IC IX

[thirdkingdom]

The adventures return to the pedestal room unbothered by unwanted attention and fortify their position as best they are able in preparation for a long night underground. Before retiring, the spellcasters study their desired magics. Lanny is unable, at the moment, to comprehend the symbols he is studying; both Bregalad and Tratiln master a new spell.

Bregalad learns Sleep, Tratiln Charm Person. Zeb, Drudsa learned Analyse the previous day. Do you want him to begin studying a new spell?

Flaurmont 6, AC 1000

Although none of the companions sleep well, they are not bothered by wandering creatures during their sleep.

What next, guys?

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

Zeb, Drudsa learned Analyse the previous day. Do you want him to begin studying a new spell?

I had jotted a note on the Standards thread showing that Drudsa was studying Continual Light... although I suppose he is free to choose a different spell at this point if he wishes...

What next, guys?

I will post something more profound in the morning.

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

Lanny wakes up in a sour mood, frustrated by the fact that he did not get much sleep and that he also failed to learn Sleep. He nibbles on his rations, but does so sparingly, knowing that the party might be stuck down here for days. The thought of starvation was not a pleasant one to the elf...

"Right... So, we will continue on with the second level, is that correct? If that is the case, then why don't we start with the door at the southern end of the cross intersection? From there, we can move on to the west and to the south. I'm just wondering how far these passages will extend in those directions... and how far we will follow them further and further away from the castle center. We'll also need to find a source of water soon... I've asked Marodin to prepare a water purification spell in case we have to drink from the kobolds' barrel..."

Lanny puts on his backpack and is ready to go.

"Oh, and Innana... Why don't you take the front rank alongside Thordin? Marodin can take the rear guard. We need a couple of strong warriors in the lead to keep us slender elves safe and secure..."

Lanny's grin and wink is once again lost on everyone because he is STILL invisible...

[zebediah]

Drudsa the dabbler

"The corridor south from the intersection would be my choice as well."

Lanny the elf

Zeb, Drudsa learned Analyse the previous day. Do you want him to begin studying a new spell?

I had jotted a note on the Standards thread showing that Drudsa was studying Continual Light...

Continual Light it is. Drudsa needs another second level spell.

[thirdkingdom]

Flaurmont 6, 8:00 am

Whilst the others are breaking camp and preparing to move out, Marodin moves to a quiet corner of the room and knees head bowed in prayer. He is still for a few minutes, and those watching observe that the air about him seems suffused by a pearly glow quite unlike the harsh radiance provided by the magical lights in the ceiling. The cleric finally stirs, rises and addresses the party:

"I have called out to my patrons, and my prayers have been answered, but it seems we may be left with more riddles than before. There are a number of ways back to the surface. The southern tunnels do indeed lead back to the light, but we must fight fearsome beasts in order to win our way through. The stairs leading down into the darkness -- the stairs revealed by removing the crystal from the pedestal -- lead back out as well, but one must be left behind to reverse the stairs. There are other ways out, but those two are the closest to our current position. The tunnels beyond the mausoleum will also lead to the surface, eventually, as will the path the duergar trod."

Petition roll (success on 1-2 out of 1d20): (1d20=2)
Holy shit, the gods must be with Marodin!

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

I will never again scoff at clerical orisons. LOL

Lanny thanks Marodin for sharing the fruits of his divination.

"This will give us better focus as to the path we should follow. For myself, I would rather not enter the mausoluem's caverns, or follow in the footsteps of the duergar, as it sounds like those paths might go on for a long time before an exit is discovered. The other two paths are closer and offer more promise... the path to the south requiring our collective strength, and the path down the central stairs requiring our collective intelligence. I am ok with continuing south as planned, for the moment, and keeping the central stairs as a backup plan. What say you all?"

Party Caller: Please vote on an option for returning to the surface:

1. Through the passages to the south (fighting a ferocious beast)
2. Down the central stairs (tricks and traps probable)
3. Through the mausoleum's caverns (home of the undead)
4. Through the passages to the west (following the duergar)

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys nods his head in agreement. "I don't like the idea of leaving one of us behind, even if just for a while, so lets at least assess the southern route first."

