B5 - Horror on the Hill - pt6 - Session 35

The party scopes out the Hobgoblin camp. Tawndi and Meneleus find the last of the Gold pouches. Gimlet secured a few wineskins. Thack gets his feet wet in the sticky mud by the lake. Meneleus leads the group toward the distant water bridge at the far end of the lake. Thack and Tawndi scramble up the side and see a canoe approaching on yet another huge lake. Tawndi makes for the tree line and readies an arrow from the hidden safety of the trees. Thack and Meneleus wait at the water's edge. Perceval and Gimlet lie down on the ground in fear. The canoe is paddled by an elf, Kasper Greenleaf E1. After a long stand off, Kasper reveals he is the cousin of Kendra. And has sought her out to prove his innocence in an event that has led to his banishment from the Elven Nations. Kasper joins the party and they make their way along the well worn path through the dense trees. As the afternoon drags on suddenly Meneleus smells smoke ahead and he and Thack pause near the edge of the path. Perceval and Greenleaf hide opposite in the trees. The dwarf and Tawndi follow Meneleus and Thack but behind in the cover of trees. Meneleus spots four hobgoblins at a campfire. Thack sneaks in and steals their swords, butt hey give chase and knock Thack to the ground. Battle ensues. Tawdi sends an arrow from the trees and 2 of the hobgoblins flee. The party rushes to save Thack, then after felling their foes gives chase and hunts down the fleeing partners. The party rests then continues but doesn't make it very far before the path is blocked by a horned chameleon. Meneleus attempts to sneak around but the creature attacks and the party is split. Tawndi suffers a sharp blow. Meneleus fears the worst and casts a scroll of Sleep. The party falls victim but the chameleon is unaffected! Meneleus throws his mirror and wakes up Thack, who wakes up Tawndi for a nice, successful backstab. The party enters the giant clearing as the light fades, a quick walk around reveals an overgrown cemetery. And many of the graves have been recently dug up. The party retreats to the middle of the wide clearing to set up camp for what promises to be a very long night!

B5 - Horror on the Hill - pt5 - Session 34

The neanderthals bring the party inside their cave. The children try to play with Thack. After some unspoken communication, the party informs them they have killed the Ogre. The neanderthals immediately leave. The party tries to pull the body of Elwin the Worried up the cliff, but it falls. Leaving it behind, the sun going down, they return the cottage, but aren't allowed inside. Giant bats attack in the night. At daybreak they continue and stumble into the camp of the hobgoblins. Meneleus uses Sleep but 2 escape toward a bridge at the end of the pond. T'arr the Mystical is dead.

B5 - Horror on the Hill - pt4 - Session 33

Meneleus gets the lantern lit but the group retreats leaving the two mysterious doors in the Ogre cave unexplored. Outside they make their way toward the rope, but pause to enter the second cave. Inside they find pools of water along the floor. And the passage continually shrinks to almost nothing. Suddenly a swarm of glowing red insects swarms Meneleus. He takes damage before shedding his back page and diving into a pool of nearby water. The dwarf and the Elf run off in the dark for the exit. The swarm turns its attention on the Cleric. Elwin dives in the water. The cleric takes damage trying to make his way out. The Magic-Users sneak past. Elwin makes it out. The Cleric finds water, turning the swarm once more on Meneleus, who falls lifeless in the exit. The elf drags him out and they try to save him. The cleric finally remembers his cure light wounds spell and Meneleus is saved. They climb the rope and get attacked by goblins as the sun sets. They camp the night. And at daybreak return to the cottage. They return the head and the sisters propose their last deal. The party accepts. Off they go, getting attacked near a large strange tree. Finally yet another cliff wall with a cave below. Elwin tries to climb down but falls, missing all rolls to catch himself and a saving throw against death. The group scuttles down, using a potion of healing and 2 cure light wounds spells on their fallen friend, but it is useless: Elwin is dead.

