IC II

[Bouv]

Tratiln, noticing that the torches are not flying towards the creature, lights the oil slicks before he picks up his sword

[Luis]

Saul gets a weird look on his face, takes something from his backpack and runs straight towards the entrance.

He positions himself as close to the doorway as he can, trying to become one with it and, if at all possible, scaling it.

His plan soon becomes clear. He's going to let the monster pass straight through him and as soon as it engages his friends he's going to attack from behind, first with his bow and Lanny's arrow then with his dagger.

It's just crazy enough to get them both killed.

I removed my flint from my backpack. Since it's bed time here I'll leave it to a majority vote. If you guys fail to light the oil Saul will try to light it from behind. If you succeed, or if you so choose, he'll attack from behind.

Again, sorry for if and butting the game but I think everyone wants to know what happens next and I don't want to spoil the fun by half-assing it or leaving you hanging.

[thirdkingdom]

Round One

Only Drudsa and Grey Jake are able to get off attacks before the troll bursts into action. Both miss, the flame on Jake's arrow gutters out in flight and fails to ignite the slick of oil in which the troll is standing. The monster reacts with preternatural speed, closing the distance and vaulting over the barricade with ease before any of the others can act. When they do, however, the attack is devastating. Marodin hits the troll a solid blow in the back with his warhammer. The archers back up so as to allow room to fire: Lanny strikes the creature dead center in its chest with his arrow. Saul and Tratiln also hit the troll, despite both adventurers being unfamiliar with the weapons they wield. Meagnor's arrow also strikes true. Bregalad chants the words of his arcane spell and a brilliant light flies towards the troll's face, affixing itself just before the creature's eyes and effectively blinding it.

Initiative, PCs first in alphabetical order, followed by troll: (1d6=2, 1d6=6, 1d6=5, 1d6=2, 1d6=4, 1d6=3, 1d6=1, 1d6=1, 1d6=4, 1d6=3, 1d6=6). Damn. This is one fast troll.
Troll hit points: (6d8+3=23). Well, you guys got lucky there. 23-18=5 hp remaining.

You guys got real lucky with your attack rolls. Actions for next round, please. Keep in mind the troll is amidst you now.
Bregalad (2+1=3): Casts light.
Drudsa(6+0=6)I'm not going to allow Drudsa to use a crossbow, as it is not a weapon usable by Magic-users as per page 52 of the Dark Dungeons. Drudsa fires sling bullet: 1d20+1=14, 1d4=2. Miss.
Grey Jake(5+2=7):1d20-1=5, 1d3=1. 1-50% chance the arrow catches the oil on fire. (1d100=64)
Lanny(2+2=4): 1d20+2=18, 1d6+1=7
Marodin(4+2=6):1d20+1=21, 1d6+1=5
Meagnor(3+1=4): 1d20+1=19, 1d6+1=2
Saul(1+2=3): 1d20+1=21, 1d6=1+1 for 2 damage.
Semele(1+2): Casts benediction orison
Thordin(4+1=5):1d20=13, 1d6=4
Tratiln(3+0=3):1d20-1=18, 1d6=1
Morale check:2d6=9 pass.
Troll (6+0=6) Runs. Troll save vs. spells: (1d20=2)

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

Seeing the Light spell take effect on the troll's eyes, Lanny backs away from the troll and fires again if he has a clear shot.

"It is badly wounded, and blinded! Bowmen, keep away from it and keep firing!"

Another magic arrow (without fire this time) at close range. 1d20+2 (normally), +1 to hit (short range), +1 to hit / +1 to damage (magic arrow), +1 to damage (laminated longbow)

[zebediah]

Drudsa will keep firing with his sling, at a safe distance from the melee.

[rremedio]

Meagnor the Elf walks sideways to get a clear shot for another flamed magic arrow.

[Bouv]

Tratiln, seeing that the troll is now withing their midst, decides to impale his sword within its chest as the fire would only endanger his comrades. "Keep the pressure up comrades! It seems this creature is losing its resolve. Against one of use it is fearless but our combined onslaught it decides to run!"

Holy crap, Tratiln hit something with a missile weapon!

[Finglas]

Bregalad the elf

The great distance covered by the troll was shocking!

Like the others, Bregalad looks for an opening to release his magical arrow!

[riftstone]

Thordin the dwarf will shoot the troll with one of the magic arrows.

