Chapter #520
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+ THE ADVENTURERS +
+ +
+ Epic III +
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+
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+ Many of the locations, non-player characters, spells, and +
+ other terms used in these stories are the property of TSR, Inc. +
+ However, this does not mean that TSR in any way endorses or +
+ authorizes their use, and any such items contained within these +
+ stories should not be considered representative of TSR in any +
+ way, shape, or form. +
+ The player characters contained in these writings are copy- +
+ right 1991-7 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to any persons +
+ or characters either real or fictional is utterly coincidental. +
+ Copying and/or distribution of these tales is permissible only +
+ under the sole condition that no part of them will be used or +
+ sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. +
+ +
+ Thomas Miller +
+ tmiller@cimmeria.ns.gatech.edu +
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+ Belphanior (14th)^3 level elven fighter/wizard/thief (CN) +
+ Otto 8th/10th level dwarven fighter/thief (CN) +
+ the wispy thing (N) +
+ +
+ Aja 9th level human priestess of Wee Jas (N) +
+ Kinichi 7th level human ranger (N) +
+ Razor Charlie 9th level human fighter (CN) +
+ Skektek 12th level human wizard (CN) +
+ Victoria 11th level vampiric human female fighter (NE) +
+ Ys 13th level reptilian fighter (LN) +
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+ Date: 9/21/576 C.Y. (Common Year) +
+ Time: nighttime +
+ Place: the remote mountain town of Helgate +
+ Climate: chilly +
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+ "There are always alternatives." +
+ - Spock, from _The Galileo Seven_ +
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DXX. Curiouser and Curiouser
Belphanior and crew are about to stage a full-blown assault on
the lair of the ghouls discovered earlier that day by Otto. They
have waited until nightfall to begin this mission, for Victoria's
sake. Even now, they march up into the mountains, with Kinichi
guiding the way to the scene of the previous confrontation.
Otto: (mutters to Belphanior) I don't think he's too happy about
us leaving Jutokai behind.
Belphanior: Someone had to stay and supervise the town guards; he
was the one we needed the least, and that's that.
Otto: Yeah, but these people are all professionals. They're not
the sort to stay back and avoid adventure.
Belphanior: He'll get over being forced to stay.
Razor Charlie: (to himself) Better him than me.
Aja: Where are these-
Kinichi: (points) There.
Ys' handiwork was still intact; the huge boulder was exactly
where he'd left it, blocking the cavern entrance completely, its
mass more than anything but a giant could move.
Belphanior: (glances at the rock, then at Ys, then back at the rock)
Skektek: Crude, but effective.
Razor Charlie: (sneers at the wizard)
wispy thing: (hovers near the boulder) Pfsss?
Aja: So behind that rock lurk ghouls...
Otto: And over here. (he wanders around some bushes) Huh?!?
Belphanior: What?
Otto: The bodies...they're gone.
Kinichi: Gone? But we piled them up there after we killed them.
Aja: Are you sure?
Ys: I'm sure we killed them.
Otto: Well, they're not here anymore.
Aja: (moves to examine the ground where Otto was pointing) Ick.
(she holds up one finger, coated with a black goo)
Belphanior: Yeah, ghoul blood. So what?
Aja: This isn't exactly ghoul blood.
Otto: How do you know?
Aja: Long experience.
Skektek: Well, if it's not ghouls' blood, then what is it?
Otto: Damn good question.
Victoria: (appears from the darkness above) Maybe the things you
three fought earlier weren't ghouls.
Belphanior: Where've you been?
Victoria: Airborne scouting. I was seeking living things.
Skektek: Did you find anything?
Victoria: Just you people.
Belphanior: Well, there's only one way to find out what the hell
those ghoul-things were. (he nods to Ys)
Ys: (gets a good grip on the boulder) Someone cover the opening
I'm about to reveal. The monsters may be back there, just waiting
to attack.
Skektek: You're afraid?
Ys: Not for me...for you. (slowly, he pushes the boulder away) Unf.
Otto: (keeps his crossbow trained on the growing crevice)
Skektek: (keeps a wand aimed in that direction)
Aja: (looks on with interest, clutching her holy symbol)
wispy thing: (sails into the opening) Sssss.
There was, however, nothing there, and soon, they all stood in the
cavern near the dark passage that led away. As before, a horrible
stench emanated from this tunnel.
Aja: Undead, that's for sure - but I can't say what kind.
Skektek: How are we supposed to know, then?
Aja: Simple - we go find out.
Belphanior: (hands Razor Charlie a lantern) Since you're bringing
up the rear, you're in charge of the lantern.
