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Rappan Athuk: Ravage of The Unusual Heroes!
- Thread starter Ziona
- Start date
Dr Midnight
Explorer
Arrrgh... can we just play tonight?
Breakstone
First Post
Poor Venus...
I can't wait to see what happens next!
I can't wait to see what happens next!
PaynAndispare
First Post
Dent:
I must agree with you Dent. But there isn't one with my name one it ... for I am Gnettles Von'PYE, and I intend to rain down hell upon our foes.
3 feet of whoop ass coming to a seat near you!!
08.29.02
~ the Pye man
I must agree with you Dent. But there isn't one with my name one it ... for I am Gnettles Von'PYE, and I intend to rain down hell upon our foes.
3 feet of whoop ass coming to a seat near you!!
08.29.02
~ the Pye man
Ziona
First Post
Low and Behold, a Gnome!
Eventually, Dent, Gorthat, and Haley caught up with the rest of the heroes. They explained what had happened to Venus, and decided to check his coffin to see if, by some miracle, he had made it back. But it was just as they had expected…Venus was truly gone.
Ziona said a blessing and the heroes carried the coffin of Venus Xyzx back to their wagon on the surface. It was a long and silent journey back into daylight, but the companions managed it without much delay.
While loading the coffin onto the cart, Haley alerted Dent to an intruder. The group, having been in Rappan Athuk for many days, were ready for anything at this point. But when a gnome dressed in fine robes came upon them, it was not exactly what they had expected.
“Well, hello there,” called the gnome. “I am Gnettles Von’Pye. Have you defeated the great dungeon already?”
“Actually, we have not,” said Dent flatly. “Can we help you with something, or are you just passing along?”
“Help me with something?” asked Gnettles. “Actually, I was hoping I could help you, lad. That’s why I came all this way.”
“What exactly are you talking about, sir? Our time is short,” said Gideon.
“Well, I traveled from Lantan to Waterdeep looking for adventure, and I heard about a group of heroes who were bold enough to brave the evils of Rappan Athuk,” explained Gnettles. “I was on my way to find all of you, and here you are.”
“Let me get this straight,” said Dent, “you were going to enter the dungeon and look around for us? Do realize how crazy that would have been? Rappan Athuk is very dangerous, and I can’t imagine anyone wandering…alone…”
“We must get back to the dungeon,” interrupted Ziona. “A friend of ours is lost within, and the longer we take out here, the longer he remains alone in there.”
“Let me accompany you,” said Gnettles. “I am an accomplished sorcerer, and I’m sure you’ll find my many skills useful.”
Dent looked to Gideon, who shrugged.
“He seems sincere enough,” said Gideon nodding.
“If you are sure you wish to enter Rappan Athuk,” said Dent, “you may accompany us, but I don’t understand your motivation for seeking us out and entering this place without reason.”
“I stayed in Waterdeep for several weeks,” said Gnettles. “And much of the talk was focused on the brave and unusual heroes who traveled to Rappan Athuk. I feel that I can be of service, and I want only to help you defeat the evil that infects this place. Isn’t that reason enough?”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Introductions were made, and tales were told to Gnettles by Lox and Gorthat. Lox was quite interested in what Gnettles heard about them in Waterdeep. After all, he had used a wish for them to gain fame, and it would be nice if the wish actually came true! Dent and Ziona also filled Gnettles in on the details about Doc’s disappearance, and the loss of their friend Venus.
The heroes decided to use the folding boat that Dent had to travel on the river they had come upon. Knowing that all of them could not fit in the long, narrow row boat, Ziona cast Waterwalk on herself, and Gnettles cast Levitate. Gideon, Lox, Dent, and Gorthat climbed into the boat, while Haley decided she wanted to swim alongside the boat and keep an eye out for danger below the water’s surface. They traveled this way for a short time before coming upon a small beach.
The party decided their boat ride could wait as they went ashore to inspect the cavern that opened up from the beach. Cautiously they moved along the corridor, until they came upon a large cave. The floor of the cave only went a short way before ending in a cliff, which created a sort of platform for the party to stand on. Below them was complete darkness.
“What do you suppose is down there?” asked Gnettles.
“I suppose we could find out,” said Lox.
The halfling grabbed a stone from a pile of rubble in one of the corners and tossed it over the edge of the cliff. A moment later, everyone heard the thud of the stone hitting the ground below.
The party just turned and looked at Lox.
“What did I do? Now we know it’s not a bottomless pit, or a hole that brings you to another word or something,” said the halfling defensively.
