Craning their necks to sense any danger before it surprised them, the party urged their mounts through the trees as quickly as they could.  Fear drove them, and their horses sensed it.  Ducking under low hanging branches, and riding around fallen tree trunks, the last bit of their journey seemed to take longer than the previous 4 days together.

   A collective sigh of relief was felt as they broke out of the woods and into the sunlight.  The grass was high, coming up to the knees of their horses, and intermingled among the strands of green were wild flowers of various colours and shapes.   The wizard's tower, according to the enchantments laid upon Aeron, was immediately before them.

   It was a squat gray stone tower, round and attached to a second building, square and also stone.  Atop a small knoll, there was a rough dirt path that lead up behind the tower and presumeably to the adjacent stone building.  Normally in such an idyllic setting the sounds of larks and other birds would be heard but there was nothing but the breeze in the leaves behind them and the horses to lend sound to the scene...

Riding up to the base of the tower, his green and white penant flapping in the breeze, shield held proudly bearing his heraldic device, Pedivere removed his helm and cradled it in his lap.  In a loud, booming voice he called out to the Tower.

"I am Pedivere, Knight of England on business of the King.  I seek one named Fiallan and would request his consultation on a matter most urgent."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:41, Mon 08 Nov 2004.

Colm lowers his bow, not wanting to appear threating, as they approach the tower.  He removes his arrow from the bow, but keeps the bow in hand.

   The pennant atop the knight's lance fluttered softly in the breeze.  His  voice reverberated off the tower's stone exterior and off the mountain-sides.  The party paused, waiting for a reply.  Only the jingle of the horse's harnesses and the intermittent stomp of a hoof was heard as no reply came...

Pedivere swung his armoured form from the steed, dropping to the grown with a metallic thud.  Patting the metal clad horse on the head he whispered to the horse, instructing the trained steed to wait and not move.  Straightening, the knight moved to the door and smote upon it with his gauntlet encased fist before calling out again.

"I seek Fiallan, wizard and reputed owner of this tower.  I am Pedivere, Knight of the Realm, on business of King Arthur from Camelot.  Will Fiallan come forward?"

The knight goes to the door of the adjoining building and strikes it with the base of his fist as he calls out, the heavy wooden door swings inward with a long creak.  The inside is dark and no one could be heard stirring in response to the knight's call...

Calis watched his friend and kept his hand near his weapons. With another swallow he watched the door open into darkness and looked over at his companions before letting his gaze linger on Pedivere.

Pedivere turns from the entrance to the building and moves back towards the assembled group.  "There may be a problem.  Aeron, did the information that Jeremiah imparted you with tell of anything other than the location of the wizard?"

Aeron shakes his head, Nay, nothing of where the super weaver of the arcane lives or lays, just where this place is.  With all the, um uncomfotable sense of this place, maybe he has come to harm?  Let's see if I can shed something that might help....

Much to the chagrin of the sensible ones the fool urges his mount up the path stopping her about 10 feet from the gaping black doorway.  He dismounts and says, I am sure that if anyone is home I can get a rise from them.

He takes off his cockcomb waggles his eyebrows.  Seems to think of something appropiate.  Shoves his hand deep in the hat and seems to throw something from within into the doorway, at the same time he yells out, Presto!

   The trio of men mill about the door's opening, listening and waiting for the knight's challenge to be answered.  No reply comes.

   The room itself is rather unremarkable.  A writing desk with a few papers strewn about it and on the dusty, stone, floor. There is a broken bench closer to the open door, a pair of windows on the north and west walls provide some light through the thick walls.  A group of barrels and boxes are stacked in the west corner and a chest lies against the south wall.   There is a fireplace, unlit, lodged in the east wall, next to a heavy banded steel door almost immediately next to the doorway into which Sir Pedivere, and then Aeron stand.

    The jester expresses he knows no more about the mage Fillian or his tower and decides to attempt some magic to help the situation.  Thrusting his hand into his belled-cockscomb, he withdraws his hand and points crying  "Presto!"

    Instantly something begins to happen.  A mist begins to emit from the interior of the hat.  It grows bigger and bigger, slowly filling the room with a cool, dense, grey, fog.

   The inside of the room is longer visible beyond two arms lengths.  Some of the fog spills out among the men, swirling about their feet and slowly rising about their waists, the breeze making it whisp and flutter, taking nips and bites out of its form.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:59, Tue 09 Nov 2004.

Pedivere tries to stop the fool, but is too late.  Taking a moment to listen if anything is moving inside, the knight calls out once again to the errant wizard.

"Will Fiallan come forth to discuss a matter of great importance?

With fog billowing out of the out building and no clue as to what is going on, Colm leaps off of his horse.  In one swift motion he unslings his bow and knocks (sp) an arrow.  As Pedivere speaks, he relaxes somewhat, knowing that whatever the fog is, it is not hurting his party memebers.  He lowers his bow.... still keeping and arrow ready.

After reaching down to touch the fog and swish his hand through it, the human climbed off his horse and set his hand on his spear after pulling it out from where it was resting across the saddle. "Well, this is interesting, aye?" he asked pretty much everyone but directed it mostly towards his friend, the knight.

"Not what you were expecting?"Chrissa says creeping up on the men to examine the predicament.  She patted the fool's shoulder in a kindly and sympathetic fashion.  Moving fearlessly into the mists, the woman quickly vanished.

    The sounds of prayers could be heard before a sudden whoosing sound and the intermitant whistling of wind as the fog began to be pushed from the room, along with anything else that was not secured.  Pieces of parchment fluttered out towards the men, who instinctively stood back.  There was the sounds of thumping and clattering as books previously on the shelves feel to the floor.

   After a moment the wind passed and a check inside the room found the hermit dutifully checking and replacing the books on their shelves.  The dust that was on the floor had been blown against the east wall and steel door along with the pieces of the broken bench.



OODM:  Books in this day and age were not cheap, without a printing press all of them had to be hand copied.  It could take years to write a book and decades to write a bible (extra care in writing that book!)

With the mist having disipated, Pedivere moves into the building, he quickly glances over the remains of the room, and the books, before striking the door to the tower with a single, powerful blow that reverberates throughout the structure.

"Is the wizard Fiallan able to come forth for discourse on a matter most urgent?" he bellows.

  'BOOM'  The knight's gaunleted fist pounded once on the steel door, the sound it created thundered in the room beyond.  His call elicited no reply.

   The party looked at each other questioningly.  Aeron felt down to his bones that they had indeed arrived at the right destination.  Even without the fool's thinking on the matter.  The place did resemble geographically where Jeremiah had pointed them.  The mountain to the west had to be the peak to which he had pointed.

Fr. Rys enters the building gingerly. Seeing the books on the walls, he turns his back on the party to read the various titles.

