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Chapter 1: A Darkness Gathering
Chapter
3: The Temple of All-Consumption
Turn
52: Barbarians at the Gate
| Date: |
6 Kolovoz, 592 |
| Location: |
Rastor , The Viscounty of Verbobonc |
| Players: |
Danton Verbrugge (Rogue 7) |
| |
Nanoc (Barbarian 7) |
| |
Luger Gregorus (Cleric 6) |
| |
Karzak Dragonslayer (Fighter 4) |
| Associates: |
Aseneth Velinax de Torquann (Enchantress 7) |
| |
Sylfaen Trebuchet (Sorcerer Smuggler) |
When
Nanoc, Aseneth, and Luger returned to the party’s camp outside
Rastor and reported on what they had seen high on the west side of
Mount Stalagos, it was actually Karzak who initiated the discussion
Nanoc had anticipated.
“Laddie,”
the dwarf said, addressing Danton, who sat outside his tent eating a
late lunch, “I am feelin' only a wee bit more enlightened 'bout
the cultists an' the end a' the world than our elf guide here. I kin
figure these be some real baddies considerin' the monsters an'
blondes in tight red leather with whips we be fightin', comin' outta
portals an' bendin' time an' such . . . basically the kind a' stuff
that makes me be wishin' I had stayed under the mountain. Now, Luger
an' his family be
havin' all sorts a' strange connections himself with the cult . . .
it be makin' me head spin!”
“Welcome
to my world,” muttered Nanoc, “an’ Danton ain’t
even started talkin’ yet.”
”Besides
all that, jus'
a couple a' questions 'bout our strategy here,” continued
Karzak. “We ginna assault that there temples ourselves or we
ginna be raisin' some allies, few or many? We trustin' no one in this
town, even the law? We suspectin' they be cultists themselves?
Hiddin' out an' all only a few wee miles from their own temple? What
kin' we be 'pecting ta face when and if we kin even git into the
temple considerin' what the lassie at the general store dun said?”
”Good
Karzak, your actions o'er the last several weeks hath more than
qualified you for the broadest understanding of what we art doing in
Rastor and why,” replied Danton. “Indeed, I'd say 'tis we who owe you and Syll the broadest explanation so that, going
forward, you can decide if you choose to stay or go.”
Having
finished his lunch, Danton now launched into an extended history of
the party’s encounters with the Tharizdun cult and the events
that had led the group to Rastor. Karzak listened closely to this
accounting without interrupting, as did Syll.
”All
of this finally brings us to our present circumstances in Rastor,”
concluded Danton. “Your questions are good ones, but mine
answers are few. In short, we are seeking to pick up the trail where
it hath left off in Hommlet -- Rastor be the only remaining clue ...
that is why we are here. We have two leads: Chamish and the temple. I
hath now been inside Chamish's house and hath found nothing of
particular note. That doth not discourage me from pursuing the
Chamish angle further, however, for, given our two leads, the most
immediately promising and least lethal still seemeth to me to be
Chamish. Thus, I propose that we immediately seize him and apply such
means of persuasion that we have are our disposal to break his will
and force him to sing like a proverbial canary. Mine preference, as
always, is through the employment of magicks, primarily because I
trust the intelligence that is therefrom procured. But, seeing as I
am a rogue and a lover, I hath no spells to offer -- that is,
hopefully, where Aseneth and good Luger may aid us.”
Danton
scratched his chin and continued his musings. “Sneaking
into the temple under guise of evil clergy may well be a secondary
step, but I'd rather plumb all of our potential intelligence before entering into that temple. We knoweth, from Tymerian's tale, that the
temple be guarded from air assault or entry, and we knoweth also that
foul, life-draining undead – ‘wights’ she named
them -- reside within. If the wights were mere footsoldiers and
toadies in the temple, as one might take Tymerian's tale to suggest,
I fear to learn what worse things reside there. For all that, I'd
prefer to obtain the most amount of information we possibly can
before plunging in. Beyond Chamish, which is the most obvious option,
another one occureth to me. Now that some of our group hath spied the
entrance to this temple, we could put some vigilance on the area and
watch it, waiting for someone to leave for Rastor or for destinations
unknown. Then, we could ambush such person or persons and draw out
knowledge from them. Beyond this, I am open to suggestion.”