B5 - Horror on the Hill - pt3 - Session 32

The two old women who live in the strange cottage, Rosabella and Rosalinda point out the trail that leads to the cave of the ogres. The party walks several hours until the path ends at a high cliff overlooking many miles of treetops below. After much discussion, the group remembers their rope and ties off to a nearby tree to descend to the caves below. They scuttle down safely and enter the far cave. From within, the sounds of crashes get their attention and after trying to bust through the door, it opens from within and they are face to face with 2 juvenile ogres. A battle ensues and the party is victorious. Deeper they delve. Discovering the ogres' bedroom, and the clear water pool. Finally they stumble upon of group of 6 captive goblins who beg for release. Their cries attract the parent ogres and a battle ensues. The party and goblin slaves manage to kill the 2 giants, and the Elf collects the ogre's head for their hosts. The party tries to retrace their steps but no one seemed to have been mapping...and they find themselves lost under the hill.

B5 - Horror on the Hill - pt2 - Session 31

The bats make mince meat out of the group which flees out of the cave. They discover a previously unseen trail leading into a ravine and they take it. After several hours of hard climbing the trail splits and the group turns upward. The elf hears something approaching and all but Elwin the Worried hide in the overgrowth off the path. An ogre appears and smashes Elwin's arm. The dwarf attacks with his ax and Meneleus throws one throwing dagger +2. The injured ogre runs away. The party tries to follow but can't keep up. The cleric distributed the rest of Rocco's potion, healing the injured but causing them a strange drunkenness. Unable to move before nightfall, the group lies down in the middle of the trail. In the middle of the night a band of goblins stumbles upon them, The Cleric casts Light and the goblins are blinded. However their dire wolf is not. Many a blow are landed before Meneleus casts Light and the wolf is finished. Daybreak finds breakfast rations cooked and off they go. The trail comes to a clearing with a small white cottage. Two plumb grandmothers rush out and escort the group inside with offers of spice cakes and tea. The cottage seems much larger on the inside than the out.And the group is suspicious. However the women soon offer to heal them fully for the head of the evil ogre. A deal is struck and the group prepares to take on the quest.

B5 - Horror on the Hill - pt1 - Session 30

The party has been back in their town for months when the constable brings news of a goblin army preparing to invade the distant garrison of Fort Guido. The party journeys 3 weeks when a horrible storm destroys their gear and the mule runs off in the night. They enter the fort, meeting the elderly sentry, Rocco. The go to the inn, the Lion's Den, and extract some rumors from the Bartender and the old timer and make a deal for passage by boat with the 3 fishermen to the banks of the The Hill. After stopping at the general store and buying iron rations, they go to the ancient pools of healing and meet all the fort's inhabitants. Finally making their way to bed. The next morning they meet the fisherman and cross the river. And start climbing the trails. A Killer Bee is defeated, as is a couple of Stirges along the trail. A few forks later the path opens into a clearing, and ahead the dark opening of a cave. The party enters and happens upon a nest of Giant Bats...

BSOLO - The Ghost of Lion Castle

Still basking in the glow of being awarded a Silver Medal of Haven, Meneleus wandered into a local tavern, where he was chosen to cast his luck at becoming an heir to the famed magic-user of yore, Sargon. Meneleus journeyed to the castle and survived, gaining more experience and several scrolls that he will undoubtedly put to good use in further adventures with his companions.

B3 - Palace of the Silver Princess Green - Session 12

At long last the party destroys the Eye of Arik and frees Princess Argenta, saving Haven from doom. They are highly rewarded: Tawndi Shade, Thack Burrfoot, Brother Perceval, and Meneleus the Magnificent all make new levels. But on a somber note, Erol Otus was never found.

