The day dawned grey and overcast with the promise of rain later in the day. Bulldust was the only one of the group who saw that dawn, though, as he had kept watch throughout the dark hours up on top of the roof of the  abandoned temple surrounded by its graveyard in the ruined city of Gorna. But even Bulldust was asleep, still up on the roof, 4 hours later when all of them were suddenly woken from their sleep by a blood-curdling scream just outside the eastern wing of the temple.

OOC: It is now about 11am and everyone has had a full sleep and is fully healed. Dregz, Raven and Riza slept in the right hand alcove and the strength damage inflicted by the snake bites was completely healed by the special properties of that part of the temple, just as Slipsnotz had said it would. Everyone else (except Bulldust) had slept in the main southern arm of the temple where the pews provided the most comfortable resting places. Everyone has just been woken by the scream so spellcasters have not had an opportunity to prepare new spells for the new day yet. The scream came from outside the big, high, stained glass window in the eastern wall of the eastern (right hand) wing of the temple. That window is 6 feet above the floor and 2 feet above the side altar in that right hand wing. There are similar windows in the northern and western wings (the western one has been the group's only safe access into the temple via a ladder from the gravestones outside). There are big double doors at the southern end of the temple and small side doors in the northern walls of the east and west wings. The big southern doors are closed but unlocked. The two small doors are locked but the keys for each one still hang on hooks (5 feet above the floor) beside those two doors.

OOC see msg #411 of the day 4 thread for the original description of the temple. I have edited the description above regarding height of windows above the floor to 6 feet, not 10. Note that all windows have been smashed long before the group arrived.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:38, Wed 25 Nov 2015.

Grumpy at having been woken, Jurz gets up and ambles atross to a window to see what is happening.

Show casing his cat like reflexes Minmorc will leap to his feet, stumble slightly and grab Vera. Without even thinking about it Minmorc will grumble under his breathe and grow from two meters to three. Waving his spear he'll bellow in his best New Yorker "Hey, I'm SLEEPIN here!"

OOC: no they don't. Jurz is not tall enough to see out the windows unless he climbs up on the side altar beneath the window. Minmorc had cast Enlarge Person the previous day so has not had a chance to prepare that spell again today yet.

When he realises the window is too high to for him to see out, Jurz grumbles and clambers up onto the side alter to see better.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:30, Wed 25 Nov 2015.

The pearl of power in the back of Minmorcs gauntlet glows and allows him to recast the previously cast spell.

Having spent the night dreaming of horrible undead, Dregz awakens to join in the screaming.  The little goblin is unaware as yet that thanks to the magic of the temple he's been able to throw off the effects of the Drow's poison, but immediately grab his sack containing the Holy Book, finding much comfort in its familiar weight.

"Someones been grabbed by der ghouls !" the priest seems alarmed by the prospect, hurrying over to the altar which Jurz climbed up on. "Can you see dem ?  Are dey dead yet ?"

Bulldust wakes with a start and looks around.  He sheepishly steals across the roof to the eastern wing.  He should have seen this coming.  At least everyone else was asleep too, so no one saw him sleeping on watch.  He peers down from the roof.

Jurz and giant Minmorc can see out the eastern window, which is broken. Bulldust quickly clambers across the roof to stare down into the graveyard on that side too.

Minmorc will point out the window and laugh. "Hur, hur, hur, some fella tried to get in ere and der Ghouls is eatin im.So we gonna fight der ghoulies or jus wait til dey finished deer snack ter see wots wot?

In reply to Minmorc (msg # 10):

Arlein is annoyed, and solves her annoyance by glaring at the pair of goblins scrabling around the altar.

Moffdust climbs up on the alter with the other goblins and gawks out the window too.

Oooo, look at all those ghoulies.  The young bugbear is torn.  He readies a javelin, itching to throw, but stops to consider what could happen after ...

He's pretty sure everyone would be cross.  They usually are whenever he does anything.  If he throws a javelin then they'd have to kill all the ghoulies.  But the ghoulies protect the hideout.  Yesterday Dregzie said our ghoulies would even attack ogres if we were being chased by them.  And the noise of a fight may attract attention from passers-by who are not supposed to know we are hiding in here, cos its a secret hideout.  But if he hid after throwing the javelin then people would only see ghoulies climbing all over the temple and the passers-by would remember this building has a bad reputation and keep out.  But the ghoulies could get in, and Moffa could get bitten.  Moffa could turn into a ghoulie!  What if they heard Minmorc shouting about sleeping?  Then they'd want to go in and bite Moffa ... and Minmorc ... and if Minmorc turned into a ghoulie then everyone would die - even the queen - even old Iuz.

He holds the throw and watches the doom of the world unfold below.

In reply to Bulldust (msg # 13):

Oopses sleeps through the racket. It's just far enough away it hasn't woken him.

Rolled a -6 listen check.

Moffdust peers out the window wondering "Who woulds go creeping arounds de graveyards in broad daylights?"

Riza wakes with a start at the screams, she readies her spear but waits until the others decide wether to help the person being attacked or not.

"'e was probably tryin' ta steal our stuff !"  Dregz sounds affronted by what he hears. "Dat's why der ghouls're eatin' 'im."

"Dat'll teach 'im !"

"Dat was a good trick dough" Jurz nods in appreciation as he watches the intruder get eaten by their  outer defences.  "He's magicked himself from out dere by we walls to right dere by the window.  Juz like dat"" he adds as he describes the way the intruder disappeared and reappeared much closer to the church.  "Maybe's he was trying to magic-jump dose goulies right in  here wiv us?" he suggests, staying with the theme of intruder as thief and attacker.

There are now a total of 12 ghouls around the body of the intruder and they have dragged him 5 feet away from the wall as they fight to all get at the body. Nobody recognised him before and now recognition of the corpse would be impossible. The ghouls are currently ignoring everyone in the temple as though they can't see them at all, despite being only 5 to 10 feet away from some of you through the broken window. The corpse has literally been torn to pieces and plucked out of the various components of the dark, studded leather armour he was wearing. His shortsword and 3 daggers have been discarded and one of the ghouls has dumped all the contents of the victim's backpack in a heap 10 feet south of the body. That ghoul is busy devouring the foodstuff it found among the contents of that pack.

"I reckon we let em finish der grub den grab his stuff. I'm gonna go and have a word wid Twofer after der suns gone down and I done my prayer sesh, but I bin thinkin. If we gunna stay ere I'm gunna make myself a good place ter sleep, put up some walls an mebbe even get a bed."

"Eeeuwwwww!" Moffdust watches fascinated as the victim is devoured. She casts Detect Magic  as she watches. "Lets us sees if es got any magics wes can shares."

Riza says nothing from her corner, stowing her spear and leaning against the wall in the corner

"Stays here?  In der city?" Jurz sighs.  "We's just run away from  one bit of de wars and now youse wanna stays here and be parts of der next bit?" he questions.

