[Sat Jan 12 20:12:08 GMT 2002]

Having spent the last several hours digging through the cave in while some of the others rested you find your hands rough and worn, tried from the digging and dragging of stone. Now only to face a fork in the caverns. Peering into both directions is limited to the light upon Balthazar's sword. Within the left side you see what appears to be a large crate or crate like object sitting near the wall to your right hand side. Within the right side of the fork there appears to be nothing within your light source. The sounds and smell of gas from the passage have all but gone leaving your senses to pick up on a more sulfuric like odor coming from with the left side of the fork.

Balthazar looks around "Which way now?"

Bilgrom seems a bit worried about the smell. "Hummm. This smell is nothin' good. Does ye's think we should go down t' right passage? I's have had enough fire thrown me way in t' last few days."

[Tollong]: "I don’t like that foul smell to the left I have only smelt that in volcano’s

Syrenia looks about her and shakes her head..."Some didn't follow it seems..." She moves to the hole and yells into it..."Bor wake up and come on!"

[Tollong]: "I say take the right passage picking up his gear and starts toward it'

Borathor wakes up and looks at the crate and wonders what could be inside of it and why is it here. He then scratches his chin and looks over to Syrenia and smiles.

Jarl studies the to passages "we be lookin for the one that be heading up yes?"

[Tollong]: "well I am going right Syrenia kindly check it for traps if you would"

Syrenia puts her hand on her hips..."Stop Tollong and wait for the others."

[Tollong]: "they should hurry elves where not meant for the dark earth I would like to leave as soon as I can"

[Balthazar]: "I agree we should avoid this smell but it would be wise to examine this crate, would it not?"

Syrenia shrugs..."I could check down out while invisible if that would help..."

Bilgrom stays still, "Ye's can go and examine the crate. I's watch from here."

Borathor looks at the crate once again and shrugs, "I think we should at least see what’s in it", backing up what Balthazar mentioned earlier.

Jarl looks at the box "why don't one of ye looks at the box for traps and such while we step back?"

Syrenia shrugs and moves towards the crates.

Jarl starts stepping away from the box area once someone starts examining the crate

Balthazar steps out of the way and watches.

[Tollong]: "be careful things in the dark earth are not always what they seam"

Bilgrom shakes his head as he notices he was the one meant to look for traps, and jumps into the passage, watching at the ground from the shadows carefully.

Syrenia looks in the crate..."There's some metal in this one and more crates, 6 of them filled with metal too..."

Borathor keeps an eye on the right tunnel while Syrenia works on the crates. He listens as best he can over the rustling and talking of the others, suspicious that something is there in the darkness, waiting.

Tollong follows behind him

Bilgrom remains hidden, a single dagger in hand.

Syrenia takes another look in her crate..."These ones are torn and ripped though...maybe we'll have more luck with the others." Points towards the room..."In there."

[Balthazar]: "Well, I don’t think they're going anywhere. Maybe we should just move on?"

Syrenia enters, leaving the others behind.

[Borathor]: "What type of metal?"

Tollong looks back "leave a marker pointing our way"

Bilgrom joins Syrenia, trailing behind by a few feet. His eyes wander on and off the crates.

Syrenia yells out from the room..."Nothing of value but there's some green liquid giving off smoke in here!"

[Balthazar]: "You should get out then. It can't be good."

[Borathor]: Ok, wouldn't mess with it. Lets get going then..." he says rubbing his hands together.

Syrenia yells again..."But there's a passage leading off to another cavern area."

Borathor's ears perk up at the sound of another passage and as he now is entering the crate room to see.

Tollong starts down the right way "I am tired of waiting

Moving into the left side to check the crate out you find your self standing next to a large 10x10 wooden crate filled with torn, ripped, and rusted scrapped pieces of metal. From where you are the room now reveals several more crates lining the walls some 6 in all. Each seeming to be filled with metals. Searching the metals and their respective crates you find nothing of great value or use. Along the far wall at the floor is some sort of greenish liquid that gives off smoke like fumes into the cavern. Carved out in the wall across from where you entered you see a passage leading off into another cavern area.

[Balthazar]: "That smell. And this metal, perhaps there is a forge or a smelter nearby!"

Borathor shrugs, as he looks onward to the new passage....

Syrenia 's eyes go wide..."You know...that makes me think of those rust monsters we met before...this..." She points to the metal..."Could be their food..."

Bilgrom joins with Syrenia by the passage, moving away from the greenish liquid as much as possible. "Aye. Let’s nay stay in t' crate room no longer."

Balthazar follows.

[Borathor]: "I doubt rust monsters use crates", he laughs then looks at her and smiles again

Syrenia holds her hands on her hips..."The wizard could've been feeding them..."

Jarl takes out a piece of metal and cheerfully places it into the greenish liquid

Borathor mocks her..."The wizard could have...blah...blah...blah. Let’s just get out of here so we can spend some of the take"

Dropping the metal in the liquid is sinks within a bubbling smoke that seems to grow stronger around the metal.

Syrenia raises an eyebrow..."Acid?"

Jarl nods "but why or what from?"

Syrenia scratches her head..."No idea..."

Borathor watches the metal's reaction to the green liquid and he sighs. "I wonder what in the hell that is? I sure don't think its natural. If you know what I mean"

[Jarl]: as he away from the green liquid and heads back to a box

Balthazar walks further along, to see what lies beyond this room.

Valin looks over at Borathor " You're a knowledgeable fellow, you wouldn't happen to know what type of creature would leave acid around, would you?"

Syrenia shakes her head at the crates..."There has to be some reason for those crates of metal."

Valin looks back at the crates, then back at the acid.

Jarl continues to dig in one of the boxes "did that rust monster give off any type of secretions when you came across it?"

[Borathor]: "I think the metal is from minors long dead, though I don’t see any signs of them. I don't remember seeing anything like that Jarl. They are not something I care to see again."

