DUNGEON 2 SESSION 3: The Greatest Betrayal of Our Time Gamemastering this week is Stripe, assisted by: Drider Mark the Putrid and the Terrific Arch-demon, Valter They were once our allies, but have risen from the grave to serve as generals of the armies of 'capital-E' Evil. We are joined this week by: Traitorous Hobbes and faithful Culain, Holy Warrior of Nal and Celestial Hound [262/263]; Elmer Rhubarb, Heroic and Brave Half-Elf Scout [260]; Transmuter Merideth, High-Elf Wizard [263]; Razine, War-Priest of Lokithor [263]. Henchmen and other Allies along for the ride are: Kendrick 'Waggles' Waggett, Emancipated Cleric of Healing [250]; Uncouth 'Caret' the Half-Ogre Brute [125]; Catfolk Servant 'Oops', Adopted by Hobbes [62] (staying in town). N: Points totals last time were mostly guesswork, these should be correct. Apologies for the slightly shorter recap this time! Had we managed to move on past the combat then there would have been more. Of note is a slight retcon: the entranceway is a No Mana Zone and magical light sources (and armour and weapon enchantments -- see: cornucopia) die or are suppressed when brought inside. This was always meant to be the case but was a detail forgotten last time. Time unpauses and combat grinds into motion again to the music of screeching goblin and splintering wood, Culain batting one aside and sending it flying to sprawl against the dark stone of the entrance hall, jumping on it as it tries to crawl away and ripping away an arm. Caret follows suit with a heavy swing of his own, caving in the chest of the orc commander as it tries to regain its feet (recall: this is the one that Elmer shot in the vitals as it dived out of the way). Over the chaos of battle, Elmer and Kendrick engage in polite argument as to whom should be first to enter the fray and Razine sets fire to piles of skulls that the goblinoids had assembled in the name of Lokithor. Merideth slings a Spasm towards the orc commander as Caret moves in but the spell splashes against the No Mana Zone. Fighting the goblins is a pain because of their high dodge scores and a general lack of co-ordination among the party melee fighters meaning the they claim their Retreat bonus every time. Nevertheless, the greenskins are not much of a threat (Hobbes in more danger from himself as he critically fails an attack with his bladed shield) and just as players begin to wonder why the cowardly little buggers are still fighting, reinforcements swarm from the shadows deeper into the fortification: A further four goblin with clubs closing in tentatively, five more orcs (two with bows) hanging back in formation with their commander (another orc) and a towering ogre loping ahead of the rest with a large club in-hand. Hobbes orders a withdrawal just as Elmer musters the courage to enter the hall behind him. The plan was to fall back to beyond the gate and organise an ambush. Merideth was to prepare a Glue spell and Kendrick a strong Sunbolt. However, in their haste to leave, Elmer was left exposed and only narrowly avoided co-ordinated return fire from the archers after snapping off a shot of his own that goes wide. Gifting an approaching goblin warrior with an arrow through the throat, he turns to run but is blocked at the gate by Hobbes who commands him to close the gate, a delay that gets him shot in the left arm (again), crippling it (again) and almost gets him flattened by an ogre if not for fortuitous Augery (courtesy of Hobbes' Guild Rank) saving his failed Major Wound check. Everyone now safe, people hurriedly take positions (sans cowardly elf plus Clerics both) only to hear the heavy slam of a door bar being dropped. There is suspense as people wait for another goblin trick, but all is quiet once more. We finish up with Kendrick healing Elmer's arm and the party sizing up another passage with hopefully less resistance for exploration -- the party will need at least one and a half thousand in loot to cover their costs and make this expedition worth it. All characters receive 1 CP for their attendance. Looking forward to seeing you all in about four hours! Remember to show up 30 minutes earlier than usual for the discussion that Stripe wanted to have if at all possible.
