After three days of hard travel you reach the abandoned village of Tir's Folly.
It took considerable effort to find the exact location as every village you passed through only the oldest peasents had any memory of the place. Even then they were often vague and contridictory.

Old rumours had surfaced attributing vile horrors to Tir's Folly. Some said that all the inhabitants of the village had been slain one night by a wizard with some dibolical plan. Others that the place had been cursed and that any who entered would never see the day again.

As you approach the vilage the first thing you see is the tall slender tower that is at the center of the settlement. It is surrounded by a large pond,  a rowing boat is moored in the near corner. You cannot tell from where you are the condition of the boat.

A path to the left leads to what must have been the village proper. All the buildings have long since been destroyed. Roofs and walls lay in ruins. Crates can still be seen in the dirt streets.

To the right there is a graveyard. Lines of overgrown graves can be seen. From the size of the village ruins you guess that most of the inhabitants might have just moved residence. Two family tombs can also be seen at either end of the graveyard. They are made white stone and are well kept. The stone all but glitters in the sunlight.

Michaela scowled at the ruins - and not-so-ruins.

"I reckon those two family tombs are still in use, so they'll probably have fresh wards. Might want to be careful of 'em. Check the crates, though. I'll look at that boat, see if it'll get us to the tower." she spoke firmly, her tone brooking no argument as she started to head down into the village.

Cyrus points at the graveyard.  "See.  Graveyard.  I hate graveyards.  Stupid zombies and ghouls and skeletons and..." He trails off, grumbling, pausing only to watch Michaela shake that elven rear end of hers when she goes off to check on the boat.  He snickers and snorts as she gives orders, but since it coincides with what he was going to do anyway, the Taloesian heads in the direction of the crates, checking to see what may be inside...

     Kilgar looked around. "Kilgar hungry." He climbed down off his horse and looked around again, scanning the area. Clearly, it didn't sit right with him. Throughout the journey one thing was clear, Kilgar didn't get a whole lot, and he often took the simplest way out of things, but one thing he knew, was fighting. He was an able tactitian, and obviously a powerhouse.
      He had recently reaffirmed his faith to Tempus as well. Though he didn't talk about it unless it was pertinent to the conversation at the time, again, betraying an intellect uncommon to those who have orc in their blood, and by looking at Kilgar he might have been 3/4 orc. "Kilgar could really go for some gnome. They go great in stew with carrots and onions. Salt, pepper..." He paused to wipe drool from his fleshy lips and yellow teeth. He frowned and shook his hand off. Unsatisfied he wiped the drool off on the closest elf.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:13, Mon 04 Sept 2006.

Nerisella starts walking toward the crates when Cyrus began talking about gnome stew.  Once she gets to the crates she begins to look them over for any possible traps.


((OOC if none found I'll open if found disable them I will.))

[Private to DM Martin 22: 22:42, Today: Nerisella Tarmikos rolled 10 using 1d20+4. search. ]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:42, Tue 05 Sept 2006.

Gordon raises one eyebrow as Michaela orders the group about and then sets off alone. Crazy woman, my money is she'll be the first to fall, least certainly won't be me he thinks as a lazy smile comes to his face.

As Nerisella and Cyrus had already ventured off to inspect the crates Gordon stands with Kilgar uneasily. Should we go with Michaela in case something isn't as safe as it looks down by the pond? With that Gordon loosens his elven thinblade in it's scabbard and heads off after Michaela but a short distance behind scanniong the tower, pond and surroundings for danger or sign of life or un-life as it may be.

[Private to DM Martin 22:
10:27, Today: Secret Roll: Gordon Rasiak rolled 8 using 1d20. listen.
10:27, Today: Secret Roll: Gordon Rasiak rolled 19 using 1d20. spot. ]

     Kilgar looked around, he seemed disinterested in the crates, but began to idly rummage through them, looking for anything that might seem important. He wasn't real careful with the crates. Instead of gently prying them open he had taken to smashing them with his rather large, gloved fist.
     He looked down at where Michaela and Gordon had gone. "Kilgar hope that boat work. He not swimming. Ever." The half-orc seemed troubled by the lake and the spindly tower in the middle. "Dead stuff not a big deal. Water...Kilgar...hate...water."

Nerisella checks a crate for traps and finds nothing obvious. However upon opening the crate a green mouth forms in the air above her and loudly proclaims,

Foolish thief. You shall pay for stupidity.

From the loudness of the voice your all pretty sure that the entire area of the village could have heard the voice.

[Private to Michaela Lehava: As you walk closer to the water you hear the voice behind you. Seconds later you notice that one area of the lake starts to bubble. Steam is rising form the water.]

This could be a trap just to scare us away, but lets be careful.  Nerisella says drawing her shortsword.  She begins to walk toward the others slowly. Great I hate magic traps. Nerisella thinks to herself.

Michaela paused in her walk, coming to a full stop a moment later and reaching behind her, slipping her hands through the straps of her claw-bracers where they hung from her belt under her cloak and narrowing her eyes at the bubbling water. For it to be turning to steam in such a manner meant there was a lot of heat. From past experience, hot things weren't weak to fire.

As the voice is heard over the village Gordon grimaces and steps sideways towards the shad eof a building. Some distance behind Michaela he feels suddenly trapped in the open under the eyes of an enemy. His sword comes to hand easily and he scans the pond and the village for signs of immediate danger to himself and his companions.[Private to DM Martin 22:
HIDE CK = 22 (14+8) 09:24, Today: Secret Roll: Gordon Rasiak rolled 14 using 1d20. listen.
09:24, Today: Secret Roll: Gordon Rasiak rolled 6 using 1d20. spot.
09:24, Today: Secret Roll: Gordon Rasiak rolled 13 using 1d20. hide ck. ]

Cyrus was just about to say something to Kilgar about all the noise and battering when Neri set the off trap herself.  As if to say "How can I argue my point now," Cyrus glares at the rogue with evil, evil, evil, even-Kilgar-can-recognize-the-warface evil eyes.  He clearly is not happy about the latest turn of events.  Then with a defeated sigh he shakes his head, glances around, yanks his spear out of the dirt, and starts walking down towards Michaela.   "Well, I guess it's time to go on a killing spree."