Syrenia cringes..."Well hmm...we kind of...hmm...fled from them? They eat up metal and would've eaten our weapons..."

[Jarl]: "not be true. Some of the metals be from different places"

Balthazar comes back into the room and says "There's another cave beyond, with a stone box in it, and that has a passage that leads further on."

The liquid covers and area of 15'x5' along the wall between two crates of metal.

[Balthazar]: "I think this may just be a storage room. Whatever this metal is for is probably further on."

Syrenia turns to Balthazar..."Lead the way...might as well check out the box."

[Borathor]: "Now a stone box that sounds interesting. Shall we go and check it out?"

Valin nods " Lets."

Balthazar nods and walks to the room with the stone box.

Syrenia follows him.

Valin follows Balthazar and the others

Borathor moves along with everyone in anticipation of what the box may or may not contain.

Bilgrom follows them closely, eyeing the acid as he doe so.

Jarl follows the others 'well if it be acid it can't eat through stone"

Valin nods " Or it would have just been a hole"

Syrenia gets closer to the box and check it for a lock.

[Tollong]: "well you finally got here"

Jarl smiles, "might be holding something in that stone box as well"

[Balthazar]: "The other passage leads here too? That's good to hear."

Valin steps closer to the box as well, curious as to what is going to be in it.

Borathor stands there and then replies, "That is one large box."

[Tollong]: "there are some vats of melted metal back there an another passage I am heading back to take that way"

Jarl walks over and taps on the box "wonder what be hiding inside?"

Tollong turns and starts back the way he came

Approaching the box you see there appears to be no markings of any kind upon it. Made of rough granite the box appears to have been carved right from the cavern walls somewhere, with little concern for decoration or a project unfinished. About 10" from the top is a line or groove several inches long.

Bilgrom laughs at them as he glances at the openings, "T' acid melts metal. Them have built a stone box in order t' hold that acid you speak of."

Syrenia looks over the line very carefully.

Valin looks over at Bilgrom " Hmm, smart...." he takes a good deal of steps back from the box.

Jarl shakes his head as he continues to examine the box

Bilgrom grins, "This be an troll's worst nightmare, I tell ye."

Balthazar keeps an eye on the gases and mists.

Syrenia draws a dagger from her bandolier and begins to scratch some dirt from the groove.

Borathor walks around the box examining it for anything out of the ordinary. He takes his time as if expecting to find something.

Syrenia works upon the box seeming to clean out the groove as she makes her way round three sides of the box.

Valin watches Syrenia from a distance, curious if Bilgrom's suggestion will hold true.

Syrenia sheaths her dagger and tries to lift the top. Steps back..."No grip to open it..." She sighs and looks to the others for input.

Bilgrom shrugs at Syrenia, "Hum. It is too high fer me t' be of any help."

Borathor stops after not finding anything and simply observes the area. "Maybe there is a lever or button. That lid would weigh too much for anyone to move by hand. It must move by some sort of mechanism."

Valin begins digging in his backpack and removes a crow bar, looking back to Syrenia " Would this be of any help?"

[Balthazar]: "If we chisel a groove into the lid, we could get a lever in and force it up."

Jarl grumbles at missing such an obvious thing and begins to search the walls for levers and such

Syrenia shakes her head..."It would still be too heavy."

[Balthazar]: "Depends on the lever..."

Valin shrugs then puts his crowbar back in his pack.

Borathor shrugs and just waits for the others to see that the lid must weigh thousands of pounds. He leans against the wall, then slowly begins to search the perimeter walls of the room for any such lever or button.

[Balthazar]: "A good hammer blow to the center of it could break it, perhaps. If it's not too thick."

Jarl stops after growing tired of looking of levers "bah stand way from the box" as he takes out his holy symbol. Pointing his free hand to the stone box he begins to chant

Balthazar moves away from it

[Borathor]: After not finding anything, Borathor stops and leans against the south wall. "Must be in another room. Either that or that box isn't meant to be opened"

Valin continues to stand as far back as he has been, quite a ways away.

[Jarl]: "let the stones show us what we be wishing to see" as a small piece of the stone wall begins to melt away

Jarl casts a spell upon the box as he tries to examine it further.

Syrenia nods..."Stone shape..."

With the casting of the spell a small 3inch hole appears in the side of the box.

Jarl huffs, "did it work anything?"

Syrenia looks to the side..."Well there's a hole..."

Balthazar brings the light from his sword to the hole and peers in from a meter's distance.

Borathor watches the little man do his magic. "I am impressed Jarl. Where did you learn that little trick?"

Bilgrom moves away from the box, "You crazy. If it be acid it be an goin' to fall on us!"

[Jarl]: "Moradin grants me many a great gifts"

[Balthazar]: "If it were acid, wouldn't it be pouring out by now?"

Syrenia shrugs..."Same spells for every priest..."

[Jarl]: "that was why me said to step away from it in the first place and I made the hole high in the box"

Trying to see within the box from the outside only shows a hollow inside but its to dark to see any detail as well as the hole being to small.

Syrenia smiles..."An arm could fit in it..."

[Jarl]: "anyone gots a light spell or a copper with a light spell cast on it?"

Balthazar looks around for a pebble and tosses it in, listening for a sound.

Valin says " A small arm...."

Syrenia looks down at Bilgrom and smiles..."Aye...a small arm."

Tossing the pebble inside gives off a faint tapping before silence.

Bilgrom looks at the dwarf and shrugs, "I's thought ye's type can tell depth?"

[Jarl]: "did that sound like rock on rock to you or did it hit something else?"

Balthazar puts the glowing tip of his sword in the hole and looks again, from closer. "Well, nothing soft in there, I'd say. Wood, stone, metal. Who knows."

Borathor is still leaning against the wall watching the box. He has now pulled out a skin and has taken a large drink, allowing some of the wine to run down his chin. Afterwards he takes out some rations and begins to chew on some dried meat.