  Um maybe he stepped out or is on a journey?  There may be nothing ill going on.  Should we keep going in?  Who knows maybe he was eaten by the dragon he knew about.  The fool shrugs his shoulders.

"We must enter to find the wizard.  Colm, Calis my friend, come, help me with this." the knight declares as he begins to heft the remnants of the broken bench, intending to use it as a battering ram.

Let it be done for posterity, I am not breaking down the wizard's doors.  If he is napping or on a walk-a-bout he is gonna be cross with you who are.  There are other ways to find out where he is without breaking his doors down.  Colm are there any recent tracks to even suggest a person has been here recently?

Colm, enters the room looking around like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. He has slung his bow, but keeps his weaponry with him.  At the Fool's words he stops glancing about Aye.  I admir yer energy sir knight, but I must tip me bow to the Fool.  We are wantin' the wizard to aid us of his own free will, as I've heard such men are hard to convinc' otherwise.  If we are first sure he has na' stepped out, then we might have to take action with your "door knocker".  Though, if there was sumin' that has takin' this wizard to an untimely doom, though, we 'ad best be on our gaurd.  While I'm looking about, is there anyone who has a skill with locks who, may open the door with a bit more stealth?

Colm then busys himself looking slowly and carefully about the room.

  Colm looks about the chamber with interest but quickly realizes that with the winds that blew out the fog only moments before, the dust had been blown against the east wall - and any signs of a passage in the room, had been eliminated.

"Friend Pedivere, mayhap we should wait before we start battering on doors, aye? If this wizard has lived here long enough he might frown on strangers bashing through his doors. Also who knows what defenses he might have woven into this place, aye? But if you truly wish to bash things, then don't let me stop you and I'll help as much as I can," Calis said as he set his hand on his friends arm in a small restraining gesture.

Colm shakes his head and frowns.  No'a damm thin' to be found here.  'haps I should look aroun' the grounds? he says as he turns to leave the house.

OCC:  It is his intent that he, and anyone who wants to come, circle the tower as best they can, looking for tracks and secret entrances.  I'd like to "take 10" for the search.

Colm clutches his bow and exits the chamber and enters out into the sunlight.  He could be seen kneeling down to examine the ground slowly shuffling about before disapearing from view...

OCC:  quick note.  Colm pauses to discuss this or have anyone who follows him who will.  Being a DM myself, someone wandering alone is EL TOASTO.  But, I think Colm, used to wandering in the wilderness alone, would have littel issue with wandering around by himself.

Aeron follows with Colm.  He looks about for that which he may notice whilst the ranger is busy with his work.  The fool stays quiet, not trying to disturb the ranger.

Pedivere looks slightly angered and annoyed, though he nods to his fried.  "This is not something to be discussed.  If there indeed is a wizard here, and he is angered for the knocking down of his door, then already will he have cause to vent his wrath!".  The knight indicates the broken door to the adjoining building, the remnants of books and the general destrcution of property already caused.

"And if the knocking down of this door causes him grief than I will gladly reimburse the fellow.  Though we shall wait for Colm to return"

OOC - I'm just playing it as a knight would.  And remember, this is not generic DnD.  This is historical fantasy, thus things get done differently.  Hence the way I'm doing things.

OCC:  No problem!  This is just a game after all.  I just see Colm as a man who would prefer subtilty and stealth.

Giving his friend a smile and nodding, Calis remarked again, "I said I would help you but let the others see what they see first, then we can bash down the door."

Fr. Rys, done looking over the books on the shelves goes back to one of the earlier shelves and picks up a leather bound book and looks at its cover more closely.

  The priest finds one book in particular of interest, tracing his finger over the silver rune stamped into its brown leather cover.  The book is thick and heavy, the pages viewed from the side seem brown, probably velium.

  Boom!  Boom!  Boom!  The blows of the improvised battering ram echo through the interior of the tower.  Sir Pedivere gripped the bench with determination and continued to bash his way through the steel banded door.  Each blow brought more and more sweat to his brow as his breathing became laboured.

  The door was thick and solidly built, it did not give way easily.  Splinters and pieces of the door flew and fell, littering the floor before the passage.  Cracking could be heard as the knight's final blows fell, when finally the impediment, a wood bar securing the door, cracked and fell away.

   The great, thick door swung inward along with the light from the room.  The narrow corridor of light revealed very little.  The floor of the tower was stone like the one on which the group stood.  The rest of the room was covered in a drape of inky, black, darkness...

   Meanwhile, outside in the sunshine, Aeron and Colm searched the area around the tower.

Pedivere drops the bench and peers into the darkness.  "Does anyone have a torch?" he says, holding out his hand for one if it is forthcoming.

Fr. Rys reaches in to a sack and pulls out a torch that has a piece of leather covering the top. He takes the leather off and the torch gives off light.

Here you go Sir Knight

"Thankyou Father.  Any who follow, be wary, and stay behind me." states the knight, as he, with torch in hand, steps into the inner sanctum of the Wizard's tower.

  Holding the torch high, Sir Pedivere enters into the wizard's cavernous tower.  The torch light is sufficient is sufficent to touch the opposite wall, albeit in a shadowy manner.  Before him to his left he can see a fireplace matching the one from the entry room.  Before the fireplace is a thick rug, resting atop it is a long table with benches set on either side.  There is an unlit candleabra on the table, a clay jug rests on its side next to it.  Simple tapestries hang from the walls, ostensibly to give some colour to the drab gray walls and keep the drafts that whip between the tower's stone work in winter, to a minimum.

   There is some debris on the floor.  To the knight's right, and built into the wall, is a set of stairs leading upward.

any chance of a map?

Colm, searching the grounds with the Fool, suddenly starts at the sound of a door being bashed and shattering.  He looks up from the strange tracks he found and, bolts toward the tower.  He expects the worst but figures no worse happened than an impatent knight's idea of subtilty.  Damm fool knights are about a subtile as a harse wreck. he thinks to himself, scowling.

He makes it to the room, shortly after the door shatters and splinters of bench and door are being searched for a suitable torch.  He shakes his head slowly, as he looks at the ground.  Mi lard, give me a shake eh?  I have a lannern that may serve better than a few hastily bundled twigs.  He leaves the room and returns moments laters with a hooded lantern, a couple of flasks of oil and his tinder box.  He casually sets the lantern down on a table and beings to prepare it for service (pouring in the oil and lighting it and the like.)  As he works he talks.  As wer'a in haste I dunna suppose yer intrested in the strange knife stabs inna earth the fool and I foun' in round about the tower eh?  He pauses.  Assuming this piques the partys interst, he continues speaking as he strikes his tinder box against the flint to light the wick of his lantern.  Annaway, it looks strange.  Na' a drop o' blood, but knife wounds nearly a forarm deep in the groun'.  Regualr pattern too.  Like a large wheel set with long knives was rolled accross the earth toward' the tower.  I'd be wary that the tower was beseiged by war weapons, bu' there is no sign of pitch, stone ner arrow.  Lessn' someone used a seige tower to scale the tower and aviod' the traps we'r doubtless to fin' in a wizards tower.  I wonner...... He stops speaking, deep in thought and not wanting to speculate further.  Only a fool speaks of that wich he knows kno' about, gram used to say.  I'll leave tha' to the fool.  he thinks to himself.

