May 21, 2025 10:16 am
OOC:
Looks like back the way we came it is! I hope the mule is still up there.Last edited May 21, 2025 10:17 am
4. The First Expedition
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May 21, 2025 3:24 pm
You retrace your steps back towards the surface, passing through the Hall of Columns (where the decapitated body of Dalton still lies), then north through the secret doors to the foul-smelling trash-filled room, and on towards the entrance chamber with the large statue of Thoth (the one you could "see" through the mosaic).
Almost as if your arrival was anticipated, you are greeted in the entrance chamber with a shout of "Oi! Oi! If it isn’t the ‘Darlings’," (a heavy tone of sarcasm in the voice). "Let’s see what you’ve got then ...".
Six halflings march out from a door in the chamber’s eastern wall and stand between you and the stairs to the surface. Their leader, Roskelly Winterleaf, is the one you talked to previously (who Jacky managed to persuade that you were members of Dalton’s Darlings).
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5:20 pm, Basilsday 2nd Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 9/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 4/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 60’ (Lantern)
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’
Link to Jacky’s maps …
Almost as if your arrival was anticipated, you are greeted in the entrance chamber with a shout of "Oi! Oi! If it isn’t the ‘Darlings’," (a heavy tone of sarcasm in the voice). "Let’s see what you’ve got then ...".
Six halflings march out from a door in the chamber’s eastern wall and stand between you and the stairs to the surface. Their leader, Roskelly Winterleaf, is the one you talked to previously (who Jacky managed to persuade that you were members of Dalton’s Darlings).
---
5:20 pm, Basilsday 2nd Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 9/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 4/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 60’ (Lantern)
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’
Link to Jacky’s maps …
May 22, 2025 4:00 pm
Ella groaned softly as the halflings converged on the party.
"Our comrades preceded us. They must have shown what there was to show you. In any case Dalton has given us nothing to offer you..."
She smiled meekly at the thuggish pygmies. They'd have to get rid of these ruffians soon enough.
"Our comrades preceded us. They must have shown what there was to show you. In any case Dalton has given us nothing to offer you..."
She smiled meekly at the thuggish pygmies. They'd have to get rid of these ruffians soon enough.
May 22, 2025 4:38 pm
Thrud grips his axe and shield tightly as he recognizes the confrontational situation, though he doesn't fully grasp the complex deception that's been unraveling.
"We go up...now."
"We go up...now."
May 22, 2025 5:14 pm
Entrance Chamber
Plumthorn is the overall leader of the halflings. Winterleaf is the captain of this merry band in front of you.
"Yeah, yeah … you didn’t find anything … blah blah … boo hoo," says Winterleaf dismissively, rubbing his eyes to clear them of mock tears. "You know the drill - 10% of any treasure you found. Now open your packs so we can take a look."
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5:20 pm, Basilsday 2nd Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 9/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 4/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 60’ (Lantern)
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’
Link to Jacky’s maps …
testlum says:
OOC:
Huh, I thought the leader was Phlebotomas?"Yeah, yeah … you didn’t find anything … blah blah … boo hoo," says Winterleaf dismissively, rubbing his eyes to clear them of mock tears. "You know the drill - 10% of any treasure you found. Now open your packs so we can take a look."
---
5:20 pm, Basilsday 2nd Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 9/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 4/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 60’ (Lantern)
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’
Link to Jacky’s maps …
May 22, 2025 6:03 pm
Grim looks at his companions. Our dwarves fellow having little in his pack, other than mundane items he’d brought in, doesn’t mind handing over his wares. Yet, he’s a clerically-minded spell or two on his lips, and a hammer in his hand, in case things go bad!
Last edited May 22, 2025 6:28 pm
May 22, 2025 6:15 pm
Zacharias sighed mightily, letting his pack slip to the floor and taking a firmer grip on his imposing bastard sword and shield. Loosening up his muscles with a few twirls, he said "we don't want any more trouble; please stand aside."
