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

Game Master Terquem

Oh, I knew that.

Also, I forgot! Whenever I drop someone I get +2 to attack/damage for a round.

Ruul slashes and gores at the surviving little blue men.

Glaive: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 2 = 13
Damage: 1d10 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 2 = 18

Horns vs one of the adjacent guys: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 2 = 7
Damage: 1d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 2 = 8
Trip if that somehow hits: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 2 = 28

Bah, not like it matters with those rolls.

Zuberu emerges from his veil of invisibility, claws and biting in a frenzy.

Claw: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 2 = 25
Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8

Claw: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 2 = 28
Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 = 7
Confirming: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 2 = 14
Extra Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 2 = 9

Bite: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 2 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8

Round 2, wrap up

As the prone little man tries to stand, Ruul slams him with a blow to his shoulder

Tofutee darts past Bud and Imreal, ducks as the small bule man is startled by her sudden appearance, and then she comes to a stop behind the enemy.

She stabs the man through the chest, a killing blow, and just then Bud aims his iStaff into the room thinking to target the same creature with a flurry of magic missiles. The staff is smarter than that though and with a slight vibration, and a small noise sounding like a raspberry, the missiles instead fly into another target

Tofutee only has enough movement to get behind Blue, so the attack should be placed there, Bud’s Magic Missiles would be wasted if he saw the killing blow, so with your permission I’d like to direct the Magic Missiles to Yellow instead

Round 3…

Imreal sees Tofutee strike down one of the enemy in front of him, and he directs his attack to the next opponent. The blow runs the small man right down to the flow in a crumbled heap of broken bones.

Momentarily delighted by the groups success, Ruul gets a bit careless and his glaive swishes through the air above his enemies head, harmlessly.

A small demonic looking imp suddenly pops into the room from apparently out of nowhere and attacks the little blue man who had just gotten off the floor.

In a flurry of teeth and claws, the little man is ripped to shreds and collapses backward in a gush of blood

One small man remains and he strikes out at Ruul.

Org, Melee Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

The small weapon stabs Ruul in the thigh
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

With the majority of the battlefield covered in the gore of her companions exuberant exertions tofutee gives her rapier a quick post-murder shake. She then looks at the forces arrayed against the remaining warrior and laughs.
" So we wanna draw straws or something? Eh. Nah I'm just gonna put a hole in him. Killing blow gets a free meal at the tavern once we get out of this place" With that she moves right up behind the little man.
Provokes an AOO.
" Hey there Delicious."

Stab: 1d20 + 10 + 3 + 2 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 10 + 3 + 2 - 1 - 2 = 231d4 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 2 = 9
The little plant attempting to pommel bash the creature in the eye on the follow-up. *
dirty trick: 1d20 + 10 + 3 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 3 + 2 - 1 = 15
if successful I render the guy blinded for 1 round. move action to remove the condition.

Edit: HA! oh man thats great. As CMB checks count as attack rolls for the most part I'm pretty certain that is a miss. What I get for trying to be clever.

Imrael stalks forward a few steps, his polearm seemingly held casually in his grip. As he speaks, his deep voice reverberates off the ancient stonework of the small room.

"You have my respect, small one. Despite a complete lack of tactical progress, after all of your companions are slain, and you have no chance at victory, still you strive and struggle. When others who could be called brave would lay down arms and beg quarter, you have, like the rock thrown into the sea, caused a temporary ripple though at permanent cost to your own life.

You have balanced the Scales of Honor with your sacrifice, master dwarf. You shall die with honor."

With that his speartip moves like a striking cobra. His corded muscles lash out, driving the weapon forward, hunting the small target's heart.

Attack!: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 2 + 3 = 29
Damage!: 2d4 + 10 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (3, 4) + 10 + 2 + 3 = 22

Tofutee manages to draw the last little blue man’s attention as she drives her weapon into his flesh, and this allows Imreal to deliver a killing blow through the creature’s back.

Tofutee, not startled in the least, watches as Imreal’s spear pops out of the little blue man’s chest right in front of her, with his heart impaled on the tip

All she can think is

Wow, snacks on command. If only there was avending machine that could do this…

Battle is over. Experience point awards in discussion thread

With a sickening crunch of fibrous meat tofutee takes the offered snack. leaning back on one of the nearby walls tofutee looks at the loot
"Whell *crunch* *smack* that went *pop* wraver whell *crunch*"
a loud gulp heralds the plant finishing the snack and gestures to Ruul
" Though it looks like not all of that blood is theirs. We have one of those Asmodean torture sticks if you all need healing. Figure you don't want to waste your powers on it outside combat on account of us only have 24 hours to win this tournament and having been trapped down here. We are definitely going to need to conserve our tricks."

