SDMB RPG: Shadows of Arcady

[Rubberneck]

Originally Posted by AClockworkMelon

"We should not be going this way..." Kittix is reluctant to follow Dur'dan through the courtyard.

"Typical." Oshro grunts under his breath, not willing to confront the lizardfolk directly and risk another chastising from his uncle.

"It may be the only way through. We could be stuck here for an eternity trying to find a way out. I'm thinking the Stronghold will be our best bet. We can spend some more time looking for an alternative route, but as numerous as these foes are, they are unarmed and unprotected. But lets exhaust all options before committing to another battle."

[lunaticlucas]

"It's alright Kitz, as long as we stick together and watch each other's back we'll make it through this with plenty of gold in our pockets and another mission completed." Arrow said to Kittix

"I agree with the dwarf, we should continue." To the group.

"Well I'm gonna scout the area, I'll be back. Kitz, you stay with the group and rest you're still wounded" Arrow will try to move around silently and look for anything interesting.

[Mosier]

As long as the group is still moving, Khan will stick close to Dur'dan. Karikhan has his suspicions about the halfling Hob, though, and will keep a wary eye on him in case it seems he might be disturbing the dead.

Khan is also on the lookout for evidence of animals living in the subteranean depths, especially bats or rats. If Khan comes across such a creature, he will attempt to command it to approach.

[AClockworkMelon]

The party pulls back from the courtyard and stops at the staired entrance to a large tenement. Arrow continues on alone to scout the area, alert for any hidden undead that he might stumble upon unawares. He winds down streets and passes through alleys for some time until approaching another courtyard perhaps twenty minutes later. One of the buildings here is quite tall and the half-elf decides to risk entering it in hopes of finding a way to the roof. The interior is very dark, but the ambient green light outside is enough for his keen eyes and he heads down a hallway, passing rooms on either side occupied with the slumbering dead. He locates a stairwell and makes upward until coming onto a landing fifteen stories up. There doesn't seem to be roof access but there is a balcony from which he can overlook his surroundings: The safehold is in the nearby distance, ringed by a fat wall that separates it and the rest of the city. Below there is some sort of walled compound that extends for nearly a hundred yards. If the party could clear its wall they could move through the compound and bypass the ruined sector entirely.

Content, Arrow turns to go just as a knife makes to plunge into his side. The half-elf turns aside the attack with his palm but is knocked over as his attacker surges forward. The two bodies roll together on the floor of the balcony, one smaller but stronger, heavier. Arrow frees himself from his attacker's grip and stumbles back towards the stairwell. His attacker gets to his feet: It is superficially a dwarf, short and wide with thick limbs as is typical for its kind. Its skin, however, is grey as stone. The dwarf is square-jawed with a coal black beard and shimmering grey eyes. He is armored in black boiled leather bands, his head capped in iron. He growls at the half-elf, eyes flitting between his prey and his knife between them on the floor.

- - -
Meanwhile, the rest of the party remains waiting in relative quiet on the street. The minutes pass uncomfortably for them, with Kittix in particular showing signs of strain. Khan is investigating the surrounding area, but stays close to the party. He walks along a narrow road a corner down from the group, still in sight of the others, peering into the windows of buildings he passes. Looking into one, he spots a mass of webbing in a corner. It looks fresh, perhaps whatever creature made it is still nearby. There don't seem to be any skeletons in the room, which is full of dust-caked stone furniture.

[lunaticlucas]

Arrow will rush for the knife and try to attack dwarf using all his might (willpower)

If more enemies start to show up Arrow will try to fight his way out of the room and make his way to the party as fast as he can trying not to run into anymore dwarfs.

[AClockworkMelon]

Arrow and the grey-skinned dwarf both dive for the knife simultaneously, the half-elf snatching the weapon and rolling aside as the dwarf crashes to the ground. Arrow circles around his attacker as he rises before darting forward and plunging the weapon down with both hands, burning Willpower. The dwarf catches him by the half-elf's wrists, the blade inches from his snarling face, before pushing Arrow back against the short railing of the balcony. Arrow's back is slammed against the railing and he takes one bashing damage as the pair continues to wrestle over the weapon.

