---

---

"Is the paladin Ser Klerris?"  Kerr inquired.  "Because if it is, I'd take the Asmodeus guy every day, and twice on Sundays."  He gave Cato a tired smile.  "Minton Klerris is about the last man on earth I'd want to cross, paladin or no."

The young man stretched.  He was almost used to his breastplate now, after a summer of training in it, but he had been feeling the long, tense hours of wearing it starting to burn into his shoulders.  By stretching, he found that Liseth's positive energy had loosened some of the tightness in his muscles and reduced the biting soreness to a dull ache.  "Thanks for that, Lise." He gave his girlfriend a smile and a hug.  "I feel like a new man already."

Meanwhile, Pisca wondered away from the group into the cooler air of the larger sea-cave.  The atmosphere of the cave itself seemed watery--mist from the churning maelstrom below billowed up into the room in a vaporous cloud, covering everything around the pit with a slick, briny sheen.

A ledge ran downwards around the outside of the hole, leading directly into the frothy, crashing billows below.  As Pisca sent her dancing lights out, she could see the door clearly . . . it looked to be made of sturdy stone, with a small opening near the frame that might be intended for the insertion of a key.

   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  xxxxxxxxxx  |  | xxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  xxx|ll|ll|ll|ll|ll|  xxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+D-+--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  Dll|ll|oo|oo|oo|ll|ll|  xxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--xxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  xx |ll|DL|oo|oo|oo|oo|ll|  |xxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--xx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+xxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  xll|ll|oo|oo|oo|oo|oo|ll|P | xxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+-xx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  | x|ll|oo|oo|oo|oo|oo|ll|  |  | xxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+-x+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+xxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  |  | xx  |ll|oo|oo|lt|ll|  |  |  |xxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  xxxxxxxxxx L|C |K |  |ll|lb|  |  |  |  |  xxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxxxxxxx+--xxxxx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  xxx|dd|dd|R xxxxxx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | xxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xx-+--+--+--xxxxxxxx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+xxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  xdd|dd|dd|dd|xxxxxxxx|  |  |  |  |  |  xxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xx-+--+--+--+xxxxxxxxx--+xxxxxxxxxxx+xxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  xxd|dd|dd|dxxxxxxxxxx|  |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxx+--+--+xxxxxxxxxxx+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  xxxxdd|ddxxxxxxxxxxx |  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxx--+--xxxxxxxxxx--+-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  xxxxdd|dd|dd|dd|dd|  |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxx--+--+--xxxxxxx--+xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+
19|  xxx|dd|ddxxxxxxxxxxx |  xx |  |xxx  |  |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx |
  +--xx-+--+-xxxxxxxxxxxxxx--x--xxx+--x--+--+--+-xxxxxxxxxxxxx+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+
20|  xxx|dd|xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  xxxx  |  |  |  x  |  xx |  |  |  |  |  |  |xxxx |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--xxxxx-+--+--xxx+--+--xxxxxxx--+-xxx-+
21|  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  xxxxxxx  xxx|  |  xxxxxxxx |  xx |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+-xxxxx--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+x-+
22|  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  xxx|  |  xx |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--xx-+
23|  xxxxxxxxxxWW| xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxssxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |x |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxx+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxssxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+ss+--+x-+
24|  xxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |xxxssxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|  |  |  ssss  xx |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+--+--+--+--+--xSDxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+-xx--+--+ss+--xx-+
25|  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  xxxxxxxxxx  |  |xxx  |  |  |  |x |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxxx+--xxxxxxxxx+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+
26|  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  xxxxxxx  |  |  |  | xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+

WW = Well               gg = Grease
DL = Dancing Lights     SD = Secret Door
oo = ocean water        ll = ledge
lt = ledge top (room level)
lb = ledge bottom (water level)
UC = Undead Cleric
dd = Area of magical darkness

OOC:

PARTY STATUS - Kellan has taken 6 points of damage.  Kerr has taken 10 points of damage.  Cato has taken 10 points of damage.  Pisca has taken 9 points of damage.  Liseth has taken 5 points of damage.  All party members may now take combat actions.

---

---

Cato chuckled at Kerr's reply.  "Well, yes, I'm sure there are exceptions.  But, as a for instance, I'd much rather cross you than our Asmodeus-worshipping undead friend here.  As to your question about what the transformation to undeath does to the underlying person, well, I'm not sure.  I've chosen to concentrate my studies on conjuration magics, and necromancy is something I've avoided to some extent.  But what I've heard is that it really depends on the sort of undead.  This man's soul might have been stripped away in the process, or it might have still been there, being slowly corrupted by the necromantic energies that fueled the corpse."  Cato shrugs.  "If I'd have known it would be so useful to know about undead in order to fight them better, I would have studied it more, distaste or no."