Ruul snorts a few times as the bloodlust slowly leaves him. As he calms down, the blood seeping from his wounds comes to his attention.

"Appreciated", the bull rumbles as he touches the wand to his injuries.

I assume it's a wand of infernal healing? If so I'll use two charges.

You would be correct. I'll correct the number of charges mine has remaining.

"Eh, no problems. You going wild like that meant I was able to get to when I needed to be. Didn't know an imp could do that expand-y thing. Looks handy. Hope it isn't limited to a number of uses a day, we've only just started." With that she begins clearing the recently killed mooks of their gear and calls over her shoulder
" So, what path should we take next?"

Tofutee points to the unexplored end of the hallway.
" Sounds like a resounding 'that way' to me"

Bud mutters, "It's your a... err whatever. Lead on."

When you exit the small room, under the portcullis, and turn to face the south, you are confronted by a Dungeon Minion.

This is not the usual Dungeon Minion, but she is one you have seen before. Her appearance is, however, highly unusual. She appears disheveled, her face is clear and clean of makeup, (and yet she is still remarkably beautiful). Her hair is not styled, but tucked haphazardly up into a small cap. Her attire is simple, functional, and looks like a common uniform worn by guides and attendants at one of It’Dupree’s many museums, or theaters.

The Dungeon Minion is moving at a brisk walk, straight toward you her countenance is one of concern, mingled with agitation.

There you are, she says in an exhale of breath. I’ve been looking, well she’s been looking all over for you. Though you aren’t exactly what I remember. Wait, the bacon-ling, and the wizard are familiar, but I don’t recognize the three of you. Anyway, I have an important message, and offer of a critical assignment from the Lich Baroness It’Dupree.

The minion takes a small, thin black box out of her pants pocket and holds it up to her face.

Gah, she exclaims. The reception here is terrible, wait, she moves to the wall to her left and shoves on a block of stone and the wall opens into a chamber.

She looks into the chamber, and then waves at all of you to follow her
Let’s step into this control room and see if it is any better, she says thinking you are following her.

Do you follow her?

Once you have entered the control room, the first thing you see is a familiar Portal like structure on the wall opposite the secret door you came through. The other two walls are occupied with filling cabinets, and a pair of desks. A pair of familiar looking “Trap Imps” are sitting at the desks, and are busy at small books making detailed notes.

All right, here’s the ‘sitch’, the Dungeon minion says,

A few centuries ago, just after the Lich Baroness freed the city from the Necromechadon slash Goblin invaders, It’Dupree learned of a collection of artifacts that might have a clue to freeing her from her prison.

These artifacts is are, or were, a special type of mirror that allows a person to travel between the material plane of existence and an alternative plane, one we know little about. However, It’Dupree believed that the existence of this alternative plane of existence could hold answers to how this pocket dimension was created here in Du’Orbna. When It’Dupree began sending out employees to track down the mirrors, in the hope of exploring the pocket dimension or plane they accessed, word spread rapidly of her intentions, and this was well before the time when the people of the rest of the world finally understood It’Dupree’s plight and her condition, and naturally, suspecting that she was a monster bent on destroying the world, which I can assure you is not her plan, hero’s set out on quests to thwart her ambitions.

She moves to a filing cabinet, and taps the small, thin black box against the top drawer. She pauses for a moment, the file cabinet rattles violently, and then the top drawer opens, and an imp stands up in the drawer and hands the minion a file.

The Dungeon Minion opens the file, takes a pair of sexy reading glasses out of her shirt pocket and reads from the file

Six of seven possible mirrors were destroyed or confiscated by heroes intent on saving the world from It’Dupree’s nefarious intentions, She looks up at the five of you and says I’m reading from the Aeromnian Herald Star, a popular newspaper in circulation some four hundred years ago

She then looks back at the file, The seventh mirror was never located, and it is believed its location is protected from all manner of discovery by a powerful demon lord.

She closes the file, and moves to stand by the portal, where she places the slim, black box in a recessed slot on the side of the portal.

Or so they assumed. You see, by contacting various dimension travelling entities over the past centuries, It’Dupree has finally learned of the location of the seventh mirror.

She taps the side of the portal in a special code
*shave and a haircut, two bits*

And the portal glows with an image of a small, quaint village.

Somehow the mirror was transported off of this world and taken to another world of the material plane, to a place called, Alodoa, in a country called Harrispania. Now, normally, it’Dupree would send Victor, or Angela, to scout the location and determine the circumstances of the mirrors condition, and then hire a group of local heroes to retrieve the mirror and explore the pocket dimension on the other side of it, but, this is not a normal situation. Harrispania is home of a particularly troubling organization known throughout the planes of existence as the Solution Society, oh they keep a low profile on that world, and brand themselves as a small time operation dedicated to taking simple tasks, selling themselves as heroes for hire, but off that world everyone knows they are a mercenary organization of the Interplanetary Relief Society, a right problematic sort of people who simply cannot be reasoned with. And It’Dupree prefers reason to practically every other form of conflict resolution.

