Preamble...
The award ceremony and elevation of the proclaimed Champions had just been completed. The Emperor’s gold was weighing down heavily on the Adventurers and the look Prince Magnus was giving them made them all nervous. Would they be allowed to keep this bounty which the Imperial Herald had just delivered?
Before anymore could come of these developing circumstances, the doors opened and a number of heavily armed men, some showing recent signs of battle marched in. The court was filled with whispers, weren’t these the men charged with protecting and delivering the Principalities taxes to the Emperor?
“Where are the taxes owed to the Emperor, Prince Magnus?” demanded the leader of the group.
“Why, they are in your hands Captain Hagraden, I – as well as you oversaw the monies being secured to your caravan. Why am I now being asked where the money is?” replied Magnus with a very straight and maybe guileful face.
“This is the third year running Prince that the taxes due from your Principality have failed to reach the Imperial treasuries. This cannot be a coincidence, once maybe, twice worrisome, thrice trending to treasonous. I doubt the Emperor will be forgiving.”
“Is it my fault that the Emperor banished me to such troublesome lands? I have done my duties to the letter; you should be more worried about your own skin Captain. While it is true that the taxes have been hijacked on their way to the Capital, the Imperial Court did increase the guards at each instance. I think it is some ploy by rivals or some nefarious machinations within the Imperial Treasury. I will look into matters here and see if I can find the money, but you will have to report your failure to your superiors. I do hope you have a very strong neck...”
A wicked grin spread across the Princes face, and Captain Hagraden resigned himself to his fate. He gestured for his men to leave and followed them out.
“Right then my newly minted Champions I have a job for you! By chance I have the location of a band of bandits who have been terrorising the countryside. I think it’s time you deal with them and return to their rightful owners – that’s me in case you might forget, any and all booty located there.”
It was only a coincidence that the gold in those chests just happened to equal the sum of the Principalities taxes. A coincidence indeed - after all, he did have to tidy up the loose ends.
Prince Magnus’ Gold
The fourth Quest in the Quest Book for Heroquest.
In this game it took the player 22+ turns to complete the Quest with every character surviving. However with the equipment obtained from being upgraded to Champions did provide the Characters with a better survival/killing potential than previous. I assume that with the later Quests a greater difficulty will be found.
Here is what each Character can do at the start of the Quest.
Dwarf:
The Helmet – gives one extra combat die in defence. (Defend: 3)The Battle axe – roll four combat die in attack, may not use with a shield. (Attack:4)
Barbarian:
The Helmet – gives one extra combat die in defence.Chain Mail – gives three combat dice in defence.
Shield – gives an extra combat die in defence. (Final Defend: 5)
Spear – gives two combat dice in attack, can attack diagonally, can be throw – but lost as a result.
Elf:
Shield – gives an extra combat die in defence. (Defend: 3)Crossbow – gives three combat dice in attack, not useable against adjacent opponents.
Wizard:
Staff – two combat dice in attack, can attack diagonally. (Attack: 2)Order of play was Dwarf (Ramble Stumpgrinder), Barbarian (Grim Axebiter), Elf (Silverleaf Fairtree), Wizard (Barodis Brighttower), and the finally the GM or Evil Wizard.
Turn 1
Dwarf searches for treasure, finds Gem! 50gc
Barbarian searches for treasure, finds Potion of Healing.
Elf searches for treasure, finds Potion of Strength.
Wizard searches for treasure, finds 60gc, misses next turn.
GM takes no actions.
Dwarf (Body 7) (0 Kills), 50gc
Barbarian (Body 8) (0 kills), Potion of Healing
Elf (Body 6) (0 kills), Potion of Strength
Wizard (Body 4) (0 kills), 60gc
Turn 2
Dwarf moves.
Barbarian moves.
Elf moves.
Wizard moves, fights a Goblin, kills Goblin.
GM has Goblin fight Wizard, inflicts 1 wound.
Dwarf (Body 7) (0 Kills), 50gc
Barbarian (Body 8) (0 kills), Potion of Healing
Elf (Body 6) (0 kills), Potion of Strength
Wizard (Body 3/4) (1 Goblin kills), 60gc
Turn 3
Dwarf moves.
Barbarian fights Goblin, kills Goblin.
Elf searches for treasure, finds Gold! 10gc
Wizard searches for treasure, finds Gold! 50gc
GM has Orc move up corridor.
Dwarf (Body 7) (0 Kills), 50gc
Barbarian (Body 8) (1 Goblin kills), Potion of Healing
Elf (Body 6) (0 kills), Potion of Strength, 10gc
Wizard (Body 3/4) (1 Goblin kills), 60gc, 50gc
Turn 4
Dwarf moves.
