Dwarf OSE+ Dark Citadel Session #26 (15 AUG 2024)

    This is a recap of the previous two session actually. We suspended within the adventure area and I had not been able to write up a recap. It's been a hot mess around here actually. They divide the potions found previously and Geoff claims ownership of the Rod of Rowing making him a nautical Dwarf Riverboat Captain of sorts. I make notes in threads for treasure division and I assume PCs properly notate their character sheets, we move on to the session. 

  There has been a small influx of Dwarf families to the individual areas controlled by the PCs and I have not set up their Domain Stat Cards and Incomes yet but will do so shortly. Not sure if I will cover that in these Recaps as it is pretty uninteresting dice rolling by the month.

    The Brotherhood of Expendable Strangers return to the area around the Harpy nest and Manticore Lair and only briefly inspect the shoreline before heading deeper down the Dark River. I need to make some Dungeon Restock Rolls before next session and make a note on one of my index cards littering my desk. Travelling south using Geoff's Folding Boat and Rod of Rowing they make cover a great distance in a fairly short amount of time. It is a full day of river travel and they cover it in half a day from the Confluence which held ruins and the Manticore, Medusa as well as Harpy Roost. As the waters become calmer and at random distances arches rise up out of the Dark River. Various small waterfalls add to the Dark River and some fall away down tertiary passages leading to unknown places while the caverns height above the river varies from 25' to upwards of 75' cloaked in shadows and darkness. Skittering is heard and often the sound of bats flapping above disturbs the otherwise quiet progress of  their river journey.

    They enter an area where the Dark River widens and a sandy short with a beached boat can be seen while ahead a crumbling bridge is partially replaced with a wooden repair in stark contrast to the original stone work. Giant Water Bugs are voraciously devouring a corpse of a Death Fist Orc upon the beach while beyond a set of steeply carved broad steps can be faintly seen leading up to a Stone Door. They opt to pull ahead and inspect the shore and I roll Monster Reaction Roll of 10, they make no aggressive actions towards the bugs and I apply a bonus to the next roll and they flee away taking large pieces of the dead orc with them. We establish a Marching Order which naturally makes the PCs paranoid. Noting the door has been breached in the distant past they force it open and enter cautiously. They are not using torches since the entire party has Dark Vision so I adjust my description to shades of grey and black but there is a large chamber of irregular size and vaulted ceiling, no furniture remains as it is either missing or destroyed. The bodies of two trolls and three Dwarf clad i n Chain litter the floor next to burnt out torches. The trolls wounds have been burned after death and one has a torch sticking up out of its mouth.

    Gremmin, Geoff and Redrum inquire to the status of the Dwarf bodies and make note they are not skeletal or ancient but recently slain within a day. Their  tabards are of the Dark Citadel and they all appear to have been middle aged to older Dwarf. This brings some excitement to my VTT chat actually. Always the empty tombs and long dead Dwarf civilizations nd now there is the possibility of distant Dwarf Brethren in need of aid ! We actually have a bit of discussion before the PCs inspect the other possible features and a torch is lit for better inspection and preparation for Troll burnings as they open the Northernmost door. I make a note how many torches are lit, who is carrying them and then check my map. No need for some rolls after all .... foreshadowing ;)

    Entering the long chamber the party all files in and notes there is but a large empty book case. There is a misunderstanding about the book case being empty as several PCs make straight for it to check out the old times, which there was none. I dunno if I cut out on Discord or it's the anticipation of forgotten lore but it happens pretty much every time there is a book shelf. They go old school on me and describe moving the book shelf to find hidden passages nd inspect the back of the book shelf and check its depth for possible hidden. I roll a Monster Reaction  Roll & it is another 10. I say nothing and as they inspect I describe a narrow crack and it goes in to something, a small hole maybe.

