Conan's Run (IC - Conan. Marcel only)

[Grognardsw]

It is time. One of the Guild Houses looms before you. Its true purpose is of course hidden under the guise of a respected and complicit merchant, as much of the city's underworld is veiled in legitimacy.

You enter and are escorted to an impressive library.

In an alcove, a wall of books parts to reveal a secret passageway down. You walk for some time through a maze of passages, doubtless subterranean, then arrive at a simple room. 

You are seated before a large desk. The Guild Lieutenant sits before you and speaks.

"Welcome Conan. As you know, the thieves and assassin’s guild of Lankhmar is a powerful institution, its tendrils deep in commerce and government. As such, its structure is elaborate and its training intense. Part of this training is an elaborate obstacle course, a testing ground in the cellars of the guild headquarters: The Assassin’s Run."

"The facility serves many purposes. The Run is a gymnasium for the practice of skills not easily performed repeatedly with discretion in public places. It is a training zone for novices and experts alike. It is a safe room for the Guild, defensible and deadly against intruders."

You nod your head and think of the others rumors heard in certain quarters. That the Guild has a hidden highway through the sewers of the city, and that the Run is connected to it. It is also said there are secret apartments at the center of the Run where the Master lives.

The Guild Lieutenant continues: "All Guild members are required to take the Run to advance in rankings. The Run's reputation is known throughout the underworld of the Realms. Many visiting adventurer thieves come to experience it."

"During your Run, the Guild Master will be watching you through a Wizard Eye (cast by a mage who serves as one of the Guild lieutenants.)  As the Guild does not want to maim or kill its members, blades will be blunted and projectiles padded (same damage, but subdual/non-lethal.) Traps that would be lethal are disqualifying. You may occasionally receive instructions via note. Follow them."

"Like much a thief does in life, you are scored by time and accomplishment. Move quickly, but not so quickly to preclude strategy. Have a sharp mind, but do not deliberate overly long. Combat may be necessary to accomplish a task, but it often is a means to an end, not the task itself. The wise will realize the difference and act accordingly."

The Lieutenant points to a door. "Good luck."

[Marcel]

Conan stands, "I am honored for the opportunity. Let us begin." Stepping towards the door Conan pats his gear and then asks, "Will lighting be scarce, water, food? What do REAL thieves bring? Climbing gear? Slippers? These items I have not prepared. Will Magic be an obstacle?" Conan looks down at the Guild Lieutenant. Not trusting any thief, he studies his expression to gauge the truth in his responses.

[Grognardsw]

The Guild Lieutenant smiles unsympathetically and sips a cup.


"This isn't a vacation Cimmerian. Expect nothing. If you're in there long enough to need food, you've failed. As for equipment, the choice was yours. Now go."

Unless you note otherwise, I'll assume normal movement and observation level. Feel free to state specifically what you'll be doing, seeing/searching, speed of walking/running, what is in your hands in a given round, etc. The nature of the Run makes such specificity helpful for the character. Thanks.

[Marcel]

With a smile, Conan pulls his hair back and tightens the strap on his boot. "Let me in Doorman".

[Grognardsw]

Darkness and descending stairs meet you upon opening the door. The light from the room shows five feet of stairs before blackness engulfs.

[Marcel]

Before entering the darkness, Conan looks around the room for a removable light source.

[Grognardsw]

Conan moves to grab a lit torch from the wall sconce.

"Sorry my friend, but equipment lists were submitted beforehand," says the Guild Lieutenant. "No torch. You bring what you have."

[Marcel]

With a chuckle, Conan descends down the stairs at a normal walk pace. After three steps down, he turns and waits for the door to shut. After it's completely closed, Conan then waits for total silence before descending the rest(listening before stepping). With his sword sheathed and a dagger in his boot, he'll carry his other dagger in his(off)left hand.

[Grognardsw]

Conan the thief pauses, listens, hears nothing, and pads down the stone stairs. By touch the Cimmerian thinks the stairs are 6' wide, the ceiling 8' high. The stairs go down 10' then turn west in a 10' swerve that continue down. Suddenly Conan's foot trips over a raised stair. As he tumbles Conan tries to regain balance (please make Dex. check.)

You may wish to map. It may or may not help. My descriptions may be more precise than usual. I normally provide maps, but in this case given it's a test/challenge adventure, it's up to the players.

[Marcel]

[1d20] = 4

With a startling thought of unnecessary injury, Conan slows his pace to a cautious step, all the while still looking for a glimpse of light or any sound from ahead.

