Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
The Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh #136 Into the Mere of the Dead Men.
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 8210489" data-attributes="member: 16069"><p style="text-align: center"><strong>Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>Session #036 Bandits & Boars in Witch Wood.</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Dark Squad (in alphabetical order, no egos here).</strong></p><p><strong>Buggles (played by Stu) Male Wood Elf Fighter Lvl 3/Rogue Lvl 3</strong></p><p><strong>New Tricks (played by Bear) Male Tabaxi Warlock Lvl 6</strong></p><p><strong>Ramshambo (played by Kev) Male Half-Elf Rogue Lvl 6</strong></p><p><strong>Vincenzo (played by Haggis) Male Shifter (Wildhunt) Druid Lvl 6</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>NPCs</strong></p><p><strong>Daktari Male Human Uthgardt Sky Pony Barbarian Lvl 6</strong></p><p><strong><s>Garumn Male Mountain Dwarf Paladin of Moradin Lvl 5 </s>RIP*</strong></p><p><strong>*Trapped in the Land of the Bad Dead Ancestors.</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Buggles’ undead servitor</strong></p><p><strong>Gwen Female Duergar Skeleton, in full-face helm and armour </strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Buggles’ new non-undead servitor</strong></p><p><strong>Halibert Shambles Male Human Ex-Warehouseman (Level 3), newly armed and armoured</strong></p><p></p><p>This is session 36, and yet another corker although not much in the way of roleplay this evening, it seems Tuesday night is alright for fighting.</p><p></p><p>Lots and lots of fighting this evening, so only a short report this one.</p><p></p><p>But first, back to Farhill Mine after the Dark Squad get their presents from the peasant farmers they rescued from the manticores a few days past.</p><p></p><p>Later on in this session Vinnie will discover that one of the farmer’s gifts is a magical item. A small black stone shaped like a sleeping snake turns out, as identified by Newt, to grant poison resistance (although it needs to be attuned).</p><p></p><p>So, that’s nice.</p><p></p><p>Back at Farhill and more chats- Buggles has a long chinwag with Arty Swell, he was directed to the gnome alchemist in the last session, the wood elf requires magical armour (it’s a quest he’s on, or else it seems that way). However, the cost of the armour is prohibitive (2,500gp for +1 Studded Leather) he’s going to have to get saving. Vinnie has also got a whole lot of glassware on order from the gnome alchemist, it’ll be arriving on the morrow. The druid has also been doing evening classes with Arty- he’s keen to learn alchemy, and to start brewing his own potions (not just of the healing variety).</p><p></p><p>Then more chats amongst the PCs, mostly about the ongoing situation, but the DM is keen to get going. There’s only one more day left of the cart trips to Saltmarsh with the Slaggs, and so it goes- but the last day is a remarkably easy, that is until the wagons get through Lowden on their return journey, on the road that curves around Witch Wood and back to the mine.</p><p></p><p>As it turns out one of the things the Dark Squad have been talking about is the fact that they are looking for the Witch’s Tor- one of the prophecies of the Bad Dead Ancestors mentioned this place. They are therefore keen to check out Witch Wood.</p><p></p><p>They’re about to get their wish.</p><p></p><p>However, back to the present and a swarthy and nasty-looking man steps out of the foliage before the lead wagon (with Grumpy Slagg, Buggles, Vinnie & Halibert Shambles on board).</p><p></p><p>The bandit leader declares-</p><p></p><p>"There are thirty trained marksmen waiting my command to fire, save yourselves- abandon your wagons and walk away- back to town."</p><p></p><p>"Or back to the hole in the ground you came from..."</p><p></p><p>"Choose quickly..."</p><p></p><p>The PCs take a good look around them and spot maybe ten or so other semi-hidden bandits in the greenery hereabouts, however eagle-eyed Buggles can also see a clutch more of crossbow aiming enemies lying in tall grass atop a nearby rocky ledge.</p><p></p><p>Still, hardly ‘thirty trained marksmen’…</p><p></p><p>Vinnie however is the voice of reason-</p><p></p><p>“It iz a plezant day mez amis, and I alzo am in a plezant mood. I will leaf yew a leetle payment- a tithe, if you will. Providing, and I will attempt to yewz wordz of your low understanding. I will pay yew a leetle, providing yew naughty word off very quicklee!”</p><p></p><p>There follows a little more back and forth between the druid and the bandit leader, soon after however a second bandit boss is revealed, the fellow is positioned (with friends) at the rear of the stopped wagons, this surly fellow also gets chatty. This in response to Newt standing tall in the rear wagon and yowling threats at the nearby enemies.