Barrowmaze: Repatriating the Red Lion of Aerik

[Spearmint]

Assaulting the Crypt.

Bhelnus busts the door and from outside in the corridor, Genaromes fingers his pouch of sandy grains, tossing the grit into the air and gesturing over his face to close eyelids, invoking a Sleep spell which causes one figure to slump into his chair. A flurry of shafts get loosened, arrows, hammer and bolts which pepper the closest figure who rises from the table. Each pings him but ricochets off to clatter against the alcove walls.

edit here:

Fydmar
Looses a (standard) X-bow bolt.

this actually hits, -5hp as the crossbow is enchanted.

Wrathbone charges in and whacks him but his halberd just chips chunks of stony splinters and horn from the skin of the creature, the blow staggering it backwards to upend the table but apparently otherwise unharmed. Durgo charges the figure to the left, Fydmar and Bhelnus double up against the one on the right. Each forces the opponent backwards into the alcove spaces but as with Wrathbone, their surprise advantage wreaks only havoc but not first blood. In the glare of thr flaming firebrand and close quarters, you realise these are no mere adventuring humanoids or Mongrelmen critters but animated and living, breathing Gargoyles.

In the rear most alcove is a cage. Inside the cage is a grotesque featured, reeking undead adventurer type turned ghoulish. It reaches through the cage bars to grab at the hand of the sleeper, crunching down upon a finger to gnaw at him.

While one Gargoyle will be rudely awakened, the others begin to fight back. The table is picked up and used as a shield from further blows.

Gargoyle: throw table [1d20]=11
Gargoyle: claw & claw [1d20]=7 [1d3]=2 [1d20]=18 [1d3]=2Gargoyle: headbutt with Ramshorn [1d20]=16 [1d3]=2

The one grappling with Durgo, rakes him with his claws, -2hp whilst the other launches himself to headbutt both dwarves, each taking a share of the damage, -1hp & -1hp.

Brother Symeon: 13+ Turn Undead vs ghoul [1d20-1]=6-1=5

Brother Symeon tries to rebuke the caged ghoul, hoping his wrath and commands will cause it to slink into a cage corner but the beast ignores his weak spoken wrath and proceeds to take some vengeance upon his captors, biting a finger off the Gargoyles hand.

next actions everyone please

I ill edit in any temporary hp once rolled.

Health Status:

Durgo Brightboon: 26/29hp (-2hp)
Fydmar: 17/24hp (-1hp)
Wrathbone: 12/12hp (+4hp temp = 16/16)
Bhelnus: 9/12hp (+4 hp temp /-1hp = 12/16)
Genaromes: 4/4hp (8/8hp with Wincy weasel Familiar) (+1hp temp 9/9hp).
Bro Symeon: 12/18hp
Yngvar: deceased
Rickford: 5/8hp
Duvall: 8/8hp
Brutus the mastiff: 4/8hp

[Straither]

Wrathbone

Wrathbone: Halberd [1d20]=8 damage [1d10]=6

I think we can quickly summise that this might not be a fight we can win and need to withdraw.

"Withdraw, behind me!" he calls, hacking at the table bearer and trying to push him backwards to give us a yard of space.

I guess it is a bit late to parlay.

[scottjen]

Fydmar
Fydmar responds to Wrathbone with "I agree with Wrathbone". If possible he will switch back to magic X-bow & loose another shaft as the group backpedals.
As needed: x-bow [1d20+3]=4+3=7, damage [2d4]=6
Perhaps he rushes the shot.

[kwll]

Sleep spell retention roll [4d6+1]=17+1=18

Unable to reuse his newly acquired sleep spell, as memory of its casting incantation disappears from his mind, Genaromes elects to use an arcane projectile to cover the party's retreat.

Magic missile damage [1d4+1]=4+1=5

[BaltoBruiser]

Can we use the "hold portal" birthday gift on the door if we want to retreat?

[Spearmint]

yes you can.

[Cwreando]

Durgo

Durgo will use his shield bash and attack with his sword to assist any of the crew that needs it as they back out of the room or fight on in the room.

Durgo says, "Fighting withdraw or give no quarter folks?"

[BaltoBruiser]

Bhelnus

Fighting Withdrawal, and then we can spike the door to keep them held in here.

[Cwreando]

Durgo

"Back out folks...Fighting withdraw. Be ready for the door."

[Spearmint]

Gargoyle Guards

Genaromes pings an enchanted missile to pierce a Gargoyle's natural ability to resist normal blades. -5hp The Gargoyle hurt spits out in pain, pointing at the mage and singling him out for the others once they can shake off their assailants.

