PBEM - Episode 367. Bandages, Chimney, and West

THREE HUNDRED SIXTY SEVEN

(I/C)

All packed up and ready to go, Brendon was at the door to the jail, listening to the hall, while the rest of the party discussed their options. “I guess,” Wyn began slowly, “de safest ting ta do is ta go back to de dinin’ room en climb back up to de garden.”

Didn’t Big Brain say something about the sulfur room?” Kovid asked with a nudge in the magic user’s direction. “The sulfur room and then back to the dining room and up sounds right to me.”

“We be stopping by de sulfur room first, dough, right?” Wyn verified. After getting a series of nods he shifted his shield to his off hand and recognized, “As Monsieur Offop suggested, we may not be able to get back down here as easy.”

From the door, Brendon offered, “Clean bandages before we go up is a good idea, too.”

Clapping the elf on the shoulder and grinning, Lannis said, “Wyn, I like it when you point out the smart things I say, you should do that more.”

“Oui. If you say dem, I will point dem out,” He scratched the side of his neck. “Dis was one.” Glancing over at Kovid, he pointed to the lantern running cold with the continual light stone inside. “Hey dwarfriend... nice everlastin light you got there!” he said with a wink.

“This is great, elf-friend,” Kovid said, lifting the lantern higher. “It’s some kind of hocus pocus that doesn’t make sense, but it’s great.” He looked around. “So just saying it, “Last call for locusts! Anyone?”

“Ohhh? Locusts?” Lyra answered with a grin, “Kovid, I’m ready. Let’s get some bugs.”

Raising his hand and then lowering it on seeing the rest of the group was not doing that, Abraxas added, “Señor Kovcad, me gusta mirar a los Locusts.”

“I’ve learned to go with the group’s decision,” Brendon said, “Locusts here we come.”

Head shaking, finger pointing firmly to the west, the Magic User admonished the party. "Not unless someone wants to drink a Recall, run over there and rile up the locusts and bamf back here to distract the wandering jerks upstairs. Otherwise no locusts.”

“We’ll discuss it more after the bandages.”

“Why? What part of no don’t you get?” Lannis looked goggle-eyed at the party. “Bad. Idea.”

The party was getting ready to leave at this point (WMC: Red/Black 3), Brendon assuring the group the hall was clear, when Abraxas picked up the fancy scarf we had gotten from the orcish barracks. “Senor Schwing,” he handed it to the elf. “Is this yours? I was looking to play the ‘dibs’ game, but do not want the scarf.”

Lannis was staring hungrily at the scarf but when Wyn glanced his way, his expression turned to one of disdain and boredom, waving his hand at the elf. “Oh!” He exclaimed, taking the garment and looking it over, fingers running through the colored silk. “Wyn was just kiddin’ bout de dibs callin’.” He looked around, giving a slow wink in Lannis’ direction, “Does anyone else want dis scarf? It clash terribly wit me natural palette.”

Stepping forward hands reaching, he snatched it from Wyn, mouth running almost unrecognizable, “Iwantscarfplease!” Beaming proudly, he unfurled it, gave it a twist, and then wrapped it around his neck and under the collar of his robe. He let it drape down his chest, the colorful silk framing his open chest nicely. “Yeah…I am all that.”

“You certainly are, Big Brain.”

“Should give it to Lyra,” Brendon shrugged.

“Um…No.”

“It’s ok, Brendon,” the Cleric replied, “He has so few things that really make his feel good about himself, he can keep the scarf.”

We filed out of the Jail, Brendon and Kovid in the front, Abraxas taking up the rear. Wyn locked the door, gave it a quick shake to assure himself it was barred, and then rejoined the party as we made our way south to the “T” intersection. Seeing it was clear, we turned to the west and pressed on. Distant echoes and sounds could be heard drifting back towards us, but nothing definitive. The Scout kept our feet moving, the party making good time.

A pass beyond the Beekeeper’s Room (WMC: Red/Black 5) let us know that no one was out that way and the main doors of the Castle seemed to be closed. We went to the corner, turned south, and moved on…eventually arriving at the stairs and the Spymaster’s chambers. Knowing that we had seen immature shriekers yesterday, we were on alert to see something.

At the base of the steps were maybe 3 very immature, spindly thin stalks of dusty mushrooms growing, not even 2” tall. They quivered slightly there but Wyn (no roll needed) assured us that they were nothing and harmless. “Will they grow into Shriekers?” Lannis asked.

“Dat may be de case. Whoever spored de area here, did so not too long after we had killed the fungi afore.”

“As long as it’s not a problem now, otherwise we have a horse in desperate need of her pink drink from Sulfurbucks, so let’s get going."

“Hey!”

“I’ll try to find you some.”

“Dick,” she muttered.

“I’ll try to find you some of that too.”

The group continued on, climbing the stairs and then passing the hobgoblin room. At the “T” intersection (WMC: Green 3), Brendon gave a quick listen and then a thumbs up, Kovid taking the group west.  They passed the hall that would lead past the Scriptorium and then eventually the Butchers, Abraxas glancing down its length. “Pero, no me gusta a meet up con Hoots y sus movie. ¿Estamos listo? Vamonos. Let's clean el ban-dah-ges primero.”

The group entered the statue room, the kobold warrens, and then down the stairs to the cold hall. Turning east they walked on (WMC: Pink 2), turning south and going up the stairs, still nothing ahead of them except echoes and little else. “We are definitely making good time,” Brendon whispered, “And bucking a hell of a lot of luck that we haven’t run into anything yet.”

“Tell me about it,” Kovid muttered back. “I got a feeling our luck is a transient thing at best.”

“True that.”

The group walked the hall and turned west at the second intersection, stopping just at the top of the stairs to the Sulfur room. Already working their shirts and cloaks in place over their nose and mouth, Lyra told the group, “Ok, one more time. You know what to do. Let’s go, Kovid.”

“After you, Lass.” The two of them went down into the cavern, lantern going with them. The rest of the group stayed in the gloom at the top of the stairs, eyes peeled and senses sharp, waiting for anything to occur.

The two of them went to the pool, and wearing the gloves, Lyra took out the 3 dirty bandages and proceeded to clean them once more time. “These things have been ridiculously handy,” she said.

“They have saved out bacon a few times now,” the dwarf replied.

“I would kill an adolescent at this point for a slab of bacon.”

“Ugh, Now I want some too.”

She worked the bandages clean one at a time, the two of them braving the sulfurous fumes (>Save vs Poison, +2 done before, Yellow 19…>Save vs Poison, +2 done before, White 14) until the last bandage flashed white. Wrapping them up she replaced them and the gloves back in her pack and the two of them came out of the cavern, rejoining the rest of the group.

(WMC: Red/Black 6).

“We’re good. Where to? Dining Room or locust room?” Kovid asked. “It is 4 saying we should go, just bringing it up.”

Time now is Day 9, 7:25 AM

(OOC)

Ok! Ready and so far, the WMC are not hitting you guys at all, even though there is patrol presence down here.

PBEM - Episode 366. Orc Barracks, Level, Jails.

THREE HUNDRED SIXTY SIX

(I/C)

Taking out his polishing paste, Kovid picked up his hammer first, gave it a critical look, and began working the tarnish off the weapon. “Senor, may i?” Abraxas asked, pointing to his Scythe

“Sure, give it a shot if you want.”

The two men began working to clean the weapons while the rest of the group lowered their belongings and opened packs. Cloaks were dropped, armor unbuckled, and boots removed. “Going to run out of oil soonish,” Kovid mentioned. “So I’m going to turn down the lantern and one of you is going to need a candle or two.

“Hold dat towt,” Wyn said, looking around for and then finding a small stone. “I ‘ave been feelin’ a bit smarter like an I tink I have a work around.” Concentration on the stone he mutterd some arcanic words over it and then intoned, “FAIT ETERNUS LUX!” – and the rock blossomed to light.

“Nice,” Lannis shrugged. “How long will that get you? An hour.”

Turning the lantern down and then waiting for the glass to cool, Wyn returned the self-same non-committal shrug. “A bit longer, mon ami. Troix, or Quatre Hundred years.” He grinned. “Eeets continual.”

“Really?” The Magic User sat up and nodded. “Ok, that is nice.”

“Oui, lets check over de uniform I am wearing again and see if de scarf is magical.” He snapped his fingers, “Oh! I almost forgot. Dibs.”

“What?” The Magic User looked surprised. “Whoa, whoa! That’s not…”

“Dibs!” Abraxas called out, “Am I doing este, correcto?”

“What!? Guys, that is NOT cool. You know I was interested…”

Brendon had been looking the scarf over and nodding. “I wouldn’t bother with it, Big Brain. It’s easy enough for you to get it snagged on something and choke yourself.” He lowered his voice and turned aside, but Lannis was able to hear the Scout mutter something about, “…remind you of your mommy choking you during one of your ‘special’ mommy and me parties.”

“Brendon! What the hell is wrong with you?!” His face was red with anger. “This whole thing with my mom may have been a funny joke so far, but don't talk about her again.” He snatched the scarf out of Brendon’s hand and added, “As far the scarf, you can't call dibs on it until we KNOW if it's magic or not, ya dick weeds."

That’s not true and you’ve called dibs on non magical items, remember the horse carving?”

Lyra smacked Lannis on the back of the head and pointed her finger right under his nose. “Stop it,” she scolded him. “If horse jokes are fair game, so is your inappropriate relationship with your mother.”

“It’s NOT…” he began but she interrupted him with another cuff on the head.

“I said stop it. Now, how is everyone on health? If no one is in need of the bandages I’ll use them on myself.”

The group spoke about their hurts and aches, Wyn and Abraxas seemed to be in the best of health for some reason and didn’t need any bandages. It was decided that Lyra, Kovid, and Lannis would get the best use out of the Sclepian bandages so the Cleric had everyone take off their shirts and tended to their worst and most obvious wounds.

"Amigos, should we clean the Ban-dah-jes when we wake up?” Abraxas asked, working a stubborn bit of tarnish off. “O vamonos back upstairs sin cleaning them? Y como vamonos arriba? Los stairs o el chimney?”

