GM: We left off last time with the group looking for the ruins known as Skullcap. This strange mountain lies somewhere on the Plains of Dergoth and is suspected to holding the key to the whereabouts of the Dwarven kingdom, Thorbardin. Meanwhile, the 800 refugees have fled to a valley in hopes to find shelter from the elements and the Dragonarmies.
Taurus tends to Eben's final wounds before continuing their journey, shooting a somewhat ired glance in the direction of Hawkeye and Jeren.
Hawkeye: We need to keep moving
You just finished a violent battle with some ogres. It is now mid day, and despite the sun high in the sky, the chill of winter is setting in.
Hawkeye trudges through the snow in silence, wondering what kind of lecture Taurus has in store
Vexin Sixtoes: Hey, whose leading? You're going the wrong way!
Vexin Sixtoes: I know EXACTLY where to go as usual, let me lead!
Hawkeye turns around barely able to hear the shrill voice of the kender coming from behind
Vexin Sixtoes: Directly South!
Taurus eyes Vexin for a moment, then looks to Hawkeye questioningly.
Hawkeye catches Taurus's glance, wondering whatt it means
Vexin Sixtoes: I swear, if a Kender were not around to keep you all in line, you'd never get anything accomplished!
Taurus: Do you agree, Hawkeye?
Hawkeye shrugs and gestures for Vexin to lead the way
Vexin Sixtoes bounds off atop Skitters, directly southward, scouting ahead
Taurus picks up the pace so as to not loose sight of Vexin, trudging southward in his heavy armor.
The Sun sinks quickly in the sky, and the shadows of the mountains stretch across the plains. The wind picks up here blowing snow and ice against your faces. It does not look like there is much shelter here at all
Taurus pulls his cloak tightly around him, squinting into the wind as he yells out over it;
Vexin Sixtoes: Hmm, there's not much shelter here at all
Taurus (Yells): Vexin! Find us some shelter!
Vexin Sixtoes (mumbles): good luck with that, deaf boy
Even though the light is fading into night, and the wind kicks up the snow, obscuring the vision, you all manage to see something off in the distance to the south west. It looks like it is about 10 miles away. It looks like a large hill.
Hawkeye: Make for the hill, Vexin...
Vexin Sixtoes: Pfft! where you think I'm going!
Hawkeye: You're just standing there right now
The Battle Plain, as this area is called, is where the majority of the particpants in the Dwarfgate War met their end. You feel an unnatural discomfort here; whether it is a remnant of Fistandantilus� overwhelming evil, the spirits of ten thousand innocents objecting to being disturbed in their final resting place, or both, you cannot tell. The ground is very nearly lifeless, with only the hardiest of grasses attempting to sink roots into the blasted soil. Even long after the war, the land is littered with corroded and rusting weapons and armor. The hulks of siege engines, catapults, and supply wagons rust and rot in the icy wind. The land is a desolate scar upon the face of Ansalon.
Vexin Sixtoes: Ooooooh spooky! This place is exciting!
Taurus looks between the two before he pushing towards the hill, bowing his head to force the wind from his face. As he comes upon the Plain he pauses, standing there peering across the sight.
Vexin Sixtoes: See? Skullcap... *I* knew where we were going!
Hawkeye: We need to find shelter somewhere in these ruins..
Vexin Sixtoes: We could be there in a few hours.
Gilthanas Pulls his cloak in tight
Gilthanas: then lets get going
Vexin Sixtoes: I can't wait to see Skullcap!
Taurus (yells): Aye. We force march for Skullcap!
Vexin Sixtoes: Maybe someday I could cast such powerful spells as Fistandantilus...
Hawkeye flexes his numbing fingers to try and alleviate the bite of the cold as night sets it
Taurus surveys the reminants of an age old war as they waid through the dormant battlefield. Knowing full well such places rarely are laid to rest forever; history always repeats.
Taurus: As who?
After two more hours of walking past the death and decay of the Plains of Dergoth, you come upon the foot of the strange shape mountain. It towers into the sky, not as tall as the rest of the mountains in the Tharkadan range, but probably the most menacing
The mouth of the skull-shaped mountain, 80 feet above the swampy plain, forms a cavern leading deep inside. Rubble is piled 50 feet high before the cavern. It can be climbed easily. The remaining 30 feet is made of the glassy black obsidian that covers all of Skullcap.
Vexin Sixtoes: Fistandantilus, ninny
The surface of Skullcap is blue-black as though burned and melted by tremendous fires. It is now icy cold to the touch and impossible to climb without assistance of some kind. Jagged stalactites and stalagmites form grotesque rows of teeth. At the back of the opening, a natural tunnel descends into the mountain.
Hawkeye looks at the mountain with a mixture and fear and awe, wondering what happened here to turn the mountain into such a monstrsity
Vexin Sixtoes: Hmm... I could climb up there as a Leopard easy, but not the last 30 feet...
Taurus doesn't persue his line of questioning, opting to save his breath (and perhaps patience) for the arduous task at hand.
Vexin Sixtoes: but I can fly
Taurus: You have spells to grant such?
Hawkeye: Taurus, Jeren, will your armor allow you to climb this?
Vexin Sixtoes: Nope, Only I am powerful enough to fly
Eben: Does anyone have rope? Vexin can tie it to the stalagmites and we can climb up?
Taurus: No. We will remove our armor for this task.
Hawkeye: Aye, I have a rope and grapple
Vexin Sixtoes: Not me, I don't need rope. I can fly
Hawkeye: 50 feet, should be enough for the last rough part, but we'll have to climb the rest on our own
Vexin Sixtoes: I'll fly up and secure the hook when you all get your armor off
Taurus places his hand on Hawkeye's shoulder, bowing his head in a silent prayer of protection. (Magic Vestment +1 AC for 6 hours)
Hawkeye nods his thanks to Taurus
Taurus then megins the meticulous task of securing his armor.
Zhage: Don't forget, we do have those gloves...
Hawkeye hands Vexin his rope and grapple
Vexin Sixtoes begins casting Master Air when the party is ready to climb
Taurus: Indeed Zhage, perhaps we might rotate them for the last leg of the climb.
Hawkeye quickly strips off his chain shirt, hoping to not have a repeat of Xak Tsaroth
Eben BLows on his hands to warm up
Eben: lets go!
Vexin Sixtoes suddenly sprouts wings of air, translucent and beautiful dragon-like wings.
Eben starts making his way up the rocky slope
Taurus: How is skitters going to ascend?
Hawkeye follows closely behind Eben, keeping as focused on the task at hand as possible
Vexin Sixtoes leaps into the air, quickly flying the 90' up to the summit
Vexin Sixtoes (shouts): tie the rope to him, tell him CALM
Taurus eyes Skitters warily.
Taurus breaths a sigh of relief before begining his ascent.
Vexin Sixtoes (glancing back): nevermind... he's up here buzzing around
Vexin Sixtoes watches Skitters flying circles in the air
Vexin Sixtoes alights on the mouth of the cave, and quickly secures the grappling hook to one of the stalagmites
Vexin Sixtoes then flies down to aid the climbers, those less powerful than himself
Taurus hauls himself up the last 30 feet using the rope. He arrives to the top. Shortly after, Hawkeye arrives to the top as well.
Taurus drags himself over the lip, crouching at the edge to offer a hand to help others up over the last hurdle.
Hawkeye quickly slids his chain back on, looking down at his compantions'
After a short few minutes, the rest of the party manages the smooth slope and you all take a moment to rest within the relative shelter of the mouth of skullcap
Vexin Sixtoes calls Skitters to him before the spell is about to wear off, and both land on the lip of the orifice as their wings disperse
Taurus begins to pull on his fullplate once more, securing each strap, belt and plate in its correct position. The task taking quite a conciderable amount of time but neccasary to ensure correct dispersion of weight.
Hawkeye: We should head a little deeper in, to escape the chill
Taurus: Aye.
Taurus stands, brushing his hand over his shield as it bursts into light. Shining it into the mouth of the cave he begins to trudge inwards.
Hawkeye follows Taurus warily, keeping a hand on his axe at all times
The tunnel is made of the same smooth obsidian as the outside of Skullcap. After 20 feet of gentle downward slope, the angle of the tunnel changes to a 70 degree incline�too steep and smooth to walk.
Hawkeye: Maybe we should camp here for the night
Hawkeye: We still have wounded I believe
Hawkeye looks back over the party
Taurus: We are out of the cold, it is enough. I would be better prepared in the morning, also.
Vexin Sixtoes: I can't think of any spells that would help us descend that...
