Hunberry slavers
Experimental Solo One-Shot set in Meshela using Ad&D's Slave lords module. Still in Progress
Premise.
Albaz is once again on the hunt for treasure, Hearing the town of Hunberry Recently was attacked and majorly damaged by bandits who have taken the town for their own leaving a majority of refugees along the main road leading to the town awaiting assistance from their leader.
Albaz seeing an opportunity to do some light pillaging before the army's forces arrive posses as a humble traveler. insisting he is merely passing through and is wear of the danger. Taking a turn it to the obviously graded temple to stick his nose where it shouldn't belong.
But something much bigger is at play here and Albaz may be in for more than he bargained for.
Approaching the end of the hallway Albaz raised an eyebrow. they didn't even try to hide this door.
he gave it a knock and waited a sec, no answer so he found the handle and pulled it open.
regretting it almost strait away, releasing a rope and a spiked board trap swung strait at Albaz, (Dexterity saving through, Disadvantage. 4 & 12 -2, Fail. 4d4 Percing damage 3,1,1,1 Resisted , total damage taken 3) no chance the big guy could react in time and was struck. he yelped in pain as he fell back, his gelatenous body visable unharmed but it still hurt,
Picking himself up and inspecting the door, squeezing past, it seemed this was the right way to go.
further down the hallway he found a similar trap but from behind, after inspecting it he cut the rope to trigger it, breaking down the wall it was supposedly guarding. opening another way in and out.
There were plenty of noises going on, Albaz wondering what he had gottem himself into. He was more hear for the treasure than the adventure of life and death. hearing this city was abandoned, Yet traps and chatter meant otherwise.
Passing another room one of the walls was much more looked after than the others. (Nature check 18, Advantage, 10, 17 + 4, 21 Success) Albaz got a familiar wiff and his companion confirmed, there were baskilisks nearby.
The halls were narrow for his engorged figure. and his Ooze companion only adding to his girth. making the navigation slightly more uncomfortable than the average adventurer
Another door but this one had seen better days. it seems the hinges had been melted? several holes gave windows to the room beyond, Albaz peaked through haveing a good look around the room as best he could
(Perception 13)
Albaz caught some odd shimmer in the rafters above. something was up there, the air was unnaturally cold here too. it seems the door was sealed rather than destroyed. he couosnt get a clear idea on what though.
using his gelatinous body Albaz began to squueze through the shabby door. keeping an eye to the roof now more clearly he could see there where ghouls and ghasts. (10 Foes in total)
quickly backing through the door but they saw him and jumped to attack. (Attack hit 6)
but missed.
Albaz got back though the door and took a few steps back as the gouls reached through the gaps swiping and striking but missing thier mark.
Albaz quickly duh in his pack finding his oil flask, using an action to tossing it at the ghasts.
finding its mark covering the few at the front.
the ghasts were baging down the door but it would take a bit more to break, Albaz toshed an alchemist fire setting the ghatssts alight (flat 15 Fire damage, Critical hit, 1d4+2 targets 3 targets)
(Ferocity +1 +1, Total 2)
The ghasts screamed and realed at the flames, the door catching alight too, the 3 at the front fell with a heavy thud as the others retreated
The door now on fire it wouldn't be long before the woodden blanks crumbled. but Albaz was confident he had thinned the numbers.
He took a moment to check his supplies, finding one of his older iron skillets, Checking the door he still had time so looked for something a bit more suitable. Finally finding his Maul. A great two handed hammer.
Using a bonus action to command his companion to ready an attack. Taking the ready action to attack himself the next foe who comes through the door.
(Ferocity +2 +1, Total 5)
The door began to buckle and fall apart on its own, Albaz goading the ghasts on the other side causing them the remaining ones to rush the door. (Strength check, 9+2 , DC was 10, Success)
The ghasts burst through the weakened door. and as it did Albaz went on the attack. (Attack 1+5, Critical miss with maul) (Signature attack 12+6, Hit, 2d4 Blugoning = 8 + 3 Acid)
A massive uppercut but Albaz misjudged the distance, the maul falling to find it mark and instead hitting the roof, shaking debries and obscuring Albaz's vision for a few seconds. that's all the ghast needed to land an attack however the Gelatinous cube stretched out a gooby fist from albaz's body landing a clean sloppy punch. Knocking out the ghast in a single blow.
But the one behind took advantage of Albaz's momentary blindness (Attack with advantage, 3 & 2… 3+3 = 6 to hit, Miss)
Slipping on the body of its commbrad the Ghast missed its rather large mark.