Pisca pictured the key, then reached back to her magic bag and found it the first thing to come to hand.  Pinched between thumb and forefinger, she turned it slowly in the magic light, wondering whether the unremarkable copper key would fit the lock to the door that lay across the ugly sucking hole.

"Can someone come hold the other end of this rope?" asked the gnome through her magic.  "I'm going to try to get to the door, and, if I slip on the ledge, I'd rather not become shark food."

Move Dancing Lights such that the door is in Dim Light only.  Tie rope around waist.  Move to door.  Try key in lock.

Position: I7
DL Position: H13

Active Effects: Message on all 50m, Dancing Lights 1m, Sickened

Expended
L1 - 1/5
L2 - 2/3

HP: 13/33

AL: 6/9

Kellan stepped up to volunteer, raising one hand slightly. "Sure...you just be careful down there, alright?" he pleaded as he moved over to roughly where she planned to descend. He set his weapon down, then took the other end of the rope firmly in hand before he nodded that he was ready.

"I don't want you to be a new man, Kerr.  I like you just the way you are."  Liseth smiled her own tired smile.

"This is definitely the symbol of Azmodeus, though."  Liseth held the fallen cleric's divine focus gingerly; not enjoying the feel of it at all.  "He didn't seem to mind the undead cleric drawing on his power.  Maybe becoming undead didn't change him all that much..."  The acolyte frowned, "Either way, something like this is too dangerous to just leave lying around."  She placed Azmodeus' symbol in her knapsack, "Maybe Father Zantus will know what to do with it..."

The tired blonde followed Kellan to the ledge of the churning water hole; there couldn't be much more left to this place.  "Be careful Pisca; anything could be behind that door."

---

---

As the Hellknight's magical darkness finally expired, the group gathered on the edge of the vertical tunnel, looking with various degrees of trepidation at the frothing pool below.

"That's . . . a long way down," Kerr offered, stepping to the edge of the hole before quickly stepping back.  He looked skeptically at Kellan, then at the glistening ledge leading down to the door in the wall.  "I can see how Pisca can make it, but how do we get down there?"

It was an obvious question.  The narrow ledge's slick surface was clearly going to be difficult for the more well-armored members of the party to traverse.  And Liseth--with her natural clumsiness--might not have an easy time of it either.

As soon as Kellan took the end of the rope and got into a solid position, Pisca left the discussion about how everyone else might reach the door and began her own slow, slippery decent down the slick ledge.  The journey did not seem to be too arduous for the diminutive gnome, although as she approached the door she may have gotten a little too overconfident, slipping slightly and almost pitching straight over the ledge!

But she recovered and arrived at the door without further incident.  The stone portal looked ancient, although how old Pisca could not tell.  Clinging to the wall, she reached the key towards the small opening she had seen from afar.

And it fit perfectly.

   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  xxxxxxxxxx  |  | xxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  xxx|Pl|ll|ll|ll|ll|  xxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+D-+--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  Dll|ll|oo|oo|oo|ll|ll|  xxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--xxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  xx |ll|oo|oo|oo|oo|oo|ll|  |xxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--xx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+xxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  xll|ll|oo|oo|oo|oo|oo|ll|  | xxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+-xx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  | x|ll|oo|oo|oo|oo|oo|ll|  |  | xxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+-x+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+xxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  |  | xx  |ll|oo|oo|lt|ll|K |R |  |xxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  xxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |DL|ll|lb|  |  |C |L |  xxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxxxxxxx+--xxxxx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  xxx|  |  |  xxxxxx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | xxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xx-+--+--+--xxxxxxxx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+xxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  x  |  |  |  |xxxxxxxx|  |  |  |  |  |  xxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xx-+--+--+--+xxxxxxxxx--+xxxxxxxxxxx+xxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  xx |  |  | xxxxxxxxxx|  |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxx+--+--+xxxxxxxxxxx+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  xxxx  |  xxxxxxxxxxx |  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxx--+--xxxxxxxxxx--+-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  xxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxx--+--+--xxxxxxx--+xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+
19|  xxx|  |  xxxxxxxxxxx |  xx |  |xxx  |  |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx |
  +--xx-+--+-xxxxxxxxxxxxxx--x--xxx+--x--+--+--+-xxxxxxxxxxxxx+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+
20|  xxx|  |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  xxxx  |  |  |  x  |  xx |  |  |  |  |  |  |xxxx |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--xxxxx-+--+--xxx+--+--xxxxxxx--+-xxx-+
21|  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  xxxxxxx  xxx|  |  xxxxxxxx |  xx |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+-xxxxx--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+x-+
22|  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  xxx|  |  xx |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--xx-+
23|  xxxxxxxxxxWW| xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxssxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |x |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxx+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxssxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+ss+--+x-+
24|  xxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |xxxssxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|  |  |  ssss  xx |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+--+--+--+--+--xSDxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+-xx--+--+ss+--xx-+
25|  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  xxxxxxxxxx  |  |xxx  |  |  |  |x |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxxx+--xxxxxxxxx+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+
26|  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  xxxxxxx  |  |  |  | xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+

