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Chapter 2: A Blighted Land

Turn 44: Scum and Villainy

“Wow, laddie, me be thinkin' that them halfling lassies should be comin' under the mountain regularly!” bellowed Karzak. “They were a couple a' fine, fine wenches if I not be under four feet tall! Ya be thinkin' they might still be open fer us ta go back fer a spell? I kinna 'member havin' such a grand ole time! We'll be bringing back Luger an' the orc tomorrow night!”

Danton was ignoring Karzak by this time, his every sense instead focused on the fog-filled road behind the pair as he sought any sign that he and the dwarf were still being followed.

”Mebee our inn be servin' ales still?” asked Karzak. “If not, I be havin' me our private stock back in me room. Me an' ya smooth-face kin be drinkin' and toastin' the sun in the morning.”

Suddenly Karzak broke into song once again:

”O! Sunbeams in the mountain,
pokin' through our windows.
What a marvelous sight . . .
Har, har, har! . . . “

This was too much for Danton, who rushed over to the dwarf and seized him by his banded armor:

“Hush thyself, dwarf, and get thy senses back! Our whoring and drinking is finished ... as might we be, too, if mine own senses are functioning. We art being watched -- and probably stalked -- or I am a fool. Put your hand on your axe haft, and quickly, for we may have to carve a path to the Stony Gaze!”

Suddenly Danton could hear feet pounding on the cobblestones quite clearly. Just as Karzak staggered closer to him and slapped him hard on the back, two big men armed with rapiers appeared out of the mist and rushed towards the Velunese and the dwarf. As they charged forward, their forms shifted before Danton’s very eyes and in a matter of seconds, Danton and Karzak were faced by two more of the rat-men the party had encountered earlier in the day.

“Fly, you fool!” spat Danton, turning on his heel and rushing up Old Ford Road as fast as his feet would carry him.

This shout at last seemed to shake Karzak back to his senses, and, as Danton rushed off, he withdrew his axe as if to ready himself for a fight. But when he saw two of the rat-men bearing down on him, and remembered the ineffectiveness of his weapon against the creatures earlier in the day, he spun about and followed Danton as fast as his short legs would carry him.

***

While Danton was often out of his depth in the wilds and relied heavily on Nanoc, here in the heart of a city he was truly in his element. Rushing flat out up the street, he took advantage of every bit of cover the urban environment provided in an effort to shake his pursuers. The fog helped, as it limited visibility to a few dozen feet. Once he judged he was, at least briefly, out of sight of the rat-men, Danton turned down a side street, and then back onto another that ran parallel to Old Ford Road (Opposed Bluff check: 18+7=25). Hearing the sounds of pursuit grow fainter, he then ducked around another corner a block farther along and pressed his body into the small, dark entryway of a grocer’s shop (Opposed Hide check: 8+7=15).

Less than a minute later, Danton heard one of the rat-men charge up the street nearby. The creature stopped in the intersection where Danton had made his final turn. It stood there for several moments, its nostrils testing the air even as its eyes sought to take in everything not obscured by the fog. Danton held his breath, but just when he was certain the rat-man would come his way, it ran off to the southwest, disappearing into the fog.

***

Karzak lost sight of Danton almost immediately, the Velunese disappearing into the fog ahead of him and his footfalls fading not long thereafter. Never having been in Woodstock before and confused by a combination of the night, the fog, and his own state of semi-intoxication, Karzak turned onto one street, then another in an effort to elude the rat-men, but he had no real idea where he was going (Opposed Bluff check: 2 + -3 = -1).

The soft footfalls that had followed Karzak throughout his run suddenly materialized into the form of one of the rat-men, looming out of the fog and rushing at the dwarf’s back with his rapier. Realizing flight was no longer an option, Karzak turned to face the creature.

"Now, what kinda creature be ye, uglysnout no-face? Come an' feel the sting of me axe!" he shouted.

[Initiative: Karzak: 21 Wererat: 10]

As the creature came forward, Karzak slammed his dwarven axe into the lycanthrope’s midsection (attack: 14+8=22; hit; 14 damage—no effect). Although the axe did briefly create a nasty wound, the cut closed almost instantly, leaving behind no discernible effect from the mighty blow.

