After two days and nights resting in the partially refurbished tower Devin was fully recovered. The fine weather of the last few days ended with dark storm clouds overhead. As the party gathered to resume their adventures the storm broke violently over them with heavy rain pelting down.

Hiding in what shelter they could find in Fourtower Bridge were the six adventurers Wyndham the thief, Valerian the magic-user, Derry the dwarf, Lady Chessintra the elf, Brilliance the magic-user, and Devin the cleric.

OOC Day 35. Time: 6:00am. Weather: Rain, violent storm. Vision: Cloudy. Movement: 20’

Fully supplied and outfitted, Derry waits for the storm to pass before venturing back to Modnar's basement, within which the wizard or his remains must be found.

Ms. Eadwynn Haute -- Derry
Devin -- Lady
Brilliance -- Valerian
Wyndham

-3 GP for 2 days at the Magpie
-24 GP for 24 hours of Ms. Eadwynn Haute
-10 GP for a sword for the same
- 1 CP for a bag of apples
- 5 GP for one week standard rations
This message was last edited by the player at 15:30, Tue 03 Jan 2023.

Wyndham has his provisions and awaits the rest of the party.
-3 GP for 2 days at the Magpie

Valerian sits and waits calmly, a distant look in his eye.

Chessintra didn't like the way the weather was drastically harsh upon them at the moment.
"Do you think that the cellars would ever get flooded by all this rain? she asked no in particular but seeing if anyone knew the answer.

She also thought that it might bring different types of creatures out to hunt.

As the party waited in Fourtower Bridge the storm continued for an hour before it eased into drizzly rain. The sky remained filled with clouds as they began their trek over the bridge and into the wilderness.

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 mossy covered now wet flagstones. In centre where once the tower stood was a rusty trapdoor with an attached iron pull ring.

OOC Day 35. Time: 10:00am. Weather: Rain. Vision: Cloudy. Movement: 20’

Derry considers Lady's question before opening the trapdoor.

"The steps have been quite slick and some of the rooms have been infested with slime, but we haven't had to wade through anything worse than ape dung."

Heading toward the unexplored corridor north of the battle bot arena.

He shivers at the thought of dealing with green slime again, but he bites his lip and presses on.

Wyndham lights one up, a torch that is, and graces the rear of the party.

Devin tried to remember if rain foretold any significant misadventure in their past excursions.  He hadn't been keeping track, but it still seemed an ill omen.  He lit torch once inside and out of the rain.  He was hoping this would be their last time down these slick stairs.  There couldn't be that much more they hadn't examined.

He hadn't gotten any work done at the ruins, but he'd spent his time their in reflection and prayer.  It was calming there and he felt more centered with the will of Auril during his recuperation.


OOC: -105GP food and tithe to Auril for a second healing potion from Mother Majken.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:17, Thu 05 Jan 2023.

Dropped two Gold Pieces for a private room for two days, and a Gold Piece total for nightly meals.

 "I've recalled that sleeping charm, in case we run into any other gorillas... or clusters of them.  Gods, Brandli thought to find fortune here?  I wonder..." One of her daggers better-weighted for throwing is in her right hand.

Led by Derry and Eadwynn the party carefully descended the slippery steps into Modnar’s cellar. The hallways of the cellar were dusty, dank and rife with cobwebs.

The party passed by the familiar doorway into the vivisection chamber and passed the battle bot arena. After this the corridor turned many times until they reached the doorway to the library.

OOC Day 35. Time: 10:20am. Weather: Rain. Vision: Cloudy. Movement: 20’

When the unknown southern corridor connected with a known northern one, Derry had a fleeting feeling of satisfaction. Even though they would seem to have mapped all of the known areas, not all was known. There was the matter of that locked door close by. Perhaps, the newest members of the expedition would have better luck than the three veterans had had.

Onto the locked door, just beyond the spa. I think Lady, Brilliance, and Valerian can try to force it. I don't remember if Derry's hireling has already had a go at it.

The party continued onwards led by Derry. They entered the lounge. A threadbare rug was curled up into a ball and suspended in the air in the middle of the ceiling.

A door to the west led them in a ruined den of luxury. A leaning bedstead, a warped set of chairs, a rickety table and mildewed divan occupied the room. To the south the door led to a room occupied by a rat’s nest, fresh droppings lay on the flagstones. A door to the east led to a crooked corridor which led to another door which led to the locked door.

OOC Actions?

Wyndham searches the furniture for anything of value. He'll keep a wary eye on the balled carpet and corridor leading to the rats nest.
"Always the rats..."

Waverlin eyes the carpet warily.

His memory as long as his beard, Derry reminds Wyndham that they have already searched the ruined furniture -- within which they had found Harry's treasure horde (current room) -- and that the suspended carpet had been part of a trap (room to the east) which they had already successfully sprung.

As for the rats nesting in the room that they needed to cross, Derry remembers that they feared fire. He, his hireling, and Wyndham (when he's ready) will brandish their torches as they try to pass through the room (heading to the locked door).

-2 torches

ooc - Didn't we clear these rats already?
Wyndham readies his torch in preparation to barbecue more rats.