“We’ll have to see how many of the castle’s inhabitants wander around,” the Scout guessed. “The stairs are closer but the watchtower is up there. I guess if there is a lot of activity, we might have to risk it, because I’m not sure we’ll make it all the way back to the Dining Room without running into trouble.” Meanwhile Brendon had split up the last of the arrows taking 4 for himself (total arrows 19) and leaving the rest aside for now as Wyn’s quiver was full. 

The group was also eating, Abraxas had chosen one of the Brown elven rations from the Ispan’s Vault, and was munching on the onion and dried meat loaf with enthusiasm. “We should learn where to get mas rations similar este cuando vamonos home.”

The group nodded in response, most of them happy with that thought. “Monsieur,” Wyn tapped Lannis on the shoulder, “I would like to re-examine de uniform I am wearing as well as dat scarf for magic and deux eyes is better dan un, non?”

“I’m with you, Elrond. Work your sparkles.”

“TEGERE ARCANUS!” the elf intoned, and a spray of orange sparks flowed out, touching everything the party had that was magical.

Seeing the spell in action, Abraxas leaned over to Kovid and whispered, “I will watch segundo so otros can rest and get spells back.”

“Good idea,” the dwarf agreed. He looked over his Hammer and smiled, the metal gleaming once again. He then picked up the Lolthian flail and began working on that weapon next. As for the Scythe (D6, 3 – yes!), Abraxas had done a decent job and the weapon was shining once again, it’s magic restored to full. 

He picked up Lannis’ Rod and started working on that one. “Let's eat, drink, and after this, get some sleep. We will be done with este Bastille muy soon.”

The scarf had no magical enchantments on it, so the two magic users turned their attention to the Ispan Uniform (<Int Orange 5…<Int -4 2nd attempt Pink 13). After seeing it in action 4 times and having a better feel for the magic and how it might apply, the two of them conferred quietly for some time before coming to a consensus. “If the door has a lock and is unlocked and the wearer wants it locked OR if the door has no lock on it and the wearer wants to lock it OR unlock it, one will appear and in either case, the door will lock or unlock as expected. However, if the door has a lock it and it’s locked, the wearer of the uniform can BYPASS the lock as if they had a key. As soon as the door is closed, the door locks again.  – but here’s the kicker – it doesn’t use up one of the 4 times/day uses of the uniform.”

“So de Ispan’s Palace Guards would be able to get into any room even if someone had locked it and didn’t want dem to come in.” Wyn smiled looking the uniform over. “A vera neat ting to have here.” He pointed to a run on the collar. “And it seems dat dis will reset after trios in de morning every day.”

“Fantastico,” Abraxas smiled, still working the Ishtari Rod. “That’s bring up manana. Asi, quien do we go after primero? Grimacetoon? Minorballoons y Paddles? Smellpecks? Corpseflag? Los Guardianos? Que piensamos? Que Creemos?"

Lannis frowned and blew out a blubbering breath. "What? Sorry, I meant....what? Did anyone catch any of that?”

"Tu madre 'caught it.'"

"My mom caught what now?"

The Fighter chuckled softly, "¿Este tu comprendes? Ay caramba, dios mio."

Tapping one foot impatiently, a scowl on his face, Lannis said, enunciating slowly,"I understand you said my mom caught something, yeah."

Eating some of his rations and unspooling a yard of the yarn, Brendon began to knit slowly, eyes focused on the task, commenting, “You know, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was funding this expedition just to get the bed to herself.”

“Let it rest,” Kovid said still working. “I’m going to seriously beat someone before this night is through.”

“But it’s my mom!” Lannis said. Seeing no one was going to take the bait, he sighed and took out his own food. “Fine. I was done talking anyway.”

“I highly doubt that,” Lyra said.

As we worked, we kept an ear out for anyone coming by, but with the lantern in one of the cells and far enough away from the entrance, we felt pretty good we wouldn’t be noticed. The afternoon turned to evening and by that time (D6, 2 – yes!) all 4 weapons had been restored. Abraxas and Brendon had each taken out their wine bottles and drank some, sharing it as well (reduce both from 4 to 2). We had also finished dinner (everyone remove 1 day water and 1 day standard rations), Abraxas literally lying on his back, stomach distended, a smile on his face. “I am at full health, and my belly is full. Life is bueno, amigos.”

“I’ll take first watch so I can finish my magic scarf,” Brendon offered, still knitting.

“I have Dos,” Abraxas reminded the party.

“I’ll take de last one,” Wyn offered.

Brushing some of the rocks out of the way, Kovid hunched down on the ground and draped his helmet over the lantern, muting the light. “Get some rest folks. We’re going to need it.”

One by one, the party rested. (WMC: 2, 6, 4, 5) Brendon could hear movement in the castle, the stones made strange groans, or there was an echo carried towards him now and again. But no one came closer and after many hours, he awoke Abraxas, reported what he had heard and not heard, and got himself some shut eye.

The Fighter looked around, spied the colorful scarf, and wrapped it around his neck. “Smooth,” he muttered, feeling the quality. “My life is gonna change when this is finito,” he said to himself contently. He kept the scarf on for a half hour, marveling at the feel and realizing that before this instant, he had never even touched a piece of cloth or textile so obviously rich, upper class, and well made. (WMC: 1, 1, 3, 2)

A few times he heard movement out there (What D12? 3…#? 3d6: 3,1,6). One time he could hear goblin voices getting closer, the smell of rotting bananas filling the hall. They rattled the door, muttered to themselves in their own language, and then moved on disinterested. Another time (What D12? 5…Hahahah!) he heard something heavy grunting and moving its way into the hall. “Hrrrrrr….Hrrrrrroooo?” came the hoot from the other side of the door, and then something heavy hit the portal once. Another slightly different rumbling voice said, “Rrrrrruuggghhhh…” and the first grunted in displeasure, both of them trundling away slowly.

It was getting late when he awoke Wyn next, the elf taking over the watch as the rest of the party awoke slowly one at a time, and Abraxas caught up on much needed sleep. (WMC: 6, 2, 1, 3) It was while he and Lannis were studying spells that Kovid motioned the group to be silent (What D12? 9…#? 1d4: 2) as something heavy stomped its way towards the “T” intersection. It waited there for some time (Sense +4 bonus, Black 18 – no) before what sounded like 2 sets of slow heavy footsteps walked away.

By this time the party had finished their breakfast, Abraxas had woken up, Lyra took care of the bandages and everyone who needed to prayed and studied their spells for the day. It was time. Time to move on and take the fight back towards Corfard’s minions and eventually the Blessed Corfard himself.

Time now is Day 9, 7:00 AM

(OOC)

Everyone is fully healed except Brendon with 1 hp dam (13/14) and Kovid with 11 dam (26/37). Crystal ball is available for use, uniform is available for use, and we’re all good! Will do the sheets for Day 9 and send them off in a few minutes. What’s the plan guys?

PBEM - Episode 365. Orc Barracks, Level, Jails.

There were precious few places left to check on the lower floor, one of them was the orc barracks that had been set ablaze long ago and we ran through and from. The other is the Locust sounding room that the group keeps bringing up and the wizard keeps reminding the party its a terrible idea. Both the Fighter and the Elf went up at this point - and given the nature of the adventure, will be the last time either of them do until it ends. The dwarf is on pace to go up next and then after that the wizard and thief MIGHT go up one more time before the final fight with Corfard. We'll see!   

Follows:

THREE HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE

(I/C)

“I’ve got this,” Brendon said with a whisper. He withdrew the poison atomizer and motioned for Kovid to come to the top of the steps with the lantern. “Don’t want to get too close, but want to douse them all with this.”

“They are mushrooms,” Lannis whispered. “They don’t have lungs.”

“They’re breathing,” Brendon pointed out, “You can see them swelling and stuff.”

“No organs. It’s a damned fungus.”

“Dey have a skin,” Wyn corrected the wizard, “And de fungi dey do breath trew de skin.”

“Besides,” Kovid offered, “If the poison doesn't work, Brendon, I have some of that Gnome Fire left."

“Hang on,” Brendon suggested, “Be right back.” He started creeping down the stairs, eyes fixed on the 8” tall mushrooms in the gloom below.

“We sure this is a good idea?” Lyra whispered, “No alternative sleeping spots?”

"Hoots found a good spot,” Lannis shrugged, “Think he'll scoot over for us?"

From the back of the group, watching the hall behind them, Abraxas turned his head and gave a short aside, "Señora Lyrus, I'm sure Brenchan is knowing que haces. Despues de mushrooms are gone we should check los Barracks. Then el Jail."

“Can we go now,” the magic user complained quietly, “I don’t want to be here anymore.”

Brendon got as low down the steps that he dared. As the closest fungi began to make small swells and rhythmatic pulses, he extended both arms, aimed right to the center of Shrieker cluster, and squeezed (>+5 to hit, Red 12). A hefty soaking of toxic liquid drew up into the bulb and then was forced out through the serrated nozzle, shredding the droplets into smaller and smaller particles until it filled the air with a thick, heavy, vaporous cloud. Where it hit the fungi, it was sucked into the spiracles and had an immediate effect. Each fungi made a faint exhaling weak squeak and then seemed to deflate on itself, the purple caps leaning over and growing pale as the bases took on a series of black spots.

Within a minute there was no movement or activity from the danger and Brendon motioned the party down the stairs. “Problem solved,” he said, putting the half full atomizer away (2 doses left).

“A song of heroism for you to trade at the tavern when you get home,” Lannis chuckled, “Great job.”

“Eat a dick, Lannis.”

“Enough,” Kovid scolded the two of them. “Let’s go. Eyes front.”

The group continued along, passing the remains of Travis’ room and the secret door, both open and empty of troubles. They went down the steps and continued north until they arrived at the corner near where the Beekeeper was. After listening and a quick peak, Brendon led the group around the corner, past the former wolf room that now had a dozen cages still in it, and onward.

It was while they were passing the Beekeeper’s office and eventually the honey area and finally the exit and main portcullis for the castle that Brendon motioned the group to go on, the Scout tilted his head and listening (<Hear Noise, Red 27). We could all hear very far distant noises and voices as we passed, but it was after 20, 30 seconds that Brendon jogged up and filled us in on some more detail. “Hobgoblins,” he muttered. “I can tell they were outside.”

“How many?”

(d6+6 – Red/Black 3 – 9) “Nine of them. Sounds like they are discussing possibly digging under the shield but getting frustrated because the shield seems to go into the ground.”

