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Chapter 2: A Blighted Land Turn 41: The Return to the Sunless Citadel
While sitting around a large table in the corner of the restaurant in the Welcome Wench, enjoying what would likely be their last fine meal for some time, the party members finally settled the issue of which route they would take to Rastor. “I would very much like to stop through Oakhurst on our way to the Kron Hills to see if there is any news about Mauser,” said Luger, opening the discussion. “Danton, if you're willing, I'd like to visit this Sunless Citadel and ask the kobolds if they have seen my brother since you left. If we find that Mauser has gone down into the citadel and not returned after all this time, I think we can assume the worst. I don't know what I'm going to do if Mauser is gone...” said the cleric, trailing off. “Heck, I was thinkin' we was gonna avoid the Kron Hills if'n we couldn't get us a gnome guide,” said Nanoc in confusion. “I thought Danton done said if both routes is 'bout the same length and we don't have a gnome, we was gonna go around the hills? Don't sound like them gnomes in the hills is none too friendly. An’ I bet that there Welkwood is right pretty. A nice hike through the woods in th’ middle o’ summer would be really great, don’t ya think?” “Well, I must admit that I am torn,” mused Danton. “No way forward seemeth particularly cheery, and each offereth its own dangers. Each way also seemeth of roughly the same length, so no advantage is perceived in choosing one or the other. As Nanoc hath stated, I had hoped to have Erky or another gnome with us, and, with this assumption in mind, I had thought we'd foray through the Kron Hills.” Danton paused and his expression darkened. “Before speaking more on that, a word or two on Erky. I find myself a bit unnerved by his disappearance, which seemeth mysterious under the circumstances. Remember, none actually saw him depart Hommlet, and the operative theory wast that, overhearing our dispute about his continuing services, he chose to break the fellowship and return home. This he may have done, and, like Nanoc, I am sure that, if he left to go home, he went as directly there as possible. That would have had him effectively passing by Nulb and the Temple of Elemental Evil -- to say nothing of the standard perils of the road offered by brigands, wolves and the like -- so any number of evils might have befallen him.” “Yet,” continued the Velunese, “it occurs to me that evil may have befallen him in Hommlet -- he may never have left, at all. We know, for instance, that the Tharizdun cult did have operatives in Hommlet, and 'tis conjectural that they might have captured or killed him. Of course, he may also simply, and less melodramatically, have been knifed in an alleyway by an anonymous thug for his pocket change. There is no way to know, and I don't ruminate on this for any particular purpose -- he is gone, and there is no way to trace his footsteps now. Still, p'raps we should keep our eyes and ears open in the months ahead. It may come to pass that we may need to rescue Erky Timbers yet one more time. Or p'raps he may return the favor ....” “We shouldn’ta let him go alone,” said Nanoc firmly, pounding his fist on the table for emphasis. “An’ I’ll tell ya one thing—we ain’t doin’ that kinda thing ta any o’ our friends again.” “Back
to the main topic,” said Danton quickly in hopes of avoiding
that discussion again. “How to Rastor? I am genuinely at a
loss, almost to the point where I'd simply leave it to a coin toss. I
don't know that any way seems particularly more perilous than the
other. True, we hath been warned afresh by Erky's people regarding
the Kron Hills gnomes, but do any doubt the perils of the Welkwood?
