Within the Ruin

[Dead Greyhawk]

To Recap

The Company, accompanied by Lord Morgan's men, successfully entered the ruined temple by way of the secret door described on their map. Dell was injured by an undetected trap and a frightful battle with a small pack of ghouls and ghasts occurred, with all of the Company's fighters but Al becoming paralyzed. A well placed lightning bolt by Winthrop saved the day. After waiting for the paralysis to wear off, the Company pushed on, crossing over a narrow beam spanning a collapsed room and fighting with a weird, tendrilled plant creature. Under the plant creature was found bones, coins, gems, and a ring, the latter held by Winthrop. After causing a great commotion opening the next door, the Company hastens to the grove of Beory, only to find that it is actually a grey, withered cemetery. Otto and Raven draw the door shut behind them, informing the others that Otto has heard voices stirring behind closed doors when the Company made its move.

The cemetery isn't very inviting, but the gloom did seem to stir briefly when Cedrus entered the area. Perhaps Beory's grace has not fully left the area. Al and Otto are both down about 20 HP. Raven is down around 25. Dell down around half. Cedrus has 2 prayers.

Several options present themselves:
1. The Company could magically heal and then rest in the grove/cemetery for 4 hours, long enough to recover first and second level spells.
2. The Company could push on in its current state, hoping to stay ahead of any alarm.
3. The Company could attempt to retreat out the secret door.
4. The Company could attempt option 1, hiding in the ruined areas of the building rather than the cemetery.

[Dell]

Dead said:

Several options present themselves:
1. The Company could magically heal and then rest in the grove/cemetery for 4 hours, long enough to recover first and second level spells.
2. The Company could push on in its current state, hoping to stay ahead of any alarm.
3. The Company could attempt to retreat out the secret door.
4. The Company could attempt option 1, hiding in the ruined areas of the building rather than the cemetery.

I don't like the looks of the cemetery. Now, I'm sure that there's some treasure around here somewhere, but we don't want to get sidetracked - we can pillage the crypt for goodies later. Besides, fighting undead is obviously one of our weak points.

Options 2 and 4 are the top two choices, if you ask me.

Or, if we really wanted to make things difficult, we could do what I like to call option 3.5. Dell goes invisible out the secret door, while the rest of you stay to rest and recuperate. Then Dell would try to meet with the slaver gentleman - after gaining access to the compound, he'd find the rest of the group and continue the assault. It's just crazy enough to not work.

If we rest now, it will be about six and a half hours before we're ready to move again. That includes resting, memorizing, and a half hour to cast strength on three people. I think our main fighters are currently healthy enough handle combat with scrubs like Orcs, but by the time the dangerous enemies show up, they'll be too weak to handle them.

Perhaps we should rest all day and wait until nightfall. That would let Winthrop and I recover 3rd level spells, as well asgive a point of natural HP healing to everyone. We can wizard lock some doors and be safe from wandering encounters or nosy guards.

[Mr. Trommer]

Since the spaces we are operating in are so confined I think we should send/take the militia men back to the secret door so they can go back to the ship. I would suggest that we keep Ironhand, Cash and Addy. There are so many of us that it will be impossible to retreat (our favorite tactic) if we are forced to. Then we can rest in the deserted area since we know from the dust that it is seldom travelled. I am not hurting for spells but we do need to get our fighters healed up.

[Dell]

Winthrop said:

Since the spaces we are operating in are so confined I think we should send/take the militia men back to the secret door so they can go back to the ship.

Have you forgotten our original plan? The militia men were going to stay back and secure the exit, so we have a place to retreat to. If we wizard lock the door that led to the plant room (I have decided to call the rag-plant "sticky green":), we can leave the men back there. No one will be able to get to them, and they can still make an escape - or come to our rescue - if everything goes to crap.

[Mr. Trommer]

That will work better than leaving them where we are. The whole grayish plants don't look too friendly.

[Dell]

Also, I'd like to see if we can capture some guards. Hopefully, with the sleep spell we can catch them quietly and question them. If we can do that, we can find out where the slaves are located, so we don't have to wander around at random looking for the stairs.

[Wolfgar]

Dead said:

Al and Otto are both down about 20 HP. Raven is down around 25. Dell down around half. Cedrus has 2 prayers.

Given the amount of damage that has already been inflicted on our party after only two encounters and the lack of healing power that we have, it probably makes more sense for Otto to stay behind with the men-at-arms and have Ironhand and Cash take his place. I only have about 10 hp left which gives me less than everyone but Addy and that is not so hot for a front line fighter. Cedrus has two heals now plus 3 more if he rests. Those will be needed to heal Raven and Al as well as holding a couple in reserve in case anyone is bleeding to death which sounds highly likely at this rate.

(Also I won't be there this weekend. Soccer is right in the middle of the afternoon. There is a break the following two weekends for Passover.)

[Wolfgar]

Dell said:

Or, if we really wanted to make things difficult, we could do what I like to call option 3.5. Dell goes invisible out the secret door, while the rest of you stay to rest and recuperate. Then Dell would try to meet with the slaver gentleman - after gaining access to the compound, he'd find the rest of the group and continue the assault. It's just crazy enough to not work.

This might actually not be a bad idea with a couple of suggestions. We could all go out to meet the slaver but Dell could be invisible and just following us. Once we meet with the slaver we can either get a tour of the slave pens or ask to see the female slaves. If they let us in then we just surprise them, sleeping or webbing them and then fighting our way out with Melba (I assume someone knows what she looks like?). If they don't let us in then we make an excuse about not liking the merchandise and Dell follows the leader back to his room. When he has a moment Dell could backstab the leader or maybe charm him. If he is charmed then we just get him to sell Melba to us. If not then at least the leader is out of the way and Dell can take any keys or anything else of value in the leaders room, turn invisible again and meet us either in the ruins or go check out the pens.