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Memoirs of a Lawyer turned Dungeoncrawler (Updated May 13, 2008)
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<blockquote data-quote="Altalazar" data-source="post: 3667314" data-attributes="member: 939"><p>Sir Cordozo – Chapter Two-Hundred Twenty-Four – Through the Looking Glass</p><p></p><p> I connected my mind and body to my companions and boosted them with strong layers of protection. I even boosted an ectoplasmic companion and Valaria, whom I summoned to join us before our journey. Then we stepped through one by one, my huge ectoplasmic companion going first. Not until I arrived did I realize that there was a bit of a timing problem. </p><p> When I arrived, my ectoplasmic companion was gone. It turned out that Ee had been there quite some time before me, even though I was right behind him. Stranger still, we found out that time flowed there slower, not faster, than in our own plane. There must have been something about the portal in transition that gave the reverse effect. </p><p> In any case, I quickly found Moonstone in her magical prison. Once we were all there, we prepared for an ambush through the only door to the room and I attempted to disintegrate the magical circle holding Moonstone. Instead, I removed a chunk of rock from the floor that quickly filled with magma from some infinite source below. It appeared that we were on some sub-layer of the abyss, a demi-plane home to some unpleasant beings. </p><p> Moonstone informed us that she had prohesized that we would be triumphant. Beyond that, the details were a little hazy. She did inform us that the other two inhabitants of this complex were Pit Fiends. Devils of the abyss. Well, at least we know they didn’t hire us. That’s a demon’s job. </p><p> Higgins attempted to speak to the efreet. Higgins knows and speaks all languages through some special means of magic. The efreet, though, was uninterested in talking. The only reaction he gave was to Higgins’s question regarding his availablility for employment when his current task was done. To that, he simply raised an eyebrow and kept on pounding away at the adamantine. </p><p> Lacking any immediate means of freeing Moonstone, we decided to explore further. The efreet seemed quite content to keep pounding away on a breastplate while we searched. I could tell Ee wanted to fight it, but we talked him out of it. </p><p> With no lock on this side of the metal door leading from this room, Morwen could not unlock it, so I disintegrated it and then we moved on. Beyond the door was a hall heading in two directions, split like a ‘V.’ We took the right branch. I left a new ectoplasmic companion guarding the left branch, to warn us of any approach. We found a rather large bedroom The furniture left no doubt that the occupant had large wings to contend with, both for sleeping and for sitting at its desk. </p><p> The next room was a summoning room of some sort. A magic circle inscribed inside a magical triangle filled the floor. Higgins informed me that this was a very ancient way to summon. Apparently triangles are long disfavored and safe-summoning manuals all require the double-circle now. I pointed out to Higgins that despite that, if the Pit Fiends upgraded to a double circle, this could not be used as evidence of negligence in using a circle-in-triangle (in the event of a summoning gone bad), because otherwise, there would be disincentive to correct problems. </p><p> Sitting on a table in the summoning room was a wand, apparently used to inflict harm on a summoned creature in order to help control it. Given that it only spat out magic missiles, it was doubtful that it was very effective. </p><p> The next room was apparently the kitchen. The smells wafting out would have smelled good to us, had we been evil devils who enjoyed the taste of gnome flesh. As it was, it smelled putrid. Then Morwen cracked the door open. </p><p></p><p> Sir Cordozo – Chapter Two-Hundred Twenty-Five – Gnome is what’s for dinner</p><p></p><p> Two pit fiends stood at separate counters preparing dinner. The room was absolutely huge – they could have boned an ancient dragon in there. As it was, they had only a single small table, upon which a gnome lay. Marcus did not need to look at the gnome for long to determine that he needed a recall from the afterworld, not healing. </p><p> We retreated down the hall so Higgins could cast a few protective spells (what few he had left after using them all up earlier to no avail) and I added a few protections of my own. Then we returned to the door and Larch (in the form of a wolf) summoned an ape and I summoned forth another ectoplasmic friend (my seond having already expired in our explorations) and then Ee charged into the room. </p><p> Ee was large in stature, thanks to Higgins, as was Nin. Ee managed to get the door open and halfway through before Nin charged past him and right up to the Pit Fiend. Then an ape appeared next to him. The next moment, both the ape and Nin were running away screaming, an aura of fear overcoming them both. Higgins reacted quickly, casting a spell of heroism on Ee, protecting his mind from fear and enhancing his prowess in battle. </p><p> Before Higgins could turn his magic on Morwen, she had already bound into the room, her arrows flying. Higgins soon ran after, and gave her the same boost as Ee before turning his attention to Nin. A few moments later, Nin’s enchantment of fear had been dissipated by