The lantern now lit, he looks at the group.  Well, sir, lead on  The lantern he hands to the fool, as he thinks, likely as not, his arm'll be needed for figthing.

"Well so much for waiting, er?" Calis said with a shrug before laughing in amusement. "Well lead on my friend and let's see what is inside," he finished while gripping his weapons again but he didn't draw them yet. "I think we made enough noise to wake anything within..."

Aye, within' and witho' and the next kingdm' over Colm quipped with a smirk, chuckling to himself

Aeron takes up the latern and swings its' tallow colored beam around the room and as if to check that its lit, looks directly in the lens.

Wow, that's brighter than it looks he exclaims.  He shakes his head to clear his eyes.  He pulls his jester scepter from his pouch and holds it out as if to use its' eye to see.  He peers about the room and up the stairs.

Is that big chunk of wood by the used to be door a bar?  I must say if this was barred from the inside, we are either gonna have a grateful wizard as we are rescueing him, or a cross one because he is napping or some such.  Then again maybe he is a she... An enchantress....  Hmm ok valient knight.  Take us crusading through the tower, maybe we will find the girl of my dreams within!

"Could the knife blows to the ground be the talons of a beast?" the knight mentions, his voice soft and hushed.  The magical torch of the priest held before him in his left hand, his right hand currently free and empty.

Colm looks thoughtfully at the knight  mayhaps good sir, mayhaps.  But, the marks were regular, an' either thoughtful plann' by a beas' or the working of a machine, so regular the marks were.  Ifn' it is a beas', though, its' talons are the size o' me forarm.  God save us.  He says, blessing himself.

  As the group steps further into the tower's interior the light reveals more of its space.  The knight holds the torch high and Colm adds to the light with his lantern, handing it off to Aeron as he explains his findings out of doors.
   Calis steps around the others and his eyes pick up symetrical cuts in the floor, and a metal ring attached to the floor - a trapdoor.

     "Zounds!"the fool cries out, recoiling backwards as he examines the top of the stairs and sees first more of the webs and then the hideous form of a giant spider skittering down the steps, its chitinous legs clattering on the stone.   The eight red eyes that covered its face glowered with hunger.  Reflexively the group glanced upward.  More spiders lowered themselves to the floor with blinding speed.  Screeches of aggression and hunger reverberated off the tower's walls.  Hands instinctively gripped or strayed to weapons...



  OODM The big black dots are spiders.  :) Roll for initiative and we'll get the party started.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:16, Tue 16 Nov 2004.

Pedivere recoils in shock at the appearance of the predators, but quickly repels his revulsion.  "Behind Me!"

 Initiative = 16

         AC = 20
       flat = 19
      touch = 11

         FX = DR 2/-

Chrissa remains where she is, holding her own everburning torch in one hand and her staff in the other...

OOC: Initiative Roll = 3! :/

Init = 11
AC 19
HP 36
Ranged +9
Melee +3

Colm already has bow at hand, but I'll wait for specific actions when I know our order


BIC:  The sudden clicking and chittering of the spiders makes Colm's skin crawl and his heart rate quickens.  Despite the sudden rush of adrenaline, his hands are perfectly steady as he draws his bow.....

"There's a trapdoor over there," Calis started to say and point before the clicking could be heard. With his other hand still on the sickle, he started to remove it from his belt.

Ini: 12.

21:04, Today: Father Rys rolled 10 using 1d20. initiative.

OODM Initiative:

Spiders 19
Aeron 18
Sir Pedivere 16
Calis 12
Colm 11
Father Rys 10
Chrissa 3

IDM:

   The spiders skitter at the 4 men in the doorway, surrounding them with their enormous, black, bulbous bodies.  Venom dripped from their sharp, black, mandibles.  They were intent upon their prey and attacked immediately.  Calis' leather jerkin turns aside an attempt to bite him, leaving the trail of a scrape and a venom.
  The brave knight Sir Pedivere orders his compatriots behind him, wielding only a torch to protect himself.  He bats aside the first spider that attacks him from the front but as he turns he leaves his side open and he feels the sharp pain and woozy feeling as the spider's mandible slips under his arm and above his armour, finding flesh.  He groaned in pain feeling poison injected into his blood stream.  The spider's strike was substantial and the knight's knees felt as if they would buckle.  The last of the spiders skurries from side to side behind the other monsters, eager to find a meal.

Pedivere gimaces in pain as the fangs of the abominable beast pierce his armour and sink into his flesh.  Again, he repeats his request "Behind me!" as he draws his blade attempting to hew at the legs of the monster infront of him.

 Initiative = 16

         AC = 22
       flat = 19
      touch = 13

        MEA = Draw Weapon (does not provoke AoO)
    Partial = Attack defensively (-4/+2)
              Attack hits AC 8 for 8 damage
              Attack hits AC 17 for 8 damage

         FX = DR 2/-
              9 damage suffered - is this b4 or after DR
              -5 Strength

OODM:  I modified your post because other forces are at play here, so Pedivere had 2 attacks.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:40, Wed 17 Nov 2004.

Aeron screeches like a little girl, cowering behin the knight but at the same time he begins to caper about this way and that.  His feet a blur of motion and he begins to chatter and speak.  His feet seem to urge the whole party to motion and perhaps baffle the spiders as they seem almost slowed by the fool.

Colm, trapped behind his team mates, steps to one side of the tall knight to get a clear shot at the spider approaching the fool.  His bow string twangs, once, then twice, than once again and 2 of his arrows hit true


(OCC:  Do I roll Damage or do you?), thunking squarely into the bulbous body of the brutish spider (OCC:  Assuming a 24 hits, else or we are seriously in trouble).

OCC:  I plan on attacking the spider in front of the fool as, although the knight is in trouble, he's more able to survive a bite than the fool.  Plus, I think, based on the battle map, that I couldnt hit the spider in front of him due to his body being in the way.

OODM:  I modified your post because other forces are at play here, so Colm had 3 attacks.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:56, Wed 17 Nov 2004.

