Session VII - Leaks

Organiser's Comment

That was very fun. I think Shandor's insanity has infected the others, it is the only way to explain their behaviour. Speaking of his insanity, I've also started showing his occasional thoughts, I just hope it doesn't send you fleeing from #tildruin :)

Plot Summary

The group are in Tildruin, in Shandor's shop, still. It is a fair day as the group wake up at the store. A delivery man brings in a Trovocian pot, larger than a troll, used for making potions more potent. The group admire it for a few moments and have a light breakfast (meanwhile, Thor's brother and nephew, Thinn and Totil arrive) before Shandor reveals the plan - they are heading beneath Tildruin, to where the original dragon was trapped, to search for clues. Luckily, the shop was built above the chamber and there is a stair case down into it. They head down and open a steel door, it triggers a rope ladder that folds down into the darkness. The group hurry down it and Faelnon is quickly at work translating a section of wall.

Suddenly, the door slams shut with no cause and cannot be opened. They decide to abandon the translation and head to the original main gates that were opened by the Gifts - these too are shut. Shandor abandons his torch and gives all of the group some potion to allow them to see in the darkness. They take a few moments to contemplate what to do. There is an odd sound of rushing water. Moments later, vents running along the floor of the chamber surge forward with salt water. The group retreat to the rope ladder as the water goes over head height.

They have no plan for this scenario. Shandor thinks for a moment, then decides on the most logical course of action - diving into the water. Ariea and Isondil dive next, the dwarves dive bomb off the ladder next. Faelnon, Tengu and Varadrion seem rather shocked at this behaviour. Shandor explains it away has having fun before you die. He then attacks Faelnon and knocks him of the ladder into the water, too.

The water, meanwhile, has risen to over halfway up the chamber. The group turn their sights on Varadrion, the one who refuses to dive in. Ariea tries to drag him in first, Shandor quickly helps. Isondil tries to stop Shandor while Thor goes to take down Isondil. The other two dwarves aid Shandor and Ariea.

The laughter dies as the water hits the ceiling. The group are completely submerged with just a lungful of air. Some attempt a last, desperate assault on the steel door, Faelnon and Tengu quietly wait for the end. Faelnon begins to fade away as Shandor gives up on the door.

Suddenly, the door swings inwards. The group are sucked into the stairwell along with a lot of water. They scramble up the steps as the dwarves get the door shut again. They all get up into the shop area, Faelnon coughs awake and the others are curious as to who let them out. Sarah shyly comes from the staircase leading upstairs. She explains everything that has been going on - she unlocked the door when she thought she heard people. Robert West, very annoyed at the group's behaviour last night, has put out rewards for them and the Order of Cothin-Cal [set up between the Original and the 'Quest' II to look after the Child] has been outlawed, the Tildruin building has been torn down. Guards are searching every building in the city for the group and will be at the shop in a few minutes. The group scramble, looking for hiding places. Ariea ends up inside the Trovocian pot, Faelnon and Cyria are under a desk with a purple blanket covering it Shandor ducks, foolishly, behind the counter. Isondil hides under one of the beds upstairs and the dwarves, Calaryn and Tengu climb to the roof. Sarah, meanwhile, thinks she doesn't need to hide and steals biscuits from the kitchen. The guards arrive and break in. Sarah comes downstairs to see what is going on. The guards move behind the counter, but there is no Shandor.

As they continue to investigate, the pot sneezes. The guard looks rather perplexed as Sarah explains it is the famous Gnome sneezing pot, designed for ambiance. The guard thinks Sarah is quite insane, but sees nothing else unusual, he and the other guards leave and continue to the next store. Sarah locks the door as everyone comes out of their hiding spots. Sarah asks where Shandor has gotten to when there is a muffled cry from the counter. Faelnon heads over and lifts the stone panel hiding a small compartment for home-made potions. Shandor gasps for air and rolls out of said compartment. Quickly recovering from the second case of lack of air today, he gets a bottle of wine from his desk and opens it for everyone.

Glad they have survived, they sit around drinking merrily.

Meanwhile, in A'lure, the Order of Cothin-Cal's head quarters have not heard of any incidents in Tildruin. The Wise Elves are in the conference room as theirs, much to the dismay of some of them, is being redecorated, at a time like this. Their leader, however, is not there. A servant elf arrives with a package, she says that their leader said the Wise Elves should take a look at the package before he arrives. The Wise Elves reluctantly open the package up. Outside, a family of birds sit chirping merrily on a nearby tree. They stop singing their joyous tune and tilt their heads to glance upon the Order's building, as if they knew what was coming. The entire building crackles and explodes into flames, which wash over the nearby trees. The elves around look up in horror as the explosion hurtles flaming chunks of the building towards the ground.

Full Log (See Below for 'The Best of the Rest')

<@Narrator> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< The 'Quest' III - [Witty statement to be installed on Tuesday] >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

<@Narrator> The group are still in Tildruin, and are still under the roof of Shandor's Shop, the day is bright and cheerful, the sky is mostly blue with random patches of white fluffy clouds.

øùú Shandor yawns as he wakes up. He smiles as he remembers he is back in Tildruin, back at his shop, and back at his home.

øùú Shandor 's smile fades as he then remembers that he has the entire group living under his roof.

øùú Faelnon wakes up in the area that he was so generously given to sleep in - the kitchen floor.

øùú Calaryn smiles and shouts at Shandor 'Where is our breakfast?’

øùú Shandor smiles, 'Cook it yourself and try not to kill Faelnon while doing it.’

øùú Shandor goes downstairs, there is a small wagon waiting outside.

øùú Cyria stumbles across the kitchen floor, kicking Faelnon in the process

øùú Ariea gets up and goes down to make sure the shop is still in one piece.

øùú Faelnon swipes a hand at Cyria's ankle.

øùú Shandor approaches the door groggily and unlocks it, 'Hello?' He says to the man leaning against one of the wheels.

<@Narrator> 'Ah, hello sir. Someone ordered a Trovocian pot? It's already paid for, I'm just delivering.'

øùú Shandor thinks, *I didn't order any- Sarah.*

øùú Tengu wakes up as someone nearby is kicked.

øùú Shandor smiles and nods, 'Yes, that's me.'

øùú Thor stops snoring, gets up and heads downstairs, nearly tumbling down the steps.

<@Narrator> The figure opens up the side of the wagon and pulls out a large crate, taller than him.

øùú Shandor looks at the man, 'Do you need help with that?'

<@Narrator> The man bends over slightly so the weight is on his back, 'No sir, I'm quite alright.' He marches through the shop area and into the back area. He drops the crate down, nods politely to Shandor and leaves.

øùú Shandor calls after, 'Thanks...'

øùú Ariea heads upstairs again to make some tea.

øùú Thor asks, not really interested, 'What's in the crate?'

øùú Shandor says, 'A Trovocian pot.'

øùú Tengu looks at the man bearing the crate, recollecting something.

øùú Shandor goes through to the back area and lifts a crowbar from the wall. He soon has the crate cracked open.

øùú Cyria looks at the crate, "That sure is huge..."

øùú Shandor nods.

øùú Shandor rubs his hand along the pot, 'Impressive...' The pot is taller than Shandor, narrows at the bottom and is quite wide for the most part. It is a light tan colour with a bronze pattern (ancient elven letters with vines above and below) running around. At four points beneath the pattern there is a different gem - ruby, emerald, sapphire and a pearl.

øùú Tengu flexes his neck and comes closer.

