Over the night the frost waned and by morning the day was warm. The sun shone and the sky was clear with only a few stray clouds.

The parties trip through the forest and into the foothills was uninterrupted. They reached the canyon and stood before the broken gates.

OOC If any characters have anything else left to do in town let me and we can sort it out.

Day: 11. Time: 6:00am. Weather: Sunny, dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement: 20'

"Somewhere south of the dragon's den," Derry says to himself, before turning to Fiene.

"Have you tried the room in the southeastern corner?"

OOC NE corner if you look at the wiki map.

Assuming that she has joined the group, Kara takes stock of her fellows.

There was already a magic-user in the group, two in fact. On seemed to be the leader, the other, laconic indeed. But despite the one being leader, there seemed to be some unspoken animosity or exasperation towards him from some of the other members. Perhaps it was his personality, or stemmed from some event that had happened? Whatever it was, it could not have been too unpleasant. They were all setting out again together, after all.

Two warriors, a human and a dwarf. The human seemed pleasant enough, but relaxed. The dwarf seemed a friendly sort- was that unusual for dwarves, she wondered?

And then a cleric, clearly still a novice. But that was not anything to look down upon. It was not as if she was anything but a novice in her field as well.

There was no burglar or locksmith among them though, and she assumed that was why there was such a focus on finding a key to some locked doors.

The locked door... While she had hoped to go to explore the ruins of the tower, they were already on a quest of their own so she had to put her own goals aside for now. It was best to focus on the task at hand at the moment. So, she asked a few questions for clarity as they walked.

"This key- have we any leads on where it might be, or what might lie beyond the doors? Is there any particular reason to feel those doors are so important in a dungeon as big as Stonehell? And as for the door itself, there may be no key. Is there any reason not to just come with axes, crowbars, and oil and take the door down physically if it has stymied you so? Is it enchanted or made of stone, to prevent that, perhaps?"

Devin didn't really know his way around past the first few turns. He'd always been paying more attention to the shadows and creepy crawlies.

Fiene leaves his usual offering for Coal, and for St Ras on their way through the canyon.

He responds to the dwarf. "That room was empty." Fiene says.  "I was planning on going around one way door, and exploring the passages to either side of the north south passage.   I'm certain there is a way around the door, there are enough Orcs and Kobolds, that they must know a way around.  One of the kobold's told me about a marketplace to the south east.  Though if the one way door could be spiked, it may be a shorter route.  Assuming it remained unmolested."

To Kara, he adds. "The oracle said it was to the south."  he offers as explanation.  "Since the doors are still locked, whatever treasure that may be behind them must still remains.  It is somewhat close to the entrance, and the dangers of deep travel are lessened.  When I approached the door at first, I had neither crowbars or battering rams.  I suppose that would be a less elegant solution, if we came prepared of such.  Though I fear the noise might draw the attention of aggressive inhabitants.  On my first delve, I was able to charm a group of orcs into helping me slay 'da dragon'. and would hope to do similar if I encounter another band."

To all he adds.  "You may choose to go your own paths, and I would think none the less of you.  I do not expect my goals and reasonings to be everyone's."  Fiend goes towards the stairs and again starts his descent into Stonehell.

Kara listened to Fiene's explanation, and appreciated the response and the logic behind it. It made sense for the most part, if one had come here for treasure. Not that she agreed with everything he said, but she could follow his thinking on the matter and that was important.

So, she responded, "I have three things I wish to accomplish in and about Stonehell. None are time sensitive, save for my own impatience. So, I will go and see if we can solve the problem of the door first. Perhaps once we have made that attempt, and come to a solution one way or another, I can prevail upon everyone to come with me to the ruins of Modnar's tower."

So, she would go with Fiene on his doorquest, ensconcing herself in the middle rear of the group for protection in case she needed to cast spells on something hostile.

The party safely passed through the gatehouse and into the canyon. Fiene made his offerings on both the bear Coal and the deity Saint Ras. The bear was not seen.

They reached the archway that would lead them into Stonehell dungeon.

