Chapter 10: Secret of the Sleestaks

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Re: Chapter 10: Secret of the Sleestaks

#41 Post by Bluetongue »

Sheriff Yul

There is obviously something about the scaly bug eyed guards that perturbing him. He feels like he is about to trespass on territory where he us not welcomed, though nothing offensive has been done to them.

Clearly we are not all humans. Are all 'foreigners' labelled as such.

"For this entrance toll what do we get? A guide perhaps to show us the sights. A map of the city and some lectures on your culture and history. Clearly from those sculptured pylons you have a notable grandiose society."

The lawman digs into a pouch and retrieves a fistful of coins. (-30gp) to cover his need and two others.
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Re: Chapter 10: Secret of the Sleestaks

#42 Post by Inferno »

City of the Sleestaks, Beneath the Barren Wasteland, Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Ten. Evening? April 5th, 912 CY







Image

As Finver, Draupadi and Mungo are joyfully reunited, Yul the cyborg crossbow-slinger asks the Sleestaks what the toll affords them.

"Only to passsss in peacccce," answers one of the seven foot tall insectoid reptilians. Of their "grandiose society," they say nothing.

Fiefo the rat-man and Maskelyn the gnome haven't enough coins.

"If you cannot pay, you can be taken as a sssslave for sssseven dayssss. After that sssservitude, you may passsss freely," a Sleestak hisses helpfully.

Connak, Draupadi and Yul loan them the necessary gold and the adventurers are allowed through the tunnel (at 3).

Image

A drone of hissing grows as they pass an open portcullis (at 15), a large gong, and some kind of sleeping quarters filled with woven mats (at 16).

And then they enter the City of the Sleestaks!

A great high cavern looms above a dark subterranean lake where Sleestaks fish with spear and net! (S12, S13, S17)

Image

Sleestaks of both orange and green coloration are present all around. They fall silent, take note of the adventurers and then continue about their business.

The witchlights of the Sleestaks differ from that of Xygax's skyscraper or the Castle Enterprise. They are dimly glowing crystal-gems and the towering roof of the great cavern lies beyond their wan illumination. From the black shadows above comes squeaking, flapping and chirruping that Fiefo and Ko-Nan and Maskelyn recognize as those of weird, vampiric bat-things.

The western wall is filled with primitive caves that might be the ancient remains of the alien city from the faded mural.

Image

Sleestaks live among them.

A rock bridge, carved directly from that cavern wall, crosses the water there (near 13), over a wooden portcullis submerged in the underground river.

Another bridge crosses the vast lake to the east (at 9).

Primitive stone huts are splayed across the cavern floor (at 11, 14 and 17).

The cave walls are damp and slimy, and the smell of mold is thick. Two tunnels branch out from the great cavern (near 12 and 8).


Actions?!


Map:
Image
One square = 10 feet. PCs are purple. Sleestaks are orange or green.

Map Detail:
Image





PC Status:
Connak: Cat-Man Fighter/Thief 2/3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 19/19, Glowing Saber
Draupadi: Human Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 34/34, Spells: 4/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 26/26
Finver Karstlander: Dwarven Fighter 3: Move 6", AC: 2(1), HP: 31/31, Torch
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/39
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 14/14, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Mungo: Mole-Man Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 34/34, Spells: 1/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl, Lantern
Sheriff Yul: Robot Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 31/38

PC Magic:
None currently

Player Resources:

DM:
Current Games:
The Horror at Briarsgate (1e): Lovecraftian Gothic Horror
Lost City of Eternity (1e): Hyborian Age Sword and Sorcery

Completed Games:
Sauron Victorious (1e): Dire Saga for the Fate of Middle Earth
Once and Future Earth (1e): Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Dungeon Crawl

Player:
Agax Gryyg: Gamer of Urth, Ravenloft
Azoth Al-Aziz: Lovecraftian Cultist, Tamoachan
Blodget: Foolish Young 9th Level Hobbit, Dark Clouds
Dredd Doomsmith: Dwarven Deathtrap Engineer, Tomb of Horrors
Elijah Crowthorne: Marooned Prophet, Pirates
Jack in the Green: Ancient Child, Giants
P.T. Codswallop: Larcenous Impresario, Dimwater
Sir Ugghra: Bestial Half-Orc Aristocrat, Brotherton
Swilbosh: Savage Lizard-Warrior, Keep
Tantos Vek: Failed Paladin, Under Streets
Ulfang Chainbreaker: Barbarian Liberator of Slaves, Tharizdun

DM bio is here.
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Rex
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Re: Chapter 10: Secret of the Sleestaks

#43 Post by Rex »

Draupadi

"Looks like we should head towards that bridge." She points to the bridge at #13.
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Re: Chapter 10: Secret of the Sleestaks

#44 Post by SilverBen »

Finver furrows his brow in thought as he walks away from the insectoid reptilians. "Just a moment, Draupadi, as we move on to the bridge, I want to converse with one of the orange Sleestaks in monks' robes..."