øùú Isondil looks back at the crate

øùú Calaryn eyes the crate

øùú Ariea comes downstairs with a tray holding several cups and a teapot. She sets it down on the counter and says, 'Get it yourself.'

øùú Shandor pulls a chair over and props it gently against the pot, he stands on it and looks in - empty, but large enough for him to squeeze into.

øùú Ariea turns to the pot, 'Ooo, very big.' She spots the gems and dashes over to inspect them.

øùú Faelnon comes down rubbing his back, 'Have you ever thought of carpeting that kitchen? It would be a lot more comfortable... Oh, a Trovocian pot, good choice.'

øùú Faelnon looks at the tea, 'So that's what burnt me...'

øùú Ariea grins, 'Whoopsie.'

øùú Tengu serves himself a cup and stands nearby, examining the pot with interest.

øùú Cyria asks, "So, does this pot do anything?"

øùú Shandor goes over and gets himself a cup of tea.

øùú Isondil moves over and gets himself a cup of tea

øùú Shandor takes a sip and then says, 'Sort of. It in itself is more for decorative purposes, however, when you brew something in it, it becomes much more potent.'

øùú Thor grins, 'Mmm, more potent dwarven ale...'

øùú Faelnon gets himself a cup of tea.

øùú Cyria says, "I don't think that can get any more potent"

øùú Calaryn shakes her head as she takes a cup of tea

øùú Thor smiles at Cyria, 'Ye never know.'

<@Narrator> The door dings its regular ding as two dwarves step into the shop.

øùú Thor spots them, 'Thinn! Totil!'

øùú Thinn says in dwarven,

øùú Shandor waves to the two dwarves and suddenly has an odd mental image of stuffing all three of the dwarves into the Trovocian pot and rolling them down a steep hill.

øùú Tengu distracts from contemplating the pot and turns to newcomers.

øùú Isondil looks at the two dwarves and nods at them

øùú Ariea smiles, 'Hi you two, would you like some te- er, never mind.'

øùú Cyria goes over and pours some tea

øùú Thor 's smile fades as he replies in dwarven,

øùú Totil smiles at everyone, 'Hi all.'

øùú Calaryn nods

øùú Thinn nods,

øùú Totil adds,

øùú Thinn looks at the pot, 'Eh, that's too big, it is unseemly.'

øùú Thinn moves over to inspect it.

øùú Shandor thinks, *Would you like to check it from the inside? It'll be fun...*

øùú Calaryn smiles

øùú Thinn says, 'Not badly made, not bad at all.'

øùú Isondil sips his tea slowly while looking over at the dwarves

øùú Calaryn asks "Is there any fruit here, Ariea?"

øùú Ariea nods, 'There's some in a basket on the kitchen counter.'

øùú Faelnon says to Shandor, 'What type of home-made potions have you been making recently?'

øùú Calaryn smiles 'Thanks.' as she walks out to the kitchen

øùú Shandor replies, 'Well, none recently, but before I left I had made one that can change your eye colour for a day.'

øùú Faelnon rolls his eyes, 'That is beneficial to the world, clearly.'

øùú Isondil sighs and thinks how vain it would be to want to change their eye colour for a day

øùú Totil looks about the shop, vaguely interested.

øùú Calaryn comes back with a pear and an apple

øùú Faelnon asks, 'Will Sarah be coming around today?'

øùú Shandor says, 'She said last night she'd be coming around some time today, yes.'

øùú Tengu thinks what the more potent variation of this potion can do.

øùú Faelnon nods before he goes to the back area of the shop and goes over to the safe they 'acquired' from West's palace.

øùú Faelnon states, 'I have an idea on how to open this, but I'll need some time.'

øùú Isondil looks at safe mildly interested

øùú Tengu says, "If you fail to open it, mind if I don't carry it back?"

øùú Shandor nods, 'In the mean time...' Shandor heads into the back area and heads to a wall, he taps a dark green coloured stone, it falls inwards as a small section of wall slides inwards revealing a larger storage area, 'You can keep it in there, we don't want any customers to see it.'

øùú Ariea smiles at Tengu, 'If you aren't carrying it back, would you like to carry it into the store area?'

øùú Isondil finishes his tea and sets his cup on the counter

øùú Faelnon looks at the storage area, 'Why do I have the suspicion that that storage area wasn't in the original building plans.'

øùú Tengu sighs at his fate but says nothing and does as requested.

øùú Shandor whistles innocently and returns to the counter.

øùú Shandor finishes his tea and sets the cup on the tray.

øùú Shandor says, 'If I could have your attention please.'

øùú Faelnon pushes the safe into the storage area. He steps back out wondering how it closes when it snaps shut.

øùú Faelnon turns to Shandor.

øùú Ariea pours herself a second cup of tea before looking at Shandor.

øùú Thor and the other two dwarves turn their attention to Shandor.

øùú Isondil looks at Shandor

øùú Calaryn turns to shandor

øùú Tengu looks at Shandor.

øùú Shandor says, 'We won't be heading anywhere today. Well, not anywhere outside the shop.'

øùú Shandor goes around into the back area and motions for the others to follow.

øùú Faelnon , already there, just stands.

øùú Ariea has a feeling she wont get to finish her tea, so just leaves it on the tray and follows.

øùú Isondil follows slowly while yawning loudly

øùú Calaryn sighs, 'Oh, sounds great.'

øùú Thor follows with the dwarves.

øùú Tengu follows with the others.

øùú Shandor bends down and opens up a trap door, 'This leads to the chamber where the dragon was imprisoned. Its walls are filled with carvings and other ancient hoo-haa.'

øùú Ariea thinks, *He really just said 'hoo-haa', didn't he?*

øùú Shandor thinks, *I said hoo-haa, I actually said hoo-haa, I think I need to lie down.*

øùú Shandor grabs an unlit torch and mutters a few words, a flame springs to life and he says, indicating the steps downwards, 'Shall we?'

øùú Thor smiles at the prospect of going underground again.

øùú Tengu frowns at the same.

øùú Shandor begins down the steps. They stop quickly, leaving another door.

øùú Shandor pulls the door open which triggers a switch, which releases a rope ladder down into the darkness.

øùú Thor peers over the edge giddily.

øùú Shandor says, 'I'm assuming, like sane people, that you don't trust any construct of mine, so I'll go first.'

øùú Shandor climbs down, careful not to ignite the rope ladder with his torch.

øùú Calaryn smiles 'We'll always go down.’

øùú Thor charges down after Shandor, the other two dwarves follow.

øùú Faelnon sighs before following.

øùú Ariea sighs sadly that her tea is going wasted before she follows.

øùú Tengu shrugs and starts climbing down to the torch light.

øùú Isondil looks around at the rest of the group and sighs before following Tengu

øùú Calaryn takes a deep breath and starts the climb

<@Narrator> The area is quite cold, even next to the torch's heat.

øùú Thor gets to the bottom and taps the floor.

øùú Tengu notes, "Rather chilly for fire-breathing creature's lair."

øùú Thinn stands next to Thor,

øùú Isondil feels the temperature change as he gets lower and thinks that he should have brought his cloak

øùú Shandor smiles, 'Perhaps it didn't like the heat.'

øùú Faelnon gets to the bottom and tries to get as close as he can to the walls, but staying within the sphere of the torches light.

øùú Isondil looks around at the dragon's lair

øùú Calaryn mutters 'well i do'

øùú Ariea just looks around at the darkness when she gets down.

