Posts From a Long Winded Gamer

I lead the way up the ramp, axe in one hand, shield on my arm, Njora following behind with the lamp in her hand.

-Immersion-Enemy towards sidekick, expression anger-
Scene #11:
We move ahead up the hall, and notice to our left, what seems to be an old guard post, with a weapon rack against one wall, and a crate of old arrows, draped in spider webs, in the corner. On the other side, a second room with a desk, shelves and old books and tablets.

(encounter check-Stone Rollo)

“More statues,” Njora indicates, pointing past the side rooms. These are smaller than the gigantic ones at the base of the ramp, similar in shape though, but faceless, and…one begins to move!

-Fright check, pass…not for unnatural fear, but just to see if Njora screams in surprise-
“It’s moving!” Njora exclaims stepping back as the statue turns its faceless head towards her, and slams a fist into the wall, seemingly in anger, or as a warning.

“Get behind me,” I warn, as the thing approaches while she retreats.

I move into position and wait the golem’s approach. It lumbers towards me, swinging a massive fist that I easily avoid, and my axe chips at old limestone. The thing then swings at me again and again, but I easily deflect its blows with my shield. In spite of its intimidating size and appearance, it proves a clumsy foe and I soon hack its knees out from under it, sending it crashing to the ground, a shattered wreck.

“Simple enough,” I grin after the fight.

Njora smiles as she comes alongside me. “A lot of guardians here.” Then she kneels down behind the fallen statue, and pulls a Zirthul from the back of its neck. Then in a moment of insight, examines the opposite statue, standing still, “Ah! This one doesn’t have one, but I see where one could be placed!”

“Let’s not do that,” I shake my head with a laugh. She agrees and climbs back down from the stationary golem.

“Let’s go to the office,” Njora suggests, and I follow her into the side room to the right, where she is immediately drawn to the desk and the ancient ledgers.

I start looking around the desk as she opens up books, dropping most as they are too old, moldy, or damaged to open, or the ink has faded to illegibility. Then she finds one that is half burnt, smiles, and tucks it into her satchel. “In spite of the burn marks, it held up well. If one could read dwarrow, it might be worth something!” She grins eagerly.

Poking around, I find a stone slate, “Is this one?” I pass it to her eager hands as she excitedly takes it from me, excited to have found yet another one so quickly.

We move on from this office, up some stairs and into an old warehouse where ancient, half rotted crates line the walls. The wood is old, dry and fragile.

-Njora fails search by 5, I fail by 8, maybe I should put a point in search?-
We inspect several crates, desiccated linens too brittle to use, what may have been foodstuffs thousands of years ago, rusted tools. We notice nothing of use.

There is a door that should take us back to the main hall, and another in the back of the warehouse.

(Roll a d6, deeper!)
Njora suggests, “Let’s try that door!” and heads to the back of the warehouse. If follow her, ready to step in front if there is another guardian on the other side.

(Roll and see, no lock, no traps, failed search checks)
It is another room filled with crates, much like the first. Inspecting several, once again, we find nothing of value, more of the same. But there is a door leading south. Njora suggests we try that one.

(quickly set up tables for door types, locks and traps. Ivarn and Njora fail to notice the iron bound door is trapped)

(Scything blade hits, surprise so not chance to dodge, Damage is 8-2=6 or 9 from cutting, Njora fails her Health Save for a major wound by 1 to avoid knockdown, but since she has Low Pain Threshold, she actually fails by 5 and goes unconscious)

Q: does the lamp go out? YES
Njora pushes open the door with an eager grin, then there is a click, and a mighty blade sweeps down before she can react, slashing her deeply, screaming, she collapses in a bloody heap, dropping the lamp and we are plunged into darkness.

I quickly pull out and strike a torch, then drop to my knees by the woman.

I am relieved to see she is still breathing. I roll her onto her back and pattially undress her so I can bind the wound across her gut. Had she been standing a little closer to the door, she could have been cut in half!

-First Aid fails, no hit points recovered-
I do the best I can, and the bleeding is contained.

-No Encounter-
Then I look around, for signs of danger. Seeing no threats, I pick up the lamp and relight the wick, setting it down beside my friend. I carefully moisten her scalp. “Hold on girl, you’ll be alright. Just a cut.”

I look beyond, and see more crates in the next room and a heavy door to the left. I wait by Njora’s side, shield and axe by my side, soothing the woman.

After several minutes her eyes flutter open, and her hands go to her gut where she was struck.

“Hey there! Tougher than you look,” I whisper. She starts to laugh, but it breaks into a cough. “Sit tight. I’m going to check that next door and see if we can hole up here for awhile.” She nods.

(Fail my trap check, but I am expecting to be attacked)
I move over to the heavy door. On my guard, I kick the door open, it swings freely, unlocked and a bolt flies out and slams into my shield.

-No Encounter-
Inside, there are several old chests, most have been cracked open and plundered, but some coins have been left behind, along with a small copper necklace with links that seem to mimic ocean waves. Most importantly, there don’t seem to be any exits from this room but the single door. I collect the valuables, then return to Njora.

“I found a place to hole up and rest,” I offer and help her to her feet, carrying her into the old vault. Then I go out to the ramp, and collect our gear, bringing it up into our new campsite.

-Immersion-Smell of Sulphur-
Scene #12:
I secure the “vault” door, and make Njora comfortable on our blankets while I sit watch. Then I notice a strange aroma, like rotten egg. “What do you think that is?”

She takes deep breath, “I don’t know.”

“Sit tight,” I arm up and leave the camp to investigate.

Q: Is there a hordling nearby? YES -I pass stealth by 0, it fails perception by 3-
Outside the door to the warehouse, I see a dark, shadowy figure sniffing Njora’s blood. I move closer, then rush it, catching it by surprise.

As I swing at it, the sweat of my nerves causes the axe to slip from my hand. The creature stares up at me in shock as I step back and ready my spear. Then it hurls itself at me, clawing at me faster than I can move my shield, it lashes my thigh, and then a deep cut across my arm before I plunge my spear through its chest, killing it. I fling the strange creature across the room. “Yep, that was the smell.” I check over my injuries, clean my weapon, retrieve my axe, and return to Njora.

“You’ve been cut!” she exclaims on seeing me. “Let me help.” she offers. I tell her to rest, but she insists.

-Njora, first Aid, Critical success, let’s say this is double max healing, 6 hit points-

She carefully applies a compress from her pack, and binds the wounds tight. After a few minutes, I barely even feel the pain. “You’re good at that!” I admire. She smiles and bows her head as she lays back down. I brace the door, and wait, leaned up against it.

Q: Are we able to rest overnight? EXCEPTIONAL YES

-Immersion-Sense of being watched-

Scene #13:
After a long night of sleep in the quiet sanctuary, we get up and I help Njora to her feet so we can leave, “Let’s get to the boat.” As we leave the vault, I get the strange feeling that we are being watched, “Eye’s sharp”

-No Encounter-
I guide her to the water’s edge, and set her there with her pack. Then lighting a torch, I head back to the vault for my pack, “Wait here” She smiles at me as she sits beside her lamp.

-No Encounter-
I collect my kit, take a quick look around, unable to shake that feeling of being watched. I notice the strange black creature’s corpse is gone, there is a dark stain on the ground where it landed after I threw it.

Q: Does our boat return? EXCEPTIONAL YES
A short time later, the boat returns. “What happened to her?” The captain exclaims in shock as I help Njora aboard.

“Ivarn saved me,” she replies as I load up our supplies.

“Dangerous place,” I mutter, “but we found some of what we were looking for. Just, get us back to the dock,” I urge as the man and his son push off.