The Restenford Journals #20 ( 3 SEPTEMBER 2024)

     Well, we got an on time start that was marred by technical issues from the get go. Internet for one of our players was being sketch at best total crap for the average. We tried to deal with it the best we could and spent a fair amount of time talking politics while waiting or him to reestablish connection. This is the biggest down side of a VTT imo.

    We picked up with the Jonkheers having returned to Telvar's Tower their foothold in the Ruins of Bone Hill and they spent two days resting in its confines. Deciding that Locinda's skills might be able to overcome a lock Eldrin failed to unlock in a previous session they returned to the Locked Door near the slain Manticore's Lair. The sound of falling water is heard from the Manticore's Lair as it is raining outside and it is falling through the open hole in the ceiling to the floor of the chamber beyond. She is successful and they discover an old store room with barrels lining the walls covered in mold. Laying just feet from the door is askeletal figure in tattered old purple tabard, a purple painted shield decorated with the letter M, rusting damaged chain mail armor up on its skeletal remains and a long sword laying nearby. Still in the door are a set of keys. They claim the keys and note a large door key which was in this side of the lock, a footlocker key and a set of three chest keys. They inspect the body and then leave opting to disturb the barrels. Davin is required to open up the Wizard Locked door in the halls and they return to the Tower.

    Between sessions we had made a decision and Tushuab has abandoned his Ranger class to become a regular Fighter. XP Progression will be quicker and he gains the FTR Options at a faster pace. I may allow him to retain a basic Tracking of some sorts.

    A discussion is had about maybe returning to the secret rom holding the trio of floating eye creatures but they decide not to and head out in the rain towards the Stirge Tower. Their plan is simple as there are so many of the creatures slumbering under the remains of the third floor's exposed flooring that Davon is simply going to Fireball them and then they are going to descend. Davon's internet craps out totally and we wait a very long time while having personal discussions about current events and the hobby in general. When it is evident he is not going to be able to return they have Davon and his Retainers keep watch from the courtyard as Eldrin & Tushuab and their retainers Locinda, Martin and Vaalyun descend into the darkness below.

    Upon entering the large Hall below which is unlit they are beset by a group of Stirges and pale versions of Stirge they know to be Undead , The Dreaded Ghoul Stirge ! A Surprise round is avoided and they PCs gain the initiative and over the next few rounds the creatures are dispatched. The hall is explored and stairs down at both far ends with one behind a locked set of barre gates. A door nearest the stairs is easily unlocked by the Store Room Keys found earlier. Inside is a scene of what must have been a back and forth battle in a side room. Skeletal remains litter the floor and scores of broken weapons, field stripping of the dead must have happened before the locking of the room ages past. Eldrin & Tushuab search the chamber and a goblinoid war horn relic is pried from the hands of a Bugbear's skeletal remains. We joke about its size compared to a regular war horn and it might make for a great Ale funnel. They press on and inspect the locked iron barred gate, They are unable to pick it and none of the keys fit and neither Locinda nor Eldrin can over come its rusted lock. Inspection of the barrier reveals it would take a great amount of effort to breach.

    The other set of stairs leads to a sunken room with gargoyle heads looking down from above all about the top. They keep to the western wall and Search for Secret Doors. They find nothing but discover a hollow sound on the wall but no secret door can be found. After searching for Traps Eldrin discovers the room has an exhausted trap. They mark the pressure plates then move on to the south hall.

    Inspection of a room off of the Hall reveals an old barracks with broken and damaged furniture but it is clean and spotless whereas the Hall is dusty. They find large cracks in the wall and structural damage from floor to ceiling, They leave and head south to a turn in the Hall and find another door to a room similar to the one they just left. Another barracks with broken and damaged furniture but remarkably spotless and clean. They avoid entering and decide to head West and find a large irregular chamber with structural damage and rubble piled about the chamber, it is not clean and maintained like the previous side chambers. A faint squeaking can be heard and they inspect the northern section of the large chamber. Bodies can be seen sticking out of the rubble when a large rumbling can heard from from behind and they turn to face the threat.

    I describe a 8 foot tall and 5 foot wide creature with claws resembling iron and bizarre mandibles with four sets of eyes one pair of which are bizarrely human in nature while the other insectoid, I call for Saving Throws versus Spells and WIS Bonus applies. Everyone fails, Everyone. The Hulker; as OSE call its, begins tearing into the party and Kills Vaalyun in the first round and on the following rounds a few Pcs are able to strike at it but discover it is covered in iron hard skin with eventually another Retainer being lifted damaged horribly and tossed to the ground, Martin rolls run and I check Morale to see if the creature pursues. Failing a Morale Check it chases after and this is a sigh of relief from teh PCs still standing around. Martin is faster than the creature but eventually rolls "Attack Nearest Creature" which results in a melee in the Hall and Martin being torn limb from limb. AS the Hulker returns to the chambers Tushuab and Eldrin flee south into unexplored areas.

    Eventually they find a room but are unable to fore the door resulting in them creeping back to the lair of the Hulker. Stealing ahead using Boots of the Elfinkind to remain silent Eldrin observes the Hulker stacking rocks on the slain. Storing meals for later and hears Locinda groan as she is pressed upon by large stacks of rubble. She had fallen unconscious but not dead during battle and now lays crushed to death to be devoured by the Hulker later. A large Chest is seen to shift from under some rubble as the Hulker arranges its larder. Tushuab makes a run for it and I again roll for the Morale of the Hulker to determine if it pursues, it makes it Morale so it focuses on the task at hand and ignores the morsels running away.

    This is a near TPK for those present. They recover a few weapons dropped by their newly departed retainers and reunite with Davon and his Retainers in the court yard. This is where we leave the session until next time. These ruins have been a deadly bit of encounters for the PCs and now they plan to explore the Spider Tower next session. I will roll up some more Retainers material in Restenford and check to see if they wish to head to Farmin to see if there are hirable adventuring types there. There are some alternate adventure hooks to be revealed as well but it has been a rough few weeks for he Jonkheers.

    I was also so very tired. Having a 1 year old all day everyday can be so very exhausting. I wish I still had some of that energy of being a kid again lol