06 The Worst Laid Plans

Session 6
The Worst Laid Plans

June 24-29, 861

Foreword
    An unkeyed crypt map I'd been saving, a ghoul scenario scribbled on the back of a napkin, and a player who "just wanted some NPC to tell us what to do," leavened with Rules As Written, and player plans, produce a Wile E. Coyote cartoon.

Session Report
June 24, 861:
    In the Snout and Jowl, a new face appeared at the adventurer's table. Human Veteran Bjorn Pendragon (and Goat Cabrito) joined Acolyte of Amtor Dandelion, Bravo Ivy, Prestidigitator Mr. Sparkles, Veteran-Prestidigitator Carxaris, and Aspirant Druid Fangorn (and Badger) in a discussion of their next venture.
    Acolyte Dandelion had turned up a job over the preceding week: Br. Payne, Curate of St. Cuthbert's Temple of the Five Planets would pay 250 g.p. to anyone who could deal with the Ghoul infestation in the Crypt below St. Cuthbert’s; and would pay another 250 g.p. to anyone who could take care of the Grave-Robbers who had been troubling the Parish of St. Cuthbert's. After a brief consultation with Br. Payne, the Party took the job and began devising a strategy for removing the Ghouls with minimal danger. Mr. Sparkles suggested a trap. A nest of spears would be bound to a frame that would rotate down on a hinge. When the trap was sprung by it's operator, the spears would swing down into the doorway of the Crypt, slaughtering anything in it's path. To this scheme, a few embellishments were added. The Goat Cabrito would be used as bait. An impromptu cheval de frise would be made to corral any ghouls who survived the trap. And a few hirelings would be enlisted to sweep up the remainder.
    Bravo Ivy (who would operate it) spent the day designing and constructing this trap. Someone fetched Malfoy the Halberdier, Hilda Breakjaw, Jane Ironbones, and Hacksaw Molly. And Acolyte of Amtor Dandelion very briefly examined the inside of the Crypt. With the Preparations complete and the sun setting, the comrades settled in for a stake out. Little did they suspect it's grisly ending.
    A little before sunrise the plaintive bleating of the Goat Cabrito attracted a Ghoul. As it blinked in the quivering torchlight, the Party seemed paralyzed by indecision. There was only one. Should they spring the trap? The Ghoul sprang at the Goat. It was now or never. Ivy triggered the trap.
    Accounts differ as to what exactly happened next, but all witnesses agree on the following: The trap did not function as intended; the Ghoul caught Cabrito; the Acolyte Dandelion drove the Ghoul back into the Crypt with her holy symbol; when the dust settled Ivy was dead, pierced with spears and fallen from the roof.
    
June 25, 861:
A day of rest and mourning.

June 26, 861:
    Elf Bravo Ava replaced Ivy as the adventurers equipped an expedition to the Ruined Library on the edge of the Iron Desert, East of Falkirk.
    After a quiet day of travelling the fellows made camp.
    Part-way through the first watch of the night a detachment of Orcs stumbled upon the camp. Some quick talking from Bravo Ava and Veteran Bjorn smoothed relations and the two of them agreed to accompany the Orcs on an hunting excursion. The hunting party came-upon and slew a Wyvern. The Party stuffed the treasure from the Wyvern's nest into their saddlebags and dragged Bjorn (who had convinced himself he had become an honorary Orc (or something)) back toward Falkirk.

June 27, 861:
    The Party arrived in Falkirk with 2000 s.p.
    Acolyte of Amtor Dandelion performed a Solemn Funeral Service according to the rubrics of her rite for the repose of Bravo Ivy's body and soul. And spends her time in Falkirk cleaning up the debris of the ill-fated Ghoul Trap at St. Cuthbert’s.
    
June 28, 861:
    The Party (sans Acolyte Dandelion) set out once more for the Ruined Library.
    On the Road they encountered a horrible Troll-like creature. In the ensuing fight, Malfoy the Halberdier, Hilda Breakjaw, and the Aspirant Druid Fangorn were killed. They srvivors hurried to shove the Troll-Creature's treasure, and when it started to revive they galloped away for Falkirk, leaving thousands of gold pieces behind.
    
    The Party arrived in Falkirk with 1666 g.p. and 1510 g.p. worth of gems.

June 29, 861:
    Veteran Bjorn trains, and waits from a letter from "his orc buddies" (which will almost
certainly never arrive)
    Mr. Sparkles seeks out Magic-Users, and libraries.
    Eva looks to join the Gentlefolk of Falkirk, and find an assassination job.
    Half-Orc Veteran Narc, the heir of Aspirant Druid Fangorn, comes into his inheritance, and reads "Lichens and Mosses of the Iron Desert' Vols. I, IX.Veteran-Prestidigitator
    Carxaris spends 10 g.p. trying to ferret out what the Troll-creature was, and reads "Astrological Observations of the Glacier Stellarium" Vol VI

Afterword
    There's a lot that could be said about this session, random encounters, reaction rolls, encumbrance. But the star of the show is undoubtedly, "We want to set a trap for the Ghouls." (Or, to put the blame where it's due "I want my girlfriend's character to set a trap for the Ghouls). Uncle Gary [DMG pg 20] gives a pretty simple subsystem to handle this:
    Step 1: The player draws a diagram of the trap, showing how it works.
    Step 2: DM rolls a % chance for the character to correctly set the trap.
    Step 3: If the set trap check fails, there's an "obverse" % chance the trap backfires.
It does not seem to me an unreasonable ruling that the trap backfire (in this case) occured when the trap was set off.

Dramatis Personae
    Ivy, Elf Apprentice Assasin, Level 1, June 24th 861, Trap Backfire
    Cabrito, Goat, June 24th 861, Taken by a Ghoul
    Malfoy the Halberdier, Human man-at-arms, Level 0, June 28th 861, Mauled by a Troll-creature
    Hilda Breakjaw, Human man-at-arms, Level 0, June 28th 861, Mauled by a Troll-creature
    Fangorn, Half-elf Aspirant Druid, Level 1, June 28th 861, Mauled by a Troll-creature
    
    Carxaris, Half-elf Veteran-Prestidigitator
    Dandelion, Halfling Acolyte of Amtor
    Bjorn Pendragon, Human Veteran
    Mr. Sparkles, Elf Prestidigitator
    Jane Ironbones, Hacksaw Molly, Human Light-footmen