[Narrator Voice with scrolling text

With the winery in flames above, the Exemplar Endevourers descended to safety down a circular staircase, taking with them some choice bottles quickly consumed by the resident Pixie. Also accompanying them was an unexpected guest, the goblin's shaman of the fallen war party as a...hostage? Companion? The thief was unaccounted for.

The party found a passageway heading south. Two locked doors opposite each other on the passageway revealed very different surprises.

The western door opened to reveal the skeletal remains of a former cart-driver, his body picked clean to the bone by rats. His journal held clues as to the winery's demise from the goblin invasion and something more sinister.

The eastern door opened by itself due to the fact that the very surprised thief fell through a secret door by the fireplace above. These things happen sometimes. I think they're called "plot contrivances". Inside the room they found a strange contraption that can copy entire pages at a time, called a "printing press". Iffy thought the little backwards letters made of metal might be worth something and gathered up a sack of them. Surviving literature in the room suggested that the winery itself was built to keep something malevolent buried beneath it...

The passage ends to the south with an solid door, but the wooden frame around it has rotted away. The passage beyond seems to stretch perpendicular, going east and west.

Regdoc shook his head to escape whatever bizarre reverie had come upon him. An excuse of "...just resting my eyes," was made to anyone who might ask. He patted Chomper and they took their place in the line, ready to delve the deeps and discover the dark secrets of the winery's bowels.

Iffy weighted the wooden, backwards letters she decided to remove from the machinery almost without thinking. Despite what she said, she doubted they could be of any value. But she was strangely fascinated by the contraption, more from the way it supposedly operated than from the final product of the process; was that a valid reason to remove some of it? Yeah, of course it was. She liked it and she took it, why not?

"Old habits, right?" She thought to herself, a smile appearing briefly on her lips, not seen by anyone.
Iffy lifted her gaze from her prize to the darkness ahead. "Anyway, you never know what can be of use down here."

She never feared darkness, on the contrary, she always found comfort in the shadows, but this particular gloom seemed of a different kind: thick, oily, unwelcoming. Behind her, her companions were arranging themselves in some sort of order.

"Let's go," she murmured to no one in particular, starting to move forward.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:26, Mon 07 Jan 2019.

The pixie bows deeply, swinging his arms in an exaggerated motion to point the way towards the darkness of the unknown.  "After you." *hic*

Amalrik moves to cover Iffy's left side.

"Oh, is it time to move out? Sorry. I was thinking about... well, that's none of your business anyway." Creston picks up his bow and moves into position to cover the rear. "I'm ready... where's that dog?"

“We are ready to proceed? Good, good.”

With some obvious effort the wizard stands up and grimaces at his bloody robes. He pokes two fingers through the hole the spear made to his robe, estimating the damage done.

“I need to see a clothier when we get back to civilization. Seriously. If we get back to civilization, that is.”

He places himself in the middle of the group, in spot best guarded from all flanks by more brawnier companions.

"I'm sure you'll be up to your knees in new robes to try on very soon, my friend," Brodd says in a light tone.  He would offer to sew the hole closed but didn't want to offend the wizard who no doubt was very adept with a needle and thread himself.

Pressing on to find whatever was supposedly down here struck the priest as important, but he was always struggling to balance the present with their mission.  Every passing moment was supposed to be a branching of creation and to always choose a new path the definition of chaos.  Brodd is determined to get them back on track, soon.

Yagi glances at her collection of bones and feathers topped with a human skull, "Com'on Thud ,Mistah Wong is ready to go, I will follow you and protect your back."

Yagi and Mistah Wong fall inline closer to the rear behind Thud?

Amalrik checks the line of march to keep track of the people behind him.  Voodoo talking heads juju, I need another drink for this job. he mutters.

He grips his sword and relaxes himself to act as needed, nods to Iffy.  Gotch' your back honeybuns.

At the free-hanging door, Amalrik easily pushes it to the side with metallic groan. The passage beyond is perpendicular to the one you're currently in, running east-west by your best judgement. The passage is wide enough for travelling double-file. The stonework is consistent with what you've seen so far down here.

"Brother Brodd, you still have eyes on that goblin shaman or what ever it thinks it is, do you?" Sasar converses casually. His expression is stern, however, when he glances over.

"Hrrr-right, *ahem*" Regdoc coughed. His bushy white whiskers shook toward the east.

"Brother Brodd, you still have eyes on that goblin shaman or what ever it thinks it is, do you?" Sasar converses casually. His expression is stern, however, when he glances over.

"I do.  I do not expect it to walk with us long, but until we are gone from this underground, allies are welcome until they prove themselves otherwise," Brodd replies.

At the intersection, the young acolyte steps forward and peers down each hallway.  Unless he sees or hears something remarkable, Brodd decides one way is as good as another.  As a man of strict doctrine, when faced with the unknown, the right-handed path is best.

"This way?" he suggests, pointing right, which would make it east if indeed they were facing north-ish.

Eron nods in agreement at the suggestion, and adds, "Perhaps we should walk double file, although we should guard our rear flank as well."

"Right or left?" Iffy stops and looks both ways, before following Brodd on the right. Although she didn't see anything strange in either direction, the uneasiness she was feeling before increases, slow and steady. Every strange echo bouncing off the walls makes her jump slightly, her head turn, eyes nervously searching in the darkness behind them. "What was that rattle? " she thinks, before seeing the bones and skull Yagi is carrying "Mpfh, that damn goblin with her chick bones..."

"Good idea young man. Wise choice."

"if we're going double file," asks Creston, "Do the Goblin and Mr. Wong count as one person, or two?"

Yagi looks towards Creston with a scowl, then comforts the fetish, "Mistah Wong, just ignore him, pay him no attention."

"Right. Two."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 03:56, Fri 11 Jan 2019.

As the party is discussing, Manaku will be at the far rear of the group, following them.
Silent, bow at ready and looking around.

to the right it is.  Amalrik places an easy grip on his sword and looks down the hallway ... Adventure, glory, drink awaits ...

Sasar follows the group silently, staying in the middle of the group.

The party continues east.

Iffy, make a roll for finding traps. Just in case there is one. Totally not saying there is one or not.

Also, as you continue east you find a short sword lying on the stone floor.

There was something suspicious about a weapon just lying there.  A sack of trash, broken furnitures and fixtures .. even a body would be more expected.  But a lone weapon?

"Goblin made?" Brodd asks from the mid-pack.  "Or .. ?"

The pixie shrugs.  "It's too big for me.  Perhaps, someone else would have better use for it."

Regdoc cast a dubious glance at the weapon, and instead watched intently to see if their young thief would find anything in the way if impediment to their advancement or their well-being...

It appears to be human construction. Maybe a bit of rust on it.

In reply to DM (msg # 24):

11:50, Today: Iffy rolled 5 using 1d20+2.  Iffy tries to detect any possible trap.

In reply to Iffy (msg # 29):

[Per B/X, right now you have a 10% chance of Finding/Removing Traps. I'll take your D20 roll as a result of 25%. If you ever do succeed on a roll I'll assume you can immediately disarm it as you find it.]

Iffy doesn't notice anything unusual about the sword. No suspiciously placed stones under it, no trip wires, no arrow slits in the walls...looks clean!

"Wait! Wait! Don't touch it! I know what to do..."

The wizard removes a ten foot pole from the mule's back and pushes forward through the others. He pokes the weapon with the pole from a far trying to move it. (Does it move? Does it look like it has been there for a long time or dropped there more recently?)

"Could this have been left behind by the poor fellow in the other room before he locked himself in and the rats had a feast with his flesh?"

Sasar nudges the sword around. Feels about the correct weight.

Regdoc nodded in approval of Sasar's approach. There was wisdom in that wizard after all.

He motioned Iffy with his chin in the direction of furtherance down the hall...

Yagi speaks to her fetish in a hushed tone, "Look at that Mistah Wong, dem humans are crazy as all get out, dems is scared of an old sword."

Iffy moves slowly forward.
As she approaches the sword, she bends slightly, freezes and takes an intense look at the weapon, like cats do when they're about to jump on an unsuspecting bird. All is still, the sword seems just a sword, abandoned on the floor, the hand of the thief hovers over it, slightly opened... until it isn't anymore: a swift movement, an undistinguished flurry and now Iffy's holding the hilt in her hand. "Were you all afraid of... this?" She asks, as if she was not worried. "I thought you were well used to handle stuff like this".

