The draconian stumbles away from the knight, back across the log. He soon disappears into the gloom and mist of this dreary swamp.
Riverwind Approaches Taurus
Taurus wipes a bead of sweat from his brow the hot swamp air starting to vex the iron clad knight.
Riverwind: I don't agree with letting him go... but I understand that it is for the betterment of our group and mission.
Vexin: So, we're off to see the wicker dragon right?
Vexin bounces
Hawkeye: I've waited a long time to finally find one of those cursed beasts...
Taurus: One more Draconinan death would mean nothing to your people now Riverwind. What is important are your kin who remain living...
Vexin: I mean, bypassing the Dragon and hundreds of Draconians would be so boring...
Taurus shakes his head, smiling at Vexin.
Vexin sighs
Vexin: Maybe there's a real dragon the other way!
Taurus: We're going to cut through the boring fights and get straight into discovering the exciting underground city.
Vexin: Oh! that's right! A collapsed city, how exciting!
Taurus: You might have the chance to name an artifact or two after yourself?
ZtB: For once, I agree with the Kender.. The collapsed city sounds interesting.
Taurus pats Hawkeye's shoulder, commenting quietly, "Don't worry friend, I'm sure we'll have plenty of chances to meet with their kind yet."
Vexin hops onto Skitters and runs cirles around the group telling them to hurry before all the artifacts are gone!
Hawkeye nods slightly, watching the Kender's antics
The party crosses the fallen tree and onto the island on the other side. The path leads slightly towards the northeast.
Vexin scouts ahead searching for dragons
Taurus trudges along through the soft mud that covers the path, adjusting his sword belt and using his longspear as a staff/walking stick to test the ground before him.
You walk for about another 250 feet before you see in the distance two bridges. A wooden one, and a vine one. The island also leads off towards the east and into the mists beyond.
Taurus (whispered): If you spot a Drak scout, bring it down quick. We can't afford to give up our ruse early.
Vexin: Let's see, the Draco said avoid the vine right?
Hawkeye readies his bow just in be on the safe side as he follows Taurus's trail
Vexin grins
ZtB (eyeing the bridge): Perhaps we should take the bridge after last time..
Taurus: No, Vexin.
Vexin: Oh... right...
Taurus grins, shaking his head. Knowing how keen the poor Kender is to see this wicker dragon.
Vexin whistles innocently and inspects the vine bridge
Hawkeye: Perhaps we should endulge the Kender just a little...
Taurus: If we take the vine bridges we will avoid scouts, assuming not everything out of the Drak's mouth wasnt a lie.
You approach the intersection. Amid drooping vines and mosses, a bridge spans two section of ground. Its ornate wooden lattice work, carved to resemble vines, is broken in many places. The vine bridge is much the same as the one you crossed before, dripping in slime and moss.
ZtB: That's if we make it all the way across without falling in...
Taurus looks at the vine bridge with dread, takes a breath, begins to head across.
Hawkeye waits for Taurus to finish crossing, keeping an eye out for any Draconian scouts
Vexin: I'm not missing the fight this time!
Mcgarnagle: roll balance or climb, whichever you prefer
Vexin bounds across, as Taurus vacates the bridge
The knight makes his way across the bridge but before he can get across, the bridge tips and spills him into the waters... again.
Taurus closes his eyes and his mouth tight, right before he slips; knowing this routine well. Instead, like last time, he trudges forward under the murky water at least hiding his frustration.
Taurus: *bubble bubble bubble*
The kender and his mount bound across the bridge. It rocks dangerously, but they manage to cross without any trouble.
ZtB: Well... That's one...
Hawkeye: After you, Zhage
Mcgarnagle: w/ z only after resting.
Vexin: Hey! If you go fast enough you can slide across!
ZtB frowns. "Ok.."
ZtB attempts to make his way across the bridge.
Vexin: Run! Slide! it's easier I promise!
The mage cautiously makes his way across the bridge, and moments from reaching the safety of solid ground, he plunches into the waters.
Mcgarnagle: I forgot... both Taurus and ZtB roll precent
Vexin turns around and searches for any dragons or draconians lurking about in ambush.
Hawkeye sighing, Hawkeye puts slings his bow over his back, and, foolishly perhaps taking the kender's advise, starts to run across the bridge
ZtB while falling, shouts out a curse in a strange language.
Vexin: Spot [1d20+12 = 28]
The plainsmen runs across the bridge. He nearly falls off more than once but miraculously makes it across.
Vexin without even turning, shouts out "I told you to run across, look at Hawkeye!"
Hawkeye sighs as he reaches the other side, unslinging his bow
ZtB swims his way to solid ground cursing in elvish, draconic and dwarvish the entire way.
Hawkeye: I can't believe I listened to a Kender. Thanks, Vexin.
Brigg rolls up his sleeves and psyches himself up before running head long across the bridge.
Vexin: No roblem!
Vexin winks at Hawkeye
Taurus eventually emerges from the murky waters, flicking some slime off his shoulder guard and hair barely able to conceal his annoyance.
Before even getting to the halfway mark, the warrior trips. The bridge spins over top, leaving the warrior dangling by an entangled ankle for a moment before he falls with a splash
Hawkeye: .ooc, wiat. nm.. It's +0. lol
Hawkeye tries to refrain from laughing and Taurus's visage
Vexin: Hmm, guess running doesn't work in heavy armor.
Hawkeye: That's a good look for you, Taurus. Swamp monsterish
Vexin: Wise druids don;t wear metal armor... tsk tsk
Taurus: Mother always said green was my color.
Taurus said very drly.
Goldmoon begins to cross, taking her time with her footing.
ZtB (cleaning himself off): A wise wizard doesn't wear any armor..
Hawkeye: Makes you wonder if perhaps killing draconians is easier
Taurus: Indeed it does...
Vexin: Pfft, look what good it did you!
Vexin grins at Zhage
The princess takes her time, and it is slow going, but she does manage to cross again without falling in.
Riverwind begins to cross
Taurus offers his hand to Goldmoon for the last step off the bridge.
Vexin: Run Riverwind! you weigh less that way!
ZtB (muttering): I hate these vines..
Hawkeye starts laughing
Vexin: It's TRUE!
Hawkeye: I don't think running makes you weigh any less
Vexin: pfft
Ignoring the kender, Riverwind crosses the bridge with sure footing.
Hawkeye: unless you run REALLY fast a top of dire weasel
Vexin: You weren't riding a dire weasel...
Hawkeye: And you saw how many times I almsot fell
Vexin: You aren't wet and smelly like the others!
Hawkeye (laughing): True enough
With the entire party across, you notice that this island is larger than the ones before. You see dark shadows of ruined buildings off to the north.
Vexin: Ha! Kender are wiser than humans.
Hawkeye: Perhaps they are
Vexin looks taken aback
Vexin: Ooh! Ruins!
Vexin immediately rides off towards the ruins loking for dragons and such
Hawkeye (whispering): then again, perhaps not
ZtB chuckles.
Taurus blinks and looks in the direction of the kender, shaking some of the water out of his sleeves he steps in quickly to catch the kender.
A graceful tower, beautiful even in crumbling decay, rises from the waters of the swamp. Finely carved and polished stonework walls still glint beneath the encroaching mosses and undergrowth. Although the wooden floors and rafters have long since rotted away, a carved stone staircase circles up the interior of this tower to a stone floor at the top.
Hawkeye: A strange sight, that is...
Taurus: Just as the Drak said, we should be able to get a good view of the swamp up there.
Taurus: At the risk of sounding untrusting I would like to confirm some of the other details of his story.
Hawkeye: I can't say I blame you
ZtB: The view is probably a good one as well..
Taurus: With fresh air.
ZtB heads towards the tower looking arounds as he does..
Nothing seems out of the ordinary as you approach the tower. Frogs croak in merriment as you make your way up the slick stone stairs.
Hawkeye , as usual, follows near the rear of the group, keeping an eye out behind them
Vexin pokes his head up and looks around the top floor
ZtB (quietly): Let's hope there stair's hold.
Taurus peers up at the beautiful tower as they approach, unable to at least recognise its craftsmanship. Stepping into it shadow then into its walls he accends with care, one wrong step and its a long loud roll down.
Hawkeye nods at Zhage, kicking the stairs a little
The kender peers around the top... There is nothing up here except a short stone wall with vines dangling from them
Vexin sighs
Vexin: It's safe...
Vexin: What a shame
Taurus nods to the Kender as he emerges onto the roof, sucking in a deep breath of the air above the swamp floor.
Taurus: Dont sound so dissapointed...
Hawkeye finishes his climb and leans againt the wall
Taurus: Remember, ruined city ahead.
The tower provides a view of all the surrounding swamplands; a cluster of ruins lies to the northeast and a camp made of crude huts lies to the southeast.
Vexin: Safe is boring
Vexin: NorthEast then? The ruins at least sound interesting
Hawkeye: I have a feeling nowhere we go for sometime will be "safe"
ZtB nods in agreement.
Vexin cheers
Taurus: Yes, but we need to chart a course that will circumvent the Drak camp.
Mcgarnagle: make spot checks.
Hawkeye, Vexin, and Zhage all notice a large black dragon standing amid the huts to the south east.
Vexin: DRAGON!
Hawkeye: Hmm.. I have an idea fellows
Vexin nearly jumps off the tower in excitement
ZtB attempts to speak, but all he does is point and make half sounds of words.
