The Restenford Journals #12 (3 JUNE 2024)
Picking up on our Cliffhanger with the Elf Eldrin hiding behind his mount alongside Davon the Wizard hiding behind his while Tushuab and his Elfin Retainer Afamrail attempted to lure the Manticore away but it declined to follow them and opted for the non moving prey without the Armor that often got caught up in its maw. IT came down to Initiative and was a bit of a nail biter as we missed a week so it had been two weeks since our last session. Plenty of time to worry about the drop of some virtual dice. The Jonkheers of Falcon's Rest Win the Initiative and Light is cast to blind and Fireball is cast to kill. Both are failed Saving Throws but the Beast does not die ! Blinded it wails and begins to ascend whereupon the Falcons are let loose upon it and several arrows are loosed. Ascending out of Bow Range the beast is felled by the tenacious attacks of Tushuab and Eldrin's falcons. This is to the shouts of some Orcs who exit the Tower in the South East of the Ruins upon Bone Hill.
The Manticore plummets and I have Tushuab make a Saving Throw versus Paralysis to avoid the gore generated by the Manticores aerial descent and we have a chuckle as he is covered in Manticore innards.
This situation worries the Jonkheers and they begin to prepare for the Orcs who loose several arrows. Approaching cautiously they shout threats and taunt towards the party and a robed figure emerges on a small balcony of the South East Tower. A malicious grin is imagined and due to the great distance of the cyclopean courtyard they can only guess as to his intent but the Orcs seem encouraged and slow their pace just slightly. The group is separated a bit and Eldrin is closing to aid Tushuab and Afamrail while Davon seeks shelter and cover in the large breach in the Castles Ruined walls. Eldrin produces the Scroll of Dimension Door and attempts to move Tushuab to the Balcony using magic and as they win Initiative Tushuab steps through the conjured portal emerging behind the Wizard but he misses his rear attack and a Fireball screeches from his hands towards where he stood but a moment ago. A large explosion kills his horse and his Elfin Retainer Afamrail. There are gasps from the party as they realize due to the number of dice he is squaring off with a 6th level Magic-User, alone.
I think I made an error with how the encounter started but I was very tired and it seems be my natural state anymore, exhausted. Eldrin cast from a Scroll and the Declaration Phase was a bit chaotic and was unsure how long he has been moving towards the corpse of the Manticore. Its important to slow things down for clarification during combat imo. I do not allow full movement or any movement at all while casting from a Scroll as it must be read aloud and movement is not allowed during regular spell casting either. The range of Dimension Door is 10' which could have very well included him within the Area of Effect as well but the game was moving along at a nice pace so I didn't waste much thought about it. The Magic-User Telvar having been nearly slain by the Manticore before striking up a truce with it could very well have centered his Fireball on the beast and aimed to kill the intruders as it expanded engulfing them which would have given more leeway in its radius for the benefit of the player characters. Afamrail failed his Saving Throw and is killed immediately. The horses slain as well but they made their saves so the loot they had stored upon them was merely scorched and not destroyed.
The Orc continue to advance and some fire arrows but miss pitifully. A Sleep spell cast by ( ) puts the entire group to slumber and Eldrin runs towards and into the Tower. Tushuab misses and fails his second opportunity to disrupt Telvar and thus feels the sting of Three Magic Missiles ! Nearly slaying him outright due to his wounded condition. There is a hint of recognition in Telvar's eyes about the Flail wielded by Tushuab and he begins casting Invisibility the next round to attempt to flee the melee. Below on the first level Eldrin enters the tower and ascends to the second floor while Davon approaches the slumbering Orcs and begins dispatching them with his Staff and Dagger. Tushuab again ails to connect and Telvar becomes Invisible.
