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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 3772049" data-attributes="member: 16069">I'm still frustrated with this story hour, if anyone has any clues as to how I can improve it then please don't hesitate to drop me a line, it could be so much better. I think it's partly because when I play this group they tend to skip back story and the roleplay which usually occurs during, and definitely between scenarios- they just want to get their dice rolling and get stuck in- obviously this makes character development incidental to the action (dice rolling).Suggestions please...Dungeon Crawl Classics #2 The Lost Vault of Tsathzar Rho An Adventure for First Level CharactersTurn 22: The Bitter EndThe group gather, Cas makes to mumble something uplifting, but Anya shrugs her way past to another door- Newt skips ahead of her, now all sweetness and light. Gets to work on the door- there’s nothing to be found.“It can only get worse.” Anya motions for Cas to go past her, go on in.Cas takes a breath, then flings the door open, onto a scene straight from Hell.A large Altar, seemingly constructed from the still writhing bodies of creatures- Kobolds, Derro, other less distinguishable monsters. Either side of this are a pair of Candlestick holders, bearing enormous black candles. The Candlesticks are fashioned from still living, certainly able to feel pain- from there yelps, Kobolds. Candles emerge from the creature’s maws, which seem to have been wrenched open, broken, and left to set in this, most painful, position. They clutch a further pair of candles in there crucified outstretched arms.The walls of the chamber pulse and beat, still-living skin, organs gurgle, veins throb, and bulges towards the adventurers.And behind the Altar is another abomination- once Kobold, Lerrza, the High Priestess, is almost albino- he skin without pigment, a horny, boney emaciated horror. She stands behind the Altar staring at her foes.“Tiiiimmmeee tooooo diiiiiiieeee.”Delivered in a whisper, Lerrza turns slightly to reveal the source of the malediction, a second functioning Kobold face, in the back of her head.Cas looks behind him, the more perceptive members note the colour has drained from his face. Through a bone-dry throat he screams.“For Pelor.”And charges forward, and where Cas leads, the others follow.The Altar sprouts legs, and other limbs, shuffles forwards to meet them, it grows, arms to claw, heads to see- a living knot of inhumanity.The Candlesticks hop forward, yelping as they spill burning wax on themselves- Hell’s coming.Anya doesn’t even bother with a pose, “Smidgin.” A Magic Missile rushes through the chamber and thumps into the Kobold High Priestess.The other attackers are intercepted en route to the Priestess by the moving scenery, they attempt to slash there way past the Altar and the Candlesticks.Bec hefts his great club, smashes it down, and takes a chunk of flesh and limbs from the Altar. At the same time a white ray shoots out from the Kobold Priestesses fingertip, and bathes Anya, she’s caught mid-stride, she stiffens, paralyzed.Jim creeps to a clear spot, bow still in hand, and fires- the Magic Arrow sings for a second and then thumps in the High Priestesses chest.“Yooooooo willlll alllll meeeeeeeet thhhheeee maaaaaaasssstteer.”The second head whispers, with volume.Ala swings, an overhead blow, slashes down and slices the fleshy Altar- clean in two, limbs, heads, and torsos tumble out, a slick of blood forms.Bec sees his opportunity and charges through the newly created gap- and is engulfed, momentarily, by a black mist; he emerges, a second later, heading back the way he came, his face a rictus grin, terrified- he bowls into Ala, knocking them both to the flesh-like ground, which lurches up to claw and grab at the pair. Bec crawls away as fast as he can, Ala wrenches herself free and staggers on towards the abomination.Newt’s crossbow sings, it’s out of tune, as is Jim’s bow- bolt and arrow fly well wide of the High Priestess. Newt recovers, re-aims, and fires again- hits, but it’s just a scratch.Lerrza spins around.“DEATH TO LIFE.”The second face screams.The wave of sound crashes over the adventurers- Ala grabs her ears but stumbles on- towards the High Priest. Bec continues to crawl away from the fight, mumbling and fumbling for words. Cas’ ears bleed profusely, the Paladin stands statue still trying to shake the echo of the words from his brain, he stumbles then falls.“CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAS.”Ala screams and launches a furious swipe at Lerrza, who chooses that moment to launch her own attack; Ala’s sword slices clean through the Kobold High Priestesses pallid neck.Lerrza’s stands suddenly still, as if balancing something very delicate.“Yoooo willll diiiiiiiie.”She whispers.