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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 1465992" data-attributes="member: 16069">The Wednesday KnightsSESSION XX.Fryday 10th Mork 2000Fiddling about a bit.Characters presentLiandri Male Half-Elf Rogue level 2 Wizard level 1 (Kev. M.)Xeolus Male Human Monk level 1 Priest of Hieroneous level 1 (Kev. H.)Endrin Male Human Bard level 3 Sorcerer level 1 (Wayne)Bob Male Human Ranger level 2 (Emma) The wagons of Gorgoldand’s caravan eventually wend their way back to Fiddle, Gorgoldand’s adopted home. The weary adventurers pile out, stretch and yawn, and then give a token hand to the wagoneers unloading the stock into Gorgoldand’s warehouse. That done they head for Cheaters Inn, a swift drink to get the dust out of their throats and then bath and bed. They’re all tired from the road and Gorgoldand has advised them to rest up as tomorrow he has a little job for them- but tonight they have no enthusiasm.Satyrday 11th Mork 2000Up early the next morning the group convene at “The Pickled Dill”- Gorgoldand’s version of the old curiosity shop- there he explains his proposition.“I had this message delivered to me in Tinkle”, Gorgoldand holds a note in the air, “it seems that one of my friends has got into some difficulties, actually not so much him, as his kids.”Gorgoldand explains that the Hucrele’s, a merchant family based in Oakhurst, have come a cropper- the son and daughter have gone off adventuring and have not returned- a week has passed without any word. Liandri’s eyes light up, “is there a reward?”“Yes, of course, and it’s a lot of money- I’ll tell you all about it when you return.”“When we return?” All eyes are now on Gorgoldand.“Yes, this is important, and without sounding churlish I need to be convinced that you’re up to it- I don’t mean to be rude, but this is not going to be easy- rescue missions never are.”Liandri looks wounded and begins “of course we’re up to it…”Endrin and Bob murmur their agreement, while Xeolus remains silent- still withdrawn, quietly watching his shoes.Gorgoldand holds up his hands to silence the group, “alright, alright- look I’ve a little test- I devised it myself, it’s not far away. If you’re good then it’ll take you one day to complete- if you do it in two then I’ll still send you on this mission- so don’t kill yourself trying to get it done. And don’t think that just because it’s a test there’s nothing in there that can hurt you- mess up and you’re going to find out, perhaps permanently.”Gorgoldand looks at their expectant faces- “right then, are you all in?”The Knights consent- Gorgoldand sends them away to gather their equipment, and to return in an hour to the Dill. An hour later they return, Gorgoldand hands them a map and from the step of the shop, outside in the street, points out to them a small rise in the distance, “it’s 6 miles, but it’s a pleasant walk- go to the top and look for a way down.”The Knights each shake Gorgoldand’s hand and proffer their temporary farewells, then slip on their backpacks, and stroll off to “The Gauntlet”.Two-and-a-half-hours later they stand on top of a low tor, Liandri looks down the rock face and spots a rope that snakes down to a dark opening, further down a small but deep looking pool of water glistens in the sun at the bottom of the cliff.Liandri descends the rope- at the bottom he discovers a cave entrance with a set of carved stone steps leading further down into the dark- the others quickly follow without incident.  Gorgoldand’s Gauntlet.Inside is a large cavern, slightly chilly and damp- the Knights form up and send Liandri off to scout ahead. Liandri creeps into the first cavern cautiously, only just at the threshold when a huge spider descends from the ceiling onto Liandri who in shock swiftly tumbles back out of the chamber, yelping in surprise. The rest of the Knights arrive quickly and begin to help Liandri up, Bob waves his sword at the spider, it bounces up and down a little on what now can be seen as a thick cord- then does nothing. “It’s a fecking con”, Liandri explains, “leave it be.” They Knights head on into the empty cavern, moving around the outside of the chamber, until they are at another passage, on the far side, this they enter. Half way down Liandri- point man, discovers a circle of rope attached to the ceiling somehow with a note that’s says-“PUT FUT HEER”“Pelor this is easy”, Liandri states and then inches along the wall past the rope- Bob who is coming next leaps over the rope and lands on squarely on the far side-“THUMP-SCRAPE-THUD.”The floor suddenly gives way- Bob however grasps the side and arrests his fall, “get me out, get me out.” Endrin rushes to help, and at the same time three or four tiny creatures, no more than a foot tall, appear from the cavern ahead. They throw tiny javelins at Liandri who is overseeing the Bob lifting operation. Several of the javelins pierce his cloak but none pass through his armour, “what the…”He spots the little guys who are retreating, further into the cave, gesticulating and shouting all the while-“Up yours longshanks.”