First Foray against the Caves, Chapter 2, Book I

DnD in the park!

Our game sessions were interrupted by Covid, we tried some online play via Facebook, which got the group through the introduction to each other (see Chapter 1) but we were anxious to return to tabletop play, In April 2021 we decided it was safe enough to play at a local park - it turned out to be a very nice experience. This chapter covers our first two table top sessions.

Corvus of Pholtus
Keoland, Coldeven (March), 590 CY

The Next Morning:

A small band began this quest to discover word of the Giants and their allies. The initial band included
Corvus, a priest of Pholtus, the mysterious Zask, Blacktoof, a half-orc barbarian, the adventurer Evryhss, and the Rakastan druid Ambiguity. The group was joined as well by a warrior who named himself Gyr, clearly quite experienced in the wildlands. 

Leaving early in the morning the band chose to travel through the woods north of the road, looking for signs of the fabled Caves of Chaos.

The party spotted a large hobgoblin patrol and played a game of hide and seek in the woods before the patrol lost their trail and disappeared into the woods. 

Continuing, the band soon encountered a mad hermit, protected by his powerful mountain lion pet.  Just before the party and the mountain lion began to fight, however, Ambiguity intervened with the great feline, convincing the beast to help the party in exchange for leaving it and the hermit alone. 

The mad hermit of the forest, by Erol Otus,
from B2 The Keep on the Borderlands (TSR, 1980)

The lion led the party to the ridge just south-west of the valley of the Caves of Chaos. As it was late in the afternoon the band chose to camp for the night and explore the caves in the morning. 

That night the party's camp was attacked by a patrol of 8 goblins from the Caves.  They slaughtered 7 of the goblins but took the last goblin prisoner. They forcefully interrogated him, discovering his name was Schtep.




In the morning the party forced Schtep to show them to the Caves, and to reveal which of the Caves was the goblin lair. Schtep tricked the party (though they didn't realize this), leading them instead to the ogre's lair. But Schtep's plan fell apart when Evryhss unexpectedly slew the ogre with one shot from his crossbow!

Sliping into the goblin caves from the ogre's secret door, the party quickly encountered the goblin guards, and a large melee soon developed. The party slew 18 of the goblins, but fled before reinforcements from the common room arrived.

Deciding they were too few in number to safely cleanse the caves, the party decided to return to the Keep to recruit more allies and hire some mercenaries. They looted the ogre's lair and took Schtep with them back to the Keep, continuing his interrogation. 

Upon their return to the Keep, the gate guards were welcoming, but the Corporal insisted on taking Schtep the Goblin into custody. He also wanted to have all the party come to see Captain Mebros to be questioned about the Caves.

Gyr responded, "I can answer the Captain's questions, Corporal. Let the others get a room and hit the tavern, just take the goblin and I." 

Corvus added, "Let the men take Schtep, he served his purpose, and lied to us. Let the guards sort him out."

Blacktoof chortled, "Well he certainly Schtep in it."💩

Gyr gave the 1/2 orc a startled look then chuckled.

Ambiguity whispered to Gyr, "See if you can keep Schtep with us, too."

Gyr nodded at the Rakasta, then Ambiguity walked away with a "fuck that, asshole" demeanor.

Gyr and Schtep disappeared with the guards.

The rest of the party went to the inn and tavern. They told the tale of their successful foray against the Caves, and enjoyed a night of rest and relaxation.

Disclaimer: This blog recounts the fictional events of a game of Dungeons & Dragons. Views expressed by characters within the blog are those of the characters, not the players, dungeon master, nor the blog's author. All other views in this blog are my own and represent the views of no other person, organization, or institution.

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