Finver breaks off from the main party impulsively without waiting for a response. He'll attempt to approach one of the orange Sleestaks in monks' robes. If not obstructed by any of the green hulks as guards, Finver begins a delicate conversation with small talk about fishing practices, flavor of fish caught, and then move on to the main inquiries he has in mind: If the fish does not please the orange Sleestaks in monks' robes most, then what does? Perhaps the party can be of some help to the orange monks in an exchange of service?
Antoine de Saint-Exupery: “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
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Re: Chapter 10: Secret of the Sleestaks

#45 Post by Urson »

Maskelyn
Maskelyn bristles at the mention of 'slaves'. He is a hilariously small lump of fury, his fists balled as he steps forward. Slaves? I don't think so, bub! I oughta... His voice trails off as his companion pays his toll.


Feels like we're in an anthill. I suppose I'd better behave myself- we're outnumbered here.
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Re: Chapter 10: Secret of the Sleestaks

#46 Post by Bluetongue »

Sheriff Yul

Takes in the scene studying what he can see. It is more troglodyte than he expected after the bizarre ethereal vision of the Sleestak in the pylon. It is quite a subterranean serene hamlet. Fish and the birds for meat, maybe some of the slime and moss are edible for the lizard palates.

The stone huts are purpose built not natural caves. He moves to the nearest one to inspect its purpose. A place for the indentured labourers or some store?
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Re: Chapter 10: Secret of the Sleestaks

#47 Post by ChubbyPixie »

Fiefo keeps his arms and elbows in as they trudge through the damp settlement, fully expecting this all to go south somehow, as it always does...

"Okay, we're just passing through, but which way do we go?" he says looking at the further tunnels. "We just gonna keep wondering around until we all get dismembered again?"

He feels like he already knows the answer to this question.
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Re: Chapter 10: Secret of the Sleestaks

#48 Post by Inferno »

City of the Sleestaks, Beneath the Barren Wasteland, Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Ten. Evening? April 5th, 912 CY







Image

Beneath the countless cave mouths, the pilgrims to the underworld stop and survey the City of the Sleestaks!

Draupadi points toward the bridge (at 13) as Fiefo notices a nearby green Sleestak that is hulking and misshapen even by the standards of the Sleestaks. (S8) The diseased malformed abomination is covered in large warts and is watching the adventurers.

Before they decide how to traverse the timeless ruins, Finver the dwarf douses his torch and impulsively approaches the nearest of the orange reptilians. They are smaller than their viridian kin and not adorned in the monks robes of the age-faded mural, but in simple tunics. They have hands instead of pincers and those hands are empty of weapons.

Image

Finver's Sleestak (S7) repairs a fishing net outside a stone hovel (14) that Yul believes to be its home. The creature is polite and courteous to the dwarf's idle queries, emboldening Finver to ask directly, "If the fish does not please the orange Sleestaks most, then what does? Perhaps the party can be of some help to the orange monks in an exchange of service?"

Unblinking red eyes appraise Finver for a long moment and then in a voice low and eloquent, it replies, "I am not a Sleestak, but an Altrusian. My name is Enath and what we want most, my friend, is... Let me show you." He looks at the Sleestak sentries by the portcullis and then leads Finver and Yul to the door of his hut. Inside is his family. His wife is an orange Altrusian like him, but their two small children are green Sleestaks.

He says with sorrow, "So it is with all. We shall be the last generation of the Altrusians. Can 'the party' be of help in this matter?"


Actions?!


Map:
Image
One square = 10 feet. PCs are purple. Sleestaks are green. Altrusians are orange.

