[DM Commentary: The first session of the new year in the bag. Unfortunately Shak-Amen's player had to decline and Sumac was nowhere to be seen, but a new player character enters the fold: Blackmouse the Veteran! As well, The Troop Type combat system makes its second appearance this campaign, which certainly came in handy, as you will soon see.]
9th day of the Month of the Griffin, Year of the Cobra
Gimli and Blackmouse return to the Tomb of Khnem, deciding to Explore the rest of the first floor. They find a group of grave robbers in a chamber, deliberating about what to do with a chest. Their initial reaction was one of suspicious but not outright hostility-- a standstill until the bandits realize there is one of their own amongst the ranks of the PCs party-- Hap-Mu!
While some are still uneasy (especially given the mention of the Khnem's mummy wandering the halls and fearing the PCs might be in league with the Cult of Ibis seeking to punish thieves like them), five of the nine bandits team up temporarily with the party, while the other four head to the entrance to "guard the door".
The Party and the Grave Robbers head deeper into the first floor, wandering towards the northeast where they come across a nasty surprise... A pair of shriekers.
| Are you ready to have some fun, guys? |
Nothing they've not dealt with before, right? Beat up the giant pair of mushrooms and get the hell out of dodge. That's perhaps what they thought. But, as fate would have it, they were in for a hell of time.
First the noise caught the attention of some cave dwelling types (re-flavored troglodytes) Those were beaten back with relative ease, the first two of a group of five were slain by the lieutenant and the sergeants, the other three attempt to run. Pikemen, grave robbers and the PCs are set to deal with the shriekers, with the heavy footmen guarding the entrance to the chamber. This is where the critical issue begins to arise-- Nobody can seem to hit the damn shriekers. Partly a combination of the nature of troop type combat (where unless you are significantly outclassing your target in terms of weaponry, you effectively have a 1-in-6 chance of scoring a hit and you ideally have a numerical advantage to increase your odds by getting more rolls), and partly the cold indifference of the Random Number Gods.
If nothing could be done about the shriekers, then they simply will shriek again. Second to enter the frey was the giant spiders, who primarily fought the troglodyte-types, and would soon be sandwiched by the third party to arrive onto the scene-- ratmen (using the wererat statblock, but once again, slightly reflavored in a way to better fit Howard's setting.) The offensive on the eastern exit ceased for the PCs party, who refocused their efforts on dealing with the shriekers, letting the monsters fight amongst themselves. Then came the fourth group from the south-- a group of heavy footmen aligned with the Cult of Ibis.
Damn it.
The fact that the PCs were at the time working with the grave robbers, combined with a poor reaction meant it was on site. A slugging match between two groups of 10 soldiers. The party pinned in a 30' x 30' chamber. The threat of a creature that can only be dealt with by silvered or magical weapons slowly closing in on them.
Something had to give.
Fortunately, despite the war of attrition with fatigued fighters slowly taking losses was to wrap up in the nick of time. The Ibisite soldiers morale finally broke! Giving our heroes enough time to greedily scoop up the loot (a chest containing 1000 silver, as well as a set of +1 bronze plate armor propped up in the corner) to ensure that they at least don't leave the place entirely empty-handed.
Blackmouse came up just short being eligible to level up, and now the party has a contact with these grave robber types. However, they are now caught between a rock and a hard place-- The serpent-men (and by extension) the cult of Set are likely to see the PCs as enemies, and now they are also not on good terms with what is likely to be the only faction who have a chance of standing up to Set's minions. A new chapter for this campaign seems to be unfolding before our eyes...
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