Having destroyed the base of operations of the slavers and liberated the captives within, the party flees the wretched city of Highport with its new allies in tow.
Free at last, Lady Alina invites the heroes to her family's lands, where they are treated to lavish banquets and endless celebrations… as well as a sizable reward.

OOC:
The loot you hauled out of the last dungeon totals 1907gp per person.
All of you are awarded 3500gp and a choice of either one magic item or three potions/scrolls.
All of this brings your total experience to 20,651 XP. Some of you may have leveled up.

But your rest is less satisfying than you'd wish for. One day, looking through your loot, you find the map of the caravan route. Your task is not yet complete. The fact is made clear by the arrival of an unexpected visitor: an escaped slave from an old fort lost in the midst of the Drachensgrab Hills, exactly where your map leads. Everyone in the room turns to you. Whatever sense of duty led you to delve into the Pits of the Undercity now has you preparing to assault the Slavers' Stockade!
 
OOC: Please update your character sheets particularly if you have leveled up and state your choice of a reward.

After a harrowing journey in which the party faced hunger, bandits, and the wild tribesmen of the Drachensgrab Hills, the adventurers are have arrived at their destination and are scouting the fort from concealed positions on a nearby ridge. The fort is situated atop a high, steep hill that surveys the countryside. A warding ditch 20’ wide and 10’ deep surrounds the fort.
The only access road winds down from the north, through a narrow valley, up to the drawbridge that spans the ditch.

The hill fort is a combination of recent construction and the remains of an older stone fortress. The outer wall of the hill fort is an earthen rampart topped by a wooden stockade. However, the curtain wall containing the drawbridge is made of stone. The wall is 35’ high and is topped by a stone parapet which is constantly manned. The curtain wall is connected to the rest of the fort by the rampart and stockade.
The ground slopes upward from the curtain wall, and some distance back, across an open courtyard, is the gatehouse. This is of massive construction, four stories high, with a stone parapet atop it, so that all sides can be defended. The rampart and stockade connect to the gatehouse and surround the fort keep.
The keep abuts the rampart on three sides, with a parade ground to the north between the main building and the gatehouse. The fort was originally a single story stone building, but the slavers have added a wooden guardpost as a partial second story. The entrance to the main building is recessed back and an enclosed garden leads from the building’s entrance to
the parade ground.
The rampart and stockade surround the fort on the west, south, and east sides and join the curtain wall to the north. The outer face of the walls and stockade are fitted with downward sloping spikes to prevent attackers from scaling the walls. The stockade has a walkway on all sides, the walkway being 15’ above the main building’s first floor. Guards patrol the walkway, and the top of the gatehouse and curtain wall, but it is impossible to estimate numbers from a distance.
The escaped slave has told the party that he left the fort by running a makeshift rope from the curtain wall’s second story to the ditch and climbing down. Since no one saw him leave, he is sure the rope is still there.

What will you do?

<  <  <  PARTY  >  >  >
Bernhard F5 HP 22/22 THAC0 17 AC 1 M/R: +1/+0
Black Angus F5 HP 22/22 THAC0 17  AC 3 M/R: +2/+0
Brother Nerrag C5 HP 22/22 THAC0 18 AC 0 M/R: +2/-
Falan M3/F3 HP 12/12 THAC0 18 AC 7 M/R: +1/+1
Ronan M5 HP 12/12 THAC0 18 AC 5 M/R: +1(+2)/+1(+0)
Thorik T5 HP 12/12 THAC0 18 AC 7 M/R: +1/+1(+0)
Dhar-Gradvig F3 HP 12/12 THAC0 18 AC 6 M/R: +1/-
Thrall F3 HP 14/14 THAC0 18 AC 3 M/R: +0/-
Tum-Tuk F1 HP 4/4 THAC0 19 AC 6 M/R: +0/-
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:30, Wed 01 June 2022.

After appraising the sometimes earthen, sometimes wooden, and sometimes stone fort, Ronan grins in his reassuringly malevolent way, "I can end this now. With my lighting bolt."

The drool from his thrall's mouth drips from the corner of its mouth and down to its neck in its steady way, neither validating nor gainsaying the magic user's boast.

"Shall I?" he asks. "I'm ready."

It looks like he's going to aim for the rope.

In reply to Ronan (msg # 3):

"Why would you destroy the rope? It's our only way in!"

Falan contemplated Ronan's words long enough for Black Angus to speak.

"I...surely, you can't mean that you will be striking the blasted thing down with a stroke of lightning? You're megalomaniacal, my friend, and I mean that as the sincerest compliment, but I don't think it will do the trick, Ronan."

He spoke frankly, but in a friendly tone.

He turned to the party's stalwart friends, Dhar-Gradvig and Tumtuk. "Have either of you heard tell of this stockade? What sorts of dangers might lay ahead?"

OOC: I'm reiterating my intention to continue, treacherously, as Tumtuk should I die as Falan.

Incredulous, Ronan expostulates, "You would have me destroy everything BUT the rope?"


If there is one thing a megalomaniac likes to do, it's to bask in a complement. He proceeds to do so while the others do the proper planning for their infiltration of the slavers' stockade.

"I think either stealth or subterfuge are our ways into this fort, not force. Even if you manage to take down a wall of the fort, you will simply rouse the entire garrison."

"We should check for that rope first and see if it is there and if we can actually make the ascent. Under the cover of darkness would be ideal."

"Barring that, we could try to pose as slavers and approach the gate."

OOC: Bernhard's AC should be -1 with his Ring of Protection +2, plate armor +1, and shield.

Tum-Tuk quickly begins mouthing off: "Oo! Yes! I knows!" He gesticulates excitedly. "They gots an army... of dragons! And, um... Zombies! Zombie dragons!" The escaped slave cuts off the goblin's nonsense. "I don't know much about this place, but rumours are the slave pits are below the fort itself. They say there's a sorceress who subjects the prisoners to inimaginable torture."



<  <  <  PARTY  >  >  >
Bernhard F5 HP 22/22 THAC0 17 AC -1 M/R: +1/+0
Black Angus F5 HP 22/22 THAC0 17  AC 3 M/R: +2/+0
Brother Nerrag C5 HP 22/22 THAC0 18 AC 0 M/R: +2/-
Falan M4/F4 HP 16/16 THAC0 17 AC 7 M/R: +1/+2
Ronan M5 HP 12/12 THAC0 18 AC 5 M/R: +1(+2)/+1(+0)
Thorik T5 HP 12/12 THAC0 18 AC 7 M/R: +1/+1(+0)
Dhar-Gradvig F3 HP 12/12 THAC0 18 AC 6 M/R: +1/-
Thrall F3 HP 14/14 THAC0 18 AC 3 M/R: +0/-
Tum-Tuk F1 HP 4/4 THAC0 19 AC 6 M/R: +0/+0
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:01, Sat 04 June 2022.

Ronan starts to mouth off as well.

"When I have an underground laboratory beneath a mountaintop fortress," he begins, "I will have a secret entrance, so I don't have to climb a rope to the second story, go down a hallway, and then descend two floors before I can even think about vivisection."

Noticing that all but the goblin look upon him with disfavor, he corrects himself, "Were I to have, ..."

It seems likely that this sorceress has her own entrance. Perhaps they could look for it by the light of the moon?

In reply to Ronan (msg # 9):

Angus grinned, he liked the truths that were being revealed.

"Oh, Ronan, I doubt you'll ever have to worry about having a secret laboratory, we're certain to die here."

Falan chuckled and set about searching nearby for some secret doors, to no avail personally.

OOC: I rolled a 1, which fails in this ruleset.

There seem to be no secret doors, at least in this particular segment of the wall.



<  <  <  PARTY  >  >  >
Bernhard F5 HP 22/22 THAC0 17 AC -1 M/R: +1/+0
Black Angus F5 HP 22/22 THAC0 17  AC 3 M/R: +2/+0
Brother Nerrag C5 HP 22/22 THAC0 18 AC 0 M/R: +2/-
Falan M4/F4 HP 16/16 THAC0 17 AC 7 M/R: +1/+2
Ronan M5 HP 12/12 THAC0 18 AC 5 M/R: +1(+2)/+1(+0)
Thorik T5 HP 12/12 THAC0 18 AC 7 M/R: +1/+1(+0)
Dhar-Gradvig F3 HP 12/12 THAC0 18 AC 6 M/R: +1/-
Thrall F3 HP 14/14 THAC0 18 AC 3 M/R: +0/-
Tum-Tuk F1 HP 4/4 THAC0 19 AC 6 M/R: +0/+0

"Climb up? Or look for another way in? I'm not the worlds best climber, anyone with a climber's kit?"

"We just need to climb up the rope that is already in place...if it still is. I think the difficult part will be to avoid being seen by the guards on the walls, or any patrols they may have out. We may want to do some more scouting around the place before we make a firm decision."

By turns, you climb up the crude rope onto the curtain wall. You enter through a windowless opening in the western side of its second story. You stand in a narrow, dusty corridor. There is a door at the eastern end of the corridor. Cobwebs cover the ceiling and walls. There is a single line of footprints in the dust, made by a naked human foot. They lead from the east and end at this window. The only light in the room comes from shafts of moonlight filtering in through the window and the arrow slits, spaced every 10’ that are cut in each wall.


<  <  <  PARTY  >  >  >
Bernhard F5 HP 22/22 THAC0 17 AC -1 M/R: +1/+0
Black Angus F5 HP 22/22 THAC0 17  AC 3 M/R: +2/+0
Brother Nerrag C5 HP 22/22 THAC0 18 AC 0 M/R: +2/-
Falan M4/F4 HP 16/16 THAC0 17 AC 7 M/R: +1/+2
Ronan M5 HP 12/12 THAC0 18 AC 5 M/R: +1(+2)/+1(+0)
Thorik T5 HP 12/12 THAC0 18 AC 7 M/R: +1/+1(+0)
Dhar-Gradvig F3 HP 12/12 THAC0 18 AC 6 M/R: +1/-
Thrall F3 HP 14/14 THAC0 18 AC 3 M/R: +0/-
Tum-Tuk F1 HP 4/4 THAC0 19 AC 6 M/R: +0/+0

With a lazy turn of his head, Ronan surveys the assemblage of thralls before him, before he settles on the sneakiest one of the lot, Thorik, as it turns out.

"You sneaky thing, Thorik," the wizard begins as if he has once again discovered the dwarf pilfering extra cookies from the thrall reward bag, "it's time to sneak about some more."

Falan had an idea, and checked if it might be possible to untie this rope from its spot for later use here or elsewhere.

A bit absentmindedly, he echoed Ronan. "Yes, could you sneak ahead a bit--just be sure to protect yourself first, yes, Thorik?"

In reply to Falan Oakenheel (msg # 17):

Angus helped with the rope.

Thorik sneaks a peek into the next room to the east, and after he deems it safe, motions for you to come in.
This room appears to once have been a guardroom, but it has been long abandoned. There is a door opposite the door you used to enter. In the south end of the room, along the south wall, are stone stairs leading up and down. The ceiling and walls of this room are covered with dusty cobwebs, and shards of a brittle white material litter the floor. Broken furniture lies scattered about. A line of footprints in the dust reaches from the door to the stairs.
Thorik continues scouting east. He reports to you when he comes back: "There is nothing interesting in the next room over - just murderholes and such for the defense of the fort. However, someone or something is making strange sounds in the room further to the east. Sort of like a moan. Gave me the creeps."