B3 - Palace of the Silver Princess Green - Session 11

(Magic-users continue to be swapped for Psionics play testing.)
Gimlet helps the withered Magic-user out of the bed. As soon as everyone departs, the Doppleganger strikes. Gimlet tries to defend himself but is knocked unconscious. The Doppleganger assumes his visage and rejoins the party. Tawndi asks about the old man. Gimlet says he killed him and sets about checking the statues in the pews. Tawndi and Thack Burrfoot discover Gimlet's body. Tawndi sneaks back. Thack distracts the Doppleganger. Tawdi backstabs with sword +1. They finally kill the creature, then rush back to save Gimlet. Sudarshan uses Psionics and restore just enough hit points for the dwarf to make a saving throw vs. death ray to survive. In the confusion Brother Perceval notices that his maces are gone as is his Ring of Protection +1. A quick head count shows that the two adventuring women are gone!
As Brother Perceval fumes, the party heads north. Into the cleric's quarters where a secret closet is discovered. And among the robes is a mace +1 and plate mail +1. Brother Perceval is relieved. Onward: they visit the game room, witnessing the map of the growing red glow enveloping Haven. They enter the room of eerie music and all but the cleric and Erol Otis flee at the sight if the haunting apparitions. The group flees south into a strange room filled with archer bushes which spray thorns at them. Tawndi makes for the giant white rose bush in the center of the room. The mystic gets grabbed by the bush, drained his blood and turning the petals red crimson. Tawndi hacks and after felling the plant, discovers a second silver drake statue. The day waning, the party heads back to the game room to sleep. But during the Cleric's first watch there is strange activity at the door. Erol Otis takes second watch and is visited thrice. Against reason, he steals Tawndi's sword +1 and removes the spike, padding off to investigate as the party sleeps unprotected.

B3 - Palace of the Silver Princess Green - Session 10

(Magic-users are swapped for new mystic class and Psionics test play) Awaken for the day. Cleric prays. Mystics meditate. Run into a pair of red robed acolytes first thing. Defeat them then continue to make way through the remainder of the lower level. Battle the troglodytes. Go through the trap door into the upper level at last. Search through the palace magic-user's rooms and lab. Find black kitten. Tawndi touches it with the sword and it transforms into a panther. Kendra feeds it rations. Go around. Run into two women who join the party. Find the bedchambers of the magic-user. He begs them to take him out.

B3 - Palace of the Silver Princess Green - Session 9

Continue through the lower portion of the palace. Encounter and defeat the black bear. Discover the cells of the white apes. Kill the apes. Tawndi can't open the locks. Backtrack to the room stacked with statues. Spent many turns searching through the statues. Everyone gives up but the cleric finds a chest, filled with weapons. Claims a mace. The dwarf takes an axe. Back to the safe room to spike in for the night.

B3 - Palace of the Silver Princess Green - Session 8

Tawndi finds Gimlet D1 chained to wall. Journey back to southwestern portion of palace. Explore captain of guard murder scene. Read message Beware of Travis. Attacked by Travis. Defeat Travis. Meneleus claims set of throwing daggers +2. Onward, and attacked by Travis's wolf. Defeat wolf. Kendra and Elwin skin the hide. Gimlet discovers moveable stone under straw of Travis's bed. Within is a chest with 3 gems and ring.

B3 - Palace of the Silver Princess Green - Session 7

After waking and spending an hour studying spells, praying, eating, and sharpening swords, the party backtracked to revisit the pool room which contained the seven mysterious flasks. Along the way, Tawndi Shade decided to investigate the strange clay Red Eye statue. She with the Elf's help toppled the statue but disturbed a giant centipede. As they fled, Brother Perceval cast a Light spell, blinding the centipede. Elwin the Worried smacked it with his staff, killing it. Meneleus stabbed it with both daggers to make sure. They went back through the steam room to the mosaic room. Tawndi Shade put her golden key into the keyholes, revealing the floating sword. Kendra grabbed it and the Knight illusion appeared. Tawndi, Kendra, Erol Otis, and Elwin were "killed". The Cleric ran and heard the sword fall to the ground. All "dead" realized they were still alive and Tawndi claimed the +1 sword. They went into the pedestal room, Kendra investigated, but Meneleus finally touched the cursed pendant. He was driven insane. Kendra slapped him, but The magic user put the elf into a choke hold, which was only broken by Tawndi using her blackjack and knocking him out. He seemed to recover and Tawndi destroyed the pendant with the enchanted sword. Finally they made their way back to the pool room. Meneleus found the potion of ESP. Next, they moved to the Ape, trying to sneak past to investigate the cave beyond. Meneleus rushed the Ape, allowing the Thief, Elf and Cleric to sneak past. But leaving the 2 magic users to kill the ape.