This is where you come in. You’ve shown yourselves to be competent, dogged, rugged individualists who have no qualms about getting rid of anything, or anyone who stands in your way. It’Dupree admires this quality and is perfectly comfortable overlooking any complications of such things as moral arguments of good against evil.

She steps back away from the portal, and goes once again to the file cabinet, kicks it hard on the side, it rattles violently, and the top drawer opens again. A different imp stands up in the top drawer holding a small wooden box.

In fact, the priority, always the priority for the Lich Baroness, is lifting the curse on this city. This and only this is It’Dupree’s desire. What information can be learned from the world beyond the mirror may turn out to be the key. To learn this information, It’Dupree is prepared to send four of you through this portal, to Harrispania. You will be given these magic bracelets.

She opens the wooden box to reveal four silver bracelets. The bracelets are about one inch wide, have a complex clasp mechanism, and are engraved with three dimensional representations of the platonic solids.

One of you will remain here, by this portal, and will monitor the other’s progress, and will be given this icosahedron of summoning.

She then removes a small crystal from her pants pocket. She walks to the other side of the portal and opens a small compartment.

Placing this crystal into this hole will return the wearer’s of those bracelets from the other side of this portal immediately. As long as nothing more powerful acts to block the magic as it crosses the dimensional barriers.

In return for your accepting this task, which includes keeping precise notes on everything you can learn about this mirror and the pocket dimension beyond it, It’Dupree will grant you each a lifetime annual payment of fifty thousand gold pieces, which will be adjusted for inflation based upon a quadrennial review. In addition, you will each receive season tickets to the Alagoth Theater, and coupons for fifty percent off regular admission to all It’Dupree Seafood Buffet and Comedy Playhouse Canteens, during the off season only.

I hope you will take this mission, and I hope you will discover something that can help lift this curse. As a Dungeon Minion, we all hope you succeed, as there is a commission for the team of Minions that first discovers the secret to It’Dupree’s conf… I mean the curse that traps this city.

Finally, and this is probably the most important part of the mission. One of the Books of it’Dupree is also on this world. It was sent there for safe keeping. It is Book III, of the Books of It’Dupree, and is most likely kept in a hiding place only the Solution Society knows about. If you should discover that this book is accessible to you, if you can get to it, you will have a direct means of communicating directly with It’Dupree herself.

Will you accept this mission?

Imrael follows the minion, and ponders what he hears. While his brain works, he says in his characteristic monotone, "Too bad the doll was not sent to deliver this missive. I had found her...construction...intriguing."

The exact implications of an angelic embodiment of Law being smitten by a constructed embodiment of desire is left to the imagination.

Bud gasps at the appearance of the minion and follows her into the control room. Upon listening to the offer, Bud sighs and says, "So the boss lady wants us to go get this mirror and find out what we can about this other plan and then bring it back. All for 50k a year and some coupons. Throw in all the ale I can drink at any of her establishments and we have a deal."

Bud then picks up a bracelet and prepares to put it on.

Not one to lose out on an excuse Tofutee follows the minion into the much spoken of control room. The room in question disappointing nearly every rumor the plant had ever heard of the place. Taftara owes me ten gold. Knew it wouldn't live up to the hype.
---- then tofutee hears the pitch
Tofutee adjusts her disgustingly garish glasses as she looks up at the minion with a slow blink. What?
" That.. that's a lot of gold." The plant comments blandly as she scrutinizes the corners of the room.
" This isn't some sort of convoluted ploy to get us to off ourselves on a suicide mission right? Because while its nice to have some dirt on a minion you really ought to know I'm not dumb enough to think using it would result in anything but my death." The plant informs as she looks with some interest at the crystal wrist jewelery.
" I mean standard 'Untold wealth' offer ticks off a half dozen warning flags in my mind. I figure the offer being what it is we would be going into this completely blind? Do you have anything more specific about this SS group and its IRS overlords? Don't suppose the mirrors former owner is still looking for it or did the adventurers 'Love and Peace' them into an early grave when they took it?" the plant woman asks, adding in her mostly unnecessary air quotes to terms deemed to require them.

I am entirely cool with this plan in general but I can't imagine Tofutee agreeing to this right off the bat. Jumpy little thing that she can't help but get more information before diving into something like this.

