DCC#8(IC):: Mactire's Misfits

[HolyMan]

The lavish room in which you sit is both grand and grotusque. The ceiling is vaulted to heights even darkvision cannot penetrate, the darkness concealing... what? The walls still have traces of gold in them, the vein mined but not to total extraction. And the decore is something out of a spider's dream, gauzy drapes like webs sway in a light brezze from cracks and crevices. The stuffed remains of a cave bear in on corner and the armor of some ancient race in another look to be caught in the webs as they move to the breeze. An onyx table all one huge block rests in the center with skulls piled in the center, candles atop almost everyone of them casting pale white and yellow light on the mercenaries gathered together.

A dark bearded dwarf wearing an outfit with more pockets than there seems room for, and a thin bladed raiper on his hip. He looks about the room with cool blue eyes.

A hulking, savage brute of fair skin. His massive frame is intimidating even without the extra pair of arms growing out his sides. Normally, his dark brown hair simply hangs about his head, adding to his wild appearance. A light stubble is ever-present on his face. Speaking of his face, it is just as tough-looking as the rest of him… As long, thin scar runs from above his left eye down to the center of his left cheek and a nasty jagged claw mark runs just below his jaw on the right side. And his neck looks like it was bitten by a wolf at some point long ago. His brutish features are generally set in some kind of scowl, and when he snarls or grimaces (as he is wont to do), sharpened (though very clean) teeth are easily visible.

Wearing a suit of finely crafted silvery platemail, which also seems to accommodate his extra limbs. A well-worn pack is slung over his (upper) left shoulder, while heavy gauntlets and thick leather boots adorn his hands and feet. Normally, he would look impressive enough, though not particularly extraordinary. However, the two massive, blue-white glowing arms and vicious looking claws end their hands and his natural hands, which wear smaller, furred gloves of their own. He also sports what looks like a fur shirt over his armor, though it seems to shift and patches appear and disappear. On top of all this, a golden brown cloak of feathers and fur wraps itself around his shoulders and back.

And a drow male whose skin is so dark it seems the shadows are but gray when he is in them. His short stature and thin frame is topped by the traditional ivory white hair. It appears he has no weapon about his person.

The Matron Mother done in the chamber next to this room they wait for her arrival.

Group 1

Theroc Drow Sorcerer/Warlock/Eldritch Theurge (Telos Vesper)
Mowgli Dwarven Rogue (Seilg Scatchford)
Dragonwriter Human Totemist/Warblade/Bloodclaw Master (Gar Heavyclaws)
s@squ@tch Drow Cleric/Paragon (Derrenil Llirthyn)

GAME ON!!

LINKS:
http://www.enworld.org/forum/talking...cuirtment.html
Audience Chamber (MotD RG)
DCC#8(OOC)::Mactire's Misfits

[Theroc]

Telos mutters to himself, grumbling about the distraction from his experimentation which took place in the Vesper House quarters, far away from prying eyes, even those of his brethren. He studied his magic vigilantly, though was occasionally dragged out of his experimentation to oversee a particular group of peoples. He did not dislike them, perse, but he resented the interruption in his work. Though, occasionally these trips result in breakthroughs in his research in melding his unknown talents with the raw magic in his blood.

"They've brought me here again? What in Lolth's name are they going to make me oversee this time?" He muttered to himself, his outlandish garb fluttering a bit. He'd paid an arm and a leg, but he acquired himself a set of diaphanous violet robe of spidersilk which hung about his frame. It was impeccably clean, a result of both very clean habits and forcing one of his few slaves to perform magic to ensure it was spotless before he left his home.

"I just hope this one goes more smoothly than the LAST adventure they sent me upon. My clothes got absolutely ruined..."

[Mowgli]

"Hóigh, Telos! I see you've still got the sun shining outta yer arse! They requisition you to keep the upstarts in line again?"

[Dragonwriter]

Gar paces in the chamber, his four arms crossed over his chest and his scarred face set in scowl. He's slightly grateful for the light, but wouldn't care much either way. A true hunter can find his prey without vision.

Gar snorts as Seilg chatters, but he's used to the dwarf's banter. "Long as the pay's good, I don't mind him tagging along. So long as he doesn't catch me in any of his magics."

