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Turn 18: Luger Borchardt

Chapter 1: A Darkness Gathering

Turn 28: Luger Borchardt

Date: 13 Lipanj (“Wealsun”), 592
Location: The Moathouse , The Viscounty of Verbobonc
Players: Danton Verbrugge (Rogue 3)
  Nanoc (Barbarian 3)
  Telemachos Rhavelle (Fighter 3)
Associates: Aseneth Velinax de Torquann (Enchantress)
  Xaod the Slayer (Paladin)
   
Against my own wagering, we hath survived another battle in this moathouse,” mused Danton as the party members stood around the two wagons that had fallen into their laps. “I honestly thought that the third time was the ultimate tempting of providence, but 'twould seem that I was wrong ... and happily so.

Howsoever, mine mind is still that we must depart the moathouse for the meanwhile and find a surer and regular means of healing. At present, I hath three scrolls with healing runes. Momentarily, I shalt use one on mine battered self. Nanoc and Telemachos are far from hale, 'tis plain to the eye, even if our most recent foes were annihilated without drawing as much as a scratch upon us.

The plain fact is that, even if I successfully use the last two scrolls to increase Nanoc and Telemachos's vitality and cure some of their wounds, we shalt then be without any healing at all -- save for Xaod's commendable, but significantly limited, abilities. As I judge it, entering yon dungeon under such circumstances would be folly.

Frankly, we are seriously missing our erstwhile cleric, Mauser, and I urge that we return to Hommlet to bring him back into our fold. Should he not have yet arrived, we must needs recruit a substitute. I know I soundeth like a broken harp, calling out this refrain every hour it seems, but I cannot help mine conclusion that we need regular healing. P'raps with all these strange happenings at the moathouse, we can shake loose one of these goody-two-shoes local holy men to join us. It now appeareth, after all, that strange designs indeed are underway in this moathouse, and whereas the group of us couldst simply pull up our tent stakes and make for better lodging elsewhere, the Hommletonians are stuck fast. They'd better get serious about this problem before it bites them on the arse.”

Telemachos shook his head. “Danton, have not we been through this already, good friend? I don't believe the prospects of finding a healer willing to venture with us are very good. Otherwise, we would probably have one with us at this very moment. We did not have the healing scrolls before our victory and now they are in our possession. Fortune smiles on the valiant.

Neither do I think we can go back for Mauser. For my part, I have never thought him alive. He rushed back to confront the Frog Man in a foolhardy battle. I will not repeat myself further. We cannot break off our mission for the off-chance that Mauser might be in Hommlet. I say we continue. We have come this far and have healing at our disposal. Again, I say, let us fight and not get hit. Besides,
I don't know how long mine good uncle has.”

”I think I'm wit you on this one Danton,” grunted Nanoc. “I'd sure love to explore this place more right now, but heck we got all kinds o' loot we can sell—plus some horses and wagons. Why if we take a day to run back to town we can sell this stuff and the horses and the wagons, get all healed up, and I can talks to these priests and maybe they can spare to send an acko-lite with us. Once they sees all the monies we got without even a makin' it to the lower level, well we cut them in on a share o' the treasure no doubt they'd wanna send some one. Plus we probably gets enough mooh-lah to buy that there costly healing potion to boot.“

”Of course we should be staying!” objected Aseneth. “These people are trying steal everything in moathouse! Why else would they be having these carts coming? If we are leaving, there will be nothing left when we return! Nothing!"

Xaod shrugged. "I got a funny feeling 'bout all this, but it ain't telling me where to go or what to do, so I'll let you guys make the call."

“This division in our group,” said Telemachos, “leaves me undecided about the best course of action I might take. Consider this - I am no Mauser. My love of my uncle will not drive me into a suicidal plunge into the moathouse alone so that I can meet him in the hereafter. Nor will I attempt in any way to hinder you from going. If you are successful, it could be a boon to our success.

