Drunmore Adventures

Missiledine: my system is very ssssllloooowwww tonight

Missiledine: Okay, you have Corren ready?

Dukejr01: Good to go

Missiledine: ok, lets get going then

Dukejr01: Kill! .. I mean... Spend!

Missiledine: It is late at the Crow, sometime after midnight. Most of the locals have gone home, Rolb is off doing what ever it is he does... You are

sitting relaxing with your girl, who is still mighty pleased with yesterday's shopping trip....

Missiledine: (You decide how much you want to spend on that little adventure)

Dukejr01: okay. I figure 200 bucks, 150 for a silk dress plus some ecetras.

Missiledine: ok

Dukejr01: 160 for silk dress. per book.

Dukejr01: Corren does some shopping of his own too. gets stuff in the List

Dukejr01: are you typing or do you want input from me?

Missiledine: As you sip yet another beer, the front door opens with a draught of chilly air and a tall, imposing looking man enters, letting the door

slam behind him. The bang is what draws your attention... He is a bit over six foot, welll past middle age, bald as an egg, with large bushy

eyebrows. He wears an over coat and carries a cludgel... He stands studying the room, looking intently at each person present, until his gaze

falls on you. He seems to start, then frown, then a faint smile crosses his face before returning to an otherwise stone like expression. He heads

your way....

Missiledine:

Dukejr01: does he resemble any of the descriptions of the bandits?

Missiledine: no

Dukejr01: okay. BTW, shall we assume Corren tithed or do you want to play that out?

Missiledine: What are you wearing?

Missiledine: I'll take it as done

Dukejr01: I assume my regular armour, though likely not armed with a spear.

Missiledine: ok

Dukejr01:

Missiledine: bit odd for a date... but ok

Missiledine: The man stops in front of your table and looks you up and down. "Are you a sell sword, young man?"

Missiledine: He is brisk and busness like in his speech

Dukejr01: "Aye. I am Katalla."

Missiledine: "Katalla, hmmm? Do you value your Honor?"

Dukejr01: Corren frowns slightly, "Of course."

Missiledine: "Are you under Contract?"

Dukejr01: "Not at the moment. Who might you be?"

Missiledine: "My name is Egus. If you are free from now until dawn, and you fulfill the contract I propoise, I shall pay most handsomely."

Dukejr01: Corren grunts. "Terms?"

Missiledine: "To discuss this further, we must have privacy."

Dukejr01: Corren leans over to Leena, "Business, dear. I will make it up to you. okay?"

Missiledine: She pouts a bit, but leaves

Missiledine: Egus sits down and leans forward, pitching his voice low

Dukejr01: Corren offers him a beer from his pitcher, not sayign anythign.

Missiledine: "We do not have much time, so you must decide quickly... I will tell you the general nature of the task, but the exact details I will withold

until you accept."

Dukejr01: "Say on, tho I might balk at illegality"

Missiledine: "I am a mage. I am affiliated with the Academy. Earlier this evening, myself and several associates were conducting an experiment. A

problem developed. That problem must be... corrected, before dawn. For that I need a man with a strong arm and considerable courage. I also

see that you have a talent that is very rare indeed. Said talent will be most valuable in the situation at hand."

Dukejr01: Corren smiles slightly amused. "Didn't know it was obvious"

Missiledine: "Only to one with the eyes to see.... Are you interested? There is nothing illegal in this, at least not very... But it must be quick and it

must be done in secrecy. There are people who would be most embarrassed if word of this leaked out."

Dukejr01:

Missiledine:

Dukejr01: "Aye. I am interested. Contract til Dawn. I have a friend, my partner, who might be intersted if you want a second sword.>

Missiledine: Egus looks around the room. "Is he here? We must go at once."

Dukejr01:

Missiledine:

Dukejr01:

Missiledine:

Dukejr01: "I will need to get my gear. I will check to see if he is upstairs. Contract calls for descretion? What of pay?"

Missiledine: Egus seems to consider a moment... "The problem... requires a weapon of enchantment to... solve it. I perceive that you do not have

one, at least on you. I will provide one. If you succede you may keep it. Satisfactory?"

Dukejr01:

Missiledine:

Dukejr01: Corren nods. "Anything I touch is... similarly affected by my talent, tho I can control it. Will that affect your weapon and its use on.. the problem?"

Missiledine: Egus frowns, clearly thinking.. "Perhaps, it must be at your discretion. The weapon is essential to inflict harm... your own safety will be

enhanced, though not guaranteed, by your talent. You must decide how you employ it."

Dukejr01: Corren puts down his beer, "Fair enough. My Honor is my life, I accept the Contract. Let me get my gear." Corren throws a few coins on the table.

Missiledine: Egus nods, stands up and says "I will wait outside. Please be quick."

Dukejr01: Corren trots upstairs to get his gear. checks to see if Rolb is around and then returns down at a fast walk. Kisses Leena and tells her "Have a Contract. I

will be back. Tell Rolb for me, Okay?"