[HolyMan]

"I assure you the pay will be quite good, beastman." The Matron Mother says as she enters the room from a magically dark corner that hid her presences. She is followed by a priestess, judging by the grab and demeanor of the newcomer.

"This time it is not your job to keep the hired help in check, Telos. You were summoned do to the nature of this 'ship' its magical nature. Derrenil here," she says gesturing to ther priestess "will make sure our interests are secured. This is to important to trust to any man."

Taking a seat at the head of the table the matron of House Cadryenne smiles, "Now besides payment is there anything else you wish to discuss?" she asks the group.

s@squ@tch

You weren't told much except you were to accompany the mercenaries on this quest and add to their success. And make sure they didn't run off.

[Dragonwriter]

Gar stops pacing as the matron appears. He nods to her, pretty much the strongest gesture of respect the near-feral warrior can give to anyone.

"Funny you say that, considering that each other person on this job is a male... But there is more I wanna discuss other than pay. Like, what in the Nine Hells is the job?" Gar realizes his short outburst and raised voice could get him into trouble so he continues, mellowing out, "we've done retrieval work before, but I gotta know something about what we're getting for you, at least so we know what it is we're supposed to grab. And what we can expect to find guarding it, seeing as you wouldn't hire us if it was easy..."

[HolyMan]

"You are to retrieve this weapon that killed a whole drow patrol, I want it and it's secerts." The Matron Mother says heatedly. Spiders seem to crawl all about from under her chair, as if to get away from her anger. More camly she says, "I know only it was like a flying ship of bone. The lone survivor did not survive long enough to tell us more than that."

The Matron Mother sits calmly now, as a volcano is calm before eruption.

[Theroc]

"A flying ship of bone... hmm... fascinating... I suppose we should take great care, if it destroyed an entire patrol so easily..." The man notes, obviously pondering the nature of a flying boneship, as well as any number of experiments that may include such a thing in his research on empowering the magic in his blood.

[Mowgli]

"Pay is of course important - this is how we make our living, after all. We'll also need a direction to start. After that, I reckon you can just let us be about our business and we'll get your little ship to you safe and sound."

[HolyMan]

"Yes your reward," she says clapping her hands once. Two minotaur slaves bring a large chest into the room and set it on the table.

Pulling back the lid the Matron Mother says, "This will be yours after you help me secure that weapon." Looking into the chest everyone notices it is filled with gold, gems, and jewels.

Seeing the looks on the groups face she slams down the lid and shouts, "Now go! The weapon is somewhere to the east find it, bring it to me quickly."

ooc

Reward equals about 9,000gp each

[Dragonwriter]

Gar has to mightily resist reaching for the chest with his four massive arms. He stands, gives a half-bow to the Matron Mother and starts walking, saying quietly to himself, "East, she says. Great directions... And I'll never get how they know north from their noses down here..."

[Mowgli]

Seilg's eyes light at the sight of the coins and gems. "Well, that seems to be about the right price, Lady. East, you say? Nothing more detailed? Oh, well . . . a walking we will go, I guess."

With that, the dapper dwarf turns and follows Gar.

[s@squ@tch]

The drow priestess looks over the assembled creatures before her with a harsh glare from her blazing red eyes, partially covered by her mane of long, white hair.

She had seen many things in her time, but the multi-armed thing was quite foreign to her.

Seeing a drow male was somewhat of a relief, but still kept her on guard -- she had had an occasional run-in with a drow male who had political and social savvy. But most of the times, they soon cowered before her.

The dwarf appeared to slip beneath her radar -- nothing about him rung an alarm bells.

She nodded a goodbye to the Matron mother, then followed behind the others, acting bored and indifferent, but listening intently, gauging their every move and word.

HM

HM - what is my relation to the Matron Mother? Do I have any vested interest in the Matron Mother's aspirations?

[Theroc]

Telos nodded to himself, muttering somewhat incoherently on theories until the other Drow woman was presented. Being himself more progressive than others for the most part, he bowed as a sign of respect and acknowledgement of the addition, nodding faintly.

"Yes, yes. Males are so much less reliable than females... based on hearsay..." He mumbled at the insinuation of his unreliability. However, he smiled somewhat pleasantly at the woman, nefore his expression became blank musing once more. "Well, let's be off to randomly search the 'east' for clues as to this ship that might well kill us all!"

