Its "A" Dungeon, Too: The Second Chance (Inactive)

Game Master Terquem

I kind of want to hear Beasts as yet unknown backstory while he's drunk. That sounds like it could be fun.

Tofutee looks over at the inebriated beast and back to the horned one.
"No idea. Our last bashy type ran out on us, some issue at home apparently. The dungeon minion just showed up with him a while back, he's been a good replacement." The plant woman responds as she looks around the bar. "Hrmm.. you might like her, she appeals to humanoids a lot. Though I doubt she'd be easy to buy. Every time I see her she's wearing some new and obviously tailored outfit. I don't see any pictures of her around here but shes on a good chunk of the propaganda for the adventurers."

The Shady Dragon Inn, Du’Orbna

Day 10, approximate time of day 10:30 am

It has been three days since Tofutee, Bud, and Beast left the “A” Dungeon. They have settled their outstanding depts., purchased some new gear, and spent a bit of time finding out exactly what their current employment status is

They still have jobs! That is the good news, the bad news was that they are on the bottom of the Assignment List, and there are no pending assignments*

*Monsters who live in the city of Du’Orbna can have regular jobs, like anyone else, or can be employed as a denizen of one of It’Dupree’s Dungeons (room and board are included, sort of), or if working in the Dungeon day in and day out, or taking a job in retail or the tourist industry doesn’t suit them, there are always jobs that It’Dupree needs taken care of that require special skills. These jobs, the Assignment List, are typically non-paying jobs. Compensation for taking an Assignment position includes special favors from I’Dupree’s Minions, as well as show tickets to some of the hottest running shows on Bleakway (heck, getting a Ticket to Tarrasque, the Musical, is like a four year waiting list). The Assignment List is usually posted monthly at each Its “A” Dungeon Kiosk. Usually the month before the annual Loot Challenge the Assignment List is short, as It’Dupree tries to make the event accessible to as many creatures of Du’Orbna as possible

It is Thursday, and the annual Loot Collection Challenge is scheduled for this coming Saturday.

Bud, Tofutee, and Beast, have been thinking about taking on the challenge, registering as a team, and getting ready. Today they met a couple of newcomers to the city of Du’orbna.

Different kind’s people, people of every sort, come to Du’orbna for many different reasons. Some come just to experience the strange city, and its peculiarities, not to mention its excellent hotels, restaurants, shows, and splendid port facility where goods from all over the world can be found for sale, as well as harbor tours that can take you in and out of the Shroud for your amusement and education. Others come looking.

Looking for lost friends, or looking for answers to mysterious questions, it is not uncommon to meet strangers of serious dispositions, bent on some quest, or determined to master some forbidden lore.

But one thing you do not come to Du’orbna looking for is trouble. It’Dupree, even though she has not been seen for over four hundred years, maintains a strange sort of peace, and calm in Du’orbna.

Fighting in the streets is strictly unlawful and results in harsh penalties (some say the perpetrators are teleported to deep, deep, levels of the “A” Dungeon, others say perpetrators are forced into the “B” Dungeon and not given ATM cards, which could be a fate worse than death.

Still others come looking to prove themselves in the Dungeons, or to find that one bit of treasure that will finally make all their dreams come true.

One thing is certain, Du’Orbna is a splendid place. It has culture, art, history, and snow cone shacks, as well as a sizeable population of undead machines moving about with apparently no real purpose other than to get in the way of traffic at the worst possible times.

I’m ready to start, Supplement 1, for Loot generation, is close to being done, and will go up soon, but we can enter the “A” Dungeon as soon as everyone is ready. Please go to the Discussion thread and declare your readiness and when all are ready I will post an introduction for the Party at the entrance to the “A” Dungeon. All maps of the “A” Dungeon have been erased, and a new Dungeon will be generated. You will have 24 hours (in game time keeping) to collect as much wealth as possible. Each Hour, at the start of Turn 1, 6d6 will be rolled, the average of these dice will indicate the current Loot Collection Leader. See the Discussion thread for details

Bud, Tofitee, and Beast are approached by a man in gleaming breastplate with a large, odd-looking polearm of some sort resting easily on his shoulder. What is notable is mostly is lack of things. No halo sits resplendent upon his brow, nor do wings of samite and gossamer bring behind him like the sails of ship in a strong wind. Does he miss these things? Or did he never have them? Perhaps he will tell you...in time.

