Mirror, Mirror: The Further Adventures

Game Master Terquem

Zaehyra strokes Kamastra's neck as she watches Baller butcher words in his way and Niversal's response as he examines the party's surroundings. Kamastra, can you follow the scent from here?

Have we lost Terquem? Bud?

Aye Zae! Get ya wee beastie ta do tha trick.

Kamastra has no trouble finding the scent of the recently escaping individuals that must have left the boot prints in the street, and with nose to the ground, heads off to the southwest.

The morning sunrise is not far off now, and with the sky slowly growing a pale grey the party finds that they have followed the trail right back to the walled tower, but something is not right here now.

The camp, which was just a few hours ago, filled with activity, even in the dead of the night, is now completely abandoned – there is not a single person to be seen, or heard, or smelled, anywhere around. The tents stand silent, their flaps open and swinging in a gentle morning breeze. Two small fires burn, but are nearly out, among the camp. There is no sign of a scuffle here, and the mysterious disappearance of a company of soldiers is perplexing.

Off to the side, away from the abandoned camp, the tower also stands silently, with one door open.

Nivers, get tha door lad. Bud'n Zae, see ta tha tents. Leave tha bodies but save tha rum, yeah? Soldiers always carry rum... Ballar mutters that last as he shuffles onward with the skill monkey. Together they walk ahead to secure the door. The dwarf lets Nivers lead, following close behind. Well maybe not that close. Unless 30ft is close in which case this Proficienato is all over that spot.

Nivers Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20
Ballar Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Seems the Baron and his mirror may have been here all right. And may yet still be. You sure you want to go poking your head into places? I could summon more lackeys to look around for us.

Niversal waves his hands up as if to say send in the summoned creatures standing and waiting for Keryth to do his thing

Zaehyra voices her best guess, Perhaps the summoning for the tower is a good call. But let's give the camp here a once over. May be something of value of use left behind.

Looking to the sunrise Ballar calls back, Phew, all thas walk'n 'bout, should like ta rest be'fore head'n n'there. Anyone else gett'n knakker'd?

We've yet to rest. It would be nice to replenish spells before clearing out another building.

Niversal says right they didn't take everything of value into the mirror with them. Use some detect magic and I will help search for goods too. Looting is my middle name

take 20 to search this place and clean it out?

Keryth, about to summon some assistance, pauses at Zae's and Niversal's comments. I'm not concerned with looting. I AM concerned with the location of the mirror. They are likely laying in ambush with it right here in the camp. They have just had enough time to beat us over here and vanish the soldiers. They can't have gotten far, and probably don't wish to. Besides, we were already in the tower a few hours ago. What do you think you will find in there? Other than the mirror of course.

Zaehyra weaves a prayer to detect magic in and around the came, hopeful the camp isn't full of illusion auras preparing ambushes.

Thinking a sure way to spring an ambush is the exotic smell of artificial flavors Ballar finds a place to sit. The dwarf fumbles in his pack and soon the reassuring crunch of nachos fills the air, Ah doubt soldiers carried much magic an thay donna get paid a lot.

Keryth continues to hold off summoning a pair of Archons.

these soldiers out here had captains. Those fellows were playing cards and smoking their smoke, drinking their drink, and enjoying their camp women. Those fellows have chests and money and maybe a potion or three sitting in those chests. When we get yanked into what ever place we are going next, having some extra coin and some extra potions and what nots will be handy, eh? and Niversal will begin his search.

Ya got all tha before even nos'n 'round? From where he is, Ballar pivots around looking at all the empty tents in an attempt to see what it is Niversal sees - untold riches and racks of magical elixirs.

All the potions and coin you might possibly find won't help you if the first tent you search contains the mirror, Keryth warns, though he doesn't expect it will be heeded.

No I didn't get that from just one look around, its how people work. I used to steal things for a living Ballar. People who suddenly leave places leave things they didn't mean to behind. Its just how things work Niversal says with an exasperated voice holding back now a bit and then saying:

we are looking for the mirror and the man who has it. Send your creatures out and they will vanish the same and it could have been monsters or idiots or any number of things that caused it. Let's all go together and search the tent area and then if they are not out here, move to the tower, shall we?

