Walking down the corridor, the group comes across a bloodied and exausted Illianka resting by the corpse of a drider - apparently slain singlehandedly. Drider ichor is splashed in various spots all over the corridor - the fight moved about a bit.
Illianka has a large, spider shaped mark on her cheek which is bleeding faintly.

Schnickle rushed over to Illianka. "Illianka! Alright are you?"

The half-drow seems fairly unresponsive as she sits on the ground, legs folded out to the sides and then back under so that she's sitting between her calves. Her face is hidden by her hair as her head droops forward, and she seems wracked by exhaustion and weakness.

"I failed..." she whispers, likely for the svirfneblin's sake. "They escaped..."

"Who? Driders?"

The deep gnome started to wave over some Minotaurs, to get them to track the driders.

"My sisters..." she mutters, before finally stirring herself and looking at the Drider corpse. With a sigh, she takes the ring from it's finger and the two shortsword-sized daggers it carried, secreting the ring in a belt pouch and strapping the daggers to the small of her back, hilts crossed over so that she'd be able to draw them one into each hand if she chose. Surprisingly, the drider's harness needs little adjustment to fit snugly against her midriff. "They are... not your concern. If you wish... I can leave the group. It would be safer for you." Though she's turned back to face the gnome, she's looking away as she lets her piwafwi hang down to cover her equipment once again. [Private to DM Daniel: not a piwafwi as in the magic item, just as in the style of cloak.]

If they serve the Illithid, then you will find them again. Kharona said to the woman as he moved past her down the corridor, peering ahead as if they would return.

After many moments he turned back to the half-drow kneeling sullenly on the ground. You must forgive my hesitance to aid you before. The Drider were not my concern in these caverns. I hunt the Devourers and often times their blasphemous faces are all that I see.

With a nod of his head he spoke gravely,

I am Kharona Azahl, Master of the Soul's Blade. Our missions have crossed paths and now we will travel together and you will not be left alone to fight unless necessity demands it. I ask you, stand, in the knowledge that you have acquited yourself bravely and still yet live to hunt.

"Stand..? Barely. She has cursed me, and I know not the cure... even now, I feel it eating at me from within. I do not think that you deserve to suffer for my weakness, and I fear that it may come to encompass all those I associate with."

"Driders for sisters? Eww..." Schnickle muttered, then said to Illianka "If these driders you did destroy, then safer are we with you."

He went on to say "Leave us you mustn't. Attack the monsters will anyway, for any reason that does not matter. Safer are we all if together we stay."  Here Schnickle paraphrased a traditional Svirfneblin saying, even if nobody could or should recognise it.

"Now a healer we must find for you."


OOC: Sorry, only cure potions here.

Deepwalker shakes his head, If your battle prowess wasn't up to the task why did you chase them?  You could have come back and gotten the rest of us when they stopped to rest instead of engaging them in combat by yourself.  Foolish it was and hopefully it's a lesson well learned.

"It was my fight. I was there prey... they had to become mine. Nearly... I nearly had them. If I'd waited for you, they would have escaped. That... will cause more problems now. My only hope is... that with this curse, they will stop. Alauniira said that her mission was completed..." she raised a hand to her cheek, touching the spider-shapes scar there. "I'm sorry, Stoneswiper, but I don't think you have time to find a healer for me before we must destroy the Illithid... and I don't know how much help I'll be. The longer we wait, I fear that the worse I will become... and the more chance of the curse moving to you as well."

Schnickle thought for a moment. "Minotaurs perhaps have a shaman for healing. Invasion force not very good without. Check I will."

The svirfneblin rushed off to find some minotaurs, to ask if a shaman capable of healing was present.

Deepwalker allows his expression to soften, We're here to do things as a team.  Don't be afraid to ask for help if you want it.  That's what team mates and friends are for.

Edit: Fixed.
Several members of the raiding party are skilled at medicine, but none have magical healing. Minotaurs tend to rely on being tough.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:21, Fri 29 Sept 2006.