"Dere's trees and lakes an bogs, an woods and all der paces a gobbo shoulds be out dere and yous wanna stays in der city." the druid sighs again.  "Ohh!  Look at dat! he says pointing as he sees one of the ghouls pulling a bit of the body in half.

"Der Queen won't let us go till she's sure der killin's stopped," Dregz mutters disgustedly.  "Soon as dat happens, I'm wiv Jurz - we gotta get outta here !"

Bulldust puts the javelin away and quietly crosses the roof to the trapdoor.  He comes down from the roof looking dejected.  "Yep, me too.  I wanna go back in da woods and hunt elfs.  In da city yer jus cant kill anyfing wivout someone sayin yer shouldnt a killed dem cos dey was part ov somefink else.  In da woods no one cares about stuff like dat, yer can jus kill fings.  No one cares about elfs."  He curls up in the charcoal pit to sleep while they wait for sunset and selling the loot.

It looks like it the ghouls will be enjoying their feast for at least half an hour, right down to cracking the bones and sucking out the marrow. They show no signs of interest in the victim's equipment and will probably just leave that. Eventually they will probably disperse back among the gravestones but there is obviously plenty of time for anyone to make any special preparations before then if they want to. Moffdust and Jurz are up on the side altar looking out the window. Moffdust speaks the words of a brief incantation which is loud enough for friends nearby to hear but the ghouls outside show no sign of having heard anything from inside the temple.

In reply to Wyrm of wyrd

"Hmmm. Magic leadder armours. Magic short swordses. Four potionses." Moffdust points at things outside the window. "Deres even anuvver magic rods for Dregsie. He gots prezzies fer all ov us. Bully was dere a sleighs on de roofs?"

She wants to levitate the items in through the window with Mage Hand but it doesn't work on magical things. Instead she casts Grease on the grass around the corpse and holds her hand over her mouth to stop the giggles as she watches the ghouls falling over in the guts. "Its Dizzeys on Ices." she whispers.

"Annudder one ?" Dregz isn't at all sure about Moffa's discovery of the second rod, as he remains entirely uncertain as to the function of the first, though the little goblin priest has at least managed to determine that is is Bargrivyek that the tribe possess such a thing, and if one is good then two is ...

"We must 'ave it, cos we deserves it," he avows.  "Ice ghouls don't."

Minmorc doesn't know much, but he did spend a lot of his life hunting and fishing. While the Ghouls finish their snack Minmorc will grab one of the curtains from the Drow temple. He'll then get two of his fifty foot hanks of rope and will tie each end of each rope to a corner. "I reckon we throw dis out next ter der stuff, den we poke der stuff on it wid spears, den we pulls it in. Yer reckon it'll work? I ain't never fished fer bottles before. An Riza, can yer fix up dese knots fer me, der sheep bend looks more like a bent sheep."

In reply to Minmorc (msg # 30):

Rubbing his eyes, "Whatz for duskfast"

Jurz eyes up the distance from the Ghouls feast to the side of the church.  Then he looks at Minmorc's rope and then glances across at Slipnotz with a strange glint in his eye, just as Oopses wakes up asks what there is to eat.  "Mays bes wes could tie Oopses to der rope and dangles him from de top of de church?  Den hes could pick up all de stuffs for us." he offers, changing the target of his suggestion at the last moment.  Oopses had woken up at just the wrong time.  Ooops.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:58, Sun 29 Nov 2015.

In reply to Jurz (msg # 32):

"Ropez doun tazt berry..yawn.. good."

Bulldust goes back on the roof to check for sleighs.  He pokes his head down through the manhole to say there weren't any but stops to listen to Minmorc and Jurz suggestions.  "OK, send im up wiv da ropes."

Minmorc smirks as the others decide to go fly fishing and continues to work on his curtain net.

The ghouls finally wander away to rest in shady corners of the graveyard or behind headstones. Bulldust is able to watch them go from his position on the roof and delights in telling everyone below where they are.

Finally Bulldust and Oopses are ready up on the roof with one of Minmorc's lengths of rope. The rope is securely tied around Oopses' middle and Bulldust lowers him down past the window where Jurz, Moffdust and just about everyone else watches. Oopses has not yet reached the ground and none of the ghouls have spotted him yet because they are resting after a big feast. Now Oopses needs to make a decision. He can be lowered straight down to grab the foot-long black rod (item 1 on the main game map) or swing himself 5 feet out from the wall to grab the studded leather armour (item 2) or shortsword (item 3) or swing 10 feet along the wall to reach the 4 potion flasks. (For each item roll a DC10 touch attack to pick it up. Also roll a Move Silently skill check each time as well, except for the black rod which doesn’t require swinging on the rope.)

Minmorc is also ready with his curtain-net and greatspear, so he can launch that out the window whenever he wants to.

Everyone else can decide where they want to be at the start of this activity. Two goblins (Jurz and Moffa) are on the side altar looking out that big broken window, so there is room for one medium or 2 small characters to squeeze up there as well, plus Arlein the cat can always squeeze in anywhere.

OOC: Main Game Map updated. My earlier descriptions in this thread assumed the temple was oriented north-south but when I was finally able to check the map it turns out the temple is oriented east-west, so this activity is happening outside the southern wing of the temple, not the eastern wing.

In reply to Wyrm of Wyrd (msg # 36):

Round 1 DA CLAWWW
Today: Oopses rolled 19,14 using 1d20,1d20+1.  Item 3, Move Silent, Touchy.

Round 2 DA CLAWWW
Today: Oopses rolled 8,19 using 1d20,1d20+1.  Item 2 Move Silent, Touchy.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Move Silent failure? 80%+
00:10, Today: Oopses rolled 57 using 1d100.  Knicked himself check.
00:11, Today: Oopses rolled 19 using 1d100.  Ran into grave stone.
00:11, Today: Oopses rolled 57 using 1d100.  Rope burn.
00:11, Today: Oopses rolled 45 using 1d100.  Bulldust Yanking the rope around.

Today: Oopses rolled 100 using 1d100.  Grasshopper on face.</b>

Jurz chuckles as Oopses is lowered past the window on  a rope, then nudges Moffa and points him out - just in case she hasn't seen him yet.  There is a big grin when the swinging goblin grabs the first item, but he tenses and draws a deep breath as the grasshopper jumps right onto his face ...
This message was last edited by the player at 08:08, Sat 05 Dec 2015.

Minmorc will lift Moffdust away from the window and will step into her place. He will leave the makeshift net on the alter next to him, I'll brace his spear against inevitable Ghoul charge and will reach out with his other hand to grab any items Oopses wants to hand in. He will also start muttering under his breath, he is very focused and that focus seems to radiate outward.

Jurz  grumbles as Moffa is moved, but takes the opportunity to brace himself against the larger form of Minmorc as he leans forward.  Then he casts a spell.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:06, Sat 05 Dec 2015.

D'oh! A 45!  Bulldust bites his lip in concentration and stops jerking Oopses around like a cat toy.