Map Detail:
Image





PC Status:
Connak: Cat-Man Fighter/Thief 2/3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 19/19
Draupadi: Human Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 34/34, Spells: 4/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 26/26
Finver Karstlander: Dwarven Fighter 3: Move 6", AC: 2(1), HP: 31/31
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/39
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 14/14, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Mungo: Mole-Man Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 34/34, Spells: 1/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
Sheriff Yul: Robot Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 31/38

PC Magic:
None currently

Player Resources:

DM:
Current Games:
The Horror at Briarsgate (1e): Lovecraftian Gothic Horror
Lost City of Eternity (1e): Hyborian Age Sword and Sorcery

Completed Games:
Sauron Victorious (1e): Dire Saga for the Fate of Middle Earth
Once and Future Earth (1e): Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Dungeon Crawl

Player:
Agax Gryyg: Gamer of Urth, Ravenloft
Azoth Al-Aziz: Lovecraftian Cultist, Tamoachan
Blodget: Foolish Young 9th Level Hobbit, Dark Clouds
Dredd Doomsmith: Dwarven Deathtrap Engineer, Tomb of Horrors
Elijah Crowthorne: Marooned Prophet, Pirates
Jack in the Green: Ancient Child, Giants
P.T. Codswallop: Larcenous Impresario, Dimwater
Sir Ugghra: Bestial Half-Orc Aristocrat, Brotherton
Swilbosh: Savage Lizard-Warrior, Keep
Tantos Vek: Failed Paladin, Under Streets
Ulfang Chainbreaker: Barbarian Liberator of Slaves, Tharizdun

DM bio is here.
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Re: Chapter 10: Secret of the Sleestaks

#49 Post by Rex »

Draupadi

"Can you not have children of your own or do they take them away when you do?"
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Re: Chapter 10: Secret of the Sleestaks

#50 Post by SilverBen »

Finver peers into the hut to observe the family and nods his head solemnly acknowledging the difference in skin color between the Altrusian parents and Sleestak progeny. He studies the green offspring with fascination and pity.

He turns first to his new Rat-man companion and asks with a tone of sympathetic concern, "The last generation of Altrusian? What do you know of this Fiefo?"

He then turns to the orange skinned reptilian, "Enath, I am Finver of the Karstlanders, a dwarven clan who have always lived near the surface to the wasteland. I understand your race is at risk of becoming lost but not what has endangered it. What can be done to help save the Altrusians? I will rally my friends and new allies to ensure you are not the last generation."
Antoine de Saint-Exupery: “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
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Re: Chapter 10: Secret of the Sleestaks

#51 Post by Bluetongue »

Sheriff Yul

Looks at the reptilian tribesman and his family. "The children. Your children, appear happy and healthy. They should be a source of joy not sorrow.

Maybe this subterranean realm causes your congenital evolution. Becoming fitter and stronger to suit your environment. Your sunkissed scales burnished to life under the open skies and the olive skin tempered for a cavern existence?"

Are not both Fiefo and I genetic advances in our racial destinies?"
he points to the augment in the ratman's eye socket and his own veins of wires, offering an alternative view to the Altruisian.
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Re: Chapter 10: Secret of the Sleestaks

#52 Post by ravenn4544 »

Ko-Nan barges into the conversation, "What of the wizard in the sky!? What do you know of him?"
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Re: Chapter 10: Secret of the Sleestaks

#53 Post by redwarrior »

Connak is still on edge from these reptilian insectoid creatures. They seem pleasant enough, but his fur still wants to rise, so he will let the others talk, and figure out our path, as he keeps his eyes open and looking around.
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Re: Chapter 10: Secret of the Sleestaks

#54 Post by Urson »

Maskelyn
That's rough, Doc. Can't you move back upstairs? Maybe you'll have more luck out in the sunshine.

Maskelyn crouches, having spotted an excellent skipping stone.
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Re: Chapter 10: Secret of the Sleestaks

#55 Post by ChubbyPixie »

SilverBen wrote: Thu Apr 22, 2021 10:37 amHe turns first to his new Rat-man companion and asks with a tone of sympathetic concern, "The last generation of Altrusian? What do you know of this Fiefo?"
Fiefo stares blankly for a beat then looks behind him to see if Finver is speaking to someone else.

"Er... me? I really couldn't say, Finver. Am I giving off a vibe like I know things? Cause what I know is stabbing stuff with this," he says pointing to his possibly cursed ancestral war fork, Ennard'. "Maybe... it's something in the water? Not enough exercise? Magical... force waves?" He shrugs.
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Re: Chapter 10: Secret of the Sleestaks

#56 Post by Inferno »

City of the Sleestaks, Beneath the Barren Wasteland, Forbidden Island of Xygax the Wizard, Land of One Thousand Towers
Day Ten. Evening? April 5th, 912 CY







Image

In the enigmatic City of the Sleestaks, the subterranean explorers speak with Enath of the last of the Altrusians (S7).