Vexin Sixtoes: Well, featherfall... but that's not my domain
Hawkeye: Aye well, we have the night to think of it. I'll take first watch
Taurus: We could spend the time splicing rope together for a sufficient length.
Vexin Sixtoes: Taurus and I last watch, as usual
Hawkeye: Perha[s Jeren on second watch this time?
Taurus: Jeren accompany Hawkeye on first watch.
Taurus: Gilthanas and Zhage on second.
Gilthanas: Will Zhage not need time to rest for his magic?
Gilthanas looks to Zhage
Taurus: Then Eben will take Zhage's place.
Taurus nods to Eben, the man having earnt Taurus' trust.
Eben returns the nod to Taurus
Hawkeye takes a seat near the downward slope, peering out into the darkness as he waits for the others to go to sleep
Taurus ... removes his armor, after 5 minutes of putting it on. Makes himself comfortable, attempts to sleep.
Zhage looks for a place to sleep.
Hawkeye carefully avoids Jeren throughout his watch
Hawkeye wakes up the other people for their watch as his ends and goes to sleep
The evening passes without event. On all of your watches, you hear the strange hollow howls of something down within Skullcap. Is it the wind just playing tricks on your mind or is it something more sinister?
Hawkeye awakens in the morning, wondering if the wind was playing tricks on his mind or if something sinister lurks below
Maldavias Rises with a stretch of his arms.
Taurus lights his insense and a small candle , cupping it in his hand to shield it from the wind; saying his prayers in solitude.
Hawkeye looks at the others making preparations, and begins to head over towards jeren, pausing half way there before turning around to head to the other side of the camp
Zhage awakes and pulls out his spellbooks and begins to read.
Maldavias: I am not going to venture down within this mountain. It is no place for an elf. I will wait here for your return.
Vexin Sixtoes: Pfft! pansy
Taurus: I see.
Gilthanas looks at Maldavias with suspicion
Taurus: Do you have similiar reservations, Gilthanas?
Hawkeye: I guess Maldavias only has courage when it's to impress an elven princess
Zhage ignores the converstation and continues to work with his books.
Gilthanas: no. This is an unnatual place for any living creature, but I will venture with you into the mountain
Taurus smiles
Hawkeye approaches Taurus
Hawkeye: Did you hear any strange sounds last night, Taurus>
Taurus: Good, I value your loyalty.
Taurus raises a brow at Hawkeye.
Taurus: Other than the wind, no.
Hawkeye nods, looking down the steep passage leading below
Vexin Sixtoes casts Light on a copper piece and tosses it down the 70 degee drop
Eben: So how do we progress from here? More rope? Who knows how far this goes down into the ground...
The coin slides down the tunnel into the darkness, lighting the way. It rolls out of sight probably 60 feet down.
Hawkeye: No different than the ruins of Xak Tsaroth
Vexin Sixtoes: Bah! it's not far. Just slide down! It'll be fun@
Taurus: There appears to be a drop 60ft in.
Hawkeye: Draw weapons, hop on down, see what happens like we did there
Hawkeye nods to Vexin, agreeing
Vexin Sixtoes lays down atop skitters and encourages him to slide down the passage
Zhage: DO you want me to go take a look?
Vexin Sixtoes: CALM, Skitters
Hawkeye looks at Zhage curiously
The weasel looks aprhensive but is encouraged to the edge of the slope. He looks one last time over his shoulder back at Vexin
Zhage: You remember back in the swamp Hawkeye?
Zhage: Remember I ran up one of the towers there?
Vexin Sixtoes: Go Skitters! GO!
Hawkeye shakes his head, not remembering too well...
Zhage: But I guess that isn't really needed.
Taurus: Aye, scout ahead Zhage.. but be cautious.
Taurus: Any sign of trouble, regroup with us.
Taurus: Vexin! Halt!
Hawkeye looks at Vexin
Skitters steps on the slope, slipping to his stomache and he slides into the darkness.
Hawkeye: Too late...
Vexin Sixtoes: WEEEEeeeeeeeee........................
Taurus cringes
Hawkeye shurgs and waits for a large thump
Taurus (quiet): .....kender.
Zhage just shakes his head.
Zhage: Told you my scouting the slope was needed..
Taurus: Zhage, please make sure he is alive.
Vexin Sixtoes (shouts from below): That's more fun than jumping off a waterfall! Come on down!
Zhage: Sounds like he is ok..
Taurus: It does, doesn't it.
Hawkeye shrugs and dives down the tunnel
Vexin Sixtoes (barely audible): I wonder if I can get back up there to do it again...
Zhage (shouting down the slope): I have a spell that can probably get buck up here.
Taurus eventually follows suit, calling out a warning first.
Vexin Sixtoes: Ooh! We'll have to do it again later Zhage!
Zhage gives Taurus half a minute then goes after him.
The big man slides down the smooth slope. it swoops you down to a gentle stop where Vexin and Skitters wait with a glowing coin at their feet
Shortly after, the mage slides down, joining the others. You both see that the tunnel leads off into the mountain but on a level plain
Vexin Sixtoes picks up the coin and holds it aloft, already scouting ahead
Taurus stands after reaching the bottom, casting light on his shield and facing it into the darkness that surrounds them.
Hawkeye: Well Vexin, I guess it's a goods thing it didn't end in a pool of acid
Vexin Sixtoes: Ya good thing huh?!
Vexin Sixtoes: Although that would be interesting...
Vexin Sixtoes: A pool of acid...
Hawkeye draws his dagger and axe, a little uneasy in this fortress of death
Zhage takes a golden rod out of his pack and smacks it on the ground.
Gilthanas followed by Eben and Jeren slow to a stop at the bottom of the giant slide
Taurus: Be on your guard, those who once resided here may have died its likely they left their legacy behind.
Zhage lets the golden rod tip glow in his hand.
Vexin Sixtoes: Being undead is a legacy?
Taurus: Traps.
Vexin Sixtoes: Wonder if I'll leave a legacy...
Vexin Sixtoes scouts further ahead
Eben Shivers, remembering Sla Mori and the pursuing zombie hoard
Hawkeye: Maybe eben should take point with Vexin?
Taurus steps in behind Vexin.
Taurus: Its fine, myself and Jeren will take point. Gilthanas and Hawkeye rear.
Hawkeye: Last time he stood in the back an ogre crushed his brain in
Taurus: This time you'll be there to assist him, Hawkeye.
Eben: It's not that I didn't try to get away, Hawk.
Taurus shoots him a meaningful look.
Eben gives a slight chuckle
Hawkeye: Hawkeye, Eben
Hawkeye: Let's get moving
Vexin Sixtoes (calls back): I am!
You move down the tunnel, lit by Zhages glowing rod. The tunnle doesn't go for very long before it opens up into a long room with a tapastry on the far end. Two sets of double doors are on either side. They are made of solid oak and are covered with silver.
Hawkeye: Pretty good condition considering...
Vexin Sixtoes listens at each door
Taurus stands by the northmost door in the corridor, watching Vexin patiently.
You listen intently at both doors. Silence is all that can be heard
Vexin Sixtoes: All is quiet... damn
Taurus: This door.
Taurus attempts to open the door.
The door opens with ease. Beyond is a grand hall, or at least it once was. Now the walls are scorched and burnt. A thick lair of ash and dust lies on the floor
Taurus strides inwards, shining the shieldlight east.
Vexin Sixtoes: ooh sppoky
Vexin Sixtoes: I see my tracks in the dust
Vexin Sixtoes: How is it that I can see my tracks in dust, but not in forest...
Vexin Sixtoes: What's this here?
Taurus: You get distracted too easily, in the forest.
Hawkeye: Stairs, Vexin
A central stairway descends deep into the mountain. Torn by the same terrible forces that long ago ravaged Skullcap, the iron framework that once supported these stairs is now twisted and wrenched. Overhead, the ceiling is shattered, revealing the iron frame that once held the stairway. The stairwell is 60 feet in diameter. A 10- foot-wide staircase circles down about 20 feet before it starts to twist distortedly.
Taurus mentions offhandedly, more matter-of-factly.
Vexin Sixtoes: Pfft! I saw that!
Hawkeye: Shall we head down?
Eben: It doesn't look very safe...
Vexin Sixtoes: Remember the LAST staircase?
Taurus: I agree with Eben.
Taurus moves to the north doors, opens them and peers inwards with his light source.
Hawkeye: I don't think anthing nin the blasted shell of a mountain is safe anymore
Taurus: Lets check this level more closely first.
Vexin Sixtoes: It's not very conducive to a long and prosperous life...