WW = Well               gg = Grease
DL = Dancing Lights     SD = Secret Door
oo = ocean water        ll = ledge
lt = ledge top (room level)
lb = ledge bottom (water level)
UC = Undead Cleric
dd = Area of magical darkness

OOC:

PARTY STATUS - Kellan has taken 6 points of damage.  Kerr has taken 10 points of damage.  Cato has taken 10 points of damage.  Pisca has taken 9 points of damage.  Liseth has taken 5 points of damage.  All party members may now take combat actions.

---

---

Cato stared into the dank pit and precarious ledge.  "I could cast Fly on Kellan, and he could, I think, carry us down there in relative safety.  It would last a few minutes, and the magic would let Kellan fly with as much he can carry, so it should probably work.  Of course, that would rob me of one of my most powerful spells - we'd use that instead of Fireball, for example."

Cato stared at the rope, then puffed out his lips.  "We could make do with some non-magical approaches, too.  Does anyone have any nails or pitons we could drive into the surface?  We can do what explorers in mountainous areas do, make a supported line in case we do fall while making our way down."

"I think we better save your energy for the real deal..." Kellan suggested as he glanced back down the slop. "How about I stay up here and lower you both down...then I'll shove my hauberk in my bag and make my way down with you three holding onto the other end...just in case I do slip"

Over the roaring of the waves and the curious acoustics in the cavern, the Guardsman practically had to shout. "I've also got another coil of rope...we can tie each person off with it then use Pisca's to climb, if you think that might work."

"Well, lets not count our froggies until their hatched," whispered the gnome through the mists of her concentration on the key and the lock.  "We don't know what's behind this door.  Could be stores of fish, for all we know."

Undead mackerel? came the thought unbidden, zooming out of the afore mentioned mist and then zooming again, off to where all such ideas go.

"I'm going to open the door and see.  If it's bad, and if it sees me, I might have to jump.  If that happens, get ready to pull me up, Stomper," she said.  And then, with much less confidence in her voice, "Alright?"

Pisca took a moment to breath and take command of her fears and uncertainties.  Then she eased the door open a crack and listened at the door.

Open door with stealth.

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 26.  Stealth -2 from Sickened.
Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 15.  Perception -2 from Sickened.

Position: I7
DL Position: H13

Active Effects: Message on all 50m, Dancing Lights 1m, Sickened

Expended
L1 - 1/5
L2 - 2/3

HP: 24/33

AL: 6/9

---

---

Pisca turned the key, unlocking the door with a smooth click.  As she cracked the door open, she was suddenly assaulted . . . by what was almost assuredly the most horrific stench she had ever encountered--a foul combination of decay, brine, and mold.  She couldn't hear anything over the aquatic crashing below, and even a peek inside the door told her only that a corridor continued away from the cave wall for a few feet before heading due west.

   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  | xxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  xxx|Pl|ll|ll|ll|ll|  xxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxx--+D-+--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  xxxxx Dll|ll|oo|oo|oo|ll|ll|  xxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  xxxxx |ll|oo|oo|oo|oo|oo|ll|  |xxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+xxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  xxxxll|ll|oo|oo|oo|oo|oo|ll|  | xxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  xxx|ll|oo|oo|oo|oo|oo|ll|  |  | xxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+xxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  |  xxxx  |ll|oo|oo|lt|ll|K |R |  |xxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  xxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |DL|ll|lb|  |  |C |L |  xxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxxxxxxx+--xxxxx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  xxx|  |  |  xxxxxx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | xxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xx-+--+--+--xxxxxxxx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+xxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  x  |  |  |  |xxxxxxxx|  |  |  |  |  |  xxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xx-+--+--+--+xxxxxxxxx--+xxxxxxxxxxx+xxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  xx |  |  | xxxxxxxxxx|  |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxx+--+--+xxxxxxxxxxx+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  xxxx  |  xxxxxxxxxxx |  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxx--+--xxxxxxxxxx--+-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  xxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxx--+--+--xxxxxxx--+xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+
19|  xxx|  |  xxxxxxxxxxx |  xx |  |xxx  |  |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx |
  +--xx-+--+-xxxxxxxxxxxxxx--x--xxx+--x--+--+--+-xxxxxxxxxxxxx+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+
20|  xxx|  |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  xxxx  |  |  |  x  |  xx |  |  |  |  |  |  |xxxx |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--xxxxx-+--+--xxx+--+--xxxxxxx--+-xxx-+
21|  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  xxxxxxx  xxx|  |  xxxxxxxx |  xx |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+-xxxxx--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+x-+
22|  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  xxx|  |  xx |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--xx-+
23|  xxxxxxxxxxWW| xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxssxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |x |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxx+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxssxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+ss+--+x-+
24|  xxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |xxxssxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|  |  |  ssss  xx |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+--+--+--+--+--xSDxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+-xx--+--+ss+--xx-+
25|  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  xxxxxxxxxx  |  |xxx  |  |  |  |x |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxxx+--xxxxxxxxx+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+
26|  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  xxxxxxx  |  |  |  | xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+

