Murder Diggers (Session 308)

SESSION 308: The Lost Crypt pt. II – Death Diggers 

The restless dead and something in a box

 

Day 276 (Base CampàLost Crypt): The snow had returned this morning. It was a good time to be underground. The journey back down was uneventful so they decided to investigate the anomaly in the natural passage between the crypt and serpent-man hideout. 

There was something entombed in the wall. After mucho fiddle faddle Ding-We utilized potent magics to excavate into the wall and find whatever was hidden. A perfectly sealed stone box, 2’x2’, with runes. Chung-Li could recognize an ancient derivative or form of Elven. He could not get much more than a broad sense of intent – it appeared to be derogatory in nature. Not much but a little more than nothing. Rhags looked for a seam but the box gave none of its secrets. They were perplexed so they stuffed it back into the wall hole for later. Really the thing was heavy and no one wanted to take it into and about the crypt. Still a problem for later. 

 

Returning to the altar chamber they pressed deeper through another ornate bronze door. The next chamber was a funerary preparation chamber. Jars, worktables, and tools are all scattered haphazardly around this room. Tatters of cloth and leather lie on tables and benches. A cabinet stands in the southwest corner. The cabinet had a scythe trap that wanged Rhags. Looking inside was a book beside a yellowed cloth. They saw this for the mold it was and sent BoB’s dextrous arm in to snatch the book. She was able to retrieve it without disturbance. The wizards felt the play was worth it to get the ancient book burial rites and procedures, some weirdo would pay lots of coin for it. 

 

The next chamber was a mausoleum. Inside the room, six sarcophagi stood upright against opposite walls. All were carved with the same intricate detail as seen in the previous chambers. In the middle of the room was one more sarcophagus that was open, the lid broken and cast aside. It was a distraction. The sealed boxes each housed a diabolical mummy, good thing Sloth was elsewhere, that sprung forth at just the right time to get the jump on the hobos. It was a fight. Mason finally felt the ancient wickedness of this place as he failed to obliterate any of the dead with the holy light of Yrrg. But worry not readers this fight did come to completion and our gang of murderers were well rewarded in gold, gems and jewelry. This being why we risk our lives each and every day.

 

Leaving the mausoleum the corridor offered an interesting twist. Either follow along or investigate the obvious ingress into the crypt. Something has dug its way in. It would be tight as the tunnel was about 3’ round. They stayed within the crypt proper. The corridor ran for 60 or so feet before turning and running another 80 feet before opening into a filthy, stinking crypt lined chamber. BoB was sent in as she could not complain about the scent (stench). She climed along the corridor wall and then the ceiling. This was a good plan. As she go t to the centre of the chamber her stink of life activated the inhabitants of this crypt.

Zombies. 

They rolled out of their holes like water. 

A veritable wall of rotting flesh was writhing its way to our front line.

“Oh jeez”, was all Steve had to offer.

Rhags hunkered down for the tsunami of rotting flesh.

 

The D-Team: Ding-We, Rhagnar, Steve, Chung-Li, Mason, Biff & BoB

 

ROLECALL 

Hobo Steve the Lord (F9) 339875 xp +5% <360,001> CRT 1d24/V

            Brain Damaged: reduced mental capacity (tough night on the town)

Rahgnar the Dwarven Superhero (D8) 247098 xp <280001> CRT 1d20/IV

            Serious wound: permanent loss of an eye (-1 to missile fire)

            Critical Wound: disembowelled less able to process poison (-1 penalty)

            Missing thirteen teeth              

Ding-We the Peg-Legged Wizard (W10) 529123 xp +10% <620001> CRT 1d10/I

            Critical Wound: Left leg obliterated, runs at ½ rate (peg required)

 

            The Henchmen

Biff Bartley the Half-Orc Blackguard (HO7) 109529 <120000> +5% CRT 1d12/II

‘BOB’ the Deadly Shade (N7) 71726 <90000> +5% CRT 1d16/II

Mason the Lama of Yrrrg. (C7) 84859 <100001> CRT 1d10/III

Chung-Li the Myrmidon Warlock (E6) 109721 xp <120000> +10% CRT 1d8/II

 

RESERVES

Elapsed Campaign Time

743b days at beginning of session (Boris & Friends just outside of Liwil)

689a (Bunny Group Newville) Busy until 779

716d (Ding-We Gang Lake of Abominations/ Liwil)

 

Join us for session Three-Hundred-and-Nine when we ask the questions:

What happens when you get hit by a zombie tsunami?

