They Met at a Tavern 38: Just Some Friendly Competition

Ok, just found my notes. Here we go.

• Dan: Kiara, elf Ras Godai
• Rick: Bjorr, 1/2 orc Paladin
• Seana: Zanegar, 1/2 orc Sea Wolf
• Chris: Thorn, Dwarf Wizard
• Wayne: Pharan, dwarf Sea Wolf
• Andrew: Dorgand, human Priest

The party made camp within the ruins of the fort. Well, in the smaller, western fortification, since the other party had claimed the eastern portion and wasn't really up to sharing.

Some time after dark, Bjorr heard a rider approach and join their colleagues in the east camp. Perhaps a laggard or scout. As he stood by the gap in the enclosure's walls, he saw a figure from the other camp motioning at him before stepping into the shadows. Bjorr approached, and was told by the other party's drover that they were planning an ambush. The drover scuttled off, and Bjorr returned to warn and wake the party. While watching for motion from the other camp, we was distracted by a flash on the horizon.

Thus allowing the ambush to occur.

One shadowy figure got a solid backstab in on Kiara, with a second stabbing Zanegar. Damnit.

Pharan charged out into the breach to attack oncomers and took a lightning bolt to the face. He responded by spearing the mage. Dorgand cast light and illuminated the fight. Another fighters and pair of mooks hit the breach. Thorn was able to web three of them, but a half-orc fighter made it in.

The halfing was found to be very hard to kill, and continued to stab Zanegar in the knee.

More chaos, as Thorn tried out his new fireball spell on the webbed foes, crisping the mooks. 

He's still practicing...

However the third combatant escaped, singed. He withdrew to heal the mage, who fired another lightning bolt into the compound. 

The half-orc went for Thorn, as the party's mage. Dorgand alternated smacking things and healing various bleeding and smoldering PCs. The opposing party's thief attempted to snipe at the party but was generally ineffective. 

With the chaos, at least one surviving mook beat feet. Zanegar and Bjorr were finally able to do in the halfling, who was as resilient as a fireplug. With his ally down, the half orc retreated. Thorn decided this was a good time for a second fireball, and fired it at the fleeing half-orc, hitting him in the middle of the compound.

Yes. Enclosed area. "Near" radius per the rules (or 33,000 cubic feet for those of you reading along at home from the AD&D PHB). EVERYONE had to save. 

At least Thorn killed a half-orc with about 4 hp left.

More healing, stabilizing, death rolls, and the like.

The surviving mage went invisible and the thief likewise stealthed out. Pharan attempted to pursue, throwing a spear at a "riderless" horse. Although he successfully lamed the horse, the invisible mage rolled a Nat20 Dex and tuck-and-rolled away, being picked up by the thief on a second horse.

Thorn attempted a web, but rolled a Nat1, taking damage, himself. Serves him right for fireballing the party. Likewise, Dorgand finally rolled a Nat1 while healing, receiving an exasperated message from Saint Terragnis to stop bothering him and let these fools learn to take care of themselves.

The party cleared their rivals' camp, finding that their informant had been offed. Among other bits and bobs, the party found a partial, notated lost city map...

which they could overlay with their own...

They paused until dawn. Dorgand threw half his coin share into the fire in penance. The god (or perhaps Pharan) accepted it. In spite of no decent recovery, and with no real healing remaining other than a couple of potions, the party decided to hunt down the two fugitives. As they were departing, the surviving mook popped his head up and volunteered to join the party. After all, they had just killed his employers and job opportunities appeared thin out here in the Cold Desert. He was left to guard camp with Zet and Igba.

Pharan and Kiara tracked the single, overloaded horse. It fled over a rise and down into a petrified forest, stone trees still standing as in life.

source

The party spread out, looking for evidence of the fugitives or their blown horse. A crossbow bolt flew from cover, knocking Zanegar from her horse. The mage's lightning bolt failed.

Kiara was able to ninja her way to the mage, finally slaying him. Pharan speared the thief, ending this threat. Dorgand found a healing potion in Zanegar's pack, reviving her. Thorn (e.g. Chris) asked if the mage had a hat. Of course: Wimple, dark green. Thorn now has a fetching piece of headwear.

The party retreated to the fort for a day of recovery. A zombie appeared to be guarding the camp while Zet, Igba, and Medgax (new guy) played cards. Oh, don't mind him said Zet. Night fell, the random dice failed, and no mishaps befell the party. The flickering on the horizon was seen again.

The following day, recovered, and with a few extra horses (with appropriately cute names and poor dispositions), they rode on.

Pharan stumbled upon a basin filled with drum sands. As the party extricated themselves, heads poked up on the other side of the basin and waved. The party circumvented the basin and met another party of adventurers. (Not again...) This quartet appeared somewhat worn down and more willing to share information and a meal than a fight. It helped that their apparent leader, Margon, was also a dwarven mage, so he and Thorn exchanged dwarf gang signs and got along famously. Margon had heard rumors of a "light tripod" in the lost city, and wanted to find it for both potential defensive and industrial purposes.

This dawdling finally allowed the random dice to work, and a few giant lizards attacked the horses. One horse down, but it's ok, we have a spare. 

The four agreed to ride with the party. The enhanced group continued to follow the riverbed.

As they rode, the sound and flash of lightning was seen, from a clear sky.

And we pause...

DM Notes:

A good, tactical battle - I've missed some details on who did what to whom and how, but that aside, it was a good, fast moving battle. I had a bit of a battle plan, and played the foes reasonably smart. I expected a PC or two to not get up again. We were close in a couple of instances, but fate intervened. 

The map resource with its cryptic/poor handwriting notes was the big win for the session. 

And is this lightning the flashes that the party observed, or is there something else?

Stay tuned.