Below the Undercroft (Solo)
Below the Undercroft, Delve 5 - by Denby Nov. 17 Gabriel (human paladin 1) and Rockmound (dwarf fighter 1/cleric 1) decided on another delve into the croft and I (Denby, human fighter 1) insisted on joining them, my oath fresh in my heart.
A dwarf named Dargo (dwarf thief 1), an associate of Rockmound's, volunteered to join us for a share of whatever valuables we found. Rockmound vouched for him, saying that he had a canny way about him when it came to stone work and sniffing out traps. We all agreed and, at the mention of valuables, we also agreed that we should have even shares.
As we were leaving, Big Arno (human hireling) caught up to us and said he would gladly go with us for a couple of silver. Even though he had no skill with a sword he could be a porter and carry the lantern. Now our party numbered five: Rockmound, Gabriel, Dargo, myself (Denby), and Big Arno.
Before descending, Rockmound and Dargo reviewed the map which, I believe, was started by the halfling, Thamos, a few days ago. Thamos had been killed by a nefarious magical trap on a ceramic pot, that was hidden by an illusory wall and guarded by the dead. Gabriel insisted that this should be the first area we investigate.
Dargo led the way using Thamos' map. The room was very close to where we recovered Oddy and the others. Sure enough, the dead were lying at the foot of an empty chest near a clay jar sat in the corner.
Gabriel was convinced that the container was cursed and evil. Surely it contained something of value to the necromancer so, from a distance, I flung my hammer at it, smashing the jar. To Dargo's delight, there was a small explosion of coins. They glinted in the lantern light and, even from this distance, we could see that they were platinum! As Gabriel was warning us that the coins could be cursed, Dargo was already scooping them into a sack. Gabriel was obviously disgusted, but, in truth, I was eager to take my share and get out of this place. Then I remembered my oath.
After ages of slowly trudging the winding passageways, while Dargo meticulously mapped every new passage and chamber with a stick of charcoal, we finally experienced some of the menace that had befallen the others. As we walked down a long passage, there was a faint click and Arno went sprawling to the ground dropping the lantern with a clatter. Fortunately it didn't break. I retrieved the lantern and saw a bolt or an arrow sticking out of Arno's shoulder. A couple of inches higher and it would have been to the neck.
Gabriel immediately knelt beside Arno and pulled the bolt free. Arno grimaced in pain but didn't yell out; knowing it could attract unwanted attention. Gabriel ignored Arno's pain and, placing firm pressure on the wound, closed his eyes. In the light of the lantern, Gabriel seemed to glow and Arno's wound closed over. I held the lantern close to the wound and both Arno and I gaped in amazement. A scar, half the size of a coin was all that remained. Rockmound regarded Gabriel strangely and Arno, though still in awe, thanked him profusely, pledging his service to the gallant Garbriel.
Dargo investigated a pressure plate in the floor and tried to disable the trap in case there were more bolts loaded into the wall.
We resumed, more on edge than before and eventually entered a massive triangle-shaped chamber. There was broken statuary along the walls and behind the statue at the far end was a door way that, according to the map, led to one of the areas we had already explored. We doubled back and checked another corridor.
During one of our rests at a 'T' intersection, a rocky formation fell from the ceiling overhead, almost skewering Gabriel. In horror we realized it was alive. It looked like one of those things that hangs from cave ceilings. It was about 5 feet long with a sharp beak, it writhed on the ground and we quickly dispatched it though its hide was like stone.
As we were about to set off again, a couple of the giant ants Rockmound had told us about appeared from around the corner. They weren't aggressive and turned around and went back the way they had come.
We continued on again and eventually Dargo found a secret door at the end of a long, dead-end hallway. I was sure there would be someone lurking beyond the door or that it concealed a room full of treasure. Instead, nothing. A small 10x10 ft room, completely empty. There was no rhyme or reason to this place. For the first time, I started to wonder who had built it and why? What possible functionality could this maze provide? After finding the secret door, Dargo seemed quite pleased with himself and went into great detail about how it functioned. I might have yawned.
Eventually we found ourselves at the passage where we saw the ants retreat. It led to a short flight of stairs, at the bottom of which was a 5'x5' chute that descended past the light of the lantern. The ants must have crawled down the chute. Gabriel was annoyed when Dargo tossed a rock down the chute. The rock disappeared in the darkness and we heard it hit the floor. Maybe 30 to 50 feet down. Quite a ways.
Rockmound pointed out a stairwell on the map where he and Jebrial had encountered bandits the first time they entered the croft. He wondered if this chute went down to the same area where the other bandits were holed up. Dargo marked it on the map and we tried to find an area where we hadn't been yet.
