The familiar rush of air and slight feeling of disorientation and nausea fades quickly as everyone finds themselves standing on a flat surface of stone blocks. Well, almost everyone does. Bully, Moffa and Raven are startled to find themselves falling a further five feet below the level where everyone else has landed and they land heavily on a 5-foot wide stone terrace five feet below everyone else.

As you all look around you see the sun setting in the west. You are looking out over dense vegetation, like a jungle much thicker than the Oytwood, which is the only forest most of you have seen before. You realise you are up on top of a stone pyramid with a ruined temple on top of it, immediately to the south of you. The stone pyramid is what is known as a step pyramid, with a series of 5-foot high, 5-foot wide terraces stepping down to the jungle floor 65 feet below you.

The jungle all around is full of strange noises but the ruined temple sounds much quieter. Here and there you see a few other ruined stone buildings poking up out of the surrounding jungle.

The black rod in Dregz's hands is now pointing downwards into the middle of the stone pyramid beneath the temple.

OOC: Main game map updated.
Note: This thread was incorrectly labelled Night 15. It should be Night 14.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:34, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

Minmorc will roll his neck to work out the tension of translation and while the group is together he will bless the party. He'll then move a little East then South to have a look inside the temple, spear at the ready.

Travel by Magic Stick is much faster than by boat ... although one has to be rather less choosy about one's destination !  Luckily Dregz wants to go wherever the Magic Stick will take him, as he seeks to find more bits to add to its magnificence.

The jungle is not very pleasant for one as hairy as the little goblin priest and that alone would inspire him to seek the familiar cool of underground, even if the Magic Stick was not pointing him that way.

"Mus' be a door aroun' 'ere sumwhere," his brilliant mind concludes as he looks around, narrowing the likely locations of the hypothetical portal to 'up 'ere', 'down der', 'in der planty place' or 'sumwhere else'.

"Let's try in der," the temple, being the nearest and quietest, is the clear winner.

With Magic Stick in one hand and Holy Flail in the other, Dregz waits for one of the bigguns to go first.

 "Owww! Dat waz a ruf landng! How dat happen uz but notz youz?

 She rubbed her feet cause they stung from the unexpected extra drop. She was lucky she hadn't broken a toe bone or something.

Jurz stands quietly. The Rog space is empty and Jurz really isn't used to it yet.

While waiting for Raven and the others to stop messing around and to climb back up again to rejoin the rest of the group, Dregz notices that Jurz is looking a bit dejected.  Leaving Minmorc to have first go at desecrating this temple, the hairy priest crosses the stones to his kinsman and has a quiet word in his shell-like.

Bulldust sniffs the air, savouring all the new jungle smells ... and notes with a grimace that the hairy priest has unfortunately not yet had the opportunity to bathe, unlike our orc who now smells like Nurzhan, before he died.  He lifts Moffa then Raven up 5' onto the top level, then climbs up himself and walks to the east side to sniff around the altar stone.

"Fank youse Dregsie."  Jurz says as he opens the sack and looks inside.  "I'sl looks after youse for de minute." he says into the bag "And den I'sl gives youse back to Dregsie"

With a nod he indicates that he is prepared.

Moffdust scowls at the unfamiliar jungle. The rustling inside her cloak suggests that Cat would like to explore, so she shakes him out and watches him fly off. She follows Bully around to the front door.

As everyone else sorts themselves out after their landing on the step pyramid, Minmorc, Bully and Moffa venture around to the eastern side of the ruined temple to see what might be inside. But as soon as they round the corner of the building they see a big black ape squatting on the altar on the front verandah of the temple.

The ape turns as they come into view and immediately hops off the altar to confront them, waving its arms threateningly and roaring loudly at them.

Moments later a second ape squeezes out of one of the two open doorways from the temple to see why the first ape is suddenly so angry. At the same time there are answering roars from the jungle east of the temple and three more of the big apes rush out of the jungle onto the lowest steps of the pyramid.

OOC: Main game map updated.
Everyone is at +1 to hit and +1 on saves vs fear from Minmorc's Bless spell for 29 more rounds.

Hearing the roars, Jurz rushes around to see what the other have disturbed.  ”Lets me’s talks to dem.” the little druid says as he sees the large apes.

”Dere’s nice monkeys ….” he says in a singsong sort of voice waving his arms about slowly and mystically  ”Jus  moves out of de ways a bit cos we’s needs to go in  dere …” he says reassuringly.

Taking a careful step five feet north away from those long hairy arms Minmorc calls upon his favourite trick, beating his chest with his free hand then stretching out to large size. While he is not overtly aggressive his allies would recognise that his spear is set against a charge and the arrogance in his eyes clearly says you might be Kong but I am King.

 She climbed back up and follows Bully and the others around, back a ways because climbing wasn't her best skill. Still, she wasn't far behind when the droppings hit the air circulation device. She readies her crossbow.

 "AWK! Wat is doz tingz? Dey'z UGLY!"

"Dey is fully-evolved humies, Birdy Girl."  Bulldust shudders to think what a fully-evolved orc would look like.  He also sets his longspear in case they charge, and steps back 5' to the northeast, but otherwise waits to see what Jurz does.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:53, Sat 16 Sept 2017.

OOC: Partial update. Anybody else want to act before we resolve the outcome of Jurz's intervention?

The first ape pauses for a moment, looking back and forth between Jurz, Minmorc and Bulldust. The second ape looks like it hasn't noticed Jurz yet. The other three at the base of the pyramid look like they haven't noticed Jurz yet either and are clambering up the pyramid.

Jurz looks nervously at the great apes and keeps waving his hands in that mystic fashion.

The first ape looks like it has decided Minmorc and Bully are a much bigger threat than Jurz is.

(Probably just because of size. ;o)

With a huge grin on his face Minmorc will point down at Jurz and will mime reaching out, snatching him up, taking a bite and patting his stomach in satisfaction.

OOC: Bully, Minmorc IS the final evolution of Orc.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:54, Sat 16 Sept 2017.

OOC: which Minmorc?  The scary one or the one with the cigar?

Cruching down and peeking over the ledge, "Un.. maybez we should letz dem fight it out firsts. dey seemz angry." Ducking as one of the apes looks in his general direction.

Where there's one, two ... lots and lots of apes, there may be more !  And as of yet, Dregz doesn't know just how he's to get underground - whether through the temple at the top of the ziggurat, or maybe an opening in its base ... or even a tunnel at the back of a cave at some distance in the dense jungle.

But it might be a good time to find out ...

Leaving the bigguns to the battle, the little goblin priest, flail and Magic Stick in hand, tries to avoid the fighting and make his way into the temple, if he can do so safely and stealthily, in an effort to see if there is any obvious, or less than obvious opening that might lead him and his friends downwards.

All five of the great apes begin to rush toward the intruders at the top of the pyramid. The apes climb the 5-foot steps of the pyramid as though they were no obstacle at all.

Raven loads her crossbow and Riza her shortbow and shoot at the northernmost ape (ape 4) as it angles up the steps on their side of the pyramid. They both hit the ape, leaving it moderately wounded.

The ape (ape 2)  that was on the altar outside the temple lumbers a few feet closer to Minmorc, brushing the giant orc's greatspear aside before Minmorc gets a chance to impale it. The ape slashes at Minmorc with both hands and its claws gouge bloody gashes in his flesh, leaving Minmorc moderately wounded too. Fortunately it didn't manage to bite him as well.

Two other apes (apes 1 and 3) rush towards Bulldust but he has more time to line up his longspear at each of them as they close in and manages to seriously wound both apes. However, they both slash at him with one hand as they close in. Ape 3 manages to hit the bugbear and draws blood, leaving Bully lightly wounded.

Oopses and Arlein watch from the edge of the top step and Dregz sneaks around behind the temple looking for a way inside. Dregz doesn't find any other entrances on the north, west or east sides of the ruined temple or the pyramid itself but he does see the fifth ape clambering up the pyramid from the southeast.

OOC: Main game map updated.
Everyone is at +1 to hit and +1 on saves vs fear from Minmorc's Bless spell for 28 more rounds.

Feeling the claws tear flesh Minmorc rises to his full height and bellows "take your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty Ape!" Tiny red eyes blazing with rage Minmorc will thrust Vera down with all his might.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:11, Wed 20 Sept 2017.

 She cheers as they hit Ape4 to wound him moderately hoping to dissuade him from coming closer, but it doesn't seem to detour him away.

 She aims her crossbow again at the big Ape4 and tries again to hit it before he climbs up to their location.

OOC: Partial update.

Damn dirty ape 2 is killed by a single mighty blow from giant Minmorc's greatspear.  Raven's crossbow bolt misses ape 4.

 "Awk! Dat wily monkyz! Iz get youz watez n seez!"

 She hops up and down, side to side, and bows low like she was gonna hop on over and kick the snot outta that ape thing! Then tries again to shoot her crossbow at the ape4.

Moffdust glances around fearfully knowing that those long arms could just snatch her up if she tries to make a run for it. She sees Raven's bolt fly wide "Gorillas! And youse mist?!" Her safest place is right here between Bully and Min... let them take the hits! Even better if Bully was bigger.  She stays right where she is, looking small and green next to the post(?) and takes out a wand from her haversack then points it at Bully "Bullzilla!" to make him bigger.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:28, Sun 24 Sept 2017.

Bulldust is hopping with excitement almost as much as Raven.  When Moffa makes him bigger he grows to occupy the space between himself and the apes attacking him, using his bulk to shield Moffa but having to step down onto the next lowest level.  "Leave my sister alone!" he reprimands the apes.  He whips the longspear around and jabs at wounded ape 4 but misses, even with the bonus from being on higher ground.    He braces for the apes' counterattack but still keeping the longspear levelled at ape4 in case it moves.  "Did you talk wiv dem Jurzie?  What did dey say?"
This message was last edited by the player at 09:03, Sun 24 Sept 2017.

Riza focuses along the same ape again, this time selecting a drow arrow to try and put it to sleep. Yucky brutes


10:37, Today: Riza rolled 4 using 1d4+2.  possible damage ape 4.

10:36, Today: Riza rolled 16 using 1d20+11.  shoot ape 4 drow poison arrow.

OOC: Partial update. Minmorc, Bully, Moffa, Raven and Riza have acted this round so far.

Ape 2 is dead (killed by Minmorc). Ape 4 collapses on the steps when Riza's arrow hits it and looks like it is unconscious. Minmorc and Bully are large size. Apes 1 and 3 are adjacent to Bully and Minmorc so their great spear and long spear cannot be used against those apes while they are so close. Ape 5 is still dashing up the steps toward them.

"I fink dey said dey don't like us" Jurz replies as he pulls out his dagger and heads off down the steps towards Ape 4, intent on making sure that it doesn't recover consciousness.

Seeing ape 4 go down and goblins starting to pile on top, Bulldust swings his longspear around to menace ape 5 while he waits to be pummeled by those closer.

 She squawks and tries to ready another shot but drops her arrow, gets flustered so she has to pick it up again.

Fighting these huge apes out in the open doesn't seem like a really good idea, especially for a little goblin ... so Dregz watches on worriedly, tucking the Magic Stick into his pocket so he can grasp his flail in both hands, in case he is forced to come to anyone's rescue.

One question before I finish this round and move on. The two closest apes (1 & 3) lunge forward to grapple Minmorc and Bulldust. Min and Bully both have spiked gauntlets. Are they going to drop their spears and try to fight off the apes to prevent the grapple, or hold onto their spears one-handed and punch the apes with the other fist, or ignore the grapple and try to skewer ape 5 if the closer apes fail to grapple?

Maximum opportunities to damage apes! Bully will hold spear with left, punch ape3 with right, skewer ape5 with spear if get opportunity, suffering consequences  stoically if all goes pear shaped :-)

Minmorc eagerly awaits consequences, his choice to punch the monkey went pear shaped.

Dregz circles around the upper temple building for a better view, gasping in horror as he sees the apes trying to grab his friends !

Bulldust punched ape3 for 8hp.  "Yer should've listened when Jurzie asked nicely.  Dum human!"   With steely determination he lines up ape 5 with the longspear, using the high ground to his advantage.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:56, Sat 07 Oct 2017.

She turned around and tried for Ape1 since she couldn't get ape4.


23:42, Today: Raven rolled 8 using 1d8.  damage.
23:41, Today: Raven rolled 29 using 1d20+9.  crossbow Ape1.