Razor Charlie: (grunts)
Otto: (eyes the device) I don't see any fuel in that thing. What
is it?
Belphanior: It's a special lantern I made, using an old case, some
mirrors, and a continual light spell.
Victoria: Mirrors...ugh.
Belphanior: (to her, privately) Do you miss seeing your reflection?
Victoria: Sometimes, though it really doesn't matter, since I haven't
aged in more than three hundred years.
They filed into the narrow passage, single-file. Belphanior took
the lead, followed by Otto, Ys, Skektek, Kinichi, Victoria, Aja, and
Razor Charlie, in that order.
Kinichi: I should be in front.
Belphanior: Your bravery is commendable, but at this time, we're
exploring a dungeon, not following tracks. I'll take the point.
Down they went. The passage was about six feet wide, and led down
at a shallow but discernable angle. Its floor was solid rock, and no
algae or fungi coated its cool, dry walls. The tunnel was definitely
natural, winding around at random points, and a mapper would have
been hard-pressed to get an accurate diagram of the party's progress.
This wasn't really an issue until the passage forked into two parts,
left and right.
Otto: Do we choose one, and risk being outflanked...or split up,
but divide our strength?
Belphanior: Strength isn't something we're lacking. We'll split
up, but everyone stay on your toes. No telling what's down here.
Myself, Kinichi, Victoria, and Razor Charlie will take the left
passage. Otto, Ys, Skektek, and Aja - take the right. We'll meet
back at this juncture in ten minutes.
Otto: Gotcha.
wispy thing: (opts to stay with Belphanior) Psssb.
They split up then, Belphanior leading his party down the left-
hand passage. Since the other group had Skektek to cast spells of
light, Belphanior had kept his magical lantern with his own group,
and Razor Charlie still carried it. The terrible stench grew more
intense as they went, and everyone but Victoria found it necessary
to wrap cloth around their mouths and noses.
wispy thing: (hovers near Victoria's head) Pfsss?
Victoria: Shoo.
After a good five minutes of steeper and more winding tunnels, they
stopped abruptly as their passage ended in a sheer dropoff.
Belphanior: Hold.
Kinichi: (moves up, peeking over the edge) Hello! (he hears his
echoes, and turns back to Belphanior) Long way down.
Belphanior: (takes the lantern from Razor Charlie and shines it
all around the area ahead) Nothing...complete blackness.
Victoria: I could fly out there and scout it...
Belphanior: No need, really - I doubt those ghouls, or whatever
they were, climbed up from this abyss we've found.
Kinichi: Which means that the others-
Belphanior: -are headed right into the monsters' lair! Damn!
wispy thing: Sprrd.
Razor Charlie: (takes the lantern as Belphanior breaks into a near-
sprint, or at least the closest thing to it possible in these
cramped tunnels)
Belphanior: Quickly, we've got to get back there and find them!
Meanwhile, elsewhere, the others had been following their own
passage, and were even now entering a larger chamber...
Skektek: (shines his light-shrouded staff about) Bizarre. This
room seems to be a mix of natural cave formations and...man-made
architecture?!?
Aja: No, you're right. Almost as if this place collapsed, a long
time ago, and gradually leveled off.
Ys: Or was excavated.
Otto: (notices some gray ooze on the wall) Whoa.
Skektek: Not to worry - I think it's just slime. Mobile, living
monsters of this sort tend to be much bigger.
Otto: (still eyes the stuff) Sure...
Aja: (suddenly grows alarmed) Beware! Undead abound!
Otto: Where?!?
Suddenly, there was a rumbling, and somewhere above, rocks gave
way and tumbled down. The ground shook, raising clouds of dust as
the adventurers were buffeted by falling debris. Moments after the
barrage ceased, groans and coughs were heard. Skektek's light was
gone, so those who were still conscious had to make do with voices
only, for now.
Otto: Is everyone okay?
Ys: I...am here. (the sound of a large rock being moved follows)
Otto: Aja? Skektek?
Aja: Ungh...
Otto: Aja?
Aja: (painfully) I'm alive.
Otto: What's wrong?
Aja: My legs...they're buried. I can't feel them! I can't-
Otto: Stay calm. Does anyone know where Skektek is?
Ys: He was standing to my left when the rocks fell.
Otto: Okay, we'll get to him. But first we need light.
Aja: But what about- I mean, we're in serious trouble here-
Otto: I said, calm down. I was buried alive in a sewer once. This
is nothing.
Ys: Maybe not, except for those sounds.
Otto: What sounds?
