stefanbudansew

[This is part 5 of the fictionalization of a new campaign using 1st edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons. The group is playing through the classic Temple of Elemental Evil campaign, written by Gary Gygax.]

Car-i shoulders into the door, and with the sound of splintering wood, the door bursts forth to the open base of the tower.

Men tightened their grips on their swords – crossbows were raised, and in the far back of the room, a voice called out. “HALT!”

Car-i stepped back into the open room, looking at the group. “It’s filled with people.”

“That’s what I heard!” Hissed Wilo.

From the room, a voice called out. “Who speaks for you?”

The party looked around, and eyes settled on Niel. Mann-wulf was about to step forward, and Niel put his hand on the barbarian’s shoulder and stepped into the room. “I am Niel, devote follower of St. Cuthbert.”

He did not flinch even though he was surrounded by men bearing swords, behind which stood several men holding crossbows, and in the far back, two men – obviously in charge by their better equipment.  The tall man, with a shock white beard, spoke.

“Begone from this place.  You have invaded our keep.”

Niel paused, that was unexpected. “Excuse me. This keep is abandoned.”

“No it’s not.  We live here.  You came in here, and looted and you should leave.” There was a small chortle among the men in the room.

“We are tasked by the lords of Hommlett, to come to these ruined moathouse, to search for bandits which have been plaguing these lands.”

The leader smirked. “Well, no bandits here. So you can push off.” Another chortle swept through the room.

Outside the room, the party was listening on the exchange. Mann-wulf scowled, “We’re not going to leave, are we?”

Wilo shook her head. “No we’re not.  They’re lying.”  She started moving away from the door. Once the inevitable fight broke out, she did not want to be near the battle.

Niel glanced around the room.  Beyond the bandits, like most of the tower the room was wrecked and looted.  Numerous bedrooms lay on the floor – obviously this room was their base of operations.  A fire was burning in the hearth in the corner. Near the fire were several bolts of cloth, plus some other valuables. They looked out of place for a group of all men camping in the ruins of a moathouse. They looked perfectly at home for a band of bandits.  Niel’s eyes narrowed, and he saw the leader meet the eyes of the crossbowman, reaching to make a motion with his hand.

Niel steadied his stance. Behind him, the rest of the party noticed, and braced.

The bandit leader raised his hand. “Get them!” The bandits cried out.  The crossbows twanged and the bolts reflected off Niel’s new shield.  His mace came up to crack against the swing of one of the nearby bandits, knocking his sword askew.

Car-i stepped in beside Niel, bastard sword swinging.  From behind them Mann-wulf looked at the doorway, but there wasn’t any way to fit in. “Move aside! Give me room!” He called. “I want to fight!”

Arni drew her bow, aiming through the bodies, letting an arrow fly, landing in one of the bandit crossbow men through the melee of bodies. He cried out in pain, and busied with reloading the crossbow.

“Make clear!  I can help!” Xogan shouted, pressing even in front of Mann-wulf.  Incanting his spell, he motioned just past the door-frame, bringing both hands together, and then curling his fingers moved his hands wide.

A spark of light flared just beside Niel and Car-i and then blossomed outwards until it was a raging 7 foot sphere of fire.  Niel and Car-i yelped and jumped to the side, with Car-i gettting singed by the magical flames. Xogan pushed his hands towards the far end of the room, where the leaders were, and the ball started rolling across the room, sizzling and sending steam from the damp boards and lighting small fires.

“Oh great…” Mann-wulf complained.  Now instead of bodies in the way, there was a giant ball of fire. “I want to FIGHT!”

Niel shield-slammed the nearest bandit, shoving him back and following up with his mace to knock him flying.  The flame rolled past his left side, towards the leader. Car-i had ducked the other way, cutting down one of the bandits and approaching one of the crossbowman.

Mann-wulf let out a mighty roar as he finally burst through the door frame now that both Niel and Car-i had vacated it. “Fight ME!”  He swung his sword wide and charged the closest bandit, who had just jumped to avoid the rolling ball of fire.

In the outer chamber, Xogan fell back to look at Wilo and Or’ra.  Wilo shrugged, twirling her dagger. “Let them handle it.  I’m not here to fight – and listen to how happy Mann-wulf is.”  Or’ra shrugged silently, with a smirk on her face.

The room was being slowly split in half as the giant ball of fire rolled over the ground, setting little fires to the refuse and rubble.  Metal clanked against metal as Niel, Car-i and Mann-wulf pressed forward, pushing the battle back.  Arni stepped into the room, letting arrow fly. More bandits fell.

With a loud twang, the crossbow wielding bandit standing beside the leader and his right-hand man snapped. Looking down at his useless weapon with panic, he threw it at Niel, who easily blocked the thrown weapon, sending it into the fire.

The bandits were starting to lose their nerve, but the leader stepped forward, stepping up onto a broken stool. “Don’t lose your nerve!  Fight to the end! Defend me!”

Finally Mann-wulf pushed past the last bandit, and stood toe-to-toe with the leader of the bandits. “You will fall, infidel!” Sword met sword as Mann-wulf and the bandit leader started to fight.  Just as the ball of fire was about to force them to break up, it winked out of existence, leaving the smell of burnt sulfur in the air, and little fires on the floor.

Arni raised her bow, aiming at the leader, but Car-i put her hand on Arni’s shoulder.  Around them, nearly all of the bandits were defeated.  Mann-wulf and the leader traded blows, but it was clear this was inevitable.

The crossbow bandit who had lost his bow, looked around in panic and fell to his knees. “I yield.. I surrender.. Please.”

Beside him, the right-hand of the leader looked at Niel advancing towards him, looking to his left, muttering “Coward.” under his breath, and then dropped his sword and knelt too. “I yield.” although his tone was still defiant.

The leader looked back. “Treachery! Do not give up!  Fight to your last breath!” but his distraction proved to be his downfall.  Mann-wulf lunged forward, mortally cutting him with the sword.  The leader fell to his knees, glaring at his cohort. “You have failed us.” and then he fell over, dead.

