Date: Sun Jun 20, 1999 13:53:02 From: just john To: All Repl: 2280880, Godslayer; 2283454, Bab
To all:
[For those of you who haven't seen my maps before, they're best viewed in a non-proportional font, like courier or monaco.]
Hotdamm Sewers Number: 1 . 1 2 3 4 5 . 12345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890 . ---------------------------------------------------- .A| * |A .B| d* |B .C| * |C .D| s* |D .E| *d |E .F| * |F .G| * |G .H| * |H .I| d* |I .J| * |J .K| * |K .L| * |L .M| *d |M .N| P * |N .O| d *h |O .P| ###******** * d |P .Q| ******####### |Q .R| ##### |R .S| ##### |S .T| ### |T .U| ### |U . ---------------------------------------------------- . 12345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890 . 1 2 3 4 5
Key:
P Penshah's
d Doors h Wad of hair s Splatter
# Paths not taken * Tracks/Party path
Nivek continues leading the party through the glass tunnels that serve as Hotdamm's municipal sewers. At P8, the party is facing north (up) and is on the right hand side of the central troth of effluvia. The light Eledhan is providing reflects from the walls and visibility is good.
Above you and to the right, you can hear the noises of the tournament's resumption, with people yelling for various combatants and the occasional BANG sound of something or somebody hitting the canvas hard.
This initially worries Agnar, but he can see that the cylindrical shape of the glass tunnel plus the support of the surrounding sand make for a very strong structure. (And without needing any metal! Yes, there's metal on the doors and the little bridges across the troth, but these aren't vital to the stability of the system.)
Next to the trail that nobody else can easily track, Nivek sees something. It's a small wad of dark, greasy hair. (O9)
The tunnel continues north by northwest. The doors marked on the map are similar to the one that lead to Penshah's, except they don't seem to have been used recently.
When the party gets to F14, Nivek, Mistletoe and Eledhan notice a place where the sludge has splashed up and onto the other side of the stream, at D12. It's mostly a puddle maybe half a foot across.
What do you do?
Date: Sun Jun 20, 1999 15:06:06 From: Godslayer To: just john Repl: 2281597, Wrecan
[Eledhan]
Shining the light better on the sludge, Eledhan muses out loud, "I wonder if some poor unfortunate fell in? I hope we don't meet them...". He declines to go too near it. It *is* sewage, after all.
Godslayer
Date: Mon Jun 21, 1999 11:44:05 From: Wrecan To: Godslayer Repl: 2281952, FireOpal; 2282878, just john
[Agnar]
"Maybe they crossed the sewer and got out on the other side? Could there be a secret door there or something?"
Agnar scanned the other side for secret doors, or for mechanical levers, pits, etc., hoping he was wrong and they would just continue on. He had no desire to go sewer swimming.
-Mark
Date: Mon Jun 21, 1999 21:56:08 From: FireOpal To: Wrecan Repl: 2282447, Matthew Sellwood; 2282877, just john
The druid will wait for Nivek's assessment of the sludge marks. Her face is clearly not happy about Agnar's idea of sewer swimming either. If a secret door is found, then they'll have to check it out at least, but she will not volunteer unless pressed.
<She'll never be able to get the crud out of her leather!>
Date: Tue Jun 22, 1999 17:09:04 From: Matthew Sellwood To: FireOpal
"Swam through that? They'd have to be someone with less sensibilities than our own mage, that's for certain.<s>."
From his position at the back of the party, the cleric is in little position to do anything useful....and so he makes irritating small talk instead. It seems his new role as Eris' earthly representative is already being assimilated....
Matt
Date: Wed Jun 23, 1999 10:38:06 From: just john To: FireOpal Repl: 2282934, Godslayer; 2282984, Matioki; 2283037, Nivek; 2283052, Wrecan; 2286407, FireOpal
>> <She'll never be able to get the crud out of her leather!>
(What about Purify Food? Or does she believe the rumour that it also increases the appetizingness of the leather?)
The big question is: Is anybody stopping? (Eledhan's intending to, before getting "too near," which I'm arbitrarily considering to be 5 feet.)
You're still more than a dozen feet from being opposite the puddle. There's a non-hidden door a few feet ahead to your right, and from here it looks like it's locked as the other doors along the way have been.
Date: Wed Jun 23, 1999 10:38:06 From: just john To: Wrecan
> Agnar scanned the other side ...
Nothing unusual (unusual for this place, that is) that he can spot ...
Date: Wed Jun 23, 1999 14:07:14 From: Godslayer To: just john
[Eledhan] ooc: 5 feet seems about right. Note also that he will refuse to be the closest to it - he's got a haughty reputation to uphold! <s>
Godslayer
Date: Wed Jun 23, 1999 15:45:13 From: Matioki To: just john Repl: 2283563, Godslayer; 2286041, just john
>> "Swam through that? They'd have to be someone with less sensibilities than our own mage, that's for certain.<s>." <<
"Now that wouldn't be so hard to find," he mentions to Matthias with a grin.
If the others are stopping as well, he walks on past them, checking the door to the right first to see if it's locked, then taking a closer look at the splatter.
Date: Wed Jun 23, 1999 16:55:00 From: Nivek To: just john Repl: 2286044, just john
Like the others, swimming through any of this stuff has no appeal whatsoever. He moves to the last door on the right and tries ever so slightly to open it, expecting it to be locked like the others. He tried hard enough to see if it will budge, not really open it much yet. *Would they really subject themselves to swimming through this stuff? Not hardly, they must have gone through one of these doors*
- Nivek
Date: Wed Jun 23, 1999 17:06:09 From: Wrecan To: just john
[Agnar]
"Oh, well. I don't see anything on the other side. Of course, it's hard to tell from all the way over here."
-Mark
Date: Thu Jun 24, 1999 10:49:01 From: Bab To: just john Repl: 2286042, just john
The sounds from abouve cause the girl to pause. Not from worry, but wistfulness. She'll probably never get to test herself in the arena now. "Oh well," she says with a shug of her shoulders, "I don't really need to be in any contest anyway."
When they spot the troublsome puddle, Lysandra waits a few moments while everyone takes stock of the situation. Noting that most are relucktant, she proceeds past them and to the point where she is adjacent to the puddle itself. She stands at the very edge of the walkway, nearest the sludge. She takes her time looking over the area on the other side of the 'creek'.
Does the puddle have any definate angle or slant that indicates where it came from or went to? What about the sludge, how fast does it seem to be moving? If the flow is not too fast, Lysandra will test it's depth with her short sword, stoping short of the hilt if it goes deeper.
--Bab
[ooc: Having trouble with my PC and my my connection at home. Apologies for my delay]
Date: Thu Jun 24, 1999 14:53:04 From: Godslayer To: Matioki Repl: 2286043, just john
[Eledhan]
"Yes, well, I'm afraid we can't all be so at home in the sewers as you, my friends." he smiles at Matthias and Jenredykk. He doesn't appear insulted at all - he seems pleased that someone has noticed his penchant for the finer life.
Godslayer
Date: Mon Jun 28, 1999 15:30:07 From: just john To: Matioki
>> he walks on past them, checking the door to the right first to see >> if it's locked,
It is. Big ol' padlock. Nothing clever about it.
(This means Jenredykk's back is turned when the -sploosh- happens.)
Date: Mon Jun 28, 1999 15:30:07 From: just john To: Bab Repl: 2286408, FireOpal; 2286846, Matthew Sellwood; 2291296, Nivek
[At about this point in a Face-To-Face game, the DM would make a show of rolling a die behind his screen and consulting the marching order list. Cynics might claim that he's actually looking for the PC with the most expensive outfit.]
>> Does the puddle have any definate angle or slant that indicates
>> where it came from or went to?
No tracks or stuff to indicate that this is an exit splash. It's more like it was tossed up from within the stream of stuff.
-- sploosh --
... and this theory is given support by a similar puddle that has appeared on Eledhan's outfit, between the chest and the knees. Party members may see a five foot long whitish tail slipping back under the surface, once it has delivered its load.
>> What about the sludge, how fast does it seem to be moving?