"Could this have been left behind by the poor fellow in the other room before he locked himself in and the rats had a feast with his flesh?"

"A good casting of Speak With The Dead would help, assuming the spirit wanted to answer," Brodd replies.  Such spells were out there, but beyond his own experience.

While everyone was gaggling on about a sword, Amalrik was keeping his eyes on the hallway beyond the sword.  Movements ??  Shadows ??  Darts shooting across the hallway ?? Ceiling hanging terrors ?? Unattended beer kegs ??

The pixie yawns.  "Can we get moving?  The wine ain't going to find us on its own."

If the fire spreads any further, you can expect a lot of wine to flow in your direction.

Amalrik, can you see any sign of who dropped that sword? I can't see from back here.

Manaku seeing the people surrounding an old sword,lying on the floor, let out a sigh...

"Jeez... what's the problem?"

and pick up the sword

It's...a sword. As stated before there's a bit of rust from the underground dampness. On the pommel you see the same Carters Guild symbol the corpse had on the cover of hes ledger.

Regdoc sighed and watched as Iffy¹ and Manaku² fought over a discarded weapon.

"Keep us moving Brodd, I feel myself fermenting down here at this pace..."

¹ (#35)
² (#40)

Good question, just what did lay beyond the sword ... more hallway?

Well, bringing is hand to shade his eyes from the gloom I don't see any orphaned beer kegs lounging about ...

As far as Amalrik was concerned, whoever left a perfectly good sword on the floor obviously didn't need it. He looks for any blood and gut stains, nods to Manaku and moves along.  He sniffs the air, licks a finger to test for wind direction ...

“I guess I’m a bit paranoid.. Well, if we spot anything suspicious let me poke it first with this.” Sasar says when the sword appears to be...just a sword.

“Let’s move on, shall we.” He keeps the pole at the ready.

Amalrik scans as he steps forward, top/bottom, left/right.  Everytime he looks to the right, he keeps Iffy's position in mind. Top/bottom, left/right, top/bottom .. left/right

As the party continues they suddenly hear an inhuman wailing, like the screech of metal on stone.

A glowing, wispy, robed figure seems to flicker into being and slowly floats towards you!

Ready to try to turn the undead Brodd calls out in an unwavering voice:  "Speak spirit and tell us your tale or prepare to face the Sun's light ..."

Actions:  attempt parley but Turn undead if it attacks us

Manaku take out his bow and notch an arrow, and seeing Brodd speaking to the ghost, stand ready to shoot, if the creature attack anybody.

"What the hell...?"

Notch an arrow, ready to shoot if the creature is hostile

Regdoc glared at the ethereal being. "Oh calm down now. We're not here to bother you, rather we could perhaps help end your torment, but not if you're acting like that. Settle down and we'll talk..."

He attempted to show a stern countenance and folded his arms to keep his shaking hands from showing.

Creston lowers his weapon. It's not like his bow could hurt a ghost. In fact, nothing he had would do anything to a ghost. It was obvious that their lives were in the hands of the Clerics.

Attempts to reason with the mysterious figure appear to have no effect. It slowly glides closer as the that horrid sound get steadily louder.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 14:08, Mon 21 Jan 2019.

Amalrik moves to one side so the wizardly types can do their thing- but not thru him. He then takes an attack stance. If the ghostly one wanders by, he will inspect where it came from for clues.

Unsure what to make of it, the thing didn't appear as a hostile menace but it certainly was an accursed undead.  The protocol was clear but something tells Brodd it might be wiser to wait a bit longer.

"Press to the walls and let it pass, perhaps we can follow it and learn more ..." Brodd suggests.

Of course, if the monster suddenly attacked, he would do his best to banish it.

Regdoc appreciated the approach of the young priest.

"It's obvious you've got a grievance, let us help you..." The oldster wasn't sure if this apparition understood or not.

Beneath his vestments, the ragged traveling garb of a Seeker, he clutched his own holy symbol, ready to call upon the power of the Wandering God, but seemingly unconcerned with a restless spirit.

In another round, if it keeps at the same rate, it will reach where the sword was dropped.

Creston does as Brodd says and stands aside. He has the feeling he's done this before, but that could just be a ghost thing.

"That's it, I warned you! By the Wanderer's Soil-stained Hem I rebuke your advance!" Regdoc bellowed, brandishing what looked like a scrap of old, tattered cloth.

Turn Undead: Regdoc rolled 5 - of course the roller would rob Regdoc of a moment of greatness... pffft!

When it was apparent that this apparition harbored no respect for the Wandering God, Regdoc was quick to realize that His Path was elsewhere, and the oldster turned to flee.

"It's been an adventure lads, but its ending must be for another day. I would dust off your boots if you know what I mean..."

And then Regdoc Y'narc fled!

Full move AWAY from the apparition, back toward the stairs.

As Regdoc makes a brave charge in the opposite direction, the apparition seems to rise to a vertical position and vanish into the ceiling!

The rattling of chains echoes through the corridors.

"Oh, now what? That doesn't sound good. Could be chain system operating portcullis, perhaps?"

There is momentary feeling of helplessness as Sasar thinks he isn't useful in this situation. "I'm a scholar, not a dungeoneer... This place is starting to get to me." He mutters while his eyes dart wildly from place to place. The wizard leans his back against the corridor wall, keeping his position in the center of the group.

the apparition seems to rise to a vertical position and vanish into the ceiling!

"Well done, you Turned it," Brodd said to Redgoc but the older cleric was gone.  He waits a while to ensure the monster did not return, and ignores the sounds, giving Sasar a shrug and waving Regdoc back.

The spook had reached the sword, then gone away.  "It went upstairs, but we know what's there already .. a deserted building.  I say we press on down this corridor."

The bony-legged trot skidded to a halt as Chomper grabbed onto the old Seeker's hem.

"Let me go you carrion-eating mongrel!" Regdoc directed at his guard dog. He noticed a wave from the younger priest then, and he relaxed somewhat.

Adjusting his demeanor, the ancient cleric hobbled back toward the rest of the group. "A-herrrrm... Yes, yes it appears as if the Wandering One heard my oration after all, must have taken a bit to rise through the stone ceiling... Hmmph! Typical spook, just trying to get a bit of attention... noisy bugger!"

Finding his place in line once more, and yanking the aged fabric from Chomper's jowls, Regdoc was again ready to advance.

"Let us proceed." His eyes were a bit wild, but it was difficult to tell in the diminished lantern light if the condition was any greater than normal.

Iffy stands, pressed against the wall almost petrified "For the sake of God, who... what... why... what was that?"
Her face is pale, and her voice, usually free from emotion, sounds shrill and shaken, her eyes wide open "Is it... gone? Will it return?".

But now that the "thing" looks actually gone, the flood of fear retreats from her; what is left behind is just the embarrassment about the previous uncontrolled display of weakness, and for Iffy this is usually very quick to turn into anger.

She tries to recompose herself and she succeeds, barely. "Seriously guys, what was that thing? Why did it appear to us? Was it you?" she looks at Yagi frowning, "Did you... call it? You were mumbling something before. Was it for that?"

"Bravo!  Bravo, old man.  I was just about to begin to wander about your wondering god."  The pixie bursts out in laughter at his own pun.

Iffy, lets have a look at the place that thing came out of. I think its right about there. as Amalrik points a few steps ahead, letting out a ragged breathe. He scratches his head over what spirits will do. He wipes his sweaty hands to dry them off, re-grips his sword and carefully edges along the cavern wall towards the entry point ...

"Well, the ghost went up for a reason." Creston steps over to where the ghost when through the ceiling and looks straight up. "Chances are, either there's a door of some kind, or there used to be. Old as this place is, the latter is more likely, but it wouldn't hurt to give this spot a good tapping with a long stick."

Creston taps on that spot with whatever stick comes to reach. If nothng else is at hand, he'll use his bow.

In reply to Creston Fairwood (msg # 66):

"Oh? Right. You can use this. Be my guest. You're welcome." Sasar hands over the Ten Foot Pole to Creston.

