Escape! (Turn 118)

[thinkslogically]

Introduction

Having inadvertently grossly offended the lord of a nearby settlement while participating in a diplomatic mission, you have been unceremoniously thrown into to the city labyrinth to face ÔÇÿtrialÔÇÖ according to some rather bizarre local customs. It turns out that this particular city was built above a sprawling expanse of natural tunnels and caverns, which were slowly added to over hundreds of years by some long-dead civilisation. There are no guards, no cells and no chains, but the dungeon is unfortunately populated by various hideous monstrosities and traps which are conveniently used to ÔÇÿjudgeÔÇÖ the prisoners. There is however, a single exit somewhere. The belief held within the city is that only the innocent may pass through the maze ÔÇô any deaths or maimings simply prove the prisonerÔÇÖs guilt. Not that anyone ever goes into the dungeons to check up on them of courseÔǪ



As you begin to come around, you become aware of a painfully large number of bruises covering your body and an extremely tender lump on your skull. It is completely dark, and you are having difficulty remembering who you are...

[Provide a Name, Sex, Race & Colour please]

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How the Game Works
This is a game more or less in the style of the MSPAcomic, where one main character is controlled by the masses. Each turn you may suggest an action for the hero to take and I will use as many of them as I can. If there is ever a conflict (i.e. which direction to travel in), the majority vote wins. In the case of a tie, I'll take the suggestion that was offered first.

You can make any suggestions you want, but I won't allow the hero to be suicided through stupidity (except by unanimous vote).

There are some simple mechanics in play throughout the game, but you won't need to worry about keeping track of dozens of stats. The game is intended to be more story-driven than stats-driven so use that however you like.

Finally, this doesn't follow D&D mechanics / character traits / abilities - it won't be a billion miles away, but it's all completely made up by me so don't rely on other game systems to get you through this one

[thinkslogically]

Much like everything else, the updates for this game were lost in the Great Forum Apocalypse, 2013. Fortunately, I'd saved a backup of every game turn up to Turn 100 so we still had that. Unfortunately, turns 101-110 (ish) were lost, so I've had to summarise those. There is more than enough saved to continue though, so we'll just pick up now where we left off.

All the updates are online via Scribd (see below), so new / lapsed / continuing players can catch up on what's going on. It's a big document, so if you already have a decent idea of the story so far you'll probably want to just skip to the summary at the end

Escape! Turns 1 - 110

[thinkslogically]

Turns 101-110
Somewhat ironically, it would appear that general bad shit did indeed happen about a week after I updated the turn-by-turn notes and we lost the entire GoblinsComic forum and all of its backups in some kind of bizarre digital comic apocalypse.Fortunately, I had all the artwork saved for the last 10 turns so I know where we got to.
Unfortunately, all the player actions were lost so IÔÇÖve had to summarise what everyoneÔÇÖs beenup to. So, without further ado, hereÔÇÖs what went down:

Shuuk



Shuuk and Balt climbed back up the stairs from the river of lava, back through the skeleton monsterÔÇÖs lair and back up to the side of the dungeon where you started this whole adventure.



Trying to head back to the underground city where Nyk and everyone else is, you discover that a rather inconveniently-placed magic portal has appeared in the sand-trap room cutting off your access to the city with a large green troll thing and a seemingly endless procession of monsters coming out of the portal...



Shuuk briefly contemplates whether he could create some sort of Swiss disguise, but decides that it would probably be too difficult to find clean, white socks down here and gives up.Instead, he takes the brooch off and puts it back on again and turns himself purple! With his demon-red eyes he now looks positively evil!

Shuuk then passes the demon brand to Balt with instructions to get it to Nyk once the troll is safely dealt with.



So, Balt chats to the troll-guard who it turns out is on alert for demons, and manages to successfully distract him by ÔÇÿtaggingÔÇÖ him and making him believe that he (the troll) is now a demon, and not Balt.



ÔÇ£Oh noes! I canÔÇÖt be uh demon! TheyÔÇÖll do terrible bad stuffs to me if they catches me! You count ALL THE WAY TO TEN OK?ÔÇØ



Balt counts to ten ("one, 9, onion, carpet, 682...") while the troll ÔÇÿhidesÔÇÖ...

Once the troll is safely out the way, Balt heads off to find Nyk leaving the portal unguarded.



