The Adventures in the Dungeon of the Bear

The third of the Trollgod's Trollhalla Adventures

Scene 33: Khang’s Bollocks

Up: Main
Previous: Scene Thirty-two | Next: Scene Thirty-four

Vin Ahrr Vin	Middleclaw	Quoghmyre	Dekhurrrsio
CON: 84+/? DEX: 75 WIZ: 4 A.P.: 240 a leopard leg club (6d6) a 50 pound boulder (10d6) a silver spearhead a sax	R.I.P. Turn 1 - Turn 5	CON: 72+/? DEX: 26 SPD: 16 WIZ: 4 A.P.: 70 a busted leopard leg club (?d6) a damaged wooden club (2d6-2) 1 dead rabbit	CON: 39/?? (was 55 earlier in game) DEX: 72 WIZ: 55 A.P.: 110 an uncursed full-face horned steel helmet (worn) crossbow 1 dead rabbit a pack with all sorts of gear (worn) flint and steel (in pack) tinder (in pack) 5 dry torches (in pack) canteen (in pack) dagger (in pack) extra cloth (in pack) coil of silk rope (in pack) scimitar (4d6+4) black berries (in pack) 3 does of spider venom (in pack) Spells: Knock Knock Lock Tight Oh There It Is That’s a Natty Beard Also Find Object Find Person

There was obviously a well-lit area down the next section, so Quogh stopped for a quick look. The big troll leaned around the corner of the wall. "There’s an altar about 40 feet down the end of the way, in like an alcove, with a big golden sheep on it. There’s a couple glowing balls of light to either side. No guards, or priests, or nothing."

"Then let’s go check it out. Maybe it’s not a sheep, but that bear TrollGod wants us to bring back!" Vin tried pushing past Quogh, but the big southern troll blocked his way. "First to the treasure but last into danger, eh Vin? Don’t even think about it."

Quogh hadn’t taken three steps down the corridor when a gout of flame seems to burst from the sheep, accompanied by a tremendous "BOOM!" This was followed by the sound of rock shattering, as a massive bronze ram-headed maul struck Quogh squarely in the groin. The force of the impact knocked him backwards, crashing into Vin, and the two trolls landed in a tangle about ten feet from where they had been. Dekh managed to roll out of the way, and avoided any harm.

(Yup--roughly shoulder-high on a human--ouch... Quogh takes 82 hits; Vin missed L10SR vs DEX and takes 8 hits)

"Aauughh! Khang’s Bollocks that hurts! Killed by a sheep!" Quogh cried! "Quit yer compaining and get you big arse off me." Vin shot back, struggling to get disentangled. "One trap always leads to another."

Dekh had moved cautiously down towards the altar, hugging the wall. A quick Oh There It Is revealed a panel about halfway up the western wall "Vin! If Quogh ain’t dead yet, he should be OK for now. Check out the secret area while I check the altar." The glowing balls of light proved to be melon-sized glass balls, set into crystal sconces mounted to the far wall. They were easily removable, but Dekh realized they would be both fragile and cumbersome. Would it be worth trying to get them out of the dungeon intact?

"There’s a latch of some kind here." Vin shouted. Try as he could, his fingers were too big to properly work the mechanism. "Frack [sic] it all!" The stone panel broke into five pieces when Vin bashed it with his makeshift club.

Metal scraped on stone as a portcullis dropped into place, tentatively sealing the delvers in a dead-end corridor. "No worried. Quogh and I can bust it down later.... JOOLS!!!" Vin poured an even dozen small but beautiful emeralds from the bag he’d found behind the panel. He figured it was a good idea not to say anything about the broken bottle of whatever-it-had-been.

The altar itself proved to be pretty much exactly what it was intended to be--a way to draw foolish delves down into the trap. The body of the ram was indeed made of bronze--very heavy--so much so that it was likely not worth trying to lug it out. The rest was nothing but glitter and show.

