Gaming Notes: AD&D 1e (OSRIC) #5

Having entered the Caves of Chaos and met with some initial success, we returned to town to deliver the prisoners we had freed. We rested, healed, restocked, and returned to the caves.

We wanted to retrace our steps to make sure monsters hadn't reentered the portions we had previously cleared out. Along the way, we noticed that although the bodies of our fallen foes weren't removed, they were covered. Obviously, the enemy is aware of our presence.

Taking a new route, we discovered a goblin dining area. There were dozens of women, children, and men in this area. The party was split on tactics so we decided to go in without a plan. The ranger just ran into the room, trying to block the exit of our foes. He was quickly charged by multiple combatants, thus forcing the rest of the party to enter the room to bail him out. After a sleep spell, most of the goblins had fled the room. We pursued down the hall where we found a locked door. Forcing it open, we discovered the goblins that had fled and dealt with them to the last.

The next encounter would be nothing but routine, however. Deciding to go up some stairs, we encountered two guards standing in front of some doors. We engaged them and were in the middle of fighting them with six more guards came out from behind the door along with a big, bad orc general in full plate. The battle dragged on and on. The druid was the first to go down (not dead, just unconscious). Next, the cleric bit the big one. The barbarian was down to one hit point when he retreated. Then the thief/mage was knocked down to -5 hp. My brave hireling, Pillman, stepped into combat valiantly when called upon. This left the ranger and I as the only two active combatants. We couldn't hit the orc general to save our lives! Luckily, he couldn't hit me either (thank you -1 AC!).

Eventually, we wore him down and he was cut down. Whew. Still, the party has suffered its first death and was decimated in the combat. We beat feet and got back to town as soon as possible.

Gaming Notes: AD&D 1e (OSRIC) #4

The party is on it's way to the Keep of Guard. The keep overlooks the much feared Caves of Chaos where enemies of law and goodness are aligning to open a portal into a realm of chaos using the Staff of La.

On the road to the keep, we encountered some humongous black widow spiders! We harmed them enough that they retreated back into the safety of the trees. We did manage to free a corpse from their webs. It was a dead elf. In with its decaying body was a magical shield. The thief/magic user elf Valin granted my paladin the use of the shield until it could be returned to the elf's family. We gave the elf a proper funeral and moved on.

We arrived at the Keep and presented our pass shield that Harold the hedge mage had given us. We were directly ushered to the man in charge who was quite helpful. We were given 1000 gp voucher with which to purchase supplies and given the services of a cleric that would go along on our adventure with us. The party graciously allowed me to purchase Full Plate with the money. The rest we spent on healing potions.

We then descended into the caves of chaos. We met some pretty tough resistance - mostly goblins and orcs, but in large numbers. Eventually we came upon an area that prisoners were being tortured in. We killed their jailers and freed them. It seems that they had been captured from caravans traveling in the area. I healed the man that looked most grievously wounded. In thanks, his wife gave me a gem encrusted dagger.

We returned to the keep with the people we rescued.

Gaming Notes: AD&D 1e (OSRIC) #3

Our heroes set off to investigate the news that Harold the Hedge Mage's house had been ransacked and he's gone missing. When we arrived, we found the place in shambled but not deserted. There were four orcs and a hobgoblin still sniffing around.

We quickly charged in and defeated the orcs, causing the hobgoblin, Garfang, to surrender. We interrogated him and got what information we could. My paladin felt honor bound to let the unarmed foe flee with his life.

Using the information we got, we found the mines were the orc general, Barlog, was holding Harold. We entered the mines, encountering four firebeetles and killing them quickly. We also defeated eight orc guards with little difficulty.

Along the way, we encountered a Thief/Magic User named Valin. We agreed to let him join our adventuring party and we continued on. Valin's presence quickly placed our group in a moral quandary, however, when we ran into a room full of orcs. Valin cast sleep, effectively ending the combat. My paladin was conflicted - should we kill sleeping foes? Earlier we had left an unarmed opponent escape unmolested. We all agreed that the orcs should be restrained, knocked unconscious once they awake, and disarmed. We then left.

We defeated the orc general, Barlog, and rescued Harold. He was most grateful but implored us to make haste. It seems that there is great trouble brewing at the Caves of Chaos. A new breed of goblins called Shadow Goblins have been seen in that area. Their leader is intent on opening a portal to a realm of chaos found in the caves by using an artifact called the Staff of La.

Harold teleported us onto the road heading to the caves and gave us a small shield to present to the garrison stationed at an outpost near the caves. He bid us to stop the insidious threat to peace and order.

Gaming Notes: AD&D 1e (OSRIC) #2

I apologize - it's been a LONG time since I've posted an update from Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (First Edition - we're playing under the OSRIC rules).

When last we left our adventuring party, they were deep underground having climbed down a well to discover the cause of mysterious disappearances in town.

We continued on and encountered a weird little creature called an osquip. How odd. And dead. We continued on.

At the end of the passageway we discovered the partially eaten remains of a few townsfolk. Before we could thoroughly investigate, two red glowing eyes greeted us in the darkness. What can only be described as an "Evil Weasel" can charging out at us. We defeated it and took it's carcass as well as the remains of the deceased back up to the town with us.

We were rewarded by the town and the sheriff and greeted as heroes by all. 

Using this upswing in reputation with the town, I took to looking for a hireling to act as a torch bearer and pack mule. I ended up finding a kid by the name of Pillman. He seemed stout (he's a first level fighter) and of good nature. I paid him 24 silver a month plus expenses. 

Our celebrations were cut short because the news had reached us that Harold the Hedge Mage had gone missing and his place was ransacked. We set off at once to investigate since the evidence didn't fit the other disappearances and we hadn't found Harold's remains.

What will our intrepid adventurers find? 

Gaming Notes: AD&D 1e (OSRIC) #1

In grand 1st Edition Dungeons and Dragons tradition, the party assembled in a tavern.

Also in grand 1e D&D tradition, two of our players forgot their character sheets! D'oh, Sam and John! We pressed on, undeterred.

The small village is called Rashtan and the paladin, Mathias Masterson, met a ranger, barbarian, and druid in the tavern. Mathias was sent from his order to find if there is an ancient city in the Forest of Spines (which is nearby Rashtan) and also to find out if the rumors of a new type of goblin thought to be in the area are true.

In conversation in the tavern, we discovered that the town was having a little of its own trouble. Petty thefts had been happening and two villagers had gone missing. A local, Jacobi, of course attracted by Mathias's shining personality, offered to assist us.

The party initially set out, asking questions here and there. We encounter the Sheriff, whom I have much respect for. Our searching came to naught until the ranger thought to look into the city's well, which was reported to be haunted.

Down the well we found a passage. We fought some dreadful rats and then a large toad. How curious! I wonder where this passage could lead?

What's Next: Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 1st Edition (OSRIC)

Now that Star Wars D6 has wrapped up we'll be going down the nostalgia road again with Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 1st Edition! We'll be using the "updated" reorganized rules as presented in Oscric - The "Old School Reference and Index Compilation" - that reprints much of the original D&D content in a better layout.

I'm pumped! I kick down the door - there's a mind flayer! We kill it! We kick down the next door - there's a beholder! We kill it! We kick down the next door - there's a giant! We kill it! We kick down the next door - there's an orphanage! We...

Old school, baby! These gaming notes should be interesting!!!