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Post by frankiestein on Sept 17, 2020 4:51:16 GMT
Hurricane will pour over the sparse texts and helpful maps, chewing on a piece of dried fruit from his rations. They along with the nuts, cured meat, and water therein should sustain him for a time. He's pleased to see that a river is available, that solves at least one problem. His interest is piqued by the mention of a lady in a painting however. He is in need of both allies and information, and this might be a good way towards both. Before that though, Hurricane will spend a good 15 minutes in quiet prayer to GOD who rests even below him now. He has grown used to the whip through the years and for the tenth time considers adding shards of metal to the ends to remind him of what pain actually is.
He'll wait another 15 more minutes for the blood to dry and clot before getting dressed again and straighten himself up as much as possible, given the conditions. Whip in hand, he will begin walking down the corridor to the West, humming to himself a hymn he liked as a boy as he goes. He will follow the map to the location of the lady to the best of his ability, greeting her warmly with a flourish if he is able to identify where she is from and what flourish would be appropriate, he did serve as a knight and knows how to treat a lady.
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Post by Spwack on Sept 17, 2020 8:03:29 GMT
((Off to a good start!))
Heading just a few paces into the chamber to the west, you first see a large minecart track leading up into the ceiling, with several carts scattered about in holding slots or tipped over. At one end of the room sits a large metal and glass box with the name "Professor Spell-o-Matic" emblazoned above it, and at the other, the Lady of the Painting. She is dwarven, clearly, and of an exceptionally refined form. You bow, and she nods staidly, but nothing is said as of yet. How do you introduce yourself?
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Post by frankiestein on Sept 17, 2020 16:35:50 GMT
"Hello Lady of the Painting. I must say, your presence here is all the more magnified by the settings that surround you. I am Hurricane Du'Rezon, knight errant. Former knight of Timedril the Hearted. I've just awoken in this place and find my larders reasonably stocked, water close to hand, and light freely available. However, camaraderie seems in short supply here. I do not know the forces that have brought me to this place, but it seems they have trapped you as well. I was hoping you'd enjoy passing some time sharing stories. I could even take you to a different room if this ones countenance has become abhorrent to you."
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Post by Spwack on Sept 18, 2020 4:30:19 GMT
"Greetings Sir Du'Rezon. I know not your house or name, but you cut a fair and noble figure in this place. I myself am remarkably comfortable in this place, for I am accompanied by the good Professor over yonder."
"well met, Hurricane." says the vending machine.
"And it must be said that companions are a prize greater than any of gold or gems in this place. If any should awaken from the cells in that room, I will be sure to send them your way. Are you planning on travelling to the floors above or below this one?"
((And yes, you are welcome to invite people to join the dungeon if you can think of anyone who would be interested!))
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Post by frankiestein on Sept 18, 2020 5:29:34 GMT
((I will try to rustle up someone!))
Hurricane will give another measured bow to the professor as he announces his presence."Ah! Indeed you do seem well accompanied. I might have need of your services if I come across coin in this place. Unless you work for some other matter? It would seem that I am a late arrival and the pickings will be harder had. Though, you mention an above! That I did not see on the maps. Prithee, might you know of how one could ascend to the upper floors? I see that this mine cart track goes up and I suppose I could climb it like a ladder, but might you know of another way?"
Assuming she does not know of an easier way:
"Well my dear, thank you so much for your time as well as yours Professor. I believe I will begin my time here with an ascent." He will bow deeply and begin the ascent up the tracks, taking deep breaths and holding them in in order to reduce his weight (he becomes light as a feather when he holds his breathe).
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Post by Spwack on Sept 18, 2020 7:53:22 GMT
"Sadly, I can accept only coins in return for the scrolls. I can show you my wares if you wish, but if you must know, my true desire and occupation is the accumulation and dissemination of knowledge, particularly that which is rare and hidden."
"Y...yes, that minecart does indeed lead to the floor above this one. I do not- I do not have fond memories of my trip along it, I shall be very comfortable remaining here for the foreseeable future. And be rest assured good sir, I foresee a very considerable amount of that future remaining here."
"I must admit, for someone with all of their limbs in working order, that deathtrap of a transport method is... probably safe."
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Post by frankiestein on Sept 18, 2020 15:59:01 GMT
"I will happily see your wares once I have coin to trade for them! No need to tempt myself with could be and focus on what is. My first priority will be to acquire a second weapon in any case, all I have for now is this whip I'm afraid."
With that thought, I'll examine the mine cart that is down here to see if I can disassemble the axle so that I could use it as a club. Also to see if the cart can go up by some mechanism on its own.