Keryth would normally be amused by someone being exasperated by Ballar, but not this time. Your attempt to convince me that my plan is flawed and that yours is superior fails to impress me. If you wish to chance an encounter with the mirror head on, I will not stand in your way, but neither will I join you. Keryth sweeps his hand towards the tents. By all means, begin your search.

Unsure if he should move or not, Ballar continues to snack as he pivots around in the one spot he knows is safe, namely the spot he's in, and hopes to spy the mirror from here.

In2ish: Will eating nachos while turning around be bad?: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
Perception: Is there a mirror over there?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

right Keryth, I know you have got smarts and I have backed you every time you asked and lept into things for you with no thought of me and for the rest of you. You don't want to take another step or consider I might have something good to say? We need resources to face this threat and there may be some more here. You disagree or have a better idea fine do it.

I haven't the slightest idea what you are referring to, is the wizard's outward reply. His eyes narrow slightly as he studies his fellow elven companion. Why is he so adamant that we search the tents ourselves when a safer option exists? Niversal's words to Ballar ring in Keryth's pointy ears. "I used to steal things for a living."

Loose moral character he readily admits. Perhaps he has flipped sides on us. Willingly, or not. He was out of all our sight for a few moments. Perhaps charmed? Drawing his wand, the spellbinder casts a spell (detect magic) and examines the thief for the telling sign of compulsion magic or some other explanation for his illogical behavior.

Sense motive/intuition check as well please.

With only the slightest of effort Keryth examines the world around him through eyes changed by magic to see what cannot be seen.

As the day becomes brighter, with a little aid from a simple spell, and being cautious, Niversal quickly searches through the camp and finds practically nothing of interest

Oh yes, there are a few coins, some bottles of ale, and some personal trinkets, but nothing of real value turns up, no magic items, nothing unusual. It’s as if a company of soldiers at the near bottom of the pecking order simply vanished.

The tower stands quiet, while Keryth considers sending in summoned creatures as a vanguard. Ballar munches on his limitless snacks, and Kamastra sniffs around the stairs of the tower, behaving like a large cat that is both on edge, and somewhat puzzled.

One by one the party gather’s in closer to the tower, wondering if the obvious is really as obvious as they imagine it to be. The silence seems uncomfortable, until suddenly

*CLANG*

The sound of a large, heavy, metal door shutting rings out from inside the quiet tower.

Zaehyra blinks and drops the focus of her detect magic spell, finding the camp already cleared out of the useless baubles in it. Then the sudden noise beckons to them from within the tower. Where do they think they're going?

Ballar looks quickly looks around, his hands up in a boxing guard position. Not seeing an opponent, or a fighting ring, the dwarf casually relaxes his stance and resumes eating asking in between mouthfuls, So, ya suppose we should ent'r then?

Going to go with peer pressure, falling in behind Niversal should the majority decides to enter.

well damn it, nothing. These guy were really bottom of the rung nothing soldiers. Sounds like they are ready for us now. Shall we find a way to open the door and get inside and take our stuff off their bodies? Niversal says with a grin.

Fortune Favors the bold, as they say. Let's use the wizard's magic though to summon a mook for scouting. Getting lost to a mirror world sounds unpleasant seeing as there isn't any known way back.

Keryth obliges and summons a lantern archon for scouting duties, instructing it to sing continuously as it does so. If the singing stops, tread carefully.

It isn't long before Ballar is humming along with the archon's song. By the time the chorus circles around for the second time, the dwarf ad libs some of the incoherent lyrics, Well Ah can dance wi'ya honey! If ya think it's funny! Does ya moth'r know tha ya'r out?, then commences a gyrating sort of jig.

Niversal will move up to the tower door and check to see if it is locked so he can let the little summoned creature inside.

The party rushes toward the tower steps when the loud sound is heard. There is a brief discussion and it is decided that a summoned creature should be sent in as a scout.

And then one is.

Things like this bother me, and I do hate to complain – but I don’t have enough input from the players to make a determination of what happens next. Am I supposed to assume the scout was given some kind of instructions, like, “Go in and look all around from the top floor to the basement and report back on what you find, and keep singing while you move about so we know you are alright”? Because even if this were so, it might be a long time before anything happens. So, I suppose I’ll just make something up.”

