Rubyleaf Forestfriend (Elf 1)
Str 7 -1
Int 15 +1
Wis 14 +1
Dex 11
Con 13 +1
Cha 14
HP 7/7
XP 1487
AC 2
Platemail, Shield
Sword (1d8-1), Longbow (1d6), 20 arrows
Backpack, Iron Rations, Rope 50', 2 small sacks, 1 large sack, Wolfsbane, torch, quart jar
Spellbook: Comprehend Languages, Hold Portal, Read Magic
366gp 1sp

Fig'Tard (Dwarf 1)
STR 15 +1 +5%
INT 8 -1
WIS 7 -1
DEX 16 +2
CON 10
CHA 5 -2
HP 8/8
XP 2040
AC -1
Plate Mail, Shield +1
Sword (1d8+1) Dagger (1d4+1) Crossbow (1d6) 20 bolts
Backpack, Iron Rations, Small Hammer, 12 pitons, Rope 50', Wolfsbane, Wineskin (mostly full), torch, mirror, quart jar of honey
2 garnets (100gp each, in breeches) citrine (10gp) Amber with beetle (100gp), 8 small garnets (60 gp ea), 4 quartzes (10gp ea)
524gp 7sp 3cp

Gruber (Halfling 1)
STR 11
INT 10
WIS 11
DEX 11
CON 5 -2
CHA 13 +1
HP 4/4
AC 0
XP 1619
Platemail, Shield
Small sword (1d6), Shortbow (1d6), 20 arrows, 4 silver arrows
Backpack, Iron Rations, Tinderbox, 6 Torches, Wineskin (full), Waterskin (full), Thieves' tools, mirror, stripper sash, stripper boots, Pewter Box (50gp), quart jar of honey
1118gp 8sp

Echowinds (Dwarf 1)
STR 15 +1 +5%
INT 7 -1
WIS 11
DEX 10
CON 13 +1
CHA 15 +1
HP 9/9
AC 2
XP 1324
Plate Armour, Shield
Sword (1d8+1), Dagger (1d4+1), Polearm (1d10+1)
Backpack, 4xIron Rations, Small Hammer, 12 pitons, Rope 50', Wolfsbane, Wineskin (half full), Wineskin (full), quart jar of honey, 10 foot pole, 2 mirrors, tinderbox, 6 torches, large sack
Platinum Hatpin (100gp),
836gp 8sp

Robert Downey Jr. (Magic-User 1)
STR 9
INT 13 +1 +5% Speaks Draconic
WIS 6 -1
DEX 9
CON 14 +1
CHA 12 +1
HP 5/5
AC 9
XP 1106
Silver Dagger (1d4) 41 Daggers (1d4)
Backpack, Iron rations, lantern, 5 flasks of oil, Tinder box, Mirror, Waterskin (full of magic water), Wineskin (full), 2 small garnets (60gp ea)
2 small sacks, 2 large sacks, quart jar of honey
Spellbook: Sleep, Shield, Read Magic
638gp 1sp 3cp

Jenai Ky Ovat (Thief 1)
STR 8 -1
INT 12
WIS 12
DEX 9
CON 13 +1
CHA 10
HP 5/5
AC 7
XP 510
4 Daggers (1d4, melee 1d4-1) Shortbow (1d6) 20 arrows
Leather Armour, Thief's tools, Backpack, 2xRations, Tinderbox, 2 Small Sacks, Rope 50', Waterskin (full), Wineskin (full), 6 torches, 3 flasks oil, wolfsbane, quart jar of honey
336gp

>Elf 1

B/X? For real-real?

File: 1351949454529.png-(179 KB, 577x348, GygarFloor1.png)

>>21412754

>>21412781
Yep. Join in if you want

>PHOTO EQUIPMENT HE SERIOUS
Indeed I am Captcha

File: 1351949508483.png-(652 KB, 787x582, GygarFloor2.png)

>>21412781
Fo real, yo.

>>21412787
One man, one character, or is this decision by collective wisdom?

>>21412805
Yeah. You can take over Rubyleaf or make a new one

Archive

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/21399043/

File: 1351950368988.png-(499 KB, 716x563, CaveGygar.png)

>>21412788

Lets wait for 10:30, then it's off to explore level 2, or get some revenge on the goblins

>>21412814
Rubyleaf seems pretty decent. Shame about the Strength, but an Elf with 7hp is pretty sweet (also, nice Charisma baby!). Has the character been abandoned, or am I baby-sitting?

>>21412859
Was abandoned at start of 1st thread, so Rubyleaf's totally free. Mostly used as backup for the party, and providing a safe escape route with the hold portal spell.

Plus the -1 strength is cancelled out by the elven sword skills

OK. Count me in.

As for explore vs. revenge - do we know if the goblins have any treasure? If not, let's go to level 2, yolo.

And - is the party in town? Is there time to interview retainers?

>>21412881
Yes. I've mostly been having retainers be level zero men or level 1 demihumans with reasonable HP. So okay in a fight, but anything needing a saving throw is going to kill them easily

>>21412881
As for the goblins, there's reason to believe they have the key to a locked treasure room.