The
Velunese next turned to Syll, who had remained silent throughout the
discussion thus far. “If
you doth not mind, methinks we next have to discuss how best to
settle the outstanding matter of your remaining payment. Prithee,
give us some privacy to make arrangements.”
The elf
nodded and strolled off several dozen yards towards Rastor, where he
stood looking south towards the mountains.
”Initially,
I neither liked nor trusted Syll. But he proved his value first in
Woodstock and then in the passage of the Kron Hills. He might yet
remain a valuable asset to the group. He seemeth to know people in
the area and plainly knoweth more about this region than we do.
Besides, if we art to enter that temple -- as I fear wilt ultimately
be the case -- we can use an extra friend or two.
Mine
suggestion is that we make him an offer. If he wishes to join us, we
can cut him in for a full share of any booty we take. We can explain
to him that our adventures thus far hath not only provided a fair
amount of cold, hard cash but also a goodly number of enchanted and
otherwise wondrous items -- his share of all the above would be
equal. In such a case, however, he forfeits his remaining payment
from the journey to the Kron Hills -- that wilt be an ‘investment’
of sorts on his part. If he insisteth on payment, then we pay him
what we owe him and let him go his way. Alternatively, if the
consensus is that we need him and that he is still willing to come,
we could pay him his remaining balance and cut him in for an equal
share of any cash we obtain from future adventures, but not enchanted items of any kind.”
Nanoc shook
his head firmly. “That’s a bad idea, Danton. Addin’
Syl to our group would be great! But we oughta pay him for what he
done. That was the deal. That way he ain’t got no hard
feelin’s. I say we pay him, then offer him an equal cut in
anything we take outa o’ that there temple…but he gets
last choice on magic stuff, bein’ a new member an’ all.”
“I
think making him the offer of a partnership is a good idea,”
said Luger. “While I typically find the chaotic nature of elves
burdensome, Syll has proven himself both interesting and useful.
While I doubt he would wish us any ill will, I also do not doubt that
he would happily provide detailed information about our party and our
plans if offered enough coin. Keeping him close at hand may be
healthier all around. And if paying him what he was promised helps to
keep him content and close by, we would be foolish to do otherwise.”
Danton
sighed, removed his money purse, and began counting out coins. The
others did the same and then invited Syll to rejoin them. The party
paid the elf what they owed him and then Nanoc made Syll the offer he
had described to Danton.
Syll pocketed
the money, flashed a smile and said, “Sure, why not? I’m
in. You all seem to get into the most interesting—and
potentially profitable—situations, and I can see what you’re
up against. I was getting a little tired of dealing with those gnomes
in the hills anyway; a little break from that gig would do me good.”
“Awrriight!”
said Nanoc. “Boy o’ boy, we is gonna have a good group
now…you is gonna be happy you done joined wit’ us Syll!”
“You
got it,” smirked the elf. “We’ll really shake the pillars of heaven and Oerth now!”
“With
that matter resolved,” said Luger, “I agree that we
should pay this Chamish a visit and see what he knows. I'm also very
interested in what he is doing with the herbs Danton found. I would
be most interested to know if he is making potions, poison or
something else entirely. I know a thing or two about herbalism so
maybe I can figure it out if he doesn't wish to tell us. I was also
thinking that we might pay the orc encampment a visit and talk to
these ‘civilized’ orcs to see if they can offer any
useful information. With Nanoc with us, they probably won't be too
hostile towards us. I'd be interested to learn what if any
relationship they have with the temple and its cult.”
“Laddies,”
grunted Karzak, “I reckon I still don't really unnerstand what
the hell this be all 'bout, but I'm a' willin' ta help ya kill the
baddies an' save the world. Dwarves are part a' this world after all,
even if we be mostly under the mountains. Evil will at some point
catch up with us there if will don't raise an axe ta fight it.