Vexin: Burn the wicker dragon?
Taurus looks to Hawkeye, resting a hand on Vexin's shoulder so he doesn't slip off the tower in his excitement.
Hawkeye makes a soft sound, and gestures Talon to come down to him
Vexin: Would be interesting if it's not wicker and we try to burn it though
Hawkeye: We can use Talon to scout the swamp pretty quickly for us
Taurus: Good idea.
Talon sails down to land on the ranger's arm.
Taurus: We need to get there. *points northeast* without going throught here. *Points south east to the camp*
Vexin: Hmm... dragon isn't moving
Taurus: Less vine bridges, the better.
Hawkeye: I
Hawkeye: I'll have him scout the entire region. He should be able to do it quickly.
Taurus (to Vexin): Perhaps it is engaged in a staring competition?
Hawkeye plays softly with the ring on his finger
Vexin: hmm... I don't think that would amuse a dragon much.
Vexin: Even Kender find that boring
ZtB: I've heard that dragons find that extremely entertaining
Hawkeye: If anything happens, just give me a push or something, I'll be out of it for a little bit here.
Vexin: Then dragons must be far less intelligent than they're rumored to be.
Taurus looks at Hawkeye curiously.
Vexin plops down leaning against Skitters, watching Hawkeye
Hawkeye sits down, and sends Talon off to scout the swamp, closing his eyes.
Taurus: Now would be a good time to take a ration and some water.
Taurus takes his own advice, watching the surrounding area.
Hawkeye: (Talon's Spot) [1d20+14 = 19]
ZtB: That would be a good idea Taurus
Vexin munches on some smoked bird feet, and offers some to the rest of the party
Taurus quickly waves his hand.
Taurus: No.. but thank you Vexin.
Vexin crunches away happily
Taurus: I'm trying to cut back.
Hawkeye opens his eyes after several long minutes, as Talon returns to his side.
ZtB: You go ahead...
Vexin (singsongs): It' good for you
Taurus looks up as Talon returns.
ZtB carefully sits down, slightly favoring the wound on his side.
Hawkeye: I tihnk I may know of a way to get where we need to go
Taurus: Will we make it there before dark Hawkeye?
Vexin: Show the way, this place is boring
Hawkeye: there's a large pilar just northeast of here that crosses a gap
Hawkeye: We'd have to cut through the trees though
Taurus: A little cross country never hurt anyone.
Vexin: That doesn't bother me at all
ZtB: That seems fine.
Taurus stands, tucking away the rest of his ration and begins to decent the stairs.
Taurus: We can camp within the ruined city if need be.
Hawkeye: I can't tell if the tress are on solid land or not. Birds eye view
Vexin: Being back in the forest will be nice
Taurus: ...I think they're swamp trees, Vexin.
Vexin: swamp forests need druids too!
from the tower, you can see that most, if not all the trees that lay out infront of the tower to the north are emerging from the waters.
Hawkeye: If not, we'll have no choice but to go around to the west and then north, across a couple more vine bridges if we want to avoid the camp. Much longer route
Taurus: True, very true.
Hawkeye: Unless you think you can swim well in case it gets deeper Taurus
Taurus: I'd rather travel on dry land, if possible. What do the rest of you think? The longer dryer route or treck through the swampy waters?
Vexin: Either way we swim, right?
Vexin laughs
Hawkeye looks at Taurus raising an eyebrow
Taurus nods slightly
ZtB: Which ever way balances ease and time would be the best option
Riverwind: who knows what lurks under those waters... I think we've been lucky thus far. I wouldn't want to push it.
Taurus nods to Riverwind, looking to the others for their view.
Vexin: You're the ones dripping wet, I don't care let's just get there quickly
ZtB: I'd say dry land.. My books have been lucky so far..
Taurus: Dry land it is.
Hawkeye: Let's head out then. There's draconians all over the place, so we need to be careful
Taurus steps from the tower and looks to Hawkeye for direction.
Hawkeye sends talon back into the skies to perhaps call on later for assitance
Taurus: Riverwind can cover the rear if you want to guide us Hawkeye.
ZtB gingerly gets up and leaves the tower.
Riverwind nods in agreement
Hawkeye nods and starts to head off towards the west
You walk a short distance and are confronted by yet another vine bridge that crosses to the north west.
Hawkeye: One of two, I'm afraid
ZtB frowns.
Taurus: This time.. I will try Vexins approach.
Taurus backs up for a running start.
Taurus: Here goes.
Taurus runs across!
Vexin: WEE!
Taurus: I'm almost theeerrrrraaaarrggghhhh!
The knight stumbles across the vine bridge. It bounces and sways and eventually rocks the knight off and into the water.
Hawkeye winces slightly as he watches Taurus fall into the water.
Vexin: I, uh... I think you went too slow, Taurus
Hawkeye: I'm glad I don't wear plate...
Taurus comes out the other side coughing and spluttering swamp water.
Vexin runs across as fast as he can
Vexin, with all the carelessness in the world, bounds across, not an ounce of water touching him.
Vexin jumps onto the other side with a flourish, taking a bow
ZtB: Show off
Vexin grins
Vexin: Ooc just run, Zhage
ZtB attempts to cross.. this time running..
Taurus shakes some kind of small slimy fish creature out of his tunic.
Zhage stumbles across the bridge and without the luck of the kender, he tumbles into the waters.
Hawkeye praying for better luck than the other two, runs across the bridge
Hawkeye: Noooo....
the ranger, following suit, falls into the scummy waters below.
ZtB once again, comes to the surface cursing in various languages.
Zhage comes up with a mouth full of water, coughing and sputtering. He has clearly swallowed the terrible water.
Mcgarnagle: I'll need a fort save, Zhage
Not trusting the kender's advice this time, the brigg takes his time trying to cross.
Taurus helps to pull Zhage from the water on the other side, heavilly patting his back to get some of the water out of him.
His caution pays off as he makes it across the bridge.
Goldmoon tries once more, using the same method she has used before.
ZtB (coughing up weater): I hate the swamp..
Hawkeye climbs out of the water, shivering slightly
Hawkeye: That.. is disgusting...
Goldmoon must be blessed by the gods as she makes it across again.
Riverwind follows up in the rear
Taurus: I can understand why the Draconian creatures are all so hostile, living here.
ZtB: I guess..
Hawkeye: Slimy batsards probably bathe in it
Riverwind is not so lucky as he plunges into the murky waters.
Hawkeye sits down as he waits for the other, fiddling with his ring once more, it glows slightly.
Taurus looks around noting the only dry members of the group are Goldmoon and Vexin.
Hawkeye: (Talon Spot) [1d20+14 = 33]
Hawkeye opens his eyes, the ring no longer glowing.
Hawkeye: We've got company behind us, we need to hurry
Hawkeye: They're headed towards the tower
ZtB: Let's get going then..
Taurus instinctively looks back then nods to Hawkeye.
Taurus: Lead the way.
Hawkeye: We need to head north, we can stick close to the water.
Hawkeye: I'll stop and check again in a few minutes and see if they're coming this way
Taurus: Good idea.
Hawkeye starts to head to the north
You make haste through the swamp. another mile or so and another vine bridge is seen heading to the east. Ruins of many buildings can be seen on the other side.
Taurus visably cringes at the sight of another vine bridge, approaching he attempts to cross it nice and slowly.
ZtB groans at the site of another vine bridge.
Hawkeye stops short of the bridge, and closes his eyes, the ring glowing once more.
Hawkeye: (Talon Spot) [1d20+14 = 24]
Vexin scrambles scross the bridge
Taurus: I'll cross whilst you check be--*KASPLASH!*
Hawkeye opens his eyes to look at Taurus fall into the water
Vexin makes across again as the knight falls into the water.
Hawkeye (loudly): We've got company headed this way
Brigg crosses next.
Vexin scouts the other side of the bridge
Hawkeye: About 7-8
Taurus screams in frustration into the murky water but all that comes is *bubble bubble bubble*
ZtB crosses quickly agter Briggs
Hawkeye waits for everyone else to cross first, a hand on each blade
Brigg crosses with a little difficulty but manages to cross. Zhage follows suit.
Both goldmoon and Riverwind cross with no difficulty
Taurus: You said they're coming? Hawkeye
Hawkeye rushes across the bridge as quickly as he can
Hawkeye skirts across the bridge
Hawkeye: Aye. They're party split up, and half of them are headed this way
ZtB: Taurus, cut the vines..
Hawkeye: The ruins are just ahead
ZtB: Perhaps that will slow them down?
Taurus: Lets lay ambush in the cover of the ruins.
Vexin: Maybe we should ambush them so they can't go tattling about us being over here?
Hawkeye: I don't know if they know we're here yet
Hawkeye nods to the ambush plan
Taurus: They might lead us to the captives.
Hawkeye: there's a little over half a dozen
ZtB: I see that would be a better plan.
Taurus: If we surprise them with their back to the bridge they can't escape to warn their allies.
Vexin: If we block the bridge yes
Taurus looks around for cover near the bridge.
The bridge has little cover. It is closs to 200 feet from the bridge to the ruins beyond
Vexin: The ruins it is
Taurus nods and moves at a jog towards the ruins.