Edit: Fixed


Schnickle trotted back to Illianka. "Healing shamans there are none. Sorry."
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:21, Fri 29 Sept 2006.

"I'll.. I'll help however I can, then... I'll try not to do anything foolish." she looks at Deepwalker, feeling a strange emotion she'd not encountered before as she takes in both he and the gnome. "Thankyou... for your..." she stops, then, as though she can't think of the correct word to express what she means. "For your trust and aid..."

The city is two days away still (one if you really hustle). Unless anyone has anything to post in that time, I'll speed up time.

Yuthel and I can lead the way to the city of the Devourers. I lobby for haste.

OOC:I'm all for speeding it up

Though weakened, Illianka follows where they walk as best she can... though she seems to be travelling at the back of the group, weak and unable to keep up with the stronger members of the warparty.

ooc: same.

Schnickle made a grand sweeping gesture, waving over the minotaurs and pointing off down the tunnel. "Onwards!" he squeaked.

After hours of travel, the minotaur leader declares the current spot as being a good place to camp for a few hours. Throughout the night, several minotaurs begin to shake and cough, as do the original members of the party. Each of them is beginning to show signs of a spider-shaped patch on their cheek - especially deepwalker, who seems to be suffering even worse than Illianka from this unnatural disease.

[Private to Illianka: You feel your illness burning into you through the night. The spider on your cheek is more pronounced, and you are beginning to see it appear on your comrades faces. (Take 3 CON damage)]
[Private to Deepwalker: You feel a burning sensation - you awaken in the night to find your face flushed, sweating and - chitinous? A patch of skin has turned hard and glossy. You cough, sending shudders of pain through you and leaving flecks of blood in your hand. (You are diseased; take 3 points of CON damage and 1 point of CON drain)]

[Private to Schnicklegulp Stoneswiper: You are woken up by Deepwalker coughing and hacking loudly. Your head is filled with a scraping sound, and you feel terrible (Take 2 CON damage and 1 CON drain.]
[Private to Kharona Azahhl, Yuthel Astid'Malaad: You feel fine, but your comrades look distinctly ill.]

"Schnicklegulp, Deepwalker... everyone... I'm afraid that if we have another day like that one... none of us may survive the fight, if we even live to reach it. I don't know if it'll work, but... if I had known the curse would act so quickly, I would have gone and never looked back. Since none here can remove it... you must end the curse." She turns to face the jortunbrud and gnome, spread her arms to the sides, palms open. "I guess I always was intended as a sacrifice... please, have my body consecrated to some merciful god, and do not let me fall into the spider queen's clutches..."

[Private to Deepwalker; DM Daniel; Kharona Azahhl; Schnicklegulp Stoneswiper; Yuthel Astid'Malaad: http://www.radioblogclub.com/o...20%20Promised%20Pain ]
This message was last edited by the player at 10:43, Wed 04 Oct 2006.

Schnickle woke in great pain and dizziness, and felt quite weak. He was horrified to see that everyone else was in the same situation. "Ergh... Wrong something is..."

When Illianka explained, he was horrified and disgusted even more than this sickness made him. "No! You cannot!" he cried.

But he couldn't think of anything else that could be done. There was no healer or curse-breaker nearby that he knew of. And the curse would defeat the army before it ever could get to the Mind Flayer city. Ever the pragmatist, Schnickle knew that there was no other choice. It had to be done.

"Very well." Schnickle spoke solemnly and slowly, endeavouring not to muddle the event for Illianka with the typical svirfneblin speak. "Our Deep Brother Callarduran Smoothhands will keep you safe and hidden." the svirfneblin promised. "How do you want us to do this?" He drew his sap from his bag. He would be sure to make it painless and quick.

No one had said anything for a good long while, and all the time Schnickle considered the deed he had offered to perform. He liked the Drowish lady, and he really didn't want to have to kill her.

"Shaman you must fetch!" Schnickle ordered of the minotaurs. Perhaps he might know some cure, but Schnickle doubted it.

There was one other thing he could try, but...

