Taisiya let go of the rope for just a moment before Johannes stepped on the plank to check his knot. ((taking a 20.)) She stifled a laugh before going back and picking the rope up again, retaking her previous position. "Looks just fine to me anyway yes, we have a good hold of the rope now can we please get on with it?" Taisiya told him, nearly trying to verbally push him forward on the plank. She was quickly getting sick of the constant odor of sewage ruining her sense of smell for who knew how long. "Worst case scenario we've got you." She told him.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:06, Tue 18 Nov 2014.

"Alright... here we go." I pause a moment and recite a verse to myself before stepping on the plank. "He makes my feet like hinds feet in high places." I take a deep breath and cross.

{01:15, Today: Herr Johannes rolled 5 using 1d20+1. Balance Check, for crossing plank, SQ.}

Herr Johannes took a deep breath and placed his foot on the board. He propped his left hand against the wall, to steady himself across. The dampness of the stone soaked through the glove and chilled his fingertips. Johannes moved one foot over the other, inching himself across, "Hey guys! I'm doing it! I'm doing it!" "No, Johannes! Don't say that!" Jacqueline pleaded. "Huh? Why?" She sighed, "Don't you know anything about slapstick comedy Johannes?" He glanced behind looking perplexed, "I'm basically German, so I don't know what comedy is. . ." "Saying that you're succeeding when you're only halfway across is a gag setup! That means you're like definitely going to fall!" She was practically in a panic. "Oh Jacqueline," Johannes chuckled, his attention returning to his balance, "Don't be ridiculous. . ." Suddenly, Johannes stepped on a banana peel, thoughtlessly left in the middle of the board!

Johannes' feet were instantly above his head {Balance: 5 / Climb: 11}. As he fell, he could hear Taisiya blowing on her slide whistle, making it even funnier. Johannes swore he'd break that thing when he got out. He plummeted into the sewer-river below, and Jacqueline and Taisiya pulled on the rope with all their might, which frankly, wasn't very much. Taisiya fell on her butt, losing hold of the rope completely {Strength: Natural 1}, and Jacqueline felt very very strained {Strength: 8}. She called out, "Uhh, honey? Yea, umm, could you make a swim check for me? Please and thank you."

"Ewww, sewer water! I am getting out of here right away! ...GRAAAA!" I grasp the rope in my hand through the piton in the wall with mighty strength and hold onto it with one hand. I then toss the tools in my hand to the shore the girls are on. "There is no way I am going down that tunnel in JESUS NAME! The LORD is MY STRENGTH." The sound track from Conan the Barbarian begins to play from the ceiling! I wrap the rope around my arm as I begin to be thrust out of the water. I climb out of the water at the shore and stand. The girls at this point have been pulling from the shore nearly seated with their heels against the stone crevices below them, so thus I tower above them with muscles bulging, I draw my sword and hold it above my head with both hands and look epic. Beads of water drip off me and seem to leave me cleanly, (like in a movie I seem to bee dry only moments later). I then let out a barbarians laugh, hearty and strong. "Ha HA!" before I sheath my sword.

{23:21, Today: Herr Johannes rolled 5 using 1d20+4. Strength Check to hold onto rope; SQ. (Str+CB=+4).
23:24, Today: Herr Johannes rolled 7 using 1d20+2. Swim check to help Lady Jacqueline's STR check; SQ.}

{22:16, Today: Lady Jacqueline Raynelde rolled 23 using 1d20+5. Reflex Save for sidequest.

Please tell me this did something. I don't want him to just fall for nothing. :/}

Lady Jacqueline impulsively reaches out to him and pulls sharply on the rope, hoping to grab his hands. "Hold on, Johannes!" she yelps.

Herr Johannes imagined himself climbing out of the water, muscles bulging, triumphant! At least, that's what ran through his mind as he was carried off by the river and through the tunnel. "Ahhhhhhhhhoooooooowwweeeeeeeeeeeeeee! This is actually kinda fuuuuun! Weeeeeeee!" He laughed hysterically as he went down the world's smelliest water slide, likely carrying him off to the Bay of Andor. Lady Jacqueline cringed, wondering what if he'd stink forever when this was all over. Johannes' echo faded beneath the sound of rushing water, and soon, he was gone, through that black tunnel at the end of the sewer river.

