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Tariff's Shackled City
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<blockquote data-quote="Greyhawk" data-source="post: 3971349" data-attributes="member: 40355"><p><strong>Let sleeping Gnomes Lie</strong></p><p></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Seeing his companions leaving Reinhard moves to join them, but the draw of the trapdoor is just too much... He puts down his shield, and with sword in right hand, attempts to tug open the trapdoor with his left. It is dark below but he can see a little from the theatre lights. The trap door opens into a under-stage area, approx 3ft in height. Reinhardt can smell the dust. He can see a pile of rags, a broken vase, and what looks like barrels.. He would have to go down to see more..</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"It are a good story little gnomes tell" rumbles Grral approvingly as the play draws to a close, he watches for several minutes expectantly after the gnomes have disappeared then realising the others are moving on turns to catch up, briefly watching as Reinhardt opens the trapdoor then continuing on to the others and into the passage</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Grral sees that the tunnel continues north into the darkness...</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Col hesitates he doesn't want to miss the action in the corridor but he also wants to know what Reinhardt is doing</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Seeing the bulky Grral effectively blocking the tunnel to the left, Mercy decides to take advantage of the cover he affords her, and turns instead to take a look in the room to the right.</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"Bah, nowt down there but cobwebs - no kids anyhow.!" says Reinhardt and pausing only to pick up his shield, lets the trapdoor back down and moves to back up Mercy</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Sorendal sees Reinhardt dash past and follow Mercy, he decides to assist Grall and moves to the left. He looks over to Reinhardt.. "Whatss the plan.. do Grall an' I guard here while you check the room or do we go on up the corridor ?"</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"Go on up the corridor" mutters Col half to himself "We need to find these children urgently, before something nasty happens to them"</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"Stay put, we may need your backup, so stay alert!" Reinhardt replies to Sorendal, ignoring Col's comment "Mercy, On you go."</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Mercy waits for Reinhardt to catch up and then she follows the tunnel a short way east. It opens into a room. She peers in there are dead rats, broken bits of furniture, and debris litter the floor of this dusty chamber. A torch burns in a sconce between a round cog door and the crudely burrowed tunnel in the west wall.</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Suddenly, seemingly from out of thin air, she is attacked. She recognise the creature, a skulk, this skulk however is almost invisible. Although Mercy was aware of their abilities to blend in with their surroundings, this one is different.</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"Ha! A chance for Rienhardt to redeem himself!" cries Reinhardt happily "Lets try to get this one alive!"</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Mercy somehow dodges the attack. "This one is really well hidden- I can hardly see it! Everyone, keep your eyes peeled! I think we might be due for another bout of sneak attacks!"</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"Careful Mercy!" he calls out "That skulk may be diseased!"</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"Grral look for invisible Skul-Dug-er-Ees down here make sure not trap us"</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p> <span style="color: SlateGray">says the barbarian "Hmmm... what are invisible Skul-Dug-er-Ee look like?" he asks himself looking puzzled</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">But the problem is soon overcome as Mercy swings her trusty blade and hits the creature, felling it with 1 blow..</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"Damn. I'd like to have questioned a 'special' one. P'raps it was a leader?" comments Reinhardt</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Col punches the air "Great work Mercy" he calls out joyfully and starts to hum 'we are the champions'</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"What's going on in there, I heard a scream" asks the party gnome.</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"An invisible skulk" Col tells him "Perhaps diseased...?"</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"Then move up and check that room," the gnome grumbles "I can't see anything from back here"</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"Kill the bloody thing and quickly, we don't want an invisible, naked enemy, possibly diseased, at our backs when we go on. Ughh!" advises Col and he moves away and a little way up the West passageway. "You check out the room, my eyesight is quite good, I'll keep watch ahead with my trusty bow" he tells Grral "But I'm sure there's something nefarious under that theatre stage" he mutters to himself.