<  <  <  PARTY  >  >  >
Bernhard F5 HP 22/22 THAC0 17 AC -1 M/R: +1/+0
Black Angus F5 HP 22/22 THAC0 17  AC 3 M/R: +2/+0
Brother Nerrag C5 HP 22/22 THAC0 18 AC 0 M/R: +2/-
Falan M4/F4 HP 16/16 THAC0 17 AC 7 M/R: +1/+2
Ronan M5 HP 12/12 THAC0 18 AC 5 M/R: +1(+2)/+1(+0)
Thorik T5 HP 12/12 THAC0 18 AC 7 M/R: +1/+1(+0)
Dhar-Gradvig F3 HP 12/12 THAC0 18 AC 6 M/R: +1/-
Thrall F3 HP 14/14 THAC0 18 AC 3 M/R: +0/-
Tum-Tuk F1 HP 4/4 THAC0 19 AC 6 M/R: +0/+0
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:58, Sun 19 June 2022.

"Given the state of this area, I think it's safe to say that the slavers have ignored  or avoided it; so whatever is making that noise is likely best left alone. Thorik, Can you see whether these footprints are visible on the stairs? Did they go up or down?"

With all too evident eagerness, Ronan questions the sneak thief.

"Sort of like a moan, you say? But sort of like something else? A little bit like the yipping of swiftly kicked puppy?"

His right foot gives a little twitch as if some muscle memory had just kicked in.

He takes a closer look at the footprints on the stairs. "Looks like they went up." Peering carefully downstairs, he reports in a whisper. "Someone's taking a nap down there. We shouldn't make much noise."

"Let's go upstairs," Ronan decides, doubtful that Thorik would obey his command to slip away and slit the sleeper's throat.

In reply to Ronan (msg # 23):

"Don't know how sneaky I am, but shouldn't we kill the sleeping slaver?" he pulls out his dagger and runs his finger along the edge, drawing a trickle of blood!

"Do you think we can really manage it without calling attention to ourselves? I'm not entirely convinced."

Falan turned to creep up, but he would hold for a moment if he thought Angus intended to carry through on his plan.

"Up to you, you want him dead?"

"I never will object to another dead slaver, friend, you know that."

Angus sneaks in and slits his throat.

Angus sneaks downstairs, knife in hand, ready to end the slaver's life.
Within the room below are two bunks, a wooden table, and two benches. A small coal fire burns in a stone box in the center of the room. Two hobgoblins are in here.
One is asleep on one of the bunks, while the other is warming himself at the fire. The two keep their weapons, spear and hand axe, close by. There is no other light in the room, as drapes have been hung over the arrow slits.

It will take two people to end these creatures silently, and killing the awake hobgoblin without raising the alarm will be a bit more complicated (1-3 on a d6).

Angus quietly withdraws, it was good to know there were two anyhow.

Bernhard waits patiently for Angus to return, keeping a careful eye on the area above them.

"Do you think he got eaten by a ghoul?"

In reply to Bernhard (msg # 31):



Angus reappears in the room with the others, "there are two of them, one is awake. Can't clean it quietly by myself."

Sorry for the delay. Ronan will cast magic missile from a safe distance (2d6+2 dmg) and then Angus can end the sleeper.

In reply to Ronan (msg # 33):

Angus will sneak up on the sleeper and slit his throat!

OOC: Waiting for the results of this. :)

Bernhard will stay to cover the stairs.

21:36, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Ronan, rolled 7 using 2d6+2.  Magic Missile Damage.
21:37, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 1 using 1d6.  Alarm? (1-2/6).
21:45, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 4 using 1d6.  Can Angus end the other one quickly? (4-6).

The hobgoblin by the fire turns around when Ronan begins chanting his spell, but is then blasted against the wall by the magical projectile. He slides down to a seating position, clutching his wound and gasping for air, still alive but badly wounded.
The sleeping one wakes up with a grunt, and looks around confused for a second before he notices his comrade's plight. "Wha...? Argh! Alar-!" The shouting turns into a gurgle as Angus plunges his dagger into the creature's throat. Immediately, he spins the weapon around and launches the weapon into the other hobgoblin's heart with a flick of his wrist. "Ooo!", you hear Tum-tuk mumble excitedly.

A moment later, everything is quiet again. Then, a concerned voice from the room to the east, and footsteps. "Uh-oh", as Tum-tuk eloquently whispers.

Hearing the commotion, Bernhard moves to help Angus and Ronan.

Falan moves in, bow at the ready. He instructs Tum-Tuk to stand just behind him and to the side, and use his sling.

Ronan follows Falan's lead, whatever that might be in this case.

The door swings open, and a hobgoblin strolls in, hand on his weapon (still sheathed on his belt). It takes him only a moment to realize what's happening.

12:20, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 5 using 1d6.  Initiative (1-3 party acts first).

Without hesitation, he turns around and runs east back the way he came, shouting: "To arms! Intruders!"

The rooms to the east are (in order):
-A room filled with crates acting as a corridor.
-Another guardhouse, identical to the one you're in right now. You hear movement of several people there.

"So much for stealth," Bernhard says and moves quickly after the fleeing guard. "We need to end this fast."

With the typical lethality of one of his race, Ronan throws his dagger after the fleeing watchhobgoblin.

22:41, Yesterday: Dungeon Master rolled 1 using 1d6.  Initiative (1-3 party wins).
12:20, Tue 12 July: Dungeon Master rolled 5 using 1d6.  Initiative (1-3 party acts first).


The party runs after the escapee, hoping to stifle the alarm before it gets out of hand.
Ronan's dagger flies through the air with deadly precision. The victim claws unsuccessfully at the weapon stuck in his back, as his last gasps carry his fleeting life away.
The warriors rush to the next room. Inside there are two bunks, a low table with a box to sit on, and two
stools. Three hobgoblins occupy this room, armed with swords. Pinned to one of the walls by several knives is a crude target, drawn on pieces of a broken table top. The other wall is covered in black, dusty drawings. A few pieces of bread and cheese lie on top of a table, next to a small cage containing a pet crow. Against
the wall behind him is a small bag of coal, and the door to the courtyard outside.

23:12, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Thrall, rolled 9,6 using 1d20,1D6.
23:12, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Tum-Tuk, rolled 8,2 using 1d20,1D6.
23:12, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Brother Nerrag, rolled 4,5 using 1d20+2,1D6+2.
23:11, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Black Angus, rolled 21,3 using 1d20+2,1D6+2.
23:10, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Thorik, rolled 15,3 using 1d20+1,1D6+1.
23:10, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Falan Oakenheel, rolled 17,7 using 1d20+1,1D6+1.
23:09, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Dhar-Gradvig, rolled 5,4 using 1d20+1,1D6+1.
23:09, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Bernhard, rolled 19,2 using 1d20+1,1D6+1.
23:07, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 7 using 2d6-2.  Morale (Overwhelming odds & surprise).


Falan slays a foe with a single blow, while Thorik and Bernhard team up to kill another one. Black Angus' blade slices through the hand of the last one, more robust and apparently in charge of the other two. The hobgoblin releases his still-sheathed weapon and clutches the wound instead, whimpering pathetically for his life.


<  <  <  PARTY  >  >  >
Bernhard F5 HP 22/22 THAC0 17 AC -1 M/R: +1/+0
Black Angus F5 HP 22/22 THAC0 17  AC 3 M/R: +2/+0
Brother Nerrag C5 HP 22/22 THAC0 18 AC 0 M/R: +2/-
Falan M4/F4 HP 16/16 THAC0 17 AC 7 M/R: +1/+2
Ronan M5 HP 12/12 THAC0 18 AC 5 M/R: +1(+2)/+1(+0)
Thorik T5 HP 12/12 THAC0 18 AC 7 M/R: +1/+1(+0)
Dhar-Gradvig F3 HP 12/12 THAC0 18 AC 6 M/R: +1/-
Thrall F3 HP 14/14 THAC0 18 AC 3 M/R: +0/-
Tum-Tuk F1 HP 4/4 THAC0 19 AC 6 M/R: +0/+0

EDIT: Realized I forgot to include the first two rolls. Nice critical, Ronan.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:39, Thu 21 July 2022.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 44):

Wow, that was the hardest! ;-) Thank

"Do we want him?"

Freeing his dagger from its hole within the hobgoblin's back, Ronan saunters over to the groveling one and elects to slit his neck -- no, not out of mercy but out of efficiency.

"That's your answer, Angus. Now, let's scout out the surrounding area and then proceed without having another house party."

"A thought, my friends. Last we heard...moaning as we came into a place, we found those ghouls, did we not? Perhaps we should drag these bodies near the moaning, in case there are more ghouls. They'll come by and consume the bodies--and if there are patrols, they may assume that unruly ghouls collected the bodies."

He paused, then continued: "Or, maybe there are no ghouls, and the slavers will take us for fools."

Finally, he chuckled.

"No ghouls, I believe that moaning was our snoring friend back there. I agree with Ronan, let's keep moving. However, I'd prefer to keep following the footprints up those stairs we left behind."

Bernhard takes a moment to search their fallen foes and check their weapons for anything of use or value.

The slavers' weapons look cheap, but not crude... as if mass-produced. You find a pouch with 17 gold coins on the sergeant's corpse.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:56, Fri 29 July 2022.

"Well, let's get moving again. Where was it we were going to climb up back here?"

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 49):

Angus will take the pouch if no one else does, divide it later.

"Judging by their weapons, I'd say this group has a forge here, and likely a large force. We should tread carefully and quietly or else we'll rouse the entire fort and get slaughtered...or worse."

Bernhard will lead the way back toward the stairs, listening carefully as he goes for sounds of alarm or movement.

As you make your way back up, all is quiet. You take the stairs to the top of the building. It seems that it leads to the crenellated battlements that constitute the gate's defense. The footsteps end here. There is a thoroughly rusted knife on the floor, on top of a large dark stain. A cold breeze starts blowing all of a sudden.

To the south, you can see the outermost courtyard, between this curtain wall and the inner gatehouse. It is unlit - the muddy ground glistens when moonlight finds a hole in the cloudy skies.

So no exits from the top of the outer gatehouse?

In reply to Ronan (msg # 54):

None. You stand on the top of a tower-like structure on the wall that covers the northmost portion of the fort - which is the only portion with a walkable wall. The western and eastern edges of this wall are accessed through the second story.

"How about the most foolhardy among us tread along those parapets and report back?" Ronan nobly suggests.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:40, Tue 02 Aug 2022.

Bernhard nudges the knife with his boot and checks the stain.

"Looks like someone met their end here."

From where you stand, the parapets look empty and seem to lead nowhere.

The stain is a dark red, slightly sticky. Probably dried blood.
The weapon seems a remarkably good knife, compared to the weapons you've seen on the hobgoblins. As Bernhard's boot makes contact with it, he gets a strange thought. He feels the urge to pick it up, and use it... On someone.

Falan beamed at his friend elf, a little bit ironically and a little bit seriously. "Well, friend, if you'll tie a rope around me and have your hardy thrall hold onto it, I'd be willing to step out onto the parapet."

Obligingly, the elf rummages around in his pack until he finds the coils of rope and does as he was asked. It's good to act contrary to his instincts, he thinks. Keeps the thralls guessing, those with the cognitive powers to do so.

Bernhard backs away from the dagger.

"I have a feeling that dagger has a curse upon it. No one touch it."

