"They'll not go t'far. We bes' be headin' back t' the Citadel inna mornin'."
Erdukk has not left the table in the tavern, still visiting with the other dwarf and the elf.
I believe Erine left the tavern in embarassment at the rough-housing. Tiana has quietly been winning at cards in the corner (just kidding!).
You can make your provisions and head back to the citadel the next day. Your journey there is uneventful and you find nothing of particular interest so it remains for you to venture underground. Which brings us to the eternal questions: marching order and lighting arrangements. The stairs down are 10 feet wide.
Tiana wakes up after an uneventful evening, and heads down to join the others, who are preparing for the journey back as well.
Tiana will march second in the marching order.
"I'll be fine wit' last 'n th' march. Crommard, yer comin', I 'ope? Ye know th' citadel better 'n yer magic was appreciated 'n th' battles we 'ad."
"I fer a thinkin tha citadel as mor secrets an more adventure fer adventurars!"
Crommard would be happy to join you but he prefers a safe place near the rear. He'll be holding a lantern if you don't mind.
"Perfesser, I dinnae wan' ye clear at th' back. If'n ye dinnae mind, I will cover yer back -- ye jus' walk in fron' o' me."
"I'm thinkin' the wee lass 'n 'er goat -- 'r th' goat 'n 'is wee lass, whichever -- oughta be by th' perfesser, too. Mebbe Sanstree afore 'em, Canvy 'r Broccan by Sanstree, 'n th' other warrior leadin' th' way. Issat everyone? Tiana, as th' light-footed one she is, might scout, but near th' front makes 'er available fer such when 't comes up, eh?"
"Ima still fer regrettin what appened tah Tiana las time in tha citadel when she wasa scoutin....
........no doubt o her abilities shes as tough as any but even Erdukk an Broccan does not stand alone!"
"Inna end its her deciden itll be based on!"
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"Perfesser, I dinnae wan' ye clear at th' back. If'n ye dinnae mind, I will cover yer back -- ye jus' walk in fron' o' me."
"I'm thinkin' the wee lass 'n 'er goat -- 'r th' goat 'n 'is wee lass, whichever -- oughta be by th' perfesser, too. Mebbe Sanstree afore 'em, Canvy 'r Broccan by Sanstree, 'n th' other warrior leadin' th' way. Issat everyone? Tiana, as th' light-footed one she is, might scout, but near th' front makes 'er available fer such when 't comes up, eh?"
** spoiler omitted **
Canvy suggests that Broccan goes first, Canvy will walk behind Tiana who wants to be in second spot. He also thinks we need to have a source of light to take with us on the journey down into the citadel.
And welcome back BT, hope your week went well.
Tiana glances around. "I'll hold second place, but I'm not going first anymore. I've had enough of that during the last fight".
Blinking as you enter the darkness, you find that the passage turns abruptly left into a long staircase down. Descending, you find yourselves in a long corridor with passages to the left and right. To the left there seems to be a large chamber of some sort. Map here.
Knowledge (dungeoneering) 15:
Where do you want to go?
(Broccan readily takes the front rank, with no hesitation.)
Knowledge (dungeoneering):
"Annyone gott'n idea wh'r th'orcs migh'be hidin'? This place dinna' look much like a mine. Followin' nat'rl stone is more to my ken."
Perception:
Knowledge dungeoneering
(untrained)
Perception
"I can put a light spell on my shillelagh an keep tha lights on."
actually an oak club
You see and hear no signs of trouble. The air is a bit stale, but that is all. So which way, right, left or ahead?
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Canvey wants to make sure that any retreat is going to be unhindered, asks Tiana. Tiana, can you just go see if there is anything in that large chamber that is a threat to us. Don't engage with anything you see, just come back and tell us, and make sure its not trapped. we can then decide on a course of action. If its empty, it might make a reasonable place to hold camp here, if we stay over night.
Tiana nods and quietly advances into the room, trying to keep herself out of view of whatever is in there.
(quietly to Broccan)
"It seems like a danger can come from any direction"
After a short while Tiana reports back. As far as she can tell the room is empty of monsters and traps. The large room is held up by a number of pillars, and seems to have been used as a sleeping area of orcish warriors. Orcish graffiti litters the walls and pillars.
There are ruined weapons and pieces of armor strewn about along the walls, and in the far end a number of orcish skeletons are piled in a heap. Crommard is excited and points out that they exhibit telltale signs of the plague which allegedly wiped out the orcish tribe. "Myth confirmed", he mutters to himself, scribbling and sketching furiously.
There are also several sets of footprints, both orcish and human, leading to and away from the small room to the left. That room is empty except for some dust and bones, but there are some interesting writings on the wall, that is partially smudged.
In Orc:
Crommard says that it describes some sort of tomb somewhere deeper in the dungeon.
Map updated above. Where do you want to go next?
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Canvy turns to Tiana, "Many thanks Tiana, your skill and talent are an essential part of our advancement through this citadel, your job there was well done". He smiles at Tiana, his blue eyes shining bright in appreciation. Canvy continues, "I suggest you and Broccan lead us straight on down this passageway ahead, be careful of the entrance or tunnel to the left. Take your time we don't want to fall foul of any traps set along the way. If you can see anything down the left tunnel let us all know. I have it in my mind to discover what might be down there?"
I'll go ahead n see what I can, Cap'n. Donna fret, lass. Y'all no be harm'd while I'm standin'. (Broccan moves ahead as suggested, javelin in hand. )
Tiana smiles at Canvy's compliment. She then nods and follows Broccan ahead, keeping her eyes open for anything unusual.