Calis took stepped back as the spider tried to dig into his armor and then moved a behind his friend. After doing so he set his spear in hand and waited to see how he could help with his longer weapon that hopefully would keep them away from him.

Fr. Rys will put the book he was looking at back and draw his mace.

As the spiders appear, Chrissa takes a deep breath and prays briefly, gathering her strength.  She then speaks forth with words of power.

"'Away from mee, yee wicked: for I will keepe the commandements of my God.'"

Suddenly looking fatigued, Chrissa moves forward to stand behind Sir Pedivere.

"Draw near to me, brethren, and the Lord shall hinder these foes..."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 20:04, Wed 17 Nov 2004.

     Aeron began to dance madly in the midst of the group, his tapping and hopping, increased in speed as the spiders began to slow before the party's very eyes.  An incoherent and jabbered song sprang forth from him as he moved.
   Despite his wounds, Sir Pedivere remained stalwart in the face of the vermin that attacked the group.  His sword swipes were determined and vicious.  His first blow thudding off the hard outer shell of his quarry but the second cut through a leg, elicited a screech of pain from the black-bodied fiend.
   The Yeoman Colm saw the frightened fool threatened by the spider from the stair case.  He reached over his shoulder to his quiver launching arrows to stop it in its tracks.  The first arrow struck and glanced, barely harming the thing, the second buried itself in its huge bulbous body, the third, because of the spider's startled movement, missed.
   Calis retreated from the threat before him, holding his spear out in defence, pointing it at the sharp mandibles that flexed and snapped in front of him.
   The padre Father Rys held his ground, gripping his stout-headed weapon in reflexive defence.
   Chrissa began to pray, advancing into the doorway, resolute in her faith.  The spiders recoiled as if she was on fire.  Screeching and retreating, they malingered beyond the reach of the knight's blade as Aeron continued to dance and the Yeoman began to knock another arrow.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:00, Thu 18 Nov 2004.

Chrissa regards the retreating foes with a weary yet resolute expression.

"The Lord hinders these foes from approaching me.  I suggest that you all remain as near to me as possible, using ranged attacks to dispatch them.  The fewer of us exposed to their foul poison, the better..."

Hearing that Chrissa has stalled the spiders' advance, Fr. Rys stows his mace and pulls out his light crossbow.

Colm, slightly startled by the retreat of the spiders but not slowed in his fury, lets three more arrows fly at the wounded spider (OCC: if, of course, he kills it he changes targets for the latter arrows). Two strike home.  One flys so true that it just misses the beast's head and burrows deeply into its bulbous, swollen body (OCC missed a crit threat by one).

Colm begins to sing to himself as he sings.  His voice is a pleasant baritone, but untrained (OCC: no skill points).  The hart 'e loves the high wood....the hair 'e loves the hill....

Calis kept trying to use his spear to keep the spider away from him while using the weapon to injur it.

Pedivere, still grimacing in pain drops the flaming brand behind him, before drawing his shield.  Sweat beads form on his forehead as he moves forward, slashing at the creatures again and again.

"Concentrate your fire to bring them down quicker.  Everyone else stay near Chrissa!"

 Initiative = 16

         AC = 24
       flat = 19
      touch = 15

       Free = Drop Everburning Torch
        MEA = Draw Shield (provokes AoO if any are still threatening me)
       Free = 5' step forwards
    Partial = Attack defensively (-4/+2)
              Attack hits AC 11 for 4 damage
              Attack hits AC 20 for 4 damage

         FX = DR 2/-
              9 damage suffered - is this b4 or after DR
              -5 Strength

This message was last edited by the player at 23:59, Thu 18 Nov 2004.

  Aeron continues to dance a mad jig, singing and jumping, the bells of his cockscomb jingling continuously.  The knight unslings his shield and charges forward slashing and cutting.  One mighty swing whistles over the top of the spider's head but on the return stroke his blade finds purchasing, a spray of yellowy blood flowing from the gash inflicted.
   Colm's bow continues to sing with an arrow stabbing into the exterior of the spider again before it shutters and slumps to the floor, it's legs twitching and then contracting up into the body, dead.
   Calis looks at the spider that only seconds before had attempted to inject him with its poison and jabs outward at it with his spear.  The spider skitters to one side avoiding the first stab, before the second strikes, causing the thing to begin to bleed.

   Father Rys and Chrissa remain safely behind the others, hearing the spiders' shrieks and screeches.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:13, Fri 19 Nov 2004.

Pedivere continues his assault.  Though wounded the first blow lands true, but in a weakened state, the knight finds it hard to pierce the thick carapace of the giant vermin.  The second lunge falls wide, striking the ground and staggering Pedivere who seems to slump slightly under the weight of his equipment.

 Initiative = 16

         AC = 24
       flat = 19
      touch = 15

   Standard = Attack defensively (-4/+2)
              Attack hits AC 21 for 1 damage
              Confirm hits AC 6
              Attack hits AC 3 - natural 1.

         FX = DR 2/-
              9 damage suffered - is this b4 or after DR
              -5 Strength

OCC:  I dont know the spiders AC, so I'm not sure if I hit more than twice, but the one hit is a CRITICAL.  Yeah baby.  Also, I'm assuming that the spider I killed was the close one.  Please fill in how that went.  :)

BIC:  Colm steps to the side 5' in order to get a better bead on the spider near the knight (this should remove the cover) and he hits the beast squarely twice as he continues to sing... The knight... he loves the bright sword...
This message was last edited by the player at 03:36, Fri 19 Nov 2004.

Th fool although early seemed frightened to death now is verging on annoying.  He continues to dance and make merry,

I wonst knew a knight from nantucket
Who on his head wore a bucket
His daring escapades
Made madamns blush like maids
And his squire was left in the muckit.....

Fr. Rys, seeing that he doesn't have a shot with his crossbow, at least at the moment, places his hand on Sir Pedivere's back

In the name of God, be healed!

OOC: 8 points of damage healed

Calis continued to try to keep the spider off himself by using the longer weapon and jab it at the poison dripping spider.

  Aeron's dance and song becomes more comprehensible as he creates a limerick on the spot.  The threat against became less with the yeoman's arrows slaying the spider that threatened him but others remained.

   Sir Pedivere bravely advanced against the threat that had so vilely poisoned him.  His first swing nicked the spider but the sudden loss of vigor in his limbs left him unbalanced and his blade sparked as it struck the floor, he staggered to regain himself.

   The knight felt some comfort as the padre rushed up to support him, touching the back of his neck, praying a quiet prayer of health, helping to knit the spider bite back together.

    Colm continues to sing to himself, losing arrows at the black beasts, the first strikes the spider facing the knight fully in the mass of its red eyes, finishing it.  Colm turns and looses a second arrow at the spider maligning the ministrel Calis, wounding it terribly also.

