You set out from the city of Newmarket at dawn.  Before evening fell, you could see the Long Falls, a great waterfall that descends the face of the cliff atop which one can find the old city.  After staying the evening in the hamlet of Thorham (one of the local farmers let you use the barn for a single silver coin), you set out the next day, your destination clearly visible.  As you drew closer, the the Falls became audible, growing to a low rumble as you approached.  Nearer still, and you could see the statues of Arden and Vul carved into the cliffside, each at least a thousand feet high and still not reaching anywhere near the top of the cliff.  On the left is Arden, the warrior, her sword blade pointed down and her left hand extended, palm up.  On the right is the sorcerer Vul, a staff cradled in the crook of his arm, whose gaze seems to follow your every move.



As you follow the road to the base of the cliff, you find your first destination: the Long Stair.  As its name suggests, this set of stairs is carved into the cliff and snakes its way to the top.  You knew it was here, and yet, seeing it in person, reaching to almost unfathomable heights and slick from the mist created by the Long Fall, you can't help but find yourselves intimidated.

Still, you didn't come this far just to turn back now.

Axel stares at the carved image of Vul as they move closer to the steps, lost in his own thoughts.  He stops and kneels down at the base of the falls where the water gently laps at the shore using his hand as a ladle to scoop up several gulps of the water.  The mist of the falls was beginning to cause his fine silk robe of turquoise to cling to his body.  "Grab a drink," he suggests to his companions,  "The statues are said to be 1,000 feet high, and the cliff itself looks to be half that height again.  Best guess is we've got several thousand feet of stairs ahead of us."

Axel deducted 1sp to pay the farmer at Thorham for the previous nights lodging.

Sil'qian marvels at the vista, the waterfall is as amazing to him as the statues carved into the cliff face.

"You are right Axel, it will be a long walk up those stairs...my knees are aching just from the thought!"

He continues to stare at he cliff face as he methodically ensures all of his gear is secure and all straps are tight.

"There is something odd about the statues, don't you think? Vul is as you would expect, standing up tall. But Arden is almost kneeling, her sword is not at the ready, and her hand is out, as if she is reaching for something. If we passed close by, I would be most interested in exploring her hand. But it appears that the stairs switchback away from it.

Another time, perhaps?"

Looking around as his companions prepare for the ascent, he asks, "Shall I lead?"

Tybalt, known in certain circles by the nickname Walker, an appellation earned from a stride that never seemed to falter, no matter the distance, the footing, nor the clime, stood near to a knightly sort in quiet discussion. After a moment, he nodded and then responded to his companions, "You've sharp eyes friend elf, doesn't it look as if the statue is offering a hand up the cliff as one might assist another to mount a tall horse? Most curious..."

"Further, to my eye, yonder depressions almost look like cavern openings, there you see it near the second switchback? And harken your gaze across on the opposite side of the falls, there seems to me to be another possible opening there! I concede that it's difficult to tell from this vantage, and more often than not, those sorts of depressions are simply that, going back only far enough to create a shadow... but, it might well be worth taking a peek at them at some point in our explorations."

"What do you think my liege?" Walker asked the knightly man who seemed to gazing with no small amount of approval at his reflection in the water.

The scout deliberately broke the image with his waterskin, filling it with the cold water.

"Oh my," Brian pulls back his hood, and gazes at the cliff with both eyes, "it is much more rewarding to view this place with my own eyes, than it was to have read of it. What must have gone through the minds of those artists, who were dedicated to creating these images? I wonder what other marvels lie within."

Following after Axel's suggestion, Brian stares up the sheer cliff and silently gulps. "Well, a long trek was certainly expected. Said trek challenges us in this very moment." He clutches a pewter seed hanging from his neck, and utters a silent prayer.

He listens intently to the observations made by the others. "Mysteries abound... mysteries which may well be uncovered once we climb up these stairs. We could perhaps observe the palm of Arden from higher up. It might be a place of worship, or a hidden abode. It might altogether be found bare, in this time. And there may indeed be other paths within the cliff."

Brian turns to Sil'qian and nods. "Let us begin our ascent."

"Well, you hear tales of all sorts of things, but this is impressive.  One rarely sees that sort of beautiful stonework.  very nicely done indeed."

Zuru goes over and gulps down some water, looks back towards the future climb, down at his legs, back at the heights, and sighs.

Steeling yourselves for a long trek, the six of you begin your ascent up the Long Stair.  The stairs are slick with mist, and while most of you are able to keep your footing with relative ease, the less dextrous among you find things a bit more challenging.

Durke, roll 2d6.

20:06, Today: DM Maleketh, on behalf of Durke Aldiron, rolled 8 using 2d6.

As Durke places one of his feet on the next step, it slips out from under him.  He crashes to the ground, only the fact that you're at the second switchback (and therefore there isn't far for him to fall) saves him from serious injury - though his pride may be another matter.

Axel can't help but let out a snigger as the paladin lands on his arse.  He turns away to save himself from bursting out laughing when he sees the man isn't hurt, quickly disguising the snigger as a light coughing fit.

Yeah I know it's sad, I'd probably do the same in real life, even more-so if the companion wasn't hurt and they were a friend.

Sil'qian pulls up and turns, at the sound of Durke yelling out; the elf tenses to spring into action, but quickly relaxes when he sees that the paladin is not hurt. "The steps are slick, shall we slow our pace?"

Brian shoots a disapproving glance at Axel when he laughs, but the feeling is undercut by his own lips rising at the ends.

Moving closer to Durke to check for injuries, he comments, "Careful, man."

Being this close to a waterfall, the stairs were naturally slick. Their edges were round from years of being molded by the waters. The adventurers had been moving with caution, but accidents happen, and one just did.

Moving slowly was key in long treks such as this, "but how slow can we get before we end up spending far too much time on these stairs?"

It would be dark in a couple of hours.

"Lookout!" Tybalt warned, but it was too late, his charge had slipped and nearly fallen toward the escarpment base far below. The lanky ranger extended a hand and helped Durke back to his feet, holding on only long enough to make sure the knight had his footing before releasing. Tybalt knew this would be particularly humiliating to the man since, of them all, he was the only one to slip.

"My apologies Sir Durke, I should have pointed out that slick spot..." Tybalt said, giving Durke an avenue to place blame somewhere other than his own clumsiness.

Before Durke could answer, Tybalt responded to the elf, "No, I think Sir Durke has ably shown us that we need to be more careful, but let's not spend overly long out here, exposed as we are. I'd rather not get caught out here during a sudden storm or even an attack... Continue onward Sil'qian, we'll all pay a little more heed from here on."

As Tybalt extends a hand to the holy warrior to assist him to his feet Axel suddenly bursts out "Gecko feet!" like the idea has suddenly come to him.  He remembers himself and by way of explanation or apology for his outburst, he continues, "When I have grown in power I will write a spell to prevent such mishaps from visiting upon us again.  Perhaps it will come to be known as Axel's feet of the gecko," he muses to himself as he continues to think on the idea as the party makes ready to continue the climb.

"Ooooh, great idea Axel!  That could be really useful.  Can you still wear shoes?"

Zuru isn't having that much trouble with the steps, and is not happy the paladin fell, but it is a bit of a relief to think the group might go slower.  Tall people really need to learn how to build to a proper scale.

Once Durke is back on his feet, the six of you proceed up the stairs.  For another hour you climb, finally reaching the next switchback.  It's about that time that a shadow passes overhead.  When you look up, you're met with a terrifying sight: a great winged reptile of some kind, rapidly bearing down on you.  The good news is that it isn't after you.  Instead, it passes you by and snatches a large goat from the cliff face nearby before flying off.

The bad news is that it doesn't leave you unscathed.  The sheer force of its wingbeats blows you off your feet, and Durke - poor, clumsy Durke - gets the worst of it.  While most of you simply fall flat on your asses, the knight instead stumbles back, loses his footing... and plummets over the edge.

Brian is aghast. He glances down at the fallen man, but he cannot see much since he is clinging to the walls now.

"May his soul rest in peace. His sacrifice will bolster our efforts manifold, and if the Goddess wills it we shall harvest great fruit on our journey." He pulls out his holy symbol once again and utters a prayer.

The journey is long indeed, and every step is fraught with mortal danger. Yet the young man presses on, for the prosperity of his people.

Turning to Axel suddenly, he exclaims, "Yes, you shall grow in power. And your noble thoughts will result in that spell and ensure accidents like this rarely happen to anyone. I believe in you."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:34, Wed 15 Apr 2020.

Axel picks himself up cursing when he sees his robe is slightly soiled.  He carefully peers over the edge, "Was that a dragon?" he ponders aloud.  He switches his attention to Tybaly placing a hand on his arm.  "You know he didn't survive that, there is nothing you can do for him now, and we are in peril if we stay on these stairs too much longer."

He looks over again, "I can't even see him, he probably got caught in a crag or fissure on the way down, blown by the wind."  He looks up.  "We need to keep going."

"Ware the skies!" Walker shouted as the creature swooped near. He raised his bow and was about to take a shot when he heard the scrape of steel on stone and the startled cry of Durke just behind him. Turning, fighting against the force of rushing air from the powerful wingbeats from above, the ranger watched in horror as his knight reached desperately for the ledge while falling backward and down, down, down to his death far below!


"NO! DURKE! GODS SAVE HIM!" It was an anguished cry that escaped the lips of Tybalt the Ravenbow as he turned and dashed back down the long trail toward the twisted heap that was Sir Durke Aldiron. Upon reaching him and seeing that the knight's lifeblood had already painted the jagged rocks, Tybalt bowed his head in sorrow and momentary defeat. So far they had come on this quest, so much they had endured, only to fail here, at the very steps leading to discovery!

"It's up to me now isn't it?" Tybalt asked the dead knight. "Me, the last of the Aldiron line... and certainly the least worthy to take up the mantle. Damn you for dying and leaving this burden upon my shoulders you arrogant, incompetent fop!"

Bitter tears came then as the ranger tore the sword belt from the body. He drew the weapon free and tossed it aside, strapping the empty scabbard to his own waist. Into this he placed his own sword, a crude weapon compared to that which truly belonged therein, and that which was the focus of their quest, Aldiron, the enchanted sword and family namesake. Its recovery was now Tybalt's responsibility, one which he neither coveted nor even wanted, but was honor bound enough to take upon himself.

"Rest well Durke, I envy your slumber, for now my dreams will be fraught with Aldiron's endless allure..."