Of the 5 great apes that rushed at the intruders at the top of the pyramid, the first one (ape 2) was killed by Minmorc after it had clawed him.

Another one (ape 4) that was rushing up the northeast side of the pyramid was shot by Raven and Riza, collapsing on the steps when Riza's poisoned arrow took effect, then Jurz rushed down the steps to finish it off with his dagger.

Ape 3 had initially been wounded by Bulldust's longspear and clawed him then tried to lunge at Bulldust and grapple him. Bully stopped that idea with a very solid punch from his spiked gauntlet in the ape's face. That left the ape grievously wounded and it staggered back a few feet away from that fight. It is now cowering and it looks like that ape doesn't want to fight anymore.

Ape 1 had initially been wounded by Bulldust and switched its attention to Minmorc when ape 2 was killed. When it lunged at Minmorc to grapple him, Minmorc's punch with his spiked gauntlet missed and the ape was able to grab him, although Minmorc roared with rage and immediately broke free of the ape's grip before it could do any harm.

The last ape (ape 5) rushes along the steps of the pyramid to get to Bulldust and with the advantage of higher ground Bully just manages to strike the ape as it closes in on him, dealing a moderate wound to the ape. The ape's claws miss Bully completely as he dodges the clumsy blow.

OOC: Main game map updated.
Everyone is at +1 to hit and +1 on saves vs fear from Minmorc's Bless spell for 27 more rounds.

Bulldust drops the longspear and whips out his white tipped flail.  Using the high ground advantage of the top step he hammers ape5 for another 20hp.

"Dis ones friendly now  Jurzie." he points to ape3 on the off chance that Jurz would like to try talking again, although he suspects the cowering ape will be used for target practice before that happens.

Leaving his greatspear in the first victim Minmorc will draw forth his mighty great axe and put all of his power into a devastating downwards chop, straight into the pavement.

OOC: aaaaaaaaaaaand there's another 1 to hit...

Oopses cowers along the wall of the pyramid, far away from the edge to reach Minmorc and utters, "Mudds to flesh  and flesh is mudds, great mudd fix da orcies"

OOC: cast cure  light wounds.
 Oopses rolled 9 using 1d8+4. cure light wounds minmorc.

"I'se busy now." the goblin calls back up the hill to Bulldust, as he continues to plunge his dagger in the ape beneath him.

---

07:58, Today: Jurz rolled 5 using 2d3+1.  More Coup de Gracing.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:13, Mon 09 Oct 2017.

Moffdust pops her fire wand out of her haversack and blasts ape 1 for 19 hp damage. She smiles sweetly at Minmorc "Wes gots ter takes cares ov our big bad orcses." She scoots past Oopses to have a look inside the temple.

Seeing Minmorc's confusion as the big orc attacks the stone edifice instead of the ape before him, brave Dregz takes a deep breath and rushes around the corner, running along the front of the temple, all but blinded by Moffdust's spell as he swings his heavy flail with both hands at the big ape's back.

Bulldust's flail knocks ape 5 out cold, Moffa's fire wand leaves ape 1 unconscious and Jurz has almost finished off ape 4. Ape 2 is already dead and ape 3 is down to zero hit points and slowly backing away from the fight.

Moffa peeks inside the temple and sees another altar, this time stained with dried blood from long ago. There is a lot of muck in the temple that suggests the apes have been living there for some time but there are still two closed doors that seal off two square rooms in the western corners of the temple.

Not paying too much attention to what is going on 'upstairs', Jurz keeps driving his dagger into the ape, again and again, until it is definitely dead.

Letting his rage carry him Minmorc will chase down Ape number 3, this time he doesn't miss.

Bulldust is glad that Moffa is safe.  He sits on the step next to ape5 and looks out at the sunset, sniffing the jungle smells, pressing his flail-tip repeatedly against the unconscious ape's chest and waiting for the 'big' spell to wear off so he can go inside the temple.

Bulldust, Minmorc and Jurz easily finish off the last three great apes, although Bully takes his time and almost seems to be toying with ape 5 before it finally dies.  A little while later the enlarge person spell wears off and Bully shrinks back down to normal size. While that was happening it gave everyone else plenty of time to lick their wounds or collect any great ape souvenirs they might fancy before exploring the temple, the steps of the pyramid or the surrounding jungle.

When you look inside the temple you will see another altar, this time stained with dried blood from long ago. The temple is not very large so not many people would have actually been inside when sacrifices were performed. If there was a large congregation most of them probably stayed outside on the pyramid steps or at the foot of the pyramid. There is a lot of muck in the temple that suggests the apes have been living there for some time but there are still two closed doors that seal off two square rooms in the western corners of the temple.

The 5 great ape carcasses would be clearly visible on the steps of the pyramid from a considerable distance, if anyone was high enough to see over the top of the surrounding jungle. Normal jungle sounds had halted during the fight but soon return to normal.

OOC: Fast forward 8 rounds until Bully's enlarge person spell wears off.
Main game map updated. Everyone is at +1 to hit and +1 on saves vs fear from Minmorc's Bless spell for 18 more rounds.

Minmorc will roar his victory to the skies and to burn off the last of his rage by scaling the side of the tallest building, swatting wildly at flying insects. He will try to carry a beautiful young woman with him but after Moffa bites him he will leave her be. Once his rage subsides he will pat Oopses on the head and say "atta boy" by way of thanks and will use his wand to give both himself and Bulldust a dose of lesser vigor. He will then collect up his weapons, arm himself with his axe and happily join others in desecrating a temple.

Dregz finds his flail slamming into the corpse of an already overcooked Ape, courtesy of Moffa, but is happy enough with the result, though does not join Minmorc in the roaring, instead choosing to explore.

A simple pointing exercise confirms the Magic Stick is still sure that the next puzzle part lies somewhere below the pyramid, though the steps below seem like hard work ...

Noting the two doors in the inner temple and thinking to leave them to one or other of the bigguns, the little goblin priest elects instead to more closely examine the two altars, starting with the one outside then heading inside to inspect the second.

Once his ape is dead, Jurz will climb back up to the temple with the others, and help Dregz look around.  However, rather than concentrate on the Altars, he will look at the walls, and kick the detritus away, so he can see what is on the floor.

Moffdust spits to rid her mouth of orc hair and the smell of stale cigar smoke. She glares up at Minmorc clinging to the top of the temple and smiles sweetly as she casts Grease on the roof.

Aaaaaand Minmorc falls off the small house at the top of an ancient pyramid.

The combined efforts of Dregz and Jurz reveal the outline of a 10 foot square trapdoor in the centre of the temple floor, directly in front of the altar inside the temple. The dried blood stains on the top of that altar appear to drain towards a small drainage hole in the centre of the altar.

Unless anyone else wants to scout ahead or have the honour of being first in line to meet the pointy things Minmorc will attempt to open the trap door.

With a satisfied nod to Jurz, Dregz steps back, well back, not only happy but keen to allow Minmorc the honour of being the first through the hole in the ground.

The little goblin moves around to the opposite side of the altar, trying to keep out of the way, but also puzzling over the drainage hole for the blood.

"Der blood must go down below," the priest suggests to the druid. "Wonda wot dey do wid it ?"

On the list of things to do with sacrificial blood that he knows of (the many and varied religions of those he's fought beside in times past are most enlightening in that regard), most involve dark rituals to appease hungry gods.

Jurz follows Dregz around the corner  of the Altar, equally happy to leave the initial exploration of the jungle tomb to the larger members of the group.

"Perhaps dey kept de wild animals down dere?  Or dere was a demon dat drank de blood.  I bets dey is hungry for de bloods now.  Or maysbe dis is just hollow?"

So saying, Jurz pokes around at the side of the altar and then jumps up on top of it to look through the hole.

"We could feed dem der monkey blood ?" Dregz suggests to his kinsman, nodding towards the corpses outside.  Probably very messy, but undoubtedly better to placate whatever might be lurking below with blood from the Apes' corpses than have it forcibly taken from the living !

The trap door in the floor seems to be a solid slab of stone. Minmorc can't find any obvious way to open it from the top and it seems strong enough to hold his weight without showing any sign of movement at all. It would probably be possible for him to smash it open eventually but that would definitely leave it open permanently after that.

The altar does appear to be a solid block of stone within a single drainage hole straight down through the middle to floor level. The drainage pipe then appears to lead away below floor level toward the trap door.

"It goes all de way down.  Dats handy ..." Jurz calls to Dregz.  Soon the reason the hole and tube is so  handy becomes obvious, as Jurz opens his pants and starts to urinate -  getting as much pee into the hole as he can

The drainage hole does its job quite well enough to handle Jurz's piddly little offering. It all drains away very quickly and a little of the dried blood is even cleaned away as a result. There is no sign of any other changes.

The druid's actions are straight out of the Beginner's Guide to Desecrating Temples and Other Holy Sites ... but just in case:

"Fetch uz wun ov der dead Apes ?" Dregz demands the bigguns in a whining, pleading tone as he tucks his flail into his belt and draws forth his small sacrificial knife.

Jurz shakes the last drops and hops down,  "Dat's better." He says with a satisfied smile.

Minmorc will ready his adamantine great axe to start his assault on the stone slab but will pause. "Hmmm, don't wanna gets goblin piss on me axe..." Straining his brain he stares at the alter and drain and goes cross eyed. A small cloud forms above Jurz and dumps several pints of water on him, further cleaning the goblin, the alter and he drain. "Dats better." If no one objects he will then start hacking his way through the trap door.

Several pints of water pour down on Jurz just before he hops off the altar. Of course, it rapidly drains away through the hole in the altar even as Jurz jumps down to the dry stone of the temple floor.

Just as Minmorc readies his greataxe to start swinging, the trapdoor voices its own objection. With a groan it swings open to reveal a ten foot wide pit in the temple floor.  The groan continues as the altar also tips forward about 30 degrees toward the pit.

However, that is as far as the altar tips. After that it slowly settles back to its normal position. As soon as the altar is back in place the trapdoor swings back up to lie flush with the floor level once more.

The goblin is fascinated by the shifting stones, rushing back and forth to watch the trapdoor open and close, then the altar return to its original position.

"Wese need a big stone wese can push under ter stop it going back !" the priest wisely proclaims.  "Or a length of wood ... or some monkey-corpses ..."

"Awwwk! Jurz shouts as the water drenches him, but it turns into more of an "Eeek! as the altar starts to move under him.

"Dat's clevers.  I likes dat.  We's needs to see how dat works." Jurz says as he realises what it happening.  "Yez.  De monkey bodies.  Dey will stop de altar from  swinging back down."

"Soze, Jurz stands on der altar and I dumps water on im ter open der trap door..." Minmorcs musings trail off as the brains of the party plan some monkey business. "Er, right, I'll go gets a monkey - if we gonna chop one up I'd likes a vest made o real gorilla chest."

"Get two of der dead monkeys, pleaz !" Dregz calls after Minmorc.  Ideally he'd prefer more, the better to jam up the works, but the hairy little priest doesn't want to tax the Orc's counting ability.

While he's waiting for Minmorc to return with monkey or monkeys, the priest continues to ponder the intricacies of the altar arrangements.

"So dey cut der sacrifice an' der blood runs down der hole, an' den der altar tips up an' der body, livin' or dead, falls in der pit," Dregz's finger follows the process through each step of the way.

"Why dey do dat ?  Either der is a big pile of bones down der, or der is somefin down der dat eats dem." The little goblin suggests, not liking where his ruminations are taking him.

"P'raps we should look behind dose uvver doors ..." he seeks an alternative to landing on a pile of bones or being presented on a platter to a hungry terror.

Minmorc will drag in the ape that was killed by fire figuring it'd have the most blood in it.

Oopses shudders at Dregz's suggestion, and steps farther away from the pit.

Jurz nods his agreement, when Dregz speaks his thoughts on the working of the pit.  "Whatever was down dere, might be deads now.  Or it mights be undeads, instead."  cocking his head to one side he wonders  "I  wonders if dis was where dey put dere dead kings and dey fed dem der blood of dere enemies.   Maybe's de blood of dere emenies brings dem back to life?  Or is dat de batty fings?" he muses, unsure of how the undead work.

With a shrug, he goes across to help Dregz with the doors.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 13:58, Tue 24 Oct 2017.

