Ah, the Yawning Portal. A rowdy establishment, but one that is being kept in line by it's burly proprietor and former adventurer, Durnan. He is here at nearly all times, gruffly cleaning mugs, eyeing any suspicious individuals and going around distributing drinks.
Durnan
The tavern is well occupied, like usual in the afternoon. The dungeon entrance is in the very middle of the tavern, a hole of around 15 feet diameter, it is said to lead directly into a vast dungeon. Most patrons secretly hope for more adventurers to step up and venture into the dungeon: it makes for good betting.
Next to the dungeon entrance hangs a winch with a simple rope-and-pulley mechanism that Durnan uses to lower adventurers down the shaft and (sometimes) pull them up again. A trip costs 1 gold. Durnan controls the winch himself and will transport only one adventurer at a time. The rope is stained with old blood and long enough to reach all the way to the floor of the dark room at the bottom of the shaft.
Apart from the enigmatic proprietor, two additional individuals stand out: Obaya Uday and Volothamp Geddarm. It is well known that Obaya is sponsoring expeditions into Undermountain by buying any spare magic items that adventurers bring up at good prices. Volo is a renowned bard and author and is always happy to hear the stories of aventurers in exchange for information.
Obaya and Volo
As you introduce your characters, please also describe their appearance a bit for the benefit of the others. Then it's up to you if you want to dive right into the dungeon or spend some time in the tavern first.
A strange dark blob moves between the shifting crowd. It's that of a small robed creature, swiftly navigating the endless surge of bustling denizens. If one were to see it pass, surely one would think halfling or dwarf, yes? Such amusing thoughts leave it yearning to laugh, though it can only muster the sound of an old beggar coighing. It wonders what the reaction would be to learn its true race. Fear? Disgust? Violence, perhaps? Again, the moment strikes an amusing chord, but this time what belts out is more akin to the wood being shaved than anyone's voice.
All the while it muses being discovered, it doesn't realize many savaged souls have already discerned it. It's a kenku, wrapped in black rags and hefting a sizeable pack fit to burst with supplies. No face is seen, only the beak. If one peered hard enough behind the hood, two intense silvery eys would likely be found peering back. Small talons poke from the side, with one holding a slender gnarled branch as an apparent walking stick. Everything else of the creature, from its black feathers to the expression of its face, to its tail, is hidden in black robes.
The figure stops before an unassuming building, a tavern only identifiable by a raucous and constant stream of patrons going in and coming out. The noise coming from there is enough to make the hustle-bustle of the streets seem quiet. Nevertheless, Nikkitch takes the initiative and steps forth into the wild throngs of rowdy barflies. Thus was the start of his fortune, his first step to power.
The inside smells. Sour beer, blood, sawdust. It's not necessarily a bad smell, just strong. Better than rotting flesh and rat muck, he thinks, remembering the stench of his home for the last twenty years. If nothing else, the alleys in beggars' row were unassuming enough for my nest, what little there was. He wouldn't miss the place, not at all.
He doesn't stop to talk to anyone. He merely finds the darkest corner to skulk, and waits. He had initially signed onto an expedition, but the application had fallen through. The fool acted foolish. Who could've guessed? Still, stabbing him in the hand and swiping his pile of 'admission fees did provide the means for all his extra gear. It wasn't the wisest of moves, but it appears to have paid off.
Even then, he's not nearly foolhardy enough to go on his own. He'd let someone else go first...
Jaya pushes open the door to the Yawning Portal and walks straight up to the bar, “Ale please! Actually, make it two!” he exclaims. As he grabs his ales, he offers, “Until an hour ago, I was a member of the city guard, but no more. I used to come into this bar to break up fights. Not today though, today I’m here to start a fight!” He pauses, waiting for the expected look of fear or concern from the bartender, but no look comes. Instead, the bartender just nods at him, and moves on to the next patron.
“Well, that was disappointing," Jaya thought, "I’ve been practicing that line all day!” He quickly downs the first ale, picks up the second and scans the room, taking in the patrons, looking for trouble. Looking for something interesting.
Then he spots the winch and the hole in the middle of the bar. Now that's Interesting! What better way to fully shed the chains of order that have confined him for so long, then to head into the Undermountain. A more reckless decision he could not make. "Sounds perfect!" he thinks, knocking back the second ale.