</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Sorendal continues to stay alert and wonders exactly 'How alert' you would have to be to spot a near invisible camouflaged creature in the half light of a roughly hewn tunnel before its within range to hit you ...</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Talwin moves to examine the door and trips over the skulk "Ugh, who left that there" he exclaims in disgust. Yet again the gnome sees a tiny diamond shaped hole. Also there is a rune burnt into the door. Talwin recognises the rune, it is the letter "U" in the gnomish alphabet.</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Giacomo wanders up the left hand corridor "I'll check this area out with you Col." he tells the halfling</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Mercy looks at the naked near-invisible creature with clear disgust. Before anyone can stop her, she raises her sword again and brings it down on the revolting creature. She turns away with a nauseous look on her face, glances briefly around the room, then turns and pushes past Reinhardt to follow Col and Giacomo up the left-hand corridor</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Col feels his bravado evaporate as the Mage Armour spell wears off. "Time to go back for some lunch?" he asks the others</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Grral strides forward down the corridor gazing around aimlessly for invisible enemies while Col follows cautiously at what he hopes is a safe distance.</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">The party continue cautiously along the Western branch of the rough-hewn corridor and follow it as it heads North. After a long distance a branch leads off to the East while the main passageway still heads North.</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Grral and Sorendal venture East and although they find a door with a lever there is nothing else of interest. A passage North from the room heads North but ends in the wall of an East-West passageway that looks part of the gnomish construction. In both directions the passage is blocked by the stout cog-doors. Sorendal hurries back into the room with the lever but pulling it appears to have no effect beyond a grinding of gears from somewhere – neither of the cog-doors open so Grral returns.</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Meanwhile the other members of the party continue North and find a room with stairs leading up to a stone throne on which rests an old gnome wearing a crown and carrying a sceptre who is sound asleep. On the landing halfway up the stairs there is a smiling visage with a request for coin to see the king.</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Both Col and Mercy donate coins but they seem to have no effect on the sleeping gnome-king but Talwin discovers a secret compartment in the arm of the throne with money and two rods hidden inside.</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">The gnome does not budge from his slumber. The party look at the two strange rods they found in the secret compartment in the gnomes throne. They bear the symbols "N" and "E". Talwin checks the northern cog door. Its symbol is a "U". He hurries to the southern door. Its symbol is a "N"</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Col goes and looks at the rune on the East cog door - he thinks the eastern doors glyph is a "I"</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Talwin inserts the small rod into the small diamond shaped hole on the cog door. The door begins to roll open, in the room beyond a short flight of stairs leads up to a seventy-foot-long, thirty foot wide octagonal gallery with a fifteen foot high vaulted ceiling. Twenty web shrouded pedestals stand about the room, and the walls show signs of having once born tapestries and other fixtures. However, the items once displayed here have long since been removed. "Guys you better come and see this" he tells the others</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Col gives a little sigh and mounts the stairs again to stand just behind the gnome and looks into the room "Should we wedge the door open?" he asks the gnome, not wanting to be locked away from the others in this hostile place.</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"Any tracks in the dust to indicate that children, or anything else, has been this way?" Reinhardt says looking at the dusty floor "'Ware the webs. Who knows what lurks within."</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"Wow. This is a wonderfully decadent room." says Giacomo as he wanders into the room gawping at the surroundings. "I wonder if there's anything worth nicking in it."</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Mercy gives Giacomo a pained smile and follows the others into the newly opened room "I'm going to see where that corridor goes" she states, and hurries off. Looking at the map, Mercy guesses the corridor she looks down links to the hall with lights they passed through earlier..</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Meanwhile Talwin examines the south door. It has the gnomish symbol for the letter J burnt into it.</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Reinhardt checks the the door, there are a little diamond holes on each side.