Shuuk takes advantage of the loss of the guard and throws himself through the portal...



...only to land at the feet of a tiny beurocratic gnome and two large golems (one made of clay,the other of what appears to be body parts... ew.). The golems pick him up while the gnome demands to know why he is back 13% early when he should by rights either be dead or stillrampaging through the human refugee camp.

Nyk



Meanwhile, Nyk has been trying to sneak through the city, but hasnÔÇÖt managed to get very far through the rampaging crowds... He did trip one monster off the bridge by accident, but frankly heÔÇÖs just lucky heÔÇÖs not been trampled to death.



Eventually, after a couple of close calls, he took refuge inside an abandoned house where he found a little crying girl who, thanks to a lucky guess by one of the players, turned out to be a parasitic slug wearing the skin of a human child to lure Nyk in for another easy meal.



HeÔÇÖs been trying to ambush Nyk for the last three turns, but slugs are not traditionally fast creatures, and itÔÇÖs not too hard to stay out of reach.



... At least until Balt shows up...

Jorgen & the Redshirts



Remember that pit with the grue in it? Well, Jorgen and the redshirts armed themselves with the (glowing) Shield of Firewall (and a couple of swords and suits of leather armour they found in the city barracks) and descended safely down the ladder leaving all the squarks and one redshirt up at the top of the ladder and out the way.



At the bottom they find a door, guarded by a rather strange man in rags who has no idea what Jorgen is talking about when he declares himself to be a bard in search of new material for a spectacular new song.



Bored, two of the redshirts begin to play dice on the floor, which gets the guardÔÇÖs attention and he immediately calls for an escort to bring the outsiders and their gift of ÔÇÿtumblstonsÔÇÖ to their leader.



Jorgen and the redshirts are taken through a long and winding series of tunnels and eventually arrive in a large cavern where a huge shadowy shape sits on a throne on top of the biggest junk pile youÔÇÖve ever seen.The doorman offers the ÔÇÿtumblestonsÔÇÖ over to the giant figure which accepts them and tossesthem casually onto the pile of junk before demanding Jorgen and his crew hand over everything they own.



Jorgen attempts to bluff his way out by pretending they are wealthy merchants from the surface world and that establishing trade would be more beneficial than simple robbery. The doorman is suspicious of the change in their story (he said he was a bard before), but the strange people seem more stunned at the idea of a surface world than the stories... The escort guards step back from the redshirts warily.

ÔÇ£Surfas? But thur is only thÔÇÖUnderdark. Evreewhur is th'Underdark... ThÔÇÖwun hoo rools us sez thur is nowhur els but heer fur us...ÔÇØ

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► Show Spoiler

Ok, since no-one's posted anything here yet I've put the summary of the last 10 turns into the thread for ease-of-finding. Next update will be whenever you guys post actions.

[WearsHats]

Shuuk: "It's madness out there. Madness, I tell you. Do you even know where these portals are going? Mine spit me out in the completely wrong place! I was lucky to find this one back. Show me the portal map, will you?"

bALT: Crush slug, deliver token.

Jorgen: "Of course there's a surface world. Look at my pale skin. Look how tan my companion is. We're the same species, but he's been in the sun more recently. And, while I am a traveling bard, I'm also a representative of the city above. By the way, have you ever heard the name Merilla?"

[GathersIngredients]

► Show Spoiler

I just wanted to say, I'm happy that this game is back, and I'm eager to find out how it will progress. I'm all out of nifty ideas, though. I blame the flu!

[Arch Lich Burns]

Play the bungaloo! No i have no idea what that is, it just sounded nifty.

[thinkslogically]

Turn 111

> Shuuk: Pretend to be a henchman.

"It's madness out there. Madness, I tell you. Do you even know where these portals are going? Mine spit me out in the completely wrong place! I was lucky to find this one back. Show me the portal map, will you?"
"What are you talking about? Of COURSE we know where these portals go! There's only a 0.385% chance of navigational error with this version and we've not heard anyone else complaining! Now get back out there and die for your mistress!"



The clay golem picks Shuuk up and unceremoniously tosses him back out the portal. Guess you're going to have to do better than that!

> bALT: Crush slug, deliver token.

