tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188479132024-03-05T05:24:07.584-05:00The Company of the Severed HeadThese are the recoreded deeds of an intrepid band of adventurers in Ristau's Forgotten RealmsShandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-85885556876463158552007-09-22T13:37:00.000-04:002008-12-13T08:59:23.692-05:0022 Eleasias, 1368: The Hidden Tomb<strong>11:00am</strong><br />Before continuing onward, the party discusses what their present resources are, and how much more they need to aquire in order to reclaim Stago from the nixie pool. 2800gp is what it will cost, and Routunious tallies the collected community horde at 2655.53 gp in value. This amount does not include any privately held treasure by the individual members of the comapny.<br /><br />Elessaria volunteers, "I can make up the difference from my personal treasure...if we can release the gnome, we should."<br /><br />Time is taken to discuss the logistics of getting back to Tick-a-Tick to retrieve the remaining purse and then get it to Mara in exchange for Stago's release.<br /><br />Elessaria, who can use the magic wand of perfect illusions, will go back through the caverns and cross the river. Then she will climb to Tick-a-Tick and use the wand to convince the automaton that Routunious has asked for the release of the treasure. With the coins in Tick, a golden armband from Degar, and 45gp of her own, the bounty will be met.<br /><br />It takes Elessaria around 20 minutes to cross the river.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the rest of the party who are hiding in an alcove waiting for her return are startled by a sound. It is Fink, who is coming around from the effects of the sleeping poison. <br /><br />After another ten minutes climbing to the top of the stone staircase, Elessaria reaches the top.<br /><br /><strong>12:00pm</strong><br />Using the wand of perfect illusion, Elessaria creates an image of Routunious which she uses to direct Tick-a-Tick to move from the entrance and allow her to pass into the mushroom chamber. She hears a slither and flapping above, but sees nothing, and nothing further happens. She asks the illusion of Routunious to scan the cieling of the cave, abut the light cast by his illusory hat reveals nothing. <br /><br />Elessaria gets the gold from Tick-a-Tick and goes to the nixie hole. She has the image of Routunious instruct the automaton to take a defensive position and guard her as she moves into the next chamber.<br /><br />Standing at the pool's side is the friendly fungus, farting in sadness over the loss of Stago. If mushrooms could cry, that would be what this one was doing as it peered into the depths looking for the gnome it had befriended.<br /><br />Elessaria considers her options in negotiating the trade. She declines to jump in with the accumulated treasure. Instead, she tosses a rock in the pool and waits. <br /><br />After a few minutes, Mara the nixie rises. <br /><br />The nixie demands, "Show me the money!" <br /><br />Elessaria drops the treasure into the pool, and Mara is delighted. "That didn't take long at all! Too bad, I had so many more chores for him!" With that, she dives below and in another few minutes a nearly naked Stago emerges from the pool, coughing out water as his lungs readjust to breathing air. <br /><br />"My clothes are in Tick-a-Tick," he sputters. They return to the mushroom room and the elf turns her back while asking the illusory Routunious to allow her to open the compartment containing the gnome's clothes. <br /><br />Once dressed, Stago retrieves his translation brooch and headband from Tick-a-Tick. Elessaria asks, "We need to get back to the others...can you climb?"<br /><br />"As well as I could before I became a hen-pecked nixie slave."<br /><br />Elessaria instructs the illusion to remain with Tick-a-Tick, knowing he will eventually fade away as the spell's duration expires. The illusion tells Tick to maintain a defensive stance regardless of what happens to the priest.<br /><br />The gnome and the elf go down the stairs, but though the agile ranger is able to nimbly navigate the first steo, Stago falls badly and injures himself. He is knocked unconcious. Elessaria is perplexed by the situation and decides she must attempt to carry him the rest of the way. Unfortunately, she stumbles and drops him to the next step. As she leaps the rest of the way to his body, she discoveres he is dead, having taken a terrible blow to the head.<br /><br />Elessaria has a brief image of Routunious screaming about wasting 2,800 gold pieces only to have the liberated gnome die within ten minutes of gaining his freedom. She shakes it off, and tries to consider her options.<br /><br />Above her, she hears the tell tale farting noise of the friendly fungus, who is trying to follow them down the passage. Tick-a-Tick must not have considered it a danger, or the mushroom man would have been sliced to bits. She wonders about a mushrooms agility, but not for long, as it loses its grip and tumbles down the steep face of the step above her and breaks into small pieces as it lands beside them.<br /><br /><em><strong>Note:</strong> In this campaign world, you are unconcious when you reach 0 hit points, and dead when you reach negative your current hit point level. You continue to take 1 hit point of loss per day due to rotting, and at minus double your hit points you can no longer be raised, although a resurrection spell might work.</em><br /><br />Elessaria decides to use the Stone of Recall, because the contract with Shandar stipulates that all healing of wounds in service of fulfilment of the contract up to and including resurrection is free of charge. She speaks the command word, "Return."<br /><br />In a crackle of energy she and the gnome are transported back to the tower of the old wizard who now employs them. His cleric, Mina, resurrects the gnome and applies what healing is needed.<br /><br /><strong>1:00pm</strong><br />Elessaria gives Shandar a briefing on the current progress, and he tells her she should return as soon as possible. "Can I provide you any food, provisions or...potions of extra healing? After all, you did manage to die by falling off a step."<br /><br />Stago grumbles, "A ten foot step and I hadn't gotten my land legs back yet."<br /><br />"I'm willing to part with my most recent batch for half the normal cost."<br /><br />"No, thank you," Elessaria declines, "But the rations would be very welcome."<br /><br /><strong>2:10pm</strong> <br />Elessaria and Stago are teleported with their packs full of food to the stairs and manage to reach the bottom without further incident or injury. They are able to cross<br />the river on the rope bridge they had built the first time they crossed, deciding that it is probably a good idea to continue leaving it there should a hasty retreat become necessary. <br /><br />Meanwhile, back in the caves, the rest of the party has been waiting patiently but nerves are getting a bit frayed. The tension is broken, however, when a spider falls from above, barely missing the halfling thief. The shouting and commotion are so loud that Elessaria's elven ears can hear the commotion even from so far away. <br /><br />Routunious gets his knives, Duncan prepares to strike with his staff, and Degar hits the spider with his war-hammer.<br /><br />He shouts with glee, "On the first try!" The spider becomes a mass of pulp from the force of the blow, and several members of the party wipe spider muck from their clothes in dusgust.<br /><br />Breathlessly, Elessaria and Stago arrive, and are relieved that the situation is under control. They recount the adventure in getting Stago back and explain that the delay was due to a short trip back to Shandar's tower.<br /><br />"We brought food," Stago says, trying to shift conversation away from his death. A subject that makes him profoundly uncomfortable.<br /><br />The rations are distributed and the party decides that they should encamp here in this easily defended alcove and sleep. The rotation of guards is established and they settle in.<br /><br /><strong>6:30pm </strong><br />Elessaria awakens and assumes guard duty while Fink and Degar sleep.<br /><br /><strong>8:30pm</strong><br />Elessaria hears sounds coming from down the corridor, in the large chamber they thought was empty. Looking in that direction she is surbrised to see a giant beetle scuttling around. She waits, and observes it, but the giant bug doesn't approach.<br />She stays on duty for another 2 hours with no other incidents.<br /><br /><strong>10:30pm</strong> <br />The sleepers awaken. The magic users study their spells, the cleric says his prayers, and Elessaria mentions the giant beetle.<br /><br />She asks, "What, if anything, do we do about that?" <br /><br />Routunious asks her, "It's been there all night and hasn't been agressive?"<br /><br />They decide that they should simply leave it be, and as calmly as they can, they move on down the corridor, descending further into the wild depths of the caverns below Daggerdale. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaYRWPX193pO7qnyvpE3_QOne_ez36kNCyxUuHkOsvRMawVU96_SAzrPP79V-2X3HlqmqXThc9p2we1apZDA5-UxK2JCMgOuoTjP_pBsDK4t86ThIgHGrGvkCjrJxI7EuGxuafg/s1600-h/stelurge.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaYRWPX193pO7qnyvpE3_QOne_ez36kNCyxUuHkOsvRMawVU96_SAzrPP79V-2X3HlqmqXThc9p2we1apZDA5-UxK2JCMgOuoTjP_pBsDK4t86ThIgHGrGvkCjrJxI7EuGxuafg/s200/stelurge.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113069041517507186" /></a>They haven't gone far when they are surprised by flapping furry beasts with more legs than they should have and long beaks.<br /><br />Stago, who has bitter expreience with such creatures, asks, "Stirges?"<br /><br />Degar answers, bracing for a fight, "Close--these are stelurges, a bigger and nastier variety of the beasties."<br /><br />"Of course they are," sighs Routunious and prepares for the carnage and blood loss that is certain to follow.<br /><br />There are two of the creatures, and both swoop down to attack Elessaria.<br /><br />The creatures are faster than they appear and have multiple attacks each round. One of them manages to sink its probiscus between parts of Elessaria's armor, and it grips her frimly with six legs, sucking her blood.<br /><br />Stago casts magic missile at one of the creatures. Routunious throws two knives and misses on each attempt. Elessaria strugles in vain to pull the horrible creature from her shoulder while the other one continues to fly at her.<br /><br />Fink fires his bow at the still flying stelurge, and hits it. The wounded stelurge circles back and makes a successful strike on Stago. <br /><br />Stago whimpers, "Not again..."<br /><br />Duncan casts a casts magic missile at the stelurge in Stago's chest, but to little effect. Stago passes out from blood loss.<br /><br />Routunious attacks the stelurge in Stago with a dagger and misses. Elessaria grabs at the beast sucking her life's blood from her and tries to wrench it free, but fails.<br /><br />Fink moves to Stago and Degar rushes up as well. The gruf dwarf straddles the gnome and prepares to strike the stelurge S croquet style with his warhammer. He hits the creature and it flies free of Stago's body and smashes against the cave wall, sliding down to the floor convulsing in its death throes and bleeding a mixture of its own blood and that of the gnome into a growing pool.<br /><br />Routunious casts spell of cure light wounds on Stago, but it isn't enough to bring him out of his coma. Elessaria again tries to pull the stelurge from her shoulder but can't do it. Fink tries to help and still they can not pull the thing out of her.<br /><br />Degar joins Fin trying to pull it free, but the effort seems beyond even their combined strength. <br /><br />Routunious casts another cure light wounds on Stago and this time he opens his eyes and is able to pull himself to his feet.<br /><br /><strong>10:40pm</strong> <br />Stago uses his ring of spell storing, and casts magic missile on the stelurge, and Elessaria manages to stab it with her dagger.<br /><br />She growls through clenched teeth, "How many hits does it take to kill these things?" <br /><br />Routuniuos casts another heal light wonds spell on Elessaria, to enable her to continue her struggle. Fink punches the creature but it only blinks and continues to suck blood from the elf.<br /><br />Degar grabes the stelurge and pulls with all his might, but it won't come loose.<br /><br />Suddenly, however, the bloated creature must have reached its capacity, as it pulled itself loose of its own accord and clumsily flies off down a side passage of the caves. Elessaria throws a dagger at it, but misses and the dagger clatters to the floor.<br /><br />She follows its path and scans the cieling with her infravision. She sees clearly the warm, red glow of the bloated animal hiding above them.<br /><br />"I don't think it will attack anyone again until its digested what it took from me...let's leave it," Elessaria suggests.<br /><br />Fink won't have it and shouts, "Screw that!"<br /><br />The halfling nocs his short bow and lets an arrow fly, hitting the flying blood bag squarely. He fires second shot and the stelurge drops to the floor of the cave with the sound of a bursting water ballon hitting pavement.<br /><br />Fink marches over to the creature to finish it off if it needs finishing. He considers stomping on it, but he's barefoot. He decides to decapitate it instead.<br /><br />Degar drinks potion of healing, and shouts, "Well, that was too short a fight! What's next? The beetle? I ain't done killing!"<br /> <br />Elessaria cautions, "That's over 10 feet long, and already behind us. Let's leave alone. It's not attacking us." <br /><br />They debate their next actions for about 10 minutes "Distance weapons!"<br />"No." We talk for 10 min. In the end, they decide to continue exploring rather than retrace their steps until they have to.<br /><br />They also decide upon a new marching order with Elessaria bringing up the rear instead of marching in the front of the company.<br /><br />"I've been injured. And I'm protecting you," she says.<br /><br />Degar quips, "Right. From the beetle!"<br /><br />Continuing down the hall. They come to a fork and decide to go right. Stago listens to the other passage as he goes by. He hears nothing.<br /><br />They come upon a large cavern that has a pool of water which covers the entire floor except for the entrance into the cave and the exit on the other side. The water is crystal clear and reflects the light from Routunious' hat. The party can easily see the muddy bottom of the pool, which lies evenly and without feature just two inches below the surface. <br /><br />Degar says, "Let's cross, or are you afraid of getting your feet wet?" Fink<br />mentions that maybe a rope around Degar would be helpful, just in case.<br /><br />Degar declines, saying, "Bah, no dwarf needs a tether to walk across a muddy floor." And with that, he takes a defiant step forward into the chamber only to discover that the water covers a think and sucking mud. His foot held fast, he loses his balance and falls face down into the goo. At first the rest of the party supresses a laugh at his folly, but any laughter turns quickly to horror as they realize Degar is being pulled down into the mud as though it were quicksand.<br /><br />The dwarf manages to turn himself over and upright, but both his feet are firmly stuck in the mud. He begins flailing his arms and shouting for help.<br /><br />Fink tosses Degar the end of a rope, and Degar catches it. The rest of the party<br />grab hold of their end and prepare to try and pull him free in a combined effort.<br /><br />With luck and tremendous effort they manage to pull the mud covered dwarf free.<br /><br /><strong>11:00pm</strong><br />The party turns around and heads back up the path they had just travelled, deciding the mud is too great an obstacle to cross. As they take the other branch, they feel the passage sloping steeply downward and the air becoming damp. <br /><br />It isn't long before they find that the passage ahead is flooded. The only way to continue forward would be to swim. <br /><br />Routunious asks, "Now what?" <br /><br />"Anyone feel like swimming?"<br /><br />Stago says, "The dwarf could use a bath." Degar ignores him, not because he wants to avoid a fight, but he is actually enjoying the tingle of the mud as it dries on his face. Perhaps the mud has some sort of restorative properties, magical or not.<br /><br />Elessaria peers into the clear water with her fine elf eyesight and sees the<br />corridor appears to level off ten or 15 feet below and continues. <br /><br />She asks, "How about Stago dive in and carry a rope under the water, just to get a sense of how much further the passage goes before it goes back up again?" <br /><br />"If it starts back up again," Routunious says glumly.<br /><br />"I'm tired of being in water," Stago protests.<br /><br />"But you've had the most practice swimming of late," Fink offers.<br /><br />"No, he's not doing anything that dangerous, we paid too much to get him back from the nixie to have him die on us for at least a week."<br /><br />Everyone looks at Routunious in a bit of shock at his callousness. He stammers, "I'm just trying to be practical!"<br /><br />Stago suggests the party can use the spider climb scroll he has and to climb the walls of the other room. He says, "This passage is clearly impassable and we know the corridor continues on the other side of the mud pit. If we all join hands and I cast the spell on all of us, the duration will be shorter, but we should all be able to climb the cieling and avoid the mud."<br /><br />Elessaria asks, "What about getting back?"<br /><br />"Maybe we won't want to come back," Stago answered matter of factly.<br /><br />The party walks back to the mud pit, and continue discussing their options there.<br /><br />"It's a piece of cake, I can cast it on everyone but myself and it should last for more than enough time to get across...but someone will have to carry me."<br /><br />"I can do it," Elessaria says.<br /><br />Stago asks, "Promise not to drop me this time?" <br /><br />"I didn't drop you before!"