You stand at the entrance to a dark tunnel, filled with a thick, musky smell. Bits of fur float in the air, and scratches cover the floor. You've found some sort of large, rough kennel.
You stand at the entrance to a long, narrow, dark tunnel. There is a distinct, unpleasant rotting odor.
You reach a small cavern. The rotting smell is strongest here, and it doesn't take long to see why. At the north end of the cave, you see two human bodies, somewhat decomposed.
As you enter, several large, chittering insects walk out of the shadows and charge you! Very strange that you didn't hear or see them earlier ... they're large and noisy.
The rotting smell is, mercifully, much weaker in this concealed tunnel. You check the floor for tracks or signs of someone having been here. You don't find anything interesting. This is all very odd.
It's an ambush! As you pass through the middle of the cavern, a large group of giant insects climbs up out of the pit and charges you! Chitrachs tend to emit a constant chittering noise. Again, it's odd you didn't hear them.
This natural stone bridge is narrow and very cracked. It's a miracle it's still up.
You reach the end of this long, hazardous tunnel - a cavern, strewn with massive amounts of rubble. As you walk in, there is a flash of light, and suddenly a horde of giant insects is facing you! Some powerful mage clearly has it in for you ...
You've cleaned out this infestation of unicorns. No doubt there are plenty of others breeding in these hills who would be more than happy to replace them.
This is interesting. In this corner, the unicorns have etched a variety of crude cave drawings in the stone with their horns. There's nothing too elaborate - mainly crude stick drawings of unicorns and humans and trees.
However, this sign of intelligence in creatures generally regarded as mindless animal pests is rather surprising.
The air flowing from the east is very hot and muggy, and has a distinct sulphurous smell.
You reach the center of the unicorn nest, and are greeted with a sight which is clearly and shockingly unnatural. The rock floor to the north is molten, and glows red hot. In a cave such as this, far from any volcano, this should not be happening.
This cave is obviously regarded with great reverence by the unicorns. They have etched elaborate designs and pictographs over every non-molten square inch of stone. The heat is oppressive, and the sulphur smell makes you feel faint.
The unicorns have etched a crude, but recognizable drawing in this wall with their horns: a bunch of slimes devouring a bunch of humans, while a band of unicorns watch in the distance. These creatures are not nearly as mindless as people think.
Gold and ruby runes form a circle on the floor. Floating above it is a cloud of glowing energy, searingly hot and powerful enough to fry anything touching it. This must be what powers the portals. You have the common sense to leave well enough alone.
These journals contain copious notes on the magic and science of teleportation, written by Ernest in a cribbed hand. They are way beyond you, although it's fun to imagine the ways you could kill yourself with the knowledge.
You step into the portal, and immediately feel like someone just tried to pull your stomach out through your nose. Your body turns inside out, and your brain bubbles. Then, just as your life finishes flashing before your eyes, you find yourself...
Someone has carved into the floor here: "Pay Ernest first." You step over the message, confident in the knowledge that you already have.
Someone has carved into the floor here: "Pay Ernest first." You try to step over the message, but find your feet don't want to cooperate. You fail to walk down the passage.
You stab the bubble with one of your weapons, and it immediately deflates. As is shrinks, a cloud of thick black gas rises from it and floats to the southern shore of the lava pool. Once there, it solidifies.
One moment, there was a cloud of gas, the next, a large, jubilant demon. "I'm free! At last, I'm free!" it howls. Then it sees you. The sight of you makes it drool with hunger. After its long imprisonment, gratitude is an idea foreign to it ...
As you crawl in, you hear Ernest's voice, though you can't tell where it's coming from. He says "It wasn't that valuable a book. Not sure why you wanted it. But it wouldn't be right for me to let you go without a little slap on the wrist, now, would it?"
You walk down the musty hallway, and find yourself in a grim, dark chamber with paintings on the walls. Suddenly, things get dark. You look back and see a wall has appeared, blocking you in! Howling, spectral laughter suddenly fills the halls ...
This painting had crumbled and faded. Only the plaque at the base communicates anything useful. It says "Gorvifal."
You can just make out this painting. It depicts a huge man with a sword sitting on a throne. The style of clothing is completely archaic. The plaque under the painting has been pried out.
Odd. This painting simply depicts a button.
This ancient painting depicts starving peasants, groveling at the feet of a huge, muscular man. He looks down upon them with contempt. Hmm. Must have been a nice guy.
This is a painting of a large, dark tower on a promontory over the water, with many farms clustered at its base. Considering how sparsely populated this area is now, this must be a very old painting indeed.
You press the button. It makes a satisfying click. Nothing else happens (that you can tell, anyway).
This was probably once intended to be a beautiful altar - the centerpiece of the crypt. However, several cracks and a thick layer of dust later, it just isn't that impressive anymore.
With a long, furious howl, the specter Gorvifal fades away. The crypt suddenly seems much less oppressive. One thing is for sure ... nobody is going to get trapped in here again.
There is a huge, drooling ghast sitting on the throne to the north. You tense yourself up for combat, but then you realize it doesn't seem to be about to attack you. In fact, it's just sitting there peacefully, waiting.
You hear a strange, whispering, malevolent voice. "Welcome to my crypt! I hope you enjoy your stay ... I seriously doubt you will be my first visitor ever to leave. I am quite hungry, so please hurry up and die. I haven't been fed for quite some time."
You hear the voice again. "Go ahead! Keep marching around! I can create servants to fight you for as long as you want. Just rest assured, sooner or later you will fall to feed the spirit of Gorvifal!"
You back away. The little glowing person floats back down into the corner.
You take a swing at the little person. It dodges and says, in a shrill, piping voice: "Humph! How rude!" Then it disappears.
The tiny sprite flies a few inches from your face. She looks very upset. It says in a shrill, piping voice, "Yay! Big heroes have come to rescue us! My mistress Illyree has been captured by the bad giant Guhkbar! But you can save her! I know you can!"
"There's a secret way in! Guhkbar sleeps just north of his gate. Stay away from him. He's mean! Illyree is in a cell way to the north. Sneak around Guhkbar's Cave and you'll be fine and can rescue her! Yayyyy!" The sprite flies through a wall to the west.
You reach a large cell door next to a small window. Through the window you see a smelly, dank cell. The door has a huge, impressive-looking lock.
You reach a large cell door next to a small window. Through the window you see a smelly, dank cell. The door has a huge, impressive-looking lock. You try the giant's key, and the lock pops right open.
You open the chest. When you do, a loud alarm starts to ring. What an unfortunate magical trap ...
You work your way down into a high-ceilinged, foul-smelling cavern. There are bits of bone and fur all over the place. This isn't a place a normal person would choose to spend much time in.
You peer through the wrought iron bars, and see a low, smoky cavern. In the distance, you hear the grunting and growls of unidentified beasts, and a host of other unnerving voices.
The portcullis is unusually large. It would easily fit a being much bigger being than yourselves. Unsettling.
This kitchen and dining hall were probably taken over by the goblins - the tables, chairs and cooking pots were once nice, but have been wrecked by neglect, abuse, and the idle picking of many claws.
These barracks were originally made for humans ... the beds and doors are human sized. Being used by filthy, clawed goblins, however, has caused everything to decay. The beds are nightmares of filth and fleas.
You hear clanking.
This is the only room in this wrecked fort the goblins haven't penetrated. Even if they'd been able to break the door down, they wouldn't have been able to bring down these barriers.