Missiledine: No sign of Rolb. Leena sighs and says, "Be careful."

Dukejr01: Corren squeezes her hand.

Dukejr01: corren goes outside.

Missiledine: Egus is waiting impatiently on the street. The streets are empty, it is a cold, starlite night with frost in the air

Dukejr01: Corren is buckling on equipment. He sets a quick pace.

Missiledine: When you come out he starts off briskly.. "We must be quick, lest Dawn arrives and things get worse."

Dukejr01: "Aye"

Missiledine: "Several of my associates were conducting an experiment to open a... hole, to another place. They inadvertently let something come

through.... We must find it and dispatch it before dawn."

Dukejr01: Corren looks around. "Demon?"

Missiledine: He leads you several blocks to a large townhouse that is in a well to do neighborhood. It is mostly dark except for a few lights on the

first floor. "No," Egus replies. "I wish it were."

Dukejr01: Corren shrugs, trying to be nonchalant, "Magic critter. Don't you have guards for this stuff?"

Missiledine: "They were deemed unneccessary for the experiment... Due to the delicacy of the operation, their presence would have been

debilitating. By the time they were summoned, it was too late." He knocks on the door and it is opened instantly by a frightened looking elderly

servant.

Dukejr01: "Great"

Missiledine: "Any thing happen?" Egus demands as he passes through the entrance hall. "No, Master. All has been quiet since you left."

Dukejr01:

Missiledine: Egus leads you to an ornately carved wooden door. There are many strange symbols and glyphs carved into the wood. Egus raises

his hand and the door swings open, revealing a flight of steps down.

Dukejr01:

Missiledine: he leads the way down the steps, telling the servant, who has trailed along behind, to "Stay up here and let no one in." The steps wind

downwards a considerable way and end in a circular room draped in dark blue curtains around all the walls

Dukejr01: Corren follows. He looks the servant over professionally. you don't have to describe him if its irrelevant

Missiledine: In the center of the room is an inlaid pentagram, to the right is a long table covered with various implements, papers, books and things

you have no clue about. To the right is a long, high wooden cabinet, the doors of which are shut.

Dukejr01: Corren carefully stays away from the pentegram.

Dukejr01: Did Corren have time to buy some healing grass today?

Missiledine: Along the wall near the steps is a a large piece of cloth that seems to be covering five oblong, mansized forms that are stretched out

on the floor

Missiledine: no

Dukejr01: damn

Dukejr01: Corren stops and looks at them. "Your friends?"

Missiledine: Egus walks to the curtains, pulling it open to reveal a door. He looks back at your question. "My associates. I was not present when

the accident occured."

Dukejr01: Corren crouches and looks under the cloth.

Missiledine: He opens the door, gesturing for you to follow. Beyond is a library, the wall shelves are stacked with books and scrolls....

The bodies appear to be mages, at least they are garbed as such.. or were... Their clothing and flesh appear to be... dissolved... You can see

their bones, esposed and corroded looking in several places, and their body fluids are leaking our from nasty looking abrasions....

Dukejr01: Coren follows.

Missiledine:

Dukejr01: Corren returns the cloth and grunts, shaking his head.

Dukejr01:

Dukejr01: :-P>

Missiledine: one wall of the library has a cabinet built in. Egus waves a hand and the two doors open, revealing a display of weapons... There is a

double bladed axe, a falchion style short sword, a thrusting broadsword, a mace and two daggers (not a set) He gestures. "Select the weapon of

your choice. If we win, it is yours."

Dukejr01: Corren picks up the Broadsword and tests its balance. can it be used withte katalla style?

Missiledine: yes

Dukejr01: He drops his mana dampening while he does so. Corren checks the mace and the daggars briefly, but he takes the sword.

Missiledine: Egus waits for you to make your choice, then closes the case with another gesture

Dukejr01: After selecting, he returns his mana dampening to on and puts on his gloves.

Missiledine: He nods curtly and leads you back out of the library to another point in the curtains

Dukejr01: Corren unslings his shield, with the gloves on, doesthe sword contact his skin?

Missiledine: You notice as you approach it, that the fabric looks tattered and almost moth eaten. Behind it is a wooden door. The bottom six inches

are also decayed and rotted in appearance, and as Egus opens it, pieces will fall off.

Missiledine: no

Dukejr01: Corren readies himself.

Dukejr01:

Missiledine: Egus leads the way into the room beyond saying, "When I arrived the creature was frantic for a way out of here. I arrived in time to see

it ooze under the door and enter this room. When I opened the door it was gone. I realised that there was only one place it could go." He points

to a small grate in the floor. "The sewers."

Dukejr01: Corren sighs and takes out his pack, gets out a torch.

Missiledine: The room here is a store room filled with boxes, barrels etc... The walls are finished stone and rather damp looking. The sewer grate

he is pointing to is about 8" across, no where near big enough for you to pass through.

