Session 38 - 1-2/10/97 Assault on Castle Herdley; The Death of Odric

			Lisa of Swansea Cheryle of Boston Varuna Odric
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6:13pm  2013-7-31 Smon Has entered the room
Smon: ok, now in chrome where the audio works 
Smon: OK, all ready?
chris107: Yup
Smon: You all current on http://smonsyggsburgh.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/session-37-aftermath-11097.html ? Amalric which river bank you swimming to?
Amalric: more or less
Goonergeezer: yep
Amalric: erm
Smon: (btw I'll say your scabbard is watertight for short exposure, no worries there)
Amalric: (thanks) i haven't noticed the description about the banks, and my girls are sitting next to me so i don't want to look at the page!
Smon: Or you can try to swim back to the boat while the conversation is going on? (I take it you're a No-Page-3 family then?) 
Smon: You'd need a climb check to get back into the barge.
Amalric: back aboard the boat would work
Amalric: (and i don't mind Sam Fox from her early days, not for everyone though!)
Amalric rolls 1d100 and gets: 82,
Amalric: think i need 85?
chris107: Phew! Close 
Smon: OK you re-submerge, swim underwater, and come up behind the boat as it passes under the bridge, where the Herdleymen can't see. You try to scale the tarry hull... 
Smon: Yup, 85%. Did it. You slip over the side and back aboard a split second before the boat comes back into view on the east side of the bridge.
Smon: You hunker down like a wet pile of rags as the boat polls on, soon leaving the bridge behind. Lana exhales with relief, turning to Sir Garrick. "Should be plain sailing now."
Smon: The river remains shallow enough for punting, and the four of you can poll the barge upriver against the current, which is fairly mild.
Amalric: "well i needed to cool off anyway..."
Goonergeezer: "Luck is with us, let us hope it remains so"
Smon:  Night falls, and heavy dollops of rain begin to fall, cooling you as you work.
Goonergeezer: waiting a few minutes after we pass out of sight of the bridge, garrick will give the signal for all below to stand down
chris107: @ Lana "How far now my dear?"
Smon: "We're nearly there..." Less than an hour later and about a mile pass Earlshurt, Lana brings the barge in on the south bank, leaping ashore to tie the bow-rope round a convenient tree, then doing likewise with the stern-rope, bringing the barge close enough to let down the gangplank. Heavy autumn rain patters down, the night is dark, with Castle Herdley barely visible through the treees on the ridgeline to the south.
Smon: Sir Edward and the knights come up on deck in soot-blackened armour. Edward nods to Garrick and Lana, looking around. "Good show, good show! Perfect location, and the lord blesses us with perfect weather, too..."
chris107: Any sign or sound of movement between us and the trees?
Goonergeezer: garrick turns to SR "now we must pray for no lightning"
Smon: The trees reach the waters' edge here, no sign of movement, just rain pattering through the trees. 
Smon: Crows sit huddled on a nearby branch, watching you.
chris107: Are there the normal sounds of nature one would expect?
Smon: WIS check maybe? At +2 for SR so 17 or less.
Goonergeezer: once we get ashore garrick dons his armour and turns to edward "are we sending a scout ahead to see if he can find a way in first?"
chris107: Are the crows within 40'
chris107 rolls 1d20 and gets: 7,
chris107: Well within
chris107: The 7 that is 
Smon: GM: You can hear the rain, and the wind in the trees, normal enough. Most animals are sheltering from the rain. However below that SR senses a corrosion in the land, as if Castle Herdley were a source of corruption - it's faint, but unmistakable to a skilled Druid.
chris107: SR says nothing but a steely determination to finish this job fills his soul.
Smon: There's a little too much decay, a little too litle fresh growth.
Smon: Quite unlike the flourishing vales of Kallent.
chris107: SR volunteers to scout.
Smon: Edward nods to Garrick, then turns to Shade: "We'll head for the castle - can you scout ahead a couple hundred yards, find us a good approach, look out for sentries? There could be either Herdleymen or Odric's filth about."
Smon: Edward: "Father Sweetrede? You're a scout?"
Amalric: "No problem, leave it to me"
chris107: "I am small, nimble and quiet Sir."
chris107: (SR leaves it to Shade)
Smon: Sir Gregor Caskeham is among the last men to come up top in his full armour. Lana spots him and moves close to Sir Edward. Lana: "I'll be waiting for you here, then. If I hear nothing by an hour before dawn I'll be headed back downstream to Herdley."
Smon: Gregor leers at Lana, but seems subdued, clearly Sir Edward has given him a stern talking-to.
Smon: Edward nods. "Thank you Miss Greenvale. Mr Shade, lead on..."
Amalric: Shade leads on. he'll keep about 50-80 yards ahead
Smon: As you start out into the trees, leaving Lana and the barge behind, Edward moves close to Sweetrede and whispers: "Any assistance your... faith... can give us would be welcome, tonight."
chris107: (SR will use his Druid's ability to move through tangled undergroth without penalty to move among the thicker growths off the beaten track while still keeping the others in sight.
chris107: (Before doing so...
Smon: 
chris107: He promises Sir Edward. "My faith will be with us this night."
Smon: Edward nods to Sweetrede as the Wise Man slips away into the undergrowth. Shade finds a track through the trees, the knights following. The land slopes uphill for a bit and opens out into a meadow. Across the meadows you can see Castle Herdley atop its ridge. Trees grow up the ridge, quite up to the rear of the castle - in clear contravention of best practice. It looks like you can skirt the meadow to the left, cross a track and get onto the ridge, then start climbing round towards the back of the castle?
Smon: /roll 1d6
Smon rolls 1d6 and gets: 3,
Smon: No sign of life.
Smon: There are lights in the high castle windows, though.
Smon: It's about a quarter mile off right now, 400 yards or so
chris107: (any movement flitting accross the lighted windows?)
Smon: You don't see any, no.
chris107: OOC that rout sounds good to me.
Smon: The angle is such it's unlikely you'd see any unless someone actually came to stand at a window.
Amalric: Shade will remain under cover as long as he can, and as close to the castle as he can
chris107: SR shadows the main group keeping to the heavy undergrowth.
Smon: /roll 1d100
Smon rolls 1d100 and gets: 38,
Smon: GM: You cluster a moment at the meadow's edge. Edward takes SR's advice and directs Shade to lead the party up round behind the castle. Lots of climbing wet, muddy slopes follows...
Smon: The rain continues down; visibility and sound both deadened - ideal weather for sneaking about, perhaps (OOC thank Gygax & the random weather table) 
chris107: (Yeah!)
Amalric: (He was THE MAN)
Smon: Two hours later, it's about 9pm and 22 wet, muddy men come out on top of the ridgeline behind Castle Herdley, only a few yards from the southern wall. The fortress is much less impressive from this side, and there is no curtain wall, but the keep's nearest windows are still over 20' above your head, and little more than slits - a halfling or very thin man *might* slip through.
Smon: Edward looks up, surveying the keep wall. "Better than I could have hoped... but still not easy."