"Vampies." Minmorc will say knowingly. "Had a cuzzin wot worked for a Vampie, de boys gots a good dental plan but yer wanted ter make yerself elsewhere when der Boss got thirsty."

While Minmorc fetches one of the dead apes into the temple, Dregz starts inspecting the two locked doors at the back of the temple. Neither of the doors has an obvious keyhole or doorknob, so it is a bit of a mystery how to open them. Dregz is fairly sure there must be mechanism of some sort to open the locks but it looks like it is fairly well hidden to thwart would-be thieves from raiding the temple. It is obviously going to take a bit of searching and experimenting to work out how to open the doors.

OOC: DC30 Open Locks check for each door. Anyone with that skill can keep rolling on the diceroller until they have a win. Go ahead and roll as many times as you need to. Of course, each try takes a full round, so it is really a question of how lucky the lock picker is and how patient everyone else will be in the meantime. ;o)

Bulldust drags another ape to the edge of the trapdoor and is ready to push it into the hole.

Moffdust whistles to call Cat back from the jungle. She searches around both of the small rooms trying to find the door mechanism. "Which of de godses is dis temples for Dregzie? Someone nasties I tinks."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:30, Sun 29 Oct 2017.

Riza watches the comings and goings of the party with only mild enthusiasm. The altar is certainly a grizzly mechanism but compared to the swathes of destruction she was used to causing alongside her fellow party members it did not bother her. If anythingwas indeed alive under the altar it would either be weak from hunger, or soon dead if bulldust and minmorc have their way.

She soon follows Dregz quietly to inspect the locked doors in the temple. She studies them quietly as dregz looks about them before producing her tools. The first door gives its secrets and opens on her first try, with the second following a few seconds later. As she packs her tools away and pulls her spear before investigating/ looting she mutters to Dregz Really quite sadsss... they really should get better locks if they wantsss their stufffssss hidden

09:33, Today: Riza rolled 32 using 1d20+14.  Open locked door 2.

09:32, Today: Riza rolled 18 using 1d20+14.  Open locked door 2.

09:28, Today: Riza rolled 34 using 1d20+14.  Open locked door.

"Der iz a few dat are unpronounc ... unprocinab ... very difficult ter say," Dregz muses, his opinion of the Olman deities fairly low and those who worship them as delusional.

"Might be Tharizdun ?  Dat's a nasty wun. 'Eater of Worlds' ... der "Author of Wickedness' ... none of der uver gods liked 'im at all," he tells Moffa with some confidence.

The ease with which Riza opens the two doors certainly suggests that those who designed the locks weren't really trying. "P'raps dey meant 'em as a joke ?" he suggests to the lizard girl, though somewhat uncertainly as such a sense of humour doesn't really sit well with the blood sacrifice.

In the time it takes for Minmorc and Bully to drag in two of the dead apes and dump them behind the altar and beside the trap door, Riza manages to find out how to open the two locked doors to the two closed rooms in the temple. The trick is that the locks both involve two steps to unlock them. There is a stone in the wall beside each door that must be pushed in and twisted clockwise, but it can’t be moved at all until another stone in the floor is first depressed to unlock the stone in the wall. Simple enough once you know how it works, or if you have Riza’s eye for such details.

When the doors are opened the northwest room turns out to have been the living quarters of the priest who used to be in charge here many years ago. There is a mouldy straw pallet bed along one wall and a couple of wicker baskets nearby. A small table holds clay bowls and mugs and copper cutlery. Half of the floor is covered by a carpet that looks like it was woven from vines from the jungle. But the most striking feature of the room is a brightly painted wall mural that depicts a priest in a feathered cloak and golden mask making a human sacrifice on the altar then throwing the body down the pit in front of the altar.

The southwest room turns out to be a storeroom full of wooden furniture and other clay and wooden temple goods. In one corner there is an 8-foot tall, gold-painted, wooden statue that looks like a great, feathered, winged serpent with green glass eyes. In the wall beside it there are five rows of words chiselled in the stone and painted gold. However, the alphabet used is one that none of the team have ever seen before.

OOC: Main game map updated. Everyone is at +1 to hit and +1 on saves vs fear from Minmorc's Bless spell for 15 more rounds.

While he'd quite like a cloak of feathers (and the gods alone know what the hairy little priest would look like in one), it is the second room that causes Dregz to crow in triumph.

"Dat could be Tharizdun," he tells Moffa with a note of certainty, "Though it doesn't sp'cifkly say so.  Maybe der priests weren't allowed ter write 'is name ?"

Knowing that there's at least a couple in the tribe who don't read as a matter of pride, the goblin shares his translation of the inscription:

Der golden god wiv der wun green eye
Stands in der darkness, waitin'.
Der golden god wiv der two green eyes
Comes forth tah rule der world.
Der eye iz lost, terror rules all.

"Dat sounds prophetic !" Dregz enjoys a good prophesy and so is very impressed, muttering the words over and over under his breath, to commit them to memory.

Jurz trails along behind Dregz looking first into the bedroom and picking stuff over to see what the priest might have had as possession.

However, his eyes light up when he sees the statue of the feathered snake with wings. "Dats a snakes wiv wings an fevers! Jurz says almost in awe of such a creature.  Slowly he stalks around the statue looking at it and committing the form and shape to memory, just in case he should ever see one for real.

Eventually he makes his way across to the storage baskets looking for small metal items that have pictures of the flying snake on -  they will eventually jingle nicely on his stamping stick!

Arlein slinks into the southwest room, and jumps up onto one of the tables and studying Jurz as he drools at the statue  and beginss rummaging.

Minmorc will fuss around trying to get the Gorillas corpse on the altar in the right position, then he will start laying out weapons next to it. "Sacrificy, sacrificy... cut off head, carve out heart, peck out liver... Oi Birdy girl, yer hungry fer sum liver?"

"If we's make der sacrifice wiv de apes, what is we going to use to jam the altar up and de door opens?  We's don't want it to closes, while we is down dere."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:02, Tue 31 Oct 2017.

Minmorc pauses between the battle axe and the crow bar in his selection of sacrificial tools. "Ain't we usin der blood from one monkey fer der opening an der bits from der other monkey fer der wedging?"

Bulldust contrives to empty an ape of its bodily fluids and contain them within a selection of priestly bowls and pots which he arrays upon the altar ready to pour into the hole.

"Dats a good prophesies Dregzie. Very doomies." Moffdust approves.

"I fink da god wiv da one green eye is called Bogey."  Bulldust adds to the collective wisdom of the party.

"On der whole," by now the hairy priest has had time to consider all the spiritual implications of the prophetic words and is happy to pronounce divinely inspired judgment upon them, "it'd be most best if wese find der missing eye dat we don't give it back.  Our gods won't be most pleased if wese usher in der return of der golden god ter rule der world !"

Job done, Dregz turns his attention to the preparations for sacrifice, nodding approvingly at the two ape corpses that are ready to perform service as altar stops and the various vessels of blood and other fluids that Bully has faithfully collected.

Pocketing the Magic Stick, the goblin holds up the holy symbol of his god in both hands, poised to lower it to begin the ceremony once everyone is ready.

Jurz, Arlein and others quickly search the contents of the two rooms. They find all sorts of temple furniture, bowls, cups and other items but nothing of any particular value. Most of the items are wood, copper or pottery rather than any precious metals or gemstones. The priest's personal possessions from the wicker baskets basically only consist of clothing and basic household goods. If he actually had the type of feathered cloak and golden mask shown in the wall mural he must have taken them with him when he departed. Jurz does manage to find a pair of tarnished copper medallions with the winged serpent shown on both sides. However, the tarnished copper makes them green instead of golden colour.

Soon all of the preparations are completed for the blood sacrifice on the altar. A bucket of ape blood is poured into the drainage hole on the altar. The trapdoor groans again as it swings open to reveal a ten foot wide pit in the temple floor. The groan continues as the altar also tips forward about 30 degrees toward the pit.

OOC: At least one ape body is in position behind the altar for Minmorc to push it under the altar to prop the altar up and keep the trapdoor open. It is not quite clear whether you put one ape body on the altar to fall into the pit or if that second ape body is also on the floor behind the altar. What is the plan, folks?

Minmorc will shove the ape body under the altar to prop the trapdoor open. He'll stash away his various blades and bludgeons and will get ready to head down, great axe in hand.

"Put der udder wun under der altar too," Dregz suggests to Bully, quickly waving his flail to officially if belatedly start proceedings as Minmorc prepares to go down into the pit.

"OK Dregzie."  the green goblin seems to know how this is done, so Bulldust props his mangled ape's body under the altar next to Min's.  He readies his flail and prepares to enter the pit.

Jurz pockets the two medallions, sure that he will be able to make them bright and shiny again later.  Then with a huge grin on his face, he watches the the pseudo sacrifice with interest, nodding  when the bodies are slid into position.

Strolling over to the trap door, he peers down into the darkness.

Minmorc and Bulldust jam the two ape bodies under the tilted altar. After the trapdoor swings all the way open the altar starts to tip back to its normal upright position on the floor but jams on the ape bodies about halfway back to the floor. There is the unmistakable crunch of bones breaking within the two ape corpses but the altar stops and the trapdoor stays open.

Everyone with darkvision (i.e. everyone except Raven) can see down the pit to the floor 60 feet below. The 10ft-square shaft goes down 30 feet from the temple floor before it opens out into a larger area for the final 30 feet before reaching the floor. About a 30ft diameter area of the floor is visible from the top of the shaft. The floor is made of stone blocks like the rest of the pyramid but there are many broken bones scattered all over the floor. The base of a 5ft-wide stone pillar is just visible at the western edge of the area of floor that is visible from above.

As you peer down the shaft you see a couple of man-sized creatures move into view and slither through the bones to the spot where a bright splash of fresh blood covers bones and floor alike. These creatures have the head, torso and arms of a humanoid creature but below the waist they are a shapeless mass more like a slug.

After a moment a voice echoes up the shaft from below. The tone of the voice is deep and masculine but not a language that any of Team Arda-Nuff can speak, but it clearly doesn’t sound happy.

OOC: Everyone is at +1 to hit and +1 on saves vs fear from Minmorc's Bless spell for 13 more rounds.

"Let's send a scout in first."  Bulldust starts hauling a third ape into the temple.  "Dis guy can de da scout, unless anyone else wants ter be first."

Minmorc will pull a 100ft coil of rope from his backpack and will busy himself tying it around the altar that's outside the temple. He'll get Riza to help him with the knots and will then make his way back into the temple with the rope bundled on the floor, ready to drop into the hole. "So is we goin in, or shootin first or tryin ter, eurgh, talk ter dems first?"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:59, Mon 06 Nov 2017.

Dregz peers quickly over the edge into the pit and then recoils.

"Dey want meat," he tells his tribe. "Dey say dey were promised food by der masters but dey haven't been fed for a very long time."

"We's could talk to dem wiv dat ape body dat Bully has?" Jurz suggests, responding to Minmorc and Dregz at the same time.

In reply to Jurz (msg # 104):

As the smell reaches Arlein, she stands up and hisses.

Suddenly a new thought strikes Jurz, "An we's could tell dem we is der new masters."
This message was last edited by the player at 09:33, Fri 10 Nov 2017.

Curiosity getting the better of him, he moves towards the pit to see what the others were talking about.

Dregz nods, liking Jurz plan.  "Den dey would obey us !"

"Would dey like der one wot is gutted or der one dat was minced? Yer reckon dey want ter try playin Nuffle ball?"

"Best gets dem a new dead ape," Dregz pronounces sagely.  "Den I can ask dem about der Nuffle ball."

Jurz points across at Bully who has already gone to collect a new body.

The hairy little goblin notes Bully's contribution with an approving nod on behalf of Bargrivyek, indicating to the bugbear that he should drop the ape's body down the pit.

Once that is done, Dregz will address the slug-creatures, deepening his voice as he shouts ...

"Heeerrres izz meeaat !  Weeessee aarree ddeerr neeewww maaassssterrrrss ! Aaan' yoooousssee musss' ddooo assss weeessee sseeezzz !"

"Dooo yoooousssee waaaaan' terrrr pllllaaayys Nnnuuufffflleee baaaalll ??"

