DM
The battle has ended and you stand there panting. Biladoc and Kinson have suffered severe wounds at the hands of the Specters. Saggar, Carynth, Grumach, and Ulath are not injured. (Hey that's all the clerics is it not? You have four of those and no mages. Wow. You fighters seem to be going little be little as well.)

CARYNTH
(Carynth looks smug. Her motto on discretion is knowing when to stay out of swords' way....)
Seriously, does anyone know of a place where we can heal and rest?

GRUMACH
Grumach looks at his five living companions, lines of worry etched into his face. "I can heal some of you. We need to leave these catacombs as soon as we can; we are not ready for them. We need to know if the specters awakened the statue in the hall.
"We should find a defensible place and hole up. Someplace safe. Then we can heal those who need it, and use Auguries to find a fast way out, alive."

CARYNTH
Well, Carynth doesn't have any wounds, but needs a recap of those that do and how much. I have 8 goodberries, each of which will cure 1 h.p. of damage (not energy levels, I'm afraid). We should find a place to rest so that I can repray for my healing spells and do some good.

BILADOC
I'll turn to Carynth and say:
'I could use a couple of those berries, but first take care of Kinson. He's more seriously wounded than any of us.'
I say to Grumach:
'I don't think we have to worry about the statue. If it was to attack us, it should have came into the room by now. And as for a defensible place, why not this room? I don't believe that specter had any roommates, judging from his temper. And I'm curious about that coffin and the mirror we found. Ulath, did you get a chance to read what was carved in the coffin?'

SAGGAR
I go forth and examine the coffin from which the specter emerged, carefully holding my axe before me as I move into the room looking around. Saggar's mind races, his holy symbol held in his left hand, palm sweating

KINSON
Kinson: "I think Biladoc is right. This temple has only one entrance and is fairly defensible. Or if you want we could go into the secret passage and close the door -- we didn't see any rotting bodies in there, specters don't eat, at least not flesh, so that place has remained hidden a long time. And the previous occupant is dead -- well he was dead before too, but he's really dead now. Plus I didn't detect any evil from this temple, so if it gets used we can follow the congregation to the surface, or let them discover us and ask for help.
Now I help heal someone by laying hands on them, since Biladoc and I are the only ones injured, and I have don't like to heal myself first, I will lay hands on Biladoc." Kinson moves to touch Biladoc while whispering a prayer of healing.

DM
Biladoc's physical wounds are healed.

KINSON
Kinson: "By the way, leaving is a good idea. Our group is too small, we need to find recruits or join with another group.

GRUMACH
Grumach will heal Biladoc. If he has spells left, he'll heal Kinson.

DM
Kinson has already healed Biladoc as much as he can be healed. You heal what wounds you can on Kinson. (Of course his energy levels can not be healed as is the case for Biladoc.)

KINSON
Kinson: "Thank you good friend." He goes to path Grumach on the shoulder, then realizes just how tall Grumach is, so he pats him on the arm as far up as he can reach.

CARYNTH
Carynth will feed Kinson goodberries until he feels more like himself, aside from the energy levels. What are those, anyway? She agrees totally with holing up here and praying for spells, and proceeds to do so, after getting out some rations.

KINSON
Kinson swallows a "goodberry". "Delicious! Goodberries you call them? I've never heard of them, I'll have to get the whole story from you sometime." He smiles at her. "Well, shall we rest a night here, or continue on immediately?"

GRUMACH
Grumach makes a grumbling sound in the back of his throat.
"Regardless, we should wait to explore the crypt until after we're healed, and have some more holy water in supply. I will agree to using this place as a hiding hole, though I am not comfortable here.
"Kinson, do you still detect evil from the passage way now that the specter is dead? Also, should we search Humphrey's body for anything useful to us? We aren't in a position to quibble over the niceties of a decent burial."

KINSON
Kinson walks toward the tapestry, stands in front of the secret entrance, closes his eyes and concentrates. Then to Grumach he says: "I believe we have eradicated all evil from this place." Then he looks at the body of his friend Humphrey, a look of sadness comes across his face. He clears his throat, "Humphrey is dead, we saw his spirit leave his body, and we have done our part to help his spirit on its eternal journey. What's left (he points to the body) is made of earth and will return to it.
Search him and take anything that will be useful to us. There are some papers about his person that I would like to keep myself (Kinson will retrieve the documents we found earlier). He wanted to alert his father's kingdom to the conspiracy that was developing in this part of the world. I will carry his message for him, and deliver the sad news of his death. As for how to dispose of the body, there is a very nice coffin down the secret passage -- it's previous occupant wasn't very deserving, I suggest we lay Humphrey to rest in it, and the faithful hound as well."

