Dwarf OSE+ Dark Citadel Session #9 (6 SEP 2023)

 

   Frustrated, we all get frustrated at one point or another with lackluster responses or stone walling. Stone Walling seems appropriate when dealing with a group of Dwarf I guess. It stifles my synergy I would normally get from players and makes me stubborn. Some things normally that do not get settled between session carried over into the start of this week's session I found partially amusing and partially frustrating. When I; as a DM, ask how much coin you are carrying it is a matter of a few reasons. In case of Pick Pockets in a large city, encumbrance and appearance. Folks fully armed and armored carrying a large sack of treasure nad a donkey overladen with loot draws attention, folks remember that stuff and you may end up being on the Rumor list for the other players or upon hearing "Up on merchant square there was a Dwarf returning from the Dark Citadel, his large sack was burgeoning with coin and gems gems the size of fists ! And that poor donkey it ached under those two chests ! Have you ever seen such such a thing ?" To which I PC may reply, "Why yes I have as that was me!" Introducing a new character an a replacement character at the beginning of session slowed things at start a small bit but I put them as being drawn from Dur-Annis to Dragon Spire Hold to join the Dwarf settling and reclaiming the Dark Citadel. Meeting upon the road to Ergol's camp they opt to join Redrum, Zeb and Gad heading into town to gather resources ordered at Craftsman Alchemical. Gad had also been asking bout the local thieves guild at AUDI STABLES & THE SILVER UNICORN INN with little success but reassurances from the merchants that the city was quite safe, mostly due to the Usurpers harsh hand when dealing with crime.

   I Have been tracking varying denominations in this campaign due to the Usurper requiring all coinage used in trade within Dragon Spire be in his minted coin. So the party deals in mainly three different types of coin with DRAGONSPIRE HOLD,DARK CITADEL & DUR-ANNIS Coin being accepted by Ergol but this taking the time of 2 to 4 weeks for items to be transported via caravan while shopping in DRAGONSPIRE HOLD requires converting looted coin or items into local mint at a 10% fee. Using foreign coinage is a crime in DRAGONSPIRE HOLD which can result in time spent in the Stocks. It is Session #9 and the first time anyone has converted coins so, Dwarf be Greedy ya' know...

   Gad inquires at THE SILVER UNICORN INN about why the lord of DRAGONSPIRE is called The Usurper. [Reaction Roll is called for and its an 8, indifferent] Elias Babyngton the proprietor draws him close and explains that Emporun disposed of his previous liege via assassination and then shortly after all of the nobles of the city were killed as well or fled. Elias notes that the city does indeed have an Assassin Guild or several as it may be an export and critics or enemies of the Usurper wind up dead rather quickly. The very first proclamation from the Usurper was the banning of all resurrection and raising of the dead punishable by Death. HE then set upon the Thieves Guild and crushed it and since then has been harsh are thievery within the city. This appears to have been to placate the merchants who back the Usurper and DRAGONSPIRE has thrived as a trade stop and exporter of Salt, Fish and Brewed concoctions. Gad settles into a table with Gremmin Bloodeye; Dwarf Loremaster/Thief, & Geoff Runeaxe; Dwarf Fighter/Loremaster, and they drink while Gad & Redrum head off into the city streets to finish their Alchemical purchases. 

[I roll random encounters which are d100 per turn and toss a 1 in d100, PICK POCKET !]

  Gad & Redrum head to the money changer first, exchange Redrums DARK CITADEL golden dragons for Dragonspire Golden Crowns and they exit. I set up the scene that a bird flies up in their faces as they exit and make a roll. Afterwards they take inventory of their stuff well since you know, I made a roll on a city street in the open of a successful pick pocket. Randomly determine the target and ask what is in his Pouch. Stuff grinds to a halt and I have to quickly peruse the characters sheet and determine the most obvious items for quick grabbing, an empty coin purse would be obvious to a Thief so he lifts the scroll tube. They interact with the Guards of the Money Changer and they inform them it was Ian the Beggar they walked pass to enter the money changer; thieves casing a money changer cliché but common, and they tell them they can report it to the Town Watch whom are aware of Ian. Believing not much can come of it though as they are not citizenry, merchants or even human they are directed towards the Town Jail.

   Arriving at the City Watch they roll reaction for the guards and it is snake eyes. Rather than have it be violent or harsh the guards simply ridicule and laugh at the pair of Dwarf for getting the bird from Ian the Pick pocket. They are directed inside where they offer a bounty on the return of the scroll of 100GP which raises eyebrows in the room but when the Dwarf Zeb retrieves Gems to pay for it and heh ad said he was carrying all of his gems in his backpack and they have a few hundred gems apiece at this point the Town Guard sees the amount of Gems and are awestruck. As they leave the City Watch are discussing the fabulous wealth retrieved from under the Dark Citadel by the Large Dwarf Camp in the ruins.