Missiledine: Egus waves the torsh away and mutters something, the sword begins to glow

Dukejr01: "Squishy critter. eh? How ae we goin to get down there?"

Dukejr01: Corren returns his stuff to the pack.

Missiledine: on one of the crates is a leather rucksack, which Egus had apparantly left earlier. He picks it up and slings it on. "I will make us an

opening." He says. Closing his eyes briefly, he extends his hands and makes little digging motions with his fingers. The stone of the floor begins

to peel back like putty.. The metal grate falls away into the darkness with a clang. Soon the hole is about three feet across

Dukejr01:

Missiledine:

Dukejr01: corren looks. sticks the sword down. when he is satisfied that nothing is waiting in ambush. he sits on the floor sticks his legs in and lowers himself down

Dukejr01: how far to bottom?

Missiledine: "If my calculations are correct, the creature will absorb strength from the sun and grow in size until it reaches a certain mass, then it

will begin to reproduce... not just splitting into two, but into scores.... I believe that it will remain in the sewers until dawn, they are warmer then

above ground and lacking light it will seek warmth. I can track it, I think, so we must locate it and destroy it in the next few hours." The bottom is

seven or eight feet below and looks wet and slimey. "It is not close by, but neither has it gone very far. I believe it was injured in its battle with my

associates."

Dukejr01: Corren lowers himself with his arms til his feet tiptoes touch bottom. then lets go and crouches. looking around.

Missiledine: "From what I have observed, it's touch causes paralysis, an effect I believe magical in nature. It then begins... digesting the victim with

it's own internal acids.... Hopefully your talent will reduce it's effectiveness."

Dukejr01: "Me too"

Missiledine: Egus will follow. The tunnel is round, made up of smooth stones fitted tightly together. It is about 8' in diameter and the bottom has

about 6" of water flowing along it... it smells pretty foul.

Dukejr01: "Going to need healing after this, win or lose" Corren muses aloud.

Dukejr01: only one way?

Dukejr01:

Missiledine: "Providing we both survive, I will see what can be arranged for you." Egus says.

You are not sure which way is what... the tunnel goes in two directions, up stream and down

Dukejr01: Corren looks both ways and then lets Egus decide which way to go

Dukejr01: "Aye. Thank ye."

Missiledine: Egus points down stream, "That way is to the river. All the sewers empty there eventually. If something happens to me and you are

lost, follow the flow to the river." He then points up stream. "That is the direction of the creature."

Dukejr01: Corren is only half listening. he is looking for danger.

Dukejr01: Corren nods and heads toward the critter."

Missiledine: Egus will follow close behind... When the tunnel branches he will tell you which way to go... left, then right, then left again. There does

not seem to be a pattern. Egus says, "I am unable to determine if the creature is intelligent or not."

Dukejr01: Corren grunts. He stops to listen before each branch. before moving on.

Missiledine: "I believe that it will remain down here until dawn, then it will sense the sun's energy and seek an exit."

Missiledine: There are many sounds down here, running water, dripping water, squeaking of rats, the rustle of their flight...

Dukejr01: Corren nods silently, shrugging slightly. this stuff is beyond his ken. "Knew enough to fight and then hide"

Dukejr01: Corren makes sure to watch his step and keep an eye onthe ceiling. wouldn't want it falling on his head.

Missiledine: You continue on for some time. Egus says at last... I believe that it has stopped moving." He sounds puzzled

Dukejr01: Corren nods and keeps moving.

Missiledine: You continue thus for perhaps ten minutes, then Egus says, "We should be getting close now..>"

Dukejr01: Corren slows and starts probing the water at hsi feet with the sword.

Missiledine: You turn a corner and ahead is a long straight stretch of tunnel... there is a dim glow of light coming from an overhead grate... Egus

stops, puzzled. "It is not here... It is... above us! It is in the area above the sewer."

Dukejr01: Corren make his way towardthe grate.

Missiledine: You catch a whiff of something other then sewage... something familiar... . beer.

Dukejr01: "Hunting, maybe"

Dukejr01: "beer... might be a tavern"

Missiledine: "We must go up and find it." Egus says "I will open a hole as quietly as possible, be ready to catch the grate when it falls.... I hope it is

not a tavern!" Egus whispers fervently... "The fewer people involved the better."

Dukejr01: corren does so

Missiledine: Egus again makes the hand motions and the hole opens until the grate teeters and falls... you catch it easily... a few seconds later and

the hole is big enough to climb through.... Egus looks at you.. "This is it... It is above us, perhaps thirty maybe forty feet that way..." He points "Are

you ready?"

Dukejr01: "Aye" Corren whispers. he reaches up and pulls himself up. he looks over the lip of the opening....

Dukejr01: gonna have o sling the shield and stow the sword to get both hands free.