Emerging from the dense jungle, a broad cobblestone street runs south to north among the ruins. A roadway branches to the west, where the fluted columns and relief carvings of ruined buildings list wearily. A large cobblestone courtyard lies to the east amid crumbling structures. Beyond the courtyard are four tall free-standing columns: no trace remains of the building they once supported. In front of these pillars, a huge well plunges into the earth. Vapors rise from the well. To the north of the well, a single building stands whole, although time and weather have worn its outer walls.
Taurus: Remember, last time. They may have mages amongst them; so get in earlier, get in close.
Hawkeye: Taurus, cover me for one second while I check again...
Taurus: Ofcourse.
Hawkeye 's ring starts to glow softly as his open eyes seem to grow distant
Hawkeye: I think we're good. They've moved off to the other side of the island behind us
Hawkeye 's ring begins to stop glowing, as his eyes return to normal
Taurus breaths a sigh of relief.
ZtB: Good...
Taurus begins to tread down the cobblestone street, peering around at the ruined structures and the great columns; heading eventually to where the great well sinks into the earth.
Taurus: So.. this is Xak Tsarok?
Hawkeye looks towards riverwind
Hawkeye: Familiar?
Riverwind shakes his head.
Taurus: Be on your guard, there may be more than reptiles to be worried about.
Hawkeye: So.. down the well?
Riverwind approaches the well with Taurus.
Taurus: ... looks like it.
Taurus doesn't appear overly keen.
Mcgarnagle: listen checks, please.
You approach the well and with great surprise, a rush of cold air comes bursting forth followed by the sprawling, lean figure of a dragon launching like a rocket from the well.
Taurus eyes widen as he staggers back.
Hawkeye staggers backwards in surprise
Mcgarnagle: You are all surprised, except for Riverwind.
Vexin gasps in astonishment and leans in for a better view
Taurus: By Kiri....
ZtB jumps back and starts to look for a place to hide
Taurus (whispered): I heard.. their vision.. is based on movement. So... if you stand... really... really.. still...
The Dragon flaps it's wings, gaining altitude to about 60 feet. it screeches a terrifying noise.
Vexin: Hullo!
Mcgarnagle: everyone roll Wll save against fear.
Taurus stands -completely- motionless.
Mcgarnagle: except the kender, of course.
The dragon Speaks in the ancient magical language as it hovers over head. A darkness blankets the area.
Riverwind drops his sword as he flees away from the dragon.
Vexin
Vexin: Well that wasn't very nice! I can't see!
Vexin follows the screaming members of his party
Vexin: Guyus! The dragons's that way!
Vexin: Well, I think it is, i can;t see anymore
Vexin: It can FLY!
After 60 feet of fleeing, you burst out of the darkness. You see the ruins off in the distance, Riverwind heading towards them.
Mcgarnagle: everyone else, roll init

Vexin sees the dragon hovering over the darkeness that lies below the well. He sees the dragon crane its neck up and unleashes a stream of green acid from it's mouth down into the darkness.
Zhage feels an intense burning cover his body. the rest of the group hears the sizzle of flesh and a horrid scream.
Mcgarnagle: zhage, roll reflex save. don't forget the -2.
Taurus
Taurus feels his knees weaken and a shiver run up his spine as the creature suddenly dissapears from sight; taking this as a sign to run. Dropping the longspear he turns and legs it away from where he thinks the dragon is. "Fall back!!!"
Taurus bursts out from the darkness. You can only see the dragon above. Riverwind and Vexin must have ran the other way.
Riverwind disappears behind some ruins.
Goldmoon runs off as well, too terrified to scream
Brigg also runs, bursting from the darkness with Taurus ahead of him.
Vexin
Vexin urges Skitters to psoition them between 2 buildigns near Riverwind, then dismounts next to Riverwind

Hawkeye
Hawkeye stares at the dragon in complete terror as it shoots up, before being totally engulfed in darkness. He feels a strange surge of his heart pumping furiously as he turns and begins running, not even knowing what comes over him. His feelings of rage against the beast die as he runs for his life, consumed by fear and barely hearing the cries of his companions.

as fast as it came, the dragon folds it's wings up and the plummets back into the darkness, presumbly back into the well.
The group runs and hides from the terror they just witnessed. After about a minute, an eerie silence sets over the plaza. Your fear receeds as you cower in the ruins surrounding the plaza
Hawkeye curses himself as he regains composure, looking around for his companions
Taurus eventually can hear over the rapid thumping of his heart, back pressed against the wall of a ruined building. He peers out into the plaza, lets out a whistle.
Vexin: Bah! Right before I taunted him into my trap...
you hear a whisle from the otherside of the plaza
Vexin (testing how it would sound): Vexin Dragonslayer
Vexin: Vexin Dragonbane...
Hawkeye begins to slowly make his way around the plaza towards the whistle, drawing his cimitar
Taurus slowly makes his way towards the whistle, occasionally letting out another whistle to re-align position.
The darkness around the well lifts as you come out from hiding. Lying there, with his rib cage exposed, is the corpse of the mage.
Taurus eyes widen as he sees Zhage.
Vexin: Zhage!
Hawkeye looks at Zhage in horror
Vexin runs up to Zhage, pulling out a poultice
Taurus (whispered): Vexin... can you drag him over? quietly?
as you approach, you smell the sickness of burnt flesh. His skin has melted away and you see his organs and muscles drip into gooey puddles.
Hawkeye: Dammit...
Hawkeye: What the hell happened... why..
Taurus looks around at his companions, brow furrowed.
Hawkeye blinks rapidly, small tears forming slightly at the edges
Vexin tears in his eyes, searches frnatically for the staff
Brigg comes near and collapses near by. He turns and vomits.
Hawkeye: If only I hadn't run away...
Taurus: That... is all our shame...
Hawkeye: I trained my entire life to find and kill those things, Taurus!
Riverwind joins the group with Goldmoon. Goldmoon's face is streaked with tears.
Taurus notices what Vexin is looking for and slowly approaches, as quiet as can be for one clad as he.
Hawkeye: And then I failed when needed... and... and..
Hawkeye chokes up, tears streaming
Taurus (Whispered): Vexin... I... think its too late...
Taurus looks at the Zhage-stew.
Vexin: NO IT'S NOT!!!
Taurus nods slowly, unshouldering the staff and placing his hand on one of the intact... pieces... of Zhage.
Taurus (Whispered): Vexin I... will try...
The kender grabs the staff and presses it to the mage's body. The staff changes into it's blue crystal, but it only glows faintly. It flickers and dies out.
Vexin crying uncontrollably, grabs for the staff and abruptly hits the corpse with it.
Taurus eyes widen.
Vexin: NOT YET ZHAGE!
Hawkeye looks on, for once hoping that, if ther was ever a time for True Gods, they would do somethign now, here...
The knight takes the staff and tries. The staff has the same result as when the kender tried.
Vexin 's tears soak into the corpse
Taurus: Vexin... I'm... sorry...
Hawkeye (whispered): Where are you now... when we ned you.. he was trying to help your cause...
Riverwind (sorrow): Let's bring his body to shelter...
Riverwind: The dragon... may return
Taurus nods slowly at the suggestion and takes up what he can, dragging/half carrying Zhage to the safety of the ruins.
Vexin (with a look of desperate madness): Death to Dragons...
Riverwind: To the north there.
Hawkeye walks over to Vexin, placing a hand on his shoulder
Riverwind points
Vexin: There's one intact building it seems...
Riverwind: that building is at least in tact. We can find shelter there
Taurus looks towards the well, his eyes narrowing; he nods.
Taurus: Lets move.
Vexin peeks down into the well before moving to the building
Taurus whispers to Hawkeye as they move.
You notice nothing unusual
Taurus (whispers): You know better than I. Can we down this beast?
Hawkeye looks at Zhage's corpse
Hawkeye (whispered): I don't know...
The small domed building stands intact. Throuh the golden doors is a floor made of beautiful mosaic tile.
Hawkeye (whispered): Maybe if we can lure it out, kepe it form surprising us..
Vexin: What a pretty, sad place...
Hawkeye clenches his fist over the pommel of his blade angrily
Taurus (whispered): We need to keep it grounded, in its lair.. if possible.
Vexin scouts the interior of the building
Hawkeye (whispered): Twice now I have lost someone to a dragon's breath... I won't let it happen again... ever...
Taurus lowers to a crouch just inside the building, out of sight from the plaza. Peering outwards.
Hawkeye kneels down on the ground, placing a hand on Zhage's corpses forehead, in somewhat troubled thought
Taurus (whispered): Anger will only blind us. We need to be patient, calm.
Hawkeye nods at Taurus's words, a little absently
Taurus (whispered): But know this. That creature will expire before this day does.

Chat log started at 1.4.2007 / 18:38:23

The entryway has high vaulted ceilings adorned with an engraved pattern of starbursts. Double golden doors identical to the external ones are mounted in the eastern wall.
Taurus: Check out the rest of this building, maybe there is a ballista here.
Taurus comments dryly.
Vexin scouts the building, and the east doors
Mcgarnagle: anyone with knowledge religion may roll that.
Hawkeye: Where were the gods then, Taurus?
Vexin scouts the building, and the east doors
Vexin heads to the golden doors standing in front of you.