Placing the tip of the sword through the hole you see that indeed the box is hollow but you are unable to see if anything lies within for the hole is up to high to see the bottom of the box itself.

Bilgrom stretches his arms and legs as he watches the box, and takes a sniff near the hole, trying to see if a stronger sulfuric smell comes from within.

Valin calls over to Balthazar " See anything?"

[Balthazar]: "Not the bottom... Does anyone have a hammer and maybe a chisel?"

Jarl looks over some wedges in the floor "anyone have any ideas on these" as he starts to try and manipulate one of them

[Borathor]: "Won't that make alot of noise?"

[Balthazar]: "Is that a problem? We've already dug our way in, after setting off an explosion."

Syrenia moves over to Jarl's side and looks down.

[Borathor]: "Well I know noise is never a good thing and surely is something we should keep to a minimum"

[Jarl]: "ye didn't hear any noises inside that box did yea?" as he continues to work them wedges

Balthazar shrugs since he doesn’t have a hammer anyway.

Bilgrom laughs as he looks up at Borathor, setting against the wall next to him. "Anything that has ears already knows we are here. For sure Do ye think we's should follow the clouds on t' ground, them's might lead outside."

[Borathor]: "I think if it leads down we should follow"

[Jarl]: "noise matters always" and stops at that while he continues to play with the wedges to see if they happen to do anything

Bilgrom nods as he glances at the box again, "Mayhap."

Valin keeps quiet off to the side of the room, still wary of the stone box and whatever it contains, if it holds anything at all.

[Jarl]: "Hey someone use a rope and a weighted small object and slide it into the hole, a dagger be good or some other metal"

Bilgrom glances at Jarl as he throws him a rope, "Will we be playin' with t' strong box until somethin' comes and eats us?"

Borathor moves over near Valin, looking him over he replies, "So, where did you learn your ways? It is good to see another woodsman like myself. I was beginning to think we were rare" He laughs at the jest.

[Jarl]: "well if ye don't wish to know what is inside it be fine by me"

[Bilgrom]: "If we's gonna wait. Then I'll go down t' passage this way." He motions to the only passage that was not yet used as he vanishes into the shadows cast by the torch. He fetches a torch and you see him lightning it in the darkness beyond.

Valin chuckles, relaxing a bit. " Yes.... It does seem we are few and far between, and I doubt we will meet anymore if we keep crawling through caves....'

Syrenia grins as he leaves..."Heh...we know what happened last time he went off alone..."

Valin shakes his head " I hate caves... So... closed in and dark, I'll take a nice Forrest any day...."

[Balthazar]: "I don't like seeing him light torches around here."

Jarl stands up and dusts himself off "well I'm finished here ready to go when the rest of you are"

Borathor laughs again then pats Valin on the shoulder. "I know what you mean. I think once we get to a town things will be looking up once again. Though in the meantime I can't complain about what the mountain has yielded thus far"

[Balthazar]: "If no one wants to break the box open, I'm finished as well." Walks down further, following Bilgrom.

Syrenia shrugs and leaves the box behind.

Bilgrom looks back at Balthazar, "Do ye’s evil sensing' move. Okay?"

Jarl grumbles and walks on

Moving father down the passageway you see it runs some bit before branching out to the left and continuing onward beyond that.

Syrenia looks to the left..."I say we go to the left..."

Borathor looks on the ground where the two tunnels intersect for anything significant...

Balthazar nods to Bilgrom and concentrates in both directions, one after the other.

Off behind you in the other area you hear faint cries of someone coming from within the darkness.

Syrenia grins..."Tollong found some trouble..."

Valin begins following along as well " Well, hopefully it will, but I doubt it.... I have sealed myself in a deal for a Dwarven priest to make eleven thousand gold, didn't have the money for Bilgrom's resurrection and have to make the money back and give it to him.... He even cast a spell on me to make sure I do it..."

Syrenia goes towards the cries.

[Jarl]: "hmm well let us see what he found"

Valin looks back towards the cries and instantly says " Tollong...."

Bilgrom follows Syrenia hastily, drawing his sword along with the dagger.

Balthazar jogs along behind Syrenia

[Tollong]: "SCORPIANS METTAL ONES BIG I WILL NEED HELP DISPATCHING THEM"

Valin follows as well, readying one of his longswords.

Syrenia takes a step back...

[Jarl]: "oh what Dwarven priest that be again?"

Borathor looks at Valin and sighs, "Well don't worry about that. I have some things stashed that will pay him off if necessary. I don't want some priest to come looking for us", he laughs then listens to the screams to Tollong.

Balthazar goes down the corridor Tollong took, following the sounds as well.

Syrenia shakes her head and follows again.

Bilgrom looks up at Valin while he runs in Tollong's voice's direction. "You did that?" He looks quite surprised.

Valin looks down at Bilgrom " Yes, I did...."

[Tollong]: "SCORPIANS METTAL ONES BIG I WILL NEED HELP DISPATCHING THEM"

[Jarl]: "hell metal scorpions? What in the nine hells?" Continues to head for the voice

Moving towards the cries you enter into another. You see to your left and right 4 large vats of malting liquids that bubble and burst upwards as if being heated by the breath of a dragon. There are no visible means of how these vats remain hot. Tollong comes running in from the other end in a panic as the sound of clanking metal can be heard coming from within the area he fled.

[Balthazar]: "Stand here, we'll fight them out of this chamber, it is too risky."

[Valin]: " We must try and lure them into the acid!"

Tollong stops an turns hear they come maybe we can use these melting pots to for us try to throw them in if we can"

[Borathor]: "Ok if these are anything like the last metal scorpions we are in for a tough time. Try to use blunt weapons they seem to be more affective, at least on the one I saw a long time ago."

[Valin]: " Hmmm I doubt that liquid would melt the scorpions, it isn't melting the metal vats holding it! Quick, if that acid dissolves, metal maybe we can knock them into it! Let's go!"

