In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 38):

Shorty shakes his head.  "Needs kill cloud thingie.  How us gonna keep cloud thingie from do gin.  Him get nudder bad people and go get marble gin.  How stop?"

In reply to Shorty (msg # 39):

"Indeed," rumbles Warwick from his tankard.  "That cloud handled everything we threw at it.  If not for that powerful spell that affected the time stream, Shorty and I would likely be dead."

In reply to Warwick (msg # 40):

Penny: "If Dualis speaks the truth then the cloud will not be the issue as it was just a manifestation of the god Set.  They tend not to do that type of thing too often.  Your main concern should be the vault of the Orbs; which is where you'll need to go to free Rigel."

--DM2

Aztar nods and stands up moving closer to penny, 'So, it sounds like we've already been given permission to approach the vaults as long as we leave the orb there.  Do you have information that can help us get in?'

In reply to Aztar (msg # 42):

Penny: "Yes, that is correct, permission has been worked out already.  Information is the main reason you are here.  I will tell you about the Orbs, the vault and the building containing the vault as well as known dangers.  The main building itself is massive over 500' on a side and 100' high; but is fairly easy to reach.  It is protected from magical transport into the area out to 100' from the building.  The building itself is heavily trapped both magically and mechanically as well as constructs.  The vault is in the middle of the building, itself being 200' in diameter.  The entrance is highly magiked and can only be opened by a key held by one of the guardian constructs.  You must find and defeat that construct to have any chance to enter.  Any questions so far?"

--DM2

Shorty shakes his head.  "No gots thief fix trap.  Gots find thief.  What be guard Penny Dragon?  What me gotta fights?"

In reply to Shorty (msg # 44):

Penny: "Mostly you will fight whatever is in the underground city but once inside the building it will mostly be golems.  A thief may help with the mechanical traps but they wouldn't be a necessity."

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 45):

Morteft says, "Is there a time limit to finding the orb? We may have to camp there after we find a place we can secure. I wonder if we can teleport in and out or get to other dimensions once inside. Do you know?"

In reply to Morteft (msg # 46):

Penny:"The whole complex is secured against any magical displacement such as teleport, dimensional or planer travel.  Once you have the key you have an hour to get to the vault or it is reset and you have to find the new golem."

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 47):

"Is it known how the King and the cloud managed to get the orb?  That might help us.  'Cause this don't sound like it's going to be easy."

In reply to Warwick (msg # 48):

Penny: "Well you have a troll king and an Avatar of a very powerful god, a pretty potent group."

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 49):

Shorty scratches his head.  "Not tink be any bad tings left in City.  Me spend lotta day makin clean.  Better keep Baby safe if bad stuff all be dead."

'We will have to fight what's in the city?  Wouldnt we be able to teleport close to the building and then go from there?'

Aztar seemed a bit lost in thought absorbing the information and trying to formulate a plan.  It was much more than he was anticipating and was trying to figure out alternatives that might help him get to Rigel.

In reply to Aztar (msg # 51):

Morteft says, "Aztar, do you have a cube of force or Daern's instant fortress or something like that we could use as refuge in there? This may be a long campaign and I am wondering how we can protect ourselves."

He turns to Penny. "Does that mean that items of holding, portable holes and the like won't work or will they work since they are bound to the item?"

In reply to Morteft (msg # 52):

Shorty looks at his friends.  "Shorty gots house in city.  Big tower.  Lotta more room.  Smell little bit like dragon sometime when Shorty ferget clean up.  Buts not too bads."

In reply to Aztar (msg # 51):

"Yes, you can get within 100' of the main building but there still may be things skulking about."

--DM2

In reply to Morteft (msg # 52):

Penny:"I have heard that dimensional items such as those you mention, tend to, well sort of implode when activated within the main building."

--DM2

Aztar frowns at the mention of holding spaces.   'This may take considerable time and planning before we begin this task.  I don't believe I'm equipped with what we might need to penetrate defenses of this nature.'

'We'll have to collect all the information we can and discuss, but it could be months before I'm ready to try to gain entrance to a place like this.' 

In reply to Aztar (msg # 56):

Penny:"It may not be as tough as you think Aztar; but that is only main building.  The vault itself has it's own dangers and probably the worst.  The inside of the vault is guarded by an abomination.  Then each individual door is guarded, one for each Orb and finally is the Orb itself."

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 57):

Shorty looks curious.  "What be bomitble?  Me not see one dem afore."

In reply to Shorty (msg # 58):

Warwick shakes his head.  "Why can't the owners of the Orbs just release Rigel?  They must know about the Troll King.  Surely they can see it's wrong to hold him."

'I'm also curious about the figurine that Rigel is tied to if there is a round about way to pull him from the orb since while he is a dragon, he is also living in another dimension and the magic that bound him was near artifact level itself.'

Penny looks at each of you and goes back to Warwick.  "Master Warwick, the owners, if there could be such a thing for the Orbs, are long dead.  That complex was built thousands of years ago, the only thing left are their mechanizations."
over to Aztar
"Unfortunately in this case the artifact is king, plus nothing dimensional can get thru.  Clecko was powerful; but the power of an artifact and the power of the golden age mages is awe inspiring."
then over to Shorty, Penny gets a dark look.  "The abomination of which I speak is an experiment of those same golden age mages.  They wanted to make a formidable guardian and they succeeded.  Combining dragon,  ancient beasts known as dinosaurs on some worlds and a bit of themselves they created a creature with the form of a dragon.  The creature has many powers of a dragon; but also characteristics of the others.  Dragonkind curses the mages that did this and we have vowed to destroy any we find."  patooey - she spits a bit of acid on the far wall.

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 61):

Shorty looks a little concerned.  "Bomitble be old Penny?  Me hadda kill 2 dragon afore cause be killin friend.  Dragon get old, get berry berry hard kill.  Me lose lotta friend dat fight.  Ifn bomitble be old, it gonna takes long long time kill."

In reply to Shorty (msg # 62):

Penny:"Yes, it may be very much older than me.  However it is unclear how many the mages created and if more than one has guarded the vault."

--DM2