Navero 41

From rec.games.frp Thu May 10 19:16:37 1990
Path: uci-ics!jarthur!dparsons
From: dparsons@jarthur.Claremont.EDU (Daniel Parsons)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Navero XLI
Keywords: Navero, of the Correct and Unalterable Way
Message-ID: <7101@jarthur.Claremont.EDU>
Date: 10 May 90 23:47:57 GMT
Organization: Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711
Lines: 402

The Troll mess was cleaned up, and we continued on to the north.

• Navero, male human cleric, 5th level
• Dania, female 1/2-elf MU, 4th level
• Kortul, male human fighter, 5th level
• Kory, male elf bard, 4th level
• Topash, male elf druid, 4th level
• Meth, male ? thief, 3rd level
• Norrin, male 1/2-elf ranger, 6th level

There was a ledge on the north side of the bridge, widened to permit safe travel. The ledge ran eastwards from the bridge; there was a large entrance before us, and a door at the far eastern end. The door seemed the best place to start, so we quietly walked down to it and listened. No sound came from beyond, so we opened it a crack to reveal a small dark tunnel leading downwards. Navero lit a lantern and we went down, Norrin in the lead as he was smaller than Kortul.

The tunnel went sharply downwards, occasionally so sharply that steps had been carved into the stone. We surmised that this probably led down into the mines themselves; there were many noises echoing up from down below, most of them shouting and clanking. It sounded almost like a big fight.

Norrin: "Very strange. Do you think they're under attack from below?"

Dania: "They should worry about attack from above."

Topash: "They may not, if they think the dwarves are helpless."

Navero: "But they aren't, they called for help from us. Oh, I heard that the races who live down there don't, uh, cooperate much."

Dania: "Yeah. They may not think the dwarves would get any help."

Kory: "How much do you think we can count on that?"

Kortul: "Hmph."

Norrin: "Well, whoever has the charming item won't be down there. They'll be up here, where it would be useful. Let us go back and look elsewhere."

We went back west, then continued north from the bridge. This led to a large, natural-looking cavern with a flattened-out floor. There had once been a storeroom here, but it was mostly cleaned out now. Several entrances branched off in all directions. We went north.

The northern passage led to a small room with a single flat rock in the center. On the rock was a foot-high crystal statue of an old man.

Dania: "What is that?"

Norrin: "A foot-high crystal statue of an old man."

Dania: (snarl) "I mean what's it doing here?"

Norrin: "Well, why didn't you say so?"

Topash: "It looks like some sort of small valuable pocketable item. Perhaps you might wish to loot it."

Kortul: (Picks it up to look at.)

Dania: "Hey! It might have been trapped!"

Kortul: "Hmph."

Navero: "Can I look at it?"

Topash: "Dania, do you detect any magic on it?"

Dania: "Uh... yeah, some strong stuff. That thing looks valuable. Give it to me when you're done, Nav. Oh, do you detect evil on it?"

Kory: "It's an evil foot-high crystal statue of an old man. Right."

Navero: (Is touching statue with his bare hands, and staring at it.) "Uh,... no, nothing evil..."

Dania: "Nav?"

Navero: "That's terrible! Here!" (Smashes statue with his mace.)

Dania: "AAAHHH!!"

Kory: "Navero, you what did you you"

(The statue shattered musically, and a small old man appeared in a puff of golden smokiness.)

Old man: "Thank you, young man, thank you very much! Ah, it feels so good to stretch my legs again! Well! Is there anything I can do to repay you for this kindness?"

Navero: "Hello, I am Navero of the Correct and Unalterable Way, and these are my friends, Dania and Kory and Topash and Kortul and... Meth, and Norrin. We're here to try and rescue some dwarves."

Old man: "Hello there! I'm Kalkezar, and I unfortunately came to be trapped inside that damned statue about a century ago. Thank you all for letting me out of there, it was terrible! Oh, young lady, you seem to be an enchantress!"

Kory: "Oh, she's quite enchanting, with many admirable talents, too."

Dania: (Grr...)

Topash: (Sigh.)

Dania: "Uh, yes, I am a spellcaster, although I have not completed my studies as yet. Uh, how did you come to be so trapped?"

Kalkezar: "Oh, a very long story. Ever heard of someone named Desmod? Or has he gotten himself killed yet?"

Navero: "Wasn't he the vampire?"

Kory: "Yep, Duke Desmod the Dark, vampire illusionist. A real twit."

Kalkezar: "A vampire? Hmm, just like him to do that. You see, we were both competing for a position at the court of Mangit-tun, but he cast an entrapment behind my back, and forced into that damn statue. What a wimp. He's still around, I take it?"

Navero: "Well, he might have survived."

Kory: "Bite your tongue! He didn't have a prayer, Nav!"

Kalkezar: "Eh?"

Dania: "When we last saw him, he was fighting Those Who Are More Than Two And Less Than Four."