</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"I think we should search for more keys" sighs Talwin</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"We should search, for traces of the children" says Col "And keys, secret doors, food and treasure. But I think we've come the wrong way. There has been no trace of any children having passed this way. We may have to back-track..." he ends almost to himself. "We should stop for a snack soon" he adds in a louder voice "We'll be of no help to the orphans if we collapse from starvation!" Col shrugs, rubs his stomach (to make the point he's hungry) and moves slowly down the Eastern corridor, looking to left and right.</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Sorendal walks silently through the room looking at the gaps on the walls, wondering what images once hung there.</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"Lead on" says Reinhardt "We accomplish nothing here."</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Grral joins the others as they explore the room, and wanders off further down the corridor "If Skull-Dug-er-Ee's took little children, they not be down the passages they make?" he muses as he looks around "Nothing down here" he states confidently</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"There were two sets of Skulk tunnels that we didn't try" says Col pensively "They were both up near where we entered and both were to the East. Perhaps we should try one of these?" he pauses and looks around "But I'm sure in my bones that something lurks under the stage" he nags under his breath</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Sorendal checks the two doors as he passes them to find out which symbols are on them... Maybe we have the key to one he thinks. If so it would be stupid not to at least have a brief look as we pass…</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"The door that you are looking at" calls Col to Sorendal, after consulting the map "Is the other side of the room that used to have the invisible skulk, I think - so we have seen it"</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Reinhardt moves forward with Grral, alert for trouble</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Sorendal looks at the locksmith's map"Good point Col.. I'll have a look at thiss one insstead " he states as he pirouettes past the warriors and checks the door</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"As much as my opinion is worth," Giacomo comments in a grumpy tone "Or indeed heeded, I agree with the general principal of moving on and trying to find the children. We are at the minute not getting anywhere fast. As pretty as these gnomish halls are."</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Col nods "My heart tells me that there is something that needs investigation underneath the theatre stage" he says, to Mercy and anyone interested "But my head says that the skulk passages offer the best chance of finding the children. Lady Mercy, my vote is to hurry back to the two unexplored skulk passages near the entry stairs and see if they can move our quest forward". The halfing pauses "And my stomach says we should go back for food, in case anybody is interested..." he adds with a half-smile.</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Reinhardt kicks the wall in frustration "Go and look under the damned stage if it pleases you - just quit going on about it."</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"I am just a poor, weak halfling" grumbles Col "I doubt I could climb down without help..." he pauses "And certainly not back up again!"</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"I think Grral makes a good point" interjects Mercy changing the subject "The skulk tunnels are more likely to lead to the children. Let's go back up to the start of this complex." She pats Col on the shoulder as she passes him. "Don't fret, we can look under the stage if we draw a blank in the skulk tunnels" Col smiles at Mercy and follows he down towards the skulk tunnels</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">The party move once again to the hall with lights, Sorendal checks one of the cog doors on the way, he recognises its rune as a "Z" in the gnomish alphabet.</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">As the party make their way back to the early part of the map, Mercy keeps an eye out, trying to spot any lurking skulks (or skulking lurks). "Actually" she ponders "that's a good point, I'm sure I read somewhere about monsters that drop from the ceiling". She looks up nervously.</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Col looks around nervously as he follows Mercy towards the unexplored skulk tunnels. "Come on you guys" he whispers urgently "We need to finish this and find the children quickly!"</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Grral follows on as the others debate where to go and what to do next, once back in the hall he strides towards and into the unexplored rough hewn tunnel.</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"Let me through, Sorendal" Reinhardt says eagerly "My sword is not so long that I could reach a sulk from back here!"</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"I'm sorry to bother you Mercy, when you are looking for danger so assiduously but you can't remember when the hotel served lunch can you?" asks Col deferentially "I'm sure we can get there quite fast, and its quite early but, well you know…" "Col" Mercy answers, still looking up as she walks forward "I think it might be a good idea if you ask the kitchen to prepare you some travelling rations to bring with you next time. I do feel you are getting a little distracted from the main objective. I would hate for you to run into trouble just because you were listening to your tummy rumbling"</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Col jogs along behind Mercy "You are right of course" he tells her "I just hope I'm strong to carry enough" there is a pause while he catches his breath "Perhaps we will be nipping up to restock soon?"