Lady Jacqueline turned to Taisiya, "Well, I guess it's up to you and me now." She mentally motivated herself, speaking with new determination, "We can do this!" "Yea!" Taisiya replied, catching her enthusiasm. "Let's win this dungeon!" "Yea!" "TOGETHER, WE CAN SUCCEED!" "YEA!" They both were shouting exuberantly. "You can go first!" "YEA!!! . . Wait. What?"

"Well, here goes nothing" She said, slinking towards the board. She didn't even make it to the first step as she walked on a slick spot of the flooring and tumbled into the sewer.

((03:30, Today: Taisiya Northwood rolled 2 using 1d20. Balance check SQ.))

"Jacqueline I could use a hand!" Taisiya said, panic enveloping her voice.

[Private to DM Ryan: ((So worst case scenario would my ray of frost possibly be able to freeze over and help me in getting out?)) DM Ryan - Indeed, that could work.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:39, Fri 28 Nov 2014.

"Eeek!" Taisiya shouted as she slipped, foot missing the edge of the board. Tumbling downward, she landed on the wooden board below her with a thud, chest first. Taisiya hastily wrapped her arms and legs around the plank, clinging to it like a spider-monkey. She panted and after a few moments said, "I'm OK!" Slowly, she got back up on her feet, still on the board - there was no turning back now, but the other side wasn't far off.

Lady Jacqueline cried out, "Woah, that was a close one!" "Yea. . ." said Taisiya. "I've gotten this far without getting soaked with sewer water. I'd rather keep it that way!"

{06:44, Today: DM Ryan, on behalf of Taisiya Northwood, rolled 20 using 1d20+3. Climb - Catch Yourself Falling, SQ.}

Taisiya swallowed as she braced herself against the wall, feeling the adrenaline running through her body as she tried to calm herself from her previous panic. She tried to slowly make her way across the wobbly board.

((22:53, Today: Taisiya Northwood rolled 1 using 1d20. Balance check SQ. Okay what is with this string of really awful rolls lately?))

Lady Jacqueline blinks and quickly sighs, grabbing Taisiya to prevent her from falling. "Wait, let's practice balancing or something." She steps away from the edge and balances on one foot.

((I don't think our rolls want us to win.
00:25, Today: Lady Jacqueline Raynelde rolled 5 using 1d20+3. Balance Check for sidequest.))
This message was last edited by the player at 05:37, Tue 02 Dec 2014.

Taisiya slowly lifted her self up, having just landed hard on the board. She was shivering, trembling at the thought of having almost fallen. Taking a deep breath, she stilled her limbs and took another step {22:53, Today: Taisiya Northwood rolled 1 using 1d20. Balance check SQ}. Almost instantly, Taisiya slipped a second time. This was either a nightmare or a Warner Brother's scene with Bugs Bunny. She landed on the board, the whole plank bouncing a couple inches in the air with her; her arms and legs frantically wrapped around the wood, like a child clinging to its mother's leg {23:01, Yesterday: DM Ryan, on behalf of Taisiya Northwood, rolled 18 using 1d20+3. Climb - Catch Yourself Falling, SQ}. Taisiya didn't even bother standing up this time - she crawled, absolutely terrified. After what felt like a few hours for her, although it was merely moments to Lady Jacqueline, Taisiya finally threw herself on the other side of the plank, finally making it across the river {08:17, Today: DM Ryan, on behalf of Taisiya Northwood, rolled 13 using 1d20. Re-Balance Check, SQ}. Taisiya stretched and laid on her back, probably traumatized.

Lady Jacqueline cried out, "You did it! You're across!" Taisiya breathed heavily, heart pounding in her chest, "Yea, I guess I did. Wow that was hard." "Alright, I guess it's my turn. . ." She gulped rather loudly.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:32, Wed 03 Dec 2014.

(Ryan, what's the status of any rope in the room? Is anyone right now holding it, and is it tied around anyone? I think I have a set of rope not currently in use. BUT. I want to make sure first.) DM Ryan - There's a 15 ft. cutting of rope with one end attached to a piton in the wall. The remaining 25 ft. went with Herr Johannes, as it was tied around his waist.

Lady Jacqueline steps up to the edge of the board and grabs onto the rope that Johannes had left behind. Very steadily, she paced herself slowly forward.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:49, Thu 04 Dec 2014.

Lady Jacqueline cautiously stepped forward, placing one foot over the other; she stretched out her her hands for balance. Immediately, she regretting wearing high heels today, as her stiletto slipped on the wet wooden plank. "Not again!" Jacqueline shouted, tumbling back into the sewer-river {Balance: 4}. For a brief moment, she disappeared beneath the foamy water with a splash, before bobbing back up. The black, gaping tunnel behind her roared with the sound of rushing water, threatening to swallow her whole.

