Bonzo's feet clamber at the cliff's edge as he tries to gain better footing.
Climb Check
Acrobatics
Strength
Alcheringa slips, and lands on his face as Bonzo is about to lose his grip, but Castor is able to reach the halfling in time. Yet it seems like he's not strong enough to pull him back without help on the slippery surface.
Acrobatics
Alcheringa skitters to Castor's side and pulls Bonzo back onto the balustrade, breathing heavily, all three of them lie in the darkness, the adrenaline still pushing through teir veins.
Everybody OK? Let's get out of here--quickly but carefully!--once you guys catch your breath.
Once he reaches the top of the ledge, Bonzo lays as flat as he can on the slippery ground, panting and shaking with adrenaline. After a few moments his head rises, and he looks around and smiles at his saviors. "You guys are the best," he says as he stands up, and continues quickly past the Voidfalls.
"Bonzo, I think Vaughn had it right when he said that You must avoid falls at a voidfall. Just remember, my friend, there is a reason they do not call it a Letsnotpayattentionandhaveafall."
Castor just shakes his head, gets up again and points to the bottom then he draws his thumb over his throat and shakes his head again.
Slowly and with even more caution than before Bonzo's stunt, you descend down the jackscrew-like Voidfalls.
After about three hours you finally have reached the level the duergar intended to and pause.
After everyone had some time to regain some of his endurance the dwarves press on and you have to admit you hadn't thought this small guys had such a tremendous stamina.
On and on you walk and since you lost any sense of time, you are quite surprised as Castor suddenly raises his arm and commands
OK, day's over, we camp here. Without any comments or complaints, the other duergar instantly begin to prepare the camp. More and more you realize that those guys function like a military squad since they have entered the dangerous tunnels.
You are now in a domed cave of about 20m diameter. The path you follow cuts the cave in its centre and a small pond is close to one of the exits.
All mushrooms within the cave have crumbled like the one that was hit by the light from Vaughn's lantern.
Perception:
I look for a way to make myself useful in setting up camp, then I make a circuit of the cave, looking for a good vantage point from which to keep watch.
@ Vaughn:
You soon find a pile of rocks next to the pond where you are mostly sitting in the shadows, yet you still have a good view of the camp and the path.
Castor, who looks over to you, nods and signals you that he is content with your choice.
Bonzo summons Donna once they stop, then they begin to look around as they help the duergar unpack their campsite.
Bonzo Perception
Donna Perception
Donna, after looking around for a bit in the campsite, points to some of the mushrooms lining the walls and says, "Look. Mushrooms are all brokened."
Perception
"Look. Mushrooms are all brokened."
Donna, that is not a problem, once you chop them up and put them into a big pot of soup, they will all taste the same!"
Once Kyren finds a spot to camp away from the pond, Kyren begins to feel the loss of not bringing his Tzarek board and harp. Strolling around the camp, Kyren looks for things to amuse himself with, often thinking, "Living down here would be the pits! I wonder what these dwarves do for amusement around here. I can't believe I left my board back at the revive. What was I thinking?!"
Perception
Alcheringa is still thumbing through his book nose buried in the pages.
"How can you be so bored down here, it is amazing..."
He still hasn't looked up.
"Well that's easy for you to say, you have a book to read. However, besides that, you are surrounded by nature. Isn't that what you live for?! I guess I just don't notice all the wondrous things that you see. I can't help but think there is something big and purple that is about to mistake us for mushrooms and come flying out of that pond and eat us up. How come you seem so comfortable and at ease down here?!"
"I am at home in all of natures beauty, on her surface, or deep with her bones. What is there to be uncomfortable about, there is food and shelter down here, there is water... all the gifts for life. The Dwarves dig her bones for her gift of metal, there is only goodness"
"I am at home in all of natures beauty, on her surface, or deep with her bones. What is there to be uncomfortable about, there is food and shelter down here, there is water... all the gifts for life. The Dwarves dig her bones for her gift of metal, there is only goodness"
Heh, yeah. You just have to watch out for the things that think YOU'RE food!!