DM
As the healing goes on Saggar moves over to the coffin and searches it. Down the East hallway is the mirror with the silver panels in it. This is where the specter hid behind it and attacked Biladoc Down the southern off shoot is where the coffin lies. The coffin is plain but almost man sized behind 6' by 3' wide. On top of it is a 3. long ivory coffer depicted as a curled up white dragon. The folded wings form the coffers top. On top of it is a peace of rotten black silk. The coffer is locked when Saggar checks it. The lid to the coffin is ajar.
ACTIONS PLEASE

CARYNTH
Carynth agrees that we should use the coffin for Humphrey's body, then stay here for the night. She will pray for three cure light wounds, one bless, and two auguries and a hold animal.

GRUMACH
Grumach will move to the turn in the hallway (next to the mirrors), so he can watch both for something to attack Saggar, and for the stone man to attack from the other direction.

DM
Nothing comes calling as Saggar stares at the coffer and coffin.

SAGGAR
Saggar opens the lid looking into the coffin after setting the coffer aside behind him.

DM
Saggar looks in the coffin and sees a single white key attached to a peace of black silk.

BILADOC
I search Humphrey's body and equipment in search of anything we can use (what do I find?). I ask Kinson:
'Would you like to keep Humphrey's armor or weapons? I don't know if they're better than yours.'
I'll go into the secret passage and recover my dagger. I approach the coffin and look inside it, near Saggar. Seeing the key I say:
'Maybe this opens a door to the outside... or to a treasure vault.'
I carefully pick up the key, after making sure it's not attached to anything. If the black silk is attached to the coffin, I'll cut it and take out the key. I'll then examine the coffer.

DM
Biladoc searches Humphrey and removes items of interest off of him. Meanwhile Saggar pulls he key out and the only keyhole he can see is in the coffer.
Seeing no other keyhole he decides to try it in the coffer. The coffer opens easily to reveal a ornate basket hilted dagger worked into a wyvern hunting scene, with chips of chalcedony, moss agate, chrysoprase, opal and amethyst inset as eyes of prey, various leaping pegasi, and their riders. There is a fine Hand axe made of everbright steel. And a crowned 4' long scepter. The scepter is iron worked into the shape of a serpent entwined along a shaft.

KINSON
Kinson: "I doubt Humphrey's armor is better than mine, but I would like to keep his sword, it proved useful in the fight against the specter, it has magical properties which my long sword does not."
Kinson removes the scabbard for Humphrey's sword and attaches it to himself. He will still use his own long sword as his weapon of choice. After the key is removed from the coffin, Kinson asks Grumach to help him place Humphrey's body in the coffin. Kinson examines the items inside the coffer to see if he recognizes anything, but otherwise seems uninterested in them.
"Let's set the watch schedule and get a night's rest. Can the secret door be opened from inside the crypt? If so, let's close it."

GRUMACH
Grumach complies.

SAGGAR
Saggar closes the casket and puts it and the key into his backpack as he prepares to move out of the room "I suggest we find the way out of here. Let us retrace our steps and find another route to the exit"

GRUMACH
Grumach: "Hold, friend. We should rest first, and this is as good as any place. Then we find a way out as soon as possible. Perhaps leaving through the portal we entered, and then out of Pensula in the dead of night?"

DM
Grumach assist Kinson in placing the body in the coffin. The two of them finally managing to get him in by bending his knees and ducking his head. Kinson does not notice anything he recognizes on the items in the coffer (Assuming Saggar opens it again).

KINSON
Great I was hoping it wasn't going to be too small, since it was made for a dwarf. Won't historians be surprised when they open up this coffin expecting to find the remains of a dead dwarf, and instead finding a large human all scrunched up.

BILADOC
I say to Saggar:
'Don't you want to use that axe?! It looks like a very good weapon. If not, maybe Ulath is interested in it. I think only the two of you could put it to good use. As for the dagger, I could use it, if nobody else is proficient with it.'
I then say to Kinson:
'I'm for staying here and rest, too. Decide on the watch order. I'll go look for a way to close/open this door from inside.'
I'll move to the entrance and look for any mechanism to operate the door.
OOC:
Charles, what did I find in Humphrey?

SAGGAR
Saggar looks up "aye I could use the axe and thee the dagger but it's better we rest until we find out what the powers of these weapons be. We have lost enough today as it is my friend"

DM
You see no mechanism to operate the secret door, but putting out the candles closes it.
Humphrey had his armor the magic short sword that Kinson now has and a pouch with money.

BILADOC
OOC:
Geez, what was his real name? Humphreynezer Scrooge? ;-) Ok, take the pouch (no gp inside, I presume...). Don't we get any XP at this time? Some of us really need it...
BIC:
I say to the others:
'I could find no way to open the door from inside. I'm gonna jam the door. Don't want to spend the rest of my life here if the candles get blown out.'
I take the cutlass I've found in the Owlbear's cave and jam it under the door. I then search the passage walls and floor carefully, looking for any doors/passages/inscriptions/whatever.