Assuming it cannot go up on its own:
I will climb as I mentioned above. "Thank you both, hopefully you will see me again. If I manage to find an exit, I shall return for all that I can. It would be downright sinful of me to leave so many behind."
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Post by Spwack on Sept 19, 2020 3:06:33 GMT
You can see there are a whole bunch of smashed up minecarts already scattered about underneath the tracks. You can pull out a reasonably straight axle, and give it a few swishes. It doesn't have great weighting, but if you hold it with both hands you'll be able to get a good swing (d6 damage, using it one-handed risks being disarmed)
There's a hook-pulley-thing that latches onto the underside of the carts and pulls them upwards. All you have to do is a pull a lever and WHOOSH.
The cart you are sitting on rattles at high speed up and up, twisting and turning but travelling at a pretty steep incline through the tunnel. The tunnels pop out onto a narrow bridge heading east that spans an indomitable black abyss. The cart clackety-clacks across the midnight void, with large struts jutting up from deep below every so often. You can occasionally see specks of light down, far below, but you have no way of knowing what is down there. The cart is caught at the far end by a large set of brakes that slows it down and pulls it into a holding track. The far "station" has a similar looking lever to get back, and two exits back into the dungeon-proper, one south-west, the other south-east.
What do you do?
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Post by frankiestein on Sept 19, 2020 3:25:16 GMT
I will take a second to bow to the cart for a job well rendered. I'll take even animate objects as friends at the moment. I'll do some practice moves with the pipe in one hand and the whip in another (my powers indicate I specialize in two weapon combat). After practicing for a bit, I'll assess my situation, cooly listening to each of the caverns for signs of life. I'd rather face them out here in the station then in the caves of their choice.
Assuming no sound can be heard from either: I will go down the one to the south-west, weapons clutched in hands slowly walking down the corridor. I'll hold my breath in low deep breathes to minimize my weight and reduce the risk of triggering a weight-based trap.
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Post by Spwack on Sept 20, 2020 10:07:21 GMT
Unfortunately, the whip that doesn't cause pain can't be used as a weapon in the normal way. Unless you have a way to modify it? ((Or perhaps it just doesn't cause pain for you))
You can hear the faint, faint sound of trickling water coming from the south-west hall. Walking down it, feather-light, you find the source quite quickly, an ornate fountain. The base of it has only a shallow puddle, since the water seems to all be flowing down a strange hatch that has been flipped open, revealing a steep chute leading downwards.
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Post by frankiestein on Sept 21, 2020 0:19:03 GMT
((I had assumed it doesn't cause pain due to the way I used it on myself and had grown accustomed to it))
What are the dimensions of the chute? Are their motifs that I recognize along the fountain that point it belonging to some culture or organization? I will then feather light, return to the mine cart and take the other path and see what is along it
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Post by Spwack on Sept 21, 2020 6:21:34 GMT
((That's fair. It's non magical and deals d6 damage.))
Narrow, but you'd fit... just barely. The fountain is elegant but unadorned, there isn't any identifying markings other than that.
Up and back south again, you poke your head into a large and crumbling set of rooms that seem to almost be falling together. There's a foul stench coming from the eastern half of it, and another route you can see to the south.
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Post by frankiestein on Sept 21, 2020 15:30:26 GMT
Hurricane will briefly consider going down the fountain pass but decides against it until he finds some way to get out if where it leads is undesirable.
He will brace himself before approaching the eastern side as quietly as he can. He has of course ran into friendly beings but assuming the worst in this place seems to be the safer option. Pipe in one hand, whip in the other, he will strike a fairly wide stance as he carefully strides to the source of the smell.
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Post by Spwack on Sept 22, 2020 3:58:52 GMT
The eastern side reeks in a way that makes you think of carefully collected, organised, and sorted filth. Only one thing in a dungeon smells like that: goblins. There's a rank tunnel leading deeper into the nest, and you can see weird symbols and scribbles scratched into the stone, a warning, perhaps?
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Post by frankiestein on Sept 23, 2020 4:34:05 GMT
I will take some of the soot that is at the end of one of my available lanterns and smear on the stone my own symbol: A simple spiral that is stretched out and coming to a point (a simple tornado). I will consider what I know about goblins for a short minute. Have I had reasonable experiences with goblins before or are they unreasonably angry? I have reason to assume that we are both captive here and thus we have means of transaction as opposed to aggression. Considering how it might look though, I will set the pipe and whip and my off hand, in a non-aggressive hold (just holding them together in my hand, not looking ready to attack) and proceed down the rank tunnel. As I walk down i will cry out in common "Hello, what I hope to be friends. I am Tornado, a captive like yourself. I have nothing of value but my muscle and will. I wish for us to talk."
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Post by Spwack on Sept 24, 2020 1:35:51 GMT
Goblins are goblins are goblins. They are as varied and variable and whimsical and cruel as people are.
The echoes of your cry rattle down the hall. From the depths comes a clicking chortle. "Tk tk tk tk. Talk?"
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Post by frankiestein on Sept 24, 2020 5:59:37 GMT
I will point myself in the direction from which the sound came and stop my steps but not assume a fighting stance.
"Yes, talking would be better than fighting. I'm sure our goals align more than cross in this place. I will not tarry in this place though if my presence offends you, I try not to be rude."
Tornado is uncertain but tries to put confidence in his voice nonetheless.
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Post by Spwack on Sept 24, 2020 7:24:06 GMT
"Talk. Talk talk talk. Tk tk tk. Talk so much? What you want?"
It's hard to tell the difference between the clicking chuckles and the word 'talk', but you're pretty sure that is what it said.
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Post by frankiestein on Sept 24, 2020 23:42:45 GMT
Hurricane will chide himself. Sometimes he genuinely questions whether he tries to resolve things nonviolently because he just likes the sound of his own voice.
"Sorry, I talk too much. What do you know of this place? Is there anything I can do to help you?"
If Hurricane was still a part of the order that he once was, he would already have cried out "SINNER!" and charged in against the goblin. But time had taught Hurricane that there are many more victims than genuine sinners in the world.
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Post by Spwack on Sept 25, 2020 4:51:41 GMT
"Tk tk. Tk? Know- Know all. Know secrets and tricks. Friends. Friends? Need bones to crunch and slurp mm mm yes. Hungery."
There are other calls from nearby, or perhaps echoing in from far away: "Hungery. Hungery. Crunch crunch yes."
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Post by frankiestein on Sept 25, 2020 5:27:11 GMT
"Friends yes!" Hurricane will reply and then consider for a second. "I seem to recall a room marked as containing frogs. Would frog bones crunch well? I have transport there but can only take a few - would some of you like to join? Perhaps you can share some secrets along the way, this place seems full of them."
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Post by Spwack on Sept 26, 2020 3:32:58 GMT
"Frog? Hop hop crunch crunch. Very taste."
Out of the ceiling above you crawls a grey-skinned goblin, looking down at you with large eyes.
"Pleased meet you. Meat you! Tk tk tk."
All the other goblins chortle as well at the pun. Another two goblins crawl out as well, one with a large blue glowing growth on the head, the other holding an axe like one would a teddy bear.
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Post by frankiestein on Sept 26, 2020 5:16:47 GMT
Hurricane will jam the thumb of his free hand into his chest "Meat? No! Hurricane!" He will wink at them and take his pointer finger and do a little spinning motion. "Well, follow me and I'll lead you to some frogs and we will see if they 'meat' your needs."
Assuming he isn't getting ambushed here, he will lead them back to the mine cart, activate them, back through the rooms and towards the southern chamber he saw marked with frogs. Along the way he will be continuously be glancing back, probing in a jovial fashion what he can from the goblins, trying his best to riff off their jokes. He is especially curious where the fountain leads.
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Post by Spwack on Sept 27, 2020 4:19:28 GMT
"Meat! Meat!" cry two goblins. The one with the blue lump just stares at you and smiles.
The goblins skitter and scuttle. There are definitely three of them, but you can almost always only see two or even one, they keep darting ahead and lagging behind.
You get absolutely no useful information about them, the whole way.
The minecart ride they adore, whooping and yelling the whole way along.
Encounter check: D2uHMAjz1d6
You are just down half a torch. You arrive with a crunch at the far end of the track again. The Lady sees you coming, and lets out a quiet sigh. The Professor speaks up as well. "You may have a little trouble getting those three into Cell Block Zero. There are strange and subtle magics going on in that room".1d6
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Post by frankiestein on Sept 27, 2020 4:59:12 GMT
Hurricane will consider this for a minutes the quiet hanging in the air. "Hmm, well, I might have to get creative then."
He will turn to his collected friends "Will you each agree to come on as my official squire? To come into my service in the capacity of helping me to achieve my goals? Payment for this service will hopefully be our eventual release and of course, crunchy bones." He will pause and assuming some form of agreement: "then I dub thee all squires under the service of Hurricane." With great pomp he will bestow each a touch with the whip if they aren't to wiggly. Hurricane would not normally take on squires so quickly but he has experience with this type before and their desires seem rather predictable. He'd take a predictable squire over a competent one most any day. He hopes that they being bound to him is enough to appease these subtle charms. "Well, let us see if that is enough for the magic within." And he will gesture for the goblins to follow him within.