      Kilgar smiles, draws the heavy maul and hefts his shield. "Killing is good. Kilgar like killing." He positioned himself, just a little in front of Cyrus, and slightly to his left. Anyone with the sense to get behind him would be good, but everyone else was clearly on their own until the slow half-orc could get to where he could do something.

The Magic Mouth continues to repeat its message for several seconds and then aburtly stops.

You are all on an alert and looking out enemies and so notice the odd thing that is starting to happen to the pond. The right hand side of the pond (near the ruined houses) is starting to bubble. Steam rises form the water.

The left hand side of the pond is slowly being covered with ice. It extnds from the bank at the graveyard, envelopes the rowing boat and edges towards the center of the pond. There it stops, leaving in the middle an area of water swirling neither steam nor ice present, with hot water on one side, cold on the other.

Needless to say this is all very unusual.

Listen checks please.

Michaela stayed alert, hearing the others' voices and comments and filing them away as she scanned the area with eyes and ears.

[Private to DM Martin 22: 22:00, Today: Michaela Lehava rolled 19 using 1d20+7. Listen.
22:00, Today: Michaela Lehava rolled 10 using 1d20+1. Spot. For good measure.]

Since my eyes failed me on locating the trap.  Lets make sure they don't deceive me a second time.  Nerisella says to herself and closes her eyes, sword still at the ready.

17:00, Today: Nerisella Tarmikos rolled 24 using 1d20+5. Listen.

Hugging the shadows near Michaela Gordon scans his surroundings and peers out towards the pond.

[Private to DM Martin 22: 09:52, Today: Secret Roll: Gordon Rasiak rolled 19 using 1d20. listen. ]

Cyrus tries to listen in on what's going on, but he can't hear worth beans at the moment because a big, slow, noisy orc is too close to him.  "Kilgar.  Stop moving so I can here or I'm going to stick a lightning bolt up your ass."

OOC - 6 on my listen check.

Keeping on your guard you move very slowly and carefully towards the oddly misfiring pond. As you move closer you can hear (Anyone who got over DC15) several shrill voices that seem to be emanating from the lake.

Oooh nice meat, fresh meat.

More funs for us to watch

Yeah yeah, gonna laugh when they try to leave hee hee

You can see no-one around the pond

Hearing the shrill voices made chills go up Nerisella's back. Having no real idea what beings might be attached to the voices Nerisella decides to find a protected hiding place directly behind Cyrus and Kilgar. These two seem to be strong I'll stay behind them until I get my chance.  This should also give me time to study the enemy.  Nerisella thinks as she darts behind them.

"Huh.  Yeah right.  If you want me, you're gonna hafta go through that orc first, to get me." Cyrus took a defensive crouch, shifting his spear to his other hand and withdrawing a flask of unholy water from one of his pouches.

Gordon stays in the shadows but from what the voices said he begins to become concerned looking back the way the group had travelled through town he attempts to spot what might keep them from leaving - while keeping one eye on Michaea and the pond.

[Private to DM Martin 22: 10:54, Today: Secret Roll: Gordon Rasiak rolled 4 using 1d20. spot. ]

"Nixies in the water, huh?" Michaela smirked to herself before fingering the necklace about her throat. A moment later, the smirk became a grin and she reached up to the necklace and broke something from it before flinging her arm out. A small, golden globe tumbled through the air before plunging into the lake... and exploding in a massive Fireball.

[Private to DM Martin 22: Using a 2d6 Fireball from the necklace on the lake to try and catch the voices.


15:21, Today: Michaela Lehava rolled 5 using 2d6. Necklace of Fireballs.
15:21, Today: Michaela Lehava rolled 16 using 1d20+7. Listen to pinpoint the voices.]

There is an explosion in the water and a gyser that shoots some twenty or thirty feet up in the air after the fireball goes off.  A few seconds later, a head pops out of the water...  Then the rest of a body.  The creature before you is somewhere around ten feet tall, has long gnarly black hair and a pair of ivory horns on it's head.  It's carrying a really, really large sword in one hand... and with it's other it's dragging an allagator by it's tail.  The allagator is as dead as they come, but the huge creature flops over on the embankment and then burps up a literal gallon of water.

"Bla! blugh! *cough-hack-burp* blu! bla! *hack-hack-gurgle* blargh!" There's a noticable stench of burnt hair following the creature.  It's eyes glare bloody murder at Michaela and then it burps again, this time a fish coming out of it's mouth.  The small bluegill flops around on the ground and eventually ends up back in the water.  The creature mumbles something in a language you're not sure you understand...  "zug-zug ga-bla-ulmf uktu bak zu-zug moogah!"

OOC - Gimme a Knowledge (Arcana) roll to identify the creature.  Let me know if you happen to speak Giant.  Also, since Martin went poof, I am taking the region back over.  We'll just pick up where we left off and I'll improvise.  Cool?

Cyrus takes a few steps forward, his spear at the ready, but he's already put the unholy water away.  It wouldn't do him any good right now anyway, not against what they had in front of them.  He ends up stopped right next to Michaela.  "Well love, do ya know what it's sayin'?"  He pauses.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:34, Sun 08 Oct 2006.

"I haven't a sodden clue..." she muttered, fire starting to dance around her fingers. "But I know it's trying to make me angry. I don't think it would like me when I'm angry." The last part of the sentence was spoken in a threatening growl, the red rims of her pupils expanding slightly to overtake part of her brown irises as she watched the creature through narrowed eyes and drew on her power.


01:31, Today: Michaela Lehava rolled 16 using 1d20+7. Intimidate.

[Private to DM Swamprose: 18:32, Today: Nerisella Tarmikos rolled 12 using 1d20+2. Knowledge arcana.18:49, Today: Nerisella Tarmikos rolled 13 using 1d20+5. Move Silently. 18:49, Today: Nerisella Tarmikos rolled 17 using 1d20+6.Hide.]


"You know what the old saying is the bigger they are the harder they fall."  Nerisella says drawing her dagger and moving at a 45 degree angle toward the very large creature that came out of the water.

The creature scoffs at Michaela, rising to it's full height.  The language changes to a "so deep it puts Barry White to shame" bass. "You're funny elf.  Puny too.  Not enough food.  Me squash elf."  It hefts the sword up with one hand, practically daring you to make a move.