Oh, rats aren't so easy to clear out as all that. They will keep coming back as rats are wont to do.

We don't want to fight them if we don't have to.

"I'm ready, too," Devin said, looking at what was left of his own torch.  He hoped that no rats had returned.

The rats droppings were fresh and some of the nests new and perhaps occupied but they saw no rats. They were either not there, not interested in the adventurers, asleep or afraid of the fire.

Nothing prevented the adventurers reaching the locked door. The door stubbornly stood before them.

OOC Actions? Anyone trying to force the door open, make an Open Doors check.

Any of the possibilities were agreeable to Derry. He wasn't down here to be the chief rat catcher although it seemed to be a side line of his.

He offers his crowbar to any who are willing to try and force the door, starting with his hireling.

He speculates that it could likely be opened from within were one of them to descend the well and poke around a bit. It was likely the exit from that subbasement level.

Figuring he'd give the crowbar a shot as he thought he saw a good spot to try, Devin handed off his torch and fitted the heavy metal bar between door and frame.  Setting his feet, he leaned into the bar and listened to the door creak

OOC: Devin Harper rolled 1 using 1d6.  Open Door (+0).

With a crack Devin opened the door. The broken door swung open. Inside was a ten foot by ten foot cell. The ceiling was rippling quicksilver that faintly glowed and lit the room in pale silvery light.

Though he couldn't understand it, Derry surmises they must be looking at the ... bottom of the quicksilver pool?

"Wyndham, you went down the well. Look familiar?" he asks, pointing at the cell.

Did the door and the lock open from the other side?

"Don't think so. The room at the bottom of the well seemed bigger.
Wyndham looks warily at the quicksilver.
"If someone can give me a boost, I'll see if I can tell what's on the other side."

Valerian points at the shimmering ceiling.

"Be careful...I know enough alchemy to tell you that if that's actually quicksilver it's poisonous to the touch. Even the fumes are dangerous!"

The other well of quicksilver hadn't been poisonous but this one could well be. Valerian was right.

Derry lashes his pet rabbit to the end of a 10' pole and thrusts Hazel up into the chemical ceiling, careful to avoid being splashed himself.

If upon retrieval the rabbit shows no untoward effects, he offers his ladder to Wyndham.

He watches grimly as the dwarf raises the rabbit to the glowing metal.

”Not that quicksilver is known to levitate…but it does violate every other rule of metallurgy…”

The door now broken did not appear to be locked from the inside. The rabbit was thrust into the silvery ceiling and then pulled out again. The activity appeared to have no noticeable effect on the rabbit.

Seeing no adverse effects to Hazel, Wyndham accepts the ladder from Derry and props it up under the silvery ceiling. He climbs up and takes a deep breath before ascending through the quicksilver.

Up the ladder Wyndham ascended into the quicksilver like liquid. The liquid was cool to touch; its smell was not pleasant, being faintly of rot.

Wyndham climbed into the upside down pool. The liquid was although cool did not adversely affect Wyndham. It was much the same as being in water with a feeling of weightlessness, similar to the feeling in the chamber with the metal orbs.

Within the liquid Wyndham could discern little through his eyes beside the glowing luminescence of the liquid. He could swim in any direction.

Trying to orient himself, Wyndham continues to move in an upwardly direction.

 "Clearly, this quicksilver has been enchanted so as to violate every law of metallurgy in this world and others..." Brilliance says, looking at the rabbit, and then at Valerian with a shrug.

Chessintra was about to look at it using Detect Magic but thought against if for she might need it later.

"Is there any way of collecting some of it for me ?

 To Chessintra, Brilliance says, "Well, I've got some flasks for oil and one for holy water... I wouldn't like to dump them out under normal circumstances, but if you're considering some sort of research and would be willing to share your notes with me, then I'd reconsider my stance."

"Why is this in here?" Devin said aloud. He hadn't entered the well when they'd first found it and wasn't sure what it was supposed to do.

Wyndham swam upwards until he breached the surface. He was floating in the middle of a simple stone well. The silvery liquid lit the room with a faint glow. On one side of the well was a wooden ladder that led up the well wall.

From beneath the well Derry’s ladder led upwards for anyone that wanted to enter the well or collect the silvery liquid.

Before diving back down to report to the others, Wyndham climbs the ladder out of the well to figure out where he is and if he's been here before.

”This has all the hallmarks of someone’s arcane experiment gone awry…” he muses.

Derry waits for the scout's report although he is eager to have a swim himself.

Out of the well the chamber was small. Lit only by the shimmering light of liquid Wyndham saw that the room was twenty foot by twenty foot. There was an exit door in the eastern wall.

This message was deleted by the player at 00:26, Sun 15 Jan 2023.

In reply to DM (msg # 42):

Wyndham pads over and listens at the door. If he hears nothing, he'll open it a crack for a peek. Then he'll go back down through the silvery liquid and update the group on his findings.

Stealthy Wyndham listened at the door and heard nothing. The door opened when pulled and was darkness beyond.

The swim down through the silvery liquid brought Wyndham back to the room below. On his way down Wyndham felt a strange transformation come over him. Knowing that the liquid would come to end Wyndham was able to reach Derry's ladder to descend rather than fall out the ceiling.