6:53pm  2013-7-31 oculus orbus Has entered the room
Smon: Edward looks to Garrick, Sweetrede and Shade: "We look for a way in at ground level? If there are no... cracks... then we'll need to scale the wall to the upper floors."
Goonergeezer: "a secret back door would of been nice, but that would be asking for miracles"
Smon: Gregor looks up at the windows. "No ****in way I'm getting in one of those holes, tight as a **** ******* (for SR) 
Goonergeezer: "shade, could you scout around for a ground floor entrance, if not then perhaps Sr might be able to find a crack somewhere"
Smon: Edward nods.
Amalric: "I can try the upper levels if you wish, but let's check the ground floor first"
Amalric: LOL, Shade nods
chris107: SR slopes off to look for a 'Secret entrance'
Smon: The men split into small groups to search for hidden entrances.
Smon: (OOC Bill going on about Kaladrax) 
chris107: When safely away he'll look for parts of plain wall where no cross sections or wooden supports seem to be.
Smon: /roll 1d6
Smon rolls 1d6 and gets: 2,
chris107: 7 cubic feet is the AofE
Smon: Sweetrede is in luck, not long before he finds some wall that seems only a few feet thick; Stone Shape could tunnel a hole big enough for a knight to wiggle through, only about 4' off the ground. Suicide if any guards lay beyond, of course.
chris107: of Stone Shape
Smon: yup[
chris107: Looking about to make sure he isn't noticed he will shape an entrance..
Smon: You can make a hole just over shoulder-width wide.
Smon: The hole forms, beyond is dark, slightly stale smell.
chris107: Slipping through himself to have a look first.
chris107: If the coast is clear he will go get the others.
Smon: SR slips in - the room is completely dark, no windows.
Smon: No sign of life.
Amalric: Shade follows
Smon: SR assembles the others. Edward grins as he looks at the hole. "Now that IS an amazing bit of luck!"
chris107: SR risks a tiny candle light if his tinder box is dry enough
Smon: You light it outside the wall?
chris107: (Once inside and out of the wind & rain)
Smon: 
Smon: Yeah their sentries might see a light.
chris107: (SR winks at Sir Edward)
chris107: Hi OO 
Smon: Edward grins back knowingly. Several knigthts are looking puzzled at the hole. "By St Cara, a miracle!" "I'm damn sure I searched that bit of wall five minutes ago!" SR slips back in and lights a candle...
chris107: Didn't see you slip in..
Smon: SR is standing in a storeroom, several musty chests line the walls. There is a heavy oak door on the far side.
Smon: The chamber doesn't seem to have been used in some time.
chris107: He gestures for Shade to come forward but waves the others to wait.
chris107: (Covering the candle flame with his hand from draughts)
Smon: The others wait, Sir Edward boosts Shade up into the room.
Smon: Shade looks around - Shade can see that the door has a heavy iron lock, slightly rusty.
Smon: Outside the rain runs down the back of Garrick's neck.
Goonergeezer: brrrr
Amalric: he'll examine it for traps, then to see if its locked, and if so he'll try to pick it
Smon: Sir Gregor is holding a cage of homing-pigeons for Kallent under one huge arm.
Smon: you can roll %s
Amalric rolls 2d100 and gets: 68, 09, = 77 
Amalric: well hope its not trapped, and that should pick it if its locked
Smon: You find no traps. The lock yields easily to your tender touch 
Smon: NIce one 
chris107: (Good roll Graham  )
Smon: (Battering the door down would have been very noisy!)
Amalric: (I'll take it!)
chris107: Any light showing under the door?
Smon: No
chris107: Before it's opened.
Smon: But through the keyhole you make out very dim light - torchlight?
Smon: Actions?
Amalric: Shade waits to see if the light comes closer or gets further away, or stays still
Smon: Stays still.
Smon: /roll 1d100
Smon rolls 1d100 and gets: 55,
chris107: Any sounds?
Goonergeezer: G whispered to Edward "Might it be prudent if we send shade on ahead to see if he can locate the countess before all of us start tramping around the castle"
Amalric: Smells?
Smon: If it's a torch it's not in direct line of the keyhole.
Smon: Musty storeroom smell. Are you making a Hear Noise attempt?
Amalric: yes
Smon: roll
Amalric rolls 1d100 and gets: 70,
chris107: SR will too. D20?
Smon: You don't hear anything.
Amalric: guess no sounds
Amalric: *heard
Smon: (If it needs a % roll a d20 won't work) 
chris107: 9As a none thief?)
Smon: ?
Smon: Amalric hears noise as a Thief-1
chris107: (DMG looking for page)
Amalric: I do. wish i didn't when the wife is speaking...
Smon: 
chris107: DMG pp60
chris107: Human 2 in 20
Smon: >>"Might it be prudent if we send shade on ahead to see if he can locate the countess before all of us start tramping around the castle"<< Edward frowns: "Hm, don't want to give up element of surprise, but I take your point."
Smon: /roll 1d20
Smon rolls 1d20 and gets: 20,
Smon: SR hears nothing.
chris107: (Not wasted, gets your 20 out of the way  0
oculus orbus: Smilodon
7:15pm  2013-7-31 oculus orbus Has exited the room
Smon: Edward climbs up into the candle-lit storeroom, and beckons Garrick and the others to follow, quietly.
Goonergeezer: garrick follows on quietly behind
Smon: Edward whispers to Shade: "We seem to be unspotted, yet. Do you fancy scouting ahead, trying to locate Varuna? We'll wait here, ready to charge in if we hear you cry."
Smon: "Of course if there's twenty bugbears past that door..."
Smon: Edward grips his greatsword firmly, grinning.
Amalric: "Thanks. And of course, I work better alone anyway."
Smon: Edward nods. "Good show, man."
Smon: Are you opening the door?
Amalric: yes, as quietly as i can
Smon: The door opens with a slight creak into a door-lined corridor, about 40' long. To the right it terminates after 25' at a final door. To the left it runs 15' to a spiral staircase leading up and down. A candle is set in a wall sconce in the stairwell, casting the dim light.
Smon: /roll 1d100
Smon rolls 1d100 and gets: 80,
Smon: You hear only the rain.
Amalric: Shade quickly relates what he sees, Then: "I shall head for the staircase and move up the stairs. I am hoping this noblewoman is up above rather than down below."
Amalric: "Feel free to advise otherwise."
chris107: We were advised she was below
chris107: The evil cleric above
Amalric: oops!
Smon: Edward: "We heard Varuna 'languishes in her own dungeon' - down, I'd think?"
Amalric: LOL, i'll head down then - unless you want the cleric offed
Smon: "A chivalrous knight would keep a lady in upper chambers, but Odric..."
chris107: (Be nice if you could  )
Amalric: down down down
Smon: Amalric moves softly over to the spiral stone stairwell, light glimmers from candles both above and below. They look to have been lit 2-3 hours ago, perhaps.
Smon: As he starts down the stairs, he hears something...
Smon: /roll 1d100
Smon rolls 1d100 and gets: 85,
Amalric: he stops in his tracks
Smon: Voices, maybe, very faint and far off, from below?
