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, welcome to Rappan Athuk: The Dungeon of Graves (DnD3.0)

11:29, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Part 20 - The Forest Kingdoms.

Posted by Dungeon MasterFor group 0
Eilieen
Player, 982 posts
Cure Serious Wounds!
Cure Serious Wounds!
Thu 4 Apr 2019
at 09:25
  • msg #466

Round 3 round up

Eilieen grimaces.  "I fear I have little memory of the prices of resurrection, Erista.  I always felt they should be reserved for the young, and given without payment...therefore it's possible I did not pay attention.  We would need to find a temple with a priest experienced enough to do so, in any case, and could then ask them."  She sighs.  "I wish I had a better answer.  Does anyone know of such a temple in this area?"

So close to Rappan Athuk it seems unlikely, but one never knows.
Aarnr Foultongue
Player, 1165 posts
Human (technically)
Cleric of froggin' Bowbe!
Fri 5 Apr 2019
at 05:17
  • msg #467

Round 3 round up

And we're back to utter blasphemy and sacrilege ... though since these folks are civilised, it is Aarnr's duty to educate them in matters pertaining to the natural way of things.

"Too froggin' late for that," the priest informs Erista vehemently, though no more threateningly than usual.   "We already slew the puttock's fobbin' killer, so there's nothin' for the hedgepig to elfin' come back for !"
Arkan
NPC, 304 posts
Magic Missile!
Magic Missile!
Fri 5 Apr 2019
at 20:28
  • msg #468

Round 3 round up

"I have been singularly unimpressed by the quality and quantity of temples in this area." Arkan says.

"I have noticed that, in these lands, temples where you can obtain such services typically exist in cities which have sufficient populace to support them.  And, as we have seen, around here, two men and a healthy pig constitutes a city."

He shakes his head sadly, "Were we travelling in my homeland, beyond the sea, we would just need to look for the highest mountain in sight and climb to the summit to find a temple with a mendicant order who would raise the dead for a handful of copper pennies, or a couple of loaves of bread."

"Here, we would need to find a city, and with this weather, Tursach would likely become quite... unsavoury... before we did so."
Colwyn Akbar
NPC, 368 posts
It's a trap!
No problem.
Fri 5 Apr 2019
at 21:05
  • msg #469

Round 3 round up

Colwyn drags his gaze away from the chest, with its mixed coinage.  "Yer what?"

It sounds like Erista is proposing to spend their wealth - and more importantly, his wealth - on bringing a dead man back to life.  Worse than that, a dead man that they had known for less than an hour, and who might turn out to have been evil, or even unlikeable.  What if we's bringin' 'im ter life, an' a 'our later we's 'avin' ter be killin' 'im again?  An' why weren't no bugger talkin' 'bout bringin' back the monk, or Fergus, or Ozzy?

A line of thought which he sums up by repeating himself. with a little more emphasis...

"Yer bleedin' what?"
Erista
player, 647 posts
Sat 6 Apr 2019
at 01:38
  • msg #470

Round 3 round up

"Bard's Gate wasn't that far away," Erista points out, "And it's a lot bigger than two men and a pig."  Aarnr's rebuttal brings her up a little bit short, and she answers more carefully.  "I.. do see your point, but it's... some people might want to come back for other things.  Or," she proposes thoughtfully, "He might consider us his killers, since we ultimately led to his death, in which case we'd have a good fight waiting as soon as he was ready."
Aarnr Foultongue
Player, 1166 posts
Human (technically)
Cleric of froggin' Bowbe!
Sat 6 Apr 2019
at 05:06
  • msg #471

Round 3 round up

"Ye think he was a necromancer ?"

Aarnr follows Erista's line of reasoning to its logical conclusion.  Despite the Halfling's wild imaginings, it seems unlikely that the dead man could actually credit them with summoning forth the dragon, for all the priest had wished it so, and it followed that it was unlikely that he'd blame them ... and if he did (it seems Aarnr's private thoughts match those of Colwyn's) then they'd just have to kill him again.

