(038) The Concourse Catacomb

[waysoftheearth]

Dugel, Wendel, and Mads. Your adventure begins...

Now.


"Thank you for coming, err, gentlemen," mutters the representative of the Traders' Concourse stiffly. He is apparently an irritable merchant, of sorts, and clearly his thanks amount to a formality rather than any sincere gratitude.

Behind him stand two thick-limbed guardians -- fighting men in the Concourse purple and white livery, but sell sword thugs without any shadow of doubt -- who each carry a quietly burning lantern, and the orange light cast by these illuminates the grimy, claustrophobic stone vault.

"I apologise for the rather unconventional circumstances," continues the Concourse man, smiling half-heartedly as he casts a bony hand about.

It truly is an eerie, and slightly frightening place to find yourselves in, and you have several times already questioned the wisdom of agreeing to this crackpot scheme. Still, and empty coin purse will drive a Man or Dwarf equally to desperate things...

"...but discretion is paramount in this matter, as I am sure you three, em, gentlemen, can appreciate." The Concourse man sniffs irritably, then indicates to one of his guards and the burly fellow hands his burning lantern over to the dark-cloaked fellow among you named Mads, who takes it silently and nods. He turns to look at each of in turn with a dubious eye, which each of you return in kind. You are an unlikely trio to be hired for any "official" business, that much is certain.

"The entrance to the catacombs is directly ahead, there," the Concourse Man continues, indicating the great dark arched doorway directly ahead. "My Men here, Meinhard and Gregor will await you at the top of this stair, and ensure that nobody else comes this way. Remember, all you need do for your hundred gold pieces is verify that the Old Vault remains sealed -- you must report to me the four numerals that are visible on the face of the lock. You should find the vault one level down, and some hundred yards or so ahead."

You remember now that the agent was specifically looking for Men who could read and figure... he was very insistent on that.

"But I warn you once more!" he shakes his bony finger at you, "These warrens have long been disused, and we suspect they may be inhabited by... various unfriendly sorts, best avoided." he sniffs again.

"Right then," he says, suddenly irritable again, "I shall be off. Good luck... gentlemen."

The Concourse Man and his two guards all turn about to tramp back up the steep, narrow stair which you recently descended in order to arrive at this place.

Before long, it is only the three of you. And the foreboding dark...

[waysoftheearth]

"A remarkable fellow, no doubt," mutter Mads to noone in particular.

He holds the lantern high to inspect the chamber more fully. There is the steep stair back up to the Concourse basements, behind you. The chamber at hand appears musty and long disused... it is mayhap 30ft wide and as deep. The ceiling is a good 12 to 15ft overhead.

Directly before you is a tall, central door-arch. To its left is another, and to its right is a third. All three arches loom over dark looking passages. The air is still and cool, and there is nothing beyond your "employer's" intelligence that recommends any one way over the others.

What now?

[waysoftheearth]

Mads casts a wary eye down each of the passages in turn, aided somewhat by his lantern light, while Wendel coughs and scrawls his impromptu map. It looks something like this...


......=......
..+---=---+..
..|.......|..
..|.......|..
..\......./..
...\_____/...
.../..|..\...
../...|...\..

[waysoftheearth]

"Now that our... employer has departed," mutters Mads as he unshoulders his heavy looking pack, "I think it time to reveal my secret weapon..."

The pack looks bulky indeed, and the others are eagerly to see whatever might be inside...

Mads sets it down, with a moderate degree of care it must be said, and unstraps the buckles, and Lo! A Halfling stands up and shakes his head!

"What? Are we there already?" asks the Halfling blearly...

"It would appear so..." replies Mads grimly...


Rufus, your adventure begins....

Now!

[heartless]

Hi all, have no fear I am here to assist. I may be small but you will find me invaluable to have along.

Me names Rufus the quick to those who know me. He goes around and shakes everyone hand and smiles and gets to know everyones name.
"Hello Dugel".
"Hello Wendel".
"Thanks once again Mads for the ride, you have been a good companion as ever", adds Rufus.

"Okay I'm in for the hundred gold pieces to verify that the Old Vault remains sealed" says Rufus.

What Wendel suggests is as good as any, let me go ahead and scout out down the left passage. You all follow with the light.
Rufus gets up, standing over three feet tall, with dagger and hand axe in his hands and quickly moves into position...

As Rufus advances he will look out for traps, trip wires and alike to make sure he does not get in trouble, for he is no fool.

[waysoftheearth]

By the steady light of the lantern, Rufus investigates the arch of the passageway to the left for any tripwire or other tomfoolery, but everything appears to quite normal for an ancient, disused subterranean passageway.

Thus, he proceeds to slip down the passageway as far as the lantern light will permit. Mads follows more cautiously, extending the reach of the light as he does so...