OOC Day: 11. Time: 9:20am. Weather: Sunny, dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement: 20'

No light

Fiene lights his lantern, and Holden a torch.  Unless there are objections, he begins the trek down the stairs.

Led by Fiene the party reached the bottom of the stairs and into the dungeon.

OOC Which direction are you heading? Any particular marching order?

Day: 11. Time: 9:30am. Weather: Sunny, dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement: 20'

Lantern oil and torches
Fiene: 1 Turn - lit
Holden: 1 Turn - lit

Devin listened with one ear to the conversation between dwarf and wizard about making the one-way opening they'd used before into an exit as well.

"Could we use a board from the pit trap to keep it wedged open?" he proposed.  "Something less permanent than a spike if we needed to retreat in a hurry without being followed back through?"

Kara went along with the others. She was a bit surprised by a discussion of equipment, coupled with her questions about a crowbar or axe before. If they truly knew where they were going and what they were facing, then why not stock up with those items in town before coming? Perhaps their last delve had been a very very poor one indeed, and they had not the coppers to pay for such items. That would be an understandable reason, and a far more charitable than believing they simply did not believe in planning.

Responding to Devin, she said thoughtfully, "That could work, but there would be nothing stopping a random goblin or kobold from taking the board and shutting the door rather easily. Perhaps taking about a large rock from outside to pound in a spike? Parts of buildings are crumbling, so it should be possible to find a suitable one without much effort. Of course, driving a spike would be noisier than taking down a door."


(ooc)

DM:

OOC Which direction are you heading? Any particular marching order?

As noted, Kara is in the middle rear (center rear) of the group.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:42, Fri 03 Sept 2021.

If Fiene is leading the way, then Teodore will stay just a step or two off his shoulder, ready to protect him should danger arise, without interfering with the wizard's own hired guard.

Devin stuck close to Theodore.

Derry leads the disparate group to the room his kinfolk had been studying so intently. What had befallen them? He should have gone straight there after he had recovered from the cannibal blood bath. Before entering the chamber, he will attempt to prevent the one-way door from closing with a spike in the right place as a blocker. His dwarf know-how should amount for something.

The party led by Derry and Ermengard headed south and took the turn to the east. Derry and Ermengard reached the next junction and prepared to turn south again as there was a cracking sound behind them as Teodore fell into the pit trap. On the edge Fiene managed not to fall in.

Separated from the rest of the party Derry and Ermengard had no light source with them. The remainder of the party were on the other side of the pit with an injured Teodore at the bottom.

OOC Teodore fell in the pit trap and took 1 point of damage.

Day: 11. Time: 9:40am. Weather: Sunny, dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement: 20'

Lantern oil and torches
Fiene: 2 Turn - lit
Holden: 2 Turn - lit

Kara thought they knew where they were going, so was taken by surprise by the pit trap. But perhaps it was possible they just never tripped it before- after all, an armored dwarf had just walked across it safely- so it was possible they simply never knew.

When able to act, she rushed to the edge of the pit, ready for spellcasting, in case there was some guardian monster lurking blow to attack Theodore. Seeing none, and seeing his injuries appeared very slight, she relaxed a bit.

As most of her wealth and equipment was now in the hands of the snake cultists, she did not have a rope. "Has anyone got rope?" she asked. "If not, we can perhaps use a pole for him to grab onto and try to pull to safety. Are you all right down there?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:49, Sun 05 Sept 2021.

Having not been paying attention to where they were, Devin was also surprised that the pit had been covered once more.  He looked to see if the spikes they'd driven into the wall to help them across the narrow ledge were still there.

"Easy does it, comrade," Derry calls, as he tosses a length of rope to Teodore and then helps hoist him back up and on to the right side of the pit. At the one-way door, he hands a spike to the fighting man and removes several more and his hammer from his pack.

"Open it up, now, and brace it there while I get to work," he instructs.

Teodore climbs out and opens the door when all are ready, in case there is unpleasantness on the other side.

An inspection of the wall by Devin revealed that the iron spikes had been removed. Holes in the walls remained where the spikes had been driven in.