Heh, yeah. You just have to watch out for the things that think YOU'RE food!!
A strange look passes over Alcheringas Elven features, its hard to determine what the look is but there's something eerie and predatory about it. It fades away briefly as he appears to come back to the moment, "Yes, yes I can imagine that those things might be...disturbing" then goes back to reading his book and studying samples of things he has collected.
From his pouches he produces several mushrooms and bits of fungus that he waves his hands over while muttering incantations, then nibbling on to test flavour...
As the camp is finnaly set up, the duergar organize three guard shifts with three members each, Castor tells you that you're very welcome to join them.
The dwarven guards take positions at the exits of the caves, where they wait with crossbows and axes drawn. Their companions have gathered in the centre of the cave surrounded by the wagons, only one sleeps next to the ponies which wait next to the pond. The first three hours of this night proceed without any events.
The duergar change guards and after a short exchange of news "nothing happened" the new guards take their positions. During the next three hours everything remains quiet and you're happy to get some more sleep as soon as it is over.
Your shift has hardly just begun, as suddenly a cone of light falls into the cave. The dwarf closest to the exit wehre the light comes from, lays his index finger on his lips and loads his crossbow. Then suddenly a man in the garments of the Duskwardens, bearing a lantern in one hand, cautiously enters the cave and is greeted by the guard's crossbow, held directly in his face.
You lost your patrol two days ago during a troglodyte attack. The assault took you all totally by surprise, normally the troglodytes of the Darklands avoided contact with the other races and so two of your fellow Duskwardens were killed before they could even draw their swords. The other two were swept away by a tide of frenzied reptilians wielding large bone clubs and stone swords. Before you could flee or attack, a stone hit your temple and you were knocked out. Hours later you awoke, to find all your companions slaughtered, luckily the creatures thought you were dead too. Since then you have roamed these tunnels not finding the way back and running in circles. The fourth time that you enter the cave with the pond...but this time it's all different, there is a caravan of duergar and, the light of your lantern falls onto a crossbow held directly in your face...
"You can put your crossbows down. Can't you see it's a Duskwarden! They are the good guys!" Excited to have the opportunity to talk, Kyren steps forward to greet the stranger. "Well met, Master Duskwarden. Welcome to our humble, naturally beautiful, peaceful and quiet camp. I am Kyren Tosscobble at your service. How may I help you?"
The dwarf does not look convinced and lowers the crossbow only slightly, now aiming at the newcomer's heart.
Kyren does his best to persuade the armed Duergeur to lower his crossbow.
Come now, Master Dwarf. Where are your manners? This is obviously not a basilisk, otyugh, or a purple worm! I don't see any sharp pointy fangs sticking out! There are plenty of us and only one of him. Furthermore, he dresses just like all of the other Duskwardens. Give him a chance to speak. It is no wonder you have such a bad reputation with the surface folk. Why don't you try and relax a little. We might actually have a good time down here! Now, be a good little Duergeur and put the weapon down!
Diplomacy
The duergar tries to look over to you with one eye while he simultaneously keeps the newcomer in check with is other eye...his plan doesn't work out and he has to blink rapidly and curses. He lets the crossbow down and glowers at you as he mutters
Why do we have guards at all then...
Meanwhile the rest of the camp has also woken up and Castor strides to greet the Duskwarden.
Who are you, what's your name? he demands quite unfriendly from the stranger.
Once I awaken again, my attention is naturally drawn to the (apparent) Duskwarden who just walked in. But I keep my position, listening to the exchange while watching the rest of the cavern--you never know, this could easily be some sort of trap!
Alcheringa and Blaze stir, see everything is in hand, and curl back up on each other and go back to sleep.