The defeated brigands were looted and their bodies sat in the corner.  The rest of the stolen loot was also checked.  Strangely one of the largest items was a chest that was filled to the brim with copper pieces. it weighted over a hundred pounds, and yet was relatively.. worthless.  Certainly not worth lugging around.  Bolts of cloth, some fine crystal flagon and goblets, decorative boxes were all obviously looted from merchants.  The leader had a handful of gems.

“What do we do with them?” Wilo asked, looking at their two prisoners.

“Tie them up.” Niel suggested.  Wilo nodded and went back to work.

“We could make them fight to the death?” Mann-wulf suggested.  The two prisoners blanched. “or get what information we can from them.”

The prisoners shuffled fearfully.

Niel stepped forward. “Who’s going to tell me what I want to know?”

The lieutenant was tight lipped, but the bandit follower was otherwise. “I’ll tell you.  I’ll tell you everything.  Then you’ll let me go, and I can go back home right?  And I’ll never ever bandit again. In fact I never really wanted to be a bandit – but you know – you need to get coins in the coffer as they say.”

The lieutenant merely grunted.

Mann-wulf turned to the bandit. “Fine.  Tell me everything.”

“Umm.  Well.. what do you want to know?”

Mann-wulf looked back at the rest of the party.

“Where are you from?” Mann-wulf asked.

“Myself?  I’m from Nulb.  It’s a little village about a day from here.  It’s not a very nice village.”

“Shut-up! Who were you banditing?” Mann-wulf asked.

“Well… anyone.   I really just follow orders.”

“Whose orders?” Mann-wulf leaned forward. He felt like he was good at this interrogation business.

“Well.. his orders.” The man nodded towards the bandit leader, who was dead. “Oh.  And his orders.” he nodded to the lieutenant.

“Shut up.” the lieutenant said, then to Mann-wulf, “I won’t tell you anything.”

Mann-wulf grabbed one of his small axes, and stepped towards him, but Niel put his hand on his shoulder. “Let me try.”

Niel stepped close to the bandit lieutenant. “Why don’t you tell me who you work for.”

The lieutenant looked back, “I work for myself.”

“Where are you from?”

“I’m not telling you anything.” The lieutenant looked triumphantly back at Niel.

“I’ll tell you anything.” the bandit beside him offered, “Then you can let us go.”

“They aren’t going to let us go.” The lieutenant replied.

“But they promised.” The bandit whined, “I’m cooperating.  I’ll tell them anything. Anything they want to hear.”

Wilo sighed and rubbed her forehead.

Niel looked back at the party, and then taking out his holy symbol, started evocating magical spells.  At the end, he pointed at the lieutenant, and commanded, “Truth!”

The lieutenant shuddered.

“Who do you work for?” Niel asked.

“Our masters are in the basement of the keep. We are not permitted to go down there.”

“I knew it! There was another level to the keep!” Wilo said, clutching her fist triumphantly.

“You’re not permitted to go down there?” Niel asked.

“No. Lareth will come up from below, and he would give Edgar the instructions. He would tell us which roads to loot from.”

“Who is Edgar?” Niel asked.

“He is.  Edgar is dead. The big barbarian killed him.” The lieutenant adds plainly. He nods at the bandit leader.

“oh.  Okay.  What else can you tell us about the basement.”

“Nothing. We are not permitted to go down there. The way is trapped.”

Wilo perked her ears up. “Trapped?”

“Tell us about the traps.” Niel added.

“On the third step leading down to the basement. The trap is how we…” the lieutenant shakes his head, “I’m not telling you ANYTHING.”

“You just told them everything.” the other bandit said, aghast.

“No I didn’t.” the lieutenant denied.

“Who is Lareth?” Niel asked.

“Lareth?  Where did you hear that name?  I’m not telling you anything about Lareth.  I don’t know Lareth.” the Lieutenant snapped back.

Niel sighed. The spell was useful, but it didn’t last long.

“You did so – you told them EVERYTHING!” the bandit continued. “That means, you guys are going to let us go, right?  I’ll just go home to Nulb… and become a turnip farmer.”

“No one is letting you go.” Mann-wulf snapped.

“But you promised!” the bandit pleaded.

“No one promised! Now shut it, or I’m going to run you through!” Mann-wulf snapped.

Wilo shook her head. “What are we going to do with them?”

“We could let them go?” Arni suggested quietly.

“Or run them through?” Or’ra added with a sly smile. Mann-wulf grinned

“We should take them back to Hommlett.  They can face justice, and it will be proof that we have captured the bandits.” Niel said.

“But, if we leave – Lareth will know we are here.  We can’t risk that – we have the upper hand.” Wilo pointed out.  The group murmured it’s ascent.

“Well, we can’t drag them around with us.  And if we bring them, they will warn whatever his name is.” Mann-wulf says.

“Fine – we leave them here, tied up.  We go down, take Lareth by surprise. And then we can take the bandits back to Hommlett” Wilo suggests.  The group nods.

Checking that the bindings are secure, the party left the black tower, and walked back to the rat-door.  The passage leading to the basement also once had served as the pantry for the moat-house and as such was even more rat-infested than most of the other rooms.

“I have a plan!” Mann-wulf exclaimed.  “We can lure them out with food.”

“What food?” Niel asked.

“What about that giant dead lizard from down the hall.” Mann-wulf answered proudly.

Wilo winced. “Ugh.  Gross.”

Mann-wulf and Niel went to get the dead carcass, which was already being chewed on by normal rats.  They brought it back, and prepared to heft the dead carcass into the room.  Car-i came close, preparing to open the door for them.

With a grunt, Car-i slammed herself against the door, causing it to burst open. Niel and Mann-wulf were going to throw the body in, but the rats were quicker. Dozens of rats streamed out of the door, and the group fell back slightly.  These rats were huge – about the size of cats.

“Back up Niel!  Let me take care of this!” Xogan shouted.  Lifting his hands in a fan pattern, he incanted the magic words, and a gout of flame lept from his fingertips, filling the corner with a sheet of flame.  The flames caught most of the rats, several who which died, the dead lizard which was now slightly char-cooked, as well as barely singeing Car-i who couldn’t jump back quick enough.  The stench of burnt flesh joined the decaying musty air.

