Missed Opportunity

This past week, the players in my Swords & Wizardry Campaign tracked down one of the boss bad guys. Now that all of the characters are over the tenth level (one is 14th level), we have been discussing wrapping up the campaign. I use the Chronicles of Amherth setting with the Guidebook to the Duchy of Valnwall and the City of Dolmvay sourcebooks (Small Niche Games). An in-joke of this setting is the dread wizard Barugal. Modeled after Bargle of D&D Basic fame. The wizard's name in my version is Barragan, but he uses Barugal as an alias. Bargle was the name his abusive mentor gave him in his youth.

One of the players lost a duel against a Death Knight (session 147) and made it known that he wished for a rematch. This seemed like the perfect place to drop it in. It would be a surprise but not out of place for the Death Knight to be working for a new master. Unfortunately, my plans were upset when the player in question had to miss the session (for good reason). I thought about pulling the encounter, but the players got on top quickly, and I just went ahead. I should have adlibbed some other encounter, but what is done is done.

A new player also joined the group. I warned the player about the characters' level and the fact that the campaign was winding down.

Session 166: The Ruin of Mudstick Hill

Lakima (human magic user), Eathwund (human fighter), Aldus (human cavalier), Ambro Feyvine (elven thief), Domago (human cleric NPC), Ian of Darkhollow (human cavalier NPC), August (human magic-user NPC), Luna (charmed Human Fighter NPC).

The Black Dragon company is at their Manor in Edgerton. One day in the early fall, they receive a visitor. An elven explorer and trap-finding expert named Ambro Feyvine.

“Sirs, an elven woman is waiting in the main hall,” Huntley says to the adventurers gathered in the dining room.

“Go see what she wants,” Lakima says, waving at Aldus and Domago.

The elven woman of indistinguishable age introduces herself and gives Domago a letter of introduction.

"Thought you could use an expert in the group. I heard about poor Jon Wallis. I have been working with Ambro on scouting jobs for the Earl. I think you will find her quite skilled.

Signed Aelshara"

“Lakima, it seems Aelshara recommended her,” Domago says, handing the letter to Lakima.

Lakima tosses the letter aside and glances at Ambro, “You any good?”

“Sure am, but I warn you I have a habit of picking up missing items,” Ambro says, “but I return them eventually. I just need to keep in practice.”

“I would keep your hands out of my pockets,” Lakima warns, “Sometimes I put extra-dimensional spaces in them.”

“Is that all?” Domago asks Lakima. Lakima shrugs, “Sure, why not? You trust Aelshara.”

Ambro is introduced to the rest of the company and Alayna, Lakima’s wife.

“Ohh, whose dog?” Ambro exclaims, looking at a large, jet-black dog with intelligent eyes.

“This is Onyx, my protector,” Alayna says.

“Well, we have some work to do,” Lakima says, “Dear, I am afraid we will be gone for the rest of the day and maybe part of tomorrow. I need to pop over and visit Ezmeralden.” Alayna took this message in stride.

Lakima gathers the company together and brings his apprentice, August. He explains that it is about time they did something about Barragan.

“Whose Barragan?” Ambro asks.

“A Wizard, giving the rest of us a bad name,” Lakima says.

The company sets out across town and enters the School of Magic. A magical portal in one of the classrooms takes them to the Bridgeway in the King’s Wood. Here, they meet the custodian Ezmeraldan. He sets the magical Bridgeway for a bridge in the capital city of Dolmvay.

“What is this place,” Ambro asks Lakima.

“It is old magic. The magic of this bridge can be linked to bridges all over this world and even to some other worlds.”

“Today, we just need to get to Dolmvay.”

The adventurers head back outside, showing Ambro how to use the bridge.

“You just walk across the bridge from one end to the other, and when you step off, poof, you are there,” Eathwund tells Ambro.

The adventurers arrive at a busy bridge crossing the Dolm River in the heart of Dolmvay. A few locals hurriedly sprint away from the group, but others take their sudden arrival in stride. They speak to a local man, who directs them to a nearby stable, and Lakima buys seven horses. Lakima takes a glass ball out of his bag of holding and summons a magical horse for himself.