Vexin opens the doors blindly, too emotional to check for traps
Hawkeye: We're trapped here, you know
A tremendous dome rises above the delicate tile floor. The room is dominated by a huge polished statue on a pedestal in the center of the chamber; the statue is of a woman of singular grace and beauty, a delicate yet strong form draped in flowing robes. Her hair cascades about her shoulders and neck. A detailed amulet adorns her neck. The look on her face is a mixture of hope and sadness. The arms of the statue are curved as if they had once held a long, thin pole.
Taurus peers out the doors once more before quietly closing them and steping over to the corpse of Zhage. He takes a moment before quietly laying his cloak over him, bowing his head and dropping to a knee in quiet prayer for his soul.
You all feel an indistinct presence, one of strong warmth and love.
Vexin: Pretty statue in here...
Hawkeye sits down on the floor, resting his back against the wall, leaning his head back to stare at the cieling overhead
Vexin: I think Zhage would like resting here better...
Hawkeye glances at Vexin, smiling softly
Vexin and Skitters drag Zhage into the next room
Taurus rises from prayer and enters the room, taking several steps inwards before halting mid step- eyes darting around the room as though hearing somthing.
Taurus: Who... What..?
Hawkeye rises and walks into the room
Hawkeye: We need to bury him, as befitting, Tuarus...
Taurus looks to each of his companions before settling his gaze on the statue, slowly approaching to stand before it staring up at it in awe; seemingly deaf to Hawkeye's words.
Hawkeye: Taurus, it's just a statue.
Hawkeye nudges the knight a little
Brigg: Whats wrong with him?
Hawkeye: I don't know. He's taken leave of his senses
Taurus blinks a little, looking to Hawkeye breifly, then to the statue again as though focusing on somthing.
Vexin pokes Taurus
Brigg covers his mouth as his voice echoes loudly
Hawkeye sighes, and turns towards Zhage's corpse, looking for a place on the floor where he can big a hole
Taurus (Awe): She's speaking...
Hawkeye looks at Tarus sharply
Brigg looks at Goldmoon.
Vexin: No she isn't
Hawkeye: Taurus, the statue is not speaking
Brigg: no she's not.
Vexin: You're a looney
Hawkeye: I know you're in grief, but you need to snap out of it
Taurus (Awed): No... the.. statue...
Vexin: Is stone
Vexin pokes Taurus with his hoopak
Hawkeye walks over and places a hand on Taurus' arm, trying to gently tug him away
Goldmoon: She is a Goddess... Remember what the Forestmaster said?
Hawkeye: Don't encourage him, princess
Taurus pulls away from Hawkeye, unshoulding the staff and holding it up to the statue.
Vexin: Don't remember anything but the Unicorn
Taurus (Awed): Far below this temple lie the Disks of Mishakal. We must recover them.
Hawkeye sighs again
Taurus (Awed): From the Dragon...
Vexin: You ran away from the Dragon, looney
Hawkeye (angrily): and how are we supposed to do that, Tuarus?
Hawkeye: You saw what it did to Zhage!
Vexin: I can kill it myself, but it would take some time...
Taurus steps closer, placing the staff in the hands of the statue gently as he speaks back to his companions.
Taurus (Quietly): With.. faith.
Vexin: Hey, statues can't use staffs
Hawkeye Curse your faith. Zhage had faith in his gods, and where were they?
the staff glows brightly in the statues hands. It's glow steadily grows till it floods the room.
Vexin: I uh... stand corrected
Hawkeye: Dragons are the beasts of the gods sent to....
Hawkeye trails off as the staff starts to glow
Vexin: What an interesting statue
It then slowly fades back to it's blue Crystal.
Taurus: Our journey isn't finished yet. We must recover the disks. Then.. we must seek out a true Leader of the People.
Vexin (looking at Skitters): Now why can't YOU do that?
Hawkeye: It's a death sentence, Taurus, don't you see that?
Hawkeye: Whatever this.. THING is... it's simply trying to lead us to our doom
Vexin: Well, for you maybe... *I* can slay a dragon
Goldmoon: No! It is our savior. A savior for all the lands!
Hawkeye: a savior that willingly sends us into the maws of the very beast that slayed Zhage?
Vexin: A statue is our savior?
Hawkeye: What chance do we have against that?
Vexin pokes the statue
Hawkeye: I was wrong in devoting my life to salying them..
Riverwind grabs te kender's arm
Taurus gently takes the staff from the hands of the statue and lowers to a crouch beside Zhage, peeling back the cloth that covers him. He runs his fingers over bubbled flesh at Zhages cheek and focus' all his faith into restoring his comrad; their voices a bare whisper.
Hawkeye: No one can slay such a beast
Vexin: It didn't work, Taurus
Vexin: The staff is broken
Hawkeye: He's DEAD Taurus
Taurus (Whisper): His path does not end here...
Hawkeye: Leave his body to rest, as it should be
Vexin: That's wat *I* said...
Vexin: Well, kindof
The staff glows dully at first, growing into a blinding blue radiance. The bubbled flesh of the mage smooths over, his organs seel shut. The mages body is soon fully restored and his eyes flutter open.
ZtB: Ugh...
Hawkeye stubmles backward, falling on the floor hard as he scrambles backwards in shock
Vexin , for the 1st time in his life, stands speechless
Hawkeye fumbles for his weapons, suspecting the undead like in the forest
Goldmoon smiles and comes to the mages side, tears streaming down her face
Taurus eyes drift shut as the glow begins, unable to bare to look lest he be dissapointed. This moment a test of his faith and everything he has ever believed in.
ZtB (confused): Where am I? What just happened?
Hawkeye: It's a trick.. it has to be...
Vexin snaps out of it
Taurus slowly opens his eyes to look down on Zhage.
Vexin: Zhage!
Taurus: You were gone, for a time. But.. now, you're back.
Vexin: What's death like?
Vexin: I so very much want to know
Brigg walks beside Hawkeye, his jaw wide open
Vexin: Is there a light?
Taurus turns towards Hawkeye slowly.
ZtB (still confused): I was dead?
Vexin: DID YOU SEE UNCLE TRAPSRPINGER?!?!?
Taurus: If the dead may life once more, surely we can slay a little dragon?
Vexin: I never doubted I could slay the dragon... he ran away from my trap
Hawkeye: I've seen those who have died before in the the Forestmaster's trealm
Vexin: well... flew away
Vexin: He's hiding from me
Hawkeye keeps a safe distance away form Zhage
Goldmoon: He is flesh and bone, I can assure you of this.
Taurus: There is a difference between what has happened here, and what happened to them.
ZtB: I was in such a peaceful place..
Taurus: This... is divine, the work of the gods.
Hawkeye: So are Dragons
ZtB begins to get up.
Hawkeye stumbles backwards a few more feet
Vexin: Peaceful? Well, death must not be as exciting as I thought
Taurus: Men make swords that can be used to both butcher and defend.
Vexin: This is the Gods, Goldmoon?
Hawkeye: In the end someone always dies, no matter how it's used
ZtB (Noticing Hawkeye backing up): What's wrong Hawkeye? You look like you've seen a ghost or something.
Riverwind: Hawkeye... Everyman must make his own path. If you do not wish to follow us, no man here will think less of you. Everyone here must make their own choice.
Hawkeye: more like you.. alive..
Goldmoon: She is the goddess... Mishakal I believe.
Taurus looks to Zhage, smiles, then back to Hawkeye.
Vexin: Goddess of druids?
Goldmoon: goddess of healing...
Vexin: Oh
ZtB fully standing now he looks himself over.
Hawkeye stares at the ruined clothes on Zhage's form
Vexin: Who is the druid Goddess then? If Mishakal is here, then the others must be right?
Hawkeye (whispered): things were so much simpler before we became playthings to gods
Taurus: This is Mishakal's staff, Riverwind must have taken it from her grasp back to his people.
Hawkeye steps forward, cautiously, raising his hand towards Zhage
ZtB: Looks like I'll be needing a new robe...
Riverwind: I... I do not remember. But there was Death on two wings... The dragon!
Vexin: Goldmoon, who do druids pray to?
Taurus: Hawkeye. If you still distrust the Gods, then trust in me and that I would never lead you astray.
Hawkeye looks between Zhage and Taurus and back again
Hawkeye (sighing): I suppose I have no choice...
Goldmoon: I do not know. There are many gods. Habbakuk if I remember correctly, was one of them.
Hawkeye: If it's a dragon you seek to slay, Taurus, then I am with you. Wether brought backt o life or not, revenge is needed for Zhage
Taurus looks once more on the statue before nodding to Hawkeye.
Taurus: Then let us search this temple for the tools that we might be able to extract our pound of flesh.
Brigg: Okay... what next then. How do we get down to the dragon lair?
Taurus heads to the north-east door.
Hawkeye: Maybe the temple has a way down?
ZtB: I will help kill that dragon, for it probably thinks I am dead.
ZtB: What a suprise it will get..
Hawkeye looks at Zhage, still unsure
Vexin makes a silent prayer to the Gods of druids, whoever they are...
Taurus: Indeed. Not every day one is witness to a miracle.
ZtB looks around for his staff. Finding it, he picks it up and checks it over for damage.
Hawkeye: It seems like we have one everyday
Your staff seems to be undamaged.
The sanctuarys south transept leads to a side chapel. In years past, worshippers may have made offerings to other gods of Light or offered private devotions to the Blue Lady here, while the sanctuary was the appropriate place for high ritual and public worship of Mishakal. These chapels have long since been looted of any religious relics. The chapel is empty, save for marble benches facing a raised dais upon which an altar would have rested centuries ago.
