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

[Sigmund]

Tudd looks the newcomer up and down, then grins and waves and says "Hi. This is Bug.", while pointing to his left shoulder.

[skofflox]

eyeing the mans bearing while sketching a bow to the newcomer..." Well met Mundel of Kantz. I am Runch, Charlathan Revivalist and Arms-m'n, recently hired by Angharad. The good look'n one (nodding head towards Tudd & bug with a sly grin.) is my brother Tudd."

Nimten casts about for something to wrap the eye in...will cut a section of rug or other clothe if available, if not, then his pillow or blanket (will not cut blanket).

[Benoist]

Toward the well. But when the guy seems nonthreatening, Ulas will slip back out.

OK. No problem.

Tudd looks the newcomer up and down, then grins and waves and says "Hi. This is Bug.", while pointing to his left shoulder.

Tudd can see the brother hesitates for a moment, unsure how to react. He finally smiles, an expression that seems out of place, given his initial austere behavior and appearance: "Glad to meet you... bug."

He looks around and spots Erarht the orc standing behind Runch. He frowns slightly before paying attention to Runch's greeting:

eyeing the mans bearing while sketching a bow to the newcomer..." Well met Mundel of Kantz. I am Runch, Charlathan Revivalist and Arms-m'n, recently hired by Angharad. The good look'n one (nodding head towards Tudd & bug with a sly grin.) is my brother Tudd."

"Ah. Tudd it is, then." He nods towards him, and then turns back to Runch, sword and shield still in hand, facing north. "There is a bit of a "situation" upstairs. I am just here to make sure you are in no immediate danger, and let you know before you make your way back up." He pauses. "What is it we are looking at?" He nods towards the pile of rubble, having not seen any of the smoke puffing through the cracks.

Nimten casts about for something to wrap the eye in...will cut a section of rug or other clothe if available, if not, then his pillow or blanket (will not cut blanket).

Nimten has no choice but to use the large rub to wrap the eyeball. He starts moving it, trying to determine what exact length of fabric he would need to do the job, when he notices the rug was actually concealing some sort of metal plaque embedded in the floor under it. It is round, and about 5 feet in diameter. Its surface is etched with various symbols that are hard to make out at the moment.

[Cole]

He pauses. "What is it we are looking at?" He nods towards the pile of rubble, having not seen any of the smoke puffing through the cracks.

"A barricade built by orcs, leaking vile smoke."

[Benoist]

"A barricade built by orcs, leaking vile smoke."

The brother nods towards Erarht the orc: "He's one of them? Why aren't his hands tied up?"

You can see the orc instinctively search for cover behind Runch's back.

[skofflox]

"Ah. Tudd it is, then." He nods towards him, and then turns back to Runch, sword and shield still in hand, facing north. "There is a bit of a "situation" upstairs. I am just here to make sure you are in no immediate danger, and let you know before you make your way back up." He pauses. "What is it we are looking at?" He nods towards the pile of rubble, having not seen any of the smoke puffing through the cracks.
.

The brother nods towards Erarht the orc: "He's one of them? Why aren't his hands tied up?"

You can see the orc instinctively search for cover behind Runch's back.

Ignoring his question regarding Erarht for the moment...
"Safe enough for the moment though the smoke coming from beyond the rubble is worry'sm. I trust the wounded are being ministered in a timely fashion. What sort of "situation" is happening topside?" as I indicate the shaft with a nodd in it's direction.

upon noticing the silver plate Nimten raises an eyebrow "Ahh, now what's this?!" and struggles to move the rug away...

[thedungeondelver]

The brother nods towards Erarht the orc: "He's one of them? Why aren't his hands tied up?"

You can see the orc instinctively search for cover behind Runch's back.

Ylarum speaks: "I wanted it tied up or disposed of, too."

[Drohem]

Belak nods toward Mundel when he speaks to them, and listens while the others speak with him.  Belak wanted to observe the man and his reactions before making an assessment about him, and his purpose here.

Finally, the young dwarf warrior speaks and says, "strange things are a foot down here, Mundel of Kantz.  I have seen strange creatures and foul magics in my short time down here.  I am Belak Agadal and grandson of Cadfan.  This is my man Klob."

He looks toward the rubble along the northern passage and says, "unnatural mists have been emanating from that rubble there, and, given the supernatural creatures faced down here already, I believe there is merit in being cautious here."

Jerking his head back toward the orc, he grunts and says plainly, "he is more scared of what is down here than of us.  He is no threat to us, and has been cooperative."

[Sigmund]

Tudd eyes the brother with a frown and moves to stand beside Runch, morningstar held before him, the tip resting on the floor, "Erarht nice, and he's me and my brudder's new friend. How do we know you're not a bad man? Maybe you're friends with the ogre's lunch. What you think Bug, should we tie him up?" at which Tudd cocks his head as if listening to his shoulder while staring at the brother suspiciously. Suddenly, Tudd's face lights up and he exclaims, "Ooo, hey brudder, I forgot, I found a drink.... is it beer ya think? Can I have the beer? I won't get woozly, I promise, I be good!" Tudd drops his morningstar and turns in a couple circles chasing his backpack and finally reaches it and pulls out the potion he found earlier and holds it out to Runch after picking his morningstar back up with his shield hand, grinning. He then glances back at the brother with a glare, then back at Runch with a grin, then off into space with a confused expression, eyes working back and forth without actually looking at anyone.

[Benoist]

Ylarum speaks: "I wanted it tied up or disposed of, too."

The brother nods in agreement. "That's what I would have thought appropriate. Why isn't he, then?"

