chapter 2 - heirlooms

[Pulpatoon]

Salt Peter coughs. "I... er, I find meself caught b'tween promises.

"I told ther 'obgoblins we wouldn't spill ther beans 'bout their presence ter Mom 'til they was ready. An' takin' this crew back is tantamount ter telling 'er ourselves, as they is likely ter blab as fast as they kin work their biscuit-flaps.

"An' I tol' this sorry sacka'dung," here he delivers a toe-jab at Criscor, "that'd I'd leave 'im be when we left 'ere in exchange for information on ther plaques—information that appears ter 'ave panned out, upstairs."

The small creature rubs his chin. "But ther 'obgoblins left this crew alive, mostly, so p'rahps they don' care so much, after all. An' Criscor 'ere 'ad ther temerity ter doubt me good word, which, by my reckonin', erases any obler-gation to keep that word."

Shrugging, he finishes whatever rudimentary moral calculation his brain his capable of and says, "Fine, we kin bind 'em inna line an' lead back ter ther outpost.

"An' ther third plaque's down ber-low. Criscor's like a dog that can't leave 'is bones buried in one spot."

[hedgeknight]

Pulp > I never tire of "hearing" Salty talk Glad yer back!

Graela begins checking the bindings on the bandits. "Dig around and find that third plaque and let's get the hell outta here! Got a bad feeling about hanging out around here for too long a time."

[Mant72]

Tip:

"Yes, let us find the last heirloom and be gone from here. I too sense ill tidings for those who linger." Tip proceeds to makes his way to the basement (area 14).

[Pulpatoon]

Salt Peter, to Tip: "Belay that a moment, lad. We needs ter divide ourselves wi' reason an' foresight. Someboddies gots ter keep watch on ther captive crew... an' we need ter keep an eye on this stray ye picked up." He points at the gnome. "An' there's a chance o' either party encounterin' danger. So, who heads below decks, an' who stays amidships?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Travix

You lads aren't getting wet feet out here in the wild, are you?

It is late in the evening and I for one must rest. Why would we want to leave a shelter such as this just to sleep out in the woods? Let us set up a watch, get some rest, and head out in the morning. Barny and I can take first watch if you like.

[hedgeknight]

Graela gives Travix a nod and says, "I'll stay here with the prisoners. Take Hennoth and go below to search for the third plaque. Holler if you run into trouble."

[Pulpatoon]

Salt Peter reminds Travix just how much traffic seems to run through this old ruin. "We innerupted ther bandits, ther 'obgoblins innerupted us, an' you bumbed inter ther gnome-fella, all in the space of, what, an hour? Plumb near ennybody might pop in next, an' this place tain't easy ter secure."He hooks a thumb at the gaping hole in the wall. "I'm all fer findin' ther plaque an settin' off. I'd druther sleep in a tree."

[coil23]

The gnome smiles and nods affably to Salt Peter. A stray to keep an eye on? I don't think so. I will walk anytime I please, gentlemen. I'm just curious to see what you find. He walks over to the fire and gets some stew, looking critically at the stuff for a second before pulling a wooden spoon from his pack and trying some. He then sits in the front left corner of the room, making sure not to sit too close to the nearest bound prisoner.

Hennoth nods soberly at his instructions to accompany Tip and Travix. The three of you proceed down the back right hall to another room (13). A lone lit torch gutters on the wall, revealing trash strewn on the floor. By the smell this room has been used as a urinal in the not too distant past. There is a wide, dark stone staircase going down into darkness (14). There is a foul smell from down in the darkness, though different from the latrine scent around you on this floor. A few small empty flasks are scattered on the floor at the head of the stairs.

[Mant72]

Tip:

Leading the trio, Tip kneels to examine the broken flasks on the floor before descending the stairs. He picks up one of the flask fragments, gives its a smell, and searches the other pieces for any liquid that might remain.

[OGRE MAGE]

Travix follows the Halfling, looking all around for anything that might be dangerous.

The smell is unnatural down here. We should get that Criscor fella to lead the way into this mess. If they know what is down here, maybe making him go in first might reveal more secrets of this place. Better him getting stuck or clawed by some ghoulish fiend than one of us, right?

[Mant72]

Tip:

Tip looks up from investigating the flasks, and answers Travix, "Aye, good idea. I wouldn't put it past him to try to send us to our dooms."

[OGRE MAGE]

Travix shouts up the stairs.

Would one of you please escort the bandit leader down here to use as a battering ram and general purpose undead bait, please!

He gives the young cleric a wink to assure him that he was only kidding.......maybe.

[Pulpatoon]

Salt Peter cocks and ear to the yelling of his companions. Hauling himself up from his seated position, he responds, "AYE! Wit'chyer inna minnit!"

To Barnaby, he says, "Ye've a right ter plot yer own course, master gnome, but we'd be obliged if'n ye'd abstain from scamperin' just yet."

To Graela: "I hope ye don' mind keeping the rest o' this lot company, yet again."

Using the butt of his axe to none-too-gently coax Criscor into a standing position, he leads the bandit, still hooded and bound, after Tip and Travix. "Careful where ye step, now. I'd be all manner o' unconsolable if'n ye fell an' broke yer neck."

[coil23]

Hennoth looks at Travix, eyes wide. This is a tough crowd, he says softly.

As Salt Peter prods Criscor into a standing position, angry, muffled sounds issue forth from the hood. The bandit seems to have trouble with balance as you push him into walking: bumping into walls, stumbling to his knees. He seems to be trying to follow your directions though.

Tip, Travix, Salt Peter, Hennoth all stand at the top of the stairs looking down into the darkness. Criscor stands beside Salt Peter, swaying on his feet.

[hedgeknight]

Graela watches as Salty gets Criscor going and then turns back to the gnome. "Where you going after this?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Travix

You know where you are, Criscor. Now, lead us to what we seek and we will be on our merry way. And don't try any funny stuff if you ever want to see the light of day again.

The mage winks at the boy cleric again.

[coil23]

Barnaby looks up at Graela, Not sure at the moment. Figure I can't go back the way I came with all the goblins sweeping this way. I was skirting the hills to avoid the weirdness in the woods. Once I hit a trade route I'll pick a direction. Of course if I really get ambitious I can always rob the wrong people and get myself a pretty hat like this fine fellow. He snickers behind his hand while indicating Criscor with his chin.

Criscor starts feeling his way forward with one foot. As he tries to take the first step he loses his balance and tumbles awkwardly down the stairs. You can make out his crumpled form dimly at the bottom of the stairs, groaning and struggling to sit up.

[Pulpatoon]

Salt Peter, peering down at Criscor. "Well, 'e dinnint seem too worried about what might be at ther bottom o' them stairs, eh?"

He trots down the stairs, and attempts to help Criscor up, but, barely reaching the man's knees, really isn't quite up to the job. "Travix, ye towering great spar, gimme a 'and, wontcha?"

[coil23]

Hennoth strides down the stairs to help the halfling get Criscor back to his feet.

The stairs end at the corner of what looks to have been a storeroom. Old barrels, moldy sacks, a few broken crates are against the walls in the portion of the room illuminated from the head of the stairs. Salt Peter and Hennoth can dimly see a wall about 40 feet ahead of them and the left wall looks about 30 feet away, a completely dark area on this wall shows a passage that looks to be the only exit from the room besides the stairs up. Immediately to your left is a stack of unlit torches. Travix and Tip stand looking down the stairs at the trio.

[Mant72]

Tip:

Tip makes his way down the stairs to join his companions. He then picks up one of the torches and lights it so that they can further explore the place.

Are we able to recognize the smell now that we are down here?