In the end, p'raps we should head through the Kron Hills simply to
put Luger's mind to rest. 'Twould allow a brief -- and I doth mean brief -- stop at the Sunless Citadel simply to ascertain
Mauser's fate. I frankly doth not hold out much hope for learning
anything, and you may find that Yusdrayl, the kobold chief, may
rather kill you than answer your questions. Thus, if we head to the
citadel, we'd better enter armed for serious combat and ready to make
a rapid retreat. Kobolds may be fodder for our swords, but there are
many of them and, in any event, I never underestimate any
enemy—particularly on his own territory.” “Fair enough,” replied Danton. “Luger hath chosen the Kron Hills route, and I do not think 'tis for selfishness. He is correct: Mauser wast our comrade and friend of old. His ultimate fate is of interest to me, and if it should pass that we could yet rescue him from some peril, methinks 'tis incumbent upon us to try. Thus, it is for the sake of both Luger and Mauser that I lean toward taking the Kron Hills route. However, if Nanoc and Aseneth think strongly otherwise, I would hear their arguments, for, despite my leanings, I remain undecided and open to persuasion.” “I am not caring which way is we are going,” said Aseneth, before adding quickly, “as long as are not wasting much time either is being fine.” “Fear not,” assured Luger, “thwarting the cult of Tharizdun is of paramount importance regardless my own concerns. With Oakhurst and the citadel being on the way to Rastor, I do not think it will take too much additional time. With Nanoc and Danton being ‘old friends’ of the kobolds, I thought their presence would be beneficial. I would not want to trespass on their domain by myself.” Nanoc
shrugged. “I shore woulda liked ta seen the Welkwood, but maybe
we can come back that way. Stoppin' by Oakhurst an' them Kobolds on
the way is fine wit’ me.” While the others continued their meal, Danton dashed out of the restaurant and caught up with the innkeeper’s daughter before she could ascend the stairs to the second floor. Hearing him approach, the young woman turned briefly. When she saw whom it was that approached, she turned back towards the stairs as if to rush up them and away from Danton, but he caught her wrist on the railing. “Sweet Vesta, a gloom hath fallen over us since our night of passion, and I doth not wish to depart Hommlet without a further word.” The woman still looked as if she wished to flee, but after a moment’s hesitation, she visibly resigned herself to conversing with Danton and motioned for him to follow her upstairs to an empty room away from prying eyes and ears. “Must you trumpet what happened to the whole inn?” she protested after closing the door behind the pair. “My parents would be scandalized and you know how people in a small town talk…” “Shh,” said Danton. “You have nothing to fear on that score—I am no cad to go about bragging of his passionate encounters. You are a beauteous and graceful girl, and a lass such as yourself ought to have good expectations for the future. Pick your suitors well. Danton Verbrugge would himself vie to court you, but, alas, his future is full of danger and his heart, frankly, hath already been given to another. Still, I would not leave Hommlet with you thinking that our passion was but mere dalliance to pass the night, for ‘twas not so. I shall long remember sharing your arms in dance and love, and, so that you might remember me more kindly, permit me this modest gesture.” With a flourish, Danton withdrew the pair of jeweled earrings he had recovered from the ruined tavern in Nulb and held them out to Vesta. “Oh,” said the young woman as she gazed at the golden jewelry. “They’re beautiful.” “No more so than the woman who will wear them,” replied the Velunese smoothly, even as he moved to place them on her ears. She permitted him this gesture, lifting her hair out of the way as he stood behind her. Danton had intended to depart at this point, but the way Vesta sighed and leaned into him while he hung the earrings on her ears made him hesitate and he found that his hands lingered on her shoulders after the earrings were in place. A flood of confused emotions coursed through him just as they had two nights previously. When Vesta turned to kiss him, Danton’s resolve melted away once again. *** On the morning of the 6th, even as the holiday festivities continued in Hommlet, Luger picked up his refitted armor from Harris Karl, while Danton made one last set of purchases from Joman Dart at the Old Trading Post. Aside from additional tents and oil, Danton concentrated on potential peace offerings to be given the gnomes of the Kron Hills in exchange for allowing the party passage to the south. The scout bought a small crate with an assortment of liquors, as well as a good number of pouches of tobacco, several nicely carved pipes, some small leather belts and pouches with fine scrollwork. As the others in the party had agreed, the cost of these items was divided four ways. Danton also sought to