Its "A" Dungeon (Inactive)

Game Master Terquem

I dont mind being paid for what I was already doing Niversal thinks he says if the rest of the group agrees then I will do that

Touching her chin in a contemplating thought, We may have been close to exploring this area you speak. Is there a statue at the top of the stairs marking this area you want us to go to? Zae glances over at Keryth with a skeptical raised brow.

Hmmm, the man rubs his elbow, No, No I don’t remember any statues or temples. The way down to the basement lies in the bottom of the large tower in the northeast corner of the outer castle wall but I should warn you, the upper floors of the tower are well deteriorated and probably not safe, so whatever you do, don’t try going up, just take the stone stairs all the way to the bottom. There you will find a roughhewn passageway going west, and then south to a heavy wooden door. There might be, um, a few zombies and skeletons in the caves past this door, but they shouldn’t be a problem for folks such as yourselves. Then go all the way to the south. There is another heavy wooden door in the southwest corner of a large cave. Through this second door is a long debris filled passageway. It’s safe, and then another door. It is beyond this third door where things get to be more than I can handle I can tell you.

Zae, raised a curious brow, arched a straight back and folded her arms to rest behind her, Oh? Don't stop there, what is it behind the third door that makes it more difficult than the skeletons and zombies?

The man holds up both arms in a shrug, I really don’t know. The bugbears sent through the third door did not return, and those that stayed at the door reported horrible sounds. I’ve never been past it myself.

Well that's interesting. Zae states aloud before turning to the party. Out of more than curiousity I would like to see some of those religious relics in person, but that is just my opinion. What say the rest, do we agree to the offer extended?

Noticing the way Zanlyn has been eyeing Zae, Ballar turns to look at the girl. Taking in her thin frame and tattooed head the dwarf's mind drifts from the conversation as he wonders what Zanlyn could possibly be looking at, No much ta look at, poor thing's got no hair. Concluding that it must be her holy symbol of...Hmmm or rather where the arcane welder has chosen to place her adoration, A fair pair, Ballar manages to return to the conversation catching only part of Zaehyra's question and replies on impulse, Huh? Wha? Oh, ya sounds 'bout right.
Wha's she go'in on 'bout?

Zaehyra flashes a knowing smile at Ballar twirling the cord of her holy symbol as he returns to the topic at hand. Then her eyes dance to settle on Keryth, his decision obviously being necessary after Ballar's god blinded the poor man out of what she hoped was only a passing fancy. "Do you want to make this a unanimous decision?"

Keryth has been standing silently contemplating things only interesting to himself as the others converse with the man. Realizing someone is addressing him directly he responds at first with a Pardon? before replying Oh, yes, um, we can check it out as long as we don't have to enter that god forsaken room with the statue... and you give me that potion of gaseous form as a token of good faith.

Should I ask him about the portal now? Just in case he isn't here when we get back? He thinks to himself.

Clapping his hands together, Zanlyn says with excitement, Wonderful, wonderful. Well, with that settled, um, uh he looks around the room, thrust his hands into the pockets of his work pants, pulls them out empty, then as he looks here and there across the room, he says, Ah, ah, alright, alright. Here,

He practically skips across the room to a small table in the corner, opens a little wooden box on the table and takes out a large sack, and then looking left and right again, he scoots across to another table where he picks up four small pouches. He has to dump something that looks like salt out of one of them, blows into, and the from the large sack he counts out four stacks of one hundred small gold coins. When he has them sorted, he places the coins, each stack to a pouch and ties them each shut with a little bow.

There you are then he says, coming back across the room and handing each of you a pouch. The, uh, what was it, the uh, gaseous form mixed with invisibility, yes, yes. he moves to the work table and picks up one, then another, then another, small bottle setting each one down in turn, until he exclaims, Here it is. And you have my thanks. I’ll put out the word that you are not to be molested while you are on the grounds, and if you can return to the castle and report your success, or maybe tell me what troubles you were not prepared to deal with, just, you know, let me know what I’m up against if I want to claim the sub-basement for expanding my operations here, I would appreciate it.

