The Restenford Journals #7 (15 APRIL 2024)

    Ok, so we picked up right where we left off last time except with a different player and missing a player. So, I had to plug and play a reason why. If you disregard allot of logical thinking and remember "Hey, this is a fantasy game" its no big deal. If you are simulationist you kinda grind your teeth for a few minutes. We came up with the Thief got separated after getting a late start from the Stone House in the Xerbal Mountains which btw I really need to work on  bit more.

   Opting to rest an evening and risk detection by the Falcon's Rest Bandits above the PCs keep watch and get lucky. I roll for the escaped Hobgoblin females morale and it succeeds but I roll a Wandering Monster Check for them and fate is cruel. A simple percental check to see if the Bandits above come visit the Hobgoblin Cave results in nope so our stalwart adventurers get a decent nights sleep and the single Hit Point that gives those who had any wounds. They move the boulder blocking the rest of the caverns and begin to explore it seeking a way up into Falcon's Peak.

   The caverns beyond has a 20' ceiling height with lots of stalactites, I have the PCs roll a Spot Check for the PCs requiring a 1 in 6 for success. Two of the Three Pcs notice movement in the upper reaches but only see stalactites but see minor movement when the light first flashed across them. They cling tot he sides of the chamber where the walls slope at angle and approach they back of chamber where there is a 15' tall wall with a 5' cave mouth above. Old rough handholds are carved into the cliff face.

   The Ranger Tushuab leads the the climb with the Thief Seren behind him and Davon the Wizard behind them, no official adventuring company name yet. As Tushuab crests the top they discover why the Hobgoblins had the cavern blocked off  as a pair of ghouls attempt to grab and devour him. This leads to allot of "Oh crap" as the PCs had very disastrous encounters with Ghouls in the Hidden Complex. This leads to a quick retreat and since it is a tied Initiative I allow the ghouls a single claw attack each and there are no successful hits. Tushuab and Seren gather at the base of the cliff face whole Davon runs through the center of the chamber triggering attacks by the Piercers lurking above earlier spotted by the PCs. Miraculously three 3 Hit Die creature attacks versus Armor Class 8 all fail. So I describe how Davon dodges the attacks and side steps as the Piercers drop from above. The Ghouls lick their lips as this happens hoping for an easy meal but do not come down the cliff and fall back into the cave giggling and taunting the PCs with vicious taunts. 

   Davon calls for the others to join him and begins casting a spell, Tushuab and Seren fall back observing the slow crawl of the Piercers towards the cavern wall. An arrow is prepared while Davon casts Fireball which btw, he loves to cast Fireball lol. The flames burst out along the top of the cavern but does not descend revealing that the cave above the cliff face is deeper than seen. They ascend choosing to leave the Piercers to cover their rear in case of adversaries creeping upon the rear flank. They ascend and note a dead Ghoul charred and defeated while a Ghoul severely burned assaults the party running from the rear of the cave. Clawing Davon, It being intelligent it knows what the caster can do, and paralyzes him. The other PCs attack and destroy the obscene beast.

   While waiting for Davon to recover they explore the back of the cavern discovering a burnt nest of sorts they discover black silken clothing and coins as well as jewelry depicting a Scythe and a bejeweled unholy symbol of Nergal. At the end of the cavern a fallen wall revealing 2' thick masonry toppled to gain access to another chamber. After the paralysis wears off they enter and find an empty tomb with stone slabs made for a female and two boys, I made up names during sessions and already forgot, with two doors exiting the chamber with One being locked. They unlock the North Door and then explore the Long hall beyond and listen at several doors before discovering the end of hall ends in a set of Iron Rungs leading upwards beyond their torchlight. They fall back and enter the furthest north discovering a skeleton with a dagger in its chest by its own hand and a skeletal figure in long black silk dress. Using caution they approach the form and loot it after prodding the skeletal remains. Taking more jewelry and falling back in tot he hall they open up a stout set of doors to discover a Dark Temple guarded by the Undead including a Large Ogre Zombie. Tushuab and Seren frozen in fear while Davon quickly casts Web to block the approach to the door and then leads the terrified back to the first crypt.

    After the fear effect wears off they look out in the hall and with no Zombies present then close the door and explore the other door they skipped earlier. Another crypt with an empty stone slab; Ghouls gonna Ghoul, with murals depicting scythe wielding demons tossing screaming bodies down a pit with a pair of boys and their mother watching. I describe the mural children high fiving while their mother smiles because I thought it was funny, so did the players. They decide to scale the Iron Rungs next and creep past the Door to the Temple.

    Ascending the Iron Rungs our wounded adventurers find a trap door bolted from below. Tushuab and Seren are unable to force it so they all descend, I ruled the Ranger or Thief needed no rolls to switch positions due to their class but if the Magic-User had to it would trigger some sort of DEX check for all involved so they descend. Davon successfully forces it open after tying ropes to secure himself securely, boxes tumble above. They emerge in a large store room with lots of stolen gear and goods as well as weapons. There are three doors leading from the chamber so they Listen at Doors and hear nothing really due to the thick doors so crack it open and hear the sounds of many bandits voices, noting its a large hall with spots for sleeping and relaxing. They close pone door and open another only to see about a dozen bandits eating drinking and rough housing, Davon casts Sleep and puts the entire group to sleep ! Tushuab and Seren get tot he distasteful work of dispatching the slumbering bandits but a few rounds later a figure in Brigandine emerges inquiring " What are  you guys up to, Yoor too quiet .. " who upon seeing the PCs draws his weapon and rushes, Davon takes another hit and is forced to fall back while the other two adventurers attack the Brigand Captain Wayco, this battle continues until the Bandit takes damage tossing his footlocker key to the floor and running to the main double doors and begins slamming his fist on it where it opens up revealing three more bandits. The battle continues and an arrow strikes a comrade while the Brigand Captain Wayco is killed upon which the other bandits flee out of the complex. Rather than following the close the large doors and cross bar them closed.

   The Trio is wounded and Davon is low on spells so this is where we stopped for the evening. We would normally switch over to the Stone Hell on the Borderlands game but the PCs are enthusiastic to continue and we may have the other PC back who would be at full strength, the Thief Seren is unwounded as well but Tushuab and Davon have serious wounds. So next week we will conclude the Raid on Falcon's Peak ! Game Well, Game Often Y'all !