Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
pogre's Trailblazer Campaign - Update 2/20/2011
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="pogre" data-source="post: 5388302" data-attributes="member: 6588"><p><u>Episode 2</u></p><p></p><p>The pan miner's hand shook as he brought the ale up to his lips. Gart Prillason's gaunt face was framed by a straggly beard with streaks of gray running through it. His long hair was topped by a peasant bonnet and his hands were filthy and scabbed. Despite his disheveled appearance, Gart Prillason was a fairly wealthy man. He was different than most pan miners in the Goldcreek area, he had found ore. His claim south of town was paid for and according to the innkeeper, Saul Courtier, Gart came to town about once a month with a sizable amount of gold.</p><p></p><p>Gart sleeved away the ale's froth from his upper lip and resumed his proposal to the adventurers, “There's some ruins on my claim. Opposite side of the river from my camp. I set-up on the south side of the river because the ruins always spooked me. Probably wouldn't have kept there, but my claims good. It's good isn't it Saul?”</p><p></p><p>The large innkeeper nodded encouragingly.</p><p></p><p>Gart took a breath as though steeling himself for the rest of his tale. “A few days ago I began hearing sounds. Day and night these wails start drifting through the place. Now, it did not take long for ole' Gart to figure out this racket was a coming from the ruins. That's when I flew. It spooked me good.”</p><p></p><p>“What did it sound like?” Graxxus asked.</p><p></p><p>The pan miner seemed to shiver as he remembered. “It sounded like a keening wail. Like a distraught woman at a funeral. Except it sounded like it was from another world, nothing natural, of that I was sure.”</p><p></p><p>“You want us to go to these ruins and stop the sound?” Deadsmell asked.</p><p></p><p>“Aye that's the bargain I'm seeking. I'll pay you well,” Gart replied. “Saul, said you folk might be able to help me out.”</p><p></p><p>“If you're paying us well, I think we can reach such an accord,” Deadsmell replied.</p><p></p><p>The parties hashed out a contract and the adventurers prepared to set out the next day. The only part of the agreement Gart did not like was that he was to lead them to the campsite.</p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>Gart scrambled down the bank leading the adventurers to his camp. The camp was not much to look at – a hut, a fire pit, and a leanto for firewood. It was clear Gart's work had all gone into the numerous troughs and screens set up in the river. The pan miner quickly ducked into his hut while the adventurers looked around.</p><p></p><p>Suddenly, a screeching wail drifted down through the camp. Gart quickly emerged from his cabin with a pair of bags, the color had left his face. He quickly blurted, “That's what you are here for.” He quickly scrambled up the embankment away from the camp, leaving a cloud of dust and tumbling gravel behind him.</p><p></p><p>Skullcrusher, the massive half-orc, laughed at the pan miner's rapid exit.</p><p></p><p>Wolfclaw pointed across the river to the far bank. “I see some worked stone higher up on that bank. That must be the ruins.”</p><p></p><p>“Shall we?” Graxxus asked and began wading across the shallow river. The rest of the group followed suit with Skullcrusher carrying the Dwarfess Goldie across the deeper channel of the river.</p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>The finished stones at the summit of the bank were grown over and heavily eroded.</p><p></p><p>“This is not dwarven work,” Goldie announced.</p><p></p><p>“Hey look at this,” Graxxus called. As the others approached they could see clear signs of a recent camp. The group quickly found remnants of a blanket roll, water flask, some sacks, torches, and a section of rope. Further exploration led them to discover a pair of large mounds of freshly dug earth. Cautiously approaching the mounds the group discovered a stone staircase that descended into the ground.</p><p></p><p>Just as the usual debates about who was going to carry a light source into the darkness began, an unearthly screech issued forth from beyond the stairway. The sound was much louder than what they had heard at Gart's campsite. “I'm starting to understand why Gart was so spooked,” Wolfclaw commented.</p><p></p><p>“You spooked all the time scaredy elf,” Skullcrusher chortled.</p><p></p><p>“There is a fine line between courage and utter stupidity,” Wolfclaw replied.