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Post by The Red Baron on May 1, 2017 17:56:27 GMT -5
Dr. Holmes recommends "The Dungeon Master should read the background material above to the assembled players and then let them decide how they will proceed". Enjoy!...
100 years ago the sorcerer Zenopus built a tower on the low hills overlooking Portown. The tower was close to the see cliff west of the town and, appropriately, next door to the graveyard.
Rumor has it that the magician mode extensive cellars and tunnels underneath the tower. The town is located on the ruins of a much older city of doubtful history and Zenopus was said to excavate in his cellars in search of ancient treasures.
Fifty years ago, on a cold wintry night, the wizard's tower was suddenly engulfed in green flame. Several of his human servants escaped the holocaust, saying their master had been destroyed by some powerful force he had unleashed in the depths of the tower. Needless to say the tower stood vacant for a while after this, but soon the neighbors and the night watchmen complained that ghostly blue lights appeared in the windows of night, that ghostly screams could be heard emanating from the tower at all hours, and goblin figures could be seen dancing on the tower roof in the moonlight. Finally the authorities had a catapult rolled through the streets of the town and the tower was battered to rubble. This stopped the hauntings but the townsfolk continue to shun the ruins. The entrance to the old dungeons con be easily located as a flight of brood stone steps leading down into darkness, but the few adventurous souls who have descended into crypts below the ruin have either reported only empty stone corridors or hove foiled to return of all.
Other magic-users have moved into the town but the site of the old tower remains abandoned. Whispered tales are told of fabulous treasure and unspeakable monsters in the Underground passages below the hilltop, and the story tellers are always careful to point out that the reputed dungeons lie in close proximity to the foundations of the older, prehuman city, to the graveyard, and to the sea.
Portown is a small but busy city linking the caravan routes from the south to the merchant ships that dare the pirate-infested waters of the Northern Sea. Humans and non-humans from all over the globe meet here. At the Green Dragon Inn, the players of the game gather their characters for on assault on the fabulous passages beneath the ruined Wizard's tower.
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Post by The Red Baron on May 4, 2017 12:34:20 GMT -5
The company finds themselves seated at the local inn & tavern, an establishment identified as "the Green Dragon Inn" by a weather-beaten wooden sign swinging above the entrance to the saloon, merrily painted with a ferocious green firedrake. Evening has descended upon Portown, and the Green Dragon Inn is soon packed with sailors, dwarfs, lizard-men, and other strange travelers.
The party attends to any last minute preparations or information gathering before venturing forth to the ruins of Zenopus tower.
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Post by mormonyoyoman on May 4, 2017 15:43:10 GMT -5
Mensa eyes the assembled chaos of potential tower-invaders. Any suspicious smells? Especially does anyone smell like dog? If necessary, he'll weeble (short legs) to them and sniff more carefully.
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Post by magremore on May 5, 2017 5:04:47 GMT -5
Zipper chuckles at Mensa’s antics, watching for any patrons that might become so distracted as to be easy pickings. In the meantime, after hesitating since he has no funds, he'll approach the barkeep and try to casually and discreetly ask about any recent going-ons concerning the ruins.
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Post by mormonyoyoman on May 5, 2017 6:30:43 GMT -5
(Mensa is, of course, pretty sure he didn't smell dog on these people with whom he's gonna hit Zeenopolus onna head witta shovel. So he gonna sniff out other suspicionous people, epspeshully salesmen.)
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Post by Mighty Darci on May 5, 2017 11:45:46 GMT -5
Gory Flory orders an ale and sips it while surveying the crowd. She smiles to herself as she watches Mensa out of the corner of her eye. She decides that Zipper is as usual broke and in a unusual fit of generosity decides to order an ale for him also (but no refills, she can't encourage drunkenness). She glances over at ZU-ZU and then back at the crowd as she thinks to herself, "I hope that one does not expect us to shout her name when we are on adventure and trying to be quiet". She also is wondering what Yulgit Heartbourne is thinking, she has not figured out how to read the dwarven folk yet.
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Post by Vile Traveller on May 5, 2017 11:50:24 GMT -5
Yulgit elbows his way through the crowd with a steaming jug of mint tea and an iced bun, keeping an (large and luxuriously hairy) ear out for any juicy gossip.
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Post by xizallian on May 5, 2017 12:02:59 GMT -5
ZU-ZU!! Sits anxiously waiting. She is new to this group and doesn't know anyone very well yet. She is not sure what to expect or how they will all get along. The group is an odd mismatched group and a Mensa and Zipper are just strange. Gory Flory, really weird name for someone in a religious order, but with some of the rumors she has heard about the ruined tower, Gory Flory is a must to have along. And this Yulgit, what an odd creature, not odd like Mensa and Zipper, but so different from human folk and so hairy, it just isn't natural.
