At the Moorland Magpie Inn Lorna was serving cheesecake and a tankard of bitter for four silver pieces. In one corner a sad looking dwarf maiden sipped at a tankard of bitter.

A worn and weary Wyndham staggers into the inn and and ensures his damaged friends are taken care of. He then finds a seat to replenish himself with some cheesecake and a tankard of bitter. After several noisy moments of chewing and slurping he looks up and notices the glum-looking dwarf.
"Hello, ma'am. Can't help but notice you're nursing a pint there. Anything a friendly stranger could help with?"
ooc - 4 silvers for the grub

"What are we doing with these wolves?" Devin asked as he stood on the stoop to squeeze water from a sodden glove.  He was drenched through.

The innkeeper kept tankards filled as everyone warmed and dried up after their long march through the wind and rain. The dwarf maiden looked equally miserable. They too had been out in the ill weather. She shared her story with Wyndham it was not just the rain that had soured her mood. Whilst the sky had been darkened with rain she had been set upon by goblins, she had been surprised by the unexpected assault and robbed of everything besides the armour she wore.

 Finding her seat to be problematic... following it having given underneath her, Brilliance rises to her feet and excuses herself from the Elven woman to whom she was talking.  "Shoddy craftsmanship... hmph." She mumbles at the chair, stuffing it under the table.

Joining Wydham and the woebegone woman at their table, Derry springs for her cheesecake and bitter, having already promised the two men-at-arms their share as soon as Wyndham has sold off the gems. He commends them for their bravery and wishes them a speedy recovery.

"Strange that the goblins would have left you with your life," observes Derry, after having offered his condolences (and the cheese cake) for her misfortune.

6 GP for four nights lodging + meals.
Does Lorna know if their is a tanner in Fourtower?

15:44, Today: Derry the Dwarf rolled 4,6,2 using d6,d6,d6.  3 days of rest

Wyndham's eyebrows raise slightly at Derry's generosity and then lower in a frown at his own lack of.
Sighing at the dwarf maiden's sad story, he looks around the inn for a distraction before settling on a new face [Brilliance's].
"Hey, Derry... Who's that? Think she's a mage? Maybe the gods are looking out for us after all!"

The dwarf’s mood did not improve with the company but at least she filled her belly with cheesecake at Derry’s generosity.

Lorna pointed Derry toward the blacksmith Roark as a decent craftsman, his smithy was on the other side of the river. Roark’s sister Ega helped Lorna in the inn serving drinks and food, she agreed to pass a message onto her brother if Derry’s had need of anything.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:40, Fri 11 Nov 2022.

 As she puts the chair behind herself, Brilliance spots a few new people looking her way.  She casually makes her way over to them... "Well met.  Is everything alright?  I couldn't help but notice you noticing me..."

Derry's eyes light up like twin suns when the mystical woman walks over to them. Ever since Kara had left their company, her presence had been sorely missed and not just for her wizardly powers. With the addition of these two women, could their constellation become complete?

"Listen," he says, the twin wolf corpses lying comfortably at his feet, not nearly as drippy as they had been, "it looks like one of you has lost her fortune and one of you might have come here looking for one," before launching into some of their latest exploits in Modnar's Cellar.

"...and there is still yet more to do. How about you join us? The outfit will even provide you with a sword and shield," he adds, giving the dwarven woman a generous smile.

Wyndham's eyes follow Derry's to the wolf skins on the floor.
"Sorry about the mess," he says. "How about I do a little housekeeping while you all get more acquainted. I'm Wyndham, by the way. Pleased to meet your acquaintance."
With that, Wyndham whisks the wolf skins and gems away to sell for however much he can get for them.

 Brilliance considers the proposition for a moment.  "There's strength in numbers.  Count me in.  I am called 'Brilliance'."

With the help of Ailwyn and Bosley the dead wolves were carried to Roark’s. The blacksmith was in his house babysitting Ega’s children. The small were curious about the wolves although Roark tried to steer the children away from the bloodied and mangled corpses. He said that with some labour he might be able to salvage some useful leather or furs from them offering a gold piece for each wolf.

