Expedition: Ablesforth: The Demon Hole - 14 July 2021

[Rusty Tincanne]

Able offers the golden necklace to Idriss. You found it last time. Want it back? An' how come this statue speaks our language so we'll, d'ya think? He let's the others clear away the debris and "confronts" the statue, standing we'll back from it. Who are ya? An' what're we supposed t'wait fer? What happened t'these gobbers?

[Spearmint]

Idriss

"The necklace is a curse, best leave it were it lay.". He looks at the strange phenomenon of the rations. expecting something to be summoned that might not be pleasant he intones a ward against evil. (Protection spell cast).

[Marullus]

Ablesforth "confronts" the statue, peppering it with questions.

Who are ya?

"Thou weedy beetle-headed hedge-pig!"spits the statue. "Your insolence is brazen!"

An' what're we supposed t'wait fer?

"Hast thou never an eye in thy head?" the statue rolls its marble eyes.

What happened t'these gobbers?

"Thou art a very superficial, ignorant, unweighing fellow." sighs the statue. "Their fate is as simple as you."

(Nobody has moved to address the barricade, which is on the other side of the door. It would be an Open Doors roll (1 in 6, plus strength bonus) to shift it enough to begin dismantling it.)

Date: 15 July 2021, 2:50pm
Light: Lantern (until 4:00pm)
Effects: Invisible (Dare, Pendleton)
Injuries: Idriss (Severe wounds), Dolph (severe wounds), Pendleton (moderate wounds), Ablesforth (minor wound), Grimble (Diseased)

[Rusty Tincanne]

Able disagrees with Idriss. I'd hate t'see some other feller die for a bit of greed. We'll take it back t'town and deal with it then.

He is confused by the statue's replies, so he continues the converstaion. My 'pologies, Mr. Statue. We only just got here and don't know as much as you, clearly. We're not inclined t'sit 'ound an' wait here, since there're half-headed sniffers roaming about, looking t'kill anything what moves. So you'll need t/be more specific with the why's and wherefore's, as they say. Enlighten us, please. What're we s'posed to be waitin' fer?
An' what, or who, are ya? D'you got summit t'do with these dead gobbers on the floor? Able indicates to Dolph to have a try moving the barricade.

[Zhym]

"Depends on the feller," counters Pendleton. "As a trap for one's enemies, it could be quite effective. Leave it in a chest full of treasure, and a thief will get quite the comeuppance! Or leave it near a campsite while you rest, and a potential attacker might just dispatch himself before he gets to you. The right buyer might actually pay for such a necklace."

He contemplates interacting with the insulting statue, but decides to remain incognito for the moment while someone brawny moves the bad barricade aside.

[Marullus]

Ablesforth continues to question the statue.

What're we s'posed to be waitin' fer?

"Thou art a disease that must be cut away," spits the statue as if even answering you is distasteful.

An' what, or who, are ya?

"I shall live to knock thy brains out." snarks the statue with another eye roll.

D'you got summit t'do with these dead gobbers on the floor?

"Thou goatish idle-headed pumpion!" the statue exclaims, looking indignant.

Meanwhile, Dolph braces his shoulder and pushes against the door, straining, but is unable to shift the barricade. He backs up and slams it hard, making a loud BANG but gaining no further success.

Date: 15 July 2021, 3:00pm
Light: Lantern (until 4:00pm)
Effects: Invisible (Dare, Pendleton)
Injuries: Idriss (Severe wounds), Dolph (severe wounds), Pendleton (moderate wounds), Ablesforth (minor wound), Grimble (Diseased)

Dolph [1d6] = 5

[Zhym]

"That necklace might be good on our friend the statue here," says Pendleton. He shrugs—not that anyone can see him do it—and tries moving the beds. Putting his shoulder into it, he pushes hard.

Those in the room see nothing happen to the beds.

Open Doors: [1d6] = 5

Are we sure that statue doesn't just have a Magic Mouth set to deliver random insults?

[Rusty Tincanne]

Able smiles at the statue. Funny stuff, that. But he gives up trying to make it talk sense, instead, walking over to the barricaded doorway. He sets his shoulder to it and forces an opening wide enough for the group to slip through. With a last look at the statue, he leads the way into the other room, If that thing wasn't so danged heavy, it'd be a funny thing to take with us. I bet Brother Mylo'd get a right kick out of it. He chuckles as he makes his way into the next room.

[Marullus]

You've got to post your rolls when you do that...
budge barricade (1-3 success) [1d6] = 1

Dolph not finding initial success, Ablesforth lends his own bulk to the barricade. With some grunting and straining, they hear a loud crash as one of the beds topples, allowing the door to open barely enough for a man to wiggle through with effort.

At the same time, the right-hand door on the far wall from the statue and barricade flies open as ten half-heads clamber through, piling into the chamber and rushing towards you, slavering as they seek the source of the noise and commotion.

Actions!

The barricade opens enough that one PC can wiggle through each round.


Date: 15 July 2021, 3:10pm
Light: Lantern (until 4:00pm)
Effects: Invisible (Dare, Pendleton)
Injuries: Idriss (Severe wounds), Dolph (severe wounds), Pendleton (moderate wounds), Ablesforth (minor wound), Grimble (Diseased)

[Rusty Tincanne]

Sorry about that!
Able moves toward the sniffers, calling Dolph and Idriss to join him.Like I said afore. We can make a shield wall an' let the others slip outta here. He casts Protection from Evil on Neegan, inviting the dwarf to join their flesh-barricade.

