Making arrangements to meet at Rikers Cave and handing over all non-essential equipment, Amathaon, Arek, Yew, Luthien, Ronalt, Sven, and Wonnilon descended back into the temple.
Moving with as much stealth as possible, the first level was traversed quite quickly and the stairs down to the second level reached in just a few minutes.


OOC: Marching order please.

Also, please put an asterix next to any item on your character sheet you've passed over to the group going directly to the cave - remember, the lighter you make your load now, the more treasure you can bring back up with you.
Once I know what you've taken back down, I'll sort out what you can bring back up and take care of all the nasty maths/encumbrance, prioritising the most valuable or useful items.

In reply to GM the Third (msg # 1):

Sven led with gusto, taking directions from the members who had been down before. Any lurkers in the darkness would rue a decision not to remain so.

OOC: Ronalt has his longbow, quiver of arrows, longsword, chainmail, boots and empty back pack. The rest of his gear in sacks, is with the group leaving for the cave.

IC: "Lets do this quick and quietly as possible." Ronalt encouraged leading the group back down.

Amathaon nodded and followed Ronalt as quickly and quietly as possible. He kept looking around in case of any surprises.

OOC:Leaving his food and Alrrem's purse behind. He'll keep his weapons and low soft boots.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:47, Sat 25 Apr 2015.

Back once more at the circular stairs (top left corner of the map), the underground party had the choice of tracing their path exactly, or seeing if there was a more direct route to the stairs down to the third level.
The known path had it's benefits, but it also meant traversing the huge hallway through the centre of the level, an area which had shown itself to be fairly well travelled.
Taking the unexplored south east passage from the stairwell meant a narrower frontage to defend if opponents were encountered, as well as the possibility of avoiding the main hall.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:20, Sun 17 May 2015.

"I vote we go that way," Wonnilon pointed his borrowed short sword to the south east.
"Might find something Amathaon and I can use, and we can always double back if it goes the wrong way."

Amathaon nodded and replied, "I agree with Wonnilon. It might be a more direct path."

Luthien, naturally, kept his armor and shield, and his sword. He left the other weapons with others.

Ronalt frowned, "We have no healers and need to do this quickly. Exploring the unknown is hazardous and I don't believe Arek can animate a second body today to bring the dead out."
"Sven you wish the southeast route as well?" Checking with the other more experienced warrior present.

"Ah kin do up ta 'alf a dozen zombies or skeletons if they're all in tha one place. Animated Kalador a day 'r two back when yer were all sleepin'."
"How 'bout we sen' scouts ahead a bi' 'fore Luthien, Sven, you Ronalt and me move up?"
Scouts they had in good supply with Amathaon, Yew and Wonnilon all quite capable. With the three of them they could check out several options at once, speeding the process up considerably.
"Mi' be ou' o' divine 'ealing, but ah still go' me bandages. Wi' scouts ou' though, shouldna be need'n 'em though."

"As you wish," Brother Yew agreed when the leaders of their little band seemed set on the new direction. He quietly crept down the southeast corridor at least as far as the first bend to see what lies ahead.

Crossbow loaded and ready for trouble but will not shoot if a stealthy retreat is a better option.

Yew crept a few dozen feet down the corridor and then a few dozen more, passing a closed door to an intersection. He paused briefly at the door, pressing his ear against it.[Private to Brother Yew: Hear nothing]
At the intersection he sees a multitude of options. A door stands closed to the south, the passages splitting off to either side of it at angles. To the east the corridor turns to the north, while to the north the passage turns west with a door in the east wall at the corner. This door is secured with a heavy padlock - unlike every other door encountered in the temple so far.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:20, Sun 17 May 2015.

Amathaon followed a few paces behind Yew. He didn't want them to bunch up. Quietly he said, "Yew, what do you make of that." He pointed to the padlocked door.

Blade in hand Ronalt stood at the intersection, ready for trouble as the scouts peeked ahead.

While still fairly slow, since handing off his extra weapons and the book, Arek had at least managed to keep up without others needing to pause regularly. If he hadn't been needed to bring out Kalador he'd probably have served better by heading directly to the cave with the others, but as it was holding the glowing chair leg aloft freed up others from providing much needed light.

"What are your thoughts Luthien? Locked doors usually mean there's something interesting on the other side in my experience though."

"Something locked in to keep it safe, or to prevent someone escaping? Or some place locked up so only the key bearer can access it?" Yew responded in a whisper. "Whatever it is, now is not the time to investigate. We must fetch what we came for first. Lets go that way." He pointed toward the southeast passage.

Amathaon nodded and followed Yew.

"Locked doors have interesting things...like traps. If you want to look behind one, have a trap expert look at it first."

"I'm one of them!" he exclaimed, moving up quickly to inspect the locked door.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:59, Tue 28 Apr 2015.

While Yew checked out the south eastern passage, Wonnilon examined the locked door.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:21, Sun 17 May 2015.

"Storeroom." Wonnilon tossed back as he inspected the lock in reference to the chamber to his west.
"Firewood, planks, and lumpy sacks."

"Hmm, well oiled and oft used. No traps. Should be quick and easy if I had some tools..."

"None here." Sven spoke uninspiringly for the first time in a while. "Let's move - the storeroom doesn't interest so much..." he proposed.

Shrugging, Wonnilon moved on to where Brother Yew was deciding which way to go at the "Y" intersection - south to the main hall, or north east.

"Nor' east an' avoid tha main 'all?" Arek quietly queried when all we gathered at the "Y" intersection.
He had the glowing chair leg loosely bundled in his cloak to reduce the bright light spilling from it. Moving quietly wasn't going to mean much if their position was given away by a mobile light house.

In reply to Arek Blackiron (msg # 25):

"Yeah..." Sven concurred, "Lets not walk down the main hall nor through the front door."
He advanced behind the scout, clearly favoring the less outstanding route.

"I have a set of tools for that purpose," Yew quietly confided to Wonnilon. "Perhaps we shall put them to the test later."

He quietly set off along the northeast corridor that Arek and Sven favoured.

The party moved quickly, passing a door to a chamber on the left, broken, sundered from its hinges and lying in pieces on the floor. The room beyond is a shambles — several parts of skeletons, broken furniture, and charred cloth and wood. Shredded wall coverings also show signs of fire.
Further on and around a corner (yet another one) there was another intersection. One passage headed back south west, and the "main" passaged turning southwards to link up with a passage Yew had seen before, if from the other end.
It would seem the "back way" past the cells to the stairs down had been found.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:19, Sun 17 May 2015.

"Nice," grimaced Sven. "Let's go."

"Go where?"
Wonnilon had never been down this way before so was completely reliant on others for directions.

"Downstairs," Yew whispered in reply to Wonnilon.

He led the way back past the cells to the stairs beyond the eastern end of the great hall.

Yew in the lead, the party heads south down the corridor towards familiar terrain. Just before the corridor turns east, there is an opening in the eastern wall and through it and down about a fifty foot corridor is a plastered and painted chamber, probably a secluded place for relaxation when the Temple was in its heyday, now filled with rubbish. The room is a heap of rotting, stinking garbage, offal, dung, and who knows what else; bones and skulls are visible here and there. Part of a bronze-bound coffer of some sort can be seen near the middle of a large pile of refuse in the centre of the room. [Secret to Amathaon Chalkbreaker; Luthien; Ronalt de Gault; Sven Arnoff: You hear a young voice whispering from amongst the garbage "Shh, keep quiet or the bad men will get us!"]

The chamber to the south (just to the west of where Amathaon and his ex-prisoner companions were locked in) is filled with broken containers of all sorts. The littered mess on the floor shows that there has been some fairly recent traffic, probably to carry off any remaining foodstuffs.


This message was last edited by the GM at 11:34, Sun 17 May 2015.

"There are certainly plenty of places to explore later when we return with Kalador," Yew whispered to his companions as he led the way to the stairs down to the next level.