That should give a total of +3 to hit

[thirdkingdom]

Round Two

Marodin continues to press the attack, and delivers another crushing blow with his hammer. Gobbets of gelatinous flesh splatter from the force of the blow. Thordin releases his arrow, but it passes through the monster with no evidence of inflicting damage; Tratiln strikes with his blade but the troll, blind, lurches out of the way by accident. Operating on some base sense the horrible creature leaps upon Lanny, but the doughty elf's armor proves stout enough to resist the troll's claws and teeth. Bregalad steps forward, thrusting with his spear, but again the troll staggers out of the way as if by instinct. It is not so lucky, however, as its stumble takes it directly into the path of one of Drudsa's bullets, which enters the thing's head right under an eye. At the same instant Meagnor fires another flaming arrow and it pierces the troll's breast. For an instant everything seems to stop, then the massive monster collapses to the floor.

I know not everyone has posted their actions, but I had enough that I decided to go ahead and roll out round two. And despite the troll having another good initiative roll, the PCs have another round of good attack rolls.
Troll hp=4+3 (regeneration)=7-6-5-4=-8
Initiative, PCs first in alphabetical order, then troll: (1d6=4, 1d6=4, 1d6=6, 1d6=2, 1d6=5, 1d6=3, 1d6=3, 1d6=1, 1d6=5, 1d6=6, 1d6=6)
Boni to attack: +2 against at blinded opponent, +1 for benediction orison=+3 to all attacks.
Bregalad (0 Dex=5): 1d20+6=10, 1d6=6
Drudsa (-1 Dex=4): 1d20+4=18, 1d4=4
Grey Jake (+1 Dex=8)
Lanny (+1 Dex=4)
Marodin (+1 Dex=7): 1d20+4=18, 1d6+1=6
Meagnor (0 Dex=4): 1d20+2=21, 1d6=5
Saul (+1 Dex=5)
Semele (+1 Dex=3)
Thordin (0 Dex=6): 1d20+6=7, 1d6+1=6 Miss.
Tratiln (-1 Dex=6): 1d20+4=10, 1d8+1=7
Troll:Troll attack, last result is the target: (1d20+4=15, 1d6=4, 1d20+4=17, 1d6=1, 1d20+4=16, 1d10=2, 1d10=4). All misses against Lanny.

[Bouv]

Tratiln quickly sheeths his sword and grabs one of the torches. "If the information Lanny knows about this creature is true, let's put the fire to him to make sure that it stays down. Let's make sure none of us are near any of the oil before we drop the torch on this...thing. And let's make sure we check outselves, who knows what kinds of stuff the gunk on him can cause.

@tk - is he covered in slime or anything like that or something like a trog where he is just naturally a bit slimely?

Once the troll is dealt with (i.e. burned), Tratiln will regather his gear, stow it away and prepare to check the next level.

[thirdkingdom]

It does not appear to be so much "slimey" as it is "gelatinous".

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

As the troll leaps upon him, Lanny calls upon the strength of his old caravan comrades to help him withstand the fierce attack, determined not to become the troll's final sun-lover victim...

In fairness, I think Lanny might have taken some damage in that attack from the second and third attacks, as the troll should have a +6 attack bonus. However, it would not be enough to kill Lanny, just seriously wound him (3hp damage). He is ok with that (as long as he gets First Aid!)

After the party bring down the troll, Lanny walks over to the troll and stands over it.

"Please, Tratiln, allow me the honor..."

Lanny takes a torch to the troll, quietly chanting a memorial in elvish as he remembers his old friends.

[zebediah]

Drudsa the dabbler

"That was impressive my friends, what a victory!"

Drudsa will take one of his oil flasks and spread its contents on top of the monster "There" then he takes one of the torches and sets the horror on fire "this should be sufficient. Should we go down the stairs?"

[Luis]

Saul is pretty happy that they managed to defeat the troll. He covers his nose at the noxious smoke the makeshift creation produces and picks up his gear.

"He even manages to smell worse while burning. Let's get out of here before we choke.

Does anyone want to explore his lair? He might have some poor adventurer's treasure but I'll warn you, it reeks of troll down there."

What happened? Did I miss? Just dodge?