As
fer roughing this fellow up, I'm less sure that I be agreein' with ya
on that 'un. Should we really be roughin' up anyone who has not shown
us any direct hostility? Sounds ta be courtin' trouble roughin' up
people who ain't dun us no harm and have a' been tryin' ta help us.”
Luger put one
hand on Karzak’s shoulder. “Rest assured, friend dwarf. I
have no intention of putting the screws to anyone who is not
deserving of it. We will be civil with this Chamish until he proves
that he is not civil himself. We have pretty damning evidence that he
is in league or doing business with the cult, and that alone deserves
our attention. I can ascertain whether or not he is evil easily
enough. Perhaps Aseneth may even be able to read his thoughts or tell
if he is lying. If we find him evil and unwilling to share any
information, then it is upon us to get to the truth. There is no law
here -- we are the law. The people of Rastor are either with us or
they're with the cult and a part of their designs to destroy all of
Oerth. If they are not with us, then I will consider them enemies.
This is a desperate situation and I believe the ends will justify the
means if we are successful.”
“Shoot,
fellahs, I sure don't wanna be torturerin' that Chal guy, that’s
fer sure. That’s the kind o’ thing orcs would do,”
said Nanoc. “Maybe he is just a cart maker and the closest one
to the temple. I ain't sure why we needs to go o' botherin' him at
all? We know where this here temple is. Heck it seems purty straight
to me that is where we oughta be a going. But I don't mind if we
wants to talk to this fellah, jus' no cuttin' off toes or thumbs or
anything like that.”
“Nanoc’s
right,” interjected Syll. “The
simple fact the guy lives in Rotgut here don’t paint too pretty
a picture of his character, but bad choices regarding one’s
home base don’t mean a guy’s a cultist thug. Why don’t
we just pay the bird a visit, having Luger here do his mojo to see if
ol’ Kumquat gives him the wiggins. If the guy’s clean,
we ask him a few things, then a few things more. If he’s dirty
we charm him.”
With Syll, Karzak and Nanoc clearly
against harming Chamish and with Aseneth presumably supporting
Nanoc’s position, Luger and Danton found themselves outvoted
and let the issue drop.
“Anywho,”
said Nanoc, changing the subject, “I got all these funny little
cult triangle ‘Y’ thingies they was wearin' back at the
moathouse, and a cloak too fer disguise. So I likes that idea. Maybe
we should buy some more robes so we all has robes like them also? As
for talkin' to the orcs at their camp, that’ll only end one o’
two ways...bad for 'em or bad for us. I don't think that is such o'
good idea.”
“On
this, Nanoc,” said Danton, “we are in agreement. If
we go to the temple, methinks we should all wear robes over our armor
-- robes colored similar to those we've found before. I hath an
ochre-colored robe in mine possession, which I wilt wear. I think we
should all wear the inverted-Y symbol, hanging from neckchains. As
for gaining entrance, methinks we walk up to the door and go right
in, if it be open. Mine thought is that our disguise is best served
by acting like we own the place, so to speak. If the door is locked
or we art challenged, we should request entry, stating our desire to
‘pay homage’ and stating, if asked, that we art wandering
missionaries of evil.”
Making up the
plan as he went along, Danton continued thinking aloud, “In
conversation with the temple minions, we'd best keep our responses to
a bare minimum. We know so little of practical value that we'll
surely show our ignorance if we say too much. Thus, I'd prefer that
we speak in the most basic generalities for as long as possible: ‘We
serve He-Whose-Name-Bringeth-Woe'; ‘We art servants of the most
high and perilous One.’; ‘We hath journeyed in far lands
for many months, spreading fell words amongst the commoners of the
land.’ That sort of thing.”
