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DM Brainiac's Age of Worms (Mostly Restored 5/12/06)
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<blockquote data-quote="ltclnlbrain" data-source="post: 2821426" data-attributes="member: 12882"><p><strong>Chapter 17</strong></p><p></p><p>Nothing further harassed the party during their rest, and soon enough they were refreshed and energized for the coming day. Pyrius cast a few minor spells of healing to patch up Tash's lingering wounds. Ju'lindra made her way over to the priest, smiling. "Good morning Pyrius. Do you have more surprises for me today?"</p><p></p><p>Pyrius smiled and shook his head. "Nope, just that one, I'm afraid."</p><p></p><p>The monk inclined her head, and spoke in a slightly lower tone of voice. "So, you knew my father. I want you tell me all about him. What he was like and everything else you remember. For now you're my only link to my past. A past that untill now did not look like it was ever going to reveal its secrets. I want to learn as much as I can about my parents and I need you to help me."</p><p></p><p>Pyrius nodded. "Sure. I'll help in any way I can. And I also have a promise to keep. I'm supposed to protect you. Though so far it's been all of you protecting me."</p><p></p><p>Keira and Sardonic once more braved the cold, dark waters to find what lay past the elemental and the ghoul. It seemed that those two monsters were the only ones that lurked within the submerged rooms, and the barbarian and wizard were able to make several expeditions down to the side rooms, going back for air every minute or two.</p><p></p><p>Both the east and west rooms were small, containing four benches each and several niches along the walls. In the west room was a human corpse wearing the red armor of the Seekers. The corpse's bones were very badly gnawed, and its armor had been torn apart and ruined as if by sharp claws--likely a victim of the ghoul. In one hand, the corpse clutched an elaborate red lantern, very similar to the ones located in the large hall above. In a molding scabbard at its belt hung a finely crafted short sword, curiously free of any rusting or pitting despite the fact that is had likely been underwater many years.</p><p></p><p>Stuffed into one of the niches in the wall of the east room was a pile of tattered clothes. Rummaging through the pile produced a pouch with several coins of silver, gold, and even platinum inside.</p><p></p><p>Sardonic looked like a wet rat when he emerged from the water. His thin body was accentuated by his clinging wet clothes. He shook his head like a dog, and water droplets sprayed from left to right.</p><p></p><p>Ju'lindra smiled mockingly at the mage and began to whistle. "Hey Sardonic, how about that? Want me to hold up a blanket so you can change without everybody staring and laughing? "</p><p></p><p>"There's nothing on my body that I'm ashamed of. Some say I'm taller when laying on my back," the mage replied with a wink.</p><p></p><p>Tash looked at the red lantern with interest. "This is the last one. Maybe if they're all lit up and assembled, something will happen. Let's go try it."</p><p></p><p>Davi nodded. "Alright, let's move back up then."</p><p></p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p></p><p>The torch they had left in the lantern above had long burned out, and the light from Tash's everburning torch failed to completely illuminate the room. The gnome handed the red lantern to Carpal, who placed it in its proper position. All seven lanterns now hung from their respective hooks, though nothing seemed to happen.</p><p></p><p>Sardonic thought for a bit, then his eyes lit up. "Oooh, ooooh! I got it." The young wizard began to point and flail. "Add the colors together in light, very soon the rays become white. It might trigger a thing or two...er, even though the corpse is glue." He frowns a bit at the last rhyme.</p><p></p><p>Carpal held up a hand. "Look, everyone. We may be dealing with this place better than the Seekers did, but it is still taking its toll. Are we sure we are ready to face the next challenge. Whatever comes out of that next chamber will probably be some other form of crawling or floating eye. Are we really ready for it?" He glanced meaningfully at Keira. The barbarian had taken a beating yesterday, and she was still not fully healed.</p><p></p><p>Standing next to Keira, Pyrius suddenly felt dwarfed by the barbarian woman. He was a bit unsure how to approach the subject. A barbarian! What if her culture has strange ideas about healing magic as well? Thinking quickly, he says, "I think Carpal is right. It's probably going to get more dangerous from here. It will mean everyone working together, so we need to make sure we're all in good shape. Keira, shall I start with you? How are your wounds?"