[Ptolus/AD&D] IC Thread #2 - Underground (part 1)

[Imperator]

DM: Good reflex. When in doubt, always ask more questions. It's kind of hard to tell. You think the sound's too "wet" to be a drum. There's a kind of "squishy" or "spongy" quality to it. It's definitely not machinery, because the sound really doesn't have a rhythm of its own. It's not regular enough. Could it be something huge? Could be, yes. It definitely has a kind of slow weight to it. You listen... and then you kind of realize how amazing that is to be able to tell so much about a sound just by listening to it.

"Ylarum, I don't like a bit the sound of this.It has to me an organic meaning. Something big."

I look around. Do I see something amongst the matresses and stuff that could be an oil flask?

[Benoist]

I look around. Do I see something amongst the matresses and stuff that could be an oil flask?

DM rolls a bunch of dice.
As a matter of fact there is. Due south, about 20 feet away from you, right in the middle of a puddle of melted flesh stuff, there is a little clay container that suspiciously looks like an oil flask.

[Imperator]

DM rolls a bunch of dice.
As a matter of fact there is. Due south, about 20 feet away from you, right in the middle of a puddle of melted flesh stuff, there is a little clay container that suspiciously looks like an oil flask.

"Ylarum, hold still. I'll go check that flask of oil. It may come in handy."

I leave the lantern there, so Ylarum can use it if needs to, and move silently to retrieve the clay container. I check its content, and if it is oil, I return to my position with Ylarum saying "See? I'm always happier with this kind of stuff near me."

[Benoist]

Roll for Move Quietly (d%). Not that Ylarum was particularly silent when he moved down the dais, but it never hurts.

As for the flask, judging by the piece of cloth that is pressed by the lid against the flask itself and the stains it carries, it definitely is a flask of oil. You check the contents: yup. It is oil, most likely brought by the monks down here to fuel their own light sources.

[thedungeondelver]

Ylarum whispers : "Mind you didn't get any of that...stuff...on your hands.  Scrape your boots on the edge of the step, there, too - I've heard tell of living ichors and molds that can eat the flesh off a man, this might be something of that ilk..."

I keep my eye on the far door, insomuch as I can see it.

[Drohem]

As the make-shift basket is lowered in the light and the chamber opens up, Rissthil blinks several times to adjust his vision to the new light.  He quickly rotates his head around to get a 360-degree scan of the situation as the basket touches the ground.  Once Runch steps out of the basket, Rissthil tugs the rope three times to signal his companions above to pull the basket up for the next pair to be lowered down.

Seeing Ylarum and Gareth crouched on side of the dais, Risshtil crouches and cautiously moves to their position.  

"Any hostiles sighted?" the elven sailor whispers to Ylarum and Gareth as he starts digging through is backpack, "Othos said that goblins and trolls were sighted by Delbaeth."

A moment or two later, Rissthil produces a torch from his backpack.  He uses the lantern to light the torch.

[thedungeondelver]

As the make-shift basket is lowered in the light and the chamber opens up, Rissthil blinks several times to adjust his vision to the new light.  He quickly rotates his head around to get a 360-degree scan of the situation as the basket touches the ground.  Once Runch steps out of the basket, Rissthil tugs the rope three times to signal his companions above to pull the basket up for the next pair to be lowered down.

Seeing Ylarum and Gareth crouched on side of the dais, Risshtil crouches and cautiously moves to their position.  

"Any hostiles sighted?" the elven sailor whispers to Ylarum and Gareth as he starts digging through is backpack, "Othos said that goblins and trolls were sighted by Delbaeth."

A moment or two later, Rissthil produces a torch from his backpack.  He uses the lantern to light the torch.

Ylarum, whispering to Risshtil: "That rhythmic beating sound, off to the east yonder...God's blood knows what that is.  Who's next down?  Right now we wait for anything unt'ward.  No goblins or trolls thus far, thank heavens.  I'm ready for a fight as much as the next, but not until we've our whole company."

[Drohem]

Rissthil focuses his attention to the east for a moment and hears the strange beating sound.

He nods affirmatively to Ylarum and whispers back, "Ulas and Othos."

[thedungeondelver]

(Whispering):"Once my troupe is down, we'll make our way.  I don't like the idea of crossing that muck but I want to know what's beyond to the east before we go any other route.  I don't want something lurking behind us near what may be our only way out."

[thedungeondelver]

(DM: how deep is the slime?  Does it seem to be "pools" or is it just thin smears?)

[Benoist]

DM: kind of an half-liquid paste spilled all over the floor, really. It is most of the time about one inch thick, but can vary up to several inches "cakes" in places, especially when pieces of bones or trinkets are mixed in the goo, or it agglomerates against some feature of the room, like the pedestals under the lanterns.

[Imperator]

Roll for Move Quietly (d%). Not that Ylarum was particularly silent when he moved down the dais, but it never hurts.

As for the flask, judging by the piece of cloth that is pressed by the lid against the flask itself and the stains it carries, it definitely is a flask of oil. You check the contents: yup. It is oil, most likely brought by the monks down here to fuel their own light sources.

My stealth roll: 20

So, I get back with Ylarum (and now Rissthil) with my new oil flask without making noises.

Ylarum whispers : "Mind you didn't get any of that...stuff...on your hands.  Scrape your boots on the edge of the step, there, too - I've heard tell of living ichors and molds that can eat the flesh off a man, this might be something of that ilk..."

I keep my eye on the far door, insomuch as I can see it.

I make sure that I scrape any of that stuff. Any significant stench in the air coming from it?

(Whispering):"Once my troupe is down, we'll make our way.  I don't like the idea of crossing that muck but I want to know what's beyond to the east before we go any other route.  I don't want something lurking behind us near what may be our only way out."

"My bet is on something big and slow, friends. That is why I feel that having a flask of flammable stuff can come in handy. Fire can drive fell beasts away."

[Benoist]

I make sure that I scrape any of that stuff. Any significant stench in the air coming from it?

DM: a fermented, acrid smell that reminds you of vomit that's been allowed to "give some personality" to a bar room for a few days mixed with a sort of "boiled pork fat" stench to it. It's really sickening stuff.

Also, given your success on your Move Quietly check, you are really adapting well to this new environment. If you want to do something really stealthy (for the next turn or so), you're feeling really good about it.

As you are all catching up with each other under your breath, you can hear a piece of wood, like a plank or something, falling somewhere away, north of your position.

[Drohem]

At the sound of something falling, Rissthil quicks turns his head toward the north passage and looks that way.  Quietly as possible, he slowly draws his longsword out of its scabbard.  He also lowers his torch as much as possible so that the dais and their bodies might help to block some of its light.

[Benoist]

Everything is quiet. The distant thumping stopped.