The party gathered once more and struck out across the wilds in a return to Modnar’s Cellar. The weather remained outcast but no rains came. Through the forest all was quiet and their reached their destination without any interruption.

The toppled walls and moss covered flagstones sat in the centre of the clearing.

OOC
Day 22. Time: 9:00am. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham lifts open the trapdoor then lights a torch before starting the climb down.

"Watch your step, brother," Derry calls out after Wydham to remind him of that slick one. He, too, joins the descent.

"We going to Harry's lounge?" he asks. He had also asked about their return trip before they left and if told about the skeletons, he'll ask why they weren't destroyed?

Marching Order: Wyndham -- Derry -- Preston -- Kara -- Devin

"Nobody wanted to take the chance that an attack would negate their fear. Preston was already in a state of being barely able to walk, much less contribute to any fight. It also would have taken time, and far better to get the head and depart than chance something else arriving. Plus, they wandered in, so perhaps they wandered out since we have been gone. Hopefully the silver remains."

Carefully down the stairs- we already know they are slick.

(ooc)
Unless someone else hired Preston (12gp per day), he is not here.

Devin lit a torch of his own and used his free hand to steady himself on the descent.

"I can try to drive them back again if they're still there," Devin said of the skeletons, "but if you attack them, they'll fight back."

Careful of the slippery step everyone safely made their way into Modnar’s Cellar. The torchlight faded into darkness in all four directions as the hallways stretched out into darkness.

OOC

Wyndham’s Torch: 1 Turn
Devin’s Torch: 1 Turn

"Back to Harry's bedsit, then," Derry affirms, as they all head off to there.

Marching Order:
Haute -- Wyndham
Derry -- Kara
Devin

OOC Derry engages the services of one Ms. Eadwynn Haute again. He also buys three hand axes and a large sack. Last of the retro adjustments!
This message was last edited by the player at 10:49, Thu 17 Mar 2022.

(ooc)
Preston is not present.

Also, it is up to Wyndham, but since he has light armor and few hit points, now that we are down the stairs, perhaps he and Eadwynn should change places (or at least travel side-by-side, since she has heavier armor, no?
This message was last edited by the player at 10:48, Thu 17 Mar 2022.

Fixed.

ooc - Light armor and few hitpoints, yes, but lots of oil!

The hallways smelt of faintly of both chemicals and mildew. The party headed north then east. Without interruption they reached again the door to the rats nest.

"Let me be by the door when it's opened," Devin said.  "If the skeletons are still there, I'll drive them back again."

He gripped his symbol tightly and prepared to drive them back the moment he saw them.

Wyndham steps back to let the man of faith have his space.

Prepared for what may lie behind the door Devin and Eadwynn opened the door to reveal of the decaying remains of the rats nests. Amongst the detritus the three skeletons remained. Hundreds of silver pieces were scattered on the flagstones.

OOC The party have a surprise round to act before the skeletons.

Devin immediately intones a prayer to repel the skeletons in the name of Auril.

OOC: Devin Harper rolled 9 using 2d6.  Turn Undead. Need 7
Devin Harper rolled 5 using 2d6.  HD Turned.

The three skeletons were once again repelled by the holiness of Devin’s prayer.

With the skeletons cowed, Derry calmly dispatches them, careful to not interpose himself between them and any possible escape route they might fancy.

Wyndham bravely scoops the silver coins in his sack.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:30, Sat 19 Mar 2022.

Kara cautiously scoops the silver coins into her sack.

The skeletons were destroyed by Derry whilst Wyndham and Kara gathered up the silver pieces. They collected hundred and fifty silver pieces each.

OOC
Day 22. Time: 9:20am. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: 2 Turns
Devin’s Tocrh: 2 Turns

Kara indicated the doors. "I'd recommend we take one of those two, rather than the northern door. North goes to Hary's chamber, then to a door or room he specifically wanted us to go to, so it is unlikely to hold anything of value for us. His own door north also had the steel covering, probably to help keep things out. These doors though don't have that protection, so one of them probably has the rat's nest. Since we didn't see any rats the last two times, we might have exterminated them the first trip. If the rats took anything off some unfortunate, it might be there to be found. And I still have my spell, so if there are more rats, we can take care of them quickly." She shrugged and added. "And who knows. Maybe the checkered bandit would be interested in that, or if we find anything else rat-based."


(ooc)
You said a few times in the previous thread that there were doors in the east, but the map picture you also posted shows them in the west (post 259 for an example). I assume they are in the west, like the picture and saying east was just a mistake, but do not want to assume in case you made a change one way or the other.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:36, Sun 20 Mar 2022.

OOC Yes there's two doors to the west.

"Lead the way," Devin said to anyone wishing to choose a door.

Wyndham exercises his now-legendary door-listening skills at each door.

The doors were similarly built and Wyndham noted no differences in them. He listened at both but heard naught.

OOC Anyone else doing anything whilst Wyndham listens?

Day 22. Time: 9:40am. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: 4 Turns
Devin’s Torch: 4 Turns
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:58, Sat 26 Mar 2022.

Kara keeps an eye on the north door in case something comes through.

Nothing from Derry. He's probably daydreaming. Ms. Haute remains ever vigilant, though.

"Who is going to open the door?" Devin asked quietly. He wasn't sure whether he should use his free hand for his hammer or shield. He decided on the shield and slipped it on.!

Wyndham finished listening to the doors whilst everyone else waited, nothing interrupted them.

Unless someone says otherwise, let's go with the henchwoman opening doors, in this case one Ms. Eadwynn Haute opening the southwestern one.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:49, Mon 21 Mar 2022.