DM
I am waiting before I hand out EXP. There is a good reason for it. There is a lot of EXP to give out too.

KINSON
Kinson: "A most excellent idea, Biladoc. Let's step out side for a moment and see if the door closes after you've jammed it." Kinson and (Is this Biladoc doing this?) Biladoc step outside, they wait a few moments for the others to follow, then Kinson, making sure he has something to relight them with first, blows out the candles. "We should leave them out, so as to not attract attention.

SAGGAR
Saggar helps the searching of the walls and floor, seeing if he can move the coffin as well.
"We must find a way out as soon as we can. We know not where we are at even"

KINSON
Kinson "We do need to find a way out, but retracing our steps won't help. Didn't Humphrey test the portal we stepped through to get here and found that it was only one way. So we needed to find another way out. Also, Alof, who we were searching for got out -- we found this out from the augury spell, so there is a way."

GRUMACH
Grumach: "Before we rely on jamming the door, we should test that the jamming item will work. I suggest we all leave the tomb, and place something in the doorway, such as that sabre, and then extinguish the candle. Then we can relight it to make sure this would work later."

KINSON
Still a great idea. I assume from this that Grumach follows Kinson and Biladoc out to test the candles. Except I suggest leaving them put out, so as to not attract attention.

SAGGAR
Saggar lights a torch and stays in the room when they test the candle theory.

DM
Biladoc searches the walls and finds noting unusual. Saggar helps Biladoc with his futile search for a while and then tries to move the coffin, which does not budge. Grumach, Kinson, and Biladoc tests the door idea to find that when the door closes it crushes the cutlass and it can not be opened from the inside.

KINSON
Kinson: "Sorry about the sword." Kinson relights the candles so as to let the others out of the secret room. Have the candles diminished in size since we first lit them (are they burning down?)?

GRUMACH
"Right, then. We sleep in the main chamber, were we won't be locked in. I suggest we post guards for the night. The priests should pray for as many augury spells as possible, so we can possibly find a way out. Then we need to find a way to use them to get out.
OOC:
I'm saying 'augury' but I'm not sure that that's the spell we were using? Which spell is the three yes/no questions? Augury looks like some sort of fortune-telling spell (cryptic answers)

DM
Please let me know if you have guard shifts and who is on what shift. Items found in Humphrey:
Short Sword +1/+3 vs Orcs
Short Sword
Short Sword
Chain Mail
Short Bow
Quiver 20 Arrows
Quick Release Backpack
Two Week Rations
Padding (Rolled underneath)
2 Changes of Clothes
Cloak
Grappling Hook
50' rope
Document that talks about the Dark Conspiracy written in Dark Speech
. Adventurers Belt
water bottle
Two Silver Daggers
Map Case
Paper, ink and quill
Flint and Stone
Empty Potion holders
2 scabbards for the Short Swords.

KINSON
Kinson offers to do the first shift of guard duty, who should I wake up to do the next? How long are we planning to rest?

GRUMACH
Go ahead and wake up Grumach. He'll wake Carynth.

BILADOC
I take out the rest of the food we took from the Green Dragon and say:
'Let's get something to eat before we rest. I want to take another look around this room. Did you think about looking *inside* the coffin for any passage? We never found a body. If that coffin wasn't used to keep a body, maybe it is a way out of here.'
I take some cheese and bread and go to the south wall, looking closely for hidden doors or passages.

KINSON
Kinson gratefully takes his portion of the food offered. "Thank you."

BILADOC
I'll take the backpack (with 2 weeks rations, 50' rope and grappling hook), the belt (with everything). Kinson took the Dark Speech document, right? If not, I'll keep it. I'll transfer my things to the backpack and replace my belt, putting my 2 short swords in the scabbards. I say to the others:
'If any of you know how to use the short bow, take it. We need a long (medium) range weapon. I'll keep searching this place while you take turns watching. Judging from the dust on the floor and the specter, we should have no visitors. And yet... the size of this chamber, the dragon in the tapestry, the dragon Flint scented earlier... I'm getting paranoid, right?'

GRUMACH
Grumach thinks for a bit. "Perhaps this is an old dwarven catacomb, that they lost to a dragon? I've heard of it happening before. That would explain the sent, and the tombs, and the tapestry."

KINSON
Kinson: "A very plausible theory, Grumach. And I'm sure a dragon wouldn't mind a bit if a few monsters that don't steal treasure -- like specters -- inhabited his lair, and dealt with the lesser unwanted."
Is this place large enough to accommodate a dragon?

DM
The hallway is too narrow. Unless it was a shape changing dragon or a small one.