</p><p></p><p>[Vinnie chats while Newt threatens the bandit leaders 250 XP]</p><p></p><p>The bandit leaders argue their case, and obviously threaten some more, at which point Newt begins ranting in his demonic tongue, and then incinerates a tree and the four bandits stood around it with a Fireball.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]133392[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>The circle pointer to the south east indicates the area affected by the Fireball, I'm sure there were some bandit tokens there just a second ago... </strong></p><p></p><p>We’re fighting then.</p><p></p><p>Just to say there are actually sixteen bandits positioned around the stopped caravan- reduced to twelve after Newt’s Fireball, and also a pair of bandit leaders (the duo with maxed hit points).</p><p></p><p>It’s a long fight, but let’s not go turn by turn, here then are some of the best bits-</p><p></p><p>On the first wagon all of the adventurers (Buggles, Vinnie & Halibert Shambles) quickly get off the cart and swiftly into action, in the meantime Grumpy Slag gets shot (by a crossbow wielding bandit) as does the draft horse pulling the wagon. The dwarf however keeps the beast and the vehicle under control, but is soon after stabbed in the back repeatedly by a bandit who clambers up and onto the cart. Note, Newt blasts this fellow dead eventually but not before Grumpy gets stabbed some more.</p><p></p><p>Buggles, unleashed, dodges from cover to cover- alternating between his twin scimitars and his longbow, the wood elf quickly accounts for a pair of bandits with his blades. He then helps Vinnie out by slaughtering the chatty bandit leader here. That done, and towards the end of the fight, the wood elf terror then rushes to menace the shooters on the ledge. He gets around the fight, more often than not finding somewhere to lay low between his attacks- he’s a bastard.</p><p></p><p>Halibert Shambles, the ex-warehouseman turned adventurer, miraculously almost never misses an attack, the neophyte warrior attempts to follow Buggles’ lead, and does well in his first proper fight, even delivering a killing blow to one of the bandits. At one point the players even suggest that the young lad should perhaps replace Daktari.</p><p></p><p>Vinnie… the druid slinks off the cart and swiftly wild-shapes into a (huge) giant constrictor snake (on screen- Vincen G Squeezy Snake), the reptile is nearly thirty feet long. Seconds later and the nearby bandit leader is grabbed-up, and crushed by the slithering druid. Vinnie also holds the grappled and restrained villain out for Buggles to savage with his scimitars, eventually he eats the screaming fellow*, but not before the vicious enemy has bloodied the giant reptile.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]133393[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Vincen G Squeezy Snake snaffles a bandit leader down- the sweet you can eat between meals, apparently.</strong></p><p></p><p>*The eating of the bandit leader leads to a short debate about what happens when Vinnie transforms back into his shifter form- where does all that undigested flesh go? Will Vinnie closely resemble Obelix? Lastly, how does the druid ‘pass’ the gargantuan meal later?</p><p></p><p>And so now to the second cart with Porthole Slagg at the reins, the dwarven miner- like his brother, is shot repeatedly- as is the draft horse that is pulling the wagon. The horse bolts, and Porthole fails to bring the beast under control, point of fact the dwarf is sent flying from his seat and left sprawled in the road. The miner however manages to pick himself up and scuttle into cover, there to hide for the rest of the fight.</p><p></p><p>The rampaging terrified horse and wagon meantime also quickly sheds Daktari, the barbarian is thrown from the cart but manages to land on his feet. Note, Newt got out of the wagon earlier- but was using the vehicle as cover for his firing position. That obviously doesn’t last.</p><p></p><p>The horse and wagon plunge off the road and into the undergrowth, and then rush along the edge of a twenty foot deep stone-filled depression (a small quarry). All the while, on the back of the cart, Ramshambow is going solo with the second bandit leader, the rogue eventually takes his enemy down, although with help from his friends- Buggles & Newt with artillery support. The swashbuckling rogue then grabs the reins and brings the horse and wagon back under control, which is no mean feat. Close call.