Barrowmaze: Repatriating the Red Lion of Aerik

[Straither]

Wrathbone,

Will continue to draw the four Gargoyles away from the other group. As described, sheltering behind each door, barricading them with any furnishings, the metal statue, coffer lids. Whatever can hamper them. We can't really gave combat as none have magic weapons. I will use my waxwork Neshralk guard, lighting it and giving a salute.

"Do you duty trooper. Stop these beasts from entering this room." he says to the candlework figure, hoping it actually has some magic trait worthwhile for the sacrifice. I will place it on top of the Obelisk to trigger his miniature crossbow at any Gargoyle who enters from the corridor.

[scottjen]

Fydmar
Hopefully Genaromes little friend finds a sign of what we seek, he says in little more than a whisper (a prayer maybe?).
The door between the statues seems best avoided. South or west perhaps? We should continue to move quickly, in case Wrathbone's distraction fails or the things give up the chase. Hopefully our friends will escape the fiends.

[Cwreando]

Durgo

Whispering, "The apparition was near here. It has to be fairly close my friends. St. Ygg give us a sign."

* Durgo activates his trinket of holy light to guide them truly.

[Spearmint]

Chasing ghosts and being chased.

Wrathbone draws the Gargoyles away as they give up on the clockwork mouse. Indeed, unbeknown to the group, the fourth Gargoyle has pursued towards the Metal Door that you believe the Orcus cultists went through, cornering the mechanical rodent and hammering it to smithereens in his provoked rage. The three others put stony shoulders into the crypt door that opens into the Obelisk Room.

Wrathbone, as far as the Waxwork Neshralk goes, you light the wick on his helmet and speak a trigger word on his foot. The miniature figure then animates and effectively can stand guard or patrol a doorway or object. Its crossbow has a minor affliction for damage (Sleep causing agent). It can be used once daily for a four hour period, obeying simply guard commands.

Duty bound, the trooper salutes, the wick on his helm lit, his crossbow aimed. He is left in place in the Obelisk peak.

Neshralk trooper: [1d20]=4 [1d20]=1 [1d20]=19

Three miniature flechettes are launched from the enchanted Neshralk figure at the first Gargoyle that breaches the door. The first two shafts, no larger than a sewing pin, ricochet harmlessly off the stony skin of the creature but the third pricks his neck.

Gargoyle: Save vs Spells [1d20]=4

The Gargoyle plucks the irritant from his neck and carries on his charge through the room only to stumble after a few feet as the enchanted affliction within the dart works its magic upon him. He falls heavily, slumped by the next door. The trooper's flickering flame lits a brighter orange with pride at his success but the Neshralk guard is a forlorn hope and those Gargoyles behind simply splatter him into waxy blots that stain the wall. Still the Gargoyle threat has been temporarily halved and for Wrathbone, Rickford & Duvall, that is a crucial factor in their survival. They retreat further into the interior crypt rooms, barricading the next door with the large metal statue.

Actions for Wrathbone.


Meanwhile ...

Durgo, Fydmar, Genaromes, Bhelnus & Bro Symeon are sheltering at the end if the western passage. The mage concentrating upon his Familiar Wincey who is sent forward to sniff out and scout out among the nearby rubble portions.

If you look at the map, you can see a partial rubble collapse in the passage north. This is from an unstable portion of wall where landslip, erosion and general dereliction has taken toll. A person may proceed by that section with care; no running or fighting so as to not provoke further collapse. To the south, another larger section blocks access into a dark crypt beyond. Wincey has no trouble to wriggle himself through the cracks and crannies to explore beyond. Aware of danger, he scuttles about silently, pouncing on a juicy centipede to munch and sniffing out the bones of an armoured skeleton that lies slumped in the next chamber.

Actions for Genaromes/Wincey.

Fydmar remains by the door in-between the two stationary Gargoyle statues. Listening at the door, he is convinced that more Gargoyles, living and active are in the crypt beyond but presently they do not seem alerted to intruders exploring outside or the chase happening elsewhere.

