The Yeong Prosperity District is one of the great Centers of the Yellow City, with many of the most established Opium Cartels, Bazaars and a large range of businesses, set up in colossal buildings crammed next to one another besetting the large 60 feet wide thoroughfares that form the main transport axes of the Yellow City. There is no shortage of goods-hauling pack animals, palanquins containing very important persons carried by extremely muscular and powerful looking Lamarakhi subjugated into servitude by the most powerful in Yoon Suin, extremely skilled or just very desperate goons and thieves that take advantage of the bustle to make some quick but very big coin, and the vicious Adjudicators robed in their uniforms of Red and Yellow, who are perpetually after such thieves and are known for ruthlessly cutting off thieves' arms with their heavy ringed daos as punishment for their infractions.

It is in this very Center of the Yellow City you find yourself in, and also the center of great curiosity and attention as the passers-by stare at your foreign Chelonian likeness. Near a great crossroads you stand with the large thoroughfares cutting north-south and east-west. Towards the north you see two vast compounds facing one another both which you have spent much of your time during your stay in the Yellow City: The great compound of the Prowling Cockatrice, the largest Explorers' Guild in the city, into which numerous carriages and groups of adventurers haul their large backpacks and gained treasure into.

The second compound towards the east is very much obscured by the overgrowing vegetation that covers the entirety the compound's outer rim held in by a tall plastered wall and a large brass gate, both of which have menacing rusty spikes protruding upwards likely to deter trespassers. Nobody stands guard at those gates, but not a single one dares even touch it for there are rumors that it will curse those who are not meant to enter, and will automatically open to those permitted. You had the fortune of acquainting yourself with one of the wealthy patrons of this vast rumored to be haunted compound, and your ocassional visits there have led to much rumors that Turtle Ghosts own the place. This compound, unlike what the rumors suspect, is no haunted house, but the archive and study area of a secretive group Seekers of Secret Knowledge - The Molten Eye.

AS you look about, you seem to notice something odd with the compound of The Molten Eye... near one of the spiked tops of the plastered walls of the compound, you catch the sight of a strange black skinned ape-like creature jumping into the overgrown vegetation and disppearing into the shadow of trees within the compound.

Meanwhile, near the compound of the Prowling Cockatrice, you notice a procession of very muscular, heavily tattooed men of Lamarakh wearing nothing but loincloths, carrying an extremely over-decorated, ornate palanquin, surrounded by heavily armoured men wearing dao, with distinctive peacock feathered helmets. The procession marches steadily through the large gate of Explorers' Guild compound, and those about to enter fall back to give way, and even some bow down as the palanquin passes in an expression of subservience.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:53, Wed 26 May 2021.

With a glance left and right before Dumon lifts the hood of his travelling cloak over his head shading his face from the sun and curiosity. He steps off towards the two compounds making sure not to get in the way of the multitude of carts, carriages and wagons or just the throng of people going about their business.

At the corner across where the "monkey" climbed the fence Dumon stops and looks to see if it has a "master" as nonchalantly as he can. He uses the procession entering the Explorers' Guild compound as a cover for his snooping. Dumon finds a disused doorway or somewhere else off the pavement and out of peoples way as he observes the fence for the animals return or the location of its owner.

At this point it is just Tortle curiosity, a trait that is particularity strong in Dumon given he had travelled a fair distance to currently be in this fine city.



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In reply to Dumon (msg # 2):

You manage to stand out of the way of the stream of passing peoples, and as the palanquin procession disappears into the grounds of the Prowling Cockatrice out of your sight. Observing the overgrown vegetation skirting the tall plastered walls of the compound opposite you try to keep a look out for any of the signs of that same monkey you caught the sight of previously, and suddenly there is a rustling of leaves and out comes a tiny white skinned monkey, which leaps out from the vegetation onto the top of the spiked plastered wall, and then leaps into the crowd, landing on a succession of carriages, peoples' heads, camel humps, in the direction of the main entrance of the Prowling Cockatrice.

It eventually reaches the lower roofed walls of the Prowling Cockatrice, climbs on top of it and disappears into the compound like the rest of the stream of returning adventurers and other visitors.

As Dumon crosses the road he keeps and ear out for shouts of alarm or the like as he takes his time and watches the traffic so not to end up on his shell. He also enters the procession of people entering the compound.

He has been here many times before so relies on his feet to take him to the entrance as he looks for the "monkey" from across the road. He is sure it is probably making for a window or the like so that were he starts his search.

Dumon is not actually sure why this should concern him or what he is looking for, but it's fills in some moments before he will go off to find something to eat. Perhaps he will spot Ouli Koudi or he might even pay him a visit should he be present, but for now he continues his visual search.



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This message was last edited by the player at 01:28, Sat 15 May 2021.

You follow the large streams of people entering the compound of the Prowling Cockatrice, and you are met with the usual sight of four main buildings inside the compound:

1. The widest triple floored building lying the closest to the entrance is the Hall of Commissions, its first floor naturally ventilated and open to the ground floor where you can see tall piloti painted in red propping up the rest of the building. It is into this building that most of the non adventurer folk appear to be streaming in and out of, no doubt to commission the explorers various tasks.

2. At the south western part of the walled compound surrounded by a pavilion of strange trees of blue leaves and white bark is the stone walled Hall of Archives, known the be one of the largest repositories of knowledge in the Yellow City itself. Most of the bookish, frail looking, eye-glass wearing folk seem to be headed there. It is in this crowd, you see the white monkey jump onto the heads of. It eventually climbs on top of one of the blue leafed trees and stands on one of its branches to rest.

3. At the northern end of the the compound is the the triple floored Hall of Administrators, connected by a sheltered walkway to the Hall of Commissions. This is where most of the senior staff of the Prowling Cockatrice work and manage guild.

4. Deepest inside the compound at the western end partly obscured by more blue leafed trees is a tall monument-like shrine that resembles a giant decorated quarterstaff with spiked ends, a religious structure erected in worship of Xun-Yin the Monkey God of Fortune a popular deity among merchants in Yoon Suin, who has a vast temple complex in the south-western edge of the Yeong Prosperity District. It is said that the monument's south-western spike is slightly longer than the rest which point at rest of the 7 cardinal directions, and effectively aligns itself with a similar monument in the main temple complex.

While you are pondering on looking for Ouli Koudi, you hear some passing explorers saying something quite relevant as the look towards the palanquin procession headed to the Northern Hall of Administrators:

"First Pang Zhen the Scrupulous, now Fan Lu of Golden Rooftop Den? Can Master Oudi really bring the Scouring Tide back alive?"

You recognize that the names Pang Zhen the Scrupulous and Fan Lu of Golden Rooftop Den are very well known names of two of the most powerful Opium Cartel leaders of the Yellow City. And the Scouring Tide being the adventurer group rumoured to be stranded in the Old City ruins west of the Yellow City.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:53, Sat 15 May 2021.

Dumon continued towards the tree without looking at the monkey directly, once under it boughs he looked at the beast again looking for something out of the ordinary... "what was ordinary for a monkey" he thought to himself. Soon his eyes were drawn to the stream of adventures returning with bulging packs and sacks, it was a curious sight which sparked a memory "More would have left then now return." was a saying from his clans mother kin.

Assuming that the curious monkey was not wearing a harness or little clothes Dumon would again brave the crowds to peruse what contracts had become available. Then assuming nothing caught his eye, or even if it did he would seek out Master Oudi.



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In reply to Dumon (msg # 6):

You manage to observe that the monkey seems to be perhaps a bit too disciplined - as though it were trained to travel from location to location without being distracted by dark orange fruits hanging from the branches of the blue leafed trees. It hops amongs the branches towards the Hall Archives, and enters an open window.

While doing this, you hear word of a few commissions for an explorer that have become available:

1. Around 5 to 10 Tamasic Men have stolen a shipment of armour and hidden it in their hideout in the Eastern Old City. The merchant who was supposed to receive the Shipment is willing to pay 600 gold pieces for the shipment to return. He is willing to sponsor to the explorers willing to help him a Draft Horse and a Wagon for free to ship the armor shipments back. Of course the explorers will have to pay if the horse and wagon are lost.

2. An archivist group, The Blue Terrapin, is willing to pay 300 gold pieces for one of their archivists to be escorted to get rubbings of engravings in the ruins of an ancient shrine deep in the Western Old City.

3. A wealthy merchant is willing to pay 2000 gold pieces for explorers who manage to track down the whereabouts of the elusive Hermit of the Shattered Plinth, rumored to be living somewhere deep inside the Eastern Old City. Of course, they must obtain proof that they have tracked him by handing in a map along with any memento that might be associated with the hermit according to rumors.


Meanwhile, there is word that Cartel Master Fan Lu of the Golden Rooftop Den is currently having a meeting with Ouli Koudi in the Hall of Administrators.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:20, Sun 16 May 2021.

Dumon watches the monkey until it disappears into the window. He makes a note of the windows location in relation to the building as a whole. He does not think that the monkey would go straight to its masters office, but you never know.

The job the The Blue Terrapin is advertising sounds interesting, Dumon decides to think on it as he looks for Master Oudi in the Hall of Administrators. Approaching one of the administrators Dumon will give his name and ask to speck with Ouli Koudi when he is free.

He tries to orientate himself as to what window the monkey went through and where he is likely to be and on what floor. Failing that he looks for it perched on someone's shoulder as he waits.



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In reply to Dumon (msg # 8):

You notice the monkey entering the fourth window on the second floor from the northern end of the Hall of Archives. Unfortunately it is not possible to see clearly what is past the window due to its height.


You imagine it would be possible to track down that window in relation to the building if you were to head to the second floor.

As you try to arrange for an appointment with Master Koudi, the administrator tells you that he will most likely only be available at dusk as his schedule is packed with meetings with various people throughout the day.

Judging from the location of the sun, it is noon, and probably will be a while before dusk.

Dumon gives a nod and thanks the staff member saying he will return then giving him his name as well. Still amused by the monkey Dumon makes his way to the Hall of Archives and attempts to gain access to the second floor.

As is his nature he takes things slow and observes as he moves through the complex, making mental note of the familiar and not so familiar faces of the staff and researchers. This place and the city as a whole is a far cry from the small village he was from. The river, there was always a river and though this one is not his own it is comforting to have one so close.

Should his way be barred he will go find the information on the escorting/guard job instead.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 10):

As you are well recognized as a friend of Master Koudi, you are freely let through into the Hall of Archives.

The first floor are where all the indices are stored, alongside the many offices of archivists who work at cataloguing the various books and artefacts handed in by explorers returning with various articles, maps, logs, and even some minor historical artefacts to be kept until archaeologists or historians come to study them reportedly deep in the underground chambers of the Hall of Archives.

The upper floors hold less precious but still valuable repositories of information in the form of books containing the accumulated lore of the lands. Some of the money that the Explorers' Guild make is from selling memberships for access to these books within the upper floors of the Hall of Archives, which many historians and scholars frequent.

Access to all upper floors is through a large central spiral staircase of a wide diameter, lit by sunlight from a tall crystal glass ceiling at the centre of the building's roof, and climbing it brings you to the second floor entrance from which you can see rows upon rows of bookshelves, occasional benches and tables for people to peruse the books.

Following your mental mapping of where the monkey went, you head towards the eastern end of the second floor and see that the eastern edge is lined with numerous enclosed booths accessible by a wooden door, most likely individual study rooms, judging from a scholar heaving a large stack of books out of one of the booths towards the shelves where he places some books back.

The booth that likely coincides with the window into which the monkey entered is the fourth booth from the northern end of the second floor, which, like the rest of the adjacent booths, has its door closed shut.

Just before he tries the handle on the door Dumon takes the time to check the corridor and stacks are clear. He turns the handle abruptly and barges into the room, looking first surprised and then offering his apologies should the room be occupied.

"So sorry I was informed the room was free." He takes up the entire door frame as he speaks.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 12):

Inside the booth, you see a bald, lanky man wearing a plain beigge robe and eyeglasses. Numerous rolls of parchment lay on the table, and it appears the he is in the process of drawing a monkey, which is the very same monkey that you saw enter through the window.

The monkey sits on a table while eating a banana, probably plucked from a bunch that is placed near the robed man. There are a few books stacked up on an empty chair.

When you opened the door and spoke, you visibly see the man jolt in shock. He slowly turns about while speaking.

"Uh... I... I did not bring those bananas into this room. It was the monkey..."

Eventually as his eyes meet your Tortle likeness, he just stares speechless at you, clearly not expecting to have encountered a humanoid turtle.

Dumon enters the room and closes the door behind him "How incredible for a monkey just to enter the archives and bring his own lunch no less. Does he have a name " Dumon eyes scan the table for anything out of the ordinary and then he spent sometime looking at the monkey close up and lastly his eyes turned to the man.

He waits for the man's answer as he uses his bulk to block the door.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 14):

On the table, apart from the messily placed parchment, inkwell and quill, you notice a strange looking key made of some shiny, metal-like material covered with many intricate and tiny engravings. The Bits and Wards of its thick looking key look rather exotic and bear a series of triangular cuts, much unlike any other key you have seen at least in the inns you've stayed in Yoon Suin.

The monkey is now more identifiable to you and appears to be a white furred Macaque. It is busy eating the large, fat banana and pays you no heed.

Now that you can see the man, you clearly see his features - pale skinned, with grey short hair, slitted brown eyes protected by eyeglasses, and a large reddish nose. He seems to be breaking sweat as you see streaks of perspiration roll down from his temples.

"N.. name? Uh no... Uh... I mean... it just jumped in just now! I... uh... I don't own it or anything...! And I most definitely didn't bring food into the archives...! Yes, Indeed! This is but a pest which plagues the trees in the compound!"

As the man speaks he closes his eyes and folds his arms and nods multiple times, as though satisfied with his own answer.

The moment he does this, the Macaque finishes eating the banana and throws it peel at the man, landing on his head. He quickly removes the peel from his head and opens one eye and continues.

"...And... and who are you? C... Can't you see that this study room is being occupied, hmm...?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:48, Thu 20 May 2021.

Dumon walks closer to the man and the table, he feints a pat of the monkey and grabs the key from the table with his other hand.

To the man's question Dumon answered "A guard, the key very good I will pass it on. No more food or monkeys in the archive. I will know, your name is on the sheet to "occupy" this room and we will speak no more of this yes ?".

He backs up to the door still facing the man, turns the door nob and then leaves. Dumon leaves the archive as fast as he can and tries to blend into the crowd leaving the complex and then into the masses of people on the road. He heads for a small tea house that over looks the river that he had found.

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In reply to Dumon (msg # 16):

The man freezes at your reply as though imagining severe repercussions, and fortunately he is stunned enough to afford time for you to not only take the key but also leave the second floor before you begin to hear sounds of pursuit from probably the man.

And somehow by likely sheer chance, you manage to position yourself into a procession of tall, large wagons which fortunately block most visual access to your extremely striking likeness, and manage to evade further pursuit from the robed man.

