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From humbug Sat Jul 31 02:49:03 1999
From: humbug
Subject: diddles
Newsgroups: redbrick.rpg.board
Organization:
Summary:
Keywords:
User-Agent: tin/pre-1.4-980202 (UNIX) (SunOS/5.7 (i86pc))
Status: RO
Content-Length: 15555
Lines: 242
Well, here's some more.
In the city of Gallantry on the evening of the twenty-third day of the
second month, six people talk in the Honest Inn. The topic of
conversation, what to do next. Slate, Los and Chanti are eager to find
training. Nickos and Greebo want to see if they can exchange some spells.
Anya is wondering why she's hanging around with these strange violent
people.
Slate wants to be trained by dwarves (not many of them in
Gallantry), Los needs to be trained by someone handy with a 2-handed sword
(not many of them in Gallantry) and Chanti doesn't think asking anyone for
directions to the thieves guild is a good idea.
Gallantry is _way_ too expensive to stay in for any great (or small)
period of time, so the party has to go somewhere. Slate is eager to meet
back up with his people (or what's left of them after the war) and the
Dwarfhold Mountains seem as good a place as any. Ugmor, one of the dwarven
patrons of the Inn, offers some advice. The party had been considering
trying to book passage south on a barge travelling through the broken
lands. Ugmor suggests that heading north to Boldavia, and then going south
on a different river circumventing the broken lands would be a better
idea. Ugmor and his friends are to be heading north in a couple of weeks,
and would be happy to make the journey with the party (well, Slate).
There's no way the party can afford two weeks in Gallantry, but
Tater Hill to the north of Gallantry sounds like a much more affordable
place to wait for the dwarves. Everyone but Anya is staying in the Honest
Inn, and Slate and the dwarves escort her back to the church of Illiath
before the party retires for the evening.
In the morning Slate arranges to meet the dwarves in the Roast Potato, in
Tater Hill, in about two weeks time and the party set off about town to
conduct some business before leaving. Nickos needs spell components, and
Slate leads the way through the city. As the group is walking along one of
the many busy streets, a strange floating eye starts following the party.
It seems interested in Slate, and hovers around him, blinking and staring.
Los approaches it, attempting to detect any evil intent. He senses none,
but it flies off. A few minutes later it is back, this time accompanied by
an ear and a mouth. The mouth addresses Slate, stating that its master
wishes to speak to Slate, and that he is to follow the body parts. Slate
asks questions, but the parts don't seem too smart. Shortly, the party
decides they might as well follow the strange floating things. The
master's name is Dragos, and soon enough the party is at his door. Nickos
knocks on the door, and calls out to Dragos (presumably) inside when it
swings open.
Dragos is quite an odd being. He (it?) consists of various
appendages, arms, legs, other bits, with miscellaneous mouths, ears, eyes
and suchlike positioned throughout. He seems quite a distracted fellow,
and when not being spoken to, or doing something, seems to wander in
thought and action.
He is interested in Slate, and recognises him as coming from the
Dwarfhold Mountains. He shows an interest in Greebo too (apparently the
skin of Greeb is used for flying carpets), but the group decline his
offers for Greebo's skin and hands. Something of value to Dragos lies in
the Dwarfhold Mountains, in between Grok and Kgag to be exact, and he
wishes the party to recover it, or rather, them.
Dragos begins outlining how he wants the party to recover various
appendages, apparently just lying around in the mountains. He presents the
party with sheets containing pictures and notes on the items, and Chanti
recognises them as being Modron body parts. Dragos thinks they are just
lying around on the ground, maybe in the snow, and he would like the party
to recover them for him. For payment, he is unsure of what he can offer,
and the party are unsure of what they want. Slate begins asking about the
possibility of having his lost eye restored, or getting a new eye, or
something, but Dragos isn't really sure what he can do, especially without
the lost eye, or another dwarven eye to work with.
Dragos leaves the party to discuss what they want, and shambles
off. The group don't really decide on anything, but nomatter, because
Dragos returns with his offer. He places five items on the ground. A case
of crossbow bolts, a nice looking set of dwarven plate mail, a potion, a
pouch and a pair of boots. He offers the party one item now, and one upon
their completion of the mission, provided Los promises that he will do his
best to undertake the mission. The party agrees, and choose the bolts for
now.
Dragos also agrees to arrange for various magical items that the party
might or might not be carrying to be identified. To that end, the group
set out to meet Rampow. He greets the party, and gets on with it. He
offers to cast 'detect magic' on the party, and anything he detects as
possibly magic the party get identified. The properties of some items are
already known, but no harm to get a second evaluation.
