Talk:Escape from Mimmarudla

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September 8

As the party rushes across the lake, which is heaving beneath their feet, it soon becomes evident that there is more going on than that ice is melting. The sound of cracking can be heard, and all at once the players can look down and see that the ice has entirely lost its frosty surface. Not only water can be seen beneath a thickness of what seems to be about six inches, but faces as well - the faces of the trapped souls in the lake, who are now pressing against the underside of the ice, their hands flattened on the underlying bottom, pushing the ice upwards. It is over this grisly scene that the players hurry.--The DM (talk) 09:44, 8 September 2020 (MDT)

Then let's keep hurrying! --Pandred (talk) 11:24, 8 September 2020 (MDT)
Indeed! --Embla (talk) 12:26, 8 September 2020 (MDT)

A crack opens in the ice under Pandred's feet. She'll have to leap across the gap. Could I have a dexterity check, please. --The DM (talk) 11:44, 8 September 2020 (MDT)

20. Not ideal. --Pandred (talk) 13:28, 8 September 2020 (MDT)
Pandred loses her balance, feeling her legs go out as she topples forward ... but before she plunges into the lake, she feels hands catch her and roll her across the gap. She tumbles, ends up facing the open crack. A ghostly old man and a young woman are drifting upward very slowly. "Thank you," the man whispers at Pandred. "Yes, thank you," adds the woman.
I'll scramble up and keep moving, huffing a surprised breath. "No problem." --Pandred (talk) 13:42, 8 September 2020 (MDT)

Soon there are cracks beginning to emerge all over the lake. You can see the other side now; it is about three hundred yards away. Spectres are climbing onto the edge of the ice around you, whereupon they begin to rise, just a few inches a second. You can see dozens of them. No, scores. And as they rise, they smile at members of the party, eyes full of gratitude.--The DM (talk) 13:54, 8 September 2020 (MDT)

Not much to add, except that we keep hustling. Even if things take a turn for the worse regarding the ice, these grateful spirits seem amenable to aid our escape.--Engelhart (talk) 14:33, 8 September 2020 (MDT)

And so they do. The ice has almost entirely broken up by the time you reach just a hundred feet from the shore; by then, hands are holding onto your legs, your bodies... at the last, you're floating more than you're moving, until at last you arrive safely on the shore. --The DM (talk) 15:13, 8 September 2020 (MDT)

Hello --Marcule (talk) 10:01, 16 September 2020 (MDT)

There, a group of Svirfneblin meet you. Prugg is not among them, but most of them are familiar to you. One named Grikk speaks to you, saying, "We give you thanks for risking yourselves, and for your success."--The DM (talk) 15:13, 8 September 2020 (MDT)

Character hp. caused hp. taken X.P. gained
(pending)
Embla 0 21 633
Engelhart 13 7 532
Lothar 3 0 150
Pandred 8 6 455
Vafrandir 16 14 719

Showing is the experience for the battle; before adding experience to your character, can you all please confirm your damage caused and taken?--The DM (talk) 15:17, 8 September 2020 (MDT)

Those numbers look correct to me. –Vafrandir 16:14, 8 September 2020 (MDT)
and I --Embla (talk) 20:10, 8 September 2020 (MDT)
I confirm my portion, for sure.--Engelhart (talk) 20:18, 9 September 2020 (MDT)

[a quiet day; understandable, what with my going AWOL all the time; I am trying to maintain some presence weekdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. my time. I'm going to take off weekends and holidays and I'll try to give warning on any day I'm not going to be here. On the plus side, I have good reason to believe that a new player is going to join the campaign, starting Monday. My birthday is a week today; I've more or less decided to venture out into the woods for the day and make a hike, and then rest the day after.]--The DM (talk) 16:07, 8 September 2020 (MDT)

Enjoy! --Embla (talk) 20:10, 8 September 2020 (MDT)
Yes, do enjoy. Hiking in the woods is an ointment for the soul, wish I could join you.--Engelhart (talk) 20:18, 9 September 2020 (MDT)

September 9

Have you any business with the svirfneblin before taking your leave?--The DM (talk) 09:08, 9 September 2020 (MDT)