"Well, I'll be damned again!” blurted Karzak. “I needa ta git me a magicked blade, that being fer sure." 

The wererat snarled and threw itself at the dwarf with abandon, clearly realizing that he was unable to harm it. Karzak blocked its snout with his axe, but its rapier slashed through his mail (hit for 6 points; fortitude save: 11+8=19; success).

Knowing there was no way he could outrun the swift rat-man, Karzak had little choice but to keep fighting and making as much noise as he could in the hope that the commotion might somehow drive off the creature or draw the town guard or other assistance. He swung his axe at the thing again, and struck it once more, but again did no lasting damage (attack: 14+8=22; hit; 13 damage—no effect).

As the fight progressed, the wererat threw defense to the wind and flailed and bit at Karzak with wild abandon, striking him with both blade and teeth (hit for a total of 7 points; fortitude saves: 9+8=17, 13+8=21; both succeed).

Screaming at the top of his lungs all the while, Karzak hit the wererat yet again (attack: 10+8=18; hit; 10 damage—no effect), but neither his weapon nor his voice seemed to have any effect. The wererat remained uninjured and the dwarf could not even see any lights being lit in the nearby buildings at the sound of the battle in the street. He ducked below the flashing teeth and rapier of his foe, but then another blade hit him in the back (hit for 7 points: fortitude save: 18+8=26; success).

Now screaming incoherently as he faced two foes, Karzak swung his axe wildly about, but without impact (attack: 3+8=11; miss). He was struck twice more by the wererats’ blades (hit for a total of 13 points; fortitude saves: 8+8=16; 2+8=10; first save succeeds, but second fails).

As his consciousness faded, Karzak felt a strange burning sensation in his veins and his vision clouded over. Then something else hit him and there was only darkness.

***

It was after midnight when Danton finally slipped back into the Stony Gaze. After eluding the wererat, the Velunese had picked his way carefully back to the south end of town. He had seen no sign of further pursuit, but had been careful to take a roundabout route back to the inn just in case. Once inside the inn, he made his way to the room that Nanoc and Aseneth shared. He rapped lightly on the door until the barbarian finally opened it.

“Hath Karzak returned?” asked the Velunese, pushing his way through the partially open door. Inside, Aseneth sat up in the large bed while Nanoc lit a candle.

“I thought he was with you,” groused Nanoc. “What’s going on?”

“We were attacked—and separated,” replied Danton. “Twas more rat-men. Methinks we are in bad territory, and I am starting to rethink the wisdom of ever coming this way. Woodstock, sadly, is not what it once was -- a pleasure haven for amoral wanderers. Now, 'tis an abode of murderers, diseased shape-changers and all-around scum of the Oerth. Further fleshly raptures with the halfling lasses notwithstanding, I cannot think of a reason to stay in this town beyond the dawn.”

“Huh,” muttered Nanoc. “Asya an’ I got attacked too tonight. We was goin’ to the rasslin’ pits an’ some weird gray thingies jumped out an’ started attackin’ us an evry’body in sight. We trashed ‘em, but came right back here after that.”

Danton snorted. “Though surely some of you wilt be tempted to play do-gooders in Woodstock, let me remind you: we art on an errand of some haste to Rastor. We hath little, if any, time to sleuth out the murderous problems of Woodstock, to say nothing of laughing ghosts and mysterious disappearances of townsfolk. Rastor beckons, and that is our first order of business. Remember: any problems here are secondary, unless they be tied to our pursuit of the Tharizdun cult ... and no evidence yet exists to show such a connection, at least not as far as I can see. Unless the Tharizdun cult is destroyed, the problems of Woodstockers don't amount to a proverbial hill of beans. I add, though perhaps only to mineself, for others seemeth not to care, that we hath been offered nothing for services to be rendered here in Woodstock and we art not here to provide charity to the downtrodden.”