Stunned by what he's heard Deepwalker replies, I can't believe you want to kill someone simply because of this.

Illianka puts her hands down and looks at him clearly. "If this is a true curse, then there's no other way... probably. We don't have a priest here who might intercede to remove it, so.."

"Ask she did." Schnickle protested weakly. He certainly didn't want to, but if it had to be done...

Deepwalker looks at the gnome and replies, She may have asked but there must be another way.  Stepping into a protective position by Illianka Deepwalker adds, Either we find another way or you'll have to go through me.

"That I could."

Schnickle turned back to the minotaurs. "Come!" he called again for the shaman.

"Why are you protecting me? It's for your sake that I would do this... why would you fight for me?" Illianka seemed genuinly confused by Deepwalker's actions, frowning and looking puzzled.

The Minotaur shaman lumbers up to Illianka.
"You have suffered the unfair hand of your godess, small one. Now, it is time for those who are hale and hearty to seek help while those who are unwell seek rest. You may find yourself capable of fighting such a curse off, if you have strength - and that you have defeated a drider in single combat is proof enough of your strength to me.

We carry enough supplies to look after the injured - I shall remain here alongside you. Everyone who is still healthy and unmarked should leave for now, however - we cannot afford to have this disease spread through us all.
The rest of you, we have sleeping mats and herbs - a few days of rest should cure all that ails you.

Schnickle conferred with the shaman. "More than a simple disease it is, I think. Mark of the spider is most unusual. But agree I do, the army we should split to save as many we can."

Once done, the little gnome crept away, deep in thought.

Time passes slowly, as you lie feeling ill.

How many people here have ranks in heal and feel like trying to tend to the others?

None of you, that's how many.

As the worst cases, the shaman tends primarily to the three of you. Unless any of you are going anywhere for four days or so, you recover, healing up to 10 points of ability damage and 10 hp/level.

The spider has faded from most of the minotaurs faces as well as Illiankas, but remains on Deepwalker and Schnicklegulp's face, and one of the minotaurs has small patches of hairy chitin all over his body.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:31, Wed 18 Oct 2006.

Schnickle waited and rested, but the disease or curse or whatever it was clearly wasn't getting better. The minotaurs and Illianka seemed to have improved, though Schnickle didn't trust that diagnosis. Deepwalker and himself hadn't improved, and one of the minotaurs had gone all strange. Schnickle could care less about the minotaurs, but it wasn't a good prospect.

He at last came to a conclusion. He had to take the risk, else his whole mission would be ruined.

So silently one night, Schnickle crept away, down a dark and lonely tunnel, without a word to his fellows.

When he goes off down a corridor, you assume he just wanted a few minutes of privacy, but as time passes, you begin to wonder where he could have gone. While still waiting for the main group to return, you can't afford to run off looking for him - or at least, that's the view of the shaman.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:32, Wed 18 Oct 2006.

Illianka scowled a few hours later, and realised that what she felt was the need to know that he was alright, that he hadn't abandoned them - rather than as she first thought that he had gone to betray them. It was a new feeling - she was actually worried for someone, rather than about them.

Without a word to the others, she slipped away in the darkness in the same direction he had gone, kneeling a short way away and stroking the ground as she attempted to track the gnomes' course. A moment later, she was off, following the trail. She knew that she was at least twice as fast as him unenhanced, and so took the time to ensure that she did not lose the trail.

[Private to DM Daniel:
11:30, Today: Illianka rolled 24 using 1d20+7. Track vs DC 21.
Moving at half my normal land speed to avoid accruing penalties.]

Illianka returns to the group, but there is still no sign of Schnick.

Schnickle finally returned a few days later, slinking back into the cavern much the same way as he had left, through from an entirely different direction.

Behind him a small troop of deep gnome warriors, silent and deadly. They took up positions and waited.

Schnickle whispered something to their leader, and wandered towards his fellow adventurers and the minotaur leaders. "Reinforcements I bring, skilled deep gnome soldiers from Blingdenstone. Also a priest to heal and un-curse us." he announced, with a sheepish look to Illianka.