"Love 'ats a bloody ogre-mage.  You draw on'at, an I'm not help'n none.  I ain't try'n ta get meself kilt over stupid." The tone in Cyrus's voice is more then just a warning.  He takes multiple steps backwards in an attempt to put some distance between everyone.

<I don't want to die>

[Private to DM Swamprose: Keldon stays behind the family tomb watching the others as they take on the ogre mage, deciding if he wants to reveal himself with a spell.

08:48, Today: Secret Roll: Keldon Blight rolled 15 using 1d20+3. hide.
]

"Who're you calling puny, musclehead?" Michaela growled, focussing the power that danced around her hands. "I'm Michaela Lehava, Firestarter. No blue monkey crushes me!" With that, she drew her hands back and threw the globe of fire she'd been forming as she spoke.

[Private to DM Swamprose: casting Lesser Orb of Fire. *sigh* It would be a lot more impressive if I did more than 2d8 damage. Or didn't roll a double 1 for those 2d8.

00:03, Today: Michaela Lehava rolled 2 using 2d8. Damage (LOoF).
00:02, Today: Michaela Lehava rolled 17 using 1d20+5. Ranged Touch.
10:52, Today: Michaela Lehava rolled 17 using 1d20+4. Initiative.
20:29, Today: Michaela Lehava rolled 10 using 1d20+3. Spell Penetration. ]
This message was last edited by the player at 02:28, Tue 17 Oct 2006.

Okay... Everyone roll Initiative. We've got the Barbarian to blame. :P

OOC

You rolled 17 using 1d20+8 [9].

OOC:

00:21, Today: Secret Roll: Keldon Blight rolled 9 using 1d20+7. init.

It's time I come out of hiding no?

OOC: 15:32, Today: Nerisella Tarmikos rolled 14 using 1d20+11. Init.

Well lloks like that +11 to init is not really helping out.  :)

Okay, well, the order is Michaela, Cyrus, Nerisalla, Ogre Mage, and Keldon.

Michaela needs to overcome MR 19.  Good luck.

Michaela tosses a little ball of fire from her hand.  It splats the ogre's face, singing it's horns with a cackle, pop, and then hiss as the spell fizzles against the creature's magic resistance...

Cyrus sighs, shakes his head, and charges forward, plowing into the Ogre Mage with his spear.  The weapon pokes the giant in the belly and runs it all the way through, a good two and a half feet of solid oak shaft and metal spearhead sticking out, coated in blood.

The ogre grunts.  "Zug-zug."

OOC - Next

Nerisella rushes out at lighting speed toward the giant. Swinging her sword at the beastly thing with all her might.

[Private to DM Swamprose: 19:33, Today: Nerisella Tarmikos rolled 24 using 1d20+6. Att.19:37, Today: Nerisella Tarmikos rolled 2 using 1d6+1. damage.]

OOC - Okay...

IC - The ogre mage looks to the side as Neri rushes forward and stabs it in the belly just underneith Cyrus's strike.  It looks down at the two weapons sticking into it and sighs.  "Uhh. Dis suck worse den anyfing dat suck before." It makes a blarging sound and then topples over on it's back, hitting the ground and sinking halfway into the deep muddy pond.

OOC - End combat

Michaela forced herself to calm down, concentrating and closing her eyes as her fists slowly unclenched. When she opened her eyes again, the red rims around her pupils had almost dissapeared.

"Now, how to get across..." She muttered, going back to check the boat again.

"We could use him."  Nerisella laughs as she looks over the giant for anything of value.
[Private to DM Swamprose: 21:50, Today: Nerisella Tarmikos rolled 17 using 1d20+4. search. ]

Cyrus yanks his spear back out of the giant's armor and glares at Michaela.  "Next time you're on your bloomin' own.  Those things are magic resistant.  If I hadn't run it through, you'd be a statue of ice by now."  The priest of Talos grunts, snorts and then goes about cleaning the blood off the end of his spear.  His attention drops back down to Nerisalla.  "What did ya find?"

OOC - Neri - you found, obviously, a chainshirt made for a giant, but it's got 2 big holes in it and a nice slash mark.  There's a huge greatsword.  In it's belt is a pair of scrolls, a handful of little black beads, they look kinda like pearls, and four ruby gemstones.

"Well I have these they look like pearls but I'm not 100% sure.  But these are ruby gemstones.  Nerisella says holding up the items.  "Also there appear to be a couple of scrolls of some sort.  Perhaps someone with better skills at reading should look at them."

"Well ya don't plan on hold'n all that for yerself do ya?  Howzabout ya gimme a couple of'em gems and you two keep the rest, eh? Seems fair ta me."  Cyrus sticks his greedy hand out to take two of the gems.  While waiting on Nerisalla to hand over the rubies, he tilts his head to the side and looks at Michaela. "I see no need ya cross the pond love.  It's not that big.  It's not that deep neither.  Hey...wassat?"  Immediately, Cyrus's attention shifts towards the Tower.  Something seems off...

OOC - Make a spot check, DC 13.

"There's the tower to look at, which is where most of the treasure'll be. That's why we need to cross... she followed his gaze, warily. "What do you see?" she narrowed her eyes, squinting up.

A tall human in full plate exits the tower, he's holding a large steel shield, and has a sword sheathed at his hip. He looks at the water for a moment, getting his bearing to remember where he crossed the first time, and starts to calmly wade across the pond towards the group.

He takes a peremptory look at the dead ogre, then fixes his eyes on Michaela as he approaches, deciding since she initiated the battle that she must be the leader.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:40, Fri 20 Oct 2006.

"Well I was gonna say that there was some light comin' from the tower, but I guess that would be a bit redundant now, wouldn't it?" Cyrus says this all in such a casual manner that if he weren't being serious it would seem like he was being sarcastic.  He glances down at Nerisalla, still holding his hand in her direction, though it's clear from his wriggling fingers he's getting a bit impatient.

The Priest of Talos looks at the big guy in plated armor as he starts coming across the pond, finally raising a single eyebrow as he approaches.  "You expectin' someone?" Cyrus asks this to nobody in particular.

Nerisella hands over the 2 rubies and pockets the black pearls.  "Hey Michaela you want this scrolls?  Who do you think that maybe?"  Nerisella says as she walks up to Michaela to hand over the scrolls.

