Stone-Hell on the Borderlands Session #15 (20 NOV 2023)

    Down to Three players usually means your campaign is dead but I encouraged my Players to recruit Retainers. Combination of Real Life and the particular day of the Week has cost me several players that I started with so I have has dwindled. Been holding back recruiting another organic being to run a toon but may consider it later this week. I Gate-Keep my table from the majority of lunatics running around on the web, so prefer crypt dwelling grognards like myself for my player base. Anyway, back to the recap.

   We picked up a day or two after the goriffic grub-hub incident at the Lizard Man lair in the Southern Fens with the Coddiwimplers in Ye' Olde Tavern looking for prospects and information. Alberich Dwarf Locksmith introduces himself to the Coddiwomple Company while Benn attempts to recruit Yolanda the Fair (8 Reaction) and a cross eyed crossbowman recently fired from a merchant caravan. The crossbowman refuses (4 Reaction). Several Henchman NPC types are ignored as they will not directly contribute to combat and a Magic-User named Oscar the Odd is approached (11 Reaction) so Yolanda & Oscar follow Benn the Warrior with the offer of 1 GP per Day and a 1/2 Share of treasure from their adventures. 

   The Coddiwomplers notice the guard is kind of beat up and Rufus informs then "Mind their own affairs" rather roughly (4 Reaction). Stonus approaches and inquires how they have received their wounds and begins talking to  Churul Gate Guard from the Gatehouse where they have seen him on watch several times. Evidently the Keep's Men-at-Arms have been directed to clear the lower caverns of the Keep discovered by the Coddiwomple Company. A Giant Spider has been slain by these Men-at-Arms and other items discovered upon the cavern level but no Pallid Demon Lizards (Troglodytes) have been encountered. Churul boasts they slew a huge mound of animated skeletons  and seek to return within the week after they recover from their wounds. He also learns that Rufus blames the Coddiwomplers for this whole affair but is cautious as they have the backing of Rathbone the Guild-Master & The Curate ; Wait, I have not seriously named this guy yet ?, slacking , and so is cautious about saying so publicly according to Churul to which Larul nods in agreement. Stonus warns them of the Giant Rattler in the sewers but they claim to have not to have seen it thus far. 

   The Coddiwomple Company having had Benn recruit some Retainers sets off the next morning towards Stone-Hell. They are marching along to Stonus' Travelling Chant and make good time but not all can fit upon Alberich's Donkey Cart. Making good time they enter Stone-Hell Valley on the second day and stable their Donkey & Cart with Snorri's Dwarf Guard whom agree to watch them but retain them after a week if they do not return from the Dungeon. Totally forgot to record the Reaction Roll, oh well. There is some miscommunication about FTR OPTIONS and Stonus  thought he had two instead of a single one. I am debating about allowing both FTRs an additional FTR OPTION since we only have 3 players. It is under consideration.

   They delve and explore Hell's Antechamber in Stone-Hell, noticing the blood stains at the bottom of the stairs have been cleaned up and a small push cart is nearby Stonus kicks it over spilling its contents of broken pottery and bones onto the floor. They head north through the Ogre Mouth Arch and inspect the Hall of Cavorting Imps again. IT is searched and they continue North. Finding a metal sign which declares "Da Dragons' Den" and an arrow pointing West, they Head East into a trash heap instead. Vandalizing another Push Cart they discover a room with sooty shadow upon the walls and exit Northeast into a corridor and follow a right hand wall technique while saying left hand wall the entire time. No wonder they are called Coddiwomplers ...

   Making their way in the Dungeon they find a door with a distance smell of smoke and cooking flesh emanating from beyond. They fail to breach the door not once but twice which leads to the residents beyond being alerted and they throw open the door and SURPRISE the party. Wild looking figures with body scarring and wearing piecemeal armor with leather that has... faces ! These wild eyed berserkers charge amongst the party and a short melee ends with Oscar the Odd casting Sleep upon them with the warriors dispatching the creatures as they fitfully toss and turn in their magically induced slumber. A human corpse was being turned upon a spit over broken furniture fire pit and their weapons serrated to inflict additional pain. They leave the heinous meal to burn and the figures to rot in the hall and continue upon their exploration.

   They discover a vaulted chamber and Stonus notices they are approaching the Orc area they have fought twice previously and opts to head back towards the Dragons den while searching other rooms along the way. They find and an campsite and a room which is unusually chill with bones and weapons' scattered about, continuing Eastward they find a Large Stone Door decorated in a Danse Macabre and they are unable to push it open so they retired back towards the Sign post. They encounter no wandering monsters after they take their rest at the unusual stone doors.

   The path from the signpost gives way to natural cavern with flowstone and draperies which the Dwarf members of the Company welcome but are startled by a group of seven kobolds carrying baskets of guano. They leap upon them and the kobolds begin to route, several are slain and one is rendered unconscious and nearly dead from a flat bladed strike tot he skull. They retire from the dungeon after taking the coins from the kobolds pouches.

   Seeking respite at Snorri's they are surprised the Dwarf Guards do not want the kobold brought into their lair but will keep watch upon the donkey and cart as the Coddiwomplers seeks shelter elsewhere. Alberich spies upon a cave nearby and scales the jagged cliff easily. When players get comfortable with no wandering monsters and encounters they get sloppy. Alberich doesn't eye inside the cave first and attempts to hammer a spike in to the cliff face to haul up the kobold so they can torture it but hears a low growl. AS his eyes adjust to the dimness of the cave he sees a mountain lion; a preciously encountered mountain lion by the party which dragged off a slain brigand, and the bodies of previously slain meals including a fresh deer and the brigand they slew a month ago. Well, what is left of it ...

   Asking actions he shouts down to the party and this triggers the Mountain Lion to attack. Inflicting a full claw/claw/bite attack routine he is severely wounded but strikes back and on the next round declares he is fleeing.  The Mountain Lion is faster but if he wins Initiative he can get aid from his fellow Coddiwomplers missile weapons. They win Initiative but as he runs down the cliff face I call for a simple DEX check since he is skilled climber, naturally he rolls a 20 against the 17 he needed to roll under and tumbles down the cliff. HE does gain distance this way as gravity is faster than his movement. Fortuitous ? Part of the Plan ? Benn nails it and draws its attention as Benn, Yolanda & Stonus put themselves between the Mountain Lion and it's prey. Scoring sever hits with his magical flaming elfin blade it routes quickly up the cliff face as a Mountain Lion can do and they retire tot he cave to rest. 

   Exploring the den they find an old hermits cave and another body of a Ghost Beggar Brigand with a Small Sack. Finding useable armor, a Shield which Benn replaces his spare some gold, a deck of cards and a full flask of Wine ! Stonus rejoices in their good fortune ! This is where we call the session and will allow them to "interrogate" the kobold between sessions.

   Oh me sooo Doooomed it whimpers in its fitful unconscious state

#OSR #VintageGaming #SHotB