Not very fast, but whatever had that tail looks like it is now swimming north (ahead of you guys) at a good rate. It seems to have been lurking there for a couple minutes, just waiting for a Nitnoid native to befoul.
Date: Mon Jun 28, 1999 15:30:07 From: just john To: Godslayer Repl: 2286245, Wrecan; 2286887, Godslayer
-- sploosh --
Suddenly, maybe a quart of sewer content lands on Eledhan, somewhere between his chest and his knees.
(Hey, he has the light, so he makes a good target.)
"Oh, ew!" remarks Holli.
Whatever it was that splashed him is back under the surface of the channel, and is swimming north.
Date: Mon Jun 28, 1999 18:44:08 From: Wrecan To: just john Repl: 2286604, Matioki
[Agnar]
"Right. No secret doors. Let's keep going."
And hope our quarry isn't in the belly of that beast...
"Can somebody hand that elf a towel?"
-Mark
Date: Mon Jun 28, 1999 22:29:14 From: FireOpal To: just john Repl: 2291338, just john
Message text written by just john
>(What about Purify Food? Or does she believe the rumour that it also increases the appetizingness of the leather?)<
ooc: Would Purify Water work? Would it help on the poor guy who just got -splooshed- ? Ewww tasty leather? You'd have to be reallllllly hungry.
Date: Mon Jun 28, 1999 22:29:14 From: FireOpal To: just john Repl: 2286617, Nivek
"Well, that solves *one* mystery, doesn't it?" the druid says matter-of-factly in response to the sploosh. "Nivek, any more clues to the trail we should be following here?"
Date: Tue Jun 29, 1999 06:15:00 From: Matioki To: Wrecan Repl: 2286722, just john
Ah, padlock, sturdy but simple. Let's see.. are there any marks that a somewhat inexperienced thief could have left lockpicking ? Say, for example.. a child ? <g>
-sploosh- Jenredykk turns around and stares at the sewer channel, then at Eledhan. "Oh, what foul misfortune ! You have my sympathies. Sewer monster ! Get it !" He draws his shortsword and runs after the beast, trying to catch up and take a swift stab at it.
Date: Tue Jun 29, 1999 07:33:00 From: Nivek To: FireOpal Repl: 2287010, Michael Durant
After looking at the puddles and the now recentky departed creature, he nods his head to the pretty druid.
"I believe the trail still leads further North. Oh, and by the way, be careful if you see that white creature again. While splashing us might seem fun, I'd be anything that was an alligator, so its the other end we really need to worry about."
- Nivek
Date: Tue Jun 29, 1999 12:28:08 From: just john To: Matioki Repl: 2286862, Matioki
>> Let's see.. are there any marks that a somewhat inexperienced >> thief could have left lockpicking ? Say, for example.. a child ?
None that Jenrydykk notices.
>> Sewer monster ! Get it !" He draws his shortsword and runs
>> after the beast, trying to catch up and take a swift stab at it.
The critter is swimming away pretty quiclky. Jenredykk has one chance, if he puts everything into a running pounce. He might just land with his sword impaling the thing's back, or he might miss entirely. Either way, the splash should be pretty impressive.
Go for it?
Date: Tue Jun 29, 1999 16:00:07 From: Matthew Sellwood To: just john
The cleric of Eris doesn't seem particularly perturbed by this turn of events. Actually, he seems rather amused, especially at the fact that it was the snooty mage who was splashed by the sewer scum. This amusement is probably cemented somewhat by his position at the back of the party, and thus away from the creature who perpetrated such a deed.
"If I didn't know that there was a goddess, I certainly do now...<S>."
Matt
Date: Tue Jun 29, 1999 16:09:14 From: Matioki To: just john Repl: 2287540, just john
>He might just land with his sword impaling the thing's back, or he might >miss entirely. Either way, the splash should be pretty impressive.
>Go for it?
Sure thing ! <g>
[OOC: I'm gonna regret this. Stupid impulsive goblins ! ;)]
Date: Tue Jun 29, 1999 16:33:04 From: Godslayer To: just john Repl: 2287243, FireOpal; 2287541, just john
[Eledhan]
A piercing scream issues from his lips as the foulness lands on him. He howls a vehement curse before chasing after the creature.
Godslayer
Date: Tue Jun 29, 1999 19:27:10 From: Michael Durant To: Nivek
[[ obviously you don't know aligators very well. ;-) Their tail is ... if anything, the more deadly weapon! <wink> ]]
MikeD
Date: Wed Jun 30, 1999 00:49:06 From: FireOpal To: Godslayer Repl: 2287344, Godslayer; 2287403, Nivek
Shaking her head at the two impetuous guys running after a swiftly moving critter in less than savoury sewer water, she then turns to Nivek. "Did they just mess up your trail? Maybe we should continue on quickly before things get out of hand?" The elven woman flashes her ranger friend an encouraging grin.
Date: Wed Jun 30, 1999 07:39:01 From: Godslayer To: FireOpal
[Eledhan]
After taking a few steps, the elven mage realises that he is running off with the light. He stops and walks slowly back to the group, asking around for a towel to wipe himself down with.
After screeching a few elven obscenities, he readies his staff to blast off a magic missile or two if the creature should come within view once more.
Godslayer
Date: Wed Jun 30, 1999 10:51:14 From: Nivek To: FireOpal Repl: 2287433, Wrecan
"If they didn't mess it up, they sure will soon. I agree my de.., Umm, I agree, he finished looking away quickly as he felt the all to familiar heat rising to his cheeks."
He started off in the Northerly direction hoping to find more tracks again.
- Nivek
Date: Wed Jun 30, 1999 11:49:13 From: Wrecan To: Nivek Repl: 2287570, Nivek
[Agnar Stonecutter]
"Um, Mr. tracker-man?" the dwarf calls to Nivek. "Before we continue, our goblin companion is about to dive into sludge with the alligator. Should somebody help him?"
Agnar prays that Jenredykk gets through his rash action intact... and that he drop his accursed metal sword in the sewer. <g>
-Mark
Date: Wed Jun 30, 1999 14:20:04 From: just john To: Matioki Repl: 2288077, Matioki
The green guy takes a running leap at the retreating critter.
Jenredykk's form is perfect -- back arched, sword clutched in both hands -- and his hang time is admirable. His aim, however ....
He hits the sewage with a much larger SPLOOSH, uninterrupted by any part of his intended prey.
The alligator has made a clean getaway. Perhaps it didn't even notice the attempted attack.
As for the sewage, now Jenredykk's in it, up to his neck. The floor and walls of the channel are deliberately slippery, to prevent caking. So it'll take at least three attempts for him to get out, unless somebody else lends a hand.
Date: Wed Jun 30, 1999 14:20:04 From: just john To: Godslayer
> -- before chasing after the creature.
And that move, before he changes his mind, puts him closest to where Jenredykk goes sewer diving.
So now some more sludge lands on his feet.
The walkway areas that are now wet are very slippery. It's no big effort to step around them when you're walking and you see where they are, but running and other such activities may be significantly hindered in the immediate vicinity.
Date: Wed Jun 30, 1999 15:06:04 From: Nivek To: Wrecan
He just looks at the green thing jumping into the sewage and shakes his head.
"We need to keep going before we fall too far behind."
*I doubt he was going to do us any good anyways*, he thinks to himself.
- Nivek
Date: Thu Jul 1, 1999 07:22:04 From: Matioki To: just john Repl: 2289763, Wrecan
"Bwuaargh !" He looks around in complete and utter disgust. "S*** ! I hate s*** !" Well, at least he did hold on to his sword. He wishes he were taller. Hopefully his backpack is watertight. Seeing his cap swimming on the sewage, he grabs it and throws it on the tunnel. There's a tuft of wiry black hair on top of his otherwise bald head.
The goblin grins at the others. "Uh, little help ?"
Date: Sat Jul 3, 1999 23:35:04 From: Wrecan To: Matioki Repl: 2289821, Matioki
[Agnar]
"Drop your sword and I will aid you," says the dwarf. "But I cannot assist you in this way while you insist on weilding metal implements. Sorry. Religious thing."