Armor stands gleaming against the walls. A bizarre grey hemisphere, semi-transparent and 30 feet across, shimmers in the center of the room. Within it, a gleaming metallic dragon is frozen in mid-flight, its mouth gaping open. Below it, a goblin is also frozen in mid-stride as though fleeing for its life.
Vexin Sixtoes: Blasted mountain... how original Hawkeye...
Taurus grips his longsword instinctively, then pauses... peering around and relaxing some.
Hawkeye looks on at the sceen in bewilderment
Taurus: You have to see this.
Hawkeye: You have a very dry humor for a Kender
Vexin Sixtoes: OOH! HOW NEAT!
Hawkeye: a metalic dragon?
Vexin Sixtoes tosses his lit up coin into the room
Eben Draws his sword
Eben: lets not take any chances, shall we?
Taurus: Aye.
Vexin Sixtoes tosses his lit up coin into the room at about human eye-level
Taurus: Don't enter the grey light.
Hawkeye eyes the frozen dragon in awe, having never heard of a dragon of any color but the chormatic ones...
When the steel coin sails into the hemesphere...
The geyish hemisphere vanishes like a popped soap bubble. The instant the hemisphere vanishes, the temporal stasis which holds the two creatures breaks. With one lunge, the brass dragon snaps up the goblin and devours him in a single bite.
Vexin Sixtoes: That dragon is almost the color of money!
Hawkeye: Vexin!!!
Vexin Sixtoes: ACK!
Taurus almost falls backwards, drawing his longsword.
Zhage: Vexin... what the hell did you do..
Taurus: On your guard!!
Vexin Sixtoes: He musta been tasty!
Hawkeye readies his axe quickly
Hawkeye: Get back Vexin!
Vexin Sixtoes: HEY I FRED THE DRAGON!
dragon looks about confused and then he sees you standing there in the doorway
Vexin Sixtoes takes a step forward and introduces himself
Vexin Sixtoes: Hullo dragon, I'm Vexin Sixtoes, Dragonslayer!
Taurus blink-blinks as Vexin so casually introduces himself.
Hawkeye: Vexin, you fool, the beast will eat you
Vexin Sixtoes: oops...
the dragon appears a little emabarassed after being seen devouring a goblin.
dragon: wh- what has happened here?
Zhage (quietly): You probably should not have used dragon slayer..
Hawkeye keeps a wary eye on the dragon, not trusting the evil beast
Vexin Sixtoes: Hey why aren't you breathign fire at me? i wanted to test my ring!
Taurus (Whispered): It isn't attacking...??
dragon scowls at Hawkeye
dragon: I will most certainly not!
Vexin Sixtoes: Aww....
Vexin Sixtoes: but...
Hawkeye: Vexin, back away from the beast
Vexin Sixtoes: Pfft! you see it attacking me?
Hawkeye: Let's not press our luck with the evil creature
Taurus: No... I... see no malice in this creatures eyes.
Vexin Sixtoes: Looks like he ATE the evil creature
dragon: I do not breath fire. And why would I? You do not look like a member of the blasted mages army...
dragon: I AM NOT A BEAST!
Zhage: That's odd..
dragon snarls at Hawkeye
Vexin Sixtoes: I don't? hmm... I'm gonna have to start wearing black...
Zhage walks forward a few steps.
Hawkeye loses his resolve slightly at the screaming creature
Taurus raises his hand to Hawkeye, to silence his words.
Vexin Sixtoes: tsk tsk Hawkeye... now what the hell did YOU do?
Zhage (in Draconic): Can you understand me?
dragon looks around the room is wonderment
Taurus peers quizically at Zhage.
Hawkeye: You're the one carryign on a conversation with a DRAGON
Vexin Sixtoes: He started it!
dragon looks to Zhage in astonishment
dragon (draconic): not many humans can speak our language
Hawkeye: Actually.. you did...
Vexin Sixtoes: Pfft!
Zhage quickly glancing at both Hawkeye and Vexin. "Quiet."
Hawkeye sighs realizing ther's no point in arguing with a Kender
Taurus nods to Hawkeye and Vexin, reaffirming Zhages command/request
Vexin Sixtoes: shhh! I'm trying to hear they're conversation! I speak dragon too :)
Hawkeye: I can't believe we're doing this
Zhage (Draconic): Not many do.. why are you here.
Hawkeye (to himself): Hey, your kind destroyed every home we've ever known, do you want some tea?
dragon: What has happened here? Why does it look like it is in ruins? Why is it so quiet?
Taurus (Whisper to Hawk): Keep alert, this may be a deception.
dragon scrunches up his snout
dragon: I WAS fighting the mages army.
Hawkeye: you think>
Vexin Sixtoes: Uh...
Taurus: The new threat is the dragon armies.
Vexin Sixtoes: The mages army was gone loooong ago
dragon: the dragon armies? what on Krynn are you talking about?
Zhage backs off a bt to let te others speak.
Vexin Sixtoes: You're the one fighting an enemy long dead! pfft!
dragon burps.
Taurus: A new threat has swept across this area, purging the Qualiosti from their homes and leaving but a scattered group of refugee's.
dragon: he is only recently dead.
dragon gives a slight smirk
Taurus: It is lead by one who rides a great dragon that breaths fire.
Hawkeye: Not to mention the plains of Abanisinia and the towns of Gateway, Haven, and Solace
Hawkeye: and new port
Vexin Sixtoes: not THAT enemy... the mage's army
Vexin Sixtoes: Not a very smart dragon...
Taurus: And... their armies conist of goblinoids and a strange dragonlike creature that turn to stone on death, or acid...
Vexin Sixtoes: Dragonmen are yucky
Hawkeye: And some of them have the same coloring as this one...
dragon: I don't really know what your talking about... but I'll take your word for it. Why are you here now?
Taurus: We seek a new home, if temporary, for the refugees.
dragon (to Hawkeye): I can assure you, we are of know relation to some sort of "dragonman"
Hawkeye: We seek Thorbardin
Taurus: We seek the dwarves of the mountain, to beg for their charity.
Vexin Sixtoes: beg.... pfft!
dragon: And you think that the dwarves are here?
dragon laughs
dragon: not by the looks of things...
Taurus: No, but the gates to Thorbadin have been closed for some time. We hope to find an entrance through this tower.
Hawkeye: We were told that the way to find Thorbardin was here
Taurus nods to Hawkeye.
Taurus: Do you have a name, Dragon?
Hawkeye: Not sicne the Catcalysm have any been on contact with them
Blaize: Oh yes. I am called Blaize.
Vexin Sixtoes: ooh! nice name!
Blaize: thank you!
Taurus: Blaize. I request you state your allegiance.
Vexin Sixtoes: Not much of a likeness though... since you wouldn't breathe fire on me...
Blaize cranes his neck in a proud fashion
Taurus: For if it lies with the dragon armies, I am afraid we are enemies.
Hawkeye: Dragon... Dragon Armies...
Hawkeye trails off...
Taurus nods slowly at Hawkeye's point.
Blaize: Well, I COULD breath fire on you. But that would be rude...
Vexin Sixtoes: If he was with the armies, you all would be like that goblin, and I'd have my dragon hide for Skitters' armor...
Taurus ponders the posiibility of this dragon having some kender ancestory.
Hawkeye: You can't honestly mean to trust a dragon?
Blaize looks to Taurus
Blaize: I do not know these dragon armies so I cannot see how I can be aligned with them
Zhage speaks in draconic without realizing it. "I doubt he knows what is going on since it appears he was locked in here frozen for serveral hundred years.."
Blaize: I think your little hairless friend is right!
Blaize points a claw at Zhage
Vexin Sixtoes: I wonder what it's like to be frozen in time...
Hawkeye looks at Zhage confused
Vexin Sixtoes: must be interesting
Taurus: Then for now, your interests are nuetral. And, as such, I offer our greetings. I am Taurus Regulas, Knight of the Crown. These are my companions.
Hawkeye: I have no idea what you said, Zhage
Taurus gestures to each, prompting introductions.
Hawkeye: But how can you, a man slain by a dragon, trust one?
Vexin Sixtoes: I know what he said!
Zhage leans back against the wall, crosses his arms and shruggs.
Blaize: he looks quite alive to me, barbarian. (pokes Zhage gently)
Hawkeye: If not for the return of the Old Gods he wouldn't be
Hawkeye: I can't believe I'm arguing with a dragon now!
Taurus sheaths his longsword, relaxing some.
Blaize: I can't believe you're arguing with me either!
Hawkeye glares at Blaize
Vexin Sixtoes: HAHA!
Zhage just lets the dragon poke him, not even protesting.
Blaize: I AM a dragon afterall
Vexin Sixtoes: Hawkeye's arguing with a dragon!