Missiledine: Beyond is a long chamber, maybe eighty or ninety feet and about thirty feet in width. You are at one end. The direction Egus pointed

is further down the length of the room.. The room is dominated by six huge copper and stone structures that look like funnels sitting spout up...

The stone parts are about three feet high and form the round base.. The copper parts are funnel shaped and are about eight feet in diameter and

stand about eight feet high. The narrow spout passes through the roof above. In the stone bases are iron doors with small grills. You can see

flames through the grills... you realise that this is a brewery... these are where they cook the mash to make the beer and distill the spirits. The

stone parts contain the fire, the brew is in the copper vats

Missiledine: "What do you see?" Egus hisses

Dukejr01: "A brewry. Didn't you say soething about it liking heat?"

Dukejr01: Corren readies himself. "Need a hand up?"

Missiledine: "Of course! The fires1"

Missiledine: "I'll manage."

Dukejr01: Corren cautiously paces a couple yards down toward the critter. he looks around and up.

Dukejr01:

Dukejr01:

Missiledine: The place is scrupulously clean, there are no cobwebs or dust to be seen anywhere... Along the wall behind you is an enormous stack

of cordwood, to fuel the fires. To the right of the closest vat is an overturned stool and what is barely recognisable as the remains of a man...

Dukejr01: Corren shakes his head. "Got a DB"

Missiledine: The lodest sounds in the room are gurglings, bubblings, the crackle of the flames and an occaissional hiss of escaping steam.... but

suddenly the air is rent with an evil sounding hiss that sends shivers down your spine...

Missiledine: egus pulls himself up through the hole, "Hear that!" He whispers

Dukejr01:

Dukejr01: Can Corren locate the sound?

Missiledine: Looking down the length of the room, you see that the middle vat on the right side looks odd... rather then the metallic copper sheen of

the polished metal, the vat seems wet and its outline is blurred as though it is obscured by something...

Dukejr01: "There it is" Corren points with his sword

Missiledine: Even as you see it, you see that the coating is sliding down and off the vat, piling up as it unwraps, forming a mound about the size of

your horse

Dukejr01: "Was is always that big?" Corren casually asks as he steps to the side and prepares to recieve its attack.

Missiledine: "It seems to have grown a bit..." Egus admits, "But it is hard to be sure."

Dukejr01: How far away is it?

Missiledine: About thirty feet

Dukejr01: "Nothing for it." Corren says as he advances a couple yards. Corren looks around for tactical advantage. ist here any way to get above it?

Missiledine: You might be able to climb up the vat sides

Dukejr01: hmmm.. hot vats? nah.

Missiledine: Or you might try the stack of cord wood

Missiledine: that is behind you tho

Dukejr01: Is it advancing?

Missiledine: yes

Dukejr01: Corren meets it.

Dukejr01: He stops in a Step and Wait when he gets close.

Dukejr01: don't want it to get back in the sewers.

Missiledine: It moves at a steady pace, about half the speed of a man walking, but you get the distnict impression it can move faster if it wants... It

seems to ripple as it advances and it changes form... instead of coming at you with a longitudal attitude (the narrow end first) it spreads out from

side to side across the intervening space, forming a barrier about 6' high

Dukejr01: Corren goes to one side. he doesn't want to be enveloped.

Missiledine: it is about 7' long, and there is maybe three feet of run around room on either side of it, between it and the vats

Missiledine: left or right?

Dukejr01: go to right die. shield toward body. Coren will slash at the end

Dukejr01: die = side.

Missiledine: you can see, out of the corner of your eye, Egus moving to the left

Missiledine:

Dukejr01: Corren will block/slash. I doubt this thing has internal organs to impale.

Dukejr01:

Missiledine: You slash at the flesh, it makes no effort to avoid the blow and the blade meets a gooey resistence... softer but more elastic and

giving then human flesh.... It is hard to say what effect the blow had on it...With a speed that makes you blink a pseudo pod of its gel like body,

lashes out at you in response. The blow slams your shield.. it is powerful, stronger than any man you have fought...

Dukejr01: Corren grunts and steps right trying to keep from getting surrounded by the thing. and attacks again.

Missiledine: This time the creature responds to the blow by shrinking back in those areas where the sword threatens... it does not escape

completely, but the blow was not as effective as your first

Dukejr01: is the substance of the thing translucent? is it uniform or are there dicernable organs?

Missiledine: you can see through the creature as though it were of thick mist, some places less so than others... there are sparkles scattered,

apparantly at random, throughout the mass.

Dukejr01: okay.

Missiledine: Beyond you see Egus raise his cludgel and strike, to what effect you cannot see

Dukejr01: Corren blocks/slashes? by "shrink away do you mean Corren must advance to attack it?

Missiledine: the creature lashes out at you agian....this time the blow gets past your shield, striking you across the mid riff with staggering force...

Your armor absorbs all the damage tho

Dukejr01: Corren grunts again and grimly counterattacks.

