There was no game last week because of various sicknesses, work and holiday commitments. This week we were short Delast's player, which given the character was dead wasn't a problem ;-)
Characters:
- Zarjaz the Zazzy - Magic-User 1 - Male
- Finbar son of Finwe - Elf 1 - Male
- Barack Kihnos - Cleric 2 - Male
- Dong the Barbarian - Fighter 1 - Male
Whilst recuperating in Ethanfeld, Shanks disappears on a mysterious errand* and is replaced by Dong, a barbarian from the wild north who is in search of a throne to call his own. He is armed with a mighty two handed club, also called "Dong", and dressed in a armoured codpiece, furry boots and a spiked helmet on which he has mounted a candle.
* His player was bored with the character and had apparently been trying to suicide him for the last couple of sessions; not that I'd noticed. It had not occurred to him to simply retire the character and start another one.
After a week back in town, the rested, resupplied and reinforced party returns to the cave and makes their way back down to the goblin halls on the second level. Dong and Finbar take the lead with Barack and Zarjaz following behind. It becomes apparent that after all their recent troubles with intruders the goblins have packed up and left. The party search fruitlessly through abandoned chambers the tedium only briefly enlivened by the discovery of Delast's eviscerated corpse and a brief fight with a fire beetle which Dong despatches at the expense of a minor wound.
The party head back to the hall with the spiked goblins. On the way they come across the unlooted body of the old goblin who had attacked them with flaming oil on their previous visit. They rectify this oversight and relieve him of a gold necklace and a suit of magical leather armour which Dong equips. The hall itself is occupied by two fire beetles. Dong charges forward and dispatches one of them wit ha mighty swing of his big club, Finbar engages and enrages the other with his bow. Unfortunately for Finbar the beetle proves both tougher and faster than expected and is quickly on top of him. He dies trying to ward off its snapping jaws with his bow. Dong and Barack deal with the final beetle but Dong is wounded further. After the battle the party rest and Barack casts Cure Light Wounds on Dong. Little consideration is given to their fallen companion.
Having descended the stairs to the burial catacombs the party spend a couple of hours searching the previously unexplored hallways. A ghoul attempts to ambush them but immediately regrets it when squished by Dong. Eventually they work their way back through the burial caves to the stairs down to the fourth level where they are briefly entertained by a couple of zombies.
Following the stairs down, the party enter an octagonal room from the west. More stairs continue downwards to the south and there is a sturdy but rather battered door to the east. The presence of more bone spikes impaled into the door, walls and scattered about the floor unsettles the party; especially Zarjaz. Listening at the door Barack hears the distant bellowing of some beast. Fearlessly Dong bashes down the door and the party presses on into a corridor heading 80ft east.
30ft down the corridor on the right hand side is a heavy stone door again showing signs of damage. After several attempts Dong and Barack manage to force this door open to reveal a 20ft corridor leading into a 30ft square room with a further door in its south wall. The room contains a pair of brass manacles mounted on the east wall in front of which a couple of words in an unknown runic language have been inscribed on the floor. There are also some food scraps and a battered leather satchel containing a handful of silver coins.
As an unexpected lethargy begins to creep upon the party Zarjaz becomes aware of pools of green gas gathering at floor level and slowly filling the room. Alarmed, the party discover that the door they entered by has swung heavily shut and that the southern door is locked. Fortunately Dong and Barack manage to force the northern door open before they are completely overcome and the party stagger out into the corridor gasping for air.
The party stop to regain their breath and again hear the bellowing of some nearby beast. Warily they continue east. After a further 30ft they pass an archway that leads into a passageway heading south towards the bellowing. To Dong's disgust Zarjaz and Barack insist on continuing east where the corridor ends with a second archway in the south wall.
Beyond this archway is a carnal house with walls and floor decorated with the (moderately) fresh bodies, limbs and internal organs of a number of goblins. From an archway in the southern wall of this chamber comes the sound of a mighty beast stirring. Another bellow issues forth and this time Dong responds in kind as he moves to take a position at the side of the archway. A moment later a manticore launches itself through the archway roaring a challenge to the intruders. Dong swings his mighty club, Barack charges forward with an oath to Thor on his lips, and Zarjaz incants a Sleep spell (unsuccessful) from the rear. The fight is fearsome and both Dong and Barack are sorely wounded before the beast is vanquished.
From elsewhere in the labyrinth there is another roar ...
Despite his injuries Dong is all for pressing on, but Barack and Zarjaz prevail and the party withdraw once more to the surface to recuperate. Waiting for them at the campsite they discover a new elven companion, Gilfimbriel, brother to Delast Elfenprincess, who had been separated from her and Finbar on the road. He is not noticeably distressed at the tale of their demise*; perhaps when the shock wears off?
* As far as I can recall, he didn't even object to a proposal to stuff both elf corpses with catnip in order to use them a diversion whilst dealing with the second manticore. Perhaps he was persuaded by the claim, possibly by Zarjaz, that this would be in accordance with elven funeral practices.
The next day the party descend back to the 4th level and following the mournful bellowing of it's mate they return to the manticore's lair. Once again Dong takes the lead with Barack close behind. Zarjaz and Gilfimbriel provide support with Magic Missile and Elf-bow. However this is not to be another victory to pave Dong's way to a throne. The manticore thrashes is tail and launches a volley of spikes at him and Barack. Dong is hit fatally and his dying body pinned against the wall in macabre repose. Barack only receives a flesh wound from the initial volley and he and the manticore trade blows whilst Gilfimbriel shoots the creature's flank with arrows. It is a close contest and Barack is sorely wounded, but ultimately the party are victorious.
Whilst Barack treats his wounds, Zarjaz and Gilfimbriel investigate an archway leading west out of the manticore's lair into a 20ft square room with a door in the west wall. Heaped within this room is a king's ransom* in copper and silver coins crowned with a chest of gold containing an enchanted sword, wand and potion.
* More of a king's cousin twice removed's ransom.
With their backpacks and pockets stuffed to bursting and the chest carried between them the party return to the surface and back to Ethanfeld ...
The game session ended here.
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