Dungeon-Crawlin' in the South (RP)

Dungeon-Crawlin' in the South was the second last roleplaying session on the FRPG (the phpBB2 version), with the truly final one being Deknighted. The full Hungarian-language logs can be read here.

Plot
On a rainy day, Stephánus Tavilrond arrives to the Wounded Lion Inn in Talon, To him, it is an ominous moment, as he is sent on what he considers to be a suicide mission - to explore Castle Tarjeng all alone. He asks for the local speciality, "pumpkin beer". In the inn, he runs into Gzaxia Nolánó and Ta'ael Myrth'nddare, with Gzaxia first confronting a semi-depressed Stephánus about his pessimism and taking away his beer. Stephánus tells Gzaxia about his mission, and how hei s deathly afraid of the swampy forest surrounding the castle, as no man has come out of it alive. Gzaxia offers him to escort him and help him on his mission, which Stephánus accepts. Their discussion is interrupted by a curious and enthusiastic Ta'ael Myrth'nddare, who overheard Stephánus and Gzaxia talk about the target - a vampire - having stolen a book that Stephánus was instructed to retrieve. Ta'ael childishly states that she loves books and playfully demands that Stephánus lets her read into the book, at least if she helps him retrieve it. She also says "The Steel-skin and the Earth-digger! What a strange couple!"

Gzaxia feels insulted by the High Elf's remark and curses her in silent whispers, while Stephánus reminds Ta'ael of how uncooperative and useless she was "the last time". He clearly states that he book is taboo, and no one shall touch it, no one shall open it, that even he is forbidden from opening it. Ta'ael protests, saying that she is one with enough skill and expertiese to read an evil book without going mad herself, but Stephánus and Gzaxia effectively shake her off, leaving for the swamps. Eventually, she leaves too, deciding to watch the duo from a distance, from a literal bird's eye view.

Stephánus mounts his horse, Gzaxia mounts a basilisk, and the duo begins their journey to Castle Tarjeng. Soon, they are joined by Tiamat. The trio meets a group of lizardmen who tell them some local lore about the castle and the dark forest that surrounds it, claiming that it is cursed. Afterwards, they fight their way through the hostile fauna, only to find a decapitated arm clearly belonging to a zombie.

Afterwards, they eventually reach an obstacle in the form of a thick tree asking them to complete a riddle, which they succesfully do. Afterwards, the ground under them starts rotating, taking them inside the castle. Afterwards, they begin exploring the castle - sadly, the roleplaying session got aborted at that point.

Tropes

 * : Played straight. The dungeon is Castle Tarjeng.
 * :' All three of them: Tiamat, Stephánus and Gzaxia.
 * : When the normally brave, eager and dutiful Stephánus is afraid and acting depressed, you know you're in for a challenge.
 * : Tiamat.
 * : Plenty between Stephánus and Tiamat.
 * : Ta'ael is shaken off by Stephánus and Gzaxia, who don't want her in their party simply because she wants to read the forbidden book.
 * : Ta'ael's cute schoolgirl-act doesn't move Stephánus.
 * : Some unnamed book stolen by a vampire. So special that no one is supposed to open it.
 * : If you can read Hungarian, go ahead and read the logs yourself - or don't.
 * This is an for Metalhead33.