Smon: Very muffled.
Smon: Not getting closer or further away.
Amalric: how far down do the stairs go? he'll want to stop before they go too far
Smon: The stairway winds down only about 15', ending at a landing.
Amalric: Shade will return to the room for the 'troops', and tell them what he's found
Amalric: "Do you wish to follow and wait upstairs, while I investigate the landing?"
Goonergeezer: "sounds good to me" turns to edward "agreed?"
chris107: "Would it be wise to have a number of knights go up to block off any one wanting to come down. And leave the route free should we rescue the countess below?"
Amalric: "good idea!
Goonergeezer: "get those to wait in this room, if any start to come down we can jump out and suprise them"
Smon: Edward nods to Sweetrede. "They may alert the enemy, but I agree, let's cut off these lower levels. Sir Gregor?"
Smon: Edward: "We shall follow Wise Sweetrede's plan. Take half the knights, go up one level only, block any ingress. Eliminate any foes you encounter, silently if possible..."
chris107: "And what of the door to the right? Should we not check that?"
Smon: Edward looks uncertain/
chris107: "If only to make sure we leave no enemies to our rear?"
Smon: GM: There are four other doors off the corridor - 2 doors each side, 1 at end.
Goonergeezer: "if we were to leave two knights in this room in the offchance that anyone comes thrpough that door they can suprise them"
chris107: "Perhaps friend Shade could at least listen?"
Smon: Edward: "I'll check these doors with Garrick... Shade, sneak down and see if that's the dungeons below."
Amalric: "leave the doors, I say!
Smon: 
Smon: Edward wipes sweat from his brow. "Yes, just stores most likely..." 
Smon: Gregor regards him with ill-concealed contempt.
Amalric: Shade nods and returns to the stairs, then goes down to investigate the landing
Smon: Shade sneaks down the stairs, his soft pad drowned out by the clank of Sir Gregor leading nine armoured knights up to the level above the storeroom where you entered.
Smon: At the bottom of the stairs, a candle-lit corridor runs off, lined with doors - but these look like prison doors, with viewing slits covered by retractablw wood slides at eye level.
Goonergeezer: Garrick winces at the noise being made
Amalric: if the going is clear, Shade investigates the doors via the slits, one by one
Amalric: all the time he keeps an eye on the corridor ahead
Smon: From down the dungeon corridor Shade can hear muffled chanting. It seems to be coming from beyond a larger door at the far end. Four, five or six voices perhaps?
Smon: Sounds like a ceremony, religious? 
Amalric: is the door open or closed?
Smon: Closed tight.
Smon: It looks very different from the others, the frame is ornate stonework, gargoyles and imps, the wood black.
Amalric: he'll investigate the cells quickly
Smon: Shade opens the first viewing slit - the room is night black, but Shade can hear breathing, sounds like two people, asleep.
Smon: You'd need to hold up a candle to see in.
chris107: (OOC It would seem the Countess Heardley had evil leanings before Odric?)
Smon: (Did Garrick tell SR about the Countess & her dad?)
Amalric: he ignores it and moves to the next
Amalric: (oh wait)
chris107: (No)
Goonergeezer: (oh yes she was evil, they have been kidnapping people from different realities and keeping them as slaves)
chris107: (OOC So she may not be been held against her will but working with Odric?)
Goonergeezer: (i imaging there was only a few things garrick did not tell SR during their time in captivity)
Amalric: brb
Smon: /roll 1d10
chris107: (Garrick should have strangled her when he had the chance  )
Smon rolls 1d10 and gets: 6,
Smon: ok I'll freeze the clock there for now.
Goonergeezer: (the deepest darkest secrets were never revealed)
chris107: (Ah yes. The 'blackmail' murders you commited...)
chris107: (Odric dead will suit both our purposes  )
Goonergeezer: (slavery, debauchery, kidnap, madness and quite possibly dark magic, but we have no proof of that though, just very strong suspicions)
chris107: (We may be trying to rescue some one who's in the plot up to her neck then?)
chris107: (We may be trying to rescue some one who's in the plot up to her neck then?)
chris107: (We may be trying to rescue some one who's in the plot up to her neck then?)
chris107: (We may be trying to rescue some one who's in the plot up to her neck then?)
chris107: (I got an awful feeling we'll find the countess in Odric's appartments rather than the dungeons)
Goonergeezer: (The Marquis du Sade, if that was so, wouldnt she let them just past, unless this is a trap)
Goonergeezer: (ashe might be going along with it all just to save her own neck)
chris107: (Nods wisely)
chris107: (Or willingly)
Goonergeezer: (its amazing what some people will do just to save theirselves)
chris107: (To advance her earthly powers)
chris107: (  )
chris107: (I'll just grab a drink brb)
Goonergeezer: (we reascue her, if she does not want to be rescued we knock her out and take her anyway, we can always kill her later if need be)
chris107: back
chris107: (SR admires Garricks practical thinking)
Smon: Trouble w solo scouting,I need to wait for the solo scout 
chris107: 
chris107: Children's bed time I guess.
Goonergeezer: (brb wc and coffee)
Smon: Garrick and Sweetrede wait in the corridor of the storeroom level. The sounds of movement from Gregor and his squad have ceased - presumably they now lie in wait upstairs to ambush anyone approaching? Either that or they all got dispatched in utter silence.
chris107: (Either is good for SR  )
Smon: (lovely man, SR)
Amalric: back, sorry, kids to bed
Smon: 
chris107: (Just practical, can't see that monster marrying his charge)
Smon: oh yeah 
Smon: What's Shade doing?
chris107: (The forest must come first after all)
Amalric: he was moving on from the first cell, ignoring the occupants, and checking the others
Smon: There are five other cells, they all seem empty, but from the last one there is a slight smell as of fresh blood.
Smon: At the east end of the corridor by the big door the chanting is louder.
Amalric: nice. he'll ignore that and return to the first cell, and will knock lightly on the door
Smon: Shade knocks. The door seems locked btw. After a moment a sleepy male voice answers: "Whu-wha? Who's there?"
Amalric: "your fairy godmother. who is in there?"
Smon: "Er, Stanley?" Then Shade hears a female voice too from behind the door: "What's going on? Answer me!" She has a commanding tone.
Smon: /roll 1d20
Smon rolls 1d20 and gets: 14,
Smon: lucky 
Smon: The female voice continues: "I am the Countess Varuna and I demand you answer!"
Amalric: "Sounds like a countess," mutters Shade to himself. Then in a harsher whisper, "Well shut up a moment and let me see if i can get you out, before the goons take you to the altar!"
Amalric: he'll then try to pick the lock
Smon: It's not as simple as the store lock, but you can try.
Smon: roll %
Amalric rolls 1d100 and gets: 51,
Amalric: bugger
chris107: 
Goonergeezer: (thinking about it Sir Gregor and the countess Varuna would be a perfect match for each other)
Smon: Lucky - yup, you made it with the modifier.
Amalric: those dice are the wrong way around, btw
chris107: SR mentioned he can 'warp wood'
chris107: Phew! 