At first glance, many mistake Jaya for having white, or even silver dragon ancestry due to his white-grey scales. But a closer look at his eyes and teeth reveals the Amethyst colors of his real ancestry, a gem dragon. A well-trained city guard, Jaya is in peak physical form, trained in the martial arts. Mentally, he is a mess, ready to explode! A chaotic creature, trapped within a life of order and rules, by his family and the military, his entire life. Jaya seeks adventure, seeks chaos, and risk. Real life or death risk, not another day of sparing with a bored and inept member of the city guard.
Jaya reaches into his pouch, feeling around for one of his last gold coins. The price of admission for a ride on the winch. The price of freedom!
Following the directions from the city guardsman, Pisgah turns the corner onto Rainrun Street and sees what must be The Yawning Portal toward the end of the city block. "At least I hope it is The YawningPortal.", he thinks to himself, " I am beginning to think this was a big mistake and that I should have just stayed outside, in the wild, at least the animals don't pack around you so tight. I hope Oliver was right about this place being somewhere I can find others like me. Now, I guess I just make my way to the portal?"
Making his way through the door, the other patrons see a slender six-foot tall Earth Genasi man with matte black granite-like skin shot with veins of golden quartz in serviceable, but worn, traveling clothes bearing a long sword, quiver, and hand-axe on one hip with another hand axe riding on his right hip. The hilt of a greatsword sticks up above his right shoulder with a length of yew bow next to it. A backpack and shield ride on top the weapons. His hair is brown with streaks of black and gray, much like soil that is a mix of loam and clay, and has a muddy appearance to it. The man smells faintly of fresh turned earth, not a dirty smell, rather one that brings to mind a plowed field ready for planting or an open meadow after a rain. The weapons appear to be in much better shape than either clothes or the man. It is evident that the bulk of his wealth and attention is devoted to keeping his weapons in top form. He appears to be quiet, reserved, and slightly on edge as if he is feeling caged with people around him.
Seeing the central well-like portal, Pisgah walks over to it and peers over the edge. He then looks up and scans the room, obviously trying to figure out what to do next.
Today is the day. The almost-middle-aged gnome, Edwina-cantilla — Canti to her friends, family and detractors — practically bounces from kitchen to bedroom and back, trying to pack all the right stuff for the excursion. She's practically vibrating. This has been a dream of hers for decades. She calls out from time to time, asking her mate, Bwibble, if she should pack this or that. No response is ever returned, but she continues as if he has voiced his opinion. "A grappling hook, right? Another rope? Should I take alchemy supplies? I hope 30 arrows is enough. Something tells me I should bring a healer's kit." Finally, she cinches shut her pack and smiles down at it satisfied. It was time to go. Almost past time!
The three-foot powerhouse pushes her bushy white hair out of her face as she hops down the stairs into the basement of her and Bwibble's tiny home. Immediately, she is bombarded by an odd assortment of smells. She never knows what her mate has been working on, but she is always sure it is amazing. She looks around and sees the top of his head near one corner, hunched over something. "I'm ready to go," she says brightly, crossing to stand behind him. In his wheeled chair as usual, Bwibble leans over a table covered in crystals. Most lie dark, only reflecting the nearby candles. Some, however, glow from within like tiny stars. Bwibble makes a small hum of absent-minded acknowledgement, but doesn't look up. He is examining one of the crystals through a pair of magnifying goggles. Canti leans over and kisses the top of his balding head through its fluff of hair. The touch is enough to garner his full attention.
Bwibble drops the crystal and uses his hands to turn his wheeled chair and look into Canti's face. "Ready to go?" he asks, smiling kindly.
"All packed," Canti responds, rocking slightly on her toes.
"You packed all the gear?" he continues.
"I got everything you want me to test," she says. "I'll keep records and report back." She reaches out and takes his hands in hers. "Wish me luck."
The two exchange a quick peck, and off she goes. She loads up with her pack and other equipment, including the specially made foldable longbow that Bwibble had made for her. Stepping out of their tiny house on the edge of Waterdeep, she heads toward the Yawning Portal, hoping she hasn't left too late. She wants to get there mid afternoon.
