Umeida IV

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12a8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <B> </B></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12b8dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#336666" FACE="Arial" ><B>Missiledine's Archives</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|</B><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Missiledines Archives"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida"><U>Umeida</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida II"><U>Umeida II</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id147.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida III"><U>Umeida III</U></A>   |   <B>Umeida IV</B>   |   <A HREF="id199.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida V"><U>Umeida V</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id267.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida VI"><U>Umeida VI</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id297.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida VII"><U>Umeida VII</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id309.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida IIX"><U>Umeida IIX</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id327.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Umeida IX"><U>Umeida IX</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Missiledines Archives"><U><B>Archive Directory</B></U></A></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=398 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12b8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <I>Umeida IV</I></div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>   PBEM Series 2 PC POST 51</div> <div>   PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Veleda picks up a random piece of hot meat, sits down and starts eating it casually.</div> <div>  She replies to the priests question: "I serve my lord, whose sign I drew onto your palm.</div> <div>  I serve no hedge-wizard wannabes or drunken friday night summoners. I dont know</div> <div>  why you find it so difficult to believe this?"</div> <bR> <div>  With ease she rips bites off the meat piece and swallows them before going on;</div> <div>  "In a way, we are pieces of the same whole, you and I, we are both of the dark</div> <div>  essence. I think you could afford to have a little more faith on demons like me,</div> <div>  have any of my kind ever treated you badly?"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>   PBEM Series 2 GM POST 52</div> <div>   PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> "Why do I find it difficult to believe?  Because you tell us you were sent here, specificly here, to test us</div> <div> and search for someone. Yet you don't seem to know what 'here' is.  You say that you didn't need to know</div> <div> about the door, but if you knew what this place is, then you know what that door leads to.  This place is too</div> <div> important to have been treated so casually.  It makes me think that the one who sent you didn't know what</div> <div> this place was, which means you cannot be here in the service of the one you describe.  And if you truly</div> <div> believe that all the creatures of the Dark stand in unity, then you are either deluded or a new spawn still</div> <div> awash in ignorance. If such were true then all the world would have been our slaves long past hence.  So now</div> <div> the question stands, what shall we do with you, Lady Veleda?"</div> <div> "Kill her." says the big fighter in a flat, emotionless voice. "It is the safest course."</div> <div> The Priest sighs and sips from his goblet. "Ah, it is not that easy..." He picks up your sword for a moment,</div> <div> studying it before setting it down again.  "She is indeed of the Legions... There is no question of that....</div> <div> What if she is indeed a servant of a Great One?"</div> <div> "What of it? Slit her throat and send her back to him." The fighter rumbles. "He can return her if he</div> <div> wishes."</div> <div> "It matters not to a Talon if you arouse the ire of a Demon Lord, it does matter to those of us who deal with</div> <div> them on a daily basis. It is no easy matter to send one of the Spawn into this world, it is not done lightly,</div> <div> for her to be returned, by the hand of an ally, before her mission is completed, would be a matter of</div> <div> great... irritation."</div> <div> "So, what do you want to do with her?" The fighter demand.</div> <div> "Hmmm, perhaps the best course of action is to send her to Thanos with the slaves.  Once there the Temple</div> <div> will be able to verify her statements directly.  And if it turns out you are lying." He smiles with out</div> <div> warmth. "There are many interesting things that can be done with an attractive demoness like yourself. I'm</div> <div> certain that the Lord of whom you claim protection will find your suffering a great diversion."</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 PC POST 52</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <div>    </div> <div>     Veleda, shakes her head, puts the meat down onto the table: "I am not</div> <div>     deluded, I  merely mentioned how things could, and should be. You just stated my</div> <div>     point, if our  ranks were more united, our victory would be inevitable.."</div> <div>    </div> <div>     She puts the piece of meat on the table and stands up;</div> <div>     "Because the one or ones I seek were not in your possession, they are</div> <div>     propably  moving farther away all the time - If I were to waste hours and hours of</div> <div>     time  with you, my mission would most certainly be doomed to failure. If you</div> <div>     screw  up this mission I have been given, you can be sure that you will receive</div> <div>     no  goodwill from my lord. You know, I have heard that all kinds of</div> <div>     accidents and ill fortunes have befallen those who have annoyed my lord.."</div> <div>    </div> <div>     She starts to put her clothes and armor back on, and continues;</div> <div>     "I am only asking you not to play directly into the hands of the Slayer,</div> <div>    </div> <div>     I ask you to allow me to continue pursuing my mission objectives -</div> <div>     This will not cost you anything, I wont bother you again and I</div> <div>     assure you that my mission is of importance. If you play along</div> <div>     and be a little flexible just this once, I am sure my lord will reward</div> <div>     you all appropriately, and he would in all likelihood explain you what</div> <div>     this is all about, should you ask him."</div> <div>    </div> <div>     Her voice gets a lot angrier and there is a dangerous</div> <div>     gleam in her eyes;    "Blar only knows how patient I have been, I have taken every</div> <div>     possible effort to be polite towards you, I havent sliced up any of your</div> <div>     captives as much as I'd like to, I have told you everything I am</div> <div>     allowed to, I allowed you to go through my belongings and I even</div> <div>     performed for you.. We need not part as enemies, but if you</div> <div>     really insist on ruining my mission that is your mistake and you</div> <div>     will pay the full price for it - And I am not talking about money..</div> <div>     Frankly, I am getting bored of all this paranoid bullshit. I don't</div> <div>     have the time to play captive and slaver with you, I will have</div> <div>     to get on with my mission, today, right on this very hour.. Do</div> <div>     you understand?"</div> <div>    </div> <div>     All the while talking, Veleda is ready to spring into action at</div> <div>     the slightest hint of hostile physical moves, trying get as far</div> <div>     towards the entrance (slashing anyone getting in her way</div> <div>     with her claws) as she can before she is 'killed' by the</div> <div>     Talon. She is not going to submit into the role of a captive,</div> <div>     she would rather be sent back to hell in small pieces.</div> <div>    </div> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 GM POST 53</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <div>    </div> <div>     When you reach for your belongings, the big fighter lays his hand on top</div> <div>     of the pile and stares at you with as much emotion as a glacier. "You</div> <div>     came to us." He says coldly. "You entered our domain for no good reason</div> <div>     that we can see. You now know where this place is. You leave when and</div> <div>     how we say.  You were defeated once, by only one man. Do not expect to</div> <div>     do better with all of us present."</div> <div>    </div> <div>     "Sit down Lady Veleda." The priest says quietly.  "We are offering you</div> <div>     an opportunity, and a reasonable one at that, to finish your mission,</div> <div>     what ever it may be.  Refusing this opportunity will not please your</div> <div>     Lord. You can accompany the slaves, unfettered, or you can go in irons</div> <div>     if you wish, or you can entertain us with your dying. The choice is</div> <div>     yours."</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Series 2 PC POST 53</div> <div>       PC: Umeida</div> <div>     </div> <div>    Veleda, graps a piece of her armor and puts it on despite the big man</div> <div>    putting  his hand on top of the pile: "What bullshit is this? What the hell do you</div> <div>    mean  by 'reasonable opportunity'? My opportunities to complete this mission are</div> <div>    running out as the time goes by and your slaves are clearly not fit for</div> <div>    travel  at the moment. Explain how exactly I could finish my mission if I have to</div> <div>    walk slowly with the slaves for hours? Can you bend time to your will, move</div> <div>    me backwards in time later perhaps?"