Gargoyle: claw & claw [1d20]=7 [1d3]=3 [1d20]=17 [1d3]=3
Gargoyle: claw & claw [1d20]=19 [1d3]=2 [1d20]=15 [1d3]=1Gargoyle: claw & claw [1d20]=15 [1d3]=1 [1d20]=6 [1d3]=3

The Gargoyle and Ghoul grapple ends with the undead biting off a finger but releasing his captor. The other three claw at the backs of those retreating out of the crypt.

Durgo -3hp, Fydmar -3hp, Wrathbone -1hp.

The wounds traded to give Bhelnus time to take out his trinket wedging spike and strike it into the door frame just as the wounded trio escape, shutting the door behind them as the enraged Gargoyles out them to flight. The spike, blessed with a Hold Portal enchantment will suffice for a short while as the Gargoyles batter upon the other side. It will not hold them for long.

Brother Symeon takes out a trinket too. One gifted by Fydmar earlier, it is a clockwork mouse which when wound up and released with scuttle down a corridor and through powers of distraction, cause those who view it to chase it in preference to other quarry.

The group can retreat to the Harpy shaft area (mindful of a pit trap along the way or in the corridor / spider web crypt you just came from).

The four gargoyles bust out a few rounds later, immediately encountering the squeaking clockwork that runs in circles outside the door. It then whizzes off, echoing down the diagonal passage further on the left and in its wake, the four Gargoyles chase frantically. They run helter skelter up the corridor on the mouse's tail, actually turning into the passage parallel above and going up the diagonal passage that goes alongside the Obelisk room of the interior crypts. These critters though won't be fooled long.

Gargoyle: 14+ saves [1d20]=18 [1d20]=17 [1d20]=15 [1d20]=3

The group face a dilemma; an obvious choice to retreat to the more relative safety of the Harpy Shaft area and rooms you are familiar with. Durgo shines his blessed lantern around, checking on each of his groups whereabouts, flashing a cone of illumination down the corridor length to check on more Gargoyle or Ghoulish reinforcements. Nothing stirs but at the very end of the passage, way past the Gargoyle crypt, a radiant ghostly apparition appears; flickering forlornly and gesturing to him momentarily. He has heard of phantom spirits, eerie haunts, spectres of the lingering dead, the ghosts dwelling in the Svirfneblin caverns. But this figure does not invoke a fear or bear any ghastly frame, instead it seems endowed with a presence of steadfastness and law. Then in the blink of an eye, it is gone.



Actions Durgo & Fydmar please read the Festivals & Celebrations thread!

next actions please.


Health Status:

Durgo Brightboon: 26/29hp (-5hp)
Fydmar: 17/24hp (-4hp)
Wrathbone: 12/12hp (+4hp temp = 15/16)
Bhelnus: 9/12hp (+4 hp temp /-1hp = 12/16)
Genaromes: 4/4hp (8/8hp with Wincy weasel Familiar) (+1hp temp 9/9hp).
Bro Symeon: 12/18hp
Yngvar: deceased
Rickford: 5/8hp
Duvall: 8/8hp
Brutus the mastiff: 4/8hp

[kwll]

Genaromes immediately lets down his beaver, and asks him to scout ahead near where the apparition was seen. "This way, Wincy." he whispers, talking fast.

[scottjen]

Fydmar
Motions the others toward where Genaromes went, X-bow in hand. He will check for pursuit & loose bolts at any that come after them - so he will be towards the back as they move down the corridor.
If needed: x-bow [1d20+3]=7+3=10, damage [2d4]=7

[Straither]

Wrathbone

Yes there is a pit trap about forty feet or so from the end of the passage into the Harpy Shaft, it was where the fleeing ghoul run parkour style up the wall to dodge falling in or setting it off. I think I chalked one side if it as a warning but not sure. Anyway, in any retreat I would be aware and remind others of it.

"Once more into the breach", he says when we about turn and consider rushing back headling down the passage we just fled up.

I am surmising that Durgo recognises the ghost as the spirit of Sir Guy O'Veargne and thus takes that as a signal for 'come this way!'. If the Gargoyles are one step (or corridor) behind us (and judging by your rolls, three will stop following the clockwork mouse and return), I wonder if actually that we need still some distraction. To fool the Gargoyles into believing we did indeed return to the Harpy Shaft area? So split the party in an attempt to draw them away so that others (Durgo, Genaromes, Fydmar) can locate the body or bleeding bricks.

