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Sniktch's Story Hour Prelude - From the Beginning (UPDATED 04/22)
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<blockquote data-quote="Sniktch" data-source="post: 474303" data-attributes="member: 7704"><p><strong>The Big Chicken, pt. 2</strong></p><p></p><p>“Welby!!” Jack screamed, then snarled angrily, “Voltare!”</p><p></p><p>Grick was already past the dwarf and leaped over the newly formed statue, locking both of his fists together and bringing them down hard on the side of the cockatrice’s head. The monster screeched in pain and tried to flutter away from the monk, whipping him with its tail in the process. The sturdy half-orc resisted the attack easily and chased after the creature.</p><p></p><p>Artimas waited until he had a clear line of sight and then fired a ray of negative energy at the bird, scoring a hit and causing the skin to rot and fall away from the wound. Jack caught up to it then and beheaded it with a single swipe of his axe. The cockatrice fell to the floor and raced around for a minute with a fountain of blood spraying from the gaping wound before it finally collapsing and lying still.</p><p></p><p>Ike moved in and searched the area while the others regarded the still form of the halfling mournfully. “What’re we gonna do ‘bout this?” he heard Jack ask, but no one answered. Ike pulled the privy door open and made a surprising discovery.</p><p></p><p>“Uh, guys, I don’t think Welby is the cockatrice’s first victim,” he called over his shoulder.</p><p></p><p>Seated on the privy, with pants around his ankles, arms flung before him protectively, and an expression of shock etched onto his features, sat the stone form of a young dwarf. Despite the situation, Ike couldn’t help but shake his head in amusement. “Poor guy, I wonder if he got to finish his business before this happened. By Gruumsh, what an embarrassing way to go.”</p><p></p><p>With some help from Grick and Jack, he managed to wrest the rocky dwarf from his perch and carried him out into the main room. They set the statue beside Welby and then discussed what to do next.</p><p></p><p>“We have to head back and see what we can do for them,” Quinn stated brokenly. “Oh, how are we going to tell the Crow?”</p><p></p><p>“We can’t do anything for them,” Artimas replied coldly. “The magic needed to break such an enchantment is beyond any of our abilities. Hopefully someone in Travensburg will be able to help, but for now I say we continue.”</p><p></p><p>Eldred was shocked by the mage’s callousness. “How can you say that? He is your friend. Do you want us to just leave him here?”</p><p></p><p>“He will probably be as safe here as anywhere else. Not much you can do to stone,” the necromancer retorted. “Besides, we only have four more doors to explore in this section of the dungeons. Makes sense to finish checking this area so we don’t have to come back. As soon as we’re done, then we’ll carry the statues back to town and pray someone can undo this.”</p><p></p><p>His logic made a certain amount of sense, and they decided that Artimas presented the most practical course of action. Grick joined Jack in the front rank as they moved to the next two doors, the ‘Blackstone’ and ‘Rockhand’ residences. The ‘Blackstone’ clan hall proved to be deserted, but the old ‘Rockhand’ home was filled with thick layers of webbing. Jack and Grick kept a close eye on the ceiling as they crossed the threshold, and thus were not surprised when the pair of man-sized spiders dropped from the roof and attacked. </p><p></p><p>The pair made short work of the over-sized arachnids, receiving not a scratch in the ensuing scuffle. Grick asked Artimas to pass him the torch and set fire to the webs, noting several dog-sized spiders that scurried up the chimney before the flames spread. When the blaze died down, he informed the others of what he’d witnessed and volunteered to give chase.</p><p></p><p>He stepped into the hearth and gazed up the long shaft to the surface. A thick clump of debris or webbing blocked his sight about forty feet from the opening. Grick sighed and flexed his enormous arms before starting the ascent. Several feet up he came to a carved niche in the wall containing a small chest… and the spiders. They leaped upon him, fangs dripping poison, and he gave a cry of alarm and dropped back down to the floor.