Author: bftowe

Erinnia and Nigel listened and heard gruff cackling sounds. Vanni grasped Exeter and detected no enemies. Erinnia opened the door easily and discovered another of the “open spaces”. There were four short gnarled trees with an unattractive bird perched upon a branch of each. The birds resembled ugly buzzards.

“*!#&#!” the first bird muttered.

“!**#%@*” the second chirped.

“*#@!*&!” the third crowed.

“*$#!@**” the fourth cawed.

“They’re calling each other names!” Erinnia said bewilderedly. “Expletives! I…I can’t repeat what they are saying!”

“They are Calling Birds,” Roscoe said. He added, “Centuries ago they were prized as door guards. But they are messy and they bite. They don’t taste good.”

“*!*!” the first bird cawed.

“How dare you!” Erinnia protested and slammed the door shut.

She added, “You’ve got the next door, Nigel!”

The fifth door was quiet. Nigel checked carefully for traps, slowly opened the door, and discovered a thirteen by thirteen foot room. One of the small blue wood tables that they had encountered before sat in the center of the room. Five rings rested on the table.

Roscoe tried the prism and said in frustration, “I can’t see anything!”

Nigel carefully picked up one of the rings and studied it.

“Don’t put the ring on!” Knarra urged.

“I agree. We must worry about cursed items,” Cara said.

Nigel commented, “These are made of Old Pewter. They are extremely rare- precious in the east, even if they are devoid of Magick. May I keep them?”

“Put them in this and don’t open it,” Knarra said as she gave him a tiny black “Bag of Containing”.

Nigel shut the door and proceeded to the sixth door. 

“I hear clucking noises,” he reported.

Vanni checked with Exeter and detected no enemies.

Nigel threw open the door. There was another thirteen by thirteen foot room. There were six noisy, less than attractive birds. The geese were laying golden eggs.

“Darn!” Nigel exclaimed. “It looks like they would at least be laying something valuable. Gold!”

They wasted no time in the room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cara replied, “I have no other suggestions. Proceed with the second door, Erinnia.”

Erinnia checked for traps, found none, and easily opened the door. The second door opened to a very small room thirteen feet in all dimensions. Two gray birds sat on a short bush and cooed. They were unusual birds because hard shells covered their backs- the shells were heavy and prevented their vestigial wings from getting them airborne. Cade immediately recognized them as turtle doves.

“They are ground nesters. They cannot fly; they make good soup,” the elf volunteered.

“I’m not in the mood for soup,” Nigel confided.

After a brief discussion, Erinnia checked and opened the third door. Three deep red feathered chickens were sitting on coupes. The nests were replicas of four-wheeled carriages with a seat for two people inside and a seat for the driver outside. The wealthiest citizens and barons of the East popularized them.

“Why would chickens be sitting on coupes?” Kyrsstina asked.

“Yes, chickens in the Fane nest in coops. Are coops too good for these?” Eyerthrein added.

“These are Burgundy hens. They are found in a barony of the East called Burgundy. They produce some pretty good vintages but I prefer the vintages of Nappy Valley near Kanath and Three Forks. The wines are so good there that folks tend to imbibe a bit too much and get sleepy. I guess that’s how the place got its name,” Nigel answered.

Big Jon, Boomer, and Cade proceeded into the room and captured the three fowl.

Erinnia cast Create Wood and Kyrsstina cast a Fire Spell. They enjoyed roasted chicken before they proceeded to the fourth door.

Erinnia and Nigel listened and heard gruff cackling sounds.

Light appeared ahead.

The group edged forward. The massive cavern was shaped like a semi-circle. The ceiling towered above. There were thirteen doors equally spaced along the semicircular wall. Auras of Magick flickered throughout the room.

“There are thirteen doors. I’m not surprised,” Cara said.

“Any ideas?” Nigel asked.

“I don’t think we should open them all at once if we can open them at all,” Roscoe said.

“I would agree with that,” Vanni added. He continued, “We are too far away to detect enemies. Exeter has been perplexed by the Magick we have encountered. It’s hard to define an enemy.”