purchase additional maps of Verbobonc, but he found that Dart had none that were any more detailed than those already in his possession, and when he inquired as to whether anyone in town might be able to offer suggestions about the best route through the hills, Dart suggested he ask this question in Oakhurst or the nearby, larger town of Woodstock, which Danton and Nanoc had briefly visited some months back. According to Dart, the main road that had once run south through the hills, before the gnomes closed it, went due south from Woodstock. Before leaving the Trading Post, Danton gave Dart a letter he had penned before breakfast and paid him to have one of his trade caravans deliver it to the capital for posting to Furyondy. The letter was addressed to Penelope Rhavelle in the town of Libernen, and read as follows:
Once all of these tasks were complete and all of the party’s newly acquired goods secured on their mounts and pack mule, the group settled its bill at the Welcome Wench and then rode out of Hommlet via the main road. Once out of town, the party turned northwest and began the long trek back along the roads that Danton, Nanoc and Luger had walked a month previously. With horses and a mule to carry themselves and their equipment, the party members made good progress, averaging twenty miles per day as they moved along the generally well-maintained roads of what was the heart of Verbobonc. The weather grew hotter and hotter, so much so that Luger found it unbearable to wear his heavy chainmail while sitting in the saddle day after day. Even the lighter leather armor worn by Nanoc and Danton grew moist with sweat, stuck to the skin, and chafed unbearably in the heat. The occasional rainstorm helped somewhat, but most of these were so brief that they provided a momentary respite at best. Other travelers were fairly common on the busy central trade roads of Verbobonc, and using his maps along with regular conversations with travelers the party met along the way, Danton felt that he was able to track the group’s progress with great accuracy. By the sixth day out from Hommlet, the group had already completed the northwestern and western legs of the journey and turned southwest towards Oakhurst and the Kron Hills beyond it. So peaceful had the journey been that the party might easily have forgotten that the roads of Verbobonc were not as secure as they had once been, but a reminder of this unfortunate fact presented itself an hour after the party broke camp in the morning and resumed the trek south. It was Nanoc who first spotted what appeared to be wrecked and overturned covered wagons on the road ahead, causing the party to slow its pace and approach cautiously. The terrain here was generally flat and open, so potential enemies should have been visible from a considerable distance, but the party took no chances. As the group rode closer, they could see that there were a half-dozen smashed wagons. There were a handful of dead horses strewn amongst the wreckage, but not enough to have pulled so many wagons. There were also nearly two-dozen humanoid bodies strewn about—bodies of dwarves and gnolls. Only one figure moved about amidst the carnage, looking up as the party arrived. This was a dwarf in banded mail, whose heavily dented helmet looked as if it had nearly been sliced in half while being worn on his head. “You okay there?” called out Nanoc as he reined in his mount and slipped out of the saddle. "Well, now, it seems that I took a wee bit of a blow to my head,” said the dwarf, gazing at a spot several feet to the side of Nanoc. “Things’re still kinda spinning. Give me a moment, will ya laddies?" The dwarf raised an aleskin and drained it, with copious quantities of the alcohol within spilling into his long, thin beard. As the dwarf tried futilely to wipe the spilled drink from his beard, the party members could not help but notice that the facial hair was quite sparse for a dwarf and that the face underneath was heavily scarred—by old wounds rather than recent ones by the look of it. In fact, when one looked closer, almost every inch of the dwarf’s body that was not covered by armor or clothing appeared to have been badly burned at some point in the past. Although long hair spilling out of his smashed helmet and blood running down his face now covered much of his visage, it was obvious that he was also horribly scarred, disfigured even, by old wounds and burns. “Ah, that's a little better,” the dwarf grunted. “Looks like whatever hit us knocked me out first and then robbed us of our lockboxes. I tell you that I am going to recover them presently! Damn orcs or whatever they were. Any of you help me out with these tracks?" The dwarf gazed about at the ground, but it was not apparent to what tracks he referred. “By the bodies strewn about,” said Danton, still in the saddle, “it would appear your attackers were gnolls, not orcs. We hath encountered their like before and found them to be opponents most ferocious.” “Gnolls, eh?” asked the dwarf, squinting as he tried to wipe the blood from his eyes to pinpoint the source of Danton’s voice. “That be almost as bad as orcs. Do ya see their tracks? I’ll have ta rally the guard and track ‘em down.” “It would appear the other guards are all dead and that you are the sole survivor,” said Luger mildly. The dwarf staggered about for several moments before finally removing what remained of his helmet and using blood-smeared hands to pull all his hair out of his eyes. At that point he seemed to look directly at Nanoc for the first time. "I don't suppose ya know anything 'bout all this, do ya laddie? Never trust an orc, I say. Foul creatures, really." Looking over at Luger and Danton, the dwarf added, “Is he thar yer prisoner? Did he do some stealin' himself?" Aseneth hissed something in her own language that Danton and Luger were certain must be some sort of profanity as she leaped out of the saddle and stalked towards the dwarf with her staff in hand, her intention to hit the dwarf with it obvious to everyone. “Nanoc is hardly our prisoner,” said Danton mildly, “and you might be wise to mind your manners.” Aseneth was clearly still going to hit the dwarf until Nanoc spoke: “It’s okay, Asya. I’ve heard worse. I think he’s had enough of a beating already today.” "Allright, allright, laddie. No offense intended!” said the dwarf hurriedly. He added a belated, “Calm yerself, missy!" when he finally registered the presence of Aseneth standing over him with a glowing blue staff. "Travelin' with an orc, hmmmm. Well, my folks done told me that the ways of the sunlit world were strange. Only I dinna know it would be this strange! Well, I guess if I'm gonna be out here, I must adapt to yer ways laddies. And, ya look ta be a strong group a warriors . . . well, all 'cept the skinny laddie here,” he said with a nod at Danton. “I dinna suppose ya wanna help me recover my valuables, do ya?" “I’m afraid we have more pressing business than chasing down gnolls who are no doubt long gone,” said Luger, gazing off to the southwest. "Right,” said the dwarf. “'Cuse my manners, by the way. I am Karzak Dragonslayer from the Lortmils at yer service." The dwarf bowed so low and was so unsteady on his feet that it appeared for a moment that he might simply tip over, but somehow he maintained his balance and then straightened. “Dragonslayer?” asked Nanoc, his curiosity instantly piqued. "Yup,” replied Karzak. “Let me tell ya the story of the red dragon an' my horrible disfigurement. Ya see, there was this great red that attacked the hold, scattered me clan an’ took up residence in our biggest hall. We had ta marshal all our warriors, from the bravest an’ most experienced ta the youngest and greenest. Well the battle raged for days an’ when it was done, that ol’ drake decided he’d had enough o’ dwarven axes an’ he flew the coop! Unfortunately, by that time almost all our militia was dead an’ he left me the way ya see today.” Karzak paused and gestured at his burned and disfigured face. “But we won—we was the ones left in possession o’ our hold an’ that’s all that really matters. Since then I been on caravan duty, but nothin’ like this gnoll attack—yer sure it weren’t orcs?” Danton nodded firmly and Aseneth scowled again. “Right, nothin’ like this here gnoll attack ain’t happened before. I ain’t quite sure what we should be doin’ next.” “We?” asked Danton rhetorically. “So ya didn’t actually kill the dragon?” asked Nanoc, still focused on Karzak’s story. “If ya only chased him off, why are ya called ‘dragonslayer’? We fought a blue dragon an’ chased him away, but none of us is called ‘dragonslayer’.” Aseneth looked at Nanoc. “Maybe I should being Asya Dragonslayer?” she asked with a smirk. Karzak choked. “Ya let a woman fight a dragon for ya? Wow, I knew things were done different out here, but I dinna ever imagine it’d be the womenfolk fighting the dragons!” “Yeesh,” said Nanoc. “Next I’m gonna find myself braggin’ ‘bout bashin’ on poor little Calcryx!” Danton rolled his eyes. “Truly a glorious struggle it was with the blue drake, but perhaps we might discuss it further later, since events doth press us on. Twould appear there is little to be salvaged here, but if you would like to join us at least as far as the town of Oakhurst three days to the south, we couldst wait a moment—only a moment—for you to gather what gear may remain. Tis clear yet again that the roads of Verbobonc are not to be traveled alone these days.” Karzak was able to persuade the party to help him bury the fallen dwarves and he managed to salvage a backpack full of mostly intact equipment, including a new helmet, before the group set off once again. Although the dwarf was far too small to ride the party’s spare horse, Nanoc was able to shift the gear around enough to enable Karzak to ride on the back of the mule. As the group continued its journey, it became quickly apparent that Karzak was capable of talking without pause for hours on end. He spoke endlessly of his clan and upbringing, frequently expressing highly prejudicial views of all of