Hawkeye: All the more reason to distrust you
Vexin Sixtoes reaches up and touches the brass scales, enthralled
Blaize snarls viciously towards the ranger.
Taurus: You must forgive us Blaize. It has been several centuries since we last laid eyes on a dragon. And now, but several seasons, a force of your kin have risen against us and drove us to the brink of extinction.
Taurus: My companions suspicion is, unfortunately, warranted.
Vexin Sixtoes: Beautiful scales Blaize... but too bright for Skitters...
Blaize: Well, might I say this. I have had humans try to slay me in my time, but I do not keep that judgment against all humans. If I did, you certainly wouldn't be having this conversation with me. You'd be quarreling with the goblin in my stomache.
Zhage laughs.
Hawkeye: So the next great red wyrm I should just walk up to a say hi first?
Taurus: Understandable, but the difference being; all dragons have tried to slay us. Besides yourself, as far.
Vexin Sixtoes: ooh! I wonder what a dragon's stomach is like?
Blaize: That would be quite foolish of you.
Hawkeye: And what makes you so different?
Blaize (looks genuinly confused): I'm a brass dragon... HE'S a RED dragon.
Vexin Sixtoes: He certainly doesn't LOOK vicious...
Hawkeye: The difference being??
Taurus: Aye. I fail to see how the color of your scales makes you so different.
Blaize (Draconic): Do I need to spell it out for you?
Taurus looks confused.
Hawkeye shakes his head confused
Zhage (draconic): Looks like you might..
Vexin Sixtoes: Taurus can't spell...
Blaize nods to Zhage
Taurus: Do you mean to imply certain 'breeds' of dragon are predispositioned towards conquer and slaughter?
Vexin Sixtoes: But we forgive him
Taurus: Others towards goblin flesh and solitude?
Vexin Sixtoes: such big words, but can't spell... such a pity
Blaize: brass dragons, as with all metallic dragons are good. We don't all neccessarily like humans, but we don't gain pleasure by carelessly slaying them.
Blaize: Reds are chromatic. All chromatics are evil in nature...
Taurus: I see.
Hawkeye: Never have I seen or heard of these metallic dragons
Hawkeye: Where are they then? When the red dragons slay us?
Taurus: Do the chromatic and metallic oppose one another?
Blaize: I cannot tell you the reasons for this. But it certainly is interesting.
Vexin Sixtoes: I've seen red metal... so why isn't red metallic?
Hawkeye: Then what gods do you pray to?
Hawkeye looks at Taurus, knowing that Hawkeye can't judge anything based on religion
Taurus: Perhaps Blaize, you might be an allie after all.
Taurus glances to Hawkeye then back to the dragon.
Blaize: Well, I'm certainly not an enemy. Unless your out to kill dragons.
Taurus: Join us, in our quest. Proove your true intentions.
Blaize looks at Hawkeye menacingly
Vexin Sixtoes: Well...
Vexin Sixtoes: We ARE out to kill dragons...
Vexin Sixtoes: especially me, cuz I need dragon hide
Blaize snaps his head to look at the kender.
Taurus frowns at Vexin.
Zhage (quietly): Please clearify what you are saying Vexin..
Vexin Sixtoes: but... I don't think we kill Metallic...
Hawkeye: I'll not lie to you, it is my goal to slay as many dragons as I can... but I'll not slay a possible ally...
Blaize: Disgusting...
Blaize: I do not wear a coat of kender flesh...
Taurus: What Vexin means to say, is that it is neccasary to oppose these evil chromatic dragons.
Taurus: For our very survival is at stake.
Vexin Sixtoes: EW! Kender flesh has NO armorlike properties!
Blaize (turns to Taurus): I will accompany you for the time being...
Taurus inclines his head gratefully.
Vexin Sixtoes: Maybe you could tell me where I could get black dragonhide...
Taurus: Vexin.
Vexin Sixtoes: Oh, sorry
Taurus: Search the room for anything that might be useful in our quest.
Taurus narrows his eyes on him.
Vexin Sixtoes: Ooh! giod idea!
Taurus: Or... 'interesting'.
Zhage (quietly): From a black dragon Vexin..
Hawkeye: I don't like this, Taurus...
Vexin Sixtoes: I know THAT Zhage... but it's not everyday a black dragon comes up to you and says "oh, I heard you were looking for some black dragonhide. kill me please"
The armory has many dull and rusted weapons lining the walls. The items that stand out from the rest are 3 suits of full plate armor, three heavy shields (one small sized), two javilins, and two cloaks.
Taurus nods slowly to Hawkeye, quietly commenting; "I do notice a difference between this creature and those we have faced in the past. Caution may be prudent but it would be unwise to give up an oppertunity for assisstance."
Vexin Sixtoes casts detect magic and checks out all the non rusted equipment
Hawkeye immediately eyes the cloaks, having no need for the heavy armor
Zhage (muttering): then you know atleast where you can find them...
Hawkeye nods to taurus slightly. "Still, I'll not lower my weapons with Blaize around"
Taurus (Whispered): And... he is much smaller than the other chromatics we have faced. Perhaps he is a weaker breed.
Vexin Sixtoes: Well, I thought he may know where a black dragon might be...
All the items listed above glow with magical properties
Vexin Sixtoes: We struck gold! erm... magic!
Taurus: Onyx was a black dragon, Vexin.
Hawkeye: there was nothing left of Onyx TAurus
Vexin Sixtoes: Yes well, we didn't exactly have tome to harvest it's hide before scattering from the collapsing fortress did we?
Hawkeye: And she was turned to Ash when she was slain
Blaize looks at the kender and then to Hawkeye.
Taurus: Oh.
Blaize: and they call YOU a barbarian..
Hawkeye: you were dead Taurus
Vexin Sixtoes gathers up the glowing items, and distributes them, taking one of the cloaks and putting it on
Hawkeye: Actually, I'm not a barbarian, thank you. I'm a proud member of the Que-Teh, but that does not make me a savage
Taurus: Vexin has a... unique... view of the world Blaize. Please forgive him should he offend you.
Hawkeye takes the other cloak from Vexin, wrapping it around himself
Vexin Sixtoes: Of course I have a unique view, I'm the only one here 4 foot tall!
Taurus: Lets continue, there may be other metallics in need of freeing.
Vexin Sixtoes begins to scout around the rest of the area
Taurus approaches the doors and pushes them open.
You make your way to another pair of double doors. These ones look similar to the others
This short hall ends in another pair of double doors.
Taurus: Wait.
Taurus: Its trapped.
Hawkeye: Since when can you see traps?
Taurus points towards arrow slits.
Taurus: There, in the walls, allow slits.
Blaize cranes his neck around the cornor
Hawkeye: And you think it still works after all that happened here?
Blaize (chuckles): oh yeah!
Taurus begins to carefully edge across the corridor, holding his shield high and ready.
Taurus: Lets see.
The knight inches into the room. He gets in about 10 feet when a volly of bolts shoot throw the holes toward him. Only the holes on the east side send the bolts forth
Taurus: *tingtingtingtingtingtingting*
Hawkeye: Tarurus! Look out!
Vexin Sixtoes: Shoulda let me disarm it...
All the bolts soar past or harmlessly bounce off the shield. It isn't until this point that you hear the sounds of faint moans and crossbows being reloaded
Vexin Sixtoes: traps don't moan...
Taurus lifts his holy symbol up, holding it forth.
Vexin Sixtoes: well, none i know
Hawkeye: But undead spirits do!
Taurus: Kiri-Jolith lay your bones to rest!
Vexin Sixtoes: although there was this one time..
Vexin Sixtoes: ooh... pretty spell
The holy symbol bursts into light and you hear the shuffling of feet as whatever lurks on the otherside flees. You still hear a number of crossbows being reloaded
Taurus opens the doors quickly, having bought himself some time.
You swing the door open to see that rock and rubble block the way.
Taurus begins to edge back towards Hawkeye, keeping his shield on the ready for more crossbow bolts.
Taurus (Yells): Its a dead end!
Vexin Sixtoes: Haha!
Vexin Sixtoes: Well get out of the trap you ninny
Most of the bolts bounce off the shield or miss but one finds a chink in the knights armor
Taurus grunts as a bolt hits him, not daring to drop his guard however he continues through. Inspecting his shield to see lots of tiny little dents.
Hawkeye: Taurus you fool, hurry up
Taurus: Well. Now we know that the dead have risen.
Vexin Sixtoes: Dear Chislev, how am I supposed to save the world with companions like that?
Taurus strides past the group, all business like.