Mann-wulf, Car-i, Niel and Arni started slashing at the rats.  Several of the rats split off from attacking to just feed on the dead lizard, providing targets for Arni, Wilo and Xogan who started attacking them with bows and sling bullets.

The rats were not a large challenge, and it was Mann-wulf who chased down the stragglers, ensuring they were all taken care of.  Looking into the remains of the store room, it was destroyed and now filled with rat feces.  With the stairwell heading down into the dungeon, torches were brought out, and the party headed forth.

[This is part 4 of the fictionalization of a new campaign using 1st edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons. The group is playing through the classic Temple of Elemental Evil campaign, written by Gary Gygax.]

“Where should we go now?” Niel looked back into the dark hallway.  They had searched most of the rooms of the north wing of the moat house, but the doorway at the end remained.

Mann-wulf nodded and the party trekked through the broken doorway. This room seemed to have suffered worse than the rooms before it.  A large space which once upon a time would have been the barracks for the moat house, it was now filled with wreckage and debris, with beams and stones piercing the ceiling from the upper floors; the ceiling barely holding together.  In places the walls were crumbled and destroyed, and the cots and foot lockers were in splinters.

The party paused, looking from the doorway when a chest – somehow escaping the destruction. Unlike the rest of the room, it was still relatively intact, and may still hold goods.

The group turned to look at Wilo.

With an exaggerated sigh, she stepped forward, “FINE! I’ll go check it out.”

As she picked her way through the room, she muttered to herself, “Always putting me in the front of the party… right where the monsters attack.”

The small demi-human crossed the room, looking up at the broken timbers which barely held the collapsed floor above. A stagnant smell blew in through holes in the walls and the debris was intermixed with much from the invading swamp.

Wilo crouched down before of the chest, bringing out her thieves tools. It’s the chest she didn’t search which would likely be trapped.

Suddenly there is a movement from the corner of her eye, and Wilo fell to the side, but not quick enough.  A giant swamp lizard lunged from the nest of debris, it’s mouth closing on Wilo’s arm.  Thankfully her leather armour was tougher than the small razor teeth of the lizard, and Wilo pulled her arm back.

The party is only momentarily caught off guard, before rushing forward to aid Wilo.  As she scrambled back out of the way, Niel, Mann-wulf and Car-i strode forward, weapons draw.

The lizard was quick for it’s size, but mace blow followed by sword hit and the creature was quickly getting battered and cut.

Or’ra screamed out her spells, and a bolt of light, identical to the magic missile cast earlier by Xogan zipped between Niel and Mann-wulf to impact the wounded lizard.

Now fighting in desperation, the giant reptile succumbed to the party, without landing a single blow.  Wilo came back forward, collecting her thieves tools again, and checked the chest.

“Nope. No traps. Let’s see what’s inside?”

Opening the old rotted chest, Wilo peered inside, her expression souring. She pulled out an old slightly rusted set of scale-mail tunic, a functional light crossbow with a case of quarrels.

“What about him?  Would he be good eats?” Mann-wulf asked.

Anri went over to investigate, crouching down. “No.” she lifted the body. “It’s a swamp lizard – it wouldn’t be very palatable.”

“Are you going to look inside it’s stomach?” Mann-wulf asked, looking to Wilo.

“Oh, I have to do all the messy work?” She sighed back, pulling out her dagger, and pushing the large lizard over, slit it’s belly.

To her surprise, she pulled out a metal shield – which had been lodged in it’s stomach.

“How in the world did we not see that?” Anri asked in amazement.

Wilo lifted the shield up.  In their torchlight the reinforced bracing was silvery and the wood seemed unaffected by the stomach acids of the lizard.

“Wait a second.  Can anyone detect magic?  No way this is a regular shield.” Wilo asked, looking to Xogan and Or’ra.

“I’m tapped for the day.” Or’ra replied. Xogan nodded in agreement. They only had limited magicks at their level.

“It totally has to be.  Who could use a shield?” Wilo asked.

There was a brief conversation among the martial-inclined party members. Anri needed to keep both hands free for her bow, and to everyone’s surprise Car-i claimed the same.

“I’ve never seen you use a bow!” Niel said in surprise.

Car-i shrugged.

Mann-wulf looked at Niel. “It’s down to us.  Tell you what – you take the shield.  It can help protect you.”

Niel regarded the tall barbarian and nodded. Stowing his old shield, he gripped the new one.

“For Saint Cuthbert!” Niel struck a pose.

Having thoroughly explored the North Wing, the group walked back through the hall towards the main chambers. Wilo brought her finger to her lips, and turning, crept forward.

Her pointed ears twitched as she swore she heard sounds… the sounds of footsteps echoing, but as the group silenced their movement she hard nothing.

Creeping forward, she peered around the corner. The main room was empty, and all was silent save for the wind whistling through holes in the walls.

“I was sure I heard others.” she exclaimed while motioning the group to catch up.

“Which way now?” Niel asked. “Didn’t the trail lead that way?” he pointed towards one of the doorways which shared a wall with the North wing.  The door was intact, and closed.

Wilo nodded, and padded over to the doorway, listening at the door.  Faintly, through the door, she heard rustling sounds. Again raising her finger to her lips, she slowly pulled the door open.

Behind appeared to have once been a store room.  It was dark, and the rustling sounds were louder, along with the sounds of squeaking. Wilo waited as her eyes adjusted to the dimness, and her infravision started to pick out details of the room.

She saw motion, warm shapes hiding behind the debris, rats. But rats the size of large housecats or small dogs. Like everything else in this swamp, they had grown to obscene proportions. Wilo slammed the door shut.

“What was it?” Mann-wulf asked.

“Rats.” Wilo

“Rats?” Mann-wulf asked?

“Lots of them. And big ones.” Wilo nodded.  The group accepted that, and looked to their remaining options.

The other door was in the opposite corner, leading to what once was a tower on the opposite site of the gatehouse. Beside it was a collapsed staircase which once lead to the second story. It was utterly impassable.

“That way” Niel pointed towards the hallway leading to the east wing of the building.

“But the tracks go in those directions.” Anri pointed towards the door leading to the room with the rats, and the door leading to the northeast tower.