GRUMACH
Grumach: "I think there are probably areas that the dragon can access, and then areas such as this, which it can't, so lesser monsters can find a place to live. Wouldn't be bad for them either. Those people the dragon injures, if they flee into the lesser catacombs, would be easier prey for the lesser monsters."

KINSON
Kinson tries to remove the candles from their holder's, "a candle that does doesn't burn down might be highly useful. Plus without the candles no one would be able to disturb Humphrey's rest in the afterlife."

DM
When Kinson removes the candle it goes out.

KINSON
Kinson will try to light the candle. If he is unable to light the candle he'll put the candle back where he found it (unlit).

DM
The candle lights but you notice it burns normally.
Biladoc munches on food as he searches the south wall. However, he finds no secret doors.
(You observe the candles have gotten no smaller)
The guard shifts go quietly with Carynth taking the last one. As everyone slowly wakes they see Carynth staring and hissing at a thirty-foot snake in the hallway. As the snake notices the rest of the group stirring is quickly slithers away down the hall. Carynth turns and smiles at the group, "Nothing strange to report."

GRUMACH
Grumach stretches, eliciting many popping sounds from his back. He yawns, and then says, "So, is everyone going to be ready in a few hours? I need to pray."
Grumach begins praying. (2 healing spells and a bless, and as many of those "ask some number of yes/no questions of the GM" as I can carry.)

DM
I believe that is Augury though I may need to read up on it some.

SAGGAR
Saggar preys and then proceeds to gather his belongings and proceed back down the way they entered. Looking for another passage as they reach the bottom of the stairs. I believe the descriptions before mentioned another hall in the room at the bottom of the stairs, will go look down this hall when the party has assembled.
"Come lads we must leave this wicked place"

BILADOC
I turn to Saggar and say:
'Do you want to go before we take a good look around? I'm curious about that mirror in the secret passage. The specter came from behind it. It may be another passage. And the scepter we found? I'm for finding out what it can do and what this place is before going away.'
I then turn to Ulath:
'Did you read the writing on the coffin? What did it say?'
I say to the party:
'Wait for me here while I take a quick look behind the mirror. If we agree on leaving, I say we take the candles with us, so nobody can enter the passage.'
I go and look behind the silver panes of the mirror.
OOC:
About Ulath's findings, you have to tell us what they are, Charles. I spoke with him and his computer is still out. As for actions, he too agrees that we should investigate this place before moving on.

KINSON
The last posts I remember was Saggar going to check out some passageway that we hadn't explored, and Kinson was following him out.

GRUMACH
I thought the whole party was. Grumach certainly is.

BILADOC
I'll start examining the silver panes. I say to the others: 'Why would anyone leave a mirror like this one hidden in this passage? Saggar, that scepter we found, wave it in front of the mirror. Ulath, what does the coffin inscription says? Do you folks want to use some of the augury questions to find more about this temple?'
OOC:
Ulath was trying to read the inscription in the coffin, before the specter appeared. He could read something like 'Bereg Whitehelm, lord of...'. Lord of what? Of the Silver dragon?...

DM
Biladoc looks at the mirror. It is a stone frame and sits two feet away from the back wall. It has silver panes and it looks like they could be pried off.
Though heavy they would be worth something. Saggar looks at the items he has found while he waits and seems anxious to move on. Biladoc finds no new passage behind the mirror. What was Ulath looking into? I don't remember him examining anything. I have messages from Saggar and Biladoc talking about examining items et but that's it.

GRUMACH
Grumach will stop leaving. "I agree with Biladoc."

DM
Biladoc and Kinson had soothing dreams during the rest period. They find that when they had awakened that they where refreshed and felt stronger (You two have your levels back). Saggar seems somehow tired. Biladoc continues to search the mirror and a ruby beam of light blasts from the mirror striking Grumach and Carynth at the same time. With a scream the two of them are gone. Biladoc almost has a heart attack.

BILADOC
OOC:
Great... Going on like this, nobody will believe us if I say we once were a party of 18! Animal companions not included! Is it me or is it getting quiet around here? ;-)
BIC:
'Whatthe#%&#@#£isgoingonhere??!!'
I step back, trip and sit down, eyes wide open:
'Ouch! Kinson, you were in the room in the Green Dragon when Kaddar and Gathrax disappeared. Was this beam similar to the one that hit them?'
I stand up and examine the mirror:
'Do you think that if we stand in the exact place Grumach and Carynth were, the same thing will happen to us?...'
OOC:
If nobody took Humphrey's short bow, I'll retrieve it.

KINSON
Kinson wheels about in surprise, as he draws his long sword. He helps Biladoc to his feet if necessary. "This mirror is something special alright. Now we have two more missing party members. Is it a portal?"
OOC:
Charles, when you say "With a scream the two of them are gone." I assume you mean they have literally disappeared, not just fell over dead.