Tybalt began to place the jagged broken stones upon which the knight had been dashed, over the broken body, making a crude cairn. When it was finished, the Walker muttered a quick prayer and then began the ascension once more to catch up with the rest of his party, wondering at what point he himself would expire in this foolish quest to find a lost sword.

~~~

OOC: Alrighty then, let's do this! Character motivation and backstory in place. May the Gods watch over and the minstrels put to song the death of Durke and the Quest of the Last Aldiron...
This message was last edited by the player at 15:44, Wed 15 Apr 2020.

Zuru is unusually quiet for a while. He adds a few stones to the crude grave (unlessTybalt discourages him) while mumbling a gnome prayer for the dead.

With no better options presented, your group continues up the Long Stair.  The next leg of the trip is shorter than the first, but you're still high off the ground: by the time you reach the second switchback, you figure you're about halfway to the top.  The cliff here has an opening carved into it, about 20' wide and 6' tall.  The interior is a modest-sized chamber with an 8' ceiling; it could well have been a guard post or rest stop.  The chamber is mostly bare, containing only three things of note: a fire-circle, a stack of firewood against the left well, and a burly half-orc clad in chainmail.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:53, Wed 15 Apr 2020.

Sil'qian steps into the chamber, immediately spotting the chain-clad half-orc.

"Good day, are you the guardian of this rest stop? My companions and I would like to rest before continuing our climb."

The half-orc pops up when the group of climbers arrive.

"Five of you? For some reason, I expected a party of six," he says first.

He brushes off his puzzlement with a wave of his hand and smiles, "I'm Hrothgar, the innkeeper of this fine cliffhouse. Happily for you it's off-season, so it'll be 2 silvers each for lodging and a hot meal."

"Goat stew," he says, by way of encouragement. "Locally sourced, you could say."

Brian freezes for a moment, before sending a quick sympathetic look to Tybalt.
Shaking his head, he notes the sparsely decorated alcove. Having experienced the generosity of people often, he is quite unsure whether anything being offered is worth two silver pieces. But the stew does smell appetizing.
"We would be grateful to stay in this cliff... house. I don't imagine many people come around. In whose service is this establishment set up, sir?"

The half-orc was easily the biggest person there, and he was quite imposing in the space he took up in that small place. Brian walked around the edge of the chamber, eyeing the large man. Edges and large men now have an uncomfortable connection in his mind. He circled around to the wall furthest from the edge.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:37, Thu 16 Apr 2020.

The half-orc's inquiry was the first sting of many to come for the Wiskin ranger known in certain circles as Walker. Having just lost both a close relative and one who had become a close - though oft annoying - friend, it was painful to be reminded once more of the recent loss. But Tybalt was made of twisted fibers and well-honed steel one might say, and though the death of Durke was fresh, it was in fact in the past.

"The flying creature you must compete with for goat meat, caused a loss of one of our number. This is a dangerous ascent it seems, I would be quite surprised if there was, in fact, an on-season as it were."

He fished out a pair of silvers and tossed them to the self-introduced Hrothgar and then reached for the ladle with which to fill his cup with stew. "I'm known as the Walker, or just Walker, but my given name is Tybalt. Well met Hrothgar."

Walker sat down and began to sift through the stew with a carved wooden spoon of his own making. "We're appreciative of the... operation you have here, and your hospitality. Tell us, apart from this obviously lucrative business, what brings you to this region? The promise of lost treasure, or perhaps a quest to prove your love and dedication to the father of a fair maiden?"


2sp deducted

Axel keeps to himself, waiting for a reply to the other's questions.  He makes no attempt to get any closer than the cave entrance, nor does he fish out coins or make to try the stew.  If he had questions they remained unasked for now.

The clifftop innkeeper waves off the climbers' silvers.

"I kid. I'm no more the proprietor of this hollow than a master cook, but I have prepared some passable stew."

"We're all going to the same place. When you've eaten me out of kid and cave, let's continue the ascent together," he offers, with another smile.

Sil'qian smiles thinly at the half-orc. "A well-played jibe Hrothgar, you fooled us all! But, we have just moments ago lost Walker's...cousin...to a flying reptile and our hearts are still heavy.

We welcome your stew, and your company when take to the steps again."

[Edit: typo]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:47, Fri 17 Apr 2020.

"So quick to leave such a prime location? It seems as if we're all set aback for the moment..." Tybalt took the jest good-naturedly, perhaps a little too much so in over-compensating for the gripping sadness still raw upon his heart. He stuffed stew into his mouth with a purpose, wiped his cup with his finger and licked the last of the broth from it.

"A question for you Hrothgar, for by your breadth of shoulder and carriage I should think you competent in a scrap..." the tall ranger said, looking the half-orc over. "A buddy from Narsileon told me about a secret organization called the Sodality of the Fist. Apparently it recruits brave lads and lasses to enter the Arden Vul dungeons to participate in arena duels of some sort. The leader of the Sodality is from the Vislok clan. They specialize in bare-knuckle fighting."

"You wouldn't happen to know anything of dueling would you? Might this, perhaps, be your goal in ascending the Long Stair of Arden Vul?"

Walker neared the edge of the trail and peered over, looking far down, the thoughts of Durke's fall coming to him unbidden. He wondered what might have happened had the accident occurred just a few hundred yards in this direction, perhaps the knight's body would have landed in the outstretched hand of the massive statue...

On a whim, Tybalt tossed the two silvers he'd been going to give Hrothgar for the stew and lodging, over the side, watching to see if they might land in the open palm far below.


Tybalt (and myself) is fascinated somewhat with the statue holding out her hand. How far down from their spot at the swtichback is it to the hand?

"Hmm, never had goat steew before.  Never climbed this high above the ground.  A day of firsts, this is."
The gnome walks up to the half orc, and rises up on the balls of his feet, extending a hand upwards.
"My name is Zuru.  Pleased to make your acquaintance."

As it seems likely this newcomer will continue with the group replacing the warrior that fell Axel calls out from where he stood, "I am Axel," though he does take a step or two closer into the shelter.

The half-orc's ready smile vanishes.


"Hacking, chopping, and cleaving," he begins. "Nothing so formal as a duel. I climbed these stairs to make my way in the world. I'm an adventurer; this is a land of adventure, maybe more than any one adventurer could undertake--to judge by all I've heard."

He assumes a dramatic stance and declaims: "The ancient Set cult was centered around three rituals, or mysteries. The second mystery demonstrated Set's control over a magically-created sandstorm. Within the anonymity of the sandstorm, participants attacked each other with impunity; indeed, such chaos was celebrated!"

Shrugging, he eats some stew in memory Tybalt's cousin.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:20, Fri 17 Apr 2020.

Axel remains at the entrance looking both up and down the stairs, and occasionally over the side.  He speaks to those who have moved further back into the chamber.  "We don't want to tarry here any longer than required.  Once you gentlemen have finished your refreshments, we need to get going.  These stairs are more slippery and treacherous than we have given them credit for, and being stuck on them as weather develops will make the ascent even more unpleasant."

"Words of wisdom, Axel." The elf washes down the last bite of stew with a swig from his waterskin.

"When you are all ready, I will take the lead, again."

Zuru looks at his unshaken hand, shrugs, and heads back towards the steps.  "ready when you are"

"Indeed, let's continue."
Brian stepped away from the back wall and said to the warrior, "Glad to have you with us, Hrothgar."

He moved to the edge slowly, and looked to the skies. Whether for glory & fame, or for the prosperity of their people, or in search of a legendary treasure, they had all gathered together on one road. "Let's continue our journey into The Halls of Arden Vul..."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:59, Sat 18 Apr 2020.

The Walker looked once more over the side, shook his head sadly and then followed in behind the elf.

"That wasn't bad, but then again, it's hard to botch goat..." he said to Hrothgar as he passed by.

"I agree with Axel, let's try to make the summit before dark, unless we come across any caves that look particularly inviting."

As they continued the climb, the words of the last tune they'd heard in the hamlet of Thorham echoed in Tybalt's mind. It had been sung by the farmer's daughter, a beautiful creature with a haunting voice. They'd both been spellbound by her. The tune held a different meaning now that Durke was gone...


Soldier of Fortune - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4cEWZw4iJU

To answer Tybalt's question, Arden's hand is more than 600' below this switchback.

Sated and ready to go, your group heads up the stairs.  The going here is easier, since the mist from the falls has dropped off and the steps are no longer so slippery.  You ascend another 250' or so to the third switchback.  Here you notice another portal carved out of the rock.  It looks to have once held a stone door, which lies in pieces on the floor.  There doesn't appear to be anyone inside.

"Oh great.  A shattered rock door," Axel observes sarcastically as he crests the top of the stairs and sees the dark opening beckon.  He looks at the chunks of rock and twisted iron straps that made up the door scattered across the floor.  "Either this way isn't frequented often and no one yet has bothered to move the rubble to the side, or this event is relatively recent.  What horror would be strong enough to do that?  Perhaps we should move along quickly, the top is still some way off and daylight is a more precious commodity to us at the moment."

He obviously isn't keen to investigate the dark chamber.

He lets out a resigned sigh.  "Sometimes swilling back mead in a warm speakeasy seems a lot easier than the career path I have cruelly been forced upon."

OOC:  I'm still playing around with Axel's character, as I haven't got a personality locked in for him yet, but I'm thinking more and more along the lines of Dr. Zachary Smith from Lost in Space fame.  It's stretching my memory a little, but luckily there is You Tube to do some research.  It seems to fit in with how I see him, and playing an adventurer who is basically a coward is an interesting angle I've never considered before.

"Perhaps a protector of the halls?" The cleric gingerly kicked at the splinters on the ground. "I can't make out the insides, but might this hold something of interest? If it is recent, whatever broke the door may not be here."
OOC: Is this a small opening in the wall or does it seem to lead somewhere? An entire door implies this isn't a simple alcove

Brian was a tad surprised by Axel's remark. "Forced upon? Are you not here by your own will?"
Then he asked Hrothgar, "How long did you occupy that chamber, now below us? Might you know something about this broken door, or have witnessed unfamiliar figures on these stairs?"

Sil'qian gives Axel a questioning look, but says nothing. He steps to the edge of the portal and looks around the cavern or room beyond relying on his infravision to give him an idea of what lay just inside.

He then adds, "Forced or not, we came here looking to explore the lost city, and this is our first opportunity to do so."

He draws his longsword from its scabbard and looks to the group for their reactions.

---

quote:

It looks to have once held a stone door, which lies in pieces on the floor.

I am assuming the pieces of door lie on the floor of the cavern not on the path - in other words door was kicked-in from the outside.

Axel, your comment on roleplaying reminded me that I want to play Sil'qian a little more dour and taciturn- I will endeavour to remember!

Axel goes a little pale at the prospect of entering the room.  He says, "Second son," by way of explanation to Brian's question.  "I would have been better suited to a life of luxury, one enjoyed by my twin brother who cruelly pushed me aside and stole my birthright by emerging from our mothers womb in my place.  I was usurped at birth and find myself now forced to survive on my charm, good looks and wits."
_______________________________

It's all about perspective I suppose -

quote:

"You ascend another 250' or so to the third switchback"

which is a landing of sorts like in most stairwells.  As we have not entered the room, (which I thought would be dark inside), and only made it to the switchback to me the stone is lying on the floor of the switchback having been forced outward from inside the room.

I'm sure the DM will clarify the point for us.

"Oh, great, competition," Hrothgar wisecracks when they reach the third switchback. "Another fine establishment to steal my customers."


He pauses to respond before joining Sil at the threshold. "Long enough to catch my breath, a wandering goat, and then to cook up a stew. Just about anything could have escaped my notice and I had not as of yet engaged a doorman. I should remedy that."

With that, he enters the chamber.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:44, Sun 19 Apr 2020.

Mistaking the wisecrack for sympathy Axel counters, "Unlike my position your digs weren't attacked and destroyed, that's a distinct competitive advantage you have."

Axel looks about nervously as Hrothgar enters the room calling after him. "This isn't really the city now is it.  That's up higher.  Perhaps we should return to your fine establishment Hrothgar to secure the advantage your location presents."  It doesn't look like he expects support for his words as he moves about on the switchback keeping away from the door as he changes angle to see if he can see more of the room without actually entering.

Sil'qian cracks a smile, unseen under his mask, and nods as Hrothgar steps past him into the cavern.

He turns and follows the half-orc.

The entry passage is 20' wide and 20' deep, and splits to the left and right at its end.  The passage is littered with pits of trash; you spy a broken canteen, some bits of leather, some metal shards, and other random junk.  The two side areas are choked with cobwebs and impossible to enter in their current state.

"Can't say much for their choice of décor. Prefer the spartan style myself."

However, even the burly half-orc shudders at the prospect of being entrapped within those webs.

"Don't fancy being paralyzed while feeding a brood of spiderlings, do you, Axel? Not the life you imagined for yourself?" he calls back.

He steps back a healthy number of feet.

"Well, it's not the life I imagined for myself, either. Could one of you try putting those cobwebs to the torch?"

"I've no torch!"

Stepping back into the centre of the 20 x 20 area, Sil'qian asks the group, "Do any of you have a torch?

A sad group of adventurers we make, if we get stopped by spider webs!"

"Flammable oil my good half-man and elf, that's what's required." Axel replies still out on the switchback, though curiosity had caused him to step a little closer to the doorway after he had not heard any terrified death cries coming from Hrothgar or Sil.    "Incinerate the buggers and everything else in there."  Axel pulls off his pack and quickly retrieves a flask of fine oil, being brave enough to hold it up in the doorway expecting someone else to take it and throw it.  "I would," he explains, "Except my cursed twin often took the nourishment from my mother's breast meant for me, leaving me weakened and slightly uncoordinated."  There was no hint of jest in his voice.  "Scatter it about it is highly flammable and I have flint a steel someone could strike."

Reaching to his own pack, the Walker retrieved a torch and handed it to Axel for a light. "I need both hands to shoot, and our Elven friend here needs much less light than the rest of us in order to see. Why don't you hold the torch?" It wasn't a question really, nor a suggestion, more of a non-stern command.

"I'm no fan of crawlers. I'd think they came along after the door was broken down, or from further within... I really don't want to confront any spider that could have broken through that door trying to get into this cavern!"


Deducting 1 torch from inventory.

Axel replies not taking his eyes from the room, not even bothering to look towards Tybalt or the offered torch.  "Because I'm not going in there until I know it is safe, and I can't cast my spell holding it anyway.  It's your torch and you're covered in armour so why don't you take it into them.  Even I know shooting arrows into a room full of men is a bad idea."  He holds up his flint and steel.  "Here let me light it for you."

Apologies but by way of explanation AC 10 HP 4. 

Brian pointedly asked Axel, "Can you cover us? What miracles can you perform currently?"

"I would rather have some reason to be grateful to you, and to everyone else. I would expect the same from me, for that is why a few men together are stronger than the same on their own. As for myself," he touched his holy symbol, a pewter seed, "the Lady has blessed me with the ability to remove injury,"

He continued speaking as he prepared a large flail for combat, "and the strength to prevent injury."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:01, Mon 20 Apr 2020.

"Honestly, it doesn't seem so bad. An untidy hole with no care for appearances probably means we've found some dwarves.  If they've built this, it will stand until the end of time, and in all those years, they will never give a thought to adding some statues or a mural."   Zuru looks around dismissively.  "If there spider webs, it probably means no one is here, so it should be safe.  I can go ahead and take a look if you'd like.  Which way looks better?  I'd guess, but if I were a lucky man, I'd have no gambling debts, and would probably be enjoying a warm beer and a cool lass right about now"

He looks vaguely back in the direction they had come from, down at his club, and sighs

Tybalt shouldered his bow, lit the torch and drew his sword, looking obviously less familiar with this weapon that the bow, which was simply an extension of his body.

"Ready?" he asked before putting torch to web then stepping back so as not to ignite anything of import on his person.

The cobwebs take a moment to catch fire, and when they do, the process is slower than you expected.  They burn slowly, and produce a thick, black smoke that forces you outside to avoid choking.  Based on the rate they're going, you estimate that they'll probably take an hour or two to burn away completely.  The question is whether you're willing to wait that long.

Retreating to the Axel's position, Hrothgar claps the man on his back.

"But here you stand inhaling great gouts of air, man. Alive! Confine your bed-wetting past--to the past."

Not beholden to any particular schedule or master, Hrothgar observes the progress of the flames. They would have to have some time to do their work.

Axel almost stumbles with Hrothgar's backslap.  "I don't recall any bedwetting Hrothgar, don't project."

With Tybalt having set flames to the webs and the thick choking smoke causing them to retreat from the room as it billowed out into the switchback Axel had time to address Brian's question.



"With respect, I don't perform miracles, period," he says, "but if I'm not put in harms way when better armed and armoured men are about, then you will have reason enough to thank me when I drop ferocious creatures that might be set on attacking us into slumber in the blink of an eye."



"Men together are only stronger when they act intelligently and play to their strengths, not when the weakest is sent to the front to hold the light because he apparently doesn't have anything better to do than be a beacon and you think he needs to do something to ingratiate himself to you."

Axel didn't make his point with any malice and thinking the conversation was at an end he turns his attention to the situation to hand.

"Possibly it's a couple of hours to the top, our initial destination, or we could wait for the flames to clear the webs with the probability of having to sleep down here for the evening," he says as he glances at the flames still thickly smoking.  "The smoke billowing out will also be funneling into the corridors behind and potentially our sleep may be broken by smoke weakened creatures trying to escape through this chamber.  Shall we vote on whether we stay to investigate the chambers beyond further once the flames are spent knowing we have a further uncertain night down here or carry on up to enjoy the warmth and hospitality of the city above?"