Balt mercilessly stomps the slug-thing out of existence leaving a gooey pile of slime on the floor and offers the demon brand to Nyk.

"hERE, i wAS tOLD tO bRING yOU tHIS."
"Ew!!! No! No WAY am I touching that horrible thing. The evilness makes it all stinky and nasty and I don't want it. YOU hold it."
"<sIGH>"

> Jorgen: Explain the concept of 'surface'.

"Of course there's a surface world. Look at my pale skin. Look how tan my companion is. We're the same species, but he's been in the sun more recently. And, while I am a traveling bard, I'm also a representative of the city above. By the way, have you ever heard the name Merilla?"
Sun? ... I dun t'undrstand... Th'wun hoo rools us sez th'surfas wos destroyd yeers ugo... Sez thats why we huv to stay heer in th'underdark whur shee cann protect us...

A screech from the throne cuts him off:

"LIES! It's all lies! The surface world WAS destroyed years ago! These creatures are nothing but spirits and demons sent to destroy you too! Guards! Kill them!"

Most of the Underdark guards seem relieved to have simple instructions again and draw their weapons, but the doorman and a couple of the others look uncertain about what they should do. More Underdark guards start to appear from unseen tunnels and will soon surround Jorgen and the redshirts. It's obvious that the Underdark fighters are poorly equipped with only simple cloth uniforms and crude makeshift weapons but there are a lot more of them than there are of you... Whatever you're going to do you'd better do it quickly!

---------------------------
SHUUK
INVENTORY: Demon broker's business card, torn oversized white robes, Makeshift bone hammer, non-magnifying spyglass, maybe-not-so-crappy treasure box (empty), bag from shrine (containing: book, scrap of paper with numbers, letter, talisman, pouch of silver powder), Runed Battleaxe, Barman's Best Friend, Red Orb of Spying, gold tooth shaving, tiny lump of sulphur.
WEARING: Light armour, deerskin trousers, leather boots, tunic, leather belt, mysterious brooch, greaves.
ABILITIES: Summon demon

bALTHAZAAR
INVENTORY: Giant, glowing magical sword; Wand Of Firestorm (5 Charges, fire-based area attack), demon brand.
WEARING: Giant chainmail shirt

NYK
INVENTORY: 1 Slime-covered (probably poisonous) dagger, Lucky pebble, bag of dried berries, ALL the squark keys.
WEARING: Prisoners rags, Helmet of Plus-A-Jillion (bucket), Ninja mask, silver whistle + key, Really Boring Cloak.
ABILITIES: Sneak, Unarmed Attack, Detect Evil, Protection from Evil (passive).

JORGEN
INVENTORY: Pair of dice, ukulele, crossbow & bolts, firewall shield, longsword.
WEARING: City Watch uniform (leather trousers & boots, scale armour shirt, red tabard).
ABILITIES: Bard Songs

Redshirts x6
INVENTORY: 3x Simple swords, 3x Leather Armour.

[Davecom3]

"Can we agree that the surface means the outermost layer? Well, do you know onions? You do have onions, right? Well, if the surface got destoyed as claimed, then, in this analogy, you'd peel the top layer of the onion off. But as you could see, there remains an outer layer, a surface if you will, so we'd better peel the onion until there is no outer layer. But if we do that, we discover there is no onion. See? The surface must exist."

[GathersIngredients]

Jorgen & gang: break out into song & dance so intoxicating that all the underworldlings can't help but sing& dance along. Friendship is magic, fighting is NOT cool! Also, make them see that the voice from the dark is probably not having their best interest in mind (...and very likely came from the surface as well, a long time ago).

bALT: Convince Nyk that only he and his fabulous ninja sneaking skills can put the demon seal onto Merilla and therefore he should take it with him, in case he comes across the orgress (or whatever she is). Also, wipe/lick the slug off his feet.

Nyk: take the token and try to find a way to Merilla.

Shuuk: "moon" the bureaucratic little bugger through the portal and hope he comes after you. trip him up good, render him unconscious and hop back through the portal, hoping that the golem will remain innate, now that his order giver is gone.

Squarks: preen themselves, scratch behind each other ears (or counterparts), whistle a tune

[Arch Lich Burns]

shuuk go back throug the portal, kick gnome through portal. follow him out of portal.

[thinkslogically]

any more suggestions or are we good with these?

