Immersive Ink

Aldbane votes to just pay them, and maybe we can get some info on what is on this level.

Franklin waves hello, all cheerful and friendly. "Hi! I'll give you 50gp right now just for information, to tell us where these many exits lead to. Do you have a base on this level, or is just you guys?"

"50 for info? That's easy money? Toss it here, and we'll answer teh questions. Even give you credit towards the 100 gold entry"

Does he pay up?

Franklin most definitely pays up.

After a pouch with 50 gold is tossed to the soldiers, the leader speaks

"Well," he says, obviously relishing the idea of giving information for a change, "the door to the east leads to a large room where the wizards and their pets research a way to control the balrog locked away. That's where the money goes. Behind the north door we've trapped a huge black pudding monstrosity - don't want to let that out! The door to the west is where we sleep, but it is a dead end. To get any further you have to either chance the black pudding, or leave through the wizard's room. But we can give you tokens that you've paid, and they will thank you for funding their research. Don't know much more than that"

NOTE: Players could always try taking the elevator, see where that comes out...he he heh

"Is the fee only a one-way fee, or do we need to pay on our way back as well?" Maloof asks.

One way. Just show your tokens

"Do these wizards have magic items for sale? Potions? Scrolls? Et Cetera?" Franklin asks hopefully.

If the answer is 'yes' then he pays the other 50gp and drags his friends along on a shopping spree! I thought the potion of heroism worked out well.

DM: I apologize, I thought I had replied to this

"They're wizards - who knows what crazy things they do?"

OOC: I still have a slight preference for my original vote: go back up to level 3 and fill in some blank areas of the map. But I could easily be talked into it, if the rest of you would like to continue on into the wizards' domain.