the other humanoid races that were clearly the product of his upbringing rather than actual interaction with such peoples. However, these ingrained biases were mixed with an almost childlike naiveté about the world beyond the mountains and a boundless curiosity to learn and experience more of it. This naiveté and curiosity went a long way to counterbalancing most of the more obnoxious, ignorant comments Karzak made about humans, ‘orcs’, and others. Two days after meeting Karzak, whose many injuries Luger had healed in the interim, the party finally drew near Oakhurst. With evening extending its grip across the land, the first outlying farmhouses became visible in the distance. At this point, Danton remembered something he had wished to bring up with the newcomers: “Respecting the Sunless Citadel,” he said, “methinks we ought to use the map that I hath drawn and go directly in search of Meepo, Keeper of Dragons. Of all the kobolds, I trust him the most, which isn't saying much, I admit. He wast our traveling companion for a time, and he'd almost certainly be willing -- if any kobold proveth willing -- to answer questions regarding Mauser. If we cannot locate Meepo readily enough, I suppose we'll have to approach Yusdrayl -- but I frankly harbor little hope for a goodly response. And, again, we'd best be well armed for combat and have a full complement of healing on hand. Finally, we'd best consider the possibility that the goblins -- with or without the Frog Man -- have conquered the upper level. In such a case, Luger, we wilt be entirely ‘friendless’ within the citadel, and no answers wilt be forthcoming. We would then, in mine estimation, have no choice but quick withdrawal. The same is true if the kobolds deign to have battle with us. Killing such swine wilt answer no questions, and, at that point, nothing short of clearing out the dungeon would suffice even to have hope of turning up a clue regarding Mauser. Plainly, we art not going to the citadel to accomplish such a feat.” “Sounds reasonable,” agreed Luger. “If the kobolds are so belligerent that they aren’t even willing to talk to you and Nanoc, well that pretty much tells me, at least in general terms, what happened to Mauser.” “I should at this point also warn you, Luger and Aseneth, and even you Karzak,” added Danton, “of the Frog Man, who is a vile and cunning druid, certainly one of the greatest foes that we have yet met as a company. Belak is his name in actuality, but he was known to us as the ‘Frog Man’ because he had a great beast of an amphibian with him once upon a time -- but the horrible creature was slain. So I suppose, in sooth, he is now the ‘Frogless Man,’ but that is to quibble.... Regardless, he is a powerful foe, and if we encounter him, use the most lethal spells you have at your disposal, for his magic is not to be underestimated.” “Yeah, he made Tel go all nutty,” said Nanoc, “but then again, pretty much everybody made Tel go kinda crazy.” Karzak was clearly confused by all this talk of Meepo, Yusdrayl, the Frog Man and the like, but he nodded at all of Danton’s admonitions anyway. “So this is some kinda rescue mission?” the dwarf asked at the end of Danton’s commentary. “Well after the way ya helped me, you can count me in fer sure.” Danton raised an eyebrow at this comment and exchanged glances with the others at this comment, but said nothing. After no less than eight days on the road, under the burning sun almost all the time, it was with great relief that the party finally rode into Oakhurst the evening of the sixth of Srpanj. The group made straight for the Ol’ Boar Inn, knowing from their past stay in town that it was the only option available for lodgings. The little one level structure seemed particularly simple and austere after so many stays at the sumptuous Welcome Wench in Hommlet, but at least it offered a bed and a something other than trail rations for dinner. “Hey, Garon!” shouted Nanoc when the group walked inside and saw the middle-aged barkeep chatting with what appeared to be a group of locals seated at the only occupied table. “We’re back!” The man looked up, clearly recognizing Nanoc, but visibly struggling to remember his name. “Danton Verbrugge, Nanoc, and…associates,” said the Velunese helpfully. “Right!” exclaimed the barkeep. “You fellahs was here a couple months ago, went inta the citadel and lived ta tell the tale! Wow, never thought you all’d be back here again! Sit down an lemme get ya some dinner an’ then ya can tell me what’s what!” After serving up a round of ales and large sandwiches filled with vegetables and sliced pork, Garon sat down with the party while they ate and inquired as to where they had been and what they had done since leaving Oakhurst. For once, Nanoc was hungry enough that he focused on eating and let Danton do the talking. Thus, Garon received a vague version of events that left out any real details of the party’s investigation of the cult of Tharizdun and its activities in and around Hommlet. Instead, Danton focused on the group’s