Vexin looks for evidence of rthe druid Gods.
You do a quick search and find nothing of interest
Hawkeye: What exactly are we looking for Taurus?
Taurus looks around quietly, offering the place the respect its due. Once seeing the room empty he then moves to the next door; working his way in a counter-clockwise fashion.
Taurus: Anything that might aid us in retrieving the disks or slaying this beast.
Vexin looks in every room for evidence of the druid Gods.
Hawkeye: like a magical fear repelling, darkness dispelling so,metihgn or other?
Taurus: Yes. Or.. a really big net.
A high domed ceiling caps the room, and the plaster walls are decorated with frescoes depicting great deeds done in Mishakals name. You see five squat figures on the western side of the room. They are clawing at the wall with their stubby fingers, scraping the frescoes into a heap of wet plaster on the floor. The Aghar commonly referred to as gully dwarves are too busy scratching and scraping to notice you. In the Common tongue, one exhorts the others to greater efforts:
Gully Dwarf: Claw, mates, claw! We gots to get through this picture. I just know that the hoomans used to keep their pretties behind pictures like this.
Vexin feels incomplete in his attempts to be a Druid
The others grunt and grumble, clearly not convinced, but they scrape on.
Hawkeye: Gulyl Dwarves?
Hawkeye: Here?
Gully Dwarf: Jumpin dragonmen, mates, its the lords!
The Aghar drop to their knees, burying their faces in the slimy floor. They beg and grovel piteously for mercy.
Taurus clears his throat.
ZtB: Interesting...
Vexin: Hullo!
Gully Dwarf: Please don't hurts us! We's was gonna give you any pretties we find!
Taurus looks around for what they are begging to before realising it is indeed them, approaching he looks around the domed room. Speaking to the one who seems to be the master of the others.
Vexin: What are you groveling for little ones?
Taurus: You defile this place for trinkets?
Hawkeye (whispering): I hear gully dwarves are the breeding of kender and dwarves you know..
Gully Dwarf looks up from the ground, slimy moss drips from his cheek.
Vexin (happy to be able to call someone 'little one'): Gully Dwarves are not related to Kender!
Taurus: Really?
Vexin: They're just small dwarves
Hawkeye: I'm sure that's what dwarves say too
Gully Dwarf: You don't hurt us, okay?
Gully Dwarf shakes with fear.
Taurus: You are safe here, in this temple.
Vexin looks for something shiny in his pouches
Hawkeye walks over to the picture, inspecting it
Taurus: Perhaps you might help us? We wish to delve down into the Dragons Lair and defeat it. You might know some of the area to give us the advantage?
Vexin pulls an emtpy turtle shell out of his pouches and polishes it shiny
Vexin: I didn't even know I had this! Here you go
Hawkeye looks at the slime covered picture. It has images of holy people praying to glowing figures floating above them
Vexin: More shinies where that came from!
Vexin: Just help us out
Gully Dwarf takes the shell.
Hawkeye attempts to brush off some of the slime
Gully Dwarf: hey, mates! it's a bowl for soup!
Taurus smiles as he lets Vexin do the talking, obviously speaking the same language as these creatures.
Gully Dwarf: You crazy! you want to see dragon?!?
Vexin: Yes, we're very crazy, and we love to see dragons
Vexin: although 'seeing' is not all we'll do with this dragon
Gully Dwarf: You go down then! Use lift. But bosses might not like you using it.
Vexin: Take us to the dragon, away from dragonmen, and i'll give you more pretties
Hawkeye: These bosses must be the draconians
Gully Dwarf shakes head furiously, almost falling over he shakes it so hard.
Gully Dwarf: we not go see dragon! You crazy!
Vexin: What a shame... the dragon has nice shinies we would share...
Vexin: very very nice shinies
Gully Dwarf glares at the kender.
Taurus whispers to Vexin quietly.
Gully Dwarf: we not dumb! we see pretties! no way we take from dragon, though.
Taurus (Whispered): Ask about Plainsmen captives.
Vexin: Dead dragons cant hurt you
Gully Dwarf: Dragon not dead!
Vexin: Where are the talls that the bosses brought here?
ZtB (whispered): Maybe a way to the lift?
Vexin: Dragon WILL be dead...
Hawkeye turns his attention back to the picture, letting the others do the talking
Gully Dwarf: down below.
Vexin: Is the lift the only way down below?
Gully Dwarf shakes head
Vexin: What other way down?
Gully Dwarf: pipe goes down. Then vines. But we go up that way. You get in way.
Vexin: We don't want to see the bosses, just the dragon and talls
Vexin: How big is Pipe?
Gully Dwarf holds his arms as wide as he can.
Vexin knows he can fit, but looks to the others
Hawkeye: Fidn out why they were attacking this picture so freverntly
Vexin: They were loooking for shinies... which is why i offer them shinies
Hawkeye: But if they're form here, they would know all the shinies are gone
Hawkeye: then again thy're gully fwarves
Vexin: That one said they were looking for shinies, don't you listen?
Gully Dwarf: Pretties not Gone! They behind this picture!
Hawkeye gestures to the gully fwarf.
Hawkeye: see?
Vexin: Show us the lift, and we bring you back shinies from the dragon
Taurus: And free you from your bosses.
Gully Dwarf: we can't go. we must stay. Go that way, down stairs. You get to lift!
Hawkeye attempts to take the picture off the wall
Vexin shrugs
Gully Dwarf points to the south.
Vexin (to the party): That's all i can get out of him
Taurus pats Vexin's shoulder.
Taurus: Nice work Vexin.
Vexin: They're not gonna show us their pipe, so the lift it is
Taurus turns and walks from the room to the door directly opposite.
Hawkeye apparently totally unsuccesful in his picture attempt, he follows Taurus
Vexin: That's not outh...
Vexin: south
Taurus: I'm making sure our escape is clear, should we need it.
Hawkeye: What happened to finding something to help us defeat the beast?
The picture is painted on the fresco. it crumbles when you touch it.
A high domed ceiling caps the room, and the plaster walls are decorated with frescoes depicting great deeds done in Mishakals name.
Vexin looks for evidence of Druid gods
Taurus glances about the room breifly, seeing no danger he tries the next door. Commenting to Hawkeye:
Only pictures depicting Mishakal can be found
Taurus: We've found it.
Taurus: We fight the beast in its lair where it cannot use the wind to keep us at bay.
Vexin: This room is boring...
Hawkeye: and what of the darkness or the acid?
Vexin waits at the south door, listening
Hawkeye is carrying on this conversation while walking around
The northern side chapel is empty of any decoration or furnishings except for marble benches and a dais. Crouched over the Dais, three dragonmen look up startled as you enter.
Taurus: We'll battle the acid with our own element, that of surprise.
Taurus smiles to Hawkeye
Taurus: Have faith friend.
Hawkeye (drawing his weapons): I hate when you say that...
Taurus turns to the Dragonmen, drawing his weapon.
Taurus: Here's what I was looking for.
Mcgarnagle: init
ZtB
ZtB sees the dragonmen, grabs his crossbow, loads and fires at Baaz 3
The bolt sticks into the bazz.
The bolt sticks into the bazz's eye just as he turns to look at the group
Vexin
Vexin: SKITTERS ATTACK!
the draconian stumbles as he grasps the bolt sticking in his eye and Skitters misses.
Vexin slings a stone at the farthest Drac
The rock clunks agains the wall behind the draconian.
Hawkeye
Hawkeye rushes towards the farthest draconian, hoping his allies will help close in from the other side as he swings his scimitar.
Ths scimitar slices cleanly through the draconian's armor. Blood splurts forth.
Taurus
Taurus leaps forward quickly closing the distance between himself and Baaz 2 before lashing out with his longsword.
The longsword cuts deep into the baaz's shoulder. It hisses in pain
Hawkeye: Nice hit Taurus
Taurus: You too friend!

Riverwind rushes in and attacks the third draconian
But he can't reach so he is in mid swing
Brigg follows in, rushing to Hawkeye's aid, although he seemingly does not need it.
The baaz returns sword strikes towards Hawkeye, Taurus and Riverwind.
All three draconians miss horribly, clearly surprised by the armed warriors
ZtB
ZtB sizes up the situation, reloads and fires again at Baaz 3
Vexin: Oh I was in the room
The bolt bounces off the wall.
Vexin
The draconian struggles as the weasel latches on.
ZtB: Wow, that weasel is deadly..
Hawkeye: Indeed
Vexin slings a stone at the nearest Drac
the stone cluncks the dragonman in the neck. He turns to stone.
The weasel releases his grip as he notices the flesh begin to turn to stone.
Hawkeye
Hawkeye thrusts at the Baaz in front of him, hoping to finish off his opponent with this second swing
The sword glances off the baaz's armor.
Hawkeye , having missed, brings his axe to bear on it's head
The dragonman parries the overhead axe with his own sword.
Taurus
Taurus ducks down behind his shield before thrusting it forward in a block followed by a sharp swing of his longsword at the thigh of Baaz 2
The baaz draconian is cut in half at the waist, his legs and upper body land on the floor with a clunk as it turns to stone.

Riverwind advances on the last draconian and tries to finsish him off.
Hawkeye: Had to show me up, Taurus?
The ranger's attacked is blocked by the overwhelmed draconian
Taurus hides a smile.