Not too surprisingly Axel continues, "I vote for the climb."

Sil'qian laughs at the gnome's jest, "Indeed, Zuru. It is a rare dwarf that looks beyond what is practical."

The elf takes in Axel's verbal sparring with Brian and Hrothgar but adds nothing. He watched the stairs going down and up for any sign of movement.


"I vote we stay. These webs look to have kept out any trespassers for some time. We may discover an entrance to the dungeons that has been long forgotten. Or perhaps a treasure trove."

"No one said anything about you going first Axel. Clearly Silk will go first for he's the legendary visual blessings of his people. Naturally I would follow to help spot tracks and so forth, followed by Hrothgar then yourself, Zuru and Brian bringing up the rear. Just carry the torch unless you can summon holy light to guide our way..." There was an edge in the Walker's voice though he kept his speech level and civil.

"I'm surprised those cobwebs are burning so slowly, but I'm of a mind to finish our ascent and plan for a return upon the morn, we may well spot other points of interest. I do hate leaving this cavern unexplored at our backs, but we're in - from all accounts - a dangerous land... best we establish our base camp and then return."

It pained him to say this, but his experiences as a tracker and scout were hard to put aside.


OOC: Speak up if you disagree with Tybalt's proposed marching order...

Zuru thinks.  “I'd like to follow Silk.  Easier to see"


OOC: he is a rogue with dark vision...

Walker considered for a moment and then nodded. "Yes, that makes more sense. In fact, I'll take up the rear. I'm much more comfortable with my bow, and I can obscure our tracks and watch arrears if need be."

Marching Order (update): Silk, Zuru, Hrothgar, Axel, Brian, Tybalt

Axel grabs the torch a little like a spoilt child, with nothing further to complain about, ........ at the moment.

Brian listens to Alex with a blank expression. After the latter took up the light, Brain noted, "Do not worry. I have your back now. You will provide us great utility when you deem right; I trust you. But for now, this is how you can help."

The webs burned endlessly, and the air got stuffier by the minute. The cleric briefly considered setting camp here, but it seemed irresponsible the very next moment. He listened to the sides provided by Sil'qian and Tybalt. He stared at the webs for a while, then lowered his head to look at the pieces of door strewn inside in the corridor. Inside. He looked up, and spoke louder than before.

"The true question is, who else is here? They broke the door in, but did not bother to deal with the cobwebs. Impatient adventurers, or mindless beasts? Either way, they must be upwards further, since we did not meet them coming from below."

"Both your points are agreeable to me, but with the added risk I perceive, we might be better off holding fort here, to give the unknown entities time enough to move on or to approach. Any conflict that befalls on the steps outside may lead to unfortunate doom."

OOC: I am tentatively okay with the march order.

"In for a penny, in for a pound," Hrothgar offers.

"Four to continue, two to climb, so it looks like we stay," Axel says a little resigned but not otherwise complaining about what he deems a fair vote.

To Brian he replies, "I'd feel better if you had my front Brian since less things trying to kill me are likely to come from the back.  Be prepared to be plunged into darkness if I need to cast the slumber spell quickly.  Even the elves eyesight will take a few moments to recover from that, but so to any enemies I suppose."

"You do not seem to have considered that the break in was not a recent event and the cobwebs came afterwards Brian.  To my mind cobwebs would be a small distraction to something that could shatter rock."

"The only thing the webs indicate to me is that somewhere there are spiders, and they're probably poisonous.  Do you have anything to save me from that?"

As Axel's last question and earlier conversation might indicate, he seems more focused on his own safety than anything else.

Though it does take a good two hours, the smoke and flames eventually die down, allowing you to explore the interior.  The two sides extend both forward and back relative to the entryway, giving the structure a sort of "H" shape.  Some of what was inside is burned away, but it at least appears that the webs didn't cover everything.  You see the rotting remains of bed frames in the right branch, while the left is mostly empty save for a skeleton.  Its shape suggests that it was once a dwarf, an idea supported by the fact that it's wearing chain mail and clutching a warhammer in one bony hand.  A rotting pouch rests beside its waist, and on its feet is a pair of burgundy-colored leather boots with blue-tooled designs.  They look to be in remarkably good condition compared to everything else.

Sil'qian is surprised, as the flames die down, that a large spider or two did not exit the conflagration.

Drawing his longsword, he advances slowly, carefully scanning the ceiling for the spider he expected to see.

HIs eyes widen at the sight of the skeleton, "It appears we may be rewarded! Those boots must be ensorcelled to remain in such fine condition when the wearer is in such poor condition. Ware though, I have heard stories of skeletons that walk like the living."

Stepping carefully toward the skeleton, Sil'qian will attack with his longsword. But he slips on a scrap of web and his swing goes wild!

---

20:14, Today: Sil'qian Nightwind rolled 6 using 1d20+4.  longsword attack.
The curse of the dice roller strikes again!

Luckily, attacking an unmoving target is a simple affair.

Sil smashes the dwarf skull with his longsword.  The skeleton doesn't react to this insult.

Sil'qian eyes dart furtively around the room, embarrassed at his uncontrolled sword swing...even if it did accomplish the task.

He pokes at the rotting pouch with the tip of his sword, still being overly cautious.

Nodding to the elf, Brian added, "Those boots are certainly blessed to be so healthy even in such an environment. My own two boots are more worn than these, thank the stairs." He let out a small chuckle. Still maintaining the line, he leaned to the side to get a better look at the form of the skeleton, and its strange equipment.

"Who could this man be, certainly a warrior and possibly a smith? What lead to his demise in this odd location? And what do we-" His words were cut off by the noise of the skull being smashed to bits. Brian turned slowly and corrected his posture.
"Thank you for your caution, Sil'qian."

"Boots might be cursed, that's why he died." Axel offers as a suggestion.  He looks at the dwarven skeleton, but quickly loses interest.  "He's been dead so long even his kin have probably forgotten about him.  That's encouraging at least.  It's even less likely we will find anything hostile here."

Intentionally or not, Sil's blade tears a hole in the pouch, spilling two objects onto the ground: an oblong green stone, carved with runes, and a vial of light blue powder laced with sparkling motes.

"This may be a good sign.  The first person we met did nothing to harm us.  If this continues, Arden Vul will pose no threat"

Zuru picks up the warhammer, grunting a bit.

"A bit too heavy for my tastes"


His eyes widen a bit when he sees the stone
This message was last edited by the player at 12:18, Wed 22 Apr 2020.

Looking around their current environment and seeing the sun is setting Axel makes a few suggestions.

"It's not going to be smart to attempt those treacherous steps in the fading light, so we better make sure this place is secure before the light disappears for the evening and take stock of what we have so we can begin working as a group rather than just individuals travelling together.

I have plenty of oil and a lamp we can use if we are stationary for a small amount of light.  I don't think there's not enough debris about to make a fire that will last the evening, so perhaps the half humans with the night sight can stand watch into the evening and early morning while we humans can do the hours either side.

We might not have found all the chambers in this complex yet so let's search the walls and floors for secret or concealed doorways to make sure we have no unwelcome surprise in the evening before we settle down for the night.  We can collect whatever burnable debris there is about to see if we have enough fuel to light a fire as we search."

For all his bitching and whining once Axel is safe his focus is on what the group needs to do together to survive.  True to his words he pulls out the lamp and lights it before he begins scanning the walls with his eyes and hands looking for anything secret or concealed.

The half-orc proprietor speculates, "Dehydration--after he found himself webbed in with no means to escape." He adjusts an imaginary pair of spectacles to accentuate his inspector bonafides.

"Let us find out, then, Mr. Axel. I have heard such tales myself but they usually involve an endless dance." With a few purposeful strides, he arrives at the skeleton and tries on the unfortunate soul's footwear.

Hrothgar's feet are a bit bigger than the dwarf's, but the boots resize to fit him - clearly they bear at least a minor enchantment.  They're also incredibly comfortable - moreso than any others he has worn by a substantial margin.  Apart from the resizing, they do nothing immediately obvious.

Axel, meanwhile, checks the compound but finds no doors apart from the entrance.

Sil'qian stoops to pick up the stone and the vial.

He examines each of them for a moment. If there is nothing that he can identify by looking/reading, he will pass them to Zuru.

"These are likely enchanted, but I do not possess the skill to confirm that. Perhaps, Axel or Brian can."

Turning to Hrothgar, he says, "Try walking on the walls, or levitating, or jumping...or perhaps see if they make your steps quieter."


"A good idea, Axel..although it would be tragic if that dwarf died in here when a way out existed."

Sil'qian will also examine the rooms for secret doors.

"I, too, have heard of boots of spider climbing, levitating, and bounding," grants the half-orc who then indulges in some mild experimentation. Some sneaking, a hop, a vertical ascent.

He wheels to face Mr. Axel after his tests: "Have you heard, you must have, of boots of flying?" Reaching towards the boots, he raises his eyebrows inquisitively at the second of two sons.

"I have indeed heard of them Hrothgar, there are all sorts of boots.  Boots to camouflage your footfalls so you appear as something else, boots that allow you to walk in the plane of shadows, boots to turn you ethereal and even boots to allow astral travel, but I doubt any of these apply.  Some allow you to run as fast as a horse without tiring, but some of the most common are the ones many elves are fortunate enough to posses that allow silent movement.  Our light fingered friend Zuru is most likely the best person to benefit from those, if that is what they turn out to be since he is also the default scout.

What do we think is in the vial with the sparkling light blue powder?"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:58, Thu 23 Apr 2020.

Whatever other properties the boots might have, Hrothgar is unable to suss them out.  Sil is likewise unable to locate any secret doors that Axel could not.

Brian looked about the room, seeing that the rest of the party had begun investigating. There was no telling what these colorful items could have been without proper examination. He gently took the green stone from Zuru, and attempted to comprehend the runes carved over it. He turned it over in his palm, feeling out the texture and weight of the item, and trying to find any decipherable symbol.

Returning the stone, he replied in negative to the elf. "Let us carry these if we can, and see to have them identified at a later time. Unless we find an experienced magic user, identification will be costly and inefficient. On rare occasions, unidentifiable objects of wonder were brought to the temple of Demma, and they would remain idle in safe boxes for weeks or months before anyone knew of their name or effect." He seemed lost in remembrance, then turned to face the party's own magic user, somewhat embarrassed. "This is a fanciful guess, but could it be in your power to identify, Axel?"

Gesturing to the other side of cave, Brian continued Axel's talk about making camp. "I am in agreement with you on that point. I would suggest scoping out the other room we know about, to eliminate the chance of surprise, just as you say. We could prepare to rest in either chamber, as per considerations of convenience and safety." He went around the room, tapping at the walls with the long end of his flail, hearing for echoes, before coming to a stop facing the exit. His expression suggested he did not intend to leave just yet, and was rather keeping watch.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:28, Thu 23 Apr 2020.

"That spell is not within my power, and I have been told it is safer to get another idiot mage to cast it for you anyway.  It is dangerous and weakens the caster considerably.  Not really suitable for adventuring."

Tybalt made a circuit of the rooms after it was deemed there was no further traps or dangers he must be aware of. "Perhaps the dwarf was poisoned in here when the door sealed behind him? Or maybe he was just old and his time had come... he died with his boots on as the saying goes."

The Walker joined the search for hidden doors or compartments before conceding that they might best hole up here for the night. "Time to expand your holdings Hrothgar, open a new Inn here this evening."

"I've got it," announces the empirical scientist. "These boots make you walk like an elf. See, I'm walking like an elf."

Adjusting his ears to their maximum elevation, he sashays about the dwarf's burial chamber -- until he stumbles against that same dwarf's skull fragments. He slips off the boots and offers them to Zuru, mumbling that he doesn't want to walk like an elf after all.


"Oh, no. You've clearly never looked into such matters. As if such entrepreneurial  agility were possible. First, I would have to locate the ancestors of this fellow and negotiate for the development rights. Were those to be acquired, and they never would be, next, I would have ..." He continues on in this vein.

He settles down to wait for whatever is next.

Zuru tries on the boots, and sees if he likes the feel.  "Hmm, seem kind of nice."


He'll poke around the room as well, seeing if he finds anything unusual

Let's save some time: I've made all the necessary rolls for each of you to find secret doors, and none of you located any.

With no apparent other way out, and the light fading Axel settles down for the evening rolling out his bedroll and moving stuff around in his backpack until it served well enough as a pillow before breaking out his rations and chowing down.

He takes an early watch, whilst the lamp still burnt getting into the habit of taking his turn early so he had time for a decent sleep before relearning his spells.

Having decided that the time spent exploring the burnt-web cliffside crypt would prevent them from reaching the summit before nightfall, Walker began preparations for a concealed camp.

"I'll join Axel on first watch... Perhaps Hrothgar and Silk should take the final morning watch and Zuru and Brian take the middle?"

"Two per watch makes sense. But, we should switch, Walker. Then there will be one person with night vision on each watch."

---

Do you think demi-humans would call themselves demi-humans? I think not! And no one would call their vision, infravision!

Nodding at such wisdom, Tybalt conceded. "Well said."

"This sounds fine.  Good night fellows.  Try not to be eaten。“

Zuru finds a comfy corner, wraps himself in his cloak, and is soon asleep

Sil'qian turns to Axel as the rest of the group settle in, best they can to sleep, "If you keep the lantern shaded, it will not be seen from outside the cavern. I will watch the stairs. If anything approaches, I will shout out. Wake the others and brighten the lantern."

The elf then wraps his cloak around him, takes his wool blanket, and seats himself just outside the doorway to the cave.

The six if you settle into the ruined building for the night.  The time passes without excitement, and the next morning, you continue your ascent up the cliff face.  You pass two more switchbacks as you ascend, but finally, after nearly two hours of climbing, you reach the top.  Greeting you is what looks to have once been a large gate, but is now simply a 40' space with a crumbling guard tower at either end.  The western tower seems mostly intact, but the eastern one is half-collapsed, the wall facing out from the cluff little more than rubble.  Walls stretch out beyond the towers.

The remains of a road lead north-northwest through the gates, leading up to what appears to be a stone pillar of some sort.  Few other structures are in evidence, though you can see something to the north.  A few other structures are visible in the distance, but of the other buildings that must have once stood here there is no sign.

Your observations are interrupted by a shout.  "Ho there!  Newcomers to this fine city?"  The source is man, one of five people emerging from the city.  He has five others with him, and together, they seem to be an adventuring party much like your own: two men (including the speaker), both dressed in simple clothes; three other humans (two men and a woman), clad in armor, and a halfling dressed in leathers.

Keeping his voice low so it does not travel to the people approaching Axel speaks to the group, "How does he know we're newcomers here?  We might be returning.  What do you think, can strangers approaching us from within ruins be trusted?".

How far away are they just in case Axel wishes to destroy them with a mighty spell?  :o).

OOC:  Are there any weapons apparent and is the type of armour they wear important?

Brian shook his head in agreement and whispered back. "Caution would be advisable. But it is too early to see them as confirmed threats. Let us parley from a distance."

He walked measured steps, keeping with his own group. He looked at the other party's garbs and accessories, hoping to identify a sign of any god, possibly his own.

OOC: Can I say that Brian already has his flail out? He will not draw his weapon in front of them.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:26, Sun 26 Apr 2020.

Speakig quietly, while keeping his eyes on the other group, "Because he has been here for some time? Or because he is planning to lull us into an ambush. Can strangers ever be trusted?" His hand involuntarily rubs his neck under his mask.

"True enough, Brian."

"Walker, you should speak to him; I will accompany you. Hrothgar, Brian, keep your eyes on those in armour; Axel, the two without armour are your targets, and Zuru watch the halfling's every move."

Sil'qian unconsciously checks his mask and then steps forward, assuming Tybalt will as well.

When he is about 5 paces ahead of the group, he stops, and he holds up his hand in an open-handed wave to acknowledge the speaker.

"Well met. I am Sil'qian, this is Walker. Who are you?"

He lets his hand drop down, casually onto his sword hilt.

As Silk moves forward to greet the others Axel walks sideways to the left away from the rest of the party so he is not in close proximity to them.  As Silk asked he keeps his eyes on the two without armour watching and wary in case they show any sign of spell like incantations.

Zuru nods at Silk's suggestion. His cheerful smile remains as he puts his hands in his pockets and watches. One pocket holds his sling, and the other a stone. He feels ready

The bile rises in the nascent tycoon's throat.

"Competition," he hisses, before training his eyes on the armored  claim-jumpers.

OKOK, we're probably the claim-jumpers but lust for commerce can twist a half-man's soul.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 20:57, Sun 26 Apr 2020.

"Well met, Sil'qian and Walker!" replies the man, who keeps his distance as well.  "I am Roger the Rapier, and we are the Five Fingers of Destiny!"  He gestures grandiosely at his companions, then adds, "Well, six now, I suppose.  The name is a work-in-progress."  He shakes his head and continues.  "My companions and I are here to explore the ruins and the halls below, as I imagine your group is."

Brian notices that the woman has a holy symbol of Mitra hanging from her neck.

The cleric exclaimed, quiet enough to only let his party hear, "Look at the symbol attached to that woman's neck. A proud lion's mane, enclosed by crystalline flames. It is a sign of the god Mitra, of justice, oaths and humanitarianism. Where Lady Demma is the mother goddess of home, Mitra may be the father figure who protects from a distance."

Sil'qian had already walked away, and issued orders. Brian paused, and nodded at the back of the elf.