Eventually you arrive at a teahouse named River Pheasant Teahouse, which is positioned next to one of the distributaries of the God River that leads out into the Gulf of Morrays towards the south. Though it is now sometime past noon, there is still quite a number of customers seated at the many sets of round tables and chairs placed outside the establishment, with numerous white uniformed teahouse waiters serving tea pastries and porcelain teapots filled with steam emanating tea.

There are perhaps 1 or 2 empty tables, while the rest are mostly partially occupied.

Dumon keeps his hood up as he travels to the tea house, a couple of times he cuts back just to make sure he was not followed. Once he arrives he asks one of the waiters to be seated as close to the water as possible giving the man a slight bow in the process.

As he sits he closes his eyes and lets the breeze drift across his face and with it the smells of the water and the lotus flower scent from the plants just below where is is sitting. The sun also warms his face causing him to make a series of rapid quiet "chirps" of contentment, a noted vocalisation of his species.

The shuffling of one of the waiters approaching his table causes Dumon to focus again on the now as he orders some very strong Laung (clove) tea with some dried buds on the side. He also ordered some water chestnut cake and lotus seed buns. His main meal was always in the evening so this was really just a light snack and he came here for the river anyway not the food.

Dumon turned and watched the entrance to the house and then the customers as he removes the key from his pocket. Resting it on his lap under the low table he runs his fingers over its surface before looking down to have a closer look then he was able to get in the study room.



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This message was last edited by the player at 00:35, Fri 21 May 2021.

In reply to Dumon (msg # 18):

You order your food, which is the price of 20 coppers. After confirming your order, the waiters disappears into the teahouse for a few minutes before coming out with trays to serve others with. It looks like your food will take some time to prepare.

As you gaze at the teahouse, you see the usual sight of the midday teahouse humdrum - white steam emanating from the tops of the doors and windows and chimneys, the frequent entering and leaving of various waiters carrying food and drink, and the occasional leaving of the establishment by a group of customers - who appear to be quite well to do and neatly dressed. A large number of customers are human, with only one or two slightly rich looking slugmen escorted by Lamarakhi bodyguards occasionally sighted.

The key itself looks much like what you saw before, but now that it is not exposed to the light directly, you notice that the intricate patterns on the surface of the key are less visible. It feels quite hefty in your hand and on your lap as though it were made of lead or some dense material. The make and what exactly this key is escapes you, however as you have certainly seen nothing like it.

After a few moments of listening to the faint sounds of splashing water from the nearby God River, you hear a louder splash and some of the patrons pointing towards the river. It is also at this time a waitress comes with your food, places it on your table and looks towards where all the patrons are pointing at while wiping her sweaty brow with a towel hung around her neck.

"Hoo, what are they doing this far down the river...?" the waitress mutters as she continues gazing towards the river.

Dumon pockets the key again as the waitress brings his food, he gives her a smile and a "Thank you." as he taps his index and middle fingers on the edge of the table, a traditional show of gratitude to the bearer of the tea. Before arranging the plates to his liking on the table and adding all the cloves in the small bowl into the pot of tea. He could feel the vapours in his eyes, a stinging effect to anyone other then a Tortle.

As the waitress speaks Dumon cranes his neck to look at what she has seen and what has caused a stir among the other patrons of the teahouse.



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This message was last edited by the player at 02:34, Sat 22 May 2021.

In reply to Dumon (msg # 20):

In the distance from at the vast river from which the reflections of the midday sun reflect upon the waves of the God River, you hear loudening splashes and accompanying them the sight of man-sized gold skinned dolphins with spade-sized noses. They leap every few seconds from the water, making the boats tied to the built up coast rock slightly.

A flock of around 9 large dolphins and 4 smaller dolphins swim down the river and after a few minutes disappear in the direction of the Gulf of Morrays.

Dumon watched the dolphins until they were no longer visible. He then turned to the waitress "Are they not a common sight in the river, do you know what they are called ?" he started to eat and drink while she spoke.



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In reply to Dumon (msg # 22):

"That's right, Sir. They're God River Dolphins and they usually linger further upstream in the River in Lamarakh. Beats me why they're headed to the sea though. Maybe they ran out of fish to eat?"

The waitress shrugs as she hangs her towel back on her neck

"Enjoy your meal Sir," she bows to you and heads back into the teahouse.

As you make your repast, the sun edges ever closer to the horizon. It will be evening soon.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:55, Mon 24 May 2021.

Dumon takes his leisure and as the sun dips below the horizon or comes close to it he makes his preparations to leave just as a yellow banded dragon fly makes its way from the lotus flowers below him to hand on the spoon that was sitting in his cup. He studied the insect until it lifted off to fly back over the river.

It was time to return to the two adventurers guilds, but which one first. In the end he decided on the home of the key, the The Molten Eye. He would approach from a different direction and if there was a back gate Dumon would use it.


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In reply to Dumon (msg # 24):

You circle around the compound and eventually come to a sheltered doorway at one side of its perimeter facing the thickly forested edge of a nearby private garden.
The moment you step up the small stone steps leading up to the doorway, the brass gate swings open for you to go through and closes and locks itself shut behind you - as though some ghostly servant had opened and closed it for you.

Beyond the gate is again thick vegetation with a small cobbled path that twists and turns. As it is now dusk, no light comes from above, but the ground is dimly illuminated by statuettes of strange one eyed, mouthless creatures, whose eyes glow with a dim blue light as you follow the path. The insects of the night begin their soft chorus as the air becomes cooler.

Eventually you come to a large three storied mansion with very small slits for windows, and massive iron double doors as an entrance. Two grotesquely carved totems bearing many eyes that glow in the same faint blue seem to gaze and study you as you approach the entrance to this mansion.

After a few more moments, the doors seem to magically creak open slowly, to let you through.

The interior of the Mansion of the Molten Eye is in comparison more comfortably lit, with finely crafted lanterns adorning its many neatly plastered walls glowing with warm, orange radiance. Past the entrance vestibule is the common room, where much of the lower ranked seekers - all of them slugmen - seat in groups of three to four, around circular tables that are partitioned with wooden walls open to one side, discussing over stacks of notes and books.

At the far end near a glass wall beyond which lies a tastefully designed ornamental garden appears to be a bar counter of sorts. Seated at the counter are a few slugmen enjoying tea, and manning the counter is yet another slugman reading a book. What seems extremely out of the ordinary is the sight of floating teapots, saucers, cups, and small tea snacks, seemingly arranging themselves into tea sets on trays, and the trays flying towards each empty table without any spilling.

Towards one of the tables you see flies a rather extravagant tea set with quite a large portion of mooncake accompanying a glass teapot filled with dark purple tea. And seated near that same table where the extravagant set lands appears to be the large Ba Le'mei, seated on a couch and casually chatting with 2 other resting slugmen.

Dumon again greats the slugmen that he recognises as he crosses the room. When he is in the vicinity of Ba Le'mei, he gives a low bow and waits for the slug man to acknowledge him.

"Ba Le'mei, I was wondering if we could speak in private..." He waits for the reply.



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In reply to Dumon (msg # 26):

"Of course," Ba Le'mei speaks gently. As she motions to another room and begins to stand. Her ordered food stops just short of the table and floats alongside her to a more enclosed table for four and she rests upon one of the furred couches around the table.

Now in a more private room, Ba Le'mei speaks. "Good evening my friend, what brings you here today? And what is it do you want to speak to me of?" She takes a sip from her cup of tea as she awaits your response.

Once they are in the other room Dumon gives a short bow and lets Ba Le'mei take seat first before he does the same. "Recently something come into my possession which I am lead to believe is the property of The Molten Eye."

He removes the key from the folds of his tunic and places it on the sable while watching Ba Le'mei for a reaction.



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In reply to Dumon (msg # 28):

"Property...? Hmmm...?" Ba Le'mei looks over to the key and gazes at it for a few sconds.

"I'm afraid I cannot be of much help regarding this... because to be honest, I have never seen it before... Though now that you mention it I seem to recall some complaints about things going missing in our institution... We should see one of the administrators make things clearer - but first allow me to finish my supper while you tell me about how you got your hands on this"

Ba Le'mei picks up a silver fork and uses it to eat a small slice of mooncake and washes it down with some tea as she awaits your response.

"Of course, I am sorry for interrupting you." Dumon gave a wave of his hands for the slugman to continue. He then gave an account of how the key came into his possession and who he got it off.

Dumon in no way implicated the The Prowling Cockatrice as having anything to do with the actual theft, just that it took place in its archive by a visiting researcher who probably chose its location for its proximity to the Molten Eye.


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In reply to Dumon (msg # 30):

Ba Le'mei listens to you intently as she eats slowly, and by the time you finish your tale she too finishes her meal.

"Well, it was a good think you told me about this first. I imagine the others might be quite to accuse the Cockatrice and make tensions rise even further should you have told someone else who perhaps may not be as phlegmatic as I," Ba Le'mei chuckles as she downs a cup of tea and begins to stand up.

Picking up the key she puts it in her pocket and walks towards the corridors.

"Leave the speaking to me. You may follow if you wish, but I am afraid to convey the information in the best possible way I will have to use the language of the Slug-men, and I imagine you might find it almost impossible to understand"

Whether you decide to follow her or not, Ba Le'mei will head up the grand staircase towards the second floor into the administrators' offices.

Dumon indicates he will come as well, he had been in the city awhile now perhaps he could pick up on what was being said. He follows behind the slug still very much at a loss as to what is going on, especially in relation to the key.


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In reply to Dumon (msg # 32):

You follow Ba Le'mei up the stairs and through a number of doors to a large room with numerous shelves and a large table covered in an array of folders and stacks of papers.

Working on these papers is another slug-man in plain robes, who seems a bit surprised at your entrance.

The Ba Le'mei exchanges words with the slugman which sounds like a series of monotonous slimy sounds - probably the language of slug-men. The tones are all monotonous and there is seemingly no clue as to what words are being emphasized - making the experience of listening to their conversation quite otherwordly. Ba Le'mei gives the key to the administrator, who examines it for a moment and cross references it with a number of documents he receives from the shelves. The administrator then returns the key to Ba Le'mei.

The conversation continues for almost 20 minutes, until finally the plainly robed slugman retrieves a scroll and hands it to Ba Le'mei.

Ba Le'mei stands up and bows to the slugman scribe and gestures for you to follow.

After walking back out of the room through the corridor, Ba Le'mei leads you back to the more private eating area and sits down, ordering another pot of tea.

"I'm afraid Dumon, that you will have to do a task for the Molten Eye with what you have discovered..."

"This key which is targeted by many of the other explorers guilds is apparently necessary to open an ancient vault in the Old City. For now, I have been entrusted the key for safekeeping as the administrator has assigned me to take charge of the archaeological effort there... And I was told to make you part of the expedition team which is to be assembled as soon as possible..."

"I have a few contacts with some trusted mercanaries on my end, and I think I can assemble one quite soon, so I would advise you to prepare for a journey the day after tomorrow. For now, I plan to assemble the team to meet at the Crusty Shell Tavern near the Eastern Ancient Gate leading to the Eastern Old City..."

"Really an expedition, well I am glad you have such confidence in my abilities Ba Le'mei. Do you know anything else about the vault, what it may contain, guardians etc.... ?"

Dumon continued to stand unless Ba Le'mei offers him a seat.


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In reply to Dumon (msg # 34):

"Uhhh... Its a little more complicated than that..." Ba Le'mei looks away for a moment and scratches her head with her slug fingers while speaking.

"The thing is we don't know anything about the vault except for its location and that it was once an observatory, and it was the administrator himself who demanded that you join the expedition. As to why, I have not a clue... But what I do know is that the Old City is extremely dangerous - filled with criminals in hiding, mad wizards and malfunctioning automatons - and easy to get lost in, so I imagine you can connect the dots..."

Ba Le'mei looks to you expectantly as she continues.

"B...But of course! I wish for a fine outcome, and I will do my best to support by providing a guide who knows the safest routes along with a few mercenaries..."

As Ba Le'mei finishes, she presses her fingers together and waits for your reply.

Dumon thought for a few seconds before saying "Well I would be honoured to accompany the trip. But how will any treasure and the like be divided, is there a standard formula you use ?"

Assuming everything is in order then Dumon will make his goodbyes to Ba Le'mei and head back out into the city to find some dinner. He has a favourite restaurant close to his lodgings that will hopefully have a spare table.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 36):

"Well assuming that there is even treasure left in there to begin with, the Molten eye will want to archive at least two of every archaeological article. For instance, if you found a pile of old gold coins, at least two will go to the archives. Sadly this means that if you only managed to find one of an artifact, it will have to be deposited in the Seekers' Vault. But of course, the Molten Eye will appraise it and compensate you for it, in terms of gold or any other item that we may have an abundance of.

"And sometimes if it is really necessary, the Eye will permit the renting of some artefacts that will aid in the efforts of lore seeking, but only to its trusted members of course that have contributed to the cause of the Molten Eye," Ba Le'mei says. "I see this as a good opportunity to bring you into those ranks of the trusted, and I will do my best to help... well... in truth I have no other choice but to help as it is the order of the administrator..."

Ba Le'mei shrugs and bows to you as you bid your farewell.

You navigate out of the compound of the Molten Eye and walk down the brightly lit night streets of the Prosperity District. A number of the auxilliary large thoroughfares of the district have visibly transformed at nightfall, road adjacent stalls set up smaller temporary stalls on large streets themselves to form a night market.

Many of these shops sell easy to carry snacks like roasted squid, shrimp skewers, and tiny bowls of chilled beancurd, while some larger wheeled carts sell bowls of noodles around which large numbers of humans squat around in circles of 3 to 4 eating while talking.

As you enjoy the exotic sights of this night market, you eventually come to your inn named the Hollow Rock, which is a slightly cramped three storied inn sculpted entirely of carved rock. Many tiny weeds and plants inhabit the cracks on the stone facade's surface, perhaps due to the abundance of vegetation at the front of the inn. Adjacent to the inn is a large tavern made of dark wood called "Lotus Pavilion" which appears to be moderately filled with customers.

You can see that both the Hollow Rock and Lotus Pavilion's frontages have night market stalls set up, with the Hollow Rock selling tiny soapstone trinkets, and the Lotus Pavilion selling Dumpling Skewers. There appears to be a line forming at the Lotus Pavilion's night market stall, while the Hollow Rock's night market stall is mostly empty, with only an occasional wanderer looking in for a few seconds.

You go to a table and the waitress arrives to take your order. "Welcome back turtle man! What will it be?"

You notice a few glances at you by the customers, and by the people lining up outside at the night market stall.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:40, Mon 31 May 2021.

Dumon took his time as he walked back towards the restaurant, he takes his usual seat with his back against the wall and his face towards the entrance. He greets the waitress before ordering a large bowl of egg noodles with large chunks of white fish in it, fried fish on the side, a smaller bowl of freshwater clams, a bowl of "hot" sauce and a large pot of clove tea with extra buds. He does not remember what the local, name for the sauce is but from the looks he received the first time he tried it he does not eat it like the locals. He then nods and thanks her as he sits back his his back against the wall to watch the patrons and those lining up for food.