Ys: Don't you hear them? Slithering...scraping...hissing...from
somewhere above us.
Aja: Damn, damn-
Otto: (gathering some tinder from a vest pouch, he quickly strikes
flint to steel, making a spark which the ignites his tinder, and
lights the nearby area) Let's move quickly. Someone find Skektek,
and that lighted staff of his.
Ys: (spots a booted foot, and grabs it, tugging)
Skektek came free of the rubble atop his unmoving form, and though
his staff wasn't in his hands, the jostling of the rocks and dirt
caused a thin ray of light to shine upward from nearby rubble.
Ys: Ah. (setting the wizard aside, he begins plowing through the
rubble with hands the size of spades)
Meanwhile, Otto had moved to Aja's side, quickly ascertaining the
situation. It wasn't good; the priestess' legs were buried under
a significant amount of rock, perhaps crushed.
Otto: Stay calm, or the shock will overtake you.
Aja: Calm...right...
Just then, the chamber was bathed in what seemed like brilliant
light, though it was really only Skektek's staff. These things were
relative to the situation.
Ys: (holds the staff up triumphantly)
The light also illuminated the dozens of grey, rotten forms which
surrounded the foursome. Some stood on their level, while others
were perched on ledges above. In all cases, the things looked
hungry.
Aja: Aie!
Otto: Shit.
Ys: Where's my sword?!?
things: (all of them rush to the attack)
Ys didn't waste any time looking for his weapon; with a mighty
heave, he swung the glowing staff around, impaling one of the gray
attackers in the chest.
creature: (falls, convulsing and shrieking, causing the chamber's
only light-source to move about erratically)
Ys: (lets go of the staff and turns to face the other attackers)
It was a nightmarish scene, with light and shadows dancing all
about as the impaled creature continued to thrash. Otto loaded and
fired his crossbow, his bolt burying itself in one creature's neck.
After that, he was forced to draw his sword to defend the helpless
Aja against half a dozen of the monsters.
Nearby...
Ys: (swats one of the things aside, then grabs a large rock, hefting
it above his head)
other creature: (claws at the reptilian, scoring only superficial
damage on his tough skin) Hssss...
Ys: (turns around, bringing the small boulder down onto the foe)
other creature: <splat>
creatures: (a dozen of them, they swarm the big reptilian all at
once)
Ys: Ack-
Otto: (doesn't really have time to notice Ys' predicament, as he
has his hands full trying to fend off six foes at once) Damn!
(he takes another claw-scratch on his arm, blood soaking through
his tunic) They're shredding my armor...but my blows aren't even
slowing them down!
Aja: I...noticed that...(painfully, she clutches her holy symbol
and begins chanting)
Otto: What the fuck?
The creatures recoiled, squealing, as a blazing light shone forth
from the symbol in the priestess' hands.
Aja: (her voice rises in pitch, and the glow brightens)
An instant later, every one of Otto's foes was obliterated, only
ashes remaining where they'd just stood. Further, some of those
atop Ys were also disintegrated.
Ys: (sensing a weakening in his attackers' efforts, he surges to
his feet, flinging one creature away like a rag doll)
creature: (its leg breaks off, remaining in Ys' hand while the rest
of it flies into the wall)
Ys: (glances at the leg, then whirls, fists lashing out)
second creature: (knocked back into its fellows)
third creature: (its rotten spine snaps, and it falls, twitching)
Enraged, Ys went after the others, and every blow of his mighty
limbs smashed or immobilized a target. Otto, meanwhile, was roaming
the gore- and rubble-strewn chamber, severing the heads of every
downed foe he found.
random creature: (its legs shattered, it lies there gnashing its
teeth) Gurk!
Otto: (hacks off the thing's head) Another down...but how many to
go? (he notes that about half a dozen of the creatures have endured
Aja's turning and avoided Ys' attacks, and are now skulking in his
direction) Uh-oh.
A dark shape flew into their midst then, quickly transforming into
a whirlwind of destruction. The creatures seemed mesmerized, rooted
to the spots where they stood, and the laughing, dark-tressed form
slashed at them with superhuman strength, ripping limbs and heads
away as if the victims were rag dolls.
Victoria: (backhandedly claws a foe, shredding its head into dark
porridge) Not to fear, good Otto - I'll take care of everything.
other creature: (simply stands there, drooling a dark liquid, as
she rips its spine from its back)
Belphanior: (arrives in the chamber, panting and sweating) We...
we got here as soon as we...could. Huh?
Victoria: (she holds up a creature's severed head, face-to-face with
it for a moment before discarding it in disgust) I've dealt with
these pathetic creatures, dear.