</div> <div>   </div> <div>    She turns to the big man and looks him into his eyes, meeting the cold</div> <div>    emptiness with her unearthly fury;  "I am getting dressed now. I find your behavior annoying, I advise you    to  get your hand off my clothes."</div> <div>   </div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Series 2 GM POST 54</div> <div>       PC: Umeida</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>   When you pull the armor piece clear. he removes his hand from your gear, but</div> <div>   slaps your sword away so that it clatters to the floor. Stepping back he draws</div> <div>   his sword, saying calmly. "I am going to kill her now."</div> <div>   The priest shrugs and says, "Do as you will, she seems to seek death. Perhaps a</div> <div>   few centuries back in Hell will enlighten her." He looks at you, "Let me make</div> <div>   this perfectly clear. I do not care about your mission, I do not care about</div> <div>   your Lord and I do not care about you. What I do care about is that you have</div> <div>   violated the security of this place and you will not be allowed to leave her to</div> <div>   reveal its location to anyone else.  You either go to Thanos or you die here</div> <div>   and now.  Think carefully before you speak, they may be your last words."</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 PC POST 54</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Veleda, appears thoughtful for a while, sighs and nods, then speaks in a lot</div> <div>  more peaceful and relaxed tone: "Allright, you win. I tried everything I could,</div> <div>  but I never even had a chance, I find your true evilness most enviable, you</div> <div>  both put most of the demons I know to shame.. My mission is ruined, I</div> <div>  think my lord has failed me in not giving me sufficient information.."</div> <bR> <div>  She sits down and continues putting her clothes (armor) on;</div> <div>  "There is no need to use that blade, I will go to Thanos. I think I</div> <div>  could be a lot more useful in this world than in Hell - Like you</div> <div>  said, it is very difficult for a demonspawn to completely enter this</div> <div>  world like I have, such occurrences are rare and in between."</div> <bR> <div>  Then she smiles in a friendly way and looks at both the priest</div> <div>  and the big man, seemingly unaffected by the threat of death</div> <div>  hanging over her: "You sure would make for damn good card</div> <div>  players, do you play cards?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 GM POST 55</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The big fighter doesn't move, doesn't show any response to your words, the double</div> <div> edged broadsword remains in his hand. After a moment his gaze shifts fractionaly to</div> <div> the priest who shakes his head. "Let her be."  The fighter seems to consider this. It</div> <div> was clearly not an order, but rather a suggestion.  After a few seconds in which you</div> <div> wonder if he'll attack, he sheathes the blade with one fluid motion, turns and stalks</div> <div> into the outer chamber. Both Goblins step quickly out of his way.</div> <div> The priest pours wine from a stoneware pitcher into his goblet and another, which he</div> <div> pushes across to you. "Cards? Like those used by the desert barbarians for</div> <div> divination? I am not familiar with how to 'play' cards."  He takes a sip.  "The</div> <div> slaves will be leaving in a few hours, if you wish to rest there are sleeping</div> <div> chambers back there." He nods towards the curtained exit of the chamber. "If you want</div> <div> a bedwarmer, take your pick." He waves towards the slave pens.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 PC POST 55</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   </div> <div>    Veleda, after she takes a few sips of the wine: "Yes, it is even</div> <div>    possible to play with  divination cards. Games of chance for money or valuable items, rounds</div> <div>    are resolved  with values given to different combinations of cards - Winner is the</div> <div>    player with  card combination of highest value at the end of the round.."</div> <div>   </div> <div>    "But now that you mention it, I think I could use some rest."</div> <div>   </div> <div>    She stands up and gathers rest of her belongings, also picking up her</div> <div>    sword from the  floor and placing it back into its sheath. Then she proceeds to look for</div> <div>    an empty sleeping chamber, keeping her eyes open for tactical opportunities,</div> <div>    lamp-oil jars left lying around, secret doors or other things which might be of use in</div> <div>    an escape  attempt..</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 GM POST 56</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Pushing the curtain aside you find a narrow tunnel, perhaps 6' wide, that stretches back</div> <div>   around forty feet. Along each side of the tunnel are openings, all have curtains, some are</div> <div>   open, some are closed.   There is another curtained opening at the end of the passage.</div> <div>  </div> <div>   There are three openings to the right and four to the left.  Looking in each one as you</div> <div>   procede you will find that most of them are sleeping chambers, some with one or two beds,</div> <div>   some with more.  They are arranged as follows:</div> <div>  </div> <div>   On the Right side:  Chamber # 1= Roughly 12'x12' Has 1 wide cot, a foot locker, small</div> <div>   bedside table with an oil lamp, a stool.</div> <div>                                Chamber # 2 = About 15'x 12' Has 2 regular cots, two foot</div> <div>   lockers, a lamp hanging from the ceiling by a chain.</div> <div>                                Chamber # 3 = Larger room, 15' x 25' Has 4 double bunks (up</div> <div>   and down) 6 foot lockers, a table with four stools and an oil lamp.</div> <div>  </div> <div>   On the Left side:   Chamber # 1 = Another 12' x 12' with one cot, a bedside table with</div> <div>   lamp, a foot locker.</div> <div>                               Chamber # 2 = 12'x12' with one cot, a bedside table with lamp.</div> <div>                               Chamber # 3 = 15'x 12' 2 regular cots, two foot lockers,</div> <div>   bedside table between, oil lamp</div> <div>                               Chamber # 4 =  The curtain is closed here, peeking in shows a</div> <div>   wooden door, also closed, just behind the curtain.</div> <div>  </div> <div>   End chamber     15'x 25' = This is a store room. The walls are lined with shelves, weapon</div> <div>   racks and barrels and kegs.</div> <div>  </div> <div>   You hear the priest call, "The second on the left is empty."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div> PBEM Series 2 PC POST 56</div> <div> PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Instead of going into her chamber, Veleda sneaks into the storeroom. She quickly and silently</div> <div>  checks what is in the storage and  looks for any flammable materials (such as moonshine or</div> <div>  oil) or magical stuff.</div> <bR> <div>  She also looks for a good, almost hundred percent certain hiding place.</div> <bR> <div>  She is not going to Thanos - it might be far more difficult to escape from there, and it is</div> <div>  now fairly obvious to her that the cult wont accept her just because she is a demon.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>  PBEM Series 2 GM POST 57</div> <div>  PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Most of the food is in the form of preserved meats and sausages, smoked, dried etc  There are</div> <div> cheeses, casks of biscuit, barrels of beer, wine and several smaller casks (20 gallons) of</div> <div> brandy.  There are also two large, (30 gallon) stoneware jars of lamp oil. That and the brandy</div> <div> are the most flammable substances you can find. You sense nothing magical here.  Unless you can</div> <div> get behind or inside some of the barrels there is really nowhere here to hide. But you do notice,</div> <div> down at floor level, behind the racks of barrels, a spot in the wall that is different from the</div> <div> rest of the room. Instead of solid stone wall it appears to have been filled in with carefully</div> <div> placed chunks of stone and rubble.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> (GM oversight: Both the priest and the big fighter have some magic on their person. The Priest</div> <div> has both arcane and religous magic.)</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Series 2 PC POST 57</div> <div>     PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   </div> <div>    (All the more reason to avoid direct confrontation at this point. Even in her overconfidence Umeida</div> <div>    can see that in this cardgame the deck is very much stacked against her.. Since bluffing did not work</div> <div>    out quite as she expected, she has to find another way out..)</div> <div>   </div> <div>    So, after a moment of thought, Veleda gets into action, at first she takes some suitable</div> <div>    items from the storage and uses them to prepare her bed in such a manner that it seems as</div> <div>    if she is sleeping, in case anyone looks in from the doorway.