"Both quiet enough, so feel free to open either of the two west doors then."

"Does this always have to take so long?" Devin asked in frustration at the agonizing amount of time they spent opening doors.  "Someone with a free hand just open a door, please."

Ms. Eadwynn Haute's going to open the SW door.

The door was opened by Eadwynn. The small chamber was twenty foot by twenty foot with no other doors. In the middle of the room sat a simple stone well. Around the lip of the well the stone was etched in writing.

After the usual look for spiders above, Kara proceeded cautiously forward towards the well, wary of some fishy or froggy or watery beast leaping out of it. If nothing did, then she would come up alongside of it and see if she could read the writing.

Seeing an empty room, Devin let the others take a look while he turns his attention back the way they'd come from.  He didn't want anyone sneaking up on them.

Derry trails behind Kara, ready to grab her should the well seek to sate its appetite.

Wyndham stands ready with his bow to shoot anything that might leap/slither/creep out of the well.

There was no creatures seen lurking on the ceiling or beneath the liquid in the well.

On close examination the writing was in eldritch runes, these were not understood by Kara but she recognised them as similar to the magical runes that might be inscribed in a spell book.

The well was filled with a silvery liquid; a faint shimmering light seemed to spill from the liquid itself. On one side of the inside of the well was a wooden ladder that descended downward.

Kara looked to see how far down the liquid was. If the ladder down reached it, she would climb down and collect some of the liquid since she had several empty flasks. She would take out her sack to carry the flasks, leaving her pack behind while going sample collecting.

The liquid is high up in the well, only a couple of foot from the top. High enough that it can be touched by anyone without climbing into the well or using the ladder. The wooden ladder extends downward into the silvery liquid and below the surface.

Since she did not have to climb into the well, Kara remained outside, at the edge of it and just reached down to fill the flasks. "Maybe mercury, or something similar? Perhaps this will be as valuable to Dagunn Rakel as the slime was."

If she was able to do this without being attacked by the liquid or something in the liquid, she would then dip the tip of her pinkie into the liquid in the well. If it did not dissolve her hand or otherwise cause damage, she put it in her mouth to see if it had any effect other than poison.

Derry remembers what Kara had said a few minutes ago, "I'd recommend we take one of those two, rather than the northern door. North goes to Harry's chamber."

"It might have become Harry's lair," Derry tardily comments. "But the lair might have been Modnar's before that. This well would have been quite conveniently located for a wizard such as himself."

Derry waits for Kara to finish going about her business. If there were harvesting to be done, the little magic lady would brook no interference.

"I don't think it's for drinking," he sighs. "It's not that kind of well. Couldn't it be some kind of component he needed for his magicking?"

If he'd brought a bowl, he might have offered some to his pet rabbit, Hazel.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:35, Tue 22 Mar 2022.

In reply to Derry the Dwarf (msg # 43):

Wyndham gives Hazel a sidelong glance. He stares and drifts off into a daydream. A dream of feasts from long ago. Feasts shared with family and friends. Feasts with roast beast, potatoes and carrots. And rabbit. When he suddenly notices Derry giving him the stinkeye, he shakes himself out of his reverie and focuses once again on the well.

"I would think it more likely Modnar had his room on the tower's upper levels, but it could be," she acknowledged. "Harry probably already went through it pretty well though. I don't have objections to going back that way if you want, but again, it is the direction Harry wanted us to go, which would not be good."

As for the well, if she was not dead, she responded, "I don't think it's for drinking either, but I also don't know that it isn't. In either case, it might help me discern what it is for if it reminds me of anything I studied as an apprentice. But it's also a test to see if it is going to kill me." She pointed at the ladder. "That's out of place and unnecessary if you can just reach in and collect the fluid. That makes me think of three possibilities." She ticked them off.

"One- the fluid level used to be lower. That's very possible, since without Modnar and his apprentices using it, it could have built up. But one would think they would have used a bucket and rope to retrieve it like with a regular well instead of climbing down to collect it."

"Two- it's for soaking in, like a hot tub, and the ladder is just to get in and out. If so, it won't be very deep. I have a rope and grappling hook we can use to check the depth if this isn't corrosive. But if it's deep, that lead to..."

"Three- there's something hidden down there out of sight below the fluid level, either hidden at the bottom, or maybe in a hollow in the wall near or behind the ladder. If so, I want to check, but don't want to submerge if it seems deathly toxic or paralytic."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:46, Wed 23 Mar 2022.

The liquid was heavier than water, a quicksilver like liquid. Kara scooped up flasks of the silvery liquid. Her hands came to no discernible harm and she was able to dip her fingers in. The liquid was cool to touch, its smell and taste were not pleasant, being faintly of rot.

Derry finds the second of Kara's three possibilities for the well to be the stuff of fancy. Surely, a wizard would have a tub for his own private usage with his servants seeing to its filling and heating. The ladder meant that they needed ready access to the lower half of the well. To clean up after accidents, fatal or otherwise?

"Do you want us to tie a rope around you and pull you back up after five minutes?" Derry asks. He might have overestimated the fey lady's lung capacity.

Wyndham steps to the edge of the well and sniffs. "Smells like death. Sure you want to hop in there? Could be full of skeletons, dead or otherwise. Might be good to drop some rocks in first, or poke in a stick."

Had Derry voiced his doubts aloud, Kara would have corrected his misunderstanding. But as it was, she was unaware of it, so the dwarf would have to remain mistaken on her point.

