Andrea Sfiligoi, the author of Four Against Darkness, wrote in the book that an adventure takes roughly an hour (or less ). We (i.e. YS and I) took a very long time though - running small bits of adventure between 15 minutes and 45 minutes each. YS, who is now 6, can understand the basic mechanics well enough (as well as some of the monsters); and even FY, who is 3, can help with rolling the dice.
After a brief rest with the Wandering Alchemist, they went back to the room where the goblins were, and took another exit. The next room only contained 8 rats - which were quickly disposed of by the heroes.
In the next room though, was a Medusa. The heroes fought a Catoblepas, but never something as dangerous as a Medusa. Steve fired an arrow with his magic bow, wounding the Medusa, but Thebe’s sling-shot missed. The Medusa then set her gaze towards each of the heroes. Thebe and Marcus immediately turned into stone, but luckily Steve and Clare were quick to turn around and avoid the gaze.
Steve quickly put away his bow and drew his 2-handed sword, while Clare used one of her blessing spells to turn Marcus back to flesh. Medusa launched her attack, but Steve was able to repel it. Clare then used her other blessing spells to cure Thebe, while Steve attacked the Medusa with all his might. Miraculously, Steve was able to strike at her weak point (*exploding dice) and killed her in one blow. In her remains, the heroes discovered a silver necklace.
Steve’s heroics gained him a level (2). He now hits even harder and should help them overcome the next boss they encounter.
His higher skill came in handy in the very next room. Unusual for the dungeon, it was a circular room. And in the middle was a small dragon! Steve quickly fired an arrow towards the dragon, wounding it. Thebe followed with a sling shot, and Clare swung her magic hammer. Marcus only had a blessing spell and a fireball spell left, and neither of them helpful — so he swung his wizard’s staff instead.
The dragon quickly retaliated with four quick bites — two at Marcus, one at Steve and one at Thebe. Marcus lost all his life and fell down to the ground. Seeing that Marcus was dying, Clare immediate cast a healing spell on him — bringing him back to life.
Steve and Thebe continued to attack the dragon with their swords, with Steve doing most of the damage. Meanwhile, the dragon also continued to bite the heroes, again heavily wounded Marcus. Luckily, Steve was quick to the rescue; and with his 2-handed sword, he struck the dragon’s belly and finally killed it.
Dragons always have three treasures, and the heroes found 10 gold pieces, a scroll of sleep, and even a wand of sleep!
Marcus was heavily wounded, but was able to recover a bit after some rest. He also gained a level (2) and learned a new spell of escape!
In search of treasures and monsters, they travelled back to near the entrance and into another room. In the room was a trapdoor. Thebe attempted to avoid it, but ended up falling through it. Luckily, he was only lightly wounded and Steve was able to help him get out again.
On the other side of the entrance, the heroes encountered a chimera. It breathed fire at the heroes a few times, but they were able to withstand it and killed it swiftly. They only got some gold pieces from the combat, but Clare did gain a level. With her magic hammer, she would be able to combat both normal enemies and undeads very effectively.
In the very next room, the heroes encountered a lady in white, who gave them a quest of slaying all the monsters. They had been killing all the monsters they encountered up to that point, and so gladly accepted the quest.
They continued to wander the dungeon, facing skeletons, zombies, orcs, as well as numerous vermin. None of these gave them any trouble.
However, their good luck did not last forever, and they encountered some invisible gremlins. The gremlins managed to steal their wand of sleep, 3 magic scrolls, a bow, a hammer, and their only healing potion. But at least they still have their magic weapons and their magic spells.
Not long afterwards, they triggered another trap, and the gas trap managed to hit every one of them. Marcus fell unconscious, and Clare had to cast her second healing spell to heal him back up to normal.
Eventually, they arrived at the last room of the dungeon. Inside was a Medusa - more fierce than the last one they encountered. Steve’s magic bow drew first blood, and Thebe’s sling-shot miraculously hit the Medusa’s weak spot, critically injuring her.
The Medusa’s gaze attack fired at all of the heroes. Maybe because of her weakened condition, or because of their prior experience with gaze attacks, the heroes were all able to dodge away and avoid being turned into stone.
Clare swung her magic hammer at the Medusa, and with one final hit, slayed it.
Steve gained another level as a result of this fight, and the heroes found some fools gold among her treasures. They found it amusing that a whole adventure of killing all monsters they encounter ultimately gave them fools gold to bribe monsters with.
Their spirits were high when they went back to the lady in white, who pointed them to the Gold of Kerrak Dar - which they promptly search for. They found it in the room where they met the fungi folk, and hauled the treasure back to town.