Broken Spire Keep
Date: Friday April 7th 2000
The Adventurers
* Nialis: high elf, enchanter, Mage 5, LN
* Rodan the Billet, human, male, Priest (of St Cuthbert) 6, LG
* Ulthran, half elf, male, bard 6, NG
* Grumbleduke, dwarf, male, fighter 5, LG
Earthday, Harvester 20th
(Continued)
Having tied up the held guard in what
turned out to be the keeps main hall, the Champions of the Cudgel
began to search the stronghold. Rodan found
several small chambers which contained clothing and equipment
belonging to about eight guards but no other bandits. The party
then headed north down a narrow corridor, passing by a kitchen
and a smithy, which was entered via the kitchen! Grumbleduke was
astounded at the stupidity of having such an arrangement of rooms
and shook his head muttering about the inadequacies of human
architects. After an animated discussion the companions proceeded
into the base of a the tower before returning to question their
bound prisoner. Unfortunately the prisoner was gone, the ropes
that had kept him bound lay cut on the floor. So much for
guarding the prisoner.
Ulthran peeked out the door into the main courtyard and noticed a large war dog across the way. He stepped out and the beast charged, while a sniper hidden in the doorway fired. Ulthran ducked back inside and the dog slammed into the door. The companions, realising that they were trapped made a barricade out of a large table and prepared for an assault. Then Ulthran had an idea and raced back to the tower and started to fire arrows at the dog, with appalling results. He fired about eight shots but failed to get anywhere near the canine and when two bandits sprinted from the door way to take cover out of sight near the great hall he decided to return to his companions to help them in the upcoming fight. He warned the others to expect an attack at any moment then thought he heard something. What was that scraping noise? The bandits were climbing up into the tower and were about to launch an assault from behind surmised Ulthran. He directed Nialis to protect the corridor just as two thieves burst into the hall. They were quickly dispatched by Rodan's hold spell and Nialis also knocked out the other bandits charging from the direction of the tower with a well placed colour spray spell. Four down, how many to go?
The bandits were tied up and gagged, except for
one who promised to tell them where the leader was in return for
being let go. Rodan refused of course telling him that he'd be
tried and hanged for his crimes. Ulthran tried to persuade the
priest that perhaps a bargain with the bandit would be useful but
the staunch cleric refused.
"Maybe you should try speaking to him in the language of
religion" offered Nialis.
"Thou shalt not have fun" replied the dwarf which,
needless to say, didn't impress the cleric. It was however a very
enlightening discussion which was interrupted when the remaining
bandits and their leader, Ranchefus (a priest of Nerull) attacked.
Rodan, Nialis and Grumbleduke were all held by the
priests hold person spell but Ulthran saved the day when
he cast a colour spray spell knocking out Ranchefus and
his three companions. The bard then hacked the follower of Nerull's
head from his shoulders thus ending his life.
Before long the others came too and the bandits were tied up. While Rodan searched the smithy with Grumbleduke for irons to tie up the prisoners properly Ulthran made a bargain with bandit that he'd talked with earlier for information about some orcs that had taken Natasha from the keep to an abadoned mine that lies further north, the Garlstone Mines. In return for the information he let the bandit go, which didn't please Rodan very much. Bob was then summoned (he'd been back in the woods with the horses) and the tired, but victorious, adventurers went made camp for the night.
Freeday, Harvester 21st
- Harvester 24th
In the morning the Champions of the Cudgel searched the remainder
of the keep. An alter to Nerull was discovered and destroyed and
two secret treasure caches were discovered. A key was found on
the body of the priest and this opened which opened a secret door
in his room, beyond was a passage leading down into the Underdark.
Bob was sent back to Saltmarsh with the prisoners while the
Champions head down into the bowels of the earth, following the
narrow twisting passage as it heads slowly but surely north. The
rest up several times and set wyvern watches and guards
when they do so. At one point this diligence is rewarded when the
magical guardian is triggered. Grumbleduke and Ulthran are on
guard duty and they race to intercept four humanoids. Three are
stopped by a colour spray spell cast by Ulthran and the
fourth is hacked down by the dwarf who slashed its throat with
his axe as the creature was about to unleash a spell. It is only
then that a light is produced to check the bodies and it is
discovered that the leading humanoid has sickly mauve coloured
skin and tentacles protruding from its face, a dreaded mind
flayer! The three humans, now out of its power are freed and they
claim to have been caravan guards captured and enslaved by the
mind flayer and are grateful to be rescued.
Several hours later a swarm of giant rats attack and the party is hard pressed to defend themselves when the three humans change into rat form and the three wererats aided the rats in their attack. They prove no match for the easoned adventurers and are soon slain or driven off.
Two days later the party reaches a dead end and
discover a small hole into which their key fits, but there are
two locks. Without a second key they are unable to open the door
so Rodan casts a spell, Meld into Stone to by pass the
door and was soon joined by Nialis who used a wraithform
enchantment to do likewise. Nialis then searched the large
chamber beyond and found three humans sitting round a fire, one
of whom had a key, similar to the one worn by Ranchefus, around
hisneck. The two Champions of the Cudgel decided to launch a bold,
and dangerous, attack. If their plan failed their companions were
unable to rescue them but they decided the risk was worth it so
launched two hold person spells at the humans. Two of
them were held but the third resisted the incantations
and began casting a spell to counter the affect. Unfortunately
for the priestess she was just beaten to the punch by Nialis who
brought her down with a colour spray spell. The evil
priests were then slain and the door opened. The Champions of the
Cudgel had made it into the Garlstone Mines.
Parts of this adventure were based upon Ruins in the Thornwood and Evil Below the Mines, in Book I of the Night Below Boxed Set, © TSR, 1995.