Kalkezar: "Oh, THEM. Well, I suppose that takes care of him, then. Unless he snuck off somewhere and left an phantasm behind to die instead. He'd do that. Oh, well, I'll find out soon enough. Now: is there ANYTHING I can do to help pay you back?"

Navero: "Well, this is a dwarf town, or it was only the dwarves were driven out by someone with a Charm Dwarf device, so they hired us to get it and the person who had it."

Topash: "Without killing any of the dwarves, of course."

Kalkezar: "Hmm... there are a lot of dwarves south of here... and above us, but I don't think you're interested in that... and a magical item of fairly high power. I think you should be looking to the south to complete your quest. Anything else?"

Kory: "Yes; what is the capital of Assyria?"

Dania: "Can you recommend a good teacher for me so I can complete my studies, and not give up adventuring?"

Kalkezar: "Ah yes, the eternal problem of the traveling mage. Well young lady, I suppose I could be presumed upon, if I'm not too busy. Just call, and I'll see what I can do for you."

Dania: "Hey, thanks!"

Kalkezar: "Well, well... That's it then, I suppose. Goodbye and good luck!"

(Disappears.)

We walked back to the bridge and southwards into the town. As we passed the first building, we saw two dwarves sitting in the doorway; they were armed with a knife and a hand axe, respectably. They did not leap to attack, but just sat there with blank looks on their faces.

Dania: "Watch it, they'll surround us."

Kory: "Right. All both of them."

Dania: "There are more down here, you idiot! And they're charmed slaves. They'll all do exactly as they're told."

Topash: "Oh, you dwarves there; were you told to attack elves?"

Dwarf 1: "Nope. Said, 'Capture dwarves and kill goblins and hobgoblins', they did. Nothin' about elves or humans."

Dwarf 2: "And we do everything they tell us, we do."

Norrin: "There are goblinoids coming up from below?"

Dwarf 2: "I guess so."

Dania: "Who are 'they', and where are they right now?"

Dwarf 1: "Can we tell 'em that?"

Dwarf 2: "Never said we couldn't. Maybe they'll get the charm stick away."

Dwarf 1: "OK. Orgar and Hirisk are in the old meetin' hall at the west end. Hirisk has the charm stick. He's a priest, and can make zombies. Made some from our dead."

Navero: "Yuck! We have to get that thing and rescue these poor people."

Dania: "Yea, yea. Have they looted your treasury?"

Dwarf 2: "Ain't tellin!"

Topash: "Right. I suggest that we not walk up main street, but approach in a slightly more subtle way."

Kory: "Yes! Let's charge up main street, singing and cheering and dodging lightning bolts."

Norrin: "We can go through some of these buildings and sneak in a back way. I most humbly recommend it."

Dania: "Right. Let's go."

Navero cast a Silence 15' on himself, so we were absolutely quiet. We moved into a building; it seemed to have been someone's house, but it had been recently looted and stripped. We went from house to house, going west to the two-story building we assumed was the town hall. There were quite a few dwarves around, but they did not impede us. Our progress was good, until we got to a house right next to the hall. Inside, there were seven dwarves in bloody plate mail. Navero turned off the Silence so we could discuss what to do.

Norrin: "They are probably undead. Dispelling them would not be a good idea; they will run out and someone will notice."

Navero: "They must be put out of their misery. They cannot be allowed to go on in this way."

Topash: "Yes, I agree. They must be returned to their earth, but silently."

Kortul: "Right."

Navero cast Silence again, and the party marched in and stomped them all into the earth. The one with glasses proved exceptionally tough, but they weren't much trouble. Everyone got a Cure Light, and went to a window in the side of the hall. Inside was a corridor going northwards, with doors on the sides; we could faintly hear some arguing at the other end. Kortul went in the window, and we went down to the end of the corridor and looked out. Inside was the main meeting hall of the town, with a huge table and some chairs. There was a big ape in a cage, lots of stuff spread out on the table, and two people standing and arguing. One was a big man in full plate, with a gigantic broadsword, and the other a robed, clericly type of great ugliness. Navero canceled the Silence.

Navero: (Casts Hold Person on the fighter in plate.)

Dania: "Bolt!" (Lightning bolt on the priest.)

Kortul: (Moves into room, shoots priest.)

Kory: (Sings battle song.)

Norrin: (Moves into room, pulls out bag of dust.)

Meth: (Is at the back of the party.)

Topash: (Draws his scimitar and tries to move up front.)

Fighter: (Urk!)

Priest: "What is this?" (Casts Flame Strike in corridor entrance. Gets Navero, Dania, and Kory.)

Navero: "OW!" (Casts Hold Person on Priest; it doesn't work.)

Dania: (Drops.)

Kory: "You bastard! Prepare to suck steel!" (Leaps into the room.)

Topash: "Ah!" (Casts Heat Metal on the fighters plate.)