Higgins’s magic. </p><p> My ectoplasmic friend had little effect on the beast. Then both fiends turned to the doorway. Higgins was still hidden by his magic, but I was not. They sent forth two balls of fire each at us. Thinking quickly, I dampened the blast of the first, but I could not dampen the rest, and so fire washed over all of us in four successive waves. Thankfully, Higgins’ protections held strong and so most of us had nary a burned hair from the blasts. </p><p> Apparently unsatisified with that result, the fiends then both sent forth waves of magical rocks against us that, upon impact, exploded into even more balls of fire. Higgins’ protections again saved us, though the rocks that impacted myself had no effect at all as my own resistance against enchantments held firm. The fiends then charged forward, one against Ee, the outher coming around the table to engage Ee from the other side. It was then that I struck back. </p><p> At the speed of thought I sent forth a quick ray of distintegration against the fiend coming around the table. It easily shrugged it off, as my power failed to penetrate its powerful resistance. Undaunted, I lined up my aim, filled myself with maximum empowerment, and tried again, and this time, I struck the creature dead in the chest. The fiend then vanished into a pile of dust, a small pendant falling to the floor from where its neck once stood. </p><p> The other Pit Fiend screamed in agony and rage. I turned my mind toward it and tried to crush it, but never quite managed to get past its strong will. Ee, Morwen, and Nin surrounded it (with the help of my ectoplasmic friend) and slowly wore it down. </p><p> I could feel a surge of power from within the fiend’s mind. It was calling to mind its most awesome power. I could hear its thoughts begin to form as it stated “I wish I were totally he…” but its words were cut short as Nin’s chain snapped into its throat, and then through it, ripping out the arteries from its neck. The only sounds remamaining were the gurgling of blood drowning out its dying breath, as it was unable to complete the words to its enchantment. Then there was a dull “thud” as its massive body fell to the stone floor. Then silence. </p><p> </p><p> Sir Cordozo – Chapter Two-Hundred Twenty-Six – Gnome no more, then more gnomes. </p><p></p><p> Larch, still a wolf, walked up to the table where the gnome lay. He then touched his paw to the corpse, and began druidic incantations. Soon thereafter, we had a naked halfling looking rather confused. Then he turned and saw his former body in the form of a corpse, cooked, and seasoned for eating. And thus, one of the great mysteries of the universe was solved. When one is reincarnated into a new body, there is, in fact, nothing in one’s stomach if one is inclined to vomit all over one’s shoes. Or in this case, over two pair of hairy, but bare, halfling feet. </p><p> I silently decided to myself that it would probably be best for this new halfling/former gnome to have his memory erased of that particular sight. One never needs to see the visual associated with the literal fulfillment of having one’s goose cooked. </p><p> We completed our circuit of the complex, finding a few other rooms but nothing much of interest, save the ten still-living gnomes that apparently were on special the last time these Pit Fiends went out for food. We freed them. </p><p> The pendant that had fallen from the neck of the disintegrated fiend was a key to unlock Moonstone’s prison, so we used it to free her. We found somewhere on the order of 114,000 gold coins worth of coins, gems, and valuables in the complex, making the trip somewhat worthwhile. The 40,000 gold piece reward for rescuing Moonstone made that even better. We managed to get that despite coming back later than three weeks. Apparently time moves faster on the abyss, so two months passed at home while only two days passed there. That could come in handy sometime. </p><p> We waited two days so the efreet could finish his work. He then picked up his tools and left, leaving his craftsmanship behind. The adamantine full plate and bastard sword, both large, were a good portion of the 114,000 mentioned above. </p><p> Much had happened in our absence. </p><p></p><p> Sir Cordozo – Chapter Two-Hundred Twenty-Seven – King’s Contest </p><p></p><p> My stronghold was long since completed when I returned, and my network of informats well-established. The first thing they informed me of was the official announcement of the King’s Contest for an adventuring company. The screening process involved one-on-one combat with the King’s champion. Those who survived it with enough points would become the king’s new adventuring company, with all of the perks that go along with such a distinction. </p><p> I still want a noble title of my own, a meaningful one. The King has not said what he intends to do about the baron or the troop plans I gave him. But this adventuring group should be a step up. We would get the king’s resources and his authority, including authority over his subjects. We could even give orders to nobles, but only those of Knight rank or lower. Thus, by my reckoning, we would be above Knights in status. That would be a step up from where I am now. </p><p> The other perks and resources were nice, but not ultimately what I am after. I want my own lands, my own title, and at the very least, my own province. Having the royal coffers and lands available to use as resources to aid quests is all well and good, but it grants me nothing toward my ultimate goal. But I must be patient. (And if patience is difficult I suppose I can always go visit the fiends’ home). I know I can work this to my advantage.