Derry helped Teodore climb up from the pit.

OOC Teodore, Derry and Ermengard are now all on the opposite side of the pit.

"They spikes are gone," Devin pointed out.  "Someone is definitely checking in on this pit.

"Is someone trying to protect the one way door?"

Seeing as how the trap had allowed a few of them to cross, there must be a few solid boards in the pit they could use in conjunction with the narrow ledge to allow them to cross.  If this seemed feasible, they could lower someone down from the west side to hand them up for use.  Then pull the person up to the east side once the rest were across.

Derry looks back across the modest expanse of the pit to see who had remained on the other side.

Four, maybe, five figures. There was a new one among them, a neurasthenic magic lady. Already he had noted a certain critical cast to her otherwise pleasing features. It was not unusual for people born under a cruel star to have a captious nature. He could also see that the star had bequeathed her more than one gift as well.

He waited on the other side with his rope to help people up.

"It might be funny, if it wasn't the second time at the same pit." Fiene comments, as they plan a way across to the other side. "How did you cross it before?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:01, Mon 06 Sept 2021.

"We could use the rope as a balance and block against falling, using the ledge to cross, with one person anchoring each side. Then the last person would just have to cross carefully."

If they agree to do so, then she will go first to test out the sturdiness of the ledge for the others. Her petite frame might would have an easier go of it.

"Alternately, we could lower people into the pit, walk over, and then climb back up, or be pulled up, if the ledge is not something one wishes to risk."


(ooc)


This is an amazing word! ^_^
This message was last edited by the player at 02:00, Tue 07 Sept 2021.

"Yes, I can help hold the rope on this side to help others balance as they cross. I have my own method of traversing when everyon else has made it."

As he has no rope or pole, Devin cooperates with whomever does have materials that will help them traverse the gap.

The magic-user gives a quick survey, peering at the party's backpacks.

"So...no one brought a rope?"

With a shrug, Derry sets about with rope, hammer, and spikes so others can traverse the pit.

OOC I'm fond of "captious" myself. My wife may even look it up one of these days.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:41, Wed 08 Sept 2021.

As the others cross the pit, Teodore watches ahead for any threats.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 05:04, Thu 09 Sept 2021.

Once Derry had the spikes and rope in place, Kara would cross, staying as close to the wall as possible. Concerned over grip strength, she wrapped some slack about her arm to catch her should she fall, loosening and tightening as she went until clear.


(ooc)
Captious was familiar to me already, but it is another good word. Honestly, it should see much more use, given the way internet discussions and comment boards can become. ^_^;

Whilst Derry the dwarf busied himself with hammering in iron spikes and tying up the rope the others; Devin, Valerian, Fiene, Kara and Holden heard scratching and tapping sounds approaching from the north. Fiene's and Holden's light sources reached only thirty foot and nothing could be seen in that area.

OOC Ok we will now be entering combats rounds. Make your declarations.

Day: 11. Time: 9:50am. Weather: Sunny, dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement: 20'

Lantern oil and torches
Fiene: 3 Turns - lit
Holden: 3 Turns - lit

While trying to pierce the darkness through sheer willpower, Devin kept his eyes in the direction of the noise as he shifted his shield onto his shield arm.  He then quietly stepped to interpose himself between whatever might come and the others.

Abandoning his work for now, Derry returns to the eastern side of the pit. He stows his tools and arrays himself for battle.

OOC How deep is the pit again?

Kara moved to the rear of the group on this side, both for protection, but also to be out of the way of the warriors moving forward. Once there, she pulled out her dagger, in case there was an opportunity to throw it without hitting the others.

"If they are sentient,  I will try to charm." Fiene says, dropping his pole to keep his hand free.   "Holden, see if that door to the east opens.  There was a skeleton in there, but it didn't seem to move. We may need to make a retreat."

ooc: Kara, there are no warriors on this side :(

a cleric, three MU and a porter...

"Oil may also be enough to keep them back, if they are animal and unfriendly."