Dregz can't see much, but can't help noticing when Ooopses comes into view, dangling on a rope.  "Dat's Oopses !" he points out in surprise and excitement.  "What's he doing out der ?"

Minmorc's casual drag and drop of Moffa causes the little goblin priest to narrow his eyes and glare at the big orc's back.  "Youse OK ?" he asks his kinswoman, brow raised.

Riza waits quietly, with everyone blocking the window there isn't much she can do. She has her bow ready just in case though.

On his first attempt Oopses quietly swings out from the temple wall and grabs the shortsword lying on the ground beside the remains of the corpse.

Minmorc lifts Moffa down from the side altar and climbs up there instead. Dregz exclaims out loud as he sees Oopses swing past the window.

Unnoticed by all but Slipsnotz, Riza takes down the key from its hook beside the eastern door in the south wing of the temple, unlocks and opens the door.

Raven takes her crossbow and climbs up the ladder to the manhole in the roof.

Oopses swings out from the temple wall again and grabs the victim's studded leather armour as well, but a big grasshopper leaps from the armour to land on the goblin's face and he lets out a startled squeal.

Minmorc mutters a prayer and all his companions suddenly feel braver and more confident (Bless spell = +1 on attack rolls and saves vs fear).  He readies his greatspear at the window.

Jurz looks worried as Oopses reacts to the grasshopper on his face, then Jurz mutters the words of a prayer as well. Out in the graveyard a great patch of grass and weeds starts writhing about, entangling three of the ghouls resting in shadowy corners. The area of entangling weeds blocks off the southwest part of the graveyard so the ghouls should not be able to approach the southern wing from that direction.

Just as Jurz prays the grass and weeds into action Riza is sneaking beneath the southern window, outside with Oopses. She steps past the foot-long black rod and is just bending down to pick up the 4 potion vials when the grass and weeds come to life 5 feet away from her and the 3 entangled ghouls start yelling in anger as they struggle against the entangling vegetation. The other 9 ghouls all leap up as soon as they hear the noise and start toward the disturbance. Four are approaching from the west and will be blocked by the entanglement but the other five are approaching from the east.

Raven has almost reached Bulldust up on the roof and Slipsnotz is peeking out the eastern door where Riza had gone out into the graveyard.

OOC: Main Game Map updated.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:55, Thu 10 Dec 2015.

"Allo Riza, wotcha doin out der? Ders a bunch a nasty ghasties a comin an dey looks mad. Oi, Ghasties, sod off!" Minmorc will lean out the window and give the ghouls the finger, spear ready against the charge.

Jurz grins and casts another spell.

"Oo Oo!  Da goolies are comin!"  Bulldust is very excited now.  He lets go of the rope and readies a javelin to throw at any ghoul that comes close to the treasure still scattered on the grass.

"I am not a goolie!" Raven squawks at Bully.

But she takes her frustration out on the closest ghoul g3 by shooting it with her crossbow.

OOC:
Raven rolled 21 using 1d20+6.  Shoot crossbow at g3.
Raven rolled 1 using 1d8.  Damage on g3.

Having collected the potions Riza hooks back around the corner and through the door being held open by slipnnotz at surprising speed. With ghouls on the way she'll get inside and lock the door. Once the door is secure she'll race up to the roof so she can assist if possible

Bulldust throws his javelin over the wall into the neighbour's yard.  <rolled a 1>

Moffdust gasps when Bully drops Oopses. "Dats not sposed ter happens." She moves quickly to the door that Riza came in through and holds it open after Riza comes through and calls outside. "Dis ways Oopses, quickses!" She will bolt the door after Oopses.

Minmorc will now offer his hand to hoist Oopses through the window, roaring with laughter at the groups antics. "Oi, Ghasties, comeer so eyes can hit yer in der Goolies!"

Dregz follows Moffa, hastily but reverently unwrapping his Holy Book, ready to call on Bargrivyek's power to command the Ghoulies to cease and desist, should they be in pursuit of poor Oopses.

"Hurry !" he urges his kinsman, peeking out the door.

Oopses has scooped up the victim's shortsword and shudded leather armour and Riza grabs the 4 potion vials dumped out of the victim's backpack. When the ghouls start to rush in Riza beats a hasty retreat back into the temple through the northern door with Slipsnotz and Moffdust helping him back inside and guarding the door.

Raven sticks the closest ghoul (g3) with a crossbow bolt but the shot doesn't slow the ghoul at all. Bulldust is overexcited at the chance to finally use his javelin. He lets go of the rope, dropping Oopses on the ground. Bully hurls the javelin much too far. It misses everything and disappears over the boundary wall of the graveyard.

Minmorc reaches out the window for Oopses to grab his hand but the little goblin is too scared to act, so Minmorc grabs him by the hair and hauls him straight in through the broken window wailing in pain and fear.

Minmorc braces his greatspear out the window and the leading ghoul (g3) rushes straight toward it, impaling itself on the greatspear. The ghoul thrashes once then collapses lifelessly to the ground.

Another ghoul (g2) rushes in right behind it and attempts to grab the greatspear sticking out of the window but Minmorc easily pulls the greatspear out of the ghoul's reach.

Two other ghouls veer after Riza and arrive at the door moments after Slipsnotz and Moffdust slam it shut and turn the key to relock the door.

A fifth ghoul (g4) is rushing in from further away and suddenly finds its path blocked by a pony that materialises out of thin air. The pony lashes out at the ghoul with its hoof but misses.

OOC: Main Game Map updated.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:43, Sun 13 Dec 2015.

With Oopses inside the temple and the Ghoul inside his spears reach Minmorc will hop back off the alter into the space behind it. He'll bellow "FOR PONY!" And will have a stab at the Ghoul outside the window.

"Stop dat !" Dregz demands of the two ghoulies outside the locked door.  "Go away !"

Riza braces herself against the door glad to be inside again. She will have her spear prepped incase she needs it but doesn't see much space for her to do anything just yet

Bulldust throws another javelin at g4, hits for 7HP.  Then he moves 20' to the corner above the doorway where the ghouls are gathering.

Moffdust readies a Magic Missile spell to use against any undead that manages to get into the church.

In reply to Moffdust (msg # 59):

Oopses drops the goods at paws at the grasshopper trying to eat his nose.

Irritated that the pony only seems to have stopped one ghoulie, Jurz pulls out a bottle of Tree Wee and throws it at the nearest ghoul.  "We's got more of dis stuff." he shouts as he gets the rest of the Holy Water out.

Minmorc stops momentarily to ponder the cosmic significance and irony of throwing wee at goolies...

As the second ghoul (g2) closes in below the southern window Minmorc steps back off the side altar to give himself room to jab at the ghoul with his greatspear. He skewers it cleanly, snapping its spine and dropping it dead on the ground beneath the window.

Oopses drops the armour and shortsword on the floor in the temple and frantically brushes the grasshopper off his nose. Arlein watches it all with her usual look of feline disdain.