---

At the inn dwarf shook her at the Derry’s offer “I left my hold to go visit my uncle to train as his apprentice. I shall carry on with my journey in the morning. May Lughrin Worldshoulders guide my path” she called to the dwarven god of mining and industry.

Wyndham kicks back at the inn while Derry recovers.
ooc - 6gp for room and board.
Split treasure: 2 gp split 5(?) ways + split whatever the gems fetch.

 While the others rest and recuperate, Brilliance briefly briefs them on her abilities -- primarily, putting other to sleep.  Mention is also made of her skill with daggers.

5 gold pieces for room and board, 5 silver pieces for food.

Devin worked on the restoration of the church building with Mother Majken during their time on the surface.

Interested in the crystals Silar offered two hundred and fifty gold pieces for the two undamaged crystal and the one cracked crystal.

ooc - Assuming 5 persons, that's 50gp, 40sp each

Derry gives the sad lady dwarf 25 gold pieces to help her with her travels.

With the windfall dispersed, Wyndham seeks out some arsenic to take care of a "pest" problem. If he can't locate the poison in the regular spots, he'll ask around the sketchier parts of town.

A check on the inventory at Millie’s store left Wyndham empty handed in his search for poison. It took the thief a little more searching, with a few of choice words and hidden hand signals he found a ne’er-do-well with two nefarious substances for sale. The simplest he sold for five gold pieces, the quicker acting and harder to detect he sold for thirty gold pieces.

In reply to DM (msg # 21):
Wyndham glares at the ne’er-do-well.
"What kind of bumpkin do you take me for!  That's outrageous! I'll give you 25gp total for the pair of them."

The crooked man huffed at Wyndham “ya won’t find any of these elsewhere” the poisoner shook his head “take it or leave it” he said as he tucked the two small pots back under his cloak.

Wyndham glares harder, squeezing his face into a knot of frown lines.
"Fine! Here's your blood-money!" he says, slapping 35gp onto the table.
"Don't expect a tip!"
Wyndham takes the purchased goods and returns to the group.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:29, Thu 17 Nov 2022.

With a grin the furtive man brought the pots back out from under his cloak and held his other hand out for Wyndham’s coin. When the exchange was complete the man nodded “if you find you have further pests to deal with let me know” then he ducked away into the shadows.

After some had rested and Devin had laboured with the reconstruction of the old tower the party gathered in Fourtower Bridge early in the morning. The sky was clear of clouds and dawn sun promised a warm day.

The trek over the bridge and into the wilderness was pleasant with no interruptions. They passed the last remains of civilisation and went into the forest. The forest trail now well known by some led them into the familiar clearing. Little of the tower remained besides a few toppled down walls and moss covered flagstones. In centre where once the tower stood was a rusty trapdoor with an attached iron pull ring.

OOC I’m assuming that Wyndham, Derry, Devin and Brilliance are gathered. Possibly Lady Chessintra. Any of the hirelings being brought along?

Day 32. Time: 6:00am. Weather: Sunny, no rain. Vision: Clear. Movement: 20’

Before entering the tower once again, Derry leads the expedition in a northwesterly direction to where he believes the surface-level exit for the lift might be, roughly 40 yards or so from the trapdoor.

Ms. Eadwynn Haute and Bosley this time unless Lady has truly joined us in which case only the former.

Wyndham, have you considered how the poison might be administered?

In reply to Derry the Dwarf (msg # 27):
Since ape-boy likes apples, perhaps cut a slit into one and add the powder? Thought of giving it to hazel first, but the ape probably doesn't eat rabbit.

OOC: Sorry deleted the game from my list whilst on the phone checking things.  I'm back.

Should I assume I was with you when you left the inn?

OOC yes assume you have been with the party.

Ms. Eadwynn Haute and Bosley
This message was last edited by the player at 00:28, Sat 19 Nov 2022.

Chessintra looked at all that was going on before her eyes, she never been here so this was anew vision to intake and to remember.  If they were surely going down below then she would need to make sure she know a way out and to return back to the town.  That is if anything goes wrong.