On the spoken parts, she responded, first to Wyndham. "When I check the depth with the grappling hook and rope, that should suffice to test that. Skeletons are not a bad guess, since the ones in the other room had to come from somewhere, although I didn't see any drips outside the well to the door. But if they are there, the hook might catch on one, so better than a rock test."

Then to Derry, "Yes, that was what I planned, if it is deep enough to need a rope. Five minutes would be too long though. I'll give the rope two tugs every thirty seconds. If the tugs do not come, or if they do not stop or become a prolonged pull, then pull me up."

She then tested depth with the rope and grapple. If nothing attacked, emerged, or happened to the rope, then she would recover it, and leave all of her equipment save a dagger and a sack before climbing down the ladder to enter the well.

If it was shallower than her chest, then she would simply get in, and feel around the walls and the floor of the well for anything that might be hidden by the fluid- items, or openings in particular.

But if it was deeper than her chest, then she would first tie a rope to herself before entering, taking a breath before submerging and feeling around and behind the ladder area for openings or anything unusual, giving the signal as she went, and coming up for air as necessary.

The grappling hook and rope when lowered into the well did not disturb anything. It was hard to estimate the depth using the grappling hook as the sense of weight of it seemed to vary at times which made it hard to judge exactly when it had reached the bottom. Roughly half the rope was used.

Boldly or foolishly Kara climbed into the pool of quicksilver. The liquid was cool to her skin but she did not suffer any adverse effects. The feeling was much the same as being in water with a feeling close to weightlessness. She found the ladder ended just beneath the liquids surface. Then she submerged beneath the surface.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:52, Thu 24 Mar 2022.

As soon as Kara has become fully submerged within the chemicals of the well, Derry begins his count to thirty.

One magic lady...

Two magic lady...

Three magic lady...

Half the rope was definitely higher than her chest, and that would be a long way down. Briefly she wished she did not already fill the flasks- maybe she could have used them for air to extend the submerged time. But if need be, she could always resurface, empty them and fill them later. But for now, just go as is.

The ladder ending so quickly was a definite surprise. But there had to be a reason for that as well. A deep breath and she continued down, using the wall to keep her bearing and feel for openings.

She gave the 'still okay' signal at the correct times. While petite in frame, she had a fair enough constitution to hold her breath for some time.

As Derry began to count he felt little weight on the rope as Kara swam about in the water, her body weight suspended in the water. Then suddenly he was jerked forward toward the well and he lost about ten foot of the rope. When he had re-established his grip on the rope, it felt as it had done before that there was some weight attached to the rope.

PM

PM

Derry decides that the jerk counts as a "prolonged pull" and hoists up the rope double-time, his muscles bulging with the effort.

Derry heaved and pulled at the rope to bring Kara back up the well.

Kara felt herself being pulled back upwards.

OOC Will Kara allow herself to be pulled up or will she react? Feel free to respond to each others pulls and tugs as appropriate.

Kara doesn’t fight the pull. Searching down here alone isn’t something she is going to fight to do. She just takes a deep breath before being submerged again, and when in the quicksilver, she tries to swim up to make it easier on the others pulling her out.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:47, Fri 25 Mar 2022.

The pulling for Derry gets suddenly easier and then Kara emerged from the pool of quicksilver.

OOC Kara the change is permanent, feel free to describe anything you feel would be noticeable in you posts.

Wyndham waits with eyes wide open.

"Incredible!" she exclaimed when she reached the surface. "It's some sort of rejuvenation pool. I've recovered all the strength the serpent men's rituals tore out of my body!"

She demonstrated the new ease she could heft the coinage around, although the others would clearly notice that this 'ease' was a relative thing- she was still only a 5' woman with a very slight build, so was still considerably less strong than the average person was. But for her, it was quite a cause for celebration.

"Also, the water ends right at the footage you felt the rope pull, and there is a chamber of air below to drop down into. The quicksilver sheds light, so I could see it was a 10' empty chamber with one door. But I was pulled back up before being able to check what lay beyond the door. No matter though- there is enough to do on this level before proceeding to deeper sub-basements."

She recovered her rope and grapple as she spoke.

"Luck is a little lady," Derry exclaims. "And she stands before us right now!"

He shudders to think what might happen were he to descend into the well. If luck were a lady, it couldn't also be a man? What if luck started as a man and turned into a lady, would it swim better then all of the original ladies? That wouldn't be fair.

"Your turn will come," he reassures Hazel, with a look at the well.

DM, through the NW door in the chamber of the 7 rats with the hireling leading the way.

Derry and Eadwynn left the chamber with the quicksilver well and opened the other door. A short corridor was revealed that when west then turned north.

Kara gathered up her backpack, rope and grapple her strength returning to once atrophied muscles.

In reply to DM (msg # 63):
Wyndham scratches his head at the goings on, shrugs, then follows along.

Through the newly revealed corridor in marching order -- unless Kara chooses another destination for us.

Led onwards by the dwarf the party found the bent corridor was very short and ended in another door. At the end was another door. Then another corridor was beyond the door which led north and south before both corridors turned to the west. Another door was around the corner to the south.

Kara continued along with the others, still happy with her restoration.

Wyndham listens at that door the south. If he hears nothing troubling, the hireling opens it.

OOC I'll wait for Wyndham to declare his action.

Devin kept an eye on their rear as they moved.  He kept his shield on and had the torch in his free hand.  The well had not been what he'd expected and he didn't want them to be surprised by anything Kara might have disturbed.

In reply to DM (msg # 69):

Of, course, Wyndham?

As the party explored their torches guttered and went out. Then when ready Wyndham moved on to listen at the door. The corridor went around in a circle bringing anyone walking it back to where they began.