<br /><br />"Ok, so you held onto me while we both fell, nit picking details."<br /><br />"Don't make me want to drop you and your chances of surviving will be better."<br /><br />The party readies themselves and Stago casts the spell. They crawl across the the walls and discover that the passage on the opposite side of the mud isn't a passage at all, but dead ends in a room.<br /><br />The cave appears empty save for a large stone sarcophagus in the center of the room which has ornate carvings and an inscription on the side facing you. The sarcophagus is completely bound in heavy chains with four elaborate locks. At the head and feet of the coffin are large candlesticks that seem to be made of solid gold, with a golden serpent entwined on each and a single red candle. The serpent’s eyes are red gemstones. On the other side of the casket is a candelabrum, also made of gold, with three candles in them. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CxHfo_S_Bbj-IHwRpdFla0-NUescv4qxcNmDV7WZAdQ2izHgsjtuSfzDG_eyzERiD37cgIvWwrh6KM5TofsB0_MM8qaikeK6N3uMGSazuohl8iUnD4rGvPxfbsWVWFsJ464T/s1600-h/ra5b.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CxHfo_S_Bbj-IHwRpdFla0-NUescv4qxcNmDV7WZAdQ2izHgsjtuSfzDG_eyzERiD37cgIvWwrh6KM5TofsB0_MM8qaikeK6N3uMGSazuohl8iUnD4rGvPxfbsWVWFsJ464T/s400/ra5b.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113085035975717506" /></a>The party stays in the entryway and look from a distance. The sarcophagus is covered by a layer of thick dust. The carved writing on the casket is in High Script, a very fromal kind of written Common. <br /><br />Elessaria reads one side, while Stago goes behind the casket. He is careful not to enter the perimeter of the circle of candles, and reads the other side. The words say, "Beloved Belessaria, You Will Be Avenged." <br /><br />Degar shouts, "By Grabthar's Hammer!" The party turns to see what Degar is shouting about and they notice a statue in a hidden alcove, which seems to be watching over the chained casket in the room.<br /><br /><strong>11:15pm</strong><br />Stago asks, "What do we know about Belessaria?"<br /><br />Routunious searches his memory, "She was...poisoned, right?"<br /><br />Elessaria remembers her talk with Shandar, and recounts what she can. "600 years ago, Daggerdale was originally called Merrydale, an open and tolerant dale that suffered from vampire attacks.<br /><br />Stago interrupts, "Hmm, vampires, eh? Do we think these chains are to keep people out or to keep something in?". <br /><br />Routuniuos shudders, "If our past experience is anything to go on, it's definitely to keep whatever's in there from escaping."<br /><br />"But that was 600 years ago and Belessaria lived 100 years ago," Elessaria argues.<br /><br />Stago mumbles to himself, "Hmm, what's 500 years to a vampire?"<br /><br />Duncan asks Routunious, "What about turning undead? You can do that, can't you priest?" <br /><br />"I'm not powerful enough to turn a vampire." <br /><br />"Wait...we have a scroll that makes us invisible to undead." <br /><br />Degar grumbles, "You can't be thinking there's any chance there's a vampire in that thing. Nothing ye've said indicates this Bellewhatsit was a vampire. Everything we've heard is that her husband was an over protective freak of a wizard who lost his mind when she died. It's probably chained to keep out grave robbers." <br /><br />Everyone looks at him for a moment, and Routunious simply says sarcastically, "Yeah, right."Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-45990352253488771182007-08-24T19:27:00.000-04:002008-12-13T08:59:23.905-05:0022 Eleasias, 1368: Delving Deeper<strong>8:36 am</strong> <br />Most of the party are covered in blood, some their own, most that of slain monsters. They don't want to take time to wash, even though the blood smell might attract more enemies.<br /><br />Degar shows the gemstones to Routunious, who is no expert in assessing value but he guesses that the amethyst, eye agate, and moonstone are probably worth in the neighborhood of 150 gp. <br /><br />The dwarf holds up the eyeglasses, "What do you make of these?"<br /><br />"My innate powers determine they are a device for helping someone see better," Routunious says with exaggerated effect. He laughs as he searches the next room where another three gems are found. The gems are a periodot, a rhodochrosite, and a <br />spinel, for a likely combined value of 1010 gp. In the third room they find a broadsword in good condition.<br /><br />Duncan moves forward and examines the sword with his spellcraft proficiency. He determines that the broadsword is likely magical magic sword. <br /><br />Degar says, "I could have told ye that...it's down here and it ain't rusted."<br /><br />"Yes, well, that would give you a clue, but I've determined it definitively."<br /><br />The dwarf hands him the glasses, "Determine anything thing from these?"<br /><br />Duncan handles the glasses, without looking through the lenses, and says, "These are magic too."<br /><br />Degar gruffly harumphs at Routunious, who shrugs.<br /><br />Elessaria says, "Until we can get them identified, Degar carries the sword and Duncan you take the glasses."<br /><br />Routunious asks, "How are we doing on Stago's ransom?"<br /><br />Degar, "We're short."<br /><br />Everyone laughs at this, though they try not to.<br /><br />"What? What did I say? Stop laughing, ye fools! Bah, I'm going back to look after Fink, I prefer the company of an unconscious halfling to idiots like yerselfs."<br /><br />The bloodied warriors decide to join him and head back to the grotto. They move the heavy bodies of the owlbears to block off the corridor leading to the ants. afterwards, they wash off the blood in the rushing waters of the river. <br /><br />Routunious asks, "What are we doing next?" <br /><br />Degar says, "We're exploring! Away from the ants."<br /><br />They establish a new marching order: Elessaria, Routunious, Duncan, and Degar (who drags Fink).<br /><br />Further up the passageway, Elessaria peers into the next room. At first she sees nothing and then is surprised that something is in there slithering on the ceiling. Whatever it is has legs, many legs. It moves over her head and into another room.<br /><br />The elf gets her bow out and calls a warning back down the line. Degar drops Fink and moves in front of the wizard to protect them both. Elessaria carefuly keeps<br />her eye on the ceiling, looking for further movement.<br /><br />Routunious asks, "Was it more ants?"<br /><br />"No, too many legs, too long a body."<br /><br />Duncan drags Fink nearer the rest of the party. Order is rearranged as they move along the passage so that Degar has returned to guard the rear.<br /><br />Looking into the room, they see a pool of water and not much else. They hear skittering that is moving away from them. Whatever it was, they seem to have scared it off.<br /><br />Continuing down the passage they come to a a T-intersection, they choose to go left.<br /><br /><strong>11:00 am</strong><br />Elessaria comes upon a great opening, where the ranger is surprised by three of the fire bugs that she and Routunious remember from the the armory at Eagles Eyrie. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKS5o9SNfBDu-kTaxOWYRdxnWq2dyEw6aY2KXybafM5gqOrJZ-3aTAjPbQJ0vJMLVhIkZTamJBwL_Y_ZKtRbqziI_hLyILxnExeADED1uOGrmx4kOFstVwsmNsrdqh5iKBJP-/s1600-h/ra5029.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKS5o9SNfBDu-kTaxOWYRdxnWq2dyEw6aY2KXybafM5gqOrJZ-3aTAjPbQJ0vJMLVhIkZTamJBwL_Y_ZKtRbqziI_hLyILxnExeADED1uOGrmx4kOFstVwsmNsrdqh5iKBJP-/s400/ra5029.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102602081339074210" /></a>"Firebeetles," she says.<br /><br />One of the strange quasi-insects, for they are not beetles in the natural sense, spits a jet of flame, missing the party.<br /><br />Elessaria says, "Can we move them aside, I would rather avoid a fight."<br /><br />Degar responds with mild derision, "Maybe ye could gently use your sword as a spatula and move the buggers with that."<br /><br />Elessaria moves forward with her sword held flat, and low. The firebugs move toward her, one tries to bite, but she manages to step clear. Degar laughs. The other beetle shoots a jet of flame at the elf which burns her badly. Degar stops laughing.<br /><br />The dwarf readies for a fight, saying, "Well, some fights can't be avoided, elf!"<br /><br />Elessaria attacks the firebug that burned her, but misses. Routunious attacks the same, but also misses. Degar closes distance to attack a firebug.<br /><br />Firebugs attack Elessaria w/their mandibles. Although the clicking mandibles of two of them are avoided by the ranger, the third spits fire and Elessaria suffers additional burn damage.<br /><br />Degar attacks a bug and misses. Elessaria manages a hit on the bug nearest her.<br /><br />Degar misses again, as Elessaria dodges another jet of fire. The bug that Degar battles bites him hard, causing damage. Elessaria dodges a hit from the bug she is fighitng but misses her next attack.<br /><br />Routunious moves forward and casts <em>cure light wounds</em> on the dwarf. The fight continues and Degar suffers further wounds. Duncan rifles through his pack, draws out a scroll and says, "Here's a cleric scroll. <em>Cure critical wounds</em>." <br /><br />Duncan gives the scroll to Routunious who uses it on Degar.<br /><br />They continue fighting the bugs, and Routunious throws a knife, missing his target.<br /><br />Degar misses again. One of the sbug bites Elessaria, and she falls unconscious and bleeding to the floor. <br /><br />Degar jumps toward a bug, hoping to crush it with his own bodyweight, but misses as it scurries away. Duncan casts <em>magic missile</em> at one of the bugs and manages to kill it. <br /><br />Degar frustrated by this encounter, begins to go into a battle rage. With increased power and stamina he violently attacks the firebeetle nearest him and...misses! He roars in anger and the beetle clamps down on his leg with its mandibles.<br /><br />The beetle and Degar do a dance that would have been comical were it not for the dire consequences of its outcome. Finally, Degar hits the beetle and smashes it to pulp.<br /><br />The remaining firebeetle scrambles up on top of Elessaria's fallen body and begins to eat the unconscious elf. When the party moves toward it, the bug shoots a flame at them. <br /><br />Degar takes aim at the last bug, not even considering the possibility of hurting Elessaria if he misses his target, so complete is his rage. His swing strikes the bug and destroys it, although Elessaria does take a very minor hit as well.<br /><br />All the bugs are dead and the dwarf manages to bring his rage under control instead of continuing to do battle with any living thing near him...including members of his own party.<br /><br />Routunious quickly stoops down to attempt to stop Elessaria's bleeding. Elessaria Routunious pours an entire bottle of a <em>potion of extra healing</em> down her throat, which brings her around and seems to have repaired much of the damage she suffered.Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-9327893064261618382007-08-24T17:12:00.001-04:002008-12-13T08:59:24.320-05:0022 Eleasias, 1368: Owlbears and Ants!The first corridor they explore is a dead end, but there seems to be something there. The elf is confused at first, sensing something familiar and at the same time entirely alien in this environment. Then, suddenly, it dawns on her--"These are owl pellets," she says.<br /><br />Routunious is not convinced, "These are bigger than an owl, how could they be owl pellets?"<br /><br />"Something similar to them, then. Look. They are all the undigested parts, thrown back up...bones, something that looks like large chitinous plates...like from the hook horror or maybe giant ants, and...buttons."<br /><br />"Let me see that!" <br /><br />The priest shines his hatlamp on the objects and realizes that they are indeed clumps of undigested bone and gristle, flakes of exo-skeleton and there are copper buttons in them as well.<br /><br /><strong>8:30 am</strong><br />Elessaria and Routunious agree that if whatever left these pellets is big enough to eat something that wears buttons, they need to be cautious. They move down the first corridor on the right. Despite their caution, they are surprised when two enormous owl heads poke their heads out. These are not giant owls, however, they are some foul hybrid creature with the head of an owl and the body of an enormous bear.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqJIfCVr6rp7AMDBk2pUXCQ_8tKet5KdZrVNj9FAzEyGxm2Hn_8obtsy5HLW_co7TVFqOLeKAkrwR00GW_CFykRRFI0fqTiWVJPVaZ8A9xyl49R9jlxiat2Kr2RS9o4o_Mcd1/s1600-h/ra5026.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqJIfCVr6rp7AMDBk2pUXCQ_8tKet5KdZrVNj9FAzEyGxm2Hn_8obtsy5HLW_co7TVFqOLeKAkrwR00GW_CFykRRFI0fqTiWVJPVaZ8A9xyl49R9jlxiat2Kr2RS9o4o_Mcd1/s400/ra5026.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102377278455834226" /></a>"Owlbears!" Elessaria cries as the beasts attack her.<br /><br />The first owlbear swings and misses with a claw, its second claw also misses, but when it lunges in to snap with it sbeak it catches part of Elessaria's arm and draws blood. <br /><br />The priest and elf do a controlled retreat back towards the grotto, shouting warnings to their companions. Degar hears the commotion and gets closer, readying his warhammer. He shouts over his shoulder, "Wizard, ye might want to ready them scrolls ye found, they're no use to us if we're killed!"<br /><br />Duncan shouts back, "How about <em>Monster Summoning VI</em>?"<br /><br />"Whatever ye think, wizard, just do something to help!"<br /><br />"First things first," Duncan sasy, and drags Fink away to a safer place.<br /><br />Elessaria & Routunious move back, back, back and the owlbears pursue. The elf makes a stand near the entry to the grotto, her sword held ready. The owlbears close. <br /><br />The first attacks, again Elessaria manages to dodge the claws by is caught by the owlbear's beak. As she clenches her jaw to repress the pain, Duncan readies the scroll and casts the spell. In a flash of light and slight odor of sulphur, three monsters appear in the grotto. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoh2gHmm3ComjpeyB-XcFAQImlyuGuT85H_YEYE7JKCztkPGLtieAd4dM_g3o5nQWFsvOTxGiPEuMghdl1C-zFgnqNvzH49CEmRQ6kglqb8UApR7WreqlgiE_TPLABva8QWER/s1600-h/ra5027.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoh2gHmm3ComjpeyB-XcFAQImlyuGuT85H_YEYE7JKCztkPGLtieAd4dM_g3o5nQWFsvOTxGiPEuMghdl1C-zFgnqNvzH49CEmRQ6kglqb8UApR7WreqlgiE_TPLABva8QWER/s400/ra5027.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102400428329559682" /></a>Duncan has summoned a Troll, Hook Horror,and a Minotaur.<br /><br />The owlbears are surprised and distracted by the appearance of the summoned monsters! Elessaria moves back as Degar steps forward, but he allows the summoned monsters to make the first attacks.<br /><br />The troll and hook horror strike first, the hook horror cuts a deep slash through the first owlbear, revealing internal organs and spilling a great deal of blood. The troll hits savagely with both its claws and sinks its teeth deeply into the neck of the owlbear. It shudders and falls under the weight of the troll. The other owlbear realizes its mate is dying. The remaining owlbear launches into a frenzied attack, lashing out at the hook horror. It misses with both its claw attacks but the bite cracks the exo-skeleton and the wound drips a yellow ochre.<br /><br />The minotaur closes now, and attacks with the greatsword it holds, doing just as much damage on the initial blow as it does on its backswing. <br /><br />Elessaria, in awe of the sheer power of these three monsters and grateful they are in her service rather than attacking her, moves back further into the grotto.<br /><br />The troll attacks the remaining owlbear, missing with the first swipe of its clawed hand but its other talon sinks deeply into the other monster's flesh and it howls a horrible, painfilled hooting growl. The troll tries to bite down on it but comes up with only a mouth full of feathers. The owlbear twists under the troll and lashes out again at the hook horror, doing minor damage before missing with its other claw. The owlbear's bite does twice the damage that its claw had.<br /><br />The minotaur brings its sword down again in a massive blow, nearly removing the owlbear's head. It dies. The three sommoned monsters look around, waiting for further instructions, but Duncan is too stunned by the display to utter any words. The troll begins feasting on the remains of the owlbears. The minotaur simply stands still, blinking and breathing heavily. The hook horror begins a slow clacking of its hooks and seems to be staring with hatred at the young wizard.<br /><br />Degar breaks the tension, "Well, ye did something useful, afterall, wizard. How long will your pets be staying with us?"<br /><br />Duncan snaps out of it and smiles. He says, "Maybe an hour?"<br /><br />Elessaria says, "Then, have them move ahead of us in the corridor, if you please, Duncan."<br /><br />Duncan orders the monsters to lead, and he follows them down the long passage way. Elessaria and Degar move up the tunnel where the owlbear's lair had been. Routunious elects to stay behind and keep watch over sleeping Fink.<br /><br />Degar sees the room with piles of pellets and discovers a pair of glasses and three gemstones that had been overlooked in the previous excitement.<br /><br />In the corridor Duncan and the monsters are exploring, a large swarm of giant ants are observed coming up from a hole in the floor that blocks the passage. They move as a collective body towards the minotaur, which is in the lead. They swarm over the creature, as it bellows loudly in pain. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fTsVRnAE0U835EMxHQc-MYXAUmxr0MfclKKbgoEzmIrBAbEaffGc9oeCVAZdEoO2_1E2TRWC17nRmeTbKeAq095SCs-KpQ9rVHiFE-Nij_493xRx8OvidBApSJKYQCiE5x_4/s1600-h/ra5028.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fTsVRnAE0U835EMxHQc-MYXAUmxr0MfclKKbgoEzmIrBAbEaffGc9oeCVAZdEoO2_1E2TRWC17nRmeTbKeAq095SCs-KpQ9rVHiFE-Nij_493xRx8OvidBApSJKYQCiE5x_4/s400/ra5028.