Stonehell: Who Runs the Asylum??

Session 37a was played on 5/5. As with most of this group of sessions, the games ran long, and so the reports are split into multiple parts.

Eiric, wizard 3 (Kat)
- torch bearers (A A Ron, JJ Swats)
- men at arms (C, D)
- Namish (dog)
Orpheus, Human Fighter 3 (Yann)
Matthias, Dwarf 4 (Julia)
- men at arms (M&M, Nnnn, Ood, P.P.)
- Herrick (dog)
Sarin the Ugly, Human Fighter 1 (Josh)
Menchi, Human Cleric 1 (Laurel)
Daryll (NPC Cleric 2)

Rested and recovered from their previous expedition, the party returns to Stonehell, and immediately makes for the second level. They take the stairs down, pass by the skeleton whose mother never loved it, poked around in the bone room, once again disturbing the intricate but inscrutable design. Then back to the vampire’s coffin. The charred remains of the coffin revealed nothing. If there was a body there, it was either dust or gone. They took the chain.

The spear trap was again destroyed, and they passed under the well opening, then by the ogres’ workout room, up past another spear trap, this one they disabled. Onto the solarium. Matt**** breaks the weird rocking horse, but replaces it with a creepy doll made out of an empty wineskin. They open the door to the bathing chamber, then head down to the trio of chambers that include the labyrinth.

The great pillared dining hall, draped in cobwebs (and spider webs) which burns nicely after a spray of PowerThirst. The roasted spider falls to the ground with a satisfying crack. Making their way through the hall, they pass by the shattered door to the 3rd level, and into an old dorm room where 3 inmates are just hanging out. They briefly chat with the party, but their incoherent ramblings are less than helpful.

The next room explored has 8 big beetles, most of which are dropped in a 1 or two hits. Nothing of interest or value is found in their nest.

The next door opens into pure blackness. Sarin tentatively pokes at it with his sword. Orpheus grabs him by his backpack, and pushes him into the darkness, holds him for a second, then pulls him back out. As soon as his head clears the blackness, his scream fills the corridor. Deciding that magical darkness and silence isn’t worth investigating, they close the door and move on.

Another old dorm room is found, and then some kobolds fetching water. They insult Sarin, and move on with their barrels. The next room is trapped, but the party spots it and disables the trigger, saving themselves from being smashed by a big stone.

This unfortunately brings them back to the room with the cursed mural. Deciding to blindfold a few members of the party, they test out the effects of the curse. Thankfully not looking at it seems to preserve their sanity, and they successfully make their way around to the door, releasing 6 insane zombies. Darryl prevents them from being any sort of threat, and they’re quickly dispatched. The room they occupy with it’s iron throne is carefully examined, but no one is willing to play the Game of Thrones.

Having now mapped the Asylum, the party backtracks out of Stonehell, pausing only to kill the beetles and centipedes that they encounter on their way.

Gains: Finished Map and XP Bonus for the Asylum
Kills: 10 beetles, 4 giant centipedes, 1 spider
Losses: