The party gathered once more and struck out across the wilds in a return to Modnar’s Cellar. The weather remained outcast but still 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. The slippery stairs downward were carefully descended and the party headed west. The hallway was long, one hundred and twenty foot before it ended, another hallway headed southward into darkness. Ten foot further north was a door. The bottom of the door had been gnawed through and squeaking could be heard from within.

OOC
Day 24. Time: 9:00am. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Light?

Wyndham breaks out one of his new torches and lights it.
"Rats," he says, and then "Oil?"

Derry's uncertain. None of the rats they had encountered thus far could be termed aggressive. They were far more likely to flee from the flame than run through it.

He peers more closely at the bottom of the door. Was there enough clearance there to permit the rats to come and go?

"Hmmm," says Wyndham.
He drops to his knees and tries to look through the crack while holding his torch near the opening lest any rats try for his eyes.

Devin was once more carrying a lit torch and held it high for everyone to see.

An examination of the door showed that it was thoroughly gnawed through, the gap was uneven roughly a foot high along the whole width of the door. Enough space to allow very big rats egress and ingress to the room. Crouched on the floor Wyndham was able to peer into the room. The room was in darkness. Wyndham saw the bodies of giant rats scuttling about, amongst filth and old sacks. From the occasional holes in the rotten sacks he spied the glint of metal in his torchlight.

Would we be able to pour oil under the door and into the room and then ignite it?

OOC Oil that is poured on the ground and lit covers a diameter of 3 feet. So you could pour a thin line along the bottom gap or you could pour it as a puddle that would go a couple of feet into the room.

Wyndham waves furiously at his ears trying to cool the sudden burning sensation. Alas, to no avail.
ooc - What if all those old sacks and filth catch on fire?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:37, Wed 27 Apr 2022.

If enough oil is poured through the gap it will reach the sacks and they may burn, how well they burn may depend on what's in the sacks. From the looks of it they contain metal.

OK, this is what we will try to do:

Pour oil along the gap such that it spreads into the room but not so far as any sacks (-1 oil from Derry's stock)
Derry opens the door and steps back away from the oil.
His hireling ignites the oil (-1 torch from Derry's stock).

The oil was poured and door opened. The door was twenty foot by thirty foot. The room smelt of filth and rats. All round the room was the rats nest, buried in the nest was filth covered sacks.

The rats were large about three foot long, eleven rats scuttled about disinterested in the door and the party. When Eadwynn lit the split oil they all squeaked in alarm.

"Alright," grins Derry, turning to Wyndham. "Target practice."

More practice is needed.
12:06, Today: Derry the Dwarf rolled 3,5 using d20+2,d6+1.  axe throw.

Wyndham shrugs. "Just like when I lived at the dump...."
17:12, Today: Wyndham rolled 11,3 using d20+2,d6.  bow rat attack.

Devin stood back to give them room to shoot the rats.

The axe and arrow missed the rats. The fire kept the vermin at bay for now, the rats remaining at the edges of the room.

Derry has himself another toss, hurling his axe with both greater accuracy and more power this time.

Hits AC 7 for 5 dmg.
10:40, Today: Derry the Dwarf rolled 12,5 using d20+2,d6+1.  2nd toss.

"This could take a while. You'd think I'd be better at archery by now," says Wyndham as he tries again.
15:56, Today: Wyndham rolled 19,1 using d20+2,d6.  Bow attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:59, Fri 29 Apr 2022.

The giant rats continued to run and hide in their nests, not making themselves easy targets. Eventually Wyndham scored a hit with an arrow although only just. The arrow skimmed the rat’s flank and drew forth a bright streak of blood.

OOC Derry misses as Strength bonus only applies to Melee attacks not thrown attacks. I believe I have this written incorrectly on the character sheets, oops.

Shrugging, Derry this time tosses a flask of oil towards the rear of the room at their nests and instructs his hireling to toss her torch in after it.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:17, Sat 30 Apr 2022.

Wyndham tries one last time.
14:50, Today: Wyndham rolled 4,1 using d20+2,d6.  bow attack.
He blows a raspberry then waits patiently for the inferno to run its course.

Derry threw his flask of oil, off target the flask landed in the south east corner. Eadwynn’s torch was also off target landing at the feet in front of Derry. The flaming oil covering half of the doorway and the flaming torch laid in the remaining half was enough to stop the rats rushing forward. This didn’t look like it would hold them off for long, their attitude was changing as their nest was being attacked and they stared their beady eyes at the attackers.

Patiently, Derry hands another torch for his hireling to light and then toss.

