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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 3878453" data-attributes="member: 16069">Dungeon Crawl Classics #29 Scenario 2 Old Feodol’s Basement Level 1Turn 50: Pick sides.“I can’t believe it. I can’t.” Drone drains his Potion of Healing then looks round at his compatriots, who are a little the worse for wear.The Professor helps Babs to her feet, between the pair of them they have fashioned a fairly serviceable splint, the Priestess of Wee Jas is reduced to a halting, hopping stumble. Babs uses a chair as a kind of walking frame.“Wee Jas take you, you sodding monkeys.” She rails against the inequities of life.The Professor is a little beaten up too, although nowhere near as bad as Skoda, the Monk however barely shows it, although he must be hurting bad such are the extent of the cuts and bruises, and bites, he has sustained.Liana lies face down on the floor- stable but very unconscious.“I have no more healing.” Babs explains.“Let’s explore this room- but stay on your guard.”The Professor moves to look at the collection of saws, “the Orindale loggers”, he muses, “weren’t they operating somewhere near Lacey, on the road to K-Stor. Yes, I remember the story, they were attacked, many were killed… I wonder, hang on.” The Professor admires the next exhibit in the trophy room, he reads- “Molton Clay, I told you… that’s that crazy Druid settlement, this stinks- there’s something not right here.”Drone wanders down the short passage that heads off south.CLANGA heavy portcullis falls behind him, trapping the Dwarf in the empty corridor.Drone turns and tiredly states, while gripping the bars, “I can’t believe it.”Two minutes later after much huffing and puffing the portcullis is raised and he’s out.“Careful.” The Professor warns. Babs sits down on a chair, she’s exhausted, “I can’t go on, I’ll keep watch.” She sits so she can see both exits, produces a small mirror and piece of tissue, and attempts to scrub the blood from her face.“I was right”, The Professor points for Skoda who reaches up and grabs a framed document from the southern wall, “This is from Thistle, its thanking Old Feoldol, says he’s ‘atoned many times over’, I wonder what for? Clearly Old Feodol did some bad things in his time.” The Professor heads over to the far door.“We’ll just see what’s next door.”“I’ll stay here and watch Liana.” Babs calls back.Liana remains sprawled upon the floor.Like the trophy room, the Baboon chamber has 13’ tall ceilings and a ledge running along the wall. Unlike the trophy room, it smells strongly of musk and wet fur. Knotted ropes hang from the ceiling all the way to the floor along the walls, and in the far corners of the room are large ceramic vases filled with smooth, round stones. There is also a door in the far wall, and an iron door in the north wall. Bits of hay are strewn all about the floor of the chamber.Drone and Skoda head for the far door, the Dwarf whips it open, there’s a small larder beyond, more dried fruit, casks of water, sacks of grain and flour, otherwise it’s empty.The Professor makes his way to the impressive looking iron door, notices a small hatch in the base of the portal, he bends low to examine it, unlatches it and attempts to spy within.SHUFFLEThere’s something moving in there, he notices drips of hardened wax on the floor within the chamber beyond, he slams the smaller door shut.“There’s something in there.” The Professor states.Skoda and Drone wander over, “What is it Professor, what lies beyond the door, is it Feodol’s Will do you think? Professor?”The Halfling cautiously reaches out to the handle of the door, touches it- nothing happens, grasps it and turns- nothing happens again, it’s locked. “Damn.”“Professor?” Drone asks again.“Whatever it is within there is somehow rendered helpless by this candle”, The Professor shows the pair the cinnamon scented candle, “Old Feodol lit it and then placed it in the chamber through the small door, there are spots of wax on the floor there. Then he used his key to open the door to get to… well, whatever’s in there, his last Will and Testament no doubt. Only we haven’t got the key.”“I can’t believe we’re so close”, Drone gingerly shoves at the door, it’s solid, and he doesn’t want to hurt his shoulder again, “so near and yet so far.”“Not a problem Drone, we just need to head out, fix up Liana and then return here, we can get some healing for Babs while we’re gone, of course you two may have to stay behind to guard the place.”Skoda nods, then Drone.“Shouldn’t take long… Come on.” The Professor whistles a happy tune and strides back out of the chamber and back to Babs.Five minutes later, Skoda carrying the recumbent Liana, and with Babs leaning heavily on Drone the intrepid five-some make their way back into the very first chamber, which is almost exactly as they left it.The main difference being the two intruders there waiting for them.One, a gaunt man with thinning black hair, dressed in red robes with strange designs worked on the sleeves and hem; Gilles Bier, an agent of Dennel Batharda, the Vermillion Wizard, son of Old Feodol. The other a Hobgoblin, a hulking brute with braided black hair and a necklace of knucklebones. His armour is dented, and he hefts a trident with familiarity bred from battle; Aronarg, Larissa Batharda’s Nunny enforcer. Both seem to be trying to ignore the other, and therefore are keenly gazing at the adventurers, searching for the green leather-bound Will.“Where is it?” Gilles whispers, “Show it to me for I represent the rightful heir.”“Da book is mine.” Aronarg grunts and sneers at Gilles.“I can’t be…”“Actually we’ve encountered a spot of bother…” The Professor starts up silencing Drone.“What… bother?” Gilles spits out.“Our Rogue is a little under the weather, we are in need of Healing, we have used all ours, although the Priestess”, Babs smiles and grimaces, “has many spells remaining, as do I.”“Da book is mine.” Aronarg grunts again.“Yes, yes. Only it’s nobodies yet- we can’t get to it without Liana, and so we’ll just leave, get some Healing and then return, I think it would be best if you gentlemen went with us. Drone and Skoda will stay here to keep it safe.”“Da book is mine.” Aronarg grunts once more.