Bud pauses and looks at Tofutee, "While fifty k a year is good money, it doesn't sound like "Untold Wealth" to me. Though unlimited ale may be."

" I don't know about you but I know for certain I could live an exorbitant life style on a tenth of that. Pickled halfling toes and the fillet Spiduffalo cuts every day sort of living. I mean, not nobility stinking rich but that sort of money means I would never have to work another day in my life. I'd still be able to funnel a good chunk back to my sisters as well." The plant fires back
" I mean what with your quest to drink yourself into the grave and back out again perhaps your more a monster of wealth and taste than I am but thats still a massive pile of cash."

Imrael frowns at the undead arcanist. "That is enough for a quarter of a million gallons of ale. I should imagine that to be enough for even your thirst.

Tofutee, I understand your hesitation. This is a mighty undertaking and it is natural to be afraid. If you do not have courage enough, you may stay here, where it is safe, and be the controller to man the icosahedron. Leave this quest for glory to others of hardier make."

The minion follows the conversation of the group, with a pleasant enough smile, and when Tofutee mentions having “some dirt’ on a minion, she chuckles, and nods in agreement.

When Tofutee asks about the Solution Society, and the IRS, she frowns.

Yes, we have extensive intelligence on the Society. However, It’Dupree has made several contractual agreements with beings not only of this plane, the prime material plane, but with the Plannar Lords of several different alternative planes of existence. Part of one of those contracts forbids us from divulging too much about the Society, and their mission, here on this world. Though I understand that there may be a renegotiation soon, as things progress on Garicadia, to the west, where right now the balance of secrets of this world might be about to become upset, permanently.

We we do know. And what will be important for you to know if you take this mission. Is that the mirror is not yet secure. The Solution Society is going to try to secure the mirror themselves, but It’Dupree believes they do not know the full extent of the mirror’s properties. She wants you to find the mirror, without completely upsetting or interfering too much with the Societies plans. Find the mirror, get inside of it, learn what you can, and then, well, get out. That’s all you need to do.

When she is through with this explanation, she moves closer to Bud, and whispers into his ear

I can’t offer you unlimited ale, but if, when you make it back, I can point you to a couple of my favorite places, and maybe the drinks will be on me for a night or two, and we can get to know each other better.

Ruul snorts as he considers the attractive minion's offer. "Wealth and glory aside, one of us would have to stay behind. That sounds like it would be maddeningly boring."

Bud gasps and stares at the minion, his mouth hanging open more than normal.

He leans over to the minion and whispers in her ear, "I haven't had in offer like that in..."Bud starts counting on his fingers and starts another round of counting and another and then seems to give up "too long to count. I'm in." Bud then puts the bracelet on.

Tofutee nods, looking to each who speak in turn before returning with her own comments.

" So.. you don't want us to plunder, pillage and or maim our way through this IRS group? That doesn't sound like any fun at all. Wandering into this places home territory and poking about looking for information on something they likely don't want to talk about doesn't sound like its going to make that simpler." Tofutee replies as she gives the minion a pointed grin.

" Now the real question thats gonna keep him up at night is if you meant figuratively or literally about the drinks being on you."

With that she nods to Ruul " I have just the simp- superbly skilled companion! for that job. Beast, you like pushing buttons and being helpful right?" Tofutee asks with only a minor pause revealing her slip of the tongue.. maw.. face thing.

"Also are we going to address the fact that Horns and Shiney here are not actually part of the company so to speak." Tofutee states before squinting at the pair.
" Wait, your with the performance review team aren't you? I mean that would explain the sudden arrival and capacity for murder."

I’m certainly not going to tell you how to do your job, the minion states turning away from Tofutee, and looking more closely at the two companions she indicates.

When the baconling mentions the performance review, she smiles and says

Actually I’m with human resources, which is sort of a funny department, since none of us are humans, and I don’t think anyone we are responsible for checking up on is technically human either, but it’s a term the Lich-Baroness likes to use, often, when reminding us of our responsibilities. I don't know exactly what I should about your new friends, but I was given instructions to find your team, and make this proposal. You two I recognize, and you are with them, so they are either part of your team, or not, that's up to you to decide

As to the Solution Society, and their, home turf, yes, well, we have reason to believe that as long as you do not make a point of showing anyone you meet that you know about them, and their affiliation with the IRS, there shouldn’t be any problem with, well, anything you might do to their agents, other than setting them up to form new teams who might then go looking for you, but as long as they don’t know who you are working for, and you keep pretending you don’t know who they are working for,

She pauses for a moment, and her expression seems to indicate that even she is getting a bit confused,

everything should be fine, she says with a shrug.