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]133394[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>This image is supposed to show Ram dramatically fighting a bandit leader as the wagon they are on rushes forward out of control. Alas the bloody bandit's bloody token (and many others) keep getting sucked underneath the cart tokens. Note, there are more bad guys on the screen here (at least four shooters), but not all of the PCs can see all of the enemies, and so they don't appear in the screenshots that they take. </strong></p><p></p><p>Newt, after the wagon departs at speed has to swiftly conjure his Mirror Images, as the tabaxi gets quickly closed down by a pair of bandits, he eventually blasts his way out of the melee. Although only after losing all of his conjured images, and whilst screaming “I SEND THIS SOUL TO SIR HUMPHERY FARFANARR!” in his demonic tongue, every time he picks off another enemy. Then, screaming and ranting done, he finds cover and continues his fiery assault.</p><p></p><p>Daktari spends a good while swatting and missing at a variety of bandits, and then- after the PCs/players have been praising Halibert’s efforts to the heavens, the barbarian’s dice come alive, he crits three turns in a row- and slaughters a bunch more bandits.</p><p></p><p>But the fight, while furious in places, is never really in the balance- the PCs take a bunch of hits but the bandits can’t do enough damage quickly. The day is won- the Dark Squad’s legend lives on. Note, that said a clutch of bandits skedaddle early (mainly the shooters Buggles spotted right at the start) and flee to fight another day.</p><p></p><p>[Bandits on the Lowden Road 1300 XP]</p><p></p><p>Victory, but the Dark Squad are keen to take a moment, Vinnie returns to his shifter form- looking particularly well fed, and then the dead bandits- and in particular the leaders-types, are searched. There’s a bit of money/treasure, but alas no incriminating evidence is found- nothing to indicate who these foul fellows are, or rather- were. However, further investigation reveals that a majority of these folk are probably not locals, certainly the two leader-types were mercenaries (or similar), which could be a concern.</p><p></p><p>Buggles and Vinnie go for a ten minute wander around the ambush site, to see if there are any obvious tracks in the area. The question is where did these bad fellows come from? The answer being, very clearly after the druid and fighter/rogue’s circuit- Witch Wood. Then, after plenty of chatter with Grumpy & Porthole, it seems the last time a mine wagon was ambushed was several years ago, and not like this- this attack looked like a very professional affair. If the Dark Squad weren’t here… they would have lost the loads, the dwarves fear, and possibly their lives.</p><p></p><p>The Slaggs are very grateful, and so it is swiftly decided- Halibert Shambles and the Slaggs will take the wagons home, the mine is only two hours at most up the road. The Dark Squad however are going on, into Witch Woods.</p><p></p><p>Note all of the above chatter et al is accomplished during a short rest, along with more than a little healing.</p><p></p><p>[Lots of chatter and investigation about the bandits 250 XP]</p><p></p><p>It’s late afternoon, early evening- there are two to three hours of light left, the Dark Squad plunge into Witch Wood- and it’s a pleasant enough woodland- all dappled light and the smells of growth and decay. Although dense and wild for the most part- but Vinnie and Buggles have no problems following the bandit’s trail.</p><p></p><p>That is until they wander into a small clearing, and seconds later are beset by a herd of wild boars, including a giant boar, which rush out of the wilds and charge into the adventurers. To make matters worse a bunch of the PCs are completely surprised by the attack- Ram and Vinnie are both tusked and hurt in the opening moments.</p><p></p><p>The Dark Squad scramble into action, and there’s a fair amount of trepidation initially, but then a number of the smaller boars are killed very quickly.</p><p></p><p>However a second wave of boars, including another of the giant beasts charges down the track and plunges into the party.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]133395[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>The Giant Boars are fairly tough!</strong></p><p></p><p>The fighting is fast and furious, but again the only significant threats are the two giant boars. Buggles makes the most of the terrain, the wood elf scrambles up a ten foot stony ledge and from his perch causes havoc with his bow, and he never misses.</p><p></p><p>Oddly, Buggles observes, there’s yet another of the smaller boars standing quietly behind a tree and away from the action- the beast seems to be content to watch its snarling snuffling kin in action. Alas Buggles’ nature check is so low (‘3’) that he’s not at all suspicious of this behaviour.