Arrow roars in defiance, burning another Willpower and rending the knife free, its blade slashing across the dwarf's forehead, blood spraying into his own face. The dwarf reels, his gloved hands going to his face even as Arrow does likewise, wiping his attacker's blood from his eyes. The grey assailant charges in a fury, spearing the half-elf and nearly sending him over the balcony to the street below, dealing another one bashing damage.

[lunaticlucas]

Arrow will try to sink the knife into the dwarf's spine. Burning up another will power.

[AClockworkMelon]

Arrow struggles against the dwarf, the pair locked in a brutal grapple. The dwarf continues bashing Arrow against the railing as the half-elf scrambles to stay on his feet, finally getting the knife back into both hands and slamming it down repeatedly into the dwarf's back, the weapon bloodier each time it is rent free. The dwarf yanks Arrow side-to-side, getting the lighter fighter off balance before tossing him against the railing again, its stone supports snapping as it starts to give way, dealing another two bashing damage.

[lunaticlucas]

Arrow will try to get back into the room before the balcony gives way and will shove the dwarf into the railing using the last of his energy. (Willpower)

[AClockworkMelon]

Arrow manages to shove the dwarf free and get back into the stairwell, his attacker in pursuit immediately. The dwarf nearly pushes Arrow over the railing of the stairs, slamming the half-elf's gut against it and dealing two bashing damage, pinning him.

Arrow groans as he slumps over the railing, the floor far below seeming to rush up at him as vertigo momentarily overtakes him. A light trickle of blood rains from his mouth to the ground nearly a hundred feet below and sweat fills his eyes. His feet leave the ground as the dwarf attempts to hurl him over and within him his will to live ignites what little energy he has left. He plants a boot on the railing as his attacker hefts him onto his shoulders. With a grunt he plants his second boot and roaring, he kicks off from the banister, sending both back onto the balcony where the dwarf crashes through the railing, hands wildly scrambling for a grip.

Arrow lurches out with a hand, his saddlepack tumbling its contents like a waterfall along with his bow and those scant remaining arrows in his quiver, and grabs a hold of the balcony floor and swings violently on his arm. His assailant continues to flail as he tumbles down along the side of the building and crashes in a heap on the street below. Arrow's rations, picks, arrows and bow rain to the ground around the dwarf, who rolls onto his back with a pained moan before going still.

The half-elf's grip is slipping and he sighs as gravity drags him down. Above him is an endless, luminescent green ocean. He screams, heaving his other arm up and over the edge of the balcony before coming to a stop, panting. A few moments pass and he drags his upper body onto the ledge, stopping again. With a final groan he swings his legs up and rolls to safety, his muscles and heaving chest feeling likely to explode. He is alive and his injuries amount to heavy bruising and a few scratches, but he feels completely drained. He only survived through his sheer force of will and now his willpower has been completely exhausted. But he lives.

[lunaticlucas]

Arrow drags himself against a wall panting. resting for a while before he makes his way down to get his belongings and back to the party as stealthy as possible.

[AClockworkMelon]

Arrow limps back into the stairwell and heads downstairs, each step torturous. The dwarf's weapon is on the bottom landing and Arrow stops to painfully bend over and pick it up. Its thin, silvery metal blade is about 13 inches long and is remarkably lightweight and Arrow's thoughts immediately go to Dur'dan's description of mithril. The blade has a glyph etched into it near the hilt: A pair of crossed axes within a volcano. The handle is part the same piece of metal as the blade and has a wrap grip of supple black leather.

Pocketing the weapon, Arrow continues outside and finds his gear scattered around the body. He collects it all and gives the dwarf a once-over. Finding nothing else of interest he slowly makes his way back to the party. It'll probably take him about half an hour to get back.

[Mosier]

Khan will investigate the room in which he found the spiderweb. If he finds the creature who made the web, Khan will beast-speak to it;

SPOILER:

Sister, are you and your prey the only living things left in these depths?

