Chronicles of Arcania: B/X Homebrew game.

Game Master Peet

"If we go to full rations today, we have one day of half rations left. So we will definitely need to find food tomorrow -- such as devising a way to get at the fire beetle nest. Lure them out, maybe.

Can we first have Walia try healing Ferrous and see how well he is feeling after that?"
Thinking one CLW spell and the Lay on Hands.

Walia says, "Ferrous, my son, please come hither to basque in the warmth of the Gods' light"

LOH 1d4 ⇒ 4

Okay, Ferrous is now at 16 HP out of 27.

I still don't see a consensus as to the plan yet though.

I would point out that you could always explore a little and then break off early if you want. So you wouldn't have to commit to camping the whole day but could decide to break off early later on.

So, do people want to:
* explore on this level now?
* return to camp first (stopping for water on the way), then explore?
* return to camp (stopping for water on the way) and stay there for the day?
* Something else?

I have marked letters on the tier 4 map of places that are unexplored or not completed. I believe Ferrous wanted to explore "A". If you do want to explore you can indicate where you want to go with a letter.

If you make a post but do not state a preference or don't post at all, I'll assume you are abstaining from the vote. RP all you want but let's get a plan together.

Brathas would like to explore A (the room Ferrous wants to check out), C (the wizard locked door?), and E. Don't mind if we go straight away or go back to camp first.

Could Zynazyr's summons go into the tunnels to fight the fire beetles at H?

I agree with Brathas just a quick water run beforehand. Should I use a CLW on Ferrous

Thank you Brathas I am feeling better. The dwarf says gruffly as the priest says a quick prayer over him. I think we check the room directly North from here. I think we heard noises from there last night.

I think we take each room at a time starting with A. Is that the room that had the noises yesterday? Once we start to get low on spells we head up stopping for water.

Zynazyr listens to Ferrous' plan. "Well, if you feel up to it. Ana and I both have our full array of spells available to help if we get into trouble. Let's start with the room to the north with that strange marking on the wall. I suggest we move quickly around the corner in case we trip the boulder again. We should also stand back from that door and let Brathas search it for traps before opening it."

"I agree with Zynazyr."

8:10 AM, Day 6

Before we proceed, a couple of housekeeping things. If you want to do anything about them we can say it is done before you set out in the morning.
1. Ferrous: yes, your beard has grown another eighteen inches or so while you slept.
2. More importantly, the Fire Beetle Glands you are using for light have dimmed. You have a dozen, but several have gone out entirely, and others have noticeably dimmed. So they now only illuminate an area 20' in radius.

The party leaves the jester's tomb and heads north.

Firstly there is the matter of the magical alarm. Brathas carefully steps on it, prepared to run back to the room if anything happens... but nothing does. The party crosses the area of the magical alarm without incident.

As before, the party reaches the

The door in the west wall is slightly ajar, though not enough to see into the room. The door and the wall across the hall from it is scorched. The outline of a man-sized humanoid form is etched into the scorched wall section.

PICTURE

6d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 1, 5, 4, 3) = 24

The party examines the doorway but finds no traps. They also listen at the door; the room seems quiet but Ferrous thinks he can hear a faint grinding, cracking sound which comes and goes.

Ferrous pushes the door open.

Along the walls are paintings of a priest performing ceremonies.
On a raised dais at the end of the room lies an open bronze sarcophagus with an ornate mantelpiece behind it. Lit candelabra on either side illuminate the room. Here, three hideous beast-like humanoids sit around the edges of the room, gnawing on bones from what must have been a human body.

2d6 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5

The creatures are surprised.

The creatures begin to stand, but are flabbergasted by the arrival of the party!

1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

Wallia identifies these creatures as ghouls. They are undead and have a paralytic venom in their bite and claws, though elves are immune to the poison.

TIER 4 MAP UPDATED.
TACTICAL MAP UPDATED

Round 1 Initiative
Block 1: The Party!

Everyone is up.

