Wine Cellars: The daring delve

Session 5: The Daring Delve

I introduced B/X D&D and the Wine Cellars to a group of Pathfinder Players who had a BLAST, and can't wait to attempt a second foray into my dungeon.

This took place on 7/23/15

Guest players – The Thursday Knights

Joe – Ambrose & Henchman Steve the M-U's

Matt – Jeff the Handsome / Fighter

Tony – Calendriel Sendar & Nithenor Sendar / sibling Elves

Alex – Tom Brady / Thief & Henchman J. Edelman / Fighter

Josh – Bordric Burnside / Dwarf

Dave – Hobbs & Henchman Calvin the Halflings

How they know each other:

Ambrose knows Jeff the Handsome because they both saved each others lives on a previous adventure.

Jeff the Handsome knows Calindriel because they are lovers

Calindriel knows Tom Brady because they were both survivors of a Junn Hoard attack

Tom Brady knows Bordric because the Dwarf caught him picking his pocket

Bordric knows Hobbs because they both apprenticed together under the same master

Hobbs knows Ambrose because they met in a cave during a torrential downpour.

Headgear:

Ambrose – amazing mane of curly hair

Jeff – Roman Centurian Helmet

Calindriel – short hacked haircut

Tom Brady – porridge bowl cut

Bordric – extravagent tricorn hat

Hobbs – beanie cap 

The group gathers at the Dog & Bone tavern to collect rumors and interview potential hirelings. Jeff the Handsome puts the hirelings through a battery of intelligence and physical tests before settling on hiring 5 of the 7 candidates. Bordric decides to hire the last two that Jeff passed on. Ready to proceed the party set out for the ruins of Marqest on foot, as the patrons of the tavern bid them good luck and farewell!

Under the leadership of Jeff the Handsome are Drossus a Man-at-arms who vows to kill any and all Orcs, Scar a seasoned Southlands warrior wielding a mean bone flail, Aramil an elf Man-at-arms in exceptional green leathers and elf spear, Medix a young torch-boy filled with enthusiasm, and Darwick the potion tester; the last of his line.

Bordric Burnside oversees the services of Odgle the halfling and “second best slinger” in the party (as so proven in a test with Jeff the handsome), and Hemessa the prettiest door spiker in the village.

As the group winds their way up the beaten path towards the Marqest gatehouse they stop as a group of about half a dozen partially naked creatures are spied cavorting about and smacking each other with clubs. After a few moments of watching the antics of the weird little creatures the group decides to skirt around the gatehouse and climb the ruined wall to gain entry to the courtyard proper. It is noted that a pair of the creatures watch the group from afar while still beating each other and at times urinating on fallen companions. Calindriel remarks upon seeing these actions “I'm glad we didn't go near them now.”

Once the rubble is bypassed the party takes in the view of the old Manor-keep. Jeff is overcome momentarily by thoughts of what treasures may lie within, while the others debate on a course of action. Tom Brady goes to check out the courtyard well to confirm if it indeed has water in it. The party decides from the rumors they gained to try to enter the mysterious “Wizard Tower”. Since it is said no-one has ever been able to penetrate this area of the ruin. Turning to head towards this choice the party is surprised to see a lone small goat between them and the door of the tower. The goofy little animal munching on grass and looking at them. Calindriel being a woodland being herself feels a connection to this animal and steps forward to communicate with it. At this moment Jeff, who is still gazing upon the Manor itself notices a shadowy movement along a second story battlement.

Calindriel approaches the goat speaking in soft friendly tones, and she notices that it only pretends to eat grass to grass to hide the snaggle toothed maw of razor teeth with chunks of rotting meat dangling from them. The elf reels in terror as the goat give out a hideous shriek and charges the maiden! The group is startled but Julien and Steve are both able to fire arrows that miss the beast! Nithenor steps in to defend his sister and delivers a blow with his staff that is mostly deflected by the goats horns. Jeff the Handsome knows he cannot leave his love to harms way but also doesn't want to really get to close to the goat so he positions himself to in her line of sight with his sling out ready to deliver the death blow. Bordric charges forward with his hammer and swing directly at the goats head, at this instant Jeff also launches his sling bullet!