The eight adventurers ride north of Dolmvay into the Hillside farms. At a small inn in the village of Winchem, they learn about the location of a nearby tower ruin on Mudstick Hill. The local character also warns them that an owlbear has made its home near the ruins. It is a short distance away, and the group arrives just after noon. They set the horses to roam the hillside and explore the ruins.

Ruins on Mudstick Hill

“Hey, Domago, what’s with her?” Ambro asks Domago pointing at Luna. Luna always stands within five feet of Lakima in a protective pose. She wears a closed helmet on her head. Domago explains that Luna was a slaver guard they captured a few months ago. Lakima placed a charm person enchantment on her.

“It is likely more than she deserves,” Domago says but reddens slightly, “She would have been hung if we turned her in. This way, she can atone for her evil acts.”

“She sure is a strange one,” Ambro adds.

Searching the ruins on the hill, they locate a stair blocked by stone and dirt. They also note several depressions on the hill that might be over open chambers below them. Eathwund starts to move some of the stones blocking the stairs, picking up enormous boulders with ease. Ambro offers to check for traps, and she warns that there are tracks and spider webs about the stones.

“I think spiders are coming and going through these rocks,” Ambro shudders, “I hate spiders.”

Eathwund calls everyone's attention to bear tracks he finds in the ruins. He follows them to a low cave mouth about twenty feet from the ruins.

“Smells like a bear and something else,” Eathwund says, “It might be the owlbear.”

“Fighters take the lead,” Lakima says.

Aldus and Eathwund duck under the low-hanging entrance into the cave. Soon, they see stone walls and a stone floor ahead. The cave mouth leads into dungeons under the ruins. Bones lie scattered about the floor. Suddenly, there is a roar and a crash of metal. Up ahead, they see a chamber blocked by an iron portcullis. An owlbear crashes against the bars, anxious to get out and attack them. Then, there is a grinding noise, and the portcullis rises, letting the Owlbear out to attack. It rumbles forward and attacks Aldus and Eathwund.

There is a short battle between the owlbear and the fighters Eathwund, Aldus, and Ian. The three fighters soon kill the owlbear.

“Are you sure it is dead?” Ambro asks. Then she pokes the owlbear a few times with her sword. The corpse twitches once, but then it stops moving.

 “We must have triggered the gate open,” Lakima says, looking at Ambro. She looks but does not find anything that looks like a trigger.

“The wizard was probably watching us approach and opened it,” Ambro says.

“Okay, let's proceed cautiously.”

The group heads through the dungeon with Ambro, checking doors for traps and sounds. They find many signs of recent occupants, including burning torches on the walls and a room full of supplies. They also find chambers that have not been cleared of debris. Here, they are attacked by giant spiders from a large nest. The spiders are killed without anyone being poisoned. The fight attracts the attention of a ghost in the ruins. A ghost of a man dressed like a villager tries to strangle Eathwund, but the fighter manages to destroy it. The adventurers return to where they came and find a wizard’s work area. Ambro decides to keep a hooded, blue robe she found in a trunk of men’s clothes. Lakima collects incriminating scrolls showing communication between Barragan (signing as “B”) and Earl Uther of Calwell.

The door from this room opens into a circular chamber in the center of the dungeon ruins. A set of stone steps lead down to lower levels. Human skeletons wearing tattered remnants of chain mail armor, holding rusty spears and shields, line the room's wall.

“Domago, be ready!” Lakima says, then points for Eathwund to enter the room. When Eathwund steps into the chamber, a dozen skeletons animate and attack. Domago begins brandishing his holy symbol, and most skeletons are instantly destroyed. Their bones turn to dust, and their weapons fall onto the stone flagstones. Eathwund makes quick work of the remaining skeletons.

“That wasn’t very hard?” Eathwund asks.

“Skeletons are a cheap and easy alarm system for a magic user,” Lakima says.

“I am just going to take a few bones,” Ambro says.

“Why?” Domago says.

Ambro smiles at Domago and puts a femur in her bag.

