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

skofflox · March 06, 2011, 05:06:46 PM

Quote from: Benoist;443979The orc reacts to Tudd's mocking remarks with a mild, silent resignation.

The orc stares at Runch for a moment, as if something suddenly dawned on him. He answers dismissively: "I know not. Anything is possible in this wretched place. It is alive itself, I tell you. When we ran from the entrance to this area, and the explosion occurred, the whole place started to shift."

"But wait. You said I am your 'guest.'" The orc draws breath as if to let that word sink in. As if trying to understand its meaning. Runch then remembers that the orcish word for 'guest' is archaic indeed, and seldom used by these creatures whose whole lives are dedicated to slaughter their enemies, as well as each other. The orcs do not hold such feelings as compassion or deference as strengths, but weaknesses to be supressed or taken advantage of. The notion that a clan of orcs would increase its prestige by showing restraint and welcoming outsiders into its midst is a thought almost foreign to them.

This orc here seems to be struggling with these particular emotions, however.

"Does that mean I could serve you and your companions?"

Ignoring his query for the moment I slide my dagger back into its scabbard, untie his hands and quaff from my waterskin,offering it to him as I slide the back of my hand across my mouth. "No tricks now,some of these folk would love ta gut ya no doubt ( indicating my comrades) ! I'm a bit slow on the uptake see (as I tap my skull),whaddya mean 'shift'?,like the ground moved or sumth'n?"

Nimten is still waiting to see if anyone produces a key or shows interest in the secret door as he watches the exchange with the orc...starts a bit when he sees Runch untie the captive but holds his comments!

Benoist · March 07, 2011, 02:07:58 PM

Quote from: skofflox;444284Ignoring his query for the moment I slide my dagger back into its scabbard, untie his hands and quaff from my waterskin,offering it to him as I slide the back of my hand across my mouth. "No tricks now,some of these folk would love ta gut ya no doubt ( indicating my comrades) ! I'm a bit slow on the uptake see (as I tap my skull),whaddya mean 'shift'?,like the ground moved or sumth'n?"

The orc is bewildered. You clearly some conflicting thoughts going through his mind, but in the end, he does not attempt anything and instead, tries to answer Runch's question to the best of his abilities: "Immediately after the large area beyond the great door changed into a living hell of fire and smoke, at the same moment everyone was rushing inside and try to overwhelm the humans as quickly as possible, the whole place started to shift, yes. The walls moved left and right. Dust flying everywhere. Confusion. In the end, we found ourselves here. The mage escaped through here," he shows the hole in the ceiling, "and then we were attacked by the creature."

Quote from: skofflox;444284Nimten is still waiting to see if anyone produces a key or shows interest in the secret door as he watches the exchange with the orc...starts a bit when he sees Runch untie the captive but holds his comments!

Duly noted. So far no one is reacting (Othos got the iron key, as for the interest, anyone could manifest it, or not - don't forget some characters are away from this area, investigating the hole in the ground of the NW storage room).

thedungeondelver · March 08, 2011, 05:32:35 PM

Quote from: Benoist;444430Duly noted. So far no one is reacting (Othos got the iron key, as for the interest, anyone could manifest it, or not - don't forget some characters are away from this area, investigating the hole in the ground of the NW storage room).

Yeah what's the deal with that hole.

Cole · March 08, 2011, 05:37:37 PM

Quote from: thedungeondelver;444707Yeah what's the deal with that hole.

(If he has had time, Ulas has slipped back into the room with the hole after it was opened.)

Benoist · March 08, 2011, 06:45:16 PM

Quote from: thedungeondelver;444707Yeah what's the deal with that hole.

Quote from: Cole;444708(If he has had time, Ulas has slipped back into the room with the hole after it was opened.)

DM: Sorry, gents. I was under the impression you were making up your mind about torch v. lantern earlier. Apparently I was mistaken.

