Company of the Random Encounter ('complete' 14 Nov 2004)
- Thread starter Capellan
- Start date
Capellan
Explorer
"Unearthing the Past" by Jesse Decker (WotC Cliffhanger) - Part 7
The second potion gets Briar on his feet again, though the young man is far from healthy. Despite his injuries, however, the rogue proves willing to press on.
Accordingly, the group move into the cavern, pausing only long enough to loot the two fallen Orcs' belt pouches. They also drag the bodies out of sight, planning to strip them of armour and weapons on their way out.
The cavern proves fairly narrow, but is quite deep. Twinkle lights a small lantern as the group heads into its gloomy recesses.
"Look." Briar points at the wall and speaks in a low voice, "That's worked stone."
"Aye." Ulfgar agrees, examining the place indicated, "Looks like it's all worked from this point on. Must be tunnels of some kind ahead."
Moving carefully so as to make as little noise as possible, the adventurers continue. The walls; once natural stone; are now smoothed slabs, and within a few seconds the lantern's dim light reveals a closed wooden door.
Twinkle motions for the others to keep silent and then creeps forward. Crouching beside the door, she presses her ear to the wood and listens for well over a minute, before creeping back to rejoin the group.
"I can hear the sounds of people moving around in there." She whispers, "Probably three or four of them. They weren't talking much, but I heard some grunts and some scraping noises. It didn't sound like they were alarmed though ... I don't think they heard the fight."
"No hinges on this side, so the door opens into the room." Ulfgar notes in a low rumble, "If the door is unlocked and we go in fast, we might be able to surprise them. But a battle like that could get nasty."
"Were they talking in orcish?" Macwood asks. When Twinkle shrugs in response, he amends the question, "What did the words sound like?"
The gnome replies with a series of phlegm-soaked consonants. Macwood nods, seemingly satisfied.
"How about if I yell for them to come out?" he suggests. Seeing the looks this receives, the halfling explains his intent. "I'll yell in orcish. I'll shout that there's a dwarf out here. Then when they come out, we can get the drop on them."
"Your voice doesn't sound very much like an orc." Ming Li is dubious.
"I'll pitch my voice deeper." The bard waves his hand dismissively, "Through a door like that, they won't be able to tell the difference."
No-one else has a better suggestion, so the group decides to give the halfling's plan a try. Briar and Twinkle move up to the door and hide in the shadows on either side. Meanwhile, Ulfgar plants himself about 30' from the door, axe and shield at the ready. Ming Li and Macwood stand on either side of the dwarf, the monk readies her crossbow while the halfling eagerly brandishes his longsword, Kewpie Doll.
Once everyone is in position, Macwood yells:
"Grat! Dar na Khuzkul rak!"
Despite his small stature, the halfling proves to have powerful lungs; doubtless the result of his bardic training; and the bellowed words sound impressively orc-like to his companions.
It obviously sounds pretty convincing to the orcs as well, because within seconds there is the noise of pounding feet from beyond the door, which is then wrenched open. A burly orc, axe in hand, is framed within the doorway.
The creature instantly catches sight of Ulfgar, and charges forward with a bellow, apparently oblivious to the presence of the two rogues on either side of him.
Briar and Twinkle have their weapons ready, but do not strike, hoping to lure forth more of the Orcs. The tactic works: a second Orc comes through the door only moments later. This time, Briar strikes, his shortsword severing the beast's spine. The creature crumples to the ground with an agonised bellow.
Meanwhile, the charging orc brings his greataxe down in a huge overhead swing, aiming to crush his opponent's skull. But Ulfgar uses his sturdy steel shield deflects the blade aside. Sparks fly from the impact, and despite his solid stance, the dwarf is rocked by the power of the blow.
Macwood, however, is free of the orc's attention, and he makes his larger foe pay for this reckless attack. Gripping his longsword two-handed, the halfling - who is a bare inch taller than his weapon - mimics his opponent's swing. The Orc lacks a shield with which to defend himself, and the blade bites easily through his scale armour, dropping the creature where it stands.
"Just call me Orcslayer!" Macwood gloats.
It seems the halfling will have plenty of opportunity to prove his claim, as yet another of the humanoids steps through the doorway; this time immediately turning to face Briar, whose attack - while successful - has revealed his presence.
Of course, what the orc doesn't know is that this leaves his back open for Twinkle's strike. Unfortunately, the gnome's sneak attack lacks the strength to penetrate the creature's armour, and her sword skitters off its mail.
Ming Li, seeing the injured Briar under threat, calmly pops her crossbow up to her shoulder and fires. Engaged with two opponents, the Orc is an almost impossible target. The monk's shot sinks straight into its left eye, dropping it instantly. {DM's note: needed a 20 and got it. Gah.]
One last orc stands just beyond the doorway, but after seeing the way his companions have been butchered, he has no interest in taking on the adventurers alone. Instead, he turns and runs.
The group boils into the room in pursuit.
Briar arrives first, stabbing ineffectually with his shortsword.
Ulfgar swings his axe: a clean miss.
Macwood whirls Kewpie Doll above his head as he strikes, but fails to land a blow.
Twinkle's jabbing attack is no more successful than her last.
Finally Ming Li unleashes a flurry of blows ... but cannot find a weak spot in the creature's armour.
