The Ancient Way - A Basic D&D Adventure - Chapter 1.2 Portia the Cleric
Welcome back to The Ancient Way. A Basic D&D adventure set in an original world. We are now stepping into the point of view of Portia the Cleric. How will she see the Ancient Way?
Last we left the party they had just rescued a girl from a pack of Goblins who had kidnapped her. What will the party decide to do next?
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I placed my hand on the scared child's head, and that seemed to calm her. "Before anything else, let us return this poor child to her mother."
My two companions agreed. Merrick the Dwarf made a gruff sound, and the halfling Alberich nodded. I'm still not sure how I'm supposed to go on this epic quest with these two. They don't speak to me much, or speak at all, to be honest.
I touched the golden sun symbol hanging from my necklace. "Trust in the Bright Star, and the Bright Star will trust in me. I have to believe in that, or I have nothing to believe in. I've already been removed from my order against my will. Belief is all I have left."
We delivered the child to her mother. She was appreciative but had little to give us, except some food from her garden. After we delivered the child, we started heading back into the Ancient Way.
"Sir Merrick," I said.
"Oh, I ain't no sir, lass. We don't have those titles under the mountains. Just call me Merrick."
I found these dwarfs fascinating but also confusing. "Yes, Merrick. As we agreed, we must end the goblin threat to the Ancient Way. It is the will of the Bright Star, and it will remove a danger to us. What do you know about goblins?"
The halfling Alberich interrupted with his laughter, "Goblins! Oh, nasty creatures, real nasty. Not much to know about them, really. They fight the dwarfs, which is why our friend here hates them. They steal from those with little. They hunt in packs because individually they are weak. They run when the tide turns against them. Oh, and they probably have a king or a chief close by. They always do."
The dwarf raised an eyebrow as the halfling shared his knowledge. "And where does this halfling learn so much about goblins?"
Alberich shrugged, "My village has been on the move for years now. We've come across goblins before. They think because we are small we will be easy picking." The halfling patted his bow. "They are wrong."
"That settles that," I said. "We'll eliminate this goblin king and make this part of the realm safe by bringing light back to it."
Back in the Ancient Way, we walked back to the site of our recent battle.
Will there be any signs to lead them to the goblin king? Even odds, and it is a yes. But what do they find? The oracle says buttons. Alright...
I looked down at the twisted bodies of the goblins we recently slew. I don't relish taking the life of another living being, but these goblins walk the path of shadow. A few feet from the battle site, I saw a dirty button.
Merrick took a look. "This goblin must have run so fast he burst his blouse," he said with a guttural laugh. It was not an unpleasant sound. "They must have run down this corridor. Goblins are cowards, and they will run to safety."
I nodded my agreement. "Let us be quiet this time and walk in shadow if we can. Merrick, I trust you can see ahead without light."
"That I can, lassy. That I can."
To see how the group does, I will roll for Merrick's dexterity since he is leading the group. Merrick has a -2 modifier, and it will be a 12 or higher check.
Merrick - Roll - Dexterity DC12 - 8-2=6. Fail
Now, is this an opportunity for the goblins to ambush them, or does something else come across the party? I'll say even odds the goblins find them first. No, something else finds them. I'll roll on the table I made last week. I got a Giant Racer Snake. There are three snakes. Now, these snakes aren't naturally aggressive to larger creatures unless threatened, so I'll ask the oracle again, will they let the party go by? Even odds. It's a yes.
All of a sudden, Merrick stopped and whispered, "Be very quiet. Can you hear them?"
I listened in the silent pitch-black darkness. I heard it, so very faintly, a slithering. Snakes! We nearly stepped on them! "Well, Merrick. Maybe your vision is good for the dark, but ours is no good. I will light a torch."
"We won't be able to ambush those goblins with lit torches," Alberich pointed out.
"I understand, but the risk to continue in the dark is too great." We lit our torches, and the snakes slithered away from the light. We continued forward, illuminated by the torchlight.
Merrick suddenly paused and sniffed the air. In his gruff voice, he announced, "We are getting closer. I can smell the refuse and rotting flesh. Prepare your arms."
I clutched my weapons tightly and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Merrick as we walked ahead. Alberich followed behind, his bow out and ready. We saw light ahead, and as we got closer, it seemed to be a bonfire. Evil shapes danced around it. We had found them!