Note: The area lit by your beetle glands is marked on the map, as is the area lit by the candelabras (marked by little flames). The area in between is in darkness, and anything in there is basically invisible, unless it is between you and a light source, in which case you can make out a silhouette.

If you can tell an enemy is there but can't see him you have a -4 to hit. If he is visible as a silhouette then that gives a -2 to hit instead.

Zynazyr is currently holding the beetle glands, and could either move forward or throw the glands to move the light source into the room.

Walia waits until all are engaged and then tries to turn the creatures, "They be ghouls!"

2d6 + 3 ⇒ (5, 4) + 3 = 12
2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 1) + 3 = 8

"Make them come to us and we can use the doorway to our advantage!"
Brathas fires an arrow at the red one illuminated by the candelabra.
THAC0 16, Fistep in way: 16 - 1d20 + 1 ⇒ 16 - (20) + 1 = -3
Bonus attack!: 16 - 1d20 + 1 ⇒ 16 - (18) + 1 = -1
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4
bonus damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Sighs and pulls his sword and readies to attack if a ghoul approaches.

Ferrous listening to Brathas's strategy sends a throwing ax hurling through the air at the closest target.
Attack: 18 - 1d20 ⇒ 18 - (7) = 11
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
The throwing ax sails past the ghoul clattering into the wall behind it. Muttering disgust at himself Ferrous pulls out his hand axe.

Brathas' shot strikes the ghoul a telling blow in the chest. The ghoul reels. Ferrous' throwing axe goes wide.

Sighs and pulls his sword and readies to attack if a ghoul approaches.

FYI you do have surprise this round, so they won't actually attack until next round.

Which, it now occurs to me, means I can roll initiative for round 2...

TACTICAL MAP UPDATED

Round 1 Initiative
Block 1: Ana, Brathas, Ferrous, Fistep, Wallia, Zynazyr

Round 2 Initiative
Block 1: Ana, Brathas, Fistep (ready), Wallia, Zynazyr
Block 2: Ghouls!
Block 3: Ferrous

Everyone but Ferrous is up. Brathas has gone once,
but can go again. Ana, Wallia, and Zynazyr can take 2 actions,
though they may have to maneuver if they want to attack at range. Fistep is readying an attack but that can be his second action and he could do something else first.

Brathas takes another shot at Red.
THAC0 16, -1 cover: 16 - 1d20 + 1 ⇒ 16 - (4) + 1 = 13
This time his shot goes wide.

Did I turn any?

Yes when does Wallia's turning attempt take place between surprise and round 2 or at his turn in round 2? Either way I don't get to miss for a while.

Ana finds an opening and looses an arrow towards the blue one.

THAC0 19: 19 - 1d20 ⇒ 19 - (9) = 10 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Zynazyr frowns when Wallia says they are ghouls. "If they are undead, our sleep spells won't help," he says as he contemplates the best course of action.

Did I turn any?

Yes when does Wallia's turning attempt take place between surprise and round 2 or at his turn in round 2? Either way I don't get to miss for a while.

My bad, forgot to resolve this.

Wallia: Do you want to wait until after everyone makes their attacks on round 2 before turning? If so you can do something else.

FYI though for you to turn a creature you need to have line-of-sight to that creature. It's a little tricky from where you are standing. So you will need to move to where you can see them for this to work. Since everyone is crowded in the doorway this is a little tricky.

Brathas and Ana both shoot arrows but neither finds its mark.

TACTICAL MAP UPDATED

Round 1 Initiative
Block 1: Ana, Brathas, Ferrous, Fistep, Wallia, Zynazyr

Round 2 Initiative
Block 1: Ana, Brathas, Fistep (ready), Wallia (turning?), Zynazyr
Block 2: Ghouls!
Block 3: Ferrous

Everyone but Ferrous and Brathas are up. Ana has gone once, but can go again. Wallia, and Zynazyr can take 2 actions, though they may have to maneuver if they want to attack at range. Fistep is readying an attack but that can be his second action and he could do something else first.