[Bouv]

Tratiln awakes, his joints stiff from the rough night of sleeping on the floor. For today he will memorize Sleepx2 and magic missile.

[zebediah]

Drudsa the dabbler

"Thank you for providing us some holy guidance Marodin. I would not split our group in such way unless there was absolutely no alternative. As it stands even if there is a huge challenge on the southern hallway I'd say we try facing it together as we have done with all the beasts and obstacles that stood in our way thus far. In any case I don't believe we should expect to find an easy way out, no matter which route we take."

Drudsa will keep the same set of spells memorized.

[riftstone]

Thordin the dwarf

"South seems the best way to go. If we have to leave someone behind, let it be in the sweet repose of death by desperate combat."

[Innana]

Innana the Fighter:

Innana did not realize how tired she really was until she tried getting up from her warm blankets. Her body seemed heavy and slow. Innana forges past the stiffness, and pulled herself clumsily out of the covers to do her morning stretches. It was nice not to be overburdened with the armor, but Innana kept finding herself checking the blade she always wears on the outside of her thigh.

After her morning regime, Innana put on her armor, and leaned against the wall to do a few lazy push-ups. She looked over at where Lanny was talking, and watched as the things around him moved by an invisible hand. Innana is hungry, and feels how it has made the group lethargic, and grumpy.

After thinking about the alternatives that Merodin has presented, her hunger seems to win out. "I say we fight the damn beast, and head for the closest exit. I hope it is a big fat bore, or a bull, or even remotely resembles one. I could use some meat right now."

[thirdkingdom]

Thordin the dwarf

. . ., let it be in the sweet repose of death by desperate combat."

That is badass.

Update coming this evening.

[thirdkingdom]

Flaurmont 6, 8:30 am

The adventurers return to the intersection and, once more, listen at the southern door but hear nothing. The door is manfully wrested open, revealing a room twenty feet to a side. At one point this room must have functioned as a wine cellar, due to the wooden racks that line the wall, but no more. a dozen or more wooden casks lie on their sides, staves splintered and broken. The rest of the racks are emptied. Opposite the door, in the southern wall of the room, the masonry has split and cracked, revealing a narrow cleft that appears to open up into a larger, natural tunnel. The tunnel makes a hard turn to the west some twenty feet beyond the cleft.

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

TK, just to confirm before mapping: are we to the east or to the west of the pedestal room? I realize that there are cross intersections with southern doors on both sides... My understanding was that we were starting on the east side of the pedestal room (ie., at the door to the south of the door leading to the kobold area). We'll make do whatever the case, I just wanted to make sure that the mapping is accurate.

[thirdkingdom]

Lanny the elf

TK, just to confirm before mapping: are we to the east or to the west of the pedestal room? I realize that there are cross intersections with southern doors on both sides... My understanding was that we were starting on the east side of the pedestal room (ie., at the door to the south of the door leading to the kobold area). We'll make do whatever the case, I just wanted to make sure that the mapping is accurate.

Sorry. Yes, you are correct, and that is the way indicated by Marodin.

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

Got it, thanks. Map updated.

Lanny manuevers through the wine casks and peers through the crevice.

"We will be leaving the castle's basement if we venture through here... but if Marodin's divination points in this direction, I am ready to follow this path. If indeed we can make it to the surface, we should still have access to the castle's main level, although the basement level will be sealed off from above. I am content with that... Shall we proceed?"

Lanny will take his place in the marching order when the party is ready to enter the caverns.

[zebediah]

Drudsa the dabbler

"Perhaps the ferocious beast divined by Marodin is that monster on the pit outside the castle. If this tunnel leads to that pit we might indeed be very close to the exit, but we should be very careful cause that creature, and its family if it has one, could be just around the corner."

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys takes a deep breath nod says, "I can almost smell the fresh air. Let's get to it."

[thirdkingdom]

Rhys takes a deep breath and is able to detect the faint scent of fresh air, entwined with a whiff of ordure, overlaid upon a hint of decay.

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys takes a deep breath nod says, "I can almost smell the fresh air. Let's get to it."

He quickly adds, "Ew. I also smell offal and decay... Let's be careful."