“Hmm,” mused Nanoc. “That might not be a bad idea. Danton and I can take the stuff and the wagons back ta town, and Xaod can join us if we wants. We can sell the stuff, get healed up, get a healer to join us, and buy some more healin' stuff wit some o' our money. I'm will to give drivin' a wagon a try again. It’s just that when Justin let me the last time I went off-roadin' cause I thought it'd be fun... an’ it sure was,” continued the barbarian with a chuckle, “but I ended up breakin' the wagon wheel...he never let me drive one again. I think I can do better now.”

”Anywho,” continued Nanoc, “If'n you an’ Aseneth wanna sit here an’ not get healed and guard the moathouse 'gainst people comin' in, that sounds like a pretty good idea. Heck I'd let 'em go in—that way they can do all the hard work then we can jus clean up...if'n they was them bad guys with these here symbols 'bout 'em.”

Thinking even as he spoke, Nanoc turned to Xaod, “How you feelin? If you feel pretty well healed, might be best ta stay in case these two get in trouble. Otherwise it might be best you drive the wagon and I rides along while Danton drives the other.”

"I'm okay, Nanoc,” replied the warrior. “I'll stay here and help Tel and the lady if that's what ya want. I spent enough time in that flophouse in Hommlet anyway. If I go back there now I'd prob'ly just be drinkin' again and even I need a break from that now an' then."

“I hath no objections, either,” said Danton, “if Telemachos and Aseneth prefer to wait out our jaunt to Hommlet. Indeed, if they wish to stay, it might actually be for the best: 'twould allow us to gain healing whilst also keeping an eye on the moathouse. After all, for a ‘deserted’ keep, this moathouse hath more foot traffic than many village streets...and most of it is bad! Oh, and Nanoc: If you art truly incompetent behind the reins, leave the driving to me, or to Xaod.”

“Har, Har, Har,” said Nanoc. “Not sure what im-co-potent means...I jus know Justin' weren't letting me do no drivin' after I brokes the wagon. Since Xaod's a stayin', looks like you is gonna haft ta take the lead an’ I'll jus follow behinds. Should be ok if we don't run into any trouble. Anywho, sounds like we gots a plan. Lets git all the extra stuff loaded on the wagons and get a gone. Should be back sometime tomorrow.”

“Very well,” said Telemachos. “I’ll stay here with Aseneth and Xaod, probably outside the moathouse to keep an eye on things. May the gods bless your trip and attempt to find a healer to join us. I am starting to have a feeling that you may just be successful. But, I also implore you to return as quickly as is possible so that we can proceed on our underground journey. Keep the gold for any healing or for the good of the party. I claim no share right now, but will contribute
to the common good. Just please hurry!”

Having reached agreement, Danton removed the three healing scrolls taken from the victims of the party’s ambush and attempted to use the first one on himself (use magic device: 14+5=19). He read the words of power as he had in the past, but nothing happened. Puzzled, the Velunese went back to the top of the sheet and began reading again (use magic device: 3+5=8). This time when Danton finished reading, the scroll caught fire in his hands and he dropped the burning paper to the ground and watched it burn to ashes in a matter of seconds.

“Hmm, didn’t think it was s’posed ta do that,” commented Nanoc mildly. “Mebee I ain’t the only one needin’ readin’ lessons ‘round here.”

Danton shot the half-orc a foul look and removed the second scroll. This time when he read the words aloud (use magic device: 15+5=20) he could feel the power activating, but he could also feel it slipping out of his control. Not sure what else to do, he willed the magic to obey and heal his wounds (caster level check: 19). It took all of Danton’s concentration, but after a moment of uncertainty that caused all the others present to take a step back, Danton somehow mastered the magical forces at work and felt his wounds healing (gain 3 hit points).

With only one scroll left now, Danton decided to use it on Telemachos, who suddenly appeared much more reluctant to accept such healing from the scout than he had only minutes earlier.