</p><p></p><p>Skullcrusher looked at the elf with a raised eyebrow and a quizzical look on his face.</p><p></p><p>“We at least know we're headed the right direction,” Graxxus stated trying to divert Skullcrusher's attention from Wolfclaw's insult. “Goldie, do you think it looks stable?”</p><p></p><p>“Stable enough,” she replied.</p><p></p><p>The group descended in the darkness.</p><p></p><p>“I smell the dead,” Deadsmell murmured as they descended.</p><p></p><p>“Smell the dead?” Graxxus asked. “Like rotting bodies?”</p><p></p><p>“No, the long, long dead,” Deadsmell replied.</p><p></p><p>“I don't smell nothing,” Skullcrusher said.</p><p></p><p>“Believe me, my greenish friend, it's a smell I know,” Deadsmell countered while pointing to his nose.</p><p></p><p>Graxxus and Goldie both pulled out their holy symbols and the group continued its descent.</p><p></p><p>*****</p><p>The stairs descended into on octagonal chamber with three more exits. The floor was littered with bits of plaster, stonework, rags, pottery shards, bits of rusted metal, but nothing of real interest.</p><p></p><p>“Uh folks, we have company,” Goldie called out. Skeletal forms appeared in all three of the exits leading deeper into the complex.</p><p></p><p>Graxxus scrambled to pull up his holy symbol. Skullcrusher and Goldie raced to attack different groups of the skeletons. Deadsmell rushed the last group. Graxxus shrugged, put his holy symbol away, and rushed to support Deadsmell's efforts. Wolfclaw hung back and peppered arrows where targets appeared.</p><p></p><p>The skeletons quickly collapsed into so much dust after a quick melee.</p><p></p><p>“Clicky – clacky,” Skullcrusher spat in disgust.</p><p></p><p>“What's with him?” Graxxus asked Deadsmell.</p><p></p><p>“I think he's disappointed,” Deadsmell replied.</p><p></p><p>“Why in the world would he be disappointed?” Wolfclaw asked.</p><p></p><p>“Clicky – clacky,” Skullcrusher replied.</p><p></p><p>“Neh blut?” Deadsmell asked Skullcrusher.</p><p></p><p>“Neh blut,” Skullcrusher affirmed.</p><p></p><p>“What did he say?” Graxxus asked.</p><p></p><p>“No blood,” Deadsmell replied. “No blood means an unworthy battle in Skully's book.”</p><p></p><p>“Is that right ole' boy?” Graxxus asked the half-orc.</p><p></p><p>“Just so soul,” Skullcrusher replied.</p><p></p><p>“It's a bad fight if he is not covered in blood? That's disgusting,” Wolfclaw commented.</p><p></p><p>“Blut is vita – vita is blut!” Skullcrusher yelled at Wolfclaw.</p><p></p><p>Just as Graxxus prepared to intervene between the elf and half-orc yet again he was cut short by a high-pitched, eerie wailing coming from the western corridor. The adventurers looked at one another and began heading down the western corridor.</p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>The two complete sets of platemail flanked an archway in a widened part of the hallway ahead.</p><p></p><p>“I could use that armor,” Graxxus commented.</p><p></p><p>“Yer' not getting it,” Deadsmell stated flatly.</p><p></p><p>“And why not, ole' boy?” Graxxus asked.</p><p></p><p>“It's a trap,” Deadsmell replied.</p><p></p><p>“How could you possibly know that from 10 yards away?” Goldie asked.</p><p></p><p>“Two things lass – one, were in a tomb of some sort. Two, look around us.” Deadsmell motioned his hand around the area.</p><p></p><p>“I'm not following you,” Goldie replied.</p><p></p><p>“Look lass, everything – the walls, the floor, and even the roof are covered in dust and broken bits of plaster,” Deadsmell replied.</p><p></p><p>“Yes, shoddy workmanship, most likely your race,” Goldie stated.</p><p></p><p>“Yeah, yeah, whatever – now take a look at that platemail,” Deadsmell pointed down the hall at the twin sets of armor.</p><p></p><p>“No dust,” Goldie replied.</p><p></p><p>“Yep,” Deadsmell folded his arms with a satisfied smirk on his lean features.</p><p></p><p>“How trapped?” Skullcrusher asked.</p><p></p><p>“How would I know Skully? Were ten frakin' yards away from 'em,” Deadsmell replied.</p><p></p><p>“Any guesses?” Graxxus asked.</p><p></p><p>“Prolly' animated judgin' by our bony friends from the other place, or mebbe' somethin' worse,” Deadsmell replied.</p><p></p><p>“Clicky-clacky?” Skullcrusher asked.</p><p></p><p>Deadsmell shrugged. A dark countenance went over the half-orc's features and he charged down the corridor. Skullcrusher's huge axe went in wide arc smashing with a great clang on one of the suits of armor. As Deadsmell predicted the suits of armor animated and began attacking.</p><p></p><p>“Whoever made this tomb has no frakin' imagination!” Deadsmell sighed and took off the corridor after Skullcrusher.