Hawkeye: That makes this far more dangerous now
Vexin Sixtoes: Pfft! they're just zombies with crossbows
Hawkeye Either way, Vexin
Hawkeye: Either way, Vexin
Taurus pushes open the door once everyone is in position, giving Vexin little time to listen.
Vexin Sixtoes: I think we found the zombies
Vexin Sixtoes mimicks a zombie shuffling around
Vexin Sixtoes: Hullo Zombies!
Vexin Sixtoes: Time to be laid to rest!
Taurus stomps on in, longsword at the ready.
Taurus
Taurus whispers a prayer of protection, symbol still in hand. Touches Hawkeye's armor and then strides into the room.
Vexin Sixtoes: Ew... nasty things
The three Wights cower in the cornor. One claws at the rocky wall
As Taurus strides into the room, the door flings open and a flood of wights rush forward
Taurus almost in slow motion looks to his left, he mouths the word 'Bother'.
Hawkeye: Tttttaaaaarrrrrrruuuuuussssss
The four wights claw at Taurus. Their cold touch barely missing, as the struggle to grasp his throat
Taurus lashes out with his longsword!
Taurus: Have at you!
The longsword cuts deep into the monsters arm
Taurus: I'm falling back! Cover me!
The wight in the doorway fires a bolt at the knight from his crossbow
The bolt misses
Eben pushes hs way forward and peers inside to see what is happening. His eyes grow large as he sees the undead assulting Taurus
Vexin Sixtoes: go help him, ya pansy
Blaize scurries forward on all four legs, moving with amazing speed and agility and claws at the wight
The wicked claws slash the undead monsters face
Taurus glances over his shoulder at Blaize, nodding to the creature as it joins the fray.
Gilthanas runs forward with his bow drawn and lets loose an arrow
The arrow narrowly misses his target and clanks against the wall
Jeren
Jeren steps forward and awaits for the knight to retreat
Hawkeye
Hawkeye quickly leaps into the doorway and, seeing Taurus surrounded, aims for the one directly across from him letting fly with his handaxe in rapid sucession.
The handaxe sails through the air and back multiple times but misses both times
Vexin Sixtoes
Vexin Sixtoes Casts Body of the Sun, bursting into flame, along with Skitters.
Vexin Sixtoes quickly changes into Panther form, and Heroic Surge's to jump into the fray, hoping his fiery aura will repel them
Zhage
Leopard (Vexin) looks at Taurus and giggles
The two wights catch fire but both still fight on
Taurus
Zhage
Zhage moves behind hawkeye and let's off 3 missles at wight 11.
The glowing darts spark through the air and thud into the burning wight. He collapses to the ground in a heap of flaming, decaying flesh
Zhage then sends a slower 4th missles at Wight 9.
Taurus
Taurus nods to Vexin, gripping his holy symbol tightly and calls out to the undead creatures. "Flee before all that is good and holy foul abominations!"
many of the undead begin to cower
Taurus lashes out at the creatures ankles as it runs.
The wight stumbles and falls as the barrage of attacks cut up his legs and back
Leopard (Vexin) glances at Skitters, but he refuses to bite wight flesh
Zhage looks into the room, smiles, and rubs his hands together...
Taurus: Artillery!
Blaize lumbers forward, rears his head back and lets out spouts of flames upon the cowering undead in the cornor
The five wights are engulfed in flames and when the dragon's done, nothing but lumps of ash remain and a black scorched wall
Gilthanas advances into the room
Jeren
Zhage has the smile erased from his face, replaced by shock.
Jeren follows
Hawkeye
Hawkeye rushes forward, turning quickly to run into the side room to deal with any wights left in there
Taurus jaw drops a little, eyes Blaize, silently thanks Kiri-Jolith for the creation of GOOD-aligned dragons.
Hawkeye glances around the room quckly, noticing the two wights at the edges of the room as he starts to lay into the one before him
The dagger plunges into the chest of the decaying flesh of the wight
Vexin Sixtoes
The wights catch fire as the struggle to fend off the attacks
Zhage
Leopard (Vexin) roars
Hawkeye ducks quickly as Zhage's spell whizzes past his head, having faintley heard the chanting
The acid from the magic arrow splashes and sizzles into the wight
Taurus
Taurus strides through the room up behind Hawkeye, the medallion brandished high issuing holy goodness. "Trouble not the living no further!"
The wights look at each other confused and shrug their shoulders and continue to trouble the living
actually... they look as though they might flee
The axe cuts into the shoulderblades of the wight. stale, foul smelling dust burst out of his back
Hawkeye gags as the foul dust sprays into his face
Wight 6 and 5 attack Vexin and Skitters
The two wights just miss the blazing animals
Blaize moves to stand behind the Zhage. He then begins to chant words of magic as 4 glowing missles streak through the air
The wight fleeing Hawkeye is pounded by the magic missles and falls to the ground
Hawkeye: Thanks Zhage!
Jeren
Jeren moves forward
Hawkeye
Zhage looks behind him towards the dragon and say in draconion "Nice spell," and then smiles.
Hawkeye steps into the room, looking for wherever his targets went before rushing the one furthest awat
The axe cuts into the wights wrist
Vexin Sixtoes
The claw slashes through the air
Both wight's manage to avoid most of the flames somehow
Zhage
Zhage moves into the room and then waits to see who will need help first.
Taurus
Taurus pulls out a javelin, sidesteps and hurls it at Wight 4.
The short spear lodges into the wights chest
The two wights fight off Skitter and Vexin while the third attacks Hawkeye
All three miss their targets in pitiful fashion
Hawkeye: Avat ye weak undead!
Hawkeye
The wight continues to be hacked to pieces but still fights on
Vexin Sixtoes
Hawkeye hacks into the wight with abandon
The wight collapses to the ground
Leopard (Vexin): BURN BABY! BURN! (growwwwwl)
The wight blazes on fire but still stands
Zhage
Zhage moves to assist vexin and skitters.
Zhage then attacks with his staff saying a few muttered words.
The wight his struck by the staff and is sent violently soaring into the wall behind him. He falls the the ground in a heap
Taurus
Taurus hurls a second shortpsear at the Wight4 as the battle winds up.
Zhage smiles. "Sorry to steal your thunder Vexin."
The second spear lands almoes right beside the last.
Leopard (Vexin) licks Zhage's hand
The one wight attacks Hawkeye
The wight misses
Eben runs forward and attacks the wight fighting hawkeye
The rapier pierces the wight's neck and he falls to the floor
Blaixe runs forward and claws the last wight
Hawkeye: Nice of you to finally join the fight now that he was almsot dead again
Eben: you know Hawkeye, what is your problem. Have I ever done anything toward you that makes you show such hostility?
Taurus: Enough!
Hawkeye: Besides being a coward, no
Taurus: Both of you. Silence!
Taurus: I am sick of your bickering, now is NOT the time.
Taurus glares at both.
Blaize finishes off the last wight
Hawkeye: Nor is combat the time to hide outside the room most of the time
Hawkeye: You want to lecture someone Taurus, teach the man to fight
Hawkeye: Otherwise he's a liability
Taurus: If you want to make accusations, neither Jeren nor Gilthanas entered the room. Yet you do not assault them with accusations.
Eben: no, Taurus. I'm not going to put up with this. He is the most ignorant man I have met. Go back to your plains and hunt some bunny rabbits!
Leopard (Vexin) extinguishes his flames, and wipes the wight dust off his claws
Hawkeye: Gilthanas fired arrows form Outside
Hawkeye: and Jeren entered before he at least and has proven mer mettle before
Leopard (Vexin) stalks over to Blaize and licks his scales
Eben: Taurus said he was going to retreat. Why weoud I rush in if he was retreating?
Hawkeye: At elast I can hunt. A bunny ewould probably send you hiding in your holes in New Port
Taurus: Enough of this hostility, we are on the same side.
Zhage walka out of the room, appearntly closely examining his staff.
Leopard (Vexin) stalks out of the room with Skitters in tow, tired of the arguing, heading out to scout
Blaize (sighs): Humans
Taurus: Eben acted with sane tactical sense, if you have a problem with his methods you might bring it up with him, or myself, at a more convienant time and place.
Hawkeye: You can defend his actions all you want Tauruus, but one day you'll have to realize that the man has no place here. Even Tika has more mettle in combat
Taurus: Eben check this side, Hawkeye go to the east. If I must seperate you like children, I will.
Eben: I have no quarrel with him, Taurus.
Hawkeye: And I would have no quarrel if you could prove your worth at some point
Hawkeye: In the ogre battle, you ran, here you stayed outside. The only time you have ever fought was agaisnt the trolls and you did poorly then
Taurus: Hawkeye. Might I have a word, privately.