[Borathor]: "Maybe Syrenia could try out her fireball"

Before long to huge scorpions standing some 6 to 7 foot high and 12 foot long enter the room. Both with massive metal claws, one has a large stinker upon its tail as the other has a large flail like blunt end. They stop at the opening and shift back and fourth as they look over the new found prey.

Syrenia turns to Borathor..."What about the sulfur?"

[Jarl]: "Ack, I like the acid idea better" as he heads back that way

Valin follows Jarl

[Balthazar]: "It would be wiser, yes." Follows them.

[Jarl]: as he runs "what are yea? Can ye speak common?"

[Tollong]: 'I don’t want to be closed in "pulling back with the group"

While you try to debate your options the scorpions have made up their minds, as they come in closer snapping their claws with and echo crushing sound that fills the room.

Bilgrom throws a dagger at one of the skeleton to test their sturdiness.

Syrenia begins to cast a spell as the scorpion’s approach.

Jarl is still heading for the acid room

Valin is doing that as well.

[Bilgrom]: The dagger bounces right off the ground and slides behind the scorpions as he starts his way back into the passage.

Balthazar grunts audibly and returns to fight the scorpions.

Syrenia chants in a hurry and as she finishes, 3 bolts of red light fly towards one of the scorpions.

Syrenia casts her spell upon the beast as it seems to soak it up and little flickers of electric waves and pulses can be seem now emitting from the tip of its tail, as it move in closer for the kill.

Borathor sighs and pulls out his blades, he then takes a few swings at the nearest one. The blades whirl through the air gracefully and with great speed, causing a whooshing sound.

Syrenia curses and draws 2 daggers.

Borathor’s blades land true upon the beast but don’t even seem to nick the beast as it towers over him.

Tollong takes a swing at the beast with his sword his swing is deflected off their armor, as he did not hit true

The first beats stand tall over Borathor as its massive claws comes in snatching him up right off his feet as he gets flung around like a rag doll. The second beasts makes it way upon Syrenia snatching her up in it claw and Tollong in the other, while trying to smash the halfling but missing him clean with its thundering tail.

Balthazar steps in near the one holding Syrenia and Tollong and slashes at it viciously with his sword.

Borathor struggles to free himself from the claws...

Balthazar s blade slams into the side of the beast but has no effect.

Tollong struggles trying to get free of the beast’s grasps

Valin tests to see if leather or cloth will be burned in the acid when he gets there.

Borathor manages to get himself free and then takes a swing with one hand at the offending creature.

Syrenia tries to get free. Failing to free herself, she draws her magic dagger and attacks the claw holding her.

Tollong is still in the grasp of the beasts

The beast that’s holds Syrenia and Tollong turns and quickly scurries away into the other cavern carrying them away into the darkness. The remaining beast seems to be in no rush to leave as it once again strikes out snatching up Borathor and Bilgrom this time with the other. With its gleaming tail poised to strike down upon Balthazar it strikes down missing him by only a foot or so.

Tollong struggles again trying to get free of the beast’s grasps

Balthazar attacks once more missing the beast.

Jarl " Could you shape some stone into a large bowl or something to hold liquid? If we can make some of this stuff portable, we could burn the scorpions...."

Bilgrom swings his magic blade at the claw that is holding him, trying by all his means to free of the magic beast.

Borathor tries to free himself from the creature’s grasp.... He fails to do so and continues trying

Tollong struggles trying to get free of the beast’s grasps as it tries to carry him off to god knows where as he struggles but fails to budge the claw at all

Jarl continues his run slowing a bit as he heads strait for the metal beast, a water skin in each of his hands. Head stops a step or two before beast's and presses both of the water skins to release what is inside towards the beast's face

Jarl returns frantically with what he calls washing the beast whipping out two pieces of rope that smolder from each ends, with the smell of sulfur. The remaining beast turns and heads off into the darkness carrying away Borathor and Bilgrom.

Jarl does a quick scan of the room for anything made of stone that would hold that liquid

Valin has been running around doing that for awhile

Balthazar runs down the corridor after the scorpion carrying the two of them

[Jarl]: "there must be a stone bucket or a thick metal one in this place "

Following the beasts as they scurry off in the darkness you pass large piles of trash and crates piled high.

Jarl digs into the crates looking for anything that would hold that acid

Borathor moves, up to the grate and tries to force it open with brut strength.

[Jarl]: "by the gods might me have some luck this day?"

Following the beast into the passage you see another or one of them coming back in your direction claws free of your comrades.

[Bilgrom]: Bilgrom curses as he hits a wall, "Argh. By t' gods. These things be immune t' all me attacks, and yers. And Syrenia's."

Jarl runs away towards the acid room. "Come on ye reused old suit or armor"

[Borathor]: "Everyone give me a hand "

Valin tries flinging that liquid onto the metal beast.

Bilgrom joins his small muscles to those of Borathor as he tries to force open the said grate.

Borathor moves, up to the grate and tries to force it open...with the help of the others...

[Tollong]: "ok I am coming, Bor maybe all together we can lift it"

The beast comes in upon Bal and Valin as the dwarf slips away. Striking Bal with its massive claw and snatching him up as he misses with its second claw upon Valin who throws acidic liquid upon the beast at the same time causing it to smoke and melt in areas of the splash. In return the beast strikes him true with its massive club like tail.

Tollong tries to lift the gate with Bor and Syrenia

Balthazar tries to free himself in vain.

Valin is knocked backwards by the beast's attack, and uses his momentum and keeps going, bolting back to the acid room.

The beast heads off into the darkness carrying Balthazar away.

Syrenia winces and dusts herself off..."Damnit."

Valin will get another load of that acid into his stone bowl and then head back to where he fought the scorpion as soon he can.

Once the grate is closed the one beast leaves once more as the other still stands guard outside the grate.

Syrenia leans against a wall..."I wonder who these belong too..."

Bilgrom bangs against the grate and curses, "Who. Who’s be controlling' them's darn scorpions."

