Adventure #4 - Canyon Lake Dungeon

[ffilz]

Since we've got most everyone on board, lets go ahead and get started...

After a day or so of wandering somewhat lost, you come upon a small town. Entering the town, you find it used to be a small fishing village. A sign on the path announces "Welcome to Canyon Lake - Population 150 143 140 142"

A relatively new inn stands at the edge of town surrounded by a few shops such as provisioners, a armor/weapon smith, and a few other sundry businesses. A few non humans wander around. The inn has a small notice board announcing people looking for work and people seeking companions.

The inkeeper welcomes you with a cracked voice "Welcome to The Delver's Rest of Canyon Lake, what shall it be? Dinner? A round of dwarven ale? The best room in the house?"

[wulfgar]

"Aye, a round of ale to sooth the ache of our weary feet"

While he waits for the drinks, Emilio looks over the notice board. Also, what do the "non-humans" wondering around look like? Elven merchants or hobgoblin raiders? What race and do they appear armed?

[ffilz]

The non-humans are several elves, a few dwarves, and perhaps that was a halfling over in the corner.

From the notice board, you determine that the going rate for men-at-arms seems to be 50 gp per day for a trip to the dungeon. There seem to be swordsmen and archers available for hire (read hireling).

The other adds for people looking for work seem to include an elf and a "troubleshooter". They seem to be suggesting they would join for a half share of treasure (read henchmen).

The notices looking for companions seem to be a paladin looking for some men-at-arms and someone else looking for a magic user. They really sound like people looking for henchmen.

After you've had a moment to peruse the board, a youngish looking maid brings your ale. She lets slide a sly comment: "If you're looking for companionship of a more relaxing nature..." and she bends over to wipe a spill from a table, revealing her charms...

[wulfgar]

"Ah, what have you heard of the nearby dungeon m'lady?" Emilio asks.

[ffilz]

"A couple months back, a group headed out by the trail and never returned, the fishermen thought they saw a group returning who got caught in a landslide. Another group recently came back to town and bought some large timbers. I thought I saw a kobold accompanying them. Most sane people hire the fishermen to take them to the dungeon rather than risk the trail. There is a trail from the beach leading up to some ruins. The entrance to the dungeon is in the largest standing building."

[ffilz]

Oh, more detail on the non-humans:

Most seem to be in street garb, but a couple elves wandering about in armor and weaponry. The weaponsmith looks to be a dwarf.

[brumbar]

Feddie takes in the site of the wonderful charms, " What might your name be my angel?"

[ffilz]

"Cassandra, and your name my handsome? Are you road weary, perhaps I can help you relax?"

[kipper]

Flandil eyes the town with a wrinkled nose and his scented kerchief held close.

"A dungeon, is it? It sounds like we can earn ourselves some spending money before we get to Verbosh, this little detour may well prove to end in our profit!"

"I don't know if what the fishermen say about the trail is true, or if it's just a rumour to drum up their own business. I must say it seems this town has much to gain catering to such opportunity-seekers as ourselves."

"We must be on our guard," he adds, pointedly looking at Freddie (who is chatting up Cassandra).

((Flandil will attempt to chat up his fellow elves in town to see what he can find out about the ruins. He is suspicious of the locals however.))

((Flandil votes to scout out the ruins without hiring any hirelings/henchmen. He also votes to take the trail rather than paying the fishermen to ferry them across.))

[brumbar]

"Well Cassandra. Why don't we take some ale and food upstairs and discuss it" as he leads her to the bar and then upstairs.

Freddie will be on guard with his potential paramour pumping her for information while being sociable. He also leaves most of his equipment and paltry finances in his pack.

"Would you friends mind holding onto my pack till I return?" inquires Freddie of the party.

[ffilz]

Most of the elves are fairly new to town, however, one, Yael, has been around for about a year. He ventured into the dungeon once, but he and one other elf were the only survivor. He talks of heading east from the entrance room and the north into an octagonal room, and then east to a tomb where they encountered undead and had to flee. Heading east instead of north from the second room, they ran into a maze of 10' square rooms where they fought goblins and lost most of their party.

Being somewhat suspicious of the fishermen, but also wary of the trail along the lake shore, they scouted out a trail through the highlands. It took them a full day to return to the village and they did run into a pack of wolves, but it might be an option.

The statue in the entrance room also provides useful information sometimes.

[ffilz]

Cassandra and Freddie head upstairs for a private conference. Cassandra regales Freddie with tales of riches to be found in the dungeon. They are sounding totally outrageous, but he notices they seem to be a bit more real the more she drinks.

How much does Freddie want to spend on his private conference?

[brumbar]

Making sure she drinks more than I do, in between vigorous conversations, 30 to 50% more than standard.

[wulfgar]

Emilio makes some inquries around town. He asks adventurers and merchants if the road to the dungeon is safe and talks to some fishermen about what they know about the dungeon and how much they charge to ferry a party across the water.

[coffee]

William will also ask about, particularly of any lawful clerical types he might meet.

(Which reminds me, I really have to nail down a specific god for William to follow...)

[ffilz]

The routes to the dungeon are basically a narrow trail clinging to a canyon wall. It does sound somewhat dangerous, what with talus slopes and occasionally clinging to a rock face. There are occasional slides and rock falls.



The red line is the road, the red blotch is the village. The red dotted line is the trail. The green dotted line is what Flandil was able to make of the elves description of their route. It was not all along a trail and would take about 6-8 hours to follow. The red trail would be about 4 hours to follow. The purple blotch is the ruins above the dungeon.

