A new spot for ongoing out-of-character discussion. The previous OOC thread had to be put out to pasture, due to it nearing the one thousand post mark.

Mal, if he detects as evil to Sir, why not apprehend him then and there? He would still be some kind of evil infiltrator of the shrine even if he were not our cultist.

If he does not detect as evil but Brother Othar confirms our suspicions, then we might go with our surveillance plan.

I guess I'd need to know more about how the justice system works in Helix.  Is having your alignment detected as some version of evil enough to be apprehended and put in prison?  What if St. Ygg is lawful and so is Gamdar?  Does that change things?  Could he legitimately worship the lawful aspects of St. Ygg even though he is evil?

I was assuming there would need to be proof of actual wrongdoing, not just an alignment detection.  But maybe I'm making it more complicated than it needs to be.  I'll gladly accept the considered opinion of our GM here.  I don't want to bog the game down unnecessarily.

As I've come to understand it, Helix is on the frontier and is subject to its own brand of frontier justice which is applied, if ever, in a corrupt fashion. One local tavern operator was even known to have employed goblin muscle.

My presumption has been that were we to successfully apprehend the cultist, we would return them to Mazzahs for interrogation.

If Gamdar is determined to be evil by Sir Dryvyk or another means, that would be sufficient for Brother Othar to expel him from the church. St. Ygg is a lawful good deity and does have adherents that differ from that alignment by a step (i.e. Neutral Good or Lawful Neutral), but the god would not accept nor heed the prayers of any who were of a truly evil disposition. Othar would be within his authority to put an end to Gamdar’s service under the presumption that he was not of acceptable character to perform as a member of the clergy.

Anything further would require additional proof. Justice, such as it is in Helix, operates at the whim of Krothos Ironguard. Krothos is lazy and self absorbed, but he isn’t completely obtuse when it comes to matters of import, such as a cultist sneaking about the village, victimizing people. If there was compelling evidence that showed that Gamdar a) was involved in harming residents and/or visitors of Helix or b) that he was involved in the worship and dark workings of Orcus, it would be sufficient to prompt the younger Ironguard to act to detain him, at the very least. If Mazzahs or Othar (or both) were able to compel Gamdar to confess to any heinous acts, such statements would serve as proof of wrongdoing for Krothos’ purposes.

Additionally, if Gamdar is found to be evil, that would be sufficient for Brother Othar to detain him at the church while the adventurers sought further proof of their suspicions (such as searching the acolyte’s residence). Mazzahs would be inclined to do the same, if the group preferred that Gamdar be held at the spire.

On a side note, a couple of participants here haven’t signed into the game since last week, so I may hold off a day or so to see if either or both turn up. If we’ve lost folks, I’ll need to give some thought about how best to move forward, or if it’s viable to continue.

It seems to me we are better off to keep an eye on Gamdar even if he turns out to detect as evil, to figure out his plans instead of just calling him out.

I being one of those whose presence was missed... sorry. Power outage borked my computer and I hate IC posts by phone.

There's some history between Sir Dryvyk and Krothos Ironguard, some drama that may slowly unfold, and it may very well be that Krothos will not take his word as evidence at all... It'll be fun to see how this plays out. Especially if my hunch is correct that Gamdar's not our guy.

I'm going to IC right now.

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 6):

Mazzahs would be able to extract all the intelligence we might need from the culprit, whether that person turns out to be Gamdar or another. As a wizard, he can cast telepathy or charm person or who knows what else.* As for his plans, we already have evidence of those (more sacrifices for Orcus, more power for Orcus, dominion for Orcus).

Now, if we only end up getting some tea from the kitchen (and not a serving of Gamdar), then I don't think we're left with much beyond the surveillance option.

*If we were playing Gumshoes and Dragnets, I'd be all about tailing the rat (and maybe some breaking and entering, too). But we have a wizard ally, you know.

Sir, now if this mystery had been penned by George Dickson Carr, our cultist would be none other than Cella and we'd find her pile of corpses within a room -- locked from the inside!
This message was last edited by the player at 13:32, Wed 08 Feb 2023.

I’m truly sorry to hear about the power issues. My home was without electricity for five days during the storm here. I hope you and yours are staying warm and safe.

My sincerest apologies if I seemed jumpy about not hearing from participants. The honest truth is that I’ve really gotten a lot out of running this game and would be very disheartened if we weren’t able to continue. That said, I know that real life concerns always need to come first and that circumstances arise where people aren’t able to set aside time to post.

Hope everyone is doing well.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 9):

I was going to tut tut you after that worrisome post... :)  The storm had likely knocked Sir out; Ishmael said he'd be out for some time (and is a spelunker not a detective); Dilemma has said he sometimes gets caught up in other things...

But, more importantly, c'mon, bow before my punning in my last IC post.

Gamdar may still have some information, even if he is not the culprit. Or is his evilness shielded somehow?

DM: For the record, I will not be leaving until you turn out the lights!

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 11):

Nod. That's why B. opened up a line of questioning with him.

a) He has clues.

b) He knows nothing.

c) He can shield his nature and intentions.

I'm disinclined to go with c. Our patron could have given us a charm to nullify the deception but that starts to get a little silly.

Is he even broad-shouldered? We don't know that either.

In reply to Barnabus (msg # 12):

I should add to (c) above that it would be a necessity for the infiltrator to be able to disguise himself. The risk of accidental exposure would be too great. I thought a paladin's divine ability might be able to penetrate the guise.

Pally-radar was a total goose egg on Gamdar, zero, nada.

Possession that comes and goes perhaps? Waits for him in the moor?

We could always use Ol'Gib as bait... A disgruntled, unappreciated old growler who's not happy with how young Sir is treating him... Gonna gamble with the money he was given for supplies...?

:-P

Interrogation can always expose contradictions and holes in a cover story. Brother Othar would know if one of his two acolytes had been practicing herbal healing. Dax knows the moors and their botany (as does Barney for that matter).

I also suspect that were we to examine Gamdar's hands they would be too rough for a man of the cloth.

Wow.

Welp.

Exactly, LL was on verge of deploying the Gumshoes and Dragnets's "Hot on the Tail: Moors and Hamlets" supplement.

If it had resulted in a pursuit through Helix, I had every confidence, in light of other recent events within the village, that everything would have turned out fine.

I mean, when have ANY of our activities had a poor impact on the town?

Where's a cowboy when we need one?

Alright you force me to abase myself.

Did these puns miss the mark?

Flight of the Gamdar
Coulda' been a chandler

How many such puns are required to trigger another meta-game apocalypse?

In reply to Malivoire (msg # 19):

One car chase, I mean foot race through the town...I wouldn't expect more than a single building in flames and perhaps 3 to 4 innocents dying.

B, I hate to say it but your punnery did not cause any cringe in me...you will have to up the ante to get the OOC groans!

Oh, no, I don't want cringes. I want sublimity.



Giving it a second read, I have to concur. Such a fanciful flight of ideas does Barnabus have.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:50, Sat 11 Feb 2023.

In reply to Barnabus (msg # 23):

I love reading Barnabus' diatribes! If it was only in character for Dax to eye roll the way my 17-year old daughter does!

Checking in, supposedly our chef will be back on the 21st, all healed up from his surgery.

looks like everything is well in hand.

Glad there’s an end in sight for you, Ishmael!

One question: While Gamdar is being questioned, am I correct in understanding that Ishmael plans on going to his residence to search it?

Yes. That's was Barnabus' idea. Correct?

Gamdar does not have quarters in the temple, he is staying in a cottage on the west side of the town.

Ishmael might want to take someone with him, or wait for the whole group to head there?

Ninja'd by Dryvyk's IC post! :-)
This message was last edited by the player at 06:05, Mon 13 Feb 2023.

In reply to Ishmael (msg # 27):

Well, not exactly. I had intended for Ishmael to search his person and then we would all turn over his digs. Since there is no apparent need for efficiency, I think we should stick with that approach -- although I wouldn't rewrite any posts.

Just to avoid any confusion, although Gamdar’s gag has been removed, he remains restrained. So physically, he won’t be able to expand upon the map, at least not at present. Mazzahs does not seem to be in any hurry to remove the false acolyte’s bonds.

Barnabus wasn't about to arm him with a close combat implement. He's expecting verbal instructions. Updated for clarity.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:07, Mon 13 Feb 2023.

Understood. I will add Gamdar’s information to the Main Game Map in the next day or so.

I believe you had spoken of exp and gold rewards along those lines as well... :)

Yeah, I need to get Mazzahs’ payment to the party squared away. The experience point award, however, was essentially negated by the party unleashing a balor on the unsuspecting citizens of Helix.

Sir Dryvyk, Ol'Gib and Andryr arrived post-Balor... :-P

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 34):

Oh, they should be plenty suspecting at this point with our track record.

And it wasn't entirely our doing. It's possible that a little bit of poetic license might have been craftily deployed.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:04, Mon 13 Feb 2023.

Dryvyk was, however, in the mix when Varghoulis was unleashed...

Caine was included in the experience point split for events preceding him getting charbroiled.

I’ve contacted Sir Dryvyk with his experience award for his assistance with the apprehension of Gamdar.

There may be an additional experience award for any financial reward given for Gamdar’s capture. Mazzahs is of the position that some of that reward should come from Krothos Ironguard, as it served to protect residents and visitors to Helix from further harm.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 38):

Does Ynes get a cut of that 2.5k gp reward?


You know, I've always read that to mean if that an adventurer does not survive an adventure, they do not get XP, meaning their share goes to the surviving adventurers.

@Dilemma and @Mal -- Are you going to prepare any of those new spells for the next expedition? We'll be returning shortly to the barrows.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:15, Tue 14 Feb 2023.

I realise that I may have inadvertently messed up Dax's XP!

When I joined the game, I gave Dax the minimum XP to be level 2 (2235). Since then, I have just added the new XP awarded per player.

However, the very first award was 760 XP but I added 1516 XP, which was the cumulative total for the PCs - in my defence, it is in bold text while the actual per PC amount is not!! :-)

So Dax levelled earlier than he should have.

Also, because he had to start with 2235 XP to be 2nd level, he has more XP than indicated in the XP thread...should I roll it back to match the running total?