"How many times have you traveled into this place? she asked.  Still looking around

Wyndham looks up as if pondering the question. He taps along his fingertips as if counting. Then he glances at Derry and smiles broadly.
"Lots!" he says. "And I hears one of you, maybe both? Has a little of that magic touch? That'll come in handy for the rats, let me tell you!"

Before venturing into the dungeon the party of six explored the forest clearing. Derry led them to the northwest. The ground was earth and grass.

OOC Any actions?

 "I've got it.  Looking for more, too." Brilliance pats the sheath to her silver dagger.  "I'm also skilled at throwing daggers, in case those don't work."

 She then gets into position with the others, in the back of the gathering.  "Do we need light?  I've a lantern."

Her face contorts into a sad expression "Rats!

Oh my, I don't think my magic will be good with handling many things.  More of a single target. she now wondered if she should of studied how to place many things asleep.  Letting out a soft sigh she continues with the group.  Hoping that she will discover more spells from a book or someone to teach her.

The question startles Derry. It had never occurred to him that it was something that he might tally. To him, it was like asking, how many meals he had eaten or steps he had taken?

"Until I'm ready to go back to the other place," he answers, choosing to respond to an unasked question.

If he's confident that he's in the right spot, he'll dig about with his shovel for a bit to search for the top of the lift. If not, or if he doesn't find anything, he'll lead them back to the cellar and warn them about the slippery steps.

Unexplored passage north of the area.
Yes, light the lantern when we're back at the cellar.
I forget the rules but learning sleep would be a high priority.
Derry -- Ms. Haute
Brilliance -- Lady
Devin -- Wyndham
This message was last edited by the player at 15:06, Sat 19 Nov 2022.

Wyndahm peers dubiously at the ground where Derry is digging.
"Could take a while. Might it be faster to start from the cellar entrance and try to make it to this spot through the tunnels?"
Wyndham draws his short sword and pokes around the soil for anything interesting.

Just turning over some earth that might be concealing the shaft. No real digging.
Was climbing up the shaft an option?

Devin waited patiently for them to make their way back down.  He'd gotten a good deal of work done in the reconstruction over the past week, but there was always more work to be done in the name of Auril.

In reply to Derry the Dwarf (msg # 39):
ooc - Didn't attempt to climb up. I have a rope and grappling hook if we want to.

A few minutes of digging and poking revealed that the earth was shallow. Not more than about a foot of earth covered a floor of wood and metal. Beneath the floor sounded hollow.

OOC Day 32. Time: 9:10am. Weather: Sunny, no rain. Vision: Clear. Movement: 20’

In reply to DM (msg # 42):
Wyndham helps Derry clear the dirt to see if the wood can be lifted or moved.

 Brilliance keeps watch while the others work the earth.

Chessintra was impressed by the one called Derry being able to locate that spot so easily.  Must be something that the Dwarven race are good at.

She also kept a watchful eye to see if anyone was watching them.

"Hmm. Good to know, I suppose. Let's leave it for now. We'll bring back shovels next time."

Down into the cellar then north of the arena.

Some of the dirt was removed then the party headed down the slippery steps into Modnar’s cellar. The smell of long forgotten chemicals mingled with must and mildew to fill the air. Cobwebs swayed lazily in errant dungeon draughts. Lady Chessintra’s lantern lit the hallway as Derry led them south.

Before the party reached the end of the hallway to turn east they all heard some scuttling of feet ahead!

OOC Day 32. Time: 9:10am. Weather: Sunny, no rain. Vision: Clear. Movement: 20’

Light
Chessintra’s lantern 1 turn
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:29, Thu 24 Nov 2022.

 "Did anyone else hear that?" Brilliance slows her approach.

Wyndham listens carefully for any more noise.
1-2 in 6

Not for the first time, Derry gives Wyndham a curious look. They had already heard what they were going to hear: skeletons, or worse, wandering the corridors.

He motions for them to follow him, heading back up the corridor and then ducking into the Chamber of Vivisection.

This was all a new experience for Chessintra and she didn't want to mess up anything or cause something wrong to happen so she followed those that had already been through this place.

