This session's roster:
[This was an interesting session. There wasn't much action, but there was quite a bit of plot-development. Also, I've realized that I need to start keeping records of time and who is wounded, because this has become a full-blown campaign, and developments continue even during PC downtime (Gary talks about exactly that subject in the 1E Dungeon Masters Guide section, "Time in the Campaign"). There's also the issue of resources: since there is now conflict between the old-god factions, I need to know things like "how big are the factions, where are the members, and what state are they in?" That last part (i.e. their state) is especially important since I've decided the only healing magic in the Lost City (currently) comes from the PC Cleric and the Clerics of Zargon.]
[At the start of this session, the Cleric PC is in "downtime," recovering from his wounds. For a week, he will be incapable of strenuous activity (including spellcasting). The Elf has decided to make use of this time by creating a scroll of sleep (q.v. my musing on scrolls). I ruled that the mundane parchment and ink she's been using for mapping is unsuitable, and she needs some materials that are probably only available in the Lost City, itself, or from the Magi of Usamigaras. Thus, the Elf was quite keen to accompany Grand Master Kanandius to a parlay/meeting with the Magi.]
The first day after the battle with the subhuman slaves, Kanandius, the Elf, and an entourage of three Brothers descended to the third tier to meet with the Magi. Despite the best efforts of Kanandius and the Elf, no firm alliance was formed; the Magi maintain a cautious neutrality. They did agree to provide the Elf with the materials she needs, but at a heavy price (twice the normal cost of such materials). The Magi are secretly delighted with the recent developments. They hoped to play the Brotherhood against the Warrior Maidens, and this has come to pass. Maintaining neutrality while watching the two warlike factions destroy eachother seems like a brilliant plan. Assisting the Elf seems harmless enough, at this point, and lets the Magi leech resources (i.e. treasure) from the Brotherhood while making the Elf dependent. The Magi like the idea of making one of the Brotherhood's new "champions" heavily dependent on them.
The second day after the battle, the Elf started the process of creating her new scroll. Jason [my son named the Fighting Man] had been discussing matters with the Brothers (particularly Draco), and learned more about the times of King Alexander. Especially interesting to him were tales of Pyrsoglos, the Kings enchanted sword (q.v. spoilers in the Background section). He suggested that perhaps the King's storied blade could serve the cause of Cynidicea, again, if it were recovered. Surely King Alexander and the old gods would approve! Draco seemed to like this idea (in fact, Draco hoped to get exactly this reaction; he sees the Fighting Man as a means of spurring the Brotherhood to action), but informed him that the blade had been interred with the King, and that the royal crypts (located on the tier, below) were desecrated and despoiled by the Temple of Zargon. They had become infested with fearsome undead creatures, and were very dangerous.
His imagination fired with thoughts of the King's magic sword, Jason decided to lead a "scouting party" to take a look around the catacombs. Kanandius argued against this, saying it wasn't wise to take Brothers into danger needlessly, especially when their strength might be needed if the Warrior Maidens made any retaliatory strikes. However, the Fighting Man's enthusiam and charisma (not to mention previous successes) won over many Brothers. Six brothers and the Thief decided to accompany him. [Note that the current strength of the Brotherhood in the upper tier is: Kanandius, the PCs, 10 healthy Brothers, and 1 wounded brother. So just over half of the Brothers, including Draco, went with Jason.] To soften this blow to Kanandius, Jason assured him that he would lead with utmost caution, and avoid pitched battle; this was to be a scounting expedition, only. When she heard of the expedition, the Elf argued against it as well, but when she saw which way the wind was blowing, she suggested that perhaps Jason could finish mapping out the unexplored section of Tier 3 (mainly the NW section) before descending to the tombs. Jason agreed.
Thus, the expedition set out. The Fighting Man assigned a Brother to guard the Thief (who was not fully recovered from the battle with the subhumans), and made good time through the previously explored section of Tier 3. The group used the revolving cooridor to gain access to the unexplored NW section of the Tier. They moved into the unexplored section, turned a corner, and found themselves face-to-face with another armed party. [A wandering monster check had turned up a group of six hobgoblins in service to the Temple of Zargon. The PCs were surprised, and the hobgoblins were not (especially since the PCs had two torches). Encounter distance was 10 feet. Rolling 2d6 to help gauge the hobgoblins reaction, I decided they would launch missiles and wait for a PC charge, being somewhat cautious of the large group of Gorm Brothers.] The hobgoblins were arrayed for battle, fearsome-looking with blue-painted faces and savage red eyes. Their front rank threw javelins immediately, wounding Jason and one of the Brothers. They then drew wicked, stabbing swords and presented their shields. [I should mention that I asked the players about critical hits at the beginning of the session. In the previous session, the players saw the damage critical hits can do to them, so I offered to drop the critical hit rule and just use rolled damage, if they wanted (this is my preference, anyway). The players agreed we should just use rolled damage, which was fortunate, because I rolled two natural twenties during this battle, and they rolled one.]
Jason was taken aback by his wound, and by the obvious skill and discipline the hobgoblins showed. However, he was unwilling to retreat without offering battle, so he led a charge, smashing into the enemy line and cleaving the skull of one hobgoblin, immediately. Unfortunately, the Brothers fared poorly, failing to budge the other hobgoblins. In fact, one Brother took a sword thrust to his side and was then bashed to the floor by a hobgoblin shield. He lay still in a spreading pool of crimson [He was at -1, so barely alive, for a 1st level Fighter.] In response to a snarled command, the hobgoblins pulled back a bit, closing ranks, again. Another javelin was cast at the PCs, but Jason deflected it with his shield. Remembering his promise to Kanadius, Jason gave the command to fall back. The PCs retreated in good order, pulling their fallen Brother to safety. Two more javelins were cast, but the hobgoblins were content to break off the fight, as well. The two parties were too evenly matched, so any melee would be a meat-grinder. [I was proud of the way my son led this fight. When he charged, I thought he was making a mistake, but it worked out fine. Actually, I think this little conflict would be typical of the way fights in the Lost City must go, given the situation before the PC's arrived: that is, small skirmishes that are broken off fairly quickly.]
The PCs returned to the Brotherhood HQ on the tier, above.
The way this is shaping up, resource management is going to be important. The Brotherhood is going to have an advantage over the other old-god factions because they'll have a cleric who can magically heal them. The Magi are going to start employing the Fey (q.v. the spoiler in the Background section) to actively spy on the Brotherhood, monitoring their strength and plans. The Warrior Maidens have not yet decided on a course of action. They have, however, learned that their treasury was emptied. The Temple of Zargon is not yet aware of the uproar, but will learn of it soon enough.