Somehow unscathed, the orc continues to flee, ducking between Ming Li and Briar. Unfortunately, the very armour that saved it from the last batch of attacks now dooms it: the monk easily overtakes the fleeing creature and drives the heel of her hand into the back of its neck.
There is a wet sounding crunch, and the final orc falls dead at her feet.
The second potion gets Briar on his feet again, though the young man is far from healthy. Despite his injuries, however, the rogue proves willing to press on.
Accordingly, the group move into the cavern, pausing only long enough to loot the two fallen Orcs' belt pouches. They also drag the bodies out of sight, planning to strip them of armour and weapons on their way out.
The cavern proves fairly narrow, but is quite deep. Twinkle lights a small lantern as the group heads into its gloomy recesses.
"Look." Briar points at the wall and speaks in a low voice, "That's worked stone."
"Aye." Ulfgar agrees, examining the place indicated, "Looks like it's all worked from this point on. Must be tunnels of some kind ahead."
Moving carefully so as to make as little noise as possible, the adventurers continue. The walls; once natural stone; are now smoothed slabs, and within a few seconds the lantern's dim light reveals a closed wooden door.
Twinkle motions for the others to keep silent and then creeps forward. Crouching beside the door, she presses her ear to the wood and listens for well over a minute, before creeping back to rejoin the group.
"I can hear the sounds of people moving around in there." She whispers, "Probably three or four of them. They weren't talking much, but I heard some grunts and some scraping noises. It didn't sound like they were alarmed though ... I don't think they heard the fight."
"No hinges on this side, so the door opens into the room." Ulfgar notes in a low rumble, "If the door is unlocked and we go in fast, we might be able to surprise them. But a battle like that could get nasty."
"Were they talking in orcish?" Macwood asks. When Twinkle shrugs in response, he amends the question, "What did the words sound like?"
The gnome replies with a series of phlegm-soaked consonants. Macwood nods, seemingly satisfied.
"How about if I yell for them to come out?" he suggests. Seeing the looks this receives, the halfling explains his intent. "I'll yell in orcish. I'll shout that there's a dwarf out here. Then when they come out, we can get the drop on them."
"Your voice doesn't sound very much like an orc." Ming Li is dubious.
"I'll pitch my voice deeper." The bard waves his hand dismissively, "Through a door like that, they won't be able to tell the difference."
No-one else has a better suggestion, so the group decides to give the halfling's plan a try. Briar and Twinkle move up to the door and hide in the shadows on either side. Meanwhile, Ulfgar plants himself about 30' from the door, axe and shield at the ready. Ming Li and Macwood stand on either side of the dwarf, the monk readies her crossbow while the halfling eagerly brandishes his longsword, Kewpie Doll.
Once everyone is in position, Macwood yells:
"Grat! Dar na Khuzkul rak!"
Despite his small stature, the halfling proves to have powerful lungs; doubtless the result of his bardic training; and the bellowed words sound impressively orc-like to his companions.
It obviously sounds pretty convincing to the orcs as well, because within seconds there is the noise of pounding feet from beyond the door, which is then wrenched open. A burly orc, axe in hand, is framed within the doorway.
The creature instantly catches sight of Ulfgar, and charges forward with a bellow, apparently oblivious to the presence of the two rogues on either side of him.
Briar and Twinkle have their weapons ready, but do not strike, hoping to lure forth more of the Orcs. The tactic works: a second Orc comes through the door only moments later. This time, Briar strikes, his shortsword severing the beast's spine. The creature crumples to the ground with an agonised bellow.
Meanwhile, the charging orc brings his greataxe down in a huge overhead swing, aiming to crush his opponent's skull. But Ulfgar uses his sturdy steel shield deflects the blade aside. Sparks fly from the impact, and despite his solid stance, the dwarf is rocked by the power of the blow.
Macwood, however, is free of the orc's attention, and he makes his larger foe pay for this reckless attack. Gripping his longsword two-handed, the halfling - who is a bare inch taller than his weapon - mimics his opponent's swing. The Orc lacks a shield with which to defend himself, and the blade bites easily through his scale armour, dropping the creature where it stands.
"Just call me Orcslayer!" Macwood gloats.
It seems the halfling will have plenty of opportunity to prove his claim, as yet another of the humanoids steps through the doorway; this time immediately turning to face Briar, whose attack - while successful - has revealed his presence.
Of course, what the orc doesn't know is that this leaves his back open for Twinkle's strike. Unfortunately, the gnome's sneak attack lacks the strength to penetrate the creature's armour, and her sword skitters off its mail.
Ming Li, seeing the injured Briar under threat, calmly pops her crossbow up to her shoulder and fires. Engaged with two opponents, the Orc is an almost impossible target. The monk's shot sinks straight into its left eye, dropping it instantly. {DM's note: needed a 20 and got it. Gah.]
One last orc stands just beyond the doorway, but after seeing the way his companions have been butchered, he has no interest in taking on the adventurers alone. Instead, he turns and runs.
The group boils into the room in pursuit.
Briar arrives first, stabbing ineffectually with his shortsword.
Ulfgar swings his axe: a clean miss.
Macwood whirls Kewpie Doll above his head as he strikes, but fails to land a blow.
Twinkle's jabbing attack is no more successful than her last.
Finally Ming Li unleashes a flurry of blows ... but cannot find a weak spot in the creature's armour.