So the only other reason for coming back from the afterlife you'd earned was if you'd been a coward or a law-clerk or a necromancer and wanted to weasel out of your richly deserved perdition.  Nor is he going all the way back to wherever it was on such a fool's errand when the Dungeon of Graves is so tantalisingly close.

"We'll, he froggin' can't !!" Aarnr pronounces.

That settled, the priest sets about putting the puttock in his grave ... with due respect for the pheasant feathers, as Erista's idle speculation that he was a base-court foot-licker is as yet unproven.
Dungeon Master
GM, 908 posts
You're trying what?
Hahahahahahaha!
Sun 7 Apr 2019
at 14:32
  • msg #472

Round 3 round up

Aarnr manhandles the body into the grave with as much care as he can.

Arkan ponders Erista's words for a while, then, "I doubt that he would consider us his killers.  He had stopped for lunch in the dragon's territory.  If anything it was likely the smell food, Tursach and his horse, that attracted the beast at first.  And in some places, we would be considered the agents of his vengeance upon the creature"

There is a commotion among the tree branches around the edges of the clearing.  Ravens, and lesser birds, are gathering, attracted by the corpses.

One of the ravens, bolder than the rest and more ancient looking, flaps down to perch on the horned snout of the dragon.  Cocking its head it stares into the eye of the slain beast and caws something that almost sounds like a laugh before it starts pecking at the choice morsel with obvious relish.  Within moments, others are joining it to feast on the dead wyrm.

Colwyn pulls a couple of tools from his roll, a small saw and a hammer, and strides over to the dragon corpse.  Well... "strides" is perhaps not the correct word for his cautious approach.

The elder raven refuses to move.  Even when Colwyn starts sawing at one of the snout horns, the bird merely gives him a baleful glare and continues its gory snack.

After a few moment's work, Colwyn sets the saw aside, takes up the hammer and starts tapping at the almost severed horn.  A couple of sharp blows, and the appendage snaps off, a sharp piece of bone, as long as a dagger blade.
Eilieen
Player, 983 posts
Cure Serious Wounds!
Cure Serious Wounds!
Mon 8 Apr 2019
at 09:26
  • msg #473

Round 3 round up

"Enough people have died already," Eilieen quietly notes, "that I completely understand Erista's desire.  Yet what will we do?  By the time we arrive at Bard's Gate, he will be beyond a simple raising of the dead.  We will require a resurrection, and I am unsure if any of such power exist in Bard's Gate.  Or that we have the funds."  She places a hand on Erista's shoulder.  "I believe he has moved on to his reward, whatever it is.  I think...we should leave him to it."

The man isn't Oswald, nor Fergus, nor the Nameless Monk, but he might as well be a symbol for those fallen companions.  Another taken by Rappan Athuk, and the evil surrounding it, she considers.  Well...perhaps they can do something about that.
Erista
player, 648 posts
Mon 8 Apr 2019
at 10:29
  • msg #474

Round 3 round up

Erista swallows, closing her eyes for a moment, and finally sighs, shoulders dropping.  "OK," she says, quietly.
Aarnr Foultongue
Player, 1167 posts
Human (technically)
Cleric of froggin' Bowbe!
Tue 9 Apr 2019
at 13:36
  • msg #475

Round 3 round up

Aarnr disagrees entirely with Eilieen's suggestion that enough have died already.  He's certain that one or two have escaped, and hopeful that there will be many more deaths before he's done.  Yet he would be angered beyond measure should any of his companions fall, and even so, not dissuaded from seeking bloody vengeance on their behalf, for all their shades might wish to come back and do the job themselves.

The object of this discussion, of course, does not yet lie moldering in his grave, though he's getting closer now - just a spot of backfilling, then the finding of the rocks, but first ...