You see, as I understand it, the regular members of the Solution Society, there in that world, don’t know they are part of the IRS, and they want to keep that a secret as much as It’Dupree wants to keep her investigation into this mirror a secret from them. It’s all convoluted, shadow operations and double espionage sorts of subterfuge, but I think you’ll be okay causing as much mayhem as you feel inclined to create. After all, you’ll only be drawing attention to yourself and making the job harder, the more attention you call, so you know, use your own discretion.

The fist thing to do, is find out where the mirror is, exactly, as we only know it is somewhere in this village, and that the Solution Society is on the move to deal with it, so, if you find tie agents, and you know don’t immediately kill them, you could get a fix on the mirror quickly, and then you can access it once you know the situation, whether it is being guarded or protected by some agent we don’t know about

Tofutee shrugs, putting on the bracelet " Well the boss lady knows what she is doing. I hope."

Tofutee then looks to the gigantic pile gold and reclaimed weapons coated liberally in blood both old and new.
" So uh.. anyway we could get this heaping pile of gold converted into the local currency in case violence doesn't prove to be the solution? Adventurers do have a tendency to like gold almost as much as the enjoy killing minions doing their job."

"I, uh...I concur that gold solves almost as many problems as righteous violence does. Sometimes more."

"I'm looking forward to meeting this Solution Society and destroying them", Ruul rumbles. "Tell It’Dupree she'll have her mirror soon enough."

"That sounds better. Kill as many as we like, but don't let them know we know who they are. Grab the mirror. Come back. Are we ready or can we do some shopping here first?"

Imrael shrugs. He seems to have everything he needs.

Is someone keeping a loot log?

Tofutee shrugs at Bud. " I get the feeling they want us to go right now with they way they interrupted our run in the tournament to do this. If they can convert the coins into something the locals will take we should likely have an easier time travelling. Even with the excuse of "Adventurers" our little group is a bit more colorful than the average murder-vagrant."

I'm unsure, give me a little bit and I'll roll back a few pages to get the info on our most recent collection.

Ruul gives a bovine snort and paws the dungeon flagstones with his hooves. "I'm ready. Let's do it."

Harrispania, a country of the empire of Alodoa. It is a different world altogether. An unkown village, a wide street lined with single and two story wood framed houses and shops.

Day 10, approximate time of day 11:50 am (Turn 73), Noon

Taking the bracelets and fixing them securely to their wrists, the party of Employees of the Lich Baroness It’Dupree bid farewell, for the time, to their friend Beast.

Through the portal is what appears to be a village, or perhaps a town. The buildings look well made, but are in a style that is unfamiliar to them. The buildings seem to have an unusual amount of “decorative” trim all along the roof lines are carves wooden patterns of hearts and floral shapes, while the windows of the wood framed, single and two-story houses are fit with boxes where flowers and herbs grow. The buildings are painted in bright reds, blues, yellows, and greens.

The view through the portal appears to be from a narrow, shadowy place between two buildings and gives a view of part of one street and an intersection ahead where a single building has a large wooden sign hanging over the front door facing the intersection. The sign is a carved wooden relief, painted in bright colors to almost appear realistic. The image is of an unhappy looking human man wearing a wizard’s costume including a pointed blue hat with stars and moons. The man is seated at a table in what is clearly supposed to be a tavern or other public drinking establishment, for behind him are a few people lifting mugs and glasses engaged in laughter, and song (you can even see a carved image of a minstrel in the background of the image).

Occasionally people walk past your view. They appear to all be humans, of average height, as best as you can tell through the portal, assuming they are neither giants nor halflings for now.

You do not see any other humanoids at first, but then a party of three recognizable kobolds passes right across your view. These small canine/reptilian like folk are dressed in quality leather armor, and have large stuffed packs on their backs, but they do not appear to be carrying weapons, at least as best you can tell from the brief moment you watched them pass by.

There is nothing left to do now but take a deep breath and plunge right through the portal.

Ruul declares he is ready to move on and with a smile, Tofutte turns to the portal and leaps through. Ruul strides through purposefully but not in a hurry right after the small plant person.

Imreal and Bud follow right behind them.

As soon as you emerge from the other side of the portal the first thing you notice is that it is a bit cooler and dryer here than in the city of Du’orbna. The air is cold and brisk, and even feels a bit thin, suggesting that you are at a significantly higher elevation that you were before. There are faint sounds, a set of wagon wheels creak somewhere off to your right, a cow bell tinkles somewhere behind you, and when you look back, you do not see the portal, of course, but instead you see that you are between an alleyway between two large buildings and back behind them is a field of gree grass and a wooden fence. On the other side of the fence are half a dozen milking cows grazing leisurely.

