As the Dwarf steps back to admire his jury-rigged industrial-strength troll-trap, and the Exemplars discuss strategy for dealing with a monster that can only be burned, a deafening slam echoes through the mines...

[Someone please roll for Surprise and Initiative on behalf of the entire party]

09:14, Today: Brother Brodd rolled 4 using 1d6. surprise.
09:13, Today: Brother Brodd rolled 4 using 1d6. initiative.

12:35, Today: DM, for the NPC Troll, rolled 6,2,3 using d6,d6,d3.  Surprise/Initiative/Limb Caught.

A long, green and disgustingly gnarled limb bursts through the door, flailing wildly as the trap springs, clamping a hundred pounds of iron on the troll's arm as it shrieks.

[Dwarghar, roll d6 for Trap Damage]

Dwarghar laughs as his trap takes hold.

He lights a second torch on the first one
Throw your oil now! He says to the others.

He waits for someone to throw the oil and throws his torch to hit the creature and hopefully fall in the oily mess around it.



10:25, Today: Dwarghar Stoneblood rolled 7 using 1d6+1.  Torch damage.
Like throwing a club.
10:21, Today: Dwarghar Stoneblood rolled 16 using 1d20.  Torch throw attack

10:19, Today: Dwarghar Stoneblood rolled 6 using 1d6.  Trap.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:26, Wed 11 Sept 2019.

 Brodd throws his torch too, trying to ignite the oil on the troll and on the floor atound the troll!

14:04, Today: Brother Brodd rolled 20 using 1d20. to hit.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:04, Wed 11 Sept 2019.

"Gaaaaahhh!" Even being prepared for the appearance of a fearful monster, the old cleric was still shocked at the creature's appearance and temperance. With a feeble flopping motion, he tossed his vial of oil on the troll. The liquid oozed out, but didn't ignite with quite the vigor which Regdoc had anticipated!

"Curse the Dusty Trail the mushrooms this gunk was extracted from! Get'em Chomper!"

Chomper's hackles raised, but he glanced over at his master with an incredulous look on his face. Bwwoof? The hound took a step or two forward and made a biting motion, but it lacked his usual tenacious conviction.


Oil Toss: Regdoc rolled 17 to hit AC0/AC19
Oil Damage: Regdoc rolled 1 (rnd 1/3)
Chomper Attack - Bite: Chomper rolled 4 to Miss!

"Chomper isn't stupid Regdoc, he ain't going in there!"

Regdoc's oil crashes on the writhing limb, making it glisten even more disgustingly in the torchlight as Chomper takes a tentative snap then shies away.

The old fleabag wisely runs for cover as both torches hit, setting off the lamp oil.

15:07, Today: DM rolled 7 using 1d8.  flaming oil damage.

[Brodd rolled a 20 but didn't roll for damage. Brodd's horseshoe toss lands right into the unsuspecting troll's grip, and the sizzling sound indicates 2 points of fire damage. As I remember from my adventuring days, striking with a torch is equal to club damage (d4) +1hp fire damage, so:
Dwarghar does max,
4 points
+1 strength from hurling
and +1 for fire
=6 points of damage, 1 from fire]

The arm sustains 7+6+2=15 points of damage, 10 points of fire damage/5 not fire damage

In the conflagration you hear a sound like several large stalks of celery being twisted, and the flaming arm falls to the floor, writhing helplessly.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:25, Wed 11 Sept 2019.

"He tore his own arm off to keep from burning to death! What if it grows back?"

Try to get the flaming bits into the gap in the door! That stuff on the other side might burn!

The dwarf looks around for another great clamp or similar trap-making apparatus. If he doesn’t see anything else he will run forward and try to get his trap out of the fire so he can consider resetting it while others try to push fire into the other room.

14:17, Today: Dwarghar Stoneblood rolled 5 using 1d6+1.  Traps .

Goal is to reset the clamp - or something else a little ways into the room, assuming the troll can get through the door and barricade and moves in a few steps, this should catch a foot.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:20, Wed 11 Sept 2019.

Amalrik pulls his spare torches out and proceeds to light them all ... He leans them against the wall as he tries lighting them up, one by one for others to grab and use. Don't throw them all, save some for thrusting at the big ugly !!