Ambro asks the group to wait while she returns to the mage’s study and relocks the door. Eathwund enters the chamber to see what she is doing.

“Just in case someone wants to sneak up behind us,” Ambro says, “Help me with this trunk.”

Eathwund nods, picks up a large trunk easily, and drops it in front of the locked door.

With their backs secure, the group descends the stairs to the next level, arriving in a creepy chamber. Strange devices lie on tables in the chamber. Piles of candles lie on the floor; a skeleton lies on a closed coffin. Domago makes his way toward two eight-foot-tall statues of a skeleton covered in robes covered in cobwebs.

Domago turns to the group, “This is a statue of the forbidden god of death. I hesitate to say his name.” 

“Just tell us,” Lakima says.

“It’s Azrael, the god of death, murder, and dark magic. Only necromancers worship him.”

“Well, they look ancient. This mage we seek might not be a necromancer,” Lakima states.

The chamber is circular, and when the adventurers follow it around, they come across a summoning circle 20 feet in diameter. Green flames leap from four candles along the edge of the circle. The air is hazy in the center of the circle but appears empty. A considerable bookshelf covers the wall, piled high with books and scrolls.

“Stand back,” Lakima says, ”I am going to dispel it.”

Lakima casts the dispelling magic, and the four candles are instantly snuffed out with a snap. A whirlwind of smoke forms in the circle's center, a crazed-looking face and mouth form, and screeching sounds build.

“Air Elemental!” Lakima shouts.

“It looks angry!” Eathwund shouts.

The air elemental swings at Eathwund, who holds it at bay. While Eathwund struggles with the maddened air elemental while the rest of them attack. Soon after, they are victorious, and the elemental vanishes.

“More tricks by this magic user. I believe he must be nearby,” Lakima says.

The door from the chamber is locked, so Ambro goes to work. In a moment, she picks the lock and swings the door open. Inside, they see a small chamber with a bed, desk, pool of steaming green liquid, and a mage in red robes standing before a pair of double doors.

“Stand back! Or I open this door and release a fearsome beast!” the mage yells.

“So what? We have defeated all of your other beasts,” Lakima scoffs.

“Stand back, I tell you, “ the mage cries out, seeing Aldus and Eathwund slowly enter the room.

“Kill him,” Lakima yells.

“No, wait!” Ambro shouts.

Without hesitation, Eathwund and Aldus rush forward. Eathwund strikes the man in the shoulder and waist with his sword. The mage cries out with a whimper, vainly trying to protect himself with his outstretched hands. Aldus then stabs the man in the chest with his sword. The mage falls to the floor in a crumpled heap.

“He wanted to surrender!” Ambro yells and slaps Aldus ineffectively on his shoulder.

“He is an evil mage who has done countless harm to the people of Valnwall and, more importantly, was giving mages a bad name,” Lakima says quietly.

“Grrr!” Ambro says, fuming, “Are we even sure this is the mage we wanted?”

Lakima shrugs. Then, ponders this momentarily, ”Domago, could you speak with the dead?”

Domago nods and prays to St. Aleena. A ghostly shadow of the mage rises out of the corpse.

“Are you Barragan the mage?” Domago asks.

“I am his apprentice, Riven,” it says.

“Where is your master?”

“My master waits for you below. He is preparing for you. He left me to stall you and to die in vain.”

“Below where?”

“He waits in the summoning chamber.”

The ghost then offers a final comment unbidden, raises a hand, and points directly at Aldus.

“One waits for you, Aldus below. Your doom awaits!” Then, the ghostly form vanishes.

“Well, what do you think of that,” Aldus says.

“He was just an apprentice. We could have talked to him,” Ambro retorts to Aldus and smacks him again.

“He did not choose his master wisely,” Lakima notes. He turns to check the desk and picks up a letter. The letter is a note to someone named Kratos telling them to send out the Iron Dragon to harass more travelers on the wilderness road. Barragan writes that he needs to distract a group of adventurers who might know his location. He writes that he will join Kratos soon.

While Lakima is busy with the letters on the desk, Eathwund and Ambro check out the strange, steaming pool of green liquid. Ambro sticks a finger in the liquid before anyone can stop her. She finds it is hot but not boiling. She pauses and then licks the liquid off her finger.