It is not too hard to fasten the rope to the battlements and climb down one story onto the wall.
Falan walks along the parapets, past a ladder down to the yard, and up to the end. They are devoid of any life or useful items. Checking out the eastern tower of the outer gatehouse, you see that the room on the second story is dark and empty as far as one can tell, save for broken furniture and cobwebs.
A soldier comes out of the inner gatehouse, carrying a bucket filled with rotten foodstuffs, gnawed bones and other refuse. Falan crouches down to avoid detection, and watches huddled in the shadows. The hobgoblin walks a few paces towards the center of the courtyard, taking care not to slip in the mud. He stops, looks around and, deciding he's gone far enough, tosses the contents of the bucket as far as he can into the yard. You notice that the yard was otherwise perfectly clean, as much as a patch of mud can be.
Then, the guard turns around and walks the way he came.



<  <  <  PARTY  >  >  >
Bernhard F5 HP 22/22 THAC0 17 AC -1 M/R: +1/+0
Black Angus F5 HP 22/22 THAC0 17  AC 3 M/R: +2/+0
Brother Nerrag C5 HP 22/22 THAC0 18 AC 0 M/R: +2/-
Falan M4/F4 HP 16/16 THAC0 17 AC 7 M/R: +1/+2
Ronan M5 HP 12/12 THAC0 18 AC 5 M/R: +1(+2)/+1(+0)
Thorik T5 HP 12/12 THAC0 18 AC 7 M/R: +1/+1(+0)
Dhar-Gradvig F3 HP 12/12 THAC0 18 AC 6 M/R: +1/-
Thrall F3 HP 14/14 THAC0 18 AC 3 M/R: +0/-
Tum-Tuk F1 HP 4/4 THAC0 19 AC 6 M/R: +0/+0
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:14, Sun 14 Aug 2022.

Once the coast is clear, Falan swiftly reverses course, hoping to make it back up before anyone else wandered through.

Bernhard stays low and peers down into the courtyard to see what happens next.

Angus peeks over, when Falan starts up the rope, he pulls on it giving him a hand up and to retrieve the rope easier.

Something is burrowing under the courtyard. The mud shakes under the refuse, then breaks and opens: the creature below swallows it all. You cannot make out what it is, but you see the glimmer of chitinous plates in the moonlight.

OOC: Is Falan able to make it up the rope, or would that risk being seen by that thing?

"It appears the courtyard is off limits," Bernhard says while moving away from the edge of the tower, "unless we move quickly. Did we miss some other path below?"

Unsurprised, the wizard watches the spectacle unfold before him. It speaks to the efficiency of the stockade ecology. He looks forward to disrupting it further but for now ...

Ronan shrugs helplessly. He's no help with directions.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:45, Wed 24 Aug 2022.

In reply to Falan Oakenheel (msg # 67):

OOC: Yep, he gets back to the others, no problem.

The muddy patch is at the center of the courtyard, so one could still walk around it and reach the inner wall. However, it sits right in front of the gatehouse's entryway - 'blocking' it.
Instead, one might try climbing one of the two towers of the gatehouse or the wall itself.
The towers are both four stories high, crenellated at the top and with firing slits on all floors and some windows on the two highest. The walls reach up to the third floor.
You spot pairs of guards pacing along the wall top sporadically. Inside the towers you can sometimes see shadows blocking the light of the torches inside.

"This appears to be a tougher nut to crack than the town was, ideas?"

"Go back inside and head downstairs?" Ronan hazards, already having forgotten the layout of the interior areas.

"There was the door out to the courtyard where we killed the hobgoblins. If we stayed out of the center of the courtyard we may be ok."

"We might try to get to the walls, instead. I shouldn't like to tussle with anything like that, Bernhard, but a wayward orc or two is nothing we can't handle."

In reply to Falan Oakenheel (msg # 74):

"Perhaps go down and skirt our way around the wall or interior courtyard. Stay away from that thing would be a good idea."

"I'm with you on that, Angus."

Ronan nods. Then he instructs his thrall to nod who then proceeds to nod as well. Ronan neglects to tell him to stop, so it continues to nod without abatement.

"I see no other choice," Bernard says after looking over the possible paths. "We could disguise ourselves as the hobgoblins we slew in the lower part of the tower and be more direct about our approach to the inner gatehouse. Avoiding that area with the creature of course."

"Ahhh, that is a great idea! Man I feel stupid!"

Ronan's mordant response to this idea is, "I don't see how donning bload-soaked, shitty hobgoblin rags will make me look like a hobgoblin."

"I could transform us of you into hobgoblins. I could start with you," he offers, turning to Bernhard.

"Well, Ronan, you'll simply have to stand in the back, and maybe hunch over a bit--maybe just behind your thrall. I know, you're not used to it, but think of the blood you'll buy with the indignity."

"Let's just go back down to the guardroom and see what we put together. We can check those crates we passed while we're at it."

"Ronan can always use some of his charm magic to win over some of the guards when we get there."

Bernhard moves down the stairs to first check the crates and then see about putting together a reasonable disguise.

The party strips a bunch of the dead guards of their attier, finding emough crude ornameents to make for a passable 'barbarian' disguise. Then, you creep out into the shadows in the courtyard and skirt around the muddy patch to approach the inner wall.

The portcullis has been lowered, but does not touch the ground, and there is enough room to crawl through underneath it. The wind carries sound down from the guards on the wall, to add to the chorus of crickets. They do not seem to have noticed you yet. As you approach the gate you see that the portcullis is blocked by some broken stonework jamming the track near the bottom; enough space remains to crawl under it to reach the cracked flagstone drive. The passageway is about 20’ long and appears to open out onto a dusty parade ground. Across the parade ground is an archway that appears to give access to the remainder of the keep.
On either side of the entryway are stacked several chests, barrels, and bales.

It always seems to come to this: bedecking themselves in the first set of vile rags they could lay their hands on. If they were always going to play dress up (or down), they should just do it in town where there would be a grander selection of tatters and totems.

The archway seems to be the place to head to. Let's go.

Falan moved out towards the archway, hoping to get across quite quickly, before the guards could spot them moving in.

OOC: Check out the map here https://imgur.com/LftPJnM

You hurry towards the gate and crawl under the portcullis, trying to stay unnoticed. In a few moments, everyone stands inside the tunnel that crosses the gatehouse.
Beyond, the dust swirls about a barren area between the gatehouse and the keep. It appears to be a parade ground for drilling the troops. There is no cover visible. On the south side of the parade ground is a stone facade and archway. Through the arch-way seems to be an inner courtyard.
To both of your sides, there are accesses to the building that makes up the gatehouse: a door (to your right), and a stairway (to your left). At the extreme east and west ends of the courtyard is the parapet that circles all around the stockade, too high to reach from the ground.

"Clear the gatehouses so we won't be trapped, and maybe break the gate so we can't be trapped by it?" Angus whispers.

Ronan's eyes assume an incarnadine hue. "And be quick about it."

Through the door to the left.

"And quiet," Bernhard adds, ready to move through the door.

Falan, relying on the lightness of his foot, waited for the cue to make their move. He always thought that the others had sharper eyes than he did...

Stealthily moving across the courtyard, you walk up the stairs to a small landing, then up the next flight of stairs directly up into the center of the room above. You peer into it carefully...

This room contains another a flight of wooden stairs in the northwest corner leading up to a trapdoor in the ceiling. In the north wall is a door. In the southwestern corner of this room facing the wall are two goblins with halberds, kneeling and one is rattling something in his hands. They seem mostly concerned with their game, but from time to time throw quick glances towards the door on the north wall.

Steely with sharp weapons and lethal menace, the invaders pour into the room with the goblin halberdiers, stopping just short of slaying the two of them should they make the right decision.

Bernhard slips in and places his sword tip against the throat of one of the goblins.

Falan motions for the goblins to silence themselves as he rushes in, blade at the ready and prepared to cut into either goblin at a moment's notice.

OOC: 23:01, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 6 using 2d6.  Morale.

The goblins recoil at your advance, throwing their arms out as if to keep you away and putting their backs to the hard wall. "Lissen... 'tis just a quick game! We stand guard all night, we, uh... we don't even like gamblin'" one says, apparently misunderstanding the situation. The other looks at Tum-tuk and mumbles under his breath. "Stinkin' snitch..."

Sheathing his weapon, the wizard admits to himself that he had misread the situation.

"How can you concentrate on your game," Ronan demands to know, "when you only have eyes for that door? Do you think you can toss the bones with half a heart?"

Tsk-tsking furiously, the elf in disguise admonishes the two gamblers: "You won't be able to beat any of the other guards with so little spirit. If you hadn't noticed us at all, then you would have been ready for the surprise tournament!"

Picking up on Ronan's approach, Falan put his blade away and likewise admonished the goblins. "He's right, you know! There's no sense gambling if you're focused on other nonsense. You should focus on the gambling and forget everything else...and, er, if you don't, I'll cut your throat!"

Falan threatened at drawing his blade again.

He thought he was making for a rather good follow-up of the mad elf himself.

"S-surprise tournament? What tournament?" The guards look at each other, completely astonished. Mouth agape, one throws the dice in his hand, barely even looking at them roll. "I... win this round?". The other passes him a small stack of copper coins, still staring at you.

"If you don't know about the tournament, then it will be a surprise," Ronan intones mystically.

"If you don't glue your eyes to the bones, how will you control them?" he further instructs the two goblin gamblers.

"Now, let me test you," he commands, proceeding to quiz the dicing duo about the fort layout such as the mysteries beyond that that door and so on.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:58, Thu 13 Oct 2022.

Bernhard collects the goblin's halberds and moves them across the room.

"These are a meaningless distraction, focus on what matters."

Bernhard then shifts his attention to the door to the north.

Falan stood there, arms crossed, nodding at whatever his compatriots said emphatically and giving a mean stink eye to any goblin that seemed unconvinced.

00:40, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 6 using 2d6+1.  Reaction.
The pair seem now to be too distracted by their game to be of much use, as they roll their dice frantically while they answer 'test' questions. Little information can be acquired, but their curt comments help you figure out that some sort of complex was built underground to house the slaves.
The dice fly off, bouncing all the way to the door to the north. "That's the barracks we're guarding", the humanoid creature remarks as he practically pounces on them in a hurry to get back to the game. "Pitsofavernumcursemyluck " He spits and throws the dice again. "Full of guards this building is, yet we're always the one stuck on duty... They don't allow you mercenaries in there, anyway. Captain don't like it."

With a knowing wink, Ronan salutes the two gamers and then points out the trapdoor to the party, favoring its members with one too many winks. The effort tires the elf out and he fears he may be unable to nictate for the rest of the day.

Up through the trapdoor, I guess.

Falan follows his comrade up through the trap door.

OOC: Yep, agreed.

The pair give a weak salute as the party climbs the stairs to the trapdoor above. Passing into the room beyond, you see that it appears to be a guardroom. There are several hobgoblins crowded around a table in the center of the room. Three other hobgoblins are asleep on pallets on the floor. In the southeast corner of the room there is a trapdoor in the floor and one in the ceiling with a ladder leading up to it. A wolf cub is running around the room and spots the party as you enter and begins to yip at you.
One of the hobgoblins turns around to face the party, letting you see that a couple of the hobgoblins are sitting at the table, arm wrestling. "Whatcha want? We're busy." His voice is almost drowned out by the cheering. He looks up and down at you disdainfully. "Commander don't like your kind running around here."

There are about a dozen hobgoblins in total in here, and there are exits to the east and west.

Ronan snaps off a two-word response: "Correct answer."

"Second question: And where does the commander especially not like mercenaries to go?"

We came up through that SE trapdoor, yes?

Falan continues to stand behind Ronan and nod in a vaguely sort of tough manner, as if to underline the elf's incisive questioning.