“Let’s clear out both wings.” Niel remembered the other tower in the courtyard. He didn’t feel like it was the direction to go.

The team assembled, checking the doors on the right side as they walked. The first room was just as destroyed as the rest – empty of things. After a quick search to confirm, they continued to the large door at the end of the hall.

This door was different. A large metal spike was driven into the stone floor, bracing the door closed.

“That’s either to keep something inside, or to protect what’s inside.” Niel pointed out.

“Should we go in?” Wilo asked. Niel nodded.

Mann-wulf stepped forward flexing.  Bending over, he took a firm grip on the iron spike and strained. With a grunt he dislodged the spike, tossing it aside. Wilo scampered close, picking up the spike as Mann-wulf pulled at the door.

Inside was yet another destroyed room, however in the corner Mann-wulf spotted an enormous swamp snake.  It’s black scales glistened in the torch light, and at the opening of the door it started to coil up.

Mann-wull shut the door. “It was a snake.  A big one.”

“Maybe that’s why the door was spiked closed?” Wilo adds. “How big?”

“Big enough to swallow you hole.” Mann-wulf replied.

“I hate getting eaten alive.” Wilo quipped.

“A black swamp snake?  They are poisonous” Arni pointed out.

A light went off, and Niel stepped to the forefront. “Let me. I have a plan.”

The group nodded and assembled behind Niel.  Niel hooked his mace on his belt, and withdrew his holy symbol. “Open the door.”

Mann-wulf shrugged and pushed the door open. Niel held his holy symbol up, and stepped into the room. The swamp snake, reacting to his presence, coiled up and lifted off the ground, it’s black scales glistening in the torch-light.

“The power of Saint Cuthbert compels you.” Niel started intoning, chanting the spell which would allow him to charm snakes.

As Niel intoned his spell, the snake lowered and it’s black form started to slither across the floor towards him. The party took a step back, but Niel held firm.  Thrusting his holy symbol, he recited again. “The power of Saint Cuthbert compels you!”

The large black reptile reared up before of Niel. And then lashed forward.  It’s fangs landed hard on Niel’s arm, lucky his polished white armour resisted the fangs.

Niel stepped back, holding his arm, but the fangs had not penetrated.

“Well – my turn.” Mann-wulf hefted his long sword. “The power of Mann-wulf compels you!” He swung down, his sword biting into the long back of the snake. The snake turned it’s head and hissed.

Car-i stepped forward, sword drawn, and chopped. With the huge size of the snake, and the mostly open room, there was plenty of space to get a good swing of the sword.

Wilo took out her daggers, throwing deftly to the side of Mann-wulf, the dagger embedding into the snake.  She cried out in glee.

Even Xogan, spells spent for the day, stepped forward with his staff, bringing it down on the snake.

The snake was not winning the fight – cut in many places and attacked on all sides.  It tried to withdraw – to flee through the holes in the crumbling stone walls however Niel had managed to unhook his mace, and with a might downswing, ends the snake.

Niel pants as the black form goes limp. The snake had not managed to land a  single blow.

“Good plan.  Good spell.” Mann-wulf quipped, cleaning off his blade. “Is snake good eating?”

“No.” Anri replied, “Anything from the swamp isn’t really that good to eat.”

“We’ve been travelling for a spell now, and our spells are low.  This is a good defensible room. We should pause here for the night.  We could spike the door closed again.” Wilo suggested.

The party agreed, and after disposing of the snake, and searching it’s nest to find a jeweled dagger, the party settled in for the night.  At the doorway, a shadow which had been watching silently withdrew to the main part of the building.

After a dinner of the rations everyone had brought, and with a fire near one of the larger holes in the wall for ventilation, the party settled on watches for the night.  Xogan, Or’ra and Niel were exempt from watches to ensure they had a full nights rest to restore their spells.  The rest of the party divided into two teams who would each take turns on watch. Mann-wulf and Wilo would take first watch, and Car-i and Anri would take second.

The party settled down, and as the fire died to embers, Wilo took her cloak and hid herself in the shadows.

“Great. So I am here alone.” Mann-wulf said, losing track of where Wilo was. The barbarian muttered, and sat against some rubble, watching over the party.

It was not silent – now with people not moving, the sounds of the rats in the floors above and underneath became very apparent. “Stupid ruined moat-house” Mann-wulf muttered to himself.

There was a slight pause in the rat sounds, and Mann-wulf looked around. Nothing but sleeping party.

Then from above, a dark monster jumped from a hole in the ceiling. The size of a large house cat, another giant tick landed on Mann-wulf’s shoulder, trying to bite, however Mann-wulf’s armour protected him.

“AH!  Not again!” Mann-wulf cried, trying to swipe at the creature. Mann-wulf spun around as Wilo maneuvered and from the darkness lunged forward.

But the wily tick was too quick, and it’s carapace too strong and Wilo’s blade just missed. “Arg – I can’t hit it!”  Wilo beat a hasty retreat, and instead concentrated on waking the party.

Mann-wulf swung again, but only managed to land glancing blows on the tick. The little beast launched itself back at Mann-wulf, but it’s sharp proboscis could not pierce Mann-wulf’s armour.  It was a standoff.

“Aiee” Car-i screamed- dressed in her sleeping tunic, grabbing her bastard sword as she rushed into battle.  She swung wildly, missing. The tick took the opportunity and leapt at her, wrapping it’s little legs around Car-i’s arm and digging deep into her flesh.

“Ach! It’s on me!” Car-i cried out.

Mann-wulf swung, but thankfully missed Car-i but didn’t manage to dislodge the critter. Niel stepped up, also dressed in his sleeping tunic.. swinging his mace and landing a glancing blow.

Car-i shifted to a one-handed grip, and turning towards a beam, skewered through the critter..driving her sword clean through into the wood in a small spray of the blood which the engorged tick had sucked from her body.

Car-i panted.. pulling her sword back, and reached to wrap her arm.

“Are you okay? Do you need healing?” Niel asked.

“I should be okay.  It’s just a-lil blood.” Car-i replied.