* The rest of the group followed suit.</p><p></p><p>Skullcrusher's axe crashed again and again down on the armor. Still the animated plate kept fighting and soon Skullcrusher was bleeding from a number of wounds, including a substantial gash across his left shoulder. The others were similarly having little luck slowing the other suit of platemail down. Deadsmell slipped past the animated suits through the archway.</p><p></p><p>“Just dodge 'em and come this way,” Deadsmell shouted above the din of the melee. Quickly, Wolfclaw, Graxxus, and finally Goldie did the same. Skullcrusher kept hacking at his seemingly impervious foe.</p><p></p><p>“Come on Skully,” Goldie implored. “It's no use. Just run this way.”</p><p></p><p>Skullcrusher roared in rage and redoubled his efforts. The half-orc was now flanked by the suits and was taking a beating, but his blows were starting to tell with rends and dents in the first suit of armor.</p><p></p><p>“Dang it!” Goldie shouted and ran back through the archway. Just as she emerged through, the first animated suit fell to the ground in a pile of dust. She could see Skullcrusher had lost a lot of blood and was staggering slightly as he turned his attention to his other attacker. Goldie came up behind him and put her hands on him, sealing some of his wounds. The rest of the group emerged through the archway and with a concerted group effort the other suit of platemail was dissolved into dust as well.</p><p></p><p>“Maybe we should rest?” Goldie offered.</p><p></p><p>Before anyone could respond to her suggestion a bone-chilling screech issued forth from beyond the archway.</p><p></p><p>“Maybe not,” Goldie said, countering her own suggestion.</p><p></p><p>The group pushed deeper into the complex.</p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>The passage widened considerably and terminated in a barred gate. The gate had a huge lock about five feet off the ground, no other hinge, or other mechanism of opening was visible. Several of the bars in the upper section of the huge gate were fashioned to look like leering gargoyles. The group approached cautiously and looked through the gate. As far as they could see there were piles of broken stone, overturned sarcophagi, and grave markers in a huge cavern that stretched beyond even the dwarf's vision.</p><p></p><p>“God's teeth, it's a necropolis,” Graxxus said.</p><p></p><p>“Yes, yes it is,” Deadsmell said with a wide smile.</p><p></p><p>Skullbasher held Deadsmell up while Deadsmell made quick work of the lock and the gates swung open. Deadsmell jumped down and went into the cavern as eager as a beggar at a banquet. Everyone else followed his lead and the cavern beyond was penetrated by a piercing horrible screech. Two disembodied, floating skulls emerged from the niches, and a half dozen skeletons scrambled to the attack.</p><p></p><p>The shriek was bone chilling, but all of the adventurers shrugged off its effects and leaped into the battle.** Graxxus and Goldie dispatched the two screaming skulls rapidly and the rest of the group quickly put the skeletons down for their final rest.</p><p></p><p>“Clicky-clacky,” Skullcrusher said in disgust and spat on the pile of dust that had been his last foe seconds earlier.</p><p></p><p>“Let's have a look around.” Deadsmell suggested.</p><p></p><p>“I don't like the idea of disturbing the dead,” Graxxus said.</p><p></p><p>“I think we are well past the point of concern about these dead being disturbed,” Deadsmell replied.</p><p></p><p>“Fair point, but let's be at least somewhat respectful,” Graxxus said.</p><p></p><p>“Oh, of course, of course,” Deadsmell replied. He then gleefully went forward looting the necropolis for the better part of an hour. He found a few ancient coins, but was disappointed in the haul. It was only after the pleading of his companions that Deadsmell halted his searching and looting and returned to the surface with them.</p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>Gart Prillason gratefully paid the adventurers and even threw in a small bag of gold dust in addition to the agreed reward. Gart then gathered his supplies and said farewell to Saul Courtier.</p><p></p><p>“Take care Gart, and watch out for the gnolls,” Saul replied.</p><p></p><p>“What gnolls?” Goldie asked.</p><p></p><p>“Oh, I guess you did not hear,” Saul began. “There is a band of gnoll raiders going after the local farmsteads. The Captain of the guard, Fel Rightforth, is offering a big reward for anybody who can track the gnolls down and eliminate them.”