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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) |
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Nanoc (Barbarian 3) |
| |
Telemachos Rhavelle (Fighter 3) |
| Associates: |
Aseneth
Velinax de Torquann (Enchantress) |
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Xaod
the Slayer (Paladin) |
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“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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