Wyndham heard no noise and Eadwynn tried to open the door but found it locked.

OOC Both Devin’s and Wyndham’s torch will have expired. I have not interrupted the exploration but please mark off any used torches and let me know who has lit new torches.

Day 22. Time: 10:20am. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: ? Turns
Devin’s Torch: ? Turns

Wyndham lights another torch and hands it to Eadwynn while he attempts to unlock the door.
19:35, Today: Wyndham rolled 31 using 1d100 ((31)).
This message was last edited by the player at 19:36, Mon 28 Mar 2022.

Wyndham's attempt to pick the lock is unsuccessful.

OOC Day 22. Time: 10:30am. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: 3 Turns
Devin’s Torch: ? Turns

Wyndham glares at the stubborn lock and recovers his torch from Eadwynn.
"Should we try forcing it or carry on?"

Derry sizes up the door.

I.E: Does it have a keyhole? Would a crowbar help him force it? How sturdy does it look to be?

Regardless of the results of his appraisal, he decides to leave this door for later. If it has a key, it might be yet found.

Continue west past the locked door in marching order. The hireling returns Wyndham's torch. Await countermanding orders from Kara if any.

Derry led the party around in a circle and came back to the door.

That's right, +1 leadership to Derry.

Derry turns to Kara, "Should we look to where Harry wanted us to go? He might have just wanted us away from his treasure."

DM, did you get Derry's questions about the door?

OOC Yes the door has a keyhole. Yes you can try to force it open, with an Open Doors roll.

Derry decided to give it a try after all. The door doesn't budge.

14:46, Today: Derry the Dwarf rolled 6 using 1d6.  Force Door +1.

"Stand back, stand back," says Wyndham grandiosely. "Let's see how it handles... THIS!"
Wyndham shoves at the door with great gusto.
19:44, Today: Wyndham rolled 3 using 1d6-1 ((4)).

Devin lit a new torch so as not to be without a light of his own.

Time passed as both Derry and Wyndham were unsuccessful in forcing the locked down open.

OOC Day 22. Time: 10:40am. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: 4 Turns
Devin’s Torch: 4 Turns

Dejected by his impasse with the lock, Wyndham takes the initiative and listens at the door to Harry's "lounge".

In marching order, party accompanies Wyndham back to Harry's flat.

The party abandoned the locked door and retreated down the crooked corridor. Wyndham and Eadwynn went to the north door of the rat room and Eadwynn opened the door. The headless corpse of Harry had been consumed by centipedes, now nothing more than a bloody pile. The room however was not empty of enemies but two skeletons roamed the bedroom of the luckless thief.

OOC Neither party is surprised. Declare your actions. Eadwynn and Wyndam are at the front. Derry and Kara behind them with Devin at the rear.

Day 22. Time: 10:50am. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: 4 Turns
Devin’s Torch: 4 Turns

"Gaaaah! More?! I thought they was dead... err, undead.... ugh!" Wyndham sidesteps to provide the man of faith easier access.

"Fine," she replied. It did not seem particularly promising, since she expected it to have nothing but traps or more rats, but there was no better place to go right now with this door locked. "We should at least examine it. If it has rats, I have my spell. If it trapped, then hopefully they would have needed Harry to activate them."


When skeletons ae discovered, Kara moves well back away from them, not equipped for fighting such creatures.

Turned or unturned, the skeletons would have to be destroyed.

Derry hits for 3 dmg.
12:54, Today: Derry the Dwarf rolled 17,3 using d20+1,d8+1.  Attack skelly.

"What's happening up there!" Devin shouted from the back as he turned to ensure they weren't being attacked from behind as well.

DM said neither party was surprised. DM did not say everybody but Devin was not surprised. Why are you making a point of acting surprised when you're not surprised? When the door was opened, the party could see into the room.

Interrupted in their mindless wandering the two skeletons were attracted to the living as a moth is to flame. The long dead bony figures reached on to Wyndham, their bony fingers like claws. They scratched and cut at the thief, opening sore wounds in his living flesh.

OOC The Skeletons won Initiative. Wyndham and Eadwynn block the doorway. Wyndham takes 3 points of damage from their attacks.

Your actions! Everyone can see the two skeletons as the party and the skeletons are all within twenty foot of each other.

Wyndham continues his retreat away from the skeletons.

Derry takes Wyndham's place, attacks a skeleton, and encourages his hireling to do the same.

Derry hits AC 6 for 3 dmg
08:24, Today: Derry the Dwarf rolled 13,3 using d20+1,d8+1.

Seeing Wyndham grapple with yet more skeletons, Devin dropped his shield to grip his symbol or Auril to hold it high.

"In the name of Auril!" he shouted.  "Begone from here!"

OOC:
Devin Harper rolled 7 using 2d6.  Turn Undead, Skeletons 7.
Devin Harper rolled 5 using 2d6.  HD Turned.

As Wyndham retreated Derry hustled forward to attack the skeletons. Before Derry had struck a blow Devin raised his holy symbol and brought into the dungeon the power of the sky. Dismissed by the divine power the skeletons backed off defenceless against Derry onslaught, the dwarf destroyed them both.

"Ahhhhh!" says Wyndham waggling his finger at Devin. "I see what you did there: the long game! Revenge from the booby-trapped flagstone!  Well played, my friend, well played! Nearly got me dead, didn't you! Waiting like that for the ol' bones to have a swipe or two at Wyndham before stepping in with the holy word. Well done!"
Wyndham's dry laugh turns to a hacking cough as he doubles over in pain

White with bone dust, a disgruntled Derry turns to the others and surveys each in turn.