[AClockworkMelon]

Khan quietly climbs through the window, stalking across the dusty chamber and towards the webbed corner. It is difficult to see in here so he proceeds cautiously. Arriving at the web he crouches to investigate what seems to be a wide humanoid skull caught near its base. There is a skittering sound behind the shaman and he turns, spear at the ready, as a pair of long, sharp-tipped legs curl around a doorway. The massive spider pulls itself into the room, its abdomen about the size of a house cat, each leg more than a foot and a half long. It drops to the ground and skitters across the floor, circling the human, always keeping several items of furniture between it and the intruder.

Karikhan speaks in a chittering hiss, baring all his teeth to the creature. The spider stops immediately, considering him. It responds to him with rapid clicking as it draws closer, climbing up the leg of a granite chair and then stepping over to the top of a table before drawing itself up to its full height before the human.

[AClockworkMelon]

(Orders based on private communication between Mosier and myself.)

Khan continues speaking in the strange tongue and the spider suddenly goes rigid and unmoving. The shaman lifts his spear high over his head, his foreign chatter unrelenting and increasing in volume as he drives his weapon at the spider's abdomen, plunging through its hairy and red chitinous shell. The spider's legs all flail as it wriggles on the spear, a translucent green muck dripping from its wound and down the side of the table. The spider chitters and clicks for a few more moments before shuddering, its legs curling tight against its body as it dies.

[Autolycus]

Hob sits and waits. After a while, he becomes anxious. "Boy, they sure have been gone a while. Wonder if they're ok?" he says.

[AClockworkMelon]

(The only one more than thirty yards or so from the group, and the only one who's been gone for more than a minute or two, is Arrow. )

[Autolycus]

Hob sits and waits. After a while, he becomes anxious. "Boy, he sure has been gone a while. Wonder if he's ok?" he says.

[AClockworkMelon]

Kittix can't take the tension anymore: "Tiny man is right." He hops to his feet, tail swishing back and forth nervously. "Gone too long."

[Mosier]

Karikhan returns to the group holding the carcass of the spider he killed. He uses some of the leather straps he fashioned earlier to secure the spider's body to his traveling gear, careful to avoid the fangs.

To Jikhal, Khan says, "She will serve gloriously."

As soon as the party takes a long enough rest, Khan intends to begin the binding ritual.

[AClockworkMelon]

The party gives Khan strange looks as he arrives with the huge spider swaying at his side.

Dur'dan recognizes the creature: It is kalatush, a blade spider, sometimes called a gorebug. Blade spiders are occasional menaces in some of the deeper abandoned shafts at Goldhelm. Though not particularly difficult to kill they can be plenty deadly regardless, especially when ambushing lone prey. Thankfully they tend to prefer to be left alone.

[Babale]

John says, "A spider? But that means there's other things here too. Things big enough for that monster to eat."

"Kittix, shall we look for the elf?"

[Rubberneck]

Dur'dan approaches the giant and his.... friend?

"I'm not one to pry my big friend... but why are you hauling that thing around? And I agree, damn half breed has been gone too long, probably gotten himself killed, probably by another one of those things." He says pointing at the spider.

"He went off this way." Dur'dan says, going in the same direction Arrow went.

[AClockworkMelon]

Jonathan is concerned about the plan: "If we leave to go looking for him we risk all of us getting lost in this place." Kittix ignores him, however, and gets up to follow the Ironbeards at Fredrickson's suggestion. With a sigh the knight gets to his feet and joins the others.

The party winds through the city, careful to avoid disturbing corpses. About ten minutes into their walk they hear movement from further down the street and they freeze in anticipation. A moment later Arrow appears around the corner, looking worse for wear and exhausted but not seriously injured. There is a smear of dried blood across his face and more dusted on his clothing.

[Babale]

"What happened to you? Had a run-in with your ex wife?"

[Rubberneck]

"looks like you got in a tussle with something fierce."

[lunaticlucas]

"heh, you should see the other guy."

[Mosier]

Originally Posted by Rubberneck

"I'm not one to pry my big friend... but why are you hauling that thing around?

"These caverns were not her place. She will serve the Voice better in her next life."