</p><p></p><p>Note a little later Vinnie also spies the presence of this calm creature, alas he too is unconcerned by the odd porcine behaviour (yet another low roll).</p><p></p><p>The fight rumbles on, until almost all of the small boars have been slaughtered, and both of the giant boars are bloodied and almost broken, at which point the boar with a watching brief rushes out into the open and transforms en route into a brutally ugly orc (actually a half-orc, see later). The newly revealed humanoid then shoots a Lightning Bolt into the thick of the melee.</p><p></p><p>Note Vinnie was also trying and failing to make a nature check to discern that all of this was odd behaviour for wild boars, alas another very low roll followed- the druid therefore concludes that the Dark Squad have somehow threatened the boars territory (or similar).</p><p></p><p>Back to the action…</p><p></p><p>The Lightning Bolt zaps and fries the last small boar, and then zips on to leave Daktari bloodied while reducing Vinnie to a frazzled fury (on 4 HP).</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]133396[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Ignore the Vinnie token bottom right, Vince T(oothed) Tiger is in action, and he's Grrrrrrreat! Note the path of the Lightning Bolt, and the fact that Buggles has just launched himself down at the spellcasting Half-Orc.</strong></p><p></p><p>Buggles however up on his stony ledge watches all of this happen, the wood elf races and then skids down the scree and tumbled rock at speed and slams his scimitars into the newly revealed enemy spellcaster, a half-orc. The ugly humanoid wears strange bladed gauntlets (see the image).</p><p></p><p>The wood elf hits the creature repeatedly, and with an extra action surge- nearly bloodying the enemy in an instant. Seconds later a now wild-shaped Vincen (T)oothed Tiger rushes over and gets his revenge in, the half-orc is left critically wounded and prone by the savage druid.</p><p></p><p>Moments later Newt compounds the attacker’s misery- paralyzing the half-orc with a Hold Person spell. Buggles however is not for keeping the fellow alive- the rogue/fighter stabs his scimitar through its throat, this after the half-orc enemy manages to quickly throw off the paralyzing spell’s effect.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]133397[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Note tokens show dead Boars, Giant or otherwise. Also, nice look for the Half-Orc Talos adherent.</strong></p><p></p><p>The last giant boar being laid to rest moments earlier by Daktari.</p><p></p><p>[Boar attack! 1900 XP]</p><p></p><p>Vinnie wild-shapes quickly back to shifter form, and then makes use of a scroll of Healing Spirit (for himself), and then still needs more healing when it’s done.</p><p></p><p>The odd nature of the boar attack, and the newly revealed boar/half-orc, is discussed at length. The surrounding area and everything in it is then investigated carefully, particularly the half-orc, here’s what comes to light-</p><p></p><p>1) The bandits passed this way earlier this morning- on their way to the ambush site, Buggles is certain- the implication being (perhaps) that the boars and the half-orc were members of the same company, or else in collusion with the bandits.</p><p></p><p>2) The boars were obviously being controlled by the half-orc.</p><p></p><p>3) Last bit, the half-orc has no possessions apart from the clothes he wears, however the body (strip searched by Buggles) bears a host of ritual scars and wounds. Vinnie determines that the fellow is an adherent of Talos, the Storm Lord, the Destroyer- a dark god. The half-orc is also likely some sort of northern barbarian, again- certainly not a local.</p><p></p><p>Which of course just leads to more questions, a brief discussion follows, although the adventurers are keen to get on, the bandit’s trail continues- deeper into Witch Wood.</p><p></p><p>[Further discussion/investigation 250 XP]</p><p></p><p>And so, onwards- another thirty minutes following the trail, and uphill, deeper into the woods, until eventually the Dark Squad arrive at their destination. In the side of a low hill is a stone door with surrounding stone stepped and flagged porch/portico area, the ruins of stone walls and a selection of empty-looking crates and barrels in the area. The door is sturdy looking, and closed.</p><p></p><p>Ram and Buggles go forward to check out the area- it seems to be safe, and the portal itself- which, Ram declares is trapped, but- he’s certain he can disarm it… alas this doesn’t come to pass (he rolls spectacularly low with advantage- ‘3’ & ‘4’). The area before the portal is engulfed in flame as the lower half of the door explodes outwards, the pair suffer- although only slightly with both somehow managing to avoid most of the blast.