(038) The Concourse Catacomb

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
"What's that?" startles one voice, as the candle flames zip up to the landing.

There is some hissing and spluttering as whomever are above reposition themselves.

"That ain't Ruglud's lads, I'll warrant," a voice mutters amid the ruckus before another relies more loudly:

"Depends who's askin'! Show yerself, wizard!"

[waysoftheearth]

verhaden wrote:
Mads the Enlightened

Ruglud? Snorks perhaps...

Mads steadily and slowly ascends the stairs, sword brandished. He puts on a stern face and appraises the group waiting on the landing. He directs his lights to float above each of their heads. "I ask." he states simply.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
(One imagines the young warlock as a Darth Maul-esque figure, his gaze smouldering intently as he steadily rises from the dark stair...)

Mads spies four hunched men with overlong arms and bulbous noses standing in front of a door in a 10ft wide stone passage. Their dark eyes glimmer beneath heavy brows in the floating candle lights. Several of them fidget to swat the flames away from them and to shield their eyes. Their hair is greasy and rank, their knuckles knobbly and their fingernails dark and hard. They are an ugly lot with bare feet and yellow teeth... and knives and hand axes near to hand...

(Reaction is rolled 2d6=3!)

"It ain't Rudlug at all!" confirms a fellow at the rear.

The pair nearer the front straighten their hunched backs and slowly draw forth long, curved knives with notched blades from their belts. They are taller than Mads realised -- almost as tall as he is.

"Hand over yer goodies, wizard, and we'll let ye scurry off." says the nearest fellow (30ft away), his shoulders bunching as his eyes narrow warily.

"Otherwise, you'll have trouble 'ere," confirms his friend, licking his licks hungrily.

[waysoftheearth]

heartless wrote:
Rufus whispers to Dugel and Wendel, "if you have an spells or tricks used them now".
Rufus will draw his bow ready to shoot the creatures below.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:

Rufus whispers to Dugel and Wendel, "if you have an spells or tricks used them now".
Rufus will draw his bow ready to shoot the creatures below.

"I've got a right trick if this turns out nasty," mutters Dugel the Dwarf, listening intently to the conversation that is taking place out of sight, on the landing a dozen steps up the stair.


Rufus covers the stair behind with his bow in case the great spider should follow them up... all is inky dark and still in the stair below him, however.

[waysoftheearth]

verhaden wrote:
Mads the Enlightened

"Goodies? Goodies?" Mads repeats. "If I had anything, you think I'd be crawling around in this pit?" he fumes.

"I swear, your brains are as empty as that forsaken vault."

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The four hunched figures draw their weapons with a delicious lack of speed, and wicked toothy grins spread across their ugly faces.

"You can start by dropping that pretty sword," says the leading thug, "and then that pack," confirms one of his mates. All four of them begin toward Mads with murderous intent...

What now?

(T'wil possible be combat next round unless Mads does/says something to prevent it...)

[waysoftheearth]

verhaden wrote:
( What's the layout of the room, and, by chance, is there anything of significance here made of wood? Particularly something being held at eye level?... )

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The layout is something like this:


@@@@#...#@@@@
@@@@#...#@@@@
@@@@#.3.I@<-- door
@@@@#..4#@@@@
@@@@#12.#@@@@
@@@@#...#@@@@
@@@@@#M#@@@@^
@@@@@#=#@@@ |
@@@@@#=#@@@ up
@@@@@#D#@@<- stair
@@@@@#W#@@@ down
@@@@@#=#@@@ |
@@@@@#R#@@@ V


The door is wooden (judging from a scant glance)...

[waysoftheearth]

verhaden wrote:
Mads the Enlightened

Mads sours. He quickly directs his magical light into the eyes and face of his nearest attacker, and presses an attack with his pretty sword. "A little help, here!" he calls out.