[WearsHats]

I got nothing. Then again, my plans don't have the greatest track record anyway.

[thinkslogically]

That's not true wears, I always enjoy your plans, you've just been unlucky with a couple of dice rolls mostly

[thinkslogically]

Turn 112

> Shuuk: "moon" the bureaucratic little bugger through the portal and hope he comes after you. trip him up good, render him unconscious and hop back through the portal, hoping that the golem will remain innate, now that his order giver is gone.

"I am getting really fed up of being thrown around... All right gnome guy, you asked for it."

Shuuk drops his trousers and bares his hairy purple ass at the portal, but since you can't see through to the gnome, he probably can't see you. The other henchmen in the sand-trap room can though.

"Oh gods! My eyes! My eyes!"
"For the love of EVERYTHING man, put it away!!"

When you hear someone start sobbing, you decide to pull your trousers back on.

> shuuk go back throug the portal, kick gnome through portal. follow him out of portal.

Hoping that the golems are of the slow-and-stupid variety, Shuuk marches through the portal, grabs the gnome guy and throws him out into the sand room. Heh. Stupid golems!

"AAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! What the- STOP THIS! This is explicitly against regulations #840, #135a-e and #487/2 and THAT'S just for inappropriate and or excessive use of a Multi-Locational Transference Aperture! What is your Employee number? I am recommending disciplinary action be taken against you!"

> bALT: Convince Nyk. Also, wipe/lick the slug off his feet.
> Nyk: Take the token and try to find a way to Merilla.

Balt sucks the slug goo off his toes and belches loudly.

lOOK kID, yOU nEED tO tAKE tHIS bECAUSE yOU'RE tHE oNLY oNE wHO cAN sNEAK aLL tHE wAY uP tO mERILLA aND pUT tHIS tOKEN oN hER. iF yOU dON'T dO iT, tHE wORLD wILL eND aND. dO YOU rEALLY wANT tHAT?
".... No. But it's EVIL!! It makes me feel all squirmy and yucky. Why can't you just hold it for me until I need to be a ninja again?"
wOULD yOU tAKE iT iF i wRAPPED iT uP iN sOMETHING?
"No... Yes! When it was in my treasure box it wasn't so nasty! Put it back in that and I'll carry it! And I get my treasure box back!"



Nyk then sticks his head out the doorway again, but it's still chaos out there. He's going to need help if he's going to get anywhere safely, but that should be easier now that Balt is here! Now the only thing to decide is where he should go.



Waaaaaaaay underground, Jorgen attempts to talk his way out of the situation...

"Can we agree that the surface means the outermost layer? Well, do you know onions? You do have onions, right? Well, if the surface got destoyed as claimed, then, in this analogy, you'd peel the top layer of the onion off. But as you could see, there remains an outer layer, a surface if you will, so we'd better peel the onion until there is no outer layer. But if we do that, we discover there is no onion. See? The surface must exist."

"I... um... I supos that cood be troo... But... wats an unyun? And even if thayr a surfas sumwhayr, it dun't meen we cood liv thayr."

"It's all LIES!!! KILL THEM!!!! GUARDS!!!"

> break out into song & dance so intoxicating that all the underworldlings can't help but sing& dance along.

Time for Plan B.

To the horror of the other redshirts, Jorgen pulls out his ukulele and starts to sing a rousing piece about friendship and harmony. Everyone stares at him, but it's mostly out of utter bemusement. You suspect you may have lost them somewhere around the 4th minute of your extended ukulele solo, but it could be that they just don't appreciate great music. Heathens. More guards continue to stream into the chamber. All in all, there aren't so many, but if they want to escape, they're definitely going to have to fight their way out now unless they can somehow convince the Underdarklings to stop...

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► Show Spoiler

God, the things you make me draw! Also, you guys rolled REALLY badly on those plans for Jorgen!

