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Story Hour
Tariff's Shackled City
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<blockquote data-quote="Greyhawk" data-source="post: 3916146" data-attributes="member: 40355"><p><strong>The the Hall of the Gnome King</strong></p><p></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Wondering why those in front are anxious about entering the tunnel, the gnome shrugs and runs past them after the others "Wait up" he calls</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">"Great to see you!" says Col with relief when Talwin arrives at the bend in the tunnel "What's keeping the others?"</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Grral awakes with a start and looks around for the others, his hand automatically reaching for the pouch around his neck as he does so "Where are others Gia-Co-Mo?" he enquires of the cleric before heading off down the southern passage before the priest has time to respond "Ah, here you are, Grral sorry, he try and keep up any more Skul-Dug-er-Eee?" he asks expectantly</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">"Just in case anyone asks" says Col almost to himself "I don't have any rope - Not a single bit, unless any of you have thought to bring some we'll have to go back and make up a rope from knotted sheets from the skulk's beds if we want to get down and back up again afterwards."</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Sorendal turns to Col, "I have no rope either.. but I am happy to climb sseven feet down or up... if itss more than twenty foot I wanna rope though"</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">"One small drop for a man but one giant fall for a halfling" says Col in response</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Sorendal "I am Elf not 'man... but sstill, I ssee what you mean... you want me to carry your bag ? or maybe we can lower you down if you cant climb... err, can you climb? Mind you... do we actually want to go further down this maze of tunnelss without clearing the other roomss on the map firsst ? " he asks</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">"It matters not" Reinhardt replies "I expect my blade to clear the way should I feel it needful to retire. Who goes down first? Graal, Myself or Mercy, or perhaps Silas would take a look? Needless to say, I am ready should it be required."</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">"I vote that we go on." Mercy recommends "I think we'll find it difficult to clear levels with all the tunnels and so on. I'm going to drop down. Wait here and be ready to pull me up!" With that, Mercy puts her sword down on the edge of the hole, sits down with her legs dangling, then rolls over so that she can hold on to the edge and drop down to the level below. As she lands she looks up and gestures for Reinhardt to pass her sword down. Then she looks around her.</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Col moves to the edge of the hole and gets ready to drop one end of his quarter staff down the hole in case Mercy needs to get up again in a hurry. "She's a brave lady" he thinks to himself</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Mercy moves along the short tunnel. The tunnel stops and she can see a hole approximately 7ft above her. She jumps, and grabs, pulling herself up to see.</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Bits of rubble and debris cover the floor of this cold room. Patches of green mould grow on the damp walls and cling to the ceiling. Lying in a heap in the southeast corner are the gutted, putrefied remains of an eight-foot-long green worm with multiple legs and eight slimy tentacles sprouting from its bulbous head. A heap of armor and shields lies nearby. A cog door is shut in the east wall.</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">While Giacomo takes just a few minutes time out to take care of his dreadfully messed up quiff he notices that the others were moving off. He quickly finishes of, taking only another five minutes to preen himself. Which is not enough time at all. Quiff management is a serious business. Putting is mirror and comb away he hurries after the others. "Wait for me chaps" he calls</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Col ships his quarterstaff and grips the sunrod between his teeth, then he drops over the edge of the hole gripping the edge with his fingers. He hangs for a moment and then drops, landing as softly as possible. "Careful Mercy" he cautions the fighter as raises the sunrod so that Mercy can see the full extent of the room, and takes out his crossbow again, looking nervous "It's possible that the dead creature is a victim of the disease that Keygan warned us of. I'll help you with the treasure, it may contain clues as to the children's destination but I'd appreciate a hoist up to the hole in the floor when we're done!"</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Col passes the sunrod up to Mercy if she needs it and then suggests that it doesn't look as if the children came in this direction. "Perhaps the Theatre would be a good place to look" he suggests "There was another of these tunnels heading off from there" he adds, helpfully.</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Master] Col and Talwin go down the hole and are hoisted up into the room..