Somehow unscathed, the orc continues to flee, ducking between Ming Li and Briar. Unfortunately, the very armour that saved it from the last batch of attacks now dooms it: the monk easily overtakes the fleeing creature and drives the heel of her hand into the back of its neck.
There is a wet sounding crunch, and the final orc falls dead at her feet.
jzashaedra
First Post
hooray for the heroes!
Capellan
Explorer
"Unearthing the Past" by Jesse Decker (WotC Cliffhanger) - Part 8
The group loots the bodies - noting in passing that every orc they've killed so far has had exactly 20 silvers in his belt pouch - and then checks out the room, which contains many crates, barrels and sacks. They quickly realise that this is a store room of some kind, and further note that, although there is plenty of water, as well as mining tools, there is very little food of any kind, which explains why the creatures had turned to banditry, though not why they had been accompanied by a human.
Moving on, the group comes to a crossroads in the tunnel. The passage to the right quickly proves a dead end, collapsed into rubble, but the one that continues ahead is intact, and comes to a wooden door.
"We should check it out." Ulfgar remarks, "I don't like turning my back on a door."
"It's barred on this side." Briar gestures at a thick wooden beam that seals the door, "Nothing's coming through it."
"Makes me wonder what the orcs were trying to keep out, though." Macwood muses.
"Or keep in." Briar suggests, "It could be a cell of some kind."
"There's one way to find out." Twinkle marches up to the door and bashes on it with her fist.
"What was that supposed to do?" Ulfgar wonders. The gnome looks offended,
"It was an intimidating knock." She explains, "Now be quiet." So saying, she presses her ear to the door and listens for any sound of a response to her action. Seconds tick by.
"Not a sound." Twinkle announces at last, straightening up from her half-crouch, "There's nothing so much as breathing in there."
"Which doesn't rule out undead." Ming Li evidently remembers her experience in the skeleton pit.
"Either way, it doesn't look like there's anything to worry about while that bar's in place." Briar shrugs, "Let's go back to the junction and check the left-hand passage. We can check here later."
There are no objections to this plan, and so the group returns to the crossroads, and then heads down the only remaining tunnel they have not yet explored. This passage runs for about 40' before the dim light of Twinkle's lantern reveals a turn to the left a short distance ahead.
"What's that noise?" Briar stops and raises his hand, signalling the others to halt as well.
"Sounds like chains?" Twinkle wonders, "Some kind of machinery, maybe? It's coming from around the corner, whatever it is."
"Wait here." Macwood scurries to the corner without waiting for a reply, then drops to the floor and inches forward on his stomach. After peering down the corridor for a few seconds, he jumps to his feet and hurries back. "There's a room up ahead. There's only a brazier there for light, but it looked like there was some kind of winches hanging from the ceiling, with chains going down into a pit. The chains were moving."
"There are lifts like that in some of the great Dwarven Halls." Ulfgar growls, looking around with fresh eyes. "These beasts cannot be left to despoil an ancient home of my people."
With the lift in operation and company on the way, a plan is quickly formulated: Macwood returns to his position by the corner, while the others drop back a short way and cover Twinkle's lantern with Ming Li's emptied sack. Each of them has a weapon at the ready.
The clanking noise of the lift finally stops, and a few moments later Macwood hurries back to the others, feeling his way along the wall.
"Four orcs." He whispers, "They don't look like they expect trouble."
Expected or not, trouble finds the orcs, with a vengeance.
"Now!" Ulfgar yells a warning as soon as he sees the humanoids appear round the corner. Simultaneously, he pulls the sack off the lantern. The party - ready and with their eyes half-closed against the coming light, are able almost instantly to react. Their enemies enjoy no such luxury.
Ulfgar and Macwood race forward, weapons scything into the surprised orcs. The front two both go down, bleeding heavily from deep wounds.
The other two orcs are not yet in sight, but Twinkle darts round the corner and stabs blindly upward. Her sword finds a weak spot in the nearest orc's scale mail, and the blade plunges deep into its chest. The orc drops with nothing more than a choked off gurgle.
The last orc has only half-drawn its axe by the time Ming Li reaches it. The young monk spins her quarterstaff, striking the creature in the temple and felling it instantly.
Feeling very satisfied with the results of their ambush, the group quickly rifles the bodies.
"Twenty silvers each, again." Briar notes, "I think these orcs all got paid recently." [DM's note: the players said this at exactly the point where the module said they would. Spooky
]
"That means there must be someone in charge." Ming Li reasons, "but we still don't know who they are or what they're here for."
"Aye." Ulfgar grins and brandishes his waraxe, "How 'bout go we find out?"
The group loots the bodies - noting in passing that every orc they've killed so far has had exactly 20 silvers in his belt pouch - and then checks out the room, which contains many crates, barrels and sacks. They quickly realise that this is a store room of some kind, and further note that, although there is plenty of water, as well as mining tools, there is very little food of any kind, which explains why the creatures had turned to banditry, though not why they had been accompanied by a human.
Moving on, the group comes to a crossroads in the tunnel. The passage to the right quickly proves a dead end, collapsed into rubble, but the one that continues ahead is intact, and comes to a wooden door.
"We should check it out." Ulfgar remarks, "I don't like turning my back on a door."
"It's barred on this side." Briar gestures at a thick wooden beam that seals the door, "Nothing's coming through it."
"Makes me wonder what the orcs were trying to keep out, though." Macwood muses.