OOC Wyndham - pick an ability score - note it in the dice roller - then roll 3d6!

14:06, Today: Wyndham rolled 10 using 3d6.  Strength.

So this is the same transformational liquid Wyndham was in before? I thought it was a pool before, not a well. Bad memory.

OOC Yes same well. My error, as Wyndham has been through before and altered his Constitution he has no change this time to his Strength. It stays at its original 8.

So the transformation only occurs on the way "down" not the way "up"?

OOC That's for you to work out.

Derry considers Wyndham's report.

"The room with the door on the eastern wall -- you'd been there before, right?"

"Why don't you try swimming in other directions this time? Maybe the "well" can lead to other places," Derry hazards.

Wyndham nods and climbs up the ladder into the silvery liquid. This time, he veers to the right to see where that leads.

When in the magic well Wyndham finds that the well’s diameter remains the same. Whatever direction he swims in besides up or down resulted in him facing a stone wall.

After a few moments, Wyndham emerges from the silvery liquid and reports on his findings.
"Anyone else want to go for a dip? You'll feel like a new person."

He removes his cloak. ”Sure, why not?”

He climbs up into the quicksilver to experience for himself.

After Valerian has finished with his swim, we'll edge past the rat nests and head all the way west until we reach the NW corner room, the one with the coin monster.

Up the ladder Valerian ascended into the quicksilver like liquid. The liquid was cool to touch; its smell was not pleasant, being faintly of rot.

Once Valerian was in the upside down pool he found the liquid cool to the touch. He felt a sense of weightlessness.

Within the liquid Valerian could discern little through his eyes beside the glowing luminescence of the liquid. He swam up until he reached the top. After a gulp of air he was able to swim back down and return to the room with the others.

OOC Valerian - pick an ability score - note it in the dice roller - then roll 3d6!

14:57, Today: Valerian rolled 7 using 3d6 ((1,5,1)). Constitution

He climbs back down and shrugs.

(As bad as that roll is it’s still better than the 6 he had!)

After both Valerian and Wyndham has been swimming in the quicksilver the party headed west. As they travelled west they heard a crunching sound ahead in the darkness.

OOC Day 35. Time: 10:40am. Weather: Rain. Vision: Cloudy. Movement: 20’

Light
Wyndham torch 3 turns
Eadwynn torch 3 turns
Derry torch 3 turns

Could we get an exact map location, please?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:50, Wed 18 Jan 2023.

 Before everyone began their trek away from the pool, Brilliance also takes a dip... "In the name of research..." She justifies herself to Chess.

 Then, indeed feeling somewhat like a new person, the Medium accompanies her companions.  Notes will be made, later.

 But for now, pause will be made... there was a crunching noise.  A hand goes to one of her daggers she uses for throwing at foes, but she pauses in anticipation of the revelation of its source.

OOC Brilliance - pick an ability score - note it in the dice roller - then roll 3d6!

14:55, Today: Brilliance rolled 5 using 3d6 ((1,2,2)).

Charisma.

Brilliance gains the magnetism befitting one with her interpersonal skills: that of a fonkey.  Or, an ass.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:07, Thu 19 Jan 2023.

The dice roller has not been kind to the swimmers.

Chessintra was the only one not to take a swim in the pool but as she watched everyone else do, she then looked up at the pool and took a deep breath.

When Brilliance returned she spoke "What was it like, how did it feel? she asked before entering the pool.

 Brilliance only grunts.  "Had better swims.  Felt weird, but I don't feel different.  Glad I was wearing my tunic and leggings, though."  She flicks some of the silvery goo off of her fingers.

OOC Lady Chessintra - if you decide to go in the upside down pool - pick an ability score - note it in the dice roller - then roll 3d6!

---

Map of the next bit when everyone is finished with the pool.

Without a room to duck into, Derry decides to hold their current position.

He calls out a warning to Devin, "Crunching of bones ... skeletons ... beware."

As Derry called out a warning the crunching stopped and was followed by a scuttling sound.

Two can play at the scuttling game. We'll scuttle on ahead.

Hearing the dwarf's warning, Devin reached up to grip his Symbol of Auril and chased after him.  He was sure that Auril had not forsaken him and his prayers.  They had nothing to fear from skeletons.

Wyndham holds his torch steady as the party creeps ahead.

The party moved closer to the sound. As they came closer what they found was the corpse of a small humanoid. There was no sign of blood or grieveous wounds however crouched over the corpse was a wicked looking giant spider.

OOC We are now in combat rounds. Declarations and then I’ll roll Initiative!

The wizard hangs back, ready to throw a dagger if absolutely necessary.

Derry cries out the order to attack and does so himself.

Derry misses the giant spider.
12:16, Today: Derry the Dwarf rolled 9,4 using d20+1,d8+1.  Attack spider.

Wyndham stabs at the spider with his short sword.
16:56, Today: Wyndham rolled 14 using 1d20-1 ((15))

Devin switched from symbol to hammer and swung wildly in the dancing torch light at the abominable, but extremely nimble, creature!