The group resettled for an uneasy rest for the rest of the night – not noticing the pair of eyes which peeked through the cracks in the wooden door to watch the party settle down.

579 CY – Coldeven 7

Rising and finishing their morning study, the party was eager to sally-forth. There was one final door on this wing, and Wilo is drawn forward to listen at the door. Her little nose wrinkled. “I hear some movement… and some squeaking. Might be those rats”

Mann-Wulf stepped up, “Allow me.” He shouldered into the door, and thats when there was a sudden explosion outward.

A stream of bats flew out, filling the corridor and dousing the torch.  Most of the party – save Wilo – were lost in the cloud of flying mammals.  Wilo looked up to see the hundreds of bats streaming out of the room, through the corridor and out to find other places to nest.

Swords were drawn and readied, but as the bats subsided, all that was the rest was the messed hair of the party.

“Or bats. Could be bats.” Wilo said.

Beyond the room just STANK.  Like the other rooms in the ruined moat-house, it had been pillaged and ransacked, but this room had a thick layer of bat guano covering the floor.

Mann-wulf looked into the room, then down to Wilo who seemed to have escaped the bat. “I think the room should be searched.  Could be treasure in there.”

Wilo looked back with an exacerbated sigh.  “You’ve got to be kidding me?”

“You don’t want to pass up treasure – do you?  And you’re the best at searching.”

Wilo sighed, and pulling her tunic up over her nose stepped into the room.  After 15 minutes of poking around, she came out, looking soured. “Nope.. just bat crap. A-lot of bat crap.”

Mann-wulf stifled a chuckle.

The party returned to the main hall of the keep.

“Well, the only thing left is the tower.” Niel noted.

“And the room there – the one filled with rats.” Wilo added, pointing at the door she listened at yesterday.

“Let’s check the tower.” Niel pointed out.

The group moved forward, and Wilo stepped up to the door, pressing her ear against it to listen.  This time, it wasn’t rats or bat that she heard.

“Shh.  They are coming.” “Get Ready Men”

Wilo took a step back, with eyes wide open.  She put her finger to her lips, and pointed at the door, then pointed at her dagger.

“Right!” Mann-wulf whisper exclaimed.  He rolled his neck, and charged at the door.

With a mighty crash, the barbarian slammed into the door, which didn’t budge.

“Well, there goes our surprise.” Wilo sighed aloud.

“Let me try to help.” Car-i suggested as she moved up beside Mann-wulf.  Bracing herself against the ground, she leant into the door. Wood splintered, and the door swung open.

“HALT! YOU ARE NOT WELCOME!” Came the voice from within. And they party looked to the tower, which was filled with a ring of armoured men carrying swords and maces, behind them was a ring of crossbowmen with crossbows trained at the door, and behind them in the far corner was who was obviously the leader, and his major-domo.

“Who speaks for your party?” The leader asked.

Niel looked left and right, and stepped forward.

(to be continued)

[This is part 3 of the fictionalization of a new campaign using 1st edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons. The group is playing through the classic Temple of Elemental Evil campaign, written by Gary Gygax.]

The party followed the faded path as the ground grew more swampy with trees giving way to tangled gnarled roots among the long grasses. Algae filled stagnant pools gave the occasional burb of noxious smelling gas, and the only sound was the armoured plates of Niel, Car-i and Mann-wulf’s armour clanking as they walked.

Arni had given up trying to follow the trail of the people off the path, as anywhere off the main path threatened to swallow her up in the foul-smelling water.

“Well, this is cheerful.” Mann-wulf exclaimed sourly.

Ahead raising through the swamp they could see the squarish structure of the keep.  The group paused to look at the dark building several hundred feet away. The air was still, and a solitary bubble burst to the side.

Wilo Feetblower felt the hairs on the back of her head raise.  She glanced to the side, and saw a pair of eyes looking back at her. “LOOK OUT!”

She turned, her dagger flashing out as she threw it just as a grotesque frog – the size of a large dog – opened it’s mouth.  The dagger flew through the air, hitting the frog, and fell into the mire.

Anri Brightwinter spun to the side, her bow up and an arrow nocked. On the other side, another large frog surfaced, although as it opened it’s maw Anri let arrow fly.  The arrow flew true – straight into the mouth of the frog, and half out the far side.  The frog twitched and then bobbed in the water lifeless.

From the corner of her eye, Anri saw movement as more of the giant frogs started to emerge, and spinning she let a second arrow fly, however this one missed it’s mark, disappearing into the grass.

Mann-wulf, who had been taking up the rear of the party, turned to spy two frogs leaping onto the path.  With a battle cry, he brandished his sword, spinning and attacking both frogs. A solid hit and the first frog is defeated before it has a chance to attack.

At the front of the group, the water surges, and two more frogs surface – however these are even bigger than before.  The water must have been deep, as these were the size of hogs, and with a deep throaty noise one lashes it’s tongue towards Niel, only to have the fleshy tongue ricochet off of his armour.

The other one is more successful, it’s tongue wrapping around Car-i’s leg, and with a short yelp of surprise, the Flannish fighter is pulled off her feet, dragged over the rough ground. Car-i lashes downwards, hitting the frog with her sword, and kicking off against his head, pulls her leg free and scrambles to the side.

Another frog at the side eyed the petite Ovenfolk mage/thief.  While the larger humans would be too big, the smallish elven Or’ra would be just perfect.. and lashing out with its tongue, the small thief is pulled off her feet, and also disappears with a cry of profanity.

Niel watches the small Ovenfolk be pulled into the mouth of the frog, and calls out. “I’ll save you, Or’ra!”.  With a flourish, the Cleric twirls his magical mace, calling out at the frog “By the righteousness of St Cuthbert, I judge thee..” interrupted when he stumbled, ending up slamming his mace hard into his shoulder.

Behind the front line of fighters, Xogan the Cautious steps out, incanting arcane words as he points towards one of the frogs at the back of the party. A glowing white arrow of pure energy appears to his side, and darts forward at Xogan’s raised hand towards one of the attacking frogs.

At the rear of the party, Mann-wulf swings at the remaining frog, but before he can connect the white bolt of energy hits his remaining foe, sending it rolling back into the water, dead.  Mann-wulf turns to scowl at Xogan, but the Suel man has already turned his back on the barbarian towards the larger frogs at the front of the party.