(ooc)
Kara considers Devin a warrior (but not a fighter), due the armor and weapons.
But I did completely forget Holden was a porter, not a fighter, so mea culpa! Thank you for the correction! ^_^;
This message was last edited by the player at 09:49, Fri 10 Sept 2021.

In the darkness what approached was unknown. Devin positioned himself as the others hid behind the cleric. Holden ran to the door but the door stubbornly refused to yield.

Derry began climbing out of the other side of the pit. The three warriors were at the edges of the lantern light and darkness surrounded them.

To the north Devin heard the scratching and tip-tapping coming closer to him. Nothing came within the twenty-five feet of lantern light that spread out before him. He would estimate the sound was fifty feet ahead.



Declare your actions.

Derry will have started climbing and if he continues he'll be out of the pit this round.

Kara helped Derry up from the pit as best as she could. She was quite certain that helping him up would do them far more good than her throwing a dagger would, and a tapping scratch did not seem like something to use her spell on. It was best to save that for when the situation was dire, not just worrisome.

Teodore mumbled something under his breath and dug for his tinder box and a torch, lighting it as best he can in the dark.

"Block those lanterns for three seconds, and I'll see what's a-tip-tapping our way," Derry calls out.

OOC Can we have a protocol for this? Derry would only need the lanterns hooded for a few seconds to have a look?

The sounds came closer and the vaguest of shadows were see to flicker at the edges of Fiene's lantern light but nothing yet came into view.

Teodore retrieved his torch and began to strike his tinderbox to light it but didn't manage to light the torch yet. Derry clambered out of the pit on the eastern side.

To the south Holden yank and pushed at the wooden door but failed to open it.

Declare your actions.

The heat from the torches and lanterns would take a three rounds to dissipate and allow Derry to see clearly with infravision. Also to note relighting the lantern/torches in a stressful combat situation would not be automatic. I usually rule that relighting a light source in combat has a 1 in 4 chance in the first round increasing to 2 in 4 the second round, 3 in 4 the third round and automatically on the fourth.

"Derry!" Devin whispered harshly in the direction of the pit as he finally pulled the hammer from his belt.  "Throw us one end of the rope so we can get over there before it gets here."

Maybe this imminent threat would motivate the others to stop dawdling and get to the other side.

Fiene waits for whatever is coming to appear.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:36, Sat 11 Sept 2021.

What was coming may not even be hostile, but it was best to be prepared. Accordingly, Kara remained to the rear of the others, dagger in hand, if necessary. And if it was truly dire, her spell is ready for the day.

Derry grabs hold of his sword, momentarily, to free his other hand for tossing a coil of rope to Devin on the other side of the chasm pit.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:05, Sun 12 Sept 2021.

Teodore continues trying to get his torch lit.

Devin was momentarily surprised by the entire coil of rope hitting his leg, but recovered enough to whisper back, "Someone anchor it and get the others down into the pit and up the other side."

As the only one in armor on this side, he didn't want to divert his attention away from whatever was coming.

Hurriedly Teodore tried to light his torch but failed. Equally the decrepit Holden pushed and pulled at the door but failed to open it. Derry now out of the pit threw one end of the rope to the other side.

The remaining four members of the party stood ready for whatever would emerge from the darkness. Crawling out of the shadows came five creepy crawlies, one foot long centipedes.



OOC Declare your actions.

Derry sheathes his sword and retrieves an oil flask from his pack which he places at his feet. Then he stands ready to pull up any who traverse the pit to the side without the poisonous arthropods.

Kara called over to the other side, informing them of what was coming. "Five centipedes! They can crawl on walls, so neither the pit nor oil alone would stop them. Therefore, instead of us trying to slowly reach you, and them following, it might be better if you come to this side to help deal with them."

She then went down to help Holden with the door. He was stronger, but perhaps she could add what little strength she had remaining to his attempt. If they could get the door open, they would all no longer be trapped in a dead end, which would be far more useful than her throwing a dagger.

Without anyone to stand at his side against these creatures, Devin gave up waiting on the others and tossed both shield and hammer into the pit.  He then slid over the edge to hang by his fingertips before dropping down to join his gear.