</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">"Boost me up please Col I better take a look for traps"</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Mercy wrinkles her nose in disgust. Not at the dead creature, but at the mouldy walls. "Isn't it amazing the state that some people let their property get into? A little cleaning and a regular airing wouldn't go amiss" and she walks over to the armour and crouches down to examine it</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Talwin moves to the great cogged door and checks it for traps and a mechanism to open it. Talwin checks the gear door. He notices a tiny diamond shaped slot carved into the door frame. He also notices a glyph burnt into the door. The party have seen this symbol before. It is a gnomish symbol for the letter "A"</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">"What do you make of it Talwin? Do you think it's safe to open? asks Mercy</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Grral heads on down the passage, drops down the hole and follows the others up into the room "What are this thing?" Grall asks as he sifts through the remains of the dead worm "It are Skul-Dug-er-Ee pet or they kill it?" he muses, inside the remains of the creature Grral finds two wooden coffers.</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">The elf watches the others disappear down the hole... he crouches down and jumps down the hole following them. Sorendal climbs up the other side and out next to Grral "OH MY GOD... what iss that thing ?" he exclaims, looking at the dissected remnants on the floor, then he looks at the coffers on the floor.."You found them in that ? " his face still wrinkled with disgust .. "Well it looks like the anaemic creaturesss didn't find them... anyone wanna open them, see whatss inside ? ... " he leans past Grral and picks up the second coffer. He looks at it to see if it is locked... if it has no lock he will try to open it... " a nice diamond sshaped key would be handy right now" he mumbles. Sorendal opens one of the wooden coffers. Inside is: *Small silver framed mirror, *A healers Kit, *A silver dragon pendant with gemstone eyes, *A sealed copper scroll tube.</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">"Eeww. Grral. Stop rooting about in the corpses of monsters. You've got slime all over you. "Giacomo wrinkles his ever so pretty nose "That's disgusting". While he seems to have a minute Giacomo gets out the mask from his bag and examines it. Wondering if it has an special significance to him. It is a ceramic stage mask portraying the sad visage of an anguished gnome with rabbit ears. He ponders it for a moment. It doesn't appear to have any significance to him.</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">"Clearly a parasite of some sort that eats everything in it's path" Reinhardt cautions the others "Let's keep a lookout for any more!"</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Grral looks down at his slime covered arms and shrugs unconcernedly. He picks up the other box coated in the ichorous internal discharges of the creature and attempts to open it.</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Silas climbs into the room, clearly unsettled by the corpse he averts his eyes "I was never a fan of bugs and creepy crawlies" he says to no one in particular. "What think you of the door little rogue, any chance of opening it?"</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Sorendal still rummages through the coffer, then he takes out the mirror and healer's kit and hands them to Giacomo.." you could make best use of these Giac " . Sorendal looks at the copper scroll tube.." I have no read magic today. Col do you have it ? " he puts it in his backpack.. Finally, and with great care, he takes out the pendant and holds it up in front of his face. He stares at it almost mesmerized, spinning it on its chain so the gemstone eyes flicker in the light of the sunrod. "Sso pretty.... a dragon casst in ssilver with gems for eyess. You can even see the tiny sscaless... " he stares some more and sifts his brain for any dragon-lore or local knowledge about the pendant. Sorendal looks carefully at the pendant. He thinks the eyes are moonstones</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">"We need the key I think," says Talwin still studying the door "I can have a go at making it open but I suspect it may trigger a trap" and he sets to work, attempting to open the door</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Grral opens the other wooden coffer. It contains: 140cp, 225sp, 178gp.</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Talwin attempts to open the gear door. Carefully he inserts his tools into the diamond shaped hole. Suddenly a burst of flame erupts out from the door, Talwin tries to avoid the flames but he is still moderately wounded. The flames die down almost instantly but the cog door remains stubbornly shut. "Ouch" he exclaims, conscious of the lady in the party "I think we should find some keys"</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">"Oh that mirror is lovely; Much nicer than mine. Can I use it? Can I? Can I? Can I?" Giacomo asks eagerly, he takes the mirror and checks his hair in it. Mmmmmm. Does his quiff flop about too much. Well in combat it might. Does it look dashing enough? As long as he never wears a helmet he decides it'll do just fine. Time seems to pass differently for Giacomo when he looks in a mirror. Dragging his eyes away from the mirror the handsome priest looks at the ground. "One of these will be handy too." He mutters as he bends over and picks up a buckler then looks at the heavy wooden shield he has on his back that he has been using and thinks for a second. No. It may be more dainty but it's ain't as useful. He tosses the buckler down again.