“Taste like water,” she says.

“Maybe it's his laundry,” Eathwund says.

Ambro moves, walks over to the double doors, and peers through the gap. She sees a chamber beyond strewn with dozens of human skeletons. She then checks the doors, finds them locked, and goes to work. Ambro quickly unlocks both doors, and Eathwund swings them open as Ambro steps behind him. In the chamber, they see dozens and dozens of human bones and skeletons. The bones are strewn all over the stone floor. They see stone steps leading down that are filled in with debris. An iron cage and an iron grill on the floor are also visible.

“Careful, Domago, get up here,” Lakima says.

Eathwund steps into the chamber, and human bones crack under his feet. There is a rustling sound, and a dozen skeletons pull themselves erect from the floor. The skeletons grab rusty swords from the floor and step toward Eathwund.

“Begone, creatures of evil!” Domago shouts. Six skeletons immediately collapse in a heap—the rest rush toward Eathwund. Aldus steps up on Eathwund’s right, and the two warriors smash and hack their way through the skeletons and into the chamber. The fight is soon over, and Eathwund steps toward the stone steps.

“They look completely blocked,” Eathwund says.

“Let me see,” Lakima says and steps into the chamber, heading toward Eathwund. On his second step into the chamber, he vanishes.

“Ahhh!” August shouts, raising his voice for the first time this day.

“Lakima is gone. I think it is a teleport trap!” August shouts, “I must join him.” August tries to step forward, but Ambro grabs the apprentice by the arm and holds him back. Luna ignores all this and quickly steps onto where Lakima was last seen. Luna vanishes as well.

“A teleport trap. Let’s follow them,” August says, struggling with Ambro.

“Stop squirming,” Ambro says, “you’re not going anywhere.”

Ambro turns to Eathwund, Aldus, and Ian, “We don’t know where this trap leads. We should not follow it.”

“I have to go!” August shouts, “Unhand me!”

“Fine, but think before you do…” Ambro says and lets go of August. She finishes with a curse as August leaps onto the spot on the floor and vanishes.

“Dummy,” Ambro says quietly, then shrugs, steps onto the trap, and vanishes.

Eathwund searches about the chamber, gets down on his hands and knees, and looks in the iron-blocked pit. He finds nothing, but there is another level below them.

“Aldus, Ian, give me a hand here.”

Eathwund starts moving enormous stones that block the steps, passing stones to Ian and Aldus, who struggle to carry them to one side to drop them. Takes Eathwund no more than a quarter of a watch to clear the stairs. Domago casts a light spell on his mace to make seeing things more manageable.

Meanwhile, deep in the dungeon, Lakima, Luna, August, and Ambro find themselves in what must be a prison cell. The chamber has been unused for centuries. Spider webs hang from the ceiling. Dust and debris cover the floor. In the center of one wall is an iron-bound wood door with a single keyhole and no latch.

Lakima, who has made himself comfortable on a stone bench, gestures to Ambro.

“Decided to join us, I see,” he says. We need a hand with the door.”

Ambro tries to open the door but finds breaking the lock inside the prison cell impossible. She informs Lakima that they are trapped.

“Luna, open the door,” Lakima says.

Luna nods to Lakima and approaches the door. A gem on the forehead of her helmet flashes, and the door lock responds with a loud click. The door groans as it swings open.

Beyond the door is a vast circular chamber with stone walls. The adventurers stand on a broad platform circling a sandy-floored fighting pit 10 feet below. As they exit onto the platform, torches burst into light. A dark figure on the far side of the chamber calls out.

“Welcome. I have been waiting patiently for you.”

An armored knight steps out of the shadows. He holds a gleaming long sword in one hand. Icy mist pours from the figure and the sword and falls to the floor. Red glowing eyes regard them from beneath a horned helmet.

“We meet again. My new patron bids you welcome. I am here to kill you.”

“Do I know you,” Lakima says slowly, looking to stall any encounter.