When Arrow approaches obviously having been in a struggle, Karikhan glances around at the edges of his field of vision suspiciously. "Someone else lives in the home of your ancestors," he says to Dur'dan. "We should go no further, and leave immediately. We know the dangers of the path behind us, and I can repair the bridge with the Voice."

[Autolycus]

Hob is startled to see Karikhan come back with his prize. "Is that the fashion these days, spider-bags? I must say it suits you," he manages to jest.

When Karikhan suggests leaving, Hob voices his opinion. "If this big guy here suggests we turn around, then maybe it's not such a bad idea. And besides, I'm sure the giant will be delighted to see us."

[lunaticlucas]

"I don't know about anyone else but I want to find out what's in these ruins and do what we getting paid to do. After a little rest I'll be ready to go out and explore some more."

"What about you Kitz? What do you wanna do?"

[Mosier]

Originally Posted by lunaticlucas

"I don't know about anyone else but I want to find out what's in these ruins and do what we getting paid to do. After a little rest I'll be ready to go out and explore some more."

Karikhan does not protest as Arrow makes his suggestion. Instead, he looks to Dur'dan and John.

"You lead this group. Have we found what you seek, or must we go deeper still?"

[Rubberneck]

Dur'dan paces while he speaks,

"I myself am torn. Part of me says that we have found enough evidence to begin a full blown assault to clear this delve of the plague that has befallen it. But my beard says we need to get more proof and I tend to side with me beard..." He puts his hand to his chin, stroking his beard.

"What was it that messed you up anyways Arrow?"

[lunaticlucas]

"It appeared to be a grey-skinned dwarf. He or it didn't speak, it just came out of nowhere and attacked."

[Autolycus]

"Skeleton dwarves, zombie dwarves, I wonder what's causin' this terrible blight?" Hob says as an open question, not particularly expecting an answer but not bothered if one comes anyway.

[AClockworkMelon]

Originally Posted by lunaticlucas

"What about you Kitz? What do you wanna do?"

"I don't know, Arrow..." Kitz is torn, rubbing his scaly hands together anxiously.

Originally Posted by lunaticlucas

"It appeared to be a grey-skinned dwarf. He or it didn't speak, it just came out of nowhere and attacked."

Oshro looks to Dur'dan quizzically.

[Rubberneck]

Dur'dan gives a look of pure astonishment, almost like the look when he entered the delve itself, mixed with a slight worried look.

"Take me to the remains of the Dwarf immediately. You must be incorrect. If you are right... we have stumbled upon much much MUCH more than we previously thought."

Dur'dan begins nudging the elf in the direction in which Arrow came. "Chop chop, no time to lose!"

[lunaticlucas]

"that way, rock-head." Arrow spat at Dur'dan as he points to the way he came.

[Rubberneck]

Dur'dan will go find the body of the Dwarf. Ignoring the elf's insult.

[Mosier]

Originally Posted by Rubberneck

Dur'dan will go find the body of the Dwarf. Ignoring the elf's insult.

Karikhan follows Dur'dan further into the delve. "Be careful," Khan warns Dur'dan. "Do not mistake recklessness for haste."

[Autolycus]

Hob follows Karikhan and echoes his warning to Dur'dan. "Indeed, it wouldn't pay to be getting hasty. As in, if we don't make it out of here, then we don't get paid."

[AClockworkMelon]

Arrow leads the group through the city to the site of his attack. The body is as the half-elf left it and it confirms Dur'dan's fears. This dwarf was young, likely no more than a hundred. He has no food or water on him: He can't be far from his base of operations. Arrow heads back up to the balcony where he was ambushed, along with Kittix, and looks down into the street as the others gather around the body.

"I wonder what happen now. Don't think boss expected things being living here." Kittix sniffs at where Arrow and the dwarf fell through, a bit of blood smeared on the shattered remains of a rail.

"Duergar? Here? This can't be a greydwarf delve, can it?" Oshro is stunned at the find.

Jon interrupts: "Excuse me, dwarf, but what in Tartarus is a duergar?"

