A Darlin’ Assault
(A continuation of the assault by the Darling’s on the Halfling enclave)
Day: 27, Mo/Yr: 4/12, 2993[AEP] irl: April 12th, 2025 Session 11
Scribe: Saracor
GM: Evil Tables
| Players | Broken Head | Acquaintances, Friends new & departed |
| Agoston [Scholar 3] dcterra Grim [Dwarf 3] Big_Pun Alexos [Cleric 3] Saracor Meric [Thief 4] Shadowfax NPC:Brunwolf* [Torchbearer] | Belaros [Fighter 2] DeViate Mikeleos [Druid 2] Saracor Feathers [Thief 3] jdsull Salvatore [Cleric 2] jdsull Feathers [Thief 3] jdsull Gemistos [Scholar 1] Luminance Herakleon [Scolar 1] Syagria [Fighter 2] NPC’s:Lankios [Retired paladin]Khronos and Estelle [Keepers] | Count Skleros [Beastmen] rescued leader, returned to Dino] Klisco [Illusionist] rescued brought to Gosterwick Dalton’s Darlings Dalton & Jason [fighters]☠ Helga [thief] Isidor (halfling) [thief] – the stinky stealer☠ Yvette (cleric)Heliagabulus (Magic User) ☠ Dead:Hektor [Fighter] Saracor |
These aren’t the halflings you’re looking for
The scene opens in the dim, tense corridors of the lower dungeon. The party finds themselves in the heart of a confrontation—Dalton’s Darlings, a formidable adventuring company, have the halfling enclave under siege. Barricades rise amid shattered stone and blood, and bolts fly from the shadows behind halfling cover. One of the Darlings lies dead already—their cleric, cut down by cunning halfling tactics. Their wizard, smoldering with frustration, waits for the moment to unleash a fireball, but the Darlings are stalled.
Our adventurers wait and observe. Agoston casts ESP, eavesdropping on the halflings. He hears them whisper of reinforcements from the north. The Darlings seem close to a decision—Dalton mutters that it’s time to end this.
Exploring Around
Not wishing to get caught in the crossfire, the party slips away to explore. North of the skirmish, they discover a sarcophagus chamber overlooking a bottomless chasm. The room is eerie—on one side, a makeshift alchemist’s lab bubbles and smokes. As they enter, four halflings spring from hiding and attack. Grim takes some hits, but Agoston’s sleep spell ends the scuffle quickly. One of Dalton’s men, Jason, joins to assist.
They loot the room:
- 18 vials labeled “Mortality” – poison, most likely.
- Halfling gear – slings, leather armor, and a small handful of silver.
They interrogate a prisoner. He admits the leader Plebotomas went south and hasn’t been seen since. Orders now come from Roskelly, and only ten or so halflings remain. Dalton enters during the questioning. Calmly, he lifts another unconscious halfling and drops him into the abyss as a warning. No further answers come, but the message is clear.
South of the intersection, the party finds three more halflings hiding in another tomb. This time, diplomacy prevails. They surrender without a fight, hands raised behind ancient sarcophagi.
We reach a compromise – they get nothing
Negotiations follow. Roskelly appears, confirming that Plebotomas is still missing. The adventurers broker peace between the Darlings and the halflings—the halflings will leave behind their treasure in exchange for safe passage. Eleven halflings, the last of their number, ascend the stairs and flee.
Among Roskelly’s belongings:
- Potion of Invisibility
Meric, always thorough, stays behind to search the sarcophagi. Beneath a false bottom, he discovers:
- Jeweled Holy Symbol of Thoth (850 gp)
- 575 cp, 352 sp
- Scroll with illusionist spells: Phantasmal Force, Phantom Armor, Invisibility
- Two magical arrows
A locked chest in the corner resists Meric’s attempts, so they enlist the Darlings. With some effort, it is opened. Inside is a trove of loot, most of which the Darlings claim. The party receives:
- Two Holy Symbols (Thoth – 150 gp, Set – 100 gp)
- Book of Thorcin Poisons
- Gem (20 gp)
Further Explorations
Returning north, they find the rats have reclaimed the abandoned lab. Agoston casts another sleep spell, and the pests are tossed into the chasm. They recover more alchemical gear from the wreckage.
Beyond the rubble, a narrow bridge of stone crosses the abyss. On the far side looms a massive basalt statue of Thoth, baboon-headed and 15 feet tall. The statue’s arms are jointed—movable. The party tests the arm positions, raising the left arm upward. A deep grinding echoes beneath the floor, and something shifts in the distance to the southwest.
Strange symbols of lunar phases line the walls. Three doors resist all efforts to open them—magically sealed, perhaps. In the northwest, spiderwebs hint at another lurking threat.
Among the bones in the room, they find a smashed skeleton, likely long-dead. On its remains:
- Dagger, purse with 26 pp
- Spellbook containing:
- Cleophalus’s Look-Away (new spell)
- Comprehend Languages, Floating Disk, Jump, Read Magic, Shield
With the Darlings lurking and their packs heavy with treasure, the party decides to retreat. Avoiding halfling patrols, they backtrack through the basement route, leaving the dungeon behind—for now.
Their next destination: Gosterwick, to train, rest, resupply—and perhaps recruit new hands for the deeper dangers to come.