Chapter #1145
previous chapter (#1144)
next chapter (#1146)
+
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ THE ADVENTURERS +
+ +
+ Epic VI +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ Many of the locations, non-player characters, spells, and other +
+ terms used in these stories are the property of Wizards of the Coast +
+ which has in no way endorsed or authorized their use. Any such +
+ property contained within these stories are not representative of +
+ Wizards of the Coast in any fashion. +
+ The player characters depicted in these stories are copyright +
+ 1991-2024 by Thomas A. Miller. Any resemblance to any persons +
+ or characters either real or fictional is utterly coincidental. +
+ Copying and/or distribution of these stories is permissible under +
+ the sole condition that no money is made in the process. In that +
+ case, I hope you enjoy them! +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ Adolphus 10th level half-ogre warrior +
+ Damien small, renegade imp +
+ Peyton 11th level gnome thief +
+ Rogar 10th level human priest of Olidammara +
+ Sylus 8th/10th level dark elf warrior/thief +
+ Wembly 10th level human wizard +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ Date: 6/17/586 C.Y. (Common Year) +
+ Time: midmorning +
+ Place: the northwest reaches of the Abbor-Alz hills +
+ Climate: warm and dry, with cloudy skies +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ "A fighter who plans is ten times as lethal as one who doesn't." +
+ - from _Operation Field Guide_ by Jeff Kirkham +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
MCXLV. Stealth and Steel
As his now-vaporous form flowed through the cracks between chunks of
rubble, Sylus Blackheart chuckled to himself - at least mentally, since
he currently had no voice or other means of making any sound. Becoming
gaseous was definitely not for everyone; it was a strange experience, one
which required the ability to embrace and adapt to a state of being that
only the tiniest fraction of people would ever know. Most of those who
ever had the opportunity to experience time as a small, transparent cloud
of mist were veteran wizards or otherworldly creatures. The first urge
was to panic - and why not? It was completely unnatural, after spending
one's entire life moving and living in a tangible physical body, to then
be changed to insubstantial gas. Sylus had a deep respect for any mage
who did this, especially more than once.
The dark elf also had nerves of steel, which was why he had not only
experienced this gaseous form more than once in the past, but also kept
his calm and his wits every time...and eventually learned how to direct
his movements. Thus it was that - rather than floating around the mines
aimlessly now that he was here - his vapor-form was able to move through
the passages quickly and deliberately. After all, he had a purpose here,
as well as a time limit thanks to the random duration of the potion he'd
used earlier.
The concealed passage angled to the right for perhaps a hundred feet,
at which point it joined another passage - the leftmost of the three open
entrances from the outside. To the right, sunlight was visible about
fifty feet distant, as were the pair of duergar guards who remained just
inside the passage's mouth. To the left, the merged passage continued
deeper into the mine complex. Working quickly, the gaseous adventurer
explored the nearby area...and beyond. Long story short, the three open
mine entrances each had a single guard inside, and a small barracks a bit
deeper in. These barracks were all basically identical: an outer hallway
with a couple of guards posted, a main quarters containing about a dozen
more duergar warriors, another quarters for the captain of the barracks,
and a small armory. In addition to the three such mini-complexes near
each outer entrance, there was also a fourth which lay just just inside
a _second_ concealed entrance to the outside. Thus, overall, there were
a total of five ways into the mine from the area outside: one concealed,
three visible, and another concealed. If there was any fighting or other
commotion and Wembly did launch a fireball as planned, it would detonate
just inside the fourth of those five entrances.
In order to get an idea of the potential impact of such an attack, the
vaporous dark elf continued his silent, unseen explorations. He quickly
found that there were numerous other side passages that branched off in
random directions before ending abruptly; some of these had simple but
effective deadfall traps ready to kill or injure unwary explorers. There
were also several passages that didn't terminate, but rather continued
onward...and downward. Sylus suspected that these might eventually lead
to the Underdark, but he didn't float down any of them because he found
a more promising route: a larger, rectangular room whose near and far
ends were split by a deep chasm. A narrow bridge of stone, wide enough
for only one person to cross at a time, spanned the chamber - at whose
far side a dozen duergar guards were posted. Their plan of defense was
obvious: they would use the crossbows at their sides to mow down anyone
who tried to cross the bridge.