And last confession, actually, this just occurred to me when reading the magic item list that Barnabus posted in the treasure thread: Dax is using the +1 shield and sword that belongs to Dryvyk! I think I should be returning to my non-magic 2-hander until such time as we find more enchanted goodies.

5 hail Mary's enough?

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 40):

I can only think of one wight solution for this.

Ha ha!  Mind if I barrow that one for my own use?

Yes. Why wouldn’t she?


I’ll give that some earnest thought. I won’t promise that my current interpretation will change, but if it does, I’ll adjust the current experience award accordingly.


Having considered this for a bit, I can only come up with one solution that strikes me as entirely fair.

I’ll have to posit that at some point during the last foray into the tombs, Dax picked up some manner of grave borne wasting condition and, while the mysteries of Gamdar’s amulet are under discussion, his body abruptly transmutes into ash, which promptly collapses onto the floor of Mazzahs’ laboratory. Someone will need to locate a broom.

You could then generate a new third level character, who would meet up with the rest of the party at The Brazen Strumpet.

I kid. I’m not going to stress over an honest mistake. It happens to the best of us. Since Dax by rights would have made his current level now, we’ll let things stand as they are. Having been a few steps early to leveling up isn’t going to radically alter what’s already transpired. For my part, I’ll try to make certain that the current experience award and the cumulative one are both clearly denoted to avoid any potential confusion. All good.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 43):

Because she didn't patronize Elzeiros, the courageous potion vendor and won't contribute to Barnabus's Greater Barrowmaze Restoration project. I mean, what is she spending her money on? Entertainment services in the closest city?

Most recently? Upgraded armor. She possesses proficiency with a bow, but doesn’t own one, so that might be her next purchase.

And she’ll chip in for the iron ladder.

All that said, if the party isn’t in need of her services any longer, she can certainly be dismissed from the company.

I think I’ve missed something however. Is everyone having to report how they spend their earnings to Barnabus? Is that in the company’s charter?

Right, the siege ladder. So that would be 150/7=22 gp each.

:D

Sir Dryvyk had his weapon out, could I make an initiative check to see if he could react before Gamdar was snatched? I'm only wishing to alter the scene slightly, not change the outcome.

I would say that by this point, each of the casters should have a full complement of spells.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 49):

Sheet and post updated.

A few matters:

• If anyone is planning to procure any new equipment/weapons/armor, please be sure to make those purchases and update your character sheet accordingly. Prices at Turgen’s Trade Goods and The Axe and Anvil (the smithy in Helix) are commensurate with those listed in the Labyrinth Lord rules.
• I am working on the assumption that in the background, arrangements have been made with Karg Barrelgut (the local blacksmith) for the construction of the siege ladder. Since it has been indicated that the party will return to the Barrowmaze tomorrow, the ladder will not be ready for them to transport. It will have been fabricated in time for the next foray into the catacombs. Barrelgut will ask for half of his fee now, the other half on delivery, so each party member will need to make an initial contribution of 11 g.p. now, and another payment of 11 g.p. when the ladder is completed.
• I will have the map which includes the late Gamdar’s contributions posted this evening. However, I believe that I will post that map as a separate map. Once the adventurers explore any of the denoted locations, I will update the main map accordingly.
• I intend to also update the marching order. If there are any preferences where this is concerned, please let me know. I am working on the presumption that Andryr will accompany Sir Dryvyk into the Barrowmaze, while Ol’ Gib and Ranger will remain with Searlait and Kraomar at the base camp. If that’s incorrect, please be sure to communicate that to me, Sir Dryvyk.

If there’s anything of import that I’ve overlooked, please let me know.

Also, if there’s a particular initial destination the group has in mind within the Barrowmaze, please inform me of that as well. Granted, that selection may be influenced by Gamdar’s additions to the map.

Eastern corridor off of location #5, I think. But that does depend on Gamdar's additions.

Also I think #5 is missing a door? I remember we took a more direct route back to 33 when we got separated.

The main game map has been updated and the missing door from area 5 has been restored.

The map for Group 1 shows the additions made by Gamdar. The acolyte’s contributions are shown as shaded areas.

The party’s marching order has also been updated.

I agree with Barnabus, east from room 5 into the areas provided by Gamdar.

DM: Has the apprentice potionmaker become the new master? Any potions available?

If not, Dax will purchase 750 gp worth of gems, if available.

I don't suppose there is a two-hander +1, +3 vs undead in the general store? :-D

Not as yet. There are still fresh scorch marks in the village square. The new vendor should have their booth up and running by the time the party returns from their forthcoming expedition.


Harnold Huffnpuff at The Rosy Quartz can fulfill that request.


Billworth Turgen had a couple come in about a month back, but they flew off the shelves as fast as he could put them on display. :)

We'll stick with the room between 4 and 33, LL.

Presuming that most of shaded areas belong to Clan Orcus. It may not behoove us to exterminate them (or even be possible) as they act as a countervailing weight to other Barrow forces.

These are to be B.'s prepared spells for the next foray:

1st: Cure Light Wounds, Cure Light Wounds, Cure Light Wounds, Command, Light
2nd: Silence 15' Radius, Bless, Find Traps, Hold Person

Mages (Dilemma and Malivoire): Please let me know if there are any changes with regard to your memorized spells so I can update the Combat/Status Summary thread accordingly.

On a side note, this weekend I intend to post a “clues” thread, essentially a listing of important information that the party members have come in possession of that may prove important later down the line. Due to the nature of play-by-post and the size and scope of Barrowmaze, it can be easy to forget some facts that the party has come across. The thread will hopefully save adventurers from having to dig through past threads for rumors and pieces of lore.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 58):

Thank you. I have become increasingly aware of having lost the threads as they continue to accumulate.

No change to the spell arsenal for now.

1st: Magic Missile, Sleep

2nd: Web

In reply to Malivoire (msg # 60):

Wasn't there talk of scribing some scrolls at Mazzahs's?

Mazzahs is willing to allow both Dilemma and Malivoire to use the resources in his laboratory to copy the spells from the necromancer’s spellbook into their own, but I don’t recall any discussion about scrolls. I might be misremembering, however.

Ah, there should have been. Next time round then.

I only recall transcribing spells from the necromancer's book.  Don't think we would have had time to do scrolls on top of that too.

What are you looking for in terms of spells on the scrolls?

In reply to Malivoire (msg # 64):

I'd like to see Malivoire and Dilemma carry multiple scrolls of Obliterate Undead 50 ft radius.

Not sure if we have updated the marching order, below is a proposal open to amendment:

Single File     Double File
Dax             Dax      Dryvyk
Dryvyk          Ynes     Andryr
Ynes                Lampert
Andryr          Dilemma  Malivoire
Lampert         Ishmael  Barnabus
Dilemma
Malivoire
Barnabus
Ishmael
This message was last edited by the player at 05:08, Fri 24 Feb 2023.

I had updated the marching order earlier in the week, but if the group would prefer the order that Dax has proposed, just sound off and I'll get it changed.

The map for Group 0 is a map of the tomb that is currently being explored


I mean, if it's left up to me, yeah, I'll mention it.

"As the barbed devil pulls Barnabus' head from his shoulders, Sir Dryvyk calls out, "I sense evil in this place!"

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 66):

Yeah, that's just what I had in mind. We are in tune.

Speaking of noticing things, what about the prevalence or absence there of blood splatter/blood trail with respect to the severed arm?

I'm done cooking at the moment and now catching up this weekend. found the latest XP award, Ishmael made level 4, but I don't see the latest Treasure split,(2500 total) other than the -22 GP for the siege ladder.

Also is the dark leather armor +1, AC 8 (ie 7)?
This message was last edited by the player at 12:59, Sat 25 Feb 2023.

In reply to Ishmael (msg # 68):

Let's see:
-2 for your Gloves of Dexterity
-3 for your +1 leather armor
-1 for your Ioun stone
AC 4, I would say.

Yup. AC 4, Same as my math.  Just verifying magic leather ac 8, vs his original studded leather ac 7

I updated the last payment with the award for each adventurer and added the reward paid for the capture of Gamdar.

Ishmael, your and Barnabus’ math matches my own with regard to your current armor class. Please note also that the armor provides a +2 bonus to saving throws made against poison.

I’ve addressed the question of blood evidence in the most recent in-game post.

The source of the water would be from behind the door, yes? This might ultimately require an engineering solution. We'll pick up a sump pump next time we're in Helix.

It would seem so. There is a small leak of dripping water near the western stairs, so it could be inferred that there is a larger leak somewhere within the room beyond the door.

Just to confirm, Ishmael is checking the northern stairs right now?  The western stairs were where the water has backed up?  Correct?

There appear to be some typos or confusion in posts...

Ditto.

Oops. Posted that before I’d had a cup of coffee. Fixed.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 73):

Okay. I put the probability of a moccasin breeding pool at 99.7%.

Alright, I know this is a little gamey but some points of reference would be beneficial.

Implements of the Occult: Faintly Evil

Sapphire Skeletons: Evil

Super Shadows: ?

Crypt Thing: ?

????????     : Strong

Varghoulis: As evil as evil gets

My gut response would be to equate "strong" with out of our depth
as we're low to middling.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:14, Tue 28 Feb 2023.

Sapphire Skeleton level.

The use of “strong” in Sir Dryvyk’s dialogue was primarily to distinguish what he was sensing from the low level evil aura that exists throughout the barrow. Stronger than faint, but not apocalyptic.

Ghasts are bad news.

Happily, with surprise, we appear to have the WIN button.

If Mal webs them, we should be able to kill them without fear of reprisal. I presume if they're entangled, they can't attack. I also presume they have human-level strength and thus will be webbed for 2d4 turns.

To top it all off, Ishmael gets a surprise attack from range!

LL, how would you want to adjudicate attacks against the webbed ghasts?

In Labyrinth Lord, a web spell covers a ten foot cubic area. By the positioning of the ghasts, the spell could easily entangle two of the creatures (the two contending with each other over the corpse), but not all three. The third would still be loose, but would   be subject to the party’s attacks through the surprise round.

I’ll confess that the following is my own personal interpretation: I’m of the mind that while ghouls and ghasts possess strength comparable to strong humans, their strength isn’t exceptional. I think that they accomplish much of their success as hunters by virtue of their ability to paralyze their victims. All that to say that, since they possess the equivalent of human strength, those trapped within the web would remain so for 2d4 turns.