Looking at Derry and giving him a silent nod.

Keeping herself ready for a spell to cast if needed

 Brilliance, in her place within the group, keeps her hands free and ready for spellcraft if need be.

Wyndham follows.

The party retreated into the dusty room to the east. A faint smell of chlorine hung in the air. In the room were three stone slabs with rusty restraints. Wooden tables covered with damaged tools lined the outside walls.

OOC Closing the door or keeping it open?

Close the door; wait for the scufflers to pass by and up the hallway.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:12, Wed 23 Nov 2022.

The door shut the party waited in the room. Nothing was heard outside.

OOC How long do you wait?

Day 32. Time: 9:30am. Weather: Sunny, no rain. Vision: Clear. Movement: 20’

Light
Chessintra’s lantern 3 turns

5 minutes. If nothing is heard or the scuffling is heard to move north beyond us, we return to heading towards our original destination.

Devin waits quietly with the others.  He has his hammer out and shield on his arm.  He is more than happy to have the dwarf navigate his native terrain.

Led by the Derry the party left the vivisection chamber and followed their original course. As they were nearing the strange arena they spotted a white hairy ape twenty foot ahead of them. The ape was so far unaware of the party and walking away from them.

OOC Day 32. Time: 9:40am. Weather: Sunny, no rain. Vision: Clear. Movement: 20’

Light
Chessintra’s lantern 4 turns

Derry motions for the party to halt and wait for the ape to pass out of sight before continuing down the passageway. He then reconsiders and looks meaningfully at Brilliance and makes the "time for beddy bye" symbol.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:55, Fri 25 Nov 2022.

OOC:  How many turns do a lantern usually last?

Casting sleep at the Gorilla.
Awaiting Dungeon Master roll for Hit Dice affected, duration.

 With a nod, Brilliance motions and intones, casting her sleeping spell at the gorilla...

It's guaranteed to affect at least 1 creature, so long as its HD do not exceed 4+1. Just make sure the AoE does not include any of the party members.

Arcane muttering and a sprinkling of sand from Brilliance then the ape’s swagger became a stumble then it collapsed in a heap and began to snore heavily.

OOC The party had surprise on the ape, the sleep spell goes off without a hitch.

A flask of oil in a lantern lasts 24 Turns.

 "Strong enough to put even the parasites in his system to sleep..."

Wyndham searches the ape for any objects or markings that may provide help or clues for getting around the cellar.

Before Wyndham can rifle through the ape's pockets, Derry slays that which he once fed.

The death of the ape presents an opportunity; they should search its lair before something else moves in.

Take the western corridor, past the kobolds, and then on to the dead white ape's lair.

The hairy ape was naked and carried naught on it. Wyndham found it dirty and ill fed, otherwise it was unmarked. Derry put an end to it’s miserable existence with a stab of his sword.

Turning around the adventurer backtracked until they found the west hallyway and went to the ape’s lair. The room was strewn with filth and bones. The door they came through was to the south and another door led to the north.

OOC Day 32. Time: 10:00am. Weather: Sunny, no rain. Vision: Clear. Movement: 20’

Light
Chessintra’s lantern 6 turns

Closing the door behind them, Derry (and the others) will pick amongst the bones and detritus for anything valuable the ape might have unwittingly dragged back to its lair.

"Look out for centipedes," warns the scavenging dwarf. Regardless of success or frustration, the room to the north is next. If it hasn't been repopulated with rats, Derry will lay his ladder across the pit to allow for safe passage.

We may have eliminated two of the most dangerous wanderers in this level, the white ape and the gelatinous cube (many months ago), so there is that.

In reply to Derry the Dwarf (msg # 69):
That leaves skeletons and rats, then?
Wyndham sifts through the detritus leaving no fragment unexamined.

Chessintra watched as they sifts through the stuff and she shook her head, only allowing her staff to sift through the things and not her hands.

She also knew that she would need to get tiwh Brilliance to see if she was interested in swapping spells.  That SLEEP spell looked awesome.

