Suddenly Stonehell

Unexpectedly, I'm going to get to run the Stonehell campaign I've been wanting to run, using classic D&D.

Due to a combination of factors, my Friday night group is putting the Star Wars campaign on carbonite, and I suggested some old school dungeon crawling as an alternative.

I don't think any of them have ever played an edition of D&D prior to 3.X, but I did run my 5e campaign in a more old school, let the dice fall where they may style, so that shouldn't come as a shock. THAC0 on the other hand... that might take some work.


I've got a lots of options, as far as what sort of dungeon crawl to run, from Dyson's Delves to Rappan Athuk to my own work in progress dungeon... but I really do want to run Stonehell. Plus, I've already e-mailed them a brief history of the dungeon and a couple of rumors.

I think I'll use LL/RC to run it, at least behind the screen. From the player perspective it'll probably be a little more stripped down, and look more like S&W 

Things I need to do prior to game:
Reread Stonehell intro areas
Meatshields henchmen
Make a couple of pregens?
Decide if I want to include the changes that have happened in my 5e Stonehell game...

I think that's it!

Whispers from the Well 5/9

Your weekly update of the goings on in Stonehell

As reported by the tavernkeepers of the Ogre Face Inn

Delving New Depths!

Jasper the Holy, Grunlik the stunty barbarian, Gideon the Sly, and Xerxes the master of the occult successfully (and profitably) made it deeper into the dungeon than any other in a long time! Upon their return they told of degenerate inmates, voices in the darkness, and broken statues as they explored the second level of the dungeon. They even returned one of those poor souls to the surface with them, and have placed him in the care of Dr. Sigmond Fraud, the local head shrink.

Whispers from the Well

A troupe of silent priests bearing symbols of the death god (some would say 'demon lord' but who's to judge?) recently ventured into Stonehell. No one knows who or what they seek. If it's death, they might have found it since they have not yet returned.

The Mad Man Curtis continues to claim that Stonehell stretches deeper than the 5th level, but clearly he needs to stay out of that rot-gut from the Shudder Mountains!

The Hobgoblins and the Bandits have been seen in talks in the Market. Dangerous tidings indeed...

Rumors that the Orcs have hired adventurers to help them defeat the goblins are unconfirmed, but they've been somewhat less aggressive, looking to talk rather than just charging into a fight.

Classifieds

The Ogre Face Inn is looking to restock its supply of goblin-moss. Can be obtained from either the Market or directly from the Howling Wolves Tribe. Up to 10gp per bundle.

A gold ring with a princess cut ruby may be found in the midden of the market. It's a long story... 500gp reward for it's return.

Maps for sale. Reasonable prices, trades accepted. Inquire with Buckman One-Eye.

Whispers from the Well 1/17

Your weekly update of the goings on in Stonehell

As reported by the tavernkeepers of the Ogre Face Inn

Dry Well Gets Fresh Blood

Trips down the well have been rare lately, much to the chagrin of both the Patrons and the Bookies of the Ogre Face Inn, but a band of intrepid souls came together right here in this very taproom and headed down into the stony hell below us. The biggest of the group was Gorak the dragonborn barbarian. Joining that wall of raging muscle was Varis the elven ranger, Lance the half-elf warlock, Linx the half-elf bard, and Jasper the human cleric.

While they have yet to return to the Inn, information provided by Keiter the Kobold our intrepid on the scene reporter told of a tense run in between the group and a workband of the little dragon-folk that ended peacefully enough, and added some coin to the coffers of Chairman Smee. There was also something of a bumble with the Great Stone Head and a trio of wasted questions! Pure rookie mistake, and we look forward to getting a first hand report one that soon.

Whispers from the Well

The Checkered Bandits have been recruiting in the market, and commissioning some specialized equipment from the kobolds. No reports on just what equipment has been ordered or delivered.

The Open Sore Orcs seem poised to attack the Howling Wolves Goblins once again.

Hobgoblins have been seen in the market. Are they mercenaries?

Classifieds

The Ogre Face Inn is looking to restock it’s supply of goblin-moss. Can be obtained from either the Market or directly from the Howling Wolves Tribe. Up to 10gp per bundle.

Ixa the Jeweler is looking for opals, black opals especially.

Damiel the Alchemist pays top coin for the glands of various creatures: fire beetles, spitting cobras, phase spiders, etc.