I wouldn’t belabor the dispatching of the trapped ghasts. Once the still mobile threat is dealt with, when the party announces that they’re slaying the entangled undead, they’re gone.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 81):

Their damage range (d4,d4, d8) would support your reading.

Presuming we can put down the unwebbed ghast, I don't know that we'll linger too long in this barrow. Might be a little out of our depth. Might just be a hit and run for us.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:57, Wed 01 Mar 2023.

I think that the party should kick in the northern door and show whatever might be in there who’s boss.

It needs to be kicked in? I was wondering if it can be opened from afar by means of a rope.

@Dax Your damage bonus is +3 for str +1 for bless = +4
This message was last edited by the player at 13:09, Wed 01 Mar 2023.

@Ishmael -- LL is friendly with respect to ranged combat. As people enter the room to surround the ghast, you can descend the stairs and throw your dagger from the entrance.

Ishmael, if you want to fling your dagger at the ghast that’s not entangled, you absolutely may. If you’d prefer to hold for now, that’s fine as well.

I’m also waiting on actions from Dilemma and Sir Dryvyk. Once I have those, I’ll roll things forward.

Never remember to add the +1 for Bless! Post updated.

Once again I am confused (a disturbing pattern)!

My understanding is that there are two stairwells ending in doors, north and west. The only other exit is to the south (the way the party entered).

The west stairs are flooded; but this is where the tracks led. We opened the north door instead and are dealing with the ghouls within.

What have I got wrong?

I don't see why we wouldn't try the west door, being cautious that the area beyond may be flooded, if we deal with the ghouls.

Exit is east

@Dax The lair of the ghasts has at least two other exits: a human-food-sized tunnel to the north and a closed door to the east.

@Ishmael 07:31, Today: Ishmael rolled 16,4 using 1d20+3,1d4+1.

You hate the bless and the backstab bonus? 20+7,d4+2 (x2) = 20, 10 dmg

I added the bless bonus after the roll as noted

I don't know that it gets a backstab bonus, it's a thrown dagger, down crowded stairs, through a doorway between fighters and into a ghoul, with no working organs...  If LL thinks its should, I'm sure he'll adjudicate it that way.

In reply to Ishmael (msg # 90):

Yeah, I remember later iterations of D&D added an "UNCRITTABILITY" trait to uh constructs, undead, and so forth (for want of organs). Ghasts eat things. They digest things. We're stepping in ghast scat right now. They got things going on inside. That's just for fun talk. LL does not bestow that trait upon undead.

I have always considered a backstab only a melee attack.  Typically requiring surprise/HiS/MS rolls

If LL wants to make it a thrown backstab, I won't argue with him.

In reply to Ishmael (msg # 92):

I always played backstab, as a melee attack only.

We also required you to be behind the enemy.  Otherwise how do you stab them in the back?  Ishmael being behind the creature doesn't fit my "theatre of the mind" picture of our current circumstances.

I would say that you're being too literal with the word "backstab." If an opponent is unaware of Ishmael's presence, he has the opportunity to perform his "backstab" attack. The successful surprise roll implies that the thief has eluded the opponent's notice as if he had moved silently and hidden in shadows.

It's not like LL cares about facing. There is no flanking.

These are just things I would say.

Fair enough.  I was just recounting how we used to play it back in the day, around the table I played in.

For my part, I’ll give the matter some thought. In this particular instance, the collective damage as rolled was sufficient to see the task done.

I will admit that in my prior experience in playing and running first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons and BECMI, it seemed that most conceptualized a backstab as a melee strike on an unsuspecting target. Obviously, subsequent editions of D&D, along with systems that emulate the game to some degree, have broadened that idea in different ways.

I’ll reread what Labyrinth Lord states on the matter this weekend and update the House Rules thread with my conclusions. That way, it’ll take the guesswork out of what is or is not a backstab.

I also still owe everyone a clues thread. Sorry for falling behind.

Helpfully, it says "thieves can backstab"  :)

If there’s anything really bad in the western chamber, I’ll try to throw out a warning. Something along the lines of one of John Cleese’s snippets of dialogue as The Bomb from Starship Titanic:

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 87):


I don't think you have anything wrong, Dax, save for calling the ghasts ghouls.


This is my supposition. The three raiders (one raider?) entered the western chamber, triggered a water trap (otherwise I think the central area would have been flooded if the door had presented itself to them as it did to us -- waterlogged), and then were easily dispatched by the ghasts who accessed the trapped chamber via the tunnel.

How brave are you feeling, Dax? Do you want to follow the trail of blood and scout the other chamber?

For now, we have a peek to the east since that presents no immediate threat.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:57, Fri 03 Mar 2023.

That's why I was thinking in terms of 3 raiders. If so, 2 would be presently unaccounted for.

In reply to Malivoire (msg # 94):

Just catching up!

In AD&D it was a requirement to be behind the target! While LL does not mention being behind the target in the description they add the interpretation of having to MS and HIS. This was used by many DMs back in the day, even though AD&D did not clearly require it...I hated this as a player of many thieves! When I DM'd I generally dropped it.

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 102):

We're on the same page, literally and figuratively. As written, the rule has faulty logic. It is possible to "catch an opponent unaware" without having "moved silently" and "hidden in shadows."  Why they could be so consumed with consuming human flesh that they are momentarily unaware of everything else!

The ghasts might have snatched a lone raider via the tunnel (which might have other connections).

Three other raiders might have drowned within the western chamber (or suffered some other fatal fate). Unless we can devise a way to open that door from a distance, I'm still leaning towards leaving it be. Maybe hiring a sapper?

I thought Dilemma would become more active once we started delving again.

Don't know about Sir. I know he has power outages but he could still provide a quick update with his phone, so maybe it's something else.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:32, Sat 04 Mar 2023.

I will be forthright in saying that I have not received any communication from either Dilemma or Sir Dryvyk.

When such things happen, I strive to believe that something unexpected has occurred that demands a player’s full attention. I have been blessed in many of the games I’ve run to have participants who inform me when there’s something on the horizon, or that has just unfolded, that will limit their ability to take part. Ishmael letting us know about the shift in his work responsibilities is a great example of this.

If I’m being entirely honest, players vanishing is something that tends to put a drag on my enthusiasm for a game. I love running games, but especially within this format, having to manage multiple player characters who abruptly became NPCs can be burdensome. If I’m being entirely truthful, it also on occasion prompts me to question my abilities as a game master, the unavoidable thought being that if players were consistently entertained, they wouldn’t be so willing to leave without a word.

I genuinely hope that both will turn up soon. More importantly, I hope that everything is well with them and their circumstances.

As noted in the Rules and Expectations thread, I’ll send a rMail to anyone who’s been gone for a week without explanation. After two, I’ll officially convert their character to a NPC, though that doesn’t preclude anyone from rejoining at a later date.

I, too, regard participation in these games as a compact between a player and the DM and other players.

I'm in another game with Dilemma. He posts rarely in that one.


That can happen. But so can a wide range of other things. I find that DMs, especially, overestimate both their interest and availability for running games.


Yikes. Did someone cheat on you, LL? Did you attribute the dalliances of your Jezebel to your own shortfalls?

But, more seriously, I would steer clear of that sort of thinking, LL There is always the hint of egotism in such self-abasement, eh? Do you really fancy that you have that degree of control over others? You can run a delightful game, which you do, but a player might still become enthralled with some other offering or gradually start to feel too wore down from work to post ... or ... or ...

If Dilemma can't play, I would be inclined to rule that she didn't join us on this expedition after all. Again, she could just be sick or overworked or ..

If Sir can't play, I would be inclined to let us run him for this expedition.

Apologies. I didn't mean for any of that to come across as maudlin. I've long regarded my primary strength as a GM on RPoL as consistency; as in, doing my best to see games through to their conclusion. In that respect, I can definitely say I've had more success here than not. But, when players disappear, especially if it's more than one within a short span of time, I'll admit that it makes me wonder if there's something off in the manner I'm running things. Am I not providing everyone sufficient time for their character to shine? Am I not presenting things in a manner that prompts engagement and curiosity? Those sorts of questions.

Yes, ghosting games is an inevitable facet of engaging in the role playing hobby here on RPoL, or other play-by-post forums. Some just don't feel the level of commitment that they would with an in-person, tabletop group. And, as you correctly noted, there's a host of possible reasons behind it. Maybe I've just gotten spoiled a bit. In the great majority of games I've run, I've had a lot of players stick with things to their conclusion

Yr so emo.

Your primary strengths as a LL are your writing, dramaturgy, and Barrowmazing (that's the general art of translating BM to this format). Do you really see yourself as .. uh ... Snowball from Animal Farm? What was the name of the steady draft horse (who became glue?).

Not everybody necessarily wants to shine. I have a couple of games in which I'm happy to play a background role. Actually, that's true of the other four games in which I participate.


I demand an impossible crime! A locked door murder mystery on par with John Dickson Carr!

When I was a teacher, I never engaged all of my students. Some were beyond the reach of engagement. Some didn't care for the readings. Some found me too droll. So long as about 3/4's of the class was mostly on board, I was fine. It's going to be an issue when I work as a counselor in in-person substance usage treatment. Some clients won't exactly be looking to make the most of their time in clinical support and stabilization (they'll be counting the days until you know what).
This message was last edited by the player at 20:00, Sat 04 Mar 2023.

I will say LL, that I joined this game after jumping into your Barrier Peaks game as a replacement PC and I would only do that because you do a great job running an RPOL game.

The PBP format is a difficult one to keep up. There are some (like me and Barnabus) that obviously have too much time on our hands and post on a daily basis...others have real lives to deal with. You post consistently and regularly and move the scene forward when needed. I'm not sure that there is anything else a DM can do in PBP to keep the game moving.

I hope that Dryvyk and Dilemma return as they both have made their PCs interesting and interactive in this game.

I have played in several games run by LL, and I have found them all to be very well written and run.  Attrition is a fact of life in RPoL, mostly due to real life issues but sometimes due to the game and the player just not being a good match despite everyone's best efforts.

Like the others, I do hope Dilemma and Sir Dryvyk are able to continue with us!

My sincere appreciation for the kind words and advice.

I share the hope that Dilemma and Dryvyk will be able to rejoin us soon.