</p><p></p><p>Keira gave Pyrius a sideways glance, a look of uncertainty on her face. In her tribe healing was rare - the shamans did their best, concocting all manner of healing salves, potions and weeds, even calling on the aid of the gods for healing. But with so many regularly wounded during battle, healing was only given to those that needed it most. Those that were dying or with serious wound, those that needed to go back and fight for another day. The stronger warriors mostly, as resource was always lacking.</p><p></p><p>"Very well, Pyrius," she said slowly, "If there is no-one else." She pointed to her wound on her side and chest, and waited with the same look of uncertainty on her face. She was starting to realise that if she wanted to become clesha she might be required to forge these around her into her own tribe. And to do that, she would need to be the strongest.</p><p></p><p>Pyrius cringed as he inspected Keira's wounds; they were more serious than he had thought. He really should have insisted on looking at them straightaway. They also looked like they would need the strength of Pelor to heal adequately. He reassured Keira, then grasping his symbol, he said a prayer to the Shining One, smiling as her wounds healed.</p><p></p><p>Once the healing had been done, she turned around. "Let's go!" she almost commanded. She stomped to Sardonic. "You, little man, do some of your magic and get another box here." She looked at Carpal. "Come, we must turn the arrow."</p><p></p><p>"But the lanterns..." Sardonic protested, then sighed. He had even rhymed his theory! "You guys suck," he muttered under his breath.</p><p></p><p>Turning the sarcophagus to the blue hallway seemed to have no effect. Turning the sarcophagus to the indigo hallway, however, produced another metal elevator that grinded up out of the floor. However, numerous crushed bones and moldy clothes littered the floor of the contraption.</p><p></p><p>A search by Ezreal and Tash confirm the group's suspicions; the entire elevator mechanism was false, merely an elaborate trap. The floor of the cylinder was unable to move, so anybody who entered would be crushed when the ceiling descended, trapping them between it and the floor. Working with his thief's tools, Ezreal managed to jam the mechanisms and render the trap inert. Tash entered and searched the bones, finding a pouch with some coins and a gem.</p><p></p><p>The group worked to turn the sarcophagus to the remaining halls. Nothing further happened at any of them, though.</p><p></p><p>"The lanterns?" asked Sardonic.</p><p></p><p>"I want to check out the ledge above the blue tunnel first," said Carpal.</p><p></p><p>"Fine," Sardonic replied, resuming his pouting.</p><p></p><p>The group moved into the blue tunnel, where the skeleton still slumped at the far end. Carpal looked up at the chain holding the lantern. He tugged on it a bit, testing its strength. "Looks pretty sturdy; somebody want to climb up there?"</p><p></p><p>"I'll do it," said Ju'lindra. With a little boost from the paladin, she began to skillfully climb up the chain. Years of training made themselves evident as she clambers to the top, then nimbly leaped off onto the floor of the shadowed passage above. A thin passage extended into the shadows to the northeast. Perhaps seventy feet away, the passage ended in what looks like an enormous stone human face, its mouth open in a heavy scream.</p><p></p><p>"Toss me a rope," the monk shouted down. "There's something up here Ezreal should look at. Might be a trap."</p><p></p><p>Taking some rope from Davi, Carpal tossed one end of it up to Ju'lindra. He then handed the other end to Ezreal, who tied it around his waist so that the monk could help support him as the rogue scurried his way up the chain. Once at the top, he began to slowly make his way down the passage, searching the walls, floor, and ceiling for traps.</p><p></p><p>"There's lots of scratch marks in the floor," Ezreal called back. "It's as if something had been dragged toward the lip of the passage. Maybe the cause of that poor blighter's skeleton down there." The rogue continued on with his methodical search, and he stopped about ten feet from the face. "Pressure plate in the floor," he said. "Not sure what it does, but I doubt the results would be pretty. Looks like a doozy, too. I think this is a dead-end though; the face is made of solid stone. Doesn't look like there are any openings."</p><p></p><p>Pyrius' stomach began to growl, loudly. The others looked at him, and he blushed. "S-sorry. We've been in here for a while...I'm out of rations."</p><p></p><p>As if in response, Tash's stomach began to grumble too. The gnome looked at the others. "We should head back to get some supplies and then continue. Who knows how much we have left to explore? We should get some torches and some food as well. Maybe one of us can run into town and grab the stuff while we figure out what to do next?"</p><p></p><p>"Light the torches," Sardonic mumbled to himself.