Stone-Hell on the Borderlands Session #10, 28 AUG 2023

 

 Running on half a tank but it still turned out as a fun and interesting evening. Having fallen back to the Cellar of the Tavern last session the group of adventurers retired to regain Spells and Lick their wounds at the Travelers Inn. I cleared my hit point tracking cards early and forgot one or two but these kinds of mistakes happen from time to time plus I did not give all their full nights rest Hit Point return either (1 Hit Point + CON BONUS for a Full Nights Rest [8 Hours] in a safe/town/conquered rea). Mistakes were made, we continue.

   They had been invited to attend a dinner with the Guild-Master in the Guild Hall after eliminating the Ghost Beggar Bandits from Stone-Hell Valley; Stone-Hell Hollow to some, they had earned in Stefan Har'well's words an opportunity for a discreet favor for Guildmaster Basil. They did not go and chose to rest and return immediately to try and save poor Timmy from whatever foul predicament he had gotten himself into ! The guild envoy was sent back, when they awaken they head to Trader Joes and gain a suit of Leather armor for Cinnamon before heading to the Chapel. There was nothing discreet about the groups actions. 

   An acolyte let them into the Chapel and they delved directly to the Crypt and through the Secret door; where stood the old warrior's skeleton in armor that lead to rumors of the Walking Dead in the Chapel's Crypts, and are then escorted by the Curate to the locked doors to the abandoned temple. Fearing something may escape the door is barred from the outside after the group enters the temple. The Curate assures the party he will be back in the morning to check and see if they need egress and then that afternoon if need be for several days before abandoning hope. He says this was suggested by his thus far un-named collaborator in keeping the Caverns beneath the Sewers secret.

   Noticing the area has been disturbed since their last visit the area is checked for fresh tracks but most of it has been muddied by their own footsteps. However at the far end of the temple near the old battered down doors a heavy laden set of scaly footprints leads off to the East while many others head Westward into the strange dark recesses under Kendall Keep. They head East taking time to double check the Peep Hole Room noticing the corpses of the slain Troglodytes are missing before heading further east down a previously unexplored passage. They discover a rope bridge over a ravine which falls at a rough 70 - 80 degree angle towards the bottom. While Jeri ties off rope to the Dwarf Stonus Bertrand and Patsy discover clawed markings upon the rim of the ledge and find rough handhelds that lead down. They agree to opt to lower Stonus steadily down and when halfway tragedy as Giant Crab Spiders eyeing a potential meal from above attack and deal damage to the Cleric Bertrand and nearly grab ahold of Jeri the Druid as well!. A quick battle ensues and Daggus whom had lagged behind has been let in by the Curate creeps up behind the party[Bruh was Late Y'all] & comes to their aid in combat. 

[After taking a serious hit I have Bertrand make a STR Check or drop Stonus into the depths.]

   Stonus declares he is grabbing onto the rough handhelds and as Daggun joins combat but the Party loses INIT and Bertrand is hit again and perishes, the rope is let lose and as Stonus grabs on to the rough handhelds he is spared falling to the bottom of the ravine. Patsy breaks and flees the next round after his liege is slain by the arachnid predator! As he does so the chamber becomes darker and darker as he runs to the passage leaving this section. Fortunately the following round the vicious spiders are defeated by the combined attacks of the groups assortment of Warriors and Jeri's cudgel. Patsy's torch grows dim as he flees nd Daggus retrieves his Torch and Tinder Box from his back pack as Stonus climbs up and over the ledge from the Ravines steep side.

[Party has been using but a single light source on their explorations usually carried by a Henchman or Retainer]

   Elsewhere, Guild-Master Basil apologizes to Octavious Curry a Cleric of the God of Commerce and Contracts who has fallen on hard times that he had planned to introduce to a group of adventurers earlier but it seems, fortune took them elsewhere. It is unfortunate that you must attempt to erase your debt, alone in the depths below the Keep. If you are able to discover what evils are below or if we are safe or in danger from unknown then I will forgive this debt you have to their guild. I'll check back sometime morrow in the morn and in the evening for three days. If you fail to return I'll assume you failed in your task. I have sent others to this task let us hope you are more fortunate than they have been. Guild-Master Basil smiles grimly. At this point Guild-Master Basil meets the Curate in the secret hall and are confused why each is there but after the Curate explains there are adventurers of whom he has spoken are exploring the caverns below the Sewers. They seek the pot boy Timmy from the Tavern  Octavious is added to the others as the door is opened and they are surprised that the group has a fallen Cleric and Patsy is panicking to leave. An exchange is made and then the Doors are closed again with Patsy fated to be sent out on the next caravan and Bertrand is to be interred in the crypts.

   This task is set upon by the Curate in due haste. Under suggestion from Guild-Master Basil as suspicion could be applied to the Chapel and the Guild Hall if a corpse was carried up from the Crypts. Best to keep this as discreet as possible lest the Castellan hear of this before we discover as much as we can ! Is heard uttered by the Guild-Master as the doors close, and then a heavy timber lifted in place sealing the Party to its work and possible fate.

