peyote's on a good day. The next day, they entered the forest. After riding all day, including a skirmish with four large spiders, the party realized two things. First, they had somehow become lost - they were off the crude path they had been following. Second, there were no sounds or living things around them, not even insects. They continued, somewhat wary of these new facts. Rillen: I do not like this. Too quiet. Ged: Me neither. Something's up. Belphanior: Shh! Do you hear that? Mongo: What? (hefts his weapon) Suddenly, a horde of skeletons swarmed over the party, appearing from nowhere! Their bony talons and grinning, sunken countenances might spell doom for the adventurers... Ged: Aaaa! (grabs his holy symbol and holds it high) Back! Stay back! By the holy power of Boccob, I banish you to somewhere else! Mongo: (watches eleven of the things retreat) Wow! That's some power, there! (smashes a skeleton into splinters) Rillen: Yes. (bashes one with his staff, crushing it as well) It is easier to break the bones when that's all there is. Mongo: That's for sure. (takes a hit) Agh! Belphanior: (gulps down a potion of undead control) Ahh. Ged: (sidesteps a skeletal attack) Hey! What's that you're drinking? Belphanior: Undead command. (to skeletons) Stop fighting. skeletons: (all twelve who are left stop) Belphanior: Good. Now go that way (points south) and kill any goblins you find. skeletons: (wander southward) Belphanior: That should occupy them for a while. (grabs one skeleton) You. Stay with us, and lead us to where you came here from. skeleton: (begins marching deeper into the forest) Ged: This is...not good. But it's better than fighting them. Rillen: What is going on _now_? Mongo: We're following a skeleton into the woods. Rillen: Oh. The thing led them for four hours, through what looked like absolutely impassable woods. It seemed to find trails where there didn't seem to be any. After a long and unusual time marching through this tangled area of the forest, the party was at a square hole in the ground, with stairs going down. The opening was almost covered by underbrush, and it was surprising indeed to see the mindless skeleton push the vines and weeds aside without damaging them... Mongo: (peering down the stairs) Hey. Hey! Something's coming! (backs up) Belphanior: (moves around Mongo) Let me see. Eyah! It's a shadow monster! Undead, maybe! Ged: (digs for his holy symbol) Out of the way! Wraith: (floats up the staircase) Ooooooooo! Rillen: Whatever it is, it sounds surprised to see us. Ged: (steps forth, brandishing the holy symbol) Go away! Return to hell, formless spawn of the nether regions! Wraith: (disappears) Ged: Boccob! My turning powers are greater than ever! Mongo: Yep. Good stuff there. Belphanior: Let's check this place out. They descended into the stairway, which led into a room about thirty feet in diameter and semicircular. A single exit led out, apparently, and the chamber was filled with rubble and strange debris. It seemed that the top of the stairway had actually been a roof, and had collapsed in recently. The stone and architecture here seemed quite unusual. Mongo: I've never seen stonework like this. Ged: What do you mean? Mongo: It seems, more than anything else, _old_. Rillen: There are a lot of shadows in here... Belphanior: Yeah. Hey, some of them are moving! Without warning, two more wraiths had appeared from the shadows and were approaching the party! next time: the lost city FTP SITE: tybalt.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) ******************************************************************** NOTES: Belphanior didn't know until later that he could have controlled the skeletons virtually forever with that potion. He vowed not to waste another such potion again. Where has the party gotten itself into now, you may ask? We'll just have to wait and see... The Braves just beat the Reds in the 9th inning; awesome game!! ******************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to persons or characters * either real or fictional is utterly coincidental. Copying and/or * distribution of these stories is permissible only under the one * condition that no part of them will be used or sold for profit. * In that case, I hope you enjoy them. ***** ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY (temporarily split up; this is the "sea" group): Belphanior, 6th/6th/7th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 7th/7th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 8th level dwarf fighter (CG) Rillen, 8th level human fighter (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 1/7/571 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: late afternoon Place: somewhere in the Suss Forest ------------------------------------------------------------------ LVII. The Five Hemispheres After following a skeleton that Belphanior took control of, the sea group had come upon an opening in the forest floor and descended, warding away some wraiths. Suddenly, as they reached the stone floor below, two more of the undead apparitions sailed toward them... Ged: Aaaa! (brandishes his holy symbol of Boccob and yells at the monsters) Begone, by Boccob! BEGONE! (charges the pair of wraiths) wraiths: ssss... (vanish) Mongo: Hey, good going there! Ged: Whew. Yea, my - err, Boccob's - holy power is waxing high today. Rillen: Let us hope it stays that way. Belphanior: Bah. Let the undead come. I am ready for them! They were in a circular chamber, almost totally overgrown with plants and vines. Rubble littered the place, and there was much dust about. A few puddles of stale black water were visible in the place too. The chamber was basically a hemisphere of thirty foot radius; the ceiling/roof was shattered at the top of the staircase the party used to enter. A single open corridor led away, to the northwest. There were three window-like openings spaced equally around the perimeter of the place, but these were blocked by rubble and vegetation. Mongo: Boy, this place is _old_. I've never seen architecture like it! Rillen: Me neither. Then again, I have never come down into a dungeon like this one, so I would not know. (bumps into a wall) Oof. I cannot see a thing here. Ged: We need light. Well, _you_ need light. Rillen: This is true. I cannot see in this place. Belphanior: (lights a lantern and hands it to the warrior) Here. Rillen: Thank you. Mongo: So, let's explore this place! Ged: Very well. (they move toward the exit) Mongo: Look here. (pokes at some debris with his boot) This used to be a wooden door, but now it's rotted into formless crap. Rillen: Hmm. Ged: Sort of like Peldor's sense of morality... Belphanior: (looking around) How long has this place been here? The corridor led into another room shaped just like the first. This new chamber had four exits, one of them leading to the entry room, thus: ____ ____ / \ N / \ | | W+E | | | | S | | \ ____ \ / ____ / \ \ / / \ \ / / \ \ ____ / / \ / | SECOND | | ROOM | / ____ \ / / \ \ / / \ \ ____ / / \ \ ____ / / \ \ | | | ENTRY | | | | ROOM | \ ____ / \ ____ / The second room was obviously the center of this complex of five chambers. There were more weeds and bits of rubble here, though not as many as in the last room. A small, spiraling staircase led downward from the center of this room; its steps were hewn from the very rock itself, but were cracked in many places, as if an earthquake had once rocked this place. Some of the steps were jutting at odd angles, and dusty chips of stone littered them all. The four exit corridors had rotted door remnants like the last room, too. The party elected to save the stairs for later, and instead check the other three chambers. They moved into the north- eastern one next. Mongo: (leading the way) Hey, this looks like a furniture graveyard! Rillen: Is there such a thing? Belphanior: Yeah. (pokes an old, rotted couch) We're here, all right. This room was full of rotted furniture, in a lesser state of decomposition than the doors to these five rooms. A couch was propped against a wall, but its cushions sagged deeply, and the legs were long since broken. Chairs were strewn about, mostly fallen over. A large, heavy table lay collapsed in the center of the room, its legs splayed out to all sides; it looked for all the world like a gigantic, squashed spider. Belphanior: (steps on one of the upright chairs' seats) Hmm? (the thing collapses with a brittle cracking sound) Hmm. Rillen: They were just not built to last, I guess. Mongo: (poking through the furniture) Nothing of use here. Ged: (examining a sagging wine rack on one wall) What's this? Look, some of these bottles are intact! Belphanior: (wanders over to the elf) Let me see that. (grabs a wine bottle) Hey, no fair. This one's been opened. Nothing left inside. Mongo: (finds a metal key-ring under a rotted couch cushion) Look at this, guys! Keys! (jangles the ring) Rillen: We will not be needing them, if all the doors are gone. Ged: Good job, there. (shakes a wine jug) Something's rattling inside this... Belphanior: Pull the stopper off, then. Ged: (uncorks the bottle) There. (aims the open end at the floor) I wonder what's inside here? Belphanior: Watch it! (grabs something shiny that fell out of the jug) Gems! Turn that right side up before more come out and are shattered on the floor. Ged: Right. Here, I'll pour them out onto this empty sack. Belphanior: (holding a finely-cut garnet up to the lantern) Nice. (quickly pockets the gem) Let's have a look at those, now. Rillen: (overturning couch cushions with his staff) What is this? Mongo: Huh? Rillen: I found a sack. Mongo: Oh. (moves over and grabs the large sack) Rillen: No- Mongo: (the rotted sack quickly rips apart, and dull coins flow out onto the ground) Oops. Rillen: Who is going to pick all of those up now? Mongo: (examining a coin) What the hell...? Ged: (he and Belphanior have collected all the gems from the jug) What's that? (they walk over) Coins? Mongo: Look at these. They're dated wrong. "2074?" Ged: Hmm. Nah, couldn't be. Rillen: What? What are you thinking about? Ged: Well, it's like this. Certain old empires had...different dating schemes than the one commonly used now. I don't really know the specifics, that's more up Peyote's alley. He's the ancient history expert. Supposedly. Mongo: I wonder how he's doing? Him, and the rest. Including that worthless rat Peldor. Belphanior: Who knows? So, these coins may be older than our current civilization, is that what you're saying? Ged: Yep. Belphanior: Cool. Let's collect them and get on our way. Soon, they were headed into the northwest chamber, which used to be some kind of bedroom, apparently. A rotting stench met the adventurers at the doorway to the room. Mongo: Phew! That smells worse than Krug's feet used to! Ged: Yea. (clutches his holy symbol) Rillen: (shining the lantern over their heads, illuminating the room) Nice bed. Belphanior: (enters the room with Mongo) Dresser, table, bed, chairs. Junk - but who can tell what treasures it might hide? (begins searching through the dresser) Ged: Good guess. (also searching the dresser) Look here! I found something. Mongo: Where? Ged: Umm...looks like the sock drawer. (holds up a small cube) Rillen: That is not a sock... Belphanior: Hang on to that, we'll examine it later. Ged: Right. Mongo: Hey, I bet that bed would collapse if I jumped on it. Rillen: Why would you want to jump on it? Mongo: Ah, never mind. (examines the chairs) Rillen: (examining the bed) Ged: (casts detect evil on himself) Boccob will show us any of the unholy in this forsaken place. Belphanior: Come again? Rillen: Yaa!! (leaps back from the bed) Ged: Evil! Mongo: What the fuck?!? Rillen: There is something under the bed! There! The ancient bed creaked, and then was lifted into the air, as a large, pale form stood upright. The rotted canopy of the bed tore as the bed was overturned and fell on its side behind the creature. The thing was big, even taller than Rillen, and its thin form was swathed in grimy white tatters of cloth. Glowing eyes riveted on the four companions, the thing shambled forward. Rillen: Yaa! It is the bandage man! (he, and the others, make their saves vs. fear) Mongo: (grabs his hammer) Geez, his eyes are as bright as yours, Belphanior. Belphanior: Really? Ged: Mummy! (advances, holy symbol raised high) By the power of Boccob, get back, foul fiend! Back! mummy: Errrr? (continues onward) Snr! Ggh! Ged: Uh-oh! (backs up) Get him, guys! Mongo: Check! (hurls his hammer at the thing, bashing its rotten head; worms and dirt are scattered everywhere) Yah! Rillen: (strides forth and hits the monster with his staff) mummy: Yrr! Rrrrar! Mongo: I don't think he felt that...(catches his hammer) Rillen: I guess I need to make a better point. (flips his staff's blade out, and points it at the mummy) Belphanior: (considering using his last potion of undead control) Gah! Do I, or not? Decisions, decisions... Ged: Bah! Boccob strikes in more ways than one! (fires a Burning Hands at the mummy) mummy: Rrrr? RARRR! (bursts into flame instantly) Mongo: Yeah! Ged: Boccob! Belphanior: (covering his eyes) Whew, that's hot! He sure burns well... Ged: It's still coming for us! Rillen: No, it is not. (runs forth and delivers the mummy a flying kick, sending its fiery form tumbling back - right into the old bed, which then promptly blazes up as well) Mongo: Cripes! The whole place'll be up in flames soon! Let's get the hell out of here! Ged: Good plan! (they retreat, as other things start to catch on fire) Just outside the chamber, in the corridor, they paused, and looked back, but foul smoke rolled their way, and they opted to keep going. Ged cast a spell and created a large puddle of water in a convenient depression in the floor outside the flaming room. Somewhat content, he rejoined the others in the central chamber. Belphanior: Enough of this shit. (casts Detect Undead on himself) No more undead sneaking up on _me_! Ged: I guess not. Let's check the last room. (they enter the corridor leading to the southwestern chamber) The last of the five chambers appeared to have once been a kitchen and dining area. A large brick oven was built into one wall, and rotted cabinets decorated other walls. A large table stood in the center of the room, looking as if it might collapse at any minute, and eight chairs circled it, some of them fallen. Belphanior: I wonder what's in _here_? (grabs a cabinet door and pulls it open, but the door comes off in his hand) Rillen: Hmm. (peers inside some exposed cabinets) Nothing is in these but a lot of dead bugs. Belphanior: (searching other cabinets, finds nothing) Damn. Mongo: Nice oven. I've never seen one like it. (opens the oven, hammer raised) Yaaa! (leaps back, as something inside lunges at him) Shit! (slams the oven door) Help! Ged: (rushes over to the dwarf, who is now holding the oven door closed as whatever is inside slams against it from within) I'll get a spell ready! Just hold it for a few more moments! Mongo: Hey, it stopped. Belphanior: (approaches, spell at the ready) Look! At the door's edges! A grayish, oozing mass was squirting through the door's edges on all sides. Mongo took one look at it and leaped back, even as the thing threatened to touch his hands. Mongo: Yah! It's coming out! (raises his hammer, ready to throw) The oven door opened slowly, and a pulsing mass of ooze flowed over the edge and onto the floor. Belphanior: I'll blast it! (launches a Flaming Sphere at the thing) Burn, blob, burn! ooze: (flows out of the burning sphere, apparently unaffected) Ged: Hah! It will take my mighty magics to prevail here! (casts a barrage of four magic missiles at the glob) ooze: (continues onward as the missiles hit it) Ged: Wha-? Belphanior: Heh heh. Rillen: (drops his staff and draws his longbow) Maybe weapons will hurt it. Belphanior: I'm not gonna charge at that thing! Fuck that! Rillen: Me neither. (fires an arrow at the ooze) ooze: (slows for a moment as the arrow hits it, but then moves forward again) Mongo: (thinking about the welfare of his hammer) Aaaa! What can stop the thing?!? (grabs a brick and hurls it at the ooze) ooze: (absorbs the brick) Rillen: (hits the ooze with another arrow) Stick around, slime. I have a lot more points to make. Belphanior: (sheaths his sword and hunts for his wand) Ged: (preparing another spell) Rillen: (fires a third arrow at the blob, hitting again) Mongo: (picks up a huge boulder, hefting it over his head with some difficulty) Hey, you! Globbo! (throws the rock onto the thing, causing a splattering sound) Rillen: No good. It is flowing around the rock. Belphanior: (pointing his wand at the ooze) Let's see how it reacts to lightning. (blasts the monster) ooze: (melted into a gray smear as ozone fills the room) Rillen: (coughing) Electrifying. Mongo: Hey, it worked! Ged: Good job there. Now I don't have to cast another spell. Belphanior: Let's search the place and split. They found nothing of interest in the chamber, and moved back to the central room. After resting for a bit, the foursome made ready to descend the spiral stone staircase. next time: The party moves deeper into the lost city... FTP SITE: tybalt.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) ******************************************************************** NOTES: I wish I could spare more time to write these, but I have three design projects and a final paper to do in the next 2.5 weeks and am keeping busy. About the second week of September, I'll be out of classes for three weeks - and you all know what that means. Okay, maybe not. That means 3-4 episodes per week... ******************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to persons or characters * either real or fictional is utterly coincidental. Copying and/or * distribution of these stories is permissible only under the one * condition that no part of them will be used or sold for profit. * In that case, I hope you enjoy them. ***** ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY (temporarily split up; this is the "sea" group): Belphanior, 6th/6th/7th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 7th/7th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 8th level dwarf fighter (CG) Rillen, 8th level human fighter (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 1/7/571 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: early evening Place: a lost city buried beneath part of the Suss Forest ------------------------------------------------------------------ LVIII. Mongo Goes Berserk The "sea" party found some sort of dungeon beneath a region of the Suss Forest and began to explore it. After facing a few threats in a complex of five hemispherical chambers arranged in an "X" pattern, they prepared to descend the spiral staircase found in the central room... Rillen: Come on. Time to go down. Ged: Quit hurrying things, pal. Mongo: (hefts his hammer) He's right, though. It's time to get down there and check this place out! Belphanior: I'm ready. I've had my undead control potion and everything. Ged: Only _evil_ people try to control undead. Besides, my own spell for detection of evil will surely prove more useful than your own measly potions. Belphanior: Nyah, nyah. (making faces at the other elf) Ged: Why, you... Mongo: Bah. Enough bickering. (tromps down the stairs) Come on, Rillen. Rillen: (holds the lantern high) Right. (descends after the dwarf) The others followed shortly. The spiralling stairway led down about twenty feet, its worn stone steps thick with dust and cobwebs. The air in this new, lower section was mustier even than above, and the whole place reeked of age. There were webs to be brushed aside at every turn, though no one could see any spiders or other such denizens of the underworld. The stairway ended in a circular chamber, some thirty feet in diameter. There were four doors, spaced equidistantly around the perimeter of the room; they were of some wood, and quite thick, to all appearances. Unlike the other doors above, these seemed intact despite their age. The place was made of large stone blocks, the mortar between them crumbling in some places. The ceiling was about fifteen feet in height. Mongo: (moving over to the northern door) Wonder what's in here? Hey, it's locked! Rillen: Try those keys that you found. Mongo: Yeah! Good idea, I'm glad I thought of it. Ha ha. (tries some of the keys on the ring; one of them opens the door) Hmph. Belphanior: They open a lot better this way, eh? Mongo: Maybe. But my way's more fun. Ged: You mean kicking the door in. Mongo: Yeah, that. (still holding the door, which is now unlocked) Rillen: (holds the lantern up) Well? Open it. Mongo: Sure. (raises his hammer and pushes the portal ajar) Beyond the aged door was another, similarly sized and shaped room. It was full of barrels, boxes, and crates, but had no exits. Almost all of the various containers were rotted or caved in. Unidentifiable substances leaked from some, staining the floor in many places. Rillen: Looks like a storeroom. Mongo: Not anymore. Phew! Something's rotten in here. Belphanior: I don't detect any undead... Ged: I can't sense any evil, either, with my spell. Of course, most undead _are_ evil. Oh well. Let's check out the things, but carefully. Belphanior: (poking barrels with his sword) Rillen: (knocks in a crate's side with a touch of his staff) I hardly touched that box. These things are too old. Ged: (looking around) I detect no evil in here. Mongo: Hey! Look what I found! (holds up a small silvered box) Rillen: What is inside it? Mongo: Dunno. (opens the container) Ged: Hmm. Looks like stones to me. Belphanior: Gems? Mongo: No way. They're not of such quality. Rillen: Sling stones. Mongo: Huh? Rillen: They are sling stones. Used with a sling. Ged: What, do you have a sling? Rillen: No. But I can get one later. Mongo: We'll hang onto these. (stuffs the box in his pack) Belphanior: (still searching the contents of this chamber) I can't find anything else here. No secret doors, even. Ged: Let's check out another room. (they head back into the stair room, then take the western door, using another key from the ring) Mongo: (entering the new room first) Whoa! Ged: What? What is it? Rillen: All I see are a lot of rocks. Belphanior: Looks like a cave-in. Ged: Yea. (casts Find Traps on himself) Hmm. Well, there are no traps here, in any case. Mongo: (peering at the mess of fallen stones, collapsed beams, and crumbling dust filling the room in front of the party) Well, folks, I don't think we can get through this. Rillen: Why not? Mongo: You wanna dig all this crap away? Even with a crew of ten good dwarves, it'd take us a whole day! Ged: We can always come back here. Let's take a look at one of the other exits from the main room. Belphanior: I agree. They went back to the stair room, again, and this time tried the southern door, using a third key from the ring found by Mongo earlier. This door led into yet another thirty-foot diameter chamber like all the others. Ged: Boy, whoever designed this place was surely one of the most creative architects who ever lived. Mongo: Aw, come on. It's not _that bad_. Simple, but not bad. Rillen: Many circles, in patterns... Belphanior: What? Rillen: Karma. Mongo: Bah, I say. (looks around, at this new room, which has no exits) What are these things? Ged: (examining one of four old, sagging wooden racks mounted on the walls) Weapon racks? Mongo: Hey, I knew that! Just testing you. Belphanior: Duh. Rillen: Someone left these weapons and armor here. I wonder if they are still good? (grabs an old, rusted sword) The racks contained various things. There was a single suit of plate mail armor, badly rusted, and another suit, of banded mail, which was human-sized and intact. Another rack held two rotten shields, one of them consisting only of metal bands. There were also two poor-quality swords, a morningstar with no head, a rusty axe, and several old helms. Mongo: (fingering the axe) Hey, there's a gem in the pommel here! Belphanior: Let me see that, I'll pry it out. Mongo: Don't you dare try and steal that... Belphanior: Relax. I just don't want to see you damage a fine gemstone while trying to pry it out with a sword. Mongo: Hmph! (hands the axe over to the elf) Rillen: (poking at the helms, knocks a hole in one) Hmm. Whoever left this here was better off without it. It is useless. Someone who wore this might have lost his head. Ged: (opening the plate mail) What's this? (grabs a tube from inside the suit) Look here! I found a scroll case! Belphanior: (has the gem extracted by now) Well, is there a scroll inside it? Ged: Ungh! (opens the case) I wish I was stronger. Now, what's this scroll? Rillen: (to Mongo) Maybe we should open such tubes from now on, if the elf is too weak. Mongo: Yeah. Ged: (reading the scroll) Damn! I can't read this scrawl. It's in some strange language. Belphanior: Let me see that. (snatches the scroll) Ged: Hey, be careful with that! After all, it's ancient! Belphanior: Hmm. I can't read it either. Oh well. For a minute there, I though you might have forgotten how to read or something. Ged: If only I had gotten the read languages spell, no old scripts would be immune to my magic... Mongo: (examining one of the swords) This so-called arsenal sucks! No wonder this crap was left here! Rillen: (looking toward the central chamber and the remaining unknown door) Time to go. Ged: (puts the scroll back in its case) We'll figure this thing out later. Belphanior: (searching for secret doors, in vain) Damn. Mongo: Let's split. (leads the party back into the main room and then to the eastern door, which opens with another of the keys) Rillen: (looking into yet another circular, thirty-foot room) This place is empty. Mongo: Yup. But, there's another door across the way, there. Belphanior: (checks the ceiling, just in case) Ged: That door looks sturdier than the others. Mongo: (trying the keys on this new door) There, it's open. Rillen: (raises his staff) It is pretty dark in there. Ged: (looks up intently) Hold! I sense beyond, the presence of...Evil! Belphanior: (concentrating, with his own spell) No undead, though. Whatever foes await must be alive... Mongo: Not for long! (raises his hammer) Light it up. Rillen: (shines the lantern beam into the area beyond the door, revealing a large cavern with several side tunnels) Look in there, it is holey. Suddenly, from one of the passages, there appeared a pair of huge, hulking creatures! These new arrivals were over eight feet in height, with large pincers on the sides of their maws. Each had a small pair of beady little eyes as well as a larger, multifaceted pair on the side of its head. These larger eyes regarded the four adventurers, somehow suggesting chaotic and insane things... Mongo: (fails his save against umber hulk confusion) Huh? Rillen: (saves) Who are these bug-eyed things? Their gaze is strange...