Dwarf OSE+ Dark Citadel Session #12 (18 OCT 2023)

 

   Was not sure if I should even run this evening as I was first day of decent feeling after four days of illness, influenza, SARs or Covid whatever they are calling it this year to sell alchemy in a syringe. Went ahead anyway as I hate cancelling. Still have a player on Night shift but I knew that the ground game had changed allot and they players would have a quick session or press on rapidly. I got a weird quagmire of sorts honestly.

   We started with a trip to Dragon Spire Hold and I rolled random encounters. Some gold was converted and the party is moving around like a small gang of Dwarf as to deter Thieves I guess or maintain a low profile you know, as a mob of 4 to 5 Dwarf in a Human Dominated City. They get directed from The Bibliotheca (Large Private Library of Dragon Spire) Chief Steward Magus Samuell Burlton towards the residence of Godfrey Malster a predominant Wizard within Dragon Spire second only in power to Rhiveus the Grey whom serves the Usurper directly. 

   Arriving at Malster's residence they ring the gate bell and the gates open by themselves a round later and after they approach the elaborately carved door with a strong draconic theme it is opened by a tall pale man servant/chamberlain who asks their business and then politely allows them in and then pours them wine before Godfrey shows up and asks their business with him. There is some exchange on getting discounts for services with promises of future visits which the old wizard ignores. They finally have Vovroc's Hammer identified by the aging wizard for a fee of 150 GP. Inquiring about services he may be in need of he offers them a task if they are capable of it that he seeks Dragon Wings, A pair for some research he has been conducting and offers them 5000 GP, as well as Potion of Invisibility & a Potion of Extra Healing if they can retrieve them for him. The PCs then ask to simply purchase the potions which the Wizard rebukes, referring them to the Alchemist in the slum quarter of the city.

This is a constant theme with certain groups of players I have which irritates me. Magic item shops and I do understand that they are primarily 3e experienced in the majority of their gaming but it feels less like fantasy ttrpg to me and more like nintendo every time I have it come up. My immersion decreases by a bit and my eyes roll, every time. That being said I do have alchemists who make variety of oils, rope and potions but the number of recipes known is limited by the NPC and most Magic-Users are simply not taking the time to brew them up let alone sell them as it would deviate from their own preferred research. I believe Temples would keep them available but for interests that align with the Temple and not for simple commerce.

It is What It Is...

   After concluding with the Wizard Malster they head directly to the alchemist but on their way they encounter a Beggar who does accost them for charity and they give him a wide berth even so as to lay hands upon their hilts and give him nothing. These Dwarf are not the charitable type ...

   The trip to the Alchemist is short, they purchase a single Potion of Healing for 400GP and return to the Silver Unicorn Inn where Gad has been quartering Korb the Loremaster who has been doing spell research at the Bibliotheca . I had forgotten to roll the chance for messages for a ploy he had hatched to get teh thief who stole the Clerical Scroll from Zebulon previously to return it. A reward for someone who knows, etc no questions asked but I'll do that in between session but that also requires them to come into Dragon Spire to Check. Which they will not do alone so we will see how that all plays out. It reminds me of when the Police send letters saying those with warrants have won something and then arrest them as they show up. It might fly better in a society where the Usurper does not literally flog and kill thieves regularly. Low Trust ... They do not notice they are observed by the Town Guard or familiarly faces in the Inn as they did not ask just in rush to get their tasks done. Which honestly makes more sense than being hopelessly paranoid.

   Returning to Ergol's Landing they spy upon horse outside of Skald and Dragon Spire Men-at-Arms drinking. A bit of investigation reveals the Tax Man has Cometh from Dragon Spire to speak to the leader of the this new holdfast forming. Investigations immediately cease and questions stop being asked as the Brotherhood of Expendable Strangers heads down stairs to their quarters and plans on leaving immediately the next day. They do not want to be on the Tax Mans radar, their names their faces nothing.... they bounce let Ergol Bronzebeard deal with that headache is a mighty chorus.