How can zombies even tsunami?

Why can’t crypts be a fugus wonderland rather a gauntlet of undead horrors?

Tale of the Tape

Not even mummy rot…

KILLS

Barrow Mummies (6) 

LOOT

Mix of coins, gems and jewelry 14,340 gp

Book of dead preparation (funerary) 2500 gp

Potion of Ethereality 

Scrolls of the divine (6)

A Murder Place Deep Under Ground (Session 307)

SESSION 307: Pounded into Dust - The Lost Crypt pt. I

After odd, but very friendly, night visitors the gang plunges into the depths once more. 

 

Day 274 (Base Camp Continued): “Hellooo! Is there space at the fire?”. A group of seven humans all in heavy armour and cloaked in heavy furs. Stepped from the darkness. There may have been a moment of tension as they assayed our camp and crew. One stepped forward. “Hello friends. I am Hamuch and these are my companions. Would there be space by your fire? For the night is cold, dark and hungry. We represent the ‘Light & Way’ bringing peace and love in the name of Moo-Ham-Jam”. Biff grumbled, “Everyone has their own god these days”. As Rhags and Ding-We exchanged glances Steve could not help himself, “Hungry you say, well I am Lord Steve of Gormandia and I love to cook for any and all and the fire is also hungry!”. The cultists acknowledged Steve’s invitation and rolled into camp. “Let us night feast!”, proclaimed Steve. They were mostly quiet accept for the leader whom was a cleric and he asked many questions while also speaking much of their deity. The night wore on and a new dawn arrived. The cleric thanked the hobos for their hospitality before marching once more Westwards. 

 

Day 275 (Into the dungeon): Down, down dungeon down. Arriving at the pitch black natural cavern just beyond the serpent-men’s fleshy map chamber. The delve commenced. It would take an hour so before the discovery of the lost crypt but first they had a maddening encounter. It started with incomprehensible gibberish and then a green slimy blob thing comprised of mouths and eyes. It was a rogue gibbering mouther and not our long lost friend Len-ardo the scientist. The fight was challenging and the goobers were quite happy there was only one booger to deal with, multiples could have quickly ended the day in failure. The thing had no loot but an anomaly was noticed in portion of the passage wall. Rhags marked for future investigation. They wanted to stick to the task at hand. 

At the end of the aforementioned hour-or-so they found themselves standing before a carved steps that led to a pair of ancient and elaborate, but corroded, bronze doors. They were open just a crack. They could not quite get any line of site beyond the portal. The began moving down the steps when Rhags noticed the passageway looked unstable, “Keep it quiet and don’t touch anything” he whispered. There were bone shards scattered about the landing before the doors. Nobody gave it much thought. Rhags poked his head in and shined his light into the unknown beyond the doors. Three tall stone statues on each side line this dusty, 20-foot-wide entry hall. Each statue bears the proud visage of some forgotten king or sage. Corroded bronze doors about 60’ feet away at the end of the corridor reflected light back at the Dwarf. They rolled in and began investigating the statues. As oft happens a voice boomed in some forgotten language and our hobos had nothing better than “meep moop”. It seemed to be an interaction failure. The final two statues stepped off their bases and began swinging with stone fists – KaPow! They exuded an aura of sloth. That slowed things down. Rhags and Steve did their jobs of stepping in front of fists as the rest of the gang widdled away at the golems. When they both were finally pulverized the golems were nice enough to have revealed a source of loot. Each of the pedestals that the golems had rested held a secret compartment with a trio of exquisite diamonds. Feeling pumped they opened the door at the end of the passage (east).

The corridor turned to the north but the parquet tile floor looked real sketchy on one side. After a head scratch, Ding-We called shenanigans. A little investigation latter the declaration was confirmed. They bypassed the trap. The corridor ended in another bronze door 50’ later. It was another trap. A fake door housing poisonous gas. Rhags and Steve were engulfed. Steve with his atmospheric stabilization system didn’t notice and you need something more potent than ancient farts to bring down a Dwarven Superhero.

