The Demon of South Hollow

I finally broke out Four Against Darkness again and ran a quick dungeon to get reacquainted with the rules (not hard at all). What follows it the account of Thorbin (dwarf), Dantrag (warrior), Arthrallan (elf) and Brandall (wizard):

Introduction

The party has been sent to investigate tales of a nightmare fiend hunting the townsfolk of South Hollow. Actual sightings are more rare than the disappearances and remains, but those who witnessed attacks in the dark describe a grotesque silhouette with leathery wings and burning red eyes.

Ancient ruined fortifications with a sprawling underground complex are not far from town. This is the most likely place for such a beast to make its lair. Several hunting groups have come to the same conclusion and entered but none have returned. The party accepts the blessings of the townsfolk and sets out on a bright clear morning to investigate the dungeon.

The Dungeon

The entryway is quiet. Thorbin smells treasure to the left and leads the party onward.

Arthrallan the elf agrees that the healing water in the hallway fountain is a rare treasure and the party presses on.

Through the next door the party is surrounded by the animated skeletons of another adventuring party!

Arthrallan shatters a skull with an arrow, Dantrag crushes three with a massive sweeping stroke, and Thorbin cuts down the last one.

It appears these skeletons were recently picked clean by something... And that question is answered in the next room where a swarm of fat rats threatens to envelope the party (15x).

The rats are vanquished without incident.

Choosing the North door takes the party through an empty room to another room with a healer. None need his services, and he is directed to the exit along the path which was just cleared.

Moving through another two empty rooms at the top of the dungeon, the party turns South and encounters some hobgoblins. [I actually bought some retro style Hobgoblin models from Reaper for exactly this purpose.  I need to paint them!]

One of the hobgoblins was carrying a staff of sleep which Brandall the wizard is quick to pick-up.

Moving through two more empty corridors. the South path connects back to the already explored part of the dungeon. Turning East is a branching corridor where the party is not surprised to find a small band of goblins.

And more Hobgoblins in the next room.

Moving North, there is a massive room filled with orcs. Brandall is ready with an epic sleep spell, but it completely fails and Thorbin is lightly wounded in the exchange with the orcs.

Not wanting to leave a room in the middle of the dungeon unexplored, the party turns West and encounters a statue in the hallway.

The dwarf smells gold in the area and searches the statue. Suddenly the stone statue is a hulking jet black crimson eyed gargoyle which rakes two razor sharp talons at Dantrag and landing with one of them!

The narrow corridor allows Arthrallan cover to draw and shoot his bow over the dwarf, and he does with great effect. Brandall senses the magic resistance in the creature and lifts his lantern high to help the only way he can.

It is then that Thorbin lands a mighty blow with his two handed battle axe, sending the creature reeling backwards. But the gargoyle recovers with a supernatural speed borne of its magical nature and is immediately on top of the dwarf raking painfully with both claws.

Seeing the exposed flank, Dantrag lunges at the gargoyle with his sword and runs it through. And with that the combat is over as suddenly as it had begun.

On his feet now, Thorbin digs up a small cache of gold from behind the statue base while Brandall gives a small dissertation on the nature of gargolyles. This mighty gargoyle bares the marks of being in the service of an evil sorcerer and no doubt the gargoyle was the boss of this dungeon. The gargoyle likely called upon his master to animate the undead skeletons encountered near the entrance, and was gathering the goblins, orcs, and hobgoblins for some kind of larger conquest in the service of his master.

Epilogue

The party exited the dungeon without any further encounters and the the full map is here.

It is likely that had I played the rules correctly, the statue monster "Boss" was not supposed to be the "final boss" monster. It was not encountered in a room and not actually from the boss tables...  However, I did check if he was the final boss and after rolling a natural "6" I was not about to back-track on my decision. And I think I ended up with a decent story as well.