Bonzo stays up with Alcheringa for part of the first watch, then drifts off and sleeps soundly knowing the duergar have their own guards, at least until awoken by Kyren. He rolls over, "Another Duskwarden? It must be frightening out here all alone..." he stands up and brushes off some dust from his shirt, then goes to see what the commotion is.
"Hail..." says Salfon wearily. His voice comes with a raspy croak he does not expect.
Clearing his throat and inspecting the fast talking halfling, he speaks: "By Sarenrae's light, she has led me to you... My group, four of us Duskwardens, were ambushed. It was a patrol group, but they were on us in seconds. I was knocked out in the fight, but arose unharmed."
Upon seeing his arrival draw attention, Salfon asks "What brings your group into these darklands?"
"Hail..."
"Hail, Duskwarden! I am Kyren Tosscobble at your service."The halfling bows politely to greet the stranger and offers him a hand to be friendly and to set an example for the Duergar, showing them how to properly greet others." Who do I have the pleasure of addressing, good sir?"
"By Sarenrae's light, she has led me to you... My group, four of us Duskwardens, were ambushed. It was a patrol group, but they were on us in seconds. I was knocked out in the fight, but arose unharmed."
"I sure am glad to hear you found some light to use down here. We have been mostly working in the dark without the lanterns. They prefer us to use the aura of mushrooms and other strange emanations of nature. However, regardless of how you found us, you are safe for the moment. I am sorry to hear of your ambush. But tell us, Duskwarden, what fiends of the darklands attacked you? What has happened to the others in your patrol?"
"What brings your group into these darklands?"
"We travel out of the dusk and into the darkness. We are the Wee Bluets, sent here by Dusklady Amberline Terrafiere. We are on the way to Deepclaw where we are to meet with Grendel Shadowfist. When we are not eating, sleeping, resting or passing the time reading books and simply enjoying ourselves, we travel onward to find the heart of darkness down into the caves of what my friend Alchy would call, The Bones of Mother Earth!"
"Well you are safe for the moment. We are most sorry to hear of your ambush. But tell us, Duskwarden, what fiends of the dark ambushed you? What has happened to the others?"
"Our attackers were swift, but I'm quite sure they were troglodytes. I knew they roam these caves, but I never thought in such numbers... Her light shines on me, for my allies lay dead when I awoke. I believe many days have passed since, and I've seen no sign of those beasts; though my eyes do not well in the darkness."
"We travel out of the dusk and into the darkness. We are the Wee Bluets... find the heart of darkness down into the caves of what my friend Alchy would call, The Bones of Mother Earth!"
Salfon throws the curious halfling a quizzical look and responds, You speak very quickly. Quicker than any other halfling I've met. What awaits at this heart of darkness? These Bones? Not knowing the duergar's, or the groups intentions, about a place named such, Salfon is cautious. But he knows survival in these caves could be limited, and this group, especially the one with the huge hammer, look quite ready.
"You speak very quickly. Quicker than any other halfling I've met. "
Yes, yes, . . . you are not the first to say that. It is definitely a Tosscobble family trait, but I think it comes more from my mother's side of the family. From a young age she told me that I have a tongue in my head and she insisted that I learned how to use it! Besides that, we would always have great historical debates at the dinner table every night, and if you didn't speak up, you would never get your point heard. Every night was a different discussion from every historical and political topic you could imagine. Some nights we argued away about Cheliax and their influence over Isger, or about Galt and their struggle for freedom. Other nights would be about Andoran and their great ideals. All in all, I think I learned more at the dinner table than I ever did in school. However, I think I am chatting away to you so much, because I can't always understand what these dwarves are saying and my companions are mostly asleep. Visiting seems to pass the time a lot faster don't you think?"
"What awaits at this heart of darkness? These Bones?"
