9 - Undermountain Trip 5

[Inferno]

Tantos Vek, failed paladin:

"Lead on," croaked Vek with regret at the waste. The zealots' conviction that their gods would protect them against a dragon restored Vek's utter lack of faith. But what was all this in service of?

He glanced at Roseheart and rasped as they ran, "That's twice now. Two parties of adventurers decimated in our luckless company."

[Darkmane]

The men lead you back in the general direction that you came from, but the turn left and you begin down two long corridors, heading north? You cross orcs twice but they seem to be completely disorganized and you run across only small packs which recognize and run from the monstrous dog.

The tunnels seem to turn back upon themselves, again and again, and you turn several times, before you enter areas you recognize. You pass the area that long ago you became trapped in for two days, fighting off a huge fish in a dark room full of water, and then passing the snake lady which hurls several bolts of wild magic at you, then you take the final long corridor up to the forest of pillars and the out of the dungeon by way of the well.

The men are forced to leave their dog in the dungeon and they leave shortly after reaching the surface, you realize you will never see them again. They are on the way to foreign landed on the first fast ship...

[Inferno]

Tantos Vek, failed paladin, mercenary and adventurer:

Vek wasn't in a merciful mood. He looked at the cowardly mercs as they turned to leave. "Thanks," he said without gratitude.
"Now tell us everything else you know about the dragon and the wizards who visit it. And tell me about your captain and where he'll likely go now."
From the grim warrior's demeanor and tone, it was clear this wasn't a request.

[spanningtree]

Tella - Elf Mage

Tella will order up shots of expensive elvish brandy. She'll drink one while pouring one down the well for each of the deceased. She'll then bow her head in prayer.

Afterwards she'll pay up and pay attention to what Vek is up to.

OCC: 2pp deducted for the brandy.

[Darkmane]

Tantos Vek, failed paladin, mercenary and adventurer:

Vek wasn't in a merciful mood. He looked at the cowardly mercs as they turned to leave. "Thanks," he said without gratitude.
"Now tell us everything else you know about the dragon and the wizards who visit it. And tell me about your captain and where he'll likely go now."
From the grim warrior's demeanor and tone, it was clear this wasn't a request.

The men confer with each other for a moment before oner of them nods to Vek. I don't like your attitude, sir knight, but... We all agree that the damage was done when we left our posts down there. Telling you what was going on won't changer that.

One of them stays to spill the beans while the others head to catch a boat, I've only got a minute or so. Then I'm gone. Our captain was just one of us, maybe with more experience, if he's smart he's already on the way south. I'd guess we will all end up in Baldurs Gate,Amn, perhaps Tethyr. They are always looking for hired swords. Now about the dragon, we hadnt seen it until we did with you, although we could hear and smell the cursed thing. The wizards had a couple of rooms near its cave controlled, maybe they have some kind of portal to get in and out as well, they were aslwasys just showing up. There are ast least four wizards,and men that serve the cult as well. The wizards would go in to see the dragon from time to time, and always showed up at least once a day checking up on us and saying creepy things. * he whispers quietly* they really did worship dragons, wanted to make them immortal through dark magic, I don't know the details but the dragon has to knowilling. That's reaslky all I know.

[Inferno]

Tantos Vek, failed paladin:

"This cult have a name, or symbol?"

Vek gets the man to make a map of the location of the wizards' rooms in relation to Vrax's cavern.
Then he'll let him leave with his life.

[Darkmane]

The man stands up and leads Vek further back in the tap room, away from the rest. We already told you the name of the Cult. They called themselves the 'Cult of the the Dragon' but they didn't seem to have any sort of sigil. I can show you how to get back there, but I'm surprised you'd ever want to go back. Mayhap you are all crazy as Garth said.

He helps drawing a map, first adding on to Tella's map, and then drawing an additional map that takes you further south to the dragon's lair.

*Updated map 2 in the Undermountain Notes thread. If I can find some additional graph paper I'll make an additional map as well*

[Inferno]

Tantos Vek, failed paladin:

Vek's mind was distracted. "...cult of the dragon..." he repeated slowly without making eye contact.

Mayhap you are all crazy as Garth said.

"Yes. Yes we are. Completely mad," Vek rasped darkly and in earnest. "...You'd better hurry along now, before things turn ugly."

[Darkmane]

Experience for Tella, Vek, and Roseheart, let me know if any of you level up...

EXP Total: 1900 EXP (not counting any bonus exp for high stats)

[Inferno]

Tantos Vek, failed paladin:

At the tap room of the Yawning Portal, Vek drowns his sorrows. Having been raised in a monastery, he never learned how to drink. His low tolerance and bleak mood made him an angry drunk.