"Hold on," Wonnilon whispered.
"You hear that?"

"Hear what, exactly?"

The kid hadn't caught anything.

Amathaon stopped and listened. He whispered, "What is it?"

"Shhh, listen!"
[Secret to Luthien: You hear a young voice whispering from amongst the garbage "Shh, keep quiet or the bad men will get us!"][Secret to Ronalt de Gault: You hear a young voice whispering from amongst the garbage "Shh, keep quiet or the bad men will get us!"][Secret to Sven Arnoff: You hear a young voice whispering from amongst the garbage "Shh, keep quiet or the bad men will get us!"][Secret to Amathaon Chalkbreaker: You hear a young voice whispering from amongst the garbage "Shh, keep quiet or the bad men will get us!"]

Luthien got it that time.

"What bad men? I'm a squire of the Knighthood. It's safe to come out."

Amathaon heard them this time. He made ready to draw his falchion, just in case. He didn't trust anything down here and didn't want to take a chance.

Sven heard the voice and wasted no tie in charging into the centre of the room sword raised to hack down any bad me who might present themselves. He was in a hurry, and that's how he solves most of his problems when in a hurry or otherwise.
He hurtled down the corridor in terrifying silence.

Ronalt swiftly shadowed Sven down the corridor. His blade ready for trouble.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:13, Mon 04 May 2015.

Yew found himself being rapidly overtaken and passed by allies with surprisingly sharper hearing than his own. He covered his surprise quickly and followed close behind them with his crossbow in hand.

"Errr, wha' yer talkin' 'bout?"
Arek was very worried about those around him. Hearing voices was never a good sign - somebody as old as he should know!
Nevertheless, he stumped slowly after them, swaddled chair leg giving off just enough light so nobody would trip over.

Sven leads the headlong charge into the garbage room, sword waving wildly about in the prospect of hacking and slashing any number of men who may, or may not be bad.
He is met however, not by men, nor by a small child (which everyone besides Brother Yew and Arek had apparently heard), but by a pair of large tentacles which shoot from the garbage and smash repeatedly into him, hurling him like a rag doll across the room and slamming dazed into the wall. [Private to Sven Arnoff: Take 8 points, then take 1 more, and then take another 2 points as you're lifted up and flung into the wall for, you guessed it, 4 more points.
That thing is STRONG!!!]

Note Sven got OWNED when the surprise roll was badly failed. It was only his high Dex surprise adjustment that saved him from even more punishment.
Roll initiative and post intended actions.
Who's next into the meat grinder? :p


[Private to GM: Otyugh: AC 3, MV 6", HD 6, Thac0 13, hp 32, #AT 3, D 1-8/1-8/2-5, SA disease, SD never surprised; XP 956]

10:40, Mon 04 May 2015: Amathaon Chalkbreaker rolled 3 using 1d10 ((3)).


  Hearing Sven get thrown around, Amataon will enter the room cautiously and attack one of the tentacles, if possible.

OOC: Oh, we're running into that room? LOL

Yew stepped forward beside Ronalt and fired his crossbow at the base of one of the tentacles, hoping to hit either the tentacle itself or the body of whatever monster it was part of. He swiftly reloaded and was ready to fire again if there was still a clear shot and nobody else had moved in front of him. He would never again risk accidentally shooting one of his own allies.

OOC: Brother Yew rolled 3 using 1d10. Initiative.
Brother Yew rolled 13 using 1d20. To hit with crossbow of speed (THAC0=17).
Brother Yew rolled 19 using 1d20. Second attack if clear shot at end of round.
Brother Yew rolled 5 using 1d6+4. Attack #1 damage.
Brother Yew rolled 9 using 1d6+4. Attack #2 damage.

Sven leaked asurprising amount of blood from the mouth suggesting against all reason that the ghast may indeed be human and have flowing blood to bleed. His eyes lost focus and he exhaled deeply. He lurched upright like a skeletal caricature and prepared to attack again...

OOC: Post edited - one round to stand, next round (if still alive) is attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:45, Tue 05 May 2015.

"Sven what have you found us today." Ronalt cursed as he saw the foe.
He moved to flank the critter (to south)

Ronalt de Gault rolled 9 using 1d10 ((9)). Initiative
Ronalt de Gault rolled 10 using 1d20+2 ((8)). hit AC 6
Ronalt de Gault rolled 4 using 1d12+2. R1: +1 longsword dam.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:05, Tue 05 May 2015.

19:53, Today: Luthien rolled 9 using 1d8+4. Damage if needed.

19:52, Today: Luthien rolled 12 using 1d20+2. Attack.

19:52, Today: Luthien rolled 9 using 1d10. Init?

Luthien was new enough to fighting these kind of monsters to pause...

But he was also knew enough to be full of the bravery of youth, and so he followed the rest in to attack. At least he was sensible enough to attack alongside Ronalt when he did.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:54, Tue 05 May 2015.

Brother Yew let fly with a bolt which sunk deep into the filth close to a tentacle.
Sven gathers his scattered wits and lurches to his feet
Amathaon rushes forward arriving at the end of the round (may attach next round). [Secret to Amathaon Chalkbreaker: "No!" the young voice pleads. "Don't hurt it!"][Secret to Luthien: "No!" the young voice pleads. "Don't hurt it!"][Secret to Ronalt de Gault: "No!" the young voice pleads. "Don't hurt it!"][Secret to Sven Arnoff: "No!" the young voice pleads. "Don't hurt it!"]
The long ridged tentacles lash at Ronalt, one connecting heavily with the heart-shaped end and almost driving him to the ground. [Private to Ronalt de Gault: Take 8 points damage. This thing is SERIOUSLY STRONG!!!]
Unsurprisingly Ronalts attack misses, as does Luthiens a few moments after.
Meanwhile Arek moves up with the light and Wonnilon keeps watch on the rear.

New round. No longer safe for Yew to use the crossbow - time to switch weapons?
[Private to GM: Otyugh: AC 3, MV 6", HD 6, Thac0 13, hp 32, #AT 3, D 1-8/1-8/2-5, SA disease, SD never surprised; XP 956]

Lurching back from the strike, Ronalt snarls and drives his blade in, carving flesh from the beast in mighty chunks.

Ronalt de Gault rolled 6 using 1d10. Initiative
Ronalt de Gault rolled 21 using 1d20+2. R2: +1 longsword .Att 1. Hit AC -5
Ronalt de Gault rolled 8 using 1d12+2. R2: +1 longsword Att2 dam. (need to add extra +2 dam so total is 10)
Ronalt de Gault rolled 16 using 1d20+2. R2: +1 longsword .Att 2  Hit AC 0
Ronalt de Gault rolled 6 using 1d12+2. R2: +1 longsword Att1 dam.(need to add extra +2 dam so total is 8)
+++++
Ronalt de Gault rolled 8 using 1d8+4. +1 longsword Att1 dam.
Ronalt de Gault rolled 10 using 1d8+4. +1 longsword Att2 dam.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:56, Wed 06 May 2015.

Sven threw himself with lightning speed and animal ferocity at the thing, taking a huge two handed swing at the creature.

OOC:
Sven Arnoff rolled 1 using 1d10. Initiative.
Sven Arnoff rolled 18 using 1d20+6. Attack.
Sven Arnoff rolled 17 using 2d4+10. Damage - Frostbrand 2H Medium.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:10, Tue 05 May 2015.

07:00, Today: Luthien rolled 10 using 1d8+4.

07:00, Today: Luthien rolled 15 using 1d20+2. Attack.

07:00, Today: Luthien rolled 1 using 1d10. Init?

Luthien launches another quick, wild, but powerful strike at the thing. Of course, his n00bness shows from every swing, but he's trying, damnit!

As the others waded into the filth to battle the tentacle monster Yew drew the mysterious magical dagger he had never used yet and leapt forward to join in the assault.