Plot Hooks ... Rumors ... ;)

   They quickly head to the Alchemist and pay for their gods ordered. I describe that the volume is brought out in carriable crates with handles. 10 Pints of Solomon's Steadfast Tonic, 10 Pints Blacklight Oil, Some Beardo-Oil and two Potions of Healing. Solomon offers up a variety of alchemical ropes and other items as well as his interest in Ash Fish which are uncommon or rare but no native to the underground streams and lakes in the region and if they are delving into the Deep he would be interested in purchasing. They Depart,

   There is some discussion upon retuning to the ruins on where to go but only one path lays before them and that is down the river. While they were away away a trio of river boats came up river filled with Orcs but were driven back after sustaining a few losses, no Dwarf were slain but they are on high alert as drums have been heard above ground as well near the ruins. The Bloody Skull Orcs are on the prowl for Dwarf Skulls ! They debate on going past the Bloody Skull Orcish Tribe, exploring the river or heading back towards the pools and the lair of the Giant Crawfish near the entry to the Orc lair. The other debate is they recruit an additional 5 Dwarf  but defer when they require 1/2 shares not to mention that would be a 10 way split on XP. After getting closer to the area where they encountered the Orcs they light their Blacklight oil in their lantern, leaving the War Dog and Donkey at the ruins as well. Approaching the glittering hall they do spy upon 3 Orcs at the rivers edge. They fire from  the darkness and  then get surprise after that leaving all of the orcs slain by arrow and bolt fire. They beach their River Boat and loot the orcs and then decide to venture towards the Giant Crawfish lair.

   Using the Orcish corpses' as bait the Brotherhood of Expendable Strangers toss bound corpses into the pond and push them towards the glittering helm and where they believe the Giant Crawfish lays in wait. They are in luck and a Reaction Roll of 3 means the creature attacks but surprises them with its quickness and their rope is lost as the corpse is grabbed and pulled under to the bottom of the pond. It is roughly 8 foot deep at that point and 30 feet out. They repeat the process tossing a roped Orc body into the pond from a 3 foot ledge but between tosses one member takes a round to listen for noise but hears nothing but the other Dwarf arguing over method and types of knots. They are intent upon drawing the creature out of hte pond where it lairs, up a 3 foot ledge to engage it with missile fire and axe. For some reason the Giant Crawfish is content to stay on the bottom of the pond and eat free food...

   Orcs approach on a raft and surprise the party with a round of arrow fire. This leads to shouts of the orcs behind them and the sounding of a gong as the party begins a ranged missile battle from their position to orcs on a large raft. Gad begins war Chanting as the arrows begin to fly! This battle goes on for several rounds with the raft finally falling back and orcs trying poorly to sneak up to the ledge and attack on foot as well, the party argues on how to engage this threat but decides to head for the boats and take to the river, they are not pursued.

   Pushing off into the Dark River they find a Stone Dwarf Statue 30 foot down stream and inspect it. Putting gems into the empty eye sockets the mouth opens revealing a ring which the Brotherhood purloins. They opt to head down stream further and discover goblin look outs pointing at their approaching boats and hear drums from the south. A brief flight of arrows send one goblin to his death and the other running. Beaching their boat they explore the beach and find a side cavern with litter, driftwood and a raft. Arched stone doors separated by a central pillar are to the north of the cavern where the goblin fled. After inspecting and listening at the door they open it to reveal a large group of excited goblins rallying and the females of this tribe gathering up the children to the rear of the large chamber. Campfires here and there as well as sticking candles illuminate the room in a dull red glow. A goblin beats upon a stone door with a pick axe while the goblin who fled appears to be rallying the others to fight. Arrows begin to fly as Gad War Chants!

   This battle ends up being half missile barrage and then holding at the pair of doors. A Hobgoblin whom the goblins call Trozz joins the fray and offers the party parley if they lay down their weapons but they continue firing into the mob of goblins as the Trozz pushes them forward while snapping a whip at their backs. Trozz is felled by arrows and the goblins are thinned but as Trozz falls they shout DEATH TO TROZZ LONG LIVE BOB! a blue haired goblin female dances around shouting the age of Bob is here and she is shot dead by Gremmin. One Dwarf is nearly pulled down by goblins and slain but the Brotherhood shifts their formation slightly and all but one goblin remains the guard who fled and he surrenders while the female goblins begin bartering away children to save their lives. 

   Interrogating Gozar the Goblin they learn the goblins are bullied and ruled by two hobgoblins who force them to mine gems and they are robbed and beaten by the Bloody Skull Orcs who lair nearby. Gad orders gozar to show them their treasure and he takes them in t o Trozz' room and they find a chest. Trozz has an old Dwarf Flail, Whip and Key upon his person so Gad inspects the Chest and discovers it possibly has a gas trap of some sort and he tries to disarm it via pushing buttons and depressions on the back of the chest. They opt to have Gozar open the chest [Reaction Roll 11 so he is enthusiastic about it] 

   Gozar uses key smiling for his friend Gad and gets face full of smoke then falls over. Gad stepping over Gozar finds a chest full of gems, coins and a potion vial.  They take the remaining goblin females and children and rope them up, put them on the raft and set off upstream with booty and slaves for the mines.

 

#OSR #VintageGaming #OSE #DarkCitadel