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Omegaboot · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:04 pm Post subject: The Dig - Campaign Thread

"Ah, you have arrived! Please, wait in this antechamber here while we wait for the others!" The wizened old gnome beckons you to a large room with comfortable benches along the sides. "I'm sure the other members of your group will be along shortly." You go inside and take seats, checking your possessions.

A tall, somber rakshasa enters the room after a while. "Hello, you must be the adventurers who won the Lottery to enter this year. In case you didn't quite understand what you were getting into, or if you have forgotten, I shall now refresh your memory.

"A thousand years ago, severe earthquakes shook the land, and tore down part of this mountain, revealing a large mine. It was called The Dig, and was soon exploited; the area around was quickly settled, and rapidly grew wealthy. For centuries, the mine provided great wealth to the region. But this is ancient history.

"Eventually, the mine ran out, but not before the deepest part of The Dig uncovered a Gate. Preliminary investigations showed that it was a one-way door to Elsewhere, and even the most powerful spells could not divine where, nor bring anything or anyone back from the other side. Therefore, it was decided to send through an investigative expedition, to find out what the place was, where it was, and to get back. The strongest magicians, priests, fighters, and sundry adventurers of the Realm were chosen, and sent through, a veritable army of them. Eventually, a bare handful returned - years later.

"The tale they told was wondrous in the extreme. A huge dungeon, larger than many countries, and changing itself slowly. It was full of monsters of all kinds, from the weakest to the most powerful. No dimensional spells worked, or if they did, they were extremely limited in range. You could enter, by any number of methods, or summon others to join you, but once there... There was but one exit, guarded by strong beings, and nobody knew just who or what those beings were. No matter how strong you were when you entered, you had to be much stronger, to prove your worth to these beings, before you were allowed to exit.

"It was the treasure and the knowledge that the survivors brought back, that decided the direction of further efforts in regards to The Dig, the Gate, and the Dungeon. The tunnels of The Dig were converted to a city, housing the researchers who investigate the Gate and Dungeon, and all their support staff. Also, a system was set up, to allow groups of volunteers to be sent in periodically, to investigate the Dungeon and bring back more knowledge, and more treasure. This eventually became the Lottery.

"Now, this is a chancy business. Most groups do not return, for some reason or another. Many have been found to have perished, many more simply disappeared without a trace... And a very few have simply settled down in the Dungeon, carving out a niche for themselves. However, those who do return, are near to Gods in power, and often richer than many Gods. This is the primary reason we continue to get applicants, in spite of the fact that so many of our adventurers die.

"This brings us up to now. In half an hour, you shall enter the Gate, and you shall endeavour to do your best to survive and come out the other side. May the Gods be with you. Any questions?" The rakshasa looks down at you, patiently.
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Thorn Stormdaughter is pretty.
Natha Vinio, Drow Cleric of Lolth. Of unknown gender.

AbuDhabi · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:15 pm Post subject:

???

"Yeah, do you happen to have the equipment lists of those who came back, when they were going in?" asked the weirdly athletic-looking elf with the spell pouch, spell book and heavy crossbow of a wizard.
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Erik Mesoy · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:18 pm Post subject:

TROGG

"Trogg am going on adventure! Trogg wonder how long adventure will last."
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Alien · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:20 pm Post subject:

Sílagem

One of the lottery winners, a young, skinny elf, fidgets quietly, glancing at the others in his new group. Taking a shallow breath, he seems to gather up the courage to speak, but still keeps silent.
_________________
Got Sig For Great Justice
CtS

Grey elves are snotty
Desert elves are hopeless

ilovefire · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:25 pm Post subject:

Throggette

A pretty looking young human girl stood to the side, grinning. Her appearance was ruined by a line of drool going down her chin. "Adventure! We am gonna have fun?"

Omegaboot · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:31 pm Post subject:

The rakshasa looks at the elf wizard. "As a matter of fact, we do, and no, there seems to be no correlation between what they take in and who survives. The only common thread seems to be that all the survivors took several days' worth of food and water, but so did plenty of those who did not survive." He then turns to the neanderthal. "The trek to the exit lasts several years, usually. Some enjoy it, some do not," he says to the girl.
_________________
Thorn Stormdaughter is pretty.
Natha Vinio, Drow Cleric of Lolth. Of unknown gender.

AbuDhabi · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:49 pm Post subject:

???

"Hm. Any correlation on who they bring, then? Swordsmen, healers, arcanists, basketweavers?"
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Alien · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:40 pm Post subject:

Sílagem

"But... hm. Did they say what they found edible in there? How to tell if any water is not poisonous?"
_________________
Got Sig For Great Justice
CtS

Grey elves are snotty
Desert elves are hopeless

Confusion · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 4:22 am Post subject:

Milo Greenleaf

The halfling straightened up. He was resplendent, for a halfling, in fine courtiers clothing. One might ask themself 'why, oh why? would you go into a dungeon wearing courtiers clothing?'