With the map, it was much faster moving through the areas of the undercroft we had already explored and we quickly reached a new area; a series of rooms.
Until now, most of the doors need to be forced open, often stuck or swollen shut. Unlike those doors, these were easy to open. Dargo was the first to say what we were all thinking. "Be on your guard. Someone's been coming and going around here.
Sure enough, after giving one of the doors a listen, Dargo heard what sounded like booted feet and gutteral speech beyond. Gabriel was sure the bandit or kobold minions of the evil wizard were on the other side, if not the necromancer himself. We quickly formulated a plan to catch them unawares. Gabriel and I would burst through the door and charge at them with javelin and spear. Rockmound would launch his hammer at the first one he could see. Arno would shine the light in the room to provide illumination, in the event that the occupants were kobolds without a light going, and Dargo would guard our rear.
The blood was pounding in my ears and, thrusting the door open, we were confronted by 5 hobgoblin soldiers. They weren't surprised in the least and immediately sprang into action; a couple of them charging towards us. Gabriel rushed through the door and, as I was stepping through, one of the hobgoblins stepped right in front of me with his spear. Gabriel and two of the hobgoblins crashed into each other in the middle of the room. Rockmound's hammer missed, bouncing off the far wall. Then we were quickly enmeshed in close quarters fighting. Gabriel immediately lopped the head off one of the enemy but the others were undeterred and fought on. Even as I fought for my life, I could see Rockmound engaging one of the hobgoblins handily. While Gabriel, who despite being outnumbered, took on three of the enemy at once, his armour and shield deflecting blow after blow. He managed to cut one down only to be brought down by one wielding a wicked morningstar. The fell strike dropped Gabriel to his knees, then he slumped to the ground unmoving. Rockmound dispatched his initial foe then turned his attention to the one preparing to deliver the killing blow to the prone Gabriel. Rockmound's mace first shattered the hobgoblin's knee and then crushed his skull.
The one I was fighting noticed that he now stood alone and fled past me. Dargo thrust his sword at the hobgoblin's back but failed to penetrate it's chain hauberk. It pressed passed Arno and out the door. Dargo gave chase.
Rockmound stooped over Gabriel, invoking the name of his god and, for the second time in a single day, I witnessed a miracle.
Gabriel's ragged breathing settled into a steady rhythm and he rested peacefully. Rockmound told me to guard the door as he ministered over Gabriel. Arno started to go through the hobgoblin's belongings. The room appeared to be a makeshift barracks. Nothing of great value aside from a few personal effects. A moment later, Dargo returned grinning and wiping blood from his sword. The dwarf assured us that the hobgoblin wasn't able to raise an alarm before Dargo caught up with him.
I wanted to get out of this area immediately, but we couldn't rouse Gabriel and, though he's shorter than me, he's also densely muscled and much heavier. Rockmound assured us that Gabriel would wake soon and that, until then, Dargo should keep an eye out down the hall and Arno should douse the lantern. If we needed to, we could bar the door against other threats and or set an ambush if Dargo spotted anyone. But Gabriel didn't wake soon. Certainly not soon enough for my liking. It took almost an hour before Gabriel could be stirred. When he finally sat up, Arno struck the lantern again, and Rockmound gave Gabriel food and drink. Gabriel seemed to be in a daze and almost fell when he tried to stand. Arno steadied him. Now that the lantern was lit, Dargo scanned the map for the quickest route to the exit and we started out. But, even with the map, we were moving at a snail's pace and Arno had to add more oil to the lantern.
I felt like screaming at Gabriel to pick up the pace and was sure that a horde of hobgoblins would round the corner and we would be done for.
We were so fixated on what was ahead of and behind us that we were caught off guard when two more of those ceiling creatures dropped. One pierced right through Arno's chest. His eyes went wide and he reached for my hand just as another dropped on him; their combined weight caused Arno's legs to buckle and he lay lifeless. Dargo narrowly avoided another one and we set about slashing and bludgeoning the creatures but their hides were as hard as stone and it took a while before we had the satisfaction of seeing their bloody ichor ooze from their beaks.
We were exhausted. I glared at Gabriel unfairly. All he had done was lean against the wall with a vacant look in his eyes.
Arno was dead and Gabriel was weak as a kitten. We rallied and went as fast as we could, with me carrying Arno and Rockmound supporting Gabriel while Dargo led the way. After what seemed like another hour we inched our way to the exit and out into fresh air. Indeed, this place is full of devilry and, quite possibly, cursed.
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