øùú Ariea says, 'Me too.'

øùú Shandor thinks *I could put in either a very big skylight, or steal a whole bunch of the glowing crystals from Thor and turn this place into my underground lair, from which I could control Tildruin, or become a dragon. Ooo, dragon. It would save on travel expenses. Wait, what am I doing? Oh yes, walls.*

øùú Shandor waves the torch about a bit, illuminating the walls, 'Everything appears to still be here.'

<@Narrator> From what the light illuminates, the chamber appears to be in good condition. At the base of the wall is a stretch of plain stone, periodically broken up by some sort of vent. Above this plain section, the wall is carved into in a sort of ancient Gnome.

øùú Shandor says, 'I'll be happy to give the grand tour for anyone interested.'

øùú Cyria asks, "Anyone know what that says?"

øùú Isondil asks rather anxiously 'This chamber is quite secure, like it's not going to collapse on us is it?'

øùú Faelnon says, 'We've been working on translating it for years, but it stretches from the bottom to the very top, and all the way around. It appears to be accounts from various builders, and various other details.'

øùú Shandor says, 'It hasn't collapsed since it was covered up, nearly two and a half years ago, so I doubt it will collapse now.'

øùú Isondil nods slowly

øùú Faelnon takes a small notepad out of his pocket along with a small oil well he took from the shop and he takes a quill that was tucked into his boot. He asks, 'Could you all come this way, or at least bring the torch here, I want to begin work on a section that I think could be relevant.'

øùú Shandor moves over to Faelnon.

øùú Calaryn smiles 'You never know with our luck.'

øùú Ariea is forced to follow or be left in the dark, 'Shandor, is there anything under this?'

øùú Shandor shrugs, 'I don't know, none of the original tunnels led any deeper.'

øùú Thor starts to investigate the floor with seemingly random taps of his foot against the stone.

øùú Faelnon begins making a few notes on a clean page, periodically flipping to an earlier page to look up a prior detail, or to the first few pages that contain the alphabet of ancient Gnome.

øùú Shandor suggests with a smirk, 'Perhaps we should just leave Faelnon all alone down here while he works.'

øùú Thor smiles at the thought, but remembers something that was mentioned in passing a long time ago, 'Shandor, ye said that this place was full o' treasure. Where'd that go?'

øùú Isondil looks at Shandor for an answer

øùú Shandor says, 'Oh yes... that was... well, rather a lie to get people to help. Still, it worked... Of course, feel free to look for it, the chamber is at least a few miles long.'

øùú Totil is very tempted to go off and look for it.

<@Narrator> There is a bang from far above.

øùú Shandor looks up into the darkness.

øùú Tengu looks up.

øùú Calaryn looks up

øùú Isondil yawns and looks nonchalantly at the carvings

øùú Ariea asks before anyone else can, 'What was that?'

øùú Calaryn says 'No idea'

øùú Isondil looks up and say's 'I thought you said this place was secure?'

øùú Shandor shrugs before removing a potion from his pocket, 'I created this a year back, but I think it still works, it allows you to see in the dark for a few hours. I think I have enough for all of you, if something is going wrong (as is our luck), this’ll be more useful than a torch.’

øùú Shandor says, 'Then we go investigate the noise.'

øùú Shandor takes a small sip of the potion before handing it to the next person.

øùú Calaryn looks at the group and smiles 'can we trust him?'

øùú Shandor begins gagging and gasping for air before he falls backwards into the darkness.

øùú Ariea looks worried, 'Shandor?'

øùú Ariea runs over to Shandor.

øùú Tengu shrugs, "Side effect, I suppose."

øùú Faelnon looks towards Shandor.

øùú Isondil refrains from taking the potion when he sees Shandor

øùú Ariea shakes Shandor, 'Shandor, are you alright?'

øùú Tengu looks at potion, "Who's next?"

øùú Shandor remains perfectly still.

øùú Faelnon looks rather worried at Shandor, 'Seems the potion has a side effect of a mild case of death...'

øùú Ariea looks at Shandor for a moment before slapping him across the face.

øùú Shandor yells, 'Ow! What was that for?'

øùú Ariea slaps him again, 'Pretending you were dead.'

øùú Calaryn says 'May I slap him?'

øùú Shandor rolls out of the way before she can slap him again, 'I needed to prove that the potion could not be trusted. It is mine after all.'

øùú Shandor grins at Calaryn, 'Nope, slapping are a wife's privilege.'

øùú Ariea playfully gets ready to slap him again, 'Good.'

øùú Calaryn smiles

øùú Shandor scoots away from Ariea before saying, 'Okay, who wants to drink the potion next?'

øùú Shandor says, 'Don't worry, it tastes just like strawberries.' He adds quietly, 'If those strawberries were rotten, left in a coal pile for two months and then cooked by Ariea...'

øùú Calaryn glance at Ariea

øùú Tengu asks, "Volunteers? Ah, I know, never mind..."

øùú Ariea takes the potion, 'I guess it is me, huh?' She takes a sip, her face contorts from the taste before passing it on to someone else.

øùú Cyria speaks up, "I will take some next."

øùú Ariea states simply, 'Yucky.'

øùú Ariea passes the potion to Cyria.

øùú Isondil says 'I'll take it after Cyria'

øùú Cyria takes a sip and gags a bit before passing it to Isondil

øùú Shandor says, mock-offended, 'Oh, so you wouldn't drink it after I took it, but after Ariea proved it isn't poison it is suddenly alright?'

øùú Faelnon smiles, 'Yeah, that's about right.'

øùú Faelnon says, 'Isondil, I will try it after you, if you don't mind.'

øùú Isondil takes a sip and looks to pass it on to someone

øùú Calaryn takes it.

øùú Calaryn holds her nose as she takes a sip

øùú Isondil coughs

øùú Calaryn pass it to Faelnon

øùú Faelnon gingerly takes a sip before coughing wildly and passing it onto Tengu.

øùú Tengu gets the bottle, looks inside for some reason and takes a small sip.

øùú Thor looks at it, 'I bet-cha it isn't as good as dwarven ale.'

øùú Thor rudely takes it off Tengu and downs a mouthful before passing it onto Thinn.

øùú Tengu says, "Check it."

øùú Thor grins, 'Ahh.'

øùú Thinn takes a swig before handing it to Totil.

øùú Thinn states, 'That's pretty weak...'

øùú Totil takes a sip, 'Yeah.'

øùú Shandor says, 'Okay, lets (finally) go find out what that noise was.'

øùú Shandor wonders into the darkness towards the ladder, which can be seen clearly now.

øùú Faelnon abandons the torch on the ground and follows, replacing his quill, inkwell and notepad.

øùú Ariea looks around the chamber before following.

øùú Isondil follows Ariea silently

øùú Tengu gets accustomed to the new feelings and follows.

øùú Thor isn't that thrilled to have the darkness go away, but follows without a word.

øùú Shandor reaches the ladder and climbs up it, but finds the door above locked, he knocks on it, 'Sarah? Sarah, now isn't a good time. In fact, a very bad time would be now to play a joke. Open up, please.'

øùú Calaryn follows the group looking around

øùú Ariea climbs up also, and looks at Shandor, before shouting, 'Sarah, come on, it isn't funny.'

øùú Isondil

øùú Shandor calls again, but there is no reply.

øùú Calaryn sighs 'oh this is wonderful'

øùú Shandor says, 'Fantastic one might say...'

øùú Shandor pounds his fist against the door, it doesn't do anything except from nearly topple him from the ladder.