Do we? I don't know much of anything about them, and defer to Embla and Engelhart. If they'd like to give me and Vafrandir the benefit of imparting their experience we'd be eternally grateful, but Oddsdrakken is waiting in Stavanger and I'm fairly certain a few of us are nearly dead. Speaking of, Vafrandir, enjoy 3 hit points from my iron bottle. For surviving your first scuffle. --Pandred (talk) 10:21, 9 September 2020 (MDT)
"Thank you! I'm not sure what I expected to find, but it sure as hell wasn't that!" –Vafrandir 10:26, 9 September 2020 (MDT)

Grikk says, "You are welcome for any help we could give. You have a long journey ahead of you. I suggest you each take a draught of this before you start on your way." He offers a large stone flagon, opaque, about two feet tall and with a wide brim. It would hold about two quarts.--The DM (talk) 10:30, 9 September 2020 (MDT)

I'll be sure to take a swig, after the rest of the party has had their go. They are sorer than I. --Pandred (talk) 11:19, 9 September 2020 (MDT)
I take a deep drink of the flagon and thank the svirfneblin for their support. --Embla (talk) 11:22, 9 September 2020 (MDT)
Please, each of you roll 2d6 +2 and count that towards healing yourselves.--The DM (talk) 11:31, 9 September 2020 (MDT)
Full up. Nice! --Pandred (talk) 11:59, 9 September 2020 (MDT)
I will as well. roll 7, 9 adj. "Invigorating!" –Vafrandir 12:15, 9 September 2020 (MDT)
10! I'm positive again! --Embla (talk) 13:50, 9 September 2020 (MDT)
I too sip heartily. The roll comes up a 6, wich means I'm at +8 Hp.--Engelhart (talk) 20:15, 9 September 2020 (MDT)

Are you ready to head up through the tunnels to the surface?--The DM (talk) 12:22, 9 September 2020 (MDT)

I am. I'm grateful to the svirneblin for their assistance but I will follow Pandred's lead and defer to Embla and Engelhart if there is any unfinished business. –Vafrandir 12:46, 9 September 2020 (MDT)
Steady as she goes. I warmly thank the Svirfneblin for their assistance, decisive as it was, as we get on our way.--Engelhart (talk) 20:15, 9 September 2020 (MDT)

September 10

So, you head off, saying your goodbyes. You have a long cavern to wend your way up into. You climb to the cliff, cross past the old ruin, make your way up the stairs to the passage and tramp onwards. About 600 yards later, you all realize you are intensely exhausted, having fought two battles, endured a long time in the cold and suffered all sorts of trials and tribulations. You must eat and rest before you can go any farther.--The DM (talk) 10:45, 10 September 2020 (MDT)

Once upon a time I bought a bunch of food before Lothar took over quartermaster. I don't know what or where the food is now, and I don't have any on me for that reason. The unusual circumstances of our reunion have left me without any idea how we got here, what we came with, or what our plans were. --Pandred (talk) 10:31, 10 September 2020 (MDT)
You will need to mooch.--The DM (talk) 10:45, 10 September 2020 (MDT)
I have a few meager supplies left - 2 rest rations (2 lb ea) and 1 travel ration (4 lb). –Vafrandir 12:57, 10 September 2020 (MDT)
As this is a day of battle, each person will need to eat 3 pounds of food. Those who do not or cannot will need to make a malady check when you begin moving again. [malady checks are still on the old wiki]--The DM (talk) 13:30, 10 September 2020 (MDT)

Where exactly were our supplies located? I recall we had a couple of porters in circulation tasked with stocking a field depot for our explorations down here.--Engelhart (talk) 10:18, 10 September 2020 (MDT)

The field depot is about 2 miles up the tunnel. I'm afraid I don't have numbers on how much is there. Do you?--The DM (talk) 10:45, 10 September 2020 (MDT)

I'm seeing Embla as carrying 20lbs of food. With Vafrandir's 8 that enough for the four of us with some to spare. Obviously Embla should confirm she wants to share, but I think we're in the clear here. I'll be the one to eat the malady check if the quartermasters here want to keep their stores. --Pandred (talk) 13:39, 10 September 2020 (MDT)

Of course. The food is for everyone. --Embla (talk) 14:14, 10 September 2020 (MDT)
Are you counting Rob, Lothar and Mikael? Are they with us? –Vafrandir 16:52, 10 September 2020 (MDT)

Good. Do you have blankets?--The DM (talk) 13:45, 10 September 2020 (MDT)

