(038) The Concourse Catacomb

Waysoftheearth's Hinterlands PBP

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Location: Melbourne, Australia

Post by waysoftheearth » Sun Apr 22, 2012 9:24 am

(038) The Concourse Catacomb

waysoftheearth wrote:
Dugel, Wendel, and Mads. Your adventure begins...

Now.


"Thank you for coming, err, gentlemen," mutters the representative of the Traders' Concourse stiffly. He is apparently an irritable merchant, of sorts, and clearly his thanks amount to a formality rather than any sincere gratitude.

Behind him stand two thick-limbed guardians -- fighting men in the Concourse purple and white livery, but sell sword thugs without any shadow of doubt -- who each carry a quietly burning lantern, and the orange light cast by these illuminates the grimy, claustrophobic stone vault.

"I apologise for the rather unconventional circumstances," continues the Concourse man, smiling half-heartedly as he casts a bony hand about.

It truly is an eerie, and slightly frightening place to find yourselves in, and you have several times already questioned the wisdom of agreeing to this crackpot scheme. Still, and empty coin purse will drive a Man or Dwarf equally to desperate things...

"...but discretion is paramount in this matter, as I am sure you three, em, gentlemen, can appreciate." The Concourse man sniffs irritably, then indicates to one of his guards and the burly fellow hands his burning lantern over to the dark-cloaked fellow among you named Mads, who takes it silently and nods. He turns to look at each of in turn with a dubious eye, which each of you return in kind. You are an unlikely trio to be hired for any "official" business, that much is certain.

"The entrance to the catacombs is directly ahead, there," the Concourse Man continues, indicating the great dark arched doorway directly ahead. "My Men here, Meinhard and Gregor will await you at the top of this stair, and ensure that nobody else comes this way. Remember, all you need do for your hundred gold pieces is verify that the Old Vault remains sealed -- you must report to me the four numerals that are visible on the face of the lock. You should find the vault one level down, and some hundred yards or so ahead."

You remember now that the agent was specifically looking for Men who could read and figure... he was very insistent on that.

"But I warn you once more!" he shakes his bony finger at you, "These warrens have long been disused, and we suspect they may be inhabited by... various unfriendly sorts, best avoided." he sniffs again.

"Right then," he says, suddenly irritable again, "I shall be off. Good luck... gentlemen."

The Concourse Man and his two guards all turn about to tramp back up the steep, narrow stair which you recently descended in order to arrive at this place.

Before long, it is only the three of you. And the foreboding dark...
[f=32]Golgildir the Elf Medium (MV 12", AC 9, HD 1, hp 1/1, AL N) great cloak, lantern; spells: color spray; scrolls: sleep, sleep, charm person
Hirelings: Georges; torch[/f]

Posts: 16902
Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2013 1:15 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Post by waysoftheearth » Sun Apr 22, 2012 9:31 am

(038) The Concourse Catacomb

waysoftheearth wrote:
"A remarkable fellow, no doubt," mutter Mads to noone in particular.

He holds the lantern high to inspect the chamber more fully. There is the steep stair back up to the Concourse basements, behind you. The chamber at hand appears musty and long disused... it is mayhap 30ft wide and as deep. The ceiling is a good 12 to 15ft overhead.

Directly before you is a tall, central door-arch. To its left is another, and to its right is a third. All three arches loom over dark looking passages. The air is still and cool, and there is nothing beyond your "employer's" intelligence that recommends any one way over the others.

What now?
[f=32]Golgildir the Elf Medium (MV 12", AC 9, HD 1, hp 1/1, AL N) great cloak, lantern; spells: color spray; scrolls: sleep, sleep, charm person
Hirelings: Georges; torch[/f]

Posts: 16902
Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2013 1:15 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Post by waysoftheearth » Sun Apr 22, 2012 10:58 pm

(038) The Concourse Catacomb

waysoftheearth wrote:
Mads casts a wary eye down each of the passages in turn, aided somewhat by his lantern light, while Wendel coughs and scrawls his impromptu map. It looks something like this...


......=......
..+---=---+..
..|.......|..
..|.......|..
..\......./..
...\_____/...
.../..|..\...
../...|...\..
[f=32]Golgildir the Elf Medium (MV 12", AC 9, HD 1, hp 1/1, AL N) great cloak, lantern; spells: color spray; scrolls: sleep, sleep, charm person
Hirelings: Georges; torch[/f]

Posts: 16902
Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2013 1:15 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Post by waysoftheearth » Thu Apr 26, 2012 12:20 pm

(038) The Concourse Catacomb

waysoftheearth wrote:
"Now that our... employer has departed," mutters Mads as he unshoulders his heavy looking pack, "I think it time to reveal my secret weapon..."

The pack looks bulky indeed, and the others are eagerly to see whatever might be inside...

Mads sets it down, with a moderate degree of care it must be said, and unstraps the buckles, and Lo! A Halfling stands up and shakes his head!

"What? Are we there already?" asks the Halfling blearly...

"It would appear so..." replies Mads grimly...


Rufus, your adventure begins....