Seeing how there was a gamut of reactions to the spectre, from fear to anger, Brodd recites some lessons while people poke and prod the air and stone around them.  Hopefully they'd feel better with a little knowledge.

"Some undead are not powerful enough to cross the Aether and harm us," he recites.  "Their energy to manifest -uhm, so we can see them - is all they can do.  They go through walls and seem to fly because they aren't really here in the material world."

"Others are more hateful and dangerous, the more famous examples like the vampires and liches of the world, the wights and so on.  They live here in the same world as us.  All are cursed beings, but not all cursed beings mean harm.  I don't know what it wanted.  It may come back, patrolling this haunted hallway forever for some reason until exorcised properly."

"The sword has to have meaning, it can't be a coincidence it went up right at this spot," Brodd goes on and he asks to see the blade.  As a proper priest he had taken a sacred oathe never to use an edged implement to shed blood, so handling it makes him uncomfortable.

Examine shortsword, looking for hidden runes or any clue

It bears the same symbol for the Carter's Guild that the skeleton in the other room had on his ledger.

In reply to Brother Brodd (msg # 69):

"Thanks, I know nothing of such things" Iffy says after listening to Brodd's explanation, "and I prefer dealing with the living, to be honest." She takes a look at the ceiling, all emotions apparently gone. "Can we move from here? What are we searching, other ghosts? I'd rather look for some piece of gold or, even better, a way out. Both would be ideal."

"See, Mistah Wong!" as Yagi points to the now disappearing apparition, "Dis place be all kind of creepy crawling wit dem spirits too, com'on Thud don't get too far away. Dis be some scary stuff."

The human skull stares back at the goblin with hollow eye sockets and no expression on it's face.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 01:28, Thu 24 Jan 2019.

"Probably smelled goblin-breath..." Regdoc muttered to Chomper.

"Well, let's poke around in the space beyond while the apparition is coming to grips with the Wanderer's Influence... Lead on Iffy. There's no gold here in the hall. Take the weapon if you choose."

In reply to Regdoc (msg # 73):


(I have the sword)

"Well, I think we should move forward... nothing to gain by staying here..."

And Manaku will move foward

As Iffy examines the ceiling, she notices something unusual. Prying with a dagger she flips open a long compartment in the ceiling, covered by a metal plate painted to match the stone and hanging by a hinge. At either end of the compartment above the ceiling, about four feet apart, are two chains wrapped around small wheels. It looks to be the same sort of craftsmaship for the crane up on the roof. The chains stretch further down above the hallway into the darkness of the crawlspace.

All Brodd can think of are the kinds of machines that work drawbridges and portcullis.  "Either a gate opened, or closed when we heard the noise.  Let's find out."

To Iffy's point, they were not down here to find anything beyond a safe space to wait until the fire was safely doused and they could leave.  Whatever gold might be found, well that was not going to missed by skeletons.  Still, looting the place wasn't the plan.

In reply to DM (msg # 67):

Thanks. This pole looks more than long enough to reach.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 01:50, Fri 25 Jan 2019.

"Alright, Lets get moving, shall we? I want to see how far this tunnel goes. Gate or no gate."

"I agree. There doesn't seem to be anything here any more. Maybe the stairs used to be here, but not any more."

Creston resumes his place at rear guard.

"We just don't want that apparition to poltergeist something down at us from behind." Regdoc stated sagely. "If any of you have a wedge or a spike, that might be a good place to locate one... jam things up a bit."

Nodding his agreement, he patted the head of his trusted guard dog and motioned for the party to proceed.

Amalrik takes his place beside Iffy. Or if the tunnel is too narrow, right behind her.

Iffy glances at the contraption, and then in the darkness ahead. "The sooner we move away from here, the better."
She starts again wearing a bold face, but not displeased at all to hear Almarik walking close to her.

Once they have explored this corridor, Brodd asks everyone for a decision about staying down here longer or trying to leave the winery proper and getting back on track.

Open lands and sunshine.

The party begins their march down the corridor. The screeching begins again. The clinking of chains are louder. Since Iffy left the door to the crawlspace open it's plain to most of you that the chains in the mechanisms in there are what's the cause of the racket.

And AGAIN the apparition descends from the ceiling at the end of the hallway and glides slowly towards the Exemplars!

In reply to The Appariton (msg # 85):

"Here it comes again!" Sasar says and presses his back against the corridor wall again.

"I'm seriously starting to favor an idea of returning back to sunshine and open air. This creature gives me creeps. Our goal is finding the Princess - not down here but above, away from underground corridors, and among the living..."

"Agreed," says Brodd.  He is nervously watching the spook and ready to defend the party if it proves hostile and does not just ascend back into the ceiling.  If it was a cursed haunt, though, it may just repeat this 'behaviour' forever.

Question:
Where are we on this map?  I can't figure it out.
https://drive.google.com/file/...or9yZv04m8x0ODT/view

If our characters look ahead, down the corridor, what do they see?

Regdoc's eyes widened at the return of the apparition. His feet immediately turned in the direction of flight, as they had earlier, but the blessing of having lived a long and eventful life in the service of the Wandering God was a sizeable helping of skepticism... or perhaps the foolery of an elderly mind.

Whatever the case, the body, gnarled old hand clutched at the collar of his faithful hound. The Seeker stood then facing the apparition.

"You're not real. You're not even a ghost."

And though every instinct in him said to flee once more and leave these fools to their demise... Regdoc stood his ground in defiance, a suspicion worming its way into his consciousness.

You again ?? Amalrik steps back against the wall, grips his sword for use if the thing approaches close enough to swing at it. It has space to peaceably wander on by ...

"Hey, wadda minit, Mistah Wong says he sees no spirits down here!

"Not real? You mean, an illusion?  Sasar?"

Lectures on magic at the seminary were limited to the benefits of healing and the horrors of necromancy with little left over aside from general 'ones does not summon devils', 'friendly fireballs are not friendly' and 'illusions aren't real'.  Hopefully Sasar knew more.

Possible to make a save at this point to detect illusion?

In reply to Brother Brodd (msg # 91):

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Brod. I have no idea what this is. My master, um, he hasn't trained me in this area of Arcanum yet, other than general theory... The thing has done nothing at us yet, so I can't dismiss a possibility it in fact is an illusion. Triggered by our presence or movement in this area, perhaps.

In any case, we should proceed. Only then we can learn more."

As the Apparition passes you realize that it's a flat, clear object suspended from the ceiling by two chains pulling it forward. The glowing figure is somehow a part of the glass.

Eron flies up to the contraption and examines it closely.  He then laughs hysterically at it.  "Yippee!  With a device like this, there must be something worth finding here.  I say we push on.  Only the finest vintage deserves such protections."

So, not an illusion.  Not a deadly trap.  Some kind of ancient device to scare away interlopers before the whole place was abandoned and forgotten.  "Very odd," is all Brodd can say.

As they continue forward, checking for real traps and listening for noises of real foes, the young priest begins to wonder if this was not more of a test than anything else.  Perhaps something was watching them (somehow, magic was like that) and trying to decide if they were clever enough (brave enough?) to endure.

Between the thief and the elves and the dwarf, they find no further surprises as you continue down the corridor, until you come to the end of the hallway. Your travels are cut short by an solid iron door, and this one is very secure in its frame. There is no lock mechanism.

However, there is a sort of metal shelf to the right of it at shoulder level. About the size of a packing crates for one of the finer bottles that you saw above, with the front lid removed.

Eron inspects the shelf and comments, "If they want us to put our bottles in there to enter the alcohol-free zone beyond that door, they're sadly mistaken."

Regdoc let out a huge sigh as it was discovered that the horror was, in fact, nothing more than a clever construct.

"Praise the One whose Boots gather daily dust from His travels along the Never-ending Way!"

The oldster readjusted his gear and then approached the locked door.

He looked up into the ceiling and down at the floor to see if there might be any indication that something unpleasant might happen to them should the correct means of opening not be discovered or employed.

Inside the shelf you see what appears to be a grid, four squares across and five squares down. Looks like it might have been one of the plaques from the printing press in the previous room.

Creston tries to make out what the plaque says.

It's blank, there are no letter blocks in it.

Sasar moves at the door, studying it closely to see if there is a handle of any kind and which way it opens on its hinges.