The large frog which contained the swallowed thief turns and jumps back into the water. Before it can dive down, the frog twitches as a blade emerges from it’s stomach.  With a continuing spew of profanity, Or’ra appears, cutting her way out of the carcass of the dead frog, dragging her body through the mire and pulling herself to shore. “Bane’s Buttery Biscuits!” she called out, kicking the dead frog and dripping ichor and unmentionables.

The tides of the battle were turning, but the frogs were still coming out of the swamps. Arni twirled, bow drawn, ready to take out another one, when her footing slipped on moss, and she tumbled forward, her head hitting a rock on the side of the path.  With a cry, she crumpled in a daze – for a moment as a tongue lashed out and pulled her into an open maw.

“Arni’s been taken!” Xogan called out, pondering using the last of his magical reserves, which would leave him tapped for any other battles to come.

“Allow me!” Mann-wulf pushed the Suel mage out of the way, twirling his longsword.

“Careful!  You’ll cut her!” Xogan called out as Mann-wulf swung his sword in a mighty arc.

The frog was cleaved nearly in two, and Anri recovered from her stunning fall, with a fresh cut across her shoulder and back.  She looked up at Mann-wulf with bitter sarcasm, saying quietly, “Thanks.”

The tide of battle had turned, and the remaining frogs were cut down as they tried to flee. The air grew silent except for the panting of the party.

“So, should we search them?” Asked Wilo, with a wrinkling of her small nose.

“Go ahead.” Mann-wulf said, cleaning his blade.

Wilo looked at the large dead frog, and then crouched, blade in hand as she started searching through their stomachs. “Fine. But if I find anything – I’m keeping it.”

No one seemed to object.

“Should we, I don’t know.  Keep some of them?  For meat?” Mann-wulf asked as he finished cleaning his gear.

“I’m not sure how good it would be.” Niel pointed out, “And we have weeks of rations. We’re not exactly starving.” They took a second look at the fetid carcass and then shook their heads.

Wilo suddenly rose from the largest of the frogs.  In her hand was a small gleaming gem – looking even larger with her small digits. “Lookie!  Mine!” She exclaimed excitedly, and then cleaning off the gem, Wilo secreted it into her pocket.

The crumbling moat-house was barely a hundred yards away, and as they came close they could see the combination of the elements and the seige from years ago had not been kind on the structure.  The walls were breached in numerous places and crumbling, but somehow still mostly stood upright.  Surrounding the aptly named moat-house was a moat – the waters even more rank and fetid.  The drawbridge had been cut from it’s chains and lay bridging the gap, however the long rotted logs had fallen away in many places, and the bridge looked ready to collapse at any pressure.

“I have an idea!” Mann-wulf came to the front.  He carefully gauged the bridge and then looked down at Wilo. “How much do you weigh?”

“No.” Wilo said flatly.

“I could throw you across.” Mann-wulf continued.

“No.” Wilo said again.

“Where is that rope from the bandits?  In case you fall in.” Mann-wulf was set on his halfing-tossing idea.

“That’s a good idea!” Wilo said, rummaging through the bag for the rope the party found earlier.  She started looping it around herself and handed the coil to Niel.

“What am I supposed to do?” Niel asked.

“If I fall in, you pull me out.  I’m the lightest.. if I can cross..then we have a rope across the bridge.” Wilo explained.

Everyone nodded. It was a good idea.

Wilo crossed the bridge, feeling the rotted wood crumbling under her boots, but the bridge held.  Untying the rope from herself, she secured it to part of the bracing from the old doors and while the party crossed, she peeked through the doors into the courtyard.

The large wooden doors hung ajar, and the courtyard was filled with dead vegitation which had blown in from over the walls.  There was a distributed pile of refuse presumably from inside from at some point when the place was looted.  Across the courtyard stone steps lead up to the main building.  The second story had all but collapsed, but the first story was stubbornly holding on, with the windows dark and foreboding.

Behind and above them was a small gate-tower which straddled the gate-house.  A steep winding stone stair lead up to the dark crumbling tower.

“Which way?” Niel asked the group.

Arni stepped forward, looking down at the ground.  The young ranger, touched the ground, looking froward, and back. “There are fresh tracks. They come through here and head up into the manor.”

“What about the gate-house?” Niel asked.

Arni looked again. “No. Nothing goes there.  Whoever has been coming through – they just go to the manor house.”

Niel raised his mace. “Right. That’s where we go.” He stroke forward, up the steps, pushing the broken door wide as he entered the manor house.

The room was once a great audience chamber, as shown by the tattered banners and tapestries on the wall, destroyed furniture and heaps of rotting clothing thrown into corners. Once richly appointed, it had been thoroughly searched, sacked and despoiled. Leaves and dirt cover the floor and cobwebs hang from the walls and ceiling above. Looking up, you see that pieces of beams and chunks of stone poke through indicating that the upper stories of this place are totally destroyed and likely to be impassable to anything larger than a rat.

From the main room two main hallways lead back to the left and right towards the wings of the main house. In the far corner is a large door which leads to a corner tower.  Several alcoves are set in the walls, and arrow slots look out into the swamp.

The group paused and looked to Arni.  The ranger stepped in, lighting a torch to help analyse the ground. “Um, it looks like the tracks split up.  One set goes that way” she points towards the hallway back to their left leading to a dark doorway. “The other goes towards that way.” she points towards the door towards the far tower.

“Nothing for the halls?” Niel asked.

“Nope.” Arni asserts.

“We should still check those out first.” Mann-wulf declares.  The group looks between the walls, and heads towards the northern wing first.

As the group explored the rooms, they discovered more of the same. The place had been ransacked and looted, and was left decaying and crumbling with only rats to keep company.  After exploring a ruined trophy room, and a ruined sitting room, the party crossed the hall to what once was a kitchen.

The air was more rank and while the room was as destroyed as the rest, there was a cask which somehow had avoided being shattered along the far wall beside the rubble which once was a stone hearth.

