Critical

Raddick, Groth and Nera stood over the dead rogue.  Behind them, at the opening of the hedge maze, a scared dire wolf and werewolf emerged in a rush.  They appeared to be looking for escape rather than a fight.  Something had spooked them. 
     Out of the maze sauntered the large fighter.  His armor was covered in clods of blood and black fur.  His axe dripped foul black slime.
     "Oh-HO," he shouted with his axe in the air, "I found you , I will be rich."  As he cocked his head back and howled Raddick pounced.
     Charging forward with blades swinging, Raddick separated the fighter and the dire wolves heads from their bodies.  They rolled on the ground like two coconuts spreading their milk as they went.  The fighters mouth was frozen in a ironically victorious battle cry.  As the werewolf turned to flee Raddick finished him off.
     The dust had settled and those outside looked at one another.  Raddick heaved deep breaths and slung the gore off his blades.  Nera was in shock as she had not had the chance to use her weapon on a single enemy.  In his head, Groth tried to inventory the the mercenaries who had fallen and those that still prowled.  Fox was nowhere to be seen.

A muffled shout came from within the mansion.  Groth turned and lurched through the doorway.

Fox's Field Notes

Excerpt from Fox's Field notes:

I waited and studied the Rogue.  He crouched at the front of the building as he watched his fellow mercenary fall to Groth's blade.  He waited.  As soon as he realized he was unnoticed he made his move.  As he passed I moved out like a shadow.  He was set on his goals and paid no attention to the darkness that followed him.  I decided that this one deserved poison.  My blade entered quick and smooth.  He fell without a sound.

I should do this  more often.

Auren goes in the back-door.

Leaning closely to the back door, Auren listens for movement.  A monotonous creak reverberated through the walls, indicating a nervous pacing on the second floor.  Low murmers blurred through the door.  He knew at once that it was the sounds of Kateria and Lord Kincep.  Judging by the pitch, they were having an argument.
     "There is not time," her voice wafted out, "I must take the relic."  Only some of the argument could be made out, "I must leave."
     Auren had to make a move before she disappeared again.  He slid through the doorway, a pantry to the left and a guest room to the right, he made his way for the steps leading to the second floor.  Every step must be gentler than the last as the floor boards above creaked with movement. 

Meanwhile Raddick and Groth circle the cellar door.  The hinges rattle and clank as something from inside stirs.  Reacting on instinct Groth swings at the massive doors and does very little damage.  The left dormer swings open and a figure rolled out with great dexterity.  Raddick flashes into action sending his blades into a flurry, drawing first blood.   
     The rogue leaps back and surveys his exit.  He turns to see a fellow mercenary making his way along the side of the mansion.  The rogue looks back to face his attackers only to see the flash of steel come down with great force upon him.  Groth smiles as the rogues blood spurts into the air.







Auren takes each stair with caution.  He breathes in and out with each step, testing the boards with his toes before pressing his weight.  Half-way up a short but crisp 'creeeek' shot out from under him.  He stopped with wide eyes.
     "Shhh, what was that?" the black assassin whispered to her cohort.

Geomancer no more!

The Geomancer prowled the front grounds of the estate and the party had a lock on his location.  Fox moved in close and hid among the vegetation, he began to study his prey diligently.  Groth lumbered as quietly as he could towards the side of the mansion.  The thirst for blood shed started welling up in his chest. 
     The creature was inspecting one of the stone golems that somberly stood watch over the estate.  He moving erraticly and speaking to himself.  The sound that spewed out sounded like that of a dog.  It moved closer and began sniffing the stone statue.  He cocked his head back as the growling sounds of combat wafted out from the hedge maze.  He sniffed the air again and returned his attention back to the stone. 
     From behind the mansion Phae sends a fireball with precise aim.  The Geomancer howls in pain.  As the flames subside a smoldering mass rises from the ground.  The creature shakes off the blast and immediately turns to face the attack.  In mid charge Groth stops awkwardly.  His blade hangs from his wrist.  The beast sways too and fro.
     Abruptly he turns around.  His eyes are no longer his own.  Phae recognizes the scenario and prepares for a difficult choice.  Raddick and Nera peer out from behind the mansion's walls.  Noticing a possessed Groth they slink back.
     The Geomancer approaches with a grin across his face, his eyes are fixed intently on his newly converted minion.  He is concentrating so hard that he fails to notice Fox who slinks behind him.  Fox instinctively plunges his blade into the creatures back, delivering a fatal blow.  Opening the portable hole, Fox wrestles the fresh corpse in.  I will have time to search this later he thought to himself.