Erista's disappointment is palpable, and given her small stature, arguing with the Halfling is akin to denying a small child something that it wants, but less amusing.

"Would ye like to say goodbye ?" the priest asks Erista kindly.

His eyes alight on the dragon, festooned with ravens.

"I suppose we're goin' to have to bury that froggin' huggermugger too," he eyes the fallen beast speculatively.
Colwyn Akbar
NPC, 369 posts
It's a trap!
No problem.
Wed 10 Apr 2019
at 20:48
  • msg #476

Round 3 round up

"Nah!  It's not deservin' a grave, or even a fire.  The birds'll be eatin' it fer a bit, an' some wolves or somethin' might be comin' by an takin' a fancy ter a bit of free dinner.  If nothin' else, the bones'll be remindin' folks  as 'ow we was killin' a dragon 'ere."

He thinks for a moment, then glances down at his hand before extending it towards Aarnr with the horn flat in his palm.  "Yer killed the bloody thing, yer might just as well take a trophy.  I reckon as 'ow the teeth is like as not 'avin' poison on them, and the 'ead's way too big ter be luggin' roun' with us.  So 'ere's a 'orn."

"Yer can be fixin' it ter a cord an' angin' it round yer neck or somethin'."

Aarnr Foultongue
Player, 1168 posts
Human (technically)
Cleric of froggin' Bowbe!
Fri 12 Apr 2019
at 14:19
  • msg #477

Round 3 round up

"Bowbe can have the canker-blossom," Aarnr reluctantly cedes the slightly damaged dragon carcass to his god to do with as He will.  Which is probably elfin' all, and the corpse will rot where it is to be admired by those hardy souls of strong constitutions who lack any sense of smell.

The priest likewise ponders (or a semblance thereof) for a moment before accepting the beast's horn from Colwyn.  Admittedly overcoming a dragon is not so great a feat as, say, slaying three pheasants, but he's proud (or at least smug) about the accomplishment, and with the horn dangling about his neck it'll certainly put the wind up any decadent city-folk who see it, or at least be something he can start a fight over.

And he's skill1 enough to fashion a thong to hang it around his neck, as the scurvy varlot suggests.  He supposes he should thank him.


1 Aarnr is actually a trained seamstress leatherworker, hailing from a place where that means 'first catch your beast'
Dungeon Master
GM, 909 posts
You're trying what?
Hahahahahahaha!
Sun 14 Apr 2019
at 20:53
  • msg #478

Round 3 round up

With Tursach in the grave, all that remains is to fill in the hole, and for somebody to say a few words.  Though that could present a problem, since nobody knows which god or gods he worshipped, or what he would have deemed a suitable funeral service.

Colwyn sums it up quite nicely, "What god was 'e followin'?  Only we isn't wantin' 'is ghost ter be comin' back ter 'aunt us on account of us givin' 'im a send off as 'e isn't likin'."

Arkan shakes his head.  "I have no idea.  But as a wizard, I don't think he would object to something from the rites of Yenomesh or Belon, if anybody knows anything."
Eilieen
Player, 984 posts
Cure Serious Wounds!
Cure Serious Wounds!
Mon 15 Apr 2019
at 09:18
  • msg #479

Round 3 round up

"Without knowing, we can only do our best," Eilieen quietly states, stepping forward.  "Tursach," she addresses the grave.  "We knew you little, but in that short time fought side-by-side against deadly threat.  You did not shirk from the battle, and thanks to your aid we prevailed.  For this, I shall always be grateful.  I pray your god accepts your soul gently, bringing it to place prepared for you.  May that reward be just and kind, befitting one who gave his life that others might continue."

It's a guess, but Eilieen would rather err on the side of assuming the best.

"Zadastha's mercy upon you," she whispers.  "Go in peace."