“You’re so ugly you could be a modern art masterpiece.”“You blow goats.”“What…”Liandri pegs it down the cavern passage chasing the little ‘uns, and out into the next cavern, which from the air moment is much larger. As the chase unfolds the other Knights cautiously cross the pit. Ahead of Liandri the little guys leap into the air and seemingly fall forward out of sight…“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh.”“What now?” Endrin looks at Bob, who shrugs in reply, the Knights head off to find out what new thing has befallen Liandri.The other Knights arrive to find Liandri suspended from hundreds of fishhooks (on fishing wire) which cover the ceiling-“”OW. feckin’ rhubarb munching, ARRRGH, dog dirt eatin’, OOOOOOO, pansy painting- good fer nuthin, OH OH OH OWWWWWW, when I get you, AAAARRRGGGHHHH GET ME OUT, GET ME OUT, GET ME OUT, I WANT TO GO HOME, I WANT A CUP OF TEA, AND A SANDWICH, I DON’T WANT TO BE HERE, I’M SICK OF GOING FIRST- WHY DON’T YOU GO FIRST? WHY’S IT ALWAYS ME? WHY? WHY ME? WHAT HAVE I DONE? WHAT’S HE FOR? (points at Xeolus), WHAT DOES HE DO? WHY? (Sob) I want to go home…”Liandri begins to grizzle.The Knights- well Bob & Endrin move forward to help Liandri out, when-“PHUT”“AGGH... AGGH… AGGH”A very small dart protrudes from Liandri’s arse…“That’s all I nee…”Liandri begins to fall (asleep) but is caught, and held up by Bob, Endrin begins to cut through the myriad of fishing wires with hooks that pin-prick Liandri’s face, several more darts whiz by.Xeolus steps past the struggling threesome crouched low to the ground- he steps up to the edge of a chasm and espies on the far side a large plumed helmet from which a small pipe extends. He waves his hands frantically while speaking in tongues-“Itchy Moto Sacamoto Annus Horribilis Kingfisher GlassConjure me a badger to bite on his ass…”The Celestial Badger burrows up underneath the helmet- from which surprised screams issue. The darts stop coming- the little ‘uns swiftly killed.“That’s what I do.” Xeolus states but Liandri is having none of it- he’s out for the count, the Knights retreat to the first chamber, light a fire, sing a song and make inroads into their cheese and piccalilli.“Didn’t wagon wheels used to be bigger?”“Yeff.”“What yoghurt’s that?”“Ski.”Apres-Ski.The Knights move round the outside of the chamber, as before, and use their torches to burn away the wires with their “nasty” fishhooks- they then move to the edge of the chasm which bisects the room.Twenty feet below is cool clear water, in between Liandri spots more fishing lines leading to tiny holes in the far cliff- death slides for the “fecking little squeakers”- he burns away the one’s he can reach.Liandri begins the climb across the chasm, with Xeolus following behind- the two are half-way across when Bob and Endrin standing watch spot a large shadow moving beneath the water. Seconds later the water erupts as a huge Aquatic Ogre breaks the surface and begins climbing up the chasm wall. Liandri makes it over to the far side, Xeolus however, who’s been struggling to get across, jumps back the way he came. Bob and Endrin draw weapons and the Ogre leaps the last six feet to join the fight- the two barely scratch the thing while it delivers a mighty blow to Endrin, his arm goes numb and hangs limply by his side. “Hellllp.”Xeolus to the rescue, he executes a two-footed flying-kick and knocks the Ogre off the ledge and back down the twenty-foot chasm into the water, the unfortunate side effect is that Xeolus follows the creature down. “Hieroneo…Oh.”Bob and Endrin share a glance and then leap off the edge into the chasm- underwater the fight is much more difficult for the characters, the Ogre is swiping at Xeolus when the other two arrive. The creature is eventually destroyed, with the Knights concentrating their efforts on moving inside the Ogres spear range and grabbing onto the creature to use their daggers to stab the thing to death.Before they climb out they do a bit of exploring and eventually turn up a loose cache of silver and gold, behind a rock, which they ferry to the top.  Liandri takes a good hard LickingEndrin heals himself and the Knights swiftly move over the chasm and into the next chamber without further incident- the new area is bisected by a wooden palisade wall, which is however, only five feet tall.Xeolus and Liandri shin up and take a look over, the two are having a nosy about-“There’s a door… it’s got some writing on it.”