“Well, I'll tell you, Danton, you sure is right bout one thing,” agreed Nanoc ruefully. “This ain't the way I 'members Woodstock. Sure the southwest end was always bad, but not like this. After that run in Aseneth and I had...well I don't know what to think. But maybe this does have somethin' to do with that there cult. After all they had members all the way in Hommlet stirring up trouble...could be they have some here. We should meet up with Luger in the morning an’ figure out a plan fer all this.”

“I hath no wish to spend more time here,” said Danton firmly, turning and stalking out of the room. “When Luger and Karzak are back in the morning, we must plan our immediate departure.”

***

When morning came, Luger did return to the Stony Gaze, but Karzak did not. When the group purchased breakfast and then took it back to the room Danton and Karzak shared, in order that they could converse in privacy, Danton and Nanoc (+5 HP from rest) reported on the attacks of the previous night. Luger then related his conversations with Torea and Alein.

“From what they tell me,” said the cleric, “the good churches here have had little luck in trying to deal with the trouble. Since the guards no longer seem to be doing much of anything, Alein and Torea agreed that Captain Forren was probably taken or killed because he was an obstacle to whatever is going on. The paladins gave me the name of an old dwarven weaponsmith in Chatterstreet Market who is the head of the town’s merchants guild. They say this dwarf, a certain ‘Shooma’, is pretty much the oldest, most knowledgeable person in town, so if anyone can shed any light on what is going on, they say it would be her. I mean to track her down today. I asked the paladins to accompany me, but they are otherwise occupied, so perhaps, Nanoc, you and Aseneth might join me? Maybe Shooma will also be able to offer some insight on the disappearance of Karzak.”

Danton shook his head. “Becoming mired in the problems of Woodstock is sheer foolishness. Beyond this, I am increasingly discouraged by the persistent declamations that we shalt manage safe passage through the Kron Hills and I am more-and-more convinced that it might be folly to go that way. Whereas I could brush off the Hommletonians' warnings since they were distant from the hills, I placed mine hope that we would find a gnome guide either in Erky's village or here in Woodstock. This hath not happened, and, moreover, the Woodstockers seem more convinced than even the Hommletonians that the Kron Hills be practically impassable. This intelligence cannot be brushed off so easily. Our only hope is a supposed ‘elven smuggler,’ who we hath not yet met, who is reputed only to be in Woodstock from time to time, who frankly may not even exist, and who, if he doth exist, might either prove a villain or in the pay of the Kron Hill gnomes, bringing them wealthy victims for the plundering.”

”In short,” summed up Danton, “I hath seen nothing thus far that indicates 'twould be anything other than madness to venture into the hills. That means, as I see it, that Nanoc may well get his trip through the woods after all. And if, indeed, we do have to take the other way, 'twill cost us still more time in backtracking or short-cutting -- time that is in short supply and time that cannot be squandered here in Woodstock.

I hath not yet completely made up mine own mind regarding this matter, but I sense that the longer we stay in Woodstock, the more likely we are to be drawn into a wholly unrelated morass ... and one, moreover, which is plainly dangerous in the extreme. We hath barely entered this town and already been forced to fight three battles, requiring extensive and unusual healing no less! Karzak hath disappeared in the night. Methinks it seems most wise to take the initiative by departing Woodstock and choosing our own battles on our own terms ... in Rastor, if at all possible.”

“Aside from Karzak’s fate, which we are honor bound to determine,” said Luger, “the troubles in Woodstock worry me in their own right. While there is no apparent link with the cult, it seems suspicious that we find these troubles as we get closer to Rastor. Is the next town we come across going to be overrun with vampires? I think we should seek out this elven smuggler and see if he can make our trip through the hills easier. Since we're here, I don't see any harm in looking into the disappearance of the guard captain and maybe even this ghost that has been reported by various people. A day or two isn't going to hold us up too much and it just might turn out to be another cult cell working in the area. There is evil here, of that I am sure. I'd like to poke around a bit and see if we can find the root of it. Had I acted on my feelings the first night in Hommlet, we would have captured that foul barmaid and likely the dopperganger.”