DM
Correct they disappeared. (In case you're wondering the players had a need to get out of the game due to time constraints. and e-mail access. So don't look for them too hard. however Alof is wandering around. Actually climbing out of a tree. :-))

SAGGAR
Saggar rises looking towards the mirror to see if he can tell what happened to the two. Are they seen in the mirror?

DM
He does not see them in the mirror...Just his own reflection.
Exp coming shortly.

KINSON
Kinson examines the mirror, then turns to Saggar and Biladoc. "I think this was an act of the gods -- they were needed elsewhere more urgently than we needed them here. Unfortunately I believe we will have to go on without them.
Perhaps we should take a look at that passage Saggar mentioned?"

SAGGAR
Saggar returns to going downstairs and checking out the hall from the room below:

DM
OK what stairs? The steps that where just after the secret door? Where the room with the ghouls and ghast was?

BILADOC
I'll move on behind Saggar, saying:
'Kinson and I followed the ghast down that other passage. We went as far as an intersection where we lost sight of him. Do you want to go there or do you want to examine this large hall first?'

KINSON
Kinson follows Saggar and Biladoc (with such a small party marching order has gone out the dungeon window :-) ). "Don't forget about the statue of the Dwarf we passed on the way in, there were many gouges on the floor near it, we might trigger a trap by walking past it in the opposite direction. I offer to go first when we get there."
Kinson will walk past the dwarf statue first alone when we get there -- he'll skirt the area close to the wall.

DM
Doing so nothing strange happens as the party passes the statue of the dwarf. It stands it solitary vigil without movement or complaint.

KINSON
"Good. Nice and predictable, just the way I like statues to be."

DM
So you go down the main flight of stairs from within the ghoul chamber and through the secret door you discovered. Then you are in the cross intersection more or less if you count the secret door. You came from the west and have north and south still to search unless you wish to go back west the way you came.

KINSON
"Well Saggar you seem to be leading the way quite effectively, which way would you like to go?" Kinson will follow Saggar's lead.

SAGGAR
I will turn and go north from the cross intersection hall. Saggar has axe at ready in right hand, holy symbol in left

DM
North the hallway goes fifty feet where the hallway T's going East and west. Looking East you can see that it goes twenty feet and then opens into a room. Looking west you can see that it goes thirty feet and keeps going.

BILADOC
I'll take out a couple daggers, signal the others to stay quiet and move silently to the entrance of the room, looking inside and trying to examine all of it. Any sounds coming from there?
OOC:
Charles, send me a description so I can update the map.

DM
Room is thirty feet north and thirty feet south being thirty feet wide. 70 by 30 feet including the ten-foot entrance where you are.

SAGGAR
Saggar nods moving East behind him, as that is the direction he desires to move feeling it is the correct direction

DM
A large, ornately fluted stone archway leads into this room, whose ceiling is 30 feet up. Bats suddenly flap[ and wheel past you, and are gone. Silence reigns in the darkness before you - darkness broken only by a small, unmoving area of faint red radiance straight ahead.

BILADOC
I'll approach the red light and examine it. Any images or writing along the walls or floor?

DM
Biladoc enters the room quietly and examines the red glow. Biladoc sees writing on the far wall. where the red glow is. However, he is too far away to actually read it.

KINSON
How wide is the room, if it's wide enough let's fan out instead of approaching single file. Kinson moves abreast of Biladoc to the left. "We'll not find out anything more without getting closer." Kinson takes a couple of steps closer, but waits for the others to follow, if they do he'll keep walking.

BILADOC
I'll approach and try to see what's on the wall, examining the floor and ceiling as I move, ready to pull back if I spot any trapdoor. 'One of you guys should take a look at this writing.'

DM
The room has 30 feet to each side of the doorway. plenty of room to fan out if you want. If you do please let me know which side and how far you fan out.

BILADOC
I'll approach the wall on the right, still moving forward to the glowing writing, leaving room in the middle for Ulath and Saggar.
OOC:
The map on my page is updated. Check it out.

SAGGAR
Saggar remains in the center walking slowly forward, axe and shield at the ready looking around the room from whence the glow comes, wary of any movement beyond the party.

ULATH
OOC:
Sorry people, a sick kid and a sick wife and evening shift, put me out of time!
BIC:
Carefully Ulath grips his axe while "fanning" into the room, he will try to move far from Saggar because if something strikes it will not get the two clerics (eggs) in the same basket! He will move as close as possible to read the wall, but as soon he is able to read the characters he will not get any closer to the wall!

DM
You all fan out moving forward. Kinson stays back. As Ulath reads the writing there is a flash of light and suddenly he is gone.

