D&D Beginner's Game: Prelude

The Dungeon Master

'It is said, you either die a hero, or live long enough to become a villain.'

Those words would ring true, as this story aims to tell.

The dungeon is cold, dank and dark - save for one torch burning brightly outside the steel bars confining this party of 7 - a cell fit for only 4 people, they are crushed against each other.



But were they villains? They can hear the sounds of a screaming, almost frenzying crowd stamping, cheering, clapping above their heads.

They hear the keys rattle, and the door is flung open. The elf, known as Stufur Evergreen is flung headlong into the already crowded cell.

The guard slams the door shut again and locks it, looking at the now 8 crammed occupants in disgust. He spits through the bars and it lands on the foot of the mage, Echtrae.

'Scumbags - it's too good for you what they have planned. I had my way, you'd be all fed to the pigs!'

He keeps watch with a hand on his scabbard, ready to draw it at the first sign of trouble from his prisoners.

Out Of Character Post (OOC): Consider this a time to get into character, talk to your fellow players, get a feel for the environment.

Fourier

Stufur finds himself embedded between various pairs of legs. Pulling himself out he looks around and picks his cap up off the ground and dusts down his green tunic. Humans can be so brutish.

He stands up amidst the throng, quite a diverse bunch it seems. They're in this together, so best to make a good first impression.

"Greetings fellow cell dwellers, the name is Stufur" he says extending a handshake to nobody in particular.

Kolido

Seizing the opportunity to get noticed, the magic maker extends his hand through a labyrinth of bodies.

"Delighted to make your acquaintance, Stu Pendous at your service'

duffman13

Fector Hammerchop hangs back watching the group of 7 become 8. Not naturally trusting Hammerchop tries to size up the room to see who can be trusted and who is a danger. After careful consideration he decides he'll need more than brute strength to get out of here.

"Fector Hammerchop, happy to make your acquaintance, my friends call me the Hammer"

OldGoat

The young thief Aesc stands against the bars of the cell, unnoticed by most, watching the guard and waiting for the slightest opportunity to steal the keys of the gaol. Hopefully the guard might let his caution slip while watching and taunting the occupants of the overcrowded cell just long enough for the novice catpurse to acquire the means of escape.

Mollyb60

Malik thanks the gods for his tallness. Always a problem when he was young, it gives him precious breathing space in this cramped room. Even if his head is brushing the ceiling. He can easily touch both sides of the cell with his outstretched arms.
'Well folks, tis a fine mess we've gotten ourselves into here. I'm not looking forward to whatever they've got planned'.

Fourier

Kolido wrote: »

Seizing the opportunity to get noticed, the magic maker extends his hand through a labyrinth of bodies.

"Delighted to make your acquaintance, Stu Pendous at your service'

Stufur accepts and shakes Stu's hand.

"Hey Stu. We're in a bit of a rough spot here."

Mollyb60 wrote:

'Well folks, tis a fine mess we've gotten ourselves into here. I'm not looking forward to whatever they've got planned'.

Stufur turns to the tall gentleman.

"I doubt it's pleasant. The guard really seemed to loath us."

He whispers now.

"Anybody have ideas for escape?"

OldGoat

Asecs eyes flick quickly to the elf at overhearing the word 'escape', just long enough to express "I'm in" before returning to watching the guard.

Guffy

Echtrae finally stirs at the mention, he had been reluctant to associate himselves with this rabble but now there was plans for freedom afoot. As he stands to greet this elf, his small shadow somehow fills the room.

'What have you in mind, elf? I have been here to long already', Echtrae glares at the guard with visable hatred on his face before he rubs his ribs and grimaces.

Mollyb60

Fourier wrote: »

Stufur turns to the tall gentleman.

"I doubt it's pleasant. The guard really seemed to loath us."

He whispers now.

"Anybody have ideas for escape?"

Malik bends his head down towards Stufur, 'Unfortunately I'm a bit conspicuous so it's gonna be tough to get me out unless we knock out that guard. I'm always up for a challenge though. The name's Malik by the way.'

jasonb

Brutha perks up with the arrival of Stufur. A new mind in the cell might be all they need to get out of there! His neck was sore from the crick in it as his head was near sideways against the ceiling, and his calves ached with being slightly crouched down.

