AD&D 1e Actual Play: Chapter 2, Part 2

The Sea King's Isle

Arthur’s selected boulder proved to be stuck into the hillside, and he was unable to push it free. Bertram’s boulder, along with the boulder Poppy and Blanche forced loose, began its rumbling, tumbling descent into the ravine at high speed. The orc and remaining goblins gazed up at their oncoming doom, while the survivors ducked back behind the remaining rocks in an attempt to stay hidden.

Orc Leader, ©2024 Eric Dill — drawn in Procreate

The goblins and remaining orc froze in panic, and, before they were able to scatter, the boulders bounced and crashed their way into the ravine. Bertram’s boulder plowed through the goblin spear-wall, crushing bodies and leaving a ruinous path. The boulder sent down the hill by Poppy and Blanche knocked several others free, and three smaller ones pummeled the orc leader to death. The survivors looked on as the goblin archer, seeing the massacre of his allies, turned tail and fled into the hills to the east. 

                            ⚔️Round 1⚔️
Bertram’s Open Door roll on d6 = 2, success
Arthur’s Open Door roll on d6 = 6, failed
Poppy’s Open Door roll on d6-1 (with Blanche’s aid, +1 for a straight roll) =  2, success

                             ⚔️Round 2⚔️
Initiative: The Party on d6 = 3; The Goblins on d6 = 2, The Orc on d6 = 2 → Party wins

Bertram’s Boulder does 2d8 = 11 damage → goblins with spears dead
Poppy and Blanche’s Boulder does 2d8 = 11 damage → orc leader deadCombat ends (final goblin flees)

Poppy ran to check on the old man, who proved to be unconscious, while the others picked over the bodies of the fallen orcs and goblins. Arthur immediately began stripping the padded gambeson off of the orc, while Bertram picked up two daggers—one for himself, and another for Poppy, who came over a moment later. The party took cloaks from the backs of the orcs, and though they were a bit dirty, they were well-made and well-kept. Bertram draped one over Melisana’s shoulders as she stood shivering in the rain. Blanche, finding a bardiche with the head broken off, hefted the remaining staff and tested its weight. 

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“I think this will work nicely for me,” she said aloud. 

“It suits you,” Arthur said, kissing his wife’s cheek. “Now, we should check on the old man.”

“He’s unconscious,” Poppy informed him. “We should see if there are any caves or overhangs where we could wait out this storm.

The group split up, exploring the ravine in search of anything they could use as a shelter. It took only a handful of minutes for them to reconvene near the battlefield and exchange the dour news that no such shelter could be found. 

“Perhaps we can build a make-shift tent,” Blanche said. “Take some of the broken spears for tent poles, and the cloaks from the rest of the orcs as a covering.”

“That might just work,” Bertram agreed. “I’ll gather the spears.”

“I’ve got the cloaks,” Poppy and Blanche said in unison. The women grinned at one another. 

It took the group about twenty minutes to gather the supplies and to construct a mostly effective covering over the unconscious form of the old man. When it was finished, the five survivors sat down, using extra cloaks as cushions, and took a much needed rest after the travails of the last few days.

               ➕EXPERIENCE➕
The party receives 21xp each for defeating the goblins and orcs
The party also receives 8xp for treasure taken
Poppy receives a bonus 20xp for thinking of the boulder trap
Blanche receives a bonus 20xp for thinking up the make-shift tent

               🪙TREASURE🪙
Each party member takes a cloak (4xp)
Arthur takes the padded armor (4xp)
Blanche takes a broken bardiche, using the staff as a polearm (2xp)
Poppy and Bertram take a dagger (2xp)
Bertram, and Arthur take a bardiche each (14xp)
Arthur and Poppy recover a waterskin each (0xp)

Fate Check (CF4): Were any goblin spears left unbroken? Unlikely (-2) on 2d10 = 3, exceptional no

Fate Check (CF4): Are there any overhangs or caves in the ravine? 50/50 (-1) on 2d10 = 6, no

The old man woke an hour later, groggy and rubbing the welt on the back of his balding head. Bertram, his massive arms crossed over his broad, armored chest, stood over the man, an imposing silhouette. He shrank back, his face contorting in pain and fear.