øùú Tengu asks, "Any other exits?"

øùú Shandor says, 'The main entrance that we used the Gifts to open, I guess. It should still be open, I think.'

øùú Faelnon says, 'Then let's get there.'

<@Narrator> Boom. The loud sound resonates throughout the entire chamber.

øùú Isondil says 'How far is it from here?'

øùú Shandor sighs, 'Never mind, it seems.'

øùú Shandor says, 'Can someone check out if the door actually closed?'

øùú Thor runs along the chamber for a few minutes, he sees the double doors sealed shut.

øùú Thor sighs and heads back towards the group.

øùú Shandor climbs off the ladder and sits down on the ground in between two of the vents running along.

øùú Shandor says, 'Any suggestions?'

øùú Isondil leans against the wall and shakes his head

øùú Calaryn shakes here head 'its you who knows this place'

øùú Varadrion nods his head

øùú Shandor thinks for a moment, 'This place is sealed shut entirely. The only entrances I know of where the two that are closed and there is several metres of stone on the ceiling, and untold amounts on the walls.’

øùú Tengu shrugs, "I think we should stay close not to go mad in darkness when the potion expires. Then we'll carry on for several weeks before we die from dehydration".

øùú Varadrion turns his head slightly and listens

øùú Shandor says, 'Tengu, you are so cheerful.'

øùú Shandor hears odd sounds coming from the vents. He puts his ear next to it.

øùú Tengu bows.

øùú Varadrion comes over

øùú Isondil bends down and listens to the vent beside him

øùú Shandor says, 'Do you hear that?'

øùú Faelnon moves over to listen

øùú Ariea looks at the vents from a distance.

øùú Thor takes a step towards the vents.

øùú Faelnon says, 'It sounds like... gushing water?'

øùú Shandor stands up quickly and backs away from the vents.

øùú Isondil nods in agreement

<@Narrator> The vents, two by two (one on each side) burst forth in a steady stream of water.

øùú Ariea runs backwards a bit.

øùú Thor looks at the water.

øùú Tengu says, "I was wrong about dehydration, I confess"

øùú Shandor says, 'Oh goodie, I could do with a bath.'

øùú Isondil falls over as a gush of water hits him on his ears

øùú Ariea grins, 'No objections there.'

øùú Isondil splutters and stands up quickly

øùú Ariea asks, 'Where's that water coming from?'

øùú Shandor cups a bit and tastes it, 'Salt water... probably from the sea. It's logical, it is very close, and an endless supply.'

øùú Varadrion looks at the water and says "So now what?"

<@Narrator> The water level rises surprisingly fast for a chamber of this size, the vents must run from end to end.

øùú Shandor says, 'We go for a swim?'

øùú Varadrion looks worried "Swim?"

øùú Calaryn looks for higher ground

øùú Faelnon says, 'This place is filling up awfully fast. '

øùú Isondil says 'Any ideas on how to open those doors would come in handy right about now'

øùú Shandor says, 'When the water level rises above you, you can swim or die.'

<@Narrator> The water quickly finds itself at waist level.

øùú Varadrion says "Well this chamber only goes so high, what do we do when it fills up all the way?"

øùú Tengu says, "Salt water can destroy the doors... In a pair of centuries."

øùú Thor heads to the rope ladder and climbs up a bit, allowing Thinn and Totil on and out of the water before they drown.

øùú Shandor says, 'Varadrion, I have no idea, we have no way out so you might as well just enjoy yourself.'

øùú Ariea complains, 'I'm getting soaked.'

øùú Varadrion asks "Can we go out the way the water is coming in?"

øùú Isondil say's ' That'll be the least of your worries soon enough'

øùú Shandor looks at the vents that are just over a foot high, 'Have fun.' He adds, 'The pressure would probably stop you anyway.'

øùú Varadrion says urgently "Then we better come up with something fast"

øùú Shandor says, 'I wouldn't worry about it, this place is extremely tall, we have a good few minutes.'

øùú Varadrion says "Great, so we die slowly"

øùú Tengu says, "Not enough to learn water breathing."

øùú Shandor thinks, *Hello? Moron! This isn't going to sort itself out, go do something. Turn into a dragon like you wanted to and evaporate all this before busting free!*

øùú Shandor says to Tengu, 'I think someone invented a potion for that.'

øùú Tengu says, "Something tells me you don't happen to have one"

øùú Ariea is now forced to swim to stay above water level.

øùú Shandor says, 'I didn't happen to think it would be something one needs dozens of feet underground.'

øùú Varadrion stands on his toes

øùú Faelnon begins to swim to stay above.

øùú Ariea wades over to the rope ladder and climbs up it a bit, motioning the others to follow.

øùú Shandor follows Ariea while concocting an idea.

øùú Isondil swims over to the ladder

<@Narrator> The water level is quickly approaching over-head height.

øùú Varadrion grabs onto the ladder

øùú Calaryn lakes a hold of the ladder and floats in the water 'not so cold'

øùú Shandor climbs up the ladder a bit before grinning and jumping off. He smashes into the water, chuckling.

øùú Faelnon is splashed by Shandor hitting the water, 'What in Tarkna do you think you are doing?'

øùú Varadrion looks at him oddly

øùú Tengu swims towards the ladder and looks at Shandor surprised.

øùú Shandor grins, swimming to keep himself above the water, 'Having fun before I die, 'course.'

øùú Isondil says 'That looks fun' and makes his way up the ladder

øùú Shandor smiles, 'It is.'

øùú Ariea looks at her outfit, then at the water before saying, 'Why not?'

øùú Varadrion says "Maybe we should think of ways to not die"

øùú Faelnon sighs, 'You people are all insane.'

øùú Isondil grins and climbs up the ladder before jumping off

øùú Ariea grins at Faelnon, 'You are just too afraid to jump.'

øùú Ariea hurls herself off and lands in the water giggling.

øùú Varadrion climbs up and pulls himself out of the water

øùú Shandor grins at Ariea and Isondil before returning to the ladder, going up and pausing on the other side of the ladder, where Faelnon is.

øùú Faelnon looks at Shandor, 'What are you doing?'

øùú Varadrion scrambles up out of reach

øùú Isondil splashes into the water and says ' Why not have some fun before why die, most other people who die don't get this chance...'

øùú Shandor grins devilishly before he grabs Faelnon by one shoulder and shoves him off the ladder, taking himself with Faelnon. They both plummet into the water.

øùú Faelnon waves his arms, shocked and spluttering, 'Ge-argh.'

øùú Ariea bursts out laughing at Faelnon's expression.

øùú Shandor says, 'Shall we get Varadrion next? Perhaps Calaryn?'

øùú Varadrion climbs as high as he can on the ladder

øùú Tengu swims a distance away from the ladder, as people start jumping down.

øùú Isondil grins at Faelnon

øùú Thor and the other dwarves grin at each other before they leap off, curled up like bombs.

øùú Calaryn shakes her head

øùú Shandor spots the dwarves, 'Ah, watch out, swim for it!'

øùú Thor lands in the water with the other two causing a large wave to hit into the ladder, shaking and twisting it.

øùú Shandor is knocked underwater by the wave, but grins at the three dwarves.

øùú Thinn continues to fall in the water, like a stone, until he is at the bottom.

øùú Shandor looks at Thinn through the water, 'Thinn? Are you okay?'

øùú Shandor dives down after him.