Turning back to the direction that was in front of you, you see that these two wood framed, lath and plaster exterior buildings are two-story tall and there are no doors or windows in the sides adjacent to the alley where you stand. Ahead of you is a wide, well packed dirt road. There is a building across the street directly in front of you, but to the right of this building is another street going away from the one in front of you at a right angle, and it is on the corner opposite the building you can see across the street where the sign of the

Lugubrious Wizard

hangs above a tavern door…

This village in Harrispania has not been named. Much of the particulars of Alodoa are left to you, the players, to create if you desire. Harrispania is the southernmost country of the Alodoan Empire. This country is mostly rolling hills, with an average elevation of 2,000 feet above sea level. You are somewhere, though you do not know this, in the northwest corner of Harrispania which is where the foothills leading to the mountains of the country of Baravkovia are found (Baravkovia is part of the Alodoan Empire, but has a checkered past). Harrispania should be thought of as a “Hollywood-idealization” of a Dutch or maybe Austrian sort of country with a mostly human population. There are a few Halflings and Elves (who come from the country of Iarishea far to the north) as well as occasionally “big-men” (the Vayangurr) from the islands southeast of the Gulf of La’Rondelle. These “big-men” as the Alodoan’s call them, are “half-orcs” (a race in this setting that exists unto itself) and follow a “Hollywood-idealized” sort of Viking lifestyle.

You are in a strange village in a strange world. You are looking for a “tower” or large house, where recent events indicate the mirror was discovered. You do not know exactly where this place can be found, and must begin by gathering information here, about where you are, and what things have been going on in this village lately. How will you proceed?

Imrael has an overwhelming feeling of being out of his place--a stranger in a strange land. But in a moment his logical processes begin to reassert themselves and he views the problem tactically. Since he's here to gather information, there seems one good place to start.

He scans about, looking for shops. He starts to move away. "Since we know nothing, I am going to the one place where I am certain to learn something. I shall find a wineshop and gain information in trade for my patronizing looks that I am actually listening to the rest of their inane babble.

Bud? I am surprised that I am not following in thy wake, but I expect your steps will not be far behind."

Imrael starts walking toward the nearest tavern, trying to get information on towers and large houses. And an inn. If they are here awhile they'll need an inn.

Bud looks around and stops and stares at he sign. As Imrael speaks, he seem to come out of it and answers him, "I haven't been to a tavern on another plane before. I wonder if the ale here is any good and if I can get drunk."

He then heads off toward the Lugubrious Wizard.

Imrael only now seems to notice the sign, as Bud points it out. "The Lugubrious Wizard? Eh? They want their clientele to know that they can get drunk here, and then choose the -one- word that almost none of them are bound to know. Eh. Or mayhap tis some joke played on either us, who know it, or those who do not. Or even both. OR just wizards. Or just drunk wizards."

Imrael enters the place and summons the barkeep. "We have heard rumors that 'tis possible to get lugubrious here. If so, let that commence. Bring us a jug of ale. Also, we are but newcomers to your fine lands, and we may have some few questions about sights to see and a way of getting around, if you have time."

Harrispania, a country of the empire of Alodoa. It is a different world altogether. An unkown village, a wide street lined with single and two story wood framed houses and shops.

Day 10, approximate time of day 11:50 am (Turn 73), Noon

Bud, Tofutee, Ruul, and Imreal enter the inconspicuous looking tavern. It is almost noon, and the place is full of people, mostly humans, but you see a few elves and a couple of Halflings.

The place is not quiet, yet it is not loud either, a soft sort of casual murmur is in the air, as if these people know one another well enough to carry on quiet conversations without having to raise their voices.

The tables here are round, and each seats about five or six patrons, and nearly every table is filled, but you immediately can tell that not everyone sitting at a table is part of the same party, as groups of two or three huddle together closely to make conversation at the crowded tables.

No one seems to notice you arrival, until Imreal speaks, and when he does every eye turns toward your group.

The place goes as silent as a graveyard. A murmur is heard from the back of the room

Minotaur, cave folk, Baravkovians…

And then it is silent again

A man comes toward you with a plate, filled with rolls and a slab of honey-butter, in one hand, and a large pitcher with four mugs held tightly by the handles all together in the other. He is a tall man, with wide shoulders, and a bit of a pot belly, but he is not fat. His face is long, and he has thick sideburns that are reddish-brown. The hair on the back of his head is curly and red, but he is bald for most of the front of his head. His eyes are golden brown, large, and he is smiling

Welcome to the lugubrious wizard, the man says with a laugh. If you have a desire to become that way, I hope you stay is long, your appetite healthy, and your coins plentiful. We don’t such different folk here these days, but if you are weary travelers and not here to start trouble you are welcome to try to find a place to sit down and I’ll send Eric over to tell you what’s on the menu today. As to your questions, most folk here are hoping to eat a small lunch and get back to work in the shops and fields of our little town of Rhodslunburg. You might have better luck visiting the local Squire, Shellisandre Asverguwalt, she is a woman who knows everyone and everything about the town, and it’s history.

