Navero 31

From rec.games.frp Fri Feb 23 10:26:30 1990
Path: uci-ics!jarthur!dparsons
From: dparsons@jarthur.Claremont.EDU (Daniel Parsons)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Navero XXXI
Keywords: Navero, of the Correct and Unalterable Way
Message-ID: <4575@jarthur.Claremont.EDU>
Date: 23 Feb 90 01:06:33 GMT
Organization: Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711
Lines: 291

Many thanks to all those who wrote, offering advice or requests or whatever. The complaints I received seem to be that the series is bogging down a bit; in the more recent posts, nothing really HAPPENS; there isn't all that much story, and the dialog is a bit too thin to hold it together. I hope it was just that I've hit a low point, and things will pick up now that the party has someplace to go and something to do. Any more thoughts or criticisms are welcome, of course.

And, a special note to Nightshade: I'm glad you like it. I did try to keep everyone in character as well as I could, and hope I did well. Sometimes I think I slipped, but I'm glad to hear you like it so far. (Editor's note: This may be referring to the lady who played Dania--Kwd)

• Navero, male human cleric, 4th level
• Dania, female 1/2-elf MU, 4th level
• Kortul, male human fighter, 4th level
• Razuli, male human fighter, 4th level
• Arlor, male dwarf thief, 4th level
• Kory, male elf bard, 3rd level
• Topash, male elf druid, 3rd level

His Lordship Duke Desmod was kind enough to loan us a few horses; they were nothing much, but faster than walking, and we left him and his silent soldiers at "dawn" the next day. He explained that the Bloodstone was inside an old keep to the south, which was now in ruins. Following his directions, we rode southwards for about a week. The trip was uneventful.

The keep was on a plain with a dried-up stream flowing through it, and near a group of low, rolling hills. The outer walls and roof were still mostly intact, but the eastern wall had been breached, and was cracked and crumbling. It was built out of granite, and the great gates were ajar. It was late morning at the time, so there was no great hurry to enter, and we sat to debate our course of action.

Razuli: "Right, kids. We go in through the breach. Only an idiot would walk in the front door."

Dania: "Why not crawl in through the stream? They can throw rocks at us, or collapse that wall on us if we go in the breach."

Kortul: "Can get attacked while on knees. Very bad."

Navero: "Can't we sneak up while it's dark?"

Razuli: "Navero: Undead, remember?"

Kory: "We don't know if there are any in there."

Topash: "If the Bloodstone lies within, where else would they be? Navero, do you detect any evil about the place?"

Navero: "Yes. It's everywhere. But there's a big spot under the keep. I think it would be in the cellars. Why don't we just go in and get it, and get away from here? I don't like it here."

Dania: "Nav, relax. It'll all be over soon, then we can go someplace else."

(As this is being argued, a figure is silently watching the party from the bushes. He asks the game master what he sees.)

Game M: OK, you see a tall obnoxious fighter, a short obnoxious bard, a very short magic-user, an imperturbable-looking elf in brown and green, a big smelly-looking human, and a very pious-looking human.

Figure: "I say, but you look like a party! I think parties are bitchin'."

(Party jumps a bit.)

Topash: "Hail, fellow-skulking-in-the-bushes-over-there. Are you a PC?"

Figure: "Sure! But I prefer at least 3 initials myself."

Kory: "Now, now, lets stay in character. (Walks up to figure) You appear to be a person of quite uncertain ancestry, possessed of poor social graces and bad breath. I am Kory Silvertongue, soon to be Incredibly Famous and known throughout the lands. Who may you be, dearest sir?"

Figure: "I may be called Meth Crystal, but I'm not quite sure. I think it was something like that, anyway. Do you party? I got some killer weed here if you're not into it."

Dania: "Oh, Jesus..."

Kory: "The elf with the hooters over there is our own darling little Dania, who needs no introduction. This slimy and disreputable individual is Razuli, cheerful comrade and rear-flank warrior. That personage over there is our front flank warrior; don't talk to him, he's no fun at all. And, for comic relief, we have Navero here."

Meth: "Well, hello there, small blonde person."

Dania: "Hi. Who are you, and what do you do for a living?"

Meth: "Do? Lets not talk about that right now, shall we? Suffice to say... Oh shit, the sky turned colors again..."

Razuli: "It says he's a thief on his character sheet."

Topash: "Ah, good. We've been needing a thief."

Dania: "Yeah, but are we this desperate?"

Game Master: What about Arlor?

Dania: What about him? He's not even here 2 sessions out of 3.

Razuli: "C'mon! I'm sure he can put it right in there with the rest of us! You'd know all about that, magic-user! Give him a chance!"

Navero: "Why are his eyes so red?"

Meth: "All the better to see you with, hey, who are you?"

Navero: "I am acolyte Navero of the Correct and Unalterable Way. Have you heard of us? Our goal is to bring the light of peace to this dark and confusing world and help others to shine with the inner light."

Meth: (Stares at Navero for a moment) "Yeah. OK." (To Kory) "Where did you find this guy?"

Kory: "He appeared in this blazing beam of golden luminescence, and we've been trying to deal with him ever since. Just don't get near him while we're in a fight."

Meth: "Oh? One of those fighting priests?"

Kory: "Uh... you could say that, but I really wouldn't."

Razuli: "Kids, can we go now?"

Topash: "Yes, I believe we should. Our quest awaits, and the balance must be righted. We should enter through the breached wall. Are there any objections?"