Actions Fydmar.

Heckles rise on Brutus, the mastiff, 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).

The guard dog has scented something and it doesn't wag his tail. Quite the opposite in fact. Durgo ignites his bullseye lanthorn, shining the radiant light down the southern passage.

The passage continues more than eighty feet before turning west. About thirty feet down your lantern light picks out a diminutive hoary figure. A ragged halfling with a corrupt face and hellish red eyes. She stands by the wall with a vellum of skin, rubbing her hands over the surface and whispering an unholy invocation. Once highlighted she turns in the light to snarl at her sudden exposure.

Brother Symeon: Turn Undead [1d20-2]=1-2=-1

Brother Symeon steps forward to rebuke the undead halfling but his words falter and his rebuke swiftly ends with the priest actually wretching from the stench emitted by the ghoulish figure.

Actions Durgo & Bhelnus.

[Straither]

Wrathbone

Continuing his fighting retreat to draw the Gargoyles away from the others. Some actions & questions done via my private thread.

Confident that the Neshralk trooper will 'do his duty', he feels the same obligations, trying to organise the two mercenaries Rickford & Duvall to check next exits so that we don't blindly run into more trouble.

"Sounds like there are less grunts and growls in the Obelisk room. If we can thin them out and stretch them out, that will be good enough." he encourages the duo.

Wrathbone: Strength check vs 14: [4d6]=15

[scottjen]

Fydmar
Will fire his X-bow at the undead halfling w/a silver bolt.
x-bow [1d20+3]=2+3=5, damage [2d4]=6
bloody hell

[kwll]

Genaromes approaches the rubble in the south passage. "What do you see around you, little one? Who is this skeleton? Can you better show me his armor?" he asks, half whispering, half talking in his head. "And is there another path to join you?"

[BaltoBruiser]

Bhelnus

HIsses to the dog Hold Brutus! Then fires his crossbow at the ghoulish halfling distracted perhaps by Brutus' continue growling.

Crossbow Short Range To Hit: [1d20]=11, Damage: [2d4]=3

[Cwreando]

Durgo

Durgo sets the lantern down as he moves forward drawing his sword and does a shield bash on the creature and sword attack.

[Spearmint]

Exploring beyond the Harpy Shaft.

Wrathbone and the two mercenaries, Rickford & Duvall continue their stonewalling efforts to delay and distract the Gargoyle guards. They barricade interior doors against the fury of the stony skinned creatures, trying to stay out of reach and grasp of their raking claws. With ordinary weapons, direct combat is futile as these animates are resistant to all but enchanted blades.

actions: Wrathbone, we continue in your private thread.

[Spearmint]

Chasing ghosts and ghasts

Meanwhile, those who have advanced past the Gargoyle guard room, explore the far passages where the forlorn spirit of Sir Guy O'Veargne appeared.

To the west, Wincey weasel scrambled over loose rubble, directed to sniff out the bones of the armoured skeleton. The weasel cautiously approaches the fallen figure. An age has passed since this brave soul last walked these labyrinth passages; his attire ragged and rotten, his armour pitted and corroded. A winged helmet skewed and dented upon his skull, a shield splintered by his side. He still clutches a silvery mace in his hand, gripped tightly in his skeletal fist. A testament to going down fighting. The weasel inches closer, wary of a sudden smiting strike but the warrior is long gone and his spirit rejoicing in some celestial paradise or accursed to wander in this forlorn place. The weasel can scraper over the rubble without disturbing the unstable nature of the collapse, Genaromes would need a skill check to sneak by without inadvertently causing further fall. This chamber beyond is bare of features except for the grim inhabitant and fading murals off glorious processions. This knight does not have any of the regalia associated with Sir Guy, concluding then it is not his body. Wincey can follow his master's directions and with dextrous care, begin to unfold the finger bones from gripping the mace and drag it inch by inch across the floor and rubble back to the mage. As you concentrate upon this, Genaromes you hear noises, footfall in the passage to the west. Looking that way, you can make out some torchlight from a firebrand and a trio of chisel featured figures, more Gargoyles who stand between pillars in a larger chamber. They don't look your way just yet but in these passages every noise echoes loudly.