"Or keep in." Briar suggests, "It could be a cell of some kind."
"There's one way to find out." Twinkle marches up to the door and bashes on it with her fist.
"What was that supposed to do?" Ulfgar wonders. The gnome looks offended,
"It was an intimidating knock." She explains, "Now be quiet." So saying, she presses her ear to the door and listens for any sound of a response to her action. Seconds tick by.
"Not a sound." Twinkle announces at last, straightening up from her half-crouch, "There's nothing so much as breathing in there."
"Which doesn't rule out undead." Ming Li evidently remembers her experience in the skeleton pit.
"Either way, it doesn't look like there's anything to worry about while that bar's in place." Briar shrugs, "Let's go back to the junction and check the left-hand passage. We can check here later."
There are no objections to this plan, and so the group returns to the crossroads, and then heads down the only remaining tunnel they have not yet explored. This passage runs for about 40' before the dim light of Twinkle's lantern reveals a turn to the left a short distance ahead.
"What's that noise?" Briar stops and raises his hand, signalling the others to halt as well.
"Sounds like chains?" Twinkle wonders, "Some kind of machinery, maybe? It's coming from around the corner, whatever it is."
"Wait here." Macwood scurries to the corner without waiting for a reply, then drops to the floor and inches forward on his stomach. After peering down the corridor for a few seconds, he jumps to his feet and hurries back. "There's a room up ahead. There's only a brazier there for light, but it looked like there was some kind of winches hanging from the ceiling, with chains going down into a pit. The chains were moving."
"There are lifts like that in some of the great Dwarven Halls." Ulfgar growls, looking around with fresh eyes. "These beasts cannot be left to despoil an ancient home of my people."
With the lift in operation and company on the way, a plan is quickly formulated: Macwood returns to his position by the corner, while the others drop back a short way and cover Twinkle's lantern with Ming Li's emptied sack. Each of them has a weapon at the ready.
The clanking noise of the lift finally stops, and a few moments later Macwood hurries back to the others, feeling his way along the wall.
"Four orcs." He whispers, "They don't look like they expect trouble."
Expected or not, trouble finds the orcs, with a vengeance.
"Now!" Ulfgar yells a warning as soon as he sees the humanoids appear round the corner. Simultaneously, he pulls the sack off the lantern. The party - ready and with their eyes half-closed against the coming light, are able almost instantly to react. Their enemies enjoy no such luxury.
Ulfgar and Macwood race forward, weapons scything into the surprised orcs. The front two both go down, bleeding heavily from deep wounds.
The other two orcs are not yet in sight, but Twinkle darts round the corner and stabs blindly upward. Her sword finds a weak spot in the nearest orc's scale mail, and the blade plunges deep into its chest. The orc drops with nothing more than a choked off gurgle.
The last orc has only half-drawn its axe by the time Ming Li reaches it. The young monk spins her quarterstaff, striking the creature in the temple and felling it instantly.
Feeling very satisfied with the results of their ambush, the group quickly rifles the bodies.
"Twenty silvers each, again." Briar notes, "I think these orcs all got paid recently." [DM's note: the players said this at exactly the point where the module said they would. Spooky
]"That means there must be someone in charge." Ming Li reasons, "but we still don't know who they are or what they're here for."
"Aye." Ulfgar grins and brandishes his waraxe, "How 'bout go we find out?"
Capellan
Explorer
"Unearthing the Past" by Jesse Decker (WotC Cliffhanger) - Part 9
After a quick discussion, it is decided that the best way to proceed is to disable the lift and check what lies beyond the barred door.
"Best to clear out this whole level before we go any further down." Ulfgar reasons, "After all, there's no tellin' how many tunnels there are below, or how many orcs are in 'em."
The others are in agreement, and - after using the tools they found to spike the lift's chains in place - the five adventures find themselves once more outside the mysterious door. Twinkle listens briefly at the door once again, still hearing nothing. Then Ulfgar removes the bar while the others stand ready with missile weapons.
Gripping his axe, Ulfgar motions for Ming Li to swing the door open, ready to engage anything that might come bursting out when she complies. However, the door swings open without incident, revealing a small chamber, at the far end of which are two stone coffins.
"See, I told you." Ming Li gestures, "Undead."
Nothing comes bursting out to attack, however, and so Ulfgar gradually edges into the room, glancing around for any sign of danger. Although everything seems quiet, the group all find it hard to believe that the door would have been barred without good reason, and thus all remain alert.
Despite this caution, the ghoul's attack still catches them flatfooted.
The emaciated undead creature leaps over the left hand coffin as Ulfgar is glancing right, clawing and biting even as the dwarf responds to his companion's cries of alarm. The fighter manages to deflect two of the ghoul's blows with his shield, but one claw sneaks past his guard, tearing at his skin. The blow itself is not strong, but Ulfgar feels the supernatural chill of the creature's paralysing attack creep into his flesh. He is a true Dwarf, however, hardy of body, and he shakes off the effects.
Twinkle is the first of the group to react, dashing forward to stab the creature with her sword. The blow is a good one, and might have been deadly to a still living creature, but it merely cuts through dead flesh in the case of the ghoul.
Macwood also moves forward, though more cautiously than his gnomish companion, slashing at the creature with his longsword. The ghoul dodges the tentative blow easily, and claws at Twinkle in revenge for the wound she inflicted upon it. Like Ulfgar, the gnome is able to dodge two of the three blows, but the last claw slips through her defence, ripping open a wound on her shoulder.
