Rappan Athuk Reloaded, DND 4E

[jfauch2]

I will be chronicling my interpretation of the great mega module of Rappan Athuk converted loosely into 4E. Not all things convert directly and I had to take some liberty to make it fit. So if have played or read RA and see something different, it’s was just me. Also I will be starting at our current spot and may go back with the 1st few days but I don’t remember all the details. The room numbers correspond to the RA-Reloaded maps if you want to follow along.

Also, Questions, Suggestions and Comments are welcome.

Cast of Characters:

Gyher, Dragonborn Sorcerer -5
Yohan, Human Paladin -6
Thoradin, Dwarvern Cleric -5
Kar, Goliath Barbarian -5
Byorne Bloodaxe, Dwarven Cleric -5

Setting: Rappan Athuk in Converted to DND 4E

Session 4
Room 1-11 Rats!
4- Rat Swarms
3- Wererats
1- Wererat Rouge

This large room is with a stream flowing through the middle. The wererats setup an ambush with the leader (Rouge), a scantily clad women, whose dress was torn and had scratches on here was on top of a large mushroom fighting off a swarm of rats. Another wererat was on the PC’s side of the stream covered in a swarm of rats, with the other two hiding behind the wall of rocks at the exit of the room. The wererats plan was to get some of the pc’s across the stream which was deep and flowing and swiftly moving and then to launch the ambush.
The party warily moved into the room not moving to far in the room. Yohan, seem in a trance and stayed by the exit the whole encounter (The player was running late) giving just morale support. The Barbarian flanked by the two clerics moved toward the Perceived corpse covered with rats while Gyher made a leap across the water and used his dragon breath to flame the rats and the ‘innocent’ girl.
The damsel took offense to being flamed and signaled the others to attack. Gyher was soon surround by rats and a pissed off wererat rouge, who could not for the life of her hit the sorcerer (Damn dice). The rat corpse wererat got up and two of his companions followed the rat swarms into the attack, on the north bank. The larger fight was a meat grinder with the Thoradin continually healing the always hittable barbarian and with Byorne the better fighter of the two wading into melee. The fight was close and it took almost all of the group’s powers (dailies) to fight back the rats. Mean while the sorcerer calling upon every trick in the book, avoided taking any serious damage and managed to take out 2 wererats and running off the third. By this time the battle was won and the remaining wererat was dispatched.

 

[jfauch2]

Session 4 part 2 Room 2-2 Skeleton Surprise

Gyher, Dragonborn Sorcerer -5
Yohan, Human Paladin -6
Thoradin, Dwarvern Cleric -5
Kar, Goliath Barbarian -5
Byorne Bloodaxe, Dwarven Cleric -5

Session 4 part 2
Room 2-2 Skeleton Surprise (EXP 1150)
3- Shattergloom Skeletons
4- Decrepit Skeletons

After an extend rest in the Merchant Ghoul’s room (That is another story). The Party moved down the stairs to level two (avoiding the 3rd and 5th Step). Room 2-1 is a large corridor and they notice that the floor is littered with decaying giant rat skeletons and that one of the tiles on the floor is ajar. After a flurry of perception and every other kind of checks they poke around the room and find nothing. Yohan then wakes up. (The Player made it to the game despite GF troubles) They soon enter a room in which a large crashing sound can be heard. Around the corner is a corridor with a large spiked stone ball is moving up and down, crashing into the wall, but stopping at the end of the corridor just go back. They cannot see what is at the other end. They decide they should go back and try the other western door. That door is locked an after attempting to get in the skeletons who were hiding in 2-2 decide to attack, gaining surprise the Shatterglooms rush into the fray.

The party made a wall with the Paladin and Barb on the ends and the clerics in the middle. The three Shatterglooms rush in and start waling on the party who realized these are not your average skeletons. The Decrepit Skeletons also come out and start peppering the party with arrows.
Gyher dispatches the Artillery with a well placed dragon breath and Thoridin calls on his god to send the black skeletons back to the grave. Only one is affected and he drops back into a cloud of darkness. Yohan and Gyher also bloodied 2 more shatterglooms unleashing a hellish cloud of black energy that knocks Thoradin unconscious. Byrone moves backwards out of the darkness calling to the party to fall back. He thinks that maybe the darkness may have also made them deaf as no one comes out but he hears the Goliath hit the ground with a large smack. Soon Yohan, Gyher and Byorne are calling upon all of their reserves dispatch the remaining shatterglooms while the gods smile upon yohan and he is healed. (Rolled a 20 on death save). Soon Kar is revived and finds a black skeleton head that he keeps as a trophy. The party then limps into the area that the skeletons came from. Finding the secret room they soon take a short rest.