Barbarian moves.
Elf use Crossbow to shoot Orc, dead Orc.
Wizard moves.
GM has no actions.
Dwarf (Body 7) (0 Kills), 50gc
Barbarian (Body 8) (1 Goblin kills), Potion of Healing
Elf (Body 6) (1 Orc kills), Potion of Strength, 10gc
Wizard (Body 3/4) (1 Goblin kills), 60gc, 50gc
Turn 5
Dwarf moves.
Barbarian moves.
Elf moves.
Wizard moves.
GM has no actions.
Dwarf (Body 7) (0 Kills), 50gc
Barbarian (Body 8) (1 Goblin kills), Potion of Healing
Elf (Body 6) (1 Orc kills), Potion of Strength, 10gc
Wizard (Body 3/4) (1 Goblin kills), 60gc, 50gc
Turn 6
Dwarf moves.
Barbarian moves.
Elf moves.
Wizard moves.
GM has no actions.
Dwarf (Body 7) (0 Kills), 50gc
Barbarian (Body 8) (1 Goblin kills), Potion of Healing
Elf (Body 6) (1 Orc kills), Potion of Strength, 10gc
Wizard (Body 3/4) (1 Goblin kills), 60gc, 50gc
Turn 7
Dwarf fights Orc, dead Orc.
Barbarian moves.
Elf fights an Orc, misses.
Wizard moves.
GM has Orc fight Elf, inflicts 1 wound.
Dwarf (Body 7) (1 Orc Kills), 50gc
Barbarian (Body 8) (1 Goblin kills), Potion of Healing
Elf (Body 5/6) (1 Orc kills), Potion of Strength, 10gc
Wizard (Body 3/4) (1 Goblin kills), 60gc, 50gc
Turn 8
Dwarf fights Orc, dead Orc.
Barbarian moves.
Elf fights shoots Orc, dead Orc.
Wizard searches for treasure, finds Potion of Speed.
GM has no actions.
Dwarf (Body 7) (2 Orc Kills), 50gc
Barbarian (Body 8) (1 Goblin kills), Potion of Healing
Elf (Body 5/6) (2 Orc kills), Potion of Strength, 10gc
Wizard (Body 3/4) (1 Goblin kills), 60gc, 50gc
Turn 9
Dwarf moves.
Barbarian moves.
Elf searches for treasure, finds Gold! 20gc
Wizard searches for treasure, finew Trap! 1 wounds inflicted.
GM has no actions.
Dwarf (Body 7) (2 Orc Kills), 50gc
Barbarian (Body 8) (1 Goblin kills), Potion of Healing
Elf (Body 5/6) (2 Orc kills), Potion of Strength, 10gc, 20gc
Wizard (Body 2/4) (1 Goblin kills), 60gc, 50gc
Turn 10
Dwarf moves, jumps Pit, fails and takes 1 wound.
Barbarian searches for treasure, finds Gold! 25gc
Elf moves.
Wizard moves.
GM has no actions.
Dwarf (Body 6/7) (2 Orc Kills), 50gc
Barbarian (Body 8) (1 Goblin kills), Potion of Healing, 25gc
Elf (Body 5/6) (2 Orc kills), Potion of Strength, 10gc, 20gc
Wizard (Body 2/4) (1 Goblin kills), 60gc, 50gc
Turn 11
Dwarf searches for treasure, finds Treasure Horde! 100gc
Barbarian searches for treasure, finds Potion of Resilience.
Elf moves and opens door to find pit which he cannot cross.
Wizard moves.
GM has no actions.
Dwarf (Body 6/7) (2 Orc Kills), 50gc, 100gc
Barbarian (Body 8) (1 Goblin kills), Potion of Healing, 25gc, Potion of Resilience
Elf (Body 5/6) (2 Orc kills), Potion of Strength, 10gc, 20gc
Wizard (Body 2/4) (1 Goblin kills), 60gc, 50gc
Turn 12
Dwarf searches for secret doors, finds none.
Barbarian searches for secret doors, find one.
Elf moves.
Wizard searches for treasure, finds Trap! 1 wound inflicted.
GM has no actions.
Dwarf (Body 6/7) (2 Orc Kills), 50gc, 100gc
Barbarian (Body 8) (1 Goblin kills), Potion of Healing, 25gc, Potion of Resilience
Elf (Body 5/6) (2 Orc kills), Potion of Strength, 10gc, 20gc
Wizard (Body 1/4) (1 Goblin kills), 60gc, 50gc
Turn 13
Dwarf moves, jumps Pit, fails and takes 1 wound. Dwarfs should not jump pits in future!