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Post by Spwack on Sept 28, 2020 1:49:19 GMT
The Professor speaks up: "Oh! This one is quick. Very clever indeed. Say, if you're ever in need of work, I'm sure I could find a job for you. I pay in secrets only, but I'm sure you'll find a use for them."
The goblins wriggle and squirm as you try and squire each of them. The one with the axe tries and jumps the queue several times, especially when he is already at the front. The one with the blue growth mutters "Nuh. Nuh uh. I be yer wizzzzard..." and smiles creepily. With two "squires" and a "wizard" now in your entourage, you march carefully through Cell Block Zero. There's a bit of a fizzle and something happens, but the goblins walk right through behind you, scuttling and scampering and incredibly excited to be going on a quest.
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Post by frankiestein on Sept 29, 2020 2:14:56 GMT
Hurricane will put on a wry smile "Thank you for the compliment Professor, I'd be happy to take on any job you had, I'm sure anything a distinguished individual such as yourself has for me would be worthwhile." Before stepping in he will also nod to the lady and gesture to the scuttling goblins: "I will try to clean them up for you next time, I hope they have not disturbed your day much."
Once safely inside Cell Block Zero, Hurricane will address his Wizard: "I do not know if you have served as 'wizzzard' before, but I will guess you have not by how you presented yourself! You must add more titled to yourself and appear grander. We will try to find you clothes and trappings to match that if we can. The majority of a wizard's job is to appear as if they have the secrets to the universe." Hurricane will say this in such a way as to put no doubt about whether he beleives wizard's actually do have those secrets.
He will turn to his squires and laugh to himself. He thinks once again about the humorous items his captors left him with, all reminders of duty and responsibility. The whip: his commitment to his GOD BELOW. The sack of vegetables: his current mission, he was bringing it to a nearby town, some new varieties that were supposed to perform better. The nesting dolls: his duty as a once-knight. When you begin as a squire in training, you are given the smallest doll, painted to look like you. As you arise in rank and responsibility, so too does your doll. It is meant to represent your growing responsibilities but how you cannot forget what you once were. Hurricane doesn't think that that will work on the goblins: he appreciated their apparent enthusiasm but he would have to adapt it for their mindset.
He will smile at them: "And you too have your own purpose in this." He will search the center table for the some vellum and then roll it up in a megaphone and hand it to the one without the axe "You will be in charge of destroying the morale of our enemy with biting comments." and turning to the axe wielding one "And you will be my second in battle, to harry and destroy our enemies!"
He will spend some time updating the logs (I will do that in a bit). He will take some time to take some red ink and bestow a spiral tornado sigil on the shoulder on each of them and then lead them towards the southern door with the frogs.
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Post by Spwack on Sept 29, 2020 12:09:56 GMT
Wizzzard looks blankly at you. "Secrets?" You aren't sure you've gotten through to him, but... perhaps?
"YELL!" yells your Herald.
"Kill!" yells your Squire, swishing his axe wildly.
Your three hench-goblins are practically vibrating with glee as you draw on them with the ink.
As you take your three hench-lings to the frog room, you see their eyes light up. These frogs are roughly the size of cows, hoping around and croaking out a "woe", "woe is me", every now and again. Are you just going to let them loose, or try and keep them under control?
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Post by frankiestein on Sept 29, 2020 17:26:17 GMT
EDIT: I would like to check to see if the frogs say anything other than "woe is me" by having the Herald announce us. If they don't say anything different I'll proceed as planned.
I'll make a mental note to make a grand introduction for him when I get the chance, then he will probably get it. I would like to try to keep them under control and show them the value of working together. I don't know there abilities and I want to gauge that. I'd also like to not kill everything in here. If there are 6 or less frogs, I'd like to kill them all. If there is 10 frogs I'd like to just take 3, if there is 20 I'd like to take 6 and if there is 30 only 10. I don't think I need more than 10 cow sized frogs! Specifically, I want to have each of them in turn "lead an attack" to see what they can do. When a frog has been successfully killed, I'd like to drag it back to cell block zero to make sure it doesn't disappear in the muck. Assuming I don't hit any hiccups, I'd like to then use the mine carts to bring the carcasses back to the goblin area and see their reaction. I'd like to leave one carcass back in cell block zero for myself to munch on.
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Post by Spwack on Sept 30, 2020 9:55:15 GMT
"DOOT DOOT DOOT" yells the Herald, striding into the chamber. The floor is covered in thick pungent mud, and buzzing with bugs, while the centre of the chamber is dominated by a huge beanstalk pushing up through the ceiling.
"Woe. Oh no, oh woe, goblins!" croaks the closest big frog, and hops away slowly.
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