Turning to Ms. Eadwynn Haute, he frowns, "Skeletons tore the flesh from his bones and you stood idly by. Do I need to instruct you in everything you do? You seem able to move one foot after another without my say so. You see skeletons; you attack? Is that clear? If you are so devoid of your own volition, I will have to hire another in your place."

Frowning further, he turns to the dripping Wyndham, "Brother, when the listening is done, to the rear you must hustle."

With the deepest frown of all, he turns to Devin, "Cleric, you mystify me. Perhaps the visions must clear before you can see what lies before you. We must make the way clearer for you."

Derry proposes the following revised marching order. If you object to it, make this known in your next post.

Ms. Eadwynn Haute -- Derry
Kara                       -- Devin
Wyndham

Derry proposes the following routine for doors. Likewise, if you object, make this known.

Wyndham listens and then returns to his position in the back. If he reports nothing, Ms. Eadwynn Haute opens the door.

(ooc)
Fine if you are happy with it, but I would suggest changing Devin and Derry in the marching order, lest the dwarf block Devin's vison again. Further, being in the front would help an inexperienced character become experienced in a hurry.

Wyndham holds his torch high as he shambles to the rear of the party.
"I hope I don't get eaten by a grue."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:53, Sat 02 Apr 2022.

Equally Eadwynn offered Derry a frown in return; she had had no chance to attack with Devin’s dismissal of the undead coming before she had lifted her sword. The frown was her only response however, she remained mute and kept her position in the party.

Wyndham, could you listen at the lounge door if you haven't already? Then, you may shuffle on to the back.

just as he reached the back of the group, Wyndham hears Derry's request then makes the arduous journey back to the fore. Leaning precariously forwards, he listens  intently at the door.

Devin wasn't sure why the dwarf was so rattled, but attributed it to be a fear of the undead.

The interruption dealt with Wyndham then listened to the door of Harry’s lounge, the thief heard nothing.

OOC The torches are about to go out again.

Day 22. Time: 11:10am. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: 6 Turns
Devin’s Torch: 6 Turns

Wyndham stumbles his way to the back of the group and lights another torch.

Eadwynne opens the door.

Through the door the room was twenty foot by thirty foot. There was another door in the south wall.

A threadbare rug lay in the centre of the room. A stout chest was in the middle of the rug.

OOC Day 22. Time: 11:20am. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: 1 Turn
Devin’s Torch: ? Turn

Wyndham waits at the back of the party.

Kara waits until n front of Wyndham, ready to spellcast if the suspected rats appear.

Derry and Ms. Eadwynne Haute stride purposefully into the room. He examines the rug and then tugs it to help gauge the weight of the chest. While he's excited at the discovery of the chest, he's has a niggling thought, one that might be niggling at the lot of them.

"Why would that scoundrel, Harry, have wanted to lead us into here?"

"There isn't even anywhere to sit," Devin added as he stepped into the room with his torch held high.  He had his shield back on the other arm.

A yank of the rug resulted in a sudden whoosh as the rug curled up to encompass the chest. Thus balled up the threadbare rug flew up to the ceiling to hang suspended there.

“That answers that question,” Kara stated, as she looked to see if it could be cut down without falling on anyone.

"Let's just see how long it takes to come down while we keep looking around," Devin suggested as he skirted the area where the rug was in order to reach the other door.

How was the rug-wrapped chest pulled to the ceiling, exactly?

By exploration Devin proved that the edges of the room were safe as the cleric successfully reached the southern door.

Kara and Derry looked up. The rug was balled up and touching the ceiling. There were no ropes.

Wyndham waits with his trusty torch.

Kara pushes in a table or desk or something from the previous room, in case someone tall wants to stand on it to examine the rug more closely.

A rickety table was found in the Harry's den and dragged through to the lounge by Kara.

Wyndham settles against a wall and breaks out some rations to munch on as the spectacle begins.

Derry joins Wyndham in a moment of leisure.

"That chest is bad news. Not only am I not tall, I do not want to examine it more closely."

When the party is ready, initiate door protocol for the southern door.

The rug and chest ignored Wyndham listened at the door but heard naught. Eadwynn opened the door to reveal a corridor heading south, the corridor continued beyond the torch light into darkness.

OOC Day 22. Time: 11:30am. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: 2 Turns
Devin’s Torch: 2 Turns

Head down the passageway in the revamped marching order.

If they did not care about the chest, then neither did Kara. Beyond it being on a trapped rug, they had already found Harry's treasure in the bedroom. Plus it was unlikely that he would have kept anything more than a token amount within if this was where he was trying to lead them earlier. So, after lunch was finished, Kara moved on with the others.

OOC Anything from anyone else or is the party agreed to travel south?

Wyndham gingerly works his way to a standing position and dusts himself off before trailing after the party south.

Devin was glad to leave the chest room as it seemed beyond their ability to resolve.

The hallway led southward, winding westward for forty foot before turning south again. Another forty foot southward led them to a door on the east. The hallway continued passed the door south then turned east. The smell around the door was dank and mildewy.



OOC Day 22. Time: 11:40am. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: 3 Turns
Devin’s Torch: 3 Turns

Wyndham listens at the door to the east.

Derry smiles approvingly. There is nothing better than effortless teamwork.

He lights a torch and hands it to his hireling. The fetid odors could mean more slime, he warns everybody.

If W. doesn't hear anything, Ms. Haute opens the door per the standard procedure.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:10, Sun 10 Apr 2022.