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Altalazar, post: 3667314, member: 939"] Sir Cordozo – Chapter Two-Hundred Twenty-Four – Through the Looking Glass I connected my mind and body to my companions and boosted them with strong layers of protection. I even boosted an ectoplasmic companion and Valaria, whom I summoned to join us before our journey. Then we stepped through one by one, my huge ectoplasmic companion going first. Not until I arrived did I realize that there was a bit of a timing problem. When I arrived, my ectoplasmic companion was gone. It turned out that Ee had been there quite some time before me, even though I was right behind him. Stranger still, we found out that time flowed there slower, not faster, than in our own plane. There must have been something about the portal in transition that gave the reverse effect. In any case, I quickly found Moonstone in her magical prison. Once we were all there, we prepared for an ambush through the only door to the room and I attempted to disintegrate the magical circle holding Moonstone. Instead, I removed a chunk of rock from the floor that quickly filled with magma from some infinite source below. It appeared that we were on some sub-layer of the abyss, a demi-plane home to some unpleasant beings. Moonstone informed us that she had prohesized that we would be triumphant. Beyond that, the details were a little hazy. She did inform us that the other two inhabitants of this complex were Pit Fiends. Devils of the abyss. Well, at least we know they didn’t hire us. That’s a demon’s job. Higgins attempted to speak to the efreet. Higgins knows and speaks all languages through some special means of magic. The efreet, though, was uninterested in talking. The only reaction he gave was to Higgins’s question regarding his availablility for employment when his current task was done. To that, he simply raised an eyebrow and kept on pounding away at the adamantine. Lacking any immediate means of freeing Moonstone, we decided to explore further. The efreet seemed quite content to keep pounding away on a breastplate while we searched. I could tell Ee wanted to fight it, but we talked him out of it. With no lock on this side of the metal door leading from this room, Morwen could not unlock it, so I disintegrated it and then we moved on. Beyond the door was a hall heading in two directions, split like a ‘V.’ We took the right branch. I left a new ectoplasmic companion guarding the left branch, to warn us of any approach. We found a rather large bedroom The furniture left no doubt that the occupant had large wings to contend with, both for sleeping and for sitting at its desk. The next room was a summoning room of some sort. A magic circle inscribed inside a magical triangle filled the floor. Higgins informed me that this was a very ancient way to summon. Apparently triangles are long disfavored and safe-summoning manuals all require the double-circle now. I pointed out to Higgins that despite that, if the Pit Fiends upgraded to a double circle, this could not be used as evidence of negligence in using a circle-in-triangle (in the event of a summoning gone bad), because otherwise, there would be disincentive to correct problems. Sitting on a table in the summoning room was a wand, apparently used to inflict harm on a summoned creature in order to help control it. Given that it only spat out magic missiles, it was doubtful that it was very effective. The next room was apparently the kitchen. The smells wafting out would have smelled good to us, had we been evil devils who enjoyed the taste of gnome flesh. As it was, it smelled putrid. Then Morwen cracked the door open. Sir Cordozo – Chapter Two-Hundred Twenty-Five – Gnome is what’s for dinner Two pit fiends stood at separate counters preparing dinner. The room was absolutely huge – they could have boned an ancient dragon in there. As it was, they had only a single small table, upon which a gnome lay. Marcus did not need to look at the gnome for long to determine that he needed a recall from the afterworld, not healing. We retreated down the hall so Higgins could cast a few protective spells (what few he had left after using them all up earlier to no avail) and I added a few protections of my own. Then we returned to the door and Larch (in the form of a wolf) summoned an ape and I summoned forth another ectoplasmic friend (my seond having already expired in our explorations) and then Ee charged into the room. Ee was large in stature, thanks to Higgins, as was Nin. Ee managed to get the door open and halfway through before Nin charged past him and right up to the Pit Fiend. Then an ape appeared next to him. The next moment, both the ape and Nin were running away screaming, an aura of fear overcoming them both. Higgins reacted quickly, casting a spell of heroism on Ee, protecting his mind from fear and enhancing his prowess in battle. Before Higgins could turn his magic on Morwen, she had already bound into the room, her arrows flying. Higgins soon ran after, and gave her the same boost as Ee before turning his attention to Nin. A few moments later, Nin’s enchantment of fear had been dissipated by Higgins’s magic. My ectoplasmic friend had little effect on the beast. Then both fiends turned to the doorway. Higgins