-Mark
Date: Sun Jul 4, 1999 07:10:03 From: Matioki To: Wrecan Repl: 2289868, Wrecan
"Huh ? What ?" His green face above the muck shows confusion. Then he lightens up. "Oh, religion. Sure thing."
He throws the sword on the tunnel, next to his dirty cap. "Wouldn't be much help in climbing out, anyway." Then he tries to get to the edge of the channel and get a grip with his good hand. "Have to say, all this beautiful smooth glass suddenly lost its appeal somehow."
Date: Sun Jul 4, 1999 10:27:05 From: Wrecan To: Matioki Repl: 2290038, Matthew Sellwood
[Agnar Stonecutter]
"No. You misunderstand me," says Agnar, pushing the sword to the edge by Jenredykk. "You have to drop the sword into the muck like the garbage it should be."
-Mark
Date: Sun Jul 4, 1999 15:31:04 From: Matthew Sellwood To: Wrecan Repl: 2290086, Wrecan; 2291191, Wrecan
Watching Agnar's rather eccentric behaviour, the cleric of Eris sighs deeply and makes his way to Jennyredneck's position, kneeling down and offering a hand.
"Luckily, I don't have such restrictions. In fact, I'm not sure I have any restrictions at all....<bg>."
Matt
Date: Sun Jul 4, 1999 17:01:09 From: Wrecan To: Matthew Sellwood Repl: 2290278, Matioki; 2291181, just john
[Agnar Stonecutter]
Agnar shrugged. "A god who offers no guidance is not a god at all." If this other priests wants to get himself full of muck helping the goblin out of the sewer, so be it.
-Mark
Date: Mon Jul 5, 1999 01:42:09 From: Matioki To: Wrecan Repl: 2290349, Wrecan; 2290445, Bab; 2290565, Matthew Sellwood
"No way !" he exclaimed at the dwarf. "I paid good money for that sword, it's no garbage." But he was lucky, the other fellow came to help him. "Thanks, pal. Appreciate it," he said and reached out for Matthias' hand. He shot one more glance at Agnar. "Yes, indeed, what use is a god unless he forbids you to do things ?"
Date: Mon Jul 5, 1999 07:44:05 From: Wrecan To: Matioki
[Agnar]
"Precisely," said Agnar, oblivious to the fact that the goblin was being sarcastic.
He went to join the others.
-Mark
Date: Mon Jul 5, 1999 13:06:02 From: Bab To: Matioki
This sewar thing is just getting too funny. As Eldhen gets splashed, Lysandra can't even begin to maintain her composure. The Elven Mage is too obviously distraught by the muck. She lets loose and laughs heartily.
As he begins to run she notices something green flying through the air near him, and does a double take as she realizes that Jenn is jumping after the muck beast. Her mouth drops open in awe and disbelief. Then her grin reappears as the elf mage inadvertantly puts himself in the path of the goblin's splash.
When it is obvious that he'll nedd assistance getting out, Lysandra lends her aid to that of the cleric of Enris. A little muck never hirt anyone.
--Bab
Date: Mon Jul 5, 1999 16:16:14 From: Matthew Sellwood To: Matioki Repl: 2291117, Matioki
"Or she, indeed! And Eris does make several very important prescriptions. We have to have fun, for one thing....you know how hard that is in a sewer?<G>."
Matt
Date: Tue Jul 6, 1999 06:35:05 From: Matioki To: Matthew Sellwood Repl: 2291649, Bab
"Yes, I tried to have some fun, and look where it got me," the goblin complains. Then he tries to get a foothold on the slippery side of the channel. "Yours sounds like an interesting goddess, can you tell me more once I'm out of this muck ?"
Date: Tue Jul 6, 1999 10:54:12 From: just john To: Wrecan Repl: 2291189, Wrecan
"That must be quite some god," says Holli. "What's his name?"
Date: Tue Jul 6, 1999 11:02:10 From: Wrecan To: just john Repl: 2291370, just john
[Agnar Stonecutter]
Agnar's face grew red with embarrassment.
"Er, actually, my god hasn't seen it to reveal its name to me, quite yet. It is one of many mysteries I pray daily will be revealed to me. But the teachngs are quite clear."
Agnar considered that statement.
"Well, fairly clear."
Pause to consider that again.
"Yeah, defintiely I would say my god's teaching are pretty clear. Very... no, considerably clear."
-Mark
Date: Tue Jul 6, 1999 11:04:10 From: Wrecan To: Matthew Sellwood Repl: 2291224, Matthew Sellwood
MS> Watching Agnar's rather eccentric behaviour
ooc: You know, when a priest of discord finds someone's behavior to be eccentric, that's pretty bad!
-Mark
Date: Tue Jul 6, 1999 11:44:06 From: Matthew Sellwood To: Wrecan
Nah. He's sowing discord by pretending that he's perplexed. He knows what he thinks really.
Maybe.
Matt
Date: Tue Jul 6, 1999 14:49:04 From: just john To: FireOpal Repl: 2291732, FireOpal
>> ooc: Would Purify Water work? Would it help on the poor guy who >> just got -splooshed- ?
Yeah, that'd be one way to clean them up ...
Date: Tue Jul 6, 1999 15:15:05 From: just john To: Wrecan Repl: 2291375, Godslayer; 2291396, Wrecan
"Not knowing your deity's name must make cussing inconvenient," observes Holli.
Date: Tue Jul 6, 1999 15:21:10 From: Godslayer To: just john
[Eledhan]
>"Not knowing your deity's name must make cussing inconvenient," observes Holli.<
"It must make prayers short and sweet though, huh?" adds the still-wiping mage.
Godslayer
Date: Tue Jul 6, 1999 15:35:04 From: Wrecan To: just john
[Agnar Stonecutter]
"It just stretches my creativity," Agnar admits. "Not that I would ever use my god's name in any manner that would diminish the majesty of that name, of course."
-Mark
Date: Tue Jul 6, 1999 21:44:03 From: Bab To: Matioki Repl: 2293586, Spydah!
Knowing that she has little in the way of mass to offer for the purposes of an ankor point, Lysandra lies flat on the walk way before offering her hand to Jenredykk. A *little* muck may never hurt you but she shes know reason to get dragged in completely.
Lysandra listens quietly to the exchange between the goblin and the cleric of Eris. Relegion has never been her forte. One god has always seemed much like another to her. This Eris, though, sounds interesting. A god that acually wants you to have a good time. That she might be able to stomach.
Still, she keeps her thoughts to herself and simply listens for the time being. There's got to be a hitch. There always is.
--Bab
Date: Wed Jul 7, 1999 00:40:04 From: FireOpal To: just john Repl: 2291847, Godslayer; 2297290, just john
If the red-headed druid can near the soiled mage without disturbing Nivek's tracking she'll pipe up with a possible solution. "It's possible I can spell the sewer water into pure water for you. It should at least reduce the smell... If the goblin is near enough he might even benefit too. I'll give it a try if we have a good moment to pause." She gives a small shrug of her shoulders, uncertain when that good time will occur (probably when they are out of the sewers' immediate splooshing vicinity though).
Gripping her rune staff with one hand, the other traces the glyphs for the spell that is carved upon it, readying herself for the moment in which to cast the purify water.
Date: Wed Jul 7, 1999 07:16:00 From: Godslayer To: FireOpal
[Eledhan]
Giving Mistletoe a smile, Eledhan whispers to her a small word of thanks for her efforts.
Godslayer
Date: Fri Jul 9, 1999 16:57:13 From: Spydah! 74552,463 To: Bab Repl: 2297291, just john
The gnome trails the others, still breathing loudly through his mouth and pinching his nose with his hand. He is giggling at the goblin's antics, which ends up sounding like the little guy is choking on something.
occ: Sorry I've been out for so long, I'm converting to a G-3 and trying to work all the bugs out.
-S
Date: Wed Jul 14, 1999 18:44:00 From: just john To: FireOpal Repl: 2297576, Matioki; 2297762, Godslayer; 2298791, FireOpal
Once Eledhan and Jenredykk are standing close together, Mistletoe casts the spell. (For this one, let's assume that she knows to limit the spell to where the sewage is, otherwise any beer or other liquids in their packs might be affected.)