Stepping into the tavern, the tiny adventurer looks around with wide eyes. She has been to the Yawning Portal many times, watching brave souls descend into or ascent out of the giant hole in the center of the building. How she has envied them. But today is her day! She hopes there are others who are planning to descend as well. It will be much safer if she isn't alone.
Canti bounds to the wench, pulls a gold piece out of her purse, and holds it above her head. Turning to gleam in the direction of the bar, she says in her proudest voice, "I'm here to brave the Undermountain!"
Pisgah sees a diminutive gnome holding out a gold piece and loudly calling out that she is ready to brave the Undermountain. Thinking that this must be the way it is done, and figuring this must be what Oliver meant when she told him that he would find friends, maybe even family, at The Yawning Portal he too pulls out a gold piece and calls out "I am wanting to travel in to the portal too!"
In a lower voice, he looks at the gnome and says "I am Pisgah. Would it be okay if I go with you?"
The door to the Yawning Portal opens and a couple of constructs walk in. The brass colored one in front is about half the size of the grey one in the back. The brass one is carrying a strange looking shield, with an overly large sword for someone that small strapped to one side of it's waist while some weird gadget was strapped to the other side, with a large backpack on it's back. The grey one wasn't carrying any equipment and was just following the small one. The small brass one looked vaguely feminine in form, while the big grey one looked like a caricature of a weight lifter.
As she entered the room she saw a Gnome and a Genasi offering a GP to go down at the pit. Glad that she came at the right time, Rico starts fishing her last gold coin out of her pouch as she moves up to join them.
With a feminine sounding voice with a strange accent, Rico (the small brass one) asked the two heading down, "Do you mind if I join you two? I am Rico and this is my Steel Guardian."
Upon the first mention of someone new wanting to brave the portal, a cheer erupts in the tavern. People are lifting their mugs in the direction of first Canti and then Pisgah and the two unlike constructs. People are clearing tables to make space for paper and quills to note down bets. Several people are shouting good wishes and jests.
At the bar, Durnan raises an eyebrow and finishes up the last order. He nods to Jaya, saying "No fights in my bar, but plenty of fights down where they are going."
The retired adventurer then makes a show of throwing a towel over his back, stepping out from behind the bar and over to the hopeful adventurers. "It has been many years since I returned from Undermountain myself and built the tavern here. Since then, I can count the number of successful explorers on one hand." He rests one arm on the winch on which the bucket dangles. "Only two rules. Costs a gold to go down and costs a gold to go back up again. Whatever happens down there and whatever treasures you find is your business."
Durnan dramatically looks into the round. "Anyone else want to join this brave group?"
Before he even has time to finish his second ale, a gnome, a human, and two constructs are standing in front of the entrance to the Undermountain, the excited crowd, cheering them on.
“Well, this is a turn of events I’d be a fool to pass up." Jaya says to himself, then out loud he adds “Count me in, please!" holding up his gold coin he moves to join the others, finishing his drink.
Nikkitch, hearing his cue, shoulders his massive pack once more and scurries from the shadow. He gives a sharp whistle and holds up his gold, though his hand barely passes most of the patrons' shoulders. Reaching the barman, he quickly passes the gold and takes his place among the others, eyes glittering beneath his hood. At the very least, he muses, there's some meat for the dwellers of this place to grind through, before they get to me!
Durnan looks at the assembled group. "Six then, huh? Good size." He collects the offered coins from the kenku, the dragonborn, the gnome and the genasi. Moving on, he looks at Rico, then up at her steel defender, then at the lonely coin being offered. "If you're both going, I'm going to need two of these."
(Rico, Passive Insight): Was that a twinkle in his eye? Then again, Durnan doesn't seem the man to make jokes.
(Nikk and Edwina, Passive Insight): Durnan made a joke
If she had more gold, Rico could have paid it, but since it's her last gold coin, all she can do is try to haggle. "Steel here is just my equipment. He is not a person like I am. You don't charge for swords and shields do you?"
Durnan scoffs, but seems satisfied with this explanation. He makes sure that the audience has heard it too. Can't let anyone spread rumours that Durnan has gone soft with age. The audience is abuzz with bets and speculations.
"Do you think the small one will die first?"
"10 gold that one of them loses a limb!"
"Someone tell the guild that we're gonna need healers soon!"
