Resolutely, Derry swings again, feeling the shock and thud as his sword sunders more bot metal.

Derry hits AC 5 for 5 dmg.
08:53, Today: Derry the Dwarf rolled 14,5 using d20+2,d8+2.  Another Round.

"Try to confuse it with dance!" Devin shouted inspirationally as he attempted to jig and swing unsuccessfully.

OOC: Devin Harper rolled 7,6 using d20,d6.  Hammer time! Thaco 19.

Metal plated the pod was resilient and stood up to the hacks and bashes from the adventurers.

OOC Next round!

This time, Derry's confident that he has overcome the bot's resilience as his sword pierces through one layer after another of obstructive metal.

Derry hits for 5 dmg
08:51, Today: Derry the Dwarf rolled 21,5 using d20+2,d8+2.  Another round.

Wyndham watches on with bated breath.

With a final smack Derry cleaved the metal pod and it floated slowly to the ground, coming to rest in the dark gravel on the ground.

OOC Combat over.

After a battle that had lasted minutes but seemed like it had lasted for weeks, an exhausted Derry sets about collecting the three gems and then with the others searches the two side chambers for anything of value. Should that transpire without interruption, he suggests they return to Fourtower. Maybe they can acquire some poison with which to dispatch the white ape. And Bosley does seem rather drippy. They should go back.

"Aye, let's head back." Wynsham helps with the search of the pod closets and pods. He provides a shoulder for Bosley to lean on as they head back to town.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 13:50, Sat 05 Nov 2022.

The two broken pods were opened up and the Derry found two whole gems. Devin had one cracked gem. Whilst Wyndham had a look around the room the low hum faltered and then stopped. The strange feeling of weightlessness also came to end.

With both Aylmer and Bosley wounded the party left the dungeon and began their journey back to town. The weather remained wet and windy. The forest offering them some protection against the wind, however it also hid many threats that lurked beneath its boughs.

No one saw, heard or smelt them approach until they were only forty yards away. In the undergrowth prowled four wolves.

OOC Day 28. Time: midday. Weather: Wet and windy. Vision: Cloudy. Movement: 20’

Wyndham springs into action and fires an arrow at the wolves but his missile goes wide.
18:14, Today: Wyndham rolled 7,3 using d20+2,d6 ((5,3)).

"Wolves!" Devin shouted, needlessly warning the others as he made to hammer the first that approached.

OOC: 12,6 using d20,d6.  Hammer time! Thaco 19.

"No, no, more fire," Derry expostulates. He proceeds to light one of his torches and wave it menacingly.

The wolves were keeping their distance but when Wyndham fired an arrow they growled aggressively.

OOC Party won Initiative. Derry roll a 1d4 to check if the dwarf can get his torch lit this round, successful on a 1.

Derry's stubby fingers proved to be stubbier than usual when he attempted to light his torch within sight of the four snarling wolves.

10:12, Today: Derry the Dwarf rolled 2 using 1d4.  torch check.

Wyndham changes tactics and throws his rations to the wolves, hoping an edible distraction will allow them to slip away.

Devin remained ready to hammer any of the wolves that approached.

OOC: Devin Harper rolled 3,5 using d20,d6.  Hammer time! Thaco 19.

The arrow fired at the wolves rather than scare them off antagonised them. Their hackles raised the wolves circled the adventurers, their wicked teeth gnashing. Bosley’s sword and Devin’s mace killed one of them as the other three attacked. Devin was only just able to deflect one of the wolves teeth with his shield. The smaller Derry wasn’t able to hold the wolves off and one bit down on the dwarf.

OOC Round 1 completed. Please make declarations for round 2. Wyndham and Devin you both seemed to have already made this, I will allow changes if you want to change tactics. Otherwise you can let them as they are.

Derry takes 4 points damage from the wolf bite.

Derry failed to light the torch, if he tries again this round his chance will improve to success on a 1 or 2 on a d4.

When Derry feels the wolf's fangs sink into him, he gives up on lighting a torch. He drops his unlit torch, draws his sword, and swings at one of the three wolves.

Derry misses.
21:18, Today: Derry the Dwarf rolled 2,6 using d20+1,d8+1.  R#2 attack a wolf.

Wyndham attacks the wolf on Derry with his short sword.
22:35, Today: Wyndham rolled 14,3 using d20-1,d6-1 ((15,4)).

"Just keep swinging!" Devin shouted to the others.

Successful attacks from Wyndham, Bosley and Aylmer killed one wolf and injured another. With two of the wolf pack dead the remainder sensed defeat and turned tail to flee.

OOC Combat is over unless you wish to pursue the 2 wolves.

Laboring heavily beneath his seeping wounds, Derry finds the energy to remind Wyndham that "sometimes things are further away than they appear to be."

Gather up the two wolf corpses (their pelts might have value) and continue back to Fourtower.

Wyndham shame-facedly secures the battered wolves to the ladder and helps carry it to town.

Devin helps how he can in carrying the wolves.

Sharing the load the party of five returned to Fourtower Bridge. It was late afternoon turning into evening as they crossed the bridge.

At the Moorland Magpie Inn Lorna was serving cheesecake and a tankard of bitter for four silver pieces. In one corner a sad looking dwarf maiden sipped at a tankard of bitter.

OOC 96xp each.

Continued at link to a message in this game