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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 1485927" data-attributes="member: 16069">The Wednesday KnightsSESSION XXVIII.Fryday 17th Mork 2000Dark in the Underdark.Characters presentLiandri Male Half-Elf Rogue level 2 Wizard level 1 (Kev. M.)Endrin Male Human Bard level 3 Sorcerer level 1 (Wayne)Bob Male Human Ranger level 2 (Emma) Whirlwind Male Human Fighter level 1 (DM)Xeolus Male Human Monk level 1 Priest of Hieroneous level 1 (Gimli)Mallaria Female Half-Elf Barbarian level 2 (DM)Sayon Female Elven Fighter level 1 Thief level 1 (Erin)The Knights put away their packed lunches and follow the wounded Bugbear north, there they find a large cave with a sleeping area and two nests, Mallaria speculates that this must be the station of Balsag and his pet rats. The area is carefully searched and a blood trail discovered that disappears into a crawlspace- Liandri follows this for a while as silently as possible and then returns to the party…“It goes into the Underdark.”“What’s it like down there?”“What in the Underdark?”“Yeah.”“Er… Dark.”“Oh.”With that the Knights shove whatever’s at hand into the crawlspace, to try to block it up, and then head out of the area and back to the main cavern and then south, down a flagged dungeon corridor. However they leave Mallaria and Whirlwind in the main chamber, a sort of rear guard, made up of players that have not turned up.Come on baby light my Fire (worm).The corridor extends forty or so feet into the darkness- Liandri and Sayon creep ahead and discover the passage is bisected by a huge crevasse. The crevasse is three feet below the level of the corridor but extends for dozens of feet overhead- the rogues scout it out, it extends sixty or so feet north east and enters into the back of a darkened silent room. However it also extends sixty or so feet south west- the flagged corridor continues south, with another cave opening, to the south west, off the crevasse. The group head south down the corridor, there they pass through a jammed door into a darkened room- Liandri spots and kills a Dire Rat on the way. There the Knights discover the vandalised statue of a dragon holding a tray in it’s mouth- after a dozen or so attempts to make the dragon “work”, they abandon the room, declaring the magic of the statue to be broken. The Knights head further down the crevasse towards what looks to be a glowing hole in the back of a cave- this is immediately noticeable to all. Liandri who was sneaking ahead, begins to move to the back of the group- his danger sensor has flicked into the red.Bob and Endrin move towards the hole, as they get closer they begin to feel the heat and hear a grinding sound- immediately they switch to melee weapons- Liandri backs further away and Xeolus looks for a spot to swing his club. Only seconds later, as if shot out of a cannon, a corrugated fiery worm creatures lunges from the hole- the creatures entire body is white hot and bathed in flame. The group swing furiously, Bob and Endrin singed by the creature’s proximity- Xeolus tries once again to make his way to the melee but is blocked by the cramped conditions. At that very moment, as Bob and Endrin are landing their first blows, a second fire worm emerges from a hole behind the group. Fortunately this area is being observed by Sayon who is not in the least surprised by events- she even manages to land a blow on the creature as it emerges. Liandri hears the call and he and Sayon start attacking the creature- leaving Xeolus frustrated in the middle of the two rumbles- unable to get into either scrap. Eventually both of the fiery worms are laid to rest- with the group taking minor heat damage only. Xeolus then throws a wobbler…Try reading it out loud in a blustery sixteen year olds (who knows everything) voice- with his hands on his hips, and stamping his little feet to emphasise points.