   The party returns to the Ravine and descend into the depths. Along the bottom of the ravine they discover a Grapple with 50' of rope, a broken short sword, an old spear, short sword and several arrows. A desiccated corpse is briefly inspected by the Druid Jeri and he is threatened by a Pit Viper and leaves it be as the rest of the party finds a tunnel leading downward. The party descends...

[We quickly added a replacement character for Bertrand and added him during session. Octavious Curry Joins the Party]

   Upon delving into the lowest of explored Caverns via the ravines narrow passage small glowing mushrooms are discovered and gathered by Daggus. The ground here is covered in many Troglodyte footprints as well as more large spider tracks. Optingto head West they step in to a large cavern with seven exits, Jeri sends out his pet bat and they learn of a large cavern filled with a variety of large mushrooms. They opt to head south from the Cavern with seven exits near the entry from the ravine, which could be sealed by a  large boulder requiring total STR of 50 to move to close it covered in claw marks. They leave their exit open. They wind to and fro ignoring side passages which appear to have little traffic until they come upon a Large Foul smelling cavern filled with Troglodytes.

[They seem to have avoided all secondary encounters and headed straight for Trog-Town, weird]

    They devise a quick plan and draw out the Troglodytes with Stonus War Chanter Chanting; which also buffs the party for five rounds' and lay in wait. A round later several show up and Stonus, Benn with Daggus behind them block the passage while Cinnamon, Jeri & Octavious use their slings as new troglodytes come around the corner from Trog-Town ! Daggus uses some lamp oil to create acarrier fire but the trogs begin climbing the walls, The battle is protracted and towards the end it seems the party will be overwhelmed but the creatures are defeated. Unusual changes happen to the Troglodyte as they become a bright and dull red as their eyes begin to bulge enraged for no explainable reason ...

   Several Trogs were picked off while climbing the walls to avoid the flames while Stonus and Benn in their plate armor managed to stand against their vicious clawing and biting attacks. Daggus managed to pinion one as it leapt from the wall to attack him as well !

 [The party was at the entrance to their lair]

   As the cavern floor is covered in thick Trog ichor they enter a large cavern littered with Trog dung, fresh steamy scat, broken bones and insect carapaces scattered about on the floor where poor Timmy is tied to a stalactite. Troglodyte females scatter with young following snapping at the adventurers, a dull glow illuminates the room from the west. A large pot bellied troglodyte enters the chamber with a female who is as large as regular male specimen herself. Attempting to kill the large Trog at distance the group prepares their missile weapons

[They Lost Initiative, Again. This was a huge theme this evening as well as Stonus hardly hitting anything consistently]

  Troglodyte King rushes and engages Stonus while sling stones and spears clatter harmlessly away, the next part of combat the Druid Jeri rushes forward to get Timmy but the Trog consort monstrosity rushes to engage him as well. As the battle continues with the Troglodyte King Jeri is supported by missile fire as he unties the boy. Unfortunately he is nearly killed by the Chiefs consort while he frees the boy Timmy. Sling stones hurl towards the creature but she is locked in mortal combat with Jeri, Jeri is killed by friendly fire from the Octavious who just joined the party. It seems that in the last instant Jeri put himself between the rain of missile weapons in front of the boy and perished. The Trog consort prepares to leap upon Timmy but Daggus and Octavius rush forward with their melee weapons and the beast is slain. The following round the entire party swarm the Trog King and he is slain.

[Troglodytes made every single Morale Check]

[I allow folks to fire into melee but if they miss by 4 points I have them reroll an attack upon their allies once I determine who is going to get the stray shot randomly]

   Timmy freed the group debates fleeing the caverns but dare to check out the source of the light and discover a mysterious elfin long sword embedded in the rock aflame. Benn takes the sword and draws it from the stone. [I required a simple STR Check] Before they leave they also explore the passage where the large Trog-King emerged from and find a Throne made of skulls, clutter with coins and gems laying about broken bones with a War Hammer on a platter used for cracking bones. These are gathered up and tossed into a large bag and the remaining females and young are put to the sword and spear. Been dispatched the clutch of eggs in the Trog-King's den. The communal area is not serched at all and the filth which could have contained untold riches not touched at all.

[TBH the vast majority of hte Party is near death and simply wants to retire from the dungeon]

   Timmy is returned to the Tavern in the company of his sister Cinnamon while the party retires to the Traveler's Rest. Jeri lays cold in the Crypt and Bertrand is interred by the Curate and his acolytes quietly. Patsy is not seen again but was last seen in the company of the Guild-Master Basil who scorned him for fleeing. 

   Will offer Heroic Send off options for fallen characters while one of the players replaces his Druid with a possible Elfin Mage/Cleric of some sort. All in All a raucous and deadly session, word has reached the Castellan that the Pot Boy Timmy was rescued from Caverns deep beneath the sewers and news spreads of pallid scaly demons beneath the streets locked behind some old wooden door of great strength. Possibly magical as it holds back evil vile creatures. Perhaps that is what has happened to the very rare missing guardsmen ? Abducted by monsters in the sewers. Its the old grey stinker I tell is heard whispered amongst the folks gathered in the Tavern.

 

#OSR #VintageGaming #SHotB