“Peace, friend,” Poppy, who was sitting near him, said softly, placing her pale hand on his shoulder. “We mean you no harm. Here, have some water.”

The shepherd passed the old man the waterskin she’d taken off the orc, and he drank deeply. The water dribbled down his chin before he pulled the skin away from his lips and sighed heartily.

“My thanks, lady,” the man’s voice was quiet, soothing in a way that was surprising to the gathered survivors. “It has been long since I’ve seen another human. Ah, forgive me. I am called Keestake. At your service.” 

“Well met, Keestake,” Arthur replied, stepping into the old man’s view. “I am Arthur, and this—” he pulled Blanche, whose hand he was holding, into view “—is my wife, Blanche. The big fella here is Bertram, and beside you is Poppy. We were taken from our village by pirates.” 

“Welcome, all of you, to the Isle of the Sea King. For indeed, once this island was rich and lavish. Before the pirates came. I was the personal groom to the great king, Viledel, himself. Alas, his highness was slain by pirates when they sacked the island in search of his majesty’s treasures. They failed to discover his vast wealth, mind. Only baubles were kept in the mansion of the king, and I alone of all the living now know of the vaults of Viledel.” 

Keestake waved his hand dismissively.  “Would that I could offer you the hospitality once found here, but alas, that time is long past.” 

“How did you come to be in the company of orcs and goblins?” Poppy asked.

“The orcs came a few days ago, in search of my lord’s treasures. They came to the mansion, where I have dwelled these long years, and took me captive. I would not reveal to them where my lord’s treasure was hidden and they beat me and took me as their prisoner. They are using the old barracks near the mansion as their base. 

“The goblins arrived only two days ago, and the chieftains of the two groups met before the villa of Viledel. The goblins claim this land as their own, and wished to establish a stronghold. The orc leader, foolishly if you ask me, revealed their desire for the king’s hoard. Fighting broke out immediately, and I managed to escape in the ruckus. Both the orcs and the goblins chased me. When they caught up to me here, the orcs and goblins came to blows. I must have been knocked out, for I remember nothing else.”

“You poor fellow,” Blanche said, smiling softly down at the old man. 

“Thank you, all, for caring for me this day,” Keelstake said in reply. “Had you not come when you did, I shudder to think what would have become of me.”

“Truly, we thought you to be a survivor of the shipwreck,” Bertram said, uncrossing his arms. “Is there somewhere we can take you, Keelstake? This lean-to is not much for shelter, especially against this wind.”

“Yes, yes, why of course!” Keelstake said, his eyes bright. “The orcs, as I said, are holed up in the old barracks and the goblins have taken over the old stables. There is a place, though, where neither will go. They did, once, but never since. A fear came upon them there, and they refuse to even step foot on the slopes of the low hill. Atop that hill rests an ancient temple, older still than anything yet on the isle. It was said, once, that the goddess Oë, she who herds the waves, resided in bodily form within the temple. Perhaps a vestige of her remains, though worship ceased long ago, but I cannot say. You will find shelter there, at least, and safety from the warring orcs and goblins.” 

“Can you lead us there?” Arthur asked. “In exchange, we offer our protection, what little we can provide.” 

“I would do it for naught, but safety is a boon I have not had since these thieves and cutthroats arrived. I will take you, and we must go with haste. It will not do to be abroad in the hills by night.” 

“Very well,” Poppy said, climbing to her feet and gathering up her crossbow. “Let us be off, good Keelstake.” 

“Indeed,” the old man answered with a broad, gap-toothed smile. “We go east, this way!” 

Keelstake, with Bertram and Arthur astride him, led them from beneath the relative shelter of the make-shift lean-to and back into the pelting, cold rain. Bertram dropped back as the group moved into a low depression between two hills, putting the unarmored women between him and Arthur, serving as rear-guard against potential ambushes from the rear.