It had been his experience that speed and price were usually the biggest factor as to how popular a stall was, but people always had their favourites. Dumons own favourite dish was the large freshwater snails that he brought from the market he sometimes covered them with chilli powder before eating them whole. Thinking on it Dumon would buy some for breakfast.

It was now his mind turned to what Ba Le'mei had said he was convinced she was not being entirely honest about the key and the expedition. His tea arrived just as he was mulling this over and he again thanked the waitress as he poured the extra buds into the pot to stew for a bit. The dividing of the treasure sounded fair, he had no experience of such things so.... at this point his food arrived and in quick succession the various dishes were arranged across his table and his thoughts drifted to food as he pored his tea and began his meal.

Once he was done and the dishes were clear he removed his pipe and began to prepare it before lighting it with the candle. Again sitting up against the wall Dumon thought on what he needed to do before the expedition as it was he was still very much prepared for travel so there was little to accomplish in that area. Perhaps tomorrow he would visit some sights in the city ?

Another pot of tea and some yuanxiao/sweet rice balls to finish and Dumon would make his way to his lodgings for the night.



-


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 38):

You return to your rented lodge where a corpulent human guard appears to keep guard while seated with his quarterstaff resting against his shoulder and his arms folded.

For the past few days you've stayed here, you've always wondered if the guard is actually asleep or not. But putting it at the back of your mind, you climb up the narrow spiral steps of the Hollow Rock up to the second floor. The corridors on the second floor are dimly lit by tiny candles set in small alcoves along the walls which dimly light up the area with a warm orange light.

Your room is at the end of the corridor, where a simple low table and a mat made of charred bamboo lies on the floor for you to rest.

There is also a large wooden chest for which to store your belongings, though it cannot be locked...
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:43, Tue 01 June 2021.

Dumon woke at dawn and as he had promised himself he wondered to the market to find his breakfast. There was a myriad of stalls sprawled across the square, some covered most were not. Even given the hour he arrived some stalls had been opened for sometime offering everything and anything. Dumon proceeded over to the fresh fish part of the market where every type of fish, crustacean or invertebrate that lives in the water was available for purchase in all different sizes.

He past large barrels of eels in all different colours and sizes from small ones who looked like balls suspend in water to large ones that barely fitted in the barrel. There where fish both large and small, either to be taken away alive or prepared right there and then. Dumon licked his lips as he past the barrels filled with crayfish and lobsters, another personal favourite and lastly as he arrived at his destination there where shellfish, clams and oysters. Horseshoe clams, razor clams and giant flat oysters the size of dinner plates.

He found the snail vendor who had a large and varied selection. Dumon quickly ordered a dozen of the cricket ball sized fresh water snails whose shells were covered with little barnacles. They were handed over in a small bag to which Dumon added a good handful of chilli powder before shaking the bag vigorously.

Dumon ate and walked as he took in the sights of the market as he left the freshwater section he brought a dozen of the terrapins, which were tied one top of each other to form an easily carried package. With that Dumon wandered into the city again and down towards the river, finding a set of covenant steps that were unoccupied. Walking down until the water lapped his feet Dumon placed the package of reptiles on the step and cut the cord holding them so they all plopped into the river and disappeared under the water. Dumon watched them depart with a series of low clicks as he made his way to the nearest tea house.

Between Lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and supper the day meanders away to Dumon having seen a lot more of the city and tried some different eateries before he again retires for the night and sets off in the morning for the Crusty Shell Tavern that the expedition is to leave from.



-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 40):

You eventually arrive at the Crusty Shell Tavern - a rather well made building made of red bricks tastefully embedded with various shells of sea creatures and snails.

As it is quite early in the morning, only a few people are making their repast in the rather clean and fresh smelling tavern interior. Drinking mugs of water are a around 5 armed people, a scampy looking man, and Ba Le'mei herself seated in the at the table.

Two of the men look rather formidable, and are equipped with chain armor and wielding a large greatsword and greataxe.

Thre of the rest are in simple leather armor, and they hold a variety of weapons: Shortbow, Bang Nakh and Guandao.

Noticing your arrival, Ba Le'mei waves to you.

"Morning Dumon, you're just in time. We will be setting off soon. Here, meet Mr. Mathabar. He's our guide into the Old City, a very talkative man, but quite knowledgeable, and trustworthy."

"Ah yes, nice to meet you ser Dumon. I smell sound fine scents of chili from you - very good taste. Very good taste indeed! I do recall the use of a large variety of capsicum and peppers in an adventurous concoction to make perfumes for..." the leather armored man wearing a shortbow rambles on about very obscure topics of aromatherapy and perfume making as he holds out his hand to shake yours.

Ba Le'mei just smiles awkwardly as Mathabar rambles on in an extremely rapid rhythm, while one of the mercenaries wearing a greataxe shakes his head and massages his temples.

Dumon gave a Ba Le'mei a slight bow as he then shook the offered hands and introduced himself to the group. He placed his halberd on the floor as he did so, the weapon a hindrance in such tight spaces the pennant of the stylised turtle unfurled on the floor. It was this and this alone that drew him to the weapon in the store, as he would otherwise have passed it slumped with other rusty and old pole arms in the barrel.

It had cleaned up very nicely once the rust and cobwebs were removed, even the red tassels had returned their former colour once the dust and grim was washed off.




-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 42):

The rest introduce themselves to you:

The talkative guide with the shortbow, being Mathabar as introduced by Ba Le'mei previously.
The chain armored man with the greatsword , Suryaraj
The chain armred man with the greataxe, Chandra
The leather armored man with the Guandao, Bhimsen
The leather armored man with the Bang Nakh, Dev
The unarmored man who works as a torchbearer, Damodar

Based on a short exchange with the party hired by Ba Le'mei, you learn that Suryaraj and Chandra are considerably more experienced, while the rest have only less than a year of experience under their belts.

"As much as I am not so good with outdoor fieldwork, the administrator insisted that I join the expedition too, so I will be accompanying all of you as well," Ba Le'mei speaks. "Let us hope we complete our task with smoothly."

Now completely prepared, the party sets off from the Old Granite Gates that lead to the vast Eastern Old City....

The Old City is filled with a large number of ruined buildings as far as the eye can see, and set at a lower altitude than the Yellow City. Following Mathabar's guide, the party weaves through the initial rows of inhabited ruin slums and twist and turn into a caravanserai corridor filled with spider webs on which numerous small spiders crawl. As the corridor is open to the sky, the party passes through the corridor of cobwebs effortlessly.

After about two hours, you arrive at a statue garden where numerous ruined statues covered in strange engravings are placed in neat rows. And as the party continues forth, Mathabar suddenly tells everybody to stop.

In the distance blocking the path forward appears to be a group of 4 squid-men who seem to be in the process of demolishing a statue with their large blue-metal hammers.

"Now this is going to be troublesome..." Ba Le'mei remarks as she looks at the squidmen their hunting tentacles erect in all directions and wobbling with every swing of their hammer sending crushing sounds through the air.

"Mathabar - do you know any other way to the Vault?" Ba Le'mei asks.

"I'm afraid I don't... we will have to try finding another way and I fear that it might take half of another day..." Mathabar replies.

"Dumon, are you familiar with tactics? Are you able to come up with any plan?"

Based on pure numbers you outnumber the squid-men by at least double. But according to Ba Le'mei, squid-men are quite dangerous as they are much hardier than people, and have deadly poisons on their weapons - though this poison might not be used for their hammers they are holding which look like they were made for destroying the statues.

Dumon thought for a minute, "We could bring them towards us while the bowmen fire on them, those with pole-arms hold them off while the bowmen continue to fire from the flanks. Then if they break through we go to hand to hand. Hopefully we would have dropped a few by this point. I can start it all off with my crossbow, yes....."

Dumon took his cross bow from his back and nocked a bolt having placed his halberd at his feet.



-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 44):

"Alright let us hope it works out..." Ba Le'mei says as he notifies the mercenaries to take positions.

The pathway is broad enough to fit around 4 people standing with their legs apart.

The two men with great weapons and the man with the Guandao take positions at the front and assume a low stance, holding their weapons in front of them. As their weapons' ranges are quite broad, they stand well spaced from one another.

Dev prepares his Bang Nakh, and stands close behind Suryaraj to catch anyone that breaks through the front line.

Mathabar nocks his shortbow and stand some distance behind, taking aim with his bow.

Damodar stands far back - as he is unarmed. Ba Le'mei stands at his side, and speaks, "Anytime you're ready Dumon. I shall assist with some of my magic spells".

The furthest back line of whole party's formation stands around 150' from the squidmen, still smashing up a large granite statue of a three muscled men.

Dumon lowers his now loaded crossbow and aims for the closest squidman. He slows his breathing and tightens his grip on the weapons lever until he hears the familiar "twang" of the string as he it sends the bolt whistling away.

Dumon rolled 17 using 1d20.  Attack - crossbow.
Dumon rolled 2 using 1d6.  Damage - crossbow.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 46):

Your first bolt zips through the air alongside Mathabar's arrow, while Ba Le'mei makes various gestures and makes an incantation!

Both bolt and arrow strike the same squidman, who is severely wounded by the two missiles!

Surprised by the sudden attack, the Squidmen cease their demolishing works and turn their attention towards the party!

As they do this, you notice three bolts of glowing energy form around Ba Le'mei, who then points towards the squidmen - causing them to fly towards the squidmen! Aiming one of the squidmen - the bolts burst as they strike its flesh - severely wounding it!

With the exception of the wounded squidmen, the two other unhurt squidmen hurriedly close in at the front line - but they appear to run much slower on land than people. It would seem that they would close in to the front line soon, and you will just be able to launch another missile at the charging squidmen.

Mathabar quickly nocks another arrow and prepares to fire.

Dumon works his crossbow with skilled hands and aims at one of the unhurt squidmen charging their lines. Another twang of the string and this bolt was away, disappearing into one of the monsters.


Dumon rolled 17 using 1d20.  Attack.
Dumon rolled 6 using 1d6.  Damage.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 48):

As your bolt is released, Mathabar fumbles with his arrow and it drops harmlessly on the ground without firing off.

You bolt lands squarely in the torso of one of the squidmen, but it appears to have no intention of stopping its charge!

Ba Le'mei hurriedly makes another gesture and incantation and points towards the charging squidmen! Her three energy bolts strikes the last uninjured Squidman, and severely wounding it!

The two charging squidmen finally reach the front line, and make their attacks! But perhaps heavily distracted by the attacks on them, they swing wildly and completely miss!

Suryaraj who wields a much lighter greatsword takes this opportunity to counterattack - cleaving the heavily injured charging squidman - causing it to fall on its knees! It appears to be still alive but is in critical condition!

Dev takes this opportunity to swoop in, and punches the other charging squidman in the ribs, drawing much blood!

Seeing their companions being so effortlessly mauled, the other two heavily injured Squidmen begin to run away towards the north!

"Almost there boys! They're retreating!" Suryaraj bellows.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:00, Mon 07 June 2021.

Dumon who would have dropped his crossbow at this point and taken up his flail aim again with the weapon and releases another bolt. This time his luck did not hold and the bolt missed to disappear into the surrounds.


Dumon rolled 8 using 1d20.  Attack.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 50):

This time unlike you, Mathabar manages to shoot an arrow, which badly wounds one of the escaping squidmen, causing it to collapse on the ground!

Suryaraj rapidly presses the opportunity and slays the kneeling squidman, causing it to collapse to the floor motionless!

Chandra too strikes at the other squidman at the frontline, wounding it! Bhimsen tries to join in, but his overhead strike misses. Dev follows up with another sock with his Bang Nakh, and the last squidman in the frontline collapses to the ground!

The last remaining squidman runs as fast as he can and flees up further north! It will probably be hard to pursue it.

The party has overcome the squidmen, and each character (except for Damodar the Torchbearer who did not participate in battle) gains 228 XP!

"Phew, that went smoother than I had thought. I have heard all to many tales of men falling to the squidmen - but I suppose luck was on our side... Though I can't help but wonder what the coastal squidmen are doing so deep in the Old City..." Ba Le'mei scratches her chin. "Why were they smashing up that statue I wonder?"

The other men sheathe their weapons and Damodar begins looking through the fallen squidmen's belongings.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:05, Mon 07 June 2021.

"I to thought that it was strange that they would travel here just to smash up some art. Perhaps they were looking for something in one of the statues ? That's all I could think that would draw them here." Dumon began the unpleasant task of retrieving the two bolts that had actually hit their target. He did not even bother to look for the one that missed.

Then he examined the statue to see if he could find anything of interest.



-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 52):

You join Damodar for the moment near the bodies, and pull out the bolts from their corpses. While doing so, you notice a Damodar manage to retrieve a two small pouches each from the Squidmen's bodies and he pockets them.

At the statue, you notice embedded within part of it a small ornate looking chest, partly obscured by the statue it is still partly embedded in.

Ba Le'mei walks by your side as looks at this item as well.

"Whatever the squidmen were trying to do, it looks like they're trying to recover this... I don't know how to feel about wrecking the graves of ancient men, but it certainly looks quite precious."

Dumon reaches out a hand and grasps the chest, turning it over to look at it. "Yes grave robbing will always bring the bad omens, but then again it was not use wielding the hammers." Dumon sees if he can find the catch to open it.



-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 54):

The chest has a small brass catch, which causes it to spring open when pressed.

Inside the small chest appears to be an odd looking metallic corkscrew.

"Looks like some trash to me," Suryaraj says coming closer and looking into the Chest. "We're all ready to move on at anytime."

"Well Dumon, hold onto that chest for us for now. We musn't forget that we still have a task at hand," Ba Le'mei says, beckoning you.

"Agreed, let us be off..." He pockets the chest and its strange contents as he lifts his gear onto his shoulder and follows the others.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 56):

As the sun high in the sky begins to descend from its highest point, the party makes twists and turns after the sculpture garden, through ruined buildings, half-collapsed fortifications, and through a small overgrown garden.

Eventually as the sun begins to edge towards the horizon, you arrive at a ruined temple with numerous smashed up statues that seemed to have depicted some manner of griffon.

The temple is surrounded by a numerous overgrown hedges, trees and party grown saplings - clearly no one has been here in some time.

"We should take a rest through the night to prepare for any danger the vault might pose when we explore it," Ba Le'mei suggests.

Nodding, the mercenaries begin to set up camp some distance from the temple.

"Get some rest Dumon. The mercenaries will be in charge of keeping watch. By the way, I meant to ask, what do you think of the trip so far? The Old City is truly a fascinating place isn't it?" Ba Le'mei comes to you and speaks.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:17, Thu 10 June 2021.