The ceiling was very high.

(If anyone could have measured it was one hundred and sixty-nine feet above them.)

The floor was solid stone. The radius of the semicircle was one hundred and sixty-nine feet. A brief inspection revealed the doors were identical. They were thirteen hands wide. All had simple door knobs.

“We may as well check them left to right. One of them must either lead to our goal or else show us a way out,” Cara said.

Knarra said, “Go to the first door.”

Erinnia opened the door easily. She found a room with no defined dimensions. There was a blue sky filled with small fluffy clouds. The floor was grassy; there was a small tree with light green fruits. A white bird warbled in the tree.

“OK! This has to be illusory! I know we are deep within the world,” Nigel declared.

Roscoe peered through his prism and reported, “It’s a partridge in a pear tree.”

Cade drew his bow and released an arrow which struck the bird. The bird shrieked and fell out of the tree. Nigel inspected the bird and the tree.

He said, “It was a partridge in a pear tree.”

Eyerthrein picked one of the fruits and said, “They are entirely edible.”

He munched on the juicy pear and was soon joined by the others. Once the bird fell the walls of the circular room appeared. Erinnia inspected the walls. Cade fired another arrow into the air; it soared high and fell harmlessly near the far wall. There did not appear to be a ceiling. Roscoe tried to activate the Fly command of his staff but could not. Levitation did not work either. They futilely searched for another exit; there was only the door through which they had entered.

The boogie man howled mournfully.

A door opened in the middle of one of the thirteen walls. The dimensions were the same as the preceding doors.

There was a glow over the door and the elfish rune for the number four appeared.

The fifteen managed to get through the door just before it closed.           They were again on a dark stairwell.

The stair well descended beyond the light of the staves. They collapsed on the stairs.

Few could move.

“I hope we are not attacked,” Boomer panted.

“You guys need to get in shape!” Cyttia chided and danced a bit.

“That’s cruel!” Dael objected.

Knarra and Eyerthrein had enough strength to conjure the spells to create water and nourishment. The steps were narrow- they were thirty-nine inches wide and thirteen inches high. Boomer and Big Jon had to turn sideways to traverse the steps. It wasn’t a comfortable place to rest. But there was no alternative. They caught some fitful sleep. Cyttia and Knarra took the first guard shift.

Cyttia said, “I sure regret leaving that little guy there.”

Knarra replied, “The Magick that sustained him eight hundred years still exists. He has his instrument. When the Entanglement and Charming spells run out, he can entertain himself. That’s what boogie-men do!”

Sore legs carried them downward. If anyone had counted there were one hundred and sixty-nine steps.

 

Knarra and Eyerthrein tried unsuccessfully to cast Silence Spells upon the beast and themselves. The uncontrollable urges to sway and move to the Musick and the soulful sounds of the boogie man’s lyrics prevented effective spell casting.

“I just can’t stop dancing! Woah! Woah!” Boomer exclaimed.

Erinnia managed to move away from Eyerthrein.

She started singing. The elfish lyrics blended with the sounds produced by the seventy eight keys of the boogie man’s instrument of Musick.

Erinnia inched toward the furry little four armed creature.

It smiled at the red haired elf.

Erinnia struggled to get closer. She couldn’t resist the urge to twist her derrière one more time.

Eyerthrein sighed.

Erinnia danced closer to the boogie man.

The little creature played harder.

Erinnia continued to sing.

Cara recognized the lyrics as the elfish Charm Spell.

Erinnia made eye contact with the boogie man.

“Stop playing, little one and caress me,” Erinnia cooed.

The Musick stopped.

The boogie man embraced Erinnia gently with its four arms and was immediately caught by the Entanglement Spell. Sinuous plant limbs and roots surrounded the beast and bound him.

Erinnia slipped aside.

Thirteen of the group sat on the floor, exhausted.

Cyttia walked over to Erinnia and the boogie man and said, “I’m going to kick his furry backside!”

The boogie man smiled impishly at Cyttia.