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102406960974816914" /></a>Duncan watches in horror as the minotaur stumbles and falls and is immediately covered in ants. Some of the ants were probably crushed when the minotaur fell on them, but many more continue to arrive to take their place. The minotaur thrashes and screams in unimaginable agony until it suddenly stops. Duncan sees its fingers loosen on the greatsword, so ineffective against these giant insects, and then the monster disappears. Ants that had been on top of it hover in the air for a moment and then fall to the ground, looking for the meal they were enjoying.<br /><br />Duncan, in a moment of pure academic conjecture, imagines that when he cast the spell this minotaur was plucked from its cave and stolen away from its mate and possibly even children...only to be returned a short time later dead and partially eaten by insects....that would certainly be a shock to his family! <br /><br />Duncan is shaken out of his thoughts when he notices that the ants have noticed him and the two remaining monsters. Duncan slips behind the two creatures and orders them to attack the ants. The troll wades in and begins throwing them back down the tunnel. The ants chew deeply into its flesh, which quickly regenerates after each bite.<br /><br />Duncan slips back down the corridor, he doesn't need to see the battle to know that it is terrifying. The troll is howling in rage and pain, and then suddenly, it stops. Duncan is certain that the ants have killed it...perhaps wherever it reappears it will regenerate there. <br /><br />Only the hook horror remains to occupy the ants and within moments, it too stops clacking. The ants have done in minutes what two huge owlbears had been unable to even attempt to do. <br /><br />Duncan flees into the grotto shouting about the ants. The party listens to the description and look down the passage, but no ants seem to be following the young wizard.Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-23138370042229088492007-08-24T15:16:00.000-04:002008-12-13T08:59:24.828-05:0022 Eleasias, 1368: Into the Depths<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedEw7PSfnfg7sPAeVd6AJCXhclUf48bOC1a-KRcnSGuO5_SodBYJ13KJW3f1MEtoQRoRP_5z7Rv4w_3KePmy31Ri4DMDYXhtD9HHtQJa1yvq5LpOhVDHrMOElXLp9DnLdjpCm/s1600-h/ra5025.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedEw7PSfnfg7sPAeVd6AJCXhclUf48bOC1a-KRcnSGuO5_SodBYJ13KJW3f1MEtoQRoRP_5z7Rv4w_3KePmy31Ri4DMDYXhtD9HHtQJa1yvq5LpOhVDHrMOElXLp9DnLdjpCm/s400/ra5025.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102361704904418914" /></a><br /><strong>6:00 am</strong><br />Drying themselves on the other side of the river, the conversation turns to Stago.<br /><br />Fink says, "I realize that you who have travelled with him have a closer attachment than the rest of us...but that's a lot of treasure to try to find to get him back. Are you sure he's worth it?"<br /><br />Elessaria smiles, "Worth it and more, though don't ask me again after we've gotten him back."<br /><br />Degar and Routunious explore the grotto. Using the bright glow of his hat they explore the ceiling. Everyone searches for secret doors. Elessaria discovers one on the left side of the grotto.<br /><br />Degar examines the door, then moves to the passageway, axe ready, just<br />in case. He nods for Fink to move forward and examine the secret door for traps. He doesn't feel there is a trap, but also doesn't think that makes any sense. He hasn't found any traps, but his intuition tells him that there must be something else guarding the door. Gritting his teeth, he begins his attempt to pick the lock.<br /><br />After spending ten tense minutes, he gives up. "You need a key," he says.<br /><br />Turning their attention from the door to the spider statue, Fink agains tries to detect traps but says you never know if there is a trap until you find it or it springs on you. Then, before anyone can stop him, Fink climbs up on top of the statue to attempt to discover any secret compartments that might be hidden there. Unfortunately, rather than discovering a secret compartment, he discovers that the statue is covered in contact poison and it has been absorbed by the halfling's bare feet. The party watches him shudder for a moment and then collapse on the statue, sound asleep. They have no idea what has happened to him.<br /><br />Degar mutters, "What the--?" <br /><br />The dwarf moves forward quickly and drags Fink off the statue. Routunious goes over to Fink's sleeping form, but has no idea what could have caused this.<br /><br />Routunious asks, "Is it the Dream Fever?"<br /><br />Elessaria shakes her head, "No, this was too sudden. The Dream Fever causes illness for several days before the sleeping takes you..." She thinks hard, examining the spider from a distance and suddenly a connection is made.<br /><br />"Drow," she says, "dark elves worship spiders. Because spiders are poisonous, the drow are very skilled in a wide variety of poisons, and often use sleep inducing poison on their weapons to take their enemies more easily. This statue is probably covered in a contact poison, and he's sleeping now because his feet touched the statue."<br /><br />Routunious, nervously looking around him, asks, "What do we know about the Drow?" <br /><br />Degar says, "Not much. Underground elves? I've heard of them, but never seen them. Evil, is all I know. Black skinned devils with white hair."<br /><br />Routunious walks around the spider statue. Upon closer examination, he realizes that the spinnerets of the statue appear to be some kind of clasp.<br /><br />Routunious takes his knife-spear and pries the spinnerets open, revealing a secret compartment. Inside is a rolled up parchment and a key.<br /><br />Suddenly, gas roils into the room from out of the statue. All of the party begin coughing and scratching at their skin. Routunious and Degar seem less affected than Elesaria and Duncan, but all are nauseous and feeling ill.<br /><br />Degar and Elessaria KNOW they're lucky and realize that the trap must be quite old for the gas to be degraded so.<br /><br />Routunious uses the knife-spear to lift the parchment and the key from the compartment. The key has a spider motif. He points to Elessaria. "You're an elf with<br />gloves. You read it."<br /><br />Elessaria takes the scroll and opens it, but the written language is alien to her.<br /><br />"I can't read drow," Elessaria says.<br /><br />Routunious asks, "Where is the brooch of translation?"<br /><br />"Stago had it, I suppose it is with his other belongings packed in Tick-a-Tick's chest compartment."<br /><br />Elessaria says, "This may be important, I might be able to translate it without going back..."<br /><br />She sits down and spends after about half an hour, she gives up, saying, "This is the best that I can do."<br /><br /><em>"I have (3),(4)(5),(6)(7) know if your memories are (13)(14)(15) your<br />(17)."</em> The 13th and 15th words are the same. Below the message and to<br />the right: <em>"(18),(19),(20)" and then below that: "(21)." </em><br /><br />Degar says, "That wasn't much help."<br /><br />Routunious suggests, "Let's use the key on the door."<br /><br />"Better if the thief does that," Degar says, pointing at the still sleeping halfling. Duncan gets water from the river and splashes Fink's face. Fink is now<br />wet and sleeping.<br /><br />Elessaria approaches the door. Degar is beside her. Duncan and Routunious hide behind the spider, with the body of Fink. Slowly, cautiously, she slides the key into the lock. <br /><br />Elessaria turns the key. Tumblers click and move. She can't push the<br />door. <br /><br />Routunious suggests, "Pull it?"<br /><br />Nothing.<br /><br />"Lift it?"<br /><br />Nothing. <br /><br />Degar says, "Try sideways!"<br /><br />Elessaria tries pushing it to the left, and nothing happens. She tries pushing it to the right and it slides quickly in that direction--so quickly that if she had not been deft enough to pluck the key from the lock it would have broken as the door slid into the rock.<br /><br />Inside the room is a treasure chest! <br /><br />Degar jumps in front of Elessaria and goes to the chest.<br /><br />"It has a lock," he says and prepares to bash it open. <br /><br />Elessaria stops him by saying, "Wait, try the key!"<br /><br />Degar tries the key, but it doesn't fit. Instead of proceeding with the bashing plan, the dwarf hangs back and examines the chest. It looks like a lunchbox. The handle is a rod of ivory held by rings.<br /><br />Degar lifts the chest. It is very heavy. <br /><br />"You're as crazy as Stago," Elessaria says.<br /><br />He shakes it and hears a heavy rattling, almost a clunking, inside. <br /><br />He puts it down and says to Elessaria, "Try something pointy."<br /><br />Elessaria uses her short sword and pries open the top of the chest. They look inside and see a large number of silver and copper ingots. These are small, probably equal to 5 coins of the corresponding metal.<br /><br />It takes 5 minutes to count the ingots. There are 250 gold ingots. This is equal to 125 gp, 300 copper ingots, equal to 1500 cp or 15 gp.<br /><br />"Why the secret door for this?" Degar asks. They continue searching the room and the chest but find no more secret doors or panels. <br /><br />Looking at the chest again, Degar says, "The ivory rod here looks like it slides between the rings and has silver caps on both ends. Maybe they come off." Then Elessaria exampines the ivory rod, and discovers that it is a tube containing two pieces of parchment. She gives them to Duncan. <br /><br />Duncan examines them, and says, "Yes, they are spell scrolls, but without <em>identify</em>, I can't tell what they might be." <br /><br />Degar carries all the silver ingots which weigh a little over 12 pounds and a single copper ingot, for reasons he will not divulge.<br /><br />After discussing options, Elessaria and Routunious decide to act as a small away team and leave the others in the grotto with Fink while they explore the tunnels a little further out.Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-37503343552868202332007-08-24T12:55:00.000-04:002008-12-13T08:59:25.101-05:0022 Eleasias, 1368: The Stairway<strong>1:00 am</strong><br />After studying and praying for two hours, Routunious and Duncan return. <br /><br />"I've been thinking about the mushrooms," the priest says. <br /><br />Elessaria asks, "What were you thining about them?"<br /><br />Routuionious responds, "About ways to dry them down here. If Stago were here to assist, I might try using the nitre."<br /><br />Degar interrupts, "No, that would ruin the mushroom. It needs to be done naturally, I tell ye!"<br /><br />Routunious waves him off, "No, anything natural can be accomplished by means magical, if one understands how to attempt it. What I realized was that <em>create water</em> is a reversible spell. I've prayed for the ability to reverse it and...." The priest casts dispell water on the mushrooms and they instantly become perfectly dried pieces of fungi. <br /><br />Degar whistles, "Verrrry clever....for a top dweller!"<br /><br />Routunious smiles at the compliment, "Thank you."<br /><br />Their levity is interrupted by the sound of skittering somewhere around them. They search for the source for nearly an hour, but find nothing. The caves are silent again. <br /><br /><strong>2:00 am</strong><br />The party prepares to make the descent to the bottom of the giant stone steps. Each ledge drops about ten feet to the next level. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmxYMWsaspshmDrDyBPwTXZDmxTiWJm0dYgXZpQjwbpW0QM2BoP6RoVv6iDYthHG68rNZ9Rp0MHMe1LgmT7xmktrj-F7BKfAISHZfZ2UU5ZXyzSuELANgk_y80iMY74jhqvB7/s1600-h/ra5023.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmxYMWsaspshmDrDyBPwTXZDmxTiWJm0dYgXZpQjwbpW0QM2BoP6RoVv6iDYthHG68rNZ9Rp0MHMe1LgmT7xmktrj-F7BKfAISHZfZ2UU5ZXyzSuELANgk_y80iMY74jhqvB7/s400/ra5023.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102323771753260626" /></a>Elessaria jumps down, avoiding any injury, and she examines the husk of the dead hook horror.<br /><br />Degar asks, "How did it die?" <br /><br />Elessaria shouts up, "It was in a a battle, one with edged weapons."<br /><br />The dwarf postulates, "Probably fought with those guards and got wounded, crawled down here to die, I wager."<br /><br />Elessaria checks the next ledge down and the rest of the party prepares to follow her. Degar clumsily falls from the ledge and hurts himself, but eventually all are down to the next step.<br /><br /><strong>2:34 am</strong><br />The party jumps to next level. Degar again, stumbles and falls, injuring himself still further. They jump again, and this time everyone makes it without injury. The party, now accustomed to the activity, continues jumping to the bottom of the series of ledges. Degar drinks a healing potion.<br /><br />Degar, embarrassed, says, "You'd think that caving would be more like mountaineering...did I mention I'm skilled at mountain climbing?" and is at 11HP.<br /><br />Eyeing the bottom, the company observes a dead bark creature. Also, there are two angelic colums on this side of a 30' wide underground river that is roaring past the bank where they stand. Across the river are two demonic pillars.<br /><br />Duncan asks, "How are we going to get across that?"<br /><br />Elessaria wonders, "Are we sure we even want to?"<br /><br />Degar suggests, "Let's toss the halfling across this river, and he can hold a rope to tie off on the other side!" <br /><br />They examine the dead bark creature. It appears to have been killed by a combination of edged weapons and blunt trauma, such as might come from a club-like weapon.<br /><br />Degar looks at the columns and the edge of the river. There seems to be a remnant of a bridge that once spanned the river between the two sets of columns. Signs indicate it was intentionally destroyed with tools.<br /><br />Elessaria touches one of the columns. It feels like wet stone. <br /><br />The adventurers spend a good deal of time debating what to do now. They are fearful of attempting the brambles again, and decide that they should try to cross the river somehow...but probably not using the plan of tossing Fink across. All the plans, however, involve rope use, and all the rope is back in the mushroom cavern with Tick-a-Tick. <br /><br />Fink climbs back up, only to discover that Tick-A-Tick won't give him the rope without a command from Routunious to do so. Fink calls down to the priest and tells him he will have to climb back up and help him get the rope.<br /><br />This is a long and difficult process for the priest, but he manages. In spite of some minor damage along the way, eventually the party is back together and armed with ropes at the bank of the river.<br /><br />Unfortunately, Dunacan has a nasty slip on the wet rocks and and gets injured. He eats a hunk of magic mushroom and is healed.<br /><br />After hashing through and trying several different options, it become obvious that the only plan with a chance of success is, in fact, tossing the hobbit across the river with a rop tied to him. Fink is not thrilled, but is willing to do his part for the cause.<br /><br />Elessaria ties a rope around Fink and tries to throw him across the river. She fails and he plops into the whirling waters and nearly drowns as they pull him back in to shore. He lies there on the rocks, unconscious and breathing shallowly. Routunious casts a <em>cure light wounds</em> spell on him and he recovers slightly. While he is still too weak to protest, the elven ranger picks him up and throws him again, this time succeeding in making her throw to the other side of the river.<br /><br />On the other side...the battered halfling scouts. He shouts back, "There's some kind of grotto over here on the other side of the pillars!" <br /><br />Routunious asks, "What can you see in it?"<br /><br />"There's a stone spider statue and 3 passages that branch off from the main chamber."<br /><br />Elessaria shouts over the roar of the water, "Can you tie off your rope to something so we can pull ourselves across?"<br /><br />Fink shouts back, "I'll try!" He searches the area and decides that the evil looking pillar will make a sturdy anchor. He expertly ties off his end of the rope and sits down to rest, waving to tell the others that he has done it.<br /><br />The party makes a sling with a blanket, and Duncan is the first to cross. All of the others follow without incident, and find themselves stading in the grotto with the stone spider.Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-5458767212273454742007-08-24T10:58:00.000-04:002008-12-13T08:59:25.392-05:0021 Eleasias, 1368: The Mushroom CircleAfter recovering from the events of the nixie pool, the party moves down the side passage in a new marching order without Stago:<br /><br />Elessaria<br />Degar<br />Duncan<br />Routunious<br />Tick-A-Tick<br />Fink<br /><br />The passage returns them to the large, domed cavern with the circle of mushrooms. There is an earthy subterranean smell, is is dank and warm, and dominating the center of the cavern is a mushroom ring.<br /><br />The little Friendly Fungus is walking with Elessaria now, farting in consternation at the missing Stago. <br /><br />Routunious examines the mushrooms, in quiet calm now that there are no more wood woses to disturb them. His proficiency with herbalism allows him to make some conjecture about the fungi in the ring. His knowldege is limited though.<br /><br />Degar steps up next to him and says, "Ye know where them mushrooms grow, son?"<br /><br />Routunious, perterbed, says without looking up, "Obviously they grow underground."<br /><br />The dwarf continues to pester him, "Do ye know what else grows underground?"<br /><br />"Do tell."<br /><br />"Dwarves do. They get born, they grow, and they die underground. If I was wondering about something that lived underground, I might ask a dwarf about it, but that's just me."<br /><br />Routunious sighs, "Do you know anything about these mushrooms?"