“Caution, Lox. More caution,” said Dent.
“I can create a stairway down if anyone thinks it’s worthwhile to see what is down there,” said Ziona.
“We might as well check it out,” said Gorthat. “Could be important.”
The rest of the group either nodded or shrugged, and Ziona began casting. A moment later, a glowing, translucent stairway appeared leading down into the pit. Before anyone could make a move towards the stairs, however, the faint glow of the stair case allowed Ziona to notice a bunch of eyes floating up towards her. Without warning, Ziona began casting defensively, and her staircase vanished. Realizing that her Flame Strike seemed to have no effect, she pulled out her bastard sword.
Seeing that something was amiss, her companions followed her example and readied their weapons. Dent fired two arrows as soon as he saw the beholder rise out of the pit. Both arrows sunk into the monster, but it continued to hover a short distance from the group.
Rossal and Gnettles tried to cast at the beholder, but found that nothing came of their spells. Gorthat began a heroic battle hymn and Gideon’s blue mind blades appeared in his hands. However, before anyone else could react, seven rays shot from seven of the creature’s eyes.
The first ray struck Gideon and he fell to the ground snoring.
The second struck Haley and turned her to stone.
The third hit Lox and sent him slumbering to the ground.
The fourth hit Ziona, who turned to stone.
The fifth ray missed Gnettles, who was standing behind (the now stone) Ziona.
The sixth and seventh rays missed Dent and Gorthat, who were too busy singing and firing arrows to notice.
Gnettles took cover behind his new friend and waited for the perfect opportunity to attack. Dent continued firing arrows at the beholder, which was beginning to resemble a pincushion. Gorthat, realizing that his song was not working, took out his short bow and began firing at the monster as well.
The beholder continued to fire rays from it’s deadly eyes, but could not seem to strike Rossal or Glindil. Dent and Gorthat were also proving to be difficult targets, especially since Lox was now awake and flailing around screaming “Rod Of Wonder!” Unfortunately, harmless, shimmering colors shot out of the rod and danced about the room.
Angered by it’s inability to defeat it’s foe, the beholder closed it’s central eye and began firing with more of it’s eyes than it had before. When Gnettles heard Lox crash back to the floor asleep, he knew it was time to cast! The gnome jumped up from his hiding spot behind the statuesque Ziona, and began reciting the chilling words of a spell. Dent and Gorthat watched as an Ice Storm pelted and destroyed the beholder, and cheered as the deadly beast dropped.
“You see? Gnettles Von’Pye is a worthy ally indeed,” said the gnome with a gigantic grin.
The Adventure Continues…
Eventually, Dent, Gorthat, and Haley caught up with the rest of the heroes. They explained what had happened to Venus, and decided to check his coffin to see if, by some miracle, he had made it back. But it was just as they had expected…Venus was truly gone.
Ziona said a blessing and the heroes carried the coffin of Venus Xyzx back to their wagon on the surface. It was a long and silent journey back into daylight, but the companions managed it without much delay.
While loading the coffin onto the cart, Haley alerted Dent to an intruder. The group, having been in Rappan Athuk for many days, were ready for anything at this point. But when a gnome dressed in fine robes came upon them, it was not exactly what they had expected.
“Well, hello there,” called the gnome. “I am Gnettles Von’Pye. Have you defeated the great dungeon already?”
“Actually, we have not,” said Dent flatly. “Can we help you with something, or are you just passing along?”
“Help me with something?” asked Gnettles. “Actually, I was hoping I could help you, lad. That’s why I came all this way.”
“What exactly are you talking about, sir? Our time is short,” said Gideon.
“Well, I traveled from Lantan to Waterdeep looking for adventure, and I heard about a group of heroes who were bold enough to brave the evils of Rappan Athuk,” explained Gnettles. “I was on my way to find all of you, and here you are.”
“Let me get this straight,” said Dent, “you were going to enter the dungeon and look around for us? Do realize how crazy that would have been? Rappan Athuk is very dangerous, and I can’t imagine anyone wandering…alone…”
“We must get back to the dungeon,” interrupted Ziona. “A friend of ours is lost within, and the longer we take out here, the longer he remains alone in there.”
“Let me accompany you,” said Gnettles. “I am an accomplished sorcerer, and I’m sure you’ll find my many skills useful.”
Dent looked to Gideon, who shrugged.
“He seems sincere enough,” said Gideon nodding.