>>21412910
Before I shell out for a shieldbearer (level 0 man), are you ruling that they hit level 1 on gaining their first experience points after returning to town?

>>21412919
OK. I still prefer exploration to war, but if the rest of the party want blood I will stand by them.

>>21412921
They need a few hundred XP first, but yes they can become level 1 warriors.
You don't pay for them, just offer them a half treasure share.

>>21412881
The story thus far:
The party is after the 1000gp bounty on the life of Bargle Arglebargle of Blargenflargen, to be delivered alive. Inquiry of the locals suggest he may be hiding in the Castle of Gygar.
The castle is populated with kobolds, goblins, ogres, and undead creatures. A non-agression pact was reached with the kobolds in exchange for exterminating the goblinoid invaders, and a man named Samael has offered to block off Bargle's potential escape routes in exchange for a proper share of the bounty. Samael knows a great deal about Bargle, the treasures of the castle, and his face has never been seen (although his cleric girlfriend is pretty).
The party discovered what may be Bargle's escape route in the caverns near Castle Gygar, along with a hive of giant bees from which they have collected healing honey.
And that pretty much brings it to today.

>>21412943
2000gp actually.
Just didn't bring it up before as I thought you were trying to cheat Samael out of money

>>21412941
>half treasure share

Bit of a party decision, then. I favour retainers (especially if we want to fight the goblins), but will go with the majority decision.

>>21412971
If they die before they get back to town, we keep their shares. >:3

>>21412977
Henchman abuse is time-honoured, but I think it's better to try keeping them alive. Back-up characters & all that.

>>21413025
IDK, the stat spread in BECMI can be really harsh on lv1 adventurers, so I tend to think of Lv1 characters as retainers. Once you're level 2, then I care a little more since you've probably finally rolled a decent statblock. There's a reason why we used to call BD&D Battle Death & Do-over.

>>21413048
Yeah, OK, some of them will just suck and should be allowed to die (or pensioned off). But I think we're reasonably agreed on the hiring.

DM, do I need to roll or RP getting the goon? Or would you rather I just come up with a name and a distinctive habit for them?

>>21413072
Yeah, just do that. Roll stats for them if you want to, or I can just assume they're in average range until he levels

Rolled 6, 1, 2, 1, 2, 2, 6, 1, 6, 6, 1, 3, 4, 3, 3, 4, 6, 1 = 58

Rollin' retainer's S/I/W/D/C/Ch. I'll let the dice inspire me.

>>21413096
8 5 13 10 10 11
You found a... a... cleric? oh god

>>21413104
9 strength actually. And a dumb retainer's no problem, though your right making him level into a cleric could be useful

He's got 6HP and AC 4 from chainmail and shield.

>>21413116
Just as he knows not to sidestep to the left! Which one's left?

>>21413096
S9
I5
W13
D10
C10
Ch11

I've seen worse. Let this idiot be Dwayne of Bywater. Dwayne tends to chew a lot, so he's often found with a piece of straw in his mouth.

Alright, a name for the retainer and we're ready to go.

Okay you two, where do you want to go?

>>21413148
Resume the genocide of level 2!

>>21413148
Up to Fig', I'm still finding my feet.

>>21413159
Alright, there are the two southern door from the stairwells to explore, the branching paths just north of them, and the room off the northern corridor with the strange smell

>>21413183
NW corner? Looks like better running-away country up there.

>>21413183
The funny smell room between 50 and 53?

>>21413198
Err... OK, let's go check out the smell.

"Funny" how?

File: 1351953968045.png-(1.01 MB, 1634x1200, Gygar Castle Level 2 Map.png)

>>21413198
There's a table in this room, stained with strange colours, and broken glassware. You see a few empty barrels which you think are the source of the odour

>>21413210
A bit of a sickly, alchemical smell.

>>21413222
Stick head in barrel: Y/N?
N

"Oi ain't one fer gettin' much closer, elf."

>>21413227
What are the barrels made of? Is the smell like oil, or acrid?

>>21413251
Definitely N.

"Be at ease. There might be something valuable here."

>>21413259
They're fairly old, but you think oak. The smell's acrid, and quite unpleasant

>>21413268
If there is, you haven't found it.

>>21413270
And you said that they're empty? I guess they're open so we can see a bit inside without getting too close. Are they standing upright?

Rolled 4

>>21413270
"Could be cask rot fungus? A stinkin' barrel ain't good fer much o' anythin'."
Stonecunning roll

>>21413284
One is, the other tilted over and broken open.

>>21413293
OK. So it looks like the place has been vandalised, basically? Well, we might need the wood later, but there's no point in lugging it around. Is any of the glassware intact? What's the table made out of?

>>21413307
Yep, pretty much. The glassware's all smashed and the table just looks like pine

>>21413319
OK. Fig'Tard, did you want to mess around with this place any more, or shall we head on? We might as well go to that passage by the eastern stairwell next.

>>21413319
Anything under the table? If not, it's time to head back towards the staircases and take one of the paths unexplored.

File: 1351955185580.png-(1.02 MB, 1634x1200, Gygar Castle Level 2 Map.png)

>>21413334
>>21413331
Nothing there. You head around to the unexplored passageway, and find a door to your left partway down.