“They coming back?”

Brendon shook his head. “No, sounds like they were going to be out there for a while.”

The group passed through the guard door and on the north wall was the open portal leading to the former orc barracks. Still not hearing anything nearby, they stopped there and peered inside. It still had a number of bunkbeds and footlockers, the floor was still burned as well as the table and chairs. The crate that had been removed was back again, much closer to the door now.

“Let’s do this quick,” Brendon said, entering and looking about. Wyn, Lyra, and Kovid followed to help, Lannis and Abraxas kept watch in the hall.

The footlockers were the easiest thing to look through, most of them were open. So while Brendon was checking the crate out for traps (>Find Traps, Red 63), the other three went through the orcish belongings. Most of it was clothes, not too clean or in good condition. Some of it was uniform shirts that might have belonged to the Ispan’s original staff, but they too were in poor condition and the orcs had ‘modified’ them.

“Why would you cut “v” necks into all the shirts?” Lyra asked.

“Dis on has de bottom all cut up like fringes.”

Kovid held up a jerkin that had most of the back cut away. “Orcs are not known for their fashion sense.”

There was a small smattering of coins that continued to amass as they dug through the 8 lockers. Lyra held up what seemed to be 5 rib bones from a pig, all tied neatly together with a length of green ribbon, a dried set of daisies in the middle of the batch. “What in the world?”

“Secret admirer?” Lannis asked from the hall. “Should have been carrots or oats for you.”

The Cleric flipped him the friendship finger and then look at the note dangling at the bottom. “To Alha,” she read, “May these find you well. Thinking of you. Stanley Sharpfang.” He looked them over. “So…it’s a gift, for the orcish werewolf girl.”

“Ugh,” Wyn frowned, “Leave it here. All de parties involved are dead. De best for for de orcs to be.”

“This is ok,” Brendon said from the crate. “Stand back.” He went from the side and using his prybar, lifted the top. But nothing happened. Feeling safer, he opened it all the way and we could look within. There were half a dozen blankets that had not been cleaned anytime recently. In addition there were 2 sets of chainmail, crude and orcish made, but serviceable. Three short swords, with a bit or rust and needing a little work had been tossed within. There was also loose arrows, a dozen of them . And finally, there was a 4 and a half foot long fancy silk scarf. It had been expertly died the long way in an alternating melding spray of color running from red to pink to yellow to light green.

“Um…ok?”

“Let’s go,” Lannis whispered. “Leave the crappy orc stuff. But bring that scarf. I’d like to look at it, see if it’s magical.”

Scooping up the coins (12 gold, 38 silver, 56 copper), Wyn pointed to the arrows. “Bring dem at least for now, leave de rest.”

“Get. The. Scarf.” Lannis reminded them, pointing at it. “That’s it!”

The group filed back into the hall and Kovid led them on to the far eastern “T”. He turned them north and we travelled up to the jail. The door to the jail looked like someone had tried to force it, and the lock had been scratched and hit, but the door had held up without issue. Brendon used Wyn’s key and the party entered, going deeper in and around the corner. A last check verified the place was empty and the Scout locked the jail and then joined the rest of the group, handing Wyn back the key.

“Well dat’s done!” Wyn sighed.

“Let’s get some food, some rest, and figure out tomorrow,” Kovid sighed, dropping his pack. “I have a number of weapons to clean. And tomorrow will come soon enough. Big day ahead of us. Locusts first I imagine,” he smiled. “And then either we work our way back to the fireplace or hit the stairs to get back up.”

Time now is Day 8, 4:01 PM

(OOC)

Explore XP: 30 each

Treasure xp: 3 each

Total – Everyone add 33 xp, except Brendon – add 58

Everyone add 2 gold, 6 silver, 9 copper. Both Wyn and Abraxas make it 7 silver and 10 copper please.

OK – 4 weapons to clean – kovid has no roll takes an hour. Anyone else can take a shot, needs a roll, failure means time wasted. Assume Kovid has enough paste for maybe 10 possible cleanings left (not on inventory, just part of your assumed maintenance belongings). We resting here? Eating? Watch?

Oh, And…DING!!…DING!!

Wyn: 4th level. D6 hp, no CON adjustment – 3. New total, 18 hp – and you are fully healed

Saves adjust to: 10, 11, 11, 13, 12. To hits all go up by +2 (Magic Sh sword is +6 to hit, Sht bow is +8/+7/+6)

Sure shot is now 2/day. You also get all your spells back. You also get 2 2nd level spells a day. Random roll came up with: Cont Light, Detect Evil, and ESP – pick one

Abraxas: 5th level. D8, +1 Con – 5+1=6. New total 35 hp – and you are fully healed

To hits go up by +1 (Scythe is +8 to hit, Spear is +5/+4/+3)

Next to go up is Kovid with 1,245 xp needed.

PBEM - Episode 364. First Floor and Revisiting Locales.

THREE HUNDRED SIXTY FOUR

(I/C)

(Sense the party, Black 16 – no)

Brendon looked down the stairs at the meat on the floor, but nothing was worth the risk of entering the freezer. The party was backing away, each time someone went to say anything, Abraxas was the first one with a finger to the lips and a motion for silence. The Scout mimed twisting a lock and then hammering a spike, but was given a thumbs down in response.

So it was back to the hall where Wyn shrugged and mouthed, “Jail?” getting a number of vigorous nods in reply. Wyn handed the jail key up to Brendon who took with a silent thanks, and the group started walking. It wasn’t until they had come upon the Scriptorium again that Abraxas felt it was safe enough to break the silence. “Ah, that was interesante. Hoots tienes un amor. Bueno para el.”

Lyra gave a sickly smile in response, “That... would have been kind of cute… if it wasn’t so fucking horrifying.”

“Oui,” Wyn agreed. “Also it was an owlbear and a bear. So dat be two fucktons of bears? Or a fuckton of bears and a fuckton of owlbears?”

“All bears and bear types stack,” Lannis informed the elf. “It’s always a fuckton.”

“Vamonos amigos, a el yail!” Abraxas pushed on, “Necessitamos dormir mucho."

“Hey, Machete, can you do me a favor?”

“Si?”

“Say ‘J’ for me, just once.”

“Yay.”

“Nice.”

As they were passing the Classroom, Lyra asked, “Okay, who’s getting bandages? Obviously Wyn and Kovid. How are the rest of you?”

“Feeling like a Big Gulp, Flatleaver Deadtous,” Lannis said.

“What?”

“Nothing. You’re ears aren’t canted forward. Keep up or no apple tonight.”

“Lets get to the Jail first,” Kovid whispered, “We can figure it out then.”

“Since we are going dat way,” the elf brought up casually, “we never really checks out de orc room dat had de box, rember? Dey set in on fire. We can check it on ge way to de jail.”

Puzzled, Lannis asked, “Why? What could possibly be in there? It's like you expect to get some esoteric, ethereal reward for clearing the room. Did the statue hit you on the head?"

“Oui, it did.”

“Oh. Me too!”

“Magnifique!”

“Sure, let’s go.”

Ears still perked up, the group turned north past the room that once held the hanged Hobgoblin and through the doorway that no longer had a door on it, heading down the steps that would bring them past Travis’ area when Brendon signaled the group to stop.

According to the lantern light, at the base of the stairs were half a dozen decent sized mushrooms, maybe 8 inches tall, pale, and had purple looking caps with pink spiracles set along the rim. “What the hell?” Kovid asked.

(Int Check..<Brendon +2 experienced, Red 10..<Wyn +2 experienced, +2 elf, Orange 9)

Both Brendon and Wyn signaled the group to be quiet and dragged the party back up the stairs. The fungi looked like they were swelling slightly and deflating along their wide base, but as the group brought the lantern light back, the ‘breathing’ motion ended.

“Shriekers,” the two men said, eyeing each other and frowning. “Small ones.”

“Oui. Dey grow vera fast. Couldn’t ‘ave been dere more ‘en a day or two.”

“Can’t we just smash ‘em?” Kovid asked.

“Oui. But dey make tres noise. And if de tusked ones or any udders are anywhere nearby, dey might hear it and come investigate.”

“So what’s the play?” Lannis asked.

Time now is Day 8, 3:36 PM

(OOC)

6 immature shriekers at the base of the stairs.

PBEM - Episode 363. First Floor and Revisiting Locales.

THREE HUNDRED SIXTY THREE

(I/C)

“Well,” Wyn said slowly “we be on DIS side of de castle. Might as well check de Butcher old place fer de meats, oui?”

Glancing around the corner to the South, Lannis shook his head and pulled back, whispering to the party, "Last I heard, the Butcher's was the plan and I find it hard to argue. I don't like whatever is was Janeway heard, and we still don't know where Hoots went. Let’s get moving, I don't want to stand still too long.”

Brendon nodded, tapping Kovid and the two of them went back to the front, walking the hall, eyes peeled and heading out. We didn’t hear anything behind us, but took no chances and made sure to hit the north hall without delay, and headed in that direction.

There was still the odd bloody smear on the floor, long dried, and obviously made by a large animal. As the group moved on and the tracks became less distinct and then finally undetectable by the time they arrived at the stairs heading down, Abraxas who had been walking quietly in the back, had a troubling thought. “Senors,” he said, “I have a troubling thought.”

“What is it, Doc?” Brendon asked, taking the steps down slowly and with care.

“Maybe Hoots is EN El Carcinera's room? Con los carnes? Hoots may have had his fill in there. Maybe Hoots is hibernating now?”

Lannis nodded. “Given that you brought it up, I’d say you jinxed us.”

“We should proceed con MUCHO cuidado. Mucho silencio,” he advised. “Antes de El Carcinera's room, we should head to el yail mas rapido."

Hands tightened on weapons as they made their way along, Abraxas muttering along the way. “Uno, Dos, Tres attacks. Si, si. I remember. And one of them is the bite. Like I’m a pollo for him to eat. Ha. And if he hits me Dos times with his claws, he gives me a hug. I know all your tricks, Hooters.” His Scythe twitched a bit as he walked. “I am ready.”

“Psyching yourself up, Monsieur Salazar?”

“Si, Senor Won. Si, indeed.”

