Secret of the Slavers' Stockade

This is the journal of the events that took place during the classic TSR module A2 - Secret of the Slavers' Stockade. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scourge_of_the_Slave_Lords

It continues on from the events of Slave Pits of the Undercity.

Prologue (30.11.2025)

Before the adventure could begin, there were a number of other things that needed to take place. First of all, Sloth and Plomp wished to leave the party and pursue their own goals. This meant they would need to be replaced, especially with Plomp being arguably the best fighter in the group and perhaps the best healer as well. The two of them would certainly be missed.

This meant adding some more firepower to the group, which happened with the addition of Jigg, Ona, Slambicuslomp and Cyrax. There was a possibility of the addition of Crandampulamp as well, but in the end he wanted to do his own pilgrimage, The Mystery of Nurknurgliplop, and was still in the middle of doing that when this particular adventure started.

So to tidy up the loose ends from the previous adventure, Sloth and Plomp chartered a ship from Ue'Oali to Deraheib and set sail the following day, 6th June 1259. They arrived in Deraheib docks late in the evening on 9th June.

On the 10th June they presented their evidence of their part in the neutralising of the Slave Pits of the Undercity and rewarded 250gp/level. They then chartered a wagon to take them to Serrador, where Sloth lived. The following day, Plomp continued on foot towards his home in Eitycuely and Sloth began training to 7th level.

Sloth successfully completed his training and is available for further adventures from 18th June 1259.

Plomp's long walk took five days, and afterwards completed his training up to 6th level as a fighter. Plomp remaining 6th level as a cleric and is available for further adventures from 23rd June 1259.

Meanwhile, Nortast Zelep had arrived in Eitycuely to try to find a helpful monk or two. He persuaded to Slambicuslomp to Fly with him and they set off to Swea, where they spent the night. The next day the two of them flew the rest of the way to the rest of the Slavers' party. Casting these Fly spells was enough to enable Nortast to gain a level as a magic user.

Altogether, this meant the party was complete. All of the miscellaneous bits of housekeeping to do with paying for stuff mentioned at the end of the previous adventure was done. The Timeline had been updated. They decided to set off towards the Slavers' Stockade the following morning, 10th June.

The party was now as follows: Gegelm (Human R5), Malthos (Half Elf F5/D6), Ilyka (Valley Elf Evoker 6), Sizzleplup (Human Evoker 6), Ona (Human P3), Jigg (Mountain Dwarf F3/T5), Nortast Zelep (Half Elf F7/MU8), Phendetta (Drow Elf F6/C6/T7), Cyrax (Human C6), Slambicuslomp (Human M7), Strurk (Human F4).

Chapter One: Over the Hills and Far Away (30.11.2025)

10.06.1259 The party arranged themselves into a sensible marching order for an overland journey. Nobody wanted to buy anything or do anything else in Ue'Oali so they set off on foot, heading north east along the road to Zr'ao. Their journey would take them along the south edge of the Dragonrest Hills, through plainsland, and they stopped for lunch at the edge of the forest. This pleased Jigg greatly.

After lunch, they set off along the road once more, through the forest and across a great wide river ford. Then it was onwards through the forest again before the last leg through more plainland foothills to the town of Zr'ao.

Surprisingly they encountered nothing hostile and stayed at a reasonable inn, where the bar fights were conducted between combatants who hadn't poisoned their blades.

11.06.1259 The next day, nobody wished to do anything in the town, so they trekked on, into the rough and rugged hills. The going was a bit tougher and slower than the road, but they managed to make good progress all the same.

When they passed the hill upon which the Castle of Persistent Winds was perched, Jigg pointed and asked what it was. Strurk told him and they carried on, keeping a great lake to their right as they journeyed more to the north.

The day again passed without any hostile encounters and the party made camp at the lakeside. Phendetta got a fire going and the night passed in peace.

12.06.1259 Once again the party set off from their camp, aiming to travel north east, further into the foothills. This time, however, their day was not quite so peaceful. Almost, but not quite.

First they encountered a group of sixteen hobgoblins in the afternoon. The hobgoblin bandits demanded the party lay down their weapons and valuables. "Never!" cried Ona in reply.

When Ilyka looked as if she was about to cast a spell, the hobgoblins went to attack.

Fortunately, the party were somewhat quicker. The spell that Ilyka was preparing was a Lightning Bolt, and it immediately floored twelve of the hobgoblins.

Nortast Zelep cast a Fireball and the four hobgoblins that remained were vanquished. The battle was over before it had even started!

The party looted the bodies and found some coins, then continued.

About an hour and a half later, the party encountered a group of six ogres. Both groups were surprised, and then the party were very slightly slower on their reaction.

The ogres threw their spears, intending to rush the party and finish them off with their clubs. Only one spear hit, and Gegelm was the unfortunate victim, taking 15 points of damage. Then the party returned hostilities.

Sizzleplup cast a Stinking Cloud and all but one of the ogres started puking. That one was shot by Gegelm, and Nortast's Fireball ended all but one of them. That one was too busy puking to do anything much against the missiles fired by Phendetta, Ona and Malthos When Ilyka's Magic Missile struck it, the last ogre slumped forwards and died, with its face in its own sick.

The ogres had a good amount of gold and a few gems on them, which the party added to their stash of treasures. Then it was time to move on. The party encountered no more hostiles that day and set up camp, just a day or so away from where the stockade lay. Cyrax administered some healing to the injured Gegelm and he was back to full health the next morning.

13.06.1259 It was mid-morning when only Slambicuslomp and Malthos heard some strange rumbling sound somewhere ahead of them in the distance. The party wondered what it could be. Jigg hid in shadows and the others prepared to take action of some sort.

It was lucky that they were prepared. Three large rocks came flying out of the overgrowth somewhere ahead of them. One hit Malthos, and another would have hit Slambicuslomp, but he was able to dodge out of the way using his monk skill.

The rocks had been hurled by three hill giants, who charged at the party. Each carried another rock to throw, but the party won initiative and attacked first.

Malthos cast Entangle and two of the giants were slowed. Ilyka Fireballed both of them, with Nortast casting Magic Missile at one slowed giant and Gegelm shooting the other with his magical longbow. Sizzleplup also cast a Magic Missile, sending one missile to hit each giant, one of which fell.

Meanwhile Phendetta had charged at the giant that wasn't slowed and they met with a clash of arms. Phendetta was far more nimble and skillful that the giant and wounded it with one of her blades. Slambicuslomp had two open hand attacks, one a N20, and punched the giant on both knees for maximum damage with each hand. Cyrax cast a Prayer. Jigg, who was already hiding in shadows, moved into position, and the giant retaliated with a strike at Phendetta.

Having been punched in the front of the knees by Slambicuslomp the previous round, Jigg now backstabed the same hill giant in the backs of its knees. It collapsed and that was the end fir that particular giant. Strurk shot the other, hitting with both arrows and finishing it off. The battle was over.

The bodies had nothing on them, but after searching where the giants had thrown their rocks from, the party located their giants' bags. They contained absolutely nothing useful, apart from two lengths of rope which Ona took. She had lost hers in the Bandit Camp.

Once everyone was recovered and some healing had been administered, they continued towards where the stockade was marked on the map, reaching the place by dusk. They surveyed the scene... and next it would be time to make a plan and an initial assault.