Minmorc and Riza go out of the temple to tie Minmorc's rope to the altar outside. Dregz tells everyone that the voices down the pit want meat because they were promised food and haven't been fed in a long time, so Bulldust rushes out and starts dragging a third ape corpse into the temple to throw down the pit. Everyone else crowds round the pit staring down into the darkness at the bones and slithering creatures on the floor 60 feet below.

Suddenly there is a familiar faint sound of rushing air from the tilted altar and a gaunt figure (g1) suddenly materialises, crouched on the altar. It would be about 10 feet tall if it was standing fully upright and looks a bit like an emaciated giant. It is so gaunt that its reddish skin virtually hangs loose on its bones. But its eyes glow like red hot coals and its mouth looks more like a gaping wound across the lower half of its face. The figure opens its mouth and snarls at everyone in the temple. Everyone feels a shiver of fear wash over them.  Then everyone hears a deep, angry voice inside their heads saying, "Fear me, or I will remind you why you should! Make sacrifices again, or I will come and take you all myself!"

OOC: The creature appeared before anyone had a chance to throw anything down the pit or started yelling orders at the creatures down there.

Main game map updated. Everyone is at +1 to hit and +1 on saves vs fear from Minmorc's Bless spell for 12 more rounds.

This is way too close for a small green goblin. Moffdust sidles away to the northeast and out the door, trying not to be noticed, whispering "I is not here. I is not here.". She peeks back around the doorway.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:17, Mon 13 Nov 2017.

"Oo Oo!  We're workin on it!  Hope dey like monkey!"  Bulldust is clearly impressed with this apparition.  He hoists the ape over the edge and gives a satisfied nod to the big scary demon thing.

Minmorc will look around the corner. "Oi, keep it down in there, Ise workin here."

Jurz's eyes open wide at the sight of the demon suddenly crouched on the altar, and like Moffa his sense of  self preservation cuts in, and he steps smartly backwards until he  is is in the corner made by the  outer temple wall and the side wall of the small room.

Once he is out oof sight, he casts Barkskin on himself -  just in case the demon decided they need to understand the need for sacrifice immediately.

Dregz almost wets himself on the spot.

This thing squatting on the altar is no god ... he's fairly sure ... but it does not pay to anger a demon either, particulary one as ferocious and terrifying as this one.

Wordlessly the little goblin priest nods to Bully encouraging him to do what he's already doing, though for the moment Dregz elects not to share his carefully chosen words of welcome with the slithering things below, lest it offend the demon.  Besides which he's not sure he's capable of much more than a frightened squeak at the moment, and would back away if he could, though his legs seem not to be obeying him, presently.

Whatever it is, Oopses has seen a bigger uglier Minmorc, so if Minmorc didn't care about it, neither should he.
Well that and the terror of slipping in Jurz's puddle and sliding head over heels into a ancient murderhole tends to put one's fears into prespecive. A shocked gasp follow by a piercing "[Language unknown: STIUREORT!]"is his final words as the goblin disappears over the edge.

Oopses rolled a 15+1bless vs fear..

"Oo! Does dat count as a sacrifice?" Bulldust watches Oopses fall.  Hopefully the mangled ape will arrive first and cushion his impact.

"Dats a good uses for Oopses." Moffdust approves from behind the door post.

Minmorc will watch the little goblin fall. "Oops. Wots dat Arlein, Oopses fell down a well?"

Wese mus' save 'im !  At least that's what Dregz tries to say as Oopses falls, but alas, as he feared, no more than a frightened squeak passes his lips.

Those able to see down the pit will see that a thick mass of spider webs suddenly appears across the pit to catch Oopses before he hits the bottom of the pit. The dead ape had already hit bottom before the webs appeared.

Totally ignoring the apparition Minmorc will continue readying his ropes. "All good Dregz, I'll go get der little guy."

Bulldust is mystified by Minmorc's casual disregard of the greatest threat the party has ever seen. "Maybe da demon can only be seen by clever people? "

Minmorc is now confused. "Wait, yous can sees a demon fing? I can ony see a big smokey fing wots saying fear it or it will come ere which means its not ere right now right? I ain't scared of no ghosts, I wants it ter come ere so I can hit it wid my axe so I can't fear it or it won't come here... an if you fear it it won't come ere so ders nuttin ter fear... now I'm confused... Oi, big smokey demon fing, are you ere or not?"

OOC: I ain't scared of no ghosts, dooby dooby doo doo, dibby dibby doo doo, ghost busters!

Listening to the exchange between Bully and Minmorc, causes Jurz to pause.  Once his spell has been cast he takes a couple of steps sideways, along the wall - away from the altar - until he can see the demon  clearly - then Jurz squints at it through one eye ...

The little goblin is certain that a demon-ghost is worse than just a plain demon, though he'd be happy enough for Minmorc to give it a good smiting with his axe if that would banish it, matter not if it be fiend or apparition or some horrid combination of the two !

Bulldust's head spins as he tries to follow Minmorc's explanation.  In the end it's far too clever or too orcish for Bulldust to follow, but he feels certain the demon will understand.  He glances down into the pit again to see how Oopses is getting on and grins. "Da self-sacrificing goblin had a safety net."

Moffdust wonders what Min is seeing. He described the demon as smokey. And Jurz is looking at it through one eye... so she looks at it through the other eye (to preserve the cosmic balance).

Dregz closes both eyes tight shut, hoping the ghost-demon goes away !

It definitely looks solid enough to all of you, or as solid as skin-and-bones ever looks. The eyes are glowing like red hot coals, but not smoking.

OOC: Minmorc is clearly convinced that this thing isn't here, helps that he's not within reach of its claws :) Minmorc will continue working on the ropes til bleeding starts.

When the emaciated giant-creature appears almost everyone decides it must be a demon!

Moffa unobtrusively slips away and out the northeast door of the temple.  Jurz retreats southwards to the corner of the temple then casts a spell on himself once he is safely out of reach. Dregz seems too scared to move.

Bully tosses a dead ape down the pit to provide the sacrifice that the 'demon' demanded. The dead ape lands smack on top of one of the slug creatures on the floor of the pit and squashes it flat!

Oopses is so scared he slipped on a wet patch (no comment on where that might have come from!) and tumbles down the pit but he manages to squeal out a spell as he falls and lands in a sticky net of webs before he hits the floor.

Minmorc and Riza finish tying off Min's rope to the altar outside and come back in to toss the rope down to Oopses. Minmorc seems convinced the giant 'demon' thing is just a figment of everyone's imagination and happily ignores it.

The giant 'demon' thing nods in what might be a sign of approval when the ape is thrown down the pit then Oopses falls in after it.  But after that it looks around at those still standing nearby. It points at Dregz and says "Duck?", points at Arlein and says "Duck?", then points at Raven and says "Goose!" It suddenly lunges at Raven and tries to bite her! Fortunately for Raven, the creature slips on the tilted surface of the altar and nearly falls down the pit when it tries to attack, so it misses her and ends up barely clinging onto the altar instead.

OOC: Main game map updated (including a side elevation of the pyramid and pit as well).
Anyone with the skill can try to make a Knowledge (The Planes) check to identify if this 'demon' thing really is that.
Everyone is at +1 to hit and +1 on saves vs fear from Minmorc's Bless spell for 11 more rounds.

Minmorc is quite upset that the figment of their imagination tried to bite Raven. "Oi, birdy girl ain't a duck or a goose you turkey!" Picking Raven up and placing her in the space north of Riza Minmorc will take a five foot step west and try to hit the apparently here, real and hopefully hittable demon thing with his axe.

 "Awk! Not goose, not goose. Not duck eider! Not chiken but scared o youz! Oh Tank youz Minmorc! Youz brav an stong!"

 She throws her arms around Minmorc and hangs on tightly while he whisks her away from the bitter biter.

Raven's cries finally give Dregz the courage to open his eyes ... and though fear still holds him in it's icy grip, the hairy little priest is incensed at the demon's assault upon the members of his tribe !

"Ged it !  Ged it !  Push it in der pit !!" the goblin yells, swiftly moving to his left around the altar and swinging his flail wildly at the creature !

"Youse fall down, youse !" he commands, sternly, unrighteousness on his side.

Bulldust steps 5' to the west and takes out his goose hook, grinning at Raven's categorising of the types of birds she is not (although still puzzled about what type of bird she is).  He twirls the pole and begins the complex procedure to trip the clumsy demon.

"Yes, in de holes you goes!" Moffdust peeks around the corner and casts Grease on the altar stone to help the demon find the hole. "Look out Oopses! One demonses comin yer ways." Tee hee. She pops a fistful of wands out of her haversack in case she needs to use one of them next round.

Jurz drifts ten feet east, to a place where he can see what is happening but isn't close to the action.  He has his gold-hilted dagger in his hand, waiting .....

Minmorc scoops Raven out of the way and dumps her safely beside Riza. Then he steps forward to swing his greataxe at the giant-demon-thing on the altar. His 'Axe-Wife' carves a deep gash across the monster's belly but instead of blood it is a slimy white liquid that oozes out of the wound. Although it seemed like that blow should have dealt a serious wound it looks like it is only a moderate wound instead.

Raven is outraged at being called a goose but thanks Minmorc effusively for rescuing her. Arlein hisses and snarls at the giant-demon-thing as though she was just as outraged about being called a duck. 

Dregz seems determined to sacrifice himself to distract the giant-demon-thing. He steps around behind the altar, waving his flail and shouting at the monster up on the altar. However, his antics barely elicit a glance from the creature, which seems more focussed on those in front of it with bigger weapons in hand.

Bulldust steps forward and hooks at the creature's foot with his goose-hook just as Moffdust casts a spell to coat the altar with grease under the creature’s feet. Its feet slip on the grease and down it goes, sliding down the sloping altar and plunging down into the pit. Bully tries to hit the creature as it falls but he stumbles and barely manages to avoid falling into the pit  Minmorc follows Bully's lead, almost too closely! Minmorc also misses and barely manages to avoid falling into the pit as well.

Jurz shifts position slightly for a better view but the creature has fallen down the pit before he or Riza decide on any particular way to attack it.

The giant-demon-thing snarls as it falls into the pit but moments later that turns into menacing laughter as it plummets down the shaft with Moffdust's shouted warning to Oopses echoing down the shaft around it. Those close enough can only watch in horror as it slams into the webs right on top of Oopses. Worse yet, the little goblin's scream is suddenly cut off as the creature swallows him whole!

OOC: Main game map updated.
Everyone is at +1 to hit and +1 on saves vs fear from Minmorc's Bless spell for 10 more rounds.

"I'm comin for yer, yer Bastard!" Leaping into the air Minmorc grips the handle of the axe wife and places both feet below her head as a digger would to sink a shovel, shooting downwards as a bladed cannon ball.

Minmorc jumps and plummets down the shaft axe first. He hits the giant-demon-thing right in the back and his weight drives the axe blades deep into the creature's body. Minmorc crashes onto the creature and suffers some bruises as well, but the creature definitely gets the worst of it. It is now grievously wounded and coughs up a great ball of white slime as the weight of the giant orc squashes its body into the webs.  The white slime-ball shoots away out of sight toward the eastern end of the web.

"Hur, hur, hur... TOUCHDOWN! Now say Nuncle and admit dat YER der goose an I'll accept yer surrender!"

"No surrenders ! No surrenders !" Dregz demands crossly, hurrying around the altar stone to stare down into the hole, trying to see what is going on.  "You'se must cut poor Ooopses from der demon's belly !"

"DEN it can surrenders !"

Jurz approaches the pit carefully, making sure that he is not going to be the next one who falls down there.  His eyes open wide in surprise as Minmorc talks about the demon surrendering, but he has no advice to give at the moment.  And there is no way that he would consider contradicting Dregz when the hairy goblin is that certain of himself.

"I fink Oopses shot outta it when I landed - a real foul ball dats bounced outta play and got stuck onna statue. Oi, Oopses, doze yer arms an legs stickin outta der gunky ball? Is yous still attached ter dem?"

The little goblin considers what might constitute extenuating circumstances if he knew the meaning of the word, his religion and the prophecies thereof not really allowing for shades of grey, except for the sort that don't breathe a whole lot and drain the life from you.

"Dat's alright den," Judge 'I am der Lore !' Dregz relents. "If Oopses is okay den it can surrender !"

Not only is the giant-demon-thing squashed by giant Minmorc's weight but it is completely entangled in the webs as well. Everyone suddenly hears a voice in their heads.