Ignoring his question regarding Erarht for the moment...
"Safe enough for the moment though the smoke coming from beyond the rubble is worry'sm. I trust the wounded are being ministered in a timely fashion. What sort of "situation" is happening topside?" as I indicate the shaft with a nodd in it's direction.

Mundel struggles with his thoughts for a split second, as if trying to put in direct terms a complex situation: "Let's just say that I am not here by choice. When Angharad came to the Bladechapel asking for our help, she interrupted... negotiations with the authorities of the Church. I thought best to send her on her way, refusing to agree to her demands in front of the Abbot's envoys, but fully intending to correct this falsehood later on."

He sighs, throws another look at Erarht the Orc, and continues: "What I did not expect was that we would be assigned a chaperon who would follow us on our city round. I decided to make for the Gold Ladder anyway - time was of the essence, as I understood it -, pretending to shut down whatever operations you would be engaged in if necessary."

"The truth of the matter is that I want to help - I am friend, not foe, and know Bertold well - but the Brotherhood cannot get involved. I have to make the Black monk upstairs believe I am being tough on you, so he will leave both the Brotherhood and the Ladder alone. Which is why I am here. Well, besides my own curiosity's satisfaction, of course, and the desire to see you make it back up if you need it."

Belak nods toward Mundel when he speaks to them, and listens while the others speak with him.  Belak wanted to observe the man and his reactions before making an assessment about him, and his purpose here.

Finally, the young dwarf warrior speaks and says, "strange things are a foot down here, Mundel of Kantz.  I have seen strange creatures and foul magics in my short time down here.  I am Belak Agadal and grandson of Cadfan.  This is my man Klob."

Mundel nods towards Klob, then adds for Belak: "I know your grandfather to some extent. If you grow up to become half the dwarf he is, I reckon you shall be mighty indeed." He smiles.

He looks toward the rubble along the northern passage and says, "unnatural mists have been emanating from that rubble there, and, given the supernatural creatures faced down here already, I believe there is merit in being cautious here."

Jerking his head back toward the orc, he grunts and says plainly, "he is more scared of what is down here than of us.  He is no threat to us, and has been cooperative."

It is now Mundel's turn to ignore the remarks concerning the orc. "Is this immediate area secure, then? What is your plan from here?"

"Erarht nice, and he's me and my brudder's new friend. How do we know you're not a bad man? Maybe you're friends with the ogre's lunch. What you think Bug, should we tie him up?" at which Tudd cocks his head as if listening to his shoulder while staring at the brother suspiciously. Suddenly, Tudd's face lights up and he exclaims, "Ooo, hey brudder, I forgot, I found a drink.... is it beer ya think? Can I have the beer? I won't get woozly, I promise, I be good!" Tudd drops his morningstar and turns in a couple circles chasing his backpack and finally reaches it and pulls out the potion he found earlier and holds it out to Runch after picking his morningstar back up with his shield hand, grinning. He then glances back at the brother with a glare, then back at Runch with a grin, then off into space with a confused expression, eyes working back and forth without actually looking at anyone.

The brother looks confused. He then asks tentatively: "Does he actually know what this vial contains?"

upon noticing the silver plate Nimten raises an eyebrow "Ahh, now what's this?!" and struggles to move the rug away...

The rug is partially stuck under the mass of the creature you slaughtered earlier. It would require many more individuals to be able to move it entirely out of the way, but Nimten can inspect the plaque (not made of silver, but some slightly darker metal or alloy) at this point all the same.

[Cole]

The truth of the matter is that I want to help - I am friend, not foe, and know Bertold well - but the Brotherhood cannot get involved. I have to make the Black monk upstairs believe I am being tough on you, so he will leave both the Brotherhood and the Ladder alone. Which is why I am here. Well, besides my own curiosity's satisfaction, of course, and the desire to see you make it back up if you need it.

"What does the Black Monk think you're saying to us down here, anyway?"

[Benoist]

"What does the Black Monk think you're saying to us down here, anyway?"

"As far as he is concerned, there was an accident underground, the innkeeper is missing, some wounded people were recovered from the hole, and you guys didn't make it back up, so I went down to check out what's going on. The main thing is that for the moment, he must be persuaded we - and by we, I really mean the Brothers of the Sword - have everything under control. I... haven't exactly worked out the details yet. I'm open to ideas - but the man can't be bribed or harmed or anything of the sort."

"If the Abbey gets wind of this, and assumes we just let innkeepers dig however they want within the city walls, we might get in trouble with Dalenguard. If the Brothers lose favor in the eyes of the Commissar, who knows what's next? The 'purest' elements of the Church might see it as a green light to step in and clean up the camps beyond the walls. I suppose you see where this is going."

[Cole]

I suppose you see where this is going.[/COLOR]"

Ulas responds with a beat of still silence, then "Nor do I much like it."

He then addresses the rest of the party "What are we going to do about this smoking barrier? I want to find out what is behind the secret door in the northeast section of this chamber, but I would not like to be attacked from the north while dealing with whatever lies behind it."

[thedungeondelver]

Ylarum jerks his thumb towards the orc.

"This...seems so eager to please.  Why not set it on prying a few of the rocks away, let it see if it can worry a spyhole."

[Benoist]

"This...seems so eager to please.  Why not set it on prying a few of the rocks away, let it see if it can worry a spyhole."

Erarht throws a pleading look at Runch, then back and forth between the pile of rubble and the people around him. "Wait ... wait. What? Who? Me? Alone?"

Mundel scoffs: "Well. Looks like we have a volunteer."

In the distance, to the north, you all hear the sound of a piece of lumber hitting a rock. It is not some great crashing sound but instead a soft, almost discreet thump, maybe from somewhere within or on the other side of the wall of rubble. There is no visible movement, and no other sound following this lone, brief incident.

The orc looks terrified.