<br /><br />"No, but I like to be asked." The dwarf roars with laughter and Routunious turns back to his study of the fungi. Degar taps him on the back, saying, "I was just joking...Yea, I know a thing or two about 'em. That tall one, with the twin caps, that's got healing properties. A magic mushroom and a lucky omen when you find it in the wild. A fresh one, eaten right off the stalk, that will heal ye complete. It's like a potion of <em>heal</em>. If you pick it, it stays fresh for about a day. After that, it starts to rot a bit and that spoils it. You can dry them, though, and though they aren't as effective as when they're fresh, they're still pretty good medicine and they keep forever that way."<br /><br />Routunious is intrigued, "Can I dry them here?"<br /><br />"Nah, not in a dank and drippy cave like this. You need drying rocks and heat, an oven, that sort of thing."<br /><br />Routunious takes out a bottle and begins collecting spores from the mushroom, for possible later cultivation. He fills an entire bottle and then cuts off a steak-sized chunk that is good for around 20 bites or so.<br /><br /><strong>2:15 pm</strong><br />The Friendly Fungus keeps walking back to the pool and looking into it while making obnoxious noises. He seems to have gotten very attached to Stago and misses him.<br /><br />Degar and Routunious go around the circle of mushrooms looking to see if there are any shriekers, and they find none. Then they move over to examine the wall of brambles and thorns that blocks the passage leading off to the right.<br /><br />Elessaria also walks the perimeter of the mushroom circle, examining it very closely. She notices that there are thirteen growths which look less like mushrooms than they do young, tiny nightshades. These things are mossy and soft, with shoots that have just burst through the ground. They have unnervingly human-like faces. <br /><br />The elf calls Degar and Routunious over. She says, "You're the experts, what are those things?"<br /><br />Routunious says, "They could be baby wood woses, I suppose."<br /><br />Degar shouts, "Let's kill them!" <br /><br />Elessaria stops him, shouting as he lifts his boot to stomp on one, "No!"<br /><br />"Why does she have to spoil all the fun?"<br /><br />"We don't know what they are," Elessaria says, "and until we do, we aren't going to kill them."<br /><br />"Have you looked inside the ring yet?" Fink asks.<br /><br />No one is willing to go inside the mushroom ring, until Fink volunteers to climb up on the shoulders of Tick-a-Tick and look inside the ring. They all agree this is a good idea, and he does so. <br /><br />"There's a glint, a reflection, in the middle of the mushroom circle," he says, "let's go in!"<br /><br />Elessaria attempts to dissuade further investigation of the mushroom circle. "We have many tasks and all are vital...we have to stay focused. There's the over-arching goal of finding Shandar's <em>Staff of Negation</em>. There's the political situation of Constable Tren versus Randall Morn. And Degar's quest, of course. Clearing Duncan's name and also getting Fink out of debt...and not least of all, releasing Stago from the nixie."<br /><br />"That is a lot for a To Do list," agrees Fink, "but something shiny might be money and that could help with some of those goals."<br /><br />"Alright, but if you're going in, we need a plan," Elessaria says.<br /><br />The decide to tie a rope to Fink who, will creep in between the mushroom stalks to the center. He does so and spends twenty minutes searching. All he finds is a broken potion bottle, an intact and full potion bottle filled with a blue liquid, and four pieces of amber that are worth about 20 gold pieces.<br /><br />When he emerges from the ring, Routunious barks out, "What did you find?"<br /><br />Fink tosses the potion bottle to him. Routunious catches it and examines it. <br /><br />"It's a blue liquid," Fink offers, helpfully.<br /><br />"I can see that. It must be a potion of some kind," Routunious says.<br /><br />Fink pokes at one of the tiny bark creatures. He says, "There were many footprints<br />of bark creatures. Or wood woses, whatever you want to call them."<br /><br />"Keep searching the area," Elessaria commands. Routunious and Duncan go around the room and look down a narrow corridor. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2n7Riustql447ciFO4__jFKbg7yxpYCBERurCbI4J0EvrZwSPg8ylxpB1C0v7TO-bEQSNNHcoK4B_DGHoVWLU5F95AwVOtHER0AMiOB2ofAodPSaHdccGRsol4bfUud_jLdRV/s1600-h/ra5022.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2n7Riustql447ciFO4__jFKbg7yxpYCBERurCbI4J0EvrZwSPg8ylxpB1C0v7TO-bEQSNNHcoK4B_DGHoVWLU5F95AwVOtHER0AMiOB2ofAodPSaHdccGRsol4bfUud_jLdRV/s400/ra5022.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102322603522156098" /></a>Elessaria, Degar and Fink go to the bramble-blocked corridor. They hear a rustling, and bend in to take a closer look. Suddenly, the rustling increases and a bark creature pokes out it's wooden head. The party is just as surprised as the wood wose, who quickly pulls its head back through the brambles.<br /><br />As the party recovers from the shock of seeing another bark creature, portions of the wall of thorns begin move. Tendrils of vines and sharp thorns shoot out. Degar<br />and Fink are caught in the vines which encircle them and begin to constrict like pythons. Each tendril of vine is covered in iron hard thorns that cut deeply into the flesh causing a great deal of damage. <br /><br />Fink quickly collapses from blood loss and slips out of consiousness. It is like being entangled in a rope of daggers. <br /><br />Duncan and Routunious see what's happening and try to determine some means of helping the halfling. Elessaria hacks away at the vines with her sword.<br /><br />Degar relaizes that the more he thrashes, the more damage he takes, and he attempts to stand as still as possible, despite the pain.<br /><br /><strong>2:20 pm</strong><br /><br />Elessaria again hacks away at the vines, but now they fight back! The elf takes a very serious wound from the whipping motion of the vine.<br /><br />"Don't move!" yells Routunious. <br /><br />Degar adds to the warning, "Take another thrashing like that and you're unconscious!"<br /><br />Fink moves frantically in an effort to escape and dies a grisly death. Elessaria suffers additional damage, though minor, as she has taken the advice she was given and is trying to remain motionless. She continues to bleed. <br /><br />Degar slips into a battle rage, but in a tremendous effort of will he manages to suppress the rage and stop it. He realizes that in a rage he would tear himself to ribbons under the current conditions.<br /><br /><strong>2:31 pm</strong><br />Finally, the branches and tendrils withdraw into the wall of thorns. <br /><br />Elessaria has taken damage as the vines retreat and she falls to her knees. Routunious runs over to her and attempts to stop Elessaria's<br />many bleeding wounds. He fails! <br /><br />He cries out, "Oh, my God!"<br /><br />Elessaria continues to slide toward death.<br /><br />Routunious gives the elf an entire bottle of <em>Potion of Extra Healing </em>, and although it doesn't restore her completely, she does regain conciousness.<br /><br />Routunions examines the tattered body of Fink, lying in the blood that is pooling from hundreds of punctures. The priest removes a scroll tube from his pack and unscrews the cap. He removes a scroll and reads it over the body.<br /><br />The priest finishes with the command, "Arise!" <br /><br />Fink has been successfully raised from the dead. Routunious cradles the disoriented thief and gets him to eat a bite of the mushroom.<br /><br />The flood of health released by the fungus is miraculous, and Fink smiles up at Routunious.<br /><br />Routunious says, "You're indebted to me."<br /><br />Fink replies, "Get in line."<br /><br /><strong>3:00 pm</strong><br />The party ponders what to do now, after recovering from the battle they fought with the vines. Clearly there are more wood woses in the area, just behind the wall of thorns. It seems as though they also have the ability to use an <em>entangle</em> spell to cause the wall of thorns to deal horrific damage to anyone trying to get through the wall.<br /><br />Fink suggests, "Let's burn it!" <br /><br />Elessaria shouts, "NO FIRES!" She has a very strong aversion to any sort of open flame in this area, though she can't explain why.<br /><br />She forces calm into her voice, and says, "Let's go forward, through the other passageway, but with new battle order."<br /><br />Degar<br />Elessaria<br />Fink<br />Duncan<br />Routunious<br />Tik-A-Tik<br /><br />The party moves to the only unexplored opening off of the mushroom cave. They discover, however, that Tick-a-Tick is too big to fit through it without major excavation.<br /><br />They look a short ways beyond the opening, and see a tunnel, with floors descending deeply in steps. On the first step below them is the dessicated exoskeleton of another male hook horror. Far below they hear the sound of roaring water.<br /><br />Elessaria says, "This seems like the most defensable position available. We should sleep here. Once we've slept we can replenish your spells and prayers to prepare for the next set of challenges."<br /><br />Routunious makes a primitive alarm. by stringing pots and pans on a rope near the lip of the cliff. Tick-a-Tick stands watch completely blocking entrance into the tunnel. Everyone sleeps for eight hours.<br /><br /><strong>11:00 pm</strong><br />After awaking from their sleep, the party divides up. Routunious goes to a private area to commune with Gond and make his prayers known. Duncan goes to a private area and studies his spell book, memorizing th spells that he believes will be most useful this day.Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-3702006911690710152007-08-24T01:28:00.000-04:002008-12-13T08:59:25.857-05:0021 Eleasias, 1368: Gone FishingAs they eat their rations amid the farting of the fungoids, the party members hatch their plan to rescue the priest.<br /><br />Stago asks, "Does anyone know what kind of woman that green skinned creature that took Routunious is? And those bark skinned things, what are those?"<br /><br />"I have never seen a nixie, but I've heard of them often enough...I believe that is what has taken Routuinious. As to the tree people, I have no knowledge."<br /><br />Degar says, "A nixie. Aye, that makes sense, though I don't know what one is doing underground. They're forest creatures, ain't they?"<br /><br />"They somewhat resemble their sylvan cousins, but nixies are creatures of fresh water, and are possible to find in lake or pool, and sometimes rivers, though it is rare. It is even more rare to find them underground, I would think, but not impossible. I have heard they possess a potent charm spell that can bend the will of men to their every desire, but I thought that it took a group of them to cast it. This one appears to be solitary."<br /><br />Fink asks, "Are they evil? What does it want with him?"<br /><br />Elessaria answers, "They are neither evil nor good, they serve only their own interests. The purpose of the charm is to capture male slaves to do their work for them, and in this case...to satisfy the cravings that come with lonliness, I suppose."<br /><br />Duncan asks, "But...how do their slaves...breathe underwater?"<br /><br />"Nixies can cast a <em>water breathing </em>spell on their victims, which they can bestow on any creature, or remove, once per day."<br /><br />Degar is thoughtful, then says, "I know having a priest is a blessing. But, if he's a breather of water and not of air now, and if he's charmed as ye say to adore this green skinned lass who's keeping him as her slave...what good will rescuing him do? He'll only choke to death on the air while trying to claw his way back to her, won't he?"<br /><br />"It is a risk...I don't know if the effect is permanent, or if she might be persuaded to release him and restore him...but he is one of us, and we leave no one behind."<br /><br />"Very well," the dwarf grumbles, "but how do ye plan to get him?"<br /><br />They all make suggestions, and in the end it is decided that they will tie a bag of<br />copper pieces to the other end of a rope that's attached to Tick-a-Tick. Elessaria, the strongest swmimmer, will dive into the pool of water and attmept to fetch Routunious. Even if she can't get to him on the first dive, at least they will have a better idea of what is in the pool. <br /><br />The plan is agreed upon and Elessaria.<br /><br />As Elessaria starts to remove her armor, she says, "Degar, I'll need you to keep hands on the rope, if I tug it, then you'll have to pull me up as fast as you can." Fink and Duncan retire from the pool chamber.<br /><br />Elessaria practices holding her breath with Degar timing her efforts, to get a sense of how long he should wait before pulling her up anyway. Then, satisfied they have prepared as best she can, she straps on her sword and holding tight to the bag of coppers, she dives in. The elf sinks past the surprised nixie and touches down at the bottom to the pool, which flares out into a rather wide, domed chamber. She notices a opening, like a cave to one side and near it a hut made of woven living water plants. In it, she sees Routunious acting like a domestic servant, cleaning and repairing the nixie's home.<br /><br />Elessaria beckons to Routunious who starts toward her, but the nixie intervenes and seems to be able to telepathically command Routunious to return to work.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3354wuvA2tkpTcMbm6uJmD4n65tPkWIZWOcqbjpVYI7JeU5lyfv_RQ3ZMQMCQ2NKqWvujtGczs-P0_JgafwHHAvViTQjrZrPJSGs3TWAom_uEufSOFykwG_jrYM87sCZErzm/s1600-h/02948_G+aquatic+familiars.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3354wuvA2tkpTcMbm6uJmD4n65tPkWIZWOcqbjpVYI7JeU5lyfv_RQ3ZMQMCQ2NKqWvujtGczs-P0_JgafwHHAvViTQjrZrPJSGs3TWAom_uEufSOFykwG_jrYM87sCZErzm/s200/02948_G+aquatic+familiars.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102268207761352210" /></a>Suddenly, Elessaria notices movement above and around the hut and realizes that several giant fish are now circling the doorway like guard dogs. The nixie swims above, watching as Elessaria takes out her sword and heads toward the entrance of the<br />dwelling.<br /><br />The fish attack! The first fish misses as it streaks toward her flashing needle-like teeth. The second fish is actually an eel, and it snakes in and bites for a great deal of damage. Elessaria tries to get her sword in for a strike, but she is unused to underwater combat and comes nowhere near her target. Her lungs begin to ache from the need for air.<br /><br />The fish swims in from behind and bites Elessaria, drawing more blood. Again the elf tries to counter and misses. The fish bites her again and again. Routunious watches mournfully as he continues under his compulsion to do his chores. Another strike from the fish rips away a large chunk of flesh from Elessaria, who winces in pain. She has had enough and tugs forcefully on the rope. Degar immediately begins pulling her up with a steady, hand over hand motion.<br /><br />Neither the fish nor eel pursue her, and the nixie watches her ascent with a smile of satisfaction. Her home is safe from intruders.<br /><br />As healing is given to Elessaria, the company bickers about what to do next.<br /><br />Elessaria stops any talk of leaving the priest behind, "It doesn't just come down to loyalty. As the party's only cleric, there is no question. Routunious must be saved."<br /><br />Stago pulls Duncan aside and asks what spell the mage has memorized today.<br /><br />"<em>Burning Hands</em>," he replies.<br /><br />Stago says, "Cast it on my <em>ring of spell storing</em>. I'll cast my <em>color spray</em>. I have a scroll of <em>water breathing</em>--"<br /><br />Elessaria interrupts, "You have a what?"<br /><br />Stago explains, "Let me finish...I think that if we all hold hands while I cast it on one of us, it will affect all of us, but for a much shorter duration than if I'd only used it on a single target. We'll use the scroll and then we'll swim down there and attack the nixie. If she is defeated, the fish will swim away and it is very likely the priest will snap out of it and be his old self again." <br /><br />"Why didn't you suggest this the first time?" Elessaria asks.<br /><br />Stago replies, "You're the leader, I wanted to give your idea a chance to succeed."<br /><br />"More likely you forgot you had it until just now. If the duration of the spell is diminished by the number of people it is cast upon, then Fink and Duncan should remain in the cave with Tick-a-Tick. We three should be adequate for the assault, and we might need the extra time. How long for three of us?"<br /><br />Stago replies, "About four hours."<br /><br />"Let's do it."<br /><br />The gnome removes all of his items, save for a dagger, his clothing and the ring. He<br />casts scroll of water breathing on the away team.<br /><br />As the away team descends deeper into the pool, they get closer to the astonished nixie. At 20 feet, the males in the away team find it difficult to take their eyes off of her. Degar shakes it off, but Stago succombs to her charms. He has fallen hopelessly in love with the enemy. Degar can tell what is happening and as he sinks past the nixie he swings at her with his axe, shouting through a torrent of bubbles, "Take that, ye miserable little useless creature!"<br /><br />The party touches down at the bottom of the pool. The nixie, who seems able to tell which males are affected and which are not...perhaps because the charm also establishes a telepathic link between nixie and slave. Stago seperates from the party and goes down the corridor by the hut at the nixie's behest.<br /><br />The fish and eels immediately attack the remaining members of the away team. Degar takes a deep bite from the fish, and it swmims past his reaching fingers. The eel chomps into Elessaria. This time she manages to stab it with her weapon, however. Degar connects with his axe and wounds the fish. It is still able to fight, however, and hits Degar back with a fierce bite. Degar fights back, but misses.<br /><br />The eel also manages a lucky and damaging bite on the elf.