Dumon drops his equipment accept for his weapons and helps with the preparations to camp. Once a fire is set he takes a seat and then answers Ba Le'mei questions. "Truly fascinating, but somewhat sad that so much has been lost." he tosses a log onto the fire. "It is a shame the area could not be used for something else..."


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 58):

"Indeed, perhaps it would have been greater if it served its earlier purpose as home to the people of the Yellow City, instead of the many outcasts and vagrants that now dwell its ruins," Ba Le'mei says as she seats next to you. "But Alas, all we can do as Seekers of Secret Knowledge is make sure our inheritance does not fall into the wrong hands..."

"That is a herculean task though, many people looking and the area is vast.... still one little piece at a time I suppose."


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 60):

"Yes... it sounds like a truly insurmountable task, and likely will not be complete for at least a few more generations. Though I am glad to be a part of the effort! Thank you for your assistance again. I shall retire for the night. We shall awake at dawn and delve into the vault. And let us pray that our task will be finished swifty."

Ba Le'mei retreats into her tent, leaving you by the small bonfire that the party has set up.

The half moon hangs in the air, a few clouds drifting by its base. You hear the rustling of leaves from the overgrown vegetation about as a cool breeze blows by, carrying the scent of rust.

Whether you turn in for the night or not, you eventually wake up or are alerted to the sounds of shouting.

"Get up boys, we have company!" the voice of Suryaraj barks.

It still appears to be dark outside, though you easily catch sight of a number of torch-bearing men approaching from the south whence the party first arrived near the site of the vault.

You clearly notice 6 torchbearing men - who appear to have long muscular arms covered in white-brown fur. The torches they carry illuminate their drooling mouths baring yellowish fangs, and judging from the extremely emaciated physique, the are probably starving and likely see you as their next meal.

You have heard of various men with animal like features according to bards who sing of the tales of adventurers falling to savagery of the cursed Tamasic men, said to be reincarnated humans punished for their shameful, ignorant ways. The 6 men seem to be Gibbon Tamasic men...

It appears that Suryaraj, Mathabar and Bhimsen are the only ones who awake and prepare their fight, following Suryaraj's call.

Dumon rose as fast as he could given the circumstances. He also shook anyone who was close and not preparing for battle as he own preparations were short. Raising his crossbow again he aimed for one of the men not wanting to give them the chance to get any closer.

"Bowmen on my mark..."

He did not see his own bolt but as soon as he fired he knew he was wide of the mark.


Dumon rolled 3 using 1d20.  Attack.



-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 62):

You try to wake Ba Le'mei from her slumber but she seems unresponsive.

As you call out again for people to wake though, only Dev awakens and quickly prepares for battle - putting on his Bang Nakh.

Following your timing, Mathabar nocks an arrow and fires at one of the Gibbon men - it zips straight towards one of the muscular looking Gibbon men, and strikes it in the head, causing it to collapse to the ground dead immediately.

Despite one of their companions being slain immediately before them, they do not seem to be frightened.

In fact, 2 of the most emaciated looking Gibbon men begin rushing towards their fallen companion's corpse and cannibalizing it violently.

"What savagery...!" Suryaraj exclaims.

The three other Gibbon men begin to charge towards the party!

One flails its long arms at Bhimsen, but he easily dodges out of the way. Bhimsen tries to strike back with his Guandao, but misses as well.

Another also tries to attack Suryaraj, but it judged the distance wrongly and Suryaraj does not even try to avoid the attack. Suryaraj then makes a powerful step forwards and makes an overhead strike with his greatsword, but just lightly scratches the Gibbon man, drawing a small amount of blood.

The last of the attacking Gibbon men lunges towards Dev, but merely scratches his armor, leaving Dev unscathed and prepared to counterattack! But perhaps due to having just woke, he misses his jab at the Gibbon man.

Presently, 2 hungry gibbon men are cannibailizing their fallen companion.

The other three at engaging in combat with Bhimsen, Suryaraj and Dev respectively.

From the looks of it, the Gibbon men are quite weak, and they will no doubt be slain soon.

Dumon places his crossbow on the ground as he moves forward with his shield and flail. Taking a step to the side and using the force of his movement he brings the heads of his flail down onto the nearest gibbon man.


<orange>Dumon rolled 13 using 1d20.  Attack.
Dumon rolled 1 using 1d8.  Damage.</orange


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 64):

You run towards the gibbon man engaged in combat with Dev, and swing your flail, bruising it slightly! Dev then presses on the opportunity and attacks yet again, punching it in the belly, and bruising it yet again! Its saliva spurts from its mouth as it is heavily injured and looks almost about to collapse!

Meanwhile, Suryraj makes another cleave with his greatsword, essentially hewing diagonally the tamasic man he engages into two! Its dismembered body collapses onto the ground in a puddle of its own blood!

Bhimsen then swings his guandao again to strike at the gibbon man he is engaging, and only manages to lightly scratch it with the tip of his guandao!

Then with another precise shot of his arrow, Malabar finishes off the same gibbon man, as the arrow cleanly goes through the gibbon man's belly!

All that remains, are the two extremely emaciated, hungry Gibbon Man, still cannibalizing the bloodied corpse of their companion!

"What's with all the ruckus...?" Chandra finally comes out of his tent, awakened by the commotion.

Dumon advances on the two gibbon men who seem to be preoccupied with the corpse. He winds up a swing of his flail and attacks the closest one and fumbles it completely.


Dumon rolled 1 using 1d20.  Attack.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 66):

The gibbon men completely ignore your blunder and your flail swings harmlessly above their rapidly bobbing heads ravenously feasting on their fallen companion's innards. Blood and gore splash all over the area.

Bhimsen approaches the gibbon men to try to attack them too but, misses completely.

Suryaraj then finally comes along and forcefully cleaves one of the gibbon men into two, while Dev just kicks the remaining one in the head, and they are both subdued and collapse into the large puddle of blood leaking from their horribly chewed up companion's body.

After looking at the scene, Bhimsen retches and pukes onto the grass nearby.

"Well, you'll get used to it after a well newbie," Suryaraj chuckles as he lightly slaps Bhimsen's back. "It's your turn to keep watch. Don't be slacking off now."

Bhimsen wipes his mouth with his forearm and spits on the ground muttering to himself and returns to the campfire to stand guard.

"What...? I missed out on all the action...!" Chandra says with a disappointed expression as he walks towards the blazing campfire to warm his hands.

Your party has overcome the attack by a group of hungry Tamasic Gibbon men! You gain 120 XP.

Dumon searches the corpses for anything or worth or interesting. Then he returns to the fire for a time, warming his hands before the flame. If it is close to dawn he does not return to his bed instead taking over the watch for the rest of the night/morning.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 68):

You search the bodies of the Gibbon men, and only come to discover a few tattered pouches on each of them containing a total of 15 copper pieces.

After doing so, roughly guess that it is about somewhere late in the wee hours of the night and accompany Bhimsen in keeping watch. Perhaps exhausted by the action alongside having just thrown up, you notice he nods off while keeping watch.

Some time later,you can eventually see the first rays of sunlight from the horizon, and the party members awake, make their repast, and prepare to explore the vault.

This time, Ba Le'mei takes the lead, taking the odd key out of her sleeve and inserting it in a strange slot in the middle of an ornately carved door depicting strange dancing lizards holding spears decorated like thorny vines.

As Ba Le'mei twists the key, the door begins to part slowly, as though operated by some mechanism that you can hear making rhythmic click sounds from within the structure of the vault.

After half a minute, the doors open wide, revealing the dark interior.

Ba Le'mei then motions to Damodar, who inserts a lit torch on a long staff with a metallic sconce fitted on the top, and waves it about inside, reveling a tiled corridor beset by two rows of man-sized statues on each side of the corridor. The corridor appears to have a very high ceiling, which disappears into darkness, as does any sight of whatever lies deeper into the corridor.

Unsure of his position in the line up to enter the tomb Dumon waits until instructed or someone makes a place. He is happy to go where ever someone wants him. Taking up his halberd he prepares to enter having taken some time to look the door over as he passes it.



-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 70):

Considering your abilities in your crossbow, Ba Le'mei suggests you take the middle with Mathabar, in front of her, behind Dev, Suryaraj, Chandra and Damodar who stands right in front to hold up the torch staff beside Bhimsen who strikes the ground about to be treaded with the bottom of his guandao.

The party proceeds forwards into dark statue lined corridor for a while, to reveal a large staircase which descends further down by a flight of dusty steps leading yet again into darkness.

But just before the party reaches the start of the steps, Bhimsen's guandao's bottom makes a hollow sound on the ground, and there is some shifting of stone....

Suddenly, you hear the sound of cables being tensioned slowly but surely...

"Wait... wait is that sound..." Dev says.

"Is it a trap...?" Chandra mutters while he looks about.

The tensioning sound gradually grows tighter and tighter as with every passing second, as everyone frantically looks about.

Dumon took up his place and held his crossbow at the ready. Given his performance with his flail this was probably best for the time being. When the cord began to stretch Dumon yells.

"To the stairs don't stop and wait...."

He then follows his own advice and makes for the top of the stairs.




-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 72):

Following your call, Mathabar, Chandra and Dev all heed your advice and run to the top of the stairs.

Suryaraj and Ba Le'mei, not so confident about your suggestion walks backwards slightly in the direction of the entrance.

Bhimsen stands still, while Damodar - unable to take the pressure, falls to his knees.

As you make your respective movement, the tensioning reaches a high pitch, and you heard a loud launching sound, and out of the mouths of the man sized statues are launched darts that glisten in the light of Damodar's torch like bolts of tiny flame!

A bolt grazes Ba Le'mei's face causing her to yelp, while another strikes Suryaraj but bounces harmlessly off his chain armor!

As Ba Le'mei's yelp echoes through the halls, the situation begins to calm down.

"T... that was dangerous... It almost hit me in the head," Ba Le'mei presses against her cheek to stop the purplish blood leaking from cut across her face.

"Nothing good armor can't protect you from!" Suryaraj says as he picks up the dart that bounced off his armor and inspects it. "It's all rusty. How the devil do these things still work after such a long time...?"

As everyone catches their breath, Ba Le'mei now suggests that you take the front together with Bhimsen to look out for potential traps, as your earlier reaction proved to be the better judgement.

The party, now proceeds down the stairs deeper into the vault. Your footsteps echo through the halls, and it seems to be quite a long flight of stairs.


You notice that the temperature feels a lot colder as you eventually reach the end of the steps where you see two marble statues of fierce looking lizard men in powerful looking poses - one of them with their mouth shut and another with its mouth open baring its black teeth and tongue. Between these two fierce statues slightly larger than that of a man, you see a large rusty portcullis with an odd serpentine design, and beyond this portcullis you can see a large ornately chest being dimly lit by a standing torch on which a roughly shaped stone that gives off a faint blue glow is fitted.

The rest of the room beyond is cloaked in darkness.

"I hope that isn't what all there is to this vault!" Ba Le'mei remarks as she points to the chest beyond. "And should that be the case, there is no doubt some deadly trap awaiting us...!"

You see that Ba Le'mei's small cut on her cheek has stopped bleeding.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:44, Fri 18 June 2021.

"Spread out and check for traps and secret doors or the like. Also we have to find the leaver to raise the gate to the chest." Dumon begins his search of the surrounding area looking for anything out of the ordinary or potentially useful...

He takes his time as they seem to have either found all there is to be found or are missing something.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 74):

Damodar remains in the middle of the room holding up his torch staff up high to make sure as much of the torch flame lights up the room as possible, while everyone in the party begin striking the floors and walls in search of any secret doors or pressure plates.

While doing so, you hear the two chain armored men Suryaraj and Chandra mutter to one another

"Can't we just pull up the portcullis? I doesn't look that heavy..."

"I don't know, better not risk it... Those statues over there look quite suspicious..."

Eventually you discover a loose tile on one darker corner of the room, and underneath it you find a clay tablet with various inscriptions on it.

The writing is unfamiliar to you and even escapes Ba Le'mei's knowledge should you consult him.

Though there appears to be a drawing of two Lizard men in armor, with both their mouths wide open baring fangs, and holding up the apparently dismembered arms of men.

Dumon thought for a minute after handing over the tile to Ba Le'mei, "So if we are able to close the mouth on the second statue it won't rip our arms off ?" He took a closer look at the statues to see if this was even possible without touching them.



-
This message was last edited by the player at 04:18, Sat 19 June 2021.

In reply to Dumon (msg # 76):

"Hmm... if only I could somehow decipher it... but I am afraid ancient languages is not my specialty...." Ba Le'mei whispers as she massages her scratched cheek while looking over the tablet.

You look closely at the statue, and you find that it is quite impeccably sculpted. You notice that the hands of the open mouthed lizard appear to be covered in more filth and grime than other parts of it.

For the other statue with the open mouth, you notice as you look into its mouth very small gears and wires tied to them leading into the bottom of its gullet. The mechanism seems to be tied to the bottom of its mouth.

"Perhaps, I will try to close it from afar with my pole arm?" Bhimsen suggests.

"Yes that sounds like a good idea, everyone else can stand at the far end of the room. Perhaps by the stairs." Dumon stood at the ready should the statues animate and attack.

He then waited with everyone else to see what the effect of closing the mouth would be.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 78):

Everyone positions themselves carefully nearer to the steps behind as Bhimsen positions himself to one side, and aims the bottom of his guandao towards the open jaw of the lizardman statue. You can audibly hear some of the men standing back inhale in anticipation as Bhimsen puts strength in his polearm, and eventually you hear the low pitched click as the mouth of the lizardman statue is closed shut.

Nothing seems to happen for a while, but then you soon hear the sounds of shifting stonework and the rotating of metallic parts, and eventually you notice the portcullis between the lizardmen statues being reeled up by some unseen mechanism.

"Huh, that was easier than I thought," Bhimsen remarks, as you hear everyone exhale in relief.

"But we must stay vigilant. Damodar, light up the room ahead," Ba Le'mei says as she points towards the now open room ahead.

As everyone shuffles into the room ahead, Damodar's torch lights up more of the interior.

Before you could only see a large ornately decorated chest being dimly lit by a standing torch on which a roughly shaped stone that gives off a faint blue glow is fitted.

This same blue glow is now overwritten by the brighter glow of Damodar's torch, and now you see that the room is hexagonal, with strangely reflective tapestries hung on three walls towards the north, west and east. On the other walls, you see four more lizardman statues (positioned against the wall of the directions in between the cardinal directions), their fangs are all bared, and two of them appear to be holding menacing flanged maces with serpentine flanges. Judging from the orange-like reflection in the flanges - it appears that these maces are actual weapons fitted on the statues.

You notice everyone eyeing the chest and the statues suspiciously, now that the nature of this mechanism filled vault has been made apparent.

"Well I think we can all agree that there is a trap and it will be connected to the chest in some way... Also you don't arm statues that are purely decorative. So the task is to find what sets the trap off...."