“I remain open to following up any clue linking the problems in Woodstock with the Tharizdun cult,” insisted Danton. “However, the sticking point is that, at least as of this moment, I see none. As for this ‘elven smuggler,’ I suppose I am willing to make further inquiry, but bear in mind that only one person -- a mere serving wench, no less -- hath spoken a peep about it. And even she wasn't sure the smuggler actually existed. I doubt further inquiry is worth more than a few hours in the morning -- by afternoon, we should be gone ... unless the majority of you wish to ignore the ample warnings we hath received and attempt to run the gnomish gauntlet in the Kron Hills.”

”Shucks Danton, I don't like to see Woodstock in such a way,” said Nanoc, Having finally finished wolfing down his breakfast, he was ready to rejoin the conversation. “How about you and Asya see if'n you can round up that Elf fellah today and Luger an’ me will go an look into that stuff he done mentioned? I just don't think them gray looking things that tried to get them halflings was your normal murder type deal. Plus we knows that there cult wants to bring an end to the world so killin' a bunch o' people at the fair makes sense. So I think we oughta give it at least a day. If'n there ain't no tie in by that time and it is just usual stuff goin' on here well we can leave the next day...hopefully wit that elf smuggler an’ Karzak. Even though I’d love ta see those woods, I'd hate to hafta back track all that way.”

Danton sighed. “While I am quite certain we art confronted with two, or more, separate evils, seeing as how we should make some effort to determine Karzak’s fate and considering your and Luger’s determination to investigate this mythical connection ‘tween events here and the cult, I shall back away from my call to leave today. I am willing to stay another day in Woodstock to probe about for clues. I wilt certainly attempt to find this ‘elven smuggler,’ but, frankly, 'tis difficult to chase about a personage known only to a simple bar wench. P'raps I should bed her and several of her curvaceous friends to see what further I canst learn via pillowtalk.”

Nanoc smiled. “I was also thinkin' if we run into any more o' 'em rat men, I could bash 'em wit the flat side o' my axe so as not to kill 'em...then maybe we can get them to talk and figure what they is a doin'.”

Danton sighed again, more loudly this time. “One more day it is then. If we turn up a connection between the ill doings here in Woodstock and the Tharizdun cult, I shalt be among the first to advocate pursuing it further. But, if not, mine hope is that we're all agreed that we're off to Rastor. But in that case, the question remaineth: Which way to go? Through the Kron Hills or through the forest? If I turn up a trace of this smuggler, p'raps that wilt make things clearer. And, at any rate, we need not discuss it now.”

***

With the name of a specific merchant at their disposal, Nanoc and Luger were able to find the business of Shooma the weaponsmith with relative ease. When the pair inquired with other merchants, they uniformly described the ancient dwarven woman as one of Woodstock’s true luminaries. The dwarf had apparently plied her trade in the town for over a hundred years. Her weapons were renowned, not for their enchantment, although many had apparently been enchanted after leaving her hands, but rather for the quality of their workmanship.

Unfortunately, as she had grown older, Shooma was less and less willing to deal with the public, or with strangers, and Nanoc and Luger were forced to cool their heels for several hours on a bench outside her shop before they were able to see her. Finally, just when the duo had been about to give up and go in search of lunch, Shooma’s nephew, a dwarf named Horken who actually ran the shop for her in addition to serving as her apprentice, summoned Nanoc and Luger into a back room. There they found a truly ancient dwarf sitting in a weathered wooden rocking chair.

Despite her advanced age, Shooma appeared wiry and muscular and her arms made it clear that she still spent at least some time at the forge. Her face and arms were dark and leathery from decades spent in close proximity to the heat of the forge and her eyes were sunk deep and surrounded by wrinkles.

When Luger, after carefully dropping the names of Torea and Alein, inquired as to the troubles in the town and the disappearances of Captain Forren and Karzak (Diplomacy 14 +2 for reference from Alein and Torea=16), Shooma provided the following information:

“All these wererat attacks got me thinking. That bell tower in the center of town is supposed to be crawling with rats—has been for years. I used to know the previous owner of the tower, a man called Revven. He died a long time ago, but he had a son—named Turvin—who might still own the tower, but I don’t get out so much nowadays and I don’t know Turvin at all.”