Does a 16lb Fur Coat do anything for me there? --Pandred (talk) 14:12, 10 September 2020 (MDT)
I don't have a coat or anything beyond my armor, unfortunately. We probably should have asked to rest the night in the village before returning to the surface. Crud. --Embla (talk) 14:14, 10 September 2020 (MDT)
I only want to know because you'll need a comfortable surface if you want to rest at all. No rest, no regained spells, no healing (though you're probably not going to hang around long enough to do the latter anyway.--The DM (talk) 14:24, 10 September 2020 (MDT)

You catch some sleep and wake up sore and stiff. It will take you a little time to feel sorted out as you walk towards the depot.--The DM (talk) 14:41, 10 September 2020 (MDT)

I press onward.--Embla (talk) 14:29, 10 September 2020 (MDT)

It is one of those tasks, where you keep at it though after a time, it seems to be neverending. It is bend after bend, a much longer distance this day than it seemed to have been in your memory, when first you came this way. You run across some of the features, cracks in the floor, large rooms, the ledge next to the crevice ... but though it feels like you've gotten past them, and that the next corner ought to at last be a reprieve, it ends up being just another turn, just another short climb to yet another long passage.--The DM (talk) 14:41, 10 September 2020 (MDT)

[trying to set a mood; rather than jump you ahead in time, conveying the process of describing this as I would if you were sitting at a table with me. If you see a passage like this, and you have no character action to give, just write "Aye" with your stamp, and I'll know I can add the next piece; otherwise, I'm writing four paragraphs with the effort to mark the passage of time, just to have the players read it at one sitting.]--The DM (talk) 15:30, 10 September 2020 (MDT)
Understood. One of the difficulties of running a game through text, I guess –Vafrandir 15:46, 10 September 2020 (MDT)

You hear a hail up ahead. The shouts of two people, one that sounds like a woman and the other that sounds vaguely familiar, but like that of a boy.--The DM (talk) 15:31, 10 September 2020 (MDT)

"Hullo?" --Embla (talk) 15:58, 10 September 2020 (MDT)
You get a return hail. "IS... THAT... EMBLA...?"--The DM (talk) 16:18, 10 September 2020 (MDT)
"Yes! Willa? Odds?" --Embla (talk) 17:33, 10 September 2020 (MDT)

September 11

Their voices are getting louder as you continue to walk forward. "Yes! Yes!" you hear. "Are you ALONE?" --The DM (talk) 10:02, 11 September 2020 (MDT)

I stop. Can I make out any more details about the two? --Embla (talk) 13:01, 11 September 2020 (MDT)
I immediately bristle upon hearing this and motion for Embla to answer "yes". I get the maul out.--Engelhart (talk) 14:51, 11 September 2020 (MDT)
I'll head forward. These are either my friends or they aren't. I'm not afraid of either. --Pandred (talk) 15:51, 11 September 2020 (MDT)

Sorry about losing the day. You hear the woman's voice again, shouting. It does sound like Willa. "EMBLA?" --The DM (talk) 18:57, 11 September 2020 (MDT)

"We've returned! And I can't wait for a good night's rest!" --Embla (talk) 17:08, 13 September 2020 (MDT)

September 14

This begins a back and forth that should relax Engelhart's worries. You do reach the depot, where you find Willa and Oddsdrakken. Sorry Pandred, but as far as you knew, Oddsdrakken had gone back to Stavanger, but he hung around on his own. So here he is now. --The DM (talk) 10:20, 14 September 2020 (MDT)

What do you want to do with all the stuff that is here?--The DM (talk) 10:27, 14 September 2020 (MDT)
"Odds! Could have used you back there. Now hold this, will ya?" I'm redistributing my gear and...guys what IS here? --Pandred (talk) 11:38, 14 September 2020 (MDT)
Oddsdrakken is unable to keep a slight smile from his lips, but he asks graciously, "10 c.p. more a month?"--The DM (talk) 11:44, 14 September 2020 (MDT)

Let's start packing it up. We've no further need of this base camp, I don't think. --Embla (talk) 13:13, 14 September 2020 (MDT)

