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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 1171024" data-attributes="member: 6294">"Bounty Hunters" by Jim Gillispie's Module Workshop - Part 2It does not take long for the group to make enquiries about their companions, and learn that they have headed out to some ruins in the woods, in search of a giant that has lately been troubling the village."They went after a giant?" Anastria grouses, "What are they, stupid?"Wisely, no-one attempts to answer her query.After gathering directions from the locals, the four adventurers leave their wagon at the village inn, and set out into the woods.  Roughly an hour later, they reach the ruins, discovering the corpse of a human male outside the largest tower."A cleric of Heironeous." The Padre points out the man's holy symbol, "Looks like he was killed recently.  We should be prepared for enemies."  He readies his mace as the others draw their weapons."Woah, woah, woah!  Don't kill us, big guy!" Briar appears out of the tower, hands held in a surrender position.  Seeing the surprise on the faces of the four, she grins impishly, "Hi, I'm Briar, and I have bosoms.""So I see." The Padre sounds disapproving of this innovation, "Have you encountered the giant?""He was the giant." Briar points at the body of Kyrnyn. "It was some kind of curse thing.  We thought we'd figured out how to lift it, but we were wrong.""Do you know you have bounty hunters on your tail?" Macwood reminds them all of the reason the four new arrivals came to the forest in the first place, "Nasty bastards, at that."Briar nods,"We gave them the slip in Amberdale, but we thought they might be on our trail again by now.  How far away are they?""Not more than two hours." The answer causes Briar to wince, but then she shrugs philosophically,"Come inside and we'll work out what to do."Moving into the tower, the adventurers gather.  Macwood and Briar explain the events that brought their group to these ruins, and Mantreus tells his group's story.  This done, the Company review their options.  The discussions are conducted quickly, as everyone is aware that they have little time before the bounty hunters arrive."So here's the plan" The Padre says at the end of the their conversation, "Ming Li, Macwood and Twinkle will stay on the surface, along with Stormstrider's wolf.  We'll leave one of the two magical earrings with them, so they can use it to alert us when the bounty hunters get here.  In the mean time, the rest of us will head into the dungeons beneath this tower, and try to locate the missing diamond."Elspeth nods,"Marble said that the hunters' main goal is to retrieve the item.  Hopefully, if we offer them the diamond, they might be willing to leave Marble - and us - alone."No-one discusses what might be done if the hunters prove unwilling."I think I should go into the dungeon." Macwood puffs out his chest, "You will need my mighty sword-arm.""We'll try to muddle through without you." Mantreus just about manages to avoid rolling his eyes as he answers the Halfling, "The four of us are fresh, and Elspeth and Briar haven't been injured.  We're the logical choices to go down there.""Besides, you have the best chance of keeping the hunters talking, if we need a little extra time." Briar obviously has some experience at talking the bard around, "And the three of you are pretty good at concealing yourselves, so you make the best sentries."Macwood, somewhat mollified, agrees to remain above.Despite misgivings about the wisdom of leaving Twinkle and Macwood on guard ("At least Ming Li is there to keep them in order" the Padre mutters under his breath), Briar, Elspeth and the four newcomers head down into the catacombs below the tower.The stairs descend to a short tunnel, which leads in turn to a roughly circular chamber, with exits to the right and left.  More or less arbitrarily, the group heads left, walking past a couple of fallen doors that lie on the floor as they do so.  Passing through an archway, they emerge into a larger, open chamber with two doors set into the far wall.  Both these doors appear intact; unlike the wall to the south, which has been heavily damaged.  A narrow, twisting tunnel has been dug through that rubble-strewn area, leading into darkness."Do you think this place is structurally sound?" Elspeth wonders, glancing at the damaged wall.Mantreus shrugs,"It hasn't fallen down yet." Is his philosophical opinion. "Do you see any sign of which way Kyrnyn's group might have gone?"Elspeth shakes her head,"Stone floors." She stamps her foot for emphasis, "If it was dusty, there would have been something to follow, but it's clean enough that I doubt we'll get any signs.  We'll just have to check everywhere as we go."With no better alternative, the others agree to this methodical approach.  The first door they try leads only to a long-disused store room, filled with old and mildewed crates.  Apparently the concept that they are on a time frame has not yet sunk in, as the group promptly wastes several minutes on a fruitless search for loot.  Or maybe they just believe that this is the kind of place that you'd find a diamond.Beyond the next door is another store room.  Once more, precious time is occupied with a search.  This time they turn up four light crossbows that have been sufficiently protected from the damp to still be in useable condition."There are also some crates of bolts in this corner." Elspeth reports, "Must be several hundred of them, at least.  Most of them are warped, but if we go through them carefully, we might find some that are still intact.""Great." Unlike Mantreus, Anastria has no qualms about rolling her eyes, "There could be a good half-a-gold's worth of treasure, there.  And it shouldn't take more than twenty minutes to do.  You do remember that there are three dangerous bounty hunters coming to kill you, right?"Without waiting for an answer, the taciturn elf moves across the chamber.  There is another door there, leading into an unexplored area.  With a further muttered comment on the 'petty greed' of certain others in the group, Anastria opens the door, revealing a third store room, which she promptly enters.Just as promptly, a pair of leathery grey arms flash down from the ceiling, trying to grasp her around the neck.</blockquote>

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