</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">"I agree - keys, or a bypass" says Reinhardt "No more messing with these things. Save you strength for actual enemies. Lets take a look along this tunnel - I wonder where the little buggers tunnelled from?"</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Col looks at the items with obvious satisfaction "Well, it's nice to have treasure but this isn't helping us find the children. Let's store it somewhere until we are ready to go back - and continue our search?" he suggests "We can't carry all this armour" he says shrugging "But it is valuable so we should take it back to the city. But the smaller items are easily portable, I can carry them but I already have lots in my backpack so would someone else want to volunteer?"</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">"You a right Talwin, we need the key.. Can't have that happen again" he points to Talwins singed sleeve" I have the sscroll in my pack and thiss pendant I sshall put round my neck " he replies to Col</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">"Come on!" says Reinhardt impatiently "The missing people have not become less missing because you have found some things you can convert to cash!"</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">"Big little gnome in shop, he make locks, he maybe help with these round teethy door locks? they made by gnomes too" suggests Grral forehead deeply furrowed in thought</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Col nods in agreement with Reinhardt "You are right, the children are our objective and we should gather up these items, which may aid our opponents and move onwards. Another of their tunnels leads from the theatre..." he pauses "Grral is wise" he continues "If our way is blocked in the future, we may need to venture above to seek aid from the master locksmith. In the meantime let us explore as much as we are able before we head once more to the surface to report to Jenya and to take a bite to eat"</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">"Agreed" shrugs Silas "As we are here let us continue on as far as possible. A valiant effort Talwin, was definitely worth a try."</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Reinhardt hunkers down, eyes straining into the darkness, awaiting his compadres</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">"Then, sadly, we must return the way we came and seek another route to the children" Col pauses and his eyes turn misty "I was rather hoping that there would have been some sign that the children passed this way ... and ... that they were alive..."</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Sorendal picks up the money and puts it in his backpack.. "I will carry that too if it meanss we can move on... Reinhardt is waiting for us. " He hops back down the hole, along the tunnel and up the other side... he then moves down the corridor looking for the injured warrior as he lopes out of sight he calls back to the others.. "Anyone else wonder why they didn't just dig through the wall?... weird "</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Col moves tro the edge of the hole and lowers himself down, "Hey Sorendal" he calls "Can you give me a hand back up again?"</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Mercy has been looking around the room, examining Keygan's map, and apparently thinking deeply.</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">"We can leave all the heavy stuff by the stairs we came down for now and get it later" says Talwin reluctantly and starts to head back</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Mercy follows Talwin out of the room, along the corridor, and back up through the hole in the floor</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">"We need to find the way out of Keygan's map, and I think it has to be via the skulk tunnels, so let's keep following them and see whether we get anywhere."</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">The party gather up the loot and proceed back down the tunnel...</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">"Hold on." says Giacomo feigning excitement "Did Grral just come up with an idea? No one seemed to acknowledge it. But I'm sure he did." he mutters to himself and follows the others</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Grral follows the others back down the passage and moves on into the room, his expression somewhat glazed, he stares suspiciously at Sorendal as they progress down the corridor but soon reverts back to a blank expression</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Col hurries into the room muttering to himself and goes and checks that the two dead skulks don't have anything hidden about their persons. He's not expecting to find anything but looks vaguely worried.</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Sorendal Nailo moves into the hall.. "Which way?" he asks</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Col thinks for a moment before responding "If you want to follow the skulks then there are tunnels from the theatre, near here or we can go north and follow the Eastern passage. If you just want to explore then there are three other exits from this hall. I think that we should follow the skulks' passages if possible, we stand a better chance of finding the orphans, but they have been gone for a time now and I fear the worst..."