Less a door than a wheel: a great stone disc rolled into place at the mouth of the cave. By what hands you don't know, but you can guess they were large.

Kord knows how long it's been here. Ivy has all but sealed it to the mountainside. There appears to be some kind of inscription all over the disc's face, but moss and years of wind and rain obscure it.

Still! You don't know of any other caves in the area. If this door has held, whatever it protects is still inside. You're three days deep in the woods, and even though you had the map and the crone's story, you still only found this gully by accident. No one else can spoil this opportunity. It's just you and the rest of the party.

The tomb of the mad wizard Hashemka awaits...and more importantly, so does Hashemka's treasure. Are you really going to let a little thing like a giant stone wheel stand between you and such riches—between you and such glory?

Tell me about your character. Who are you, and what has brought you here? I'll choose three or four or five of you, and you can tell me what you do next.

5/12/2010 9:20:11 AM

You are above this.

5/12/2010 9:27:53 AM

crystal meth is hellavu drug!

5/12/2010 9:35:27 AM

What are you so afraid of?

5/12/2010 9:36:08 AM

I've got a Dungeon Master's Guide


I've got 12 sided die

5/12/2010 12:01:57 PM

My character's name is Indiana Jones.

5/12/2010 12:07:53 PM

in another life, i was a dinosaur on a children's television show

that life is gone now

5/12/2010 12:14:26 PM

Is no one equal to the challenge? Does no one crave adventure?!

5/12/2010 12:43:04 PM

I blind the cyclops and hide underneath his sheep when he opens the door

5/12/2010 1:17:12 PM

I am the great Elf Druid, Toby. I seek the means to capture the heart of my beloved, the dwarf princess Brungelda.

5/12/2010 1:46:54 PM

All right, Toby: Hashemka's hoard is almost within your grasp. Though material riches are of little interest to members of the druidic order such as yourself, your beloved Brungelda's father will never give her away to a poor elf.

Your share of Hashemka's riches should change that. The wizard's wealth ought to be enough to satisfy even the dwarves' legendary lust for gold.

Still, there is the matter of the stone wheel. How will you gain entrance? More to the point, are you sure you want to? Doubt crosses your mind for a moment. Peril surely awaits beyond the threshold.

But Brungelda! Your mind turns to thoughts of your sweetheart: her glittering eyes, the soft crush of her bosom, the flaxen hue of her beard...! You must make the attempt.

So how about it, Toby? How do you proceed?

5/12/2010 2:14:17 PM

Nothing shall come between me and my beloved; her hair-knuckled hand will be mine!

I place my hand on the ground and utter a plea to the forest spirits: Friends, make clear my path!

5/12/2010 2:47:05 PM

5/12/2010 2:47:10 PM

Toby: Your connection to nature serves you well, even in this unfamiliar wood. The ground itself seems to shiver at your touch. Roots and loose rocks shift beneath the gargantuan stone, causing it to roll to one side. The air is filled with the dank scent of freshly turned earth.

There's space enough now to squeeze through one at a time. The way ahead is dark, even to your keen elf eyes.

What will you do?

5/12/2010 6:00:18 PM

From inside the cave I squint at the sudden sunlight. Who hast disturbed my slumber? I slowly unsheath my poison claws as I prepare to bring tha ruckus on whoever opened my door...

I am Billquisha the Brave, a warrior from way back when. I've been frozen in time inside the cave ever since an evil spell was cast on me, by someone...

[Edited on May 12, 2010 at 6:28 PM. Reason : .]

5/12/2010 6:13:01 PM

You didn't introduce your character.

5/12/2010 6:13:38 PM

My name is Kronk the Kronk, human barbarian and devout racist. I carry a hammer with a humongous head. My aim is only to do as I please. Kronk smash...

[Edited on May 12, 2010 at 6:44 PM. Reason : Fuck you, elf]

5/12/2010 6:44:00 PM

I bring a torch out of my satchel and unsheathe a long curved dagger from my hip. Striking flint against the weapon, I light the torch. After a few deep, calming breaths, I stride forward into the opening.