WW = Well               gg = Grease
DL = Dancing Lights     SD = Secret Door
oo = ocean water        ll = ledge
lt = ledge top (room level)
lb = ledge bottom (water level)
UC = Undead Cleric
dd = Area of magical darkness

OOC:

PARTY STATUS - Kellan has taken 6 points of damage.  Kerr has taken 10 points of damage.  Cato has taken 10 points of damage.  Pisca has taken 9 points of damage.  Liseth has taken 5 points of damage.  All party members may now take combat actions.

---

---

Cato waited, almost giddy with excitement.  He had to stop himself from shouting out.  "Pisca, what's in there?  Any evidence where the undead Hellknight came from?"

To himself, Cato continued his litany of worries.  And are there more of them?  More living ones?  Did they find anything concrete about my whereabouts?

Stopping to consider, he added to Liseth: "Do you have any healing energy left?  If there are more enemies, we might not want to face them injured."

In reply to Cato Crispin (msg # 542):

"I think I can muster something up if we need it..." Liseth answered while simultaneously concerned over what Pisca would reveal behind that door and anxious about navigating around that churning pit of ocean water.  On a slippery ledge.  "Sarenrae knows the evil we face.  The undead are Her enemies; She won't let us down when we need Her the most."  It was a comforting reminder.

"Cato...you said that you could make Kellan fly?"  Liseth still eyed the churning ocean water with concern; she couldn't swim and could barely even walk properly.  But to fly... "How long can a person fly when you use your magic?  I mean, some other time...you should probably save your magic in case you have to summon another magic badger."

OOC

Remaining abilities:
Level 1 Spells 0/8
Level 2 Spells 1/5 <-- CMW, Enthrall, Calm Emotions, or Lesser Restoration
Channel energy 0/6
Energy Body 1/5 Rounds

I've been trying to save my last Level 2 Spell in case something happens that requires lesser restoration to fix, but we might need CMW.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:25, Thu 23 Feb 2017.

"It is so ucky smelly here."

*keh*keh*  Pisca coughed and gagged on the stench.  She drew back for a breath of somewhat fresher air, and then took that opportunity to outline the plan that would guide the next few moments.  "All I see is a hallway, so I'm going to open the door all the way up.  Hopefully, that clears some of that awful stink too.  I'll bring the light in closer, then I'm going in."

"Play me out more rope when I tug, Stomper," the gnome added as she beckoned the dancing gnome-shaped light in closer.  "I'm gonna creep up to the bend in the hallway.  We'll see what happens from there."

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 19.  Stealth -2 from Sickened.
Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 31.  Perception -2 from Sickened.

Position: F7
DL Position: I9

Active Effects: Message on all 50m, Dancing Lights 1m, Sickened

Expended
L1 - 1/5
L2 - 2/3

HP: 24/33

AL: 6/9

"Pisca, wait!"  Liseth called out through the whisper magic while, "Don't go by yourself.  We need to go in there together.  It's too dangerous."

She looked down at the churning ocean waters again, then to the ledge that led around it.  "Kellan, you have another rope...we can help you across like you did with Pisca, then we'll keep going along like that..."

"Come on,"  the girl was ready for this to be over, but was certain she wouldn't like what they found through that door. "We're almost done."

"Huh?  What?"  The gnome appeared in the doorway again, her face turned up at the ledge across the Swirling Sucking Pit of Gnome Eating Sharks.  "Um ... alright.  But ... I hope you're ready for this.  It's just so yucky smelly."

Position: F7
DL Position: I9

Active Effects: Message on all 50m, Dancing Lights 1m, Sickened

Expended
L1 - 1/5
L2 - 2/3

HP: 24/33

AL: 6/9

---

---

Pisca, Kerr whispered through their link, backing up Liseth.  Don't!  He grabbed the rope and gave it a firm tug.  We need to get down there with you, to deal with whatever's in there together.  He paused, looking around at the others.  We're going to try and climb down the ledge, slow and easy like.  Maybe backwards on our stomachs.