And *zot*, that which was wet, gross and icky is now merely wet.
Date: Wed Jul 14, 1999 18:44:00 From: just john To: Spydah! 74552,463
[>> occ: Sorry I've been out for so long, I'm converting to a G-3 ]
[>> and trying to work all the bugs out. ]
[Hey, neato! I got a G3 PowerBook last fall, and it's the most stable system I've had in a very long time. I've even put off installing OS 8.5 (from 8.1) because I hear MacNav breaks more under it (no huge surprise, considering the last real update for it was in 1994 or so) and Sherlock sounds like something I've already programmed for myself.]
Date: Thu Jul 15, 1999 07:10:02 From: Matioki To: just john
He feels his cloak and grins at Mistletoe. "Hey, thanks a lot ! That's some neat magic. Now we better keep going, I need to get dry."
Date: Thu Jul 15, 1999 15:00:11 From: Godslayer To: just john Repl: 2298313, Wrecan; 2299670, Matthew Sellwood
[Eledhan]
Smiling at the now merely wet clothes, and then at Mistletoe, Eledhan kneels and kisses her hand. "My Lady." he thanks her, "I am at your service.". He is quite clearly joking but is equally clearly thankful.
Godslayer
Date: Fri Jul 16, 1999 13:44:09 From: Wrecan To: Godslayer
[Agnar Stonecutter]
Agnar nods.
"We should keep moving before the trail goes cold."
And he gets back in the marching order and waits for everyone to continue.
-Mark
Date: Sat Jul 17, 1999 12:25:00 From: FireOpal To: just john
After casting the spell to purify the muck to water, the druid stays unusually immobile. She has a faraway gaze in her eyes. After a few moments she stirs, letting out a deep breath. "Interesting," she mutters, before looking over the results on the goblin and wizard. "Oh, much better!" she grins at them.
Date: Mon Jul 19, 1999 16:37:12 From: Matthew Sellwood To: Godslayer Repl: 2299686, Godslayer
"You're much more civil when you don't have **** on you, m'lord..."
With that, the cleric grins and finishes hoisting the goblin up and putting him back on his feet, winking to his companions.
Matt
Date: Mon Jul 19, 1999 16:57:02 From: Godslayer To: Matthew Sellwood Repl: 2301348, just john
[Eledhan]
"A matter of good-breeding, my chaotic friend. When someone helps you, you thank them. I imagine you'll get used to it.". He smiles to himself and then rejoins the line with his light.
Godslayer
Date: Thu Jul 22, 1999 20:54:02 From: just john To: Godslayer Repl: 2301493, Bab
After the encounter with the alligator ("Hey, it's not every day you get besmirched by an urban legend," says Phineas.) the sewer tunnel continues in a mostly northward direction.
The odd scuff on the floor tells Nivek that the people you're following went this way. Every few dozen feet there's a door on the right or a bridge on the left, but the tracks ignore them.
So following the tracks, the party has the sewer channel to their left and the glass wall to their right.
At about one hundred feet past the encounter, there's a slightly different door to the right. For one thing, it has vents in it, and some cool air is blowing through them. For another thing, instead of the name of a store or temple on it, it has "To North Branch Sewer C" on it. Also, after a brief look past it, Nivek can tell that the people you're pursuing went through here.
The door's locked with a built-in lock below its knob, which is on the right side. (The other doors had padlocks.) From the looks of it, the door opens inward. It's five feet wide and seven and a half feet high.
The vents are near the bottom and the top of the door, so that puts them at about a foot off the floor and six and a half feet off the floor. Each vent is about one inch wide by four inches high, and they're in rows of eight across. So that's a total of sixteen vents. Coolish air is coming through, but no noticeable light.
What do you do?
Date: Fri Jul 23, 1999 08:45:07 From: Bab To: just john Repl: 2301518, Wrecan; 2303199, just john
OOC: WooHoo!
A lock? A lock and a door? Lysandra works her way to the front of the group to stand and look at the door for several moments. She stands back and examines the vents, the hinge edge, the latch edge, the lock and the handle. All this is done without touching the door at all.
If satisfied that there are no traps she moves onto the lock itself. The lock she checks with a VERY long pick while she her self leans to one side. If nothing pops out or feels suspicious she'll move on to picking the lock properly.
Since this is a wet environment, she starts by pouring a small amount of oil into the lock mechanizum to lossen it up. After that she sets to work with her picks, her concentration is amazing.
--Bab
Date: Fri Jul 23, 1999 10:22:10 From: Wrecan To: Bab Repl: 2301555, Nivek; 2303200, just john
[Agnar]
Agnar waits patiently as the lockpicker does her thing.
-Mark
Date: Fri Jul 23, 1999 12:18:01 From: Nivek To: Wrecan Repl: 2301876, FireOpal
After telling everyone in whispered tones that their path goes through this door, he steps back a bit and let's the little girl do her thing. He keeps a careful look out for anything that may sneak up behind them.
- Nivek
Date: Sat Jul 24, 1999 00:23:10 From: FireOpal To: Nivek Repl: 2302103, Nivek
Standing next to Nivek while Lysandra finally gets a chance to try her skills, the druid whispers to him, "Tufin and Glenxo are going at it in the tournament. Should be interesting..But don't tell Perry, he'll wish he could bet on the fight or something!" She concludes this statement with a wink.
Date: Sat Jul 24, 1999 18:07:09 From: Nivek To: FireOpal Repl: 2302410, Matioki; 2304562, FireOpal
He listened to her and smiled looking back at Perry. "I'm sure you're right, he said chuckling.
- Nivek
Date: Sun Jul 25, 1999 13:41:02 From: Matioki To: Nivek Repl: 2303205, just john; 2303241, Bab
He steps up next to Lysandra and watches her work. "Hey, you're part of the trade as well. Great ! I wonder if Tursbie picked that lock herself or if it was a kidnapper after all. The little girl is an aspiring thief, after all."
Date: Mon Jul 26, 1999 20:34:09 From: just john To: Wrecan Repl: 2303452, Bab
Lysandra goes through the steps described, and in almost no time, the lock's unlocked.
Date: Mon Jul 26, 1999 20:39:00 From: just john To: Matioki Repl: 2303515, Wrecan
"Hey, this is probably where that 'x' is on the map, where the route goes from one sewer to another," says Holli.
Date: Mon Jul 26, 1999 21:25:14 From: Bab To: Matioki Repl: 2303672, Matioki
"Trade?" She says from the side of her mouth. "I like that term. Don't think I've ever heard it before though. My boss always called it 'The Association'."
--Bab
Date: Tue Jul 27, 1999 09:24:08 From: Bab To: just john Repl: 2305478, just john
The lock seems to open incredibly easily. At this the girl raises her left eye brow momentarily. Then she relaxes noticably. "Must be a standard 'municiple' lock. Not much challange really."
Regardless of how vanilla the lock may seem, Lysandra sticks to her drill. Even after the ease with which the lock opens and the apparent lack of traps, she opens the door very cautiously.
"I'm gonna open the door." She tells her comrades. "While I doubt there'll be any trouble, you may wish to stand clear. Just in case." Lysandra stands to the latch side of the door, out of the open door way, as she swings the door open.
--Bab
Date: Tue Jul 27, 1999 11:55:06 From: Wrecan To: just john
[Agnar]
Agnar steps aside, as Lysandra instructed, careful not to fall into the muck or push other people in
-Mark
Date: Tue Jul 27, 1999 16:25:13 From: Matioki To: Bab Repl: 2304460, Bab
"You have a boss ?" He raises an eyebrow. "Is he a master of one of these secret guilds or the head of one of those really tight little families ?" Then he turns to Holli. "There's another sewer starting behind that door ? It wasn't on the map, why is it sealed off like this ?"
Date: Wed Jul 28, 1999 21:16:10 From: Bab To: Matioki Repl: 2304660, Wrecan
She nods at his question. "Yeah, he was almost like a father, really, so I guess you'd say it was a tight little family." She finishes the lock easily while talking. "He's not my boss anymore though."