"I'll take them... I don't know if I can use them, but I'll try." She held a hand out to the thief, watching the newcomer with careful eyes. As he comes within talking distance she speaks again.

"No closer. Who're you?" she tells and then asks, her tone surprisingly cold considering.

Stopping a fair distance away so as not to appear a threat, Sarren considered them now that he was closer. They didn't look like soldiers, and they didn't really act like adventurers. The way they handled that ogre mage though, told him all he needed to know about the threat they posed. Giving them distance seemed like a ridiculous gesture.

One thing was for certain, they had power, and so they were useful.

"My name is Sarren Vierge, I am a soldier of the Zhentilar. My contingent was set upon a group of lizard men not long ago." He paused to evaluate how they were taking his story then continued. "Everyone was killed but me, I took shelter in that tower. I was waiting until the right time to slip away when I saw you," he pauses to look significantly at Michaela, "cast that spell at the pond."

He suddenly smiles, a gesture that doesn't show at all in his eyes. "In any case, I was impressed with the short work you made of the ogre." He laughs briefly, sardonically. "Even if you were just lucky."

"Our goals here may not be entirely at odds, perhaps we could work together?"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:02, Mon 23 Oct 2006.

"A zhent? You here looting this place? 'cause if you're done already, that would be great." Even though she sounds glib, she hasn't removed her claw bracers yet and still watches him like a hawk.

It's Cyrus's turn.  The man in chainmail and holding a spear has a trio of lightning bolts tattooed on the front of his throat, the symbol of the god Talos, a Storm God.  "Wasn't no luck about it man.  I stuck that ogre nice and good."  He pokes the spear into the ground and unscrews a cap on a horn at his side.  He takes a drink from it and then offers it first to Nerisella and then to Michaela before taking another swig and capping it again.  "Where ya headed Zhent?" Cyrus glances at Michaela and then the rogue.  In his head he's considering the possibilities.  They are, after all, headed in the direction of the keep after they get through with the tower here.

Sarren looks at Michaela consideringly, "No I haven't 'looted' the place. I'm here looking for an elf, and some Paladins that might be passing through the area." He looks around to include all of them before continuing, "I don't suppose you all would know anything about that?"

Turning to Cyrus, "As to where I'm going, I suppose that depends on where you all are going at the moment. But I intend to return to Zhentil Keep eventually, after I'm satisfied with the investigation I've done... and maybe encountered those lizard men again." He chuckles, "The commander may have been a buffoon, but still, the higher ups would be happier if I got some kind of... retribution?"

"Enough though. I would ask who are you to be wandering around abandoned villages killing ogres? What are your names? What is your purpose here?"

Cyrus looks at the others suspiciously, and then back to the new Zhent.  "I'm Regdar.  This is Mialee," He points to Michaela, "and this is Ember." He motions to the thief.  "We lost our Half-Orc Tordek a ways up the hill back there."  He looks thoughtful.  "I've heard rumors about Lizard men in the area, something about them working with the Harpers to track down some Zhents and some guys working for some crimelord in the area."  The priest of Talos shrugs.  "I'm not crimelord.  I'm no Zhent, and I sure as the Abyss am no Harper." He spits on the ground.  "We're actually going to loot that tower.  We are convienently headed back to the Keep when we're done.  If you'd like, I say you could tag along.  Your sword hand might be useful if'n we run into more trouble.  What say you?"

Michaela looks at Cyrus like he's a nutcase, but shrugs and folds her arms.
"I guess you're fine to travel with us. It's fair as he says, yes."

"Well like Regdar says I'm Ember.  I'm nothing but a small time pick pocket trying to make it big."  Ember eyes the new comer and his gear with care.  "So you say you have not looted the place?  How far did you get into the tower?"

Sarren smirks as Cyrus gives his name and the names of his companions. "Regdar, Ember, Mialee, and Tordek... I suppose I'll fit right in. And if you really are headed to the Keep eventually, I see no reason why I shouldn't join you."

He gestures over his shoulder at the tower, "I haven't seen much of the inside, and before you guys started making all that ruckus, most of my time was spent poised by the entrance..." He loosens his sword in his scabbard, scrubbing at a dark reddish spot on the leather. "As for my usefulness." He grins widely and shrugs.

"So, shall we?" He says, motioning to the tower once again.

After finding little of use outside the tower, knocking off an ogre mage that apparently, was hunting alligators, and meeting up with a Zhentilar foot soldier who was conviently the last surviving member of his unit, the group made their way to the tower itself, though Cyrus kept a hand on his spear and watched his back.

The interior of the Tower was rotted, but there was a fire going in the fireplace, the result of Sarren having been here earlier.  The fire gave off enough light to see.  Around the interious edge of the 30 foot or so tower was a circular staircase going up.  In the middle of the room was a trapdoor that went down as well.  Several spots in the floor were dry rotted and looked unstable.  An otherwise quick glance around revealed that this was not likely the tower of some wizard, but in fact a tower used as a defensive outpost.  There were stacks upon stacks of crates, wooden boxes, and burlap bags of seeds and rice.  Something in particular stood out along the wall made by the ascending stairwell.  The tapestry there just seemed out of place.  Closer examination revealed a poorly concealed secret door, the lock had long ago rusted and fused itself shut.

"Well will you look at that.  I take it that you did not find any traps in here earlier."  Nerisella says as she walks toward the tapestry.  She carefully opens a small leather pouch from her backpack and begins to work away at the lock.
After about a minute of work she says, "Well this is going to take longer than I thought." As she throws a broken tool away.

[Private to DM Swamprose: 15:23, Today: Nerisella Tarmikos rolled 8 using 1d20+6. open lock (mwk tools added in). I'd like to take 20 please unless a 26 does not even come close to opening the lock.   :)]

"That thing is rusted so shut that it would take a wizard to unlock it." Michaela moves over, bringing her bracer-clad arms into view at last. "Let me."

With that, the muscular half-elf thrusted the blades of her bracers into the door around the lock, twisting viciously with a growl.

[Private to GM: 22:17, Today: Michaela Lehava rolled 17 using 1d20+3. Strength (force door). ]

There was no need for the bracer in the door as the lock only took a few minutes to pop open.  Inside was a dank room.  Little light came in, but what did revealed several shelves littered with vials, decanters, beakers, and glass jars of all varieties.  Along one of the walls was a small shelf that stuck out just a little further then usual.  On it was neatly stacked trio of books a pair of candlesticks and a silver crown embedded with jewels.