The others could follow or stay as they wished.  He'd tried to give them time to get across, but they made their decision.

Teodore continues his efforts to light the torch, now that he knows bugs are crawling his way.

"Blast! I can't even levitate to the ceiling to get away from those things!"

He readies his dagger.

"Get the west door open." Fiene calls, moving that direction.  "it leads to a room, we then take the north door out and trap the centipedes in it, and end up back here. he suggests.

The giant centipedes rushed forward and bit at Devin. The foot long creepy crawlies swarmed over him biting and scratching his flesh. In fear Devin stepped back and began to lowered himself into the pit.

Even aided by Kara the door refused to open for the old man Holden. Equally Teodore was frustrated with his attempted to catch a spark to light his torch. Derry stood readied with his oil.



OOC Devin roll 2 saves versus poison.

Declare your actions

"The door is stuck!" Kara yelled back to Fiene as she feebly struggled with it. "We may need help if someone can be spared!"

Unaware of the change in situation around the corner, she attempted to assist Holden once more.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:04, Tue 14 Sept 2021.

Fiene continues moving towards the west door to help open it.

Devin realized he'd waited on the others to cross the pit too long as the creatures overtook him.


OOC: Devin Harper rolled 9,7 using d20,d20.  Poison Saves (11).

Derry empties his flask of oil into the pit, discards the flask, and redraws his sword -- even as the centipedes overtake Devin. A vigorous man could withstand a few injections of their weak poison but just a few?

The giant centipedes rushed forward to fill the gap left by Devin and bit at Fiene and Valerian. Valerian was bitten by their sharp mandibles.

Retching, sick and feverish Devin stumbled and crawled along the bottom of the pit. Movement was painful and all the cleric's energy was drained.

Fiene retreated to try to help open the door but stubbornly the door remained shut.

On the other side of the pit Teodore lit his torch and Derry emptied his flask of oil into the pit.



OOC Valerian must roll a save vs poison. Valerian may also make an action this round as he had his dagger readied.

Devin is horribly sick. No physical activity possible except half speed movement.

Declare your actions.

The three of them unable to force the door- this was clearly a sign that the door was not going to open. Perhaps it is locked or barred from the inside. So, she abandoned the idea, and went back around the corner to see how the others were faring.

It seems the idea was not the only thing abandoned, as Valerian was the sole individual present, and he was beset by the bugs! Horrified by the sight, this clearly rose from nuisance to necessity. She began to think of the formula for her sleep spell, intending to cast it into the center of the mass of arthropods, unless the situation suddenly changed yet again.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:01, Thu 16 Sept 2021.

Struggling to work through the pain, Devin took the dangling rope in shaky hands and tried to tie it around himself so they could pull him up.  His body was on fire where he'd been bitten and it was excruciatingly painful to move.  He'd never be able to pull himself up alone.

"Pull me up!" he called feebly once he'd tied the knot.

Hands mostly free, Derry pulls the wretched cleric up to the eastern side of the pit. Sadly, he reflects, they would have to maneuver him back to the other side soon enough.

Valerian holds the rope as long as he can until the centipedes are almost him.

He lets out a small, undignified shriek and casts Levitation upon himself.

When he reaches the ceiling, he hurriedly walks with his hands to where the rest of the party is gathering, before the loathsome insects meet him up there.

Fiene puts his shoulder to the door, trying to force it.

Teodore watches this side of the pit for trouble as Derry pulls Devin from the pit.

The centipedes swarmed over Valerian, their mandibles biting and cutting into the mage's skin.

Devin was hauled out of the pit by Derry whilst Teodore now with lit torch illuminated the hallway. Kara began to prepare her magical spell. Fiene ran around the corner and putting his shoulder to the door it yielded.

The door beyond the door was thirty foot by thirty foot. Skeletal remains were sprawled upon the ground alongside blood stains.



OOC Valerian needs to make three more saves vs poison.

Declare your actions

DM, please check Private Messages.

Devin struggled to untie himself so that someone else could be pulled up.

"Gahhh! Get them off me!"
13:53, Today: Valerian rolled 6,9,5,14 using d20-1,d20-1,d20-1,d20-1 ((7,10,6,15)).