    OK, I was intending them to maybe inspect this and I would describe a sphincter which would lead to possible dialogue but instead. "I jam my finger in there and wiggle it around" I make another Monster Reaction Roll and it is again, a 10. The book Case shudders and you hear some giggling followed by, "Don't Stop, Nice Nice" My VTT chat goes quiet. This is awkward then there is some laughing and WTF commentary. They begin talking to the now very strangely friendly mimic. They learn there are Trolls and Ettins about and the Mimic assumes these Dwarf Cohort are from the Isle where all of the other Dwarf are... These is exciting news to several members of the Party and Geoff makes note to go to the door and stand guard as the entire Mimic Molestation is not to his liking and there he spies creeping from the large corridor a troop of Trolls, Five Trolls' to be exact and his alarm is shouted to the party. Towering above the other Trolls however is a creature or rumor and myth to the Expendable Strangers. A Giant Two Headed Troll !

    The PCs file out and form an irregular angled line versus the Trolls and missile fire is launched as well as Alchemist Fire. This is a very tense battle and eats up most of our game session but the Trolls attacks are mainly failed single digits misses. Eventually the Giant Two Headed Troll is set alight and it flees dropping off of the bridge to the water below to extinguish the flames. This combat results in the death of one of Namman's Followers and the sever wounding of a pair of Retainers. The Troll threat is defeated and the lower level Retainers and Followers are tasked with putting torch to the downed Trolls. A few expendable items were used and Gremmin's Wand of Magic Missiles never stopped pew pew as well as a Potion of Frosty Breathe which affected many of the Trolls' as they closed to combat. After the battle concluded the Giant Two Headed Troll could be heard across the bridge shouting for assistance possibly in Giantish. The Brotherhood opted to go towards the direction of the Mimic suggestion of where there were more Dwarf.

    Opening a Stone Door they were at the top of a bridge that at the far end there was a Dwarf Fortress carved out of a singly giant column. This all was surrounded by a beach with various White and White Red Dotted Mushrooms all the size of a Dwarf. A few Dwarf River Boats are pulled up on the beach and several others sunken along the shoreline. This fortress sets at the edge of a large Subterranean Lake, the Dark Lake. Ahead movement behind the many arrow slits alerts the PCs to a fully stocked fortress. Ryxxor begins shouting greetings from the Temple of Thaneduhr and is joined by Redrum as well so I roll a Monster Reaction Roll and it is yet again another 10 with the additional +2 bonus I give the Party it is a 12. They are welcomed with open arms and told to go tot he main doors and the Lord of the Stronghold will be summoned !

    This leads to several RP interactions. We spend a good 30 minutes talking to Dwarf NPCs who have been at this Stronghold. Every reaction roll is 10 or more and these older Dwarf are excited to see young adventurer Dwarf from Dur Annis. A few of the older Dwarf have heard of the Shiny Brass of Dur Annis as well. Nearly as famous to Dwarf ear as the marvels of the Dark Citadel. Samdouck Flintspine addresses the Brotherhood and sets up a Feast in their honor for that very evening ! It is mundane affair of Mushroom and Fish, the Salted meats of the Party and the few Flasks of Ale are greatly enjoyed as they are shared with their hosts. These lips have not tasted Ale in over 2oo years ! is heard more than once at the table. Jaghoic Redthane is the lieutenant of Samdouck who asks t he PCs their plans. There were 75 Dwarf in the stronghold when the Dark Citadel fell but now only 35 remain. Many attempts were made to push forward but they lost the halls of the bridge after waves of DeathFist Orc warboats assailed the area but their Stronghold remained. It was not caught unaware as the rest of the Citadel was but was cut off and remained besieged until the Orc an Goblin hoard retreated. They would have starved and been destroyed if not for their Cleric Maznec Merrystone to supply them with water throughout the siege and purify food and bolster their spirits and return them to defense in a timely manner.