</p><p></p><p>"If you feel it is necessary," Davi said to Tash, "then perhaps it is best for you to be our agent, Tash. Your reputation, and your tutelage, allows only the smallest amount of suspicion of all of us here."</p><p></p><p>"I'll go with him, in case he runs into trouble," Carpal said.</p><p></p><p>The halfling nodded. "Very well. We'll wait here until you return."</p><p></p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p></p><p>It was near midday when Carpal and Tash finished their trek from the Cairn back to town. Few people were out in the streets; most were at work in the numerous mines that dotted the outskirts of Diamond Lake. The paladin and the gnome were dirty, bloodied, caked with dust from the tomb and the trail, though they were not much different in appearance than the other sorry folk they saw moving about. Most paid them no mind, but a few seemed to recognize them and quickly look away, trying to pretend that they didn't.</p><p></p><p>The two made their way to Taggin's general store. Tables lined the walls within, stacked high with rope coils, lanterns, bottles, gloves, and gear. Wagon wheels rested against barrels filled with nails and candles. The proprietor grinned at them as they enter and cheerfully provided them with the supplies they request. He didn't question where they'd been or what they needed the items for, and that suited the two of them just fine.</p><p></p><p>It seemed that they might have been able to make it back out of Diamond Lake without anybody taking too much notice of them. But as they neared the outskirts, somebody called Carpal's name. Turning around they saw a young, red-headed woman wearing white and blue robes over a slim suit of chainmail. The paladin recognized her as Mélinde, a fellow knight of Heironeous.</p><p></p><p>"Carpal!" she called. "Where have you been? Commander Dun's been having a fit; you haven't reported for duty in three days." She took in their battered appearance and glanced quizzically at Tash, then back to Carpal, concern evident in her eyes. "Have you been drinking again?"</p><p></p><p>Carpal let out a long sigh. "Why? Would you like to?" The paladin let out his best grin, which, skin still irritated and red from the beetles' acid burns, looked more ghastly than usual. Mélinde's scowl showed that she was unimpressed. "No. I am very very sad to say that I have had only one drink in three days. It has taken everything I have not to go drinking now. And I am more than a little irritable about it.</p><p></p><p>"Now why would it matter if I don't report in for duty? You all have odds on how long before I drop out of the order anyway. Who really cares?" He realized that he has been steadily raising his voice and self-consiously looked around. He also suddenly realized that Tash and he are almost strangers, and this display must not be impressing the gnome very much. Under his breath, he muttered, "Ah, pike it."</p><p></p><p>Aloud, but more reasonably, he said, "Look, this guy has some friends who need some help. They have a couple of injured people down in a hole, and these things," he gestured to their new supplies, "are needed to help. Look, I know I am hardly the ideal memeber of the order, but this is a chance for me to do more than avenge wronged serving girls or fill the pockets of bartenders. This is the first time I came back to this pit we call home, and to be honest, I never once in all this time considered checking in.</p><p></p><p>"Report in for me, if you like. I should be back in a few more days. The gnome and I have things under control." He looked at both his and Tash's appearance and realized that they did not project the image of "under control," but he didn't really care. "I'll buy you a drink when I get back."</p><p></p><p>"Carpal, I...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to berate you. We've just been worried and all." Mélinde looked away for a moment, then turned back. "I'll let Commander Dun know you're okay. I'm sure he won't fault you for helping somebody in need; after all, he's always telling us we should do just that, much to Captain Trask's chagrin." Mélinde laughed lightly. "Are you sure you can handle it though? If you need help, I'd be more than willing to lend a hand. You know how boring it is around here usually."</p><p></p><p>Carpal really expected more of a tongue lashing than that. For once, the lush seemed genuinely ashamed. "Believe me, I know. That is why I lept at this chance. But honestly, we have it under control. Thanks." He placed a hand on the woman's shoulder and gently squeezed. Now he really needed a drink. He'd rather be mauled by wolves again than feel this low.</p><p></p><p>Mélinde smiled again at Carpal. "I'll smooth things over with Dun. But do try to report in when you get a chance." The paladin nodded at Tash, then turned and moved off into the town.