“Not here though.” Ala answers.She strides forward, kicks, nonchantly, the creature backwards. Lerrza’s head topples forward as the rest of her tumbles back.The two Candlesticks prove to be less of a hindrance, even with the number of adventurers temporarily incapacitated. Wounds and injuries are tended to, Cas it seems was only momentarily stunned, Bec wanders back into the chamber- wondering what all the fuss was about, and looking a little sheepish, Anya’s paralysis lasts only a little longer, The High Priest has a number of useful scrolls which Ala identifies and stashes away for later use. The group retire leaving Anya alone for a while with the Wand of Burning Hands, with the usual flame-grilled results.Outside the horrid chamber Ala continues to stare at Newt who shrinks under her gaze, the Goodman Gang’s purpose revealed.Ten minutes later the group reassemble and head on, and this time pass by two side passages, Cas is in a rush it seems.“Er… Cas?” Jim tries.“It’s this way.” Cas points on.“What is?” Jim enquires.“The End.” Cas simply states.Silence for a while, the passage ends in a t-junction, Cas looks left then right, heads right.“What about the not leaving enemies behind you?” Jim tries again.“It’s too late for that… Now come on.”The passage turns north and ends in a door, which Cas flings open, into another chamber, eight pillars run floor to ceiling, in pairs towards a door at the far end of the chamber.Five more of the Elite Kobold guards occupy the space immediately before them, the adventurers rush into the chamber.“Come on, for Pelor.” Cas screams again.“Smidgin.” A Magic Missile thumps into one of the creatures- dead. Newt fires, a bolt buries itself in the chest of another, which flops to the floor. Jim lets loose the Magic Arrow, it passes through a Kobold’s throat, that’s three down.The other two Kobolds let loose with Heavy Crossbows, obviously already loaded, a bolt traces a red furrow down Cas’ leg, the other thumps into the centre of Bec’s chest, who topples backwards like a tree being felled.There’s a sudden movement ahead of the adventurers, at the far door, approximately fifty feet away, another group of Elite Kobolds appears, two dash off, one left, one right- towards the nearest pillars. They blink out of view.And reappear, step from the nearest two pillars to the doorway through which the adventurers entered.They fire their heavy crossbows, a bolt sails wide of Jim, the other clunks into Anya’s skull, she drops to all fours, and then further down, onto the cold stone floor.“KILL THEM.”Cas snarls, and launches himself forward in to one of the Kobold Elite, cuts the creature down with a single blow, almost severing the things arm.Kobolds dodge towards the pillars, blink out of existence, only to appear in convenient positions, and yet their missile attacks prove to be ineffective.The adventurers edge further into the chamber, abandoning Anya and Bec, who’re still down on the floor, for the moment.Jim manages to tag another of the creatures; his arrow spins the Elite Kobold around, before it drops dead.And then Jim proves his point, at a cost.A Dragon Kobold lurches into the chamber, from behind the adventurers, and liberally covers Newt and Jim in a cloud of freezing ice crystals, they both stagger, but remain upright, just.Newt quick draws a healing draught and glugs it down.Jim abandon’s his bow in a kamikaze charge, draws his axe, and in the process knocks Newt to his knees, the agile Ranger follows Newt down, lands hard and remains sprawled on the floor- out cold.Ala is hit in the back by a crossbow bolt, she struggles to grasp behind her, remove the bolt, stumbles, and, like Jim, clutches the groundWhich leaves Newt and Cas still standing, with five Elite Kobold’s and a Dragon Kobold menacing the pair.Cas strides forward and is surrounded by four Elite Kobolds, he manages to fend them off, if only for a moment.Newt flings a flask of Alchemist’s Fire, which explodes on impact with the stone floor, forces the cold using Dragon Kobold back out of the pillared chamber, a crossbow bolt passes over the Gnome’s shoulder.Cas swings wildly, a Kobold steps in, cuts him along his arm, and then Cas’ attack unfolds, another cuts him along the back of his thigh, yet another at his ankle, and the last, more serious, across the forehead. He wavers, but grips tight to his sword.Newt takes up his crossbow, and in one swift move- fires, the Elite Kobold facing him slumps down dead. The Gnome rushes over to Anya, scrambles for a Healing Potion and then jams the bottle in Anya’s jaws- it drains. She opens her eyes.Cas holds the furious four Elite Kobolds off for a while longer, no new cuts and bruises in the action.Anya levers herself upright, “Akkat”, sets Swish before her, to guard her, while she re-orientates herself.The Dragon Kobold leaps back into the chamber; the Alchemist Fire has burned itself out, Newt fires, instinct, but misses by a mile. The creature rushes at the Gnome, smashes into him, knocking him tumbling back. Newt lands by Jim, clutches another Potion of Healing which he passes to Jim, who’s just coming round, the Ranger gulps the healing liquid down.