Rampow must keep the items overnight, but Los senses no evil intent, so
the group agree.
The next stop is the wizard's guild, where Nickos and Greebo want
to see if they can swap some spells that they cannot use for some that
they can. The rest of the party wait in an eatery across the road, and
Greebo and Nickos are admitted to discuss membership. Membership costs
100gp for six months, or a second level spell in lieu of 100gp. Using Los'
gem and a 'past life' spell as payment, Greebo and Nickos join the guild
and set about getting some spells. A system exists whereby a member can
exchange two of his own spells (of a given level) for one spell from the
guild (of the same level), but the guild have a large list of spells
available. There is also the possibility of making exchanges with fellow
members, should interest arise. In short, Nickos and Greebo sell all of
the spells from the "STOP THIEF!" spellbook, as well as a few of their
own, and get some nice spells in return. The deals are not conducted there
and then however, as not all are conducted with the guild and Nickos must
remain another night in order to swap and copy out spells. As the wizards
are talking, one of them asks Nickos if he's seen the poster of himself on
the noticeboard. Greebo checks it out, then Nickos. It's a message from
Ethel, saying that Nickos should call to Queleb's house. Nickos and Greebo
leave the guild, and meet the party.
Nickos gets Slate to lead himself and Greebo back to Queleb's
house. The ever friendly Ethel answers, and dispenses tea and brew. Ethel
says that the master has suggested that Nickos use his newly bartered
'find familiar' spell in the drawing room. Nickos gladly takes the advice,
and begins the long spellcasting process. After only about an hour Meow
pops into the room, and the spell is completed.
Nickos is sure that it is Meow, but the link is somehow stronger than
before. Thanking Ethel, Nickos and Greebo head off to finish their
spellcasting business, and Slate returns to the inn with the party.
Nickos and Greebo are both successful. Greebo adds 'colour spray'
and 'continual light' to his spellbook, and Nickos adds 'armour' and
'monster summoning'. Anya gets drunk in the Inn, and Slate has a few
drinks.
In the morning, the group set off for Tater Hill and after an
uneventful journey arrive in the evening. After booking into the Roast
Potato for two weeks (for a hefty sum), the group remember the magical
items left with Rampow. The next morning some of the party return to
Gallantry, gather the items and their descriptions, and return to Tater
Hill. The party had several potions in their possession, and had an idea
of what they did, but this is clarified. The teleport potions are
identified as being more like 'keys' used to operate something else, in
the party's experience that being teleport rooms. The robes taken from
Eltar's tower are normal. The presumed potion of strength is in fact a
potion of heroism. The other potion is much as the party thought it was,
an oil of sharpness, to be rubbed on a weapon before battle. Slate's axe
is also identified, and although normally nonmagical, it may have some
benefit when fighting goblins. The crossbow bolts are also magical, but
disappear after use.
The group have two weeks to kill in Tater Hill, but the time
passes quickly, and about two weeks later the dwarves arrive. They too
spend the night, and the next morning everyone sets out. The group crosses
the Vesuvian River, and heads north towards Braaster, which is reached by
nightfall. The destination of the group is the Scotch Breach, a large
valley pass between two mountain ranges that leads into Boldavia. After
several more days of travel the southern tip of the Scotch Breach is
arrived at. This is where the dwarves part, and the group head off into
the Breach, passing a guardpost as they do. The guards comment on the
relative stupidity of such a small group sleeping alone in the breach, but
the night passes without incident, and at about midday the party arrive at
the guardpost on the Boldavian side of the breach.
The Boldavians are warlike and xenophobic and don't really put up with any
of the party members except Los and Slate. The obligatory bribe is paid,
and guards announce that they will be escorting the party around
Rimskigrad. The group stays in the Foreigners Inn, and in the morning set
about finding passage downriver. Things don't look promising, and people
wonder what the Ugmor was talking about. A lot of talking is done on the
docks, and the farthest downriver the party can seem to get is the village
of Estoniarsk. This isn't very useful at all, and leaves the party miles
off from the Dwarfhold Mountains.
With no money, and no other options, the party decide to be dropped off
across the river from Estoniarsk, and then cross the plains, hopefully to
encounter another river, that, when crossed would place the party at the
foot of the Dwarfhold Mountains. With villagers laughing and pointing on
the other bank, the group set off across the plains.
On the morning of the fourth full day the group spot strange
yelping dogs in the short grass ahead, they seem harmless, and are
circumvented by the group. Next morning, something else is spotted in the
grass behind the party, but these are a lot less harmless. A large group
of bugbears are rushing towards the party from behind, and this one
doesn't look as though it's going to be easy.