Saturday

It looks as if the spirits of Groth and Phae will not be present this weekend.  Do what you must with our mortal coils.  I guess this also means that you may proceed to fapping as much as needed.  Please keep the Borderlands talk to a minimum.

Hedgerow of Horrors

Floating above the maze Fox surveyed the pitfalls below.  A small platoon of wolves began assembling themselves in the center of the hedgerow maze.  They wove in and out of the maze sniffing the air and howling.  One stood on the roof of the small building in the center.  He acted as a sentry directing the others this way and that. 
     Beyond the maze Fox surveyed an even more dire scene.  Just outside the back door of the mansion stood Kateria the Black Assassin and six unknown characters.  They appeared to be mercenaries; a fighter built like a tank, a mage, two rogues, a wizard and a geomancer with bat wings who was once human.
     As Kateria addressed the motley crew Fox swooped closer and listened at a safe distance.
     "They are here on this property and you may use any means necessary."  She barked.  "I will award one thousand gold pieces to anyone who can bring me the head of Fox, Auren or Pas."
     Fox swallowed hard as he relayed the information back to the party. 
     Below him the group of mercenaries split up.  The fighter charged into the maze while the first rogue headed West around the Mansion.  With his nose up sniffing the air the geomancer traveled in the opposite direction around the mansion as the other rogue slowly poked his head into the cellar.  As the caster saunters towards the corner of the hedge maze Fox quickly alerts the party.
     "HIDE!"
     Groth and those brave enough, to not look down,  hung over the edge of the cliff face.  Raddick tried to situate himself behind a stick of a tree.  There he remained still hoping the attacker was blind.  Phae scrambled to find a hiding spot and curled up attempting to imitate a boulder.
     The mage diliberately made her way to the oddly shaped rock and stopped.  Wind whipped around them.  The muffled sounds of angry wolves and an irate fighter wafted over the green walls.
     "Which of you is Auren, Pas or Fox?" demanded the mage.
     Phae lifted his head and looked about him.  He gave the mage a quizzical look and rose to his feet.
     "Do you bear one of these names?" the color in the mage's eyes flashed darker.
     "I am Phae and this is raddick," Raddick stepped out from behind his twig, "Pas waits for you in the mausoleum."
     "Watch out for the vampires." replied Raddick.
     "Raddick," the mage grinned, "you will do."  She raised her arms and began to cast.  Light glowed furiously between her outstretched hands.  Phae and Raddick raised their arms to block the coming attack as Fox swirled up behind her. 
     As she lunged forward Fox gave her a little poke from behind.  She dropped to pile on the grass. Phae and Raddick lowered their arms with looks of stunned gratitude.
     "Always study kids!" Fox said with a grin.
     The rest of the party hauled themselves up over the cliff side.  Nera set to looting the corpse as Auren removed the head.

1 Mage
Personal effects:

• Armor/ Magic - Leather
• Short Sword
• Dagger/ Magic
• Rings/ Magic
• Necklace/ Magic

1 DOWN 5 TO GO, WILL THEY MAKE IT, NOBODY KNOWS.

Amazing Race

Outside the Mausoleum daylight greeted our adventurers.  Blinking in the bright light they looked around and took account of those that remained alive.  The sting of loosing blossom had recently faded away only to be replaced with the loss of Pas.  They mulled around in a moment of silence.  For they knew that his great sacrifice is the sole reason for their existence at this moment.  They must not let his name go in vain.  They must follow through on their plans to rid this property of all it's vermin.
     Opposite of the Mausoleum was the entrance to the estates hedge maze.  It's twelve foot walls ran an extensive length of the property.  It's two outer edges met with a cliff face that ended in a thousand foot drop.  There was no possible way around, they had to navigate the maze. 
     "We must keep to the right," Phae suggested, "I read it once in a children's book." 
     The rest agreed and they began to make their way through the maze.  Dragging two large platinum gates, Groth brought up the rear.  The foliage blended together masterfully making some of the turns very difficult to see.  From the center of the maze sounds of rustling and creatures drifted out. 
     Phae cast message. Fox began to change shape.  He hopped up and took flight.  From below he appeared to be a cloud.  He relayed what he saw through Phae.
     "There is a building in the center," he said, "I see Dire Wolves and Werewolves, not sure how many."  The group readied themselves in positions against the walls of the maze.
     "There is room outside the wall, I will lead you out."
     Fox directed the group through a short section of maze to an outside wall.  Phae enlarged Groth who tossed the party members over along with the two large gates.  As the Green giant climbed over one of the wolf sentries noticed.  Howling and barking erupted from the center of the maze.
     "Uh-oh, looks like we have trouble up ahead."  Fox messaged to Phae.