“Pelor save me…”Cas mumbles as he continues to fend off the ferocious creatures, his energies return as his prayer is answered, cuts and bruises miraculously healed, and in the same instant he finds himself in an even worse situation. An Elite Kobold connects with a low blow, striking and slicing into both of the Paladin’s legs. Another cuts him across the chest, yet another almost removes the pinky finger from his shield hand. He’s barely standing.Newt scrambles up again, fires, the bolt passes just inches away from the Dragon Kobold’s face.“Smidgin.” Anya’s back on form, the Magic Missile slams into the Dragon Kobold, the creature staggers backwards, on its last legs.Jim sees an opportunity and charges into melee with the creature, metal meets metal, but no new hits are scored.Cas meanwhile slices down one of the Kobolds he is facing, and then, for good measure, is cut down himself- the Paladin tumbles forward, unmoving. The Elite Kobolds, now sans enemy, rush towards the nearest pillars.Newt fires but misses badly. Anya does not suffer from the same malaise, “Smidgin”, the Magic Missile thumps into the Dragon Kobold which tumbles backwards- dead.The three teleporting, for that is what the pillars do, Elite Kobolds blink back into view, one behind Jim, who takes a blow to his right-hand side, winces but fights on. The other two appear behind Newt, who takes two raking blows to his back and shoulder; he staggers forwards, then turns to confront his new foes.The Elite Kobolds follow up, slashing and smashing, but Newt is far too quick for them, he fends off a blow with his heavy mace, which he now clutches in hand.“Smidgin.” Anya’s Magic Missile kills one of Newt’s attackers.The other exchanges blows, snarling, with the Gnome Rogue.“Smidgin.” And then it’s no more, which only leaves two Elite Kobolds, one backing away- towards the far door, the other fighting Jim, who, for his sins, receives another wound.Newt scrambles for his crossbow, clutches it, but too slow- “Smidgin”, the Elite Kobold facing Jim slumps to the floor.The last makes it back to the far door, flings it open and is about to rush through.“Smidgin”, nothing happens, the wand is spent.ThwungBut Newts crossbow bolt merely dents the wall.The creature escapes with his life, for now.Jim makes to run forward but Anya grabs him, slows his charge, she looks around them, at their fallen comrades, an unspoken signal.The three still standing tend as best they can to the wounded. Bec is just stunned, no more, once again though he has proven to be the weakest link, or so he thinks- he has a long face. Ala too is quickly revived; it’s Cas that is the furthest gone, although a pair of healing potions soon do the job.The limping sextet wend their way back to the stairs, it’s judged to be the safest place to defend at present. They make camp on a rough stone landing, ensure the door is shut in the chamber above, and trapped courtesy of Jim and Newt, they’ll know if something’s coming, they repeat the trick with the lower portal- they’re safe, or so they think.They set a watch rota, two awake at any one time, they decide on twelve hours rest, the last push- the end must surely be in sight.“I hate this place.” Anya offers.She holds Cas’ glare.“Me too.” Jim confirms.“Sandwich?” Bec scratches his head.“Come on, it isn’t too bad.” Cas states.“I hate you.” Ala seethes staring at the Paladin.“What? Ala?” Cas is up and moving towards her.She’s up and backing away.“It’s all your fault, we should have just gone back when we killed the Ogre, this place… this place, it’s… It’s hell.”Cas puts his hands out- towards Ala, “We have to do this. It’s what we do- it’s right.”“I know what’s right, don’t preach to me. We’ve been stuck down here for four days now, four days since we’ve seen the surface, felt the breeze, the trees, animals, plants- life, not these twisted abominations. I hate it down here, and I hate you for bringing me here. And you…”, she turns to Newt, “I hate most of all, your nasty and spiteful- don’t think I haven’t seen you when you’re supposed to be on guard, or asleep, creeping around, always looking- your pockets jangling full of our treasure- you’re nothing but a common Thief”, the last part of the sentence is spat out, in Newt’s face.Silence.Slowly the Gnomes features stretch into a smile.“That’s right. I’m a Thief- maybe not so common, but I’ll let that pass. But here’s the thing Lady Luck, I know what I’m here for, I know what I want… Now tell me that don’t piss you off to high heaven.” He grins.“Newt.” Cas warns.And Ala crumples, where she stands, and sobs.Cas bends to comfort her, places his hand gently upon her shoulder.“LEAVE ME…” She screams.Cas gingerly stands, forlorn, moves away.“Get some sleep, I’ll take first shift”, he stutters.Ala continues to sob.Anya snakes out her hand, grasps Jim’s hand, holds on tight, they share a look.And in the corner Bec sees this, and head down, sucks in air- silently seething, pressing down the Rage inside of him.Next Turn: Bobby Ewing.</blockquote>

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