Ylarum grabs a lantern from the supplies stored in the room. Ulas Xegg joins him. Together, they tied the lantern to a rope, also stored in the area, and lower it down the hole. It is about 30 inches wide, and its wall is made of the same sandstone surrounding them on all sides in the room. After about 10 feet or more, the lantern reaches what looks like the ground, though it is extremely dark. It is hard to tell what lies below. It looks like some type of liquid, judging by the faint refraction of light coming off the ground.

Meanwhile, Snave and Tudd join the action in the storage room.

Cole · March 08, 2011, 07:14:37 PM

Quote from: Benoist;444717DM: Sorry, gents. I was under the impression you were making up your mind about torch v. lantern earlier. Apparently I was mistaken.

Ylarum grabs a lantern from the supplies stored in the room. Ulas Xegg joins him. Together, they tied the lantern to a rope, also stored in the area, and lower it down the hole. It is about 30 inches wide, and its wall is made of the same sandstone surrounding them on all sides in the room. After about 10 feet or more, the lantern reaches what looks like the ground, though it is extremely dark. It is hard to tell what lies below. It looks like some type of liquid, judging by the faint refraction of light coming off the ground.

Meanwhile, Snave and Tudd join the action in the storage room.

Does the color of the flame change as it is lowered?

Benoist · March 08, 2011, 07:37:46 PM

Quote from: Cole;444722Does the color of the flame change as it is lowered?

The color of the flame does not seem to have been altered, though its glow is rather weak.

thedungeondelver · March 08, 2011, 07:45:24 PM

"Right," mutters Ylarum. He grabs a nearby object - something heavy, a stone or something like that, and heaves it into the hole, listening for a splash.

Cole · March 08, 2011, 07:50:24 PM

Quote from: thedungeondelver;444732"Right," mutters Ylarum. He grabs a nearby object - something heavy, a stone or something like that, and heaves it into the hole, listening for a splash.

Ulas takes a step back as Ylarum prepares to drop the stone.

Benoist · March 08, 2011, 09:08:00 PM

Quote from: thedungeondelver;444732"Right," mutters Ylarum. He grabs a nearby object - something heavy, a stone or something like that, and heaves it into the hole, listening for a splash.

Quote from: Cole;444735Ulas takes a step back as Ylarum prepares to drop the stone.

Ylarum knows there are some sacks on the sides of the room that contain some grains and potatoes. There are also various kinds of digging tools, hooks, and bags of pitons stored along with the rope. Alternately, he notices some cracks just off the ground along the walls of the room. He could work at it with a pickaxe or weapon and get pieces of sandstone that way. How does he proceed?

Cole · March 08, 2011, 09:23:39 PM

Quote from: Benoist;444747Ylarum knows there are some sacks on the sides of the room that contain some grains and potatoes. There are also various kinds of digging tools, hooks, and bags of pitons stored along with the rope. Alternately, he notices some cracks just off the ground along the walls of the room. He could work at it with a pickaxe or weapon and get pieces of sandstone that way. How does he proceed?

Is there a small loose piece of debris sitting at the foot of the blockade in the next room over?

Benoist · March 08, 2011, 09:35:03 PM

Quote from: Cole;444749Is there a small loose piece of debris sitting at the foot of the blockade in the next room over?

Lots of them.

Cole · March 08, 2011, 09:39:50 PM

Quote from: Benoist;444751Lots of them.

Ulas will go retrieve a rock about the size of a brick or football and hand it off to Ylaruam, then step back again and get an arrow ready.

Benoist · March 08, 2011, 10:11:39 PM

DM: Assuming Ylarum goes ahead as per previous post.

The stone falls down, and lands at the bottom of the hole. It does not produce a clear "knock" of rock against rock, but instead a sort of thumping sound, like it landed on a pile of fresh mud.

Cole · March 08, 2011, 10:33:25 PM

It doesn't look like the passage widens out at all before the surface of the mud, though? It's basically a 30" by 10' cylinder?