Turning to the party, Brian spoke again. "Hrothgar, stay your anger, but hold on to your weapons. They may be good natured folks, but we should not give them the wrong idea about us."

Aligning himself to face the armored persons as told, he adjusted the icon of Demma hanging from his neck, making the pewter seed visible to the other party. He then slowly raised his flail, yet another symbol of the goddess, to waist level.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:45, Mon 27 Apr 2020.

"Roger the Rapier... has a certain ring to it." Walker replied with just the hint of a smile at the corners of his lips. He held his bow at the side, arrow nocked as it had been since they'd left this morning in their ascent, as well as in their approach to this group. He and Sil'quian, being likely the quickest of the troupe save perhaps Zuru, were - at first blush - the obvious choice for parley with an unknown group, though the distinct lack of charisma on the part of Tybalt was notable. His cousin had inherited the family charm it might be said, but Durke was gone now and all that social chemistry with him.

"We're here for various reasons, neighbor," Walker said, "I'm the inheritor of a quest, the others have their own interests, but as the Handful of Destiny you'll surely understand how individual motivations work. Perhaps though, we might swap tidings, if the stories are true, there's plenty to explore and many are the party which has never returned..."

To offer something to get the exchange started, Walker shared this, "We've heard rumor of a market in the area, run by Trolls if you can believe such a thing, tell us, have you heard of such a place?"

Axel cocks his head to listen to the reply to Tybalt's question.  The new party seemed cordial enough without any obvious sole claim to the area that placed their efforts as claim jumping.  He stood waiting next to a pile of rubble to see how things played out.

Roger bobs his head in response.  "Yes, I've heard of the place.  Quite a sight, I'm told, though I've never seen it myself.  We've mostly been exploring the city for the time being.  Not a lot to find, though we did find what looked to be a rather sizable basement - might even be an entrance to the Halls."  He points north.  "Head along the road and you'll find the Pyramid of Thoth - rather famous landmark around here.  Turn west from there and you'll find the remains of an old building, with some stairs leading down.  Might be something worthwhile there.

"Oh, and if you're here any length of time, you simply must visit the Sign of the Broken Head.  It's an inn run by an enterprising fellow named Kettle-Belly.  The place is built like a fortress and safe from the beasts that roam the city.  Much easier then heading back to Newmarket."

One of the men interrupts.  "Roger..."

Roger pauses before replying, "Right, right.  Sorry, lads."  He turns back to you.  "We're headed back to Newmarket to make good on our latest haul, and the journey down the Stair is a long one.  If you'll excuse us?"

"Beast's!" Axel exclaims with more than an ounce of trepidation in his voice.  "What......, what sort of beast have you seen." he asks obviously a little nervous.

With these words, Hrothgar's heart plummets the full length of the Long Falls and splatters at the bottom, sending out a fine spray of red mist. His face drains of all color, and he hears no more of what is spoken. Instinctively, he clutches at Axel's robes for support during his time on the crucible but finds nothing but air.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:31, Mon 27 Apr 2020.

"Indeed. Good journey to you and your Fingers of Destiny." Sil'qian gives a curt nod to the group standing behind Roger and makes a point of stepping aside to let them pass.

As he turns, he tries to catch the eyes of his companions and gives them a nod.

"Are you ill, Hrothgar?" he asks when he see the large half-orc groping at the air, and looking like he is about to faint.

"Oh, you know the sort," Roger says to Axel as his group heads for the Stair.  "Wild animals, oversized vermin, the occasional walking dead.  Nothing you can't handle, I'm sure.  Farewell!"  Roger and his band take to the Stair and are quickly gone.

The blood drains from Axels face when the walking dead are mentioned, and he makes a hurried sign in the air as if to ward off hexes.  His ignorance on the subject would be apparent to anyone who knew much about curses.

Axel glances at Hrothgar, momentarily distracted from his own issues.  Deciding whatever he was suffering from was not as important as what he had to say, he speaks to the group.  "Did you hear that.  The walking dead, and just when the holy warrior decided to take an early swan dive.  My powerful sleep spell will be useless against creatures that are not alive.  Is it wise to continue on when the mystical might of the group is neutralised?"  He seems deadly serious about his own overemphasised importance to the group.

Brian seemed relieved when the other group walked away. He looked at them go the way his group had come. Then he heard Axel, and turned to listen to his spiel with a slight frown. When he was done, Brian let out a short laugh, and with a big smile went over to Axel and touched his shoulder. He drew Axel's attention to his own holy symbol. "Faith."

After noting the magic user's reaction, he sauntered over to the inconsolable Hrothgar to offer his own robes as support. Still smiling he said, "Competition."

"You'll take care not to speak of my cousin so disrespectfully. Granted he was a loudmouth and a do-gooder, and often a tremendous annoyance, but his actions may well have saved the rest of us from falling that day ourselves. I would hate to have to give you flying lessons," the ranger grated at Axel as he watched the other party leave.

"I don't think I trust them. We'd best keep an eye out behind us lest they double back and cause us grief."

"Well, it sounds like this place isn't quite the abandoned ruins I'd expected it to be. We must be vigilant!"

"Vigilance is always necessary.

We should get out of the open for now. And then decide our next course.

Hrothgar, what is wrong with you?"
[Edit: grammar]
This message was last edited by the player at 15:46, Tue 28 Apr 2020.

"Might eb abandoned now Tybalt. If that group got in and out alive, I am sure we can do the same, but with even more success."

Zuru heads over to peak over the top of the stairs, to watch the other group disappear.

"Have you ever had a dream and then run right smack into it--but it was someone else's dream and it's better than anything you ever dreamed of?"

Switching gears, he agrees with the others that those chaps were "too cool for school." He wonders if they have actually made the full descent or just found a convenient place to hide before tracking back.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:44, Tue 28 Apr 2020.

"No," Axel flatly replies to Hrothgar deciding he hadn't been making sense for some time, but it was probably an orc man breeding thing and anyone with any sense wouldn't open that box.

"Why would they come back to take pickings from a group that has had no chance to grab treasure.  Perhaps next time we see them they could be a bigger danger, but by then," he nervously glances towards the ruined city, "we will be more dangerous ourselves if everything goes to plan, not that we have one."

"They said there is a Pyramid to Thoth along the road, which makes me very nervous because of the walking dead it probably contains.  All those servants slaughtered to serve the master in the next life just seem beastly and my bet is they're pissed because of it.  I know I would be.  We don't need to go in there, but they said it was a landmark at least.

Perhaps we should agree to meet there on the steps if the shit hits the fan or probably that Kettle-Belly fellows place if we find the sign with the broken head would be a better place if we get separated."

"Perhaps the remains of the building with the steps leading down would be a better place for us to start until I have more arcane spells I can cast on the undead to destroy their will to clutch to this life."

"Sounds good to me, Axel. Let's find that ruined building and head to the depths below," agrees Hrothgar.

Sil'qian gives the half-orc a squinted stare for a moment. "No."


The elf gives the human mage an equally squinted stare. "I say we find the inn. That will give us a safe place to work from. And if it is not safe, best to know now, and not when we are injured...or laden with treasure from the Halls."

Tybalt simply shook his head at Hrothgar's sudden reaction. It was surely due to frequent head trauma. The Walker had seen it many times among the more savage warrior types. Helmets were rumored to help avoid such residual effects, but they were costly and limited vision so many just went without...

When the elf spoke, it was as if the words had come from Walker's own mouth. He found himself nodding and then remembering Hrothgar's odd claim only a moment ago, he suddenly stopped.

"You seem to have take the words right out of my mouth. It would be foolish of us not to scout the lay of the land, and a safe place or two to hole up. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not carrying around any more foodstuffs and supplies than I need for a few days. That'll run out soon enough. Let's get established here. There will be plenty of time for exploration..."

"Many is the party which has met an untimely end for lack of wisdom, and I'll tell you that Silk here has the right of it."

Softening a bit, Walker added, "I like the sound of coin clinking as much as the rest of you... Let's recall Durke as our example of bravado displacing caution..."

"The inn first!!?  I don't know why I didn't think of that.  I second that, we find the inn and the good man Kettle-Belly.  We need to start looking for the sign with the broken head."

Hrothgar registers the looks of incomprehension.

"I had fancied that I might open an inn after a satisfactory accumulation of capital through adventuring. Maybe even in these parts with their offers of endless adventure. You will no doubt have already noticed that such thoughts are frequently in my mind."

He looks in the distance, as if he has already spied the inn of all inns.

"And then to hear that an inn akin to a fortress is already here."

He shrugs, "So it goes. I'm ready to follow."

Sil'qian stands impassively listening to the others speak.

"I suggest Walker and I lead, about 30 paces ahead of the group to scout. Brian can lead, Zuru and Axel in the middle and Hrothgar guarding the rear. What say you?"

[Edit I meant about 100 feet, not 100 yards (paces)]
This message was last edited by the player at 20:25, Fri 01 May 2020.

Brian was by the half-man's side, rubbing his back as he lamented. Brian had a face like one amusedly listening to a child's talk, and when he replied his tone was sincere. "There, there... Often the fields most fruitful have long born someone else's crop. There is an attractiveness to opportunity that I am sure you feel greatly. Surely the halls have riches enough for you to see your inn. That is," he added slowly, looking at the others, "if enough has been left for the six of us."

With a spring in his step, Brian readied his weapon and faced Sil'qian. "Very well, please lead the way. I shall hang back with the rest, but do call us if you need the slightest assistance. We are a party, after all. May the blessings of the Lady be with us."

Tybalt did feel a pang of understanding for Hrothgar, only from a different perspective. He shrugged and said, "When you get rich, buy him out... or, just do it better and put the other inn under. Don't give up, just use this as motivation."

The Walker nodded once and then led out to explore the ruins.

"Hmm, an inn does sound nice.  Maybe we can sleep indoors, and not have to cook our dinner for a change."

Zuru walks up next to Axel, and follows along with the group

Axel seems content with the planned marching order as protected as he can be between the two groups.  He continues Zuru train of thought commenting to him, "And get a decent sleep.  All this sleeping on the ground is no good.  I will need to develop a spell for restful slumber.  I shall call it Axel's Pillows of Air perhaps, so adventurers always get a great sleep when they can't make an inn."  He continues his musings mostly to himself mumbling aloud as they begin to walk forward.  "I wonder if divine power can be augmented into an arcane spell to include a ready made breakfast when one awakes.  That is definitely something worth considering.  I shall call it Axel's Bed and Breakfast and it shall become known throughout the land and make me wealthy beyond measure."  He likes the sound of that and pulls a small notebook out jotting the idea down awkwardly as they walk forward.

Hrothgar complains that, "Pity is the basest coin there is..."

But his tone and posture belie his words and it's obvious to all and sundry that he'll soak up as much pity as the Lady and her priest have to offer.

Your course decided, your group heads northwest along the street, pausing when you come to the stne pillar you saw earlier.  It's actually a granite obelisk, 10' square at its base and about 35' tall.  It's weather-beaten, but compared to the city ruins around it it's practically pristine.  It's covered in writing and pictograms, the latter depicting humans interacting with lizards near the bottom of the pillar, and depiciting the sun near the top.

On the obelisk's south face is a wide horizontal line with no writing or illustration.  In the center of it is a deeply-carved image of an ankh, above which there's writing in a language you don't recognize.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:54, Sat 02 May 2020.

Hrothgar finds the obelisk to be baffling. Is it supposed to be some kind of sign post for the city? He peers at the pictograms near the bottom to see exactly which kinds of interactions have been depicted.

He asks Brian if he knows which deity claims the symbol of the ankh?

Axel leans in looking at the pictures and the writing.  As he traces a hand over one of the pictograms he says, "Well this seems to lay to rest the rumour I heard that the original builders of Arden Vul were drunken toad-like creatures.  These look more like lizards and belly crawlers to me."

"Did anyone hear any rumours about lizard folk from people before we got here."

He stops and peers more closely at the text.  "This is Mythric, the language is dead but I had to study it for a time.  Perhaps I should have paid more attention."  He pronounces a few of the words in a halted manner before swapping into common Archontean so everyone can understand.

"I'm a little rusty but it says ...Throg the fighter was rendered and eaten... I don't know many of the words to follow but then it goes on to say ....we saved the priest and the lizard men honoured the mage Thrax."  He straightens up as he says, "Well honouring a mage sounds like the actions of an educated race even if they do appear to be savages.  Perhaps as a group we could learn a thing or two from them."  He looks around nodding hoping everyone agrees.  Looking to the next line he continues, "I can't read a lot of this, but at the end it says insight shall be given to the man who brings midday life to the Sun, the moon, and the Stars."

He runs his hands back along the inscription to what he believes are the runes depicting "Midday life. which he repeats out aloud several times before he says "Insight might also mean light, or even a beacon revealed but I do not know how to translate 'midday life' differently."

"It was all making sense when it told to honour the mage, but I'm not sure what it is going on about by bringing life to the midday sun, the moon and the stars."

In reply to Hrothgar (msg # 127):

"The ankh," Brian spoke slowly, "is a symbol of Isis, a goddess amongst The Twelve. She is a mother goddess, of mercy and magic. If anything, this symbol is an indication that this place where we stand truly belongs to the old ages, as we expected. Not many followers of The Twelve remain to this day."

In reply to Axel Beckett (msg # 128):

He appeared thrilled when Axel claimed to hold some understanding of Mythric. Brian possessed none himself. He listened to the mage's translation intently. When Axel turned back for affirmation, he would not have seen Brian nodding at first, but he did give a quick nod on seeing Axel's expression.

Brian puzzled over the last message. It was daytime, so the obelisk was already well lit. "Perhaps it provides protection against dangers here. I could prepare miracles of creating light or detecting magical objects to help out, but I have neither of them at this time. I thought it would be better to have quick healing on hand instead. Since we intend to go to that inn, we could ask about this obelisk there."

Gesturing to the horizontal line on the southern face, he beckoned the magic user. "Axel, could you read the words carved above the ankh on this side?"

Sil'qian studies the pictograms intently. He is specifically looking for:

• anything that looks like an elevator,
• anything that looks like a well shaft, or
• a cave with a lake in it near the bottom of the obelisk.

"Indeed, Mithric."

The pictograms in the lower part of the obelisk primarily depict humans fighting, subduing, and killing lizards.  There's nothing showing anything like what Sil is looking for.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:16, Sat 02 May 2020.

The warrior listens intently to the speakers.


"Only something about kobolds living in an area southwest of the city."

"But what was he rendered into?"

As for the riddle of the midday sun, he believes that riddles are often more figurative than literal and words can take on unexpected meanings.

"I did not know that," Hrothgar admits. "I get the symbols all confused even when I recognize one as a symbol. I thought talk of those gods was the stuff of … mythology."

After studying the pictograms with the others, he conjectures that the lizard folk might have been enslaved after they were subjugated?

Zuru snorts at the mention of Kobolds.  "Waste of time looking for them.  Most useless creatures you'll ever meet.  Less brains than a chipmunk.  THough I did know a chipmunk who said some good things about kobolds.  Maybe not as dumb as that one"

he wanders around, looking at the pillar

Axel goes over to the the side Brian indicates and looks up at the words staring at them for some time.  "Sorry no, what they say is not clear to me, perhaps motherhood and magic are mentioned, but they say more that I cannot decipher.  I really did need to pay more attention when I was taught the dead language, I thought it was a waste of my effort at the time."

While the others inspected the odd obelisk, the Walker made a slow circuit around the perimeter and looked for tracks or sign of traffic, he also scanned their surroundings for hidden foes... or advancing ones.

"Durke and I spoke with a priestly sort, a wine-bibber for certain, who told of a great - something - beneath the Temple of Thoth... didn't the neighborly Roger the Rapier say something about a temple in this vicinity?"

Brian discussed a few symbols with the magic user. After confirming they could decipher no more, the cleric moved away from the structure, and his attention caught on to the Walker. Brian decided the man certainly moved like his title would suggest. Responding to his thoughts, Brian answered, "We are here to reach the Great Halls, indeed, but along my way I heard many different rumours of what that phrase truly alludes to, and what includes the Great Halls. Many names were given to it by people of all kinds," Brian listed a few esoteric names, then lowered his voice, "and there were yet some others who were scared of the Great Halls, for they spoke of it in hushed tones as the punishment hall of the priesthood of Thoth, where the barks and whoops of dead prisoners still echo today." He quickly shook his head. "This is all heresay, of course. Such a place would not be unusual to be associated with Thoth, though it being the subject of rumours is unusual. Perhaps there is a path to the Great Halls that passes through that temple we were told of."

Pointing to the obelisk, he says, "This appears to be a dedication to the Twelve, and to the Archontean line of emperors.

Turning to Brian and Walker, he adds, "I too have heard tales of the Halls below. The worshippers of Thoth discovered a vast cavern far beneath the surface, and other things. We should share our knowledge at the inn.

Shall we continue?"

The half-orc wanderer declaims, "We walk amongst ancient mysteries; ancient mysteries might walk amongst us," before agreeing with the jack of all trades with a more modestly produced, "Yes."

"Let us continue, and discuss what we have heard as we go.  It will help pass the time and we might come across a few things we have all heard that seem to ring true.  I have heard a number of stories.