--Bab
Date: Thu Jul 29, 1999 02:17:05 From: FireOpal To: Nivek
Her focus goes elsewhere again as the lock is being picked. "Something strange about Glenxo... I'm not sure what it is. He's fighting rather bizarrely... haphazardly actually." The druid ponders the oddness of this, frowning a little as she does.
"Maybe it's because of his family? If so, we should probably hurry and get his daughter and wife back before something awful happens."
Date: Thu Jul 29, 1999 10:22:11 From: Wrecan To: Bab Repl: 2305480, just john
[Agnar]
Agnar continues to wait patiently for someone to open the now unlocked door and continue the search.
-Mark
Date: Fri Jul 30, 1999 19:06:07 From: just john To: Bab Repl: 2306009, Bab
The door opens smoothly inward to a semi-dark hallway.
From the party's viewpoint, they see that a few feet in from the doorway, there are six steps upward, then the hall continues for a bit. Some light comes from above, perhaps a skylight.
Date: Fri Jul 30, 1999 19:06:07 From: just john To: Wrecan Repl: 2305752, Wrecan
"I just realized," says Phineas quietly to Agnar. "With your disdain of metal in general, you must not be fond of most locks."
Date: Sat Jul 31, 1999 12:08:02 From: Wrecan To: just john Repl: 2308220, just john
[Agnar]
"Metal locks are the product of an avaricious society. Get rid of the evil caused by metal and locks will be obsolete. Evil begets evil," he explained.
-Mark
Date: Sat Jul 31, 1999 22:40:02 From: Bab To: just john Repl: 2306204, Nivek
After the door swings open the girl performs a cursory search for any traps in the door way. When she is satified that the way is clear, she gestures for Nivek to continue with his tracking.
--Bab
Date: Sun Aug 1, 1999 09:56:10 From: Nivek To: Bab Repl: 2306318, FireOpal; 2308221, just john
He waits for Lysandra to let him know when all is clear and he continues on looking for tracks. He is equally looking for trouble though at this point, thinking that they might be getting close.
- Nivek
Date: Sun Aug 1, 1999 13:56:02 From: FireOpal To: Nivek Repl: 2308173, Matioki; 2308222, just john
The redhead follows Nivek through the door, her staff ready to swing if need be. Her keen eyes take in their new surroundings, looking for any potential trouble there.
Date: Wed Aug 4, 1999 17:48:11 From: Matioki To: FireOpal
Impatiently, he waits for the mage with the light and tags along, still polishing his shortsword a bit.
Date: Wed Aug 4, 1999 19:19:00 From: just john To: Wrecan Repl: 2308562, Wrecan
Phineas thinks a bit, and replies, "Then how do you keep children out of poisons, like lye?"
Date: Wed Aug 4, 1999 19:19:01 From: just john To: Nivek Repl: 2308364, FireOpal
Once through the inward-opening door, Nivek can see that there's a window up and to the right, which is where the light is coming in from a room that evidently has a window or windows to the outside.
The window into the hallway would be a great place to watch for people coming through the door from the sewer, but you don't see anybody there. It's too high off the lower level's floor for anybody standing there to see anything through it except ceiling.
The trail leads up the six steps and down the hall ...
Down the hall a dozen feet or so is a door to the right, which probably goes to the room with the windows. A few feet beyond that, the hall takes a right turn (which I'll tell you about when you get to it.)
. | Door | | window | | . | | +------------+ | . | | | . | | | .__________________________ | . |_ | . |_ <---- Direction you're . |_ heading . |_ | . |_ | . |________________________
Date: Wed Aug 4, 1999 23:00:02 From: FireOpal To: just john Repl: 2308570, Wrecan
As she proceeds to follow Nivek into the "foyer", she pauses for a moment and mutters two words, "Ouch!" and then "Ick!" She then gives a little shake of her head as if to clear it and continues, her senses fully concentrated on the room they're in.
Date: Thu Aug 5, 1999 10:34:05 From: Wrecan To: just john Repl: 2308639, just john; 2308641, just john
[Agnar]
Agnar looked confused.
"Um... last I checked, a lock costs more than most families can make in a year. They manage to do all right without a lock to protect their children. I don't have any children, so you'll have to ask them how they keep their children away from lye. I expect they put them on high shelves or in a chest with a heavy lid and stuff on it. Then when children are old enough to understand, they warn them of the dangers."
"Metal is for the protection of those who own metal wealth. That's why lock-picking is generally a skill of those who have been outcast by the metallarchy."
Agnar's eyes brightened. *Metallarchy*. He just came up with a new word. He liked it. It sounded appropriately ominous and sinister. He made a mental reference to use that word more often.
-Mark
Date: Thu Aug 5, 1999 10:59:01 From: Wrecan To: FireOpal Repl: 2309165, Matthew Sellwood; 2309196, Bab
[Agnar]
Agnar puts his finger to his lips to indicate to everybody that they should be quiet. Then he points to Lysandra and mimics her climbing the wall to the window to peek inside that room and tell us what she sees.
-Mark
Date: Thu Aug 5, 1999 14:04:06 From: just john To: Wrecan
>> *Metallarchy*. He just came up with a new word.
[ooc: And, as Dave Berry would say, it's a great name for a band.]
Date: Thu Aug 5, 1999 14:06:08 From: just john To: Wrecan Repl: 2308751, Wrecan
Phineas furrows his brow.
"Meadow larky??"
Date: Thu Aug 5, 1999 17:27:10 From: Wrecan To: just john
[Agnar]
"later," he whispers, indicating the open window above.
-Mark
Date: Fri Aug 6, 1999 12:41:10 From: Matthew Sellwood To: Wrecan
Throughout the pause at the locked door and their ongoing journey, the new priest of Eris has been quiet, simply looking through what appears to be a textbook, brow furrowed. As Angar puts his finger to his mouth, Matthias looks up and utters one word.
"****".
He lets it ring for a few moments and grins.
"I think I'm getting the hang of this sponteanity thing.<s>."
Matt
Date: Fri Aug 6, 1999 13:18:11 From: Bab To: Wrecan Repl: 2309284, just john
The girl shrugs and smiles at Agnar and the suggestion. She examines the wall long enought to determine if she even has a chance. If it's the same material as the inner sewer she knows better than to bother. If they are too smooth, however, she'll motion for the tallest member of the groups to come over and makes it clear that she intends to stand on his shoulders to get a look through the window. As small as she is, it should be no problem at all.
--Bab
Date: Fri Aug 6, 1999 16:42:01 From: just john To: Bab Repl: 2310460, Godslayer; 2311123, Bab
> If it's the same material as the inner sewer she knows better than to bother.
Below the winddow, smooth as glass. (Heck, it is glass -- when you do your construction by flaming out sand, it's very cheap.) Above the window looks like wood.
(The open door is there, across the doorway from the wall the window's on.)
Date: Sun Aug 8, 1999 15:35:02 From: Godslayer To: just john Repl: 2314171, just john
[Eledhan] ooc: back from holidays in darkest Florida <s>
Waving the light on his staff about the room, Eledhan decides to check out the door. He walks slowly and carefully towards it and tests to see if it's locked.
Godslayer
Date: Mon Aug 9, 1999 15:57:14 From: Bab To: just john
ooc: open door, heah! Those are for wimps! 8^>
BTW: My home pc decided to croak completely this last weekend. My only access now is from the web at work. I'll try to keep up still.
As for Lysandra, she'll let the wizard take a peek this time.
--Bab
Date: Sun Aug 15, 1999 21:14:04 From: just john To: Godslayer Repl: 2314354, Wrecan; 2314541, Godslayer
> Waving the light on his staff about the room, Eledhan decides to check > out the door. He walks slowly and carefully towards it and tests to see > if it's locked.
The light for everybody in the sewer tunnel suddenly gets lower as Eledhan goes through the door into the hallway. Up the steps, no problem, and he's at the door in question. It's to his right, and a few feet further down the hall is the opening as the hall turns to the right. From his vantage point at the door, Eledhan can see the turned hall's wall has some words painted on it. It looks like the same style of writing as the municipal labels on doors in the tunnel, etc.