Brigg attacks from the other side.
The draconian dodges the scythe, desperatly fighting for his life.
Taurus: I believe Skitters has shown us both up.
The dragonman brings his sword around from blocking riverwind and stabs towards Hawkeye.
The blade grazes the rangers arm, barely cutting him.
ZtB
ZtB takes a step further into the room, reloads, but does not fire.
Vexin
Vexin: DIE!
ZtB: I think I'll save this bolt...
Vexin: ATTACK!
The rock misses as the kender takes extra percautions to not hit his companions.
Skitter, however, bites in deep and hard
ZtB: Go Skitters...
Vexin: [2d6+6 = 17]
Taurus steps back, cleaning dust from his blade.
Vexin: +8
Taurus: See.
Vexin: 20
Hawkeye wipes the blood off his blade, looking at skitter quite impressed
Skitter sinks his teeth into the draconian, knocking him to the ground with his weight. The draconian turns to stone moments later.
Vexin: You... bit his HEAD off Skitters!
Vexin pets Skitters gingerly
Hawkeye: It feels weird to be outdone by a mount...
ZtB walks over to Skitters, and gives him a good petting. "Good weasel."
Taurus: Give them a quick search, they might have keys, maps, or anything useful.
Hawkeye: Maybe we should rest a bit before venturing into the lift as well, Taurus
Vexin: How does one search Dust?
Taurus looks around as his companions.
Hawkeye looks at the stone dust...
Mcgarnagle: spot checks please
Hawkeye and Vexin notice at around the same time a rolled up scroll on the dais that the three draconians were crouched over.
Vexin: Ooh!
Hawkeye heads over to the scroll, picking it up before the kender can
Vexin: Hey!
Vexin jumps up and down, trying to see the scroll above his head
ZtB: What do you have there?
Hawkeye: I'll let you look at it, Vexin
Hawkeye examines the scroll
You unroll the scroll and find a strange writting all over it.
Taurus: Hawkeye is right. Lets break for the night, it will give us time to do a thorough search and to investigate the scroll.
Hawkeye: It makes nos ense to me
Vexin: Zhage #2!
ZtB: What do you mean?
Vexin: Your turn
ZtB: Number 2?
Vexin: Yes
Vexin: You died
Hawkeye: I only know common and abanisinian
Vexin: That was Zhage #1
Hawkeye hands the scroll to Zhage, lingering briefly before releasing it
ZtB chants a little and moves his hands. Little lights begin to dance around the Kenders head.
Taurus: Vexin, perhaps your half-kin would like to join our camp now their masters are slewn.
Vexin: HEY!
ZtB after finishing the chant, he carefully takes the scrool
Vexin: I AM NOT RELATED TO GULLY DWARVES!
Hawkeye: Not you directly
Hawkeye: Maybe an ancestor though..
Taurus: Oh... I thought...
Vexin looks at Taurus indignantly, hands on hips
Taurus looks somewhat confused, an innocent mistake.
Vexin: They can't even count past 2!
Mcgarnagle: Zhage, roll a use magic device.
Hawkeye ponders briefly the creation of gulyl fwarves and than shakes his head vigourously
Taurus: Perhaps they would like to join us, none the less?
Vexin: I tried and tried, they wnt budge
Hawkeye: Well, let's go together and try again
Vexin: Gully Dwarves are dumber than I thought
Hawkeye laughes
Taurus: Their masters are dead, they might have a change of heart.
Hawkeye heads over to the gully dwarves room
Mcgarnagle: yeah, you can't use decipher script but spellcraft wil lalso work
Vexin watches Hawkeye leave, but waits to see what the scroll does
You know that the text is a magical spell, but what, you do not know.
Vexin: Lemme SEEEEE!
ZtB carefully examines the scroll.
ZtB: I know it is a spell...
The kender examines the scroll. He is not sure, however, what it is.
Taurus: Is it... slay dragon?
Vexin: It's a scroll of "Confound Human"
Vexin turns and follows Hawkeye
ZtB: It may be..
Taurus: Oh.. that won't be useful against a Dragon then.
Vexin searches his pouches again, hoping for some Gully Dwarf.... (insert proper word here, mindblank)
Hawkeye: .ooc a dead rat!
ZtB looks losst in thought, then he chants and begins to read the scroll..
Gully Dwarf looks up from their digging.
ZtB: This is a very useful scroll... this may come in handy against the dragon..
Hawkeye: Your bosses are dead
Taurus: What does it do?
Gully Dwarf (angrily): what now?
Gully Dwarf: huh?
Gully Dwarf scrunches up nose
Hawkeye: the three, out there. They're dead
Vexin: I found this magic Dragon tooth! I just got it from your bosses... well... their corpses
Gully Dwarf: Three dragon bosses out there. Yelp!
ZtB (while digging through his bag): It is a very powerful scroll of lightning..
the three run around looknig for a hiding place.
Hawkeye: Hold, please
Taurus: You can use it?
Vexin: Bosses DEAD you idiots!
Hawkeye: We want to invite you to camp with us
Hawkeye places a claming hand on Vexin
Gully Dwarf: we no camp with you. we look for pretties!
Vexin: Otherwise I wouldn't have this MAGIC DRAGON TOOTH to offer you
ZtB after a minute of searching, he finds his map case pops the top and carefully rolls up and inserts the scroll.
Vexin dangles the long tooth
ZtB: I think I can Taurus...
Gully Dwarf: That no dragon tooth! too small. Dragon tooth this big!
Taurus: Do you know any magics to protect us, or you, against its acid breath?
Hawkeye: What if we helped look for pretties?
Gully Dwarf holds his arms as high as he can
Vexin: It' a shrunken dragon tooth...
Gully Dwarf glares at the ranger.
Vexin: It does MAGIC!
Vexin: watch it disappear!
Gully Dwarf: you tryin to steal our pretties?
Vexin drops the tooth
Hawkeye: Of course not.
Gully Dwarf: You just put tooth up your sleeve!
Gully Dwarf: You tryin to trick us!
Hawkeye reaches into his bag to pull out a couple of gold pieces, holding them out to the gully dwarves
ZtB puts the map case back in his bag and takes out his spell book. "Let me look."
Vexin throws his hands up in the air and walks away ranting about Gully Dwarf idiocy
Gully Dwarf their eyes widen and sparkle wit the gold in their sight. one rubs his fingers together.
Hawkeye: It's yours if you follow the kender
Taurus nods, listening to the raving voices from outside where Vexin and Hawkeye are attempting to talk with the Dwarves. Shaking his head with a smile, his mood lighter than before, he sits against the wall and eats the rest of his ration.
ZtB (Frowning): It does not appear so..
the gully dwarfs stumble and push each other as they run towards the kender
Taurus: Then you'll need to keep back, out of sight, until the creature isnt vulnerable.
Hawkeye examines where the aghar were digging
Vexin: Hey! get out of my piuches Dwarf!
Gully Dwarf: but there are pretties in here, no?
Vexin: Yes, pretties for later.
you look at the hole in the wall. There appears to be no sign of anything hidden behind the wall.
Hawkeye shakes his head, wondering if there's any truth to the gully dwarves madness or notr
Vexin Exasperated, heads towards the South doors and listens
You can't hear them until they are almost upon the room
ZtB (to himself): What is going on out there?
Hawkeye heads out of the room, following behind the entourage
you hear nothing beind the south doors
Vexin pushes the dwarves back and checks the doors for traps
ZtB walks out of the room he is in and see Vexin and the group of dwarves following him.
Hawkeye looks at Zhage, smiling
ZtB: New friends Vexin?
Mcgarnagle: roll search
Vexin shoots Zhage a look
You scan across the doors for traps but find nothing.
Vexin opens the doors an inch and peeks through, trying to be sneaky like Hawkeye
You open the door and see another set of gold doors. Zhage also sees the kender doing this
ZtB: Vexin! What are you doing
Gully Dwarf: he givin us pretties!
Vexin: Finding the lift while you all lounge around.
Vexin: Im bored
Gully Dwarf: lift is that way!
Gully Dwarf points through the doors
ZtB: You're bored huh?
Vexin: Yep
Vexin: They said lift is south
Gully Dwarf nods in agreement
Vexin: Coming?
Hawkeye: Maybe we should camp for now, head for the lift after resting. I'm sure your new friends can elad us into the city below?
Gully Dwarf: We need pretties first!
glares at Hawkeye
Gully Dwarf glares at Hawkeye
Hawkeye tosses about ten gold piece son the ground in front of the Aghar
Vexin: Sleep, then pretties?
Hawkeye: More after we rest if you take us into the city, avoiding the bosses
ZtB: Here's a game for you Vexin.. Try to find me..
Vexin: There! pretties! but we have more after we sleep and go find dragon
the gully dwarves scramble and fight each other to get the gold
Vexin: Ok?
Hawkeye looks around for Taurus
ZtB: You ready?
Vexin: I see you, why do I need to find you?
Taurus munches on a ration in the room where the Draconian were slain whilst Vexin plays with his kin.
ZtB: It's a game..
ZtB: give me a second..
ZtB begins to chant and move his hands..
Vexin: I thought you wanted to sleep?
Hawkeye walks into the room, taking a seat next to Tarus, pulling out some rations
Taurus smiles to Hawkeye.
Hawkeye: I think I mayu have elisted some aid
Taurus: Everything alright out there?