Cyrus had gone through several of the crates and even poked open one of the burlap bags.  Clearly he found none of it very interesting.  Ever nosey, he pokes his head over Michaela and Nerisella's shoulders and peeks into the room.  "Find anything interesting?"

"Nothing really." She shrugged. "Just some gold decorations." she moved into the room and picked the crown up, taking a look before tossing it into her sack and letting the candlesticks join it. Then she looked at the books, curious. Reading wasn't her strongest point, but... she was passable.

OOC - Everybody make me a listen check - DC 16  Michaela, this one is special for you, make me a DC 16 Reflex Save to avoid falling into the pit as the floor is giving way beneith you.

"What was..?" Michaela looked up at some hidden sound, then likely drowned it out as she cried out in surprise, slipping as the floor gave way beneath her and unable to catch herself....

[Private to GM:
11:38, Today: Michaela Lehava rolled 18 using 1d20+7. listen.
11:38, Today: Michaela Lehava rolled 14 using 1d20+3. Reflex. ]

"Why must you..."  Nerisella begans to say.  When something catches her ear.

[Private to DM Swamprose: 16:54, Today: Nerisella Tarmikos rolled 19 using 1d20+5. listen. ]

Besides Michaela collapsing through the floor and her elven sounds of terror and rage, the group had thought it heard some sort of pounding noise.  And sure enough, through the hole in a floor, light exploded upward.  It wasn't bright light, but it was bright enough.  Peering down into the hole, it looked as though Michaela had landed in some sort of prison cell, and sure enough, there was some sort of pounding going on - It was Xavier, whom Michaela used to break her fall.

OOC - Michaela and Xavier each take 1 point of damage.  Xavier, feel free to identify yourself now.

"Ow... it's okay, I landed on something soft!" she calls back up to Nari, before rolling over and standing up to check her wounds. She still hasn't noticed whome it is she landed on.

Cyrus peers down, looking at Michaela and the guy down there with her.  "Looks like ya squashed'im love."  The priest runs a hand over his head.  "Anythin' else down there, like an exit, or ain't ya lucky enough for that?"

Xavier stopped screaming as the roof came down on him and let out a half curse that was cut off by something heavy landing on top of him. Slowly crawling upright after recovering from the impact the pale skinned filthy man wearing only a pair of dirty underpants looks at the lady landing on top of him. Although coverd completly in filth and grime Xavier still seems to call for obedience as his brown eyes stare at Mihaela from under his heavy dark brows.

Xavier stands up to reclaim at least a little bit of authoroty if there is any to be regaind in his current situation and looks up to the other voice revealing the Fist and Green rays off Bane tattoed on his left shoulder to Michaela before turning his attention to her again.

"You could have used the door you know."

"I didn't exactly choose to do that, you know." Michaela scowled at him, barely remembering that they were meant to be playing nice with the Zhents as she saw the tattoo. "I suppose from your sorry state that you don't know how to get out either?" she looked around for a door.

Making a gesture towards the rusty cell door and the heavy lock hanging from it Xavier speaks up.

"I know thats the way out. I was just pondering about how to convince that lock to open and the door behind that so i can thank the nice Ogre for his hospitality."

"Ogre... ogre... big guy? Blue skin, couple of horns?" she asks, examining the lock. "On top of that, how long you been down here?"

Cyrus carefully steps around the hole in the floor and picks up the books.  "Huh.  Anybody know anything about Dungeoneering?  This one here is a Monster Manuel..." The cleric hands the books off to Nerisella and steps over to the spell componants.  "Looks here like I got a pair of potions... Strength.  This other one is blue.  I don't know what it is."

Xavier nods as his face turns sour.

"Yeah thats him. He got me when i was spreading the word of Bane i guess he thought i would fetch a good ransom. Think i been here for about a week but you loose track after a while. At least he didn't forget to feed me."

He gestures to an empty plate where some kind of critter carcass is lying most likely a big rat and a mug of murky water.

Cyrus peers down the hole again.  "You two comfy?  I could drop a rope yanno..."  The Priest of Talos looks down expectingly...

"Long as you tie the other end off up there, Red." she called back up with a wild grin. "This pit stinks." she glanced at the priest. "heh, no offense."

Dog has been conveniently hanging back.  He seemed to not notice anything amiss until he saw and heard Cyrus talking down into the hole.  Walking over he looked down and burst out laughing.  "Well, if that don't beat all.  Back in the early days, I was used as a trap springer, too.  Glad to have graduated from that."  He reaches out to help hold the rope and pull the others up.

Xavier looks towards the rope and then to the locked door and the door behind hit where his equipment was stored before he adresses Michaela.

"You cant open the lock? I would like to get my things back from over there."

Dog chuckles, "Looks like we have quite a predicament here, don't we."  He smirks down at the itemless Xavier.  "Sounds like a deal needs to be cut, doesn't it."

He looks sideways, "Cyrus, didn't you say you came here to loot?  Looks like a lot of loot on the other side of that door."

Cyrus raises an eyebrow at the tank while wrapping the rope around his (Dog's) waist and then bringing it backwards towards himself, wrapping it again around his waist, forming a solid anchor.  "Relax mate," He says down the hole, even though his face isn't, at the moment, peering over the side.  "There's a trapdoor up here that leads down to the cells."

The cleric of Talos glances over at Nerisella.  "Love, can ya be a good lass and go check the trapdoor for anythin' nasty?  We don't need no more pit traps."

Michaela scrambled up the rope, the nature of her weapons meaning that she doesn't have to disarm herself to do so.

"Much as I hate to say it, maybe the thief should go first." she smirked over at Narisella.

If looks could kill the one Xavier threw up towards Dog would have slain him outright. While still toying with the idea of cursing the man he decided against it as it most likely would leave him inside the cell for Bane knew how long. Instead he speaks in a rather commanding tone that seems extremely natural to him.

"How about you show a bit of respect to a cleric of Bane."

Just to be sure of these peoples assistance Xavier steps up to the rope and takes it in his hands testing it before he starts to climb upwards.

Dog chuckles as he braces himself to hold the rope and looks down into the hole.  He replies, "Sorry, I've already relieved myself recently."  He is very amused by the situation, but being an outsider to this group, he decides just to do as he was asked at the moment.  They'd given no reason not to.