was still hidden by his magic, but I was not. They sent forth two balls of fire each at us. Thinking quickly, I dampened the blast of the first, but I could not dampen the rest, and so fire washed over all of us in four successive waves. Thankfully, Higgins’ protections held strong and so most of us had nary a burned hair from the blasts. Apparently unsatisified with that result, the fiends then both sent forth waves of magical rocks against us that, upon impact, exploded into even more balls of fire. Higgins’ protections again saved us, though the rocks that impacted myself had no effect at all as my own resistance against enchantments held firm. The fiends then charged forward, one against Ee, the outher coming around the table to engage Ee from the other side. It was then that I struck back. At the speed of thought I sent forth a quick ray of distintegration against the fiend coming around the table. It easily shrugged it off, as my power failed to penetrate its powerful resistance. Undaunted, I lined up my aim, filled myself with maximum empowerment, and tried again, and this time, I struck the creature dead in the chest. The fiend then vanished into a pile of dust, a small pendant falling to the floor from where its neck once stood. The other Pit Fiend screamed in agony and rage. I turned my mind toward it and tried to crush it, but never quite managed to get past its strong will. Ee, Morwen, and Nin surrounded it (with the help of my ectoplasmic friend) and slowly wore it down. I could feel a surge of power from within the fiend’s mind. It was calling to mind its most awesome power. I could hear its thoughts begin to form as it stated “I wish I were totally he…” but its words were cut short as Nin’s chain snapped into its throat, and then through it, ripping out the arteries from its neck. The only sounds remamaining were the gurgling of blood drowning out its dying breath, as it was unable to complete the words to its enchantment. Then there was a dull “thud” as its massive body fell to the stone floor. Then silence. Sir Cordozo – Chapter Two-Hundred Twenty-Six – Gnome no more, then more gnomes. Larch, still a wolf, walked up to the table where the gnome lay. He then touched his paw to the corpse, and began druidic incantations. Soon thereafter, we had a naked halfling looking rather confused. Then he turned and saw his former body in the form of a corpse, cooked, and seasoned for eating. And thus, one of the great mysteries of the universe was solved. When one is reincarnated into a new body, there is, in fact, nothing in one’s stomach if one is inclined to vomit all over one’s shoes. Or in this case, over two pair of hairy, but bare, halfling feet. I silently decided to myself that it would probably be best for this new halfling/former gnome to have his memory erased of that particular sight. One never needs to see the visual associated with the literal fulfillment of having one’s goose cooked. We completed our circuit of the complex, finding a few other rooms but nothing much of interest, save the ten still-living gnomes that apparently were on special the last time these Pit Fiends went out for food. We freed them. The pendant that had fallen from the neck of the disintegrated fiend was a key to unlock Moonstone’s prison, so we used it to free her. We found somewhere on the order of 114,000 gold coins worth of coins, gems, and valuables in the complex, making the trip somewhat worthwhile. The 40,000 gold piece reward for rescuing Moonstone made that even better. We managed to get that despite coming back later than three weeks. Apparently time moves faster on the abyss, so two months passed at home while only two days passed there. That could come in handy sometime. We waited two days so the efreet could finish his work. He then picked up his tools and left, leaving his craftsmanship behind. The adamantine full plate and bastard sword, both large, were a good portion of the 114,000 mentioned above. Much had happened in our absence. Sir Cordozo – Chapter Two-Hundred Twenty-Seven – King’s Contest My stronghold was long since completed when I returned, and my network of informats well-established. The first thing they informed me of was the official announcement of the King’s Contest for an adventuring company. The screening process involved one-on-one combat with the King’s champion. Those who survived it with enough points would become the king’s new adventuring company, with all of the perks that go along with such a distinction. I still want a noble title of my own, a meaningful one. The King has not said what he intends to do about the baron or the troop plans I gave him. But this adventuring group should be a step up. We would get the king’s resources and his authority, including authority over his subjects. We could even give orders to nobles, but only those of Knight rank or lower. Thus, by my reckoning, we would be above Knights in status. That would be a step up from where I am now. The other perks and resources were nice, but not ultimately what I am after. I want my own lands, my own title, and at the very least, my own province. Having the royal coffers and lands available to use as resources to aid quests is all well and good, but it grants me nothing toward my ultimate goal. But I must be patient. (And if patience is difficult I suppose I can always go visit the fiends’ home). I know I can work this to my advantage. [/QUOTE]
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