B3 - Palace of the Silver Princess Green - Session 6

The party entered the pool room and was immediately attacked by 5 Stirges. They struggled to kill 3 of the small flying creatures before the remaining escaped. But not before Elwin the Worried had been drained lifeless. They heard some yells from far away. Kendra was able to identify the voices as Hobgoblin. They were holding a prisoner. They decided to attempt a rescue. Tawndi and Erol Otus were blocked by the wild chained White Ape. Erol Otus injured it and it dropkicked Tawndi unconscious. The party moved to safety and Erol Otus tried CPR on Tawndi but rolling a critical miss, slipped and fell against the thief. However his weight was enough to jumpstart her heart, and she was back in business albeit weary of further excitement. The party snuck up on the captors and Erol Otus kicked in the door, surprising the Hobgoblins. After the hobgoblins were killed, the party was introduced to the Perceval (C1), who Kendra recognized as her charge. They continued on, exploring the tunnels below, discovering the statue of the Red Eye. Finally they found themselves back where they had started but now behind the White Ape.

B3 - Palace of the Silver Princess Green - Session 5

Standing at the doorway, Tawndi Shade discovered a suspicious slit in the door handle, but allowed Thack to open. A hidden blade scraped the halfling. Tawndi and Meneleus entered the room and seeing the shadows behind the curtain, Meneleus used his mirror to peer around. He discovered the mannequins were no threat. Continuing on down the corridor, the party stumbled upon Kendra Ashwood, unconscious on the floor. They woke her up and listened to the exploits of chasing the injured bear. Next, Kendra fell through a trap door in the floor down to an oil pit. Tawndi was able to open the trap before the oil drowned the elf. The party recovered and explored the storerooms before descending and stumbling upon a giant White Ape chained to the cave wall. Thack gave the Ape some rations, which allowed the party to sneak past. They entered a room which contained a closet filled with pink towels and soap. Searching through the towels, Kendra disturbed a giant snake. The snake was killed and Tawndi Shade found a large gold key in the towels.

B3 - Palace of the Silver Princess Green - Session 4

As the party steeled in the dark against the approaching unknown, Elwen the Worried and Meneleus edged along the wall toward the opposite door as Meneleus attempted a torch lighting. Kendra's infravision failed in the light as the horde of Kobolds entered the room. Erol Otus and Kendra defended with Thack, felling four before the monsters retreated. The party recovers and moves off in that direction. The next door opens to the Ice Harp of Rowena the Minstrel. Meneleus plucks a few notes and Rowena appears, she informs the party of the complete details of the situation with Arik and the red ruby. She leaves and the party continues. They pass through the Butcher's room with no events and descend to the Ice Cave, where they are ambush by a giant Black Bear. Elwen casts his Magic Missile and the party continues to injure the bear, which finally flees. Kendra pursued, leaving the party behind. The party went back to the Butcher's Room, and Tawndi Shade fell through a trap door in the floor down to a rushing water stream and was carried away against a huge iron grate. Three Giant Rats attacked her but in their panic could never gain ground. Erol Otus tied a rope to the door and sent Thack down, but Thack lost his hold and fell below as well. Meneleus lit a second torch and leaned through the opening. Erol Otus lowered himself and rescued the Halfling and Thief. Tawndi recovered her sword, and found the remains of a fallen adventurer, and pocketed a few forgotten coins and a Jade Ring. The party reconvened above and exhausted, spiked themselves back in Rowena's Room to finally get a full session of long deserved sleep. Refreshed upon waking, the group headed off down a dark, long and twisting corridor, wondering what new creatures might present themselves as roadblocks in their mission to recover and destroy the Eye of Arik.

B3 - Palace of the Silver Princess Green - Session 3

The party decides to hunker down for the night to get some much needed rest. Erol Otis takes first watch but after an hour or so he hears footfalls from down the hallway. The party wakes and prepares for the assault, but are greeted by an Elf. Kendra Ashwood (E1) has escorted the Cleric from her kingdom who was to perform the wedding ceremony of Princess Argenta. Over-riding Tawndi Shade's skeptical objections, the elf joins the party after stories are exchanged and she binds Tawndi Shade's wounds, restoring her much needed hit points. The party attempts to get more sleep, but after several hours the Halfling wakes them again. A group of wandering Skeletons enters and fights the party to the death as Tawndi successfully backstabs. Another round of light sleep, then Kendra hears a large group of voices coming down the hallway. The party finally realizes this is not a safe place to stay but reluctantly hides themselves again, ready for battle.