</p><p></p><p>Ike, standing next to the fireplace, saw the monk come crashing down covered with half a dozen large hairy forms. At least one had been crushed in the fall but the other vermin swarmed over Grick, biting him repeatedly as he struggled and thrashed in pain. Artimas barked a command word and fired a silvery bolt that killed one of the insects while Ike slapped one of the monk’s shoulder and crushed it before it could scamper away. Grick rolled over and squashed another beneath him, at the same time pulling the last spider free and crushing it between his hands. </p><p></p><p>The monk seemed to be alright after his ordeal, but he was left feeling weak and dizzy from the multiple bites. Quinn gave him a vial of antitoxin to drink to combat the effects of the toxins in his blood, while Ike took his place in the chimney and started to climb. He stopped at the alcove and retrieved the chest, dropping it to the floor before continuing his ascent. He continued upward until he reached the blocked area and found it to be a desiccated human skeleton lodged in a nest of webs, still wearing a suit of fine studded leather armor in remarkable condition.</p><p></p><p>Ike slapped several small spiders away and cut the corpse free, carrying it on his shoulders back to the ground. The others marveled at the superb condition of the armor and Jack chanted an orison and confirmed that it was enchanted. Ike claimed it for his own and changed out of his ragged old leathers, amazed by how the new suit changed its shape and expanded to fit him perfectly.</p><p></p><p>The chest contained two small rubies and four nuggets of gold, but it was the last treasure they'd uncover in this section of Duernfast. The last two doors held nothing of interest except for a nest of large centipedes that they quickly destroyed. Satisfied that they had now explored this entire wing of the dungeon, they collected their two heavy burdens and headed back for the surface.</p><p></p><p>Quinn had accurately predicted the Crow’s reaction to his friend’s condition. The half-elf broke down when he saw the small statue, embracing it and sobbing, “My friend, I’m so sorry. I should never have stayed behind – I should have been there to watch your back.”</p><p></p><p>“There, there, boy, wouldna been nothin ya coulda done. See, we all knowed it were a ‘trice when we seen it but Welby. He jes’ seen a dream come true – the biggest chicken i’ the world.” Jack consoled the grieving warrior as best as he could.</p><p></p><p>It took about an hour for Royston to recover sufficiently to make the trek back to town. In the meantime, the others fashioned two makeshift sleds out of old crates to make hauling the statues easier. The trip took about three times as long as normal, and it was past midnight by the time they staggered into the Foaming Mug and informed Ned that they’d be spending the night. None save Artimas rested easily that night, too worried about the halfling to sleep. They all hoped that in the morning they’d find someone capable of returning their companion to his normal state.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Sniktch, post: 474303, member: 7704"] [b]The Big Chicken, pt. 2[/b] “Welby!!” Jack screamed, then snarled angrily, “Voltare!” Grick was already past the dwarf and leaped over the newly formed statue, locking both of his fists together and bringing them down hard on the side of the cockatrice’s head. The monster screeched in pain and tried to flutter away from the monk, whipping him with its tail in the process. The sturdy half-orc resisted the attack easily and chased after the creature. Artimas waited until he had a clear line of sight and then fired a ray of negative energy at the bird, scoring a hit and causing the skin to rot and fall away from the wound. Jack caught up to it then and beheaded it with a single swipe of his axe. The cockatrice fell to the floor and raced around for a minute with a fountain of blood spraying from the gaping wound before it finally collapsing and lying still. Ike moved in and searched the area while the others regarded the still form of the halfling mournfully. “What’re we gonna do ‘bout this?” he heard Jack ask, but no one answered. Ike pulled the privy door open and made a surprising discovery. “Uh, guys, I don’t think Welby is the cockatrice’s first victim,” he called over his shoulder. Seated on the privy, with pants around his ankles, arms flung before him protectively, and an expression of shock etched onto his features, sat the stone form of a young dwarf. Despite the situation, Ike couldn’t help but shake his head in amusement. “Poor guy, I wonder if he got to finish his business before this happened. By Gruumsh, what an embarrassing way to go.” With some help from Grick and Jack, he managed to wrest the rocky dwarf from his perch and carried him out into the main room. They set the statue beside Welby and then discussed what to do next. “We have to head back and see what we can do for them,” Quinn stated brokenly. “Oh, how are we going to tell the Crow?” “We can’t do anything for them,” Artimas replied coldly. “The magic needed to break such an enchantment is beyond any of our abilities. Hopefully someone in Travensburg will be able to help, but for now I say we continue.” Eldred was shocked by