"Hail to you, champions," he says, he voice deep and booming like a boulder woken up too early. "Aren't thou too seeking glory upon Field of Testing? I am not yet cleaved to any force, so an ye would have me, I should be honored to test mettle by your side."

The words roll of his tongue easily, though they still feel strained, like a speech memorized the day before.

Tofutee sighs and turns from her conversion with Ruul looking at the new arrival.
She then winces "Gah that thing is bright. Why are you carrying around such a shiny thing. Why are you shiney in the first place? Seriously why are you wearing an angel-y knight get-up here anyway? People might not be able to fight in Du’orbna but they can sure as heck rob you and throw dirt clods." the short plant chatters as turns her face down slightly and gestures in the angel cosplayer's direction.
" Also, 'Thou'? I mean I guess its no worse than the psychic babies preference to blend a whole thesaurus into every sentence but you seem to be taking this angel thing seriously." At that point tofutee sighs and looks at the collected group.
"You know what, my burger is likely ready by now. I don't much fancy attracting any more of a crowd why don't we have everyone join us at the table me and beast just got up from to further this discussion." The plant woman explains gesturing to a sizable table with a somewhat swollen looking human of questionable age and multiple empty seats.
"C'mon Beast, if you have anything more you want to talk on Ruul i'll see yu over there when you've finished your meal alright. New guy... uhh don't know your name yet. You want to come over to the table and give the gist to what you want?" Tofutee suggests, giving beasts are a light tug toward the table before informing the new pair.

"Certainly, mad'am, I...egad, where does that overwhelming smell of bacon come from? I have heard tell of the legendary burgers of this realm, but truly they have not done such justice...." He heads over to the indicated table.

"Pleased to meet you. I am Imrael, Angel of Confrontation. It is my understanding that there is a Challenge about. What I want is to win it. Unless there is some intrigue or guile I do yet remain unaware of?"

What does Tofutee look like? All I can tell is a plant/humanoid that is a baconling. Since you taste like bacon you must of course smell like bacon. This has 'running gag' written all over it. =)

Tofutee gives the bright newcomer a blank state that passes into a semi-uncomfertable silence before nodding slowly. "Riiggght. Well this will likely take a minute to explain."
She then sniffs the air for a moment and shrugs.
" As to the bacon.. I wouldn't worry about it. Must just be a new additive they tossed onto the spiduffalo before they made it into a patty." The plant woman redirects as she move to the table. The woman taking a chair next to a comically overstuffed backpack that looks like it might fit on her back.
"I definitely have nothing to do with the smell though."

Tofutee is a 3'6''-ish tall green blue and white mottled plant (fungus more like) person. green-blue 'hair', inhuman eyes. She looks fairly close to her profile picture and is wearing a set of clothes with an unreasonable number of pockets. There is obvious noise of chain armor underneath it and several daggers are on her belt. While its not so obvious at the moment her 'mouth' is actually a massive vertical maw that starts at her 'human' lips and ends at her clavicle. (That weird looking thing on her throat in the profile picture)
She's got that uncanny valley thing going on but is a passable humanoid until she eats something.
Tofutee is a 'Baconling' That is to say a Vegepygmy that smells like bacon and may or may not be made out of highly nutritious tofu. Shes the most important meal of the day. They are delicious and highly capable of feeling pain along with other annoying emotions unnecessary for a food stuff.

As Tofutee and her entourage approach the table, Bud is looking into the bottom of another empty ale mug. There are 10 more stacked on the table like a pyramid. Without looking up Bud speaks, "This stuff just isn't like it was in the old days Tof.....Who the hell turned the lights on?" Bud's head then snaps up at Imrael. "Looks like you brought trouble with you. Why can't you just come back from the bar with another burger or more ale?"

Imrael turns his helmeted head toward the undead arcanist. "I assure you...sir...I am far more trouble to those that would stand against my STEEL that those that would stand behind it.

