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Chapter 1. Wyfalls; (Noria Alpha Campaign)
Topic Started: May 14 2013, 10:49 AM (2,741 Views)
New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
"Well, that sounds like a better idea than just standing here in our own filth. Let's go."
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East Anarx
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The adventurers wasted no time in pursuing their quarry, and soon they came upon what appeared to be the end of the dwarf-built tunnel. Three smaller, naturally-formed tunnels led away in different directions. Seven dwarf-sized skeletons, bony fingers still curled around pick-axe handles, lay about the tunnel intersection, and disturbingly familiar clusters of grey-green eggs were growing out of the eyes, gaping mouths, and various other orifices of these decaying corpses.

Suddenly, down from the ceiling dropped a writhing mass of vicious little deepwurms, right into the midst of the party. Two of them landed on Fenris' head and immediately latched on. Another one landed on Glrch's shoulder and promptly went for his throat. Yet another landed on Pad's arm, causing him to drop the lantern and plunge them all into utter darkness.

In the all-consuming blackness of the deepest depths of Stonebelly mine, the adventurers struggled to break free of the vampiric embrace of the deepwurms. More wurms swarmed around their ankles, and a nauseatingly familiar gas filled their lungs, reminding them of the smell of freshly-hatched deepwurms.

---

Meanwhile, back on the surface and halfway across town, a brightly-dressed hobbit led a mule down to the edge of the lake for a drink. The mule turned up her nose at the suggestion, refusing to drink the lake water, and so the halfling poured some ale into a bucket for the stubborn animal, who lapped it up thirstily. Then, apparently satisfied that the mule could take care of herself for the time being, the hobbit strolled into the Hollow Hill Inn & Tavern, found a relatively quiet table near a window, and ordered second breakfast.
Edited by East Anarx, Jul 27 2013, 06:59 PM.
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
Glrch quickly grabbed the stinky deep wurm struggling to get to his throat, and slashed it in half with his short sword, tossing it aside, then began hacking blindly at the ground hoping to make contact with others. after a few moments, he turned, and began running as best he could, in the direction that had come, bouncing off of walls and feeling his way along. He had a bad feeling that the wurms were chasing him.

Suddenly, he stopped, then, speaking in the Voice of Burrowing animals, began calling, "Come, brothers, lead the way - we can get out into the mine. Lead the way."

He heard several begin to crawl in front of him, and followed the sounds of their wiggling bodies.
Edited by New Harumf, Jul 28 2013, 12:05 PM.
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meh
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1st Lieutenant
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The nauseating gas swarmed Fenris, choking the air with a poisonous stench. The steady trickle of blood from where the wurms had attached themselves flowed onto his face. The taste of his own blood trickling from his head forced Fenris into a rage. He struggled, ripping the two wurms off his head, and began slashing and hacking at the ones closest to him.
Edited by meh, Jul 29 2013, 08:21 PM.
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Al Araam
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Demigod of Death & Inactivity

Pad dropped his bow and drew his longsword. Kneeling on the ground and swinging the sword with his right hand, the elf fumbles in the dark for the lantern.
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East Anarx
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After what seemed like an eternity of despair and chaos through which the adventurers fought madly, the elf's searching hand brushed against what he thought was the lantern. Desperately, Pad grabbed it, felt that the fragile glass was miraculously unbroken, and managed to get it lit.

The sudden illumination revealed that while the raging barbarian had slain at least a dozen wurms, their gruesome remains surrounding him, many more were still alive and on the offensive. Pad stabbed an approaching deepwurm with his longsword before rising to his feet and scanning the immediate area with the lantern.

Glrch was nowhere to be seen, apparently having fled back down the tunnel where he was engaged in combat with a few deepwurms of his own. Reflected light from the lantern became a dim twilight by the time it reached the gnome, but it was enough for him to avoid running into walls.

Fenris made the most of his enraged state and his freshly returned sight by pressing onward into the swarm, hacking and slashing furiously. His attacks seemed to lessen the other deepwurms' resolve, or perhaps some kind of survival instincts kicked in, either way, they were on the run. Pad was able to cut down several of the retreating wurms as they scattered in the barbarian's wake.