return to Oakhurst in search of its missing member, Mauser Gregorus. “You know he went off the citadel again and never came back, right?” asked Garon when Danton had come to the end of his tale. “We hath known that Mauser intended to return to the citadel,” clarified Danton, “but what hath transpired subsequently is unknown to us all.” “Oh, he went back alright,” said Garon. “One o’ the local boys who comes in here sometimes, a feller called Dev who works as a farmhand all round the area, said he saw ‘im—yer friend that is—on the old road goin’ south from town. There ain’t but one place that road leads nowadays—an’ that’s the citadel. An’ he wasn’t alone, neither.” “Who was he with?” asked Luger. “Ol’ Dev said he saw ‘im with a whole group a folks,” replied Garon. “An’ when he described ‘em to me, I knowed who they was—another bunch o’ adventurin’ types like yerselves who was stayin here at the Boar the same time you was.” “Those thugs?” asked Danton in shock. “Mauser hath returned to the citadel with those cutthroats?” “It had ta be the ones stayin’ here,” said Garon. “The way Dev described ‘em—a woman, a dwarf, a big ol’ half-orc, a halfling, an’ an elf guy—it couldn’t be anybody else.” “What a fool,” breathed Danton. “Who are these people?” shot Luger, looking back and forth between Garon and Danton. “Another group of adventurers,” replied the Velunese, “but lacking our style and manners—as well as our speed. They hath come to Oakhurst seeking the same reward from Kerowyn Hucrele we did, but they were a day late and a gold piece short—they arrived only after we hath completed the mission and solved Lady Hucrele’s mystery. And most displeased they were by that…” “Might you have the names of these people Mauser was with?” asked Luger, again looking at both Danton and Garon. The Velunese shook his head, but Garon got up from the table, walked behind the bar, and produced a thick ledger from underneath the bar. The man pored through it for several minutes before saying “aha!” and looking up. “Jil du Gal!” he said triumphantly. “I knew it was some kinda funny soundin’ name. She signed fer all of ‘em, so that’s the only name I got, but maybe that’ll help somehow?” “I ain’t never heard that name before,” grunted Nanoc. “I have,” said Danton. “Several persons in Hommlet hath claimed someone by said name hath passed through, in company with only a half-orc, while we were engaged…elsewhere. Tis a mystery that will require some additional pondering, methinks. In the meantime, hath you any other news of Oakhurst of late?” he said, looking up at Garon. Luger scowled at this revelation. “If only we had known their names and connection to Mauser earlier—and been in Hommlet when they passed through. I always seem to arrive or learn the crucial bit of information too late to make any use of it.” Garon ignored Luger’s comment and answered Danton’s question. “Ya missed the whole Richfeast, midsummer hooplah,” said the barkeep, “but it wasn’t really all that great this year. Whatever you folks did in that there citadel, for the first time in a lot o’ years, them goblins didn’t show up during Richfeast sellin’ no magic apple ta cure nobody’s wounds—kinda put a damper on the whole thing. Fact is, we ain’t heard nothin’ from the citadel since you all left an’ those others went back there. But I guess that ain’t so bad—leastaways cattle an’ folk in the countryside ain’t disappearin’ no more like they was ‘fore you all went down there.” Although Danton and Luger pressed Garon for more information on Mauser, it eventually became apparent that he had none. By this time it was growing late in the evening and the exhausted party turned in for the night. In the morning, Luger stopped in at the General Store, which was owned by the Hucrele family and served as the only real vendor of any sort of goods in town, and inquired as to whether any armor, weapons, or other unusual goods or equipment had been bought or sold in the store in the last month. According to the clerk, no such transactions had taken place since Danton and Nanoc were last in town, and Luger saw nothing for sale in the shop that he could connect to Mauser. Judging it safer to leave their animals and excess equipment at the Ol’ Boar rather than on the edge of the ravine above the Sunless Citadel, the party set out on foot for the ancient fortress. The land to the south of Oakhurst was now lush and green, but the heat remained as unpleasant as it had been during the journey from Hommlet and everyone wearing armor was as uncomfortable as ever. Although there was no one on the abandoned road, somehow it did not have the same oppressive feeling of months earlier when the Frog Man’s twig blights stalked the lands surrounding Oakhurst. When the group came to the dark ravine after a half-days walking, with the first of the Kron Hills close at hand to the south of it, it appeared that little had changed since Nanoc and Danton were last here. The rune-covered pillars were still present on both sides of the ravine and there were no obvious