[HolyMan]

Leaving the Matron Mother's abode the group enters the main cavern and compound of House Cadryenne. The home/cathedral of Laurossil (the matron mother), is carved fom the side of the cavern wall to look like a giant stone web. There are numerous outer buildings and structures. Most of these are forbidden to outsiders and only one The Tempest, a place where travelers can stay, will even tolerate anyone not of House Cadryenne.

To the west the main "road " leads to Gloomveil a drow city and power center, and to the east is the central cavern and nexus point that connects House Cadryenne to other areas of the underdark.

ooc

The Tempest will have a few basic suppiles and goods should you need anything during the game. Also you may be able to buy potions from the temple located in the Matron Mother's home.

[HolyMan]

The party heads out and away from the compound to wards the eastern cavern. They take a smooth tunnel at first but it soon becomes a rough and natural slope. it takes the party nearly an hour till they arrive at the destination "east".

The underground vista from this natural balcony is so beautiful that surface
 dwellers simply cannot imagine it. If they knew of wonders such as this
 cavern, they would surely come below and attempt to steal it away from
 the inhabitants of the deep places.
 
From this vantage point, the entire cavern can be seen in a faint green and
 purple light, illluminated by the patches of glow moss below. The cavern
 streches well beyond the edges of the light. It is over one hundred feet 
from floor to ceiling, reaching over one hundred fifty feet high in some places.
 Stalactites and stalagmites reach like skeletal fingers from floor and ceiling
 to meet each other, creating coulmns of red and black basalt or green and
 white limestone.
 
The constant sound of distant dripping water echoes throughout the cavern.
 The occasional bat swoops down to pluck a small lizard off arock, and a rat 
scurries along the pasty clay floor, searching for mushroom spores to eat.
 
Five large tunnels are known to exit this cavern, away from House Cadryenne,
 like a delicate drow hand reaching into the underdeep. 

ooc

Things writin and put into a code box will be out of the module. This cavern is about 500 feet wide and 1,100 feet long. The tunnels I will mark as follows:

Upper North--unexploered
North--unexploered
Center--unexploered
South--unexplored
Lower South--unexplored

Let me no a direction please.

[Mowgli]

"Well ladies, any suggestions? I'm thinking we start with the Upper North and work our way 'round."

Stat Block

   HP: 63/63     AC: 20   AC(T): 14   AC(FF): 16
 Init: +04    ST(F):+04   ST(R):+10    ST(W):+03

  BAB: +06/+01          Grapple:+08

Weapon                        Attack    Damage      Critical   Special
Rapier (+1)                    +09      1d6+03      18-20/x2   20% Miss
Punch Dagger (+1)              +09      1d4+03         20/x3   20% Miss
Composite Shortbow             +10      1d6            20/x3
Dagger                         +10      1d4+02      19-20/x2

[Dragonwriter]

Gar's four arms shrug in unison. "Mayswell."

The hulking human digs an everburning torch out of his haversack and ties it onto the worn pack. He'd rather not be blind, even if it does let others know they're coming.

[s@squ@tch]

Derrenil crosses her arms and shakes her head.

"If you won't put that thing out, then you jeopardize all of our positions."

She then heads off to the upper northern tunnel, her senses alert, and footstops quiet.

OOC

Move Silently +15, Hide +10, Listen/Spot +10. Darkvision 120'.

[Theroc]

Telos muttered to himself, looking about as well. He looks at Gar momentarily as the other Drow spoke.

"We most certainly don't need the light, with the exception of Gar here. So long as we can be reasonably certain Derrenil will warn us of any approaching threat, we are much better off in the dark..."

Of course, the Sorceror was not particularly worried either way. His vision extended farther in the light, which allowed him to see a threat coming and affect it from a longer range. However... the majority of his talents work as far as he himself could see in the dark, so the light was no major boon.

"As for our direction, allow me to gaze about briefly..." As he did so, the Drow allowed the magic in his blood to empower his vision, seeking the traces of magic anywhere about himself.

OOC

Telos is using his "Detect Magic" ability, and will concentrate as long as he needs to. Though, if the group moves, he will move with them, continuing to search diligently for any traces of magic to point them out to the others.