>>21413351
I listen at the door. Classic children's creeper move.

>>21413360
You think you hear a fire going, maybe a voice.

>>21413351
Any scuff marks on the floor by the door? What condition are the hinges in?

>>21413370
No worse than any others around here, but yes it appears to have been opened recently

>>21413365
Human voice? kobold voice? gobbo voice? is the language discernable?
I don't wanna bust in on Samael's wife again

>>21413394
You're not a thief, but I'll give it to you. It sounds like orcish

>>21413394
(whisper) "I doubt it's trapped. If something's in there, we shouldn't go further without checking it out."

>>21413402
ffff, that's something we haven't encountered before.

I lean back to Ruby and mumble, "Aye, 'at's the truth. Bust the door an' take 'em boy surproise?"

>>21413427
(whispered) "Is it locked?"

And, DM, does the door open out into the corridor, or into the room?

File: 1351956146630.png-(1.03 MB, 1634x1200, Gygar Castle Level 2 Map.png)

>>21413440
It pulls open, and isn't locked.
Assuming you go in, it's a 20' room. Two orks sit by a fire, and turn to you despondantly as you enter the room. Fig'Tard hears one of them say "At least we'll get a better death than the others"
What do you do?

>>21413465
(checks rules - yep, Elves speak orcish languages)

"We have no longing for your blood - we are adventurers, not murderers! How did you come to be here?"

>>21413465
So much for kicking the door in...
>>21413483
Dwarves don't, but it looks like they're speaking common?

"Aye, ye moight explain wot it is ye mean by 'at."

>>21413483
Ah right, I thought it was just pixies, treants and the like they could speak to.
"We, too, are treasure seekers, hoping to reclaim this part of the castle. The trap just there," he points to the door south, "hurt one of us, and another died in the gas pit. We turned back and went southwest of here, but an owlbear ambushed us from behind. Some of us tried to run south, but a spider ate them. We fought our way out, but only we two survived."

>>21413503
No, they're speaking orcish

>>21413516
Then I nudge Ruby with my elbow, "Ey, wot's 'e sayin'? Friend? Foe?"

>>21413509
There's a linguistic division of labour: elves talk to tall savages, dwarves talk to short ones. Ruby takes a moment to translate for Fig'Tard, then asks in common, "Shall we offer to escort them out? I am no friend of orcs, but these warriors have suffered enough and freely given us information about the place."

>>21413546
"The way up ought be clear, the stairway east of 'ere isnae 'at far. Oi say 'ey kin make it on 'eir own. Oi ain't a friend to 'ese sorts oither."

>>21413565
"They might have more details if we guide them out. I'd also like to know that they actually left."

So what do you do? Let them leave, guide them out, or what?

>>21413617
I would like to escort them out, but we need to agree on it.

>>21413582
"Foine, foine. We'll 'ave it yer way. Maybe 'ey'll give us a coin or two."

Yaaay finally someone challenges my choices. <3
We do it the elf's way

>>21413625
OK. Ruby explains to the orcs that the party will escort them out of the dungeon. Assuming they're game, she has some follow-up questions, specifically:

What was the trap to the south? Do they know how to bypass it? Where's the gas pit?

You lead the orcs back upstairs and out of the castle, where they head to the west to get in the mountain's shadow. They thank you for your help, and warn you about the pressure plate setting off the trap in the passage south of where you found them.

Where to now

>>21413641
The gas pit's further south, after an empty room is one with a pit in the ground with a treasure chest. One of the orcs went in there and died

>>21413643
"We're still fresh, but I don't know about risking an owlbear. Do you want to follow the passage further east?"

>>21413657
Blurp. Further west, even.

>>21413643
West works for now while we come up with a plan to get the stuff out of that gas pit. "Maybe if Oi 'old moy breath we could see wot's in 'at chest or take their comrade's jink..."

>>21413666
"Who knows what killed the orc? Even if it was poison, it might have come in through his skin! Getting the dead orc's things we can probably do with rope, but let's not mess around with a known trap."

File: 1351958154247.png-(1.1 MB, 1634x1200, Gygar Castle Level 2 Map.png)

>>21413666
>>21413664
There's a large empty room to the west, though you see bloodstains around the southeast door. There's canine footprints heading to the southwest door, but it seems like the dogs walked on two legs.

>>21413690
How fresh are the bloodstains?

>>21413702
They seem to be from several hours ago, probably some time last night

>>21413690
The SW is probably where the Owlbear went. Blood most likely from the orc party.

"West looks the safest, Ruby."

I do some snooping around Samael's lair.. figuring I can catch up to the party later. (Did they leave me a note for where they'd be?)

>>Since my internet is currently crap, I can't count 100% on being able to post regularly,

>>21413708
OK. And are they splatters, smudges or pools? (Like, was something messily butchered here, dragged through the door bleeding, or just left to bleed there?)

>>21413721
As we've done nothing since taking the orcs out, we could have picked up Jenai then....

>>21413741
dunno if he wants to RP out his spying on Samael or not... I don't wanna take that away from him if it's what he wants.