</p><p></p><p>[Fiery trap 200 XP]</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]133398[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>The Bandit's Lair? Red square is the blast zone.</strong></p><p></p><p>The bottom half of the door is entirely consumed in the explosion, and the portal swings open to reveal a now smoky crypt, there’s a narrow opening- a cavern passage, in the wall opposite, and lights are seen beyond, and seconds later shouting.</p><p></p><p>But that’s all we have time for this evening, as I said at the start- lots of fighting.</p><p></p><p>Until then stay safe and well you lovely people.</p><p></p><p>Cheers the Dark Squad and goonalan.</p><p></p><p>And thanks to Morrus who let me back in when I forgot my password (actually I cleared the cache and then discovered that I had no idea, as it turns out, what my password to ENWorld was).</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Goonalan, post: 8210489, member: 16069"] [CENTER][B]Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh[/B][/CENTER] [B]Session #036 Bandits & Boars in Witch Wood. Dark Squad (in alphabetical order, no egos here). Buggles (played by Stu) Male Wood Elf Fighter Lvl 3/Rogue Lvl 3 New Tricks (played by Bear) Male Tabaxi Warlock Lvl 6 Ramshambo (played by Kev) Male Half-Elf Rogue Lvl 6 Vincenzo (played by Haggis) Male Shifter (Wildhunt) Druid Lvl 6 NPCs Daktari Male Human Uthgardt Sky Pony Barbarian Lvl 6 [S]Garumn Male Mountain Dwarf Paladin of Moradin Lvl 5 [/S]RIP* *Trapped in the Land of the Bad Dead Ancestors. Buggles’ undead servitor Gwen Female Duergar Skeleton, in full-face helm and armour Buggles’ new non-undead servitor Halibert Shambles Male Human Ex-Warehouseman (Level 3), newly armed and armoured[/B] This is session 36, and yet another corker although not much in the way of roleplay this evening, it seems Tuesday night is alright for fighting. Lots and lots of fighting this evening, so only a short report this one. But first, back to Farhill Mine after the Dark Squad get their presents from the peasant farmers they rescued from the manticores a few days past. Later on in this session Vinnie will discover that one of the farmer’s gifts is a magical item. A small black stone shaped like a sleeping snake turns out, as identified by Newt, to grant poison resistance (although it needs to be attuned). So, that’s nice. Back at Farhill and more chats- Buggles has a long chinwag with Arty Swell, he was directed to the gnome alchemist in the last session, the wood elf requires magical armour (it’s a quest he’s on, or else it seems that way). However, the cost of the armour is prohibitive (2,500gp for +1 Studded Leather) he’s going to have to get saving. Vinnie has also got a whole lot of glassware on order from the gnome alchemist, it’ll be arriving on the morrow. The druid has also been doing evening classes with Arty- he’s keen to learn alchemy, and to start brewing his own potions (not just of the healing variety). Then more chats amongst the PCs, mostly about the ongoing situation, but the DM is keen to get going. There’s only one more day left of the cart trips to Saltmarsh with the Slaggs, and so it goes- but the last day is a remarkably easy, that is until the wagons get through Lowden on their return journey, on the road that curves around Witch Wood and back to the mine. As it turns out one of the things the Dark Squad have been talking about is the fact that they are looking for the Witch’s Tor- one of the prophecies of the Bad Dead Ancestors mentioned this place. They are therefore keen to check out Witch Wood. They’re about to get their wish. However, back to the present and a swarthy and nasty-looking man steps out of the foliage before the lead wagon (with Grumpy Slagg, Buggles, Vinnie & Halibert Shambles on board). The bandit leader declares- "There are thirty trained marksmen waiting my command to fire, save yourselves- abandon your wagons and walk away- back to town." "Or back to the hole in the ground you came from..." "Choose quickly..." The PCs take a good look around them and spot maybe ten or so other semi-hidden bandits in the greenery hereabouts, however eagle-eyed Buggles can also see a clutch more of crossbow aiming enemies lying in tall grass atop a nearby rocky ledge. Still, hardly ‘thirty trained marksmen’… Vinnie however is the voice of reason- “It iz a plezant day mez amis, and I alzo am in a plezant mood. I will leaf yew a leetle payment- a tithe, if you will. Providing, and I will attempt to yewz wordz of your low understanding. I will pay yew a leetle, providing yew naughty word off very quicklee!” There follows a little more back and forth between the druid and the bandit leader, soon after however a second bandit boss is