</p><p></p><p>Carpal was silent for a bit as he and Tash left town. Eventually, he turned to the gnome. "Sorry about that. I hate making a scene."</p><p></p><p>Tash shook his head. "Its all right. I guess she was concerned for you. Master Allustan would be worried too if i went missing for a few days. Let's finish exploring this place and find what treasure we can."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ltclnlbrain, post: 2821426, member: 12882"] [b]Chapter 17[/b] Nothing further harassed the party during their rest, and soon enough they were refreshed and energized for the coming day. Pyrius cast a few minor spells of healing to patch up Tash's lingering wounds. Ju'lindra made her way over to the priest, smiling. "Good morning Pyrius. Do you have more surprises for me today?" Pyrius smiled and shook his head. "Nope, just that one, I'm afraid." The monk inclined her head, and spoke in a slightly lower tone of voice. "So, you knew my father. I want you tell me all about him. What he was like and everything else you remember. For now you're my only link to my past. A past that untill now did not look like it was ever going to reveal its secrets. I want to learn as much as I can about my parents and I need you to help me." Pyrius nodded. "Sure. I'll help in any way I can. And I also have a promise to keep. I'm supposed to protect you. Though so far it's been all of you protecting me." Keira and Sardonic once more braved the cold, dark waters to find what lay past the elemental and the ghoul. It seemed that those two monsters were the only ones that lurked within the submerged rooms, and the barbarian and wizard were able to make several expeditions down to the side rooms, going back for air every minute or two. Both the east and west rooms were small, containing four benches each and several niches along the walls. In the west room was a human corpse wearing the red armor of the Seekers. The corpse's bones were very badly gnawed, and its armor had been torn apart and ruined as if by sharp claws--likely a victim of the ghoul. In one hand, the corpse clutched an elaborate red lantern, very similar to the ones located in the large hall above. In a molding scabbard at its belt hung a finely crafted short sword, curiously free of any rusting or pitting despite the fact that is had likely been underwater many years. Stuffed into one of the niches in the wall of the east room was a pile of tattered clothes. Rummaging through the pile produced a pouch with several coins of silver, gold, and even platinum inside. Sardonic looked like a wet rat when he emerged from the water. His thin body was accentuated by his clinging wet clothes. He shook his head like a dog, and water droplets sprayed from left to right. Ju'lindra smiled mockingly at the mage and began to whistle. "Hey Sardonic, how about that? Want me to hold up a blanket so you can change without everybody staring and laughing? " "There's nothing on my body that I'm ashamed of. Some say I'm taller when laying on my back," the mage replied with a wink. Tash looked at the red lantern with interest. "This is the last one. Maybe if they're all lit up and assembled, something will happen. Let's go try it." Davi nodded. "Alright, let's move back up then." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The torch they had left in the lantern above had long burned out, and the light from Tash's everburning torch failed to completely illuminate the room. The gnome handed the red lantern to Carpal, who placed it in its proper position. All seven lanterns now hung from their respective hooks, though nothing seemed to happen. Sardonic thought for a bit, then his eyes lit up. "Oooh, ooooh! I got it." The young wizard began to point and flail. "Add the colors together in light, very soon the rays become white. It might trigger a thing or two...er, even though the corpse is glue." He frowns a bit at the last rhyme. Carpal held up a hand. "Look, everyone. We may be dealing with this place better than the Seekers did, but it is still taking its toll. Are we sure we are ready to face the next challenge. Whatever comes out of that next chamber will probably be some other form of crawling or floating eye. Are we really ready for it?" He glanced meaningfully at Keira. The barbarian had taken a beating yesterday, and she was still not fully healed. Standing next to Keira, Pyrius suddenly felt dwarfed by the barbarian woman. He was a bit unsure how to approach the subject. A barbarian! What if her culture has strange ideas about healing magic as well? Thinking quickly, he says, "I think Carpal is right. It's probably going to get more dangerous from here. It will mean everyone working together, so we need to make sure we're all in good shape. Keira, shall I start with you? How are your wounds?" Keira gave Pyrius a sideways glance, a look of uncertainty on her face. In her tribe healing was rare - the shamans did their