Amalric: i'm too good at this *cough*
Smon: It takes a few minutes of fiddling, but eventually the lock springs open. In the light from the corridor, Shade sees a cell about 10' across, two pale figures kneel, chained to the wall and shackled - a short-haired youth of about 15 and a voluptuous dark haired woman, mid twenties perhaps - Varuna?
Smon: Both are naked and show some bruising.
Amalric: what they do in their spare time is up to them 
Smon: They blink in the light. Varuna: "If you've come to rescue us, I have urgent news!"
Amalric: "Go ahead, but be quick!"
Smon: Varuna: "Odric has used foul diabolism to master my father's Mirror - a Gate to other worlds. Now he is using it to open a pathway to the interdimensional lattice wherein is hidden the ultimate prize, of this and all worlds..."
Smon: Varuna pauses for dramatic effect: "...The Holy Grail! It was placed there aeons ago, hidden from the sight of Odric's master, the Evil One! If Odric gains it..." Veruna shudders. "He has to be stopped!"
Amalric: "a weekend at Bernie's?"
Smon: Stanley giggles.
Amalric: "What is with the boy? Why does he laugh so?"
Smon: Veruna pauses, the sound of chanting drifts in. "I fear he has already begun! Free me, quickly! If I can get my spell pouch..."
Amalric: with a sigh, Shade tries to open the shackles
Smon: Veruna: "The boy is one of two prisoners Odric took from another world, in his first successful use of the Mirror."
Smon: The shackle locks are crude... roll d%
Amalric rolls 1d100 and gets: 89,
Smon: Veruna: "The other was a virgin female - Odric said he intended to use her... I fear a virgin sacrifice..." Stanley grimaces: "I tried to save her...."
Smon: You can't open the locks.
Amalric: "you may be too late on that score"
Smon: Unless you have at least +14% in extra bonuses for DEX?
Smon: Nope, you'd need DEX 18.
Smon: (pg 12 PHB)
Smon: Stanley curses, looking pale and shaky.
Smon: Veruna looks unimpressed as Shade fumbles with the locks.
Amalric: "hold on, i will have to get help"
Smon: "The bugbear jailer has the key. He's probably with Odric."
Amalric: Shade will back out, closing - but not locking - the door, then quickly moves upstairs to get some knights
Smon: Garrick & SR see Shade come back upstairs.
Smon: /roll 1d10
Smon rolls 1d10 and gets: 5,
Smon: lucky 
Amalric: Shade gets them updated
Smon: Been about 20 minutes
Smon: Edward: "We can smite the manacles - it'll be noisy though..."
chris107: "Perhap's this Odric commits his mischief below as we speak? Two birds with one stone?"
Smon: Edward: "What?"
Goonergeezer: g to eddy "who is our strongest knight? he may be able to break the chains with brute force"
Smon: Ed: "You know the answer."
Smon: He jerks a thumb upwards.
chris107: "The chanting from beyond the evil door. Perhaps it is Odric in his ritual?"
Amalric: "I think Odric is indeed at work, there is much chanting below"
Goonergeezer: "it seems to good an oppourtunity to waste, i fear dark arts are being practiced, we should pout a stop to it whomever is using them"
Amalric: "And the shackles are not so strong"
Amalric: "just...tricky"
Smon: Edward: "All seems quiet above - Sir Hugo, go fetch Sir Gregor Caskeham. We need his talents."
chris107: "Perhaps if the areas above are 
chris107: "Stopped by a door, it could be blocked to stop ant interference?"
Smon: A young knight nods and heads up the stairs.
Goonergeezer: "let us make haste and free varuna, let her and an escort wait in the room we first eneterd, then at least if our attack fails she may still escape"
Amalric: Shade will head back down to keep watch. He'll investigate the door from which the chanting emanates
Amalric: and stand the other side of it if possible
Smon: Sir Hugo returns after a minute with Sir Gregor. Sir Edward beckons all of you but 2 knights to follow and follows Shade down to the dungeon level.
Smon: The chanting comes from the far end of the 40' corridor.
Smon: Shade goes to the door (roll Hear Noise)
Amalric rolls 1d100 and gets: 98,
Amalric: yeesh
chris107: 
Smon: lol
Smon: Shade sees Sir Edward lead Garrick, Gregor, Sweetrede and 6 other knights into the corridor.
Smon: Edward beckons to Shade.
Smon: "Which door?" he whispers.
Amalric: Shade holds up one finger and points
Smon: Edward nods to Sir Gregor, who goes to the door, opens it and goes in.
Smon: /roll 1d100
Smon rolls 1d100 and gets: 33,
Smon: A moment latter you hear the sound of rending metal and a soft cry from Varuna. 
Smon: /roll 1d10
Smon rolls 1d10 and gets: 9,
Smon: Clearly the Lord(?) is with you, as no one seems to have heard the sound. Gregor emerges with Varuna & Stanley trailing shackles. The naked countess surveys the knights, blushing slightly. "Thank you..."
Smon: Gregor's meaty paw falls on her shoulder, and she shudders slightly. 
chris107: (So the chanting continues?)
Smon: yup
chris107: SR whispers urgently
Smon: The chanting continues unchanged.
chris107: "Countess is this the ritual you fear?" Points at the door.
Smon: "Varuna nods to Sweetrede, but looks to Garrick and Edward. "Odric has gained control of my father's Golem. It cannot be harmed by sword or spell - only enchanted blade."
Goonergeezer: G to V whispered "Greetings again Countess, i hope you have not been mistreated too much"
Smon: Varuna smiles at Garrick. "Fortunately I was unsuitable for Odric's virgin sacrifices..."
Goonergeezer: G whispered "I have such a blade, but i fear such a beast will be too much for me to handle alone"
chris107: SR whispers to G & SE
Smon: Edward: "I have the Sword of Amaul."
chris107: "My faith can provide an enchanted weapon for a short time if you mighty warriors would weild it?"
Smon: Gregor looks to SR. "Aye."
Goonergeezer: "Sir gregor is the man i would wish by my side in such a ferocious fight"
chris107: "Then I will weild my oaken staff by your side."
Smon: Varuna: "He'll have his acolytes for the ritual also, and bugbears..."
chris107: The G was meant for Garrick and Sir Edward 
chris107: Not Gregor.
Smon: "The G"?
Goonergeezer: G "thats why the knights are here, to keep the guards and acolytes busy"
Smon: oh, the whisper, right.
chris107: in SR whispers to G & SE
Smon: (keep whisper & whispered line together for clarity)
Amalric: (still here, on the phone)
chris107: (Will do)
Goonergeezer: (k)
Smon: Gregor grins to Garrick. "My blade is thirsty."
Smon: Edward: "Sir Hugo, Sir Mailen, escort Countess Varuna to our exit. The rest of you with me. We have an evil ritual to stop, and a world to save!" 
Goonergeezer: G to Greg whispered "then let our blades drink tonight and i will supply you with drink enough on our return fo you to bathe in it"
Smon: Gregor grins: "Give me a slut to **** and I could come to like you, Sir Garrick!"