</div> <div>   </div> <div>    Then she starts removing the stones from the storage wall, trying to be silent. She makes only</div> <div>    a hole big enough for her to fit through, so that she can pull a barrel or two back to cover it (or</div> <div>    the rubble would be even better, if possible) after she has gone through. This of course assuming</div> <div>    that there is a space of some sort behind the rubble.</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Series 2 GM POST 58</div> <div>     PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   It is not difficult to find things to fill out the bed. A coil of rope, a sack of tubers, some old</div> <div>   blankets and the illusion is complete.  How long it will hold is another question.</div> <div>  </div> <div>   The stones are dry set, wedged in place with pebbles and small stones.  It is not difficult to remove</div> <div>   them, but to do so silently is tedious and time consuming.  As the stones come away you see a low, narrow</div> <div>   passage, maybe 12 or 14 inches high and about two foot wide. It slopes downward and you can feel a faint</div> <div>   stirring of dank, underground air coming from the opening.  Fitting through the hole is possible, if it</div> <div>   doesn't narrow down any more, but you will have to strip off your equipment and either push it ahead of</div> <div>   you or pull it along behind.  Taking off your armor might help a bit as well, especially if it gets any</div> <div>   tighter.  Your shield will fit, at this point, further down is anybodies guess.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>    PBEM Series 2 PC POST 58</div> <div>    PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Instead of taking all of her armor off, Veleda only removes pieces which would hinder movement in tight</div> <div>  confines, such as shoulder guards and helmet. She leaves boots on, as well as knee and elbow pads.</div> <div>  Along with the rest of her equipment (which she attaches onto her shield with some string) she takes the</div> <div>  smallest oil-lamp she can find and makes sure it is filled with oil. She also makes use of the lamp oil in</div> <div>  another way, rubbing it onto her shoulders and hips - This might make it slightly easier to squeeze through</div> <div>  tight places. She retracts her wings and takes her elven form.</div> <bR> <div>  She descends boots first, pulling her equipment after her (this way she also has the option of returning in</div> <div>  case  the tunnel turns out to be too tight. However, before going she does her best to conceal the tunnel entrance  from visual search with closest barrel and the rocks themselves. After (if) she has gotten far enough from  the entrance that she can no longer see well with her natural night vision, she ignites the oil lamp.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>    PBEM Series 2 GM POST 59</div> <div>    PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> <I am assuming you are on your belly. Covering the opening would be almost impossible on your back.</div> <bR> <div> You edge backwards about three feet, before your feet and legs start banging against the roof of the shaft that is taking a sharp bend down.  It is possible, though difficult, to clear the bend and start backing down.</div> <div> Essentially you are crawling backwards into the unknown. The roof is too low to crane your head arond to see where your going, while looking back, along your side allows you to see very little past your feet.</div> <div> As your waist clears the edge of the bend, you judge that returning up this slope, with your gear in front of</div> <div> you, may be all but impossible.  This may well be a point of no return.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 PC POST 59</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>      </div> <div>     </div> <div>       </div> <div>      Seleniadriel sees little choice but to go on, this is her only real chance to get away. In case she will fall down  some distance, she ties the bundle consisting of her equipment and shield onto her wrist with a string. As she is  quite  certain that no deity would bother listening to her prayers, she can only wish that the tunnel will get bigger and  that it wont turn out to be a dead end.</div> <div>     </div> <div>      As she proceeds down, she thinks of the hundreds of enslaved people who propably pass through that horrible place  above every year.. She thinks that she must get a word to the authorities of the kingdom above, she is the only hope those poor slaves have, she feels an obligation to do everything she can to help them..</div> <div>     </div> <div>    </div> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 GM POST 60</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>      </div> <div>     </div> <div>     You continue sliding and scrambling backwards, down the slope.  The surfaces are rough and you will take many scrapes and bruises in the process (none sufficent to be considered damage) the armor though protects you from quite a bit of the abrasions.</div> <div>     You guesstimate that you have descended thus for maybe twenty feet from the lip.  Suddenly your feet are hanging in air, the floor behind you is at an end. Flailing your feet around reveals that the walls of the tunnel are also gone,  or at least widened out to the point where you cannot contact them.  Moving your feet around dislodges a few small stones and pebbles. As you pause to take stock of your stuation, you hear the sound of the stones falling and  splashing into water, quite some distance below.  Craning your head around to try and see reveals only darkness behind  you, but you can feel some very slight air movement, leading you to beleve, along with the echos of the splashing,  that your legs are in a fairly large chamber.</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 PC POST 60</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <div>     </div> <div>       If Umeida has not yet lighted the small oil lamp she took with her, she does it now.</div> <div>   </div> <div>    Taking a good hold of the tunnel with her elbows, Umeida switches back into her natural form before she lets go  of the tunnel.</div> <div>    She uses her wings to descend slowly downwards, trying to see where she is in the light of the small oil lamp   she has tied on top of her other equipment. (She spreads her wings only after she has cleared the tunnel  entirely.)</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 GM POST 61</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Lighting the lamp proves to be a trial of patience and coordination. Keeping yourself braced in posistion, so you don't  slide backwards and fall, while manipulating the flint and steel to ignite the fluff to light the wick in the dark of the  pit has you cursing to yourself before its done.  At last tho you have some light.</div> <div>   Securing the lamp to the bundle of gear is much easier now that you can see what your doing, finally you are as ready as you  can be.  Lowering yourself until you judge that your wings will clear the opening, you hang for a second and peer around,  trying to see where you are by the feeble light of the lamp.</div> <div>   The ceiling of this new chamber appears to be natural rock and is only three or four feet over your head. Looking down you still can't see a bottom. Twisting around you see that the ceiling above you slopes downward as it runs away from you, till  its a good six or seven feet lower then it's present level. It then seems to open up into another, larger area.  To either  side of you there are no walls.</div> <div>   Having judged the area as best you can, you grab hold of your gear, spread your wings and let go.</div> <div>   You will drop about a yard before your wing beats lift you, but you do not impact on anything.  Beating steadily you begin   to descend.  In order to gain enough room to turn you need to move away from the wall and that requires you to drop a bit in order to clear the sloping ceiling.</div> <div>   Finally you have some maneuvering room. Below, you see the reflection of black water, about twenty feet below your present altitude.  The chamber you are in appears to be long and narrow, with the entire bottom flooded with water. How deep is anybodies guess.  The opening at the other side of the chamber runs almost the whole length of the area. There is a platform  running along the opening that is about six feet above the water. It seems to be the only dry place to land.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Series 2 PC POST 61</div> <div>       PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div>  Umeida lands on the platform, takes a look around, puts her armor back on and straps her scabbard</div> <div>  onto her belt.</div> <bR> <div>  Then she sets her mind on finding a way out of here. At first she investigates the platform, then she takes off  and circles the larger chamber, looking for any new exits. She does not waste any time, as she knows that the lamp has very finite supply of oil.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Series 2 GM POST 62</div> <div>       PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> When you land you see that what looked like a platform is actually a raised road or causeway. It is about 15' wide and there is more water on the other side. Looking each way down it's length you see that it stretches about 70' then disappears into a dark tunnel at each end. Putting your gear down to organize it for putting on, you see laying on the path a piece of tattered rope a few inches long. On examination you realise that it is a piece of sandle.  The causeway surface is smooth and clear of any rubble, dust or debris.