“The
problem,” said the Velunese, “is that such methods will
only get us so far. Eventually, we're going to slip up or otherwise reveal
that we are just a bunch of frauds. At that point, methinks we'll
have no choice but violence. I can't imagine that they'll simply let
us leave once they determine that we hath faked our way into the
temple under utterly false pretenses. But setting tactics aside for
the moment, the main point that spins mine mind, really, is exactly
what we shall do inside the Temple, barring our acquisition of
some kind of actionable intelligence? Shall we seek out the high
priest and slay him or her (or it)? Shall we find the central worship
chamber and blow up the main altar or statuary? Shall we look for a
tome of doctrine and set it ablaze? Shall we look for a library to
conduct research on the monolith or on the cult of
Tharizdun?“
”Frankly,
I hath not a single clue,” muttered Danton. “Any one of
those things -- and innumerable others -- could be the right thing to
do, just like any one of those things might be exactly the wrong thing to do. Without actionable intelligence, we're basically
entering a snake-pit with neither a map nor a clear purpose. That's
why methinks we must exercise all options to find information before
entering. Given that, p'raps we should attempt to visit the
orcs, after all, assuming we hath uncovered no other actionable
intelligence.”
“Regardless
of how we try to disguise ourselves,” said Luger, “I
simply do not believe we have enough information about the temple and
what lies behind the walls to just go walking in. We need to gain all
the intelligence we can from Chamish and the orcs before we go in. We
should also reconnoiter all entrances into the temple and decide
which door we're going to knock on or knock down. I do not believe we
have enough understanding of the cult's organization to get very far
disguised with nothing more than cloaks and emblems.”
“Well,
fellahs,” said Nanoc, “I thinks that’s about enough
talk. I don’t think we oughta stay here any longer than we
haves to, so if’n you wanna talk to that Chalmish fellah, then
let’s get on with it and then get outta here.”
***
When the party approached the
residence and place of business of Tal Chamish, there was a youngish
brown-haired man of medium height out in the front yard performing
some sort of work on one of the many ramshackle carts Danton had seen
the previous night. Hearing the large group approaching, the man
looked up from his work.
“Whadda you want?” he
called out in a hostile tone.
“We are interested in doing
business,” replied Danton, twirling one of the inverted Y
pendants about in his fingers as he and the others approached. Behind
the rest of the group, Luger cast one of his spells to discern the
presence of strong evil (Cast Detect Evil).
“You are Tal Chamish, are you
not? Perhaps we might go inside, or around back,” where we
could have a more private discussion,” continued Danton.
The man muttered, “I’m
Chamish,” but gave no visible reaction to the sight of the
pendant Danton held. Instead he motioned for the party to follow him
around his residence to the back yard, where yet more carts and
wagons rotted away under the sustained impact of the elements.
By the time the group had made it
around the run-down house, Luger was certain that Chamish was rotten
to the core, and he nodded to Aseneth. The enchantress immediately
began her incantation.
“Hey, what’s she doin?”
demanded Chamish, an angry scowl creasing his face. The man reached
for a long knife he had at his belt, but by the time his hand was on
the hilt, his expression had softened.
“Please, relaxing, friend
Tal,” said Aseneth. “We just want talking. We are part of
same group as temple in mountains but coming far away. You are
working with them, yes? Maybe could be telling us what you are
knowing so we too are knowing more when meeting our friends.”
“I ain’t never been
there, if that’s what you mean,” replied the man,
releasing the grip on his knife and looking only at Aseneth. “But
they pay me a bit to keep an eye on things here in Rastor for ‘em.
They also buy or rent my carts an’ wagons whenever they’re
needin’ ta haul stuff up to the mountain or down from the
mountain an’ off to who-knows-where.”
“How big is temple?”
asked Aseneth. “How many people?”
Chamish shrugged. “Beats me.
Like I told ya, I ain’t never been inside. Their money’s
good, so I don’t ask too many questions, ya know?”
“If are not going to temple,
how you are telling them what is happening here in town?”
“Some of their people pass
through sometimes. I also go up to the gates ev’ry now and then
if something interesting happens—like I did this morning.”
“You were going this
morning?” asked Aseneth, looking back and forth at the others
in the group. “Why?”
“Somebody broke into my house
last night while I was down at the lodge. Since they didn’t
take nothin’ that seemed kinda strange, so I reported it.
They’re gonna send some people down here to check it out in a
day or two.”
Danton leaned over and whispered
something in Aseneth’s ear.
“Someone was telling us you
are making dry plant,” said the sorceress. “What is this
for?”