Waddling her hands up in down, paddling like a dog, she wasn't getting anywhere. Suddenly, Jacqueline decided to try something crazy and new – she placed one arm over the other, swimming free style instead. Within moments, she was soaring across the water like Michael Phelps, handling the current with ease {Swim: 20}. "I. . . I'm doing it. I'm swimming well! Ha ha ha ha! NOT TODAY SEWER!" Like a fish, she crossed the canal and gripped the ledge on the other side {Climg: 11}. Her fingers began slipping on the cold, damp rock. "Ahhhh. Taisiya, help me!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:53, Thu 04 Dec 2014.

Taisiya reached down and grabbed Jacqueline's hand as soon as it was in reach to pull her on the ledge with her.

Grasping a wet hand, she pulled. Jacqueline was lifted out of the rushing water and climbed onto the ledge, her clothes soaked - again. Taisiya pinched her nose, for the smell was hard to bear. "I'm glad you take a bath when you get to Larlben's," Taisiya nasally said. Jacqueline's eyebrows lifted, "How do you know that!?" "I checked the other thread. Come on, we're almost to the end!"

On this side of the river sat the trunk, four feet in length, made of wood and iron bound. At the sound of their voices, it rattled. They could barely here a muffled tone through its walls. To their left was a closed door - from the looks of it, the one they saw at the beginning of the dungeon. On this side however was a welcome mat, that said 'Home sweet Home'. Judging by the lovely embroidery, it must've been a gift.

Being a pain in the butt, she wipes her hand generously along Taisiya's arm before letting go. "Well... I'm glad you bathe, too, then," Lady Jacqueline laughs, and then smirks, rolling up the rug to stash away. "What?" she asks any inquisiting look. "Let's see if there's a key here, or traps there..." ((08:41, Today: Lady Jacqueline Raynelde rolled 26 using 1d20+6. Spot Check for sidequest.// 08:41, Today: Lady Jacqueline Raynelde rolled 21 using 1d20+6. Search Check for sidequest.)) She then searches for any key, or traps along the chest, eyes widened and dilated like crazy.

((What the heck? I'm terrible at balance, and yet I can spot and check like I'm a hawk. Hahahaha.))

As Jacqueline rolls up the carpet Taisiya throwsher hands up defensively. She shakes her head with raised eyebrows and a jesting tone "Not gonna say anything." she stifled a bit of a laugh before joining in the search. She spends much more time randomly searching than thinking of new specific things.

((03:33, Today: Taisiya Northwood rolled 3 using 1d20+1. Spot Check SQ.
03:35, Today: Taisiya Northwood rolled 20 using 1d20+1. Search Check SQ.

I'm a monkey not a hawk.))

Lady Jacqueline reached down and picked up the welcome mat, "This would look great outside a cottage someday!" Beneath the mat, simply under one of the edges, was a key! It was shiny, silver and metal, and exactly what they were looking for. Taisiya saw it too, "Hah! What'd you know? Pirates keep their spare key under the welcome mat just like everybody else!" Jacqueline plucked the key off the ground.

They finished searching the rest of the room. "Looks like that's it," Jacqueline said conclusively. "No traps or anything." She held up the spare key. "All that's left is to finally open the trunk!" "I'm nervous," Taisiya said, feeling a little anxiety. "How come?" "Well, we've reached the end. I mean, this might be our last post and all that. And it was quite the dungeon, ya know?" "Yea, I guess I do," Jacqueline replied, understanding what she was talking about. "Well, a great man once said, 'We're all stories in the end. Just make it a good one, eh?'" Taisiya's face scrunched up, ". . . Uh, isn't that Dr. Who?" Jacqueline's eyes widened and darted side to side, "What. No of course not. It's from. . . the ancients. Or something." "No, no. I'm pretty sure that's Dr. Who. . ."

"But first!" Lady Jacqueline proposes, "we need this plank of imbalance. Everyone we fight will have to make a balance check in the future." She winks at Taisiya and takes a long look at the thing. (Am I able to pick it up? Or is it secured to the ground? If it can be picked up, then have her pick it up.) She flattens her dress in the front and approaches the chest, plunging the key into the keyhole. "Okay... ready?"

