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From humbug Fri Jul 2 03:34:43 1999
From: humbug
Subject: next bit.
Newsgroups: redbrick.rpg.board
Organization:
Summary:
Keywords:
User-Agent: tin/pre-1.4-980202 (UNIX) (SunOS/5.7 (i86pc))
Status: RO
Content-Length: 11358
Lines: 180
Well, here's the next bit.
The exploration of the main part of the ruined castle is continued. Having
gotten as far as a small room off to one side of a larger (former) throne
room, things start. In the small room there is a staircase, two single
doors, through one of which the party entered, and a set of doubledoors.
Slate tries the single door. It doesn't open straight away, and as he is
thumping and trying to force it the doubledoors swing open. Two large
creatures (bugbears) and a smaller one face the party. Los attacks, and
the rest rearrange so as to get Los and Slate in the front. One of the
larger bugbears chants and points at Eltric, and silence falls upon the
party. No sounds are heard by anyone, not talking, not the ringing of
metal upon metal, not anything, which really doesn't really help with
co-ordination during the fight. By the time the first round has ended Los
is in front attacking one of the large bugbears. The bugbear shaman (the
other large one) stands behind Los' bugbear. Three more smaller bugbears
have arrived, so as that four stand in front of Slate, one of whom is also
standing beside Los. The room is only wide enough for two people to stand
beside each other, and long enough for six when the doubledoors are open.
The fight continues on with Slate and Los in front attacking. There isn't
enough room for anyone else to attack properly, and the spellcasters are
useless without sound. Nickos and Greebo swap places so as that Greebo,
able to perform natural healing, is behind Slate. The silenced party
continue to fight on, and Los falls, but Eltric takes his place at the
front. Off to the side, Nickos finds himself able to hear things again,
and realises that he has moved from an area of spell affect. He
communicates as much to Greebo but moves back to the silenced area to
help, and to see what is occurring. At this point there are two of the
smaller bugbears and two of the larger left standing. Slate is standing
side by side with Eltric. Chanti is on the staircase and Nickos and Greebo
stand a few feet behind the line of fighting. More hits and misses occur,
Slate not hitting his opponent very often. Soon enough the silence spell
wears off.
In the next round Nickos attempts to cast 'summon swarm' centred
on the four enemies, but with all the people in the way he fails, and the
spell fizzles. Eltric kneels to heal Los and Slate tries to fend off any
blows heading for him. Slate isn't successful, but the enemy are slow, and
Eltric heals in any case. Los stands and Eltric steps back. One of the
bugbears appears to be hollering towards the staircase, and it is figured
that he is shouting for reinforcements. No sooner than Los has got back to
his feet he is again struck by the large bugbear who moves forward to take
his place.
Next round Nickos casts 'grease' beneath the two smaller bugbears
and the shaman. The two at the back save and step backward. The third
fails, and slips to the ground. Slate seizes the opportunity and kills
him. In the next couple of rounds the larger bugbear is slain. Chanti
sneaks up the stairs to hide, looking for an opportunity to backstab
someone. The smaller bugbear and the shaman stand across the patch of
grease. Nickos attempts to pin the shaman to the ceiling with a 'levitate'
spell, but the bugbear shaman saves. At the same time he casts some sort
of fear spell on Slate, who begins pushing past Nickos to flee. Eltric has
re-healed Los, who leans his sword against the wall and throws his dagger
at the shaman. Los misses, but in the same round Greebo hits with 'magic
missile', just as the two bugbears are running off. Next, Nickos moves to
the stairwell to allow Slate to flee. Nobody has any means of cancelling
the spell, nor of restraining Slate safely.
As this round ends Slate is gone, and three large bugbears are
seen at the top of the stairs with a human standing behind. Next round not
everything goes according to plan, but nonetheless things work out okay.
Nickos is attacked, but missed, and steps back from the stairs followed by
casting 'grease' on the stairs. Los tries to move to the bottom of the
stairs, but stumbles, and cannot. Lucky, because the three bugbears slip
and come crashing down, sprawled on the ground where Los wanted to go.
Eltric steps back to the corner after healing Los again, who is now back
to full health. Greebo's casting of 'burning hands' fizzles, luckily for
the furry grease-covered bugbears. In the throne room from which the party
entered Slate is sighted, now returned to himself, and fighting the shaman
and smaller bugbear, who had circled towards the back of the party.
The next round begins with the three bugbears lying at the foot of
the stairs. Greebo attacks the one in front of him, but misses, and the
bugbear stands. Los has two attacks, and two opponents prone on the ground
in front of him. He scores a critical hit on the first, who doesn't stand
a chance when being hit by a two-handed sword while lying on the ground.
The second is also hit, and a good portion of his hp removed, but does
manage to stand, ready for the next round. Nickos does nothing, his
intended target having been killed by Los. Eltric casts 'aid' on Los,
conferring him with an extra barrier of health, and a blessing making him
more likely to strike true. Outside, Slate is battling on, targeting the
bugbear shaman, but being hit more often by the smaller one.
