Gygax and Greyhawk Session #36 - Trolls and Other Things

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Ranzel of the Wood (Human Ranger 5)
Solcha (Elf Fighter 5 / Magic User 4)
Skeef Hawkridge (Half Elf Druid 5/ Thief 5) w/ trained bear Wotjek & henchman Caron (Half Elf  MU1)
Goro (Half Orc Cleric 4 / Fighter 5) 

Date/Time

Brewfest-Godsday mid-morning to Brewfest-Godsday early afternoon 

The party returns to the still silent ruins, and enters through the same postern door. Checking out the first unexplored opening to the right, they find a door. This leads into the base of the east tower, where a cantilevered staircase rises high into the darkness. This they discover is inhabited by three gargoyles. Two fly down to attack, while the third rushes up into the darkness above. The two combatants are dispatched, and without pause the party chases the third. It leads them to the top of the three story tower, and they see it descend into the courtyard below, out of reach and quickly out of sight. 

Backtracking one level, the party heads onto the second level of the ruined keep. They explore a corridor of statue-filled alcoves, including one of a troll painted copper. Ranzel makes a trollish-joke, and is rewarded by a low snickering rumble from beyond the door behind them.  This opens a dialog between the ranger and at least one, and supposedly many more, trolls. Speaking through just a crack in the open door, the party agrees to get them some 'bloody meat' for the troll(s) are hungry. They'd sent one of their number (Gurgo) to get food, but he hasn't returned. In payment, the spokes-troll (named Xur) promise to tell them what he knows about the key-stone. Xur also mentions something about a horned man 'down below' who may know about it too. 

While this is going on, most of the rest of the party pushes further down the corridor, looking for a way to outflank the troll room. They find a way, but are attacked by two dozen skeletons that animate from the jumbled remains of many men on the floor. Fight finished, the party (egged on by the famished Xur again), head back to the main level and push along the corridor around the base of the east tower. They encounter there a strange zombie-like hobgoblin, staggering and drooling a yellow ichor. This they dispatch withe ease and prepare to continue on their way ...

GAINS

25gp

368sp

KILLS/VICTORIES

2 Gargoyles

25 Skeletons

1 Yellow Zombie Thingy

LOSSES

None