Barbarian moves.
Elf searches for treasure, finds Potion of Healing.
Wizard moves.
GM has no actions.
Dwarf (Body 5/7) (2 Orc Kills), 50gc, 100gc
Barbarian (Body 8) (1 Goblin kills), Potion of Healing, 25gc, Potion of Resilience
Elf (Body 5/6) (2 Orc kills), Potion of Strength, 10gc, 20gc, Potion of Healing
Wizard (Body 1/4) (1 Goblin kills), 60gc, 50gc
Turn 14
Dwarf moves.
Barbarian moves.
Elf moves.
Wizard moves.
GM has no actions.
Dwarf (Body 5/7) (2 Orc Kills), 50gc, 100gc
Barbarian (Body 8) (1 Goblin kills), Potion of Healing, 25gc, Potion of Resilience
Elf (Body 5/6) (2 Orc kills), Potion of Strength, 10gc, 20gc, Potion of Healing
Wizard (Body 1/4) (1 Goblin kills), 60gc, 50gc
Turn 15
Dwarf moves.
Barbarian moves.
Elf moves.
Wizard moves.
GM has no actions.
Dwarf (Body 5/7) (2 Orc Kills), 50gc, 100gc
Barbarian (Body 8) (1 Goblin kills), Potion of Healing, 25gc, Potion of Resilience
Elf (Body 5/6) (2 Orc kills), Potion of Strength, 10gc, 20gc, Potion of Healing
Wizard (Body 1/4) (1 Goblin kills), 60gc, 50gc
Turn 16
Dwarf moves.
Barbarian fights Orc, dead Orc.
Elf moves.
Wizard casts spell - Water of Healing, 4 body points restored, full health.
GM has an Orc fight the Barbarian, 1 wound inflicted. Orc fights Barbarian, 1 wound inflicted.
Dwarf (Body 5/7) (2 Orc Kills), 50gc, 100gc
Barbarian (Body 6/8) (1 Goblin kills, 1 Orc Kills), Potion of Healing, 25gc, Potion of Resilience
Elf (Body 5/6) (2 Orc kills), Potion of Strength, 10gc, 20gc, Potion of Healing
Wizard (Body 4) (1 Goblin kills), 60gc, 50gc
Turn 17
Dwarf moves.
Barbarian fights Orc, dead Orc.
Elf fights Orc, dead Orc.
Wizard searches for treasure, finds Wandering Monster! Fimir inflicts 1 wound.
GM has Fimir fight Wizard, 1 wound inflicted.
Dwarf (Body 5/7) (2 Orc Kills), 50gc, 100gc
Barbarian (Body 6/8) (1 Goblin kills, 2 Orc Kills), Potion of Healing, 25gc, Potion of Resilience
Elf (Body 5/6) (3 Orc kills), Potion of Strength, 10gc, 20gc, Potion of Healing
Wizard (Body 2/4) (1 Goblin kills), 60gc, 50gc
Turn 18
Dwarf moves.
Barbarian fights Fimir, dead Fimir.
Elf moves.
Wizard searches for treasure, finds Jewels! 50gc
GM has no actions.
Dwarf (Body 5/7) (2 Orc Kills), 50gc, 100gc
Barbarian (Body 6/8) (1 Goblin kills, 2 Orc Kills, 1 Fimir kills), Potion of Healing, 25gc, Potion of Resilience
Elf (Body 5/6) (3 Orc kills), Potion of Strength, 10gc, 20gc, Potion of Healing
Wizard (Body 2/4) (1 Goblin kills), 60gc, 50gc, 50gc
Turns 19
Dwarf moves.
Barbarian moves.
Elf moves.
Wizard moves.
GM has an Orc fight Barbarian, 1 wound inflicted.
Dwarf (Body 5/7) (2 Orc Kills), 50gc, 100gc
Barbarian (Body 5/8) (1 Goblin kills, 2 Orc Kills, 1 Fimir kills), Potion of Healing, 25gc, Potion of Resilience
Elf (Body 5/6) (3 Orc kills), Potion of Strength, 10gc, 20gc, Potion of Healing
Wizard (Body 2/4) (1 Goblin kills), 60gc, 50gc, 50gc
Turn 20
Dwarf moves.
Barbarian fights Orc, dead Orc.
Elf shoots Orc, dead Orc.
Wizard casts spell – Rock Skin on himself.