Quogh tried sitting up against the wall, but everything hurt. His wounds would eventually regenerate. It was a good thing he was a rock troll. Dekh would have been little more than a smear had he been in front. Even an ogre or a hill troll would be missing something... important. He spotted the maul lying on the floor and reached for it. It had a good hefty feel--surprisingly balanced. Solid bronze would make a potent weapon. (Good for 10d+10 in combat--STR55, DEX 10)

Bracing it against the wall, he managed to stagger to his feet--and just in time. He spotted several figures coming around the corner on the other side of the portcullis. "Company’s coming! Urooks. They don’t look too tough but they have fire and crossbows."

Vin Ahrr Vin	Middleclaw	Quoghmyre	Dekhurrrsio
CON: 76+/? DEX: 75 WIZ: 4 A.P.: 240 a leopard leg club (6d6) a 50 pound boulder (10d6) a silver spearhead a sax	R.I.P. Turn 1 - Turn 5	CON: ?/? DEX: 26 SPD: 16 WIZ: 4 A.P.: 70 a busted leopard leg club (?d6) a damaged wooden club (2d6-2) 1 dead rabbit a golden ram maul (10d6+10, min STR 55, min DEX 10)	CON: 39/?? (was 55 earlier in game) DEX: 72 WIZ: 55 A.P.: 110 an uncursed full-face horned steel helmet (worn) crossbow 1 dead rabbit a pack with all sorts of gear (worn) flint and steel (in pack) tinder (in pack) 5 dry torches (in pack) canteen (in pack) dagger (in pack) extra cloth (in pack) coil of silk rope (in pack) scimitar (4d6+4) black berries (in pack) 3 does of spider venom (in pack) Spells: Knock Knock Lock Tight Oh There It Is That’s a Natty Beard Also Find Object Find Person

What shall the delvers do?

1. Retreat down to the altar--hopefully a bad missile angle?
2. Attack the urooks with missiles?
3. Try smashing through a wall? If so, which one?
4. Try smashing through the portcullis and attack the urooks in melee?
5. Something else?

Quogh:
STR-215
INT-11
LK-189
CON-39/121
DEX-26
CHR-20
SPD-16
WIZ-4
regenerate-6
armor-6
adds: +398
maul: 10d+10

Vin:
STR-115
INT-25
LK-25
CON-140
DEX-75
CHR-24
SPD-25
WIZ-4
regenerate-7
armor-7
adds: +192
leopard club: 6d

Dekh:
STR-87
INT-62
LK-203
CON-55
DEX-72
CHR-50
SPD-46
WIZ-49/55
armor-4
crossbow: 4d
scimitar: 4d+4
sax: 2d+5

Choose wisely...

Vin Ahrr Vin	Middleclaw	Quoghmyre	Dekhurrrsio
STR: 115 INT: 25 LK: 25 CON: 140/140 DEX: 75 CHR: 24 SPD: 25 WIZ: 4 Regenerates: 7/turn Armor: 7 Adds: +192 A.P.: 240 a leopard leg club (6d6) a 50 pound boulder (10d6) a silver spearhead	R.I.P. Turn 1 - Turn 5	STR: 215 INT: 11 LK: 189 CON: 39/121 DEX: 26 CHR: 20 SPD: 16 WIZ: 4 Regenerates: 6 Armor: 6 Adds: +398 A.P.: 70 a golden ram maul (10d6+10, min STR 55, min DEX 10) a busted leopard leg club (?d6) a damaged wooden club (2d6-2) 1 dead rabbit (probably eaten by now!)	STR: 87 INT: 62 LK: 203 CON: 55/55 DEX: 72 CHR: 50 SPD: 46 WIZ: 49/55 Armor: 4 Adds: ? A.P.: 110 an uncursed full-face horned steel helmet (worn) crossbow (4d6) a sax (2d+5) scimitar (4d6+4) 1 dead rabbit (probably eaten by now!) a pack with all sorts of gear (worn) flint and steel (in pack) tinder (in pack) 5 dry torches (in pack) canteen (in pack) dagger (in pack) extra cloth (in pack) coil of silk rope (in pack) black berries (in pack) 3 does of spider venom (in pack) Spells: Knock Knock Lock Tight Oh There It Is That’s a Natty Beard Also Find Object Find Person

Up: Main
Previous: Scene Thirty-two | Next: Scene Thirty-four