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Stago & Routunious have been commanded to walk through the cave and down the passage. The water is calm and still, like the water of the pool, but at a certain point they feel a tingle of energy, as though they have walked through a <em>wall of force</em>. Suddenly there is a change in pressure and the water has a current. They keep walking, though it is harder to keep their footing now, and exit the passageway to begin walking along the bottom of an underground river.<br /><br />Back at the fish fight, Elessaria hits the eel and slices it in twain! Although seperated from its body, the eels head still manages a final bite which deals a great amount of damage. The elf tries to pry the jaws apart and remove the head but before she is able to, she passes out from loss of blood.<br /><br />Degar sees this, but cannot help as he is still engaged with the fish. He decides to break away from the melee and give aid to Elessaria. The fish tries to take advantage of the fleeing dwarf but somehow misses its attack. <br /><br />Degar surprises the fish by spinning in the water, bringing his axe in a beautiful arc which slices through the water, the fish and leaves both halves the bloodthirsty creature slowly sinking to the bottom. He swims to the unconcious elf.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Stago has caught a fish in the underground river and gives it to Routunious. Routunious puts it in a bag he is carrying. Stago swims up to the surface to takes a look. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLFjiazTgYHrWcEy7UotWu669OQwAtt_g-NlX4F4_1QwyCbPmp7tXJnXvYIz1vyJgMK6uUFPcYrZCWhjituJC9iuzQI4D3kB-BnWjbbWsfI4by0zsVvzgRc5TB0ebCZtFkHTu/s1600-h/2814_G+pillar+of+evil.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLFjiazTgYHrWcEy7UotWu669OQwAtt_g-NlX4F4_1QwyCbPmp7tXJnXvYIz1vyJgMK6uUFPcYrZCWhjituJC9iuzQI4D3kB-BnWjbbWsfI4by0zsVvzgRc5TB0ebCZtFkHTu/s200/2814_G+pillar+of+evil.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102268461164422690" /></a>He sees an immense space of a giant cavern through which the river rushes. Upstream there is a shattered bridge and columns that resemble some sort of evil beings. After doing his best to commit the surroundings to memory, he submerges again and returns to gathering dinner for the nixie with Routuinous.<br /><br />In the nixie cave, Degar grabs Elessaria and begins pumping his way to the surface with the elf in his arms. Breaking water, he bellows to Fink and Duncan, "Mushrooms!" <br /><br />The dwarf has to submerge again for a moment to breathe more water, but by the time he comes back to the surface Fink is there to give Degar a mushroom. Degar puts<br />it in Elessaria's mouth and makes her swallow. She begins to heal.<br /><br />Unknown to those on the surface, the nixie begins to take the threat seriously now that her guardfish have been slain. She swims out to Routunious & Stago, and beckons them to follow her away.<br /><br />Just below the surface, and still holding onto Elessaria with one arm, Degar eats some of the healing mushrooms himself. Restored, the dwarf and elf wave to Fink and Duncan before they submerge and swim down to the nixie's underwater lair. They find it abandoned but full of gems and art objects. <br /><br />With neither the nixie nor her slaves anywhere to be found, the pair collect the items from the nixie hut and bring it to the surface. Doing so takes about half an hour. They leave the items with Fink and Duncan to catalog, and swim back down to look for Stago and Routunious before the duration of the spell expires.<br /><br />The items they have stolen from the nixie include: <br />Alexandrite (200 gp).<br />Carved coral statuary of pregnant female nixie with the inscription "Acquar" (1300 gp)<br />A male version of the statue with the words "Stago'oquar" (300 gp).<br />Scrimshaw (30 gp)<br />Azurite (10 gp)<br />Carnelian (50 gp)<br />Citrine (50 gp)<br />Coral, black (100 gp)<br />Jade (100 gp)<br />2 Jaspers (50 gp each)<br />Onyx (25 gp)<br />Spinel (500 gp)<br /><br />After examining the treasure, Fink and Duncan put it into Tick-a-Tick. <br /><br />"You know," Fink says to Duncan, "this is a lot of of treasure. And when they jumped in the water, they left a lot of magical items up here for us to watch, and I suspect that this metal fighting machine here, you could probably control it the same way that Stago did when the priest went after that fish woman."<br /><br />"I don't think I like what you're suggesting."<br /><br />"I'm suggesting that there are bad people after me and that this pile of loot would go a long way to getting them off my back."<br /><br />Duncan, shocked, says, "Surely you're not suggesting we steal from these people and abandon them to these tunnels!"<br /><br />Fink shrugs, "Why not? I've known you a lot longer than this Severed Head crowd. Why should I be loyal to them?" <br /><br />"No. I'm not going back on my word."<br /><br />Fink gives up on the argument.<br /><br />Down below, Elessaria & Degar swim through the cave and down the corrider at the bottom of the pool. They also feel the tingle as they pass through the strange energy barrier. It takes a moment to adjust their swimming to the motion of the current that is on the other side. <br /><br />Standing at the edge of the corridor which empties into the underground river is the nixie. They hear her voice in their minds through some sort of telepathy.<br /><br />"My name is Mara. Why have you come here to kill my pets, take my slaves, and steal all my wealth? I tried to help you in the Wood Wose attack."<br /><br />There is a long debate about whether or not the help that she offered them could also be construed as an attack, and that the taking of slaves is just as wrong as the theft of material goods.<br /><br />In the end, they strike a bargain. She will trade one of her slaves for the treasure that the party has stolen from her. She will release the second when they have found and given her treasure of equal value to what they took.<br /><br />Degar and Elessaria feel they have little choice, their water breathing spell is soon to wear off and they would not be able to harm their companions should the nixie order them to defend her.<br /><br />"Agreed," Elessaria says.<br /><br />The nixie asks, "Which one do you wish to take, then?" <br /><br />Elessaria considers it, and decides that because they have Duncan, a priest is more immediately of value than an illsuionist.<br /><br />"We would take the priest now, and will return soon for the gnome."<br /><br />"Nixie," Degar questions her, "what can ye tell us of the caverns and the pool ye live in? We're not here to plunder yer goods, but took them only to use as a tool to bargain for the return of our companions....our real mission is to find information that will solve a problem on the surface, out in the open air of the town."<br /><br />Mara considers this, and says, "Long ago, my pool was the source of water for the fountain in the courtyard of the temple. I kept it pure and clean for them...but that was so long ago and the fountain no longer flows...the priests no longer visit me and care for my needs."<br /><br />Elessaria asks, "Those creatures...the ones made of wood...you called them something."<br /><br />"Wood Woses," she says, "Some people call them Night Shades. I don't like them. They started showing up after the priests went away. I sleep at night, though and that's when they prowl the caverns. I'm afraid I can't tell you much about them. I don't leave my pool very often, and no matter how lonely I get, they aren't the kind of company I'd like to keep."<br /><br />"Thank you," Elessaria says.<br /><br />Degar asks, "Where does this river flow to?" <br /><br />"Eventually it feeds into the River Tesh, when you come back with the rest of my treasure, I can help you breathe water again and escape this way."<br /><br />Elessaria grabs Routunious' hand and tugs him down the corridor, "We'll keep that in mind."<br /><br />They all travel to the bottom of the pool and Elessaria swims to the surface to explain the deal they have struck. All of the treasure is dumped back into the water and Routunious is released from his <em>charm</em> spell.<br /><br />3 hours later, everyone is topside, except for Stago who has remained with the nixie.<br /><br />They make ready to continue their quest, with the added need to aquire a great deal of treasure to purchase back their friend.<br /><br /><strong>Sources:</strong><ul><li><a href="http://www.reapermini.com/store/customer/product.php?productid=3349&cat=0&page=1">Reaper Miniatures: Aquatic Familiars</a><li><a href="http://www.reapermini.com/store/customer/product.php?productid=2234&cat=0&page=3">Reaper Miniatures: Pillar of Evil</a><br /></ul>Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-63675438306486411402007-08-23T20:26:00.000-04:002008-12-13T08:59:26.876-05:0021 Eleasias, 1368: Deeper, Darker, and More Dangerous<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdki0HuB1bBVyl4VQ3PSefefb0kGgeyZGkbaSd6MoJJ8JNIGK4KeMME41FaTl5W901y5ipYXrZtvAuYrZJd-ioFO1j16Zp07zcoK4GtvgjNjB0ARydzaQ-eXLuM1HTFs3p5bB/s1600-h/ra5018.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdki0HuB1bBVyl4VQ3PSefefb0kGgeyZGkbaSd6MoJJ8JNIGK4KeMME41FaTl5W901y5ipYXrZtvAuYrZJd-ioFO1j16Zp07zcoK4GtvgjNjB0ARydzaQ-eXLuM1HTFs3p5bB/s400/ra5018.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102073808885693554" /></a><strong>9:00 am</strong><br />The party, in battle order, march down the tunnel until they come to a fork in the passage where the excavated shaft meets the natural caverns below. In front of them is an enormous formation where ancient stalgtite and stalactite have met. Here the downhill slope ends and the cavern in front of them is more or less level.<br /><br />Illuminated by Routunious' hat light, the party is struck by the immense natural beauty, and so are startled when they hear a strange farting noise. <br /><br />After looking amongst themselves, they see walking toward them a small mushroom on legs, with arms, and a very human-like face on its stalk. More lurk in the shadows behind it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9SNa3m9JYXhDQdTcbiIdMqSc_dLmFytGcDfAZ1JbhLBhlu9neq90WKU5jJNMZZL9o8eAQSOr8Nh19-tqNwrdXXCkMOFh5BIPh4M0nmVjDdHHWBHeLzfm7Rx4GMJ-Wn0XfNDv/s1600-h/friendly+fungus.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9SNa3m9JYXhDQdTcbiIdMqSc_dLmFytGcDfAZ1JbhLBhlu9neq90WKU5jJNMZZL9o8eAQSOr8Nh19-tqNwrdXXCkMOFh5BIPh4M0nmVjDdHHWBHeLzfm7Rx4GMJ-Wn0XfNDv/s200/friendly+fungus.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102076145347902594" /></a>Elessaria asks, "Is this a mushroom man?"<br /><br />Degar and Stago confer, and Stago says, "I've never seen a myconid, the correct name for a mushroom man...but they are generally larger and we've never heard that...noise...associated with them. I think this is something else."<br /><br />Degar says, "I've heard tales of wee critters like these...Friendly Fungus they are called. I never thought I'd see one, so I didn't pay any attention to what those tales told."<br /><br />Stago brightens, "Friendly Fungus, of course! I think that their flesh has curative properties."<br /><br />Elessaria says, "If they are friendly, we're not eating them."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wtbkwqk9YkZ6NHR-XoAZJXH_5N0ibK4vHx6NUZQsqGznr5DYFuHaLqEpgMAVzkLdRbiAXwxoTayVEjJqFw_1Yr-WmU37ZriIBKZDGl5g-a4SZVExxqOOy53KaD9vJR0gPjJr/s1600-h/ra5019.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wtbkwqk9YkZ6NHR-XoAZJXH_5N0ibK4vHx6NUZQsqGznr5DYFuHaLqEpgMAVzkLdRbiAXwxoTayVEjJqFw_1Yr-WmU37ZriIBKZDGl5g-a4SZVExxqOOy53KaD9vJR0gPjJr/s200/ra5019.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102082368755514514" /></a>They walk into the cavern and see more fungoids. They sidle by...except for Stago, who attempts conversation with one of them. The Tendrils from Friendly Fungus reach toward Stago. The gnome scratches the cap, and instead of farting, the creature emits a sputtering purr. <br /><br />Stago exclaims, "It enjoys head scratching!" Stago stops scratching the fungoid and has to hurry to catch up to his fellows. The fungoid follows him. The party emerges from the tunnel into a large room. The cavern is moist with moss and earthy smells, and the floor and walls are slick. A circle of enormous mushrooms in the center of the cavern hides the other side from view, but they can see squat, dark shapes moving in the shadows, circling around on both flanks. <br /><br />The party discusses what to do next.<br /><br />Stago pipes up with a suggestion, "Let's toss a torch into the circle of mushrooms and see what happens." <br /><br />Elessaria reacts very strongly against this suggestion. She seems to be having some sort of memory or premonition that fire in these caverns would be very bad. Routunious agrees with Elessaria, but without the emotional underscoring to his reasoning. Stago is barely dissuaded.<br /><br />The party decides to retreat from the room, and returns down the passageway they have just traversed. Behind them, in the large cavern amid the mushroom circle, they hear the sound of breaking glass. <br /><br />Stago pleads with them to take direct action, "Whatever is back there, it's just going to follow us!"<br /><br />The party returns to the point where they met the fungoids beneath the natural column. The fungoids seem very agitated and are waving their arms and emitting sharp farting noises. <br /><br />Elessaria asks, "Does anyone else thing they want to lead us somewhere?"<br /><br />Routunious nods, then asks, "Yes, but to rescue us or to take us into a trap?"<br /><br />"Let's hope they are as friendly as their name would imply," she replies and begins following the fungoids down the other pathway. This passage opens into room with a large pool of still water. reflecting the hatlamp of the priest. The dark surface of the pool hiding anything that might be submerged within it. <br /><br />Stago examines the ceiling. Even though he is actively looking in the shadows of the uneven rock formations above them, the entire party is surprised to see something floating in the air above them.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4geETP_W6MRysNb9LJGzhmS5ggI8kSzSkdHK3HvfwLle7x9PnyUuu5fLb4ps40tmQDMFLdHFSjSssfohWu2lUS0S1kyAO6OkArEC8cRXpDjxux_QaMrBfNjd4JoQUm77mkC_/s1600-h/ra5020.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4geETP_W6MRysNb9LJGzhmS5ggI8kSzSkdHK3HvfwLle7x9PnyUuu5fLb4ps40tmQDMFLdHFSjSssfohWu2lUS0S1kyAO6OkArEC8cRXpDjxux_QaMrBfNjd4JoQUm77mkC_/s400/ra5020.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102090804071283874" /></a>It looks big and mean, like a bloated dwarf made entirely of wood. Three more of the creatures move in from the passage beyond the pool.<br /><br />The Bark-creature that is flying, spits at a viscous liquid at Elessaria, and it hits her in the face. She screams in agony and stumbles backward against the rock wall.<br /><br />Duncan, the young mage, casts magic missile at one of the creatures on the ground that is advancing toward them. They strike it unerringly and seem to cause the monster pain.<br /><br />As she shakes her head and grimaces through the pain, Elessaria realizes that her limbs are slightly numb, and she immediately understands that the creature's spittle has poisnoned her, causing a degenerative nerve damage that is likely to get worse as time passes. The fungoids farting becomes even more agitated.<br /><br />Stago also casts magic missile at the same creature Duncan attacked. It staggers, then cries out, "Ainecotte, I come!" As it shouts, it splinters into kindling.<br /><br />The gnome shouts to the priest, "Enkat? What the Nine Hells is Enkat?"<br /><br />Routunious shouts back, "A little busy here." The priest tosses knives at one of the two remaining creatures on the ground. One of the knives thuds into the bark-like skin and stays stuck there, the other clatters on the stone as it flies past the head of the creature. The knife that hit seems to have drawn blood...which oozes like sap from around the blade. <br /><br />Fink fires an arrow, hitting the same creature that Routunious struck. More sap spatters out where the arrow strikes home. Elessaria & the halfling avoid the sap. <br /><br />Fink fires another arrow, but misses. <br /><br />The creature, in turn, strikes out at Elessaria with its club, but misses her even in the elf's weakened state. The other two creatures close on the party.<br /><br />Degar intervenes and attacks the one on the ground with his hammer. The creature attacks him at the same moment. Degar misses, but the creature hits him in the face with his spiked club. The damage is only slight, but the Dwarf's face feels like it is on fire. He cries out, "Poison!"<br /><br />Elessaria draws her bow, nocs an arrow and lets loose at the creature she has been fighting. The creature's head nearly explodes from the force of the arrow hitting it. Sap flies everywhere, but all of the party manage to avoid the spatter pattern. The creature falls, unable to crie out because it no longer has a mouth.<br /><br />Elessaria and Degar feel the increasing clutch of the poison on their nervous system. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxmCEIOB-aPeJ6XVvdgeMPF-fxUPXGKdzmq7o9NE6OWqo2BDNt2gTOsa1-lez14nT092eY_TvijFl-It75XEUGP1Gl3ykeAVXcSCjy5f4kCQCFfhVYfu-W-c9Ob2xXqdyZwTp/s1600-h/nixie.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxmCEIOB-aPeJ6XVvdgeMPF-fxUPXGKdzmq7o9NE6OWqo2BDNt2gTOsa1-lez14nT092eY_TvijFl-It75XEUGP1Gl3ykeAVXcSCjy5f4kCQCFfhVYfu-W-c9Ob2xXqdyZwTp/s200/nixie.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102131335677656258" /></a>Because of their heightened sensitivity in the heat of the battle, no one is surprised when up from the center of the pool appears the head of a very beautiful woman. All of the funoids begin to purr when they see her.<br /><br />She has light green skin and dark green hair. The beautiful woman of the pool shouts to them, "Quick! Hide in the water!" <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRIzKwxvYh4lh2gdWW2RjpTmFQTX0oNbxf5FFryiAaUq_CUKFnGkKaNf60rPjehCqoBNZPhWilV-GrJGLRVnJ16P7VKQfLS9Vi-SJR4Jii_-O0CAWFICg3nxxlZQ-NScjX1Fp/s1600-h/ra5021.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRIzKwxvYh4lh2gdWW2RjpTmFQTX0oNbxf5FFryiAaUq_CUKFnGkKaNf60rPjehCqoBNZPhWilV-GrJGLRVnJ16P7VKQfLS9Vi-SJR4Jii_-O0CAWFICg3nxxlZQ-NScjX1Fp/s400/ra5021.