OOC: Light crossbow just carried in left hand.
Brother Yew rolled 5 using 1d10. Initiative.
Brother Yew rolled 5 using 1d20. Attack with Heartseeker (add +? magic).

19:10, Tue 05 May 2015: Amathaon Chalkbreaker rolled 10 using 1d10 ((10)).initiative roll.

Amathaon will attack the things tentacles. He will slash at it with his falchion.

19:14, Tue 05 May 2015: Amathaon Chalkbreaker rolled 19 using 1d20 ((19)). attack roll.

Sven struck hard into the muck where he judged the beasts body lay hidden, scoring a terrible injury upon it. Simultaneously it lashed out with one tentacle at Ronalt but missed. The other tentacle, aimed at Amathaon, did not, it's heart-shaped end wrapping itself around the dwarf tightly and lifting him into the air. [Private to Amathaon Chalkbreaker: Take 6 points of damage and you're held tight. You may try to roll a Strength check (1d20) to break free, but this thing is seriously STRONG - your chance isn't great (better than 0 though).]
Both Brother Yew and Luthien miss, but Ronalt strikes once despite the creature using the badly injured Amathaon as a shield.
Arek shakes his cloak from the chair leg and sticks it upright in the muck, wields his mace and prepares to enter the fray.
Wonnilon continues to watch the rear.

New round. Note hitting this thing just got a LOT harder unless you're happy to risk hitting Amathaon. Obviously the creature is intelligent enough to take a hostage. [Private to Ronalt de Gault; Sven Arnoff: From the hits you've taken yourselves, you know it's strong enough to crush Amathaon like a grape should it so wish.]
[Private to GM: Otyugh: AC 3, MV 6", HD 6, Thac0 13, hp 32 5, #AT 3, D 1-8/1-8/2-5, SA disease, SD never surprised; XP 956]

OOC: A demi-human shield? Curse that fiendish tentacle-monster!

PHB says use of a shield assumes attack from the front where the wielder can interpose it between itself and a blow. It says attacks from the right flank and rear always negate the use of a shield. So which characters are in the 'rear' or 'flank' positions that can strike without risking hitting Amathaon? We will surround it to minimise the advantage that the dwarf-shaped shield offers. Presumably Amathaon can still attack too?

OOC: It has no "back" or flank really - can fling Amathaon around with ease to cover almost all directions. However, I will be limiting how many attacks it can "deflect" and it will not be able to interpose him before it's initiative (hope I roll REALLY slow).
Amathaon has his arms pinned to his sides, but at least he's still got his weapon in hand (not that he can swing it).
Basically, if you want to continue to attack, you lay your money down and roll dem bones.

Also, it would seem the main body of the beast is under the muck - you're really just seeing only it's arms (not even it's head really).
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:59, Wed 06 May 2015.

Sven spat blood and flicked Frostbrand at the tentacle holding Amathon. His hesitation showed and this was reflected in his aim. After a few seconds, his composure regained, he took the chance to thrust Frostbrand as deep into the muck as he could where the tentacles seemed to be concentrated most.

OOC:
Sven Arnoff rolled 15 using 2d4+10. Damage 2.
Sven Arnoff rolled 15 using 2d4+10. Damage 1.
Sven Arnoff rolled 24 using 1d20+6. Attack 2.
Sven Arnoff rolled 12 using 1d20+6. Attack.

Luthien...isn't willing to attack with a hostage in the way, and holds his swings till the captive is set free.

Instead he backs out of the enemy's tentacle range and waits for more experienced warriors to set the captive free.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:21, Wed 06 May 2015.

Brother Yew ducked and weaved as he tried to find an opening in the monster's defences. Finally he spun low to lash out with his foot at the base of the closest tentacle. He missed.

OOC: Brother Yew rolled 4 using 1d10. Initiative.
Brother Yew rolled 4 using 1d20. Kick it in the tentacles.

Ronalt goes after the tentacle which has Amathaon, trying to separate dwarf from monster.
Ronalt de Gault rolled 15 using 1d20+2. R3: +1 longsword. hit AC 1
Ronalt de Gault rolled 6 using 1d8+4. +1 longsword dam.

Amathaon struggles to free himself as he's flung through the air but fails.
Brother Yew, Sven and the creature all act simultaneously - Yew tries for a kick but misses badly.
Sven finds himself the target of one tentacle which scores a glancing blow upon his armour (no damage).
Ronalt however is not as lucky as the creature bludgeons him with Amathaon. [Private to Ronalt de Gault: Take 2 points of damage][Private to Amathaon Chalkbreaker: Take 2 points of damage which leaves you on 0 and unconsious. Probably a good idea to start acting more like a thief and leave the full frontal suicide attacks to the fighters.]
Sven plunges his sword deep into the muck inflicting yet another terrible wound. [Secret to Luthien: A big toothy mouth biting off more than it can handle springs to mind, but rapidly fades...][Secret to Ronalt de Gault: A big toothy mouth biting off more than it can handle springs to mind, but rapidly fades...][Secret to Sven Arnoff: A big toothy mouth biting off more than it can handle springs to mind, but rapidly fades...] Both tentacles drop to lay slackly on the muck pile - it appears the creature has been dispatched...
Amathaon also makes no move, still wrapped in the gripping end of the tentacle, his motionless body terribly battered and bruised.
[Private to GM: Otyugh: AC 3, MV 6", HD 6, Thac0 13, hp 32, #AT 3, D 1-8/1-8/2-5, SA disease, SD never surprised; XP 956]

That will be combat over, you hope...
Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:38, Sat 09 May 2015.

Luthien now feels comfortable enough to hack the tentacle holding Amathon off the creature. His intention is to free him by severing the thing.

Allowing Luthien to take out his frustrations a little way down the tentacle, Arek simply dropped his mace, flipped the end of the tentacle out of the way and proceeded to tend to the grievously wounded Dwarf. [Private to Amathaon Chalkbreaker: And you get those two hit points you just lost back. Yay, you can walk under your own steam again.]

Not taking any chances, Ronalt stabs the fallen beast again.
"Next time Sven, tell the rest what you are charging into."
Muttering to himslef, "This rubbish dump is disgusting and needs a fireball in it."

Ronalt cleans his blade and checks his new wounds to make sure they are but bruises and not open cuts.

Brother Yew sheathes his dagger again as he looks about the room. Once he has seen that Father Arek is tending to the fallen dwarf he turns his attention to the contents of the room. He grasps the handle of the coffer and hauls it up out of the rubbish and drags it out of the room and out into the corridor where Wonnilon is still waiting.

"Mister Wonnilon, here is a task suited to your skills. Assist me to open this coffer. It may be the sort of thing we have come for."

Yew stepped back a pace to allow the Halfling to inspect the coffer while he fished out a small set of picks and tools from his backpack.

"With pleasure."
Taking the coffer and the tools, he withdrew into the corridor and set to work.
"No traps on it, lets see about cracking it open..."
Five minutes and much harsh language later, "Nope, it's beyond me. Whatever's inside isn't heavy though. Doesn't rattle either."

"Perhaps the techniques I learned at the monastery will be effective in this case," Yew suggested.

He took back the lock picks and settled down to work on the lock on the coffer.

OOC: Brother Yew rolled 12 using 1d100. Open lock. [Private to GM: Yew's Open Locks chance is normally 55%, unless this is a particularly difficult lock?]

Wonnilon must have cleaned out the mechanism and done a little repair work while he was at it as Brother Yew pops the lock in mere moments.
Inside are rolled up papers which looks suspiciously like spell scrolls...

Sven spent the time Wonnilon gave to the coffer on finding the teeth of the beast and pulling the largest two to add to his collection. He hummed a soul sucking dirge in contrast to his childlike smile as he did so.
After some gristly noises, a couple of sharp cracks and a delighted squeal, he set about searching the rubbish in the room, underneath and around where the coffer was for extra treasure.

