Highfell Journals Session #8 (11 November 2024)
I forgot to make my recap the next morning. Which means my memory is going to be, especially sketchy since I tossed the scrap sheets I keep during the session. Oops ...
We ended our last session mid pursuit with the Barbarian Rork's Rage ability Fading. HE is allowed to make his Barbarian Ability to throw off the domination of the Magical Elfin Blade and is tossed upon the ground in degust. HE pulls forth is old Bastard Sword and vows to never touch the enchanted blade again. It is gathered up in sack and put in someone's backpack, I forget which one. There is debate on what to do next so I declare a few round shave passed and call for some Hear Noise Checks; sometimes I will use the PCs Listen at Doors ability to be a passive check for noise nearby, I also call for the Elf members of the Party to make a their passive Detect Secret Doors check; it is best that a DM/MC make these rolls normally yourself and do not inform the PCs of anything otherwise everyone will stop and start searching for Secret Doors lol, but I also use this for detecting environmental conditions. SO after reviewing the rolls, slowing down commentary I inform the Players there is noise ahead, gruff Orcish voices and the Elfinkind in the party there is a gentle cool breeze from the East. This does not help the decision making process. Eventually however, nearly two turns since they stop and Bind Wounds as well, one of the party creeps forward to spy upon what is transpiring ahead. A long ladder goes up to a ledge and it is illuminated above y torchlight. Orcish voices can be heard.
The scout, and I do not remember if it was Wolf-Crest of the Postulant Alaric who crept forward reports back to the party. Bristerhahn decides to advance as the PCs debated falling back to heal, or pursuing to finish off the foul orcs instead of allowing them opportunity to reinforce or more than likely flee with all the loot ! Bristerhahn is first up the Ladder with a torch being held behind him at the bottom of the ladder. This presents a tactical problem but after referring to the text of the adventure and making some decision and rulings I make a die roll or two for Morale, not checking to see if the Orcs flee but if they maintain discipline. and they Fail, so t hem waiting in ambush with bows pointed at the ledge has become leaning upon their bows and weapons after waiting nearly 3 turns for their enemy to poke their heads up to get shot in the face. The PCs fail to achieve Surprise but do win Initiative and Double Move to engage the Orcs spoiling their ability to shoot PCs coming up behind Bristerhahn. The battle is engaged.
The rest of the party files up the ladder taking position either supporting Bristerhahn facing 6 Orcs or in the corner nearest the ledge to fire Arrows at the other Orc holding back near the entrance to another section of cavern. Rork charges to the center and begins meleeing the other Orcs who would have enveloped the Party. It is a decent drawn out melee with more close to death experience for each party member although not allot of damage is spread amongst the entire party several are wounded. Wolf-Crest discovers that the stout arrow recovered in Shandalar's Tower was indeed powerfully enchanted as it returns to his hand after firing it ! Eventually the other Orc including a wounded Chief Ngarsh and several Orc Bodyguard types, several slain in combat, retreat back deeper in the tunnels. This creates a situation where pursuit becomes sloppy but the battle is pressed and they chase through a chamber t hat has been used as a torture chamber for abducted travelers.
Now, several PCs begin One Turn actions as the others chase this creates a divided or split party situation as well as a time disparity between PCs, These are ONE TURN ACTIONS declared so I begin keeping track of this time separate from the combat round. Rork tends his wounds after the battle and is joined by Ravithor who had aided Wolf-Crest in Melee during the grand melee, Wolf-Crest spies upon a wounded barely breathing individual in a make shift wooden cell and begins treating this poor unfortunate soul while the rest of the Party charges into melee in another cavern deeper in the complex. This series of events are actually imo in character but from a seasoned adventurer mindset unusual, but we do get caught up in the thrill of combat. It spreads the party over three different caverns but if engaged from behind would interrupt their individual actions, I do not allow folks to abandon their declared actions as a learning moment. Heavy handed I know, but it also raises the stakes of the encounter putting everyone on the edge of their seats so to speak.
The next cavern has the Orc standing in rank blocking further progress in the old cave as if protecting something "special" they declare they will defend their god to the last orc. Missile fire wounds several orc and then there is another general melee joined within the chambers which appears to be a large sleeping chamber. Ngarsh is wounded once again and flees leaving his Bodyguard and remaining Orc Warriors to fight with the PCs who are eventually triumphant. Heavy steps are heard to the east coming slowly, loudly down the eastern corridor where Ngarsh had fled. Hjort the Dwarf Cleric charges forward followed by the PCs where they encounter an Ogre. The Dwarf is excited and the rest of the PCs groan. They totally dominate the Ogre.
A combination of a series of Critical Hits by ranged weapons, taking advantage of firing over a Dwarf into Melee negates the hitting Party member in melee. The Dwarf +4 Bonus to Armor Class fighting Larger Opponents. It is pretty one sided even though a single hit could kill any PC. No one is hit, the Ogre is slain the party waits to form back up and they enter this last cavern. Which is larger and dominated by a large Brass Demon Idol in front of which Ngarsh is pleading with atm the for aid, he is told by a booming voice to go forth and die for his god ! The Party obliges after losing Initiative the Orc Chieftain charges and is slain by the PCs.
Hjort inspects the idol and begins striking it with his weapon creating a resounding hollow echoing sound, Wolf-Crest & Ravithor inspect the large bedding which appears to be the Ogre's sleeping hides gathering up some treasure. The Idol speaks, asking if all the orc have been slain, several PCs question it but it does not answer. Eventually Alaric climbs up and inspects the mouth of the Idol and discovers it is hollow, hooking a rope upon horn they climb up and into the mouth discovering a small chamber with a small table, chest and ladder leading down. They flip the table to cover the hole, have Wolf-Crest inspect the Chest and he finds it is oddly smelling and has stains along the edge. They opt to leave it alone. There is debate on pressing forward but decide to fall back and heal up at their camp then return and explore where this ladder leads.
It is a good spot to end the session. I know I had planned on going RAW for this first campaign but am already instituting some of my House Rules for Bonus XP. Exploration XP reward of 150 XP for every new dungeon, ruin or level/exit discovered. I think this might be the extent of Bonus XP but Quest XP is something all DM/MC/GM should use. I use Heroic STAT Roll method of 6 2d6+6 arrange to taste instead of the 7 3d6 arrange to taste system built into Dragonslayer RPG. Adding a 7th player to the group is a bit larger than I normally run but the Combat round is pretty fluid for Dragonslayer so should be fine. Also gives me a buffer incase of no shows which is a very harsh reality on VTT game play.
I am thinking of taking the scalpel to it starting this session. The only only built in rule I do not like is Fumbles. Which I would put to a vote by the players. Rulings I am going to have to make in the future are already prepared for in my noggin might as well write them up and have them ready for those situations. There is a large section of the caverns they bypassed in their pursuit and will be explored this session. How much they will delve into the lower levels is questionable. We will see, but everyone is having a hoot and seems to be the funniest as well most enjoyable game I have run in a few years.
Game Well, Game Often Y'all
I am sure I forgot allot of details about this session, it is what it is
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