>>21413718
"Trembling Oak taught that safety is managing risks. It is not enough to simply avoid danger."

>>21413744
For sure. Just putting it to the ref and Jenai's player.

>>21413721
Watching around his cave, you don't see Samael come out. Several people visit him though, including bandits, merchants, thieves, burghers, orcs, ogres, and other monsters. They either leave money and loot, or have some brought out to them by kobolds.

>>21413782
do the burghers come with cheese, or leave with it?

>>21413749
"Well 'en Oi would choose the bloody door."

>>21413804
Heh. Actually they're some of the few who take large sums away. Some of them do leave coins, but its in far smaller amounts than the other groups do.

>>21413804
Ruby is trying to keep quiet, so her laughter comes out as a suppressed giggle. "We don't have to race into danger to manage it! There's a lot of clues to consider before making a decision, friend."

Oops. Pretty obvious who was speaking in >>21413839, though.

DM, I'm still waiting on an answer to the blood question in >>21413725, but we can cool our jets if you want to deal with Jenai first.

I need to eat lunch and watch a little football. I'd do Jenai's quest if Ruby can wait it out. Back in 20ish
>>21413839
Figgy grumbles.

>>21413854
Ah, missed that. Spatters, like someone was killed on the other side of the open doorway

>>21413741
>>21413744
I would like to RP it, it seems like it'd be fun, though I'd rather join you guys in the dungeon. However, I am dropping in and out of internet so I don't mind if you roll some dice to see what I find out.

>>21413782
I note the different individuals, and if any of them are particularly famous or known to me, I follow them first. Otherwise, I trail the burghers to see what I can learn.

>>21413890
So what do you want to do? Any of them you're interested in following?

>>21413890
I'll take the 20 minute break with Fig'Tard's player (afternoon tea and a different type of football), hopefully you'll be ready to get crawling with us when we return!

>>21413913
Some of them are important people from Mistamere Town, on others you see the arms of powerful banking families of nearby cities. The

>>21413913
>>21413920

Oh, and after snooping on the burghers - I will try to get thick with the thieves.

I of course leave my valuables in a safe place, either the Dwarf Bank or else with Echo(he's - he's still alive, right?), except what I might need for bribes.

My fake story is something along the lines of "Just a guy lookin' for some work - if you know anyone who's hiring."

>>I'm posting multiple commands at once, apologies, because my internet might and will drop any second.

>>21413944
The one you follow heads back to the town and starts meeting with various people from local guilds such as the carpenters, masons, and weavers. A fair bit of hand-shaking and exchanging of purses goes on, like he's involved in some business dealing. He finishes up going to the town hall, to see a notary.

>>21413988
Yeah, Echo's still going well. As a thief yourself, they seem ready to trust you. They say the best they've got now is work as a lookout, but that if you do want to start robbing anyone around here you need to get any big jobs cleared and your territory assigned for small stuff. Naturally, you need to let the boss have a bit, and he kicks it up to Sammy, who's the big boss around here.

>>21414003
I try and eavesdrop when I can do so without looking too suspicious. For instance, when I see him heading towards the Carpenter's shop, I move a bit faster through the town, and try to enter the shop before him, blend into the background as I look at some chairs and tables, keep my back to them both.

I make note of the person I'm following, and his name, and the folks he's met with.

Can I pick out one of these people as being the most gullible and innocent?

>>21414032

"Sammy?" I ask
"So the boss isn't the big boss. What do I do if I wanna get in good with the "big" boss? Or is he not the type to get in good with?"

Of course, to make myself look legit, I ask for a small territory, and agree to kick up a cut of my stealin, and any big jobs will go to the big boss first.

I also agree to be their lookout, at least for a few jobs - when they don't interfere with Questin.

>>21414065
Roll a d% to see how well you blend in.
The man is called Davward

You don't get to become the head of your guild through being gullible and innocent, but the notary Aluella is a young woman and just recently graduated from law school.

>>21414093
"Oh no, Sammy don't meet with anyone. You want to let him know something you talk to the boss, and maybe you might hear back."
They aren't about to just give away territories to someone they don't know, you'll need to have worked for them a bit and then make a few bribes to pay for it.

>>21414118
and that was sandwich. I'll keep reading until Ruby pokes back

>>21414156
I'm also back, but we can wait until Jenai's done.

Here's some virtual paper for note-taking:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TC9mtxXs2iNDf36Xms98N36lKF6L8cxSP8IaKbbHyBA/edit

(I know we can go back through the archives, but having a list of important points saves time.)

Rolled 14

>>21414099
Aluella - with my wisdom and int, how likely do I think that I can either

A) Seduce her into being my lady friend, and get her to confide in me via eventual pillowtalk?
B) Go up to her now, and pretend to work for Mr. Davward. Convince her to give me an "extra" copy of information, or just snoop in this fashion.
Let's see what I heard from eavesdropping - if anything. Maybe it'll help me con this girl.

>>21414118
Fair enough. I agree to be a lookout, and I've got a few interesting ideas to discuss with the team.

>>21414235

YAY! I have to roll low for skill checks right? If so, HOORAH!