Pulling the creature from underneath the muck Sven revealed it in all it's horror for the first time.


Teeth (of which there were plenty to choose from) quickly extracted, he set about searching the hole it came from and found a gold platter, a small sack with 40 cp, 30 sp, 30 ep, 10 gp, 20pp, and a platinum bracelet set with four opals.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:17, Wed 13 May 2015.

Brother Yew placed the scrolls back in the coffer but left the lid open as he presented it to Arek.

"You alone of us here may have some use for these, Father Arek."

Arek took a quick look at the scrolls.
"Nope, they no' b' clerical."

"The mages will be happy to have new material." Ronalt added.
"Are we almost done here. We should move onward."

Amathaon got up and shook the cobwebs from his mind. He said, "Thanks Arek. Dwarves always help their own eh." He went by the nearest wall to recover. He saw the items Sven got with some envy.

"I'd say that's about all we're going to get out of this cesspit. Shall we be off?"

Sven gathered the treasures, stuffed the small items in his pockets and the platter in the sack and nodded to Wonnilon.
He led the way back to the stairs, clapping Amathon on the back "More where that came from here I'd vouch."

If the coffer itself looks worth its weight in gold Brother Yew will carry it, otherwise leave it behind and only take the scrolls. He will pack them away in his backpack. Then follow Sven's lead. Crossbow ready for action again.

The party makes it to the bottom of the stairs without incident and finds the door into the level closed.

"Hmm, locked," Wonnilon declared after trying the door out of the stairwell.
"Dwarves are goods with locks aren't they?"

Arek bristled.
"Wha', jus' cuz ah'm ah dwarf I kin open locks!?"

"We can always smash it if nobody can open it the normal way. Yew?" Sven inquired of the monk.

"Oh, sorry Arek, I meant Amathaon."

Brother Yew fished out his lock picks from his backpack again and set to work on the locked door. It seemed he almost had it a couple of times but eventually he stepped back and held out the tools for Wonnilon or Amathaon to try it.

"I am not familiar with this mechanism. Do either of you recognise this one?" he asked.

Brother Yew rolled 59 using 1d100. Open lock. [Private to DM: Yew's open locks chance is 55%, so I assume he has failed unless it is an easy lock to open.]

Luthien...just stared at the lock.

"I don't suppose there's a key somewhere?"

Wonnilon took the picks and tried his luck. Almost ten minutes later and he too had to admit defeat.

"lets try a different route then." Ronalt suggested while keeping guard in the passage.

"There isn't one, far 's we kno'.

"Never easy is it? If Amathaon can't get it then breaking it down would seem the only option, unless we just give up and go back almost empty-handed.

Amathaon took the lockpicks and began trying to open the lock. He felt that he'd be able to pick the lock without a problem.

20:37, Fri 15 May 2015: Amathaon Chalkbreaker rolled 94 using 1d100 ((94)). lockpicking attempt.

Feelings however don't always equal success - Amathaon fails miserably to pick the lock.
[Private to Amathaon Chalkbreaker: Equal to or under your skill is a success. :(]

Amathaon shook his head and tried again.

2:32, Fri 15 May 2015: Amathaon Chalkbreaker rolled 91 using 1d100 ((91)).

...and as before he failed horribly, almost breaking the picks in the process.
This lock just wasn't pickable with the current skills available in the group. Another method of opening the door would have to be found, or another route.

Amathaon looked back at the group and said, "Sorry, I just can't pick this lock." He shook his head in frustration and put the picks away for future use.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:46, Sat 16 May 2015.

Realising that Amathaon was distracted by their failure Brother Yew bowed and smiled as he put his hand on Amathaon's to stop him pocketing the lock picks.

"They were a gift from my teacher at the monastery," he explained. "I would not like to lose them."

"One of the men in black tunics we fought at the west end of the great hall had a battleaxe," Yew recalled. "Nobody wanted it so it should still be there among the dead. That may be the best tool to break open this door."

"Or," he said looking at Luthien and Sven, "somebody could, you know, just kick it down..."
This message was last edited by the player at 08:49, Sat 16 May 2015.

Brother Yew shrugged at the suggestion but agreed to try it. Once Wonnilon had stepped back from the door Yew took advantage of whatever space was available for a run up and put his whole body weight of 130 pounds behind a powerful kick at the door.
[Private to GM: What do we have to roll to attempt to kick open a locked door in AD&D1e?]

Yew flew feet first into the door....and bounced.
The door was unmoved. [Private to Brother Yew: Rolled for you. D6 for a stuck door, D100 if it's barred.]

Sven slams two mailed fists into the door and it vibrates off its seams before resting back into place suspiciously unharmed.
"I broke that door." Sven swears. "That ain't right..."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:57, Sat 16 May 2015.

07:29, Today: Luthien rolled 56 using 1d100. TEST YOUR MIGHT!

"Sorry guys. I'm not strong enough."

Luthien had a go, but it wasn't good enough.

Amathaon handed over the picks to Yew of course.

In reply to Sven Arnoff (msg # 101):

"Still looks 'ole ta me."
He rapped a knuckle against the bronze wood.
"Bout three inch's thick, n' re'nforced wi' iron ban's. Ta'e ah batter'n ram ta den' i', or a gian's fist."

Amathaon smiled for a moment and said, "A giants fist eh. Well that lets you and me out don't it Arek."

"What do you wish to try next?" Yew asked the others. "Master Ronalt, will you try? Can we try together in two's or three's? Or shall we fetch that battleaxe and try to cut around the lock?"

"Leave it, as bashing it down will attract folk. Lets find another path to take for now." Ronalt counseled. "What other paths are available to us."

The group of seven huddled at the bottom of the only known stairs down to level three and discussed options, sketching rough maps of what they knew in the dust as they spoke.

Level 3


Level 2

Note "F" leads down but is blocked at the lower end by a set of big double doors covered in runes and secured with BIG chains.

"None," Yew responded immediately. "Our searches so far have not found another way down from the second level to the third, except the large stairway down from the great hall, which is chained shut and magically warded against us. Nor did we find any indication on the third level of another way up, not even where that large stairway might lead down to. If we are to retrieve Kalador we must get past this door, or search for another way down. I do not know where we would start that search, but we do know there are supposed to be three other evil elemental temples down here somewhere. It would seem more likely that we would find one of them and their temple guards and priests before we find another way down. This was supposed to be a quick foray to collect the valuables we left behind before, including Master Kalador. In my most humble opinion, Master Ronalt, we are neither rested nor equipped for lengthy exploration of this complex. If we cannot open this door I fear we must bid farewell to our hopes of raising Master Kalador again."

"We go' 'bou' ah week or so ta git 'im raised. 'course we 'ave ta fin' some way o' doin' i' in tha' time too."
"Now this door 'ere's tough, but no' impossible. Jus' need an axe or one o' those giants we kilt a while back. I kin silence tha blows wi' a prayer fer long enough to do tha job."
As if several people pounding on the door hasn't already alerted any nearby listeners...

"I will give it a try." Ronalt strained to breach the door, but failed.
"If you can silence the blows then we can cut down the door with axes, Arek." Ronalt agreed. "lets do it and not tarry."

Ronalt de Gault rolled 21 using 1d100. Test of strength.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:14, Sun 17 May 2015.

"Neares' axe 'ud b' o'er en' o' tha' big 'allway. Shou' sen' Yew ta ge' i'. 'e's fast an' quiet."

"I'd go, but I don't really know the way."

"Could work, if Amathaon goes as guide."
"Yew, Ronalt, an' Sven stan' ready wi' missiles an' cover 'em dow' tha hall. Luthien an' I kin watch tha back an' flanks."
"Soun' like a plan?"

Amathaon shrugged his shoulders and said, "Sure I'll act as the guide."


[Private to GM the Third: How familiar is Amathaon with the area we're going into?]