The hall grew cool as they walked, turning to the west and proceeding down the long hall. The door at the end of the hall was sitting ajar and a quick look (WMC: Red/Black 4), revealed it was safe. As they walked their way up the steps to the former Kobold Warrens, Kovid was reviewing his map. “Still an open area on here,” he said.

“Where?” Brendon asked.

“Right here. Locusts noises,” he pointed.

“I’m game for checking the locust area,” the Scout nodded.

“We talked about that,” Lannis said, “It’s not a good idea. Noises, by the stairs. Other things to do, like a Dragon, a necrobitch, a goblin with a Tony Stark complex, some useless ceiling dwelling hobgoblin, and an Orc who is trying to wrap up his elven head collection.”

They walked through the statue room, and checking the two door, Brendon led the group through the north one and down the Main West Hall. Kovid shrugged, putting his map away. “I was just joking about the locusts, Big Brain... But there is probably something of value down there. It would be nice to have a complete map, ya know?”

“No. No I don’t,” Lannis replied.

Lyra piped up, “Oh I WASN'T joking about the locusts. I think it’s a good idea.”

“Again. No.”

“Whatever,” she continued, “They would never look for us there. No one in their right mind would ever go there.”

“Right. Like us.” The party turned north, heading along the passage to the west of the Scriptorium and continuing along towards the dressmakers room. “Like, do you all want to die? Seems like a bad idea, like roadside shrimp stands and Intermediate Psychology of Greenskin’s classes.”

The dwarf smiled, “We'll talk about it tomorrow. Keep an ear out for Hoots! Let's move."

They continued on, walking with care as the passage wound its way around, eventually turning north. As they drew closer to the Butcher’s, Abraxas had a wistful smile on his face thinking back to better days. Just shy of the door, Brendon held his hand up and the group slowed. The door to the Butcher’s had been forced open, and there were numerous gouges and slashed in the door and frame. He tilted his head and listened (>Hear Noise, +20% quiet, Red 63), but heard nothing on the other side of the door.

Kovid inched closer, scowling at the ground. “What are those?” he whispered, pointing to a half dozen smashed pale things smeared across the ground.

The group looked, (Wyn, elf, no roll), the elf glancing up and said, “Mushrooms.”

“Any type?” Kovid asked.

“Um..smashed?” He chuckled, “Dere ain’t nuff left to make into truffle paste, but dey were mushrooms, once upon a time.” He looked up, glancing at the door and the smashed fungi. Seeing the parallel gouges 4 wide in the frame he mused, “Hoots?”

“My thoughts.”

“Just look,” Brendon said, “And then we go.”

The party moved the door open and shone the lantern in. The sand had been all churned up, the Butcher’s (Rowena’s) was open, and it looked like the Freezer door across the chamber was open as well. But no one was in the Butchery. Kovid motioned the party in, and we all walked with care, eyes peeled, weapons out. Getting closer, they looked in to the Butcher’s chamber and it looked like it had been used not too long ago, bedding was a mess, casks were pulled out, tapestries had been yanked, chairs and table were knocked askew.

Lyra had been looking around the room (<Wis Check, -2 penalty, White 1 – aced it), and she frowned, looking down at the sand. “I’d say Hoots was in here,” she looked around, “And given the latest tracks across the sand, they all point in that direction,” she pointed at the open Freezer. Even from here we could see the door had been forced open, the hinges weakly holding the door up.

“Let’s go,” Lannis mouthed.

“Let’s look?” Kovid asked.

“LET’S GO!” the magic user mouthed again, exaggerating his lips and jaw, pointing back at the door with both hands and thrusting his pelvis in that direction as well for effect. As the group just peered closer at the open door, his eyes were bugging out of his head, mouth agape and face growing flush. “Are you absolutely ass chewed bonkers?” he whispered harshly.

Kovid and Abraxas did get close enough to peer into the chamber. It was still lit with a faint bluish light, and the air was cold. What meat had been in here was in terrible condition and there was maybe only a third of it left, gnawed on, dragged to the floor, and looked like savaged in places. But dimly in the back of the room, cracked bones around them, bellies distended, mouths and claws covered in scraps of flesh – were not only Hoots the owlbear, but also a large brown she-bear; the two of them snuggling up to one another and resting after gorging on their meal.

“Ok, you saw. Let’s fucking go.”

Time now is Day 8, 3:26 PM

(OOC)

Good guess, Abraxas. Hoots found the meat locker and had a great time. And yes, there is another bear in here as well.

Homework 5, NPC Mocking - 1 of 4

There was a gap of time between HW 4 and HW 5 due to a variety of reasons, but for this one, I asked the group the following: We've run into a number of 'named' people this adventure, and what I'd like from everyone is to pick TWO (any two - your choice, it doesn't matter what other people have picked) and write in you character's voice, what you think their "employment opportunity" with Corfard might have gone like.

If you want an additional 150 xp, using ONE of the TWO NPC's you picked, in their voice, write what THEY think about your character (if they are dead, obviously before they died). Again, should be a paragraph.

Yes, I was looking for snide comments and snark. And they delivered.  :)

Follows:

HOMEWORK FIVE: Seth and Travis

“I think it’s shitty that we have to spend the night back in this fucking jail,” Lannis complained, kicking the stale straw aside with the flat of his shoe. “The place stinks of failure, old snake, and I’m pretty sure this dried patch here is old gorilla cum.”

“You are a disgusting bag of flesh,” Lyra scolded him. “Let me see. Ugh, it’s just some growth on the stone, you puerile joke.”

“You’re the joke, NightMare,” he retorted. She walked out of the cell, head shaking, giving him a cuff on the back of the head as a parting gesture. “Knock it off, Manhands.”

“Oh for the love of Poseidon,” Brendon bitched from the next cell, “Would you please just shut the hell up?”

“Si, Senor,” Abraxas sighed, running the whetstone across his Scythe. “Your voice is muy molesto.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” The Magic User held his hand up, looking cross. “I’ve NEVER molested anyone.”

“Except your mom,” Kovid muttered.

“Can’t molest the willing,” Brendon echoed.

“Or the dead and mounted permanently to his bed,” Lyra added.

“Knock it off,” Lannis retorted. “That’s my mom, show some respect.” He turned to Wyn, “I swear, I have no idea why they do this to me.”

“Oui. I ‘ave no idea eider, Monsieur Offop.” The elf gave a soft chuckle, looking around at the group. “I do gotta say, dis is not what I expected when I signed on for dis mission a year ago…”

“Eight days,” Kovid replied. “Plus a week to travel here.”

“Mayhap. Feels like a year dough.” He waved his hands and looked about. “But I got say, even dough we do pick on each udder…”

“I don’t,” Lannis asserted, getting a series of boos tossed his way in response.

“As I was sayin’, we all did get dis job and ‘ave certainly done de best we could wit de situation before us.”

“Your point is?” Brendon asked.

“Besides on your ears,” the Magic User offered.

“We ‘ave done damned good for de time we done been in ‘ere. Makes ye wonder if after 6 months dat the bad guys ‘ave been ere, did dey tink dey would be doin’ as good.”

“You mean the walking piles of experience that appear before us have thoughts?” Lannis chuckled. “I’m pretty sure, Duh Duh Duh I’m a fucking cunty cunt cunt is the limit of their thought process.”

“Do you ever say anything that isn’t offensive?” Lyra asked.

“I don’t know? Do you ever say anything without spraying your listener due to your giant assed horse teeth and noticeable overbite?”

“I do NOT have an overbite NOR do I have horse teeth!”

“Neigh. You don’t. You are soooooo right.”

“I’m serious,” Wyn interrupted, preventing the Cleric and Wizard from going off on another never ending back and forth. “Take de Jailer…wot was ‘is name?”

“Stinkfuck?” Lannis asked.

“No, Senor Lamprey. It was Seth,” Abraxas offered.

“Right! Seth!” Wyn smiled at the Fighter. “Take ‘im for instance. I mean he’s a Trog, oui? Like when he goes to see Corfard, wot does ‘e tink ‘e is bringin’ to de table to get hired for de job?”

Lyra was idly plucking at her holy symbol, thinking back on their interactions with the Troglodyte Jailer. He had made friends with an Owlbear, supposedly kept the Children of Lolth from being hurt or abused by Corfard and his minions, and was a fairly decent whittler of wood.

She gave a smirk and stated with, “Goddess! I can’t imagine the Jailer in an interview. How did he get the job? How did he walk into this place, resume in his greasy hands, and confidently hand it to a dragon of all things.”

She looked around at the group and stood up tall, allowed her mouth to hang slack and mimed having talons as she moved slowly and purposefully about. “Pleessssssssssshhure to meet you, ssssssssssssssiiiiir Corfard.” She purposely spitted and raspberried as she attempted to replicate his hiss mockingly.

“Damn it, Lyra!” Lannis complained with a smile. “Say it, don’t spray it.”

She spun about, holding her eyes wide open, continuing with her spiel. “You would be misssSSSSSssssssSsstaken for passSssssSssSsssing me up, SsSSsSSsIr. I would be a great sssssssSssservice to your endevorsssssssSsss.” She snickered, clearly amused with herself at her impression. “I am the formidable SSSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEETHHH. I am force to be reckoned with!”

“Gotta admit, it’s a stupid assed name for a Troglodyte,” Kovid noted.

“It’s a pretty poor name for regular, non foul smelling, human and ‘other’ human like folk,” Lannis waved a hand at the dwarf, arching an eyebrow and pursing his lips, “like you know…you…as well.”

“I sssssssstink ssssssssso I will deter enemiesssSssSss,” Lyra was getting into her impression, bobbing up and down as moved, head pivoting around, spraying spittle everywhere and having to continuously wipe her chin clean. “I alsssssssso tame giant dangerousssSssssss animalsSsSsS. I also like... babiessssSSsSs.”

“Babies?”

“Just let her go with it.”

She continued, “Hire me immediately or you will REGRET it. I am an angry and sssccarrryyy creature. Do not underesssSssssstimate me. I am alsssssso SSSSSSMART.” She tapped the side of her head. “My SsssSsssssssssssskills include capturing my victimssSSSSSS and SSSSSSSubjecting them to my SSSSMMMell. I will alsSSSSo demand a payment of grub babieSSSSSSS.”