"Greetings Stufur, may the Great God Om shine his benevolent light on you and all your endeavours! Like my fellow prisoner Malik, I too am rather conspicuous, but if I can us get out of here I will give my all... My name is Brutha"

OOC: Mollyb, if you're going to make the height of the room 6', make sure you check the height of your fellow characters first!

duffman13

The Hammer likes what he is hearing and steps forward to offer his services. He whispers:

"I can take the guard out easily however I need to be close to get a clean shot. I may be small but I've had bigger and harder ****s than that buck tooth cellar dweller. The scabbard is what worries me, we need a distraction"

Kolido

Stu cried in a low voice, as to not let the guard hear, ' so, do we have a plan or not? my toenails are itching and I can't reach them'

The Dungeon Master

As the party converses, they can hear the sound of armoured boots clanking down the stairs. They appear to be coming towards the dungeon cell.

A gruff voice calls loudly to the guard at the door.

'Oy, Clayton - get one of 'em ready! We're about to begin!'

Mollyb60

jasonb wrote: »

OOC: Mollyb, if you're going to make the height of the room 6', make sure you check the height of your fellow characters first!

OOC: I actually had in my head that my character was 6'6 but looking back at my sheet he's only 6ft. Sorry!

The Dungeon Master

5 Spears appear through the bars of the cell.

'Oy, back against that wall - ALL of you! Anyone makes the slightest movement, you will all die!'

There is a sound of jangling keys and the door clicks open.

Clayton, the thuggish guard who was watching the cell, steps inside. He hands the keys to one of his comrades, who is armed to the teeth with a gigantic Claymore.

He approaches the group, and smirks at Ecthrae briefly.

'How's the ribs, cur? Try any of that magic sh1te with me again, I'll cut your hands off.'

He turns and addresses Malik.

'YOU - step forward. Slowly - unless you wish to be cut to pieces.'

OldGoat

From the shadows Aesc throws himself at the guards legs. "Rush him!"

The Dungeon Master

OldGoat wrote: »

From the shadows Aesc throws himself at the guards legs. "Rush him!"

OOC: Welcome to our first roll! Roll against Dexterity.

Rolz room: The Meatgrinder

Mollyb60

Malik rushes forward and grabs the closest (Edit: guards) head to bash it off the iron bars of the cell.

The Dungeon Master

Mollyb60 wrote: »

Malik rushes forward and grabs the closest (Edit: guards) head to bash it off the iron bars of the cell.

OOC: Roll Strength

duffman13

The Hammer launches a flying headbutt at the guard nearest too him hoping others will follow suit while cursing Aesc under his breath

Mollyb60

The Dungeon Master wrote: »

OOC: Roll Strength

OOC: Just to be clear, I'm rolling a d20 and adding my strength modifier (which is +1) to the result.

Not sure if I'm in the right room on rolz, there's no one else there.

Rolled a 9+1 = 10

conor222

Pete tries to get behind the guard and grab him from there

The Dungeon Master

Mollyb60 wrote: »

OOC: Just to be clear, I'm rolling a d20 and adding my strength modifier (which is +1) to the result.

Not sure if I'm in the right room on rolz, there's no one else there.

Rolled a 9+1 = 10

OOC: Meatgrinder

This room, it's fine. Waiting on OG's roll as his action was first.

The Dungeon Master

OldGoat wrote: »

From the shadows Aesc throws himself at the guards legs. "Rush him!"

OOC: Rolled 17 for you, fail

Aesec dives for the guard but he side steps easily. He boots him hard in the face, breaking a number of teeth.

'LADS! These idiots think they can rush us!'

Mollyb60 wrote: »

Malik rushes forward and grabs the closest (Edit: guards) head to bash it off the iron bars of the cell.

Malik grabs Clayton by the throat but the Guard with the Claymore points it at his throat.

duffman13 wrote: »

The Hammer launches a flying headbutt at the guard nearest too him hoping others will follow suit while cursing Aesc under his breath

Four more guards come into the cell as the Hammer launches.

'Enough, dogs! One more move and you all die!'


A seperate guard hauls Aesec to his feet and drags him out of the room.

'Anxious to start eh? Ok, we'll take you first.'

Three guards drag him down the corridor.

OOC: OldGoat, another thread coming shortly. The rest of you are still in this room for now.

Fourier

Stufur looks at the four guards.

"What may I ask is our crime? Forgive me, I am not familiar with human law."

conor222

Pete whispers to everyone in the room
"Ok, so how do we get out of here? Anyone got any ideas?"

The Dungeon Master

Fourier wrote: »

Stufur looks at the four guards.

"What may I ask is our crime? Forgive me, I am not familiar with human law."

Another guard regards Stufur.

'You know what you did. King killing bastards. You'll get yours soon.'

The guards leave the cell and lock it again.

conor222

OOC: So are there still guards around or are we on our own now?

Fourier

"Dammit!" Stufur thumps his fist against the wall. "Should have acted while they were here."