And by the Prime, man, why aren't you drunk yet? I have seen dwarves with not so grand a monument to their tolerance to inebriation stacked up. Are you simply unaffected? Have you even tried strongwine? Here, I have with me a flask of Rumboozle, would you care for a draught?"

"Rumboozle hmmm. What year was it? Oh it doesn't matter I'll give anything a try, not that it will do anything." He then takes the offered flask and takes a long drink from it. "Not bad. I should probably give up why they still have something to drink. The name's Bud, Bud Wiser and I haven't gotten drunk in 270 odd years, ever since I took that three day nap." Bud looks down and shakes his head. "What brings you here?"

Tofutee takes a moment to climb up her chair and get into a seated position again. A slight smile on her lip as she sees her burger had made its way to the table.
" Yeah I wouldn't want to get in a drinking contest with him. Not sure on the fuel though. Hey Bud you ever tried not drinking? Wonder if you'll dry up like a hunk of jerky." The plant woman licking her lips before they split open as she takes a monstrous bite out of her burger
"Mmm.. dis shone's goo."

Picking up his platter of bloody meats, Ruul joins the others. Once again the unfortunate chair he chooses once again groans under the bull's weight.

He makes no effort to greet the other newcomer except to snort and slightly tilt his sharp horns at him.

Oh. My. God. Who invited the f#*~ing sunspot? Boss, if we're betrayin' anyone tell me we're betrayin' him first. Pleeeeeease.

The Shady Dragon Inn, Du’Orbna

Day 10, approximate time of day 10:30 am

Once Bud, Tofutee, and beast have become acquainted with their new friends

Ruul and Imreal

The three explain, as best they can, the upcoming twenty four hour marathon dungeon loot recovery event that is scheduled to take place

TODAY!

Tofutee realizes that the event will start in just over an hour, promptly at noon on the second Saturday after the first full moon of Pinscoi, the middle moon, that occurs on or after the spring equinox.

That’s TODAY

Quickly downing the rest of their meals and quaffing a generous amount of mild alcohol, the five new friends set off at a brisk pace for the entrance to the “A” Dungeon.

And, is it a mess.

Vendor booths have been set up all around the entrance and the square is filled with teams, most wearing matching jerseys over their armor or coats of arms, fans of various teams mingle about waving pennants, and tooting obnoxious horns as loudly as they can.

The vendor booths offer drinks, snacks, and here and there a few minor potions. A large booth is set just to the right of the entrance with a banner that reads “Jeffry’s Emporium” in large bold print, and in smaller banners to each side of the booth are announcements such as
Registration, forms, and Q&A

While a large red arrow points even further to the right with a notice that reads “Accounting and Verification”

Some teams have gathered close to the entrance, where a tall, attractive human woman stands on a small stage and holds a megaphone in her hand. She seems to be explaining how the event will begin

Alright teams – here’s the run down, a special set of Dungeon B portals have been set up in the starting area of the A dungeon. Each portal will send your team to a different location on the first level of the A dungeon, to ensure that each team has plenty of room to get started. It is not specifically against the rules to attack other teams to try and take their loot, but it is highly recommended that you do not start a fight in the starting area, simply to avoid blocking up the entrance. Each team that registers will be given a set of bracelets that will activate any ATM and return your whole team to the starting area. We’ve made sure that there are plenty of ATM’s scattered throughout the Dungeon, but if you can’t find one, don’t worry, exactly twenty four hours after your team has passed through a portal, your team will be automatically returned to the starting area.

She pauses to catch her breath and then shouts even louder

I want to welcome you all to this year’s event and as a special bonus I get to introduce the winner of this year’s Soporella’s Stakehouse’s Miss Twilight Bay contest, Du’Orbna’s very own pop senstation and creator of the dance hit The Soft Stick Stomp, Miss Jacquelyn Ophelia Vilakku, who will sound the starting whistle for this year’s event.

An impossibly tall, voluptuous, and stunningly beautiful construct who resembles a cross between a scarecrow and a fine porcelain doll ascends the small stage next to Abigail.

She is dressed in short pants, which reveal her well sculpted wooden legs, and a half shirt tied tightly below her ample bosom. Her long auburn hair is lose and free cascading in large curls down over both of her shoulders. In one hand she holds a pennant advertising Soporella’s Steakhous, while in her other hand she is holding a huge metal whistle.