[Spearmint]

Idriss

he has this Templar 'protection from evil' aura and cast the spell of the same name on Dolph. Idriss joins the meat wall while fidgeting with his pouch. It contains two flasks of holy water. (in his backpack he has 5 more flasks available). With those two in reach he holds them above his head ready to pour should trouble get too close to him.

[Zhym]

Pendleton isn't too proud to make for the door.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Idrisshe has this Templar 'protection from evil' aura and cast the spell of the same name on Dolph.

Dolph has that same protection already from being a Templar. Maybe cast it on Grimble or Neegan? (since we can only see the dwarfs presently) Able will not cast PFE if Idriss is doing the same.

edited to correct character names

[Marullus]

(Keeping actions as stated: Ablesforth casts on Neegan. I'll have Idriss cast on Grimble.)

Ablesforth and Idriss both weave protections over the dwarves as the half-heads approach. Dolph joins Ablesforth to form a line - Idriss holds his two flasks of holy water over his head, prepared. Pendleton slips through the door, still invisible, and Dare is somewhere unseen between the group and the door.

The half-heads snarl and rush at the group, getting up an inch from Idriss, then Ablesforth and Dolph, snarling with their fetid breath.

Actions!

Date: 15 July 2021, 3:11pm
Light: Lantern (until 4:00pm)
Effects: Invisible (Dare, Pendleton)
Injuries: Idriss (Severe wounds), Dolph (severe wounds), Pendleton (moderate wounds), Ablesforth (minor wound), Grimble (Diseased)

[Spearmint]

Idriss

Phew! they stopped before us.

Idriss taps the staTuesday and addresses it formally. "My learned friend. Please tell us about these infernal wretches that assail us? What are they and where do they come from?"

[Dram]

Neegan moves up with others to be meat wall. holds out his hand to Ildriss. I take wun of tem holy waters.

[Mister-Kent]

Dare heads to the door as well...

I'll need to study the map, as I've forgotten where we need to run!

[Rusty Tincanne]

I'll need to study the map, as I've forgotten where we need to run!

Just follow [the invisible] Pendleton.

Freaky the way they get all up in yer face but can't touch you, ain't it?

Just be careful with them waters, fellers. Eruanna's protection only holds fer as long as we don't attack these things, an' I ain't figgered out if blessed water's a weapon or not. An' now ain't the time t'discover. Once Dare an' Pendleton are through, let's back up t' the door and slip through one at a time. Keep these sniffers from getting through. I'll slip through last - when I do, you lot try and push them beds back in place to block these things.

If they do get through, we'll just use Eruanna's protection to keep 'em at bay the whole way out. Once he is sure Dare is through the door, Able instructs the dwarfs to slip through into the bunk room, then Idriss and Dolph.

[Marullus]

Dare follows Pendleton, but nobody notices. Once they think he's through then Grimble, Neegan, Idriss, Dolph, and finally Ablesforth wiggle through the doorway. Ablesforth wedges the beds back in place to reinforce the barricade while everyone gets a moment to see the room.

You entered through the northern door into a 30' by 30' spartan chamber, two beds forming a barricade to hold the broken portal in place. The northwest corner has a fireplace and one bed remaining, not used for the barricade. It is a plain-wood bunk the blankets and matressing long-ago shredded into mess by vermin and scattered around the room. A simple wood table with four chairs sits in the open area while an axe caked with dried blood lies before a fireplace. An empty jar lies on the hearth, human teeth glistening in the fireplace ashes. Two wooden chests rest next to the bunks and some items are on an inset shelf on the wall. There is a reinforced wooden door on the far east wall, an archway on the far west wall, the familiar hallway beyond it.

Open door [1d6] = 1

...the barricade doesn't hold long. As soon as he gets it in place, it shatters under the applied force of the demonic forces, which begin wiggling through behind you.

The party makes the most of their current divine protection, running down the hallway. You make it to the room with the tables, slamming more doors behind you. Out the other side is the stairs, which you spring up to the cave above. You don't see the demons behind you and the rats stay out of your way. You don't see zombies as you hurry to the cave exit.

It takes an hour or so, but you then see a patrol of guards riding by and manage to flag them down. They're willing to take Grimble back to infirmary, and anyone else who wants to escort.

Next?

Date: 15 July 2021, 6:00pm
Light: Sunlight
Effects: Invisible (Dare, Pendleton)
Injuries: Idriss (Severe wounds), Dolph (severe wounds), Pendleton (moderate wounds), Ablesforth (minor wound), Grimble (Diseased)

[Rusty Tincanne]

Ablesforth laughs giddily when they emerge from the caves.A bit nutty, that was.
But we got some good infermation. Them sniffers came outta a door attached t' the room what the statue was in. It's a good place t'start from.

When the guardsmen arrive, Able gives them a platinum piece to split, and asks them to take Grimble, the horned mask, pitcher and other larger items straight to Brother Mylo. He asks if any of them would like to bolster the party's numbers.

1. Would we have had any opportunity to grab one or more of those chests?
2. Does anyone want to head back to town?
3. If Grimble is out of the adventure, could sirravd to up another character to join us from the guard unit? (Probably it would need to be a human fighter.) Does he have any interest in doing so?
4. 1pp deducted.