A thorough search of the white apes lair found nothing but filth. Nothing found Derry opened the door to the next door. He found no pit on the other side it had been replaced by flagstones. In the centre of the room were the corpses of the defeated rats.

OOC Day 32. Time: 10:10am. Weather: Sunny, no rain. Vision: Clear. Movement: 20’

Light
Chessintra’s lantern 7 turns

Distrustful, Derry lays his ladder across the span of fresh flagstone that hides the pit below. He then instructs all to cross over as if it were a bridge. Once on the other side, he collects the crisped rats for the captain of the cave pirates.

Door routine for the NW door.

Devin carefully crossed the ladder, agreeing with the dwarf that pits were always at high probability.  Though, as this was not Stonehell, he wondered if there were some mechanism to replace their cover once triggered.

Halfway across the ladder, Wyndham pauses and puts out a foor and applies a little weight on the flagstones to see if they're as solid as the appear.

Derry and Devin get across the ladder safely. Wyndham as he crossed pushed at the floor with his foot, from the weight he applied what appeared as flagstones did not give way.

When Derry went to collect the rats and reached to pick one up he spotted that amongst the mangled fur, flesh and bones were three giant centipedes feasting on the corpses.

OOC Derry is not surprised. We are in an encounter. Declare your actions and then I’ll roll for Initiative.

Seeing the centipedes happily devouring the rats, Wyndham attempts to slip by to the door and perform door protocol.

Derry will move to the northwest door. If one of the centipedes abandons its meal for a livelier one, he will strike (feebly) at it.

Derry misses.
08:31, Today: Derry the Dwarf rolled 3,2 using d20+1,d8+1.  Attack centipede.

Devin follows Derry's lead and readies a strike, but otherwise avoids drawing their attention.

OOC: Devin Harper rolled 13,4 using d20,d6.  Hammer time! Thaco 19.

Chessintra was a bit shocked at seeing the centipedes eating the dead rat but then again she hasn't adventure much and when she noticed everyone in a battle formation she too when on alert and had her spell Magic Missile at the top of her mind.

Disturbed the centipedes abandoned their feast and set to attacking Derry and Devin. The wriggling centipedes were unable to breach the pairs heavy armour and Devin quickly squashed one of the centipedes dead with his hammer.

Evading the combat entirely Wyndham crept around began to examine the door.

OOC Next round. Declare your actions.

 Brilliance readies a dagger, and readies a throw at one of the centipedes...

Routine dagger-chuck at a centipede.
13:59, Today: Brilliance rolled 11,4 using 1d20,1d4 ((11,4)).

With gritted teeth, Derry spits, "Bosley! Eadwynn! Get in here!"

Derry misses.
16:55, Today: Derry the Dwarf rolled 9,9 using d20+1,d8+1.  R#2 attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:01, Wed 30 Nov 2022.

OOC No Bosley, you didn't bring him along this time

Oh, right, just Eadwynn.

Chessintra didn't want to use a spell on the large centepieds instead she will try to jab it with a dagger.


20:12, Today: Lady Chessintra rolled 12 using 1d20.  Attack.

07:49, Today: Lady Chessintra rolled 3 using 1d4.  damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:49, Thu 01 Dec 2022.

Before the centipedes could crawl away or bite anyone both Brilliance and Lady Chessintra crossed the ladder bridge and stabbed the gigantic creepy crawlies. Both were killed.

Eadwynn followed orders and also came into the room. So now everyone was in the same room. From the south they all heard footsteps approaching toward them. Wyndham heard nothing at the door to the west.

OOC Party won Initiative, current combat other.

Breathing a sigh of relief that none had been bitten, let alone succumbed to the poison of the bite, Derry finishes collecting the rat tails. He motions for the others to keep a watch on the southern door. Maybe the kobold cleaning crew was making its rounds.

If we don't get any visitors, we will proceed through the NW door.

Wyndham readies his bow and waits until he sees the owner of the footsteps.

 Brilliance wipes her dagger clean on a freshly-mutilated rat's coat, before, well, keeping it out.  Her silver-bladed dagger is drawn, and kept in her right hand.  "Almost gave you a haircut with that throw... Tell you what: my magic's exhausted, for now, but I can still pull my weight with this if need be."