"Nuncle ... Goose ... Surrender" it says.

"Dat went well." Bulldust is impressed by Min's leap of faith and relieved that he doesn't have to jump in there as well.

OOC: For anyone else who doesn't fancy following Oopses and Minmorc's method of rapid descent, Minmorc has left his 100ft rope near the eastern edge of the pit, with one end already tied to the altar outside the temple.

Minmorc will take a moment to look around the area that he's now in, to see if there's any items of interest or any more of the snakey things. He'll also look down at the Demony thing. "So Goose... wot are you, wot are dey and is der anyfing round ere ter eat?"

The little priest listens with interest to whatever lies the demon-ghost (or maybe it's a ghost-demon) tells the big Orc.  He also takes the opportunity to fish out his Magic Stick and take another direction sounding, just to confirm that down the hole he and his tribe all must go.

Jurz just watches and listens to the nuncle-ing below, something that can swallow Oopses whole is something for the big guys.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 23:45, Sat 02 Dec 2017.

Moffdust creeps to the edge of the hole and peers down, the demon's surrender playing in her head. She eyes the rope dubiously. "I can gets us all down deres nice and safes wid a Fedder Falling spells. Wes just all has ter jumps at de same times. Bestest if dear Oopses webses is gone before we jumps. So does youse wants ter jumps all togedders?"

Dregz checks the direction to the team's goal and finds the rod still points down into the depths of the pyramid. In fact it is pointing down toward the western end of the webs, behind and far below the tilted altar.

The creature sighs angrily before its voice is heard directly in everyone's mind.

"What I am now is nothing compared to what I used to be! You would have been shaking in your boots if you saw me as I was then! I was an elite warrior of the Nine Hells of Baator, a Hamatula! You might not know that name but even you would have heard of us as Barbed Devils. Now I am reduced to this pitiful form with nothing to eat but those wretched lemures. No, there is nothing for you to eat down here. Those lemures taste awful."

OOC: Main game map updated.
Everyone is at +1 to hit and +1 on saves vs fear from Minmorc's Bless spell for 9 more rounds.

"So yous a devil eh? stuck in a hole eating slug fings sounds like hell ter me... so whys you stuck ere, shouldn't yer be somewhere warmer?"

"This is my chance for redemption. My chance to be forgiven and restored to my previous status and power. Help me do that. Help me and you will be richly rewarded!" the former barbed devil replies.

"I'll jump in wiv ya Moffa, when da webs are gone."

"Me's too." Jurz pipes up, tagging his acceptance on the end of Bully's.  However, he is more interested in the conversation with the devil below, as he wonders what help the infernal creature will ask for.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:01, Mon 04 Dec 2017.

"An wots der yer need fer redemshin?" Minmorc can vaguely remember hearing that it's always a good idea to make deals with the devil.

Dregz is naturally suspicious of anyone and everyone who is not his tribe and does care to draw a distinction between paladins and those from the infernal depths.

There's no harm in listening though ... indeed the devil's request may provide a cautionary lesson in what needs to be avoided at all costs !

Lemures.  Almost as bad as lemurs to one who has little use for the finer points of spelling.  Slugs, though ... those he can deal with.

"Bring der salt," the hairy little priest advises (while providing nothing by way of a suggestion as to where one might find such, let alone in sufficient quantities for his purposes¹), as he queues up with the rest to take advantage of Moffa's offa.


¹  though while we might need a lot of salt to rid ourselves of slugs, we'll only need a take grain of it with the devil's words.

"We jumps when de webs is gone. Den we begins de assaults!" Moffdust listens to the conversation between Minmorc and the devil.

"The green gem. The eye of that golden statue over there. Pry the gem out and give it to me. Your reward will be greater than you can even imagine!"

"Oi Dregz, dat prophecy fingy yer liked, we woz sposed ter take der eye right?"

Oopses take the thick gloop from his face, and tastes it in true cook spirit.

The bald goblin pulls a face, twists his head sideways again and looks at the devil though one eye again. Then he nods his head in approval.

---

21:17, Today: Jurz rolled 4 using 1d20+3.  Sense Motive ....

Arlein is very displeased with recent events has she approaches the hole with tail at full alert, maxium bush, and ears in the layedback position.

Minmorc's question is a good one, and leaves the little priest puzzling over the exact nature of the prophecy, trying to decide if it was an instruction or warning.  He mutters the words to himself once more as he considers carefully ...

"Der golden god wiv der wun green eye
Stands in der darkness, waitin'.
Der golden god wiv der two green eyes
Comes forth tah rule der world.
Der eye iz lost, terror rules all."

That, by Bargrivyek's graces the tribe has cleverly found the golden god with one 'green eye', is only right and proper.  But should they take the eye, or look for a second 'green eye' and restore it to the statue ... which very much depends on whether that 'coming forth to rule the world' is metaphorical ... and whether taking an eye will result in 'terror ruling all' ...

"Gives me der minute, Ise mus' ask Bargrivyek 'bout dis."

On the whole, taking the gem does seem rather risky, but then the coin it might fetch is very tempting.  As he ponders, Dregz looks at the ghost-demon in suspicion, very certain that it does not have the best interest of his tribe in mind, muttering what is undoubtedly a prayer to his god for guidance.

Minmorc will absent mindedly flick the handle of the axe that's still imbedded in the demon. "Goose, be more spesific, wot yer gonna give us fer der gem?"

The emaciated devil winces in pain as Minmorc taps the handle of his greataxe. His voice is heard clearly inside the heads of all members of Team Arda-Nuff.

"My lord Baalzaghul is trapped. Has been trapped for centuries. Help me and I can free him! He will reward me, return me to what I once was, even make me one of his generals! You will be able to join us as we carve out a new realm in these lands. Name your reward and you shall have it! You want to be a general too? Lord of a district? Warchief of a tribe? High priest of a city? A Master of Assassins or a Master of Thieves? Or do you want to retire to a quiet life as Village Chief with a hundred slaves and concubines? Bring me the green gem from the statue and any of those things can be yours. Those and many more."

"Well Goose, dats a pretty bloody good offer buts I gotsa discuss it wid my biznis partners first. Now it looks like dey wants der webs outta der way before dey comes ter der table, but I likes you all wrapped up, so..." Minmorc will pull the axe out of the demon and will start slashing away at the webs in a ten foot circle, positive that this will create a hole and allow him and his captive to majestically swing to the foot of the statue.

Having been bought up in the backwoods, Jurz just has to ask, "Whats a kon-ki-bine?" He knows none of the other offers particularly appeal to him. But ...

A hundred slaves sounded complicated enough, but kon-ki-bines as well?

Moffdust purses her lips as the devil speaks in her head then spits on the ground "Slaves <spit> Armies <spit> Wes doesn't needs ter be given dese, wes takes wot we wants."

When Minmorc has slashed away the webs she looks at the others gathered at the top and says "On threes. Ones... Twos... Threes!" She jumps...

Bulldust doesn't seem impressed either.  "I didn't want ta join Kurgan's army and I don't want ta join Baalzaghul's eiver.  Slaves are nuffin but trouble.  I don't know what a Kon-Ki-Bine is worf eiver, but I fink a hundred doesn't sound like much."

He says some mystical words into his right gauntlet and jumps in when Moffa says threes.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:33, Sun 10 Dec 2017.

Moffdust stops counting and waits respectfully as Dregz calls upon the wisdom of Bargrivyek. "Fools jumps in..." she murmurs, chiding herself for impatience.

"Kon-Ki-Bine ... 's some sorta plough," Dregz the Knowledgeable mutters absently as he continues to pray.

Jurz suddenly realises "Den dat is whats de slaves is for!  To plough wiv de Kon-Ki-Bines."  Although he still can't quite work out why he might need a hundred ploughing slaves.

Bulldust likes digging holes. "I might go for a hundred shovels.  Ya can keep da slaves."

As Dregz continues to concentrate on his spell, Minmorc slashes a great semicircular gash in the webs and the emaciated devil (g1) beneath his feet swings down and away from beneath him. Minmorc falls to the floor ten feet below but his landing is cushioned by the corpse of the great ape that was thrown down earlier.

Riza kicks the coil of rope into the pit then she and everyone else follows Moffdust as she leaps into the pit too.

"Fedders! ...eek!... Fev-vers! ...eek!... FEATH-ERS!" Moffa squeals as she falls.

Suddenly everyone is floating gently downwards until, six seconds later, they all float through the hole in the web and bounce gently off giant Minmorc's head and shoulders and land on the floor around him.

No one really has time to take in the scene around them yet but when they do they discover they are now in a domed, 40-foot square chamber. There are thousands of cracked and broken bones scattered all over the floor and Oopses' thick layer of webs stretches across the chamber ten feet above the floor. There is a door in the western wall and a stone pedestal against the eastern wall supports a ten-foot tall golden statue of a winged serpent that pokes up above the webs. Oopses is clinging to the top of that statue.

The grievously wounded, emaciated devil (g1) is hopelessly entangled in the semicircular flap of webs that Minmorc cut but there is another of those emaciated devils (g2) standing right in front of the door and within reach of the Minmorc and team Arda-Nuff. There are also two man-sized, half-humanoid / half-slug creatures (lemures, s1 and s2) on the floor of this chamber.

As soon as people start falling through the webs the second devil (g2) lunges forward with mouth open wide to bite the closest person, which turns out to be Riza. It hits, bites and swallows the little lizard girl in one gulp!

The lemures are slower to react but are already edging forward with claws reaching for living flesh.

OOC: Main game map updated.
Everyone is at +1 to hit and +1 on saves vs fear from Minmorc's Bless spell for 7 more rounds.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 01:34, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

"Riza!" Minmorc will sweep low aiming for this demons legs.
This message was last updated by the GM at 01:35, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

"Bad ghost-demon !" Dregz sternly rebukes the creature that just ate Riza ... however he's not stupid enough to try to fight it !

Grabbing his flail the little goblin steps forwards and swings it with deadly intent at the approaching slug-thing. "Ged back youse !  Youse not eatin' me !"


OOC: Move one square directly south (sorry Jurz, you'll have to go around me if you want to join in, but Dregz wan't keen on staying in reach of the devil  :>)
This message was last updated by the GM at 01:35, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

Opposes is firmly entrapped in the web's still, though he has managed to get a arm free.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:35, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

"Dese bofe bad ghost-demons!" Jurz agrees firmly.  Like Dregz he isn't stupid enough to go and fight the new ghost-demon, especially as this new  ghost-demon could swallow him whole.  However, the other ghost-demon was still wrapped up in webs, and can't fight back.  The little druid prepares to cast Flame Blade, but suddenly remembers that webs burn .... and that would free the ghost-demon ....

A slight frown, but then a  grin, as Jurz suddenly whips out his Oaken Club and starts an incantation ....
This message was last updated by the GM at 01:36, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

Moffdust grins sheepishly as she lands everyone safely after a near miss with mispronunciation. She gasps as Riza is swallowed, then heads for safety near the north wall to consider what to do to help... PM to GM
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:35, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

Arlein still feels considerably uncomfortable, and hisses at the door guard g2.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:36, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

Just a couple of PMs ...
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 01:36, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

Moffdust levels a wand at her brother "Bulzilla!" Gets him Bully! She makes him big again.
This message was last updated by the GM at 01:37, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

Now giant sized, Bulldust keeps his head low so it does not get tangled in the webs.  He circles around to the north side of the devil but keeping 10' distance, and swings his flail at its legs.

22:26, Today: Bulldust rolled 21 using 1d20+13.  touch attack with flail to trip devil, incl bless.
22:27, Today: Bulldust rolled 16 using 1d20+13.  opposed STR to trip devil.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 01:37, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

With a cry of outrage at the way Riza was swallowed whole, giant Minmorc swings his greataxe at the emaciated devil's legs (g2). His blow hits and cuts deep but is not enough to put the infernal creature down. It is only moderately wounded.

Dregz scolds the devil for eating Riza then turns to his left to deal with the closest of the slug-like lemure (s1). He hits it as hard as he can with his flail but it seemed to absorb some of that blow leaving it moderately wounded.

Oopses is still clinging to the head of the golden statue above the webs. He is still covered in the white slime from the devil's (g1) gut but does have his hands free. Arlein hisses at the big, emaciated devil in front of her.