You have listed what's here?--The DM (talk) 13:31, 14 September 2020 (MDT)
I... have no proper idea of what is to be found here. I've an inkling that it was more than just rations, including torches and maybe rope, though the quantities are quite beyond me.--Engelhart (talk) 15:34, 14 September 2020 (MDT)
In any event, none of it came from our coin, being tabbed by some authority up above (again, memory does not serve beyond this) that we dealt with when we brokered our access to the lower levels of the Mimmarudla complex.--Engelhart (talk) 15:36, 14 September 2020 (MDT)
Then we can rule there's 120 lbs. of food here, 100 ft. of rope, 6 blankets, grapple, two short axes, two pottle-jugs of water, two lanterns, 5 large sacks, 5 small sacks, a tinder box with steel, 12 torches, 12 iron spikes and 16 tallow candles.--The DM (talk) 15:41, 14 September 2020 (MDT)
More than enough that we'll have trouble moving it all back to the surface without expending some effort. Let us take what we need from the pile and erect a makeshift camp, we need food and proper sleep.--Engelhart (talk) 15:56, 14 September 2020 (MDT)
That sounds good to me! Much needed. –Vafrandir 15:58, 14 September 2020 (MDT)
Agreed. Let's rest here, then break camp and haul stuff to the surface tomorrow. --Embla (talk) 16:01, 14 September 2020 (MDT)

That's a consensus. The player who was supposed to join has been held up until later in the week. Tomorrow is my birthday; the mountain hike has fallen through, so I'm going to spend the day at home (like every other day); I may check in, I don't know. I'll see you for sure on Wednesday; I'll be here 10am my time. --The DM (talk) 16:02, 14 September 2020 (MDT)

Have a good birthday, Alexis! --Embla (talk) 20:19, 14 September 2020 (MDT)
Happy birthday! –Vafrandir 08:11, 15 September 2020 (MDT)
I somehow missed this: happy birthday, Alexis! --Engelhart (talk) 11:38, 16 September 2020 (MDT)

September 16

I'm introducing Marcule, gnome Illusionist/Assassin to the game.--The DM (talk) 09:51, 16 September 2020 (MDT)

Hello. --Marcule (talk) 10:02, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
"The Svirfs didn't say they were sending a man over. Kind of them to think of us. Hold this, will ya?" We're moving the camp to the surface, right? What does the layout look like from hither to thither? Are there a lot of unexplored branches, or is it more of a straight-shot tunnel? Right now this underground place might as well be floating in space for all I understand about where we are. --Pandred (talk) 10:36, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
The dungeon is literally cleaned out end to end; so you may assume that you can shift the stuff here to the surface, perhaps in stages if you can't haul it all at once.--The DM (talk) 10:41, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
Regarding Marcule's entrance, he won't have come from the Svirf's below; he will have met Oddsdrakken (Marcule, that's the party's pet halfling servant) and will have been invited along to help.--The DM (talk) 10:44, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
"Hello, Marcule! Nice to have willing hands for the work." –Vafrandir 10:45, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
"Hello and a pleasure, Happy to provide hands, but at my small stature” (stretching my fingers as far as they will go to express my small hand span) “I will not change much”--Marcule (talk) 11:11, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
"Well met, Marcule! Much like Holy relics, great things are often laid on small frames. Whether you're looking for coin or seeking to push back the pressing darkness you are surely welcome to join us."--Engelhart (talk) 11:45, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
"Welcome, Marcule! Another pair of hands is always helpful." --Embla (talk) 13:21, 16 September 2020 (MDT)

You can rest first, but you did wake up just a few hours ago so you can't sleep much. Your 3 lb. of food eaten was technically yesterday, so I will need you to eat another 2 lbs. today.--The DM (talk) 10:42, 16 September 2020 (MDT)

How shall we divide up the stockpile for tomorrow's journey? There are now 10 of us, correct? I would also like to double-check the food stocks to see how much we have left. –Vafrandir 10:45, 16 September 2020 (MDT)