“Captain Forren disappeared in this very neighborhood, just before the fair began. I actually talked to him just a few hours before he went missing. He was on a routine patrol, not investigating anything in particular, though he was asking questions about reports he’d received of merchants being extorted.”

“A lot of my old merchant friends have complained to me about crime in the last few months. Some have suffered theft, while thugs offering ‘protection’ from theft and vandalism in exchange for money or favors have approached others. Those who refused have been victimized one way or another shortly thereafter and this is what Captain Forren was looking into. If these crimes were committed by wererats, that would explain how the criminals could remain undetected.”

Beyond these insights, Shooma had little else to offer. She knew nothing of Karzak’s disappearance and quickly became fatigued when Luger and Nanoc asked follow-up questions. Her nephew then escorted the duo back out of the shop and bid them farewell on the stoop outside.

***

With Aseneth in tow, Danton made his way from inn to inn and tavern to tavern, across Eastgate and Chatterstreet Market in the morning before heading into Southspur in the afternoon. At each stop, and along the way, the Velunese inquired with anyone willing to talk as to the possible whereabouts of an ‘elven smuggler’ able to pass through the ‘closed’ Kron Hills (Gather Information: 3+9=12, 19+9=28, 15+9=24).

Although the morning passed without Danton learning anything of substance, leading him to become increasingly certain that the ‘smuggler’ was nothing more than a myth, when he and Aseneth moved into the seedier parts of town in the afternoon, his luck changed. When Danton used the expression ‘elven smuggler’ with a vendor at a filthy food stand in Southspur, the man immediately responded:

“Ah, yer lookin’ fer Syll! Today’s yer lucky day! He’s in town at the moment. He came by earlier an’ traded me a couple o’ bottles o’ Ulekian stout! Said he was gonna be down at the cantina by the west gate doin’ business for the afternoon. I bet if ya hurry, ya kin still find ‘im there!”

With this surprising bit of information, Danton and Aseneth picked up the pace. As they went, Danton could not help but notice that the thugs and street urchins of Southspur gave the pair a wide berth. Many of them leered openly at the sorceress, but none approached to accost the duo.

Danton had been to the West End Cantina once before. It was located alongside the wrestling pits and it was where all the bets on the matches were made and where winners and losers drank themselves into a stupor to spend their winnings or mourn their losses. At least when Danton and Nanoc had passed through Woodstock previously, the place had been open at all hours of day and night, filled with all manner of cutthroats, petty criminals, gamblers, prostitutes, and assorted riffraff.

When Danton and Aseneth walked inside the rundown, single-level structure of stone and wood, it appeared that whatever troubles had come to beset the town, little had changed here. An intoxicated bard crooned terribly to the accompaniment of the worst troupe of musicians Danton had ever heard. Dozens of people lounged about at tables and booths, the poor lighting making it difficult to tell what exactly most of them were about. All eyes were drawn to the newcomers as they walked in, and Aseneth gripped her staff tightly, the blue light at the end flaring in warning to anyone looking for trouble.

Danton inquired with the bartender as to the presence of an elf named ‘Syll’, and the man pointed towards a dim corner at the back of the place in response. Making their way through the room, Danton and Asneth’s boots stuck to the filthy floor with each step. A fight broke out at the far side of the common room, and there were brief screams as it was settled with several quick blade thrusts. Closer to hand, a prostitute serviced a client in plain view of everyone nearby. Aseneth blanched and even Danton felt uncomfortable and anxious to leave.

Beyond all of this, a dusky-skinned elf in breeches, a tunic, and high boots sat with his back to the wall engaged in some kind of transaction with a large half-orc with a prominent belly jutting out of his leather armor. Several items, not all of them coins or gems, passed back and forth across the table, and then the portly half-orc grunted, got up, and pushed his way past Danton and Aseneth. The elf watched closely as the Velunese and the sorceress approached and sat down across from him. Danton could not help but notice that the elf’s eyes seemed to take in everything happening in the room even as he watched the newcomers closely.