</p><p></p><p>Deadsmell shot a glance at Skullcrusher. “Can I at least have a beer and a woman tonight?”</p><p></p><p>“Blut,” Skullcrusher replied.</p><p></p><p>“I take it Skullcrusher is interested in pursuing this,” Graxxus stated.</p><p></p><p>“Of course, he is, gnolls are living things that bleed after all,” Wolfclaw interjected in a mocking tone.</p><p></p><p>“Blut is vita,” Skullcrusher replied with a big toothy grin.</p><p></p><p>“Alright, alright, tomorrow Skully, tomorrow,” Deadsmell said resignedly.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>*Yeah, yeah, everybody knew the suits of armor were going to animate. Water is wet, the sky's blue, and gobbos are made for killing and all that.</p><p></p><p>**Behold the power of action points!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="pogre, post: 5388302, member: 6588"] [U]Episode 2[/U] The pan miner's hand shook as he brought the ale up to his lips. Gart Prillason's gaunt face was framed by a straggly beard with streaks of gray running through it. His long hair was topped by a peasant bonnet and his hands were filthy and scabbed. Despite his disheveled appearance, Gart Prillason was a fairly wealthy man. He was different than most pan miners in the Goldcreek area, he had found ore. His claim south of town was paid for and according to the innkeeper, Saul Courtier, Gart came to town about once a month with a sizable amount of gold. Gart sleeved away the ale's froth from his upper lip and resumed his proposal to the adventurers, “There's some ruins on my claim. Opposite side of the river from my camp. I set-up on the south side of the river because the ruins always spooked me. Probably wouldn't have kept there, but my claims good. It's good isn't it Saul?” The large innkeeper nodded encouragingly. Gart took a breath as though steeling himself for the rest of his tale. “A few days ago I began hearing sounds. Day and night these wails start drifting through the place. Now, it did not take long for ole' Gart to figure out this racket was a coming from the ruins. That's when I flew. It spooked me good.” “What did it sound like?” Graxxus asked. The pan miner seemed to shiver as he remembered. “It sounded like a keening wail. Like a distraught woman at a funeral. Except it sounded like it was from another world, nothing natural, of that I was sure.” “You want us to go to these ruins and stop the sound?” Deadsmell asked. “Aye that's the bargain I'm seeking. I'll pay you well,” Gart replied. “Saul, said you folk might be able to help me out.” “If you're paying us well, I think we can reach such an accord,” Deadsmell replied. The parties hashed out a contract and the adventurers prepared to set out the next day. The only part of the agreement Gart did not like was that he was to lead them to the campsite. ***** Gart scrambled down the bank leading the adventurers to his camp. The camp was not much to look at – a hut, a fire pit, and a leanto for firewood. It was clear Gart's work had all gone into the numerous troughs and screens set up in the river. The pan miner quickly ducked into his hut while the adventurers looked around. Suddenly, a screeching wail drifted down through the camp. Gart quickly emerged from his cabin with a pair of bags, the color had left his face. He quickly blurted, “That's what you are here for.” He quickly scrambled up the embankment away from the camp, leaving a cloud of dust and tumbling gravel behind him. Skullcrusher, the massive half-orc, laughed at the pan miner's rapid exit. Wolfclaw pointed across the river to the far bank. “I see some worked stone higher up on that bank. That must be the ruins.” “Shall we?” Graxxus asked and began wading across the shallow river. The rest of the group followed suit with Skullcrusher carrying the Dwarfess Goldie across the deeper channel of the river. ***** The finished stones at the summit of the bank were grown over and heavily eroded. “This is not dwarven work,” Goldie announced. “Hey look at this,” Graxxus called. As the others approached they could see clear signs of a recent camp. The group quickly found remnants of a blanket roll, water flask, some sacks, torches, and a section of rope. Further exploration led them to discover a pair of large mounds of freshly dug earth. Cautiously approaching the mounds the group discovered a stone staircase that descended into the ground. Just as the usual debates about who was going to carry a light source into the darkness began, an unearthly screech issued forth from beyond the stairway. The