Belphanior: Yeah, I can see that.
Shortly, Kinichi and Razor Charlie arrived, just in time to help
Ys deal with the few surviving creatures. Before long, all was quiet,
save for the sounds of fresh exertion by desperate adventurers, and
the dripping of vital fluids from slain foes.
Victoria: (looks around) You did quite a job on them, Ys.
Ys: As did you.
Belphanior: What's wrong with Skektek?
Otto: He got flattened by the ambush. (they check the wizard) Well,
I'll be damned. He's alive.
Belphanior: Looks like only scratches...no, wait a moment, look. A
head wound.
Otto: We'll need a professional healer to assess that.
Ys: (moves to Aja, quickly examining her situation before beginning
to lift large chunks of rock off of her legs)
Aja: Agh!
Ys: Stay still.
Aja: Easy...for you to say...
wispy thing: (hovering above one of the slain creatures, it suddenly
chirps in alarm) Spaaa! Braaaaft!
Kinichi: (glances over) Damn! The thing's alive!
Indeed it was. The corpse, torn nearly in half by Ys, had knitted
itself back together, and was attempting to climb to its feet.
Kinichi: (slashes the thing in the back, cutting it in two) There.
creature: (lies there, twitching)
Razor Charlie: (notices another "dead" foe trying to crawl away)
Hmnn. (he steps on the thing's neck, and is rewarded by a snapping
of bones)
Otto: They're not dead...they're regenerating!
Belphanior: Like trolls.
Victoria: It's not impossible...I'd not thought the lower forms of
un-dead capable of this-
Aja: (through gritted teeth) They're not.
Belphanior: Enough talk. Otto, Charlie - make a fire. Ys, Kinichi -
pile the things up.
Ys: A fire down here might suffocate us.
Belphanior: Damn, you're right. What the hell was I thinking?
Otto: No big deal - it's a rough time for all of us.
Belphanior: Yeah. Okay, Ys, pile the bodies in one corner. Kinichi
and Charlie, keep the piled bodies from getting back up. Otto, see
if there are any exits out of this chamber. Victoria, help me get
Aja and Skektek out of here.
Aja: Be careful...my legs are both broken in multiple places.
Belphanior: We'll have to splint them first, then. (he begins work
on a makeshift double splint)
wispy thing: Aaarp.
Belphanior: You...go back up, scout for other creatures on the loose,
that might have somehow gotten behind us. I want to make sure our
escape route is clear.
wispy thing: Spaaa! (it flies away)
Victoria: (eyes the unconscious form of Skektek, who is managing to
frown even in his state)
While the creatures' bodies were moved to one location and kept
there, and Aja's splint was fashioned, Otto found that there were no
exits from the place.
Otto: I did find some interesting stuff, though. (he holds up half
a dozen sealed scroll tubes) These were scattered amidst some old
coins and worthless gems, other shiny junk.
Belphanior: Scrolls, eh? Okay, we'll get to them once we're safely
back home. Won't be long now. (he watches as his people go about
their tasks)
Otto: (nods toward Victoria) Why didn't they attack her?
Belphanior: And what were they? And why? This little adventure
seems to have generated more questions that it answered...but it's
far from settled. Far indeed.
Deep within a fell dungeon, far away and unknown to Belphanior
or any of the others, a dark form was hunched over a glowing
sphere of crystal. The image within this sizable orb depicted
the elf and his allies as they left the cavern of the undead.
figure: Ahh...things are beginning to align themselves. (bits
of mist seep upward and snake around its tightly-cloaked body)
Soon, the elf will follow the bait - and then, we shall see if
he is prepared to accept his fate...or be a victim of it.
With a wave of one shriveled, clawed hand, the speaker ended
the scrying, pitching the chamber into darkness once more.
next: the menace may be over, but Belphanior makes a startling
discovery
ftp: ftp.myths.com in /pub/rpg/stories/adventurers
ftp.nol.net in /pub/users/zac/rpg/adventurers/
ftp.tas.gov.au/misc/stories
www: http://www.myths.com/pub/rpg/stories/adventurers
http://www.shobaki.org/adventurers
homepage: http://www.gatech.edu/oit/oe/design/thomas/adv.html
mail: tmiller@cimmeria.ns.gatech.edu (preferred)
thomas.miller@oit.gatech.edu (emergency)
notes: Following are the most complete stats in existence for
Helgate's marshals...