Once more, the paralysing effects of the creature's touch come into effect, and unfortunately Twinkle lacks the strength to resist. The young gnome finds herself helplessly frozen in place as her muscles suddenly refuse to respond.
Still shaking off the effects of the ghoul's attack, Ulfgar manages to land only a weak blow on the creature's side. It snarls in response, but does not appear significantly injured.
Ming Li and Briar also move to engage the creature, but there is not much room to manoeuvre in the small room, and they are unable to seriously threaten the undead creature, finding it difficult to close to effective melee range.
The ghoul itself has no such problems. Aided by the fact that its opponents are crowding and inhibiting one another, it is able to leap at Ming Li, biting deeply into her neck. As the monk collapses from this wound, however, the ghoul is half-dragged down with her. Ulfgar chooses that moment to strike, his axe shearing deep into the undead beast, snuffing out its foul existence.
Quickly tending to their injured companions, the group uses their last healing potion to restore Ming Li to consciousness. Despite their success against the orcs, most of them are by now quite battered from their battles.
"I think we should head back to town." Briar suggests, "The wagon should be there by now and we can get the rest of the money that Gendrew promised us. We should be able to use it to get healing from the Sanctuary. If they know we are fighting orcs, they might even be willing to sell us a couple more potions. It looks like we might need them."
The others (except Macwood, who hasn't been scratched) feel their injuries too keenly to object to this suggestion, and - pausing only to double-check that the lift is securely locked in place - they make their way back to Amberdale. Once there, they head immediately to Gendrew's house, which Ming Li remembers from an earlier visit after their journey to the caves of challenge.
"Oh! You're back! Again!" Gendrew looks harried from the pressure of arranging the Harvest Feast, "I was just making some cookies for the feast tomorrow night. Give me a moment and I'll get the rest of your money. Thank you so much for helping to find that wagon. I don't know what we would have done without it."
"Just a second." Twinkle steps forward, puffing herself up to her full 3'3. "I helped kill the orcs. I should get paid, too."
"But ... I didn't hire you." Gendrew's just a cook, but he's no fool ... he knows if he pays the gnome there'll be an exponential explosion in "helpers" who come looking for payment. With a last apologetic smile at the sputtering Twinkle, he hurries off to get money for the others.
While Gendrew is gone, Twinkle sneaks into the kitchen switches his salt with his sugar.
"I was getting a drink of water." She glibly fibs to Ming Li. The monk merely nods, seemingly unperturbed.
A few minutes later, with their pouches filled with new gold, the group heads to the Sanctuary to arrange healing. Several spells serve to restore them all to full health, and cost less than even a single potion. Expensive or not, however, it is more potions that the adventurers next ask for.
"We're killing orcs." Ulfgar folds his arms in the manner of one who does not intend to be moved, "Doing the town a vital service. Be a shame if we had to stop with the job half done."
Reluctantly, the priests part with two more Potions of Cure Light Wounds, all but wiping out the groups' cash reserves in the process.
Feeling a little less vulnerable, the group immediately returns to the tunnels, arriving at the cave entrance just as darkness is falling. They quickly make their way through the first level of the complex again, checking the rooms for signs that anyone else has been there, then head to the lift.
Finding it still in place, they use crowbars to remove their spikes from the chains, and climb into the lift. Ulfgar moves to operate the winches, while the others - each with a missile weapon at the ready - move to the corners of the platform. They do not know what they will be descending into, so the plan is to guard all possible approaches.
With a noisy grinding of gears and clanking of chains, the lift begins to lower them into the darkness...
After a quick discussion, it is decided that the best way to proceed is to disable the lift and check what lies beyond the barred door.
"Best to clear out this whole level before we go any further down." Ulfgar reasons, "After all, there's no tellin' how many tunnels there are below, or how many orcs are in 'em."
The others are in agreement, and - after using the tools they found to spike the lift's chains in place - the five adventures find themselves once more outside the mysterious door. Twinkle listens briefly at the door once again, still hearing nothing. Then Ulfgar removes the bar while the others stand ready with missile weapons.
Gripping his axe, Ulfgar motions for Ming Li to swing the door open, ready to engage anything that might come bursting out when she complies. However, the door swings open without incident, revealing a small chamber, at the far end of which are two stone coffins.
"See, I told you." Ming Li gestures, "Undead."
Nothing comes bursting out to attack, however, and so Ulfgar gradually edges into the room, glancing around for any sign of danger. Although everything seems quiet, the group all find it hard to believe that the door would have been barred without good reason, and thus all remain alert.
Despite this caution, the ghoul's attack still catches them flatfooted.
The emaciated undead creature leaps over the left hand coffin as Ulfgar is glancing right, clawing and biting even as the dwarf responds to his companion's cries of alarm. The fighter manages to deflect two of the ghoul's blows with his shield, but one claw sneaks past his guard, tearing at his skin. The blow itself is not strong, but Ulfgar feels the supernatural chill of the creature's paralysing attack creep into his flesh. He is a true Dwarf, however, hardy of body, and he shakes off the effects.
Twinkle is the first of the group to react, dashing forward to stab the creature with her sword. The blow is a good one, and might have been deadly to a still living creature, but it merely cuts through dead flesh in the case of the ghoul.