Nerisella just hangs back and takes in what is going on as she looks through the monster manual that was handed over to her.  At the words loot she started thinking of a plan to get through that door.

Cyrus groans as first Michaela and then Xavier make their way up the rope and onto the floor, though this tiny room is far too cramped for everyone.  First, he addresses Nerisella. "Hey.  You.  Howabout checking that trapdoor to the lower level over there." This time it's more of a command since both, he's hefting somebody up a rope, and has had to repeat himself.

Once that is taken care of, he looks at Xavier and waves his hand in front of his nose at the stench... bathing in a prison cell wasn't exactly the in thing to do.  "Well it's no disrespect intended lad, but yanno, 'tis a bit hard ta show respect an dignity to a cleric o'Bane who until she literally stumbled into, was locked up like a caged animal." Cyrus pauses.  "If'n I was you, I'd be a bit happy we dinnae jus' leave ya there an take yer supplies for ourselves."  The cleric of Talos had a point.

Dog looks at Cyrus with a bit of respect, "Yeah, what he said.  No offense, but I'd expect the same thing if was locked in a hole.  I don't know you from nobody, but it looks like we rescued you so be thankful and drop it.  I will."

Considering the matter over he wonders if the others were going to be following Cyrus' order.  Looking at him, he says, "So you're the leader of this group it seems.  I know a command voice when I hear it.  I'll back you up for as long as we're in here then."  He knows the importance of leadership as well as a chain of command.  "I ain't no trap finder though."  He also knows respect needed to go both ways.  He valued his own life and wasn't throwing it away on a stupid order.

"I was ready to break out when the Ogre returned. Some things just take time. But still Thanks for getting me out."

It was obvious he was not used to say thank you and it was more a monotonuos chant than a sincere sentence.

Nerisella walks over to the area indicated by Cyrus saying under her breath," I should let it go off in your face."[Private to DM Swamprose: I'd like to take 20 on searching for a trap and then on disabling it and opening lock if that's even need. Search 24, Disable Device 24, Open Lock 28 (+4 from masterwork tools)  Also I'm still updating my character sheet from leveling up.  I'm still going with the cleric of mask for 2 levels.]

"Later, hm?" Michaela grinned back as she whispered to the thief. "There'll be time." For now, she didn't seem to be much interested in contesting the command role - though up until this point, she'd been the one to call the shots.

Dog ignores the conniving women having no idea what they are saying.  He shifts restlessly on his feet while he waits for more action.

There are no traps on the ironically named Trapdoor.  It appears, for all intents and purposes, to be the entry into the basement level of the tower - likely to the prison cells and to where the priest's equipment can be found.
This message was last updated by the GM at 21:52, Wed 15 Nov 2006.

Dog looks around at the people and stares at the backs of his fingernails for dirt.

Cyrus waves off the petty squabbling and backstab plotting for a moment or two and looks at Dog.  "You're the big strong one.  Why don't you go down first and maybe see if there's anything we can use to prop this door open?  I don't want it closing on us from behind."  He pointedly looks at the two females.

Dog looks at him, "Why've I got to go down there to find something to prop this door open.  How bout I find something up here?"  He begins looking around.

"I would be delighted to get my gear back and then move outside to the moat. There is soap with my equipment i never hought i would be longing for so much."

"Soap really!" Nerisella exclaims.  She begins looking for something to help hold the door. "Well that work?"  She points to a small pile of debris.

The lower level of the tower was just as expected, small, dingy, and smelly.  A few of the rooms had been converted into cells, the priest of Bane being the only survivor, it appeared.  Even a novice carpenter could tell that the wooden ceiling (floor) above you needed a lot of work before being stable, but the building wasn't going to come down anytime soon.

After sifting through the Ogre Mage's personal belongings, you didn't come up with anything extrodinary.  It looked like he was trying to prepare for some kind of ritual or magic, with the way he had the room cleared out and positioned, but what, you had no idea.

The armory likewise netted few useful results beyond Xavier's normal equipment.  There were a handful of bows, arrows, crossbows, and spears, but little else of value.  Most of the rope had been dry rotted away, and the armor and swords had been rusted due to misuse...

Dog continues to watch the proceedings without going down into the hole.

Xavier almost fell like a hawk on his precious equipment and instead of putting it on he just collected everything in his arms and started to move outside to where he knew there was a body of water to get clean in.

"Thank you for your assistance i will be improving my personal hygene for a bit now."

Well this was a waste of time not even a gem for my troubles.  Nerisella says as she begins climbing out of the basement.

Dog nods towards where the ex-prisoner left as he speaks to Nerisella, "He was locked up and might be desperate."  He chuckles crudely.

Nerisella throws a backhand toward Dog.  As a resounding "thunk" is head in the room.  A dagger now appears to the left of Dog in the wood support beam.

OOC:  Thought I'd do something about that.  :) All fun and games until some gets cut right. haha

Dog raises an eyebrow as he looks at the dagger and back at the woman.  "Got teeth, I see.  Good, I hate weak people."  He pulls the dagger out of the wooden beam and stuffs it in his belt.  "A reminder," he says to the woman, "In case I get any stupid ideas."

Michaela was in a bad mood. Not that it was easy to tell from outside - perhaps a slight tightening of the muscles in her cheeks, a minor frown - but she was definitly not happy. All they'd found was a drain on resources. Maybe he'd be worth something to the Zhents, but she doubted it.

"Men. Always thinking of sex." she muttered, loud enough for Dog and Nari to both hear her. Not that the thief wasn't attractive enough, she supposed, but maybe with the exception of the Talassian none of their companions were even worth considering in that light.

"Ya well ya women ain't much better neither." Cyrus snickers at Michaela.  "The two'a'you are the first ta mention it..." Then with a defeated grunt, The Talesian slowly turns his head to the side, cracking and popping his neck.  "Anybody wanna go check on that Banite?  I don't trust'em further'n Nerisella can throw'em, an'he did just wander off by 'imself..."

Xavier walked outside and a pleased smile crossed his lips at the sight of the dead orge. His discomfort was to big to neglect much longer though and after placing his belongings on the shore he took the piece of soap and a wash cloth from his backpack and stepped into the semi clean water. Scrubbing grime and filth from his body his whole stature was changing by his growing confidence in his own authoroty.