The answer is of course that when you've won a lottery to go to your almost certain doom, you should dress in your finest. Still, his voice lilted pleasently, in spite of the pipe he was absent mindedly filling with crushed green leaves while he waited. A crossbow was slung over his shoulder, and a whip coiled at his side. And otherwise he carried just a bulging sack.

"Hi, I'm Milo." There was something about the light that shone in his eyes, it spoke of a certain childlike understanding of the world.

Remmon · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:22 am Post subject:

Shamus

"Finding water and food that isn't poisonous shouldn't be too hard, for I can cleanse most poisons, leaving drinkable water and edible food. I hope those us carrying bows and crossbows did not forget to bring an ample amount of ammunition?"[/b]

Omegaboot · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:42 am Post subject:

The rakshasa clears his throat. "The dangers are varied, and the survivors are of nearly all classes and professions - ones that are ultimately unsuitable have included druids, none of whom have survived, and bards, very few of whom have, but nearly all the rogues, for example, survived. All say that eventually they do find replacement supplies, and even better ones. Food and water also, though not in the first few days, so please make sure you are bringing enough with you to last for at least a week. So, I see you are all gathered. If you are ready, please proceed to the Gate Room." He sits down at a desk by the door.
_________________
Thorn Stormdaughter is pretty.
Natha Vinio, Drow Cleric of Lolth. Of unknown gender.

AbuDhabi · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:47 am Post subject:

"I am not afraid," said the elf wizard, and started towards the Gate Room.
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Confusion · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:07 pm Post subject:

"I'm a bard!" The small voice from the halfling bard was one that clearly hadn't comprehended what had just been said. He wandered after the elf wizard with a look of serendipitous stupidity on his face.

Remmon · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 3:03 am Post subject:

Shamus

"Then you shall probably be the first to fall victim to the dungeon. Try not to step into any gelatinous cubes on your way."

Shamus headed after the elf into the gate room, quickly checking over his equipment one last time to make certain it really was all there.

Alien · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 8:37 am Post subject:

Sílagem

The other elf hurried after the first one, got winded halfway, and settled for following the crazy halfling instead.
_________________
Got Sig For Great Justice
CtS

Grey elves are snotty
Desert elves are hopeless

ilovefire · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 8:56 am Post subject:

Throggette

Throggette followed the rest of the party, giggling to herself.

Omegaboot · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 4:54 pm Post subject:

As you leave, the rakshasa looks at you and shakes his head. "I wonder if any of them will live," he mutters to himself.

Following the guides, you reach the Gate Room. It is large, thirty feet by forty, and twenty high, with the Gate itself in the opposite end. It looks like a large palace door, each half ten feet wide and fifteen high, apparently made out of expensive wood, with plenty of precious stones and metals inlaid in beautiful patterns. As you enter, the two attendants pull the Gate open, revealing a shimmering green wall, shining from within. "Please enter whenever you're ready," one of the guides says. "However, if you wish to stay together, I recommend you go in at the same time. Apparently, if you wait too long before entering, you go in at a different location than the person before you."
_________________
Thorn Stormdaughter is pretty.
Natha Vinio, Drow Cleric of Lolth. Of unknown gender.

AbuDhabi · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 9:48 pm Post subject:

"Follow me, men!" proclaimed the elven wizard, walking towards the gate briskly. "Our lives are about to begin again."
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Erik Mesoy · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 10:01 pm Post subject:

Trogg

"Trogg going to punch things!" said Trogg and followed the nameless wizard.
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Alien · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 10:30 pm Post subject:

Sílagem took a deep breath and followed the others.
_________________
Got Sig For Great Justice
CtS

Grey elves are snotty
Desert elves are hopeless

Remmon · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:37 am Post subject:

"Might I kindly suggest the more defensively oriented go in before the magicians, just in case there's an ambush waiting on the other side."

Shamus looked at the elf wizard in particular and heads towards the gate himself, drawing his weapon and readying his shield as he goes.

"Let us find glory in battle, friends!"

Erik Mesoy · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:32 am Post subject:

Trogg

"Trogg will PUNCH ambush!" said Trogg gleefully and ran headlong into the gate.
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Alien · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:47 am Post subject:

Sílagem:

Stepping aside for the more enthusiastic people, Sílagem waited for them to pass, then drew a large scimitar with both hands, shut his eyes, and jumped into the portal.
_________________
Got Sig For Great Justice
CtS

Grey elves are snotty
Desert elves are hopeless

AbuDhabi · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:24 am Post subject:

"I am no craven!" shouted the wizard, launching into a sprint at Trogg's heels, outpaced only due to the savage's savage speed.
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ilovefire · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:34 pm Post subject:

Throggette

Throggette followed the rest in, giggling and grinning. And still drooling.