Macwood also moves forward, though more cautiously than his gnomish companion, slashing at the creature with his longsword. The ghoul dodges the tentative blow easily, and claws at Twinkle in revenge for the wound she inflicted upon it. Like Ulfgar, the gnome is able to dodge two of the three blows, but the last claw slips through her defence, ripping open a wound on her shoulder.
Once more, the paralysing effects of the creature's touch come into effect, and unfortunately Twinkle lacks the strength to resist. The young gnome finds herself helplessly frozen in place as her muscles suddenly refuse to respond.
Still shaking off the effects of the ghoul's attack, Ulfgar manages to land only a weak blow on the creature's side. It snarls in response, but does not appear significantly injured.
Ming Li and Briar also move to engage the creature, but there is not much room to manoeuvre in the small room, and they are unable to seriously threaten the undead creature, finding it difficult to close to effective melee range.
The ghoul itself has no such problems. Aided by the fact that its opponents are crowding and inhibiting one another, it is able to leap at Ming Li, biting deeply into her neck. As the monk collapses from this wound, however, the ghoul is half-dragged down with her. Ulfgar chooses that moment to strike, his axe shearing deep into the undead beast, snuffing out its foul existence.
Quickly tending to their injured companions, the group uses their last healing potion to restore Ming Li to consciousness. Despite their success against the orcs, most of them are by now quite battered from their battles.
"I think we should head back to town." Briar suggests, "The wagon should be there by now and we can get the rest of the money that Gendrew promised us. We should be able to use it to get healing from the Sanctuary. If they know we are fighting orcs, they might even be willing to sell us a couple more potions. It looks like we might need them."
The others (except Macwood, who hasn't been scratched) feel their injuries too keenly to object to this suggestion, and - pausing only to double-check that the lift is securely locked in place - they make their way back to Amberdale. Once there, they head immediately to Gendrew's house, which Ming Li remembers from an earlier visit after their journey to the caves of challenge.
"Oh! You're back! Again!" Gendrew looks harried from the pressure of arranging the Harvest Feast, "I was just making some cookies for the feast tomorrow night. Give me a moment and I'll get the rest of your money. Thank you so much for helping to find that wagon. I don't know what we would have done without it."
"Just a second." Twinkle steps forward, puffing herself up to her full 3'3. "I helped kill the orcs. I should get paid, too."
"But ... I didn't hire you." Gendrew's just a cook, but he's no fool ... he knows if he pays the gnome there'll be an exponential explosion in "helpers" who come looking for payment. With a last apologetic smile at the sputtering Twinkle, he hurries off to get money for the others.
While Gendrew is gone, Twinkle sneaks into the kitchen switches his salt with his sugar.
"I was getting a drink of water." She glibly fibs to Ming Li. The monk merely nods, seemingly unperturbed.
A few minutes later, with their pouches filled with new gold, the group heads to the Sanctuary to arrange healing. Several spells serve to restore them all to full health, and cost less than even a single potion. Expensive or not, however, it is more potions that the adventurers next ask for.
"We're killing orcs." Ulfgar folds his arms in the manner of one who does not intend to be moved, "Doing the town a vital service. Be a shame if we had to stop with the job half done."
Reluctantly, the priests part with two more Potions of Cure Light Wounds, all but wiping out the groups' cash reserves in the process.
Feeling a little less vulnerable, the group immediately returns to the tunnels, arriving at the cave entrance just as darkness is falling. They quickly make their way through the first level of the complex again, checking the rooms for signs that anyone else has been there, then head to the lift.
Finding it still in place, they use crowbars to remove their spikes from the chains, and climb into the lift. Ulfgar moves to operate the winches, while the others - each with a missile weapon at the ready - move to the corners of the platform. They do not know what they will be descending into, so the plan is to guard all possible approaches.
With a noisy grinding of gears and clanking of chains, the lift begins to lower them into the darkness...
Capellan
Explorer
Arwink: Macwood's "caution" was more a reflection of his dice-rolling (low initiative, awful attack) than any expression of fear or doubt by the player. Just thought I'd mention it for the record.
Seasong: see, I told you it works As for undead Scratches, what is it with you people and the Undead Feline Avenger? So far the only one to vote against it is Mantreus. Though of course, I could do it, just to annoy him ...
Seasong: see, I told you it works
As for undead Scratches, what is it with you people and the Undead Feline Avenger? So far the only one to vote against it is Mantreus. Though of course, I could do it, just to annoy him ...
Capellan
Explorer
"Unearthing the Past" by Jesse Decker (WotC Cliffhanger) - Part 10
As the lift sinks into its shaft, the group cannot help but feel nervous. They are heading into an unknown area, and the noise of the device on which they are travelling will surely alert anyone below them of their approach, just as it had alerted them, earlier.
"Think we'll get ambushed?" Twinkle asks the group at large.
"Yup." Macwood doesn't even hesitate.
As they speak, the base of the lift clears the stone shaft, and they catch a glimpse of a dimly lit room below them.
It's about then that the first crossbow bolt speeds into the lift, passing directly between Ulfgar and Twinkle. Moments later, a second bolt clatters off the iron bars of the cage, just in front of Briar.
Thanking every god that's listening for the cover provided by those bars, the young rogue drops to one knee and tries to get a proper view of the room. It's a smart move, as the slow-moving lift has now descended far enough for him to see under the level of the roof.