With that, the priestess steps back and bows her head.  Should any other have words, she is ready to listen.  If not?  She will assist with filling the grave.
Dungeon Master
GM, 910 posts
You're trying what?
Hahahahahahaha!
Wed 17 Apr 2019
at 20:34
  • msg #480

Round 3 round up

The backfilling of the grave begins, even as fat raindrops start to fall sporadically from the sky, producing an irregular pattering when the strike the leaves of the surrounding trees, and a deeper (though quieter) sound against the earth in the clearing.

Shortly afterwards, thunder grumbles quietly in the distance.

Colwyn looks up from where he is using a stick to shove soil into the grave.

"If'n we's goin' ter be takin' Tursach's 'orse an' cart, who's goin' ter be drivin' it?"
Aarnr Foultongue
Player, 1169 posts
Human (technically)
Cleric of froggin' Bowbe!
Thu 18 Apr 2019
at 13:28
  • msg #481

Round 3 round up

Aarnr knows little of burial rites, and generally considers his job done when he's put someone in a fit state to need such services, so he has nothing to add to the send off that Eilieen provides, and is impressed indeed when she manages to make it rain on cue.  And of course, Aarnr is not only happy to assist with the filling in of the grave he dug, but strives to both shift more dirt and do it quicker than anyone else thus occupied.

Colwyn's question is a good one.  The priest considers the horse to be no more difficult to drive than an oxen, but would grudgingly admit that he can't manage both carts ...

"Unless one of you hu ... you bu ... one of you has the knack, we'll have to abandon the froggin' cart.  Can tie the horse and lead it, I reckon."
Dungeon Master
GM, 911 posts
You're trying what?
Hahahahahahaha!
Fri 19 Apr 2019
at 20:15
  • msg #482

Round 3 round up

"While I can ride," Arkan says, "I don't have Aarnr's vast and profound knowledge of cart driving."

"Nor me." Colwyn adds cheerfully.  "There's bein' lots of things what I can't be doin', an' drivin' a cart is bein' one of them."

"Quite." replies Arkan, somewhat tartly, and then suggests, "If push comes to shove, one of us might be able to lead the horse while it pulls the cart.  That could be simpler than driving."

"You can be doin' that, if'n yer wants, but I ain't goin' nowhere near no 'orse.  They's bitin', an' they's all mad as 'ens."
Aarnr Foultongue
Player, 1170 posts
Human (technically)
Cleric of froggin' Bowbe!
Mon 22 Apr 2019
at 05:30
  • msg #483

Round 3 round up

Aarnr nods his agreement.  These 'ens, or drag-ens as they are known in the less civilised parts of the world are notoriously dangerous and unpredictable ... and if this horse is that way inclined, then he takes it as a personal challenge.

"If the gleepin' horse doesn't co-operate," which is to say, do what he wants, "then we'll just eat the hedgepig !"

"I can drive the fobbin' horse ... an' one of you two rascals can lead the froggin' oxen," the priest decides triumphantly.
Eilieen
Player, 985 posts
Cure Serious Wounds!
Cure Serious Wounds!
Wed 24 Apr 2019
at 09:17
  • msg #484

Round 3 round up

"I can take the horse, if need be," Eilieen quietly notes.  "I shall not leave it here.  Decide what we wish; the cart is not needed, in fact."  They already have one; how many more might they require?

It's possible that Colwyn is dreaming of mountains of treasure, so there's always that.
Aarnr Foultongue
Player, 1171 posts
Human (technically)
Cleric of froggin' Bowbe!
Wed 24 Apr 2019
at 13:34
  • msg #485

Round 3 round up

Aarnr stares at the sky, muttering under his breath in his own native tongue and occasionally shaking his fist.
Colwyn Akbar
NPC, 370 posts
It's a trap!
No problem.
Wed 24 Apr 2019
at 21:19
  • msg #486

Round 3 round up

Colwyn peers at Eilieen incredulously.  "The more cart's we's 'avin', the less of us what's 'avin' ter be walkin' in the mud.  An' then there's the chance as we might be needin' two carts ter carry off all the gold what we's findin'."