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 PC POST 62</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  "So.. This is the road to Thanos." -Umeida thinks as she puts on her armor. However, she still hopes that she could  find another way to the topside, hole in the roof perhaps. Judging that she still has quite some time before she is  missed in the slave-cave, she investigates the water-cave on the another side of the road, trying to find any other  holes in the ceiling or the walls big enough for her to fit through.</div> <bR> <div>  If she finds no suitable exits, she follows the road away from the slave-cave. She travels swiftly, half gliding on  her wings and half running as the situation demands. Still, she tries to find an exit onto the surface well before  Thanos and keeps her eyes open for one. If she happens upon any chamber or cave, she will investigate it for  any possible exits to the topside. She is in a bit of a hurry, as she does not know how long exactly the oil  lamp will burn.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 GM POST 63</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div> An examination of the water chamber on the other side shows no holes or exits, if anything the roof is lower over here and flying is more difficult.</div> <div> Judging the direction of the slaver's cave, you head the otherway.  The road bed, for it is a road at least here, is smooth and well worn.  Though many of the chambers and tunnels you pass through appear to have been natural in origin, they have all been extensively modified and worked on over a very long period of time.  In some places you can clearly see chisel marks, in others it is obvious that magick must have been employed to shape the stone.</div> <bR> <div> The water to your left will follow the roadbed for quite some time. Periodicly disappearing only to reappear further on. The water on your right (over which you originally arrived) ends about a hundred yards along the tunnel.  Ahead of you the tunnel branches, part turning to the left it and  crossing  a stone bridge, while the other part continues straight.  Both passages show sign of wear and use.  The bridge has a lantern hanging from a chain attached to a ring in the ceiling. The lantern is unlit. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 PC POST 63</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Even though it is unlit, the lantern might contain some oil - Umeida checks if she could refuel her lamp from the  lantern.</div> <bR> <div>  Then she investigates the stone bridge, taking a look underneath it. Does the underground river it crosses</div> <div>  disappear under rock? How strong is the water flow? Any possible hidden entrances under the bridge?</div> <bR> <div>  If she finds nothing of interest, she goes over the bridge and continues to the left, again moving rather swiftly but  still keeping eyes open for any exits. She realizes that if this turns out to be a dead end, she will have to return  and continue following the main road.. And she had better do this before the slaves and slavers go past this  point.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 GM POST 63A</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> The lantern does contain oil, quite a bit more than either your lamp or the oil bottle will hold..    The river seems to have little or no flow that is visible at the surface.  You cannot see any sign of it going into any holes or caves etc.  It does not look like the area under the bridge is suitable for secret passages or hidden entrances.</div> <bR> <div> ( I am a little confused at your next move, you recross the bridge to the original side and continue that way? Or you bear left and cross rge bridge and go that way?)</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Series 2 PC POST 63A</div> <div>     PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Umeida refills her lamp and bottle.</div> <div>  </div> <div>   From the crossroads, she goes left, over the bridge. She does not   recross the bridge.</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Series 2 GM POST 64</div> <div>     PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Beyond the bridge the walls of the tunnel close in a bit, forming an</div> <div>   arched roof above you.  The road bed remains about twelve to fifteen</div> <div>   feet wide and the peak is probablt eleven or twelve feet high.  The road</div> <div>   surface still shows signs of regular use. </div> <div>  </div> <div>   Sometime the road dips, running even deeper, sometimes it seems to climb</div> <div>   a bit, but you judge that overall it hasn't changed depth all that much.</div> <div>  </div> <div>   After almost a mile you come to another intersection.  The main road</div> <div>   continues straight and starts to decend sharply.  There is a narrower,</div> <div>   tho well worn road going to the right, cutting off at an almost 90</div> <div>   degree angle.  To the left is a narrow, but apparently less used path</div> <div>   going down hill and leaving the main road at a 45 degree angle.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>    PBEM Series 2 PC POST 64</div> <div>    PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Umeida chooses the path on the left. Less used could mean fewer</div> <div>  guards if it is a way out, she rationalizes.</div> <bR> <div>  Slightly more carefully, she moves into the narrow passage. (If</div> <div>  necessary, she either makes her wings smaller, or changes into</div> <div>  her elven form.) Still, she  keeps up a good pace - It makes</div> <div>  sense to stay ahead of pursuers, that Talon in the slave-cave</div> <div>  had absolutely no sense of humor..</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>    PBEM Series 2 GM POST 65</div> <div>    PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> The path descends steeply, but at a managable angle, with a number of twists</div> <div> and turns.  It then levels out a bit, or at least the angle of descent</div> <div> flattens out, and you hear the sound of rushing water.  Ahead, quite suddenly</div> <div> the tunnel ends in a sharp drop int what appears to be the bottom of cataracts</div> <div> some forty feet below you.  The ceiling of this river looks to be two large</div> <div> rock formations leaning together, forming an apex some twenty feet over your</div> <div> head. The width is about fifty feet across.  All this is of secondary</div> <div> importance, because upon arriving at the opening your attention is immediately</div> <div> drawn to the right and dpwn.... Down below the cataracts, some 400 feet, where</div> <div> the water is calmer, the river widens out and on the far side of the river you</div> <div> can see a tunnel mouth.  There is a wide but shallow sand bar there and you</div> <div> see lights and activity down below.  You will immediately shield your light</div> <div> but you can't be certain if it was seen.</div> <div> You cannot  see what is happening on this side of the river, but you see</div> <div> enough to surmise.  This is a ferr station. On the far side there is an</div> <div> upright stone pillar with a big iron (you guess) ring and a massive block and</div> <div> tackle.  There are ropes stretching from there back across the river, dipping</div> <div> down to water level. You can see a flat bottomed scow attached tp the line by</div> <div> rings set in the bow and stern.  Passengers clearly pull on the ropes to draw</div> <div> themselves back and forth across the water.  From the spacing and set up you</div> <div> would guess that there are two boats, one which is on the otherside at</div> <div> present.  In the area of the ferry operation there are poles with lanterns</div> <div> serving to illuminate,  by their light you can see stacks of barrels, crates,</div> <div> baskets and urns. Clearly cargo, but going which direction you don't know.</div> <div> There is also a corral built of stone walls perhaps four feet high. In it are</div> <div> four small ponies or burrows, its too hard to distinguish, and another pen</div> <div> with pigs. Along the wall you can see a number of doorways and windows leading</div> <div> into dwellings built of stones and plastered with clay.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Series 2 PC POST 65</div> <div>     PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div>  Disappointed, Umeida shakes her head. This obviously is not a way to the</div> <div>  topside. If anything, this direction seems to lead right into the cities of the</div> <div>  cultists. They propably supply the surface entrance-cave(s) via this ferry</div> <div>  station.</div> <bR> <div>  At the previous junction, the other narrow passage was heavily used one,</div> <div>  which means it is propably guarded if it is an exit (and the downward</div> <div>  large passage from the junction most likely leads down to the ferry</div> <div>  station, which means it is of no use for her).</div> <bR> <div>  The other narrow passage from the junction seems like the only</div> <div>  good chance so far for an exit into topside, so that is where she</div> <div>  heads, returning to the junction at first, then proceeding to the</div> <div>  other (heavily used) narrow passage. She takes the time to</div> <div>  change her form back into her natural one (albeit with reduced</div> <div>  wing-size, which helps fitting into these passages), in case she</div> <div>  runs into another bunch of cultists or like minded individuals.