You Don’t Have To Leave Wolfy Behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' Your Companions Level Up With You!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 3790766" data-attributes="member: 16069">Dungeon Crawl Classics #11 The Dragonfiend Pact For 2nd Level CharactersTurn 29: Lucky Newt.“Right then we need to look out for the traps.” Newt states the obvious.“So it’s Malchor.” Ala says.“It’s not yet certain.” Cas counters.“What?”“There may be some other explanation- let’s not jump to conclusions.”Jim and Anya look skyward, they’re certain.Ala tuts, as loud as she can.“You’re a fool.”And heads back out of the chamber.Newt shrugs; dodges out of the chamber and ahead of Ala, the others file out and follow the Gnome who scans the floor ahead.“Stop.”Only thirty seconds later.Newt creeps ahead.“Ho-Ho. Look at this, they did say simple.”Newt points as he explains.“Trip wire, heads up the wall, across the ceiling, bow and arrow wedged in there- trip the wire and ‘fwoom’ arrow-in-the-eye. Simple.”“Good work, can you disarm it, in case we have to return this way in a rush?” Cas asks.“Easy, I’ll just…” Newt starts.FWOOMThe arrow canons into the cavern wall, an inch or so above the Gnome’s head- it bounces out and down, Newt catches it.“MMMmm”, he sniffs the arrow’s tip, “poisoned- could have been nasty. Come on.”And then the Gnome’s off again.There’s a collective shaking of heads, they follow on.“Stop.”They’ve not got much further.“Another one.” Newt reports.“Same again.”The others settle in for the customary lecture.“Another trip wire, up the wall, across the… no hang on.”Newt spots something new.“Nice. It’s connected to some sort of spring mechanism, which holds back a great big axe- FWUNG, blimey imagine what that would have done.” Newt finishes.“Can you…” Cas starts.“Say no more…”FWUNGThe axe passes, an inch or so- as is custom, over the Gnome’s head.“Oooops.” Newt turns around and giggles.“Still. Onwards.”Newt heads off again, but only takes another ten or so steps.“Stop.”“Bloody hell.” Jim offers.“At least this should be the last of them- whatever it is he’s hiding down here he’s trying his best to keep it a secret.” Anya confirms.“What is it this time?” Cas asks.“Bec- grab a big rock.”The Barbarian does so.“Now fling it there.”Bec does so.FWUMPThe entire floor gives way- a pit trap.Thirty seconds later they’ve safely negotiated their way across, Jim has sunk a number of pitons into the wall, a rope is strung across- it’s a noisy endeavour but very safe.They move on the passage splits, north or south.Newt crouches, puts his hand out to stop the others, sniffs the air, and then points south.“Animal.” The Gnome states, he filters back- lets the warriors get ahead.The sunrod illuminates another irregular shaped chamber, larger, a musty animal smell, with glistening walls, moisture pools on the floor in places, roughly twenty feet in diameter, stalagmites almost touch the ceiling.Suddenly a noise, something large behind one of the stalagmites, it’s heading this way.Cas and Jim leap forward to meet the creature, which roars as it arrives.ROOAARRRRA five foot at the shoulder black and white stripped musteline- a huge Dire Badger, its rage echoes down the passage walls.It snaps and claws at Cas, who dodges back just in time. Jim sees his enemy, swings his axe, and leaves a bloody trail. The Dire Badger moans but strikes again, a huge claw lashes out and thumps and scores Cas, who staggers back, then comes again.ROOOAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRThe noise again, louder still, from its maw foam and spittle drips, the Dire Badger Rages.Newt tumbles into the room, comes up crossbow in hand and fires- misses. Jim dives forward and in again, slashes at the creature, rips open its back. Bec tries to progress in but he’s stuck in the door way, trapped behind Cas and Jim. Anya drags him aside, she holds a scroll in her hands- mutters arcane phrases.FWINGA sudden burst of light before the Badger’s eyes, the creature turns aside, but only for a second, the spell fails, it Rages on.The creature slashes again, its paw smashes into Cas, who’s flattened, knocked to the floor, he thrashes and wriggles out from beneath the creature- rolls left a little then right, and crawls away.ThwongNewt fires again- and misses.Jim swings again, connects, leaving another bloody rent in the Dire Badger, which regardless comes again- launches itself towards Cas, still crumpled on the cavern floor.Bec’s sees his opportunity and steps in, an over-arm stroke that cuts deep into the creature’s brain.The Dire Badge yanks the sword from the Barbarian’s hands, stumbles backwards, foaming and spitting, screaming.RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRREventually shivers and sinks to the floor.Cas gulps down a healing potion, refreshed, stands and directs the action.“Search this place. Quickly- they must know we’re coming.”The others, except Ala, set to.Ala approaches.“You alright?”“Yes”, Cas replies quickly, stern, and then softer, “yes.”Ala nods and joins the others, Cas looks after her.Less than a minute later they’re heading north this time; there’s nothing to find in the Dire Badger’s lair.The passage splits again, there’s a shimmering light coming from the left hand passage, and the flick of flames from the right.“Quietly- left.” Cas counsels.They head in, as silently as possible.“Beautiful.” Jim states.Even Bec is staring, speechless.A large chamber, stalagmites join to stalactites forming columns, the south wall a milky white flowstone- just like a stone waterfall, at its base a pool of clear water trickling into runs and rivulets that flow north. The other walls wink and glisten from the numerous minerals infused in the stone.Newt quickly dispels the glamour, crouches low and scuttles on in.The others follow, eventually, when they stop staring at the beautiful chamber.Newt’s spotted something in the pool.Puts his hand in.“Freezing.”He gasps and picks out a lumpy leather pouch, he opens it.A nest of silver sling stones glisten in the light.“Right.” Cas whispers.“I think the chamber ahead has somebody in it- the fire, we should take precautions.”The others nod, check their gear.Cas leads them out, and onwards.The passage ends at a very large chamber, forty feet wide, fifty feet north to south. The area is dimly lit by a flickering fire, from a fire pit in the centre of the chamber, and now by the adventurer’s sunrods. Large stalagmites are scattered throughout the chamber, creating areas of shadow, two either side of the passage through which the adventurers come.On the east wall is a large wooden chest with a massive padlock, along the north west wall a pile of furs and rags, the far wall a maze of two foot diameter holes that lead off into darkness, rat tunnels.The adventurer’s take in the surroundings, the chamber seems to be empty, although there’s the squeak of rats somewhere, somewhere close.Cas goes to speak… and is engulfed by a swarm of Rats that filter either side of the stalagmites.“Now it’s over.”A voice rings out from somewhere hidden over the far side of the chamber.The rats gnaw and bite, they’re everywhere. Cas stumbles bleeding from over half-a-dozen wounds. Newt shambles forward, bleeding also, out of the storm.FWUMPAnd is struck hard in the chest, an arrow.The Gnome falls backwards.Next Turn: Where Badger?</blockquote>

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