Tunnels

Blornvid looks at Skeeve. "Magic parchment? Ha! I wonder if the communication works both ways. Well, looks like we have to meet the new recruits, lad. Better head on up. Can't keep Valpip waiting."

Skeeve writes, Be there in five. He also makes notes on the alcoves and their decoration.

Ok, let's get back.

Skeeve will be sure to mention to Valpip about the tunnel and ask if there is a scroll he can use to close it. To save Valpip time, of course. He also asks about the alcoves.

(Edited to mention on taking notes on the alcoves.)

Standing at the top of the stairs, questioning Valpip is a mature middle-aged adult human. He is about 5'10" and a chunky 250#. He is of average build otherwise. He wears what was once a fine wool vest suit, which was likely very expensive at one time. Now, it is a bit tattered with small stitches and a few patches, plus oversized so it can be worn over some kind of leather armor. He has a shortsword, shortbow, and backpack.

When he and Blornvid get back to the stairs, Skeeve sees the newcomers and says, Hello! He then asks Valpip his questions. (Since Valpip is actually here, he doesn't want to miss the opportunity.) Especially if he has a scroll or something else that will let us collapse or fill the other new tunnel for him.

Returning from talking with Valpip, Skeeve can be seen to be a young man of slender build who is about 5'10". He is dressed in neutrals, though he is wearing some snazzy drake leather armor and a backpack with assorted tools in it. He doesn't appear to have a weapon, though he does have an odd belt that looks like wood and a strange crossbow on the back of his backpack. Overall he is rather non-descript, but his unusual green eyes do stand out. He is still holding the map and another paper with notes on it.
He says, I am very glad to meet you! We have made progress on exploring these tunnels, but there is still more to explore. Hopefully there won't be anymore exploding traps, and hopefully the ooze/elemental we found doesn't come back.

Blornvid is your run-of-the-mill dwarf: long auburn hair and beard, broad flat nose. While of average height, he has a decent build. He carries an axe.

" 'Ello and welcome to the tunnels beneath the base. If yer allergic to shrooms, moldy doors, or the damp, you might want Valpip to find you anotha job." He chuckles to let you know he's just teasing. "Skeeve here is good with magic, and I've got me axe. What are yer talents?"

Raggy and Ro enter. Raggy is about 6 foot tall and slender wolf beastfolk. He wears greens, grays, and browns for the forest he hunters in. No visible weapon, but he actually has a sling around his neck in a necklace and another necklace with a small bone knife for skinning and fileting. Ro is his wolf companion that follows him everywhere and helps him hunt. Nice to meet you. I mostly excel in the forest, but have recnetly picked up traps and disarming them. Maybe i can be some help there.

Skeeve sees the metal cube and excitedly says to Blornvid, Oooo! Is this the crab thing you mentioned?We'll take Valpip by way of room 4 (I figure Skeeve and Blornvid are still a little leery of the southern route.) While in room 4, he'll also ask Valpip if he can detect anything about the holding cell we didn't want to enter. We can then fill the tunnel in room 20 and show the alcoves in room 14.

Before starting, he will also use the map to introduce the tunnels to the newcomers and point out the doors in rooms 14, 4, 24, and 28 as where we still need to investigate. He will also mention that they're taking their time to make it back to the southern door in room 28. Then, almost to himself, he'll mention that there looks like there should be a secret door into the inaccessible south-west region between the two makeshift tunnels.

Edit: When making introductions, in addition to talking to Raggy and Vlax, Skeeve will also introduce himself directly to Ro. And, yes, someone who knows traps will be greatly welcome!

To Skeeve: "Yeah, that's it. Mighty impressive, if you get to see it in action."

To Raggy: "Well met, Raggy. Ah, someone who's good with traps. That'll be helpful. I'm tired of finding them by walking into them." He has a laugh at himself. "By the way, who has the better nose, you or your pal, Ro? Maybe you'll smell trouble before it finds us."To Valpip: "We found a forge too. Might want to have a look at it. I think Skeeve detected some magic emanating from it."

Ro will nuzzle Skeeve when he purposely talks to her. Thank you for the welcome. Well I'd say shes better tracker and with her nose. Eyesight is my strength. You guys lead to the known, but when you get to something unknown I'll try to lead and see if I can spot some traps that you might get missed.

Vlax looks happy but a bit overwhelmed at the complexity of what this group has been up to. "Vlax... Or Axe if you prefer." He glances down at the short sword, and chuckles.. "Well I used to wield an ax more than I did this. Really that's all I have to bring to the party. A sword, a bow, I'm a bit of a survivalist. Spent some time as a merchant, and a pawnbroker... But I doubt that will do as much good underground. Maybe if we were negotiating," he smirks. "Oh, and I've been known to pull off a magic trick here or there. Nothing fancy, kind of like pulling something out of the hat." He shrugs.

He eagerly follows the group, and just kind of listens, and watches at first. He's clearly trying to get himself oriented. Doesn't seem to be the kind of person who's been below ground as much as he's been above ground. But he doesn't complain. If anything he's curious.

"A sword and a bow is plenty fine. We just want to have an idea of the skills you bring to the group so that when situations arise we know who can do what to help deal with it."

"So, what kind of things have you been finding down here so far? Is it just a matter of exploring, and making sure nothing dangerous is down here? Sounds like you're trying to wall off some areas?"

Vlax is studying the structure, it's reinforcement and design to get a sense of how sturdy this place might be and how skilled its builders were, Not that he's any kind of Mason or Carpenter, but because curiosity is getting the best of him.

"Oh and I think you started numbering rooms, and talking about things about some of the rooms that needed special attention?" He asks.

"We've found goblins, giant shrooms, a ghoul, ooze, and lots of traps. Pools of water. Also a great deal of cryptic messages scrawled on the walls."
"We'll point those out along the way."

Skeeve will add, We're mostly trying to just clear things out. However, when there are intrusive recent tunnels, Valpip wants those closed down so there is no external access to the tunnels. So far we've found two new-ish intrusions, plus a natural cave that might have been part of the original system.

Sounds like a handful then. Glad we can help you all out anyway we can. How do you like the caves girl?

Vlax nods and listens. He gets a little bit excited, starting to think about all the possibilities. The prospect of exploring the unknown, and finding unusual things... be they creatures, traps, or puzzles.

As they go, he inquires, "So do you have any ideas about the origins of this place? What do you think it's purpose was? I suppose the cryptic writing could have been part of the original design, or it could be something done long after... " He muses.