The gnolls came out of nowhere. One minute you were leading your men through the ruins of an ancient chapel, the next, howling dog-men were all over the place. Suddenly the rotten floorboards gave way under your feet and you tumbled into the darkness.
Getting to your feet, you took a couple of steps and found the remains of some ancient skeletal warrior.
The rules are to be found in the first Spellcaster mag that Joseph A. McCullough gave us to be used in conjunction with the Sellsword rules in the Frostgrave Folio, smashing publications.
You play as a lone character trying to escape a crypt that you have unfortunately fallen into.
However being an idiot I tried to play it with a D&D Paladin 1st level, thought it might be fun.
I substituted my terrain in for the boards you can download from Osprey games, and I didn't give Ullan the bow and magical arrows he was meant to have. I did him a disservice really, hence the many deaths, however it was fun.
This was my third go at playing, the first that I got to 5 turns!
Ullan had to open chests to help his escape, reach the exit and escape, sounds easy doesn't it!
Attempt One
Ullan carefully strode from the pile of rubble he arose from and made for the first treasure chest, his stealth role was a success, he swore deeply under his breath and moved steadily.
Again Ullan tried to move quietly across the crypt, but his army clanked noisily and..
the two skeletons, made towards him at full speed.
Ullan decided it was time to see what these skeletons were made of, charging he did 8 wounds to the undead horror, but failed to kill it.
In the gloom another creature appeared in the crypt, a Ghoul shuffled forward.
The skeleton struck back but missed.
Ullan took another swing at the foe before him and.... missed. The conglomeration of bones struck back and did 8 wounds to Ullan, he staggered backwards.
Ullan lay hands upon himself and restored 5 wounds hoping to give himself a breather, but in the next combat he was hacked to pieces by both the skeletons and so the game ended with a dead hero clutching one sorry purse of gold.
Attempt Two
This was the more successful second session, unfortunately I missed the first turn. Sorry :-)
Using the same technique as the first attempt, Ullan tried to make his way to the first treasure without making a sound and crouching low so as not to be seen. He reached the treasure, but all it was, was useless gold.
Having removed the gold carefully Ullan moved on to the next treasure.
Ullan scooted across the crypt floor like a strictly come dancing contestant, opened the chest that sat there and pulled out a pair of Boots of Speed, however he managed to knock the whole chest clattering to the floor... the two skeletons looked in his direction and moved slowly.
In the next turn two more skeletons appear, and the first couple shamble after Ullan, who tries he door but has no luck, its not the exit.
Ullan decides its time to thin out the undead so throws a javelin at the nearest skeleton and does 6 damage.
The skeletons move and one gets a chance of an attack doing 7 hits.
Another skeleton enters the crypt and Ullan uses the Boots of Speed to flee the skeletons.
A couple of the skeletons get to make attacks of opportunity but they all miss, the boots give disadvantage.
Ullan moved to the door but it proved to be a false hope, there was no exit to be had.
He rushed over to the far side of the crypt to draw the undead away, killing one with a javelin on the way.
As he hoped the skeletons followed.
The Boots of speed are really doing the job, Ullan speeds away.
Another zombie appears in the crypt.
The undead gather again on Ullan's location.
He madly rushes for the next door...
the foul undead creatures in pursuit...
but before they can reach him he pushes the door wide and smells the clear fresh air of freedom.
Ullan had escaped but to be honest if I had not had the Boots of Speed all would have been lost. I think I managed to weigh the game in favour of the creatures far too much, mainly because I didn't take the bow or arrows given to the hero via the scenario.