SHUUK
INVENTORY: Demon broker's business card, torn oversized white robes, Makeshift bone hammer, non-magnifying spyglass, maybe-not-so-crappy treasure box (empty), bag from shrine (containing: book, scrap of paper with numbers, letter, talisman, pouch of silver powder), Runed Battleaxe, Barman's Best Friend, Red Orb of Spying, gold tooth shaving, tiny lump of sulphur.
WEARING: Light armour, deerskin trousers, leather boots, tunic, leather belt, mysterious brooch, greaves.
ABILITIES: Summon demon

bALTHAZAAR
INVENTORY: Giant, glowing magical sword; Wand Of Firestorm (5 Charges, fire-based area attack), demon brand.
WEARING: Giant chainmail shirt

NYK
INVENTORY: 1 Slime-covered (probably poisonous) dagger, Lucky pebble, bag of dried berries, ALL the squark keys.
WEARING: Prisoners rags, Helmet of Plus-A-Jillion (bucket), Ninja mask, silver whistle + key, Really Boring Cloak.
ABILITIES: Sneak, Unarmed Attack, Detect Evil, Protection from Evil (passive).

JORGEN
INVENTORY: Pair of dice, ukulele, crossbow & bolts, firewall shield, longsword.
WEARING: City Watch uniform (leather trousers & boots, scale armour shirt, red tabard).
ABILITIES: Bard Songs

Redshirts x6
INVENTORY: 3x Simple swords, 3x Leather Armour.

[Arch Lich Burns]

How about you put the thing, in the bucket helment so that you don't have to directly touch it?

[WearsHats]

Shuuk: Grab the clipboard. Kick the gnome away from the portal. Put your clawed foot on him to hold him down. Start flipping through the clipboard to see if you can make out anything interesting/useful. " I told you I want to see the portal map. And you're going to give it to me, understand?"

bALT: Hold on to the brand for now. That box does weird things that we don't understand yet. See if you can escort Nyk towards that portal you were heading to before. Nyk should be able to go unnoticed if he sneaks in bALT's wake, the bad guys should believe bALT is on their side, and the good guys should have more to worry about (and not be particularly motivated to get in bALT's way).

Jorgen: "Look, it doesn't matter if I came from the surface or just a layer or two above here. Have you seen a creature like me before? I'm betting not. I'm an explorer, a bard, and an ambassador from a city you've never seen but which is within reach for trade. Marvels like you've never seen! You really don't want to kill me. Also, by the way, have you ever heard the name Merilla before?"

Jorgen, Plan B: Tell a long, boring story just interesting enough that they'll keep listening, accompanied by a soft, quiet, subtle lullaby. See if you can lull them all into a stupor, if not totally to sleep. Put some bardic magic into it.

Jorgen, Plan C: If all else fails, and ONLY if all else fails, have bALT pop in to check up on the party.

[GathersIngredients]

► Show Spoiler

God, the things you make me draw!

Actually, I planned Shuuk to stick his butt THROUGH the portal, so the gnome or whatever the guy with the clipboard is, could actually see him. Therefore >I< in your place would have drawn him with his behind already IN the portal, so nothing nasty to see.
BUT, I have to admit, your take on this is pure comedy gold. I almost dropped out of my chair, I was laughing so hard about his big round, hair buttocks, complete with some pimpels. I got weird looks from my cats.
And bALT burping and flapping his lips is pure win, too!
I just love the way you can draw a few lines and make the pictures work out SO well. In fact, I envy you quite a bit for that.

Actions: what Wears said. Additional:
Shuuk: take that guy's glasses and give him a wedgie. Just so he knows where he can stick his regulations.
bALT: port to Shuuk and get the box. port back to Nyk and give the box. We don't want our Ninja to be unhappy. Also, he was perfectly able to recognize the RIGHT seal out of the similes, so it's probably even SAFER to keep it in there.

[thinkslogically]

God, the things you make me draw!

► Show Spoiler

Actually, I planned Shuuk to stick his butt THROUGH the portal, so the gnome or whatever the guy with the clipboard is, could actually see him. Therefore >I< in your place would have drawn him with his behind already IN the portal, so nothing nasty to see.
BUT, I have to admit, your take on this is pure comedy gold. I almost dropped out of my chair, I was laughing so hard about his big round, hair buttocks, complete with some pimpels. I got weird looks from my cats.
And bALT burping and flapping his lips is pure win, too!
I just love the way you can draw a few lines and make the pictures work out SO well. In fact, I envy you quite a bit for that.

Thanks gathers I'm not sure anyone has ever been jealous of my drawing abilities before (nor am I convinced they should be!), but thank you nonetheless! It's a lot easier when you have something to copy though!