“Just get it right this time, hmm?” the Furyondian said with a nervous laugh.

Ignoring the comment in order to be able to focus completely on manipulating the magic, Danton read the third and final scroll (use magic device: 17+5=22). This time the power worked precisely as it should have done previously and Telemachos immediately looked haler than he had in some time (gain 10 points).

With the plan set and as much healing as was possible having been conducted, the party members hauled all of the equipment they could out of the moathouse and loaded it into the two wagons. With Danton and Xaod driving the two vehicles, the group then followed the road to the west as far as the base of the hill where the party had conducted its initial surveillance of the moathouse days earlier. At that point, the group stopped and unloaded all the extra food and water from the wagons and hauled it up to the top of the hill. Xaod, Aseneth, and Telemachos bid Nanoc and Danton a safe, quick journey and then climbed the hill to take up watch over the ruined keep and the surrounding landscape. With Danton in the lead wagon and Nanoc following behind, fighting hard to resist the impulse to go “off road”, the two wagons slowly trundled westward and disappeared from the sight of those who remained.

***

It was early evening when Danton and Nanoc finally rolled into Hommlet. Much to their relief, the day’s travel had passed without any encounters on the road and Nanoc had managed to avoid doing any serious damage to the wagon he drove and its contents, although he had nearly rolled the conveyance on two separate occasions when he tried to make sharp turns at excess speed. Determined to move as quickly and efficiently as possible, Danton led the small convoy right up the main road in Hommlet and parked outside the Old Trading Post. Leaving Nanoc outside to keep an eye on the two wagons, he went inside to fetch Joman Dart to commence negotiations on the sale of all the equipment they contained.

Soon thereafter, Danton and Dart emerged from the store and the merchant showed Danton and Nanoc where to park the wagons behind the shop in order that they could do their business away from the prying eyes of passersby on the street. In the end, after much haggling between Danton and Dart, the Velunese and the barbarian sold off two small marble statues, three suits of masterwork studded leather armor, a rapier, a buckler, a heavy mace, a stone mask, a pair of longswords (one of great quality), two shortbows, a suit of badly damaged chainmail, three jade gems, a golden brooch, a suit of half-plate mail, a masterwork morningstar, a large metal shield, a light crossbow, and a beaded necklace, as well as the two horses and wagons. In return for all of this, Dart paid Danton and Nanoc a total of 1800 gold, of which each would carry half.

When the deal was done and Danton and Nanoc turned to leave, Dart called out a parting word:

“Oh, I almost forgot! There’s some man staying at the Welcome Wench who was here yesterday evening asking about you. He didn’t give his name, but said if I saw any of you group, I was to tell you there was someone at the inn who wanted to talk to you.”

“My thanks,” replied Danton. “We shall have to find this mysterious stranger.”

“Don’t ya think we should ask what he looks like?” asked Nanoc as the Velunese tugged at his arm and motioned for the pair to leave.

“What would be the point?” asked Danton. “If tis Mauser, he could appear any way he might wish. Let us make our way to the inn and see with our own eyes who it is that awaits.”

Once back at the Welcome Wench, the very atmosphere of which raised Danton’s spirits considerably, the pair reserved rooms for the night with Vesta Gundigoot and inquired as to whether any newcomers to the inn had sought the party out in recent days.

“There is such a man—he arrived late yesterday and his name is Luger Borchardt,” replied the innkeeper’s daughter. “I believe he went all over town today inquiring as to your whereabouts! I think he’s in the restaurant even now. If you want to find him, he’ll be the man in chain armor sitting by himself.”

“Ready thyself for trouble, Nanoc,” whispered Danton as the pair made their way into the inn’s dining area, “for I remember not Mauser wearing chainmail. Perhaps tis an agent of the Frog Man or other ne’er-do-well who awaits.”

