A Game of Noobs (a song of Goblins on fire) Part 1

I have recently started a a AD&D 2nd edition campaign (last week as it happens) so I though I would post the (mis)adventures of my group of newbies (well some are newbies but they are pretty new to AD&D). this group us made up of players from a 4th ed game I briefly ran (and it sorta died). I'll use only their initials in the introduction then just refer to their characters.

First we have D who is playing a human Bard named Alderic Steeltoe (pronounced Ah Dool Rick) from the kingdom of Gelesri (which will be detailed in a later post but just imagine a bard that has a Dutch accent and you're half way there) a son of a Noble who has been booted out of a life of luxury by his father so that he can try and make a name for himself in the world.

Next we have K Playing Arturo Mendoza another human Bard  this time from the country known as Estaranda (imagine Spain ruled by Halflings) he is an Assassin (What? he is)  on his way for meeting a contact named Rosco at the Fort that the party start at but has yet to make contact with him.

Thirdly we have C playing Ashford a Human fighter from the Kingdom of Angura (Medieval Britain for all intents and purposes for those of you who care.) a former sailor who left service after a short term to become an adventurer.

Last but by no means least we have M playing Ludok a Half-Elf Ranger/Cleric (of Moresus the God of Death in the setting who is a sorta of Giant Humanoid vulture that swallows souls) who is well a bit touched in the head...

He lived in a monastery most of his life until it was raided and most of the priests were slain by bandits. Ludok trained himself and got revenge on the bandits but left the leader alive minus an arm he has an unnerving presence on most NPCs due to his nearly chirpy disposition when dealing with with death.

They are in the world of Ilobura (my own setting I'm working on) they are currently in the Asharnian Empire the largest power in Ilobura they have found themselves in the small Fort of Denos ( a modest fort with 3 entrances facing North, East and West) on the northern border of Asharn and the region known as the Wild Lands a large area of untamed forests, rivers and plains filled with countless barbarian tribes of Human, Goblin, Bugbear, Hobgoblin, Orc and far worst of all dragons the national emblem of Asharn.

The first session begins in Midsummer with Ashford entering Fort Denos through it's North gate weary from his travels and adjusting to life on the land again, he seeks rest and possible employment with the local guards, after entering and seeing the local population including women children and some elderly people. he finds a guard and walks toward the mess where he can hopefully get something to eat.

Meanwhile at the West Gate a charming Estarandan Bard name Arturo enters to the stares from much of the population  at the gate as he enters. he is tired and seeks food to and is shown where he could get some food.

Shortly after a Half-elf by the name of Ludok dressed in black robes with the symbol of Moresus the god of death wander in through the west gate much to the annoyance of the guards he is quickly told where to go so they don't have to deal with him also noting his farewell mentioning that he hopes they don't die horribly.

Last to enter again through the West Gate is a young Gelesrian Bard named Alderic he spots a couple of old men gambling and briefly joins them after a couple of games he grows bored and moves on to the mess looking to fill his belly.

moving back to Ashford he is in the mess talking to some off duty guards he learns that there has been several Goblin raids recently in the area and that captain Angelos is buy working and wont be able to talk until he is off duty after a 24 hour shift.

Arturo enters shortly there after and sits at another table strumming his lute (not a euphemism), and calls for some water the serving woman shyly gets it for him he continues to play on his Lute and asks if the serving woman has seen a  man with a large mustache my the name of Rosco is in the fort she says she hasn't seen him.

Ludok enters and excitedly scuttles over to Arturo's table and quickly introduces himself he then goes over to the Innkeeper and asks for some spoilt (why is this a red squiggly line it's the correct spelling... wait squiggly is fine but spoilt isn't? well done spell check well done)  food. the Innkeeper is very annoyed by the insinuation he serves rotten food. and finds some stale-ish bread and cheese to sell to the odd cleric in front of him.

Alderic is the last to enter the quiet mess hall and notices Arturo's lute and quickly introduces himself and buys the best beer the Innkeeper has for a toast to his new friends, Ludok gets drunk after one mug of the stuff but the other continue to drink and chatter, Ashford sees the group of travelers and introduces himself to them.

After more drink and food time passes and the mess-hall begins to fill up with off duty soldiers women and children Arturo seizes the opportunity to earn a  little travelling money by playing a song from Esatranda, Alderic accompanies him on his own lute after a few fumbles whilst playing but managing to cover up each others mistakes Arturo puts down his lute and leaves Alderic to play alone whilst he dances with the serving girl from before. after a brief dance number there are many cheers and Arturo and Alderic's efforts are rewarded with some coin and a smitten serving girl on Arturo's arm. Ashford sees a group of soldiers playing a game of darts and laughing a giant of a man in the middle of the group is captain Angelos a friendly man who seems interested in hiring the party, with him is his lieutenant Mykas who just laughed and joked with the other soldiers. Angelos challenged Ashford to a game of darts but Ashford declined getting jeers and laughter from the other soldiers after his reply. Alderic challenges the captain to a game and gets a bullseye and wins the bet of 1 gold from the captain much to the delight of his soldiers.

During the merriment Ludok talks to some of the locals about the gloriousness that is Moresus then moves on to talk of Equirus the First Paladin and a legendary hero in Ilobura. meanwhile Arturo is flirting with the serving girl called Lektra and asks her to his room she says she will come see him after lights out.

As time passed the group move off to bed and Arturo gets a knock at his door it is Lektra as she promised. as she is about to disrobe a large bell rings out in the night a look of terror on her face all she says is "It's Goblins" the party all wake up and suite up in their armour (it is an excepted spelling fuck you spell check) and enter into the chaos, They hear thuds from the west and the east, They found Captain Angelos wearing armour and carrying a two handed sword on his back.He asks the party for help and assigns them a group of 20 guards to help them defend the West Gate. Arturo quickly rushes to the kitchen, with Alderic following right behind him, They search for oil and something to carry it in. as they search they find a cauldron and a large amount of oil they carry the cauldron of oil with the help of some guards lift it up and our oil over the invaders. Alderic throws a torch at them setting the invaders on fire. after a brief spout of high fives the party quickly head to the east gate where Mykas and the other group of soldiers sent by Angelos are faring less well 10 of the guards sent to the east gates were already dead but so was many of the Goblins. 5 goblins remained and Mykas was wounded the party joined the fray.

Ludok quickly heals the injured lieutenant as the goblins advanced the party did their best to hold of but the goblins where awkward buggers to deal with after a couple of minutes Angelos appeared appeared and took out most surviving goblins the party dispatched the last goblin but not after taking a couple of wounds and a couple shots of friendly fire at Mykas from the Bards. after a brief moment of pause for breath and to patch up Arturo who took a nasty wound from a Goblin they hear more commotion. More Goblins were attacking this time from the North gate the party, Angelos and the healthy guards still standing rushed to the north gate just in time for the gate to burst open. this was the end of the session.

Will the party survive the onslaught of Goblins?, Will Arturo get to pork Lektra? Will I stop hurling abuse at spell check?, find out next week. same Bat time Same Bat Channel.