He looks around the room, hoping his elven intuition can find any secret exits.

While looking around he speaks to Echtrae.

"I recognise a human with the arcane gifts when I see one, what can you do?"

The Dungeon Master

conor222 wrote: »

OOC: So are there still guards around or are we on our own now?

OOC: Guards have left.

The Dungeon Master

Fourier wrote: »

He looks around the room, hoping his elven intuition can find any secret exits.

Sufur finds no secret exits.

Kolido

Stu dozed off and missed all the action. He wakes up to find a great big lump sitting on him.

'Get the hell off me, what do you think I am, a bean bag? So, what happened?'

duffman13

Kolido wrote: »

Stu dozed off and missed all the action. He wakes up to find a great big lump sitting on him.

'Get the hell off me, what do you think I am, a bean bag? So, what happened?'

Hammer responds:

"Some idiot jumped on the guards feet, they took him off, probably to spit his throat ear to ear. Do we try again when they come back? Or does anyone have a better plan?"

Fourier

"Seems like a normal cell" he mutters to himself.

He turns around.

Kolido wrote: »

'Get the hell off me, what do you think I am, a bean bag? So, what happened?'

"The guards came and dragged one of us off. Anybody with the strength to force that door?"

conor222

Pete keeps an eye out for any guards returning and starts to examine the lock, looking to see if he could get it open by... alternative means...

duffman13

Fourier wrote: »

"Seems like a normal cell" he mutters to himself.

He turns around.



"The guards came and dragged one of us off. Anybody with the strength to force that door?"

"I could do it but id need a run at it, space is limited here. Move aside and I'll give it a shoulder."

The Dungeon Master

conor222 wrote: »

Pete keeps an eye out for any guards returning and starts to examine the lock, looking to see if he could get it open by... alternative means...

Lock seems standard enough. A lockpick or tools would probably do the trick.

conor222

I try to pick the lock
(OOC: Ive got my thieves tools or are we all gear-less?)

The Dungeon Master

conor222 wrote: »

I try to pick the lock
(OOC: Ive got my thieves tools or are we all gear-less?)

OOC: All gearless for now

9Lives finds his tools had been confiscated along with all his other equipment on his imprisonment.

Fourier

duffman13 wrote: »

"I could do it but id need a run at it, space is limited here. Move aside and I'll give it a shoulder."

Stufur moves out of the way.

"Good luck!"

The Dungeon Master

More clanking is heard outside the cell.

'Bring it out - that might relax them till it's their time!'

Low groans are heard as a different cell is opened up close to the party.

duffman13

The Hammer looks around the room and places his foot against the wall directly opposite the door.

He looks around tells everyone "be ready to follow me through if there is guard on the other side"

He uses hit foot to spring off the wall and launches himself at the door at full speed.

The Dungeon Master

duffman13 wrote: »

The Hammer looks around the room and places his foot against the wall directly opposite the door.

He looks around tells everyone "be ready to follow me through if there is guard on the other side"

He uses hit foot to spring off the wall and launches himself at the door at full speed.

OOC: Roll Strength. Command on rolz will be #d20-2

conor222

9 lives move away from the door once he realises he doesnt have the kit to crack this lock

The Dungeon Master

The Hammer smashes into the door, which shakes from the force of the impact, but does not break.

The guards rush to the door and open it up, grabbing Fector before he can react.

'Another one? You next then!'

They drag Fector out of the cell, close it and lock it again.

This time though, three loaded crossbows are pointed through the door.

'Next person trying anything stupid gets one in their leg. Last warning.'

OOC: Ok, Duffman, you're going to be introduced in the other thread shortly.

conor222

9lives moves around the outside of the cell looking for anything that might allow escape, weak bars, pieces of metal that could be used to pick the lock and so on

Mollyb60

Malik whispers 'anyone quick enough to grab those three crossbows? I could give it a go but would need help'.

Fourier

OOC: Would the magically inclined have their spells prepared, like were we grabbed in the middle of the day and got our hour in the morning?

The Dungeon Master

conor222 wrote: »

9lives moves around the outside of the cell looking for anything that might allow escape, weak bars, pieces of metal that could be used to pick the lock and so on

9Lives finds no weaknesses in the cell. It has become a little more comfortable though, with the departures of Aesc and Fector.

He can detect a low growling outside the door though.

'Back up thief! Watch your step!'

The Dungeon Master

Fourier wrote: »

OOC: Would the magically inclined have their spells prepared, like were we grabbed in the middle of the day and got our hour in the morning?

OOC: Grabbed without preparation.