Draupadi inquires, "Can you not have children of your own or do they take them away when you do?

"These... are our children."

Sheriff Yul asks "Are not both Fiefo and I genetic advances in our racial destinies?"

"I believe you are a construct, and a masterful one. Of Fiefo's people, evolution has taken untold millennia. But the Sleestaks have come into being in but one generation. It is the destiny of the Altrusian race that is being denied."

Ever vigilant, Connak the catman notes the hulking wart-infested Sleestak atrocity that watches them (S8) as the chorus of squeaks and chirrups continue from the shadows above.

Ko-Nan interrupts, "What of the wizard in the sky!? What do you know of him?"

"I am sorry. I know not of whom you speak."

Finver promises Enath, "What can be done to help save the Altrusians? I will rally my friends and new allies to ensure you are not the last generation."

"Thank you, Finver Karstlander," Enath says with sincere gratitude. He turns his great crimson eyes toward the southern end of the underground lake (near 18) to answer further, when suddenly one of the Sleestak guards at the gate (S4) takes an interest in their gathering and Enath says, "The fishing net costs three gold pieces, please."


Actions?!


Map:
Image
One square = 10 feet. PCs are purple. Sleestaks are green. Altrusians are orange.





PC Status:
Connak: Cat-Man Fighter/Thief 2/3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 19/19
Draupadi: Human Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 34/34, Spells: 4/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
Fiefo LeBratt: Rat-Man Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 26/26
Finver Karstlander: Dwarven Fighter 3: Move 6", AC: 2(1), HP: 31/31
Ko-Nan: Human Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 32/39
Maskelyn: Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 14/14, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl, 1/1 2nd lvl
Mungo: Mole-Man Cleric 4: Move: 9", AC: 7, HP: 34/34, Spells: 1/5 1st lvl, 4/4 2nd lvl
Sheriff Yul: Robot Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 31/38

PC Magic:
None currently

Player Resources:

DM:
Current Games:
The Horror at Briarsgate (1e): Lovecraftian Gothic Horror
Lost City of Eternity (1e): Hyborian Age Sword and Sorcery

Completed Games:
Sauron Victorious (1e): Dire Saga for the Fate of Middle Earth
Once and Future Earth (1e): Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Dungeon Crawl

Player:
Agax Gryyg: Gamer of Urth, Ravenloft
Azoth Al-Aziz: Lovecraftian Cultist, Tamoachan
Blodget: Foolish Young 9th Level Hobbit, Dark Clouds
Dredd Doomsmith: Dwarven Deathtrap Engineer, Tomb of Horrors
Elijah Crowthorne: Marooned Prophet, Pirates
Jack in the Green: Ancient Child, Giants
P.T. Codswallop: Larcenous Impresario, Dimwater
Sir Ugghra: Bestial Half-Orc Aristocrat, Brotherton
Swilbosh: Savage Lizard-Warrior, Keep
Tantos Vek: Failed Paladin, Under Streets
Ulfang Chainbreaker: Barbarian Liberator of Slaves, Tharizdun

DM bio is here.
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Rex
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Re: Chapter 10: Secret of the Sleestaks

#57 Post by Rex »

Draupadi

"Here you go."
She hands the Altrusian 3gp. Taking the fishing net and examining it, taking lots of time. "This looks like good work." She moves and unfolds the net to try and block the view of the Sleestak.

GP deducted.
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Re: Chapter 10: Secret of the Sleestaks

#58 Post by redwarrior »

connak with tell the group in a quiet, conversational tone The big fellow over there seems very interested in us. Be on your guard.
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Re: Chapter 10: Secret of the Sleestaks

#59 Post by Bluetongue »

Sheriff Yul
It is the destiny of the Altrusian race that is being denied."
"Maybe your destiny is being fulfilled not denied? But we could study more upon your quandry if such places of lore and history were available. Perhaps you could point us to the way of your libraries or temples. Is there a sage or wiseman among you?"

The sheriff asks the fisherman Altruisian.
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Re: Chapter 10: Secret of the Sleestaks

#60 Post by ravenn4544 »

Ko-Nan asks, "What lies beyond this city? Which was is out?"
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