Whispers from the Well 10/19

Your weekly update of the goings on in Stonehell

As reported by the tavernkeepers of the Ogre Face Inn

Dangers of going it nearly alone

Rare is the greed or the need to brave the depths of Stonehell without the support of a party, yet that’s exactly what Cain and Zook dared to do. Sadly they’ve not been heard from in days, and in spite of their previous success it seems that something caught up with the duo that they were unable to handle. Could it have been the walking dead of the Quiet Halls? A dangerous place without the help of a cleric… Or have they become victims in the war between the Wolves and the Sores? We may never know, but several bets have been placed. Should anyone happen to come across evidence, please be sure to let the barkeep know upon your return.

Nordin becomes lunch

Nordin the torch bearer for the Golden Lions company was captured in a skirmish with the cannibal berzerkers and was dragged off into the darkness. After bandaging their wounds, the Lions went after their fallen hireling, only to discover his severed head in the middle of an otherwise empty hall, and no sign of where the body had been taken.

Whispers from the Well

Unholy screams echoed up the well Tuesday, rattling both bottles and nerves.

The fighting between the Open Sore Orcs and the Howling Wolves Goblins seems to have reached a stalemate. Could the goblins have found an ally? Infighting among the orcs… rumors abound…

One of the stairs heading down to the second level were coated in fresh blood, with drag marks heading down into the depths, and clumps of strange green fur were found in the fresh gore.

Classifieds

Drake Stonehand is looking for his cousin Snori. A reward of 200gp is offered for his safe return, half that for evidence of his death.

Willifred is willing to pay top coin for giant rat tails and hides. 5cp/tail & 5sp/hide. hides must be (mostly) intact.

The Ogre Face Inn is nearly out of Kobold Rotgut, and seeks a fresh cask for those few who indulge. 75gp payment for every 50 gallon cask returned to the inn.

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I only had 2 players this past week, and in spite of the danger they headed into Stonehell. Cain the human fighter, and Zook the gnome ranger immediately encountered a pair of berzerkers, who chatted with them briefly about the joys of both long and short pork. The berzerkers tried to round up their friends from their nearby lair, but didn't manage to catch up with them. Zook and Cain continued on to the Quiet Halls, exploring a few crypts, fighting some zombies, then some mostly empty rooms, and then 5 more zombies came bursting out of their crypt and quickly felled Zook. Cain, low on health briefly considered running, but didn't want to leave his friend, and was taken down by the hungry zeds.

I think this makes my 3rd TPK with this group. I talked with them after about some old school dungeoneering strategies like running away (especially from slow things), making use of bottlenecks like doorways, and generally figuring out what's worth actually fighting, and knowing when you're outmatched. And when 5 zombies are attacking you with advantage, it's time to run!

Whispers from the Well 10/12

Your weekly update of the goings on in Stonehell

As reported by the tavernkeepers of the Ogre Face Inn

Able still unable

It’s been weeks now since Cain and company went down into Stonehell with still no sign of where they might be. Focus seems to be on the well known, and oft avoided Quiet Halls, and while plenty of bodies have been checked, none match the description of the party Able is looking for. As before Able was accompanied by the rangers Varis and Zook, and a masked sailor going by the name “Captain Nob-Eared” according to some and “Captain No-Beard” by others. Neither comes close to topping the strangest moniker we’ve seen here at the Well.

Trolls?

Dan the Golden and his company The Lions report seeing and avoiding a troll on the second level of the dungeon during their most recent expedition. The creature seemed uninterested in tackling the well armed group, but beware to any who delve the halls. It is worth pointing out that The Lions did return to the surface with an impressive coffer. No word yet on what the coffer contained, but the call for “A drink for everyone!” as Dan emerged seems to suggest it was something worth having!

Whispers from the Well

Dark robed figures chanting quietly marched through the kobold market this week. Who are they? Where are they going? No one seems to know…

The Open Sore Orcs seem to be making progress against the Howling Wolf Goblins. Desperate looking goblins were seen talking to Chairman Smee. Could an alliance between the kobolds and the goblin be in the works?

Classifieds

Knoffler The Alchemist seeks dragon dung. Must be fresh.

Rentak One-Eye, spearman seeks employment as torchbearer. See Christa at the bar.