Ronalt nods and readies his bow.

Sven likewise took a few seconds to wind back the heavy crossbow and signalled his readiness when done.

Yew bowed slightly in acknowledgement of the instructions and readied his light crossbow too.

"What about light? Amathaon and I can see in the dark fairly well, but I don't care to have you humans firing shafts off into the gloom while we're in it."
Not to mention there were limits to Arek and Yews' vision as well.

"Well, it's always good to see, yes. But I'll go to the position I'm supposed to go."

Which is as directed.

"How 'bout you take tha chair leg wrapped up in m' cloak Amathaon. Toss it dow' if there's trouble."
"Sven, yer wanna light tha' torch yer carryin' 'roun'? Stick it up in that sconce on th' wall."
With a handful of lit torches scattered about the temple depths, Arek didn't think another one would draw much attention, provided they stayed back in the shadows a little so as not to be instantly spotted.

Amathaon nodded and replied, "Sure Arek, that sounds like a good idea." He will take the chair leg and prepare to move out.

Sven obliged and shortly the torch was sputtering away in the sconce, making giant shadows of them all.

All is set and Amathaon and Wonnilon head off into the darkness, only a tiny glow escaping from the swaddled chair leg which is soon lost in the gloom.
[Private to Amathaon Chalkbreaker: Reaching the door at the far end (down E on the map above), the pair finds it closed. A quick try also finds it to be locked - and then Amathaon remembers it had been barred on the other side by the party last time they were through here...]

PM
[Private to Wonnilon: He looked at Wonnilon and said, "I believe we locked it the last time we were through here."]
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:37, Tue 19 May 2015.

PM
[Private to Amathaon Chalkbreaker: "Well that is a problem. What should we do?"]

Amathaon shrugged his shouldersand said,"[Private to Wonnilon: Danged If I know. We have to find a way through. What do you think]."

PM
[Private to Amathaon Chalkbreaker: "I've never been here. Don't have a clue."]

Amathaon replied, "[Private to Wonnilon: Let's ask the others. Maybe they'll have a better idea]."

Amathaon and Wonnilon arrive back empty handed.

"You want to tell them?" Wonnilon asked Amathaon with a little bit of a guilty look on his face.

Amathaon nodded and said, "Well it seems that the door is locked from the other side. I believe that we may have been the ones who locked it. Would anyone happen to have an axe we could use on it?"

In reply to Amathaon Chalkbreaker (msg # 132):

"That's the problem, isn't it?" Sven grumbled. "Had an axe, I woudld've just chopped the first door..." his voice faded away.
After a minute of grinding grey matter he spat out; "So how about we have Arek here get us the giant I messed up earlier to smash it?"

"Yer mean tha one on th' other side o' the locked door?"
This message was last updated by the player at 13:49, Wed 20 May 2015.

"You're very quiet Luthien. I'd have thought somebody as young as you would have lots to say."

"When one doesn't have the answer, one should generally be quiet and listen. Adding my voice to this accomplishes nothing of note."

"But expressing ideas, even ones of doubtful worth, assist others to come up with the right answers."

Brother Yew looks at them all in turn then bows and turns away.

"Follow me," is all he says.

He leads the way back around the new northern route they recently discovered, back to the spiral staircase, then southward through the rooms and secret doors they explored before that to reach the guard barracks and the room where they had heaped all the weapons and armour from the black-clad guards they had killed on the way out.

He often cautions them to wait while he (and/or Wonnilon, Amathaon or Ronalt) scouts ahead to make sure they don't stumble into another group of guards somewhere along the way.

Amathaon followed Yew and said, "I'll scout ahead with you Brother Yew."

Brother Yew leads the group all the way back to the chamber of the minotaur to find the first secret door (the one with the trap he'd disabled) was closed and tightly secured. From this side it blends in with the surrounding wall very well - if it's existence wasn't already known, it would probably be missed 9 times in 10...

"You think somebody might be home?" Wonnilon asked, referencing the now closed and secured secret door.

"Yes," Yew responded softly. "There was one who escaped us, wasn't there? Brunk the dart thrower. Poisoner. He slit the throat of his own leader to make his escape. It would not surprise me to find he has returned and locked every door behind him. Come, let us go upstairs instead. The torturer had a battleaxe too."

Once again, Yew leads the way, this time to the torture chamber where the axe is retrieved.
Heading back down again, the group reaches the problem door blocking their way onto level three without incident where Arek casts his prayer of silence before Sven chops through the heavy door, virtually ruining both it and the axe in the process.
Then it's just a matter of collecting up all the valuables from the explored areas and heading back up again.

OOC: I'll work out what's recovered and post it a little later today. I've estimated about an hour IC to collect, distribute and properly package for carrying out - could be less if you're not worried about breakages, minimising wasted space/weight capacity, or assessing values to ensure you're prioritising the most valuable items.

Ronalt posts a watch on the corridor while the loot is collected, distributed and properly packaged for portage out.

OOC: Do you want to take the items in the shrine? There's upwards of 1,500gp in value there according to Amathaon's expert assessment.
link to a message in this game

Luthien venerates the shrine of good as directed. Because he's a Paladin to be someday. In theory.

It's surrounded by evil, in an evil temple and evil certainly had to pass through at the very least to place the Prince and Sven in the next room.
Real shrine or set up?

...Luthien thinks better of it. Probably just a fake.

Leave the shrine items. It is one of the safe places we can rest in and the clerics to get their mojo back.

Brother Yew is in favour of leaving the shrine intact. Even if we never use it again it is still a holy place and should not be looted.

Yew had already previously left his halberd behind in the shrine and will leave his coil of rope there as well to minimise weight carried. He doesn't need the halberd anymore and the rope might come in useful on future expeditions. He can get another rope easily enough elsewhere when they are out of the temple.

Yew wants to check the laboratory area for any sign that the wizard it belongs to had visited it since we were there. (eg. if the place has been tidied up or corpses removed or extra equipment removed.) That locked (wizard locked?) door out of the stairs has made him suspect it might be the same wizard responsible.

Bodies have been removed to the 20'x20' "storeroom" to the north east of the shrine, but minimal other "disturbances" are in evidence.

The following items will probably remain in the shrine also due to lack of worth/bulk.

large haunch of smelly meat, (from giants)
2 bottles of cheap wine (barely drinkable)
a barrel of water and a huge pot with some sort of gruel of grain and vegetables
Bugbear's chain mail shirt
several empty bottles
drinking horn and axe blade (giant size)
pewter bowl and spoon (giant size)
A cask containing beer
red robe with a gold skull emblem
2 short capes of crimson cloth
Ogres club

Virtually everything else (except those items on Level 2 currently behind locked doors) can be taken with space to spare.

Yew suggests they dump the large haunch of smelly meat with the bodies in the 20'x20' storeroom, so that the smell of the meat doesn't lead anything else to the shrine.

After that let's just take our treasure (including the zombie Kalador) and get out of here. That is all we came back for.

I forgot about him and his "friend" (the fire temple commander - the one who had the flame tongue). Your load carrying capacity just shot up.

"Is this really a holy shrine? My training isn't really complete, but...wouldn't the evil ones have to come this way to bring his highness and Sven in here? That's...why I stopped praying all of the sudden. Maybe someone should check it for traps..."

"We've spen' many 'ours in 'ere so far. No traps ta be foun'."
"No ev'dence of divintee either fer tha' matter."
Arek hadn't really thought all that hard about it before, what with it supposedly being a shrine to a "foreign" god and all that, but now the issue had been raised, it didn't really seem quite..."right".

"Well...if you think about evil people, they probably have some sort of detection that goes off when people try to pray to good deities in here. Maybe an alarm? Or maybe a blast of evil blasts people who try to pray here. I don't know."

Arek mused on that for a while.
"S'possible I s'pose, but I've ne'er 'eard o' anything like i' before..."