  Calis could not reach the spider as it reared from the arrow wound.

  Chrissa kept her place as the knight moved beyond her arm's reach.

  The remaining great spider, seeing the knight stumbled pounced and bit him.  The scratch of blood that appeared where its mandibles cut was not deep enough for the spider to inject its devastating poison.

Colm, again, steps to the side in order to acquire a clearer shot and avoid making Pedivere into a Princely Pincushion.  Taking aim as fast as thought, he again sets three arrow flying with a grace and skill beyond most persons who call themselves archers.  All three arrows thunk solidly into the critters crusty carapace.... He continues his round The lady loves her will....

OCC:  I just checked my character sheet and I ONLY have 36 arrows on it.  I just fired off 9 of my quiver of 18.  I'll have to go out and stock up right after this battle.  How, Lady SwimDoll, do you handle arrow recovery?  After we kill these beasties, I want to try to recover whatever I can.

Aeron continues to caper about.  His feet a blur of motion as he pantomines engaging in fisticuffs with the spider, from a safe distance of course.

Fr. Rys fires his crossbow, trying to hit the nearest spider. Once he has fired, he will reload.

23:04, Today: Father Rys rolled 0 using 1d20-1. crossbow attack, accounting for cover.

Edit: OOC: Complete my full action. I assume, because of where Chrissa is, there aren't any spiders threatening me. If there are, I wouldn't reload, because I don't want hit :)

And my attack was a fumble: 1 + 3 - 4 = 0

Don't know if there's a crit miss table that's used or not.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:26, Mon 22 Nov 2004.

"Peace, Sir Pedivere!  Stay near to me, lest the spiders do greater damage in your weakened state.  You must live to save one that is poisoned, not die of it yourself.  It is your duty.  Please, let the others battle these foes with ranged attacks..."

Chrissa hovers near Sir Pedivere's back, moving with him if he insists on going forward, in order to keep the spiders away from him...

Calis stayed near his friend and kept his spear near at hand in case he could hit something with it while staying out of the reach, hopefully, of the spider's bites.

Pedivere recovers his stance, blade held infront of him and shield tight against his chest.  At the touch of the priest, some of the colour returns to the knights face, but beads of sweat still cover his forehead and face.

 Initiative = 16

         AC = 20
       flat = 19
      touch = 11

       Full = Recover from Fumble?

         FX = DR 2/-
              1 Damage Suffered (after healing)
              -5 Strength

Can you please create a new topic called "House Rules" and post any different ruling that you are using in there, including hard and fast rules for Fumbles, so that we know where we stand.  Cheers.

   Aeron pumps his fists in a gesture of defiance of the spiders that presumed to attack the party.  His feet never lost their vigor.
   The spider ignored the knight and moved instead on the Yeoman and his stinging flights.  It lunged at the archer but found itself in pain, feeling the effects of the hermit's ward.
   Sir Pedivere catches himself and gets his sword and shield up to fend off whatever attack may come next but cannot find an opening to attempt an attack.

  Colm's bow twang again, the first two arrows striking and killing the spider that had menaced the group's bard before he turned and loosed a third at the spider menancing the knight.  It flies true, eliciting a screech of pain.

   Bleeding from the arrow and touched by Chrissa's blessing the spider skitters back away from Calis' spear point.  The Father had to thank God for granting the hermit's call for help.  He attempted to use his crossbow and mistakely dropped it, sending the bolt clattering off it's groove across the floor!

Colm looses three more arrows at the (OCC: escaping?) spiders.  His face is grim and determined as he pursues his round anew.. the hart he loves the high wood...

Pedivere moves after the last spider, slashing at it again, the beautifully crafted blade meeting it's mark twice more, only this time with venom of its own.

 Initiative = 16

         AC = 20
       flat = 19
      touch = 11

       Free = 5' step?
       Full = Full Attack
              Attack 1 hits AC 16 for 7 damage
              Attack 2 hits AC 23 for 8 damage

         FX = DR 2/-
              1 Damage Suffered (after healing)
              -5 Strength

Aeron continues to caper about;

A brash young knight
Did stumble and fright
as the itsy bitsy spider
Climbed up his water spout.

Pedivere cleans his blade and resheathes it, ignoring the fool he retrieves the flaming brand that was discarded earlier.  "Is anyone injured?"

Gingerly, he then removes his visored helm, and begins to breath deeply, shaking out his matted hair, his face pale and sickly.

"I fear that the beast's venom already surges through my veins dear Chrissa.  Do you have a remedy for the bite of such a vile creature?"



OOC - The fight took 4 rounds, I got bitten in the first.  I've got another 7 rounds and then I'll have to make a second saving throw.  So any of you healers want to assist?
This message was last edited by the player at 22:54, Thu 25 Nov 2004.

   The party glances about for signs of more danger but the torch and lantern reveal nothing but that what was there before.  The ceiling was covered in the guazey webs of the siders, and now the bodies of their creators lay strewn about the floor, their legs curled inward in death.   Colm searches about for his arrows and finds that 5 of them are irretrievable, broken, or breaking as he tries to pull them from the carcasses.

   Sir Pedivere draws himself up, squaring his shoulders, feeling weakened from the poison in his system, sweat on his brow from fighting and the toxins.

   Aeron continues to rhyme and sing to himself, jubulent that the fight went so well.
Calis lowers his spear and goes to check his friend.  Chrissa and the good father move forward to look to their brave champion's injuries.

   The remainder of the room remains much as it was before...


OODM  Sorry guys that it took so long to get this post up, real life intrudes sometimes.  For some of the most prolific posters, the fight brought another level.  Be sure to adjust your character sheets accordingly. :)

"I believe we are well, brave Sir Knight.  Let me tend to your injuries..."

Chrissa moves to examine Sir Pedivere's injuries, murmuring softly to herself.

"'And hee sent them foorth to preach the kingdome of God, and to cure the sicke...'"

OOC: 21:00, Today: Chrissa rolled 15 using 1d20+12. Treat Poison / Heal Check.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:25, Fri 26 Nov 2004.

Alas Sir Knight, my studies did not include the healing arts. However, I can help you by staving off the poison's effect for a while.

Fr. Rys lays his hand upon Sir Pedivere.

OOC: Delay Poison

Once Fr. Rys sees that Sir Pedivere appears to be doing better.

Did someone not mention a trap door here abouts? Should we not investigate that?

Colm walks about the room collecting spent shafts.  He frowns sadly and shakes his head as he finds yet another arrow, broken and useless.  He tucks the 4 good arrows back into his quiver.  I'll nea have enuff shafts to last me at this rate.  If this tower be as large as it seems, I'll be needing more  He leaves the room for a monment, to collect his extra quiver from his horse.  Upon returning, he takes some time to search the room, floor, and whatever webs he can reach.  He uses his sword to probe the webs as best he can, as genly as he can.