KINSON
Charles, I guess you didn't get my message -- it was Kinson who suggested that the party fan out upon entering the room, and that he would move forward if the rest of the party did too. It's irrelevant now.
Kinson walks over to the rest of the party. "Perhaps we should read it using a mirror. He fishes out the small mirror he keeps in his pack, then attempts to read the words using it.
(Yes I know they will be backwards, but it's still possible with concentration to read if you know the language).

BILADOC
I turn to Saggar and say:
'Don't look at the writing. We'll let Kinson try the mirror trick. If he too disappears, I'll copy the words on the wall to a piece of paper and you can read them safely. Since I can't read, just copying the characters won't do anything to me... I hope.'

KINSON
Kinson speaks to the others in the group: "I'm having difficulty reading it, but it looks like it says, 'have ye a nice day' then there is a symbol I don't understand that looks like a line and then the word 'Without'. Here let me write it down for you..."
He gets out his ink and quill, and takes a small piece of Biladoc's paper and writes the following: "have ye a nice day _Without"
"I don't understand it. Could it be the way out of the maze?"
Kinson looks around the rest of the room, is there anything else here?

DM
As you look around the room you notice a pile of old furniture in the Northwest corner. Suddenly it tips over with a loud clatter and a horde of Kobolds pour forth yelling war cries.

BILADOC
OOC:
How many are "a horde" (not that we are going to stop and count them...)?
BIC:
I throw a couple of daggers at two of them and then charge with my mace:
'Yes!! Finally, some enemies smaller than me!'

SAGGAR
:grinning the axe raises and a war cry echoes forth as Saggar charges into them swinging his axe with his warriors skill at the small hated foe::

KINSON
"Ahhh... A foe that steel kills." Kinson draws his long sword and wades into the fray.

DM
The kobolds responded with Crossbow fire followed by the charge of small forms. There are at least over ten of these suckers.
Two crossbow bolts strike Saggar as he turns to charge them. (-3hp) One of these bolts however turns into a small winged biting snake. Only one bolt strikes Kinson(-4hp) and it to turns into a small winged biting snake. Two Bolts hit Biladoc (-8hp). One of these turns into a winged biting snake as well. One bolt strikes a Kobold in the back of the head by accident and he drops dead. the kobolds charge with a mighty roar shouting vengeance for their comrade that the group somehow already dropped. :-) Leading the charge of the Kobolds is a large female with plumed and spiked miniature helmet. She wields a scimitar in both hands as the others draw spiked short swords. Biladoc throws daggers one striking a kobold and only wounding him. Saggar and Kinson charge into the horde the snakes fly around biting their targets. With one mighty blow Saggar kills two kobolds out right. Kinson cuts a swath through three of the pesky creatures.
(That's 6 kobolds down leaving 9 standing and three biting snakes) 3 kobolds and their leader in engage Saggar, 3 more attack Kinson, and the other two head charging for Biladoc. The Kobold leader manages to slice Saggar(-6hp) but the other kobolds can't seem to get past his armor and defense. One of the Kobolds on Kinson manages to get passed the knights armor. (-1hp). The two charging Biladoc just reach him. However Biladoc's flying snake bites him. (-1hp)
ACTIONS for two melee rounds please. Include THACO ET if you will. You can place a contingency in the second round if you wish.

BILADOC
I mace my two opponents and then run to help Saggar. If he's too far to be reached in one round, I'll throw a couple of daggers at the kobolds as I run forward.
'Stupid little #&*#$#$ retarded #$%&%*!!'
OOC:
THAC0 19 (16 w/ throwing daggers); AC 2.
What are my mace's bonuses? (at least +1, since it hit the specters).

SAGGAR
Saggar swings twice at their leader with his mighty war axe yelling a powerful battle cry!!!!

DM
Kinson swings his sword in wide arcs at the Kobolds fighting him. Two Kobolds drop before his sword as it nearly cuts the creatures in half.
Biladoc swings his mace at the two kobolds fighting him and misses. Saggar swings at the Kobold leader his axe goes wide and scrapes the wall sending sparks into the air. He begins to come around whit his Back swing when the Kobold leader sinks her scimitar deep into Saggar(-6hp). Two other Kobolds mange to scratch Saggar with their Short swords (-2hp). The wounds begin to take their toll on the Brave Dwarven Warrior Priest. His Axe however comes up and cleaves the Kobold Leader in Half. Meanwhile the Snake on Biladoc Bites him on the neck (-3hp). The Kobolds Fighting Biladoc can't seem to land a hit.
The one Left On Kinson leaps at him screaming in fury, but misses him neatly. Kinson Swings again this time dropping one more Kobold. Biladoc comes up with an upswing and the mace catches a kobold square in the head crushing his skull. The Kobold drops to the ground a bloody pulp. Saggar swings his Axe around in a deadly arc now trying to finish his Kobold attackers. His Axe cuts two of them in half. The Flying Snakes suddenly disappear in a puff of green smoke. The one Kobold left on Biladoc and the one left on Saggar run for the exit where the party entered. Not wanting to fight after their leader has fallen and their numbers thinned.
Actions and give me hit point totals you have left et in your posts please. (I am concerned about the damage poor Saggar has been taking and the rest of you have taken some nasty wounds as well. )

SAGGAR
Saggar chants laying hands on himself. (Healed 10hp).