Derry watches the scene unfold before him, ready to pull the next pit-crosser up.

Kara targets the sleep spell on Valerian, since the centipedes are all on and about him.

If it succeeded in putting then all to sleep, she intends on going over and killing them with her dagger, then waking Valerian, as soon as she is able.


(ooc)
She rolled an 11 originally, but if you prefer that to be rerolled, she has an 8.

I realize what she is planning will take several rounds to accomplish, but if the centipedes are put to sleep, hopefully it will not be an issue.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:12, Fri 17 Sept 2021.

"The door is open!" Fiene calls back

Teodore keeps watching for danger.

The swarm of centipedes bite at Valerian as the mage sickened they went into a frenzy but any further attacks were stalled as Kara unleashed her magic. An enchanted slumber fell upon all the centipedes, Valerian, Holden, Fiene and even Kara herself.

OOC Following the ruling from last time, we used line of sight and a thirty foot radius as the limiting factors. So the four of them around the corner Teodore, Devin, Derry and Ermangard are not hit by the spell.

Day: 11. Time: 10:10am. Weather: Sunny, dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement: 20'

Lantern oil and torches
Fiene: 5 Turns - lit
Holden: 5 Turns - lit

“Zzzz.”

"What happened?" Devin asked as he struggled to his feet.  The pain radiating from the two bites was radiating outward, causing his whole body to ache.

Fiene sleeps.

Derry crosses the pit via the narrow ledge, such things being second nature, no part of his very nature, as a dwarf and surveys the soporific scene on the other side.

After he dispatches the crawlers one by one, he wakes the sleepers one by one, saving the new girl for last. If any of them needed more rest, it were she. For a spell, he considers her. Ah, the little lady comrade exhausted herself when she summoned forth the energy for her enchantment.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:39, Sat 18 Sept 2021.

The pit was crossed by Derry, the creepy crawlies were dispatched and the other adventurers awoken.

This expedition was a shambles, no question about that. One (or was it two?) of the party were nearly too sick to walk, and the magic lady was just about dead on her feet. Still, one or two things could be done before they turned back. That one-way door needed to be sorted out.

"I'm going to investigate the workings of that door. Then, I'll return and we'll return the way we came."

He once again crosses the pit by means of the ledge. At the other side, he asks Teodore to hold open the door, should it decide to close of its own volition. Prepared, he tries the ingress, making every possible note of its mysteries, engineering or otherwise. He does not cross the transom!

OOC Derry's the engineer, not the player, haha.

Awakened by Derry, Kara replied, "My thanks. I would have cast a bit farther out, but the light was not cooperative for precise targeting."

Yawning and stretching, she suggested to him about his plans, "Perhaps we should not worry about spiking or disabling the door at this time. For starters, something may lay beyond it we are not ready for," she indicated the two members who seems barely able to walk straight with their illness. "But more than that, it seems whatever success on disabling the door we have now will be repaired and have to be performed all over again. Fiene had said that the pit had been recovered, allowing it to surprise everyone again, and if you look closely to wehre Devin was examining earlier, it seems there are holes where someone at some point must have driven in spikes or something similar to make crossing easier, but they are now gone." she concluded.

"Perhaps it would be best to repair back to town until all have recovered, or if not town, at least out of the dungeon and to a camp in the woods, if one thinks the poison will burn its way out sooner."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:26, Mon 20 Sept 2021.

On the verge of assaying the mysterious door, Derry assures himself there will be another chance. Once again he crosses the pit by his chosen means. After he helps the others cross, he will lead the expedition back to the village.

Devin was amazed at how easily the dwarf crossed the pit in either direction.  Was he part spider or could anyone have done that?  Had they only known, they wouldn't have been stymied by the pit for so long!

Travel across the pit was slow for Derry but the dwarf took his time and came to no harm. Teodore and Ermangard managed the same but again slowly. Devin had to be lowered and again raised up the other side. The cleric's movements were very restricted by the sickening pain of the centipede bites. The heavily armoured and poisoned cleric made travel very slow. Holden's torch burnt out and their only light was Fiene's lantern. However the party successful climbed the stairs and came to the entrance to the dungeon.