Dog shrugs and says, "Sure, I'll go do it."  He hefts his weapon and follows the path that the Banite took.  Finding him he says, "I hope that gator doesn't come back while you're in there."  His face is dead serious as he bites the nail in his left hand in boredom.

[private to you:20:54, Today: Secret Roll: Dog rolled 17 using 1d20+06. croc bluff. ]

Xavier gives Dog a short glance before washing the soap out of his hair.

"I doubt i taste good at this moment."

Dog shrugs, "That's fine.  Gator's do."  He looks around, seeing if he sees anything watching or dangerous.

Xavier finishes cleaning up, with Dog over his shoulder, in the next few moments, and then rejoins the group, since at the moment they are his only protection outside of his own abilities.  As for the waters, while looks were deceiving, showing no signs of life, only a fool would test the waters...

Back on the inside of things, Cyrus waited around somewhat uncomfortably between both of the psychotic females until Xavier and Dog returned.  "So we're lookin' for'is book right.  I ain't seen it yet, not that I can tell.  An all we got's is up.  Who wants point?"  He points up to the stairwell.

Dog just nods taking down the information as it is given and allows the indicated ones choose point.  He does ask in passing, "So we have a couple of choices for scouts, eh?"

"On that stairway? Scout'll get dropped. Better for someone tough to go first." At that, she gave Dog a measuring look. "You or me, boyo?"

Dog looks at her, measuring her, "Well, your boss asked one of you to go.  Since you're lighter, I'll back you up, eh?"  He puts his shield away and pulls out a particularly vicious looking composite longbow, nocking an arrow.  "Go on, I'll plug it for you... girlie."  He smiles crookedly in an obvious reference to the 'boyo.'

One corner of Michaela's mouth quirked up in a smirk as she rechecked the straps on her claw bracers before pushing her cloak back over her shoulders and heading over to the stairs. She supposed it might be true that she was lighter, but considering the sheer solidness of the barbarian it was likely that most of the difference was in equipment.

Wary and alert, she moved up the stairs with her weapons and mind ready, prepared to attack or incinerate the first thing that moved.

Dog, wellversed in battle tactics, keeps both hands on his bow and nocked arrow as he watches past the scout for something to jump out.  His mind only flitted to watching the easy grace of Michaela that promised so much death.  Shaking his head, he cleared it to keep his mind on the task at hand.  He pretty much ignored the others behind them.  It was up to them to guard the rear.  If anything was able to make it through them, then it was unlikely he would be able to handle it anyway.

Back in his regual gear Xavier is the intimidating diciple of his patron god a menacing piece of spiked plate metal. He takes out his shield and mace as he looks at the people the saved him.

"I will guard our backs then."

Cyrus grips his spear and nods.  "Michaela.  Talos tells me that he's feeling generous.  I am permitted to boost your strength if you'd like." The air in the immediate vicinity picked up an electrical intensity strong enough to make the hair on your hair stand up.  The man's face took on an almost impercebtle evil.

"Hmm." Michaela paused, before nodding. "Alright. But one sign of trickery and I'll have your head on a spike." she walked over to him and watched as he cast the spell carefully, as though wary for signs of trickery.

[Private to Cyrus Stormgate: 22:28, Today: Michaela Lehava rolled 15 using 1d20+4. Spellcraft (ID spell).
]

The priest laughed like he really believed what Michaela said had amused him.  But then he cast the spell.  When he was done he shooed her back up the steps to take the lead and go into the room.

"Yeah, yeah.  On with it already.  The rest of us are getting bored!"

[Private to Michaela Lehava: It's a Bull's Strength spell by a 3rd level cleric.]

Michaela accepted the spell, apparently finding the casting appropriate, and walked back to the stairs before starting her ascent. Before going, however, she shot the cleric a deadly look as he tried to shoo her along.

There was a dramatic pause as Michaela reached for the door and everyone braced themselves.  Turning the knob, there was a rusty screetch, a click, and then a drawn out creek as the door easily pushed inward.  After taking a few steps inside, Michaela narrowly avoided stubbing her toes on an incline, that shot upwards about a foot.  Dog however, was not as lucky, and as the big oaf for a warrior stumbled for a second or two, Cyrus and then the rest piled in.

Darkness was little obsticle for the party at this point, and with a quick snap, Cyrus broke out a sunrod and tossed it on the floor.  A quick examination of the room revealed that that on the far side, directly opposite of the entrance was another fireplace.  Spread evenly along the sides from there were three rows of bookshelves, each piled from floor to ceiling a vast array of tomes.  The walls were then broken by a window on each side.  To the left was a single bed, a small chest and a little table with what appeared to be a bowl and cup.  To the right was a desk and a big poofy chair.

All along the ornately engraved floor was a staggering display of bloodstaining, and it lead towards the desk.  Closer examination revealed that the blood had dried many moons ago...

Michaela opted to ignore the blood, instead moving over carefully to the chest, testing each step before putting her weight down and going to one knee to examine it, ready to jump up at any moment in case of attack and too wary to just open the chest immediatly.

[private to GM: 00:20, Today: Michaela Lehava rolled 18 using 1d20+1. Search. ]

"Oooo, spooky," Dog says jokingly.  Moving through the room, he eases himself into the comfy chair trying not to dislodge much dust as the others searched around.

Plopping into the chair would be easier said then done, since at the moment, it's occupied by a long dead humanoid.  There are a few scraps of leathery meat, but the gruesome display is mostly that of a skeleton wearing a plain looking grey robe with it's hood down.  He's got a ring on his finger and two arrows pierce the torso.

The robe looks a bit bloodstained.  Clutched in the skeleton's left hand is a quill.

Dog looks at the remains and comments, "Hmmm, good shot.  And no looting, interesting... but not much."  Stabbing his sword into the torso, he reaches down to take the ring whereupon he will heave the mass to the floor so that he can sit in the chair and put on the ring.

Xavier moves closer to the bookshelves trying to read the covers witout touching the books. Who know how old the books where and what happens on contact.

"Interesting? Hopefully it's just good." Michaela shrugged as she opened the chest and looked inside.