OOC: Devin Harper rolled 5,3 using d20,d6.  Hammer time! Thaco 19.

16:51, Today: Brilliance rolled 20,3 using 1d20,1d4 ((20,3)).
Chucking a dagger at a spider.  Assuming mid-range.

 Brilliance hefts her dagger once, and then hurls it at the spider... Another dagger finds its way into her hand.

Valerian girls his dagger as well, and surprisingly makes a good throw!

20:34, Today: Valerian rolled 15,2 using D20-1,d4. –

The party rushed forward abet slowly in their armour, their weapons at the ready. The spider much faster charged at the party to protect its prey. However the readied party unleashed sword and dagger at the arachnid killing it.

The corpse of the dead spider lay at their feet and the body of a kobold was thirty foot away.

OOC Combat over, successful hits from Wyndham, Brilliance and Valerian.

Wyndham searches the spider and kobold corpses for anything useful or valuable.

There was nothing to find on the spider. The kobold was dead. There was a redness and swelling in its face. A pouch on its belt held twenty seven silver pieces.

Valerian retrieves his blade, wiping it clean with a rag before sheathing it again.

Wyndham distributes 4sp to each party member, pocketing the remainder for himself.

Derry gives Wyndham a curious look when he shakes down the corpse of the spider, considers saying something, and then decides not to.

He then gives the dead kobold a curious look and says, "Strange that it had been out wandering alone."

Addressing the outfit, he warns the members that a mimic lives in the next room, disguising itself as a mound of treasure. First, they would try to sleep it, he says, looking at Valerian.

"If that fails, we will set ablaze the area in front of the door and attack from range."

OOC
(1) Party surrounds the two squares outside the door.
(2) Derry will empties two flasks of oil, one for each square in front of the door.
(3) Derry opens the door.
Presumably, this is where the DM would check for surprise and init so I'll leave off.

”I have no idea if a sleeping spell will work on such a creature, but it’s worth a try.”

Wyndham waves away Derry's frown.
"What?! You never know what can secreted in a spider. Poison sacks...  embedded blades... could be anything!"

Heartened by their quick work of the spider, Devin nods to the dwarf's plan for the next room.  Though he doesn't have anything to throw, he'd be ready if it charged.

 As she retrieves her dagger, checks it for damage, and smacks the flat of its blade on her hip to clean it, Brilliance ponders things.  "A sleeping spell on a mimic?
 Well, there's one way to find out... and I'm up to the research."

The door was slightly ajar and Valerian was able to see the splintered chests and their contents of silver, electrum and gold coins. The wizard cast his spell. The room and treasure looked the same after the spell had been cast.

Derry well knew that those splintered chests and heaps of coins formed the iridescent scales of some kind of coin worm, and the other time they had been here, it had reared up to attack when prodded with a 10' pole.

Before he does that he releases Hazel into the room, rolling an apple near the worm so that the famished rabbit might feed upon it.

Then, he repeats that test, careful not to apply any real force (nothing even approximating a slap) to the creature lest he unintentionally wake it.

Should it not stir, he will instruct the outfit to surround it and plunge their blades in simultaneously, the location of its vital organs being unknown to them.

Should it stir for any reason, he will FLEE.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:19, Sun 29 Jan 2023.

Released the rabbit went into to explore the room and followed the apple before contentedly munching on the fruit. The rabbit was reprieved from being killed or eaten as nothing else in the room moved even when Derry prodded the spilt treasure with his pole.

”The spell seems to have been successful… he whispers,
“…assuming it’s not waiting for bigger prey…”

Still sweating bullets, Derry arranges himself, Ms. Eadwynn Haute, Devin, and Wyndham to deliver four simultaneous, Moradin willing, coups de grâce to the creature with scintillating scales.

Wyndham looks over at the perspiring dwarf, concerned, but does as he is bid. He locates what he thinks to be a plausible location for a head and then draws his short sword and looks up expectantly at the others.

Devin tiptoed into position with his hammer at the ready and watched for the dwarf's signal to strike.  Auril willing, they'd end this now.

Chess wished she had a time to learn such a spell but all she could do was wait to see if anything moved so that she could use her spell of missile to harm a creature.  She was not as powerful as Valerian it seemed.

She needed to grow in power

A flurry of chops, thwacks and stabs then the sleeping coin worm was slain. The beast now dead it was easier to discern its shape and form. It looked remarkably like a coins. It’s body lay amongst the splintered wood of four broken chests.

After the creature had been slain, the sweat starts to cool on Derry's face. Closing the door, he helps the others search the corpse, inside and outside, and chests for any real treasure. If it helps, he'll drag the corpse away from the splintered wood.

Valerian peers down at the worm and lifts a severed length of it.

"The scales even feel like coins! I wonder if they have actual gold in them? Perhaps they can be smelted down..."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:05, Mon 30 Jan 2023.

Once the dead creature had been dragged from its nest the room was bare besides the broken splinters of old chests.

Valerian’s examination of the creature revealed that it was ten foot long and two and a half foot in diameter. The scintillating scales almost perfectly mimicked metal coins. The colouration of the scales silver, electrum and gold.