øùú Varadrion looks at Shandor and Thinn

øùú Thinn grins as Shandor gets close enough. He latches hold of Shandor's arm with both of his hands.

øùú Shandor yelps slightly and tries to swim away.

øùú Isondil looks after Shandor and takes a deep breath before diving after him

øùú Thinn grins and lets go off his arm. Thinn then begins swimming up himself.

øùú Shandor reaches the surface, 'Now that was just mean, Thinn.'

øùú Tengu asks, "Do all dwarves conceal their affinity to water until death is near?"

øùú Thinn , who emerged from the water just in time to hear Shandor, 'I know.'

øùú Isondil swims back up to the surface

øùú Shandor says, 'It seems so.'

øùú Varadrion looks at everyone "You're all crazy!"

øùú Faelnon decides to take a little vengeance on Shandor and leaps straight at him from the ladder.

øùú Shandor yelps and dives underwater and keeps swimming until he is safely out of distance of Faelnon.

øùú Ariea grins at Varadrion, climbing up towards him, 'You know what they say If you can't beat them, let them throw you off a rope ladder into water. It's what I say anyway.'

øùú Varadrion raises his foot into a kicking position

øùú Shandor says, 'If you kick her off, Varadrion, I'll float you up to the very top and hurtle you to the water.'

øùú Varadrion looks at them both and says "There is no way I'm going in there"

øùú Isondil grins at Varadrion and shouts 'Do it!'

øùú Thor grins at the other dwarves before shouting to Varadrion, 'Sounds like a challenge to me.'

øùú Ariea grins and jumps up, grabbing hold of Varadrion's leg.

øùú Varadrion lifts his body right against the top

øùú Shandor heads up the ladder quickly to help Ariea.

øùú Varadrion shakes his leg

øùú Ariea cackles evilly and grips tighter.

øùú Ariea lets go of the ladder completely.

øùú Isondil follows Shandor up the ladder to help even things out

<@Narrator> The water has filled roughly half of the chamber.

øùú Varadrion continues to shake his leg

øùú Tengu swims towards the ladder again, "I would prefer to face death in serenity and meditations. The flippant joy doesn't suit the moment."

øùú Shandor climbs up on the other side of the ladder to Varadrion and chuckles, 'You are going down.'

øùú Varadrion looks at Shandor and shakes his head

øùú Faelnon shrugs, 'It is a good contrast anyway.'

øùú Isondil grabs Shandor tries to pull him downwards

øùú Shandor pushes against Varadrion's shoulders trying to knock him off.

øùú Varadrion keeps hold barely

øùú Thor sneaks up the ladder and clings onto Isondil's shoulders.

øùú Thinn and Totil ignore Isondil and go for Varadrion.

øùú Isondil let's go of Shandor and grabs Thor by the leg and pulls him off his back

øùú Isondil drops Thor

øùú Thor climbs around onto the other side of the rope ladder from Isondil and uses a foot to push against his chest.

øùú Thinn carefully climbs up the rope ladder and clings onto Varadrion by the shoulders like Thor did to Isondil.

øùú Isondil swings around the ladder with one hand and kicks Thor in the back

øùú Faelnon asks, 'Am I going to have to come up there and knock you all off?'

øùú Shandor chuckles, 'I know a spell that might help.'

øùú Varadrion holds on even tighter

øùú Shandor chuckles, 'Varadrion, it would be easier just to fall down, I mean, you are going to get soaked anyway.'

øùú Varadrion says "I can fight it"

øùú Shandor says, 'It'll be moot point, but okay.'

øùú Isondil puts his foot above Thor's hand and tries to knock it off

øùú Cyria swims over to the others

<@Narrator> Varadrion falls off.

øùú Tengu says, "Strange attitude towards death..."

øùú Tengu says, "Well, the death itself is inevitable not depending on situation. No difference how much time you've been left, you shouldn't..." - Tengu shuts up as he is being splashed with water from Varadrion's fall.

<@Narrator> The water is three-quarters of the way up the chamber.

øùú Shandor looks at the water and for a minute pictures the end that awaits them. He forces the thought away by jumping off again.

øùú Cyria dives underwater and grabs Shandor’s foot bringing him under as well

øùú Faelnon decides just to sit on a rung of the rope ladder.

øùú Shandor waves his arms playfully as he is dragged under.

øùú Ariea giggles and shouts, 'Hey! He's mine.' And jumps down into the water.

øùú Isondil dives off the ladder

øùú Shandor tries to swim upwards.

øùú Ariea grabs Shandor's other foot and drags him downwards, mouthing, 'He's mine and he'll die my way!'

øùú Cyria swims back to the surface

øùú Ariea grabs Shandor's hand and swims back to the surface.

øùú Shandor breaks free of Ariea and gets to the surface.

øùú Tengu is floating on his back, looking at the approaching ceiling.

øùú Isondil swims over looking down at Ariea and Shandor

øùú Faelnon 's spot on the ladder is over run by the water so he takes to swimming.

øùú Thor and the other dwarves are playing a game involving a weighty object, and swimming downwards.

øùú Shandor sees the ceiling getting awfully close to the water level.

øùú Shandor says, 'And here is the downside of the chamber filling up with water.'

øùú Ariea 's grin fades as she notes the proximity of the ceiling.

øùú Tengu says, "Good you have noticed"

øùú Shandor complains, 'I thought we'd have a few more minutes, personally.'

øùú Shandor feels the ceiling hit the top of his head. He tilts his head up so he can still breathe.

øùú Ariea does likewise.

øùú Thor and the dwarves have abandoned their game.

øùú Faelnon sighs.

øùú Tengu takes a deep breath while he can.

øùú Shandor says, 'Well, it was fun while it lasted...'

øùú Shandor takes a deep breath as the water goes up over his face.

øùú Cyria waits for Shandor to pull off one of his tricks he seems to get lucky with...hopefully

øùú Ariea lets out a brief cry that is muffled as the water goes up over her face.

øùú Faelnon opens and closes his mouth like a fish in a vain attempt to breathe.

øùú Shandor makes a last ditch effort at the door, but it remains shut.

øùú Calaryn takes a big breath before the water covers her head

øùú Ariea locks an arm around Shandor's neck as she begins to run out of air.

øùú Thor waits quietly and patiently, ready to meet his dead friends of Borwin.

øùú Faelnon blinks slowly as he begins to drift into unconsciousness.

øùú Shandor thinks there are vague sounds coming from the door, but then thinks he is probably delirious.

øùú Tengu thinks whether a few minutes while he can hold his breath can change anything.

øùú Isondil thinks about being united with his wife and smiles

øùú Shandor brushes a hand against the door and thinks a prayer to his gods.

øùú Ariea closes her eyes and hopes for everything to be over.

øùú Faelnon 's expression goes blank.

<@Narrator> Suddenly, the door swings inwards. Waves of water crash inside and begin filling the stair well.

øùú Shandor is washed inwards by the water rushing into the new area and hits his head painfully on a step.

øùú Faelnon , too, is washed into the stairwell by the rush of water.

øùú Isondil feels a sudden force and is sucked through the doorway

øùú Ariea opens her eyes to see the stairs, she desperately crawls up them.

øùú Tengu smiles at the hallucination from the lack of air, but soon realises that it is real.

øùú Shandor grabs Faelnon's arm and drags him upwards.

øùú Thor helps Shandor bring Faelnon up.

øùú Totil splutters and coughs as he hurriedly scrambles up.

øùú Calaryn looks around 'So this is heaven?'

øùú Tengu swims to the stairs and emerges on the surface.