"Do it do it do it." Taisiya started chanting. She is a fantastic influence after all. She couldn't wait to see who was inside and let them out.

"Here I go," Lady Jacqueline said in a hushed voice. She turned the key – click. . . The lid flung open! Jacqueline nearly fell on her back as a small, very small, person burst out of the top, hardly a second after it unlocked. "I'm free! Ha ha ha!" the halfling heroically shouted to no one in particular. A flash of red and blue followed - a parrot - which frantically fluttered around the room, its wings flapping noisily.  "No one can hold down the impeccable, clever, and dare I say handsome, Captain Skriff! Ha ha!" His high pitched voice made everything sound ridiculous. "Who could match me ingenuity? Me boldness? The-" The speech continued for another minute or so. . .

Jacqueline and Taisiya just blinked at him, taken aback and stunned at their odd find; his messy black hair peaked out of a feathered pirate hat that was way too big him, and his worn garb had seen better days. Then again, perhaps not. "Ahem. . ." Taisiya coughed, interrupting his monologue. The halfling paused his celebrating and took notice of the two girls. "Ah, me thanks lasses! Thank ye for assisting in my daring escape!" Jacqueline muttered, "Um, assisting? You meaning doing pretty much everythi-" "Ye have the thanks of the famous Captain Skriff!" He simultaneously pinched both girls on the tush. "Hey!" "Why that little-"

"Now for me daring escape!" the halfing continued, bounding toward the sewer-river, "Come bird!" The parrot ignored him, flying around the ceiling of the room. "I said come! Stupid thing!" Vibrant red with blue and yellow wings, the bird insolently landed on a small outcrop of rock near the ceiling, far out of anyone's reach, and squawked back, "Stupid thing. Stupid thing. Stupid thing." Captain Skriff got steamed, "Fine, dumb pigeon, stay here if you want! . . Now, to freedom!" The halfing cannonballed into the sewer-river with a splash, riding it into the tunnel. His voice echoed the whole way, "Woooohooooo!" After a few seconds, it faded out.

Taisiya slowly looked at Jacqueline, both their expressions dumbfounded. "Uh, what just happened?" ". . .I don't know" Jacqueline replied, "But it was definitely weird." The parrot loudly mocked, safe on his perch, "Weird. Weird. Weird." "Well let's check the trunk. And who wants the bird?" They tipped the box over and poured out their loot.

Rewards
The party gained 93 gold pieces and 346 silver pieces!
The party found a toy doll, a Meerschaum, and a teapot.

Roll a d20! Highest number wins the SQ Special Prize: Pet Parrot!

Herr Johannes: Gained -3- Clay Tokens
Lady Jacqueline: Gained -3- Clay Tokens
Taisiya: Gained -3- Clay Tokens

Side Quest #1 Experience
Herr Johannes: Gained 197 XP
Lady Jacqueline: Gained 157 XP
Taisiya: Gained 131 XP
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:13, Wed 10 Dec 2014.

((14:15, Today: Taisiya Northwood rolled 8 using 1d20. SQ bonus roll.))

A seemingly ghostly voice seems to waft into the room from somewhere above. "Remember... " There is a pause. "Remember... " It is a familiar voice. Kind of like Mufasa's voice to Simba in that time he is looking up at the sky at night.

Jacqueline looks up searching for the voice. "What is that? Do you hear it?"
Taisiya replies, "Yeah, where is it coming from."
"Above us I think." Jacqueline realizes.
Taisiya begins to just look up, "It's Johannes, I... I... It is his ghost I think. He must be speaking to us from beyond?!" A reverent demeanor comes to her frame, Jacqueline puts her hand to her mouth.

The voice speaks again. "Remember... don't forget...

.
.
.

Suddenly a cloud of dust begins to fill the room from under the door and the door rattles!

...the loot." The voice of whispers from behind the door as grain dust fills the room from under the door. "That grain sure dried fast." You hear the voice remark to itself. "Hey, gals! I am back!" The voice speaking much more lively this time. A loud knocking pounds on the door. "Did you all open the chest yet!? Let me in! I lowered myself back down here with the rope I had on my waist! It turns out the sewer only emptied back into the bay! Phew, sure had me concerned. Good thing my stuff was all fastened down securely! Did you release whoever was prisoner in there? Can you open the door? We have more nooks and crannies to explore down here still! I need to roll my 20 where you can see it!" You all realize with joy it is Herr Johannes!, from behind the door! He is fine and wet. When he heard the chest was opened and that squeaky ridiculous, somewhat annoying voice, and knew there was more loot and details to go over he came as fast as he could! Relief and joy comes to your hearts as you realize he is well and also not a ghost. ;)

You then see a d20 roll under the door.