Still holding the rope to keep the intrepid gnome from continuing deeper through the door, Kerr gingerly tested the ledge's slick surface.  "Who should go first?"  He asked doubtfully.

---

---

The rope that went down from the young paladin's hand and fetched up at the top of the gaping doorway went suddenly taut.  Hopefully, somewhere at the other end was a gnome.  But, for a few short breaths of the fetid air of the caverns below the cursed mansion, the dark and the danger bred its doubt.

"Alright."  The rope gained its slack again, and Pisca appeared once again upon the ledge outside the doorway.  "I'll lock this door again," she added, even as she pushed said door shut.  "That way nothing will be able to come out and attack us while you climb down."

"Unless of course ... " the key went into the lock and turned smoothly, sealing things safely away.  "Unless it's got a key of its own."

Position: F7
DL Position: I9

Active Effects: Message on all 50m, Dancing Lights 1m, Sickened

Expended
L1 - 1/5
L2 - 2/3

HP: 24/33

AL: 6/9

Cato looked around at the group.  "Kellan should probably go last.  He can anchor the rope while we climb down.  Maybe you, Kerr?  It would be good to have someone down there with some armor in case everything goes wrong.  And I can do some to support you all from up here if the worst happens.  So maybe Kerr, then Liseth, then me, and finally Kellan?"

"Sure, sounds good" Kellan agreed as he anchored himself more firmly

When the others had gone (and assuming that they were not interupted), he shrugged off his pack and lashed his pole axe to it, much in the manner that he had done with the decorative one they had found in the ruins weeks prior.

Kellan had not spent a lot of time around ropes, but they did use them in the guard, mostly for scrambling up and down the rocky sea cliffs in the vicinity of Sandpoint to check for signs of goblin infestation and the occasional stranded sailor or smuggler.

With a few loops to make a make shift harness, he leaned back and slowly let the rope slip through his gloved hands, walking backwards down the slope until he landed with a thud on the little ledge and untangled himself.

---

---

"Ready."  Kerr gave Kellan a thumbs up.  A rope secured his unarmored waist.  His breastplate lay next to Kellan, the idea being that they would slide it down the rope and over the chasm once the paladin joined Pisca at the door.

The process was surprisingly easy.  Kerr slowly crawled down the slick ledge backwards, with the rope providing him some measure of security about falling.  Before he knew it, he was at the door, greeting Pisca with a smile.  He secured the rope near the wall and the breastplate slid to meet him without any complications.  The plan was going perfectly.

Until it wasn't.

Cato started backing down the ledge in the same manner as Kerr.  But 15 feet from his destination, he lost traction and began sliding down the ledge, rope pulling him toward the edge.  He managed to catch himself after only five feet, but when he tried to resume his controlled descent he started sliding again, overbalanced, and pitched over the edge towards the maelstrom's waiting maw.

Fortunately Kellan was more than up to the task of holding Cato's weight, especially braced as he was.  But that didn't let the scholar completely off the hook . . . he fell across the 20-foot opening and slammed into the wall at the other side.  Wind knocked out of him, Cato heaved in one way as Kellan heaved another, pulling the former Hellknight back up to where he had begun the whole process.

At that point Kellan decided to let Cato catch his breath and let Liseth down the slick ledge.  She almost made it.  But when she reached the exact same point where Cato had slipped, she too lost her traction and began sliding, rope pulling her off of the ledge and into an unwanted impact with the unforgiving wall across the chasm.  Again, Kellan pulled her up and she collapsed at the top of the ledge, fully aware of how easy it would have been for her to instead be struggling in the crashing waters below.

The second time was a charm, though, as both Cato and Liseth made it down to the door area without further incident.  Kellan then let himself down, making the trip look like not much of an effort even despite his heavy armor.

Now the group, a little worse for wear, was ready to encounter whatever lurked beyond the locked stone door.