OOC: none of the above is spoken!
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Post by The Red Baron on May 5, 2017 12:05:27 GMT -5
The referee refers to the tavern notes in B2: KotB and discovers that the following menu has been painted above the bar: SMALL BEER 1 cp STRONG ALE 2 cp HONEY MEAD 3 cp PLUM WINE 3 cp
Darcy, please subtract 2cp from your character sheet.
The bartender's lips loosen when Zipper's drink is ordered. The referee rolls on the excellent Portown Rumors in Brief table from Zenopus Archives to determine what the bartender knows: 1d20 = 15. "Well, he don't like folks whisperin' 'bout it, but the Despot's young niece ran off with a band of vagabonds. That's all the news I've got, but if you'll buy a round of drinks for 10sp, I'm sure the tongues 'll start waggin'!"
The referee decides that every 10sp spent on a round of drinks will yield (at the players' discretion) either one rumor or 1d6 potential hirelings. The characters are of course not limited to these options and may pursue any course of action they desire, or if they are ready, begin the first excursion to Zenopus Tower.
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Post by magremore on May 5, 2017 19:33:55 GMT -5
“Thanks for the ale, Gory. You’ll make a great priest some day. Folks will stop in their tracks, point at you and say, There goes the good one.”
When the barkeep is done talking, Zipper drains his mug, slams it down and turns to face the room. “I’m good.”
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Post by Vile Traveller on May 5, 2017 20:48:18 GMT -5
Yulgit is painfully aware of the lack of heft to his moneybelt, an awareness he cultivates with great care so as not to give hints to thieving onlookers as to where he keeps his coin (no offence to any party members, of course). A few hirelings might strengthen the party in a fight, but would certainly drain any wealth that might be recovered from the sorcerer's tower. Without turning to Gory and Zipper to either side of him by the bar, he grumbles under his breath between sips of delicious minty beverage. "Too many eyes 'n' ears in here to be blabbin' about our plans. I say we head out while the crowd's thick to avoid unwanted hangers-on. What say ye?"
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Post by Mighty Darci on May 6, 2017 0:09:47 GMT -5
Gory Flory considers for a moment sipping her ale, thinking that a little more muscle would be wise. But what the heck, and nods her agreement.
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Post by xizallian on May 6, 2017 0:16:19 GMT -5
ZU-ZU!! watches Gory Flory, Zipper and Yulgit at the bar; she is convinced that they are up to something, she just doesn't know what. She clutches her forearms in her hands and grows more agitated by the minute, she doesn't like to be around a lot of people and she really feels the need to get out of here.
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Post by Vile Traveller on May 6, 2017 2:08:59 GMT -5
Yulgit mumbles "I'll see ye outside."
Without waiting for a response, he drains his mug, walks by ZU-ZU!!'s table to surreptitiously give her a wink and a nod in the hope that she'll interpret that as a sign to meet up outside, grabs his pack off the pegs beside the door, and shuffles out into the evening. He'll wait down the road a little for the rest of the party to re-group before heading towards the ominous ruin on the hill.
EDIT: He's sure Barholmes will find them, he's a cousin, after all. Albeit a very, very distant cousin.
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Post by magremore on May 6, 2017 4:10:08 GMT -5
Yep, done with this spot for now. Good to know we can head back—after we've filled our purses a bit—and hire some hands if we need to.
Zipper makes his way through the crowded bar—always keeping an eye out for easy pickings, which there seems to be none right now—and meets up with Yulgit down the road.
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Post by The Red Baron on May 6, 2017 7:20:39 GMT -5
The party departs for Zenopus tower.
There is a cool breeze tonight and a full moon looms overhead, as party tramps through the muddy streets of Portown. The ruins of the wizard's tower sit atop a low hill overlooking Portown's graveyard. The entrance is easily discovered, a spindly set of broken stairs descending into the earth.