The door in front of Eledhan simply says "Office." A turn of the handle implies it's unlocked.
Date: Mon Aug 16, 1999 10:14:13 From: Wrecan To: just john
[Agnar]
The dwarf will continue to follow along with the party but has very little to contrinute right now, except to continue to be on the lookout for contruction-related pitfalls and sliding walls and unsafe construction..
-Mark
Date: Mon Aug 16, 1999 17:18:12 From: Godslayer To: just john Repl: 2314855, Bab
[Eledhan]
Waits patiently for someone else to open the door.
Godslayer
Date: Tue Aug 17, 1999 08:32:12 From: Bab To: Godslayer Repl: 2315099, Godslayer
She hurrys up to the door that Eledhan waits at. "My apologies for the delay *sire*." She bows and turns the knob for him, swinging the door open.
--Bab
Date: Tue Aug 17, 1999 17:01:00 From: Godslayer To: Bab Repl: 2315548, Bab; 2319067, just john
[Eledhan]
>"My apologies for the delay *sire*."<
"Well, I'll forgive you this once, but don't let it happen again." he replies. But he says it with a smile.
Godslayer
Date: Wed Aug 18, 1999 14:06:14 From: Bab To: Godslayer
The girl accepts his statement as intended and her grin remains. She also remains bowed until he has walked through the door. The she follows, with a jaunty strut, into the room.
--Bab
Date: Tue Aug 24, 1999 10:59:12 From: just john To: Godslayer Repl: 2319117, Bab; 2319328, Godslayer; 2319470, FireOpal
The door opens into an office of sorts. As Lysandra and Eledhan fiddle at the entrance way, the party bunches up and a few people get a glance down the hallway.
. | |-----+door+----+window+---| . |sta | | West-> . | irs| | . |down| OFFICE | . | | (Where most | . | | of you are) | Sewer . | |___door___________________| (Where . | you've . | stairs been) . |_______________________________|
Phineas, not currently one to be elbowing his way to the front, observes, "I guess these stairs lead down and across to the other sewer."
But back to what people see in the office.
On the far wall is a door leading to the outside, where there are probably some steps leading up to ground level. If there were people walking around outside, the window would give a nice view of their feet. But it's quiet.
Too quiet.
In the office, there's a bit of a smell. And whatever keeps insects from infesting the sewer tunnel you've just been in must not be in effect here, because there are flies buzzing around. Some of them are buzzing around behind the table in the center of the room, and some are landing in the pool of blood on the floor. The blood's beginning to dry, so the bugs aren't getting stuck in it.
The blood seems to have come from the halfling that's lying on the floor. Evidently he was sitting on a thick cushion on a human-scale chair when somebody cleaved his head in twain with an axe or some similar implement. They didn't leave the axe, so it's like somebody messily unzipped his head from crown to nose. He's dead.
It looks like it happened quickly, and he may not have seen it coming.
On the table and shelves are the paperwork one might expect in a municipal office -- time tables, another city map, etc.
Date: Tue Aug 24, 1999 12:12:11 From: Bab To: just john Repl: 2319132, Wrecan
DEATH!
She had seen so much death since leaving her home. Now here was this man she did not even know, killed she thought, more gruesomely than any she had seen so far. And yet she stood her ground. She did not flee. She did not wretch. She did not cry.
She did stare in horror. "Nivek," she said quietly as if trying not to disturb the dead, "is this the direction that they went in?" It seems obvious but she doeas not want to assume anything. This could be a horrible coicidence not related to their mission at all.
--Bab
Date: Tue Aug 24, 1999 12:27:06 From: Wrecan To: Bab Repl: 2319291, Matthew Sellwood
[Agnar]
Peering around the people huddled in front of him and catching a glimpse of a short body lying on the floor, Agnar shakes his head and mutters a prayer to his god for this lost soul.
"Is that the child," he asks, hoping it isn't. He is too far back to see the identity of the body. All he can tell is it's smaller than an adult dwarf.
Agnar nods at Phineas's comment, and waited for the ranger's analysis. If their quarry went to the surface, he doubted they'd ever be able to locate them.
-Mark
-Mark
Date: Tue Aug 24, 1999 16:13:08 From: Matthew Sellwood To: Wrecan
Catching a glimpse of the halfling's body, the cleric frowns and moves to the head of the party, staring down at the corpse. A little fun was alright...hey, even a little kerrfuffle now and again...but chopping someone's head into bits? Definitely not the done thing.
"Time to leave, methinks."
Matt
Date: Tue Aug 24, 1999 17:13:09 From: Godslayer To: just john Repl: 2319857, just john
[Eledhan]
The mage looks decidedly queasy at the sight of the corpse, but appears to muster enough 'stiff upper lip' to ignore it and rifle quickly through the documents for anything interesting, particularly a better sewer map. He takes the city map, anyway, figuring it might come in handy later.
Godslayer
Date: Tue Aug 24, 1999 21:16:00 From: FireOpal To: just john Repl: 2319858, just john; 2319984, Matioki; 2320144, Nivek
Message text written by just john
>On the table and shelves are the paperwork one might expect in a municipal office -- time tables, another city map, etc.<
The druid wrinkles her nose at the smell of the blood and corpse (how fresh?). She will look over the scene trying to discern if anything seems missing or out of place. Were the halfling's pockets rifled through? Did he appear to be holding anything? If she can't tell from a short distance, she'll ask Nivek if she can do a cursory search of the body and table - if he's gotten any information he needed already.
ooc: What are the time tables for?
Date: Wed Aug 25, 1999 13:05:01 From: just john To: Godslayer Repl: 2319875, Godslayer
>> He takes the city map, anyway, figuring it might come in handy later.
"Y'know, you can buy those," says Holli.
Date: Wed Aug 25, 1999 13:05:01 From: just john To: FireOpal
>> the blood and corpse (how fresh?)
At least an hour old. (The trail Nivek's been tracking is about five minutes old, and counting ...)
>> Were the halfling's pockets rifled through?
How would one tell?
>> Did he appear to be holding anything?
By imagining how he fell, one can guess where anything in his hands might have gone. And there, under one of the sets of shelves, is a small dog-eared book, lying open. The title: "Studly Burroughs and the Nine Very Naughty Elven Maids." The cover features an extremely cheerful-looking halfling in the middle of a bed, with the aforementioned Elven Maids looking at him adoringly.
So the dead guy may have not noticed anybody sneaking up on him ...
There's nothing handwritten or inserted in the book.
>> What are the time tables for?
Cleaning and spell-casting schedules for the sewers.
Date: Wed Aug 25, 1999 13:29:14 From: Godslayer To: just john Repl: 2319947, just john
[Eledhan]
"Ah, yes, my dear. But buying involves money, and this... well, I'm sure they won't miss it. They probably print the damn things, after all.".
Godslayer
Date: Wed Aug 25, 1999 15:25:12 From: just john To: Godslayer Repl: 2319951, Wrecan; 2320044, Godslayer; 2320351, Matthew Sellwood
"I can see it now," says Holli, and she plays out a scene with two voices -- not very good imitations of male voices.
She starts by twirling an imaginary mustache and peering about the room.
"'Allo, what's this then? A dead body? And by the looks of the clean spot on the wall, a map is missing as well!' 'Mark moy words, constable: Find that map and you find the killah!' 'Gadzooks! This could be the lead to the map theft ring we've been looking for!'"
Date: Wed Aug 25, 1999 15:30:08 From: Wrecan To: just john
[Agnar]
Agnar rubbed his temple.
**And people call me insane...** he thought as he finally entered the room, relieved to see the body was not the dwarven child's.
"So, any idea where our quarry went, or who killed this poor soul?"
-Mark
Date: Wed Aug 25, 1999 16:04:11 From: Matioki To: FireOpal Repl: 2320248, just john
His eyes widen in horror at the ghastly sight. "Phex be with us, who would do such a thing ? He almost split the guy's head ! Why couldn't he just whack him with a club ?!"