Butchered by Derry the coin worm’s stomach was found to be empty, although there was signs that the worm did indeed digest precious coins but none were presence at this time.

Taking the time she watched what was being done to the creature and its scales did look to be worth more than one could imagine. If the creature was eating the coins and it could be possible that it scales absorbed the metal.  She wasn’t skilled at skinning a beasts.  So she waited to see if one of the skilled fighters was going to

“Are we continuing onward or heading back. I can cast a Detect Magic spell to see if there is anything magical here. And I could walk around the room to see if there is any secret doors she offered

"There's a tanner back at Fourtowers; he could see about skinning this and the wizard there might have something to say about its value. For now, we leave it here until we leave."

"Now, Lady Chessintra, this is corner room...I don't think it's the place to check."

A look of frustration passes over his face. It's clear he has no clear idea where a secret door might be down here.

"Let me show you something close by..."

OOC
Closing the door behind us, we'll head around the corner to the lift.
Had there ever been tower here or had it always been all basement?

Wyndham gives Derry a curious look as he carves up the corpse of the coin-beast. He considers saying something, and then decides not to.
Instead, he carries his torch to light the way as the party moves on.

Devin had been disappointed all of the coins had not been coins at all.  He still thanked Auril, however, for aiding them in vanquishing the dangerous creature.

He hadn't been sure what the dwarf had meant by a "corner" room, but he'd lost all orientation after the first few turns.

 Brilliance stands with her companions while they work and wander and contemplate, her eyes on the exits and open for any movement.

As the party closed the door of coin worm’s lair they heard many small feet approaching from the south. The sound was further away that Wyndham’s torchlight could illuminate.

OOC Day 35. Time: 11:00am. Weather: Rain. Vision: Cloudy. Movement: 20’

Light
Wyndham torch 5 turns
Eadwynn torch 5 turns
Derry torch 5 turns

Derry decides to wait until the owners of the small feet make themselves known to his party. Maybe there would be some familiar faces among them.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:37, Tue 31 Jan 2023.

Wyndham starts digging through his pack for some spare rations to have handy. The denizens of this cellar all seem to have a healthy appetite. For a moment, his eyes linger on one of his vials of poison but he shakes his head and dismisses the thought.
As he waits for the owners of the footsteps to appear he pops a morsel of food into his mouth. Noticing the other party members staring at him, he smiles and holds out his trail food.
"Anyone want some? Got lots."

Devin looked closer at what the man was eating.  Was that what the dwarf was just chopping up from their previous kill?

Shaking his head, Devin put the grisly idea aside and readied his shield.

 Brilliance mouths, "I've got plenty." and taps her bag.  Her poor, abused dagger is in her left hand... and, with the time it takes for the locals to greet their guests, her silver dagger finds its way into her right hand.

Emerging into the torch light from the south came eight unfriendly looking kobolds. A hunting party, they carried amongst them two successfully killed giant rats. Their spears were bloodied, their eyes shone and they gnashed their teeth, fresh from the kill their bloodlust was up!

Frankly, Derry's surprised. A kobold hunting party. He didn't know there were such things. He'd always considered them to be the beggars of the underworld, dependent on scraps tossed their way by passersby.

"Defend yourselves! Sleep as many as you can!"

Derry holds his position and attacks any kobold that comes near (misses).
08:17, Today: Derry the Dwarf rolled 3,3 using d20+1,d8+1.  Attack a kobold.

”I’m out of spells at the moment, sorry!”

He ineffectually tosses a dagger instead.

10:47, Today: Valerian rolled 5,1 using D20-1,d4 ((6,1)).
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:09, Wed 01 Feb 2023.

Wyndham attempts to stab at a kobold.
17:43, Today: Wyndham rolled 14,4 using d20-1,d6-1 ((15,5)).

Chessintra was hoping that she could calm things down before they get out of hand. Raising her hands in a friendly manner.  She hoped that they would understand the language that she spoke.
In Hobgoblin first then Orc
"We don't wish to fight.  We just had battle ourselves with tilting her head back to the worm's location.

 "Oh, not on my watch..." Briliance spits when she sees the kobolds leaping and bounding towards the adventurers.

Sleep at the kobolds.  Attempting to hit as many as possible while affecting none of the party.
Gonna leave the sleeping HD up to the Dungeon Master...

 She hears the elf attempt to parley... well, hopefully between her own spell and the elf's words things won't get too out of hand, but, well, the judges will decide!

Devin isn't sure what's going on as these were usually peaceful creatures.  He stood his ground with the dwarf, however, and would strike any that approached menacingly.

OOC: Devin Harper rolled 2,3 using d20,d6.  Hammer time! Thaco 19.

The bloodthirsty kobolds rushed at Derry and Eadwynn. Their spears stabbed and poked ineffectively against their armour. Before Derry and Eadwynn could think of retaliating there was a murmur of eldritch words as Brilliance cast an enchantment of sleep upon the small humanoids canines. All of the kobolds fell to sleep.

Wyndham quickly dispatches the kobolds, looting as he goes.
"Nicely done, Brilliance."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:24, Thu 02 Feb 2023.