As the man talks he moves toward a table where four people had been sitting, but the group splits into two pairs of two, and moves away from the table toward empty chairs nearby.

Bud nods to the man and says, "Thanks. Send some of your best ale please." He then heads to the table and sits down.

Always a good idea to walk into the center of town and yell that you're looking for information. Let's see what trouble this starts.

Imrael nods. "Indeed. A pitcher of ale, and a brother of that tray you have there. Be not stingy with the honey butter.

Give us but this most basic of rundowns and we shall be satisfied and go seek this wise woman for knowledge more arcane."

Ruul snorts loudly, seconding Imrael's questions, before laying into the rolls and sweet butter.

The man smiles and leans back, thrusting the tray out onto the table with a laugh.
haha, no worries lad. I can see you folks are not from these lands. He yells over his shoulder, Penny! Bring Ale, and mugs to table 4. He then wipes his hands on his apron, and when he is done, he folds his arms, leans forward and says, Well let me see if I can at least fill you in stranger. This is Harrispania, it is a small country, and we follow the laws of the Empire of Alodoa. We have our own government, a parly mint, I think it’s called. We’re a peaceful simple little country, with little troubles these days. The representative of the parly mint here is Baroness Marelle Ogalvinjonsen, and her son, Haldin Ogalvinjonsen lives close by, right here in the village. We haven’t heard of any wars since early last year when that crazy noble of Baravkovia invaded Vurespania, to the north, but that ended rather quickly, and rather badly for Baravkovia I hear, but I suppose when Baravkovia’s ruling family surrendered to Alodoa and joined the empire proper, it open the borders of that country which had been closed for a long time. I suppose that’s why you folks are here. Now that Baravkovia is letting its people travel abroad I suppose we’ll be seeing more folks like you. See, our little village is in the very west of the foothills of Harrispania. To the west of here the hills get taller, and become the eastern boarder of Baravkova which I understand is all mountains and high altitude lakes and valleys. The largest city near us I suppose is either Shaunburg, to the south, with I hear about four thousand citizens or Rallundam to the east with about the same. Shaunburg is probably fourteen miles south, while Rallundam is sixteen miles east, but the road to Rollundam passes through the Vergurad forest, and most folks don’t like to risk getting lost in that dark place.

Bah. It looks like notifications stopped working for this game. I'd suggest poking the others in case the same happened to them.

Can we get a quick recap on what we're doing in this strange land?

Imrael takes a long draft from his foaming mug and mulls the innkeep's words.

He turns to the rest of the party. "Well, he has done as asked and we are now much enriched by this most basic of data. Shall we know depart to speak with the local Squire, Shellisandre Asverguwalt, and procure more detailed facts?"

Looks like Ruul and Bud are still here. Anyone hear from Tofutee?

Also, "The Solution Society" is looking for a mirror. We are supposed to find the mirror first, somewhere in this town.

Got it, thanks.

Satisfied with the information Ruul snorts again and gestures with a hand dismissing the man. He glances at Imrael and nods slowly.

"Now seems like as good a time as any", the minotaur rumbles. "It sounds like it's going to be a long trip. We should pick up supplies."

As Ruul, Bud, and Imreal enjoy the tavern’s refreshments, Tofutee ducks away, with a wink, saying she will move around the village and see what she can learn.

After a few long quiet moments, a young woman approaches the table. You can only guess that she is a human woman, as she has a slender curvy shape that could also be elven, or maybe something else. She is wearing a long, green, cloak, with a full hood. The Hood is pulled up over her head, and falls far in front of her face, making it difficult to tell if she is a human, or not.

She stands near Imreal, looking at Bud and Ruul for a moment, and then raises her left arm, and her hand emerges from a dark grey, long sleeved shirt. Her skin is dark, almost the color of charcoal, and her hand is long, slender, but not frail. On her wrist she wears a bracelet similar to the ones you are wearing.

When she is sure you have noticed the bracelet she sits down on the stool left vacant by Tofutee, and then slowly removes the hood of her cloak revealing a beautiful human face, dark skinned, with hair that is shaved on one side of her head, and long on the other side. Her eyes are hauntingly beautiful, and her stare penetrating, but she smiles a warm friendly smile and says, in a thick accent you do not recognize,

Well I was beginning to wonder if you would ever show up. My name is Hana’a’li’no’na, but you can call me Hana. I too, work for the Lady It’Dupree. I was sent to this place from Riom, Garicadia, several weeks ago to scout the situation. I’ve had no contact since I arrived, but now I can see the plan is ready to put into action. Here is what I have learned.