Wasting no time, the gaseous Sylus slowly drifted over and past the
sentries and into the narrow exit passage behind them. After thirty feet
and a slight leftward curve, this opened into a larger shaft that had to
be the mine proper. Almost thirty feet wide and high, it was bolstered
with huge timbers and lit by numerous torches. To the left, a score of
gray dwarves worked away with picks and shovels; this branch of the mine
was a little over a hundred feet in length. To the right, the main shaft
continued, gradually curving to the right and out of sight.
At this point, Sylus figured he didn't have much time left before his
gas-form expired and he changed back into flesh and blood. He was quite
pleased with his scouting efforts thus far, and felt like he now knew the
mine's basic layout: five entrances (four of which had a small barracks
and defensive force), numerous decoy shafts, a handful of other passages
that led elsewhere but weren't part of the active mine system...and that
well-defended bridge across the chasm, beyond which was the actual mine.
Based on what he'd seen so far, it seemed that the bulk of the outer
fortifications existed just to keep intruders out, and the real action
(and foes, and potential riches) would be found in the central mine shaft
and the unknown areas beyond.
The question, Sylus pondered to himself, was how to best utilize his
remaining - but indeterminate, due to the somewhat random lifespan of the
magical potion - time in gaseous form. He could exit the mines, return
to his companions, and brief them - but in doing so he would give up the
advantage of already being inside and past the guards. Or he could drift
even deeper into the mine complex, which would get him more information
but also make it less likely that he could escape once back in tangible
form. A fight near any of the entrances would easily alert his companions
and cause that fireball to be launched; a fight deep within the mines very
well might not be detected by those outside.
And then...a third, more devious option began to form in Sylus' mind.
If he wasn't currently a cloud of vapor, the dark elf would have smiled
to himself as he quickly fleshed out the details of what he planned to do
next. It involved a leftover bit of his potion - perhaps a tenth of what
had been in the bottle, which he'd saved earlier, just in case - and some
sneaking about, and some sabotage, and perhaps a bit of luck...but if he
executed the next steps carefully and efficiently, and nothing unplanned
happened...it would perhaps allow him and his companions to get past all
of the outermost guards and defenses, and move into the core of the mine
where they could get down to business.
next: the fruits of Sylus' efforts
map: http://www.peldor.com/world/atlas/bright_desert.jpg
www: http://www.peldor.com/download.html
homepage: http://www.peldor.com/
email: tmiller@peldor.com
released: 4/12/2024
notes: So in this section of the _Rary the Traitor_ accessory, we
find our first examples of some slightly-faulty dungeon design. The
(multiple) duergar barracks, as written, have spy-holes and secret doors
into the nearby passages. However, the included maps only show one such
door for each barracks. And then the description notes "5-30 duergar
warriors who sleep, eat, and engage in various pastimes"...all of that
activity happening in a room which the map shows to be 10'x20' in size.
So I took some liberties with my interpretation of it all. I also
didn't try and render those maps in ASCII (it's not really possible in
cases that include caverns and natural passages.) And I didn't want to
break copyright law and just post the map with this story. But rest
assured, it can all be found online with relative ease.
By the way, I know this episode (like some other recent ones) was
relatively short and/or didn't feature any real action and/or didn't
have any spoken words. It's okay, because this isn't a race. After
writing 1145 of these, and realizing that there doesn't have to be an
ending point, and also that there don't have to be milestones...I've
now tended to just do what I do. If, on a random Sunday like today, my
brain emits an episode this short, so be it...and if, instead, it emits
a really long and action-packed episode, then again, so be it. As many
others have said in various contexts, it's about the journey, not the
destination. Given that not too long ago, I had severe writer's block
(resulting in me writing nothing through all of 2018 and 2019) I think
we should all just be happy that I'm fired up and enjoying doing this
once more. I mean, I know I am!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
previous chapter (#1144)
next chapter (#1146)