“I mean… I mean… What… What am I supposed to do… A… A… What am I supposed to do around here… You charge about killing… stuff… willy-nilly… I mean… it’s not on, not on. Sure you kill that, you kill the other- I’ll stand in the middle and watch shall I- shall I. I mean it’s just not on… I’m not having it… ok… not having it at all… ok.”The rest of the Knights shrug a lot, admire their shoes and generally kick bits of stone about on the floor. After about three or four minutes of silence Endrin speaks, all eyes are on him…“Right, that’s settled- shall we get on.”Hurriedly the group file out and follow the crevasse north east, into the darkened room, which turns out to be one of the many doors off the large columned chamber in which Mallaria encountered Balsag. All that is except Liandri who hangs back to make sure there are no other worms about- Sayon is creeping ahead of the party at this point. Liandri re-examines the bodies of the worms, slitting them open and spilling out their guts- he finds a whole cluster of pretty sapphires which he trousers before running to catch up.The large columned chamber is explored, it’s a Goblin barracks of sorts- containing everything from sleeping quarters, to an area set aside for the fermentation of alcohol products. Most interesting is a small room which holds a Dire Rat covered in buboes and pustules, it also has a number of twig like appendages growing from it- Xeolus destroys the creature, an act of mercy really, but an obviously disturbing sight.“Errrghhh… Kill it quickly.”“Let me through- this creature is an abomination in my sight.”Fhwump Thudd- Xeolus club cancels the strange creature.“And let this be a lesson to all those that seek to tamper with nature in order to propagate their foul and nefarious ends. In these dark days it is necessary…”The other Knights file out of the chamber swiftly, Xeolus follows however.“… to be on one’s guard no-matter where one is, the shops, public toilets, dungeons, anywhere on the prime material plane of existence. The continuing insidious rise of evil can be best shown via the current trend for boxers over, Hieroneous be-blessed, the cotton Y-front, yes y-fronts sometimes chafe and constrict- but Hieroneous is with us to bear the pain…  My little chap...”  The other Knights swiftly gather their stuff together and head off east. There they find themselves in a large (huge) high arched chamber, the air here is palpably warmer, there is a layer of dirt on the floor and stunted plants grow lit by phosphorescent fungi- shedding a bluish-white light. Even Xeolus drifts into silence.The Knights spread out and head south, leaving Whirlwind and Mallaria behind to guard the area. Through a stone door to the south they enter a large (60 feet across) hexagonal high-ceilinged chamber, which, once again, is home to a strange collection of plants- mostly fungi of sorts, some of which Bob recognises as being edible. Worryingly on the walls are a number of holes, much like the ones inhabited by the fire worms previous, one of which has a definite glow to it. After a brief cursory search it is agreed that this chamber and the possible worm menace will be ignored- the group press on. Back in the main chamber the Knights head east into another hexagonal chamber, much the same as the last but without the ominous holes. After a brief search they exit this and finally head north, the only door remaining- there they discover another huge arched chamber, the same as the chamber they are in at present. The Knights head through another door to the east and explore yet another empty hexagonal chamber and are heading north again to what they believe to be another such chamber, Xeolus chooses this moment to deliver his second speech.The word of Xeolus. “I am going to prove myself, once and for all.”The group stops what they are doing and turns round to stare at the young Monk/Priest.“What?”“I will fight the Fire worm.”“What?”“I will fight the deadly Fire worm, single-handedly.”“What worm?”“The one we passed earlier, in the first hexagonal chamber.”“Oh yeah that one.”“I shall fight the mighty Fire worm single-handedly without recourse to your profane magics [he looks at Endrin and Liandri], or to your salacious songs [Endrin again], or to your rapscallion nature [Liandri and Sayon- only good old Bob avoids his spite and ire]. Instead I shall rely on the strength of Hieroneous, I shall use my hands and suffer the burns of truth and feel the life force of the worm in my hands- as it ebbs away. I will stand alone before the fiery menace that strikes fear into all that behold it…”“Is he still talking about the worm?”“Yes… shh.”“I shall become a weapon of God, blessed by Hieroneous I shall fight fire with fire, I SHALL VANQUISH THE FIRE WORM [the last part of the speech is delivered at volume 11].”The words “Fire Worm” echo through the chamber briefly. Once again the Knights look a bit sheepish, eventually Endrin speaks,“Do you mind if we get on then?”“I’ll go and make sure he’s alright.” Liandri volunteers.Xeolus turns on his heels and storms off a look of thunder on his face, at that point the door south opens and Mallaria appears in the room and shouts.