revealed, the fellow is positioned (with friends) at the rear of the stopped wagons, this surly fellow also gets chatty. This in response to Newt standing tall in the rear wagon and yowling threats at the nearby enemies. [Vinnie chats while Newt threatens the bandit leaders 250 XP] The bandit leaders argue their case, and obviously threaten some more, at which point Newt begins ranting in his demonic tongue, and then incinerates a tree and the four bandits stood around it with a Fireball. [ATTACH type="full" alt="3601.jpg"]133392[/ATTACH] [B]The circle pointer to the south east indicates the area affected by the Fireball, I'm sure there were some bandit tokens there just a second ago... [/B] We’re fighting then. Just to say there are actually sixteen bandits positioned around the stopped caravan- reduced to twelve after Newt’s Fireball, and also a pair of bandit leaders (the duo with maxed hit points). It’s a long fight, but let’s not go turn by turn, here then are some of the best bits- On the first wagon all of the adventurers (Buggles, Vinnie & Halibert Shambles) quickly get off the cart and swiftly into action, in the meantime Grumpy Slag gets shot (by a crossbow wielding bandit) as does the draft horse pulling the wagon. The dwarf however keeps the beast and the vehicle under control, but is soon after stabbed in the back repeatedly by a bandit who clambers up and onto the cart. Note, Newt blasts this fellow dead eventually but not before Grumpy gets stabbed some more. Buggles, unleashed, dodges from cover to cover- alternating between his twin scimitars and his longbow, the wood elf quickly accounts for a pair of bandits with his blades. He then helps Vinnie out by slaughtering the chatty bandit leader here. That done, and towards the end of the fight, the wood elf terror then rushes to menace the shooters on the ledge. He gets around the fight, more often than not finding somewhere to lay low between his attacks- he’s a bastard. Halibert Shambles, the ex-warehouseman turned adventurer, miraculously almost never misses an attack, the neophyte warrior attempts to follow Buggles’ lead, and does well in his first proper fight, even delivering a killing blow to one of the bandits. At one point the players even suggest that the young lad should perhaps replace Daktari. Vinnie… the druid slinks off the cart and swiftly wild-shapes into a (huge) giant constrictor snake (on screen- Vincen G Squeezy Snake), the reptile is nearly thirty feet long. Seconds later and the nearby bandit leader is grabbed-up, and crushed by the slithering druid. Vinnie also holds the grappled and restrained villain out for Buggles to savage with his scimitars, eventually he eats the screaming fellow*, but not before the vicious enemy has bloodied the giant reptile. [ATTACH type="full" alt="3602.jpg"]133393[/ATTACH] [B]Vincen G Squeezy Snake snaffles a bandit leader down- the sweet you can eat between meals, apparently.[/B] *The eating of the bandit leader leads to a short debate about what happens when Vinnie transforms back into his shifter form- where does all that undigested flesh go? Will Vinnie closely resemble Obelix? Lastly, how does the druid ‘pass’ the gargantuan meal later? And so now to the second cart with Porthole Slagg at the reins, the dwarven miner- like his brother, is shot repeatedly- as is the draft horse that is pulling the wagon. The horse bolts, and Porthole fails to bring the beast under control, point of fact the dwarf is sent flying from his seat and left sprawled in the road. The miner however manages to pick himself up and scuttle into cover, there to hide for the rest of the fight. The rampaging terrified horse and wagon meantime also quickly sheds Daktari, the barbarian is thrown from the cart but manages to land on his feet. Note, Newt got out of the wagon earlier- but was using the vehicle as cover for his firing position. That obviously doesn’t last. The horse and wagon plunge off the road and into the undergrowth, and then rush along the edge of a twenty foot deep stone-filled depression (a small quarry). All the while, on the back of the cart, Ramshambow is going solo with the second bandit leader, the rogue eventually takes his enemy down, although with help from his friends- Buggles & Newt with artillery support. The swashbuckling rogue then grabs the reins and brings the horse and wagon back under control, which is no mean feat. Close call. [ATTACH type="full" alt="3603.jpg"]133394[/ATTACH] [B]This image is supposed to show Ram dramatically fighting a bandit leader as the wagon they are on rushes forward out of control. Alas the bloody bandit's bloody token (and many others) keep getting sucked underneath the cart tokens. Note, there are more bad guys on the screen here (at least four shooters), but not all