"If only I were Knighted. Then I could see if this place radiates evil, despite what it looks like. Sadly...not yet."

"Wouldn't the Prince have detected that when he was here before and said something?"

"Lab room and then out of this place. Lets make sure the secret door shows no sign of our presence." Ronalt encouraged.

OOC: Does the lab have any small library we can loot/carry off?

"As I recall, we only sense evil when we're actively looking for it. If he didn't think to check..."

"He's a smar' man. I'm sure 'e did."
But that would have only established if the place was evil, not if it was a true shrine to Pholtus.

OOC: yes, there's quite a bit being recovered from the lab - about 150 lbs worth around 5,000 gp.
Books and other papers had been removed to the shrine earlier, and besides a few scrolls, included in the 5k.

"We don't know that he did, we just hope he did, really. Still...you're more in tune with divine energies. Can you tell if it's really a shrine to Pholtus?"

(OOC:Presumably religion proficiency?)

"If i' were tha Father of Battle, then sure."
Clerics didn't generally study the details of other religions, and for good reason. It didn't pay to risk insulting ones own all powerful, all seeing god by knowing too much about the intricacies of worshipping another.


OOC: In reply to Luthien (msg # 163):

What's this "religion" thing you speak of?
link to a message in this game
Must be from another edition...
This message was last updated by the player at 04:12, Wed 27 May 2015.

Sven was busy rolling up the wall coverings, lingering over the gold one. "Nothing good here. Never was, never will be. Just ashes and a rocky crater when we're done breaking it." He uttered with absolute conviction. He shook one out; "Can sell these though. Sure as hell better money in our pockets then decorating here."

Everything was finally gathered, packaged and shared around leaving everyone staggering a little under their loads (every character is Heavily encumbered even with the two zombies loaded up and carrying the second candelabra - (pair to the one given to Oohlgrist the troll).

With all in readiness Yew and Wonnilon led the way back up, all going smoothly (if a little slowly) until Yew rounds a corner not far from the bottom of the spiral stairs on level two and comes almost face to face with a group of about a dozen heavily armed men escorting four equally heavily loaded human prisoners!



OOC: The party has surprise, but only 1 segment until they recover. Actions please.
Current encumbrance reduces your character to half of normal movement rate, and they suffer a -1 penalty to attack rolls. Can drop packs, etc to lower to Moderate encumbrance, but that means automatic loss of initiative for that round, unless done in the initial surprise segment. [Private to Sven Arnoff: This means that unless you want to delay dropping excess weight and the penalties that implies, you won't get the first shot with the crossbow]
Those at the back have leather armour, shields, crossbows and short swords. The two black and white figures are chain, shield, long sword and spear, and the one at the front shown leaning on their sword is plate, shield, bastard sword and short bow.

[private to GM: 8 bandits
2 L1 fighters
1 L4 leader
4 prisoners, general foodstuffs, treasure totalling 400gp
Assassin, Merchant, Thief, Tradesman

Bandits (8): AC 8 (leather armour) or 7 (with shield), MV 12", Level 0, #AT 1, D 1-6 (shortsword) or 2-5 (light crossbow); AL CE-NE, XP 14 + 1/hp

Veterans (2): AC 4 (chain & shield), MV 9", Level 1 Fighter, hp 9, 6, #AT 1, D 1-8 (longsword) or 1-6 (spear); AL NE, XP 19, 16

Leader: AC 2 (plate & shield), MV 6", Level 4 Fighter, hp 37, #AT 1 or 2, D by weapon (bastard sword, shortbow, spear, etc. ); AL NE, XP]
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:05, Thu 28 May 2015.

Sven sneered at the group and notably did nothing to ease his burden. Violence was always the number one priority for the awful man and he took a welcoming shot from the crossbow that whistled past the leader's head to shatter on the wall behind him.
"Welcome" he greeted the surprised men evilly, before finally preparing to drop his gear.

Ronalt drops his pack and pulls his blade. "We had almost made it without hurting anyone. So close." he muttered.

Yew's crossbow fires even quicker than Sven does. He shot at the chain-mailed spearman at the front right then swiftly stepped back 15ft to the east through the intersection to take up a position immediately east of the intersection, clearing the way for his more heavy armoured companions to step forward.

[Private to DM: If the crossbow of speed still allows a second shot after moving, and if he still has an unobstructed line of fire at the end of the round he will shoot again, otherwise he will draw his dagger for melee combat instead. If any of the enemy crossbowmen shoot at him (without hitting their own front line fighters first) he will attempt to dodge or knock aside the crossbow bolts.]
Brother Yew rolled 19 using 1d20. Attack 1 with crossbow of speed.
Brother Yew rolled 9 using 1d6+4. Damage.

Ducking back behind Ronalt, Wonnilon relieved himself of his load, pressed against the wall and waited with sword ready for a strike from cover - if an opportunity should present itself...

Luthien was still kinda new at all this, and dropped his pack. He knew he'd be fighting the guy in plate, as the Cavalier Code...that he isn't technically worthy of yet....says engage leaders first.

OOC: As you can see from the map I've kindly provided, only Yew and Wonnilon actually have line of sight at the moment - everyone else is around the corner and still unseen, and also cannot see the opposition.

Or is Yew carrying a mirror so everyone can see?

OOC: No mirror, so ...

Yew fires his crossbow - insert sound of bolt slicing into flesh and man yelling in pain - Yew dashes back across the intersection in front of the party. Wonnilon scurries back behind Ronalt, drops his pack and waits with sword in hand. Blood-thirsty Sven anticipates a fight and steps forward to see then fires his crossbow too. Ronalt drops his pack and draws his sword. Luthien follows his example ... just waiting for two dwarves and a zombie to act, aren't we?  ;o)

At the sound of crossbows being fired, Amathaon dropped his pack and drew his falchion. He wondered how many they faced.

"Protect th' rear," Arek commanded the two zombies while looking at the seriously wounded Amathaon and lowering his own heavy load to the ground.
He was rather looking forward to a little fight - out of healing prayers he may be, but he was well and truly still loaded for bear.

Yew looses a bolt and takes a few quick steps backwards. His target drops to the floor. [Private to Brother Yew: Crossbow still in hand and only moved a couple of feet - only had one segment (6 seconds) worth of surprise. Can fire again at the very beginning of the next round with no problem. May fire at the end again but will probably have Sven, Ronalt and Luthien in the way if they do what I expect.]
Sven Arnoff steps forward a few feet and shoots, missing his intended target. [Private to Sven Arnoff: Crossbow still in hand - only had one segment (6 seconds) worth of surprise.]
Ronalt drops his load and pulls his blade.
Yew's crossbow fires even quicker than Sven does. He shot at the chain-mailed spearman at the front right then swiftly stepped back 15ft to the east through the intersection to take up a position immediately east of the intersection, clearing the way for his more heavy armoured companions to step forward.
Wonnilon takes cover, drops his burden and prepares to draw his borrowed short sword.
Luthien drops his load and draws his sword. Behind him Amathaon does the same.
Arek commands the two zombies to watch the rear as he lightens his load. It's clear the order was also a strongly worded suggestion for Amathaon to do the same and stay well back from immediate danger.

New, aka 1st round. Lets have those initiative rolls and intended actions. At this point one of the opposition is down and they're only aware of the existence of Yew, Sven and Wonnilon (although probably suspect there's others).
I won't update the map just yet as nobody has moved more than a couple of feet.

