In Which Zoltan (I mean Tim) Wins a Fight
and Nomad Gains a Universe

An report of havens mobile and immobile.

From Pyramid to Pyramid

Leaving the pyramid where the Top crashed recently, with Abrac to tend the Top as it healed, we walked to Albany. On the way we saw a glint in the distance, and after a couple Albanian errands, we searched the glint out. We discovered a partially unearthed length of metal that continued, buried, for miles in each direction. We followed it to a source at yet another pyramid.

A Field of Battle

Before we could begin investigations, we found ourselves smack dab between two armies - one of gnolls and one of kobolds. We buzzsawed our way through the kobold line and ran for an entrance to a pyramid. Once inside, we escaped deep into the bowels of the structure. With hindsight, this reporter believes that the Eternals would have won the day on the field of valor, but at the time, all we could think of was running away.

A Station both Grand and Central

Deep within the pyramid was a huge room with tunnels leading out from it in all directions. Only one tunnel remained uncompromised. There were metal rails of the kind we had followed embedded in the floor. We deduced that this was a transportation hub, and that some form of craft followed the rails from destination to destination. Then we found such a craft in abandoned disrepair. It consisted of a large, magic, relatively thin stone slab upon which a nonmagical superstructure had been built. We cleared off the debris and discovered simple mechanisms to make this Barge float in midair. It naturally followed the course of the directional rails, but it had no motive power. So one of us had to run behind pushing. In this way, we adopted it as our conveyance.

Under Hill and Vale

We floated upon our Barge through tunnels of incredible length, for uncounted miles. The Barge was difficult to move and maneuver, and it was a pain in the neck to keep pushing. At times we came to junctions and way stations - at one such we found a cache of metal rails, which we loaded on our Barge. At another such place we encountered a family of bulettes, which we defeated with some difficulty. From this encounter we gained three bulette eggs and plates for use in creating magic shields. At length, after days of travel, we encountered an inclined slope, which led down to the sunlit world. The tunnel emerged high up on a cliff face over the Great River between New Avalon and Albany Colony.

Downriver to Shoal and Gaol

We floated the Barge out of the tunnel mouth and down to the river surface. Traveling downriver, the Barge was quite difficult to maneuver, but we managed. Eventually we came to a small town positioned halfway between Avalon and Albany, called Shoal. We docked, and Nomad and Marvin went into town, as Zoltan (Tim) and I stayed with the Barge. Common ruffians came on board, and in defending himself Tim accidentally killed one. So it came to pass that Tim and I were arrested and imprisoned.

Released and Challenged

We were soon released by the local ruler and judge, one Lord Kimbeaut, who turned out to be a monk. In fact, since he was had the requisite experience, he soon challenged Zoltan to monkish combat for the right to advance in level. In Shoal we found that the blind innkeeper, named Master Pie, was also a retired monk. No friend of Kimbeaut's, he agreed to referee the challenge. Through clever manipulation of rules, we arrange the challenge on terms favorable to Tim - only open hand combat, with magic items. This let Zoltan don his gargoyle cloak, which made him immune to non-magic weapons, such as open hand attacks!

A Duel to the Death

The combat took place on the Barge floating on the river. With Kimbeaut unable to stun or slow Tim, and Tim doing little damage as a gargoyle, the battle promised to last a very long time. That is, until Kimbeaut decided to cheat! A magician friend of his sent an invisible diabolic familiar into the fray. We detected this cheating and called him on it. Frustrated, Kimbeaut threw the rules out the window, and drawing his vorpal weapon, whacked off Zoltan's head. Unhappy about that, we promptly killed Kimbeaut and detained those of his henchmen who did not flee. We fished Tim's head out of the river and, after being raised, Tim claimed Kimbeaut's place as leader of the local Monk school and ruler of Shoal. We found a variety of valuables in Kimbeaut's vault, as well as a goodly sum of cash. And best of all, a Flying Carpet.

A Trip to New Avalon, where We Meet a Gnome

We adapted the Flying Carpet to act as an engine for the Barge. Zoltan stayed in Shoal to establish his rule, and Nomad, Marvin, and I barged down to New Avalon. Once there, we attended to details and errands, such as picking up a few Teleport Scrolls we had ordered a while back. In Avalon, Nomad noticed that the Planar Compass was fluctuating wildly from time to time. We traced this to a deranged gnome, a street beggar, who possessed a talisman of great power. We took the gnome, called [Name to come], under our wing, and we substituted a nonmagical duplicate of the talisman for the genuine article.

A Pocket Universe

Research revealed that the talisman, a small stone hollow rectangle, was the creation of a great mage named Glaucon, with the title Tomashimashu. The talisman attuned itself to Nomad at first touch, and we found that he could activate it. When used, the talisman enlarges into a doorway, through which one can walk. We did so, and found a pocket universe. The universe floats in the Plane of Fire, but is encased in an absolute protective barrier that prevents entry, even priest spell recovery. Like an incredibly vast rope trick, the universe consists of three huge spheres strung as beads in a row. The first sphere is a forested preserve. The third is a well-stocked pond. The second sphere contains a small fortified keep, which when we first entered was occupied by a nest of demons.

Taking Out the Trash

Inside Nomad's pocket universe, we found and destroyed a mess of demons, fire creatures, and even a balrog. Marvin was poisoned and incapacitated, so Nomad and I finished exploring the portion of the keep the demons never opened. We found the body of Glaucon and defeated a number of his magical guardians. Finally, we identified and divided a hoard of magical items.


Site Map | 5 January 98

copyright © 2001 by Michael Moran Alterio, Michael Babriecki, Harry Ching, Stephen Martin, and Donald R. Parrish III (all rights reserved)