"Is it trapped?"

Regdoc scratched absently at his chin. Suddenly his aged eyes widened a bit and then narrowed slightly. He began to look around for a dusty corner wherein he might gather a handful.

OOC: Any fine dust around to collect?

Regdoc slides his hand across a wall, and his fingers gather an expected layer of dust and grime. Maid service is lacking in this dungeon.

And so he began to gather it in his gnarled hand, going for the finer particles and the lightest, driest dust he could find. After a few moments of such efforts, he approached the strange grid and gently began to blow the dust from his hand across it. If his expectation was correct, then perhaps fine bits of dust would cling to the places on the grid which were most customarily used.

"Might give us an idea of where to start..." he grunted to any questioning glances.

The dust seems to settle equally inside the shelf, though you can vaguely make out different shapes inside each square where it touches the wall.

Brodd comes closer to inspect the shelf before returning to his spot in the middle of the order.  He has no mind for puzzles or contraptions and hopes the cleverest among them can figure this out.

Is the grid in the bottom of the shelf or in one of the three walls of the shelf?

Amalrik backs away from the door so the others can babble about it. He keeps an eye to the rear.

The grid is basically part of the wall. Think of the shelf as protecting the operator from having others watch what he's doing with the grid, like the shields they put around modern ATM keyboards.

Yagi watches the party try to open the door, "I donna know what dey be doing Mistah Wong, dat door seems to not want to open."

The fetish stares back with empty sockets at the shaman.

"Iffing you ask me, my money is on da door."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:50, Mon 04 Feb 2019.

Well now, Amalrik is willing to give the door a shoulder bash or two, but iron does not come apart like a wooden one would.  He looks to see if anyone has a crow bar or such ...

In reply to Amalrik (msg # 111):

"Don't look at me. I'm not touching that door."

"Is it locked, or stuck?" Brodd looks around, seeing the intent of Amalrik, says "I have no bar, only my cudgel."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:23, Tue 05 Feb 2019.

Yagi snickers and then looks at Mistah Wong trying to hold in another snicker.

The door does not budge.

No crowbars and the door does not budge. Not even Iffy has a crowbar ?? Sad, very sad.

Amalrik gives the wall surrounding the door frame a look-over. Any wall weakness that could be used, poor or crumbling construction ?? Loose stones ?? Open Says-a-me !! he roars out defiantly.

If nothing happens, he shrugs his shoulders. And returns to watching the rear.

Brother Brodd snickers a little seeing the barbarian 'command' the door to open.

Sasar taps his lips with one slender finger, thinking hard.

“Hmm. No handle, no lock, and the door is sturdy and strong. The plaque could be part of the opening mechanism. It must be, there is nothing else here...

Iffy, you took the printing plates from the printing press room, right? Those small metallic backward letters? Perhaps they can be used on the grid to form, erm, a password or passphrase? The problem is; what word?”

The wizard shrugs, puzzled and awaiting better suggestions. He leans forward, lifts the lantern for optimal light and studies the grid intently, trying to see if he can spot any trace or hint of what squares have been used and what the word could be.

The grid is 4 x 5, so it would be five words of four letters each across, or four words of five letters each going down.

"Hey hooman, is Wong a four letter word?"

"I can think of several words of varying length to describe a goblin bone-mutterer like yourself!" Regdoc snarled at Yagi.

"Iffy. Would you amuse me by bringing that pouch of letters you pocketed? Yes, I saw you take it. We might try aligning them into this grid. With a little luck, and the help of your younger eyes, perhaps we can find a combination to open this portal..."

OOC: Regdoc will assist Iffy in trying to get any of the typeset to fit into the grid.

[DM puppeting on Iffy's behalf]



She stood there motionless a moment, then grudgingly passed the scruffy cleric the sac of letters.

"I want them back when you're done," She responds with a straight face. "I must have the I's. And the F's. And sometimes the Y's."

Regdoc nodded and took the small bag of letters from the young scoundrel. He sorted out a few in his gnarled hand and then checked to see if he could manipulate them into the grid in some fashion. Granting that there were more combinations than he could even comprehend, he relied upon the wisdom of the Wandering God to aid him.

"Eron... what's it say on your bottle? Perhaps that will give us a place to begin..."

Eron pulled our his bottle and examined it, reading the label aloud to the others.

OOC: DM, it's your call.

Brodd looks on intently, trying to be helpful even though he was helpless in the situation.

The wizard continues to tap his lips with one gnarly finger.

"The signpost read: 'ARBADAC WINERY' but that's not 4x5 letters by any means... It could literally be anything! What about the book titles we saw?"

One side of the label mentions the vintage, all so fancy hand drawn you can barely make it out. The other side was pressed with the typefaces you have, apparently, and includes instructions for keeping the contents fresh.

Keep the CORK in. Pour by the NECK. Store the BODY its side in a cold dark place with the PUNT facing you. Turn the HEEL halfway every month.

</quote>
Keep the CORK in. Pour by the NECK. Store the BODY its side in a cold dark place with the PUNT facing you. Turn the HEEL halfway every month.
</quote>

"Well, there are five four letter words there. Try those in that order, please."

Brother Brodd nods hopefully, lending his support as best he can.

[spell the letters out in a grid pattern please]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:47, Fri 08 Feb 2019.

"That's interesting, isn't it?"  Eron moves forward to try to place the letters in the following order.

CORK
NECK
BODY
PUNT
HEEL

As Eron places the last key in place, he hears a whirring sound, then a spring behind the keys pushes them all out in the pixie’s face, spilling them all over the floor before pulling back in place.

In reply to DM (msg # 132):

Creston helps Eron look for the spilled keys.

Brodd helps find the keys on the floor.

Regdoc swiped a hand through his white hair and glared at the contraption. "Have we gotten it backwards?" He pondered out loud.

"Perhaps it needs to go in backwards as that's how yonder machine seems to work. And maybe we're supposed to put a plate or something behind it... Arrange it thusly, and I'll go look for a plate that might fit."

KROC
KCEN
YDOB
TNUP
LEEH

The old cleric gave his suggested instructions and then called to Chomper to accompany him in looking for something to use as backing. Upon returning he shrugged.

"Well, it's worth a try," he said.

"Perhaps dem letters spell sumptin else, maybe you mix dem up and come up wit noo words?"

In reply to Yagi (msg # 136):

"I didn't think the passage in the book made sense. Perhaps the words are in the wrong order. The instructions certainly seem to be."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 02:27, Mon 11 Feb 2019.

Regdoc glanced up at Creston, giving him a look that - for once - was one of genuine interest rather than contempt or dismissal.

"What do you mean? Wrong order? I'll admit I'm not a bibber. The Road is much too long for such silliness..."

Creston and Brother Brodd manage to recover the keys. Is someone going to try the reverse order?

"Me and Mistah Wong want to help de hoomans, but we don't spell so good."

OOC: @DM - Yes, that was the intent.

With a series of loud clangs and squeaks, the iron door slowly opens, the glow of continual light from within revealing a chamber inside with a workbench, a metal chair, and a steel chest.

[3 XP bonus for those who helped solve the puzzle. Sorry Yagi and Amalrik!]

This message was deleted by the player at 18:43, Mon 11 Feb 2019.

"Well done! Well done!"

Sasar peeks in the chamber with eager anticipation.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:45, Mon 11 Feb 2019.

Brodd grunts and nods his approval at how things worked out. "Blessed be the gods!"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:51, Mon 11 Feb 2019.

"I was an acolyte, ages ago, from time to time the Wandering One reminds me of this. Lessons of youth, tempered with experience. Footsteps on a forever Path onward..." Religious acknowledgement in a cryptic and ambiguous fashion - though sincere.

Regdoc entered the room and took a look around. "Someone went to a lot of effort to keep this room secure. Let's see if we can discover why."

Brodd begins searching around the room, touching nothing but looking carefully at everything trying to glean it's purpose.

Amalrik enters the room, stands near the center and watches as the others search about. He prepares himself to run to aid anyone who needs it. So many people though ...

Yagi gives a nod of approval,"Hey, Mistah Wong, dem hoomans maybe smarter den dey look!"

"Well, that seems to have worked. I'd never cork a bottle before filling it, though."