Did anyone hear the one about the tomb in the Thothian area just off the great hall?  I was told that the tomb was small, even unremarkable, but inside they encountered the stench of death and soon were faced with disease ridden rotten bandaged mummies still alive and moving around.  Well they didn't say alive, more unalive I think, but by all accounts the stench was unbearable like a multitude of decaying carcasses.  The guy who told me said he hightailed out of there like a rabbit with the runs.  Perhaps running is the best defence since he obviously got away so probably outdistanced them.  He was only a stick of a thing."

Your group follows the road north.  The wide road here is comprised of large cobblestones, which are buckled and cracked with age, and the road is lined with ancient oak trees.  At its end is what presumably used to be a plaza, but now looks like a war zone.  It's 200' square, with the remains of pillars around its edges.  The remaining stumps of the pillars stand beween about three and eight feet in height, and stone busts (which presumably used to sit atop the pillars) are scattered around the area.  They seem to stare at you, judging your passage through this ancient place.

Small trees have sprung up here and there in the plaza, but there are also two old maples near the southern entrance (where you arrived) and an absolutely ancient oak in the center.  On the eastern side of the plaza is a tower, roughly 45' in height and still in good condition.  A pair of massive bronze doors block the entrance, and you see no windows except near the top.

Everything around the plaza has been leveled, though the general height of the ruins is still a few feet higher than even the tallest of you.  Some paths have been carved through them, however, allowing you to travel in more or less any direction you wish.  Not far to the north, you spy a great step pyramid towering over the surrounding landscape, about at tall as the tower.

Are any of the busts recognisable?  Famous figures?  Images of gods?  Are they all human or some possibly demi-human or humanoid?  Does it not really matter?

Sil'qian points to the north, "Likely the pyramid of Thoth that Roger the Rapier mentioned."

He steps toward the bronze doors, looking them over, "Could this be the Sign of the Broken Head?"

In reply to Sil'qian Nightwind (msg # 142):

"makes sense to me.  Quite a few broken heads around.  Maybe we can see if we find anyone who knows more about that pyramid"

"One of you should knock and see if anyone is at home."  Axel bravely suggests standing back a little timidly in case hot pitch is thrown out of the window from above to scold either of them so badly their skin peels and they die an agonising death.

Hrothgar observes the place itself seems to lack a sign and then knocks on the bronze doors with a gauntleted fist and waits for a response.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:43, Tue 05 May 2020.

No response is forthcoming.  If anyone's there, they're ignoring you.

With no response forthcoming, Hrothgar backs away a few steps and addresses the group, "Am I on the only one not detecting any hint of hospitality?"

Shrugging, he returns to the doors to see if he can open them.

"How rude!" Axel intones.

Bravely (for him) Axel will take a look around the tower, screaming in astonished surprise if he actually finds another living creature and running back to the safety of the others.  If no one else is seen he will continue around the tower if it is possible to check there is no other entrance.  He will also look up to see if the windows above go all the way around the tower or if they are just on the side with the door.

There are eight windows around the tower, two facing each direction, but there are no other entrances nor any other living creatures in the vicinity.

"Hmm, I'm betting we'd be safer staying inside than outside at night.  Let me take a look."

Zuru climbs up the wall of the tower, heading for the closest window


19:37, Today: Zuru rolled 34 using 1d100.  climb walls.  he has a 65% chance
This message was last edited by the player at 11:40, Tue 05 May 2020.

No apparent way to open the bronze doors?
This message was last edited by the player at 14:14, Tue 05 May 2020.

The cleric was busy in his own thoughts. He wondered about the gods of old, whose symbols were so striking for simply being present. How long would faith in The Ten and the Seventeen live on? Time flows, and humans forget the gods...

Just then, he stumbled over a stone bust, and his line of thought came to an end. Now he was in a ruined plaza, surrounded by his new companions. He stood up, and without dusting himself off, began to scan the area. It felt oddly artificial, now that it was in the process of being overtaken by nature, as nature is wont to do. The tower was a strange obstacle to him, a man most comfortable with knocking first. He shrugged and reminded himself that he was now on a quest for gold.

The halfling was ten feet up on the tower when Brian next looked that way. He cupped his mouth and called out. "Zuru, if you must climb up the window, I have a length of hempen rope for you that will certainly be of assistance.

Hrothgar appears to be resolved.

"Built like a fortress is one thing; nigh on impregnable is another. If Kettle-belly dwells within, he chooses to remain unobserved."

He turns to the elf of many talents, "How about we continue our walkabout for now?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 18:24, Tue 05 May 2020.

With the halfling looking to climb to the top Axel begins to organise the others.  "Rather than just standing here and watching, let's gather brush at the base to soften a fall if it should happen.  No big branches, just leaves twigs and grasses to make a soft bed.  If he falls we should be able to gather enough to soften the ground so he doesn't damage himself."

OOC:  To my mind a simple precaution like this is worth 30 minutes to an hour of foraging to build a 4 or 5 foot high mound of vegetation debris to act as a buffer between Zuru and the ground.  Given his weight potentially no damage would occur if the mound was that high.  That is if there is enough vegetation etc around.

"We will have no choice if we cannot gain entry to the inn. If it is the inn. But, for the moment we should wait and see what comes of Zuru's ascent."

As he watches the gnome climb, he adds, "It occurs to me that given the nature of this place; a city on top of a cliff with purportedly many miles of temples, halls, and caverns beneath us; the entrance to the inn may be underground. If Zuru is not successful at gaining entry from above, perhaps, we should search for an entrance below?"

Tybalt shook his head. "I truly doubt this is the Inn." He began to take off his pack. "I've never had to scale a wall and break into an Inn before!"

"I've got some climbing gear Zuru, might make your efforts easier... but we can always come back. Let's make note of what we've found and keep moving!"

OOC:  Didn't realize it was that high.  Happy to take Axel's idea of being boosted up and making a few more rolls.  If someone offers him rope, he'll just carry it up


Zuru quietly mutters to himself, and continues going up, When he reaches it (?), he sits on the window, admiring the view, before hopping inside.



21:23, Today: Zuru rolled 29 using 1d100.
 climb walls.  21:23, Today: Zuru rolled 6 using 1d100.  climb walls.

"Look at him go," Brian laughed, "Pray keep your wits about and remain safe within!"

Brian did not contribute to the discussion about the location of the inn. They would get there if the gods willed it. For the time, he waited to see what came of Zuru's scouting, eyes fixed onto the window used by him to enter.

The remaining five of you watch as Zuru clambers up the tower and cimbs in one of the windows.

"Well done, Zuru." Sil'qian says quietly, to no one in particular, when the little gnome jumps through the window. There is twinkle in his eye, that suggests he is smiling under his mask.


"We should know soon enough. Assuming Zuru opens the front door for us!"

A troubled look passes over Hrothgar's face.

"If this isn't an inn--and we maybe should stop kidding ourselves about that--that means Roger the Rapier has misled us, and all that implies."

Zuru pokes his head back out and waves.  He holds up a finger, and then turns to head down the stairs.  He tests the stairs gingerly, then, assuming it seems likely to support him, sneaks down the stairs.  Hopefully, he will be at the door soon.

OOC:  10:03, Today: Zuru rolled 4 using 1d100.  hide in shadows. 20%
10:03, Today: Zuru rolled 12 using 1d100.  move quietly. 20%

Dice love me today!

Yes, it's just a pity that the DM rolls your stealth checks, not you.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:24, Thu 07 May 2020.

The Walker marveled at the little fellow's nimbleness in scaling the wall. While they waited, Tybalt kept watch on their perimeter lest something approach them whilst the gnome was showing off.

Brian raised his eyebrows on hearing this. "We didn't think this was the inn, did we? As we follow along the path, we should run into it before sundown."
Brian sighed and stood under the oak tree. He began muttering a prayer for the party's success. When he was done, he approached Hrothgar and made casual chat. "If I may ask, what led you to pursue the Halls of Arden Vul? What about pursuing business in your homeland?"

Axel looks up to the gnome climbing and listens to the others talking.  If he had any thoughts on the subject he kept them to himself.

A shadow passes over Hrothgar's face. He replies, "Another time, I will tell you about my homeland."
For now, he anxiously awaits the reappearance of the sneak thief.

From where he stands looking up Axel speaks.  "I didn't think he would go inside himself.  Breaking and entering, is breaking and entering and it doesn't matter where it happens, no one is going to like the arrival of an unfamiliar face unannounced.  He's in great danger by himself.  The gnome certainly has big balls or no brains, maybe both."

Sil'qian walks to the doors, iIf there is an obvious handle or latch he will try to open the doors.

If not, he will examine them more closely to see if he can spot a hidden mechanism.

---

I just realised all we did was knock! If needed - Find Traps: 35%

You also don't roll your own Find Traps checks - only I know whether you failed to find a trap because there wasn't one, or because you botched the roll.

The doors have no handle, but they look like the open inward.  However, they refuse to budge even the slightest bit when pushed.  Of course, being quite large and made of bronze, that isn't entirely surprising.  They at least have no traps (that Sil can find).

---

I didn't roll - I provided you with my target number - you should check the dice roller.

D'oh!

How much time has passed since we last saw Zuru?

Whilst he waits Axel will approach the door since the others have done so without harm to their person and he'll knock on the outside.  *Knock, knock* "Hello?  Is there anybody in there?  Can anybody hear me?  Is there anyone at home?"

There is no response to Axel's knocking.

Time elapsed: About two minutes.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:51, Sat 09 May 2020.

Sil'qian moves to the north side of the building, is there a door on that side?

If not, he will call out, "I will inspect the back of the building for a door."

If someone offers to join him he will wait, otherwise he will carefully move through one of the trails in the rubble to get a view of the back of the building.

"I will join you Sil," Axel comments, the 2 minutes starting to feel like 10.  "Perhaps you are right Hrothgar.  For an inn to survive it needs customers, and making it easy for customers to enter is a key factor any inn keeper would look for, or at least a decent doorbell.  I don't think this Kettle-Belly chap isn't very accomplished at inn keeping at all.  Perhaps his real job is killing those that enter and stealing their goods.  He then closes the doors as he disposes of the bodies until the next lot of idiots stumble along.  Maybe that is what he is doing right now."

Though Axel is just speculating at best, his rising pitch tells that he is internalising his own story and his paranoia is making it real for him at least.  "Perhaps going in is the wrong thing to be doing altogether."

"Wait!  Did you hear that?" he says to Sil grabbing his forearm as he speaks.  "Was that a scream?  Was that Zuru's death wail?"  He cocks an ear to listen though it seems pretty obvious to the others there has been no such sound.  "I told him not to go, ohhh the foolish gnome, and now we are down to 5.  Oh why did I come on this treacherous journey, already 2 are slain without a penny to share between us."

"One by one into the kettle," shudders Hrothgar.

The half-orc's anxiety grows.

"I would that we would move on," he advocates, not for the first time. But his feet show no indication of moving without the other four.

A bit baffled by this, Walker responded, "Wait a moment Hrothgar, relax will you? We've one of our companions inside that building, perhaps in danger, we're not just going to take off and leave him there! If he doesn't show up soon, I'll go in after him, and though I believe this side jaunt to be a distraction, I'm patient enough to wait it out, to a point obviously."

The ranger listened intently while Hrothgar's mouth hung open, for whatever Axel had heard, though he expected it to be mostly made up in the odd man's head.

Sil's keen elven eyes locate a cunningly concealed door on the east wall of the tower, though it seems to be locked.

Time elapsed: about 4 minutes.

Chagrined, the warrior waits for an opportunity to learn more of Zuru's adventure.

"How about that! Look what you've found, Sil," he congratulates the elf. "Can you get it open with your tools?"

Axel is suitably impressed, patting the half-elf on the back encouragingly.  "Capital, capital, job well done.  Yes open it up, perhaps someone here might be able to save poor Zuru."

Spotting the door in the building, Sil'qian calls out to the group, "Here's an entrance!"

He takes his time to look for traps guardign the secret entrance. He starts by examining the ground directly in front of the door for any signs of a hidden pit, pressure plates, or trip wires.

When satisfied that there are none, he will examine the door for any small holes that might fire needles or darts.

Then he will begin to examine the door and then the surrounding doorframe for a mechanism to open the door. Buttons to push, protrusions that might slide. or indents that might pull out.

---

Chance to find traps 35%; Chance to open locks 35%

Sil finds no traps but is unable to get the lock open.

Time elapsed: About 6 minutes.

From inside the tower, you hear a sudden noise.  It sounds like a muffled crash.

Grinning, Hrothgar launches himself at the newly revealed door, attempting to provide as much pressure as possible on the perceived location of the weakest link of the lock.

He fails.

21:49, Today: Hrothgar rolled 5 using 1d6.  Minor Strength Test.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:52, Mon 11 May 2020.

"I'll help Hrothgar, show me what I need to do?" Axel suggests.

I always wonder why people seldom consider using group strength to force a door open.  It's what we'd do in real life.  As long as Hrothgar shows him where to lean/bang/hit/or whatever, he'll add his door opening ability to Hrothgar's for another attempt. 

His bend bars percentage is 2% and open doors on a 1-2d6

"Now he's done it!" Tybalt exclaimed. He rummaged around in his pack for a length of silk rope and a grappling hook. He then began to swing the combination faster and faster and finally let it go in an attempt to hook it through the window Zuru had entered through!

OOC: If the Walker gets it hooked, he'll climb the rope and enter.

Walker throws his hook and makes his way up the side of the tower.

Brian had been leaning against the oak tree, focused on prayer. He fidgeted, feeling unhelpful.

When Sil'qian declared the presence of another entrance, he hopped off the tree and neared the area. He watched intently as the elf worked his tools. "Truly the eyes of an elf are blessed, to notice what men normally cannot." He flinched, and continued, "Or, that ability is something that you yourself are skilled at, Sil'qian. Thank you for being in this party. Hidden as it is, I wonder if we should knock on this one, too..."

The cleric gasped when Tybalt raised his voice. He stared with a worried expression as the Walker made his way up the tower. Later, Brian commented, "When our explorers come out of that tower, and I do say 'when' instead of 'if', I wonder whether I should prepare a miracle to cure wounds, or ready my flail to deliver offence. May our patience reward us, rather than declare us callous."

"Coming?" Horthgar asks the others, as he hoists himself up, one hand after the other, the side of the tower, his legs working as hard as his hands. He hadn't been planning to do this but doubtless the coming days, if he lived to see them, would be full of things he hadn't been planning to do.

All right, I don't think I need to keep this private any more.

Hrothgar enters what appears to be the top floor of the tower, which has a 15' high ceiling covered in damaged, leaky tiles.  The floor is made of flagstones, and two sets of narrow wooden stairs lead down.  You spy three relatively fresh corpses scattered about the room: two humans in chainmail and a halfling in leather.

In the middle of the room is a massive, 8' tall ibis head.  The head is impressive to behold, composed of a stone core, ivory sheathing for the head and neck, red porphyry for the bill, and circles of polished silver for the eyes.  Aside from the eyes, which are 18" in diameter, the depiction is quite realistic.

There doesn't seem to be anyone else here, and you don't hear any noises from below.  It's a safe bet that this is probably not the inn.

The stairs are old and rotted, and you notice that one of them has broken completely part way down.  The break actually seems relatively recent, and from that, it's not hard to guess what happened to Zuru.


This message was last edited by the GM at 18:36, Mon 11 May 2020.

"Brian would know about that," he says, under his breath, to Tybalt.


"The other set," he asks the ranger. "Could you test their surety?" Hrothgar has entrusted the ranger with overcoming all navigational challenges.

He examines the three corpses. Does the blood well from wounds? He then listens intently. Can he hear whimpers of agony from below?
This message was last edited by the player at 23:06, Tue 12 May 2020.

The other set of stairs looks to be in about the same condition, albeit not actually broken.  It might be able to support your weight, but it certainly looks unsafe.

The bodies aren't really fresh, exactly, but they are relatively recent - they probably died within the last week and are beginning to smell.

You don't hear anything from below except the low moan of the wind.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:37, Mon 11 May 2020.

It isn't until Hrothgar makes it to the top, and there is no sound of the clash of metal and battle screams before Axel decides it is safe to follow.  Quite possibly someone else might have gone first, which he would be fine with, sometimes it takes a moment for a fight to ensue, but he wouldn't allow himself to be the last to use the rope to get to the top, that might be dangerous to the one left to be the last and that's not his bag.

Once up he inspects the ibis head as others have no doubt done before, as he waits for everyone to get into the room, speaking about the dead bodies as he does so.  "No doubt Zuru has taken anything of worth from those bodies, but perhaps the fighters might hold magical weapons that either of you could use.' he suggests to Hrothgar and Tybalt.  "Zuru probably wouldn't take anything he could not use with him."

He looks to the Ibis head again moving over to it and peering up.  "Perhaps the eyes are too high to reach, or trying to take the silver was the reason these others perished."  He leans in to inspect the eyes a little closer, looking to see if he can see anywhere where someone might have tried to pry them out with a weapon or tool of some sort speaking as he does so.  "Zuru might have left them there thinking to come back for them, they might have been too high, or he might have also thought that is what caused the deaths of our dearly departed early explorers.". By no means does he risk touching the statue or eyes, that takes a little courage which obviously isn't Axel's strong suit.

As he looks down the stairs he speaks his mind.  "Use the rope to go down, don't try the steps, Zuru has already discovered that mistake.  Our friend might be passed out at the bottom from the fall and require healing, or he might be dead already, we should hurry.  I would go, but I have no ability to cure.". By now knowing Axel's mannerisms it's pretty obvious his suggestion that he 'would go' is a hollow offer, knowing himself that his inability to cure would probably save him from being selected as the one who should risk the decent.

Tybalt crept cautiously to the broken stair, and bracing himself lest he fall as well, he tried to see or hear any sign of their burglar.

Looking back to the party, the Ranger lifted a finger to his lips and motioned for the end of the rope. They could search and loot later. First they needed to find out if Zuru was still alive and in need of assistance.

