Lacking Natural Simplicity

Attending

Clockwise round the table, starting with the Labyrinth Lord:

• T.K.B., the Labyrinth Lord.

• T.A., playing Glen the Strategist (a wizard) and Dooley the sly (a thief).

• M.A., playing James the Cleric and Jeffrey the Monk.

• E.A., playing Curufin the Elf and Drusilla the Ranger.

• L.B., playing Taffy the Halfling and Alice the Cleric

Actual Play

Coming out of 38 down the slope the party was surprised by an ambush at the tee, where the bugbears from 35 and 39 were waiting. They retreated up the slope, drawing the bugbears after them. They wiped out the bugbears at some cost to themselves, and returned to the keep, where they sold the urn for 175 gp. 10 gp 11 gp 8 gp 7 gp 10 gp 6 gp 9 gp 7sp 12 gp 7 sp.

Returning after a few days they missed seeing the tripwire for a new deadfall, tripped it, and several were injured by the fall of heavy stones from the ceiling, while another line ran to a clanging alarm, bringing the chief bugbear and mate from 36 and 6 guards (who had been out hunting last time). The PCs retreated back out the tunnel, got in position on either side of the entrance and ambushed the bugbears as they came out. They killed the chief and some of the guards, and the others retreated to 36, where they barricaded the door shut. Currifin and Drusilla broke the bracings and the door swung open, but poor Drusilla fell and knocked herself out. She was struck immediately by three of the remaining bugbears, but was quickly pulled back by James. Alice was nearly killed (down to negative HP) but was pulled back and healed (requiring 2 Cure Lights from James), and then she cured Drusilla. Eventually they killed the remaining bugbears and discovered their treasure. They found the secret passage, and killed the 3 fire beetles and took their light clands.

They then returned to the bugbear lair and discovered the stores in 37 and decided to return to the keep for healing and a wagon. They returned with the wagon (200 gp deposit, 20 gp rent) and killed the humanoids in 40 and 41, while freeing the eval human, who accompanied them, all unsuspecting, back to the keep.