OOC:
I know this isn't his forte, but Zach is trying to look intimidating and imply that the band in front of him is beneath his notice.May 23, 2025 6:58 am
Ella observed the halfling’s reactions to her companion’s stances, trying to decide whether to shoot Winterleaf preventively, or put up a more accommodating tone.
But if we fight them now, we’ll be forfeiting this entrance for good, or picking a fight with the whole band (which could be our goal, as a matter of fact). But if we want to pick a fight, we ought to prepare for it (I could prepare sleep, for instance).
OOC:
So, we got little in the way of coin, but we brought out these potions, books and odd artifacts. How do we even know how these a%*holes would price such loot?But if we fight them now, we’ll be forfeiting this entrance for good, or picking a fight with the whole band (which could be our goal, as a matter of fact). But if we want to pick a fight, we ought to prepare for it (I could prepare sleep, for instance).
Last edited May 23, 2025 7:40 am
May 23, 2025 7:59 am
OOC:
Honestly I'm starting to get bored of all the people ordering us around. First the halflings, then the Darlings, then the beastmen, and now the halflings again. If you want to start a fight, I'm in.May 23, 2025 12:34 pm
OOC:
I'm a little torn personally, I'd like to show these punks who's boss but at the same time it sounds like theres a whole faction of them on these levels, and this is our only known entrance for the time being. Whatever happens I'm good with though.May 23, 2025 12:42 pm
OOC:
I say we fight them. That or we give up our stuff, and prob have to face them later anyway.May 23, 2025 2:10 pm
Entrance Chamber
When it becomes clear that Zach (in particular) is showing a distinct reluctance to comply with his demands, Winterleaf puts his thumb and forefinger in his mouth and whistles shrilly.
"Now, now, let’s keep this friendly. You know the terms. Dalton never had any problems paying his dues. Don’t think of it as Mr Plumthorn taking 10%. Think of it as him generously letting you keep 90%."
---
5:20 pm, Basilsday 2nd Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 9/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 4/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 60’ (Lantern)
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’
Link to Jacky’s maps …
When it becomes clear that Zach (in particular) is showing a distinct reluctance to comply with his demands, Winterleaf puts his thumb and forefinger in his mouth and whistles shrilly.
"Now, now, let’s keep this friendly. You know the terms. Dalton never had any problems paying his dues. Don’t think of it as Mr Plumthorn taking 10%. Think of it as him generously letting you keep 90%."
---
5:20 pm, Basilsday 2nd Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 9/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 4/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 60’ (Lantern)
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’
Link to Jacky’s maps …
May 23, 2025 5:36 pm
What to do? Public
Attack them
Pay them off in cash (dependent on if we have enough)
Pay them off in items, perhaps convincing them something is worth more than it is
Run away like cowards
OOC:
@Burbage, the ancient silver pennies we found in that last room: Were they worth a gold coin each, or is the whole pouch worth a gold coin?Burbage says:
A leather pouch containing 250 silver coins. However, these are not ordinary silver pieces. They are ancient silver pennies. They are about the size of a dime (1/2" diameter), although they are thicker (1/6") and heavier. On the obverse, they feature a bust of an emperor wearing a military helmet, surrounded by the letters of his name; the reverse contains a gladius with the words "Conquerendum est". 125 silver pennies weigh 1 lb. They are equivalent in value to a modern gold piece.Last edited May 23, 2025 5:41 pm
May 23, 2025 8:14 pm
"We’ve run into a lot of junk, and dusty books. What is it you want to see?" the elf asked trying to make the discussion more meaningful. Maybe they were only interested in coins. Hopefully they wouldn’t have some vertically challenged art curator waiting in the wings to assess old relics and artifacts.
May 23, 2025 10:24 pm
"Dalton's dead." Jacky folds his arms. "And how exactly do you plan on telling apart what belongings we brought inside the Halls, and what's been found?"
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