[Ptolus/AD&D] IC Thread #2 - Underground (part 1)

thedungeondelver · February 23, 2011, 11:41:29 AM

Ylarum is no lapidary or mineralogist but does it look like a black pearl?

Benoist · February 23, 2011, 12:42:36 PM

Quote from: thedungeondelver;442097Ylarum is no lapidary or mineralogist but does it look like a black pearl?

It might be, but then, that leaves Ylarum wondering what kind of enormous oyster-like creature would produce a pearl of this size...

thedungeondelver · February 23, 2011, 01:38:04 PM

Ylarum mutters to himself : "With all my luck this is some sort of weird goblin glandular cyst or something...oh well, might as well grab it and have it appraised..." and drops it in his pocket, continuing to search.

Drohem · February 23, 2011, 06:42:53 PM

Belak and Klob stay by the dais after pulling the rope to have the lift ascend. Belak watches with mild curiosity as the half-orcs brought the orc to the dais to question him.

Belak steps up and asks the orc in a gruff voice, "why can't you ascend to the surface? What do you mean that you cannot return above? Are you under a magical curse of some sort?"

Benoist · February 25, 2011, 12:32:58 PM

Quote from: thedungeondelver;442113Ylarum mutters to himself : "With all my luck this is some sort of weird goblin glandular cyst or something...oh well, might as well grab it and have it appraised..." and drops it in his pocket, continuing to search.

Ylarum and his men continue their search, and it soon becomes apparent that their first impressions were right: all of these bodies have been stripped of all valuables some time before. It's a wonder the black jewel remained in the goblin's mouth and nobody noticed it before.

Just as you're about to wrap up, you notice something else. As Json and Tarm turn over the last of the bodies, you realize the pile of corpses covered some type of plaque on the floor. It is a little more than 2 feet wide, circular, made of some sort of dark golden metal, and fits a cavity of its size so that its flat top transitions neatly with the stone blocks that make up the floor around it.

Quote from: Drohem;442181Belak steps up and asks the orc in a gruff voice, "why can't you ascend to the surface? What do you mean that you cannot return above? Are you under a magical curse of some sort?"

The orc looks at Belak like the dwarf might be mildly retarded. "I have been cast out for cowardice. If I return to the Toruk Rul, I am scum to them. Not even worth the contempt they might still have for me."

He looks at the opening in the ceiling as the platform comes back down. "As for getting up there with you as your prisoner, do you know what the humans of the surface world will do to me? Do you really think they'll bother twice about a wretch like me? They will just kill me, just like my people would kill them. You might as well get rid of me now."

Cole · February 25, 2011, 03:10:53 PM

Quote from: Benoist;442512He looks at the opening in the ceiling as the platform comes back down. "As for getting up there with you as your prisoner, do you know what the humans of the surface world will do to me? Do you really think they'll bother twice about a wretch like me? They will just kill me, just like my people would kill them. You might as well get rid of me now."

"No wonder they cast you out, with your craven yapping! Now, do you know how those bodies got piled there? Or what's under that plate?"

Benoist · February 25, 2011, 03:54:51 PM

Quote from: Cole;442550"No wonder they cast you out, with your craven yapping! Now, do you know how those bodies got piled there? Or what's under that plate?"

"I have no idea about this plate you're talking about. My brethren piled up the dead in that storage room before they built the wall there," he shows the clutter by the red lantern to the north, "to contain the creature, and us exiles with it."

Drohem · February 25, 2011, 07:50:51 PM

Ignoring the orc's insolent tone and manner, Belak questions the orc further, "others of your tribe are beyond that barrier to the north? How many went forward and left you behind?"

Klob cuffs the orc on the back of the head, and says in a dangerous tone, "mind your lip when you answer. I am not as magnanimous as my friend."

thedungeondelver · February 26, 2011, 12:44:05 PM

Ylarum will tell Tarm to rap the tile firmly with his weapon, and will lean in close himself to see if it sounds hollow.

Benoist · February 27, 2011, 03:06:25 PM

Quote from: Drohem;442605Ignoring the orc's insolent tone and manner, Belak questions the orc further, "others of your tribe are beyond that barrier to the north? How many went forward and left you behind?"

Klob cuffs the orc on the back of the head, and says in a dangerous tone, "mind your lip when you answer. I am not as magnanimous as my friend."

The orc lets off a low growl as Klob hits him, but almost immediately thinks the better of it. He pants, and answers Belak's question: "Several scores came to this place following Gohruel and Moghool, but not all of them made it far past the great door before the whole corridor was on fire and the walls started to move. A dozen of us were left standing when the creature you slaughtered decided to retreat against us. These orcs turned against those amongst us who decided to get away while the fight was in full swing, and ended up trapping us with the creature while they tried to make their way back to the Chieftains."

Quote from: thedungeondelver;442662Ylarum will tell Tarm to rap the tile firmly with his weapon, and will lean in close himself to see if it sounds hollow.

It does sound hollow.

thedungeondelver · February 27, 2011, 08:34:30 PM

Quote from: Benoist;442789It does sound hollow.

Ylarum says "Right..." and sets about to find an improvised wedge and hammer. To his henchmen: "Either of you lads have an iron spike?"

Benoist · February 28, 2011, 12:26:43 AM

Quote from: thedungeondelver;442839Ylarum says "Right..." and sets about to find an improvised wedge and hammer. To his henchmen: "Either of you lads have an iron spike?"

Json and Tarm look at each other and both shake their heads at the same time: "No, Sir. No, we don't have anything like that."

There is a whole assortment of tools readily available in the room, including digging implements like shovels and pickaxes, poles, rope, unlit torches and so on.

thedungeondelver · February 28, 2011, 09:00:43 AM

Quote from: Benoist;442854Json and Tarm look at each other and both shake their heads at the same time: "No, Sir. No, we don't have anything like that."

There is a whole assortment of tools readily available in the room, including digging implements like shovels and pickaxes, poles, rope, unlit torches and so on.

Ah, excellent.

Ylarum, to his henchmen: "Grab some of that extra gear - torches and rope, mostly, for Liir and Dallow and Snave. Hand me a pickaxe."

Ylarum will use the pickaxe point to try and pry the stone up, first.

Cole · February 28, 2011, 09:12:28 AM

Quote from: thedungeondelver;442877Ah, excellent.

Ylarum, to his henchmen: "Grab some of that extra gear - torches and rope, mostly, for Liir and Dallow and Snave. Hand me a pickaxe."

Ylarum will use the pickaxe point to try and pry the stone up, first.

Ulas will make a discreet withdrawal into the main chamber.

Benoist · February 28, 2011, 12:32:53 PM

Quote from: thedungeondelver;442877Ylarum will use the pickaxe point to try and pry the stone up, first.

Ylarum tries to pry the plate up with a pickaxe. Roll 1d6.

Quote from: Cole;442878Ulas will make a discreet withdrawal into the main chamber.

DM: I assume Ulas was avoiding the pressure-plate trap this whole time and was around Ylarum and company to check on the north clutter from time to time. Here is the updated map:

Click for higher resolution