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Dungeon Crawl Classic #24
Legend of the Ripper
Level 1-3 (Scaled to level 4)
Turn 69: Oh Sandy.
Thirty minutes later Cas and Bec are a little more comfortable, the sun has almost disappeared over the horizon.
“It’s going to get cold tonight, I suggest we huddle together people.” Jim states.
Suddenly Shadrack starts to bray, the pony shuffles and stomps till Jim lays a calming hand on the beast. “What is it Shadrack?”
“There.” Newt points, Jim strains to see, as does Anya, Ala however spots it straight away.
“What is it?” Jim asks.
“Beetle?” Ala guesses.
“Missile weapons.” Jim orders, the four still upright and able get ready.
Zwooom
Bows and Crossbows sing out, but the big black Beetle, background the darkening desert, is difficult to spot, and particularly at range.
“Wait till it gets closer.” Jim shouts.
“Not too close.” Newt chides.
The ad hoc barrage continues- all to no affect.
It’s not until the Beetle is within fifty feet that Jim can actually pick it out against the black. The Ranger’s next shot smashes into the thing, puncturing its carapace and sending out a mini-eruption of yellow ichor.
The Beetle stops.
“Is it dead?” Newt wonders.
The Beetle gets going again, heading straight for them.
ZWOOMCRUNCH.
Jim’s on the mark again, barely breaking stride the creature turns hard right and heads off as fast as its little legs can carry it.
“Leave it, that’s the last we’ve seen of him. Double watches tonight.”
The Goodman Gang get some well earned rest.
Then, in a blink of an eye, the sun comes up…
However it seems Cas, and in particular Bec, are far from well- they’ve pushed themselves too hard, the pair are suffering from sun stroke still, with a touch of hypothermia, the nights are very cold, particularly when you don’t have tents.
“We rest today.” Jim decides, “keep watch, we’ll head off again when the sun goes down, travel at night, when it’s cooler.”
Cas nods, Bec lies on his side, ragged breaths, shivering uncontrollably.
“Look after them.” Jim looks at Ala, she nods.
Twelve hours later…
The suns on the way back down, it’s getting cooler, and Bec and Cas are in much better shape.
“Thanks Jim.” Cas looks up and sips the remains of his tea.
Bec nods in the Ranger’s direction.
“Perhaps it’s best if Jim takes charge for a while?” Anya asks.
The Ranger likes the sound of that, he smiles.
“I thought he was in charge.” Ala states.
Cas sees the funny side, smirks.
A little while later they’re on the move again.
Three hours later…
Bec’s head hangs low, the Paladin is back to shuffling along, it seems their new found energy has been spent already.
One hour later…
The Paladin collapses, slumps to the floor, his mouth, ears, eyes and nose clogged with sand.
“You go on…” He manages, “leave me here.”
“Shut up.” Jim hefts the Paladin over his shoulder; Cas finds enough energy to cling on.
They trudge on for another hour...
Then another rest break, more water, hot food, thirty minutes rest.
And then Cas’ is hoisted up again, the Ranger whistles a happy tune as he adjusts his load, and then heads of into the near-dark.
Bec drifts backwards, eventually settles for trudging beside Shadrack, his giant hand on the ponies saddle, he can’t see very much.
One hour later…
The sun peeks over the horizon.
They stumble on.
One hour later…
And in the glare of first light they can see it, or at least Newt and Ala can.
“It’s a door.” Newt points and grins.
“Where?” Jim squints.
“There”, Ala points too, she giggles a little, “by that dune, to the right.”
Jim can’t see anything, he can barely make out the sand dune Ala’s referring to, it all looks the same… hang on, perhaps there is just the smallest speck of black out there.
“One last push, we’re nearly there.” The Ranger leads them off again.
One hour later…
The door is a door, the same as the other, except closed, it’s about two hundred yards away, next to a sand dune, like Ala said, although most things are next to a sand dune out here.
“Wahey.” Newt frolics, pirouettes, jogs forward ahead of the pack, heading straight for the portal. Behind him the others grin.
“It’s the same as the other one.” Newt calls back and pulls up short, walks over to the portal, touches it to make sure that it’s real. At the same instant the sand dune to the left erupts and the Beetle, still bearing testimony to Jim’s arrows, leaps forward- it’s enormous up close.
A jet black shinning carapace, and huge clacking jaws, it’s probably eight feet long, it grabs at the Gnome, its pincers meet and crush the Rogue.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrggghhh Bastard.” Newt summons the last of his strength and leaps, nay bounds, out of the things grasp, lands a good fifteen feet away and topples over in a crumpled heap.
“Let me go.” Cas shouts in Jim’s ear. “I’ll save him…” Jim does as he’s told, the Paladin staggers three feet then collapses, struggles, but cannot make sense of his surroundings, he lies on the floor clawing at the baking sand, he’s going nowhere.
The Beetle shuffles towards the fallen Gnome, who manages to right himself, comes up, woozy and staggering but weapon in hand.
The others come charging over, Bec is really struggling, stumbling, it’s Jim once again who leads the way.
They’re not going to get to Newt in time.
The Beetle suddenly changes direction, turns about face in front of Newt, who sees his opportunity and slashes hard at the thing taking another slice out of its carapace.
The Beetle stops, shudders, its rear end is now pointing directly at Newt, the Gnome shrugs and looks generally confused.
FSSSSSSSSSSSSSSST.
A spray half-fog, half-liquid erupts from the Beetle’s backside, engulfs Newt, its acid, Newt thinks- its acid, and then, I can’t be bothered with this, and thumps to the ground, unconscious.
A glowing longsword appears in the air by the Beetle, slashes down and interrupts the acid’s flow; Ala’s Spiritual Weapon keeps the Beetle at bay, away from the fallen Gnome.
“Smidgin”, a pair of Magic Missiles streak in, smash into its carapace, leave gaping holes in their wake.
The creature, squats, sinks then shudders- no more.
Jim and Ala catch up with Newt, the Ranger grabs hold of the little feller as Ala brings her healing powers into play.
CRUNCH
The dead Beetle’s carapace, or rather what’s left of it, explodes- guck and splodge shoot out.
And from the wreck spill a million tiny little Beetles, a swarm- Newt’s too close, the black mass heads over to investigate the smell of fresh blood.
Jim quickly drags the Gnome back and away, Ala sends her Spiritual Weapon in to slow them down- it has no real effect, there are far too many of the tiny Beetles.
“Flame ON.” Anya steps into the swarm’s path.
And again, “FLAME ON”, this time through gritted teeth and they’re as good as gone, the few unscorched Beetles scuttle off to find something less capable to menace.
Ten minutes later, with Newt back up and fairly healthy, and having declared the portal free of traps, and unlocked no less, the sad and sorry four-some, dragging the sun-stroked and exhausted two-some, step into a corridor- much like the one they left, except without the noisome water, Shadrack follows them through.
A door ahead is eagerly ignored, they slump down to rest, even Shadrack is made to lie down in the cramped space, fed, watered, and pampered by Jim.
A sketchy watch rota is drawn up and soon enough they’re all asleep.
Dungeon Crawl Classic #24
Legend of the Ripper
Level 1-3 (Scaled to level 4)
Turn 70: Power Extreme.
Morning has broken, or rather the Goodman Gang start to wake, they’re all present and correct… except for Jim and Shadrack, the pony.
The portal opens and Jim files in leading Shadrack behind him.
“Where have you been?” Anya asks.
“Call of nature, for both of us.” Jim eyes Shadrack.
An hour or so later, after ablutions and breakfast, the Gang break camp and ready themselves for adventure again. Jim tether’s Shadrack to the door, says goodbye to his new found friend.
Cas and Bec are a little under the weather still but much better than they were in the desert.
They move on in- through the door, after Newt gives it the once over, another corridor, a t-junction- door left, door right- nothing to choose between the two.
“Right, I think.” Cas states and motions for Newt to oblige.
“You’ve no idea where you’re going have you Lord?” Newt replies.
“No, but the trick is to sound confident.” Cas winks at the Gnome who gets to work.
Door checked, Cas opens it and leads the adventurers on.
A fine layer of dust covers the floor of the corridor ahead, a set of five steps leads down. The air smells as if it has been trapped in here for years- stale, almost rotten. Obviously no one has disturbed the passageway for some time, centuries probably. Through the dust and past an emaciated corpse stretched prone on the floor, the corridor ends at a door. There’s a carving above the lintel, strange runes surrounding a bright yellow gem embedded in the stonework.
“Newt, if you would- give the place the once over.”
The Gnome skitters down the stairs, cautiously scans the floor and inches ahead till he’s to the corpse.
“What is it?” Ala shouts.
“A dead guy.” Newt proclaims and carefully steps around the dead guy.
The Gnome makes it all the way to the other end of the corridor, no traps up to here.
The others follow on- Ala bends to examine the corpse, “desiccated- almost mummified, without the wrappings of course, odd.”
“Anya can I get a hand.” Newt winks at the Mage, “only I’m out of Potions of Spider Climb.”
“It just so happens.” The Wizard grins and thirty seconds later Newt is above the door and examining, without touching, the gemstone and runes there, the later he cannot read, however, “There’s a trap- it’s the gem stone, don’t approach it, stay where you are. I think…” he tails of and rifles through his backpack, “here it is”, he pulls out a Tanglefoot Bag.
Newt hangs on, looks around, then down at his companions, eventually climbs down the wall and heads over to Cas.
“Can I borrow your shield Lord?”
“Borrow?”
“Err… Yeah.”
“I suppose, what do you…” But the Rogue is gone, back up the wall, and to the gemstone, with Cas’ shield in tow.
“Ready?” Newt calls down.
“Yes.” Cas thinks about it. “For what exactly?”
“Dunno.”
SPLODGE
Newt slaps the Tanglefoot Bag onto the Gemstone, it covers it instantly in a mass of goo.
SQUELCH
He thumps Cas’ shield into the goo, forming a makeshift barrier which totally covers the Gem.
The Gemstone pulses, the goo hardens in an instant, it steams slightly as almost all of the moisture in it evaporates.
“Damn.” Newt curses and juggles out a small pry-bar.
“Cas.” Ala shouts, behind them the desiccated being is getting up, the Paladin swings into action, slashes wildly with his longsword and slices the Zombie’s right arm off- shame really, he was using that, the Zombie falls back down.
The Gemstone pulses again, the Tanglefoot goo hardens to rock, crumbles, the shield detaches and falls, clatters onto the stone floor, then the goo, now nothing more than dust, falls away. Newt jams his pry-bar in.
SPONG
And levers out the Gem, catches it with the same hand, “Mine”, and tucks it away for safe keeping.
“Down.” Cas smashes the Zombie again, decapitating it.
Newt jumps down from the wall, “easy when you know how.” He grins.
“The door if you please.” Jim indicates the door ahead; after all he’s now officially second in command here.
A minute or two later.
“That’s odd- no traps”, Newt looks up, “I guess we already fixed it.”
Cas opens the door and leads them on.
The door opens into a circular room twenty-five feet in diameter and features a domed ceiling. The dome is covered with murals of an ocean filled with various aquatic creatures; all emaciated and withered, in the midst of violent death throes.
In the middle of the room is a large fountain. The gurgling water is so clear, so refreshing and so pure in appearance that it draws the adventurers in.
How cool it would taste, Cas thinks, “We can refill our bottles here”, the Paladin approaches.
“Leave IT.” It’s Ala and it’s a command.
The Priestess of Correllon marches over to the Paladin, grabs him by the hand, “don’t trust this place- there’ll be something wrong with it, I have spells remember- I will provide.” She winks, stands on tip-toes and in a public show of affection kisses the Paladin on the cheek.
Which breaks the spell.
“Right you are, I mean… Yes Ma’am.”
“Oh get a room.” Newt strolls past the fountain, there’s yet another door on the opposite side of the chamber, he gets to work.
“Not locked, not trapped. It’s a doddle this place.” Newt waves the Paladin by, Cas leads them on.
Into a small, dark six-sided chamber, it feels claustrophobic, oppressive. A dais opposite the door holds a chest, but what gets their attention is the large, red mass of coral that is suspended from the ceiling at shoulder height by chains. The coral is etched with runes and strange symbols, there appears to be a recess atop the object. A great and terrible power seems to emanate from this relic.
The Gang stand there for a moment, struck dumb, the sounds of waves crashing against a rocky shore fills their ears.
Jim comes out of the trance first, “traps?”
Newt sets to work, he takes his time.
“Why aren’t we taking this again?” Anya asks.
“Because we were told not to.” Cas replies.
“But why- what harm could it do, it might even help us.”
“To do what?”
Anya stares at the Artefact, “I don’t know but… It’s very tempting.”
“Is it?” Cas looks at the faces of his companions- Ala shakes her head, Jim shrugs, Bec’s not listening, Newt turns to face him- shakes his head, “looks dangerous- leave it.”
“It’s only you that thinks that Anya.”
Anya looks back at the thing. “Aren’t you in the least bit… interested.”
“Nope.” The Paladin shakes his head.
“So you trust Khan?”
“I didn’t say that, I’m just more concerned that we’re wasting our time here when we should be getting on with the job in hand.”
“Bloody Paladin.” Anya sighs then smiles, at least he can be relied upon, that’s more than most men, she thinks.
“Nothing.” Newt wanders back to the crowd.
“Are you sure?” Jim asks.
“Yes… That is, oh hang on- I’ll keep looking.”
Newt wanders back to give the place the once over, again. The Goodman Gang listen to the pleasant sound of the waves, drift off or about, check this and that on their equipment, bite their nails, and hum unknown ditties.
The Gnome tromps back, “Nothing- I can’t find anything, no traps, no… nothing.”
Newt leads Bec in, around the coral artefact, to the chest- the Barbarian picks up the box, and is lead back out again.
“That’s that- we’ll have a look in the chest back at the t-junction.” Cas leads them out.
“You’re not even mildly curious.” Anya states, and stamps her foot a little.
