Session 179: A costly win

Elf-log day 20 of Lacysnows, but the humans calls it Sunsebb. We were in the dungeon of the moat house, still reeling from our recent battle with a group of zombies. It was a strange place, where things seemed to blink in and out of existence, like our companion, JT, who vanished into thin air.

We took some time to regroup and plan our next move. As the party's designated spellcaster, I had to consider how much magic we had left. While I had a sleep spell and burning hands, Azra had used all her spells for the day.

We began discussing our options and marching order. The party was concerned about JT, but he is likely fine, just in stasis somewhere. The party was trying to figure out who should be in the front, middle, and back. It was decided that Zorla and Fietje would take the front, Jensen and Mark the second rank, with me and Crassus in the third, and Azra and Opellle in the fourth rank with Farro and Contristo in the rear.

We debated whether to head back to town or explore deeper into the moat house. I was for pushing forward and clearing the rest of the moat house. We wanted to be sure we weren't leaving anyone behind who could cause trouble later. The others mostly agreed, so we moved to discuss how to proceed. We decided to explore the area south of our current location, then head west where we had encountered some gnolls and then finally check the area where Grug had died.

As we discussed our strategy, I noticed that both Zorla and Fietje had taken some damage. Zorla was able to get a potion from Opelle and heal. Zorla also got a potion from Opelle and felt the healing power coursing through her body. 

We got our marching order straightened out, and I told everyone to let me know their thoughts. We discussed that we had previously explored to the east and that we had come down some stairs to get where we were. I thought we should keep going deeper into the moat house, but we knew we had to assess the damage and make sure that everyone was ready for another fight.

We went over what we saw in the previous exploration. We remembered the room where we had all been trapped and where some of us were injured. I thought the middle door was probably the one that had been trapped, but someone else thought the southeast door was the trap. We were sure that there were more enemies down here as we had not yet found the necromancer we were seeking. I hoped that we would find Elmo's stuff.

After a short discussion, Farro went ahead to scout. Afterwards, we moved down and entered a room where we had previously fought. There was still blood everywhere. Zorla used a 10-foot pole to explore the room. We all had trouble seeing the doors due to the dimness, despite our torches. After a bit, we were able to figure them out. After that Zorla moved and we looked around a bit. We noticed some beds in one area, but it was otherwise empty and quiet.

I thought we needed to investigate an area of the floor that looked like it had been repaired. We called for Crassus to come and investigate the floor and the door because he was our party's thief. He was confident the door wasn't trapped, but when he investigated the floor, it was just dirt and not treasure.

After a thorough search, we moved to the next room to the west, where we found a lot of waste. We decided it was time to push on and see what was behind the other doors. Zorla opened one door which revealed a small chamber. Then Adam opened another door which turned out to be where Grug died, and we saw dried blood on the floor.

We went through another long passageway and reached a fork in the road with a passage to the west, stairs going down straight ahead, and a passage to the southeast. The group voted to take the stairs, but I was concerned about not clearing the rest of the area before moving on. We decided to go west first, and then we started smelling rot. We heard an unnatural noise, and then suddenly we saw ghouls.

We quickly retreated, with Contristo dropping caltrops behind us. The caltrops hit some of the ghouls, but didn't stop them. Zorla fired a crossbow but missed. The ghouls engaged our party, and one of the ghouls attacked Zorla but missed. Opelle threw oil and burned one ghoul. A ghoul attacked Fietje, and he was paralyzed. Another ghoul attacked Zorla and she was also paralyzed. Azra tried to drag Zorla back but it was too risky. Another ghoul attacked Mark, and he also went down.

I pulled out my holy symbol and tried to turn the undead, but failed. Farro moved to attack the ghoul, and Jensen also joined in. Jensen attacked but missed. We continued our desperate combat. Opelle threw more oil and took out another ghoul. I tried to use my bow to hit another ghoul, but missed. Crassus attacked but missed. Another ghoul attacked and Mark was reduced to zero. Crassus was able to attack it and kill it. The last ghoul attacked Opelle and she was also knocked out.

Contristo threw daggers but missed. The ghoul turned to attack Jensen. Azra bandaged Opelle, and I tried again to use my bow but failed. Contristo moved again to attack the last ghoul, but also missed. Jensen attacked, but also missed. I tried an arrow one more time. And then Farro moved and failed to hit. Finally, Crassus was able to flank and kill the last ghoul.

I was relieved that the ghouls were all dead. Mark was paralyzed for five minutes, Fietje for ten, and Zorla for five. Mark and Opelle had taken severe damage and Mark will need several weeks of bed rest to recover. Opelle, fortunately, was able to recover with little lasting effect. We discussed what to do with Mark, and Jensen volunteered to take him to Melissa, which would take about 30 minutes.

I began to think about healing. We were low on potions and I wondered about Opelle's healing potions. We rifled through her bag and found her other potion. Zorla gave a potion to Mark. I gave my potion to Zorla. We then remembered that we had received some potions from the druids earlier. We did an inventory and found some more potions. We all took stock of how many potions we had left and decided we had two St. Cuthbert potions and one druid potion left.

