[IC] Chapter 1-4: Cellars of Hate

[Lugar]

Ooc -  I remember he did Not have a light source, but he is a wizard.  I think Maul is carrying a torch around?  Also, I don't understand what or why Maul is saying about Murkatos's home world?  Murkatos said he lived nearby and came here to search for things.  He also mentioned a sister I think?  Maybe her name is Sermour and she is an undead that he's trying to protect?.... The mystery is killing me!   

"Murkatos said he came through where the water giants were, remember?  For being a mage though, you'd think he would've come more prepared.  Where did you say you lost your spell book?"  Lugar brings up the book again to make a verbal jab at the unprepared wizard. (5Cha) Silent Giant may not be the sharpest tool in the mine but Lugar had to admit he had excellent instincts.  If Silent Giant's instincts were telling him Murkatos was hiding something then he was probably right.  There was something still nagging in the back of his head about Murkatos..... Lugar shot him with a potent dose of Drow sleep poison and yet it seemed to have no ill affect, not unheard of but very strange for someone who has spent most of their time reading books....

[DM Surranó]

... and crafting weapons next to a smelter -- is what pops into Lugar's mind as the end of his train of thoughts on how dwarves are able to resist drow poison.

OOC
- Maul can see in the dark. Not sure if his way of doing so was mentioned before so not disclosing here. Go find it
- Maul gave an everburning light mace to Merri which was then taken over by Murkatos. So no, it's not dark.
- Maul just tries his best to interpret the statements of Murkatos based on what he knows about the Chant of Ages (which is not much but still, probably more than what the PCs would ever know)
- Yes, Murkatos mentioned some rare pieces of arms and/or armor. Go look up for yourselves
- Yes, he mentioned his niece and even her name; go check it up
- I don't think Murkatos ever stated explicitly that this was not his world but implicitly he mentioned this and that which may be interpreted at least as teleportation if not planar travel.


Murkatos feels the tension and does not want to throw more twigs on the fire so replies patiently.
"Not lost but left. At home. And no, the water giants were not there. Just the moat. "

[Silent Giant]

Murkatos feels the tension and does not want to throw more twigs on the fire so replies patiently.
"Not lost but left. At home. And no, the water giants were not there. Just the moat. "

"Left? Hm. At home? Hm."

[Lugar]

Ooc
- Maul is wearing goggles to see in the dark
- Murkatos is carrying two weapons, a light mace and a greatsword
- Renne is his niece that runs an inn (maybe the one Toot saw with kids running around?)
- Murkatos mentioned an artifact that uses a Paladin's Divine Grace to enchant, a weapon that can fell dragons with a single blow, and an item that numbs the most dexterous of animals, and a machine made of pure adamantine propelled by arcane power
- We've questioned Murkatos several times about everything. He came in through the tunnel, there were no skrag or water trolls, he was assaulted by ghosts and hid in the attic fending them off with his wand until we came, and he left his book at home so he wouldn't lose it.
- I'm assuming no one had enough ranks in Knowledge Nature to identify the trolls, even untrained, DC is 10+HD of creature.

[DM Surranó]

OOC - exactly! this is why Murkatos was startled by Lugar identifying them all of a sudden. As a DM I consider it either metagaming or an involuntary spill on what the player (and not the character) thinks he's recognised. I won't officially confirm that they are water trolls, though

[Silent Giant]

Uh, I got it, okay, Lugar mentioned water trolls IC in #581. I have omited this before and Giant too. So Giant doesn't understand what Murkatos is talking about.

DM, but I miss your answer too. Was Murkatos in darkness when we found him?

[Lugar]

Actually, Lugar saw them pretty well to describe in as much detail as possible in those poor conditions, but he could not recognise what they were. They were tall and lean, greenish gray with large claws. His best guess is that they were some lesser giants of the savant variety, though he hasn't ever heard of water dwelling giants. Unfortunately, none of the party members have any deeper knowledge of giants and their kin.

[ooc - it would be knowledge (nature) and while I allow untrained checks up to DC10 it's insufficient to recognise these creatures.]

Ooc - Lugar is making an educated guess that they are a variety of giant because of his racial familiarity with giants. I will edit. I made a slip up calling them trolls, it's been a wile IRL since we saw them, but the picture really does look like my mother-in-law!

[DM Surranó]

Uh, I got it, okay, Lugar mentioned water trolls IC in #581. I have omited this before and Giant too. So Giant doesn't understand what Murkatos is talking about.

DM, but I miss your answer too. Was Murkatos in darkness when we found him?

Sorry but I can't get it. In #581 it's Maul and Murkatos, neither of them mentioning trolls.
Yes, Murkatos sat there in almost complete darkness, except the ambient light emitted by Merri's light mace that filtered up from the library.

Ooc - Lugar is making an educated guess that they are a variety of giant because of his racial familiarity with giants. I will edit. I made a slip up calling them trolls, it's been a wile IRL since we saw them, but the picture really does look like my mother-in-law!

Okay you tricked me with the edit and I had to edit as well and Giant has to edit his #587 as well. Let's not make this thing a "best practice" okay?

[Silent Giant]

It seems the corporeal ghost has left this level. Let's go back downstairs or we should visit water giants if we can't open the next door. - he grabs his axe.

Hey Maul pal, do you have that underwater breathing stuff today? It was not bad to explore the surrounding area and breathe a fresh air. Or are you sure the key is here down? What does that key look like? - He asks Maul.

Hey Murkatos, what is beyond the moat? You must know it.

[DM Surranó]

"I do," Maul confirms briefly. "And I have as much of an idea about the key as you. Anything that has something to do with hate. Same goes for the sea."

"The moat once separated the castle from the surrounding are; now just a swampy region. Beyond that is the road to Hommlet, my place, two hours or so to the southwest."