The Cleric then devolved into a series of gasping giggles before getting her mirth under control. “And then the interview would continue with this feral, smelly creature bitching and trying to assert his dominance to a dragon.” She gave a half-hearted shrug. “I’m sure Corfard just wanted to get him the fuck out of that room. He hired him, sent him to a part of the castle that would be furthest from him and let him collect idiots in his jail cell and tame animals.”

The party all laughed at her completion of the possible interview, Abraxas laughing the loudest. “Si! Si! Excellente! That would be exactemente how it would be.”

“Thanks, Abraxas.”

“Do you mind?” he asked, getting up and moving to the middle of the jail. Lyra gave a short curtsey and moved aside, sitting on one of the benches as the Fighter took center stage. He pulled his hair back into a tight pony tail and flipped his cloak over his head, pulling the ends down. Leaning forward slightly, he stuck out his upper teeth and gave a mocking bow before turning his gaze upward as if addressing the dragon.

“Oh... ‘Blessssed’ Corfudge,” he began, letting his ‘esses’ run on similar to Lyra’s.

“Corfudge?” Brendon asked.

“Good way to not get the job is to get the interviewer’s name wrong,” Kovid noted.

“Shhh,” Lannis scolded them, “I’m listening.”

Both gave the magic user a surprised glance, but did sit still as the Fighter went into his impression of the Jailer.

“Yo Sssssoy Ssssseth. Yo ssssnugglesss lossss animalesss. Yo wassshess y cleanss El Yail y Losss cagesss. Yo no tengo anyone importante o any place a voy.” He made motions like he was holding a broom, sweeping at the floor as he moved about, and kept turning his head about, eyes fixed on the space above that he had picked for Corfard’s reference.

Lifting one armpit, he gave a short smell and then went on, “Los animalsss don't mind sssmellsss asss much asss your other minionsss. Yo sssmellsss ssso malo, que El Dyke-chesssss nearly fainted when I came in the room.” He stomped his foot once as if making a point. “ Jowassss actually plugged hisss nossse.” He stomped his foot a second time, raising a hand in the air as if it was a claw.

“A KOBOLD, PLUGGED HISSS NOSSSE, due to the ssstench!”

“He is really gettin’ into dis Sething, oui?” Wyn asked, getting a chorus of agreements in return.

Abraxas continued. “Let that sssink in. Like my ssstink hasss ssset into thisss casssting couch. Unlike sssome ssstainsss, thisss will never come out.”

“Remind me,” Brendon leaned over, “If there IS a couch in Corfard’s area, don’t let me sit on it.”

“Eww,” Lyra agreed.

“Tu will hire me, asss essstoy going essstar there con losss animalesss anyway. Tell your other followersss not to bother me or my petsss.” He gave a menacing growl, allowing a line of drool to collect and then run out of his mouth and fall to the floor in a dripping line. “Or elssse they may find themssselvesss in piecssesss in a pile of ssshit in the back of a cssell!” He gave a flourish and then whirled around with a smile, wiping his lips dry on the bottom of his cloak.

The party laughed along with the Fighter as he eventually made his way back to his bench and sat down again. “What a joke,” he chuckled.

Kovid had stood up at this point, rubbing his chest, eyes deep in thought. “Seth certainly was a piece of shit,” the dwarf said. “But for me? I wonder how that fat goblin, Travis, ever got the job as spy?”

“Maybe no one else wanted the job?” Lyra wondered.

“Which one was Travis?” Brendon asked.

“De ‘eavy vert skinned one dat came out from de secret wall and stabbed Dwarffreind.”

“Oh yeah! Crazy fast talking speed freak,” Brendon nooded his head. “I could barely understand what he was saying.”

“Dat was most likely de haste potion he had taken. Made ‘im move, talk, and act faster. Maybe even tink faster too.”

The dwarf frowned, giving the jail floor a brief kick. “Think?” he asked rhetorically, “I don’t know what goblins think? Can they think? Green? Maybe they think green thoughts in their dirty green brains.”

He hunched up his shoulders and tried to make his eyes cross slightly, snarling up one side of his face and giving his teeth a faint baring as if about to snarl. Then pitching his voice half an octave higher, he held one hand out and up, fingers held limply and began him impression. “Yes, Corfard, I’m a thief... er spy. I can sit in a dark room all day and wait for people to walk by and stab them in the back like a little green bitch.”

“Are you sure you’re not doing, Brendon?” Lannis asked, glancing at the Scout and seeing his dead stare facing back at him. “Whatever,” he shrugged, “I know I’m funny.”

The dwarf continued, “Skills? No, I’m worthless dirt, so I’ll just wait downstairs with my dinner knife and stare at the stone walls until a capable stout gentleman comes along.” He hunched down on his knees and pulled out his dagger, scratching his ass with it while he mimed sticking a finger up his nose with his other hand. “I’ll jump out and grab him by beard,” he grabbed his own beard and pulled it gently, “and try to give him a kidney replacement.” Taking his dagger, he mimed stabbing it ahead of him while still keeping the moronic look on his face.

“This dragon has terrible job applicants,” Lannis noted.

Kovid then bowed his head low before sheathing his blade and licking his lips. “Would that make you happy you scaly fuck?” He waved his hands as if erasing something, “I mean, sir?” he wrapped up with a laugh.

“Again, not the way to behave on an interview,” the Magic user whispered to Lyra.

Standing up straight again, Kovid still had a smile on his face as he finished his impression. “Then he just thinks green. Green green green.” He snapped his fingers with a sense of finality and then ended with his middle finger raised up and pointing to the ground, “Hope the dragon gives you a raise now that you died for him, you foul ankle biting asshole.”

“Tell us ‘ow you really feel,” Wyn said amidst the party’s laughter.

(Congrats to Adam for his alternate submission – 150 xp)

Meanwhile, going back some 6 days, Travis had been watching the party with care for half a day. He had tracked them as they interacted with Grilljax and his kobolds, and then spied on them as they had an altercation with Jowass in the gardens before letting the kobold warrior leave. It seemed the beefy fighter and the thief had gotten into some words.

Turning back to the castle, he made his way past Catharandamus’ adepts as they were looking around the lower floors for signs of the keys, the salamanders oblivious to his almost mouse-like silence. Once safely back at his rooms, he took a drink of the speed potion that he had become addicted to, that his friend Smallpox had been brewing and darted his way back into the secret room, hand on the alarm bell.

“Travishasaneye on this adventuring party... that recently made its way into the castle,” he muttered quickly and quietly, his sense of time all screwed up due to the potion’s effects. “CorfardwantsTravis to just report back... but TravisthinksTravis can take them.” The goblin spymaster smiled to himself, drawing his short sword free.

Checking the buckles on his platemail one last time, he placed his ear to the door and could hear the group coming closer and closer. Almost quivering with excitement, he had to still his bouncing leg by stepping down hard. “Traviswantstokill the little one... Always out front. Travishatesdwarves. Dwarvesaretough, smart, dangerous.” He gave a weak grin, moving his hand in front of him with a limp wrist and mimed wearing a dress. “Not like the floppy hat one. Traviskillstheweakoneslast. Goblinkillersmustdie.”

The next few seconds were a disjointed flash of speed induced fever glimpsed, shock of blood and combat, and the reek of stale ale and unwashed dwarf to the goblin spymaster. “Travisgothim! Killedhimdead! Now Travis run and hide...Stabthebabykillernext...!”

It followed by his body locking up but still seemingly on fire within as the competing efforts of the hold spell and the haste potion threatened to burst the goblin spy’s heart. “Oh no Traviscan’tmove!” He tried to thrash about but couldn’t. “Travisthinktravisisgonadie! It’sthebabykiller! Oh Travisdidn’tkillthedwarf after all!”

Something cold ran through his lungs and then he was suddenly still, the effects of the potion and spell instantly ended. “Woah!!” He tried to gasp but his lungs refused to work. “Travisisfloating above Travis’s body. Thisfeelsweird. The baby killer is pulling his sword from Travis’s face. Travis can’t feel it.” He could seemingly stare down at himself, the connection to his body fading rapidly. “Floating higher now... ThedwarfmansmashedTravis’sheadin...” He noted with distaste as the dwarf repeatedly hit the spymaster in the face.

It was just as he was fading away completely that there was a ghostly taste on the back of his tongue that had Travis make a foul expression, frowning. “Wait... isthat…piss?!”

PBEM - Episode 362. First Floor and Revisiting Locales.

With the first floor cleared, the issue now was the revised W/M tables based upon the changes the group had forced the castle to go through, as well as what might have moved into the areas that they had already gone through. I am a firm believer that dungeons, no dungeons, are NOT static.

Follows:

THREE HUNDRED SIXTY TWO

(I/C)

After the party filled Wyn in on the last half hour, he nodded in thanks and leaned back against the wall, tilting his head back and sighing. “Once again, Merci fer gettin me out of dere.” He smacked his lips and wiggled his tongue. “Doze anyone else taste metal? Or hear a weird bell sound? Merde dat gem really did a numba on Wyn.”

Lannis rubbed his hands on his legs, head bobbing, “I know, right? I'm glad you're finally picking up on the same weird stuff I am, I was starting to worry it was just me.”

“Oui.” He glanced at the door where Brendon was listening (WMC: Blue 4), the Scout indicating the coast was still clear. “Time to go wash de bandages, oui? I say we go south... en hopefully Hoots is properly distracted elsewhere.”

“Hey, where did Hoots go?" Lannis asked.

“Hopefully very far away from us,” Brendon offered.

“After de Sulfur, I suggest dat later tonight we cen make our way to de jail fer sleepin'...” he frowned, tugging on the lapel of his jerkin absently, “dough dat will bring us very close to de stairs goin up. En we may run into some trouble ova dere.” He shook his head and shrugged, “We cen figure that out next. First... de bandages.”

Doffing his hat once again, Lannis said, “Yeah, let's get moving and clean those things. We have to be ready to move at a moment's notice though, I don't want to get stuck in there.”

“Vamanos people,” Abraxas said, Scythe out. He frowned at the tarnish and rubbed it idly with his thumb before giving up. The party queued up at the door and Kovid opened it, peering out. The passage was the same as before, heading north and south. Once in the hall, he led us south, the group straining to hear (>Hear Noise, Red 36). There were some distant echoes but nothing concrete, and then nothing.