“Might you be the one known as ‘Syll’?” asked Danton as he sat down.

“Who’s asking?” countered the elf.

“I am Danton Verbrugge of Veluna and this is the Lady Aseneth of the distant North Kingdom. We seeketh the services of a…smuggler…known as Syll the elf.”

“I’m listening,” replied the elf.

“We seek passage through the Kron Hills,” said Danton. “Myself, the lady, a cleric, a barbarian friend, and possibly a dwarf—no questions asked and no gnomish entanglements.”

“Well that’s the real trick, ain’t it,” replied the elf. “It’ll cost you—three thousand gold for a group that big—and that ostentatious.”

“Three thousand gold?!” spluttered Danton. “That’s ridiculous! We could simply buy off the gnomes ourselves for so much money. Either that or purchase a scroll of teleportation!”

The elf smirked. “And who’d cast the spell, you? I don’t think so. Traveling through the Kron Hills ain’t like dusting crops, boy. Without precise contacts with the gnomes you could end up a prisoner or just plain dead, and that’d end your trip real fast.”

“Now see here!” blurted Danton. “Aside from lowering that absurd price, you must needs tell us of the precise situation in the hills, how many times you have crossed them, both in a normal manner and as a ‘smuggler’, and just how it is you avoid or confusticate the gnomes. We shall also expect you to provide references and full details on your current activities and background ere we make any decision as to contracting your services.”

The elf laughed. “Whatever. Take the deal or not, I don’t care. But you’d best make up yer mind pretty quick. I still got some business to do in town, so I’ll be around for a few more days, but after that, money calls.”

“Danton,” said Aseneth, “may-be we should paying. Is being way through hills and not having lose many day going back to forest.”

“You should listen to the lady, kid. You ain’t gonna find a better deal.”

Danton gritted his teeth and muttered, “Twould seem that the only altruistic fools in this world are mine associates. All others are mercenary to the core.”

The elf laughed again. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, cry me a river. I’m sure your part in whatever this is ain’t free buddy, and mine ain’t either. Everybody’s got a sob story. Now, unless yer ready to pony up now, I’ve got other business.”

The elf looked up at this point and made a meaningful glance at a pair of armored dwarves that were standing impatiently over by the bar.

Danton was about to make a nasty comment, but Aseneth put a restraining arm on his shoulder as she got up and said, “We will talking with friends and making decision.”

“Whatever ya say, princess. I’ll be here—but not forever,” replied the elf.

***

After purchasing lunch from one of the vendors on Old Ford Road, Luger and Nanoc next went to the barracks of the town guard, located just outside the baron’s keep in the Silver Hill neighborhood. Here they spoke to a woman who introduced herself as Lieutenant Shella, the apparent replacement for the missing Captain Forren. Shella, who gave the impression of being frazzled and in far over her head, took down the information the cleric and barbarian provided on the disappearance of Karzak, saying this was the first she had heard of the case. Shella refused to divulge any information regarding the disappearance of Captain Forren, insisting it was part of an “ongoing investigation.”

Having exhausted all the obvious people to meet regarding the disappearances of Karzak and Captain Forren, Luger and Nanoc spent the remainder of the afternoon in Silver Hill and West Hill, trying to track down rumors regarding the “laughing ghost” Alein had described to the cleric the previous evening (Luger Gather Information: 19), but they made little headway. Many people claimed to have heard the ghost, but everyone had a different opinion as to just what it was. The story Alein had related of a suicidal scholar seemed to be the most common.

Luger and Nanoc were still walking the streets of West Hill in the evening as darkness gradually fell when Danton and Aseneth finally tracked them down there, having grown weary of waiting for the duo to return to the Stony Gaze. Danton was anxious to settle the issue of the group’s plans for departing for Rastor and insisted that they return to the inn to discuss the day’s developments. After his experience the previous night with the wererats, the Velunese also did not relish the thought of being on the streets of Woodstock when they grew dark and deserted.