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 108):

Assuredly. I long ago tucked my real life away in a burrow where none can find it.

But, yeah, this is my hobby. This is the one game that has the complexity, intrigues, and challenges to keep my mind happily engaged.

And, yeah, my last job didn't give me enough to do or enough things I was willing to do. That's why I got my state alcohol and drug counseling licensure, so I can work in-patient as a recovery counselor. Starting tomorrow! With an 8-430 shift, I will only be able to post in the evening. For the 12-830 shifts, I may only post in the mornings. There may well be a shortage of Barnabus rodomontades.

In reply to Barnabus (msg # 111):

I hope the new job works out for you. And if your posting rate slows down a bit, it will give the rest of us to keep pace! :-D

Curse the Sinister Demons who plague RL!!!

I'm back. Sorry for the delay. I'll go IC right after this post. I've been swamped with work and unable to get an "I'm pathetic" post from my phone. Thanks for not giving up on me.

I’m very glad that you’re still with us, Sir Dryvyk. Hope your workplace calms down in the near future.

In reply to Sir Dryvyk of Drakeholme (msg # 113):

Hmm. Maybe the next time that happens, we should assume that's the case and know you'll return when some order has been restored to your daily life. That way you don't have to feel guilty about not posting an update; we'll know! It's not like we haven't been playing with you for years.

Very glad to see that Dryvyk and Dilemma are still with us.

A couple of questions:

• Ishmael, are you taking everything that’s on the shelves? If not, could you let me know what you are collecting?
• Barnabus, are you carrying all of the robes yourself, or are you distributing some to other members of the party?

Sorry, to be clear this is the method for transporting potentially hazardous material:

(1) The surviving two devil gloves will be donned.
(2) The materials will be put into a large sack.
(3) Ynes will run them back to the base camp.

Ishmael can follow the same procedure for the shelf stuff.

If we don't transport this stuff, especially the book, the crystal, and a robe, back to Mazzahs for study, we'll be at in impasse.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:15, Fri 10 Mar 2023.

@LL -- When you pause things to ask for clarification, my mind fixes on two possibilities: (1) some clarification is needed to execute our actions. It's no more than that. (2) You're giving us an opportunity to reconsider the proposed actions. They could have dire (or simply undesirable) consequences.

If I'm paralyzed by the prospect of #2, I take an ultra-conservative approach. So for this example, we wouldn't take anything from this very special room (to Orcus anyway) and instead report all that we saw to our patron. This runs the risk of the room having been desecrated upon our return (either by Varghoulis or an agent of Orcus (theft prevention)).

I don't think that's a fun way to play.

But maybe we take a measured approach: take some, leave some. Clearly, the weapons are a no-go, judging by Ynes's reaction. But Sir has indicated that everything in the room radiates evil. But that's to be expected. It was also true of the contents of Gamdar's chest which we successfully transported back to Mazzahs.

Let's take the contents of the shelves:
a number of jars of ground herbs -- Take. No reservations.
a mirror in a black iron frame -- Take. No reservations.
a mortar and pestle: Take. No reservations.
two crimson handled steel knives: Take. Some reservations. Too similar to the other weapons.
two leather bound books: Take. No reservations. We have always taken writings.
a nine sided opaque crystal which is dull red in color: Take. No reservations.
several polished humanoid bones are present, with black runes carved or painted upon them: Take. No reservations. Yes, they have painted runes, but we have taken things like this before.

Then there are the robes which give pause for a few reasons: their warmth, their engraved runes, and LL's request for clarification (will each go boom if they are distributed amongst us?). I think the method of transport is a reasonable precaution.

So that's my thinking about this. As a final note, I would add that I am not by trade a cleric of Impurax. That gives the LL wiggle room to provide warnings and further information.

Oh, and if anybody wants to place a direct call to Orcus, Barnabus can walk away with the stone of silence.

Well, with regard to my query, there were two reasons:

1. I sincerely needed to know what was being collected from the shelves, for nothing more than keeping an accurate accounting of the company’s inventory.

2. For reasons I can’t yet disclose, I needed to know specifically where or with whom the robes were ending up.

I’m not generally attempting to add suspense or dread when I pose such questions. Most of the time it’s primarily motivated by a desire to know what’s been taken, so I can accurately reconcile things later.

Yes, where the robes end up may prove to be of importance at some point down the line, but here’s the thing: Even beyond what Sir Dryvyk can sense and Ynes’ instincts, I think it’s rather unambiguous that the items collected within the hidden chamber have been dedicated to utilized for the pursuit of evil purposes. Each of the adventurers has that understanding, should they agree to proceed with taking any of them.

There's this lady at the gym who wears a shirt that says, "Wait a minute while I overthink this." Happily, I have a decisive side to me which counteracts my analytical side.

The robes are going to end up in a sack at basecamp along with the other items.

Barnabus is happy to stuff all of the stuff, including the shelf stuff, into a sack and tote it there. But he'd like some help.

Next stop will remain the 14 SE door. I want to hit 16 soon while we still have silence to grab that last treasure-filled urn.

Also looking forward to telling our patron that we have awakened the cultists of Set.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:43, Sun 12 Mar 2023.

Sorry, I ended up at an out of town wedding sooner than I planned. (I thought it was just for an afternoon)

While Ishamel is somewhat more morally ambiguous that Sir Dryvyk, he would have no issue relieving the shelf of all it contents (small, possibly valuable items, yes please.)  If the robes radiate heat, he could easily be convinced to leave them be.

As Ishmael declined to collect the robes, at this juncture I am presuming that they remain in the hidden chamber. Should the party elect to retrieve them at some point in the future, they may return for them.

The main game map has been updated.

B. had intended to collect then and then deliver them to camp.

Looking at the freshly updated map, it looks like 15-17 have gotten cut off from the rest of the map.

I'm totally lost! Where is the room with the exploded skeleton?

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 125):

It's #39 on the main game map, Dax.

Dax, if it’s helpful, since I’ve numbered room chronologically based on where the adventurers have explored, room 39 can be found between rooms 14 and 16 on the map. It’s east of the archway at location 12.

Incidentally, good call on the skull. If the adventurers do manage to pry it out of the stone, it unleashes the magical energy that slew the ancient victim a hundred fold. It’s basically a campaign ending event.

It flattens the Barrowmaze and the Barrowmoor, along with Helix, Bogtown, the Blackened Forest, the Thornwild Forest, the Wyrdwood, the Moon Peaks, and Ironguard Motte. With the exception of a few hexes at the far northern an southern edges of the map, it basically does away with the entire Duchy of Aerik.

Wiped clean.

If you could just give me a few weeks notice for travel time...I mean, starting with a new slate after someone else pulls that skull out would let me set up a magical elven kingdom atop the ruins of Aerik.  Just sayin'.

Out of curiosity, what would the name of the new kingdom be?

The area, at least starting out, would be somewhat arid. But there would be plenty of pieces of bedrock lying around for use in constructing a castle or tower.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 127):

Wow, I think you're serious. We need to record all the times we nearly did that for the metagame.

For the record, I wasn't planning on prying it free or anything -- not that I had anticipated the consequences. Another room had bones embedded in the walls.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:16, Tue 14 Mar 2023.

No, I was exaggerating purely for the sake of dark humor. While something might transpire, it wouldn’t be quite as earth shattering as what I alluded to, despite Malivoire’s hope for a new elven kingdom.

All that said, I still remain in awe of some of the items that Barnabus has ambitions of collecting.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 131):

Secret Goal: Diabolical Sculpture Garden

@LL -- I think I do need that promised aggregation of lore. I don't know where to look for Othar's information about the font.

I’ll do my utmost to get the clues thread up by this weekend. In the meantime:

I'd like to note that nobody has, as of yet, asked about the possibility of a backstab, remote, intimate, or otherwise.

May as well go all out on this joker.

I’m surprised that no one’s mentioned the potion that got picked up some time ago.

You know, it is always on my mind, but there hasn't (yet) been an encounter that cried out for it. Now, had the ghasts won init and had an excellent sequence of attacks, maybe...

As for this guy, I don't know. Can he do more than a d10 per round when he hits? How many folks will make their save?

If it's just Dilemma and Ishmael who make their saves, well, ...
This message was last edited by the player at 01:09, Thu 16 Mar 2023.

This message was deleted by the player at 13:39, Thu 16 Mar 2023.

I had so forgotten that. Hopefully, D. Will make her save and roll a 7 or higher.

Just for everyone’s information, once all of the saving throws are in, I’ll open a new thread in Helix for those who fled the battle.

@DM- I'm going to bed for some very unsatisfying sleep filled with anxiety dreams. I suppose you'll roll for Andryr's Save?

Good luck everyone!

Speaking of forgetting things, I don't know that the crypt knight would have heard the door close to #15. B.'s reason for scooting on over to #16 was to take advantage of the silence 15' radius (duration 12 turns) so as to hopefully neutralize (or mitigate) the threat from the spirit (who happened to be replaced by the crypt knight).

What do you think, LL?

Unfortunately, the crypt knight’s senses are not limited to the five that the living are familiar with.

Ah, he cheats. Got it.

Could we have Dilemma imbibe the potion and attempt to charm the undead knight this round?

In another game that I'm running (B4), the party has encountered the B/X banshee. While I'm running B4 as OSRIC, I can't translate a banshee. So it does an automatic damage per round as it screams. Would that be entirely countered by Silence 15' Radius? Or should I reduce the die from a d8 to a d6?
This message was last edited by the player at 14:55, Fri 17 Mar 2023.

The situation puts me in a conundrum. Dilemma has been signing into the game, but hasn’t posted an action. I did not want to hold up things any longer by waiting for her, but in instances when I have to NPC a player’s character, I’m hesitant to make use of one of their magic items, especially one that is of a limited/single use.

At the moment, I’m going to have things stand as they are. Hopefully, Dilemma will chime in during the new round. If she does not and I need to enter another action for her, I will go ahead and make use of the undead control potion.

As an addendum, the crypt knight is not the only one of its kind (unfortunately) within the Barrowmaze, nor is it the only undead creature that could offer valuable information. In other words, if the potion isn’t deployed here, there will be other opportunities to make good use of it.

