Gygax and Greyhawk Session #44 - Maddok

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Ranzel of the Wood (Human Ranger 5) 

Solcha (Elf Fighter 5 / Magic User 4) 
Skeef Hawkridge (Half Elf Druid 5/ Thief 5) 
Goro (Half Orc Cleric 4 / Fighter 5) 

Date/Time

Patchwall 18 (noon) to Patchwall 23 (morning) 

The party then proceeds to move quickly through the rest of this newly uncovered complex of rooms; they want to find the keystone, but also don't want to leave the dragon hoard unprotected for long. They search through a wizards lab scorched by fire, and very briefly look into what appears to be a summoning room with a smudged summoning circle on the floor and sign of fire, death and destruction. Solcha used her wand to uncover a spellbook, a scroll and a curious box containing pale grey wafers. They also find a curious non-magical volume entitled "Of Fabolous Relics and Artifacts, Thaumaturgical and Magical, being a Catalogue of Items of Power and Prestige from Times of Sorcery Past” by Ostolic of the Tales that contains stories and legends of various magical items including: Daoud’s Wondrous Lanthorn and Iggwilv’s lost treasures, the Iron Flask of Tuerny the Merciless, Codex of the Blood Tyrants, a a trio of weapons (the sword Blackrazor, the trident Wave, and the hammer Whelm, hidden long ago by the wizard Keraptis in White Plume Mountain. 

They quickly secure these items, and having not found the keystone here, decide to check the dragon's hoard. But as they leave the double doors and step into the recently unearthed stairway, they are met there by a somewhat devilish looking fellow and the dwarf Akbad. The devilish fellow, the mysterious Maddock, starts to cast a spell but is interrupted by a blow. And then an intense combat ensures, with Skeef falling to a lighting bolt, Akbad trying to stop the fighting, and Goro and Ranzel pinning Maddock so Solcha could stab him. In the end the party kills him, and Akbad snaps out of his charm. As the party loots Maddocks body, the dwarf explains Maddock had surprised the dwarves as they built their wall, sleeping and slaying the rest, and charming himself. 

On the body, they find a range of magical and monetary treasure, Maddocks spellbook, and a sheaf of papers with notes about the castle and the excavation. And there is a small map of the lost wizards lab, showing a secret room the party had not found. They quickly head back in, get into the hidden room and there find the pulsing red keystone to the Hellgate awaiting them. 

After that, they now head to the dragon's hoards, and are pleased to see it is undisturbed. They break open the chess and crates and find a pile of coins, a handful of jewelry and gems, and a number of magic items. Over the next day and a half, all of it is carefully winched out of the cave and packed onto their wagon and journey back to Nevond Nevnend. 

GAINS

9014sp

1930ep

11746gp

7 x amethyst [100gp each]

4x jade [100gp each]

10x sardonyx [50gp each]

6x jasper [45gp each]

5x hematite [6gp each]

Silver and gem comb [1015gp]

Ivory harp [2000gp] 

Longsword +2, “Fiendtongue” 

Bracers of Defense AC 4 

Ring of Protection +1

Scroll of Protection from Devils

Scroll of Protection from Lycanthropes

Scroll of Protection from Breath Weapon - Dragon

Spell Scroll [MU] - 1/Detect Invisibility

Spear +1

Shield +2 (Lion Rampant)

Platemail +1

16 Arrows +1

Potion of Extra Healing  

Potion of Extra Healing

Silver Amulet

12 grey wafers

Nyda's Spell book [partial]

4th: Fear, Minor Globe of Invulnerability, Plant growth, Polymorph Self

5th: Distance Distortion, Mordenkainen’s Faithful Hound

6th: Anti-Magic Spell, Guards and Wards, Bigby’s Forceful Hand 

7th: Cacodemon, Phase Door 

Maddok's Spellbook

1st: Charm Person, Sleep, Magic Missile, Identify, Read Magic, Enlarge, Hold Portal, Write, Protection from  Good

2nd : Mirror Image, Magic Mouth, Web, Rope Trick, Stinking Cloud, Darkness 15' Radius 

3rd : Lighting Bolt, Monster Summoning I, Slow, Haste

4th : Wizard Eye, Ice Storm 

KILLS/VICTORIES

Maddock

LOSSES

Skeef (Unconscious)