Boomer continued to pat his tired feet and sang, “I’m just a lonesome polecat. I’m just alone in my tree. Won’t you come up here, and spend some time with me…”

“Dwarves! Shut up, dummy. You don’t have an excuse now. You’re doing exactly what your ancestor did,” Nigel chided.

The boogie man howled mournfully.

“What can we do about this boogie-man?” Dael asked.

He was unable to steady his bow.

“You may as well enjoy it,” Nigel surmised. “Lyana, may I have this dance?”

“Yes, Nigel. I thought you would never ask!” Lyana answered.

Dael asked Cyttia, “Will you dance with me?”

Cyttia cheerily replied, “Yes, my short but suave companion. I wish I wore my green dress! I could change!”

“Just shake it, baby!” Dael shouted enthusiastically.

“Hold me closer, little dancer!” Cyttia encouraged.

None of the others approached Cyttia’s fluidity and agility.

“At least there are young people here to enjoy this,” Roscoe said to Knarra as he did a two step and passed by her. “Do you remember how we got away from the last one?”

The boogie man started banging on the keys with all four hands.

“Why? Why would have this room be here? I’m dancing with myself! I just wish I had a brew- or two,” Boomer sang.

It wasn’t very melodic-well; maybe it would have been to a dwarf.

Eyerthrein placed his hand on Erinnia’s hip and said, “Let’s dance, dance, dance the night away!”

Erinnia removed his hand and said, “It’s not night as far as we know, Eyerthrein. Don’t lie to me! Keep your hands to yourself.”

Erinnia and Eyerthrein, Cyttia and Dael, Kyrsstina and Vanni, Roscoe and Knarra, Nigel and Lyana Rikmon, and Eomore and Cara danced as couples. Big Jon and Cade did a strolling dance across the room. Boomer…Boomer was just Boomer. He fused his voice with the melodious tones of the boogie man. The boogie man even made the dwarf sound good!

The dancing continued for an hour. Everyone except Cyttia’s muscles ached.

Knarra and Eyerthrein tried unsuccessfully to cast Silence Spells upon the beast and themselves. The uncontrollable urges to sway and move to the Musick and the soulful sounds of the boogie man’s lyrics prevented effective spell casting.

“I just can’t stop dancing! Woah! Woah!” Boomer exclaimed.

Erinnia managed to move away from Eyerthrein.

The room had thirteen sides that were thirteen feet in length. The ceiling of the room was only thirteen feet high. It was quite cool. There was a light in the room; an odd lamp bubbled on a (?) table in the corner. It emitted a reddish glow; it gave an appearance of molten rock; but lava would be hot. Closer inspection revealed that the table had a section jutting out a few inches below the top. This area was white. Ivory?

Suddenly the door slammed shut behind them. Erinnia ran up the stairs to the site of the door but found only solid wall. At the moment that the door closed a shadowy creature appeared in the room. The creature stood near the odd table; the beast did not appear particularly threatening. It was about the height of an elf. The creature swayed in a rhythmic manner. It began to press areas of the ivory extension of the table with three of its four hands. The room filled with sounds; the beast created the sounds.

The sounds were marked by a repeating bass rhythm under a freely and elaborately syncopated melody.

Nigel said, “I think I feel bad!”

Erinnia added, “I feel like I have the blues!”

Faint blue Faerie Fire surrounded the elf.

The others started to dance.

“It’s a boogie man!” Roscoe shouted.

“Oh, no! Not this! Remember the images from Red Mountain! Cover your ears!” Knarra added.

It was too late.

The entire party began dancing.

Controlling their weapons and effectively conjuring were impossible.

Erinnia sang, “I’m going to dance all night. I’m going to dance all night.”

She shook her red hair wildly and twisted her backside in a rhythmic fashion.

“What sort of beast is this?” Lyana Rikmon asked as she pirouetted.

“I’ve encountered such a beast only once before. I don’t have a cursed ring this time. Oh, no! He will exhaust us. The boogie man is usually the life… and death of many parties. The sounds create a mass charm type effect. You can’t help but feel the power of the sounds. Wow! He really knows how to sing the ‘blues’! I’ve said this before. I can’t help myself. Sugar pie, honey bunch…” Knarra said, but had to interrupt her discussion to shake awhile.