Before long, Glrch came running back up the tunnel, victoriously waving his bloodied sword as he rushed to the aid of his comrades. Together, they stamped out the few remaining attackers and then Glrch and Pad took a moment to catch their breath as they watched the retreating deepwurms disappear into the three smaller tunnels branching off the main.

Fenris, on the other hand, wasted no time in crushing the remaining unhatched eggs, his eyes still wild with rage. Prematurely opening them seemed to release a slightly different, though still nauseating, odor.

Then, from out of the middle tunnel, emerged the largest deepwurm they had yet seen. As big as a man, it oozed toward them, circular maw agape and rows of razor sharp teeth flashing. Around it, and from both of the side tunnels, smaller deepwurms poured forth, apparently launching a final assault in an attempt to save their unborn.
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
"Use your bow, elf!" hollered Glrch. "We'll fend off the little beasties, get your bow and shoot that huge bastard!"
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Al Araam
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Padrielor hurriedly sets the lantern down, illuminating the massive deepwurm, returned his longsword to its scabbard, and picked up his longbow. Planting his feet firmly in the semi-dark behind the bullseye lantern, the elf nocked an arrow, drew, and loosed again, and again.
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East Anarx
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The first arrow missed its mark, clattering off the walls of the cavern, while the second arrow soared straight and true, penetrating the exposed throat of the giant deepwurm. Glrch and Fenris held defensive positions to the left and right of Pad, and it was all they could do to hold off the swarm of little wurms as the archer fired arrow after arrow toward the oncoming mother wurm. Just as the attacking monster seemed to be about to reach the party, another arrow struck it, causing it to flinch. In that moment, the still enraged barbarian buried his axe in the huge deepwurm's neck, used it to pull himself up and around, and then, straddling the monster, plunged his sword straight down.

Glrch stomped out the last remaining little deepwurms, and then only the sound of the adventurers' heavy breathing remained. With the exception of the smaller tunnels they had not yet explored, it seemed they had rid the floor of the deepwurm infestation. The bodies of the dwarves littering the floor were now free for the looting, and the three adventurers wasted no time in snatching up the loose coins and various trinkets adorning their corpses. Glrch found 6 Gold coins and a small knife inlaid with jewels. Fenris found 5 Gold coins and a shiny two-handed battle-axe of some unknown metal, (perhaps a skilled blacksmith would know.) Padrielor found 3 Gold coins, a fine jeweled brooch, and a too-big helmet of the same unknown metal as Fenris' new axe. While there were other weapons and trinkets laying around, time and the environmental conditions of the mine had left them in poor condition and salvaging them didn't seem worthwhile.

Fenris had by now calmed down somewhat, but he jealously eyed the elf's new helmet, and considered disputing Pad's claim over it on the basis that it was probably a better fit for himself.
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
"Fellow wurmslayers, I don't know about you, but I have no interest exploring those other tunnels," said Glrch, for once, common sense replacing his curiosity. "If you want to go for it, go for it, but I am heading back to the fresh air, and I mean above ground!!"
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Al Araam
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The elf eyed the darkness beyond the narrow ray of light thrown down the tunnel by the lantern, clearly considering at least attempting to venture deeper into the mines. He waited for the barbarian to make his intentions known and wondered whether he might have company.
Edited by Al Araam, Aug 8 2013, 01:02 PM.
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meh
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Fenris was busy looking over the axe, barely paying attention to his companions. The was unlike anything he had seen before. He glanced up momentarily, to find te elf and the gnome deciding whether or not to travel deeper into the mine, and spoke up. "As much as I'd like to get out of this hell, I doubt the dwarves will pay us unless the job is done in its entirety. You can never trust a dwarf when gold is on the line."
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
"Ah, well then, I must agree! Dwarves are the shiftiest, stupidest, most non-truth telling, stinkiest, fithiest, dishonest, gold-hoarding creatures around! They are almost as bad as hobbits. On we go then."
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East Anarx
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Rather than splitting up, and seeing as how between the three of them they had but one lantern, the adventurers made their way down the first smaller tunnel, which curved up and to the left. Before long, they came to a dead end, empty save for a few clusters of deepwurm eggs. These they stomped cheerfully and then hurried back down the tunnel before breathing in too much more of the foul gases released. The smell was beginning to remind Glrch of the one memory he had of his mother before she abandoned him, when he was but an infant and she had fed him from the sweat of her armpit rather than the milk of her teat.

The next tunnel, the middle one, curved up and then steeply down, where it opened out into a broad low chamber filled with many clusters of deepwurm eggs. The adventurers quickly began to crush the unhatched eggs, but a few dozen hatched in spite of their best efforts. One of the little deepwurms managed to latch on to Pad's right ankle and draw blood before the elf tore it off and sliced it in half. The rest were summarily dispatched and then the adventurers climbed their way back out of the chamber, coughing and retching from the lingering stench.

The third tunnel, which curved downward and to the right, ended in a similar, though smaller chamber. There were only a few clusters of eggs here, and the adventurers swiftly crushed them all before they could hatch. Just as the adventurers were about to head back out into the main tunnel, light from the lantern reflected off a small, shiny object on the floor. All three of them grabbed for it simultaneously, but it was the gnome who succeeded in snatching it up before scurrying out of reach of the others.

Glrch slowly opened his clenched fist in the light, eager to see what treasure he had found, and there in the palm of his hand the three adventurers saw what appeared to be a simple silver ring. And yet, it seemed to shimmer with a certain aura, as if it contained great power within, and as the other two leaned in for a better look, Glrch spirited it away into some hidden pocket of his trousers.

The adventurers were feeling more than a little unwell from the constant exposure to deepwurm gas, and so they hurried out into the main tunnel, past the seven dead dwarves, and back down the long, curving corridor until they came to where the air seemed a little clearer and fresher. They were back at the place where the tunnel first split, and to their right was the narrow tunnel they had earlier passed by without exploring.
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
"so," Glrch thought to himself, "I wonder what magic this ring in my pocket can produce? Better wait till I am alone to try it out." With that thought in mind, he said aloud, "we've come this far. Let's check out this last tunnel. Then our job can be done!"
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East Anarx
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The adventurers made their way down the side tunnel and soon arrived at its terminus. Another long-dead dwarf was here, sprawled over a stone toilet as if he had died vomiting his guts into it. Other than that grisly sight, the tunnel was empty, and so they hurried back out into the main hall and headed for the exit.

The walls of the tunnel were back to smoothly carved stone, and then they were back at the lift. A single button was set in a panel next to the elevator, and Glrch reached up and pressed it before crossing his arms and tapping his foot impatiently. Moments later, the cage arrived and opened, and the three adventurers stepped in as the door closed behind them. The cage ascended rapidly, and they all breathed a sigh of relief when they arrived safely at the surface and the door opened again.

While still much brighter than the darkness of the mine's depths, leaving the adventurers blinking while their eyes adjusted, the large cave wherein they found themselves was generously shaded from above by overhanging rock. To their east was the great stone arch under which they had passed on the way in, and beyond that lay a bright open expanse of daylight and fresh air.
Edited by East Anarx, Aug 10 2013, 07:04 AM.
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
"Time to get our pay!" said Glrch. "Let's head back and find our dwarf. Where did he say to meet him?"
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Al Araam
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Pad frowned. "There is the matter of the squatting and the dwarven guards," he said. "There is no doubt we've earned our pay, but Stonebelly seems the type that might look for any excuse to renege on our agreement. And I can't imagine the guards took to well to our large friend's... persuasive tactics. We have been remunerated quite handsomely, given that Stonebelly only owes us 4 more gold pieces total. Perhaps it's time we moved on.."
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
"damn you, elf!" shouted Glrch. "Gold is gold. I want what is coming to me! If he won't give it to me, then I'll take it from him!"
Edited by New Harumf, Aug 11 2013, 08:39 AM.
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meh
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"Stonebelly will be much more forgiving now that his precious mines are cleared out. If not, some simple persuasion would quickly change his mind. I've been gypped far too many times for my work to back down at this point."
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East Anarx
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As they stood around the lift discussing their plans, a few dwarven miners came and went, evidently paying the adventurers no heed. Before they could come to a decision, however, their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of several dozen heavily armed and armored dwarven guards. The portly officer from before was among them, smug grin visible below the faceplate of his helmet. At least ten of the dwarves were armed with crossbows, and the other thirty or so wielded swords. They marched in formation under the great arch, and then fanned out and formed a wide semi-circle around the three bewildered adventurers.