Riza and Slipsnotz brace themselves against the door that Riza had returned through. Dregz shouts at the ghouls to go away and Moffa readies her magic in case the ghouls should break through the door.

Jurz readies a flask of the green holy water to throw at the ghouls but finds none left outside the window now. His summoned pony lashes out at the closest ghoul (g4) but misses with both hooves.

Bully hurls a javelin at the pony's ghoul (g4), hitting and seriously damaging it. Then he scrambles across the roof to get closer to the ghouls assaulting the door. Raven follows his example by shooting the same ghoul with her crossbow. Her bolt flies true and the ghoul falls to the ground, no longer moving.

The remaining pair of ghouls abandon the closed door and rush off to attack the only living creature in sight – the pony. They rush in and both try to bite the poor pony but the frantic animal rears and evades their initial attacks.

OOC: Main Game Map updated. The other ghouls are either entangled or blocked from reaching the combat area and most can only hear what is going on, not see the battle.

"Dat's a good pony! Jurz says as he admires his own handiwork.

In reply to Jurz (msg # 64):


Oopses brushes off the grasshopper and its pokey legs to find. Minorc standing above him holding the tree-pee and a thoughtful face. Miinorc thoughtful.

"Helps he's enchantesd again!".

Seeing that the black rod is still outside Minmorc will vault the alter and leap out the window. He'll flick the rod into the church and will set his spear against the charge in case the ghouls are quick to finish the pony.

Bulldust laughs as the ghoul falls over with raven's shot.  "Good shootin Birdie Girl!"  He moves to the eastern corner and throws away his last javelin (rolled a 2! Look out pony!).

Riza keeps herself braced against the door until they are sure that the ghouls are not going to try and get in. She leans over to slipnnotz for a moment and then re shifts her position against the door i hope you are ready if the ghouls get in moffa

Moffdust's eyes are wide as saucers as she replies to Riza "I tink deys eatin de ponys, but if dey comes in heres wid us den I's all ready." She moves to the centre of the church to get a view of all doors and looses cat to fly up to the rafters to watch.

The little goblin priest is perturbed by the second rod, and if Minmorc succeeds in hurling into the church, will rush over, Holy Book in hands, to rescue it and reunite it with its fellow.

Raven reloaded and aimed her light crossbow at the ghouls attacking the pony. She squawked in frustration as her bolt hit its target but hardly damaged the ghoul at all.

OOC: Scored 18 to hit but only 1hp damage on ghoul g11.

In reply to Raven (msg # 71):

Arlein decides it is too noise to keep sleeping with all the shouting, jumping, window vaulting, roof stomping, and howling going on. Streching out, she the sits up and wraps her tail around her paws.

Jurz cheers his pony on and it kicks with both hind legs at one of the ghouls (g11) but the ghoul easily dodges. Bully tries to hit one of the ghouls with his last javelin but the weapon sails over them all and hits a mausoleum in the southeast corner of the graveyard instead. Raven manages to hit one of the ghouls with a crossbow bolt but it just sticks in the ghoul's backside and goes virtually unnoticed by the ghoul.

Riza, Slipsnotz and Moffdust are ready to defend against anything that comes through the door(s) into the temple, but there is no sign of that happening yet.

Oopses becomes increasingly worried about Minmorc – not about his health, just about his sanity – and Arlein finally gives up on trying to sleep through this commotion.

Minmorc takes his greatspear, scrambles back up onto the side altar and leaps out the southern window. He quickly picks up the black rod dropped by the ghouls' victim and throws the rod through the window into the temple. Then he readies his greatspear in case the ghouls decide he looks more appetising than the pony.

Dregz scrambles to grab the 11-inch-long black rod and holds it up alongside the shorter (6-inch) black rod he already had. The two black rods definitely look very similar and the 1-inch long tang on the end of one looks like it would fit perfectly into the 1-inch deep hole drilled in one end of the other rod.

Outside in the graveyard the two ghouls continue to attack the unfortunate pony. One manages to bite the pony and the other tears the pony’s flank with its claws. The pony is grievously wounded but still fighting back at the ghouls.

OOC: Main Game Map updated.

"Dey's still gonna be hungry when dat pony disappears in   fives ...  fours  ...  frees ..." jurz warns Minmorc.

"Err... So I gots like seven missasippis til der pony goes ter pony heaven? Prolly a better place den ere an it seems right dat he went der from a graveyard." As Minmorc thinks he has a lot of time he'll unhurriedly scramble back into the church then set his spear out of the window against pursuit.

In reply to Minmorc (msg # 75):

Oopses rolled a 15 to attack the face eating bug before minmorc scares him.

Slipsnotz looks around as Minmorc climbs back in through the southern window.

"Dat's good, dat's good. All inna-side de temples. Now ducks down so de ghoulies don't sees youz!" he urges everyone. "De temples is de safes place. If de ghoulies don't sees youz no more dey's gonna forgets about youz and not comes lookin' inna temples."

Riza Ducks down immediately at slipsnotz advice keeping very quiet until the ghoulies have returned to their graves

Dregz sits quietly in a pile that encompasses his Holy Book (of course) the original black stick and the new, longer black stick that Minmorc so heroically recovered from the ghoulies, which he examines with renewed fervor and intent.

"Dis is two sticks !" the little goblin announces, in some surprise.  "Dey had two sticks an' we only had one !"

"Now we've got ... he pauses, doing the complicated math ... three sticks !  We win !!" he grins vindictively showing his teeth.  "Dat'll teach dem to have more sticks dan us !"  It seems being eaten by ghoulies is considered a suitable punishment for such affrontery in his eyes.

The priest holds one stick in each hand, his gaze flicking between the two.  Coming to a decision that can only be divinely inspired, Dregz sticks his tongue out and, eyes wide, attempts to join the one to the two.

Dregz has no trouble sliding the two sections of black rod together into a single 16-inch long, 1-inch diameter black metal rod including a 1-inch long, half-inch diameter tang at one end and a 1-inch bronze cap at the other end. There are just faint cracks at the joins where the three segments had been connected together.

A bit disappointed not to see the end of his pony and the ghouls' reactions when their meal (literally) disappears - Jurz jumps down from the Altar at Slipnotz suggestion.

"Dat's a good stick" he says sagely as he looks at Dregz new toy.  However, his brow furrows slightly   "Deres anudder bit to come." he says pointing at the tang at the end of the rod.  "We's had a tree god and der house of der sun god, maysbe dis belongs to der star gods?  Den dey will give yous a star to goes on de end of youse stick! he suggests happily imagining the little goblin waving a fairy wand about.

Dregz examines the pointy end, nodding his head with Jurz' suggestions, but coming to a different conclusion.  "Der's gotta be a piece for all der races," the priest speaks with absolute certainty.  Goblins an' bugbears an' orcs an' ..." he taps each segment in turn. "Der more we finds and joins together der bigger our tribe will become !"

Minmorc will sit down under the window and will pull Vera in out of sight too. "I'm gonna go ter der market at dark and get Twofer ter look at Helen. I reckon yer should gets im ter looks at der wand, stick like dat prolly has lotsa magic in it."