Holding the rope in one hand, Walker leaned out over the collapsed stair to get a better view.

As Axel climbs he rope, Sil'qian turns to Brian, "It may dangerous to wait here by yourself...but it will be dangerous to enter that window."

The elf then grabs the rope and effortlessly scales the side of the building and enters the window to join the rest of the party. He pauses at the window to see if Brian is following or not.

He takes in the room, and the enormous ibis head, before scanning the floor.

---

Does the floor itself look safe? When Walker moves to the stairs, does the floor appear solid?
If so, Sil'qian will move to the bodies to examine them to determine how they died - sword wounds or giant beak marks!

Brian looked on as every last member of the party entered the tower. He pondered over Sil'qian's words for some time, then spoke, "Well then. Help me up, I will be right with you. May Lady Demma protect us."

When he was safely inside, the cleric was quick to reach for his holy symbol at the sight of death. He closed his eyes, orienting himself. Even with his miracles and what magic the party had, it was too late for those individuals laying on the floor, and it had been so for long.

Then he looked up at the statue, and whispered. "Now we have really done it. This statue is no doubt an offering to Thoth, a god amongst the Twelve whose name has been mentioned many times since we came here. The pyramid of Thoth was some distance from here, if we saw it correctly." He slowly inched forward, careful not to step where no one had before.

Apart from the stairs, the fooring here seems sturday enough.

The bodies have no visible wounds, and appear somewhat shrivelled.  It's as though something simply sucked the life out of them.

Axel's voice has an underlying tremble of near hysteria as he replies to Brian "What do you mean by that holy man?  What has that gnome gone and gotten us into?  We certainly didn't intend to offend Thoth we were just looking for a safe place to lay our heads.  Surely he would see we, ....me in particular are blameless in this?

Can't you just say some holy words and smooth things over?"  He looks up at the beaked headed god image as he points to himself saying slowly like the god image might be a little dense or hard of hearing, "I am blameless.  I have done nothing."

Sil'qian assists Brian as he climbs up. He then tosses the rope to Walker so he can secure himself while inspecting the stairs.

His eyebrows furrow as he examines the corpses, "There are no wounds." He quickly checks for any valuables in pouches or packs while Walker is leaning over the stairs. He will take a shield if there is one.

"Any sign of Zuru?" he asks the ranger.

Hrothgar makes a helpful suggestion, "You might try saying that in that ancient language of theirs," while looking at him expectantly.

"And," he adds, "leave prying out the eyes of the Ibis for another time."

The burly half-orc prepares to lend his brawn to Walker's reconnoitering.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:15, Wed 13 May 2020.

In the gap in the broken stairs, you can see down through the tower below, dimly lit.  On the bottom floor is a circular opening inbto what is probably a basement, but unlike the rest of what you can see, it is pitch black.

You can see no sign of Zuru.  If he fell, it was probably into the basement - which he could not have survived. 

Sil's check of the bodies reveals that Zuru probably did not search them, as they have quite a bit of interest: two sets of splint mail (not chainmail - my mistake), two short swords, two shields, leather armor, a bandolier with seven throwing daggers, a club, a small gold head depicting a barbarian, a scroll written in arcane script, and an ancient piece of parchment containing Mithric writing.

"Does anyone want to try on a set of splint mail? Or need a short sword or a shield?"

He hands the the bandolier to Axel, "These might come in handy." He passes over the arcane scroll, "This too."

He holds up the gold head to Hrothgar, "Does this look familiar?" He picks up a short sword, "I'll take this for Zuru."

He claims one of the shields for himself, and takes a moment to look over the Mithric parchment.

---

Zuru already had leather armour, didn't he?

He did.

Sil is unable to decipher the Mithric.

Axel shoulders the bandolier, drawing a dagger to test its balance.  Deciding it is good he says, "I will be able to rain terror and pain upon our enemies from a distance.  I am a wise recipient for this useful resource."

He holds up the dagger to the image of Thoth, striking what he imagines to be an intimidating pose.  In reality most of the group would see how ineffective he would be in a fight.  His feet are ill placed for balance, he holds the dagger awkwardly and anyone worth their salts would probably be able to remove it from him with little effort.  He is obviously just as great a danger to himself as anyone else.

He takes the scroll and the Mythric script to work on as the others move below, doing as he said and making sure the hook is well lodged in the wall as they descend so it does not slip out.  He will also give the lantern to one of them, tying it to their pack.

Once the rope slacks and it is obvious that everybody has made it down he will go over to look down to see if they are being silently butchered and to make sure nothing is trying to climb up his rope.  He will also listen in to their conversation floating up from within the echoing tower as it very helpfully amplifies their words so he can hear what is going on and he can offer advice back down.  *two thumbs up*. Offering unsolicited advice from a safe distance is his strongest traits.  Oh you lucky people.  Please don't die down there, surviving without others to blame or hide behind is actually his weakest trait.  :o)
This message was last edited by the player at 05:12, Wed 13 May 2020.

"Perhaps, we should lower the lantern to see what lies at the bottom; and to gauge if the rope reaches the bottom.

I will then go down first, if no one else wishes to."

---

Plan to go straight down through the broken stair; not bothering with the staircase.

'That is a smart move.' Axel agrees.  "There's no point in everyone being turned into a zombie or eaten by ghouls once they get to the bottom.  Do you think Zuru could still climb like a gibbon as a ghoul?  It didn't take him long to get up the wall did it?  Perhaps he wasn't all gnome, he was awfully hairy after all.  We'll never know now anyway, unless he becomes a gnome-gibbon-ghoul."

Axel actually shrieks like a girl at his own thought and quickly ties the lantern to the rope suggesting to Sil.  'Quick lower it down, we don't want his short stubby fingered hand appearing up over the edge only to find his head is caved in and all he wants is to dine on the living."

From his precarious position, Walker whispered back to the others, "Shh... I don't see Zuru, but there's something down there, flitting about! It's a long way down. Not sure if he would have survived the fall or not. Let's try the lantern. We'd best form some sort of defense, lest we be rushed from below..."

Sil'qian draws his sword and takes a position to one side of the broken step, allowing room for Walker to lower the rope, and for Hrothgar or Brian to stand on the other side of the ranger.

---

Can we assume that the broken step is on the first section of the staircase (before it turns) nearest the lower window on the right of the map?

May not matter, just trying to get an idea of our orientation.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:46, Wed 13 May 2020.

From his position by the window Axel waits nervously and even though he has been told to be quiet he can't help himself.  "Perhaps we should leave well enough alone and move on." he whispers loud enough to travel to the others.  "I'm sure our dearly departed friend Zuru would understand."

When Sil shows the half-orc the figurine, he says, since he was fathered by an orc, it's not dad. "Is that what you were thinking?" he asks. "I wasn't raised by some wasteland clan of raiders."


Standing ready, Hrothgar reminds the squirrely man, "In for a penny, in for a pound." And after a suitable pause, he says soothingly, "Odds are you'll fall to your death rather than have it handed to you by a reanimated gnome ape-man. So mind the window and the stairwell."

Like some, if not all of the others, he's convinced Zuru fell to his death. A dark corner of his mind whispers to him about recovering the enchanted boots.

OOC Will wait for a better time to put on the splint mail.

You lower the lantern down on the rope.  As it reaches what you believe to be about the second floor, it catches the attention of something below.  Walker was right: something is flitting about down there.  As it approaches the light, you can see that it's a translucent, shadowy creature, indistinct but roughly man-shaped.  As you watch, another floats up from below and joins it.

And then they start following the rope, floating up toward you.

As the tenebrous forms float up from below, Hrothgar immediately regrets relying on his favorite aphorism.

"Brian," he implores. "What do we do? I fear my axe will pass right through those things."

Unconsciously, his feet start moving towards the window through which they had just clambered.

"We go!" Walker hissed, pulling the rope toward the window as quickly as he could, tossing it, lantern and all out the window and reversing the grappling hook. Not waiting for his startled companions, the ranger dove through and slid down to the rope to the ground!

Once at the bottom, he held the end of the rope taut in order to aid his companions dissent. "Hurry up!"

Axel was manning the window station and on seeing Tybalt pulling the rope up and running towards the window, it was pretty obvious a hasty retreat was on the cards.  He wasted no time with chit chat to find out what was happening, reading the signs and reversing the grappling hook already by the time Tybalt got there.

He thought it wise to quickly discuss an order of decent, but Tybalt showed greater conviction as he threw out the lantern and then jumped out the window himself before Axel had finished postulating his opening statement.  "I was thinking .....Oh okay," he says as Tybalt doesn't stop for a word and just jumps through.  He leans out the window after Tybalt, talking to the top of his descending head, "I'm glad we had this discussion, and I agree I should go second."  Whilst Tybalt was rappelling down Axel removed the bandolier and dropped it out the window considering the extra weight to be unnecessary.  As he does so he speaks to the others.  "Tybalt and I came to an agreement that I should go after him.  See you at the bottom."

Axel will get up on the ledge to begin his own repelling efforts.

"It would seem as you say, Hrothgar," the cleric affirmed, "I had suspected that the undead, mentioned by the others, might be present in this tower, but suddenly I am not so sure if I can hold them back with what blessings I have."
Brian's talk was interrupted by the Walker's exclamation. He was startled in the time it took for the latter to hurry out of the tower. Brian supported the idea, "Go everyone! I'm coming too."
Brian let the other members of the party go before him, and faced the staircase. His holy symbol was already raised in his hands. He gulped hard, his instincts telling him to run as soon as he could.

OOC: Brian is the last to go down the rope. If there is time, he will use Turn Undead. Will act based on result.

With his eyes on the desiccated corpses, Hrothgar responds, "And these spectral innkeepers demand an entirely unwelcome form of currency," all the while hustling towards the aperture.

Thus, as the elevating eidolons neared the tower's top floor, Hrothgar followed Axel out the window and descended in a manner of seconds, and he and the others, save for one, terminated their occupancy of this monument to Thoth.

OOC Not sure how the splint mail would be acquired. Was there enough time to remove it? Would the half-orc just drop one of the corpses out of the window? Would that ruin the armor?

"Do not tarry, Brian," Sil'qian says to the cleric. He confirms the gold head is in his pouch, before gracefully exiting through the window and descending the rope to the ground.

He steps away from the building, pulling his bow from his back and nocking an arrow. He then watches the window, ready to loose an arrow if the shadowy figures appear.

Upon gaining the ground Axel retrieves the bandolier and stands aside in case anyone that follows should lose their footing and fall, or in case a body encased in splint mail is thrown over.

(Not that he would be expecting that but it would be the fastest move I would think.  Splint mail is only a leather jerkin with inlaid metal plates so not too rigid to be greatly damaged in a fall.)

Brian doesn't have time to attempt to turn the creatures (at least not without exposing himself to their attacks should he fail), so he clambers out the window with the spectral creatures close behind.  Mercifully, it appears that they are unwilling to pursue you beyond the confines of the tower, and after lingering in the window for a moment, they retreat within.

You're down a rope (it's still tied to the ibis head inside), a lantern (it was smashed when Walker threw it out the window with the rope), and most importantly, one of your group.  At least the rest of you survived.

Safely out of the tower, Hrothgar swaps skins, a chain one for leather inlaid with splints. Then he stows the sloughed off one in his pack. He takes great gulps of air, relishing the pure "being alive" part of respiration.

Without a hint of levity, he suggests they continue their "walkabout" after he commends the four other survivors with their "expeditious escape." He also now looks upon Walker with respect and trust. Even Axel gets an approving look; the man had not lost his composure in that most humiliating of ways.

Brian sat on the floor outside the tower. He was breathing heavily and looked tired.

"That was scary, but we learned a important lesson.  Running away is a valid battle plan that works and I think we should keep it top of mind for future use."

Axel looks up to the shadowy creatures for a moment before they disappear.  "We now have an option that might be risky but it just might offer us a great reward.  Those creatures whatever they were," he makes a face pulling the sides of his mouth down and shuddering in revulsion "have probably returned to the base of the tower, and if not we could probably encourage them to do so if we bang on the outside main door for a bit, which leaves the statue with those massive silver eyes unguarded up above.

Obviously we know now it wasn't the statue which killed those adventurers but the shadowy things.  If we wait for a bit and let the shadows reset themselves down in the tower if one of you were then to be nimble and quick scooting up the rope and prying the silver out and dropping it down, we could get away with a worthy prize before they awoke again.  Zuru would have wanted to know he didn't die in vain."

Being a man of ideas he looks to the others to see if they had any appetite to carry out the action required.

Once he sees Brian on the rope, Sil'qian visibly relaxes, putting away his bow and arrow.

He sits at the base of the massive oak tree and takes a few deep breaths as if to calm himself.

He pulls a coin from his pouch and pushes it into the ground at the base of the tree. He then stands and speaks quietly and  incomprehensibly [Thieves' Cant: "Zuru kurbe hunaran kalintan haunted tower. Sanlun like spider but failed rabalan rotten stairs and rakin. He good kurbe." ]


"I will follow you up the rope, and help you to pry the silver eyes from the statue. Tell me when you are ready to climb."

Assuming Axel does not take up the offer, Sil'qian will say to Hrothgar, "Once Brian has caught his breath we will be ready to continue. Shall we continue toward the Pyramid of Thoth?"

"I am not a strong man, " Axel readily admits.  "Climbing up again at this stage is a little beyond me.  I'm more of an ideas man with you fine specimen the type to complete my well thought out tasks.  Every group needs a combination of brains and brawn to overcome obstacles."

He looks up to consider the danger to his person.  "Perhaps I have voiced an idea that is before it's time.  With those guardians the silver is as safe as can be, and we know where it is if we return."

He stands quietly as Sil says words on behalf of them all for Zuru.  Raising two fingers of his left hand to his eyebrow and saluting the gnome as his final send off gesture.  "May you be more sure footed in the next world Zuru." he quietly closes.

He waits a moment before carrying on quite cheerily as if everything before was forgotten

"Right, before we move on, I will check the scroll and written material our dead friends left behind for us.  If they provide any sort of instructions we will be better informed.  Let's all rest a moment, have a bite to eat and hydrate ourselves as we plan the next step.  Do we really want to head for the pyramid before the inn?"

Axel is referring to the scroll and the Mithric script.  Is he able to garner any insight once perused Maleketh?

The fighter's eyes bug out nearly as much as those of a certain statue's when he hears Axel's scheme, which he considers to be the very apex of avarice. But he merely says, "Another time. We shouldn't press our luck."

After Sil remembers the fallen Zuru, he stands over the imbedded coin. He retrieves a pint of wine from his pack and pours out a 40 for his homie pours it over the exposed roots of the tree which form a sort of tomb for the coin.


"It's the inn we're looking for but we'll take a gander at this and that along the way."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:21, Fri 15 May 2020.

Axel is able to decipher no more of the Mithric script than Sil.

Brian looked over the ceremony in reverence. What happened to Zuru was unexpected, but not outside the realm of possibility. After Sil'qian and Hrothgar had given their respects, Brian kneeled down near the small coin and recited a simple Archontean prayer. It spoke about the value of trying in spite of risk, about the potential of oneself & of many, and about the gifts one leaves behind in their wake.
Brian was silent for a minute, then spoke aloud, "Thank you." He stood up and moved aside after this.

The trip to the pyramid does not take long.  The path leading out of the plaza extends just 50' before widening into the area that the structure dominates.  Despite being worn with age, and at about 45' high and twice that distance square, it's still very much intact and makes for an impressive sight.  Steps carved into the middle of the side facing you form an obvious path to the top.


This message was last edited by the GM at 00:43, Sun 17 May 2020.

"So that's the pyramid to Thoth.  If the folk we passed returning can be believed, and we turn west from there didn't they say the remains of an old building and stairs to a basement could be found?  It's not the inn, but maybe safer than staying out here," Axel suggests looking around nervously.  "Kinda exposed I feel with only the 5 of us now."

I don't generally believe DM's provide leads without reason and perhaps that is something more in line with our current ability though we are down another party member since it was given.

Before the pyramid of Thoth, Hrothgar has the feeling that he has come a great way to stand before something great. Nothing about it says "start here," so standing and gawking is about all he does.

He nods his ascent to Axel. That an inn would be here amongst the ruins still seems somewhat fantastic. Why not check out the basement first?

What are the exits from this location?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:00, Sun 17 May 2020.

"I do not agree. Our plan was to find the Inn first, to establish a base.

We lost a companion in the first building we entered and yet you propose we camp in the Halls?

I suggest we continue to look for the Inn. We can survey more of the city from the top of the pyramid."

---

I agree with Axel that the "Basement" should be our first foray into the Halls; but I think we need a base here in the "safety" of the ruined city.

DM: Is the picture "accurate" in that the tower to the right of the pyramid is as depicted? It looks to be even taller than the pyramid, so it might be an even better spot from which to survey the city.

The diplomatic Hrothgar nods genially at the renaissance elf, "Yes, that would be good as well. Continue our walkabout."

"And if we chanced upon a beckoning basement first, we could always just take the most preliminary of peeks," he adds, grinning at Axel.

"Sticking to a plan made with a purpose is better than changing our objective like the ever-changing wind." Axel agrees with Sil.  "The inn would really be my preference Hroth, and perhaps within its bounds, we could find adventurers to replace the skillset we lost when the paladin and Zuru fell, and then look to a safe basement."

Your party takes the obvious route, climbing the steps to the top of the pyramid.  The front of each step is carved with an image, and while several of the steps are cracked and broken, all of them feel entirely stable, and you make it to the top without incident.