The bugbears immediately rush to close the gap on the party, and
group ready themselves. Los draws his sword, and Slate decides that now is
the time to quaff that potion of heroism. Chanti attempts to hit one of
them with a thrown dagger, but misses, and the bugbear finishes right
beside him. Anya moves behind Los, and attempts to steady Edward. Greebo
was going to cast 'colour spray' but realises that they would be out of
range, and decides not to. Nickos casts 'monster summoning' and four
strange flying webby birds appear in the path of the bugbears, they are
ignored, but Nickos directs them to attack the bugbear nearest Anya.
Things continue. Slate moves in front of Nickos, so as that he can
safely cast spells from behind the line of fighting. Nickos attempts to
cast 'monster summoning' again, but the spell fizzles. The four webby
birds attack the bugbear by spitting some strange stuff at it, but this
doesn't seem to have any affect.
Los' attack is more effective, and kills his first opponent in one blow.
Slate attacks one of the two in front of him, and hits. Chanti
ineffectually tries to stab his opponent with his dagger, and Nickos tells
Meow to attack Chanti's opponent. "Yes master" comes a voice, and when
people look around they see that Meow is now some sort of winged lizard
creature. Nickos is puzzled, but pleased when Meow sends a 'magic missile'
into Greebo's opponent. Anya decides to release the bucking Edward, just
as well, because Greebo manages to burn it in casting 'burning hands' at
the two bugbears in front of him. The bugbears attack, and Chanti, Los and
Anya are all struck.
Next round both Los and Slate have two attacks, but use them to
little effect. Chanti misses his opponent with his dagger, and Meow
attacks the same bugbear. Anya, already injured, falls to the ground when
Greebo's 'burning hands' go astray again. Not too far astray though,
Nickos and Greebo opt to cast 'grease' and 'burning hands' in the same
place. The bugbears slip and fall, and are then burned by Greebo to good
effect, even more so as the grease is consumed by the fire. The webby
birds again attack the bugbear, who had been ignoring them, but they
manage to strike, causing little damage, but directing its attention
towards them and not a party member.
In the next round Chanti is stuck and he too falls, leaving Meow
to face the bugbear. Greebo's opponent is still on the ground, and he
attempts to strike him with his little staff. Los is facing two opponents,
and very low on health. Slate misses again, and Nickos casts 'grease' at
Slate's two opponents, but messes up and casts it behind them. The webby
birds are still flying around the bugbear, but one of them is killed by
barely a scratch from the bugbear.
Los is down to 1hp, and still being attacked by two bugbears.
Nickos targets one of them with a 'grease' spell, causing it to slip and
fall. The same bugbear continues to fail its saving throws, and remains
floundering in the grease for the duration of the battle. Slate is still
facing two opponents, and his buffer of health from the potion is wearing
thin. Greebo opts to cast 'colour spray', but realises that the area of
affect is such that he is likely to hit one of the party. He tries to aim
it at Slate and his opponents, but messes up, and sends the blinding flash
of colour towards Los, the other bugbears, and the webby birds. One of the
webby birds is incapacitated, but the bugbear that was attacking them is
blinded.
Greebo next manages to blind another bugbear, this one already
quite injured, by casting 'continual light' in its eyes, and spends the
next few rounds hitting it with his little spellstaff. Los is still in bad
shape, and after Nickos disarms Los' opponent with another 'grease' spell,
Los moves to heal Anya, that she may more proficiently heal him in return.
Slate is too getting low on health, but fights on, starting to hit his
opponents, but not doing much damage.
The battle continues on. Nickos keeps casting 'grease' variously
causing the bugbears to fall, or to be forced away for at least a time.
Anya heals Los, and again when he is struck in the next instant. Greebo is
out of offensive spells, but attacks the fallen bugbears. The tide starts
to turn in favour of the party, and bugbears begin to fall one by one. The
remaining blind bugbear is the first to flee, and is dealt a parting blow
by Greebo as he does. Nickos pursues, Greebo too by means of a jump spell.
Slate and Los are down to one opponent each, both for the moment
floundering in grease, but both fail to capitalise on the prone opponents.
The 'grease' spells are running out, and as they do the last two bugbears
flee. Nickos and Greebo give up the chase on the other bugbear, and return
to the party.
Chanti is still down, and has presumably deteriorated since he fell. Anya
confirms this, and administers the healing potion in possession of the
party. The potion does its job, but the shock of being resurrected is too
much for Chanti, and he is lost.
It was late, and we left it there.
humbug.
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