He checks the window - any building he can recognize ? really no people near ? - and then the door next to it.
Date: Wed Aug 25, 1999 17:14:10 From: Godslayer To: just john Repl: 2320247, just john; 2320423, just john
[Eledhan] ooc: You described the map and other documents as being "On the table and shelves", not on a wall. He's only taking it because it looks like no-one will notice and it might come in handy later.
"Not going to turn me in, my dear Holli? Of course, if you do," he adds with a sly grin, "I shall blame it on someone else. And, as you can see, I am quite incapable of doing such a thing - I'd put my back out just lifting the kind of weapon needed for that. No offense meant, but it's more your kind of thing.". If she or any of the others are insistant he'll leave the map, rolling his eyes at the holier-than-thou attitude taken by them.
Godslayer
Date: Wed Aug 25, 1999 19:46:05 From: Nivek To: FireOpal Repl: 2320384, Bab; 2320842, FireOpal
He smells the horrible smell of death before he saw the body. It was bad, what he saw was worse. He looked down the hall a bit and into the room, looking at the body more closely but not touching it.
"Aye, he's been dead an hour or more. But whomever we're following didn't go in here. He went down the hall. These tracks can't be more than 5 minutes old. He couldn't have missed this smell or the flies, so my guess is whoever came this way at least knew about this murder."
He stepped back to the hall and started down it, making sure he got ahead of Misteltoe.
"We can't be too far behind now and we know they will use any force, so everyone be ready and quiet."
- Nivek
Date: Wed Aug 25, 1999 22:49:04 From: just john To: Godslayer
[> You described the map and other documents as being "On the table and ]
[> shelves", not on a wall. ]
[Okay, fair enough. Which makes Holli's bit just that much sillier, under the circumstances. But you may have noticed she does tend to get silly in dire settings that can't be resolved by direct action.]
Date: Wed Aug 25, 1999 22:49:04 From: just john To: Matioki
> He checks the window - any building he can recognize ? > really no people near ?
Out the window, he sees that there are indeed stairs going up to street level. (If you've seen "Cheers," it's a mirror image of that setup.) About fifteen feet away is the side of another building. The street is to the right, and there are pedestrians every so often, along the tiny section of roadway that's visible.
Past the back of the building, on the left part of your field of vision, the tops of a few banners can be seen past some houses. Those banners look like the Tourney banners.
So you're just about at the "x" on the sewer map.
Date: Thu Aug 26, 1999 05:28:02 From: Matthew Sellwood To: just john
He grins over at Holli and looks around at the other members of the group, appearing, at the moment, like the epitome of sanity.
"I think Holli's gone again."
Matt
Date: Thu Aug 26, 1999 08:26:07 From: Bab To: Nivek
She looks at the dead halfling then back at the door they came in. Worry is obvious on her face. "If the people we're traking didn't do thins, then which do we pursue? Do we continue tracking the girl or do we report this to the authorities?"
She pauses and looks to the others for guidance.
--Bab
Date: Thu Aug 26, 1999 11:32:09 From: just john To: Godslayer
[How's this for a Solomon-like solution?]
On the wall is another city map. Holli was implying that Eledhan would be going for that one next.
Date: Fri Aug 27, 1999 00:50:12 From: FireOpal To: Nivek Repl: 2320934, Wrecan
Message text written by Nivek
>"Aye, he's been dead an hour or more. But whomever we're following didn't go in here. He went down the hall. These tracks can't be more than 5 minutes old. He couldn't have missed this smell or the flies, so my guess is whoever came this way at least knew about this murder."
He stepped back to the hall and started down it, making sure he got ahead of Misteltoe.
"We can't be too far behind now and we know they will use any force, so everyone be ready and quiet."<
After checking out the body (not touching it) and seeing the book, the elven woman will glance at the sewer cleaning time tables, just to see if there might be any correlation (cleanings immediately before or after they entered the sewers).
Noting anything useful, she'll then hurry out of the room and away from the gruesome sight and smell towards Nivek.
Date: Fri Aug 27, 1999 12:02:11 From: Wrecan To: FireOpal Repl: 2320953, just john
[GM]
"When we get back to the surface, we'll report this to the constables. In the meantime, we still have a mother and daughter missing under the sewers. We should continue on. Whoever killed this poor soul might be stalking them as well."
-Mark
Date: Fri Aug 27, 1999 12:36:03 From: just john To: Wrecan Repl: 2320994, Wrecan
Phineas is the last into the room, and he's been going, "Oh my," and "Oh, goodness me."
(Totally unlike the crazy fellow Mistletoe defeated in the ring quite recently.)
When Agnar says his piece, Phineas says to the party, "Well, if you could tell me where we are in relation to the garrison building -- that's the big metal one my friend here almost attacked -- I could dash over there while the rest of you continued on your way ... In that event, how should I describe your mission to them? I think that old fellow wanted things kept quiet, though this corpse here would seem to up the ante, so to speak ..."
Date: Fri Aug 27, 1999 14:56:05 From: Wrecan To: just john Repl: 2322616, Matthew Sellwood
[Agnar]
"I don't know about the others, but I am not particularly concerned about secrecy. I'm trying to rescue the mother and daughter because they might be in danger. I certainly am not doing it for that windbag metal-laden priest we left behind."
-Mark
Date: Mon Aug 30, 1999 16:16:00 From: Matthew Sellwood To: Wrecan
"I'm doing it because it looks to be interesting....and this just thickens the plot somewhat, doesn't it? Interesting place, this city...<S>."
Matt
Date: Sun Sep 12, 1999 18:10:13 From: just john To: All Repl: 2330955, Matioki
Holli says to Phineas, "The armory is a couple streets down and one over. You can't miss it. Tell them you were with me, tracking a lost child."
"Rightey-oh! Good luck on your mission," Phineas says to the party, then leaves to alert the constabulary. (He's still clad only in a grubby kilt and wire-frame glasses.)
(Does anybody keep the dead halfling's dirty book?)
Mistletoe's look at the timetables tells her that most cleanings are scheduled for mid-morning, and most of the spell-casters are responsible for only one area per day.
As Nivek leads the party down the other stairs, a side effect of the cleaning arrangement reveals itself.
In the other sewer, the cleaning spells were sort of subtle, in the way they handled smell. But in the one you're heading toward, the spell tells your mind "It doesn't smell TOO bad, here." So even if you were surrounded by flowers and there was no sewage anywhere near, you'd notice yourself thinking "It doesn't smell TOO bad, here."
It's just a case of mild mis-application of the magic, similar in concept to the muzak on an elevator being turned up too loud.
Anyway, the stairs lead down to below the level of the sewer, but all is clean and dry and doesn't smell TOO bad. Forty feet pass, and stairs lead upward to a door. It looks a lot like the door you just went through to leave the first sewer.
All the tracking signs tell Nivek that this is the way the dwarf-sized boots went, even though they didn't smell TOO bad ...
Date: Tue Sep 14, 1999 10:03:05 From: Matioki To: just john Repl: 2333018, Wrecan; 2333289, just john
"Um, if nobody is going to collect this piece of evidence, I'll take care of it !" Before one of the others can object, the goblin grabs the halflings literature and starts leafing through it.
Date: Sat Sep 18, 1999 10:32:00 From: Wrecan To: Matioki Repl: 2333188, FireOpal; 2333211, Godslayer
[Agnar]
"Hmmm. It doesn't smell TOO bad, here," he comments, unaware that he is being affected by magic.
He follows the group.
-Mark
Date: Sat Sep 18, 1999 17:44:09 From: FireOpal To: Wrecan Repl: 2333287, just john
"Funny, I just thinking the same thing.... " the elven woman remarks curiously. She shoots a glance at Nivek to see if he might have been thinking that too.
[ooc: ROFL - too funny jj! ]
Date: Sat Sep 18, 1999 18:34:12 From: Godslayer To: Wrecan Repl: 2333237, Bab
[Eledhan]
The usually haughty mage nods in agreement, although his head is buzzing with the spell fighting his natural tendancy to complain voluably in these situations. "It smells bad, but not *too* bad, but still bad, but not..." his thoughts circle in such a manner. He starts to get a splitting headache.