“HELLO. Anybody home, the Will is not yet found we need Healing- do you understand?” The Professor does his best to mime his speech, finally pointing at the fallen Liana.Aronarg nods and heads for the door- understanding at last.“Nobody leaves.” Gilles snaps.The Hobgoblin ignores the Wizard and goes to open the door out of the basement, it’s stuck fast, he rattles it again and then puts his shoulder to it- which only results in some minor bruising, and a little dented pride.“Nobody leaves, I have woven mighty magics, the door will stay shut until I command, now take this”, the Wizard hands over a Potion bottle, and in doing so winks at The Professor, “this will see her right… Then return to me with the Will.”“Da book is mine.” Aronarg grunts.“Hurry Professor, we’ll be waiting.” Gilles winks again, “and try to remember who your friends are.”A minute or so later Liana is back on her feet, a little woozy but a lot better than she was, they’re back in the chamber with the iron door.The Professor lights the candle, slips it inside the hatch, and bolts it back shut again, the Halfling presses himself against the door- listening intently. “Who were those other two guys?” Liana enquires.“The reception committee, now shush, the lot of you.” The Professor continues to listen.The silence lengthens.“I can’t believe…”“Shut up.” The Professor snaps.SHUMPThe Professor presses his ear to the door again.“I think…” Then bends down and opens the hatch, stares within for a while- there’s nothing to see, it’s mostly dark, other than the cold stone floor, illuminated by the flickering candle, there’s not much else to see.The Professor crouches, stares and waits- nothing continues to happen.“Liana- open it. Skoda and Drone, be ready.”The pair nod and Liana gets to work.And only thirty seconds later a satisfying click signals her success.“Done Professor.”The Rogue clears out of the way.“Ready?”The pair nod again, Drone hefts his great club, Skoda settles for a fighting stance.EEEEEEEEThe door squeaks open and the adventurer’s light floods in.The hourglass-shaped room is 15 feet across at its widest points, 5 feet across at its most narrow, and 30 feet long. It is completely empty except for a table against the far wall, resting atop the table is a slim, green leather-bound book, a letter, and what looks like four large emeralds, and two small vials.“Wait.” The Professor commands, “Drone fetch some flour.”“I can’t…”“Just do it… please.”The Dwarf complies and returns with a small sack of flour.“Now I want you and Liana to head over to the table, except I want you Liana to search the way for traps, and you Drone, when Liana’s done to sprinkle the flour on the floor.”“Why me, and why the flour?” Liana enquires.“You, my dear, because you are the best at finding traps; and the flour because I believe there’s something in there we don’t want to bump into- whatever it is may be invisible, and undoubtedly dangerous. Now quickly while the candle still burns.”The Rogue and the Fighter nod, and creep in.“I can’t believe… oh hang on, Professor, there’s something here.”“What does it look like?”“A pile of rags, or… a plant.”The flour shows the outline of an inert tangle, a plant structure, for now nothing more than a mass of tubers on the ground.“Smash it Drone. Smash it good.”WHUMPWHUMPAfter the second or third strike Drone starts to take a pride in his work, Liana has to back off to give the Dwarf room to swing- the mystery creatures is soon mashed and pulped.“I can’t believe it. How did you know Professor?”“We each have our talents Drone. Now press on.”A minute later, and with no more surprises, the five-some are reassembled, back outside the now sealed again iron door with their haul.“Healing potions- give me one of those.” Babs grabs a bottle and glugs it down, and seconds later her ankle is as good as new, “what’s it say?”The Professor has hold of Old Feodol’s last Will and Testament, he opens it and reads.“To you who found this letter,I hope my pets were not such a bother for you- ‘oh not much, they damn near killed us you old fool.’ They were not really to hurt intruders so much as my ungrateful children. ‘Here we go.’ I hope you were able to get past them without hurting them…they were a comfort for me in my last years. ‘Sorry but they had to die, isn’t that right Babs?’”The Gate Keeper nods then grins, smacking her fist into the palm of her hand, The Professor reads on.“But you have not come to read about me. ‘Too true.’ I would wager you have come for my money, or were sent by one of the kids for my will. ‘Or both.’I know you owe me nothing and probably have needs of your own, but hear me out:When I was young I did a few very stupid things. ‘Who hasn’t?’ One of those things led to the death of a good person who had shown me kindness – a druid. I have spent my entire life – and most of my fortune! – making amends by helping her allies with money or influence. ‘I bloody knew it- Druids, they can’t be trusted.’Please, it is my last request that this will, and the treasure map it contains, be given to Thistle at Molton Clay. Let my last act be one of charity, and let the druids have the last of my fortune. ‘He’s obviously gone soft.’ Please accept these gems and healing draughts as payment for this last request, and for any troubles my family and I have caused you.Thank you,Feodol Batharda.”The adventurers stop to think.“Well…”“So it’s neither of them, it’s this Thistle.” Liana adds.“I can’t…”“No, neither can I.” The Professor finishes.“I mean I…” Drone starts again.“Can’t be-leaf it.” Skoda offers as if trying the language for the first time.“Well, we’ll just have to let them down gently.”The Professor marches off.“And people have something either pointy or blunt to hand; I think this may end in a little contretemps.”“A little what?” Babs whispers to Drone.“Condy-stomps, it’s Halfling for a fight.” Drone puts the Priestess right.“Oh thanks.”Just before the door back into the first chamber Babs and The Professor hold the others back a moment, whisper arcane words, prepare their spells.“Ready.” The Professor asks.The others nod.Liana opens the door back into the chamber, Aronarg and Gilles stare intently as the Halfling wanders in clutching the last Will and Testament of Old Feodol.Next Turn: A Little Condy-Stomps.</blockquote>

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