(This is foner’s test drive of AD&D first edition, played entirely by-the-book. The module is “Trial by Fire” from Judges Guild.)
PCs
- Dragonfly, Human Monk, played by FredH
- Kalem, Elven Mage, played by BlueLightning
- Reggio Emilia, Gnome Illusionist/Thief, played by skidoo
The party hopes to loot the secret fortress near Auburndale of its fabulous wealth. But for now, they are short on wealth, fabulous or otherwise. They decamp from their 15gp/week room at the Inn of the One-Eyed Beholder, for the comfort of Torlock's parents' barn. In exchange for their hay bales and board, the party works the farm. To sweeten the deal, Reggio makes a deal with the local burrowing animals to leave the family grain alone. He also hatches a brilliant plan to wrestle Kalem for the scroll, and charge admission to the Auburndalians. The elf steadfastly refuses.
Meanwhile, Kenny the Spear-carrier gets a raise for his bravery during the last exploration. Eager to hook up his bros, Kenny brings a lad named Cael to the party's attention. Reggio outfits Cael with a spear and padded armor, and promises that, if Cael stands tall and risks his life, he will get leather armor next time.
The party returns to the fortress, and explores the northwestern passage. They find a room strewn with bits of rubble, all of its contents destroyed or pillaged… or so it appears. Kalem prods a bit of rubble and dispels an illusion, revealing hundreds of silver and thousands of copper coins! The party takes the silver and hides the copper, planning to fetch it on the way out. For now, a huge banded door down the hall interests them…
Reggio searches and unlocks the large door. Behind it is an undisturbed room with a large wooden desk, no chair. Disappointing, but Kalem's keen elf-senses detect two secret doors as well! Neither opens freely though. The party searches for the trigger, as Kalem goes back into the hall to be lookout.
The elf gets barely ten feet out when he spots two orcs coming up the corridor. The orcs are mumbling about hearing intruders from this area. Thinking fast, Kalem calls to the orcs and indicates the chamber behind him: "Quick! They went this way, up the secret northern passage!" He flees back into the room, and the party hastily prepares an ambush.
The orcs enter a minute later, confused and suspicious. Reggio fells one with a slingshot, and Dragonfly and the hirelings wound the other. The orc strikes back, felling the monk and wounding young Cael, before dying on Kenny's spear.
The party shuts the door and loots the orcs of their electrum. Reggio discovers a button hidden in the top drawer of the desk, perhaps the trigger to unlock the secret doors… but discretion wins the day, and the party returns to the farm with their comatose comrade.
Casualties:
Dragonfly (unconscious, rested for one week)
Cael (wounded)
In the week that follows, the party makes some purchases of communal equipment. The local merchants are happy for the uptick in business, so happy that Reggio becomes concerned that they will tell tales of the riches from the Secret Fortress. The party cuts a deal with the local merchants: a 25% gratuity on all purchases, in exchange for their silence.
Recuperated, the party returns to the chamber in the northern section of the fortress. After thoroughly searching the desk, Reggio presses the button in the top drawer, and one of the secret doors opens. Behind the secret door… a toilet. It seems the owner hated anyone else using their john. However, there are some important looking blueprints on a shelf as well. These are placed in a makeshift portfolio and removed from the fortress, along with the copper.
We would have gone on, but for the 10pm closure of the upper floor at Bread & Butter.
Casualties:
None.
Treasure:
| 110 sp | = | 5.5 gp |
| 1100 cp | = | 5.5 gp |
| 19 ep | = | 9.5 gp |
| TOTAL | 20.5 gp |
And a portfolio of ancient blueprints for other fortifications.
written up by skidoo