OCC:  SOrry so short, but I have family over.

  Chrissa tends to the knight's spider wound, reaching beneath his armour to apply a poultice to the wound to draw out the poison.  It cools the heat eminating from the bite.  Sir Pedivere's shoulder's relax with the relief the hermit's skilled touch brings.

   Colm's examinations of the spider webs at the top of the stairs reveal nothing immediately and he moves about collecting his arrows.  Finishing his collecting, he disapears for a moment, stuffing arrows into his quiver as he moves out of the tower proper.

    Calis and Aeron take a moment to rest, examining the monstrosities.

    Father Rys calls upon a blessing to assist the injured knight before calling the group's attention to the trapdoor the ministrel discovered earlier.

"Aye there is a trapdoor that we passed (OOC: I think?) in the room behind us," he answered as he to tried to help heal his friend.

OODM  It's on the map, just look. :)

Aeron looks about, and seems to be kind of queit.  He is mumbling a bit under his breath and poking about the spider's corpses as if worried about something.

Colm, upon arriving in the room with fresh arrows, sees the party considering the trap door and stairway (I assume the stairway is passable).  His brow wrinkles for a second  It seems ta' me tha' if this tower as been taken, as I doubt a living wizard would keep such pets, heed' either be gone from this place or hiding  somewhere safe.  Tha' trapdoor, seems like as goo' as any a place to hide.

While the rest of the party decides what to do about things, Fr. Rys will go back over to the book that interested him earlier, pick it back up and place it in his cloak.

After tending to Sir Pedivere's injuries, Chrissa breathes a weary sigh.  She looks fatigued.

"Keeping yonder spiders at bay has depleted my strength.  I must rest awhile..."

The party pauses for a moment, deciding its next action and catching its breath.  Father Rys leaves the tower to the adjoining building for a moment while the rest stand about...


OODM  Here's the original descriptions I gave when the room was first opened. :)

 Before him to his left he can see a fireplace matching the one from the entry room.  Before the fireplace is a thick rug, resting atop it is a long table with benches set on either side.  There is an unlit candleabra on the table, a clay jug rests on its side next to it.  Simple tapestries hang from the walls, ostensibly to give some colour to the drab gray walls and keep the drafts that whip between the tower's stone work in winter, to a minimum.

   There is some debris on the floor.  To the knight's right, and built into the wall, is a set of stairs leading upward.

Calis steps around the others and his eyes pick up symetrical cuts in the floor, and a metal ring attached to the floor - a trapdoor
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:49, Sun 28 Nov 2004.

"I could go on, though I am somewhat weakened, I am mostly sound of body and mind.  However, if others need to rest I would not place them in immediate danger.  We should rest in the ajoining room, as it is more easily defended should the need arise."

Chrissa considers.

"I am weary, and do need rest."

"However, it is also true that the power to repel spiders and other vermin is still upon me presently... but will fade before I have been able to rest enough to recover from my fatigue."

"What do you all think?  Should we proceed while we still have this power, but are fatigued?  Or should we rest until the power fades, and we have recovered?"

"I have some magick left that comes from my druid teachings but if the two of you are weary and need rest then I agree, we should rest because my magicks will only go so far."

Pedivere nods and raises himself up.  "Then we should go on a little farther if we can.  Whilst Chrissa's protections are up, and Calis has some power left we should at least attempt to find a more defensible location.  The Trapdoor, whilst potentially a sturdy hide could also be a prison to us if we cannot retreat.  So I suggest the stairs."

OODM:  I will wait a few hours before I post to let the rest of the party chime in. :)

  This was the knight's mission and the others followed his lead as he mounted the steps that only moments before had served as the runway for an attacking spider.  Clutching his sword and holding his shield before him, Sir Pedivere lead the way up the steps.  They were stone and hugged the tower's wall in a concave shape.

   The mail shoes the knight wore clattered and scrapped on the stairs, echoing through the tower's interior.  He was followed by his companions.  Scarcely more than a dozen steps up, the knight encountered the first strands of web that grew thicker with each step up.  He swung his sword, to and fro', slashing a path through the thick, guazy, strands.

  Reaching the top, he and the rest of the party could see the other spider webs attached across much of the tower's ceiling.  There was another trapdoor overhead that would have to be pushed upward to continue onward...

Pedivere moves up to the trapdoor.  Sheathing his blade, he put his hand against the base and rubbed it slightly, trying to find a sweat spot from where he could open it.  "Stand back." he stated before, with his remaining strength he tried to force the hatch.

  The hatch was not latched or locked and with a good push, it flopped open.  Sunlight streamed down into the tower, temporarily blinding the bunch.  The sun was warm and in stark contrast to the dank interior of the wizard's tower.  Walking up the remaining steps, Sir Pedivere reached the roof.

   It was flat stone with scuppers built into the ramparts that ringed its top.  A stone table and cisterine of water were the only real features of the tower top.  There was some rubble there too....

The young knight moved forward, redrawing his blade.  Though he didn't expect a reply, the young knight heralded his entrance to the empty space.  "Fiallan?  I seek a wizard named Fiallan.  I am Pedivere, Knight of the Realm on urgent business of the King."

Fr. Rys hears the rest of the party mount the stairs and hurries after them. He makes careful note of this room, particularly the location of the trap door and its surrounding areas. As he mounts the stairs, he is constantly looking behind him.

Calis shrugged and then followed the others as they made thier way up the trapdoor if there was room. He kept his hands near his weapons or his other hand on his spear just in case.

Pedivere looks about the room, unsure of himself.  He sheathes his blade and moves over to the rubble.  "Any idea what this room is?  At least it will make a better defended rest point"

OCC:  Regarding the rubble, is it in line with the strange "stab marks" Colm found in the earth?

   Sir Pedivere's salute meets with no response.  Only the breeze of the valley floor is heard.  The rest of the party joins him quickly and examines the area.

  Colm stoops down to look at the rubble.  His keen eyes pick up the same signs he discovered in the surrounding grounds, albeit not as deep as the previous ones.  These were more like scratches, the chitinous feet of the spiders did not penetrate the stone surface of the tower's top.

   The stone surface would not be as comfortable as the forest floor or the surrounding meadow, but it did allow a site of the entire surrounding area...

Colm nodds to Pedivere  Aye, an' I 'ave as good a shot as can be made from here.  Look's likely the marks I found were lef' by the damnable spiders.  Mother' Mary save us if there are more such beas' around.  He blesses himself as to ward of evil and shakes his head from side to side.

Fr. Rys looks around at the surroundings

Do we wish to stay up here, exposed to the elements?