 

[jfauch2]

Gyher, Dragonborn Sorcerer -5
Yohan, Human Paladin -6
Thoradin, Dwarvern Cleric -5
Kar, Goliath Barbarian -5
Skelly: Back Skeleton Guard Enslaved by Kar
Byorne Bloodaxe, Dwarven Cleric -5


Session 4 part 3
Room 2-2, 2-3, 2-4

While searching around in the skeleton hiding spot Yohan also finds a black skull in which he puts in his pack, but Kar is captivated by his new toy and places it on the ground to see what happens. With a puff of black smoke a black skeleton appears were the skull was and hissed, “What is thou bidding master”. The party is taken aback and Thoradin grabs at his holy symbol. Kar motions them to hold off as he thinks he can use this apparition as guard. He tells the skeleton to ‘kill anyone who passes this point’ in which the rest of the party shouts whoa, hold up now etc… Soon after giving the skeleton exact instructions on how to attack and not attack the party investigates the rolling spiked ball.
Gyher decides that there is enough space that if he timed it right he could make it past the ball to the other side. He doesn’t make it and is soon rolling back and forth down the hall spilling his blood up and down the hallway. The clerics heal him the best they can while Yohan and Kar grab and rip him off of the ball. Unperturbed, he tries again and makes it pass the ball but finds a locked door on the other side. Calling for help, Kar decided that he could leap over the ball, in which he doesn’t, and is soon attached to the spikes and is rolling down the hallway, but he lucks up and gets off right at the door. The two hack/blast the door and get it open to find a Large Sarcophagus and a long dead corpse (Room 2-4). Rifling through the corpse unleashed a pair of Rot Scarab Swarms.
So Kar and Ghyer pretty much just dropped bricks and turn tail and start to run down the corridor, crushing ball or not. In fact both get grabbed by the ball and smashed and smushed all the way back to the entrance, at least Ghyer did, Kar was not as luckily.
As Kar was becoming part of the glue that held the stones together the two clerics brave the corridor, to help him out and despite the great ball's better efforts, they manage to get everyone out. As a bonus the Rot Scarab Swarms were dispersed by the great ball. After a long explanation to Skelly on who to kill or not kill, (he was confused and was eyeing the party warily) the party took a short rest.

 

[jfauch2]

Gyher, Dragonborn Sorcerer -5
Yohan, Human Paladin -6
Thoradin, Dwarvern Cleric -5
Kar, Goliath Barbarian -5
Skelly: Back Skeleton Guard Enslaved by Kar
Byorne Bloodaxe, Dwarven Cleric -5


Session 4 Part 5
Room 2-21
The party sees a very badly hidden secret door, badly hidden because a half eat corpse is blocking the door way. Kar sends Skelly in the check it out and he returns saying that all is ready for him to enter. From behind Skelly gnashing of teeth and shambling can be heard so the other players tell Kar to hold on. After an intense interrogation of Skelly it is learned that something has prepared a grand feast for Kar to attend as the guest of honor. Skelly also states that there is a ‘big brutal magic axe’ somewhere in the grand hall for Kar. Quickly the party moves on down the corridor, although Kar moves more slowly.
Room 2-17
Gyher finds a magic broom that seems to sweep up when commanded. He lashes this to his backpack thinking he may have a need of it in the future.

Room 2-18
Here the party spots 5 Ogres counting out a pile of coins on the floor. Before the Ogres can act the party attacks! During the attack Skelly ask if Kar needs help, in which Kar yells, “Yes, by the gods help me” in which Skelly runs down the hall telling Kar that he is going to get some help for him. The party makes quick work of the ogres and soon 1 lone ogre throws down his club and tries to buy his life by offering the party a way out of the dungeon. At that time Skelly shows up with a number of other ‘friends’ to help with the fight. Kar convinces him that he does not need the help and the others go back to with they came. The New Ogre Friend does not like the black skeleton and tells the party to get rid of it. Kar, Much wiser than an ogre, decides to keep his skeleton pal around and the party settles in the ogre’s cambers for a long rest.