Wyndham digs out another flask of oil. Ready, if they need it.

Devin has his shield ready in case the rats charge.  Hopefully, the others will be able to reduce their numbers before that happens.

Derry lit another torch and Eadwynn threw it into the room. The oil soaked nest went up in flames and the rats squeaked in fright and came rushing at the door. One rat bit at Derry but failed to break through his armour. Another rat at the rear was consumed by the flames and died.

Derry lights yet another torch and drops it in front of his hireling.

"Some one give the lady a pint of oil to drop in front of her," he directs.

In reply to Derry the Dwarf (msg # 27):
Wyndham dutifully opens (uncorks?) a flask and hands it to Eadwynn.

"Back up so I can get a swing at them as they come," Devin said, tosing his torch back down the way they'd come so that he could draw his hammer.

In concert the adventurers lit torches and dowsed the rats in oil. The nearest went up in flames, squeaking as it perished as its oil soaked hair burnt. Fire now filled the doorway, separating the rats from the party. Trapped the rats squeaked in alarm and ran in circles but could find no exit.

Shall Wyndham just empty his quiver until the rats lose their senses completely and run into the fire? They'll want to escape the smoke as well.

With nothing else much to do until the fire dies down, Wyndham practices bowmanship.
09:33, Today: Wyndham rolled 6,2 using d20+2,d6.  rat attack.
09:41, Today: Wyndham rolled 9,1 using d20+2,d6.  rat attack.
09:41, Today: Wyndham rolled 14,4 using d20+2,d6.  rat attack.
09:41, Today: Wyndham rolled 22,6 using d20+2,d6.  rat attack.
09:40, Today: Wyndham rolled 21,4 using d20+2,d6.  rat attack.
09:40, Today: Wyndham rolled 10,2 using d20+2,d6.  rat attack.

This message was last edited by the player at 13:45, Sat 07 May 2022.

Whilst the rats were trapped Wyndham began to fire his arrows into the room. At the flames crackled and the rats cried out in fear or pain something snuck up on the party from the south. The sound of the approaching footsteps was not heard until they were already close. The torchlight and burning oil lit the corridor only thirty foot, whatever lay in the darkness couldn’t be much further than that away.

OOC The party are surprised and whatever is lurking in the darkness is close. Actions and then I’ll roll Initiative.

Derry and his hireling turn away from the rat inferno and place themselves between the new arrivals and Wyndham.

Too soon to declare any attacks.

OOC You can declare what's in your hands, if like you can declare an intent and roll some dice. Who wins Initiative may change the result of any action.

Derry has sword/shield. Hireling has her spear/shield.

Wyndham puts away his bow and draws his sword to defend against any rats that try to leave the room while Derry and E. face the new threat.
"At least the lighting's good."

"Something's coming behind us!" Devin hissed as he turned to face it with shield and hammer.

Once Devin and Derry have the rear of the party covered from the darkness emerged five skeletons. With grasping bony fingers the skeletons reached out as they marched forward.



OOC The party won Initiative, I’m assuming whilst they could not see their enemy the party held their ground. The skeletons have moved to engage on their Initiative but the party can attack before the skeletons get a chance, so roll away.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:58, Tue 10 May 2022.

Wheeling to face the quintet of skeletons, Derry strikes the first of them to come within range of his sword. So close did they bear down upon him that he could imagine smelling the bone dust upon their breath. Behind him burned the fires of hell. Would they inspire Devin to an even higher plane of devotion?

Hits AC 15 for 2 dmg
16:33, Today: Derry the Dwarf rolled 14,2 using d20+1,d8+1.  more skellies.

"Quick!" screeches Wyndham at Devin. "Do your woo-woo thing!"

Skeleton's once more, Devin knew that the Spirit of Auril would drive them back.  Dropping his hammer so that he could clasp the symbol about his neck, the Acolyte of Auril intoned a prayer to repel the undead.

OOC: Devin Harper rolled 9 using 2d6.  Turn Undead Skeletons 7.
Devin Harper rolled 4 using 2d6.  HD Turned.

OOC Devin declared shield and hammer before Initiative therefore he can not Turn Undead this round.

Calling on Auril was definitely what he wanted to do, but his indecisiveness caused him to do no more than keep his shield up as he tried to shift gears.

A fine strike by the dwarf had one skeletons crumble into a heap of bones, however the groping bony fingers of the others tore at Derry wounding him. Behind the skeleton four more skeletons marched forward.

OOC Attack against Derry hit AC0 for 2 damage. Declare for next round.

Feeling the heat, Derry rushes his swing.