At this time I will need the following information from the party:
a. their marching order b. who is carrying a light source
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Post by magremore on May 6, 2017 7:28:13 GMT -5
Zipper tenses his left hand around his bow and settles his right hand on the nock of one of the arrows at his right hip. “I suggest I walk in the second rank. Close enough to the front to fire off a shot, and also in good position to turn and let loose if need be. But open to other ideas, of course”
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Post by Mighty Darci on May 6, 2017 7:35:44 GMT -5
The party departs for Zenopus tower. There is a cool breeze tonight and a full moon looms overhead, as party tramps through the muddy streets of Portown. The ruins of the wizard's tower sit atop a low hill overlooking Portown's graveyard. The entrance is easily discovered, a spindly set of broken stairs descending into the earth. At this time I will need the following information from the party: a. their marching order b. who is carrying a light source Gory Flory, if no one objects, will bring up the rear and will carry a torch. Her staff will be in her other hand and she will fight with it and drop the torch to the side against a wall on need (it should provide at least a little light for a few rounds of combat as long as it is not stepped on) . If her opponent is armored, she will switch to the mace as the weapon of choice. If she has time and it is desirable she will also deploy the shield with the mace. She frequently checks behind her and is endeavoring to remember the twists and turns they take. The frequent looks behind will help her recognize things coming back.
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Post by xizallian on May 6, 2017 7:46:11 GMT -5
ZU-ZU!! will take the position in front of Gory Flory and will also carry a torch and her staff. She likes Gory Flory's idea and will also drop the torch on need in the same manner and use the staff. (if a spell seems best she will also drop the staff). She will try to hold the torch as long as possible to maintain light for the party. Now that they are out of the noisy crowd and doing something, her nerves have steadied considerably and she is now much more confident. She also will take note of the surroundings and any identifying marks on the walls, floor or ceiling as they proceed.
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Post by The Red Baron on May 6, 2017 7:47:34 GMT -5
Zipper tenses his left hand around his bow and settles his right hand on the nock of one of the arrows at his right hip. “I suggest I walk in the second rank. Close enough to the front to fire off a shot, and also in good position to turn and let loose if need be. But open to other ideas, of course” Note that in combat example #2, Dr Holmes gives precedent "that only those in the front row have a clear field of fire".
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Post by magremore on May 6, 2017 7:50:27 GMT -5
Zipper tenses his left hand around his bow and settles his right hand on the nock of one of the arrows at his right hip. “I suggest I walk in the second rank. Close enough to the front to fire off a shot, and also in good position to turn and let loose if need be. But open to other ideas, of course” Note that in combat example #2, Dr Holmes gives precedent "that only those in the front row have a clear field of fire". OOC: Ah, OK.
Zipper retracts and volunteers for the front.OOC: Actually, let me wait for the fighters’ input. Best position still might be in the second rank, depending on distance of sighting.
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Post by The Red Baron on May 6, 2017 7:54:40 GMT -5
Ok folks, it sounds like the marching order will be the two dwarfs, followed by the thief and magic-user, with the cleric bringing up the rear.
Please head over to the next thread (once it is posted)
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Post by mormonyoyoman on May 6, 2017 8:09:50 GMT -5
OOC: Looks as if I was the only person who slept late today. (Yesterday was celebration of 10-year old girl grandmonkey birthday, with ten zillion screaming 10-year old girls.)
Mensa takes point in marching order, though "marching" is a bit restrictive for him. Occasionally, he skips or runs ahead wondering "Oooo, what's THAT?" He never releases his grip on his war shovel and keeps his one horned helmet hanging from his belt, ready to throw. At some point he pauses, looks up and whispers...
MENSA: "Who said dat something about light source? Why we need a light source?"
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Post by magremore on May 6, 2017 9:00:22 GMT -5
OK, so marching/skipping/gamboling order . . .
Yulgit / Mensa Zipper / Zu-Zu Gory Flory
Is anyone not familiar (or only vaguely familiar) with this dungeon??? If so, that person should be caller/navigator, for purposes of mo' fun, right?
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Post by Mighty Darci on May 6, 2017 9:03:33 GMT -5
OK, so . . .Yulgit / Mensa Zipper / Zu-Zu Gory FloryIs anyone not familiar (or only vaguely familiar) with this dungeon??? If so, that person should be caller/navigator, for purposes of mo' fun, right? I know zip about this dungeon!
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Post by xizallian on May 6, 2017 9:04:36 GMT -5
OK, so . . .Yulgit / Mensa Zipper / Zu-Zu Gory FloryIs anyone not familiar (or only vaguely familiar) with this dungeon??? If so, that person should be caller/navigator, for purposes of mo' fun, right? I know zip about this dungeon! Ditto
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Post by mormonyoyoman on May 6, 2017 14:23:04 GMT -5
Mensa: "What's to know? Poor structure, sorta-natural carving. Not real good work." (Licks wall) "Rockwater not so good. Test any drinking we find."
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Post by Mighty Darci on May 6, 2017 18:44:10 GMT -5
Mensa: "What's to know? Poor structure, sorta-natural carving. Not real good work." (Licks wall) "Rockwater not so good. Test any drinking we find." Gory Flory observes that, " I see that Mensa has some very useful skills!"
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