OOC: Yep, exactly.
18:51, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 11 using 2d6-1 ((6,6)). Reaction

"Into his quarters in the southwestern quarter of the fort, of course, where he hides his own secret passage into the dungeons below." The hobgoblin seems proud of being fairly knowledgeable about the fort. "He doesn't like mercenaries down there in the dungeons either, but they're easier to control than the boggles." He shudders. "Just don't go down any stairs past the inner courtyard, and you'll be fine. Or just don't go past at all."

With this new intelligence supplementing Ronan's own boundless supply, he leaves the guards to their sport and lopes off to pursue his own.

Down through the trapdoor and back to the inner courtyard, where we make our way around the perimeter towards the SW quarter of the fort.

You make your way back to the parade grounds without being stopped. You realize there is no way to walk around the perimeter, unless you were to somehow climb onto the parapets (you'd likely need something to stand on -or improbable climbing abilities- since there's a significant gap between the ground and the ledge).
The only obvious exit apart from the entrances into the gatehouse is to the south, where you can find an enclosed courtyard wooded with
small trees, shrubs, bushes, and vines.

We'll try our luck with the courtyard garden.

You move southwards towards the inner courtyard, past the stone walls that flank it, and into the overgrown space beyond.
In the center of the courtyard is a circular stone fountain, while along either side and at
the south end is a roofed walkway 10’ high and 10’ wide, supported by wooden pillars and trellises overgrown with ivy. There are two small trees growing to either side at the south end of this courtyard. The air is cool and still, and the cold fire of lightning bugs performs a faery dance through the shrubbery.
You can see double doors at the south end of the courtyard, beneath a porched walkway. A guard is patrolling the walkway, looking terribly bored.

OOC: Just walk through like we're supposed to be here? :)

Seizing the moment, Ronan leads the troop in his favorite marching cadence through the walled cloister towards the double doors at the southern end:

"I don't know, but I've been told
Boy, Ronan is mighty bold!
Left, righty lay o
Left, righty lay o!
Lo righty lay o
Lo righty lay o!
Lefty, righty lo
Lefty, righty lo!
Aha!
Aha!
I don't know, but I've been told
Boy, Ronan is mighty bold!"

15:06, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 11 using 2d6 ((5,6)).

The party marches towards the doors rather convincingly for a ragtag bunch of adventurers. The guard rolls his eyes at the scene and asks in the most monotone voice he can manage: "Halt. State your business." He leans on the railing, hand on his cheek, weapon propped against the wall.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 116):

Angus went with it, he started marching and then halted when ordered to.

Falan halted on a point and said, "Sorry, sir, we're mercenaries, strong and hardy boys all."

He looked to Ronan to see what insane spin he would put on it.

"On our way to put the beat down on the boggles," Ronan answers.

"Internal threats can be just as dangerous as external ones," he adds, knowingly.

"Ah. MAR-SENARIES. Pfft." He cups his chin with one of his hideous, furry hands. "The boggles, you say, ay? Then go past the door, to the right." He stifles a soft chuckle. "Try not to to make a mess getting killed." He composes himself after a moment. "Y'know, just come back here if you get too sc-ha-scared. I'll give you some tips then. Haha." He pulls on a lever and the doors swing open.

Beyond is a corridor running both east (to your left) and west (to your right). This bare stone corridor has torch brackets set in the southern wall at 10’ intervals. The air is chill. The passage runs east to west. The floor is covered with dust. Barely discernible at the end of each wing there appears to be a doorway.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:56, Sun 06 Nov 2022.

Falan, previously acting stout, began to feign a bit of fear and uncertainty as the guard began pronouncing on the boggles.

"Say, he's just joking, right? I mean, the boggles aren't so bad, are they?"

He whinged as they crossed that threshold en route to their true goal.

After the door closes behind them, Ronan suggests they do a bit of scouting now, some quiet peeking in through the doorways, after an even quiet cracking open of the doors.

"Why don't we try the left first? I prefer to avoid these boggles, whatever they are."

Falan chuckled. "The boggles sound pretty bad, don't they? Let's do our best to avoid them."

In reply to Falan Oakenheel (msg # 124):

"Agreed" Angus whispers to the others and gets in line in his spot.

When the door is opened there comes a low, rumbling growling noise, and a grizzly bear, on his hind legs, comes lurching out of the shadows. He rushes right at the head of the party.

10:17, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 5,6 using 1d6,1d6.  Damage (Bernhard, Angus).
10:17, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 3,4 using 1d20,1d20.  Sv vs Petrification (Bernhard, Angus).

The animal crashes against the front of the party, injuring Bernhard and Angus in the process. Amid cries of surprise, you throw yourselves against the beastly foe. However it seems that the impact has left it stunned, or completely out of action: it remains completely still as you fight back against it. Then, you realize: the bear was merely a stuffed animal, installed on top of a small wheeled platform. Apparently, it was set up on a narrow ramp to be released against the door when it opened.
Relieved, you take a moment to collect yourselves. However, as you turn around, you see that the three companions who brought up the rear are missing! (Tum-Tuk, Dhar-Gradvig, and the thrall).

The room beyond this door appears to have once been a study. In front of the door is a wooden ramp. A crude wooden table
and box have been placed near the center of the room to serve as a desk. Several casks stand about the room, as does an old
leather chest. There is a fireplace on the east side of the room with wood piled beside it. The door to the north is locked. The door to the south has light shining from beneath it.

Ronan turns around to see where his thrall has gotten off to. If he's slacking off again, he'll feel it in his wages, yes, he will.

Bernhard collects himself and then points to the southern door with the light shining from beneath it.

"We should check that room quickly," he whispers. "They know we're here, let's not give them more time to prepare."

"I agree, but...where in the world could our companions have gone? I'd also like to check this chest before we get on our way."

OOC: Is Thorik around to fiddle with things that might be trapped? :)

19:01, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Thorik, rolled 81 using 1d100 ((81)).

The dwarf walks towards the chest, already taking out his tools from their respective pouches. "Let me take a look at it." He takes a good look at the lock, sticks several metal instruments with weird shapes into it, then looks back at you. "Seems like there's nothing." He carefully opens the lid, and it hangs from it hinges on the other side, revealing the chest's empty interior. Stepping back, he clacks his tongue and says "Yep. Nothing."

Falan shrugged. "Maybe Tum-Tuk could hide in there later."

"Maybe the boggles got them, or they ran off. Thorik, check that door next."

Bernhard moves up to the door just in case someone from the other side decides to come through.

"Southwest for the boss, right? Maybe we should find him and take care of that business, quick before the, er, boggles find the rest of us, you know."

Falan kept his weapons at the ready, as always.

"Bippety bop and bumpity boo go the boggles," mutters Ronan idiotically as he trundles after the others, the slacking of his thrall and other minions (temporarily) forgotten.

"On it!", the dwarf says and gets to work on the northern door. "No traps, as far as I can tell. But the door is locked..." He probes the door further. "Wait, no. Something is blocking it on the other side."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:20, Fri 18 Nov 2022.

In reply to Thorik (msg # 135):

"A key in the lock on the other side?" he asked.

Obnoxiously, Ronan contributes, "I think we went the wrong way."

"It's not the lock. Something is physically stopping the door from moving." He points to the door to the south. "We can still try going that way, though."

Everything in Ronan's expression says, "Yes, let's do that."

In reply to Ronan (msg # 139):

Angus gets ready to go to the other door. Hmmm, something blocking the door then.

Bernhard rolls his eyes.

"Yes, the southern door Thorik. The one that I pointed to in the first place."

Falan followed along, chastising Bernhard with a tut.

"Come now, Bernhard. Go easy on Thorik, he hasn't been the same since the incident."

OOC: Oops, my bad.

"Ah. Checked that one when you people weren't looking." He cracks his knuckles with a self sufficient expression. "I'm a professional, you know. Anyway, that one is fine."

Falan chuckles, pats Thorik on the back.


"You're a steady hand, friend."

"Indeed, well done," Bernhard says with a wink. "Everyone set?"

Ready for anything, Bernhard opens the southern door.

As the door opens there is a clanging sound. A pair of tin cups have been hung above the door. The party sees a straight corridor 110’ long, lit by torches in wall brackets, spaced every 20’. There is an archway some distance down the corridor (about 80') and a door beyond that. The walls are hung with paintings, now defaced, and the floor is covered by a ragged carpet. A metallic mirror spans the west wall, reaching from floor to ceiling.

Ronan suppresses the development of a tic. That he might be the plaything in somebody else's playpen is not a thought he will allow to surface.

He regards Thorik.

"Right you are; are you a proper professional? Yes, you are, a most proper professional. In your most professional manner, poke about for pit traps and destroy that mirror."

Falan stepped round Ronan and regarded that elf closely.

"Ronan, are you feeling fine?"

Once he had done so, he followed behind Thorik, checking the walls for secret doors or anything else one might find.

OOC: Happy 1700 posts, DM!
This message was last edited by the player at 05:03, Fri 25 Nov 2022.

Checking the walls, you find that in fact a door has been cleverly hidden in the northern part of the western wall!

Destroying the mirror proves difficult. It is metallic, after all. But one could smash a few dents into it, and perhaps bend it out of shape.

"Nothing to do about it now."

Bernhard moves up a bit past the secret door to cover the door farther down the corridor while the others investigate the new route.

In reply to Bernhard (msg # 150):

0Angus shakes his head at the folly of loudly trying to break a metal mirror. Then he readied to go, he wiped his sword on his leg to get some dust off of his blade.

His mood much improved by the discovery of the secret door, Ronan trundles on through with the rest of them.

Falan listens for what might be on the other side of the secret door, before asking Thorik to check what's on the other side (Falan would be willing to cover him as he did this, of course).

22:49, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Thorik, rolled 2 using 1d6.  Listen.


The dwarf puts his ear to the secret door. "Hobgoblins". He continues, closing one eye for further concentration. "About a dozen, I'd say. Maybe some less. They don't seem to be awaiting us."

"Let us fall upon them and slaughter them where they stand, sit, and slouch," Ronan implores.

"I can dazzle them with my magic. That seems to work pretty well."

OOC: Color spray if we're going through. :)

"Let's get it done then; dazzle and stab. I'm getting tired of sneaking around anyway."

In reply to Bernhard (msg # 157):

Angus grinned and raised his blade and readied to enter.

You pull the door to the west and rush into the southwards passage beyond. A few feet later you find a room, a barracks with wooden beds and straw mats. There is a table with 6 stools around it. On the table are the remains of a meal—dirty tin plates covered with grease, a few crusts of bread, a pot with some congealed stew and wooden cups with weak ale in them. There are also several cockroaches on the plates. There are exits on the north side of the wall, and another on an alcove in the southern side, on its east wall.
Ten hobgoblins sit around the table, passing their time drinking, eating, and insulting each other. For some reason, three of them are partially wrapped in white bandages.

15:23, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 1 using 1d6-2, unique dice.  Surprise.
SURPRISE!

15:29, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 5 using 1d6+1 ((4)).
A wave of terrible, dazzling colors washes over the room, and the hobgoblins fall from their chairs, knocking plates and mugs over. Five of the hobgoblins do not rise, but the rest start scrambling for their weapons.


15:36, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Thorik, rolled 18,6 using 1d20+1,1d6.
15:36, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Ronan, rolled 7,6 using 1d20+1,1d6.
15:35, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Brother Nerrag, rolled 22,3 using 1d20+2,1d6+2.
15:34, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Black Angus, rolled 15,7 using 1d20+2,1d6+2.
15:34, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Bernhard, rolled 3,11 using 1d20+1,d16+1.