“I’ll go look in that.” Mann-wulf declared, curious to see if there was any mead which was left.  Peering over the lip of the cask, there was a sudden splash of water and Mann-wulf fell back.

An obscenely large critter, about the size of a housecat lunged out.  Lucky for Mann-wulf, his armour protected him from the piercing and no-doubt disease ridden mandibles.

“Kill it!  Kill it dead!” Mann-wulf cried out in surprise as the group tried to maneuver in the cramped kitchen. Niel and Arni stepped in to swing at the large tick, however it was too agile and kept dodging out of their blows.  The creature tried to attack Niel next, but again, the armour plating protected the cleric from harm.

Wilo threw a dagger, whistling between the group to glance off the tick, but the giant abomination kept attacking. “Who would have thought the most vicious thing we’d fight is a giant bug!”

Finally, with a wet squelch, Niel brings his mace down. The bug was squashed, and to add insult to injury, there only thing in the barrel was fetid water.

…to be continued in the next part.

[This is part 2 of the fictionalization of a new campaign using 1st edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons. The group is playing through the classic Temple of Elemental Evil campaign, written by Gary Gygax.]

The afternoon sun had left the party with the gathering clouds, and the spring warmth was not yet coming to the hills.  Ahead, atop a small hill, was a rather new stone church. Obviously built within the last decade, its white stone was strong, sturdy and showed little weathering. The markings of St. Cuthbert were very plain to see among the flowing white and red banners.

Niel felt a particular glow, and his shoulders squared as he proudly lead the group into town, eyeing the temple as they passed.

The church was built on a hill along the north west of town, and allowed the party to have a good view down of the Village of Hommlett below. A myriad of buildings – most new but some old, were scattered haphazardly around following meandering paths.  A small river picked its way through the town, with a miller to the left – the small waterwheel and dam causing a small pond to appear upstream.

The center of the village was dominated by several large buildings, and far to the south east was another hill. This hill had a tower which overlook the down, and around the base of the tower was the scaffolding and signs of ongoing construction.

“We should check out the town – make sure we tell someone about those bandits” Wilo suggested as they group passed buildings – on one side a traders shop, and the other a moneylender.  Maybe odd for a town so small, but at the crossroads of many paths, the volume of travelers would seem to generate enough traffic.

The large building at the center of town turned out to be a small collection of attached buildings which was the Inn of the Welcome Wench. It’s courtyard surrounded by buildings and a tall fence, inside was a large stables and an even larger lodge-house – two stories.

“This is what we need!” Mann-wulf exclaimed, and Wilo pushed her way to the front, eager to seek out the inn after the day of walking.

Inside the inn was the large common room, with a spacious roof, rustic decor and tables which had several patrons – with more coming in as it approached dinner hour.  A serving boy lead them to their table, although he kept eyeing Wilo out of the corner of his eye. “Would you like to order, or talk to the inn keeper”

“Yes! To both!” Wilo exclaimed, now fully in her element.

With a blush the boy ran off.

Most of the patrons were Oerid, and with only Niel and Anri also Oerid, the party looked rather out of place. In particular, Wilo looked around, only seeing one other demi-human – a young duer serving girl.

“We don’t serve your kind in here!” came an accented voice.

The party swiveled to see an older man walking up, pointing at Wilo.

“Excuse me?” Wilo asked

“Hobniz are all thieves.  They aren’t welcome in my inn!” The man exclaimed loudly. Wilo screwed up her face, but held her tongue.

“I assure you, my compatriot will not undertake any thievery while on your grounds.” Niel asserted himself.

The innkeeper looked over, and then taking in Niel’s religious acumen, frowned. “If the little Hobniz does – it’s on YOUR conscience!  You take full responsibility!”

Niel didn’t even look sideways at his small companion. “Of course. You have my word, and the word of St Cuthbert.”

The innkeeper looked over, shooting a sidelong scowl. “Fine. Are you staying long, or just passing through.”

“We’re looking for things to kill!” Mann-wulf exclaimed, thumping his large hands down on the table. All this talk was getting to him.  Arni gasped and tried to sink back into the chair.

“We are travelling from Verbobonc. We heard there were bandits.” Niel interjected, wanting to keep the talk civil.

“Yes.  To the east.  They have been preying on merchants and travelers. Which is curious, with the Kron Hills to the south, the southern route has been rather quiet.” The innkeeper turned to look at Wilo. “That’s where the Hobniz are from.. the Kron Hills.”

Wilo bristled.

“We encountered bandits on our journeys from the north. We left them tied up, near 2 leagues walk from here.” Niel brought the attention back to himself.

“Oh! North?  You should tell the council. Doren needs to know.  And Rufus and Burne. I’m Ostler.. Ostler Gundigoot.”

“And who are…” Niel asked.

“Doren is the captain of the militia. Rufus and Burne.” Ostler paused and sighed, then started again, “Or.. as he would have us call him, His Most Worshipful Mage of Hommlet Burne.” Ostler openly rolled his eyes, “They are settling in.  They were former adventurers who have taken to protect the town.”

“Where can we find them?” Mann-wulf asked.

“They are in the tower, near the keep they are are building.  After defeating  a large bandit force threatening the countryside, it is said that they defeated a green dragon down in the Kron Hills. They are using that treasure to build their keep.” He turned to look at Wilo.

“Yes, yes.  Thank you.” Niel said.  Plates of food and pitchers of mead were arriving. Bowing, and with a final glare to Wilo, the innkeeper Ostler left.

Over the meal, the party talked.

It is strange that the bandits seem to be attacking all around the city. There was no doubt that they would need to find out more, but as of yet they did not have any solid leads. As the party was discussing whether to rent rooms in the hotel – or just stay out in the open using their travel packs, a young soldier in a colourful tabard showed up.

“His Most Worshipful Mage of Hommlet, Burne, and Rufus seeks the audience of the band of travellers.” The soldier announced. “You are hereby summoned to present yourself at the keep tomorrow after morning-fast.”

“We should go now!” Mann-wulf declared. “We know they are there, and they sent for us.”

“no.. that would be rude.  We can go at the appointed time.” Niel said.

As they finished their meal, they planned their next moves.