I may cork an empty bottle when done with the contents. Amalrik also checks the floor and ceiling. Someone keep that entry door open, in case we need to leave quickly.

Brodd checks out the steel chest first, "Can anyone check this for traps and check to see if it is locked? Meanwhile, I'll search the workbench."

In reply to Brother Brodd (msg # 152):

The workbench contains the dusty remains of a wizard's study.

There are three flagons on the bench. One contains a light blue fluid, one a yellowish fluid, and the other a black fluid.

There's also a miniature ship in a clear glass bottle on a special stand, with a sealed cork.

"Potions and a ship in a bottle, is it all magical I wonder?" Casts Detect Magic and holds concentration for a moment waiting for the chest to be opened as well.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:18, Thu 14 Feb 2019.

The potions and the ship in the bottle are all magical. The ship especially so.

"Hmmmm, it is all magic, the ship especially glows of magic!"

In reply to Brother Brodd (msg # 156):

"Then don't even think about unkorking that bottle in here. We'd all be crushed to death."

Brodd smiles and nods, "agreed, it would expand right here and destroy us all."

Eron smiles at the ship and stares at it in wonder.  "I wonder if there are miniature pirates on it singing bawdy songs.  That would be the best, wouldn't it?  Let's take the stuff and go."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:14, Thu 14 Feb 2019.

"Do we have a person skilled with locks and such in our group to check the chest?" Brother Brodd asks as he checks out the chair as well, though not expecting anything there, no sense in leaving a stone not overturned though.

Regdoc nudged Iffy. "She has..." he said succinctly.

The old man made a hand gesture at the ship as if warding evil. Devout followers of the Wandering God seldom traveled by boat or ship, preferring to feel their diety's influence through trodding on natural stone, sand, and earth upon their never-ending Path.

"I don't know. That looks like an Iffy task, to me."

She was here just a moment ago. Darn sneek-abouts ... Amalrik looks about, expecting her to slide down a rope or glide across the room on some chandelier ...

"If you're relying on Iffy, that's rather iffy...."  Eron laughs loudly at his own joke and is on the verge on choking before he stops.  "Let's just open it and see, shall we?"  He proceeds to open the chest without any precautions.

Brodd assists Eron with opening the chest.

Thud stays, oh, a good thirty feet away from the chest. "Either they get it open or die in a burst of flame. Or maybe they get changed into squirrels. If it's squirrels, we don't eat 'em. Not even if you're hungry. Got me, friends?" He then turns back to Yagi and grins. "So, just stay behind me like y'have."

Squirrels are just appetizers ... Amalrik places his shield in front of him as they move towards the chest.

Yagi licks her lips at the mention of squirrel, some squirrel stew would hit the spot right now.

You'd even think that the fetish smiled too.

Thud shakes his head. "No, no. NOT appetizers if they're polymorphed friends! Get me?"

Einhard takes a step back from the chest, fully expecting an explosion or an onslaught of squirrels.

"What are you guys doing?...Get back before something bad happens and let me check it out...Girl can't even step out for a minute...By the way be careful where you step further down the hall."

Iffy steps forward to check things out after giving everything a good looking over.


OOC
20:10, Today: Iffy rolled 16 using 1d100.  Find traps.

This message was last edited by the player at 01:11, Tue 19 Feb 2019.

Brodd steps back to let Iffy in to the chest.

Thud also moves a good little ways away.

Iffy finds no evidence of traps. Just a standard lock.

"You got this Iffy? I'm no good with locks except to break them."

In reply to Brother Brodd (msg # 175):

"Yea, give me a minute."

Iffy's tongue sticks out as she concentrates on opening the lock with her tools.


OOC
10:34, Today: Iffy rolled 45 using 1d100.  Open locks.

This message was last edited by the player at 15:42, Tue 19 Feb 2019.

Darn it! You just can't get those tumblers to line up!

"Anyone have a hammer?"

"You're gonna need that hammer, this one's not gonna open the easy way."

"I think I saw a wooden mallet back by the printing press. It would probably break before the lock would break, but it counts as a hammer."

Regdoc advanced, his old bones achy, and with a look of resignation on his face, he suggested, "Let's take it with us for now. Perhaps we'll find a key later on and save ourselves the trouble of breaking whatever it is that's obviously worth protecting inside."

"Do you see any hidden doorways or caches within this chamber Iphrenia?" he asked the thief.

"Let's get going. There's another hallway across the way."


OOC: May I propose we skip a week's worth of "CharacterX gets in line to leave the room" and just proceed? If Iffy finds something, great, but if not, let's advance without it taking a month to get to the next room. :->   Yes, my Regdoc is showing...

[Iffy, and ye elves, do your secret door search thing]

Brodd exits the room to get out of the way and waits to proceed.

In reply to DM (msg # 182):

((10:25, Today: Creston Fairwood rolled 5 using 1d6+4 ((1)). ))

[That should have been either a 1 in 6 like a classic elf or a D20 roll like a DCC elf, but I'll go with the 1d6]

Creston finds a hidden compartment in the desk, which when the right amount of pressure is applied to the sides of the desk, opens to reveal an iron key.

Thud does a little dance. "Now, why didn't we do that before Iffy had to do all that work? Give it here, I'lll open it."

Sasar nods solemnly, though his eyes are a bit distracted. By what? Who could say?

It's clear that the drunken pixie's senses have been dulled by his penchant for strong drink.  He seems to be busy finding the pockets on his person.

OOC:  Not that it's needed, but I'm not going to pass up a change to roll in a slow game.  12:01, Today: Eron Windblade rolled 6 using 1d6.  secret doors.

"Dem hoomans, way too complicated. Yagi would smash it with a hammer."

"I don't have a hammer Yagi, just a club. You have a hammer?"

"Hence the reason Yagi and her kind do not have nice things..." Regdoc muttered.

"Nicely done Creston. He Who Makes Dust On Lonely Paths must have inspired me to mention it. Let it be said that the Wandering God has been here!"

Eron jumps on the desk until another drawer opens. He kneels down to look inside and falls in, and the drawer slams shut again, trapping him inside.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:01, Thu 21 Feb 2019.

Brodd rolls his eyes and laughs at Eron until he realizes he is trapped inside the desk. Then he starts searching for a way to open the drawer.

A normal person might have been panicked, but Eron wasn't sure that his particular situation wasn't a delusion of some sort from a bad batch.  So, he was still calm...at least, for the moment.  But, just in case, he tried to get his sword out to poke his way out.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:08, Thu 21 Feb 2019.

Nope, it’s too cramped and there’s some tube thing pressing against your back.

Sasar rolls his eyes, sighs and goes to get the pixie out of the drawer.

Amalrik just shakes his head. A smile fleetingly passes his lips.

Einhard smiles as well.  "Find anything in there?" he asks as he waits for the pixie to be extricated.

Sasar can't find a handle or anything of the sort.

Thud walks over, his brow furrowed. "Iffy, come on over here, please. See if you can get this open!"

Izzy comes closer to the desk, "Let me look at that."


OOC
I don't know what this falls under...
19:00, Today: Iffy rolled 5 using 1d100.  Not exactly sure.

"Try tilting the desk forward and shaking it. Maybe the drawers will fall out."

[Open Locks successful! 1XP reward for Iffy!]

Iffy remembers how the pixie jumped on the desk and slams her fists down in the same places in the same sequence.

Eron spills out onto the floor with the drawer, along with a covered tube the size of a human forearm and as wide as your fist, made from birch bark.

"And we were so close to having rid ourselves of that bug..." Regdoc grumbled to his guard dog.

Chomper looked up at him, cocked his head to one side and simply snorted, causing a puff of dust to rise. He didn't seem to have much of an opinion on the matter.

"So the apparition was to help discourage anyone from entering the chamber... clever. There's likely more to be found down here. Let's keep moving."

"Shall we move out again, Eron, you best be more careful, or you'll be staying here forever."

Iffy gives the room another once over.


OOC
09:16, Today: Iffy rolled 62 using 1d100.  Search the room.

This message was last updated by the player at 14:23, Sat 23 Feb 2019.

"Hey, Mistah Wong, if it had been a couple of brownies instead of a pixie, we could have had a box of brownies."

Yagi snorts and snickers at her own joke , thinking it hilarious and slaps Thud on the back.