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Series 2 GM POST 66</div> <div>     PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Crossing over the intersection, you procede along the new tunnel. You have gone</div> <div> maybe a hundred feet or so, just past the first bend from the intersection, when,</div> <div> from behind you, you hear voices and the tramp of feet.. Most of the voices are too</div> <div> garbled by the echos to make out, but snatches do come through...</div> <div> "...damned bitch!.... kill her......bloody pissed......alive...."  There are both</div> <div> Goblin and human voices and as the noise reaches the intersection the tramp of boots</div> <div> stops. You can clearly hear a voice echoing down the passage, a voice that you</div> <div> recognise as Vance say. "Right, you, you and you. Go thatta way.  You and you and</div> <div> you, check the landing... See if Mora has his hound."  Some one gives a harsh laugh,</div> <div> "That'll fix the bitch!"</div> <div> Vance continues, "You two and you, with me. You others find nothing then come back</div> <div> this way."  There is a grumble of agreement and the tramp starts again.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>          PBEM Series 2 PC POST 66</div> <div>          PC: Umeida</div> <div>    </div> <div>     </div> <div>      While Umeida listens, she cocks her stonebow. If she can help it, she is not going to</div> <div>      let  them kill her without paying the price.</div> <div>     </div> <div>      Umeida increases her speed to light run, but still avoids making too much noise. Her</div> <div>      last hope for escape might be at the end of this tunnel. However, considering</div> <div>      her luck (or lack of it)  untill now, that seems very unlikely to her - There is</div> <div>      propably just a locked metal door blocking her way at the end of the passage.</div> <div>     </div> <div>      She feels frustrated at the thought that her few days of life on the material plane have</div> <div>      all  been in vain, that she has accomplished nothing of real value, she could not help</div> <div>      anybody, did not manage any good deeds.. She has no real hope left, yet she refuses</div> <div>      to give up, she will run untill she can no longer, and this time she will keep on</div> <div>      fighting  untill these bastards have sent her back into hell. Her blood feels like white-hot lava</div> <div>      coursing through her veins as she recalls the eyes of the tortured slaves, she feels the</div> <div>      urge to turn around and charge her pursuers head on, but resists it with an effort of</div> <div>      will and continues her run along the passage.</div> <div>     </div> <div>    </div> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>          PBEM Series 2 GM POST 67</div> <div>          PC: Umeida</div> <div>    </div> <div>     The passage way is smooth and level so you make good speed along it.  There are a number of</div> <div>     twists and bends though, but they will serve to conceal your light from the hunters.  Your</div> <div>     armored boots do make a distressingly loud 'clack' against the stone, but you can take some</div> <div>     comfort from the fact that the Hunters are making even more noise.</div> <div>     Suddenly the tunnel straightens out and ahead you can see the flickering glow from a flame</div> <div>     or torch.  There is no one to be seen as you cautiously approach where the tunnel opens up.</div> <div>     Beyound the opening, the wall to your right disappears and you are looking over  the edge of</div> <div>     a pit that seems to drop away into eternal midnight.  To your left the wall remains and</div> <div>     curves up and out over the pit forming a roof some twenty feet above the pit.  The far wall</div> <div>     is perhaps sixty feet  away across the yawning abyss.  The road itself continues on, curving</div> <div>     to the left around a bend, so, seemingly, does the pit...</div> <div>     There is no guard rail or wall along the pit and the light is coming from a recessed well</div> <div>     carved into the stone at head height on your left.  It appears to be full of oil or</div> <div>     something similar, how much is impossible to determine. There is a metal rack over the well</div> <div>     opening, with a thick wick dipping into the resevoir and held in place by the wrought iron.</div> <div>     The wick is lit, apparently to serve as a warning of the presence of the pit.</div> <div>    </div> <div>     As you take this all in you become aware of a sound from ahead of you, around the bend.  It</div> <div>     is a steady, though erratic, 'click' and 'tap' sound coming from multiple sources.  Pausing</div> <div>     to listen down the tunnel you just exited, you can dimly hear the tramp of feet. You</div> <div>     calculate you have a minute, perhaps a tad more, before the hunt arrives.</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 PC POST 67</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>      Umeida stops, takes one look at the oil reservoir, then another at the floor between the</div> <div>    entrance and the pit. She smiles briefly and prepares the place for the arrival of the hunters,</div> <div>    who knows, running around like that might get them into an accident, especially if they are</div> <div>    helped a little.</div> <div>   </div> <div>    She takes oil from the reservoir and swiftly scatters it onto the walls and floor around the</div> <div>    entrance (particularly on any hand- or footholds), covering the floor all the way between the</div> <div>    pit and the entrance so that it is very slippery. Then Umeida grabs the lit part of the wick</div> <div>    into her fist, extinguishing it. Now an accident seems somewhat more likely to happen..</div> <div>   </div> <div>    Then Umeida moves behind the bend, and continues her escape attempt. She tries to move so</div> <div>    that none of her light helps the hunters notice the danger they are running into.</div> <div>   </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 GM POST 68</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   As you turn the bend you find that the path begins to descend, the pit is still present along your</div> <div>   right.  The chamber to the right and ahead seems to enlarge considerably and you can see a cift</div> <div>   face far ahead of you, perhaps three hundred or four hundred feet.  You can see this cift face</div> <div>   because there are scattered cave mouths along its face  and there are lights, flickering flames,</div> <div>   shining in a number of them.  The cift descends very steeply with what appears to be wooden</div> <div>   catwalks interconnecting the cave mouths. The slope then flattens out briefly, for perhaps thirty</div> <div>   feet, and then it drops off into the abyss below.  You can see movement in and out of the cave</div> <div>   entrances as well as on the catwalks.  You realize that this is the source of the tapping and</div> <div>   clicking sounds you heard.</div> <div>   You are to far away and the lights are too dim to determine who or what is moving around up</div> <div>   there.  So far there has been no reaction to your presence, either no one has noticed you come</div> <div>   around the bend with light in hand, or the presence of someone on the path is unremakable.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 PC POST 68</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div>  OOC: I am a non-native english speaker and I have never before even seen</div> <div>  the word 'cift'.  Could you please explain me what exactly does it mean? (In my reply</div> <div>  below I assume this means something like a mining pit).</div> <bR> <div>  IC:</div> <div>  Umeida proceeds to the uppermost cave mouth she can see (flying if</div> <div>  necessary). She is seeking for an exit to the surface, and so she tries to investigate</div> <div>  topmost chambers and tunnels first. In case there are other sentient beings about, she</div> <div>  tries to seem as casual as possible.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 GM POST 68</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> OC: < I owe you an apology, you are a victim of one of my typos... It should read, 'cliff' not clift.  I</div> <div> didn't notice at the time but when I thought I was typing the 'ff' I must have got the T instead.  Comes</div> <div> from typing with the keyboard on my lap and not the desk where it belongs. Sorry for the confusion.</div> <bR> <div> As you fly towards the caves, still carrying the light, you can see a mixed crew of goblins and humans</div> <div> on the catwalks ahead.  Some are looking your way.  The Goblins are all armed and armored, a few of the</div> <div> humans are too, but most of the humans look tired, starved, beaten and wear rags.</div> <bR> <div> The topmost cave with light in it appears to have a fire or torch illuminating it and as you approach</div> <div> you can see the shadows of the occupants cast against the interior walls.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>        Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>              PBEM Series 2 PC POST 68</div> <div>              PC: Umeida</div> <div>    </div> <div>     OOC: Thats allright. I just got confused because the same typo appeared</div> <div>     twice in exactly same manner. :)</div> <div>    </div> <div>     IC:</div> <div>     All the time she is moving about, Umeida is using her skill of</div> <div>     subterranean architecture trying to guess where she could find tunnels, air vents or</div> <div>     secret passages leading up towards the surface.. Are there any non-lighted</div> <div>     caves above the one she is flying towards? Any holes in the roof?