A simultaneous “Crack, Crunch!” is heard as hammer and bullet both put a stop the bleating creatures charge. “I've saved you, my love!” says Jeff as he holds Calindriel. “Oh thank you most precious protector.” returns the maiden. “Oi! I'm pretty sure twas' me blow what felled the beastie!” mutters Bordric.

With the vile goat slain the group turns its attention to the doorway at the base of the Wizard's Tower. Jeff the Handsome takes a last glance back at the Manor and sees nothing else. Bordric tries the handle and discovers it a bit rusty and soundly stuck. Julian the fighter rushes the door intent on breaking it down and ends up on his ass, after bouncing off the stout construction. Brushing himself off he digs into his pack producing a crowbar and announces his intent to pry said door open! The party watches as he wedges the bar into the door jamb and begins working it, when suddenly the fighter begins convulsing in fits of agony as electrical bolts jump from the iron bar shocking him to within an inch of his life. The smoldering fighter is nursed by his friend Tom Brady while the rest of the group ponder what to do next. It is decided to leave the prybar in the door jamb and Bordric will send a grapple hook up to the 2nd story window just above the door. After a few practice swings the dwarf tosses the iron hook and rope directly through the open window on the first try! “Huzzah!” He then pulls it snug and confirms it is ready to be climbed. Just then the window bursts into a blue flame that shoots down the rope incinerating it as it goes and ignites the brawny dwarf.

“They did say No one has ever penetrated the Wizard tower.” states Jeff the Handsome. “I think I see why.”

Singed but still lively Bordic laments the loss of his rope and hook. “I've heard the Gatehouse cellars have a secret door into the Wine Cellars proper.” says Hobbs the Halfling, “Maybe we should look for that.”

Agreeing on this course the Party turn their attention back to the ruined gatehouse to discover the strange creatures from earlier are now gone. The party decides to try the “burnt out” tower first as it has no door. Upon entering the dilapidated tower they see a set of stairs in the floor descending into darkness. Medix the torch-boy is placed on the shoulders of Drossus the Man-at-arms, and they follow Calindriel and her brother down the steps with the rest of the party behind them.

Sprial stairs descend some thirty odd feet before coming to a small landing and then a second set of steps decscending into a chamber. The signs of a serious fire of great magnitude abound. Content to continue the investigation the party find a rectangular chamber with a circular hole in the floor at the far side. Above the hole are the charred remains of a block and tackle. The soot covered walls and floor show whatever used to be here was burned some time ago. The Wizards Steve & Ambrose lead Hobbs, Calvin, Tom, and Julien in a search for secret doors about the chamber while the rest of the party investigate the hole.

Calindriel sees the hole is actually large shaft descending further than elf-sight can see. There are also a set of iron rungs set into the wall of the shaft like a ladder. Jeff instructs Medix to light a second torch and drop the first into the shaft. As the torch falls it reveals a small landing about twenty feet down and then continues downward for a count of fifty before extinguishing in a soft splash. “Well there is water down there, way down there.” mutters someone. The Elf maiden decides she will descend to the landing and scout ahead. The party agrees and she climbs down a few rungs. “Oh, be careful. They are covered in a slimy algae.” Calindriel looks up as she says this and then slips and falls her soft cries echoing up the shaft as the darkness swallows her.

“Sister! NO!” screams Nithenor. Jeff the Handsome clasps the Elf on the shoulder holding his pursuit. “I know your agony,” the warrior whispers “my heart has gone with her as well.” A single tear glistens in the torchlight as it slides down Jeff's cheek.

“We should've used a rope.” states Bordric flatly.

No secret doors are found in the chamber so the party turns their full attention to the shaft. Julien volunteers his rope and grapple hook and it is set securely into the rafter beside the old block and tackle. The rope is secured in a harness fashion about Nithenor who begins to descend the rungs. Bordric, Drossus, and Calvin play out the slack as the elf climbs downward.

With the only light flickering from above, Nithenor reaches the landing and sees that it is an opening to a short hall of about six feet leading to what appears to be an iron door. He calls this up to the others and proceeds to the door disappearing from the sight of his companions. The door is iron and can only be opened from the other side. The elf can tell there is a vision slot in the door as well but it is closed too. Thinking for a moment the Elf decides to knock on the door three times. Rap-Rap-Rap...a few seconds pass in silence, then he hears the sound of two bolts being drawn. The door creaks open slightly and the darkness beyond seems blacker than nightmares. “Hello?” whispers the elf, “Anyone there?”