Aja
9th level human priestess
female, 5'10", 135 lbs, white skin, brown hair, green eyes
34 years old
homeland: Theocracy of the Pale
patron deity: Wee Jas (goddess of death & magic)
alignment: neutral
STR 10
INT 16
WIS 17
DEX 14
CON 13
CHR 14
COM 16
ac 4 (leather armor, magical cloak)
hp 41
thac0 16 (2-5/1-4 +1)
spells:
6/6/4/2/1 priest (accessible spheres: Astral, Charm, Divination,
Elemental, Guardian, Healing, Necromantic, Protection, Summoning)
items:
black silver sickle +1, of wounding
cloak of protection +3
circlet of undead control
ring of vampiric regeneration
rod of terror (33 charges)
potion of extra-healing
potion of invisibility
characteristics: quiet, sly
Jutokai
7th level human fighter (archer)
male, 5'8", 160 lbs, brown skin, dark brown hair, brown eyes
37 years old
homeland: Ket
patron deity: unknown
alignment: lawful neutral
STR 15
INT 12
WIS 11
DEX 17
CON 15
CHR 12
COM 11
ac 1/4 (leather armor)
hp 47
thac0 9 (longbow, arrows' damage varies)
items:
leather armor +3
longbow +2, of distance
+1 flight arrows (8)
+3 flight arrows (2)
+2 sheaf arrows (11)
everfull waterskin
pouch of holding
tent, weatherproof
characteristics: thoughtful, cautious
Kinichi
7th level human ranger (tracker)
male, 6'0", 180 lbs, light brown skin, brown hair, hazel eyes
36 years old
homeland: Paynims
patron deity: unknown
alignment: neutral
STR 18/11
INT 13
WIS 12
DEX 17
CON 17
CHR 13
COM 10
ac -1/2
hp 50
thac0 11 (longsword 1-8/1-12 + 4) or 9 (bola 2-5/1-4 +2)
items:
chain mail +2
longsword +2, frost brand
bola +2
bandana of protection +1
earring of whispers
potion of extra-healing
potion of speed
potion of stealth
characteristics: casual, disinterested, but efficient
NOTE: a tracker is a ranger variant, nomadic, unattached, not
tied to Good alignments - a true wanderer
Razor Charlie
9th level human fighter
male, 6'1", 195 lbs, dark brown skin, black hair, black eyes
43 years old
homeland: unknown
patron deity: unknown
alignment: chaotic neutral
STR 18/37
INT 13
WIS 10
DEX 18
CON 18
CHR 11
COM 9
ac 1/5
hp 74
thac0 12 (base), 4 (2/1, dblspec, throwing knives, 1-4/1-3 +7)
items:
3 throwing knives +1
3 throwing knives +2
2 throwing knives +3
1 throwing knife +4
leather armor +2
amulet vs. vampires
potion of extra-healing
potion of sweet water
Skektek
12th level human wizard
male, 6'1", 150 lbs, white skin, grey hair, bloodshot eyes
48 years old
homeland: North Province of Aerdy
patron deity: unknown
alignment: chaotic neutral
STR 10
INT 18
WIS 13
DEX 14
CON 10
CHR 11
COM 10
ac 5
hp 31
thac0 17 (does not engage in melee)
spells:
4/4/4/4/4/1
items:
robes of protection +4
wand of lightning
thunder ring
boots of levitation
potion of healing
potion of flying
characteristics: temperamental
Victoria
11th level vampiric human warrior
female, 6'0", 128 lbs, white skin, black hair, pale green eyes
366 years old
homeland: Urnst?
patron deity: unknown
alignment: neutral evil
STR 18/00
INT 17
WIS 15
DEX 18
CON 18
CHR 17
COM 17
ac -2
hp 66
thac0 10, bare hands, (2/1) 1-10 +6 + level drain
thac0 6, saber +3, (5/2) 1-8/1-12 +10
items:
saber +3
powers:
immune to poisons, charm, sleep
energy drain by touch, at will
mist power, need +2 weapon to injure, regeneration
bat, wolf forms, faster movement rate
Ys
13th level reptilian fighter
male, 8'6", 650 lbs, grey scales, no hair, vertical-slitted
double-lidded black eyes, forked tongue
age: unknown
homeland: unknown
patron deity: unknown
alignment: lawful neutral
STR 20
INT 15
WIS 11
DEX 17
CON 19
CHR 12
COM 7
ac -3/0
hp 113
thac0 2, (5/2, 2-20/6-36 +10)
items:
leather armor +4
40-lb. greatsword +2
potion of intimidation
abilities:
apparently immune to vampiric life drain and other undead powers
scales act as natural armor AC 4
characteristics: calm, cool, collected; enjoys eating and drinking
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