She was able to continue, “This is ridiculous! The boogie man isn’t dangerous alone. It’s more mischievous; they are fond of drink, Magick items, and ‘bling’- gaudy things. The boogie man will ally for such rewards with other creatures; its antics tire out potential adversaries. I…Déjà vu!” Knarra answered partially.

She was really getting down.

Roscoe cut a mean rug. He tried to level his staff but the Jolt Spell merely glanced off the ceiling.

“I’m doing what I did before but I can’t help myself. Sweetie pie, sugar bunch, you know I love you!” Roscoe sang.

 

Knarra queried, “And you have heard of reverse gravity? I never saw that even on…never mind. I’ve never seen this before.”

“I wonder if you could walk across the ceiling once you got there.” Nigel queried.

Roscoe answered, “Did you see how the rock accelerated as it approached the ceiling?”

“You’ve already said this is a one-way street,” Erinnia said. “With a little luck, maybe we will be able to exit from wherever the eventual goal of our quest lies and we won’t have to come back here. I’ll try to manipulate the device with an Animate Wood spell. It might work!”

Cara replied, “I know only of Druidical Magick what I have seen you perform. Please explain the spell.”

“I don’t know blue wood. Sometimes I can influence plant material to obey commands. This blue wood is so foreign…” Erinnia muttered.

“Can you make a tree walk?” Boomer asked facetiously.

“In certain circumstances, yes. But it must be a very cooperative tree,” the elf answered without hesitation. She continued, “This is a fairly small piece of wood. I feel like I have a good chance of being able to move it. If I can, no one will have to stay here.”

Nigel added, “Next question? Who knows how long that thing has been here? Who’s going to stand on it first? I recommend Boomer. If it supports him, it’ll support any of us!”

Erinnia asked Cara to hold the device in place. The druid walked over and inspected the thick cable.

She reported, “This rope is very old, but it’s elfish. I can’t imagine that it wouldn’t support as many of us that could fit on the dais. I wouldn’t want us to ‘fall up’! You can’t fall down here. I can’t see the bottom of the pit. Tie my rope around me. I’ll step onto the platform.”

“You weigh next to nothing! My arrows and quiver weigh more than you! I’ll do it!” Boomer declared.

The dwarf stepped on the dais and there was a tense moment when the device inched upward but the platform stabilized.

Kyrsstina said, “I’ll ride over with him.”

Knarra and Cara agreed that it was best not send not more than two or less than two on the first trip. Unlike many other situations they had encountered, the opposite side was in sight and within spell range.

Erinnia concentrated and squeezed a few berries of mistletoe. She directed the small device away from her and the platform carried Boomer and Kyrsstina to the opposite side.

Kyrsstina shouted, “There is an open door here. There is a blue wood table with an identical device. Hurry! I heard noises from the stairs. Is it Musick?”

A small device was attached by an unseen force to the table. The device had a square platform about six inches on a side suspended by two pulleys created by small rounded ingots of the blue stone.

(Six inches was about a hand- or half a foot.)

The upper ingot was suspended by…nothing. There was a groove in the stones that allowed the strings to pass around them. The strings then passed through small opening in the four corners of the small base, crossed over the base’s bottom, and reentered through openings on the opposite side.

Close inspection revealed that the little device was an exact replica of the larger device suspended over the great pit that made up most of the cavern. The replica was one-thirteenth the size of its sister device. The breadth of the cavern was at least three hundred and thirty-eight feet.

In the faint light created by their staves they could see an area twenty by twenty feet on the opposite side of the cavern and there was another table there. The distance was too great to see clearly.

Roscoe used his prism. He squinted. He neared the edge of the chasm.

“Be careful!” Cara urged.

“There is another device on the table on the opposite side. Both the small and large devices are mechanical and enhanced by Magick. This whole area is an abomination of nature. Notice how the whistling sound comes from below! Does anyone have a rock?” the mage reported and asked.

They had plenty of rocks.