As he was about to step through the threshold Teodore spied in the late morning sunlight a pewter holy symbol, twisted and bent as if crushed by a powerful hand, laid forgotten in a corner.

Day: 11. Time: 11:00am. Weather: Sunny, dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement: 20'

Lantern oil and torches
Fiene: 10 Turns - lit

Teodore poked at the ruined holy symbol with his sword. If no more nasty bugs emerged from nearby, he picked up the item and brushed some of the dirt off of it, tucking it into his pack.

"Take us to the southeast tower," Devin coughed as he's helped along.  "Sister Majken might be able to save us."

"She might also have something to say about that dusty thing," Derry encourages. Don't go in for religion myself, he omits.

"But what are you worrying about Devin? Bug poison won't kill you. It's the feeding that would. Teodore and I would not have let them begin chewing in earnest."

He says this convincingly enough.

"No more than a few exploratory bites," he says reassuringly.

Kara was not certain where they intended to go, but she went along nonetheless. Normally, she would try to be centered in the group, but she moved a bit further to the edge, to allow those sickened to be in the centrally protected area if desired.

The journey out of the canyon was slow but nothing impeded them. In the forest the bulging of elks was heard as a herd of twenty elks grazed on the grasses and low branches. The herd ignored the slow procession of adventurers as they passed.

It was evening time when the adventurers returned to Fourtower Bridge. The torches and braziers on the bridge welcomed them home and the bearded fighter Athalgrim drew the gates shut behind them.

OOC 5 XP each.

Day: 11. Time: Evening. Weather: Sunny, dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement: 20'

Devin made his way to the southeast tower as best he could.  His joints burned and he didn't know how much longer he could hold on.  No matter what the dwarf said, he knew he wouldn't last the night without help.

He thought about using one of the healing scrolls, but wasn't sure it would even work.  This seemed different, though.  If the old nun wasn't there, he'd have to use it.

Feebly, he rapped on her door, hoping for salvation.

Valerian wakes with a start, pulling at his robes in a frenzy, then slowing and stopping when he finds none.

He stands up and brushes off his robes like nothing happened, then follows the rest of the party.

The day after they return, Derry runs a few errands. He'd like a grappling hook for his rope and he needs to replace the flask of oil he emptied. Maybe add a second to his store. What's more, he thinks the collective would benefit from the addition of another able-bodied fighting man, woman, or the occasional one that seems to be a bit of both. As such, he pays for an advert and spends liberally on drinks.

Wanted: One man or woman or they-at-arms to join highly promising adventurer's union. Polearm experience preferred. All genders welcome.

He crosses out highly. Don't want to oversell.

The next morning, Teodore makes sure to buy a hammer and four more torches at the general store before heading to Mother Majken's with the mangled holy symbol.

With no coin recovered, and little else besides, Kara had naught available to do but rememorize her spell, then get some rest in the warmest ditch she could find.

The next day, she again looked to see if she could find a retainer who would hire on for a future share. If not, then she would wait until the others were ready to try again. Perhaps this time they might consider trying the ruins of Modnar's tower.

The stern Mother Majken prescribed bedrest, plenty of it for the sickened Valerian and Devin. She was unable to identified the crushed remains that Teodore had picked up but confirmed that it had most likely once been a holy symbol of some kind. Unidentifiable and made of pewter it's value was most worthless, merely an odd curio she said.

At the Moorland Magpie Inn Lorna was serving lamb steamed buns with peaches and beer for five silvers. The magic user Dagunn Rakel showed off her collection of infernal pottery. No one liked this.

The dwarf Derry was approached in response to his advertisement by an adolescent woman-at-arms by the name of Eadwynn Haute, she was well prepared for any adventure in the dungeon. Armoured in chainmail and shield and armed with shortsword and shortbow. She took a peculiar and morbid interest in the afflication that Valerian and Devin were suffering from. Her hiring cost was twenty gold per day.