“If you are sure you wish to enter Rappan Athuk,” said Dent, “you may accompany us, but I don’t understand your motivation for seeking us out and entering this place without reason.”
“I stayed in Waterdeep for several weeks,” said Gnettles. “And much of the talk was focused on the brave and unusual heroes who traveled to Rappan Athuk. I feel that I can be of service, and I want only to help you defeat the evil that infects this place. Isn’t that reason enough?”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Introductions were made, and tales were told to Gnettles by Lox and Gorthat. Lox was quite interested in what Gnettles heard about them in Waterdeep. After all, he had used a wish for them to gain fame, and it would be nice if the wish actually came true! Dent and Ziona also filled Gnettles in on the details about Doc’s disappearance, and the loss of their friend Venus.
The heroes decided to use the folding boat that Dent had to travel on the river they had come upon. Knowing that all of them could not fit in the long, narrow row boat, Ziona cast Waterwalk on herself, and Gnettles cast Levitate. Gideon, Lox, Dent, and Gorthat climbed into the boat, while Haley decided she wanted to swim alongside the boat and keep an eye out for danger below the water’s surface. They traveled this way for a short time before coming upon a small beach.
The party decided their boat ride could wait as they went ashore to inspect the cavern that opened up from the beach. Cautiously they moved along the corridor, until they came upon a large cave. The floor of the cave only went a short way before ending in a cliff, which created a sort of platform for the party to stand on. Below them was complete darkness.
“What do you suppose is down there?” asked Gnettles.
“I suppose we could find out,” said Lox.
The halfling grabbed a stone from a pile of rubble in one of the corners and tossed it over the edge of the cliff. A moment later, everyone heard the thud of the stone hitting the ground below.
The party just turned and looked at Lox.
“What did I do? Now we know it’s not a bottomless pit, or a hole that brings you to another word or something,” said the halfling defensively.
“Caution, Lox. More caution,” said Dent.
“I can create a stairway down if anyone thinks it’s worthwhile to see what is down there,” said Ziona.
“We might as well check it out,” said Gorthat. “Could be important.”
The rest of the group either nodded or shrugged, and Ziona began casting. A moment later, a glowing, translucent stairway appeared leading down into the pit. Before anyone could make a move towards the stairs, however, the faint glow of the stair case allowed Ziona to notice a bunch of eyes floating up towards her. Without warning, Ziona began casting defensively, and her staircase vanished. Realizing that her Flame Strike seemed to have no effect, she pulled out her bastard sword.
Seeing that something was amiss, her companions followed her example and readied their weapons. Dent fired two arrows as soon as he saw the beholder rise out of the pit. Both arrows sunk into the monster, but it continued to hover a short distance from the group.
Rossal and Gnettles tried to cast at the beholder, but found that nothing came of their spells. Gorthat began a heroic battle hymn and Gideon’s blue mind blades appeared in his hands. However, before anyone else could react, seven rays shot from seven of the creature’s eyes.
The first ray struck Gideon and he fell to the ground snoring.
The second struck Haley and turned her to stone.
The third hit Lox and sent him slumbering to the ground.
The fourth hit Ziona, who turned to stone.
The fifth ray missed Gnettles, who was standing behind (the now stone) Ziona.
The sixth and seventh rays missed Dent and Gorthat, who were too busy singing and firing arrows to notice.
Gnettles took cover behind his new friend and waited for the perfect opportunity to attack. Dent continued firing arrows at the beholder, which was beginning to resemble a pincushion. Gorthat, realizing that his song was not working, took out his short bow and began firing at the monster as well.
The beholder continued to fire rays from it’s deadly eyes, but could not seem to strike Rossal or Glindil. Dent and Gorthat were also proving to be difficult targets, especially since Lox was now awake and flailing around screaming “Rod Of Wonder!” Unfortunately, harmless, shimmering colors shot out of the rod and danced about the room.
Angered by it’s inability to defeat it’s foe, the beholder closed it’s central eye and began firing with more of it’s eyes than it had before. When Gnettles heard Lox crash back to the floor asleep, he knew it was time to cast! The gnome jumped up from his hiding spot behind the statuesque Ziona, and began reciting the chilling words of a spell. Dent and Gorthat watched as an Ice Storm pelted and destroyed the beholder, and cheered as the deadly beast dropped.
“You see? Gnettles Von’Pye is a worthy ally indeed,” said the gnome with a gigantic grin.
The Adventure Continues…
Breakstone
First Post
Oh no, Ziona!
Damn those Beholders!
Damn those Beholders!