When the applause dies down, Jacquelyn smiles and waves her pennant, and then says demurely

I am happy to announce that the winning team this year wins dinner for four plus four gusts at Soporella’s where I will be your personal host, and if everyone is ready…

Jacquelyn raises the whistle up to her wide mouth, and then giggles and says as her chest heaves upward

Wait, I just remembered I don’t have lungs, hahahaha
and the crowd goes wild

Ruul is disappointed by how civil everything is but he takes a few minutes to wander among the rows of vendors. He tries one selling shots of a potion called Red Bull. He's puzzled by the claims that it gives the drinker wings (why would bulls have wings?) but he enjoys the sweetness and rush of energy that comes afterward.

"Shall we begin?" the huge bull rumbles as the whistle is blown. "I'm eager to see what challenges this dungeon holds."

Yeah! Let's get goin' toots. You're about to see what the boss's ripplin' pecs can do alright. That dungeon isn't gunna know what hit it!

Imrael nods at the suggestion that fights don't start in the starting area. "I once adventured in a realm that Never had any Winter. The front gates took hours to get through because there was always a fight. She gives sound advice. Lets us be about it."

Tofutee wanders over eventually a greasy looking skewer of meat in one hand and a pair of garish hornrimmed glasses on her face. The opposing bands of purple and pink only adding to the clusters of rhinestones framing the glasses.
" Stupid tournament.. sold out of all the decent items." The baconling complains as she devours her skewer.
the baconling nodding to her collected allies once the tournament begins.
"Yeah, sounds for the best. Lets head down as soon as we can. If we win perhaps we can get some steak... I'm not really sure why I want that right now though."

Imrael traded a copper for a pair of plain rice balls. Being around that plant-bacon-thing kept making him want bacon, so he hoped munching something else would slake the craving. Denial in pleasures meant greater glory in battle. With STEEL!

Its “A” Dungeon, Entrance, Du’Orbna

Day 10, approximate time of day 11:00 am (Turn 67)

Ruul heads down the wide stone steps into the starting area of the “A” dungeon followed closely by Bud, Tofutee, Imreal and Beast.

The team moves shoulder to shoulder with a few other teams, and then when they reach the bottom of the stairs, they are in a thirty foot by thirty foot chamber with ten foot wide passageways going north east and west.

The Dungeon Minion stands in the center of the chamber and she is wearing a trim blue pants suit, from the Spring Farlinder Collection. Her hair is pinned neatly at the top of her head, and she carries a clip board.

There are several teams moving through the chamber, and the conversations are loud and annoying as teams point and select which passageway to take, jostling for position.

Ruul pays no head to the commotion and heads straight to the north, seeing, in the well light corridor, a tall round portal like aperture set up fifteen feet to the north in the passage way.

Just as the team is approaching the portal, behind them they hear the voice of the Dungeon Minion calling out to apparently another team that has just come down the stairs.

Hold up a minute, Bella’s Burglars – you didn’t register, and don’t have bracelets, come with me…

Did we register already?

The Dungeon minion's voice trails off just as the team lead by Ruul passes through the portal.

Where do you begin?: 1d20 ⇒ 11

The party steps through the portal and finds themselves in a passageway

Passageway Type?: 1d20 ⇒ 2

Passageway Width?: 1d20 ⇒ 5

The party steps through a portal into a ten foot wide passageway that appears to have collapsed ahead of them.

Dropped Passageway Type?: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Fifteen feet beyond the exit of the portal (which fills the passageway behind you) the floor of the passageway drops away and only solid wall is seen ahead of you. The light from this passageway and the light from where the passageway is seen below fill the sixty foot droop well enough to see that the walls are smooth

It appears the party has discovered their first challenge.

While the group examines this apparently difficult obstacle, another Dungeon Minion suddenly teleports into the passageway standing near the exit of the portal. She wears a green pants suit, carries a similar clip board, but her hair is disheveled, and she has a cross look on her face.