OOC The general store has stock for all regular purchases.

Kara thanked Derry for the generosity of the room. It was definitely better than a ditch.

"It would seem we have time to have that conversation about coming up with emergency commands and calls," she mused. "Also, while I would prefer to go to Modnar's tower the next time out, I assume we will be trying to reach that same door again? If so, perhaps someone might consider a crowbar this time, or an axe to take the door down if the key cannot be found."

Derry considers Ms. Eadwynn Haute. Does he think she merits 20 gp a day?

Devin tries to encourage the others to go on without him.  He felt so bad it would probably be more than a week before he was ready to even think about even walking around.

Derry takes Ms. Eadwynn Haute and her pathological predilections into his service, with actual service to begin upon departure. Despite Devin's protests, Derry delays his departure until the man has fully recovered from his ordeal.

45 sp for 10 days of meals?
This message was last edited by the player at 02:33, Fri 24 Sept 2021.

Kara agrees with Derry that waiting is not an issue, now at least. Unless Valerian also urges them to leave, she will wait. In the meantime, she will familiarize herself with the maps they had already assembled, learning what and who was found where, and most importantly, where the pits are so she was not going into things as blindly this time.

"So, I assume we are going back to find a key and the door again? If so, as before, I would suggest an axe or crowbar," she added, since it still seemed as if nobody had one yet.


(ooc)
At 20 gold a day, Derry might want to wait 10 days before hiring her... ^_^

OOC Yes if there's nothing else characters want or need to do we can skip the 10 days and prepare for the next delve. Yes 45sp for food sounds right.

Derry announces himself ready for departure, having made one last acquisition: a 10' wooden pole. Unless there are other objections or interruptions, he will lead the expedition back to that troublous pit trap, the one into which he had emptied an oil flask. He instructs Ms. Eadwynn Haute to tap the pole in front of them as they go -- but that there is no need until they reach untested corridors.

Oracular doors fear neither crowbar nor axe. And besides where's the fun in that?

Having thoroughly cleansed his system many, many times over the past week or so, Devin is finally ready to venture once more back into the maw.

Fiene continues upkeep on his single room, paid up well in advance, as well as Ermengard and Holden's wages for another trip.    And needing all the help he can get, he also leaves another offering for Coal, and at St Ras.

Once they reach Stonehell, he lights his lantern, and has Holden carry a torch.  "I expect the kobolds will have repaired the pit by now." he offers, so no one is surprised.  "Perhaps this time, we can skirt the edge instead of walking right through the middle."

The party's conversation was interrupted by a cloaked figure entering the room. Removing his hood, he revealed himself to be a man of slight build and middling height. He dropped his gear with a thud and patted the road dust from his clothes. Noticing several sets of eyes on him, he looked up.

"Oh...ah, hail friends. Heard you were looking for some help. I know my way around locks and traps, and I'm passing fair with a bow. The name's Wyndham, but Wyn will do."

"How are you at running away?" Devin asked the cloaked figure.  "We do a lot of running."

In reply to Devin, Wyn raises a boot with little more than a paper thin sole.
"I've seen my share of hasty retreats. Hmmm, I'm getting the feeling I'm gonna need some new boots soon."

(ooc)

Derry the Dwarf:

Oracular doors fear neither crowbar nor axe.

The most accurate prophecies are the ones you fulfill yourself.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:55, Sun 26 Sept 2021.

Derry smirks, "He wasn't doing any running after our last run. We nearly had to carry his pestilent self back. But then a miracle occurred!"

Derry takes a couple of steps away from Devin before continuing.

"He learned to run again -- to the pot again and again."

"Did you and, uh, that other magic man take turns emptying the pot ... or what?"

Derry squints and looks about to see if he can spot that other man in the group.

"Say what you want," Devin said soberly, "I wouldn't wish that pain on anyone.  It was a miracle we all survived."

Hearing the cheery words and boisterous tales of heroism, Wyn wonders if he's made a grave mistake signing on with this crew...

"It was a miracle," Kara agreed. "But not from any bug threat. Our own lack of cooperation caused the entire problem."