The top of the pyramid is a 30' square platform sheathed in white marble.  A dark grey granite canopy rises 30' above the platform, making room for an enormous statue of Thoth on the north side of the platform.  Purple porphyry columns support the canopy. Crouching at the foot of each column is a heavily pitted 4' tall statue of a crouching baboon, with its mouth slightly open as if barking.  A 10'x5' section of the floor, directly in front of the statue, looks different from the floor around it, almost like a door except that there is no evident way to open it.

The statue itself is 20' tall, carved from what appears to be a single piece of gray stone, except for the head which is white marble, with grapefruit-sized eyes that appear to be carved from jade.  Both its arms are at its sides, and one of its hands holds an ankh.

From atop the pyramid, you have a fair view of the surrounding area.  A number of building still stand, though all are in various states of disrepair.  The road to the east leads to another, smaller plaza and further out of the city's east gate.  The north road leads directly out of the city, with nothing notable between you and the gate.  To the west, running from the north end of the city to the south, is a great river, which splits in a few places and opens into a lake in the southern part of the city.  Nearby to the west, you see the remains of what is likely the building Roger mentioned.  To the northwest, outside the walls, you can just make out what looks like a fort.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:44, Tue 19 May 2020.

Walker said little as they climbed. His thoughts were upon those who'd fallen so far on this outing with little to show for their efforts. When he crested the summit of the pyramid, he took several long moments to observe the lay of the land. Though his mind was far away, his training and experience as a Ranger compelled him to do his job. He took note of all the landmarks he could see and where they were in relation to each other, scanned for movement or signs of movement through the ruins, and took note of which buildings were in sight of others. As he scouted, he painted a mental image of what he saw or otherwise sensed, as it might come in useful later on.

"A tavern of any sort must have some traffic or go out of business," Walker muttered, looking for signs of passage from his vantage above.

Hrothgar takes in the panoramic view.

"You'd think, wouldn't you?" he comments and then appends, "And a cicerone* or two to direct travelers to its 'reasonably priced' accommodations." He makes a mental note for something he might need in the far future.

*HPL's vocabulary was better than I remember from my first reading of his stories 30 years ago. Still a racist, though.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:42, Mon 18 May 2020.

"Chi-chu-roni? That is a word I do not know." When Hrothgar explains it is a person who gives information about places of interest to sightseers, Sil'qian responds, "A guide."

The elf points to the fort to the northwest, "That must be the Inn; I see nothing else that would fit the description."

Sil'qian clears everyone off the apparent trap door, and then stands next to the statue of Thoth. He tries moving the arm holding the Ankh, and then the other arm to see if the door opens.

---

Initial guess is that moving the arm so it is presenting the Ankh in front will do something.

The arms do, in fact, move.  Moving the arm holding the ankh does nothing, but when the other arm is positioned to match, Sil gets his results.  With a loud grinding noise, the panel slides west (the statue's right), halfway under the floor, revealing a set of stairs leading north and down.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:42, Tue 19 May 2020.

A low whistle escapes the lips of the Walker. "Well done Silk..."

The ranger checked his bowstring and fletchings as the platform moved.

He waited briefly to see what form their doom would take as it escaped from the opening.

"Will it close again if you undo the position?" he asked. "Two reasons I ask. First, I'd hate to go down and have Roger and his buddies come lock us in there..." Tybalt glanced over his shoulder as if saying the name might suddenly summon the scoundrel. "Second, I think we should find the Inn and come back here later..."

Unable to fully resist, the Walker took a peek below by carefully approaching the opening and leaning only to the point he could see where the stairs descended.

"This is interesting."

"We will have to decide if our first foray is through that building over there," he says pointing to the west, "or dare we enter this pyramid of Thoth? Regardless, I still believe we should confirm that," he points to the northwest, "is indeed the Inn."

Once Walker has had a peek, Sil'qian moves the arms back to their original position; hopefully closing the door.


[Edit: minor change to action to account for Tybalt's post appearing before I finished typing!]
This message was last edited by the player at 05:14, Tue 19 May 2020.

Axel let out a squeal of equal fright and excitement as the door opens, jumping up from where he had slumped to the ground and pulled out a piece of parchment with a quill.  He had been rapidly sketching the pyramid and the surrounding buildings attempting to get a good likeness of the main landmarks that would work for them once they were down off the summit of the structure.  He had managed to sketch some, but the opening doorway had him scrambling away making sure others were between him and the decent down into the depths.  His whole disposition was now nervous as he criticised Sil.

"Well done!!?  It wasn't well done at all, not at all."  Upon the doorway closing again he turns on Sit.  "What on earth possessed you to do that?  Thoth is going to be pissed.  Undoubtedly you've woken the tomb guardians and even as we speak they'll be moving up to rend our limbs and feast on our flesh.  We should get away from here and quickly.". He follows the line of Sil's hand.  "Right let's go we need to get to the inn and findt more people who want to stand in front of us and danger."

OOC:  Hrthogar is without doubt the most eloquent half orc fighter I have ever come across.  I hope he is as good with his sword as he is with his words?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:23, Tue 19 May 2020.

Walker almost ignored Axel entirely, but said in a low tone, "Between. Between us and danger... nevermind."

The statue had piqued the ranger's curiosity. He moved over to examine the statues of the baboons, looking to see if something could be placed in their mouths perhaps. He then began a route around the top of the pyramid for any sign of what might go in the statues' mouths...

Sil'qian turns to Axel and says in a calm voice, "We came here looking to explore the Halls below the city. Now we have one more place to explore."

He turns to watch as Walker examines the baboon statues, he remarks, "I have an idea about those statues, as well. But it can wait until when we return to enter the pyramid."

---

[Edited to reflect the change in the script - although the all-out wizard duel between the two mighty mages would have been epic! :-) ]
This message was last edited by the player at 23:23, Tue 19 May 2020.

"No, no, no," Hrothgar chides theatrically. "Enunciate as if the syllables were having a tug of war with each other from the front and back of the mouth."

"Ciii-Cerrr-Onnn-eee."

He smiles at the elf, "You have many talents, my good elf, and soon elocution will be one of them."

He brandishes his axe and executes a dizzying array of chops, cleaves, and pirouettes.


He then turns to face the ever-anxious Axel and avers, "Look around you, Axel! Behold, a city of ruins. Yes, monuments remain. But monuments to what was. If Thoth were the boogeyman you make him out to be, would it be so? Would not Ibis-headed myrmidons tromp down these avenues?"

"No, they do not."

"Now, we know what this is. Let us see what that fortress yonder is."

13 int, 12 chr. Safe to play him against type. Knows 4 languages. Cicerone is Italian in pronunciation. As for combat, he is a one-axe pony.

Axel looks to Hrothgar thinking before he says slowly,  "I am taught by a half orc, the wonders of this place may never cease."

OOC:  The post is edited Sil

There are two obvious way to reach the "fortress" - a straight path through the city, or taking the road through the north gate and turning west.  Which does your group take?
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:22, Thu 21 May 2020.

"The road is longer, and more open. Or we go straight; through the ruins. I prefer the road."

"More open and longer could mean more exposed, so it doesn't really mean safer, as fast paced hunters might see the open as the perfect hunting ground for prey to feed upon, but through the ruins might expose us to ambush.  Without more information it really isn't clear which way forward is safest.

Perhaps we could stay here a bit longer and see if we can observe movement in the ruins to see who or what else is about to know more," Axel suggests.  "It's not like we are in any great hurry, as long as we gain the inn before nightfall."

It is only a suggestion from Axel, he seem fairly ambivalent in regards to the direction since he doen't know which way will be safest.

"At least, in the open, our sharp eyed companions can keep watch on rushing foes."

"Let's go," Walker said, leading the way down the road so as to avoid unknown dangers among the ruins.

"So much for cautious observation costing us nothing but a little time." Axel grumbles as he falls into line.

Your party makes its way to the north gate ot the city, which, like the south gate, is flanked by two guard towers.  Unlike those, however, both of these towers are intact, and their doors even look new.  Also unlike the others, these are clearly inhabited.  "Ho there!" calls a man's voice from the top of the left tower.  "You newcomers to the city?"

Full-throatedly, Hrothgar answers in the affirmative.

"I am Hrothgar and these other four fine fellows are my companions," he says as an introduction, including Axel within the sweep of his voice.

"We heard that an enterprising chap by the name of Kettle-Belly runs an inn, The Sign of the Broken Head. That's where we're headed."

"Ha!"  The man atop the tower barks a laugh.  "Well, I do like it when adventurous types make my job easy.  Mr. Kettle-Belly employs us to man these towers and send folks his way."  He turns and points to the west.  "Head out the gate and walk thataway.  You'll reach the Sign quick enough."

"Your cicerone, Hrothgar." Sil'qian remarks as he heads off toward the inn.

"No, no, no," Sil's interlocutor admonishes, his arms extended and his hands gesticulating.

"A cicerone does not bark like some common cur; he serenades mellifluously, guiding one hither and yon as if on the notes of song."

"Our gratitude! I am called Walker. Tell us, is your watch a lonesome one or do you see much traffic in the city? Apart from Kettle-belly's place, we're seeking a rumored market... Might you know anything of this place?"

Tybalt flipped a silver coin upward toward the men, followed by a second.


-2sp

"Can't say I've heard of any markets outside the Sign," answers the man, catching the coins with a deft hand.  "Might ask at the inn itself though, lots of adventuring types come 'round."

With that, your group heads toward the Sign of the Broken Head, and after about and hour and a half, you arrive.  It looks a bit like a blockhouse, with a stone ground floor and a second floor made from wood beams.  A smaller side building projects out from its southeast side.  The building's windows are few, narrow, and visible only on its upper floor.  The source of the structure's name is clear: a massive stone head is mounted over the entrance.  Based on its similarities to one of the cliffside statues, you're reasonably sure the head is that of the warrior Arden.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:13, Tue 26 May 2020.

"Time for some brandy and a soothing bath don't you think?". Axel says looking up at the structure as if he was trying to ascertain whether it was a place that would have either.  "We've been walking for ages and now it's time to relax in a public house and tell lies about our exploits and grandeur in an attempt to attract some new arrow fodder types to insulate us from people who might want to do us some harm.  We' need to replace those that fell, literally."

"You do seem to have dirtied yourself," Hrothgar snickers. "A long soak and a linen service would seem to be the first orders of business for you."

He strokes his chin as he continues. "Those are good lines of inquiry, though. I'll need to determine the lengths and limits of Kettle-belly's hospitality."

"Seriously, we don't want a target dummy, Axel, we want a sneak thief. One with a better share of your spirit of self-preservation." He didn't like saying it, but it had to be said. Their next footpad should pad about a little more cautiously.

And with that, he enters the Sign of the Broken Head.

Considering its location at the outskirts of a ruined, monster-infested city, the Sign of the Broken Head is quite homey.  The ground floor is dominated by a large common room, filled with tables and chairs and lit by both a roaring fireplace and a glowing pebble on each of two tables.  There's also a bar, behind which a muscular Thorcin man with a thick beard is polishing mugs.  "Oho, newcomers eh?" he says with an accent that matches his heritage.  "Welcome to the Sign of the Broken Head!"

Sil'qian enters the Inn, and steps to the side, allowing the rest of the group to enter. He politely nods in the barman's direction, at his welcoming words.

As Brian and Hrothgar step through, he says quietly, "Can you arrange for rooms and a meal?"

As he waits near the door he observes the room and its occupants If any). He looks for a table that is large enough for the party, that is against a wall, and if he spots one, he will sling his pack and bow to the floor; unclasp his cloak; and will sit with his back to the wall.

Upon entering the establishment, Brian gave a simple bow to the bartender. He noted where Sil'qian had taken a seat, and followed him. Along the way, he quipped at Hrothgar, "Will you seek the owner soon? I hope you keep a calm mind. Be sure to wield your business acumen!"
Brian felt safe after a long time. Now there was time to think over what had happened in the past two days. There was a lot of mull over. He craved some rice and peas. He said to the party in general, "And even now, to think there is a sanctuary such as this within. Do you find safety here? While the roads outside hold masterful tributes to the Twelve, I am curious whether the Archontean faith is the greatest within these walls."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:52, Wed 27 May 2020.

OOC:  Not sure if there are others in the room other than us, nothing was said in regards to if the place was fill or empty.  It would make a difference as to how over the top Axel would be, but for now I'll assume we are alone with the man until told otherwise.

Hearing the Thorcin accent, similar to his own Axel immediately picks up.  "Oh your's is a voice well heard indeed fine sir," he says walking towards the man as the others do what they do.  "My companions and I have had a hard time of it out there and seek lodgings at least for the evening."  He looks about the place.  "I must say this looks perfect," he gestures over to the roaring fire with a sweep of his arm before turning to say, "and do you also serve brandy?"

With a jaunty step, the man with an Ibis feather in his hair crosses the threshold into the lair of the Kettle-belly. He retrieves a harmonica from his pack and plays a mournful melody before singing an otherworldly tune:

As I walked out in the streets of Arden Vul,
As I walked out in Arden Vul one day,
I saw a young footpad, wrapped all in white linen
Wrapped in white linen, as cold as the clay.

I see by your outfit that you are a fighter.
These words, he did say, as I boldly walked by.
Come sit down beside me and hear my sad story
Fell down a stairwell and I know I must die.

Go fetch me some brandy, a cool cup of brandy
To cool my parched lips, then the poor footpad said.
Before I returned, his spirit had left him
Had gone to meet Ibis, the footpad was dead.

He then bellies up to the bar along side Axel and waits for him to conclude his business (Axel would probably be a little less persnickety after his first brandy). After the bartender settles him, he introduces himself to the bearded man, "We're a party of five, that became six, and then became five again. Please avail us of your finest hospitality this night for we might not enjoy another one."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 21:20, Thu 28 May 2020.

Axel considers Hrothgar quitely for a long moment after he plays and sings his song before summing up his thoughts.  "I'm liking you more and more, you're full of surprises.  I only thought half-orcs could bang sticks together.  Me I can't even do that.  It's all the study you see.  No time for extracurricular activity, other than drinking of course."

While Sil finds a table in the corner, Hrothgar and Axel head to the bar.  "Well met," says the barman, giving him a nod and a friendly smile.  "Glad you like the place - she's certainly my own pride and joy.  Name's Kronos Kettle-Belly - though I'd guess you already know that, eh?

"If you wand lodging, we've got a bunkroom.  Ten silvers a night, or three gold for a week.  We've also got a private room upstairs if you're inclined.  Three gold per night, or twenty for the whole week.  Meals are extra; two silvers gets you whatever we can whip up and two gold gets you finer fare.  Beer or ale's one silver a glass; the good stuff's one gold - stock's limited.  We do have a little brandy, though.

"And if you need patching up after a hard day getting hacked to to pieces, my girl Estelle has very reasonable rates on healing magics."  Kettle-Belly grabs two mugs and, with a practiced hand, pours out a pair of ales for Axel and Hrothgar.  "Oh, and first drink's on the house.  Welcome to the Sign of the Broken Head!"

As it turned out, Walker had chosen the exact position to sit and observe the commons as had his elven companion. It made for an awkward moment when the both reached for the same chair, and Tybalt even started to say, "That's my..." but then he shrugged and grinned just with the very corners of his mouth. "Sorry, it appears two great minds have reached the same conclusion..."

Choosing the seat beside Sil'qian, being the second best seat in the house, Walker took several long moments to simply observe and size up the situation. He noted the exits, what tables would make for good cover when overturned, which stools had legs that could be used as clubs, and from whence came the food... all important things for an adventurer new in town to know. He finished his survey with a measuring eye of anyone else who might be enjoying the hospitality of Master Kettle-belly.

"I'll take the meager fare and drink, it'll give me something to look forward to when our windfall comes..." he said to the barkeep. A bunk is fine as well. Preferably one without rocks as a mattress. Been doing that a good while now.

He thought then of his fallen kinsman and how Durke would have liked this place. And then came deeper thoughts and dark, of a quest unfulfilled and a family name long overdue for restoration.

At the bar, Hrothgar fishes four gold coins from his pack, three for a week's usage of the bunk room and one for the five everyday meals. He doesn't pay for the second round of drinks--not wanting to hog all of the magnanimity for himself. Tybalt's order had escaped his attention, so it looks like someone is going to get a second plate.

He responds, "That's the thing, you see. We already got in over our head, which is why we're five, not six. Maybe you know of a few good places to start? We were thinking of this basement Roger the Rapier thought might be the entrance to the halls ... "

"That is," he adds, "if Roger is to be trusted."

Axel accepts the first drink with gratitude from Kettle-Belly admitting he finds himself a little financially embarrassed at the moment paying the silvers for the bunk room for only a night, seeming reluctant to see the money go.  "We'll have a good day out there tomorrow," he promises himself and the others aloud, "and then it's celebration brandy time."

He's keen to hear if Belly-boy has anything to say on Roger's recommended starting point.

"Don't know anything about a basement," replies Kettle-Belly.  "Could be, though.  Can't imagine the city hasn't kept a few secrets over the years.  Most folks say the pyramid is the cleanest way in.

"As for Roger, yeah, I know him.  Very friendly fellow.  Never seems to be all there, but his boys trust him and he's generous buying them food and drink.  Hard to be sure, of course, but he seems decent enough."

For the first time, Hrothgar notices the two guards stationed in the common room. He shifts about uncomfortably in his splint mail as if he's wearing another man's skin whose name he has just learned.