    The Brotherhood of Expendable Strangers agree to reclaim the Bridge Complex from the Giant Two Headed Troll. Redrum attempts to recruit more Dwarf from their ranks to aid in the fight and possibly swarm the giants and trolls but rolls a 4 so no one joins their cause. Too many of the those old dwarf died over the years attempting to do the same. They learn of the Eye of the Lake who prowls the waters near the stronghold who takes their fishermen sometimes. A mammoth lobster clawed creature with eyestalks. Lantern lights have been seen on the lake and surface dwellers prowl the subterranean realm but if they can get resupply from the surface and ale they will defend the fortress until Thaneduhr calls them to their eternal rest. The PCs spend the night and heal up, I roll a d3 for the Retainer and Follower who hit 0 Hit Points and they need an additional day of rest before being able to adventure without penalties. I have all PCs roll a Reaction Roll and that night Geoff is visited by a female Dwarf Warrior. I dunno why this is so awkward for my players as this is all of screen stuff, I mean its not a debauched 5e game with graphic faggotry and furry porn. I roll another reaction roll and note that a NPC may be added to Retainer Status for Geoff on one of my index cards that I will probably misplace on my desk. They spend an additional day at the Fortress

   They march off confident that they will vanquish their foes.

    The bodies of the Dwarf are missing and one of the Troll corpses is missing as well. Gremmin assumes the mimics ate them. They cross the bridge and note it is not wood but something like wood but do not dwell on it long. Beyond the bridge the find a large chambers and it is cluttered with bones and broken furniture. Piles of Bones and a new pile of bloody bones and rended chain. The missing Dwarf Bodies are found. Looks like the Mimic ate a troll though. The room is nauseating with troll-stink and it continues as a twenty foot wide corridor while an alcove has a stone door. They opt for the stone door and force it open revealing a curving stair case leading up. At the top of the steep stair well they find another stone door and force it open to reveal a large former barracks with a Troll in the far alcove and the Brotherhood leaps to attack. Unseen to the side are another troll and the Giant Two Headed Troll. This battle does not bode well for the Trolls and their constant rolling of single digit attacks catches up with them and they are vanquished, although there are several close calls for the Retainers especially Aramack Grumblebraids. The trolls are put to the torch and Gremmin collects Troll's Blood for future research or other possibilities. Inspection of the chamber reveals it was the Bridge Complexes' Barracks and a pair of large open Chests are discovered holding various gold and electrum coins of a myriad of cultures. Some are identified as Dark Citadel Coinage and others bear the markings of the Drow and an unknown Dwarf Like coin, alien and rune covered.

    Feeling confident they push to explore the rest of the complex and return to the main level. Following the passage they find an irregular room and one alcove holds a pedestal holding a skull. Nothing beyond a cursory visual inspection and the stone door is forced open. Geoff is startled and the Expendable Strangers are surprised by a pair of Ettin arguing amongst themselves but it sounds like a full rom of creatures arguing in Giantish. The Ettin spring into combat and bound into the middle of the party and begin swinging their large clubs. One being a large stone statue mace with the hand still attached at the bottom and Aramack Grumblebraids is slain in the first round of combat. This forces a Morale/Loyalty Check for all Retainers and Followers which all succeed. This battle unlike the Troll battles seems much more dangerous and Ryxxor is nearly slain in the second round while Geoff is forced to shatter his shield to stay alive but after about 5 rounds of combat the Ettins are slain ! These are the first true giantish opponents they have faced and it is intimidating devastating combat.

    We are approaching the end of the game session. There is a large ornate locked chest and a key is found upon an Ettin. Gremmin unlocks and I roll 2 in 6 chance he triggers the trap upon it and a Save v Poison is called for but these are Dwarf so it is passed easily. An arm is severed and dragged back to feed the mimic, I roll a reaction roll. Not all Retainers need be playable races after all but the Hit Die difference prevents recruitment but not a dungeon ally or faction ally. 

     I rule that since the area is mostly cleared and the Dwarf Garrison are friendly it will count as returning to town for XP purposes. The PCs can delve further from here next session after resting or return to their strongholds. Several members of the Party level on their FIGHTER side for Multi-Class Characters and will be able to choose another FTR OPTION next session as well. Training time will still be required and their rations are limited without having to use their allies rations. Possible supply areas are to be set up for exploring the Great Dark Lake. Real original I know ;)

   More to follow soon