Fydmar & Bhelnus both trigger crossbow bolts at the snarling Halfling. Their aim is skewed and the bolts skim along the walls, clattering some distance away. Brutus snarls, reined in in his leash, Brother Symeon already has his faith overcome with doubts. He holds the stained glass lantern to shine upon the creature. Creature it is, once a Halfling adventurer, it seems the tombs robbed her of life and value, replacing it instead with a grotesque nature and ghastly smell. Durgo charges, bashing the diminutive ghast away but not being able to follow up with any effective sword thrust. Highlighted in the corridor, the creature retreats away from the wall, taking the vellum it was using. She runs away before another strike can be raised, Durgo momentarily overcome with nausea from its rotting stench. The corridor proceeds about sixty feet further before turning west.

She stands by the wall with a vellum of skin, rubbing her hands over the surface and whispering an unholy invocation.

Durgo stands by a portion of wall that has been purposely blocked up. The arched doorway now sealed with large stones mortared together to seamlessly deny access beyond. In the torchlight, you note the fading scarlett runes and alphabets of a few words, incomprehensible as they are once more absorbed into the masonry. They leave behind trickles of crimson that blot your gauntlets as you run fingers across the wall surface. It was as if the verses were written in blood.

There doesn't appear much time to waste though as doors open and close with heavy thuds from where the ghast fled beyond view, the northern door between the statues opens also and more figures approach from the western chamber.

Actions for Durgo, Fydmar, Genaromes & Bhelnus

[Cwreando]

Durgo

Durgo signals the fighting retreat back to the harpy lair. He says soflty, "Let's go. We have managed enough for the moment. Let's get home to return and finish what we started. Let's gather everyone and make our way back to the harpy lair."

Durgo backs out carefully shield up. He makes a mental note to update the map for the blood-stained door for future reference.

[kwll]

Genaromes moves out of sight from the gargoyles as swiftly and as lightly as possible, and immediately instructs Wincey to stop moving. Hearing Durgo, he nods and follows him and the party -- the odds seem to be too overwhelming. He finds it opportune to signal what the weasel found, whispering to his companions: "There are remains of a fallen warrior in the ruble, with a silvery mace".

[BaltoBruiser]

Bhelnus

Rallies to Durgo and beguns to withdraw toward the Harpy Liar with him.

[scottjen]

Fydmar
Nods & mutters. Yep, time to go. and joins the others in backing out of here. He'll load another bolt in case needed. Would love to have a look at that mace, but this is unfortunately not the time.

[kwll]

Genaromes rallies his weasel as well, instructing it to come by as discreetly as possible.

[Spearmint]

Reboot summary:

Of chasing ghosts & being chased by ghasts, gargoyles and ghoulies ...

interior crypts:

Wrathbone, Duvall & Rickford barricade the interior doors of the inner crypt rooms, toppling the large iron statue to brace the door against the rage of the chasing Gargoyles. In a battle of strength and wills, the trio triumph in delaying the Barrowmaze guardians from rending them apart with their ripping claws and goring horns. After a few moments the bashing on the other side goes eerily quiet. For a moment the trio breathe heavily, consolidate themselves and tend wounds. Unaware of the fate of the other explorers. Knowing that they trapped the door with the Gargoyle statue in the crypts north of the Harpy Shaft, (234a), Wrathbone determines to make an escape attempt via the corridors, retracing the steps. Bracing themselves for ambush

Gargoyle ambush vs 1-2 [1d6]=4

they cautiously creep nervous steps by candlelight. The sudden threat never emerges and exiting the passage they consolidate with their fleeing comrades from the west.


junction of conflict:

At the western end of the long corridor, Durgo, cheered onwards by the apparition of Sir Guy O'Veargne, has led his fellow comrades to a junction of passages. To the north are two small Gargoyle statues, carved as leering guards, one either side of a thick door behind which Fydmar has heard a multitude of other stone gravelly voices. Another living Gargoyle lair.