 Brilliance lets out a sigh of relief as she watches the kobolds slump forward.  As her companions practice their anatomy, she continues to keep her watch.  "That's all for now... only got so much for reserves." She examines her reflection in the blade of her silver dagger, and brushes her hair back.

Valerian again retrieves his blade, giving a side-eye to the sleeping kobolds.

All business, Derry cuts the throats of the sleeping octet, ushering in the big sleep for each of them and leaving the rifling to Wyndham. Derry then adds two rat tails to his collection.

It should be easy enough to follow the trail of kobold hunting party with two fresh kills. He endeavors to do so.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:43, Thu 02 Feb 2023.

Chess was feeling left out with not knowing this powerful spell that most are casting.  She will surely take the time to learn it when the time ever comes.

Giving a nod of the head to Brilliance for her wonderful display of magic

 Brilliance notices Lady Chessintra in the reflection of the blade.  "You interested in trading spells sooner or later, Chess?  Betcha you'd be able to make somebody sleepwalk, or... or do more than just some human with the spell." She sucks her teeth, lowers her dagger but still keeps it in her hand, and looks at one of the kobolds.  "Wonder how receptive they'd be to learning it."

 After all, an elf probably thought that when they saw the first humans to learn magic...

"We didn't have to kill them," Devin said unhappily after realizing what had happened while he was putting away his shield and hammer.  "They haven't generally been hostile and if we're almost done searching this basement, we could have left them safely behind."

He was feeling that it did not reflect well on Auril for deeds like this to be perpetrated in his presence.  Killing without necessity would someday lead to needless repercussions.

"Is true that we could have done that," Derry answers, his sword still dripping with kobold blood.

"It is also true that they might have awoken and attacked us at the wrong time," he finishes, wiping the blood from his slick sword. Then we would have recognized the need to kill them too late.

Wyndham shrugs.
"We've had plenty of meetups that went just fine. No anger, no blood, good cheer all around. This wasn't one of them."

Little appeased by their simplifications, Devin shook his head and followed them in the direction the hunting party had come from.

 Brilliance, despite her former self and perhaps honest to her true self, only grunts softly in response to Devin's protests.

Besides the two freshly killed rats Wyndham found that each of the kobolds carried a small pouch of coins. In total he looted ninety-two copper pieces from the corpses.

Further along the corridor Derry found signs of the hunt in the last room. The dirt and dust in the large thirty foot by forty foot room was recently disturbed. Twenty empty casks lined the walls.

Wyndham leaves behind the copper pieced. He searches around the casks for any sign of secret doors.

Derry joins the search, leaving his hireling to keep watch by the door. He removes the casks one by one from the walls, examining the walls afterward for any oddities of stonework.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:22, Thu 09 Feb 2023.

"It doesn't look any different than when we were here the last time," Devin said aloud, recalling their previous time searching the empty kegs.

"Does this mean we've searched everywhere down here?"  He was looking forward to heading back into Stonehell.

 Brilliance keeps watch near to the entrance... but not before picking up those copper Pieces!  As she watches, she does some math in her head on how best to divide it between, oh, gods, how many people?

In good humor, Derry responds to Devin.

"Do each of your prayers reach your god's ears? Are you not forced to utter them again and again? Anyhow, I think we only searched the kegs themselves -- not the walls behind them."

"And answer me this, any of you: why is Modnar's lift in the next room? Why the ready supply of ale? Why here in this part of the basement?"

Devin had no reply for the dwarf.  He wasn't a builder or seen any wizard towers before this.  Even now, he'd only seen rubble of the tower above them.  He expected the tower would have been a proper living area adorned with comfort and light.

Together Wyndham and Derry searched the walls behind the old, empty casks but found no signs of any secret or concealed doors.

OOC Day 35. Time: 11:10am. Weather: Rain. Vision: Cloudy. Movement: 20’

Light
Wyndham torch 6 turns
Eadwynn torch 6 turns
Derry torch 6 turns

Chessintra spoke up “Has anyone researched the history of these lands?  That could explain something or he is trying to find a treasure himself

In reply to Lady Chessintra (msg # 138):

Wyndham shrugs.
Not sure about the history. I'm fairly new here myself. Derry or Devin might have heard more. "

"There's a wizard back in Fourtowers. She knew a few things but I've forgotten what she said."

"It was just rumors that drew us here in the first place. Green lights? A place to be avoided by foresters?" he remembers.

"Let's look at another spot close by before we return."

Let's go to the lift room. Full map of the tower is on #12. I've been trying to piece together the logic of the lift's location. It's a long walk from that spot to anywhere Modnar might have wanted to go unless there are rooms nearby we've yet to find.

Nodding her head "When we return, can you introduce me to this woman?  I have some questions that might be helpful.

Seeing that this place was all new to her she allowed them to lead the way and follow in suit.

Devin didn't have anything to add to the dwarf's answer about the tower.  Without anyone who'd lived in the tower to explain it to them, all of the rooms were a mystery.

 The party left the former buttery and moved on to the circular shaft. The ceiling rose up thirty foot. A pair of double semi-circular hatches were in the ceiling. At the bottom of the shaft was a wagon-sized, barrel-shaped wood and steel capsule. The capsule rested atop a ring of short rod-like protrusions. In total there was twenty rods. A length of black twine ran from the bottom of each and were spliced together into a thick cord which ended around the corner in the corridor.