---

From my perspective, the situation with the banshee raises a matter of interpretation for you as the DM. Specifically, do you regard the banshee’s scream as being an attack that is solely based on sound, or is there also a spiritual component to it? Does the attack also rely upon terrible elements possessed by ethereal undead?

For my part, I would be inclined to reduce the damage, but not eliminate it entirely. But that’s my own (potentially flawed) interpretation.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 146):

I agree. I was leaning towards reducing the damage for those very reasons.

Another possibility might be something like an ongoing skill challenge sort of thing. Where the banshee keeps wailing and it's a struggle for the character to hold the effects at bay. Or if "silenced", the effects of the wail still induce psychological harm, fear, or nausea... I've never run a banshee, but I think there would be a lot of fun things to do. You just don't want to diminish the character's efforts by substituting something else, you'd want to get the point across that diminished effect or the ongoing struggle is due to the powerful, other-worldly nature of the wail...

Let us know how it turns out!

My old-school memory (which is weak at best) says that a banshee's wail is completely disabled by Silence.

Wow, the B-NPC team knocked it out of the park.

35 dmg in 2 rounds to the undead knight for those keeping track.

That was some good rolling! Several 20s in that skirmish!

Could we just say that last urn WAS grabbed from the treasury? I don't want to think about what will take the undead knight's place.

Are we talking about the remaining urn that is in room 16? If so, I’m afraid it isn’t something I can handwave. If the party is serious about retrieving the vessel, someone’s going to need to venture into the room to get it.

Did the knight have anything of value?

Barnabus might be mad at me if I left some gold in the hallways...
This message was last edited by the player at 18:35, Thu 23 Mar 2023.

The crypt knight did not have any valuables (i.e. coins, gems) on his person. His sword might have some value due to its age, but it is not magical, nor is any of the rest of his equipment.

Verifying.

Barnabus, Dax, and Sir Dryvyk will enter the haunted room and take the last urn that is present there.

Correct?

Correct.

Ishmael is experienced with pawning stuff.

Heh heh. I've been waiting to grab that urn for months.

Alright, I think it's time to head back, not so much because we're battered, bruised (some), and depleted (some), but because we've got quite a lot for our patron and we need to absorb all that that might mean for our next return to the Barrowmaze Forever Cemetery.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:26, Fri 24 Mar 2023.

You know, that original encounter with the “poltergeist” (for wont of a better term) is an interesting one.

Lampert became terrified when things started flying through the air and unearthly howls shook the corridor. Dryvyk invoked his Protection from Evil aura, partly in an effort to bolster Lampert’s courage. The only party member that had to make a saving throw was Ishmael, who had to escape the grasp of the unseen entity. He made his roll handily, and would have even without any boost from the paladin’s aura.

One thing that never happened: Sir Dryvyk never attempted to detect evil. If he had, the result would have been revealing, because the knight wouldn’t have sensed anything at all.

I think (understandably) that the default presumption of most adventuring parties is generally something along the lines of “We’re taking this loot from some heinous monster that will only cause harm to whoever crosses its path.”

Not, “There’s a guardian here trying to keep people from taking this ancient artifact, because it should never see the light of day again.”

Did anyone else just get extra worried?

I just took it, that is all the Paladin fault.

Hey, what ancient artifact? I don't remember any ancient artifact. I thought the urn contained "glittering metal" like the other two.

If that poltergeist is "protecting" an artifact, it should have more than spitballs at its disposal.

Besides, who better to bring such a thing to the surface? Wouldn't want some cultist to waltz away with it.

I'm just surprised nobody's teasing Barnabus about having left those yellowed bones in that chamber.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:26, Fri 24 Mar 2023.

Was this an assumption or has anyone actually tried to open the urn and look inside?


Or, as an alternative explanation, perhaps all of the monstrous horrors and devious cultists who make their homes in the neighboring crypts are of the mind that there are some things you just flat leave alone.


From Ghostbusters (1984):

Dr. Peter Venkman: This city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions.

Mayor: What do you mean, "biblical"?

Dr. Raymond Stantz: What he means is Old Testament, Mr. Mayor, real wrath of God type stuff.

Dr. Peter Venkman: Exactly.

Dr. Raymond Stantz: Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling!

Dr. Egon Spengler: Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes...

Winston Zeddemore: The dead rising from the grave!

Dr. Peter Venkman: Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... MASS HYSTERIA!

Mayor: All right, all right! I get the point!

Last post updated accordingly!

But since we're debating this, you don't expect us to form logical deductions based on the collective actions of mad death cultists, do you?
This message was last edited by the player at 22:24, Fri 24 Mar 2023.

I think we'll be fine as long as, when we're speaking with the God of the Dead we have allowed to gate into our world and they ask us if we're gods, we say YES!

In reply to Malivoire (msg # 167):

That's Gods of the Deads.

If Andryr and Ol'Gib start with the Gatekeeper/Keymaster bit, I'm out... :-P

Well, obviously for the vast majority of logical and ethical decisions, cultists in the service of death gods aren’t the sort you’d wish to emulate.

On the other hand, self preservation seems to be a fairly universal instinct.


From Ghostbusters (1984):

Dr. Raymond Stantz: Gozer the Gozerian... good evening. As a duly designated representative of the City, County and State of New York, I order you to cease any and all supernatural activity and return forthwith to your place of origin or to the nearest convenient parallel dimension.

Dr. Peter Venkman: That oughta do it. Thanks very much, Ray.

I would say that mad death cultists aren't necessarily known for their instinct for self-preservation -- especially in the service for their lords.

It was curious that the death knight had taken up residence there, but he had been marching around that area so who knows.

But, anyhow, I wasn't even looking to form a deduction as I thought that 3rd urn contained coins -- not the artifact in question. I also attributed the paralyzing effect to the "poltergeist" -- not the obsidian artifact.

I mean, it's like you said: just about all these chambers have guardians with treasures they wish to keep to themselves. Unless there is some obvious death metal trappings, adventurers (ME) aren't going to think twice about it.

Indeed. The default thinking for most adventurers is that they’re taking items from creatures which the wider world will be made safer by their absence. In the vast majority of circumstances, they’re correct.

An addendum to my description of the urn: It has a lid, cast from the same material as the rest of it, which is tightly closed. Apologies for the omission.

No worries. There will is always the potential for errors in risk assessment.

It reminds me of my new job where some patients have "no tells" before they lash out.

I think I must have missed something about the urn somewhere, but nevertheless, assume it's like that one dude at the table who's goofing off on his cell phone and then suddenly goes, "Huh? Oh... my turn? Uh, is there something to attack? No? Oh. What's going on again?"

Nah, we all missed something about the urn for a variety of reasons.

Haha, I was looking at some old posts and wondered what became of dear old Ranger.

I'd always intended for Ranger to be Ol'Gib's dog, but also kind of part of the overall party, part of the troupe. I didn't want him to become an NPC though, and not turn the game into Pet Store Simulator^TM like has happened in a PF2 game I'm in.

I'm truly worried!

Anything of value from the open barrow or the catacombs that was left at the camp has been taken, grabbed, snatched, stolen, hijacked, purloined, pilfered, filched, swiped, shanghaied, looted, lifted, seized, burglarized, pocketed, pinched, made off with, pillaged, poached, and/or plundered.

In other words, it’s gone.

Well, not a total loss.



Logically, it would have to be concluded that the pieces of the broken statue had been stored at the camp (O! Woe!).

I know we're fretting that we should have sealed the other barrow (if it were even within our power to do so), but our camp's doom could just have easily come from below as well.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:05, Tue 28 Mar 2023.

Sorry, I was seizing the opportunity to be facetious. :)

Although it’s a mild spoiler, when the adventurers survey the camp, they’ll find that nothing of material value has been taken, neither the treasures taken from the tombs nor any of the existing equipment that might be regarded as potentially useful to a raider.

The party’s losses are entirely isolated to lives of the hirelings which were taken.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 180):

It won't surprise you to know I'm most relieved about not having been relieved of the statue.

I know that Malivoire is heading out across the moor in an effort to intercept whatever might be headed in the direction of Helix. Any who might be joining him (and any who might be remaining at the camp), please let me know so I can move things forward accordingly.

On a positive note, I think it’s good that Greg Gillespie, the author of Barrowmaze, took the time to detail two other communities within the Duchy of Aerik: Bogtown and Ironguard Motte. That way, in the event that Helix gets completely razed, the adventurers still have a settlement which can serve as a base of operations.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 182):

At a minimum, the potion monger that just arrived at Helix station may not live to see his first sale.

If the mummy makes its save, then B. will cast light as well.

Hey, LL, should I write up a branching post? I was just going to wait for you to roll the mummy's save vs. light (like we've done before in similar situations). You're probably just a bit busy atm.

Yes, my Friday was a little crazy.I’ll update the spell outcomes shortly.

I want you to narrate the mummy grabbing the end of the lance with unholy strength, and vaulting Sir Dryvyk onto his keister.  :)  well not really, _{(yes, really)}

Hey, go big or go home! The risk was worth the potential glory!

I was wondering if your charger had a chance to crash into the mummy as well.

Adjudicate away! :)

Lol, just a big wad of arms and legs and various horse parts all tangled up in toilet paper and making moaning sounds mixed with terrifying whinnying!

In reply to Sir Dryvyk of Drakeholme (msg # 191):

That sounds like a childhood game you used to play.

Since Sir is holding a torch, let's light the mummy up.

@Dilemma, can you pour a flask of oil on the mummy's location?
If Dilemma can't, someone else should.
Then Sir can toss his torch in that square.

Let's stay focused on the mummy.

@LL -- Any bonus to attack a blinded opponent? I know we tabled this some time ago but can Ishmael make a sneak attack against a blinded opponent (melee or ranged?)
This message was last edited by the player at 18:58, Sat 01 Apr 2023.

At this stage, anyone using a missile weapon against the mummy I would have to treat as firing at an opponent in cover, which would impose a -2 on a “to hit” roll. Those wanting to move to the other side of the golem to get a clearer shot can spend a round to maneuver into a new position, though that naturally doesn’t preclude the golem shifting its spot.

Anyone who actually enters melee with the mummy (with the exception of Sir Dryvyk, whose mount can immediately take him out of range) is kind of asking for it, since by doing so they would almost certainly present their flank and/or back to the golem. I’ll have to give some thought to what precisely that would mean, but it’s a bit the same as you can’t ignore the rank of spearmen to reach the captain. In this instance, you may get in, but it will cost you.