Party: Nope, uh-uh, lets go kiddies, etc. (Party walks quietly to keep)

Meth: "Inner light? Last time I had an inner light was when I tried all the Tantric stuff. Surely we're not talking about the same thing."

We walked up to the keep; death did not rain down from the skies onto our pointy little heads, nor did the earth erupt and swallow us down into its depths. All was quiet. Through the breach in the eastern wall of the keep, we could see a room, empty but for a dash of assorted debris. Kortul entered first, then Kory, then everyone else. The room was about 30 by 40 feet, with passageways in the western and northern walls. The room seemed to have been a kitchen at some point, but nothing worthwhile remained within. We left through the northern passage.

The passage went northwards, turned east, and opened into another room with a whole bunch of bones in it. Most seemed to be human.

Meth: "Oh, must be somebody's pantry!"

Topash: "Or garbage heap."

(Suddenly, the bones start moving. Ten skeletons spring up and attack the party, rattling their shaky bones.)

Undead: RATTLE RATTLE RATTLE

Navero: "AAHH!! Go away, evil nasty icky things!" (Rolls a 14 on dispelling)

Undead: (Turn around and run away)

Kory: "Nav! You did something! I'm shocked speechless!"

Navero: (Is also shocked speechless. Stares at cowering undead.)

Dania: "Hey, good going, Nav! Lets check out the room."

Navero: (Still staring at cowering undead.)

Dania: "Nav?"

Razuli: (Looks in Naveros ear) "I don't think he's home right now."

Navero: (Drops to knees) "Oh, Lords of the Correct and Unalterable Way, the True Way of Light and Life, Caretakers of All, I knew you hadn't forsaken me!! Oh, thank you thank you thank you (The rest of the party goes to check out the room) thank you thank you thank you thank you!! I am blessed in your joyous radiance and shine by the reflection of your divine love! Yea, though my faith may flag, I shall always follow the radiance of your goodness as best I can! Look upon your unworthy and grateful servant (The rest of the party has finished checking out the room; nothing interesting) who rejoices in the light of life under your flag, now and forevermore! Oh Lords, (Rest of the party is waiting impatiently) though I may fail to bring about your works, forgive my weakness, and reward me with..."

Razuli: "Navero?"

Navero: "..your divine... Yes?"

Kory: "'icky'?"

Navero: "Uh... well, they are icky. I mean, uh..."

Dania: "Nav, lets go. There's another entrance over here."

Navero: "But I must thank the Lords for their divine mercy and goodness in allowing me to be the instrument of their work."

Topash: "It might not occur to you that now is not the time. Tell you what: why don't you remember everything the Lords do for you, and then thank them all at once later, OK?"

Navero: "But..."

Topash: "Very good. Let's go now."

The hall went east. After about 40 feet, we ran into a bunch of zombies. Again, they fell back before the wrath of Navero.

Razuli: "Don't get cocky, kid."

Navero: "Cocky? No!" (Hums short ditty, looks pleased with himself.)

Doors in the sides of the corridor opened onto more empty halls or more empty rooms, until one opened onto a stairwell, going up.

Razuli: "I think we need to find stairs going down, kids."

Topash: "Perhaps we may find a secret entrance on the upper story, which will lead us to our goal. The witch, if there is one, will also be up there, should we choose to deal with her."

Dania: "Oh, lets just get up there and see if we can find any money. And magic items too! She should have lots it she's got the Bloodstone."

Topash: "All of which will be used against us in any battle."

Kortul: (snarls, tromps upstairs.)

Kory: "I think the decision has been made by a higher power. Shall we?"

Dania: (grumbles)

Undead: (Greenish skeletons charge from top of stairs.) RATTLE RATTLE RATTLE

Kory: "Oh, Navero? There are some people up here who'd like to see you."

Navero: "By the Light of the True Path, Begone!!" (Rolls a 6.)

Undead: (Blatantly ignore Navero and attack)

Topash: "I knew it couldn't last."

Navero: "Lords?"

(Generic combat sounds, screaming, etc.)

The Green Skeletons proved to be tougher than the normal sort, but were vanquished without serious loss. At the top of the stairs there was a locked iron door, with some sort of runic script in the surface. Dania did not detect any magic, but Navero thought the runes looked disturbingly familiar. Meth picked the lock, and discovered a wire at the bottom, which he then disconnected. Kortul looked inside. Inside, there was a small room, with big worm-like things writhing in a layer of slime on the floor; each had a grossly distorted humanoid face. There was another door in the southern wall.

Things: "Awwaaa guur haaatttruuu..."

Kory: "Oh, yuck, I think I recognize these things."

(They wriggle through the door and start maliciously biting everything. They are all killed shortly thereafter.)

Navero: "Those were Larvae, the souls of evil people housed in forms more fitting to them. But those are supposed to be in the damned place, not here! Who could have brought them here?"

Dania: "We'll probably find out. Any treasure?"

Razuli: "Nope. Lets go back down and look for the cellar stairs."

(Suddenly, the other door in the room opens. A hunchbacked, vaguely female figure looks in, grinning maliciously.)

Navero: "AAHH! That's not a witch! That's a Night Hag! A hell creature!"

Dania: "FuckingshitchristKILLIT!!" (casts Magic Missile)

The missile hit the Hag and fizzled out. It grinned more maliciously, and snapped its fingers. The ceiling collapsed on Kortul, knocking him out.

Hag: "The rest of you can go now."

Dan Parsons

"Oh, shit. We're dead."