Sanstree tries to stay in the middle of the party letting Tiana have position behind Broccan, and still trying to stay forward enough to help.
"Huh!" Edrukk shakes his head at the sudden and capable command Canvy has taken. He shrugs his shoulders, mutters, "Battleragers," to himself and returns to watching the party's back.
Ignoring the left passage for now, you proceed down the main corridor. It looks like it turns to the left a bit ahead. To your left there is a rotted and jammed wooden door with the bottom part chewed off, leaving a hole large enough to crawl through.
Tiana tries to look under the door into the room.
I will make two rolls
(Broccan stowage his javelin and draws his sword. He prepares to strike anything that might come out of the hole.)
Erine is staring intently at Canvy. "Interesting..." she murmurs to Goat. "If only I had a notebook."
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Canvy asks people to hang back a bit to allow Tiana easy access to the hole in the door, and more importantly to exit. Looking at the door, Canvy asks "Can anyone tell if this was a creature getting in, or getting out? I'm sure not happy to be going in to meet it without being ready."
Canvy puts his falchion into its sheath, allowing him both hands to catch Tiana, should anything come and try and grab her as she looks. "If it looks clear Tiana, do you want to go in see if its safe for us all to come in?" Edrukk, you look out for our backs, whilst we deal with this. Keep attentive people.
The doors have obviously been gnawed by rats. Dire rats to be specific. The rot is pretty old. It doesn't seem harmful in any way.
Behind the doors there is a large room containing three stone pillars encased in spiderwebs.
"Rats n'spiders. How'd we get 'nto the larder at th's Hungry GAR? Iss'r any point goin' in, or shou' we try anoth'r way?"
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A thoughtful look comes over Canvy's face, "I think Broccan's right, we don't need to bother with just rats an spiders, but this ain't my decision alone, do we go in, or do we find another way. Weigh up, that this is a chamber on what looks like the main thoroughfare, so might be an important room, however do we want to fight rats and spiders. We will come across worse as we go on, but the choice is yours." Canvy's blue eyes look at each in turn, awaiting an answer or acknowledgment.
"Broccan, Ima not worried bout tha rats dire as they may be, its them thingsa eatin tha rats an then tha things eatin them things tha worries me!"
"Ima thinkin tha might oak club issa nuff tah pound a rat o two..."
"Mast'r Crommard, d'ya think there's annethin' it's be learn'd from th' room? D' ya think there's more orc writin' t' be found innere? If so, a few rats n' such might be a risk worth takin'."
"I've seen mages 'n th' field o' battle wit' lights 'ey could push out int' th' distance. If'n ye c'n do 'at, perfesser, mebbe we c'n see 'at's 'n yon room wit'out enterin', eh?"
Edrukk turns so his back is to the wall, his allies to his left, the entrance to his right, holy symbol (aka greatsword) held in both hands, ready to be brought to bear.
Crommard coughs: "I am sorry, I only know a few spells and none of them can cast light like that. But possibly we should explore that room. It might hold important clues."
"I agree with the scholar. We should clear the room, if only to be sure that it's empty".
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Canvy shuffles his feet, "If you want to see more clearly in that room, it's easy enough to put some light on in here." Canvy looks down and around, finding a rusty old metal nail, maybe 6 inches long (10cms), fallen down by the rotten door. "I could make this light up like a lantern, then Tiana can throw it in so that she can see more of the room. That way we will have more of an advantage over anything in there. Of course we could just try and knock the door down to gain easier access, and more importantly an easier escape route, should the need arise. We could all try and push through this door. Or Tiana goes in on her own to find out if there's anything of interest, but I don't like this last alternative, as we'd not be able to help her if she gets into trouble."
"Personally, I think we should send the light in, then push the door down if possible, before dealing with whatever and allow Crommard to investigate the chamber."
"Personally, I think we should send the light in, then push the door down if possible, before dealing with whatever and allow Crommard to investigate the chamber."
"Aye, 'at's th' wiser choice."
"I'll goinnere firss. Toss inne spike ann'I'll see wha'comes ou'ta eat."
(Broccan will kick in the door after the spike is thrown in. He has is sword in hand.)
*please roll BT - droiding today*
"Aye tha door looks tah be onna last leg an should come down easy enough"
"Lightin tha room isa good idea, i ave prepared tha spell as well an could elp light tha way."
Canvy shuffles his feet, "If you want to see more clearly in that room, it's easy enough to put some light on in here." Canvy looks down and around, finding a rusty old metal nail, maybe 6 inches long (10cms), fallen down by the rotten door. [b]"I could make this light up like a lantern, then Tiana can throw it in so that she can see more of the room. That way we will have more of an advantage over anything in there..."
"Um..." Erine coughs. "Actually, they just wouldn't have as much of an advantage over us."
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"Um..." Erine coughs. "Actually, they just wouldn't have as much of an advantage over us."
Canvy surprised to hear a little voice speak up, "Yes I s'pose you're right there Erine, thanks." Canvy's eyes momentarily take on a purplish haze as he speaks "Tarnud Mother of Light". The rusty nail lights up brightly and Canvy gives it to Tiana to throw into the room, from under the door.
"Well, I think Erine is right, but as long as you big guys go in first, I'll do my job..." Tiana says, then bends down and throws the rusty nail into the room from under the door. She looks on, trying to see as much of the room as possible.
I updated the map with what you see under the door. There is a pair of double doors at the far end of the room.
Perception 22:
Perception
Sneaking a peek!
"I was not fer knowing tha spiders could be tha size look atem thar!"
"Well, d'ya wan' m't'goinan kill 'em, or p'raps we throw s'm fire innere an' burn'm out?"