</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Reinhardt answers "I agree - follow the Sulks to their lair ...but let's take a quick look down here first - I have a feeling about this way."</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Mercy moves up to join Reinhardt. "Let's go and take a look". She moves up ahead of Reinhardt and down the corridor</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">"Me too" says Col eagerly as he moves along behind Reinhardt</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Grral moves up beside the fighter</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Rienhardt and Col rapidly move toward where Col said he saw a theatre area. Mercy, Grral and Talwin are close behind. They go down a western corridor off of the hall.</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">The corridor opens out into a room. Four ornate pillars support the twenty foot high vaulted ceiling of this room, which is illuminated by lanterns hanging in the corners. Tattered red curtains dangle from iron rods mounted to the walls and pillars. Ornately carved benches stand in the rectangular area defined by the pillars. Partially set in the south wall is a raised wooden stage with two short staircases leading up to it. Red curtains partially conceal the back wall of the stage, which is painted with an elaborate woodland mural.</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Giacomo walks towards the stage but as he approaches one of the stage curtains flutters, and a small figure steps out from behind it. A baby black bear--or rather--, a gnome wearing a bear costume--takes centre stage, raises a paw to his lips, and begins speaking softly. "Night hath fallen in the magic woods, and while a myriad of woodland creatures dream, Willowbough and her faerie friends frolic beneath the sorcerous moon!"</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">The small bear curls up into a ball on the stage and feigns sleep. Moments later, a female gnome with briars for hair materializes on stage, as though she were standing invisibly a moment ago, and begins dancing. Solemn music fills the theatre as butterfly-winged faeries appear from backstage and join the ballet.</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Talwin and Col takes seats and watches with great interest "This is most interesting" says the gnome "That tunnel at the back looks like a good place to check next"</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Col nods vigorously unable to drag his eyes from the play "I wonder what will appear from the trapdoor?" he asks Talwin excitedly</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Mercy watches the on-stage activity for a few moments, then turns away from the stage and looks around the room. She slowly starts to make her way towards the tunnel in the north end of the room, checking carefully for hidden foes</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">A frown crosses Col's face and he wonders if the noise on stage is just to make sure that any sounds that may be coming from under the stage, are concealed. Could the children be hidden there he wonders...</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Reinhardt shakes his head and speaks in couplets "What phantasms from ages past still strut their hour upon the stage, awaiting new audiences to disturb the dust of ages?" Then he appears to get a grip on himself "Keep an eye on that Sulk tunnel something is about to kick off." he suggests gruffly</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Col glances at Reinhardt surprised at the warrior's outburst, then listens intently, trying any sounds from beneath the stage but can't hear anything above the noise of the ghostly actors. Col shrugs and settles down to enjoy the entertainment, perhaps nothing is concealed under the trapdoor after all</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Talwin is quickly bored at the play and the gnome leaves his seat, he moves to look into the rough hewn tunnel.</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Reinhardt walks over to the bear-faced gnome "Let me have a varder at yer dolly old eek"</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Col chuckles with enjoyment and claps his hands at the interchange</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Grral stalks into the room and stares fixedly at the stage as the gnomish performers enact there parts, he glances around distrustfully at the rest of the room before returning his gaze to the performance, appearing both enthralled and highly suspicious "What are little gnomes doing making acting in old play house?" he enquires of the gnomes and watches them even more carefully</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">The gnome in the bear costume does not appear to hear Grral's words and the play continues. The party watch the story unfold and bear witness to the sombre tale of Willowbough and Silverarrow a dryad and a ranger who fall in love. The story also includes Moontusk, the ranger's bitter wereboar nemesis who strives to ruin their love by destroying the dryad's sacred tree. After the play finishes, the characters onstage vanish...</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Col applauds loadly as it ends! Then he climbs onto the stage and crouches, ear pressed to the floor. He listens for any sounds from underneath the stage, but hears nothing.</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">"Nice as the show is friends its not finding the children, lets get going" Talwin says to the others.