“It’s a combination of
a bunch of local varieties of tobacco,” said Chamish. “The
exact recipe is a trade secret. I can sell ya some if ya want it.”
Syll mouthed the words ‘no
way’ from behind Chamish’s back.
Aseneth gave the rest of the
members of the party a questioning look, but no one else had
additional questions for Chamish, so the group took its leave of the
man, with the sorceress saying they might be back to do business with
him later.
***
As Syll had said, the orc camp was
located three miles south and west of Rastor in the foothills below
Mount Stalagos, which the orcs called the Foot of Gruumsh. The camp
was a large collection of reasonably well-made tents in a clearing
with a good view of the valley and Rastor to the north and east.
Scattered orcs were visible in the woods as the party approached the
camp. Some appeared to be hunters, while others carried fishing
equipment and still others were collecting firewood. All of the orcs
the party saw stopped what they were doing and watched the party as
it passed, and everyone in the group remembered Nanoc’s
admonition that for every orc they saw, there were probably more in
the trees that they did not see.
By the time the party actually
reached the clearing with all the tents, it seemed that every orc in
the camp knew they were coming, as dozens and dozens were gathered
together waiting for them to arrive and many of those they had passed
on the way to the camp had followed the party the rest of the way.
The orcs did not seem overtly hostile, but they were clearly wary.
When the party finally stopped some
twenty feet from two orcs that stood in front of the others, Danton
estimated that there had to be close to a hundred of the humanoids
gathered around the party. As if that were not enough, several of the
orcs held long chains attached to collars around the necks of huge
wild boars, which strained at their leashes and snarled and thrashed
their tusks through the air.
One of the two orcs that stood in
front of the others was a large female with a long double-bladed
sword on her back. The male at her side carried no visible weapons,
but his skin was covered with tattoos and strange markings.
<<Hello. I’m Gothmog,>>
said Nanoc in orcish. <<I’m from the Crimson Claw clan
north of the Kron Hills, and these are my associates.>>
<<Kreugna,>> said the
female orc.
<<Marukiu,>> said the
male.
<<We’re passing through
the area and my friend here would like to ask you a few questions.
Then we’ll be on our way.>>
When neither of the two orcs said
anything more, Nanoc motioned for Danton to speak.
“Greetings,” said the
Velunese. “We would be most interested in any information you
might be able to impart regarding the temple in the mountain above.
We understand that the folk of Rastor hath engaged in commerce with
its inhabitants and we are interested in partaking of such trade
ourselves. Might you be able to tell us more? Hath your clan had
contacts with the temple?” (Diplomacy: 19+7=26)
“We’ll trade with
anyone who has something we want,” replied the female orc,
Kreugna, in surprisingly unaccented common. “That includes
Rastor and the temple, but if you want to know more about them,
you’ll just have to go up there yourselves.”
“Indeed,” said Danton,
“but hath anyone from your tribe ever been inside the temple?
Could you tell us the best routes to take?”
“Most of us don’t go
inside,” replied Kreugna. “Those who go in that place
don’t come back, so we go up there to trade, but we don’t
go inside.”
“You say most of your
clan do not enter the temple,” noted Danton, “that doth
imply some do.”
Kruegna scowled. “Those who
go in do not return, so they are lost to the clan.”
“What is the best way up
there?” asked the Velunese.
“There are two entrances,”
replied the orc. “The main one is on the south side of the
mountain, lower down. The other is less used and is higher up on the
west side of the mountain.”
“That is useful information,”
noted Danton. “Might you have any other insights of use to us
regarding the mountain or its inhabitants?”
Kreugna grunted. “Trade with
them if you want, but don’t go inside. If you do, you’ll
never come out. Now, unless you want to trade with us right now, we
have things to be doing. I believe you already know the path back to
Rastor.”
Danton nodded, recognizing that the
party had pushed the orcs’ hospitality as far as it was likely
to go. He thanked Kreugna for her assistance and then he and the
others turned and began making their way through the ring of orcs and
back down the path to Rastor. The party felt eyes on their backs the
entire three miles back to the village, but the orcs limited
themselves to shadowing the group and took no hostile action.