of the PCs can see all of the enemies, and so they don't appear in the screenshots that they take. [/B] Newt, after the wagon departs at speed has to swiftly conjure his Mirror Images, as the tabaxi gets quickly closed down by a pair of bandits, he eventually blasts his way out of the melee. Although only after losing all of his conjured images, and whilst screaming “I SEND THIS SOUL TO SIR HUMPHERY FARFANARR!” in his demonic tongue, every time he picks off another enemy. Then, screaming and ranting done, he finds cover and continues his fiery assault. Daktari spends a good while swatting and missing at a variety of bandits, and then- after the PCs/players have been praising Halibert’s efforts to the heavens, the barbarian’s dice come alive, he crits three turns in a row- and slaughters a bunch more bandits. But the fight, while furious in places, is never really in the balance- the PCs take a bunch of hits but the bandits can’t do enough damage quickly. The day is won- the Dark Squad’s legend lives on. Note, that said a clutch of bandits skedaddle early (mainly the shooters Buggles spotted right at the start) and flee to fight another day. [Bandits on the Lowden Road 1300 XP] Victory, but the Dark Squad are keen to take a moment, Vinnie returns to his shifter form- looking particularly well fed, and then the dead bandits- and in particular the leaders-types, are searched. There’s a bit of money/treasure, but alas no incriminating evidence is found- nothing to indicate who these foul fellows are, or rather- were. However, further investigation reveals that a majority of these folk are probably not locals, certainly the two leader-types were mercenaries (or similar), which could be a concern. Buggles and Vinnie go for a ten minute wander around the ambush site, to see if there are any obvious tracks in the area. The question is where did these bad fellows come from? The answer being, very clearly after the druid and fighter/rogue’s circuit- Witch Wood. Then, after plenty of chatter with Grumpy & Porthole, it seems the last time a mine wagon was ambushed was several years ago, and not like this- this attack looked like a very professional affair. If the Dark Squad weren’t here… they would have lost the loads, the dwarves fear, and possibly their lives. The Slaggs are very grateful, and so it is swiftly decided- Halibert Shambles and the Slaggs will take the wagons home, the mine is only two hours at most up the road. The Dark Squad however are going on, into Witch Woods. Note all of the above chatter et al is accomplished during a short rest, along with more than a little healing. [Lots of chatter and investigation about the bandits 250 XP] It’s late afternoon, early evening- there are two to three hours of light left, the Dark Squad plunge into Witch Wood- and it’s a pleasant enough woodland- all dappled light and the smells of growth and decay. Although dense and wild for the most part- but Vinnie and Buggles have no problems following the bandit’s trail. That is until they wander into a small clearing, and seconds later are beset by a herd of wild boars, including a giant boar, which rush out of the wilds and charge into the adventurers. To make matters worse a bunch of the PCs are completely surprised by the attack- Ram and Vinnie are both tusked and hurt in the opening moments. The Dark Squad scramble into action, and there’s a fair amount of trepidation initially, but then a number of the smaller boars are killed very quickly. However a second wave of boars, including another of the giant beasts charges down the track and plunges into the party. [ATTACH type="full" alt="3604.jpg"]133395[/ATTACH] [B]The Giant Boars are fairly tough![/B] The fighting is fast and furious, but again the only significant threats are the two giant boars. Buggles makes the most of the terrain, the wood elf scrambles up a ten foot stony ledge and from his perch causes havoc with his bow, and he never misses. Oddly, Buggles observes, there’s yet another of the smaller boars standing quietly behind a tree and away from the action- the beast seems to be content to watch its snarling snuffling kin in action. Alas Buggles’ nature check is so low (‘3’) that he’s not at all suspicious of this behaviour. Note a little later Vinnie also spies the presence of this calm creature, alas he too is unconcerned by the odd porcine behaviour (yet another low roll). The fight rumbles on, until almost all of the small boars have been slaughtered, and both of the giant boars are bloodied and almost broken, at which point the boar with a watching brief rushes out into the open and transforms en route into a brutally ugly orc (actually a half-orc, see later). The newly revealed humanoid then shoots a Lightning Bolt into the thick of the melee. Note Vinnie was also trying and failing to make a nature check to discern that all of this was odd behaviour for wild boars, alas another very low roll followed- the druid therefore concludes that the Dark Squad have somehow threatened the boars territory (or similar). Back to the action… The Lightning Bolt zaps and fries the last small boar, and then zips on to leave Daktari bloodied while reducing Vinnie to a frazzled fury (on 4 HP). [ATTACH type="full" alt="3605.jpg"]133396[/ATTACH] [B]Ignore the Vinnie token bottom right, Vince T(oothed) Tiger is in action, and he's Grrrrrrreat! Note the path of the Lightning Bolt, and the fact that Buggles has just launched himself down at the spellcasting Half-Orc.