Ear to the door Wyndham felt that the door was damp. He heard no noise from the other side.

As usual, Kara watches the ceilings for dripping slime or dropping spiders.

Ms. Haute opens the door per the standard procedure.

As per protocol, Devin is astutely looking in the wrong direction, while holding his torch high.

The door opened. The smell of rot and decay wafted outwards. The room was forty foot by thirty foot. Sagging bare bookcases lined the walls. The floor was obscured by ruined books, waterlogged papers and other bits of writing paraphernalia. An overturned bookcase lay facedown on the ground.

Alert Kara saw something move on the ceiling. A giant hunting spider, almost hidden its skin the colour of the stone walls.

OOC Neither party of surprised. Declare your actions.

Day 22. Time: 11:50am. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: 4 Turns
Devin’s Torch: 4 Turns
Eadwynn’s Torch: 1 Turn

Kata cast sleep into the room- 30' area, so she designated it to end right at the door, covering the area the spider was in and might go, but not touching them at the door.

Derry and Ms. Eadwynn Haute remain in the doorway, blocking the entryway, interposing themselves between the hunter and any fey prey it might fancy.

The spider alert and poised to move one moment became limp the next as Kara’s enchanted slumber overcame the creatures natural urges.

OOC The party won Initiative and Kara’s spell goes off without a hitch.

In case they have encountered a mated pair, with one less jumpy than the other, Lenny tosses an apple into the room and then retrieves Hazel from his pack. He lets her extend the leash long enough for her to reach the apple. After she taken a few bites without herself becoming a meal, he and his hireling enter the room and examine the fallen bookshelf.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:15, Tue 12 Apr 2022.

Wyndham enters the room, stepping around Hazel and the dwarf and hireling, to kill the spider and make sure it is dead.

Kara does the same thing as the last time she found a library- look through the books, specifically searching to see if for anything could be a spellbook, or for diaries or journals that might provide information or history of Stonhell, since they might have maps or information about some of the puzzles that have been unsolved so far. Of tertiary importance is also looking for other books that might be valuable or unique, and thus worth something to those in town. Given many were waterlogged and ruined, she did not have much hope, but perhaps some could be dried and salvaged, or had been spared the worst of the environmental effects.

Devin remained in the doorway to keep an eye on the corridor with his torch.

"Did anyone ever say what became of this wizard, Modar?" Devin asked as he alertly tried to look in either direction down he hall at once.

Nothing pounced upon Hazel the rabbit and the spider was quickly killed by Wyndham.

Kara began a thorough search of the ruined library. Of the books and scattered papers she found only four that were salvageable. Dreams of Frost and Rime by Drujaal ip Mayt, Tempered in the Forge by Mastersmith Tungas, The Mist Creeps by Pontificate Ett and a book with magical writings on the cover.

When Derry and Eadwynn examined the fallen bookshelf they spotted something caught beneath it.

OOC Wyndham’s and Devin’s torches have gone out.

Day 22. Time: 12:10pm. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: 0 Turns
Devin’s Torch: 0 Turns
Eadwynn’s Torch: 3 Turns

Wyndham lights a torch using Eadwynn's.

"Hey, Wyndham, over here a moment, would you?" Derry calls out.

So long as that which is caught beneath the bookshelf is neither verminous nor venomous, Derry and his hireling will attempt to lift it to allow the nimble fingers of the thief to snatch whatever has been trapped under it.

Kara informed the others of what was found, then packed the three named tomes away. Once done, she sat and flipped through the fourth book with the magical writings on the cover, trying to learn as much of it as she could at the moment.

Wyndham peers under the bookcase and gets ready to haul out anything without teeth.

When the bookcase is lifted Wyndham gets a better look at what lay underneath. It was too large for Wyndham to easily pull out; it was the dead body of a man.

The writing in the book was incomprehensible to Kara however she could clearly identify it as a spellbook with six completed pages.

Can Derry and Haute lift up the bookcase on their own? If so, they will. I expect width-wise would be easier than height-wise. Perhaps your answer, Devin, is right here.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:47, Tue 12 Apr 2022.

The bookcase was moved by Derry and Eadywnn to free the trapped man. It was too late for the unfortunate man, the corpse was much decayed. Their short sword and knife rusty, their backpack covered in mould. Their leather armour however was in good repair.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:43, Tue 12 Apr 2022.

Wyndham carefully removes the armor -- not to wear himself, of course. That would be... icky.
Thinking someone in town might be interested in buying it, Wyndham takes it with him, at least until carrying it becomes a nuisance.

"He wasn't crushed by this bookcase. We know that much," Derry answers.

Then, holding his nose, he snorts, "Treasure hunters."

With Wyndham having stripped the unfortunate, the dwarf carefully scrapes some of the mold off of his backpack before investigating its contents.

In the doorway, Devin set about lighting another torch.

The body as Wyndham stripped it of its armour was much decayed. The flesh was rotten black and gave off a pungent odour. Items of metal were rusted and everything was mouldy. The leather armour when separated from the body showed no signs of mould nor decay.

Everything Derry found in the backpack was waterlogged, ruined, mouldy or rusty.

At the doorway as he lit a new torch Devin heard something approaching from the north.

OOC Day 22. Time: 12:20pm. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: 1 Turns
Devin’s Torch: 1 Turns
Eadwynn’s Torch: 4 Turns

Disappointed at the backpack's waterlogged offerings (had there been some kind of flood?), Derry turns to Kara, "Where to next?"