   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  | xxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxx--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  x  |  |  xxx|Rl|ll|ll|ll|ll|  xxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--+D-+--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  xxxxxPDKl|Ll|oo|oo|oo|ll|ll|  xxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  xxxxx |Cl|oo|oo|oo|oo|oo|ll|  |xxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+xxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  xxxxll|ll|oo|oo|oo|oo|oo|ll|  | xxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  xxx|ll|oo|oo|oo|oo|oo|ll|  |  | xxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+xxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  |  xxxx  |ll|oo|oo|lt|ll|  |  |  |xxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  xxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |DL|ll|lb|  |  |  |  |  xxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxxxxxxx+--xxxxx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  xxx|  |  |  xxxxxx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | xxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xx-+--+--+--xxxxxxxx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+xxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  x  |  |  |  |xxxxxxxx|  |  |  |  |  |  xxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xx-+--+--+--+xxxxxxxxx--+xxxxxxxxxxx+xxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  xx |  |  | xxxxxxxxxx|  |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxx+--+--+xxxxxxxxxxx+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  xxxx  |  xxxxxxxxxxx |  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxx--+--xxxxxxxxxx--+-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  xxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxx--+--+--xxxxxxx--+xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+
19|  xxx|  |  xxxxxxxxxxx |  xx |  |xxx  |  |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx |
  +--xx-+--+-xxxxxxxxxxxxxx--x--xxx+--x--+--+--+-xxxxxxxxxxxxx+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+
20|  xxx|  |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  xxxx  |  |  |  x  |  xx |  |  |  |  |  |  |xxxx |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--xxxxx-+--+--xxx+--+--xxxxxxx--+-xxx-+
21|  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  xxxxxxx  xxx|  |  xxxxxxxx |  xx |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+-xxxxx--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+x-+
22|  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  xxx|  |  xx |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--xx-+
23|  xxxxxxxxxxWW| xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxssxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |x |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxx+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxssxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+ss+--+x-+
24|  xxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |xxxssxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|  |  |  ssss  xx |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+--+--+--+--+--xSDxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+-xx--+--+ss+--xx-+
25|  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  xxxxxxxxxx  |  |xxx  |  |  |  |x |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxxx+--xxxxxxxxx+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+
26|  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  xxxxxxx  |  |  |  | xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx |
  +--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+

WW = Well               gg = Grease
DL = Dancing Lights     SD = Secret Door
oo = ocean water        ll = ledge
lt = ledge top (room level)
lb = ledge bottom (water level)
UC = Undead Cleric
dd = Area of magical darkness

OOC:

21:38, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Liseth Thoradin, rolled 20 using 1d20+2.  DC 5 Climb Check.
21:37, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Cato Crispin, rolled 14 using 1d20+2.  DC 5 Climb Check.
21:37, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 4 using 1d20+2.  DC 10 Climb Check to assist Cato.
21:37, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 22 using 1d20+2.  DC 10 Climb Check to assist Liseth.
21:36, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 18 using 1d20+5.  DC 10 Climb Check to assist Cato.
21:36, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 14 using 1d20+5.  DC 10 Climb check to assist Liseth.
21:35, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Cato Crispin, rolled 4 using 2d6.  Falling Damage.
21:35, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Liseth Thoradin, rolled 9 using 2d6.  Falling Damage.
21:34, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Liseth Thoradin, rolled 7 using 1d8.  Point along climb where fall happened.
21:33, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Cato Crispin, rolled 7 using 1d8.  Point along climb where first fall happened.
21:31, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Cato Crispin, rolled 12 using 1d20.  DC 15 Climb Check to catch self while falling.
21:31, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Cato Crispin, rolled 2 using 1d20.  DC 5 Climb Check to complete travel to door.
21:31, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Cato Crispin, rolled 19 using 1d20.  DC 15 Climb Check to catch self while falling.
21:30, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Liseth Thoradin, rolled 4 using 1d20-2.  DC 15 Climb Check to catch self while falling.
21:23, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Cato Crispin, rolled 1 using 1d20.  DC 5 Climb Check.
21:22, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Liseth Thoradin, rolled 1 using 1d20.  DC 5 Climb Check.
21:22, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 3 using 1d20+2.  Assist Cato with Climb Check.
21:22, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 13 using 1d20+2.  Assist Liseth with Climb Check.
21:21, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kerr Mollin, rolled 24 using 1d20+4.  DC 5 Climb Check.
21:20, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 6 using 1d20+5.  Assist Cato with Climb Check.
21:20, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 7 using 1d20+5.  Assist Liseth with Climb Check.
21:20, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 20 using 1d20+5.  Assist Kerr with Climb Check.

PARTY STATUS - Kellan has taken 6 points of damage.  Kerr has taken 10 points of damage.  Cato has taken 14 points of damage.  Pisca has taken 9 points of damage.  Liseth has taken 14 points of damage.

---

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 06:55, Wed 08 Mar 2017.

"Are you alright?" asked Pisca of the collective *You* that made up her human friends.  "You know, if this is bad, we won't be able to escape, right?"  It was something that everyone had to be aware of.  But it was also something that quite equally had to be said as well.