Taurus: The half-kender?
ZtB the 5 copies of himself show up.
Vexin: HEY!
Hawkeye: Aye. The gully dwarves are more than happy to help for a few shiny gold pieces
Vexin: Teach me to do that!
Hawkeye: and Zhage is playing with Vexin
Vexin: The druid gods don't answer my prayers
Taurus: Fine. At any sign of trouble though, we'll have them fall back. I don't wish them hurt...
ZtB: So, where am I..
Hawkeye: Of course. they're innocents in all this
Taurus: Though simple creatures they don't deserve injury.
Taurus nods to Hawkeye.
Hawkeye: It's strange, after all that happened today, to see people at play
Vexin starts poking Zhage's
Taurus: I'm glad we've found someone, at least, who Vexin can spend some time with. Some of his own kind.
Vexin: THEY ARE NOT MY KIND!
Hawkeye: Aye. i just think maybe we should avoid mentioning that they're his kin to him
Vexin glares
Taurus blinks looking towards the open door.
Taurus: Sorry! I forgot! *he calls out*
Hawkeye laughes
Taurus cringes a bit but eventually smiles.
ZtB: Give up Vexin?
Taurus (Whisper): But they are so similiar...
Vexin pokes every Zhage
Hawkeye (whipser): like I said, I heard they're birthed from kender and dwarves
ZtB all the Zhages react to the poking..
Hawkeye (seriously): Do you think we stand a chance against this thing?
Vexin: Ok Aghar, sleep then we find dragon and more pretties for you!
Taurus nods
Taurus: Victory is assured.
ZtB: Ok, one last trick Vexin..
Taurus: We have the Gods on our side, after all.
Gully Dwarf: okay. We sleep but want pretties tomorrow!
ZtB: You ready?
Vexin: Yes do it already
Taurus: Then a glorious battle it will be.
Vexin taps his foot, his impatience with dwarves running thin
Hawkeye (sighing): if we can stand our ground, I know of a few weak points form ym studies
ZtB chants one more time. All the images follow him. Then they all disappear.
Taurus: Zhage found a scroll that might help.
Vexin follows Zhage x6
Hawkeye nods
Taurus: But we should not rely soley on magic.
Gully Dwarf look on is surprise
Vexin: Invisible people are no fun!
Hawkeye: Is that not what the gods grant?
ZtB walks into the room with Hawkeye and Taurus. "That will keep him busy.."
Hawkeye looks around for the disembodied voice's source
Taurus: Just one of the many tools.
Vexin: You guys seen Zhage?
Taurus looks up and around.
Hawkeye: Nope
Vexin: bleh
Hawkeye: Check the other rooms
Taurus: No. I heard him, however.
Vexin: I'm going to sleep, it makes tomorrow's excitement come sooner
ZtB: Night Vexin
Hawkeye (yawning): I agree.
Taurus: I'll take first watch, everyone get some sleep.
Gully Dwarf 's walk into the room. They lay down right in front of the door and begin to sleep
ZtB reappears, standing next to Taurus.
Vexin curls up on top of Skitters, then tells him "CALM" as the Aghar snuggle up too
Hawkeye (nodding at Taurus): wake me for second watch
ZtB: Mind if I join you Taurus? I have a few things to read before I sleep for thenight..
Taurus nods and gently places a blanket over the gully dwarves.
Taurus: Not at all, I would enjoy the company.
Hawkeye moves to a back corner and lays down, making sure his money pouch is under his body
Taurus: Lets sit outside by the statue, so as not to disturb the others.
ZtB: Sounds like a good idea.
The rest of the night passes in peace. You feel sleep wash over you and it is welcomed as well as comforting. The next morning, the group awakes. The gully dwarves continue to snore loudly.
Taurus rises from his slumber and stretches, taking a moment to see if anyone is still wounded.
Hawkeye is awake already, sitting near the door in thought
Brigg still has fresh wounds
ZtB wakes from the sound of the snoring dwarves, spellbook open on his chest.
Taurus approaches and whilst Briggs still sleeps Taurus crouches over him uses the staff to seal his wounds.
Taurus (Whispered): We'll need your strength this day...
The staff flares up as Brigg's wounds begin to seal.
Brigg: Thankyou friend.
Taurus inclines his head.
Taurus: Alright. Everyone. Eat up, drink up, wash up. One hour we go dragon hunting.
Vexin: So everyone ready then?
Vexin: A WHOLE HOURS?!?!
the dwarves still snore in blissfull sleep
Hawkeye: Should we wake the aghar yet?
Vexin: NO!
Vexin: Let them sleep til we're leaving...
Taurus smiles and heads out of the room to kneel before the statue in prayer, a good as place as any. Though he may not devote himself to this Goddess she has shown him an important truth and he owes her such respect.
Hawkeye: Why do you hate them so, Vexin? Are not druids in lvoe with all creatures?
Vexin dumps his pouches on the floor, searching for something useful against a Dragon
Vexin: I don't hate them
Hawkeye: Perhaps hate was the wrong word
Vexin: They're frustrating
Hawkeye: so easily frustrated?
ZtB carefully rewraps his spellbook and places it in a safe place in his pack.
Hawkeye: Ah, I think I know the feeling sometimes
Vexin: They can only count to 2... wouldn't you be frustrated?
Hawkeye smiles slightly
Vexin: Uh... Zhage... I think you put your to-do-list in my pouches.
Hawkeye walks out of the room, noticing Taurus praying
Hawkeye briefly bows his head, thinking perhaps this is as good a time to pray, but not sure what to do, so simply sits there, silent i thought
Vexin: I can't find my wand of fireballs. It may have blown itself up with the albino Troll...
ZtB walks out into the hall with the statue. He notices Hawkeye and Taurus already in here. He then finds a corner and kneels down quietly.
Vexin looks in the Frescoes for pictures of any druids and their Gods
You all prepare for what is to come. The hour passes and you all are as ready as you ever will be. THe 3 dwarves awaken, yawning and scratching themselves in all manner of places.
Taurus remained in silent prayer for several minutes. He asked of Kiri to guide his hand and those of his companions in their upcoming challenge. Barely noticing the others joining him he eventually rose, breathed a sigh and walked back to the other room to speak to Vexin.
Taurus: Vexin, I have a very important task for you.
Vexin: Ooh really?
Taurus: Yes. Very important.
Vexin: Is it blowing up the dragon?
Taurus: IT is even more important than that.
Hawkeye walks into the room, ctaching the end of their conversation
Taurus: The most important task of all of us.
Vexin: OoooOOOOoooh
Vexin puffs out his chest
Taurus: Are you up for the responcibility of such a task?
Vexin: Of course!
Taurus smiles.
Vexin: Kender are always reliable!
Taurus: Your task is the duty and care of the Dwarves.
Vexin: Oh
Taurus: Should a fight break out it is your responcibility to ensure they are protected.
Vexin: Ok...
Taurus: They cannot defend themselves. You are their knight, their defender. Can you do this?
Vexin: You sure that's important?
Taurus appears quite serious, in no way humouring the Kender.
Vexin: I can do that.. pfft... that's easy
Taurus: Absolutely.
Hawkeye: That is an honorable task...
Taurus: Alright then! Shinies!
Vexin: No problem
Taurus claps his hands, grinning.
Vexin: ONWARD! to Dragon and... (looks at the Aghar) SHINIES!
Taurus heads to the south door and without a pause or second thought opens it and steps through.
The three dwarves run out of the room and towards the double doors.
Vexin charges after Taurus, not to be left behind
A domed ceiling arches sixty feet over the floor of this tall circular room. Vines and mosses dangle from great cracks in the ceiling; a collection of slimy molds clings to the walls. On the east side of the room stands an empty pedestal, the top of which cannot be seen from the floor. On the west side of the roomjust in front of the doorsa circular staircase, its flagstones slick with green film, descends into darkness.
Hawkeye follows quickly, looking around the temple one final time
Hawkeye: I wonder who the gods of nature are...
ZtB seeing Taurus leaving, Zhage stands and follows...
Hawkeye: for surely they claimed this place long ago
Vexin: You and me both Hawkeye
Taurus takes a moment to light a torch and begins to decend into the darkness.
Hawkeye looks at Vexin and smiles
Taurus: Perhaps the answers to these questions lie within.
Hawkeye: Maybe we'll discover them together, you and I
The stairs circle down for 200 feet.
Vexin keeps watch ahead for dragons
Dim light shines up through the floor. A vast hall stretches to the east. The ceiling, heavily reinforced, stands solidly above, but below, the floor has fallen away in several places. Hot mists, carrying the odor of decay, rise through the holes in the floor.
Hawkeye (looking at the aghar): How do we avoid the bosses?
ZtB (moving to hold his nose): what is that stench?
Gully Dwarf: You go that way!
Gully Dwarf points east
Taurus peers around the room, nose twitching some at the foul odours. He looks east and heads that way.
Taurus: East it is.
Vexin keeps watch ahead for dragons
Row upon row of dark and musty crypts line either side of this hall. The crypts are empty.
Hawkeye: How long have the Aghar lived here?
Hawkeye keeps a hand on his weapons just to be safe
Taurus carefully walks down the corridor, eyeing the crypts cautiously.
Vexin: Aghar are in every city, most people just never see them
Hawkeye: Perhaps they know a bit more about these dragonmen
Vexin: You should see what they eat
The dwarves all count their fingers for minutes. They all hold up two fingers and say with a smile..