“I’m going to return to the church of St Cuthbert we passed. Perhaps they will have more information for us.” Niel announced.

“I could go and check out the town.” Wilo suggested, with a glint in her eye. “And perhaps see what Ostler is hiding!”

Arni considered going to see the druid in the grove, but she was quiet, and kept from saying anything – just listening.

“No! We should stick together. It is dangerous for us to go alone.” Mann-wulf declared. “We all go to the church.”

“If we don’t want to stay at the inn, we could stay at the church” Niel suggested.

“Free? That’s better than paying that guy.” Mann-wulf declared.  Will nodded. “I am not going to sleep in the stables.”

The group left, and as evening descended, climbed back up the hill to the white church.

The church was obviously new – it’s white stones un-weathered and the large golden sun-burst of St Cuthbert glistening, even in the fading light. Inside a large open hall with pillars met them, with a balcony high up where the priest would deliver his sermon. Underneath, the processional lead deeper to where the altar lay, where an assistant was busy.

“Hello?” Niel called out.

“Hello!” The call echoed back from the altar chamber, and the assistant ran out. “Blessings be to you.”

“And to you. And blessings be to St Cuthbert.” Niel answered.

“I’m Calmert. Assistant to the Canon Terjon, who resides over the flock here.”

“I am Niel. My party and I have come from Verbobonc to help with the bandits. May we speak with the Canon?”

“I’m afraid he is not here.  He is in meeting with the mage down at the tower.” Calmert explained.

“Burne. We have a summon with him tomorrow.” Niel agreed

“Then no doubt he knows about you and your fellows.” Calmert said.

“We seek a room for the night. may we stay here.” Niel asked.

“Of course! All of the faithful are welcome within these walls.” Calmert turned and picked up a donation tray. “Of course, St Cuthbert would give his blessings on the generosity of his guests.”

As Neil pulled out his coin pouch, Mann-wulf said under his breath “So much for free. It might have been cheaper to stay at the inn.”

Lead through the church, past the altar and sitting room, down a stair past the church kitchen – a sacred trophies hall filled with dented maces and knobbed culgels, to a row of cells. To be used either by the faithful needing a place to stay, or as a place to incarcerate offenders against the faith, the cells were stark with only a peg, a pallet and a pail. Their tiny windows were barred, and the heavy iron bound door could be barred from the outside.

“Yeah.. this is SO much better than the inn.” Wilo exclaimed sarcastically as she turned in for the night.

In the morning, after a simple breakfast, the group headed down, through town towards the tower. Villagers watched the group, as rumour of their arrival had spread through the town.

As they approached the crew working on the keep, nearby the marshal fields had all of the soldiers gathered as the group walked by.  It looks like Rufus was ensuring the party saw the assembled soldiers as they walked up to the keep.

Brought inside by a young aide, the group is brought before what appears to be most of the town council. Ostler is there, along with Canon Terjon – identifiable by his long robes of St Cuthbert.  Beside him is an old druid, no doubt the head of the old-faith in the town. Another old, yet fit, man – assuming to be Doren the captain of the milita. Rufus, not too much older than the party members with just a slight greying at the sides sat in a modest chair. And in the center, in an ornately carved throne was His Most Worshipful Mage of Hommlet, Burne. If it wasn’t the ostentatious throne, it would have been his silken robes and gaudy jewelry.

“Thank you for coming before us. Please, share with us your intentions. What is the name of your band?” Burne asked.

The group looked between themselves, and Niel stepped forward. “We don’t have a name – we have come from Verbobonc to help with the bandit trouble.”

“We’re here to find adventure.” Mann-wulf added.

“We ran into bandits north of town.” Niel added.

“Yes, we’ve heard the reports. They are troubling, as the bandits have never been bad to the north.. just mostly to the south.  That’s where Rufus and I had defeated them, long ago.” Burne continued talking.

“I thought they said they were bad to the east?” Wilo asked quietly to her group.

“These bandits – did they look organized? Or were they just working independently?” Doren asked.

The group conferred. “We don’t know.” Niel admits

“They weren’t really chatty” Mann-wulf adds. “We left one tied up to a tree. You could go ask him.”

There was a murmuring among the council.

“I charge thee – East of town.. on the road towards Nulb is a ruined moat-house.  During days of past it was a forward outpost for the Temple of Evil.  Since such time, it has fallen into ruin, and I suspect it may be the focus of the bandits.”

Rufus stood up and retired from the group.

“Go to this moat-house – it is several leagues away – and find and report back on any signs of the bandits.  If they are using it as a base – I charge thee to take care of this band of ruffians”.

Rufus returned with a map of the area, spreading it out and indicating on how they could find the overgrown path which lead away from the eastern road towards Nulb which would lead to the moat-house.

“And… payment?” Mann-wulf asked.

“You may keep any treasure you find in the ruined moat-house.” Burne announced. There was a murmuring from a couple of the council members. “… however.. any stolen goods from local merchants.. would need to be returned to the council to dispense.”

The murmurs turned more positive.

“That is agreeable.” Niel said, after looking around his companions.

“We have some old swords and a crossbow we recovered from the bandits.” Wilo added.

“Well, you could sell them to the traders in town.” Burne said, “Or I might be interested for them.  Show them to Rufus – they might be suitable for Burne’s Badgers.”

Wilo stifled a giggle.

“Tis the name of my soldiers.”

Strange… for a band of soldiers to be named after the mage.

After settling up and giving the swords, clubs and crossbow for use by the local guards, the group headed out east.  The day was still young, and they could get there by mid-afternoon.

They could clearly see the path, and the marshy lands were strangely quiet as they veered towards the ruined moat-house.  Pausing, Arni disappeared off the main path only to report that she had found evidence of numerous traveler. They were following the road, but keeping off the main way and trying to mask their passage. Someone had been using this route.

Ahead, the moat-house rose from the swampy grounds, as rotting and desolate as the grounds around it.  It’s outer structure was mostly intact but crumbling. The lands surrounding it were marshy and soft and wet in places, making the path the only safe reliable route to take.  Rotted logs form a draw-bridge, which is half collapsed and fallen into the murky waters below.

The group had arrived.