{23:56, Today: Herr Johannes rolled 12 using 1d20. Side Quest Bonus Reward Roll; SQ.}

"Oh and someone grab that board! I think it is magical, 'Mysterious Plank of Imbalance.'"

"Got it!" Lady Jacqueline grabs the board slowly and draws it up on their side. She then dashes to the door to let Johannes inside. "Here, come take a look!" She pulls him in and leads him to stand in a triangle around the chest. "I... kinda want the doll, for some reason," she murmurs shyly.

"Herr Johannes! You're alright!" Taisiya exclaimed. Johannes was soaked, water still pouring from beneath his armor. Some seaweed was on his shoulder still – he flicked it off. "Yea. Boy, that was a lot of swimming. . . dumped me right into the Bay of Andor. . . Hey is that loot?!" Johannes grew a large smile. "Yea, come on!" Jacqueline urged. The three adventurers stuffed their pockets and bags with coins and items; Jacqueline grabbed the toy doll, in the hopes they'd let her keep it. "Dumped me. Dumped me," a voiced squawked from above. Johannes glanced upward, "Holy crap, a parrot!" "Let's see if we can coax it down – come here birdie! Polly want a cracker?" Jacqueline and Taisiya tried whistling and offering treats, but the parrot mere laughed in reply, or at least that's what it sounded like. "Let me try," Johannes said. "Come here bud!" Suddenly, the parrot jumped from its perched and fluttered down toward Johannes. For a moment, Johannes panicked as the large red bird flew at him, but it merely landed on his shoulder, looming large over his head. The parrot cried out, "Bud! Bud!" Taisiya laughed, "It looks like you found a friend Johannes. What are you going to name him?" Johannes slowly stood up straight, parrot comfortably balancing on his armored shoulder. "Oh yea. I'll have to think on that!"

After gathering all their loot, the three finally stepped out the door, coming back to the very first room they started in. It'd been so long. Jacqueline tried the silver key on the metal door they could never open, but with a simple turn, it clicked open without a fuss. Behind it they found a spiral stairwell going straight up to the floor above – the exit. "Well guys, we did it." Taisiya said, smiling.
"Yea!" Woo!"


Adwonus was leaning on a pile of crates, looking horribly bored. Marcus and Dwalin were playing a word game, but from the expression on Dwalin's face, they could tell he was losing. Adwonus straightened up when he saw the others returning, "Their back." Johannes, Jacqueline, and Taisiya walked out of the house and came back to the pier, overlooking the Bay of Andor and the Lower District of Herrod across. Ships with white, tan, and gray sails drifted through the center, a busy highway of seafare. "So, did you guys find anything?" "Oh, not much really," Jacqueline replied nonchalantly. "Really? Really?" the parrot squawked accusingly. Dwalin grimly glanced up, "I see you found a friend. Birds, ugh. Come, we need to get going to Larlben's." "Yea," Marcus said. "We must- Oh wow do you guys stink!" Adwonus sniffed the air, scowl on his face, "That is something awful. . ." Jacqueline giggled, giving a sly smile to Johannes and Taisiya who smirked in return. "That my friends. . . is the smell of victory."


End of Side Quest #1


Epilogue: Marcus sighed, "Jacqueline leave the board." "But you wouldn't believe the power of it! It could trip our enemies-" Jacqueline started defensively. "It's a 12 ft. wooden plank. You can't hull that through the streets," Marcus chuckled and disapproved of at the same time. Jacqueline grunted, "Fine. I'm totally coming back for this someday though." Jacqueline dragged the board to an alley beside the house and set it on the ground. As she left to joined the others, Marcus walked up to it suspiciously. "What was she trying to say about this board anyway?" He glanced to the left and right to make sure no one was watching; he placed his feet on the board, and playfully tried to balance his way across. Suddenly, his feet slipped out from under him, and he landed on his butt on the cobbled stone. "Ow!" Marcus scrambled to his feet before someone could see, "Stupid board." He walked away, upset, rubbing the bruise on his behind. As he did, Marcus couldn't help get the feeling that the board did it on purpose. . . that. . . it was evil. He shook his head, pushing such thoughts aside. 'Some mysteries are best left mysteries.'
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:36, Thu 11 Dec 2014.