"Bugbears are goblins too!"  Bulldust announces happily as he comes down the ladder from the roof.  "Ya can have my bit fer da birdie girl or da lizzard girl." 

Raven looks a bit disappointed when Bulldust heads back down off the roof but she follows his lead and climbs back down the ladder into the temple too.

Moffdust pulls Bully down below the windows and shushes his to be quiet. "Slippy says if de ghoulies dont sees us den wes can goes shoppin."

Dregz nods eagerly at Bully's correction, pleased that the spirit of Bargrivyek is moving the Bugbear.  "Dat's one fer Raven, den," the priest agrees.  "Gonna need ter find some more, though fer der rest."

Minmorc's suggestion is met with far less enthusiasm.  "No," Dregz shakes his head emphatically.  "Dey will just try to steal der magic stick from us.  Better dey never see it."

Bulldust and Raven hurry back across the roof and back into the temple, Minmorc pulls his greatspear back inside the southern window and everyone ducks down below the window sills out of sight of the ghouls in the graveyard. That’s not hard as the windows are all 6 feet above ground level anyway.

There is a brief whinnying out in the graveyard as the pony lashes out with its hooves again at the ghouls then it all goes quiet apart from the moaning of the ghouls after the pony suddenly disappears, exactly as predicted by Jurz.

For several minutes afterwards there are various scuffling sounds outside the temple that give the impression that the ghouls searched around outside for a while before finally giving up and presumably, wandering away to their usual hiding spots.

Slipsnotz cautions against venturing out until nightfall as the ghouls are likely to remain restless for a while and most of the city (including the market place) doesn't wake up until nightfall anyway. So there is plenty of time for everyone who wants to enjoy another snooze so they are back to a proper nocturnal pattern again in time for the new night.

Sometime during the day someone uses Detect Magic to learn a little more about the magic items recovered from the victim's body outside in the graveyard. The shortsword, studded leather armour and 4 potions all radiate a faint magical aura. The shortsword and one potion (which is actually an oil for external application) have faint evocation auras while the armour and the other three potions (which are all different) each have a faint abjuration aura.

When nightfall finally comes Slipsnotz supervises the placement of the ladder out the northern window to give access to the safe path across the gravestones once again, to avoid disturbing the ghouls again as you leave the temple.

OOC: In summary, the magical items the party has now accumulated to trade (unless anyone actually wants to claim something as their own treasure) – excluding the black rod that Dregz is hanging onto, are as follows:

+1 shortsword (medium size),
+1 studded leather (medium size),
3 different potions (faint abjuration),
1 magical oil (faint evocation).

The party also still has the drow priest's +1 fullplate armour, so another visit to Two-fer-one in the marketplace is planned.

Does anyone have any other actions they would like to do during the day before we move on to another shopping / trading trip to the marketplace tonight? All spellcasters who need to will have had plenty of time to prepare/pray for / memorise new spells so everyone will be fully prepared by the time we move on. Does anyone have any other plans for things they would like to buy or do when they get to the marketplace again?

Minmorc will stack the loot on the central alter and will build a fire in one of the fireplaces. He'll then set up his cooking pot and will slow cook a big serving of Pork stew. For the rest of the afternoon he will sit and stare at the fire, seemingly meditating amidst the aroma of woodsmoke and bacon.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:22, Mon 04 Jan 2016.

Jurz isn’t much good at working out what magical stuff does, so he leaves that to Dregz and Moffa who do seem to be quite good at it.  Instead he takes himself off to sit quietly as he thinks about nature, gods and the way things work.  As he regains his spells, he plays with the charms he brought in the market, decorating the O’Baddy tree with some of the smaller ones and sets it on the painted wooden sun.  It all helps him remember that O’Baddy is the tree god and that the god of this place is the sun god.  Nature gods.  Gods of things he holds imporant.

Eventually, he will ask Dregz ”Who is der god of dis place?  Dis sun god dat has been protecting us from der goolies.  Does he have a name?”
This message was last edited by the player at 13:29, Mon 04 Jan 2016.

Dregz spends the day sleeping like one of the dead.  The real dead, lying quietly in their graves, not the restless souls that roam around outside lying in wait for any living creature foolish enough to venture near them.  Though that is not to say his sleep is serene, for the little goblin twitches and moans but does not awaken until night has fallen ...

... whereupon the priest comes too, eyes springing open wide as he gazes upon the black rod with the sort of religious fervor normally reserved for his Holy Book.

"Tank you, Bargrivyek !" he whispers.

"Dis stick ... I saw ... der man stoled it from anudder man, an' den he said ... he said a Holy Word an' it brought him here," he pauses thinking hard  upon the revelation his god has gifted him.  "Der first stick found der one we had !"

Reverently, Dregz holds the stick out in one hand.  "Hold on jus' a minute ..."

Riza has a chat quietly with slipnnotz before heading back off to sleep again. She sleeps soundly waking only as night arrives and she moves over to help Minmorc with the stew, chatting casually about the game and any visions he has had.

When dregs wakes up and starts playing with the staff she moves over and collects her gear and pockets the potions if no one else objects. Just to be prepared.

Minmorc has had troubled dreams now that the Monarch who will arrange the games has stolen his colours, however he has decided he will stay red until he has formed a whole team. He will however get Riza to paint two thin white stripes on his helmet from front to back. He'll then get Riza to write "ARDANUFF" in common on the front of his breastplate, "MINMORC" on the back and a big "1" on the front, the back, and both shoulders. Once stew has been cooked, shared and eaten Minmorc will leave the breast plate and helmet to dry, will stash the studded leather and short sword with the full plate in his pack to take to Twofer and will head off to the market.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:31, Tue 05 Jan 2016.

When Jurz asks about the sun god that this temple was dedicated to Slipsnotz thinks hard and finally says, "I hearded a hobgobbo priest say what dis place was once. Can't remember what the names was but I remembers it started wiv a P cos of all der hobgobbo warriors laughing about udder fings what starts wiv a P or ends wiv a P. Mostly just taking de piss, of course!"

Dregz's experiments with the black rod end with him swinging the rod around in various ways but always ending up pointing westwards, no matter where he stands in the temple at the time.

After supper, when Minmorc leaves his freshly painted breastplate and helmet, loads up the party's magic treasures and announces it is time to visit Two-fer-one in the marketplace, Slipsnotz and most (if not all) of the rest of the group accompanies them. Riza loads up the 4 potions to take them along as well.

In reply to Wyrm of Wyrd (msg # 94):

Arlein leaves to go hunting while the party sleeps.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:22, Wed 06 Jan 2016.

Riza is quite pleased with her work painting minmorcs armour. Once they all head to the marketplace she will tag along with everyone

On the way to the market Minmorc will scramble to put a plan in place. "So... Errr... We gots two magic armours and one magic weapon... Errr... So we can trades fer two more magic armours or one magic weapon or mebbe even some more magic sticks. Anyone wants some magic stuff?"