I make d6 rolls to see if any of the other Orc hear the combat and they do not so I determine they are below ground in the bottom level of the Tower. I also roll to see Telvar notices the Elf Eldrin has entered the building but is in melee with the persistently aggressive Ranger and does not, he has a small chance to hear the Elf enter his bedroom via the stair but I remember the Elf wears Elfin Boots so there is not noise of his approach and allow a Back stab if it becomes available. Tushuab hits the Invisible Telvar as he opens the door to escape dispelling his Invisibility and thus Telvar draws his Wand of Fear to attempt to put Fear into his attacker. HE is hit by both Tushuab and Back Stabbed by Eldrin slaying him. The PCs breathe a heavy sigh of relief and listen for the approach of Orcs and none come. They are far below ground attending to their appetites. The PCs finish the orcs off and then return tot he Second floor of Telvar's Tower. Exploring the stair well up to the next level they discover that Trap Door is Wizard Locked but Davon has Knock memorized and they easily bypass it leaving Telvar's body laying in the room. They camp out in his laboratory and dig through the assorted journals and alchemical supplies while observing the actions of the Orcs in the courtyard from the barred windows of the third floor of the tower.
I make Morale checks for the Orcs to see if they will enter Telvar's personal chambers to inform him of their access tot he Manticores lair but they fail so they post sentries to inform him at the bottom of the stairs. The Shamans Orc Shaman Griznakk & Hugrulg led several surviving Orcs to the Manticore Lair and begin looting it the next day. after discovering a cache of Potions which were labeled in Telvar's laboratory the Jonkheers descend cautiously with Davon wearing Telvar's robes sans his distinct Black Cloak which was donned by the Elf Eldrin. Minor details fellas c'mon...
Their ruse failed but hey easily defeat the orcs in personal combat. Noting this area housed a total of around 16+ Orc they descend into the dungeons. The halls below are massive and the murals of Men-at-Arms backed by powerful Wizards is defaced with Orcish graffiti. A pair of passages leave this long Twenty foot wide Hall with its large vaulted fifteen foot tall ceilings into more modest ten foot by ten foot passages. One goes down to the east and arguing in Orcish can be heard. Attempting the same ruse they approach a pair of Orcs shoving each other over who is next but they are quickly dispatched in combat, opening the door they are confronted with several human females in various states of abuse with several Half-Orc children running about. The females are being tormented by their 'offspring' and after words are exchanged with a rowdy minor the Elf Eldrin dispatches one to the lamenting wailing of the prisoners, Reaction Dice are a Helluva thing !
I determine that Neutral Good might not be the optimal alignment for the Thief/Magic-User ...
They leave the females but promise to escort them back to Restenford and head towards where they believe the Manticore Lair is located. Traversing through an old guard room they come upon a locked side door and the corridor leads to an open door where Orcish voices are heard. Attempting to Surprise the Shaman and the remaining Orcs they are unsuccessful as they are on alert due to the dangerous environs they are currently in. The Jonkheers have themselves spread out in the L shaped Hall and fail Initiative and succumb to a casting of Silence 15' Radius; The Shaman had observed the Orcs above had been put into a slumber and slain not in combat, and a Cause Fear. Tushuab is Feared as he charged into the Chamber and attacked by several Orc before fleeing into the Hall. Eldrin flees after being disrupted leaving Davon at the Corner in the Hall who then promptly casts Fireball next round killing most of the Orcs and severely inuring the solo survivor a Shaman. HE Fails Morale and Flees only to be put into a magical slumber by use of a Sleep spell by Davon.
The Orc Shaman have had the other Orcs gather up the Manticores lair and were arguing over whom got first spoils when the PCs arrived. It was a very entertaining session although a bit fantastical or satirical at times but everyone is enjoying it. The Clutch nature of the encounters is tense, and it feels the PCs are punching above their weight. Armed with Knowledge purloined from Telvar they plan to return to Restenford to gather forces and return to explore these regions referred to by Telvar's notes as "The Servants Halls" and that the name of these Ruins are Castle Maure ....
I need to take a nap on game day before we play I think.
But anyway, get your game on folks and drop some dice
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