[private to GM: 8 bandits
2 L1 fighters
1 L4 leader
4 prisoners, general foodstuffs, treasure totalling 400gp
Assassin, Merchant, Thief, Tradesman

Bandits (8): AC 8 (leather armour) or 7 (with shield), MV 12", Level 0, #AT 1, D 1-6 (shortsword) or 2-5 (light crossbow); AL CE-NE, XP 14 + 1/hp

Veterans (2): AC 4 (chain & shield), MV 9", Level 1 Fighter, hp 9 0, 6, #AT 1, D 1-8 (longsword) or 1-6 (spear); AL NE, XP 19, 16

Leader: AC 2 (plate & shield), MV 6", Level 4 Fighter, hp 37, #AT 1 or 2, D by weapon (bastard sword, shortbow, spear, etc. ); AL NE, XP]

With his line of fire still clear Yew fires again with his crossbow but this time his aim is off. [Private to DM: Same as last round - if he still has an unobstructed line of fire at the end of the round he will shoot again, otherwise he will draw his dagger for melee combat instead. Also draw his dagger if the enemy rushes forward to attack him. If any of the enemy crossbowmen shoot at him (without hitting their own front line fighters first) he will attempt to dodge or knock aside the crossbow bolts.]

Brother Yew rolled 6 using 1d10. Initiative.
Brother Yew rolled 8 using 1d20. Attack 1 with crossbow of speed.

Ronalt's blade ready. He glanced to Sven to see when he was to charge and rounded the corner with him so they could block the corridor. Upon reaching the foes his sword drew blood.

Ronalt de Gault rolled 3 using 1d10. Initiative. (Hold Initiative till Sven's)
Ronalt de Gault rolled 20 using 1d20+2. R1: +1 longsword.
Ronalt de Gault rolled 6 using 1d8+4. R1: +1 longsword dam.

Amathaon stays back near his pack. He stands ready to defend himself, but hopes others will do that for him, given his wounds.


02:39, Sat 30 May 2015: Amathaon Chalkbreaker rolled 5 using 1d10 ((5)). initiative

07:45, Today: Luthien rolled 2 using 1d10. Init.

Squire though he was, Luthien was raring to go this time...

Much as he'd like to engage the other guy in plate, he knew the limits of his meager abilities, and so attacked the other closest target.

Sven leaned his crossbow against the wall and dropped his baggage in order to later draw bladed weapons. It wasn't the most dramatic action, but swords don't get into hands by themselves unless you're a very special wizard indeed...

OOC: Edited to reflect the baggage problem
This message was last edited by the player at 14:30, Thu 11 June 2015.

It was Arek's intent, provided room opened up, to step up and call upon Clangedinn Silverbeard and transfix as many of the opponents as possible.

Initiative 8 plus casting time

Brother Yew shoots, but misses and attempts to back pedal out of the way as the heavily armoured man (plate and shield) lunges at him with his hastily drawn sword (miss).

Behind him, several of the crossbowmen try to herd the prisoners through the door to the south. Unfortunately for them, the prisoners aren't being particularly quick or helpful with potential rescue in sight. At the same time the spearman at the rear of the opposition tries to push his was forward. Once again though the prisoners are somewhat less than helpful and significantly hinder his movement.

The remainder of the crossbowmen shoot at Brother Yew causing him to duck and weave erratically, and he successfully avoids all but one of the missiles. [Private to Brother Yew: 6 points damage]

Luthien meanwhile squeezes past Ronalt, Wonnilon and Sven and heads for the front arriving just as Yew is hit. Seeing his intended target already down he attacks the bastard swordsman, more in an attempt to prevent Yew from being further attacked than in any real hope of taking the man down. As expected his sword slides ineffectually off the mans shield.

Seeing Sven still occupied with unburdening himself and making ready, Ronalt steps forward with Luthien and slips his blade into a gap in the bastard swordsmans armour. The man grunts in pain and the blade comes out red.

Arek steps between Wonnilon and Sven and begins to cast while Amathaon, accompanied by the two zombies keeps watch to the rear. A few moments later and Arek flicks something at the opponents. Transparent metallic bands descend from the ceiling and tighten around the bastard swordsman and one of the crossbowmen. A third man avoids being bound by the magic.

Sven is finally free of his load and has sword in hand as Brother Yew shoots another bolt past Luthien and the now stationary bastard swordsman. The bolt strikes a crossbowman, seriously injuring him. [Private to Brother Yew: The hold person allowed that second shot as Luthien was no longer dancing about in front of you. Next round might be different though, and there's a risk of any misses potentially hitting a prisoner. Up to you if you want to keep shooting or switch to the dagger.]

New round.
Red cross means dead or dying, blue cross means held and unmoving.

[private to GM: 8 bandits
2 L1 fighters
1 L4 leader
4 prisoners, general foodstuffs, treasure totalling 400gp
Assassin, Merchant, Thief, Tradesman

Bandits (one held) (8): AC 8 (leather armour) or 7 (with shield), MV 12", Level 0, HP 5 1, #AT 1, D 1-6 (shortsword) or 2-5 (light crossbow); AL CE-NE, XP 14 + 1/hp

Veterans (2): AC 4 (chain & shield), MV 9", Level 1 Fighter, hp 9 0, 6, #AT 1, D 1-8 (longsword) or 1-6 (spear); AL NE, XP 19, 16

Leader (held): AC 2 (plate & shield), MV 6", Level 4 Fighter, hp 37 31, #AT 3/2 or 2, D by weapon (DS bastard sword, shortbow, spear, etc. ); AL NE, XP]
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:14, Fri 12 June 2015.

Ronalt pushed forward to the crossbowmen, his blade slashing ineffectively twice with the ring of blade on armour.

Ronalt de Gault rolled 6 using 1d10. Initiative. .
Ronalt de Gault rolled 10 using 1d20+2. R2: +1 longsword. att 1. AC 6
Ronalt de Gault rolled 5 using 1d20+2. R2: +1 longsword. att 2.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:07, Mon 15 June 2015.

Brother Yew winced at the pain of his wound but refused to let it overwhelm him. With grim determination he drew his dagger Heartseeker (crossbow now carried in his left hand) and moved forward past the magically bound men to attack the closest crossbowman and stop him shooting again.

OOC: Brother Yew rolled 4 using 1d10. Initiative.
Brother Yew rolled 17 using 1d20. Heartseeker +? (THAC0 18).
Brother Yew rolled 6 using 1d4+2. Heartseeker damage +?

Amathaon waited with the zombies and wished he could do something more. He decided to hide in the shadows a bit, till it was over with.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:25, Mon 15 June 2015.

Arek followed on the heels of Ronalt but stopped at the held bastard swordsman. Hooking his mace over their shoulder he pulled them down to the floor with a metallic CRASH, whipped off their helmet and stove in their skull with another swift mace blow.
He, nor his god, wasn't in a mood to take prisoners...

Initiative 8

23:03, Today: Luthien rolled 7 using 1d8+4. Sword of stabbing.

21:41, Today: Luthien rolled 14 using 1d20+2. Give it the old squire try..

21:40, Today: Luthien rolled 1 using 1d10. Init?

Luthien was trying, and against a crossbowman, his tries mean something!

And he packs quite a wallop too, for a random squire.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:04, Mon 15 June 2015.

Sven moved forward behind his already advanced companions and viciously brained the second held man with the pommel of his sword, enough to ensure he went to sleep but note a killing blow. A soldier through and through never lets a free strike pass.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:27, Thu 18 June 2015.

Wonnilon dashes forward and drives the short sword up underneath the held crossbowmans armour and deep into their abdomen, slaying them almost immediately.

Brother Yew also dashes forward and finishes off the crossbowman he'd just hit with his bolt. [Private to Brother Yew: He feels a burst of intense pleasure shoot up his arm from the dagger as it plunges up to the crossguard into their chest.]

Not to be outdone, Luthien is hot on their heels, stabbing his blade into another crossbowman and felling them instantly.

Arek takes care of the last held man a heartbeat before Sven moves, leaving the big man little option but to charge at the somewhat demoralised spearman who finds himself staring (briefly) at his severed torso from across the corridor. [Private to Sven Arnoff: Max damage - he only had 6 hp...]