Missiledine: The creature responds much like a fighter pulling a threatened body part away from a blow

Dukejr01: okay.

Missiledine: it does not withdrawl the bulk of its body, just the part you have targeted

Dukejr01: gotcha.

Dukejr01: is it attacking once a round?

Missiledine: again you attack, this time you are faster than it is and manage a good slice through it... It is disconcerting in that there is no sign of

any wound remaining after the blade passes, but the way the thing responds it must feel some pain

Missiledine: It seems to be engaging you and Egus simultaneously

Missiledine: the creature counter attacks, surging forward at you and also stretching out towards Egus, thinning in the middle as it doues so...

Missiledine: The blow lands on your shield, but is so powerful that you are forced back a step

Dukejr01: Corren attacks the middle, step and attack if possible.

Missiledine: less then a yad behind you is a vat... you can feel the heat of the oven even at this range

Dukejr01: k

Missiledine: You are facing an end, as is Egus, to get to the middle you must circle left or right

Dukejr01: Corren edges left. trying to hkeep it from going down teh sewers again.

Missiledine: ok... the creature is in a kind of `dumb bell' shape, with the large ends facing you and Egus... the thin middle stretched between them...

As you move left, the bulge you face will swell in your direction

Dukejr01: okay.

Dukejr01: block/slash again.

Missiledine: You slash into it again, scoring a partial hit as it flows away from the blade... it's counter blow is again taken by your shield.... you catch

something out of the corner of your eye... the front of your shield is dripping to the floor... it is slowly dissolving

Dukejr01: I figured. how much longer for it?

Missiledine: without stopping to examine it, no way of telling

Dukejr01: k

Missiledine: you continue to attack?

Dukejr01: can corren aim at a thicker or less transparent part of the critter?

Missiledine: a cloudier area or a sparkly area?

Dukejr01: try sparkly?

Dukejr01: scratch the "?"

Missiledine: thrust or slash?

Missiledine: ok

Dukejr01: thrust.

Missiledine: you stab at the nearest of the sparkles... the blade intersects it and the sparkle vanishes.. The creature reacts violently, hitting you

harder and faster then before... bypassing your shield for another body blow... this time for 4 points damage

Dukejr01: "Hit the sparkly bits!" Corren chokes out. he attacks anothre sparkly bit. same kind of attack.

Dukejr01: how many sparkles?

Missiledine: Suddenly it is attacking you twice a round, apparently ignoring Egus for a moment....It strikes high, hitting your shield again as you

stab in... it's second blow sweeps low, seeking to knock you off your feet.... you dodge, barely...

Missiledine: probably twelve or fifteen, hard to say

Dukejr01: "Critter's gotta tender spot." Corren continues to attack the sparkly bits.

Missiledine: the next round it will suge towards you again, striking twice a round and leaving Egus unmolested.... It his high.. and you block it... you

stab... extinguishing another sparkle... it swipes low... this time you parry it.. just...

Dukejr01: last round did Corren hit?

Dukejr01: :-)>

Dukejr01: Corren will step back for extra defence next round.

Missiledine: Egus extends a hand and you see something small and dark shoot outwards, plunging into the goo... the creature jerks violently in

Egus' direction.....

Missiledine:

Dukejr01: Corren pursues. he will attack again thrust to sparkle.

Missiledine:

Dukejr01: k.

Missiledine: you stab inwards, it twists it body, taking the wound but moving the sparkle clear... It only strikes once at you... you block it again... The

top edge of your shield is collapsing inwards towards you

Dukejr01: is it useless?

Missiledine:

Dukejr01:

Missiledine: You couldn't see what Egus did, but the creature jerks violently away from him and bulges in your direction

Dukejr01:

Dukejr01: Corren attacks, thrust to sparkle.

Missiledine: You stab again...again missing the sparkleit strikes out at you... breaking your shield in half just above your arm

Dukejr01: Corren shrugs the shield off his arm and goes to attack/parry.

Missiledine:

Missiledine: Again the creature shudders from Egus' attacks... You stab again, extinguishing another sparkle... It attacks...you are unable to parry

in time, taking a hit for 4 more points

Dukejr01: ow

Missiledine: You can feel a faint burning on your stomach and chest...

Dukejr01: k. yes,. acid.

Dukejr01: how many sparkles?

Missiledine: it has passed through the links of your mail and is working on the padding underneath

Missiledine: they are deeper in the creature now, the ones that remain, maybe 5 or 6....

Missiledine: these will be harder to reach with your blade...

Dukejr01: how is Egus doing?

Missiledine: you get a glimpse of Egus, his cludgel is gone, apparently dissolved away... He seems to be relying on Stone Missile spells and trying

desprately to keep out of the things reach... If you weren't pinning it down in melee, it would be surging after the mage

Dukejr01: minuses to hit or harder to pentetrate?