Jurz whips out his oaken club and casts a spell on it. Moffa points a wand at Bully and with the command "Bullzilla" she makes him as big as giant Minmorc.

Bully circles around to the north of the devil (g2) then swings at its legs with his flail, trying to trip it. The infernal creature nearly loses its footing but manages to withstand Bully's attack and does not fall.

Raven decides she needs to team up with Dregz to defeat the lemure so she scrambles southwards then dives and rolls around behind the lemure (s1) until she can pop up in position to flank it with Dregz, with her glowing rapier in her hand.

The lemure (s1) that Dregz hit claws at Dregz with both hands while the other lemure (s2) slithers forward and claws at Jurz with both hands as well. Both goblins manage to evade the lemures' attacks.

The first giant, emaciated devil (g1) hangs in the webs, barely conscious. The second one (g2), instead of fighting back against its attackers it shudders and vomits Riza back out again. Riza lands on the floor in front of it. She is thinly covered in that white slime from head to toe but her eyes are more thickly covered by it.

OOC: Main game map updated.
Everyone is at +1 to hit and +1 on saves vs fear from Minmorc's Bless spell for 6 more rounds.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 01:37, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

Bulldust wraps his flail around the devil's legs again and pulls, this time with a bit more oomph.  If it goes down he'll follow through with another blow.  If it tries to rise he'll hit it again.  Keeping it simple :-)
This message was last updated by the GM at 01:38, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

Minmorc will settle into a steady rhythm, working up and down the Demons leg to slowly whittle him away.

OOC: Three 1's for damage, awwww... :(
This message was last updated by the GM at 01:38, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

The hairy little goblin bares his teeth at the slug-thing.

"Youse dies, youse !" he insists, sternly as he swings his flail once more, going for what might be a sensitive spot.  Or not.
This message was last updated by the GM at 01:38, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

"Yeuuk." Jurz exclaims the the slimy slug demon tries to attack him.  "Youse is gettin it nowse!" he shouts, as he slams his club down on the slug-like thing in front of him.

"Damned Fing!" he half mutters.

---

07:24, Today: Jurz rolled 25 using 1d20+7.  hit Lemure.
07:25, Today: Jurz rolled 2 using 1d8.  Damage lemure.
This message was last updated by the GM at 01:38, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

Opposes finally has the dull idea to dismiss the web's he is trapped in, only to fall face first at the foot of the statue.

Pushing himself up he stares at his tribe fighting giant grubs, and is comfortable safetly above the choas.
This message was last updated by the GM at 01:38, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

Bulldust follows through with a blow to the devils head as soon as it falls down but misses hopelessly.
OOC: dice roller giving lots of 1s.
07:52, Today: Bulldust rolled 14 using 1d20+13.  Fli
This message was last updated by the GM at 01:39, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

Moffdust gawks at Riza "Lizzie Rizzie! What dis youse do ter makes dat demon spits youse out?" She doesn't think Bully and Min need any help with the fallen over demon, but she can help with the slugs. "Ya uln!" She begins to summon some help (arrives next round)
This message was last updated by the GM at 01:39, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

 She tried to tumble again so she is in a position to attack the lemur and back her friends up. Of course, it made her a bit nervous, cause she wasn't the most courageous creature, but they are her friends! She waved her rapier at the thing and tried to stick it to him good!

 "Bad Lemur! Awk!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:39, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

Bulldust wraps his flail around the emaciated devil's (g2) legs again and pulls, this time with a bit more oomph.  This time he succeeds and infernal creature falls down on the debris on the floor with a crunch of broken bones. Bully immediately follows through with another blow aimed at its head but he misses completely.

Minmorc slashes at the devil's (g2) legs again with his greataxe. He hits again but this time he does less damage than before. It is still only moderately wounded.

With Raven flanking the slug-like lemure (s1) Dregz manages to hit it on the head so hard with his flail that the lemure falls to the floor dead.

Jurz follows Dregz example and whacks the second lemure (s2) on the head with his club. Unfortunately it is not as powerful a blow and the lemure hardly even seems to notice it.

Just then the mass of webs overhead suddenly disappears and Oopses drops from the head of the statue to land on the 10-foot high pedestal that the statue stands upon. The other emaciated devil (g1) falls to the floor behind Minmorc, Moffdust and Jurz.

Moffdust starts casting a spell.  Fortunately the emaciated devil (g1) that fell from the disappearing webs looks to be too weak to attack anyone anymore and it completely ignores her. It just crawls away to the wall beside the statue.

Raven scurries across to the other lemure but doesn't quite manage to move far enough to flank it. She pops up behind it and stabs it with her glowing rapier. Unfortunately her blade doesn't find any vital organ inside the lemure's body and the lemure hardly even seems to notice it.

Arlein continues to hiss at the big emaciated devil (g2).

Then the white slime-covered Riza throws herself at the giant shape of her friend Minmorc. She attacks viciously with her little claws and tries to bite him as well. 

The last lemure (s2) lashes out with its claws at both of the enemies attacking it (Jurz and Raven). It misses Jurz again but its claws hit Raven and draw blood.

The big emaciated devil (g2) lying prone on the floor frowns in concentration, which gives Minmorc and Bulldust another chance to hit it again while it is distracted.

OOC: Minmorc and Bulldust each get one attack of opportunity against the prone devil (g2) before whatever it is doing can take effect. (g2 is -4 on AC while prone)
Main game map updated.
Everyone is at +1 to hit and +1 on saves vs fear from Minmorc's Bless spell for 5 more rounds.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 01:40, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

Bulldust uses AoO to hit the prone devil for 20hp.  Guessing that this is not yet a knockout he uses his action for this round to hit it again, but misses again, another 1 on dice roller.  He shrugs and looks at Minmorc.  "Up to you again Min."  He suddenly notices what Riza is doing and the white slime blinding her eyes "Oo Oo!  Dats da wrong leg Lizzie Rizzie ... da big demon fing is lying down behind you."
This message was last updated by the GM at 01:40, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

Minmorc will ignore Riza and will join Bully in wailing on the demon while it's down. "Wot has yer done ter my friend? No ones gets away wid eating my little buddies!"
This message was last updated by the GM at 01:40, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

Seeing that Dregz has smashed one Lemure and Jurz and Raven have the other surrounded, Moffdust decides to help Bully and Min with the big devil, or maybe give Min a chance to pick off a sticky lizard. "ya uln Bill!" She summons a celestial bison which appears in the south west corner and charges the lying devil.

12:58, Today: Moffdust rolled 24 using 1d8+16.  bill the celestial bison damage.
12:55, Today: Moffdust rolled 23 using 1d20+14.  Bill the celestial bison charges in.
This message was last updated by the GM at 01:40, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

Bulldust and Minmorc both hit the prone devil (g2) while it is concentrating on what was probably a devilishly cunning plan. The agonised groan it utters after both hits is a clear sign that its concentration did not survive those blows.

Bully and Minmorc immediately rain more blows on that devil before it even gets a chance to get to its feet. Bully doesn't manage to hurt it but Minmorc certainly does and the devil (g2) collapses face down on the floor.

Then Moffa summons in a new friend, Bill the bison, who stomps all over the unconscious devil. The big devil was just skin and bones to start with, but by the time Bill is finished it looks like most of the devil's bones are broken and it will never rise again.

OOC: Bully, Minmorc and Bill have now acted in the new round. The rest of the team can still act this round to finish off the last lemure (s2, currently unwounded), the other grievously wounded devil (g1), or do whatever else they want to do this round.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:41, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

Jurz steps sideways, so that he is directly opposite Raven, while despertaely trying to ignore the ruckus from behind him.  Slamming his little club down on the lemure he mutters, "Des rubbery.  I wishes I'se had a sack of salt ..."

---

09:35, Today: Jurz rolled 27 using 1d20+10.  Att Lemure (flanking).
09:35, Today: Jurz rolled 5 using 1d8+1.  dam lemure.
This message was last updated by the GM at 01:41, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

 She attempts to hit the enemy again, while trying not to get hurt again. She hears a comment about salt, and wonders if someone was going to cook the lemur? Eww...or wait? Hmmm maybe not too bad after all.

"Tak dat yuz monster!"

01:37, Today: Raven rolled 5 using 1d6+2.  damage if any.
01:37, Today: Raven rolled 15 using 1d20+7.  sword attack?
01:36, Today: Raven rolled 22 using 1d20+4.  melee glowing sword.
01:35, Today: Raven rolled 27 using 1d20+7.  tumble.

The little priest considers it unlikely he'll be able to do much against the other slug as he can't get a clear shot at any of its vitals with Jurz and Raven doing their best to kill it ... but having seen what the second sneaky devil tried to do before Min and Bully took exception, he figures he'd best and make sure the first one doesn't try anything either.

Squeezing between Min and Jurz (very carefully, so as not to get smited himself), Dregz crosses the chamber to stand before the recumbent devil.

"Youse be quiet, youse," he warns it, holding his flail up menacingly, confident that if it tries anything one or both of the bigguns will smush it anyway.  "Wese winnin'.  Wese always wins !"

After Bully, Minmorc and Bill the bison kill their devil (g2), Jurz moves to flank the last lemure (s2). He hits it with his club but its rubbery flesh just absorbs the blow. Raven stabs it with her glowing rapier and this time manages to find something vital enough inside it to seriously injure it, but it is still alive and fighting.

Riza stops attacking Minmorc and starts wiping the white ooze off her eyes and face so she can see properly again.

Dregz heads over to the other grievously injured devil (g1) to make sure it doesn't try anything tricky. The devil leans against the wall to support itself and its voice is heard pleading inside everyone's heads.

"We can still help each other here. Give me the green gem from the golden statue and you can name your own reward. Anything you desire!"

Of course, the last lemure keeps on fighting. It tries to claw both Jurz and Raven but misses them both completely.

OOC: Main game map updated.
Everyone is at +1 to hit and +1 on saves vs fear from Minmorc's Bless spell for 4 more rounds.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:48, Mon 01 Jan 2018.

"Cods to dat!" Jurz grumbles as he drops his club behind him, draws his dagger and lunges forwards clumsily.

---

09:39, Today: Jurz rolled 9 using 1d20+7.  Dagger attack.  (damn -  should be 11 - because I forgot flanking))
09:40, Today: Jurz rolled 4 using 1d3+1.  Some very very unlikely damage just in case.

Sometimes, Jurz's most useful attribute is as a flanker ...  But it often feels like we are playing Rugby League ...

"'an no finkin' eivver !" Dregz warns the devil, crossly.

With the emaciated giant felled Minmorc will turn his attention on the door behind it. Moving over Minmorc will optimistically try to push it open or use a handle, failing that he will use his axe as a key.

"No fanks."Bulldust replies out loud to the devil.  He'll sniff around and search for secret doors around the statue.

Moffdust goes over to the bison and reaches up to pat its knee. "Youse done real goods dere Bill, youse squashes dat devils good good goods. Now youse stays here an squashes de monsters when Min lets dem out." She steps back closer to the centre of the room before Min puts his axe to the door. She shakes Cat out of her cloak to let him flutter around the room.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:14, Sat 06 Jan 2018.

With Jurz flanking the last lemure (s2) Raven is easily able to skewer the lemure through its heart with her glowing rapier and finally kill the slimy devil. Now only the grievously injured, emaciated devil (g1) is left.

Dregz warns that last devil "'an no finkin' eivver!" while Bully starts searching around the statue and Minmorc pulls open the only door, which is located on the western side of the room. Minmorc finds that the door opens easily as it looks like it had been forced open previously. However, he finds himself confronted by a solid block of stone that completely blocks whatever passage lies beyond that door.

Bully's search doesn't find any secret doors but he does start to find a few bits of treasure scattered among all the gnawed and broken bones that litter the floor of this room.

OOC: Main game map updated.
Everyone is at +1 to hit and +1 on saves vs fear from Minmorc's Bless spell for 3 more rounds.

"You'se knew de ovver one was down here!" Jurz accuses the remaining devil as he hurries across the room to hit it with his club.

10:35, Today: Jurz rolled 19 using 1d20+8.  Hit the last one.
10:36, Today: Jurz rolled 8 using 1d8+1.

The grievously wounded devil shrugs off Jurz's assault with no apparent injury sustained.

"Yes, of course I knew he was here too," it responds directly into everyone's minds. It sounds puzzled why Jurz is upset about that.