Ishmael, if you’re of a mind to try a sneak attack, I would say you’ll need a round to move silently into a position where you could attack the mummy unheard and (obviously) unseen. I’d then grant your backstab bonus, even if you attacked from range in this instance.

Hmm. Barnabus is already in melee with golem, so I'd like to think his flank/back are not so tenderly exposed.

As best I can tell, LL doesn't have bonuses for flank/back attacks, though. If it has, we haven't ever implemented them. That's why I was asking about the blindness. This feels a little sudden!

I know the golem is tall as a spruce and all but I'm not sure that it constitutes a rank of spearmen. I thought we were totally out in the open?

In any case, it sounds like Dax might need to engage the golem?

Just talking this out :).

I'm also wondering about this: does that golem qualify as a summoned/created creature?


Thank you!
This message was last edited by the player at 21:39, Sat 01 Apr 2023.

I’m not talking about attacks of opportunity or giving the golem a backstab bonus. I was thinking more in terms of anyone who rushes the mummy is virtually guaranteed the golem’s unwelcome attention. Dryvyk wouldn’t be unless he stayed put after attacking.

Also, just checking, is everyone working on the presumption that the mummy is helpless?

I’ll have to consider the Protection from Evil idea, in part because the text is specific in indicating that the golem is true neutral, not evil. I’ve always regarded that aspect of the aura to apply to the like of summoned demons and devils, or undead monstrosities constructed by necromancers with a lot of extra hobby time on their hands.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:51, Sat 01 Apr 2023.

Nope, not working on that presumption -- just blinded.


I've always thought it applied to summoned creatures regardless of alignment, FWIW.

And if things get out of hand, I'm counting on the bearer of the potion of undead control to imbibe it.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:46, Sun 02 Apr 2023.

We really need that golem! Sir Dryvyk has been looking for a butler for some time now...

A very favorable interpretation of the aura would be like the shields on an X-wing... I just shift them all to forward and fly right through that Tie-fighter, erm... Mummy.

The oil idea is a good one. Having not read otherwise, I'll assume Sir Dryvyk still has partial control of the torch-lance and his horse...

The OSRIC text encapsulates more of what I always pictured the paladin’s aura effecting: creatures summoned or called from elsewhere (the lower planes in particular) to accomplish dark purposes on the Prime Material. For instance, I would think that, had he been present, Sir Dryvyk’s aura could have made a considerable impact on what unfolded when the balor was freed.

But I just don’t think that the golem falls in the same category. It’s essentially the function of a magical object of protection. To me, allowing it to be stymied by a paladin’s aura is really stretching the intent of the rules. I can recall, in my own campaigns past, at least a couple of instances where a paladin had to assist in the beat down of a golem.

In my mind, “out of hand” really only comes into play when you have something occur like what happened to Caine. When suddenly all that’s left of a party member are a couple of their appendages, things have gotten out of hand.

The golem is standing between the party and the mummy...Barnabus is in melee with the mummy, so behind the golem? And is Dryvyk on the opposite side of the mummy thanks to his lance charge?


P
A
R      Golem       Barnabus Mummy      Dryvyk
T                                      Horse
Y

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 199):

I don't necessarily disagree with your line of thinking. However, anything summoned/created/generated by a barrow mummy is either directly or indirectly done so to serve the mummy's dark purposes.

I think we're getting a little hung up, potentially, on the golem aspect of this. A vampire can summon bats and wolves, neutral creatures, to protect it or do whatever. Maybe there is a middle ground here. I can certainly see Protection from Evil 10' Radius being overpowered in this instance.

Ishmael,you have a +1 silver dagger of returning. Why would you throw a mundane dagger at a powerful undead creature that likely can't be harmed by ordinary weapons? I don't understand. Could we amend that?

We still need Dilemma or Mal to soak the mummy's spot with oil so Sir can ignite it. Direct fire damage is probably our best bet against a mummy -- along with holy water.

Tactically yours,
Barnabus

Or maybe Sir can both drop his torch (free action) and pour oil in the mummy's "square" in one round?

I must say this is a most welcome diversion right now for me.

Malivoire would have to dig some oil out of his pack and then throw it at the mummy.  That would mean forgoing Magic Missile damage (assuming resistance overcome) and might take longer than one round - DM's call on that part.  Plus, he'd have to hit with his throw, because I'm not going to go stand beside the mummy to do it!  Currently envisioning Malivoire at Medium range (>10 ft, <30 ft; no bonus/penalty), and if he can't work around the golem, cover negates his Dex bonus.  So a straight D20 roll to hit AC3, needing 16 or better (25% chance to hit).

I can do that, or leave that part to Dilemma and instead fire another missile from the wand.  My current thought is that the wand is a better bet.

In reply to Malivoire (msg # 203):

Nod.

But you don't need to hit the mummy itself -- just the 5' by 5' square it inhabits.

Indeed. To take a page from the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons canon, in the seminal module Ravenloft, virtually all of the opposition that a party will face is called forth by the vampire Strahd Von Zarovich to serve and/or defend him. Are we then to assert that if a paladin is present in a party that enters Castle Ravenloft that none of Strahd’s servants can inflict harm on the adventurers? Bluntly, I think that idea is ridiculous, and entirely counter to the spirit of the game.

I can tell that I’m going to need to devote some time with the relevant rulebooks and Barrowmaze to come up with some firm boundaries on the power and what it can impact, to avoid getting entangled in a similar debate in the future.


Bearing in mind that the oil can also splash on anything in melee proximity to the mummy, including the golem.

Without knowing. I assumed it was a magic item like a figurine of wonderous power and wouldn't be 'summoned' in the sense of a spell or scroll, and PfE wouldn't apply. That's my 2 coppers.

That understanding is pretty much right on point. It’s quite similar to one of the figurines.

Dibs if it's reusable :)

In reply to Ishmael (msg # 208):

I thought it was a figurine as well.

And since Ishmael has a magic dagger and armour, Dax gets the 8-foot tall butler-at-arms! :-)

Forgot to mention: Dryvyk with the +1 sword and +1 shield and the PFE aura, get off your damn horse and deal with the mummy! :-D
This message was last edited by the player at 21:37, Sun 02 Apr 2023.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 205):

Yep, oil can splash. Fire can spread --especially in taverns of ill repute, evidently.

Well, I still regard the golem as having been summoned.

But I agree that the paladin's ability in this respect shouldn't offer total (or even much) protection from summoned things. There can only be so much compensation for having to dump a 17 in charisma.

Fire remains priority one but, like I said earlier, perhaps Sir can handle that in one minute.

Or because of this:


or, if you prefer:


Lastly, as a reminder:


I understand that some may regard some of the rulings I make as unfair. I genuinely believe that I try to treat all players fairly, while still presenting a game that is fun, memorable and challenging. Anyone who has concerns about how the game is run is always welcome to reach out to me with their concerns. As stated above, I won’t promise I’ll always decide in your favor if you have an issue, but I’ll do my utmost to be reasonable and be transparent about my decision making.

I have no concerns. I enjoy discussing this as a hobbyist. In fact, I look forward to your interpretations.

This. I like to chew over mechanics as well, but I did read it as being more of an activation rather than a summoning...

Hey, Big Bad, paladins got you down? C'mon down to Big Bog's Figurine Emporium! We got them all! Wolves, golems, demons, aunts, in-laws! Big discounts! While they grow fast, they are also going fast! Get'm while they last!

Do we need to chase down the golem? Will it vanish in ... a few turns?

I'm inclined to return to Helix after we reconnect with Ynes and the cart.

2 for 2, Dilemma!

Sir, maybe you would be the best one to recruit hirelings and specialists to defend the camp after we return to Helix?

I'm thinking we want 6+ commanded by a sergeant (so there are enough screams for us to hear). Maybe we'll eventually acquire the means to scry on the camp while we're in the barrows.

To interject some (hopefully) helpful information:

The fastest route to obtaining a team of guards would be through the Mercenary Guild in Helix. This is where Searlait’s employment was obtained. Although the guild deals in sellswords, they have a strong reputation for quality hirelings, their best market being the guarding of merchant caravans between Helix, Ironguard Motte, and Bogtown, which regularly run into difficulties with bandits of all sorts.

Alternatively, if Sir Dryvyk was more inclined to find retainers of Andryr’s quality, he could communicate the need to Ironguard Motte with the assistance of Brother Othar, though a response might take some time in coming.

Can I go ahead and post with the assumption of another audience with our patron?

I had deliberately left things open ended in this instance on purpose, as I thought that some might have other priorities upon arrival: possibly seeking help for Ol Gib at the Chapel of St. Ygg, reporting the loss of Searlait to the Mercenary Guild, inquiring about mummy sightings, purchasing potions, etc.

If Barnabus wants to seek out Mazzahs first, that’s perfectly fine. If other party members head elsewhere, I can certainly handle multiple destinations. :)

Kinda need to see what's in the purse before going shopping :)

We'll need to take care of Kraomar as well, but I'm drawing a blank on his status in the community. Anybody help me out?

In reply to Sir Dryvyk of Drakeholme (msg # 221):

I don't recall! I assumed also from the guild...will have to rummage through the old threads if no one remembers!

He has old debts that we should pay.

For some reason I thought we picked him up at the tavern, but he still might have been a formal member of the guild.  I have no direct evidence of this recollection though.

Kraomar had formerly worked at The Brazen Strumpet as a bouncer, handling any customers whose behavior got out of hand. He had elected to take the work offered by the party because it paid better and, as Barnabus referenced, because he had gambling debts he needed to pay. The money he owed was to the ownership of The Foul Pheasant.

Is there some kind of specialist we could hire to open (blow up) the water-logged door from afar?

Well, first, the adventurers can open the waterlogged door themselves. It will require a full round of effort. Two strong (STR 15+) party members can open it without the need for a roll. A lone explorer would need to make an open doors roll.

Barring that, there are three options:

1. Hire an engineer. There isn’t one in Helix at the moment, so word would need to be sent to Ironguard Motte to see if an expert there would be open to making the journey. The fee would probably run around 300 g.p. plus travel expenses.

2. An inquiry could be made at the Mercenary Guild to see if there are any hirelings available who are familiar with breaching and/or destroying stone structures.