Missiledine: further away, it is keeping the bulk of the its attack face between you and them, which are located in the thinner part between the

bulges

Missiledine: you will need to out flank it to get a clear thrust at the sparkles

Dukejr01: Could corren do so? defending as he moved?

Missiledine: you can certainly try!

Dukejr01: might as well.

Missiledine: which way are you going? Left will take you towards Egus, right towards the vat?

Dukejr01: left toward Egus, maybe he can get behind Corren and ue him for protection.

Missiledine: okay

Dukejr01: Corren is defending this round.

Missiledine: oh, ok

Dukejr01: won't it take an entire round to move?

Missiledine: you cut left, it swells in your direction, shielding its exposed center and forming a single front against both you and Egus, pushing the

remaining sparkles further from your reach... It doesn't need to move like you do, it just swells and contracts where it sits

Dukejr01: gotcha.

Missiledine:

Dukejr01: I thought it would take a whole round to move.

Dukejr01: is Egus behind Corren?

Missiledine: Judging its speed, if you move and attack, you may be able to penetrate before it thickens the target area enough to make the

sparkle unreachable

Dukejr01: would that be an all out attack then?

Missiledine: but by the next round it will be beyod the length of your sword

Missiledine: No, normal attack

Missiledine: Egus is behind you at the moment, he is panting hard

Dukejr01: okay. is Corren facing hte critter and taking all of its attacks now?

Missiledine: at the moment

Dukejr01: Corren will All out defend. giving the mage some cover letting him cast.

Missiledine: you can attack the body, but there is no chance of reaching a sparkle nopw

Missiledine: ok

Dukejr01: he will return to the offensie if that doesn't work

Dukejr01: ..

Missiledine: the creature lashes out, the first blow is a clean miss on its part, the second one you parry, the pseudo pod engulfs the blade, the

passes through it, literally lopping off a portion that drops clear but is reabsorbed at the base of the creature

Dukejr01: cool.

Dukejr01: well, cool for the critter.

Dukejr01: does egus seem tapped out?

Missiledine: from behind you a ball of stone sizzles past and penetrates the think with a loud plop... it strikes deep, but misses the sparkle.. You

see it hanging in place, along with several other similar stones, some of which appear to be dissolving

Missiledine:

Dukejr01: I understood

Missiledine: do you continue to defend?

Dukejr01: "I can move to get a sparkel, but that will leave you exposed."

Missiledine: you and Egus have your backs to the hole

Missiledine: Egus is behind you

Dukejr01: crap. Corren moves to attack a sparkle.

Missiledine: left or right

Dukejr01: left again.

Missiledine: you flank and stab, you just reach the target, causing it to wink out, before it strikes out at you... you twist the sword free in time to parry

the attack

Dukejr01: woohoo!

Dukejr01: how many left?

Missiledine: another stone missle drives home and another sparkle winks out... three left

Dukejr01: k

Dukejr01: Attack/parry again.

Missiledine: the creature suddenly surges towards Egus, clearly seeking to escape...

Dukejr01: all out attack. two attacks.

Missiledine: Egus will have to leap back and to his rightto avoid the rush and the pit... your lunge (one attack) strikes another sparkle, two left...

Missiledine: The creature makes no effort to counter attack, it is in flight... you get one round of two attacks....

Dukejr01: fast bugger.

Missiledine: the first thrust extinguishes another sparkle... as the bulk of it slides down into the sewer, you twist your blade in a desperate thrust

and you sse the last sparkle wink out, as the slime slides down into the darkness below with a splat...

Dukejr01: Corren shrugs out of his chain quickly.

Dukejr01:

Missiledine: Egus is picking himself up off the floor and peering, cautiously over the edge

Missiledine: Your chest and abdomen feel like they are on fire.. your padding and the clothing underneath is in disintigrating tatters...

Dukejr01: Corren gets his pack. uses beer to rinse off. "You got balls of brass, Mage"

Dukejr01: remove the padding of course.

Missiledine: You will have to strip to the waiste

Dukejr01: do so.

Dukejr01: then use beer to rinse skin and then chainmail

Missiledine: Egus laughs breathlessly, "You do pretty well yourself young man... What is your name anyway?"

Dukejr01: Corren looks surprised, "Corren."

Dukejr01: Corren entirely forgot to introduce himself.

Missiledine: The beer in the vats is hot, but at the other end of the room, in a corner where there is a flight of stairs going up, you see a large keg

Dukejr01: well, i assumed corren has beer in his skin.

Missiledine: true

Missiledine: Egus was so preoccupied that he never though to ask

Dukejr01: he uses that. takes a drink. offers someto Egus.

Missiledine: Egus accepts

Dukejr01: Corren looks over the edge.sticks the sword down. looks at the critter.

Dukejr01: big pile of oozing acid?

Missiledine: After about ten minutes, Egus says.. "The sewers should have dispersed the creature by now." THere is nothing to be seen in the

sewer

Dukejr01: k

Missiledine: "It should be safe to go down now."