5/12/2010 8:08:49 PM

Kronk: While you were distracted by the sight of a squirrel, the elf worked some kind of elf magic. That big rock you were looking forward to moving—the one only you had the muscle to move—has rolled aside!

Now, the elf seems ready to step forward into the dark. This is uncharacteristic bravery from his kind. What do you think about that? And are you really gonna let that pointy-eared ponce go in first?

Billquisha: It's been so long since you last saw the sunlight that you don't recognize it at first. A silhouette appears in the mouth of the cave: a man, or perhaps an elf, or perhaps something else entirely. Could this be the one who imprisoned you? If so, that fool made a mistake leaving you with your weapons.

What next?

5/12/2010 8:13:19 PM

k

5/12/2010 8:14:12 PM

I cast magic missile and I am attacking the darkness

5/12/2010 8:16:59 PM

I am Glapion, the noble thief and wizard. I have literally unlimited powers. I am viewing the ongoing events through my crystal ball deep in the mountains of Castle Grayskull.

5/12/2010 8:17:22 PM

I step forward and introduce myself via a long and rambling rap, finishing with 6 minutes of beatboxing.

5/12/2010 8:17:41 PM

I am Gr'mtnsh, a one eyed half orc, covered with scars and strange insignia from head to toe, my only clothing a tatter wrap of skin from some sort of hairless animal. I quietly watch this grouping of strangers as they approach the stone, keeping myself hidden in the trees. I whisper a prayer to Gruumsh as I hold my axe and wait.

5/12/2010 8:21:57 PM

I am Dr. Grbic, 208 year old uncle of Dr. Octagon. I am half shark and half alligator. And half man.

5/12/2010 8:22:54 PM

haha, this thread is an interesting read on multiple levels

5/12/2010 8:23:07 PM

I'm going to cap participation in this particular thread at Lumex, fatcatt316, AstralEngine, and kylekatern for now. I can start a new one for other cats, though.

[Edited on May 12, 2010 at 8:28 PM. Reason : But feel free to keep posting to comment, make fun, or whatever.]

5/12/2010 8:27:45 PM

*Glapion smashes FroshKiller on his head with the magic stone and steals 27 gold*

5/12/2010 8:28:46 PM

Kronk the Kronk lights a torch and walks headlong into the cave

5/12/2010 8:30:38 PM

Normally, I am put off by the language of hyoo-mans. However, Billquisha's phat lyrics have put me at ease. If he intends to delve deeper into the cave, I invite him to accompany me.

I listen carefully to the details of his imprisonment, making a mental note to be wary of traps.

5/12/2010 8:35:26 PM

DONT GO IN THE MOTHAFUCKING CAVE

5/12/2010 8:40:12 PM

State Oz steals 4 leather hides from Glapion.

5/12/2010 8:41:08 PM

Gr'mtnsh: The elf's magic has broken the seal on the cursed cave. Who knows what spirits that tuskless baztarj has unleashed? Now, he and the human with the hammer have dared to step inside. Will you follow?

Kronk: The elf conspires with a man in ancient dress whose poetry (and clawed gauntlets) are alien to you. He seems to have invited this stranger to join the two of you in exploring the tomb. You know what this means: You're going to be splitting the gold three ways instead of two.

By the light of the torches, you can all make out some details of the cave. It is unfurnished but definitely not natural. The ceilings are smooth and domed, and the walls are decorated with reliefs of griffins and manticores in combat. In the back, a tarnished brazen arch seems set in the very stone.

Toby, you suspect some wizardry at work here.

5/12/2010 8:59:18 PM

I run to the entrance of the cave, axe in hand, to see where that pointy ear twink has flitted off to

5/12/2010 9:03:04 PM

Some wizardry...it could be worse. It could be lots of wizardry.

