We're rapidly approaching the 6 session benchmark with no sign of slowing down. Several returning players were joined by yet another new add, bringing the total ranger pool of the PCs to 3. We love rangers.
It was assumed by everyone at the table that the party would attack the Fist of the Angry God dungeon again. There was even chatter of exploring level 2 since they found some stairs last session. Everyone got geared up for that including the DM. Naturally, the first random encounter became the session.
The local armorer was missing, abducted by ogres. Tragic, mostly because upgraded armor wasn't available to the PCs until his return or replacement. The ogre lair was and always had been in the same hex with the dungeon. The random encounter, a 5% chance by terrain, was ogres. It's like magic or something.
The party's rangers easily tracked the ogres back to the lair, witnessed heinous acts by the foul creatures, and determined to do something about it. There was lots of chatter about how to approach the scenario, especially since it was over a dozen ogres and a party of 1st and 2nd level PCs. The elf assassin tried to sneak in and cause a distraction, which he did when he was discovered and fled. Most of the ogres chased him, but a handful were left. The rest of the party attempted a raid to rescue one of the captives and succeeded, killing the remaining ogres and losing a horse.
The group learned that the armorer was held captive and the women were being mistreated. This would not stand. They decided, including the LG cleric, to poison the ogres with laced wine. They sourced some mysterious herbs from the laconic druid Moltan and delivered a cart with a cask of poisoned wine by way of donkey and a fleeing elf.
I lean on 2d6 for these kind of open-ended "what happens now" kinda questions. Is there enough wine for sale? Does the wizard have poison? Does the druid have poison? Does the druid give a shit? Do the ogres fall for it? Is the poison even effective? The dice went their way, helped by my inexperience with AD&D in regards to the effectiveness of the poison. I've since found the poison table. Interesting.
After a round of saving throws and some waiting for the onset time, most of the ogres fell out. The leader and a few boys were left. Time had caught up to one of the first gen PCs who had some armsmen and they'd swapped out their new fighter. Some DMs might not allow that during a session. I couldn't think of a compelling reason at the time, but looking back why would that first fighter pussy out of the fight? The grading system reveals itself as a more elegant tool than previously believed.
Anyway, the battle was on, the party liberated the camp, and an armsmen and Hussein the new ranger fell in combat. He was saved from instant death by his high constitution modifier and Kirk the cleric. He'll still be down for a week. They exfil'd with some treasure, rescued captives, and pats for themselves on the back. Got a deal from the armorer, too.
Grading:
Hussein the Ranger: Excellent. Tracked, scouted, planned, executed. Bold in the face of overwhelming odds in the pursuit of Good (rescuing the prisoners).
Hymir the Assassin: Excellent. Sneaked, snaked, snuck. Executed helpless ogres. Murder over theft.
Kirk the Cleric: Superior. Drove action towards rescue of the prisoners. Cast buffs and heals as often as possible. Only aberrant behavior was engaging with the poisoning.
Yngve the Fighter: Superior. Bold during the first delve, bailed on the venture to be replaced by the same player's other Fighter. Is he a coward? Lazy? Who knows!
Raylan the Ranger: Excellent. Tracked, scouted, bold in support of the prisoner rescue, brought the heat during both ogre clashes.
Ormr the Fighter: Excellent. Bold in confronting the ogres, joined the spear wall.
Gunnbjorn the Fighter: Excellent. Led his men into combat against the ogres. Replaced the coward(?) Yngve.
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