[/B] Buggles however up on his stony ledge watches all of this happen, the wood elf races and then skids down the scree and tumbled rock at speed and slams his scimitars into the newly revealed enemy spellcaster, a half-orc. The ugly humanoid wears strange bladed gauntlets (see the image). The wood elf hits the creature repeatedly, and with an extra action surge- nearly bloodying the enemy in an instant. Seconds later a now wild-shaped Vincen (T)oothed Tiger rushes over and gets his revenge in, the half-orc is left critically wounded and prone by the savage druid. Moments later Newt compounds the attacker’s misery- paralyzing the half-orc with a Hold Person spell. Buggles however is not for keeping the fellow alive- the rogue/fighter stabs his scimitar through its throat, this after the half-orc enemy manages to quickly throw off the paralyzing spell’s effect. [ATTACH type="full" alt="3606.jpg"]133397[/ATTACH] [B]Note tokens show dead Boars, Giant or otherwise. Also, nice look for the Half-Orc Talos adherent.[/B] The last giant boar being laid to rest moments earlier by Daktari. [Boar attack! 1900 XP] Vinnie wild-shapes quickly back to shifter form, and then makes use of a scroll of Healing Spirit (for himself), and then still needs more healing when it’s done. The odd nature of the boar attack, and the newly revealed boar/half-orc, is discussed at length. The surrounding area and everything in it is then investigated carefully, particularly the half-orc, here’s what comes to light- 1) The bandits passed this way earlier this morning- on their way to the ambush site, Buggles is certain- the implication being (perhaps) that the boars and the half-orc were members of the same company, or else in collusion with the bandits. 2) The boars were obviously being controlled by the half-orc. 3) Last bit, the half-orc has no possessions apart from the clothes he wears, however the body (strip searched by Buggles) bears a host of ritual scars and wounds. Vinnie determines that the fellow is an adherent of Talos, the Storm Lord, the Destroyer- a dark god. The half-orc is also likely some sort of northern barbarian, again- certainly not a local. Which of course just leads to more questions, a brief discussion follows, although the adventurers are keen to get on, the bandit’s trail continues- deeper into Witch Wood. [Further discussion/investigation 250 XP] And so, onwards- another thirty minutes following the trail, and uphill, deeper into the woods, until eventually the Dark Squad arrive at their destination. In the side of a low hill is a stone door with surrounding stone stepped and flagged porch/portico area, the ruins of stone walls and a selection of empty-looking crates and barrels in the area. The door is sturdy looking, and closed. Ram and Buggles go forward to check out the area- it seems to be safe, and the portal itself- which, Ram declares is trapped, but- he’s certain he can disarm it… alas this doesn’t come to pass (he rolls spectacularly low with advantage- ‘3’ & ‘4’). The area before the portal is engulfed in flame as the lower half of the door explodes outwards, the pair suffer- although only slightly with both somehow managing to avoid most of the blast. [Fiery trap 200 XP] [ATTACH type="full" alt="3607.jpg"]133398[/ATTACH] [B]The Bandit's Lair? Red square is the blast zone.[/B] The bottom half of the door is entirely consumed in the explosion, and the portal swings open to reveal a now smoky crypt, there’s a narrow opening- a cavern passage, in the wall opposite, and lights are seen beyond, and seconds later shouting. But that’s all we have time for this evening, as I said at the start- lots of fighting. Until then stay safe and well you lovely people. Cheers the Dark Squad and goonalan. And thanks to Morrus who let me back in when I forgot my password (actually I cleared the cache and then discovered that I had no idea, as it turns out, what my password to ENWorld was). [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
The Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh #136 Into the Mere of the Dead Men.
Top