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102130880411122866" /></a>Strangely, each member of the party feels a compulsion to obey the illogical command, for surely if they hide in the water they will drown. They all resist the compulsion, however...all, that is, but Routunious.<br /><br />As Stago fires sling-bullet at one of the remaining bark creatures, Routunious begins running toward the pool of water. Fink hits the bark creature Stago is attacking with one of two fired arrows.<br /><br />As Routunious gets nearer the edge of the water, the woman in the pools shields her eyes from his hatlamp and shouts for him to take it off. She seems very afraid of it.<br /><br />Degar misses his attack on the other bark creature. Routunious flings away his hat as he leaps into the pool. The lovely green woman grabs him and kisses him. When she releases the priest he sputters and gasps, and she drags him under the water.<br /><br />"He's drowning!" Elessaria shouts.<br /><br />Stago looks into the pool and sees Routunious smiling and waving back at him, seemingly happy as a fish.<br /><br />"No!" Stago shouts to Elessaria, "He's breathing water, now."<br /><br />The green lady begins tugging at his robes, and pulling Routunious deeper into the water. <br /><br />Elessaria, still suffering from the sap poison and fighting one of the bark creatures, fires again with her bow and misses widely with her first shot, but the second hits squarely. It cries out, "Ainecotte!" Then it falls to splinters, clattering down the stairs.<br /><br />The strange nymphette in the pool swims to the surface and pulls hat underwater. Suddenly everyone is plunged into darkness. It takes a moment for those with infravision to shift to that spectrum. During that transition the last remaining bark creature, the one flying in the air, strikes out at Degar and he feels the rush of air as the spiked club narrowly misses his head.<br /><br />Fink climbs into the pool of water, hanging on to the ledge. He ducks his head under water, shouting through bubbles at Routunious. <br /><br />Stago fires a magic missile at at the flying creature and causes some damage, as well as releasing a fine rain of poison sap from above.<br /><br />Routunious surfaces with Fink, and chokes on air. He can't breathe out of the water since he kissed the green woman. She swims up to grasp him in a hug, kissing him deeply again and then submerging to pull down Routunious's pantaloons. She struggles with his robe and as they sink again it is just barely possible to make out that they are engaged in an act of sexual congress. <br /><br />Degar again hits the bark creature, causing it to explode into splinters which rain down around the angry dwarf.<br /><br />Elessaria goes to the pool and dips her hands into it, using them to wash as much sap off of herself as she can. The green woman under the water looks up from what she is doing at this unclean use of her water and frowns. Elessaria doesn't care, even after washing the sap from her face, arms and hands she continues to worsen as the poison spreads through her system.<br /><br />Degar checks body of fallen bark creature but it has no treasure. Suddenly, he gets a bright idea and pushes his warhammer into the pooling sap oozing from the creature's wounds. <br /><br />Stago retrieves all of his sling bullets that he can find.<br /><br />Elessaria scratches a fungoid's head. It makes a mournful noise and leads Elessaria to the cavern-room with the mushroom large circle of mushrooms. She is too weak to resist. Degar and Duncan follow with weapons drawn. <br /><br />Because Routunious is underwater, Tick-a-Tick stands motionless. <br /><br />"That's a problem," Stago says. He uses his <em>wand of perfect illusion </em>to create the image of Routunious -- complete with voice -- to command Tick-a-Tick to move toward the pool. Stago ties rope to Tick-a-Tick and then tosses the other end into the pool.<br /><br />Meanwhile, friendly fungoid has lead Elessaria to a large mushroom and is pointing to it and farting. It gestures as though funneling food into its mouth.<br /><br />"You want me to eat it?" She asks, then says, "I'm too weak to argue."<br /><br />Elessaria grabs a hunk of the mushroom and eats it. Almost instantly she has a convulsion and breaks out into a hot sweat. She falls to her knees but feels strenght flooding through her and knows that she is regaining control of her musculature.<br /><br />Degar explores the small alcove just off the room with the pool and finds a pile<br />of treasure:<br /><br />2849 gold pieces...he pockets 100 pieces before calling out to the others to divulge his find. In addition to the gold, there are 6,700 coppers and a suit of brigandine armor that the dwarf is certain has an enchanted quality to it.<br /><br />Elessaria returns to the pool chamber and says, "We need to rest and recover before we undertake the search for the priest. Set watch and take turns eating and resting.Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-58641425605677361642007-08-23T19:19:00.000-04:002008-12-13T08:59:27.214-05:0021 Eleasias, 1368: Into the CryptsThe party steps through the wedged portcullis and enteres the corridor. The priests of Lathander were buried here; the high priests in graves and the lesser priests in the alcoves on either side of the passage. Long, narrow alcoves are stacked three high along both walls of this tunnel, and the floor is covered with graves. The graves are covered by large slabs of stone and bronze depicting the deceased and listing their titles and accomplishments. All of them seem to be priests and warriors devoted to Lathander, the god of the morning. <br /><br />Elessaria walks in, steps on a grave and holds her breath. Nothing happens. Degar follows her in. He whispers, "There are crypts everywhere ye look. You have to hand it to them, these priests didn't waste any space."<br /><br />Elessaria walks down the hall, and rounds the corner and sees that the crypts here have been excavated and a tunnel has been dug behind them. Stago walks around the other way, and joins them. He peers down the tunnel that has been dug through the graves there. They decide it would be prudent to thoroughly search the crypt area before venturing down the tunnel.<br /><br />He finds a door with a fairly complex lock. He takes off his armor to better his chances for lock-picking, and other thieving skills. He checks for traps, but doesn't detect any. The halfling manages to pick it the lock in 5 minutes time.<br /><br />Once the door is opened, Fink & Degar look inside and see a small stone chamber with two benches and a mural on the wall of Lathander descending from morning clouds. The benches are covered with yellow tablecloths and set with golden candlesticks, blackened silver censers, and a pink stone disk, Lathander's holy symbol. <br /><br />"This is interesting," Fink says. The halfling spends an entire hour searching for traps in this hidden chapel, but finds none. Outside, to pass the time while the thief does his work, Routunious explains about the altar service and the ethics<br />and foolhardiness in stealing holy items from the temples of gods."<br /><br />"We should leave it. At least for now. Close the door and if we later decide to take it with us, we know where it is," Elessaria decides.<br /><br />Fink protests, "If we close that door, it will relock, and I don't know if I can open the lock a second time."<br /><br />Routunious says, "Then that would be a sign from the gods that it wasn't meant to be."<br /><br />"Let us enter the tunnel," Elessaria says.<br /><br />This passageway was made by tearing down the back wall of a crypt alcove and then tunneling down to the natural limestone caverns below. The company steps through the opening onto a rough stone tunnel sloping downward. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfW3uA9_5ykmAbXK6kgAWP9aTCUBlplllsSZyDp0FVTRDTfsxVzwlSnDTbTS9esa8zWV1F_9Tg0Nsqt29UtByEDF7io4reV1-TB1wDrnzWavQBZijKT4vseLD6qoC33Ou-fz9d/s1600-h/ra5017.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfW3uA9_5ykmAbXK6kgAWP9aTCUBlplllsSZyDp0FVTRDTfsxVzwlSnDTbTS9esa8zWV1F_9Tg0Nsqt29UtByEDF7io4reV1-TB1wDrnzWavQBZijKT4vseLD6qoC33Ou-fz9d/s400/ra5017.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102050482918308946" /></a>Just around the first bend they find the bodies of two slain guardsmen which lie next to the battered body of an enormous, insect-like creature that almost fills the narrow tunnel. The insect creature isn’t moving, but they can hear clacking noises from the tunnel beyond. <br /><br />Elessaria moves guards around. Piecemeal, as they are rotted. The giant insect proves more difficult to move.<br /><br />The elf asks, "What is this thing?"<br /><br />Degar and Stago both reply in near unison, "Hook horror."<br /><br />"This one's a male," Stago says.<br /><br />Routunious asks, "How can you tell?" <br /><br />Degar replies, "Because its littler than the females."<br /><br />"What does a female one look like, if that one is little?"<br /><br />Degar points behind the priest and says, "Like that."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKw1H_b8QLZ4QAeyFEEeYUK5hgs1rscTGKPQiGMR6IH5E3C8PDK-rLJELfpOh26_BJdr-t5_IU9atauYXV8tW95CjAe6pRpiJdhraXmskSMGB4tTvt1dCygA_s6pXIesWkPGYC/s1600-h/hookhorror.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKw1H_b8QLZ4QAeyFEEeYUK5hgs1rscTGKPQiGMR6IH5E3C8PDK-rLJELfpOh26_BJdr-t5_IU9atauYXV8tW95CjAe6pRpiJdhraXmskSMGB4tTvt1dCygA_s6pXIesWkPGYC/s200/hookhorror.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102051779998432354" /></a>Coming around the corner in the passage beyond the dead bodies is a behemoth with enormous claws for hands. It clacks the claws together in a percussive warning of impending doom.<br /><br />The party falls into defensive positions, and Stago fires magic missile from his ring of spell. Tiny crackling magic bullets spring forth and strike unerringly against the chitinous hide of the creature with little to no effect.<br /><br />Routunious & Fink move closer, in order to make use of their ranged weapons. Routunious readies his throwing knives and Fink nocs his bow. <br /><br />Degar jumps on top of the bodies of the dead guards and prepares to use his hammer to deadly effect.<br /><br />Fink moves in front and fires bow. He gets off two shots, but only one hits the creature. Degar brings his hammer down and cracks the exoskeleton of the female hook horror.<br /><br />The horror swings its massive claws at degar and the dwarf manages to duck or dodge them both times. The dwarf has to move backward quickly to avoid the razor sharp beak, and nearly loses his footing on the corpses upon which he stands.<br /><br />Elessaria misses both of her arrow attacks. Routunious readies a knife to throw, and the hook horror lashes out at Degar again. Though it misses with both of its claws, its beak manages a strike and it rips into the dwarf's flesh at the shoulder.<br /><br />Stago fires another magic missile from his ring and this time the missles blast through the creatures natural plating, leaving smoking holes as it collapses to the floor of the tunnel. Degar is still bellowing with rage and leaps on the unconcious creature and bashes its head but can't quite seem to kill it. Elessaria approaches and uses her longsword to sever its head, ending its life once and for all. <br /><br />Degar says, "Thanks, elf. I'll toast you with a draft of <em>extra healing </em>potion." <br /><br />Fink checks bodies of the dead guards, and even the hook horrors. The first guard he examins has 18 gold pieces, the second only 16. The hook horrors carry no treasure of any kind.Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-87848737389280223842007-08-23T17:45:00.000-04:002008-12-13T08:59:27.626-05:0021 Eleasias, 1368: Entering the Temple Cellar<strong>4:00 am</strong><br />The morning comes to the Teshford Arms, and the joined parties of Degar's Avengers and The Company of the Severed Head arise before dawn. Stago dubs them collectively <em>The New Firm</em>. <br /><br />They eat in their rooms from their rations, not wanting to breakfast in the taproom for fear there are still angry mob members who would try to kill any wizards, dwarves, or strangers on sight.<br /><br /><strong>4:14 am</strong>. <br />After sneaking out of the inn, the company is on the road. By dawn, they are at the riverside gate of Dagger Falls.<br /><br />The guard shouts down, "State your business."<br /><br />Routunious shouts up to him, "We are here to do a job for Constable Tren."<br /><br />"We were told about the fat guy in the yellow hat, the elf, the gnome and the walking construct...but nobody said anything about no wizard, halfling and a dwarf. Especially the dwarf, they aren't very popular around here."<br /><br />Elessaria joins the discussion, "Did Tren tell you that we were going to go into the temple ruin?"<br /><br />"Yes," the guard agrees.<br /><br />The elf continues, "Did he tell you we were going to go in after we collected our supplies?"<br /><br />"Yes."<br /><br />"Well then," Elessaria concludes, "The dwarf, the wizard, and the halfling are our supplies. Are you going to let us in or tell Tren you didn't want us to get started on the job he hired us to do?"<br /><br />The gate swings open and the company is granted wary entry. As they enter, Elessaria notices the movement of what might be a hidden person spying on them from the other side of the road. She mentions it to Routunious, who discounts it as unimportant. <br /><br />Routunious says to her, "We're not sneaking around, and everything we're doing is not only legal, but stamped with the approval of every known side in this dispute. Whoever might be spying on us is wasting their time." <br /><br />Elessaria agrees, but is still uncomfortable. There may be more players than any of them are aware of.<br /><br />The New Firm heads to the temple ruins. Waiting to meet them is Constable Tren and his two thugs and Marrakt. <br /><br />"I've been told you're starting early," Tren says.<br /><br />"Word travels fast here, doesn't it?" Routunious asks.<br /><br />"Don't you forget it. Nothing happens inside these walls or within a hundred miles of them that I don't know about."<br /><br />Elessaria matches his tone, "Except for where Randal Morn is or what is causing this Dream Fever." <br /><br />"You got a mouth on you, elf."<br /><br />"I'm just reminding you that you wouldn't hired us if you were as on top of everything as you pretend to be. We may as well be honest with each other."<br /><br />"Have you got everything you need?" Tren asks, looking suspiciously at the new company members.<br /><br />"No more and no less."<br /><br />"Alright, elf, then let me get the hell out of your way," Tren says with considerably more profanity than would be appropriate to print. He laughs as he and his bodyguard depart.<br /><br />The company stands at the entrance to the cellars of the temple. The rains of eight seasons have washed away the worst of the soot and ashes, but the temple is only a shell of what it once was. To the right is a cracked marble basin, streaked with soot and entirely empty. It looks as if water once poured from a fountain in the center of the basin, but it has long-since dried-up. At one time, the temple of Lathander was known for its pure bubbling fountain, used by families throughout the town for drinking and cooking. Now it stands empty. <br /><br />They look down the stairs they are about to descend. At the base of the stairs is a small wine cellar, with oaken casks lining the walls on either side. Wooden beams are draped with spider webs and white nitre; a pale, flickering green light illuminates the room. A portcullis blocks the path to the left; beyond it they see crypts.<br /><br /><strong>6:00 am</strong><br />Once they are all in the wine cellar, they establish and form up in a battle order.<br />1. Elessaria and Degar<br />2. Stago <br />3. Duncan <br />4. Routunious and Tick-A-Tick<br />5. Fink <br /><br />Stago is excited by the Nitre, he is convinced that under specific conditions and with the proper chemicals this substance could be explosive. Routuinious' curiosity as an engineer is piqued, but after a brief discussion they decide that there is no need to spend time collecting it now.<br /><br />The passage to the crypt area is blocked by a closed porticullis.<br /><br />Up the stairs to the guards, Routunious yells, "Do you have keys to this locked gate?"<br /><br />The answer shouted back is as short as it is disappointing, "Nope." <br /><br />The party hears a scurrying sound behind the barrels after the shouted exchange.<br /><br />"Scurrying is always a bad sign," Fink mutters, looking from side to side.<br /><br />Routunious, with other priorities, asks, "Any bottles of wine?"<br /><br />They look, but there are only 400 lb casks of the fermented juice. <br /><br />Elessaria asks, "What does wine have to do with the worship of Lathander? Does anyone know anything about religion?" <br /><br />"Obviously," Routunious says, "but I don't know much about Lathander worship."<br /><br />Duncan, who comes from an area not too far distant, says, "The priests of Lathander prized their wines, fermented from grapes grown in their vineyard outside town. But in the eight years since the temple burned, the vineyards have gone to seed. This wine is probably the last of the Morninglord wine that exists."<br /> <br />Again, they hear the scurrying of an animal. To determine what it is, Routunious and Degar start trying to move the casks aside. This causes the scurrying to become a hissing sound. <br /><br />Degar says, "There's nothing here but wine, and if we not be fer drinkin' it, let's be fer leaving it behind! Let's go!"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qh7Ta1uEalDT27A7vFiXmGLQU4jB2CyoHc-SZSRYoYZloivFBv_AiHE1IgTgy6ta98YHWwSgP0bfEcyNcVtsLd1nfItHH7mw1xCq5Qm-da7ZhnkerJk7hVu290zJTYGh82Ko/s1600-h/dire+rat.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qh7Ta1uEalDT27A7vFiXmGLQU4jB2CyoHc-SZSRYoYZloivFBv_AiHE1IgTgy6ta98YHWwSgP0bfEcyNcVtsLd1nfItHH7mw1xCq5Qm-da7ZhnkerJk7hVu290zJTYGh82Ko/s200/dire+rat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102030953702014002" /></a>No one is surprised when this outburst from the hot headed dwarf is followed by a huge furry creature leaping out from behind the casks directly at his throat. The creature looks like a rat, but inconcievably huge. Also, the creature has bony plates jutting painfully from its joints. Its teeth are thick and sharp like tusks. And it has a horn.