"Follow on, you pair," mutters Mads to Dugel the Dwarf and Wendel, who is busy coughing after completing his map. These damp dungeons are no good for the lungs, that much is assured.

[waysoftheearth]

Ahead, the passage extends some 20 or so yards before Rufus reaches and intersection. To his right, and narrow stair descends steeply. to his Ahead, the passage continues on. To his left, another passage way veers off perpendicular to the first.

He can't see much in any direction, as the only light is with Mads and the other coming along behind him.

What now?

[waysoftheearth]

[For the record gentlemen, please confirm which sorcerous spells your PCs had memorised before arriving].

[heartless]

Rufus will signal a stop and listen down this entrance to see if he can hear anything!

Then turning back and waiting for more light to arrive he says to the new troop, "Come on lets quickly have a look and get out of here and collect the coin, I want a drink tonight and a warm bed in the inn, not on the floor of a crypt with the cold dead...", laughs Rufus.

Wendel has both Eerie Lambent and the Sorcerous Fulmination memorized.

As Rufus ventures ahead Wendel lights his lamp and makes a quick sketch of the intersection, pauses for a moment to hack up a lump of flem he then hastily wipes his mouth and mutters "Stairs eh? Wonder if these are the ones our employer was implying. If thats the case shouldn't be to much further after that. I am however open to suggestions."

[waysoftheearth]

Rufus pokes his head over the stair well and gives a good long listen [1d6] as Wendel, Mads and Dugel the dwarf come up behind him... Wendel still busily preoccupied with inking out a sketch on paper.

The Halfling keen ears hear nothing more than the low moaning of restlessly moving air, and the distant clamour of far off echoes. Apparently these catacombs must extend for some ways underground.

[waysoftheearth]

Wendel's impromptu map now looks something like this...


......=........
..+---=---+....
..|.......|....
..|.......|....
..\......./....
...\_____/.....
.../..|..\.....
../...|...\....
...........\...
............\/.
............v\.


v stair down

[heartless]

Rufus says to his new crew, "Stay together and have your weapons ready for the first sign of trouble, for you never know.." he leaves his words hanging. "Lets go down, and find the Old Vault. I hope one of you can read so we can get the numbers off it?", adds Rufus.

Rufus will be just ahead of the others and will try to keep to the shadows and will search for traps as he goes, and will regularly stop and listen and look for anything that may surprise them down here.

He will first have a quick look down the passage the other side of the stairs about 10 feet.

Then if he doesn't see anything Rufus will move down back to the stairs below to locate the Old Vault.

[waysoftheearth]

Without better light or further trespass, there is nothing much to see down the passage opposite the stair. Rufus shrugs and descends cautiously, going ahead of the others and keeping a careful eye out for tricks...

The stair seems to turn abruptly to the left several times during the descent, but eventually leads to another cool and dark chamber. Rufus can't yet see the extent of it, but there is a damp, foul smell in the air... as if vegetables have been left out to rot. And there is the sound of trickling water from farther off it in the dark.

[heartless]

"Quick bring down a light so I can see", says Rufus not wanting to be caught off guard in the dark.
He will keep to the wall in the shadows to hide in shadows as best as possible at all times down here and now.

[verhaden]

Mads the Enlightened

Mads slowly approaches the sound of Rufus's voice, holding the lantern as high above his own head as is comfortable. His other hand rests lightly on the handle of his sword...

"Rotting vegetables are preferable to rotting meat," sniffs Mads quietly to himself.

[waysoftheearth]

As Mads approaches from the stair above and behind, the others see a great and ancient chamber of low, lichen-covered stone walls slick with moisture and a film of filth.

The dark space extends some dozen or more yards both to the left and to right, and only 10 yards directly ahead. The entire length of the place is polluted by a slick of fouled water that creeps gradually from left to right, entering and exiting this room through a low tunnel.

Directly ahead, and across the befouled stream are a run of three steps that lead up from the flow to an open door arch that looms over a pitch dark passage...

[1d6]

[waysoftheearth]

Dugel and Mads, please state for the record which spells you have memorised.

[verhaden]

Mads the Enlightened

Mads has memorized the Eerie Lambent and the Genuflect Yaw.

[verhaden]

Mads the Enlightened

Mads perks his ears and slowly continues his approach forward, careful not to slip on the moist floor. He lets his lantern drop out down near waist level...

[waysoftheearth]

Mads takes a few cautious steps into the dank chamber... the ground isn't too wet at the base of the stair, so there is no real risk of slipping.

As he does so, and cylindrical bulk raises itself up from the foul slick, turning an armoured head toward the light -- it is a giant centipede-like thing, the body perhaps a foot in diameter! Delicate feelers quest toward the new comers, perhaps tasting the change in the air...

