Dwarf OSE+ Dark Citadel Session #35 (11 DECEMBER 2024)

    Camping in an old dwarf miner barracks ? Yeah, no problem if you are a group of Dwarf and finally find rotten old cots that are the just the right size. No one really said anything about doing anything about the dead wolf and young adventurer so I guess they slept next to the dead. When you think about it adventurers are creepy and weird. Prolly why the normal village folk view them with a bit of suspicion. 

    We rotated the same pair of adventurers out this session so ruled that Namman and his Retainer Gro would be staying at the Campsite on the upper level of the Lost Dwarf Mine and gathering firewood from the local area. Geoff and his Crossbowmen rejoin the Brotherhood for this delve. There were no Wandering Monsters during the restful evening but they heard the loud exit of the bats from the bat cave to the east. The howling whistling sound continues all evening and seems to be a geographical feature perhaps. When Redrum wakes he notes he is feeling worse and he is informed that he loses another point of CHA CON & DEX. His disease persists after the Remove Curse he received before leaving Axios Landing. They push on to explore the lower reaches with discussion on how to tackle the submerged lair of the Toad Men but instead decide to explore the rest of the lower level. Ryxxor vows to memorize or pray for Cure Disease next session.

    The make their way to the 10' ledge with the destroyed ladder, now totally gone since it was used as firewood and notice the bottom and cliff face is covered in the oily black goop. They ascend with little trouble however and reattach the rope to the Iron Spike left last session. It takes the Brotherhood several Turns to get everyone up and then they proceed cautiously on watch for the unusual creature which attacked them previously. I rule; but do not inform PCs, that Monsters/Creatures recover their Hit Die in Hit Points per Day of rest and make a notation on my Critter Sheet, I am not sure of the Boggle's hit points after last session so spitball it add the healing and move on. Coming to the end of the tunnel that has the 30' ledge and hook at arms length they see oily black footprints, Geoff scans the ceiling while Setting for Charge  for possible attack but sees nothing so they descend into the cave and head towards the west. They head west and discover the goblin guard corpses are missing, a mix of toad prints and goblins prints are upon the ground nearby. 

    The western caverns appear to have many bore holes where gems were mined at one time but nothing seems viable currently. They meander past a four way intersection towards the southwestern caverns and discover where the mine links back to the southern passage form the entry cavern on this level. Back tracking and finding a less often traveled section of mine due to its more ill kept appearance. Cobwebs, and less trash they venture until they discover a section of mine where the ceiling had ben intentionally collapsed and a reinforced pile of rubble maintains it from sliding into the chamber. It is of decent work.

    Geoff who had been calling the direction of exploration decides to inspect the wall. As they advance they are ambushed by unusually vigilant goblins. A group of six but after suffering half their number in fatalities surrender. The PCs press them into service to clear the collapse after they discover undead Dwarf are that way, "very terrible invulnerable to goblin weapons" ! Gremmin was the PC who wanted to press them into service and has them tied up after they clear the obstruction which took about 5 Turns of Labor. They explore it discovering a side passage which was storage, some rope is recovered but the majority is destroyed and damaged. At the far end of the main chamber a mine shaft descends 20 feet to a lower level. There is not ladder as it appears to have been destroyed ages ago. They decide to fall back, clear out this level and interrogate the goblins who failed to mention that the undead dwarf were below a mine shaft. The goblins are left tied up to a stone bench.

    They check the eastern passage and find it connects back to the main chamber, heads south where they find a side passage filed with rotting remains of butchered animals. Typical of the type found guarding or as pets in a goblin tribe. Boar and Giant Weasel, they inspect, search and then leave.

    I keep rolling Wandering Monster Checks but fate has decided to let the Party explore unbothered by cavern inhabitants.

    Exploring to the west they find a chambers with females and goblin children, iron rations are handed to them and the passage beyond their lair explored. A series of fecal filled side cave. Strangely they do not slay the women and children who number but less than dozen. They head back north in the mines...

    They return to the intersection cave with many exits and see a goblin heading into a side passage, he is unaware of their presence despite everyone wearing plate and being a bit noisy than regular traffic in the mines. They follow and Surprise a group of wounded goblins in some sort of infirmary, a goblin stands apart and has a goblin unholy symbol and wears what appears a rough imitation of monks robes. They order him shot by the crossbowmen and bolts and arrows fly into the prone and wounded goblins. On the second round the "holy goblin" is gunned down and the others engage in a gory orgy of destruction. The goblins yield and are put to the sword. The female "nurse" goblins are spared but all of the goblin warriors, wounded and near death are slain. The party learns the goblins are trapped here between the Toad Men whom were missing earlier so they managed to gain access to the well and get water but are starving. They leave the cowering goblin females and leave. 

    Finding another set of goblin guards whom are asleep they dispatch them before they can wake. A half dozen exhausted and emaciated looking goblins slain. All of the goblins encountered have a hollow look about them and appear in various states of starvation. They loot them and seeing how this is a dead cavern return to methodically searching the area. They encounter a pair of goblin guards in better condition and shape than the others previously encountered but overwhelm them. Looting finds they have more coin than the rest so t hey proceed with a bit of caution where they find a Goblin crouching behind a large chest in a decent, for goblin standards, decorated cave. Two females are seated upon the chest and are shielding the cringing goblin. They are shot dead by a volley of crossbow bolts, this followed by a pair of hands raising and surrendering. They have found the goblin chief.

    Inspecting the chest they discover copper and silver as well as gems. They press for more treasure and it explains they have lost their best treasures to the thieving Boggle ! Exploring the old mines they thought a new lair was discovered but found themselves sandwiched between the Boggle who attacks' and injures and steals their best items and the large Toad Men who kill any goblins who encroach upon their territory. They have been starving and were forced to slaughter their pets and minions creatures and were almost of out of water until yesterday. "Is the way out clear it beseeches ! Let me leave this terrible place." 

    They blindfold and bind him dragging him along as they take the treasure chest and fall back for the evening leaving him at the base of the 30' cliff. It was pretty much a mop session and some information gathering. Allot of joking around before the holiday break. Some sessions are dangerous and others are just kind of comic relief or rolling over opponents. This served to lighten the mood I think for the group. The undead Dwarf need cleansed so the party plans to deal with that next week but cannot effectively assaults' the Toad Men so may leave them in peace on the lower levels. Unknown if that will happen though. Ryxxor Redrum and Gremmin seemed content to let Geoff call shots while expressing concern about his changing appearance but session kinda went smoother as I decided to go by Marching Order for calling for actions.

    I was also tired, grandkids do that to you

    Anyway, more to follow next week