The Game Thread 2

[jemmus]

Delx had been momentarily lost in thought, pondering on something. He mutters to himself, I can see now why dwarves love rock and stones such.... Then, Oh, sorry. I was wondering: Can rock speak a mistruth? But I think it cannot. It's the foundation of everything on the earth. And exists forever, in some form, so it has no need for ambition or greed for a next meal. I believe it has no motivation to lie, and even cannot lie.
But I could be wrong, of course.

Black Dog, not to worry, in time you'll get used to rock speaking as plain as landlord demanding the rent. And no doubt many other wondrous things that friend Bishop will reveal along the way. You just be ready to snatch up a cockatrice by the neck if you see one, the way you've cleverly done before. Elcroon, a "nest of fae" ahead. I open the door, backstep five paces or so, and you ply them with arrows through the doorway? And if they sally forth, I do the same with my bow? Bishop, your thoughts?

[Grognardsw]

To confirm, the nest is at our current level - L1 on the map - where we are on the landing with the dwarf statue, a passageway is before us, and stairs continue down.

Elcroon looked at Delx with some concern.

“Good friend, you dream still of doors
There are naught but stairs, passages and floors.
I hesitate to stir a nest of fae
Preferring instead to live another day.”

The singsword motioned down the stairs.

“Shall we descend for good measure
And hope our steps lead to treasure!”

[jemmus]

Delx
Yes, down the stairs then, if you agree, Bishop.

[Grognardsw]

[tibbius]

At GrognardSW's urging we're going to move along down the stairs, just to keep things grinding.

The stairs descend a good long way — further than you had realized the platform ascended. You burn through a torch on your way down, and are quite exhausted when you eventually emerge into what you might think of as the "Wyvern Cavern". There's still a very faint smell of burnt lizard here, owing to the massive success of the Chariot Transport Vulture. And of course a big lizardy corpse, getting colder.

What do you?

[Grognardsw]

Having arrived at where they started, Elcroon shared the map with the party.

"Up and down, back and around
Left and right, no treasure in sight!"

The bard considered the mountain. Ghostal's summit had treasure, the bottom had mines. Perhaps the higher one went, the more living spaces and valaubles there would be.

"I think we should ascend on high
in hope that gold and magic be in supply."

The musicmancer pulled the lever to bring down the elevator.

Maps

Mountain Base


Cave and Mountain Entrance


Summit Level

[jemmus]

Thanks for the maps!

Delx is tired and his legs ache. Well, at least we know we didn't miss anything down here. Agreed, let's go up. Good idea taking the lifting thing, Elcroon.

[tibbius]

How far ↑ do you go?

[Grognardsw]

Elcroon moved the lever for the second level from the top, the floor under the summit level.

[tibbius]

Elcroon moved the lever for the second level from the top, the floor under the summit level.

I'm really curious, how do you know when you get there? The lever is labeled "↑" and "×" and "↓", no floor indicators.

[Grognardsw]

Elcroon, not seeing indicators for floors, just went all the way to the top. He counted the openings for each floor as he went. The bard hummed some tune

“I could be wrong, I could be right
I could be black, I could be white…
May the road rise with you,
May the road rise with you.”

as he attached his grapnel to his rope and held at the ready as a precautionary measure.

When the lift stopped at the top, he moved the lever down enough to descend to the floor right under the summit top.

Anyone know that song?

[tibbius]

Anyone know that song?

Now I know a "new" band.

The "top" level looks like a vestibule of sorts, with faint daylight seeping from some next room. The flooring is marble tile.

The next level down is a large storage room half-filled with crates and barrels.

[jemmus]

Anyone know that song?

Oh yeah. Public Image Ltd. (PiL). John Lydon (Johnny Rotten), Jah Wobble, Andy Levine (with his aluminum guitar with a garnet), and a drummer. So good! https://youtu.be/ylOCIP54PIQ?si=y1RcoWGjPpAD56k4

Delx
All the way to the top then. By the way, I wonder where that fey went. Keep an eye, ear and nose out for, eh Black Dog?

[Grognardsw]

At the level below the summit, Elcroon thought, hmmm, a large storage room half-filled with crates and barrels.

“Barrel and crate indicate
Items of worth to investigate,”

the musicmancer did articulate to Delx and Bishop. If his compatriots agreed, Elcroon stepped into the room with the others. He motioned for Black Dog to sniff about for lurking creatures, and the Woodman to walk about to trigger possible traps. Did the crates and barrels bear labels or markings?

If all was okay, Elcroon had the Woodman open the crates and barrels (should they be trapped) while the humans stood near the elevator. If all was safe, the paranoid prestidigitator would then approach for a closer look.

I wonder if we have lost Juramenta; he hasn’t been online for two weeks.

How many levels did Elcroon count on the way up?

Now I know a "new" band.

Yes that song Rise is 39 years young. Now that makes me feel old.

[Grognardsw]

[tibbius]

The stickmaton pries open several crates and barrels. Mouldering flour, unidentifiable pulp, withered salt meat, etc. Nothing of value.

[jemmus]

Disappointing, Delx says. Lead on if you would, friend Elcroon. You've go a better grasp of the the layout of this dwarven hall than I do.

[Grognardsw]

Elcroon looked for a door or passage leaving from the storeroom.

If none, he and the others stepped back into the elevator and went up one floor to the top summit level.

From before, how many levels did Elcroon count on the way up?

[tibbius]

Elcroon counted seven levels bottom to top.

There are three exits from this large store room; let's call them A, B, and C. Each exit has a solid wooden door set in it.

[Grognardsw]

Elcroon looked to the others.

“A door to explore
before we leave the floor?”