"I had not heard that the little ones can fight - but then, one sees them so rarely. Your assistance is welcome, although it will not be needed."

"None hear of the svirfneblin warrior, because none survive." Schnickle shrugged. "But want not, waste not."

"Thankyou, Schnicklegulp..." Illianka smiled at the gnome. It was an expression she'd been practicing, and it showed. As she'd recovered, it wasn't the only thing she'd been practicing with - she wore her sisters' harness over her tunic and chain shirt, the driders' large daggers sheathed crossways at the small of her back. For the moment, her Piwafwi was on a rock nearby - she had been in the process if shadow-duelling when the gnome had returned, and though she had sheathed both weapons quickly upon realising that he had returned, she had yet to conceal the harness - or the spider markings on the hilts of the blades.

Hearing the comment about how none survive the svirfneblin Deepwalker smiles to himself.  Thinking, The little one is talking like a drow to make his people sound tough.  Hope they're better fighters than he is cause his fighting skills are pitiful.

Schnicklegulp wandered over to the svirfneblin priest. "Earthblood most honoured, cure you can this curse-disease?"

"I can try. Those who are hurt, gather about me, and do not be alarmed."

The priest waves his hands back and forth once the spider-marked people are close to him, and a glow appears between them. Then he claps his hands together, and there is a thunderous roar. The chittering sound of giant spiders is barely heard in the background when a flash of light is accompanied by a massive shockwave that blasts all of you into nearby walls.
When your eyes recover, there is no sign of the spiders.

After a moment, Illianka prizes herself from the wall with a groan.

"Ssussun pholor dos! What in the god's names was that spell?" the curse was heartfelt, though translated it roughly meant 'light upon you'.

The small Schnickle was well battered by the spell, and he picked himself up with a groan. "Thanks to you, most honoured, but so painful did it have to be?"

Lolth held on tight to these ones. Powerful the spell must be, if breaking her hold it do.

"Your... your magic is much appreciated, earthblood-honoured... if a little unexpected."

"I certainly do not share good Schnicklegulp's trust your turn to the light - some drow manage to turn away from the darkness forever, but far more fall back into it. Nonetheless, the spider queen must always be fought. I had not expected her to hold you so firmly. She does not let go lightly of such a curse; it is likely that more driders will be sent for you, and even possible that one of her handmaidens will come if they fail. I fear there is no place for a drow like yourself anymore.
Now, let us set off - the devourers will grow stronger by the day."

Schnickle raised an arm and pointed heroically. "Onwards!"

Yuthel leads the way to the city - having recently been a thrall, he remembers his way there. This time, little gets in your way.

"The city is only a short distance away now - the upper part of the city will contain thralls pretending to live in a normal town, but there is a secret entrance in the town hall to get into the sept below. We can only hope that the elder brain has not yet grown to its full power - every delay increases the chance that it is awoken."

[Private to DM Daniel: Manifesting Conceal Thoughts for the next five hours...]


Schnickle sighed. "Here are we." He turned to Yuthel and asked "Know you of guards or watchers in the upper town?" If this was to work, they needed total stealth.

Deepwalker steps ahead, Thank you showing us the way.  Now it's time for the warriors to begin their work.  Going to the Minotaurs he points and says, There's a city a short way in this direction.  This city's population are all thralls of the mind flayers.  Time for you to do what you do best and kick some thrall butt.

Yuthel replies "The thralls will delay you while the mind flayers prepare to slaughter you. You would do best if you can prevent any of them from ringing the gong in the town square, but that will not be easy. In any case, I will not be left behind - I want to be the first to spit one of those damn squids on my blade."

"Innocent victims are the thralls - we should not kill them." Schnickle protested. "Unless absolutely necessary it is. Valuable allies they can be once freed."

He considered a plan. "Sneakiest and quickest of us should reach the gong and disable it."

Deepwalker replies, Having a bunch of Minotaurs rampaging through town is a hell of a distraction for some of us to get to the town hall and take out the mind flayers.