(aims his staff's blade at the nearer of the two monsters and enters the room) Ged: (saves, easily) Umber hulks? Damn, I bet Alindyar would know. (prepares a spell) Belphanior: (saves, draws his sword) Let's see if I can cut one of those neat eyes off. It would make a good trophy. umber hulks: Grawwwr! (lumber toward the party) Mongo: (inside the cavern, wandering about aimlessly) Huh? Belphanior: (charges the beasts) Ged: (casts a Slow spell at the hulks) Take that, you bug- eyed freaks! first umber hulk: (saves, barely) Rrrrar! (charges Rillen) Rillen: Aaaa! Here it comes! (raises his staff to defend himself) second umber hulk: (fails the save, slowed down considerably) Rrrrrrrraarr... Ged: That got him! Belphanior: Cripes. He's even slower than he was before! (slashes the hulk, nicking its tough hide) Boy, this thing is dense. first umber hulk: (bats Rillen, knocking him aside roughly) Raargh! Rillen: Ooof! (hits a wall) Ungh... first umber hulk: (approaches Ged) Ged: Yipes! Mongo: (still wandering around aimlessly, headed for a side tunnel) Hammer, hammer... Belphanior: What's wrong with Mongo?!? We need him now, more than ever! Ged: Looks like he's confused. I think umber hulks have some kind of gaze weapon. Maybe he'll snap out of it soon. Belphanior: I sure hope so. Rillen: (rises to his feet) Ungh. Hey, ugly! first umber hulk: Rrrgh? (turns around clumsily) Rillen: (smacks the monster over the head with his staff) umber hulk: Raaargh! (lumbers about, swiping at the warrior) Ged: Another spell, by Boccob! (begins preparing to cast a second spell) second umber hulk: (finally gets a chance to attack, but its slowed claws are easily dodged by Belphanior) Rrrrrrrrrr... Ged: Rillen, you keep him busy while I zap him with my spell! Rillen: Right. Ged: Maybe you could hit his knees and knock him down. Try something, damn it! Rillen: (smashes the first hulk in the kneecap, hard) Topple, monster! umber hulk: Raargh! (gashes Rillen on the back with a clawed paw) Rillen: I do not think he fell for it. (gets nailed by the hulk's other swipe) Aaargh! Ged: No problem. (casts Blindness, and dashes forth to tap the umber hulk, succeeding easily since the thing is busy mauling Rillen) umber hulk: Rrrr? (fails to save against the spell) Raaaar! (flails about aimlessly, smashing parts of the cavern wall into powder) Raaaargh! Ged: Blinded, by Boccob! The magic of the Uncaring One conquers all this day! Mongo: (entering yet another state of confusion, he now seeks to attack the nearest creature - which happens at the moment to be the second, slowed umber hulk) Hammer? (moves toward the monster) Hammer! (swings his hammer moronically) second umber hulk: Rrrr? Ruh-roh. Mongo: Hammer! (bashes the monster in the belly with the magic mallet) umber hulk: Rrraaargh! Belphanior: All right! Mongo's back with us! (stabs the hulk in the thigh) umber hulk: RRAAARGH! Mongo: Hammer! Hammer! (leaps up about a foot or so and hits the beast again, in the shoulder) HAMMER! HAMMER! umber hulk: (severely wounded now) AARGH! (picks Mongo up and hurls him across the cavern, into a side tunnel) Mongo: (sailing through the air) Hammer! Hammer! (smacks to a halt against a wall) Urgh. Hammer! second umber hulk: (to the first, in umber hulk language) Let's get the hell out of here! first umber hulk: (in umber hulk language) Yeah! (runs into a wall) Ged: What in the hell are they jabbering about? Though everyone except Ged was seriously wounded, the pair of umber hulks turned to a stone wall and quickly tunneled their way out of this cavern - much to the surprise of the grey elf. Ged: Retreat?! They ran away! Rillen: (dragging himself to his feet) So? Ged: No evil creature runs from Boccob's might! (prepares a lightning bolt) Rillen: (looking down the tunnel) They are already out of our sight. Those things dig very fast. Ged: Get out of the way of the tunnel. Belphanior: (guzzles a potion of extra-healing) Ahh... Mongo: (still confused, stnads dumbly to one side) Hammer? Ged: Fry, foul ones! (sends his bolt down the long, winding tunnel that the umber hulks made) Hah! The crackling energy quickly bounced its way down the roughly hewn corridor and out of sight. About five seconds later, there was a loud <CRACK> from somewhere down the tunnel, and the smell of ozone slowly grew stronger. Rillen: I suppose they found that...shocking. Ged: I sure hope so. Mongo: (looking evilly at the nearest creature - Belphanior) Hammer... Belphanior: (backing up) Aw, no! Look out! He's at it again! Ged: (turns) Eh? Mongo: (stalking Belphanior) Hammer. Hammer! Ged: For crying out- (begins casting another spell) Rillen: (approaches the confused dwarf) Calm down, friend. Mongo: (eyeing the warrior) Hammer! (moves to bash Rillen) Ged: Hold! (casts Hold Person on Mongo) Stop right there! Mongo: (trembles for a moment...then saves) Hammer! (swats Rillen, catching him on the shoulder with the hammer) Rillen: Aaargh! (backs up a bit) Ged: Damn! That's one tough dwarf there! Belphanior: I have an idea. (uses his ring of spell storing to cast Friends on Mongo) Hey, there, Mongo. Nice Mongo. Why don't you just sit down and have a snack? Mongo: Hrm? (his confused mind ponders this possibility, then discards it as he saves) Hammer! (charges the elf) Belphanior: Yikes! (dodges aside as the dreaded hammer swings by his head) He's uncontrollable! We may have to kill him to stop him! Ged: Not on your life! (begins casting another spell) Belphanior: (sword drawn, he faces Mongo) Mongo: Hammer? (stands slack-jawed, doing nothing) Hammer... Ged: Don't bother him! Back off, I'm going to try to dispel the confusion! (casts a Dispel Magic) Belphanior: (leaps back) Dispel?! Wait, what about all his potions? Ged: Tough luck. Besides, it's too late anyway. Rillen: Dispel? Mongo: (eyes roll up, then focus on the party) What in the hells has been going on here? Ged: You're cured! Mongo: Cured? Hey, where are the monsters with the bug-eyes? Rillen: They went away and had a blast. Belphanior: (to himself more than anyone else) I guess we won't have to kill him now. Mongo: Ahhh! Hey, I'm cut up! I'm bleeding! Rillen: So you are. Ged: Hold on. (casts curative spells on Rillen and Mongo) Rillen: Thank you. Mongo: Ditto. Say, did those things have any loot? Belphanior: (making a cursory check of the main cave) Sure thing. (poking through a pile of rubble) Gold! Mongo: Gold? Gold! I knew I smelled treasure! (goes over to the pile and starts separating coins from stones) Ged: That looks like a lot of gold... They eventually got the gold loaded into sacks, which were set aside to be picked up later (they buried the loot with a layer of dust from the cavern floor). Among the coinage, they also found three metal potion bottles, a wax-sealed stone tube containing eleven well-crafted crossbow bolts, and a wand in a velvet covering. All these were confiscated by Mongo, who noticed that one of his own potions had somehow broken and was dripping all over his backpack... They set about exploring the tunnels, and soon found that most were short dead-ends or loops back into the main cavern. A single passage actually led somewhere, so they followed it for five minutes or so until it, too, ended. However, the ground at the terminus of the tunnel was broken, and overlooked some sort of dungeon corridor. This new place was much more evenly carved, having smooth walls obviously made by civilized beings (as opposed to umber hulks, who were not generally known for their architectural finesse). The party rested for a while in the large tunnel, having dinner and binding their wounds before continuing into the newly discovered region. Mongo: Somebody have a rope handy? Belphanior: Here. (they lower a rope about fifteen feet, to the dusty floor below) I'll climb down first. Everybody try and keep the noise down...(descends) Mongo: (whispering loudly) I'm next. (lowers himself down) Ged: (goes as well, followed by Rillen) Rillen: I need more oil for the lantern. Belphanior: (refuels his lantern with a flask) Sure thing. They were now in a long, rectangular chamber. The hole in its ceiling gaped above, and a pile of old rubble marked its opening into this room soem time past. A stout wooden door was visible at the western end of the room, and another exit along the north wall was caved-in, impassable due to a number of large rocks that flowed through it into the room. They opened the door, which was locked, using the keyring found far above, and cautiously entered a corridor. They were at its northern end, facing another door ahead, and the passage itself went southward and split two ways after a distance. Mongo: (tries the keys, finding one that works) I'll open it, you cover me in case something jumps out. Belphanior: Right. (raises his sword) Ged: By the way, guys, the door is free of traps. Mongo: (opens the door, revealing a forty-foot section of passage into a large, square room) Phew! Belphanior: No undead. Ged: No traps. And no evil. Rillen: Look there. The room is full of dead bodies. Indeed, it was. There were dozens of dry husks strewn about this chamber. They were quite old, most of them in several pieces, and appeared to have been smashed by some powerful force. Their limbs were splintered like dry wood, and some of their heads had been knocked in like brittle eggs. Besides this eerie carnage, there was nothing else in the room, despite the adventurers' searching of the stench-filled place. Ged: I'm about to vomit. Let's get out of here and leave the dead to their peace. Rillen: Pieces. Mongo: Yeah. Belphanior: (stubbornly searching the room) Wait! I found some kind of hatch in the floor here. Mongo: Hmm. Let me see. (they manage to pry it up, revealing a neatly carven tunnel going a short distance eastward) Belphanior: I'll lead. (dives in, before anyone else has a chance) Mongo: Damn it. (follows the elf) They found a smaller, secret room, which contained nothing but a chest. Ged detected no traps, and so they opened the container and found eight metal cones within. These were about a foot long and half a foot wide at the base, and were surprisingly lightweight. The cones were put in another sack before the party went back to the corpse room. Mongo: This place stinks. Let's go. (they exit, and turn south, looking down the passage) ___________________________&.__________ N | B __________\ \ A % # | W+E | | | C || |__________________| S |______| |____|| | _ __&.__ | |_____________________________ .. __| \______| ^~ |____| ______ ______ ______ | E _\____ D _______| | | | | | | _/ |______| \_ .. ____/ A entry room &. rubble B corpse room % C secret room D cave-in room/runes \ door E river room/cave/pool # broken ceiling Mongo: (leads the way ahead and rightward, into a room filled in part by a collapsed exit) Cave-in. This next room was squarish, with a short exit passage ending in a thick, wooden door. The room's northern wall appeared to have once been a stairway up, but it was now totally filled with rubble. There were some glowing runes on the southern wall, which immediately caught the party's interest. Rillen: Glowing letters. Ged: Runes? To hell with this. (casts Read Magic) Aha! My hunch was correct! Belphanior: Well, I don't want to waste my own spell, so why don't you fill the rest of us in? What do they say? Ged: Oh, right. They say, in magical script, "THE WAY IS CLOSED FOR NOW"... Mongo: Oh, how useful! Damned runic shitheads... Belphanior: (examining the wall, careful not to touch the runes) There are no secret panels or such here. It's just a wall. Rillen: We could try the door there. Mongo: Yeah! That's my vote! Try the door. They did, and it was unlocked and untrapped. The cavern beyond was fairly spacious, and had a river flowing through it, against one wall. This underground stream entered and exited through small holes at either end of the cave. A small pool had formed at one point along its course, its clear waters sparkling in the lantern's light. Belphanior: (using his Detect Undead, which is still in effect) No undead in the pool. Rillen: Why would they want to go swimming, anyway? Ged: (scanning the pool) The holy powers of Boccob see no evil - or traps - in it either. That thing at the bottom looks a lot like a skeleton, though. So, who wants to dive in and check it out? Belphanior: (stripping his weapons and items off) I'll go. Mongo: No, I'll go! I'm the strongest! Belphanior: You'd take ten minutes to get out of that plate mail. This won't take long. Ged: He's right. Just let him go and risk his neck. Mongo: (grumbling) Belphanior tested the icy water of the pool, then waded in and examined the sunken skeleton. All he could find was a silvery ring on one of its body fingers, and he had to give it up, since the party could see his every move. Soon, he had emerged, dried off, and re-dressed himself. The party went back to the eastern passage, which had not one, not two, but _three_ visible branches; they rested for a bit before advancing down it. next time: Juggernaut! FTP SITE: tybalt.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) ******************************************************************** NOTES: Okay, okay! Normal gemstones don't break if you drop them on the ground. This ominous fate seemed to threaten the gems that Ged and Belphanior found in the last episode. It was late, what can I say? ******************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to persons or characters * either real or fictional is utterly coincidental. Copying and/or * distribution of these stories is permissible only under the one * condition that no part of them will be used or sold for profit. * In that case, I hope you enjoy them. ***** ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY (temporarily split up; this is the "sea" group): Belphanior, 6th/6th/7th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 7th/7th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 8th level dwarf fighter (CG) Rillen, 8th level human fighter (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 1/7/571 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: evening Place: a lost city buried beneath part of the Suss Forest ------------------------------------------------------------------ LIX. Juggernaut! The party has explored a bit of this level, and now faces an eastward passage which branches into three others. party's |_____________________________ N current *> _______ ______ ______ | W+E location ______| | | | | | S | | | |______\ | ______| | | ____ | __| |__ | | | | | | |_______| | | __| |__ | | | | |________| Mongo: Well. this is simple enough. (takes the first of the passages to the right, the closest) Hey, how about that? A door! (touches the old, crusty wooden door, which collapses at the slight touch) Well, shit. It's rotten. Ged: (enters the room, scanning it) No evil, no traps. This room is dead. Belphanior: (remembers that his detect undead spell is still in effect) No, it's not. I detect no undead. (looking for secret exits) Must have been a storeroom. Rillen: To store air in, maybe. (they leave, and continue southward, taking the next side passage) Belphanior: (looking into a small open room ahead) It's a green room. Mongo: No kidding... Ged: Yah! Watch it, there! That's green slime on the walls! Rillen: Slime? Belphanior: (backs off) Yeah, so it is. I say we retreat and blast the whole room from afar. Ged: Whatever. Mongo: We sure can't walk around in _there_. It's totally coated, walls, floor, and ceiling. They backed up, but decided not to waste a spell - unless the slime followed them, or something unusual like that. There was one more room to the south of this passage, which had some junk littering the floor - a broken arrow, a dagger hilt, a cracked and empty flask, and a rusty helm with a lethal-looking dent in it. None of this junk seemed worth salvaging, so the foursome returned to the main passage, and proceeded down the next tunnel. | PREVIOUSLY |_____________________________ N EXPLORED ________ ______ ______ | W+E AREAS _| ______| | |d |__ | | S | a | | __| \__| |______\ | |__\ |__ ______| | __| \__| a = empty storeroom | ____ | |__\ |__ b = green slime room __| |__ | | __| \__| c = junk room | b | | | |__\ |_ d = party's current location |_______| | | | | (headed southward) __| |__ |____| | | | c | |________| Mongo: A new door. All right! (kicks open a door to his left, revealing a small, cubical crypt beyond) Phew! Something's rotten in here. Belphanior: Undead! There are undead within! Ged: Aha! I knew it! rotting corpse: AAAUUURRRR! (shambles toward the party) Rillen: I guess we did not catch _him_ sleeping... Ged: (brandishing his holy symbol of Boccob) Back, scum! zombie: Aur?! (disintegrates into a pile of dust) Ged: Ha! That showed him! Rillen: Another one bites the dust. Mongo: Good going, Ged. (peeps into the room) He's got some kind of coffin-thing. Belphanior: (examining an old wooden box) Nothing here. No hidden loot, nothing. Damn! (kicks the coffin, and it falls into rotten pieces) Mongo: Let's check the next room. Ged: Try the handle first this time. Maybe it's unlocked. Mongo: Hrmph. (opens the next door, revealing another, identical crypt) Hey! There's another thing in here! (bashes a rotting fiend who leaps upon him) Help! Ged: (sticks his holy symbol right in the thing's face) Begone, foul one! ghoul: (recoils, and flees) Belphanior: (noting that he can detect the undead with his spell even as it runs by him) Undead? (slashes the ghoul with his sword, chopping a leg off and sending the thing to the floor) Mongo: Right on! Don't let it get away! (hurls his hammer, striking the monster in the back of the head and splattering Belphanior with rotting grey matter) Belphanior: Thanks. Mongo: At least he - it - won't get away and attack us later. We don't want that to happen...(catches his hammer) Ged: Bah. Boccob's raw power proved too much for the fiend. His doom was imminent. Belphanior: (wiping gore from his cloak) Ugh. Perhaps I shall someday invent an anti-undead-guts spell. Rillen: (to Belphanior) Do you detect undead _now_? Belphanior: Very funny. Mongo: (searching the small room) Nothing. Again. I guess these guys weren't too important or rich when they were alive. Ged: (enthused by his undead-turning prowess today) Let's get on with it, and search the other rooms! Mongo: (opens the next room - there are six doors, total) Belphanior: (concentrating, notices that he can detect the undead beyond _through_ the door) Uh- scrawny humanoid: (shuffles toward the party, hissing) Ssss! Belphanior: Undead! Rillen: Why did you not tell us? (raises his staff) Ged: Out of the way! (faces the thing, glowing holy symbol held before him) Back to hell, red-eyed undead! wight: (flees into a corner) Mongo: We need to kill that thing! Belphanior: (dashes over and backstabs the wight, wounding it seriously) Ged: No, you fool! The turning is undone once we bother it! Now it will attack again! Mongo: No it won't. (fires his hammer, slaying the creature) Ged: Oh. Belphanior: (searching) No loot. Ged: That's okay. Strictly speaking, we're not graverobbers. Rillen: Hmm. Belphanior: We're not? Ged: Of course not. Belphanior: Oh. Well, then, I will think of any treasure gained as...tax. Ged: Whatever turns you on. Let's get into the rest of these rooms. Mongo: (moving to the fourth of the six doors) Belphanior: Wait. I detect undead beyond. Mongo: Snort! (kicks the door down, revealing a dark, shadowy form poised to strike) Aaaah! (quickly hurls his hammer at the creature, but misses!) Huh? Rillen: You missed. Belphanior: (sword raised) You missed. Ged: Boccob! (raises his holy symbol) Begone! Flee, vile one! wraith: (hesitates - then flits to a corner) Ged: Whew! These undead are getting more powerful. Belphanior: Let's take no chances with this one. (he, and Mongo, and Rillen all charge the cowering wraith simultaneously, and manage to dispatch it quickly) wraith: (evaporates) Rillen: What a gas. Mongo: Bah. These things are no challenge. Ged: Oh really? Try fighting without Boccob's power to help you, then. Mongo: You're on! Let's check the next room. (they do, this time using Rillen to open the door and then back away, allowing Ged a prime opportunity for undead turning; Mongo holds his hammer at the ready next, for backup, and Belphanior stands opposite, for backstabbing purposes should anything charge Mongo) Rillen: Ready? (opens the next door) semi-material man: Die! (floats toward the party) Ged: Away! Away! (waves his holy symbol wildly) spectre: Hahahahah! Ged: Yie! (leaps back) Mongo: Move it! I'll handle this joker! (throws his hammer at the apparition, wounding it) spectre: Argh! (pounces upon Mongo) Mongo: AAAAAAAAARGH! spectre: Ha ha. Your life force is mine, dwarf! Belphanior: Holy shit! It's got Mongo! (stabs the thing in the back, as it is occupied with Mongo) Die, motherfucker! spectre: Argh! (wheels about) You are next, elf! Mongo: (quivering) Cold...so cold... Rillen: (bashes the fiend with his staff) spectre: (injured, wondering where the party got all these magic weapons) Ged: (looking through his backpack) Belphanior: (backing away from the spectre) Stay the hell away from me, you transparent son of a bitch! Rillen: (hits the thing again) You heard him. Ged: Aha! (uncorks a vial of holy water and splashes it on the monster) spectre: Aaaaaa! (writhes in pain) Belphanior: (sensing an opening, slashes the spectre again) spectre: Damn you...(dies, and vanishes) Rillen: He did not stick around for long. Mongo: Uhhh...(rises to his feet) I feel weak... Ged: By Boccob! I'll bet that thing drained some of your life force! Belphanior: (winces) Rillen: How unpleasant. Mongo: I'll be okay. I can make it. (sips some of his healing potion jug) Ged: I have no spells to help you. We'll have to see what can be done when we reach Greyhawk. Mongo: I'm fine, really. Ged: Okay, then. Let's finish this wing, and take a break. Rillen: (stands ready by the sixth door) Belphanior: I sense undead in here, too. Ged: And evil... Rillen: (opens the door) Beyond was another dark room, with a wooden coffin resting on a raised stone slab in the center of the chamber. The thing was in a remarkable state of preservation, considering the other wooden furniture found already in this place. Suddenly, a shadowy form strode forth, and the hairs on the back of the adventurers' necks stood on end. This new adversary was draped in black cloaks, and mists coiled and recoiled at his feet. Short, black hair framed the pale, chalky face, the long, thin nose, the burning red eyes, the sharp, white teeth... Rillen: Who is this sucker? Belphanior: (mesmerized) vampire: (to Belphanior) Put down that sword, elf. Join me in everlasting death. Belphanior: Y...uh...um...(drops his weapon) Ged: (leaps forth, and sticks his holy symbol right in the evil one's face) Back, foul creature of the dark! Leave that poor fool alone! vampire: (against the odds, he succumbs, and is driven back by the power of Boccob) Hssssssss! Mongo: Wow. vampire: We will meet again, priest...(turns into gas and seeps through one of many tiny cracks in here) Ged: (staring at his holy symbol) Boccob... Belphanior: (breaks out of his trance, and looks around) Huh?!? Rillen: (slaps the elf on the back) That thing almost had you, there. Belphanior: Vampire? Evil? Charm? (picks up his sword) Mongo: (looking around) No treasure here. Ged: Let's have a look in that area to the south. Belphanior: (pondering recent events) That vampire had better not show his face again. Or I'll cut it off. The party searched the small area at the end of the passage of crypts, but it was devoid of exits and traps. They went back up to the "main" passage, and took the third branch... | * = Current location of party PREVIOUSLY |_____________________________ N EXPLORED ________ ______ ______ | W+E AREAS _| ______| | | |__ | *|______ S | | | __| \__| | __ | |______\ | |__\ |__ | |__+ | ______| | __| \__| | ______| | ____ | |__\ |__ | | __| |__ | | __| \__| | |______ | | | | |__\ |_ | __ | |_______| | | | | | |__+ | __| |__ |____| | ______| | | __________| |__ | | | \ \ | |________|__|.___|____| | |O | | | |O______| | | _________| | ____ | | |+ | + = wall pegs (3) | golem room |__| | \ = door |.__________________\ | . = door | $____| | | $ = secret door | | |____| O = vat | | | | | | |______| Mongo: This way. (he takes the first left, into a vaguely "O" shaped area) Hmm. No one's here. Belphanior: What's that on the wall, there? On a peg, against the section of wall in the middle of the "O" shaped area, was a foot-long dull metal rod, tipped by a silvery sphere of 4" diameter. Ged detected no traps or evil, so the item was examined. Ged: I have no idea what this thing might be. Rillen: Maybe it is magic. Mongo: Wouldn't even make a good mace. Belphanior: Let's hang on to it, and identify it later. They moved on, to another "O" shaped area to the immediate south of the first. Incredibly, there was _another_ rod on a wall peg there, this one with a black pyramidal head. It, too, was taken by the party (Mongo wondered if one might wield both of the things at the same time well, or not). The large, open area to the south was entered next, and the party moved through a door to their right and into an empty twenty-foot square room. Mongo: Bah. Hey, there's another door ahead! (opens this one as well) Belphanior: Hmm. Tapestries. Ged: Quite rotten, too. Rillen, cover that door. Rillen: With what? (pulls a tapestry from the wall, and it rips rather easily) This is moldy. (spies something) Look! Ged: What? Rillen: (reaches into a wall niche and grabs a scroll) Someone left this here for us. Ged: Careful, that may be cursed or something. Belphanior: (searching fruitlessly behind the other tapestry) Fuck it all! Mongo: What's that thing say? Ged: I can't read it. But look here, there is some kind of diagram. It shows a square, a circle, and a triangle, in that order. Maybe this great knowledge will help us somehow. Mongo: No doubt. (opens the next door) Hey, there's skeletons in here! Belphanior: They are inanimate. Mongo: Huh? Ged: They're not moving. Dead. Rillen: That is a relief. Belphanior: (headed for a pair of 4' high vats to one side of the otherwise empty chamber) Wonder what's in these? Mongo: (wanders around the room) No exits, nothing. Rillen: (looking down into a vat) This thing is empty, too. Belphanior: (sniffing the water in the other vat) Phew! Suddenly, the brackish water inside the vat by the elf stirred, bubbling and hissing. A huge, watery form rose from the stone container, dripping all over the floor. Massive, it easily hit the ceiling, and it was quite broad as well, seeming to fill the entire side of the room as it reared up. Mongo: Holy shit! (raises his hammer) What in the hells is THAT?!? Ged: (backing away) Maybe an elemental, I'm not sure. Belphanior: (pulls out his magical bowl and addresses the water- thing) Stop, you! water-thing: (wavers above the vat) Rillen: I think it is listening to you. Ged: It's not attacking us... Belphanior: Follow us! Ally yourself with us! water-thing: (subsides into the vat) Belphanior: Hmm. I guess I can't just control any random water creature that I find. Rillen: It seems not. Ged: Let's explore some other part of this complex. That thing was pretty good-sized, and I doubt that we want to waste our spells on it... Belphanior: Agreed. (they leave, having found nothing of any interest in here) The party entered the large, open area once more, and moved through it. It was shaped like a backwards "L" of massive dimensions. Suddenly as the party rounded the corner of the chamber, there was a trembling in the floor, and a large form lumbered toward them. It was some twelve feet in height (the ceiling here was twenty feet high), and appeared to be made of dull stone, in the shape of a powerfully-muscled human of oversized proportions. Mongo: Uh-oh. (raises his hammer) Stop or I'll whack you! golem: (lumbers onward) Rillen: I do not think he is scared of you. Belphanior: Or any of us. Split up! That way, he can't fight more than one of us at a time. Ged: Good idea! (running in a different direction) He may be big, but he's slow too! Mongo: Bah. I will hold my ground. (hurls his hammer at the construct) golem: <CLANG> (hit in the chest by the magical weapon, it is barely slowed at all) Mongo: Uhh... Belphanior: Oh shit. That sounded metallic. iron golem: (swats Mongo, sending him back 30' into a wall) Mongo: Aaaaaa....<SLAM> Urgh...(dazed) iron golem: (turns toward Ged) Ged: Boccob, Boccob...