“No, now come on- we’ve got bigger fish to fry.” Cas holds the door open, mainly to make sure that Anya leaves.
Back at the t-junction the chest is opened, the contents removed, a Detect Magic spell from Ala helps to quantify their find- there’s a nice belt, a necklace, a pearl, and a horn (for blowing), the last two detect as magical; the first two are appraised as valuable, the necklace made of small pink pearls is very valuable indeed, according to Newt.
“Right then, let’s try the other door.” Cas states.
“I told you that you didn’t know where you were going.” Newt replies.
“On the contrary we have emerged unharmed and laden with treasure; surely you Newt can see the benefit of that.”
“Got me there- lead on Lord, and I shall follow.”
Cas indicates the door, the Gnome obliges, and they’re soon through, the corridor ahead mirrors the last, in dimensions only though, this time the stairs lead down into three feet of filthy water. The door at the end of the chamber is still there however the gemstone and the runes are gone, also there’s a second door on the right-hand wall about halfway down the passage.
Newt makes for higher ground, scrambles up the wall and heads off to see what he can spy.
A moment later his voice rings back, “it’s safe up to the door, which isn’t trapped and doesn’t appear to be locked.”
Cas and the others wade over to the right-hand door, the Paladin opens the way.
It opens into a circular chamber some twenty feet in diameter. Frescoes upon the walls depict torture and death in gruesome detail. A section of the wall to the left has partially collapsed, and sewage stained water seeps through in a foul stream to add to the muck through which the adventurers have been striding. The smell of waste is thick and heavy causing Cas to gag reflexively.
“Pelor help me.” Cas wipes his mouth, wades in, Newt scurries after the Paladin, talking the high road, still firmly attached to the wall, Anya strides in next.
WHOOOSHCLANG.
The door slams shut.
The water explodes upwards, drenching everything and everyone in the chamber; Newt scrambles for purchase for a second, then hangs on. The sunrod gutters and flares, then springs back into life- its cold glow encompasses the room.
Dungeon Crawl Classic #24
Legend of the Ripper
Level 1-3 (Scaled to level 4)
Turn 71: In a spin.
“What’s going on… What’s…” The Wizard quickly wades towards the door. The water continues to boil, Cas looks around him, a ivory white skull begins to rise from the water, it’s attached to the rest of the Skeleton, the Paladin smashes it down in an instant.
“Get that door open.” Cas screams.
“There’s something holding it shut.” Anya screams, it’s getting noisy in here.
On the other side of the door Bec rips his fingernails out trying to pry the thing open, Jim on his knees, head just above the water- working on the bottom of the door, trying to get his dagger into the gap.
“Open it.” Ala shouts.
“We’re trying.” Jim states, frustrated.
Suddenly a crack appears, the doors opening, Bec wedges his fingers in the gap- heaves at it, Jim does the same, and yet the door only opens a few inches.
Anya’s at the gap, “get it open.”
“Cas.” Newt shouts and points.
The Paladin spins round as two forms rise up from the water, vaguely humanoid in shape, for water they look pretty solid, instinctively Cas slashes at the first, the water creature swirls and at the last moment dodges aside.
Anya turns back, takes it all in, presses her mouth to the gap, “open it Bec, open it Jim. Quickly. Please.”
Newt grabs for his crossbow, nearly spills the thing, juggles it into his hands.
A fist of water lurches upwards out of the turgid slop their standing in, looks about for a moment- or so it seems, then pounds down hard towards Cas, the Paladin shifts his weight and dodges the blow- the Elemental, in no hurry, disappears beneath the waves.
Anya mumbles arcane words, her Mage Armour takes affect.
Bec and Jim continue to strain at the door; it opens another inch, no more. “Open it.” Ala screams, which does nothing more than further frustrate the straining pair.
Cas lashes out at an Elemental, seems to hit, a gash appears in the watery humanoids side. The second Elememtal dissipates before it can attack, sinks beneath the waves.
Fwung.
Newt’s bolt passes through the water creature but leaves no mark in its passing.
The second Elemental suddenly appears, in wave form, rolls around the edge of the chamber, gathering momentum, then smashes hard into Anya, sending the Wizard crashing into the door, for a second she sees stars, then water streams in as she sinks, coughing and spluttering, seconds later, she heaves herself up, and before her stands a nine foot tall Water Elemental in all its glory.
“You BASTARD.” She smashes at the creature with her staff, punches a hole right through the thing, the creature makes a sound, possibly the Aquan version of laughter, that or someone farting in the bath.
Newt, desperate, fiddles another bolt into place.
FWUNG
This one seems to have an affect, slices into the side of the creature menacing Anya, drills a bore hole all the way through the Elemental. It doesn’t flinch, instead grows steadily taller, piling wave upon wave, then topples, crashes down on a screaming Anya smashing the Wizard, like flotsam against a rocky shore.
It dissipates.
On the surface of the water Anya’s unconscious, or dead, form floats.
The other Water Elemental instantly explodes to the surface; sending crashing waves in every direction, spraying stinging water everywhere within the chamber, Cas and Newt quickly reassess their footing as they’re buffeted and bashed.
The Elemental sinks again beneath the waves.
It seems their toying with the Goodman Gang.
The water continues to bubble and froth.
Then, finally, the door is wrenched open, and Ala rushes in, only to be suddenly blocked as one of the Elemental springs up to intercept her passage, she slices wildly with her longsword, taking a liquid gout out of the creature. The Elemental forms two liquid fists, wails on the Priestess, who dodges then defects both of its blows.
Cas scrambles for Anya, then notices that the water in the chamber is beginning to circle, the Wizard’s body drifts away from him as the water increases in speed, a vortex begins to form in the centre of the chamber.
“WHIRLPOOL” Cas screams, then “GET ANYA”, his words directed at anyone who will listen.
Jim’s listening, the Ranger rocks back and then barges into the chamber, bull-rushing through, almost, the Water Elemental blocking the doorway, he flings himself into the water, hands flailing trying to grab hold of Anya- he misses as the Wizard slips from his grasp and continues to spiral into the mix.
Bec and Ala are still stuck in the doorway, unable to pass the Elemental that pounds at them there, Cas has an idea, the Paladin fights the Whirlpools drag and wades over to the water creature blocking the door, swings his longsword low and cuts clean through the base of the Elemental, which cut off from its source, even for just a second, instantly dissipates- actually explodes like horizontal rain.
“Come in if you’re coming.” Cas screams.
Bec dashes straight in and throws himself into the spin, the Barbarian grabs at Anya, heaves the Wizard to him and holds her head above the water, however he’s floating free heading for the centre of the maelstrom. Cas grabs at Jim, Jim grabs at the door, braces himself somehow- the Paladin reaches out, and on the next turn snags the Barbarian.
Ala and Newt, suddenly scream and point but their words are lost in the noise of the storm, the human chain turns to see the second Water Elemental reforming.
The speed of the Whirlpool increases.
“Pull her in. Pull her in.” Jim screams.
Jim strains, Cas strains, Bec strains, and Anya is hauled back in, just in time as the second water Elemental slams into the side of the chain, and in particular Cas, who is dragged and buffeted, twisted by the force of the wave, and yet he grips tight through the surge.
Ala leans in as Anya is drawn towards her, she touches the Wizard and her healing energies course into her, Anya coughs, chokes and splutters and comes alive in an instant.
Jim continues to pull, Cas does likewise, and Bec is dragged steadily out of the Whirlpool, the chain breaks up as the warriors inch out of the storm.
“Clear out.” Cas calls, the entire Gang head out of the chamber and into the passageway beyond. The Whirlpool in the centre of the chamber seems to lose its intensity, begins to slow and swirl back on itself.
Anya staggers away, as far as she can get, pulls out and downs a healing potion as she stumbles up the stairs and out of the water.
WHOOOSH
A Water Elemental forms with lightning speed in the doorway, cranes out of the chamber, looks, or rather senses left and right and then strides out into the passageway.
Bec and Jim are one side of the creature, Cas, Newt and Ala the other- the Goodman Gang attack en masse, but their blows seem not to bother the creature, the Elemental forms a tight fist and pummels the Paladin, almost sending Cas sprawling.
However he’s far from done with the creature, he slices again, aiming low, trying to cut the thing off from its source again, his blade bites deep, clearly wounding the creature but not enough to cut all the way through.
The second Elemental takes shape in the chamber, spies the open door and surges, like a tidal wave out into the passageway. At the same instant the first Elemental steps back to dodge a blow from Jim.
The two Elementals collide, sending mini tidal waves crashing out from the epicentre, but staggering both of the creatures.
“O Correllon Bless us in our hour of need.” Ala whispers, her spell buoys her companions, even if only for a moment.
Jim steps into the wreck of the two Elementals and swings hard, smashing the first of the creatures to emerge from the chamber in twain, the two halves fall away- the creature is no more.
“Smidgin.” Almost an afterthought, two Magic Missiles thump into the one Elemental left standing, a moment later Bec finds his range, repeats Jim’s feat and cleaves the watery devil cleanly in two- it spills back into the sloping drench.
And that’s it- they’re gone.
The silence returns, just the drip of water, and the ragged breaths of the adventurers.
DMs Interlude- in the version of this scenario for 4th level characters the Water Elemental was supposed to Large in size, however I surmised that this would prove too greater threat for the PCs, instead I opted for two Medium Water Elementals, I wanted to give the Goodman Gang a sporting chance.
“Anya, rest- Jim, Bec come with me.” The Paladin ducks back into the chamber, a sunrod flares.
“Oh yes Mr. Paladin sir.” Anya tucks her legs under her, sodden, miserable and dirty- she sulks a little.
Bec wedges the door open, jams a dagger into the hinges- it can’t close.
The three examine the frescoes painted on the walls, they clearly depict the fate of any that would seek to free the Undine from her captivity- the rescuers depicted are forced to suffer the tortures of Hell.
Jim gulps.
“We’re not here to free her, we’re here to kill her.” Cas simply states.
Jim mulls the suggestion over- “What’s she done to deserve that?”
“That’s a good question.” Cas tells them the story he has been told by Major Khan, about a swathe of destruction should she escape her prison, it doesn’t take long.
“And you believe him?” Ala pokes her head into the chamber.
“Maybe we should ask her.” Jim states.
The Paladin looks around his companions, “I’m ok with that, should the opportunity arise.”
Agreed they head off, Newt moves forward to check the way is clear.
Dungeon Crawl Classic #24
Legend of the Ripper
Level 1-3 (Scaled to level 4)
Turn 72: The Tomb.
Anya staggers into the frescoed watery chamber and makes her own inspection.
“All clear.” Newt calls back.
Then steps back from the door ahead.
WHHHHOOOOOOMSPLASH
A stone the size of the Gnome drops from the ceiling, followed by another and then another, all into the space the Rogue so recently occupied, almost blocking the passage to the portal.
“What did you say?” Cas shouts back.
“I said its all clear.” The Gnome looks over his shoulder grinning.
“These frescoes are a little more complicated than you think; I’ll need a moment to translate them properly.” Anya steps out of the chamber, spots the blocked passage and heads back in, “give me a shout when you’re done.”
Bec, Jim, Ala and Cas get to work, clearing the way.
It takes over an hour to clear the passage, which coincides with Anya finally finishing her translation.
“So, it seems that were going straight to Hell if we free her, if she’s already up and about then we should either put her back in her prison, or if not- slay her. They’re not very complementary about her, whoever made the frescoes were clearly terrified of the Undine.”
“Who made the frescoes?” Cas asks.
“I’m not sure, my best guess is whatever passed for the Grimbo City Council way back when- maybe a thousand years ago.
“So if she’s out we kill her, or put her back in. I just want to get it clear in my head.” Jim asks.
“That seems to be the case.” Anya replies.
“Path clear.” Bec grunts.
Newt still grinning swims to the door and checks it again for traps, his Spider Climbing spell is over.
“Nothing. Really.” He grins. Cas opens the door.
The room revealed is circular in shape, a crumbling and rat infested chamber. The iron-barred door and the cold brick walls give the place the air of some hideous dungeon cell from a nightmare. The chamber is streaming with dampness and poisonous with stench, due perhaps to the corrupting influence of the filthy water lapping at the adventurers legs. A statue of a sea captain stands at the opposite end of the room, the figure proud and defiant, with several Aquatic Elves cowed at his feet. Lying in the centre of the room is a sarcophagus, its heavy stone lid dust-laden and apparently untouched.
Suddenly Cas feels a cold breeze, like someone- or something passing by him, he senses the presence of some intangible evil.
“She’s here.” The Paladin states, and wades in.
Cautiously the others follow.
“Captain Horimus Drake- I read about him, at school- he ruled here, in Grimbo, with an iron fist. I know he fought a lot of battles, I didn’t know he fought the Aquatic Elves, I guess he did by the look of the statue.” Cas finishes.
“Did he make this?” Jim asks.
“He was about at the time, I think.” Cas tries to remember back to his schooldays.
Newt swims about, prodding and poking, he smells a rat.
“Hey, secret door- this isn’t the tomb.” He calls back.
“How do we know for certain?” Cas replies, he can still feel the presence of Evil in the chamber.
ERRRRRSPLOOOOOSH
Bec levers the lid of the sarcophagi, which ends the debate.
The rest of the Gang immediately adopt combat crouches, ready for an attack that doesn’t come.
There’s a Skeleton inside the sarcophagi, unmoving. Cas eventually wanders over, the sense of Evil is emanating from the corpse, he prods the bones- nothing stirs.
“Ok, you’re right- get the door open Newt.” Cas confirms.
Newt swims over, scours the inside of the sarcophagi, a mass of shell jewellery nothing at all of any value, he scoops it all into a bag, because that’s what he does.
A minute or so later and the secret door is open, Cas leads them through.
Ahead a long narrow hallway which stretches off into darkness and shadow, the Gang edge their way forward, Newt still has to swim.
Half way down the hall, where it curves to head east, is a font built waist high into the wall. At the point of the curve, on the left, the tunnel wall bristles with rusted iron spikes. A lone skeleton dangles from the spikes like some sort of macabre hunting trophy.