øùú Shandor coughs, 'Then heaven sucks.'

øùú Cyria coughs for a few minutes as she staggers to her feet

øùú Thinn waits for the last person to get in before putting of all his weight against the door, trying to close it.

øùú Totil helps Thinn close and lock the door.

øùú Isondil looks around at the group and fixes his gaze on Calaryn and says 'Looks more like hell to me.'

øùú Shandor shoves the trapdoor open and drags Faelnon through.

øùú Ariea falls to the ground in the back area.

øùú Thor helps the other two dwarves up and then tumbles to the ground.

øùú Shandor looks at Faelnon.

øùú Faelnon coughs and splutters as his eyes snap open and dart around frantically.

øùú Shandor sighs in relief.

øùú Shandor looks around, 'Who opened the door?'

øùú Tengu comes closer to Faelnon, leaving wet footprints on the floor.

<@Narrator> 'That would be me.' Sarah states, standing beside the counter, 'I said I was coming around today, but when I came no-one was here. But I thought I saw a customer leave earlier, so I thought that was weird. So I came in, and there was no-one here, then I remembered all the funny markings beneath this place and thought you'd probably be down there. Only, when I went down, the door was bolted and locked.'

øùú Isondil shrugs

<@Narrator> Sarah continues unceasingly, 'I heard all this noise like people hitting the door, so I went to get the key. Then I came back with it and unlocked the door and unbolted it too, then, when I tried to open it, all this water poured out, so I dashed back up so I wouldn't get my feet wet.'

øùú Shandor coughs, spluttering up some water, 'Thank you, Sarah.'

øùú Tengu wonders, "Who locked the door then?"

øùú Shandor says, 'I guess whoever this 'customer' was...'

<@Narrator> 'Oh, another thing the guards have been acting really funny. I think West is really mad after you spies went in and stole his safe-' Faelnon tries to point out, again, that they aren't spies, but she won't give him a chance, 'So he is sending his guards on a door to door search of all the buildings looking for you.'

øùú Shandor mumbles, 'We should'a killed him, we definitely should have killed him...'

<@Narrator> 'Oh, and he announced that he is banning the Order of Cothin-Cal, and he raided their building here and tore it to the ground. I think all the members got a way, I think all of them came to my house. They've been coming to the shop while you've been away and trust me. So, they are all at my house if you need them, I think.'

<@Narrator> 'Oh, and the troops who searching houses? It'll be in the marketplace in about ten minutes, so I dunno what you wanna do, They've closed up the gates real tight, no-one is allowed in or out and they have guards all along the wall. They are even holding all boats in port.'

øùú Shandor takes a moment to breathe and think about the information.

øùú Faelnon coughs again before saying, 'That's... problematic.'

øùú Shandor runs over to the windows and draws the curtains, but not before spotting a troop of soldiers systematically going through buildings towards this one.

øùú Isondil says 'So what are we going to do now?'

øùú Shandor looks around, 'We have to hide, er, somehow.'

øùú Faelnon asks, 'Where?'

øùú Shandor thinks for a moment before pointing to a wide oak table covered by an elegant purple cloth, which extends to the floor, 'A couple of you could hide under that.'

øùú Faelnon says, 'Anyone who searches in any careful manner will find us.'

<@Narrator> 'I don't think so, I did a little scouting (spies always act on info, not blindly, but I'm sure you know that), and found out all they really do is come in, look in all of the rooms, nod proudly and leave. They have all of Tildruin to go through with limited numbers. Most of the soldiers seem to be being used for something else.'

øùú Shandor looks at the trap door before shutting it and saying, 'Can someone help me get that Trovocian pot over here?'

øùú Shandor claps his hands loudly, 'Come on people! We need to hurry.'

øùú Tengu decides that he is volunteer once more.

øùú Thor waves his arm at Shandor, 'Aye, aye, I know, but we nearly drowned, remember?'

øùú Tengu comes to the pot and helps to lift it.

øùú Shandor goes over to the pot and helps move it over the trapdoor.

øùú Shandor releases, 'Thanks Tengu.'

øùú Shandor thinks *Oh, whacky idea.*

øùú Tengu says, "Welcome".

øùú Shandor says, 'Okay, this is one of my patented Shandor Plans, but the pot is large enough to fit someone inside, and who would look inside a giant pot?'

øùú Shandor sets a chair against the pot and smiles, 'Feel free to get in if you want to.'

øùú Faelnon looks at the pot before quickly saying, 'I call going under the table.'

øùú Cyria nods in agreement with Faelnon, "I call under the table"

øùú Ariea giggles, 'I'll go in the pot, it could be fun.'

øùú Shandor smiles at Ariea before helping her get in.

øùú Isondil says ' I call hiding under the spare bed upstairs'

øùú Ariea suggests from inside, 'You can get onto the roof via one of the upstairs windows.'

øùú Shandor turns to Thor, 'Okay, you, the dwarves and anyone else, get up to the roof.'

øùú Thor nods before trudging upstairs.

øùú Totil follows quickly.

øùú Thinn follows at a brisk, but calm, pace.

øùú Calaryn suggests 'Can I play a costumer?'

øùú Tengu comes upstairs, thinking what to do if guards would like to check there.

øùú Shandor says, 'I don't think so, we need everyone out, the guards have orders to take us, you never know, he might have drawn them pictures of us. We can't take chances.'

øùú Thor climbs out of a window and manages to get himself onto the roof with Thinn's help.

øùú Thinn waves for Tengu to come with them.

øùú Shandor leans against the counter as he looks about, making sure nothing revealing is in the shop.

øùú Calaryn looks for a place to hide

øùú Shandor says, 'Calaryn, go with the dwarves please.'

øùú Tengu leans out then jumps on the roof with a single move.

øùú Isondil hides under the bed

øùú Shandor says, 'Sarah, get upstairs and hide, you're the only one they aren't after, but still, I want people out of sight.'

<@Narrator> There is a knock at the door.

øùú Calaryn walks to a window and climbs up on the roof

øùú Shandor is tempted to squeak, he cant get to the stairs without being spotted through the door window. He quickly ducks down behind the counter.

<@Narrator> Sarah scoots upstairs, she doesn't think she needs to hide and takes to stealing biscuits from the kitchen.

<@Narrator> The knocks turn to pounds, someone calls, 'Royal guard, open up.'

øùú Ariea hopes everyone is well hidden.

øùú Faelnon hopes that the table doesn't give way and that the guards are as clumsy as Sarah suggested.

<@Narrator> The door shudders inwards as two guards in very expensive looking armour enter. Three more follow.

<@Narrator> Sarah suddenly comes downstairs, 'Really, what is this racket? You have no right to be barging in here when I have done nothing wrong.'

<@Narrator> 'Routine search ma'am, every place needs to be searched.' The first guard says while directing the three who came in after to search upstairs.

øùú Shandor thinks to himself, *Come on Sarah, get out of there.*

<@Narrator> Sarah thinks, *Okay, everyone's hidden themselves, where's Shandor?* She looks towards the counter where the guards are heading, *Uh oh.*

<@Narrator> Sarah moves quickly to stop them

øùú Faelnon breathes very quietly and moves the blanket a little bit so he can see where the guards are.

<@Narrator> Sarah says, 'I'm not letting you behind the counter, you'll probably steal my money, and the... experiment thingies I have set up, you'll disturb all of them!'

<@Narrator> The first guard says, gently pushing past her, 'We won't steal your money and we'll do our best not to damage any experiments.'