(readies a spell quickly) Belphanior: (likewise) Rillen: (furthest from the golem, has his bow strung) Have some arrows, metal man. (fires a pair of arrows at the golem from afar) iron golem: (ignores the missiles as they bounce off of him) Mongo: (weakly catches his hammer as he lies dazed on the ground) Urgh... Mongo: (drinks a potion of fire giant strength) gulp gulp... Ged: (facing the onrushing golem, shrouds the golem with a web) Hah! Let's see you get through _that_! Belphanior: (ready with his spell) iron golem: (rips through the webs with ease, dragging them along as he charges Ged) Ged: Whoa! (dodges aside as the golem smashes the floor where he stood) That was close! Belphanior: (fires Melf's Minute Meteors at the golem) I'll get him! iron golem: (ignores the missiles as they explode upon him) Belphanior: Oh shit! Nothing will stop this guy! Rillen: (fires more arrows, which bounce off again) Hmm. (puts his bow away) Mongo: ARRR! (leaps up, and fires off his hammer at the golem) I'm baaaack! iron golem: <CLANG> (hit by the weapon, actually staggered) Ged: Mongo! Mongo: (catches his hammer) Ha! iron golem: (faces the dwarf again) Mongo: Come on, you sonofabitch! Come ON! I'm pumped up and ready for you now! iron golem: (charges Mongo) Rillen: (approaches Ged, staff raised) Perhaps we should back away and find someplace to hide. Ged: Not yet, by Boccob! (casting a spell) Belphanior: (uses his wand to fire a lightning bolt at the golem) golem: <CRACK> (slows down considerably) Belphanior: That got to him! Ged: (notes that Mongo is still a good distance away from the creature; sends some Evard's Black Tentacles at the golem) iron golem: (snared by ten of the rubbery, magical things) Ged: Boccob! Rillen: I would say that he is all tied up. Mongo: (hurls his hammer again, denting the golem's head) Yah! Belphanior: Just goes to show you what giant strength will do for you... Mongo: Damn straight! iron golem: (snapping the tentacles one by one) Ged: By the gods...can _nothing_ stop it?!? Mongo: (notes that the golem is still slowed down, and moves in for melee) Hey! Hey, you! I'm not done with you yet! (runs up and bashes the golem, knocking it's head off) Huh? iron golem: (falls down) Belphanior: (watches the head roll across the floor) Fore! Ged: I'm glad Mongo came with our group, instead of those other idiots. Mongo: (watches the golem's body cease to move, as the head hits a wall across the big room) Yeah! Rillen: Now there he went and lost his- Belphanior: (turns to Rillen) Stop. Rillen: Eh? Belphanior: Your wit overwhelms me. I can't take any more. Rillen: Whatever you say. Mongo: (steps on the golem shell and raises his hammer) Mongo! Let's hear it for Mongo the triumphant! Ged: Say, you look pretty bruised up there. How about some healing magic for Mongo the mighty? Mongo: I won't complain. Ged: (heals Mongo) There you go. Mongo: Thanks. The golem had no possessions at all, and the party went through the western door, into a good-sized room. This chamber was full of rotted robes on wall pegs - and a third rod, too, this one with a red crystal, cubical tip. The rod was put with the others in a sack, and the foursome moved to the other exit, a door in the southwestern wall. The door was rotted, and the room beyond had three collapsed couches and a pair of tables with chairs. All this furniture was old and rotten. A chest was present in one corner; since Ged's spell had expired, Belphanior checked the container for traps, and finding none, opened it. Inside were four 6" diameter metal spheres, tucked among some more rotted robes. Ged searched for and found a secret door, and the party descended the stairs behind it. They were in an octagonal chamber with a door at the far end... __ __ ____/ \ / \ stairs -> ____ # | \ __ / \ __ / N W+E # = door S Mongo: Phew! What's that smell? Belphanior: It's a smell I know well...ozone. Rillen: Look at these carvings. Ged: Boccob... The room had twelve figures carved into the walls, in explicit detail. The depictions were of almost...divine quality. - large, muscled warrior in loincloth - old, wizened man with scythe - skeletal woman with glowing hands - evil-looking man - bearded man with rock in hand - savage-looking, barbaric man - jovial, winking man - man sitting on a chair of clouds - foppish dandy - enraged man with fiery hair - sly, shifty-eyed man - man underwater, surrounded by fish Mongo: What great workmanship! Belphanior: They must be great heroes. Ged: Or gods. Rillen: That one with the shifty eyes looks like Peldor. Mongo: (examining the carvings) Hmm. Belphanior: (checking the door to the east for traps) Ged: (concentrating) By Boccob! I have it! Rillen: What are you talking about? Ged: Suel! This whole place, it's a Sueloise city! Mongo: Huh? The Suel people are long gone. What in the hells are you saying? Ged: (excitedly) No, no! These are Sueloise gods! There are twelve major dieties in the Suel pantheon! This city...See, long, LONG ago, there was a great war between the Sueloise people and the Baklunish people. They basically obliterated each other's empires with terrible magic. Anyway, the Suel people had a few cities scattered about the world. One such lost city is rumored to be here, in the Suss Forest. That's what this place is - a massive, lost, sunken city from many centuries past! And we've found it! Or part of it. This whole place that we've explored is probably just a single building within a whole city. Just _one building_! Belphanior: Makes sense. Ged: These scrolls that we found - they're probably written in ancient Sueloise. That's why none of us know the script. And...the Sueloise had mighty magicks, spells beyond the realm of modern understanding. We might find some in here! Belphanior: (eyes alight) Heh. Good. Mongo: Neat story. (examining the carving of the large, muscled warrior) Rillen: Sooloyse. Got it. Ged: Let's get on with our search, then. Mongo: (touches the carving) AAA! (jolted, he flies back a few feet) Belphanior: What?!? (draws his sword) Mongo: (eyes alight) KORD! Ged: That's one of their gods! Mongo: (dazed) Huh? What's going on? Rillen: (helps the dwarf to his feet) It will be all right. Mongo: (not sure, but feels like his lost energy levels have returned) Whoa. Ged: Let's get out of here. Who knows what these others will do if touched? Belphanior: The door is okay, no traps. (they move through it) They entered a thirty-foot diameter circular room, with a raised stone dais in the center. Around this base were twelve depressions, spaced equidistantly; four were hemispherical, while eight were tapering pointed holes. Seizing upon the moment, Ged and Belphanior collected the four metal spheres from the recent room, as well as the eight cones from the earlier room, and the party commenced putting these in the appropriate slots. Even Mongo seemed to understand what was going on. Upon the completion of this task, the dais shook with a slight vibration, and then sunk until it was level with the rest of the floor. A foot-thick pedestal rose from the room's center, to a height of three feet. Ged: Aha! It has three depressions - one cubical, one spherical, and one pyramidial! Belphanior: Put those rods we found into those slots! Mongo: (hands the items over) Here you go. Ged: (he and Belphanior insert the cubical rod first, then the spherical rod, and the pyramidial one last) There. Belphanior: Let's hope something interesting happens. The three rod hafts sunk down into the pedestal, and then the pedestal itself sunk. A deep, disembodied voice spoke, saying "THE WAY IS OPEN". Ged heard this message in grey elven, Mongo heard it in dwarven, and so forth. Mongo: Way? What way? Rillen: (looking around, staff raised defensively) Where did that voice come from? Ged: Wha...? Belphanior: Where was the "way" not open before? Ged: Back in that rubble-filled room, with the magical runes on the wall! Those runes said that the way was closed for now... Rillen: But "now" was then, and now is now! Mongo: (cleaning crud from his hammer) Huh? Belphanior: Let's get back there and check it out! They rushed back to the mentioned room, and sure enough, there was an opening where a wall had been. A long, straight staircase, ten feet in width, led downward - but stopped while still thirty feet above the floor below. The stone steps just ended in thin air! At this point, Rillen's lantern ran out of fuel again. As Belphanior sought more oil from his supplies, Ged decided to cast a continual light spell, and did so on an empty flask. Rillen wedged the flask onto the end of his staff, and then Belphanior found some rope and tied it to a large boulder from the nearby rubble. The party rested, ate, and then went down the rope, one by one. They touched bottom about sixty feet below, or thirty feet from the point where the stairs ended. This new chamber was gargantuan, well over two hundred feet wide on either side; it was roughly square in shape. The ceiling was about forty feet high (the stairs went up into it). A narrow stone arch was barely visible on the far side of the chamber, with a small area open behind it. A large mass of stone was also visible, next to the archway; it appeared to be some kind of siege weapon or ram. The floor here was soft, like rock that had decayed over many centuries into pebble-filled clay. Rillen: Our voices are booming in here... Mongo: Old ground, old rocks, guys. (holds up some clay) Now _this_ is a piece of history. Belphanior: If you say so. (they move out into the center of the room) Ged: Hey! What's that big hunk of stone doing? (points to the ram-thing in the distance) Oddly enough, the lump of stone now seemed more defined, some kind of siege engine perhaps. It was about twenty feet wide, thirty feet long, and ten feet high, with three rollers on its bottom - one in front, one in back, and one in the middle. The rollers were of stone as well, with prominent spikes scattered about their surfaces. A series of rams was arrayed along the thing's sides, with three on either side. These rams featured the heads of goats, bulls, and such animals. Unusually, there seemed to be no place for a crew to man the thing... Mongo: (as they draw closer; they are now about a hundred and fifty feet from the arch) Hey, is it just me, or is that thing _moving_? Belphanior: (raises his sword) It's not just you! It IS moving! Mongo: I thought so! Ged: I think it's rolling this way...(begins spellcasting) Rillen: ! The massive engine was trailing dust and pebbles as it picked up speed, heading right for the party. Still a hundred feet distant, it looked like it was moving at a fairly rapid clip. Small stones and large were ground flat beneath its dreadful rollers, and several inches of the ground were sunken behind it, proof of its massive bulk. Belphanior: Oh shit! It's headed right for us! It wants to run over us! Mongo: What do you mean, "it"?!? Belphanior: Do you see a crew manning it?!?! Run!! Ged: I'll blast it! (casts a fireball spell) There's plenty of room in here! The huge ball of fire exploded right on the stone construct, sending tongues of flame in all directions. The inferno rose up, and even from this far away, the adventurers could feel the heat of Ged's mighty spell. Then, a massive form emerged from the flames. The rollers were spraying fire behind them, and the entire stony form was ablaze - but it kept rolling, right for the party, like a herald of imminent doom. Ged: By Boccob...! Belphanior: Come ON! RUN! Rillen: (already sprinting away) You don't have to tell me twice. Belphanior: RUN! (headed in the opposite direction of Rillen) Ged: (dashes in yet another direction, as does Mongo) Unfortunately, one of the four was slower, much slower, than his companions. Mongo, naturally short-limbed anyway, couldn't move very fast with all his armor on. The huge stone juggernaut, a mindless, millenia-old killing machine, sensed an easy kill and veered its course slightly to track the dwarf. Mongo: Aaaaaa! I can't run fast enough! Ged: Come on, Mongo! Run! Rillen: Run faster! Mongo: (turns around, and sees the juggernaut right behind him and gaining) Aaaaa! Belphanior: It's about to- Mongo: (being run over) Oh shi-! (disappears beneath the wide stone rollers) Rillen: That thing is on a roll! Juggernaut: (changes course, headed for Rillen, now the nearest intruder in the area) next time: The conclusion of the Sea party's exploits; Greyhawk! FTP SITE: tybalt.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) ******************************************************************** NOTES: Finals are effectively over! Since I've been too busy to post for quite some time, I made an extra-sized episode here... ******************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to persons or characters * either real or fictional is utterly coincidental. Copying and/or * distribution of these stories is permissible only under the one * condition that no part of them will be used or sold for profit. * In that case, I hope you enjoy them. ***** ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY (temporarily split up; this is the "sea" group): Belphanior, 6th/6th/7th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 7th/7th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 8th level dwarf fighter (CG) Rillen, 8th level human fighter (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 1/7/571 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: evening Place: a lost city buried beneath part of the Suss Forest ------------------------------------------------------------------ LX. Greyhawk The party is in a huge room, facing an ancient stone juggernaut which just ran over Mongo... Rillen: That thing is on a roll! Juggernaut: (changes course, headed for Rillen, now the nearest intruder in the area) Rillen: Yie! (turns and dashes for a wall) Juggernaut: (pursues, picking up speed once again) Belphanior: (pointing his wand at the construct, which is about a hundred feet distant) I'll blast it! Ged: No! You might hit Rillen! (begins spellcasting) Belphanior: Damn. Rillen: (backed against a wall by the thing) Uh-oh. Juggernaut: (bears down on the warrior) There was a tremendous CRACK! as the juggernaut slammed into the wall of the room. Against all odds, Rillen leaped out of harm's way, running "up" the wall and then executing a reverse flip to land on top of his attacker as it hit the wall. About five feet of wall was now crushed into powder, and the juggernaut backed up slowly, ripping stones loose as it pulled free, Rillen dancing atop it like some insane puppet. Rillen: (whacking the thing with his staff, chips away small bits of stone) Take that! And that! Juggernaut: (lurches forward and backward, trying to dislodge the annoying human) Rillen: You will not be rid of me that easily. (hits it again) Ged: This should help. (fires four magic missiles across the vast room) Juggernaut: (ignores the missiles, as they plow small furrows in its armored shell) Ged: Hmph. Well, that was my last mage spell. I hope you have better luck. Belphanior: (sticks his wand through his belt and walks slowly toward the battle, preparing a spell) Me too. Ged: (wondering if he can reach Mongo's location to view the remains) Hmm. Rillen: (hits the juggernaut again) Think of this as a pat on the back. Juggernaut: (heads for the nearby wall) Rillen: Eh? (looks up) Aaa! Juggernaut: (slams into the wall, hard) Rillen: (hits the wall and bounces off to one side) Juggernaut: (tears out of the wall, leaving another sizable hole) Belphanior: (running now) You! Juggernaut: (ignoring the onrushing elf) Belphanior: Don't ignore _me_, you fucker! (casts a Grease spell on the ground in front of the thing, which is moving toward the prone Rillen now, gaining momentum) Juggernaut: (hits the slippery area and skids sideways) Rillen: Ugh. (sits up) Aaa! Ged: (heads toward the last known location of Mongo, griping something about not having enough spells) Juggernaut: (still sliding a bit, now facing a random direction) Rillen: Slick. Belphanior: (wand in hand again) Hah! Watch this. Hey, you! (points the wand at the juggernaut and fires a lightning bolt right at it) Juggernaut: <CRACK> (hit by the energy, slides away into a distant wall) Rillen: (standing up) What do we do now? Belphanior: (looking around) Run! Run for the archway! (they do) Ged: (finds Mongo, who has been trampled right down into the soft, muddy clay floor of this chamber) Holy Boccob! (grabs the dwarf and tries to carry him away) Oof. Rillen: (arriving) Let me help you with him. (they manage to drag Mongo's body away slowly) Belphanior: (looking back at the juggernaut) Shit. Juggernaut: (moving toward the party again) Belphanior: (fires another bolt at the thing) Stop, damn you! Juggernaut: <CRACK> (hit, veers a slight bit, but regains its control momentarily) Ged: (he and Rillen have reached the archway, and pull Mongo in after them) Come on, run! Belphanior: (high-tailing it into the archway just fifty feet ahead of the huge stone juggernaut) Move back! It may try to break through the arch! Sure enough, it did, ramming the arch four times and knocking it to bits. The opening was still only ten feet wide, though, and the thing finally gave up, and parked itself right outside the arch's rubble. Belphanior: Whew! Rillen: (watching the juggernaut) I do not think he is going to go away anytime soon. Ged: Who cares? We're safe, for now. (examines Mongo) Ged: What's back here, in this passage, anyway? Belphanior: Looks like some kind of side tunnel. I see an open area up ahead. Ged: (casts several curative spells on Mongo) I think he'll live! Rillen: (looks amazed) How?!? Ged: Well, that muddy floor just gave way when he got rolled over. He sunk right in...he's unconscious, but that ring of his kept him alive. And my spells, of course. My priestly spells, that is. Belphanior: That's good. (they prop the dwarf against one side of the passage) Let's check this open area ahead. The short passage led about thirty feet, winding to the right, and ended in a small cavelike room. They quickly relocated to this place, and brought Mongo too, in case the juggernaut tried to ram through again. One could never be too sure, after all. The room contained a chest and a number of items piled loosely around it. There was a foot-thick nugget of solid gold, most prominent among the chamber's contents. Piles of platinum coins surrounded the chest; buried within them were a cloak, an old bronze horn, and a folded piece of black cloth. A long wooden staff was jutting up from the coins, too. Belphanior found two needle traps on the chest, but disarmed both within moments. Inside were a few items: a slender adamantine wand, a scroll tube, a small diamond cube, a silver helm, and a dull grey torus of some strange metal, mithril perhaps. A silken sack contained yet more: a pair of fine, but ancient bracers; an expensive-looking purse; and a set of two small figurines. The party rejoiced with glee at the finding of these great treasures. Then they realized that the juggernaut was still out there, waiting... They decided to rest here, since it seemed safe and peaceful as well as the only option at this time. Ged regained his mage spells, and Mongo returned to consciousness, though weak from his brush with death. Rillen was playing with the folded cloth when he found that it was actually the opening to some kind of large extradimensional hole. The warrior didn't understand what he had found until Belphanior started tossing coins down into the hole, where they hit bottom perhaps ten feet below. Better yet, the thing could be folded up and then carried away to another location, to then be unfolded and opened again, if desired. A portable hole! Quickly, all items were stashed inside the hole, and Mongo folded it up and put it in his pouch for safekeeping. After re-memorizing their spells, Ged and Belphanior spent many hours formulating plans to beat the juggernaut and/or escape. None seemed feasible, until Ged pointed out that he could use his Dig spell to bore a tunnel up through the treasure room's roof and into the forest above. With the help of several ropes, Rillen's steel-hard quarterstaff, and Ged's light shield (to keep dirt out of his face), the party managed to drill and excavate a vertical shaft leading out of the room they were trapped in. Some distance up, they broke through into the main dungeon, and Ged quickly secured the ropes for the others to use. The huge golden nugget was no problem, thanks to the portable hole. The group searched the complex another time for secret doors or unfound exits, but every viable exit seemed to have collapsed long ago. Belphanior: Let's leave. We need to get to civilized lands and have this loot appraised. Ged: Perhaps. Or perhaps I could appraise it myself, if we weren't in the middle of the wilderness. Remember, that "Identify" spell drains all my strength away. Mongo: Let's just get the hell out of here. I'll come back some other time and beat that thing. Sometime when I'm feeling better, that is. Rillen: I agree. Enough dead opponents and stone rollers for one place. We should move on. Ged: (looking around) Ahh. Someday, I shall return to this place, and find its other lost treasures. Mongo: I think we got enough stuff from here, as it is. (thinking about that big gold nugget) Ahh... And so, they departed the section of lost Sueloise city, for now anyway. Emerging into the Suss Forest, they covered the stairway down with some brush and dead tree limbs. Due to their time in the buried dungeon, they had forgotten that it was winter. The chilling winds and frozen forest quickly served to remind them, though, and Rillen had to put on more robes to avoid frostbite. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 1/8/571 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: afternoon Place: somewhere in the Suss Forest ------------------------------------------------------------------ The party found that their horses were all gone, much to their dismay. Rillen was especially upset at the loss of his magnificent black horse. They traveled northward on foot, much too weary for this kind of crap. A few encounters happened along the way, the most noteworthy being a band of eight ogres, who didn't last long. These humanoids had a few finely-crafted weapons, which were taken in case of magical properties. Four giant spiders also menaced the adventurers before they emerged from the Suss, but these, too, were beaten. Three days after escaping the lost ruins, they found that the forest thinned out. Walking next through plains, they were challenged by a band of gnolls, who were driven away after half their number were slain. The next day, they entered the city of Elredd, and stayed there for a day before moving northward, in the direction of Greyhawk. Yet another day later, they were able to purchase a large warship, from some merchant and woodsman who called himself "Lotus of Fax" and carried a bow that was strung at all times, with an arrow always at the ready. Rillen wondered aloud about the sanity of this man, but his ship was of stout make, so they took it. Since no slaves were available, a crew of twenty men was hired to man the oars. The party ventured out into the cold waters of the Woolly Bay, and five uneventful days later they entered the mouth of the Selintan River, which led eventually to their destination. To make a long story short, this area of the Selintan was populated by numerous traders and river people. Many sought to bargain with the adventurers, and the party gained some rare foods in return for a small portion of their loot. They ate like kings as they sailed northward along the bustling, busy river. Seven days later, a huge, sprawling city could be seen ahead - the Free City of Greyhawk! Rillen: (astonished) Wow. Belphanior: This is gonna be a _lot_ of fun... Mongo: Hey, let's tie the ship up at the docks and get into that city! (jumping up and down on deck with his impatience) Ged: No, no, no. They have to pull us into dock. This ship is too big to maneuver with oars. (orders the men to pull in the oars) The tugs will take care of docking us. Mongo: Oh. Well, bah. Soon, the ship was docked, and Ged paid the docking fees to keep it tied in one of the many docks. The group made their way into the city, registering as visitors at the gate they entered by. Greyhawk seemed much more carefully run than the other cities they had been to, that was for sure. After a few minutes of fruitless wandering, they found a fine-looking inn and prepared to settle down for a while. Much to their surprise, though, the proprietor refused to take their coins, informing them that they had to change them in for official city currency at the moneychanger's shop. Irritated, tired, and downright grumpy, Mongo dashed away to this place while the others waited (it was close to the inn they had chosen). Soon, the dwarf returned, and tossed a sizable pouch of gold at the innkeeper. The party secured a four-bedroom suite on the fourth floor, for a period of two weeks. They went to their rooms and retired early, planning to begin item division and identification on the morrow, followed by any training necessary. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 1/26/571 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: late morning Place: the free city of Greyhawk ------------------------------------------------------------------ They woke up late the next morning, and spread their loot out on a table for examination. By far the most valuable of the monetary treasures was the huge, foot-thick gold nugget. Mongo continually drooled over this prize, but the adventurers decided to keep it in the portable hole as a "party treasure" for the time being. The coinage and gems were split evenly. The scrolls written in ancient Sueloise were kept by Ged for later deciphering and perusal. As for the large pile of (possibly) magical items... Belphanior cast a Detect Magic spell on the lot, and the following things were determined to be magical. Straws decided the choosing order, and the items were divided as follows: (ITEM-CHOOSING ORDER : Mongo, Ged, Rillen, Belphanior; then repeat until done...) small wooden cube - Mongo 3rd box of sling stones - Rillen 5th iron wand - Ged 3rd potion - Mongo 5th potion - Belphanior 5th | potion - Belphanior 5th | 11 crossbow bolts - Mongo 4th silver ring from pool - Rillen 1st cloak - Rillen 4th staff - Belphanior 1st portable hole - Mongo 1st bronze horn - Rillen 3rd adamantite wand - Ged 1st mage scroll - Ged 2nd diamond cube - Belphanior 2nd silver helm - Mongo 2nd torus - Ged 5th two-handed sword - Belphanior 3rd bracers - Rillen 2nd purse - Belphanior 4th golden lion figurines - Ged 4th Ged's identify spell could only help with up to seven of the items, and besides it weakened him for a whole day, so he decided not to use it. Each of the four adventurers was left to identify items and train on his own. Summaries of their activities follow: BELPHANIOR really cashed in on this adventure, training for all three classes. He scoped out the Thieves' Guild while exploring the city, but decided not to register himself with them, for the time being at least. He paid good money (and Greyhawk coinage at that!) to learn that his diamond cube could generate various protective fields. The purse had a few coins inside, and always seemed to have a few more when opened again. His potions were of deadly poison and speed, both useful in some way to the elf. Best of all, his new staff was every mage's dream - a portable arsenal of spells and magical effects! Belphanior strove to learn its various powers for future reference. "A staff of power! Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy! People had better not fuck with me _now_ !!" GED paid the fees to join the Mages' and Priests' Guilds, and spent quite a bit of time at each. He also took an entire week to read his mystical Book of Exalted Deeds, gaining much wisdom and experience in the process. He also copied his new scroll's seven spells into his spellbook, relishing every moment of the transcription. The temple of Boccob told him that his torus was a talisman of great power, to be used only in dire straits. Ged also learned the use of his figurines, which could summon two huge lions to obey simple commands. He quickly became enamored of his new pets, finding that he loved cats of all types. Both of his wands were powerful, but required further study. The runes on the adamantite one seemed to provide a clue to its functions. "Nice kitties..." MONGO spent a short time practicing with his hammer, against moving stone targets, perhaps for the next juggernaut he encountered. The dwarf needed no formal training, though, and was able to devote his time to his new magical items. His crossbow bolts were simple, magical missiles, and his potion was one of resistance to fire. His cube was utterly unfathomable (no one had ever seen anything like it), but as long as Mongo kept it on his person, he felt good, so the cube made its way into a pocket. The portable hole was quickly loaded with much treasure and equipment, but was still nowhere near full. Certainly it would come in handy from now on; Mongo was used to carrying most of the heavy loot, and the hole would change everything. His helm was a banded, silver-coated thing, with a few strange runes carved on it, but it was fairly well-built and sturdy, and he decided to wear it for a while and see if anything happened. "Ah, my days of being the party crap-lugger are OVER!" RILLEN had no need to train. He spent a lot of his time in the city, looking for fighting contests and tournaments. He spoke with a sage about his items, and learned that the silver ring could summon a powerful being from another world, if rubbed deliberately. His horn had a similar function, for it could bring forth several skilled warriors to aid its blower. His new bracers were magically enchanted to help ward against attacks. His cloak would allow him to climb walls like a spider. The four sling stones were said to have spell-like effects of great power, if they hit a target. "Like a spider? I guess this means I should stick around for a while." The party took their time posting notices for the land- based group to find. After all, who knew how long it would take those four to arrive in Greyhawk? ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY (temporarily split up; this is the "sea" group): Belphanior, 7th/7th/8th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 9th/8th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 8th level dwarf fighter (CG) Rillen, 8th level human fighter (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 3/12/571 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: mid-afternoon Place: the Free City of Greyhawk ------------------------------------------------------------------ next time: The land group begins their odyssey FTP SITE: tybalt.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) ******************************************************************** NOTES: The juggernaut was of my own invention, based on something I saw in an Expert set module, X2 I think. Basically, mine was about ac -5, hd 18, hp 144, thaco 3, dam 10-100, immune to fire, cold...one tough customer, any way you look at it. A folly of the AD&D system allows a character who just got steamrolled to live, if he has the hit points; this was Mongo's case (he went to -7 or so but his ring got him back to 0 hp pretty quick, also Ged helped his good friend back to health with spells). You may be wondering this: why put a juggernaut in place if it's so easy to just run by the thing? Well, here's the way I see it. First, it was put there when a number of guards and such were present, and the juggernaut wasn't by any means the first line of defense for the treasure room. Over the millenia, only a few things survived - a smattering of undead, the ooze, the iron golem, the juggernaut. Everything else had long since rotted away, including the numerous city defenders who would have backed up the juggernaut in happier times. Second, the thing was old and half-broken down, thus it was slower and less maneuverable than it was in its prime. Had it been up to its original full power, the six side rams would have worked too, and it would have caught Belphanior before he reached safety. About Greyhawk: I meant to have the specific tavern names in Greyhawk, along with all NPCs dealt with. BUT...my Greyhawk City boxed set is in that infamous other city, and I don't plan to go back there for two weeks. So, in the interest of continuing frequent postings, everything has been left generic. For now. One final swipe: Yes, the sea group _did_ beat the land-based bunch. By 17 days or so, I think. Ged got the last laugh over Halbarad. ******************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to persons or characters * either real or fictional is utterly coincidental. Copying and/or * distribution of these stories is permissible only under the one * condition that no part of them will be used or sold for profit. * In that case, I hope you enjoy them. ***** ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY (temporarily split up; this is the "land" group): Alindyar, 9th level drow elf mage (N) Halbarad, 8th level human ranger (NG) Peldor, 10th level human thief (N) Peyote, 7th/8th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 12/04/570 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: midmorning Place: Loftwick, capital of the Yeomanry ------------------------------------------------------------------ LXI. A Mission The land party is ready to leave Loftwick; they have gathered outside their inn... Halbarad: The time has come. We must get on the road. Peyote: RIght on, dude. Alindyar: Perhaps we shall arrive in Greyhawk before the others. (wondering about the need for a disguise once the city is found) Halbarad: (regarding Peyote curiously) Is it just me, or have you lost some weight, friend? Peyote: I think I have. Must be my diet. I'm not too hungry these days. Say, where's Peldor? Halbarad: I seem to remember him last night talking of spending the night in yonder brothel. Alindyar: Methinks the lad was somewhat inebriated. Peyote: Cool. I'll go get him, you guys get the horses ready. Halbarad: (goes to the stable) soon, at the Daring Dancer establishment... bouncer: Hey, bud! Whaddya want?!? Peyote: I am seeking a companion of mine, one obnoxious rogue, about this high (makes hand gesture), with brown hair and a goofy moustache. Likes to dress in black. He came here last night for some booty. bouncer: Ah, _him_! Hold on a sec...(calls to some sub-bouncers) Hey! Larry! Curly! Bring that drunken fool out here! Peyote: Eh? sub-bouncers: (drag the unconscious form of Peldor out) Here he is, Moe. Peyote: (grabs Peldor before he can hit the ground) Oof. Moe: He went through four of our girls last night before he passed out... Peyote: I see. Moe: Err...we aren't responsible for what is or isn't in his pockets anymore. He seemed to have lost all his money. Peyote: That's okay. He deserves whatever happened, I'm sure. (hoists Peldor up) Let's go, buddy. (cheerfully, to bouncers) Later, dudes! (wanders off) Moe: Loony as a bird... soon... Peyote: (dragging the thief along) Even with my strength, this is quite a task...oh, hey, guys! Alindyar: It seems that he found Peldor. Halbarad: Hmmph. Where did _he_ turn up? Peyote: Where do you think? In the whorehouse. Halbarad: He reeks of beer. Peyote: (sniffing) Yeah, I noticed. Cheap beer, too. (sets the thief down) Get some water. Alindyar: (quickly finds a pail of ice-cold water, not a difficult task since it's almost freezing outside) I have it. (dumps the water over the thief's head) Peldor: (leaps up) YAAAAAA! Halbarad: Wake up, you. We must be on the road by noontime. Peldor: Water! Icewater! Geez! Peyote: Had a good time last night, did you? Peldor: I cannot tell a lie. I did. (runs inside the inn to dry off and retrieve his belongings from his room) Alindyar: (draws his robes tighter about him) 'Tis colder every day here... Halbarad: Ah! How invigorating! Before too long, Peldor was ready to leave, though complaining of a great headache. The group set out, and traveled for many days without incident. For four days they moved through the lands of the Yeomanry, followed by two days in the Little Hills. Next they crossed the southern arm of the Javan River and entered the Dreadwood Forest where it was somewhat hilly. About two days into the woods, they were accosted by troublemakers... orc: (appears from nowhere) Hey! Peyote: Hey, dude. What's up? orc: (taken aback) You surrender now! You're surrounded! Halbarad: (unslings his axe) What is this? Peldor: (looks around) Peldor is _never_ surrounded. (uses his ring to slip the orc's helmet off of his head) Alindyar: Hmm. (silently gestures and whispers) orc: Eh? (makes a grab at his helmet) Alindyar: (glares at the humanoid) orc: (hit by a Spook spell) Agh! Aaaaaa! (turns and bolts away) AAAAAAAaaaaa! other orcs: (emerging, but confused) What the hell...? Peyote: (twin ioun stones orbiting his head, brandishes his bastard sword) Away, foul orclings! orcs: Attack! (they run toward the party from all sides) Peyote: (goes invisible) orc: (his attack misses the half-elf by far) Huh?! Halbarad: (meets an orc with his axe, cutting it in two) Ha! Alindyar: (casts a Wall of Fog, shrouding everyone in mists; then speaks loudly) The mists of DEATH are closing in! orcs: (shriek in confusion and terror) Peyote: (slices an orc while invisible, slaying it easily, and materializes) Where did all these mists come from, man? Peldor: (dodges an orc attack, and returns with his own, which sends the smelly humanoid down with a cleft head) No one gets in Peldor's way and lives to tell of it! orcs: (fail morale check) Aaaaaa! (scatter in all directions) Alindyar: (decides not to waste more spells on the fleeing ones) Halbarad: (brushes himself off) That was our first battle in a while. I am glad to see that we are still competent. Peldor: What, are you kidding? Peldor is the very _epitome_ of competence! Peyote: (drawn to a dead orc, pulls out his rod - the artifact, the Rod of Life and Death) Dude. orc: (head cleft in two) Uuuuuuuuuuuurrrr. Alindyar: Fascinating. Peyote: Speak to me. orc: Nooooooooo. Peyote: YES! The rod compels me! Speak! orc: Aaauuurrr. Wh-wh-what do you want? Peldor: (whispering) Look, his brains are oozing out! Gross. Alindyar: Shhhh! Peyote: Tell me, are there any orc encampments nearby? orc: No. Peyote: Are there any dangers worse than orcs, then, that we need to watch out for? orc: Yesssss. Peyote: Don't get smart with me. What are these dangers? orc: O-ogres. Band of ogres. To the north. Peyote: Is that all? orc: Yes. (goes limp) Peyote: (rises) Why are you all staring at me? Halbarad: Why must you speak with the dead? Peyote: The rod compels me. (puts the item in his belt) Let's be gone, in case the orcs regain their nerve. Peldor: Do we find the ogres, or veer away? Halbarad: I see no need to fight unnecessary battles. I can navigate us away from these ogres to the north, I think. Peyote: I'm sick of walking into idiot's ambushes. I shall prepare to summon an animal ere much longer. Halbarad: Let us move on, for now. Summon as you see fit. (he leads the group onward, to the west) a bit later... Peyote: Let's stop and rest. (begins scattering herbs about) Peldor: What's he doing? Are we having a cookout? Halbarad: He prepares to summon animals to help our cause. Alindyar: Interesting. Peyote: (begins barking) Peldor: Bah. (drinks some water) Boy, I'm thirsty. Alindyar: Alcohol will do that for you... Peldor: Yep. But boy, was it worth it! (begins munching on a large roll) Mmm. Peyote: (makes some gestures) Ah. Halbarad: What news? Peyote: We wait. Alindyar: (sips some wine as a few minutes pass) Peyote: (looks into the woods) dogs: (appear) Peldor: Huh? Wild dogs! Halbarad: Four of them. Alindyar: They seem fierce. Peyote: (casts a few more spells, allowing friendship and the ability for him to speak with the dogs in their barking form of language) Woof. Woof, woof! dogs: Woof. Bow-wow. Peyote: Woof! Woof, woof - woof bow woof wow. Woof bow, wow. dogs: Woof! Peyote: (looks at the others) These faithful servants of nature will accompany us and lead us around danger. Peldor: Well, that's good to know. Halbarad: (pats a dog on the head) Peldor: (looks down at his half-eaten roll) Hey! Get away from that! dog: (wanders away with the food) Peldor: Damn. Peyote: Let us be on. For the next two days, they continued through the forest, steering clear of danger thanks to the wild dogs' keen noses and familiarity with the area. The woodlands soon ended, and the party had made it through what was considered a dangerous forest without a scratch. Once out of the woods, they moved through Keoland, encountering many guards and merchants but nothing hostile. Incidentally, no temples of Trithereon were seen. Four days after emerging from the Dreadwood, they rode into Gradsul, a city located right where the combination of three inland rivers emptied into the Azure Sea. They stayed in Gradsul that night, resting and replenishing their spells and supplies. The night in front of a blazing fireplace was a great relief from the harsh, freezing outdoors. innkeeper: No dogs allowed. Peyote: But these are my _babies_! innkeeper: No dogs allowed. Peyote: They can't stay outside! It's below freezing! innkeeper: What, are you deaf? Read my lips, NO DOGS ALLOWED. Peyote: Now look here. (pulls out a large garnet and presses it into the man's grimy hand) _These_ dogs must remain with me... innkeeper: The dogs stay in your room. No shit in the halls, though, understand? Peyote: Yes. Obad-hai be with you. (goes to his room, dogs in tow) Halbarad: I am beginning to think that money can buy anything. The next day, they departed, with extra blankets for the dogs (a need that could not have been forseen in Loftwick, of course). The river next to Gradsul was crossed, and the party rode for four days, traversing southern Ulek until the city of Gryrax was found. Being the capital, it was a much larger place than Gradsul, and thus it was hardly a surprise when an interesting offer popped up. Peldor: I'm bored. Where is a challenge worthy of Peldor's skill? Halbarad: (spies a beautiful woman posting a sign on a fencepost in a plaza) Yonder woman may have the answer. (approaches the woman) Excuse me? woman: (turns suddenly) Yes? Halbarad: (reads her sign) Perhaps we can help you. woman: There are only four of you... Alindyar: Plus four wild dogs... Halbarad: ...but we are great heroes. Peldor: (reads the sign aloud) "Help Wanted - Desperately! The towne of Tragidore is in need of a few brave souls to undertake a perilous mission. The danger is great, but the reward for success is very generous. Interested parties should travel to the Cawing Crow in Tragidore and ask for Marta." Alindyar: Marta? Halbarad: (to woman) What is this all about? woman: I cannot tell. You must speak to the elders in Tragidore. Alindyar: Where is this...Tragidore? woman: It is a small town about three leagues to the northwest. I must go. (dashes away) Peldor: Hey! (runs after her) She's gone! (looking around) No one, but _no one_, escapes Peldor's notice! Peyote: Well, someone just did, man. Halbarad: I say we travel to this town and see what is what. Peyote: (barking to the wild dogs) Rowf Rowf. Bow wow. Bark? dogs: Yip! Yip! Peyote: The dogs voice their approval. Peldor: How can he continually talk to them like that? Alindyar: Well, assuming that he actually _is_ talking to them, I would then assume that he casts the necessary spells anew each morning. Peldor: Oh. Halbarad: Tragidore! Alindyar: Adventure. Peldor: Reward! Peyote: Dude! dogs: Bark! And so, they prepared to ride for Tragidore... next time: the town's problem FTP SITE: tybalt.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) ******************************************************************** NOTES: First, MARTA is Atlanta's public transportation system. Whether this is relevant or not, we thought it a great joke at the time. Second (and most important), I have been slack lately due to finals, my move off campus and into an apartment, and work. On a positive note, I made dean's list (higher than a 3.0) for summer, for the first time since spring 1988...with 6 classes...and while working 30 hours a week and taking frequent weekend trips and writing these stories...needless to say, I feel the need to pat myself on the back... Third, the "Terrible Trouble in Tragidore" module is the thin, cheapie adventure that came with the 2nd edition DM's screen. I was low on material at the time, I guess. Everything turned out okay, though - this adventure caused a major change in one of the character's lives, as will be seen. ******************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to persons or characters * either real or fictional is utterly coincidental. Copying and/or * distribution of these stories is permissible only under the one * condition that no part of them will be used or sold for profit. * In that case, I hope you enjoy them. ***** ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY (temporarily split up; this is the "land" group): Alindyar, 9th level drow elf mage (N) Halbarad, 8th level human ranger (NG) Peldor, 10th level human thief (N) Peyote, 7th/8th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 12/18/570 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: midmorning Place: Gryrax, capital of the Principality of Ulek ------------------------------------------------------------------ LXII. Tragidore The party is in Gryrax, asking the locals about the woman, her posted notice for help, and the town of Tragidore. Halbarad: (to shopkeeper) What do _you_ know of this Tragidore business? Peldor: (using ring of truth to detect lies, if any) Speak. shopkeeper: Those signs asking for help, they've been popping up for several weeks, now. The signs never stay around long, though. Peldor: He's telling the truth. Peyote: I should hope so, dude. Halbarad: Quiet, Peldor. Alindyar: Who was that woman? shopkeeper: Dunno. They all take off pretty quickly. Halbarad: They? shopkeeper: They. The women. Peyote: What? Alindyar: So 'tis always women who put up the signs? shopkeeper: Always. Never men. Peldor: He's telling the truth. Peyote: (eyes Peldor) Halbarad: Can you tell us how to get to Tragidore? shopkeeper: Sure. It's almost due west of here, a bit north, as the crow flies. Take the main road and you'll have no trouble, though. Peyote: What sorts of things go on in this Tragidore place, dude? shopkeeper: They supply us with lumber. Or they _did_. A while ago, the lumber stopped coming. Merchants went there, to find out why - but none ever came back. Peyote: Lumber?! You mean the dudes cut down _trees_?! No way! Halbarad: What of adventuring parties? Could they not help? shopkeeper: They went, too. A few of them. Never returned, either. Just like the merchants. Peldor: He's telling the truth. all: Shut up! shopkeeper: I sure hope _somebody_ can figure out what's going on up there in Tragidore... Halbarad: Somebody can. Peyote: (to the wild dogs) That's us, my canine friends. dogs: Woof! Halbarad: We thank you for your time, friend. I think we will buy our next week's rations from you. shopkeeper: Okay. Thanks! After a few rations were purchased, the party left for the town of Tragidore, riding along the main road. The road was already showing signs of disuse - it was obvious that traffic along it was now minimal. Their journey was utterly uneventful as the hours passed. Alindyar: (looking into his crystal ball) Let us see what the others are doing... Peldor: (watching) That's neat. Where can I get one of those things? Besides from you, of course. Alindyar: (glares at the thief) Peldor: Just kidding. Alindyar: (gazes into the item, and sees familiar faces - Ged, Mongo, Belphanior, and Rillen - riding happily through some light forests) Hmm. Peldor: They look like they're having fun. Alindyar: 'Twould seem so. The day passed, and everything was very, very quiet. Halbarad: You know, things are almost _too_ quiet... dogs: (to Peyote) Rrrr... Peyote: (to dogs) What's that? dogs: Rrrrrrrrrr...Rowf! Rowf! Alindyar: What say they? Peyote: Someone's ahead, dudes. (draws sword) Peldor: (grabs his sword hilt) Suddenly, from the road ahead, there came a mournful wail from around a bend. Peldor: What was _that_? (leaps to the side of the road, fading into invisibility as he draws his sword) man: (stumbles down the road towards the party, sobbing) Peyote: Who's this dude? Halbarad: I do not know, but he seems harmless. man: (looks up at the party with a distraught expression) Huh? Alindyar: What ails you? man: (sobbing again, continues along the road) Halbarad: Stop! (grabs the man, who does not resist) Peldor: (searching the nearby woods) dogs: (growling at the man) man: Whas? Halbarad: Who _are_ you? What are you crying about? man: (regards Halbarad) I am Borse Kordona. Me and my three brothers were trying to figure out what happened in Tragidore. I was scouting when I saw a big wolf with bright green eyes. After I chased it for awhile, I came back to camp - and they were all GONE, all my brothers. Gone! (begins sobbing yet again) I _tried_ to find them! I really did! But they're nowhere! Peyote: Hmm. Trouble awaits us in Tragidore, I think. Alindyar: 'Twould seem so. Halbarad: (to Borse) Where are you going now? Borse: I must return to the city, and tell my parents of this terrible loss. Peyote: I think you should stay with us, man. Peldor: (appearing) Yeah. Then we can see what's in your pockets. Borse: I cannot! (runs away) Peyote: (to Peldor) Now look! you scared him away! dogs: (growling at Peldor) Alindyar: Think you that we should give chase? Halbarad: No. He's on the road, and it's not very far back. He shall be fine. Peyote: Let's continue, then. I, for one, want to know what is happening in these parts. Perhaps a huge imbalance in nature is causing the problems. They continued onward, stopping every now and again to rest or eat, or let the horses rest and eat. Nothing else of note happened...until shortly after sunset... Alindyar: Look at this fog. Peyote: (watching a thick fog quickly setting in) Gnarly. Alindyar: Almost too much so. This is...unnatural. Peldor: Yo! Heads up, guys, there's people coming through the fog. (peers into the mists with his uncanny vision) Six figures approached from within the fog, stopping at a distance that prevented the party from making out any details of their appearance. Dim torches burned in their hands. A moment later, three dark shapes moved around the first six and confronted the party. Their red-lined black capes and pale faces were terrifying to look upon. Deep-set, dark eyes regarded the party - and the tips of unusually long, white teeth protruded from their mouths... first man: (speaks in a thick accent) Good evening. Halbarad: (unslings his axe) man: Have you paid your taxes to the king lately? I am sure that you have magical items, and just as sure that you have neglected to make payment for the right to carry such things. You can avoid trouble by putting all of your equipment in a big pile and letting us examine it. Do not cause trouble, and you will be spared. Halbarad: What folly is this?!? Peyote: Taxation without representation. Bogus, dude. Peldor: (to man) Are you people _authorized_ collectors for the king? (the thief's ring glows, ever so slightly) man: Why, yes, of course. Peldor: (to Halbarad) He's lying! Halbarad: How is that? Peldor: My ring tells me so. Don't you believe me, dammit? He's _lying_! wild dogs: (growling) Peyote: Shh. Halbarad: (to man) Why should we believe you? Show me your papers. man: We need no papers. We have the authority to collect as deemed fit. Alindyar: I think not. (begins spellcasting) man: (gets a good look at the drow, and seems amazed) ... Halbarad: Out of our way. If you are the king's men, then I am Belphanior the slayer. man: Who? Halbarad: Never mind. Alindyar: (casts a Hypnotism spell at the trio) You are not welcome here. Your only desire is to leave. man#1: (backs up) Leave...leave...(leaves) man#2: (leaves as well) Yes...yes... man#3: (saves, but obviously distraught) What?! Attack! ATTACK! Many shadowy forms emerged from the fog - the party was now suddenly surrounded! Halbarad: (shouting) Now hear this! I have no wish to slay any or all of you! But I _will_ if you persist in this attack! man#3: Surrender! Halbarad: Never! Peldor: Never is right! The mighty Peldor surrenders to no vampires! Much less puny would-be vampires! man#3: Then die! Halbarad: Not before taking many of you with me! (moves into combat) Peyote: (talking to his dogs) Rowf! Woof woof, bow growf! dogs: Snarl! (they leap at some of the shadowy forms) Peldor: (unsheaths his sword, becoming invisible) Halbarad: (faces the torch-bearers) Fight, cowards! torch-bearers: (come into view, their rotted faces utterly without expression) Grmphl. Halbarad: Zombies! The walking dead! swordsmen: (flank Halbarad from the other side) You are trapped, warrior. Halbarad: Humans, too? Alindyar: What madness transpires here? (begins spellcasting) Peyote: (sword drawn, faces some human swordsmen) dogs: (tear into some swordsmen) Grrr! swordsmen: Eyagh! Alindyar: Let us see how you fare against- (suddenly within a silenced area, gestures uselessly) Halbarad: (also within silenced area, wastes no time attacking the nearest two swordsmen, albeit silently) Peldor: (sneaking around various swordsmen, and then some bowmen, searches for the head honcho) Peyote: (charges a swordsman, slicing one arm off) Yaaa! armless swordsman: YAAAAA! (falls) Halbarad: (dispatches both of his opponents before they can hit him) Alindyar: (silently sips his potion of flying) dogs: (inflicting fearsome wounds on their victims) bowmen: (fire arrows at the party) Halbarad: (hit by two arrows, silently curses) Peyote: (hit by three arrows) Argh! Foul! Alindyar: (nicked by an arrow, but sails into the air) man#3: (the last of the "vampires") Enough of this. (drinks a potion and turns into gas, floating away) swordsman: (nicks Halbarad) swordsman: (misses Peyote) swordsman: (hits Peyote) Peyote: (looking at the big cut in his armor) Damn! Peldor: (behind the battle, spots two spellcasters, one a male, the other undoubtedly a female, judging by her form) male spellcaster: (casts a curse upon Halbarad and Peyote, causing them to fight less effectively) female spellcaster: (fidgets, but does nothing) Peldor: (moves to backstab the male spellcaster) Halbarad: (chops down another swordsman; can now speak, since Alindyar is in the air and the drow was the center of the silence spell) There must be more than twenty of them left! Peyote: (now back-to-back with the ranger) This is quickly getting to be a desperate situation! Maybe I should use my wand...(slashes an attacker out of the way) Halbarad: Oh, no... Peyote: What would you suggest, then? Halbarad: (parries an attack) I know not. I guess I am open to suggestions right at the moment... wild dogs: (still tearing into the men) six zombies: (trying to grope Halbarad and Peyote, but having a tough time of it due to the crowded conditions) Alindyar: (in the air, somewhat irritated that all of his useful spells require a verbal component) Peldor: (backstabs the male spellcaster) male spellcaster: Augh! (dies) female spellcaster: (turns to face the thief, surprised) Peldor: Wha...you're a dark elf! female drow: What of it? (begins spellcasting) Peldor: Oh, no you don't! (tackles her; they go down in a heap) Alindyar: (airborne, brandishes both his wand of illusion and his wand of magic missiles) Halbarad: (chops at an attacker) Damn. There are too many. Peyote: Never fear, dude. (downs another attacker) We'll get through okay. Halbarad: (doubtful; wonders where Alindyar and Peldor are, or even if they're still alive) Alindyar: (realizes that he can't use his wands without being able to speak; frowns; then sees Peldor and the female mage and flies down toward them) Halbarad: (slays an attacker while sustaining several wounds) Peyote: (likewise) Though we've killed many of them, they are starting to get to us (slumps for a moment) Halbarad: Where _are_ the others? If they have been slain, we are finished! nearby... Peldor: (has overpowered the slender drowess) Hold it there, I'll have you killed in a minute. female drow: (looks fearful) Peldor: Well, maybe not. Alindyar might want to talk to you first. Alindyar: (descends right then) Peldor: There you are. Right on time, too! What a guy. Alindyar: (sticks his dagger to the drow's throat and uses drow sign language to command her to dispel the silence afflicting him - or die, he doesn't care which) female drow: (obeys fearfully) Alindyar: I can speak once more! (turns to the female) female drow: (cowers) Alindyar: (surprisingly quickly, he gags and binds her) We must return to the battle, ere the other two are slain. Peldor: (looking over there) They _are_ making a pile of enemy bodies all around them...but still...