The group above leans over the edge of the shaft listening intently.

“I'm here!” hisses a terrible voice from the blackness as a tall spindly creature with black eyes and terrible talons reaches out hungrily for Nithenor! 

“aaaahhh!” tugging furiously three times on the rope the Elf backs up quickly trying to evade the creature.

“Was three tugs it's safe, or pull me back?” asks Bordric. “Umm, safe I thought?” says Hobbs. The screams from below cause the party to pull the rope and in doing so Nithenor swings out of the passage and into the light of the torch-bearer. The party sees a pair of large taloned hands groping out of the passage after the elf who now is swing back towards them kicking his feet furiously! One kick lands resoundly cracking the nose of the thing and black blood gushes forth as the hands clamp down on the elf!

The rope is torn from the parties hands as it goes taught, and terrible screams and gouts of blood spew forth from the passage below. “By the Gods!” cries someone. The sound of flesh being torn and bones snapped causes a wave of nausea to pass among the party as the rafter cracks and begins to sag from the tension placed on it from below. Just when everyone is about to succumb to total fear, the rope goes slack and the sound of a door slamming echoes up the shaft.

(At this point Tony had lost both his starting Characters and was allowed to choose a hireling to play, he chose Aramil the elf man-at-arms.)

Jeff the Handsome steps to the edge of the shaft and proclaims “We cannot allow our fellow to go unavenged, we need to kill what lies below. We need a plan!”

Moments pass as many ideas are given and passed over as “Not good!” It is Hobbs the halfling who lays out a masterful idea. 

Hobbs is lowered down the shaft “Mission Impossible style” so he is just above the passageway, he then hurls stones at the iron door until after the third stone it opens. He then politely coos, “Hello, hello, I have girl-scout cookies. They're made with real girls.” all the while clutching the flaming oil flask in his other hand. “Real girls? Rraarghh!” the creature rushes out of the darkness and Hobbs hurls his flaming projectile! A HIT! ( This player opted to use his D30 roll once per game to roll damage for the flaming oil flask) DAMAGE = 29 points!!!!!

With the creature incinerated the party is all able to climb down safely and pass through the open iron door that had barred their way. Just inside the grisly remains of Nithenor are found (well mostly just some intestines and a hand) and Julien takes the dead Elf's pack. Another short hallway leads out of the bloody lair and the group find them selves in a sort of foyer facing a wood paneled wall with a single door in the center. The wood is carved beautifully with scenes of vineyards and and a castle. “This must be the Wine cellar!” cheers Jeff, as Tom Brady brushes past the fighter eager to get at the treasures beyond. Tom Brady begins to tinker with the door while claiming what he will do with the fantastic vintages that lie within, when he feels the pointed tip of steel at the nape of his neck! Turning slowly about he sees Jeff with sword drawn staring him down. “Listen Thief, we do this by the book. Safely and not half-cocked, and we all share the spoils equally right?” Tom looks to Julien who draws his sword and points it towards Jeff. Drossus and Scar step up to back their leader Jeff. As the Dungeon Stand-off begins to boil Hobbs steps behind Tom and proceeds to pick the lock on the cellar door with his dagger, and in doing so springs the needle trap! Hobbs makes his save and the needle flies past him, Tom hearing the spring mechanism fire off twists to the side, the needle just missing him, then Jeff proceeds to perform a full on back-bend and the projectile misses him as well finding purchase in the Torch-boys throat! “Oh my sir!” thump. Medix drops to the floor as his body spasms from the poison. “Son-of-a-.....,” gripes Jeff seeing his hireling pool dwindle.

Bordric having had enough of all the nonsense bellows loudly and proceeds to knock the door off its hinges with two blows from his warhammer. 

Boom, BOOM, creak....crash!

The wine cellar now open the party sees a cobwebbed labyrinth of racks within. Only a handful of bottles glinting in the torch light. As a group they decide to not go in beyond the point where they will lose sight of the doorway. Each member finds a bottle of wine, but Aramil the Elf man-at-arms suddenly flips a gold coin at Jeff then pops open a bottle and proclaims, “I return your coin sir, and call myself equal to you all in this endeavor!” The elf then drinks mightly from the bottle and becomes instantly inebriated! “Wow! Thish ish a phantastich vintage..” he slurs.