</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"I'm with you Mercy." grins Giacomo "Let's advance down the tunnel."</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Talwin examines the pillar, searching for any secret compartments and then follows the others as does Grral</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Sorendal follows the rest, making sure to leave a space in front of him for Reinhardt to move into..</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">"These tunnels are oppressive - I much prefer campaigning in the open air." Reinhardt says with a shiver "How soon will be see the blessed light of day?"</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">The group continue down the hewn passageway. It ends abruptly in a dead end. A 5ft wide hole in the floor is visible.</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Mercy moves forward and looks down the hole then sits on the edge, and drops down - the tunnel continues east. Mercy moves aside so that others can drop down and then walks slowly eastwards. The tunnel goes east for only 5ft and Mercy an see it ends with a hole in the ceiling..</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Mercy jumps up and pulls herself up so she can see where the hole leads to... She sees a 10ft square room...suddenly she is attacked! Taking her by surprise the skulk pricks her with its rapier. </span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray">Col grips his crossbow, determined to 'do his bit' - But only if he can get a bunk-up through the hole in the ceiling...</span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p><p><span style="color: SlateGray"></span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Greyhawk, post: 3971349, member: 40355"] [b]Let sleeping Gnomes Lie[/b] [COLOR=SlateGray]Seeing his companions leaving Reinhard moves to join them, but the draw of the trapdoor is just too much... He puts down his shield, and with sword in right hand, attempts to tug open the trapdoor with his left. It is dark below but he can see a little from the theatre lights. The trap door opens into a under-stage area, approx 3ft in height. Reinhardt can smell the dust. He can see a pile of rags, a broken vase, and what looks like barrels.. He would have to go down to see more.. "It are a good story little gnomes tell" rumbles Grral approvingly as the play draws to a close, he watches for several minutes expectantly after the gnomes have disappeared then realising the others are moving on turns to catch up, briefly watching as Reinhardt opens the trapdoor then continuing on to the others and into the passage Grral sees that the tunnel continues north into the darkness... Col hesitates he doesn't want to miss the action in the corridor but he also wants to know what Reinhardt is doing Seeing the bulky Grral effectively blocking the tunnel to the left, Mercy decides to take advantage of the cover he affords her, and turns instead to take a look in the room to the right. "Bah, nowt down there but cobwebs - no kids anyhow.!" says Reinhardt and pausing only to pick up his shield, lets the trapdoor back down and moves to back up Mercy Sorendal sees Reinhardt dash past and follow Mercy, he decides to assist Grall and moves to the left. He looks over to Reinhardt.. "Whatss the plan.. do Grall an' I guard here while you check the room or do we go on up the corridor ?" "Go on up the corridor" mutters Col half to himself "We need to find these children urgently, before something nasty happens to them" "Stay put, we may need your backup, so stay alert!" Reinhardt replies to Sorendal, ignoring Col's comment "Mercy, On you go." Mercy waits for Reinhardt to catch up and then she follows the tunnel a short way east. It opens into a room. She peers in there are dead rats, broken bits of furniture, and debris litter the floor of this dusty chamber. A torch burns in a sconce between a round cog door and the crudely burrowed tunnel in the west wall. Suddenly, seemingly from out of thin air, she is attacked. She recognise the creature, a skulk, this skulk however is almost invisible. Although Mercy was aware of their abilities to blend in with their surroundings, this one is different. "Ha! A chance for Rienhardt to redeem himself!" cries Reinhardt happily "Lets try to get this one alive!" Mercy somehow dodges the attack. "This one is really well hidden- I can hardly see it! Everyone, keep your eyes peeled! I think we might be due for another bout of sneak attacks!" "Careful Mercy!" he calls out "That skulk may be diseased!" "Grral look for invisible Skul-Dug-er-Ees down here make sure not trap us" says the barbarian "Hmmm... what are invisible Skul-Dug-er-Ee look like?" he asks himself looking puzzled But the problem is soon overcome as Mercy swings her trusty blade and hits the creature, felling it with 1 blow.. "Damn. I'd like to have questioned a 'special' one. P'raps it was a leader?" comments Reinhardt Col punches the air "Great work Mercy" he calls out joyfully and starts to hum 'we are the champions' "What's going on in there, I heard a scream" asks the party gnome. "An invisible skulk" Col