<br /><br />Degar shouts, "Aaaagh!"<br /><br />Routunious exclaims, "By the gods, what kind of rat is that???" <br /><br />Degar doesn't care what kind of rat it is, so long as it is soon a dead one. He lunges at the creature to smash it with his hammer. Routunious moves away from the rat and the hammer swinging dwarf as quickly as he can.<br /><br />Degar smashes at the rat, but misses. The head of his hammer impacts one of the kegs of wine and it explodes all over the dwarf, filling the room with the heady vapor of the vintage. Wine flows everywhere. The Rat attacks Degar with its horn and misses. <br /><br />Degar sings begins singing a battle song, but doesn't fall into a rage but begins twirling with his hammer preparing for another blow.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Hj2ZjTgDbJ2Fy9aTC47naIaxLXfsQIegtxK3Z9ly0UHK8iYHMOCL_h5fqr8Ro7HYO7ew-DeFc75MQuIRxW-5DmTWqkU8-VXwO1TDAhsCxfHz2mT3vJjEaoQ67yftx8UnqY8I/s1600-h/diseaseddirerat.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Hj2ZjTgDbJ2Fy9aTC47naIaxLXfsQIegtxK3Z9ly0UHK8iYHMOCL_h5fqr8Ro7HYO7ew-DeFc75MQuIRxW-5DmTWqkU8-VXwO1TDAhsCxfHz2mT3vJjEaoQ67yftx8UnqY8I/s200/diseaseddirerat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102032521365077058" /></a>As Routunious steadies himself from the shock of seeing a giant rat with horns, he is startled to see another one appear on top of a keg of wine.<br /><br />Everyone but the dwarf is surprised by this development. Degar misses the first rat and destroys another keg of wine. When it ruptures everything and everyone is drenched in the wine. The fury of his swing carries the hammer through the keg and up again in an impossibly sharp arc...the wine causes his grip to slip at the worst possible moment and the hammer crashes into the dwarf's own head...knocking him unconcious. He falls to the floor and his labored breathing bubbles in the pooling red liquid from the cask.<br /><br />The second rat scurries toward the unconcious dwarf and slashes him with its claws and bite attacks. The blood from the dwarf is flowing freely into the wine and it is clear to the party members on the stairs that if something isn't done immediately, the dwarf would die from his wounds.<br /><br />Elessaria leaps at the rat chewing on the dwarf's head, and notices it has remarkably<br />intelligent looking eyes. <br /><br />She shouts back at the rest of the party, "Are they were-rats?"<br /><br />"I don't know what they are, but kill them! Kill them!" Routunious shouts.<br /><br />Elessaria strikes at the rat in front of her with her longsword, inflicting enormous amounts of damage including losing a leg, but the rat doesn't die, it only looks more angry. <br /><br />Routunious prepares to throw a dagger, then thinks better of attracting the rat's attention. He commands Tick-a-Tick to attack the rat fighting Elessaria on the dwarf's body.<br /><br />Before the automaton can reach the rat, it turns on Elessaria, but lacking a front leg, it has fewer attacks and does only a small amount of damage to the elf. Elessaria strikes back, but misses again.<br /><br />Routunious decides to throw a dagger, and misses badly. The dagger strikes the wall, snapping the blade in half when it does. He tries again, and also misses.<br /><br />The rat hits Elessaria with its remaining claw, just missing her with a bite.<br /><br />Tick-a-Tick, following his command, moves toward the rat. He is smashing all the casks of wine in his path, spewing the liquid all over the cellar floor.<br /><br />Tick-a-Tick hits the rate with a bonecrunching thud. Elessaria severs its head.<br /><br />Routunious rushes to the dwarf and tries to use his healing proficiency on Degar, but only manages to staunch bleeding. The priest then casts healing spell, bringing Degar barely back to conciousness.<br /><br />Degar opens his pack and removes a bottle, then he drinks a draft of extra healing potion and is fully healed.<br /><br />Elessaria also drinks a portion of a potion of extra healing potion to restore herself to full capacity.<br /><br />Routunious examines the dead rat's head. He says, "This is a dire creature."<br /><br />Duncan says, "What is a dire creature?"<br /><br />The priest says, "Dire animals are animals that become deformed by proximity to intense evil. These are Dire Rats."<br /><br />Elessaria agrees, "I've never seen one, but I have heard of them. The dire version of any animal is identical, save for its enormous size and the presence of jagged bony protrusions extending up and out of its flesh. Dire animals, are infused and transformed tremendous evil energies."<br /><br />Stago asks, "How are they formed?"<br /><br />"No one is certain how dire creatures come to be," the priest explains, "whether they emerge from some extra-planer existence, are created by some kind of conjuration or alteration magic...the prevailing theory is that they were once, in fact, normal creatures of their kind but were unusually susceptible to the emanations of evil because these types of creatures are almost always encountered in areas where evil rites and magic has been practiced for many years, although it is possible that these creatures are simply drawn to such evil and not created by it."<br /><br />Elessaria says, "Regardless of how these creatures come to be, they are always a sign that not only is there evil in the area in which they are encountered, but that evil is deeply rooted and long-standing, of at least 5 years duration. The greater the number and variety of creatures in an area, correspondingly, the greater the power and scope of the evil."<br /><br />"Oh." Stago says glumly.<br /><br />"Ye thought this was going to be easy?" Degar laughs, twisting his tunic to drain the wine from it.<br /><br />"Maybe not," Stago says, "but I didn't think it would so messy so soon."<br /><br />The party hears more scurrying, and Elessaria goes to lift porticullis. <br /><br />Stago cautions, "Shouldn't we kill other rat, first?"<br /><br />Elessaria & Fink prep their bows in agreement. Tick-a-Tick continues smashing wine casks, revealing two large rat holes in walls, but no more rats can be found. <br /><br />"I think we scared it off." Routunious says.<br /><br />"I think you're scaring me off," Stago says.<br /><br />Through porticullis, Elessaria can see a stone door with a lock. There are crypts on<br />the floor and the walls where generations of Lathanderite priests were buried.<br /><br />Elessaria & Degar attempt to lift porticullis together. It slides up with little difficulty. <br /><br />Stago gives Routunious some iron spikes to drive into the tracks of the porticullis to keep it open as they pass through it.Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-10243674124078922182007-08-23T16:00:00.000-04:002008-12-13T08:59:30.133-05:0020 Eleasias, 1368: Bar Hopping<strong>6:15pm</strong><br />Somewhat stunned by the meeting with Tren, the company steps out of the garrison gate and considers options.<br /><br />Stago asks, "So, we're working for Shandar, Randal Morn, <em>and</em> the Zhentarim now?"<br /><br />"Keep it quiet, gnome." Elessaria cautions. "Let's go somewhere and consider what we do next."<br /><br />"That Broken Dagger place looked interesting," Stago says.<br /><br />"Personally," Routunious says as he begins walking toward the warehouse district, "I think it is a stroke of brilliance if we can get paid three times for the same job."<br /><br />They move quickly through the streets to the Broken Dagger tavern. This dismal taphouse is the very epitome of rough and tumble bars. Bored Zhentish soldiers, orcs, and mercenaries are congregating here...as they probably do all hours the bar is open. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKelqvNr2MgboPzb0jonniIlE4UPvUQVixN3kGOEloDasHbb4AeUPayS9dNupP_lLTWH5o8qdmlD1RtKjY6opXoMDgDoS839s7MIrITAeD5OfdnkuGv-Fr3qVwD3EZsuwT-sh/s1600-h/tharwin+2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKelqvNr2MgboPzb0jonniIlE4UPvUQVixN3kGOEloDasHbb4AeUPayS9dNupP_lLTWH5o8qdmlD1RtKjY6opXoMDgDoS839s7MIrITAeD5OfdnkuGv-Fr3qVwD3EZsuwT-sh/s200/tharwin+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101991684816026562" /></a>The place is owned and operated by Tharwin One-Eye. They talk, they mingle, they drink. <br /><br />Stago asks the gruff bartender, "Heard anything interesting lately? Anything unusual?"<br /><br />Amid the stream of obscenities that flowed from his mouth, the party learns that the wooden beams of the Red Rock Tavern recently sprouted leaves and blossoms inside.<br /><br />"Well, that seems like a sign to me," Routunious says, draining his tankard. They pay their bill and make their way to the North gate and exit town on thier way to the Red Rock Inn.<br /><br /><strong>7:00pm</strong><br />As they leave the gate, the notice that the bald thug, Larkell Greenspring, is still following them. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AIZ8SFVjt3jbhWNpxBPDYC3X6pyKkMRyGxN2lq2MXyXA7W1fM7K4s2bFUW6XM_gEf1Z9eZlxHU0oRbFDRjaXuNZupRK1WWI2WwUVLdV6yiazsz1oSJi6xcCma-O2VHt5ETjv/s1600-h/red+rock+inn.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AIZ8SFVjt3jbhWNpxBPDYC3X6pyKkMRyGxN2lq2MXyXA7W1fM7K4s2bFUW6XM_gEf1Z9eZlxHU0oRbFDRjaXuNZupRK1WWI2WwUVLdV6yiazsz1oSJi6xcCma-O2VHt5ETjv/s400/red+rock+inn.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102003839573474290" /></a>They make their way to the Red Rock Inn, a ramshackle tavern frequented by folk of the surrounding countryside--several of whom sit quietly drinking at the few small tables in the taproom. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GipwAjJLaiKFBsg3JKkcLe3KFjHdwSa99a90Tlhz-gNG2NITx_bSE8mtdAQLZABjc7Ns3usp1wn0A5M0ZeZ5pl-ub58oNUPYySWwdPxqY0IC5ZaUwJnlggPx0TaFQjF3B1Yt/s1600-h/kessla.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GipwAjJLaiKFBsg3JKkcLe3KFjHdwSa99a90Tlhz-gNG2NITx_bSE8mtdAQLZABjc7Ns3usp1wn0A5M0ZeZ5pl-ub58oNUPYySWwdPxqY0IC5ZaUwJnlggPx0TaFQjF3B1Yt/s200/kessla.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101993883839282130" /></a>They introduce themselves to the owner, a former minstrel named Kessla. They notice that Larkell has remained outside on a bench near the door.<br /><br />Stago points to the wooden beams on the ceiling, which are covered in bright green leaves and flowers. The flowers are beginning to lose petals and look somewhat faded. The gnome says, "Look! Tharwin told the truth!"<br /><br />Kessla says, "If he did, its likely the first time. Who's your friend who's sitting on the porch?"<br /><br />Routunious returns, "No friend of ours, he's a Zhent Agent that Tren has watching us."<br /><br />"If you're being watched by a Zhent agent, you're probably alright," Kessla says to the party.<br /><br />Elessaria asks her, "We were told by a rider on the road that this was a place where we could meet Loudon the Cooper. Is he here?" <br /><br />A voice from behind them, asks, "Who wants to know?" <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsBFaJVElhnwsIuPs7MzDe88sytWUxeAjo2zbnze-GnfeOW-tF_s9sBa_cDUwwSdl0a1KnvzyVaTGy8MxDtyBRqVza3yZwLqAs_v-FNpyGj9afAfsbXgbGvhOm-NZb1yH_Tqt/s1600-h/loudon.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsBFaJVElhnwsIuPs7MzDe88sytWUxeAjo2zbnze-GnfeOW-tF_s9sBa_cDUwwSdl0a1KnvzyVaTGy8MxDtyBRqVza3yZwLqAs_v-FNpyGj9afAfsbXgbGvhOm-NZb1yH_Tqt/s200/loudon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101995816574565346" /></a>The company turns to see Louden the Cooper sitting at a table in the shadows.<br /><br />Elessaria says, "Randal Morn sent us."<br /><br />Loudon asks, "Anyone can say that Morn sent them, how do I know its true?"<br /><br />Stago quips, "How do you know it isn't?"<br /><br />"Few who work for Morn enter and leave Tren's tower as easily as you did less than an hour ago."<br /><br />"Oh, you know about that, do you?" Stago asks gloomily.<br /><br />"Is Greenspring watching you or guarding you?"<br /><br />Elessaria says, "If you were spying on us, you know that we were taken to Tren's tower, we didn't go there of our own free will."<br /><br />Kessla asks, "If you were taken there, why'd he let you leave?"<br /><br />Routunious explains, "He thinks we can find the answer to the Dream Fever. He thinks that Randal Morn has something to do with it."<br /><br />"You know that isn't true," Loudon says, "did you tell him he was wrong?"<br /><br />Elessaria replies, "If we had told him he was wrong, we wouldn't be sitting here. Isn't it better to prove to him he's wrong while finding the true cause of the sickness?"<br /><br />"She's got you there, Loudon," Kessla says.<br /><br />"If Morn trusted you," Loudon says cautiously, "I suppose there's reason enough for me to trust you too."<br /><br />Routunious says, "Tren has hired us to explore the ruins of the temple."<br /><br />Kessla gasps, "Then you are working for him?"<br /><br />Elessaria explains, "We knew that agreeing to his offer was not only the only way to get out of the tower, but also past the guards and under the temple ruins. I really believe the answers to all our questions are buried there."<br /><br />Loudon chuckles, "Smart. Dangerous game, but smart."<br /><br />Stago asks, "What--other than your wooden beams sprouting flowers and leaves--have you noticed recently that is out of the ordinary?"<br /><br />Kessla says, "I don't know if it means anything, but the only other odd thing I've noticed is an old man with a gray and stringy beard started coming in here a few months ago and has been buying supplies with these..." As she finishes, she pulls out several small gemstones and hands them to the gnome, whose eyes light up at the sight. <br /><br />Turning them over in his hands and examining them closely, Stago says, "These are dwarven money. Gemstones with runes carved on them."<br /><br />Routunious takes one of the gems and looks at it under the lamplight. He says, "This is the rune of the Bladebright Clan."<br /><br />Stago whispers, "Curious."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeksN_y3HK97JZCnuOhn_yk1CoMjLY-ae7Ivgwb1mEilF7kDQBuPr72elOni-KelCWR8osGpto8uC4dAmZeZ3sfUoc3-b8TQJKsMDIli_-dm44Xwo3ocwn6jSoOfcHNf1xhLp5/s1600-h/degar.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeksN_y3HK97JZCnuOhn_yk1CoMjLY-ae7Ivgwb1mEilF7kDQBuPr72elOni-KelCWR8osGpto8uC4dAmZeZ3sfUoc3-b8TQJKsMDIli_-dm44Xwo3ocwn6jSoOfcHNf1xhLp5/s200/degar.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102004866070658050" /></a>Hearing the name of the Bladebright Clan, they pique a dwarf's interest who is sitting at a table with a human man in a green cloak and a darkly dressed halfling.<br /><br />The burly dwarf rumbles, "What speak ye of that fabled clan, the Bladebrights?" <br /><br />Routunious says, "Someone has been paying for drinks here with Bladebright gems."<br /><br />"Let me see that," the dwarf says, snatching the stone from the priest's hand.<br /><br />"My name is Routunious, friend." <br /><br />The dwarf mutters back without looking up from the stone, "Degar. I am Degar and of the Bladebright blood. Come from the headwaters of the River Tesh to find me homeland and to avenge the losing of it. I've been putting together a party to help me do it. So far, I've got me a pup of a wizard and a runt of a thieving halfling. You wouldn't care to be joining me, would ye?"<br /><br />The company looks over at the table where the halfling and wizard sit uncomfortably holding their tankards, and then at each other.<br /><br />"We're already...overemployed, but if it is in our mutual interests I don't see why we shouldn't help each other." Routunious said, diplomatically leaving all options on the table. The dwarf throws the gem back at him, laughing loudly.<br /><br />"A fine answer. Nothing said, but nothing kept from being said! That bauble is the genuine article. Whoever spent that here knows something about the dwarves who once owned it."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ASLSDlanH9pKeQ1fJdvV_FXDOw4AMmQMMvwIUxQl43uuhjmC-knF0RFFKuuyiiKm4WMYH2rUZj22HJbDzp6DbwKi5qaNL3KrI94oFwkBuWKtlUD2wvtbyac7-hG3wAZ3IoCJ/s1600-h/duncan.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ASLSDlanH9pKeQ1fJdvV_FXDOw4AMmQMMvwIUxQl43uuhjmC-knF0RFFKuuyiiKm4WMYH2rUZj22HJbDzp6DbwKi5qaNL3KrI94oFwkBuWKtlUD2wvtbyac7-hG3wAZ3IoCJ/s200/duncan.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102007692159138834" /></a>Stepping forward to the bar, the young wizard says, "We should attempt to locate him."<br /><br />The dwarf nearly knocks the wizard off his feet as he slaps him on the back, saying, "This be Duncan. He's my spell caster. Comes equipped with some powerful magic items, he does."<br /><br />"I...inherited a few small magical items from my mentor...who recently passed on."<br /><br />The dwarf lowers his voice conspiratorially, "The wizard that was tutoring him, has a family that thinks the boy killed the old sorcerer for these items. He's trying to clear his name."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpjIbKTWLw80Inn5ytCjyDS0dPr_oEzr-xtkDIYaLaYYfHbBp1_txhyXMAlA97a8yWF9S5qJuAlerJydKasNtunVccboeKJdhI7rR-Q0ZQDTx9bnSI_TofJMRaPZJ7m-qTFNQ/s1600-h/fink.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpjIbKTWLw80Inn5ytCjyDS0dPr_oEzr-xtkDIYaLaYYfHbBp1_txhyXMAlA97a8yWF9S5qJuAlerJydKasNtunVccboeKJdhI7rR-Q0ZQDTx9bnSI_TofJMRaPZJ7m-qTFNQ/s200/fink.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102008804555668514" /></a>The halfling slips off his chair and onto the floor, approaching the bar and the assembled company. "I am <br />Fink Windowbreaker, originally from around the Shadowdale area...Teshwave, to be exact. Let us just say that I have an affliction which requires a steady inflow of gold in order to stay healthy."<br /><br />Degar winks at Routunious, "He's got debts no honest person could pay. His needs are my opportunity."<br /><br />The Company of the Severed Head introduce themselves while keeping as much information private as they can...including the dwarven stronghold at Eagle's Eyrie and the sword they took from long dead Dorn the Grim.