Mistah Wong is silent, obviously it's not that funny.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:22, Sat 23 Feb 2019.

The pixie was trying to open up the tube that he had been trapped with.  As Yagi's remark, he looks up and shakes his head in disapproval.  "I don't know why you would want a box of brownies.  They aren't nice and are quite mean spirited in their pranks, if you ask me."

Sasar nods in satisfaction, but then moves up to look at the tube, curious about its contents.

The top comes off easily. There appears to be a scroll curled up inside.

Eron pull out the scroll and examines it with keen interest.

Brother Brodd looks over the pixies shoulder and reads the scroll as well

It appears to be in arcane scribble. Read Magic may be required.

"Hmmm, it appears to be something I can't read, can't help with it."

Sasar, who was holding the tube when Eron pulled it away, yanks it away from Eron. "I will be assisting with that, thank you." He clears his throat, waves his fingers above the scroll and utters a command....

Cast Read Magic!

After perusing the document, Sasar clears his throat. "This is a single-use arcane document with a simple incantation which increases the size of plants. I shall hold onto this until it is useful." He stashes it in his backpack.

Meanwhile, something in Thod's head is beginning to clear.

Though maybe just beginning.

18:39, Today: Thud rolled 14 using 1d20.  saving throw vs. Charmed.

Einhard doesn't pretend to understand the business with the scroll.  Instead he helps with examining the rest of the room, especially the ceiling, for any further unpleasantries.

While Thud stands there for a moment, smiling and while watching his best friend Yagi talk to her skull on a stick, a creeping feeling sets in that maybe she likes the stick more than him.

In this moment of a doubt, the clouds seem to part in his mind. And suddenly, he realizes he's been wasting his time fawning over a goddam goblin, and a looney goblin at that!

However.....and this is a big however.....Thud is a clever halfling. He would let this revelation sit for a bit.

He responded to Sasar with a shrug. "Grand. Now that we know what it is, where are we going next, eh?" He favors the goblin with a grin to keep up his act.

Eron is fuming at the treatment that he was getting from the novice wizard.  After all, he was the one opening the tube when the large human pushed his weight around and shoved the smaller pixie aside.  "Give me that tube back, thieving old man!"

Amalrik goes back to checkout the hallway, where-ever we were before entering this room. Left, right, up, down. Then a gulp from the waterskin. Wasn't there supposed to be princess or such around here ??

Einhard follows Amalrik into the hall, still looking for unpleasantness.

Yagi is completely oblivious to Thud's re-awakening, playing with Mistah Wong like one of those toys in Karate Kid.

Mistah Wong is not happy.

Iffy heads out to the hallway after not really finding anything in the secret room.

[DM as Manaku]

Manaku peers over Creston's shoulder into the drawer at the iron key.

"Cold iron, you cannot touch for your lineage, right?

Manauku pulls the key out of the drawer and steps over to the chest, getting on one knee to unlock it.

"It fits! Moment of truth!"

He lifts the lid. He smiles wide as he lifts out a hefty tome.

"We found the spellbook! It's filled with gold, too! And a small velvet bag!"

Knowing that it would irk Sasar more, Eron drops his argument with the wizard and flies over to the tome to secure its possession.  He then sticks his tongue out and blows a raspberry at him.  "Pfffffbbbbtttt"

Are you going to try and wrest it from Manaku's grasp?

OOC: Eron is rudely trying to get it from Manaku.

Manaku hugs the tome to his chest, turning his body to put it between the book and the pixie's grasping hands. "Careful!" he scolds. "You'll get your dust all over it. I'll hold on to it for now."

"You want that power for yourself!  I can see the greed in your beady red eyes, Manaku."

"Greed? Certainly not," Manaku said with a coy grin. "I just think it will be safest with me."

Amarik offers Einhard a swig from his waterskin. Genuine troll sweat, good for whatever ails you. And if nothing is wrong with you, why you'll feel even better.

Sasar does not release the scroll to anyone. "You will release the scroll for growing plants now," he says mildly but firmly.

Eron looks back the crazed wizard shouting at whoever was still trying to claim the scroll.  Then, he sees no one and tells the wizards, "Whatever you're drinking is some strong stuff.  Can I have some?"

[Let's assume Eron was still holding onto the scroll with one hand while he's reaching for Manaku's spellbook]

A harmonic dual-snoring sound came from the hall where Chomper and Regdoc had fallen asleep waiting for the others.

"ZZZZZZ - zzzzzoof!"


_{OOC: See how subtle that was?}

"The old man and his dog are asleep, shall we move on and leave him to his rest?" Brother Brodd asks with a huge dumb grin on his face.

The two are rudely awoken by the screech of the fake-ghost mechanism triggering again. Regdoc gets to see the large glass plate rotate downwards and the figure within change from two to three dimensions as it rotates. It doesn't really look like the "back" of the ghost, more of a mirrored reflection of the front view as it withdraws from the Wanderer and his perturbed pooch.

"Terrific contraption that..." The oldster said, marveling at what he'd legitimately believed to have been a restless spirit.

He shuffled, along with Chomper, further along the opposite hallway. Apparently the Wandering God needed him to take the lead and show these youngsters the ropes.

With his flail at the ready, he let his feet be guided by the Seeker's focus of devotion. Whatever might impede his progress he'd deal with, either with his flail, with his wits, or with his trusted hound.


OOC: We've had a marching order in place already. No need to take several days posting about getting in line again. Let's assume a standard procedure for exploration with Iffy doing her thing in places like this and the rest of us jumping to her rescue when things go wrong. DM, what's the next point of interest or what options do we have as we continue exploring?

Iffy on point.

Amalrik behind Iffy with her on his left. If she needs a sudden shield shoved in front of her ...

Seconding what Regdoc said.

Brodd will travel in the line where they want him to.

Those in front can make out the ghostly image receding from them as it advances along its designed track.

It suddenly stops with an even worse grinding sound than before. Silhouettes of swarming humanoid figures block its view as they smash it over and over until it shatters.

A green cloud of dust spreads, coating the shambling figures with phosphorescence as they lurch down the hall towards you.

You have initiative.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:42, Mon 04 Mar 2019.

Brodd grasps his club tightly, preparing to defend himself against the hoard of undead!

Sasar moves to be behind the party so that these fell undead do not harm him!

In reply to Sasar (msg # 247):

Manaku nocks an arrow and raises his bow. Depending on the sort of undead, an arrow might not be of much help, but while they remained at a distance, it was worth a shot.

[roll to his and damage using the dice Roller, and copy the result in the reply. If you hit, the damage applies.]

In reply to DM (msg # 249):

14:06, Today: Manaku rolled 9 using 1d20+2.  To hit.
14:06, Today: Manaku rolled 3 using 1d6.  In case that's a hit, though I'm not counting on it!

"Chomper, sick'em!" Regdoc croaked as he brandished his flail. The dog, suddenly alert, launched forward and bit at one of the approaching creatures, there was a sickening crunching sound which made the oldster smile. Having the foe thusly held, Regdoc attempted to hit it with his flail. "Feel the wrath of the Wandering One!"


Regdoc Attack: Regdoc rolled 13 to hit AC6 (AC13 Ascending)
Flail Damage: Regdoc rolled 3

Chomper Attack: Regdoc rolled 18 to hit AC1 (AC18 Ascending)
Chomper Damage: Regdoc rolled 5

Manaku aims for one of the heads but the arrow flies too high.

Iffy tries to find some dark place and blend in.

Then she will attack the first creature that passes.


OOC
21:40, Today: Iffy rolled 5 using 2d4.  Damage.
21:40, Today: Iffy rolled 4 using 1d20.  Attack / Backstab.
21:38, Today: Iffy rolled 2 using 1d100.  Hide in shadows.

This message was last edited by the player at 02:41, Tue 05 Mar 2019.

"In the name of Blessed Boccob, turn vile creatures, back to the nine hells!"

08:32, Today: Brother Brodd rolled 5 using 2d6. damage.
08:32, Today: Brother Brodd rolled 16 using 1d20. turn check.

Yagi will hide behind Mistah Wong.

The Cleric of the Trail lunges forward, the iron bar on his chain smacks solidly into one of the creatures.