recent tracks in the area around them where the road ended. However, one thing was different. Someone had removed the stout rope that the ill-fated Hucrele expedition had attached to the pillars to facilitate their descent into the citadel. Prepared for such a possibility, Nanoc secured a new rope in place and then descended to the sandy ledge in the ravine that led to the series of stairs running all the way to the bottom. As the others followed, Nanoc gazed down into the shadows below and swore he could see movement in the ruined courtyard. “What a dump,” said Karzak when he arrived on the ledge and joined Nanoc in looking down on the wreckage of the citadel. “Sure can tell dwarves dinna build it.” “How can you tell that from all the way up here?” asked Nanoc. “Cause it’s falling apart!” proclaimed Karzak. “If it were dwarven construction, it’d still be intact!” “Right,” said Nanoc. “Danton, I think we got kobolds movin’ around down there in the courtyard—an’ I think they seen us.” Judging by the flurry of activity—mainly involving kobolds coming and going from the entrance to the citadel, the party had indeed been seen, and by the time the group descended all the way to the courtyard, there were at least a dozen of the creatures gathered in and around the doorway, all of them with crossbows drawn and pointed at the party. “We come seeking to speak with Meepo, Keeper of Dragons, or Yusdrayl, Queen of the Kobolds,” said Danton as the group approached the kobolds, all of their own weapons left sheathed or stowed. “I am Danton Verbrugge and this is Nanoc. We hath visited the citadel once before and helped to rid it of the goblin scourge.” (diplomacy: 7+6=13) “Go away,” said one of the kobolds in thickly accented, but easily comprehensible Oeridian. “I remember you, but this is kobold citadel now—others not welcome. No visitors.” “Hey, we jus’ wanna talk,” said Nanoc. “Jus’ you remember we didn’t have no problems wipen out them there goblins and their leader. We is jus here to ask a couple o’ questions and be on our way—no need to get nasty.” (intimidate: 7-2=5) “We are only seeking information,” added Luger. “My brother, Mauser, a cleric who was with Danton and Nanoc when they first came to the citadel, is said to have returned here later, with another group. We only want to know what happened to them and where they went, nothing more.” (diplomacy: 18) The kobold who had spoken looked at Luger while the others stood their ground uneasily and chattered quietly in their own language. Most had not lowered their weapons. “Others came,” said the apparent kobold leader finally. “Attacked. Tried to kill all kobolds but lost. They run and hide in lower level—where bad things are. We sealed all away. Top level is ours and lower level blocked off. No more attacks from above or below. You go away now.” Luger looked at Danton. “If Mauser were trapped below, was there any way out?” The Velunese nodded. “We hath found a path leading into the fearsome Underdark, but saw no reason to tread it. But if there were no other way out, it would offer an exit, however foreboding it might be.” Luger shook his head. “So if Mauser somehow survived the confrontation with the kobolds and went off into the Underdark, he could be anywhere by now…either in the world below or on the surface. But since at least some of those who were with him clearly escaped this citadel somehow and he neither accompanied them nor made his way to Hommlet to rejoin you…I can only assume the worst.” “Uh, fellahs,” interrupted Nanoc. “These kobolds is getting mighty jittery. Either we better get outta here or we’s gonna have ta fight ‘em all, I thinks.” Danton turned back to the humanoids. “Thank you for the information. We will go now.” Although the kobolds watched the party every step of the way back up the side of the ravine, they did not attack. It was with heavy hearts that the group finally ascended and recovered Nanoc’s rope, and then set out for Oakhurst. “If those little creatures spoke true,” said Luger, “it would appear that Mauser participated in an assault on them with his new companions. That almost disturbs me more than the thought of his death at their hands or those of some creature in the Underdark.” “Or at the hands of his associates,” added Danton acidly. “As Nanoc can attest, that other group had an ill look about them—the sort of people capable of most anything.” Luger sighed. “But it would also appear that I have no trail left to follow. Seeking Mauser’s path in the darkness below would be as impossible as it would be foolish. Unless some new clue presents itself, there is nothing else that can be done. The threat of the cult presses and Mauser will have to wait. Let us make haste to Rastor.” *** With little else for the party to do in Oakhurst, the group spent a second night at the Ol’ Boar Inn before departing for Woodstock the next day. The much larger town was only a three day journey to the southwest and its reputation as the gateway to the Kron Hills, at least in the past, suggested it