20:44, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Thorik, rolled 1 using 1d6.  Initiative (1-3 party acts first).
20:46, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Thorik, rolled 17,3 using 1d20+1,1d6.
20:45, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Ronan, rolled 12,5 using 1d20+1,1d6.
20:45, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Brother Nerrag, rolled 18,6 using 1d20+2,1d6+2.
20:45, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Black Angus, rolled 9,3 using 1d20+2,1d6+2.
20:45, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Bernhard, rolled 6,6 using 1d20+1,1d6+1.
20:47, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 4 using 2d6.  Morale.

The party takes advantage of their adversaries' surprise and falls upon them, scoring two kills and wounding another. Those still alive give up trying to fight back. Two of them race towards the door on the north wall of the room, while the other moves towards the door on the southern side (the door faces west).

"After them!"

Falan fired an arrow after the two fleeing together, and took up pursuit after them. He hoped someone would join him, and that someone else might catch the other straggler.

In reply to Falan Oakenheel (msg # 160):

Angus goes after the other one trying to catch him. "Someone slit the sleepers, no prisoners unless Falan wants a new thrall!"

Ronan attempts to beguile one of the scaredy cat hobgoblins (casts charm person).

Bernhard goes after the single hobgoblin, intent on running him through.

18:22, Today: Bernhard rolled 14,3 using d20+1,d6+1.  attack and damage.

In reply to Bernhard (msg # 163):

"Take care of the ones that are stunned, Ronan wants a new thrall to lead the way."

Angus runs through the sleepers, through the heart!
This message was last edited by the player at 12:58, Sun 04 Dec 2022.

17:01, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Falan Oakenheel, rolled 7,7 using 1d20+2,1d6+2.
17:10, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Thorik, rolled 14,1 using 1d20+1,1d6.


Bernhard catches the single runner and cuts him down with a slash of his sword, Angus finishing him on the ground.
Falan's arrow flies true, but finds it mark in one of the hobgoblins' armour plates, doing no damage.
Ronan's enchantment takes hold on the unscathed hobgoblin. The creature instantly stops dead in its tracks, and snaps a salute at the wizard, 'SIR!!'
Its friend trails blood up to the door, and he can just get his hands on the doorknob when a stone from Thorik's sling hits him on the back of the head. He drops to the ground amid pitiful moans, and clutches at his head.

Bernhard sets about dispatching any incapacitated hobgoblins and searches the bodies with an eye out for any keys.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:51, Thu 08 Dec 2022.

Ronan lectures the newest thrall in his private army: "Tonight, you puke will sleep with your sword. You will give your sword a girl's name because this is the only pussy you are going to get. Your days of finger-banging ol' Mary-Jane Rottencrotch through her pretty pink panties are over! You're married to this sword. This weapon of iron and leather. And you will be faithful. Port, hut!"

Then he turns its sniffling fellow and growls, "Do you want to live, private? If you do, let us see what meager scraps of intelligence you have not yet wasted. Where do those exits lead? Where is the trapdoor to the dungeon?" (And so on)

Standing next to Bernhard as he did his bloody work, Falan remarked that Ronan seemed to have become yet more unstable since losing his first thrall.

And of course, he searched about the room and the bodies with Bernhard...

After a few moments of grisly work, you slay all the incapacitated hobgoblins.
Between one bed and the wall is a gold ring with a chipped amethyst worth 150 gp. Beneath  another is a bag of 15 walnuts. Stuck in the headboard of a third is a rusty butcher knife. In a box beneath the leader’s bed are 80 gp and a tarnished silver chalice worth 483 gp

'Sir!' He presents his sword, as one presents a newborn baby. 'This is Graghkulzina! She is the loveliest.' He proves it with a kiss. 'I think I am in love, sir.' He appears to be speaking completely in earnest. It is hard to determine whether it is a side effect of the Charm spell.
'The way to the dungeon is through the secret door in the storeroom, next to the kitchen, sir!' It's not far, but the way there takes the long way around. You will see. You can often find Icar there. If you're new here, you will want to pay your respects, sir.'
'To the south is the mirror corridor. You've come in through the other door, it leads to the same place.'
'To the north is another corridor. We need to go that way to reach the storeroom.' He begins to lift the board off one table, and carries it with him. 'We're going to need this.'

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 169):

Angus smiled, it was cute. He listed everything they found and carried what no one else carried, falling in line for the thrall to lead the way. "You want me near the front, or in the rear?"

Satisfied with these revelations, Ronan smile widens, "We will pay our respects to Icar. Icar might not be accustomed to the type of respect that we will be paying!"

Then he orders the private to lead the way through the northern corridor to the storeroom.

"Why don't you take the front," Bernhard says to Angus while helping to pack up the valuables. "I'll cover the rear."

In reply to Bernhard (msg # 172):

Angus follows right behind the thrall, sword drawn.-

The hobgoblin puts the board on his back and carries it with some difficulty through the door to the north. You follow him beyond.
This corridor is unlit and thickly carpeted. The hallway is quiet and shadows seem to muffle any sounds the party makes. Faded blue drapes hug the walls to either side and the carpet is a cheerless gray. As the party proceeds down the corridor there is suddenly a frightened squeak at your feet and a rat bolts across the hall and disappears into a hole in the wall. The drapes are attached to the wall at both the ceiling and the floor and every 20’ there is a break in them where a torch bracket is mounted on the wall. At the south west end of this hall, on the east wall there is a door standing slightly ajar. The corridor ends 20’ further down the hall with drapes across the end wall.
Some distance before the door, the hobgoblin lays the board down. 'There's a pit trap. Step on the board and it won't be a problem.' He demonstrates by crossing to the other side.

Beyond the door is an eerie sight; a large, long terraced room; a narrow passage running through the center of the room with raised stone platforms set in a series of three large steps to either side and at both ends of the room. On these steps sit dozens of humans staring blankly into space while dark shadows curl about their near naked forms. These creatures are bound to the walls with neck chains, but do not appear to be struggling in the least. They do not seem to notice the party. Scraps of torn clothing are tossed about the room and there are cloaks and blankets hanging on the walls.
There is another door on the west side of the room.
'Cloaker, we're coming through!', the hobgoblin calls out, seemingly to no one. 'On the north wall there is a concealed door. It goes straight to the kitchen.'

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 174):

Angus nods, "Does your thrall have a name Ronan?" Angus whispers to the other man, not wanting to announce anything untoward.

"Private Joker," Ronan crisply replies.

While the scene before (or above) his eyes even he finds to be disturbing, he doesn't let it distract him as he silently follows Private Joker into the kitchen.

Once there, he asks him what manner of creature Cloaker might be and to what end had those slaves been chained to the terraces.

Falan merely keeps a straight face as the party treks through, trying not to react to the humans chained to the wall or anything else.

Bernhard keeps his sword ready, but does his best to keep his focus off the chained people although it felt wrong to leave them in such a state. He glances at each face quickly to see if there are any he recognizes.

"Not Cloaker, sir. The cloaker, or a cloaker, I guess. I don't think it has a name of it's own. Anyway, I've never seen them. He's supposed to always be here, though, and you ought to call out to him lest he mistake you for an intruder. He watches over the slaves here, until they are ready." He shrugs. "I don't know what goes on here, but I don't really care much. All I know is that after a while they don't struggle to free themselves no more."

None of the slaves seem familiar. They almost seem like dolls, just sitting there staring at nothing, but they are clearly alive.

As Private Joker opens the concealed door, the smell of smoke and cooked meat wafts out of the room beyond.
This room appears to be a huge kitchen, over 50’ long and wide, and 40’ tall. About the room are piles of crates and kegs, as well as several tables and cabinets. In the center of the room is a large fire pit, the fire in it licking at the charred head of a giant lizard hanging head down into the fire by a chain from the ceiling.
At a table in the east end of the room sit three barbaric looking men, all bristly bearded with coarse red hair. They have mugs of beer in their left hands and smilingly lift hand axes off the tabletop and sing rowdy songs with guttural voices.
8 hobgoblins are here, some of them lazying around, others working on the fire and cooking various disgusting brews.
A 7’ tall black man in black plate mail armor is poking and turning the roasting lizard with a two handed sword. He occasionally barks commands at the hobgoblins.
 He turns to face the door, as the party enters, and you see that his helm has no eyeholes. "Hail!" He salutes you. "I was not expecting a visit! Who might you be?"

Ronan roundly replies in equal measure, "We're fresh meat here for charred meat! We've been marching double-time to reinforce the citadel."

He waits a beat or two, for that drop in defenses when surprised people realize they are not under attack.

Then, great, ropey strands of sticky web burst forth from his fingers, engulfing those unfortunate enough not to avoid them.

The 3 barbarians and the commander are priority targets.

As Ronan gets his spell off, Bernhard moves quickly to cut down the nearest hobgoblins before they can find weapons.

This message was deleted by the player at 13:16, Fri 16 Dec 2022.

Angus, if you do that, you will get caught in Ronan's web. Please consider revising your action.

In reply to Ronan (msg # 183):

Sorry, I didn't realize where the web was. I'll use that as my first roll though. Who is not webbed?

Falan fires off his bow at the commander as the hobgoblins are wrapped up in thick webs.

OOC: 17:52, Today: Falan Oakenheel rolled 12,4 using 1d20+2,1d6+2.  shoot bow!

00:00, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 3 using 1d6.  Surprise (1-3).
23:30, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 3 using 1d6.  Initiative (1-3 party acts first).
23:29, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Bernhard, rolled 14,3 using 1d20+1,1d6+1 ((13,2)). Hit
00:26, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Thorik, rolled 18,4 using 1d20,1d6 ((18,4)). Hit
00:25, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Private Joker, rolled 5,2 using 1d20,1d6 ((5,2)).
00:32, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Brother Nerrag, rolled 3,8 using 1d20+2,1d6+2 ((1,6)).
Angus (crit) and Falan also hit.

00:28, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Ronan, rolled 10,1 using 1d20+1,1d6+0.
00:28, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Falan Oakenheel, rolled 5,5 using 1d20+2,1d6+2.
00:28, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Brother Nerrag, rolled 13,5 using 1d20+2,1d6+2. Hit
00:28, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Black Angus, rolled 15,8 using 1d20+2,1d6+2. Hit
00:27, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Bernhard, rolled 6,3 using 1d20+1,1d6+1.
00:27, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Thorik, rolled 20,2 using 1d20,1d6. Hit !!
00:30, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Private Joker, rolled 11,5 using 1d20+0,1d6+0.
00:32, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Brother Nerrag, rolled 13,6 using 1d20+2,1d6+2 ((11,4)). Hit

Angus - I'll have you attack one of the hobgoblins instead.

"Reinforce the citadel? We don't need any reinfo-"
The giant man is interrupted by Ronan's spell, and he emits a terrible roar as he realizes he has been duped. He bellows for help, as the party cuts down three hobgoblins and wounds another.

00:40, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Hobgoblin, rolled 15,4 using 1d20,1d6.  Joker. 4 damage!
00:40, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Hobgoblin, rolled 15,3 using 1d20,1d6.  Nerrag. 3 damage!
00:39, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Hobgoblin, rolled 17,3 using 1d20,1d6.  Bernhard. 3 damage!
00:39, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Hobgoblin, rolled 16,4 using 1d20,1d6.  Angus. 4 damage!
00:41, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 9 using 2d6.  Morale. Stay your ground!


The other hobgoblins decide to sell their lives dearly, and give nearly as good as they get!

"No dinner is complete," Ronan wolfishly grins, "without black pudding."