I want to move to turn waiting for everyone's 1st round action and then we'll see how that resolves.

Ah, nuts... we're just bottling ourselves up, and there are only three!

Walks into the room and swings his sword at the blue one.

THACO: 16 - 1d20 ⇒ 16 - (7) = 9
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Ana fires another arrow.

THAC0 19: 19 - 1d20 ⇒ 19 - (7) = 12 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Not wanting to get too close, Zynazyr tries to send a bolt of energy at the closest creature. Thinking too much about his next action, the spell fails to go off.

cantrip: 1d6 ⇒ 4

"Ferrous, I need to get inside the room but need some protection. Do you mind helping?" he asks.

Delay until after Ferrous. Will move inside doorway and cast Binding - warrior spirit. Location to be determined based on position of ghouls.

Fistep rushes in and attacks, but the ghoul ducks under his swing.

Fistep: was that your first action or your second?

Once Fistep is out of the doorway, Wallia steps in, holding forth his holy symbol. It flashes in the light of the beetle glands, and the creatures in the room cringe, averting their eyes.

Wallia: I moved you into the doorway but not into the room. If you want to go further forward, please indicate that and move your icon (or ask and we can move it for you).

Another arrow leaves Ana's employ.

Zynazyr fires a bolt of electricity into the room but misses his target.

The ghouls cower for a moment, but then snarl as attacks come their way. They were attacked after being turned, so their turned condition has been broken, but they still lose one round of actions. They cannot be turned again.

TACTICAL MAP UPDATED

Round 2 Initiative
Block 1: Ana, Brathas, Fistep (ready?), Wallia
Block 2: Ghouls!
Block 3: Ferrous, Zynazyr (delayed)

Round 3 Initiative
Block 1: Ana, Ferrous, Fistep, Zynazyr
Block 2: brown and blue ghouls
Block 3: Wallia
Block 4: green ghoul
Block 5: Brathas

Since the ghouls are "stunned" for 1 round by Wallia, people can post their round 2 actions and we can start round 3. Ferrous, Wallia, and Zynazyr can go twice. Ana may go once. Fistep may go at least once, I am not sure about the order of his actions.

Zynazyr: The big blue guy at the top is the icon for the warrior spirit. Place it where you want when you cast the spell. He has a THACO of 18, 2 melee attacks per round that do 1d4 damage each, and 9 hit points. Remember if you move the light moves with you.

This fight would have been over.

Walia slings twice 19 - 1d20 - 1 ⇒ 19 - (6) - 1 = 12 if hits 1d4 ⇒ 2

19 - 1d20 - 1 ⇒ 19 - (9) - 1 = 9 if hits 1d4 ⇒ 2

Turning them wouldn't end their threat Walia, we'd still have to destroy them sooner or later. Might as well do it now. Costing them all a round is a good use of your action.

Ferrous charged into the room attacking the ghoul that Fistep is engaged with twice.
Attack: 18 - 1d20 ⇒ 18 - (20) = -2
Dam: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Attack: 18 - 1d20 ⇒ 18 - (15) = 3
Dam: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Count the second attack above as part of the natural 20.
Waiting to post my second action until Zynazyr enters the room.

Slinging her bow over her shoulder and bringing her two-handed sword to bear, Ana moves into the room.

Wallia takes two shots with his sling, but misses both times.

Ferrous rushes into the room and chops at one of the ghouls. His axe buries itself deep in the ghoul's skull and it drops to the floor.

Ana takes a position in the room.

TACTICAL MAP UPDATED

Round 2 Initiative
Block 1: Ana, Brathas, Fistep (ready?), Wallia
Block 2: Ghouls!
Block 3: Ferrous, Zynazyr (delayed)

Round 3 Initiative
Block 1: Ana, Ferrous, Fistep, Zynazyr
Block 2: brown ghoul
Block 3: Wallia
Block 4: green ghoul
Block 5: Brathas

Since the ghouls are "stunned" for 1 round by Wallia, people can post their round 2 actions and we can start round 3. Zynazyr can go twice. Ana and Ferrous may go once. Fistep may go at least once, I am not sure about the order of his actions.