"Well, we need to come to a decision, and quickly - Schnick can be one sneaky guy, but how do you disable a gong?"

Schnickle thought for a moment. "Steal it." He turned to Kharona. "The gong is how big?"

"About one meter in diameter. It's held in place by two chains and a wooden frame. Now that I think of it, maybe stealing the hammer would be a better way to go. The thralls won't be extremely alert given how the illithids treat most of their prisoners."

"Still they could hit or kick the gong. Sure we must be." Schnickle considered the size of himself and his magical bag. It probably wouldn't fit. Maybe he could carry it away and hide it someplace?

I could shatter it from a distance - this is the sort of exercise I was put through back home. On the other hand, that might make more noise than the gong itself. Perhaps if I melted it, then gave the signal to attack?

Seeing Illianka and Schnickle figure a coward's way of fighting the Mind Flayers; Deepwalker walks back to the minotaurs and says, Anyone who is ready to kick some ass come with me.  At that Deepwalker starts towards the dity and he isn't being quiet about it.

"Ideas of yours are good." Schnickle said to Illianka.

Then seeing Deepwalker blundering off, he called after him. "Wait! Planning we not done yet!"

Though Schnickle had to admit, Deepwalker and the minotaurs would make good fodder.

Schnickle hurriedly conferred with the svirfneblin commanders, suggesting that the svirf warriors and scouts run interference for the minotaurs - "Worst of it let them have. Safety to you." Then he selected some svirf spies to aid him and Illianka take out the warning bell.

Not slowing Deepwalker calls out over his shoulder, We'll be the distraction.  If you're set on doing things the unhonorable, cowardly, and sneaky way go ahead.  I prefer to face things head on with honor.  Hoping that his words will have a rallying effect on the minotaurs.  Since the minotaurs and Deepwlker have long legs they should quickly outdistance the slower gnomes.

"Smart way it is, but whatever. Luck be with you!"

The minotaurs, alongside Deepwalker, charge forward. Kharona ran ahead with them, seeing that the situation left no better way to fight. The svirfs took up the rear cautiously with Illianka rushing to keep up with the larger fighters.

As they approached the city, you come across a pair of Troglodytes. Sniffing the air, they immediately turn and begin running, howling at the top of their voices. The Minotaurs charge forward chasing after them, as the sounds of a gong being hit loudly echo through the tunnels. Running as fast as they are, they have no hope of noticing the trap waiting for them as the tunnel opens up. Ignoring the Troglodytes, strands of sticky rope fly out at the minotaurs, quickly catching 23 of them from four central points. Staggering about in surprise, the minotaurs quickly begin to be dragged back towards the rocks that launched the tentacles.

Schnickle looked up the minotaurs being dragged to their dooms and sighed. So much for the invasion. "Thanks be to you, Deepwalker. Leadership qualities of yours are impeccable."

The Svirf leader steps into the room shortly after, and immediately shouts out "Ropers they be! Often as guards are they used by devourers. Stand away from the left side - I will seal them away where they deserve to be, and cut the strands as fast as you can."
As everyone tries to stand to the right side of the passage, the svirf cleric holds out his hands and slowly raises them, and a ground cracks and breaks before them. He pulls a wall of stone up, lifting until it meets the ceiling and cuts off two of the ropers.

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[Private to DM Daniel: I have a little problem with this trap thing.  First off Minotaurs have the scent ability, and second they have natural cunning which means they're never surprised and have a +4 bonus to their spot and listen checks.]

[Private to Deepwalker: The ropers are immobile, so they don't have to make move silently checks, and they have +18 to hide underground and take 10 on their hide checks for 28 total. Minotaurs with +7 cannot roll well enough to beat that. Troglodytes have an intense and overpowering smell so unpleasant that it forces a fortitude save, negating the scent quality.]
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[Private to Deepwalker: Additionally, this is taken from a listing of standard guard encounters around mind flayer cities.
Is this satisfactory? Your feedback is important, PM me.]
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