Godslayer (ooc: lol!)
Date: Sat Sep 18, 1999 19:57:01 From: Bab To: Godslayer Repl: 2333288, just john; 2333831, Nivek
The girl looks up at the mage. "Are you okay Eledhan? Common, it doesn't smell TOO bad here. It could be worse. But probably not TOO much worse."
Eh? Lysandra's brain freezes on that thought. If it couldn't smell TOO much worse then it would have to smell pretty BAD. But it doesn't smell TOO bad but it couldn't smell TOO much worse. . .
"Nivek, are we getting out of here soon? I'm getting dizzy."
--Bab
[Home again, home again, jigity jig.]
Date: Sat Sep 18, 1999 22:42:08 From: just john To: FireOpal
(When Nivek looks, the visible clues indicate the people he's been tracking did indeed head through this door, evidently into the sewer beyond.)
Date: Sat Sep 18, 1999 22:42:08 From: just john To: Bab Repl: 2333543, Wrecan
"Y'know, I've just run through all my memories of every horrible smell I've run into, and it doesn't smell anywheres near that bad, here," says Holli, shaking her head a bit. "Your tax gold pieces -- well, somebody's tax gold pieces, at work."
"So Nivek, are we at the right door, or what?"
Date: Sat Sep 18, 1999 22:42:09 From: just john To: Matioki Repl: 2333516, Matioki
>> .. and starts leafing through it.
It concerns the exploits of one Hector "Studly" Burroughs, a young halfling blacksmith whose exclusive franchise with local dwarves for mithril means he gets to shoe the ponies of the local elf lord's daughters.
Well, that's the economics of it. The story concentrates mostly on sexual encounters in a series of escalatingly unlikely locations, culminating in a five person tryst under the throne of the elf lord himself during the seasonal sanctification of the realm.
Hardnur Quickspur, in his review of the novel for the Twystenshaut Quarterly Review of Dirty Books and Marital Aid Spells, had this to say:
"In addition to the traditional halfling farcical thumbing of the nose at high elven proprieties and ritual, there is also an element of that which only halflings seem to find hilarious, the discoveries of inaccuracies in century-old geneological records. My recommendation: Whenever somebody bursts into the room waving a scroll, it's time to skip forward a few pages."
Those idiosyncracies aside, the book's a real one-hander.
Date: Sun Sep 19, 1999 15:30:04 From: Matioki To: just john Repl: 2333587, Matthew Sellwood; 2333922, just john
"Aha... oho !" The goblin chuckles and the points of his large ears twitch as he studies the evidence. He's so engrossed in this jewel of literature that he hardly notices the smell, which isn't TOO bad, anyhow. That is, until the others all start commenting on it. Jenredykk looks up.
"What'samatter ? Doesn't smell TOO bad, really. Um..." He frowns. Something's not quite right. Then he looks at Holli. "Gold pieces ? What, in here ? Can't be, money doesn't stink.. at least, not TOO bad."
Date: Sun Sep 19, 1999 15:54:10 From: Wrecan To: just john
[Agnar]
"Harumph!" harumphs Agnar at the mention of gold. "Almost nobody pays taxes in gold. Most people are taxed in crops or livestock to continue the tyranny of the metal-weilders...."
Agnar trails off. He realized he was about to start preaching, and he had promised himself he was going to try the soft-sell. Old habits die hard, but he didn't want to completely alienate his new friends quite yet.
-Mark
Date: Sun Sep 19, 1999 17:21:04 From: Matthew Sellwood To: Matioki Repl: 2334028, Matioki
The cleric just watches the other members of the group, turning from one to another as they speak, and finally just throwing his hands up in despair.
"I can make no difference in this group! You're all already totally insane!"
With that, he chuckles, and winks at Holli.
Matt
Date: Mon Sep 20, 1999 09:59:01 From: Nivek To: Bab Repl: 2333869, just john
"Soon? Umm, I don't know. The trail goes this way, he points down the tunnel. Let's get moving, I don't think they're that far ahead of us now. The sooner we find them, the sooner we get out of here, so let's hurry."
Turning, he follows what he believes is the trail they want.
- Nivek
Date: Mon Sep 20, 1999 11:59:08 From: just john To: Nivek Repl: 2333948, Bab
"So, whose turn is it to check the door?" asks Holli, indicating the standard-looking door in front of the party.
Date: Mon Sep 20, 1999 13:56:04 From: just john To: Matioki
(Except for the dry inner recesses of his pack, Jenredykk is still quite wet, albeit clean. I imagine he figured out a way to dry his hands, etc., before starting reading.)
Date: Mon Sep 20, 1999 14:56:03 From: Bab To: just john Repl: 2340513, just john
The girl steps back and points at Perry, indicating he has not yet done so.
--Bab
Date: Mon Sep 20, 1999 16:47:08 From: Matioki To: Matthew Sellwood Repl: 2334045, Matthew Sellwood
Now is not the time for a quiet read, he decides, and puts the book in his backpack. Then he looks at the cleric.
"Huh ? Why would you want to make us crazy ? Is that what your godess wants ? I thought she was all about having fun, not about madness."
Date: Mon Sep 20, 1999 16:52:09 From: Matthew Sellwood To: Matioki
"Hey, madness is fun sometimes....you have to be a little crazy to really let go and enjoy life, yeah? Otherwise you just spend your entire time being uptight..."
The new cleric really seems to be getting into his newfound role....that encounter with Eris seems to have had more of an effect on him than one might have realised...
Matt
Date: Tue Sep 28, 1999 17:47:12 From: just john To: Bab Repl: 2340701, Bab
>> The girl steps back and points at Perry, indicating he has not yet done so.
[Spydah seems to be missing in action, so anybody else wanna check for traps / pick locks / etc. for this door?]
Date: Tue Sep 28, 1999 19:59:10 From: Bab To: just john Repl: 2342312, just john
Noting that Perry is not actually standing where she pointed, Lysandra shakes her head and steps up to the door.
She performs a cursory serch for traps and lock status before opening the door.
--Bab
Date: Thu Sep 30, 1999 18:40:08 From: just john To: Bab Repl: 2342466, Bab
The hinges are on this side of the door, which implies that the door will open towards the party.
The lock looks like the same sort of municipal lock she saw a few minutes ago. The door seems to be of that style, too. But this time around, there appears to be some sort of needle trap within the lock mechanism.
Date: Thu Sep 30, 1999 21:25:07 From: Bab To: just john Repl: 2342596, just john
The presence of an actual trap on the door raises the girl's eyebrow in curiosity. It also raises the hackles on the back of her neck.
Clearing everyone away from the needles possible trajectory, Lysandra attacks the trap with the longest probe in her possesion. From the sill side and out of the needle's way, the girl probes for the trigger that sets off the trap.
--Bab
[ooc: Outta town again next week. I'll be in Atlanta for a tech conferece from Sunday(10/3) to Saturday(10/9)]
Date: Fri Oct 1, 1999 00:19:11 From: just john To: Bab Repl: 2342829, Bab
>> Clearing everyone away from the needles possible trajectory
The needle looks like it would go straight down the corridor, so how far does she clear everyone?
(There's about ten feet of flat space between the top of the stairs you just came up and this door. (The stairs have ten steps.))
Date: Fri Oct 1, 1999 14:26:07 From: Bab To: just john Repl: 2342871, just john; 2345880, just john
She moves them all to the wall opposite the kethole trap and down the hall about 15 ft.
--Bab
Date: Fri Oct 1, 1999 15:27:05 From: just john To: Bab Repl: 2342919, Bab
Okay, so you want them in single file, with the first person on the fourth step from the top.
Anybody have a problem with that?
[Doggone it, how'd she know there was a land mine here?]
[(kidding!)]
Date: Fri Oct 1, 1999 17:26:05 From: Bab To: just john
[Explosives!? Can she get a longer probe?]
--Bab
Date: Wed Oct 6, 1999 14:28:05 From: just john To: Bab Repl: 2346931, Bab
After everybody's nicely lined up on the stairs, Lysandra goes back to her task