3. Any of the former patrons of The Foul Pheasant who remain in the village might know of a less than honorable sort in Helix or Bogtown who could assist with such an undertaking. Some of the Pheasant’s regulars have been holding impromptu card and dice games in a rented cottage on the western side of Helix.

My apologies for the double post.

Karg Barrelgut of The Axe and Anvil has the company’s siege ladder completed. It may be picked up at the smithy at any point prior to the next expedition to the catacombs.

The new potion vendor, Norbert, a somewhat nervous human man, has the following on hand:

• Diminution - 1,000 g.p. - 1 available
• Healing - 500 g.p. - 6 available
• Heroism - 1,500 g.p. - 1 available
• Levitation - 700 g.p. - 2 available
• Fire Resistance - 700 g.p. - 2 available
• Plant Control - 800 g.p. - 2 available
• Oil of Slipperiness - 500 g.p. - 2 available
• Sweet Water - 750 g.p. - 2 available

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 227):

I'm getting, uh, wet feet about the first of those four options. Would the water be considered fresh or salty?

The mummy could well inhabit a secret chamber -- unconnected to the flooded chamber.

I think the potion of heroism is a must buy, but we'll see what our haul is from the last foray first.

The Barrowmoor is a freshwater swampland. You wouldn’t want to drink the water, but it doesn’t have high salinity.


The south side of Helix. Tomorrow. Dawn.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 230):

At least there's no lich!

True! No mummies, either, for that matter. :)

Incidentally, I’m going to allow some time for others to a) speak with those at the Shrine of St. Ygg if they feel the need to do so and b) give any input they might have regarding the procurement of Battist’s services. On the latter point, if no one adds anything, I’ll work on the presumption that there is general agreement that hiring the sapper is a sound idea.

One those matters are seen to, is there anything else any of the adventurers wish to attend to, either as a group or individually, in Helix?

Lastly, I anticipate having financial and experience awards updated this weekend.

Sounds good to me.

Since our best tactic with the mummy might be oil and fire, the sapping might need to come after the mummy take down.

I don't see the need to hire the sapper at all if there is another PC with a 15+ STR...Dax has an 18 STR and is willing to force the door open.

I will post in the IC thread tomorrow, had company over tonight!

True, there is no compelling need, necessarily. It's more a whim. Maybe Barnabus will pay his wages unless there are other objections to his esteemed company.

Sorry, been sick and swamped with work, will catch up tonight.

I will also get a post out today!

I’ll have the experience awards and payment posted tomorrow.

Also, just to be clear, despite my humorous input a few posts earlier, the lizard man apocalypse is not descending upon Helix.

Yet...

Yeah, I was worried there was some foreshadowing there.

LL says the potion of heroism will only affect dwarves, elves, and fighters?

Unless there are any objections, Barnabus will employ the sapper for this expedition, "The Mummy Returns" or "Return to the Mummy?" We got lucky with the light/darkness spells last time. With the mummy's magic resistance, I don't think the potion of undead control's a good bet either.

That leaves flaming oil and magic weapons (which appeared to harm it). Since we intend to light it up, it would be helpful for two attackers, Dax and Sir, to have fire resistance. I will prepare Resist Fire x2.

It'll be imperative on R#1 to (1) douse the mummy's square with oil (just pour it out) and (2) ignite that oil with a torch. Hopefully, it won't have fully healed overnight.

My text indicates that only fighters, dwarves, and halflings may imbibe it, the latter two being references to the classic BECMI equivalent classes.

The gist is that the potion is intended for warriors, so I would include paladins and rangers with those who could benefit from its effects. An elf, half-elf, gnome, or half-orc of appropriate class could certainly make use of it.


So, barring any objections to the contrary, I will assume that the first stop on the next expedition to the moor will be the Set worshippers’ tomb. For reference, the map of what has previously been explored of that barrow is posted as the map for Group 2.

I’ll also presume that at some point, the siege ladder is picked up from The Axe and Anvil.

When we reach the next expedition thread, I will include information on the hirelings who have elected to join the party’s new foray.

Battist’s theme song: https://youtu.be/uEvEcHZ_g-U
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:24, Sun 16 Apr 2023.

Barnabus will contribute 500 GP to the purchase of the potion of heroism for Dax or Sir.

If everyone will, please let me know if you’re making any purchases from Turgen’s Trade Goods, The Axe and Anvil, or the potion vendor. You can alert me here or via PM. I just want to make certain I’m keeping up with what everyone is carrying. Anyone who I don’t get an update from will be presumed to be continuing with what they last left the moorland with.

Malivoire, just to confirm, are you planning to request that Mazzahs recharge the wand of magic missiles? That transaction can take place off-screen.

As a side note, a new lantern will need to be purchased for Lampert, as the last one met its end after being employed as a weapon.

Spell casters: Please let me know the spells that you will pray for/memorize prior to returning to the Barrowmoor.

-9 gp for Lamper's new lantern
-1 sp for another pint of oil

No other purchases.

Prepared Spells
Cure Light Wounds, Cure Light Wounds, Cure Light Wounds, Command, Light
Silence 15' Radius, Bless, Resist Firex2

Speaking of carrying things, what were those things Mazzahs gave us for containing the sapphires? I never added them to my sheet.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:31, Mon 17 Apr 2023.

-1 sp to replenish oil after wayward toss at mummy.

No other purchases

Prepared Spells
Magic Missile x 2
Web

The wand has 6 charges left right now.  I think we can put off the recharging until our next return to Helix.

Still fighting a terrific cold/flu. You guys have done some lovely RP. I'm hoping to contribute something tomorrow. Sorry for the radio silence. Just too much headgoo to think.

Will some supplies for our linkboy: back-up lantern, 10 flasks of oil; and (if can wear it) Leather armour.

Lantern:    9.00 gp
Oil:        1.00
Leather:    6.00
Silk rope: 10.00 (for Dax)
Total:     26.00 gp subtracted.


Rolled for healing, 1d3 per day according to the rules, and of course rolled a 1!!

Barnabus: Dax can throw in 500 gp too, if Dryvyk has 500 then we can buy it...from what I see we will get 3 levels for 1 to 2 hours, so +3 on attacks and some temp hit points. A pricey potion but might be useful for a BIG fight.

If we don't buy the potion, Dax will convert 750 gold into gems.

Ishmael makes no purchases, and I'm cooking again.  Not sure why we can't hire a reliable cook, or at least one who won't walk out the door with boxes of company food.

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 249):

Yeah, I'd like to think we won't need it for Fright Night, Part II. Then again if Sir downs it, he'll temporarily be level 6, allowing him to Cure Disease once.

@Ishmael. That's just outrageous. Sounds like that cook was in an altered mental state.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:14, Wed 19 Apr 2023.

I can also chip in some coin for the potion, to share the load.

In reply to Ishmael (msg # 250):

You need to convince your boss to double your pay to take on cooking full-time! :-)

Looks like we will have enough to buy the Potion of Heroism. I will subtract another 500 gp from Dax.

A thought for the group: what do you think of creating a common pool for buying potions, supplies, staircases, etc?

I don't think any of the PCs need to have massive quantities of cash individually, since XP from gold is totalled, divided, and shared equally.

The container for holding the sapphires is a box cast from what appears to be dark pewter. It’s about the size of an outstretched palm. I don’t recall if it was ever established who was actually carrying it.


Two words: Lord Varghoulis.


I’m sorry to hear it, Ishmael. They really need to be paying you a bonus for all the extra work you’ve had to put in.

Hope you’re feeling better, Sir Dryvyk!

I added it to my sheet.

Consider the potion of heroism to be have been purchased. We'll sort out the coins later.

In the interest of moving things forward, I went ahead and opened a new thread for further exploration of the catacombs. I will update the group this weekend with the costs for the new set of hirelings.

Also, if someone could let me know where the remaining 500 gold for the purchase of the Potion of Heroism came from, I would appreciate it. I’ll also need clarification on who is actually carrying the potion in question.

Lastly, I’m not sure if anyone noticed, but as I had reason to visit the Goblinoid Games website earlier today, I noted that a second edition of Labyrinth Lord has been announced. Precise details are hazy, but the intent appears to be to release it later this year. As yet, I’m not clear on what changes will be forthcoming in the new edition.

I did chip in on the Kickstarter for Mythmere Games’ new edition of Swords and Wizardry. It’s supposed to be completed this Fall.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 256):

I don't follow too closely, but I thought I read that LL2 was going to stray farther from the B/X + AD&D mash-up clone and would incorporate more of the author's ideas. \

If the potion will be for meeting Lord Voldemort Varghoulis, then Dryvyk should carry it as only a paladin will be crazy brave enough to challege Lord V! :-D

Barnabus and Dax both threw in 500 gold - I imagine Dryvyk could cover the other 500?
If not, Malivoire offered some coin and I'm sure the rest of the group will throw in if needed.

Sir Dryvyk can provide 500gp.

I'm feeling a little better, wiil try to catch up tonight.

Oh, great, go ahead and give them individual lines -- as if they didn't already have enough doom shrouding them.

I did that as a show of confidence. I feel quite positive about the prospect of the adventurers seeing every single one of their hirelings safely back to Helix.

This thing is kicking my butt! I'm only getting about 4 hours of sleep right now, so I'm not able to rest, so that's prolonging it. Yuck. I should have bought stock in kleenex and charmin however...

The way I read the Paladin entry is that a paladin can cure disease "once per day per five levels"... that reads to me as being that at first level it's once, 5th level is twice, tenth is thrice... etc.

I backed the S&W book, mostly for a keepsake in my meager collection. I'm a digital hoarder, but lately I've enjoyed getting my hands on something tangible. The state of the world perhaps...

LL, do you mind if I swap out Resist Fire x2 for Bless and Hold Person? I reread the fine print for Resist Fire and have deemed it a minimally useful spell for what I had in mind.

While under the effects of this spell, a character or monster is
unharmed by intense (non-magical) heat, and grants a bonus
of +3 to all saving throws versus heat-based magical or breath
attacks. In addition, 1 point of damage is subtracted from each
die of damage dealt by a heat-based attack. Each die will inflict
a minimum of 1 hp damage.

I had thought it would grant immunity to flaming oil (intense non-magical heat), but flaming oil is also a heat-based attack with its own die or dice of damage.