Anyways, I eat wizardry for elf breakfast. I motion Kronk to take point through the arch.

5/12/2010 9:37:11 PM

I eye Lumex suspiciously, and take point through the arch

5/12/2010 9:49:20 PM

I used to play BattleTech. I ain't gon' front.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BattleTech

5/12/2010 10:55:46 PM

I sprint headlong through the arch, screeching my banshee war cry. If there is blood to be had, I am 'bout it 'bout it.

5/12/2010 10:57:19 PM

I am a Drow named Nigger. I carry knives, throwing knives, and a kopesh.

5/12/2010 11:12:25 PM

Exactly

[Edited on May 12, 2010 at 11:13 PM. Reason : D]

5/12/2010 11:12:25 PM

^,^^ you fail at reading

I stroll into the back of the cave, and give myself fully to the rage within my blood, raising my axe for a mighty blow to the back of the head of the elf.

5/13/2010 5:57:05 AM

[Edited on May 13, 2010 at 6:27 AM. Reason : more apropos ]

5/13/2010 6:25:06 AM

Billquisha: Your enthusiasm gets the better of you, and you collide with the rocky wall of the cave itself, framed by the arch.

Kronk: The ancient has just slammed heedlessly into the wall with an inhuman wail. You wonder at the madness of civilized man for a moment, but the arch steals your attention. Sigils cut into the bronze begin to glow, casting the cave in a sickly green light.

Toby: You recognize this magic. It is a ward, typical of man's love of boundaries. In order to pass, you must unlock its secret. Perhaps those burning sigils convey a message.

Gr'mtnsh: Before you can take your swing, something in the pulsing light stays your hand. Rarely have you seen magic, let alone magic so obvious. You crossed the threshold of this place thinking these adventurers had loosed some subtle curse, but there is yet danger here. This is clearly no threat your axe can quiet. Dare you strike down the druid?

5/13/2010 8:05:57 AM

OOC: I AM chaotic neutral tending towards evil......

I swing my double axe at the druid, neatly removing both of his ears.

5/13/2010 8:56:53 AM

Let's leave the adjudication of diceless combat up to the GM, thanks. ;P

5/13/2010 9:15:16 AM

I stare with my best scholarly pose at the sigils around the arch...

I have no idea what they say

5/13/2010 9:17:00 AM

As you encounter challenges in the cave, feel free to narrate how or why your character might overcome the challenge. For example, we've established that Toby is a druid. Perhaps the sigils on the arch are similar to the runes that consecrate the henge where he studied his primal magic. If your description is entertaining, you're likely to succeed, or at least fail in a more enjoyable fashion.

5/13/2010 9:23:27 AM

I was aware of the orc's foul odor from the start. His wet, excited breathing and heavy plodding would be obvious to any elf youngling. I had hoped he would be dissuaded by our numbers and the presence of magic, but orcs are stubborn creatures. The others have not noticed him. Friggin' stubby-ears.

My muscles tense in anticipation of the orc's stroke, but the blow doesn't come for some time. Is he not intent on spilling my blood? Are his intentions less than hostile? I quickly lunge forward and whirl around; "State your intent ORC!"

[Edited on May 13, 2010 at 9:55 AM. Reason : ok you swung]

As the blow falls, I dive to the side and loose a fey shriek, intending to both stun the orc and alert my comrades.

[Edited on May 13, 2010 at 9:57 AM. Reason : ok, won't presume to narrate combat]

5/13/2010 9:50:22 AM

Sensing that there should be a threshold to pass within these glowing symbols, I surmise that this must be a door. So I do what any reasonable person would do,

I knock

5/13/2010 9:53:32 AM

OOC: Half orc, not pure orc, his right eye is gone, as he cut it out himself. His entire body is covered in horrific scars, evidence of years of self mutilation.

I spit at the ground showing my disgust at being so close to one of the pale ones, and watch as the acid burns its way into the stone.

5/13/2010 10:24:46 AM