The officer dwarf stepped forward, holding a scroll out in front of him which he pretended to read from, then said, "I have here a warrant for your arrest. Now then, are you going to come quietly?"

It was a simple enough question, but the adventurers were uncertain of their answer. The dwarves blocked the only apparent way out of the mine, and there were too many to fight them all. However, there was a chance they could make a run for it and escape down one of the side tunnels or the lift, and perhaps lose them in the depths of the mine. The tension in the air was palpable as the elf, the gnome, and the barbarian considered their next move.
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meh
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Fenris scanned the crowd of dwarves, noting the hopelessness of the situation. The three of them all carried wounds, in addition to the unknown effects of the gas that had already left them nauseated. Fighting was out of their question. They could kill a few dwarves and die an honorable death, but honor was a invention created by nobles to give worth to their meaningless deaths. Fenris had no use for such abstract follies. They could try and escape back into the mine; outrunning the dwarves would be easy so long as they could dodge the crossbows. Fenris wasn't sure if the others would follow though, and the elf had the only lantern. Their only hope for survival was with the guards.

He spoke up. "We demand to see Tharv Stonebelly, who has tasked us with clearing the deepwurm nests in the mine. He has promised his good word to us, and we are protected by his hospitality. You will have him to answer to, if any harm befalls us."
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New Harumf
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Glrch hid behind Fenris and was moving his found treasure from his pants pockets to his hidden pockets in his underwear. He stuck his hand into his last pocket and felt the ring, and began playing absent-mindedly with it. He hated crowds, and he hated dwarves, so his level of comfort was very low. He barely heard what Fenris was saying - then, as he fidgeted, he accidently slipped the ring on his finger, not even aware he had done so.
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East Anarx
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There was some commotion towards the back of the dwarven ranks, then they parted as a large dwarf pushed his way through. Tharv Stonebelly, smiling broadly, walked right up to Fenris and firmly shook his hand. "How are you, my friend? You smell like you've been playing with deepwurms. Still alive, it seems. Here's your payment, as promised."

Tharv pulled out a small pouch which jingled slightly as he firmly pressed it into Fenris' hand. "I trust that you will distribute these to your comrades appropriately. Don't spend it all in one place." He chuckled at his own joke, then turned and addressed the helmeted guard, who was standing there with his mouth open and still holding the arrest warrant out in front of him with both hands. "Captain Montag!" Tharv bellowed with authority, "Clearly there has been a misunderstanding."

The captain looked confused as he stuttered, "B-b-but I thought..."

"All charges against my friends here are to be dropped immediately. They have done me a great service, and I am a dwarf of my word. Now, Montag, on your way back to the station, would you mind placing an order with the butcher? Have him send his finest pork to my manor tonight."

"Uh... yes sir." the captain replied miserably.

As most of the guards made their exit, Tharv turned back to the adventurers. "Now, I sincerely hope you'll join me this evening at my estate for a feast in your honor. I mean to thank you properly for your assistance, and perhaps we can discuss your further employment. I have some paying work that would be ideally suited for individuals of your particular skills and interests." He made a point of looking each of them in the eyes as he said this, first the barbarian, then the elf, and finally the gnome. And with that, Tharv Stonebelly, along with a few remaining dwarven guards wielding crossbows, made their exit.

The adventurers were left with a free path out of the mine, and the sunlit open space just beyond the great stone arch called to them. Their bellies rumbled, perhaps in anticipation of the ale that their pay could now buy, or perhaps simply because they could not remember the last time they had eaten. Some time to rest and recover from their injuries was what they needed.

((OOC: You've just completed a quest, and gained enough experience to level up, but in order to do that you need to find a place to rest, (which should give me a little time to get caught up with my notes and look over the rules on leveling.)))
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
"Well, I am off to the tavern. Time for ale and food, then, I will find a cozy spot to close my eyes and rest," said Glrch. "Follow, or not. Then, if I so choose, I can partake of the dwarf's hospitality, though I'd rather go with a full stomach than eat his piggies! You never know what he has been using as feed!" With that said, the gnome began walking down the road in the sunlight.
Edited by New Harumf, Aug 12 2013, 02:20 PM.
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