(sheathes and unsheaths his sword, becoming invisible again, and moves toward the host of unsuspecting opponents' backs) Alindyar: (to female drow) We shall have words again soon. (flies into the air and begins spellcasting) Peldor: (backstabs a bowman, killing him) Alindyar: (from the air above, he launches a cone of Fear at the mass of attackers surrounding Halbarad and Peyote) swordsmen & bowmen: (many of them flee screaming) Halbarad: (cuts down another, momentarily distracted foe) My regrets. Peyote: (chops a bowman in half) Holy moley! More than half of them ran away! Halbarad: I think we have found Alindyar. (looking in the air) Alindyar: (waves) Peldor: (faces a zombie) Uh-oh. (dodges its attack) The walking dead are no match for Peldor! zombies: (all turn and shamble towards Peldor) Peldor: Whoops! Knock on wood. (backs up quickly) bowman: (fires an arrow feebly at the airborne dark elf, but it misses) Alindyar: (points at the bowman) You! You are next! bowman: (drops his bow and flees) Yaaaaaa! Alindyar: (preparing a spell) Peldor: (backing away from the six zombies, one of whom has ignited part of its old shirt with its torch) Help! Alindyar: Certainly. (casts a Web onto the six zombies) zombies: (caught, flail uselessly - then one of their own torches ignites the web, and they all blaze up in the burning strands) Peldor: Ah. Much better now. (trades blows with one of the swordsmen, and slays the man) Peldor is back on top. Suddenly, the tide of battle had turned. The few bowmen and swordsmen left were no match for the party's swords. Some of them fled, in the end, but soon, No foes were left. Peyote: Maybe we should chase them, for a prisoner. Alindyar: That shall not be necessary. (points to the tied female dark elf) We have one already. One of the leaders. Peldor: (busy checking dead foes' pockets) Peyote: (finds his Rod fo Life and Death) Ahh. (the item glows brightly, and all of Peyote's cuts and bruises are closed) Ahhhhhhh. Halbarad: (bleeding from a dozen wounds) Uhh...can you help me, as well? Peyote: (yanks back the rod) Hey, _watch_ it, dude! This is _my_ rod! (wanders away to tend to the dogs) Halbarad: (frowning) He is irrational! Alindyar: (to Halbarad) Methinks he becomes that way when using that item...I have an elixir which will help you. Halbarad: (taking the potion from the drow) My thanks. Peldor: (accumulating a pile of minor coins) These were poor bandits... Alindyar: (draws Peldor aside and confers with him for a moment, whispering) Soon, all wounds were healed. Strangely enough, all four of Peyote's wild dogs were up and about, though Halbarad could have sworn that at least two of them had been gutted in the battle. Alindyar leaned his captive against a tree and interrogated her in the drow language, since she seemed to know only very basic Common, and translating for the others would have been a pain. Besides, they trusted him, didn't they? Alindyar: Who are you? female drow: Don't hurt me. Alindyar: Woman, answer me. Who _are_ you? female drow: I- I am called Lyra. Alindyar: (caresses her cheek) Better. Much better. Now, what were you doing helping human bandits above ground? Are there more of our kind about? Lyra: Yes. Please do not hurt me. We meant no harm. Alindyar: Somehow I doubt that. You were helping those bandits in their unlawful work. Lyra: I did not want to. I had to have someone to protect me here...(begins to cry) Alindyar: (softens a bit, also notices how attractive this young woman is) What do you mean? Who are you working for, and why? Lyra: I came up from below with Zara, but I did not want to stay up here. I fled the mine in the forest, and then found the bandits. They were fearful of me and my magic, and I have been helping them to avoid showing them how scared I am up here. I cannot trust anyone... Alindyar: Zara. Who is this Zara? Lyra: She is another drow, a renegade from below. She desires power here, on the surface world. She is very cruel, and evil. Alindyar: And you? Are _you_ cruel and evil? Lyra: No! I do not even like it here on the surface! Or below...(sniffles) Halbarad: What is going on there? Alindyar: She is not such a bad one after all, I think. Peyote: And just _how_ do you know that?!?! We can't trust her! Alindyar: Do you trust _me_? Peyote: Well...err...umm... Alindyar: Besides, I have it on good faith from Peldor that she told no lies. Is that not so, Peldor? Peldor: That's right. I guess I'd better tell you all about my ring. (holds up the hand with his ring of truth on it) This ring allows me to know any lie I hear- Halbarad: I figured as much... Peyote: What's the drawback, dude? There's always a drawback. (actually, Peyote has somehow found out about the ring already, perhaps from Ged before they split...) Peldor: -but...but...(the ring is forcing him now)... ...I can't _tell_ a lie either! Argh! Those damned bronze dragons! Someday I'll get them back for this! Halbarad: Excellent. Alindyar: So, you see, even though Lyra here did not know we had such an item at our disposal, she told no untruths. Peldor: Yep. Alindyar: Therefore, she can be trusted. Halbarad: Possibly. Alindyar: As such, I intend to untie her. Halbarad: No! Madness! Peyote: He's right, man. Peldor: Untie? (even he is amazed) Alindyar: I shall claim full responsibility. (takes Lyra aside and prepares his tent) 'Tis time to camp, anyhow. Halbarad: ...! Peyote: Maybe he's got the hots for her, man. Peldor: (it occurs to him that Alindyar didn't really ask their permission) Hmm. Halbarad: (fuming) As you will, Alindyar. But her actions rest now upon your shoulders! Remember that! Alindyar: (ignoring the ranger) Within the hour, they had made camp far off one side of the road. Alindyar conferred with Lyra in his tent late into the night, for it had been a long while since he had spoken peacefully with another dark elf. They talked of the Underdark, drow society (which it was obvious Lyra had no great love for), and other things... Alindyar: Will you follow me here, above ground? Your bandits are gone now, dispersed. I do not think you can make it alone. Lyra: Have I a choice? Alindyar: Yes. Lyra: Then, my answer is...yes. Alindyar: (offers her some food) Are you wounded? Lyra: No, thank you. (eats gingerly) Alindyar: Have you any magic items? Lyra: None. Only my spellbook. Alindyar: (holds up a spellbook) You refer to _this_? Lyra: Yes. I have only six spells, in any case. I do not think I am much of a threat to you and your friends. Alindyar: Let us hope not. You may memorize these spells tonight (refers to Shield x3, Bind x2, and Fly). For now, I think it best that you avoid your magic missile, web, and charm spells... Lyra: Oh, thank you! Why are you being so nice to me? Alindyar: I know not. Perhaps because I believe that you share my views toward our people and society. Lyra: (flattered, blushes) Alindyar: (gets his crystal ball) Hold a bit. 'Tis time to check on the evildoers. Lyra: Who? Alindyar: Some old friends. (the ball conjures up an image of the sea party camped out for the night) Hmm. Lyra: (impressed by these mighty magicks) You must be a great mage... Alindyar: (puts the crystal ball away) Time to study. For both of us. As I will take a while longer, you may sleep in that spare bedroll, over there. Lyra: Again, I thank you. Your generosity is unheard of, for either a fellow drow or a human. No one has ever given me the benefit of the doubt before. Alindyar: You are most welcome. The dim light in Alindyar's tent remained on for some time. The others viewed it suspiciously, but also had to trust in their friend's judgement - and power. The night went by without incident. The next day, they encountered some refugees in the early morning, after eating breakfast and getting back on the road. Halbarad: Hold. There are women and children ahead. Alindyar: (floating in the air on his carpet, with Lyra; his horse is being used to carry supplies) Hmm. Peyote: There are three women in that wagon, and some children too. Peldor: They appear unarmed. Halbarad: Greetings. woman: (slows down slightly; the wagon was moving along at a rapid clip) Turn around! There is nothing ahead but misery and woe! Halbarad: Nonsense. Will you stop? woman: (reluctantly stops the wagon) Halbarad: Where are you fleeing from in such a hurry? woman: Tragidore. There is nothing for us there, anymore. Watch out for bandits, too - they took all our money. Halbarad: (to others) Perhaps we should escort these people back to the city. Peyote: No way, man. We'll lose too much time. Here, send the wild dogs with them. They can protect them from harm on the road. Peldor: Don't you have to stay with the dogs? Alindyar: Or vice versa? Peyote: Nope. Besides, I can always summon more. (talking to the dogs) Rrr...rowlf! Bow wow! Wow wow wow bow! dogs: Arf! (they cover the wagon, one to a corner) Peyote: Never fear, miss. I have told these large and extremely fierce dogs to watch over you and attack any bandits. Go about your way, now. Halbarad: (hands the woman a pouch of gold) This should help. Keep it hidden well, just in case. women: Oh, thank you! We are forever in your debt! Peldor: We'll come back and collect someday. (waves at the young children in the back of the wagon) Halbarad: Hush, you. Lyra: (to Alindyar, in drow) I know of no bandits. Zara must have some evil plot, which affects this town. Alindyar: We shall see. Lyra: Your friends are quite benevolent. Alindyar: We do what we can to help the unfortunate. Halbarad: (watches the wagon move away) We really must get to Tragidore and find out what is what. Peyote: Yeah. (casts a summons for more animals) The hours went by, as the party rode on toward Tragidore. Another band was encountered, this one consisting of four scared men, inexperienced warriors by the look of them. They claimed that the women in Tragidore rejected their offer to help, saying that they weren't skilled enough to be of any assistance. Halbarad bid them be on their way, and the party continued on. Late in their second day of travel, they found a sign indicating that Tragidore was one mile ahead. Peldor found something else, too... Peldor: Hold! I spy someone, there in the woods! Halbarad: Come out, whoever you are! men: (three, dressed in leather and with shortswords at their hips) We weren't sure if you meant us harm, so we remained hidden. Peyote: What is your business here? man: We just passed through the town. There's some kind of big swamp beast there, which is taking all the men of the town. Someone really should stop it. Peldor: (suddenly inspired) You're not bandits, are you? man: Why, no! Never! Peldor: He's lyyyyyying.... Halbarad: So! You robbed the women and children! men: (cowering) Okay, okay! We did! Peyote: Why don't you try and rib _us_? (grinning) men: Because you would beat us? Alindyar: Throw down your weapons. Now. (points a finger in the general direction of the trio) men: (comply) Peldor: Where is your treasure hoard? man: What hoard? Peldor: Oh, come _on_. If I were you, which I'm not since you guys are obviously amateurs, but if I were, I'd hide all the loot somewhere. Now where did you stash it? man: (points to the side of the road) Halbarad: Good. Now, we will have to tie you up and take you back to the city to face your just desserts. men: No! Not that! (they scatter into the woods) Peyote: Bah. Let the dudes go. They have no weapons. Peldor: (examines the brush, finds a box) Hey, there's a good bit of jewelry and coinage in here! Alindyar: (to Peldor) Due to your ring, we need not worry about you appropriating any of that for yourself. You should remember that. Peldor: Err...yes, of course. Within a few minutes, they entered a small town - Tragidore at last! The place looked dead, for only women, children, and the elderly walked the streets. Everyone watched the five, but no one talked to them. Almost all of the shops were closed. As they reached the heart of the town, the business district, a number of women could be seen, many of them armed. The Cawing Crow inn stood out, since it was obviously the center of activity here. When the party approached, four tough, seedy-looking adventurer types burst out of the inn, glanced at the party, and rode away quickly. Alindyar: Who were those ruffians, I wonder? Halbarad: (walking up) Greetings. female guard: (brandishing a sword) What do you want? Peyote: Take it easy. We seek Marta. female guard: Oh. Come in, then. They entered the inn's common room, which was dimly lit by candlelight. A woman stood behind a large table, and a small, circular table with a large crystal globe was positioned in front of the large table. Eight female guards ringed the room, in case of trouble. The woman spoke... woman: Everyone place a hand upon the orb of alignment. We must ensure that you are acceptable. Halbarad: (touches the pale grey glowing orb, and it gets a bit brighter) Peyote: Hmm. I don't know about this. (touches the orb and causes it to darken slightly) Peldor: Bah. (touches the orb, causing it to darken a wee bit more) Peldor is always acceptable. woman: I see that you have one hero and two who favor neutrality, thus far. (looks at Alindyar) What of you? Alindyar: (touches the globe - the net color is still slightly bright due to Halbarad's goodness) What an idiotic toy you have here. woman: What of her? (indicates Lyra) Halbarad: She is our prisoner. There is no need to test her intentions. Alindyar: What? (to Lyra) Touch the globe. Lyra: (does so, but it still glows ever so slightly brighter than grey) Alindyar: (satisfied) woman: Not the best, but your group will do. I am Marta. Halbarad: (shakes her hand) I am Halbarad. Peyote: Peyote, at your service. (points to Peldor) And this fellow goes by "The Rascal". Peldor: Hey! Let Peldor speak for himself! (to Marta) Some call him scoundrel, some call him rascal, but all know that Peldor is truly a gentleman at heart. Well met. (kisses her hand) Marta: Oh! Halbarad: Enough of this nonsense. What is the problem? Marta: For several weeks now, the men of our town have been disappearing, one by one and in small groups, when they ventured into the forest to the north. At first we thought we were being plagued by a pack of wolves or some other wild creatures, but now we have come to realize that this is not the work of mere animals. Many of us women are strong and fit, but we dare not depart from Tragidore to investigate, because that would leave the other townfolk vulnerable. So we have been seeking the aid of brave and trustworthy adventurers such as yourselves. Go into the woods, find who or what has been kidnapping our menfolk, and locate the victims if they are still alive. Return to us with whatever people or information you can gain, and we will pay a handsome reward. Peyote: Whew. Halbarad: We will help you. Peldor: (looks at his ring) Guess what? She's telling the truth...Anything else you can tell us that might help? Marta: Well, the only men who disappear are those who are fit and hardy. Children, little boys, never vanish, nor do older men. Only the young and strong ones. Alindyar: Have no fear. We shall see what can be done. Halbarad: We journey on the morrow. They stayed in the inn that night. Alindyar procured a private room for himself and Lyra, a room with only one bed...everyone slept well that night. The next day, they prepared to travel into the woods to the north. Peyote cast another spell of animal summoning since the last one had produced no results. When all were ready, they moved out. next time: what lies within the woods FTP SITE: ccosun.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) ******************************************************************** NOTES: Technically, the party was supposed to go from the main city (called Hanuman in the module) to Tragidore. Since I just waffled this adventure in between others, it seems that they went directly from Gryrax to Tragidore. I think that, originally, I had them go from Gryrax (the capital of the kingdom) to the intermediate city, Hanuman, and then on to Tragidore. My memory fails here - I didn't take good notes for the land party like I did for the sea party... Speaking of whom...yes, Alindyar actually referred to them as "the evil party". He must have been thinking of a certain elf... Lyra was perhaps the first time I took a NPC from a module and altered it slightly based on suggestions and the personality described in the module. It worked out really well, as will be seen. ******************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to persons or characters * either real or fictional is utterly coincidental. Copying and/or * distribution of these stories is permissible only under the one * condition that no part of them will be used or sold for profit. * In that case, I hope you enjoy them. ***** ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY (temporarily split up; this is the "land" group): Alindyar, 9th level drow elf mage (N) Lyra, 5th level female drow elf mage (LE/N) [pseudo-prisoner] Halbarad, 8th level human ranger (NG) Peldor, 10th level human thief (N) Peyote, 7th/8th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 12/20/570 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: early morning Place: the town of Tragidore, somewhere within Ulek ------------------------------------------------------------------ LXIII. Woodland Creatures The party is leaving the small town of Tragidore, intending to enter the forest to the north and find out what has happened to the men of the town. Alindyar: Methinks we may get to the bottom of this matter soon enough. Halbarad: They said the road led about a mile before entering the woodlands. Peyote: Well, let's follow it, dude! (they do) The dirt road did indeed lead about a mile northward, before entering the woods. From there on out, it was basically a logging trail, quite wide, though the forest grew thicker as the party moved on. Peyote: Apparently these logger dudes had _some_ care for the environment. (touching the ground) They didn't cut down all the greenery here. Cool. Peldor: (looking around) What's that noise? Halbarad: (faces the forest) Someone approaches. (unslings his axe) Alindyar: (prepares to cast a spell if necessary) Suddenly, two large, hairy forms tromped from the surrounding forest and toward the adventurers...Their porcine tusks and slobbering snouts could only mean one thing - wild boars! Peyote: Aha! Just on time... Peldor: (draws his sword) Aha! We'll eat well tonight! Halbarad: Perhaps. Large boars such as these are quite hard to kill. But then again, what would _you_ know about the hunting of game? Peyote: (casts a spell) Hold on, man. (begins grunting) Alindyar: Not again... Lyra: What? What is this? Alindyar: Yonder druid is prone to summon animals to assist the cause. Lyra: Oh. Peyote: (pets the boars' greasy heads) These are...Orville and Wilbur. My woodly magic has brought them to help us. Peldor: Great. (sheathes his sword) I still say they're better for dinner than for combat. Peyote: They will accompany us for a while. Eat your rations, dude. Peldor: (grumbling) The group moved on down the trail. After about two miles, they reached its end, though. The logging operations had obviously ended at this point. Alindyar: Yon forest appears thick. I doubt that even my enchanted carpet could fly through it. Halbarad: (regarding the matted forest ahead of the party) Peyote: No problem. I'll lead us through the woods safely (leaps into the tangled undergrowth) Coming? Peldor: (looking around dubiously) I guess so. Alindyar: (unrolls the carpet) We shall try to fly through. (lifts Lyra onto the carpet, and then climbs aboard himself) Halbarad: (glaring at the two drow suspiciously) Peyote: Come on! What are you waiting for? They forged ahead, into the progressively thicker woods. Peyote didn't always seem to be leading them on a straight course, though Halbarad did what he could to help the half-elf guide the group through the forest. They continued on for a few minutes, until a strange sound was heard... Peldor: What's that "whooshing"? Peyote: (walks toward the sound) Wow, man. Halbarad: Hold! What are you doing? Peyote: I'm walking, what does it look like? boars: (paw the ground nervously) Peldor: (eyes the boars hungrily) Alindyar: (eyes Lyra hungrily) Peyote: (stops before a huge oak tree and begins whistling quietly) Tweet tweet. Halbarad: (pauses) Amazing! Peldor: Eh? What's that? Halbarad: He is talking to that tree... Peldor: How's that? Halbarad: It is a druidic thing. Peyote: (turns toward the party) The large, thick oak tree then _bent down_ to face the party! Lyra cowered in fear...two small beady eye-like things opened, as did a large, dark maw, in the tree's trunk. treant: (in a deep, slow voice) HAVE NO FEAR. I WILL NOT HARM YOU. Alindyar: (comforts Lyra) Shhh. Peyote: He's a treant, guys. I heard him talking and spoke back in his own tongue...fortunately, he can speak our common tongue as well. Halbarad: (regards Peyote with a sidelong glance) Greetings, and well-met, noble lord of the forest! We seek anything unusual or evil in these parts, for men of the nearby town have been vanishing. treant: INDEED. SOMETHING EVIL IS GOING ON DEEP WITHIN THE WOODLANDS NEARBY. (gestures with one large branch-arm that makes a crackling sound as it moves) I HAVE SEEN A STRANGE CREATURE, A GOAT-WOMAN, TRAVELING ABOUT. SHE SOMETIMES HAS A HUMAN MAN ON HER BACK - BUT OTHER TIMES, NOT. Peyote: What was she? treant: I KNOW NOT. BUT THE WOOD-BROTHERS HAVE SENSED THE EVIL NEARBY SINCE THAT TIME WHEN I MYSELF FIRST SAW THIS GOAT-WOMAN. Peyote: Well, then, we shall find this goaty babe and see what she's up to! Halbarad: ...Agreed. treant: MY THANKS FOR YOUR EFFORTS. I MUST REMAIN HERE TO WATCH OVER THE FLOCK. GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL. Halbarad: Err...yes. Peyote: (facing the way the treant pointed) Let's get a move on. (begins walking) Later, O protector of the woodlands! Only a low whistling and rustling could be heard, though. The party moved on, some of them still mystified by the brief encounter with the treant. Peldor: I didn't know trees could talk. Peyote: Actually, they can _walk_ too, if they want to. A treant is a very powerful being. It's a good thing that one of you didn't irritate him, isn't it? Alindyar: (scribbling in his journal while riding the carpet with Lyra) Hmm. Fascinating. Halbarad: Hopefully we shall soon find whatever evil lurks herein. Lyra: (to Alindyar, in drow) Tell them that the lair of Zara is nearby. Alindyar: (to party) Lyra says that the lair of Zara is nearby. (to Lyra, in drow) Tell me of this Zara. Halbarad: Eh? Peldor: Zara, Lyra, Zara... Lyra: (in drow) She was one of those I came up with. They had some plan, but I never learned of it before I fled and took up with those bandits. Alindyar: (to party) Zara is an evil person who may be in charge of something. Peldor: Gee, thanks. Alindyar: Of course. They continued on for a bit, when suddenly Peyote started. Peyote: (starts) What?!?!? Halbarad: What? What do you look so amazed for? Peyote: This area of forest has been well-kept. Look at the flowers, the trimmed hedges! It can only be one thing. Peldor: What's that? Peyote: Ny- female voice: (from somewhere nearby) What are you doing here? Stand still and close your eyes so I can get a closer look at you. boars: (grunt and paw the ground) Peyote: Stay, tusked ones. (closes his eyes and begins speaking aloud in a strange, willowy tongue) Halbarad: What is this? Peyote: Shh! Close your eyes, or be blinded! (continues to speak, and the female voice answers him in the same odd tongue) Halbarad: (reluctantly closes his eyes) Alindyar: (closes his eyes but also raises the carpet level several more feet) Hmm. Lyra: (hugs Alindyar, eyes closed) Peldor: (thinking bold thoughts, peeks through one closed eyelid at the approaching female voices - there are two now!) Wow! The thief saw a dazzling sight; two nearly nude women, who looked quite human, had entered the clearing. They were definitely the most beautiful women Peldor had seen in a long, long time. Then his eyes tingled and his vision blurred... Peldor: Aaaaah! (rubbing his eyes madly) nymph#1: I told you to close your eyes. (regards Peldor) nymph#2: He's a cute one though, isn't he? nymph#1: Yes... Peldor: (leaps forward and opens his eyes) Aha! I was simply bluffing! No puny magic ensnares the great Peldor's eyes! ...Even if it is cast by two lovely flowers of the flesh such as you two... nymph#2: (blushes) Alindyar: Flowers of the flesh?!?!? Peldor: I am Peldor, renowned hero, protector of all woodland beings, especially forest nymphs - Ow! (his ring is tingling now, as his verbal exploits become greater) Alindyar: (no longer able to stand this) It is safe to look now, I assume? Peldor: Sure! (kisses nymph#2's hand gently) My pleasure. nymph#2: Ah... nymph#1: You may all open your eyes without fear of harm. Peyote: (does so) I am he who spoke to you first. nymph#1: Of course. Peyote: We are here to find evil in this woodland and subsequently eliminate it, as one might a festering tumor in the heart of- Peldor: (to nymphs) What he means is, have you seen any evildoers lately? Alindyar: (to Lyra) Methinks they are looking at one now...ah, that reminds me. (uncovers his crystal ball, and peers into it for a glimpse of the sea group) nymph#1: We shall aid you. Peldor: Oh, really? Alindyar: (sees the sea group fighting pirates in a great ship- to-ship battle in a rapid river) Well, _they_ are certainly enjoying themselves...(puts the crystal ball away) I hope that Mongo can swim. Peldor: (staring at nymph#2) nymph#2: Until recently, we saw men all the time, in this area. Peldor: Of course, none were as great of body and deed as Peldor, but still... Halbarad: Quiet, fool. nymph#2: (watching Peldor, smiling, thinking romantic thoughts) nymph#1: But we have not seen any in quite some time. nymph#2: We did talk for a bit with a dark-skinned woman. She said she was headed home, to the northwest. We know because of our magical powers that she told the truth...but yet, she seemed foreboding... Peldor: (senses due to his ring that the nymphs are telling the truth too) Aha! (turns to the others) That's our man! Err, woman! Let's go and find her! Always first to help a good cause, that's Peldor! Underestimated by some, unappreciated by most... nymph#1: Find her? Do you think that _she_ is causing the disappearances? Peldor: Naturally. (faces nymph#2) I think that we should talk more, you and I - in private. (NOTE : Remember that our favorite thief recently guzzled a philter of persuasiveness found in an ancient tower - a potion that, unbeknownst to Peldor, was made to have this effect permanently!!!) nymph#2: Oh! (Peldor's hand has found its way to her posterior) Peldor: Shall we talk for a bit? nymph#2: Yes...(they walk away into the woods) nymph#1: What is this?!? Peldor: Let's take a break, guys. We can lunch with these women and rest our weary feet. (disappears with the nymph) nymph#1: (fuming) Gah! Peyote: Calm down. Tell me about this dark-skinned woman. Alindyar: (off of his carpet, leans closer) Yes. Tell us about her... So it was that they all rested for an hour or so. When it was time to move on, Peldor was nowhere to be found... Halbarad: Where has that rascal gotten to now? nymph#1: We can find him, er, them. (wanders into the woods nearby) Follow me. Peyote: (shrugs) Okay. (the party follows her a short way into the forest) They came upon Peldor and the other nymph within a minute or two. The thief was relaxing on a bed of soft grass, an idiotic grin on his face. The nymph was busy cooing to him while weaving flowers into his hair. Alindyar: My, my. You seem...enchanted, young man. Peldor: (smiling) Yea...