Lord Chao$ - 4AD Actual Play 4
Super funky big boss...
Four young adventurers face their greatest challenge yet. Click here to catch up!
All four of them stared at the door. Then at each other, then back at the door.
They waited and listened. Was that music? It sounded like there was a party going on…in the dungeon. Finally, Garron had enough.
His foot was tapping in time with the rhythm. Either he’d slay whatever foul new-wave disco monster was inside or get a drink from the party keg and find some girls.
None of them were quite prepared for what they saw…
Room Contents – Roll 11 – Boss – Roll 5 – Chaos Lord, Leve 6, 4 LifeWhat they thought was a fog machine, electronic music, and party lights was just that…and in the middle of the crazy scene was a seven-foot blue-skinned man with glowing eyes and tentacled hair.
“What the hell?” Thessa said involuntarily.
The thing danced, levitated, and smiled, shaking his rump suggestively in all directions.
The four stood wide-eyed and unsure what to do – they had no idea whether it was friend or foe. The party, mesmerized, wanted to let him finish the song.
Wait – Reaction – Roll 2 – AttackWhen the music stopped, they noticed the words on its oversized belt buckle… “LORD CHAO$”.
“I’m sorry, this is a private party…and you ain’t on the list, suckers!”
Chaos Lord Attacks with Hellfire Blast
Garron rolls defense 4, Fail, 2 damage, 5/7 HP
Thessa rolls defense 6, Success, 0 damage, 4/4 HP
Ithar rolls defense 2, Fail, 2 damage, 3/5 HP
Faelith rolls defense 5, Fail, 2 damage, 1/3 HPThe built-up energy from his frenetic gyrations produced a neon glow all around his body.
Lord Chaos spun perfectly on his heels and unleashed a massive crackle of energy, blasting everyone in the room with a dramatic pelvic thrust.
Everyone felt the impact down to their bones, except Thessa, who’d managed to dive into the shadows at just the right moment.
The fight was obviously on.
Garron attacks, Roll 2 + 2, Miss
Thessa attacks, Roll 1 + 1, Miss
Ithar attacks, Roll 1, Miss
Faelith attacks with fireball, Roll 1, MissGarron yelled, “I don’t know what you are but you’re dead!” as he swung his sword. However, Lord Chaos smoothly shuffled out of the way, clapped, and grinned.
“Nice try blondie!”
Thessa lunged with her dagger from behind, but Lord Chaos seemed to sense it coming. He spun out of the way and tripped her in one smooth motion.
“My booty saw you comin’! Better luck next time, girl!”
Ithar raised his mace with holy purpose and brought it crashing down…directly on the floor beside him. He’d shuffled one step to the right and out of the way.
“That busted haircut’s slowing you down, preacher man!”
A massive fireball soared from Faelith’s staff but missed completely as Lord Chaos levitated over it.
Chaos Lord Attacks (x3)
Garron defends, Roll 3, Fail, 1 DMG, 4/7
Thessa defends, Roll 2, Fail, 1 DMG 3/4
Ithar defends, Roll 4, Fail, 1 DMG 2/5His strikes were as fast as his hips, and just as smooth. That cat was kung-fu fighting.
Lord Chaos landed a right cross that rattled Garron’s teeth, staggering him. He followed with a clean uppercut to Thessa’s jaw, making her taste blood, and finished with a side kick that knocked the wind out of Ithar.
Garron attacks, Roll 4 + 2, Hit, 1 DMG, LC 3/4
Thessa attacks, Roll 4 + 1, Miss
Ithar attacks, Roll 1, Miss
Faelith attacks, Sleep Spell, Roll 5 + 1, Success, Lord Chao out coldFinally, Garron’s blade caught the dancing machine in the side. He let out a loud howl. His grin turned to something much darker.
He parried Thessa’s blade deftly, and Ithar’s mace missed by a mile. But in the back of the room, the cunning little Faelith chanted arcane words that sounded like a lullaby.
Lord Chaos’s eyes rolled back into his head, and he slumped to the floor unconscious. Faelith, though still battered from the initial blast, giggled with delight.
“How the hell did you do that?” shouted Garron.
“Sleep spell,” Faelith said proudly, “I learned it last year in my Altered Consciousness class. I wasn’t sure it would work on him, though.”
“Great job, everyone!” Thessa said, rubbing her jaw.
“Look what I found,” Ithar exclaimed, “it’s a healing potion.” He held the vial of glowing blue water up to the light.
Ithar knelt in prayer for the deliverance from the funky Lord Chaos while Thessa pocketed the 6 gp she found in a quick search of the room. Garron was too busy stabbing the sleeping monster to worry about treasure. Faelith sat quietly, taking notes.
All of them looked haggard from the ordeal.
And it was getting late, so the four decided to end their first session in the tomb.
Using Faelith’s map, they quickly returned to the room near the entrance when a skittering, scrabbling mass of creatures came after them. Green, gibbering, tiny goblins with fangs.
Damn they were ugly.
But after their ordeal with Lord Chaos, these seemed like nothing. At least they didn’t taunt anyone.
Wandering Monster
Roll 4 – Vermin – Roll 3 – Goblin Swarmlings (5)
Garron attacks, Roll 6 + 1 (exploded + 4) = 11, 3 dead
Thessa attacks, Roll 5, 1 dead
Ithar attacks, Roll 3, 1 deadGarron, Thessa, and Ithar made a mess of the swarmlings. They were sliced and splattered all over the floor. Garron was tired. He didn’t even worry about treasure; he needed some sleep.
Thessa did look, but found nothing.
On their walk back towards campus they all started to feel like a team. And Faelith, the little wizard, earned some respect for saving their asses. He’d never say so, but even Garron was impressed.
Thessa was more forthcoming.
“Great work in there, Fae! Do you know how much money we could make with that spell if you’d take some time off studying?”
“I don’t know, Thessa. It seems wrong to use magic like that.”
She shook her head and said jokingly, “You’re almost as bad as Ithar over there. Right, wrong, whatever…just think about it. You could get all those expensive magic supplies you want!”
Faelith just shook her head.
“Wow. Ok, have it your way. Get a guy or gal drunk enough and it’s the same thing anyway.”
They agreed to meet back at the Tipsy Owl next week for their next excursion. Seven o’clock sharp and bring plenty of gear. They had money to spend.
Level Up – Faelith – Current Level 1, Roll 4, Earn new Level
Faelith boosted to 4 HP and gains Fireball spell.
Even the bad guys are cool. Great write up.
Great illustrations! I found 4AD some years ago and did a couple of runs with it but it never really clicked for me, felt a bit too random with how monsters, especially bosses. Might have to give it a new spin, though. I really like the dungeon delving aspect and creating the map as you go.