Dumon began by examining the chest itself and then what it was sitting on. He had an idea what the trap might be so he looked for tubes or something similar pointed at the tapestries.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 80):

The chest appears to be seated on a slightly thicker set of tiles that just about blends in with the rest of the clay tiles that are fitted in the entirety of the floor of this hexagonal room. Thanks to Damodar's torch light which he holds high above, you notice that some of the tiles are cracked near the chest area, and the holes made by some of the larger cracks indeed reveals to you the sight of what appears to be green patina covered pipes of copper headed in the direction of the north, east and west of the room.

Meanwhile, the rest of the party seem to be on a look out as well. Mathabar in particular heads to one of the tapestries on the east and checks under it.

"Oooh? There seems to be a door here," he says pointing in that direction.

Following the same train of though suggested by Mathabar's discovery, the underside of the other tapestries are checked, but the only extra doorway discovered is the one under the tapestry to the west, while the tapestry to the north seems to be just covering a masonry wall.

"I would say the tapestries are some sort of conductant for something that fires from under the chest, perhaps lightning. Check them and if they are not connected to this mechanism, take them down. Should the chest fire we may be safe in the South, over there." Dumon waves his arm in that direction.

"Now to see if I can disarm you my friend." he thought to himself. Once the others are formed up and if no one else has the required skills Dumon will see if he can disarm the trap.



-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 82):

Unfortunately, despite learning of the parts that compose this trap you identified, the nature of the mechanism's inner workings escape you and the members of the party.

Meanwhile, Bhimsen and Mathabar, checking the underside of the tapestries report that they discovered tall, large columns of lead connected to pipes beyond the doors on the underside of the tapestries to the east ad west of the hexagonal room you are in.

According to your instructions and a few minutes of searching, some sort of wheel connected to each of the columns of lead were discovered and turned. Though there does not seem to be any perceivable change as a result.

Dumon gave the chest and the pedestal one last look over before instructing everyone that he was going to try and open the chest and to stand to the south. Taking his own advice Dumon would open the lid while standing to the South as well, if he was able.



-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 84):

You can audibly hear the rest of the party taking in a deep breath in anticipation of whatever the opening of the chest might lead to.

And as you do, nothing in particular seems to happen - perhaps made more certain by the fact that there probably is insufficient space to install any mechanism on the lid of the chest.

As you flip open the chest, you are met with much glistening from within as Damodar's torch flame combined with the nearby standing sconce of glowing blue stones reflects off the shiny objects within.

Half of the chest appears filled to the brim with 3 slightly open bags of golden chains. Alongside these bags are a golden bracelet fitted with an amethyst, and a golden amulet fitted with bluish zircons. Also present are 3 gemstones of onyx, and 3 gemstones of beryl.
The other half appears to be a heap of clay slates with unfamiliar writings upon them.
Finally, tucked at the bottom of the chest appears to be a blunt tipped Khanda with an indigo blade and a rather exceptional lustre, fitted with a copper-red hilt with a sinewy handle and a bluish pommel spike.

"Looks like you did it Dumon, the doesn't seem to be anything triggering..." Ba Le'mei speaks as she begins to approach you to see the contents of the chest.

The rest of the party seems a bit more tense, though you can hear them whispering to one another, anticipating the contents of the treasure ou just discovered.

"Ba Le'mei I think the chest may be weighted so that should anything be removed the trap will spring.... the different tiles under each foot as very suspect. Perhaps we could try and match the weight with rocks or the like as we remove items ? Though I am not sure I would be very good at estimating such a thing and the gold alone would probably weight more then we could fit into the chest...."

"Perhaps flat paving stones if we could pry some loose ? Any other ideas ?"

Dumon look around at the others in the group.



-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 86):

"Yes... that protruding bit of the floor that the chest does look suspicious. Hmmm..." Ba Le'mei speaks as she looks about.

Chandra, inspired by your suggestion, tries to smash up some of the floor tiles with the butt of his greataxe, striking down really hard, and causing it to shatter after a few strikes. As he picks up the fragments, he mentions that they are perhaps too light.

"What if we take down the tapestries...? I've examined the closer and they seem to be made of butted metal rings..." Mathabar suggests as he approaches one of the tapestries and strikes it, causing it to make a crowded clinking sound, as though two sets of chainmail were struck together. Indeed, as you notice, after the strike, the tapestry oscillates heftily before eventually coming to a stop. "I will need some help to get it down though..."

Should you examine the tapestries, you will discover unpon lifting it up slightly from the ground, that indeed it is quite heavy. Much heavier than you thought. You can't help but wonder how much metal was used just to create this metallic tapestry. Based on your estimates, it would probably take at least 2 men to lift it off the ground after  removng it from the hooks at the wall near the top of the ceiling.

"It would be my luck, but perhaps the tapestries are connected to the trap and removing them might set it off ? Are we able to check the tops before removing them off ? But I think we have no other option. Please give me a minute."

Dumon gets down and tries to see where the pipes come out of the stone work.



-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 88):

"Looks like a few standard brass hooks to me..." Mathabar says, after inspecting the top of the tapestries.

Meanwhile, on the ground you see, much like before past the broken tiles, that the pipes are laid underneath the tiles by rows of joists with holes through them accomodating both the tiles and the pipes going through them. Judging from a few partially broken ones, including the one Chandra just broke, they seem to be headed towards the rooms behind the tapestries towards the east and west.

"The pipes are brass as well." he does not stop the man removing the tapestries as he is at a loss as to what else to do.  He seemed to have exhausted all avenues of inquiry and hopefully something they may have done has now rendered the trap inert....


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 90):

After about a minute, the men manage to take down the tapestries, revealing the ajar doors behind those placed east and west, and blind arch towards the north displaying nothing but ancient masonry. Fortunately, nothing seems to happen as a result.

"So... do we just fold the tapestries and put them on the bit that's sticking out?" Mathabar asks as he points towards the small sticking out part of the floor under the chest.

"Yes let do that and hope it is enough..." he helps to move the tapestries and at the right moment the chest. As long as nothing is set off during the task Dumon will help with removing the treasure from the chest as well.

"Any suggestions on the next path ? I would say the one of the door, East perhaps ?"




-
This message was last edited by the player at 05:41, Mon 28 June 2021.

In reply to Dumon (msg # 92):

"Well the area towards the west was filled with nothing but columns of lead..." Mathabar says as he helps heap the metal tapestries onto the protruding platform.

As everyone does this, you notice the protruding platform move downwards as though being pushed into its recess by the extra weight - you begin to hear the sounds of mechanisms shifting beneath the floor as it is place.

Everyone seems to tense up as they hear this and look towards you - as though expecting an answer.

"To the South and quick." was all Dumon said as he made his way to the area he had indicated earlier might be safe as fast as he can. Then it was a matter of waiting and hoping for the best.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 94):

The moment you shout, everyone charges for the exit towards the south. The sounds of machinery and shifting stonework intensify with every second as everyone tries to push their way through the doorway.

Luckily you manage to shuffle through, but the moment you do so, you hear the sounds of rapid metal grinding against stone followed by a loud crashing sound echoing through the hallway.

As you turn your back to look at the source of the sound, you notice that the portcullis that you once opened up through the mechanism in the lizard statue is now down, separating you and the party from the interior room with the chest.

But beyond the portcullis you see two unfortunate members who did not manage to escape in time - Damodar the Torchbearer and Ba Le'mei herself.

"Now we're in quite a pickle..." Ba Le'mei says as she grasps at the portcullis beyond you.

"W...what now...?" Damodar looks about frantically. "W...what's that smell...?"

Indeed, as Damodar describes, an odd scent begins to fill your nostrils from beyond the portcullis as the sounds of mechanisms ceases.

"Help me lets see if we can lift it and someone get ready to try the mouths again." Dumon grabbed the bottom of the portcullis and then when everyone else is in place he will begin to lift.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 96):

Chandra and Suryaraj drop their large weapons and go to your side to assist in opening up the portcullis. As you begin to lift up the rather heavy portcullis from the bottom, Ba Le'mei lets go of the portcullis bars.

As you continue lifting up the hefty portcullis, and hear a clicking sound. Mathabar goes up to a statue near the portcullis and closes its suddenly opened up mouth and you feel the portcullis lock in place.

Hurriedly, the two left behind join you in the room you are in.

"Did... did it trigger because we put too much weight on it?" Ba Le'mei says as she wipes her perspiration with a fancy handkerchief.

As you speak you begin to feel the strange odd scent pervade the room you are in and grow stronger with every second.

"Lets go up the stairs I believe we have let off some sort of gas trap. It might not be as potent due to the age, but let us not risk it."

"Let us have something to eat and let it dissipate>"

Dumon does just that and having found a seat he takes a drink of water from his canteen. "Now they had set off the trap at least they could continue." he thought.

Once it was safe they would return, remove the treasure and continue on.



-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 98):

You head back up the flight of stairs for the moment and eventually reach near the top of the flight.

The party spends some time seated on the steps, taking a drink while waiting for the scent from the room beyond to disippate. During this period, you can't help but feeling slightly sleepy for some reason. The fact that whether it is due to that strange scent or just exhaustion escapes you.

After a few minutes of waiting you return to the portcullis to find that indeed, the scent has dissipated.

While removing the treasure, you notice the protruding bit of the floor plate pushing upwards, but no sound of mechanism seems to be given off.

The total amount of treasure seems to take up around 3 large sacks worth that seems quite unweildy to take along with.

Whether you take them with you or not, you head to the eastern doorway which leads to a dark room lined with large columns of lead. Near them are various brass pipes connecting the column with the ground, with strange wheels attached to them.

At the end of the room appears to be yet another portcullis that seems to open from the side instead of from above. Beyond this portcullis appears to be a narrow cavernous passage wide enough for only two people to stand side by side.

Dumon helps pack the treasure but suggests they leave it in an adjacent room to be collected on the way back. Before they leave he looks for something to put under the portcullis they tripped previously so they could have something to grab should they need to lift it. Perhaps one of the tapestries if they have not all been used.

Once they arrive at the suspect passage Dumon will again look for some sort of trap.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 100):

You roll up one of the unused metal chain tapestries and slide it under the portcullis - it indeed would likely allow for a sufficient grip to lift it.

At the portcullis in the dark room to the east, you examine the stonework around it, pushing and pressing the floor and walls - but do not seem to find anything noteworthy.
Judging from the poor make of the portcullis - it was perhaps intended to be a temporary fitting. Lifting it slightly reveals that it is slightly easier to lift than the previous portcullis.

As time passes while you examine the door, you notice a faint rapid clicking sound from beyond the cavern, as though there were some sort of heavy many legged insect crawling across the cavern beyond. Unfortunately the cavern ahead seems too dark to make out what is ahead.

Still taking a knee Dumon turns to those around him. "It would seem we are not alone in this old trap filled place." It was more of a caution then a warning as he stands and prepares to open the way for other to go through.

Once that is done and assuming the portcullis does not stay in place he lowers it so someone else can lift it to let him through.



-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 102):

"As Dumon says... Keep watch of critters about men!" Ba Le'mei whispers as she points forward.

Chandra hands his greataxe to Suryaraj and lifts up the Portcullis effortlessly for everyone to go through before proceeding through last and collecting his axe from his companion.

"Though creatures in caves... judging from the sound could they be millipedes...?" Ba Le'mei thinks loudy as you progress forward in rows of two, with Damodar nervously holding his torch staff ahead to light up the way.

For some reason it appears that the rapid clicking sound you heard before is no longer present.

Soon you the narrow cave debouches into a slightly larger cavernous area where you find a dark pool flushed to the northern side, probably large enough to fit a hippo. Around the pool you find around 10 reddish egg-sized spheres scattered around the edge of this pool.

Connected also to this cavernous area is yet another cavernous passage heading further east.

"Whatever we heard might not be to happy if we start messing with those eggs. Lets leave them and continue on." With his halberd at the ready now they were in a larger space, Dumon continued forward. This seemed to be outside the what he knew of tombs, but he did not voice the opinion.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 104):

Continuing forward through the eastward narrow passage, after a few minutes for travelling through its winding path you soon reach a much larger cavernous area.

Here there seems to be all manner of rusty tools, workbenches, kilns, heaps of masonry, partially made statues and crafts scattered about the edges of the cave. Their condition appear to be terrible, with a number very much rotted or worn out.

At the centre of this cave appears to be a medium sized stone shrine of an exotic make with an odd segmented curved roof adorned with serpentine motifs.

It appears that the area around this stone shrine had once been in the middle of being built up judging from the partially laid masonry floors, standing lanterns of stone, and statues of very large fierce looking lizard men.

Damodar holds his torch as high as he can to light up the surrounding area, and just about barely lights up the half-made masonry pathway to the shrine and its facade, while most of the tools seem to be positioned near the entrance to this cave.

"It appears that this part of the vault was still being built. Hopefully we won't have to worry about strange mechanisms this time..." Ba Le'mei says as she looks about.

"I would not be so sure." Dumon searches the workbenches and tools as he moves closer to the shrine. Once he is done he looks at the carvings scattered around the area. "Lets also keep a good look out I believe we are still not alone in this area."

Dumon makes his way to the shrine to get a closer looks at the structure, he also wants to see if there are any other exits from the cavern.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 106):

The workbenches appear to have a few fragments of clay, and a number of clay tablets that are completely unwritten on. The tools on the other hand comprise mainly rusty hammers, chisels and thin rods of rusted iron.

A swift circumambulation of the large cavern indeed reveals another exit to the north - but it seems to lead to a dead end at which remains of very rusty pickaxes and shovels lie.

The central shrine structure is a chamfered pyramid with stairs that lead up to a cuboid volume roughly 10 metres in all dimensions. On every single surface of the shrine's large masonry are motifs depicting some strange ceremony of lizard men parading in flamboyant armour and robes alongside a colossal millipede. The carved parade spirals upwards gradually and overflows onto a plateau with more milipede motifs mainly occupying large tiles placed at 8 cardinal directions bearing the carving of giant centipedes coiling around different symbols.

In the middle of these tiles is a higher shrine into which access is afforded by a tall stone double door which appears to be slightly ajar.

While you gain insight of these surroundings, you can vaguely hear some clicking sounds coming from inside the higher shrine.

"Well I would assume that the giant insect these lizard men worshipped is inside that shrine. My instinct is to try and keep it there by cutting off its exit from the shrine by standing two or three abreast to the door. That way if there are more of them we can keep them bottled up..."

If no one has a better idea that is what Dumon will do, leading the rest of the group he will run across the cavern and up the stairs to take up a position in front of the door with his shield and flail at the ready.



-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 108):

As they hear your suggestion, the party members nod to one another, with those with close quarters weapons forming a line in a semicircle around the front of the door.

Ba Le'mei stands at the ready, a small distance from this semicircle, alongside Damodar - who holds up his torch staff high in the air to provide as much illumination as possible - and Mathabar who nocks an arrow in his bow.

When everyone is in position, the sounds of clicking seems to grow much louder and louder, and you a very tense air around you as it the sound seems to come closer as every second passes.