Newt checks the way ahead, “Clear, it’s already been triggered.” The little Gnome swims on.
“She’s already been disturbed then.” Anya states.
“Maybe… We’ll see.” Cas heads on around the corner.
“Newt.” Anya calls, “come back here.” The Gnome swims back to the Wizard who pulls out a scroll, “I was saving this one for me”, she mutters arcane words and once again the Gnome takes to the walls, he’s back Spider Climbing.
And just in time, “There…” Newt screams and points.
A wave of filthy rats, over a dozen of the large vermin, are heading down the passage at speed towards the Goodman Gang.
“Back to the room. Back to the room.” The Paladin hollers and thrashes the water to foam.
Newt skitters back, still high on the wall, almost at times above the mass, fires crossbow bolt after crossbow bolt into the squeaking filthy bodies of the rats.
The creature’s follow the adventurers all the way back to the false tomb, the warriors leap in- Bec is a wild man, a threshing machine- one, two, three, four of the creatures meet their end on his blade.
Cas takes a bite to the hand, no more than a scratch, manages to stab the creature dead in retaliation.
And yet there are still almost a dozen of the rats left.
FWUNG
Newt’s crossbow sings, a rat is no more, Bec is hit by a pocket of the vermin, can’t get away, stumbles, his greatsword goes astray, the Barbarian unintentionally connects with Cas, leaves a mighty gash down the Paladin’s arm.
Ala and Jim leap in, slashing and slicing, another two of the rats come to bloody ends.
Cas meanwhile is caught in the storm, as the Barbarian flails and sinks beneath the water, the rats attacking him move instead to savage the Paladin, he’s bitten at least four times in the chaos.
FWUNG
Newt takes care of another. Ala grabs at Cas, pumps healing into her man- dragging the swatting Paladin away from the centre of the melee.
“I HATE RATSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.”
Bec rises, like a monster from the depths, sword in hand he creates a whirlpool of death- swings and spins, swings and spins and in moments over half-a-dozen of the creatures lie dead, floating lifeless in the water.
The swarm is gone, stragglers paddle furiously away from the scene of destruction.
“Drink.” The Barbarian shoves a Healing Potion at the Paladin, who’s still clearly wounded; Cas nods and drains the vial.
“Rest. For a moment.” The Paladin breaths hard, leans on the sarcophagi. The others congregate, while Jim keeps an eye on the door and the passageway beyond.
“We need a plan.” The Paladin states, “for when we meet her.”
“You reckon she’s awake?” Jim asks.
“Yes, definite.” Cas looks stern.
Five minutes latter the Gang head off down the passage- Jim and Bec are in the front line, with missile weapons at the ready, Newt shadows the pair, clinging to the wall, his crossbow at the ready.
They round the corner, move on down- towards the chamber ahead, there are lights ahead- Ala brushes against Cas, her Aid spell instantly takes affect, and all without him knowing.
A wave of water suddenly surges up, pulses and rushes headlong down the passage, too quick for the Gang to get out of its way.
“BRACE.” Cas screams.
The wave smashes into the front rank- Jim, Bec and to a lesser extent, Newt, they bear the brunt of its power.
The trio ride the crest of the wave, come down again five feet further back, more or less uninjured.
“Weeeeeeee.” Jim offers.
Cas gives the Ranger a dirty look, then points the way ahead.
Jim and Bec double time forward, the others follow on wading behind, and into the entrance way to the chamber ahead.
Pillars wreathed in a dancing yellow flame support the ceiling. The surface of the water casts an infernal glow as it reflects this mysterious light. In the centre of the room lies a sarcophagus, its interior lined with sand, its glass lid cast aside. Water has seeped in, soaking the sand and filling the sarcophagus with murky water.
To the rear of the room, a short flight of stairs climbs to a raised dais and a pool of crystalline water. The walls are mirrored, reflecting the image of the water down onto the lower portions of the chamber.
Wading through the dingy water behind the sarcophagi, pacing like a caged tiger, is a astonishingly beautiful woman. She appears to be Elven, but her skin is slick and moist and tinged a bluish-green. Her hair, pulled back from her face by an embroidered cap, is a vibrant green and glistens like the sun reflected in a placid pool. She looks young, but not innocent. Her cat eyes are far from innocent. Her eyebrow rises as she takes note of the Gang. She seems so calm.
“Are you…” Jim starts up.
“I’m pleased to see that dry-skins are still as foolish as they were in my day,” she states smoothly. “Indeed, you’ve done me a great service, facilitating my re-emergence. Thanks to you, I can now safely navigate the wards designed to keep me a waking prisoner down in this stinking jail.”
“But are you…” Jim tries again.
She smiles at Jim coolly. “I am a victim of the Barbarians whose city squats above us. They would destroy my people, my home. They would condemn me for being loyal to my kingdom. I am Princess Iasmini of the Blue Spires, and now I am able to return to Grimbo, to destroy, once more- and this time for eternity! Stand aside, or rest forever in this cold, wet grave.”
Cas tries to edge his way to the front.
By her imperious expression, you can tell that she is used to being obeyed.
“Ok, you’re the Undine, you’ll destroy the City, got it, love.” Jim affects his most patronising voice, swiftly followed by, “FIRE.”
Dungeon Crawl Classic #24
Legend of the Ripper
Level 1-3 (Scaled to level 4)
Turn 73: The Undine.
FONG
That’s Bec’s bow, it doesn’t get much use, the arrow smashes into the Undine’s face, or rather would have done if her Shield spell wasn’t in place.
Fwung, and then again.
Newt’s crossbow sings, but the Undine’s Shield spell holds.
Suddenly a Hawk appears in the air above the Aquatic Elf, Anya points at the Undine and the startled bird attacks, but is easily swatted away.
WHOOOOSSH
A jet of water races from the Undine’s fingertips, barrels down the passageway, the wave crashes into Bec and Jim, knocking the pair over, slamming them into the sides of the passageway- Jim thumps back out of the chamber and into Anya who loses her footing and tumbles into the water.
Ala quickly grabs the Wizard up, still concentrating on her spell, the Hawk continues to attack. Jim and Bec struggle to the surface.
“Charge.” Cas rushes towards the chamber.
Bec rights himself, throws down his bow, and charges, he’s a good ten feet ahead of the others, and moving fast.
Suddenly a water snake, a huge Constrictor explodes from beneath the surface and slams into the Barbarian, who stumbles under the sudden weight. The snake quickly coils forward, wrapping itself around Bec’s right leg and lower torso.
Fwung
And.
FWUNG
The second bolt from Newt’s crossbow finds the weak spot and slams into the Undine’s side, she flinches, yells some sort of bitten off curse.
“For that you die dry-skins.”
Anya’s Hawk dives in again but once more is swatted away.
Jim rises, coughing and spluttering from the water, takes a gulp of air and screams “No, it’s your time that’s over, bitch.”
The Undine just grins, and in an instant a wall of water rises up and seals the passage from the chamber, through it Jim can still see her smiling face, and Bec of course, being crushed by the Giant Constrictor Snake, the Barbarian gurns back at the Ranger, he’s alone with the Undine and her pet Snake.
Ala and Cas react first, they share a glance and then charge, as best they can knee deep in sludge, they crash into the wall of water- the pair bounce back, it’s solid.
Bec beyond the wall is dragged under the water, screaming with fury, ribs cracking, breaking- the Giant Constrictor is crushing the life out of him.
The Undine, Princess Iasmini, smiles her wicked smile, waves through the portal at the Goodman Gang, and settles to watch the sport.
Dungeon Crawl Classic #24
Legend of the Ripper
Level 1-3 (Scaled to level 4)
Turn 74: A Watery Grave.
The wall of water is still firmly in place, beyond it Bec surfaces again, tendons pinging, Rage engulfs him…
“BUFFET.”
And with a dagger in his hand, he stabs down and slices into the snake, saws through the Constrictors skin, flesh and bone, cuts away the last three feet of the serpent.
Instantly a wound appears upon the Barbarian’s scalp, it bleeds profusely.
And then there’s the snake which is crushing him still.
Anya’s hawk fades to smoke and dust, the Wizard presses herself against the wall of water, stares in, she wants this spell to go just right.
The Wizard mutters arcane words, suddenly there’s an explosion of light right in front of the Undine’s eyes, the Flare is just enough, the Aquatic Elf stumbles and at the same moment the wall of water comes crashing down.
“Kill her.” Cas screams as he and Ala rush straight for the Undine, Jim diverts his charge, buries his battleaxe in the Giant Constrictor and rips it free from the Barbarian, slashes again, and again, and again… until finally the thing is dead.
“Noooooo.” The Undine screams, but too late, she expertly dodges Ala’s sword thrust but is impaled, momentarily, on Cas’ sword. The Aquatic Elf slips free of the blade and dives into the water, and swims like an eel, she’s gone- down the passageway and out of the chamber, before any of the Goodman Gang can react.
Bec continues to thrust his dagger into the now dead Constrictor, still raging.
“There, down the passage.” Newt, who so far has stayed well out of the trouble, points the way.
“Charge.” Cas cries, Bec leads the way back out of the chamber, he needs no urging.
Suddenly the water in the passage drains away, which leaves the Gang, for a fraction of a second, high and dry, then flows back in, with a vengeance, a tidal wave, a tsunami.
And yet all of the adventurers, miraculously, stand after the tide has passed.
“Damn you dry-skins.” The Undine spits as she disappears around the far corner back the way they came.
The Gang charges on after her.
The Undine is much too quick, she dives back into the water, and by the time the Gang reach the False Tomb she’s climbing out of the water at the far end of the passageway, on her way out of the tomb.
“Enjoy your stay dry-skins; I’m going to destroy your City.”
Instantly another wall of water seals off the passage behind her.
I was going to leave commenting until the end of this story arc, but now I've decided that seems rather mean, so I'd just like to say: Great stuff. I'm enjoying this tale more and more as it progresses. It's almost enough to make me wish I lived in Grimsby.
I was going to leave commenting until the end of this story arc, but now I've decided that seems rather mean, so I'd just like to say: Great stuff. I'm enjoying this tale more and more as it progresses. It's almost enough to make me wish I lived in Grimsby.
Ok. That last bit may not be entirely true.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks for that, much appreciated.
Here goes...
Dungeon Crawl Classic #24
Legend of the Ripper
Level 1-3 (Scaled to level 4)
Turn 75: The Element of Surprise.
But the Gang it seems have not given up, they charge en masse at the liquid barrier, and Bec, then Cas who’s right behind the Barbarian slam through, the water is like glass, with ragged edges, the two flop through the other side, the barrier instantly reforms, the pair lie still for a second panting, covered in bleeding wounds from head to foot.
The four that didn’t make it through are also nursing wounds, damaged on impact with the liquid barrier.
Then Bec is up and through the door, Cas, gasping- ragged breaths, staggers after the Barbarian.
“Cas… Cas…” Ala screams but the Paladin doesn’t look back.
And then there she is, the Undine, about to open the far door- Bec charges forward, almost out on his feet, tottering, he ploughs into her, his Rage still in full fury, the pair stumble and fall, crash through the portal, and land back in the deep desert.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarggghhhh.”
The Undine screams as she takes in her surroundings, pressed down onto the scorching hot sand, beneath the baking sun, blinded by the light she struggles, clearly out of her element- an arid wasteland where no water exists.
THUMP.
Bec plunges his dagger into her chest- and yet another deep cut opens up on the Barbarian’s scalp.
Back in the foul tunnels the wall of water finally bursts, the Goodman Gang are coming.
Cas stumbles on through the portal, staggering and falling, using whatever is at hand to keep him upright, he’s bleeding profusely and gasping for air.
Princess Iasmini struggles against Bec’s choke hold, she lashes out, rakes her nails across the Barbarian’s face, more blood flows, Bec cannot see it fills his vision. He has to free his hand to try and wipe away the filth.
She scratches and claws again, with both hands this time, her nails dig in deep; she rips the flesh from Bec’s face, then as the Barbarian falls backwards, scrambling and pawing at his broken visage, she draws the dagger from her belt, and with both hands plunges it deep into Bec’s chest. The Barbarian slumps forward- spent.
Iasmini wriggles out from beneath Bec who lies still, unmoving, in the stinging sand.
Cas staggers forward- through the portal, using his longsword as a walking stick, lashes out but the Undine scrambles away just in time, the Paladin, now without the support of his longsword, falls, and lies still.
“Dry-skins, Pah.”
The Undine spits, the water evaporates almost before it reaches the baking sand, she looks… terrified.
Jim comes bundling through the door, Ala quickly behind him, the Priestess kneels and fires healing energy into the Paladin, and then soon after the Barbarian, for Bec it’s, once again, just in time.
Jim stalks forward battleaxe in hand, the Undine retreats.
“Where you gonna run to now?” The Ranger screams. “Where?”
The Undine screams back, and then lunges at Jim, who staggers back and swings his axe with all his might, hoping that his aim is true.
THUMP
Everything stops.
Jim looks down at the ragged form of the Aquatic Elf, his axe buried deep in her side, her right arm removed at the elbow, the bloody stump waving forlornly, she looks up, “Not here… not here in the desert. Please…”
“I…” Jim begins and then looks doubtful.
Cas steps out of his shadow, lances his longsword deep into the wretched Undine’s gut.
The Undine grasps the blade, then spits out blood, her eyes close.
“It’s over.” The Paladin whispers.
A little later, wounds have been dressed, and where possible healed; the Gang head back in to search her tomb, there’s nothing more to be found, the only treasure the weapons the Princess had on her.
Much later, before the return journey, Jim creeps back into the desert and hauls the already rotting carcass of the Aquatic Elf away into the dunes, leaves her there for the butchers, the carrion eaters, for the Beetles to eat her- he hopes.
Four days later they emerge from the sand and baking heat, with quite a story to tell.