The summoned scout nods in understanding and heads into the tower.

Choosing to start at the basement, the scout heads down the steps into the dark, all the while singing out loudly.

Please make a will save for the summoned scout, the DC is 18

will save: 1d20 ⇒ 14

The Lantern Archon's voice can be heard, faintly, coming from the basement of the tower and then suddenly,

it stops.

The Lantern Archon's singing can be heard coming from the basement of the tower and then suddenly,

it stops.

well either they killed it or into the mirror it went Niversal says with a shrug looking to the group

Perhaps it forgot how to whistle? Zaehyra says with a defeated sigh. Well, as least we know its in the basement. Some alternative ideas to falling into trouble might be that we lay siege to the tower and hope they need to come out eventually or maybe get a bucket of paint and try and splash it over the mirror in hopes of disrupting its likely traversal power. Any other suggestions?

Ballar holds up his dorn, Sticks? Stones?

Send Bud in? ;)

The dwarf puffs out his chest objectionably and taps a worn copy of the Amalgamated Dungeoneering and Explorer's Union (Local 322) Guide, Now 'old on Keryth, union rules cl'are'lay state tha in instantes tha call for scout'n, tha duut'ays o'tha scouts shall come inta play. Ballar pokes a thumb in Niversal's direction, Shouldn't be send'n a non scout ta do scout'n. Would be like ask'n tha horse ta cast ya lightn'n bolts!

Fortunately for me, I don't belong to that union.

Bud puts the cork back in the bottle he was drinking from and looks at Keryth as the last of the booze drains from the holes in his chin and neck, "That's not very funny. It may have hit a trap and dropped or it may have been taken into the mirror. That may be what happened to the whole company out there. Can you send another summoned minion down there? I can cast message and it can let me know what it sees. Or Niversal can check for traps as we all head down."

Sorry for my absence all. My list wasn't updating for this game even though it was for others.

oh for gods sake. I am tired of all this drudging around and wondering and fretting about it all. We have to deal with this idiot and his mirror as we were hired to find this damn thing and bring it to her Dungeonessness. Let's get on with it, shall we? Niversal says with a shrug

I'm not going first. I can cast invisibility on someone if they want to steal a preemptive peek into the basement, but my place and my training is not suited for the front of whatever we are doing. That goes for any flank either, but I'll settle for just not being in front.

Ballar, wondering if he is the only card carrying member in this group and if so then he should perhaps contact his union rep to file a complaint, snaps back to reality and looks at Niversal, Tha lass 'as been gracious 'nough ta off'r. We've got ya back. Hefting his dorn the dwarf makes a little shooing motion towards the elf to get things moving and readies himself to follow.

Magicians won't lead the group into an unknown scenario and this does call for Sneaky B. stuff. :)

Niversal will take the casting of invisibility and then move to the front door

After casting invisibility Zaehyra will position herself close to the basement entrance, close enough to move into. There she will wait for invisible Niversal to give the signal.

Sidling up close to Zae, Ballar peers down the passage to where, he presumes, Niversal has gone. He'd caught the gist of the plan, Zae turns Nivers invisible, the elf wanders off, gives a signal and the group follows. Ballar's glazed look however suggests he's having difficulty with the later.
In his best whispering voice the dwarf asks, So, issat one 'and wave ta signal all cl'air or two? Wha 'bout if he uses both hands?Does tha count as four waves then?

Wha does four waves mean? Was tha a good thing?

Niversal enters the first room and has a look around looking for the stairs to the basement

stealth+invisibility: 1d20 + 19 + 20 ⇒ (6) + 19 + 20 = 45

Before Niversal goes invisible Bud walks up to him "I'll make it so I can send you messages and you can reply quietly." He holds up a bit of copper wire and says a few arcane words and points at Niversal.

Casting message.

Moving ahead of the others...

Or is he?

Nervsal, now invisible enters the tower and heads for the central stairs, on the left stone steps go down, on the right wooden stairs go up. The stone steps head into the cellar, where the wine and other spirits were found, and the woman was rescued from the iron bar gated cell

It is very dark in the cellar

What will Niversal use as a source of light?