They figured that there must be a secret somewhere in the corridor. There was a false wall. Once they eventually found it and were presented another corridor going off to the southeast. This place had been built by craftsmen, even under dust the ancient crypt showed its masterwork construction.  Our guys didn’t really get hung up on this. 

The corridor lead to three chambers.

The first was the servants crypt that was rightfully packed with ghouls then into an octagonal prayer chamber that was littered with piles of debris. This turned out to be a dozen scorpion nests. BoB has silently come to appreciate being on the ceiling most of the time, also the design of her cloak of the arachnid really goes with her ninja suit. The third chamber was a shrine. The rotting remains of once-opulent tapestries hang on the walls. More detritus litters the floor. A raised platform along the northeastern wall is carved with strange symbols. Rusty red spots discolor the outer circumference of the dais in the centre of chamber apon which was an altar. A few items — cups and a tarnished dagger — lie on the altar. They were of fine silver traced with gold, noticeable even covered in dust and the tarnish of ages. Biff scooped up the items. At the far side of the chamber was another door. 

 

It was not far after midday and our guys had taken a beating and magical resources were diminished as well. They did not trust the crypt to provide a safe sanctuary. They returned to base camp on the surface. The first delve kinda proving to be a mixed bag.

Well.. there is always tomorrow.

 

The D-Team: Ding-We, Rhagnar, Steve, Chung-Li, Mason, Biff & BoB

 

ROLECALL 

Hobo Steve the Lord (F9) 339875 xp +5% <360,001> CRT 1d24/V

            Brain Damaged: reduced mental capacity (tough night on the town)

Rahgnar the Dwarven Superhero (D8) 247098 xp <280001> CRT 1d20/IV

            Serious wound: permanent loss of an eye (-1 to missile fire)

            Critical Wound: disembowelled less able to process poison (-1 penalty)

            Missing thirteen teeth                  

Ding-We the Peg-Legged Wizard (W10) 529123 xp +10% <620001> CRT 1d10/I

            Critical Wound: Left leg obliterated, runs at ½ rate (peg required)

 

            The Henchmen

Biff Bartley the Half-Orc Blackguard (HO7) 109529 <120000> +5% CRT 1d12/II

‘BOB’ the Deadly Shade (N7) 71726 <90000> +5% CRT 1d16/II

Mason the Lama of Yrrrg. (C7) 84859 <100001> CRT 1d10/III

Chung-Li the Myrmidon Warlock (E6) 109721 xp <120000> +10% CRT 1d8/II

 

RESERVES

Elapsed Campaign Time

743b days at beginning of session (Boris & Friends just outside of Liwil)

689a (Bunny Group Newville) Busy until 779

715d (Ding-We Gang Lake of Abominations/ Liwil)

 

Join us for session Three-Hundred-and-Eight when we ask the questions:

What evil lurks in the further depths?

Those Mo-Ham-Jam guys seemed friendly enough, especially after they saw our numbers, what are they up to?

Why is it always crypts with the unrestful dead and not grottoes with naked ladies?

Tale of the Tape

No splats today.

KILLS

Gibbering mouther 350

Stone golems (2) 4600

Ghouls (20) 500

Giant scorpions (12) 1500

LOOT

Diamonds (6) 1000 gp each

800 gp

Jade chunks (7) 12 gp each = 84 gp

Luckstone

 Silverand gold cups & ceremonial dagger

Snow Day (Session 306)

SESSION 306: Playing in the Snow

Not quite ready to delve once more the hobos completed the clearing sub-hexes around the Statue Garden.

 

Day 271 (Base Campàclearing): It was a nice clear day providing excellent visibility through winter barren forest. Back on his foot Ding-We was possessed to get the core hex-clearing done before venturing back into the dungeon. Nothing new but there was a twist. They would move base camp into the hex and setup just outside the dwarven tomb after they finished clearing the hexes around the dungeon.

