21. Revisiting the Troglodyte Lair

[wolfpack]

Does shanny have sleep in his spellbook?

I believe he copied the 'Sleep' spell from Garth's spellbook (which Epsilon is in possession of), but he does not have a spell to cast remaining.

yes but he could read the spell directly from his book correct.

[Grognardsw]

I count 15 Trogs on the latest map. Aric has 11 HP left.

Shan, can you cast the sleep spell right out of the book, scroll-style? You'll lose the spell, but better that than your life? (Assuming that the cast-from-the-book-rule is used in this game.) Sleep and Fim's color spray may enable us to make it.

Retreat out whatever corridor has less after the spell(s).

How high is the ceilings?

_____________________________________

Aric pivots to his right (north on the map) to be back-to-back with Ewell, in order to prevent being attacked from behind again. He manages a glance about the room and grimly notes the odds. He may be kneeling before Crom sooner than he thought.

The barbarian slashes at the trog that hit him, almost disemboweling the creature.

Bastard sword attack [1d20+3] = 17+3 = 20 Damage [2d8+4] = 9+4 = 13

[wolfpack]

might be best to do it on the west pasge becuase we know which direction to go to get to the cave exit.

[dmw71]

yes but he could read the spell directly from his book correct.

Shan, can you cast the sleep spell right out of the book, scroll-style? You'll lose the spell, but better that than your life?

I'm going to have to rule that this is not possible, per the following:

"A spell book contains the complicated instructions for casting the spell -- the spell's recipe, so to speak. Merely reading these instructions aloud or trying to mimic the instructions does not enable one to cast the spell. Spells gather and shape mystical energies; the procedures involved are very demanding, bizarre, and intricate. Before a wizard can actually cast a spell, he must memorize its arcane formula."

"To cast a spell, the character must first have the spell memorized. If it is not memorized, the spell cannot be cast."

If the above were allowed, since Garth's spellbook actually has the spell it in, Shannigans (or any mage) could intentionally not memorize a given spell but still cast it directly from the spellbook without fear of it actually being lost (as it could "simply" be copied back into it at a later time).

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Color Spray, yes.
Sleep, no.

[dmw71]

How high is the ceilings?

Missed this.

The ceilings average around 7' in height.

[Grognardsw]

How high is the ceilings?

Missed this.

The ceilings average around 7' in height.

Okay, thanks. On spells I was in the UA p. 80 mindset.

[Zhym]

If the above were allowed, since Garth's spellbook actually has the spell it in, Shannigans (or any mage) could intentionally not memorize a given spell but still cast it directly from the spellbook without fear of it actually being lost (as it could "simply" be copied back into it at a later time).

FWIW, there's a popular rule that allows casting spells from their spell books exactly as if they were scrolls. When a spell is cast this way, it disappears from the spell book. That allows a desperation move for emergency situations like the one we're in—you get to cast the spell, but then it's gone. I'd figure you could only copy it back if you had another book with the spell in it. If players tried to abuse this rule, there could be a time limit on copying any spell cast this way.

I can't remember whether any of the AD&D books mention the possibility, and for what versions, or if it's entirely a popular house rule.

[Computer +1]

Strom will not pull back, he will hold off allowing us to be completely surrounded as long as possible.



That might not be very long.

[wolfpack]

Zhym that is 1E rule, this is 2E game and I cannot find a reference to the same rule in 2E.

[dmw71]

A work issue just came up, but I will consider this. No guarantees anything will change, but I will update again once I have a chance.

[dmw71]

After careful consideration and more research than I really had time for, I am officially ruling that casting directly from a spellbook will not be allowed.

Please see new house rule: '17. Casting From a Spellbook'

[Rukellian]

Recovering from his temporary mental shock, the chef stands back up and clutches his wound as he looks towards the group towards the east; they are outnumbered and losing ground. Fimmion then musters up enough strength to shout towards the group, saying: "We need to fall back! When you do, I can blind the swamp beasts, maybe even knock them out, hurry!" The chef prepares the necessary ingredients and waits for the group's response. The color spray target will be the eastern section of the cave room, directed at the swamp beasts currently engaging Strom and the others.

Still a bit shaken up by recent events, the torch in his hand trembles more than he'd like. "I hope I can still do this..." he thinks to himself as he starts to rehearse the spell in his mind. "Peel, core, and quarter apples... grind with currants in a mortar... beat eggs well and add remaining ingredients... pour into pie shell and..."

[Stonjuz]

Shannigans mentally goes over his magic options.
"I could make myself the same color as these trogs and sneak away......but maybe my friends would attack me by mistake?
I could make one of the trogs the same color as the average human, maybe enticing the trogs to attack themselves....
Or I could ........."
He eyes the backpack that contains the spellbook and thinks of the Sleep spell. "No , I couldnt do that."

[dmw71]

In the western half of the chamber, the monsters act quickly but only those facing Aric (-5) and O'rek (-3) are able to land successful blows. Ewell continues slashing and connects soundly, wounding the beast... and again, with his second attack, but the hobbled creature fights on. Aric pivots to his left to be back-to-back with Ewell, creating an opening at the western passage for those beasts waiting ever so patiently to enter. He slashes at the trog that hit him, almost disemboweling the fallen creature. O'rek follows up the barbarian with an equally successful clubbing of his foe.

Along the northern wall, the chef stands back up and clutches his wound. He looks towards the group towards the east, outnumbered and losing ground, and shouts: "We need to fall back! When you do, I can blind the swamp beasts, maybe even knock them out, hurry!" The torch in his hand trembles as he begins to mutter the unique recipie which comprise his spell components: "Peel, core, and quarter apples... grind with currants in a mortar... beat eggs well and add remaining ingredients... pour into pie shell and..." From the wizards hands, fan-shaped spray of clashing colors to spring forth, brightly illuminating the room towards the northeastern corner in a rainbow of colors. Shannigans hears the chefs warning and quickly darts towards the mage hoping to land outside the spells' area of affect. The blinding lights of the spell are non-discriminating and unable to distinguish friend from foe so, instantly after the blast is set forth, the troglodyte Kaltar had been dancing with collapse to the ground unconscious.

I will also need saving throws versus 'spells' from both Kaltar (15+) and Strom (16+). I had originally made these saves myself so as to not slow up gameplay, but will allow the players to make these rolls for their own characters.

Further actions on this east side will be delayed until these saving throws are resolved.

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Code: Select all

                            _________   / g5
                           /  Fi     \_/ g4/
                          /  Sh* Ka*uu l4*/    uu: t7
                 ________/l6*Ep     St*l3 \
                /g2 g1 s2*Ew*Ar*    l1 l2* \
               /g3 _____        s3         |
                  /     \  Or* __          |
                         \____/  \___     /
                                     \___/   

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Rolls (West)
R6 | Initiative (West): Troglodytes [1d10] = 1, Players [1d10] = 7
R6 | l6 vs Epsilon (13+): javelin [1d20] = 7, [2d4] = 3
R6 | s2 vs Ewell (15+): javelin [1d20] = 11, [2d4] = 4
R6 | s1 vs Aric (17+): javelin [1d20] = 19, [2d4] = 5
R6 | s3 vs Aric (8+): javelin [1d20] = 8, [2d4] = 3
R6 | l5 vs O'rek (14+): javelin [1d20] = 13, [2d4] = 6
R6 | t6 vs O'rek (12+): javelin [1d20] = 16, [2d4] = 3

Rolls (East)
R6 | Initiative (East): Troglodytes [1d10] = 6, Players [1d10] = 1
R6 | 'Color Spray' # Affected: [1d6] = 4
R6 | 'Color Spray' saves: Kaltar (15+): [1d20] = 9, t7 (17+): [1d20] = 17, Strom (16+): [1d20] = 12, l1 (16+): [1d20] = 20


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End of round 6 for those on the west.

Both east and west sides can feel free to declare their next actions.

[ravenn4544]

O'rek swipes at S3:

Mace(+3) attack [1d20+3] = 18+3 = 21 (THACO=14) (rolled the wrong die roller, so should only be +2 for a total of 20. Okay to keep or reroll on the correct dieroller/character?)

Mace Damage (+1 weapon, +3 str dmg) = [1d6+4] = 3+4 = 7

[dmw71]

Okay to keep or reroll on the correct dieroller/character?)

We'll keep this one.

[saalaria]

well I will be amazed if this works!

Saving Throw [1d20] = 9
Oh dear

[ravenn4544]

Okay to keep or reroll on the correct dieroller/character?)

We'll keep this one.

Thanks! whew!

[onlyme]

Ewell continues hacking away, knowing it is either kill or die.

longsword to hit (+3 str , +1class bonus): [1d20+4] = 9+4 = 13 , damage1d8 (+4 str bonus): [1d8+4 ] = 7+4 = 11

Unfortunately, he misses.

[Grognardsw]

To confirm I'm reading it right, the two trogs potentially effected by color spray - T7 and l1 - both made their saves?