Scenario 3 - Dungeon Level 3

 

As your companions ready themselves for the dark descent, you stop to take a closer look at the elevator that will take you into the depths. Although the pulley system includes a significant length of rope, it is far too short to reach the level of the Shadow Deep. It is clear the descent must be in steps or stages. 

Added to the fact that you are still at least a mile from the edge of the Deep, and you know that you’ll have to make a long journey through tunnels and passageways. You will try to remain undetected for as long as possible, but know that likely, at some point, you’ll probably have to fight your way through. 

 

With a sigh, you motion to your companions and you all step on to the gently swaying platform that will take you down into the darkness…

 

Scenario 3 - Dungeon Level 3

As the elevator slowly descends to the next level, you begin to see strange points of light, like little sparks or fireflies dancing in the air around you. Whenever you try and touch one of these, it vanishes, and either it, or another just like it, reappears a few feet away. Soon, the elevator bumps to the ground in another chamber, empty, except for more of the strange, dancing sparks, that vaguely remind you of the sight and smell after a magical storm...

 

Tunnels within tunnels, and rooms within rooms, a maze waiting to lead the heroes to their loss.

Ren and her companions headed right out of the lift room, whilst The Twins took their company left. In such a large area, it seemed best to split up and cover as much ground as possible.

The reasons for the initial sights and smells were soon apparent : the place was overrun with HuMan magic users.  Both companies quickly realised that the best thing to do was to get up close and personal.  A wizard cannot do much to you if you are thrusting a knife into his face !

 

In one room, Ren and her followers chanced upon a very powerful mage.  Obviously caught with his robes down, he tried to distract them with buzzing clouds of blood-drinking sandflies whilst he prepared his escape.  Luckily Princess was on hand with her Crystal Ball spell to find the best moment to strike, and Angel charged in to decapitate the foul sorceror with his greatsword.

 

On the other side of the maze of rooms, The Twins were wreaking absolute carnage with their crossbow.  Whether or not the pen is mightier than the sword is up for debate, as the crossbow is definitely better than any magic tome.  

Ren and her companions were starting to hear a lot of noise outside, as enemies began to mass.  Keeping as quiet as they could, they hoped that none of the enemies would open the door that separated them...especially as they had just discovered a loot-filled secret chamber !

 

They had just enough time to go a-looting before the door creaked open, a curious Temple Guardian peeking through and receiving the point of Angel's sword under her collar bone.  The numerous enemies now came boiling through however, and both Angel and Arisien went down under their onrush.  Things were looking a bit bleak, until Princesse used "Transpose" to switch places with The Twins.  The pair of hedgehogs helped tip the balance.  As for Princesse, she provided vital assistance in preventing a potentially disastrous accident that being too nosy had provoked.  Usually, curiosity kills the cat, but not this time. 

 

Before being whipped away, The Twins had found and released a most curious companion, a Lorenthian on which horrendous experiments had been inflicted.  Soothed, he was only too willing to help, and Crames proved to be a welcome addition to their fighting strength.

It was now a race against time.  There were only a few places the lift room could be, but enemies were swarming, devious traps were taking their toll, and The Twin's company was racing through the corridors to join their embattled comrades.  A truly epic moment occurred when Crames opened a door, to stumble onto a coven of sorcerors.  In order to free the corridor behind him, he took one look and charged into the mass of them, flailing left and right.

His sacrifice allowed The Twins to reach the lift room and work past the final barrier.  They were alone, everyone else in the company wounded or lost in the warren of corridors.  The Rangers of Alladore had, however, prevailed.  At what cost ?  

 

Both Ren and all seven companions survived, all except the Ranger herself making a Full Recovery.  Ren was Badly Wounded.

In this scenario, characters regain some Health but not to full, so are not allowed to search for herbs.  Which wouldn't make sense anyway : )  Everyone will begin the next adventure at less than 10 Health, so it is going to be a considerable challenge .

We use our house rules for XP acquisition for Rangers and PPs for Companions.

The Twins gained 168 XP (yes, I ignore the 150 XP limit), with themselves and their team, Crames included, having slain a total of seventeen enemies.

Ren gained exactly 150 XP ; seventeen kills also, including the Minister of the Deep, whose demise was most satisfying.

Amongst the companions, Angel made an indelible mark on the enemy, with seven kills, netting him +7 PP in all and bringing him to Level 7.  Helped by a particularly important find by The Twins, Arisien also reached Level 6, and Keila Level 8.

All Heroic Abilities and Spells used are regained.

The company found an astounding amount of very interesting loot, which they shared out so as be as ready as possible for the final confrontation.

 No reorganisation is possible, so no magical equipment can be explored for hidden properties.

Time to plunge into the fourth and final level of Dungeons Dark !