</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Giacomo sits enjoying the play. Though to be honest he finds it a little simplistic and childish. "Mmm" says the cleric thoughtfully." This was either an illusion designed to tell a story of love fighting against terrible odds. Or the spiritual echo's of events long past. I personally plumb for the latter. This appears to be an omen or portent of some power. The theme of corrupted nature, ie the wereboar combating pure nature, the dryad, and man's love and defence of the pure nature could indeed be a warning to us of the origin of these hideous and corrupted 'Skulks' and it may also help us in combating them. What do you chaps think?"</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Col gives the cleric an uncomprehending stare "Whatever" he says and after a pause "Whatever is under the stage isn't making any noise I can hear so lets' explore the tunnels so more" he agrees. With that he moves up on the other side of the pillar from Talwin, crossbow at the ready.</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">During the play Mercy has made her way quietly to the back of the theatre. She moves in front of the opening to the skulk tunnel and looks down it. "There's a T-junction ahead" she murmurs. I think left goes to a large room, and right into a small room behind this theatre. I vote we go left- more chance of the kidnap victims being held in one area, if they are still in this area". She starts to move into the tunnel</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Sorendal sees Mercy moving on, he follows her over to the tunnel.. "Left iss good for me ... This is one weird place" he says to no one in particular</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p><span style="color: Plum">Col agrees, nodding his head "Very weird indeed, I'll be glad when we have the little children and can see the light of day again, that and get some food - I'm waiting away down here, I haven't eaten since breakfast" he pauses "Apart from some bread that is" another pause "And I had to share that with Talwin..."</span></p><p><span style="color: Plum"></span></p><p></p><p><strong><em>Where would the Northern door lead and when would Talwin and Col find food again</em>...</strong></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Greyhawk, post: 3916146, member: 40355"] [b]The the Hall of the Gnome King[/b] [COLOR=Plum] Wondering why those in front are anxious about entering the tunnel, the gnome shrugs and runs past them after the others "Wait up" he calls "Great to see you!" says Col with relief when Talwin arrives at the bend in the tunnel "What's keeping the others?" Grral awakes with a start and looks around for the others, his hand automatically reaching for the pouch around his neck as he does so "Where are others Gia-Co-Mo?" he enquires of the cleric before heading off down the southern passage before the priest has time to respond "Ah, here you are, Grral sorry, he try and keep up any more Skul-Dug-er-Eee?" he asks expectantly "Just in case anyone asks" says Col almost to himself "I don't have any rope - Not a single bit, unless any of you have thought to bring some we'll have to go back and make up a rope from knotted sheets from the skulk's beds if we want to get down and back up again afterwards." Sorendal turns to Col, "I have no rope either.. but I am happy to climb sseven feet down or up... if itss more than twenty foot I wanna rope though" "One small drop for a man but one giant fall for a halfling" says Col in response Sorendal "I am Elf not 'man... but sstill, I ssee what you mean... you want me to carry your bag ? or maybe we can lower you down if you cant climb... err, can you climb? Mind you... do we actually want to go further down this maze of tunnelss without clearing the other roomss on the map firsst ? " he asks "It matters not" Reinhardt replies "I expect my blade to clear the way should I feel it needful to retire. Who goes down first? Graal, Myself or Mercy, or perhaps Silas would take a look? Needless to say, I am ready should it be required." "I vote that we go on." Mercy recommends "I think we'll find it difficult to clear levels with all the tunnels and so on. I'm going to drop down. Wait here and be ready to pull me up!" With that, Mercy puts her sword down on the edge of the hole, sits down with her legs dangling, then rolls over so that she can hold on to the edge and drop down to the level below. As she lands she looks up and gestures for Reinhardt to pass her sword down. Then she looks around her. Col moves to the edge of the hole and gets ready to drop one end of his quarter staff down the hole in case Mercy needs to get up again in a hurry. "She's a brave lady" he thinks to himself Mercy moves along the short tunnel. The tunnel stops and she can see a hole approximately 7ft above her. She jumps, and grabs, pulling herself up to see. Bits of rubble and debris cover the floor of this cold room. Patches of green mould grow on the damp walls and cling to the ceiling. Lying in a heap in the southeast corner are the gutted, putrefied remains of an eight-foot-long green worm with multiple legs and eight slimy tentacles sprouting from its bulbous head. A heap of armor and shields lies nearby. A cog door is shut in the east wall. While Giacomo takes just a few minutes time out to take care of his dreadfully messed up quiff he notices that the others were moving off. He quickly finishes of, taking only another five minutes to preen himself. Which is not enough time at all. Quiff management is a serious business. Putting is mirror and comb away he hurries after the others. "Wait for