The man is surly going to double cross us at the first opportunity...

Taking the offered vial, Keryth looks at it skeptically. This isn't likely even the potion he claims it to be.

Holding it out to Zanlyn Keryth inquires, Are you sure this is the correct elixir? Perhaps you could demonstrate its powers with a small taste?

Oh, well, alright, if it will seal the deal, but, the man smiles, an awkward smile, and tips his head to the side, Don't try to rob the tables while I'm away, some of this stuff is so dangerous even I'm afraid to touch it, haha

He takes a small sip of the potion* and then sets the bottle down on the table.

Before your eyes his body begins to dissolve into a thick green gas, and then as you watch the gas vanishes.

A few silent moments pass, and then ten feet away from where he disappeared the man reappears, intact.

Well that was harder to control than I thought, takes a good deal of concentration to keep the gaseous state and invisibility both working, and then try to move. Not easy, but I suppose if there was a gentle wind, you could escape a dangerous situation with ease.

*Normally a potion like this would be outside the bounds of the rules, but I'm playing around with the original module here, which had just such a potion of gaseous form and invisibility, and also, normally a potion doesn't work with just a sip, but it worked this time.

pretty impressive potion niversal nods and waits the others from the group to be ready

Keryth takes the vial back without comment. Well, I guess that rules out poison.

Of course that still doesn't mean he isn't going to try and kill us the moment he thinks he can manage it.

Well, time is wasting, Keryth says aloud as he moves towards the door...

Zae follows the others out amd rejoins Kamastra.

After the group hikes outside Niversal says where do you suppose the way down is?

We can sneak past those skeletons and look into the collapsed tower for an entrance, or we can simply backtrack and use those stairs we crossed earlier by the ugh, statue thing. I'm certain those stairs will take us where we are needing to go.

With a sideways glance over at the wizard, Ballar nods his head in agreement with Zae's suggested path, Aye, backtrack'n is easier. Thar's jus tha thing ta, ya know, take care of. Ballar makes the universal gestures with his hands to indicate a voluptuous woman ending with a shrug. With a snap of his fingers, the dwarf comes up with an idea. Rummaging in his pack, Ballar produces an empty sack large enough to cover most of the statue, Eh!? Whaddya think?

I highly doubt a divine being would be so easily defeated with only a sack. We'd be just as well off sticking Keryth in there. Zae thought, as she looked to Keryth's response.

sense motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Keryth catches Zae's gaze, and the way he frowns, she gets the unnerving feeling that he actually may have heard her thoughts just then.

Pausing before speaking he states, I am not going into that godforsaken temple again. Either we find another way down, or you go without me. Were there not other unexplored paths below not taken?

I am sure we will be fine if we go pass the statue. We elves are a hardy sort against enchantments anyways.

bluff: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

Zae frowns, before calmly replying, We have already agreed to the terms and you are a man of your word. The basement is likely the location of the next portal and there has to be a number of religious relics and scrolls down there and the fastest way down there is through that converted temple. I wont bully you into staying with us Keryth, but elven and wizardly pride need to be put aside so we can continue what we are all here for, exploration, gold, and glory. You must find a way, make a way, or suppress your feeelings long enough to get to the stairs.

Keryth seems completely unmoved by Zae's plea to his honor, greed or aspirations of glory. In a likewise calm and even voice he begins a reply, You will not manipulate me with your words so easily my dear. I have spent a number of your lifetimes mastering the complex and challenging art of arcane casting. My mind is steeled against your mundane efforts to dissuade me from my earlier stance of never stepping foot in that loathsome place ever again. You would have an easier time... His words are cut short by a resounding thud. The wizard stands motionless for a moment before his eyes roll back in his head and he pitches over onto his face, revealing Ballar had moved in behind the conjurer...

