Rangers of Shadow Deep: Holy Ascension

 

(Please note: this game was played virtually and as such I don’t have any photos to add just yet).

Shielding his eyes, ‘Holy’ Moses squinted, focussing his keen eyesight on the object that glinted in the wan sunlight at the top of the crumbling tower.

“Is that the thing you seek?” he asked the nervous scholar.

The fellow nodded, twitching as yet another bestial howl rent the misty morning air.

Moses grunted; the journey to this place had been perilous enough to shatter the nerves of any man, let alone a quill-pushing academic from the royal court…

…unless, of course, one had the Gods watching over one…

“Then let us waste no time,” declared the holy warrior, signalling to the other three rangers before striding purposely towards the door to the dark edifice.

Time for another online game of ROSD, continuing Giles’ homebrew ‘Escort’ mission with a scenario succinctly titled ‘The Tower’, which begins as follows:

The Rangers are summoned by their Captain and introduced to a scholar - Milankovite, who needs to observe the heavens and planetary bodies from a remote observatory that is perilously close to the Shadow Deep. They must escort him there, and back again so he may report to the Royal Court. Having fought their way through the forest, the tower, stands austere and strangely alone.

Luckily, our chronicler Rita has been taking notes throughout our adventures and, as I currently lack the time to write things up properly, here they are…

The party escorting Milankovite the Scholar comprised Felton with Shelley, a Recruit (Giles); Ethan Jugge with Mouse, a Recruit (Alan); Bronwen with Warhound Petal (Rita), and Holy Moses with Baldric, a Recruit (Jon).

Arriving at the Tower in a clearing in the woods, the rangers advanced towards the door. The Tower had three stories and a top terrace, each of which could only accommodate two people. The Scholar had to spend one move at the top of the tower to observe the heavens. Clues were to be found on each floor, and a further one outside the tower.

Bronwen & Petal investigated a corpse outside. Holy Moses & Baldric into tower found magic hand weapon. Rest stood guard outside. Ethan Jugge enchanted weapon. Shooting star overhead.

Moses & Baldric to 1^st floor, found Anthalus herbs, left for Baldric. Scholar & Mouse into tower. No enemies appeared.

Moses to 2^nd floor, found treasure = dagger & 2 throwing knives. Baldric to 1^st floor to pick up herbs. Rest picnicking outside. Zombie arrived on Bronwen side of clearing.

Moses to 3^rd floor, found astromancers notes for Scholar. Bronwen & Ethan Jugge shot Zombie. Baldric to 2^nd floor, Scholar to 1^st.  2 Gnoll Archers appeared.

Moses to top terrace, fired Magic Bolt at Gnolls but missed.  Felton wounded a Gnoll. Bronwen missed. Ethan Jugge wounded 2^nd Gnoll. Gnolls returned fire, wounded Felton. Baldric headed down; Scholar went up to get notes. No more enemies appeared.

Moses shot 1^st Gnoll Archer. Felton, Bronwen, Ethan Jugge all missed. 2^nd Gnoll wounded Bronwen.

Baldric down tower, Scholar to top terrace. No more enemies appeared.

Moses & Felton missed Gnoll Archer but Bronwen killed it. Scholar used telescope to study heavens. Baldric left tower. Shadows lengthened so shooting ranges reduced.

Moses & Scholar started down. Mouse left tower. Ogre & Gnoll Sergeant appeared.

Moses continued down. Bronwen & Ethan Jugge missed with Fireballs & Felton missed with bow. Ogre advanced towards Bronwen & Ethan Jugge, Gnoll Sergeant towards Felton. Companions moved to support their rangers. Scholar continued down. 3 Wolves appeared behind rangers.

Moses to ground floor, fired at wolves but missed. Bronwen missed Ogre. Ethan Jugge used Eldritch Recall to Fireball 2 wolves and moved towards last wolf. Felton missed Gnoll Sgt, who attacked & wounded ranger = 7 Health. Ogre attacked & wounded Bronwen = down to 2 Health. Baldric died fighting Ogre but Mouse pushed it back. Wolf wounded Ethan Jugge. Shelley wounded Gnoll Sergeant & pushed it back. Scholar moved down. Gnoll Sergeant with 2 Gnolls appeared behind wolves.

Moses missed Gnolls and joined Ethan.  Bronwen Healed herself. Ethan and Wolf locked in combat. Felton shot original Gnoll St. Ogre attacked Bronwen who pushed it back. Gnoll attacked Ethan who killed it. 2^nd Gnoll Sgt killed Felton. Gnoll moved towards Ethan but Shelley killed it. Scholar to ground floor. Mouse lost to Wolf, down to 2 health. Petal killed Wolf. 2 Gnolls appeared.

Ethan used Split Cast to Heal Bronwen & Mouse & moved into contact with Gnoll Sgt.  Bronwen missed Ogre and retreated to Mouse & Petal. MOSES wounded Gnoll. Ogre attacked Mouse who pushed it back. Gnoll Sgt wounded Ethan. Scholar fled table. Shelley wounded Sgt but Mouse died.

4 Zombies appeared behind rangers.

Moses killed Gnoll Sgt & retired. Ethan used Halt Undead to stop Zombies & retired. Bronwen ran.

Ogre attacked Petal who wounded Ogre, then ran. Shelley ran. All enemy got additional action.

Moses used Deadly Strike to shoot & kill Ogre. Bronwen & Ethan missed Zombies. One reached Shelley, who killed it then ran off with rangers.

The scholar has successfully completed his work and had been safely escorted away. But the rangers’ ordeal was not yet over, for they now had to escort the fellow back to the royal court. Their return journey had barely begun however, when old companions arrived with news of a strange and potentially useful place nearby.

It was time to split up and search for a fabled magical well…