OOC The torches have run out, who is lighting new torches?

Day 35. Time: 11:20am. Weather: Rain. Vision: Cloudy. Movement: 20’

No Light!

Wyndham lights a torch.

"You can light my lantern if that will help."

Derry accepts Valerian's offer, using the light of the lantern to follow the path of the thick cord to wither it led, preferably with a more illuminating outcome than the last time.

"Wyndham," he suggests, "you may as well search the coach again for false bottoms and hidden drawers."

Chessintra offered to help in the search for she was an Elf and it’s a bit easier for her to find a hidden door or compartment.

“Two more eyes may be better on such a search.

Wyndham goes over, through, and around the capsule pulling cords, pushing levers, pressing buttons, knocking on panels. Anything to find out what makes this thing tick.

Derry and Valerian followed the thick cord back into the main corridor where it came to a frayed end.

A single hatch allowed Wyndham and Lady Chessintra to enter the cramped interior. Inside was a single throne-like chair, bare shelves and cupboards. There was an odd smell that Wyndham had not detected before in the capsule, it was unpleasant.

Devin and Brilliance were left in the high roofed room in darkness.

OOC Party split. Valerian and Derry outside the room. Lady Chessintra and Wyndham in the capsule. Devin and Brilliance in high  roofed room with no light source.

Day 35. Time: 11:30am. Weather: Rain. Vision: Cloudy. Movement: 20’

Light
Wyndham’s torch 1 turn
Valerian’s lantern 1 turn

Valerian peeks in from the doorway, mystified.

”What sort of machine is this…?”

"It took him up to the forest. Remember when we located the hatch there?" Derry answers.

Derry examines the frayed end of the cord. Had it been snipped the last time he had examined it? He didn't remember. Does the cord terminate at the eastern or western corner of the entrance to the room?

OOC
Lady, this is as good a time as any to cast Detect Magic. Maybe something will glow for us.

The cord was in the same state last time Derry found it. The cord runs along the shorter eastern wall of the corridor and ends on the eastern corner of the junction.

Determined, Derry follows the path he imagines the cord might have taken (along the north side of the E/W corridor for 20 feet before disappearing). He searches for signs of discoloration where a hole might have been plastered over to conceal its path, concentrating his search at the end of the corridor. He will also lightly tap his hammer on the wall as he goes to listen for sign of hollowness beyond.

"Do you see anything, Valerian?" he asks. "The cord had to go somewhere."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:41, Sun 19 Feb 2023.

Valerian looks down and begins searching by lantern-light for the remains of the cable.

Left behind in the darkness, Devin looked up to see if there were any cracks of light through the hatch high above them.  He supposed the wizard had himself as well as anything else lowered in some fashion from the tower above.

"I'll light a torch," he said, once satisfied he'd spent enough time looking for light.

Saying such, he pulled out a torch and knelt down to set it alight with his flint.

An examination of the end of the cable and the area around it revealed the absence of anything of note. It appeared that the cord was supposed to end where it ended.

In the large chamber Devin was able to discern the faint glimmer of light from above, through the smallest of cracks in the roof before he lit his torch.

OOC Party split. Valerian and Derry outside the room. Lady Chessintra and Wyndham in the capsule. Devin and Brilliance in high roofed room with no light source.

Day 35. Time: 11:30am. Weather: Rain. Vision: Cloudy. Movement: 20’

Light
Wyndham’s torch 1 turn
Valerian’s lantern 1 turn
Devin's torch 1 turn

His investigations concluded, Derry waits in the lift room for Lady Chessintra and Wyndham to complete theirs.

If Wyndham cannot find anything that looks like it will engage the capsule, he will start disassembling the thing to look for hidden treasures.

"You can just see a little light," Devin pointed out, "from where some hatch was opened to lower this down from the tower.  I'm surprised it hasn't collapsed after all this time and the weight of stones that must have fallen on it."

He was ready to leave, but waited while the others poked around a bit more.

As Wyndham began to pull things apart the unpleasant smell grew worse.

"It's a ways away from the base of the tower," Derry explains. "It wouldn't have been hit by falling masonry."

Meanwhile, he lends his expertise, tools, and hands to Wyndham's deconstruction efforts.

This spot has already been located by the party.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:09, Tue 21 Feb 2023.

Wyndham pauses while trying to yank a cabinet from the capsule.
"Whew! What's that stench! Can someone keep an eye out for the source of that?"
Then he resumes his demolition.

Determined to search every inch of the barrel shaped capsule Wyndham began to break down the interior with the aid of Derry. The stench grew worse then as a plank was loosened a cloud of yellow gas was released into the capsule.

OOC Everyone in the capsule, Derry, Wyndham and Lady Chessintra, save vs Poison.

Wyndham gags as the yellow cloud fills the capsule. Searching around for its source, he glares at the dwarf.
"Let me out of this deathtrap!" he gasps, lurching out of the container.
17:32, Today: Wyndham rolled 20 using 1d20.  Save vs poison (Need a13)

At first, Derry coughs uncontrollably, caught by the mephitic cloud before he could step back. Then his dwarven constitution asserts itself, and the coughing subsides nearly as quickly as it had erupted.