Dungeon Crawl Classic #24
Legend of the Ripper
Level 1-3 (Scaled to level 4)
Turn 76: All’s well that ends well.
“So she’s dead?” Khan asks again.
“Yes. I said so didn’t I?” Jim pronounces every word.
“Why didn’t Casimir La Frond come and tell me this?”
“Because I wanted to do it.”
“Why?”
“To see your face, to see your reaction.”
“And? Are you satisfied Mr. Bowen?”
Major Khan smiles.
Jim glares at him, instinctively rests his hand on the haft of his axe.
“Nobody calls me Mr. Bowen, that’s my father’s name.”
“Was Jim… Was your father’s name.”
Which stops the Ranger in his tracks.
“Here’s your reward, and more besides- three hundred platinum coins, I thought it would be more portable.”
Jim goes to take the sack of coins.
“That’s enough to buy your silence, isn’t it- we don’t want any of our secrets to get out… do we?”
Jim shakes his head, grabs the sack, turns on his heels and is out of there before he can take another breath.
Anya latches onto him outside of the Watch House.
“What did he say?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
Anya comes to a halt, Jim strides on oblivious, his head buzzing with memories of his father.
“Jim!”
He walks on.
Anya eventually sees that he’s not stopping, she rushes to catch up, grabs his arm.
“What now?”
“Sleep… Sleep to forget.”
“Forget what?”
“Everything.”
The Goodman Gang put down their weapons, remove their armour, even forget to learn their spells at the dawn of the next day.
Peace reigns.
In the Wheatsheaf inn the Gang are treated like heroes, after all they ended the Ripper’s killing spree, Father Whiskin calls to add his voice to the throng, but victory seems somewhat hollow. For all of them.
Jim takes to his room- alone; meals and drinks are sent up.
Bec wanders the town till he’s fed up with people pointing at him, about half-a-day is all it takes, then he too takes to his bed.
Anya hits the books, disappears into Grimbo College, the Department of Magics, takes to sleeping on a camp bed in an otherwise empty room, she doesn’t go out at all.
Cas and Ala wrap themselves around each other, emerging only to take a closed coach to the Church of Pelor every now and then.
Newt’s gone, back to The Nunny, to do whatever it is he does there.
Dungeon Crawl Classic #24
Legend of the Ripper
Level 1-3 (Scaled to level 4)
Turn 76a: Review
Overall score out of 10: 7.9
Play time: Approx 14 bloody hours.
Review:
Another scenario that seemed to go on and on, you certainly get your moneys worth with this one. That said the players enjoyed the second half of the scenario less than they did the first. The hunt for the Ripper proved to be a lot of fun, particularly when the players got out the dressing up box and started to get into the swing of things. Likewise the terrifying nature of the hunt kept the players on edge throughout- on a number of occasions they wanted to just get out of the place.
The players commented on conclusion that the first half of the scenario was far more enjoyable and that the second half proved to be incredibly difficult, more of an add on, this was reflected in the overall score for the scenario.
Notes and Quotes:
The opening was excellent, the Gang stumbling from clue to clue trying to work out exactly where they need to go to find the Ripper. Obviously it didn’t help that Newt blew his Gather Information spectacularly and then decided to try to employ threats to get Blackburn the Baker to tell all. All it needed really was a touch of Cas’ charm, which he of course brought to bear a little later.
The gang of ruffians proved no real threat, even advanced in levels, they were quickly brought to see the error of their ways. I chose to get them upstairs into the Bar of the Ten Bells next, hence the scream from above when they got to the cellar proper. I figured it would be game over far too soon if they were to stay in the cellar and find the secret door there.
And so upstairs and into Mari’s home, I tried to pile on the agony, keep them on their toes; I think I did a fair job of keeping them moving particularly when they got to meet Mari’s spectral remains.
Then, after rescuing the blind and lost con artist they’re back down in the basement and soon after through the secret door- and on their way to the final confrontation.
The battle against the Ripper, advanced to 6 HD, including two levels of Ranger added with flashing Masterwork Sickles, and Human as its Favoured Enemy, it all proved to be a titanic face off. Bec came very close to dying.
But eventually the Goodman Gang saw it through.
Which only lead them further into the mystery, the Undine.
Down below eventually and to the Iron Golem and the desert, between a lot of little rocks (sand) and a hard place. Yet another epic battle at hand, the Huge Metal Statue was more or less impervious to their blows- it takes a while but, as always, they battle their way through.
The desert is the killer, there’s a lot of it and nothing happens, except that the players get weaker, I think this is the point of frustration, there’s nothing to battle here and yet they can see their characters falling apart. Particularly Bec and Cas, Miss E. and Mr. R., they’re out of their depth, as I’ve said nothing tangible. In actual time it took over an hour to play through the desert section, obviously I should have prepared a set of encounters, something to relieve the monotony, it didn’t work so well.
Then on to the pair of Water Elementals, which nearly proved to be Anya’s undoing, I felt that a Large Water Elemental would have proven to be much too much for the players to handle, after all they’re only just level 3, Cas level 2. The two Medium Elementals caught in the chamber were more than enough to make it difficult for the players trapped within.
Which just leaves us with the Undine, and that was close, they got lucky, a Flare spell to save the day, they got lucky- that’s my line and I’m sticking with it. If that water wall had not fallen then this DM would have taken great pleasure in finally destroying Bec, and from there… they would have fallen like a house of cards, honest.
I was that close to finally getting rid of the Goodman Gang.
Saga of the Dragon Cult
Interlude 1
Intrigue at the Standing Stones
Scaled for level 3.
Turn 77: Catch up, again.
Cas has hit 3rd level, see below.
“Jim” Bowen
Human Male Ranger Level 3
NG HP 35 AC 19 Init +2
Str 14 Dex 15 Con 14 Int 12 Wis 12 Ch 10
Saves Fort +6 Ref +5 Will +3
+1 Battleaxe (family heirloom) +6 d8+3
Longbow (Masterwork Mighty (+2)) +7 d8+2 or Rapid Fire +5/+5
Dagger, Silver +5 or +5 d4+2
Armour: Griffin insignia Masterwork Breastplate and Large Masterwork Wooden Shield.
Items of note: Climbers Kit, Wax Balls of Cure Lt x3, Potion Blur, Potion of Cure Moderate, Bracers of Armour +1.
Heavy Warhorse “Kaul” & associated kit and caboodle, including Studded Leather Barding.
Lord Casimir
Human Male Paladin of Pelor Level 3
LG HP 33 AC 19 Init +1
Str 15 Dex 13 Con 14 Int 14 Wis 11 Ch 14
Saves Fort +7 Ref +4 Will +5
+1 Longsword Cold Iron +6 d8+3
Longbow +4 d8
Light Mace +5 d6+2
Armour: Shiny Breastplate +1 & Sparkling Large Masterwork Steel Shield
Feats: Negotiator, Dodge, Mobility, Detect Evil, Lay on Hands, Divine Health, Smite Evil, Aura of Courage, Remove Disease, Turn Undead, Spring Attack.
Items of note: 3 Flasks of Holy Water, 5 Silver Arrows, Horn of Good, Potion of Cure Light Wounds x4, Potion of Vision, Potion of Haste, Healing Kit.
Light Warhorse “Reggie” & associated kit and caboodle.
Anya’Drea
Human Female Wizard Level 3
CG HP 18 AC 15 Init +5
Str 10 Dex 13 Con 12 Int 16 Wis 11 Ch 17
Saves Fort +2 Ref +2 Will +3
+1 Quarterstaff +2 d6+1
Light Crossbow Masterwork +3 d8
Dagger Coral Masterwork Keen +2 or +3 d4
Armour: Leather Armour, Ring of Protection +1, Bracers of Armour +1
Items of note: Scrolls- not so many of them as before, Wand of Burning Hands (Level 3- 13 Charges); Potion Cure Lt. x4, Potion Cure Moderate, Potion of Intelligence, Pearl of Power (lvl 1), Necklace of Fireballs Type I, 2 Bags of Caltrops; 6 Tindertwigs, 10 Sunrods.
“Swish” Animated Broom companion AC15 Mv30 Init+2 +1 Slam d4 Hardness 5 Fort +0 Ref +2 Will -5
Light Warhorse “Mr. Fizz” & associated kit and caboodle, including Studded Leather Barding.
Newt
Gnome Male Rogue Level 3
NG HP 22 AC 19 Init +3
Str 11 Dex 16 Con 14 Int 16 Wis 11 Ch 10
Saves Fort +3 Ref +6 Will +3
Heavy Mace Masterwork +4 d6
Light Crossbow Masterwork +7 d6
+1 Dagger (wielded as Shortsword) of Spell Storing (Shocking Grasp D8+2) +4 D4+1
Adamantine Ceremonial Dagger (wielded as Shortsword) +3 D4
Dagger Masterwork Silver +4 or +7 d3
Armour: +1 Chain Shirt
Feats: Nimble Fingers, Low Light Vision, +1 To Hit vs. Goblinoids and Kobolds, +4 Dodge vs. Giants, Point Blank Shot, Evasion, Rapid Shot.
Skills of note: Alchemy +10 Appraise +5 Balance +8 Climb +5 Craft (Locksmith) +6 Decipher Script +5 Disable Device +10 Escape Artist +4 Forgery +3 Gather Info +3 Hide +11 Intimidate +3 Jump +5 (+35 with Ring of Jumping) Listen +8 Move Silently +9 Open Lock +11 Pick Pocket +4 Read Lips +5 Ride (Pony) +3 Scry +3 Search +9 Spot +6 Tumble +5 Use Rope +3
Items of note: 2 Healer’s Kits, Scroll Protection from Elements, Potion Cure Light Wounds x4, Potion Cure Moderate Wounds, Scroll Hold Person & Deeper Darkness and a few others, Vial of Silversheen, Pearl of Power (lvl 1), Ring of Whispering Wind (10).
Light Riding Horse “Slim” & associated kit and caboodle.
Saga of the Dragon Cult
Interlude 1
Intrigue at the Standing Stones
Scaled for level 3.
Turn 78: Wood you believe it?
It’s funny what you can find in the bottom of a bottle.
KNOCK-KNOCK.
“Jim…” It’s Mischa.
Jim opens the door, he’s half-dressed and half-cut, he sways slightly, the bottle, nearly empty, tumbles from his hand.
“Is that you?” Jim staggers forwards arms open.
Mischa melts into his arms.
The Ranger holds her tight to him, whispers, “sorry”, and closes his eyes.
The pair remain locked together for quite some time, eventually Mischa breaks the clinch.
“D’ya wanna come in.” Jim shuffles back out of the doorway, his room’s a mess, it looks like it’s been ransacked.
“Who did… Oh Jim, what’s happened to you?” Mischa steps in and clutches the Ranger to her.
“It’s a mess. I’m a mess… I don’t know what to do.”
Jim clings to her.
Eventually Mischa loosens his grip.
“I need you. I need the Gang, something’s wrong.”
“What is it? Are you alright?”
Mischa nods, smiles.
“Jim, I need you to get the others, there’s something very bad happening near Tetnee, I need… I need you to help me, all of you. Can you find the others?”
Jim nods, and tries a half-smile on for size.
“I’ll get them.” He whispers.
Mischa grasps him to her again, plants a kiss on his cheek, smudges it till their lips are locked, eventually breaks away.
“Downstairs, an hour?”
Jim nods again, sobers up quickly and sets about finding the other members of the Goodman Gang.
An hour later they’re all gathered around a roaring fire in the bar room of the Wheatsheaf Inn, a little away from the dozen or so patrons who quietly sup and eat- it’s a slow day.
They sip their drinks, brought by a comely Elf, obviously a new member of staff, the young Elf maiden catches the eye of a number of the members of the Gang, and yet its on Jim that her gaze lingers, she even manages a smile, and a wink.
That’s all I need- the Ranger thinks but nevertheless winks back, which causes the maidens smile to spread even further.
Mischa follows Jim’s gaze, then drains her glass, Anya doesn’t know where to look.
“How can we help Mischa?” Cas however is all business, he only has eyes for Ala.
“Thistle and I had cause to travel to Tetknee a little while ago, at the invite of the Wise Woman of the village, our relations are cordial. The village has recovered remarkably after the predations of the Ogre, with your help.”
Which causes a number of smiles and nods from the listening crowd.
“However one of the outlaying farms was attacked recently, fortunately no one was hurt, at least no one on the farm- the attackers got away with cattle and fowl- food for a large group perhaps. But that’s not all, one of the attackers- a dishevelled female Barbarian, a northerner perhaps, had the misfortune to get left behind- two of the farmer’s sons, big lads, set about her- they got lucky I think. I’ve seen the body, before it was buried, the Barbarian was clearly an experienced warrior, although she was unarmed- she did manage to cut open the face of one of the lads- he nearly bled to death- her nails were sharpened to points, as were her teeth…”
“Vam…” Newt starts, and is instantly waved into silence.
“No, they were human alright, perhaps crazed or just feral- anyway, that’s not all, she was wearing this.”
Mischa hands over a gold pendant on a leather thong, they’ve seen the thing before- a three fingered hand. Newt had quite a collection of them at one point- back when they were hacking their way through the Kobold Abominations.
“You’ve seen it before?” Mischa asks
The Gang content themselves to stare at the thing, Anya nods.
“Lots of them, isn’t that right Newt. The Kobolds had them down in that hell hole we ripped apart.” Anya smirks.
“So what does it mean?” Cas asks and leans in to pick up the pendant.
Mischa answers.
“That’s what’s so odd, Thistle’s not really sure. We had a snoop around the caves, a few minor skirmishes, a few Stirges and the like- nothing much, the place was empty, except…”
“Except what?” Cas continues to probe.
“Except someone had been there, at least twenty people, with horses- they’d been camped there for a week or so, I think. We found signs that they had ventured deep into the place, further than we dared to go.”
The Inn grows silent.