me chaps" he calls Col ships his quarterstaff and grips the sunrod between his teeth, then he drops over the edge of the hole gripping the edge with his fingers. He hangs for a moment and then drops, landing as softly as possible. "Careful Mercy" he cautions the fighter as raises the sunrod so that Mercy can see the full extent of the room, and takes out his crossbow again, looking nervous "It's possible that the dead creature is a victim of the disease that Keygan warned us of. I'll help you with the treasure, it may contain clues as to the children's destination but I'd appreciate a hoist up to the hole in the floor when we're done!" Col passes the sunrod up to Mercy if she needs it and then suggests that it doesn't look as if the children came in this direction. "Perhaps the Theatre would be a good place to look" he suggests "There was another of these tunnels heading off from there" he adds, helpfully. Master] Col and Talwin go down the hole and are hoisted up into the room.. "Boost me up please Col I better take a look for traps" Mercy wrinkles her nose in disgust. Not at the dead creature, but at the mouldy walls. "Isn't it amazing the state that some people let their property get into? A little cleaning and a regular airing wouldn't go amiss" and she walks over to the armour and crouches down to examine it Talwin moves to the great cogged door and checks it for traps and a mechanism to open it. Talwin checks the gear door. He notices a tiny diamond shaped slot carved into the door frame. He also notices a glyph burnt into the door. The party have seen this symbol before. It is a gnomish symbol for the letter "A" "What do you make of it Talwin? Do you think it's safe to open? asks Mercy Grral heads on down the passage, drops down the hole and follows the others up into the room "What are this thing?" Grall asks as he sifts through the remains of the dead worm "It are Skul-Dug-er-Ee pet or they kill it?" he muses, inside the remains of the creature Grral finds two wooden coffers. The elf watches the others disappear down the hole... he crouches down and jumps down the hole following them. Sorendal climbs up the other side and out next to Grral "OH MY GOD... what iss that thing ?" he exclaims, looking at the dissected remnants on the floor, then he looks at the coffers on the floor.."You found them in that ? " his face still wrinkled with disgust .. "Well it looks like the anaemic creaturesss didn't find them... anyone wanna open them, see whatss inside ? ... " he leans past Grral and picks up the second coffer. He looks at it to see if it is locked... if it has no lock he will try to open it... " a nice diamond sshaped key would be handy right now" he mumbles. Sorendal opens one of the wooden coffers. Inside is: *Small silver framed mirror, *A healers Kit, *A silver dragon pendant with gemstone eyes, *A sealed copper scroll tube. "Eeww. Grral. Stop rooting about in the corpses of monsters. You've got slime all over you. "Giacomo wrinkles his ever so pretty nose "That's disgusting". While he seems to have a minute Giacomo gets out the mask from his bag and examines it. Wondering if it has an special significance to him. It is a ceramic stage mask portraying the sad visage of an anguished gnome with rabbit ears. He ponders it for a moment. It doesn't appear to have any significance to him. "Clearly a parasite of some sort that eats everything in it's path" Reinhardt cautions the others "Let's keep a lookout for any more!" Grral looks down at his slime covered arms and shrugs unconcernedly. He picks up the other box coated in the ichorous internal discharges of the creature and attempts to open it. Silas climbs into the room, clearly unsettled by the corpse he averts his eyes "I was never a fan of bugs and creepy crawlies" he says to no one in particular. "What think you of the door little rogue, any chance of opening it?" Sorendal still rummages through the coffer, then he takes out the mirror and healer's kit and hands them to Giacomo.." you could make best use of these Giac " . Sorendal looks at the copper scroll tube.." I have no read magic today. Col do you have it ? " he puts it in his backpack.. Finally, and with great care, he takes out the pendant and holds it up in front of his face. He stares at it almost mesmerized, spinning it on its chain so the gemstone eyes flicker in the light of the sunrod. "Sso pretty.... a dragon casst in ssilver with gems for eyess. You can even see the tiny sscaless... " he stares some more and sifts his brain for any dragon-lore or local knowledge about the pendant. Sorendal looks carefully at the pendant. He thinks the eyes are moonstones "We need the key I think," says Talwin still studying the door "I can have a go at making it open but I suspect it may trigger a trap" and he sets to work, attempting to open the door Grral opens the other wooden coffer. It contains: 140cp, 225sp, 178gp. Talwin attempts to open the gear door. Carefully he inserts his tools into the diamond shaped hole. Suddenly a burst of flame erupts out from the door, Talwin tries to avoid the flames but he is still moderately wounded. The flames die down almost instantly but the cog door remains stubbornly shut. "Ouch" he exclaims, conscious of the lady in the party "I think we should find some keys" "Oh that mirror is lovely; Much nicer than mine. Can I use it? Can I? Can I? Can I?" Giacomo asks eagerly, he takes the mirror and checks his hair in it. Mmmmmm. Does his quiff flop about too much. Well in combat it might. Does it look dashing enough? As long as he never wears a helmet he decides it'll do just