Smon: Edward leads Gregor, Garrick, & the 4 other knights with you towards the door to the ritual chamber.
Amalric: Shade will seek out acolytes to slay come the time
chris107: SR will hover behind and use his spells where he feels best.
Smon: Shade lurks in the shadows to one side of the door, ready to slip in. Hugo & Mailen escort Varuna & Stanley upstairs.
Smon: Is SR precasting anything? The door seems to be closed but unlocked BTW.
chris107: If need be using his Shillaghlei spell to enchant his staff if attacked by the golem.
Smon: (ok)
chris107: (No)
Smon: Edward takes a deep breath, nods to the others, then flings open the door to a scene of dark sorcery, lit by purple-flamed braziers.
Smon: The first thing you see is Odric, purple-robed, with his back to you, facing a huge ornate mirror in which mists swirl. Odric stands at the centre of a huge pentagram, maybe 20' across, a robed and hooded figure at each of the five points. He is holding something in both hands - you can't see what. Two naked female forms, one pale, one brown-skinned, kneel at his feet, backs to you & facing the mirror.
Smon: The recesses of the great chamber are shadowed, but you can see treasure chests, open and spilling with coin - the wealth of Herdley.
Smon: /roll 1d6
Smon rolls 1d6 and gets: 6,
Smon: Two or three of the robed figures see the door open, their chanting falters as they turn in your direction...
Smon: You have a surprise round; actions?
chris107: Is Odric within 80'?
Smon: yes, about 25-30' from you.
Smon: One of the acolytes is directly between you & him, but with his back to you.
Goonergeezer: G to Greg "with me on the head priest" with that said garrick charges Odric
chris107: Okay, thanks. SR just lurks at the back trying to stay out of sight for now.
Smon: Garrick sprints across the stone floor, boots hammering - Odric turns, a look of surprise in his cold blue eyes. The slavegirls at his feet turn too - Garrick recognises Lisa of Swansea and Cheryle of Boston.
Amalric: can Shade make a backstab/assassination strike at Odric?
Smon: If you'd had a ranged weapon in hand I'd have allowed it, but you said you were lurking out of sight, not ready to shoot or charge.
Smon: So not this round. You could aim to sneak in unnoticed & try later, maybe.
Amalric: damn, was typing one-handed, a bit slow!
Smon: Shade wouldn't have a clear view of the room immediately, as the knights are charging in.
Amalric: fairy nuff
Smon: Garrick, you have base move 60'?
Smon: You can make it to Odric at a charge; +2 to hit, lose DEX bonus.
Goonergeezer: (k)
Goonergeezer rolls 1d20+5 and gets: 9, (+5) = 14 
Goonergeezer: hits ac4
Smon: Edward charges too, going to the other side of the acolyte. Other knights will need different targets.
Smon: Odric has enchanted armour under his robes, AC 1 
Goonergeezer: 
chris107: (Does SR note the glint of metal armour below the robes?)
Smon: Your blade clangs on something incredibly hard, slicing away the robes to reveal mithril splint mail of archaic design (+3 splint!)
Smon: Edward swings a moment later:
Goonergeezer: (come on eddy, stop that spellcaster)
chris107: (Mithril non ferrous I'm guessing?  )
Smon: /roll 1d20+5
Smon rolls 1d20+5 and gets: 1, (+5) = 6 
chris107: 
Goonergeezer: (Bugger)
Amalric: ouch
Smon: Edward misses completely. I guess the Dark Lord really likes Odric.
Goonergeezer: (well at least we have disrupted his ritual)
Amalric: (should have snuck in and nailed him earlier)
Smon: /roll 1d10
Smon rolls 1d10 and gets: 4,
Smon: (that was Eddie's level-up hp, he has 20 now!)
Amalric: he gets to level- up on rolling a 1? For shame! 
Smon: Behind you the other 5 knights pour into the chamber, greatswords swinging at the surprised acolytes.
Smon: (he levelled up 6 months ago, I forgot to roll his F4 hp) 
Smon: Gregor:
Smon: /roll 1d20+5
Smon rolls 1d20+5 and gets: 2, (+5) = 7 
Smon: ha!
chris107: Gosh worst dice ever?
Smon: /roll 1d20+3x4
Smon Rolls 1d20+3x4 and gets:
16 (+3) = 19
9 (+3) = 12
14 (+3) = 17
15 (+3) = 18
Goonergeezer: G "Lisa, Cheryl, run while you can, do not let this monster have you"
chris107: 
Smon: That's 4 hits (AC 8, Ftr 2)
Amalric: there we go
Smon: /roll 1d10+2x4
Smon Rolls 1d10+2x4 and gets:
3 (+2) = 5
6 (+2) = 8
2 (+2) = 4
10 (+2) = 12
Smon: Four men fall, choking on their own blood.
chris107: Yeah! 
Smon: Only the one nearest the door still stands, as Gregor swings at him in wide arc he jumps back, drawing a ceremonial dagger.
Smon: /roll 1d6
Smon rolls 1d6 and gets: 1,
Smon: Are Sweetrede & Shade doing anything, or do we go to round 2?
chris107: Faerie Fire on the baddies still standing please.
Amalric: can Shade attack anyone? 
chris107: +2 will help hit Odric 
Amalric: if not he'll move in and try to find a shadow behind Odric
Smon: Odric is holding a bowl of blood, which is foaming, tendrils of red smoke swirling off into the clouded mirror.
Smon: Shade could do a regular move in and attack the last acolyte, or sneak into the shadows?
Amalric: shadows
Smon: GM: Shade ducks into the room, moving into the shadows to right of the door - where a huge hairy bugbear is lurking! Mutual surprise.
Smon: (the bugbear now does not get Surprise on you in r2)
Amalric: "SHITE!!"
chris107: Oops!
Smon: Sweetrede cast Faerie Fire on the acolyte & Odric, +2 to be hit.
Smon: ok, everyone roll initiative!
Goonergeezer rolls 1d10 and gets: 1,
chris107 rolls 1d6 and gets: 1,
Smon: (this is last game for a few weeks looks like, so I'll go long)
Amalric: LOL, which dice?!
Smon: d6
Amalric rolls 1d6 and gets: 6,
Goonergeezer rolls 1d6 and gets: 3,
Smon: add DEX bonus to roll
Goonergeezer: (bugger again  )
Goonergeezer: +1 so a 4
chris107: Still 1 
Amalric: +1 so 7
Goonergeezer: or 2 depending if we want high or low
Smon: high is good
Smon: Your knights:
Smon: /roll 1d6
Goonergeezer: 4
Smon rolls 1d6 and gets: 1,
Amalric: (works for me)
Goonergeezer: 
Smon: LOL
Smon: Odric & acolyte:
Smon: /roll 1d6
Smon rolls 1d6 and gets: 6,
chris107: 
Smon: Odric's lurking allies, who mostly have surprise:
Smon: /roll 1d6
Smon rolls 1d6 and gets: 1,
Smon: hm
Amalric: my 7 wins
Smon: Sweetrede what is your DEX?
chris107: 9
Smon: ok, most of Odric's lurkers beat you.