“We managed to follow the trail out of the caves, for a while, it became obvious where they were heading- there’s an old Druid Circle in the woods near there, atop a small hillock. Thistle decided that it was too much danger for the pair of us, he did however enquire of several of his woodland friends- they see and hear everything. It seems the group are camped at the Druid Circle, although to what ends, the area possess little of its previous power, the Druids, as you know, are spread thinly in these parts…”
“How can we help?” Jim interjects then smiles warmly at Mischa and reaches out to grasp her hand.
Anya scowls and looks away.
Mischa grips tight to Jim’s hand, tighter still, her smile turns into a sudden frown, she thumps forward into the wooden table- hard, spilling her glass which tumbles and falls, shatters on the flagged floor of the Inn.
“Wha?” Jim’s up and rushing around the table. Ala is quick to help. The other members of the Gang rise quickly, a clamour of voices, none of them making sense.
“Who did…”
“Is she…”
“Ala?”
“Mischa?”
“Jim?”
The Ranger suddenly stops in his tracks, at the door to the kitchen the newest member of the Wheatsheaf waiting staff stands, the Elven maiden encountered earlier- she smiles again, this time there’s an edge to it, goes to wave and then changes her mind, she ducks back into the kitchen and out of sight.
“Poison.” Jim states, draws his dagger and leaps towards the kitchen.
Saga of the Dragon Cult
Interlude 1
Intrigue at the Standing Stones
Scaled for level 3.
Turn 79: Catch me if you can.
“She’s poisoned.” Ala confirms and sets about trying to find a suitable cure, or at least something to slow the toxin’s attack.
“THIS WAY.” Jim screams.
“ASSASSIN.” Newt follows up having caught a glimpse of the fleeing maiden.
Jim barrels through the swing door and into the kitchen.
THUMP-THUMP
“Arrghhhh.”
And is hit twice in quick succession by a pair of arrows, the first grazes his cheek, the second thumps in and through his right thigh, which drives him back into the wall.
The Elf maiden smiles and waves- there’s even time for her to blow a kiss, then leaps from an open window into the backyard of the Inn.
Jim grits his teeth, snaps off the arrow head, and in one swift more removes the shaft, slings it aside and launches himself at the open window.
“ASSASSIN.” He screams.
Enris, the Elven maiden, lands lightly and is off and running- heading for a dark passage which leads back around to the front of the Inn, which is sure to throw the Goodman Gang.
Jim on the other hand lands awkwardly, hands out, SLAP, onto the cobbled yard- trying to protect his injured leg from the impact; he looks left and right, nothing… oh hang on a flash of clothing, he limp-runs towards the alley.
Back in the bar room of the Wheatsheaf Inn a large portion of chaos is being served. The clientele are ducking and diving for cover, screaming all the while, tables have been overturned, Big Reg behind the bar is waving a metal-headed club around, although there’s nothing untoward in sight.
“CALL THE WATCH.” Someone yells above the din.
Ala is still clutching the unconscious Mischa, peering into her seemingly lifeless eyes.
“We need to get her to Whiskin. Now.” She yells at the backs of the rest of the Gang who are headed for the kitchen.
Except one.
Newt checks his run, looks left, back to the entrance to the Inn- where would he go, he thinks, then makes his decision and heads full speed out of the front door of the Inn and into the street, which has little in the way of passing traffic, it’s almost deserted.
The Gnome looks right- there’s an alley, never noticed that before, he muses, grins and then races off.
Bec smashes into the kitchen; almost knocking the door off its hinges- scans the room, where’d they go? The Barbarian spots the open window- dashes across the room, spilling the huge kitchen table en route.
FWUNG
The Barbarian is stuck in the window’s frame, like a cork in a bottle.
“I can’t… Arrrggghh.”
Bec goes tumbling out as Cas thumps into his wedged backside. Anya follows hard on the Paladin’s heals.
“Go back, get Mischa to the Church, help Ala.” Cas pants and climbs up to the window.
“What woman’s work?” Anya spits back.
Cas looks very angry, very suddenly- “Save her Anya, save her… for Jim.”
And the Paladin’s gone.
Anya thinks about it, although for less than a second, she rushes back into the bar room and to Ala, a couple of the regulars at the Inn have improvised a stretcher from a table top, Anya grabs a corner and helps to supervise the evacuation.
“One of you go ahead, to the Church, get father Whiskin, tell him what’s happened here, we shouldn’t be long.” Anya shouts.
“What about a carriage?” Ala asks.
“Let’s not risk it.” Anya shakes her head.
They head for the door.
Newt skitters around the corner and into the alley and straight into the path of Enris who skids to a halt barely thirty feet away from the Gnome.
“Bastard.” She spits.
Then sprints off back the way she came.
“NEWT.”
The Gnome twitches at the sound of Anya’s voice behind him.
FWUNG
His crossbow bolt misses Enris by inches, almost parting the Elf maiden’s hair.
“Bastard.” Newt spits and turns to look behind him, “what?”
“We’ll be at the Church, tell Jim we’ll save her.” Anya calls and then dashes off down Bargate.
“Where’d they go?” Cas asks as he lands in the backyard of the Inn.
Bec shrugs, looks left then right- nothing.
The pair draw their daggers, that’s all they have in the way of weapons.
Enris meanwhile sprints on, back down the alley, suddenly Jim appears ahead of her, blocking her path, and with dagger in hand. There’s nothing for it.
THUMP.
The Elf maiden hits Jim as hard as she can, sends the Ranger sprawling backwards but not before he’s got the chance to bury his dagger deep in her side, she winces pulls the blade out and runs on.
“HERE- THE ALLEY.”
Jim screams, stumbles and then scrambles to his feet, grabs his blade up and runs after her.
Cas and Bec share a glance then sprint towards Jim’s voice, just in time to see Enris emerge from the alley, take a wide arc and sprint past the pair of them at full pelt.
“Damn.” They skid to a halt, turn tale and head back the way they came, Jim is soon up with them, and then past them.
FWONG
Newt emerges from the alley, drops and fires, well wide, he slings his crossbow over his shoulder, its on a strap, and heads off as fast as his little legs will take him- which as it turns out is not very fast at all.
“She’s heading for the Park.” Jim calls back and sprints on.
The chase continues the two hundred yards down Wellhome Road and to People’s Park, a huge green space in the middle of the City full of duck ponds, manicured lawns, and exotic varieties of trees and shrubs- there’s also a Falconry Centre for the moneyed locals to stable their hawks.
The few visitors, parading in the twilight, mostly well dressed young couples, scatter for cover as Enris and the Gang scream into view.
“DON’T LOSE HER.”
Jim shouts, he’s catching up to Enris, now well ahead of the others, although Bec is managing to find his stride.
Wild birds in their cages squawk and screech, the sound echoes throughout the park, sending more of the locals running for home.
Newt pulls up on the outer edges of the Park, out of breath; instinctively he fumbles with his crossbow, gets it loaded.
“Evening.”
He tips his hat at a fleeing couple who dive for cover.
There she is- if I can just… he thinks.
FWONG
His target turns out not to be the fleeing Enris, who in fact is well ahead, and out of sight of the panting Gnome.
THruuuuuuuum.
Newt’s crossbow bolt vibrates after burying itself in the trunk of a great oak, about ten feet away from a now startled Elven Park Ranger.
“SORRRRREEEEE.”
Newt waves his apology and staggers over to a bench to smoke a cigarette; he’s out of breath again, waits to get arrested, probably.
Bec meanwhile has caught up with Jim, the pair are heading round the outskirts of the largest duck pond in the park, towards a gaily painted wooden band stand, at which is Enris.
“He’s never around when you need him.” Bec croaks at Jim.
“Who?” The Ranger spits back.
“Khan.” Bec grins, it’s infectious, but only for a second, Jim grimaces and sprints harder, manages to turn his dagger in his hand, ready to throw.
A good distance behind the pair Cas comes to a halt, not really sure of where to head next, he’s lost them- they’re hidden behind a stand of trees that circles the pond.
“Blast.” The Paladin exhales and then jogs on, scanning the park now mostly hidden in the twilight.
FWO-FWO-FWO-DUNK
Jim’s aim is true, his dagger slices a bloody line in Enris’ shoulder, the Elf falters, then dodges hard right, a smaller path heading for the screeching Falcons clawing at their cages, trying to get out.
The Elf maiden dives around a corner and disappears from sight.
Jim and Bec share a look and dash on to see.
Enris is waiting for them; she mutters arcane words and two zig-zagging dots of energy lance from her outstretched arm and thump into Jim, knocking the Ranger clean of his feet and hard into the bird cages.
Bec however is unaffected; he doesn’t even break his stride, rushes straight for her.
But she’s lightning fast, in one movement her shortsword is drawn and the Elf is ready, she leaps aside at the last instance dodging the Barbarian’s clumsy blow easily, her sword leaves a bloody trail on Bec’s right arm, its cut almost to the bone, and a scratch on his right shoulder.
The Barbarian skids to a halt; twitches uncontrollably, and rages, turns and stabs down hard, plunging his dagger between the maiden’s shoulder blades, the wound erupts, blood fountains.
The Elf staggers forwards to escape the blade, spins as quickly as she can to bring her shortsword around again, Bec however has other problems, a deep gouge appears over the Barbarian’s eyes, a curtain of blood gushes down filling his eyes and mouth, he’s bleeding profusely, and yet cannot recall sustaining the wound.
Bec fumbles, almost drops his dagger.
The Elf maiden shuffles backwards- watching him, all the time muttering arcane words.
Jim drags himself upright, looks up.
And she’s gone.
“Aaaargh.”
Bec dances forward, swats and swipes at the empty air, a screaming fury- he stabs and lances, cuts and thrusts but connects with nought.
The Ranger is forced to seek cover.
“BEC. BEC. Bec she’s gone, disappeared.”
It has no affect, other than to perhaps give away his position, which is almost enough to draw the Barbarian’s ire.
The swatting and stabbing continues for a little while yet, till Bec’s rage subsides, and Jim is finally able to make himself understood.
“BEC. Move, maybe I can track her.”
“What the hell is going on here?”
Jim looks up- Khan, and standing at his side Cas, flanked by two burly members of the Watch, Newt peeks out from behind one of them, the Gnome holds up his hands, manacled, he grins.
Saga of the Dragon Cult
Interlude 1
Intrigue at the Standing Stones
Scaled for level 3.
Turn 80: Explain.
“No, I don’t understand- explain?” Khan bangs the table again; he’s back on home turf, the Watch House.
“We’re wasting time.” Jim growls.
“And you’ll waste more of it, now explain.”
“We were attacked, there are witnesses, Mischa was poisoned, in the Wheatsheaf Inn.” Cas begins.
“Big Reg and a number of the locals have confirmed that your Druid friend was taken ill, they did not however see any attack.”
“She was poisoned you idiot, by the waitress.” Jim is prevented from getting up by a pair of Watchmen.
“I’ve had about as much as I’m going to…”
CRUNCH
The door to the interview room is flung open; Anya and Ala appear in the doorway, being manhandled, or more likely, vice-versa, by another pair of Watchmen.
“Mischa’s ok Jim- she’ll live.” Ala calls out, nods.
Jim looks to the floor, his eyes are stinging.
Bec sits silent in the back of the room, next to Newt who spends his time staring out of the window, he’s still in chains.
“You’ve got to let them go.” Anya states.
“Why?” Khan smiles thinly.
“We are called to duty.” Cas barks back.
Which gets a laugh from Khan.
“Called to duty”, he mimics, “that sounds very heroic. Really Cas you’re so melodramatic at times.”
Which is about as much as Jim can handle.
The Ranger leaps from his chair and is on Khan before the Watchmen can do anything to stop him.
THUMP
It’s a good right-hook, certainly enough to flatten Khan.
“JIM.” Anya screams.
“You jumped up little bastard.” Jim spits as he’s wrestled away from a prostrate Khan.
Bec takes note of the incident but remains seated. Newt goes back to starring out the window, humming a happy tune. Ala quickly crosses to Cas, who is trying his best to calm Jim.
“Jim. Jim- leave him, let him be… Calm down Jim, this is getting us nowhere.”
The Ranger continues to wrestle with his captors, spitting curses.
“You’re a sham. A sham, worse than that…”
Khan rises.
“Add ‘striking a member of the Watch’, a senior member of the Watch at that, to the list of charges Sergeant. I think that’s the last we’ll be seeing of you for a while.”
Cas goes to interject, Jim struggles on.
“And as for you…” Khan looks over at Newt, who notices he’s on display at last, and smiles back- winks.
“You’ll be off the streets for at least a few years, the ‘attempted murder’ of an Park Ranger. Tut, tut. Yes, quite some time.”
Newt raises his eyebrows, continues to grin.
Khan turns awat, just as Newt finds his favourite finger, on both hands, and proffers them to Khan’s back.
“One day fecker. One day…” Newt whispers.
“Now come on…” Cas begins.
“And the rest of you, well as soon as we find this poor serving girl you chased off, well… Regardless, there’ll be other charges. It may be time for your happy band to consider a parting of the ways, other career opportunities…”
“You’ve got a short memory Major Khan.” The voice is like treacle; no, that’s not it- honey.
The door to the interview room slowly opens, and framed in the light is Lady Arabella, dressed, disappointingly, somewhat demurely, swathed in a thick black cloak.
“I said you’ve got a short memory Major Khan.”
“Ma’am I…”
“Not so long ago these brave men and women tracked down and killed a savage beast that took his pleasure murdering innocent young women in the City.”
“They were hardly ‘innocent’, m’lady.”
“Nevertheless Major I wonder what the Town Council would make of this- is this how you treat heroes?”
“M’lady I…” Khan starts.
“You what, Major?” Arabella looks quite fearsome.
Cas finds himself smiling, thinking, slowly peeling off her thick cloak.
Newt goes back to looking out of the window.
“Release them major, release them now.”
“These are Watch matters m’lady…”
“Do you defy me?”
“I…”
“I said- do you defy me?”
Ala looks away from the confrontation, notices Cas’ look, she removes her hand from his shoulder, Cas shifts and turns to Ala, she stares through him.