And eventually, as opposed to the giant insect that you expected, you see a horde of cat-sized red centipedes with vicious mandibles and icky looking strands of hair sticking out from the back of their glossy striped carapaces! They burst from the crack of the door like a brook of hardened blood approaching your ranks in all directions!!

A quick glance reveals that there are at least 12 of these centipedes at the moment, but judging from the rate at which they burst from the door, you are certain there will be more whence they came from..!

As you have taken up a formation and prepared for such an encounter, the party manages to seize the initiative to make an attack!

Suryaraj makes a cleave with his great sword, effortlessly slicing three centipedes with his blade! It appears that despite their dangerous looking appearance, the centipedes themselves are quite small and a single sweep of Suryaraj's blade was able to decapitate all three of them!
Chandra on the other hand struggles with his greataxe, finding it difficult to chop at the centipedes who crawl behind him from under him.
Dev too misses, as he tries to stomp at the passing centipedes!
Bhimsen on the other hand makes a powerful half moon sweep on the ground with his guandao, dispatching 5 of the centipedes!

For each of the remaining centipedes, one of them crawls around Dev's foot and bites at his calf, causing him to yelp in pain!

"ARGHHH!!! THIS BITE REALLY HURTSSS!!!"

Another also manages to bite at Chandra's ankle causing him to grunt in pain!
Yet another tries to bite at you, but fails to get through your very leathery Tortle skin!
And the last remaining of this horde manages to bite at Suryaraj, but it is shrugged off his chain armor!

Bhimsen looks slightly relieved seeing how that there are only 4 centipedes left, but as you expect, yet another batch of 8 centipedes comes out from the ajar door!!!
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:35, Wed 07 July 2021.

Dumon set to work as the centipedes streamed out of the shrine, left and right he swung his flail, but could not connect with the insects.

Dumon rolled 8 using 1d20.  Attack.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 110):

Suryaraj makes yet another wide swing with his greatsword, bisecting yet another 3 centipedes with his blade!
Chandra too fiercely strikes at the new centipedes approaching his way with his greataxe, managing to cleave 2 with a single overhead strike!
Bhimsen this time fails to strike any centipedes with his Guandao!
Dev however, enraged by the bite somehow manages to violently scrape off the centipede who bit his calf, and then proceed to precisely stomp at the many centipedes approaching him all at once!!
As he yells in fury, you notice that he somehow managed to dispatch 6 centipedes - leaving only one remaining from the newest horde!
But his rampage is soon stopped by this last remaining centipede - which bites Dev in the same wounded, bleeding area, causing him to collapse to the ground wordlessly!!

Before you can even react to Dev's fall, the clicking beyond the door continues - and yet another 10 join the nearly exterminated group that came before!!

"IS there NO END TO THESE TERRIBLE VERMIN!?" Chandra bellows as he steps back from the formation - noticing that much of the Centipedes are flocking towards him.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:29, Thu 08 July 2021.

Again Dumon raises his flail to strike at the new arrivals to their green goo party. It would seem that he was only able to find the one of the insects as his weapons struck.

Dumon rolled 16 using 1d20.  Attack.
Dumon rolled 1 using 1d8.  Damage.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 112):

The last remaining centipede from the previous horde uncoils itself from Dev's punctured leg and crawls towards you to attack - but your precise flail strike manages to batter it to death!
The new horde meanwhile charges towards the other three still standing, and in a messy dance of blades, 7 of them are eviscerated by the combined efforts of Suryaraj, Chandra and Bhimsen!

However, the remaining three still alive continue their relentless charge...!

One manages to latch onto Suryaraj's foot and somehow bite through the rings of his chain leggings! Suryaraj grunts in pain as he takes the hit...!

Another coils about Bhimsen's calf as well and bites him, producing yet another yelp of agony...!

Anthe the last one manages to viciously bite at Chandra's other foot causing him to scream in pain...!

Fortunately, despite the centipedes' breakthrough, there does not seem to be any more of the centipedes left coming out from the ajar door...!

"Dumon...! Help us out here...!" Suryaraj shouts as he kicks away the Centipede at his foot, while others attempt to get the centipedes off their legs.

With another swing of his flail Dumon aims for the insect that Suryaraj just kicked. He continued to attack and other of the centipede that manage to be freed from their victims.

Dumon rolled 19 using 1d20.  Attack.
Dumon rolled 8 using 1d8.  Damage.

Assuming that he manages to end the attack Dumon will then try and render what aid he can to the fallen.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 114):

With your very precise swings of the flail, you manage to slay the remaining centipedes trying to continue to bite on the legs of your companions.

As the last few centipedes curl up to the ground dead next to the fighters with blood covered legs, the area around eventually falls silent after the quick skirmish.

(For slaying the centipede horde, each living member participating in combat gains 500 XP!)

"God darn it... these bits are ridiculously painful...!" Chandra mutters as he begins bandaging up his legs.

You manage to help the rest tend to their wounds, but it seems that it would require at least a few days to heal the large bloody puncture wounds on their calves.

Dev on the other hand, appears to have completely lost consciousness and remains so no matter how much the others try to wake him.

"Perhaps it is too dangerous to proceed any further. Considering how many centipedes just came out - no doubt there are more lying in wait..." Ba Le'mei remarks as he also helps bandage the wounds of the wounded.

"I am not sure that they would have the foresight to lay in wait ? I will take a look and if there are more I will close the door. Does that sound acceptable ?"

If the rest of the group agree Dumon will do just that.



-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 116):

"Of course, but be careful," Ba Le'mei says.

The rest are too preoccupied with tending to their wounds to care.

Damodar who looks really afraid, hands you his torch staff as he doesnt seem willing to accompany you to look at what lies within.


As you hold onto Damodar's torch staff to illuminate the dark interior beyond the ajar door, you light up a small inner shrine room filled with large numbers of reddish egg-sized things lining the floor.
These reddish eggs surround a strange glass orb placed on a round pedestal.

What is strange about this orb is that it seems to glow in a pinkish color, yet does not appear to emit any light onto the surfaces adjacent to it.

Furthermore, based on the reflections cast on it by the torch, it and the surfaces around it seem to be covered in some sort of slime.

As you look at it for a few moments, you suddenly see large amounts of earthworms emerging from it in a messy bundle, landing onto the pedestal with a wet splashing sound. They just simple wriggle about in place.

Further examination of the room reveals that the walls are covered in various engravings depicting motifs of centipedes trying to consume a large sphere, and various lizard men at the the skirting of the walls in various stages of genuflection.

The ceiling also seems to be domed, and bears the symbol of a circumpunct.

Thankfully there doesn't seem to be any centipedes inside as far as you can see.

Dumon turns back "Ba Le'mei there are no more centipedes, could you look at this though ?" He waits with the torch to show what he has found.

Is it some sort of lure or attractant he did not know.... Those eggs would probably have to be dealt with as well...


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 118):

As you call Ba Le'mei, you soon hear footsteps approaching you from behind.

"Is that so? Let me take a look then...!" Ba Le'mei peeks into the room from the ajar door and surveys the area as you did.

"Are those... worms...?" Ba Le'mei mutters to herself as she scratches her chin.

"Hmmm... If I recall correctly, creatures like the centipede and milipede tend to feast on such worms... perhaps this artifact is capable of doing so...?"

"And as for these eggs.... I imagine that they must have been laid by those centipedes... Considering how food is easily available here for them, there is little doubt that they would bring up their young here... We should take the opportunity to retrieve it and make our way out of here with haste..."

"Agreed, let me have a look first..." Dumon takes his time looking for anything that could set off a trap or the like. If he is unable to find any he will throw a sack over the orb and then remove it using the bag.

Once that is done he will join the others in retreating from this place.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 120):

Fortunately it seems that considering the number of eggs about - much of the traps would have likely already been set off and depleted by the centipedes that once inhabited the area. You step forwards safely, throw a sack over the orb and manage to grab it away and make for the exit of this inner shrine.

But just as you leave this inner shrine, when you make your last step forwards, you hear a rather loud crack coming from the ground, which echoes through the area, but there doesn't seem to be much change after that.

When you return, you see everyone all bandaged up - somewhat battered looking but still able to keep up.
Suryaraj appears to be carrying Dev on his shoulder, and has his greatsword passed to Mathabar.

"Ah, you've returned. What was that sound just now...? I hope it was nothing much," Ba Le'mei speaks as she notices your return. "We should retreat the place for now. I believe we have obtained much more than I had initially expected. Perhaps it warrants a more in depth examination, so I will request more support for future expeditions to this area..."

After nodding to herself, you and the party manage to make it back to the crossroads where you found the large chest, collect the sacked up loot, and exit the area after carefully avoiding the pressure plates you found previously at the top of the stairs.

You notice that many of the members of the party are quite weary after the exertion, and probably would not be able to continue marching back, so for now, you return to the encampment outside the vault to rest for the day.

It is now just after Sundown and the sky is just about to turn dark. The air about the encampment is cool, and surrounded with the chirps of crickets in the jungle grove surrounding the area.

This time, Ba Le'mei, Damodar and Mathabar take turns to keep watch (you may participate if you wish).

If there is nothing else you wish to do for now, time will pass towards the next day.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:10, Tue 13 July 2021.

Dumon helps with the wounded so they can keep up as they exit the underground tomb, taking the lead when they need to by past the traps. Once back at their earlier camp site Dumon starts by collecting firewood, enough to last through the night. He then lights a fire and will tend to it until he retires for the night.

Dumon will volunteer to take a watch so that as much people who are wounded can get a proper nights sleep.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 122):

You only manage to rest for about an hour before you hear the cry of Damodar.

"WAKE UP WAKE UP!!! S... SOMEONE'S COMING...!"

As soon as you get up and get outside to survey the commotion, you immediately notice opposite the campsite the approach of a few torchbearing cloaked figures.

A quick survey reveals around 7 men, all armed with a Parang (a shortsword for cutting plants that gets in the way in a jungle) and a brassy Buckler with an insignia that you sadly cannot see clearly from where you stand.

But it seems quite telling who they are as the torchlight shines on the one leading the group - a bald, bespectacled lanky man. The same one you saw in the room previously where you took the key from. But he doesnt seem to be wearing a robe but is now in some adventuring garments that are easier to move in, with a plain cloak wrapped around his body. He too appears to be armed with Parang and Buckler.

It appears that they have heard Damodar's cry and are beginning to draw their weapons.

Thankfully, it seems that everyone except Mathabar was woken by the cry. You even heard - thankfully Dev's cry as he finally awoke from his critical wounds and is moaning in pain.

"... The Prowling Cockatrice... This isn't good..." Ba Le'mei speaks. "Let us just hope they are willing to make an agreement with us for now..."

"We should have run into the forest, I would think they would not risk such an endeavour to chase after us." It was too late now so Dumon waited like everyone else to see how this plays out.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 124):

"That sounds certainly more like a good idea..." Ba Le'mei says as he motions to the rest.

Based on a quick glance of the rest who have awoken - they clearly don't look like they're in the best condition to fight - and considering Ba Le'mei's reactions to the approaching band, it does seem like quite a reasonable mode of action to escape from this place for the moment.

Nodding to one another, the men begin hauling those incapacitated, heading southwest towards the nearby jungle grove some distance from the encampment...

As you do this, the procession of men gradually arrive at your encampment...

Dumon nods as well and douses the campfire with the water from his canteen. He hoped the sudden extinguishing of the light and the huge plume of steam and smoke he created might also aid them in their escape. Dumon also adds at the top of his voice, "Meet thy doom with my poison gas..." he looms large in the gloom as he does with his arms up high.

Dumon will then join the others in flight, bypassing many to lead them deeper into the forest.



-
This message was last edited by the player at 02:41, Thu 15 July 2021.

In reply to Dumon (msg # 126):


As the procession of men hear this... you suddenly hear them shout in alert and halt their advance...!

It seems that they were not so certain about who lurked near the vault, and their exceeding caution buys the party time to make their escape.

You make your way some distance from the camp with the rest, and eventually regroup at a small clearing - with everyone intact - thankfully.

"Thanks to your quick thinking.... and sadly parting with half of our find from the vault, I am sure they will not give chase... I imagine their goal was to await our return from the vault and snatch away the treasures we obtained..." Ba Le'mei speaks in a solemn tone after catching her breath.

"It is truly a pity, we will not be able to bring all of it back, but it is a worthy trade for our lives...!"

After taking a short rest until dawn.

In the morning, Ba Le'mei suggests that the party make the journey back using another route. Considering how the Prowling Cockatrice likely took the well known route that Mathabar guided us through before - it was highly likely that they would encounter the adventurers on the way. Not to mention, the party no longer has the luxury of waiting it out as most of the supplies they had were left at their previous encampment!

As such the party now faces a dilemma - whether the brave the unknown by finding another route back to the Yellow City - or to take the same route back and risk encountering the band of adventurers out after them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:21, Fri 16 July 2021.

The loss of some of the loot was regrettable, but retaining ones shell was always the better option. That being said forging a new path through the ruins in the hope of not meeting a group of mercenaries was somewhat problematic.

"It depends if they go inside.... if that is the case I could almost guarantee far fewer will be coming out. That is all speculative, but I suggest we go the way we came in and keep a tight watch on the rear.... perhaps leave some sharpened bamboo stakes along the way ?"


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 128):

"Well, I am not sure if there would be time to construct bamboo traps - but I think its safer to go back the same way too!" Mathabar says as the rest of the party nods in agreement.

...

But just two hours after making your way back to the former route, just as you return to the corridor of statues where you fought the squidmen two days ago, you are greeted by that same group of seven adventurers lying in wait for you!!

"There you are... I've been waiting for his moment..." the bespectacled robed man says as he folds he taps his parang on his shoulder with an fuming expression on his smooth countenance.

"You've really made a fool of me not just once, but twice...! Do you think I'm just going to let you go - you crafty terrapin...?"

"Men, get them...!" the bespectacled robed man motions towards his men, and the adventurers begin their advance in twos until they are around 120 ft from the front of your party!

As everyone gets ready to fight for their lives though, you notice a strange sight coming from behind the bespectacled man's party - the approach of 6 dog sized giant ticks from the adjacent jungle!!
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:55, Sun 18 July 2021.

Dumon lowers his crossbow and fires at the man who disrespected him. The sight of the other threat comes into view and seems to cause him to mistime his shot.

"Hold back men, let the ticks do our work. Missile weapons only and target the bandits. was all he was as he reloaded his crossbow.

Dumon rolled 5 using 1d20.  Attack.



-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 130):

As you fire your shot, Mathabar too nocks an arrow on his shortbow, and looses a surprisingly deadly shot towards one of the advancing mercenaries. And with deadly precision, the arrow goes right through the right soldier of a fighter at the front and he collapses to the ground groaning in severe pain!!

As both of you finish your shots, Suryaraj and Chandra take positions in front of the both of you, brandishing their Greatsword and Greataxe respectively and take a defensive posture, intending to parry the frontline advance...!