Hawkeye: You are n fighter Eben. And we need all the fighters we can get
Hawkeye glares at Taurus
Hawkeye: No, Taurus
Zhage walks towards Vexin. "So what about this weather."
Taurus steps into the room, glancing to the dragon and eben.
Taurus: Please excuse us.
Hawkeye: There's no time for diplomacy and niceities when saurronded by death, and as a man of battle you know this
Leopard (Vexin) lets loose a complex string of growls...
Taurus: Hawkeye and I need to settle this.
Blaize and Eben leave the room
Zhage nods absently.
Leopard (Vexin) scouts around some more
Taurus: Your accusations are out of line. They're disruptive and counter productive. We need every able body and mind focusing on the task at hand.
Taurus: If you wish to tear the unity of this group apart continue on your current path.
Hawkeye: And since when does he count as an able body?
Hawkeye: For the same reason you wanted Tika and Goldmoon to leave with the elves is the reason I bring this up. Teach the man to fight Taurus
Taurus: Perhaps then you might have the time to spend with Jeren alone for a month or two before our species is pushed to extinction.
Hawkeye: That was even more uncalled for, Taurus
Taurus: There are some things in combat even you could learn from this man.
Taurus: It had to be said.
Hawkeye: How to hide in a back room is not something I need to learn
you listen to the door and hear nothing on the other side. You hear the faint sound of a waterfall off to the east
Hawkeye: What you call tactical sense, I call cowardice.
Gilthanas: Vexin, I would reccomend waiting for the others. We don't want to get split up.
Leopard (Vexin) peers t and beyond the waterfall
Taurus: Either bury your dislike for Eben and keep your mouth shut. Otherwise, rejoin your people in the valley and await our return.
Taurus: Make your decision now.
Hawkeye: Your cursed diplomacy and niceness towards everyone is going to doom us all in the end Taurus. Some people have no place in the battlefield
Leopard (Vexin) inspects the next room
Hawkeye: Or should I invite Tika back with her frying pan?
Hawkeye: After all, you asked her to leave, but she was an able body
Taurus: If we abandon what we are then we have lost everything already.
The room is empty except for a few ruined pieces of burnt furniture
Hawkeye: All I'm asking is for the man to make himself USEFUL
Taurus: Trust my judgement Hawkeye, he is a capable combatant. But, you must give hima chance.
Taurus: Make your decision, I will argue this no longer with you. We have already wasted precious time, people are starving and cold; awaiting our success.
Hawkeye: You know that I respect your opinion, Taurus, and I will continue, but my feelings will not change towards that man, and I think you are wrong about him. But I want my people to survive just as much as you do...
Taurus: You are entitled to your feelings, simply do not voice them.
Hawkeye: Sometimes opinions need to be voiced..
Hawkeye walks out to join the others
Taurus turns and heads back to the others, trying to wipe the frustration from his face.
Leopard (Vexin) is found rooting through the charred remains of the next room
Taurus: My apologies companions, we should make haste.
Taurus: Vexin! Come!
Taurus calls out as he stalks out of the room into the corridor to the double doors.
You search the room but find nothing of value
Taurus pushes the doors open once everyone is there.
Leopard (Vexin) growls at Taurus and narrows his catlike eyes
Hawkeye hangs out in the back, letting Taurus vent off his frsutration
Leopard (Vexin) takes another minute searching the remains to prove he is not an animal to be commanded
The doors open to reveal a once plush room, now in rags. Golden double doors at the far end of the room are closed. Shadowy forms lurk about.
Taurus strides into the room without further delay, glaring at the shadowy figures. Trying to discern if they are of the unliving also.
The shadowy figures look to be spirits. They ignore you as you enter
Taurus cautiously steps through the room to the golden doors, attempting to open them.
An immense hall stretches far, dimly lit by ethereal lamps and torches. Shadowy figures swing and sway to a music that cannot be heard, played by a ghostly quartet on silent instruments at the front of the room.
Taurus: Lets try not to disturb them.
Taurus edges around the room to the double doors on the east, watching the figures.
The sprits continue to dance and do not notice you
Hawkeye: Why do we always seem to go to places full of ghosts from long ago?
Zhage (shrugging): Lucky I guess.
You hear nothing at the door
Taurus attempts to open the doors.
rubble blocks off where ever this passage lead to
Taurus: Nothing...
Leopard (Vexin) growls
Taurus exits, edges around to the other double doors and opens them.
Taurus glances around the large room with the gaping hole, moving south west towards the next set of double doors.
The doors open up and lead back into the stair room
You see a pair of double doors
Taurus goes to the doors and opens them.
A skeleton lies draped over a low altar along the far wall. Its armor is rusted, but a gleaming sword lies next to the figure, still grasped in its hand. A rolled parchment is clutched in the other hand.
Taurus: Be on your guard.
Leopard (Vexin) casts Detect MAgic
Taurus slowly approaches the skeleton and tries to gently pry the scroll out of its fingers.
Gilthanas: What is this terrible place here?
The long sword glows, identifying it as magical
Hawkeye 's new cloak glows too
Taurus: Zhage... there is somthing that might be of interest for you...
Leopard (Vexin) growls and paws the glowing sword
Taurus nods to vexin, secures his shield, takes up the sword and inspects it whilst holding out the scroll to Zhage.
Zhage: Becareful with whatever you touch... But what is with your scroll?
Leopard (Vexin) licks Zhage's hand and paws the sword in Taurus' hands
Taurus: The skeleton had it.
Zhage eyes the scroll and takes it.
Leopard (Vexin) gently bites Zhage's hand and paws the sword in Taurus' hands
Taurus: This appears to be some sacrificial chamber...
Taurus looks around to see if he finds any religious symbols.
Zhage: Close..
Leopard (Vexin) growls
Taurus frowns down at Vexin as he keeps pawing at the sword.
Zhage: I'm guessing experimental chamber..
Taurus: Vexin. I don't understand.
Zhage unrolls the parchment letting the words hang.
Taurus: Its a sword, aye. Magic, likely. Judging by the lack of rust.
Leopard (Vexin) glares at Taurus, narrowing his slit eyes and stalks over to inspect the skeleton
Gilthanas: I have some identify spells memorized. I can help figure out what these items you all carry are
Taurus: That would be helpful Gilthanas, we can do such this evening when we break for camp.
Hawkeye: That would be great, Gilthanas. As soon as Taurus says he have enough time to spare perhaps
Taurus shoots a look in the direction of Hawkey.
Hawkeye shoots a look right back
Taurus shakes his head some and moves to the eastern door.
Zhage ignores the conversation between the two, and begins to examine the parchment.
The room is mostly empty. May glass containers are shattered and broken on the floor here and broken shelves hang from the walls
Taurus walks across the room to the other door.
Taurus: If someone could, searc
Taurus: search that room for anything of use.
This room is almost identical as the other one across the way
Zhage carefully reerolls the parchment and walks into the room that had the bookshelves and assist Vexin in his search
You search the room but find nothing of use
Taurus: Alright. Whilst Zhage goes over this room we can break for food and water. Rest.
Taurus: Ten minutes, then we push on. Everyone in aggreeance?
Hawkeye knowing it doesn't matter what he says, he turns to Gilthanas
Zhage walks into the other room and begins his search.
Hawkeye: Perhaps you could help me with this new cloak, Gilthanas?
Hawkeye: Vexin said it was magical
Leopard (Vexin) growls and munches on a batwing crunchie... that nobody can seem to figure out here he got it from...
Gilthanas: Certainly. I only have 3 spells memorized so keep that in mind.
Taurus rubs his brow a bit, opens his waterskin and takes a slug. He then approaches Vexin, cupping his hand he pours some water in it for the Leopard.
Hawkeye: Perhaps that new sword as well?
begins to speak words of magic as he closes his eyes.
Taurus: Hawkeye.
Taurus holds the hilt of the sword out to him.
Leopard (Vexin) laps up the water from Taurus, purring contendedly
Hawkeye takes the sword, nodding to Taurus
Hawkeye: You can have it back ocne Gilthanas is done with it if you want
Taurus pours some more water for Vexin, and Skitters, ruffling their fur as they drink.
Gilthanas eyes flutter open and he fixes his gaze on Hawkeye
Gilthanas: this cloak provides properties of resistance. It will protect you from many dangers.
Gilthanas: What is next?
Hawkeye hands Gilthanas the sword
Gilthanas repeats the magical words once more and soon he opens his eyes to the party.
Gilthanas: This sword grants the wielder the ability to strike down spirits.
Hawkeye hands the sword back to Taurus
Hawkeye: For your many battles agaisnt the undead
Taurus: Thank you.
