2 weeks have passed since the last adventure: Participants: Fred - Ansley (Human Magic User) Rachel - Mauve (Hobbit Thief) / Besharg - retainer Wesley - Elfendo (Elf Magic User) Zeni - Enna (Elf Magic User) Rich - Splug (Human Cleric) Norm - Figgy Hothat (Human Magic User) Norm - Shasuzs Silvertongue (Human Cleric) Ansley makes his way to the Tower of the Wizards again, is given the name of the doorkeeper (Bongo), speaks to a wizard in residence. Ansley is offered an opportunity to become an apprentice by Talias of Sparn (with Reknar of Jeru in attendance). Ansley accepts. [Going forward, these excursions can be worked out with Stephen outside game time.] Ansley is informed that a wizard, Taraklos of Helikos has been missing for some time Back at the outpust, Figgy buys a canoe to use in the pool room. Group makes it to the obelisk, makes haste for the room with the pool, however Figgy set off one of the metal disks (he's clumsy), trying to get around it with the canoe. The group battles 5 fire beetles and is able to defeat them. They then make it to the room with the pool, and drop the canoe in the water. The canoe is secured by rope to the open doors and the first group gets in and heads across. They are able to make is safely across without being affected by a spell. The doors on the other side open easily. More of the party come across next. In the room on the other side is a golden Buddha statue with a silver serpent wrapped around it. While inspecting the statue, the serpent comes to life and attacks as a giant poison snake. Figgy decides to inspect the statue closer. H finds the Buddha head is hinged, flips open, held by small bracket in throat is a small gold key, Figgy tosses it to Mauve for safe keeping. Figgy continues to inspect the statue, gets bit twice by ants, tosses torch into statue and sees army of ants flowing out. He then decides to try to separate the head from the rest of the statue. Elfendor tosses oil and sets a line of fire to keep the ants in the room while the rest of the party start using the canoe to return to the other side of the pool. Splug tries to return for Figgy. Figgy, covered in ants leaps into the water with the statue head. Sadly, the damage is done, Figgy succumbs to the bites of the ants and dies at the bottom of the pool with his prize. Group makes their way to the other double doors to the west that they could not open, Mauve tries the key from the Buddha, and it clicks. The door finally opens... Beyond the door, stairs climb to another set of iron doors. These doors open to another room. Inside the room is a 30 foot silver circle, inside the circle is a hairy, horned ogre wearing a burlap robe. His name is Nerloch (sp?). The ogre offers, "Ask any question and I will answer truthfully"; - What is the purpose of this tower? This is a temple to the gods, all of them. - What is the circle you are standing in? Circle of comfort. - Is there a way to disarm the metal disks? Just scratch out the runes and the disks won't work. - Where do the two doors on the eastern wall in this room go? North door takes you to safety and give you much power, South door is DOOM! - Why are you willing to answer questions? I like adventurers. The ogre then tells group there is a secret door, Elfendor searches but does not find it. We ask how it is opened, and he tells us by pulling all 4 sconces at once. The group fears this is a trick to either free the ogre or something much worse, so they do not pull the sconces. At this point the group opts to go back to the ranch to rest for the night. Before leaving the obelisk, they encounter 4 Chaos Acolytes and 1 Chaos Adept. The group made it to the ranch, stayed the night and left for the outpost in the morning. Trying to return however, the group got lost. Went back to the ranch, spent the night and struck out for the outpost again this time completing the trip. xp = 410 The group sets back out and returns to the obelisk (going to the ranch with their mounts). They then return through the double doors to the west and find the ogre still in the circle at the top of the stairs. The ogre repeats his information about the doors, but reverses which door is good versus which is bad. Group went down the stairs to the north, winding staircase ends at an archway with mist. Splug pokes his 10ft pole through, it gets in and can be moved, but cannot be pulled out. The group returns to the room, and the ogre seems disappointed. Group goes through the door to the south, Elfendor pushes his 10 ft pole into the mist, it gets stuck. They break off the pole. Ansley decides to stick his arm in, his arm is stuck. Ansley pushes on into the mist and disappears. The group then returns, speaks with the ogre once more, Splug comes back and follows Ansley, Elfendor hands him his rope and tells him to pull on it from the other side. When Splug reaches the other side, Elfendor is pulled into the portal as well. The remainder of the group follows. Splug and Elfendor did not survive. This was a switching portal. If you go through the good side you are teleported back to town and level up. If you go through the bad side, you are annihilated and roll up a new character. RIP Splug and Elfendor...