And it would seem that this tactic paid off, as one of the fighters tries to strike Suryaraj with a mighty swing of his Parang, Suryaraj parries with a well executed glissade, causing the Parang to be dashed out of the attacker's hand and flying a almost 30 feet behind the attacker!

Chandra on the other hand is not so skilled, and just manages to fend off another fighter taking a small cut to his arm.

Bhimsen, on the other hand - clearly ignoring your tactics - goes on a mad frenzy, attacking one of the frontline fighters with his guandao! The fighter whom he is attacking seems to be quite well armored and looks quite experienced - but despite this, he is extremely pressured by Bhimsen's attack and suffers a severe wound from Bhimsen's flurry of guandao swings! The veteran eventually succumbs to Bhimsen's attacks and falls to the ground cleaved into half!

His companion too, tries to take down this battle frenzied guandao flailing madman, but too is unable to find an opening to attack!!

You notice the bespectacled man make an unsightly expression as he sees Bhimsen - thinking that him to be your party's main force!!

Making an incantation, you see an bolt of energy begin to form in front of him and with a "Hah!!" he releases the bolt towards Bhimsen and it goes into Bhimsen's chest releasing a cloud of magical smoke, effectively putting an end to Bhimsen's rampage! As he collapses to the ground, you see the bespectacled man begin to laugh with glee!

"This fellow really gets on my nerves..." Ba Le'mei says as you notice her expression too turning sour.

Making an incantation herself, Ba Le'mei manifests 3 energy bolts of her own and sends them flying towards the bespectacled man, and two other fighters.

The bolt strikes the bespectacled man, wounding him and causing him to cough out some blood, while another bolt instantly vanquishes a mercenary standing in the line behind the front. The final bolt strikes the veteran fighter engaging the now fallen Bhimsen, causing him to fall to the ground dead as well!

In just a matter of 6 seconds, 3 of the bespectacled man's party has fallen, leaving 4 remaining and 1 severely injured!

It is at this point you notice the ticks pounce towards the two men guarding the bespectacled man and the man himself!

"What the!?" the veteran guards shout as they finally notice the ticks - but perhaps due to sheer luck - the men avoid the attacks of the 6 ticks, with only one managing to bite at the bespectacled man!!

It bites with its mandibles and sticks itself onto the bespectacled man's calf! The man can only yell in all manner of expletives before screaming, "GET THIS THING OFF ME!!"

You notice the guards try to hack away at the Ticks, but they all deftly evade their strikes!
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:49, Sun 18 July 2021.

Deciding the man in the glasses was the greater threat at this point Dumon levels his own crossbow and lets another bolt fly in his direction. He utters some instructions to Mathabar, "Fire on the man in the glasses."

With the mercenaries at their front line he then drops his crossbow and with his flail in hand moves to engage the closest non wounded bandit.


Dumon rolled 11 using 1d20.  Attack.
Dumon rolled 2 using 1d8.  Damage.



-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 132):

Your flail strikes the last standing fighter in the opponent's frontline - and he collapses to the ground badly bruised by your flail battering him in the neck!

Following your instructions, Mathabar tries to fire an arrow at the bespectacled man, but his persistent flailing causes the arrow to miss its mark!

The rest of your party catch their breath as you watch the ticks skirmish with the bespectacled man and his 2 guards!

With a hurried incantation, the bespectacled man releases a bolt of energy at the Tick latched onto his leg! The bolt damages the tick, but it latches on persistently!

The two guards try to strike at the the tick on the bespectacled man's leg, but the all miss!

In response, the tick seems to drain blood from the man's leg, causing his muscles to visibly shrink! In a scream of terror, the bespectacled man loses all strength in his leg, falls to his bottom as you see that Tick regain its vitality!

Meanwhile one of the ticks manage to bite at the leg of one of the remaining guards, latching onto it!
Another jumps onto the other guard's leg and latches to it as the guards screams in fright!!

It appears that all that is left of the opponent's party are those two guards desparately fighting for their life!

"....Those ticks do look quite dangerous... I think it'd be best for us to retreat for now than face them head on!!" Ba Le'mei speaks with a worried expression.

"I agree we can return and recover our loot and whatever else they have on them when the ticks are finished with their meal." Dumon picks up his cross bow and pulls its string taunt as he seats a bolt while walking to the edge of the clearing and waiting until everyone else is in cover.

He takes a knee and aims at the man with the glasses, he pulls the trigger and lets the bolt fly from behind a stone column.

Dumon rolled 16 using 1d20.  Attack.
Dumon rolled 8 using 1d8.  Damage.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 134):

Your bolt flies towards the motionless body of the bespectacled man and it lodges into the top of his skull!!

As the man produces no scream nor yell - you can tell that he is most likely dead.

"By the gods Dumon... As wretched as he was, let that man rest in peace... Surely he has been punished enough - for having died from his blood sucked from that terrible Giant Tick!" Ba Le'mei whispers to you as the party begins to retreat, leaving the remaining two guards to fend for their lives.

The party decides to retreat from the place and wait for two hours before returning to the passage of statues where you fought.

And fortunately, you observe that the ticks have indeed left the area and all that remains are the fallen adventurers and the shrivelled up blood drained corpses of the bespectacled man and his two veteran guards.

"Phew, what a relief that we didn't have to engage those Ticks... I wouldn't want to end up dried up like those fellows!" Mathabar exclaims as he casually looks towards the corpses of the dead men.

Apart from the corpses, you find a few sacks containing the travel supplies of the men, and another larger bulging sack that you recognize to be the other half of the treasure you managed to procure from the vault.

Dumon gave a nod to Ba Le'mei before adding "In my experience it is smart not to take any chances with those that wield magic." Dumon spent the time waiting guarding the group so those who needed it could get some rest.

When they returned to the group of corpses Dumon searched the fallen magic user first and then as long as no one else had beaten him to it the rest of the fallen guards.

Then he said "Let us push on back to the city."



-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 136):

Having overcome the obstacle of the 7 adventurers, you gain 133 XP!

After searching the bespectacled man's corpse for things, you manage to find a fancy pouch containing 10 GP, alongside a dagger and a fancy leatherbound book with a yellow zircon studded onto it.

In one of the man's pockets, you also find a medallion indicating the bespectacled man's name - Sundar alongside the symbol of a cockatrice. Also in his pocket is a folded up piece of parchment which seems to be a very rough map of the Old Town that indicates the location of the vault alongside a number of other sites circled in red. The circled sites bear the names, "Temple of the Rooster", "Shrine of the Python", and "Library of Crickets". As for the one that looks like the vault you visited it seems to have the name "Pyramid of the Lizards".

As you look at the other bodies - you see clearly that they're being searched by the rest of the party still alive, with their weapons and bucklers bundled up and hauled by Chandra - likely intending to be sold later in the black market.

When the party is done looting the corpses, you fortunately find that the rest of the journey is safe and uneventful! And just some time after nightfall, the party returns to the Crusty Shell Tavern.

After paying the rest of the mercenaries for their services, Ba Le'mei asks you to help haul the treasures back to the Molten Eye.

Clearly weary of the long march, Ba Le'mei orders a Rickshaw and invites you to join her as six men wheel the both of you to the headquarters of the Molten Eye.

Upon depositing the treasures in the two large sacks to the Molten Eye's treasury, Ba Le'mei reports to the Administrator about your contribution to the adventure, and upon hearing that you have personally slain a few of the adventurers of the Prowling Cockatrice, you notice a rather pleased expression on the otherwise stern countenance of the Slugman Administrator.

After a few moments, he agrees to officially recognize you as part of the Molten Eye, and hands you a medallion indicating your membership as an Associate.

As an Associate, you may peruse the tomes and records in the unrestricted Archives, and take part in more of the secret tasks that the Molten Eye requires to be done.

"T'was truly an exhausting adventure, Dumon! I think I will be quite out of steam for the next few months...! Either way, congratulations on being an Associate of the Molten Eye, I look forward to seeing what else you will contribute to our fine organisation!" Ba Le'mei praises you over a small glass of wine at the lounge.

She passes you a purse of 30 GP as payment for your services before retiring to her residence for the night.

The treasures you have brought back to the city are of considerable value, and you gain 2473 XP!
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:04, Wed 21 July 2021.

Dumon gives a rapid series of clicks of happiness as he descends the stars out the front of the Molten Eye building and then out the front gates. He moves into the city proper as he buys a bag of the freshwater snails he likes so much to tide him over until he arrives at the night food market.

Shells crunching Dumon walks through the hustle and bustle of the city enjoying the sights and sounds as he strolls along. Once at the market Dumon finds a favourite stall with only three seats directly out the front of the cart. He has to wait which gives him time to finish his snails and continue his crowd watching. When a seat becomes free he order three dumplings as he takes his seat, they arrive in a short space of time before he rattles off another order of spicy cabbage, a dozen fresh water oysters, egg noodles and a bowl of flaked fish.

He then sets to eating, concentrating on his food....

Very much refreshed Dumon will retire for the night, returning to the lodging house he had previously stay at.

OOC: Just wanted to check whether Dumon can keep the items he found on the bespeckled man ?



-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 138):

It is now Day 6.

You awaken to the sound of much squelching - and you find that  from one the sacks that you've brought back - a mass of worms seems to have burst out from within!

It seems that only the few sacks of treasures left at the trapped room in the vault were deposited in the Molten Eye, and Ba Le'mei likely did not even know that you possessed the pink orb you found in the shrine-like structure deep in the vault.

On your table you have the purse of 30 GP pilfered from the bespectacled man's corpse, alongside his dagger, rough map and fancy leather book.

Sunlight streaks from curtains left slightly open, and you can faintly smell the scent of steamed shrimp buns from the neighboring restaurant.

OOC: You still have the belongings of the bespectacled man with you. The only treasures deposited are those from the trapped room.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:19, Thu 22 July 2021.

Dumon removed the worms from his accommodation and deposited them out the window. He suspected if he kept the thing he might get friendly with the local birds. He needed to find someone who would be able to tell him what it was.... so that would be today's task.

As he prepared Dumon picked up the book and looked it over, he suspected what it was, but probably would also need this confirmed. Lastly he adds the dagger to his belt and puts the rough map, Prowling Cockatrice and Molten Eye medallions inside his tunic.

he leaves his lodgings and takes a seat at the restaurant next door. He orders the steamed shrimp buns, two portions of Pancakes with Eggs and Rice Porridge or Congee.  Also a pot a clove tea as well as the usual small bowl of extra cloves. Dumon takes his time eating as he as no very pressing plans this morning other then trying to get the items in his possession identified.



-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 140):

Inside the book you see in Trade Tongue Script various incantations, magical circles and diagrams. This appears to be a spellbook of some sort. The only diagrams you can recognize is a diagram of a spider and its webs and what seems to be a prism diffracting various rays of rainbow colors. The rest of the magic diagrams are undecipherable to you.

While casually enjoying your breakfast at the Lotus Pavilion restaurant, you manage to overhear a few a few rumors.

1. The Venerable Green Monkey Sect is holding a grand funeral for their Eldest Grandmaster Panapan who just passed away. There is talk of a wake banquet open to all the peoples in the Prosperity District, with some tables offered to the public from which they may obtain food for free.

2. A group of Crab men with spiked carapaces have begun a mutiny in the Balamar Market district, terrorizing people in the night and freeing their slave brethren. The sheriff at Balamar is willing to pay 2 gold pieces for every rebelling crabman head obtained. There are rumors that these rebel crabmen have also started moving to other districts to cause trouble, resulting in the death of a few workmen, including a merchant.

3. The Murkskippers - a group of infamous assassins have struck again, killing the wealthy merchant Kang Qu in his own residence. Due to this there has been an uptick of employers looking for those able to provide security services.

After your meal, you take a casual stroll down the streets of the prosperity district, attempting to gather information about people able to provide identification services. Based on the words of the few that have the time to answer your queries you learn of three possible places that offer such services:

1. Crystal Silver Pavilion - Located in Yeong Prosperity District. A family business of magi who offer top grade magic services especially indentification for which they can divine considerable detail regarding a magic object. Naturally the cost of such services are quite high indeed. Apparently they also run an auction house where many rare magical goods and herbs are auctioned for almost insane prices.

2. Swaminth's Arcaneum - Located in Mahir Scribe's Street. A shop run by a young wizard and his apprentices. The services here are much more economical, but still hefty. This shop also offers scribing and various book copying services alongside selling copies of ancient books.

3. Sufu's Hut - Located in Dravir Slums. Not a shop in name, but apparently a madman named Sufu resides in a small hut filled with nothing but rotting barrels and he has apparently managed to identify quite a few items with astounding accuracy based on anecdotes by a few adventurers on a tight budget. Although how reliable this rumor is is rather questionable, as it is said that Sufu doesn't accept any payment and simply identifies objects for as part of his savant obsession.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:10, Fri 23 July 2021.

Dumon made a mental note of what he had heard, though collecting Crab men heads or standing at some rich merchants door did not interest him, he may pay his respects at the funeral.

Firstly though he needed to get the items in his possession identified so he would try the Crystal Silver Pavilion first and depending on their prices and general demeanour he would make up his mind whether or not to use them or find an alternative.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 142):

You make your way to Mirror Street an uptown area of the Yeong Prosperity District which seems to be extremely rich and refined, with many tastefully designed pools, fountains, and perfectly manicured jasmine hedges and angsana trees. There are apparently even well dressed human boys who seem to be in charge of keeping the streets clean, sweeping up any of the fallen angsana leaves and seeds the moment they see any fall onto the ground from their vast crowns.

Eventually into your vision arrives a towering compound comprising buildings built with pearl white bricks and brassy roof shingles, fitted with silvery windows bearing very extravagant patterns of flowers - with some of the windows even being tinted with bright colors - all off which bear the symbols of orchids.

It is this very building that is the Crystal Silver Pavilion, and you notice that many of its patrons are either wizened fellows in very fine robes, and the occasional formidable looking master dressed very well who hold themselves with considerable martial poise.

Some of them gaze at you suspiciously as you notice that the customers here must be very rich.

But suddenly you see a rather unkempt and messily dressed dwarf hauling a large sack of what appears to be coins, alongside numerous well crafted chests stacked up on his right shoulder.

As he enters, you notice numerous attendants dressed in silver gilded robes of black approaching the dwarf with postures of servitude, helping the dwarf carry his things before ushering him into the central large hall.

Based on a large sign outside, it seems that an identification of an item costs 100 GP, while auctioning an item costs 10% of the starting price of the item you want to put in an auction.

Dumon studied the the sign for a time before asking one of the attendants, "Does the fee have to be paid up front or could the item be sold to cover the coast of your services and the auction fee ?"

The surrounding area was certainly a nice part of the city, he might take a longer stroll around when he was done here.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 144):

A well dressed human attendant stops as you call to her and she glances at you and your overall attire.

After staring at you for a few moments with a disdainful expression she eventually speaks.