sound was much louder than what they had heard at Gart's campsite. “I'm starting to understand why Gart was so spooked,” Wolfclaw commented. “You spooked all the time scaredy elf,” Skullcrusher chortled. “There is a fine line between courage and utter stupidity,” Wolfclaw replied. Skullcrusher looked at the elf with a raised eyebrow and a quizzical look on his face. “We at least know we're headed the right direction,” Graxxus stated trying to divert Skullcrusher's attention from Wolfclaw's insult. “Goldie, do you think it looks stable?” “Stable enough,” she replied. The group descended in the darkness. “I smell the dead,” Deadsmell murmured as they descended. “Smell the dead?” Graxxus asked. “Like rotting bodies?” “No, the long, long dead,” Deadsmell replied. “I don't smell nothing,” Skullcrusher said. “Believe me, my greenish friend, it's a smell I know,” Deadsmell countered while pointing to his nose. Graxxus and Goldie both pulled out their holy symbols and the group continued its descent. ***** The stairs descended into on octagonal chamber with three more exits. The floor was littered with bits of plaster, stonework, rags, pottery shards, bits of rusted metal, but nothing of real interest. “Uh folks, we have company,” Goldie called out. Skeletal forms appeared in all three of the exits leading deeper into the complex. Graxxus scrambled to pull up his holy symbol. Skullcrusher and Goldie raced to attack different groups of the skeletons. Deadsmell rushed the last group. Graxxus shrugged, put his holy symbol away, and rushed to support Deadsmell's efforts. Wolfclaw hung back and peppered arrows where targets appeared. The skeletons quickly collapsed into so much dust after a quick melee. “Clicky – clacky,” Skullcrusher spat in disgust. “What's with him?” Graxxus asked Deadsmell. “I think he's disappointed,” Deadsmell replied. “Why in the world would he be disappointed?” Wolfclaw asked. “Clicky – clacky,” Skullcrusher replied. “Neh blut?” Deadsmell asked Skullcrusher. “Neh blut,” Skullcrusher affirmed. “What did he say?” Graxxus asked. “No blood,” Deadsmell replied. “No blood means an unworthy battle in Skully's book.” “Is that right ole' boy?” Graxxus asked the half-orc. “Just so soul,” Skullcrusher replied. “It's a bad fight if he is not covered in blood? That's disgusting,” Wolfclaw commented. “Blut is vita – vita is blut!” Skullcrusher yelled at Wolfclaw. Just as Graxxus prepared to intervene between the elf and half-orc yet again he was cut short by a high-pitched, eerie wailing coming from the western corridor. The adventurers looked at one another and began heading down the western corridor. ***** The two complete sets of platemail flanked an archway in a widened part of the hallway ahead. “I could use that armor,” Graxxus commented. “Yer' not getting it,” Deadsmell stated flatly. “And why not, ole' boy?” Graxxus asked. “It's a trap,” Deadsmell replied. “How could you possibly know that from 10 yards away?” Goldie asked. “Two things lass – one, were in a tomb of some sort. Two, look around us.” Deadsmell motioned his hand around the area. “I'm not following you,” Goldie replied. “Look lass, everything – the walls, the floor, and even the roof are covered in dust and broken bits of plaster,” Deadsmell replied. “Yes, shoddy workmanship, most likely your race,” Goldie stated. “Yeah, yeah, whatever – now take a look at that platemail,” Deadsmell pointed down the hall at the twin sets of armor. “No dust,” Goldie replied. “Yep,” Deadsmell folded his arms with a satisfied smirk on his lean features. “How trapped?” Skullcrusher asked. “How would I know Skully? Were ten frakin' yards away from 'em,” Deadsmell replied. “Any guesses?” Graxxus asked. “Prolly' animated judgin' by our bony friends from the other place, or mebbe' somethin' worse,” Deadsmell replied. “Clicky-clacky?” Skullcrusher asked. Deadsmell shrugged. A dark countenance went over the half-orc's features and he charged down the corridor. Skullcrusher's huge axe went in wide arc smashing with a great clang on one of the suits of armor. As Deadsmell predicted the suits of armor animated and began attacking. “Whoever made this tomb has no frakin' imagination!” Deadsmell sighed and took off the corridor after Skullcrusher.