The Restenford Journals #8 (22 APRIL 2024)

       Since we left last session on a Cliffhanger we picked up right where we left off and of course we are missing a PC from that session as well as picking up the PC who missed last session ;). Now of course this is the argument for stopping play in the dungeon and always returning to town but that also prevent you from having a Cliffhanger episode that PCs can mull over for a week before playing again. I'm find with either and it wad not much of an actual Cliffhanger either but they had finished with the general body of Bandits and were almost of out of resources, They are pressing on because they know if they fall back and rest the Main Villain will escape, plain and simply. All of your minions are dead and if you value your skin you would skedaddle as well. The Magic-User Davon is the primary voice of lets get out so I can rememorized spells and the Ranger Tushaub and Elf Eldrin are pushing forward. I allow the PC character not present to head down tot he Hobgoblin Caves while the Elf Eldrin rotates in. Easy Peasy.

   They decide top check for loot in the locked chamber nd use the footlocker key found on the Bandit Captain. The footlocker in his room that he had emerged from contained not much of note but they were in luck that Eldrin was able to pick the lock to what appears to be the Bandit's Treasury. Inside there were three locked chest but rather than attempt to pick them they opted to explore and find the keys. Instead  they found a room full of slaves chained to the walls. All in malnourished and abused states. When questioned they said the Jailor, a particular nasty torturer and a sadist had the keys. They suspected it was the North Western door which led to his chambers as that is where the Bandits kept "prisoners worth anything" and that if they were poor mountain villagers they ended up in here and used as slaves among other unsavory uses. Eldrin is unable to pick the locks. They immediately head to the other cells against he protests of Davon who wishes to retreat to regain spells.

   Beyond the ominous looking door the PCs find a series of locked cells and at the end of the Hall a sturdy door which is unlocked or bears no lock at least. They peek into a cell and it contains an Elf in a state of distress. Speaking in Elfin they learn that indeed at the end of the Hall is the Jailor. Our PCs approach cautiously with Davon staying by the door to the Main Hall while Eldrin and Tushaub open cautiously and find the Jailor sharpening torture implements. They rush him and the battle is on. It is touch and Go for the entire battle with Tushaub being forced to Shatter his Shield while the pair were having very difficult time tackling the Jailor, a very nasty and tough capable fighter in his own right but in the end they prevail and he is slain.

   This is where it get's weird as Davon goes full maniac on desecrating the corpse leaving it face first in the brazier of coals with his punishing prod shoved up his arse. I believe he would have gone into further detail if the rest of the Party had not moved to release the other prisoners. In addition to the Elf; who was revealed to be a fairly noble birth and a FTR/MU, a raggedy and overly cautious Dwarf as well as several merchants and a spice merchants daughter who swears her father will pay a ransom or reward if you will for her return. Davon makes advances on the Spice Merchant's Daughter and rolls very well (10 on NPC Reaction). The released Elf & Dwarf are offered a share of treasure from the defeat of the Bandit Lord Millard if they aid them in taking him down to which they agree. They then set off and release the slaves who are too weak and malnourished to aid in any battles so fall back into the Main Hall and Supply Room and begin feeding themselves. Going down the last unexplored Hall they find a stout door and upon opening it they find a Dire Wolf tied to the wall which lunges and growls after initially whimpering when the door is opened up. There is some discussion on whether they should fall back and regain spells but this is not the majority wish as they fear the Bandit Lord will retreat, and honestly they are not mistaken. The PCs decide to use missile weapons and kill the creature at range but eventually it breaks the rope that held it back and it is slain in battle.  Advancing quickly forward they format a quick plan outside of the door to  possibly the last encounter in the restored Keep.

   An Illusion is created by Davon of his former master as Eldrin quaffs a Potion of Invisibility. Tushaub alongside the Elfin Noble (I should have named him before the session) and the Scruffy Dwarf who has gathered up several daggers upon his person. Opening the door reveals an upturned desk with the enigmatic Bandit-Lord Millard behind it wielding a Wand, nearby him are four bandits in Chain Mail Armor wielding Battle Axes wait for the PCs to approach. They release a volley of missile weapons at Millard as he is also Back Stabbed by Eldrin emerging from Invisibility but he still stands ! A volley of Magic Missiles hit the Illusion which dissipates. But in the following round Eldrin casts Sleep while the PCs hurl and fire bows at the Bandit-Lord Millard and he collapses into unconsciousness. The Bandits in Chain Mail and the Falcon commanded by Millard fall into a deep slumber. The Bandits and Millard are bound and a falcon hood is put over the falcons head. 

   Investigating the room they find some locked drawers, a mysterious indention circled by Blue Chalk on the flor and a lever mechanism that had set up a Pit Trap in front of the entry door to this chamber. Experimentation with it reveals a pit with a greased slide and to the shock and horror of the party Davon tosses the Bandits except Millard who scream and plead as they slide into darkness. Shortly after a hissing sound and the dying gasps of the Bandits,  " I feel my life force draining" is heard from below and they IMMEDIATELY Close and lock the Pit Trap in Place. Millard when questioned is not sure what is below but believes it contains a nasty creature which the old Lord of Falcon's Rest used a sacrificial Pit of some sort which aligns with the rumors of the place the PCs had heard. Millard had rolled 12 on his Morale and is completely cooperating with the PCs rather than go down into the Pit after his former guards. "Take me to Grellus to face his judgement I beg of You" Which becomes what the PCs plan to do with him.

   The rest of session is cleaning up the Keep, allowing the slaves and released prisoners to accompany the PCs to return the merchants to town after they loot the Bandits treasury, Millard cooperates with the information about the traps and nature of the sleeping gas in one. I plan to deal with the NPCs interactions between sessions on Discord and after this recap is posted work up names for the nameless NPCS and see if how many of the freed slaves wish to follow the PCs, return to their village life or stay at Falcon's Rest as servants. They also acquire Light Warhorses as there was a nearby stable but lost many due to the roof guards and the front guard who fled after seeing the Bandit Captain slain.

   Fun session but next week we are returning to Stone-Hell on the Borderlands for an old fashioned dungeon crawl !