Balthazar shakes his head after the rough landing "Like hitting a boulder with a stick."

[Ruffus]: "Hey little help here?"

Tollong stands next to the bars looking out while he turns his sword in hand "who be there"

Returning to the larger cavern you are met in the piles of garbage by the scorpion again prepared to do defend its self against you two. The creature quickly lunges forward, snatching up Jarl but misses Valin both with its other claw and tail.

Valin tries flinging that acid onto the hulking metal creature " Die! If you can...."

Tollong looks back into the darkness who is that?"

The creature clearly suffers from the acid effects but continues to move about as most of the acid splashes unimportant parts and the floor.

Jarl tries to toss the bucket and all at the beast’s backside. Away from himself or drop it on the things, head if that is a better chance

Jarl drops the acid he has carried trying to hit a good place but send its down the creatures right side, as the smoke from the dissolving metal fades in the air the beast falls over to one side. As two of its legs have come unattached from the main body.

Valin charges back to the acid pool, retrieving more of the metal burning liquid.

[Jarl]: "Moradin, what yea say they most have been forged from the forge but they seem to be of magic" struggling to get free

Jarl rolls from the beasts grip as it drops to the floor in its attempts to grab him again the beast misses twice and strikes with its blunt tail also falling short of the dwarf. Valin soon returns carrying more acid trying not to spill it everywhere or upon him self.

Valin readies to finish the beast with his acid, and flings it at the still hostile pile of metal.

Splashing the liquid upon the beast soon creates a smoldering mass of scrap iron as it slowly comes to a stop, no longer flaring its legs and claws.

Valin smiles triumphantly, standing over the wreckage. A slight mumble escapes his lips as he gazes down upon the pile " Bitch..."

Jarl grabs for the bucket then heads off to collect acid as well. "Damned the things lets get some more and hurry"

Valin follows Jarl " Yes, let's hope we take the rest with less difficulty..." he grabs his rock plate/bowl thing.

Jarl takes his symbol in his hand and mutters to Moradin as they head for the acid pool

Valin skids to a stop in front of the acid pool and begins filling the stone bowl he found, being careful not to burn his fingers or arms off.

Jarl slowly makes his way down the path the metal beast went with the other members of the group filled bucket in hand

Valin keeps a tight grip on his bowl as he follows, saying nothing while looking about for signs of a giant metal scorpion.

Before long out in the passage Jarl and Valin come creeping down the passage as the beast guard begins to move in their direction.

Jarl waits till the monster comes in range, readies himself to throw the acid when it does

Valin raises his bowl and whips it around at the guard, once it is in range of course.

Syrenia gets hold of the gate and looks back to her caged friends..."Let's try this again and help out the others!"

Valin flings the acid at the beast, growling a bit as he does so.

The acid strikes the beast and begins to smoke around its left claw and arm, but continues to attack upon them.

Syrenia rolls her eyes..."Tollong, paladin...Bilgrom...Bor come on and help me lift this gate."

[Bilgrom]: "These things be made of metal. Electricity is their worst enemy. Ye’s got anything with electricity?" Joins with Syrenia.

Jarl throws the bucket full of acid at the beast

Syrenia looks to the others..."On three...one two three...lift!" Begins to lift the gate with all her strength.

Balthazar also heaves with all his strength

Tollong tries to lift with them

With the splashing of the second attack the left claw falls from the body as it smolders and dissolves upon the floor as the arm it fell from. But the creature still closes in. The creature, with what seems like deadly accuracy snatches Valin right off his feet and stabs him with its tail sending and electrical charge into him.

Syrenia lifts the gate with the help of the others...

Valin squirms for a second then shakes violently as the charge goes through him.

The efforts of the others do no justice, as the metal grate is too large and heavy to get leverage upon.

[Tollong]: "great what about that guy I cant leave him to rot here an goes over an tries to open the gate

Valin shouts " Jarl get more acid" as he struggles to get free.

Bilgrom reaches into Borathor's sack and fetches a potion, "We's got to go help them." He gulps down the potion, and suddenly his image begins to fade, he becomes blurry and slowly morphs into a small cloud.

[Tollong]: "I will have you out you can lend a hand Ruffus maybe together we can get it up"

[Balthazar]: "He shouldn't be left to rot, no."

Jarl cures "Moradin take this metal menace away from here" as he returns back towards the acid pool as fast as his little legs can go

Tollong tries to open the cage

Balthazar watches Bil turn to gas

The beast moves after Jarl striking him with Valin and missing him with his charged tail as he tries to run away.

Valin struggles to no avail in the beast's kung-fu grip.

Syrenia shakes her head..."What can you do? You're too slow or and small to carry those large bowls..."

Valin gets knocked around a bit more; being used a bit like a meat club.

[Jarl]: "good for nothin canned lizard"

Valin tries to reach his whip while in the beast's grip.

The beast breaks off its chase of Jarl as it returns with Valin to the grate, glowing over head its tail charged to strike any who move as it sways back and fourth with the rising of the grate. Throwing Valin into the area the grate closes as the beast backs away and once more stands guard outside the grate.

Tollong holds up his shield trying to block the tail, at tries to strike the beast

Valin lands and rolls upon hitting the ground, slowly working his way up to his knees " I'm sorry guys, I failed...."

Borathor snickers, "lasted longer then we did."

[Balthazar]: "It doesn't matter, I'm sure Jarl will succeed finishing off this beast."

Tollong goes back to trying to free Ruffus

[Bilgrom]: The small cloud floats up to the highest part of the grate and slips through, heading through the passage and down the hallway.

Syrenia yells at Bilgrom..."Better get away quick...I'm casting soon..."

Valin digs through his pack and emerges with his crowbar " Hmmm, this might help.... Who here is the strongest?" he looks about at those still, in the cage.

[Tollong]: "well Ruffus you are in a tight spot I cant budge these bars"

Syrenia smiles at Valin..."I'd back away from the gate if I were you..."