"Alright.  It's pretty dark in there.  I don't think there will be any sneaking in."  She turned the key in the lock once again, unlocking the door.  Then the gnome conjured another gnome-shaped light and sent it on ahead as she swung the door open.

"Lets go."

Position: D6
DL Position: B6

Active Effects: Message on all 50m, Dancing Lights 1m, Sickened

Expended
L1 - 1/5
L2 - 2/3

HP: 24/33

AL: 6/9

Cato held his breath for a moment, feeling the bruises the nasty climb-fall down had left him with.  Finally, having caught his breath, he shuffled a step towards Kellan.  "I don't have much magic left, but this might help you if there's combat.  If there's not..."  The wizard shrugged.  "Well, it'll last a few minutes, in any case."  The wizard pulled out what appeared to be a dried piece of dung from his spell component pouch and whispered: "[Language unknown: Eveblebut Ngfoilti]"

Cast Bull's Strength on Kellan.
+4 Strength for 5 minutes

Kellan quickly coiled up the rope and helped to put it away before he took up his trusty pole-axe and prepared to shadow Pisca into the tunnels beyond.

He was caught somewhat off guard by Cato's assistance, and felt an incredible strength infuse his body, starting in his core and seeming to spread like a full cramp to his limbs.

"I'm never gonna get used to that" he smiled to Cato "Feel like I could snap this haft like a like an old fishing pole...Thank you" he dipped his head to his friend in gratitude before he turned and pressed forward behind Pisca.

Her qualms about traversing the slippery chasm over the churning ocean proved prophetic as Liseth quickly found herself plunging towards the water.  The ocean looked just as angry and deranged as everything else in this place had been; ready to swallow her up.  Until the safety rope went taut and smashed the girl into the rock wall instead of the angry ocean waters.

"I don't want to do that again..."  Hauled up like a fish and laid on the almost safe floor, Liseth gratefully removed the rope from around her body.  "Ow."  Not only had she smashed into the wall, but the rope had dug in to bruise her when she was caught in the fall.  "Thank you Kellan."

Standing, Liseth was acutely aware that she hadn't enough energy to do much other than rub some life into her bruises in the mundane fashion.  But that thought reminded her of the indispensable tool she had been given all that time ago; before they went to Thistletop.  The acolyte dug into her knapsack and retrieved her wand of healing, sure it still held enough energy to be of help.

The tip of the wand glowed surely enough.  The first thing she did was touch it to the worst of her bruises, before turning the wand on Cato to do the same.  "Okay...I'm ready.  Let's go."

Use Wand of Curing on self: Heal for 4
Use Wand of Curing on Cato: Heal for 5

23:49, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 5 using 1d8+2.  Wand of Cure - Cato.
23:49, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 4 using 1d8+2.  Wand of Cure - Liseth.

OOC: I almost forgot my wand!  It has only 2 charges remaining though.

---

---

Now the rest of the party had an opportunity to experience the cave’s awful smell.  None of them had ever experienced anything that bad; the very air made each one want to choke, or heave, or at least cover their face with some sort of fabric.

As they reluctantly moved into a larger chamber, taking shallow breaths, they saw a rickety table at the end, its damp surface cluttered with all manner of what appeared to be garbage:  empty bottles, bits of clothing, crumpled bits of paper, and more, lying in neatly-organized rows.  A painting leaned against its far side, facing the large leather chair sitting nearby.  The chair’s high back and cushions were horribly stained by smears of rotten meat, and its arms were sticky with blood.

A smaller table sat against the southern wall, its surface heaped with plates and platters of rotten, maggot-infested meat.  The horrific stench of the room seemed strongest to the west, where the cave’s wall was overtaken by a horrific growth of dark-green mold and dripping fungi.  At the center of the mold, a patch of black tumescent fungus grew, its horny ridges and tumorlike bulbs forming what could almost be a humanoid outline.  What appeared to have once been an exquisite puzzle box the size of a man’s fist lay smashed on the ground at the fungoid shape’s feet.

In the chair sat what was unmistakably Aldern Foxglove.  Or had been Aldern Foxglove.  He had obviously fallen into ruin, consumed by the same contagion afflicting the other ghouls encountered by the party.  His hair had fallen out, his teeth sharpened into fangs, his tongue raspy and snakelike.  His hands were claws; scars and other wounds marked his desiccated brown flesh.

Yet Aldern still sported the attire of the nobleman they’d known.  He wore a fine azure dinner jacket, worked with gold trim, over a tan vest and slacks.  The chain from his watch was still visible near his waist, and a horribly-stained white undershirt peeked out near his neck.  His dirty white socks and fine brown shoes finished the look; an awful monstrosity dressed to the nines.