“WHO EVER IT IS FECKING SHOUTING TELL THEM TO STOP FECKING SHOUTING ONLY YOU CAN HEAR IT A FECKING MILE OFF.”Endrin puts his thumbs up to acknowledge, and he leads the group off northward to probably the last hexagonal chamber (they think), Xeolus pushes past Mallaria and plods on towards the worm. “What’s up with her?”Liandri shrugs.“It’s a deity thing I think.”“What d’ya mean?”“Fecking God knows.”Liandri winks and Mallaria smiles. Xeolus versus The Fire Worm- seconds out round one…After a short stroll Xeolus and Liandri arrive in the worm chamber- Xeolus walks solemnly towards the glowing hole- obviously the worms lair.After thirty seconds of deep breathing followed by a short prayer, he begins a droning chant while his arms and hands perform a deadly dance in the air. Moments pass like minutes, seconds like hours- Liandri looks on a combination of astonishment (tinged with a little envy) and amusement (tinged with sadness). And then the worm comes…At a rush.In a brief second the creature is on Xeolus who has failed to avoid the fiery creatures lunge…Xeolus is instantly engulfed in an amorphous field of flame-He screams.Liandri reacts quickly grasps his sword and rushes in, Xeolus’ blows are fierce and come with fury however they do little to mark the surface of the worm…Xeolus is on fire, his hair burns, his clothes burn, his equipment burns but these are nought to the fire that burns inside of him.Liandri screams “Run Xeolus… Run” and slashes frantically at the creature- he too is singed by the heat.Xeolus stands his ground and continues the flurry of blows undaunted by there apparent ineffectualness.Liandri is at full speed now- chopping, slicing doing all he can to vanquish the foe…Xeolus falls as if cushioned by time…  Liandri watches, in disbelief, the young Monks haunting eyes seemingly locked on some far distant light as he crumples to the floor- the fire like a furnace blisters and bubbles at his face and skull. His clothes almost consumed. His skin a mixture of black and in other places transparent. His insides boil and fume.Liandri slashes… and slashes… with all his might, till eventually the worm is dead… but for Xeolus it is all too late.The silence is broken only by the noise of the fire being quenched in the only way Liandri can think of…“Aaaarrrggghhhh… I needed that.”Liandri re-buttons his flies and begins to scrabble about in the remains of the Monk Priest looking for ‘salvage’.He locates a few items that have survived the heat including the strange looking whistle that Xeolus found on the skeleton altar. Like Xeolus did when he found it he examines the thing then puts it in his mouth and blows- after wiping it clean of course. While no sound is heard the effect is astonishing- the charred blackened body of Xeolus rises from the floor. Liandri dances backward sword drawn- the creature (a Zombie) merely stands to attention and looks at Liandri expectantly- Liandri begins to giggle.He spends the next few minutes determining the control functions of the whistle- the Zombie Xeolus it seems obeys the commands of the whistle-wielder (while within earshot at least) and is fairly intelligent.After checking the room once more- and slitting open the fire worm to rescue the sapphires within, Liandri heads back to the Knights with his new found friend in tow.Unfriends re-united.Liandri catches up with the group in the last hexagonal chamber, they have discovered a door that leads to a darkened chamber and decided to stop and await the return of Liandri and Xeolus. A little while later they duly arrive…“Pelor!”Xeolus has been spotted.“Good innit.”There follows several moments of astonishment- much opening and closing of mouths, some pointing and sad to say, even in this enlightened age, a fair amount of giggling.“What the feck happened?”“Why’s he look like a Pelormass Turkey?”“Oh the worm kicked the crap out of him, those little orange robes of his burst into flame, I managed to kill the worm eventually- but he was charcoal briquette by then.”“Charcoal Kickette- that’s what we’ll call him.”“We’re not keeping him.”“Oh come on.”“He’s a health hazard.”“So’s Mallaria… and Felix.”“So anyway Liandri- why, or more to the point, how the feck is he up and walking?”Liandri shows them the whistle-“I… Er… put the fire out as best I could and rescued this. I blew it and he got up and followed me around.”The others look on.“Kin’ Hell.”“He probably is… he probably is.”