Taurus fastens it to his belt beside his other longsword.
Gilthanas: I have one more spell memorized for today. I can memorize more for tomorrow if needed
Hawkeye unslings the scimitar at his waist and tosses it to the ground to lighten his load some
Gilthanas: I can save the spell in case we find other items that need to be identified
Hawkeye: Perhaps that would be best in a place like this...
Hawkeye: Has it been ten minutes yet? I don't want to waste too much time...
Leopard (Vexin) stalks off to scout
Hawkeye follows Vexin
Hawkeye: Vexin, I enjoy scouting ahead with you more than you'll ever know today...
Leopard (Vexin) growls his assent
Hawkeye: Let's go find the way to Thorbardin...
Hawkeye: Do you hear anything?
Like most other places here, you hear nothing on the otherside
Hawkeye pusges open the door
Leopard (Vexin) nudges the door
Hawkeye: This doesn't bode well...
The doors open to a hall lined with doors
Hawkeye readies his weapons as he looks down the cooridor
Again, both of you hear nothing
Leopard (Vexin) nudges the door
Hawkeye pushes on the door
Taurus secures the shields to his pack and with some effort heaaaavvesss them up onto his back. Grunting some as he gets use to the weight he begins to trudge after the party somewhat slower than normal.
tattered remains of bedrooms are found behind each door
Blaize looks at the poor knight as he trudges along
Blaize: you're quite the pack mule.
Taurus smiles to Blaize.
Taurus: That language you spoke before Blaize, it is the toungue of your kind?
You look through the rooms but find nothing of value or interest
Leopard (Vexin) nudges the door
Blaize: Yes. It is our ancient language. Strange that the hairless one knows it.
Taurus: Though quite young he is wise beyond his age. I should like to learn this language.
These room look to be in similar shap as the last ones and your search warrents nothing of interest
Hawkeye pushes open the last door
As suspected, the rooms are empty of all valuables.
Hawkeye: Nowhere left but down it seems
Blaize: It is diffiicult to master. But not impossible for your kind, clearly. (points chin to Zhage)
Hawkeye heads back out to the stairway room, noticing Taurus just starting to catch up
Taurus: Anything?
Hawkeye: Nothing
Taurus: Then down is our only option.
Hawkeye: Nowhere left to go but down it seems
Leopard (Vexin) moans
Leopard (Vexin) scrawls in the dirt with a claw... "Featherfall?"
Eben looks at the stairs and sighs
Hawkeye: Tarurs can't read Vexin...
Hawkeye winks slyly
Hawkeye: o he went afk
Hawkeye: You first, Vexin?
Blaize pearches on the edge of the pit
Taurus: Its been several centuries since you last used your wings Blaize.
Taurus: Do you still know how?
Blaize flexes his wings
Blaize: I don't think it will be a problem. But even still, I won't be venturing down there. Not this brass. you kids have fun. I'll wait up here for you.
Leopard (Vexin) scrawls in the dirt with a claw... "Featherfall?"
Taurus: What lies beneath?
Zhage shakes his head. indicating he does not have access to that spell
Blaize: Not really sure. It can't be good, that's for sure. But that is not why I won't venture down. The twisted metal does not leave room for me to fit. I'll stay here
Taurus: We will return.
Taurus moves to the top of the stairs and begins to decend.
Hawkeye waits to see if Taurus makes it down
As Taurus steps onto the twisted frame, the entire assembly shakes and vibrates but the structure remains secure.
Taurus takes his sweet time.
Leopard (Vexin) growls and scrawls into the dirt "rope and hook"
Hawkeye watches Taurus carefully
Even though the twisted metal frame is secure, it is torturous work climbing down. The big man slips and begins to fall, his armor clanking against the framework.
Taurus: Arrrgghhhhhh *clank clank clank thud clank*
Hawkeye winces as he hears Taururs falling down the staircase
The knight does not fall far, and catches himself. He hands by a twisted hunk of rail.
Hawkeye: Taurus?!
Taurus: *coughs*
Taurus: Its... ok...
Hawkeye: Lose the shields Taurus
Taurus grunts and tries to pull himself up.
You pull yourself to your feet
Taurus pants, looks down, then up.
Taurus: I'm closer to the bottom now.
Taurus continues to decend....
Gilthanas: should we follow or wait till you get down?
Taurus: Wait.. I dont want this thing to collapse with all of us on it.
with the nimbleness of a kender, the knight makes his way further down. He still cannot see the bottom.
the people above can no longer see the knight in the darkness. But they hear more clangs as he falls down the shaft
Taurus: Almost... the---arrggghhhh! *clank clank clank thud clank*
Hawkeye: I think Tuarus is... going to die...
Leopard (Vexin) begins bounding down the staircase
Hawkeye looks at his companions worried
Leopard (Vexin) growls to Skitters to stay with the Dragon
The leopard bounds onto the structure and it shakes and bounces.
you catch yourself once more
Taurus bangs and clangs his way down a few more feet before catching himself.
Hawkeye: Taurus? Can you hear us?
Taurus: Oh kiri... give me strength.. *groan*
Hawkeye: Are you alive?
Taurus (Yells): Yes!
you see that the steel frame hangs not much farther down. But it hangs to nothing. The shaft continues on into darkness
Taurus continues to decend.
Hawkeye: Taurus keep telling him not to wear Plate...
Taurus peers down, frowning some. He takes out a coin, casts light and drops it into the darkness.
Taurus climbes to the bottom of the steel frame which hangs suspended from the shaft
Leopard (Vexin) catches up to Taurus and growls at him
The coin plummets down the shaft. After a long while it becomes faint to the point of almost disappearing but it stops. You don't hear it hit but can see a tiny glowing dot below
Taurus: ....
Hawkeye: Are you at the bottom yet?
Taurus (yells): The stairs end! Still a long way left to go!
Hawkeye: How long?
Taurus looks up... then down, trying to judge the distance.
Taurus (yells): I need rope! another 100 feet down!
Leopard (Vexin) climbs back up to fetch the rope and hook
Hawkeye: I don't have that much rope!
Taurus (yell): What ever you got will do!
Jeren: I have 50ft
Hawkeye nods to Jeren, thankful that she was prepared at least
Hawkeye Puts his rope in Vexins mouth
Leopard (Vexin) carries the hook and 100' rope to Taurus
Jeren loops hers over Vexins neck
Taurus climbs up a little to hook his feet into the metal, when Vexin arives he attempts to tie the rope together then to the frame; testing it first however.
Leopard (Vexin) growls to Taurus and tosses the rope over his shoulders
Taurus: Thank you Vexin.
Leopard (Vexin) bites Taurus' hand
You secure the rope together and then to the steel frame. You give it a firm tug and it seems like a good knot
Taurus begins to decend.
Taurus (Yells): I'm going down further!
Hawkeye: Don't fall!
Gilthanas (shouts): should we start following?
Taurus (Yells): Give me a minute!
Taurus: Woooooaaaaaarrrrrrhhhhhhhhh
You slide down the rope and mange to catch yourself. The bottom is only 20 feet away
Taurus just drops the last 20ft.
Taurus: ... I have no feeling in my fingers anymore...
Leopard (Vexin) makes a keening sound...
Taurus (Yells): ITS SAFE! COME DOWN!
Hawkeye: I'll go first I guess...
Here at the bottom of the shaft, the remnants of several collapsed floors have formed a mound of melted slag and rubble. Girders and chunks of rock jut from the mound like giant gnarled hands reaching upwards. At the center of the mound is a funnel-shaped hole.
Hawkeye begins to descend down the wobbly staircase
Taurus peers around the room, picking up the coin and using it to shine outward.
Hawkeye falls a bit only to catch himself on the frame again
As you shine your light across the rubble, you see some movement on the left and right sides of the room
Hawkeye falls a bit more only to catch himself again
Taurus (Yells): We have company!
Hawkeye: It's tricky to say the leasT!
Taurus throws the coin in the direction of the movement to the right.
Zhage places his staff in a secure place on his pack, chants and climbs down the side of the hole like a spider.
You make it to the rope and see nothing but darkness... and a panther
Hawkeye: I'm at the rope! Be careful everyone!
Leopard (Vexin) tugs the rope up with his teeth, and rolls around in it, growling at Hawkeye
Hawkeye: Do you want me to climb down?
Leopard (Vexin) bites his hand
Hawkeye: Or lower you?
Leopard (Vexin) licks his hand
Hawkeye: Okay
The coin rattles as it hits the rubble. It shines light upon a skeleton clad in heavy armor wielding a sword
Hawkeye starts hauling the rope up so he can tie the end to Vexin
Taurus (Yells): UNLIVING!