Dukejr01: Corren recovers his chain. kicks the remains of shirt and padding down the hole.

Missiledine: "Gather your things... throw any rubbish into the sewer."

Missiledine: Egus will lower himself into the hole, then wait for you. "It is safe." He calls

Dukejr01: He puts his chain in the pack. levers himself down.

Dukejr01: take all equipment.

Missiledine: Egus will hand you the grate, "Hold this a moment."

Dukejr01: Corren holds it in place.

Missiledine: He will again cast the spell, this time closing up the hole. "I am sorry that the fire tender was killed... It is a pity. I will learn who his

family is and send a sum.... But none must know of this nights work. Understand?"

Dukejr01: "Aye."

Dukejr01: Corren plods back the way they came.

Missiledine: Satisfied that all is as good as he can make it, Egus will lead the way back through the sewers... arriving at the start point, he again

recovers the grate. After you are both up he closes the hole and mutters something about, "Fix the wards later." He looks tired

Dukejr01:

Dukejr01: makes sure the sword is clean befoer they leave.

Missiledine: Back in the round chamber Egus says, "Wait a moment." He goes into the library and returns with a flask. "Drink this."

Missiledine: ok

Dukejr01: "magic?"

Missiledine: "Yes, it should heal most of your injuries, if not all."

Dukejr01: Corren turns off his mana dampening briefly, drinks. then turns it back on after it takeseffect.

Dukejr01: "Thanks. Much better."

Dukejr01:

Missiledine: you feel much better almost immediately.. most of the redness fades from the burns on your abdomen and chest... there is still some

traces, but not much (down 1 point)

Dukejr01: cool.

Missiledine: Egus leads the way upstairs. "I will have Pol find you some clothes. It is too cold to go out bare chested."

Dukejr01: Corren laughs. "Thank ye. Contract me anytime mage."

Missiledine: Exiting the carved door upstairs, you are back in the main hall, Egus calls for the servant and tells him to fetch a tunic. Egus smiles

briefly. "Keep this secret and I will owe you a debt. Seek me out if ever there is a favor I can do for you."

Dukejr01: "One thing." Corren hefts the sword. "What does this do, exactly?"

Missiledine: "It is enchanted to aid in combat by enhancing your ability to hit and the damage you do... It will remain sharp and unstained and is

shatter proofed to be nigh unbreakable... Not that it can't be broken, but not easily."

Dukejr01: "The Contract stipulated discretion, that is what you will have."

Dukejr01: Corren nods. "Good. the Contract is satisfied then?"

Missiledine: "Yes, I know."

Missiledine: Egus smiles, "Completely."

Missiledine: Pol returns and gives you a wollen tunic of high quality

Dukejr01: "Then I will take my leave. Goodbye Egus, and good fortune."

Missiledine: "Good day to you Corren." Egus points outside, the sky is brightening, dawn is nearly here

Dukejr01: Corren thanks Pol.

Missiledine: Pol smiles and wishes you well

Dukejr01: Corren returns to the Crow

Missiledine: The place is deserted except for Rolb who is sitting in front of the still glowing hearth. He looks up as you come in. "Ah! Here is the

lad! Just as the lassy said, at the crack of dawn."

Dukejr01: That was fun.

Missiledine:

Dukejr01: "I hope you didn't wait up for me."

Missiledine: "But of course I did, just in case ya needed to be patched up a bit, though ya dunno look to much the worse fer wear." He eyes you

critically. "Are ye all right?"

Dukejr01: "I need a beer. and a bath. and more beer."

Missiledine: Rolb laughs, gets up and goes behind the bar, knocks open the tap and pours you one. "Here ye go."

Dukejr01: "Took a few hits. potion fixed it up. Wish I could tell you all about it, but the Contract stipulated descretion."

Dukejr01: "Have a magic sword now." Corren shows it to Rolb.

Missiledine: He nods, "I unnerstand, I've had a few of those meself... As long as yer in one piece.... Is that a new sticker then?"

Missiledine: He looks it over admiringly. "A good nights werk then!"

Dukejr01: "Aye. Just payment too, thinks I."

Missiledine: "well lad, get yerself ta bed. Leena is up there waitin fer ye, mebbe ye can waker er enough ta get er ta rub the sore spots."

Dukejr01: Corren drains his beer.

Dukejr01: Where is a good place to clean up? horse tough?

Dukejr01: Corren washes with soap before going upstairs for "sleep"

Missiledine: Rolb closes the tap... "Aye, but it'll be damn cold... there should be water in the cistern in the kitchen that will still be warm enough." He

leads the way back

Dukejr01: Corren makes sure a coin is left fro the beer.

Missiledine: The cooks are already in and they will give you a basin of warm water and food if you want it

Dukejr01: Yes. and yes.

Dukejr01: Food is always a good idea.

Missiledine: when you have snacked and cleaned up, Rolb bids you good night and goes off himself

Dukejr01: Corren owes Leena another shopping trip.