At the northwest corner of this village, outside of the village actually, on a hill overlooking a small stream there is a residence, a tower actually, built in modern, for this world, ways but meant to resemble an old world fortification. These people have a nostalgic view of their country’s history of war. It seems the mirror ended up there somehow, I haven’t been able to discover the particulars of that string of events, but the mirror is definitely there. The Solution Society has a Hall, they call all their offices, “Halls,” and this one, the Hall of The Black Oak, is to the east, on the main road leaving this village. I was in there, once, but could not find the Book of It’Dupree, so I have not been able to relay anything I have learned back to those at home. Anyway, the Society was in here, in this very tavern, last night, and hired a group of heroes to enter the tower because one of their own, a high ranking Solution Society member, who lived in that tower, was attacked the night before last by a hideous monster, which they believe must have come out of the mirror. That was last night. This morning I followed these heroes, two men and four women, one dwarf and one elf, four humans, to the outer wall of the property. The place is surrounded by men now, men of the Baroness Marelle Ogalvinjonsen, under the command of her son, Haldin Ogalvinjonsen, there are at least forty of them, simple soldiers, armed and armored well, not altogether well trained but fiercely loyal to Haldin.

Haldin is young, and even though he is not stupid, he has a desperate affection for the second in command of the Solution Society here in this village, a woman named Karen Alyingon. Karen is out of the area now, on another assignment, but Haldin’s desire to impress her is our key to getting into the tower. He let those heroes in without any questions, when they said they were with the Society, so all you have to do is tell his men the same thing, and you’ll be in like Flint.

I haven’t heard that the Society has made it back out of that tower, so I have no idea what is going on in there. I don’t want to approach the soldiers myself, as so far the people in this town think that I am from some place south of here, some place called Tarule, and they are very suspicious of me. I haven’t brought any unwelcomed attention to myself, and I intend to keep it that way.

I recommend heading straight for the tower, now, and getting in before sunset. If you need supplies, I’ve kept a list of merchants in this village that will sell the sort of things a team of adventurers might need without asking any questions. These merchants will take any coins made of silver or gold. They are not too keen on taking unusual copper coins, something about a mint in Baravkovia making copper coins with almost no real copper in them created a currency problem here a few years back and the people are still wary of strange copper coins showing up in their tills. You can probably learn more about the history of the man and woman who lived in that tower by speaking to the local scribe, but I’m sure the things you learn will be helpful regarding the situation with the mirror.

It is just a little after midday here in this village. Hana gives you a list of merchants that will sell supplies. You can assume that anything that is non-magical in nature and is listed in the PRD under “equipment” can be purchased here for standard rates (your gold and silver coins spend at the normal rate). Weapons are a bit harder to buy in this village, so let me know if there is a particular weapon you want to buy, otherwise, you can purchase supplies and head straight for the tower, or set off to find the scribe if you have questions that you want answered.

Imrael had been tucking into a rather large shepherds pie flavored with an oldly spiced meat when the lady showed up. He had been about to speak, but his mouth was full of tough meat, so he just chewed thoughtfully as she spoke.

He swallows that last of his bite and washes it down with ale, digesting all that he's been told. He nods, slowly, as the situation begins to unfurl.

He nods to Ruul and Bud. "Indeed, this seems good news. I can't grasp why such a thing would need 40 militia to guard it, if only 6 adventurers will brave it, but, as you say, love does strange things.

Bud? Shall we procure a small cask of rum for you to see to your own comfort before we head off?"

Bud grumbles as Imrael asks his needs, "What's the use, this stuff doesn't do anything, I doubt the rum will either! I think maybe talking to the scribe might be helpful and then off to the tower!"

A soft chuckle escapes Imrael's lips. "Yes, I know it has no effect! But you've taken to this pantomime, so I thought to give you leave. Perhaps in our quest we might come across some drought strong enough to at last, at last! give you some pause in thy eternal sobriety!

So we are tied, one for and one against. What say you Ruul? I see no reason to see a scribe for more details on laying siege to yon castle, and we can always visit her after, should the need arise."

Ruul gives another bovine snort as he considers Hana's intelligence.

"I've got some experience posing as a hero. The Templars of the Ivory Labyrinth are known for infiltrating and corrupting fragile little places like this. If that's our plan we should get some things to complete our disguises. I'll need another holy symbol to replace my own - preferably of some sun god or other b!+#&~%! like that. A spell to shield our thoughts would be a good idea too. There might be a paladin among Haldin's militia."

"There's no harm in visiting the scribe first. We'll need to learn about this place's gods anyway."