Rolled 5, 3 = 8

>>21414235
Ooh, nice roll. They've been discussing the availability and wages for workers for something Davward calls "Project Serpent", apparently some new business being started in the town which will need some construction done.
With that charisma, you're not exactly a lady's man, but you could potentially get the info from her. Rolling 2d6 for her reaction

>>21414229
Note: I am not taking notes on everything because I have limited amounts of care. The doc also has a chat widget, which might be helpful.

>>21414279
She's happy to let you look over the document and draft a duplicate. Apparently its an application to the local lord for a charter to start a dyer and perfumery business in Mistamere

>>21414298
So, back to the dungeon. Jenai gets 32XP for the snooping done

>>21414307
OK. I think Ruby's OCD (or mine) was in full swing. Can anyone hear anything through that Southeast door?

>>21414331
Nothing.

>>21414298
>>21414279

Excellent! Project Serpent - I think I'll pack in my findings for the day, to share with the group and strategize.

>>21414341
Open saysadwarf!

>>21414341
Bother. Um. What colour is the blood? Do orcs have red blood like the rest of us?

>>21414349
Jenai, do you want to drop some notes into that Google doc on what you think was most important from your snooping? Somewhere between what Jenai would tell the other adventurers and what you really want to remember for next time.

File: 1351963571606.png-(1.08 MB, 1634x1200, Gygar Castle Level 2 Map.png)

>>21414350
There was obviously a great battle here. A dead owlbear, bled out from its many injuries, lies among 10 orks. You can tell because you counted how many heads there were, since the bodies are torn to shreds

>>21414352
Nah, I'm saving odd coloured blood for abominations and insects

>>21414376
Ruby sighs in relief. "Fig'Tard, I suppose I was taking a bit too long, but... please try to restrain yourself in future."

AND NOW WE LOOT THE BODIES!

Rolled 7, 1, 4, 8, 1, 1, 6, 5, 4, 6, 2, 7, 2, 8, 3, 1, 6, 4, 8, 3, 7, 6, 8, 3, 2 = 113

>>21414405
Rolling for how many copper pieces you find among the viscera

>>21414405
"Oi ain't got us killed yet!"
Bloody gold is good gold nonetheless.

>>21414362
I do but my internet isn't allowing me in. Also I had customers in the shop who were chatty. Pardon my slowness. Consider me attempting to join the party. I'll mark down my notes in a notepad for now.

Rolled 2, 8, 1, 1, 1, 6, 7, 1, 2, 5, 5, 5, 5, 3, 3, 2, 1, 8, 1, 1, 5, 1, 1, 4, 3 = 82

>>21414415
So 34 cp each and 16 for Dwayne

>>21414416
Ruby laughs while pulling copper from the bodies.
"Getting us killed once would be too many times, friend."

>>21414415
"This isn't going to get us rich, but it will keep us in drinking money for the week." She shrugs and turns to the southern door. Anything peculiar about it? Too little/much wear on the floor? Hinges in peculiarly good or bad repair? Build-up of dust? (I particularly worry about dust.)

>>21414450
Not especially. And you remember the orks saying some of them tried to escape through the door to the south

>>21414436
If you post them here I'll copy them across.

>>21414437
Not sure about conventions - are you marking treasure on the sheets?

>>21414437
I decide to snatch a few of the better of the owlbear's feathers, because why not?
>>21414460
"OI remember 'at a spoider ate wot went south"
>>21414463
DM manages all our XP and GP expertly.

>>21414463
I have been, same with xp and ammo (if you lose shot arrows, say by being forced to retreat)

>>21414460
I slowly make my way towards where the other are located. By the body piles and gore, and knowledge of the Castle, and rumors. Let me know whenever I catch up.

>>21414471
There's no fights going on, so I'll say you can easily catch up with them. Where to now?

>>21414463
Sure. All I have is this so far:

Young Notary - Aluella
Mysterious Burgher - Davward

They've been discussing the availability and wages for workers for something Davward calls "Project Serpent", apparently some new business being started in the town which will need some construction done.


Notarized document: its an application to the local lord for a charter to start a dyer and perfumery business in Mistamere.

Thief Guild:

Lookout Jobs Available (Taken)

Big Boss Sammy is in charge.

No territory or jobs but lookout until you work with them awhile.

Territory: Small jobs, small rackets.
Big Jobs: Go to the Thief Boss. (not Big Boss)

Sammy Plan:

Propose to party members to approach Samael directly with information, posing as a potential spy for him, whether on the party or on others, and see what I can dig up.


"BETRAY PARTY HORRIBLY", stuck into the notebook with a knife.
>>Just kidding.

>>21414484
Onward, to spider room?
Can we peek in the door without opening it completely?

>>21414514
Doing so, you see the corridor past it is filled with spiderwebs. There's bones caught in them, and you see a few humanoid sized lumps wrapped up in the webbing

>>21414514
Ugh. I guess, spiders are hard to detect and our AC is decent.

>>21414530
"Let's burn it."

>>21414530
>humanoid sized lumps
"May'ap 'ey ain't dead yet? We could always torch the webs an' ye could seal the door, Ruby."