This post was brought to you by:  Stret Self Storage.  Forget portable holes, we have all of your storage needs. 

Saved by the bell

Lord Tindross again halted battle and allowed the group an opportunity for closure.  He demanded that the party sacrifice one of their own.  In return he would revert back to his previous declaration.  His brood would leave never to return and give our adventurers the spoils of Lord Tindross' treasure chest, with the stipulation that anyone who attacked after the "cease fire" would not be allowed to benefit from the loot.
     The group spend a grueling hour or so deliberating on their choice.  At first they drafted up a spreadsheet that depicted everyones good qualities versus their bad.  They toyed with the idea of sneaking back for 3Dub and hoping he would pass as a party member.  Finally they put all of their names on pieces of paper and dropped them into the portable hole.  Groth reached in 'shoulder deep' and pulled out a shred of paper bearing the name of Pas.  Luckily he had already been mind controlled so the decision made sense. 
     They took turns congratulating him and patting him on the shoulder.  His eyes were fixed ahead.  Due to his trance state, he had no idea what was taking place. 
     "We will need 24 hours for the transformation to take place, then we will leave."  Lord Tindross called out.  "As for you all, I suggest you leave immediately."  He smiled and pointed to the large stone doors behind them.

Updated Pages above & New Poll at right --->

I have updated some of the pages that are tabbed above.  Most notably; Places, Directory and the Crypt.  Check them out and post a comment for anything that needs to be added and or fixed.  I know there should be more in the crypt.  I'm also drawing a blank on Chium and the group that is addressing the Dead King. 

I definitely would like the pages to be a more comprehensive tool, but I will need some guidance as to anything that I am missing or have wrong.  Haha, I said tool. 

Also new poll to the right. 

Leave a post or send an email.

Groth's Hello Kitty Diary

Excerpt from Groth's diary:

Groth sees comrades Auren and Fox talking with vampire man.  Groth is tired and wants to sit.  Phae shoots missile at vampire and now Groth can not sit.  Vampire is angry and now smaller vampires are all around.  Why are Auren and Fox waving at Groth from the altar.  They are smiling. 

Groth smiles at Nera, Raddick, Phae and Pas.  The small vampires die easily.  Groth's head tingles.  Fire is all around, why is Phae attacking Groth?  Groth wonders if this was a good idea.

Interesting Site

Thought you all might find this gaming site interesting.
http://plagmada.org/Home.html
 

Letter From the Editor

Who in their right mind would attack poor Lord Tindross after he has yielded in battle.  The guy bows out and vows to take his spawn with him, leaving his treasures behind.  This sort of move reaks of Obamacare.  I would love to see how the pundits try to spin this meltdown.

Sincerely,

A Concerned Spawn

12 Damage!!!

"If you heed in your attacks we will leave these premises."  Lord Tindross stood in front of the group gaunt and bleeding. 
     "How do we know?" Fox shouted out with heavy breath.
     "My spawn will stand down," he replied, "I have a chest full of treasure behind the throne."  He eyed Fox.  "It will be yours to take."
     "What is your affiliation with the Werewolves on this mountain?" Auren asked.
     "I am not in league with those filthy beasts.  We are at odds with their kind." he sneered.
     "Who is their leader?" 
     "They answer to Mordechai.  He is very dishonorable and serves Chium.  That group disgusts me."
     Sensing the anger Auren decided to switch his line of questioning.  "What do you know of Kateria and Lord Kincep?"
     "She also answers to Chium.  Her desire is to become a Lich." 
     As the questioning moved on the group as well as the vampire began to lower their guard. 
     "Where does this shaft entrance lead to?"  Auren's voice became more relaxed.
     "You will find yourself in the under dark if you continue down it." he replied.
     As Auren opened his mouth to speak the room lit up with.  A ball of fire arched over his head and landed on Lord Tindross.  He convulsed with anger and fear as his attempts at achieving an agreement with the vampires went up in smoke.