Durnan starts operating the winch, maneuvering each one of you down separately. The chatter of the tavern fades into the distance as the bucket descends. You estimate that the hole must be around 140 feet deep. After a minute in the softly swaying bucket, it touches down on a sandy surface.
You have arrived in the first room of the dungeon. It's a 40 foot square room. Adorning the walls are dented, rusty shields which are also covered with graffiti. A thick layer of sand covers the ground. There is an exit to the west, a tunnel 10 foot wide and high.
Nikk, Jaya and Rico: The tunnel leads off into the darkness. You're gonna need some sort of illumination to see.
DM Comment: You will be heading down lots of hallways, most of them 10 feet wide. I think it would be prudent to establish a marching order here. Who goes first, who trails in the back? How much distance do you want to keep from each other? This will be relevant for traps and encounters alike. We can then refer back to this instead of needing to re-establish it every time.
As far as watch order, Jaya is built to tank. I don't mind going first, or second if someone wants to be more of a scout out front? But I'm open if anyone has thoughts.
Pisgah sees a diminutive gnome holding out a gold piece and loudly calling out that she is ready to brave the Undermountain. Thinking that this must be the way it is done, and figuring this must be what Oliver meant when she told him that he would find friends, maybe even family, at The Yawning Portal he too pulls out a gold piece and calls out "I am wanting to travel in to the portal too!"
In a lower voice, he looks at the gnome and says "I am Pisgah. Would it be okay if I go with you?"
The older female gnome smiles up at the black and gold man. "Of course you can, sonny. I'd be glad to have you with me."
As she entered the room she saw a Gnome and a Genasi offering a GP to go down at the pit. Glad that she came at the right time, Rico starts fishing her last gold coin out of her pouch as she moves up to join them.
With a feminine sounding voice with a strange accent, Rico (the small brass one) asked the two heading down, "Do you mind if I join you two? I am Rico and this is my Steel Guardian."
"Wow, would you look at that!" Canti marvels. "Constructs." Still watching Rico and her sidekick, the gnome elbows Pisgah's knee. "You don't see that everyday. My Bwibble is going to be so jealous," she says brightly. She leans in closely — much more closely than is socially acceptable to lean in to someone with flesh — and examines Rico's shiny face. "Wow," she whispers.
After two more have joined them — a beautiful dragonborn (another curious creature) and a third little completely covered in a cloak (very curious) — Canti gladly hands Durnan her dragon. When he pauses at the constructs and expresses that he needs a second gold piece for the silver one, Canti fishes out her purse and begins to pull out a second herself. But then Durnan seems to relent, and the purse is hidden away again with a pleasant shrug.
Canti is excited to be the first to ride down into the Undermountain. Once again, she can hardly contain herself. As she waits for the others to descend, she double checks her equipment. After they've all touched down, she clears her throat in an attempt to garner everyone's attention. "Hello, new friends. I mean, we're not friends yet, but I'm putting my life in your hands and vice versa, so we're kind of like friends already. My name is Edwina-cantilla, but you can call me Canti. This is my first excursion into the Undermountain, and I'm very excited to be here. I'm glad you are all here as well," she says, smiling at all of them. Her demeanor is bordering on mothering, but not in a negative way. "I, well, I'm mostly an archer." She indicates the crossbow on her hip and then takes something from her back that is a little confusing until she gives it a kind of shake, and it expands into a longbow, which is twice as long as she is tall, so she has to hold it sideways. "My mate, Bwibble, is an inventor, so I have quite a few of his gadgets that I'll be using to help everyone. But, seeing as how we don't know how long we're going to be down here, I can't use them all willy-nilly. He gave me strict instructions on when I can use what, so don't go thinking I can just hand out all the goodies," she says, waving a finger playfully. She pauses, suddenly feeling a little awkward. "Anyway, maybe you all can kind of introduce yourselves as well so we know what kind of party we've got." She eyes the strange device on the gold construct's hip, hoping she explains what that is.
OOC: Canti should be either in the middle or in the back. She's got darkvision, so she can watch the flank, but is also able to hit things ahead of the party from a distance.