The chest revealed little more then a metal pot, some now useless food, and a few articles of non-descript clothing.  The bookshelf remained much of a mystery as many of the books were dusty, having been undisturbed for quite some time.  However, a closer inspection revealed many of them to be written in an old, runic language.  The language was likely dwarvern, but it was hard to tell without actually trying to read at least a portion of the books.

The body on the other hand, flopped on the ground as Dog hefted it aside.  It's head bounced, and then the skull popped off and rolled along the floor bouncing into Xavier's foot.

"Hmph." The Talosian grunted.  "Was that necessary?" He was addressing the ogre who just looted the corpse.  "Find anything useful on the desk at least?"

Now that was a good question...
This message was last updated by the player at 19:51, Wed 20 Dec 2006.

Dog grins wickedly, "Nope, but more fun than not.  Why don't you check the skull and see if there's anything in there."

[private to you:  Dog put on the ring if that had any effect.]

An elf stands before you in the doorway to the room, and it's Dog who sees him first, because he stands directly across from the big warrior.  He's wearing a lot of black, but you can see the glint of steel studs on his armor.  Leaning against the wall, he keeps his left hand concealed along the other side of his body.  Without a word, he tosses a dagger right past Dog's face, sticking it into the wall next to him.  "Don't even think about going for your weapon.  If I wanted to kill you, all of you would already be dead.  Just ask her."  He cants his head in Michaela's direction.

You do notice he doesn't draw another weapon, but he stays at the ready just in case.

Cyrus whistles, both hands off to his sides.  He slowly leans his spear against the side of the bookcase and takes a step backwards.  "Alright.  Be easy now y'all."  Cabo's hands slowly lock together behind his head.  But anyone who's travelled with him for more then a day knows that he's got a Javalin of lightning he keeps right there...
This message was last edited by the player at 02:29, Thu 21 Dec 2006.

Dog chuckles, "Man, I've already had that done to me today, but thanks for another dagger for my belt.  I oughta open a museum."  He reaches back to pull the dagger out of the wall with the intention of putting it in his belt.  He could care less about the elf at the moment.  Being that he has traveled with the man for way less than a day, he has no idea about the javelin.  His bow is still in his hand and the shield is strapped and put away.  Of course with a dagger in his hand, he can't fire the bow until he gets rid of it.

Xavier looks at the skull rolling against his feet just as he wants to reach for one of the books and at the mention to check it out for something usefull he lifts his heavy armored foot and slams it down hard onto the skull scattering fragments in all directions and most likely revealing an empty skull. As the black elf appears he gives it a dark look and reaches for a book letting the warrior blocking its way inside handle it for this moment although he gets ready to cast 'hold person' on the Elf as he adresses him on a cold and unintrested tone.

"Well what do you want then? I am sure you did not show yourself to enlighten us with your pleasing apearnace."

Dog chuckles, "Oh, I don't know.  Elves are pretty.  I've always had a soft spot for elves."

He shrugs as he addresses the elf, "As for being able to kill us all, who the frag cares.  I'm sure we could all make the same threat.  Now you wanted to talk, so talk."

Being a big fan of intimidation, it's the one technique that does not work well back on him.  He adds, "Nice style, though," as if thinking aloud.

"Cabo. How... pleasant to see you again." Michaela stood and looked at him, flexing her hands into and out of fists under the claws of her bracers. "Now, please, tell us what you want? Working for the boss again, or someone else?"

"I've got that book you're after.  You won't find it here.  I'll give it to you, but I need something in return."  The elf in Black stood upright, but again, one of his hands remained behind his back...

Dog growled, but only a bit since there had been no real threat made with the dagger, "Easy there, fellow.  That had better be the book behind your back there or you'd better be scratching your butt.  Either way, take it easy."  It was not enough to warrant intimidation, but enough to let him know he noticed.

[private to you:  Dog imagines what his master would do in odds like this and it's generally to have some kind of area effect device of some sort.  As such, Dog needs two things.  1- the likelyhood that he can make it to the elf without suffering the effects of whatever it is or 2- an escape through a window, door, or hole if possible.  He is memorizing the area so that he can stop breathing and close his eyes while still moving.]

"Talking like you is like getting blood from a stone. Comparably, getting blood from you would be easy. Cut to the chase, what do you want?" Michaela spoke coolly, standing slightly hunched forward with both hands loosely by her sides.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:54, Wed 27 Dec 2006.

"There is that matter regarding the tomb of the paladin I sought out.  You remember it, yes?" The elf sighed, shaking his head in humiliated defeat.  "Well, there's a problem.  You see the dead paladin wasn't supposed to be awake, and well, to be a bit more specific, said dead, but recently awake, paladin happens to have the majority of my equipment, up to and including several magical tomes taken from this library."

Cabo stood upright again.  "You need the book.  I need my sword."

Dog laughed loud and hard, throwing his head back in the humor.  He says, "Okay, Cabo, I don't know about you, but it takes a big man, or elf, to say such a thing.  I like that.  I don't know about these people, but I'll help you out.  What the hell, I've got nothing better to do right now.  It'll cost ya, though.  I don't know what, a favor in the future what you may outlive and never have to repay, but for now, the fun of watching you as he head there will be enough."  His smile is genuine as he enjoys the elf's discomfort.

Michaela hung her head in disbelief, then shook it, sighing slightly. "Fine. Paladin tomb. Get books. You get your stuff, we get our pick of the rest. Deal or no deal?"

Xavier listened and remained silent. This group seemed to be heading somewhere where the would be needing a Cleric and they might be needing him.

"I will join you then. Sounds like you will be needing my services there."

Dog nods at Xavier, "Yeah, sure, well that is if ya mean healing and not going ta church."

"I will look after Physical and spiritual health and it is my task to spread the word of bane wherever we go."

Dog raised an eyebrow, "Bane?  Who's that?  Or do you mean like Wolf's bane?  Whose bane are you spreading?"  He looks a little more intrigued now.

Xavier shot a glare at the man making fun of the gods and thoughts of things he could to to him crossed his mind. None where worth loosing a meat shield in the comming adventure though and so he subsided with a cold reply.

"Do not make fun of the only true god of Fearun. The god of Tyrants will not tollerate you make fun of him."

Dog looks a bit miffed at the reply and then just shrugs, looking back at the elf.  He fingers the two new daggers absentmindedly as he starts watching the others, waiting.