Alongside locals and regulars, including Redithidoor, who crooned as awfully as ever to the accompaniment of his lute at one end of the room, the newcomer stood out instantly: a man who wore his armor to dinner at a fine restaurant and sat with his back against the wall near the exit, his gaze shifting about the room constantly. He was tall, with brown hair and blue eyes, carrying a longsword at his side and wearing a silver lightning bolt symbol of Heironeous around his neck. The man stiffened visibly and stood when he caught sight of Nanoc and then stared at the barbarian and Danton as the pair approached his table.

“Luger Borchardt?” asked Danton. When the man nodded, the Velunese added. “I understand you wanted to find us?”

“You are Danton and Nanoc, if I am not mistaken,” said the man, his words accented just enough to suggest he was not likely a native of Verbobonc, Furyondy, or Veluna. “But where are the others…the Furyondian and…Mauser?”

“Perhaps if we might be seated?” suggested Danton.

The trio sat, and Luger offered to buy a round of drinks, walking briefly across the room and placing the order with the barkeep Maridosen, who seemed as foul tempered as ever, casting dirty looks at Nanoc and Danton as she took the order from Luger.

When Luger returned with the round of ales and sat down, he said, “My name is actually Luger Gregorus and I have come a long way in search of you…and my brother.”

Although Danton was able to avoid betraying any shock at these words on his face, Nanoc did not even try.

“What? Yer’ Mauser’s brother? What the heck are ya doin’ here? We ain’t seen him in weeks! Ya don’t look nothin’ like ‘im, by the way.”

Luger scowled. “But Kerowyn Hucrele in Oakhurst told me your group came to Hommlet to deliver a message for her. And her brother, Joman, confirmed you brought the message. How is it that Mauser was with you in Oakhurst, but is absent now?”

“Mauser hath parted company with us when the time came to depart fair Oakhurst,” replied Danton. “He was determined to return to the Sunless Citadel—the vile hole in the Oerth that we hath delved on behalf of Madame Hucrele—in search of lost treasures he believed we had missed. The man was supposed to join us later here in Hommlet, but weeks have passed and if he still hath not arrived, either his plans must have changed or…something untoward hath transpired.”

Luger shook his head and muttered under his breath. “Why would he do such a thing? It is ten days back to Oakhurst! And I do not relish the idea of seeking him out alone in such a place!”

“He was obsessed wit’ cartin’ off evry’thin’ that wasn’t nailed down,” said Nanoc with a shrug.

“I shall tell you what I hath told Mauser,” said Danton, “delving into the Sunless Citadel alone is a path to a quick and unclean death. Aside from kobolds, goblins, and an insane druid known as the Frog Man, there was also a band of cutthroats seeking their own piece of the take. If Mauser hath encountered that lot alone in the dark, I doubt he hath survived the experience.”

As Danton spoke, he noticed that Luger’s attention had wandered across the room, and the man was staring with narrowed eyes at the wild-haired, pale-skinned Maridosen behind the bar as she shouted at another group of patrons.

“Well,” said Luger when he finally turned his attention back to Danton and Nanoc, “it would appear that I have another long journey ahead of me.”

“You wear the symbol of Heironeous,” commented Danton, “doth that mark you a holy man—a cleric or paladin perhaps?”

“It does,” replied Luger. “Why?”

Danton exchanged a glance with Nanoc.

“’Cause we been looking fer a cleric!” blurted Nanoc before Danton could say anything. “Well we is not in the best o’ ways so we was hopin’ somebody could heal us up an’ then join us. Ya see, we done went out to the moathouse and found all sorts o’ odd things gone on…found all kinds o’ loot too. We was hopin’ ta find some local acko-lite to go back there with us for a cut o’ the treasure. See, we don’t wanna have to keep runnin’ back to town and havin’ a healer along would surely help.”

“More crawling through lost dungeons in the hope of finding and fencing lost artifacts?” asked Luger with a slightly disdainful tone.