tells him "Perhaps diseased...?" "Then move up and check that room," the gnome grumbles "I can't see anything from back here" "Kill the bloody thing and quickly, we don't want an invisible, naked enemy, possibly diseased, at our backs when we go on. Ughh!" advises Col and he moves away and a little way up the West passageway. "You check out the room, my eyesight is quite good, I'll keep watch ahead with my trusty bow" he tells Grral "But I'm sure there's something nefarious under that theatre stage" he mutters to himself. Sorendal continues to stay alert and wonders exactly 'How alert' you would have to be to spot a near invisible camouflaged creature in the half light of a roughly hewn tunnel before its within range to hit you ... Talwin moves to examine the door and trips over the skulk "Ugh, who left that there" he exclaims in disgust. Yet again the gnome sees a tiny diamond shaped hole. Also there is a rune burnt into the door. Talwin recognises the rune, it is the letter "U" in the gnomish alphabet. Giacomo wanders up the left hand corridor "I'll check this area out with you Col." he tells the halfling Mercy looks at the naked near-invisible creature with clear disgust. Before anyone can stop her, she raises her sword again and brings it down on the revolting creature. She turns away with a nauseous look on her face, glances briefly around the room, then turns and pushes past Reinhardt to follow Col and Giacomo up the left-hand corridor Col feels his bravado evaporate as the Mage Armour spell wears off. "Time to go back for some lunch?" he asks the others Grral strides forward down the corridor gazing around aimlessly for invisible enemies while Col follows cautiously at what he hopes is a safe distance. The party continue cautiously along the Western branch of the rough-hewn corridor and follow it as it heads North. After a long distance a branch leads off to the East while the main passageway still heads North. Grral and Sorendal venture East and although they find a door with a lever there is nothing else of interest. A passage North from the room heads North but ends in the wall of an East-West passageway that looks part of the gnomish construction. In both directions the passage is blocked by the stout cog-doors. Sorendal hurries back into the room with the lever but pulling it appears to have no effect beyond a grinding of gears from somewhere – neither of the cog-doors open so Grral returns. Meanwhile the other members of the party continue North and find a room with stairs leading up to a stone throne on which rests an old gnome wearing a crown and carrying a sceptre who is sound asleep. On the landing halfway up the stairs there is a smiling visage with a request for coin to see the king. Both Col and Mercy donate coins but they seem to have no effect on the sleeping gnome-king but Talwin discovers a secret compartment in the arm of the throne with money and two rods hidden inside. The gnome does not budge from his slumber. The party look at the two strange rods they found in the secret compartment in the gnomes throne. They bear the symbols "N" and "E". Talwin checks the northern cog door. Its symbol is a "U". He hurries to the southern door. Its symbol is a "N" Col goes and looks at the rune on the East cog door - he thinks the eastern doors glyph is a "I" Talwin inserts the small rod into the small diamond shaped hole on the cog door. The door begins to roll open, in the room beyond a short flight of stairs leads up to a seventy-foot-long, thirty foot wide octagonal gallery with a fifteen foot high vaulted ceiling. Twenty web shrouded pedestals stand about the room, and the walls show signs of having once born tapestries and other fixtures. However, the items once displayed here have long since been removed. "Guys you better come and see this" he tells the others Col gives a little sigh and mounts the stairs again to stand just behind the gnome and looks into the room "Should we wedge the door open?" he asks the gnome, not wanting to be locked away from the others in this hostile place. "Any tracks in the dust to indicate that children, or anything else, has been this way?" Reinhardt says looking at the dusty floor "'Ware the webs. Who knows what lurks within." "Wow. This is a wonderfully decadent room." says Giacomo as he wanders into the room gawping at the surroundings. "I wonder if there's anything worth nicking in it." Mercy gives Giacomo a pained smile and follows the others into the newly opened room "I'm going to see where that corridor goes" she states, and hurries off. Looking at the map, Mercy guesses the corridor she looks down links to the hall with lights they passed through earlier.. Meanwhile Talwin examines the south door. It has the gnomish symbol for the letter J burnt into it. Reinhardt checks the the door, there are a little diamond holes on each side. "I think we should search for more keys" sighs Talwin "We should search, for traces of the children" says Col "And keys, secret doors, food and treasure. But I think we've come the wrong way. There has been no trace of any children having passed this way. We may have to back-track..." he ends almost to himself. "We should stop for a snack soon" he adds in a louder voice "We'll be of no help to the orphans if we collapse from starvation!" Col shrugs, rubs his stomach (to make the point he's hungry) and moves slowly down the Eastern corridor, looking to left and right. Sorendal walks silently through the room looking at the gaps on the walls, wondering