The little goblin cackles in delight as the stick seems to be pulling him westwards.  "Der's anudder stick dat way !" he calls out excitedly. "An' der best bit is, we don' have ter walk der ... not wid der magic word !  An' I knows der magic word !!"

"We can find der rest of der sticks like Bargrivyek wants us to and den unite der chosen races," a familiar light shines in the priest's eyes.  "An' as we go we can find more an' more players for der contests wiv Wilson like der Queen told Minmorc !"

Dregz is feeling too religious to go shopping and is happy to remain behind in the temple where he can search his Holy Book for any significant passages, and pray to his god. 

Speaking of which ... "Dey've taken all der trappin's away," the goblin answers Jurz enquiry on the back of Slipsnotz brave attempt.  "But I'm guessin' it was one of der yooman's gods wuz 'ere first.  P'raps Faultin' ... but more likely dey worshipped Pearler.  Terrible shinin' god ov der fiery sun whose light blinds all der children of darkness."  He shakes his head sadly.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:18, Thu 07 Jan 2016.

"Pearler?  De god of de Sun!  Dats a nature gods doh." Jurz declares adopting Pearler as one of his own personal pantheon of nature gods, just as he has done O'Baddy.  He makes sure that he has quick look around the temple, just to see if he can find something of Pearler's to add to his collection  of god stuff, or whether he will have to stick with the painted wooden sun".

"I'se could do wiv some magic armour" Jurz offers, as he thinks about how much he has been getting stuck into combat recently.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:12, Thu 07 Jan 2016.

"Dats right an proper dat, yer been killin stuff good wid dat fiery sword fing yous got. Oi Moffa, yer wanna magic stick?"

Moffdust watches Dregz, fascinated with the unfolding powers of the magic stick. "De next sticks must be a long ways off cos wes cants sees any changes in de directions dis ones pointin, so its goods wes donts haves ter walks. Whats de magic words Dregzie?"

She takes a helping of stew but narrows her eyes at Minmorc. "Yes, I's gettin a magic stickses ter poke out yer eyeses wiv." Another thought pops into her head and her mood brightens. "I wonders if dear Shelby will be at der markets?" She licks her lips.

"It is a very magic word," Dregz informs Moffa, picking his words carefully.  "It must not be said unless we really, really want to go, right now, you bet."

Minmorc will stare at Moffa in confusion before comprehension dawns. Talking to her as if to a small child he will carefully explain "I gets it, yer saw Dregz pokes der dirt elf in der eye an yer fink dats how yer make der magic sticks work. Nah, dat was Dregz really messin up real bad. Yer see der magic sticks, dey gots magics in em and if yer say der magic word yer can use der magics. If yer don't want no magic stuff dats great, more magic stuff fer udder folks."

When Minmorc gets to the market he will head straight to Twofers shop.

Moffdust nods in understanding as Dregz explains the intricacies of the magic word, sure that the holy goblin knows many mysterious and secret things from his holy book.

Minmorc however has her narrowing her eyes again and pulling herself up to her full three foot height to glare at him as he lectures her. "So did Moldavites die and makes youse de queen?" She drops into a curtsy then stalks off towards the market. "If I doesnt wants any magic stuffs now den I will takes my shares in shinies and saves it fer later."

After dusk everyone makes their way together to the marketplace again, except Dregz (he decided to stay at the temple to study his holy book and the black rod) and maybe Arlein as well, if she was still hunting mice around the temple(?)

On the way they discuss the magic equipment that they would like to get in trade with Two-fer-one. Jurz is the only one with any particular request (magic armour).

When they arrive at the marketplace Minmorc goes in first to see Two-fer-one and gets an appraisal on the +1 full plate armour, +1 studded leather armour and +1 short sword. Together, Two-fer-one will trade them for up to 3067.5gp worth of magic items. Minmorc had asked about +1 studded leather armour with studs of bone for Jurz and it is priced at 1175gp, leaving up to 1892.5gp worth of magic items to be selected. Whatever is chosen will be available for the exchange tomorrow night (Night 7).

Moffa and Bully go in to see Two-fer-one next to complete a trade that they had arranged the night before.

After the initial discussions with Two-fer-one, Slipsnotz and Riza say they have something private to take care of and they slip away and disappear into the crowds of the marketplace.

Any sort of mundane or magical equipment that anyone wants to buy and can afford is available in the market up to 1000gp market value, except nothing with an elven descriptor, and there is no food and drink available to purchase at all in Gorna.

Jurz likes the idea of the armour  and grins his agreement.  Then he heads off to look around the market.

Back in the abandoned temple, Dregz continues his careful study of both Holy Book and Holy Stick(s), basking in the certain knowledge that fulfillment of Bargrivyek's will is surely within his grasp.

Bulldust claims the remainder of the shared treasure and whispers his instructions to Twofer.  "See ya tomorra."

Riza will come back after a while then wait with the group before returning back to the temple.

Jurz squints at Bully and pulls him and Moffa to one side, then whispers ...

Bulldust concludes his bartering then has a word with Jurz before wandering off to find Moffa and whatever passes for a surgeon in this marketplace.

Minmorc will wait until Bully has finished his bartering then will have a meeting with Twofer. Once he's finished he will make his way back to the temple of Pearler with the complex plan of lounging around and taking things easy.

The returnees find Dregz still engrossed examining the black rod and flipping excitedly through his Holy Book.  He will spare but a glance for anyone addressing him and will wave in acknowledgment, but all his attention is on the task at hand.

Moffdust seems happy to speak with Jurz. When Bully wanders off to do something stupid she leaves him to it and makes her way back to the church.

Once Jurz has finished his shopping, he returns to the hidey church.

He makes a big fuss of Rog, and promises him that they will soon be away from this town, and then they will be able to hunt for some fresh meat.  Afterwards he spends time looking around the Church, searching for any signs or items, of Pealer's, that might have been missed when the church was ransacked.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:05, Sat 16 Jan 2016.

"It's all so clear now," Dregz mutters to himself.  [Language unknown: "Treve mo evbehe me thio-miil veniventevor !"]

Various deals with Two-fer-one are arranged for the next night by several members of Team Arda-Nuff. A bit of other shopping and trading is completed successfully by several of the group as well and everyone drifts back to the temple in small groups during the course of the night. Riza is the last to return.

Dregz, Rog the dog and Arlein the cat had remained at the temple. Dregz was completely focused on studying his Holy Book but the dog and cat explored the place in their own ways while everyone else was gone. Rog was quite content with a discarded boar bone he found from yesterday's meal. Arlein found plenty of rats to satisfy her need to hunt. When he returned to the temple Jurz was more interested in any religious items left over from when the temple was pillaged, but there was little of that to be found.

Finding anything to eat at the marketplace had been impossible so when the team is back together at the temple more of the boar meat is roasted for dinner. There is still enough of the meat left for a few more days and none of this group are bothered that it is starting to smell a bit rancid by now.