Smon: 1 has low DEX 
chris107: SR isn't really cut out for combat 
Smon: Right - Shade you react before the surprised Bugbear can, so if you hit it you get assassination %
Smon: & I'll give +2 to hit.
Amalric rolls 1d20+2 and gets: 17, (+2) = 19 
chris107: Nice!
Smon: hit
Goonergeezer: (go shade)
Amalric: that should do it. get +2 for STR too
Amalric: d100?
Smon: 55% chance, roll
Amalric rolls 1d100 and gets: 11,
chris107: Yeah!
Smon: Blood gushes from its severed throat as it falls, dead.
Amalric: 
Smon: /roll 1d2
Smon rolls 1d2 and gets: 2
Smon: Odric frowns at the two knights trying to kill him. He turns and flings the blood-bowl into the mirror - there is an explosion of purple light and the mists clear,revealing a dimly lit cavern in the mirror-frame. Odric grasps Lisa of Swansea's wrist, pulling her to her feet. "You're coming with me... " She shrieks plaintively as he starts to drag her towards the mirror.
Smon: The last acoylte pokes at Sir Gregor:
Smon: /roll 1d20
Smon rolls 1d20 and gets: 3,
Smon: misses
Smon: Garrick, you're up!
chris107: (Is the mirror framed?)
Goonergeezer rolls 1d20+5 and gets: 1, (+5) = 6 
Goonergeezer: arrrggghhhh!
chris107: Gosh!
Smon: Odric will be at the mirror at end of this round. The mirror has a solid metal frame that depicts cavorting devils.
Smon: Odric laughs as Garrick's swing goes wide.
Goonergeezer: G out loud "Knights stop him at all cvosts"
chris107: When his turn comes SR will use his 12" movement to charge and interpose himself between Odric and the mirror.
Smon: Sweetrede is standing back from the doorway having cast Faerie Fire, when his view is blocked by the hulking hairy form of a great Bugbear. The beast grins maliciously as it steps forwards, swinging a morningstar at him.
chris107: (Or maybe not  )
Smon: (charge is roughly straight line, but I'm allowing a 40' combat move for 120' speed so would have been ok)
Smon: Bugbear:
chris107: (I guess that's what's called surprise?  )
Smon: /roll 1d20
Smon rolls 1d20 and gets: 17,
chris107: A/C8
Smon: hits AC -1
Smon: *crunch*
Smon: /roll 2d4+2
Smon rolls 2d4+2 and gets: 2, 2, (+2) = 6 
Smon: 6 dmg SR
chris107: 18/24HP
chris107: (If he can dodge past he will go for his intended action)
Smon: Sir Edward yells to his men: "Stop this fiend!" Odric has Lisa as a partial shield, but 3 men can attack Odric this turn - Garrick, Edward, 1 other knight.
Smon: (the bugbear would get a free attack)
Smon: (at +2)
chris107: (That's okay)
chris107: (It's Odric that's blighting the land. He must be stopped)
Smon: Edward:
Smon: /roll 1d20+3
Smon rolls 1d20+3 and gets: 20, (+3) = 23 
Smon: 
Amalric: i take it Shade isn't close?
chris107: Go on Sir Edward!
Smon: /roll 1d10+5
Smon rolls 1d10+5 and gets: 8, (+5) = 13 
Smon: 13 dmg
Smon: The shining sword cuts through enchanted mithril. Odric's eyes go wide as he is badly wounded.
Smon: 3rd knight can charge, +2 to hit
Smon: /roll 1d20+3
Smon rolls 1d20+3 and gets: 2, (+3) = 5 
Smon: misses wildly. There is a press of men around Odric, he's about 10' from the mirror.
Amalric: can Shade get there?
Smon: 3 more men move up around Odric, can't attack this round.
Smon: You could get into the vicinity but not attack.
Smon: Gregor swings at the last acolyte.
Amalric: Shade gets in the vicinity
Smon: (oh, I forgot +2s for Faerie Fire, doesn't look like it made a difference though vs AC 1)
Smon: Gregor
Smon: /roll 1d20+5
Smon rolls 1d20+5 and gets: 20, (+5) = 25 
Smon: LOL
Smon: /roll 1d10+6
Smon rolls 1d10+6 and gets: 1, (+6) = 7 
Smon: He still cuts down the diabolist.
Amalric: niiiiiiiiice
Smon: Sweetrede, your go. The bugbear fills the narrow hallway as it tries to pound you
Smon: You're running into the room?
chris107: SR continues on his stated course.
Smon: ok, bugbear swings
Smon: /roll 1d20+2
Smon rolls 1d20+2 and gets: 12, (+2) = 14 
Smon: hit
Smon: /roll 2d4+2
Smon rolls 2d4+2 and gets: 1, 1, (+2) = 4 
Smon: 4 dmg
chris107: 14/24HP
Smon: Out of the shadows to the left of the mirror comes a hulking humanoid figure perhaps 8' tall, flesh bolted crudely into a semblance of life - the Golem. It barrels into the knights like a battering ram, sending men flying through the air.
chris107: Running full tilt, he crashes his oaken sraff into the mirror like a lance.
Smon: Make a DEX check to avoid the melee and reach the mirror SR
chris107 rolls 1d20 and gets: 4,
chris107: 
Smon: Sweetrede leaps over a tumbling knight, ducks under a second flying across the room, and swings his staff - it meets no resistance and Sweetrede feels a sickening sensation as he plunges through space and time, tumbling onto a dusty cavern floor lit by a baleful red glow. Drums beat in the distance.
chris107: OOps!  
Smon: The golem chooses a target for its full murderous wrath - 1-3 Garrick 4-6 Edward
Smon: /roll 1d6
Smon rolls 1d6 and gets: 3,
Smon: THACO 12(!)
Smon: /roll 1d20x2
Smon Rolls 1d20x2 and gets:
7 = 7
20 = 20
Smon: 1 hit
Smon: /roll 2d8
Smon rolls 2d8 and gets: 2, 8, = 10 
chris107: Ouch
Smon: Garrick takes 10 dmg as a fist crunches his steel breastplate.
Smon: OK, next round, Shade you are up next. 
Amalric rolls 1d20+2 and gets: 9, (+2) = 11 
Smon: You see Sweetrede disappear through the mirror. Odric is yelling commands at the Golem: "Clear a path! Ward me! Kill them!"
chris107: SR looks around the cavern. Does he see anything 'grail like'? What does he see back through the mirror?
Smon: Um, what are you DOING Shade? 
Smon: Angling round to attack Odric?
Amalric: um...yes?
Smon: ok, roll your Hide in Shadows
Amalric rolls 1d100 and gets: 58,
Smon: SR does not see a grail.
Smon: Shade add +30% to base HiS
Amalric: no idea what the base is
Smon: 10% + DEX bonus
chris107: 1st Thief is 10%
Smon: which is 0, so 40%, so Odric spots you coming at him - roll a normal attack at +2 for FF.
Amalric: yes, and no DEX bonus
Amalric: so fail
Amalric rolls 1d20+4 and gets: 19, (+4) = 23 
Smon: Stabby stab
chris107: 
Smon: hit
Smon: roll real high!
