Session 84
May 12, 2026
Players:
Marc: T'Val, Fighter 2; Gormir, Dwarf 2
Adam: Mimir, Elf 1; Atticus, Magic-User 2
Alex: Sir Percival, Cleric 2; Lucky Pete, Thief 3
The party decided not to fight the orcs hosting the slave auction in The Arena (Area 6), on their way to the unexplored Ruined Crypts. Two noblemen, friends of Mallacar, no doubt, were bidding against each other to purchase a beautiful, innocent young woman. There was little interest expressed in freeing the slaves, only in continuing to follow Treasure Map II. Unfortunately, the orcs were also guarding the northeast gate to the Ruined Crypts, where the map pointed. Earlier, the free-willed illusion of Ador Mer in the Wizard's Study (Area 4) revealed that another entrance to the crypts could be found by passing through the Minotaur's Maze. Weeks ago, the players—with the help of the three-member NPC Party—killed the minotaur and hacked off his head with his own golden axe to prevent his return from the dead. So, they weren't too worried about him!
The party decided to don their red armbands signifying their allegiance to Mallacar, goose-step through the slave auction, give the salute ("Hail, Mallacar!"), and then pass north through the Minotaur's Maze since its entrance wasn't being guarded. The imposters' plan worked after T'Val (F2, STR 18) gave the orc in front of the gate a stern dressing-down for questioning their (made-up) mission from Mallacar! No one looked back at the wails of families being torn apart as the slaves were sold like cattle. Some heroes!
The only problem was, once they got into the maze, they got lost. Not a big surprise! They went through the center of the maze, past the statue of King Loric the Great, and eventually found their way to a large chamber lit by four braziers. In the center was what they soon learned was a circular "teleporter pad." Right after passing it, (the DM rolled a "1" and) six figures suddenly materialized. It was the wererat NPCs from Session 82! Towering Murdock, Cleric 5, whose brother, Ignatz, the party killed, and Mathilda, Ignatz's widow, were in the front of the well-armed NPC party of six wererats. Fortune favored the lost explorers, and the wererats appeared with their backs to the party. The party won surprise!