Prepared the party watched the south door as the footsteps grew closer. Then the door opened. Closing toward them were two skeletons!

OOC Declare your actions then I’ll roll for Initiative.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:09, Fri 02 Dec 2022.

Should one of the skeletons cross over to his side of the room, Derry greets it with his blade.

"Devin, if you would send them on their way," he says cordially.

Derry hits for 4 dmg.
08:35, Today: Derry the Dwarf rolled 15,4 using d20+1,d8+1.  Skelly attack.

Chessintra was not sure what to do but if the skeletons did come over and Derry attacked so did she with a spell.  Sending a Missile of pure magic into it.

Fearnus she called out to the Arcane forces that she was taught by the Archmage.

15:02, Today: Lady Chessintra rolled 3 using 1d4+1.  Magic Missiles.

 "Can't you repel these abominations?" Brilliance asks Devin.

"By the power of Auril, skeletons," Devin stumbled in his chant as one of the new lady mages distracted him with her plea.  "Begone?"

OOC: Devin Harper rolled 4 using 2d6.  Turn Undead Skeletons (7).

The party faced off against the skeletons. Devin’s prayers lack the conviction of faith to hold back the abominations and they came forward. The pit trap if it existed failed to hamper them. Lady Chessintra bolt of magic hit a skeleton squarely and Derry’s longsword cleaved into the dry bones too. However it continued to lurch forward it’s claw raking at Devin through his armour. The other skeleton was less precision and made a clumsy attack at Lady Chessintra and missed.

OOC Devin has been hit for 5 points of damage, which I believe put him on 0. So he is standing and can walk, but any strenuous activity will push him to -1 then unable to walk.

One skeleton took 6 damage and survived. The other is unharmed.

Magic Missile is 1d6+1 damage not 1d4+1.

Both skeletons are still up. Declare you actions.

Derry strikes at the unharmed skeleton -- a decisive blow!

Derry hits for 8 dmg.
09:11, Today: Derry the Dwarf rolled 21,8 using d20+1,d8+1.  R#2 attack.

Wyndham attacks with his short sword but his lack of practice makes it a failed strike.
09:57, Today: Wyndham rolled 7,2 using D20-1,d6-1 ((8,3)).

Thanks.  So used to the old (other) ways.

11:30, Today: Lady Chessintra rolled 5 using 1d6+1.  Magic Missiles.

Devin stumbled back from the skeleton attack, retreating from its crushing attack.  He felt dizzy, on the brink of passing out, but steadied himself on a wall.

His thoughts were fuzzy and he couldn't quite think what he was doing other than staying away from the skeletons.  Had Auril been displeased with him and testing his faith through hardship?

 Brilliance gouges at the skeleton with her dagger.  Hopefully, the silver would find purchase against brittle bone...

03:35, Today: Brilliance rolled 14,2 using 1d20,1d4 ((14,2)).
Thrusting at the skeleton.

The sword of Derry and silver dagger of Brilliance destroyed both skeletons. The old and dry bones clackering on the stone flagstones as the undead were destroyed.

OOC Party own Initiative and destroyed the skeletons.

OOC Day 32. Time: 10:20am. Weather: Sunny, no rain. Vision: Clear. Movement: 20’

Light
Chessintra’s lantern 8 turns

"They're gone, Devin," Derry reassures the holy man. "Can you see about your own wounds?"

 Once the adrenaline of hilt-bashing a skeleton has worn down... Brilliance notices Devin.  "Shit..."

 "I'll keep an eye out for anything else while you see to your wounds... and if we need to make a retreat, I've got oil we can burn.  Should repel attackers."

Wyndham returns his attention to the eastern door, listening for any sign of creatures.

"How much further are we going?" Devin asked the dwarf as he gingerly felt up beneath his chain shirt to probe the blow.

"I do have one scroll, but it might be better saved for someone in real danger."

Derry shakes his head ruefully.