[Grognardsw]

The stairs continue down another 10' and end in what might be a room, as from the portal opening you feel wall extend left and right. It is dark. Then a line of light on the floor in the wall opposite you, perhaps maybe 20-25' away. Light from under a door?

[Marcel]

Conan puts his dagger away and pulls his sword slowly(right hand). In a defensive posture, he cautiously moves along the left wall feeling out with his free hand until he comes around to the light area(avoiding the center of the room). Every two steps, he'll tap the ceiling and floor ahead of his position. In a low voice, Conan claims "Crom smashes the Gods of Darkness under his feet."

[Grognardsw]

Conan hugs the left wall, following it to a door. The wall goes at an angle out about 20-30', then north about 5' to the door. The barbarian figures if the room is symmetrical, it would be triangular shaped with the stair entry the tip of the triangle and the wide base being the other end, where Conan is at the door.

The door is dark as the room is. The light from under it has a torch quality. It is quiet.

[Marcel]

Standing along the partially open side, Conan uses his sword and slowly opens the door. Using the light, he keeps his eyes on the room he's in as it comes into view. At the same moment, he listens for movement in the new room. (if the lit area of his room is empty, and no sound comes from the new room) Conan peeks around the doorway, examines the light source, examines the floor and ceiling for traps and then enters the room.

[Grognardsw]

Conan opens the creaking door - intentionally squeeky he wonders? A short 10' corridor is revealed, leading into a room from which torch light emanates. The Cimmerian silently examines the immediate floor and ceiling in front of him for traps and finds none.

The barbarian thief moves into the room. From his position in the southeast corner, he sees the room is 20' across and 30' long. To his right in the middle of the east wall is a door. Across from it in the west wall is a 1' diameter metal gong, held inside a locked cage with bars an inch apart. The distance from bars to the gong is about 16".

Above the gong is a wall sconce with a lit torch. In the middle of the room, getting up from a simple wooden chair, is a roguish chap with a 10' pole. He twirls it expertly and says: "Your task: ring the gong. My task: stop you."

Swinging the pole, the man leaps toward Conan!

- Declare actions and include accompanying rolls!
- Find Traps [1d100] = 25
- Feel free to include rolls with stated actions when required (e.g. thief skills)

[Marcel]

Conan is in the southeast corner. In the middle of the room, getting up from a simple wooden chair, is a roguish chap with a 10' pole.

Seeing the Gong and hearing the threat, Conan replies "I will ring your gong with your head"
Conan moves defensively(evades/tumbles)around the room until he is near the caged Gong(ultimately). In his movement, if an opportunity to grab the chair(with his off-hand)presents itself(a miss from the lengthy pole attack perhaps), he'll grab it.

Just defending/moving first round. DexCheck [1d20] = 14 Here's an extra DexCheck for grabbing the chair(if necessary)[1d20] = 4

[Grognardsw]

Thug and Gong - Round One

Conan paces the room towards the gong, ready to evade the thug.

The thug swings! Conan partially blocks the pole and ducks, deflecting most of the force (1 HP damage.)

The barbarian thief grabs the wood chair and maneuvers around to the front of the caged gong.

Actions for Round Two!

Thug on Conan [1d20] = 14, dam. [1d4] = 1 Hit

[Marcel]

Conan maneuvers to the front of the caged gong.

Conan(looks to see if the thief has a key visible on a necklace or chain)stalls, "You face possible death. Are you sure this is what you signed-up for?" (using the chair as a[lion-tame-style]shield)Conan, facing the thief, backs into the cage(hoping to rattle & gong) to determine if it's solid.

Holds action(no attack)/full defense.

INTCheck(spot hidden?)INT 10[1d20] = 10 ?or maybe the thief Check Find?

[Grognardsw]

Thug and Gong - Round Two

Conan holds forth with the chair, eyeing the thug for a key. He sees no visible key. The Cimmerian bumps the cage to try to rattle the gong. It is quite solid and has no effect.

The thug thrusts the pole at Conan's face. He easily parries with the chair.

Actions For Round Three!

- According to PH p. 104, a parry (your full defense) means your Str. bonus becomes a minus for the opponent. Thus -2 to hit Conan.
- Thug pole at conan [1d20-2] = 2-2 = 0, dam [1d4] = 1 Miss

[Marcel]

The thug thrusts the pole at Conan's face. He easily parries with the chair

Conan attacks "Your pole. [swing] That's your choice of weapon? "

Conan's ATT w/Broadsword (THACO:16)[1d20+3] = 8+3 = 11 Broadsword DMG vs. man[2d4+6] = 4+6 = 10