Minmorc will scowl at the solid block of stone and will spit a huge yellow lugie on it in disgust. He will start helping Bully to gather up anything valuable though he will stay clear of the gem until the group decides what they want to do with it. "Oi, devil guy, any chance yer can patch us through to yer boss? Yer done a good job wid der sales pitch but I wanna talk ter der fella in charge before I agree ter anyfing."

Moffdust will turn Billy to face the blocked doorway and align his nose with the orc lugie. With some encouraging words in a strange language  "Nog Billy ooboshu bug!" she urges him to push against the stone. She crouches down and examines the bottom of the block, muttering to herself.

Bulldust plops down the bag of holding in the centre of the floor to collect the treasures and tosses in the bits he found.  He tries lifting the gold statue off its pedestal, not touching the green eye, and placing it on the floor.  He will try to move the pedestal.

The stone pedestal is 10ft high, 10ft long and 5ft wide. It would weigh something like 80,000 pounds. If it was placed there by manpower alone it would have required a small army of men and special equipment to do it, so it is more likely that it was done by magic. Giant Bully and giant Minmorc together are not able to move it.

The stone outside the door seems like a similarly impossible challenge. If there is a way to move that stone it seems like it must be somewhere on the other side as searching within the room does not find a way to move it.

The golden winged serpent statue is another matter. Closer inspection reveals it is made of gold sheet skillfully hammered over a stone statue to form an almost seamless layer of gold. There would be several thousand gp worth of gold there. The stone statue is 10ft tall and weighs about 4,000 pounds. Giant Bully can drag the statue across to the edge of the pedestal then is just strong enough to lower it to the floor fairly safely on his own. It will be easier with giant Minmorc's help.

The grievously wounded devil's response to Minmorc's question is "My lord Baalzaghul is trapped and has been for centuries. We cannot speak to him and he cannot speak to us. Give me that green gem and I can free him, then we will all be rewarded for freeing him."

Minmorc will help Bully and the others in any way he can. Looking around the group Minmorc will ask "I don't fink Jurz wants ter make deals wid devils, wadda the rest of yer wanna do? Anyone know a good trick ter get gold offa rock an Dregs, yer found wot we're lookin for?"

Dregz knows a sure way to get the gold off the statue, but doesn't recommend it.

"Jus leave it out in der open air fer a bit," he suggests sourly, "somewun will pinch all der gold !"

"Den somewun else will pinch der stone !"

Devils that have been trapped for centuries are, in the priest's considered but unvoiced opinion very unlikely to be grateful - indeed they're much more likely to be wrathful that the one that freed them kept them waiting for so long !  And before you know it there's a plague of heroes descending on the area, queueing up to banish them again and killing off anyone who doesn't measure up to their standards of decency.  No, as far as Dregz is concerned, it's best all round if Lord Baalzaghul waits a bit longer for release.

As for the bit of the Magic Stick which he seeks ... he's pretty sure it's a lot further down, but dutifully fishes out what he has thus far, holding his flail in one hand as he concentrates.

Dregz holds the black mace loosely and lets it swing to point the way to the next piece of the mace. The mace swings westwards towards the blocked doorway, just as Dregz suspected. But no, actually it is pointing at the dead devil lying face down on the floor in front of that doorway.

Bully or Minmorc can easily turn the devil's corpse over and they find the next piece of the black mace tucked into a fold of the devil's leathery hide close to its heart. It is a lumpy hexagonal disc of black metal with two slots toward the centre from opposite edges of the disc, with a 3/4 inch hexagonal hole connecting those two slots. It is obviously designed to slot onto the incomplete black mace to form the second of three parts of the mace head itself.

After a thorough search the treasure found among the bones on the floor of the chamber amounts to 21,100gp worth of gold and gemstone jewellery, as follows:

• 50 Gold ear rings (50 x 10gp = 500gp)
• 20 Gold nose rings (20 x 10gp = 200gp)
• 20 Gold bracelets (20 x 50gp = 1,000gp)
• 4 Gold and tiger eye turquoise rings (4 x 50gp = 200gp)
• 10 Gold and lapis lazuli armbands (10 x 100gp = 1,000gp)
• 2 Gold and rose quartz clasps for girdle (2 x 100gp = 200gp)
• 2 Gold and bloodstone armbands (2 x 150gp = 300gp)
• 10 Gold torcs (10 x 200gp = 2,000gp)
• 8 Carved amber brooches (8 x 250gp = 2,000gp)
• 6 Carved jade bracelets (6 x 500gp = 3,000gp)
• 2 Gold and tourmaline bracelets (2 x 500gp = 1,000gp)
• 2 Gold, agate and quartz torcs (2 x 500gp = 1,000gp)
• Gold and emerald ring (1,000gp)
• Gold and ruby ring (1,000gp)
• Gold and ruby ceremonial dagger (1,200gp)
• Fire opal pendant on gold chain (1,500gp)
• Gem-encrusted gold serpent mask (5,000gp)

Arlein shifts her judgemental stare to the remaining demon, and gives it a derogatory sniff.

While hunting out the treasure Minmorc will take a moment to cure some of his own superficial wounds. Once the obvious loot has been found he will focus his little mind on the arcane, it looks to the others like he's trying to sniff out any magic.

Abandoning his vigil over the badly wounded devil, Dregz quickly scampers across the room to take possession of the next bit of his Magic Stick ... which is rapidly becoming less stick like and more mace like.  Indeed, it seems that ...

"Der might only be wun more bit of der Magic Stick ter find !" he informs the crowd excitedly.

That done, the little goblin turns his considerable intellect to the issue with the stone slab.  After giving it a good staring at, he pronounces judgment.

"Ise reckon dat der slab iz wot is keepin' der Lord Baalzaghul trapped down der," he opines.  "An' puttin' der uvver gem in der eye of der statue might be wot makes it shift."

Or not, seeing as how Bully seems to be intent on stripping the statue for the gold, which will probably break whatever magics sit upon it.

On a whim Dregz joins Minmorc in sniffing out magic, concentrating on the statue.

"Oi Dregzie, wot does magic smell like ter goblins? Smells like burnin air ter me, like air round an electrickery weapon... I likes it."

Distracted by the discussion bout the smell of magic, Jurz turns away from the devil, and frowns at Mimmorc.  Mumbling something, he starts sniffing loudly ...

"I's never noticed dat magic smells.  It just looks blurry to me's."

"Oh yeh, magic got a real speshul smell ter it but yer gots ter focus real hard an kinda fill yer nose wid magic and not sneeze and den breathes in der air through der magic. It woz real hard ter learn in my tribe coz our shaman farted a lot, we fink his farts is wot killed him, nearly killed alla us too."

"Jus' glowin' lights," the goblin priest replies absently echoing Jurz, the big Orc's description making him very thankful of that !

While some of the team continue searching through the bones littering the floor for more treasures, others get a far away, distracted look in their eyes and start talking about the smell or the look of magic.

"Oi Moffa! Der big statue got some diffrent smells o magic on it, a couple o little smells and a big stink from der gem, yer knows wot dey does?"

"Yeah." Jurz adds  "De statue is all blurry when you'se look at it right an der eye is really blurry ...."

Then he suddenly remembers the devil and turns to scowl at it, on principle.

The little goblin priest nods too.  "Dat's right !" he asserts.

"Mus' be sumfin' very wrong if dat devil didn' jus' take der gem himself.  I bet sumfin' bad happens to der one dat touches it !"

"It might be ... blessed !"

A horrible thought indeed.

At Minmorc's urging Moffa joins in the effort to determine a bit more about the magics on the golden statue and its one green eye. She casts a spell and stares at the statue for a while just like the others had done before her.

Minmorc is clearly struggling to come up with a plan so he will think out loud. "Soes... der statue is covered in gold but all fulls o heavy rocks we can't bring wid us... we don't ave a good way ter get der gold off... der gem's big so its worth a bit but its got big stink magic on it so it could do bad stuff... how bouts we just take der head? Dat way we got a bit of gold an we don't touch der gem an we don't break no prophecies, right? Anyone wants any healin or wants ter do anyfing while we's here?""

Moffdust narrows her eyes as she stares at the golden statue. Her voice drops to a whisper "Dese gold magics stops youse from findin de statues, and de green magics makes youse wish youse never did." Rounding on the wounded devil leaning against the wall she hisses "Youse is a false guardians! I releases youse!" She ends it with three magic missiles.

Dregz nods approvingly as Moffa blasts the lying devil.  "He wuz a bad wun," the priest remarks sagely.

"Dat sounds likes wese shouldn' be taken der head eivver," the little goblin notes.

"Praps wese could chop der head off an' take der rest of der statue ?  If wese all stands around it der magic stick might bring it wiv uz.  If wese ends up in a city somewhere den we can sell it ... if not den wese are no wurz off."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:07, Mon 15 Jan 2018.

Moffa's magic missiles tear into the emaciated devil's chest and knock it to the ground, unconscious and dying, but not quite dead yet.

Bulldust finishes off the devil with a thump of his flail.  "I fink we should leave all of da statue here, an go see what da mace  wants next.  See ya Bogey God Wiv da One Green Eye." He lifts the statue back onto its pedestal and scoops treasure into the bag of holding.

06:43, Today: Bulldust rolled 28 using 1d20+13.  Flail to g1.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:57, Mon 15 Jan 2018.

Finally, all the devils are dead. All the other treasure is found and collected up from among the broken bones scattered all over the floor. The trapdoors above are still wedged open, Minmorc's rope still dangles down from the temple so everyone who can't fly will be able to climb out. And the only door out of the chamber is solidly blocked by several tons of stone.

Yes, up and out does seem like the only logical choice.

Moffdust summons a swarm of bats into the shaft above her head. She pulls straps from her haversack and tosses them up for the bats to catch. The bats lift her up and out of the shaft. "I'll takes a looks."

 She bundled her stuff up and readied her sword cause you just never knew when something was gonna try grab you and swallow you down, or try to spice and dice you. She looked around to see if everybody else was ready to go where the magic thing wanted them to go.

 "Ya ready to go?"

Now everything has calmed down and  there is no-one left to try and kill him and everyone has decided to leave the statue alone and leave that to its fate down in this hole, even if it is worth a fortune ....

Now there is time to look around.  "Dat doors silly.  Whose puts a big block of de stone behinds a door?"  Then he looks up and remembers that they are actually in a sort of sacrificial pit trap.  "Maysbe dey thought dat some of de sacrifices mights still be alive?  And dey thought it would be funny if the not-so-dead sacrifices thought dey could run away through de door?"  He looks around and the goes to the opposite wall.  "Dis is where I's would put de real door ..."


OOC:  08:14, Today: Jurz rolled 15 using 1d20+1.  Search for secret doors?

Moffa finds that the temple upstairs and the jungle outside the pyramid are all just the same as you left them. No sign of any immediate danger up there just yet.

Jurz and others can spend as much time searching as they like but will not find any secret doors in this chamber. It really does look like the blocked door is the only door down here.

By now most of the spells that were cast before the battle have worn off. Bill the bison has gone back to the otherworldly grasslands he was summoned from, Minmorc and Bully have shrunk back down to normal size and Minmorc's Bless spell has expired. Only Jurz still has any spells still in effect (Barkskin and Shillelagh).

"Ah, well." Jurz sighs as he starts climbing out of the pit.

Minmorc will climb out and hoist anyone who is struggling out as well. "So, we gunna rest up ere or shwoop ter der next bit?"

Riza climbed up the rope just to prove to herself that she could actually do it. She wasn't the quickest climber but she got there without any trouble. Then she went over to the doorway and looked out across the treetops of the jungle.

"You know what?" she sighed. "I quite like it here. I feel right at home in the jungle. This old temple would make a great home for someone like me. I think I might stay here."

High above the temple, Moffdust peers down looking for any clue to another way inside. The bats set her down on the top of the temple then fly off. She goes inside and investigates the gold painted wooden statue in the small room. She tries to pry out the green glass eyes. She casts Detect Magic again and concentrates to see if anything was missed.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 09:24, Sat 27 Jan 2018.

Bulldust waits for everyone else to leave then uses his super-sensitive nose to sniff around one last last time.  He has a good sniff around the blocked door.  After screening out the scent of blood, apes, Jurz's pee, demon spit, slug slime, the dust of ages, a whiff of magic and the lingering odour of Orc, he inhales deeply to catch the scent of a godlike being trapped beyond the door.  If it smells like he is alone he will savour that a moment then climb the rope to join the others.
This message was last updated by the GM at 09:24, Sat 27 Jan 2018.