"We haven't gotten anywhere if you think about it. And you're the one in trouble. It's up to you."

Through the western door, DM, if you would.

It is probably time to head back, but we don't want to have go through the gauntlet again to reach this door.
Camping in the cellar seems a pretty risky endeavor but would allow Lady and Brilliance to memorize their spells; we haven't discovered a promising spot for it yet.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:24, Tue 06 Dec 2022.

The door opened to reveal a corridor heading north thirty foot before it turned east.

"Wyndham, have a look see around that corner, would you?" a wary Derry asks.

"Go ahead and heal youself, Devin." says Wyndham before moving as quietly as he can through the corridor north. At the turn, he pauses, listens, and, if he doesn't hear anything, he'll peek around the corridor to survey the corridor east.

Devin retrieved the scroll from his pack, but just carried it in his hand.  He might not be able to fight, but he wasn't sure yet if Auril had lost faith in him.  He would wait, and follow.

Scouting ahead Wyndham looked around the corner. The hallway went east for thirty foot then darkness.

OOC I've assumed that Wyndham now has the lantern, otherwise he sees nothing.

Day 32. Time: 10:20am. Weather: Sunny, no rain. Vision: Clear. Movement: 20’

Light
Chessintra’s lantern 8 turns

Wyndham looks back over his shoulder and waves the rest of the party forward.

Advance around the corner and down the hallway.

Moving up ahead slowly but staying a bit closer to the back of the group.  She didn't want anything jumping out or any traps snaring her.  She wasn't skilled for those things.

Also she listened to how Derry mentioned that we only started, so this place must be huge.

Devin stayed away from the front, but kept on with the scroll in his hand.  It was too valuable to waste if it could still save someone's life.

 Both daggers once again in hand, Brilliance treks forward with her companions...

The hallway extended fifty foot to the east and ended in a door.

Under his breath, Derry breathes, "We have reached our destination," and then waits for Wyndham to listen at the door.

We follow normal door protocol with Wyndham listening for any sign of life on the other side of the door.

Wyndham hears the sounds of movement and talking in the other side of the door. The language is unintelligible for the thief.

As the thief listened and the others waited they were surprised to see a figure walk into the lantern light behind them. It was a single creature, large, hairy, grotesque and walking with an ungainly gait.

OOC The creature surprised the party and is ten foot from the rear of the party. Surprise round over, declare and I'll roll Initiative.

In reply to DM (msg # 121):
Wyndham spins and readies his bow and arrow but waits for the intentions of the creature.

Derry (and Eadwynn) rush to the rear to protect the others, ready to strike the monster should it think them easy prey.

15:27, Today: Derry the Dwarf rolled 8,6 using d20+1,d8+1.  Attack rear thing.

Chessintra was surprised that she got surprised by the large, hairy and grotesque creature.  Her eyes blinked a few times before she could even really focus on the matter.

Seeing that no one has attacked yet, she too held her action to see what Derry does.

Devin stood indecisively, hoping the new creature would be a new friend.

"Blessed be the friends of Auril," he intoned with a short bow in the creature's direction.

The creature, which Derry identified as a bugbear, grunted in response to Devin’s greeting. The language spoken was not understand by human, dwarf or elf. Its manner was not aggressive, however at the sight of the party’s drew weapons it halted in its advance.

The bugbear although large and hairy was surprisingly stealthy in its movements.

OOC Devin does not possess a short bow and as a cleric can’t use one, I assume this is an error.

Seeing that the bugbear idn't ready to attack, Wyndham quickly puts away his weapon and approaches the bugbesr with smiles and offering the creature some rations as a sign of goodwill.

 Brilliance pauses, and considers the bugbear... She does not make eye contact, but does watch her companion's interactions with it.  Her legs are ever-ready to do what the gods attached them to her body for, however, and help her flee if need be!

The bugbear looked at the adventurers warily. When Wyndham put away his bow and offered food instead it offered a toothy grin and took the food. It sniffed it then took a bite. It chewed it noisily, then pointed to itself and then the door.

Derry acknowledges the meaning of the hairy gent's gesture. Then, he points at the food as if to say, "Any time."