Once back in the village, the party
returned to its camp, collected all of its belongings, and made its
way to Tymerian’s shop. There Danton negotiated an arrangement
with the woman whereby she agreed to store the party’s heavier
equipment and care for all of the party’s animals for a fee of
five gold pieces per day. Collecting money from the others once
again, Danton paid the woman an advance of 150 gold on the condition
that she return any ‘unused’ funds to the party members
if they returned early. The Velunese inquired whether the woman had
any cloaks for sale of a black or ochre hue. She lacked any of the
latter, but did have black cloaks available. Between them, Danton,
Aseneth, and Nanoc already had three black cloaks and one ochre one,
so the group purchased two additional black cloaks for Syll and
Karzak, while Danton gave the black one he had with a burning eye
emblazoned on it to Luger.
Thus equipped and with darkness
falling, the party hiked into the foothills south of Rastor and made
camp, this time without the tents left with Tymerian. Fortunately on
this night there was no rain and the party slept undisturbed by the
elements. In the morning, the group made a full circuit of Mount
Stalagos until they finally came across what Kreugna had described as
the main entrance on the south side of the mountain.
As the orc woman had said, the
second entrance to Mount Stalagos was lower in elevation than the
first. It was located inside a large natural cave that had its floor
smoothed by precision stoneworking. Two large wooden doors were
opposite the cave mouth, and the stone arch above the doors had a
leering devil face. A well-trod path from the south led straight up
to the entrance, suggesting that this entrance was used primarily by
those who had made their way through the Lortmils to reach the
temple. It was also hundreds of feet lower than the west entrance the
party had surveyed previously, and much more easily reached.
Although the terms “front”
and “back” hardly applied to a mountain, if one’s
criteria were the frequency of use, all signs were that the southern
entrance to Mount Stalagos was the ‘front door’ while the
higher-up, more difficult to reach western entrance constituted the
‘back door.’
“Danton’s our sneak in
chief,” said Nanoc, “but seems ta me that it’s
always easier ta slip inside the ‘service entry’ than
jus’ go waltzin’ right through the main door.”
No one disagreed with this
assessment and since the area around the southern doors was largely
bereft of cover that would facilitate extended surveillance, the
group instead made its way back around the mountain and up a trail
leading to the western entrance. Here, as Nanoc, Luger, and Aseneth
had seen before, rocks and trees provided abundant cover and the
group settled in to watch the entrance and the trail for the
remainder of the day and through the night.
By the time the sun rose in the
east once more, the party had watched the west entrance to Mount
Stalagos for nearly 16 hours and had spotted no signs of activity. At
that point, rather than waste additional time and resources observing
doors that seemed to be used rarely, if at all, the group donned
their cloaks, with most of the party in plain black ones, while
Luger’s had the burning eye on the back and Danton’s was
a bright orange-yellow. The group also had more than enough of the
inverted Y pendants for everyone to wear one around his or her neck.
Just before the party broke from
cover to approach the doors, Nanoc had one last moment of relative
privacy with Aseneth.
“I been thinkin’ on
what you tolds me ‘bout Rinloru,” said the barbarian,
“and I wants you to knows that I am wit’ you all the way
to the end, and someday there ain’t gonna be no undeads there
cause we is gonna git rid o’ them together. So when you gots
enough stuff, you just let me know. If we gots time before goin’
there, I’d like to stop by Hammstead and introduce you to
Justin. I think he’d really like you and seein’ how far
away Rinloru is it mught be a whiles for I can see my dad again…well
he ain’t really my dad, but he is if you know what I mean.”
Nanoc’s words brought tears
to Aseneth’s eyes. She wrapped her arms around the barbarian
and held him until the others were ready to go.
Once the party returned to the
trail, it was only a short walk up to the cave in the side of the
cliff. As previously agreed, the group walked right up to the huge
double doors. Nanoc grabbed hold of the huge handle of the left door
and pulled it slowly open. When it swung wide, Danton and Luger
walked inside as if they owned the place, and the others followed in
their wake.