So, what are they? According to the DM Guide, a Goblin King is accompanied by 2-12 bodyguards. 12 bodyguards are way too much, so I'll say 1-6. Rolling a d6 - a 3. Let's do their stats.
--Battle--
Goblin King stats: AC 6, Hit Dice 3 = 12 HP, Move same as a halfling, Attack 1, Damage D6 spear +1, Save as Normal man, Morale -, Treasure type C
Bodyguard Stats AC 6, Hit Dice 2 (7,8,8), Move same as a halfling, Attack 1, Damage D4 weapons, Save as Normal man, Morale 9 if king is alive, 7 if dead, Treasure type R
The party is outnumbered this time; will they be able to win? Let's find out! I'll dramatically summarize it at the end.
Round 1 Initiative: Party 4 - Goblins 6
Goblins go first.
All goblins charge forward to melee range. The king and a bodyguard target Merrick, and two bodyguards target Portia.
Goblin King - Needs a 16 to Hit Merrick - 11 Miss
Bodyguard #1 - Needs a 16 to Hit Merrick - 1 Fumble (I can't find fumble rules in B/X, so I'll make them up. That bodyguard will lose his weapon and won't be able to fight next round.)
Bodyguard #2 - Needs a 16 to hit Portia - 4 Miss
Bodyguard #3 - Needs a 16 to hit Portia - 1 Fumble (haha, that is some luck!)
Party's Turn
Merrick - Needs a 13 to hit the King - a 20! (No critical rules in B/X, but I'll make them. Double damage!) 8+6+1 damage bonus = 15. That instantly kills the king! What luck!
Portia - Needs a 13 to hit Bodyguard #2 - a 19+1=20 (I'm not fudging these rolls. The dice gods are with me.) 8+1 damage. Bodyguard #2 is dead!
Alberich fires an arrow at Bodyguard #3, needs a 13 to hit 4+2=6, a Miss (Realized he should have gone first).
Round 2 Initiative: Party 4 - Goblins 6
Goblin's Turn
Goblins will roll for morale, of course. 2d6 vs. 7, rolled a 7. They fight on. But both have fumbled, so they find their weapons but not quick enough to fight back.
Party's Turn
Alberich Fires an arrow at Bodyguard #3, needs a 13 to hit. 6+2=8 Miss.
Merrick - Needs a 13 to hit Bodyguard #1 - 5+1=6 Miss
Portia - Needs a 13 to hit Bodyguard #3 - 1 a fumble! She loses her weapon. The dice gods have left me!
Round 3 Initiative: Party 3 - Goblins 5'
Goblin's Turn
Bodyguard #1 - Needs a 16 to Hit Merrick - 10 Miss
Bodyguard #3 - Needs a 16 to hit Portia - 7 Miss
Party's Turn
Alberich Fires an arrow at Bodyguard #3, needs a 13 to hit. 13+2=15, Hit. 2+1=3 damage to Bodyguard #3
Merrick - Needs a 13 to hit Bodyguard #1 - 5+1=6 Miss
Portia - Picks up her weapon
Round 4: Party 6 - Goblins 5
Party's Turn
Alberich Fires an arrow at Bodyguard #3, needs a 13 to hit. 16+2=18, Hit. 4+1=5 damage to Bodyguard #3. Bodyguard 3 is dead.
Merrick - Needs a 13 to hit Bodyguard #1 - 7+1=8 Miss
Portia - Needs a 13 to hit Bodyguard #1 - 7+1=8 Miss
Goblin's Turn
Check morale (I will lower it to 5 to represent this goblin is alone and demoralized) 5 morale vs 7, Bodyguard #1 runs!
-End Battle-
It was all so quick. Before I even knew what happened, we crashed into the Goblins. Two came after me while the king goblin attacked Merrick. I fended off their first attacks as I turned and saw Merrick bring his axe down on the head of the king, cracking it into two as green blood gushed out.
I smote a goblin in front of me as Merrick cut another down. Alberich's arrows found their mark, and another goblin went down. Finally, the last remaining goblin looked around and saw he was defeated. He ran off into the darkness. Merrick made as if to chase him, but I yelled out, "No, Merrick, by the Light of the Bright Star, let that one live."
"Plus, we don't want to go about chasing goblins through these tunnels," Alberich said.
It was all over. This Goblin King was dead, and we could continue the journey safely.
---
That's it for this week! Next week, we will see what treasure is found and allow our party to continue their journey!
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