Fox and Friends find themselves in a pickle yet again.  How will they ever make it out?

Who Dat Vampire?

The Vampire rose from his throne and surveyed the group before him.  Raising his left hand a pillar of violet smoke swirled to the floor.  A sea of spawn gnashed and leaned into the adventurers.  They were surrounded.  The only possible escape route would be back down the tunnel.  The pillar of smoke grew thicker and began to take shape.  Nera knew that any escape down the tunnel would end with a quick fall to their death.  There was no way that they could outrun this large of a mob.  She gritted her teeth as the smoke pillar settled into the form of a large Mastiff.  It glared with red eyes and white teeth. 
     "I understand what will happen here today."  The Vampire addressed the party.
     "Lord Kincep wishes that you remove yourself from his property."  Auren stepped forward.
     "We must fight until one of us is no more." he smiled.  At this the surrounding spawn began to howl with excitement. 
     "Who are you?" Auren inquired.
     "That is not important, but if you must know I have been known as Lord Tindross." he bared his fangs.  "The only way we will leave is through defeat.  Only one of us will leave alive today."
     "If we win you are to leave this area and not return." Auren commanded.   
     "I can agree to those terms but I must warn you, if you attempt to leave through those doors before we are finished, it will be fatal."  Again the spawn danced with pleasure.
     "Things would be much better were it a fair fight." Auren claimed as he looked around him.
     "Not to worry, this will be between your group and me.  They will not attack before we are done."  The Mastiff shoots his gaze to the ceiling and bays.  A tingling tears through Foxes brain followed by a ringing.  Screams ring out behind him as Phae and Pas frantically scramble through the army of spawn.  They appear to be scared beyond reason.  He turns back to the throne as the Mastiff disappears in a puff of smoke.
     At once Auren and Groth lunge at Lord Tindross missing with their attacks.  The Vampire's fury turns to Auren, who sustains a hefty blow, then Tindross vanishes.  The group takes turns swinging at the air.  Fox could sense his presence but not his exact location. 
     In a flurry the Mastiff appears in front of Raddick, ready to attack, he slices the beast and brings it to the ground.  The group readied themselves for Trindross to reappear.  Torch light flickered and danced throughout the chamber casting hundreds of shadows.  The effect caused the mob of spawn to look more than double it's size.
     In a flash of smoke Tindross appeared next to Groth drawing an attack from nearly every member of the party.  Groth landed a heavy blow on the fiend as Fox nimbly slipped up behind.  As Auren loosed an arrow Fox unfurled the portable hole and slapped it on the ground under Tindross' feet.  All attempts failed as Tindross blinked out of sight again. 
     On their guard the party waited.  At intervals the crunching of bones could be heard above the murmur of spawn. 
     In a far corner Phae comes to.  His breath was quick and deep.  Garments soaked in sweat.  A feeling of complete terror still resonated within him.  He looked across the chamber as Lord Tinross emerged near Groth.  On instinct he loosed a volley of missiles which made contact with the creature.  Groth complemented the attack with a direct set of blows from his sword of speed.  Lord Tindross leaned back on his heels.  Thick black infected blood oozed from his wounds.  Sick puddles formed below him.
     "Oh, the glory of battle," he grinned, "to receive such a challenge from mere children."  He seemed smug about the beating that he had received.  His grin grew wider as his eyes affixed on to the green monster.  Groth tilted his head and furrowed his brow at the vampire.  The grin quickly faded into pure anger as his attempts to control the giant were unsuccessful.  With the blink of an eye he is again invisible. 
     After overcoming his fears Pas wanders back into the battle.  Looking quite stunned he stared at the floor.  A pile of bones rested near the far wall.  A femur rolled to the floor and Pas looses an arrow.  A howl rang out as the arrow hit.  Following the momentum Phae launches fire on the same pile of bones. 
     "Yield!" cried Lord Tindross. 
     Readied in action the group hold their weapons tight.
    "I ask you to yield and we will leave here." whimpered the beaten Vampire.  Making himself again visible he stepped down from the pile.