Then, grateful to step aside to let the bugbear pass by, Derry considers their next move. While they could try to secure a room so the two wizards could recover their magics, that night would not help the dead-on-his-feet Devin. They would have to return to Fourtowers to recuperate.

Back to town, retrieving the ladder on the way.

Devin is more than happy to avoid a fight and return to town.

The party retreated from the bugbear after awkwardly passing it in the dungeon corridor. They gathered up their ladder and after turning five corners they heard a noise ahead. It was some distance away. The sound of footsteps and talking, although at this distance the language could not be deciphered.

OOC Day 32. Time: 11:00am. Weather: Sunny, no rain. Vision: Clear. Movement: 20’

Light
Chessintra’s lantern 12 turns

In reply to DM (msg # 132):
Wyndham raises a palm to pause the party as he attempts to quietly move ahead until he can better hear the voices. If he can't understand the words, maybe he can at least make out the language.

With the others, Derry waits while the thief scouts ahead.

The party waited as Wyndham crept forward. Without leaving the lantern light Wyndham went thirty foot forward and put his ear toward the darkness. At his approach the voices went quiet and the footsteps stopped, Wyndham estimated that they must been nearly hundred feet away.

In reply to DM (msg # 135):
Wyndham waits in silence.

Where are we on the map?

Devin tries to stand silently as they wait for Wyndham's report.

Muttering "Enough of this already" or words to that extent, Derry leads the others down the eastern passage and then up the northern one, intent on leaving the cellar. They advance cautiously to avoid any ambush that might lay in wait for them.

Led by Derry the party headed toward the stairs, however before they reached them they came across a group of kobolds heading the opposite direction. There was five kobolds.

Happily, Derry greets the kobolds in their mother tongue which even in its fullest expression seems little better than doggerel.

"Happy! Kobold friends."

"Food for my friends." He hands over a day's worth of rations, a bag of apples, and no pet rabbit.

"News for my friends. Great Ape dead!"

Unless they detain us in some manner or other, we will continue in our return to the surface world and then to Fourtower.

Devin was glad to see another friendly group.  He wasn't at his best and perhaps Auril was looking after him after all.

The kobolds were wary as they emerged out of the shadows and then the lantern light engulfed them. As Derry offered food their snouts sniffed at the air and they yelped gladly as they snatched at the rations and bag of apples. Then when they had secured their bounty they passed on back to their den.

The remainder of the journey back to Fourtower Bridge was uneventful; the day was sunny with no sign of rain whatsoever. It was mid afternoon when the adventurers crossed the bridge and into town.

OOC 43XP each.

"Devin, when you've recovered, we'll make another trip out to the cellar. It's what we do. It has something for us, maybe more than one something; we just need to keep cracking away at it," Derry says back at the inn. In his room, he spends his time poring over the map, convinced that its untold riches awaited them around that corner or behind that door or beyond that wall.

I'll calculate living expenses after Devin's back at full health.

Wyndham raises an eyebrow at Derry's outburst. He's seen this kind of obsessive focus before and it hadn't gone well. Still, he himself had more gold in his pocket now than, well, ever.
What's another dwarf with treasure-lust, he thought with a shrug.

*a familiar face wanders into the inn and weaves his way through the crowd slowly. Once he finds an empty spot, he quietly takes a seat*

 In addition to Derry's offering to the kobolds, Brilliance offered two pieces of jerky to them from her own rations.  "...put a little bit of color in your cheeks."

 Once back at the inn, Brilliance will pore over her spell book and if she is willing discuss such things with Chess...

"I feel like I could sleep for a week," Devin admitted, though he'd probably be ready in 5 days.

He'd miss Auril's labors that he'd been working on, but he'd have plenty of time for prayers.

The inn was warm and welcoming. The adventurers had the opportunity to rest and meet up to plan their next delve.

Derry states that he remains committed to exploring Modnar's basement and discovering what else it might have to offer.

"Sounds good. I got nowhere else I need to be. Once Devin's healed up, we'll be set to go. Maybe I'll see if Bosley's still around."