DM
Kinson and Biladoc both stand there and rest breathing deeply as blood runs from their wounds. Saggar finally searches the Kobold leader that lays next to him. The Kobold leader has three glass vials with cork stoppers. two are light blue and the last is yellow with little swirls in it.

SAGGAR
Saggar bandages Biladoc's and Kinson's wounds.

DM
You each regain 3 hit points.

BILADOC
I go search the kobolds for daggers, money and recover one of those snake-firing crossbows, along with all the crossbow bolts I can find.
I'll then search the NW corner of the room, where the kobolds came from.

DM
Searching the Kobolds reveals no daggers only short swords. They must have dropped their crossbows behind that furniture barrier they poured from.
Examining it you see there is a twenty-foot long hallway leading west that opens into a small chamber. The crossbows litter the floor but you see nothing unusual about the regular sized crossbows and bolts.

KINSON
I believe Kinson has sustained 6hp of damage, which leaves him with 29hp. Kinson walks over to Saggar and lays hands on him, with a prayer to his god he heals 8hp of Saggar's wounds.
He says, "Anyone know about kobolds? Are they likely to bring back greater numbers, or should we run them down and make sure they don't?"

BILADOC
I take the best looking crossbow and all the bolts I find and smash the rest, making them unusable.
I say to Kinson:
'I don't know much about these pests, but I think we can rest for a while. Do you or Saggar want to take Humphrey's short bow? I think I'll keep a cross-bow instead.'
I'll take a look in the chamber, looking for any passages or items left there. (what are the dimensions of the chamber and it's location, so I can update the map?).

DM
There is a hall in the west wall all the way north. it goes west twenty feet and opens into a chamber. The chamber is twenty feet deep and extends twenty more feet north, making it a twenty by thirty-foot chamber. There are barrels and crates in it and you think you hear movement form within.

KINSON
Kinson: "Well gentlemen, looks like a new passage to explore." He steps over the debris in the corner into the passage and begins walking west toward the small chamber. He'll walk to the entrance to the small chamber and take a look around.

DM
In the room beyond the barricade, a natural spring of water wells out of the ceiling from the corner of the north and west walls and disappears down fissures in the floor near the south wall. There are several lines of washing hang on wall spikes drying.
In one corner stands an iron bound chest. Perched atop this chest is a gainr weasel that charges Kinson as it sees him.
ACTIONS:

BILADOC
I recover my daggers, and follow the hall to the chamber. When I see the weasel charging Kinson, I'll throw a couple of daggers at it and then charge with my mace, smiling:
'At last, we're gonna kill something we can eat.'
OOC:
Did you hand out any XP after this fight, Charles? I currently have 15hp from a total of 24. Are the kobolds anywhere in sight?

SAGGAR
Turn and throw two hand axes at the beast as it charges across the room.

KINSON
Kinson raises his sword and strikes at the beast, as he yells "watch for others this may be a diversion."

DM
The Lage fured anmal moves lightning quick. Biladoc throws two daggers that sink deeply into it. Saggar's Two axes all strike it causing grievous wounds. It sort of stumbles up to Kinson who hacks it in half with his sword. No more movement can be seen in the room.
OOC:
Geez, You massacred the thing!

BILADOC
OOC:
We're mean, ain't we?...;-) What kind of clothes are hang to dry (big, small, male, female...)?
BIC:
I recover my daggers:
'What a waste... We could have made some money selling its pelt. Oh, well... Maybe it can still be used to make gloves or belts.'
I'll search the room for any traps or hidden passages. If I find none, I'll search the chest for any traps and proceed with opening it.
I say to the others:
'Will you guys take care of our water supply and skinning that weasel? We can make a great barbecue.'

DM
Small male and female, Kobold style cloths.
The chest is not locked. Inside are 523 copper coins, 16 silver coiins, and two plain brass rings.

KINSON
Kinson looks at Biladoc:
"Those are mighty nice gloves and hat you have on, tell me what are they made of, weasel?" Then he laughs so hard he nearly doubles over.
Kinson draws his dagger and removes the animal`s pelt, then he divides the carcass into cuts, throwing away what isn`t edible, he repacks the meat into the pelt and puts it into his backpack (I`m assuming the hunting proficiency gives him this knowledge). Afterward he cleans up in the spring, and refills his water skins.
He leaves the searching to his friends that seem to have quite a knack for it. Are there any other exits from this room besides the one we came in?