All That Glitters
A Dungeon of the Mad Mage Campaign
Ah, the Yawning Portal. A rowdy establishment, but one that is being kept in line by it's burly proprietor and former adventurer, Durnan. He is here at nearly all times, gruffly cleaning mugs, eyeing any suspicious individuals and going around distributing drinks.
Durnan
The tavern is well occupied, like usual in the afternoon. The dungeon entrance is in the very middle of the tavern, a hole of around 15 feet diameter, it is said to lead directly into a vast dungeon. Most patrons secretly hope for more adventurers to step up and venture into the dungeon: it makes for good betting.
Next to the dungeon entrance hangs a winch with a simple rope-and-pulley mechanism that Durnan uses to lower adventurers down the shaft and (sometimes) pull them up again. A trip costs 1 gold. Durnan controls the winch himself and will transport only one adventurer at a time. The rope is stained with old blood and long enough to reach all the way to the floor of the dark room at the bottom of the shaft.
Apart from the enigmatic proprietor, two additional individuals stand out: Obaya Uday and Volothamp Geddarm. It is well known that Obaya is sponsoring expeditions into Undermountain by buying any spare magic items that adventurers bring up at good prices. Volo is a renowned bard and author and is always happy to hear the stories of aventurers in exchange for information.
Obaya and Volo
As you introduce your characters, please also describe their appearance a bit for the benefit of the others. Then it's up to you if you want to dive right into the dungeon or spend some time in the tavern first.
The streets of Waterdeep are as busy as ever.
A strange dark blob moves between the shifting crowd. It's that of a small robed creature, swiftly navigating the endless surge of bustling denizens. If one were to see it pass, surely one would think halfling or dwarf, yes? Such amusing thoughts leave it yearning to laugh, though it can only muster the sound of an old beggar coighing. It wonders what the reaction would be to learn its true race. Fear? Disgust? Violence, perhaps? Again, the moment strikes an amusing chord, but this time what belts out is more akin to the wood being shaved than anyone's voice.
All the while it muses being discovered, it doesn't realize many savaged souls have already discerned it. It's a kenku, wrapped in black rags and hefting a sizeable pack fit to burst with supplies. No face is seen, only the beak. If one peered hard enough behind the hood, two intense silvery eys would likely be found peering back. Small talons poke from the side, with one holding a slender gnarled branch as an apparent walking stick. Everything else of the creature, from its black feathers to the expression of its face, to its tail, is hidden in black robes.
The figure stops before an unassuming building, a tavern only identifiable by a raucous and constant stream of patrons going in and coming out. The noise coming from there is enough to make the hustle-bustle of the streets seem quiet. Nevertheless, Nikkitch takes the initiative and steps forth into the wild throngs of rowdy barflies. Thus was the start of his fortune, his first step to power.
The inside smells. Sour beer, blood, sawdust. It's not necessarily a bad smell, just strong. Better than rotting flesh and rat muck, he thinks, remembering the stench of his home for the last twenty years. If nothing else, the alleys in beggars' row were unassuming enough for my nest, what little there was. He wouldn't miss the place, not at all.
He doesn't stop to talk to anyone. He merely finds the darkest corner to skulk, and waits. He had initially signed onto an expedition, but the application had fallen through. The fool acted foolish. Who could've guessed? Still, stabbing him in the hand and swiping his pile of 'admission fees did provide the means for all his extra gear. It wasn't the wisest of moves, but it appears to have paid off.
Even then, he's not nearly foolhardy enough to go on his own. He'd let someone else go first...
Jaya pushes open the door to the Yawning Portal and walks straight up to the bar, “Ale please! Actually, make it two!” he exclaims. As he grabs his ales, he offers, “Until an hour ago, I was a member of the city guard, but no more. I used to come into this bar to break up fights. Not today though, today I’m here to start a fight!” He pauses, waiting for the expected look of fear or concern from the bartender, but no look comes. Instead, the bartender just nods at him, and moves on to the next patron.
“Well, that was disappointing," Jaya thought, "I’ve been practicing that line all day!” He quickly downs the first ale, picks up the second and scans the room, taking in the patrons, looking for trouble. Looking for something interesting.
Then he spots the winch and the hole in the middle of the bar. Now that's Interesting! What better way to fully shed the chains of order that have confined him for so long, then to head into the Undermountain. A more reckless decision he could not make. "Sounds perfect!" he thinks, knocking back the second ale.