Valin nods " Alright" and backs away.

Syrenia looks outside to see if Bilgrom is still there.

[Borathor]: "Well maybe if some of your friends up you we could all do it together.

[Tollong]: "some of you get over here and help me free Ruffus"

Bilgrom is no where to be, seen nothing other then the guard, the man in a smaller cell, and some more gas floating about the area.

[Tollong]: "hold that fire ball"

Syrenia sighs..."I wanna blast it..."

[Valin]: " Why, Tollong?"

[Tollong]: "is that gas flammable you could kill use all"

Balthazar watches from the cell, obviously trying to sort something out.

Syrenia runs her hand through her hair..."Isn't that just from the acid burning the thing?"

[Balthazar]: "I wouldn’t take the risk. Let Bilgrom and Jarl try the acid again!"

[Tollong]: "did you try to set fire to the gas it could be flammable we don’t know this guy has a thing with fire help use get Ruffus out an he can maybe help use lift the gate"

Borathor shakes his head, "So stand back in the gas is it will only make the fireball better in effect."

[Tollong]: "well lets get Ruffus out so he can take cover at least

Syrenia shakes her head..."We aren't going to lift that with his help or not. I hate to see anything caged come on it will only take a moment"

Syrenia chuckles..."We are caged..."

Balthazar walks up the grating, trying to make out what may be happening in the distance.

[Tollong]: "I really hate seeing that but lets get him out so he may take cover from the blast you want to set off"

Syrenia moves over to the grate and looks at it for a lock. Looking down at him..."Get back before I stick you with half a dozen daggers."

[Ruffus]: "Blah, come on I can help you I have skills in the blade you know I would help fight that thing for my freedom."

Syrenia shakes her head..."We already have elves good for that..."

[Tollong]: "let him out Syrenia or help me open the door ALL OF YOU. We need all the help we can get'

[Ruffus]: "Come on you mean to tell me only this kind sir out of the lot of you will help me and he needs your help?" The man paces back and fourth before sitting down next to a wall in his cell.

[Balthazar]: "Very well Tollong, but I warn you, this elf has the stench of evil about him. If we release him, he is under your responsibility. I planned to help you once we were free, since I do not like the thought of releasing him in such close quarters.'

Syrenia raises an eyebrow in Balthazar's direction..."Ahh...good to know."

[Ruffus]: "hey, hey now do I go round judging you kind sir?" Peering at Balthazar with a faint smile.

[Balthazar]: "Considering you should probably be hanging from a branch somewhere by the law of more good nations, I feel I've been quite indulgent."

[Tollong]: "we let him out he goes his own way after we free him nothing more"

Valin and uses it to carry some acid, "Alright. Let’s try it."

[Tollong]: "you give use you word you will help use leave this foul place?"

Syrenia grins..."Free him so he can kill an innocent..." He shrugs..."I don't care either way."

[Tollong]: "No TRICKS OR DECEPTION?'

Before long Jarl and Bilgrom return again to assault the metal monster as it begins to defend the grate.

Balthazar watches the fight, purposely ignoring the argument in the cell until combat is over.

[Ruffus]: "Look I don't know you folks and from the looks of it don't want to I just want to get back to my home and what I was doing in the first place."

Bilgrom yells out a battle cry as he notices the metal monster has seen him and hurls the content of his small rock to the creature.

[Tollong]: "let’s get him out come on I will hold the responsibility for him now help me"

Jarl throws the bucket full of acid at the beast (if it is in range?

[Tollong]: "come on an help me"

Splashing the liquid upon the beast once more sends it into a frenzy clawing and striking out at every direction striking Jarl by chance as it drops to the floor in two separate melting hulks of metal.

Tollong grabs the door to the cage Ruffus you help push

Syrenia shrugs..."Ask Bor he's the strongest..."

Tollong grabs the door to the cage Ruffus you help push

[Jarl]: "damned metal beast" as he drops to a knee

[Tollong]: "look the beast is dead and now lets help Ruffus "

Bilgrom rushes to Jarl as he notices the beast slain and examines his wound, "Ye's got t' means t' heal yourself. Jarl?"

[Balthazar]: "Excellent work my friends, more acid will be needed to melt through these bars though."

Ruffus joins in, in attempts to free himself from the confines of the cell.

[Tollong]: "come on people wile we wait on the to bring more acid"

Borathor shakes his head, "I tried it already its to big and heavy to lift without some other way. How did the beasts open it?"

Syrenia turns to Bor. "He's talking about the bars holding Ruffus..."

Bilgrom points to Jarl, that has not yet noticed the grate, and all of his, comrade’s imprisoned inside of it. "We's got t' bring more acid t' break the bars."

Standing near the scorpion you see the rest of your comrades stuck on the other side of a large metal grate prison cell type door.

[Jarl]: "you still have acid yes? I will head back and get so more"

Tollong tries again with no help for any of the others in the group on with Ruffus's help

Bilgrom nods to Jarl as he motions everyone to move away from the bars, and pours some of it down on a first bar.

Jarl smiles at the others "soon" as he heads off again

Balthazar steps away from the bars

Borathor walks over to the grate. "Spread it out on the bars in and area to let you walk through we can squeeze through it.

Bilgrom breaks the bar in two with help of the acid and looks over at Valin, "With t' help of ye's crowbar. Ye’s should be able t' pull the bar up." Pours more of it below on the same bar, and waits for Jarl to come back with the bucket.

Bilgrom tries to weaken the metal and with the acid he carried as Jarl returns sometime later with more to ensure it works.

Jarl sets the bucket down for Bil to use and steps back a little "so everyone okay in there?"

Syrenia looks at her wounds..."Most of us are bruises and battered..."

Bilgrom finishes the work with use of Jarl's bucket and nods to him, "There be another' prisoner in here." He manages to create a hole in the bars large enough for him to pass through and motions for them to come, and try to avoid the bars where acid still boils the metal. "Oh and by t' way. The small, err, large box we see earlier. There is a decayed body. Someone encased alive was there."