OOC: Does anyone have any particular plans they want to do the next day or can we fast-forward to Night 7 and completion of the deals set up with Two-fer-one?

After Jurz has grubbed around the church for a bit, he is happy to loiter in his 'nest' with Rog as he fiddles with something he has found.

Minmorc is quite happy to take a day off. He asks Riza to wake him when the nasty bloody sun has gone again.

Moffdust returns to the church and looks around to see what everyone is doing. She hides the sleeping orc's big metal spear thing among the splintered timbers of the pews at the back of the church then watches as Cat flies around the church and around the graveyard. She sleeps when she gets tired.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:20, Mon 18 Jan 2016.

Dregz continues to be fascinated by both the rod and flips through his Holy Book like a goblin before whom all the answers are arrayed, if only he can reach out and snatch them in time.  He sleeps when he can no longer keep his eyes open and reads when he jerks awake, eating if anyone brings him anything, otherwise nibbling whatever crumbs remain in his sack.

After while Jurz gets O'Baddy's tree out and makes sure it is watered.  Then he plays around for a bit trying to balance Pealer's sun-star on top.  Although eventually both put away properly in with his gear.

When Minmorc wakes to take a leak and finds his spear missing it takes a couple of minutes for his befuddled mind to realise that it's gone. Mid stream Minmorc will roar with rage and begin a frantic and destructive search throughout the temple for either an invisible enemy or his spear. Once he finds it he will calm completely and go back to sleep, cuddling it like a teddy.

Minmorc's bellowing coincides, for some reason, with Dregz also waking up ... but on this occasion, the little goblin doesn't immediately turn back to his Holy Book, but instead sits very still, an expression of perplexity upon his furrowed brow.

If anybody else happens to be awake while the big orc is tearing apart the temple, the priest will tell the following tale ...

"I has had a vision !  Annuver vision," Dregz adds, "I'll tell youse about der udder one later.  Dis one wuz sent by Bargrivyek, and I sawed us hidin' behind a tent in der dark in a sandy place.  An' der were many tents and der was snorin' ... an' der was a scary human standin' guard an' watchin', watchin' dis group of sleepin' ones who were all chained togevver !"

"Dat's meaningful dat is !" the priest insists.

Jurz looks up from fiddling with O'Baddys Tree and Pealers Sun-star and glances across at Dregz.  "Whos was hiding?" He asks suspiciously, trying to imagine Minmorc crouched down out  of sight without all the roaring, snorting and shouting.  "An what was wes hidin from?" He continues, more worried about the risk that the potential gain.

Although finally he asks "And what woz dose ones dat was chained up.  Was dey gobbos?  Or was dey more hoommies?"

The druid's questions have the goblin screwing his face up mightily as he struggles to dredge up the memories of the dream.

"All of us !  All of us wuz hidin'."  He sounds less certain as he repeats it and keeps glancing towards Raven.  "Minmorc," his gaze follows the big Orc for a few moments, watching the rampage.  "He wuz hidin' too.  It was a big tent !" Dregz seems pleased to have remembered that detail and nods his head enthusiastically. "Prolly didn' want der guard to run away."

"I tink we wuz creepin' up on dem."  That certainly sounds about right.  "Der prisoners ... it wuz very dark," he reminds Jurz, somewhat defensively.  "Maybe yoomans, not sure.  Dey wuz all in rags."

"Dey was bigs den." He says, knowing that it is difficult to mix up humans and goblins on size alone.  "An dis sandy place.  I's heard of dose.  Dey is called de Beach! He adds, sure in the knowledge that he has never seen one.

In reply to Jurz (msg # 127):

 : Arlein rolled 101 using 1d100+5. mouse hunting 5 points a mouse.

Arlein has littke trouble hunting mice, the ghouls and church stores had made them quite lazy and plumb. Soon there's a row of dazed or dead mice by Arlein's nook.

"When my tribe was sneakin up on a buncha humies once I erd der guards sayin beaches be crazy. Sounds like fun. I like der sound o desserts better, big hot desserts wot stretch out far as der eye can see."

"Wot?  One big dessert wiv lots of spoons?" the  little goblin from the woods by the mountain asks?
This message was last edited by the player at 13:09, Wed 20 Jan 2016.

"Sticky date pudding! Humies loves sticky date puddings," Raven adds with enthusiasm. "Hot, sweet and sticky. Yummy, yummy, yummy! Yes, yes, lots of spoons too. Silver spoonses. Humies loves silver spoonses too."

The seventh day passes quietly as everyone enjoys a rare opportunity to rest and relax for a change. Boredom leads some to search the temple even more thoroughly. In Minmorc's case the fact that someone hid Vera, his greatspear, made the big orc’s search the most passionate and destructive by far! It is probably fortunate that Dregz's dream proves to be a good distraction immediately after that chaotic episode comes to an end.

By the time night falls again just about everyone is fed up with being confined in the temple and tired of eating nothing but five-day-old pork and are ready to return to the marketplace again. Maybe some have even thought of new things they want to shop for there. The first priority is of course to complete the pre-arranged trades with Two-fer-one. The half-orc trader has everything ready as agreed the previous night so all of the trading runs smoothly and is soon completed.

OOC: was writing this just when Wyrm posted.  This happened last night.

Bulldust returns from the market even later than Riza actually, his face bandaged and bloody, and he has an onion.  He takes an arrow from Minmorc's quiver while the orc is distracted with raging over something, and puts the arrow through the onion.  He takes a mouse from Arlein's row and puts that on the arrow next to the onion.  He tears a strip of fat from the boar and winds that around the onion and the mouse, then he twirls it all slowly over the cook fire, the melting fat running over the onion and the mouse and dripping down to sizzle on the coals while he listens to the talk of visions and beaches and spoons.

After an hour he sits in front of Dregz and hands him the arrow, careful not to drip grease from the crackling on the holy book.  "Does da book say wes going dere next Dregzie?  To da tents?"

Slipsnotz wanders off around the marketplace looking at all sorts of stuff and chatting with the merchants. After a while he wanders back to Team Arda-Nuff chuckling about something he has heard.

"Yous know dem ugly little creeps wid de red hatses what yous fought a couple of nightses ago?" he asks. "Well, dat hobgob smiff over dere, he sayz dey is a kindsa feys and de best fing to kills dem wid is de weaponz made of cold ironz. He knows all about it cos dat's what he makes and sells! Dey costs twice as much as normal weaponz but I betcha wished yous knew about dem before yous mets de Redcaps!"

Dregz seems surprised by Bully's question and thinks on it for a long while before slowly nodding.  "I tink mebbe we are !" he concludes in mounting excitement.  "Dat must be where Bargrivyek wants us to go ... mebbe dat's where we'll find more bits of der magic stick !"

"De udder vision I had .. dat was about der man dat der ghoulies were eatin'. But he was alive an' he was sneakin' about an' and he stole der udder bits of der magic stick from der sleepin' man," the priest's brow furrows as he tries to remember the details of his fleeting dream.

