"Left or right?"
"Right?"
You move into another large chamber. Four large tables and benches stand in the center of this room and a huge fireplace – complete with a blazing fire and gigantic spit upon which some kind of unidentifiable meat cooks – dominates one wall. This area is curiously empty, though you do hear sounds coming from the adjoining hallways.
"Why? So you can recruit it for your army?" the gnome asks with a smirk.
The since of impending destiny had only increased for Nicatha as she journeyed down these halls.
"Let us continue."
Drago seemed withdrawn during their foray into the deeper parts of the fortress. What darkness lurks within these depths? He wondered.
Going through the large area, you find open cells with over two score goblin women and children huddled, shrinking away from you as you walk by. A hallway at the southern end of the multitude of cells leads away from this area.
Ylrhea watches the goblins carefully but, since they're frightened, leaves them alone. "Let's keep going."
Leaving the defenseless goblins behind, you proceed down the lower hallway. A side passage leads south ending at a solid wooden door while the hallway continues on to the north.
The gnome looks at the cleric questioningly.
Past the door are two more, one to the west and one to the south.
"How many damn doors does a cellar need?!" Ylrhea blurts out.
Opening the west door, you see a young ogre sitting here. As he catches sight of the group, he grabs his spear and prepares for a fight.
Initiative:
Round 1: Nicatha, Mortimus, Ylrhea, Drago, Jerlax
The ghoul fails to hit the ogre.
The gnome fires her crossbow at the ogre.
;
Round 1: Nicatha, Mortimus, Ylrhea, Drago, Jerlax
Squeezing by Mortimus, Drago moved up to behind Ylrhea. Seeing the ogre's spear, the Damphir took a deep breath and said, "Jikmada."
The ogre manages to keep the spear from shattering into pieces, his firm grip loosening as he levels the weapon at the ghoul.
;
Round 2: Nicatha, Mortimus, Ylrhea, Drago, Jerlax
Ylrhea reloads her crossbow and fires again.
Nicatha believes that the undead have this in hand.
The undead have no success landing a hit on the ogre. The chainmail and the ogre's fiendish blood make for a troublesome foe.
Round 2: Nicatha, Mortimus, Ylrhea, Drago, Jerlax
Drago concentrates and focuses the power of storms upon his crossbow. Then took careful aim.
The ogre takes another stab at the ghoul.
;
Round 3: Nicatha, Mortimus, Ylrhea, Drago, Jerlax
Ylrhea reloads and fires again, hoping for better results.
Drago fired his crossbow.........
....and missed entirely.
The ogre stabs at the ghoul as the undead creature knocks the ogre off his feet with its first claw swipe.
;
The live ogre gets pummeled by the undead ogre, taking a solid blow to the gut.
The ogre stands, provoking attacks from all his undead assailants.
The ogre takes a punishing blow from the bugbear zombie, putting it close to death.
The wounded ogre takes another stab at the ghoul.
;
Round 4: Nicatha, Mortimus, Ylrhea, Drago, Jerlax
The ogre zombie slays its living brother, the body crumpling to the ground.
Aside from the chainmail, the spear, a heavy crossbow with 10 bolts and 20 gold pieces in mixed coinage, there is nothing else of value in this room.
You head through the southern door. In this chamber, a long, very low table stands behind a blazing fire. Piles of furs surround the table, which is heaped with food and drink. The fire’s flames light the room illuminating many old and faded tapestries hanging from the walls. In the rear of the room, sits a large ogre surrounded by medium-sized goblins. They quickly prepare themselves for battle against you.
Initiative:
Round 1: Nicatha, Ylrhea, Ruknar, Mortimus, Drago, Concubines
Ylrhea wastes no time loading her crossbow and firing at the concubine right across from her.
;
G hp: 6
Ruknar snarls at the gnome injuring one of his wenches and hurls a javelin at the ghoul.
;
Round 1: Nicatha, Ylrhea, Ruknar, Mortimus, Drago, Concubines