Regdoc rummaged through his pack for another clay bottle of oil.

"Smart?! Bah!" he snarled at Brother Brodd. "It's all the vermin he's packing, it's THEM that don't want to be burned. Shaggy muffin-stealer's gotta earn his keep around here!"

Meanwhile, Chomper had found something that looked like a pile of old burlap and rotten straw and dragged it over in front of the door, wagging his tail at the dwarf as if he'd contributed greatly to the task at hand.

"Good boy Chomper! Something to burn!" Brodd scratches the old dogs ears quickly and grabs another torch to use as a burning club.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:17, Thu 12 Sept 2019.

Chomper yelps as the troll slams against now-closed metal trap, growling in syllables succinct enough that they might be some form of threat, and backs away again.

Then, there's another sound behind the door. At first you thought it was the echo of distant machinery, but no. More like speech.

A long pause, then the troll begins battering itself against the barricade again at a faster pace.

"I will need to write a song about this!" Harald says quietly as he draws his sword and prepares for battle.

"Hurry up and get the next round of fire ready. He sounds like he's trying to break through."

Dwarghar looks at the others while dragging his trap to try and set it up.

Maybe someone could help me?

Or maybe someone could chuck a torch in the gap and see what’s talking to the Troll? Maybe get lucky and ignite the oily stuff?

What do I know? I’m just a stinking .... The rest is unintelligible and probably uninteresting.

"...churlish dwarf? No, you are not. I'll try to help."

Brodd swings his burning torch at the arm in the door gap to see if he thinks it is yet attached to the troll.


07:00, Today: Brother Brodd rolled 5 using 1d6. fire damage.
06:59, Today: Brother Brodd rolled 4 using 1d4. damage.
06:59, Today: Brother Brodd rolled 15 using 1d20. to hit.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:00, Fri 13 Sept 2019.

[If someone reset a trap you were already caught in right in front of you, would you jump into it?]

The trap is shut and the gap is closed, you couldn't even shove a spearhead through.

Every make their Hear Noise rolls please.

08:33, Today: Brother Brodd rolled 2 using 1d6. hear noise.

Einhard held his spear at the ready, still unsure of what was about to come at them.


08:35, Today: Einhard rolled 6 using 1d6.  Hear Noise

Stonebload drops what he’s doing and looks back. This is stupid it couldn’t work twice he mumbles.

He looks back curious, did the Troll close the door after getting it part way open?

05:49, Today: Dwarghar Stoneblood rolled 1 using 1d6.  Hear

Watching the battle unfold in horrid fascination, the gnome's paralysis is cut short by the troll tearing off its own arm. For a moment, there is silence. Pock cocks his head to listen...

23:50, Today: Pock Oneshoe rolled 3 using 1d6.  Hear.

As you strain to hear what's going on on the other side of the door, the long, spindly, well-oiled troll arm continues to flame broil on the cavern floor.

Brodd gives it another solid thud on the upper arm with his torch to make sure its not moving.

The thick black smoke the limb gives off does not smell like pumpkin spice.

You hear that! Someone’s calling for help! I think something small and girly has got the Troll begging to be let out!

Dwarghar looks to Einhard for his reaction.

Do we open the gap and look inside? Hell no ... it would be better to let them fight and take our chances down the mine tracks.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:58, Fri 13 Sept 2019.

"If the troll is trying to get away, then small and girly must be quite dangerous... or controlling the troll! Either way not good. Rather not fight any of them, but not sure I am going to get that wish."

"Agreed, I'm afraid that if we fight and defeat it, several of us would die in the battle. We might even lose and ALL die!"

An E X P L O S I O N strong enough to knock the party members off their feet reverberates through the mine. The trap and the rest of the barricade is scattered everywhere, like a wall of dice casually rearranged by a huge striding cat. The bit of common sense shown by keeping a distance from the door surely saved your party from injury.

Beyond the battered doors, flames whirl and roar like the inside of a blacksmith's furnace. A gangly shape wreathed in flames flails its remaining arm helplessly as it gambols towards your party, but collapses before it crosses the breech.