“Tis rather more complicated than that,” interjected Danton. “Twould appear that we hath uncovered some very nasty, mysterious business outside of town, something that could have grave consequences for Hommlet if they…or someone else…doth not ‘pitch in’ as it were to help further our investigation. In the absence of such assistance, we may simply have to decamp to fairer locales and leave Hommlet to its own devices!”

“Gee, Danton!” exclaimed Nanoc. “We ain’t gonna jus’ leave Hommlet an’ our friends behind! That wouldn’t be right!”

Danton kicked the half-orc under the table halfway through this protest, but to no avail.

“If there is truly some evil force rising here,” said Luger, “I suppose I could put off my search for Mauser for the time being. Although his recklessness is vexing, he is able to take care of himself surprisingly well.”

“Yup,” said Nanoc, “those shape-shifting powers of his are pretty cool.”

“So, he revealed his…abilities to you…interesting,” said Luger, visibly surprised at Nanoc’s words. “That is…unusual.”

“We are returning to the moathouse tomorrow morning—after we take care of a few remaining affairs here,” said Danton. “Come with us and you shall see that the danger—and our need—is real.”

“Very well,” said Luger. “That is the least I can do. And perhaps Mauser will yet turn up here…though with each day that passes my doubt grows that I shall ever find him.”

***

Danton and Nanoc ended up spending most of the evening with Luger, as the man inquired at great length about to the time the party had spent with his brother. Late in the evening, all three retired to their rooms, but only after Luger had cast healing spells on each as a sign of good faith (+7 HP Danton, +9 Nanoc). The night’s rest did wonders for both adventurers (+1 HP Danton, +3 Nanoc). In the morning the pair checked out of the inn (5 gold paid) rested and bathed for the first time in days. With Luger in tow, the group made a quick stop at the Old Trading Post, where Danton acquired a new bound journal, extra parchment, quills and ink, and a sealed waterproof box into which he could stuff his journal and all his papers. When Joman Dart demanded 28 gold for the lot, most of which went for the box, Nanoc groused at spending so much money on such ‘worthless’ items.

Danton would have none of it. “By the gods, Nanoc, I know that you barbarians are not a literate folk, but look at it this way: Hath not the maps I’ve drawn proven useful to us thus far? Methinks ‘twill prove the same or more so in this stinking moathouse. Maps and notes can prove indispensable—not all is solved with sword and axe.”

However, shortly thereafter when the trio stopped at the shop of the scrollmaker Zerosh Nubric, located down a street to the southwest of the Old Trading Post, even Danton balked at the exorbitant prices demanded by the elven artisan for repairing his journal and letters. When the elf insisted on a full five hundred gold for the task, and told Danton that he would have to leave the items with him for at least a week, the Velunese decided to first see if Aseneth would make good on her promise to repair the items for him. If that approach failed, he could always return to Nubric later.

Next the group visited the potion shop on the northwest end of town, where Danton, Nanoc and Luger learned that the wizard Spugnoir still had not returned to town. Haunor, the dwarf who was looking after Spugnoir’s daughter and his business in the man’s absence, sold Nanoc the powerful potion of healing (cure moderate wounds-330 gold paid) that the party had previously been unable to afford, but refused all entreaties to join the group in returning to the moathouse.

“If you can help Spugnoir, he’d be eternally in yer debt, but I can’t go an’ leave his daughter. If somethin’ happened ta me an’ him, she’d be all alone in the world,” insisted Haunor.

Finally, the small group visited the Temple of Pelor and the Church of St. Cuthbert. At the first temple, Yether remained unwilling to accompany the party back to the moathouse, but he was visibly disturbed by Danton and Nanoc’s descriptions of the strange goings-on there and agreed to sell his entire stock of healing scrolls to the Velunese for 200 gold (acquired 8 scrolls of cure light wounds).