At first glance, many mistake Jaya for having white, or even silver dragon ancestry due to his white-grey scales. But a closer look at his eyes and teeth reveals the Amethyst colors of his real ancestry, a gem dragon. A well-trained city guard, Jaya is in peak physical form, trained in the martial arts. Mentally, he is a mess, ready to explode! A chaotic creature, trapped within a life of order and rules, by his family and the military, his entire life. Jaya seeks adventure, seeks chaos, and risk. Real life or death risk, not another day of sparing with a bored and inept member of the city guard.
Jaya reaches into his pouch, feeling around for one of his last gold coins. The price of admission for a ride on the winch. The price of freedom!
Following the directions from the city guardsman, Pisgah turns the corner onto Rainrun Street and sees what must be The Yawning Portal toward the end of the city block. "At least I hope it is The Yawning Portal.", he thinks to himself, " I am beginning to think this was a big mistake and that I should have just stayed outside, in the wild, at least the animals don't pack around you so tight. I hope Oliver was right about this place being somewhere I can find others like me. Now, I guess I just make my way to the portal?"
Making his way through the door, the other patrons see a slender six-foot tall Earth Genasi man with matte black granite-like skin shot with veins of golden quartz in serviceable, but worn, traveling clothes bearing a long sword, quiver, and hand-axe on one hip with another hand axe riding on his right hip. The hilt of a greatsword sticks up above his right shoulder with a length of yew bow next to it. A backpack and shield ride on top the weapons. His hair is brown with streaks of black and gray, much like soil that is a mix of loam and clay, and has a muddy appearance to it. The man smells faintly of fresh turned earth, not a dirty smell, rather one that brings to mind a plowed field ready for planting or an open meadow after a rain. The weapons appear to be in much better shape than either clothes or the man. It is evident that the bulk of his wealth and attention is devoted to keeping his weapons in top form. He appears to be quiet, reserved, and slightly on edge as if he is feeling caged with people around him.
Seeing the central well-like portal, Pisgah walks over to it and peers over the edge. He then looks up and scans the room, obviously trying to figure out what to do next.
Pisgah before obtaining his current kit.
https://imgur.com/gallery/dB7JgS0
Today is the day. The almost-middle-aged gnome, Edwina-cantilla — Canti to her friends, family and detractors — practically bounces from kitchen to bedroom and back, trying to pack all the right stuff for the excursion. She's practically vibrating. This has been a dream of hers for decades. She calls out from time to time, asking her mate, Bwibble, if she should pack this or that. No response is ever returned, but she continues as if he has voiced his opinion. "A grappling hook, right? Another rope? Should I take alchemy supplies? I hope 30 arrows is enough. Something tells me I should bring a healer's kit." Finally, she cinches shut her pack and smiles down at it satisfied. It was time to go. Almost past time!
The three-foot powerhouse pushes her bushy white hair out of her face as she hops down the stairs into the basement of her and Bwibble's tiny home. Immediately, she is bombarded by an odd assortment of smells. She never knows what her mate has been working on, but she is always sure it is amazing. She looks around and sees the top of his head near one corner, hunched over something. "I'm ready to go," she says brightly, crossing to stand behind him. In his wheeled chair as usual, Bwibble leans over a table covered in crystals. Most lie dark, only reflecting the nearby candles. Some, however, glow from within like tiny stars. Bwibble makes a small hum of absent-minded acknowledgement, but doesn't look up. He is examining one of the crystals through a pair of magnifying goggles. Canti leans over and kisses the top of his balding head through its fluff of hair. The touch is enough to garner his full attention.
Bwibble drops the crystal and uses his hands to turn his wheeled chair and look into Canti's face. "Ready to go?" he asks, smiling kindly.
"All packed," Canti responds, rocking slightly on her toes.
"You packed all the gear?" he continues.
"I got everything you want me to test," she says. "I'll keep records and report back." She reaches out and takes his hands in hers. "Wish me luck."
The two exchange a quick peck, and off she goes. She loads up with her pack and other equipment, including the specially made foldable longbow that Bwibble had made for her. Stepping out of their tiny house on the edge of Waterdeep, she heads toward the Yawning Portal, hoping she hasn't left too late. She wants to get there mid afternoon.