"An' den ... den he said der magic word, an' den he appeared out der !" the goblin announces in triumph, pointing out the window to where the remains of the corpse might lie, if the ghoulies left anything behind. "I tink he was after our bit of der magic stick, but der ghoulies grabbed him an killed him, an' we got his bit instead, hah-hah !"

"Oh, an he tried to get away from dem by sayin' der word, but he just vanished and den came back again, but some of der ghoulies dat were clawin' at him vanished and came back wid him ..."

"So I tink we must gather together really really close and den I say der magic word ... and it will take us to find more of der magic stick dat Bargrivyek wants us to get, and der we will meet more folks for Minmorc to get for der game, an', an' ..."

The goblin trails off, gasping for breath.

Minmorc will smirk at Slipsnotz and will show him Vera. "Flamin swords an big pointy sticks killded dem good too." Minmorc will start pulling little bundles out of his back pack followed by a new great axe in a sack. He'll give some studded leather to Jurz, a cloak to Moffa and a pair of bracers to Riza then all of his attention will go back to his axe. He'll tie the sack to his belt as a makeshift sheath and will show everyone his axe. It's dull grey metal leads to a gleaming razor edge and seems heavier, denser and somehow far more dangerous than regular iron. Moving to stand next to Dregz Minmorc will announce "Dis is my new axe, Helen was speshul but I reckon dis axe will work betta fer me. I ain't got a name fer her yet, gonna swing her round a bit ter see oo she is, so's if any a yous fink of a name let me knows. Righto Dregzie, I gots my new stuff an I'm nearly outa food so let's go an gets a bitty stick an sum dessert!"

"Yez.  Flamey Swords is good at killing tings dat don't want to be killed, and now I's got some flamey bombs as well." he says smugly, displaying a new magical wand.

However, he takes the time to put his new armour on, and then puts a new cloak over the top of it.

After a sleep, Bulldust peels off the bandages and grimaces at his reflection in the font.  He bandages up his face again and heads off to the market.  He returns shortly after carrying a new pole weapon and large blue cushion.  He finds Arlein in her nook, picks her up, puts down the cushion then puts Arlein back down on it.  "Nice kitty." 


The bugbear is ready to leave too.  He joins the crowd standing around Dregz and has a look at Minnorc's new axe.  "Looks like a Veronica." her offers.  "Dis one's a goose hook." he adds looking up at the pole weapon.

Moffdust eyes the cloak suspiciously. She opens her old cloak and shakes out Cat and a considerable amount of cat droppings thinking she was just getting it the way she liked it. But there is a certain amount of home grown wisdom in graciously accepting gifts from large orcs. She shakes out the new cloak, checking it for stains and suspicious holes, then says "Mmmm its lovely." She carefully watches Jurz put his armour on before trying on the cloak "Cos youse never knows..." she mutters to herself.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:25, Fri 22 Jan 2016.

"Veronica?  I's don't trust anyfing called Veronica!" the goblin mutters as Bully tries to name Minmorc's new axe.

"Veronica's a lotta ard work ter say... I'm finking o callin her me axe wife. I'm really hopin that she's not me axe misses."

In reply to Minmorc (msg # 141):

"Soups done! If it bites, bite it back!

Riza excitedly accepts the bracers from Minmorc and wastes no time in fastening them on. As the group try to help Minmorc name his very deadly new axe she chuckles a bit at 'wife.

wife is a good name. besides you never want to be on the receiving end of sn angry wife

Minmorc's quest to find a name for his axe, reminds Dregz of a passage in his Holy Book.  Quickly leafing through the battered volume, the priest finds the right page, tracing the words with the point of the black rod.

"Youse should call der axe Kizma," he suggests, looking up from the book.  "Dat is a very Holy name."  He pats the book reverently.

"Eats first and then we'll go," he informs his eager companions. "Remember der yooman who brought der other bits of the black rod to us jus' appeared in der middle of a pack of ghouls.  I don' know what we will find when we get der, but we might be fightin' or runnin' ... der may not be time fer eatin' !"

The little goblin finds himself very hungry and regardless of what anyone else wants to do, he wolfs down a bowl of Oopses soup ... but after that, once the rest of his tribe has eaten or made whatever preperations they need to, he ushers everyone to gather closely around him and intones The Magic Word.

Bulldust helps himself to a bucketful of Oopses stew, gamely chomping down the biters, and takes a bowl to Moffa too.  He packs his stuff and stands close to Dregz.

Jurz takes some soup and grabs some of the pork for Rog to eat.  After that, he packs gear on both himself and  the hound and they, too, are ready for the off.

Riza collects her gear and once again prepared, with her bow and arrow ready incase they pop up in an unfriendly place, she will stand with the others ready to go

Raven shares the meal of soup and roast pork with everyone else and packs up all her things too as they prepare to leave. But when everyone gathers around Dregz in the centre of the temple she stands back and shakes her head.

"I am not coming with you. I want to find somewhere quiet and build myself a comfortable nest. I think I will go back to that giant oak tree in the Oytwood and build a nest high up in its branches. I will say hello to Grakk at the look-out hill on the way. If you ever pass that way again come say hello to me, but for now it is time to say goodbye to all of you."

With the last of the trading and shopping completed at the marketplace the group heads back to the temple again where Oopses makes soup and everyone feasts on that and some more of the roast boar.

After the meal everyone packs up and is ready to depart. The last of the boar meat is shared out and everyone ends up with enough food to last them one more day. It really is time to be moving on!

Raven and Slipsnotz decide they won't be coming with Team Arda-Nuff on this next mysterious adventure but both invite everyone to come back and visit anytime they are nearby – Slipsnotz in Gorna and Raven planning to return to the giant oak tree in the Oytwood.

When the farewells are all said everyone else gathers around Dregz as he holds the Black Rod up above his head in the centre of the temple and intones The Magic Word, "Wyrd!"

And nothing happens. Several attempts later, still nothing has happened. It is only after deep thought and careful retelling of every aspect of both dreams that Dregz finally realises, "De mans de ghoulies ate, he went outside before he said De Magic Word! Dat's what we gotta do too!"

Of course it is a lot of fun getting everyone back out the window and across the ladder again, especially Rog the dog, but soon enough everyone is outside the temple and gathered around Dregz out in the laneway. Raven and Slipsnotz stand well back to watch them go.

Dregz takes a deep breath and says again, "Wyrd!" This time there is a sound like a gust of wind and Team Arda-Nuff vanishes into thin air right on the stroke of midnight.

... To be continued in new thread: Night 7: The Plains of the Paynims.

OOC: Spellcasters who prepare spells each day will be able to revise their list of prepared spells before the departure, knowing the Dregz's dream was about tents and human warriors in a sandy place.  Also, who is carrying the cushion that Bulldust bought for Arlein?
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:28, Tue 26 Jan 2016.

This message was deleted by the player at 03:38, Mon 29 Feb 2016.