Smon: You need 8 
Amalric: normal damage?
Smon: yup
Amalric rolls 1d8+2 and gets: 5, (+2) = 7 
Smon: LOL
Amalric: LMAO
chris107: Haha Mr 5 again!
Amalric: 
Amalric: never fails!
Smon: Sweetrede, you see no Grail, but behind you a shimmering portal the size of the mirror frame hangs in mid-air, through which you see a wounded Odric dragging a naked brunette slavegirl into the mirror...
chris107: SR will cast shillegleigh and hide to the side preparing to strike the glowing cleric as he steps through.
Smon: The pair of them plunge into the mirror, there is a *pop* as the portal closes behind them. Odric sees Sweetrede and grins as he draws a dagger.
chris107: (From behind?)
Smon: (Can you cast Shilelgh & attack in same round?)
Smon: Odric has blood on his lips.
chris107: (casting time 1segment
Smon: (Odric did a Withdraw action to avoid free attacks on him, so he can't spellcast or attack this turn, but Sweetrede can do one, but not both)
chris107: (I'll leave that up to you Simon, no problem missing the round to cast)
Goonergeezer: (what happens to the golem now that Odric has gone?)
Smon: Unless it's like cause like wounds you can't cast & attack in 1 round
Smon: The golem is following its last orders....
chris107: Okay then SR will strike
chris107: (Instead of cast)
Smon: Garrick, your go
Goonergeezer: turning to the golem.....
Goonergeezer rolls 1d20+3 and gets: 20, (+3) = 23 
Smon: hit
Goonergeezer rolls 1d12+3 and gets: 1, (+3) = 4 
Smon: Blade slices through flesh like butter, it's L
Goonergeezer: arrrgh!
chris107: 
Amalric: that's two 20s that have come up with min damage
Smon: Unseen by the knights, the bugbear saunters away down the corridor. Sounds of battle drift down from below - the rest of your men are engaging the castle defenders.
Smon: Edward: "Stand back,men! Garrick and I need to handle this!"
Smon: /roll 1d20+3
Smon rolls 1d20+3 and gets: 5, (+3) = 8 
Smon: THACO 18 = 9 to hit 
Smon: The Golem is intent on crushing Garrick.
Smon: /roll 1d20
Smon rolls 1d20 and gets: 15,
Smon: hit AC-3
Smon: /roll 2d8
Smon rolls 2d8 and gets: 4, 5, = 9 
Smon: 9 dmg, 2nd attack
Smon: /roll 1d20
Smon rolls 1d20 and gets: 14,
Smon: hit AC-2
Smon: /roll 2d8
chris107: Oh no!
Smon rolls 2d8 and gets: 1, 8, = 9 
Smon: 9 dmg, Garrick has taken 27 so far.
Goonergeezer: still alive, barely
Amalric: ouch
Smon: Edward: "Fall back Garrick! I'll hold it off - again..."
chris107: SR's attack on Odric?
Smon: Sweetrede attacks...
Smon: +2 for FF
Smon: AC 1
chris107 rolls 1d20+2 and gets: 1, (+2) = 3 
chris107: 
Amalric: LOL
Smon: misses by a mile
chris107: (Not the most martial of chaps!)
Goonergeezer: garrick needing no further words to be said falls back while thoughts of his beloved Tabitha fill his mind
Smon: Shade, your go
Amalric: who am I not killing now?
Smon: The knights are falling back towards the door. Gregor grunts to Garrick: "If ye're not using that sword..." he holds out his hand for Wytchfire.
Goonergeezer: whilst fallimng back garrick tries to hand his sword to one of the knights
Smon: Shade, you can just lurk? Or any action?
Amalric: Shade heads for the door, but goes the opposite way from the retreating knights
Amalric: "draw it out, Sir Edward, and let me have at it from behind!"
Smon: (Shade spots another door in the far left corner of the chamber, close to two open treasure chests). In Elsewhere, Odric raises a ceremonial dagger that drips with fresh virgin blood...
Smon: Odric: "Priest of Nature, your death will be sweet to me!"
Smon: /roll 1d20+2
Smon rolls 1d20+2 and gets: 15, (+2) = 17 
Smon: hit AC 1, so hit.
chris107: "Nay Servant of the Dark One, Nature shall prevail!"
Smon: /roll 1d4+2
Smon rolls 1d4+2 and gets: 3, (+2) = 5 
chris107: "Ouch!"
Smon: 5 dmg
chris107: 9/24HP
Smon: 15 so far 
Smon: /roll 1d20+2
Smon rolls 1d20+2 and gets: 11, (+2) = 13 
Amalric: you get two chances to hit him, i'd say Chris
chris107: (Need to roll a 15 with FF)
chris107: (So pretty close)
Smon: Suddenly from behind Odric, Lisa of Swansea throws herself at him, grabbing his legs.
Smon: (that was a hit)
Smon: /roll 1d20-2
Amalric: sounds like a Welsh girl
Smon rolls 1d20-2 and gets: 8, (-2) = 6 
Goonergeezer: (thats my girl Lisa, you dont screw about with these welsh girls)
Amalric: (literally)
chris107: Go Lisa!
Smon: heh. She tackles the surprised Anti-Cleric and he goes down, hitting the dusty cavern floor with a thud.
Smon: /roll 1d6
Smon rolls 1d6 and gets: 4,
Smon: /roll 1d6+1
Smon rolls 1d6+1 and gets: 2, (+1) = 3 
chris107: Haha what a way to go!
Smon: And she even beat the opposed STR roll.
Smon: Odric's blade is knocked from his hand, skittering across the floor.
Amalric: try not to accidentally kill her SR!
Goonergeezer: (its the leverage, she got him in a good old rugby tackle!)
Smon: Odric: "Bitch! I'll..."
chris107: :/
Smon: OK, Odric is grappled & disarmed. Meanwhile Garrick passe off his longsword to Gregor.
Smon: Edward swings at the Golem:
Smon: /roll 1d20+3
Smon rolls 1d20+3 and gets: 14, (+3) = 17 
Smon: hit
Smon: /roll 3d6+5
Smon rolls 3d6+5 and gets: 6, 3, 4, (+5) = 18 
Smon: 18 dmg...
Smon: It's still up.
chris107: That's the spirit!
Smon: Gregor moves up and lunges with Wytchfire
Smon: /roll 1d20+3
Smon rolls 1d20+3 and gets: 1, (+3) = 4 
Smon: misses
chris107: (Lots of 1's and 20's tonight)
Smon: Cheryle the black slave girl follows Garrick out the exit
Smon: Sweetrede, your go.
chris107: (any +'s for prone?)
Smon: You get another +4, so +6 now.
chris107 rolls 1d20+6 and gets: 13, (+6) = 19 
Smon: AC 1, so hit
chris107: Hits 0
Smon: *crunch*
chris107 rolls 1d6 and gets: 5,
Goonergeezer: garrick leads Cheryl to the room where we entered and asks Varuna if there is anyway she can get the gate open so we can rescue SR
chris107: Die you bastard!