(dreamily gazes into the sky) Peyote: Flowers, man! You're a flower child now for sure! Halbarad: Get off of your lazy butt, thief. We must depart. Peldor: Depart? Leave? nymph#2: (adds a tulip to Peldor's flowery crown) Hee hee. Lyra: (in drow, to Alindyar) He is ensorcelled... Peyote: Wow, man. Peldor: (grins mindlessly) Time to go? Alindyar: Verily, the fool seems charmed... Peyote: Yup. nymph#1: Release the man, sister. He must help his friends now. nymph#2: Oh, okay. (to Peldor) You must go now. But come back and see us sometime. Peldor: Yes, dear. (gets up, still grinning) Halbarad: (grabs Peldor by the scruff of the neck) Come along, you. They departed, Peldor still wearing the wreath of flowers and smiling mindlessly. The nymphs really had no idea what the dark woman was all about, but they wished the party luck anyway. Peldor remained loopy for several minutes, then seemed to come around, looking at his flowers in amazement. Moving northwest, the party did not have to wait long for the next encounter. A beautiful young girl was sitting against a tree trunk, weeping. She turned to face them as they approached. girl: <sob> Halbarad: What is the matter? Peyote: A damsel in distress! Peldor: (moves toward the girl) Peldor shall comfort you, young waif. Alindyar: (frowning as he regards the girl) Wait... Lyra: (regarding Alindyar) ...? girl: (takes Peldor's hand and whispers to him) Don't let them hurt me...protect me... <sob> Peldor: (fails his save) Don't...let...them...hurt...you. Alindyar: (sees through an illusion) Beware, thief! That is no girl! Peldor: (turns around, looking dully) Don't hurt her. (draws his sword) I won't _let_ you hurt her. Alindyar: (groans) Not again... Peyote: Rats! next time: no more little girl; the outpost is found FTP SITE: ccosun.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) ******************************************************************** NOTES: Time is hard to come by these days...sorry for the long wait on this one...I still have a 7 page paper to write by Friday (the cultural meaning of the $1 bill - oh BOY)... ******************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to persons or characters * either real or fictional is utterly coincidental. Copying and/or * distribution of these stories is permissible only under the one * condition that no part of them will be used or sold for profit. * In that case, I hope you enjoy them. ***** ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY (temporarily split up; this is the "land" group): Alindyar, 9th level drow elf mage (N) Lyra, 5th level female drow elf mage (LE/N) [pseudo-prisoner] Halbarad, 8th level human ranger (NG) Peldor, 10th level human thief (N) Peyote, 7th/8th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 12/20/570 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: late afternoon Place: the forest to the north of the town of Tragidore ------------------------------------------------------------------ LXIV. The Hideaway The party found a crying girl, and Peldor was affected in a strange way after trying to comfort her... Peldor: (turns around, looking dully) Don't hurt her. (draws his sword) I won't _let_ you hurt her. Peyote: Rats! Halbarad: I see only one rat - Peldor. Alindyar: (not fooled by the "girl" or her illusion due to his keen intelligence, sees a half-goat, half-woman thing grinning evilly next to Peldor) Beware! That is no girl, but rather a monster of some sort! Peldor: Monster? (moves to protect the goat/girl, which his charmed mind sees as a young girl in need of help) Back, or Peldor shall have to show his wrath! Peyote: (sees a little girl) Huh? Halbarad: (sees a lamia) Foul vermin! (unslings his axe) I am with you, mage! Lyra: (sees a lamia) ! (in drow) That is one ugly bitch! lamia: (casts mirror image, making 6 other images of herself) Help! Why are you people attacking me? Protect me, you! (pokes Peldor) Peldor: Yes! Peldor stands ever-ready to protect the innocent! (attacks Halbarad) Back, you goody-two-shoes dork! Halbarad: (parrying) The thief is mad. Peyote: What the hell's going _on_ here?!?!? (signals his two wild boars to stay put) Hold, greasy ones. boars: (itching to attack somebody) Grr! Snort! Lyra: (in drow) The she-beast has them all confused. Alindyar: I beg your pardon? Lyra: Except you, of course. (casts a shield spell upon herself) Alindyar: Indeed. (begins spellcasting) Peldor: (engaged in deadly melee with Halbarad) I've had it up to here (holds his free hand up to his neck) with you, you fool! How dare you attack innocent girls?!? Halbarad: You are mad, thief. (parries another slashing attack) Mad, and bewitched. Peyote: (casts entangle on the ground under everyone but himself) Cease this stupidity at once! Alindyar: (in the air on his carpet, of course) Good move. Now you have her - it - them - right where I want them. (casts a web onto some of the lamia's images) Halbarad: (stuck by the roots, grapples with Peldor) Stop your fighting, you crazed rascal. Peldor: (also stuck) Never! (they wrestle) lamia: (most of images under the web dissolve; she saves against the druidical entangle anyway) Ha ha ha! (all the images now gallop away) Lyra: (in drow) Damn! Alindyar: You can say that again. Lyra: (in drow) Damn! Peyote: Hey! She - they - are getting away! (hastily finds his wand of wonder and aims it at the fleeing lamia/images) Stop! lamia: (laughing and becoming more distant) Ha ha ha! Peyote: Okay, I warned you. (fires the wand, and all of the lamias/images suddenly disappear) Huh? Alindyar: Good work. Peyote: (wondering what in the hell he just _did_) Lyra: (in drow) Who knows where _she_ went? (shrugs) Peldor: (suddenly, no longer charmed) Hmm? (looks around) Wha- HEY! Why am I stuck in roots and vines?!? Get me out of here at once! Halbarad: You fell under the spell of some foul goat-thing and were mindless. Alindyar: (to Lyra, in drow) He is usually mindless anyhow. Lyra: (giggles) Peldor: Stop laughing at me. Hey, Peyote, how about freeing us now? Peyote: Sure, dude. (cancels the spell) Let's get a move on - that girl or whatever was surely not the source of the missing men. Halbarad: I doubt it, and don't call me Shirley. Peldor: Hey! Did I hear that right? Did Mr. Axe-and-Dagger Goody-Two-Shoes actually make a _joke_? Halbarad: (scowling) Peyote: Very funny, dude. (wanders northward) Shortly, they saw that the trees ahead thinned out abruptly, revealing a clearing of sorts. They advanced a bit, and saw a squat, cylindrical tower-like building, over a hundred feet in diameter and constructed of stone blocks. No windows were visible, but a recess on the east face held a pair of large wooden doors... Peldor: Quiet, now. We'll sneak up on the place, and...wait, wait, wait. Better yet, Let _me_ sneak up on the place, and I'll take care of the lock. Then the rest of you can follow. Halbarad: Go then. Hurry it up. Peldor: (sheathes & unsheathes his sword, becoming invisible, and runs over to the door, presumably) Peyote: I wish we could see him. Halbarad: Then again, if _we_ could, then so could any guards. Peyote: Good point. Alindyar: (casts Invisibility on Lyra) Lyra: (in drow) Muchly appreciated. Halbarad: Eh?! Where did she go? Alindyar: (casts Improved Invisibility on himself) To the same place I went. Nowhere. Peyote: (grinning) Halbarad: (looks at Peyote) You wouldn't... Peyote: Yep. (slips on his ring, going invisible) Heh heh. Halbarad: Argh. (puts his head in his hands) meanwhile... Peldor: (at the big doors, picking the locks, remembers not to whistle while doing so) ... Alindyar: (prepares to move, on foot now - the carpet has been stashed away in his bag) Lyra: (casts a Shield spell on Halbarad as well) Halbarad: (tingles) What?!? Alindyar: Lyra just afforded you a spell of protection. Halbarad: Uhh...my thanks, then. Alindyar: (in drow) He gives his thanks. Lyra: (happy, smiles invisibly) Peyote: (whispering) Look! The doors open! Peldor was successful! Alindyar: That, or else he has been slain... Halbarad: Let us move out, then. Slowly and quietly! (uses his ranger skills to try and do so) Soon, they were all inside the doors, which were quickly closed to avoid possible detection should someone show up. Halbarad opted to lead the way, by virtue of simply walking out in front of the invisible party before anyone else could (a la Mongo). Halbarad: (sneaking along quietly, down a hall which opens into a larger room) others: (following him; Alindyar and Lyra both cast Fly on themselves first) The ranger moved past some pillars into a larger open area. He was just as surprised as the two slim, dark-skinned warriors who moved quickly to flank him. drow warrior#1: You! You are an intruder here! We have you surrounded! Drop that big axe and your knife, and surrender, else we shall slay you on the spot! drow warrior#2: (menaces Halbarad) Halbarad: (cockily) Really? (holds up his weapons) Hah! drow warrior#1: You are outnumbered and outskilled. (they both move closer quickly, shortswords raised) Prepare to die, human fool! Halbarad: You can never beat me. drow warrior#2: (smirking) Why not? Halbarad: Because I know something that you do not... drow warrior#1: (shrieks suddenly, as a sword point pops out of his neck) Aaaaugh! Gurgle gurgle...(falls) Halbarad: ...See? Peldor: (appears) Ha. Peldor's mastery prevails yet again. drow warrior#2: (slashes Halbarad, nicking him, and then fills the room with darkness) Aie! Halbarad: (can't see a thing) Damnation! drow warrior#2: (emerges from the darkness sphere, intending to flee and summon help) Alindyar: (invisible, sails over the darkness and casts Forget upon the drow warrior) drow warrior#2: (somehow fails his magic resistance check _and_ his save, forgets the events of the past minute) Eh? Lyra: (flies out of the darkness) Peyote: (charges from the darkness, but runs into a wall) Oof! Peldor: (slithers out of the darkness by feeling along one stony wall) ... Halbarad: (slowly wanders about in the darkness) Damn. Alindyar: (casts a Color Spray on the drow) drow warrior: (shrugs off the spell) What is this?!? Lyra: (having no offensive spells, she simply watches) Peyote: (sees the drow warrior, and charges him) Aaaaa! drow warrior: (perceiving Lyra to be the greatest threat, casts Faerie Fire around her, and then charges her) Hah! Lyra: (in drow) Is that the best you can do? Hah! (realizes that the warrior is bearing down on her) Uh-oh. Peyote: Hai! (intercepts the warrior, slashing him deeply as he runs by) drow warrior: Argh! (slumps) Peldor: (suddenly runs up and hacks at the drow from the front, slaying him) Hah! It's Peldor again! Alindyar: I suppose we cannot question him now that he is dead... Shortly, they all recovered and examined the chamber as best they could. Tapestries revealed that this place was some kind of dark elf home - one mural depicted a few of the drow overcoming many humans in battle. Another showed the life of a female drow, eventually being served by human slaves. Lyra was quick to identify this person as Zara, the evil drow mage of no small power. The party rested and prepared to check out the only exit, a door to the north. next time: more dark elves FTP SITE: ccosun.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) ******************************************************************** NOTES: Do lamias drain Wisdom _permanently_? Can a mage cast a Shield spell on others? Did the cow jump over the moon? Yee-haa! ******************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to persons or characters * either real or fictional is utterly coincidental. Copying and/or * distribution of these stories is permissible only under the one * condition that no part of them will be used or sold for profit. * In that case, I hope you enjoy them. ***** ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY (temporarily split up; this is the "land" group): Alindyar, 9th level drow elf mage (N) Lyra, 5th level female drow elf mage (LE/N) [pseudo-prisoner] Halbarad, 8th level human ranger (NG) Peldor, 10th level human thief (N) Peyote, 7th/8th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 12/20/570 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: early evening Place: a circular building hidden within some forest ------------------------------------------------------------------ LXV. Invading the Complex The party has found and entered a stone building, and defeated a pair of drow guards. They are now prepared to open a door and explore further... Halbarad: Here is the plan. Peldor checks the door, and then opens it. I shall go through first, followed by Peyote, and then the mage, err, mages, and Peldor last. Peldor: Great. I open the door but go last. Ah, well, the life of a good thief has its ups and downs... Halbarad: Who ever said that you were a _good_ thief? Peyote: (unsheathes his bastard sword) Sounds good to me, dude, let's do it. Just one question - where do the boars fit in? (points to the snorting boars, who have done a good job of tracking mud from outside into the room) boars: Snort! Grunt! Slurp! Halbarad: Hmm. Peyote: I say let them go first. That way, they'll provide cover for us to charge. Halbarad: This sounds unusual, but we could give it a try. Peldor: Whatever, let's just get the ball rolling, okay? Halbarad: (shrugs) Get the boars to the door, then. Peyote: (does so) Cool. Alindyar: I am ready. Peldor: (listens at the thick door) I hear some people having an argument. The door is not locked, also. Halbarad: Prepare yourselves. (hefts his axe) Peyote: Check. Peldor: (sheathes his sword, becoming invisible) Peyote: (slips on his ring, also becoming invisible) Halbarad: (irritated) Alindyar: (readies his wand of missiles) Lyra: (nervous about having to combat her former companions) Peldor: Here goes. (opens the door and gets out of the way) Beyond the door was a large kitchen. Therein stood a trio of orcs in leather aprons, being scolded by a female drow. All four of them turned in surprise when the door opened. Peyote: (to party) I bet she screams "Intruders!" any second now... drow female: (draws sword) Intruders! Kill them! orcs: (grab meat cleavers) Peyote: Hah! (prods the boars, speaking to them in boar-ish grunts and squeals) Go! boars: (charge into the room, intending to trample) orcs: Yaaaa! (turn and flee in random directions) drow female: Damn! (casts darkness upon the party) Halbarad: Curses! Foiled again! (tries to get through the magical hemisphere of darkness) Peyote: (trying to do the same thing, bumps into the ranger) Dude? Peldor: (follows a wall into the room, by touch) Alindyar: (fires magic missiles from his wand at the last visible location where he saw the drow female) The four bolts of energy flew into the kitchen, missing the drow and the orcs but shattering some jars of slop. One missile hit a row of hanging knives and cleavers, knocking them in all directions. Meanwhile, the boars had each gored an orc to death already, and the last of the piggish humanoids had leapt up onto a counter and was throwing cleavers at the boars. The drow female had retreated to one side and was opening an door. Peldor: (emerges from the darkness, still invisible; spots the drow about to escape) Uh-oh! (uses his ring of telekinesis to push the door shut before she can get through it) drow female: (pulling ineffectually at the door, which won't budge) What sorcery is this?!?! (wheels, sword ready, but can't see Peldor) Damn, damn, damn! Halbarad: (runs out of the darkness and trips over a table, falling in a heap near the drow) Ooooooops! drow female: Aha! (takes a few steps and chops at the fallen ranger with her shortsword) Die! Halbarad: (manages to block with his axe, just in time) Not so fast, base villainess! orc: (still atop the counter, hits a boar with a hurled knife) Hah hah! boars: (trying to get to the orc, unsuccessfully, since the counter is too high above the floor) Grrr... Peldor: (uses his ring to trip the orc, causing him to fall amidst the pair of wild boars) Heh heh. boars: (quite enraged, rush upon the orc) Snort! orc: AAAAAUUUGH! (meets a timely end) Peyote: (emerges from the darkness, looks around) Hmm. Much has happened since we entered. Wild, dude. (realizes that he's talking to himself and shuts up) Alindyar: (somewhere within the darkness) Come, Lyra. We must get through this infernal spell and help the others. Lyra: (wondering in her NPC mind why she, like Alindyar, cannot use the innate drow spells) Halbarad: (parries another slashing attack and leaps to his feet) On guard, woman! drow female: (in common) I shall enjoy cutting your liver from your belly, warrior! (they close and begin melee anew) Halbarad: (dances around an overturned chair, stabs with his dagger, cutting the drow) Aha! drow female: (slashes the ranger, inflicting a shallow cut across his chest) Bah! You shall perish! (subtly backing toward the narrow passage to the south, which leads into some other area) Halbarad: Agh! (looks down at his wound, then at the drow) You missed the liver...(chops at her, missing narrowly) Peyote: (corrals the two wild boars, which have started running around the room destroying everything they can) Whoa, there! Alindyar: (emerges from the darkness) Where is the drow? Oh, there she is. Lyra: (in common) Beware that one, she is a great warrior! Peyote: (turns) Eh?!? Alindyar: (looks quizzically at Lyra) You can speak common?!? Lyra: (in common) Of course. Now that I see that I can trust your companions, I need not resort to our own tongue. Alindyar: Hmm. Lyra: (to Alindyar) Except, of course, in personal discussions. Alindyar: Hmm. Halbarad: (exchanging blows with the drow female) Your skill is great - but nowhere near my own. Surrender! drow female: Don't make me laugh. (backing toward the passage behind her) Peldor: (already in place behind her, though; backstabs with great force) Good night. drow female: AUGH! (whirls and slashes at Peldor, drawing a line of blood across his arm; then falls, dead) Peldor: Damn! (wipes his wound on the woman's tunic) No one has _ever_ lived through one of my backstabs long enough to attack me... Halbarad: Nice job. With you around, though, we may never get a prisoner to question. You are a toned-down Belphanior... Peyote: Not so fast, dude. (bends over the body, and touches its forehead with the Rod of Life and Death) Speak to me, O dead drow woman! drow female: (animated by the Rod's magic, speaks in drow) Go to hell. Peyote: In _Common_, dammit! drow female: (in Common) Go to hell. Peyote: Tell me of this place. drow female: It is a round stone tower. Peyote: Enough of this back-talk! How many drow are here?!? drow female: Too many for you to defeat. Peyote: We shall see about that. Where are the missing men from the town of Tragidore? drow female: In the depths of the earth...(becomes still) Peyote: I guess she had no more to say, dudes. DM: Guess so. Alindyar: She has said enough, though. Lyra: We had best be on guard. Halbarad: I was not aware that you spoke Common, mage. Lyra: What, did you think that all of these other drow did, but not me? That would make no sense, now would it? Halbarad: I suppose not... Peyote: (puts his Rod away) What next? Halbarad: We must explore this area, quickly, before more guards arrive. Peldor: Makes sense to me. (begins exploring the pockets of the slain drow) They looked around, finding that the kitchen had two storage chambers to the south. One contained dishes and food, while the other was a holding cell, and contained two human males. To the south was a richly (though tastelessly) decorated dining room, with deep red and black hangings and furniture. Halbarad: (freeing the men) Who are you? What do you know of this place and your captors? man: Ugh. We were part of a group that broke in here a few days ago. They've been keeping us here, without food or drink... Peyote: (on cue, casts Create Food & Water) Here, feast away. man: Oh, thank the gods! (begins cramming food into his mouth at a rapid clip) other man: (likewise) Halbarad: They remind me of Mongo when he eats... Alindyar: Hmm. 'Tis time to check on the others again, perhaps. (gets his crystal ball out, and looks into it while thinking of the other party) Peyote: (to men) What else do you know? man: <glmph> There's a secret stairway in the dining room. other man: It probably <munch> leads to the mines. Halbarad: Mines? man: <gulp> Yea, that's where the men are being put to work. other man: <burp> Mining gold for the drow. Alindyar: How insidious. (sees the sea party sailing merrily along a river) Hmm. They remain bored, still. Lyra: We should help the humans. Halbarad: We shall. (looking around) I spy one door out of here, in addition to that possible secret stairway. Peldor? Peldor: (poking around the dining room) Yep, here it is, all right. (brushes aside a hanging tapestry to reveal a passage going downward) One stairway down, as ordered. Peyote: Why don't you dudes come with us? man: Uhh...no, we can't. other man: We can barely _walk_, we are so weak. man: We would just get in the way. other man: Yea. Halbarad: All right, then. You stay here and come out if you hear us later. Only then. man: Okay. The party decided to check out the door first, since most of this floor seemed discovered already, and they did not want to get ambushed by potential attackers after descending the stairs. Peldor: (listening at the door) I hear nothing. (opens the portal, revealing a long north-south hallway with two visible doors, and a chest at the far/south end) Halbarad: (points at the nearer of the two doors) Peldor: (becomes invisible, listens at the door) Peyote: (remembers to slip his ring on, also goes invisible) boars: (pawing the ground mindlessly) Halbarad: (prepares to go in once Peldor opens the door) Peldor: (has finished his examination, whispers) No traps. (opens the door) Beyond this door was a small room, holding four bunks, each with a pair of small supply chests next to it. The chamber had only one occupant, a drow sleeping deeply in his bunk. Peldor moved to slash the warrior's throat, but was stopped suddenly as Halbarad grabbed the scruff of his neck and held him in place. Obviously, the ranger did not want to see wanton bloodshed - but it was impossible for the party to communicate while they were all trying not to wake the sleeper. Unfortunately for them, the decision was taken out of their hands, as one of the boars bit down hard on the other's haunch, eliciting a loud squeal of pain... boar: SQUEAL!!! drow warrior: (awakens, grabs his sword) What?!? Halbarad: Damnation! (unslings his axe) Peyote: (scolds the boars) Snort! Squeal! Oink! boars: (fighting amongst themselves) Alindyar: (he and Lyra are forced out into the hall by the boars underfoot) I cannot believe this... Peldor: Greetings. I am Peldor. (slashes at the drow, nicking him on one leg) Damn! drow warrior: Then you are a fool. I shall gut you, human! (moves to melee Peldor, who is somewhat closer to him than Halbarad) Just then, the other door to the south opened, and two more male drow warriors ran out into the hall, exclaiming and pointing at the party. Actually, they could only see Alindyar and Lyra, and the boars, who were in the hall by now. Perhaps the sight of two unfamiliar drow took them aback, giving Alindyar the mere second he needed to come up with a plan and implement it. Alindyar: (kicks one boar, causing it to look up and spot the two drow warriors) Yah! boar: Snort! (charges at the two drow) other boar: (follows the first boar's example) Grunt! (they both tear down the hall toward the surprised drow warriors) male drow warriors: (in drow) Holy shit! Lyra: Heh heh. next time: A rollicking good time FTP SITE: ccosun.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) ******************************************************************** NOTES: Peyote didn't see why it might be a bad idea to bring along boars on a "stealth" mission, so I conveniently forgot to remind him that he forgot to tell them to be quiet... Tonight is game 5 of the NLCS. If and when the Braves win this series (they're up 3-1 so far) I shall post a 30K episode in celebration of this greatness. Furthermore, if/when they win the World Series, I shall post a 50K+ episode... GO BRAVES !!! ******************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to persons or characters * either real or fictional is utterly coincidental. Copying and/or * distribution of these stories is permissible only under the one * condition that no part of them will be used or sold for profit. * In that case, I hope you enjoy them. ***** ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY (temporarily split up; this is the "land" group): Alindyar, 9th level drow elf mage (N) Lyra, 5th level female drow elf mage (LE/N) [pseudo-prisoner] Halbarad, 8th level human ranger (NG) Peldor, 10th level human thief (N) Peyote, 7th/8th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 12/20/570 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: evening Place: a circular building hidden within some forest ------------------------------------------------------------------ LXVI. The Ringleaders The party is amidst great chaos - Peldor and Halbarad face an angry, recently-awakened drow warrior, while Peyote stands at the doorway to that chamber. Alindyar and Lyra are about to cast spells at two more drow warriors down the hallway, who are backing up quickly as Peyote's pair of summoned wild boars charge at them full-tilt. All of this has happened within the last ten seconds... Peldor: Ho! Ha-ha! Guard! Turn! Parry! Dodge! Spin! Ha! Thrust! (stabs the drow, wounding him) drow warrior#0: Agh! (slashes at Peldor, but the nimble thief ducks under his sword) Stop dancing about, fool! Peldor: Never! (makes a face at the drow) Halbarad: (moves to flank the drow) I do not suppose you wish to surrender? drow warrior#0: Go to hell! (swipes at the ranger) Halbarad: (sighs) nearby... boars: (charging the two drow in the hallway) Snort! drow warrior#1: (running) Where in the Abyss did _they_ come from?!? drow warrior#2: I have no idea. (they keep running) Alindyar: (begins spellcasting) Lyra: (has no useful spells to cast) Hmph! (reaches over and fishes Alindyar's wand from his pack) Peyote: (sort of caught in the middle, the doorway, looks back and forth, sword drawn) Wow, dude. drow warrior#1: (slows down to make a break for the door he came out of) Whoa! boars: (they trample the unfortunate dark elf underfoot) drow warrior#2: Bad idea, friend. (gets to the end of the hall, thanks to the boars being slowed down a bit at the expense of his companion) Where is that trap? Ah! boars: (headed for the drow at the end of the hall) Grr! drow warrior#2: (covers his mouth with his cloak, opens the chest at the end of the hall - a green gas billows out) boars: (mindlessly charge into the gas) drow warrior#2: (backs up, then runs and makes a flying leap over the boars, and lands in the middle of the hallway) You! (points at Lyra with his drawn sword) Traitor! (charges Alindyar and Lyra) Alindyar: I wonder what _he_ is so worked up about? Lyra: They just want to kill me, since I ran away a while back. boars: (breathing the gas, as might be expected, they drop) Peyote: Dude! You slew my boars! drow warrior: Actually, it is only sleep gas. But that should not make any difference to them. Alindyar: (casts Color Spray at the drow) drow warrior: (looks at the kaleidoscope of colors around him as they dissipate) Not good enough, mage. (resumes his approach to Alindyar and Lyra) Peyote: Gnarly color effects, though. (steps in front of the two drow) Back, dude. And dudette. I shall defend you. (charges the drow warrior) Lyra: I can help, too. (fires three magic missiles from Alindyar's wand, at the drow warrior) drow warrior: (hit by the magical bolts, reels) Argh! You shall surely die for that, bitch! Peyote: Chill, dude. (slashes the drow, wounding him badly) drow warrior: Yargh! Damn, that hurts. (stabs Peyote in the leg) Peyote: Argh! (clutches his bleeding leg) Okay, dude. I'm through toying with you. (they begin meleeing once more, and the half-elf delivers a chopping blow to this opponent, cleaving his head in two) Whoa, dude! Messy...what a way to go! in the other room... Peldor: (distracting the drow with his