Initially Zae is surprised and alarmed at the sudden change in Keryth's cadence, but after a brief moment of piecing things together, she shrugs. Suppose my method wasn't mundane enough was it? I hardly doubt he will not spare the rest of his story for me another time. Until then, no point wasting the opportunity. Let's get him onto Kamastra's back so we can get down there before he wakes up.

I should have thought of that and Niversal helps get the wizard up on the back of the tiger and secured and then leads the way down to the statue room saying good job Ballar.

Opps! Dropped the ball there for a second...
The heavy metal ball of his Dorn in hand, Ballar looks a little sheepish at having just knocked out a fellow comrade. Nodding sorrowfully he stows the weapon muttering, Ad ta be don, tis no oth'r way down an we ain't go'n without im.
Silently, Ballar carefully lifts the wizard and, keeping a keen eye on Niversal's hands, Hate for anyth'ng ta go miss'n, ensures Keryth is safely secured upon the back of Kamastra. The dwarf sticks to the big cat's side, walking escort as the group makes their way down to the room containing the statue of Cayden's barmaid. Tipping a wink, and his tankard at the dwarf maiden, Good mead tha! Ballar breaks his silence as they reach the top of the stairs, Bloody stairs! Tha beardless tree hump'r who put these 'ere aut'ta be hang'd! Finally standing before the latched doorway at the bottom of the steep and uneven stairs, Ballar carefully lifts Keryth off of Kamastra and sets the wizard down.

My apologies if I sped this up a bit too far, feel free to retcon actions if you like, it won't effect Ballar's actions...

When Keryth blinks his eyes he is startled to find that he is awake, and not feeling any pain.

The party is standing in a dark cave. In front of them is a peculiar device. Siting on the floor of the cave, and coming to a height of about four feet, the device is made of wood, is shaped like a rectangular, upright, box, with a top that is sloped down creating a sort of “face” that has a wide open mouth. The part of the box below this “face” is decorated with a plaque, done in brass, with a stylized set of letters done in a large rendering

ATM

Below these letters, in a smaller print are the words
“Abigail’s Transportation Machine”

The little group remembers. When was it exactly? Just a few hours ago, when they entered the Portal Event, and were given bracelets meant to activate one of these devices.

Will you place your hand in the device?

Pondering the rectangular device Ballar suddenly exclaims, 'Old on! If we go thru' tha, wha'du'ya think tha chances are tha bloke's gonna pay us wha's ow'ed!

Rubbing the angry knot on the back of his head, Keryth gets to his feet while asking quizzically, What.... happened?

Zae carries on replying to Baller's question, or what she supposed was a question, I doubt the man will feel obligated to chase us through the portal device and to the ends of the infinite planes to ask us if we did his bidding, especially since we haven't done anything. Not yet. I wager he thinks himself clever for sending us on to be dealt with by whatever lives down here. I don't really care for his payment. I am more interested in the holy relics that were potentially stashed away down here. However, the thought of having to camp in a dungeon doesn't sit well with me. Especially so, since we are unsure as to when we might see civilization again.

Niversal shrugs we'll find things of value where ever we go and I dont much care either way. Lets just take the ATM and find out next adventure, eh my fellows?

Tutting at Zae's dismissal of the man's trickery, Ballar turns to Keryth, Tha, pointing to the wizard's head, was a wee aft'r affect o'Cayden's shrine. Ballar gestures up the stairs and the newly consecrated shrine, Fa nawt drink'n tha maiden's mead. Tha God o'wine an ale gift'd ya a wee bend'r n'return. Folding his arms the cleric looks over Keryth's face with some concern, See'n it b'fore. Tha ne'xt time ya 'ave a bit'o vino, ya'll be cure'd.
Nodding reassuringly Ballar stands up and faces the ATM, Thar'd bett'r be a good pub on ta'otha'r side o'thas thing, and he stomps through the portal...