fine. Time seems to pass differently for Giacomo when he looks in a mirror. Dragging his eyes away from the mirror the handsome priest looks at the ground. "One of these will be handy too." He mutters as he bends over and picks up a buckler then looks at the heavy wooden shield he has on his back that he has been using and thinks for a second. No. It may be more dainty but it's ain't as useful. He tosses the buckler down again. "I agree - keys, or a bypass" says Reinhardt "No more messing with these things. Save you strength for actual enemies. Lets take a look along this tunnel - I wonder where the little buggers tunnelled from?" Col looks at the items with obvious satisfaction "Well, it's nice to have treasure but this isn't helping us find the children. Let's store it somewhere until we are ready to go back - and continue our search?" he suggests "We can't carry all this armour" he says shrugging "But it is valuable so we should take it back to the city. But the smaller items are easily portable, I can carry them but I already have lots in my backpack so would someone else want to volunteer?" "You a right Talwin, we need the key.. Can't have that happen again" he points to Talwins singed sleeve" I have the sscroll in my pack and thiss pendant I sshall put round my neck " he replies to Col "Come on!" says Reinhardt impatiently "The missing people have not become less missing because you have found some things you can convert to cash!" "Big little gnome in shop, he make locks, he maybe help with these round teethy door locks? they made by gnomes too" suggests Grral forehead deeply furrowed in thought Col nods in agreement with Reinhardt "You are right, the children are our objective and we should gather up these items, which may aid our opponents and move onwards. Another of their tunnels leads from the theatre..." he pauses "Grral is wise" he continues "If our way is blocked in the future, we may need to venture above to seek aid from the master locksmith. In the meantime let us explore as much as we are able before we head once more to the surface to report to Jenya and to take a bite to eat" "Agreed" shrugs Silas "As we are here let us continue on as far as possible. A valiant effort Talwin, was definitely worth a try." Reinhardt hunkers down, eyes straining into the darkness, awaiting his compadres "Then, sadly, we must return the way we came and seek another route to the children" Col pauses and his eyes turn misty "I was rather hoping that there would have been some sign that the children passed this way ... and ... that they were alive..." Sorendal picks up the money and puts it in his backpack.. "I will carry that too if it meanss we can move on... Reinhardt is waiting for us. " He hops back down the hole, along the tunnel and up the other side... he then moves down the corridor looking for the injured warrior as he lopes out of sight he calls back to the others.. "Anyone else wonder why they didn't just dig through the wall?... weird " Col moves tro the edge of the hole and lowers himself down, "Hey Sorendal" he calls "Can you give me a hand back up again?" Mercy has been looking around the room, examining Keygan's map, and apparently thinking deeply. "We can leave all the heavy stuff by the stairs we came down for now and get it later" says Talwin reluctantly and starts to head back Mercy follows Talwin out of the room, along the corridor, and back up through the hole in the floor "We need to find the way out of Keygan's map, and I think it has to be via the skulk tunnels, so let's keep following them and see whether we get anywhere." The party gather up the loot and proceed back down the tunnel... "Hold on." says Giacomo feigning excitement "Did Grral just come up with an idea? No one seemed to acknowledge it. But I'm sure he did." he mutters to himself and follows the others Grral follows the others back down the passage and moves on into the room, his expression somewhat glazed, he stares suspiciously at Sorendal as they progress down the corridor but soon reverts back to a blank expression Col hurries into the room muttering to himself and goes and checks that the two dead skulks don't have anything hidden about their persons. He's not expecting to find anything but looks vaguely worried. Sorendal Nailo moves into the hall.. "Which way?" he asks Col thinks for a moment before responding "If you want to follow the skulks then there are tunnels from the theatre, near here or we can go north and follow the Eastern passage. If you just want to explore then there are three other exits from this hall. I think that we should follow the skulks' passages if possible, we stand a better chance of finding the orphans, but they have been gone for a time now and I fear the worst..." Reinhardt answers "I agree - follow the Sulks to their lair ...but let's take a quick look down here first - I have a feeling about this way." Mercy moves up to join Reinhardt. "Let's go and take a look". She moves up ahead of Reinhardt and down the corridor "Me too" says Col eagerly as he moves along behind Reinhardt Grral moves up beside the fighter Rienhardt and Col rapidly move toward where Col said he saw a theatre area. Mercy, Grral and Talwin are close behind. They go down a western corridor off of the hall. The corridor opens out into a room. Four ornate pillars support the twenty foot high vaulted ceiling of this room, which is illuminated by lanterns hanging in the corners. Tattered red curtains dangle from iron rods mounted to the walls and pillars. Ornately carved benches stand in the rectangular area defined by the pillars. Partially