IC XV

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

"Lets move on and see what the damage is like further up from here".

[thirdkingdom]

The adventurers take the northern passage; the door at the end of the hall is slightly ajar. A quick search and listen reveals nothing, so the adventurers push open the door, revealing the same hallway as had been seen before:

The door swings open, revealing a wide hallway, approximately twenty feet in width and forty feet long. There is an open archway at the end of the hallway, and a door set into both the eastern and western walls. In the center of the hallway are two evenly-spaced columns, reaching from floor to ceiling. The columns seem to share the same construction techniques as the rest of the place, and resemble artificially constructed stalagtites. Far off in the distance, echoing strangely, the sound of hammers can be heard.

However, on this occasion the hall is strangely silent. In addition, each column holds a partially absorbed humanoid. Clearly dead, a closer examination reveals that they are in fact the same orcish creatures that inhabit this foul place!

[Atlictoatl]

Tev Meren, Fighter

Tev shakes his head at the stupidity of these woesome wretches.

[Koren n'Rhys]

Quint Kacie
"Interesting, indeed! It seems some other invader has discovered the same things we did and uses the absorbent nature of the columns against the orcs. Well then, where next?"

Quint waits for the others to decide which way to go, and keeps alert for any sounds disrupting the unnatural silence.

[Wyzard]

Severi Silvertongue, Elf

"Let's listen at the doors, and then check the eastern and western walls first. If none are present past any of the three doors, then we can go ahead and ignite these columns. I recall they were susceptible to fire."

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

"Wonder who has done it to them?" Thurgan asks. "Yes, lets burn these columns as they aren't something that we want spreading".

[phil285]

Vanco Basou
"What awful things! I trust none of your companions came to grief against these things?" he asks, and assists in checking the doors before helping set any fires.

[Wyzard]

"No. We found a gnome that had been caught. He was doing pretty badly when we dropped him off with some merchants. Still alive, though."

[Atlictoatl]

Tev Meren, Fighter

"They may have done it to themselves," Tev opines. "They seemed all too willing to sacrifice their lives for their 'mother', whatever that means."

[Wyzard]

Severi listens at the left, right, and forward doors in turn.

[Atlictoatl]

Severi Silvertongue, Elf

"Let's listen at the doors, and then check the eastern and western walls first. If none are present past any of the three doors, then we can go ahead and ignite these columns. I recall they were susceptible to fire."

Tev Meren, Fighter

Tev loads and readies his crossbow, remaining quiet while Severi listens. Once the elf is ready to open a door, Tev stands such that he can shoot through the opening at any aggressive foes beyond the portal.

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

Thurgan readies his crossbow and aims it at the northern portal watching out for any interlopers while Severi listens at the doors.

"Maybe I should go forward to check that northern passage as I won't need a light"

[Koren n'Rhys]

Quint Kacie
As Severi and his helpers check the three exits, Quint begins pulling oil flasks from his pack, one for each column if he has enough. Once the word is given, the column bases can be doused with the oil and the lot of them set alight.

How many columns are there in here? Quint has 6 flasks, so more are likely needed from others in the party.

[thirdkingdom]

There are two columns in total in this room; another one in the room through the eastern door (in which you found the gnome. The columns actually have hit points, each flask of oil will burn for 1d4 rounds, doing 1d8 points of damage the first round and 1d6 in subsequent rounds. So, it is more a function of how much damage you want to do as opposed to how much oil you need.

[thirdkingdom]

Severi hears nothing at either the eastern or western door. Thurgan advances a short distance into the northern hallway -- which led to the set of stairs descending into the deep -- and sees nothing untoward. However, off in the distance the doughty dwarf thinks he hears, drifting up from the dark depths, the clashing sound of steel on steel, and uncouth, bestial yawps.

[Wyzard]

Severi is of the opinion that they should definitely go interrupt that fight right now.

[phil285]

Vanco concurs with Severi and readies his weapons.

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

"Yes, let us see what the conflict is"

[Alethan]

Rhys draws his sword and likewise prepares to use it.

[Atlictoatl]

Tev Meren

Tev is already striding forward, shield and sword at the ready.