</div> <div>    </div> <div>     If she does not see any more promising possibilities, Umeida proceeds to</div> <div>     the topmost cave. She moves around with a calm, confident expression</div> <div>     on her face, as if she knows what she is doing.</div> <div>    </div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Series 2 GM POST 69</div> <div>       PC: Umeida</div> <div>    </div> <div>     From what you can observe the caverns you are in appear to be primarily</div> <div>     natural in origin, with crafted modifications made for accomodadtions</div> <div>     and the like. It is difficult to guess what kind of natural fissures or</div> <div>     passages might lead to the surface but you do have a gut feeling that</div> <div>     there is a lot of rock over head.</div> <div>    </div> <div>     The cavern you are headed for is probably the highest on the cliFF face,</div> <div>     there is a catwalk of timbers and stone leading up to it, the catwalk is</div> <div>     about four feet wide and lacks any guard rail or safety ropes, despite</div> <div>     the drop of at least fifty feet to a rocky outcrop below.   The 'deck'</div> <div>     outside the entrance is a bit wider then the walk, about 8' wide and</div> <div>     maybe twelve feet long. again, there are no safety rails or ropes. You</div> <div>     can see a pile of baskets and earthenware urns along the deck, stacked</div> <div>     against the stone wall.  There is also an iron brazier or portable</div> <div>     firepit, sitting on some insulating stones, near the center of the</div> <div>     deck.  Though there are no flames visible, the coals in it are still</div> <div>     glowing brightly.</div> <div>     As you swoop down to the deck you can hear voices from  inside.  The</div> <div>     loudest is speaking Goblin like a Goblin, but it is definately</div> <div>     female....</div> <div>     "...stupid Troll shit! You spilled the stew...."  There is the sound of</div> <div>     a lash being wielded and another female voice, human, begging for</div> <div>     mercy...  There is a male Goblin berating the female for... "pay</div> <div>     attention to  slave you fool..."</div> <div>     It sounds like typical domestic bliss in a Goblin Ruht. (Home or House.)</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 PC POST 69</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>   </div> <div>    Umeida thinks that this most definitely is not a way to the topside.</div> <div>    She has no doubts that these goblins would betray her to her</div> <div>    pursuers rather than help her.</div> <div>   </div> <div>    If she can't go up, she can only go down. There is no telling what</div> <div>    kinds of caverns she could find down there in the depths, perhaps</div> <div>    even underground lava lakes or something else which would prevent</div> <div>    her mortal pursuers from following. And generally, overall</div> <div>    temperature goes up as one goes deeper under the ground - This</div> <div>    would pose problems for any mortal being.</div> <div>   </div> <div>    OOC: On our earth this tends to average at about +5 degrees fahrenheit</div> <div>    to the average surface temperature for each +100 yards of depth.</div> <div>   </div> <div>    IC:</div> <div>    Umeida extinguishes her oil lamp, puts it under her belt and encloses the</div> <div>    hottest coal piece of suitable size she can find from the brazier into her fist.</div> <div>   </div> <div>    Then she folds her wings and dives downwards into the abyss past the</div> <div>    catwalks, she tries to drop past the guards without being noticed (no</div> <div>    doubt that her pursuers will ask questions here, all the better if the</div> <div>    guards think she went to the goblin house upstairs) - She is going to find</div> <div>    out how deep this pit goes, and if there are any unexplored/uninhabited</div> <div>    caves down there, perhaps even some hermit who could give her</div> <div>    directions...</div> <div>   </div> <div>    If/when the lighting gets so bad she cant see around with her</div> <div>    nightvision (total darkness), she slows down and uses the hot coal to</div> <div>    re-ignite her oil lamp.</div> <div>   </div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <bR> <div>     PBEM Series 2 GM POST 70</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>   To retrieve the coal you must land on the deck. As you do you see, staring out</div> <div>   at you from the cave, the tear stained face of a young girl, perhaps fourteen</div> <div>   or fifteen years of age.  Despite her obvious misery she still manages to look</div> <div>   startled and amazed at the sight of you landing.  From deeper in the cave you</div> <div>   can still hear the Goblins, several more voices joining in, arguing about the</div> <div>   spoilt supper.</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Turning you leap from the deck, plunging headfirst into the abyss below. You</div> <div>   fall swiftly and silently from gloom to deep darkness, deeper than even the</div> <div>   darkest night.  You believe that you passed the Goblins and slaves unnoticed,</div> <div>   at least there was no outcry.</div> <div>  </div> <div>   Soon it is too dark to see anything at all and you spread your wings to brake</div> <div>   your descent and set about relighting the lamp.</div> <div>   Until that moment your fall was in silence, except for the air rushing past</div> <div>   you. Now, as the lamp flickers to life, there is a faint, murmuring whisper</div> <div>   that seems to pass through the caverns and then is gone... Leaving you alone</div> <div>   in the silence once again... But now it is different, now you have the</div> <div>   distinct impression that something is awake.  Awake and watching you.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Series 2 PC POST 70</div> <div>     PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>  Umeida proceeds to search for any caves or platforms she could land on,</div> <div>  she is circling around the pit, spiraling slowly downwards.</div> <bR> <div>  She does not mind murmuring sound or magical darkness, Umeida is more</div> <div>  worried about what or who is observing her now - It has been a while since</div> <div>  she has had a chance to look into a mirror and comb her hair, so Umeida</div> <div>  can only hope that she does not give a bad first impression..</div> <bR> <div>  Calmly Umeida speaks, thinking that whatever is observing her might just</div> <div>  as well hear her: "I have no hostile intentions, I am only trying to find an</div> <div>  alternative route away from the civilization above. Any help would be</div> <div>  much appreciated."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>     PBEM Series 2 GM POST 71</div> <div>     PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> The walls of this pit seem smooth, glassy and look almost melted, as though they</div> <div> had, in ages past, been subjected to unimaginable heat.  For a long time you descend</div> <div> without seeing any appreciable projections or indentations. The whisperings</div> <div> continue, but when you speak they seem to quiet down for a bit, then they resume</div> <div> again. After a few more minutes of this, one whisper rises above the other. A</div> <div> hissing, raspy, strained voice that gives the impression of a voice suffering from</div> <div> the atrophy of ages.</div> <div> "Ppphhhhhhh....Shild offf tthhe Dark Light.......ppphhhthhh...Whattthh sssseekethhh</div> <div> ttthou?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>  PBEM Series 2 PC POST 71</div> <div>  PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div>  Umeida: "If you so wish, you can call me Veleda. I seek for a path which eventually</div> <div>  leads to my destination, surface kingdom of mortals called 'Velitrium' - I came down</div> <div>  here because the exits in the above tunnel system are closed for me, because some</div> <div>  of the foolish dungeon dwellers above seek to banish me.. Can you help me find</div> <div>  another way out?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 GM POST 72</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <div>   </div> <bR> <div> "ppptthhhht....Outth?   Outtthhh?  Sshild otthh Darknetthhh.....ssssseekthhh ttthe</div> <div> lightttthhh?  vvvhyy?"</div> <div> The voice sounds genuinely puzzled.  You cannot see any source of the voice, it seems to</div> <div> be all around you. It may be a trick of the echoes, or something else.  You must</div> <div> concentrate to understand the whisper.  In your estimation it sounds vaugely female.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 PC POST 72</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>    Veleda: "Temptation - my specialty - is a minor evil, and down here it seems to</div> <div>    be considered so mundane that all work I could do would only be a waste of my</div> <div>    time, not to mention boring. No, I am sure that in order to achieve greater</div> <div>    evilness I have to venture out there, amidst the light."</div> <div>   </div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 GM POST 73</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   "Pppphhhhhtt...pppphhhhhhtthhttt....pphhhttthhtthhh"   You aren't entirely sure but you think</div> <div>   that what your hearing now is laughter...