Drake Stonehand is looking for his cousin Snori. A reward of 200gp is offered for his safe return.

Whispers from the Well 9/21

Your weekly update of the goings on in Stonehell
As reported by the tavernkeepers of the Ogre Face  Inn

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Rescue attempt unsuccessful!

3 brave adventurers headed down the well in search of a fellow temple-goer who failed to return from an expedition into Stonehell. Able, the human warrior was specifically looking for Cain the paladin and his companions Reda the pointy eared half breed sorceress, Oden the pointy eared sneak, and Arroo the demonspawn barbarian. Scarn, a pointy eared half breed sorcerer came to the tavern with Cain, and they hooked up with the gnome Zook who’s been hanging out in the taproom just waiting for a group to hook up with.

When they didn’t return after several hours, the betting odds got pretty steep that this novice group wouldn’t return! Thankfully, per bar rules, no bets are paid out on parties until they’ve been missing for a week, or conclusive evidence is brought back to the surface.

Sadly, when they did return to the well, they hadn’t found any evidence of Cain or the other’s he’d gone down with. After a few mugs of ale tales of rats and orcs were told aplenty! And it seems the expedition wasn’t a complete loss, as they did return with a variety of alchemical equipment, a beetle’s fire gland, and something that might be of interest to Sezrekan the wizard!

If anyone has any knowledge of the whereabouts of Cain, Reda, Oden, or Arroo, please be sure to stop by and tell Able. He might even part with coin for the information!

Whispers from the Well

The Market is said to be open again, for those who truck with kobolds… As before, it’s neutral territory, so don’t go looking for a fight!

The Howling Wolf tribe is at war with the Open Sore tribe again. Talking heads put the odds 2:1 in against the Howling Wolf goblins this time, due to a whispered alliance with a mysterious hooded figure seen conversing with some of the Open Sore Orcs.

The Checkered Bandits have been seen in the halls below the tavern. Best keep an eye out… their lair may connect to Stonehell, or it might even be in it!

Dead ends with scorched walls aren’t places you want to get caught in. Just saying.

Bree-Yark is the password that opens a series of secret chambers inhabited by the dead.

Classifieds

Laurina is looking for an amulet believed to be interred with her great great grandmother.

Willifred is willing to pay top coin for giant rat tails and hides. 5cp/tail & 5sp/hide. hides must be (mostly) intact.

Drake Stonehand is looking for his cousin Snori. A reward of 200gp is offered for his safe return.

5e Stonehell: The Quiet Halls

On Sunday 9/7 the open table Stonehell Dungeon-crawl continued. In attendance were the following PCs:

Human Paladin
Rogue
Human Fighter (pregen)

Realizing that once again they lacked any real healing ability, they opted to hire a cleric to join them. The new guy, in spite of never having played 5e before decided that he'd run the cleric was well.

As the Paladin was the only player to have entered Stonehell before, and he had the map, they followed his lead through Hell's Antechamber until they reached the great Dance Macabre doors of the Quiet Halls. The corpses of the fire beetles from the last delve seemed undisturbed. Pressing on into the chill darkness, they discovered an old morgue, and a remembrance chamber before discovering a secret hallway that brought them to a hall of crypts.

They explored 4 of them, encountering giant rats, numerous skeletons, some zombies, and a ghoul. The fights were hard and draining, even with the cleric's help. They opted to rest in the morgue, barricading themselves in and praying that nothing would come knocking.

Amazingly enough, nothing did.  Or at least nothing made it through the barracaded door. After their rest, the adventurers returned to the hall of crypts, fought some more skeletons, a ghoul, and a crypt shade! Looting from the various crypts they ended up with a mixed pile of coins and a few pieces of jewelry. Certainly enough to provide them with comfortable lodgings for a bit, and even a few spare healing potions.

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The addition of an NPC cleric improved the PC's survivability, not just because of the healing, but also because of the radiant damage against the undead, not to mention the bludgeoning damage against the skeletons.

In running Stonehell with 5e, I've been halving the number of creatures encountered, and that seems to be working pretty well. The players are going at it with much more caution this time around, so I guess nearly killing them off last time was effective. I also haven't been doing very much prep since I don't really know where they're going to go. I just skim though the first level and glance at the second, and then keep the book handy. I can't wait for them to get to the Kobold Korners.