The ACS ladies of D&D
Wednesday 9th September 2026
We're at Do or Dice for Episode three of ACS D&D!
The end of episode two had left our adventurers partway through exploring level one of Castle Mistamere.
This week they were joined by Ana who took the role of Athlema
We're at Do or Dice for Episode three of ACS D&D!
The end of episode two had left our adventurers partway through exploring level one of Castle Mistamere.
This week they were joined by Ana who took the role of Athlema
Roster of Heroes
Player: Ashu.
Character: Radagast the magic-user. |
Player: Babs.
Character: Rohorim the dwarf. |
Player: Ana Maria.
Character: Athlema the fighter. |
Player: Sarah.
Character: Jack the halfling. |
Player: Stef.
Character: Legolas the elf. |
Episode Three
Exploration continues
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Now that Athlema was back on her feet, the adventurers decided to continue exploring. However, it had been noted that both Athlema and Rohorim had suffered substantial injuries, it would not be prudent for the pair of them to man the front line.
What followed was a now familiar five minutes of bickering until it was finally agreed that Legolas and Jackie would take up the positions at the front. Which they did so begrudgingly. Even then, the bickering did not end. Rohorim had inexplicably decided they wanted to bleach his beard before moving on and was loudly demanding Radagast cast a spell to do so. The magic-user shrugged, looking around nonchalantly. Radagast had used their one spell for the day, even if they hadn't, they had no spell that would 'bleach a beard' and even if they had, they wouldn't waste on Rohorim. |
Jackie and Legolas now in the front row.
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Finally, the five began began exploring: The bed chamber had two unlit exits; northeast and west, both equally dark. They took the western exit.
The heroes press on.
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It led to an oblong chamber and much like the previous rooms they had encountered, it felt hurriedly abandoned. Unrecognisable ancient trash littered the floor here. It was empty other than four exits.
Opposite, a passageway continued the way west while sturdy looking doors featured along the north and south walls. The northern door proved to be firmly shut. No amount of pushing nor striking with weapons made it budge. No one had skill enough with locks to attempt opening it. 'That's where the dragon keeps their treasure,' Rohorim announced loudly to no one in particular. Once again failing to bust the north door open. Frustrated at the lack of progress, they turned to the south door. To their surprise it opened! The room beyond was familiar to them. Its pair of large iron-shod doors were wide open and sunlight poured in, through it the four could see the rubble strewn courtyard. They were back at the entrance hall. |
Knowing nothing was to be found in the entrance hall, the four adventurers turned back and continued west.
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The short passageway opened into another bed chamber, gloomily lit by thin streams of sunlight which blazed through gaps in the ceiling. Ahead they could see another dust coated four-poster among the mostly crumbled furniture.
As they entered, Legolas and Jackie felt a peculiar tugging at their minds; a tickling inclination to lie on the bed as something strange probed their brains, plucking at the edge of their consciousnesses. The pair managed to shrug the urge off. However, Legolas decided there was some import in lying on the old bed and without regard for anything, did so! Immediately plunging into a deep sleep. The others cautiously looked about the room, it seemed otherwise unoccupied, no sign of zombies or the like. They approached the sleeping elf, shaking Legolas did not wake him, nor did slapping him in the face, nor did in fact slapping him in the face very hard! |
Into the bedroom.
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Legolas takes 40 winks.... or perhaps more!
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The four searched the room; the fireplace along the south wall was as equally cold and dead as everything else here.
Nothing of any value could be found in the bed chamber, only rotted junk and accumulated detritus. The adventurers decided to move on but were unwilling to make the effort to drag the senseless elf with them, instead choosing to leave Legolas where he lay on the bed and continued exploring. Faced with two unlit ways out of the chamber, they took the southwestern exit. It led to a dusty corridor-like closet shaped room, again similar to one they had previously encountered. Here though, instead of piled refuse and lurking zombies, they found a curious artefact, what could only be described as a hatbox? |
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Despite a thick coating of grime, a cheerfully pink elaborate bow wrapped around the cream coloured hatbox shone through.
Rohorim volunteered himself to open the box. Without caution or hesitation, the dwarf stepped up to the box and pulled the bow opened. He felt a strange tingling and a moment of dizziness but instantly shook it off. Opening the hatbox; Rohorim found a hat! It was red, wide brimmed and used to be well made, now if was faded and moldy, Rohorim was disappointed. He continued searching and found a hatpin stuck through it. Exuberantly, he pulled it free and examined it closely. In the soft hues of the wavering yellow-orange torchlight it gleamed faintly, a gleam Rohorim well recognised; platinum! "I've got an idea," the dwarf cried triumphantly. |
It is a gift.
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Still gripping the hatpin, Rohorim strode back to the oblong room with the two doors and made for the locked one.
'This'll do it,' he thought as he prodded various parts of the door with the hatpin.
Nothing happened, Rohorim continued prodding. Still, nothing happened.
'How do I get to the dragon's treasure?' Rohorim thought. He prodded some more, again nothing.
Crestfallen, he returned to the others.
The adventurers continued onwards. At the end of the room, an open way turned south into yet another gloomy room swirling with dust motes and filled with grime-caked crates and boxes. A way out could be seen in the far east wall.
The last encounter that the adventurers had with crates and boxes did not go well and they decided to leave them well alone.
The four also quickly realised that way would simply lead them back to entrance hall and to nothing in particular. They doubled back to he room with the slumbering Legolas and from there took the north-western branch.
'This'll do it,' he thought as he prodded various parts of the door with the hatpin.
Nothing happened, Rohorim continued prodding. Still, nothing happened.
'How do I get to the dragon's treasure?' Rohorim thought. He prodded some more, again nothing.
Crestfallen, he returned to the others.
The adventurers continued onwards. At the end of the room, an open way turned south into yet another gloomy room swirling with dust motes and filled with grime-caked crates and boxes. A way out could be seen in the far east wall.
The last encounter that the adventurers had with crates and boxes did not go well and they decided to leave them well alone.
The four also quickly realised that way would simply lead them back to entrance hall and to nothing in particular. They doubled back to he room with the slumbering Legolas and from there took the north-western branch.
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It led to to a unusually shaped chamber. Ahead, the four spied a dim reddish glow and silhouetted against it were smallish shapes that occasionally shifted about.
As the adventurers watched, the shapes seemingly coalesced. They were kobolds! Four of them, before a small lit fireplace and unaware they were under observation the adventurers realised! Rohorim, who was versed the kobold tongue stepped forward and announced himself and greeted them, introducing the others. The kobolds jolted! It took them a moment to recover their composure. They stood, grasping weapons "What do you want?" Said one harshly who might have been a leader, unsure of the circumstances of the encounter. "We want to go through," replied Rohorim. The adventurers could see the kobold consider the situation, calculating, perhaps he thought he had an advantage in this situation. |
Kobolds!
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"What's it worth?" Came the kobold's demand.
Now it was Rohorim's turn to ponder. A moment later, the dwarf came up with a reply.
"We've got this hatpin," said Rohorim holding it out, catching the adventurer's flickering torchlight, it gleamed brightly.
The kobold stared intently, realising it's worth, he quickly agreed. The hatpin exchanged hands and the kobolds stood down.
Two ways presented themselves to the adventurers. To the south, the passageway south immediately came to stairs descending into the unknown darkness below.
"What's down there?" Inquired the adventurers.
"It's dangerous," stated the kobold.
For moment, the four considered taking the stairs, the lure of 'danger' was almost irresistible. However though, they thought it prudent to continue through the other passage.
Now it was Rohorim's turn to ponder. A moment later, the dwarf came up with a reply.
"We've got this hatpin," said Rohorim holding it out, catching the adventurer's flickering torchlight, it gleamed brightly.
The kobold stared intently, realising it's worth, he quickly agreed. The hatpin exchanged hands and the kobolds stood down.
Two ways presented themselves to the adventurers. To the south, the passageway south immediately came to stairs descending into the unknown darkness below.
"What's down there?" Inquired the adventurers.
"It's dangerous," stated the kobold.
For moment, the four considered taking the stairs, the lure of 'danger' was almost irresistible. However though, they thought it prudent to continue through the other passage.
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It led to a square room and a strange sight.
At the centre of the room an enormous log was dangling from the ceiling by a study rope. It was also seemingly connected to a chest below. 'Some kind of trap, it must be?' Surmised the four. They could see the log was protecting the chest somehow. For a time they discussed how to proceed and eventually decided to try and 'take the log out of the equation'. Reaching up, Athlema swung her sword and sliced through the rope. The log fell, striking the ground between Athlema and the chest with a tremendous boom. Carelessly, they yanked the chest open. Inside they found a stash of silver and gold as well as well as a precious gem. Pleased with their haul they pressed on. |
Room with a log?
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Is it trapped?
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With only one other way out of the room, the four continued their exploration eastwards.
It took them into another squarish room. At the far end stood a locked door. At it's centre stood a short stony plinth, on it stood a grey granite statue depicting a belligerent kobold adorned in leather armour and brandishing a short sword at a perpendicular angle. 'It'll come alive,' was the adventurers' first thoughts. But it didn't. 'Why would the kobolds want a statue?' Was their next. The four speculated, that it might contain treasure, that there might even be treasure beneath it? However, they regarded the statue with some suspicions, their experiences had told it was never that simple. |
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Still wary of the statue, Rohorim examined the room carefully, the dwarf's preternatural talent for detecting mechanical traps told him there were absolutely no traps in the room.
Buoyed by the findings, the dwarf went to the statue and gave it a good push. A trap was triggered: With a click, the statue spun in a circle, it's stone sword whistling through the air. Rohorim was shocked, his reactions too slow! The granite blade stuck the dwarf heavily. It was too much and with a cry cut short, he keeled over senseless and bleeding. Another click and the statue had returned to its original position. Barely a second had passed. Jackie reacted quickly, managing to staunch the blood. Groggily, Rohorim managed to unsteadily clamber back to his feet. |
Oh dear.
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The adventurers chose to not examine the statue any further.
Rohorim and Athlema were both exhausted and Legolas was out of the picture, the adventurers thought it good time to rest awhile.
Without further delay, they slumped down and rested.
Rohorim and Athlema were both exhausted and Legolas was out of the picture, the adventurers thought it good time to rest awhile.
Without further delay, they slumped down and rested.
Legolas, all alone!
End of Episode Three
Final thoughts
The players continue exploring their first dungeon. By sheer coincidence, they encountered 3 traps in a single episode; the hatbox, log and statue. I think they're starting to think about these things a little. I wonder how much they'll remember for the next session.
Having said that, they set no watches during their rest. and left Legolas to his fate.
It was also interesting to see how they handled the band of kobolds they encountered, choosing negotiation over combat - and it worked for them! Although, they might have chosen combat if they realise how much gold the platinum hatpin was worth!
I imagine they'll finish this level of Castle Mistamere in the next session, so we'll see how things proceed from there
Onwards!
Having said that, they set no watches during their rest. and left Legolas to his fate.
It was also interesting to see how they handled the band of kobolds they encountered, choosing negotiation over combat - and it worked for them! Although, they might have chosen combat if they realise how much gold the platinum hatpin was worth!
I imagine they'll finish this level of Castle Mistamere in the next session, so we'll see how things proceed from there
Onwards!