One more ghast managed to squeeze in and swipe a claw at Albaz. (Attack with advantage, 9 & 1… 9+3 = 12 to hit, Miss)
Closer but still unable to land a scratch, the hall being too crowded for more ghasts to get a swing in.
(Ferocity -2 from Sig attack, +1 +2, Total 6)
Albaz took no time to dance, with still 6ish ghaast to deal with he had to get working. Swinging his mall again as an action and commanding his companuion to attack as a bonus. (13+5, Hit, 2D6 + 2 = 11) (13+3, Hit, 2d6+3 + 3 Acid)
Brining the hammer down on the ghast infront of him crushing it under the heavy steel, and another gooby appendage stretched out attack the other nerby ghast. Both falling not getting back up.
The ones next in line moved up ready to attack. (8+3 = 11, Miss, 13+3 = 16, Miss) Both claws flying past Albaz's flesh, close enough it shaved a few strands of fur.
(Ferocity -2 from sig attack, +4, +2 Total 10)
The Gelatenous cube within Albaz's body begins to quiver with rage, (Animal handiling check, DC 15, Advantage 8 & 20, 20+10=30 Sucsess) Albaz quickly and effortlessly able to calm his companion down with a firm calm state of mind.
Again the pair attacked their foes with no quarter. Albaz readied a charge with the help of his companion.
(Crushing charge, Strength saving throw DC 17, Results 1, 5, 19, 5. 4d6 damage =14)
Albaz charged through the ghasts with surprising speed, the large man trammeling over the ghastas using his heft to his advantage. Turning around only one ghast remained and it was not looking good. he returned to finish the job.
( attack action 16+5, Hit, 2d6+2 = 8 damage)
Combat over
4,500 EXP, 9,500E XP till level 6
Albaz took a moment to catch his breath, that was alot easier than he expected. Looking at the ghasts now the seemed frail and old. who knows how long they had been down here. he was more lucky than anything else he thought.
Serching the room turned out to be quite the lucrative invcestment.
(Loot, Six gems worth 500G each and a greater Healing potion)
a handful of finely cut gems and a potion of healing. the Ghasts seem to have been collecting and stashing them, what odd behavior.
The gems he stored withi his gelatenous body and the potion he stored in his bag of holding. He sheathed his Maul so it was in quicker access and continued to squeeze he ass down the narrow hallways.
Up a flight of rickety stairs Albaz came to quite the road block. the room had been baddly damage, the floor completly burned out and only remained a gaping hole with the edges tattered and weak. accross the middle was a long new board of wood nailed down.
It was about 20ft from door to door and albaz didnt trust any path. the large lad was already straining the newer intact floor boards as they creaked and groaned beneath his weight. this was a death sentence.
Albaz tapped his foot thinking for a good 10 minuets, what to do what to do. He tested both edges and while the right side seemed sturdy the left side crumbled like ash under a gentle nudge. and he wasnt gonna risk the same thing happening down the way.
The slim center board seemed sturdy but a few steps on and it bowed and groaned under his weight. almost loosign his balance.
Then he had a crazy idea. “What if we jump it?”
He could run along the right hand side and then leap. it wasn't a great option but it was the only one he had so far. after a few more minuets of pondering he decided to do it.
(Long jump distance 15ft, right side edge for 10ft then leap. Athletics DC of 6 to stick the landing. Result 16)
Albaz went down the stairs for a longer run up. his footsteps thudding along, hugging the right side then leaping after about half way. and it was lucky he did as the right wall gave way and caved in behind him. he landed on the other side with a jiggly thud, breaking a few floor boards as one of his legs teetered off the edge.
Pulling himself up and looking back most of the floor had fallen away, “Not getting back the way i came then.”
Further down the hallway Albaz spied an alcove. a small doorless room with some barrels. 3 barels sat covered in dust and cobwebs. Odd, he thought. he continued down to find another set of stairs, going down this time. going down the stairs and into the room he found a massive pile of rags and flies. Sniffing the air it was sickly sweet perking his senses, but after a quick look around the room it wasnt obvios what was making the smell. (Perception 3+5)
Albaz walked into the room to investigate further. caught again by another surprise. (11+6 , Hit, 3d4+3 8) A sticky tendril burst from the rags and struck Albaz hard, he quickly rolled back his steps back up the stairs out of range. he rubbed the woound where he was struck, it was sticky and golden like honey. (Nature check, 14+4) Albaz finally reconised what it was. a Sundew. a type of carnivorous plant but he thought they were long extinct, what was one doing here of all places?