“We have met before. One of your numbers, a young knight named Aldus, challenged me and lost. Do you remember me now?”

“The Deathknight, and it looks like his new master is the mage we seek. This guy is trouble,” Lakima says in hushed tones to his companions. Luna immediately stepped forward to stand between Lakima and the knight. The knight started walking, disappearing into the shadows. Only Ambro, with her elven eyes, could track his movement.

“He is circling the pit and coming toward us!” Ambro said.

Lakima cast a spell summoning a fire elemental. A major elemental appeared and struggled against Lakima’s mental commands. Once he had it under control, he directed it toward the Deathknight. The Deathknight summoned spikes of ice that grew rapidly out of the floor and briefly held the elemental in place.

Meanwhile upstairs.

Once the stairs were cleared, Eathwund headed down, followed by Domago, Aldus, and Ian. They arrived in the stone chamber where a lot of debris lay. Three doors left the chamber. Two were blocked with piles of carefully stacked stones. Eathwund pointed toward the unblocked door, and the group headed that way. Thankfully, the door was not locked. This new chamber had a small table covered with debris and some wood chairs. A circular staircase headed down.

“There is flickering light below!” Eathwund told the others, pointing at the stairs. The four quickly headed down as the light grew brighter. Stepping into the chamber, Domago’s light flooded the area. Not far away, they see Ambro, Luna, August, and Lakima facing a tall, black-armoured figure with icy mist pouring from his body. A fire elemental broke free from icy bonds and moved toward the Deathknight.

“Finally, our companions have arrived!” Lakima shouts at the Deathknight.

Turning slowly, the Deathknight regarded the new intruders.

“Aldus, looking for another duel?”

“Yes, I am ready to fight you,” Aldus shouted, pushing his way forward.

“Not here. In the pit like a proper match,” the Deathknight pointed at the pit and headed for one of the stairs down.

“I need to fight him alone,” Aldus said to Eathwund. Eathwund simply nodded. Domago approached Aldus, “May St. Aleena guide your sword.” He then touched Aldus on the arm. Aldus felt a surge of divine power. He then followed the Deathknight down into the pit.

The Deathknight regarded Aldus, ”You are not yet my match. It is a pity. I am so tired of this undeath.”

“Then why don’t you give up?” Lakima shouted.

“That would not be proper,” the Deathknight said, “I have lived two thousand years, and I always keep my word. It might be what got me in this state, but that is all I have left. I must fight as my new patron requests. Then he will aid me in killing Demogorgon.”

Aldus stepped closer to the knight, judging his opponent's speed. Then, the knight made a gesture with his hand. Six-foot-long spikes of ice erupted from the ground, impaling Aldus. The Deathknight moved forward to deliver a killing blow. From above, Lakima concentrated on controlling the fire elemental, directing it to melt the ice. Just as the Deathknight approached Aldus, the ice melted, and Aldus was free. He quickly parried the Deathknight’s thrust, feeling the deep cold emanating from the knight, sapping his strength. Aldus turned and swung his sword at the Deathknight, striking a blow absorbed by its armor. The Deathknight then swung his sword, striking Aldus in the side. Blood sprayed from Aldus out over the sand.

The Final Duel

“Don’t die, or I will kill you!” Ambro shouted and then readied her bow, “We should help him!”

“It’s his fight,” Lakima said.

“Oops!” Ambro said and loosed an arrow, expertly striking the Deathknight in an open space in his chest armor.

The Deathknight tore out the arrow and tossed it aside. Aldus struck quickly with his sword, and the Deathknight staggered.

“I’m winning! Leave it to me!” Aldus shouted.

“You do put up a good fight. The best anyone has given me in centuries, but you are not winning,” the Deathknight said and struck Aldus again. Aldus felt the cold gnawing at his soul. His limbs began to feel limp. Sparks floated in front of his eyes.

“Not yet,” Aldus said, stabbing at the DeathKnight, catching a momentary opening. The Deathknight stumbled, and Aldus leaped to the attack, striking twice quickly, the last strike across the open, bony neck of the undead knight. The Deathknight fell to its knees, its head bowed. Aldus stepped cautiously forward, leery of getting within the undead creatures’ reach. The undead knight looked up at Aldus as its glowing red eyes faded.