OOC: Strangely the scents of godlike being and lingering odour of Orc are near indistinguishable... :)

OOC:  Both of which smell strangely like Goblin pee...

Moffa's search doesn't show any other obvious way down into the pyramid and doesn't detect any other sources of magic in the temple. She is able to prise the facetted green glass eyes out of the gold-painted statue in the temple storeroom without any ill effects.

Bully's sensitive nose doesn't smell any hint of any other smells from around the chamber or beyond the blocked door.

OOC: Nah, Orc and god smells like raging fire, Goblin pee is more like smouldering fire :P

Minmorc will do a sweep of the jungle just outside of the lowest steps of the temple. He'll have Vera out and he'll also be moving at half speed (goblin pace) so that he can have a thorough look for edible plants.

OOC: Heh, survival check = fail :D

No creatures from the jungle have ventured close enough to the pyramid yet to offer any kind of threat (nor any different kind of food supply).

You might have to settle for the edible bits of the dead apes instead. Either tenderised (under the altar stone) or non-tenderised (out on the steps of the pyramid).

Bulldust climbs the rope then removes the tenderised apes so that the altar can drop back and seal the one-eyed god below for a lonely wait.  He hands the rope back to Riza.  "See ya Lizzie-Girl.  You'll like it ere, deres a good view all around an you can shoot fings in da jungle.  Maybe some day dey'll put a gold lizzie statue up ere!"  He helps carve tenderised ape meat for Oopses to fry.

Jurz is happy to settle down on the top step of the pyramid and watch the others do their thing.  He can see the attraction of the jungle , but it is a bit too damp and overgrown for his taste.  Not the sort of well behaved forest that makes such a good home for Goblins.  "Dere mights be more of you'se little lizzid-y folks around here too." he comments amiably to Riza.

As the altar drops back, Dregz ponders a possible consequence, assuming malevolent gods and insane architects.

"Prolly der big block of stone dat blocked der door down der moves wiv der altar," he suggests.  "When der altar is up der door is blocked, when der altar is down der door is open.  Mebbe dey were ver' scared of what was on der other side of dat door an' din' wan' ter let it out."

There's undoubtedly more than a few holes in that theory, but it pleases the little priest anyway.

"Yes," he agrees with the big Orc. "Wese should rest up here in case wese gets in ter trouble when der Magic Stick takes us der der next piece."

"Wese must keep careful watches, though.  Dat jungle looks ver' dangerous !"

Even moreso with Minmorc running around its fringes ...

In reply to Jurz (msg # 258):

Arlein is pleased everyone is going outside the stuffy hole and proceeds to sun bath on thrme top steps.

Once he's had a good poke around the jungle Minmorc will roll and throw any unwanted ape bits into the shrubbery. He'll then head back inside to enjoy some BBQ and collect his rope. Uninterested in treasure devoid of the opportunity for shopping Minmorc will leave counting and assessing to the smarter party members, instead opting to head into one of the small rooms behind the main altar. Soon his rumbling snores and occasional endearing little farts become part of the temples ambiance.

"Where are we goin next Dregzie?  Have ya had da dream yet?" Bulldust leaves the cooking to Oopses and sets out the treasure on the altar to count and divide into equal shares.  "Anyone want dibs on any of da jewels?"

"Ise needs ter sleep on its," Dregz wisely informs Bulldust.  The gods are not generally known for their subtlety, but they do like their little games, and providing cryptic information in half-remembered dreams is one of them.

Bulldust nods respectfully at Dregz wise words, but then greed and opportunity urge him to ask "After ya sleep den can ya ask Bargriefyuk if He finks it's ok if we take dat green eye?"

The. bugbear will hunt grasshoppers in the jungle before he eats and sleeps.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:13, Sat 27 Jan 2018.

Jurz, in his turn, sits and watches the jungle for a while.  Like the forests in many ways, but not the same.

Heading back inside the temple to get away from the  searing light of the day, the little Goblin turns to Dregz.  "Does youse  really fink the altar makes the stone blocks de door?   Dere might bes somefing good behind dere...."
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 09:35, Sat 27 Jan 2018.

Actually, it is almost night time now in the jungle. The sun was setting in the west when your arrived. Half of the party had rested up during the day while Minmorc and a few others went shopping in the town of Marikest then you all teleported to the Amedio Jungle just as the sun was starting to set.

Dregz has pointed out that he needs to sleep to dream about what lies ahead of you. Obviously there are a few others who could do with a good sleep as well, including any spellcasters who want to prepare more spells for the next adventure.

If anyone wanted to ask the gods whether removing the one green eye from the golden statue is a good idea or not, a cleric would need to prepare an Augury spell.

"Der might be sumfin bad behind der," Dregz cautions Jurz, though he can't see any reason why his theory of shifting stones might not be right.

The priest is more than happy to seek Bargrivyek's advice regarding the green eye, once he has rested.

The team settles down to rest in the temple at the top of the pyramid to recuperate from their battles with apes and devils. Ape flesh provides a welcome touch of variety in the dinner menu and even ape brain is considered a delicacy in some parts of the world. Minmorc makes sure that wild animals are not attracted up the pyramid by disposing of the rest of the ape carcasses out in the jungle.

There are plenty of animal sounds from the jungle during the night and sounds of creatures moving out there if anyone wants to spend some of the night hunting but nothing disastrous happens while the rest of the team are sleeping and everyone wakes up again about 3am feeling more refreshed.

OOC: Anyone who is wounded will recover one hit point per level (or ECL) for a full 8 hours rest. By the time they wake up the following characters will be at full hit points again (if they were even wounded to start with: Arlein, Bulldust, Dregz, Jurz, Minmorc, Moffdust and Raven. Oopses and Riza will still be lightly wounded.

 She fluffled her wings and settled down to sleep. Draping her arm feathers over her head, she wheezed softly until it's time for her watch, or dawn comes, whichever comes first.

Before he goes to sleep Minmorc will fill the parties water skins so that Nuffles athletes can stay properly hydrated. Seeing that Riza and Oopses are still sore the following day he will give them both a dose of lesser vigor. Taking a share of the treasure Minmorc will ready his spear and position himself close to Dregz. "So Dregses, yer ave a bad stuff an pain dream?"

OOC: I think the listed party treasure came to 24,100 gps so Minmorc will take 3,000 gps worth.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:50, Mon 29 Jan 2018.

Dregz awakens from his disturbing dreams to find Minmorc standing over him with a spear, which, needless to say, is much worse, but does encourage him to be very forthcoming.

"It's in der Underdark," the little goblin shudders.  "Der's a big lake wiv a stone path or mebee a bridge leadin' across it to a city.  Der next bit of der stick is stuck in one of dem pointy rock fings ver', ver' high above der lake.  An' der's lots of winged fings flyin' round - dunno what dey were.  Big birdz mebee.  Ver' big birdz."

He holds out the Magic Stick watching as it swings north.

"Sumwhere dat way."

With that off his chest, Dregz turns his attention to prayer as he asks Bargrivyek for his daily due.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:50, Wed 31 Jan 2018.

Minmorc will nod sagely when Dregz applies himself to his daily prayers. "Dats good, I'm sicka der over light and fink I'll like der underdark. Lemme know when Baggy Rivet has answered yer call an yer ready ter go, I'll go ave anuvver look, see if I can gather sum grub fer der trip."

OOC: 21 on survival check.

"What did He say about da deadly green eye jewel Dregzie? "  it will be difficult for the small green goblin to concentrate on his prayers whilst being closely watched by a large eager bugbear.

The hairy little priest glowers at the large and eager Bugbear.  "Ise still prayin' !  Ise hasn' asked yet !"

While Dregz is praying, Oopses goes with Minmorc to help make sure he does just bring back pork but tubers amd fruits too. Lotsa tasty jungle plants, the harder and brighter the better.


Oopses rolled a 16 using a 1d20+9 cooking "surival" check.

 She goes to help with gathering food stuff too with Oopses and Minmorc. She scrounged whatever she could get.

 "I helpz youz find stuff too."

OOC: hope this will be enough :-)

Today: Bulldust rolled 18 using 1d20+7.  Surviving Oopses cooking save

Moffdust stretches when she wakes then goes to sit on the altar. "Dat was a good ideas Dregzie, bout de blockses moving togedders. I'll send Catses in ter looks. Batses is goods." She nods sympathetically to the hairy priest.

Popping a wand from her haversack, she casts Reduce Person on herself "Moffaclockses!" and Cat, making him tinier than tiny. She folds his little wings back like a dart then stuffs him into the small drainage hole in the altar. She hops off the altar and lies on the floor to stay within 5' of where Cat is crawling in the tube.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:25, Sat 03 Feb 2018.

The foragers spend a bit of time in the jungle and come back with a fair selection of fruits and roots, as well as a large snake and a couple of birds to supplement the ape meat from the previous battle. That gives Oopses plenty to work with as he cooks a meal for everyone to enjoy - everyone who doesn't prefer it raw, that is.

Itsy bitsy Cat the bat goes down the drainage pipe. Little Moffa follows his progress from above. Several minutes later she repeats the spell with her wand again and Cat crawls back out of the drainage pipe.

With his love for both plants and creatures, Jurz settles down to try a bit of everything  - both raw and as presented by Ooopses.

"Dat's good" he says with relish, holding up a small piece of the cooked snake meat.

"Catses says de stones is still blocking de doors." Moffdust announces, putting a final end to any further plan to explore the pyramid. She stuffs herself full of cooked meats and is soon ready to leave.

Oopses turns the strech-able python meat into dumplings, wrapping them in leaves and boiling them full of the fruits and ape meat. He even has left overs for lunch tomorrow, the bright juices dyeing each pouch different colors.

Lacking anything better he throws the ape bone to Rogs, cause the snake smelt funny and the small bones were too brittle.

One of the purple snake pouches went missing overnight and Oopses decided best not to mention it cause if it was Minmorc he didn't want to get in trouble.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:51, Sun 04 Feb 2018.

While somewhat miffed that the pyramid architecture doesn't follow his strictures, the priest merely pulls a face (not that anyone would really notice under all that hair) and omits the grumble and mumbles and railing against an uncaring universe ...

Having finished communing with his god, Dregz addresses Bully's pressing question regarding the gemstone eye ... by immediately resuming his prayers.

Dregz seeks his god's wisdom in regards to the removal of the gem, but is very swiftly able to report that he was commanded in no uncertain terms not to touch it.

"S' ver' dangerous !" the little priest seems quite taken aback by the directness of his god's order and stares pointedly at the rest of the party, especially Bully, to make sure they've taken this warning to heart !

With that settled, it seems that everyone is ready to head north to the Underdark (though just how they're going to get the next (final ?!!) piece of the Magic Stick from way up on the pointy roof of the massive cavern is anyone's guess), so once everyone is gathered around (outside, please !) Dregz will say the magic word.

Chewing on a nicely matured and tenderised piece of ape meat, Jurz makes his way outside as requested.

Bulldust solemnly nods his understanding of Dregz' dire warning, then brightens as the next place is described. "Da underdark!  Dat sounds like a nice place.  Let's go!"

 She cuts her ape up fine and swallows it in chunks like a well bred tengu does. She mumbles to herself as she eats, and looks around at the others to see how they are taking the ape meat.

 "Guud stuff, awk!"

After everyone is rested and recovered Dregz gathers them all on a flat patch of jungle floor at the foot of the step pyramid. Riza watches on from a couple of steps up the pyramid as she has decided to stay in the Amedio Jungle and will not be travelling with Team Arda-Nuff anymore.

It is still dark and a few hours before dawn when everyone is ready to leave. Dregz faces toward the north, holds up the partially completed Black Mace and speaks the magic word, "Wyrd!"

There is a faint sound like the rushing of wind as Team Arda-Nuff disappears again.

OOC: Everyone is fully healed, spellcasters have their full complement of spells ready for use and the treasure has been shared out with 3,000gp worth of golden jewellery distributed to each of Bulldust, Moffdust, Minmorc, Dregz, Jurz, Raven, Oopses and Riza.

Continued in new thread - Night 14: Into the Underdark