[thirdkingdom]

Lanny the elf

In fairness, I think Lanny might have taken some damage in that attack from the second and third attacks, as the troll should have a +6 attack bonus. However, it would not be enough to kill Lanny, just seriously wound him (3hp damage). He is ok with that (as long as he gets First Aid!)

.

Don't forget, the troll was blind, so had a -2 penalty to attacks.

[thirdkingdom]

As the adventurers prepare the body with oil it is observed that the foul black object in the monster's chest -- roughly the size of a man's head -- is still pulsing with a horrid regularity! Indeed, a careful examination reveals the trolls wounds to be slowly knitting back together; the gelatinous flesh erasing all trace of injury or damage. Lanny quickly adds the torch, and the beast ignites instantly. Its strange, rubbery body runs like fat, a thick yellow smoke cloud forms, and after several minutes the bulk of the monster's body has been burned away, leaving the dark object on the floor before them. It appears to be made of rock, and as the flames reach it there is a tremendous "crack!" and the thing splits in twain, spilling forth a thick, yellow liquid.

Satisfied that the troll is dead, the companions venture down the stairs, to find themselves in the bone strewn room. The stairs themselves take up thirty feet horizontally, descending roughly forty feet. The room at the base of the stairs is large, some hundred feet in each direction. The stairs enter it in the center of the southern wall. A large opening gapes in the center of the east, west and north walls. The floor in this room is, even though it is quite expansive, littered with bones. While searching the room it becomes obvious that beings of all species met their sad fate at the claws of the troll -- there are bones appearing to be of human, goblin and dwarven origins, and even some stranger skeletons. The companions find a femur that is as tall as Thordin, and must have once belonged to an ogre of some sort. An entire clutch of skulls seems to be human, but a closer look reveals the foreheads are strangely sloped, the teeth large and flat; some subspecies of degenerate man, perhaps.

The troll's treasure is finally discovered behind one unusually large column. Saul recognizes it as the place he and the troll first espied one another. The adventures find a torc of unusual beauty, wrought in gold and set with glistening rubies. It has an estimate value of 7,500 gold coins. There are two rings; one is a gold band, set with a small diamond. The other is gold and has the crest of a stag's head carved into it. Both are of uncommonly good quality and each is worth about 3,000 gold. The final item of jewelry is an armband worked in sliver and chased with gold wire. Its value is estimated to be nearly 1,500 gold.

Also discovered are two stoppered glass flasks, each containing an indeterminate liquid. A set of fine chain mail is also uncovered amidst the bones of the trolls's lair. It is forged from finely made links, appears to weigh less than chain mail would, and has not a hint of rust upon it despite being in such damp environs.

Troll's treasure: (1d100=79, 1d100=100, 1d100=76, 1d100=43, 1d100=9, 1d100=37, 1d100=14)Pieces of jewelry: (1d8=4) 1d100-10=68, 1d100-10=10, 1d100-10=24, 1d100-10=27. Magic items: 1d100=7, 1d100=67. Potion, and armor or shield.Armor or shield: (1d100=28). Chain mail.

[Luis]

Saul thinks about pocketing a ring... then remembers what happened the last time he did such a thing.

"We shouldn't touch these. First they reek, second we don't know what they do. Semele, do you have any idea what these could be? Anyone? Maybe we should just take these back and have them looked over by Father Varis before selling them off to some poor sap."

[zebediah]

Drudsa the dabbler

"You are wise to be careful Saul. Some of these objects might have magical properties that can aid us in our quest to face the ogres, so it would be a good idea to have them identified before we proceed to the elven village."

He then looks at the gaping tunnels leading from the hall "Should we explore a bit more? It seems the troll had a large supply of food and the goblin chieftain has gone somewhere if he got past the troll. It is very likely that we will find more creatures and object, some of which might be valuable."

[Bouv]

Tratiln gladly hands the torch over Lanny, You are correct Lanny, I wouldn't want to stand in your way of finally getting your revenge upon this creature for what it did to your comrades.

Tratiln will also look closely at the black thing. Is is anything he recognizes? Does it seem to be part of the troll or something "extra"? He is quite worried by it.

Doing an arcane check

Once we are looking over the treasure and look for any arcane markings to see if he can identify them.

Another arcane check

If we do want Farther Varis to check these out, we should have two of our best riders head back to Threshold while we prepare to head to the elven village to help Quinthos. I do not wish to see him waiting any longer than need be. Or perhaps his village has a means of identify anything magical