Zap commander with wand of polymorph.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:39, Sun 18 Dec 2022.

Falan switches his aim to another of the hobgoblins and looses another arrow, hoping this time to strike true and bring another hobgoblin down.

OOC: Not bad rolls if I do say so myself...

"22:04, Today: Falan Oakenheel rolled 18,7 using 1d20+2,1d6+2.  shoot bow."

Bernhard takes a step to counterattack, but his foot slips in hobgoblin blood causing him to miss by a mile.


20:16, Today: Bernhard rolled 2,6 using d20+1,d6+1.  attack hobgoblin.

In reply to Bernhard (msg # 189):

"Mind the blood and entrails, they're slick!" Angus says with a wolfish grin as he kills hobgoblins!

19:50, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 1 using 1d6.  Initiative (1-3 party acts first).
19:56, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Thorik, rolled 14,4 using 1d20,1d6.
19:51, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 20 using 1d20.  Polymorph Save.
19:51, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Brother Nerrag, rolled 18,4 using 1d20+2,1d6+2.
19:51, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Black Angus, rolled 7,4 using 1d20+2,1d6+2.

The armored leader's form begins to deform and melt into some kind of black goo, but he pulls himself back into shape with one horrible, guttural scream. "You DARE use your pitiful magic on me?"
Falan's arrow ends another hobgoblin, while Brother Nerrag smashes the wounded one, killing them. A stone from Thorik finds its mark, and the bruised victim pulls away from the fight, running for the pair of doors on the wall to your right.
The two remaining hobgoblins put all their effort into blocking your way and parrying your blows.

"I ordered Black Pudding," Ronan spits out through gritted teeth.

Wand of Polymorph again.

Bernhard keeps attacking the hobgoblins, taking a moment to see what became of the men around the table.


21:58, Today: Bernhard rolled 13,4 using d20+1,d6+1.  attack hobgoblin.

Falan turns to the hobgoblin trying to escape and looses an arrow, albeit he did not aim superbly well.

OOC: "19:15, Today: Falan Oakenheel rolled 9,4 using 1d20+2,1d6+2.  shoot bow (hobgoblin running away)."

16:26, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 4 using 1d6.  Initiative (1-3 party acts first).
16:25, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 1 using 1d20.  Polymorph Save.
16:27, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Thorik, rolled 2,2 using 1d20+1,1d6.
16:27, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Brother Nerrag, rolled 20,3 using 1d20+2,1d6+2.
16:27, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Black Angus, rolled 3,6 using 1d20+2,1d6+2.
01:04, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Private Joker, rolled 4,2 using 1d20,1d6
The party presses on, and the pair hobgoblins barely resists the assault. One takes a heavy blow from Nerrag's hammer - pieces of scale armor are sent flying and ribs crack, but the creature is determined to fight to his last breath.

The running hobgoblin barges through one of the doors to the east and runs inside. Falan's arrow twitches on the doorframe. You hear the thumps as he jumps down the steps.

The three axe-barbarians still struggle to break free from the web. Some of them have managed to get a limb or two loose, and reach for tools to cut their bonds with. You estimate they will be unrestrained very soon.

"I will DRINK YOUR BLOOD and CRUSH YOUR BOwnsenswannwan..." The dark warrior's thundering voice bubbles away to nothing as he splashes onto the floor, now a blackish amalgam. It returns a moment later as he learns to speak again in this new form - but now it sounds slightly funny, as if it was the noise of bubbles bursting. "OUWTRAGEOUWS!" He spills away from you, now unhindered by the webs, moving to the north part of the room.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:06, Fri 23 Dec 2022.

"We've got a runner," Ronan screams in frustration, it being unclear if he's referring to the hobgoblin or his desert.

Ronan casts sleep, centering it on the three reavers.

15:57, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 1 using 1d6.  Initiative (1-3 party acts first).
16:02, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Private Joker, rolled 16,5 using 1d20,1d6.
16:01, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Falan Oakenheel, rolled 14,7 using 1d20+2,1d6+2.
16:01, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Thorik, rolled 12,1 using 1d20+1,1d6.
16:00, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Brother Nerrag, rolled 12,7 using 1d20+2,1d6+2.
16:00, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Black Angus, rolled 16,7 using 1d20+2,1d6+2. Hit
16:00, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Bernhard, rolled 7,3 using 1d20+1,1d6+1.
Ronan casts his spell at the rowdy axemen, but it seems to have no effect! The men leap free of their bonds and move toward the party, slowed by the web.
The injured hobgoblin manages to stay alive for a little bit longer, even dodging an arrow in the process. The other hobgoblin's defense isn't enough, and he dies at the end of Black Angus' sword.

"What the...?" Bernhard is distracted for a moment by the sight of the leader collapsing into a pile of black goo. "Ronan, why?"

He then puts his sword through the last hobgoblins chest.

16:10, Today: Bernhard rolled 20,4 using d20+1,d6+1.  attack hobgoblin.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:13, Tue 27 Dec 2022.

With the grizzly men in a clump, Ronan unleashes the most powerful magic at his disposal: a lightning bolt!

In reply to Ronan (msg # 199):

"Uhhhh, how you kill the black pudding? Or do you want to let it here to kill them?"

16:25, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 5 using 1d6.  Initiative (1-3 party acts first).
16:28, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Wereboar, rolled 8,5 using 1d20,1d6+2.
16:28, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Wereboar, rolled 10,3 using 1d20,1d6+2.
16:28, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Wereboar, rolled 3,8 using 1d20,1d6+2.

16:29, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Private Joker, rolled 7,6 using 1d20,1d6.
16:29, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Thorik, rolled 16,1 using 1d20+1,1d6.
16:28, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Black Angus, rolled 17,4 using 1d20+2,1d6+2.
16:28, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Brother Nerrag, rolled 18,7 using 1d20+2,1d6+2.
16:28, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Falan Oakenheel, rolled 6,6 using 1d20+2,1d6+2.

16:39, Sat 31 Dec 2022: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Ronan, rolled 17 using 5d6.
16:39, Sat 31 Dec 2022: Dungeon Master rolled 5 using 1d20.  Sv wands.
16:38, Sat 31 Dec 2022: Dungeon Master rolled 5 using 1d20.  Sv wands.
16:37, Sat 31 Dec 2022: Dungeon Master rolled 1 using 1d20.  Sv wands.

The axemen twist and mutate into the shape of humanoid boar-like creatures! They charge at the party, but the web slows them just enough for Ronan's spell to hit them head-on.
The last of the hobgoblins falls in a pool of blood. The party charges to make short work of the injured lycanthropes, and Nerrag and Angus, with the help of Thorik's stones, manage to deal the coup-de-grace to one of them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:55, Fri 06 Jan 2023.

"Where's the slime? Did anyone see where it went?"

Bernhard moves to attack the lycanthropes.

13:45, Today: Bernhard rolled 12,5 using d20+1,d6+1.  attack were boars.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:47, Sun 01 Jan 2023.

Even as he tracks the foot by foot movement of the slime, Ronan launches himself at the all but crisped pets of the commander.

17:56, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 4 using 1d6.  Initiative (1-3 party acts first).
17:56, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Wereboar, rolled 12,4 using 1d20,1d6+2.
17:56, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Wereboar, rolled 14,8 using 1d20,1d6+2
No hits.

18:01, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Thorik, rolled 6,2 using 1d20+1,1d6.
18:01, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Bernhard, rolled 15,2 using 1d20+1,1d6+1. Hit
18:01, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Falan Oakenheel, rolled 9,7 using 1d20+2,1d6+2. Hit
18:00, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Ronan, rolled 14,8 using 1d20+1,1d6+2. Hit
18:00, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Brother Nerrag, rolled 14,6 using 1d20+2,1d6+2. Hit
18:00, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Black Angus, rolled 5,4 using 1d20+2,1d6+2.
17:57, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Private Joker, rolled 2,6 using 1d20,1d6.


The party turns the two wereboars to mincemeat.
The blackish green slime slides to a standstill as the polymorphing process is completed. It screams in horror and rage.

Ronan admonishes the ex-commander of the fort, "We can't have that. No, not at all."

He instructs Private Joker (and his other thralls) to light up the slime from a safe distance.

"Some oil and a torch should do," he helpfully instructs.

"How is it screaming?"

Bernhard sheathes his sword and lobs a flask of oil at the slime.

Falan lowers his bow, cringing heavily at the sight of the slime and the thought of lighting it up.

"Oh, that won't smell good. Not at all."

Angus tosses a torch into the oil on the slime! Lighting it nice and bright!

The flask of oil breaks on the 'creature', and upon contact with the torch the oil erupts into a great flame. It quickly begins to consume what used to be the fearsome dark knight and foul smelling smoke fills the room. Amid curses which turn to painful shrieks, the slime is incinerated, leaving no clue behind to explain how it managed to speak.

Angus lit another torch to light their way.

Bernhard takes a moment to search the corpses for keys or similar items that may prove useful.

As he munches on walnuts, Ronan looks with satisfaction upon all that he has wrought, the mutilated bodies of lycanthropes, the twitching corpses of hobgoblins, and the sizzling smear on the floor, the residue of the once great commander.

When Bernhard and Thorik have finished their searching, he orders Private Joker to take them to the store room.

"Ronan, I'm surprised--koff, koff--that you can eat with this smoke hanging on the air. It's foul."

OOC: I've got to admit, I'll need to take a peek at earlier posts to see the description of this room again before I can contribute to where we go next. January has been a long month so far. :)

The room is full of crates, casks, tuns, boxes and barrels. They all contain food and drink of various kinds — mostly somewhat foul by human standards.  Shelves line the walls and contain more
foodstuffs and crude tableware.
The only things of value in the room are the belts that the wereboars wear, each of which is inlaid with gold and worth 150 gp.
On the spot where the leader-turned-slime died, you can find a keyring, containing several of its namesake.

Spread out on one of the cupboards, and held down by a loaf of bread and a cup of wine is a a piece of paper. It looks like a letter of some sort, but the script is strange. You've never seen the like, and thus, it is incomprehensible to you. It's almost as if it was engraved instead of written.

Exits:
3 to the north: (NW, center N, and NE)
1 to the west (SW corner)
2 to the east (both on the SE corner). Private Joker points to the southmost door of these two. "That's the one with the stairs leading down into the dungeon, sir."

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 214):

Angus grabs everything of value, including lifting their purses, then follows the others. He handed the keys to Falan. Not the most literate, he barely glanced at the note and it befuddled him.

Bernhard takes the piece of paper.

"This looks pretty important. Is this magical writing?" he asks Ronan and Falan.

Falan took the keys, then took a look at the letter, trying to see if he could comprehend it. He figured that elf folk knew more languages than men folk for the most part, so maybe it'd make sense to him...

"Let me take a look..."

OOC: With my languages, can I understand it?"

The letter is incomprehensible to Falan. It's not a problem of language, it's a problem of script. It seems to be made to be read by touch, rather than sight. With its recipient now dead and gone, it seems only translation magic could now divine any kind of information from it.

Ronan claps his hands, "To the dungeon, then," and then points at the southernmost of the two doors to the east. It wouldn't do to linger anywhere near here what with the mess they had made.

"Yes, best to be on our way. Thorik, how about giving that door a once over and then I'll lead hte way?"

Thorik approaches the door, but when he touches it, the door swings open on its own. "That blasted thing didn't even close it on their way down." He sighs and walks inside. "Anyways, it's clear."
This seems to be some kind of storeroom, 10' long (W-E) by 5' wide (N-S). The room is filled with shelves containing dirty pots, pans, and dishes. The shelves that used to be on the east part of the south wall have been displaced hastily, throwing their contents onto the floor. Behind, the wall - if slightly discolored where the shelves used to be touching it.