prattle) Halbarad: (dispatches their opponent with an axe blow) Yet another one falls. Peldor: Of course. I never thought he was a good warrior, anyway. If he had been, then _I_ would have had to slay him, rather than allowing _you_ to. Halbarad: Oh. (wipes his axe on a rag) I am much more confident now, knowing that you will handle the greater dangers. Peldor: (shrugs) What can I say? I am Peldor. Soon, they regrouped, and stacked the drow bodies in one of the rooms. Then they searched both rooms, finding some gold and silver coinage - and a potion. Peyote: (gets his Rod and touches it to the cut on his leg, causing the wound to close up) Ahh. The power is mine... Halbarad: (wondering about the half-elf's sanity) Peldor: Time to go down those stairs! Alindyar: Verily. Lyra: (examining the potion bottle they found) Hmm. Halbarad: (looking at the two sleeping boars) Peyote: We'll just leave the boars here for now. It's not like they can cause any more trouble than they already have. (sighs) Halbarad: Aye. Lyra: (to Alindyar, in drow) I would be much more effective in a combat situation if you lent me this wand for a while. Alindyar: (amused that she has the wand in her hand) You are not a thief, are you? Lyra: No. (smiles) Just a mage who hasn't been allowed to study any offensive spells. Alindyar: Very well, retain the wand for now. We shall see about your spells later... They made their way to the winding staircase downward, and prepared to descend. Peldor: (examining the first step for traps) Hmm. Something is funny here. Halbarad: What is that? Peldor: This first stair looks unused - the carpet isn't even worn. But the second step is well-worn. Then, the third step is new, and so on... Alindyar: No doubt a devious, if simplistic, trap. Peldor: Yeah. I suggest that we use only the well-worn steps and avoid stepping on the others. Peyote: Makes sense to me, dude. Halbarad: Aye. (he leads the party down the stairs) At the bottom of the stairway was a supply room, containing a lot of mining tools and implements. The room was shaped like a quarter-circle, with a radius of perhaps sixty feet. A single closed door to the southeast provided egress. Alindyar: Methinks these items are used in the mines referenced by that elf. Peldor: Yea. Halbarad: (poking around the chamber) There is nothing here. Let us check out that door. Peyote: Yeah, man. (sword drawn, he waits) Peldor: (checks for traps on the door) No traps here, guys. But it _is_ locked. Though not for long. (goes to work on the lock) Lyra: (glancing around) Peldor: (gets the door opened, revealing a square twenty-foot room with a five-foot wide circular shaft in the floor) Hmm. (enters the room and looks down) Can't see a damned thing in there. Halbarad: Look there. Three other, similar doors lead out as well, besides the one we used to enter. Alindyar: Perhaps we should try those first. Yonder shaft may cut more deeply into the earth than you are prepared for... Peldor: (checks another door, then unlocks and opens it) Okay. Another quarter-circular room was revealed; it appeared to be some kind of library. Though sparsely decorated, it contained two large bookshelves full of books as well as small baubles and items. A circular table in the room's center had a crystal ball resting atop it. Alindyar: Touch nothing! (casts Detect Magic) Peldor: Crystal ball... Halbarad: Much evil knowledge is contained within those books and tomes, no doubt. Peyote: No doubt, man. Alindyar: (scanning the chamber) Nothing. Nothing! None of this is magical. Except that crystal ball there. Peldor: I'll check it out. (touches the ball, and a loud POP is heard, as he is thrown back against a wall, his hair on end) Yow! Alindyar: I told you not to touch anything... Peldor: Agh. Must have been some kind of electrical trap. Fortunately, my mighty constitution proved enough to save me from its perils. Peyote: No way, dude. You just got lucky. Alindyar: It is but a trap, not a scrying device, I suspect. (examines the books on a shelf) Leave it be. Lyra: (likewise examining the books) This is Zara's reading material, I am certain of it! Alindyar: 'Twould seem so, especially since most of the titles are in drow script. Lyra: Oh come now. With books such as "The Art of Torture" and "Creative Sacrifices to Lolth", how can there be doubt? Alindyar: Good point. Peldor: (searching under the small table) Halbarad: Wha-? Zounds! The door has shut itself! (grabs the knob) It is held fast. Locked! Peldor: (goes to check the door out) Hmm. Calm down. Alindyar: There is nothing of use here. The witch must keep her spellbooks elsewhere. Lyra: Oh, well. Peldor: (unlocks the door, and opens it) It was simply shut and locked, that's all. No magic - just a clever spring mechanism. We should wedge doors like this open, so we don't get stuck in a jam with no time for me to unlock them. Halbarad: Agreed. Peldor: (gets an iron spike and jams the door open) There. Peyote: Let's check out the other rooms here. I figure we're halfway done, since we've covered two quarter-circular rooms already... Alindyar: Brilliant observation. Lyra: Heh. They moved back into the central shaft room, and Peldor set to work unlocking the next door. When he had accomplished this feat, he opened the door, and Halbarad entered... Halbarad: Uh-oh! Peyote: (enters after the ranger) What? Oh. (assumes a defensive posture) Peldor: (peeks around the corner into the room) Hey! In this third quarter-circular chamber, a living quarters by its appearance, were two angry-looking female drow, glaring at the party with death in their eyes. Lyra: (to one of the female drow) Zara! Zara: There you are, you back-stabbing little traitorous bitch! Lyra: You're one to talk. Zara: (raises her hands to cast a spell) We are ready for you. All of you. Telefe, attack, as planned! Telefe: (the other evil drow) Ha ha ha! (she casts a spell too) Peldor: Ulp. (he backs up quickly, as do the others) They all dove back for cover, as the two drow females let their magic loose. Zara caused a sphere of darkness to appear right where the party was, while Telefe, the lieutenant, made a zone of silence in their vicinity. Suddenly blind as well as deaf and mute, the party understandably panicked... Halbarad: (backs up, tripping with Peyote, and they both fall to the floor cursing soundlessly) Peyote: (really pissed now) Peldor: (gets out of the darkness zone, unsheathes and sheaths his sword, becoming invisible) Alindyar: (he and Lyra appear in the lighted area, holding hands as they retreat) I suppose we are out of the silenced area as well. Where is Peldor? Peldor: (invisible) Right here. What do we do _now_? Alindyar: Spells are not the best option right at the moment. Hurl some oil over our warriors' heads, if you can. (begins spellcasting) Peldor: Good idea! (gets out some oil flasks) I can easily aim over them. I hope. (grins) No, really. No problem at all. (shreds a small cloth sack into strips with his dagger, and quickly inserts them into flasks with Lyra's help) Shit. Hurry, hurry! Alindyar: I shall provide a distraction. (casts a Wall of Fog beyond the darkness zone) That should keep them busy for a few moments. Peldor: Ready! (lights a flask, and hurls it high, into the darkness) Fire in the hole! Halbarad: (within the sphere of darkness, can't hear a thing) Peyote: (likewise) Peldor: (handed another lit flask by Lyra, throws it right after the first one) There was a distant sound of shattering glass, followed by a loud WHOOSH, and then another breaking glass flask with its own WHOOSH. Someone screamed from beyond the darkness, a female scream, and Halbarad was yelling. Lyra sent three magical missiles in the direction of the screams, for good measure. Peldor put his hand on his sheathed sword and invisibly entered the darkness. Peldor: I will check it out. (his voice fades away) Alindyar: (yelling, a rarity) Halbarad! Peyote! Back away toward us! NOW! Halbarad: (though he couldn't hear the mage, he seems to have figured it out, and crawls out of the darkness) Something very hot is happening nearby. Peyote: (leaps out as well) Strange things are afoot beyond the darkness tonight, dude! Alindyar: (pondering spellcasting) nearby... Peldor: (emerges from the darkness as he is scalded by the nearby heat, looks around) The room was aflame, and all of its curtains and furniture seemed ablaze by now. The two drow females were facing away from him, hands held, and one of them was chanting. Peldor had no idea what they were up to, but it looked dangerous, so he approached the nearer one, the one called Telefe, invisibly. Telefe: Is it time? Zara: Yes! The spell takes effect even now... Peldor: (leaps forth and quickly and efficiently unsheathes his sword and backstabs Telefe, causing her to let go of the other one, Zara) Telefe: Aaaaaugh! (falls to the floor) Zara: (glaring daggers at the now-visible thief for a split- second, then vanishes) You shall die for thisssss...... Telefe: (turns to face Peldor) Not good enough, rogue! (she begins spellcasting) Peldor: (tackles her, for distraction purposes) Cast nothing at me, bitch! Telefe: Agh! (her spell is ruined) Damn you! Peldor: (raises his sword) I think not. Telefe: (draws a dagger) Die!!! (slashes at the thief) meanwhile... Alindyar: (about to cast Dispel Magic on the dark/silent zone, but doesn't, as Peldor emerges from the darkness, dragging one of the female drow's bodies with him) Eh? Peldor: Whew! That place is _gone_. Up in flames. But I did get this one's corpse. Halbarad: Whyever? Peyote: (approaches the body, his Rod of Life and Death at the ready) Peldor: So that he could talk to her dead body and find out where all the treasure is kept. Why else? Lyra: What of Zara? Peldor: She teleported away, I think. She looked pissed. Lyra: (to Alindyar) He is smart. Alindyar: Aha. (thinking about spellbooks) Peyote: (touches the corpse) Speak to me. Telefe-body: Urgh. Peyote: Where is Zara now? Telefe-body: I do not know. Peyote: Where is the treasure, then? Telefe-body: Burned away, I suppose. Peyote: What treasure do _you_ have? Telefe-body: Cloak. Peyote: Are there more drow? Telefe-body: Of course. Alindyar: (to Peyote) Ask her about the spellbooks. Peyote: Where are Zara's spellbooks? Telefe-body: Upper left. Bookcase. Peyote: Is the bookcase a trap? Telefe: Maybe. (goes slack) Peyote: Enough questions, I guess. Peldor: (removes the woman's cloak) This may be magical, according to her. I say we keep it. Halbarad: Whatever. Let us search that other room now. The fourth quarter-circular chamber contained many lavish furnishings, a metal bathtub, a great bed, and some fine clothing - but no magical items or treasure. They searched for many minutes, but could find nothing. After that, they went back to the study, and Alindyar pulled some books out of the upper left of both bookcases until he found a secret wall panel. Behind this plate were two heavy, bound tomes of black leather. He took both and stored them in his bag of holding for now, quite happy with himself. The party then made their way back to the center room, with the shaft going down. Peldor: (examining the rim of the hole) Look, here is a stanchion! Someone get a rope... Halbarad: (hands the thief a 50' rope) Tie it on there. We must descend and see what awaits below. Peyote: Cool. I hope it's not one of those bogus dragons or anything. Peldor: (fastens the rope, but Halbarad grabs it) Halbarad: I shall lead. (climbs down, axe in hand) Peldor: (goes second) Peyote: Well. (goes third) Alindyar: (he and Lyra go last) Hmm. The shaft led into a small cavernous area, with a tunnel leading away. They followed it, once all had come down; it led into a much larger cavern. It looked heavily mined, and some foodstuffs were stacked along the southern wall. Two exit tunnels led away; both were in the eastern side of this chamber. They took the northeastern one, and moved quietly along the rocky tunnel. Halbarad: (spots the back of a guard ahead, and bonks him hard on the back of the head with the flat of his axe) Peldor: (now invisible, scurries past the ranger into the medium-sized cavern ahead) This area contained five ragged-looking humans, quite obviously slaves, who were mining away half-heartedly while a pair of sleepy orcs guarded them. Just as one of the orcs spotted the drow guard get knocked out by Halbarad, Peldor's blade found his neck, and he fell to the floor. Lyra used the wand to blast the other orc with three magical missiles before it could shriek, and it, too, fell. The party entered the cavern. Halbarad: (to slaves) Quiet. How many more are there? How many guards? slave: (looks at the others) They're mindless, now. Only I, from this group, was spared the goat-woman's touches. I don't know why...there are at least five more of the dark ones. Plus a dozen orcs, too. They are down the other tunnel from the large chamber. Peyote: Rude deal. slave: These other nearby passages (indicates some) are dead ends. Don't worry about them. Peldor: (to Halbarad) He tells the truth. Halbarad: Good. slave: What should I do? Halbarad: Gather these men, but stay put. We shall deal with the orcs and drow. slave: Okay. Good luck. Peldor: Ah, Peldor needs no luck! Only his great skill. (he is last in line to exit, and slashes the unconscious drow's throat as he walks by) Can't have that guy up and about while we're in a fight... Halbarad: (at the front of the party, failed to notice that) Peyote: (looking over an old scroll he has) Aha! Alindyar: (prepares a spell) Hmm. How best to overcome many opponents, but not injure slaves who might get in the way? Lyra: Quit talking to yourself. They went back to the main chamber, avoiding the dead end tunnels the slave had warned them about. The southeastern passage led around, winding to the right for over a hundred feet. At its end were a few short tunnels, and many voices could be heard from one in particular. Halbarad: (scouts quickly, then returns, whispering) Many slaves, and orcs, and several drow, as well! Alindyar: (whispering) I have a spell, let me by. (he moves to the entrance into the large chamber, and looks in) Hmm. (enters the room) drow sergeant: (whirls to face the new arrival, speaks in drow) Who are you?!? Alindyar: I am the new mage, recently come up from below. See? (holds up his hands, and launches a cone of Fear into the room) slaves: Aie! (they all cower at the enges of the room) orcs: Aie! (they all cower with the slaves, dropping their swords) drow#1: What?!?! (draws his sword) drow#2: Agh! (flees into a corner) drow#3: Bah. (draws his sword) drow#4: Hmph. (draws his sword) drow#5: Prepare to die, fool. (draws his sword) Peyote: Well, at least you dealt with the small fry. Now, though, it's time for plan B. Alindyar: Plan B? Peyote: Yeah. Mud! (he steps forth and casts a spell from a scroll, turning the rock under the drows' feet into mud) drow: Uh-oh! (the four of them all sink into the mud) Peldor: (invisible, sneaks around Alindyar and into the cavern) Peyote: (strolls into the area) Okay, dude. Time for a dispel magic spell! Make that mud back into rock! Alindyar: Err...(casts Dispel Magic, successfully, and the floor is rock once more) Peyote: Way to go, dude. nearby... Peldor: (backstabs the cowering drow) Yep. It's kill or be killed later. Halbarad: Ho there! (sees Peldor about to slay the orcs as they cower in a corner, but then whirls around as one drow male and two orcs come at the party from behind) drow warrior: What is this?!? Where are the others? Halbarad: (gets in front of Alindyar and Lyra to protect them) They are...sunk. drow warrior: (charges, as the orcs flank him) What in the hells are you talking about?!? I will carve some answers on your belly, human! Lyra: (not wanting to risk wasting the wand on the drow, she blasts the two orcs, killing both with the volley of magical missiles) Back! Halbarad: My thanks. (engages the drow in melee, and quickly cuts him deeply) Away, foul one! meanwhile... Peldor: (dispatching orcs in the prisoner area) Ho-hum. Peyote: (freeing the workers, most of whom are listless and dull-looking) Come on, dudes! This is your chance for freedom! Well, it was barely a minute before Halbarad slew the last drow. Some of the slaves said that there were no more, but the party searched the entire tunnel complex thoroughly, just in case. Then, the total of forty men was brought upstairs, with the other two. Halbarad: Time to leave this place. Peyote: What about the fire? Should we just leave it burning in the midst of this woodland? I'm thinking not, dude. Halbarad: Do not worry. I shall meet you outside in a short while. I will take care of it. Go! Peyote: Okay. (whistling, he and the others leave the complex) Come on, guys! Let's split! mob of slaves: (all run out) Aaaaaa! Yeehah! back on the main floor... Halbarad: (to himself) Okay. Time to see if that sage was correct. (gets out his old metal horn, found several adventures back, and cleans the mouthpiece) Ugh. (takes a deep breath and winds the horn) There was an eerie noise, and then the stone and earth all around started to shake and tremble. The ranger sprinted to the structure's entrance, and dashed out into the night. In his stead, the entire building collapsed to the ground, utterly and completely destroyed. Halbarad: (looking innocent) Ho-hum. Alindyar: May I ask? Halbarad: Just testing an item out, that's all. Peldor: (slyly eyeing the ranger) Hmmmmmmm... They made camp about a mile away, and took turns at the watch, while the others got some much-needed rest. The slaves were kept in the center of the encampment, for their own protection. Nothing attacked the party, though, and the night passed peacefully. When morning came, they made their way through the woods and back to Tragidore, where they were greeted with an over- whelming reception. The women and children of the town were in a frenzy as they got their menfolk back. Cheering and festivities commenced immediately, and the adventurers were congratulated profusely. No rest was possible, which was okay, since it was only noon or so. Peldor tried to find Marta, to pursue his imaginary romances, but learned that one of the returned men was her husband...he thought about going back to find those nymphs but was convinced to simply remain in Tragidore for now and get drunk. The town's temples could apparently restore the lost wits (read : Wisdom) of the ex-slaves who had been drained by the lamia. They also did Peldor a favor and restored his lost wisdom with their magic. The party was not ready to train, but they remained in Tragidore for three days, during which time they engaged in various activities... Alindyar (and Lyra) studied the spellbooks they had recovered from the drow mages, finding that they had great magical incantations (and traps, which were bypassed magically) Halbarad basked in the glory of the party's achievement, playing with children and generally being a good guy. Peldor remained continually drunk throughout the whole affair. Peyote had a good time, and also talked to many animals both in the town and just outside it. He also found new mounts for the party, from the town's stables. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 12/25/570 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: late morning Place: the town of Tragidore, in Ulek ------------------------------------------------------------------ Halbarad: I suppose it is time to get back on the road again. Peldor: Hic! It's been fun. (hefts a sack of reward money given to the party by the town council) Alindyar: Certainly. Lyra: I'm glad to know that those drow are gone. Alindyar: (in drow) Do not forget Zara's escape... Lyra: Oh. Peyote: (petting the two hawks that answered his recent magical summons) Squawrk! They left Tragidore amidst great cheering and whistling, and set out on the open road once more. next time: more wilderness challenges FTP SITE: ccosun.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) ******************************************************************** NOTES: Peyote never intended to have the boars used as cannon fodder - just as an "offensive distraction" if I quote him right. A note: Peldor wasn't as zealous in backstabbing as Belphanior, and certainly didn't have the same flair for it. He simply was unwilling to leave evil enemies alive behind the party... This is the promised "30K" episode, if you didn't know already. As I write this, it is the early morning of the day after NLCS game 7. It was 2-1 Pirates in the bottom of the 9th, 2 outs, bases loaded. The Braves bench was getting slim - Frank Cabrera gets called up to pinch-hit in the do-or-die situation. This guy was awesome in AAA ball and had two pinch-hit home runs for the Braves late this season. So...he strokes a single, man on 3rd scores, then Sid "Laser" Bream from 2nd tears up the field as he runs into home...SAFE! Braves win, 3-2! The GT campus was in an uproar - a huge bonfire was started on east campus, and for two hours, it was screaming mobs, loud music, police, fire trucks, lots of water spraying, and the bonfire with nine lives. I loved every minute of it... So, until Halbarad does the Chop with his axe...GO BRAVES!!! ******************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to persons or characters * either real or fictional is utterly coincidental. Copying and/or * distribution of these stories is permissible only under the one * condition that no part of them will be used or sold for profit. * In that case, I hope you enjoy them. ***** ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY (temporarily split up; this is the "land" group): Alindyar, 9th level drow elf mage (N) Lyra, 5th level female drow elf mage (LE/N) [pseudo-prisoner] Halbarad, 8th level human ranger (NG) Peldor, 10th level human thief (N) Peyote, 7th/8th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 12/25/570 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: afternoon Place: southern Ulek, northeast of Gryrax ------------------------------------------------------------------ LXVII. The Coming of Bosco The party is travelling through some hills in Ulek, after having an adventure involving the small town of Tragidore. Before they know it, the city of Havenhill looms ahead, in the distance... Peyote: Wow, man. (to hawks) Squawk! hawks: Squee! (they fly away, to scout ahead for the party) Peyote: Cool birds. Much better than those boars, if I do say so myself. Alindyar: I agree on that count. Peldor: (wondering what thieving opportunities await in the city ahead) Hmm... Halbarad: We had best stock up well in Havenhill, for the lands that await us beyond yonder city are hostile indeed. Peyote: We'll survive, dude. Lyra: (wondering if Alindyar is going to let her memorize her more useful spells) Soon, they had entered Havenhill, and decided to take lodging for the night. Halbarad went to bed early, while Peyote talked to his hawks. Alindyar and Lyra looked over the spellbooks gained in the last adventure. Peldor, though, went out into the city to see what mischief he could make. Peldor: (wandering along a busy street) Ho-hum. This city is ripe for the picking! Ah, if only Belphanior were here! halfling: (covertly following Peldor) Peldor: (stops to look into a bar) To drink or not to drink, _that_ is the question. halfling: (sneaks up to Peldor amid the crowds, and filches an item from his pocket) Peldor: (watching some whores with great interest) halfling: (scurries off) Hah! Into a dimly-lit alleyway dashed the halfling. He looked back into the street, but there was no sign of pursuit. He had gotten away with his prize - an engraved potion bottle! halfling: Yes! (looks the bottle over) Good stuff, good stuff! Suddenly, the small demi-human was lifted into the air, where his tiny, hairy feet kicked uselessly. He glanced up at the powerful arm that held him there. halfling: Aaaaa! Let me go! Peldor: (holding the little guy aloft with one arm) If you're going to steal something from me, at least get something GOOD. halfling: (looking at the potion bottle) Huh? Peldor: Ah, what to do with you? halfling: Um... Peldor: Cut off the ears? Or maybe the feet? No, no, the hands. That's it! The hands! Now where's that knife I had? halfling: (squealing) No! No! Peldor: (regarding the halfling thief) Hmm. Maybe I can make some use of you. halfling: What's that? Peldor: Well, obviously, you dared to try to steal from the mighty Peldor. So, you are no stranger to risk. halfling: Yeah! That's right! Peldor: But...you were unsuccessful. Which is fine, considering the unblinking eye of Peldor, which of course misses nothing. halfling: Ulp. Peldor: But...it was a pretty good try. So you have skill. halfling: Yes. Yes! Great skill! Peldor: So...although not in the same class as Peldor, you are not lacking for cunning and experience. halfling: Nope! Not me! Peldor: Ah, maybe I'll kill you anyway. halfling: No! No! I'll go with you, help you. Surely you have some great quest which needs the skills of Bosco! Peldor: Bosco? Bosco: Yeah, Bosco! Thief, lockpicker, scout. Greetings! (extends a hand) Peldor: Okay. (clasps the halfling's hand) I am, of course, Peldor. (sets the halfling down onto the ground) Have my legends spread to this city? Bosco: Uh...no. Not yet, anyway. Peldor: We'll have to do something about that. Anyway, you will be my henchman, accompanying me on adventures of great danger and fame. Bosco: Okay! Sounds like fun! Peldor: But I warn you - you had best behave yourself. Those whom I travel with have no tolerance for thieves. Bosco: Then how do they tolerate _you_? Peldor: I am more than a thief, I am a hero. They respect me for that, I think. Bosco: Whatever. Peldor: I shall guarantee you a fair share of loot - a henchman sized share, of course - but you must remain loyal, and do not steal from the party. Only I can do that. Bosco: Sounds good. Peldor: But, I will tell you this: I can detect lies. Bosco: Really? Peldor: Yep. So don't even think about lying in my presence. If you don't screw up, you'll have the adventures of your life. Bosco: Understood. Peldor: Come, let us find a bar and talk further. Do you play cards? Bosco: Only the basic thirty-seven card games... Peldor: Excellent! (claps the halfling on the back) Oh, and by the way... Bosco: Hmm? Peldor: ...Give me that potion back. Bosco: Potion? Oh, _this_ potion... Peldor: Ah! A man after my own heart! (they head for a sleazy bar) Heh, heh. The next morning, the party had regrouped at a table in the inn they chose the night before. A sly-looking halfling was sitting next to Peldor, though, a fact which did not escape the others. Halbarad: Who, pray tell, is _that_? Peldor: This is Bosco, everyone. He's my new manservant! Alindyar: Manservant? Lyra: A valet? What need has Peldor for a valet? Peyote: (to hawks) Squark! Peldor: He will be accompanying us for a bit. Halbarad: I trust him like I trust you, Peldor - not at all. Bosco: Oh, come on! I'm a swell guy! Peyote: I hope my hawks don't eat you, dude. Bosco: Ulp. Halbarad: Whatever. But you two had better not do anything questionable. Like robbing us, or people in cities we may be in, etcetera. No misbehavior! Peldor: Who, me? Lyra: Heh. They left Havenhill shortly, and traveled for three days in a northeastern direction. The Suss forest loomed ahead, and without many second thoughts, they entered its gloomy expanse. Upon finding a southern fork of the Jewel River, they turned northward, intending to follow this river as it wound through the forest. Eventually, this course would lead them to the Gnarley Forest, roughly a hundred and thirty leagues to the north. From there, it was only a few days' journey to the free city of Dyvers, and then they would go east, toward Greyhawk. ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY (temporarily split up; this is the "land" group): Alindyar, 9th level drow elf mage (N) Lyra, 5th level female drow elf mage (LE/N) Halbarad, 8th level human ranger (NG) Peldor, 10th level human thief (N) Bosco, 5th level halfling thief (CN) Peyote, 7th/8th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 12/31/570 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: afternoon Place: the southern Suss Forest, alongside the Jewel River ------------------------------------------------------------------ As they journeyed through the Suss, it quickly became apparent that the place was very dangerous... hawk: (returns from its scouting, lands upon Peyote's shoulder) Squawk! Scree! Halbarad: What is this?!? Peyote: Scrak? Rouk! (to party, in common) This dude says that there is a band of big humanoids ahead, preparing to ambush us! Halbarad: Oh, really? (hefts his axe) Alindyar: (prepares a spell, and causes his carpet to float a few feet higher) Lyra, be ready. Lyra: (prepares a spell also) Bosco: Oh boy! Peldor: I'll go invisible, and you should too, Peyote. We'll stick to one side, and get behind them once they spring their trap. Peyote: Right on. (becomes invisible) Sqrak! (gives new orders to the hawks) Peldor: (becomes invisible) Halbarad: So, now we are bait. Alindyar: Fear not. We have some...new spells at our disposal now. Lyra: Thanks to Zara... Alindyar: Aye. Peldor: (he and Peyote move far to one side, invisible) hawks: (fly overhead, waiting silently) Halbarad: This should be interesting. Soon, the evildoers made themselves visible, as they sprung their ambush! ogres: (eight of them, they emerge from the woods and surround the lone ranger on the ground and the two drow in the sky, and Bosco) Har! We has youse surrounded! Alindyar: Observant ogres, these. Bosco: Bah! Get away, or I'll have to hurt you! ogre: Heh heh. Fat chance o' that, shrimp! ogres with blue skin: (three of them, they float out from the trees nearby to join the normal ogres) Desist. Especially you, mages. Lyra: What are _those_? Alindyar: Ogre magi! (murmurs silently) ogres: Har har! Halbarad: Uh-oh. (waves his axe menacingly) ogre mage: (to fellows) The male dark elf is casting! Hurry, get him! (they frantically prepare to attack) Lyra: (blasts each of them with one magic missile) There! That should distract them long enough for- Alindyar: (casts Confusion on all opponents) Heh. ogre#1: (fails save, stands confused) Duh. ogre#2: (fails save, attacks ogre#1) Arr! ogre#3: (makes save, watches his companions in shock) Whas' you guys doin'?!? ogre#4: (fails save, wanders away) Duh? ogre#5: (fails save, stands confused) What is me doin' here? ogre#6: (makes save, charges Halbarad) Die, human! ogre#7: (fails save, attacks ogre#8) Arr! ogre#8: (fails save, attacks ogre#7) Arr yourself! ogre mage#1: (makes save, blasts Alindyar and Lyra with a cone of cold) Heh heh. Shake _this_ off. ogre mage#2: (fails save, floats in air confused) ogre mage#3: (makes save, prepares to cast a spell) disembodied voice nearby: SQUARK! hawks: (both divebomb ogre mage#3, attacking him) Peyote: (still invisible, watches the hawks in action, then grabs one of his javelins of lightning) Hmph. Peldor: (somewhere nearby, invisible) Halbarad: (chops and stabs ogre#6) Back, you! ogre#6: (misses the ranger with its clumsy swing) Shit! ogre#2: (slashes ogre#1, wounding it grievously) Ha ha! This fun! ogre#1: Argh! No fun! No fun! ogre#3: (dodging various melee, heads for Bosco) Bosco: (charges ogre#3) Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa! ogre#3: You is noisy little runt. ogre#4: (about to wander into the forest) Duh, duh. Me dumb. Peldor: (backstabs the unfortunate ogre, slaying it) You dead. (becomes visible) Idiot. ogre#5: (confused) Duh. ogre#7: (meleeing ogre#8) Yah, yah! ogre#8: Blah, blah! (slashes ogre#7) Alindyar: (he and Lyra are blasted by the cone of cold) Argh! (they both fall, as does the carpet, and land about eight feet below, on the ground, frostbitten) Agh. Lyra: Ouch. (goes unconscious, and collapses) Alindyar: Lyra! (crawls over to her) Lyra! Peyote: (hurls his magical javelin at the first ogre mage) ogre mage#1: (hit by the weapon, which explodes in a blast of lightning) ARRRGH! (hovers, bleeding and stunned) Peldor: (throws his magical dagger of throwing at the wounded ogre mage) Take that! (the dagger imbeds itself in the humanoid's eye) ogre mage: (fatally wounded) Agh...shit...(dies, and falls) Peyote: Good shot, dude. ogre mage#3: (trying to fend off the hawks which are clawing and biting at his face) Argh! hawks: (tearing the monster up) Scree! ogre mage#2: (still confused) Peldor: (retrieves his dagger from the corpse of ogre mage#1) Halbarad: (chops ogre#6, slaying it) So! (moves to the next and nearest opponent, the confused ogre#5, who is now about to stab ogre#3, who is trying to step on Bosco) Bosco: Hah! Stupid ogre! You'll never get me! (dodges an attack) ogre#3: Fuck! Stand still! (misses the halfling) ogre#5: (chops ogre#3 in its confusion) Duh? ogre#3: ARGH! You doofus! Halbarad: (stabs ogre#3 instead) Hmph. Bosco: (stabs ogre#3 in the knee) Yee-hah! ogre#3: Geez...(dies) Bosco: (to Halbarad) What a team we make! Halbarad: Err...right. ogres 1/2: (meleeing with one another) ogres 7/8: (meleeing with one another) Alindyar: (tending to Lyra, who is near death) You shall live, I promise. (feeds her his healing potion, and she stabilizes) Whew. Close call. (turns to the ogre magi in the sky, and scowls) Peldor: (invisible once more, stalking ogre#2) Halbarad: (to Bosco) Little friend, let us now take care of _him_. (points his axe at ogre#5) Bosco: Right on! (they charge the ogre) Alindyar: (to Peyote) Druid! Tell your birds to desist and leave! Peyote: Huh? (sees that Alindyar is really pissed) Okay! (to hawks) Squawk! Scree! SCREE! hawks: (fly away, one badly wounded by the ogre mage) Peldor: (backstabs ogre#2 right after it kills ogre#1) ogre#2: Huh?!? (dies) Peldor: Peldor the mighty sees action yet again... Alindyar: (to ogre magi in air) YOU! (casts Feeblemind at ogre mage#3) ogre mage#3: (fails his save) Blerp. (floats upward into the sky, devoid of a mind) Alindyar: Just desserts, for what you did to Lyra. (prepares another spell) ogres 7/8: (kill each other) Halbarad: (he and Bosco slay ogre#5) Peyote: (casts Summon Insects near ogre mage#2) ogre mage#2: (confused, about to fly down and attack the nearest party member) Eh? (attacked by the swarm of bees and wasps) ARGH! Ptui! ogre mage#2: (trying to swat the insects, rather unsuccessfully) Agh! Ouch! Alindyar: (casts Dispel Magic on the ogre magi) Down you go. ogre mage#2: (his Fly spell cancelled, he sinks to the ground; also, his confusion is cancelled, and the insect swarm dies) Peldor: (charges the monster) Bosco: (right on cue, also charges the monster) Peyote: (charges the monster) Halbarad: (charges the monster) Alindyar: I have done my part. (cradles Lyra in his arms) ogre mage#2: (doesn't last long) In the aftermath of the battle, minor wounds were tended to. Lyra was not dead, just badly wounded, and healing fast, thanks to Alindyar's prompt care. The party set some traps, and also Peyote cast a spell of alarm to warn of attacks yet to come. He tended to the wounded hawk, with Halbarad's help - the ranger was quite adept with animal lore and handling and was at least as good with the grouchy, wounded bird as Peyote. The beings had several treasures on their persons. The ogres were carrying a lot of coinage and gems. One had a strange black metal ring on, too. The ogre magi (at least, the two still here - the third was no more than a distant, receding speck in the sky) yielded two beads, a wand, a potion, and a javelin. There was also a map, ruined by a lightning blast, and three other potion bottles, shattered in battle. The party rested for the rest of the day, and into the night, and were left alone by whatever beings might have been nearby. None of the party noted the passing of the new year, though a full moon shone upon the forest, which Peyote found to be utterly fascinating. In the morning, Peyote greeted a trio of wolves that had responded to his latest summoning. Lyra was feeling much better, and the party was rested and reinforced now as well. It was a good thing, perhaps, because later that day, they were assaulted by dozens of orcs. The battle went well for the party, though, because they were forewarned by the hawks and wolves. Various spells and weapons were brought to bear against the orcs (mainly a cone of Fear courtesy of Alindyar), and they all perished before too long. The next day, they entered an area of forest which held no wildlife. Peyote: Something is wrong here, dudes. And dudette. The animals of the forest are all gone. Halbarad: Aye. This appears to be a dead zone, so to speak. Peldor: I wonder why? Alindyar: (raises the carpet up to a new height of 10' above the forest floor) Beware, Lyra. Lyra: Right. (she eyes the forest nearby suspiciously) Bosco: Gee, it sure is quiet here! wolves: Grrrrrr! Peyote: Uh-oh. Someone or something is nearby...(hefts his bastard sword) Peldor: Hey, look! small green humanoids: Yaaar! (they emerge from the brush of the forest floor, and attack immediately) Peyote: Kobolds! (chops one in half) Halbarad: (cuts a kobold in half, and impales another one with his dagger, lifting it high into the air) Get off of my knife, you! Alindyar: (spellcasting) Lyra: (Magic Missiles three kobolds with tiny spears, who perish) Bah. Peldor: (chops a kobold in three) These guys are shrimps. Bosco: (slays a kobold) Peldor: See what I mean? Alindyar: (casts Fear in a cone at the main part of the kobold swarm, causing perhaps two score of the small humanoids to drop their weapons and flee shrieking... this leaves only six or so still fighting the party) Needless to say, the six or so didn't last long. The party headed in the direction of the fled kobolds, curious as to their motives and lair. After about ten minutes of tracking by Halbarad (it was even easier since the humanoids had fled in terror, and had left a trail that even a feebleminded ogre could follow), the party came upon a clearing. A large hill rose above the forest floor ahead. The wolves and hawks were going berserk, baying and screeching insanely, but nothing could be seen... Alindyar: Hmmmmmm. (casts Detect Invisibility) Lyra: (watching Alindyar gaining the enchanted vision) Alindyar: (eyes bulge) By Lolth! Halbarad: What?!? Alindyar: (pushes Lyra off of the carpet) Run! Scatter! Suddenly, as the party just began to move, something huge and invisible shifted on that hill. There was a deep sound, a WHOOSHing, and then, as they scattered like ants, a large, green, winged form materialized atop the hill, as it exhaled a monstrous cloud of greenish vapor at the party. Peldor: Holy SHIT!!! A green dragon! next time: Aftermath FTP SITE: ccosun.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) ******************************************************************** NOTES: Go see "Under Siege", it is awesome! ******************************************************************** ***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to persons or characters * either real or fictional is utterly coincidental. Copying and/or * distribution of these stories is permissible only under the one * condition that no part of them will be used or sold for profit. * In that case, I hope you enjoy them. ***** ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY (temporarily split up; this is the "land" group): Alindyar, 9th level drow elf mage (N) Lyra, 5th level female drow elf mage (LE/N) Halbarad, 8th level human ranger (NG) Peldor, 10th level human thief (N) Bosco, 5th level halfling thief (CN) Peyote, 7th/8th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 1/2/571 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: late afternoon Place: the southern Suss Forest, alongside the Jewel River ------------------------------------------------------------------ LXVIII. The Deck The party has just been blasted by a large, invisible green dragon! Of course, the dragon isn't invisible any more, but the adventurers have more important things to worry about than whether the monster is invisible or not... various animals: (summoned by Peyote earlier, they have all fled in terror by now) Lyra: (with a running start thanks to Alindyar, she avoids the worst of the noxious green poison breath) Ack! (falls to one side) Alindyar: (atop the carpet, hit by the worst part of the breath, saves but perishes anyway, at -8 hp) Halbarad: (saves, avoids serious damage as he rolls to one side) <cough> Whoa! (guzzles a potion of speed) Peldor: (perhaps due to his luckstone, saves, manages to avoid critical damage) <cough> (sheathes his sword and becomes invisible) Bosco: (slain instantly by the breath, -33 hp) Peyote: (saves, but is barely conscious) <COUGH> (grabs a javelin of lightning) Green Dragon: HAH! YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD SNEAK UP ON _ME_, DIDN'T YOU? YOU WERE WRONG! (moves to melee the nearest of the party) Halbarad: You shall pay for those deaths, monster! (charges the dragon speedily, and hacks it with his axe) Take that! (stabs it with his dagger) And that! Green Dragon: ARGH! THOSE TOOTHPICKS HURT! (swats the ranger with a paw, knocking him aside) Peyote: How 'bout _this_ toothpick, then? (hurls a javelin of lightning at the dragon, hitting it in the belly; the enchanted weapon explodes in a blast of electricity) Yo! Green Dragon: ARGH! YOU WILL DIE FOR THAT, FOOL! (grabs the half-elf and crushes him in its mighty paw) DIE! DIE! Peyote: (smashed to a pulp) Green Dragon: DIE! DIE! (tosses the limp body aside) BAH. Halbarad: (stands up) Where is the foul fiend? Ah, there, of course! Lyra: (dragging Alindyar's prone body away from the main battle) Halbarad: (leaps up once more, and charges the dragon again) I am not finished with you yet! (chops it again, hitting with his axe, though his dagger glances off of its armored scales this time) Hah! The gods are kind! Green Dragon: FOOL! (bats the ranger again, knocking him about fifty feet away) Halbarad: (drops his axe and dagger along the way, as he sails into a wall) Oof! Green Dragon: HA HA! Peldor: (striding and springing with his boots, he tries to backstab the dragon) Green Dragon: WHAT?!? (turns around and looks at the thief) Peldor: Erk. (slashes the dragon across the head, since he can't backstab; a minor wound is scored) Green Dragon: ARGH! YOU LITTLE BUGS HAVE A LOT OF STINGERS! (tries to bite Peldor but misses as the thief leaps aside) Lyra: (pours Alindyar's last potion of extra-healing down his throat, stabilizing him) There. Halbarad: (looking around himself) Damn. Where are my axe and dagger? (realizes that he can fire arrows from here much more safely than a melee approach) Aha! (grabs the bow and some arrows) Peldor: (slashes the dragon, but his blade bounces off of it) Green Dragon: (claws Peldor, knocking him unconscious) HAH! Peldor: (slumps to the ground) Green Dragon: AH, BUT I SHALL EAT WELL TONIGHT! Halbarad: (fires two arrows at the dragon; both bounce off its hide) Damn. Green Dragon: BAH. MY SPELLS DEFLECT ALL YOUR PUNY WEAPONS. ONLY A MAGICAL ARROW COULD HURT ME NOW! (showing his green hide with great pride) Halbarad: Magical arrows? (thinking) Magical? (realizes that he is carrying an arrow of dragon slaying) Gods! (frantically begins tossing items out of his pack) Where is it? Where _is_ it?!?!? Green Dragon: THIS IS NO TIME TO LOOK FOR MAGICAL WEAPONS, FOOL! (uses an innate spell, Magic Missile, and blasts the ranger with five bolts) HA HA! Halbarad: (pummeled mercilessly by the spell) Argh! Ugh! Ouch! Aha! (holds up a glowing red arrow) Now we shall see! Green Dragon: (prepares to breathe on Halbarad) NONE OF YOUR PUNY WEAPONS CAN KILL _ME_! (sucks in breath) Lyra: No! (casts a Web on the dragon's head) Green Dragon: EH? (rips the web into bits with a shrug, looks at Lyra) BAH. YOU I SHALL SAVE FOR DESSERT... (turns to face Halbarad) EH? Halbarad: (facing the dragon with a nocked, glowing arrow ready) Here goes nothing. Ehlonna guide my aim. (fires the arrow) Green Dragon: (watches the arrow as it flies toward him) WHAT?!? (the missile pierces its left eye with a meaty sound) AAAAAAAAARGH! (leaps about in great pain, causing the ground to tremble terribly) AAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!! Halbarad: (watching in fascination) Green Dragon: (keels over, dead) Halbarad: By the gods! It worked! (limps over to Lyra) Lyra: So it did! (happy) Halbarad: Were it not for your timely distraction, though, and my consumed potion, the beast would surely have breathed gaseous death upon me... Lyra: (looking around) We must help these others! Halbarad: Aye. They tended to the other adventurers as best they could. Alindyar, Peyote, even Peldor were recoverable, only on the brink of death (the ranger and drow poured water down their throats and then induced vomiting, hopefully to clean out their systems), but the halfling Bosco was beyond help, green of face and still of limb. Lyra used a spell taught her by Alindyar to create an illusion of a sleeping green dragon where the real, dead one actually was. Also, they borrowed potions of healing from Peyote to get themselves back up to full strength (not wanting to deal with the half-elf's Rod of Life and Death). Peldor also unwittingly contributed a potion of healing to the cause. After a night of uncertain rest (during which Halbarad stood watch, mostly), they woke up Peyote in the morning. Though some kobolds approached during the night and early morning, they were apparently fooled by the illusionary dragon. At any rate, they did not seem to want to risk its wrath by awakening it. Anyway, Peyote used his spells to heal the others, though more rest was required by all. Peyote: I hope my spells helped, dudes. Alindyar: Most certainly. Now I shall have to see to a spell or two for our continued safety while resting here. Peldor: What about Bosco? What will become of him? Peyote: Who knows, dude? Halbarad: We may be better off without the little runt. Peldor: Hey, watch it. They rested for another two days, and took the time to look over the dragon's great hoard. Most of the monetary treasure could not be taken, due to its weight, but many magical items were found. The topic of Bosco came up once more, as well. Peldor: Maybe an item in this hoard can help Bosco. Peyote: Get real. Lyra: Cannot the druid use a spell to return him to life? Peyote: I have no spells that can do that...wait! I have a scroll here somewhere...(begins searching his pack) Peldor: (holding his breath) Peyote: Ah! (holds up a scroll tube) Here it is! This will help. Though, it's not really raising of the dead. Peldor: It's not? Then what is it? Peyote: Do you believe in reincarnation? Halbarad: What exactly is that? Is it not bringing one back as another type of creature, but with the same mind? Peyote: Basically. It's all I have. Peldor: (thinking) Peyote: Take it or leave it. What will it be, dude? Peldor: Oh, all right. I suppose he could be an orc, or a goblin, there are worse fates, after all. Peyote: (spellcasting) Oh great Obad-hai! We ask your help in returning this poor fool to life... Bosco stirred, and shifted - suddenly, he began melting like clay! Momentarily, though, he was gone, and a jet- black raccoon stood in his place... Peldor: Bosco? raccoon: (looks up, and squeals loudly) Peldor: Ah, Bosco. I'll see what can be done for you, but for now, you're stuck like this. Sorry. (pets the raccoon) Poor Bosco... raccoon-Bosco: (scurries around angrily) Alindyar: Hmm. They departed later, after a total of four days since the day they had found the dragon. Apparently, the big green monster had been the king of the area, for no more organized attacks of any import occurred. A few minor battles did happen, but they did not last long. Bosco grew used to his new body, and the party travelled north for over three weeks, until they entered the Gnarley Forest and then left the woodlands, entering some short grasslands. Two days after that, they passed through the gates of the Free City of Dyvers, and paid for a series of rooms at a fine tavern. The treasure was quickly piled on a large, expensive oaken table for division, for the party did not want to wait until Greyhawk was reached... THE LOOT (magic items only are listed): * = couldn't be identified by sage ** = identified as very powerful & dangerous by sage drow spellbooks Alindyar black ring * Peldor 2 beads of force Alindyar wand of polymorphing Alindyar potion of extra healing Peldor javelin of piercing Peyote dagger +1 Halbarad eyes of the eagle Peldor potion extra healing Halbarad deck of cards ** (party) horn of bubbles Alindyar earring +1 Halbarad egg of creation Peyote amulet * Peyote net of entrapment Peyote amulet w/petrified dragon eye Halbarad potion of treasure finding Peldor While they were at it, they decided to rest for a bit, and Peyote trained in the druidic ways. Lyra and Bosco trained as well (as best the latter could). After two weeks, they departed for Greyhawk, which was only four days' ride away. The ride was through civilized lands, and thus there was no trouble. One interesting thing did happen, though, on the way. Alindyar: (to Peldor) I have an idea. Peldor: What's that? Alindyar: I could use my new wand to...transform Bosco back into his normal halfling self. Peldor: Think it'd work? raccoon-Bosco: (jumping up and down eagerly) Alindyar: Who can know? 'Tis worth a try. Peldor: Okay. Alindyar: (zaps raccoon-Bosco with intent to turn him back into a halfling) raccoon-Bosco: (becomes a halfling) Yay! (leaping around) Lyra: Tsk, tsk. Peldor: Uh...Alindyar? Alindyar: Hm? Peldor: What are those black rings around his eyes? Sort of looks like a bandit mask... Alindyar: (snickering) Peldor: Grrr... Bosco: (hasn't looked in a mirror yet) Yay! I'm me again! Halbarad: He definitely looks like a thief, now. Raccoon eyes and all. Peyote: The masked wonder - Bosco! Alindyar: Heh heh. They arrived in Greyhawk without incident after peaceful travel through its suburbs. ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY (temporarily split up; this is the "land" group): Alindyar, 9th level drow elf mage (N) Lyra, 6th level female drow elf mage (LE/N) Halbarad, 8th level human ranger (NG) Peldor, 10th level human thief (N) Bosco, 6th level halfling thief (CN) Peyote, 7th/9th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 3/08/571 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: evening Place: the Free City of Greyhawk ------------------------------------------------------------------ Before seeking the sea group out, the land group unanimously elected to...utilize their magical deck of cards first. This was a foolish choice for some, a good one for others... Peldor: I shall draw first. Now, how does this thing work? Alindyar: You must first choose the number of cards you will draw. And then hope that you are able to continue after each draw from the deck... Peldor: Aha. Well, then, I shall draw...three cards. (draws the first - a card marked Balance) Huh? (his alignment changes from neutral to neutral) Hm. Nothing happened. Halbarad: Perhaps the item does not work on thieves... Peldor: Bull! Bah. (draws his second card - a card titled Fool) Eh? Halbarad: How appropriate. Peldor: (loses some experience but gains a bonus draw) Ulp. (draws again - a card marked Throne) Ah! Peldor's true greatness is exposed at last! (gains great charisma and, unbeknownst to him, a small keep somewhere in the world) Alindyar: The rascal has avoided serious injury thus far. Peldor: That's because I'm _Peldor_! (draws his last card, one called Sun) Huh? (a large tome appears in his hands, and he gains some experience, more than he lost on his second draw) Ah! Peldor _is_ great! I wanna draw again! Alindyar: You cannot. You chose four, you drew four. Peldor: No! No! This is too much fun. (eyes Bosco) Hey, Bosco! You're good at card games. You should have some draws, too! Bosco: Yea! (looks at the deck) I wonder if this is a marked deck. Oh, well. I'll draw two! (draws the first card, one titled Moon, and is granted three wishes) Peyote: Wow. Bosco: Yes! YES! (draws his second card - one marked as Void) Ulp. (his soul heads off to another plane) Peldor: Bosco? Hey, Bosco? (shakes the halfling) He's gone! What happened? Alindyar: He chose...poorly. Bosco: (gazing ahead dully) Peldor: Shit! Three wishes, wasted. Damn it all! Peyote: I'll go next, dude. I will draw...once. I don't want to risk too much. (draws a single card - the Vizier) Hmm. (suddenly knows that he will know the answer to his next dilemma) Huh? Alindyar: I suppose it is my turn. I shall draw four cards. Halbarad: FOUR?!? Peyote: That's risky, dude. Alindyar: Of course. (draws his first card - one marked Euryale) Euryale? (he now has a permanent susceptibility to all forms of petrification) Peldor: (searching Bosco's pockets) Halbarad: (watching Peldor with a scowl) Alindyar: What else will there be? (draws his second card, one titled Talons) Uh-oh. (every magic item on his person vanishes) Lyra: Yipes. Peyote: Rude deal, man. RUDE deal. Alindyar: Oh, well. It cannot get much worse. Peldor: Don't say that. Never say that. Alindyar: (draws his third card, Star, and gains significant and nigh-godly intelligence) Ahhhhh. I am enlightened... Lyra: (happier now that something good has happened) Alindyar: (draws his fourth and last card, the Sun, and an enchanted cloak appears on his back) Hm. Not so bad in the end. Lyra, will you draw? Lyra: Uhh...I don't think so. Peldor: Well, Halbarad, it's your turn now. Halbarad: Never. (turns and walks away) Peyote: Well, I guess that's that. Alindyar: Hmm. (watches the deck vanish) I suppose it has served its purpose. Lyra: Yes. Poor Bosco. (pats the soul-less halfling on the head) Thus, some of the adventurers were tied up longer, needing to train or cope with their newfound traits or curses... ALINDYAR studied intently, and advanced a level in the arcane arts. He and Lyra totally redesigned their spellbooks so that they were more efficiently organized. HALBARAD did nothing unusual, but a large wild tiger showed up while he was wandering outside Greyhawk, and it became his companion. (also see below, under Peldor's activities) PELDOR managed to rid himself of his ring of truth, but later, unbeknownst to him, the mage who helped him with this matter, being a kindly and benevolent sort, sought out Halbarad and gave the ring to the ranger, knowing that he was one who would never lie but could use the ring for good purposes. Peldor also read his new book, and gained significant amounts of thiefly experience. He knew not what to do about Bosco, though - the halfling's soul was gone and no solution seemed in sight. PEYOTE spent an awful lot of time trying to figure out what his next dilemma would be. ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY (temporarily split up; this is the "land" group): Alindyar, 10th level drow elf mage (N) Lyra, 6th level female drow elf mage (N) Halbarad, 8th level human ranger (NG) Peldor, 11th level human thief (N) Bosco, 6th level halfling thief (CN) (no soul) Peyote, 7th/9th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 3/23/571 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: evening Place: the Free City of Greyhawk ------------------------------------------------------------------ It seemed to be the time to seek out the other group, and see how they had fared in their adventures... next time: Reunion FTP SITE: ccosun.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) ******************************************************************** NOTES: I played up Halbarad's realization that he had that arrow a bit...at the time of the gaming I had forgotten about it, but he never did...oh well, the best-laid plans of DMs sometimes go awry. I didn't want to BS my way out of it, though... Whew, that deck was one of the most controversial things ever to hit our campaign. Poor Bosco...hey, what _are_ the effects of not having a soul, anyway? I played it as if he was no more than a vegetable, no mind, no actions, nothing...but in some fiction I have read (e.g. Conan) the soul-less person can still act normally - just without a soul. Ideas, anyone? ********************************************************************