“What’s in the compound?” Shouts Bob.“Nothing as far as I can see… oh hang on there’s a shelf thing this side- I can hear something moving about underneath it.”“Be careful.”Xeolus leans over to take a look with Liandri watching him… “UUUaaarrgggh.” Xeolus leaps back nearly tumbling from the wall.“What is it?” Bob shouts again.Liandri meanwhile jumps down into the compound- a medium sized Insect-cum-Armadillo creature rushes out to greet him- he begins to back off but the creature advances till it is upon him- it’s snaking tongue licking at his belt and around his private parts.“Help. Help. I’m being licked, it’s licking me- help me… I don’t know what to do.”Bob fed up of being out of things gets Endrin to give him a leg up and tumbles over the wall- another creature (the one Xeolus saw) leaps down from the wall and rushes over to greet him also. Xeolus observes the scene, Endrin manages to climb up to watch also.“What’s it say on the door.” Xeolus shouts.Liandri’s pants fall down and the first creature sniffs the air and espies Bob- it rushes over to greet him also.“Stop. Stop now- you’re tickling.”Liandri picks up his trousers and examines his belt, what’s left of it crumbles as he grasps it- “Oh feck- Gorgoldand you BASTAAAAAAARD.”Endrin and Xeolus atop the wall begin to laugh, “Rust Monsters- so that’s what they look like”, Endrin states. “What monsters?” Bob shouts as he begins to notice the edge of his Chainmail shirt redden and crumble- he pushes past the creatures and barrels over the wall. Xeolus in the meantime stands up and removes his robes- “tackle out” naked, he then climbs down into the compound- Liandri retreats back to the wall- and Bob under Endrins instruction throws the rest of his Chain Shirt over the wall- the Rust Monsters converge upon it to feast. A matter of thirty seconds later Xeolus has opened the door with the writing on-“Spelled front to back, it’s a person’s nameOr a protective guard, for certain.Spelled back to front, it’s what you doWith a bow, blank page, or curtain.”He spells out “WARD” on four raised wooden dials and the door clicks open.The rest of the Knights grab their kit and peg it into the next room before the Rust Monsters finish their meal and decide they’re still hungry, Liandri fashions a belt from rope and Bob pines for his armour.Entering the next area the group discovers a long room with a distinctive black & white tiled floor- a voice speaks to them “many of the squares ahead are trapped,” it says. “I will not tell you where the traps are located, but as you stand upon each square I will tell you how many of the adjacent squares are trapped.” There follows a massive game of minesweeper which goes swimmingly all four of them on the board working their way to the exit- when they get close a bunch of the little “squeakers” appear and start to throw spears at them. While off putting this is no real hardship- the Knights hold their ground and draw missile weapons- two of the creatures are shot and killed. A third makes a complete fool of himself by overrunning his spear throw and stepping on the square by the exit- there is a bright blue flash and the creatures smoking body falls to the floor.“Er… don’t put a foot wrong guys”, Liandri offers.The Knights are soon through this test.From here the Knights discover a set of stairs leading upwards each step has something written upon it-“It seems every second or third time I step away, fate is there, without a doubt, to trap my course.”Which if you read every third word reads-“Every third step is a trap.”Not that difficult you would think, what actually happens is this.Liandri “ I take two steps up the stairs.”DM “Ok.”Liandri “Then I take three steps.”DM “Ok?”Liandri “I take three steps again.”DM “Ok.”And thus it continues till Liandri is at the top of the stair. This was after three of the members of the group had written the message down and spent a good five minutes pondering it- dozens of suggestions were discussed, Liandri just decided to try his luck- the others follow him up.DM, “Could I just ask how you arrived at that solution?”Liandri “Er… well it said two then three steps… er… and I just made the rest up.”DM [sighs] “Fair enough, I suppose.”The group reaches the top of the stair and the session ends- all in all they have done well, team work aplenty, with some good use of the head- other than to stop arrows (as is customary).And so endeth the session that is numbered 20.Next week… attack of the external invigilators.</blockquote>

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