Hawkeye ties the rope as securly as he can in the darkness around the b;lack panther
Hawkeye: I think that will do, Vexin
Hawkeye tugs on it a couple of times to see if it will hold his weight
Leopard (Vexin) licks Hawkeye's face before being lowered down
Taurus draws his longsword, holds it aloft and yells out "LUMINA!" And it bursts into light.
The rope comes loose as you tug it
Hawkeye frowns
Hawkeye: This is really hard in the dark..
Hawkeye notices Taurus beginning to fight at the bottom of the shaft and ties the rope again
Hawkeye and Vexin see far below a blue light appear. A tiny figure of Taurus can be seen holding his sword aloft
Hawkeye tugs on the rope again to see if it will hold
Taurus goes full defensive 10ft forward from the rope, holding position for his companions.
Gilthanas: Zhage, go. I think Taurus is in trouble.
Hawkeye pushes Vexin over the edge and starts lowering him quickly to the ground
Hawkeye begins to lower but looses grip.
Hawkeye: Damn cat weighs too miuch...
Hawkeye watches helplessly as the rope starts to slip out of his hands
Zhage
Zhage chants and then points at Taurus and then himseld.
Zhage then moves quickly to Taurus' side
Taurus: Thankyou Zhage.
Zhage: Hopefully it will help.
Zhage while in transit, he draws his staff.
The three skeletons lumber forward and attack with their swords. As they move to you you hear a raspy voice speak to you
Skeletal Warrior: Please. Find the circlets. Free us... please
The two axes glance off the knights shield. Taurus is knocked back from the power of the attack
the thrid swings at Zhage
Taurus grunts from the force of the blow, holding his ground however.
The axe slams into the rubble beside Zhage as the skeleton brings it up again, preparing to strike again
Eben begins climbing down the structure
Gilthanas follows suit, the structure begins to bounce with the two men moving down on it
Both climb the first part down with little difficulty
Hawkeye
Hawkeye attempts to grab the rapidly falling rope
Hawk, you'll need to roll str to try and stop the panthers decent
Skeletal Warrior: need a 12
Hawkeye grabs the rope and heaves with all his might to stop the panther from splatting into the ground below as he continues to lower him down
the rope goes taunt and the panther's fall is broken about 50 feet in the air.
Leopard (Vexin) howls
The panther is lowered to the ground. He hangs a few feet from the ground, the rope not being quite long enough to touch the ground
Vexin Sixtoes
Leopard (Vexin) howls at Taurus and Hawkeye
The panther swings like a pedulum and bursts into flames, scorching the skeletons
Taurus
Taurus jerks his eyes upwards at the howl, brows creasing. He steps back from between the two skeletons, holding his medallion up. "Rest eternal!"
Leopard (Vexin): ROWR
Leopard (Vexin): ROWRrrrrrr....
The medallion glows as you call on the power of your god. You are certain that the divine power should work but the skeletons do not seem to be affected
Taurus frowns deeply.
Taurus: There... is somthing wrong.
As you rub you hands together to sooth the rope burn you hear from above a strange clicking noise. It comes from above, but closer to the wall, not the steel structure.
Hawkeye glances over in the direction of the noise, peering at the wall intently
despite the little light filtering to you from above and below, you manage to see a small crevasse in the wall. Standing in the crevasse is some strange eight legged creature, clacking it's mandables together.
Jeren
Jeren begins to climb down the structure
Leopard (Vexin) growls relentlessly... swinging around
Hawkeye: Creatures in the walls!
The paladin manages to crawl the first way sdown with out issue
Zhage
Leopard (Vexin): roooooow........wrrrrr.......roooo....wrrrrr
Zhage feeling himself being surronded, he takes a swing at the skeleton in front of him.
The staff swings through the air, missing the skeleton
Zhage whips around and takes another swing
The three skeletons attack each one of the companions that are down at the bottom
Skeletal Warrior: find the circlets... release us!...
Zhage: Where are they?
Vexin swings near as the skelton swings his axe. The panther swings away making the attack miss
Leopard (Vexin): rooooo........wrrrrrrr...........rooooooooo..............wrrrrrrrrrrr
The warrior brings his axe up and around, cleaving the weapon into Taurus side
The axe spills massive amounts of blood as a big chunck of the knight is sliced into
Taurus cries out in pain, unable to lower his shield quick enough.
The great axe is about to hit the mage but he quickly dodges to the side at the last second
Zhage looks relieved to have avoided the axe.
The strange incect like creature suddenly leaps from the creavasse onto the metal structure and climbs towards Hawkeye
Eben and Gilthanas continue to climb down
Both make it down a litte further.
Gilthanas: Hawkeye! What is it? Are you okay!
Hawkeye
Hawkeye: I don't know, but we need to dispatch it quickly and get down the rope!
Hawkeye begins to climb up to the insect creature but slips and falls.
Hawkeye attempts to move closer to the creature and strugles with the twisted metal of the staircase
He grabs the last of the metal staircase, hanging precariously into the pit
Hawkeye throws his axe at the creature, realizing he can't get close enough to it
with one hand, the axe is thrown while the range hangs on with the other. The axe skims the creatures side and soars back to the rangers hand
Vexin Sixtoes
Leopard (Vexin) swings forward on the rope, changing form as he flies through the air, slippig out of the loop and onto Zhage's shoulders with the flourish of a trained acrobat
Leopard (Vexin): Hullo Zhage!
Zhage grunts a little under the sudden weight. "A little.. warning.. next time.."
Vexin Sixtoes: Sorry Zhage, Leopards can't talk
Taurus
Two of the skeletons are engulfed in flames but the third managed to avoid most of them
Vexin Sixtoes: WEE!
Vexin Sixtoes: Burn abominations!
Taurus steps to the side, drawing his morningstar and with great effort takes a blurred pair of swings at the skeleton warrior. "Zhage, fall back!." Blood streaming down his side.
The skeleton parries the first attack and the second misses. The third lands solidly against his skull
Zhage (puffing): I wish I could.. you want to carry this for a while..
Jeren
Jeren slips and falls as she climbs down. She has trouble catching hold but eventually does.
Zhage
Zhage: Vexin, cover the skeleton in front of me.
Vexin Sixtoes: Yessir
Zhage wheels around, chants and puts both his hands out.
Vexin Sixtoes brandishes the staff-end of his hoopak fiercely
The skelton is engulfed with flame but still cries out for it's circlet
Zhage: Sorry Vexin, but I must get out of here..
Vexin Sixtoes: STOP HITTING US AND MAYBE WE FIND YOUR STUPID CIRCLET!
Vexin Sixtoes: So drop me Zhage
The strange insect creature climbs nimbly down to Hawkeye and it's mandables cletch down to attack
Zhage moves to the side , dumping the Kender off him as he does.
Vexin Sixtoes: I'm a famous acrobat, I can take it
The mandables gouge into the ranger
Hawkeye cries out in pain as the creature bites into him... painfully..
The mandables don't clamp on and the ranger becomes free
Two skeltons move to attack Taurus while the last one attacks the kender
One of the skeltons slams his powerful attack into taurus' shoulder while the other glances one off his shield. The other skelton misses the agile kender
Taurus almost buckles beneath the weight of the blow, barely managing to protect his vital organs with his shield.
Gilthanas and Eben both climb lower, now they can see the strange insect creature attacking the ranger
Hawkeye
Hawkeye attempts to climb back onto the ledge owith a heroic surge of energy to try and face his opponent
The ranger struggles to get up but manages to do so
Hawkeye turns to face the creature before him, whipping his blades across it in a blur of motion
The axe and dagger blows pummel the soft body of the insect. It screeches as it plummets down the shaft
Down below, the strange body of a giant bug like creature smashes into the ground. It's guts splatter all over the combatants down below
Vexin Sixtoes
Hawkeye: Look out below!
Taurus squints as hsi armor is splattered with bug juices.
Vexin Sixtoes: Ew
Zhage: What.. was... that?
The flames lick up around the skeletons but they manage to avoid the brunt of it
Taurus
Vexin Sixtoes takes a step back and casts Bite of the Werewolf... bones cracking and reshaping into a werewolf form
Vexin Sixtoes beckons the skeletons forward
Taurus starts to slowly backpeddle, taking a quick moment to press his hand to his chest and heal some of his wounds. "Focus on this one!" Nodding to WArrior1/e starts to slowly backpeddle, taking a quick moment to press his hand to his chest and heal some of his wounds. "Focus on this one!" Nodding to WArrior1
Jeren climbs a little further down the structure
Vexin Sixtoes roars violently at the skeletons to distract them