Zynazyr: The big blue guy at the top is the icon for the...

In her plate mail, Ana lumbers further into the room, two-handed sword at the ready to attack should either of the ghouls draw near. Can we ready an action?

Waiting for Zynazyr to shed some light on our situation. I have a bad feeling that there is a hidden ghoul. And his first round action occurs before my second round.

Zynazyr nods at Ferrous as he follows the dwarf into the room. When he sees the first ghoul go down, he rethinks his plan. Casting a spell, he sends a larger bolt of energy at the ghoul to the right of the sarcophagus.

Magic Missile damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Don't mean to drag things out, but want to see results before posting next action. If down to 1, I don't want to use my binding spell.

In her plate mail, Ana lumbers further into the room, two-handed sword at the ready to attack should either of the ghouls draw near. Can we ready an action?

Yes, you may ready an action. However, I realized you already took your round 3 move. My bad. So I moved you back in front of Zynazyr and you can ready an action there. FYI if you want to pre-roll you can put your readied attack in a spoiler tag.

...I have a bad feeling that there is a hidden ghoul.

Good call! I'm going to award 25 bonus XP for that.

Zynazyr nods at Ferrous as he follows the dwarf into the room. When he sees the first ghoul go down, he rethinks his plan. Casting a spell, he sends a larger bolt of energy at the ghoul to the right of the sarcophagus.

As Zynazyr steps into the the room the light spreads further ahead. In the area that was once dark, against the north wall crouches another ghoul!

Zynazyr's bolt of lightning strikes the ghoul at the far end of the room and it flops to the floor, still.

TACTICAL MAP UPDATED

Round 3 Initiative
Block 1: Ana, Ferrous, Fistep, Zynazyr
Block 2: brown ghoul
Block 3: Wallia
Block 4: green ghoul
Block 5: Brathas

Zynazyr, Ferrous, and Fistep still have round 3 actions.

Moves over to the green ghoul and swings at it two move actions

THACO: 16 - 1d20 ⇒ 16 - (4) = 12
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Initiative: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 3) = 9

Waiting for Zynazyr to shed some light on our situation. I have a bad feeling that there is a hidden ghoul. And his first round action occurs before my second round.

don;t you have infravision?

Zynazyr smiles when he sees that his lightning bolt finish off the ghoul at the far end of the room. With his concentration on that foe, he didn't notice his light revealing the previously unseen ghoul to the north. Feeling confident that they can take care of the last two, he throws his ustar at the newly discovered one.

THAC0 18 (brown): 20 - 1d20 - 1 ⇒ 20 - (12) - 1 = 7 +1 for close range
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Concerned about its proximity, he moves into the SE corner of the room to put as many allies as possible between him and the ghouls.

Moves over to the green ghoul and swings at it two move actions

Strictly speaking you can't double move and a attack, but that was a miss anyway.

Fistep advances on the ghoul in the corner.

don;t you have infravision?

Infravision only works when there isn't normal light. If you put out the lights Ferrous and Ana could see but nobody else could.

THAC0 18 (brown): 20 - 1d20 - 1 ⇒ 20 - (12) - 1 = 7 +1 for close range

If your THAC0 is 18, why did you use 20 here? It should have been 18 - 1d20 - 1, in which case that is a hit. They are AC 6.

Zynazyr hurls an ustar. It strikes the newly revealed ghoul in the arm. The ghoul snarls menacingly.

Ferrousbot, seeing that Ana stands ready to receive the ghoul to the north, joins Fistep to the south and strikes at the ghoul.

axe: 18 - 1d20 ⇒ 18 - (3) = 15

But the ghoul ducks under his swing.

Zynazyr drops the light and falls back to the corner.