* The rest of the group followed suit. Skullcrusher's axe crashed again and again down on the armor. Still the animated plate kept fighting and soon Skullcrusher was bleeding from a number of wounds, including a substantial gash across his left shoulder. The others were similarly having little luck slowing the other suit of platemail down. Deadsmell slipped past the animated suits through the archway. “Just dodge 'em and come this way,” Deadsmell shouted above the din of the melee. Quickly, Wolfclaw, Graxxus, and finally Goldie did the same. Skullcrusher kept hacking at his seemingly impervious foe. “Come on Skully,” Goldie implored. “It's no use. Just run this way.” Skullcrusher roared in rage and redoubled his efforts. The half-orc was now flanked by the suits and was taking a beating, but his blows were starting to tell with rends and dents in the first suit of armor. “Dang it!” Goldie shouted and ran back through the archway. Just as she emerged through, the first animated suit fell to the ground in a pile of dust. She could see Skullcrusher had lost a lot of blood and was staggering slightly as he turned his attention to his other attacker. Goldie came up behind him and put her hands on him, sealing some of his wounds. The rest of the group emerged through the archway and with a concerted group effort the other suit of platemail was dissolved into dust as well. “Maybe we should rest?” Goldie offered. Before anyone could respond to her suggestion a bone-chilling screech issued forth from beyond the archway. “Maybe not,” Goldie said, countering her own suggestion. The group pushed deeper into the complex. ***** The passage widened considerably and terminated in a barred gate. The gate had a huge lock about five feet off the ground, no other hinge, or other mechanism of opening was visible. Several of the bars in the upper section of the huge gate were fashioned to look like leering gargoyles. The group approached cautiously and looked through the gate. As far as they could see there were piles of broken stone, overturned sarcophagi, and grave markers in a huge cavern that stretched beyond even the dwarf's vision. “God's teeth, it's a necropolis,” Graxxus said. “Yes, yes it is,” Deadsmell said with a wide smile. Skullbasher held Deadsmell up while Deadsmell made quick work of the lock and the gates swung open. Deadsmell jumped down and went into the cavern as eager as a beggar at a banquet. Everyone else followed his lead and the cavern beyond was penetrated by a piercing horrible screech. Two disembodied, floating skulls emerged from the niches, and a half dozen skeletons scrambled to the attack. The shriek was bone chilling, but all of the adventurers shrugged off its effects and leaped into the battle.** Graxxus and Goldie dispatched the two screaming skulls rapidly and the rest of the group quickly put the skeletons down for their final rest. “Clicky-clacky,” Skullcrusher said in disgust and spat on the pile of dust that had been his last foe seconds earlier. “Let's have a look around.” Deadsmell suggested. “I don't like the idea of disturbing the dead,” Graxxus said. “I think we are well past the point of concern about these dead being disturbed,” Deadsmell replied. “Fair point, but let's be at least somewhat respectful,” Graxxus said. “Oh, of course, of course,” Deadsmell replied. He then gleefully went forward looting the necropolis for the better part of an hour. He found a few ancient coins, but was disappointed in the haul. It was only after the pleading of his companions that Deadsmell halted his searching and looting and returned to the surface with them. ***** Gart Prillason gratefully paid the adventurers and even threw in a small bag of gold dust in addition to the agreed reward. Gart then gathered his supplies and said farewell to Saul Courtier. “Take care Gart, and watch out for the gnolls,” Saul replied. “What gnolls?” Goldie asked. “Oh, I guess you did not hear,” Saul began. “There is a band of gnoll raiders going after the local farmsteads. The Captain of the guard, Fel Rightforth, is offering a big reward for anybody who can track the gnolls down and eliminate them.” Deadsmell shot a glance at Skullcrusher. “Can I at least have a beer and a woman tonight?” “Blut,” Skullcrusher replied. “I take it Skullcrusher is interested in pursuing this,” Graxxus stated. “Of course, he is, gnolls are living things that bleed after all,” Wolfclaw interjected in a mocking tone. “Blut is vita,” Skullcrusher replied with a big toothy grin. “Alright, alright, tomorrow Skully, tomorrow,” Deadsmell said resignedly. *Yeah, yeah, everybody knew the suits of armor were going to animate. Water is wet, the sky's blue, and gobbos are made for killing and all that. **Behold the power of action points! [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
pogre's Trailblazer Campaign - Update 2/20/2011
Top