GM has Fimir fight Elf, 1 wound inflicted. Orc versus Wizard, misses. Chaos Warrior versus Wizard, misses.
Dwarf (Body 5/7) (2 Orc Kills), 50gc, 100gc
Barbarian (Body 5/8) (1 Goblin kills, 3 Orc Kills, 1 Fimir kills), Potion of Healing, 25gc, Potion of Resilience
Elf (Body 4/6) (4 Orc kills), Potion of Strength, 10gc, 20gc, Potion of Healing
Wizard (Body 2/4) (1 Goblin kills), 60gc, 50gc, 50gc
Turn 21
Dwarf fights Chaos Warrior, misses.
Barbarian fights Chaos Warrior, misses.
Elf fights Fimir, dead Fimir.
Wizard fights Orc, dead Orc
GM has Chaos Warrior fight Wizard, 1 wound inflicted.
Dwarf (Body 5/7) (2 Orc Kills), 50gc, 100gc
Barbarian (Body 5/8) (1 Goblin kills, 3 Orc Kills, 1 Fimir kills), Potion of Healing, 25gc, Potion of Resilience
Elf (Body 4/6) (4 Orc kills, 1 Fimir kills), Potion of Strength, 10gc, 20gc, Potion of Healing
Wizard (Body 1/4) (1 Goblin kills, 1 Orc kills), 60gc, 50gc, 50gc
Turn 22
Dwarf fights Chaos Warrior, dead Chaos Warrior.
Barbarian moves to chest.
Elf moves to chest.
Wizard moves to chest.
GM has no actions.
Dwarf (Body 5/7) (2 Orc Kills, 1 Chaos Warrior kills), 50gc, 100gc
Barbarian (Body 5/8) (1 Goblin kills, 3 Orc Kills, 1 Fimir kills), Potion of Healing, 25gc, Potion of Resilience
Elf (Body 4/6) (4 Orc kills, 1 Fimir kills), Potion of Strength, 10gc, 20gc, Potion of Healing
Wizard (Body 1/4) (1 Goblin kills, 1 Orc kills), 60gc, 50gc, 50gc
Turn 23...
It was determined that 1D6 movement out of the Dungeon would be tedious. To liven the escape the Treasure cards were shuffled and a card drawn to see if a Wandering Monster! would appear each turn. No such occurrence occurred!
Conclusion
Stumpgrinder looked up at Brighttower as he rested his battle axe on the still and bloody body of the Chaos Warrior he had just dispatched.
“What do you reckon he meant when he screamed – we had a deal?”
“I have a suspicion that Prince Magnus is not above screwing over those he has dealings with,” replied Brighttower as he prepared himself to cast a spell of healing upon his battered and bloody self. Honestly he thought I’m tired of being the whipping boy among this lot.
Axebiter walked to each of the chest, smashed the locks and threw back the lids, revealing gold coins piled to the edges.
“How much gold do you think is in there Stumpy?”
“750 gold coins,” was the automatic reply Stumpgrinder gave without seeming to strenuously think the matter over.
“How do you know that so precisely and so quickly?”
“I just do, simple volume and dimensions, anybody with a brain can work it out,” came the disparaging reply.
Axebiter dug out a bag holding his personal wealth and showed it to the Dwarf, “how much in here?” he asked.
“100 gold coins,” came the reply after he hefted the bag and looked briefly inside. “You should really break down some of your coins to silver and copper. Makes trading easier, not every common trader is going to have change.”
A flash of magical light announced that Brighttower had just finished his healing.
“750 gold coins, why that’s the exact amount the taxes were for the kingdom. I think it’s about time we left this little part of the world for greener pastures. We know too much, and Magnus is no fool. I think we leave these chests at the castle gate, less our fee and leg it for the safety of the border.”
Brighttower looked at his companions and saw the signs of agreement.
“That’s a handy skill you have there Stumpy - you know what they say about Dwarfs.”
Stumpgrinder looked up at Brighttower, confusion written on his face.
“What is it they say about Dwarfs?”
FINAL THOUGHTS
Accumulating some money on the characters now, not much equipment they can't really afford now. Though to be fair no one has died yet...
At the end of this Quest the Characters stats remained the same, and they were left with the following pieces of equipment.
Dwarf, Helmet, Battle Axe, 2 x Hand Axe 10gc
Elf, Shield, Crossbow, Broadsword, 15gc
Barbarian, Helmet, Chain Mail, Shield, Spear, 125gc
Wizard, Staff, 780gc
Thanks for taking the time to read, I hope you enjoyed it.
Till next time.
The Hon. John
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