The Dungeon of Graves - Session 3

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Scheduling difficulties have finally caught up to me. Due to several people having to cancel at the last minute, this was a rather short session with just two players.

The Story So Far

September 19th 2021

  • Grudge, Fighter 1
  • Oleg, Fighter 1
  • Eli Wax, Half-elf 1, retainer
  • Milo Crest, retainer

After arriving at the Bristleback's Inn, party noticed a hastily built notice board hanging on the wall next to the counter. Pinned on it was a parchment proclaiming monetary reward for the bandits they met inside the dungeon yesterday.

Enticed by the possible reward but not liking their chances, Grudge and Oleg hired on Eli as an additional muscle and Milo as a torchbearer.

As they were nearing the ruined cottage, that lies north of the Mouth of Doom, Grudge noticed several figures trailing them. They kept their distance and tried to hid behind trees and bushes. It was hard to tell from the distance but it seemed they had unusually long necks and limbs, had four arms and were covered in feathers. Party decided to walk past the cottage and slink inside it, ready to spring a counter ambush.

Once positioned inside the building, they started launching arrows and sling stones at the approaching creatures. Unfortunately first couple salvos went wide. At last they managed to nearly fell their leader but then the enemies were upon them and the party was forced to switch to their melee weapons.

As the enemies rushed into the doorway, it was clear they're indeed some kind of humanoid bird creatures. Little taller than a human, long bare necks and vulture-like heads, four winged arms and bright green feathers, clad in chain mail and armed with pole weapons. Eli tried to block the doorway with her shield and spear but soon fell to two of the vulturefolk stabbing at her.

Meanwhile, unaccustomed to such brutal fights, Milo was covering in a corner.

Grudge and Oleg took her place and goaded vulturefolk little further into the narrow doorway to bottleneck them. For a time it looked like the heavily armored fighters will be able to hold out. Oleg even managed to cut down several enemies. Two of the vulturefolk however took their time, climbing through the windows and flanked the party. Working together they managed to skewer Oleg, ending his adventuring career prematurely.

Despite the unfavorable odds, Grudge decided to fight on. And he managed to prevail, killing all but one of the vulturefolk. As they were fleeing Grudge took couple shots at them but only managed to land some grazing hits. Vulturfolk managed to run into the tree cover and disappear in the direction of Mouth of Doom.

After taking a short breather, Grudge started looting the fallen enemies and comrades alike. Taking all the coin, armor and weapons they had, he and Milo returned to Zelkor's Ferry. He also took their heads, hoping for some bounty but Odo Bristleback informed him there is none for vulturefolk at the moment. Still Odo approved and mentioned he heard there is more of the vulturefolk hiding at the second level of the Mouth of Doom.

Treasure acquired: 20gp, 4 sets of chainmail (80gp), 4 polearms (14gp)
Monsters defeated/dealt with: 5 vulturefolk
Deaths: Oleg and Eli

DM Thoughts

Ah... scheduling. The bane of all RPG games. What more is there to say?

I was little surprised how relatively well the party has fared in combat despite the overwhelming odds. I think part of that was due to how badly the enemies rolled on their attacks and part of it was due to both PCs having plate armor. It really does work wonders. Until it doesn't...

Since Milo (level 0 retainer) gained some xp from the session, he will get to level 1 between the sessions and gain a class. That'll be interesting to see.

On the upside, since this was really short session, I basically don't have to prep for the next session at all.

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