"We can always return here if need be.  I suggest that whilst we still have the energy, and Chrissa's magic remains, we should investigate the lower trapdoor."

If ya have the strength, Sir, I will serve.   Colm Says as he checks his bow for soundness.

"Aye, I'll try to help as best as I can as well," Calis remarked as he stood down below the upper trap door.

That makes sense to me Sir Knight. While this place may be defensible, I'm not sure being exposed to the elements like this is wise either. Does not lightning, in a storm, strike taller things first?

"Aye, Father, my teachers at the grove explained to me that it does...." he trailed off with a grin as he remembered memories of his stubborness as he druid treachers tried to impart thier verbal knowledge to him.

Deciding against remaining atop Fillian's tower, the party retraces its steps to the hall of the tower below.

   Considering the trapdoor that Calis discovered earlier, the group gathered around it on all sides before deciding to lift it and dicover what lay beneath.

   Sir Pedivere, gripping his sword with one hand, clasped the thick steel ring with the other and hefted.  All his insistance on brute strength was for naught.  Despite being stone, the trapdoor lifted rather easily despite its thickness.

   Peering into the dark below the lantern and torch revealed a set of grey stone stairs descending eastward...


OODM:  Okay guys, we're going to be away for a few days, so decide what you're going to do, and a marching order etc, and we will pick it up when we get back.  :)

Pedivere slung his shield over his shoulder, and then, with blade in one hand, and the father's magical torch in the other, he began to descend the stairs cautiously.



OOC - enjoy the break.  As for the marching order, Pedivere would have to be first.... not logical in a traditional DnD sense I know, but that's the price of nobility.  don't ask someone to do what you're not prepared to do yourself.

Chrissa remains closely behind Sir Pedivere, keeping him within range of the protective power still upon her.  One hand holds her everburning torch high to cast light into the darkness.  One hands holds her staff...

Calis fell in behind the other two for now and he asked, "I can take the rear or one of the middle positions."

Seems best, me friend, 'at I shall bring the rear.  If we need to force a retreat, my sword will serve better than mos'

I do not know where I would best fit whilst exploring this trap door.

   With the knight in the lead and the yeoman covering from the rear of the group, the party crept down the stairs, looking for signs of trouble.
   The torches did much to illuminate their surroundings, revealing well crafted stone walls.  Here there were no taspestries as above.  They realized that now, they were completely below ground, inside the centre of the hillock that the wizard had fixed his tower atop.  There was an earthy smell, somewhat cloying.  That, however, was not the most striking aspect of the passage.

   It was quiet.

   Their footfalls scratched and echoed off the walls of the small room in which the stairs ended and continued to echo into the passage beyond.  Chrissa's robes could be heard to rustle, the silence was so intense.

   As Sir Pedivere reached the bottom of the steps, his torch hinted at something in the shadows further down the hall.  It did not move, but remained silently in its centre.

  Stepping forward so that the others could reach the bottom also, he noted debris on the floor before the eastward passage into which he looked.  On the north wall there was an empty torch scone.  Turning defensively he saw a web in the northwest corner...


OODM:  The room you've entered into is about 30'x15' in size.  You're in in its centre with 15 feet of room before you and 15 behind.  There is a passage way in the centre of the wall to the east.  I will have a map for you guys by tomorrow. :)
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:29, Tue 07 Dec 2004.

Colm looked about nervously.  His love was the open land, and not being trapped underground like a tomb.  Upon hitting the new floor, and seeing the webs, his hand went instinctively for his bow.  He knocked an arrow and looked into the shadows.....
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:02, Wed 08 Dec 2004.

Pedivere moved forward, the torch before him as he sought to pierce the shadows and scry whatever lay ahead.  His right hand still gripped the polished sword, the edges glinting in the firelight.

"Be there a wizard named Fiallan in these dark depths?  I am Pedivere, Knight of the Realm on business of the King.  I would converse with him on a matter most urgent if he would stand forth."  Though his voice rang out in the confines of the shadowy room, those that knew the young knight well, could hear that his words lacked conviction and that frustration had begun to set in.

Very quietly, Fr. Rhys says Did anyone get a good look at the trap door? I would not like to be trapped down here if someone should close it on us. Further, are there any tracks down here that aren't ours?

Calis looked down at the tracks to see if he could answer the Father. Looking back at the priest he shook his head, "Nay, sorry Father. I am used to tracking outdoors and the ground here is hard and so I can't tell much about these tracks."

The fool looks about the bleak scene almost as if the dark seeped into his skin his demeanor changed.  He begins to whistle a somber tune quietly ending with pop goes the weasel.  He smiles looks around and says, You know as wizards go this place isn't too bad.  No human bones, strange cats or toads that seem oddly intelligent, or other oddities, if you ignore the spiders on the first floor.  The directions that Jeremiah gave me say that this is the right place, but I don't know it doesn't scream wizard....  A nervous laugh sneeks out as he trails off.  His eyes working to penetrate the darkness.

  Sir Pedivere calls into the darkness, his words were met with silence.  Stepping further forward, the light that he holds illuminates the edges of a large wooden box set in the centre of the eastern passage.

  Colm's attention is draw to the south side of the stairs.  He takes a few steps further to look at the tools and garmets hanging from pegs and hooks driven into the stone staircase.

  The spiderweb in the north-west corner is unoccupied as the good priest looks upwards to the door from which they came.  The door had lifted out and lay, pulled back, on the floor above....


This message was last edited by the GM at 16:54, Thu 09 Dec 2004.

Moving towards the box, Pedivere sheathes his blade and kneels before it, taking his time to examine it as best he can.

Take 20 on a search = 20
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:07, Thu 09 Dec 2004.

Chating softly, The Lord is my light, and my salvation, whom shall I fear, whom shall I fear

Colm's brow wrinkles. Seems as though, someone has been doing digging.  I see what may be th' cloths' of a wizard, discared on the rack as well as a scythe.  How do ye' read this riddle my friends?  My skill 'be at the bo' and nie at the riddle.

    Sir Pedivere crouches near the box he discovered, examining it closely while Chrissa trails behind, not completely able to see his discovery with the knight's body in the way.  She can see over his shoulder, nestled in the corner of the turn of the passage a dead spider, it's body burned black.
    Colm has discovered a rack of clothing and tools, a dirty robe, a leather apron, a broad-brimmed hat, a pair of leather gloves, a broad belt, an axe, a pick, a shovel, and a scythe.

    Father Rys, Calis, and Aeron continue to occupy the space at the base of the stairs, not moving in either direction...

"Any ideas?" the knight asks nobody in particular.  Then, resting the torch on the ground, pedivere takes the lid of the box in both hands and attempts to lift it off with his remaining strength.