Jeff face palms himself, as other members of the party begin to seek a second and even third bottle among the depleted racks moving deeper into the cellar. Bordric decides a little wine tasting isn't a bad idea and cracks a bottle too. “Ah ha, to your health!” grunts the dwarf as he takes a healthy gulp from the bottle. “Oh, may I sir?” asks Aramil holding out a hand towards the dwarf. “Of course!” says Bordric handing the bottle of dark vintage to the Elf.

“You guys, we should be more careful. Some of this stuff is supposed to be magical or something!” moans Jeff as the pair continue taking turns swigging from the bottle. Hobbs cracks one himself and takes a taste.

Calvin and Hobbs each stow another bottle in their packs followed by Jeff's hirelings when suddenly Bordric begins projectile vomiting all over the empty racks. “oh my...” says Aramil clutching his stomach, then dropping stone dead to the floor.

(Again Tony got to choose a new hireling to play so he took Darwick the potion tester, at which Matt bemoaned about how Tony was killing off all his hirelings)

Ambrose then points out the fact that if everyone wanted to taste-test why hadn't Darwick been doing it all along! 

“It's what I hired him for!” Jeff the handsome throws up his hands in exasperation not only at the situation but also at the fact that he realizes they have moved out of sight of the doorway. “Crap!”

The remaining members of the group are then overcome with a hair-raising chill as a tall phantasmal gentleman steps through a wine rack and thunders, “Who DARES drink my Wines!!!”

Only Bordric, Darwick the Potion Tester, and Calvin find themselves not overcome with fear, as the spirit of Duke Marqest himself looks over the party.

Darwick, with a bottle in each hand says “Sir Duke your vintages are exquisite if I may say so, and they've had a bit to drink.” pointing at Bordric and Hobbs.

“Then they shall die first!” booms the apparition as he reaches out and drains the life from Bordric and Hobbs! The two demi-humans shrivel up like prunes and expire in view of all!

As one the bulk of the party break and run back the way they came, while Darwick and Calvin begin a “fighting retreat” to cover their companions by hurling bottles at the advancing Duke!

Reaching the foyer first Ambrose instructs Steve to begin drawing a protection circle while he prepares a Magical Missile. Just then Jeff followed by his last two hirelings Drossus & Scar emerge and await the others. Tom Brady and Julien emerge from the cellars and proceed to leave with Jeff and his men. Little Hemessa the doorspiker and Ogdle the Halfling slinger emerge and seeing as Bordric is dead they immediately bolt from the dungeon as well. Ambrose sees both Calvin and Darwick come into view as they continue hurling bottles from a wine crate at the Duke.

“Alla-ka-Zam!” shouts Ambrose as a white bolt of magical power bursts from his finger and strikes the Duke square in the chest! ( Joe the player chooses to roll his D30 for damage, but als the roll is low only a 7)

Both Calvin and Darwick await to see the Duke's reaction to the magical bolt. The Duke looks down at the hole blasted in his chest and his ruined smoking jacket, then his blaze with fury as he casts his full attention at Ambrose.

“You Mother-&#%@er!” bellows the Duke who surges forward passing through both Calvin and Darwick with arms outstretched!

“Steven? How's that circle coming along?” squeeks Ambrose as he raises hand over his eyes to block out the sight of the charging spirit.

“Almost there sir, I'm almost...AHH!” screeches Steven glancing up to catch sight of the doom that approaches!

To give their friend the time he needs both Darwick and Calvin hurl a couple more wines at the Dukes back, unfortunately they pass through him as all the previous bottles have and end up striking Ambrose and knock him unconscious! Steven however finishes the circle with not a second to spare and the Duke rages as he cannot now reach the protected Wizards. His anger at full tilt the Duke turns on the pair behind him, and roars at them! The pair fire off the last two bottles of wine and again they pass through the ghost and end up knocking poor Steven out. The Duke looks at the prone wizards and says “Well I've got nothing but time, and since those two aren't going anywhere...” he turns and lunges at Darwick and Calvin. Calvin makes an amazing leap over the circle of protection in a bid for escape watching as Darwick has his life-force sucked from him. Then mouthing a silent apology to the unconscious Wizards he escapes from the dungeon.

Outside the Gatehouse Jeff the Handsome hears footsteps and turns to see the disheveled Calvin emerge.

“I'm ….the ..last!” heaves the little halfling.

THE END....for now