When Pisca first entered the cave, he looked at her with wild, feverish, hungry eyes before grabbing a dagger from before him and plunging it into his left hand, pinning it to the table.  As soon as this was accomplished, his mad gaze cleared and he spoke in the voice everyone remembered from better times long ago, in the Tickwood Forest or the Rusty Dragon, only slightly garbled by his now-reptilian tongue.

“Stop there.”  He held up his right hand, forbidding Pisca to come closer.  “If I am threatened he will come, and I would not wish him upon you before I have spoken.”

“You’re finally here,” Aldern continued, seemingly oblivious to the dagger fixing his hand to the table.  “I was hoping you would make it.  I would have gone to meet you,” he smiled sadly, “but I fear I would have been much worse company than even I am now.  This seems to be the only place where I can be myself again, and even then for shorter intervals.  I feared there would be nothing left of me by the time you arrived.  Nothing left to remember.”  He paused, a tear rolling down his scarred cheek, a catch in his breath.  “What a horror I have become.”

“I’ve written down what I could, of what has happened,” he gestured to the parchments on his desk.  “Read these, after I have gone.”  He took a deep breath.  “You must kill me, you know.  He won’t make it easy on you.  But once he comes you may be able to beat him out of me again.  Injury seems to be the only way to make him leave.”  Lord Foxglove tapped the impaling dagger with his free hand.

“He is gone now, but will be back soon.  We have not much time.  Ask me whatever you wish, but be certain what you seek is what you truly wish to know.  He shall return before much longer.”

   z  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  xxxxx-+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 xxxx P|C |L |  |  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  | xxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  xxx+--+--+--+xxx--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 xx |  |K |R xxxx  |  |  xxx| l|ll|ll|ll|ll|  xxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  xx-+--+--+xxxxxxxxxxxx--+D-+--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 xx |  |  xxxxxxxxxxxxxx D l| l|oo|oo|oo|ll|ll|  xxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  xxx+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 xxxxAF|  xxxxxxxxxxxxxx | l|oo|oo|oo|oo|oo|ll|  |xxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+xxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxll|ll|oo|oo|oo|oo|oo|ll|  | xxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|ll|oo|oo|oo|oo|oo|ll|  |  | xxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+xxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |ll|oo|oo|lt|ll|  |  |  |xxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |DL|ll|lb|  |  |  |  |  xxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx+--xxxxx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14xxxxxxxxx|  |  |  xxxxxx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | xxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  xxxxxxxx-+--+--+--xxxxxxxx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+xxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15xxxxxxx  |  |  |  |xxxxxxxx|  |  |  |  |  |  xxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  xxxxxxxx-+--+--+--+xxxxxxxxx--+xxxxxxxxxxx+xxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16xxxxxxxx |  |  | xxxxxxxxxx|  |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  xxxxxxxxx+--+--+xxxxxxxxxxx+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17xxxxxxxxxx  |  xxxxxxxxxxx |  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  xxxxxxxxxx--+--xxxxxxxxxx--+-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18| xxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +-xxxxxxxx--+--+--xxxxxxx--+xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+
19| xxxxxxx|  |  xxxxxxxxxxx |  xx |  |xxx  |  |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx |
  +-xxxxxx-+--+-xxxxxxxxxxxxxx--x--xxx+--x--+--+--+-xxxxxxxxxxxxx+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+
20| xxxxxxx|  |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  xxxx  |  |  |  x  |  xx |  |  |  |  |  |  |xxxx |
  +-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--xxxxx-+--+--xxx+--+--xxxxxxx--+-xxx-+
21| xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  xxxxxxx  xxx|  |  xxxxxxxx |  xx |
  +-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+-xxxxx--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+x-+
22|  |  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  xxx|  |  xx |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--xx-+
23|  |  xxxxxxxxxxWW| xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxssxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |x |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxx+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxssxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+ss+--+x-+
24|  |  xxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |xxxssxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|  |  |  ssss  xx |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+--+--+--+--+--xSDxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+-xx--+--+ss+--xx-+
25|  |  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  xxxxxxxxxx  |  |xxx  |  |  |  |x |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxxx+--xxxxxxxxx+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+
26|  |  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  |  |  |  |  xxxxxxx  |  |  |  | xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+

WW = Well               gg = Grease
DL = Dancing Lights     SD = Secret Door
oo = ocean water        ll = ledge
lt = ledge top (room level)
lb = ledge bottom (water level)
UC = Undead Cleric
dd = Area of magical darkness

OOC:

PARTY STATUS - Kellan has taken 6 points of damage.  Kerr has taken 10 points of damage.  Cato has taken 9 points of damage.  Pisca has taken 9 points of damage.  Liseth has taken 10 points of damage.

---

---