Missiledine: lol

Missiledine: I think that will wrap it up for this one!

Dukejr01: okay. thanks again. that was fun to accomplish something in one session

Missiledine: the sword is +1 +1

Missiledine: plus the other notes already mentioned

Dukejr01: okay. shatterproof or quailty?

Missiledine: Shatterproof

Dukejr01: k.

Dukejr01: that was worth it.

Missiledine: I thought it would be

Missiledine: glad you enjoyed it

Dukejr01: even if I did have to fight an ooze.

Missiledine: lol

Dukejr01: extradimentional ooze at that.

Missiledine: good job thinking of attacking the sparkles

Missiledine: you'd have had an uphill fight otherwise

Dukejr01: I gave regular attacks a few rounds. then started looking for something else.

Dukejr01: When you originally mentioned the sparkles, I thought you were describing random flashes that would wink in and out.

Missiledine: the regular attacks did damage, but only 1 pt each and it could absorb and regenerate a lot of those hits

Dukejr01: when the regular attacks weren't doing much. I asked again about organs or other features.

Dukejr01: nasty.

Missiledine: well, in the dim light of the brewery, illuminated mostly by the fires in the ovens, that's what it looked lkike at first

Dukejr01: a regu;ar person would be dead meat

Dukejr01: regular

Missiledine: possibly... it would need a group of normals to take it

Dukejr01: makes sense. don't want toe give it away right off

Missiledine: that's right:-D

Dukejr01: k. Well, Corren's mouth is shut as much as he would like to brag. maybe this will bring him work from other mages.

Missiledine: possibly...

Dukejr01: depends on GM's whim!

Missiledine: Egus will be available for a few minor favors

Dukejr01: =-O nah. I am not paranoid.>

Missiledine: :-D

Missiledine: :-D:-D:-D

Dukejr01: heh heh heh

Dukejr01: oh well. magic critter is magic critter.

Missiledine: yep

Missiledine: btw... magic weapons in Velitrium always have names.. permenant ones anyway.. sometimes I assign them, sometimes I let the

players do it. The name is not the same as athe spell, its just a name... you can name this sword.

Dukejr01: Cool! I will have to ponder it.

Missiledine: ok... things like arrows and bolts don't have names tho

Missiledine: Egus or one of his associates made this sword, you were the first to blood it... err, goo it... whatever...

Dukejr01: If I were running Buliwyf, I would hang some odd name off the top of my head on it. He was going to build a Warrior's Hall, and name it "Heart of

Courage" or some such.

Dukejr01: he was going to name his first nice sword "Freedom's Tongue."

Dukejr01: I miss that charactor. he was a blast. especially when I misunderstood things - on purpose.

Missiledine: generally he who uses a weapon first gets to name it... or the person who made it.. Found weapons can sometimes be recognised

and their names found out... otherwise the new owner may name it

Dukejr01: oh, it is distinctive enough so that a name will stick?

Missiledine: it is purely a custom and has no magical significance

Dukejr01: okay

Dukejr01: hmmmm... I will avoid something stupid. maybe I will rip off some celtic mythos.

Missiledine: most works of magic are decorated in some way, I haven't specified this one, so if you want to describe it feel free. Don't get carried

away with gems and jewels... unless it has special powers it is usually inlay or engraving and wrought metal with a few semi precious stones etc

Dukejr01: I read a book once in high school. historical fantasy. no magic etc. the clan'sleader had a sword called "Wave Flame"

Missiledine: animals, magical creatures like dragons and griffons etc are the most common decorations... sometimes they have meaning,

sometimes they don't

Dukejr01: hmmm.. this might disappoint you but I have already decided what Corren's attitude about weapons' is going to be. as far as he is concerned they are the

tools of his trade and he would no more be interested in decorating them than a smmith would decorate his hammer, or a cobbler his awls and punches.

Dukejr01: if it comes with decoration. that is dandy.

Missiledine: well it already has decorations of some type

Dukejr01: yeah. I will make a brief description.

Missiledine: you can decide what

Missiledine: ok

Dukejr01: probably "inlaid with silver" with some kind of design.

Missiledine: even a lot of mundane swords have decoration, the fact that it is decked out does not make it magical...

Dukejr01: sure. swords were a canvas for art in teh middle ages.

Dukejr01: not to mention, a lot of people then sowre on relics and they had said relics crafted into the swords. so they could clap their hands on the sword and make

an oath

Missiledine: there are a lot of 'plain janes' that are stamped out for military use and trade. But a lot of them have some style to them... such a

design may not be unique tho

Missiledine: true

Missiledine: well, I think it is bed time... not sure about Thurs... Depends how much shit I get done tomorrow!

Dukejr01: well, I will make something up. get back to you on it. I am thinking an innocuous name of some kind. "Silverquick" "Leena' Weft"

Dukejr01: okay,. night.

Missiledine: ok, night