</div> <div>   "....seekth ttthhe roadttthhh ofthh Sssorrrowtth....risssstthh upptthh to tthhhheee Ruhtsss</div> <div>   (Goblin homes)... ffffollow ttthhe roadtthh ttooo tthhheee ruht offft tthhheee Jhurttthhhaa</div> <div>   (Humans) Ffffrom tthhhere ttoo thhthhee Sssarr (Sun)"</div> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 PC POST 73</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Veleda: "I go back up, find the road of sorrow and follow it to the home of humans, and then</div> <div>  proceed up towards the sun - This would be easy enough if I did not have a small army up</div> <div>  there hunting for me.. I thank you for your directions, is there anything I could do for you in</div> <div>  return?"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 GM POST 74</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As you finish speaking the silence of the abyss is rent by a scream.  It starts far away and</div> <div> rapidly grows louder, seems to pass you somewhere in the middle distance, then recedes into</div> <div> silence. It takes you a moment to localize the sound, then you realise it came from the direction</div> <div> of the hunting party and the oil you laid out for them.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>           PBEM Series 2 PC POST 74</div> <div>           PC: Umeida</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>   </div> <div>    Veleda: "I think that was one of the foolish mortals who seek to banish me, he must have</div> <div>    slipped on the oil I left on a walkway with no handrail above.. What a disappointment, I</div> <div>    was expecting at least two of them to amuse me in this manner. I must excuse myself,</div> <div>    I need to hurry up now, before they can figure out to block my access to the road of</div> <div>    sorrow.. Untill we meet again, friend."</div> <div>   </div> <div>    Hurriedly she flies upwards, and extinguishes her lamp once she can again see the lights of</div> <div>    the houses above.</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>           PBEM Series 2 GM POST 75</div> <div>           PC: Umeida</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>   You had descended quite aways and it takes some time to climb back to within sight of the cave</div> <div>   dwellings. After extinguishing your light you continue to rise. Soon you can hear voices again.  They</div> <div>   sound angry and it sounds aas if they are arguing with some one.  Getting closer you hear a human, whom</div> <div>   you think is Vance, arguing in goblin with a Goblin.  Vance is angry that you passed by the Goblins</div> <div>   unimpeded and were able to set a trap all without the Goblins even noticing you.</div> <div>   The Goblin is angry that Vance and his fellow humans ever allowed you to enter the underworld alive and</div> <div>   unfettered.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>          PBEM Series 2 PC POST 75</div> <div>          PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Although she has no real certainty where this road of sorrow might be, Umeida thinks that perhaps it</div> <div>  is the underground road with the lantern at the crossing - She simply chose a wrong path when she</div> <div>  chose the one with the bridge..</div> <bR> <div>  Well, while Vance and his group are involved in a heated argument with the goblins Umeida thinks</div> <div>  that this is her best chance to slip unnoticed back into the tunnel she came here from. She</div> <div>  proceeds up towards the tunnel entrance silently, with her stonebow ready for use in case she is</div> <div>  forced to fight her way out.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>          PBEM Series 2 GM POST 76</div> <div>          PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> By angling your ascent you can exit the pit near the tunnel entrance where you spilled the oil rather than</div> <div> near where Vance and the Goblin are arguing.  As you move away from the voices it is clear that things over there are becoming increasingly more stridentand it wouldn't surprise you if it came to blows.</div> <div> You know that you are almost directly underneath the area where you spread the oil. Unfortunately there is no way to tell, from where you are, if anyone is standing on the road above you.  So far there has been no</div> <div> outcry or alarm raised, leading you to believe that you are, at this point, unseen.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>       Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 PC POST 76</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>       </div> <div>      </div> <div>       Nevertheless, Umeida rises to the level of the tunnel entrance with her</div> <div>       stonebow ready and aimed.</div> <div>       If there is anyone between her and the escape, she will try to silence</div> <div>       him before he can sound the alarm.</div> <div>      </div> <div>       If she is not noticed, she will slowly and silently edge away into the</div> <div>       tunnel untill she is fairly certain she would not be heard even if she</div> <div>       ran. Then she ignites her oil lamp and starts running, hoping to get</div> <div>       into the next crossing before the other teams have returned there.</div> <div>      </div> <div>       Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 GM POST 77</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>      </div> <div>       To your relief there is no one at the tunnel entrance and you are soon</div> <div>       moving down its length.  The arguing voices rapidly become a distant</div> <div>       muttering, then fade away entirely.  You judge it safe to run.</div> <div>       Re lighting your lamp you hurry down the tunnel.  Ahead of you, on your</div> <div>       right, you notice a narrow crevice or passage.  You must have passed it</div> <div>       coming through before, failing to notice it because a projection of rock</div> <div>       shields it from view coming the otherway.  You judge it to be maybe</div> <div>       three feet wide and about five feet high.  Peering into it, without</div> <div>       actually entering it, you are surprised to see what appears to be a</div> <div>       flight of steps going up.</div> <div>     </div> <div>    </div> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 PC POST 77</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <div>    </div> <div>     </div> <div>      Having no way of knowing where these stairs might lead, Umeida decides</div> <div>      to check them out - Tactically speaking, it would be much better if she</div> <div>      could</div> <div>      avoid the meeting place of the mercenary teams entirely.</div> <div>     </div> <div>      Slightly wary for traps (a narrow passage like this seems like an ideal</div> <div>      place for traps), she moves up the stairs. She reduces the size of her</div> <div>      wings so that she fits better into the narrow tunnel.</div> <div>     </div> <div>     </div> <div>    </div> <div>      Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 GM POST 78</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <div>    </div> <div>     The steps climb steeply, spiraling upwards in a tight corkscrew. The rise of</div> <div>     the steps are noy uniform, varying anywhere from 8" to 18" making the climb</div> <div>     uncomfortable and laborious.  Because of the spiral and the irregularities of</div> <div>     the steps, it is difficult to judge how far you have climbed, but you guess it</div> <div>     to be quite a bit.  After some time you think you see a glimmer of light, or</div> <div>     at least a lessening of the darkness, ahead.</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Series 2 PC POST 78</div> <div>       PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>    When Umeida thinks there is enough light for her nightvision to see, she</div> <div>    extinguishes the lamp and continues climbing, trying to be reasonably</div> <div>    silent.. She considers that the surface cannot be very far away now,</div> <div>    and that any exit from this subterranean world is likely to be guarded.</div> <div>    Carefully she proceeds up towards the light.</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>     Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>       PBEM Series 2 GM POST 79</div> <div>       PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   (Sorry for the delay in writing, real life reared its ugly head and kept me busy</div> <div>   this week!)</div> <div>  </div> <div>   After putting out your lamp you continue around another spiral and see ahead of you</div> <div>   a landing with an arched doorway opening into awelll lit hall.  The stonework here</div> <div>   is finished and worked to a much higher degree then any you have seen so far.</div> <div>   Probably the closest equivilant was the bridge you re-filled your oil lamp at.  The</div> <div>   light in the hallway beyond  the landing appears brighter and steadier then that</div> <div>   from a torch, candle or lamp. But it is not daylight either. Though you cannot see</div> <div>   the source from where you are the quality is that of magical light.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 PC POST 79</div> <bR> <div>     PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Noticing that her hair is in slight disarray, Umeida sets to remedy this. She also</div> <div>  checks that her armor and equipment are also in presentable condition. Wont do to face</div> <div>  new</div> <div>  people of any notable status if she looks like a fugitive. She does her best to conceal</div> <div>  her bandaged wound with her equipment - It propably does not look too fashionable</div> <div>  and might be taken as a weakness.