Ronalt leaps over the piled bodies and slices into the last remaining crossbowman in front of the prisoners. He too joins his compatriots bleeding out on the floor.

The four crossbowmen on the far side of the prisoners do not hesitate - as one they turn and flee in total panic down the corridor.

OOC: Wow. That round was nasty. The party, the whole party, beat them on initiative and not a single character missed their target. The carnage, soooo much carnage...the survivors (if you don't run them down) will be in therapy the remainder of their miserable lives.
[private to GM: 8 bandits
2 L1 fighters
1 L4 leader
4 prisoners, general foodstuffs, treasure totalling 400gp
Assassin, Merchant, Thief, Tradesman

Bandits (8 4): AC 8 (leather armour) or 7 (with shield), MV 12", Level 0, HP 5 1, #AT 1, D 1-6 (shortsword) or 2-5 (light crossbow); AL CE-NE, XP 14 + 1/hp

Veterans (2): AC 4 (chain & shield), MV 9", Level 1 Fighter, hp 9 0, 6, #AT 1, D 1-8 (longsword) or 1-6 (spear); AL NE, XP 19, 16

Leader (held): AC 2 (plate & shield), MV 6", Level 4 Fighter, hp 37, #AT 3/2 or 2, D by weapon (DS bastard sword, shortbow, spear, etc. ); AL NE, XP]

Ronalt pushes through the prisoners, "We will be back in a moment. Arek check these prisoner and release them."Chasing the crossbowmen, keen to bring at least another down with his blade.
If able Ronalt will cut any fleeing crossbowmen down from behind.

Ronalt de Gault rolled 10 using 1d10. Initiative.
Ronalt de Gault rolled 13 using 1d20. R3: Longsword Att. Hit AC 1
Ronalt de Gault rolled 8 using 1d8+4 ((4))
This message was last edited by the player at 10:16, Sat 20 June 2015.

07:41, Today: Luthien rolled 11 using 1d8+4. Damage.

07:40, Today: Luthien rolled 17 using 1d20+2. Stabby stab stab.

Even a kid was starting to get the hang of combat now.

The next crossbowman would meet a particularly nasty fate. Luthien may not have much experience, it's true...but he is STRONG. And when he does land a blow, he hits like an oxen pulled wagon.

A little visual clarification is necessary I think.
Note the crossbowmen fled as their action in the previous round, therefore they've got quite a head start if you really do want to chase them. Wearing only leather armour, they have a Move of 12". Only Ronalt, Sven, can hope to keep pace, and only Yew can hope to catch up with them - unless they do something really stupid (like turn and fight) or you do something brilliant and unexpected (like suddenly sprout wings or teleport).

Brother Yew hurries forward past the prisoners until he reaches the bend just to the west of them. From there, if he can still see the fleeing crossbowmen (and if his line of sight is not blocked by any of his companions who might be chasing them) he will fire off a quick shot with his crossbow at the rearmost crossbowman to encourage them to keep on running.

OOC: Brother Yew rolled 7 using 1d10. Initiative.

The prisoners, dropping their loads and overjoyed at their apparent rescue flock around their saviours and impede the pursuit. Brother Yew is still quick enough however to send a bolt shooting at the heels of the last of the crossbowmen as they flew in panic up the spiral stairs.
The four prisoners introduce themselves as a merchant, and carpenter, a hawker and labourer, all taken on the road between Verbobonc and Hommlet. The loads they were carrying are general foodstuffs and other miscellanous treasure totalling about four hundred gold in value (much of it their own possessions and goods taken by the bandits).
Weapons and armour (all human sized) which can be recovered include 4 suits of leather armour, 7 shields, 4 short swords, 4 light crossbows, 4 bolt cases with a total of 25 bolts, 2 sets of chain mail, 2 spears, 2 long swords, 1 suit of plate mail, 1 bastard sword, 1 short bow and a quiver with 12 arrows.

With his pursuit blocked, Ronalt cleans his blade before putting it away.
"We are happy to gift you with your freedom. Best you pick up your loads as we are in the process of leaving this place of great despair."
Ronalt aids in removing gear from the dead and adding it to the groups laden packs.
When all is done he encourages them all, "Time to leave good folk. Our welcome is over."

"Here, you can have your sword back now," Wonnilon handed Sven back his short sword.
"I'll grab a few items for myself."
He salvaged a long and short sword, the bow, quiver and arrows as well as one of the shields.

Brother Yew joins Ronalt in swiftly stripping the dead and salvaging whatever is useful or valuable enough to carry away.

"Arm yourselves with whatever you feel best suits you and help us carry the rest," he instructs the former prisoners.

"Somebody help me with that plate mail please," said the carpenter.
The merchant and hawker both went for the chainmail, while the labourer equipped himself with leather. All but the labourer picked up shields and the three longer swords, leaving the labourer with a short sword.
"I'll carry things," he said, wisely admitting his lack of combat skills and light protection suited him more to that role.

Amathaon put his falchion in its sheath and relaxed a bit. Hopefully he could get healed soon.

"Kee' ou' o' trouble lad, ah kin't do an'thing fer yer wounds fer at leas' ano'er 'alf a day."
At least...

Amathaon nodded and replied, "Thanks Arek. I understand."

It takes almost half an hour to armour and equip the rescued prisoners (mainly the carpenter who appears to have no experience with heavy armour) and make ready. Brother Yew leads off up the stairs and south through the 1st level of the complex.
Although sounds of movement are heard all around making for a very nervous transit, the ground level is reached without problem.

Where to now?

Exit the temple via the same door as previously. Yew will lead the way and scout ahead with his crossbow ready for trouble. He is half expecting there might be an ambush by those last four crossbowmen or something else outside so he will be reasonably cautious and look out for any sign of trouble ahead.

Destination and intended route?

Follow the path out we entered. Hopefully all intact.

Already on the surface. Do you go to the cave, to Hommlet, Nulb, or somewhere else. What route do you intend to take to get there?
The other group may, or may not have changed their destination/route (by choice or circumstance), or simply misunderstood where to meet up.

We planned to head for the cave. Following the road initially so to have easier terrain to move upon.
Ronalt will keep a watch on the trail sign as the other group only has a hour or few head start on us.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:36, Thu 25 June 2015.

The road leads directly to, and through, Nulb. That's a place you probably don't want to go back too any time soon....
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OK, follow the trail back through the forest to the cave (Ryker's Bowl).

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We will cross the road to Hommlet about 3/4 of the way to the cave. Ronalt can search for tracks there to see if there is any clue whether the other group went on toward the cave or turned off toward Hommlet or Nulb.

OOC: that particular map doesn't show the river unlike -
The river looks a bit like this, just a bit wider.


The bridge is a somewhat more temporary wooden structure sufficient to cope with a horse or two, but far to narrow and weak for a wagon or cart.

There are only two other crossing points according to the merchant - at Nulb, or a good six leagues upstream. Neither of these is likely to be relevant to you of course.

I'm confused. As I remember it, after leaving Nulb (back in 2010) we went to the cave (Ryker's Bowl) then followed the trail marked on Otis's map through the forest to the Temple of Elemental Evil. No problems. I don't remember any mention of crossing a river. We just plan to go back to Ryker's Bowl the same way.

Yes, that was a serious oversight on behalf of the last GM.
The existence of the river is actually essential to making a number of other things work, otherwise I'd have already hand-waved it.

I suppose the big question is do we catch up with the others before the bridge?

Correct. You're only about 2 hours behind them, so it's possible...
Having so few crossing points actually makes it a bit easier for you to link up - fewer ways they could have gone.

Just waiting to see what they're doing before I update here.

any update?

The "treasure recovery" group tramps through the forest for about an hour and reaches the location the path used to cross over the Imeryds Run.
Camped on the eastern bank is the majority of those in the other group - there is no sign of the Prince or Haldan and what appears to be Celonor lays motionless on the ground covered by a cloak.

Continue in "A walk in the park".