Smon: Sweetrede's staff descends, smashing the vile monster's face, again and again...
Smon: Odric's hands twitch like claws. His mouth opens and a wisp of black vapour dances upwards.
Smon: The flesh golem attacks Edward
Smon: /roll 1d20x2
Smon Rolls 1d20x2 and gets:
4 = 4
15 = 15
chris107: SR says a fervent prayer to the Gods of Nature.
Smon: THACO 12, AC 3, 1 hit
Smon: /roll 2d8
Smon rolls 2d8 and gets: 7, 3, = 10 
Smon: 10 hp left.
Smon: Garrick hurries away from the chamber, black mist forming in the mirror behind him.
Smon: Shade, you see the black mist clear to reveal the red-lit cavern. Sweetrede and the girl stand over the corpse of Odric. Sweetrede, you see the portal shimmer back, black-veined and unstable - you sense it will only remain for a moment - but beyond Sir Edward & Sir Gregor battle the flesh golem..
Smon: Lisa yells to Sweetrede: "The portal! We have to get back! Leave him!"
chris107: "Get through lass" He shouts
Smon: (Garrick is heading upstairs)
Amalric: "Come now, Sweetrede! Bring the girl, before the portal closes!"
chris107: SR searches for the sacrificial dagger (even if it means he misses the portal) He will remove Odric's head from his body
Smon: Lisa moves to the edge of the portal, turns and offers Sweetrede her hand: "It might close when I go through! Hold my hand!"
chris107: "Get through" He commands
Smon: Sweetrede can hear the drums beating louder now, and the sound of many running feet.
Amalric: "No time for souvenirs, Sweetrede!"
chris107: (SR must be sure Odric's dead and can't continue blighting nature)
Smon: Sweetrede can hear inhuman cries "Ugh! Graaa!"
chris107: (Has he found the dagger?)
Smon: As Sweetrede's hands close on the evil dagger, Lisa leaps through the portal. It closes behind her. Sweetrede looks up as dozens of ape-like abhumans pour into the cavern, wielding stone spears.
chris107: (And has the lass gone through)
Amalric: (no time to get that splintmail off him too?  )
Smon: Flesh Golem attacks Edward
Smon: /roll 1d20x2
Smon Rolls 1d20x2 and gets:
9 = 9
14 = 14
Smon: /roll 4d8
Smon rolls 4d8 and gets: 5, 2, 7, 3, = 17 
Goonergeezer: ooops
chris107: SR will do his darndest to remove Odric's head or at least plunge the dagger into his brain through an eye.
Smon: Bones crunch, Edward goes down with shattered ribs (-7hp, dies at -10)
Smon: oops got order wrong, knights first!
Smon: Edward:
Smon: /roll 1d20+3
Smon rolls 1d20+3 and gets: 10, (+3) = 13 
Smon: hit
Smon: /roll 3d6+5
Smon rolls 3d6+5 and gets: 3, 5, 6, (+5) = 19 
Smon: Ok, Edward chops the Golem's head off. 
Smon: Had 18 hp left.
Smon: That White Lady sure loves Edward!
chris107:  
Smon: In the cavern, Sweetrede plunges the sacrifical dagger into Odric's eye. 
Smon: Odric is extremely dead.
Smon: The ape-men close in on him...
chris107: "Yes!"
Smon: I think a traditional d% reaction roll is called for here...
Smon: /roll 1d100
Smon rolls 1d100 and gets: 41,
chris107: From me?
Smon: Sweetrede gets CHA bonus 15%, so that makes it 56%, they don't immediately try to eat you. 
chris107: "Good old Apemen" 
Goonergeezer: Sweetrede - Lord of the apes
chris107: And slayer of the evil Odric
Smon: In the Treasure Vault of Castle Herdley, Sir Edward looks around, wiping his blade. "Well, that's that, then..." Lisa nods: "Odric is dead. I saw him die."
Amalric: Shade re-enters the room and heads for the open chests
Smon: GM: That's Sweetrede out of play, in a primeaval world of apemen, dinosaurs etc.
chris107: I took my chance. SR had to make sure Odric was dead.
Smon: Without either Lisa or Cheryle he's not part of Odric's ritual so he's stuck.
chris107: (He will leave a legend)
Smon: Well, you have a chance to direct the course of a whole primitive culture's evolution. 
Amalric: should have kept the girl at least 
chris107: (And bring Druidry to it  )
Smon: OK, I'll stop there for tonight & post treasure, XP etc.
Smon: Well done guys, that was close, & fun!
chris107: Thanks Simon v exciting!
chris107: Well done guys 
Goonergeezer: Yes, ty all, good game 
Amalric: should have snuck in and stabbed Odric early on, saved a lot of trouble. we'd have kept Sweetrede, but maybe lost Shade!
Amalric: but great fun, loved it!
Smon: Do you want to make a new PC Chris?
chris107: Sure, 4d6?
Goonergeezer: i hope varuna knows of A SECRET WAY OUT. ooops caps
Smon: yep
chris107 rolls 4d6 and gets: 1, 4, 6, 4, = 15 
chris107 rolls 4d6 and gets: 4, 2, 1, 3, = 10 
chris107 rolls 4d6 and gets: 3, 2, 6, 5, = 16 
Smon: GM: Bitter fighting rages through Castle Herdley, but without Odric to lead them, his bugbears and brigands fall like wheat before the Men of Kallent... Before dawn you hold the castle.
chris107 rolls 4d6 and gets: 3, 6, 6, 4, = 19 
chris107 rolls 4d6 and gets: 5, 3, 5, 2, = 15 
Smon: (Edward wanted the castle)
chris107 rolls 4d6 and gets: 4, 3, 4, 2, = 13 
chris107: 14 9 14 16 13 11
Goonergeezer: as soon as we hold the castle garrick will rifle through the treasure room 
Smon: GM: In the pre-dawn light on Castle Herdley's battlements, a weary Sir Edward meets with Garrick. "Garrick, take two men and get Varuna back to Kallent. I've released the doves to tell my father we hold the castle. With a bit of luck we can resolve this war without fighting Dunfalcon."
Smon: (Shade had the best chance to rifle the treasure BTW - lots of potion vials)
Amalric: i did say he went back in
Goonergeezer: Garrick takes 2 knights but leaves Sir gregor here with edward
Amalric: just before you said SR was out of play
Smon: Is Shade going back to Kallent with Garrick?
Smon: (yep sure, I'll work out treasure on the Blog)
Amalric: yes, Shade will go with Garrick. nothing better to do!
Smon: (will do some PBP over next couple weeks)
chris107: (Is it 4001 starting XP Simon?)
Smon: 5,001 or half earned, so prob 5,001? Tonight's XP will count though.
Goonergeezer: (k) garrick will see if Cheryl and Lisa want to come with him back to kallent also
chris107: 
Smon: The two girls nod eagerly. Lisa: "Yes please!" Cheryle: "Get us out of here!"
chris107: Okay, I'll have another read through the various options and PM you.
Smon: