Expedition: Ablesforth: The Demon Hole - 14 July 2021

[Zhym]

"Oh, yuck," says Pendleton, standing in rising blood. "This stuff is never coming out of my clothes."

[Marullus]

Able hurriedly tries to replace the mask, but it does not restart the flow of the blood fountain or halt the rising of the liquid in the chamber. He moves to the spiked door and pries the spike free, closing that portal and then the other doors, too. The mushrooms continue to shriek, the spell now lifted from them.

(What door do you escape through?)

Date: 14 July 2021, 3:40pm
Light: Ablesforth's Lantern (until 5:30pm)
Effects: None
Injuries: Dolph (moderate wounds), Ablesforth (minor wound)

[Rusty Tincanne]

I would think we'd want to head through the stone archway, towards the sea goddess room. ANyone else have a a preference?

And for the record, when we first entered this level, there was a passage to our left (IIIRC) that is totally unexplored. It seems to be where all these goblins keep coming from.

[Marullus]

I suggest someone make a map. The details are important in a traditional dungeon.

[Zhym]

Pendleton is equipped to map. I just haven't had time to go through the somewhat arduous process of trying to convert text descriptions to lines on graph paper.

[Mister-Kent]

No preference, but stone arch sounds good. Dare is still equipped to try the stone door in the other room if we need.

[Spearmint]

Idriss

Gives Dare a fire-beetle gland to see by and watches as he tries to prise the stone door open. He stands ready for any demoniacs drawn by the smell of blood.

[Mister-Kent]

Dare very cautiously tries the door by beetle-light, half expecting another stream of blood to burst forth upon opening.

[Marullus]

The group passes north as Ablesforth unspikes the door, allowing it to now close behind them and having closed all other doors in the Mandala room, the mask now in his sack. They again stand in the room with the undersea mural, the corpses along the north wall now looted. The door closes tightly, however, and they see no sign of blood seeping underneath it. The door thankfully also stymies the sound of the shrieking mushrooms now left behind.

Dare takes one of the glowing glands and examines the stone door on the left side of the room, trying its latch, and finds that it remains still locked.

The group is by the sound of slapping feet jogging towards you from the doorway on the far wall, which currently hangs open. You see an armed patrol of seven goblins round the corner a moment later, stopping in the doorway, shields before them. Before they can react to your presence here, there is a loud concussion against the door on the right -- it springs open and dumps in two half-headed demons who slammed it with their shoulders, perhaps a dozen more hissing with a feral noise and jockeying to push each other out of the way and gain entry through the door.

spawn.jpg (21.55 KiB) Viewed 449 times

(Ablesforth is now carrying 54lbs of mask in a sack - that's too big to go in his backpack and slows him to 1/4 movement, when those factors come into play. Balancing that and the group's lantern, his hands are fully occupied.)

Date: 14 July 2021, 3:50pm
Light: Ablesforth's Lantern (until 5:30pm)
Effects: None
Injuries: Dolph (moderate wounds), Ablesforth (minor wound)

[Zhym]

Pendleton finds himself wondering whether his performance at the Trial of Bremen endeared himself at all to Baudh. He may be in need of an eternal home soon.

[Mister-Kent]

Dare drops the fire beetle gland to his feet. He lets his silver blade remain sheathed, instead drawing his shortbow, hoping to get an attack in while there's still some distance between his friends and the oncoming horde. It doesn't go too well.

"Ah, curse it! My bow arm's gone rusty!"

THAC0 13, shortbow attack [1d20+2] = 3+2 = 5, arrow damage [1d6+2] = 4+2 = 6

[Rusty Tincanne]

Able sets down the large sack and, trusting in his goddess, runs to the door that just smashed open. He does not attack any of the demons, but rather uses his large frame to prevent any more from entering. He keeps a vial of holy water in his hand in case he needs to throw it into the horde before him. I can't do much 'bout them two, but I should be able to keep the rest outta here. Can any of you-lot put them gobbers t'sleep?

Using his inherent Protection from Evil to block entry for the rest of the demons.

[Zhym]

"I have used all my spells of sleep for the day, I'm afraid," says Pendleton. "Which, by the way, is a turn of phrase that has never been more literally true."

[Marullus]

Idriss, Grimble, Neegan?

[Spearmint]

Idriss

points to the door we came through to back up. Idriss pulls on his Mummery mask and assumes the visage of a 'half-head' and imitates sniffing and snarling and grasping at the intruding goblins.

[Zhym]

Pendleton, out of useful spells and low on options, hides behind someone and lobs a flask of oil at the goblins. Well, near the goblins. Roughly speaking.

Oil toss: [1d20] = 6

[sirravd]

Grimble speaks to the goblins in their tongue: "We are possessed of a number of thaumaturges! Your first move shall be your death!"

[Dram]

Neegan turns to attacks one of the 2 demons that made it into the room. And misses horribly.

+1 Hand Axetohit(THAC017)[1d20+4] = 1+4 = 5,todam[1d6+4] = 2+4 = 6

[Marullus]

Dare gets off a snapshot with his shortbow, riccocheting off the stonework near the demonspawn before Ablesforth rushes up. Likewise, Neegan hurls his handaxe, skillfully embedding it into the wooden door as the demons push it open -- such that the door cracks and splinters from the weight pushing on the other side... he knows it will not be closeable again. (Critical fumble) Ablesforth grabs the remains of the door and the doorframe, bodily blocking the entry of the mass of demonspawn beyond. They hiss and writhe over each other but do not touch him.

The goblins make a shield wall and turn their attention to the demons entering from the other door, looking worriedly between you and the demonspawn. Pendleton throws a flask of oil, which shatters and splashes across the floor near the northern doorway. Grimble calls out to the goblins, threatening with the group's magical might, while Idriss slips on his mummer's mask and his visage transforms to that of a snarling half-headed demon charging towards them. The goblins appear to take Grimble's threat seriously, but rally instead of quailing before it -- when Idriss transforms into a demon and runs at them, he is pelted with rocks from their slings and then sliced down brutally as the front three goblins leap upon him with swords. (-20 total) Idriss collapses under the onslaught and lies at their feet.

As Ablesforth holds the door by the might of Eruanna, Dolph lurches forward as he draws his massive two-handed sword. His swing cleaves into the arm of one of the demonspawn (-4), but does not dissuade it. Both of the creatures focus on his broad form but are unable to get inside his sword's reach to claw him, held at bay.

Next Round!

Date: 14 July 2021, 3:51pm
Light: Ablesforth's Lantern (until 5:30pm)
Effects: None
Injuries: Idriss (dying, unconscious), Dolph (moderate wounds), Ablesforth (minor wound)

Grimble intimidation [3d6] = 10
Goblin morale [2d6] = 7

Dolph [1d20+3] = 14+3 = 17 [1d10+3] = 1+3 = 4

Goblin slingers [1d20] = 20 [1d20] = 17 [1d20] = 17 [1d20] = 12
Goblin swordsmen [1d20] = 18 [1d20] = 15 [1d20] = 15
Damage to Idriss [5d4] = 15 [3d6] = 5

Demonspawn [1d20] = 11 [2d4] = 7 [1d20] = 3 [2d4] = 4

[Dram]

Neegan pulls his crossbow puts a silver bolt in. Seeing that the goblins are in a defensive he and fires at the demons.



L Crossbow to hit (THAC018)[1d20+2] = 16+2 = 18, todam [1d6] = 1

Are there any bonuses to damage with silver bolts?