Fr. Rys pulls a book out of his pocket and looks through it.

Well, sir, I dunna' know if all is clear.  I say, we fan out thru the room and make sure there ar' nae any suprises fer us.  Then, we secure the exit, and search our findings.  The bes' way to look about and covr' ar' arses.

Hearing Colm's words, Calis nodded in agreement. "I'm not sure where this wizard might be either and so far we can't even find any trail or signs he has been here latly. All we've seen is those spiders.... But looking around better might give us some more answers, aye?"

  Sir Pedivere lifted the lid of the box and found it half-filled with lengths of cut wood.  It is dusty and bits of dried leaves linger in the corners.

   Father Rys is seen to open and study a book while the others explore the room.  The north-west corner is webbed in a thick guazy web.  No spider or egg sack remains, only the web itself.  There is a torch scone on the north wall and a bit of dust and dirt in the south-east corner.  Other than that the only items of interest are those upon the rack and the stairs leading to the tower...

Oh well. Not informitive as I hoped.

Closes book

So, what do we do now? It appears as if the wizard is not here. Shall we wait for him? If so, how long?

Seeing that the room appears cleared, he cautiously approaches the rack with his sword drawn.  He carefully pokes around the implements with his sword and when it appears that all is clear, he searches them by hand.

  Colm pokes at the impliments and clothes first then searches them by hand.  All of the tools have signs of use, nicks and cuts in their surfaces.  They have signs of dirt on the pick and shovel, but seem in good repair and quite useable.  The clothing is serviceable, practical, well constructed.  The grey robe shows signs of having been used with bits of grass and dirt upon it.  The leather apron shows signs of wear and has a few stains, but is still highly functional, the hat shows signs of wear and use but again, is in good shape.  The gloves are heavy leather, thick enough to protect like armour, a line of metal studs begin at the tops of each of the fingers and rise up along the back of the glove to glove's opening.  The  belt is broad and heavy, wider than a man's hand and has 3 small buckles to fasten it shut.

Colm raises and eyebrow at the strange implements.  He's most interested in the gloves (as protective wear is nice to have), and the belt.  after being sure all is clear, he picks up the gloves for a closer look.  The belt too.  he is no theif, though.    I wanner what these ar' for, eh?  I canna abide taking what ain' mine until we're sure of wha' happen' to the wizard.  If, he is gane, I'd like ta know if these sturdy gloves would serve in the hunt for him an likewise the bel'.  I am na' a theif, so I will wait until we know these are na' belogin' to someone.  Base on wha' we' seen so far, I'm thinkin' the wizard is gone or worse.

Fr. Rys looks at the gloves with interest.

Those do look interesting

Pedivere climbs back to his feet, the flaming brand in his left hand again.  "I agree that it is looking less likely the Wizard is here, yet me must push on for a mans life and the sake of a kingdom are at stake."

Drawing his blade, the knight then moves forward, again taking the lead as he moves to the turn in the corridor.

You are correct Sir Knight. Let us be on our way.

Aye, les move on, but I'll nae' take this man's things, lessen great need presses or they may be used to aid his recovry'

Nodding, Calis echoed the others, "Lead on, my friend."

He kept his weapons near at hand still, after looking over the few items he could make out that his companions found.

With the torch light flickering and dancing on the grey stone walls, Sir Pedivere lead the intrepid band forward.  The box of wood the knight had discovered was pushed aside and squeezed past by the others that followed.  Just beyond it was spider carcass, turning the corner, another was quickly found, and then another beyond it.  Each showed signs of being burned it was certain that the party were not the only ones having to deal with the giant vermin.

  Strangely, the light of the torches extended no further than the last spider's dead body.  There was no wall at the end of the passage, and no door, yet it appeared as if an inky black curtain had been drawn across the passage way with the light stopping right at its surface and going no further...
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:09, Fri 17 Dec 2004.

Colm waves his hand in front of his eyes as if trying to ward off some strange illusion before his face.  He stoops to pick up a stray piece of rubble laying on the floor and looks around. What 'en God's green ear' be this?  He tosses the pebble into the wall of darkness.  Not straight, like a blow, but rather lofty like a child lazily tossing rocks into a lake to watch the ripples.

Standing near the rear of the group, Colm scooped up a pebble, dislodged from the dungeon's wall and tossed it into the blackness.  It disapeared, no ripple appeared in its surface.  Yet he could hear the pebble strike and clatter across stone a split second after it disapeared...

Pedivere stood his ground as he viewed the veil of darkness.  "What sorcerery is this?" he muttered before thrusting the tip of the flaming torch into the curtain of black.  After a moment, he withdrew the brand to examine the effects that the magic had upon the torch.

The torch's light disapeared in the darkness, leaving the corridor around him darker as well.  When the knight drew it back, the light reappeared.

wooooo...ee, Colm breaths, some manner of sorcerous dark.  Still if some'n was in there to cause us harm 'yer torch an my ston'd had some effec'.  I don' like heading forward, blindly though.  Whatif yon' dark covers a pit?  Anyone have a long staff? Mayhaps we can use it to spy out the floor before us for traps?

Satisfied that the magic infront of him was not malicious, the knight strode purposefully forward, plunging into the darkness.

Colm raised his hand feebly as if he could top the headstrong knight by grabbing his shoulder from behind.  He realised the effort was fruitless. He opened his mouth to call out "Stop!", but could only manage a wu, wai, er, oh sh*t.  Bloody Knights. being mumbled to himself. As he moved in to follow the knight, but did not step into the darkness until bidden.  He didnt live this long by diving headfirst into the unknown.  His skill was in stealth and in the bow.  Not being hit was his strong suit, rather than weathering all blows.

Tapping his butt of his spear on the ground Calis was about to say he had a long weapon that could be used as a pole or stick but then he watched in fear as his friend just stepped foward and entered the curtain. With a curse about galant knights and their actions he too followed his friend into the darkness because the two of them have been through many adventures together and they have saved and protected each other's hide over the years.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:31, Sat 18 Dec 2004.

Yay, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death...

Fr. Rys follows through the curtain, praying nothing untowards happens.

  Sir Pedivere disapeared into the inky blackness, the metallic footfalls of his mailed shoes reverberating off the stone walls.  The scrapes and clatter of the footfalls were joined by the noise of Calis' tapping of his spear's butt on the floor.  The tapping mimiced the searching of a blindman, which he most certainly was after stepping into the black.  Lastly, with a prayer on his lips the priest followed...

  Remaining behind were the yeoman, fool, and hermit.  They had decided on a more cautious course...

Hearing the sounds of battle ahead, Colm dives into the darkness, bow drawn... Damnable fool is 'ganna get 'imself killed, an us too he curses

Chrissa also hastens to follow...