He is the first to get a close look at throng of a dozen abominations. In addition to the glowing matter that leaked onto them from the destroyed contraption, he sees that these creatures - that were once human as well as goblin - have vinelike tendrils running through their bodies and connecting each other in a tight crowd.

As Regdoc swings high, Chomper goes low, ripping at the leg of the same foe.

The creature's neck cracks at a savage angle, and Chomper's tugging at its flesh rips the humanoid off balance. It still writhes, not yet entirely dispatched.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:15, Tue 05 Mar 2019.

The good news - Iffy finds a support beam to conceal herself behind.

The bad news - Her strike fails fails to connect. Several of the creatures turn on her as she gives away her position.

[Future reference: Cleric rolls 2d6 both for attempting the turn and for number of Hit Dice turned.]

Brother Brodd bravely brandishes the sacred solar symbol of his sanctified sect.

But the shambling mob is as unaffected by the display of faith as they are by the DM's alliteration skills.

This message was deleted by the player at 19:56, Tue 05 Mar 2019.

As Amalrik places his shield against the wall, he sees Iffy make her attack. He roars with rage, going Berserk and calling forth Crom, the True One. He rushes towards those now attacking Iffy swinging his 2 handed sword ... Amazingly, he does not hit the tunnel ceiling with it.

20:20, Today: Amalrik rolled 11 using 1d20+4.  Amarik - To Hit, Berserk.  20:16, Today: Amalrik rolled 8 using 1d10+4.  Amalrik - to Hit, Berserk.  20:16, Today: Amalrik rolled 9 using 1d10+2.  Amalrik - Damage roll.

Sorry, tripped over a loose rock when initially rolling a D10 to hit ... Too much excitement I guess.

To Hit = 11 on the D 20.

Damage = 9

Thud is so startled by the fell appearance of these beings that his first shot at them goes wide!

07:00, Today: Thud rolled 4 using 1d20+2.  Bow at undead!

One trains in fighting in cramped spaces. A crouch just before the final swing means only a few sparks as the tip of the mighty blade scrapes against the ceiling and cleaves a vine-zombie in twain, a gruesome mix of sinews and wooden tendrils snapping apart as it the mindless thing collapses.

Crom is smiling this day.

Yet another arrow misfires, clattering against the wall and falling.

In reply to DM (msg # 263):

Creston takes careful aim, trying to be sure he pokes a hole in a zombie, not in a barbarian.


((19:17, Today: Creston Fairwood rolled 14,5 using d20+3,d6.  Arrow.))

The safest place to aim while Amalrik swings his sword wildly is low, and the zombie struck by Regdoc and his dog gets an arrow to the eyesocket just as it was rising back up.

[Zombies = 10]

The little pixie tries to stay away from the zombie and throws one of his spears at the oncoming horde.

OOC:
11:02, Today: Eron Windblade rolled 3 using 1d4-1.  damage.
11:02, Today: Eron Windblade rolled 11 using 1d20+3.  attack.

The pixie's spear lodges in the side of one zombie's neck, and it lurches onward.

Einhard steps forward and raises his spear. He thrusts the spearpoint into the torso of one of the plant-zombies so it lodges squarely in its chest. There is no blossom of heart's blood as one would suspect with a living foe. He draws his axe and raises his shield, preparing for a fight in close quarters.




08:44, Today: DM, on behalf of Einhard, rolled 13 using 1d20+1.
08:45, Today: DM, on behalf of Einhard, rolled 2 using 1d8+1.

Brodd swings his club.

09:47, Today: Brother Brodd rolled 1 using 1d6. damage.
09:47, Today: Brother Brodd rolled 14 using 1d20. to hit.

A decent wallop to the head of the zombie with Einhard's spear lodged in its chest. Sadly, it might have done more damage if the zombie were actually using that brain. Hmm.

The zombies flail about wildly as the vines that bind them together try to manipulate them like a jumble of tangle marionettes. Luckily for the Exemplars, puppetry does not seem to be the Unseen master's strong suit, save for one horrid creature hurling itself against the Barbarian.


10:15, Today: DM, for the NPC Zombie 6, rolled 5 using 1d20.  Attacking Iffy.

10:13, Today: DM, for the NPC Zombie 5, rolled 20 using 1d20.  Attacking Amalrik.

10:12, Today: DM, for the NPC Zombie 4, rolled 6 using 1d20.  Attacking Amalrik.

09:54, Today: DM, for the NPC Zombie 3, rolled 11 using 1d20. Attacking Brodd.


10:19, Today: DM, for the NPC Zombie, rolled 1 using 1d8.  Biting Amalrik.

The monster has wrapped his limbs as bonebreaking angles around Amalrik, it's rotten teeth biting through the hides and drawing blood from his shoulder!

Amalrik MUST drop his weapon and make a Strength role to rip the creature free next round!

How the hell did she end up in this situation?

She'd been told there was a winery out this way, and that was incentive enough to come out here.   Both to sample wares, as well as make some wealthy new acquaintances.   The place was far from what she'd expected --  a little exploring, and here she was watching a mob of roving cadavers (whom, as a whole, seemed not so different from some of the patrons she once served as a barmaid) attack a troupe of adventurey types.

She though very much about getting the hell out.  Nearly started to.   But then it occurred to her:   what if she met more of them alone-?    There was, at least, some strength in numbers...

They were not yet aware of her.   It gave her a chance to strike in that way she did best.

Alietra rolled 21 using 1d20+4.  backstab with sword.
Alietra rolled 6 using 1d8.  sword damage.  X2 = 12 damage total.

If I can get the one on Amalrik, I will.   If that's not possible, or too risky, then whichever target is nearest.   
This message was last edited by the player at 16:59, Mon 11 Mar 2019.

Ali is on the other end of the hallway. Even after she pushes her blade through the base of one zombie's skull and twists, dropping it like a stone, the Exemplars might still not be able to see her through the throng.

Aliestra's approach and attack was so perfect that the other zombies haven't even noticed her yet. She can backstab again next round.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:12, Mon 11 Mar 2019.

The old cleric swung at the nearest zombie, a wild and ineffective swipe, which missed. Thankfully, Chomper was there with snarls and ripping fangs! Regdoc's guard-dog... chomped (heh) the zombie. The sickening sound of bones crunching seemed to echo in the hall...

"Get'im boy! Good dog!" Regdoc encouraged, adding, "glad I didn't trade you for that war-duck back in Bridgewater..."

Regdoc Attack (Flail): Regdoc rolled 4 - Whiff!

Chomper Attack (Bite): Regdoc rolled 15 to hit AC2 (AC17 Ascending)
Chomper Damage: Regdoc rolled 7

Chomper tilts his fuzzy head and clamps on to the leg of the zombie that Brodd tapped previously. The mighty hound shakes his jowls wildly, smacking the creature against the stone wall over and over until its limbs scatter everywhere.

Good boy, Chomper!

Brodd swings again at the nearest zombie, but twists his foot and ankle on the debris on the floor, missing way wide!


13:31, Today: Brother Brodd rolled 3 using 1d20. to hit.

In reply to Brother Brodd (msg # 276):

[Hold your horses there, Brodd! You already thumped one, wait for next turn, :D ]

It was a good thing that Eron had a penchant for collecting weapons, but just now he needs another spear for the advancing zombie horde.  He pulls out another spear and aims it at the zombie grabbing onto Amalrik.  He was about to throw, but thinks better of it and picks another target.  It wouldn't do to puncture his drinking buddy after all.  He takes aim once more and the spear's flight is true....


10:59, Today: Eron Windblade rolled 3 using 1d4-1.  damage.
10:59, Today: Eron Windblade rolled 13 using 1d20+3.  attack.

Erin plunges his mighty pixie-spear into the calf muscle of one zombie.

Say, is one of those zombies in the back of the line lying down? Is it dead already?

The Pixie attacks low, and the Knight attacks high, swinging his hand-axe and divesting an undead foe's head from its shoulders.

14:10, Today: DM, on behalf of Einhard, rolled 12 using 1d20.  Attacking Z6.

14:10, Today: DM, on behalf of Einhard, rolled 7 using 1d8+1.  damaging Z6.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 18:12, Mon 11 Mar 2019.