Jarl nods "we might need to fall back a bit and rest for a while

Bilgrom nods to Jarl, "Aye. It be t' plan."

After adding some more acid to the grate its is finally weakened enough for Borathor to kick the section out.

[Tollong]: "help me with Ruffus please all of you"

[Balthazar]: "A body you say? This cold is what I was looking for... The mage's remains, perhaps."

Syrenia gets out and moves over to the metal scorpion. She takes a moment to look over it and begins to search through all the metal.

Bilgrom ponders at Balthazar's mention of the mage, "Well hum. I's thought t' mage turned t' a lich with t' same body?"

Balthazar goes to help Tollong "Who knows Bilgrom, I prefer not to take the chance."

[Tollong]: "come on we need more muscle over here"

Bilgrom shrugs, "We's see then."

Jarl looks at this other captive. "What be your name and how did you get here?"

Syrenia throws a piece of metal in front of Jarl's feet and looks up for a moment..."Ohh sorry about that"...before continuing her search of the remains.

Tollong tries with Balthazar’s an Ruffus to open his cell

Jarl looks down "look for a heart or a brain for say or at least in those areas" as he waits to hear from the captive or at least what he/she looks like

Syrenia dusts off her hands..."Nothing..."

Bilgrom puts the bucket of acid not all empty down next to the hole. He holds out the empty potion bottle, "Ye's think acid would fit in an bottle like that?"

Ruffus says nothing sitting in his cell upon the floor, for the rest will not help free him and he has no use to waste his energy upon them anymore.

[Jarl]: "hmm I hope the bottle can hold the acid." He walks into the cell area and looks at this person

Balthazar stops helping as soon as Ruffus gives up.

Tollong walks to get the stone bowl I will be back Ruffus I will free you where is this acid you got I need some more

[Jarl]: "can you talk?"

Bilgrom pays very little mind to the man in the back of the cell, as he looks down at the remains of the metallic scorpion and waits to get out of here.

[Ruffus]: "Look you folks want money I have money I can pay you to let me out of here you know. Not asking you to go out of your way or anything your standing right there."

[Tollong]: "tell me where the acid is?"

Inside the cell is an Elven Male dressed in black leather armor and high black shinny boots.

[Jarl]: "tell me you story. How did you get here and why?"

[Tollong]: 'just tell me where the acid is I will free him you go on"

[Ruffus]: 'as I said before I was walking down the road and I ended up here."

Bilgrom points to his feet, "Huh. Right there."

[Balthazar]: "He said he was wandering with friends, and was captured and brought here."

Valin looks at the elf " Well, according to Balthazar you are evil, so, it will cost you elven thousand gold to be freed."

Syrenia grins at Valin..."Costs went up on freeing prisoners..."

Jarl holds out his amulet "and from were do you call home" as he chants

Valin looks over at Jarl " Could I have the assistance of you and your deity, Jarl, that last scorpion damn near killed me"

[Ruffus]: "Evil huh he doesn't know me, and sure I have 11 thousand in my pocket no problem." Shakes his head and begins to pace once more.

Tollong takes the bowl and walks over pouring the contents of the bowl on the cage after telling Ruffus to get back

Valin nods to Syrenia " Ya, it's just the amount needed to pay off my debt with the Dwarven priest, if it saves me from whatever that quest spell will do if I don't get the money, I'm willing to empty the pockets of an evil person.

Balthazar shakes his head and says, "You'd be surprised at how much evil lives among us. We should free him. What we do afterwards is the complicated part"

[Jarl]: "tell me of the items you carry, and again where is home for you?"

Syrenia taps her lips with her finger while thinking..."Free him and them burn him to purify him." She grins and shakes her head..."Who cares what happens with him."

[Ruffus]: "I hail from Westgate, and I have only my normal traveling gear with me like yourselves."

[Jarl]: be turns to Valin and begins to bandage him up then places his hand over his wounds

Balthazar glares at Syrenia but listens to Ruffus.

[Bilgrom]: "Free him from t' bars. He’s found a way t' fend fer himself I's sure!"

[Balthazar]: "Seems like the best option to me."

[Valin]: " Thank you Jarl...'

Tollong pours the acid left from the battle upon the bars of the cell as they smolder away dissolving in the smoke released by the acid.

[Jarl]: "are you hurt or wounded and please some of your gear is more then normal. I will help you but I will not help you if you lie to us"

Syrenia shakes her head..."There's probably only one exit...He'll have to come with us..."

[Ruffus]: "Ah thank you sir, I’m sure I can get out know at least one of you has some kindness within you."

Tollong swings the door open you are free Ruffus now be on your way the rest of the crowd does not like you I have no problem with you I can not stand seeing the caged

[Ruffus]: "What are you talking about dwarf I carry nothing special with me?"

[Tollong]: "let him go on his way Jarl we have done the right thing"

Jarl points to the ring on his hand "really?"

Valin mumbles something to himself.

Ruffus steps out and nods to Tollong, "thank you sir thank you, and turns to head out through the grate. As he turns and looks to Balthazar before slipping through the grate and into the darkness.

[Jarl]: "yes we maybe the right thing."

[Tollong]: "go now Ruffus you are no longer a slave to these bars "

Syrenia enters the grate Ruffus came from and searches it.

[Bilgrom]: "Slave o' these bars? Y’ are weird Tollong. Really weird."

Valin shakes his head " Hopefully Balthazar's power to detect evil was wrong, oh wait, that's impossible...." Gives Tollong a thumbs up " Way to go" he says, obviously sarcastic.

[Tollong]: "he is gone now lets worry about getting out of here now what about that"

The small cell has nothing in it and appears to have been empty for some time with only the footprints of Ruffus where he was pacing.