We moved south, Brendon and Kovid in the front, both looking with care for anything to concern the party (>Find Traps, -10% off the traveled path, Red 73), but nothing was there. We passed the kitchen, the library, and then after taking a few turns, found our way back to the entrance room. The door on the west wall had been forced open, and the smell coming from there was horrible and corrupting. A glance in showed that something had eaten at the bodies within, and we could see oversized of bloody dried ursine prints heading north.

“Found where Hoots was,” Brendon noted, looking them over. “Blood is dried. Prints are over a day old. This isn’t recent.”

“Let’s move on,” Kovid assured the group, “Sulfur room now. Then to the jail next? Maybe the Locusts tomorrow! Ahahaha,” he chuckled.

“Hah. I still wouldn’t mind the locusts at some point,” Lyra agreed. “Better than a dragon. I thought smoking them out with incense was a fantastic idea.” She shrugged, “Fantastic and probably stupid.”

“We’ve been very lucky in here.” Brendon made his way back to the front, leading the party on, voice pitched low. “We SHOULD consider the locust area again. Hoots might have cleared it by now and I’m starting to think there is something in there we can use. We’ve found great shit in the weirdest of places.”

Frowning deeply, Lannis’ head was shaking vigorously no. “Well you suggested it so it's definitely stupid. Doesn't matter since we aren't going. Maybe making a smoke signal followed by a very loud swarm of locusts isn't in our best interest right now? Someone might come and check.” He clenched his fist and made a showing or throwing something away. “Other than that killer plan Reneigh, I look forward to the next one. Let’s focus on the cleaning for now huh? You're good at that."

“Remember whoever is going down de stairs to wear de gloves and put something over de face to help with de sulfur fumes,” Wyn reminded the group.

“We’re on it,” Kovid motioned a thumb between him and Lyra. “We’ve gotten pretty good at this.”

“Tres bien. We’ll wait at de top of de stairs en keep en ear out for wanderin' creatures.”

As they were travelling the hall to the west leading to the aquifer, (<Hear Noise, Red 09) Brendon motioned the group to be silent and moved them on to the north turn, the Scout staying back, hunched low, ear turned to the hall. He stayed there a good 20 seconds before jogging up to the party again as they finished passing the former slime room (still empty) and stopping at the hall leading down to the Sulfur pools. “What was up?” Kovid asked quietly.

Brendon looked back and then motioned the group to head closer to the stairs. “Heard something. It was an echo, voice. Couldn’t make anything concrete out, but something, specifically someone…ones? Is down that hall and in the cave.”

“Could you make anything out?” Lannis asked with some exasperation. “What the hell man? Some thing? Weak.”

“Hey, Big Brain. It’s over 100 feet, down 2 sets of steps, and in a cavern – echoing back up to me. I don’t tell you how to wear a dress or how to cast your fireworks, don’t try to tell me how to do my job. Did you hear anything? Nope. I did. So just be alert. That’s all.”

“Alright, alright, don’t get your Jack all twisted up in your Sparrow.” Lannis held his hands up and backed up a step.

“Let’s go,” Lyra motioned to Kovid, sliding the rawhide gloves on and taking out the filthy Sclepian Bandages.

“We’ll be back,” the dwarf said. “Stay here, top of the stairs, keep an ear out.” They moved down the steps, taking the lantern with them leaving the rest of the party in the deepening gloom.

After they were gone a minute, Abraxas tapped the dimly seen elf on the shoulder and asked in a low whisper, "¿Tu crees hay es comida a el Carcinera's? I would hope there is some sort of comida left. I could go for some carne right about now. Maybe we swing by the freezer on our way to the yail? Es una place buena a rest."

Nodding in reply and clapping Abraxas on the hand, Wyn replied, "Oui oui Monsieur Salazar. I tink some mas carne would help keep us movin' in de battles to come."

From next to them, Lannis added, "They probably got green stuff all over the meat and we'll have to pee on it so we don't turn into trolls.”

“Ugh.”

Meanwhile in the room, Lyra got right down at the pool again and plunged the dirty bandage into the roiling sulfurous water. She scrubbed it about until after a minute or two it flashed and appeared white and pristine again. Kovid kept watch, hammer at the ready, alert to help her if need be, and keeping the light trained on her. She worked the next two bandages in turn, the two of them (Save vs Poison..>White 20..>Yellow 19) having no issues at all. Finally complete, Lyra put the bandages away and the two of them headed back up the stairs. “Success,” she whispered. “We still alone up here?”

(WMC: Red/Black 3)

Brendon nodded, “So far. Where to?”

Time now is Day 8, 3:06 PM

(OOC)

Ok! Set for rest time tonight! Where to people?

PBEM - Episode 361. Run for it, Throne Room, Secret Hall.

THREE HUNDRED SIXTY ONE

(I/C)

Brendon wiped the sweat off his face and turned to Abraxas. “Doc, can you lift Wyn a bit higher? I need to get the vault key from his bag.”

“Si. Rapido, por favor.” He wrapped both hands under the elf’s chest from behind and arched back, picking him up higher. The Scout snagged the key ring from within and finding the Vault key, located the hidden lock and opened the secret door, the entire party making their way within. The sound of the assault on the throne room door was continuing as well as the rasping sound of the dragon dragging itself through the hall, howling invectives at the party.

“Well, isn’t this a downer,” Lannis complained, rooting through his bag and quickly dropping most of his coin here with the other items he had left earlier. “I plan on outrunning any of you if the Blessed Jabberwocky gives chase, so drop em if you gots em.”

Abraxas nodded, “Sounds like the wyrm, Corharft is on the move. If we wait for him to get to the Throne Room door, we should be able to move unimpededly con mucho speed. Let's put down as much weight as we can. Let's vamonos!"

The group decided it was a good idea and for the most part, they dropped off extra items from their bags, filling up the loose areas of the vault with their gear. “Want me to take some stuff off of, swampthing?” Lannis asked Wyn. “Lie there unmoving if the answer is yes. Alrighty then! I do have good ideas, you are right. Let me help you out there.”

As the Magic User was stripping extra coin and goods from the elf, Lyra frowned at him and asked, “ Er, Lannis? Why are you taking to Wyn? He’s unconscious.”

The Magic User looked down, frowning. “Didn’t he reply? Also, something about the potion? Maybe you didn't hear it over that ringing.” He rubbed his ear and then a second time. “I hope those guys out there can't hear it."

“Potion,” she snapped her fingers. “Great idea.”

“Yes,” Lannis said, “I do have good ideas…wait. Didn’t I just have this conversation?”

“Shhh,” she motioned to him, “I think you took one too many blows to the noggin this week.” Lyra withdrew one of the 3 Recall potions from Wyn’s back and stepped into the secret hall from the Vault. “In case something goes horribly wrong, I can get back here and open the door.” She popped the top and tilted the contents back, drinking it down. She then took the vial and placed it in her pouch, cinching it tight. “Ok, right as rain.”

Dumping his Banded mail and then hundred of coins, Abraxas was reshuffling the contents of his backpack, pulling out a healing potion and tossing it to Kovid. “Senor Christmas, for you.”

“Ah! Thanks, Abraxas,” Kovid popped that top and drank it down, sighing happily (Heal Potion 1d6: Yellow 4 – Heal 4!!) as more of his many hurts faded a bit. “All good.” He looked down at his Hammer and sighed, noting that it was coated with a layer of tarnish. “We’ll have to clean these again,” he noted, seeing all 4 of the Goddess weapons were affected. “It’s alright, just going to take time, and that time is NOT now.”

He cocked his head, it sounded like the dragon might have reached the throne room doors as we didn’t hear dragging sounds anymore, but the voices were very loud even muffled through the stone. “We chancing getting out of here and making for the pool?” he asked.

The Fighter nodded, lifting the elf up and draping one arm around his back. "Si! Rapido, Rapido, amigos. Necessitamos move mas rapido.”

“Yesss,” Lyra hissed with glee, “and we can clean the bandages.” She looked around, “If this place is inaccessible to us, we will also need to find a safe place to stay the night. Don’t doubt they will be looking for us.” 

Something HEAVY slammed into the throne doors, the woods creaking under the impact. There were cheers from the hobgoblins and then the impact sounded again. Back in the secret hall, Kovid hoisted Wyn’s other side the help the Fighter and the two of them started walking south. “South through the summoning room, into the garden and down the fireplace works for me.” He nodded back at Brendon who had shut and locked the Vault door then headed for the front of the party. “Remember in the garden to stick close to the north and west walls all the way around to the Fireplace and hatch.”

The Throne Room doors burst open and we could hear the dragon’s voice and roaring minions much louder through the thick stone walls. There was the sound of inrushing air…

And then with the roar of a hurricane and the howl of a dozen trumpets, the Dragon Corfard released his flaming breath into the Ispan’s throne room, hoping to immolate us if we were there, and the Crystal.

“Holy…fuck.”

Even through the stones the mortar proceeded to heat up and steam in the air and the hallway jumped almost 15, 20 degrees as the dragon continued to fire off his breath weapon to the tune of almost 20 seconds, shaking the walls, floor, and ceiling of the castle, raining dust and grit about us as we huddled by the south door and Brendon managed to get it open at last. “Go, go, go, get the fuck going go,” he waved the group along, skipping into the summoning room and beelining for the south door. “Big Brain, shut it behind us, ok?”

“Holy…fuck!” Lannis repeated. “Holy…fuck.” Mechanically, he closed the secret door and laid his back against it.

“WHERE ARE YOU!!!” came the dragons’ cry, echoing throughout the halls.

“Holy…fuck.” The wizard repeated. “I don’t think I’ll answer that call. Most likely spam. Yeah. Not going to reply.”

The Summoning room smelled of wet ash as evidenced by the sodden mess of the orc’s bedroom from the flames we had lit before. Someone had extinguished it in the past but outside of policing the bodies, had left the wet woods and sodden burned bedding where it had lay.

The Scout was sure the south door was clear and we opened it, heading into the short hall. The two fighters kept Wyn up between them as we arrived at the last door to the western hall. Not even an hour ago there were hobgoblins patrolling within but now (>Hear Noise, Red 86), Brendon couldn’t hear anything beyond it. “No screwing around,” he said. “I’ll open the two doors, Lyra, you go first, lead them to the fireplace, I’ll close everything behind us. We need speed, luck, and silence people. So go, go, go.” He opened the door and looked into the hall in both directions.

Clear.

Going to the Garden door, he pushed it open and it was as we had seen before, very overgrown with green weeds and thorny bushes, visibility limited to maybe 30’. Some white stone paths had been in the floor but they were mostly overgrown. Lyra led the party east along the wall, staying clear of the dirt and plants, Kovid, Abraxas and Wyn were next, then Lannis, and finally Brendon.

Stepping into the very large fireplace, Brendon looked down and saw that his pins were still in place and unbent. Smiling he pulled them out and handed his larger coil of rope to Abraxas. “Doc, tied it around the elf in a way that he doesn’t die. I’ll go down first, make sure it’s all good, than you lower him. Once I’ve got him, you tie this end off up here, and all of you come down fast.”

“What about the rope, Bombadil?” the Fighter asked.

“I’ll climb back up and untie it, then come down. Of any of us, it’s what I do.”

“Hurry,” Kovid frowned. “We don’t know how long Corfard is going to be expressing his anger at the Throne Room.”

“See you below.” Brendon shuffled himself into the open grating, then using the rope (no roll, using rope), he dropped himself down, across the slope, and to the bottom, coming out into the Dining Room. He looked around (it was dark) and saw nothing. (WMC: Red/Black 2) But more importantly, it was still and silent. “Ok,” he whispered back up the flue.

Wyn had been roped under the arms and around his back. Taking the slack elf, Kovid fed him feet first into the flue, while Abraxas let the rope out slowly hand over hand. “Carefully,” he said, “Carefully.” Once Wyn was all the way through, the two of them let the rope and elf go down with whatever care they could (<Str check, Blue 16).

“I hope you spun him so he wasn’t face first,” Lannis asked the dwarf. “Otherwise he’s going to have a bad case of ‘chimney rash’ when he wakes up.”

We heard the sound of the Dragon ROARING in seeming agony and then another roiling long cycle of screaming breath weapon tearing into the Throne Room. “You know what? I have no desire to see what he’s doing in there.”

“You and me both, Big Brain.”

At the bottom, Brendon untied Wyn from the rope and laid the elf to the side of the chimney, while Abraxas tied the rope to the top of the grating. “You go, Senor Lemmywinks,” he clapped the wizard on the shoulder.

“Ok, ok, ok.” As the sound of the dragon’s howl faded again, he muttered once more, “Holy…fuck.” Then grabbing the rope, he worked himself down the flue (<Dex Climb +4 rope (can’t fail), Pink 16) with relative ease, ending up at the bottom. “Shit it’s as dark as Lyra’s sex appeal in here.”

“I can hear that,” she whispered from above.

“Oh yeah, no lantern down there.” Kovid swung himself over. “Let me go next, I can see in the dark,” and he made his way down the hole and climbed (<Dex Climb +4 rope, Yellow 12) his way, feet slipping once or twice, but made it to the bottom and looked around. To his infravision, nothing was out of place and he looked up the flue and whispered, “Ok, Lass. Come on.”

Lyra gave Abraxas a wan smile and the Cleric climbed down the rope to the first floor (<Dex Climb +4 rope, White 5), joining the rest of the party. “I’m here,” she announced.

Abraxas went last, Lantern tied to his belt, he made his way with care down the rope (<Dex Climb +4 rope, Blue 7), until he and the welcome light made it to the base of the chimney. “Whew.” He sighed.

Brendon took his place and the Scout climbed the rope back up to the garden area where he untied the rope here and let it slither back down below. He could feel a strange vibration to the stones and then it stopped and restarted. Then continued. He nodded and said, “The dragon is crawling his way through the halls again.” He slid the grate back in place and then reached up through it and pushed the pins back through the holes. He then climbed down freehand (<Climb, Red 30) and was once more with the group in the Dining Room.

Wyn was just waking up at this point, helped to his feet by the Fighter, looking around with bleary eyes and a pale expression. “I feel…vera vera tired.” He tried to stretch and let out a groan. “And vera vera sore.” Flexing his hands he stood up, bracing himself against the wall and steadied himself. “Fill me in and let me know what happened.”

“It was horrible,” Kovid said, helmet off and using his cap then wiped the fireplace ash off his face.

“I said Holy…fuck, a lot!” Lannis added.

Time now is Day 8, 2:46 PM

(OOC)

Ok – 1st floor. What’s the plan, and how are we doing it?

PBEM - Episode 360. Run for it, Throne Room, Secret Hall.

THREE HUNDRED SIXTY

(I/C)

Yanking the bolt free from his chest and then scowling at the offending quarrel, Kovid tossed it aside and cursed, “Thor’s thunder cracked anus, I hate crossbows! Let’s get to it.”

Guiding him to the pedestal where Lannis and Wyn had already run to, Lyra asked, “You alright Kovid? Let’s just get through this room and we’ll take a look at that.”

“Lady Lyra, if you are offering a more powerful way to heal my wounds,” he asked with a grimace, “it would be very much appreciated!”

Meanwhile, hanging back at the door and looking at it worryingly as the massed horde on the other side tried to smash it down, Brendon asked, “Should I use some spikes on the door to slow them down? I got a feeling that eventually they’ll break through.”

Pulling out the copy of the Dawnlands ritual, Wyn was scanning it from top to bottom while Lannis removed the Ispan’s Crystal from the Ishtari crate and was placing it as close as he could to the center of the pedestal. Looking back at the Scout, the elf shook his head and said, “Spiking de door may just mess us up later... I tink doze doors will hold. Dey have in de past.”

“I don’t know, Senor,” Abraxas frowned, “They are hitting the door like a martillo.”

With the sound of the portal reverberating, Wyn let out a warbling breath and turned back to the ritual. “Dey have had a key before. But I still tink we save de spikes. Du Lac,” he called to Brendon who turned back around. “Take de throne room key en open de secret door so we be ready to escape right away?”

“I’m on it.” The Scout ran across the chamber, the Throne room key still held in his grasp and slid to a stop at the concealed secret door, feeling about for the keyhole before inserting in and giving it a twist. He shoved hard and the passage opened up, revealing the hall as we had left it. “Done!” He called back, running up the dais and sitting in the throne. He pulled out his bow, nocked and arrow, pointed it at the door, and raised his foot over the stud to attract the elven spectral guardians. “They come in, I’ll fire it off.” He glanced down at the group and asked, “Ok captain; we’re at red alert, wanna raise the shields?”

“Good on ya.” Wyn looked around, making sure everyone was situated around the Crystal and pedestal. “H'okay mes amis. Everyone in place? We be doin' dis just like last time.”

“Walk in the park,” Lannis smiled as the hobgoblins continued to beat at the door, their blasting of whistles and cries and roars a constant din in the back ground. He clapped his hands and smiled, Ishtari held high, “Alright boys, second verse, same as the first. Let's git this done so whatever nipple pinching army is on its way can't purple our nurples."

Getting a nod from Lyra and Kovid, both with their respective weapons ready, Wyn said, “After dis ees done en we sure it work, we exit toute de suite out de secret door to de vault... it will be nice to drop off some of dis gear, oui?”

Abraxas gave a feral grin, Morrigaan Scythe held aloft. "Let's get este show en el road, eh?"

“What he said,” Lannis agreed.

“Ok. No embellishments. No screwing around. Say your lines, and touch de goddess weapon to de crystal when it’s your turn.” He cleared his throat and placed his hand on the dormant crystal and began to read. “The Sun rises in the Dawnlands.”

Everyone joined Wyn in reading the second line, their voices adding counterpoint and harmony with one another. “It is our charge to keep the Darkness at bay.”

Abraxas brought his Morrigaan Scythe forward and touched the bladed tip to the Crystal, his voice adding, “By the Bounty of the Princess of Grain do we feed the hungry warriors.” A faint tickle of light seemed to appear in the heart of the Crystal. And a bit of static electricity seemed to come off Abraxas’ weapon as well as Wyn’s forearm on the hand still touching the stone.

Kovid brought the Theystran Warhammer closer and tapped its surface to the Crystal, his baritone sounding out, “By the Brilliance of the Moon Goddess do we illuminate the shrouding dark.” The tiny speck of light grew to a spark and seemed to pulse briefly. The same hint of electricity danced down Kovid’s weapon as well, neither the fighter nor dwarf seemed able to remove their weapons from contact with the Crystal.

From his perch on the throne, Brendon was anxious as he watched the ritual taking place, his eyes constantly drawn back and forth from the door the forces on the other side were trying to break down (>Black 16, <Green 10, <Black 3). He heard a faint crack and a small section near the center hinge on the left door spewed out a small amount of wood dust (1d6 Structural damage, Red/Black 4). “Hurry guys,” he murmured.

Lyra followed, her Lolthian Flail made contact with the Crystal and she recited, “By the Children of the Queen of Monsters do we fight the devouring hordes.” The spark had swelled now to a bluish white small sphere, and the surface of the Crystal seemed to become less opaque as the ritual proceeded. Stray tendrils of electric power now nakedly danced up and down the weapons as well the elf’s arm up to his bicep.

Lannis was last, the Ishtari Rod touched the Ispan’s Crystal and the resulting power infusion triply enhanced and enlarged the roiling light within until it seemed to fill half the now mostly translucent stone. His voice added, “By the Love of the Wanting Mother do we balance the weave of magic.”

At this point, there was a faint circle of wind that seemed to cyclone just outside the edge of the 5 party members, sending dust and grit to raise and fall, blowing about the room. Brendon squinted and raised his off arm to shelter his face as the power level increased. Wyn still held the ritual in his off hand and ignoring the St Elmo’s fire running across his skin, he read on. “The balancing power of the four watch over the elven nation and protect its people from harm. The Dawnlands in return promise to ever hold the hordes of Jector in the Dark.”

The light had begun to cycle slowly through the colors of the rainbow as a feeling of arcane forces swelled within the chamber. There was a faint roar of energy coming from somewhere. His body now throwing off blue sparks almost three feet in length, his hair a wild mane waving on an unseen breeze, Wyn grit his teeth and pushed on through the ritual. “May the Eye of Ishtari make real the will of the prism crowned.”