17:35, Today: Derry the Dwarf rolled 10 using 1d20.  Save vs. Poison. Need 8.

Derry and Wyndham escape the poisonous gas cloud without ill effect. The yellowish cloud of gas then began to disperse in the large high roofed chamber.

After the noxious vapors have sufficiently dispersed, Derry will further assist Wyndham in his disassembly of the conveyance. Perhaps there is something secreted within the capsule after all -- something someone had not wanted to be found.

20:44, Today: Lady Chessintra rolled 18 using 1d20.  Save vs. Poison.

Phew she softly said as she moved along with the others.

"If we do find the source, do we want to get close to it?

In reply to Derry the Dwarf (msg # 151):

Did Derry suggest this of her?

Persistent Wyndham and Derry began to dissemble the interior the capsule. Despite the discovery of the trapped vapours they did not find anything else.

OOC Day 35. Time: 11:40am. Weather: Rain. Vision: Cloudy. Movement: 20’

Light
Wyndham’s torch 2 turns
Valerian’s lantern 2 turns
Devin's torch 2 turns

Disappointed, Derry resigns himself to a return to Fourtowers. The only surprises the cellar held were of the nasty variety.

Back to town. Pick up worm corpse along the way, using the ladder as a conveyance.

Wyndham kicks churlishly at the wreckage of the capsule before joining Derry and the rest of the party back to Fourtowers.

"So are we headed back to Stonehell for our next trip?" Devin asked on their march back.

The capsule abandonded the party gathered up the corpse of the coin worm and exited the dungeon. The sky remained cloudy as they travelled through the forest and back to Fourtower Bridge. It was later afternoon as they crossed the bridge and into the village.

OOC 33 XP each.

Upon their return, Derry decides on two orders of business: first, introducing Lady Chessintra to Fourtower's lady wizard and, second, selling the coin worm skin to the tanner (if the wizard wasn't interested).

The elderly wizard Dagunn Rakel politely greeted Derry as the dwarf trooped the adventurers to the door of her tower. She was pleased to be introduced to the elf Lady Chessintra and examined the corpse of the coin worm. She could not tell whether the creature was the result of nature run amok or magical experimentation. Whatever the answer mistress Rakel was intrigued and offered three hundred gold pieces that she might take the creature for further study and perhaps have the skin stuffed for display.

Derry thinks Rakel's proposition is a grand one, both the purchase and the eventual taxidermy.

He summarizes their latest trip to the cellar for her as well, thinking she might be interested in their findings.

"Never did find a wand for the statue," he laments.

He turns to Lady, "Well, what's on your mind?"

Sold for 300 GP.

 Brilliance, thumbing the spine of her spell book and looking expectantly at this Dagunn Rakel, almost harumphs at the attention that Lady Chessintra receives over her.  But, she describes... in her own newfound way... the silvery pools and the effects that they seemed to have on everyone if she should be asked.  Or feel that she should be asked.  For her own part, the Medium describes her more vibrant approach to social interactions as "feeling overcome with resolve and ambition".

Devin was happy to sit quietly in the background.  After a nights rest, he expected they'd head back to Stonehell in the morning.

Wyndham spends a night kicking back and resting up for their next outing. The Cellar felt done. He tried to remember how many rat tails Derry had saved up for the bandits.

Valerian goes back to his room to study his grimoire and regain his sleep spell.

Chessintra was pleased to meet the Lady Rakel nodding her head "I'm new to these lands and I know very little about what is all happening around here.  Would you be able to share some of your wisdom about the place we keep returning into?

“This Fourtower Bridge. Myself and my three companions Athalgrim, Silar and Mother Majken make up The Four who watch over the old Kings Road. Travellers pay a toll for passage, many travelling to the dungeon of Stonehell in search of riches” the tall elderly explained to Lady Chessintra.

"Can you tell us more about this place called  Stonehell?  It is all new and I never heard of this place. she replied.

"Who created it, who was last to live there anything is helpful.

Looking at the woman a bit more curiously now, that she has stated that she is one of the Watchers of the old Kings Road.

“Stonehell was once the Kings prison. It has been over a century since its doors were thrown open to release those incarcerated within. I have not ventured within its walls myself but have heard tales of cannibal kingdoms inhabited by pale-skinned ghouls alongside stories of magical experiments gone awry” ms Rakel explained.

After a sufficient amount of R&R, Wyndham rejoins the group at the inn.
"Lorna, do you know of any potentially lucrative destinations nearby? I only know about the Cellar and Stonehell, of course. Heard any juicy tales from other adventurers?"

“I’ve heard that there’s caves and smaller dungeons in the canyon at the entrance of Stonehell” Lorna tells Wyndham.

"Very good, then! Let's make that our destination!" says Wyndham, giving the tabletop a firm smack with his hand.
"Let's gear up and head out!"
Wyndham buys another 6 torches and pays whatever's due for his rest time at the inn.

This message was deleted by the player at 19:39, Sun 26 Mar 2023.