the mage’s callousness. “How can you say that? He is your friend. Do you want us to just leave him here?” “He will probably be as safe here as anywhere else. Not much you can do to stone,” the necromancer retorted. “Besides, we only have four more doors to explore in this section of the dungeons. Makes sense to finish checking this area so we don’t have to come back. As soon as we’re done, then we’ll carry the statues back to town and pray someone can undo this.” His logic made a certain amount of sense, and they decided that Artimas presented the most practical course of action. Grick joined Jack in the front rank as they moved to the next two doors, the ‘Blackstone’ and ‘Rockhand’ residences. The ‘Blackstone’ clan hall proved to be deserted, but the old ‘Rockhand’ home was filled with thick layers of webbing. Jack and Grick kept a close eye on the ceiling as they crossed the threshold, and thus were not surprised when the pair of man-sized spiders dropped from the roof and attacked. The pair made short work of the over-sized arachnids, receiving not a scratch in the ensuing scuffle. Grick asked Artimas to pass him the torch and set fire to the webs, noting several dog-sized spiders that scurried up the chimney before the flames spread. When the blaze died down, he informed the others of what he’d witnessed and volunteered to give chase. He stepped into the hearth and gazed up the long shaft to the surface. A thick clump of debris or webbing blocked his sight about forty feet from the opening. Grick sighed and flexed his enormous arms before starting the ascent. Several feet up he came to a carved niche in the wall containing a small chest… and the spiders. They leaped upon him, fangs dripping poison, and he gave a cry of alarm and dropped back down to the floor. Ike, standing next to the fireplace, saw the monk come crashing down covered with half a dozen large hairy forms. At least one had been crushed in the fall but the other vermin swarmed over Grick, biting him repeatedly as he struggled and thrashed in pain. Artimas barked a command word and fired a silvery bolt that killed one of the insects while Ike slapped one of the monk’s shoulder and crushed it before it could scamper away. Grick rolled over and squashed another beneath him, at the same time pulling the last spider free and crushing it between his hands. The monk seemed to be alright after his ordeal, but he was left feeling weak and dizzy from the multiple bites. Quinn gave him a vial of antitoxin to drink to combat the effects of the toxins in his blood, while Ike took his place in the chimney and started to climb. He stopped at the alcove and retrieved the chest, dropping it to the floor before continuing his ascent. He continued upward until he reached the blocked area and found it to be a desiccated human skeleton lodged in a nest of webs, still wearing a suit of fine studded leather armor in remarkable condition. Ike slapped several small spiders away and cut the corpse free, carrying it on his shoulders back to the ground. The others marveled at the superb condition of the armor and Jack chanted an orison and confirmed that it was enchanted. Ike claimed it for his own and changed out of his ragged old leathers, amazed by how the new suit changed its shape and expanded to fit him perfectly. The chest contained two small rubies and four nuggets of gold, but it was the last treasure they'd uncover in this section of Duernfast. The last two doors held nothing of interest except for a nest of large centipedes that they quickly destroyed. Satisfied that they had now explored this entire wing of the dungeon, they collected their two heavy burdens and headed back for the surface. Quinn had accurately predicted the Crow’s reaction to his friend’s condition. The half-elf broke down when he saw the small statue, embracing it and sobbing, “My friend, I’m so sorry. I should never have stayed behind – I should have been there to watch your back.” “There, there, boy, wouldna been nothin ya coulda done. See, we all knowed it were a ‘trice when we seen it but Welby. He jes’ seen a dream come true – the biggest chicken i’ the world.” Jack consoled the grieving warrior as best as he could. It took about an hour for Royston to recover sufficiently to make the trek back to town. In the meantime, the others fashioned two makeshift sleds out of old crates to make hauling the statues easier. The trip took about three times as long as normal, and it was past midnight by the time they staggered into the Foaming Mug and informed Ned that they’d be spending the night. None save Artimas rested easily that night, too worried about the halfling to sleep. They all hoped that in the morning they’d find someone capable of returning their companion to his normal state. [/QUOTE]
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