Now, clearly, you hear that unearthly voice.

"NEH'HER QUATEN. SPA FON, SQ'A TRONT."

Brodd responds in the same language.

In reply to Brother Brodd (msg # 30):

"CRIS'SEN NARERH. DOH S'EMCHALAT, KESS OHM."


A shape reflecting the light of the flames slowly glides through the roaring firebrands effortlessly. It is tall, and even thinner than the troll. In fact it seems to have no limbs at all.

"Unseemly to discuss in Unificant among uninitiated. Communication continues in colloquial Common."

"Thank you. As I said we are on a mission to rescue a young girl who was kidnapped."

Einhard stands up and grabs his weapon that had fallen from his grip in the blast. Hearing the strange voice, but understanding a language he hadn't used in quite some time, he shook his head to clear his thoughts.

"Yes. We were sent by my brother-in-law, the Baron, to retrieve his daughter in Braunstein. We were chased in to this mine by a Manticore and are simply looking for a way out."

The knight stepped forward toward the door trying to get a better look at who he was speaking to.

"You speak the language of Law, who and what are you?"

In reply to Brother Brodd (msg # 34):

The being arrives at the border of the where the barrier stood. It resembles a very long snake with scales like mercury. Translucent vestigial fins drape down where its neck would be, dividing the light inside it into a prism effect and leaving the suggestion of a shawl and shoulders. It holds its ovaloid head - the only thing vaguely human about it - up at human level as it propels itself silently with its tail trailing behind.

"I am from the higher realm of Law. My name cannot be spoken among the Uninitiated. My sanctuary lies within this mountain."

It stops before Brother Brodd to converse with him.

"You may refer to me as the Entity."

Its head rotates slowly, scanning the rest of the party and the debris as its scales ripple spiral chromatic patterns.

"You were highly effective in maiming the troll and driving it away. Even without coordination, we worked in tandem to eliminate the threat."

"You eliminated the threat Entity, thank you for that. I'm afraid, alone, several of us would have died."

"But so would have the troll!" Einhard added.

"We are not here to intrude on your sanctuary. Do you know of another way out of here? That entrance has collapsed." he pointed back in the direction from which they entered.

Redoc lifted his head off the floor, propped it up with one hand as if he had simply taken a brief mid-battle nap. Still reclined, he glanced up at the... Entity.

"You uh... know anything about what the gnomes were up to down here?"

Propping himself up with his elbows behind him, the oldster glanced over to see if Chomper was still responsive, a brief look of concern crossed his face, replaced by one of shrewdness when the dog's tail wagged.

"Come here fleabag and help me up..."

Chomper licked Regoc noisily, and wetly, and let the grasping hand grip his heavy collar.

Seeing that the troll battle is over, Amarik puts out his lit torches. No sense wasting them right now.

Manaku had watched the younger folk battle the troll with their trap.  He'd noticed when the creature of Law had succeeded where the group would most likely have failed.  But he said nothing.  He only had six arrows and a rusted sword.  Now was not the time to engage is such discussions.  There was a girl to find and she would not be found by the dead, or nearly dead.  No, he must abide his time and know when action would be most beneficial to the goal at hand.

However, when the full encounter with the creature of Law had presented itself Manaku the hunter greeted the creature with the others.  "Entity, my companions speak the truth and their questions are just.  If you can see it in yourself to aid us in our honest and lawful endeavor it would be much appreciated."

Dwarghar says nothing, he backs away wanting to avoid the notice of the creature.

"The gnomes were conducting a mining operation within this mountain range. After burrowing into my sanctum, they apologized, and after negotiations with initiated representatives, I allowed them to work around my lair. I did find all of their novel inventions...amusing."

She seems to sigh.

In reply to DM (msg # 42):

Creston stands up and dusts himself off. "Just what we need," he says. "A lawyer."

"I'd say judge, jury, and executioner Creston."

"So about a way out of here, you know of any?" Einhard asks again. "The sooner we are out of your hair the better for all of us, and my niece."

"Hair...? Ah. Metaphor. Yes, you can continue down through the mines to the base of the mountain. However, you may have difficulties with the basilisks."

