Stackman's Adventures (Chapter sixteen)

[bsftcs]

Pastime in a Dungeon

Being the sixteenth chapter of Stackman’s adventures

In which the barbarian shows how to charm a witch’s second in command and in which an important cultural institution of the Ironworks Forum is discovered to be less glamorous than expected.

From the cage, where S’Keser Da had apparently intended the party to stay for quite some time, they walked up a small flight of stairs and found themselves at a ”T”-junction. They turned right. There they came upon a small hall (room B on the Boogre Caves map posted by Wyvern) which was apparently a place where the boogres would congregate to eat and drink. All in all drinking, gambling, and fighting seemed to be the main pastime around here. Then again, what else to expect from a people that was forced to live underground, bereft of all intelligence in order to make them stay here.

Judging from the room it would seem likely that there was a bar nearby. Sure enough: Just east of the room was a room with a bar counter and substantial amounts of brew casks (room C). Behind the counter stood Blubarb, the bartender, doing the dishes. The party paused for a moment. They new from ancient folklore that the Boogre Bar played a major at the Ironworks Forum, the great place beyond the Endless Sea where the deities and semi-deities of the Gael Serran were congregated. Casting a quick glance at the clientele and the cobweb-lined furniture of the bar the barbarian pondered why a place such as this could be so popular.

They talked with Blubarb, who told them that brew would work against ”bug”-bites. Knowing what was in store for them the party bought six casks of boogre brew. (They divvied up the gold pieces so that they could pay him the exact amount at a time in order not to lose money. He did not know how to give refunds). Walking westward the party encountered the lead ”Plun’dr” Vargul. Through his stories they glimpsed a clan structure in the boogre community. They hoped they would soon be free of the boogre curse imposed on them, so that they would not have to stay in these caves forever, and eventually have to participate in this gang structure. Deciding not to go to the so called “Rooms” (Room K) for the moment, the party turned left then right at the next intersections and eventually came to another ”T”-junction.

They turned right and came to the spectator balcony of the arena (room F). They had no particular wish to stay and bet, so they went back and took the left way. It was apparent that this was the place where the contenders (probably those who would not comply with S’Keser Da) were let into the arena. Remembering what they had heard about the so called bug inhabiting this place they decided not to enter the arena for now.

They walked back and turned right. Through another room (room D) the party entered a series of corridors (room R and gauntlet map) with all sorts of diabolical equipment. This was the gauntlet. Whether this place was invented by S’Keser Da (or possibly her predecessor) to test the physical abilities of her minions or whether it was created in a time when the boogres were fighting the original dwellers of the cave to protect what lay in the inner sanctum was unknown. However, making their way through the hazardous machinery, which would only hurt the last person of the party list (in this case the unfortunate bard), they party found themselves by the Idol of Bongu. In a treasure chest to the left of the idol was a strange wooden stick. Using casks of boogre brew on the idol would spark off the idol’s granting a boon. Warrior class characters would be able to gain the giantstrike trait, the berserk trait, and +1 fortitude. Other classes would only be eligible for the +1 fortitude boon. This was a rare case: This was the only known occurence in the game where a stat could be raised above 24 without the help of cheat programmes. (The Idol has often been discussed on the Forum. One or two of these yield some valuable information).


The party walked on and eventually got back to the ”contenders room” by the arena. The party then walked back and took the other road at the ”T”-junction by the cage room. Soon they came upon Malgrim. The party was then able to piece together more about the social stuctures of the caves. They walked on and came to another junction. The right way led to the other part of the spectator balcony by the arena. The left way led to yet another junction.

From the right path came a jungle lilly. These creatures were even more deadly than the mantraps – and just as annoying. The warlock fried the creature before it had any chance of spewing its deadly gasses. It had come from the Guardian’s room (room I). Knowing that there was nothing of interest for the party there now they took the right way. There was a portcullis barring there way. The zenmaster tried placing the wooden stick in a cylindrical hole in the wall and the portcullis opened.

They had come to the prison cells (room H). The penal system of the Boogre Caves was of a very peculiar nature. It was not intended for resocializing unfortunate elements of the population (um those dat, umm, likes golds too much). Instead those that were unfortunate enough to end up here were left to rot. But their ghosts still lingered. Until the valkyrie came by, that is, of course. Among the ghosts was that of Grunaxe. He told them of his death and of his relationship with Pris’kiel’a. They party also got more information about the social structure of the inhabitants of the cave. Knowing that simply being hailed by the Ghost of Grunaxe was enough to fulfill the prerequisites of the ”Grunaxe” quest given by the Bushi Dojo, the party went on. In a treasure chest in the last of the cells they found another wooden stick.

Taking the wooden stick from the cylindrical hole as they left the party left the cells. They went to the pit. The local dweller of that location soon showed up. The fearsome pit crawler was soon laid to rest by the zenmaster, the warlock, and the assassin although their high level spells had a tendency to fail because they were boogreized. In the pit crawler’s room the barbarian found Grunaxe’s ring by his mangled remains.

The party then went to the rooms (room K). On the threshold between each room was a magic barrier teleporting creatures into the middle of other rooms. (The way to pass the rooms is described by Sazerac on Page three of the Best Tips). In a treasure chest in one of the rooms they found another wooden stick. Finally they made their way to the boogre hag’s premises (room L). Apparently it was on this location she would hold speeches to her most trusted followers. Pris’kiel’a stood here. The distraught woman was easily persuaded to open the way to S’keser Da’s room when the barbarian gave her Grunaxe’s ring.

Soon they peered inside the hag’s room (room N). She was sleeping. On a small pedestal on her right was her powerful amulet, the evil eye. When the bard picked it up, her snoring subsided and she woke. The plight of the party was soon retaliated with the hag being sent to the floor by the most potent spells in the party’s arsenal. And yet not quite. The death of S’Keser Da had not lifted the curse on the party. Downcast the party searched the room before they left it. In a treasure chest the zenmaster found the second Tome of Creation – the Tome of Wind. The hag had also dropped yet another wooden stick.

NPCs encountered:

Blubarb reacts to following words:

Boogre, Pit, Grunaxe, Poison, Drink, Brew, S’Keser Da, Plun’drs, Tinkers, Malgrim, Vargul, Boogres, Eye, Rooms, Bet, Bug, Blubarb, Boogre Brew, Sting.

Vargul and Malgrim both react to following words:

Boogre, Pit, Grunaxe, S’Keser Da, Plun’drs, Tinkers, Malgrim, Vargul, Boogres, Plan, Eye, Rooms, Bet, Hag, Ring, Bug, Boogre Brew, Sting.

Grunaxe’s Ghost reacts to following words:

Boogre, Help, Pit, Torin, Grunaxe, Beast, S’Keser Da, Plun’drs, Tinkers, Malgrim, Vargul, Boogres, Eye, Dead, Crimes, Exodus, Prison, Guidance, Hag’s Chamber, Evil Eye, Guardian’s Room, Hag, Pris’kiel’a, Ring, Bug.

Pris’kiel’a reacts to following words:

Boogre, Pit, Grunaxe, S’Keser Da, Plun’drs, Tinkers, Malgrim, Vargul, Boogres, Eye, Gift, Bug.

[ 06-24-2004, 08:16 AM: Message edited by: bsftcs ]

[Bungleau]

Very nice and edu-tational!

Looking forward to the next one [img]smile.gif[/img]