My muse:

► Show Spoiler

And for what it's worth, mooning through the portal wouldn't have worked - it would almost certainly be in breach of several regulations for him to leave his post like that. Also, it was funnier to make someone cry

[WearsHats]

That was pretty funny, and I'm not usually into that sort of humor.

Also, not only is she jealous of your drawing abilities (and they're a darned sight better than mine, too), she was jealous of your ability to draw a painfully ugly monstrous butt. Now that's something to be proud of!

[thinkslogically]

...Yeah I feel kind of dirty now I've drawn that thing...

[Theis2]

Using a touch screen.. Have you ever heard of untimely zooming? Neither had I before now! (which basically mean I touched it aswell? )

[GathersIngredients]

► Show Spoiler

I'm not exactly envious about her being able to draw a monster butt. I'm envious about her ability to make her pictures so expressive with so few lines/so little (visible) effort. (I wouldn't dare presume how much effort thinkslogically REALLY has to put into her pictures, but it sure LOOKS pretty effortless.) Plus, she manages to do it all the time.

Also, I get it, the humor was not to everybody's taste. I'm sorry. (It's not exactly MY kind of humor, either, but I figured it would fit Shuuk well.) Why don't you suggest something, then?

[thinkslogically]

Turn 113

> Shuuk: Grab the clipboard. Kick the gnome away from the portal
> take that guy's glasses and give him a wedgie. Just so he knows where he can stick his regulations.

You step on the squirming gnome to keep him from getting up while you leaf through the clipboard. Mostly it seems to be a lengthy personnel roster with details of all the regulations each person has violated in some way. Only one name is marked with a commendation, and you have a sneaking suspicion that it's the gnome's own name... Disgusted at the flagrant over-adherence to the rules of his job, you steal his glasses and give him a wedgie.

"Get your foot off me you! I will personally see to it that you are put on hard labour for this!"
"You mean sending me out to fight until I die ISN'T your idea of hard labour?"
"Of course not! It's an honour to die for her ladyship! Now let me go!!"

You grind his face a little deeper into the sand.

"I told you I want to see the portal map. And you're going to give it to me, understand?"
"No! OW! Stop it! I'll tell you everything! OW! I can't give you a map because there ISN'T ONE!! Her ladyship closed all the portals down before the attack on the city! The only ones that exist now are the ones she's using to let her army pass into your realm!"
"So you're telling me this is the only portal left?"
"<cough> YES! Well, except for the ones above the city itself, but since I don't see any wings on you I don't think you'll be getting anywhere near those ones."

bALT: port to Shuuk and get the box. port back to Nyk and give the box

<sigh> wAIT hERE...

With a pop, Balt teleports himself to Shuuk to collect the 'treasure box'.

"Hey... Who's there? Get this lout off me! HELP!"
aW... wHY dIDN'T yOU sAY yOU wERE gOING to bEAT uP tHE mINIONS? i love bEATING uP mINIONS! ... nEVER lET mE dO anything fUN...

Balt sulks and reappears back beside Nyk, who is at least now willing to take the treasure box with the brand in it.

escort Nyk towards that portal you were heading to before

aLL rIGHT kID, tIME tO gO. sTAY cLOSE aND fOLLOW mE!

Balt steps out of the doorway and starts heading back towards the portal where Shuuk is. Nyk follows close behind with his cloak wrapped tightly round him, but nobody's paying him any attention anyway. Not compared to the sudden appearance of a demon that is.

"Holy shit! A demon!"
"They can't be here, her ladyship has an agreement!"
"Send word to her ladyship! Quickly! Run! The demons have broken their word!"
"You know our orders! Stop him! He mustn't reach the gate!"

Within seconds, a horde of monstrous creatures have surrounded Balt with weapons raised and spells charging! This doesn't look good! One of the creatures turns and runs back towards the sand-trap room to raise the alarm.

> Jorgen: Keep talking!

"Look, it doesn't matter if I came from the surface or just a layer or two above here. Have you seen a creature like me before? I'm betting not. I'm an explorer, a bard, and an ambassador from a city you've never seen but which is within reach for trade. Marvels like you've never seen! You really don't want to kill me. Also, by the way, have you ever heard the name Merilla before?"
"KILL THEM ALL!"
"Mer- Merilla? Halze'hn SH'THUK!"