set in the south wall is a raised wooden stage with two short staircases leading up to it. Red curtains partially conceal the back wall of the stage, which is painted with an elaborate woodland mural. Giacomo walks towards the stage but as he approaches one of the stage curtains flutters, and a small figure steps out from behind it. A baby black bear--or rather--, a gnome wearing a bear costume--takes centre stage, raises a paw to his lips, and begins speaking softly. "Night hath fallen in the magic woods, and while a myriad of woodland creatures dream, Willowbough and her faerie friends frolic beneath the sorcerous moon!" The small bear curls up into a ball on the stage and feigns sleep. Moments later, a female gnome with briars for hair materializes on stage, as though she were standing invisibly a moment ago, and begins dancing. Solemn music fills the theatre as butterfly-winged faeries appear from backstage and join the ballet. Talwin and Col takes seats and watches with great interest "This is most interesting" says the gnome "That tunnel at the back looks like a good place to check next" Col nods vigorously unable to drag his eyes from the play "I wonder what will appear from the trapdoor?" he asks Talwin excitedly Mercy watches the on-stage activity for a few moments, then turns away from the stage and looks around the room. She slowly starts to make her way towards the tunnel in the north end of the room, checking carefully for hidden foes A frown crosses Col's face and he wonders if the noise on stage is just to make sure that any sounds that may be coming from under the stage, are concealed. Could the children be hidden there he wonders... Reinhardt shakes his head and speaks in couplets "What phantasms from ages past still strut their hour upon the stage, awaiting new audiences to disturb the dust of ages?" Then he appears to get a grip on himself "Keep an eye on that Sulk tunnel something is about to kick off." he suggests gruffly Col glances at Reinhardt surprised at the warrior's outburst, then listens intently, trying any sounds from beneath the stage but can't hear anything above the noise of the ghostly actors. Col shrugs and settles down to enjoy the entertainment, perhaps nothing is concealed under the trapdoor after all Talwin is quickly bored at the play and the gnome leaves his seat, he moves to look into the rough hewn tunnel. Reinhardt walks over to the bear-faced gnome "Let me have a varder at yer dolly old eek" Col chuckles with enjoyment and claps his hands at the interchange Grral stalks into the room and stares fixedly at the stage as the gnomish performers enact there parts, he glances around distrustfully at the rest of the room before returning his gaze to the performance, appearing both enthralled and highly suspicious "What are little gnomes doing making acting in old play house?" he enquires of the gnomes and watches them even more carefully The gnome in the bear costume does not appear to hear Grral's words and the play continues. The party watch the story unfold and bear witness to the sombre tale of Willowbough and Silverarrow a dryad and a ranger who fall in love. The story also includes Moontusk, the ranger's bitter wereboar nemesis who strives to ruin their love by destroying the dryad's sacred tree. After the play finishes, the characters onstage vanish... Col applauds loadly as it ends! Then he climbs onto the stage and crouches, ear pressed to the floor. He listens for any sounds from underneath the stage, but hears nothing. "Nice as the show is friends its not finding the children, lets get going" Talwin says to the others. Giacomo sits enjoying the play. Though to be honest he finds it a little simplistic and childish. "Mmm" says the cleric thoughtfully." This was either an illusion designed to tell a story of love fighting against terrible odds. Or the spiritual echo's of events long past. I personally plumb for the latter. This appears to be an omen or portent of some power. The theme of corrupted nature, ie the wereboar combating pure nature, the dryad, and man's love and defence of the pure nature could indeed be a warning to us of the origin of these hideous and corrupted 'Skulks' and it may also help us in combating them. What do you chaps think?" Col gives the cleric an uncomprehending stare "Whatever" he says and after a pause "Whatever is under the stage isn't making any noise I can hear so lets' explore the tunnels so more" he agrees. With that he moves up on the other side of the pillar from Talwin, crossbow at the ready. During the play Mercy has made her way quietly to the back of the theatre. She moves in front of the opening to the skulk tunnel and looks down it. "There's a T-junction ahead" she murmurs. I think left goes to a large room, and right into a small room behind this theatre. I vote we go left- more chance of the kidnap victims being held in one area, if they are still in this area". She starts to move into the tunnel Sorendal sees Mercy moving on, he follows her over to the tunnel.. "Left iss good for me ... This is one weird place" he says to no one in particular Col agrees, nodding his head "Very weird indeed, I'll be glad when we have the little children and can see the light of day again, that and get some food - I'm waiting away down here, I haven't eaten since breakfast" he pauses "Apart from some bread that is" another pause "And I had to share that with Talwin..." [/COLOR] [B][I]Where would the Northern door lead and when would Talwin and Col find food again[/I]...[/B] [/QUOTE]
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