Dungeon of the Mad Mage (#9 PbP)

Grianne will pop he head though the stone into the north room and see what's in it.

Haha Wow a nat1. You instead pop into the south door by mistake and find Tiamat. Farewell!

Jk

Peeking into the north room, you find barrels upon barrels stacked neatly along the walls, so many, that the reach the ceiling. There’s barrels everywhere. They all have a dwarven seal on each one of them, and it smells like a keghouse in here.

Lythril kicks in the door ready for evil *****es!

Instead of evil *****es, she sees imaginary light coming from the heavens with angelic voices singing harmonic praises of wheat AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

She then looks around hurriedly as this is exactly the right kind of bait for a dwarf trap!

Perception  9

With Grianne's head sticking out of the wall. You see that too Lyth.

Just as Evrik is trying to discuss a plan, Lythril kicks the door sending it splintering everywhere. But then... "Oh that sweet sent of fermentation!" And he bolts into the room and eyes what appears to be dwarven gold! Ale that is.

(Evrik and Lythril rolled past him earlier.)

Mr. Biggs started to open his mouth in answer. Started to, then slowly closed it seeing Lythril kick in the door ahead. He shakes his head, smiles in mild amusement, then makes sure his Chip was ready for some healthy hammering. "After her, I do suppose." He whispers then aloud yells, "There more actual ale ahead?" He says as he started charging his hammer with magic. 

OU812 will search the room (Perception: 6), making sure there's nothing hiding amongst the barrels (other than the dwarfs of our crew).  If no evil doers are to be found, he'll grab a couple of the barrels and barricade the doorway with them.  "This seems like a fine room to take a long rest, soldiers!  Plenty of social lubrication to be had."

This room is filled to the brim with hundreds of barrels of preserved ale. Holy shit!

The room is not trapped and there are no monsters here. The barrels are sealed magically to preserve the ale, and once opened, the ale becomes “normal” and will eventually spoil if undrunk.

It tastes delicious!

Danitriel snickered. "So we've found the motherlode at last, have we?"

"A nip of ale and a spot of rest would do these bones well," Evrik proclaims. He pats Lythril on the shoulder, "The luck of Vergadain shines on you lass! And this room lifts my heart." Evrik feels, if only momentarily, as if the weight of the world has lifted from his shoulders. He looks for everyone and waves them all in as he begins a song...

Time’s took me from home
Time’s tossed me around
But on barrels we’ve rolled
‘til it’s barrels we’ve found!

Come gather me friends
All friends new and old
One tap to the staves
An’ it’s flagons of gold!

Ra'iik goes to town on an opened barrel. Constitution check: 5

Whoa, this shit is STRONG. You're feeling a little dizzy.

Azrael could hardly believe it. And as Raiik had already volunteered to test for 'poison' his only suspicion was quashed. He strolled in, looking around him, and smiled. Finally something relatively 'nice' down here. No evil goblin lord of an underground (literally) market. No wererat children being harassed. No Xanatharian guild, or even Zhentarim. No traps, or mind altering magic... Azrael made his way over to Lythril and Danitriel As I said before. next time we see the surface.. we should have Zelifarna come and teleport all this back to our ale cellars!

Then, to everyone he shouted.. since the door behind them had been closed and barred It seems we have reason to celebrate this evening, and possess a fine spot to rest! After everything else, we've earned some respite! and with that, he would follow in Raiik's example, and took a full mouthful of the sweet nectar. His mouth much larger than everyone elses. (Con: 17)

Easily swiggign it down, followed by several more, he would look at Raiik, and clap him on the shoulder and in a jovial tone, said Haha! Who would have thought for as hard as you can hit, you're a lightweight when it comes to ale my friend! Praise Bahamut for this bounty!

Azrael waltzed over to each person, only feelign a light buzz, clapping each on the shoulder, telling them all the same thing, but one at a time I know I come off as a hardazz, sometimes.... but you? I love you man/woman you're good peoplez..

He continued drinking, until it finally started to hit him harder, but at this point, he was starting to think it might be a good idea.....

Azrael pulled out that Vial of Dragonsblood from his backpack, holding it with both hands, carefully.. Unstoppering the top, he put the vial to his mouth, and took the smallest of sips, emptying 1/8th of the total contents, into his gullet before putting the stopper back on, and placing the vial back in his pack.

And then he swallowed.

As Evrik's song completes the two big guys are already beating him to the bounty. "Ah... save some for a fellow traveler m'friends." And he slaps the two on the back before filling a mug. He then gulps down the ale filling his belly and beard savoring the beverage as it quenched his thirst and lifted his soul. (Con: 12) 

"Cheers to you all! A sip, or three, well earned!" Evrik says taking another swig. He looks around and finds an unused mug, fills it and walks over toward Lythril. "One for you lass," Evrik says, his cheeks a bit rosy, as he hands the full mug to the dwarf. Then he turns toward the juggernaut and adds "Always North!" And raises his mug high before emptying the draught. 

Lythril uses a camp cup to take a portion of the finest of drinks. Then she perches on one of the barrels and tunes her lute, strums a few cords, takes a sip, and breaks into an upbeat song:

While everyone starts to drink what Grianne thinks is rancid water, Grianne will phase into the other room on the map. At least I think there was another room. If there wasnt, could I peek at the floor below us?

Evrik sits down with his back to a barrel as he listens to Lythril's song. Soon the adrenaline from the days events wears off and the alcohol takes over and he falls into a much needed slumber. Snoring loudly as his body relaxes completely.

A few hours in though his sleeping mind begins to wander...

A battle rages in what use to be a forest. The field is strewn with the fallen, friend and foe alike. All around the dwarves try to hold the beasts at bay. The beasts... his mind can't quite make sense of them.  The air is thick with the pain of of dear friends lives being released from this world. Dear Siggarlum, falling to a serrated blade. Evrik... screaming... dropping to his knees at the loss. His closest friend. Strongest ally. A priest of the wood approaches. Hooded. Passing Evrik. The priest reaches down toward Siggarlum; touching; talking; lifting Siggarlum to life. And then lifting others. Lifting them up to continue the battle. But the lives... are they? His mind cannot comprehend. The hooded priest glances back. Evrik catches his eye. The face is... familiar... The priest calls out to Evrik has he presses forward into battle. "The life you sought may yet be found!"

Evrik jolts awake. Heart pounding. He tries to recall the dream but it slips silently away from his roused mind like a wisp of smoke from a pipe.  He looks around. No others disturbed. It was all a dream.

Evrik pulls his robes out of his pack and puts them on. It's been some time since he's communed with the Revered Mother. Once dressed he knelt and fell into deep prayer seeking guidance, healing, and most of all understanding of the forces around him. "I beseech thee mother. Lend your gifts to me so that I may bring these others safely home. Help me to understand their ailments and mend their bones as we seek to destroy the foulness that pulls us deeper..." And he continued in prayer rejuvenating his soul and improving his understanding of the world.

You sure can!

Dani accompanies Lythril on her own instruments, encouraging her musical efforts.

Grianne tries to flow through the stone and finds its more limited than anticipated.

Well that didn't work. Guess i'm stuck in here with the people drinking the rancid brown water.