Nigel gave Roscoe a simple stone which he used to break windows. Roscoe flipped the rock. It sailed upward!

“Reverse gravity! We can’t ‘Fly’ across! We’ll be pulled upward,” Roscoe reported.

Nigel asked, “This is a one-way street, old pal. How do we get across?”

Erinnia and Cara studied the little device. They detected no traps.

“There are no glyphs upon it!” Roscoe said indignantly.

“We don’t doubt you. This place is confusing. We’re just being careful,” Cara replied.

Erinnia gently touched the little platform and moved it away from her about the length of a finger tip. They heard a loud grating sound like a rusty wheel turning. The larger platform moved away from them about half a foot.          (Half a foot was half a foot- a hand, or about six inches.)

Erinnia gently pulled the little platform toward her and noted that the big platform reversed its direction and moved toward the ledge where they stood. The elf pulled the little platform as far as she could and the larger device obediently reached the ledge of the area where they stood.

Roscoe tossed a rock onto the platform and the stone remained there.

“I guess we know now how we are going to get across,” he declared. “I would estimate that the device will support any four of us except Big Jon and rotund Boomer.”

“Hey!” Boomer objected.

“I just call them as I see them, Boomer,” Roscoe chortled.

“That’s enough boys. Here we go again! Someone is going to have to ferry the others across. We will have to leave somebody here,” Cara lamented.

Roscoe continued to peer through the prism and said, “There is a mechanism on the table on the other side. The dilemma will come when and if we return here. We would have to leave someone over there.”

Boomer said, “Maybe we can find a Reverse Gravity scroll somewhere.”

Roscoe muttered, “I have never heard of such a spell.”

Knarra queried, “And you have heard of reverse gravity? I never saw that even on…never mind. I’ve never seen this before.”

The stairs descended for thirteen steps and ended in a thirteen-foot square flattened area. The stairs made a ninety degree turn to the left, descended thirteen steps, and ended in another thirteen-square foot area. The stairs turned ninety degrees to the right, descended thirteen steps, ended in an identical area and turned ninety degrees to the left. The pattern repeated- right, left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right, and lastly left. Thirteen steps turned thirteen times. The last thirteen squared foot area ended with a wall to the south with a black door with no obvious opening mechanism.

“I’m glad I don’t have triskaidekaphobia,” Roscoe muttered.

” What’s that?” Boomer asked.

“The fear of the number thirteen,” Knarra answered. “Many people fear the number. Many consider ‘thirteen’ bad luck. It is feared by some that if thirteen people sit down to dinner together all will die within a year. Many towns and hamlets don’t have a thirteenth street. There are thirteen witches in a coven. If you have thirteen letters in your name you will have evil’s luck. It’s all folklore-just stories; it’s not based on fact like Magick.”

“I’m glad I don’t have paraskevidekatriaphobia,” Roscoe smirked.

“I don’t know what that means,” Knarra conceded.

“It means fear of Frightday and the thirteen steps,” Roscoe added

(Paraskevidekatriaphobia means fear of Friday the Thirteenth-author)

“That’s very funny, wise guy! Have you got any ideas of how to get beyond this door?” Nigel asked.

“It must be closed by some form of ‘Black Magick’,” Big Jon joked making reference to the color of the door.

The door opened and revealed a tremendous cavern. There was a continuous whistling sound. The ceiling was at least two hundred feet above them.

(It was three hundred and thirty-eight feet to be exact!)

A platform made of bluewood was suspended from the ceiling by a thick sturdy cable. The cable glistened; it wrapped around a huge pulley at the top of the dome of the cavern. The pulley was suspended…by nothing. Was the pulley made of the blue stone they had seen in the dragons’ lairs? The thick cable entered another pulley thirteen feet above the platform. The cable split below the second pulley into four substantial strands that entered openings in the corner of the platform. They crossed over to reinforce the bottom of the device. The platform had an area of thirteen by thirteen hands.

There was an area of hardened soil about thirteen by thirteen paces immediately before the stairs. A bluewood table identical to those found in the lairs of the dragons Levimire and Faranzer rested to the right of the now opened door.