Day 272 (Base Campàclearing): Clear day of looking for lairs. Presence not detected. There was a strangely knowledgeable and speaking copper coloured squirrel. It seemed unoffended by the hobos work and divulged some valuable information regarding the blighted forest just to the east. In particular of the entity known as the Master, the dark force that was a beacon for the forces of chaos.

Day 273 (Base Campàclearing): Today the gang finished exploring the satellite sub-hexes leaving just the Stone garden dungeon to finish before claiming the hex ‘cleared’. They were rewarded with a hole full of giant scorpions. Sadly, only scorpions were lost in the conflict.

Day 274 (Base Campàclearingà15.23): With the good weather holding the garrison packed up things and the party relocated to immediately outside the tomb. This took most of the day limiting delve operations to resolving the loot collection backlog- hydra horde and pelt collection from the trolls. This was well received by the garrison as more pelts make for better camping and more coin makes all things better.

The day was quiet but that evening the rest was disturbed. Lights in the night. Humans at least five, adventurers perhaps. 

“Hellooo! Is there space at the fire?”

 

The D-Team: Ding-We, Rhagnar, Steve, Chung-Li, Mason, Biff & BoB

 

ROLECALL 

Hobo Steve the Lord (F9) 339875 xp +5% <360,001> CRT 1d24/V

            Brain Damaged: reduced mental capacity (tough night on the town)

Rahgnar the Dwarven Superhero (D8) 247098 xp <280001> CRT 1d20/IV

            Serious wound: permanent loss of an eye (-1 to missile fire)

            Critical Wound: disembowelled less able to process poison (-1 penalty)

            Missing thirteen teeth                  

Ding-We the Peg-Legged Wizard (W10) 529123 xp +10% <620001> CRT 1d10/I

            Critical Wound: Left leg obliterated, runs at ½ rate (peg required)

 

            The Henchmen

Biff Bartley the Half-Orc Blackguard (HO7) 109529 <120000> +5% CRT 1d12/II

‘BOB’ the Deadly Shade (N7) 71726 <90000> +5% CRT 1d16/II

Mason the Lama of Yrrrg. (C7) 84859 <100001> CRT 1d10/III

Chung-Li the Elvish Myrmidon Warlock (E6) 109721 xp <120000> +10% CRT 1d8/II

 

RESERVES

Elapsed Campaign Time

743b days at beginning of session (Boris & Friends just outside of Liwil)

689a (Bunny Group Newville) Busy until 779

711d (Ding-We Gang Lake of Abominations/ Liwil)

 

Join us for session Three-Hundred-and-Seven when we ask the questions:

Who the heck is coming our way?

With the entourage setup outside the dwarven tomb will we plumb its depths once more?

Tale of the Tape

Nothing to report

KILLS

Giant Scorpions (5) 

LOOT

53,000 sp (finally collected from hydra stash)

Bear pelts (10) 15 gp each 150 gp total

Chunk of amber 100 gp

Just Another Day with the Green Kill Team (Session 305)

SESSION 305: The Green Solution 

Enough mucking about it was troll smashing time.

 

Day 270 Continued II (Dwarven outpost): For what seemed like weeks the team mulled their next move. The dithering finally ended when Biff asked the simple question, “Why ain’t we murdering and looting?”. Some defensive preparations and a flying wizard later they moved into the smoky throne room. The trolls were still deep in some sort of debate facilitating a hobo sneak attack. Mason began with a prayer to Yrrg as others quaffed and conducted final preparatory actions. Ding-We flew into the upper shadows of the chamber as the rest slunk into the smoky chamber that obfuscated their scent from the normally olfactory excellent trolls. Ding-We started the party by releasing a cone of cold upon the trolls that milled about in front of the leader filled throne as the tanks streamed around the side of the throne.  A whole bunch of Chung-Li’s filled in the back ranks. 