Well,The Minion glares at your group each in turn, I hope you’re happy with yourselves. She lifts the clip board high in the air and angrily taps it with the fingers of her other hand

You didn’t register, did you? And you don’t have bracelets, do you? So that means you cannot use an ATM to get out of the Dungeon. AND on top of all that, I have the unhappy job of bouncing all over the universe letting some teams know that we are experiencing technical difficulties with the portals, due to the high rate of translocation randomization that Abigail tried to add to these temporary portals.

The Dungeon Minion tries to straighten her hair, as she looks back at the portal, and eyes it up and down and left and right while murmuring

mmmm, hmmmm, mmmmm, hmmmmm

She spins around suddenly and throws her arms out wide, announcing

Well, that’s that. I have no idea where you are, or even when you are, so, um, well, good luck

And then she disappears.

Portal Identification Rolls from Appendix “AP”

Portal Situation, Table II.: 1d20 ⇒ 18

As far as the party can tell, they might still be in the "A" Dungeon, then again they might not be...

You are faced with a sixty foot dropped passageway in front of you, leading to a Dungeon Level below (Dungeon Level 3) and a blocked One-Way, Conventional Portal behind you.

Who usually takes point? The tankiest person or Tofutee so she can look for traps?

Can any of us fly? If not, I have rope so we can lower ourselves down.

HA! Oh man I wasn't expecting that but it makes so much sense. For those of you not in the know I think We just got jerked around like that because Tofutee narrowly avoided getting ripped off by the dungeon minion for a large sum of gold. Or at least thats what I'm going to pretend happened.

As to party order typically Tofutee takes point. She remains within 60ft of the party and typically maintains contact by message with Bud or signals.

Tofutee's responses are abrupt and as sudden as their chance in location.

"Yes we did."

"The papers are right here in my.. my.. huh where'd it.."

" No really where'd that paper go. GAH! cold. Wait thats how a teleporter works wow thats weir..."

Tofutee stands incredibly paralyzed with anger and confusion fighting to reach the forefront. One hand still rustling through her backpack slowing as she looks at the patch of wall that formerly held the dungeon minion.
" This.. This did not go as I expected it to." The baconling informs as she looks at the wall that formerly held the dungeon minion.
Wisdom: 1d20 ⇒ 17
Then a twitch and laughter.
" Oh @#$#. I think I need to get a tattoo to commemorate this. Sorry gents but I think we just got screwed by the dungeon minion personally. That's.. that's like a wizard polymorphing into a dragon to fire breath a gnat in his house." The plant woman complains as she uncoils some rope.
"Well. Ok then. Nobody in this group can fly that I know of. So we're gonna have to climb down."

Is the wall climbable at all or is it a sheer drop?

"Tofutee, what did you do to pi$$ off that Minion?" As he looks down he whistles and shakes his head.

Ruul peers over the edge where the floor drops off and he can see that the walls of the gap are sheer, and smooth, with very few small protrusions where the stone of whatever this place is made out of did not break cleanly. Climbing down would be a difficult task, rope would help certainly, but something here would need to be anchored for the rope to be tied to.

The surface is Smooth, but has some cracks and handholds. The DC to free climb this wall down is 25, with a rope to help you descend, if it is anchored at the top to something, will make the climb an auto-succeed

Bud looks over the edge and whistles.

You need at least 70 feet of rope to make the descent safely

We can tie our ropes together easily enough. Ruul has rope too.

Determining that it might be too difficult to climb down, Ruul looks for something sturdy to secure a length of rope to.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

A look back toward the portal is all it takes to realize there is nothing in this passageway to tie a rope on to.

It sounds like we're riding the monkey-elevator!

If the monky-vator is unavailable

Tofutee looks over the drop and shrugs removing one of her iron spikes and hammering it into the ground. " Don't suppose you remember the sticker we found last time? You know during the wombat incident? I know there are all kinds of rumors that float around about the dungeon minion supports her style. We might have stumbled across one."
with something to secure a rope to tofutee shrugs at Bud
" I can't think of much else that would have caused her to pay attention to us. I mean she used to suplex the Otyugh for fun we are bug to her."

Tofutee drives a heavy spike into the floor at the mortised joint between two stones, being sure to give the spike a good angle under the flagstone.

Working quickly the party joins two ropes, even taking a moment to add a few knots every five feet or so in the rope for good measure.
One by one the party descends down to level three of this dungeon

Its “A” Dungeon?, level 3, Du’Orbna?