"Shut the door, and let's discuss what to do next." Kara replied. "Going back to town is my plan. For one thing, I am out of spells for today. But also, books, slime, and bandit heads have been the things of real value I've seen, and we have three books to sell now, plus what is a potential spellbook for me to read through when it is safe to rememorize spells."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:58, Wed 13 Apr 2022.

"For another, Wyndham's innards are on the verge of introducing themselves," Derry contributes.

Wyndham closes the door as quickly and quietly as possible. If Devin is standing in the doorway, Wyndham pulls him in first.
"If we can return to the ring, I brought some parchment and chalk to make a rubbing of the runes. Maybe we can learn more about them in town."

"I would prefer to depart, but you stayed with me last time, so I will stay with you if you remain," Kara assured Wyndham.

"There was something coming down the hall from that way," Devin told the others, pointing in the appropriate direction.  "If it had eyes, it probably saw our torchlight."

In a heartbeat, Derry strides across the room and closes the door.

"Devin and Haute, try and brace the door with the bookshelf," he says with an air of command.

Before it could be seen what was approaching Devin retreated and the door was shut. In a few frenzied moments the fallen bookshelf was pushed against the closed door. The sounds of footsteps, it did not sound like many, reached the other side of the door then stopped.

Wyndham waits, holding his breath.

Kara waits quietly, but breathes nonetheless.

Same.

Devin looked around for somewhere to secure his torch and light the room.  If something came in, he wanted both hands free.

The room was waterlogged. As Devin looked for anywhere dry to place his torch he was unsuccessful. The floor was wet and the walls damp. After a tense few minutes the sound of walking resumed and faded away to the south.

OOC Day 22. Time: 12:30pm. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: 2 Turns
Devin’s Torch: 2 Turns
Eadwynn’s Torch: 5 Turns

Wyndham exhales.
"Not sure how successful this trip has been but can we get the ring rubbings, then back to town?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:08, Fri 15 Apr 2022.

"Brother," Derry answers, his voice warm with human feeling, "let us squeeze that last item into today's itinerary. I will restrain the magic lady from a bout of compulsive scraping once there."

Wait 5 more minutes and then return to the ring room in our new marching order.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 20:42, Fri 15 Apr 2022.

Devin was game to make the final stop on their itinerary.  He was wondering, however, how an underground lair like this had been lit without any place to hang a torch on the wall.  It had been a wizard's abode, but was the entire place lit by magic?

He'd keep an eye out for wall sconces and the like.

After waiting five more minutes the door was opened and the hallway was empty. Devin looked around but found no sign of sconces. The musty, dampness of the cellar and the overall state of the place reminded Devin more of a storage place than living quarters, presumably the upper levels of the tower had been more luxurious.

OOC What route are you taking to the ring room?

Day 22. Time: 12:40pm. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: 3 Turns
Devin’s Torch: 3 Turns
Eadwynn’s Torch: 6 Turns

North, up and around through the bandit lair, then back south.

For one thing, whatever was walking apparently went south.
For another, and more importantly, that's the only route we know, without exploring unknown dungeon.

The party safely left the waterlogged library and back to the slippery stairway that led upward out of the cellar.

OOC Day 22. Time: 1:00pm. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: 5 Turns
Devin’s Torch: 5 Turns

Unless Wyndham has changed his mind, continue south until we reach the eastern door leading to the giant circle.

Wyndham's still hoping to get rubbings of the runes.

No change.

Devin keeps an eye out with his torch held high.  Just one more stop and they'll have another successful trip.

The door was only thirty foot south of the stairway and was safely reached.

Per the usual, Wyndham listens. If he hears nothing, he returns to his place in the marching order and the hireling opens the door.

Nothing was heard through the door and Eadwynn opened it. The faint hint of chlorine was smelt alongside the smell of hair and sweat as a large white ape sat on one of the three stone slabs. The white ape turned to look at the party with its red eyes.

OOC Actions?

Day 22. Time: 1:10pm. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: 6 Turns
Devin’s Torch: 6 Turns

Could you describe the ape's demeanor more? Its level of aggression or lack of same?

The ape appeared to have been idle and is not acting aggressively.

Wyndham attempts to give the ape part of a ration.
"There's a good fella," says Wyndham gently.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:00, Wed 20 Apr 2022.

Although they had not exactly sealed the bonds of friendship upon their first meeting, man, woman, dwarf, and ape and not exactly parted enemies. Thus, with the ape in a state of near repose, Derry's and Wyndham's thoughts, as they so often are, prove to be aligned once again.

Derry mildly interposes himself when the drippy rogue offers some rations, whispering, "no meat." Instead, he retrieves a bag of apples from his pack and starts rolling them to a spot in the vicinity of the primate.

The ape remained docile as it watched the antic of Wyndham and Derry and sniffed the air cautiously. The ape took a good account where the apples were rolling to but did not reach down to pick any up but rather kept one wary eye on the party.

"I think that means come back later," Derry translates for the party.

"I like that idea," Devin agreed quietly.  "Let's come back another day."

Kara had hoped the food gambit would have enticed the ape. But even if it had, she would still have been wary of having to try crossing the room with the beast within.

"A graceful, and purposeful, exit does seem to be best. The ring will have to wait another day. Perhaps you can hire a sketch artist to come along next time and make a detailed picture" she added, half joking, before slowly backing up the hallway, lest sudden movements attract the ape's attention.

Wyndham expelled a sigh so heavy and full of grief that the very gods were near brought to tears.
"Fair thee well, sweet monkeyman, till next we meet," said Wyndham as he slowly backed away, closing the door before him.
Then, stifling a sob, he turned and took his place at the tail of the party as they departed the cellar.

