The coin’s lazy journey took a lifetime.

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……………….heads

Barrin – “Looks like today isn’t your day to die. I didn’t catch your name.”

X – “X”

Barrin – “Well good sir, like I said, you now have a chance to work towards your much-desired freedom. If you stick with me long enough, I will release those bonds of servitude that have chained you for so long. How does that sound to you? How does freedom sound to you?”

X – “…”

Barrin – “I’m off to meet the Castellan to see if he requires any help in this age of need. It seems that this place is in dire need of some able bodies. War has ravaged these lands and I’ve known war my whole life. Seems I can’t escape it. Where do you hail from, X?”

X – “…”

Barrin and X make their way across the courtyard.

“Mike make a spot check”

“9. I don’t see much.”

“You check your pockets to find they are a bit light. Your coin purse is missing. You notice a figure fleeing from across the courtyard.”

“HALT THIE-”

X jumps into action like a coiled whip, swiftly making progress and chasing down the thief. X nimbly jumps behind the vagabond and dispatches him with a few quick blows to the back of the head.

Barrin – “Thanks pal, I knew you had some guts. This kingdom can be a bit overzealous in its persecution of runaways in these dire times. You definitely proved your might by dispatching of that filthy filcher. You have my gratitude.”

X – “…”

“Good show, good sirs. Care to purchase some of my fine, exotic meats? My prices can’t be beat.”

Barrin – “Surely. All of this fuss and hustle has given me a mighty appetite. I’ll take two. One for me and one for my freedom-ward friend here.”

Sam – “Hey Lad, how can I steal from this pompous paladin?”

Lad – “Sam, roll a slight of hand check. Mike, roll a spot check.”

Sam: 16 Mike: 9

Lad – “Sam wins the roll. What are you looking for, Sam?”

Sam – “Any gold he’s got.”

Lad – “How much gold do you have, Mike?”

Mike – “About 20 gold pieces.”

Sam – “Make that 11 gold pieces.”

Ambroshus – “As I was saying earlier, gentlemen, good show. What brings you here?”

Barrin – “I’m on a journey to see if the keeper of this great keep has need of any strong fighting men. My friend here, is working towards his freedom, which I will eventually grant him. He’s already done me a great service in stopping that pickpocket.”

X -“…”

Ambroshus – “Indeed. I saw that pickpocket rob you blind. You seem to be in need of someone with a sharper eye and a quicker mind then you.”

Barrin – “Ha ha. Any help is appreciated, little kobold. What can you do?”

Ambroshus casts light

Ambroshus – “See, I am no mere small kobold. I am a weaver of powerful arcane magics.”

Barrin – “I see. If you do wish to help, follow me. We’re off to meet the castellan.”

Ambroshus – “Oh, that guy. Hold on one second.”

Amrboshus casts alter self

And so the three set off in search of the castellan.

Lad – “The Castellan raises a crystal scepter and a bright light washes over your character, Sam. Your alter self spell dissipates.”

Castellan – “What is he doing here.”

Barrin – “He’s here to help me help you. What would you have me do, sire.”

Castellan – “There is a lighthouse just off the shore that has gone out. Fix it, and take that lizard with you. A boatman will be waiting for your arrival at first light.”

Barrin – “It will be done, my lord.”

The three were given food and rest for the night. Ambroshus peers over his ancient tomes, X eats a simple meal of rice and meditates and Barrin…

“Hey Lad, are there any hot chicks in this castle or what?”

Lad – “Yes, actually. The lady who attended to your chambers is quite comely.”

Mike – “Awesome. How do I get her to, you know….”

“Have sex with you?”

“Yeah! What do I have to do to get her to get down?”

“Roll a diplomacy check”

“16”

“Good enough. I need to know what you say to her though. You’ll say it well, but pick your words wisely.”

“I tell her that I’m going on a great mission of upmost importance to the realm. I tell her that I may never return and would like a warm bed.”

“Ok Ok ok. She has sex with you. Jeeeeze.”

The three companions sleep peacefully until…

“Barrin, make a listen check.”

“9”

“Good enough to not die, but not good enough to avoid the black dagger as it slices deeply into your shoulder. Take 10 points of damage.”

“What the fuck? What’s going on here?!” Barrin reaches for his sword and engages his foe, staggering from the blood oozing out of his shoulder. His foe strikes home with a few dagger cuts.

X bursts into the room and immediately hurls a flurry of fists at the assassin. Ambroshus peers from behind the door to blast the foe with magical force.

The foe turns on X, reeling him back with wild dagger slashes until…

Lad – “The assassin rolls a one. That’s a critical fail. He lunges at you, Khoa and misses. His dagger becomes lodged in the floorboards. With wild eyes, he jumps out the window and sprints across the courtyard.”

Barrin – “Good work men. Even though I am grievously wounded, we managed to best that cowardly assas-”

Bolts of magical energy slam into Barrin’s chest, knocking him into the wall.

“He’s invisible!” X screams, throwing a flying knee into the darkened room.

Mike – “What the hell, Lad? How do I hit an invisible guy with a sword?”

Lad – “Roll a Dice percentage. You have a 50% chance.”

“Ok. I choose highs.”

With a flash of steel, Barrin swings his two-handed sword across the room.

….

Sam – “Did he hit?” Mike – “Yeah, what happens?”

Lad – “You hear two thumps, as both halves of the bifurcated necromancer hit the floor. Make spot checks.”

“7 …. 15 … 19”

Lad – “You look outside to see the courtyard is swarming with fresh zombies, all with their throats slit. Ambroshus, you notice the hallways are packed with these freshly slain undead. Barrin, you see that the woman you were just with is now amid the ranks of the zombies.”

Ambroshus – “We’ve gotta get the hell out of here!”

The three run across the courtyard amidst chaos, flame and smoke. The castle’s retainers rear up on their mounts and slam into the horde of zombies. Steel slices into flesh as the knights meet their foes. The battle takes a turn south, however, as the armored defenders are swarmed, pulled off of their horses and devoured alive.

Barrin – “The damn gate is closed!”

Khoa – “X’s climb check is 18, Lad. Can I raise the gate from here?”

“Yes. Roll a strength check.”

“18 again.”

“You open the gate.”

Barrin and Ambroshus scramble under the gate as the last of the castle’s retainers is pulled apart by the bloodthirsty, unbreathing mass.

Barrin – “Holy shit that was intense. We are in no shape to fight.”

Ambroshus – “Yeah, I’m spent on magical energy and X looks like he needs a nap.”

Barrin – “Let’s lay low in the city until tomorrow and get to that boatman. I’ve still got a job to do.”

This was the first time my friend Mike, who we will call Chippy to avoid confusion, joined our campaign.

While we were busy getting beat up by assassins and running from zombies, he made his character, the boatman.

Lad – “A very tall hooded figure is manning your boat.”

Chippy – “My name is Ahrlek. I’m your boatman. Get in, let’s be on our way.”

To be continued…