Day 10, approximate time of day 11:30 am (Turn 70, elapsed time = 3 turns)

At the bottom of the collapsed passageway is another ten foot wide passageway going thirty feet to the north (?). At least the lighting is consistent so the party hurries to see what lies ahead

What Does lie ahead? Table I. Periodic Check: 1d20 ⇒ 11
New Passageway, Type, Table III: 1d20 ⇒ 15
New Passageway, Width?: 1d20 ⇒ 2

After thirty feet there is another thirty feet of passageway that ends in a “T” intersection, with five foot wide passageways going east and west for 30 feet.

"Well, which way do you think? Right or left?" Bud says as he taps his new staff on the floor.

While remaining invisible, Zuberu dutifully tugs the spike free from the dungeon floor and flies it back to Tofutee once the party has descended.

"Left", Ruul rumbles definitively.

"Sounds good to me." Tofutee shrugs at the behorned one and walks in that direction, gaudy eyewear scanning the area for threats.
"Oh and thanks magical flying thing that is definitely not a devil."

Perpetion: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31

"Teehee!"

Tofutee shrugs and gestures to the noisy spike retrieving cloud. "Any reason we are not using that as a convenient scout? Seems like it might be good for that, unlikely to set off traps."
With that the baconling gestures to the newly made stairs. "Any objections to heading down? No? well great."

Ruul shrugs his powerful furry shoulders. "I'm not averse to putting Zuberu in danger or even hurting him but his death would be inconvenient. His service was a gift from the Lord of Beasts after all", the bull rumbles.

Tofutee nods " Fair enough, never good to damage the boss's property."

Ruul follows along until the party comes to a pair of flanking doors.

"We should see what's behind them. Care to check them for traps?"

tofutee hems and haws at the door before nodding to the drunk.
"Care to give the door a look over with those wizard eyes of yours. I'd prefer to know if there is a chance of becoming a wombat here. or getting punched by a Trog." The plant woman asks as she gives a faux suspicious look to the man in question.
" I mean assuming you haven't gone blind since last time we were down here."

For when we get around to this part
trap spot: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32
trap disable: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30

Imrael all but shakes in anticipation of bursting through a door and coming to a clash of arms with whatever is on the other side.

At this point even if there's nothing in the room but an old torch and 37 copper pieces he's gonna clash of arms with them!

"Haven't gone blind yet. Have you turned into bacon yet?" Bud grumbles as he casts Detect Magic and looks at the doors.

The party makes quick time to the end of the ten foot wide passageway, and chooses to go left at the intersection. Forming into a single line they forge ahead, to the west(?). In just a short distance they come to a stair that descends into the depths below. It looks like a long flight of stairs, probably going down a total of forty feet down, and covering a distance of eighty linear feet in the process.

Its “A” Dungeon?, level 3?, Du’Orbna?

Day 10, approximate time of day 11:50 am (Turn 72, elapsed time = 5 turns)

Now at what they can only assume is level 6 of this new Dungeon environment.

Marching ahead thirty feet along a narrow corridor, the party comes to a wide passageway on the left, and decides to follow that instead of continuing down the narrow passageway.

Going what they assume must be south, the party marches thirty, and then sixty more feet when they come to a set of doors on opposite sides of the Passageway. The Passageway continues on to the south, but the group decides to pause and take a look at these doors, considering if they are worth investigating or not.

The discussion thread has a bit about how the party got to where they are now. As soon as someone identifies a Door, by number, Door #1 or Door #2, and rolls to establish what kind of door it is, we can tell Bud if he detects anything or not.

Tofutee seems to wait for a moment to see if Bud explodes before looking at the door herself. On ascertaining the magic of the door the bacon scented one swiftly gets to work on disassembling the door in front of the group.

I'll just use the disable i already rolled if permitted. if not

disable lock: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32

the door opening to reveal...
More hallways?

Seriously did that #$&^% just drop us in a corner of the dungeon that just doesn't have anything interesting in it?" The baconling complains, gesturing to the empty room
" I mean I'm all for not getting murdered, don't get me wrong but I think this tournament might be one of the few times where I'm taking issue with not having my life threatened. Is that weird?"