The next day he found Roseheart and Tella. The grim warrior apologized and grunted, "I need to get rid of Thorax's magic sword. Too many memories... Do you know where I can go to trade it for another?"

[spanningtree]

Tella - Elf Mage

To Vek:I can see if someone at the mages guild can arrange a trade or other transaction.

Tella will make her way to the guild and report on what they saw and the other wizards that a fetish for the dracs. Specifically, she is wondering if anyone already knew of the dragons presence and if it should be pursued. She will also see if some kind of transaction might be possible for Thorax' s blade.

OCC: Tella is short 360xp of a new level, is there anything she can do to earn some xp while in town briefly? What are the stats on Thorax's weapon?

Experience for Tella, Vek, and Roseheart, let me know if any of you level up...

EXP Total: 1900 EXP (not counting any bonus exp for high stats)

[Inferno]

Tantos Vek, failed paladin:

Tella - Elf Mage
To Vek:I can see if someone at the mages guild can arrange a trade or other transaction.

"Thanks," croaked Vek.

DM, did we get any new gold out of this last delve?

[Darkmane]

This is what I had been recording in my XP and Treasure Thread, my new notes are in RED

Room of spider corpses
-55gp
-220gp
-300sp
-long dagger, tiger on hilt
-sturdy shield

Fire Orcs, encounter 1
- 20 orcs and a two headed dog killed in one round
- 55gp and 10sp collected
-thorax got 10gp more while awaiting the fires to die

Fire orcs ,encounter 2
-24 orcs killed with a fureball.
-6 goblins defeated or killed whilechasin orc with whip

Large room encounter,
- two more orcs killed by the door
- 2ogres and 18 orcs kiledwith a huge bolt of lightning (tella)
-killed another 30 orcs in the smoke and chaos of a large orc retreat
-collected 30p (Ganon and Roseheart) from the dead orcs in that room, there might be more there...

I'm not sure exactly who was carrying what, obviously the 10gp that Thorax was carrying is lost, and ~15gp that Ganon and Roseheart had split.

[DadsAngry]

If Vek is looking for coin he can check Ganon's room. Ganon had a stash of coin in a locked chest.

viewtopic.php?f=117&t=3315

[Inferno]

Thanks DM and Dads!

[Darkmane]

During the weeks that follow your exit from the dungeon, Tella brings Vek into the Watchful Order of Magists. After some discussion about the history of the blade, Vek is offered a trade by an enchanter in the guild. He will trade the two hand sword for increasing the magical bonus of Vek's current long sword up to +3 total (enhancing the "strength" of the enchantment). The flame of the north is legendary and the wizard would like to study it and perhaps one day copy the enchantment.

[Inferno]

Tantos Vek, failed paladin:

"Sold," grunted Vek.

Vek found Ganon's money (thanks Dads) and split it with Roseheart and Tella. If his share was large enough, the grim warrior would buy new healing potions to replenish the ones he drank in the last, fatal, expedition. The remaining coin (if there was any) would be forcibly donated to the baker family.

Eventually, he would come to it with the mages. "So what now? Stick together? And if so... fatman or dragon?" he rasped.

[ravenn4544]

Roseheart accepts the loot and also would like to replenish his healing potions.
"Dragon, Vek? Really? Let's explore some of those rooms we rushed passed in getting out - seems there are quite a bit of opportunity just waiting for us. I think we'll definitely find some clues to the fat man.. and maybe some way to best the dragon will present itself"

[Inferno]

Tantos Vek, failed paladin:

Vek nodded. "Those dragon cult wizards..."

[spanningtree]

Tella - Elf Mage

OCC:
Tella would like to do a few things during their weeks of recooperation:

1) Tella is sitting on a substantial amount of coin and gems. She will inquire within the mages guild and and relevant shops within the town for an amulet or ring that confers fire resistance and/or protection.

2) She has in her possession a drow spell book with the following spells:

Drow spellbook
1st
- Magic Missile
-Spidereyes
3rd
- Dark Wings
- Monster Summoning 1
4th
- Acid Bolt
5th
- Summon Spider
-Monster Summoning 3

She would like to copy Acid Bolt and Monster Summoning 3 to her personal spellbook. She would then like to sell/trade the drow book to someone at the mages guild if possible.

3) She will also pick up some additional healing potions. Please post the costs if she is able to track some down.

4) She will tutor Roseheart in the lightning bolt spell to get it into his inventory.

Can you let me know if any/all of this is possible and what the outcome is?
/OCC

To Vek and Roseheart: Yes, I do feel we need to delve again but also need to replenish our ranks before doing so. We need to find some strong stalwarts to stand with us... any idea how we might find such individuals?