"It has to be upfront of course... and I would advise you to be dressed properly before you enter our establishment..."

After giving a curt nod, she returns to her duties.

While you stroll about the fine parks and gardens, you find your mind at peace and the sheer serenity and beauty of this place.

But suddenly, as though shattering that little slice of paradise upon which you tread, you hear a gurgling sound as you see suddenly splattering on the ground in front of you the head of blue shelled crabman from which large bubbles of form emerge from its mouth.

As you look up you notice a finely dressed swordsman gaze at his fine sword covered in blue blood with a look of disgust as you see the beheaded body of a crabman fall to the ground motionless.

The swordsman notices you and beckons to you.

"You there, come here for a moment," he speaks in a very clear and regal tone.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:57, Sun 25 July 2021.

The attitude and the terms outlined by the attendant were to be expected Dumon thought as he turned to leave. The rest of the morning had been quite pleasant up until the crabman lost its head.

When the man asked for a moment of his time Dumon approached to see what the man required while trying not to tread in the puddles of blood.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 146):

When you finally approach the man, he raises his sword and wipes the blood on your robes before sheathing the blade and faintly smiling without saying a word.

You can only hear a few cicadas chirping on the tops of the nearby trees as a warm breeze blows by.

He then continues onwards in the opposite direction of you wordlessly.

As the man walks away Dumon looks behind himself to see if he was talking to someone else. He stays still for a moment and then continues on with his tasks looking to try Swaminth's Arcaneum next, though he might hire transport to get him there at the edge of the Yeong Prosperity District. He waits until he is out of the Yeong District a the walk through it is rather enjoyable.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 148):

Looking behind him, you see no one other than the fancily dressed man's back.
It seems that he just wanted to wipe off the blood of the crabman on your robes. It smells rather fishy indeed - both figuratively and literally.

Eventually you notice around you the scents of fine flowers and incenses from the expensive in the Prosperity District fall in number - gradually being superseded by the aroma of ink and paper. You soon arrive at the Mahir Scribe's Street. As it is now midday, you see that quite a number of people are out in the streets - mostly bookish looking scholarly peoples trying to find a book being sold off for cheap at the many stalls set up outside the stores proper.

After asking for directions from the friendly bookish people who are more than happy to have the company of a listening ear for them to ramble their theories while leading you, you eventually come to Swaminth's Arcaneum - which seems to give off a very distinct scent of rather minty smelling incense. From within, you see numerous peoples lining up in a row, in front of a counter behind which are rows upon rows of scribes all rapidly scribbling stuff. Quite literally, the air is filled with the sounds of quills scratching upon parchment.

But on another side of the store appears to be another member of the staff beside of whom you see a sign that lists the prices for other services that include:

- Lesser Identification - 20 GP
- Uncursing - 100-1000 GP
- Sell your used books (negotiable price)

When you come up to the counter, the staff member manning it parts her long gray hair covering her eyes and speaks.

"Let me guess... you got polymorphed into a Turtle due to a curse? That'll be 1000 Gold Pieces for an uncursing ritual."

She holds out a hand which seems to be covered in tattoos of a stylized platypus.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:44, Tue 27 July 2021.

Dumon is as courteous as those around him and listens as he is lead to his destination. He read the sign with the prices and then chuckled to himself as she jumped to the conclusion that he had been cursed.

"No, no this is my natural form. I have one item I am looking to get identified and another for sale." He hands over the sack with the globe and the spell book.


-

In reply to Dumon (msg # 150):

"Ah that's a pity... I thought I could finally give my wand of dispelling a shot..." the woman makes a disappointed expression as she examines the book and the sack with the globe.

After flipping through the book for a few moments and examining the cover she eventually speaks.

"Hmmm... this book only has a few spells. But considering its quality, I suppose it could go for 100 gold pieces. As for this other thing... We'll probably need around 2 hours to examine it and prepare an identification spell. Why don't you come back later?"

The woman takes a slip of parchment and writes a few things on it, making a few stamps.

"Make sure to bring this with you when you return. Otherwise, we'll be keeping it," the woman snorts as she hands you the paper slip.

Dumon gave a small bow as he took the paper. It was time for lunch, nothing to fancy somewhere close even though he was keen to have a look around this district.

He found somewhere for his meal of dumplings and egg noodles as well as his clove tea. Afterwards a short walk before returning to the magicians shop.


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In reply to Dumon (msg # 152):

When you return to the shop, you see the woman with two sacks at the counter.

Upon reaching the counter she speaks.

"The identity of the item is written in this slip. I've taken the liberty of removing 20 GP from the 100 you will gain from selling that spellbook. If there is nothing else, we thank you for your business."

As you expected, one of the smaller sacks contain 80 GP, while the 2nd larger sack contains the orb which seems to longer be producing any worms.

As you read the slip, you discover the following information:



After use, it must be buried in the fertile soil for at least a week before regaining its ability to produce worms.

After finishing reading the slip, you suddenly hear a yell from the southeast.

"Crabs! The Blue Crabs are rebelling!!"

Though one might expect a stampede of fleeing people, you instead see a large number of more strong looking men and adventurers looking at each other with wide eyes and then charging towards the sound of the yells.

Dumon thanks the woman and put away both the orb and the money before he leaves the shop. He was just thinking of taking in some more of the district when the alarm was raised. He joined the rest of the armed men and ran towards the trouble.


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In reply to Dumon (msg # 154):

The sounds of many boots stepping upon the stone pavement fills the air as you follow the crowd of veterans and adventurers heading to where is likely the source of the voice and the scene of the advancing blue crabs.

Eventually, you arrive at a plaza near a coast where you see a scene of carnage unfold amidst sights of destroyed stalls. Some of the folk not adept at fighting seem to be rapidly fleeing from what appears to be around 30 large blue crabmen who are engaging with the many fighters and adventurers scattered about trying to subdue them.

Fortunately, it appears that the blue crabmen nearby do not notice you and instead begin to attack a pale man in leather armour carrying an axe and shield nearby.

As the man blocks the attack with his shield he yells towards you.

"Hey you! Don't just stand there, give me a hand over here!"

As he is done speaking what appears to be a torn head smashed into a bloody pulp flies past you and lands to the ground as you see another blue crab man stepping across from a dismembered human's body approaching, intending to assist his companion engaging the axeman.

"I... I'll split the money from these crab heads with you!! Help me out for now!" the axeman yells as he realises his predicament.

Dumon moves forward to cover the man's back as he engages the crab-men in close brutal combat. Raising his shield he swings out with his flail aiming for the closest crab man, be that the new arrival or the one already fighting the man calling for help.


Dumon rolled 15 using 1d20+1.  Attack.
Dumon rolled 2 using 1d8.  Damage.

In reply to Dumon (msg # 156):

Your flail strikes at the Blue Crabman's heavily scarred but hard looking shell-like skin, and makes a loud cracking sound as you see some bits of its shelly exterior break off! It reels from the strike for a moment before wildly swinging at you with hits large crab claw which just barely whistles past your head!

The wind you feel blow past you from your strikes makes you certain that it was likely that the owner of the head that fell nearby was most likely struck by this deadly swing of the claw!

But based on what you see - the crabman seems to have been heavily injured up until now - and is just barely staying on its crabby feet!

Meanwhile the axeman who enlisted your aid retaliates at the crabman engaged with him with a heavy swing of his axe - producing another crunching, cracking sound as steel lands on shell! The crabman tries to fight back, but the axeman deftly steps out of the way!

As the both of you fight you hear sounds of crushed bone and shell fill the air of carnage in this area that steadily begins to reek of blood!

With a flick of his wrist Dumon brings the flail back on his last attack. The impact was far less solid then his previous attack and he was unsure if he had even connected with the Crabman.


Dumon rolled 11 using 1d20+1.  Attack.
Dumon rolled 1 using 1d8.  Damage.



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In reply to Dumon (msg # 158):

Your flail this time is deflected off the crabman's shell, but the crabman too fails to land a strike on you as you notice it trying hard to keep its balance as it swings its heavy looking blue claws.

The other man meanwhile manages to batter the crabman he's fighting with his axe once again, pushing it back with his shield in one movement, preventing the crabman from being able to retaliate effectively!

Behind you, you hear a fleshy "thunk!" sound as you see a crabman head fly past you again leaving a smelly trail blue blood in its wake.

Another downward strike at the crustacean and Dumon tried not to get distracted by what was going on around him. He also tried not to glance as to what was happening with the axeman to his side.

Dumon rolled 10 using 1d20+1.  Attack.

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In reply to Dumon (msg # 160):

As you struggle to hit the crabman, who seems to be slowly regaining his balance, you hear a terrible loud crack followed by a yell of terror and a thud as you sense the axeman being thrown backwards by a sudden forceful crab claw to the ribs.

You hear a suffocating gasp come from behind you followed by a barely audible "Help!!" and a fierce sounding gurgle of crustacean origin.

Fortunately for you, the crab you have been engaging in this tricky skirmish seems to have similar bad luck and fails to hit you yet again..!

Unable to disengage from the crab man in front of him Dumon arc his flail around his head and brings it down to, miss by a wide margin.


Dumon rolled 8 using 1d20+1.  Attack.



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In reply to Dumon (msg # 162):

The melody of melee continues its savage chorus as you hear a loud crunching sound followed by a squelching sound.

"Damn Crab! Nearly took my life! Least I have one head now..." you hear the Axeman exclaim.

"Many thanks for holding that mad Crab back - I will lend my assistance...!"

You notice the crabman you are engaging seems thoroughly exhausted by the mad flailing, and you see some nearby warriors eyeing it waiting for a nice opportunity to strike.

With all the excitement and noise it would seem that Dumon has lost his focus and it back at the hatchery picking up his flail for the first time. As much as he tries he cannot connect so he makes room for anyone else to take a shot.


Dumon rolled 3 using 1d20+1.  Attack.



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In reply to Dumon (msg # 164):

You notice all the men nearby pounce at the opportunity and they attack the crab one after another before a rather brawny looking man in half plate armor cleave it into two with his greataxe.

Greedily, the man beheads the crab and ties it to his waist where you see around 7 crab heads swing about leaving a fishy trail of dark blue blood splashing about the gore covered floor.

"Ah, tough luck eh? Well, there'll be more to look forward to the future," the earlier axeman who enlisted your help pats you on your shoulder as the savage melee eventually enters a decrescendo and the fighting eventually ceases with the overwhelming loss of the crabmen.

As you survey the scene of battle, you notice around 11 other headless human bodies on the ground alongside the corpses of the crabmen. As the crowd of fighters dispers, you begin to see around 6 destitute ragged men hurry to the area to begin looting the bodies.

Dumon watched the men loot the corpses, though he was not that low to do anything similar. He had nodded when the axeman had commiserated him, but did not add anything further. Today was just not his lucky day, or the crabmen's it would seem.

He went to check one of the crabmen bodies to see if there was anything on it that might indicate why they suddenly decided to rise up.


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This message was last edited by the player at 03:08, Mon 09 Aug 2021.

In reply to Dumon (msg # 166):

As you examine the beheaded bodies of the crabmen, you notice strange threadlike worms of blue with strange spikes around their length crawling about in the blue blood that seems to gout from their exposed internal necks.

As you see some of these strange worms essentially get flushed out of the crabmens' flesh by virtue of the profuse bleeding, you notice they seem to be very much alive and seem to be wading about gently in the blood that starts to approach your feet.

Dumon stayed clear of the worms and he had nothing on his person to carry such a thing. So he went about his day and started to make his way back to the auction house where he will deposit the orb for sale.

Then he will return to the The Molten Eye to seek an audience with Ba Le'mei or if she is not available he will leave a note explaining what he had seen in the crabmen. Also he wanted to do some research on the Library mentioned on the map he recovered.



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In reply to Dumon (msg # 168):

You manage to make your way back to the auction house named Crystal Silver Pavilion.

This time with clear information about the identity of the orb, you find yourself being able to convince the staff who will happily accept the item and the 10% depositing fee. If you for instance want to set the starting price as 1000 GP, you will have to deposit 100 GP.

After making the payment should you decide to do so, the staff will hand you a metal tablet certifying your deposit.

"The auction will happen on 3 days from now, where your item will be auctioned for. We recommend you come take a look so you can collect you money - or your item if nobody bids for it - immediately after your item is auctioned."


...


The way towards the Molten Eye is uneventful apart from whisperings of the recent Crabman attack that you participated in previously.

When you finally arrive, you find out that Ba Le'mei is indeed not in the Molten Eye's headquarters at the moment, and after leaving a note head to the building's library to do your research.

After a few minutes of searching you find two tomes that seem to carry some information relating to the map you discovered.

The first tome is named "The Council of Crickets", while the second is called "Cult of the Python"

From "The Council of Crickets", you learn about a secretive society of magi that used to live in the Old Town aeons ago during the heydays of the flourishing Yellow City. It is rumored that these magi conducted all manner of nefarious experiments in their mad pursuit to discover the origin of magic. All their efforts were said to boil down to an artifact named the "Prism of Wisdom" rumored to contain the combined forbidden knowledge of the magi which is said to have been responsible for a terrible earthquake that resulted in the collapse of numerous parts of the Old Town.

What is interesting about this tome is that you notice that numerous parts of the text are underlined with numerous notes and comments written on the margins, likely by the ones who used this book before. Interestingly there is a note near the underlined words "Prism of Wisdom" which says "See the Tale of Malubar the Fool"

Should you try to find such book underlined, you will sadly fail to do so as there seems to be no such book in the library.

From "Cult of the Python", you discover a rather practical documentation of this religion that worships a Snake God called "Ecthet the Eternal". It is said that despite the God supposedly being Eternal, the Ecthet is already dead and the followers of the religion use the supposed moulted skin of a colossal snake as an idol for worship. It is said that the cult despises all those who hurt snakes, and will fanatically kill all those who try to hurt such creatures. And it is due to this fanatcism that eventually led to the cult to be effectively driven out of the city as numerous murders were linked to it religious fanaticism. But it was on the day of its expulsion that a terrible earthquake occured, and conversely made the part of the Old Town where the cult was at become fanatic believers of their God. According to the text, the full moulted skin is no longer present in the Old City, and only a small fragment is left over in a shrine that remained intact even after the earthquake. The whereabouts of the cult proper is unknown.

After you are done reading, you notice someone enter the library - and it is none other than Ba Le'mei herself.

"Ah, Dumon! You were looking for me? My...! Did you enjoy reading the collection here?"

"Ba Le'mei" Dumon stands and gives a short bow before indicating the seat across from him. "Thank you for seeking me out. I have some information on the crabman insurrection...." Dumon goes into great detail as to the worms etc.... and what else he found out during the previous battle. "I think there is more to this then so disgruntled crustaceans."

"As for the library it is truly impressive, though I seem to be unable to find a copy of the Tale of Malubar the Fool ?"

OOC: and yes he will start at 1000GP so will deposit 100GP.

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This message was last edited by the player at 02:33, Mon 30 Aug 2021.