[Jarl]: "evil in nature isn't bad only if that evil takes actions in an evil way is it then a bad thing"

Syrenia steps out and searches the room they were caged in.

[Tollong]: "Valin I care not what you think of my actions he is now free "

[Balthazar]: "And evil acts when the righteous do not watch, Jarl, yes."

[Tollong]: "lets leave this foul place "

Bilgrom shakes his head at Jarl, "Well hmm. T’ fact tha' he disappeared ain't good."

Searching the area you were held in leads back into a larger cave like area that is barren of anything of importance.

Jarl looks about the two rooms

[Balthazar]: "We. Should leave though, yes. I wish to examine the coffin further."

[Jarl]: "and he lied about his gear is also not a good thing"

[Tollong]: "I wish to leave this foul place not go back into it"

Syrenia leaves the cage..."Come on let's go..."

Valin shrugs " Alright Tollong, you shouldn't care what I think about your actions, since most of them have yet to yield positive results...."

With the beast now dead or at least not moving you can see outside of the grate there is another grated area to the right and a passage to the left.

Valin nods to Syrenia as he follows.

[Jarl]: "so Bil what was inside that stone box?"

Syrenia looks in the grated area.

Tollong follows the group

Balthazar also follows.

[Jarl]: he follows

[Balthazar]: "A decaying body, he said."

Looking into the other grated area you see it goes back maybe some 50 feet or so before stopping and is empty all signs of life.

[Balthazar]: "That's is why I wish to examine it..."

Bilgrom scratches his head as he tries to remember the details, "A body. Still dressed in a gown, aye."

[Jarl]: "Interesting, why would a dead body be encased in solid stone this could be a bad thing"

[Valin]: " Obviously to keep people from getting at it... Or it getting out..."

Bilgrom eyes Jarl strangely, and then looks back at Balthazar "Because it was t' enemy o' t' mage."

Syrenia sighs..."Maybe his wife..."

[Jarl]: "maybe, but that is an open-ended answer"

[Balthazar]: "Maybe his link to this world."

[Jarl]: "maybe we should ask it." As he smiles

Syrenia shakes her head..."Let the dead be dead..."

Balthazar chuckles "I wish it were that easy. If it were my life would assuredly be boring though."

Borathor looks in the left passage. "Well we have water a pond or lake or what ever over here. What items do you mean he lied about Jarl?"

Valin regrets having given his silver tipped arrows to pay for part of the Dwarven priest's services.

[Balthazar]: "Yes, wizard, but I would wish the undead be dead as well."

Bilgrom shakes his head as he listens to the others, "I's don't remember anythin' of importance on t' body. But then again I's looked quickly."

Valin also no longer carries a bow.

[Tollong]: "enough talk more walking lets leave this place it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth

Syrenia rolls her eyes..."He's dead...and anyway...we got his magic items. Who cares about the rest..."

[Jarl]: "he had a ring and his blade, as well as some other items but the dead might be able to tell us about this place or hidden dangers"

[Tollong]: "I thing I uncovered the danger in those beasts"

Borathor nods, "he reminds me of someone just cant place it. Anyway which way do we have left to go?"

[Bilgrom]: "It would be best for Jarl t' rest and regain t' spells he has lost I am sure."

Syrenia shakes her head..."That thing or person was dead a long time ago...thinks change over time...it would only be a waste of time."

Jarl nods "well if ye be wanting me to heal you when we next come across them metal monsters." As he gets his bucket and heads off to fill it with acid again

Balthazar shakes his head and says "Fine. One day I will return here to finish the job though."

Bilgrom nods in harmony with Syrenia's comment. "We had better leave this place now tha' we can after all."

[Tollong]: "yes an I would like to leave this place"

[Jarl]: "I say if we decide to rest we do it in the acid pool area just to be safe"

Borathor snickers. "Its a dead woman in a stone box if we cant lift it to get in how will she lift it to get out?"

Balthazar nods to Jarl in agreement.

[Valin]: " Don't underestimate the powers of the undead..." he grinds his teeth slightly " Damned monsters, their undead life is an affront to all that is living...."

Bilgrom taps his foot as he listens on.

Borathor looks out over the water; "Hey its fresh water cold very cold but appears to be clean."

Syrenia rests next to the water..."Metal scorpions wouldn't survive in the water...so it'll be safe."

Bilgrom nods to Borathor, "It appears t' is source water?"

[Tollong]: "well lets make our way across it"

[Borathor]: "Don't know but it has to come form somewhere wouldn't you think?"

Jarl heads over to the room that had the acid pool in it and sets, the bucket right beside it. He then sets his stuff up away from the acid "do we want to push these boxes into the door areas to block them from intruders?"

[Balthazar]: "Yes, especially with Ruffus hanging around here."

Bilgrom nods in complete agreement with Jarl, "Most excellent idea, dwarf." He then looks into the water and washes his face, trying to disturb the water as little as possible. Before catching up to the others.

Tollong takes up a spot and tries to get some rest

Syrenia takes her spellbook and begins to study.

Bilgrom fades into shadows and sits up against a wall.

Jarl chants, again, as the resting area is set. A large misty wyvern flaps its wings over head "okay now I can give thanks"

Balthazar kneels and murmurs his ritual phrases.

[Jarl]: before starting to pray Jarl opens his hands and holds out a hand full of berries "take one if ye hungry"

Tollong grabs one an eats it up "thank you Jarl"

Bilgrom rushes for one of those berries, throws it in the air and catches it with his mouth. "That one o' yers magical berry?"

Syrenia takes a berry and eats it, nodding in thanks to the dwarf.

Balthazar takes a berry

Jarl takes the last one after the others have taken one and eats it. Then he heads off to give thanks to Moradin

Balthazar goes to the coffin room, obviously concerned.

Bilgrom remains hidden in the darkness, pulling his cloak over his head for a while and sleeping deeply.

Balthazar comes back to the acid room with the others. Moving boxes to block the doorways while they sleep