Stepping into the tavern, the tiny adventurer looks around with wide eyes. She has been to the Yawning Portal many times, watching brave souls descend into or ascent out of the giant hole in the center of the building. How she has envied them. But today is her day! She hopes there are others who are planning to descend as well. It will be much safer if she isn't alone.
Canti bounds to the wench, pulls a gold piece out of her purse, and holds it above her head. Turning to gleam in the direction of the bar, she says in her proudest voice, "I'm here to brave the Undermountain!"
Pisgah sees a diminutive gnome holding out a gold piece and loudly calling out that she is ready to brave the Undermountain. Thinking that this must be the way it is done, and figuring this must be what Oliver meant when she told him that he would find friends, maybe even family, at The Yawning Portal he too pulls out a gold piece and calls out "I am wanting to travel in to the portal too!"
In a lower voice, he looks at the gnome and says "I am Pisgah. Would it be okay if I go with you?"
The door to the Yawning Portal opens and a couple of constructs walk in. The brass colored one in front is about half the size of the grey one in the back. The brass one is carrying a strange looking shield, with an overly large sword for someone that small strapped to one side of it's waist while some weird gadget was strapped to the other side, with a large backpack on it's back. The grey one wasn't carrying any equipment and was just following the small one. The small brass one looked vaguely feminine in form, while the big grey one looked like a caricature of a weight lifter.
Image: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/cnwx67deskkwltnoma818/Rico-and-Steel-portrait.png?rlkey=icnbc21808kplslerzxtqrzgw&dl=0
As she entered the room she saw a Gnome and a Genasi offering a GP to go down at the pit. Glad that she came at the right time, Rico starts fishing her last gold coin out of her pouch as she moves up to join them.
With a feminine sounding voice with a strange accent, Rico (the small brass one) asked the two heading down, "Do you mind if I join you two? I am Rico and this is my Steel Guardian."
OOC: Oops, I missed seeing the previous two posts while writing mine. I'll edit mine to match.
Upon the first mention of someone new wanting to brave the portal, a cheer erupts in the tavern. People are lifting their mugs in the direction of first Canti and then Pisgah and the two unlike constructs. People are clearing tables to make space for paper and quills to note down bets. Several people are shouting good wishes and jests.
At the bar, Durnan raises an eyebrow and finishes up the last order. He nods to Jaya, saying "No fights in my bar, but plenty of fights down where they are going."
The retired adventurer then makes a show of throwing a towel over his back, stepping out from behind the bar and over to the hopeful adventurers. "It has been many years since I returned from Undermountain myself and built the tavern here. Since then, I can count the number of successful explorers on one hand."
He rests one arm on the winch on which the bucket dangles. "Only two rules. Costs a gold to go down and costs a gold to go back up again. Whatever happens down there and whatever treasures you find is your business."
Durnan dramatically looks into the round. "Anyone else want to join this brave group?"
Before he even has time to finish his second ale, a gnome, a human, and two constructs are standing in front of the entrance to the Undermountain, the excited crowd, cheering them on.
“Well, this is a turn of events I’d be a fool to pass up." Jaya says to himself, then out loud he adds “Count me in, please!" holding up his gold coin he moves to join the others, finishing his drink.
Nikkitch, hearing his cue, shoulders his massive pack once more and scurries from the shadow. He gives a sharp whistle and holds up his gold, though his hand barely passes most of the patrons' shoulders. Reaching the barman, he quickly passes the gold and takes his place among the others, eyes glittering beneath his hood. At the very least, he muses, there's some meat for the dwellers of this place to grind through, before they get to me!
Durnan looks at the assembled group. "Six then, huh? Good size."
He collects the offered coins from the kenku, the dragonborn, the gnome and the genasi. Moving on, he looks at Rico, then up at her steel defender, then at the lonely coin being offered. "If you're both going, I'm going to need two of these."
(Rico, Passive Insight): Was that a twinkle in his eye? Then again, Durnan doesn't seem the man to make jokes.
(Nikk and Edwina, Passive Insight): Durnan made a joke
If she had more gold, Rico could have paid it, but since it's her last gold coin, all she can do is try to haggle. "Steel here is just my equipment. He is not a person like I am. You don't charge for swords and shields do you?"