The situation was much the same at the Church of St. Cuthbert, but the Cuthbertians also had stocks of more powerful healing magic and Danton purchased a mix of lesser and greater healing scrolls (purchased 4 scrolls of cure light and 2 of cure moderate wounds for a total of 400 gold). When the Cuthbertians too refused to send any cleric to accompany the party back to the moathouse, Danton grew increasingly irate and the party was on the verge of being physically removed from the church by Calmer, Terjon, and Derim, the three priests who received them, when Nanoc suddenly removed one of the strange metal triangles with the inverted ‘Y’ that the group had recovered from the moathouse.

“Say, Danton,” said Nanoc, “mebee we should show ‘em these funny little things we found out at the ruins, huh?”

“Might I see that a moment?” asked Calmer, taking the pendant from Nanoc’s hand. He and the other clerics examined the object for several moments, exchanged glances, and then Calmer withdrew from the chapel, taking the pendant with him.

Several minutes passed, Danton scowling at the two remaining clerics all the while, before Calmer returned.

“There is someone who would like to talk to you,” said Calmer, but before that can happen, I must test your intentions. This is not negotiable.”

Danton muttered under his breath, but no one protested as Calmer cast a spell. Whatever the results, they seemed to satisfy the priest. He and the others sat down once again and a minute later a door at the far end of the room opened. Out of it emerged a white-haired woman of some seventy years. Age had not slowed her and she moved quickly and steadily across the room. She wore a long white robe emblazoned with the ruby starburst that symbolized the faith of St. Cuthbert.

“This is the symbol of the Elder Elemental Eye,” said the woman in a firm voice as she joined the others, sat, and dropped the inverted ‘Y’ pendant into Nanoc’s hand. “I hear you found it at the old moathouse.”

“Yes,” said Danton, “worn by men, women, and gnolls that seem to have taken up residence in the place. What is its significance?”

“The cult of the Elder Elemental Eye may have been involved in building the original Temple of Elemental Evil over twenty years ago. Nothing is certain, but it is possible. If so, the sight of these symbols appearing again at the moathouse is…disturbing. You should return there and learn more.”

“Such is our intention, Madame…?” said Danton in a leading way.

“Canoness Y’dey,” replied the woman.

“Such is our intention, Canoness,” continued Danton, “but we are in need of supplies and assistance. One of your clerics…”

“No!” said the woman, cutting Danton off in mid-sentence. “This is not some charity! Even were your intentions entirely altruistic, a highly unlikely prospect, I would not simply hand you that for which we have worked, nor order one of my clerics to run off to your aid. We believe in earning one’s way, rather than getting gifts. If there is a common danger, we shall intervene at the appropriate time—as we have done in the past—but too much is unknown at this point. Go back to the moathouse, learn what there is to be discovered there, and then return. We may speak again when you have more to show for your efforts than that unclean symbol. Now, I bid you good day.”

And with that, the woman stood, turned, and departed the chapel. Sensing that further protest would be counterproductive, Danton bit his tongue and left with the others.

“Something you should know,” said Luger as the trio left the church. “I think that priest checked us for evil intentions, something I also did with you two last night. You two checked out, but there were two people at the inn that gave me a really bad feeling—one was a gnome sitting by himself and the other was that bartender. I don’t know what it means, but I thought you should know.”

Having done all they could in Hommlet, Danton, Nanoc, and Luger left town at mid-morning. They followed the main road north out of town and then turned east towards the moathouse. The trip back was uneventful, although Nanoc noticed that with the dragon gone, animal life seemed to be returning to the region around the ruins (wilderness lore: 18+6=24).

It was after dark on a clear, warm evening when the hill where Danton and Nanoc had left Telemachos, Aseneth, and Xaod finally came into view, with the ruins a dark shadow in the distance. Much to the relief of the scout and barbarian, all three of those left behind soon emerged from the shadows atop the hill to greet them.

“About time you made it back!” exclaimed Telemachos. “And with what I hope is a cleric in tow, no less!”