Gully Dwarf: TWO!
Hawkeye makes a very disgusted look
Vexin groans
Vexin keeps watch ahead for dragons
Hawkeye: And how muhc gold did I give you last night?
they count again, and with much certainty...
Gully Dwarf: two!
Hawkeye: Well, that proves Vexin right
ZtB chuckles a bit.
Hawkeye: I hope they're better at directions
Vexin sticks his tongue out
Taurus steps out into the large room somewhat concerned they are following directions from creatures that have difficulty counting past two.
Taurus: So do I.
Hawkeye sticks his tongue out right back at him, laughing softly
you enter into another chamber, vast holes are in the floor as mist rises from them
Taurus: Which way to avoid the bosses?
Gully Dwarf: you go that way.
they point south (which is really east)
Taurus nods giving him a smile before continueing on.
Gully Dwarf: You want to take lift???
Hawkeye: Will it avoid the bosses?
Vexin: Yes little one
Hawkeye: Or is there a better, Aghar way?
Gully Dwarf: Bosses work lift!
Vexin: Oh... then no
Hawkeye: How do you get to the surface?
Taurus: This pipe, would someone my size fit?
Gully Dwarf nods
Vexin: Ok, to the pipe then
Taurus: Agreed.
The 30-ft.-wide octagonal room rises 60 ft. to a domed ceiling. The back wall bears a relief statue of the goddess Mishakal. The arms of the statue reach down as if to receive something.
Gully Dwarf: go that way now!
Hawkeye: That looks like a good sign, Taurus
Vexin: That's odd
Vexin inspects the statue
Hawkeye: I wodner what she's reaching for
Taurus looks at the statue thoughtfully, nodding he approaches the statue. Unslinging the staff he looks at the others curiously.
points east (which is really north)
Taurus: This? perhaps?
Vexin: Remember what the LAST sttue did?
Taurus places the staff in the statues hands.
Hawkeye thinking
The staff does not appear to fit in the hands of this statue.
Vexin: Psst... nobody is dead...
Hawkeye: The Disks?
Taurus pulls it back, studdies the hands.
Taurus: It doesn't fit.
Taurus: There must be other artifacts, missing.
the hands are palms up, as if accepting some sort of offering.
Hawkeye: Hop up there Vexin
Vexin: We must leave an offering
Vexin: She ressurrected Zhage
You assume it would be some sort of valubles, coins perhaps?
Taurus: Shinnies.
Taurus: A donation.
Hawkeye reaches into his pouch, pulling out some gold coins
You determine the same as Taurus
Hawkeye: Try these
Taurus fishes around in his pouch and with a shrug, places the whole pouch on her hands (15g)
Taurus: You can make your own donation, Hawkeye.
Taurus smiles, steps aside for him.
Hawkeye places roughly 10g on the statue hands
You place the coins in the statues hands. Nothing more happens.
Hawkeye looks to the Aghar
Vexin without a qualm, places all of his steel pieces in the statue's hands.
Hawkeye: Do you know what went here once?
Taurus: Then we continue north (with is east)
Gully Dwarf: nope. but pretties look nice there
The ceiling in this chamber has partially collapsed; a sewer, roughly 4 ft. in diameter and constructed of fitted stone, apparently fell through the roof, its length crashing through the northeast corner of the rooms floor. Now, the jagged edge of the broken sewer tunnel juts through the rubble-strewn floor. It looks as though a man could follow the tunnel downward into the dark quite some way, but there would be no room to swing a sword.
Taurus: ...
Taurus: Pipe is.. sewer..
Vexin: Bleh, this statue is broken. Just like my prayers...
Vexin takes the pouch back
Hawkeye looks at Vexin
Taurus looks at Vexin.
Hawkeye: Your prayers will find their home someday, friend
Taurus: One doesn't typically take back.. donations..
Vexin looks down the pipe
Gully Dwarf: You go down pipe. then go to vines. you get to city.
Hawkeye: Are bosses in city?
ZtB (muttering): More vines...
Gully Dwarf nods
Taurus (whispered): Set a good example for your k-- friends.
ZtB (muttering): Atleast there is no water...
Hawkeye: I wonder how far down this thing goes
Taurus: Vexin, would you like to go first? Your the best fit.
Vexin: Really? WEE!
Hawkeye: Quietly, Vexin
The walls of this 4-ft. diameter tube are extremely smooth and slick from the slimy green film that seems to cover almost everything, and the sewer is very steep.
Vexin instructs Skitters to CALM, and motions to dig his claws into the sides... and slides into the hole with Skitters following
Taurus heads in after Vexin, carefully.
ZtB: More slime..
Hawkeye gestures for others to go first
Riverwind, Brigg and Goldmoon all enter the pipe
Vexin: Skitters +5
Vexin: 24 - Skitters
Vexin: 16 Vexin
ZtB Watches the rest of his companions go in, he then follows..
Taurus slips and is soon sliding quickly down the pipe.
Taurus: Arrrggghhh! Watccchh outttt Veexxinnnn!
The knight plows into both and all three begin to slide down the pipe
Hawkeye looks at the pipe, hearing Taurus yell, and wonders if they're alright, waiting to enter
Zhage also slips and goes shooting past Riverwind, Brigg and Goldmoon, narrowly missing them
ZtB (While Cursing in Dwarvish): Look out!
Hawkeye waits a minute or two, and then enters into the pipe hoping his friends are through now.
Taurus desperatly tries to recover, dropping the torch as he grasps for his dagger. Attempting to slam it into the pipe to slow his decent.
Sparkes fly as the dagger scrapes against the pipe.
The dagger gets jarred from your hands as you continue to slide.
those who slide...
The slick sewer tunnel suddenly flattens and branches to the right. The main corridor continues steeply, but the branch is even steeper.
Hawkeye (whispering): So much for quietly
you all slow down at this junction and come to a stop
the rest soon arrive in a more calm fashion
Taurus puts his boot down to stop his dagger when it eventually comes down after him.
ZtB: If that wasn't potentially deadly, it was kind of fun,,
Hawkeye: What happened to "quietly"?
You find the dagger burried in the slime
Taurus: My apologies...
Taurus: I.. er.. slipped.
Hawkeye flashes a quick smile at Taurus's slime covered form
Vexin glares at Taurs and waggles a finger
Taurus wipes the slime of the dagger and sheaths it, picking up the torch to flick some slime off him.
Gully Dwarf: You can go either way!
Hawkeye: Someday we gotta get you ut of that plate and realize the joy of chain
ZtB: Well Taurus, alteast we are used to this..
Hawkeye: Which wya leads to the dragon?
Taurus: Yes, plate isn't the best for travelling in.
Vexin: Which way to dragon
Gully Dwarf: both ways!
ZtB: If it's not swamp slime, it's sewer slime..
Vexin: ok, so Steep or Steeper?
Hawkeye: Which way would YOU take?
Gully Dwarf Points to the not so steep way.
Taurus nods
Taurus: That way it is.
Taurus: I'll go first this time, if you like...
Taurus smiles sheepishly.
Moss and slimy green muck coat the four foot diameter tube. Water trickles slowly down the shaft.
Taurus begins to decent down the less steep of the two paths.
ZtB: I think I'll follow you as well..
ZtB follow Taurus.
Vexin: Skitter +8
Vexin: 23 Skitter
Hawkeye follows last
ZtB: Sorcerer/Wizard Spells
ZtB: Sorcerer/Wizard Spells
Taurus slips on the first bit of slime BEFORE the tunnel, landing with a heavy thud on his backside he shoots off down the pipe rolling about madly.
Vexin manages to dodge the two bodies that come sliding past as does Skitter.
A 4-ft.-wide sewer tube of fitted stone breaks through the ceiling of this shop. Water trickles from the tube onto the floor and streams out the door to the east. This shop was once a bakery. The windows in its east wall look out to the ruins of a city street. The roar of rushing water comes from that direction.
Hawkeye slides swiftly past the kender, seeing Tauru's form in front of him he braces for impact
Taurus scrambles up to his feet, moving out of the way from the onrushing people. Dusting himself off once more he looks around, picking up the torch and shedding more light on the room.
Vexin: You guys should really be more careful. That's dangerous just sliding down recklessly!
Hawkeye: Hey, I didn't want to be the only one not having fun down the slide.
the sacks of flour lying hear softens the impac, but coats you in a white powder
Vexin: GHOSTS!
Vexin: How exciting!
Hawkeye tries to spit the taste of stale flour out of his mouth
Vexin: You all died and became ghosts!
Taurus QUICKLY puts out the torch.
Hawkeye: Boo
Vexin: I missed out on the fun...
ZtB: Well.. it could be worse.. slimy and wet verses slimy and powder coated..
Brigg: Where did the light go? I can't see...
Taurus: A moment...
ZtB: Here.
Taurus draws the beautiful longsword from its sheath with a quiet scrape, whispering a word "Lumina." He pases his hand over it, the pure white runes along the length of the blade emit a soft glow.
Vexin: Ooh, pretty sword
Brigg: ooooo....
Hawkeye: Impressive
ZtB while reaching for a tinderwig, he stops short to look at the blade.
Vexin: now find us the dragon!
Taurus: Be careful... I have seen a whole flour mill explode from a single careless flame...
Vexin: Little ones, to the dragon!