Now!
[f=32]Golgildir the Elf Medium (MV 12", AC 9, HD 1, hp 1/1, AL N) great cloak, lantern; spells: color spray; scrolls: sleep, sleep, charm person
Hirelings: Georges; torch[/f]

Posts: 16902
Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2013 1:15 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Post by waysoftheearth » Fri Apr 27, 2012 12:35 pm

(038) The Concourse Catacomb

heartless wrote:
Hi all, have no fear I am here to assist. I may be small but you will find me invaluable to have along.

Me names Rufus the quick to those who know me. He goes around and shakes everyone hand and smiles and gets to know everyones name.
"Hello Dugel".
"Hello Wendel".
"Thanks once again Mads for the ride, you have been a good companion as ever", adds Rufus.

"Okay I'm in for the hundred gold pieces to verify that the Old Vault remains sealed" says Rufus.

What Wendel suggests is as good as any, let me go ahead and scout out down the left passage. You all follow with the light.
Rufus gets up, standing over three feet tall, with dagger and hand axe in his hands and quickly moves into position...

As Rufus advances he will look out for traps, trip wires and alike to make sure he does not get in trouble, for he is no fool.

Image
[f=32]Golgildir the Elf Medium (MV 12", AC 9, HD 1, hp 1/1, AL N) great cloak, lantern; spells: color spray; scrolls: sleep, sleep, charm person
Hirelings: Georges; torch[/f]

Posts: 16902
Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2013 1:15 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Post by waysoftheearth » Sat Apr 28, 2012 11:23 pm

(038) The Concourse Catacomb

waysoftheearth wrote:
By the steady light of the lantern, Rufus investigates the arch of the passageway to the left for any tripwire or other tomfoolery, but everything appears to quite normal for an ancient, disused subterranean passageway.

Thus, he proceeds to slip down the passageway as far as the lantern light will permit. Mads follows more cautiously, extending the reach of the light as he does so...

"Follow on, you pair," mutters Mads to Dugel the Dwarf and Wendel, who is busy coughing after completing his map. These damp dungeons are no good for the lungs, that much is assured.
[f=32]Golgildir the Elf Medium (MV 12", AC 9, HD 1, hp 1/1, AL N) great cloak, lantern; spells: color spray; scrolls: sleep, sleep, charm person
Hirelings: Georges; torch[/f]

Posts: 16902
Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2013 1:15 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Post by waysoftheearth » Sat Apr 28, 2012 11:26 pm

(038) The Concourse Catacomb

waysoftheearth wrote:
Ahead, the passage extends some 20 or so yards before Rufus reaches and intersection. To his right, and narrow stair descends steeply. to his Ahead, the passage continues on. To his left, another passage way veers off perpendicular to the first.

He can't see much in any direction, as the only light is with Mads and the other coming along behind him.

What now?
[f=32]Golgildir the Elf Medium (MV 12", AC 9, HD 1, hp 1/1, AL N) great cloak, lantern; spells: color spray; scrolls: sleep, sleep, charm person
Hirelings: Georges; torch[/f]

Posts: 16902
Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2013 1:15 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Post by waysoftheearth » Sat Apr 28, 2012 11:27 pm

(038) The Concourse Catacomb

waysoftheearth wrote:
(For the record gentlemen, please confirm which sorcerous spells your PCs had memorised before arriving).
[f=32]Golgildir the Elf Medium (MV 12", AC 9, HD 1, hp 1/1, AL N) great cloak, lantern; spells: color spray; scrolls: sleep, sleep, charm person
Hirelings: Georges; torch[/f]

Posts: 16902
Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2013 1:15 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Post by waysoftheearth » Sat Apr 28, 2012 11:32 pm

(038) The Concourse Catacomb

heartless wrote:
Rufus will signal a stop and listen down this entrance to see if he can hear anything!

Then turning back and waiting for more light to arrive he says to the new troop, "Come on lets quickly have a look and get out of here and collect the coin, I want a drink tonight and a warm bed in the inn, not on the floor of a crypt with the cold dead...", laughs Rufus. [img]images/smiley/tongue.png[/img]
[f=32]Golgildir the Elf Medium (MV 12", AC 9, HD 1, hp 1/1, AL N) great cloak, lantern; spells: color spray; scrolls: sleep, sleep, charm person
Hirelings: Georges; torch[/f]

Posts: 16902
Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2013 1:15 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Post by waysoftheearth » Sun Apr 29, 2012 4:39 am

(038) The Concourse Catacomb

Guest wrote:
Wendel has both Eerie Lambent and the Sorcerous Fulmination memorized.

As Rufus ventures ahead Wendel lights his lamp and makes a quick sketch of the intersection, pauses for a moment to hack up a lump of flem he then hastily wipes his mouth and mutters "Stairs eh? Wonder if these are the ones our employer was implying. If thats the case shouldn't be to much further after that. I am however open to suggestions."
[f=32]Golgildir the Elf Medium (MV 12", AC 9, HD 1, hp 1/1, AL N) great cloak, lantern; spells: color spray; scrolls: sleep, sleep, charm person
Hirelings: Georges; torch[/f]

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