The silence expands.
Finally.
“Release them.” Khan whispers, nothing happens.
“I SAID RELEASE THEM.” He barks and struts out of the room via a second door away from the crowd.
“That was…” Anya begins.
“Thank you.” Jim smiles, “we should be off- Tetknee, the Druid Circle, now.” The last word is sharp, final.
“Whiskin’s waiting for us- I thought you might need a little healing.” Anya adds quietly, still staring at Jim.
The Ranger nods and marches off out of the interview room.
The others follow on; Newt the last to leave after presenting his manacles for removal, the Gnome takes one last look out of the window.
Saga of the Dragon Cult
Interlude 1
Intrigue at the Standing Stones
Scaled for level 3.
Turn 81: To the Circle.
At break neck speed to Tetnee, five hours or more in the saddle- their mounts spent, ready to collapse, they ride like the wind. The Gang are now armed and armoured, also fully healed, and buoyed by the news that Mischa will indeed survive with no permanent damage, although it was a close thing, the poison’s sting augmented by some foul magic.
Thirty minutes before midnight and the sextet are on fresh mounts, courtesy of Thistle and the Tetknee Wise Woman, and at the expense of several of the local farmers, they plunge on through the sparse woods towards the Druid’s Circle.
Twenty minutes later and they can see the lights; the Standing Stones are on the crest of the approaching hillock through a denser wooded glade, which is however blessed with an overgrown cart path, wide enough for two to ride abreast- Cas and Jim lead the way.
It’s very dark, the moon provides irregular lattices of light, just enough to see by- but not far, unless you’re an Elf, or a Gnome.
“Watch out.” Anya screams but it’s mostly too late.
ZOOM
Wicked looking wooden darts arc out from the foliage either side of the track.
One pierces Jim’s right leg, another thumps into his loaned mount’s side, the horse bucks and goes to race off.
“Ho there.”
The Ranger lays a calming hand on the horse’s neck, and in the same action dismounts, and with a whistle sends the beast cantering off to safety- he hefts his battleaxe and looses his shield in search of something to kill.
Alas the others are not so adept.
Two of the darts slam into the side of Bec’s horse, the beast rears and then charges forward, Bec thumps into a low tree branch, clings on for dear life as his mount races off into the dark and distance.
CRUNCH
The Barbarian plummets, tries to affect a safe landing, but fails, and instead crunches into the hard-packed earth.
BOOOOOOOOOOM
Thunder, followed by, before the echo has fully gone.
CRA-CRA-CRASHHHHHHH
Lightning, which illuminates everything, for just an instant.
Their attackers are half-a-dozen heavily armed and armoured Kobolds.
“AaaaarghhhBlast.”
Cas is hit twice in quick succession by darts, however the Paladin is calm enough to rein in his mount, the horse skitters and dances but the Paladin maintains control.
Behind Ala and Newt struggle to keep their mounts from bolting, they can do nothing but cling on, hoping to calm the nervous beasts.
Anya however, bringing up the rear, has no problems halting her mount, she kicks her heels into the horse’s flanks, clacks her tongue hard into the roof of her mouth, the horse backs away a little, out of the confusion.
Out of the woods come the heavily armoured Kobolds, the remains of rotten black wings, now no more than dying stumps, jut through their armour.
Two of the Kobolds dive towards Jim, who swings hard and thumps his battleaxe into one of the creatures, hard enough- easily, to kill a Kobold. The wounded assailant merely grins and steps in- stabbing madly with its short spear, leaving a gaping wound in the Rangers side- breaking ribs and tearing tendons. Jim almost folds.
The second of the creatures shuffles sideways to find a way past Jim’s shield, not looking where its going it wanders into the path of Newt’s mount- which does the decent thing and kicks the menace in its back.
Bec meanwhile levers himself up, only to realise there are three of them on him, he is, as ever, quick enough, his greatsword arcs out- smashes into the neck of one of the things, sending the Kobold sprawling.
“Come on.” The Barbarian calls and gestures for the other two to try their luck.
Then watches as the injured Kobold on the floor springs back to its feet, the Barbarian has questions.
The other two creatures swing and stab, he’s forced to back away and yet emerges unscathed from the action.
The last of the six Kobolds decides upon easier pray, charges out of the woods head down, attempting to bury his short spear in Cas’ horse.
Cas is too quick, and a better horseman than that, he draws his longsword and spurs his mount- which leaps forward instinctively, although not trained for this kind of work, Cas charges.
“PELOR.” The Paladin screams.
And tramples and cuts the Kobold down, leaving the creature lying on the floor, Cas halts his charge immediately and quick manoeuvres his mount back around, the Kobold’s getting up.
“Pelor?” Cas whispers.
Which, it turns out, has an answer.
“Smidgin.” A pair of Magic Missles arc out and into the fray, the first thumps into the rising Kobold, just picking itself up after Cas’ charge. The creature slumps forward- thumps into the dirt again, but this time doesn’t rise.
The second smashes into the back of the Kobold recently wounded by Bec, the creature sinks to its knees and then falls face first into the dirt, two down.
Bec and Cas glance thank you towards Anya.
Meanwhile, in the midst of the action, Ala and Newt finally get their mounts settled, the pair canter a little away from the melee- Newt leaps down and guides his mount out of the way, fiddling his crossbow out as he heads over to Anya.
Ala scrambles off her horse, which seizes the moment and gallops off to freedom.
CRACKKKKKK-BOOOOM.
Thunder and lightning again, the jagged fork strikes the ground somewhere nearby, once again illuminating the battlefield.
A blood curdling scream is caught in the wind, the sound crashes over the fracas, causing some of the Gang to turn momentarily- it came from up the hill.
It begins to rain.
Fat droplets of water that thump into the ground with such force that they bounce up again, in seconds the track is a rivulet, slick and soft mud.
“I said it was going to rain.” Newt winks at Anya, the Gnome abandons his mount and turns to face their attackers, crossbow loaded, looking for a likely target.
At that moment, from out of the dark, two pulses of energy rush, both thump into Jim’s back- someone somewhere doesn’t like him. The Ranger is almost flattened, stumbles forward into his attackers swinging wildly, to no avail, and in the process is slashed horribly by the tip of a spear opening up a six inch gap on his neck and left shoulder.
The second of Jim’s assailants back-peddles, straight into the clutches of Ala, who attempts to wrestle the creature to the ground. It isn’t pretty, the brief confrontation ends with the pair slipping in the mud and squelching into the mire, still locked in their tussle, neither of them, however, injured in any way.
Bec is stalled also by the sudden inclement weather, and the conditions underfoot, a Kobold dashes in under his half-hearted swings and stabs the Barbarian in his right thigh.
Cas quickly appraises the situation, spurs his horse forward, back into the fray, then leaps off in an attempt to help Ala, which only results in him falling on top of the struggling pile, and sending a wave of mud over those close by. Ala and the Kobold are winded by the Paladin’s attack, as is the Paladin- it’s a mess.
Newt creeps closer in, crossbow in hand, settles his sights on one of the Kobolds facing Bec, he’s got a clear shot at the creatures back.
Fwong
Or rather had a clear shot- at the last instant the Kobold dodges sideways, Newt’s crossbow bolt zooms past and slams into Bec’s chest, knocking the Barbarian backwards off-balance, and ruining his attack.
The Barbarian growls, stares hard at the Gnome, who quickly attempts to hide his crossbow.
“Smidgin.”
Another pair of Magic Missiles streak out and thump into the Kobolds attacking Bec, who were following up on the Barbarian’s fumble, foiling both of their attempts to kill the Barbarian.
Anya settles on her horse, pleased with her work, and…
“Aaaaaaarghh”
She’s hit square in the chest by a greenish glowing bolt which whizzes out of the wooded area to her right.
“Aaaaaaarghh”
The Acid arrow burns its way through the Wizard’s robes and clothing, fizzing and burning her skin, which also comes as a surprise to her mount, her horse is splashed by droplets of acid. The beast bolts, instantly shedding its rider.
Anya thumps into the dirt, clutching at her burning clothes and screaming madly.
Jim swings into action, smashes his battleaxe into the lone Kobold he’s facing, cutting the thing almost in two.
Bec likewise finds his stride, lances his greatsword out, stabbing the first of his attackers through its gut, steps into the second, smashes the hilt of his weapon straight down into the fiend, splitting its skull and breaking its neck in the same instance.
Back in the dirt Cas and Ala continue to wrestle the last of the creatures to a stand still, slipping and sliding they manage to pin the Kobold down.
“Ask it what’s going on- what’s up there?”
Cas points at the top of the hill, looking for Anya to do the translating into Draconic.
“Anya. Anya? Where is she?”
Jim steps in and wrenches the Paladin aside then slams his axe into the Kobolds face- killing it instantly.
Which grabs Cas and Ala’s attention, the Holy duo step back, somewhat aghast.
“JIM!” Cas screams at the Ranger.
“Get up Paladin”, Jim spits at Cas, “out of the dirt.”
Lightning strikes again, this time less than thirty feet away from the Gang, a tree ignites, flames leap into the air, fizzle and crackle soaked by the torrential rain.
“JIM!” Cas screams again, attempts to grasp the Ranger’s legs and misses, Jim stalks off up the hill and into the dark.
“Aaaargghhhh.” Anya screams again, still writhing on the floor, Cas and Ala are quickly over to the Wizard, the acid has burnt itself out, Ala presses her healing touch into service and in seconds Anya’s blistered skin is whole again, and there’s quite a lot of it on display, Cas quickly looks away, then back again, then away, then...
“The Elf. Assassin.” Anya points into the vegetation, the direction from which the Acid Arrow spell came, and shivers.
Cas looks but can see nothing.
“There’s a horse.” Newt shouts and points, and sure enough a figure on a horse is seen, and heard, just over the rolling thunder and plash of the rain, their attacker it seems is leaving, and at speed.
“COME ON.” Jim screams back at the Gang, then trudges off, further up the hill, into the muck, black and rain.
Saga of the Dragon Cult
Interlude 1
Intrigue at the Standing Stones
Scaled for level 3
Turn 82: Bring on the Noise.
At the top of the Hill a flock of ravens circle madly, so dense is the flock that it almost blocks out the moon, the area seems however to preternaturally lit, the circle of Standing Stones glimmer, shimmer, silver in the glorious rain.
Nine stone arches each consisting of two hulking standing stones topped by a lintel circle a central platform complete with stone slab altar.
BOOOOOM
Thunder comes again.
CRAW
The revolving maelstrom of black birds crow, craw and call.
And stood in the midst of it all, atop the altar stone is a hulking Half-Orc wrapped in armour and a swirling cloak, holding a glowing bluish-black heavy mace in hand, as if conducting an orchestra, the creature face up staring at the heavens, which are obscured by the birds, seems to be shouting, nay screaming- his words are lost in the cacophony.
CRA-CRA-CRACKKKKK
Lightning strikes barely twenty feet away from the circle, scorching earth and blackening dead the plants caught in its blast.
Also punching a soon mended hole in the flock of crows above, dead and burnt birds tumble and plummet from the sky.
“What the…” Jim gasps.
Cas catches up at last and lays a hand on the Ranger shoulder.
The Gang perch just at the tree-line barely ten feet outside the circle of standing stones.
“JIM.” Cas shouts.
“WHAT?” The Ranger stares hard at the Paladin.
“ARE YOU OK?” Cas screams back, he actually looks concerned.
Jim takes a breath, then nods.
“He’s summoning something.” Anya states.
“No, it’s not a summoning, it’s something else.” Ala corrects.
“Who is he?” Cas asks to blank stares, turns back and is the first to notice that the Ranger is missing.
“CHARGE” Jim’s up and running into the circle, past the first trilithon.
“THE STUPID…” Cas begins, just in time to see Bec leap to his feet and charge after the Ranger, loyalty for the Barbarian is a given.
And of course the trap is sprung, a cluster of screaming feral women, previously huddled in wait, hidden on the other side of the huge stones, spring to attack from both sides of the soon beleaguered pair.
These foul creatures, just as Mischa described back in the Wheatsheaf Inn, are battle worn and scarred, hairy, toothsome and feral, their hands end in jagged nails sharpened on the rocks of the standing stones, like talons- northern barbarians, just as the Druid stated, crazed and raging already.
Jim is caught by one of the bitches, clawing for the Rangers throat she falls short and rips a hunk of bloody flesh from Jim’s exposed upper right arm. His own attack proves ineffective; there are three of them pressing him back.
Bec fairs less well, caught on both sides he is clawed and scratched, blood pours from his wounds staggering the giant man, almost disabling him in an instant.
The Barbarian digs deep into his reserves of strength, smashes his greatsword forward, like a barrier, forcing all three of his attackers back, swings again and cleanly decapitates the first of the women returning to the fray, and then slices away much of his second attackers lower arm, which only causes the her to scream louder still before rushing to attack with her good arm. Bec knows the signs of Rage, nothing will stop these creatures- except death.
“More of them.” Ala points ahead, past the fracas, where another pair of the crazed women stand ready either side of the screaming gesturing Half-Orc.
Ala chants as she moves forward, her Bless spell encompasses her allies. Cas dodges forward around the fracas, charges up the hill towards the source of the fury, above the crows caw and wheel, like miserable black clouds, ill omens.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM
Thunder calls.
The two Barbarian women scream their delight, rage and head forward to cut the approaching Paladin to ribbons.
Anya, who it seems is regretting her choice of spells this day, edges around the fight, trying to touch one of the women, the fingers on her right hand clutch and grab gloved in the electric blue of her Shocking Grasp spell, alas she doesn’t dare, cannot get close enough, or rather fears to, the Wizard backs away.
Newt meanwhile scatters out of harms way, fits a bolt into his crossbow, crouches and fires.
FWONG
The bolt canons into the hip of one of the two Barbarian warrior maidens set to destroy the Paladin.