08:55, Today: Derry the Dwarf rolled 2,7 using d20+1,d8+1.  R#2.

"Swing that thing!" shouts Wyndham to Eadwynn. In desperation, he attacks a skeleton.
13:53, Today: Wyndham rolled 16,6 using d20-1,d6.

Finally scoming up to speed with his dream sequence, Devin dropped his hammer so that he could clasp the symbol about his neck  The Acolyte of Auril then intoned a prayer to repel the undead.

OOC: Devin Harper rolled 9 using 2d6.  Turn Undead Skeletons 7.
Devin Harper rolled 4 using 2d6.  HD Turned.

The onslaught from the undead skeletons continued as they raked their claws against the armour of Derry and Devin. Then as Devin called forth the power of Auril a wind blew through the corridor and the skeletons were swept away.

The skeletons missed their attacks and were then Turned by Devin.

Derry flings a second axe at the panicked rats, intending to panic them even further, so that in their madness they will dash into the flames.

"Devin, watch out for more skeletons. Wyndham, back to target practice."

Derry hits for 2 dmg
09:30, Today: Derry the Dwarf rolled 19,2 using d20,d6.  Axe throw.

Devin kept a hold of his symbol and prepared to repel any other undead.

The throw of Derry’s axe killed another rat and as the flames grew the rats and their nest was consumed in flames. The room was filled with smoke and fire.

Wyndham waits for the smoke to clear before heading into the room.

The smoke slowly cleared as the nest smothered, everything shot or thrown into the room was burned, singed and fire damaged. The smell of burnt rat flesh and burnt filth filled the air, overcoming the usually chemical odour of the dungeon.

The filthy sacks both torn and burnt had spewed out their contents, hundreds of soot covered copper coins were scattered amidst the detritus of filth and dead rats.

OOC
Day 24. Time: 9:30am. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: 3 turns
Devin’s Torch: 3 turns

Wyndham kicks lightly at the sacks, his lip curling in distaste.
"Well, that didn't go as well as hoped. Can we get to the ring before the old bones come back?"

"The captain of the cave pirate crew would pay more than coppers for this story," Derry promises.

Are there any crisped rat tails for the taking?

Head to the ring room via the most direct (only) route.

"Where do all of these skeletons keep coming from?" Devin asked no one in particular as he stuck with the others.  Copper coins weren't even worth picking up.

There was eleven roasted rat tails.

The two hallways and the experimentation room were empty. The quiet after the battle and fire was unnerving, the faint smell of chemicals and mildew returned as they moved away from the smell of burnt filth. The party safely reached the room with the incomplete ring.

The incomplete ring of steel sections was inlaid with silver glyphs. A three quarter ring were set upright against the far wall, the remaining quarter was on a creaking wooden stand.

OOC Day 24. Time: 9:40am. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: 4 turns
Devin’s Torch: 4 turns

Wyndham asks Eadwynn to hold his torch while he eagerly sets to work using the chalk and parchment to make rubbings of the silver glyphs. He continues until he has made a clear reproduction of the characters. If all goes well, he finishes and then the group returns to town.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:40, Tue 17 May 2022.

Wyndham got to work making rubbings of the silver glyphs.

OOC What’s everyone else doing? Where exactly is Wyndham taking rubbings from, any particular method?

Derry and his hireling will keep watch while Wyndham ... does whatever it is he's doing.

Wyndham wipes gently at the silver glyphs, removing any dust and dirt.
He pulls out a piece of parchment and lays it carefully over the glyphs on the ring. Assuming the glyphs are slightly raised or depressed, he takes a piece of chalk and rubs it over them, attempting to reproduce the symbols on the paper.
If that approach fails or there is no discernible edge to the glpyhs, he'll just freehand them on the parchment as best he can.

"Let's close the door," Devin suggested.

Wyndham completed his rubbings of the glyphs. The other watched and waited, nothing intruded on their peace.

OOC Day 24. Time: 9:50am. Weather: Cloudy and dry. Vision: Daylight. Movement 20’

Wyndham’s Torch: 5 turns
Devin’s Torch: 5 turns

"Let's hustle back," Derry decides. "I think we have someone who's eager to join us."

Satisfied, he explains, "I'm eleven roasted rat tails to the good and Wyn has his rubbings."

Back to Four Towers to grab the new guy.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:53, Wed 18 May 2022.

Their task completed the adventurers returned to the stairs safely and back up the slippery steps. Outside in the clearing it was still morning time. The journey back to Fourtower Bridge was uneventful and it was early afternoon as they crossed the bridge.

OOC 35XP each. Feel free to join the other thread and make any introduction to the new character.