Basilisks? We met a young one already and nearly lost a member of our group."

Do you know anything about the mantacore outside ??

"The manticorae have been a pest for quite some time. This mountain range is part of their migration route. The rocky terrain suits them for nesting, I assume."

Damnable Tarantino I should have known this ...
A tear escapes Dwarghar as he remembered the consequences of his ignorance.

So it’s just that simple, down the tracks past hells know how many basilisks and they lead out beyond the mountains?

"Does anyone in your party require healing?"

Can mantacores see in the dark ?? There's only one of that one, but many  basilisks.  OK, Dwarghar, any large air-holes in this dwarven house of yours ?? Big enough to crawl through ??

The entity looks at the barbarian curiously.

"Their heads are feline in nature, so it stands to reason that they would have superior night vision."

Uncomfortable pause.

"I did mention this was a gnomish mine? While they do possess passing physical similarities and share an ancient cultural alliance, they are indeed distinct species."

The entity turns back towards Brodd, Einhard, and Pock to address them.

"I have accumulated some items during my occasional inspections that may help you pass through safely.

"Anything you have that might help would be greatly appreciated. Otherwise, I fear we might be forced to feed the gnome to the basilisk in trade for our passage..." Einhard said dryly.

"Are there gnomes still down there? Delving away and tinkering? If so, they might wish us to help them with their basilisk problem... Don't these beasts bother you? Perhaps you could..." Regdoc wiggled his fingers a bit with one hand and made a smashing motion with the other.

Brodd looked at Einhard with a very unamused look when he threatened giving the gnome to the basilisks!

In reply to DM (msg # 53):

"Does that mean we're getting those funny Gnomish hats with the oil lamps on the front?"

Seeing it is relatively safe Dwarghar steps forwar.

Ah yes of course, anything we can use to help is very very appreciated.

Your uhm, your strongness

I’m sorry, but you said you can’t give your name. , I’m Dwarghar- what should we call you?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:23, Mon 23 Sept 2019.

Even though she doesn't have pupils, she seems to roll her solid silver eyes.

She twists slightly towards Creston.

"If I found one, it would only fit a gnome."

She lowers herself to the Dwarf's level to address him.

"I have not had to ponder that question in my solitude for many years. Since courtesy is something to be encouraged, you may call me Miss Entity."

Aye, Miss Entity, an th...th..thank you

"Miss Entity, if there is any aid you would be willing to offer us as we toil to return the missing girl held within the depths of this place we would greatly appreciate it.  Separate but equally, if there is any assistance that you require please let us know so we can determine how best we can off our aid."  Manaku wasn't sure about the discussion and how well the group would be able to exit the situation.  He hoped that the Entity wasn't going to find a reason to bind them to some task or simply turn on the group for spending too much time in the discussion.  One could never quite know how such a meeting was going to go...

"You seem to have mistaken my calls for assistance earlier with that of a human child."

"No, just expeditious, you need our literal help for nothing Entity."

"Destruction of the basilisks would be in our mutual interests."

She slithers towards the blown out chamber, now hissing with steam.

"As I predicted, the the coolant from the corridor has extinguished the flames from the fuel tanks. It is safe for you to continue. Please follow me."

She glides silently past the party and back towards the direction she came, curving graciously around the smoldering remains of the troll.

Brodd gets in the middle and follows.

Einhard takes the reins of his steed, moves to the front of the group, and follows this Entity.

Manaku follows near the back...

Dwarghar follows Einhard, preferably beside him, in front of the horse. Or if not then giving the horse plenty of space to avoid any unpleasantness.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:55, Wed 25 Sept 2019.

Amalrik has a yawn, then steps into place behind the knight and dwarf, sword over his shoulder. Babbling done, moving at last ... The two in front are probably looking forward / left / right, so he looks up and down.

Regdoc scratched Chomper and gave him a few pats.

"Alright then, the Path goes ever Onward... albeit down and out at this point apparently..."

The oldster joined in the procession with his trusted guard dog at his side.

The front seems well enough protected, so Creston guards the rear.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:09, Fri 27 Sept 2019.