He ponders that for a moment, before adding, "So long as we's not crawlin' back out of the dungeon, loaded down with loot, an' findin' as somethin' 'as ate the animals, and the carts too."

The rain is becoming heavier, and the rogue shivers.  "I's thinkin' as 'ow Arkan's plan's bein' a good one.  A cove's leadin' the 'orse an' cart, an' the rest is ridin'.  An' we's mayhap takin' turns with the leadin'... least ways them what's wantin' ter be doin' it."
Erista
player, 649 posts
Fri 26 Apr 2019
at 07:21
  • msg #487

Round 3 round up

Erista sighs.

She tried.  She has to accept that she tried, and they're right, it just.. wouldn't have worked anyway.  And she has to admit, Tursach's cart is nicer.  And it has all of those lovely things in it, that... would be a shame to just throw away.  Surely that's not what Tursach would have wanted.

Granted, Tursach probably wouldn't have wanted to be snapped in half by a dragon and...

She gives herself a shake, catching up on the conversation a little.  "I can try," she offers, in taking a turn to lead the animals.  "But I don't think they usually even notice me," she admits.  "We always stick to ponies at home, or mules maybe if we're feeling adventurous."  She reflects briefly on the other inhabitants of her home town.  "So ponies, basically."
Dungeon Master
GM, 912 posts
You're trying what?
Hahahahahahaha!
Sun 28 Apr 2019
at 20:39
  • msg #488

Round 3 round up

With nothing further to be done in the clearing, and little point in just standing around in the rain, the group set off along the road to the east.  It's still raining, but at least they are making progress.

Aarnr drives the ox cart, as usual, while Arkan leads the horse and cart behind.

Colwyn sits in the latter, carefully counting the coins from the chest...

After a little more than an hour he straightens up and stretches, before announcing, "Four hunnert an' twen'y five of gold, A thousan' an' twelve of silver, an' 'bout two thousan' of copper.  More or less."

He gestures towards a bulky bundle, wrapped in a cloak an shoved under the driver's bench.  "Those there books might be bein' worth a bit more, dependin' as what's bein' in them. but ol' Arkan were tellin' me not ter be lookin' too close at them."
Eilieen
Player, 986 posts
Cure Serious Wounds!
Cure Serious Wounds!
Mon 29 Apr 2019
at 01:30
  • msg #489

Round 3 round up

"I would suggest that Arkan or Erista peruse the books," Elieen murmurs.  "Once we stop for the night.  Arkan!  I shall take a turn leading the cart, if you would?"  The gold...is of no interest to her; she'll promise her share to Colwyn, Eilieen decides, if it'll keep him around.

"I expect I will follow our friends, anyway," the priestess murmurs quietly.  Heaven grant she succeed in at least part of her goals, here: to keep her friends alive and see the evil of Rappan Athuk ended.  Of course, Eilieen muses, it is likely the both are impossible, together.

And she has failed in the first already.
Aarnr Foultongue
Player, 1172 posts
Human (technically)
Cleric of froggin' Bowbe!
Mon 29 Apr 2019
at 12:50
  • msg #490

Round 3 round up

Since he's the only one who is brave enough to drive the oxen, Aarnr is always guaranteed a good seat, though he's prepared to slow (if anyone can tell the difference between that and the beasts' normal pace) when it's time to change the horse-puller.

The coin ... is more interesting than it used to be, though he'd kill anyone outside of his current companions who reminded him that he used to be rather strident in his dislike of that trapping of a decadent civilisation.  It's their fault anyway.  He'd far rather fight someone for their weapon, or food, but his friends (and grandmother) are not so inclined.  You might even be able to get two ales for all that coin.

The dragon is gone now, of course and that's disappointing, but someone mentioned undead ...

"Do ye think those manky, rank maggot-pies will froggin' venture out this night ?" the priest tries to cheer everyone up.
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