He quickly spots a group of three figures standing a short distance down a corridor. Two of them are frantically reloading crossbows while the third, middle figure is surround by glowing patterns of light.
"Magic." Ming Li sniffs disdainfully. It seems the monk has seen their opponents as well.
Despite the poor angle, Briar snaps his own weapon into the firing position and looses a bolt. It's an awkward, hurried shot, but it flies true: the bolt punches into the central figure's shoulder, staggering it back slightly.
"Damn, I'm good." Briar pauses just long enough to gloat before setting the crossbow aside and drawing his shortsword.
"Lucky shot." snipes Twinkle, loosing a shot of her own at the ambushers. Unfortunately, her physical barb is less accurate than her verbal one.
As the lift lowers the last few feet to the floor, the group readies themselves to go on to the offensive. They have to weather another volley of bolts in the mean time, but neither shot causes any harm. The first clatters off the iron cage again, while the second speeds through, but strikes only Ulfgar's shield.
At the same moment, the man who was injured by Briar's bolt reaches up and places his hand on the wound. Within moments, the bolt dissolves and the wound seals over. Ming Li purses her lips in disapproval.
"Cleric." Ulfgar growls.
"Human, too." Twinkle's sharp eyes have allowed her to get a better look at their foes, "The ones with the crossbows are both orcs."
As soon as the lift clangs into place, Briar lifts the barrier and runs across the room, ducking up against the wall near the entrance to the corridor. Anyone passing too close to that corner will be in danger of feeling the rogue's sneak attack.
One of the two orcs casts aside his crossbow and, drawing his great axe, charges toward Twinkle. The grey-skinned humanoid is on the opposite side of the corridor to Briar, well out of the rogue's reach, and it seems nothing can stop the creature from burying its blade in the young gnome.
Clang. The iron cage comes to the party's rescue once again as the orc's mighty blade catches on one of the bars, deflecting the blow safely away.
The second orc also changes weapons and moves forward, but it does so more cautiously, rounding the corner on Briar's side with considerable care.
The cleric casts again, pointing at Ulfgar, who is obviously the biggest physical danger to the orcs.
"Fear the touch of the Dark Lady!" the man intones, and the dwarf feels the icy grip of terror clutch his heart. Despite his best efforts to fight the impulse, the usually fierce warrior turns and flees into the back corner of the lift cage, cowering and hiding in panic.
Ming Li is undaunted. Steeping up to the orc that threatens Twinkle, she lashes out with her quarterstaff. The battle between the slight, slender monk and the hulking humanoid appears completely unbalanced. And indeed it is: the monk smashes her opponent to her ground with a single deadly strike.
Macwood has his longsword at the ready, but surprises his companions by gesturing and speaking a short fragment of arcane words. A glowing shape flies from his outstretched hand, making straight for the middle of the three enemy figures. The man instinctively swipes at the figure with his mace, and the lights blink out.
"Fooled you." Macwood chuckles in satisfaction.
Briar, as physically overmatched by his opponent as Ming Li was by hers, proves to be just as deadly. The rogue drops beneath the orc's swinging greataxe and stabs the creature in the thigh, opening the femoral artery. The beast-like humanoid bellows in pain and rage as its leg collapses beneath it.
Buoyed by his kill, Briar moves up to engage the sole remaining enemy, and pays for it when the man strikes him a hefty blow with his mace. The young rogue falls back a step, biting back a cry of pain.
This is the man's last hostile action, however, as the other group members swarm up to assist Briar: first Macwood and then Ming Li strike solid blows, with Twinkle also slashing at their foe. Flanked on all sides, the cleric cannot adequately defend himself and Briar steps up to slide his shortsword home, avenging the wound he has just suffered.
With their opponents defeated, the group occupy themselves with checking the bodies for treasure, then turn their attention to coaxing Ulfgar out of his corner. Eventually, the effects of the dark magic wear off, and the dwarf rather shamefacedly rejoins his companion.
"Definitely a cleric of some kind." Briar confirms, showing the dwarf a holy symbol they found on the body. It depicts an almost demonic face, with a protruding forked tongue. None of the group recognises the device, but they wrap it in cloth and stow it in their growing pile of loot, intending to show it to the Padre when they return to town.
"That mace is fine work." Ulfgar points to the cleric's weapon. "Should fetch a good price at the Festival market, if we can find a buyer."
"We also found this." Ming Li displays a roll of parchment, "But it seems like gibberish to me. Probably magical."
Macwood takes the scroll and examines it, muttering a few arcane phrases as he does so.
"It is indeed." He confirms, "A scroll of healing, it seems. I'd like to take it for study, if I may." Seeing there are no objections, the halfling tucks the scroll inside his shirt.
"Right." Ulfgar hefts his axe. "Let's see if there's anyone else down here who needs a taste of my axe." The fighter glares fiercely as he speaks, daring any of his companions to make a comment about the absence of his axe in the last fight. Wisely, they choose not to.
At least, not to his face ...
As the lift sinks into its shaft, the group cannot help but feel nervous. They are heading into an unknown area, and the noise of the device on which they are travelling will surely alert anyone below them of their approach, just as it had alerted them, earlier.
"Think we'll get ambushed?" Twinkle asks the group at large.
"Yup." Macwood doesn't even hesitate.
As they speak, the base of the lift clears the stone shaft, and they catch a glimpse of a dimly lit room below them.