 

The fight was on. After the flat-footed start the trolls yelled out an alarm. The chieftain leaped from his throne to face the far wing of intruders the champion moving on the other side of the throne. The chief was an interesting beast prominently “wearing” some fine human-sized chainmail. One side of his face also bore distinct burn marks that likely were of murderhobo origin, he flew into a rage once he set eyes on Ding-We and Steve. The cone of cold seemed to be a bit of a dud with the trolls quickly regenerating out of the flash freezing. The trolls were in a feral state. Slashing vile claws then following up with broken glass biting maws. More trolls streamed into the chamber from the far double doors. The throne prevented the trolls from surrounding the gang and helped the two wizards drop some area of effect attacks allowing maximal targets and avoiding friendly fire. With both Rhags and Steve wielding flaming brands the gross green guys had their key defence (regeneration) neutralized. The tanks were taking their lumps and the multitude of Chung-Li’s were slowly but surely diminishing to the source wizard as Biff and BoB launched missile attacks. The trolls began to drop allowing Mason to oil up and ignite the bodies, preventing any return visits. 

Dead. Dead. Dead.

Blades were cleaned and mason provided aid to the bashed up front-liners. Once again we moved to soldier’s pay. There was a reasonable amount of coin and some real nice decorative platinum swords, two troll porn amethyst cylinders along with the boss’s armour and a ring set with a rune surrounded fire agate. They knew this was the good stuff. There were a few tears also shed as a number of delicate items were obliterated during the battle. They moved forward through the now open double doors. 

This lead to a guard chamber that housed another four trolls whom were quickly dispatched. They deserved it as the vile creatures were using a masterwork thief’s tool as a communal toothpick – yuck. It would need a good cleaning before getting to business. That was the end of the troll lair. The gang was a little beat up and getting laden in loot. They decided to fall back to the hydra silver pile and pack out as much as possible. They found a way to get it all without resorting to crawling. 

They left the dungeon. The trip back to camp had an unusual and unwanted encounter. A dozen giant wasps angry and well out of season. Something must have disturbed their Winter hibernation. The bugs wanted revenge on an unknown perpetrator. The hobos fit the bill. The insects proved to be cautionary opponents. Ding-We was paralyzed and had to be dragged back to camp to await Mason recharging his holy touch.

For once they all agreed with the wizard and settled in for a night’s rest. Sometimes having a garrison makes camping just a bit more restful.   

 

 

The D-Team: Ding-We, Rhagnar, Steve, Chung-Li, Mason, Biff & BoB

 

ROLECALL 

Hobo Steve the Lord (F9) 339875 xp +5% <360,001> CRT 1d24/V

            Brain Damaged: reduced mental capacity (tough night on the town)

Rahgnar the Dwarven Superhero (D8) 247098 xp <280001> CRT 1d20/IV

            Serious wound: permanent loss of an eye (-1 to missile fire)

            Critical Wound: disembowelled less able to process poison (-1 penalty)

            Missing thirteen teeth  

Raul the Voyager (MD9) 280600 xp +10% <360000> CRT 1d12/III

            Fezzi-Gig (Neut: XXXX) Sword

Serious wound: permanent loss of CHA -4, 

Removed one of his own nostrils.                         

Ding-We the Peg-Legged Wizard (W10) 529123 xp +10% <620001> CRT 1d10/I

            Critical Wound: Left leg obliterated, runs at ½ rate (peg required)

            The Henchmen

Biff Bartley the Half-Orc Blackguard (HO7) 109529 <120000> +5% CRT 1d12/II

‘BOB’ the Deadly Shade (N7) 71726 <90000> +5% CRT 1d16/II

Mason the Lama of Yrrrg. (C7) 84859 <100001> CRT 1d10/III

Chung-Li the Myrmidon Warlock (E6) 109721 xp <120000> +10% CRT 1d8/II

 

RESERVES

Elapsed Campaign Time

743b days at beginning of session (Boris & Friends just outside of Liwil)

689a (Bunny Group Newville) Busy until 779

711d (Ding-We Gang Lake of Abominations/ Liwil)

 

Join us for session Three-Hundred-and-Six when we ask the questions:

What next? 

Back in and down the final corridor or something else?

Tale of the Tape

Nothing to speak of

KILLS

Troll chieftain 

Troll Champion 

Trolls (11) 

Giant wasps (12) 

LOOT

10,000 ep

5,000 sp

Ornate platinum swords (2) 1600 gp each

+3 chainmail (in need of repair)

Ring of Fire Resistance 

Amethyst Cylinders of inscribed troll porn (2) 1200 gp each

Masterwork Thieves Tools (1600 gp)