best, concocting all manner of healing salves, potions and weeds, even calling on the aid of the gods for healing. But with so many regularly wounded during battle, healing was only given to those that needed it most. Those that were dying or with serious wound, those that needed to go back and fight for another day. The stronger warriors mostly, as resource was always lacking. "Very well, Pyrius," she said slowly, "If there is no-one else." She pointed to her wound on her side and chest, and waited with the same look of uncertainty on her face. She was starting to realise that if she wanted to become clesha she might be required to forge these around her into her own tribe. And to do that, she would need to be the strongest. Pyrius cringed as he inspected Keira's wounds; they were more serious than he had thought. He really should have insisted on looking at them straightaway. They also looked like they would need the strength of Pelor to heal adequately. He reassured Keira, then grasping his symbol, he said a prayer to the Shining One, smiling as her wounds healed. Once the healing had been done, she turned around. "Let's go!" she almost commanded. She stomped to Sardonic. "You, little man, do some of your magic and get another box here." She looked at Carpal. "Come, we must turn the arrow." "But the lanterns..." Sardonic protested, then sighed. He had even rhymed his theory! "You guys suck," he muttered under his breath. Turning the sarcophagus to the blue hallway seemed to have no effect. Turning the sarcophagus to the indigo hallway, however, produced another metal elevator that grinded up out of the floor. However, numerous crushed bones and moldy clothes littered the floor of the contraption. A search by Ezreal and Tash confirm the group's suspicions; the entire elevator mechanism was false, merely an elaborate trap. The floor of the cylinder was unable to move, so anybody who entered would be crushed when the ceiling descended, trapping them between it and the floor. Working with his thief's tools, Ezreal managed to jam the mechanisms and render the trap inert. Tash entered and searched the bones, finding a pouch with some coins and a gem. The group worked to turn the sarcophagus to the remaining halls. Nothing further happened at any of them, though. "The lanterns?" asked Sardonic. "I want to check out the ledge above the blue tunnel first," said Carpal. "Fine," Sardonic replied, resuming his pouting. The group moved into the blue tunnel, where the skeleton still slumped at the far end. Carpal looked up at the chain holding the lantern. He tugged on it a bit, testing its strength. "Looks pretty sturdy; somebody want to climb up there?" "I'll do it," said Ju'lindra. With a little boost from the paladin, she began to skillfully climb up the chain. Years of training made themselves evident as she clambers to the top, then nimbly leaped off onto the floor of the shadowed passage above. A thin passage extended into the shadows to the northeast. Perhaps seventy feet away, the passage ended in what looks like an enormous stone human face, its mouth open in a heavy scream. "Toss me a rope," the monk shouted down. "There's something up here Ezreal should look at. Might be a trap." Taking some rope from Davi, Carpal tossed one end of it up to Ju'lindra. He then handed the other end to Ezreal, who tied it around his waist so that the monk could help support him as the rogue scurried his way up the chain. Once at the top, he began to slowly make his way down the passage, searching the walls, floor, and ceiling for traps. "There's lots of scratch marks in the floor," Ezreal called back. "It's as if something had been dragged toward the lip of the passage. Maybe the cause of that poor blighter's skeleton down there." The rogue continued on with his methodical search, and he stopped about ten feet from the face. "Pressure plate in the floor," he said. "Not sure what it does, but I doubt the results would be pretty. Looks like a doozy, too. I think this is a dead-end though; the face is made of solid stone. Doesn't look like there are any openings." Pyrius' stomach began to growl, loudly. The others looked at him, and he blushed. "S-sorry. We've been in here for a while...I'm out of rations." As if in response, Tash's stomach began to grumble too. The gnome looked at the others. "We should head back to get some supplies and then continue. Who knows how much we have left to explore? We should get some torches and some food as well. Maybe one of us can run into town and grab the stuff while we figure out what to do next?" "Light the torches," Sardonic mumbled to himself. "If you feel it is necessary," Davi said to Tash, "then perhaps it is best for you to be our agent, Tash. Your reputation, and your tutelage, allows only the smallest amount of suspicion of all of us here." "I'll go with him, in case he runs into trouble," Carpal said. The halfling nodded. "Very well. We'll wait here until you return." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was near midday when Carpal and Tash finished their trek from the Cairn back to town. Few people were out in the streets; most were at work in the numerous mines that dotted the outskirts of Diamond Lake. The paladin and the gnome were dirty, bloodied, caked with dust from the tomb and the trail, though they were not much different in appearance than the other sorry folk they saw moving about. Most paid them no mind, but a few seemed to recognize them and quickly look away, trying to pretend that they didn't. The two made their way to Taggin's general store. Tables lined the walls within, stacked high with rope coils, lanterns, bottles, gloves, and gear. Wagon wheels rested against barrels filled with nails and candles. The proprietor grinned at them as they enter and cheerfully provided them with the supplies they request. He didn't question where they'd been or what they needed the items for, and that suited the two of them just fine. It seemed that they might have been able to make it back out of Diamond Lake without anybody taking too much notice of them. But as they neared the outskirts, somebody called Carpal's name. Turning around they saw a young, red-headed woman wearing white and blue robes over a slim suit of chainmail. The paladin recognized her as Mélinde, a fellow knight of Heironeous. "Carpal!" she called. "Where have you been? Commander Dun's been having a fit; you haven't reported for duty in three days." She took in their battered appearance and glanced quizzically at Tash, then back to Carpal, concern evident in her eyes. "Have you been drinking again?" Carpal let out a long sigh. "Why? Would you like to?" The paladin let out his best grin, which, skin still irritated and red from the beetles' acid burns, looked more ghastly than usual. Mélinde's scowl showed that she was unimpressed. "No. I am very very sad to say that I have had only one drink in three days. It has taken everything I have not to go drinking now. And I am more than a little irritable about it. "Now why would it matter if I don't report in for duty? You all have odds on how long before I drop out of the order anyway. Who really cares?" He realized that he has been steadily raising his voice and self-consiously looked around. He also suddenly realized that Tash and he are almost strangers, and this display must not be impressing the gnome very much. Under his breath, he muttered, "Ah, pike it." Aloud, but more reasonably, he said, "Look, this guy has some friends who need some help. They have a couple of injured people down in a hole, and these things," he gestured to their new supplies, "are needed to help. Look, I know I am hardly the ideal memeber of the order, but this is a chance for me to do more than avenge wronged serving girls or fill the pockets of bartenders. This is the first time I came back to this pit we call home, and to be honest, I never once in all this time considered checking in. "Report in for me, if you like. I should be back in a few more days. The gnome and I have things under control." He looked at both his and Tash's appearance and realized that they did not project the image of "under control," but he didn't really care. "I'll buy you a drink when I get back." "Carpal, I...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to berate you. We've just been worried and all." Mélinde looked away for a moment, then turned back. "I'll let Commander Dun know you're okay. I'm sure he won't fault you for helping somebody in need; after all, he's always telling us we should do just that, much to Captain Trask's chagrin." Mélinde laughed lightly. "Are you sure you can handle it though? If you need help, I'd be more than willing to lend a hand. You know how boring it is around here usually." Carpal really expected more of a tongue lashing than that. For once, the lush seemed genuinely ashamed. "Believe me, I know. That is why I lept at this chance. But honestly, we have it under control. Thanks." He placed a hand on the woman's shoulder and gently squeezed. Now he really needed a drink. He'd rather be mauled by wolves again than feel this low. Mélinde smiled again at Carpal. "I'll smooth things over with Dun. But do try to report in when you get a chance." The paladin nodded at Tash, then turned and moved off into the town. Carpal was silent for a bit as he and Tash left town. Eventually, he turned to the gnome. "Sorry about that. I hate making a scene." Tash shook his head. "Its all right. I guess she was concerned for you. Master Allustan would be worried too if i went missing for a few days. Let's finish exploring this place and find what treasure we can." [/QUOTE]
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DM Brainiac's Age of Worms (Mostly Restored 5/12/06)
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