Thaw of the Lich Lord game 1: Total eclipseOskar Hollowhill, gentleman explorer and scientist, was visiting the library at Icefall College when word arrived from Professor Mira Lund's expedition to the ancient ruins of Frostgrave. Mr. Hollowhill was astonished that the professor - whom he knew as a theoretician who rarely left the east wing of the college - had dared to make such a perilous journey... and he was even more astonished by the secrets she'd uncovered there. He resolved at once to travel to the frozen city.
After retrieving his lazy apprentice Rufle from the college refectory, Mr. Hollowhill set out at once for the estate of his old traveling companion, Baron Edwinicus Stoutwallow. The Baron was as excited about the venture as Mr. Hollowhill had hoped. It took only a couple of days to assemble the necessary provisions, and to equip a small party of the Baron's retainers for the journey.
While on the road to Frostgrave, they met other groups who were fleeing the city, speaking of a nameless evil that had thawed out among the demon-haunted tombs. Undeterred, Mr. Hollowhill pressed on.
Oskar Hollowhill, an enchanter [level 0]: sword
[Spells (casting number): enchant weapon (8), embed enchantment (12), telekinesis (8), write scroll (14), brew potion (14), elemental bolt (14), leap (12), restore life (24)]
Rufle Sparkfoot, an apprentice: sword
Baron Edwinicus Stoutwallow, a templar
Jimmy Quicknap, an archer
Jonny Quicknap, an archer (brother of the above)
Fredrik Aleborrow, a javelineer (actually armed with a crossbow pistol)
Willbur Brandymire, a javelineer (actually armed with a sling)
Sammie Overglen, a thug
Fang, a warhound
Bessie the Yak, a pack-mule (actually, in fact, a yak)
Before the game, Oskar and Rufle each made a 'bottled demon' potion. Sammie was given one, while the other was stored in one of Bessie's bags. Oskar wrote a scroll of 'restore life.'
Mr. Hollowhill and the baron led their expedition into a suburb of the city dominated by five great towers. Several treasures, freed from the retreating snow, had been sighted.
A pair of elementalists and their bodyguard of uniformed soldiers had also spotted the treasure.
But as the two warbands arrived on the scene, a shadow fell over the face of the sun. Though it was midday, the world grew dark. Mr. Hollowhill recognised the phenomenon of the moon eclipsing the sun... but he was quite certain that no such eclipse was due.
As the growing darkness hid the rival band from view, Mr. Hollowhill led Bessie forward.
Rufle and the baron urged the nervous halflings to advance. Fang, normally a fearless guard-dog, whined piteously at the unnatural darkness.
The halfling wizards used telekinesis to drag the two treasures beside the tower closer.
Bessie and the baron carried their treasure to safety.
With the darkness preventing any long-ranged attacks, the halflings rushed forwards to claim four of the treasures. In each case, the halfling (or yak!) collecting the treasure was screened by one of his fellows. Bessie, the baron, Fredrik and Sammie each picked up a treasure and began to retreat with it. Willbur, guarding Sammie, was alarmed by several crossbow bolts that thudded into the dirt near his feet.
While the wizards used leap spells to speed Bessie and the baron, Fang charged an enemy crossbowman. However, he had failed to notice a construct lurking nearby, which joined the fight. Fang was defeated.
Some missile fire was exchanged despite the darkness. The halfling archers knocked out a crossbowman, while another crossbowman (his weapon empowered by a elemental hammer spell) took down Jimmy Quicknap.
Willbur was attacked by two soldiers, but held his own. Though wounded at first, he was able to push himself away from the combat (after winning a round) and then flee the table.
The enemy elementalists, each protected by a ward of crackling energy, decided to withdraw from the field. Their soldiers had secured two treasures, but had no way to stop the halflings leaving with the other four.
After the game, Oskar and Rufle attempted to make two of the temporary weapon enchantments permanent with 'embed enchantment.' Both failed.
The baron commandeered an old inn as the expedition's base.
Jimmy Quicknap and Fang the dog had been knocked out during the game. Fang was unharmed, but Jimmy had a sprained ankle and would have to spend the next game in the pub with his feet up.
Among the treasures recovered, Mr. Hollowhill found a hideous tome that contained the blasphemous ritual required to become an undead lich! Disgusted, he destroyed the vile book [+50 EXP for destroying the Lichdom grimoire instead of keeping it]. The other treasures were a ring of teleportation, three scrolls [one was restore life, which he kept, while the other two were sold for 100 gold each] and a total of 350 gold.
Mr. Hollowhill and Rufle had cast ten spells during the game and recovered four treasures. Additionally, 50 bonus EXP were awarded for being on the table at the time of the total eclipse, and a further 50 for destroying the lich book (as mentioned above). This was a total for 400 EXP, taking Mr. Hollowhill to level 4. He increased his fight and health stats by one each, and improved the casting values of elemental bolt and brew potion by one each.
Next time: wrecked ships on a frozen river may hide clues to the identity of the dark power rising in Frostgrave!
[warband status after the game]
Oskar Hollowhill, an enchanter [level 4]: sword, ring of teleportation
[Spells (casting number): enchant weapon (8), embed enchantment (12), telekinesis (8), write scroll (14), brew potion (13), elemental bolt (13), leap (12), restore life (24)]
Fight +1, Health +1
Rufle Sparkfoot, an apprentice: sword
Baron Edwinicus Stoutwallow, a templar
Jimmy Quicknap, an archer [missing a game]
Jonny Quicknap, an archer
Fredrik Aleborrow, a javelineer
Willbur Brandymire, a javelineer
Sammie Overglen, a thug: bottled demon
Fang, a warhound
Bessie the Yak, a pack-mule: bottled demon
Base: inn
Gold: 550
Vault: 2 scrolls of restore life
[no money spent yet!]
