[Ptolus/AD&D] IC Thread #3 - Back to the Surface

[Imperator]

Gareth laughs and then grimaces in pain.

"Thanks for the humor, I needed it. Well, when I will be able to go down again? I need to tell them about our strange trip, and Rissthil needs to be rescued."

[Benoist]

The dwarf smiles in a way that seems to indicate his remark was not meant to be humourous, but he seems to appreciate that Gareth still has the force to laugh.

The door to the kitchen opens then, and Gareth can see a kid, an orphan living on the streets just by the looks of him, enter the room followed by another man (Werekoala may describe his character himself).

Davin finds himself in the main room of the Gold Ladder. The space is very wide, but plain, with apparent beams, wooden tables and chairs readily available to customers here and there. There are however no customers present at this hour of the night.

Everything seems clean, too clean perhaps around here. The room is quiet, but for two men, elves maybe, lying on straw mattresses by the south wall, near the main room's entrance, and a very old dwarf standing nearby.

Davin scans on the other side of the room. The remnants of this stone tower he saw from the outside seem to have been integrated to the rest of the inn's interior. The glass windows, the beams supporting the arched roof up above give a strange quality to the room he would have expected to find in some temple somewhere, as if the long bar itself was some kind of altar, with the enormous barrels looking over it from behind as if they were icons of a peculiar faith indeed. And yet... yet it all seems to work together nonetheless.

Just between the bar and the enormous barrels, Davin can see a large, 20-foot-wide pit. The chains, pulleys, and the accompanying apparatus all seem to indicate that whoever owns this place worked out his own way to get down there, wherever that may be.

Next to the bar, there is a large, bald man wearing dark robes and a suit of chainmail over it. He also wears a sword at his side, which kind of surprises Davin who took him for some kind of monk at first glance.

The kid steps forward and asks, confused : "Where is Angharad ?"

The dwarf turns to look at the newcomers and announces : "She is not here at the moment. What is it that you want, child ?"

"Well. I heard rumours that she was searching for people to help her out in some sort of task or quest. I just brought this man along with me... or followed along, rather. Yes, that's it."

The kid coughs.

The dwarf frowns. He looks at Davin and asks : "And who might you be, stranger ?"

[Werekoala]

Davin steps to the bar and nods, removing his pack and adjusting his cloak more loosely around his shoulders.

"I am Davin Dewalt. I come from the Northwest counties, guided by the hand of... fate... in search of whatever may come to me. This fellow Quip has taken me on as his Patron, apparently."

[Benoist]

The geriatric dwarf raises an eyebrow to ask : "Apparently, heh ?"

Quip reacts immediately : "Hey hey ! That's not like I blackmailed him you know ! Besides, even kids gotta eat ! I can't be expected to get out of the way and stand of the sidelines when there are riches waiting for us down there, you know !"

[Werekoala]

Davin laughs and winks at the dwarf.

"Indeed, young Quip - I'm sure there is treasure beyond estimation below this city, if it hasn't all been carted away already over the years."

He glances at the elves on the straw mats, then adds;

"Though apparently it's not a simple matter of filling your pockets. Are you folks in need of assistence?"

[Imperator]

Davin laughs and winks at the dwarf.

"Indeed, young Quip - I'm sure there is treasure beyond estimation below this city, if it hasn't all been carted away already over the years."

He glances at the elves on the straw mats, then adds;

"Though apparently it's not a simple matter of filling your pockets. Are you folks in need of assistence?"

Indeed I am. I need to eat, I need to drink something and I need to find my friends. They are probably down there fighting untold horrors and I am not letting them down. Also, I have to tell them about a strange travel I have done while I was unconscious after being attacked by an unholy monster.

So the question is, wanna lend me a hand to get down there and find my friends?

[Werekoala]

Davin's gaze clouds for a moment, then snaps into focus.

"Unholy monster, you say... Indeed, I will help you retrieve your comrades."

He reaches beneath his cape and pulls his shield and mace free, clenching them in leather-gloved fists. He kneels, taps his mace on his shield, and whispers a quick prayer, then stands again.

"Quip, you stay here and tend to these men as best you can. Check my pack for coin, you may use it to buy any ointments or potions, foor or drink, that may help them."

[Benoist]

The monk steps forward and asks point-blank : "You intend to take Gareth down there ? We don't even know if he can stand on his own two feet yet ! With my help, and now yours, he would be ready to fight tomorrow at the earliest, but putting him now in the basket... " He puts his hand half way up as if to calm things down without seeming threatening doing so. "... it would be suicide. You must understand..."

[Werekoala]

Davin glances at Gareth, then back at the monk.

"Yes, you are right, we should take a few moments to see to his wounds. I admit, I am eager to take on the challenges below, however it would seem a prudent hand might be of more value than a sword."

[Imperator]

"I don't think my friends can afford that much time, brave man."

Gareth will try to stand up and see if he can walk and act.

[Benoist]

Gareth can barely stand. He's received some daunting injuries, though the Brother's potions have helped heal some wounds already. He might be able to walk to the pit and be lowered down there standing if he so chooses, but he won't be able to fight or move faster than the man crippled by exhaustion he is at this very moment, that is for sure.

[Werekoala]

Gareth can barely stand. He's received some daunting injuries, though the Brother's potions have helped heal some wounds already. He might be able to walk to the pit and be lowered down there standing if he so chooses, but he won't be able to fight or move faster than the man crippled by exhaustion he is at this very moment, that is for sure.

((if it looks like my cure light wounds would help, I'll go ahead and use it))

[Imperator]

((if it looks like my cure light wounds would help, I'll go ahead and use it))

Gareth waits for the spell to take effect,

[Benoist]

That healing spell, combined to the potions of the good Brother, restores Gareth's hit points entirely. Still, he would normally need a minimum of a week of rest before being able to resume any sort of strenuous activity (as per "Damage and Death" rules, see OSRIC p. 124 for more, or DMG p. 82, section "Zero Hit Points", for the original game).

Brother Udo, however, also cast some repose spells on Gareth while he was in a coma which will allow him to resume such activities in the next day, instead of the usual week of full rest. For now, he is at full hit points, may move around and act consciously but he will not be able to fight or engage in physical tasks other than walking for the next few hours.

[Imperator]

That healing spell, combined to the potions of the good Brother, restores Gareth's hit points entirely. Still, he would normally need a minimum of a week of rest before being able to resume any sort of strenuous activity (as per damage and death rules, see OSRIC p. 124 for more).

Brother Udo, however, also cast some repose spells on Gareth while he was in a coma which will allow him to resume such activities in the next day, instead of the usual week of full rest. For now, he is at full hit points, may move around and act consciously but he will not be able to fight or engage in physical tasks other than walking for the next few hours.

Then Gareth, after thanking profusely his new mate for the help, will try to get nearer to the pit to see if someone can tell him what is happening down there.