“Thank you. Finally, I am released.”

“Quick, Aldus, ask it where the mage is!” Lakima shouted.

Aldus turned to the Deathknight and asked. The Deathknight made a final gesture, “Search behind the statue of death.” Aldus looked up and saw a cobwebbed-covered statue on the landing above. He turned back to the Deathknight and saw the empty armor fall to the sandy floor.

“It’s done. I killed it. It is gone.”

Aldus reached out for the undead Knights longsword but found it still hellishly cold. He quickly dropped it. Domago joined him on the sandy floor and began praying to St. Aleena to direct some healing to Aldus. Eathwund walked up to Aldus, patted him on the shoulder, and nodded. Tired of concentrating on controlling the fire elemental, Lakima dismissed it back to the plane of fire.

“Now, where?” Lakima asked, “You should have kept it alive long enough to answer some questions, Aldus.”

Aldus pointed at the statue, “It said to look behind the statue.” Lakima removed the Wand of secret door detection from the bag of holding and used it to check the wall behind the statue. The outline of a hidden door appeared. Ambro then found the trigger and opened it.

“Fighters first!” Ambro said, waving toward the dark opening.

Eathwund and Aldus took the lead, followed by Ian and Domago. The rest came behind. The stairs led down to a pair of doors. The group opened the doors and beheld another large circular chamber. A vast flaming pit dominated the center of the room and lit everything in a red light. Enormous statues of the god Azrael stood by the walls, and statues of four enormous skulls sat on either side of a staircase down into the chamber. A single man stood across the chamber on the other side of the pit. A bald man with a white beard. He was wearing black mage’s robes. He stood beside a small stone altar, manipulating a small flame atop it.

“I am Barragan!”

“I am Lakima,” Lakima shouted back at the mage. He gestured for his companions to spread out, realizing the mage might strike with a fireball spell.

“I have heard of Lakima. I have heard that you are very ambitious. Other mages say that Lakima is upsetting the proper order. That mages should not congregate in schools. That mages should know their place.”

“Mages should rule,” Lakima answered.

“I see we agree, you and I. I plan to replace the Duke of Valnwall with someone more agreeable to our views. There is a place for you in this new order. Once I have installed a new Duke, I could see you as an Earl.”

“The thought had already crossed my mind,” Lakima said.

“Are we agreed? We work together.”

“Lakima?” Aldus questioned.

“Lakima does not speak for all of us. You must pay for your evil deeds,” Domago shouted angrily.

“Lakima?” Aldus asked again.

“Here is my answer,” Lakima said and spoke a single word. A beam of purple light shot from his finger and struck the stone altar near the rival mage. The altar ceased to exist, and the flame on it went out.

“No! You fool! I won’t be able to close the portal!” Barragan shouted.

A large fire elemental rose from the pit and swiped at Barragan. Many more minor fire elementals flew out of the pit and raced about the chamber, setting fire to anything that would burn.

“You deal with what you have wrought?” Barrathan shouted and then vanished.

Eathwund and Aldus ran into the chamber and began smiting fire elementals. Ambro scrambled up on top of one of the stone skulls and began firing arrows. Ian and Domago joined the fighters in the melee.

“Domago, use dispel evil and close the portal!” Lakima shouted. Domago nodded and closed his eyes in prayer. He staggered and tried again.

“I cannot. The magic is too powerful!”

Lakima took out his pearl of power and concentrated on bringing the knowledge of dispel magic into his mind. He cast the spell, and the fires guttered low. The portal closed. There were still a half dozen fire elementals flying about the chamber.

“Can’t we go,” Ambro shouted as she fired arrows into an elemental.

“We did what we came to do. The wizard is gone.”

“The elementals would run wild in the countryside. We need to clean this up.” Lakima said.

It took a few minutes, but the fire elementals were eventually overpowered. The company was regrouped by the dark hole on the floor. Domago began tending to his comrades' wounds.

“Well, since we are here. Shall we check out what is behind these doors?” Lakima said.