B3 - Palace of the Silver Princess Green - Session 2

Meneleus attempted his Sleep spell but was distracted by one of the bandits. After killing 2 the last bandit fled. The party continued searching deeper into the palace. Elwen the Worried tried to break a finger from the crystal statues, causing them to attack. Elwen is killed. While Tawndi Shade attempted to hide in the shadows, Erol Otus successfully revived Elwen with his last potion of healing. Tawndi destroyed both statues using backstabbing ability. The party continues but gets surprised by 2 wandering acolytes. Meneleus puts everyone to sleep, rouses the party and kills the clerics. Next they journey to the Zombie room, destroy the zombies and take the Silver dragon statue. Elwen prays to the protector for help. Protector says limited power to open pathway out and tells them that they need to find another silver statue.

B3 - Palace of the Silver Princess Green - Session 1

Having each experienced the Protector's dream, the party meets at the entrance to the Palace. But navigating through the strange red glow that bathes the palace, Erol Otus trips the wire. They successfully manage to raise the inner portcullises and journey deeper to the Ferret pool. Then backtrack and descend to the gas pool room, the magic-users retreat from the gas, but Tawndi and Erol Otus wait as the Halfling explores the pool. He finds the leather bag. They each take a point of damage as they scramble out of the poisonous air. Thack looks at his haul. As he tries to fit the Wolfshead ring, the rest of the group sits on the stairs to imbibe some wineskin. Meneleus hears footsteps behind and 3 bandits demand their treasure or their lives.

New Party rolled up:

Thack Burrfoot H3 (YOKO); Erol Otus F2 (NPC); Meneleus MU1 (SAMMY); Tawndi Shade T1 (ALEX); Elwin the Worried MU1 (TOVI); Kendra Ashwood E1 (SETH).

B9 - Castle Caldwell & Beyond - Sanctuary of Eldwin the Ardent – Session 14

TOTAL PARTY KILL!!! Still stinging from defeat in the Church of Wicked Generation, Gilganthos and Jean Que were awakened early by soldiers of the king, who sent them, along with new Adventurers Fleetwood F1 and Coren D1, to recover the famous platinum bell of Namyats. After doing away with the troglodytes and finding their treasure map in their lair, the party entered the fortress, trapped by the falling wall, they made their way deeper, Gilganthos's Sleep spell allowed them to kill Eldwin's clerics, but they fell for the map trap. The humans decided not to relight the lantern, and were led blind to their slaughter by the Orcs. A good one!

Current Party:

Thack Burrfoot H3 (YOKO); Gilganthos E2 (SAMMY); Belraina DECEASED E1 (SETH); Jean Que Scrabblhair H1 (TOVI); Erol Otis F2 (NPC).

Here's how my B/X campaign is shaking out so far in 2014:

JAN 05 - B9 Castle Caldwell and Beyond - Still clearing out the main level. Sister Sonja and Kang both dead. Belrain throws the spears on the roof. Belrain dies, taken back to town for resurrection. JAN 18 - B9 Castle Caldwell and Beyond - Gilganthos and Erol Otis venture back to the castle. More clearing. Damage is great but the castle is cleared. Group reports back to Clifton Caldwell and find Belraina returned from her journey with the Monks. FEB 01 - B9 Castle Caldwell and Beyond - Erol Otis leaves to care for pregnant sister. Belraina rejoins party for dungeon level. FEB 15 - B9 Castle Caldwell and Beyond - Clear the dungeon level. FEB 23 - B9 Castle Caldwell and Beyond - Abduction of Prin. Sylvia. MAR 02 - B9 Castle Caldwell and Beyond - Abduction of Prin. Sylvia finish. Thack leaves group.

MAR 29 - 1PD Church of the Wicked Generation - Gilganthos and Belraina recruit Jean Que Scrabblhair the halfling to explore the burned out church. APR 06 - 1PD Church of the Wicked Generation - Jean Que gains Cowl of Dampening. Belraina dies holding off the zombies. MAY 03 - 1PD Church of the Wicked Generation - Unsuccessful at finding the hidden treasury.