Here are some pictures to give an idea, though think a lot greener (the real Canyon Lake is in Arizona, think more like Western Oregon for climate and folliage):





The fishermen charge 1 gp/head, 5 gp for mules for a one-way trip (plus negotiated cost for very large items - more than a pack or so per person). When you want a ride back home, just wave as you descend to the lake shore from the dungeon. If you exit the dungeon after dark, you may have to wait a bit and light a beacon, or have made prior arrangements.

People strongly recommend against camping in the dungeon over night.

[wulfgar]

Emilio suggests that after reprovisioning we quietly leave town, keeping our plans to ourselves. If would-be "claim jumpers" and bandits think we've moved on so much the better. We leave town headed east and then make us of the Elfs route.

The red trail sounds dangerous and depending on fishermen we barely know to get back sounds like a recipe for extortion at best and deadly betrayal at the worst.

[ffilz]

Ok, going rate is 10 gp, so Freddie will spend 15 gp.

Cassandra tells him a story she heard from one of her customers about how his party found a statue of a goblin god. When one of their characters made an offering and prayed, he was turned into a goblin! She saw one member of that party returning to town wearing a cloak and covering himself up, but she thought she spotted a splotch of green under the cloak.

[ffilz]

There is a small temple in town. Several clerics frequent it. One of the clerics William talks to has been to the ruins. He tells of a huge graveyard to the North East. They encountered skeletons and ghouls there. He suspects the ghoul tunnels may connect into the dungeon.

[ffilz]

Ok, since I need to focus on work for a bit, we'll give a bit of time for any other input, later today we'll start to set out.

I hope not waiting for everyone to weigh in on "where do we go next" questions is a reasonable way to expedite things. In combat or for decisions with great risk, I'll definitely try and wait for everyone to weigh in.

Frank

[coffee]

Oct 14, 2008 10:11:43 GMT -6 wulfgar said:

Emilio suggests that after reprovisioning we quietly leave town, keeping our plans to ourselves. If would-be "claim jumpers" and bandits think we've moved on so much the better. We leave town headed east and then make us of the Elfs route.

The red trail sounds dangerous and depending on fishermen we barely know to get back sounds like a recipe for extortion at best and deadly betrayal at the worst.

"I agree with you," William says. "Ina boom town like this, that seems the wisest course of action."

[brumbar]

the elf way seems good. Ask the cleris if they can spare some holy water.

[wulfgar]

Emilio discretely asks if Yael is interested in joining us- either as a full member of the party, or simply to guide us along the elf path?

[coffee]

Oct 14, 2008 10:55:31 GMT -6 brumbar said:

the elf way seems good. Ask the cleris if they can spare some holy water.

William smacks himself on the forehead.

"I should have thought of that myself," he mutters.

He goes back to the clerics and asks if any holy water is available.

(I have money, so that's not an issue.)

[ffilz]

Holy water is available, 25 gp per flask, in reasonable quantities.

Yael would be willing to join for a half share (i.e. standard henchman kind of deal) or would be willing to guide you on the path for 25 gp.

The path will be negotiable by mules but not horses. You can stable a horse in town for 1 gp per day.

[coffee]

Okay, I'll buy 4 flasks of holy water (if they have that many.) That's 100 gp.

[ffilz]

4 flasks is definitely fine.

Other than waiting for a response from Wulfgar/Emilio on hiring Yael, is there anything else anyone wants to accomplish in town before heading out?

Oh, and update your character if you would.

Also, was noting this rule:

1) Clerics have a prayer book they carry with them. They do not have to memorize spells in advance. They must read their spell from their prayer book to cast the spell. They are still limited to their total spells per day.

So William need not specify his spell.

[kipper]

Oct 14, 2008 10:11:43 GMT -6 wulfgar said:

Emilio suggests that after reprovisioning we quietly leave town, keeping our plans to ourselves. If would-be "claim jumpers" and bandits think we've moved on so much the better. We leave town headed east and then make us of the Elfs route.

The red trail sounds dangerous and depending on fishermen we barely know to get back sounds like a recipe for extortion at best and deadly betrayal at the worst.

Flandil immediately agrees with Emilio's conclusions and his wise plan, which is much in alignment with Flandil's own thinking. Once again confirming to him that this is one human it seems who has his head on right.

Flandil also agrees that hiring Yael sounds like a good plan. At first Flandil was opposed to the idea of hirelings/henchmen, but after hearing Emilio propose the idea, he has given it a second thought and it seems Yael has valuable experience in the dungeon and with the locals around town which could come in very useful. He stresses to Yael not to reveal to anyone around town the party's true destination, but rather to say that the party has decided to move on towards Verbosh, guided by Yael.

((I think we'll get better loyalty and value from Yael if we take him on as a henchman.))

[ffilz]

Who wants Yael as a henchman? Mechanically there is no difference (Flandil's 8 charisma and Emilio's 11 confer no loyalty penalty or bonus), subjectively, there would be a minor advantage to Flandil taking on Yael as henchman. Yael seems impressed with either PC.

[coffee]

Oct 14, 2008 13:51:05 GMT -6 ffilz said:

Also, was noting this rule:

1) Clerics have a prayer book they carry with them. They do not have to memorize spells in advance. They must read their spell from their prayer book to cast the spell. They are still limited to their total spells per day.

So William need not specify his spell.

I had completely forgotten this house rule. Thanks!