<@Narrator> Sarah leans over the counter panicked. However, nothing is there.

øùú Thor mutters quietly, 'What's going on down there?'

øùú Isondil tries not to make any noise underneath the bed

øùú Tengu tries his best to hear what happening.

øùú Ariea nearly sneezes from the dust of this "new" pot.

øùú Ariea can't help it as she sneezes loudly.

<@Narrator> The first guard looks towards the pot, 'What was that?'

<@Narrator> Sarah moves over to it quickly and says, 'Oh, it is..., a... um, sneezing pot! From the gnomes, you know those whacky guys...'

<@Narrator> 'Why would they make a pot that sneezes?'

<@Narrator> 'Um..., ambience my good man, ambience, oh and for pranks, imagine trying to do a play with a never ending sound of sneezing.'

øùú Faelnon lets the blanket down again.

øùú Thor complains, 'I cannae 'ear anythin'.'

<@Narrator> The guard wonders exactly how sane Sarah is, but shrugs and continues his search.

<@Narrator> One of the guards who went upstairs nears the bed Isondil is under.

<@Narrator> She looks around and sits on the bed. She removes her boot and rubs her ankle, muttering, 'Ah, it's killing me.'

øùú Isondil moves over as the bed sinks down towards him

<@Narrator> She puts the boot on again, goes downstairs and reports to the first guard, 'Searched, nothing.'

<@Narrator> The first guard nods, 'Okay, let's go.'

<@Narrator> All five guards leave and continue to the next building. Sarah rushes up and closes the door, bolting it shut. She says, 'Alright, you can come out now.'

øùú Faelnon rolls out from under the table.

øùú Tengu lies down, trying to merge with the roof as the guards leave the building.

øùú Ariea calls from the pot, 'Er, little help?'

øùú Isondil rolls out from under the bed

øùú Calaryn climbs down from the roof into the room

øùú Thor climbs down with the dwarves.

øùú Isondil moves down the stairs

øùú Tengu climbs down with the others.

øùú Ariea manages to climb out of the pot and onto the chair.

<@Narrator> Sarah asks, 'Where did Shandor hide?'

øùú Faelnon shrugs.

øùú Ariea says, 'I don't know, the roof?'

øùú Thor reports, ''e isn't on the roof.'

<@Narrator> There is a muffled cry from the counter.

øùú Faelnon says, 'What the-?'

øùú Faelnon goes over to the counter and opens up the stone panel (which blends in perfectly with the marble counter) hiding the vials of homemade potions.

øùú Isondil looks at the counter

øùú Shandor , squished up and running out of air, rolls out and onto the ground, gasping, and taking a few potions with him.

øùú Ariea giggles, 'We didn't think of hiding there.'

øùú Calaryn giggles

øùú Shandor looks at the mess of area now, 'Ugh, I had them all neatly organised and everything.'

øùú Tengu says, "Better for us."

øùú Shandor says, 'I'm glad you thought that was so funny.'

øùú Shandor grins at Ariea, 'At least I have a hiding place next time your family comes to visit.'

øùú Ariea says, 'Shandor, don't make me stuff you back in there, permanently.'

øùú Shandor grins.

øùú Shandor stands up, goes to his desk that is behind the counter next to a wall and built into the side wall. He opens a small drawer and removes a bottle of wine.

øùú Ariea says, 'You never told me you had that.'

øùú Shandor says, 'I think we all deserve a drink that is stronger than tea...'

øùú Thor perks up, 'You have ale?' He sees the wine, 'Ugh, never mind.'

øùú Shandor goes upstairs to get some glasses.

øùú Faelnon finds a chair to sit down.

øùú Faelnon says, 'I hate days like these.'

øùú Ariea says, 'Thursdays?'

øùú Faelnon nods, 'Exactly, I could never get a handle of Thursdays.'

øùú Isondil sits on the floor leaning against the wall

øùú Shandor comes down with some glasses. He pours himself a glass of the red wine and leaves the bottle on the counter.

øùú Calaryn jumps up on the counter

øùú Isondil stands up and gets a glass and moves over to pour out some wine

øùú Shandor leans against the table.

øùú Isondil pours himself out some wine and leans against the counter

øùú Thor , disgruntled, leaves the wine alone and sits on a step of the stairs.

øùú Tengu politely fills a glass with a few drips of wine, but doesn't make a sip of it.

øùú Shandor takes a swig of the wine, glad to taste something that isn't salt water, or tea.

øùú Isondil finishes the glass of wine and set's the glass on the counter

<@Narrator> The A'lure forest seems to glow in the midday sun. The magnificent building belonging to the Order of Cothin-Cal has not heard of the actions in Tildruin and sits blissfully unaware.

<@Narrator> The conference room is currently host to the council of Wise Elves, without their leader, Aoen. One of the members speaks, 'Why did Aoen tell us to meet here, and yet isn't here himself?'

<@Narrator> 'I believe our council room is being redecorated.' A second replies.

<@Narrator> 'Quite ridiculous at a time like this, the destruction of Borwin, and of Viirnial...' The first member states. There is a light knock at the door. He stands up and goes over to it, opening the door. Before him is a servant girl, 'Yes?'

<@Narrator> 'Aoen has sent this package for you to examine before he arrives.' She states, showing a simple looking package in her arms. The first member smiles politely and takes it off her, 'Thank you.'

<@Narrator> He returns to the table and sets it in the centre, 'I wonder what it is.'

<@Narrator> 'Probably more nonsense.'

<@Narrator> 'Or it might explain things.' A third member states.

<@Narrator> 'Let's find out.' The first member states, pulling at the covers.

<@Narrator> Outside, a family of birds sit chirping merrily on a nearby tree. They stop singing their joyous tune and tilt their heads to glance upon the Order's building, as if they knew what was coming.

<@Narrator> The entire building crackles and explodes into flames, which wash over the nearby trees. The elves around look up in horror as the explosion hurtles flaming chunks of the building towards the ground.

<@Narrator> Nothing remains of the Order's building as the fire around rages.

<@Narrator> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< The 'Quest' III - Hoping that you don't explode like the council of Wise Elves just did >>>>>>>>>



'The Best of the Rest'



øùú Shandor takes a sip and then says, 'Sort of. It in itself is more for decorative purposes, however, when you brew something in it, it becomes much more potent.'

øùú Thor grins, 'Mmm, more potent dwarven ale...'

øùú Cyria says, "I don't think that can get any more potent"



øùú Shandor replies, 'Well, none recently, but before I left I had made one that can change your eye colour for a day.'

øùú Faelnon rolls his eyes, 'That is beneficial to the world, clearly.'

øùú Isondil sighs and thinks how vain it would be to want to change their eye colour for a day



øùú Shandor bends down and opens up a trap door, 'This leads to the chamber where the dragon was imprisoned. Its walls are filled with carvings and other ancient hoo-haa.'

øùú Ariea thinks, *He really just said 'hoo-haa', didn't he?*

øùú Shandor thinks, *I said hoo-haa, I actually said hoo-haa, I think I need to lie down.*



øùú Thor smiles at the thought, but remembers something that was mentioned in passing a long time ago, 'Shandor, ye said that this place was full o' treasure. Where'd that go?'

øùú Isondil looks at Shandor for an answer

øùú Shandor says, 'Oh yes... that was... well, rather a lie to get people to help. Still, it worked... Of course, feel free to look for it, the chamber is at least a few miles long.'