We were all very tired and frustrated at that point, but we were alive, and we could not let our focus stray from the task at hand. It was then that we heard a mysterious rattling to the south. We decided to keep the doors closed. Jensen returned with word from Melissa and Mark that they strongly felt the force was to the east and we should not waste resources exploring to the west. I was ready for the fight to end, and I knew we all needed to regroup and gather our strength. I felt that despite being exhausted we were still in this fight and we would find a way to make things right.

Session 178: A grim observer Day 20 Sunsebb

From the shadows, I watch as the group of adventurers, so full of self-importance, bumbles into the Moat House. Their leader wastes time with a pointless marching order and roll call. They are so predictable, so easily manipulated with their petty squabbles over character quirks.

I revel in their small victories and setbacks. They defeated a group of bugbears and gnolls. A small win, but their arrogance grows. I delight in their bickering about experience points and weapon specializations. They are so focused on the minutia, they are blind to the grand design I have in store.

They fuss over a wounded companion named Melissa, who is out of commission for three weeks. The group debates whether to abandon or save her. Eventually, their 'moral' compass guides them to heal her. It is a temporary setback, but they'll be back to their selfish ways in no time. They leave her in a side room, as if that will keep her safe.

Their greed is a useful tool. They return to the main room to loot the bodies of their defeated foes. They are like vultures, squabbling over armor and weapons, and they carry it off into a side room. Such short-sighted creatures. They squabble about the best path to take through the Moat House. The idea of a hidden side door appeals to them. They must think they are clever.

They bicker and delay while deciding if they should go the way of the undead or the hidden side door. While they do so, they search the rooms, concerned about flanking attacks. One of them, JT, the fool, must explore a room called the "spider room," though it is a pointless side quest for such a predictable group. They are easily distracted.

My attention drifts to the map of the Moat House. I see the path they have chosen, and I chuckle. They proceed to the ogre room. There, they listen at a door and then step inside. It is dark and empty. They stumble into a room with a dead bird. How pathetic. Then, they go into a stinky room that makes one of them sick. The others laugh. Such simple pleasures for these adventurers.

The fools finally descend deeper into the dungeon, completely unaware of the traps I have laid. They move into a hallway and then into a room with a camouflaged cage in the ceiling. The group moves under the cage, as if there is no risk, and then moves out to examine another side room. How easy they are to manipulate. They are so predictable, and then they keep going. The cage is set up to drop on them if they are not careful. They are so caught up in themselves that they fail to see what I want them to see.

They move into a big room with three doors and a passageway. They discuss which way they should go. They look for secret doors and traps. It is such a waste of time. One of them, Crassus, has a modicum of skill at disarming traps. Still, it doesn't matter. He is still a tool to be used.

The group goes on a patrol around the room and is satisfied that there is nothing of interest. They talk about what type of floor is in the room. How idiotic. They light new torches and move towards the doors. One of them, JT, is clearly out of control. They open a door to an empty room. They tap the floor with a pole, as if that will save them. Another door, and they hear a clanking sound. It is the sound of a trap being reset. They never learn.

They are so focused on the small things, they do not see the larger threat. They open a third door and discover a secret passage. As they move to reset the cage trap in the hallway, they become divided. Some move back down the hallway and some go to look down the passageway. They are becoming exactly as I want them to be, distracted and divided.

Finally, they face the zombies. Their initial attack is strong, but they are divided. And they are stupid. As they throw oil on the zombies and attack them, I am pleased. This will be their downfall. One of them, JT, falls in the first round. They bicker about tactics. They have no idea what they are up against, or what they will soon face.

Their "heroics" are simply pathetic. They manage to defeat a few zombies, but at what cost?. It is a small victory in a larger war, and they do not yet realize they have already lost. Their game is almost up, and I look forward to the next act, because they will be coming for me, whether they know it or not.

Session 177 Moat House Mayhem - Day 20 of Sunsebb

Grrrr! We were ready, waiting at the top of the stairs in the stinking moat house. The call came, intruders! We bared our teeth and readied our bows! We saw the pathetic creatures come into the open, crossing into our territory. They were slow and clumsy, easy targets. Hah! We let loose our arrows! A female in shiny metal screamed as two arrows found her flesh. They tried to run like cowards, but they were clumsy, blocking each other!

They scattered like rats onto the ice. Some slipped and fell, hah! But they still reached the wall of the moat house. We shot at them again, sending two arrows into a clumsy fighter who had slipped in the snow. He cried out, but he was still standing. They grabbed a rope and pulled him like a wet dog.

They dared to enter our room, and we saw them better. They were weak, but they were many. We moved to engage them. They used some trickery, some magic, and they could see in the dark. We sent more arrows, one hitting another of them. Grrr! They advanced down the hall. Then they threw oil. One of my bugbear kin was set ablaze, howling in pain. Hah! We met them in melee. They were like a pack of wild dogs, hitting us with their metal. More oil came, but this time it missed.

They attacked, hitting us hard. They used swords and axes and a strange morning star. They injured my group with each swing. Two of the intruders made it to the front, leading their pack. They took down my brothers one by one. Another of my kin was set on fire and was gone. A small one snuck next to me. He thrusted his sword, and I fell.

The battle ended quickly. They were too strong, there were too many of them. We failed to protect the moat house, but we fought like we always do. We will be ready next time, grrrr!