As conflict arises, some of these Gargoyles exit, surprised at the flurry of action taking place yards from their abode. In the southern passage, an undead Ghastly Halfling was chased away from taking a rubbing from faint scripts that leak as dripping blood upon a portion of bricked up passage. 'The bricks that bleed'; found as a testimony to the resting place of the noble knight. But there is little time to hammer through the walls to his remains since the door the Halfling Ghast fled through opens again and an overwhelming stench of rot, putridness and decay wafts up. The sickly aroma magnified by a greater Ghast figure; a hideous matriarch that clutches a rosary of bones and a bone scrimshaw made from the joined spines of her victims. Durgo, Fydmar and Bhelnus can each send a volley of shafts towards her. Brother Symeon offers a weak rebuke. Even brave mastiff Brutus seems cowed by her stench and aura. The quarter retreat from the bleeding bricks into the long passage.

To the west, Genaromes spies on the area, sensing through the eyes of Wincey weasel, scouting for clues. A tempting silvered mace lies just beyond reach over the unstable rubble. From further west come more heavy footsteps and a gaggle of grey-stone featured caricature Gargoyles. One large and four armed, another bat winged with a unicorn like horn protruding from its forehead. They approach the conflict with caution, threatening the adventurers with taunts and evil promises. However they stop at the two side crypts, reluctant to proceed further. Genaromes withdraws quickly before he is cut off alone.

If ever a random four-way standoff occurred, it is here. The Ghasts from the south, the Gargoyles to the north speaking hostility and antipathy with their enchanted kinfolk; they too look at a trio of adversaries with intrepidation. It is not quite a case of 'mutual assured destruction' as each may be superior on their own to the ravaged adventurers. But you are an unknown quantity and slowly retreating step by step, can leave the three groups to their own mutual territorial machismo and grandstanding.

You can consolidate as a whole group in the Harpy Shaft. Certainly further progress will need more thought, renewal of spells, requiring extra protection and boons. But, a significant finding has been achieved. With that, retreating for now back to safer territory outside the Barrowmaze confines seems a wise decision.

next actions please

If that is the case, I am fine hand-waving your return to Helix and rounding up expedition awards and give you space to downtime any upgrades, research and next step planning.

[Straither]

Wrathbone

The summary is great. It doesn't show the full grappling fight and barricading door rolls, but suffice that we conquered and have a few scars and bleeds to show to a tavern wench once we get back to civilization.

I would vote to stay in the old Barrow Mounds nearby with the dwarven forge but injured and weary as we are, wisdom (not my strong point) would say retreat to Helix, report our findings and return better equipped.

Count me in on any return plans if the group stay together. I know you had other 'irons in the fire' with the Svirfneblin silver mining and raiding the Gnoll temple. I can support any endeavour, perhaps even helping kinsman Fydmar with restoring his armoured warrior project.

Nice, enjoyed the expedition challenges.

[Cwreando]

Durgo

The summary is fantastic. Durgo will coordinate with Gen the mapping of the mound for details and proper dimensions for their future expeditions. "Gen lets make sure we get the map while it's still fresh in our minds, ok?"

Durgo sends a volley of arrows at the ghast. A departing final note.




Durgo comments, "We can get back to Helix and heal up, strengthen ourselves for the next expedition back to here. I think the svirfneblin's caravan run is still a bit of time left before it happens. We can check the dates for sure though."

"I'd be honored if you would all continue to work together as a team on future expeditions to this barrow or other expeditions. Let's head home after we gather our loot that might be stored in spots for reclaiming before we leave. Make preparations to leave if all agreed."

I am thoroughly impressed with you campaign here Spearmint.

[BaltoBruiser]

Bhelnus

Returning to Helix to recuperate sounds like the most prudent action for us to take.

While he devastated by the lose of his beloved badger, Bhelnus believes he may have found his team and looks forward to safely getting back and planning their next adventure to the barrow maze.