øùú Totil is very tempted to go off and look for it.



øùú Faelnon looks rather worried at Shandor, 'Seems the potion has a side effect of a mild case of death...'

And some folks (who have since suffered a ‘mild case of death’) said it wasn’t obvious that Faelnon is a medicine man.



øùú Shandor says, 'Don't worry, it tastes just like strawberries.' He adds quietly, 'If those strawberries were rotten, left in a coal pile for two months and then cooked by Ariea...'



øùú Tengu shrugs, "I think we should stay close not to go mad in darkness when the potion expires. Then we'll carry on for several weeks before we die from dehydration".

øùú Shandor says, 'Tengu, you are so cheerful.'

øùú Tengu bows.



<@Narrator> The vents, two by two (one on each side) burst forth in a steady stream of water.

øùú Tengu says, "I was wrong about dehydration, I confess"

øùú Shandor says, 'Oh goodie, I could do with a bath.'

øùú Ariea grins, 'No objections there.'



øùú Tengu says, "Not enough to learn water breathing."

øùú Shandor says to Tengu, 'I think someone invented a potion for that.'

øùú Tengu says, "Something tells me you don't happen to have one"

øùú Shandor says, 'I didn't happen to think it would be something one needs dozens of feet underground.'



øùú Shandor follows Ariea while concocting an idea.

Woo, he’s got an idea, we are saved...

øùú Shandor climbs up the ladder a bit before grinning and jumping off. He smashes into the water, chuckling.

What sort of an idea do you call that !?



øùú Faelnon is splashed by Shandor hitting the water, 'What in Tarkna do you think you are doing?'

øùú Varadrion looks at him oddly

øùú Tengu swims towards the ladder and looks at Shandor surprised.

øùú Shandor grins, swimming to keep himself above the water, 'Having fun before I die, 'course.'



øùú Faelnon sighs, 'You people are all insane.'

øùú Isondil grins and climbs up the ladder before jumping off

øùú Ariea grins at Faelnon, 'You are just too afraid to jump.'

øùú Ariea hurls herself off and lands in the water giggling.

øùú Varadrion climbs up and pulls himself out of the water

øùú Shandor grins at Ariea and Isondil before returning to the ladder, going up and pausing on the other side of the ladder, where Faelnon is.

øùú Faelnon looks at Shandor, 'What are you doing?'

øùú Varadrion scrambles up out of reach

øùú Shandor grins devilishly before he grabs Faelnon by one shoulder and shoves him off the ladder, taking himself with Faelnon. They both plummet into the water.

øùú Faelnon waves his arms, shocked and spluttering, 'Ge-argh.'

øùú Ariea bursts out laughing at Faelnon's expression.

øùú Shandor says, 'Shall we get Varadrion next? Perhaps Calaryn?'

øùú Varadrion climbs as high as he can on the ladder

<@Narrator> OOC That just means you'll fall from a higher height :)

øùú Tengu swims a distance away from the ladder, as people start jumping down.

øùú Isondil grins at Faelnon



øùú Thor and the other dwarves grin at each other before they leap off, curled up like bombs.

øùú Calaryn shakes her head

øùú Shandor spots the dwarves, 'Ah, watch out, swim for it!'

øùú Thor lands in the water with the other two causing a large wave to hit into the ladder, shaking and twisting it.

øùú Shandor is knocked underwater by the wave, but grins at the three dwarves.



øùú Varadrion looks at everyone "You're all crazy!"

øùú Faelnon decides to take a little vengeance on Shandor and leaps straight at him from the ladder.

øùú Shandor yelps and dives underwater and keeps swimming until he is safely out of distance of Faelnon.

øùú Ariea grins at Varadrion, climbing up towards him, 'You know what they say If you can't beat them, let them throw you off a rope ladder into water. It's what I say anyway.'



<@Narrator> OOC Please imagine this scene, if you will, the group are about to die, drowning, and they are on a very narrow rope ladder. However, Varadrion is being attacked by two elves and two dwarves, one of the elves is being attacked by another elf who in turn is being attacked by a dwarf.

Then again, you could just come to the ‘Quest’...



And here’s what you get for leaving in the middle of a subterranean drowning attempt:

<@Narrator> Varadrion realises what a pansy he is being and falls off.

<@Narrator> The others decide that it wasn't enough, so decide to drown him.

<@Narrator> Varadrion's corpse floats away, but we don't really care.



øùú Ariea grabs Shandor's other foot and drags him downwards, mouthing, 'He's mine and he'll die my way!'

Ah, what a caring wife.



øùú Calaryn looks around 'So this is heaven?'

øùú Tengu swims to the stairs and emerges on the surface.

øùú Shandor coughs, 'Then heaven sucks.'



<@Narrator> The first guard looks towards the pot, 'What was that?'

<@Narrator> Sarah moves over to it quickly and says, 'Oh, it is..., a... um, sneezing pot! From the gnomes, you know those whacky guys...'

<@Narrator> 'Why would they make a pot that sneezes?'

<@Narrator> 'Um..., ambience my good man, ambience, oh and for pranks, imagine trying to do a play with a never ending sound of sneezing.'

<@Narrator> The guard wonders exactly how sane Sarah is, but shrugs and continues his search.



øùú Shandor takes a sip and then says, 'Sort of. It in itself is more for decorative purposes, however, when you brew something in it, it becomes much more potent.'

<+Tengu> OOC Ariea brewed into something more potent?



<@Narrator> Sarah asks, 'Where did Shandor hide?'

øùú Faelnon shrugs.

<@Narrator> There is a muffled cry from the counter.

øùú Faelnon says, 'What the-?'

<+Tengu> OOC Crying Counter I suppose

øùú Faelnon goes over to the counter and opens up the stone panel (which blends in perfectly with the marble counter) hiding the vials of homemade potions.

øùú Shandor , squished up and running out of air, rolls out and onto the ground, gasping, and taking a few potions with him.

øùú Ariea giggles, 'We didn't think of hiding there.'

øùú Calaryn giggles

øùú Tengu says, "Better for us."

øùú Shandor says, 'I'm glad you thought that was so funny.'

øùú Shandor grins at Ariea, 'At least I have a hiding place next time your family comes to visit.'

øùú Ariea says, 'Shandor, don't make me stuff you back in there, permanently.'

øùú Shandor grins.



<@Narrator> OOC Calaryn, Cyria?

<@Calaryn> ooc uoqs

<+Isondil> ooc what?

<+Tengu> OOC spou rather

<@Narrator> OOC If you take close keyboard letters you can get, amongst other things yiwd

<@Narrator> OOC ipax





He’s insane, folks

øùú Shandor waves to the two dwarves and suddenly has an odd mental image of stuffing all three of the dwarves into the Trovocian pot and rolling them down a steep hill.



øùú Shandor thinks *I could put in either a very big skylight, or steal a whole bunch of the glowing crystals from Thor and turn this place into my underground lair, from which I could control Tildruin, or become a dragon. Ooo, dragon. It would save on travel expenses. Wait, what am I doing? Oh yes, walls.*



Re: Varadrion’s drowning

08:57.26¯ <@Shandor> I wonder will Varadrion like that narration about him?

08:57.43¯ <+_Tengu> Sure!

08:58.18¯ <+_Tengu> we can dismember him and plug the vents with his body parts.

08:58.27¯ <@Shandor> Excellent idea.

09:00.12¯ <@Cyria> a swarm of sharks come through the vents, smelling Varadrions blood, and rip his dead body to pieces