The doorkeepers voice cracks with power as the command surges around the room. The Underdark guards stop in their tracks and a silence falls on the room as all eyes turn towards the humans and the doorkeeper.

"You dare to defy ME? KILL THEM!!!!"
"Wee haf folo'd yoo for yeers in th'Dark becos yoo told us th'star-sky wos burnd by th'wich Merilla. Yoo told us th'onlee way to survayv wos to stay in th'Dark whayr we haf hiden for too generashuns. And now thees payl creechurs say thay haf seen th'sky and th'stars and they speek of Merilla. This is a mater for th'Underdark. If yoo spok trooth, thees creechurs cood not exist. So yes, ay dayr to defay yoo!"

He turns to Jorgen:

"Speek now and tel us whot yoo no. Kwiklee!"

Huh. Seems like there might be more to these folk than you thought...

---------------------------------------------

HUUK
INVENTORY: Demon broker's business card, torn oversized white robes, Makeshift bone hammer, non-magnifying spyglass, bag from shrine (containing: book, scrap of paper with numbers, letter, talisman, pouch of silver powder), Runed Battleaxe, Barman's Best Friend, Red Orb of Spying, gold tooth shaving, tiny lump of sulphur.
WEARING: Light armour, deerskin trousers, leather boots, tunic, leather belt, mysterious brooch, greaves.
ABILITIES: Summon demon

bALTHAZAAR
INVENTORY: Giant, glowing magical sword; Wand Of Firestorm (5 Charges, fire-based area attack).
WEARING: Giant chainmail shirt

NYK
INVENTORY: 1 Slime-covered (probably poisonous) dagger, Lucky pebble, bag of dried berries, ALL the squark keys, Box of Duplication (contains Demon Brand).
WEARING: Prisoners rags, Helmet of Plus-A-Jillion (bucket), Ninja mask, silver whistle + key, Really Boring Cloak.
ABILITIES: Sneak, Unarmed Attack, Detect Evil, Protection from Evil (passive).

JORGEN
INVENTORY: Pair of dice, ukulele, crossbow & bolts, firewall shield, longsword.
WEARING: City Watch uniform (leather trousers & boots, scale armour shirt, red tabard).
ABILITIES: Bard Songs

Redshirts x6
INVENTORY: 3x Simple swords, 3x Leather Armour.

[GathersIngredients]

bALT: "run" from the guy who want to get him in the most attention drawing way, in the OTHER direction that Nyk needs to be going. If they start to be any trouble, port back to Shuuk/safety.

Nyk: keep going towards the portal. SNEAKY.

Shuuk: ask the minion where exactly the other side of the portal is located and where the portals above the city are. (I don't assume that a Squawk can get us there safely?) Also, ask where Merilla is now, so you can turn yourself in for the various regulation violations you have done by now. (Not that I actually plan on DOING that, but he doesn't need to know that...) Also, tell him something about having some sort of obsessive disorder and being "Tourette"-ly violent to superiors on occasion. But most of the time towards humans, that's how you came to be assigned here.

Jorgen: Quick recap of story for far, especially about Merilla and what she does atm. to the city and all that. But that this is only a recent turn of events, and that the situation will hopefully soon be under control again. (No need to tell them Shuuk freed her accidentally!)

[WearsHats]

As above, except:

bALT: Lead them away and distract them. Since these are evil minions, you may, at your discretion, kick their butts. Feel free to use that giant sword you've been lugging around for the last 50 turns or so. But first, an them about this deal he's supposedly broken. That could be important to know. Something along the lines of "deal? What deal? No one told me about any deal." Perhaps add on something to the effect of "That's just great. Lock me up for a thousand years and then go making deals without me. No need to even give me the courtesy of telling me about a binding deal you made in my name while I was gone. Alright, are you people going to tell me about this deal, or are we going to skip straight to the part where I start eviscerating you? I have to tell you, it's been too long since I got to eviscerate anyone..."

Shuuk: No need to ask about the portals above the city. We saw them from the cliff. We don't want to go there, even if we could get to them. They're spewing lightning bolts. And Concorde wouldn't survive the trip so far from home.


Jorgen: Just tell them about the current situation. You weren't there when she got free, and it doesn't matter, anyway. She's loose now and wreaking havoc.