Kortul: (Draws Sun Sword, charges forward.)

Meth: "This is not going at all well, is it?"

Topash: "Well, I think one of them is out already, and the other should follow fairly soon. I hope."

Norrin: (Throws bag at priest; misses, and dust sprays over the wall behind him.) "Damn it!"

Fighter: "Urk!" (Plate mail is growing very warm.)

Priest: "Die!" (To Kortul. Kortul drops.)

Meth: "Uh-oh." (Smears something on a dagger and throws it; it misses.)

Navero: (Cure Serious on Dania.)

Topash: (Casts Heat Metal again.) "Hadn't someone better try to eliminate him?"

Norrin: "This may take a little time." (Shoots priest twice.)

Dania: "Ow..."

Kory: "HI-YEEEAAH!" (Leaps over table to attack priest.)

Fighter: "URK!" (Plate mail is very hot. Burning smell begins to fill room.)

Priest: (Waves his hand at Kory, who takes 18 hit points damage.)

Kory: "ow!" (thud.)

Navero: (Casts Hold Person on Priest, it doesn't work again.)

Meth: (Throws another smeared up dagger; this one hits.) "I'd say we'll have nothing to worry about in a few minutes, boys and girls."

Dania: "Fuck a few minutes! STORM!" (Great crackling out of staff, huge forks of lightning strike priest.)

Fighter: "Aggg..." (Toasted smell fills the room.)

Priest: (Wobbles, then falls.)

Dania: "Check on everybody."

Kortul was not dead; he had made his saving throw and a wisdom check and was merely stunned. The fighter was dead; roasted inside his plate mail. Everyone was bandaged up and healed, and we searched the room for magic items and other interesting things. The fighter had a cloak, his sword and armor, and a ring; the priest had bracers, boots and a pair of rings, along with a wand which we suspected was the "charm stick." A few scrolls and potions were scattered about the table, along with maps of the complex, and of the mines and deeps and other stuff dealing with the dwarves. Also a black candle, which Navero did not like at all. Kory and Meth found an entrance down to a vault, with a great deal of dwarvish gold; Navero insisted that none of it was to be taken.

The gorilla in the cage was identified as a carnivorous ape; it was probably trained to attack as well. Topash had some trouble communicating with it, as it was almost intelligent enough not to be an animal, but he was eventually able to get the message across that we weren't going to hurt it. We then let it out and it went running away.

The main entrance to the mines was north of the town; we went up and knocked, and were greeted by about 60 armored dwarves with crossbows aimed at us. After the situation had been explained to them, we agreed to go down and try to un-charm the dwarves, while they waited. Neither Navero nor Dania could figure out how the wand worked, but a dwarf told us the priest renewed the charm every day, so we assumed it would wear off of its own. Korgurindin took possession of the wand himself, and congratulated us on our success.

Korgurindin: "Impressive, if I do say so. Not a single one of the people killed, and all of our wealth still in the vaults. You have our gratitude."

Dania: "Fine. Can we have our money?"

Korgurindin: "Ah, yes. 200 each,"

Dania: "300."

Korgurindin: "300 each, as agreed upon. I hope you will feel free to stay and rest from your labors for a little while, there should be rooms for people your size in Stranger's hall. My servant will show you there."

Dania: "Nah, lets just get"

Topash: "We would be delighted to accept your hospitality, of course. Come along, Dania."

We rested for a while in Dwarf town, healing and identifying and dividing up treasures. We didn't get too much money, but enough to make us much happier than before. The dwarves destroyed the wand.

Magic items:

• Unidentifiable Silver Ring (went to Topash)
• Unidentifiable Gold Ring (to Kory)
• Ring of Warmth (to Navero)
• Boots of Elvenkind (to Norrin)
• Bracers of Defense, AC: 6 (to Dania)
• Broadsword, +3 (Nobody had proficiency in broadsword. Sold to the dwarves and divided up.)
• Plate mail, +1 (to Kortul)
• Cloak of Flying (to Kortul)
• Candle of Invocation (Chaotic Evil. Destroyed by Navero.)
• Potion of Vitality (to Meth)
• Philther of Love (to Meth)
• Scroll of Create Food & Water (to Navero)
• Scroll of Entangle, Shillelagh (to Topash)
• Scroll - protection from Cold (to Norrin)

The next day, we rode out again. As we got to the road, a subtle change came over the land again; the blue grass an snow cats vanished, and snow began to gently fall once more. Norrin left to return to his forest, and Razuli appeared.

Razuli: "Hey, where the hell have you all been? I got teleported into King Mangit-tun's harem and had myself a good ol' time. Hey wizzerd, nice bracelets! I thought of you often. Hey, where do we go now, kids?"

Kory: "Good to see you again, sir! Now everything is the way it should be."

Dania: "I liked it better the other way. Let's go."

Daniel Parsons

"Do we still have all that money and stuff we got?"