It's about then that the first crossbow bolt speeds into the lift, passing directly between Ulfgar and Twinkle. Moments later, a second bolt clatters off the iron bars of the cage, just in front of Briar.
Thanking every god that's listening for the cover provided by those bars, the young rogue drops to one knee and tries to get a proper view of the room. It's a smart move, as the slow-moving lift has now descended far enough for him to see under the level of the roof.
He quickly spots a group of three figures standing a short distance down a corridor. Two of them are frantically reloading crossbows while the third, middle figure is surround by glowing patterns of light.
"Magic." Ming Li sniffs disdainfully. It seems the monk has seen their opponents as well.
Despite the poor angle, Briar snaps his own weapon into the firing position and looses a bolt. It's an awkward, hurried shot, but it flies true: the bolt punches into the central figure's shoulder, staggering it back slightly.
"Damn, I'm good." Briar pauses just long enough to gloat before setting the crossbow aside and drawing his shortsword.
"Lucky shot." snipes Twinkle, loosing a shot of her own at the ambushers. Unfortunately, her physical barb is less accurate than her verbal one.
As the lift lowers the last few feet to the floor, the group readies themselves to go on to the offensive. They have to weather another volley of bolts in the mean time, but neither shot causes any harm. The first clatters off the iron cage again, while the second speeds through, but strikes only Ulfgar's shield.
At the same moment, the man who was injured by Briar's bolt reaches up and places his hand on the wound. Within moments, the bolt dissolves and the wound seals over. Ming Li purses her lips in disapproval.
"Cleric." Ulfgar growls.
"Human, too." Twinkle's sharp eyes have allowed her to get a better look at their foes, "The ones with the crossbows are both orcs."
As soon as the lift clangs into place, Briar lifts the barrier and runs across the room, ducking up against the wall near the entrance to the corridor. Anyone passing too close to that corner will be in danger of feeling the rogue's sneak attack.
One of the two orcs casts aside his crossbow and, drawing his great axe, charges toward Twinkle. The grey-skinned humanoid is on the opposite side of the corridor to Briar, well out of the rogue's reach, and it seems nothing can stop the creature from burying its blade in the young gnome.
Clang. The iron cage comes to the party's rescue once again as the orc's mighty blade catches on one of the bars, deflecting the blow safely away.
The second orc also changes weapons and moves forward, but it does so more cautiously, rounding the corner on Briar's side with considerable care.
The cleric casts again, pointing at Ulfgar, who is obviously the biggest physical danger to the orcs.
"Fear the touch of the Dark Lady!" the man intones, and the dwarf feels the icy grip of terror clutch his heart. Despite his best efforts to fight the impulse, the usually fierce warrior turns and flees into the back corner of the lift cage, cowering and hiding in panic.
Ming Li is undaunted. Steeping up to the orc that threatens Twinkle, she lashes out with her quarterstaff. The battle between the slight, slender monk and the hulking humanoid appears completely unbalanced. And indeed it is: the monk smashes her opponent to her ground with a single deadly strike.
Macwood has his longsword at the ready, but surprises his companions by gesturing and speaking a short fragment of arcane words. A glowing shape flies from his outstretched hand, making straight for the middle of the three enemy figures. The man instinctively swipes at the figure with his mace, and the lights blink out.
"Fooled you." Macwood chuckles in satisfaction.
Briar, as physically overmatched by his opponent as Ming Li was by hers, proves to be just as deadly. The rogue drops beneath the orc's swinging greataxe and stabs the creature in the thigh, opening the femoral artery. The beast-like humanoid bellows in pain and rage as its leg collapses beneath it.
Buoyed by his kill, Briar moves up to engage the sole remaining enemy, and pays for it when the man strikes him a hefty blow with his mace. The young rogue falls back a step, biting back a cry of pain.
This is the man's last hostile action, however, as the other group members swarm up to assist Briar: first Macwood and then Ming Li strike solid blows, with Twinkle also slashing at their foe. Flanked on all sides, the cleric cannot adequately defend himself and Briar steps up to slide his shortsword home, avenging the wound he has just suffered.
With their opponents defeated, the group occupy themselves with checking the bodies for treasure, then turn their attention to coaxing Ulfgar out of his corner. Eventually, the effects of the dark magic wear off, and the dwarf rather shamefacedly rejoins his companion.
"Definitely a cleric of some kind." Briar confirms, showing the dwarf a holy symbol they found on the body. It depicts an almost demonic face, with a protruding forked tongue. None of the group recognises the device, but they wrap it in cloth and stow it in their growing pile of loot, intending to show it to the Padre when they return to town.
"That mace is fine work." Ulfgar points to the cleric's weapon. "Should fetch a good price at the Festival market, if we can find a buyer."
"We also found this." Ming Li displays a roll of parchment, "But it seems like gibberish to me. Probably magical."
Macwood takes the scroll and examines it, muttering a few arcane phrases as he does so.
"It is indeed." He confirms, "A scroll of healing, it seems. I'd like to take it for study, if I may." Seeing there are no objections, the halfling tucks the scroll inside his shirt.
"Right." Ulfgar hefts his axe. "Let's see if there's anyone else down here who needs a taste of my axe." The fighter glares fiercely as he speaks, daring any of his companions to make a comment about the absence of his axe in the last fight. Wisely, they choose not to.
At least, not to his face ...
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