No objections to the switch. I’ve updated the Combat/Status Summary thread accordingly.

To verify: Everyone is good with Battist blowing the door in the tomb?

Okay. I will work on the presumption that silence equates with an absence of dissent. I should have an update posted a little later this evening.

absence of dissent is an excellent description of my thoughts.  Good idea? Probably not...

Well, there is one aspect that should be viewed as a positive. If it isn’t immediately apparent, it soon will be.

There is no mummy anymore. No mummy at all.

I will admit to being a little more curious as a player than nervous as a character

You know, I've always been a little fuzzy on the geography of the barrow area, probably owing to my thinking of moors as being one thing and swampland another -- like you know "wind-swept heaths" in one corner and "boggy bogs" in another. Geography!

And it's the ill-fated ideas that prove well, more fun, than the well-considered ones. They make for much better scenes and RP.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:13, Wed 26 Apr 2023.

I suppose we had that coming. lol. We're gonna get our adventuring licenses revoked or the town will try to hang us...

That was pretty epic!

Just think how much easier excavation will be now. DON"T SCREW WITH US!

A couple of points of clarification:

The boots near the crater are not footless. The original owner’s feet are still inside.

Technically speaking, the door to the western chamber in the Set worshippers’ barrow is now open.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 270):

Fixed! :)

Noted! :)

As a side note, those who remained at the camp may overhear the (surviving) hirelings quietly discussing the idea of renegotiating their rate of pay.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 272):

I've been thinking that we are lucky that it took this long! :-D

I think the turning point, for the hirelings, was seeing one of their number get launched into the horizon. :)

I know that originally, ”Hidden in Darkness” seemed like an appropriate title for the current in-game thread. Now, I’m thinking that ”Renovating the Barrowmoor” or ”Collateral Damage” might be more fitting.

A visual reference for the crater:

Ah, when you named that little guy, you well knew what would happen. There was no way Barnabus was ever going to resist the temptations of Battist.

https://youtu.be/uNAozdsE_QA

Btw, how far by foot/by hoof/by rocket ship/by methane blast to Helix?
This message was last edited by the player at 18:01, Sat 29 Apr 2023.

Travelling unexpectedly for a family illness.  Will probably be out of touch for a couple of days.  Carry on without me and I’ll pick back up when I can.

The trip is normally a four to five hour undertaking. If all are mounted, it can go quicker, perhaps shaving an hour or even two off. Only riders familiar with the moor can travel it rapidly, due to the hazardous terrain.

Methane blasts can make the journey take only a matter of minutes, but liftoff and landing can be hard on one’s constitution.


Safe travel. Hope the situation improves. Your spot at the table will be waiting when you return.

In reply to Malivoire (msg # 278):

Best wishes that all works out.

They've hired another chef.. he starts the 15th

Man, I hope the new guy works out.

Me too.  Interesting he's a rehire chef from 3-4 years ago.  I think he's made some positive life choices, and has a better idea of what we need.

Best of luck, Ishmael!

I really hope that the new hire turns out to be stable one, so you can be free of the extra workload.

Who would have thought chef's would be so temperamental!! :-D

It's a field beset by substance usage in part owing to the long shifts.

It's not unusual for someone to have to go into treatment and recovery, before returning to an old, preferred job.

I never noticed it when I watched Ratatouille! :-)

On another note, NO EFFIN' WAY we are going back into Varghoulis' tomb (room 19)!

We are heading south from 13 into the new areas mapped by Gamdar prior to his untimely death.

Dax, we got a hint from the LL many many months ago that it would behoove to revisit V.'s tomb. I thought we'd try the stairs that lead to the secret door from there.

Post updated, anyhow.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:42, Sun 07 May 2023.

Now, Dax. I don’t think we should just jump to conclusions here. I’ll grant that Lord Varghoulis made a poor first (and second) impression on the adventurers. But, you never really know who you’re dealing with unless you take the time to get to know someone. Varghoulis might be like that standoffish guy at work who eats alone in the break room most days, and then one afternoon you strike up a conversation with him and you find out you’re both big Boston Red Sox fans. As one possibility, it could very well be that the death knight and Barnabus share an appreciation for large, casualty inducing explosions.

But you’ll never know unless you try to talk with him. :)

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 290):

That's true. Or it could be the guy that sits at the end of the bar nursing a single drink for hours that follows people out the door and they are found dismembered in his freezer! :-D

@B: I don't recall the hint to return to V's tomb. Regardless, I don't think we are anywhere near tough enough to deal with even one of his death knights, especially without Dryvyk.

I'm confident we can find something to unleash on Helix in the new sections!

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 291):

It might have been close to a year ago--whenever it first was that V's was awakened from his bower.

Agree about avoiding his tomb for now. I thought the secret door to it was open for a peek.

The secret door is open. I was just giving a moment to see if anyone wanted to accompany Barnabus on his reconnaissance. If he still wants to look in, I’ll include that before moving the party through the southern door.


In a year or two hence, telling someone you’re from Helix will gain you instant respect throughout the north.

Pass for now, ty.

Just to clarify, the rose depicted on the double doors isn’t small. It takes much of the surface of both stone portals. As an additional minor spoiler, the doors are not locked.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 295):

It's just not clear to me where else one might place one hands except on the rose. Where would someone of goblin stature push on the door?

Something of a goblin’s stature probably couldn’t reach up to press on the carving on the doors. Perhaps the creatures’ map was referencing something beyond the portals.

Give me until this evening to get a post in please!  :)

Absolutely! I wanted to be sure that everyone in the party had the chance to look over anything in the chamber that engaged their curiosity.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 299):

last post updated accordingly

Yeah, Mal, I think we have some things to do here...now or later. If we're trying to destroy some cults, it's logical that we might try to restore others.

I made a simple macaroni salad, and finished the dishes and sent it off.    The new chef starts monday.

I'll take a look and try and catch up, and should be able to do better.  (though my side gig at the lake kicks in as the summer weather warms, it shouldn't be too bad)

It has been declared as safe as it can be. B. would push it but M. has grabbed that right.

I like how Mal's transforming into a manticore.

I did a little synthesizing.

One of the bodies resting on a lower slab on the western wall is not intact. It is only a collection of ashes and charred bones, partially covered by the remnants of the robe it once wore.

Above those ash and bones: The priest notes that the gray, mummified flesh on the arms and face of the unmoving corpse is marked with numerous black runes, the symbols clear despite the withered skin they have been marked upon.

The characters inscribed upon its flesh closely resemble those cast in silver upon the runic tablet at the southern end of the chamber.

Glancing about, both Barnabus and Malivoire observe that most of the corpses in the room bear similar markings.

The mural is of exceptional quality, the image of the veiled spirit eerily life like, reinforcing the sense of the Briar Queen’s lingering presence in the silent room.

As the offerings are made, each of the adventurers feels that a tension within the chamber’s atmosphere, an emotional weight that was barely perceived by those present, seems to lessen, the tomb losing some of its oppressiveness.

Polished stone tablet above southern corpse: long forgotten dialect of the druids’ secret language.

Since the runes on the tablet match those inscribed on many of the corpses, I would conclude they are not marks of corruption. I am also going to assume that the Briar Queen still holds sway over the room even though she has no cultic support. Finally, I would say the ash and bones belong to a traitor, discovered too late by the BQ.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:32, Sun 14 May 2023.

For those that don't have the Elvish language group. Dax did not directly answer her question because he (and me) aren't sure if it meant that by being able to hold the blade it makes Dax "worthy" or if she thinks that Dax is a member of the Briar Queen's cult.

He told her that our group is trying to rid the Barrowmaze of the Orcus-worshippers and the wandering undead, and Varghoulis. He said he felt that the sword was waiting for him to wield it, to accomplish their task.

He closed with he will put it back if she feels he is not worthy to carry it.

Mechanics note: Bracers of Defence cannot be worn with armour, so they should probably go to one of wizards. OOC I am open to who ever needs them. IC, Dax will likely hand them to Malivoire his long-time friend before Dilemma his companion of a couple of weeks!

In the good news column, the party now has a better idea of the fate that befell the goblins.

In reply to Labyrinth Lord (msg # 307):

That makes me think there is quite a bit more in the bad news column.


My goodness, Mal, you pulled a Barnabus.

Different when the shoe's on the other foot, isn't it?  :D

Yeah, that wasn't exactly what I thought would happen, but sure glad I did it in the order I did!

If only there was a paladin available...
:-P

Oh, do you think a paladin could keep Mal's slippery fingers in check? I think not!

Give the +1 shield to Sir's squire?

The shield can be given to Andryr, but note that he is not with the party at present. Sir Dryvyk returned to the Barrowmaze alone.

Let me see if I've got this straight:

+1 two handed sword of dismemberment.Dax
+1 longsword.(Order of Nightfall)....Sir
+1 steel shield.(Order of Nightfall).Sir

For some reason, I thought there was another +1 two handed sword floating around.

And Andry's getting a manipedi back in Helix.

In reply to Barnabus (msg # 312):

Excuse my ignorance, but what shield are we talking about?

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 315):

If I remember correctly, we picked up both the Order of Nightfall shield and longsword from #17 from a chest that we liberated from that still ooze-infested chamber. They were initially given to Sir but then transferred to you when he was on sick leave -- if I remember correctly.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:41, Fri 19 May 2023.

I may be mistaken, but I believed that we were talking about the magical shield taken from the shadow crypt, the one Ynes used to wallop one of the shadows. Outside of the Order of Nightfall shield, that’s the only other magical shield that the party has found to my knowledge.

But, I thought the second magical shield had gone to Barnabus.

Oh, that shield. Yes, that should account for both +1 shields, one with B. and one with Sir.

Andryr will be back at some point, or this adventure stuff is gonna get put on hold while Sir Dryvyk skips several editions and becomes an Oath of Vengeance Paladin!

BTW, I wasn't playing hooky, there was an important mission that came up.

In reply to Barnabus (msg # 316):

Dax had the sword and shield while Dryvyk (the player) was off for a bit. When the PC returned the sword and shield went back to him. I did see on the treasure page that Barnabus has a +1 shield too.

BTW, my apologies for falling down on the loot page...thanks for picking up my slack!

Hey, LL, how many ghasts could be caught in a web? They've known to stumble into them.