</div> <bR> <div>  After she is more satisfied with the way she looks, Umeida proceeds into the hall,</div> <div>  walking at normal pace, appearing calm and purposeful.. Now that she has spent</div> <div>  considerable amount of time climbing up the stairs, there is no turning back</div> <div>  towards the meeting place of the mercenaries. She can only hope that those</div> <div>  who live here wont be hostile towards her.</div> <bR> <div>  While she walks ahead, she keeps an eye out for any good hiding places,</div> <div>  entrances or anything else out of the ordinary.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>      PBEM Series 2 GM POST 80</div> <div>      PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> After tidying up a bit, you step up to the doorway in preperation of stepping out.  As you</div> <div> do you pause, struck by a most unusual sound that seems to eminate from just around the</div> <div> corner... It's a strange noise, half growl have grateing with a bit of weeze... Coming from</div> <div> a plane where sleep is almost unknown it takes you a few seconds to identify the sound as</div> <div> that of snorring.  Some one, or something, a large some one or something judging from the</div> <div> volume and timbre, is asleep just around the corner.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 PC POST 80</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>    A guard, perhaps. Thinking that it would be impolite to awaken someone in so deep sleep,</div> <div>    Umeida clears the doorway silently, careful not to cause any noise. She smiles at the odd</div> <div>    noise and looks who is making it.</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>    Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 GM POST 81</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <div>   To the right, about ten feet away, is a very large, very muscular looking Goblin.  He is armored</div> <div>   in lamellar and chain, his helm is tipped forward to cover his eyes, he is sitting on a low stool</div> <div>   with his legs stretched out in front of him and he is leaning back against the wall. A naked</div> <div>   sword, a single edged, massive Falchion style chopper, lies across his lap, a large and</div> <div>   formidable morningstar is leaning against the wall next to him, on his other side is propped a</div> <div>   shield.  His arms are folded but his right hand is resting across the hilts of the sword.  His</div> <div>   booted feet extend almost all the way across the hall.  You would guess that the Goblin is</div> <div>   pushing the eight foot mark when he stands up, the biggest Goblin you have ever seen!</div> <div>   The hallway beyond the goblin continues about fifteen feet and ends in a large oak and iron door</div> <div>   that is closed.  There is a projection of stone above the door that is glowing brightly from some</div> <div>   magic spell or another.  To your left the hallway extends about fifty feet and then there is a</div> <div>   'T'   However, about fifteen feet from you is an iron gate with a large lock visible to one side.</div> <div>   The gate is closed.  You notice also, that there is another gate here, one that can be used to</div> <div>   close off the door way you are standing in. It is currently wide open and flat against the wall</div> <div>   to your left.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 PC POST 81</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  Carefully and slowly Umeida moves past the sleeping goblin, and checks out if the oak door</div> <div>  is locked. Also, she glances at the goblin more closely, trying to see if he has any keys on</div> <div>  him, which could be easily removed without awakening him.</div> <bR> <div>  She cannot help herself but to smile as she sees the big muscular goblin guard sleep and</div> <div>  snore so innocently, it looks kind of cute in an unique way.. If she cannot find a way to</div> <div>  get past this hallway silently, Umeida considers trying to seduce the guard into helping</div> <div>  her.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>        PBEM Series 2 GM POST 82</div> <div>        PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <bR> <div> As you slide past his out stretched feet, you notice a ring of keys pushed through his belt on his left</div> <div> side. They are mostly obscured by his hand and the sword hilt.</div> <div> You have just gotten past him, and are only a few feet away from the door, when from the stairway you</div> <div> just ascended, you hear the sound of someone climbing the steps.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 PC POST 82</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> Looking at the keys, Umeida is sure that she cannot acquire them without</div> <div> awakening the guard.. On the other hand, seducing the guard should be fairly simple, just like she</div> <div> said to the entity of the abyss, it indeed is her specialty.</div> <bR> <div> Judging that a goblin might react more negatively to either a demon or</div> <div> an elf, Umeida assumes her human form and views the succesfulness of the change by using her shield</div> <div> as a mirror. Wasting no time, she sets to waking up the guard, crouching down, gently tugging at</div> <div> his shoulder and lifting up his helmet.</div> <bR> <div> While waking up the guard, she speaks quietly in goblin language with a</div> <div> voice sweet enough to instantly melt a heart of ice and captures his attention with</div> <div> her emerald green eyes, which reflect the magical light like two jewels: "Wake up</div> <div> handsome.. Please help me, someone is coming up, I think they want to kill me.. Help me and I will</div> <div> make it worth every effort you take.. Please handsome, hide me from them, they will kill me</div> <div> if they find me.."</div> <bR> <div> Realizing that her life propably depends on the success of gaining the</div> <div> help of this guard, she does her very best to get a very good reaction from this guard.</div> <bR> <div> (OOC: It seems that on the current character sheet,  the appearance</div> <div> reaction bonus of +6 has not been added into Umeidas effective sex appeal skill level, only</div> <div> the voice bonus has. While using the skill to influence reaction rolls, both count.)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>         PBEM Series 2 GM POST 83</div> <div>         PC: Umeida</div> <bR> <div> The Goblin stirs immediately, grasping the hilt of his sword and</div> <div> straightening up to stare at you. His face initially registers anger</div> <div> even before he opens his mouth but then he takes you in with his gaze</div> <div> and the look changes to confusion.  "What? What is it?" He demands</div> <div> uncertainly "Who are you?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>            PBEM Series 2 PC POST 83</div> <div>            PC: Umeida</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>   </div> <div>    She replies: "My name is Freya. Whole bunch of mercs want me</div> <div>    dead because of a misunderstanding. I suspect one of them is</div> <div>    coming up the stairs right now, I thought for a moment that I had</div> <div>    eluded them but seems like they sent someone to check this</div> <div>    place.. I was wondering if a handsome warrior such as yourself</div> <div>    could be my hero and help me avoid him - like hiding me for a</div> <div>    while and telling him you never saw me if asked." She smiles</div> <div>    seductively: "Save my day and I'll reward you."</div> <div>   </div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>   Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>            PBEM Series 2 GM POST 84</div> <div>            PC: Umeida</div> <div>   </div> <div>  </div> <div>   Grinning the Goblin rises to his feet, turning towards the open doorway.  You</div> <div>   can hear that who ever it is has arrived at the top of the steps.  Even as</div> <div>   your champion takes up station in front of you, you begin to realise that all</div> <div>   is not as you thought.  There is no tramp of boots or clash of armor as you</div> <div>   would expect. Instead a young human girl, perhaps fourteen years old, carrying</div> <div>   two large and obviously heavy wooden water buckets, enters the hallway.  She</div> <div>   looks up at the hulking Goblin then hastily averts her eyes, "Water for the</div> <div>   Master, M'lord." She says fearfully.</div> <div>   The Goblin growls foully, then snarls. "Who else is with you? Is there anyone</div> <div>   else behind you?"</div> <div>   The girl shakes her head fearfully. "No. M'lord. But there are soldiers</div> <div>   below."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>           PBEM Series 2 PC POST 84</div> <div>           PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div>  Freya, steps closer to the slave and says in a very friendly tone of voice: "Relax</div> <div>  child, you dont need to be so afraid, we wont hurt you.. Just put those buckets</div> <div>  down for a while and tell us what kind of soldiers, exactly where they are and</div> <div>  how many were they? What were they doing?"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Velitrium Campaign</div> <div>           PBEM Series 2 GM POST 85</div> <div>           PC: Umeida</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> The girl puts the buckets down but keeps her eyes averted.</div> <div> The Goblin closes the open gate and locks it with his key. "There!" He growls an a</div> <div> satisfied tone.  "No one comes through with out my permission!"</div> <div> The girl says, "They are men from the Gateway. They have dogs with them. They are</div> <div> angry about something."</div> <div> The Goblin frowns, "From the Gateway?"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>