Iffy, once again tries to hide from the vine zombies, and will attempt to backstab also.


OOC
16:35, Today: Iffy rolled 5 using 2d4.  Damage.
16:35, Today: Iffy rolled 13 using 1d20.  Attack / Backstab.
16:35, Today: Iffy rolled 36 using 1d100.  Hide in shadows.

This message was last edited by the player at 20:40, Mon 11 Mar 2019.

Yagi, feeling left out, decides to take a whack at one of the vine zombies, but will duck back behind someone or something when she can.


OOC
16:44, Today: Yagi rolled 1 using 1d4.  Damage.
16:44, Today: Yagi rolled 7 using 1d20.  Attack with dagger.

Yagi's actual attack is 6, she is -1 on STR.


This message was last edited by the player at 21:03, Mon 11 Mar 2019.

Not sure how a strength saving throw works ...

20:24, Today: Amalrik rolled 10 using 1d20+2.  Amalrik, Strength roll. Amalrik's Strength is 17.

But Amalrik, still berserk, tries to twist pushing it into the floor while he falls upon it. Damage unknown if successful.

[You can't jump into the shadows in the middle of combat. Roll non-backstab damage please.]

Yagi's pathetic stab is ineffective.

Amalrik with a savage yell rips the zombie off of his shoulder, hurling him against the wall.

In reply to DM (msg # 286):

Manaku nocks another arrow, his eyes narrowing as he attempts to make sense of the frenzied battle ahead of him. He selects a zombie on which he can get a clear shot without undue risk to his companions and lets fly an arrow.

Manaku rolled 16 using 1d20+2 ((14)). To hit zombie. Manaku rolled 6 using 1d6 ((6)). Damage.

A solid hit in the neck of one zombie would have felled a living man, it's slowed down, but still it shambles forward...

Amalrik vents forth a Hulkian roar of satisfaction ... Crom is being good today.

Thud also lets fly with another arrow into the dead flesh assaulting them!! With a shout of satisfaction, Thus observes that this one lands in a zombie.

Still behind the cover of the others; hits AC 20 for 5 hp.

13:58, Today: Thud rolled 5 using 1d6 with rolls of 5.  Damage.
13:58, Today: Thud rolled 20 using 1d20+2.  Arrow at undead!

Sasar stays safely back, letting the others do the dirty work here.

Brodd swings his club at the closest zombie!

14:08, Today: Brother Brodd rolled 3 using 1d6. damage.
14:07, Today: Brother Brodd rolled 8 using 1d20. to hit. I think I missed! Again! Dice roller HATES me in this game!

In a master shot that would put some elves to shame, you bury your arrow in the eyesocket of one of the abominations. It that crumples over, becoming part of the growing pile of its companions to once again become one with the soil.

Sometimes cowering behind one's associates is the better part of valor.

SWING BRUTHA BRUTHA SWIIIING!

;-P Razzberry!!! LOL.

In reply to DM (msg # 295):

Creston waits for another clean shot before adding another hole to a zombie.

((21:23, Today: Creston Fairwood rolled 4,2 using d20+3,d6 ((1,2)).))

Creston's arrow overshoots, narrowly missing Alietra  still stalking on the other side of the fray.

In reply to DM (msg # 298):

Riding high from the sight of his last arrow felling one of the zombies, Manaku laughs at the other elf's wild shot as he nocks his next. "Watch carefully," he jeers. "This is how it's done."

Manaku rolled 18 using 1d20+2 ((16)). Manaku rolled 3 using 1d6 ((3)).

The Exemplars have been lucky so far, cutting down half the shuffling mob's number with barely a scratch. But now luck seems to be running out...

09:18, Today: DM rolled 5,4 using d20,d8.  Z12 attacking Chomper.

A zombie crouches down to try and claw at Chomper, but the hound is far too nimble.

09:18, Today: DM rolled 15,6 using d20,d8.  Z10 attacking Brodd.

Another fiend pushes Brother Brodd's shield aside and bites into his shoulder.

09:18, Today: DM rolled 5,8 using d20,d8.  Z8 attacking Einhard.

Einhard's shield, however, does not falter and he easily keeps his attacker at bay.

09:17, Today: DM rolled 19,6 using d20,d8.  Z7 attacking Iffy.

Iffy screams as plant thing overpowers her. She collapses with the sick crunching of bone.

09:16, Today: DM rolled 7,6 using d20,d8.  Z5 attacking Amalrik.

The monster that clung to Amalrik hungers for more flesh, but cannot connect as the Barbarian lifts his claymore to a combat stance once more.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:27, Thu 14 Mar 2019.

Manaku arcs an arrow into the torso of the undead beast ripping at Iffy, but you fear it is too late...

Einhard deflects the zombie's attacks with his shield, then steps through to swing his handaxe toward it's ribs.

09:25, Today: Einhard rolled 6 using 1d20+1.  Attack Z8 with handaxe.

09:48, Today: DM rolled 13,3 using d20,d8.  Z7 attacking Regdoc.

A straggler zombie shuffles past the one feasting on Iffy and tries to tear its claws into Regdoc's flesh...
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:11, Thu 14 Mar 2019.

Thud's eyes go wide. "IFFY!! NO!!!" He keeps firing, hitting a zombie that someone else had hurt first to try and drop it.

Again with shortbow, hit AC 15 for 5 hp preferably on a wounded zombie.

09:59, Today: Thud rolled 5 using 1d6 with rolls of 5.  Damage.
09:59, Today: Thud rolled 15 using 1d20+2.  Avenging Iffy.

Sasar's face goes a bit green and he stays well away from the zombies...

Now with two arrows in its side, the wretched creature finally shivers and collapses over the fallen thief.

Seeing yet another party member fall, Einhard muttered to himself, "This wasn't the way it was supposed to happen. I didn't come out here to die."

Suddenly a new look came over the young Lord. A look of determination and inspiration. He raised his arm overheard, axe in hand, and shouted "Do not fail the Baron! For Masondain!"

"One cannot think like one will be defeated.  Always think of victory and glory."  Eron looks at the last of his spears and knew that he should have packed more.  With that final thought distracting him, he throws it...and it goes wide.

OOC:
09:28, Today: Eron Windblade rolled 3 using 1d4-1.  damage.
09:28, Today: Eron Windblade rolled 8 using 1d20+3.  attack.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 16:30, Thu 14 Mar 2019.

The old man's arm was nearly shattered as he desperately raised his shield to deflect a rushed attack by one of the zombies. Feeling the shock and hearing terrible snapping sounds, he was afraid to reopen his eyes! Upon doing so, he saw that his shield had taken the brunt of the damage, snapping and breaking and becoming nothing more than useless weight.

"The Wandering One have mercy upon you all," he said as he began backing away. It was clear to him now that they were in over their heads.

"Hold'em off Chomper." Regdoc gave the faithful hound a profound look of loss before he withdrew from the line of battle, waiting until the faithful hound attacked the nearest zombie, providing the oldster an opportunity.


Chomper bite attack - Regdoc rolled 16 using 1d20+1 to hit AC1
Chomper bite damage - Regdoc rolled 9

Regdoc sacrifices his shield to negate death damage and begins a Retreat using Chomper as interference to keep him from being attacked. Intent is to work his way to the back and, if the party hasn't been TPK'd yet, will attack with his sling next round if there are party members & Chomper to protect him.

With a bestial growl, Chomper leaps at the zombie's chest, pushing him down. Foaming jaws sink into the monster's throat until they reach bone. Chomper that was shakes his whole body savagely until the bone severs from the spinal cord, and the creature stops struggling.

Yagi watches as the party gets battered and feels a pang of loyalty towards them, "C'mon Mistah Wong, let's help."


OOC
18:24, Today: Yagi rolled 2 using 1d4.  Damage.
18:23, Today: Yagi rolled 9 using 1d20-1.  Attack.

After her attack Yagi moves back out of the way.

She couldn't help but notice the vines attached to these things --  what in hell did that mean?   Was the plant controlling them?

Didn't matter, now;   she did her best to repeat her last maneuver...


Alietra rolled 21 using 1d20+4.  backstab with sword.
Alietra rolled 6 using 1d8.  sword damage.  X2 = 12 points total, nearest foe
Ha!  Rolled same as last time!  What are the odds-?