Pock sits down and starts listening to whatever tales.

"Impressive. I wouldn't have given that much." Manaku says and tilts his head when he sees the amount of silver dumped into the fountain.

Leohart was last to creep out into the open, for fear that the voice was luring them into a basilisk ambush.

When it became clear that no one was dying, and people were bribing the monster not to slay them all, Leohart began fumbling in his sack. He produced four gold coins and tossed them, one by one, into the fountain with the mass of silver.

"It is worth it, if we can pass out of here with our lives..." he said softly.

Amalrik gives Dwarghar a raised eyebrow. I bonked one off the cliffside. Nice tumble. Easy come, easy go. And no bars down here either.

Never mind on this --  my mistake on a couple things -  carry on!   
This message was last edited by the player at 01:38, Tue 03 Dec 2019.

"It is now safe for you to continue."

With the clanking of chains, the metal gates slowly open, allowing the party to exit the courtyard and continue downwards.

"Alrighty then, good to go." Pock seems ready to go but is reluctant to go first. Maybe a fighter is up for the task?

As usual, Amalrik looks up/down, left/right before stepping thru the gateway. He's not up to a hot oil dousing or becoming pickled by arrows.

Crystal still in hand, Einhard assumed his position leading this motley band of exemplars. "How much further to the flooded exit?" he asked the mysterious entity.

Regdoc hoisted himself painfully from the bench he'd been resting on, aided by a grasp on Chomper's collar. He ambled forward behind Einhard, eager to see where the next turn of the Path would lead them.

"Spiking one of those gates might not be a bad idea..." he muttered to Pock.

Dwarghar continues on with a last longing look at all the silver they were giving away.

Brodd fell in line with Regdoc.

"Hrm. Didn't you leave some animals behind?"

"By the gods, we did forget them, they are lost now for sure, though there was no way to take them through the flood in any case."

"If you can open the exit, the water will pour out into the empty river bed at the base of the mountain. That is why I am allowing you through my city, to complete this task. I may be stone, but I still breathe air. And though my wings lift me, they cannot help me swim."

Leohart's spirits rose slightly to hear their mystery host had weaknesses. He moved into the courtyard, his heavy sack jingling, and began examining anything they came across.

In reply to DM (msg # 79):

So guardian, if the Dwarves came back, would you submit to guarding for them again? Or would you fight and die opposing them?

The passages echo with laughter that sounds like tumbling rocks.

"They will never return. Their time has passed. I doubt there are enough Dwarves left under or above ground to fill this city back to what it was! Their smaller cousins? Perhaps, but they will most likely destroy themselves with their inventions first."

Einhard came to an abrupt stop. "Once we drain the flood waters, they should be able to pass. We need to retrieve them while we have safe passage, lest this creatures pets decide to snack on them." He turned to the others, "Please wait a moment longer while we retrieve the horse and mule."

"Give us a moment to retrieve our beasts Guardian, twill be but a moment."

Pock cheated death once or twice, he is quite happy for now and dreams of jewels and gemstones that he is really fond of.

Einhard and Brodd go back for their animals, Einhard's horse, and Brodd's mule. They quickly catch up to the party.

[Will start new scene soon!]

OK, Amalrik watches the horse and mule when they arrive, sometimes animals will pick up on something ... or unseen somethings ...

"Let's move out and get out of here." Brodd says as he and Einar get back with their animals.



OOC - post #3,000.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:39, Tue 10 Dec 2019.