Their escape from the dungeon was successful. They reached the stairs and climbed up the slimy steps. Outside the sky remained cloudy yet not rain fell. On the journey home through the forest they heard hissing ahead. The noise was around one hundred and ninety yards away, hard to spot in the foliage five green snakes were curled up in the branches. A wolf, bitten and injured, lay in between them.

OOC Day 22. Time: 2:00pm. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

"Poor wolf," says Wyndham giving both snakes and wolf wide berth as he makes his way back to town.

"A wide detour," Derry agrees, following Wyndham's lead.

We can hear hissing some 200 yards off :)? I can barely hear my wife when she's 20 feet away.

"A pity we can't put it out of its misery," Kara sighed, continuing with the others.

Devin followed the others in a wide detour.  He was happy to have survived another delve without losing anyone.  He felt that Auril's benevolence was shining down upon them.

By virtue of the snakes large size, each viper being between five to six foot long or by some quality of the wind the sound of the hissing snakes was enough of a warning to avoid them. It took the party a longer trek home but since it was only early afternoon they returned to Fourtower Bridge by nightfall.

OOC 94xp each.

Wyndham does the sleep-for-three-days/eat plentifully until he has recovered his health.
ooc - What was the total of loose coins collected from Harry's abode?

OOC 300sp in total.

As before, Kara takes time to memorize detect magic, and uses it on the spellbook to learn what is within- it seemed more complete than any she had found before.

Afterwards, she goes to see Dagunn Rakel, to see if she has any interest in buying the books found in the library- there were three mundane ones she had managed to salvage from the mess- hopefully they would bring a good price.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:36, Fri 22 Apr 2022.

Once Wyndham has rested up, he splits the coins four ways.
ooc - 75 sp each

The welcome at the Moorland Magpie Inn was much poorer than usual as the adventurers went to rest. Lorna hurried them away from the inn and billeted them in the stables. Their host was greatly embarrassed as she explained that the inn was infested with bedbugs! All the guests were forced to sleep in the stable whilst the bugs are killed with alchemical (and very poisonous) smoke. She charged no one for the lodging nor the food she provided.

Kara found the spellbook to have once been that of one of Modnar’s apprentices. With the use of Read Magic she found that it contained the spells, detect magic, floating disc, read magic, ventriloquism, locate object and mirror image.

A good price indeed was offered for the other books that they had found in the library. The tall and elegant magic-user Dagunn Rakel hosted Kara with some enthusiasm, excited to see what treasures the adventurers had brought her this time for her perusal. Tea was served as usual and all of the books although not magical were of curious interest to her and she offered three hundred gold pieces for all of them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:03, Fri 22 Apr 2022.

She sells the books, then splits the 300, 75 gold each.

During their downtime, Devin returned to rebuilding the temple.  The hard work made him feel as though he were making a difference.  Slowly, but surely.

He also bought another bundle of torches.

The work in the old tower ruins was hard labour. Mother Majken was a stern mistress pushing the acolyte Devin in his efforts. The overgrowth was all cleared so Devin then began to repairs on the old stone walls with what broken pieces he could scavenge. Mother Majken on her visits reminded him that he must on his adventures find a holy relic so that the tower can be consecrated as a temple.

After there rough sleep in the barn innkeeper Lorna was pleased to re-open the inn once the alchemical smoke had cleared. This was a joyous event with Lorna serving lamb steamed buns and beer in the evening for the usual five silver pieces. Additionally a travelling bard stayed over and sung a ballad of the mountain queen. It was beautiful tale and everyone mourned her cruel fate.

OOC Evening of Day 23. Feel free to make an purchases from Millie’s store. What’s the party’s next plan?

Wyndham enjoys the bard's performance while eating mightily. He also picks up 6 torches to add to his stockpile.

Derry pays a visit to the general store to check on their supply of ape feed.

Another sack of apples was available from Millie’s store for five coppers.

"Mistress Dagunn Rakel says the leather is something better than me own, but won't tell me how much better unless I hand over 100 gold. Think I'll keep it after all."
Wyndham spends some time cleaning off any residual goo from the leather before trying it on. He'll then try to sell his old suit.
10:47, Today: Wyndham rolled 3 using 1d3.  Natural healing.

After restocking his supply of apples, Derry encourages Millie to lay in some more exotic fruit.

"Do you need an investment to help establish more trade?" he asks.

Looks like 2 days back at the inn, one free, one not.
-5CP -- bag of apples
-2GP 5 SP -- room/board
-24 GP -- Hireling
-1 GP -- 6 torches

The leather armour when worn by Wyndham felt perfectly fitted and comfortable. The old suit very mundane in comparison. The blacksmith Roark was a decent craftsman and the closest thing to a tanner the small town had. He offered Wyndham ten gold pieces for the suit of armour.

Millie laughed at Derry “oh its not my store” she replied “the owner is Thomas Bludd” she patted her two dogs Thongor and Brute “we get few travellers and caravans. What do you suggest that will bring more trade?” she asked.

Derry smiles from ear to ear, "Bananas. People go crazy for bananas."

“A caravan once sold us a box of candied dried figs. Would that be similar to your bananas? I can ask Ricky Pickles next time he’s in town if you want some” she replied.

"Yeah, those might hit the spot," Derry responds, not even pretending to be talking about himself.

In reply to DM (msg # 210):
Wyndham accepts the offer for his old armor.
Once healed up, Wyndham returns to the group. "Wyndham reporting for duty."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:55, Mon 25 Apr 2022.

Back to cellar, mind the step, head west.