Well it was blocking his path. he went back upstairs to think of another plan. His nose in working mode he caught another wiff, sour, vinigar, grapes? He recognized that smell anywhere, Sour wine. he went to the barrles cooking up a plan in his mind. the wine had long since turned to something closer to vinegar. perfect for getting rid of a troublesome weed, He had to be carful though. spilling any on him will end up with some severe pain.
Rolling each one down the stairs the barrels cracked and burst in the room, hearing the cries and fizzing of the sundew bellow. He sent down all three and waited for a few minuets.
Going back down the room was filled with eye watering sour smell, the mound of rags had turned to a puddle and no sign f the sundew which was odd, did it flee?.
Albaz watching where he stepped, the old wine as it was acid to the sundew would be Acid to his gelatinous body. he spied a few dried out corpses where the sundew once was. checking them finding more loot (coin pouch 500G, three gems “500G, 1000G, 10G” and a ring of protection)
3,900 EXP, 5,600 EXP to level 6
39 + 3 Temp, 8 Damage, 34 HP Remaining
Checking his gear and eating one of his special treats gaining 3 Temporary hit points. (34HP + 3 Temp HP)
Before moving on through the hallway.
Two directions.
Long hallway about 50ft down and turned left. to his left another hallway about 10ft down leading to a wooden door that seemed reletivly intact. the outside wall was only waist high and the remaining height made up of iron pickets. through the bars seemed to be a cemetery of sorts? grave stones randomly littered the grounds with unkept gardens and a rough pathway leading through.
Albaz chose the closest door. but this time was prepared to check for any potential traps.
(Investigation check, 20 +1, 21 Critical success) Albaz studied the door thoruuly, a bit too thourouly. but he was there long enough to hear chatter coming from the other side. It seemed to be common with a majority of it spoken as another language not familiar to Albaz.
(History check, 10 + 1, 11, Failure) Even after racking his brain he couldn't pinpoint the language it was.
He straightened his pands and tightened his sash before knocking on the door. “Hoi there, Permission to enter please?”
There was a moment of silence before a voice spoke up behind the door. “WHo goes There?” their voice firm with a hint of concern.
“Its just me the cook, Got a bit lost yea, this place a bit more rundown then what was mentioned” Albaz let out as honest a lauoh as he could.
Albaz heard weapons being unsheted causing him to tense and his pulse quicken, Hs companion also. He instinctively reached for hsi Maul on his back but not drawing it.
another voice from behind the door. “We had no news of any cook. What are you doing here?”
Albaz decided to double down. “Well i don't know what else to tell ya. Someone contacted me by mail a few weeks ago with details of a small job for a few weeks, cookin for some…well they didn't specify anything aside from a large number of guests..”
There seemed to be a bit of a laugh from multiple people behind the door.
(Persuasion check, 16 + 6, Success)
The door opened to reveal a highly covered man? it was hard to tell the specific species as the face was mostly covered and there were no obvious other features. The man seemed to get a bit of a shock seeing albaz, eyes widened and flinched. “Whoa there…a cook indeed.” the door opened up to reveal a horse stable.
six soldiers, all covered in a way to hide their features, all armed too, 3 horses were in here too minding their own business it seemed.
Albaz nodded as he look for a place to sit. “May i?” As he gestured to a large bail of hay. after the all clear her parked himself with a sigh of releaf.
“So you guys know where i am supposed to go? nobody at the front door aside from traps and nasties.”
The group discussed, trying to feel Albaz out as he did the same, The soldiers didnt seem to want to give up too much.
(persuasion check, 8 + 6, 14. Mid)
Though the soldiers seemed to be warming up they were still unwillinging, SO Albaz offered them a meal. they looked at eachother and seemed to realise how hungry they were. Agreeing.
Albaz wipped out his cooking supplies and got to working using the ingredients he had on hand as well as some the soldiers provided.
It took about 30 minuets, Albaz would secretly try to add some poision to the dishes for the soldiers. (Peformance check. 17, Success) without the soldiers noticing.
They all sat around enjoying the delicious meal and afterward the soldiers seemed much more open. Telling Albaz about the other group futher down the hall tasked with guarding the entrance the the cemetery, poor saps paranoid something will come to steal thier souls.
Slowly the posion took effects as the soliders began to fall asleep. (Constitution saving through, 3, 13, 10, 12, 15, 20. One sucseeds) with only one able to fight off but seeing how everyone else was asleep they also decided to nap.
Albaz took the oppitunity to see what hey had. finding a few gold and a horn. he left the gold as it wasn't much but took the horn with him. in case they woke up and went to alert thier friends.
Albaz checked the oppiset door finding it was a door out of the temple grounds.
Going back the way he came he was stopped by a young man, seemed to be a teenager, he looked worse for wear.