Don't count Rob, Lothar or Mikael. Assume they've got their own food and that they've started out ahead of you. If any of them rejoins the campaign, I'll handwave them back into a logical return.--The DM (talk) 10:55, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
We eat 14 pounds of food if there are 7 of us. Odds and I can maintain 2AP, which seems reasonable enough, if we carry 60 pounds between the two of us. That leaves 46 lbs of food after our 60 is hauled up. How about the rest of you strapping lads and lasses? --Pandred (talk) 11:44, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
My loadout needs to be updated and I'm away from the laptop. As a very conservative estimate, assume I can take at least 20 pounds and keep the pace at 2 AP.--Engelhart (talk) 11:51, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
Understood. I ate 3 lb of my own food, gave another 3 away (someone please claim it), and so it looks like I can handle about 40 lb for 2 AP remaining. Slow but doable. How much does the rest weigh? –Vafrandir 12:27, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
I can handle another 100lbs and be at 2AP, so I'll take the remaining 46lbs food, the two hand axes, 50ft rope, all 6 blankets, 10 of the candles, the two lanterns, and 1 of the small sacks to organize the food. I do love being big and stronk. --Embla (talk) 13:21, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
I will take a large sack (not sure its own weight) with the spikes, remaining candles, remaining rope, tinderbox, and grapple. I have a few pounds to spare but that leaves 42.08 for Engelhart and Marcule to split. –Vafrandir 13:33, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
Very good. May I assume I gave Lothar back his sword? –Vafrandir 12:27, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
Yes please.--The DM (talk) 12:52, 16 September 2020 (MDT)

I can take another 80lbs or so to be at 2AP

Given that the dungeon is empty (stripped to the screws by my understanding) I imagine we will have little trouble pulling things out. --Marcule (talk) 12:07, 16 September 2020 (MDT)

(I need a couple of hours to get my spells back, don't know if you're willing to wait)--Engelhart (talk) 11:48, 16 September 2020 (MDT)

Up to the party, but I doubt anyone is in a hurry.--The DM (talk) 11:58, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
I would be willing to wait. –Vafrandir 12:27, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
I'm happy to wait as well. --Embla (talk) 13:21, 16 September 2020 (MDT)

Marcule, you get full proficiencies for being an assassin, but as an illusionist you can't wear any armour. You may have 13 hit points, but you're still a pin-cushion. --The DM (talk) 12:31, 16 September 2020 (MDT)

I prefer conductive meat sponge--Marcule (talk) 12:43, 16 September 2020 (MDT)

I've sent a copy of the Stavanger Market for you to check the weights on the other equipment. If you don't want to check the weights yourself, you can just leave it here, that's no problem. Let me know if there's something here for which you don't have a weight on the table.--The DM (talk) 12:58, 16 September 2020 (MDT)

Just a couple of questions: hooded or bullseye lanterns, and I am not sure the difference between a large and small sack on the table. –Vafrandir 13:25, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
small sack, hemp, 1.48 lb. each, triple-knit for strength. Please scotch the large sacks and call them small; I don't have numbers for them either, apparently.--The DM (talk) 13:38, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
There seems to be some trouble with all the weight numbers associated with cloth goods. I must have been sleeping, and somehow it has skipped my attention for years now. I'll need to upgrade the numbers and send you a new list for tomorrow.--The DM (talk) 13:38, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
I cannot imagine how, with a list of over 1600 items, any could have escaped notice ;) –Vafrandir 13:40, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
I know! --The DM (talk) 13:41, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
bullseye lantern: 38.4 oz.; hooded lantern: 25.6 oz.--The DM (talk) 13:43, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
Which ones are in our pile? –Vafrandir 13:45, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
I do not understand that question: they are all belonging to the party. --The DM (talk) 14:15, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
You mentioned there are two lanterns in our pile, but you did not indicate which type of lanterns are in our pile. I think that's the clarification Vafrandir (and I) are looking for. --Embla (talk) 14:21, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
Ah. Didn't specify. Got it. They're hooded.--The DM (talk) 14:27, 16 September 2020 (MDT)

Moving On

Are we loaded?--The DM (talk) 14:34, 16 September 2020 (MDT)

I'm ready. 2AP at present. --Embla (talk) 14:36, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
Since no one has called out what they're carrying, I'm a little worried some of you are carrying the same things as other people. Are we safe on that account?--The DM (talk) 14:41, 16 September 2020 (MDT)
Vaf and I don't overlap. --Embla (talk) 15:46, 16 September 2020 (MDT)

There is some discussion above of who has what. But for clarity, I have: 1 large sack containing 10 spikes, 1 large sack containing 2 candles, the grapple, the tinderbox, and 50 ft of rope. Embla has 46lbs food, the two hand axes, 50ft rope, all 6 blankets, 10 of the candles, the two lanterns, and 1 of the small sacks to organize the food. Pandred and Oddsdrakken have claimed 60 lb of food. There are 2 large sacks, 4 small sacks, 2 pottle jugs, and 12 torches left to claim. –Vafrandir 15:49, 16 September 2020 (MDT)