would be the best place to secure supplies and information to plan a trip through the hills. Danton and Nanoc both had fond memories of the border town as well, which was known far and wide for its seasonal festivals and the resident halflings who organized them. Woodstock was a bit close to the border with Veluna for Danton’s liking, but because of the great ravine that ran east to west through this region, the party would have to travel far to the west to reach its end and be able to turn south in any case, so it seemed foolish not to travel the few additional miles necessary to reach the town, where additional intelligence on the gnomes and their ‘closing’ of the hills might be obtained. As the group left Oakhurst, Karzak remained with it, seemingly enthralled with experiencing the world outside the mountains and content to follow the party wherever it might go. ________________________________________________________________ Notes for turn 42: Please send postings for Turn 42 by the end of Thursday, January 25th. Current date/time/location: 8 Srpanj; approximately 0900; just outside Oakhurst on the road southwest to Woodstock. Items gained this turn: new supplies listed below Undivided Loot previously gained: none Items used/lost/destroyed/sold this turn: Some supplies used during trip to Oakhurst FOES DEFEATED: Active party members listed in green. This Chapter:
Entire Campaign:
Current Status of the Party: Note: known magic items listed in bold. Nanoc AC: 17 Hit points: 59/59 New XP: 0 XP total: 12706 XP needed: 15,000 Equipment: masterwork great axe, great axe +1, silver-plated short sword, masterwork studded leather armor, 69 arrows, 2 quivers, backpack, waterskin, 27 days trail rations, bedroll, 2 sacks, 2 flint & steel, bearskin, tent, 50’ rope, 1 sap, masterwork mighty composite shortbow, masterwork shortsword, 6 iron triangles with inverted ‘Y’, three black cones made of some unknown substance, a black scepter decorated with a half dozen violet gems, a bead of force, metal scroll tube, a black cloak, two inverted ziggurat pendants; 2 potions of bull’s strength, potion of cure light wounds(X4), potion of cure moderate wounds, potion of water breathing, potion of spider climbing, Aseneth’s House Torquann dragon ring, heavy riding horse and riding equipment, spare light riding horse and equipment, pack mule (mule carries: 3 tents, most of party’s rations and water, ‘peace offerings’ for gnomes). Gold: 1960 Silver: 220
AC: 15 (16 vs. one opponent) Hit points: 22/22 New XP: 0 XP total: 12706 XP needed: 15,000 Equipment: rapier, 6 daggers, light crossbow, studded leather armor, quiver with 33 bolts, bedroll, backpack, flint & steel, thieves picks, waterskin, 27 days trail rations, hooded lantern, gold ring engraved with the name Karakas, 1 sap, 1 metal key from Yusdrayl, Everburning Torch, scrolls with pyrotechnics and melf’s acid arrow, old journal, 8 iron triangles with upside down ‘Y’ inside, 1 protection from fire scroll, 5 scrolls of cure light wounds, 2 scrolls of cure moderate wounds, new journal, notebook, pen, ink, parchment in sealed waterproof box, pipe, tobacco, metal box, whetstone, six packets of tinder for lighting fires, gold inlaid dagger, Journal of Geynor Ton, a folded piece of parchment with a note addressed to someone named Festrath, spider pendant, a wand, tattered black cloak with burning eye emblazoned on it, disguise kit, letter to Master Dunrat, ochre-colored robe, bead of force, potion of cure light wounds (X2), cure moderate wounds (X2), scrolls of animal messenger and stone shape, wand of magic missiles (5 charges), unknown potion from tavern in Nulb, light riding horse and equipment, potion of spider climb, a dozen vials of lantern oil. Gold: 1717 Silver: 0 AC: 20 Hit Points: 34/34 New XP: 0 XP total: 8156 XP needed: 10000 Equipment: longsword, heavy mace, light x-bow, dagger, 20 bolts, chainmail +1, large steel shield, 3 belt pouches, large bag, 50’ rope, 5 torches, hooded lantern, 3 oil flasks, flint & steel, 27 days rations, silver holy symbol of Heironeus, 3 flasks holy water, 2 healer’s kits, backpack, cleric’s vestment, traveler’s clothing, waterskin, bedroll, iron triangle with upside down ‘Y’ inside, eight cockatrice feathers, scrolls of cure light wounds (2), cure disease, neutralize poison, potions of cure light wounds, bull’s strength, cure moderate wounds, and haste; Geistblatt (ghost touch longsword +1), light riding horse and equipment. Spell Selection: Level 0(5): Detect
Magic X3, Light X2 Level 2 (3+1): Summon Monster II, Hold Person, Sound Burst, Domain: Spiritual Weapon Turn Undead attempts left on current day: 7 of 7 Gold: 717
Karzak AC: 19 Hit Points: 38/38 New XP: 0 XP total: 3,000 XP needed: 6,000 Equipment: backpack, water skin, 7 days rations, aleskin, flint & steel, heavy crossbow, 4 cases with 40 bolts, 2 daggers, dwarven waraxe, large steel shield, banded mail, short sword, bedroll, sack Gold: 79 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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