Looking at the spot where the secret door should be, Ronan waves his arms impatiently at Thorik.

The dwarf pushes on the wall with a grumble. _{"Always gotta do everything myself"}.
The wall swings open like a door, revealing a set of stairs that curl to the east. You start walking down...
At the foot of the stairs is a corridor, cloaked with a mantle of dust and cobwebs. The air is cool and earthy. The hall slopes down to the north here and the walls are damp. At the end of this 90’ corridor the hall turns to the west and a lit oil lamp hangs on the west wall throwing a feeble amber light. The hall is 10’ wide.

"Well, er, Bernhard, after you?"

Falan grinned, not quite winningly, at the fighting man.

The dust hasn't been disturbed by any recent passage?

"Certainly," Bernhard says to Falan. "That's what I'm here for. I don't suppose anyone has any healing magic? I've gotten a bit beat up and I assume we're heading back into another fight down here."

Looking closely at the dust on the floor, you can see that this passage is indeed traversed quite often, but somebody must have tried to intentionally cover it up. Interestingly, some of the footsteps lead directly into the east wall where the corridor turns to the north.

Ronan gives Bernhard his sad face. It has no healing properties.

He sighs. Must I do everything? Can nobody show any initiative in this outfit?

"Thorik, look at that wall. It requires your attention. You can scratch your beard later," admonishes the wizard elf.

Bernhard sadly looks at Ronan looking at him sadly, which only makes him sadder. It was all very sad.

"Come on Thorik, I'll watch your back while you check that wall."

Bernhard moves up to the where where the footsteps vanish, wary of any signs of movement or sounds from the north.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 03:12, Fri 03 Feb 2023.

"Sorry Bernhard, I don't have anything, we get out of here, we're going to have to invest in a few. Ronan, give it a rest, you're not funny and your act is getting old!"

Falan cocked an eyebrow at Angus and then looked at Ronan.

"It's an act?"

Ronan looks equally befuddled.

Brother Nerrag lays his hands on Bernhard's wounds. "Come now, don't be such a big baby", says the dwarven cleric. When he's done, he gives the fighter an uncomfortably hard slap on the back. "There you go, my boy!"
15:31, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Brother Nerrag, rolled 5 using 1d6+1.

Thorik grumbles something about not being paid enough for this and pushes against the wall. It opens to reveal a 30x30' room beyond, with a 5' alcove on its southwest corner extending to the west.

Standing on the other side of a long table turned over to its side in the middle of the room are a dozen goblins. They are all holding crossbows pointed at the entrance.

From the alcove comes the voice of a hobgoblin, the leader of these goblins: "Surrender now, or die!". Standing to his side, grinning evilly, is the hobgoblin who fled from the battle in the kitchen above. Or so you think - all these goblinoids look pretty much the same from your demihuman-centric point of view.
The alcove has a tall stool with a padded seat and a spy hole cut in the wall to provide a view of the end of the corridor you're in.

The northwest corner of the room has been barred off to form a cell and holds a man covered with bruises.

Bernhard grabs Thorik and ducks away from the doorway (to the north?) hopefully before the goblins can fire.


18:15, Today: Bernhard rolled 16 using 1d20+2.  save vs breath.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:15, Fri 10 Feb 2023.

"Actually, you should surrender or die stinking gobber! We already killed your big boss back there. Maybe you should come kill us? If you think you can." Angus challenges the gobs.

Not for the first time, Ronan finds himself to have been offered a false dichotomy. Rationally, he slinks back further into the hallway.

Falan throws himself into safety, and begins to work the spell to throw a web across their group.

Bernhard dives for the dwarf, snatching him in time! The pair roll on the ground just as a dozen bolts pass through the air where Thorik stood a moment before.
Inside, you hear the creaking of crossbows being loaded.

The hobgoblin puts a horn to his lips, and blows! The noise echoes through the corridor. A few moments later, you begin to hear screams, yelps, and gibbering to the north. "There is no escape, humans!", the hobgoblin shouts.

OOC: @Falan, to actually cast the spell on the goblins you'd need to expose yourself to the twelve crossbow-wielding goblins inside. If so, roll a breath save to see if you can dodge most of them (and only get targeted by one goblin). You can cast the spell and hold it until you want, though.

"Focus your magic to the north!" Bernhard shouts to the others. "Angus with me!"

Bernhard rises and charges at the goblins while they reload, screaming in fury, striking down as many as he can before they can counterattack.

OOC: Reloading a crossbow takes some time...right??

12:36, Today: Bernhard rolled 12,7 using d20+1,d6+1.  attack 5.
12:36, Today: Bernhard rolled 6,7 using d20+1,d6+1.  attack 4.
12:36, Today: Bernhard rolled 6,3 using d20+1,d6+1.  attack 3.
12:36, Today: Bernhard rolled 19,7 using d20+1,d6+1. attack 2.
12:36, Today: Bernhard rolled 8,4 using d20+1,d6+1.  attack 1.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:37, Mon 20 Feb 2023.

OOC: Yeah, I'm definitely not casting while the bolts are raining down.

But, Falan will step away and turn to the North, ready to throw a Web down on a group of advancing goblins (but only once we see their group burst through).

ooc - 5th level against goblins is 5 attacks? Or 1. Brain fog!

Angus charges in, swinging at the crossbowmen so they couldn't defend so easy!

06:15, Today: Black Angus rolled 7 using 1d8+2.  damage.

06:15, Today: Black Angus rolled 8 using 1d20+1.  to hit.

06:15, Today: Black Angus rolled 21 using 1d20+1.  to hit.

06:15, Today: Black Angus rolled 10 using 1d20+1.  to hit.

06:15, Today: Black Angus rolled 11 using 1d20+1.  to hit.

06:14, Today: Black Angus rolled 6 using 1d20+1.  to hit.

Seeing Angus charge in, Ronan slinks in behind and casts Color Spray at the crossbow hobgoblins.

23:27, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 5 using 1d6.  Initiative (1-3 party acts first).

23:22, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Private Joker, rolled 13 using 1d20.  Save vs Breath. FAIL
23:21, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Ronan, rolled 16 using 1d20.  Save vs Breath. PASS
23:20, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Black Angus, rolled 9 using 1d20.  Save vs Breath. FAIL
23:20, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Bernhard, rolled 5 using 1d20.  Save vs Breath.  FAIL
Black Angus, Bernhard and Pvt. Joker are shot at by 4 goblins each. Ronan is shot at by 1 goblin.

23:26, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 9,3 using 1d20,1d6.  Atk vs Ronan. No hits.
23:26, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 10,4,18,3,16,3,8,1 using 1d20,1d6,1d20,1d6,1d20,1d6,1d20,1d6.  Atk vs Pvt Joker. 2 hits: 6 damage. Zero HP!
23:26, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 8,2,9,2,4,5,15,4 using 1d20,1d6,1d20,1d6,1d20,1d6,1d20,1d6.  Atk vs Bernhard. No hits!
23:26, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 5,4,19,2,18,6,4,3 using 1d20,1d6,1d20,1d6,1d20,1d6,1d20,1d6.  Atk vs Angus. Two hits: 8 damage > 4/22 HP

23:30, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Private Joker, rolled 2 using 1d20.  Save vs Death. DEAD

23:43, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Thorik, rolled 5,2 using 1d20+1,1d6.
23:34, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Ronan, rolled 3,7 using 1d6+1,2d6.  Color Spray.

The warriors come charging through the rain of crossbow bolts! Black Angus hews three enemies to pieces, while Bernhard cuts down two crossbow-goblins. A magical spray of colors knocks three goblins out! Only two crossbow-goblins remain in fighting condition. But amidst this crushing advance of the heroes, a voice cries out. Valiant Private Joker stumbles, transfixed by two crossbow bolts. He falls to his knees, giving his master one last look before crumbling into a heap.

The two hobgoblins draw their weapons and join the fray, while the surviving goblins do the like to protect their lives.

To the north, a patrol of six goblins charges around the corner. Leading them from the front is another hobgoblin, sword held high. They crash right into Falan's web spell, becoming thoroughly entangled!

"I'll have your head for that!" Bernhard cries as he lunges for one of the hobgoblins. His sword whistles through the air as he slashes for the creature's throat.

21:10, Today: Bernhard rolled 12,5 using d20+1,d6+1.  attack hobgoblin.

Ronan deftly applies the point of his dagger to any subhumans foolish enough to be caught within Falan's web and does so with such haste and relish that he fails to observe the fall of Private Joker.

Falan falls upon the goblins as well, cutting the goblins down as fast as he might, with the hopes that they would be able to assist their friends to the south soon.

20:13, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 5 using 1d6.  Initiative (1-3 party acts first).
20:14, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 19,6,12,1,11,5,2,6 using 1d20,1d6,1d20,1d6,1d20,1d6,1d20,1d6.  Hobgoblins, Goblins attack. Bernhard takes 6hp damage.
20:17, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Black Angus, rolled 9,8 using 1d20+2,1d6+2 ((7,6)). No hit.
20:17, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Brother Nerrag, rolled 2 using 1d6+1.  Cure Light Wounds. Angus heals 2hp.
20:18, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Thorik, rolled 14,4 using 1d20+1,1d6 ((13,4)).

One hobgoblin and one goblin each attack the two fighters. Bernhard and the hobgoblin each deal the other a wound, but the hobgoblin is clearly worse off.
Thorik's sling strikes one of the goblins, putting it out of the fight.

Killing the entangled goblins is easy. Falan chops the head off of four of them, while Ronan kills another. One goblin and one hobgoblin remain entangled, crying out in terror.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:20, Sun 26 Feb 2023.

"Oh shut up! Dead gob don't talk!" and he kills them!

Ronan helps himself to another of the exposed goblin necks and takes an extra large serving with his enchanted dagger.

"Now you need a new thrall Ronan. Want the one in the other room?" He asks with a grin.

08:48, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 3 using 1d6.  Initiative (1-3 party acts first).
08:51, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Brother Nerrag, rolled 8,7,14,6 using 1d20+2,1d6+2,1d20+2,1d6+2.
08:51, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Thorik, rolled 7,2 using 1d20+1,1d6.
08:50, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Black Angus, rolled 21,8,10,8 using 1d20+2,1d6+2,1d20+2,1d6+2.
08:49, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Bernhard, rolled 19,6,2,4 using 1d20+1,1d6+1,1d20+1,1d6+1.

Falan and Ronan kill the remaining members of the patrol, while Angus and Bernhard each kill the hobgoblin they were fighting against. A lone goblin backs off in fear, but Brother Nerrag smashes him with his mace.
You are left standing upon a small mound of corpses.

With his dagger drippier than usual, Ronan calls out for his latest thrall to wipe it clean. When no thrall answers his call, he curses his servants for their "indolence."

"Off on some lark, he is," he sneers, failing to notice the body of the private among the midden of corpses before him.

The huddled mass of misery in the cell draws his attention, "Ah, and who might you be? Do you have any experience polishing daggers?"

"I think he is quite insane now fellows. not good." Angus shakes his head in sadness at the loss of Ronan

"Well, that goblin will get experienced at polishing daggers soon, knowing Ronan."

He shook his head and stepped around the mass of corpses.

OOC: Just in case anyone's confused - Ronan's referring, I presume, to the man in the cell that's in the corner. All goblinoids are dead.

The prisoner emits a series of unintelligible grunts. He remains curled up in the corner.
Listening more closely, you can make out the word 'food' over and over.

Bernhard digs some rations out of his pack and offers them to the prisoner.

"Easy there fellow. We're here to get you out. Can you walk?"

"Someone check those hobgoblins for keys to this cell."

Falan starts checking bodies for a key.

The man wolfs down the food, crawling on all fours like an animal. He growls and grunts, looking at you pleadingly with an atavistic gleam in his eye. Perhaps this man is too far gone, broken under the endless torture and miseries inflicted on him by the slavers.
Falan finds the key to the cell on the hobgoblin leader's corpse.

“Should we let this one out? He seems a bit out of his head. Could be a bit of a burden.”

"We'll be back for you later, buddy," Ronan says sardonically, not intending one whit to make good on the promise.

Let's check out that alcove and beyond.

“Can you speak?” Bernhardt asks the prisoner. “What is your name? Where are you from? If you can’t answer we’ll need to leave you here for now.”

The prisoner crawls away from Bernhard, spit dribbling from his mouth. He tries to speak, but all that comes out is some sort of bark. This appears to frustrate the man thing, and he beats on the ground with both fists as he yelps and yells.

Ronan gives Bernhard a curious look, "He's not up for adoption, you know?"

Bernhard looks at the prisoner and shakes his head.

“Sorry friend. We’ll come back for you. Right now we need to kill some more goblins.”

Bernhard takes some more food from his pack and passes it through the bars of the cell.

“All right, lets get a move on.”

"Perhaps the faculty of speech has been taken from him?"

Falan observed the stranger for a few moments yet, before sadly departing with his fellows. They would have to return to help him later.

You leave the poor sap behind and head north along the corridor.
Suddenly, as you approach the corner towards the west, Bernhard and Black Angus' swords tug at their hands, as if they want to fly into the wall beyond, and the warriors are barely able to retain their grip on them. They feel their armor doing the like, too, threating to send them flying.

There's about 10' from the spot on which you stopped to the wall. The corridor continues west for more than 40' (you cannot see any further).

"What gives here? A lodestone of some kind?" he pulls himself back from the spot.

"Well, that's a damn nuisance," Ronan observes after the hidden monster magnet begins to exert its influence.

"We need to load up the metal in a wooden chest and try to push it past."

Bernhard also struggles to backtrack away from the mysterious force.

“Good place for an ambush. Be ready.”

"An ambush wielding, what, clubs? I suppose in this case they would kill as well as anything else."

Falan held down all his equipment, trying not to let anything slip away.

Angus steps as far back as necessary to get away from the force.

Ronan tries to remember where a suitable chest might be found.

"A sharpened stick will kill as well as a dagger given the opportunity," Bernhard grunts as he continues to struggle.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 23:40, Mon 27 Mar 2023.

You reckon that you could manage to pull off any metal items off the wall, with some effort; however the impact would make a significant sound.
Will you try to pass (and how), or will you turn back?

Is there any bedding/blankets available that we could put against the wall to stifle the sound of the metal banging up against it?

Further, Silence 15' Radius is an excellent spell for any cleric to have prepared.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:38, Sat 01 Apr 2023.

OOC: Are we currently stuck to the wall in our armor? Or were we able to back away from the area?

OOC: It sounds like we're being pulled to the wall, and maybe our weapons are against the wall. I think Ronan's suggestion might work, maybe?

OOC: No blankets in this area here. However they might be found elsewhere.
You're not stuck right now, just being pulled; if you're pulled to the wall you would be able to pull yourself free (with some difficulty, but still).
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:31, Tue 04 Apr 2023.

“I’d don’t like the idea of backtracking. How many sacks or cloaks do we have? I have one. We could disarm and load up what we can in those and advance; that way we don’t go flying into the wall.”

Okay, let's do that.

You distribute your packs, cloaks and other soft equipment along the wall as best as you can to muffle the impact of your metal items.
11:10, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 2 using 1d6.  1-2 noise.
Mostly, you're able to get most of your stuff across with only light thumps against sacks and packs. However, despite your best efforts, every other sound disappears completely as a helmet crashes against the wall, the vibration afterwards singing the loudest song you've ever heard before you quickly stiffle it. You stand still for a couple of moments. Nothing. It seems that nobody is coming for you, at least for the moment.

You may continue on now. The corridor goes 80' to the west, then turns to the north. There is a door on the northern wall of the corridor at 50'.

Bernhard rearms himself as quickly and quietly as he can.

"Thorik why don't you check that door. Just don't walk into an ambush."

Bernhard keeps a watchful eye and ear down the corridor for advancing foes.

In reply to Bernhard (msg # 282):

Angus gets set back up too, worried there may be some one or something waiting for them now!

Thorik grunts and takes a look at the door. "Nothing." He puts his ear to it, then grunts again. "Nope."

It was time to rebuild some trust!

"In we go, then," Ronan urges, confident that nothing beyond good vides were beyond that door.

Falan had his bow at the ready, pointing it in to the door as he gave Thorik the sign to pull it open. He was ready for whatever threat may be on the other side of the door.

The door opens onto a short hallway that leads to a small room. The air is cool and damp and the area seems totally deserted.
A wooden table stands in the center of the room. On the table are the remains of a dinner of horse meat and watered beer.
Three benches, two wood stools and a couple of cots also adorn the room. Beneath one of the cots is a 3’ × 2’ × 1½’ tall, brass bound chest.
In the southeast corner of the room is a stool with a pair of leather boots nearby

"Thorik," Ronan smiles, "you have redeemed. And lookie yonder: another chance of redemption. Oh, yeah, another chance of redemption."

Still smiling, the elf looks in the general direction of the brassy chest.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:59, Fri 14 Apr 2023.

"Looks like this place was cleared out in a hurry. It may be where those reinforcements came from."

Bernhard advances into the room to inspect the boots.

The chest is locked. "Someone's jammed the lock." A piece of wire is in the keyhole. You can hear something clinking inside as Thorik shakes the chest.

The boots are unremarkable, except that the soles are worn through and they are particularly small.

Considering the chest carefully, or at least as carefully as Ronan considers anything, Ronan points his wand at the lock and attempts to transform it into a lock of straw.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:53, Thu 20 Apr 2023.

Bernhard checks the cots for any hidden items before heading to the corridor to keep watch while the others try to open the chest.

The padlock's metal turns into straw, and the lock can easily be ripped apart before  the straws turn once again into fragments of metal. Inside the chest, there are three 5’ lengths of chain and two old padlocks.
Among the bedding, Bernhard finds a crude knife. There are no other items of value in the cots.

With reverence, Ronan says, "Well played chest of locks and chains, well played," before returning to the hallway and continuing down it.

"Well that was a waste of time," Bernhard mutters. "Unless those are magic locks and chains?"

"Come on, Thorik, let's keep moving."

When the party is ready, Bernhard will lead the way to the north.

"A waste? I think not! Locks and chains seem quite useful to me, at least."

Still, Falan followed on to the north. He wouldn't be taking a lock and chain--he preferred to remain light, if he could.

"Are they magic? why would they lock them up?"

"Why not take them and we'll find out?"

You go out of the room and follow the way north. Ahead in the corridor is a ghostly white shape hovering above the floor just beyond an archway. No noise comes from it and it seems to shift slowly. The corridor is dusty and looks seldom travelled. Cobwebs drape the ceiling in little feathery patches.
There are two doors in the eastern wall, spaced 20'. 60' to the north, the corridor turns east.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:16, Sat 29 Apr 2023.

"What is that?" Bernhard says in shock at the sight of the white shape. "A spirit?"

"I don't like the look of this place. Too unused to be where they're keeping any slaves. Maybe we missed something?"

OOC: Are the doors in the corridor past the white shape?

OOC: One is beyond, the other is closer.

Amiably, Ronan greets the apparition, "So what did you do to get damned to this godforsaken hallway?"

In reply to Ronan (msg # 302):

Angus just stood there staring at the apparition and listens to Ronan.

The shape floats there, not making a sound. It spins around very, very slowly. From the distance, you can only see that it is roughly the size of a person, roughly cilindrical.

Ronan advances as far as the closer of the two doors, satisfied that, unlike the apparition, it is not rotating.

"Is it a creature or a magical trap of some kind?" Bernhard asks Ronan. "Either way, it's not advancing on us so let's try this door first."

"Thorik? Check it first."

Falan leaned in toward Bernhard, and spoke quietly.

"Earlier, Private Joker mentioned 'the cloaker', some enigmatic servant of the slavers. Perhaps this is some similar being. I have no clue, personally, what that could possibly be."

Ronan stands a few feet away from the figure. It looks like it is the shrivelled husk of a man, wrapped in cobwebs, a strange grimace upon its face and its hand at its chin. Between its stiff jaws is a ring of infravision. Beneath the webbing, you can make out a pouch at its waist.

Taking a peek into the first room, you see that it is filled with chests, bundles and crates of various tradegoods. It appears to be deserted.

Angus retrieves the goods, using his dagger to cut away the webs. "A ring and pouch. Let's see if there is anything else! Check the chests."

"More mundane than I expected...Angus, be careful! Whatever hung up that poor devil may still be around. Watch the ceilings."

Bernhard looks into the storeroom, inspecting the ceiling before entering and watchful for more webs.

Ronan addresses the webbed man in an admonishing tone, "That's a bad show, old man, getting caught up in all of those webs. How could you have thought that biting a ring would save you from getting sucked dry?"

He then waits for the chests to be searched and for his spider overlords to arrive.

Searching through the contents of the room, you find several bales of good linen, crates of tin pots and pans, and several chests of china dishes wrapped in straw. You judge these items to be worth about 450gp put together, though transporting it all could prove challenging.

Upon closer inspection, you realize that the ring is a ring of infravision! The pouch contains 10gp.
Nothing stirs in the corridor, though the thick cobwebs prevents light from reaching the ceiling...

Ronan looks up at the cobweb-choked ceiling.

"Fire! Fire! Fire!" he then starts to grunt-chant in a fit of primitive fervor.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:28, Mon 22 May 2023.

Bernhard shakes his head at the collection of items.

"Fine things, but worthless here."

Stepping back out into the corridor, Bernhard joins the others at the hanging corpse.

"Burning the webs will make a lot of smoke. Anyway, do you think we are on the right track? There don't seem to be any slavers or slaves down this way."

Angus takes a torch from the wall and lights up the webs, hopefully burning any spiders above!

Bernhard backs away to the doorway of the storage room and covers his nose and mouth.

The webs quickly begin to burn, filling the corridor with a fiery glow as the fire devours them. Through the flames and the cobwebs you catch a glimpse of an evil eight-eyed head, which hisses at you as it completes its wicked work.
17:26, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Black Angus, rolled 14 using 1d20 ((14)).
A large sheet of burning webbing falls upon Black Angus. It would have enveloped him, had the warrior not rolled away at the last second.
17:27, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 4 using 2d6.  Morale.
Two of giant spiders skitter northwards along the ceiling, fleeing the flames!

"That was close, there were a couple of big ones up there, hopefully the fire will get them, probably not though." he says as he rises from the floor where he rolled to to avoid the burning webs!

Falan put an arrow in his bow, and made sure to keep an eye out for any approaching spiders, so that he could put arrows in them.

Satisfied at the work of his friend, fire, Ronan advances to the second door, eager to find more playmates.

Bernhard readies his own bow and moves forward, watching the ceiling down the corridor to the north.

"Glad you're so quick on your feet Angus. Getting covered in spider webs is one thing, burning spider webs is another."