The ghoul to the north lunges at Ana. But Ana is ready with her tho-handed sword.

readied attack: 15 - 1d20 - 1 ⇒ 15 - (16) - 1 = -21d10 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

She cuts down the ghoul as soon as it steps within reach!

The ghoul in the corner snarls and slashes with it's claws, hoping to get both Fistep and Ferrous.

1d2 ⇒ 2
claw vs Ferrous: 18 - 1d20 ⇒ 18 - (11) = 7
claw vs Fistep: 18 - 1d20 ⇒ 18 - (17) = 1
bite vs Fistep: 18 - 1d20 ⇒ 18 - (10) = 8

The ghoul's claws at teeth scratch at Ferrous' and Fistep's armor, but fails to draw blood.

TACTICAL MAP UPDATED

Round 3 Initiative
Block 1: Ana, Ferrous, Fistep, Zynazyr
Block 2: brown ghoul
Block 3: Wallia
Block 4: green ghoul, purple ghoul (-2)
Block 5: Brathas

Round 4 Initiative
Block 1: Ana, Brathas, Fistep, Zynazyr
Block 2: ghoul
Block 3: Ferrous, Wallia

Ana, Brathas, Fistep, and Zynazyr are up! Brathas may go twice.

Swings at the ghoul... Die you foul thing!

THACO: 16 - 1d20 ⇒ 16 - (20) = -4
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Initiative: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2

Nat 20 Fistep, you get a bonus attack!
Brathas will drop his bow, move in to 7:09, and throw a dagger at the ghoul.
THAC0 16, -1 Cover: 16 - 1d20 + 1 ⇒ 16 - (5) + 1 = 12
His throw goes wide.
For round 5, he draws the magic short sword and readies to attack if it comes in range.

Ana moves up to aid the other fighters.

THACO Bonus Attack: 16 - 1d20 ⇒ 16 - (13) = 3
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

8:20 AM, Day 6

With one slash Fistep decapitates the last ghoul.

Combat Over.

The party looks around the room. Firstly, the sarcophagus is empty. Bits of bone and mummified flesh are scattered around the room, and it seems that the ghouls were eating the corpse that was once within.

The clothing that the corpse once wore has been reduced to rags, but there are three pieces of jewelry here thrown carelessly on the floor; an emerald necklace worth 500 gp and a pair of gold jeweled bracelets worth 300 gp each.

Ana and Zynazyr can both tell the candelabra are magical. Zynazyr identifies them as eternal candelabra.

On the mantelpiece behind the open sarcophagus has a silver statuette on it. The statuette is in the shape of a staff with a pair of serpents twining around it. The serpents have jade stones for eyes. Wallia realizes that this is a holy symbol.

While searching the room, Fistep notices there is a secret compartment in the wall below the mantel behind the sarcophagus. Inside are a variety of objects:

* Four vials (Wallia identifies these as holy water)
* Two flasks of oil (Wallia identifies these as oil of anointing)
* Thirty candles
* A blank prayer book (like a wizard's spellbook, only for clerics)
* An ornate incense burner worth 100 gp
* Four scrolls
** (Wallia identifies the second as a scroll of protection from lycanthropes)
** (Wallia identifies the third as a scroll containing four spells. He is able to make out only the last spell which is snake charm.)
** (Wallia identifies the fourth as a scroll containing three spells. He is able to make out the first spell which is cure light wounds, and the last spell which is bless.)

24d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 6, 5, 1, 2, 3, 2, 2, 3, 2, 4, 1, 5, 5, 4, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 4, 1, 1) = 69

8:20 AM, Day 6

The party considers what to do next.

So what now?

* Give Wallia more time to examine the objects you found?
* Continue exploring this level? If so, where to next?
* Return to camp and report in (stopping for water on the way)?
* Something else?

Walia says, "I would like to get a chance to try to decipher the rest of the scrolls and the other objects."

The blank prayer book, will I be able to say when we go to sleep in the evening transcribe the spells I know for use later?