It was difficult with the rust. So she stepped back, brought her lantern closer, took a breath, and tried once more. This time she could feel it starting to move, so she redoubled her efforts, until she could safely pass underneath with her equipment- either by pulling it through or using a foot to slide it to the far side.

Once through, she let it drop and prepared to face the skeleton, if it arose.


(ooc)
Today: Stadhafi rolled 1 using 1d6 ((1)).
I think this will succeed.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:49, Wed 14 July 2021.

Mustering all her strength Stadhafi was able to lift up the rusted shut portcullis enough to crawl beneath it. When she was into the room and released the portcullis it fell back into place.

The room was thirty foot by thirty foot. There was a door in the north and another in the east. On the floor was old bloodstains and skeletal remains.

Readying all her equipment, she waited to see if the skeleton rose, or is anything came to investigate the noise.

If neither happened, then she checked over the skeleton, to see if anything had been left on or about it, dagger in hand should it make a move.

The portcullis settled back into place and the bones remained unmoving. All was quiet as Stadhafi crouched to examine the skeleton. As she did so a sudden wind buffeted her as room filled with swirling gusts of air. Bones flew up in the maelstrom, clattering together or hitting Stadhafi.

"Fools! Flee before your bones rest here evermore!" an unknown voice offered this cautionary warning which was followed by sinister laughter.

Staðhafi was prepared for the skeleton to rise, but not for an air spirit to cause it to rise. Not really certain where to strike, she thrust out towards the bones with her sword, thinking that was the most likely place her foe was located, while slashing her dagger to the side, in case it was trying to come about her.


(ooc)
Stadhafi rolled 9,7,4 using 1d20+1,1d8,1d4 ((8,7,4)).
A 9 is probably a miss.

The bones rattled around Stadhafi and her attempts to strike them were futile. The sinister laughter continued as the air spun around her wildly.

She backed up to a corner, once again to protect her rear from being attacked, and struck out again, more at random since it seemed to be surrounding her.

(ooc)
17,3,4 using 1d20+1,1d8,1d4 ((16,3,4)).

17 is a very good roll, but based on the discussion of Leah and the gnome in the dark, it does not give one much hope. *L*

As Stadhafi flailed around she struck one of the bones and broke it in two. At the same time all of the bones clattered to the ground and the laughter came to an end.

Staðhafi was happy with the lucky blow- despite her injuries, between this strike and the dial, she was feeling very lucky. Warily, she checked the broken bone to see if it had held anything inside. If not, and if nothing else remained in the room, she would exit to the north.

Nothing else strange or untoward occurred in the room. The bones had no markings on them or anything hidden inside them.

The door north opened. There was a short passageway ten foot long which ended in an open archway. Beyond the archway was the stairs up.

In the corner hidden by the archway was a small body wrapped in tattered strands of spider silk, a grimace of agony contorted its features.

Seeing the entrance/exit made sense- all of those left turns would have formed a large circle. As for the corpse, she wondered if it was the dwarf who had walked off. That was unimportant though. What was important was that this meant spiders. Wounded as she was, and concerned about poison, it was an unattractive option to have to face one. But she had to go north.

She first looked about to see if there was a spider about, then lit a torch hoping the open flame would keep the bugs away.

Next, she checked to see if the body in the webbing was still alive.
If so, perhaps she could pull it back to the bone room to cut it free.

Her torch lit Stadhafi examined the corpse. Firstly it was dead, secondly it was a goblin. She saw no spiders.

OOC Day: 6. 11:50am. Turn: 17. Weather: Sunny, stormy, high winds. Vision: Daylight. Movement: 20'

Torches
Stadhafi 1 Turn
Lantern oil used
Stadhafi 17 Turns

Staðhafi pulled the goblin back to the bone room, and cut it free, taking anything of value it might have upon it. Afterwards, she hid her blue gem down her chest, and went north, torch high in case of a spider hiding in the dark or on the other side of the doorway.

She planned to take the stairs and exit Stonehell, going back to the inn to heal her wounds.

The tattered strands of spider silk were cut from the goblin. The corpse now more clearly exposed was desiccated. Nothing of value was found by Stadhafi.

She escaped the room and passed through the door to reach the stairway without any spiders falling upon her. Then she began she ascent up the stairs.

OOC Day: 6. 12:00pm. Turn: 18. Weather: Sunny, stormy, high winds. Vision: Daylight. Movement: 20'

Torches
Stadhafi 2 Turns
Lantern oil used
Stadhafi 18 Turns

Up the stairs, and since she had only been in the dungeon long enough for one flask of oil, it should still be light enough out she could extinguish the lantern. She would keep the torch lit until outside completely, in case an animal or insect entered this area.

Once outside, the torch could be extinguished as well, and she would retrace her steps back to town, keeping an eye out for bandits, or other highwaymen who might want to loot from returning dungeon looters, which is why she had hidden the gem earlier.

Once back in town, she would go to get the gem’s value assessed and likely sold, so she would have enough coin to rent an inn room long enough to heal up, and also to buy or replace some equipment. And she would also enquire if there was a bounty on orcs in this part of the world- she had two of their heads on her belt after all.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:45, Mon 19 July 2021.

When Stadhafi emerged from Stonehell dungeon it was barely past midday. The storms and high winds of her early travel had disappeared to be replaced by sunshine. The walk to Fourtower Bridge took the rest of the afternoon and on her journey Stadhafi met no danger.

The feast of sausage and cider continued at the Moorland Magpie Inn, Lorna charging four silver pennies for the meal. She was informed that there was no bounty on orcs however during her enquiries she did learn that there had been many goblins raids recently and that Athalgrim was keen to see them stopped. To sell the gemstone Stadhafi was advised to speak to Silar or Thomas, as both were rich and had a liking for beautiful and expensive things.

OOC XP 140 + 7 (5% bonus) = 147.

With no bounty on orcs, she just kept the heads in place for decoration. Later when she had more time, she could strip the flesh and goo from them and just leave the skulls. As for the goblins, that might be something for later. For now, to sell the gem. So she left to go see Silar. If the price seemed reasonable, then she could sell it then and there without visiting the other option.


(ooc)
XP updated, thank you!
This message was last edited by the player at 07:50, Tue 20 July 2021.

Directed to the northeast tower Stadhafi met Silar. Silar was an elegant man in his forties, he was extravagant and questioned Stadhafi on where the blue gem had come from.

After he had examined the blue gem he offered the fighter one hundred gold pieces for it.

"Done," she replied to the fop, uninterested in haggling.

Taking the money, she bought another oil flask to replace the one that was nearly used up in the lantern, a grappling hook, and another 50' of rope so that she could descend deeper wells should it ever come up again.

And then she went to the inn, renting a room long enough to fully heal from her injuries.
Unlike Leah, she gives no thought to sharing or selling her map. She risked death alone- anyone else should be willing to do the same or they were not fit to be there in the first place. Instead, she spends her time healing and stripping the flesh from the orc skulls. Perhaps she can have them made them into shoulder decorations for her armor.


(ooc)
Does she receive any xp after the gem is sold, or was that already included?

The stripping of the flesh from the orc skulls was a grisly business but one which time and effort would achieve.

Millie's inventory general store sold a grappling hook for twenty five gold pieces, a line of rope for one gold piece and flask of oil for two gold.

The innkeeper Lorna charged Stadhafi one gold piece a night to stay in a private room or one silver piece a night to stay in the common room. The evening meal was pork sausages and cider again, Lorna had a load of sausages to be eaten this was expected to continue for many days to come, for four silver pieces.

OOC Evening of Day 6.

Stadhafi will heal 1d3 hit points per full day of rest.

After re-equipping, she went to the inn.

She took a private rom for herself- both because money was meant to be spent, not hoarded like a dragon or a dwarf, but also because she would rather not share a room with imbecilic cowards, the likes of which were thick in this area.

Three days passed, and she was fully healed, ready to move on to some other adventure.


(ooc)
Everything paid for, including the inn time spent healing.

I asked this before, but perhaps you missed it- does she receive any xp after the gem is sold, or was that already included?

With that, I think her adventure is done, and I am going to try yet again to roll up a magic-user.

This message was last edited by the player at 17:19, Thu 22 July 2021.

OOC The XP for the gem was all included. Good luck with the next character, let me know their name when you've got one.

The dice again refused to cooperate, so it will be another one-off character. *sigh*

'Bea Bear-Fighter' is her name. She will be a thief.

The dice rolls look good for a magic-user. The low strength doesn't really make any difference to a M/U and the high Constitution is great for the low hit points. Are you waiting to roll a high Intelligence, or some other criteria for M/U selection? A high intelligence really makes little difference to the M/U class.

I realize that in this edition a high intelligence makes little difference. But since I read about the game, I have had in mind the sort of character I would like to play. An above average intelligence, and hopefully charisma, but at least not a negative in it. That might not be the most optimized or useful or necessary, true, but that is what I have been hoping for each time.

Leah blundered about by luck, Stadhafi with intensity, and those were fine to try, but long term, I prefer to play someone pitting her cleverness and charm against the antagonists. Perhaps I am too influenced by Disney and fairy tales, but that is how my inner picture of my protagonist sits. ^_^