>>21414530
Do we see any giant spider? Or - horrifyingly enough - secret little side-holes a giant spider can come at us through?

"Maybe if we fiddle with some of the webs from outside, we'll lure it in."

>>21414573
>>21414557
"Ok, let's try to lure it in and burn it."

>>21414573
Fig'Tard only opened it a crack. He sees maybe 10 feet in, but not to the end of the hall. There could be a giant spider outside his field of vision easily

>>21414585
I'll strike a torch for my off hand and draw my sword for my main hand, then open the door the rest of the way.

>>21414601
Supporting that with bow. Dwayne is on hand to form a shield wall with Fig'Tard.

File: 1351965216134.png-(1.04 MB, 1634x1200, Gygar Castle Level 2 Map.png)

Rolled 2

>>21414601
Throwing the door open, you see a huge spider, maybe six foot long, in the middle of the T-junction corridor ahead. It's black, with a red splotch on its back, and skitters towards you!
Roll for initiative!

Rolled 2 + 2

>>21414633
Initiative initiate.

I throw the torch at the webs nearest the spider and slam the door shut

>>21414642
Rubyleaf, will you cast Hold Portal on the door, or save the spell for later?

>>21414668
That is one big spider. But there are a lot of us. I think Fig'Tard can hold the door with help from the rest of the party.

Rolled 6

>>21414684
Okay, rolling the spider's attempts to break the door.

Rolled 20

>>21414692
Ouch. It smashes the door down, and the flaming spider attacks! You have initiative, so rolling Dwayne's attack. Need 13s to hit

Rolled 7

>>21414703
And damage

>>21414703
>>21414707
Boom! Glad Dwayne's here!

Rolled 6 + 1

>>21414703
Shield out, sword slash.

"Well at least we set it on foire!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwyanSMayf4
You wouldn't think it to look at him would you?

Rolled 7

Twang goes the bow.

Rolled 15

Now the Spider's attack

Rolled 20

>>21414734
The spider's fangs strike at Fig, but bounce off his platemail

Dwayne's attack.

Rolled 5

>>21414742
Once more Dwayne hits!

Rolled 17 + 1

>>21414742
More s-words

Rolled 2

Another 20. Best henchman ever. (Probably won't survive the rest of the session, but he will be fondly remembered.)

Bow again.

Rolled 2 + 1

>>21414749
I really hope it's dead now

>>21414751
He near as slew a spider singlehanded, if he gets back home I'm having him get a level

>>21414767
He'll be a cleric of the Dice Gods

>>21414754
Yes, it was down to 1hp when you attacked.
Everyone gets 15XP

>>21414767
Does that mean we've finished this combat?

>>21414781
Yes, but the room ahead of you is still burning. You don't hear any screams, so the orcs were probably dead already

>>21414778
"Woohoo!" Ruby slaps the footman on the back enthusiastically. "Great work, Dwayne!"

How big a fire is there in the t-junction?

Rolled 2 + 1

>>21414787
Well, the basement here is mostly stonework, yes? "Oi say we jus' let it burn itself out fer now, an' go another way."

>>21414794
Well, it was entirely full with extremely flammable webs, so it's a bad idea to go in for another 5 minutes or so. You can wait around, or go explore elsewhere for a while

>>21414802
Stop attacking, the spider's dead. It's already dead!

Ahem.

"Good plan. Let's investigate those footprints back in the hall to the north."

>>21414828
Leftover dice fields are a thing that seems to happen frequently.
"Aye, 'en. Any oideas aboot 'at gas pit yet?"

>>21414828
Right. As you approach the door, you hear maniacal laughter and the words "TWO LEGS!" repeated over and over

>>21414844
Yeah, I know, just RPG banter.

"We'd need to look at it to work it out. But at the moment, I'm only confident we can get a few coppers out."

>>21414863
"Let's go look at the poison pit."

>>21414863
>maniacal laughter
>TWO LEGS
NOPE

"Oi quoite loike da oidea of seein' 'is poison pit."

File: 1351967183976.png-(1.2 MB, 1634x1200, Gygar Castle Level 2 Map.png)

>>21414878
As far as you can tell, it's somewhere south of where you met the orks. You go south of that room, easily finding and avoiding the pressure plate, and go the the room past that. It's empty, with two doors out

Jenai, you're in the dungeon with them at this point remember

>>21414900
Since Rubyleaf tends to check, it seems the southern door has been entered recently, while the eastern one is untouched.

Rolled 4

>>21414922
Stonecunning... I thought there was a trap near here...

>>21414922
"Alright. It should be just south of here. I don't expect there to be any monsters through the door, but just in case..."

Listening.

>>21414934
Silence.

>>21414929
Yes, in room 57 there was a pressure plate, but you were warned about it and easily stepped past it

>>21414941
Ruby pauses. "I think we should be able to open the door, but let's not rush in. Is that OK?"

>>21414962
"Oi got no issue with cautious."

>>21414941
Ruby will do the door opening herself, then step back behind the warriors.

File: 1351967998954.png-(1.25 MB, 1634x1200, Gygar Castle Level 2 Map.png)

>>21414962
>>21414986
As expected, there is a round pit in the center of the room, with a dead ork and a chest. The ork's face is bloody

>>21415015
Is the ork lying on its back?

>>21415039
On its side

>>21415015
Bloody how? How is the orc laying in the pit? Does it look like he tried to climb out? Is there a rope or any evidence he got help from his party?

>>21415043
Like his eyes, mouth and nose were horribly bleeding. He looks more like he was clutching at his throat, and you don't see any ropes or ladders. The pit is only about six feet deep, so he could easily have just climbed out himself

>>21415063
Why do i always find you so late DM? hahar, readin the thread

>>21415042
Oh, that's good! OK, I'll tie a loop at the end of my rope to lower down and snag one of the ork's legs. If we can get him up we can get a better idea of what killed him. (And get some more beer money.)

Rolled 8, 5, 3 = 16

>>21415072
You drag the cadaver up to get a better look at it. It's not pretty, the mucous membranes look fairly badly burned by the poison

>>21415099
Yeah. Scratch holding one's breath.

>>21415099
I abscond to the room with the owlbear and the orcs, snag an orc head, return, and cast it into the pit... for SCIENCE!

>>21415125
Already being dead and a bit rotten, not much happens

So, about that chest. How big is it? Does it seem to be fixed to the floor?

Now would be a great time for someone to show up with a ten foot pole.

>>21415133
Not very large, and its not attached to anything

>>21415144
is there anything I could snag a piton onto, like a grappling hook?

>>21415152
No, it doesn't have any rings or anything on it

>>21415157
is it made of wood?

>>21415162
Yes

>>21415162
Ok, here's the plan:

I tie my rope around the end of a crossbow bolt, then I shoot the bolt into the top of the chest from the hinge side. After the bolt is firmly in the wooden top of the chest, I pull the rope to open it.

>>21415162
"Alright. The poison is heavier than the air we're breathing, or it wouldn't be trapped in the pit. So in order to survive going down into the pit, all we'd need is to trap some clean air around our heads - the bottom doesn't need to be sealed. Let's go take a look at those barrels."

>>21415175
You pull the chest open, and see that it's empty. Nothing but bait to lure people into the deadly pit

>>21415185
Hooray, I pull pull pull the rope until I recover it and possibly the bolt.

>>21415185
Ruby looks at the empty chest and pouts. "Or... you could do that."

>>21415191
You lose the bolt, not being strong enough to be pulled free of the chest

>>21415070
Echo, if you want to join the party you can

>>21415225
Thanks I will in 20min, morning wake up stuff yaknow

>>21415201
"Let's go east an' clear out the corner."

>>21415225
All my experience with B/X tells me that the party's reserves of dwarves are key to success. EchoWinds is more than welcome.

>>21415242
"Good idea, but let's not run in there - yet." This door doesn't have signs of use, so it could be trapped. How tight to the frame is the door? If I can slide a dagger through, I'd like to test for (and cut) any tripwires.

File: 1351970031868.png-(1.3 MB, 1634x1200, Gygar Castle Level 2 Map.png)

>>21415242
This room, as the one before, is filled with broken barrels and foul smells. You see some brightly coloured dusts around the remains of the barrels, and there are alchemical symbols burned into the lids

>>21415281
Err... OK. I guess I don't mind cutting to the chase when we wouldn't trigger a trap, but please do let us consider our decisions if there is one!

Brightly coloured dust! "That looks interesting. Shall we pick it up - carefully! - on the way out?"

>>21415262
Ah, the other door. Yes, you can't feel any tripwires under the door. The frame's not particularly tight, given that the door's rotted away a little around the edges

>>21415327
Can I see through the rotten parts? If not, Ruby puts her hand to the door, then her ear to her hand, to listen for any sound. (Yes, it's not very accurate, but I just want to know if there's anything to hear there. And I don't want brain grubs.)

File: 1351970543549.png-(1.34 MB, 1634x1200, Gygar Castle Level 2 Map.png)

>>21415359

Looking through the door, you see a 40' by 20' room with a treasure chest in the corner

>>21415369
That's probably good. Is the door locked?

Rolled 3

>>21415369
Cunningus Stonicus

Tell me about this room numbered 55

>>21415390
Nothing that special you can notice
>>21415388
No

>>21415406
"I think the door is fine, but we should be careful about the floor and the chest itself."

Ruby will then - carefully - turn the handle and pull/push the door, letting it swing open without entering for now.

>>21415431
Nothing happens. You don't notice anything unusual about the room or chest at all

>>21415477
How dusty is the floor?

>>21415490
Fairly. This part of the dungeon isn't very well travelled

>>21415498
We're in 55, right? Hmm.

Any tracks of anything in the dust? Rats/lizards, even?

>>21415517
Yes, there are trails from rats, snakes, big lizards and the like.

>>21415498
I tap on the chest with my sword.
>>21415517
the only revealed room that hasn't been 'cleared' is the spiderroom. Aside from wandering monsters, we should be okay.

>>21415531
It sounds full, and is heavy enough that it doesn't move

>>21415528
OK, that's not so bad. And there's no stains or anything on the walls or floor, because you said nothing unusual... alright, Ruby will walk around the edge of the room towards the chest (i.e. almost touching the wall).