[Spot checks: Danton: 2+8=10,
Luger: 19+4=23, Karzak: 13+3+2=17, Nanoc: 1+1=2]
“We are being watched,”
said Luger in a low voice that only Danton could hear, as the pair
walked through the doors. “There were arrow slits all along
both sides of the cave wall out there.”
Beyond the set of great doors was a
long, wide hall. The walls were plastered taupe and painted with
murals of demons, human sacrifice, devilish revelry, monsters
destroying and devouring humans, and people being ravaged by the
power of wind, whirlpools, blazing flames, earthquakes and
landslides. These disturbing scenes continued the entire length of
the subterranean chamber. On the floor immediately past the outer
doors, four symbols were placed in mosaic: a silvery white circle, a
brown triangle, an amber-red diamond, and a blue-green square. No one
was visible, but everything in the hall seemed to be well maintained.
This place was clearly not like the long-abandoned Temple of
Elemental Evil near Hommlet.
When everyone was inside, Nanoc
pulled the door shut. As it closed flush with the other door, the
booming sound echoed down the corridor with an air of finality.
The hall ran a length of forty feet
before opening up into a four-way intersection. Directly ahead, the
hall ran for another forty feet before ending at a closed door. To
the north, a narrower hall ran for at least sixty feet. There was at
least one door on the western side of this northern hall and some
sort of opening on the other side, directly across from the door.
Beyond that, the hall looked as if it separated, running both
northwest and northeast. The entire area was lit by torches in wall
sconces.
Finally, when the party members
looked to the south of their current position at the intersection,
they saw that the hall ended after only forty feet. Near its end,
there was an opening on the west wall and a closed door on the east
wall. Between the two there was a small round table with flagons and
piles of food on it. Four stools surrounded the table, and there was
a rack of spears on the wall nearby. A long chain dangled down from
the ceiling, stopping just above the surface of the table.
Sitting in the chairs around the
table were four gnolls, who, at least for the moment, paid no
attention to the party, consumed as they were with their meal. All
four gnolls wore black scale mail identical to that worn by the
gnolls the party had encountered under the moathouse months earlier.
There were also a pair of men in similar armor who stood near the
table, apparently conversing with the gnolls.

“Which way we goin’,
Danton?” whispered Nanoc. “Those guys ain’t payin’
us no mind right now, but if we stand around here too long lookin’
lost, they’s bound to get suspicious!”
________________________________________________________________
Notes for turn 53:
Please send postings for Turn 53 by
the end of Friday, April 27th.
Current date/time/location: 8
Kolovoz (August); approximately 0900; The Temple of All-Consumption
Items
gained this turn: 2 black cloaks
Undivided Loot previously
gained: none
Items
used/lost/destroyed/sold/left behind this turn: 1 mule, 4 light
riding horses, 1 heavy riding horse, equipment for all these animals,
3 tents left with Tymerian
FOES DEFEATED:
Active party
members listed in green.
This Chapter:
| Character |
Foes Defeated |
Percent of Total |
Most Powerful Defeated |
| Nanoc |
25/63 |
39% |
Osyluth (CR7) |
| Danton |
6/63 |
10% |
Gibbering Mouther (CR5) |
| Luger |
12/63 |
19% |
Scarlet Cleric (CR8) |
| Aseneth |
12/63 |
19% |
Mind Flayer (CR8) |
| Karzak |
6/63 |
10% |
Scarlet Ftr/Cleric (CR5) |
| Syll |
2/63 |
3% |
Scarlet Cleric (CR4) |
Entire Campaign:
| Character |
Foes Defeated |
Percent of Total |
Most Powerful Defeated |
| Nanoc |
90/257 |
35% |
Osyluth (CR7) |
| Telemachos |
51/257 |
20% |
Spellcaster in Inn (CR7) |
| Danton |
21/257 |
8% |
Ghost (M) Nulb (CR8) |
| Luger |
27/257 |
12% |
Scarlet Cleric (CR8) |
| Aseneth |
25/257 |
11% |
Mind Flayer (CR8) |
| Karzak |
6/257 |
2% |
Scarlet Ftr/Cleric (CR5) |
| Syll |
2/257 |
0% |
Scarlet Cleric (CR4) |
| Xaod |
5/257 |
2% |
Chatrilon Unosh (CR6) |
| Erky |
6/257 |
2% |
Twig Blight (CR1/3) |
| Mauser |
23/257 |
9% |
Shadow (CR3) |
| Spugnoir |
1/257 |
0% |
Grell (CR5) |
Current Status of the Party:
Note: known magic
items listed in bold.