Durnan scoffs, but seems satisfied with this explanation. He makes sure that the audience has heard it too. Can't let anyone spread rumours that Durnan has gone soft with age. The audience is abuzz with bets and speculations.
"Do you think the small one will die first?"
"10 gold that one of them loses a limb!"
"Someone tell the guild that we're gonna need healers soon!"
Durnan starts operating the winch, maneuvering each one of you down separately. The chatter of the tavern fades into the distance as the bucket descends. You estimate that the hole must be around 140 feet deep. After a minute in the softly swaying bucket, it touches down on a sandy surface.
You have arrived in the first room of the dungeon. It's a 40 foot square room. Adorning the walls are dented, rusty shields which are also covered with graffiti. A thick layer of sand covers the ground. There is an exit to the west, a tunnel 10 foot wide and high.
Nikk, Jaya and Rico: The tunnel leads off into the darkness. You're gonna need some sort of illumination to see.
DM Comment: You will be heading down lots of hallways, most of them 10 feet wide. I think it would be prudent to establish a marching order here. Who goes first, who trails in the back? How much distance do you want to keep from each other? This will be relevant for traps and encounters alike. We can then refer back to this instead of needing to re-establish it every time.
Pisgah turns to Durnan and says "<b>You don't charge for items that people carry down there, do you?</b>" As he does, he turns to Rico and winks.
Pisgah says to others "I don't mind going first if you would like. It looks like west is our option."
A voice near identical to Durnan speaks out, geared to Pisgah.
"You. Stone-man. Dark. Too dark. Here. Burn."
The kenku, rummaging through one of his luggage pouches, tosses a torch at his feet.
Jaya is going to examine the shields. Being a city guard, he’s curious if anything stands out among the shields. A common theme, any patterns, etc.
As far as watch order, Jaya is built to tank. I don't mind going first, or second if someone wants to be more of a scout out front? But I'm open if anyone has thoughts.
If its 10 feet wide, we can also walk 2 wide.
The older female gnome smiles up at the black and gold man. "Of course you can, sonny. I'd be glad to have you with me."
"Wow, would you look at that!" Canti marvels. "Constructs." Still watching Rico and her sidekick, the gnome elbows Pisgah's knee. "You don't see that everyday. My Bwibble is going to be so jealous," she says brightly. She leans in closely — much more closely than is socially acceptable to lean in to someone with flesh — and examines Rico's shiny face. "Wow," she whispers.
After two more have joined them — a beautiful dragonborn (another curious creature) and a third little completely covered in a cloak (very curious) — Canti gladly hands Durnan her dragon. When he pauses at the constructs and expresses that he needs a second gold piece for the silver one, Canti fishes out her purse and begins to pull out a second herself. But then Durnan seems to relent, and the purse is hidden away again with a pleasant shrug.
Canti is excited to be the first to ride down into the Undermountain. Once again, she can hardly contain herself. As she waits for the others to descend, she double checks her equipment. After they've all touched down, she clears her throat in an attempt to garner everyone's attention. "Hello, new friends. I mean, we're not friends yet, but I'm putting my life in your hands and vice versa, so we're kind of like friends already. My name is Edwina-cantilla, but you can call me Canti. This is my first excursion into the Undermountain, and I'm very excited to be here. I'm glad you are all here as well," she says, smiling at all of them. Her demeanor is bordering on mothering, but not in a negative way. "I, well, I'm mostly an archer." She indicates the crossbow on her hip and then takes something from her back that is a little confusing until she gives it a kind of shake, and it expands into a longbow, which is twice as long as she is tall, so she has to hold it sideways. "My mate, Bwibble, is an inventor, so I have quite a few of his gadgets that I'll be using to help everyone. But, seeing as how we don't know how long we're going to be down here, I can't use them all willy-nilly. He gave me strict instructions on when I can use what, so don't go thinking I can just hand out all the goodies," she says, waving a finger playfully. She pauses, suddenly feeling a little awkward. "Anyway, maybe you all can kind of introduce yourselves as well so we know what kind of party we've got." She eyes the strange device on the gold construct's hip, hoping she explains what that is.
OOC: Canti should be either in the middle or in the back. She's got darkvision, so she can watch the flank, but is also able to hit things ahead of the party from a distance.