what images once hung there. "Lead on" says Reinhardt "We accomplish nothing here." Grral joins the others as they explore the room, and wanders off further down the corridor "If Skull-Dug-er-Ee's took little children, they not be down the passages they make?" he muses as he looks around "Nothing down here" he states confidently "There were two sets of Skulk tunnels that we didn't try" says Col pensively "They were both up near where we entered and both were to the East. Perhaps we should try one of these?" he pauses and looks around "But I'm sure in my bones that something lurks under the stage" he nags under his breath Sorendal checks the two doors as he passes them to find out which symbols are on them... Maybe we have the key to one he thinks. If so it would be stupid not to at least have a brief look as we pass… "The door that you are looking at" calls Col to Sorendal, after consulting the map "Is the other side of the room that used to have the invisible skulk, I think - so we have seen it" Reinhardt moves forward with Grral, alert for trouble Sorendal looks at the locksmith's map"Good point Col.. I'll have a look at thiss one insstead " he states as he pirouettes past the warriors and checks the door "As much as my opinion is worth," Giacomo comments in a grumpy tone "Or indeed heeded, I agree with the general principal of moving on and trying to find the children. We are at the minute not getting anywhere fast. As pretty as these gnomish halls are." Col nods "My heart tells me that there is something that needs investigation underneath the theatre stage" he says, to Mercy and anyone interested "But my head says that the skulk passages offer the best chance of finding the children. Lady Mercy, my vote is to hurry back to the two unexplored skulk passages near the entry stairs and see if they can move our quest forward". The halfing pauses "And my stomach says we should go back for food, in case anybody is interested..." he adds with a half-smile. Reinhardt kicks the wall in frustration "Go and look under the damned stage if it pleases you - just quit going on about it." "I am just a poor, weak halfling" grumbles Col "I doubt I could climb down without help..." he pauses "And certainly not back up again!" "I think Grral makes a good point" interjects Mercy changing the subject "The skulk tunnels are more likely to lead to the children. Let's go back up to the start of this complex." She pats Col on the shoulder as she passes him. "Don't fret, we can look under the stage if we draw a blank in the skulk tunnels" Col smiles at Mercy and follows he down towards the skulk tunnels The party move once again to the hall with lights, Sorendal checks one of the cog doors on the way, he recognises its rune as a "Z" in the gnomish alphabet. As the party make their way back to the early part of the map, Mercy keeps an eye out, trying to spot any lurking skulks (or skulking lurks). "Actually" she ponders "that's a good point, I'm sure I read somewhere about monsters that drop from the ceiling". She looks up nervously. Col looks around nervously as he follows Mercy towards the unexplored skulk tunnels. "Come on you guys" he whispers urgently "We need to finish this and find the children quickly!" Grral follows on as the others debate where to go and what to do next, once back in the hall he strides towards and into the unexplored rough hewn tunnel. "Let me through, Sorendal" Reinhardt says eagerly "My sword is not so long that I could reach a sulk from back here!" "I'm sorry to bother you Mercy, when you are looking for danger so assiduously but you can't remember when the hotel served lunch can you?" asks Col deferentially "I'm sure we can get there quite fast, and its quite early but, well you know…" "Col" Mercy answers, still looking up as she walks forward "I think it might be a good idea if you ask the kitchen to prepare you some travelling rations to bring with you next time. I do feel you are getting a little distracted from the main objective. I would hate for you to run into trouble just because you were listening to your tummy rumbling" Col jogs along behind Mercy "You are right of course" he tells her "I just hope I'm strong to carry enough" there is a pause while he catches his breath "Perhaps we will be nipping up to restock soon?" "I'm with you Mercy." grins Giacomo "Let's advance down the tunnel." Talwin examines the pillar, searching for any secret compartments and then follows the others as does Grral Sorendal follows the rest, making sure to leave a space in front of him for Reinhardt to move into.. "These tunnels are oppressive - I much prefer campaigning in the open air." Reinhardt says with a shiver "How soon will be see the blessed light of day?" The group continue down the hewn passageway. It ends abruptly in a dead end. A 5ft wide hole in the floor is visible. Mercy moves forward and looks down the hole then sits on the edge, and drops down - the tunnel continues east. Mercy moves aside so that others can drop down and then walks slowly eastwards. The tunnel goes east for only 5ft and Mercy an see it ends with a hole in the ceiling.. Mercy jumps up and pulls herself up so she can see where the hole leads to... She sees a 10ft square room...suddenly she is attacked! Taking her by surprise the skulk pricks her with its rapier. Col grips his crossbow, determined to 'do his bit' - But only if he can get a bunk-up through the hole in the ceiling... [/COLOR] [/QUOTE]
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