Highfell Journals Session #6 (28 OCTOBER 2024)

    There are no definitive rules in Dragonslayer on overnight hit point recovery so I ruled 1 Hit Point plus CON Modifier per night of rest. Simple and still encourages folks to return to town over trying to recover from injuries resting in a ruin or dungeon. I could have possibly overlooked it as I have a PDF over Print copy and it's easier for me to peruse stuff in the old fashioned way. Still not really feeling the need to drop 65$ on the Mono-Chrome Hardback yet.

    I roll for Wandering Monsters' once  for the evening and sounds are heard as they are fairly well fortified in the old armory. Squeaking and Movement can be heard outside as well as the sound of flapping from bats exiting from the ruins of the old tower and flying out to hunt for insects to feast upon. The rats do not bother the PCs after I roll an indifferent Monster Reaction Roll. I will always roll reaction Rolls in perpetuity.

    They opt to investigate the neighboring ruins closed off tot he courtyard over venturing into, below or up in the Tower. After forcing open the door by Bristerhahn and after Wolf-Crest inspecting the door for possible traps they search it for around 2 Turns but only come up with firewood for another night from the old broken barrels and arrow shafts damaged beyond repair from the big drop. I roll for Wandering Monsters, nothing. They continue inspecting other areas off of the courtyard. It is still shadowy due tot he high walls of the ruins, although there are many holes and gaps. Inspecting the other area it is in much the same way as the other, an archer's station. Rork and Wolf-Crest search while the rest of the party mulls around in the courtyard keeping watch. A sturdy looking old arrow is still intact near broken barrels and Wolf-Crest snatches it up to inspect, unfortunately as he lifts it form the floor he says the trip wire go taught and do it's deadly work. I call for a Save versus Paralysis for him and the barbarian and have them roll their own damage. They roll 2d6 apiece with half damage for those making their Save and full damage for those Failing. Arrow retrieved and both still alive ! They return to the party as I make another check for Wandering Monsters, the deadfall was loud and it's sound carries over the local area of the Great Salt Reach.

    I have recently gone to having the PCs roll their own damage for pits & traps. I do not know if this is because I am partly a sadist or that PCs like holding their fate in their own hands when it comes to the drop of some dice. Maybe a little of both, try it and see if your players enjoy determining how much random damage is about to drop upon them goes at your table.

    They converge around the delipidated well in the courtyard, inspecting it after Binding Wounds for their recently injured party members. A torch is dropped into the well revealing the sides are collapsed. Discussion starts on plans for their next course of action. Smoking out the Bats in the other ruin or going up or down in the Tower. The Halberd retrieved from eh old spider lair was left below and they wish to retrieve it when I roll for Surprise. Another group of the Pollorcs have come to the ruins ! There is not surprise and the PCs make very quick work of the creatures then dispatch them while they are under magical slumber. NO coinage is found upon the slain orc and their equipment is left, the bodies however are moved to the entry area of the ruins and left leaning against the southern wall.

    Upon investigating the other ruin they note it is covered in bat guano on the bottom. The plan to smoke out the bats during the say or toss in a torch is abandoned and they return to the  tower. Heading down they recover the Halberd, noting that several of the Giant Rats on the way were gnawed upon prolly by other giant rats and upon getting to the old guard barracks that several of the zombies are missing. The doors in the halls still ajar as no one declared closing them. They press on deeper.

    A statue just out of the sight from when they first viewed the hall is seen as they explore. A fine carving of an Elfin Magic-Use, Shandalar perhaps ? It's eyes glimmer in the torchlight as the brilliant blue sapphires reflect light. Wolf-Crest presses forward and inspects the statue while the rest of the party remains nearer the entry. Taking the time to check it for possible traps a sound is heard approaching the front of the party. Like something getting up from an old chair which creaks with age and then the scraping of something on stone as it comes closer & closer.  Wolf-Crest removes himself from the front and returns to the party in due haste. The Voice addresses the party from the darkness, and tells them to not defile the statue of the mistress, that they should leave and not return. They ask who it is and receive the answer Lianthon Greyarus who then approaches closer and standing near the statue after Bristerhahn tosses a torch forward reveals a skeletal figure, elfin judging from its size, in once fine robes but with eyes and tongue still in its head ! The rest of the party bolts leaving Bristerhahn talking to the obviously undead thing beneath the ruined tower. I think this ends any further exploration of Shandalar's Tower. Bristerhahn begins questioning the thing and is told to leave which he does, that all who have come before have been removed and destroyed by his hands.

    Regrouping in the larder/kitchen they decide to explore the upper reaches of the tower before retiring to a fortified location to recuperate then return to Woodvale. Exploring the second level they spend some time searching and then force their way into a very damaged part of the tower, partially open to the elements. A dripping is noted 20 feet away. Slime is observed on the ceiling and plans are being made on how to deal with the slime when it starts sliding along the ceiling to get closer to the party, they begin falling back out the door and finally close it. I note mentally they never closed any other doors today, the trap door is open in the larder/kitchen. They ascend again.

    The top of the tower is a wreck, merlons are destroyed and ravaged nearby and it appears at one time the top of the tower was a lair for some kind of flying creature. Bits of old nest are about and bloodstains evident on the stone. They spend a few turns searching and come up with a very fine Elfin Long Bow form the rubble, it had been hidden away to be possibly recovered at a later time maybe. They are excited for the discovery. Bristerhahn begins scanning the surrounding territory and observer a large orc camp at the bottom of the Bone Peaks several miles away. Possibly where the scouting party dispatched earlier came from ? It appears to be a larger warband. here is some discussion about lighting a signal fire to attract the orcs to fire upon them with missile weapons but this is decided as a naw, lets not do that today.

     Deciding they need to rest up before travelling across the Great Salt Reach they hole up in the most secure archer's room of the ruins. A late night encounter is avoided and they believe a Hill Giant explored the ruins in the dead of night by the large footprints in the courtyard. Heading out across the Great Salt Reach they pass under the drifting dungeon HighFell and wonder how they are going to access, they do observe it heading into a mountainous section of the Bone Peaks and decide that will be their best option but need to gain more power in raw levels before attempting to do so. They return to Woodvale and find refuge in the Flaming Faggot Inn. The meager bit of coinage from a pouch on the donkey is divided, the items divided by need and plans to gain funds by hunting gnoll in the Fargonne Forest is decided upon for next session. I am feeling terrible and under the weather so I call it an early evening and crash, I crash Hard. 

   In between session in discord will focus on interactions at the Flaming Faggot Inn while they take 5 days allowing Ravithor to copy most of the scrolls inherited by their previous Magic-User's passing. I don't have much in the way ready for that but am gonna figure something out today and have to modified or ready to go by next Monday. No problem, mainly hex crawling looking for Gnolls and something unique I will ad in for old fashioned delving fun times.

    Game Well, Game Often Y'all