Nanoc
AC: 17
Hit points: 79/79
New XP: 0
XP total: 24,031
XP needed: 28,000
Equipment:
masterwork great axe, great axe +1, masterwork studded leather
armor, 69 arrows, 2 quivers, backpack, 3 waterskins, 29 days trail
rations, bedroll, 2 sacks, 2 flint & steel, bearskin, 50’
rope, 1 sap, masterwork mighty composite shortbow, masterwork
shortsword, 3 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; potion of
bull’s strength, potion of cure light wounds(X2), potion of
cure moderate wounds, potion of water breathing, potion of spider
climbing, Aseneth’s House Torquann dragon ring, ring of
jumping (+30 to jumping checks), potions of cat’s grace, cure
moderate wounds, invisibility, silver and gold brooches, potion
of spider climb.
Gold: 1269
Silver: 1420
Danton
AC: 16 (17 vs. one opponent)
Hit points: 30/30
New XP: 0
XP total: 22,081
XP needed: 28,000
Equipment:
rapier, 6 daggers, light crossbow, studded leather armor, quiver with
33 bolts, bedroll, backpack, flint & steel, thieves picks, 3
waterskins, 29 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, 1 scroll 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, disguise kit, letter to Master Dunrat,
ochre-colored robe, potion of cure light wounds (X2), cure
moderate wounds (X2), scrolls of animal messenger and stone shape,
potion of love, potion of spider climb, a dozen vials of
lantern oil, masterwork thieves’ tools, scroll with summon
monster II, potion of cat’s grace, Rat’s Tail (Rapier +1), scroll with change self, enlarge, and two sleep spells,
silver and gold brooches, bracers of armor +1, potion of hiding,
pouch of uknown dried herbs taken from the home of Tal Chamish.
Gold: 1113
Silver: 1200
Luger
AC: 20
Hit Points: 53/53
New XP: 0
XP total: 17,531
XP needed: 21,000
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, 29
days rations, silver holy symbol of Heironeus, 3 flasks holy water, 3
healer’s kits, backpack, cleric’s vestment, traveler’s
clothing, 3 waterskins, bedroll, iron triangle with upside down ‘Y’
inside, eight cockatrice feathers, scrolls of cure light wounds
(3), cure disease, neutralize poison, potion of cure moderate wounds; Geistblatt (ghost touch longsword +1), 5 vials of
Furyondian Fire, cloak of resistance +1 (+1 to all saves), potions
of enlarge, reduce, nondetection, silver and gold brooches,
tattered black cloak with burning eye emblazoned on it.
Spell Selection:
Level 0(5): Detect
MagicX2, Create WaterX2, Light
Level 1(4+1): Comprehend Languages,
Detect EvilX3, Remove Fear, Domain: Protection from Evil
Level 2 (4+1):
Sound BurstX2, Hold PersonX2, Domain: Aid
Level 3 (3+1):
Dispel Magic, Searing LightX2, Domain: Magic Circle Against Evil
Turn Undead
attempts left on current day: 7 of 7
Gold: -137 (owed to Nanoc)
Silver: 0
Karzak
AC: 19
Hit Points: 52/52
New XP: 0
XP total: 7,200
XP needed: 10,000
Equipment: backpack, water skin, 28
days rations, aleskin, 2 waterskins, flint & steel, heavy
crossbow, 4 cases with 40 bolts, 2 daggers, masterwork dwarven
waraxe, large steel shield, banded mail, short sword, silver and gold
brooches, bedroll, sack, Nanoc’s silver-plated short sword, potion of levitate, black cloak, inverted Y pendant.
Gold: 58
Silver: 1200
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