Brendon could no longer hear the hobgoblins outside as the roaring noise grew louder. He saw the 5 party members were awash in rainbow light, Wyn seemingly standing in a growing column of electrical fire. Light was pouring out of his face, nose, mouth, even his fingernails.

Feeling like he was being turned inside out and stretched to the limits of living endurance, Wyn forced himself to read off the final words of the ritual of the Ispan. “When the…jeweled Light’s…shine,” there was a pain growing in the back of his skull.

“…Is…needed…,” he could barely feel anything except raw energy running through him like a freight train. To the rest of the group, Wyn was literally floating 6 inches off the ground in a column of blue and white light, the Crystal was radiating energy in all directions, light playing about the room, wind scouring across the chamber. They were locked in place by their contact with their weapons, but they all looked at Wyn, imploring him to finish the last word.

Tears running down his cheeks, leaving scored marks in his flesh, Wyn choked on the flames in his throat and with a final burst of will, intoned with the strongest voice he could muster, the last word.

“MOST!”

A crackle of thunder sounded right outside the Ispan’s castle as a stroke of lightning arced down, blasted through the faintest cracks in the castles’ ceiling, and smote the Crystal with a goddess given bolt of power.

The wind roared to frenetic energy and Brendon watched as the bodies on the floor were tossed about, the crates scattered to the wall, and he was blasted to the back of the throne. But the room was awash in a repeated cycling color of rainbow lights emanating from the reactivated Ispan’s Crystal.

As for Wyn (2d6 turns: Orange 1, 2 = 3 turns), he had been knocked unconscious from the effort and lay at the base of the pedestal in a crumbled heap.

“Holy shit, he did it!” Lannis exclaimed.

“Let’s go people,” Kovid waved the group towards the open secret door, “There is no time to…”

“GRAAAAHHHH!!!!!!” The entire castle shook as something huge gave forth a howling cry of fury! “NOOOOOOOOO!!!!”

“And I think we pissed off the dragon,” Lyra said, bending down to lift Wyn off the ground. “Abraxas, please,” she asked, the fighter taking the elf’s other arm.

“RRRROOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!”

The resounding smashing and beating at the door redoubled its intensity and effort as the horde tried to beat the door down. Brendon skipped off the throne, heading for the hall, the rest of the party filing in immediately behind him. Once inside, Lyra allowed Abraxas to lower Wyn to the ground while she fished out her scroll and read off the Cure Light Wounds spell there. (CLW 1d6+1, White 5 – Kovid heal 6!!) White healing energy poured into the dwarf, minimizing some of his many hurts, while the Fighter shoved the secret door back to the Throne room closed, making sure the lock was engaged.

The very stones of the castle seemed to vibrate as we could hear and feel the passage of something big. Very big. Dragon itself down the hall. Heading closer to the Throne room. And crying out, “RRRRRAAAAHHHH!!  NOOOOOOO!!!! BRING THEM TO ME!!!!”

“Well,” Lannis drew a deep breath and let it out. “I’m at a loss for words.”

Time now is Day 8, 2:16 PM

(OOC)

XP: Ritual back up plus small assorted other things. Base 50 xp per.

Lannis and Brendon add 50 xp

Lyra, Kovid, and Abraxas add 95 xp

Wyn add 130 xp

Ritual is back up! And rainbow Ward is in place. And Corfard is FUCKING pissed. Hobs have been beating on the Throne room door and it is holding fine for now. Wyn you are unconscious for the next 30 minutes. What’s the plan?

PBEM - Episode 359. Run for it, Throne Room, Secret Hall.

The group ran, and I had another chase action, which I find real enjoyable from my end of the screen. There was much Discord and texting on ow they wanted this to go but after all the turns were in, it was sink or swim.

Follows:

THREE HUNDRED FIFTY NINE

(I/C)

“Ah, crapbaskets!” Lannis cursed, lifting his robe and RUNNING.

The party raced down the hall, any attempt at silence long gone. We heard a number of hobgoblin voices behind us, their echoes swelling as more and more of them filled the hall. They were lost in the dark behind Abraxas, but they were shouting and yelling and attracting more pursuers.

"Andale, amigos!” The Fighter cajoled the group, “Mas rapido. Must go faster."

We heard a distant grunt of exertion (<+3 to hit, Black 8) and something flew out of the darkness, clattering on the ground a good two feet behind the fighter before skittering to a stop. “Throwing spears!” he shouted.

“I’m with you,” Lyra called out.

“Ugh,” Wyn groaned, “so close to getting passed dem damn hobs!”

“Damn all the money,” Lannis moaned, “Slowing me down! A horse! A horse! My tall pink hat for a better horse!”

“If you can shout like that,” the Cleric tossed back, “You’re not running hard enough.”

From the front, Hammer swinging ahead of him, Kovid called back, “Long strides my friends! Maintain our distance!”

Gasping and huffing, Lyra replied, “Hah, maintaining this speed is easy for you to say!”

Hat flapping up and down as he charged along, the magic user quipped, “It’s called cardio, Lonesome Glory! Try it sometime!"

We then heard a signal whistle blowing behind us, tweeting loud and then loud again. “Du Lac!” Wyn called out, “I have de spare throne room key!”

He went to toss it ahead of him, but Kovid called out, “Save it, I have the spare from the Adept chamber!”

“Great!” he replied, “Dwarf! Be careful around dat corner. Hobs could be guarding de Throne room!”

“Only if our luck holds true,” Lannis answered.

There was another grunt of exertion from behind us and from the darkness (>+3 to hit, Black 19) a spear soared out and smacked Abraxas in the back to the right of his pack, just above his kidneys. It failed to penetrate his armor (1d6 Damage, Red/Black 3), but it had enough force to bruise him underneath and cause him to stagger, missing a step or two as he tried to right himself.

Lyra reached out a hand to steady him and pull him along when we also heard a TWANG from back there along with the cheers (<+3 to hit, White 3), when a crossbow bolt skittered just over their heads and ricocheted off the wall with a spray of sparks. “Spears and Crossbows!” Abraxas called out.

“Great!” Lannis replied, “Let me know when the ballista fires!”

“It’s NOT an anti-personnel weapon,” Kovid and Abraxas replied with a note of derision.

“It’s still a narrow hallway!” Lannis shouted back. “One in SIX of us MIGHT get plowed by it!”

“Just run, Big Brain!”

The whistling was still sounding behind them but now there was some distant whistling from somewhere ahead of them, faint and warbling, but definitely heard. “Thor’s Fucking Hell!” the dwarf cursed. “Somewhere ahead of us, people! And Wyn! Adept door on the right!”

“I’m on it!” The elf put on a burst of speed and reached his hand out, grabbing for the handle and willing it to lock. “I will hopefully be able to make sure dat dis room ees locked.” He felt a bit of resistance again and as Lannis charged past him, he smiled to see a keyhole just below the handle where one wasn’t before. “Got it!”

It sounded like a horde of hobgoblins chasing after the party and Lyra and Abraxas caught up with Wyn, shoving the elf forward as they heard another grunt (<+3 to hit, Green 12) and another spear soared out, smacking into the fighter’s shoulder but his armor blunted the blow and it was turned aside. It was the TWANG that followed that had Abraxas turn back around, Scythe up (<+3 to hit, White 14 – Missed by 1) and took the bolt on the shaft of his weapon, off the side of his breastplate, and it left a scoring scratch behind but was blunted and turned barely enough to do nothing more than give the fighter a ache in his chest. “Frijoles! That was TOO close!”

Kovid and Brendon circled around the corner, taking the light with them and plunging the hall with Lyra and Abraxas and Wyn into gloom and growing dark. “Go!” The Cleric pulled the fighter back around and the three of the chased on, the shouting whistling horde continued to give chase.

The whistling sound ahead of the party was echoing from the west and down the long south hall. Kovid slammed into the door, using the frame to arrest his movement with a clang, and fished the Throne Room key out. He stuck it in the lock and he and Brendon shoved the heavy throne room doors open, revealing the chamber as we had left it yesterday. “In!” he called out just as the first hobgoblins came around the corner, blowing THEIR whistles and seeing the group there.

“HERE!!” The hobgoblins roared, and there was an answering cheer from down the hall BEHIND where they had come from, letting the party know that they were about to overrun.

“Dey are right behind us!” Wyn pointed back they way they came. “No time to waste!”

By this time Brendon and Lannis had squeezed into the room as the dwarf had turned to face the hobgoblins, waving the group to go just as the lead one arced its arm back and HURLED its spear at the dwarf (<+3 to hit, Green 12). The aim was true and the weapon was smashed aside by a lucky swing of the Theystran hammer.

Lyra and Wyn had pushed into the room next, the elf setting up behind one door, Brendon behind the other, ready to slam it closed. But the next two humanoids had leveled their crossbows and FIRED. The first bolt (>+3 to hit, Green 12) slammed into Kovid’s shin but the enchanted platemail negated the force and the bolt skittered aside. The next crossbow bolt (>+3 to hit, Yellow 20 –Critical! Max Damage Take 8 Damage!) did not suffer the same effect and drove through the gap in the pauldron and the breastplate, stabbing 8 inches DEEP into the dwarf’s chest and knocking him back 3 feet where Abraxas caught him from under his arms. “Argh! That HURTS!”

“SHUT IT BEHIND US, AMIGOS!” Abraxas, dragging the dwarf back to the double doors, was wide eyed as the hobgoblin forces from both sides ran closer and closer, until they were in the room and the two portals were slammed closed. Lyra added her body weight to the doors as Brendon who had snatched the key on the way in, jammed it into the lock on this side and twisted it home just as the doors sagged in and BOOMED from the massed weight and fury of the hobgoblins beyond.

The group looked around at the over a dozen mummified elven bodies, the dais, the ballista, the two boxes, the hacked up twice killed snakes, the throne, and the two pedestals. Lannis drew out the Ishatari crate with the Ispan’s Crystal sitting inside and let out a ragged breath.

“It’s time.”

Time now is Day 8, 2:11 PM

(OOC)

Great job. Every time the hobs either threw or fired, they lost half their movement, so even though they were harrying your steps, they kept slowly falling behind. But right now there is an unknown number of hobs outside the door, and if anything else? Who knows. But you made it to the throne room! Kovid, you are down to SIX out of 37.