Atop the hill Torslak, the Half-Orc, continues to chant, at last the wind brings his words to them, dark and profane, a spell it is certain, although what spell is beyond the knowledge of those present.
Jim struggles on and is clawed twice in quick succession, the second blow is enough to rip his shield from his grasp, the Ranger staggers as blood cascades down his face and hands, sullies the earth on which he stands, he’s cut to the quick- out on his feet. His attack is weak and yet scores a hit, more by luck than judgement, it’s a scratch however, his attackers redouble their efforts.
Anya sees her opportunity, or rather is at last stirred into action, she reaches in and grasps one of the women.
FZZZZZT
The crazed Barbarian leaps back but not before lashing out and leaving a red river in her wake, Anya scrambles backwards, clutching at her wound, in the exchange clearly the loser.
Bec too is clawed, this time however only a scratch, he stabs his greatsword clean through his attacker, kicks her dead corpse off his blade, and the slashes wildly at the next, his greatsword bites, digs deep into the woman’s flesh, almost cutting her in two- the second is dead, he’s clear- all of his attackers destroyed.
But that’s not enough for the Barbarian who dodges right and into the screaming fiends attacking Jim, scattering them in an instant, he stabs forward and shoots his blade through the face of the first of them, killing her instantly.
“Help me.” Jim whispers, but Ala is close enough to hear, she steps forward and touches the Ranger, her healing powers fill him full of warmth, his wounds knit together and close over.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM
Thunder comes again, but no lightning strike, the pressure builds, the air is charged.
Cas fights on, trying desperately to get past the Barbarians, he’s caught once- scratched across the throat, not deep but enough to give an edge to his voice. He stabs back and catches one of the women in her side, not enough to worry her though.
“Newt- the Half-Orc. Shoot the Half-Orc.” The Paladin growls.
Back down in the shadow of a great standing stone Newt blinks and whispers- “I would do if you’d get your fat head out of the way”, then settles his aim.
FWUNG
And suddenly a crossbow bolt sprouts from the Half-Orc’s chest, just as the creature bites off the last syllable of his spell, which is swiftly followed by an eruption of hot blood which slakes his face and chest.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM
CRA-CRA-CRA-CRAKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
The lightning comes at last smashing down into a lintel stone, forking further down into each of the supporting standing stones.
CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRASHHHHHHH.
The entire trilithon is shattered into pieces sending jagged rocks spinning out in all directions.
“I KNOW THE TRUTH. I KNOW THE TRUTH.” The Half-Orc screams as splintered rocks fill the air with death.
Saga of the Dragon Cult
Interlude 1
Intrigue at the Standing Stones
Scaled for level 3
Turn 83: And death shall have no dominion.
All of the Gang are caught in the blast- Jim, Bec, Cas, and Newt are scratched and cut by the flying debris, as are the two Barbarian’s still attacking Jim and Anya. Ala however is not so lucky, the largest remnant of the stone lintel swings down and slams into her, sending her sprawling onto the floor- either dead or unconscious.
“NOW YOU MUST DIE.” The Half Orc grins, coughs up another slick of blood and marches down the hill towards Cas.
Bec and Jim meanwhile fight on, both are scratched and clawed again by the brutal women with Jim once again covered with blood, alas mostly his own, and almost out on his feet, thank Pelor its Bec with him. The Barbarian bursts between the pair, cuts left and more or less decapitates the woman, then right removing the seconds left arm and hewing deep into her torso- both dead.
“Thanks Bec. Thank you.” Jim grins, then staggers on forward up the hill.
Anya dodges back, sees Ala fallen, grabs the Priestess by her hands and attempts to drag her out from beneath the fallen shattered lintel, Bec sees her struggling, marches back and wrenches the remains of the huge stone free from Ala’s body. Between the two of them they manage to pour a healing draught into the broken Priestess, Ala blinks suddenly awake, opens her eyes fully as the storm continues to rage.
Cas is caught again, a horrible rent that rips through the armour on his chest and leaves a bloody trail down the Paladin. He stumbles backwards, the life draining from him, whispers Holy words and healing energies flow back into him, and the wound is as suddenly gone. Cas swings hard, crunches his longsword into his attacker and fells her where she stands- one left, then the Half-Orc.
The Half-Orc, the Paladin looks up, he’s approaching fast.
FWONG
Newt is right on target again, his bolt slices through the creature’s right calf, which brings the hulking brute to a sudden halt.
The rain washes over the Half-Orc’s face, washing much of the blood away, it shows no pain, he raises his heavy mace to the sky and screams as the crows continue to call and screech and circle.
“TELL THE MASTER. TELL HIM NOW.” He screams, then mutters a single syllable, and points at Cas- a white beam strikes out and bathes the Paladin. Cas fights it, ice in veins, his limbs lead weights, he can feel his whole body shutting down- paralysis grips him.
“PELLLLLLOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRR.”
He screams, and the spell is vanquished.
The crows swirl and flock, dive down to momentarily swathe the Half-Orc, who whispers unheard words to them, and then, as one, take wing again, the black mass heads north, its message to deliver.
Torslak, the Half-Orc, looks through the rain at Cas, nods once and continues down the hill.
The storm takes a breath; the rain slackens, then as suddenly stops.
Jim dodges past Cas, into the last of the Barbarian women, his axe bites deep severing the woman’s left arm completely. Cas nods at the Ranger, but the Barbarian bitch is not done, she fights on slashing again at the Paladin who is forced into an all out defence, but its still not enough- Cas is cut badly, he staggers backwards.
Jim swings again, and this time ends it- another hefty axe blow cutting deep into the woman’s back- she sinks to her knees and then falls face first into the dirt.
“You’re next.” Jim calls and strides forward with Cas to meet Torslak.
THWONG
Newt’s bolt fires wide for once.
“SurrendCRUNCH”
Cas is smashed in the face by the Half-Orc’s heavy mace, its all too much, he tumbles backwards, back down the hill and lies there in a crumpled heap.
DM’s Interlude Cas goes from 5 HP to -7 HP in an instant; here goes- polish the dice.
“Pelor.” Newt whispers, witness to the bloody scene, Jim gulps once, backs away slightly, trying to spot his shield on the filthy ground- it’s nowhere to be seen.
THWAAANG-CRUNCH
Newt’s crossbow explodes in a fury sending the Gnome hurtling backwards out of the circle, splinters of metal and wood embedded in his hands and face.
Jim weighs his axe in his hands, changes stance, looks for an opening. Behind him Bec comes lumbering forward- the Half-Orc blithely strides on closing fast.
Jim swings hard, the Half-Orc is there, blocks the blow easily, it’s all that Jim can do to hold off the warrior for a moment- then Bec arrives.
Jim swings again, buoyed by the Barbarian’s presence; he’s blocked agai…
CRUNCH.
The Ranger sinks to his knees and then falls face forward into the dirt.
DMs Interlude Jim hits -3 HP.
Bec leaps into the fray, his greatsword locks for a moment with Torslak’s oddly coloured shining heavy mace, the Half-Orc grins as the two giants jostle in the clinch.
Newt rights himself, staggers forward, draws his own, somewhat pathetic looking- in comparison, heavy mace and… hovers, not knowing quite what to do.
Anya appears out of the darkness, takes in the situation and mutters arcane words- a cloak of black shimmering material sheathes the Half-Orc, Anya’s Scare spell takes effect, actually no effect, Torslak shrugs off the magic and swipes again at Bec. The Barbarian struggles to block the blow, his hands numb with the force of it- Bec has to give ground. A gold pendent- a three fingered hand, flashes into the light on the Half-Orc’s chest.
“Get me to Cas”, Ala appears limping very badly, attempting to climb the hill, also very badly- Anya is quickly to her side, supporting the Priestess of Correllon, the pair circle the battle being fought ahead.
Bec ducks too late, he’s smashed in the side of the face, teeth and blood shoot out, he slips and slides further down the hill, almost back to the circle of standing stones.
The Half-Orc grins some more, and saunters after him.
“Soon be over.” Torslak states.
DMs Interlude- Bec’s on 4 HP, at last- two of the three warriors are down, the last one standing is almost gone, Anya with only a bunch of crap spells left, Newt… well Newt, and Ala barely conscious and on half-speed. What can go wrong?
…
…
…
Bec’s still slipping, sliding backwards in the mud, the Half-Orc following him down, in no hurry- grinning. Eventually the Barbarian comes to rest against one of the standing stones; he braces himself to prevent further progress down the hill.
“Any last words?”
The Half-Orc draws to a halt and then bites off in broken Common.
“Lots of them, lots of them.”
Bec mumbles. The Half-Orc shrugs and surges towards him.
Bec can’t shift his sword; the guard is caught, wedged between his body and the standing stone.
He wrestles to try and get the thing free- it’s stuck fast.
There’s nothing for it, he closes his eyes…
THUNK-CHHHHHHH
Then opens them again. The Half-Orc’s face is only inches from his, close enough to feel the creature’s breath, his last one. Bec looks down, the thing is impaled on the blade of his sword, which hasn’t moved, still stuck- braced against the standing stone. Behind the huge creature are two huge gouges in the mud, the place where it slipped and slid, at great speed, into the aforementioned blade, impaling itself.
DMs Interlude- a “1” for the Half-Orc, followed by a Natural ‘20’ for Bec. Life sucks.
“Hey Anya.”
The Wizard looks over.
“I like you”, Bec calls back, and then to fill the silence, “a lot”, the Barbarian grins like an eight year old who’s cottoned on to the fact that he’s eight and can therefore, more-or-less, get away with anything. He winks for good measure.
Ala looks over; she’s bent at work on the Paladin.
Newt shuffles over into the circle.
“What happened to the strong silent type?” He stares at Bec.
“Done that. Didn’t work.” Bec replies.
“Are you alright Bec?” Cas sits up as Ala sets to work on Jim.
“Never felt better boss man. Clear as a bell.” Bec taps the side of his head, then folds his arms and stares at the Paladin.
Cas nods.
And right on queue Jim awakes.
Bec is quickly over to him, a hand on his shoulder.
“I love you Jim.” He murmurs, “but not like girls”, the Barbarian adds for clarity.
Saga of the Dragon Cult
Interlude 1
Intrigue at the Standing Stones
Scaled for level 3
Turn 84: The story so far.
The Gang are healed up and cleaned up. And back in Tetnee, supping fine ales and wines courtesy of the Wise Woman and Thistle, it seems prohibition is not something the nature worshippers have any truck with.
As to the mystery in the Druid Circle, well the juries out still…
“They were clearly up to no good” Bec offers.
“Hmmm.” Thistle agrees, “and you said that you thought the crows were there to take a message?”
Cas nods, “the Half-Orc said something to them before they left.”
“But what, that’s the mystery. And the three fingered pendants?”
Newt hands the Half-Orc’s pendant over, he only had it for safe keeping you understand.
Thistle examines the thing, “odd, but not unexplainable.”
Silence.
“What are they then?” Anya asks, worried she’s missed something.
“Very primitive, Tsathzar Rho.” Thistle adds.
Silence.
“Tsathzar… Row? What the hell is that?” Anya requires information.
“Tsathzar Rho is a dead cult, or so I thought, he was a Sorcerer or a Wizard, a meddler… anyway, it is said he attempted to call the Outer Gods to do his bidding.”
“Outer Gods.” Newt smirks and plays with the phrase.
“The Gatekeeper ignorant Gnome, the Outer Ones, creatures able to twist and shape the fabric of space itself.” Thistle lurks over to Newt who takes to examining his boots, in detail.
“Well… What happened?” Anya’s back on track.
“Oh. Nothing. Well he disappeared, Tsathzar Rho, vanished… now here’s the thing, I think he got his wish, I think he got to meet the Outer Ones…” Thistle grins.
“They took him didn’t they, the Outer Gods, this Gatekeeper.” Anya states.
Thistle nods, “that’s it, that’s right, good girl.”
Anya sneers and then grins, settling for the complement.
“Now here’s the bonus question- in the process the Outer Gods got more than they bargained for…”
Anya thinks about it- hard. Jim’s a little lost, he thinks about Mischa, and grins. Bec whispers to Newt about the size and contents of the sandwich he’s going to get when this meeting breaks up. Newt nods with relish. Cas and Ala try to keep up, but have no answers.
“I don’t know, damn. Something he took with him?” Anya guesses.
“Yessssss, well sort of, they found the trail he left”, and when that doesn’t work, “You see?”
“No.” Cas tries his luck.
“The trail…” Thistle tries again.
“To here.” Anya states confidently.
Thistle nods.
“Then they’re coming here?” Jim asks, as if in a dream.
Thistle nods again, “and I think some of their friends have caught on, preparing the way so to speak- terrifying isn’t it?” Thistle grins.
“Wh… What are we going to do?” Bec is finally listening, they’re all listening now.
“That’s the question?” Thistle states and folds his tree trunk arms, “What are you going to do?”
The silence stretches for a while.
“What’s this then?” Bec holds up the Half-Orc’s weapon, it feels dirty, greasy in his hands.
“Now that, that I don’t know- never seen one like it before.” Thistle examines the weapon, hesitates to touch it.
“It feels… funny, funny bad, not funny good.” Bec brings clarity.
“Get rid of it.” Cas states, and shivers.
“I suggest you leave that with me.” The Wise Woman breaks her silence, “I’ll see what I can find out, someone must have made it, it’s aura is… confused, certainly malevolent. Put it in the sack.”
Bec does as he’s told.
A little later, after sandwiches, and silence the meeting breaks up.
Three days later the Gang head home to Grimbo, Khan’s not there to greet them, probably hiding under a rock somewhere, life is… life is back to normal.
Cas asks around, at least he and Ala talk to Father Whiskin but the old Priest just shrugs his shoulders, he’s never heard of Tsathzar Rho.
The Gang meet up regularly, there’s talk of consulting a Sage- trying to find out more information, Anya is reluctant, and for the moment holds sway, she doesn’t want the information to get out. The fact that the sky is falling in and they’re the only ones that know about it somehow sounds like a secret worth keeping.