“Believe it or not, this is Luger Gregorus,” said Danton, “Mauser’s brother.”

***

After introductions were made, Telemachos explained that there had been no further activity at the moathouse since Nanoc and Danton departed. The Furyondian had set out berries and honey in the hope of attracting his uncle’s lost bear, Tanak, but to no avail. Although birds and other small animals had begun to reappear in the area, there had been no sign of any large animals, bears or otherwise.

Between the healing abilities of Luger and Xaod, along with a relatively decent night’s sleep, all of the party members were in good shape by the time morning came. Luger had been surprised and pleased to find another follower of Heironeous among the group, and it seemed to make the man somewhat less uneasy, although the others still found him looking over his shoulder and scanning the horizon on a regular basis.

And so it was that on the morning of 15 Lipanj, five days after they had first arrived at the moathouse, the party was finally ready to enter the lower ruins. By the time that the sun was above the mountains to the east, it was already growing very hot, and felt like the first real day of summer.

When the group marched back into the wrecked great hall of the moathouse, Nanoc and Danton took the lead, followed by Xaod, Aseneth, and Luger. Telemachos covered the party’s flank as usual.

Without further ado, Nanoc headed for the small storeroom on the north end of the great hall and made for the stairs leading downward, Danton right on his heels. The narrow stairs dropped to a landing, then turned and continued down. They finally ended after about thirty steps, having descended into a dank and cool area with masonry walls. Black, wet slime collected between the stones, making most surfaces, including the ground, slightly slick.

With green illumination provided by Danton’s magical torch, he and Nanoc could see that they had emerged into a large chamber with a twelve-foot high ceiling. The chamber was some fifty feet from east to west. The walls were all stone and there were two closed wooden doors on the west wall. The southeast corner of the room was open and that part of the room appeared to extend well off to the south. There was also a closed door to the east, where the wall jutted into the room.

Danton and Nanoc had just enough time to gaze about and take all of this in before a pair of gnolls, hidden to either side of the stairway, leapt out of the darkness at them. Although surprised by the sudden attack, both Danton and Nanoc managed to avoid the gnolls’ battleaxes, and they could not help but notice that these gnolls wore the same black scale armor and the same Elder Elemental Eye symbols as those the party had fought previously when the beast-men emerged from the ruins to attack them in the great hall.

[Initiative: Danton: 12, Nanoc: 24, Xaod: 7 Aseneth: 21, Luger: 19, Telemachos: 23, gnolls: 11]

Nanoc (attack: 2+9=11; miss) and Danton (attack: 3+4=7; miss), quickly counterattacked, but the gnolls leapt back and out of the way. Xaod and Aseneth moved to join Nanoc in driving back one of the gnolls, with the paladin striking the beast a hard blow, while Telemachos (attack: 15+9=24; hit; 7 damage) and Luger (attack: 17+4=21; hit; 9 damage) cut down the one that had attacked Danton. The surviving gnoll swung once more ineffectively at Nanoc before the barbarian struck it down (attack: 19+9=28; hit; 13 damage).

With the battle over, Nanoc added two more Elder Eye symbols to his growing collection and then the group surveyed the room in greater detail, confirming that there were two doors on the west wall, another facing south near the northeast corner of the room where the wall jutted into the chamber, along with a series of five doors on the west side of the wide hallway that exited the room to the south in its southeast corner and ran for fifty feet.

At least from a distance, this wide hallway appeared to have at one point been a prison or dungeon, as it was clearly cell doors, some closed and some hanging open, that lined the long wall. Wide pillars running from floor to ceiling marked the center of the hall, with manacles dangling from them. There was also an archway at the center of the eastern wall of the long hall. A foul smell hung in the air and the floor of the hall was littered with bones, broken stonework, and bits of rusty metal.

“So,” said Nanoc when the group gathered together in the flickering green light of Danton’s torch, “which way we goin?”