The lay of the land is thus:


.........||/.............
.|.........=.............
-+---------M-----------+.
.|.....................|.
~.I~.~.~X~.~.~.~.~.~.~I~.
....--------+---------...
............|............


The monster is perhaps 30ft or so away from Mads.

What now?

[verhaden]

Mads the Enlightened

Mads quickly moves left a few steps and sets his lantern down on the floor of the chamber, and retreats back to the base of the stair with his sword drawn. Hesitating for a split second, Mads whistles up the stairs to alert the others.

[waysoftheearth]

Perhaps sensing Mads, the thing lurches forward as the brave warlock place his lantern down and hastily retreats. Dozens of stick-like legs ply a wave of motion and propel the great centipede out of the muck and onto the floor proper as it moves smoothly toward the lantern... It must be 7ft long long!

What now? Retreat, or face it? You have mere moments to decide.

[heartless]

Rufus hidding in shadows, will a sneak around for a back stab if possible else stay hidden. When Rufus attacks he will cry out for the others to quickly help.

[verhaden]

Mads the Enlightened

Mads will try and flank the foul thing and hack at it with his sword, hoping that the lantern light is enough to distract it.

[waysoftheearth]

[I'll give Dugel and Wendel 'til tonight to respond before I resolve the first round...]

[waysoftheearth]

Heeding the concourse Man's advice, Dugel stays well up the stair and out of harms way.

The others are more eager to prove their mettle. Steel blades ring coldly as they are whisked from their sheathes and Rufus and Mads move immediately to either flank of the monster while Wendel approaches it more cautiously, head-on.

The over-sized centipede is unperturbed by this development, immediately focusing on [1-2=Mads, 3-4= Rufus, 5-6=Wendel; 1d6=1] Mads and powering at him with sudden speed!

Initiative is rolled [1d6; Mads=3, Rufus=5, Wendel=5, Centipede=2]

Our adventurous crew are itching to try their arms against it, and bring their weapons to bear most speedily; Wendel is about to cast his burning lantern at the monster, until it suddenly steers its course away from him and he stays his hand.

Rufus has the flank, and takes advantage of the opportunity leaping at its flank to drive his dagger into it [1d20=11] but alas! His blow is blunted against its hard carapace [FYI -- a backstab attack is only possible with surprise, and is only specially effective versus Man-types].

Mads has just enough time to hack at the great armoured head of the monster with his sword as it lurches up at him [1d20=10] but he is hardly well balanced and his blow too clangs harmlessly off its thick helmet-like head-plates. And instantly thereafter it is on him, its foul head-parts driving up at him [1d20=6] with its hideous mandibles snapping mere inches from his face and neck!


Round one is spent. What next, gentlemen?

[heartless]

"Die beast!" cries out Rufus a little at a loss why his back stab failed.
Rufus the quick will continue to fight with dagger and hand-axe in his hands, from his positon behind hoping it will allow an easier hit.


OOC: Thanks for the tip on back stabs. I guess a 4 Intelligence shines through sometimes.

[verhaden]

Mads the Enlightened

Mads presses on, attempting to find solid footing against the bug.

[waysoftheearth]

Very well.

The trio press their ill-advised attack, while Dugel the Dwarf take a few more anxious steps backward, up the stair. "Still the monster!" he instructs, while ensuring he is not at risk himself.

Initiative is rolled [1d6; Mads=3+1, Rufus=4+1, Wendel=1, Foe=2]

Rufus is quickest, and jabs at the monster's flank with his poniard [1d20=11] but again fails to penetrate its thick plated shell. Mads curtly sidesteps the monster's initial attack as he recovers his balance, and swiftly deals it a horizontal slash [1d20=17] that cuts through its carapace for [2dd=2,2] 4 hit points of damage. The game is afoot!

The monster reflexively curls around the wound behind its head for a moment before launching its next attack; it's dull amber eyes are fixed upon Mads now and it dives angrily for him [1d20=17] and this time its fearsome mandibles punch right through his leather jack to gore his chest for [3dd=1,2,4] a cruel 5 hit points! The wound is foul with the centipede's venom and Mads must save versus poison [1d20=9] but fails -- he is knocked flat on his back by the sheer weight of the worm's attack, and paralysed by its venom!

Not a moment later Wendel drives his sword at the monster's exposed flank [1d20=18] and penetrates its hide to deliver [2dd=4,6] a telling blow for 6 hit points. He leans bodily on the sword hilt, pinning the writhing monsters to the spot as it thrashes and hisses for a moment... and then drops to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

Suddenly everything is still, and all is quiet but for Wendel's panting wheeze.

Mads is paralysed with but 1 hit point remaining.


[By some great fortune this giant centipede was a scrawny specimen, having merely 9 hit points from a possible range of 6-21].


What now?