As thirsty as he is, he asks the proprietor if two or three of his guards might have gone missing in recent days, two human chaps and a halfling? If he answers affirmatively, he will offer the unfortunate revelations of their fate for their employer's consideration.

One step ahead of Hrothgar (sorry I mostly wrote this whilst you were obviously posting Hrothgar and I don't want to just delete it now) Axel swings around on the stool leaving Hrothgar to continue the conversation with the Kettle as he spies the guards in the familiar uniform.  He calls out to them he as he comes down off the stool and begins walking over to them.  "We found the body's of three of your companions in that tower to Thoth over yonder."  He gestures over towards the general direction of the tower with his free hand, as he takes a swing of beer.  'Well I say companions, you might not have known them but they were dressed the same as you.  Why has no one dealt to the spirits inside?  They scared the piss out of us, all moany and see through.  We had to hightail out of there double quick before they sucked the life out of us like they looked to have done with your friends."

As he draws closer he continues.  "You know, if we, and by that I mean you, organised a work crew, and smacked the doors open at the bottom the sunlight streaming into the bottom of the tower would probably do most of the work to dispel them.  I'm no priest, but the light generally does a lot to ward off evil spirits, and you could put your companions bodies to rest."  He shrugs his arms wide like he was giving them wise council and he couldn't understand why they hadn't thought to do so before.  He almost spills some of his beer in the process so quickly brings the tankard to his mouth to take another swig to stop any slopping onto the floor.  He uses the other hand to wipe the beer moustache that had formed on his own moustache as he continues.

"If you guys do that simple part, we'll show you where we discovered the hidden treasure and on uncovering it again we can split it even stevens 60," he says pointing to himself and jacking his head back to include the rest of the group and then as he points to the men, "40"

Axel is completely straight faced as he offers this option.  Either he is a master negotiator or so obtuse that he was oblivious to the fact that the proportion was not even at all.

   A soft creaking noise, quickly followed by the shuffling of feet and another creak, drew attention towards a man approaching from the direction of the bunkroom. Arms rising out of the dark green cloak he wore and hands pressed to his face, a muffled yawn could be heard from behind his palms. Dressed in a faded brown patchwork of leather crisscrossed with scars underneath the cloak, he looked like a man who might have been a member of a City guard at one point in his life.

   He stopped just short of the entranceway and parted his fingers to take in the room and its occupants. Green eyes narrowed slightly as he regarded each face in turn before he turned towards the thick-bearded barman. "My apologies," he first mumbled while his hands slid down from his features, "I wasn't aware that you had more guests."

   With his hands removed, the man's features were evident; both hair and beard shot through with grey, the latter kept to a full goatee and short stubble otherwise. But his most prominent feature was a scar that ran from just beneath his right eye, travelled down his cheek, then disappeared into his beard. Likely the wound that led to the disfigurement had almost been fatal, but he'd managed to survive nevertheless and now possessed a permanent reminder of it.

   He turned and walked towards the bar. "An Elf, a Half-orc and a pair of Humans," his voice rumbled as one side of his mouth began to curl into a half-smile, "Sounds like the point of a bad joke ... I'm guessing you are a group of restless souls, seeking your fortune?"

"Three, actually," Brian replied after the stranger had spoken, "indeed we are restless souls, seeking fortune for one reason or another. Perhaps you also have a reason of your own?" The cleric had encouragement in his voice. He did not seem to bothered by the scar or the voice; the sight of another living human comforted him.

   The man's brow furrowed momentarily at the other man's correction and he took a moment to blink, then brush away at his eyes before he took in the room once more. "Seems I miscounted. Again, my apologies - it is early and I haven't had anything to eat or drink since last night."

   Two fingers tapped on the counter near where the Barman stood, while his other hand dipped into the small pouch tied to his belt. He extracted a single silver coin and rolled it between his knuckles, then flipped his hand over to catch it in his palm. "A small tankard of ale, if you don't mind." He hesitated a moment before he placed the coin on the counter and slid it towards the Thorcin.

   That done, he returned his attention back to the man who'd spoken. His calm encouragement, as well as the fact that he hadn't reacted to his disfigurement, had been a pleasant surprise. "I ... have many reasons, my pastoral friend." he remarked with a thin smile, "But right now, an empty purse is my main problem and Ardun Vul is the solution. Call it ... adventure by necessity, I'm afraid to admit."

Axel glances over to the newcomer as the soldier's take in what he has said, more to make sure he was not an immediate threat to his own person.  He noticed discourse between the newcomer and Brian, relaxing a little since it looked cordial enough out of the corner of his eye though what was said was beyond him given the majority of his concentration was on the awesome deal for the men at arms he was in the middle of brokering.

Sil'qian acknowledges Tybalt's comment with a slight nod as he takes in the lay of the room, including the two guards wearing armour that looks near-identical to that which Hrothgar now wore.

His eyes narrow when Hrothgar starts singing at the bar, for no apparent reason.

He watches intently when Axel starts talking to the guards. Listening carefully, his hand casually drops to his sword, and he braces his leg so he will be able to flip the table out of the way in the case that armed men take issue with the wizard's words.

When the scarred human enters the room, his eyes follow him for an instant, but he quickly returns his focus to Axel and the guards.

[Elven: "All they had to do was ask for a room and a meal..."] he mutters under his breath.

Hrothgar: Kettle-Belly nods at the half-orc's question.  "No halflings in my employ, but I did send a couple men to check out the tower at the city plaza.  Figured they probably didn't survive the trip when they didn't come back, but I can't send more men into a deathtrap.  Dunno who the halfling is, though; never employed any of them.  Maybe a treasure-seeker like yourselves."

Axel: The men share a look before turning back to Axel.  "You must be a big damn fool if you think we're going anywhere near that tower," replies one of them.

"Those ghosts you saw?  The place is crawling with 'em," adds the other.  "And if you destroy one, two more take its place."

"I've seen a man going in the front door," continues the first.  "Probably a necromancer controlling 'em all."

"Nonsense my good men, the essence of a ghost is destroyed in the light, everyone knows that, and I am a fledging necromancer.  I have seen there is nothing in our law that allows control over those restless spirits.  In the spirit of good will I was offering you locals an easy option to line your pockets, but now we will keep all the plunder for ourselves.". Axel will return to the bar to eavesdrop on the conversation between Brian and Durmen commenting as he rejoins the bar.  "Some just do not have the mettle for the adventuring life.".

Coming from Axel the party companions know his words are completely hypocritical and laughable.  If he has any mettle himself so far he has never shown it.

Back at the table, Hrothgar settles in to discuss one of the matters at hand now that he had bunk room privileges for a week, hot meals on the way for five, and tankards of ale in hand.

"When tomorrow comes, do we take the common route to the halls, as identified by Kronos, or do we try our luck with Roger the Rapier's basement ingress?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:42, Tue 02 June 2020.

The elf surmised that the half-orc and the mage failed to understand his request to inquire about food and lodgings for the entire group. Now that he was confident that Axel was not going to get himself attacked, Sil'qian stood up and approached the bar himself.

"Good day, Master Kettle-Belly, an ale if you please; as well as a simple meal," he say placing a silver piece on the bar.

Looking back at the group, he sees that Brian has no drink. "Another ale for Brother Brian, and a simple meal for him as well." He drops another silver piece on the bar.

"You mentioned a private room, how many can stay in it...comfortably? And if you don't mind me asking are we all the guests at this time?"

As he gathers the two mugs, he stops and quietly adds one more question, "That fellow," pointing at Durmen, "has he been here, in Arden Vul, long? Do you know him well? We are looking for another to join our group."

[Edit: Durmen has not introduced himself as yet - impolite lout!]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:46, Tue 02 June 2020.

   While he waited for the ale and continued to speak with the gentle-seeming man, his ears caught snippets of other conversations. He heard mention of Kettle-Belly's sending people into the tower, but not hearing anything of them coming back, followed by one of the guards' complaints about how the citadel was crawling with undead. He blinked and an eyebrow rose slightly at the old man's mention of being a fledgeling necromancer, but his momentary surprise quickly melted back into his usually calm expression.

   "I'm no mage, scribe, or historian," he began after he'd coughed once to clear his throat, "But I have heard the tower was once held by an archmage - Pol the Devious. Legend has it that the man went mad from being around some sort of mineral that's inside Arden Vul, and his spirit inhabits the place. My thought is that his spirit - or one of any others in his power - found the guardsmen, killed them, and now uses their spirits to either frighten away the curious ... or add to his gathering." He spoke the final bit a half-tone lower, while he looked towards the guards with a half-smile.

   He caught sight of the arrival of the masked Elf, who gave the gentle soul he'd been speaking with a name. After a brief acknowledgement, he returned back to the Cleric and added, "I think a man of faith might be better suited to such a task, Brother. Spectres and shadows are notoriously hard to destroy without the help of a vicar to guide them to a more peaceful resting place."

"Pol the devious." Axel repeats aloud, and then a little more quietly mostly to himself, "Perhaps I should think of a catching phrase to add to my name as my own personal signature."

He lapses into silence as the newcomer addresses Brian but can soon be heard testing out a few options as he speaks to the tankard of beer in front of him.  "Axel the Bold.  Axel the Atrocious, Axel the Audacious."

He takes another gulp of beer before saying "Axel the Audacious" once more with a sigh of satisfaction in his voice.  He looks to Kettle-Belly raising the tankard to the man, "Axel the Audacious is enjoying this drop Kettle-Belly.  Here's to your health."

The important decision in regards to his catchphrase made he turns to listen to what the others are saying.

    "Have a care, friend ..." the man's warning came just after the soft tap of his first two fingers on the countertop. Green eyes looked towards the older man and studied him while he continued. "Titles are usually given after some notable service has been done, or something has happened to you." His hand on the counter rose up and gestured towards his disfiguring scar before lowering it back down. "Giving yourself a name and such might lead people to ask what you are audacious about, or they may just think you either mad ... or worse.

   "And such names are never given but earned. I'd guess that the Archmage wasn't noted for his even temper or his fair dealings with others." The scarred man began to smile, but a keen observer might note that the expression's warmth didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Room's only got one bed, but it's big enough.  You could probably fit five or six if most of you can stomach sleeping on the floor.  As for your new friend over there, I can't say I know much.  He came in with another group, but they had some kind of falling-out and left without him.  And before you ask, I don't know what about.  Not my business."

Axel considers the new man looking at the scar as if for the first time.  Horror momentarily shoots across his face before he is able to move it back to neutral.  "I don't believe we've met, I'm Axel the Audacious," he says stressing the title as if he hadn't just made it up and the newcomer would be impressed in spite of the advice he had only just provided.  He holds out his hand in a bit of a limp fist to bump with the man as he had seen comrades at arms do.  It was a poor assimilation, looking weak and awkward as if it was the first time he'd ever done it.  "Are you known as Scarface in some circles stranger, or The Disfigured One?"  The question wasn't put forward as a slight, it was more inquisitive in nature, it appears he genuinely wants to know, or maybe he's just taking the piss, it's impossible to tell.

Sil'qian returns to the table, and hands the ale to Brian, with a slight nod. "I've ordered meals."

He leans back in the chair and unties the bottom of his mask so he can drink. He looks to the others at the table, and then says, "I fear for our lives in the Halls when we cannot walk into a tavern and request room and board in an orderly fashion." As always, his slightly raspy voice is even and calm. "We will need to be cautious and observant if we are to explore and survive the Halls."

He nodded back. "Much appreciated, Sil'qian." Brian thought over his words; the party had indeed spread to most corners of the little room, but there was no tension conquered without a bit of respite. He made a mental note to ponder over this later.

The cleric could not help but close his eyes and laugh good-naturedly upon hearing the exchange between Axel and the stranger. "Axel is the magic user of our fledgling party. He bestows a great deal of words upon us to hear. Within the temple of Lady Demma, epithets are held by both heroes of battle and of cultivation. But I am just Brian Hamonet. What about you, sir? What do you find right to be called?"

   Catching sight of the man talking to the guards, Durmen's green eyes met with the mage's own and caught the other man's first impression as his eyes were drawn to the scar. Like many others before him, Axel's reaction was an all too familiar one. His short-lived look of horror and aversion made the green-cloaked man reach back to pull up the cowl, while he took a cautious half-step back. Surprisingly, the mage's look disappeared as quickly as it had come, and Durmen slowly lowered the hand that had reached back and replaced it back onto the wood of the counter.

   "I don't believe we've met, I'm Axel the Audacious," he heard the confidence in the mage's voice as he spoke and used the title with surprising ease and quickness. He noted his attempt at friendliness - the partly extended arm as well as his hand clasped into a fist. "Are you known as Scarface in some circles stranger or The Disfigured One?"

   Durmen took a moment to consider, but before he spoke, he raised both of his hands and pivoted them both to show a pair of empty palms. "Forgive my hesitation, but I'm not a man who prefers such gestures. I've been taken advantage of in the past by such things - not that I'm suggesting that you might do the same, but I prefer to be guarded with people I've just met. No offence intended, of course."

   "But, in answer to your question," his voice trailed for a bit when he heard a warm laugh from the Cleric. His introduction of the mage by his first name confirmed the other man's identity, and the priest's allegiance to the Lady of the Fields was notable in telling him how he would be treated if there was a disagreement in the future. "I've been called many things by many people, and most of them far less respectful than what your friend Axel here has said. But if you are looking for a name, I was born and blessed with the name Durmen, even if it is not one I have heard too often of late.

   "Now, I've heard that you're headed in the direction of Arden Vul. I'd be willing to let you all in on what I know of the place and even offer my own services ... in exchange for a bit of food, lodging, and a share of whatever we can pull out of the area.  Sound fair?" He cocked his head in Hamonet's direction, while one salt-and-peppered brow inched up slowly.

"Durmen, then," the half-orc agrees as if it had been his suggestion. "I chose my name, Hrothgar, from a book of myths--seeing as my mother didn't have any ones for me I'd care to repeat."
 
"More than fair. A noble undertaking such as this 'requires deft fingers and a habit of mind both agile and adroit,' both of which I presume you to possess. And, as for sustenance, my order appears to have been superfluous--if sustenance can ever be thought to be so."

Axel waves off the fist bump without concern.  He didn't know what germs this Durmen carried and if he was honest didn't really care to find out.  He listened in as he talked to Hrothgar, smiling when it was agreed he would carry on with them.  "Excellent," he says to himself under his breath.  Now there was another blood guard in front of him and danger.  He almost blurted out his sincere congratulations to the man but stopped short.  Scarface looked fairly smart, if one that lived by their quick wits and quicker fingers could ever be called truely smart, he'd figure out that Axel should be, nay deserved to be protected.

Keeping his private thoughts private he circles back blurting out,  "And what services exactly are we gaining?" rather than letting Hrothgar's presumption materialise into something it wasn't when they were in the thick of it.  "I mean your face tells me you've come second in a fight before though you or the truth might tell it different."

    "And what services exactly are we gaining?"

   Durmen heard the question from the mage after the half-orc had accepted his offer. The wizard's second question, along with the implication that he couldn't carry himself in a fight, brought a mirthless smile to the man's lips and a small drop in the man's already lowered voice.

   "A party like yourselves is always in need of an extra pair of eyes and hands," he began, "And everyone can pitch in when it comes to using them. Or putting their minds together to solve a puzzle ... no matter how well or ill-suited they might prove to the task."

   Durmen regarded Axel's thin form, along with the daggers he carried in a bandolier before he returned his look back to the man's eyes. "As for my scar, I earned this at the displeasure of a vengeful Knight who couldn't see past the end of his lance. I might have come second in a battle with a Paladin, but I did survive ..." His eyes narrowed slightly, seeming to regard the wizard as if he doubted the other man would have survived.

   "But, if someone doesn't wish to risk something as simple as a bloody nose on an adventure, then perhaps they might be better off comfortably at home, studying. It's not safe out here, my friend. It is life both wonderous and treacherous, with treasures and dangers to sate and worry the hardiest soul ... but it is not for the timid."

   One end of his mouth curled slightly as he tried to hold the wizard's gaze a moment longer while his first finger began to tap lightly on the wood of the counter.

---

OOC: For the love of ... who do you have to bribe in order to get a drink 'round here? :P

Sil'qian listens intently to the conversations with Durmen: Hrothgar was welcoming him to the group; Axel was questioning his abilities; and Durmen himself evaded the question.

"Durmen, you are welcome to eat, as we have more than we need.

While you spoke at length, you did not answer Axel's question. If you are to fight with us, will you be at the van exchanging blows with the horde of goblins or looking to steal around the battle to put your axe into the back of the wizard directing them from the rear?"

The elf pauses to sip from his cup. "Both are necessary, of course."

Axel only returns Durmen's stare for a moment before he is the first to break looking down to his drink and raising it to take a gulp to cover the fact he didn't have the cojones to hold the gaze for much more than a moment.  It was only a little thing, but his obvious anxiousness spoke volumes given the tankard was raised to his mouth with a shaky hand.  "I wouldn't have survived," he quickly admitted with an honest appraisal of his ability for once.  "So which is it," he asks referring to the expected answer to Silk's question.