She does a lot of reading, mostly for nothing; references to Tsathzar Rho are few and far between, even her teacher at Grimbo College, Professor Nudge Toomes has only heard of Tsathzar Rho, but in connection with what, he’s unsure; the few enquiries she makes are met with blank stares.
Dungeon Crawl Classic #3
The Mysterious Tower
Level 3-5
Turn 85: Catch up, again.
“Jim” Bowen
Human Male Ranger Level 3
NG HP 35 AC 19 Init +2
Str 14 Dex 15 Con 14 Int 12 Wis 12 Ch 10
Saves Fort +6 Ref +5 Will +3
+1 Battleaxe (family heirloom) +6 d8+3
Longbow (Masterwork Mighty (+2)) +7 d8+2 or Rapid Fire +5/+5
Dagger, Silver +5 or +5 d4+2
Armour: Griffin insignia Masterwork Breastplate and Large Masterwork Wooden Shield.
Items of note: Climbers Kit, Wax Balls of Cure Lt x3, Potion Blur, Potion of Cure Moderate, Bracers of Armour +1.
Heavy Warhorse “Kaul” & associated kit and caboodle, including Studded Leather Barding.
Lord Casimir
Human Male Paladin of Pelor Level 3
LG HP 33 AC 19 Init +1
Str 15 Dex 13 Con 14 Int 14 Wis 11 Ch 14
Saves Fort +7 Ref +4 Will +5
+1 Longsword Cold Iron +6 d8+3
Longbow +4 d8
Light Mace +5 d6+2
Armour: Shiny Breastplate +1 & Sparkling Large Masterwork Steel Shield
Feats: Negotiator, Dodge, Mobility, Detect Evil, Lay on Hands, Divine Health, Smite Evil, Aura of Courage, Remove Disease, Turn Undead, Spring Attack.
Items of note: 3 Flasks of Holy Water, 5 Silver Arrows, Horn of Good, Potion of Cure Light Wounds x4, Potion of Vision, Potion of Haste, Healing Kit.
Light Warhorse “Reggie” & associated kit and caboodle.
Anya’Drea
Human Female Wizard Level 3
CG HP 18 AC 15 Init +5
Str 10 Dex 13 Con 12 Int 16 Wis 11 Ch 17
Saves Fort +2 Ref +2 Will +3
+1 Quarterstaff +2 d6+1
Light Crossbow Masterwork +3 d8
Dagger Coral Masterwork Keen +2 or +3 d4
Armour: Leather Armour, Ring of Protection +1, Bracers of Armour +1
Items of note: Scrolls- not so many of them as before, Wand of Burning Hands (Level 3- 13 Charges); Potion Cure Lt. x4, Potion Cure Moderate, Potion of Intelligence, Pearl of Power (lvl 1), Necklace of Fireballs Type I, 2 Bags of Caltrops; 6 Tindertwigs, 10 Sunrods.
“Swish” Animated Broom companion AC15 Mv30 Init+2 +1 Slam d4 Hardness 5 Fort +0 Ref +2 Will -5
Light Warhorse “Mr. Fizz” & associated kit and caboodle, including Studded Leather Barding.
Newt
Gnome Male Rogue Level 3
NG HP 22 AC 19 Init +3
Str 11 Dex 16 Con 14 Int 16 Wis 11 Ch 10
Saves Fort +3 Ref +6 Will +3
Heavy Mace Masterwork +4 d6
Light Crossbow Masterwork +7 d6
+1 Dagger (wielded as Shortsword) of Spell Storing (Shocking Grasp D8+2) +4 D4+1
Adamantine Ceremonial Dagger (wielded as Shortsword) +3 D4
Dagger Masterwork Silver +4 or +7 d3
Armour: +1 Chain Shirt
Feats: Nimble Fingers, Low Light Vision, +1 To Hit vs. Goblinoids and Kobolds, +4 Dodge vs. Giants, Point Blank Shot, Evasion, Rapid Shot.
Skills of note: Alchemy +10 Appraise +5 Balance +8 Climb +5 Craft (Locksmith) +6 Decipher Script +5 Disable Device +10 Escape Artist +4 Forgery +3 Gather Info +3 Hide +11 Intimidate +3 Jump +5 (+35 with Ring of Jumping) Listen +8 Move Silently +9 Open Lock +11 Pick Pocket +4 Read Lips +5 Ride (Pony) +3 Scry +3 Search +9 Spot +6 Tumble +5 Use Rope +3
Items of note: 2 Healer’s Kits, Scroll Protection from Elements, Potion Cure Light Wounds x4, Potion Cure Moderate Wounds, Scroll Hold Person & Deeper Darkness and a few others, Vial of Silversheen, Pearl of Power (lvl 1), Ring of Whispering Wind (10).
Light Riding Horse “Slim” & associated kit and caboodle.
Dungeon Crawl Classic #3
The Mysterious Tower
Level 3-5
Turn 86: To the Tower.
Nudge Toomes, Professor of… well almost everything, leading light in the Department of Magics at Grimbo College, and sometime mentor to Anya, the pair relax in his cosy office.
“Of course there’s still one possibility, but it’s a long shot.”
“Tell me.” Anya leans forward in her comfy chair.
“The Wizard Balthazhar, one of my predecessors, of sorts, he left Grimbo about a century ago, they say he knew about, well… everything. He did a lot of work with the Watch also, which may help you with some of your other problems- I hear you’re all very unpopular.”
“So there’s a history of the Watch getting other people to do their dirty work for them.” Anya frowns.
“I should say so- that’s how they work, shift the blame if need be, grab the glory if there’s any going.” The Professor smiles back at his apt pupil.
Anya thinks about it a while.
“So who’s Balthazhar, where can I find him, 125 years ago- that’s an awful long time, is he even alive?”
“No. No, he’s very dead.”
“Then how can I possibly ask him questions- if he’s dead?”
“That my child is the hard part. Listen.”
Anya leans closer in; the Professor looks left and right, like he’s about to tell Anya some big secret.
“You have of course heard of the Wizard’s Tower?”
Anya nods.
Professor Nudge Toomes smiles and leans back, conspiracy over.
“That’s him.”
Anya suddenly sits up, “the Ghost in the Tower?”
Nudge nods, and grins. “You just have to free him; that might make him grateful.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Nothing’s impossible my girl, haven’t you learnt that yet. Certainly many others have tried, and for less honourable reasons, they say Balthazhar hid a fortune in gold and magic in his Tower, if all you want are some answers to your questions then who’s to say he won’t see fit to share his findings with you.”
“Others have tried- to get the gold.”
“Tried and failed. Have you ever failed?”
“Not yet.” Anya whispers back, “not yet.”
“Do you even want the gold?”
“No, I mean it’d be nice, but I want answers.” Anya grimaces.
Nudge leans back in his sagging old armchair, smiles.
“Then my advice to you is simple, don’t fail- you have questions, Balthazhar may have the answers.”
Time ticks by, Nudge continues to grin at Anya, certain that she has already made her decision.
“The question then is what’s keeping you in Grimbo?”
“Nothing.” Anya mutters and looks away, “nothing, nothing at all.”
“Then have a safe journey.”
The Professor heaves himself out of his chair and heads off to potter about a bit, leaving Anya alone with her thoughts, the fire spits and crackles behind her.
Six days later the Goodman Gang stride over a low hill and down into a rocky valley towards a range of craggy foothills, beyond the foothills nameless black spires pierce the clouds, the village of Ghoul lies hidden within the peaks, the village of the Damned, or so its said.
But the Goodman Gang are not going there, at least not now.
Their target is a little closer, only half a mile or so down the valley, across rugged scrublands not yet tamed by man.
In the last six days the Gang have ridden hard, although each night with the promise of fresh clean beds ahead of them. Tonight they’ll have to make do with a camp fire and the Mysterious Tower, home and prison to the ghost of the Wizard Balthazhar.
The Gang have made there way through Lacey and on to K-Stor, from there on through Bigg and to Skinthorpe, the final leg of their journey taking them to the village of Growl, and the Red Lion Inn, there they left their mounts in Bungo’s Stables.
It’s but a short walk to the fabled tower, or so the lad at the Inn told them, he may have been lying.
“My feet hurt.” Newt states.
“Stop complaining, we’ve all walked the same distance.” Ala chides.
“But I have to walk two steps, at least, to your one- I’ve travelled twice as far.”
“It doesn’t work like that Newt.”
“It feels like it does.” The Gnome sulks away, back to the rear of the Gang.
And so here they come, with only a few hours of daylight left, the trek has taken twice as long as they expected, it’ll be getting dark soon, they need to find some shelter.
They trudge on, the Tower’s close now, they can’t see it yet- but Anya can feel it, the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end, there’s a storm brewing.
Finally the Gang crest the last hill and there before them is the Mysterious Tower. Made of gleaming white marble; perfectly preserved amidst the ruins of an ancient keep. A shimmering blue force field surrounds the Tower, encasing it from ground level to its summit; it extends out mere inches from the walls. Newt can see something flitting about between the force field and the tower – it’s the ghost of the Wizard Balthazhar, according to Anya’s story. Newt hawks and spits, a bad taste in his mouth, he trudges on.
The ruins are old stones of granite, pulverized by years of neglect and occupation. Newt can still make out the basic outline of the ruined, four-cornered keep; the perfectly preserved tower is startling by comparison.
What’s that, the Gnome raises a hand, the others quickly stop and crouch ready for action.
“Something’s coming.”
“What?” Cas scans ahead.
“Beetles.” Newt remembers them well from his time in the desert, “big ones, three of them.”
“Heads up, missiles to the fore- time for action.” Cas swings into motion, the others hurry to obey, it’s a well oiled machine at times.
Six feet long with shining black carapaces, that’s them alright, the same as in the desert, Newt’s not going to get caught out twice.
FWUNG
A volley of missiles, but only Anya’s crossbow bolt is true, it gouges a deep gash in the side of one of the creatures causing it to lag dramatically, it struggles to keep up, the lead pair however apply a little more fuel to the fire, they’re closing the gap very quickly.
“MELEE.” Cas orders, the Gang ditch missile weapons and ready the big guns.
The Giant Bombadier Beetles scuttle into the action.
Ala and Jim leap at the first of them, Ala’s flashing longsword is turned aside by the creatures jet black carapace, Jim’s axe however finds a weak spot, a gout of yellow ichor erupts from the rent in the Beetles side.
Bec and Cas lurch towards the second Beetle, before Cas can even aim his blow, Bec leaps in and smashes his greatsword down onto the creature, which is almost split in two, such is the ferocity of the attack.
But Bec’s not done yet, he spins and steps back, dances a half-circle, which leaves him just to the rear of the first Beetle.
SMASH.
It’s dead too.
Which just leaves.
“Pelor…” The squeaky voice is Newt’s, a frontal assault this time, it seems he has a score to settle, the final Beetle wanders into a world of pain, it is however short lived, Newt smashes his mace down into the Beetles brain, the customary yellow ichor erupts, the Beetle twitches a little and then expires.
“Feckers.” Newt spits, and grins.
And is instantly gripped by a smiling, almost laughing Bec, the Barbarian hugs the Gnome to him, lifting Newt clean off the floor.
“That feels better, doesn’t it?” The wordy Barbarian grins, then remembers his place and lets the Gnome down.
“Well that went rather well, here’s hoping the rest of it will be that easy. Come on.” Cas strides on, the others wreathed in smiles, follow after.
And less than a minute later enter the ruins proper.
The Gang stand in the courtyard of what was once a powerful keep, now nothing more than weathered ruins. In the south-western corner of the courtyard, behind them and to their left, is an overgrown apple orchard, tangled by weeds and years of neglect. On the northern half of the west wall, is the still-standing stone foundation of what looks to be ruined stables. Continuing clockwise is the battered remains of a much smaller and better constructed building, obviously the officer’s quarters, in the north-eastern corner. Further round still, along the southern half of the east wall, is a larger, similar looking building, probably once the barracks of the common soldiery, now ruined.
But none of this draws the Gang’s attention so much as the Mysterious Tower in the dead centre of the destroyed keep. Built of the whitest marble and still in pristine condition, it is a mere fifteen feet wide and rises just thirty feet in the air. There are no doors or windows. Completely encasing the tower is a shimmering blue force field roughly six inches from the wall.
Anya’s gaze wanders across the tower; she spots a flicker of movement at its apex. Suddenly a gruesome looking Ghost flits from behind the structure. The Spirit is clearly trapped behind the force field, but that doesn’t stop it from fixing its gaze upon her, the Ghost of Balthazhar the Wizard moans, the sound- like a death knell.
Which causes all of the Goodman Gang to take a step back, except one.
Cas strides closer to the Tower, more or less oblivious to the noise, he stands there, hands on his hips, staring intently at the spirit.
“We come in peace.” Cas waves at the Ghost.
“Oh Pelor, he’s so embarrassing at times.” Ala can’t watch.
“Can you hear me? We mean you no harm.” Cas turns back to grin at his audience, he gives a thumbs up sign to Ala, who smiles back- weakly, then hides her face when the Paladin turns back to the tower.
The Priestess of Correllon shakes her head, muttering, “so embarrassing.”
“We are here to free you.” Cas announces, grins at the Ghost Wizard, and tries a two thumbs up signal for good measure.
The Ghost ceases its flitting, hovers, halfway up, halfway down the Tower.
Slowly.
Ever-so slowly.
It raises both hands.
And for some unknown reason makes a double thumbs up gesture back.
Which makes the Paladin smile, he turns back to share his grin with his compatriots. “I think he understands”, the Paladin nods for emphasis, “this should be a piece of cake”, Cas winks at his compatriots.
Then turns back, and pronounces every word, as if he were talking to a foreigner.
“STAY THERE.”
The Ghost of Balthazhar looks sharp left, then right, he has about six inches of play between the walls of the Tower and the shimmering blue force field, Balthazhar shrugs and looks cross-eyed at the Paladin- bloody adventurers, where else is he going to go?
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