DM
There are no other exits from this room. Kisnon quickly skins and packs away the good meat and skin of the animal as Biladoc collects the valuables out of the chest. Further searching reveals no other things of interest in this room.

KINSON
I was the treasure keeper for Kinson, Humphrey, Lapis, and Polaris. Does anyone mind if I remain in that capacity?
"How long has it been since we left the Dwarven temple? If we need to rest a night, this is a fairly defensible location. If not, where to next?"

DM
It has been an hour or so since you left the dwarven temple.

KINSON
"Well it's only been an hour, and we're down to three of us. Both of you have done fine jobs leading the way, where to next?"
Kinson follows where ever they go.

DM
Meanwhile Saggar picks up his axe and look aroudn the small room with no exit. Against the wall was the chest that is now open and a barrel. The smell of bad ale comes from the barrell. There are no other doors or exits leading from this room.

SAGGAR
Search the walls for a secret entrance of any kind. If not Saggar will turn and start back down the hall to find another route.

DM
You find no secret doors after a quick search of the room. You head back out into the hallway. Do you turn back south or go west?

KINSON
Kinson follows Saggar out of the room. Is there a direction we haven't been?

DM
You came from the south, your can go further south. You have not been down the west hallway though that hallway leads in the direction you came from originally. Of course you do hear voices down the west hallway. they are too faint and far away to make out.

BILADOC
I say to the others:
'Those voices in the west, they might be the kobolds who escaped with some reinforcements. Kinson, that message on the wall, can you make anything out of it? I don't like the idea of letting Ulath all by himself. He's liable to get into trouble.'

DM
A gust of wind blows on you from the West hallway. Just as quickly as the gust of fresh spring air arrived it is gone.

BILADOC
'Hey, you guys felt that? I think it's a way out of here. Want to check it out? Maybe we find someone that can tell us something about this place and where Ulath might be.'
If everyone agrees, I take out a couple of daggers and head west, trying to spot the source of fresh air (check hall for passages).

DM
The three of you head west. Soon you see a T intersection with the hallway going south and north. You recognize this as a hallway you have travelled before. There is talking, it seems it is comming from the North.

VOICES
"Hmm. Wind could mean the surface. Mayhaps we should try that direction first."
"Yes, let us go see where this wind came from. At least our scent will be behind us."
"Silvan, can you find what Ayla has in mind."
You smell Lilacs strongly.
"Pig's arse it does!" "There was nothing natural about that wind. Anything that strong down here has got to be magical. I reckon we might have landed ourselves in a huge pile of trouble on this one."
"As for going to find the source of the wind - I'm not sure that's the greatest idea I've heard today - but it isn't the worst."
"Well princess, you'd better get on your pretty feet, as I think we might need your sword arm before long."
"Mareena, you still haven't told us exactly what your skills are. How about enlightening us?"
"How do feel, Ayla? Do you feel up to moving?"
Then some talking you can not hear.
A female voice, "Skills? What do you mean?"
"Wo...praise be to Elanna that I can survive a hearty gust of wind such as that!"
"I am not too sure that that particular gust of wind means the surface...I don't believe wind directly from the surface would be so concentrated. But it is the only difference, and merits an investigation as a possible exit. Come, with the grace of Elanna to protect us, we should continue."
"Come on Ayla."
"Oh..Why do you hesitate so?"
"You just don't want to, you would like some more rest?"
"Well, I refuse to leave you down here alone, I for one don't think I can continue without your sm,iling face in our company. I can wait here with Ayla, should you find an exit to the surface, return and we maybe ready to leave at that time, should it provea direction with no exits, then when you return, we can follow one of these other paths.."
"Lavender and.. well...mmm, never mind.."

BILADOC
I whisper to the others:
'Looks like more lost travelers. They're talking about Elanna, so they're not worshippers of Diabolicus. They don't seem to know their way around this maze and that Ayla seems to be wounded. Do you want me to take a look at them, see how many they are and if they look like warriors or just priests? Huh... no disrespect intended, Saggar.'
If nobody objects, I'll approach the intersection and take a look at the Silver Blade party, taking care not to make any noise and not to be seen.
;-)

SAGGAR
Saggar looks back "None taken. Scout ahead as you must" Readying his axe as he advances behind him

KINSON
Kinson nods 'yes' to Biladoc, then stands still so his armor doesn't make noise and give us away. Then he wispers the question: "new friends?"

DM
Slowly you move forward. Biladoc taking the lead. he cocuhes in the shadow almost blending into the stone walls. He peaks around the corner ever so carefully.

----------------
And to find out what he saw, you'll have to read the next chapter.