Chapter 2: First Foray

[trulyElse]

  

Dejrik Garraksen

Dejrik raises an eyebrow, though it's not easy to see under the helmet.

"... Do you have such a log to roll?" he asked, the incredulity in his voice almost making it sound like he can make jokes sometimes.

Inspecting his surroundings, Dejrik's attention is eventually brought to the rotting gate doors.
"Someone removed these," he points out, "we're not the first people to come through here ..."

As if stating the obvious wasn't enough, he adds: "Odds are good that any kind of trap in the foyer have been dealt with before we ever got here. The door may not be discreet, but it may be safer."

[Scarecrow71]

Ashera Grequinal

Ashera was a bit confused by the discussion happening.  They had been hired to find and bring this wizard to justice, and now all anyone wanted to do was sneak through a hole in the wall like some thieves?  Perhaps this was just how dwarves and men did their business?  She shook her head in silence before moving up to the front door to examine it.

 

"I concur with Dejrik," she stated flatly.  "The doors have been removed by someone or something, and anything immediately inside should have already been dealt with.  Why waste time with the hole in the wall?"

[Eric]

As some members of the group start to approach the fallen doors, it becomes apparent that there is a large hole underneath them, as though something has dug a large pit or burrow. The doors themselves are ten feet across and twenty feet high; by comparison, the hole is perhaps five feet in diameter (though its full extent may be obscured by the slowly rotting wood).

[hoverfrog]

Stoyan Barakovsen

Stoyan holds his axe at the ready. "We walked up here without stealth. If the wizard had any guards he'd have been alerted to our presence and we'd have been met in combat."

 

"This is good."

Show Stats

STRENGTH 14 +1 to hit and damage

INTELLIGENCE 9

WISDOM 11

DEXTERITY 7 -1 AC, and range attacks

CONSTITUTION 13 +1 hit point

CHARISMA 12

 

Hit Points: 7/7

Armour Class: 3 (Plate Mail (3), Shield (Bonus of 1), DEX (Penalty of 1))

THAC0: 1d20+1 Battle Axe 1d8+1, 1d20-1 Crossbow 1d6

 

 

 

[Cirlot]

Tala Silvergrave

"The hole in the wall bypasses the hole in the floor."  Tala says it with a mild snort, the slightly exasperated tone thankfully lost in the clanking of mail, mace and shield as the cleric unlimbered her gear.

 

"That -" she pointed with the tip of her shield to the rotted wood and the barely visible excavation beneath.  " - is a pit trap.  Or as good as one.  Old wood gives way - " she thumped the inside of her shield.  " - and splat."

 

"Easy enough to jump over for some I suppose, but speaking as one weighted by four stone of armor I'd rather not risk the injury unless needs must. "

 

"And as for your future plans, clever lad - " Tala cocked her head and narrowed her eyes, considering Golon thoughtfully.  " - you've said 'murdering' twice now.  Could you not read the notice?" it occurs as she says it that it might well be an actual question - frontier towns being as they were and self raised lad he seemed to be -  and Tala manages to break the point of her query, blunting her tone into a neutral, almost sisterly affect.  "The warrant might offer dead or alive but the payment is for capture. For all our flaws, and they are many, we are not quite so mercenary as you think.  To mine own devices, aye, my order would prefer see justice done swiftly but I'll not rob my fellows of their coin.  A share was offered, and if your only compunction against it be conscience you need not necessarily worry."

 

"Tho - " she frowned, realizing something.  Looking from Golon to Stoyan.  " - when did we start naming Bargle Necromancer?  A 'user, yes, but I had not heard he specialized."

 

[trulyElse]

Dejrik Garraksen

"I think he was talking of Cyre." Dejrik interjects as he tries to lift one of the fallen doors for a better look at the hole.
"Though I hadn't heard what his specialty was, either."

[Eric]

As Dejrik reaches for the door, the ground along the near edge moves, and a large worm-like monster sticks its head out of the hole. It has eight long tentacles in a circle around its mouth. It doesn't come all the way out of the hole–just far enough to attack the dwarf.

 

ROUND 1

 

Dejrik is not surprised, and the party can act first.

[Powderhorn]

This is what she was waiting for!  Astrid quickly spins up her sling, and, from a distance, quickly unloads on the devious worm/wyrm/wurm!

[trulyElse]

  

Dejrik Garraksen

Dejrik brings his shield between him and the worm as he reached for the axe on his belt, eventually swinging the shield like a counterweight to improve the swing of his axe just that little bit.

[Cirlot]

Tala Silvergrave

"Oh Frya's Freckles and the Nine Hells - !" freckles was an odd choice, as far as oaths went, but a lifetime under the Sister's watchful eyes and judging ears had - after much correction - squelched Tala's more creative vocabulary.  Though, Tala often mused, she never did tell the Sisters where exactly those freckles of Freyas were. 

 

Still, the sentiment stood as the cleric lunged forward, shield thrust out to try and beat the lashing tendrils back while her mace fought for a blow against the flailing, undulating hide . . .

 

Edited October 17, 2022 by Cirlot (see edit history)

[Scarecrow71]

Ashera Grequinal

"Well, that's a bit unexpected."

 

Ashera wasn't really ready to be faced with a giant...worm...thing...this day.  But she also wasn't about to stand there like one o'clock half-struck, either.  She pulled her short sword out of its sheath, stepped forward, and swung with all her might at the giant...worm...thing.

[LarsWester]

Golon

Golon was about to defend himself from the cleric's accusations when a creature emerged and attacked Dejrik.   Golon decided that he could risk losing a dagger if it meant protecting his life and he threw the piece with all his might at the weird worm with the attacking tentacles.   Golon's dagger hits the stone right over Dejrik's shoulder with any luck the rest of the group won't think that Golon was trying to hit the dwarf rather than the creature. 

 

Edited October 17, 2022 by LarsWester
Figured it out the dice icon didn't look like dice to my eyes. But rolling a 4 is not going to help. (see edit history)

[hoverfrog]

Stoyan Barakovsen

"A wee beastie," Stoyan yells, "Get it."

 

He rushes in, axe in full swing.

Show Stats

STRENGTH 14 +1 to hit and damage

INTELLIGENCE 9

WISDOM 11

DEXTERITY 7 -1 AC, and range attacks

CONSTITUTION 13 +1 hit point

CHARISMA 12

 

Hit Points: 7/7

Armour Class: 3 (Plate Mail (3), Shield (Bonus of 1), DEX (Penalty of 1))

THAC0: 1d20+1 Battle Axe 1d8+1, 1d20-1 Crossbow 1d6

 

 

 

 

Edited October 17, 2022 by hoverfrog (see edit history)

[Eric]

Dejrik's initial swing errs wide, perhaps because the creature is practically on top of him and moving in with tentacles waving. Astrid and Golon have to maneuver around to find an opening to launch ranged attacks, while Stoyan, Tala, and Ashera rush to the fore to aid Dejrik's attack. The elf misses the mark, but the others strike true!

 

Undeterred, the crawling beast's tentacles grope for Dejrik. Several of the slimy appendages strike home; the dwarf stiffens and falls over, immobile.

Golon's thrown dagger bounces off the chitinous exterior of the foe, but Astrid's stone lands with a solid TH-CRACK! that splits two of the armored insectoid plates.

 

Battle Status

The crawler takes a total of 11 damage this round.

 

Dejrik is down.

 

ROUND 2!

[hoverfrog]

Stoyan Barakovsen

"He killed him," Stoyan shouts as his fury builds, "Chop him to bits!"

 

He miss times his attack and the sharp edge of the axe slides off chitin and does nothing.

Show Stats

STRENGTH 14 +1 to hit and damage

INTELLIGENCE 9

WISDOM 11

DEXTERITY 7 -1 AC, and range attacks

CONSTITUTION 13 +1 hit point

CHARISMA 12

 

Hit Points: 7/7

Armour Class: 3 (Plate Mail (3), Shield (Bonus of 1), DEX (Penalty of 1))

THAC0: 1d20+1 Battle Axe18; 4 1d8+1, 1d20-1 Crossbow 1d6

 

Edited October 18, 2022 by hoverfrog (see edit history)