    Goblin slaves are teased with freedom for information and they tell of a necromancer in a cursed Dwarf Temple past the Bloody Skull Orcs. The goblins were gathered up and sent there to be sacrificed on occasion by the Orcs in their dealings with the entity known as Mateus the Dark. Curiously Gad does not freely share this info nor does he release the goblins who gnash their teeth and seethe with hatred and anger. Other players did not pick up on it when it was discussed in open chat either but having brought it up later in overview of this evenings session Gad defers sharing the information openly. Weird, but not out of character.

   Arriving at the Bloody Skull Orc village they find it deserted and no guards are posted at the docks or along the shore as they approached. Posting one of Redrum's Retainers as a rear guard they explore the buildings.

[ Now I am going to take a moment to go over why I actually liked this tactic. IT IS PRECISELY WHY YOU BRING ALONG LOWER LEVEL RETAINERS to do things like guard the HIRELINGS and watch your Rear from Wandering Monsters ! They still get a cut of treasure and they still take a cut of the XP but they may actually never really do anything except stand around and guard stuff, maybe carry the loot you could not carry out yourself. They are simply not just meat shields to die for your characters and if used as such you'll find no one will work for you. EVER ! Hell, the NPCs start plotting against you in masse and you'll find yourself the outlaw or pariah paying double for things like, rations. ]

  The large gongs used by the Orc guards remain and a retainer stands near one in plain sight of the Dwarf Oarsman who will not leave the boats. All of the other boats previously seen at these docks are gone. Exploring  the buildings the Brotherhood finds an abandoned barracks which could have easily sheltered 40 Orc; or previously Dwarf, and working their way towards the rear entrance they find a door leading to a building that holds a Skull Throne to which is chained a Goblin who whines and crawls away from the Party as he sees them; and recognizes them, crying pitifully. They try to befriend is with words but it hisses and spits and then an offer of food for information and a roll of 11. It shares the Orcs left with lots of chest and vases days ago. When pressed for more info it simply points at one door and the door they came through. I at this time am having very hard time hearing several of the players on Discord, choppy gurgled or talked over. When the Voice Chat is buggy it is shit to deal with as this game requires clear communication, plus I am getting very hoarse. I may be getting grumpy...

   I dunno if its simply they are done with the Goblin who its not giving them more of what they wanted so they kill it. This poor fellow avoided death last time trusting the players and they left it laying asleep apparently dead after opening a trapped chest for them. It saw them and knew it would be used and slain, found by the orcs it has suffered the rough touches of the Ogre Okorr. This does lead to some snickers and jokes by the party but they killed him anyway. Was actually surprised he did not join the Gad goblin chain gang.

   Exploring the hall behind the Bloody Skull Throne Room they find an unlocked door which leads to the old Orc Treasury. Yeah they packed up and left, the goblin wasn't lying. They left a large stone vase with a beaver pelt on top and a single chest laying on the ground. A broken vase nearby as well. Another door on the far side left unlocked. They find the Chest Trapped and leave it, taking the beaver pelt released a couple vipers and it takes them a few rounds to kill them. The chamber beyond being a guard room with a passage leading to a dead end. They discover it is a secret exit to a landing just south of the docks. They are grumbling that the Orcs fled. They decide to back track and check out the cavern entrance in the rear

   Same scene as last time but more signs of traffic and the crates are more busted up  than before. There is however the raft still here but they check out the eastern shore of the black water and discover a passage. After taking the time to traverse it they discover it exits into the mountains and the sigils left by the Orcs show it is their outside entrance. The Brotherhood debate on following; force marching, into the hex craw of the mountains to grab that loot they fled with... a 4 day head start on them. This discussion goes on for bit but they return to the caverns. Its a mile or so long tunnel.

   When you choose the attrition tactic it is always an option for the opponent to quit the field and flee. 

  There is some debate on how to deal with the Giant Crawfish and gain the sparkling helm with eventually folks lowering a grapple and rope and simply fishing it up. IF you are floating on raft above the waterline and dropping something that does not look like food to grab the item it appeared to not entice the crawfish to attack. Sometimes its that simple.

    Further inspection of the pools discovers one is poisonous, one is extremely and dangerously hot so they left it alone and then the other is a healing pool. They decide to move their possessions from Ergol's Landing to the the old Bloody Skull Village and rename it. Pressing deeper and further from the tax man. Liberating more of the sprawling Dark Citadel ruins along this Dark River.

 

#OSR #DarkCitadel #OSE #VintageGaming