I would be willing to 'hold the fort' with say Rickford, Duvall and the mastiff in the Shaft area, (Bro Symeon too?) retreating into the old Harpy lair if neccessary or the rooms north that we fought in before. We can create light and noise to draw these Gargoyles towards us, maybe into the pit?

Action I will look to Durgo to address the decision, whether he considers it a strategic ploy or a suicidal idea (aren't they all?). But I am fine with a few heroics. My thought was if we all run down there and the Gargoyles run after us, then we are no better off.

"You go! I've got this!" he says.

[Cwreando]

Durgo

"I detest splitting the group up my friends. Maybe there is another way. Maybe there is a connecting hallway we can use to avoid the gargoyles while they roam around. They will need to be dealt with at some point and we may walk into them. I wonder if they go back to the room after a certain time. I'd prefer taking some time to see if the beasties go back to their room. If the group prefers another action I will go with the group. I do believe the visage was that of the Red Lion my friends"

[Straither]

Wrathbone

"I do believe the visage was that of the Red Lion my friends"

"You carry his shield and bear a torch blessed with stained glass from his memorial window. He calls you forth Durgo. Go and be quick. Recover his remains. I will do what I can here to delay these Gargoyles."

I think if we stay as a whole group, these Gargoyles might halt further progress. Splitting is a risk, but we need distract them away from others who follow the spirit's guidance.

So, my actions, I will strike a firebrand each for Rickford & Duvall and if the agree to follow, I intend to lure these Gargoyles away, chasing me through the rooms of the interior crypts we just left and into those rooms we labelled Harpy Halls (the gargoyle statue room and those crypts with the glass block and where we fought the ghouls and fire zombies). Then make any last stand inside the former Harpy queen lair.

[Cwreando]

Durgo

Durgo moves quickly to find the Prior owner of the shield’s remains. Fydmar can you join me. Just in case i find trouble.”

Durgo waits for Fydmar but moves with purpose once joined.

”We could all go and hide in the room possibly too.”

[scottjen]

Fydmar
I'm here (joins w/Durgo). Do you want me to check for traps? Or possibly we may need my X-bow more in case those Gargoyles head this way. We we may have little time. And it seems unlikely the spirit of the Red Lion would lead us into a trap - that was what I saw, yes?

[BaltoBruiser]

Bhelnus

Aye, Fydmar, I believe I saw the same. We seek the Red Lion and that is the way we should go!

He keeps his assegei at the ready hoping that fiery blade might do some damage if they encounter the gargoyles again.

[Spearmint]

Exploring beyond the Harpy Shaft.

Wrathbone determines to lead the Gargoyle guards astray, hoping that he can be as effective as the clockwork mouse and cause them to chase upon his own tail whilst others advance further into the Barrowmaze, lured onwards by the spirit of Sir Guy O'Veargne.

Rickford & Duvall complete the rearguard action, hoping the trio can suffice.

Actions Wrathbone, Rickford & Duvall head towards the Obelisk room, attracting the Gargoyles towards them. For now the ruse works and they conduct a fighting retreat through those crypts of the interior chambers, barricading doors behind them to delay pursuit.

Durgo, Fydmar, Bhelnus, Genaromes & Bro Symeon take the window of opportunity to dash down the western corridor towards where the spectral apparition appeared. Passing the Gargoyle room, the cross shaped crypt left unexplored. The ghoul in the cage rattling his bars, growling in his undead torment. After thirty feet, another corridor stretch southwards into foreboding darkness, to the right another angled passage. Ignoring both, the group reach the corridor end which seems to offer a multitude of exploration options. Sadly no further guidance is given and you wonder in the silence if the eerie Barrowmaze has not just lured you into a false security and more dilemmas.

Thankfully, the two Gargoyles stationed by a door to the north remain stationary and inanimate at your intrusion. Folk peer around corners, checking for dangers and signs, hushed. Genaromes concentrates upon Familiar Wincey who explores among the noted rubble portions. Fydmar can confirm the stone and statuesque nature of the two G, gargoyles. The door between them closed, noises very similar to the previous Gargoyle room are emitted from behind its oak panels. Heckles rise on Brutus, the mastiff leashed by Bhelnus rise, a tiny growl in his throat. The guard dog scowling towards the darkness in the southwards passage (the one in the bottom left hand corner of the map).

Sheltered in shadows and corners, the group communicate in hushed whispers and hand signals.

next actions please

[kwll]

Genaromes stays with his companions, waiting expectantly to see what his familiar discovers.