Before either of the Ironbeards can answer there is a soft whistle from up above. Arrow gestures towards a nearby intersection with one hand, signalling with four of his fingers with his other.

"We're about to have company." Jon draws his weapon. "What do we do?"

[lunaticlucas]

Arrow will strain to draw his bow and prepare for a fight.

"It looks like I'm gonna need you to watch my back again, old friend."

[Rubberneck]

Dur'dan draws his axe and turns to the others.

"Do not attack. Let them make the first move. The grey skin attacked the elf because he is an outsider. Him being here is trespassing. But my nephew and I are Dwarves! We might be able to talk this out instead of spilling more blood. However, there is a small chance for diplomacy. It doesn't hurt to try."

Dur'dan will have his weapon drawn, but lowered to attempt to look as less threatening as possible. He will try and motion to Arrow to stand down unless we come under siege.

[Rubberneck]

Dur'dan turns to kahn, "hide the body!"

[Mosier]

Karikhan nods in understanding, and will attempt to quickly move the gray dwarf's body out of sight nearby. He can do nothing for the blood in the area, though. Khan will stay with the dwarf's body, and cast groundforge to bury it quickly and quietly as possible.

"Make your diplomacy somewhere else," Karikhan says. "Here, there are signs of battle all around." To Jikhal, Khan says in Shelic -

SPOILER:

I will be close by, but out of sight. If diplomacy fails, shout to me.

[Autolycus]

Originally Posted by Autolycus

"Skeleton dwarves, zombie dwarves, I wonder what's causin' this terrible blight?" Hob says as an open question, not particularly expecting an answer but not bothered if one comes anyway.

While following Arrow and the party, Hob continues the conversation he started with himself:

"You know, I wouldn't be surprised if there was some foul magic at work here. Last I checked, skeletons don't just rise up on their own, you know. Who knows, maybe even a necromancer could be involved. Yes, maybe even a necromancer...." he says, his voice lowering as he scares himself with his own talking.

When the action begins to pick up back at the grey dwarf's body, Hob will go along with Karikhan saying, "I'll help with the burying!"

[AClockworkMelon]

The seconds pass painfully for the party, the stomping of heavy ironshod boots growing louder with each moment as the strangers approach the group's position. Finally they round the corner, mail jingling with every step as the four grey dwarves grow nearer, finally stopping at the center of the intersection to survey the party.

At the group's head is a middle-aged and dark grey-skinned dwarf with a long, greying beard and a pair of beady bronze eyes. He has a large pock mark on his left cheek and a bulbous, mushroom nose. He is wrapped in a thick wool traveling cloak, beneath it a black tabard and chain. A heavy steel helm rests upon his head, casting his eyes and upper face into shadow. A massive sword is strapped to his back, nearly taller than he is.

To his left and right are younger duergar, each of them with short black beards and armored in boiled leather, chain coifs at their heads beneath leather and iron caps. Each are armed with short swords, though one, slightly pudgier than his fellows, also has a crossbow hanging from a loop of leather cord on his belt.

The fourth deep dwarf, at the rear of the group, is ancient, his long, snow-white beard triple coiled around his waist. Despite his advanced age, which shows in the deep wrinkles on his grizzled face, this fourth dwarf seems as fit as his kin, arms and legs thick and powerful. He is wearing a black surcoat over a heavy set of chain. On his chest is the crest of his clan: A pair of crossed axes set within a volcano. A battleaxe is set on hooks on his belt, his right elbow resting upon its head.

The two younger duergar seem surprised to see anyone, but their shocked eyes linger on the Ironbeards. The older dwarf is more reserved, and the elder leader of the group is unfazed entirely: Any surprise he may have he conceals utterly. He exchanges a glance with his claymore-armed companion before the latter speaks, his voice harsh and deep, to the party, in a language the player characters can identify as dwarven.

[Rubberneck]

Dur'dan replies, while slowly closing the gap in as non hostile fashion as possible.

[AClockworkMelon]

The dwarf continues his conversation with Dur'dan, at one point stepping aside and sweeping a mailed hand towards the eldest of his companions.

[Rubberneck]

Dur'dan responds, with a slight chuckle.