“Aw, c’mon, Danton!” protested Nanoc. “This whole ghost business sounds like kiddy talk to me an’ there probably ain’t no ghost, but if there is we have to go lookin’ at night where those paladins done heard it before. Everybody knows ghosts come out at night an’ it seems ta live in this neighborhood. I told Luger I’d help hunt for it tonight, an’ it’s jus’ getting dark now, so we can’t go back ta the Gaze jus’ yet. Besides if those rat guys come out again, maybe I kin knock one of ‘em on the noggin’ an find out what they did with Karzak!”

“Oh please, you call that a plan?” groused Danton. “Wander the streets at night in hopes of stumbling across something strange that might point to a ghost? Tis utter foolishness and I, for one, will have no part of it.”

Unfortunately for Danton, at that very moment, something strange happened.

For an instant, the very fabric of space seemed to warp—distances stretched to infinity or closed to nothing, straight lines warped and weaved, and vertigo assaulted everyone’s senses. In the eye of this insane storm, space opened up, and a pool of thick blue slime oozed out onto the street some twenty feet away from the party. As the party members’ vertigo subsided, a huge wormlike creature rose up from the pool. Its translucent, purplish skin revealed strands of pulsing organs beneath it, and a ring of hooked tentacle-like limbs surrounded a gaping lamprey-like mouth.

Several seconds later, the feeling of vertigo returned and a second pool of blue ooze splashed onto the street from out of nothingness. Out of this second mass of sludge, a second wormlike creature rose up, its limbs and mouth testing the air as it writhed and shifted in the street. From somewhere nearby, the faint sound of laughter could be heard.

***

It was the breeze that finally awakened Karzak, that and the pain. The dwarf felt as though every inch of his body had been pounded, slashed and bitten. He was weak, and a nauseous feeling twisted his stomach into knots. When his eyes opened, only the gust of fresh air that washed over his face kept him from vomiting. He found that he could not move, but it was not his injuries that kept him immobile. Rather, someone had removed his armor and equipment and bound his arms and legs together with thick lengths of chain, leaving him lying on his side…somewhere.

When Karzak shifted his head to look about, he saw four huge bells hanging overhead. To all sides were great stone archways with open air beyond. In the middle of each archway stood stone gargoyles. The sky beyond the arches was dark, but faint sounds of city life could be heard from far below.

________________________________________________________________

Notes for turn 45:

Please send postings for Turn 45 by the end of Thursday, February 15th.

Current date/time/location: 11 Srpanj; approximately 2130; Woodstock

Items gained this turn: none

Undivided Loot previously gained: none

Items used/lost/destroyed/sold this turn: none

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: 55/59

New XP: 0

XP total: 14056

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, 24 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

Danton

AC: 15 (16 vs. one opponent)

Hit points: 22/22

New XP: 0

XP total: 13306

XP needed: 15,000

Equipment: rapier, 6 daggers, light crossbow, studded leather armor, quiver with 33 bolts, bedroll, backpack, flint & steel, thieves picks, waterskin, 24 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, masterwork thieves’ tools, unknown scroll, unknown potion, rapier taken from were-rat leader.

Gold: 1667

Silver: 0

Luger

AC: 20

Hit Points: 34/34

New XP: 0

XP total: 8756

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, 24 days rations, silver holy symbol of Heironeus, 3 flasks holy water, 3 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 (X2), and haste; Geistblatt (ghost touch longsword +1), light riding horse and equipment, 5 vials of Furyondian Fire.

Spell Selection:

Level 0(5): Detect Magic X2, Read Magic X2, Light
Level 1(4+1): Detect Evil, SanctuaryX2, Remove Fear, Domain: Protection from Evil

Level 2 (3+1): Bull’s Strength, Sound BurstX2 Domain: Spiritual Weapon

Turn Undead attempts left on current day: 7 of 7

Gold: 297

Karzak

AC: 11

Hit Points: 1/38

New XP: 0

XP total: 3,600

XP needed: 6,000

Equipment: none

Gold: 0