WILL THEY  YIELD?  WILL THE MANSION BE HEALED?  WILL FOX ASK HIS SWEETHEART OUT TO THE BIG DANCE?  Tune in next time to find out...
    

Vampire Diaries!

Sparing no time Auren charged into the tube and began his ascent.  Fox held out the portable hole, Raddick and Nera climbed in.  Using spider climb he made his way up the vines.  Groth latched onto the wall as Phae cast enlarge.  Pas and Phae climbed onto his now over sized frame as he powered up the tube.  An ominous odor hung in the air.  As they rose it grew stronger and thicker.  The smell of decaying flowers permeated the air.
     The tube opened up into the Mausoleum.  Auren arrived first and peeked over the edge into the well lit room.  The walls were lined with sarcophagi.  Four layers rose to the high vaulted ceiling.  Some were stone and others were wood, all were in different stages of age and decay.    Thick wooden rafters ran the width of the room.  Body parts littered the floor, cluttering into heaping piles in some areas.    
     An over sized double door lined one wall and was flanked by a raised alter on the opposite.  Dozens of torches sent light and shadows dancing around the room.  Sitting still on a throne atop the alter was a stately vampire.
     Auren flipped and rolled quietly into the chamber of death.  He could now see that vampire spawn was spread out from end to end. 
     "We have been awaiting your presence."  The vampire on the throne smiled.
     Auren stood still and met his gaze as the rest of the party peered over the edge into the room.

Tunnel Vision

The tunnel was tight and the light was non-existent.  Auren led crawl followed by Raddick, Fox, Nera, Phae, Groth, and Pas.  They crept along making every effort to remain silent.  Almost immediately Auren noticed that the tunnel came to an end.  He halted the group and retreived a copper piece which began to glow. 
     He tossed the bright coin down to the end of the tunnel where it bounced and illuminated what appeared to be a chamber beyond.  A very fine trip-line crossed the path.  Whispering and chattering drifted in from the chamber ahead.  Auren reached into his sack and produced a torch.  Pebbles bounced off the path in the darkness ahead.  He held his breath and lit the bundle in his hands.  The bright burst of fire temporarily blinded those who could see ahead.  Their immediate surroundings became visible and the view ahead grew darker. 
     He threw the torch.  As it passed through the opening it gave witness to the size of the room ahead.  It was a vertical tube gnarled with roots and vines.  Circling the opening and walls of the tube were vampire spawn.  They clung to the vines and peeked their heads into the tunnel.  The torch fell into the tube.  It's light disappeared gradually.  There was no indication that it had reached the bottom.
     Phae's voice cut through the mental fog.  "Close your eyes!"
     A burst flashed up ahead.  Blinding light encompassed the tunnels.  Hissing and screaming rang out as the spawn scattered.  Opening their eyes a mist welled up in the tube and drifted upwards.  Auren scrambled to the edge and looked down then up.
     "We are below the Mausoleum!"

HMMM, will they climb or turn around?

On the Right Track

A series of underground tunnels opened up to a large chamber.  As eyes adjusted a grim scene unfolded.  A large glowing mushroom added much needed light to the chamber.  Large shadows loomed overhead.  Piles of bones and body parts dotted the floor.  It was clear at once that they had found the entrance to the upper under-dark.  A plan was made to double back and investigate a new direction. 
     A steady light glowed at the end of the tunnel.  Pas tenderly led the group ahead in 40 foot increments.  Up ahead he noticed something and held his hand up to silently stop the group.  Phae once again cast message to ensure the group could communicate without being heard. 
     A thin filament line caught Pas' eye and he motioned for Fox to move ahead and examine.  Immediately Fox notices the deadfall that the line is attached to.  The trap has a slight glow which indicates a touch of magic.  He disarms the trap allowing safe passage. 
     Another 100 feet down the tunnel a second and smaller tunnel branched off through the ceiling.  The opening was barely big enough to crouch.  Unfortunately for Groth this meant that he would have to traverse it on all fours. 
     The large green man placed his palms on the walls and braced himself.  One by one the party climbed his back and pulled themselves into the opening.  Once in Pas turned to lend a hand to Groth and quickly realized that he would not be able to assist his large frame. 

"Once he plugs this hole there will be no more light!" Pas explained to the group.