"Well, that is the big mystery we are on the way to find out. Something seems to be driving creatures up to the surface. Kaer Maga has become little a circus where they let the wild animals out to roam free. Everything from Purple Worms to Otyughs seems to be bursting through the cobblestone streets of the city. All we can think is that something wicked is driving them out of the darklands. I hate to imagine what we are going to encounter. To be honest with you, I am actually a travelling musician by profession and I am feeling a little lost down here without my harp!"
"Well, that is the big mystery we are on the way to find out. Something seems to be driving creatures up to the surface..."
"Your mission intrigues me. And to be honest, I've lost my way in these caves. If you haven't guessed," Salfon holds up his sunburst pendant hanging from his neck, "Sarenrae guides my hands. I've equipment and magics to deal with wounds. Tell me, do you carry any wounded?"
"Sarenrae guides my hands. I've equipment and magics to deal with wounds. Tell me, do you carry any wounded?"
"Kazam! That is just our luck! You will have to check with the others, but I think at the moment we are all ok. You see, we have Alchy, who is pretty good with healing in a pinch, but we have been fighting some major battles and to say that we have needed a healer is a huge understatement. Desna be praised! No offense, but she has helped me out with a lot of luck in these difficult situations. Once you start healing us, I will give Sarenrae some praise too."
"I know Kaer Maga has many shades, by why do you travel with duergar?"
Kyren replies to the cleric in a whisper, once they are out of earshot of the Duergar. "Well, my friend. This is not exactly an ideal situation. We have been warned over and over that they cannot be trusted, and you have seen how welcoming they are to new guests. Let's just say that we are compromising here and working with the lesser of many evils. I have heard more than once, that it is better to work with the devil you do know than the devil you don't. In my experience with these gray dwarves, I will have to say, 'so far, so good'. I guess I am trying to think of them as a little experiment to teach them manners and to have me practice my diplomacy skills. I figure if I can persuade them to be kind and friendly, then I could persuade a bugbear to use a knife and fork at the Tosscobble Family Reunion! Actually, as I think about it, the bugbear wouldn't be much different than working with Uncle Garbonzo!"
Alcheringa awakens and regards the chatterboxes more closely, his Elven eyes picking out their features well in the dimness. He looks very intently at the Human Cleric as if calculating something important..."Do you happen to have an apple? I have run out."
He looks at the human expectantly.
Only the wheezing snore of the greatcat next to him breaks the heavy silence.
After listening attentively to the first half of the chatter between Kyren and Salfon, the duergar lieutenant rolls his eyes, obviously annoyed by the chuntering halfling
You're welcome to join our camp and caravan if you want to accomaopny us to Deepclaw, Duskwarden.
Salfon notes the duergar's tone. "Yes... I suppose I have no choice. I'll follow under Kyren's orders," he claims, with a shaky voice and a slight look at Kyren. He then turns back to the elf. "Also, friend, I'm afraid I carry no fruit, only rations and magic to clean food. If we find anything edible down here, we'll be in luck."
The Elf's features look a little fallen as the bad news is revealed to him. "Oh well, here, have a mushroom" He throws over one of the samples he has found to be the tastier variety.
"Cleaning the food is the gift of the Mother, she grants us the ability to find sustenance in all places... food and shelter are our basic needs, and She sees to them for us always"
Castor glowers at the darkness of the path ahead
OK everybody, you still have the chance to get about two hours of rest, then we will continue.
The elf nods, wraps his blanket back over himself and gets cozy again with his cat. In mere seconds they are both snoozing.
Once I can see that there appears to be no trap, and that the newcomer will be joining us, I leave my post and head over to greet him.