>>21415531
"Shall Oi give it the ol' dwarfen boot?"

>>21415531
I'm trap-checking. Tracks of things means the area is safer (no static disintegration field, for example).

>>21415545
You do not set off any traps

>>21415550
"Before you do that, let me check a couple of things!" Ruby clears away a bit of the dust in front of the chest. Any stains on the floor? Then check the walls behind it for hairline cracks.

>>21415580
There's a few rat droppings, but no stains. The wall does have a few cracks, but no more or less than the other areas of wall

>>21415560
"Yer a roight bit overly cautious fer someone wot wanted ta pick up 'andfuls o' strange smellin dust."

>>21415595
"We'll check them carefully before picking them up. If you're getting impatient, then just let me get clear before doing anything reckless."

>>21415592
OK. What condition is the chest in? It's pretty solid, I guess? Wood/metal? Does it have a lock?

>>21415620
"Aye, stand back, Oi'll be opening it now."
I wait for ruby to step back before opening the chest

>>21415685
Unlocked, wood

>>21415687
It contains 700sp and 10gp

>>21415707
Yay money!

"ose orcs got ye a bit shook with 'ose traps, Ruby, but we're doin' foine. Webs should be burnt away boy now. Ye wantin yer shiny dust first?"

>>21415762
How can I jump in?

>>21415778
You knew they were headed into the castle, so you go down and look for them, finding them fairly quickly since they're talking in the room next to a starwell down

>>21415707
Ruby sighs. "You know, the worst thing about this is that when I'm eventually right, you won't be able to hear me say, 'I told you so'." She thinks about that for a moment, then declares. "So I'm going to say it now. I told you so, Fig'Tard!"

>>21415778
Come down the stairs, show up in room 55 where Figgy and Ruby are.

>>21415789
"Oi be sure t' ferget an' say "whoy didnae ye tell me?" when it 'appens."

>>21415762
"No, the dust might be explosive or something. Let's get it on the way out."

>>21415803
She laughs and pats the dwarf on his arm. "I hope you do."

>>21415813
"We ought bring the glow-water near it, too."
How's the web-room doing? I'll feel the door between 59 and 61 to see if it's still hot.

>>21415787
Alright then I'll follow my nos..uh ears to the nearest party

"Oie Mates. ya knew yer all loud and such? I almost heard ya from the entrance!"

>>21415830
It's burned itself out with all the time spent checking for traps

>>21415842
"Echo! Well, we have cleared out all the rooms around here. Better to take a minute or two to talk like normal people while we can, let some of the tension out, you know?"

>>21415866
"No werris, just letting you know yer loud mates, hahar! Where to next?"

>>21415866
"Bah! Normal! Normal people don't go settin' spoiders on foire, 'en foight the flamin' spoider!"
I open the door to the burnt out hallway. Is there much left?

>>21415907
There's some smouldering, but it's safe to walk through

>>21415928
Anything left of the silk wrapped orcies?

>>21415928
"Lewks Good Enough to meh"

I remark while walking through.

>>21415941
Charred bones

>>21415950
"Moi vote is fer south. Cannae be much to go in 'at direction."

>>21415961
Ruby nods and steps back to provide cover with her bow.

File: 1351973777091.png-(1.36 MB, 1634x1200, Gygar Castle Level 2 Map.png)

>>21415976
There are stairs leading down to a landing, which then turns to the left.

>>21416004
I slowly decend the stairs, checking each stair for pressure plates and such

"Canna be to carefull."

>>21416024
Ruby puts a hand on Echo's shoulder and murmurs in his ear, "Let's finish up with the level we're on first."

>>21416004
"Oi ain't interested in goin down further until we got 'is floor all done, lad. Remember, 'ere could be ogres aboot."

>>21416024
The landing doesn't look stable at all. You don't know if it's a trap or just lack of maintainance, but it would probably collapse or tip it you walked on it

>>21416038
>>21416037
"I'm jerst popin dwn fer a look, dunna worry"
>>21416048
"I dunna think it can take our weight anyway mates, we'll need to find a differn way down or fix this up." I say as I move back up the stairs.

>>21416004
West of 61 then? How's the door?

>>21416062
(whispering) "There's other stairs. Let's carry on west."

File: 1351974386685.png-(1.44 MB, 1634x1200, Gygar Castle Level 2 Map.png)

>>21416076
Somewhat charred. The room is large and empty, apart from a few bones wrapped in spider silk

>>21416100
I go over and collect the spider silk before going on.

>maniacal laughter
>TWO LEGS
>>21416100
"Oi dunnae want to go north, lads."

>>21416125
"Sounds like we need tah check the weastern door."
I move and check the west door's condition/

File: 1351974889409.png-(1.51 MB, 1634x1200, Gygar Castle Level 2 Map.png)

>>21416155
The door is unlocked, and past it you see a room with a pedestal. It has a 10gp quartz on it, beneath a wire mesh requiring you to reach under it to grab the gem.

>>21416177
Figgy licks his lips, "Ey, another gem fer me family jewels... Whoy's it all caged up loike 'at?"