On the top of the stairs the human is still standing, presumed to
be the wizard. This is confirmed when he begins mumbling and chanting. His
spellcasting is cut short with a gurgled cry, and Chanti is remembered. In
the succeeding rounds, judging by the shouts and cries, Chanti is having
trouble dealing with the wizard, but people have more things to deal with
downstairs. In the next round Nickos, Meow and Los attack the wounded
bugbear. Meow hits, scratching, but preventing the bugbear from casting a
healing spell upon himself, Los misses, and Nickos breaks his staff again.
Greebo runs off, trying to draw the uninjured bugbear with him. Despite
his low armour class, and comparative smallness, Greebo is hit, and goes
down.
Next, the uninjured bugbear turns his attention from Greebo to Eltric.
Eltric is in low health, but gains the initiative and manages to heal
himself. Unfortunately he is hit immediately thereafter, and returned to 1
hp. Nickos and Meow continue to attack the injured bugbear. Los alternates
between trying to finish off the injured one, and attacking the uninjured
one who presents a threat to Eltric. Finally the injured bugbear is slain,
but in the same round things go bad for Eltric. Again Eltric gains the
initiative, but messes up. He trips, and accidentally touches the bugbear,
healing him. The bugbear grins, and strikes Eltric with his handaxe.
Eltric falls.
With only one left standing, Los moves in to attack. Meow, small
enough not to worry about hindering Los' attacks, assists. Outside, Slate
finishes off the shaman, and turns his attention to the smaller bugbear.
With the focus on the cornered bugbear inside, nobody notices Chanti
coming down the stairs, which are still covered in grease. He tumbles
down, but doesn't appear to injure himself. Chanti is battered, but alive.
He is congratulated for having kept the wizard at bay for as long as he
did. He reports that the wizard is still around, and not the same one as
before.
The fight continues on. Chanti, unarmed, recovers Los' previously thrown
dagger and joins in. Outside Slate slays his last opponent and runs off
looking for the wizard. At this point the cornered bugbear appears to
surrender. It is not accepted. Meow scratches him, then Los slays him.
With no enemies in sight, the party argue over what's to be done
about fallen comrades. Los can heal but once, and the choice must be made.
It seems sensible to heal the healer, but it is decided to heal Greebo, as
Eltric is probably so badly injured that Los' attempts would kill him for
good. As this is taking place Slate comes running from the other
direction, having circled round. He is eager to find the mage before he
has a chance to flee or regain strength. Slate runs up the stairs, and
Nickos (crudely armed, but as yet uninjured) follows.
Slate rushes upstairs, Nickos behind him. Slate reaches the top of
the stairs and follows a corridor a couple of feet to the right before
turning to face a short corridor ending at a door. The door is open, and
behind it the invisible enemy wizard appears as he casts a spell. He
points his finger at Slate and a trail of fire shoots forth, then he slams
the door to shield himself from the impending blast. Or at least that was
what he planned to do. He messes up, and slams first, then shoots. From
behind the door there is an explosion. The door bursts open and fire roars
down the corridor blasting open doors as it does. Slate is hit by part of
the blast and falls. Nickos is only hit by some of the blast, and remains
standing. The fireball continues to surge down the stairs, but the others
survive with some burns and burnt fur. In the next round Nickos charges
the enemy wizard, who is standing in a burning laboratory type room. Los
is also running up the stairs to help. Nickos is hit by three 'magic
missiles' as he runs up the corridor, but survives. Nickos reaches the
doorway, but doesn't go into the room. The wizard has fallen, and the room
is ablaze. Nickos asks Los to pull the enemy wizard's corpse from the
burning room. Nickos points out that he probably has a spellbook on him,
and possibly potions that could help the fallen. Los goes in, and starts
dragging the corpse out. Los takes damage, but at risk to himself
persists, and gets the corpse out. He then skewers the head of the wizard
with his two-handed sword. Just to be sure. Carrying the corpse to the
bottom of the stairs he goes back upstairs to get the (momentarily
forgotten) fallen body of Slate. Nickos drags the wizards corpse out of
the castle, and Chanti searches a bugbear corpse. Nickos returns to help
Los carry the injured outside. Greebo supervises.
Soon enough, all are outside the castle. The 2nd floor of the
castle is now blazing, quite a beacon atop that hill. The wizard's body is
searched and six potions and a spellbook are found. Greebo reports that
both Eltric and Slate are on -6hp. With no better choice it is decided to
give the fallen a random potion. No difference can be told between the six
potions. Los prays to his God to guide his hand in choosing the correct
potion to give Eltric. Los chooses, and pours it down Eltrics neck.
Eltric is turned into a wall. A pile of bricks that seem to be the same
shape as the way he was lying, but without any detail. Trying to locate
his mouth to see if a second potion could be used bits start falling off,
and it is realised that Eltric is lost for good. Turning attention to
Slate, a random potion is chosen, and poured down him, with Greebo helping
to make sure it all goes into him. Luck is with Slate. It is a healing
potion, and most of it goes into him. He survives the shock to his system
and the resurrection process, and stands up, dusting himself off.
All of the party members injured. Only 1 (defensive) spell left
learned. Eltric dead. The castle burning like a beacon.
Seemed like a good point to call it a day.
humbug.
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