I hold out a hand. Hey. Vaughn Elliot, pleastameecha. I like the thought of having a healer with us--makes it easier to take risks! ;-)
"Yes... I suppose I have no choice. I'll follow under Kyren's orders,"
"Master Duskwarden, you are welcome to join us! The Wee Bluets are open to all who are willing. Well, I can't say everybody. My Auntie Freedessa would not make a good Wee Bluet mostly because her valued skills are limited to knitting and talking. You thought I was a chatterbox! Well, unless we planned on talking our enemies to death, or we had some magical knitting needles to put in her hands and planned on wrapping up our enemies in scarves and mittens, I would strongly suggest you not let her anywhere near our adventuring party. I would hardly be able to get a word in! But you, good sir, would be most welcome. However, I must emphasize that joining us must be a choice that is freely given. You see, one of the fundamental ideas that we live by is freedom. People must come and go by their own choosing. We are each and every one of us here by our own free will. It is this idea that unites us and keeps us together."
Alcheringa nods along enthusiastically at Kyrens summary.
Day 2 - The Halls of Ang'varak
Three hours later, the whole camp is securely put back on the wagons. Castor assembles his fellow kin and speaks some stern words in private to them, then he turns to you and says
We're soon entering the outskirts of the ancient Halls of Ang'varak. We might encounter monsters there that will haunt your dreams forever, monsters that try to twist your thoughts...we call them "Monsters of the Mind" or "Braineaters". I just admonish you not to venture alone down there, kay? Don't enter an old crypt or corridor alone, don't be seduced to follow a light into the dark, don't try a shortcut, don't...just don't stray from the group, kay?
In the morning, Bonzo yawns and sits up, noticing the newcomer almost immediately. "Donna, look, another human!" He jumps to his feet and prances about Donna until she slowly lumbers to a standing position, then the two of them walk over to the newcomer to introduce themselves.
"Hi! I'm Bonzo!" he says excitedly, extending his hand. "And this..." he presents Donna with his other hand.
"I Donna." she says with a friendly nod.
"We're glad to see another friendly face down here among all this darkness and gloom." Bonzo narrows his eyes, "You are friendly, aren't you?" Then, laughing, he says "Kidding! Welcome to the Wee Bluets--we're not your average group of adventurers, not by a longshot."
At Castor's announcement, Bonzo crowds closer to Donna in instinctive fear, but his pace throughout the day is not slowed.
We're soon entering the outskirts of the ancient Halls of Ang'varak. We might encounter monsters there that will haunt your dreams forever, monsters that try to twist your thoughts...we call them "Monsters of the Mind" or "Braineaters". I just admonish you not to venture alone down there, kay? Don't enter an old crypt or corridor alone, don't be seduced to follow a light into the dark, don't try a shortcut, don't...just don't stray from the group, kay?
Just one question, Lieutenant: will these Braineaters bleed if you stick a dagger in their squishy parts?
Kyren shivers at the thought of something sucking out his brain! "Don't worry, Mister Everblack, we promise to stick together and stay away from tempting corridors and shortcuts! We might believe in freedom, but we also believe in staying alive!"
@ Vaughn:
Castor furrows his brows, scratches his bearded chin and replies
They can die, but are pretty immune to normal weapons, now let's just hope we don't encounter any of them.
@ All:
As everthing's packed, the wagons slowly rumble into the darkness ahead. The tunnel become wider and then suddenly the ground is paved with worn down cobblestones. You follow this deep road through a lot of worked tunnels and after about three hours you reach a 6m high gate. The once beautifully ornated now scorched doors still hang in warped hinges and a bad feeling comes over you...a long time ago a battle must have been fought here...
Castor walks back to you and says
This is a side entrance to Ang'varak, a former colony of the citadel of Janderhoff. I hope you're not afraid of dwarven ghosts, heh.
"Ghosts I don't mind, the walking dead I hate"
"I too fear the dead, but am blessed to have the means to protect us. The reagents I need to make holy water are unavailable, but I've prepared magics to help. Stay close."
Castor furrows his brows, scratches his bearded chin and replies
.
They can die, but are pretty immune to normal weapons, now let's just hope we don't encounter any of them.
Could you be any more specific? I mean, I'm a warrior, and I need to know what weapons I'm going to need! This might be a problem . . .