________________________________________________________________

Notes for turn 29:

Please send postings for Turn 29 by the end of Wednesday, October 25th.

Items gained this turn: Danton’s new box, writing supplies, and 12 scrolls of cure light wounds, 2 scrolls of cure moderate wounds, 1 potion of cure moderate wounds

Undivided Loot previously gained: none

Items used/lost/destroyed/sold this turn: 3 scrolls of cure light wounds, many items sold to Joman Dart

FOES DEFEATED:

This Chapter:

Character Foes Defeated Percent of Total Most Powerful Defeated
Nanoc 4/21 19% Water Ooze
Mauser 4/21 19% Goblin Shaman
Telemachos 7/21 33% Gnoll Warleader
Danton 0/21 0% Mud Puddle
Luger 1/21 5% Gnoll
Aseneth 2/21 10% Young Blue Dragon
Xaod 3/21 14% Chatrilon Unosh

Entire Campaign:

Character Foes Defeated Percent of Total Most Powerful Defeated
Nanoc 47/125 37% Sarcophagus Thing
Mauser 23/125 18% Shadow
Telemachos 36/125 29% Gnoll Warleader
Danton 7/125 6% Bugbear
Luger 1/125 1% Gnoll
Erky 6/125 5% Twig Blight
Aseneth 2/125 2% Young Blue Dragon
Xaod 3/125 2% Chatrilon Unosh

Current Status of the Party:

Nanoc

AC: 17

Hit points: 35/35

New XP: 100

XP total: 5650

XP needed: 6,000

Equipment: great axe, silver-plated short sword, masterwork studded leather armor, 69 arrows, 2 quivers, backpack, waterskin, 18 days trail rations, bedroll, 2 sacks, 2 flint & steel, bearskin, tent, 50’ rope, 1 sap, masterwork composite shortbow, masterwork shortsword, ten iron triangles with inverted ‘Y’ , potion of cure moderate wounds

Gold: 622

Silver: 220

Danton

AC: 15 (16 vs. one opponent)

Hit points: 14/14

New XP: 100

XP total: 5650

XP needed: 6,000

Equipment: rapier, 6 daggers, light crossbow, studded leather armor, quiver with 33 bolts, bedroll, backpack, flint & steel, thieves picks, waterskin, 11 days trail rations, hooded lantern, notebook, pen, ink, gold ring engraved with the name Karakas, 1 sap, 1 metal key from Yusdrayl, Everburning Torch, scrolls with pyrotechnics and melf’s acid arrow, waterlogged journal, two iron triangles with upside down ‘Y’ inside, 1 protection from fire scroll, 12 scrolls of cure light wounds, 2 scrolls of cure moderate wounds

Gold: 272

Silver: 0

Telemachos

AC: 18

Hit points: 32/32

New XP: 100

XP total: 5550

XP needed: 6,000

Equipment: splint mail, short sword, 2 daggers, longbow, quiver and 33 arrows, large wooden shield, backpack, large sack, flint and steel, 21 days rations, waterskin, bedroll, tent, 1 sap, Shatterspike (Longsword +1 with special properties), honey and berries

Gold: 65

Silver: 210

Luger

AC: 19

Hit Points: 15/15

New XP: 100

XP total: 1100

XP needed: 3,000

Equipment: longsword, heavy mace, light x-bow, dagger, 20 bolts, chainmail, large steel shield, 3 belt pouches, large bag, 50’ rope, 5 torches, hooded lantern, 3 oil flasks, flint & steel, 10 days rations, silver holy symbol of Heironeus, 3 flasks holy water, healer’s kit, backpack, cleric’s vestment, traveler’s clothing, waterskin, bedroll

Spell Selection:

Level 0(4): purify food & drink, detect magic, read magic, guidance
Level 1(3+1): detect evil (x2), comprehend languages, Domain: magic weapon

Turn Undead attempts left on current day: 2

Gold: 20

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