“Look- chase Endrin.”The Zombie Xeolus begins to totter towards Endrin arms out, moaning a bit as he goes.Endrin giggles for a bit and dodges around the assembled crowd leading ZX (hereafter Zombie Xeolus) a merry dance. Eventually ZX is called off and order is restored.After a snack of cheese and pickle sandwiches, followed by a bottle of Blue Nun the group gathers their gear together and head off- remembering to leave Mallaria and Whirlwind behind as security guards.Back to work.The group enter the darkened chamber, Liandri guiding ZX all the while.“Left a bit… keep going left.”“Look Liandri beneath that huge menacing looking Dragon statue… directly in front of it… see, just where it would breathe great gouts of flame- if it were alive. Look there’s a strange coloured tile.”“I see it… hang on. ZX get over to that tile and jump up and down on it a bit.”ZX does as he is told the result is a sudden burst of smoke and perhaps some flame, it’s difficult for the group to tell what with all the fumes. While the smoke is settling Liandri feels a sudden chill as if an icy hand had somehow reached into him, Bob soon after complains of the same and swears that he saw a ragged shadowy face in the smoke. The effect is electric- the group head swiftly for an obvious door- kick it open and head within, slamming it shut behind them.The new chamber looks to be a rotten and ruined library of sorts- ZX is eventually called through to the room when the dust and smoke has cleared. Several of the group state that ZX looks, almost better- as if someone had taken the time to clean him up. The group rest again- Liandri and Bob feel weak (DM’s note they have both been attacked and damaged by a Shadow)- the area is searched and a number of Spell Scrolls are located. After an hour or so the group decide to press on, as they are still in good-ish health.The Knights exit the library following a dank passage that curves round to a set of steps down- the passage below is about a foot and a half deep with foul smelling water. Liandri and Sayon are despatched forward- they discover there is a door on the left of the passage but it looks to be barred and chained shut from this side. The two press on to the outer limits of a lit chamber- within is a low wall with several Goblins standing behind the wall (battlements) armed with spears, there looks to be another door on the far side.The two creep back and a plan is hatched- eventually ZX wades forward towards the Goblin guards while Endrin’s Ghost Sound spell echoes down the passageway. The Goblins behind the barricade go to flee- unlocking the door behind them- two are cut down while two escape. The Knights leap the wall and set off in hot pursuit- through a storeroom of sorts they head into a third room- obviously a guardroom also. There the two fleeing Goblins and four more Hobgoblins are cut down in short order. There is another door which leads out into another corridor, with stairs going up again, however after a brief meeting it is decided to lock and barricade this door while the chained and barred door is investigated.This is done in short time with stuff taken out of the store room to barricade the door- a number of Dire rats are discovered and almost straight after killed. Likewise ZX is sent back to Mallaria and Whirlwind with a note telling them to move forward, and to run through the room with the Shadow. Mallaria rests in the room with the improvised barricaded door, while Whirlwind is in the room with the battlements- the doors open between them. Meanwhile the rest of the group take to examining the strange padlocked and barred door- it seems to be a tomb of some sort, that has probably been sealed for ages. Eventually Liandri pops the lock and Bob puts his shoulder to it to get the door open, alas this proves to be Bob’s downfall.The door flies open and the water surges in emptying into the newly discovered room that is bisected by a pit, running the entire width of the room. Bob overbalances and is swept over the side- landing roughly some twenty feet below and damaging his arm (dislocated) in the process. The others rush in to help-“Bob… BOB… Are you ok?”“I… I think so… get me some light.”“Endrin quickly casts a Light spell on a stone and throws it down the pit.”“AAAArrrrghhhhhh ZOMBIES.”“No you’re alright he’s up here.”Bob is on the floor of the cavern, surrounding him are at least six Zombies arms outstretched clambering to get to him- to rip him apart.And thus Session 28 ends.Next week… Take a break- enter a kill trap.</blockquote>

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