<br /><br />The two companies decide to, at least temporarily, join forces. The hour grows late and they decide they should go back to the Teshford Arms. When they step out the front door, they are somewhat surprised to find that Larkell has departed.<br /><br />Along the way, Elessaria & Routunious have a hasty whispered conference and decide to divulge some of their knowledge of the Brightblade watchpoint on the mountain. They tell him of the dream that they had and how to find the watchpoint. They show him the paper with the runes that they copied. Degar nearly weeps at getting so much information so quickly after meeting his new companions.<br /><br />As they draw closer to the Teshford Arms they hear a great deal of commotion inside. Stepping through the door, they hear an angry man shouting, "Every single horse in the stable is dead!" Even though it is late, Eb Farnam is at Olavia's side trying to calm the patrons.<br /><br />"I understand that this is a very regrettable circumstance," the oily clerk is saying, "but there is absolutely no liability on the part of our establishment for the loss of your animals."<br /><br />"They were in your care!"<br /><br />Farnam calmly retorts, "But we didn't kill them! And if you had bothered to read the liability waiver on the inside of the stable door--" <br /><br />"We demand just compensation!"<br /><br />Olavia shouts at the mob, "We can't pay you for horses that died of natural causes while they were in our stables!"<br /><br />"How can 7 horses all dying on the same night be natural?"<br /><br />Another man shouts, "It ain't natural! It's magic!"<br /><br />Still another says with force of fact, "It was a wizard. The only good wizard is a dead one, and I don't mean a lich, either!"<br /><br />A chanting chorus of "Kill the wizard" starts up among the patrons. Another faction cries out, "It ain't wizards, its dwarves. Mark my words, if there is trouble in Daggerdale, then you can trace it to dwarves." That faction begins countering the call to kill the wizards with a demand that all dwarves be killed on sight.<br /><br />Duncan pulls his hood over his head and tucks his staff as best he can under his cloak. Degar pulls a blanket out of his pack and throws it over his head like a shall. The entire party dashes through the crowd in the taproom and up to their rooms upstairs.<br /><br />Degar, Duncan, and Fink are given Selina's private room. Once inside it and after locking the door, Routunious nods to Elessaria. She opens her pack and unrolls the cloth that covers Olar, the Mage Killer.<br /><br />"The fabled blade of Dorn the Grim...Ye've got to take me to this Eagle's Eyrie tonight!" Degar says.<br /><br />Routunious reminds him that promises were made at Red Rock Inn, and Degar's honor demands that he help the Severed Head Company before they go up the mountain.<br /><br />Degar grumbles but he knows the priest has him cornered. Nothing matters to a dwarf more than honor. They agree to sneak out of the Inn and go directly to the temple. Tren gave them another 24 hours to prepare, but they are all certain starting early won't cause any trouble.Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-59970905638788619642007-08-23T14:36:00.000-04:002008-12-13T08:59:30.320-05:0020 Eleasisas, 1368: Summoned by the Constable<strong>6:00pm</strong><br />The black orc standing in the doorway demands, "Me Marrakt, where strangers?" <br /><br />Ada turns to the company, who are all staring back at her. She explains, "Marrakt is the bodyguard of Constable Tren. And, apparently, his messanger."<br /><br />The orc grunts, "Don't smartmouth. Tren want strangers him to come. Now."<br /><br />The party stands, their hands instinctively going to their weapons. Ada cautions them not to with a gesture, then says, "You'd better go with them."<br /><br />"That right," Marrakt growls, "you listen her. You no come, we bash heads."<br /><br />"If you don't go with them willingly," Ada tells them, "they will just send more soldiers and tear the town apart brick by brick until they find you...probably hurting a lot of people in the process. Besides, you've done nothing wrong."<br /><br />The bald thug behind the orc grunts, "That we know of."<br /><br />Elessaria concedes, "We'll come with you. As you say, we've done nothing wrong."<br /><br />The party goes out into the street and escorted through town past the market square and through the Sally Port for the garrison. Judging by the size of the bunkhouses and the stables the garrison could easily support 400 troops. Among those there the company can see humans, orcs and other races. As they move through the interior gatehouse toward the Constable's tower, the party realizes they are the only ones not wearing Zhent uniforms. <br /><br />They are escorted into the Constable's tower and up to one of the upper floors, where the walls are hung with bright tapestries and the floor is littered with dirty rushes. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffpOVzGgMGBf5k0Fx2Rr9KFcI7o5eHUQZxxbW_wD6yt265zwtVgowq4itJBooYJLgnLugMHcLmivOJh0C8JKhh29pF6TyQfxX0t3DxZhNg4SXR6VFK0WsE00lcxoO-joaEPMc/s1600-h/tren+2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffpOVzGgMGBf5k0Fx2Rr9KFcI7o5eHUQZxxbW_wD6yt265zwtVgowq4itJBooYJLgnLugMHcLmivOJh0C8JKhh29pF6TyQfxX0t3DxZhNg4SXR6VFK0WsE00lcxoO-joaEPMc/s200/tren+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101976673905327026" /></a>Constable Tren, a tall blond man with gray eyes and a powerful build, is sitting at a heavy oaken table, listlessly toying with some papers. He rises and smiles tightly when you enter. <br /><br />"Welcome, strangers, to our little frontier community. My name is Tren, Constable Tren, and I can't tell you how glad I am to make your acquaintance."<br /><br />Stago, unimpressed, "Isn't Tren a type of overgrown lizard man?"<br /><br />Tren smiles a grin that would put the fear into any type of lizard man, and says, "That's right. The Tren are a miserable race of cold blooded carnivores that would slit your belly from balls to jaw with a signle movement of their little finger and then hold you up to their snout and scoop out your guts with a flick of their tongue before tossing your eviscerated, but still screaming, husk to the side. Then it would do the same thing with each member of your little party and still be hungry for more....me and them lizard freaks have a lot in common. Don't forget it."<br /><br />Elessaria asks, "What do you want with us, we've done nothing to deserve to be imprisoned by you, and I don't know what you think you can gain by threatening us."<br /><br />"I don't need to gain a thing, elf," Tren said coldly. He continued, "I run this town. And that's something you visitors need to realize, remember, and act accordingly. Now, I understand you are mercenaries. Am I misinformed?"<br /><br />Elessaria speaks for the company, "We are sellswords, this is true. Is that a crime in this community?"<br /><br />"Oh, by Cyric no. We like mercenaries...sellswords if you'd rather. They take a lot of the burden of dying off the backs of my soldiers. I'll get right to the heart of the matter. I can see that you're impatient...I've never understood why elves, who live so much longer than we humans do, get so impatient...."<br /><br />Tren chuckles to himself and sits and stands, walking toward the company and smiling. He looks into Elessaria's eyes before continuing, "You're the leader of this bunch. I can tell, a leader is easy to recognize. You and I, we're both leaders. Let me tell you, one leader to another, we're not a big city like Waterdeep...we're not a soft village like Shadowdale...we've got our shortcomings, there's no doubt about that, but we've got things the people of Dagger Falls are justifiable proud of, and we like our lives and our town just the way they are...but we're not without problems. Recently we've had more than our share...people getting sick, people scared of getting sick, it makes everything....tense. I'm nervous, and I don't like being nervous. I think that rebellious dog, Randal Morn, has some sorcerer working for him, killing innocent women and children with this Dream Fever thing that's going around....I think he's trying to...." <br /><br />He hesitates, then continues, "Well, really, the politics of it are surely beyond you, but the good people of Dagger Falls are willing to pay 20 gp to each of you if you go to the temple of Lathander and rid me--and the town of Dagger Falls, of course--of the things in that are living down in that foul crypt. I'm convinced that whatever is causing this illness is both under the ruins and in the service of Randal Morn. Oh, and if you know of any of Randal's men, there's a 50 gp bonus for each one you capture."<br /><br />The company stand silently for a moment, looking at each other nervously. Tren is clearly not going to give them time to confer. He's waiting for Elessaria, as the leader of the company, to decide for them. It would never occur to him to get input from anyone under him, and so he doesn't consider that any other leader would either.<br /><br />Elessaria says, "Agreed."<br /><br />"Excellent," Tren says with a grin that called to mind his reptilian namesake, "unless you have questions, Marrakt will see you out."<br /><br />Elessaria says, "I have one question. How many men have you already sent down there?"<br /><br />"Excellent question, you're not as green as they told me you were," Tren says. "Of the dozen men that were dispatched under the temple, only two lived. And their minds are so fractured they might as well be dead."<br /><br />Stago chimes in, "If we're working for the city, we're going to need supplies and time to plan what we're doing."<br /><br />Tren smiles at the gnome, "Good advice. A good leader is only as good as the people under his command. You need good advice, but you're going to have to get your own supplies. If you live, I'll reimburse you for any expenses incurred on behalf of the job...its the only way to make sure we're keeping costs down and so that I don't waste any of the town's resources if you fail."<br /><br />Stago says, "Unfortunately, that makes sense."<br /><br />Tren continues, "I'll give you until noon on the day after tomorrow to get down in the ruins. Now, I really have other business to attend to." <br /><br />Now technically Zhentish agents themselves, the party leaves the tower.Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-68159131211503677812007-08-23T13:16:00.002-04:002008-05-30T17:16:57.293-04:0020 Eleasias, 1368: A Friend in Need<strong>2:30pm</strong> <br />The company approaches the gates of Dagger Falls, a town which has become a walled fort. Sharpened timbers sunk into the earth and tethered with leather ties surround the town, and standing on platforms at the top of these walls are many soldiers.<br /><br />Routunious nudges Elessaria and nods toward the soldiers. He says, "Notice the uniforms of the city guard...The yellow of the Zhentarim."<br /><br />As they approach the gates they see a wanted poster tacked to the wall with a drawing of Randal Morn on it. The poster, in the common tongue, informs all who enter the town that <em><strong>"Anyone aiding or abetting this rebel will be executed."</strong></em><br /><br />A member of the guard at the gate holds up his hand and shouts down to the adventurers, "Hold!"<br /><br />Routunious removes his hat and calls up to the soldier, "Yes?"<br /><br />"State your business in Dagger Falls."<br /><br />"We are...tourists," Routuionius responds.<br /><br />"Don't you know that this town is under quarentine? Haven't you heard of the Sleeping Sickness?"<br /><br />The companions act ignorant. Stago says, "No, Sir... what's that?"<br /><br />"The sleeping sickness is a disease that is--"<br /><br />Elessaria interrupts, "My friend here is a priest of Gond, and we are accompanying him on a pilgrimage to the major temples of the Dalelands. We understand that there was a temple to Lathander in this city."<br /><br />"Not for years," the soldier calls down. Another steps up next to him and joins the conversation, "It burned down ages ago. They're trying to repair it, but when they do it will be a temple of Cyric."<br /><br />Routunious tries to appear elated at the news, "Well, then! That is certainly something worth seeing!"<br /><br />"Open the gates," the leader of the guard detail says, "but unless you have someone in the city who will sponsor you, you need to be outside the gates by sundown."<br /><br />"Understood, officer! Understood! And my thanks!" Routunious effuses.<br /><br />Inside the walls of Dagger Falls, they walk to ruined Temple of Lathander. Along the way they pass a couple of blocks of warehouses for the caravans that pass through the dale. The gate seems to open on what passes for a warehouse district. <br /><br />Stago points, and shouts, "Tavern!" <br /><br />Following his pointed finger, they note the presence of a very disreputable looking tavern, the shingle of which names it <em>The Broken Dagger</em>. <br /><br />Elessaria prods the gnome forward, "After the temple."<br /><br />The company walks another block, with the feel of the area improving. They pass a few shops and people going in and out of them. It isn't long before they are standing in front of the temple ruins. From where they are looking, they see the cellar stairs that have recently been excavated from under blackened timbers. Low stone walls stand on every side, but the temple's beautiful glass windows and fine sculptures have been destroyed. Half a dozen guardsmen are watching them from a distance, smoking pipes, playing cards, and only half alert.<br /><br />Stago walks forward and gets too close. <br /><br />"Back off!" yells a guard. <br /><br />Stago asks, indignantly, "Says who?" <br /><br />"Says me, says my friends here, and says Constable Tren," says the guard.<br /><br />Where the guards were loafing before, now they are all touchy and very alert. Their jobs and possibly even their lives are on the line here.<br /><br />Stago turns around and returns to his companions. Directly behind them, he now sees, is a townhouse into which a familiar young woman is entering.<br /><br />He shouts, "Ada!"<br /><br />The young woman stops, and turns toward him. All the company are now looking at her, and they realize that she is indeed Ada Janko, Alzador's apprentice from Bugtussle.<br /><br />She shouts with a smile, "Stago! What are you doing here?"<br /><br />This question brings concern to the face of all the members of the party and increased interest from the men guarding the temple ruins. Routunious says loud enough for the guards to hear, "My child, the street is no place to renew old aquaintences...if this is your home, perhaps you could invite us in?"<br /><br />"It is my brother's home, but I am here assisting in his care...he has fallen victim to the sleeping sickness."<br /><br />Routunious, shoving the girl forward with the party following him, says, "What a glorious God it is who has sent his humble servant to you in your time of need. Come, let me look upon your ill brother...what is his name?<br /><br />"Costa," she says as they enter the house.<br /><br />Inside she takes them to a room where a feverish man with an eyepatch and beard as red as the hair on his head tosses and turns in bed. Watching over him is the silent Dwarf with No Name. Ada sits in the empty chair next to him, and from a bucket with cool water she wipe her brother's brow with a wet cloth.<br /><br />"Three nights ago I recieved word that my brother had fallen ill. At first it was just a fever and sweats...but with the sleeping sickness in Dagger Falls, he thought it prudent to send me a message when the symptoms first appeared. Alzador teleported my companion and myself here. After another two days, he fell into this fiful sleep and won't wake up. I brought several healing potions but they dont' seem to help very much. If I get him to swallow some, he comes around in a kind of daze and recites verses of poetry, then he falls back into sleeping again. Nothing we can do brings him fully awake."<br /><br />Elessaria asks, "What has happened to other people who have fallen sick like this?"<br /><br />Before Ada can answer, Stago also asks, "How many are sick?"<br /><br />Ada replies, "About 190 victims have been claimed in Dagger Falls and nearby 11 farms, 60 of them from the garrison. Most victims have been asleep for several weeks, a few have disappeared, and several are dead. Everyone is puzzled by what is going on. We were going to look into finding the cause, but I've been too afraid to stop treating the symptons in my brother."<br /><br />"Let me see what I can do for him," Routunious says, and begins making a healing potion and a poultice from herbs he carries with him.<br /><br /><strong>4:00pm</strong><br />When Routunious applies his healing proficiency to the young man, Costa awakens and recites: <em>"When morning comes<br />to mourning we go, back to our master in<br />caverns below." </em><br /><br />Stago shouts, "A clue!"<br /><br />After the curious burst of poetry, Costa falls back into his fitful slumber. <br /><br />Ada says, "You see? Nothing works for longer than a few moments."<br /><br />Routunious turns and questions Ada, "We think that the temple might have something to do with this. What can you tell us about it?"<br /><br />Ada pauses, to collect her thoughts, "Some things I know from growing up here with my brother, other things I know from what little investigations I've been able to conduct since I got here this trip. The temple burned down 8 years ago. It was a terrible fire. A dozen priests of the Morninglord were burnt in their beds. The ones who survived were persecuted and ridiculed by the Cyricists...mostly by Eragyn, the new High Priestes of the Dark Sun. She wanted them gone so that she could rebuild the temple and dedicate it to her own god. Two years ago, she got Tren to endorse the plan and they started excavating the foundations before reconstruction."<br /><br />Elessaria asks, "Where is this Eragyn now? Perhaps we should question her." <br /><br />Ada replise, "No one knows. Six months ago she disappeared. It could be that she was the first victim of the Dream Fever, or it could be that she is behind it."<br /><br />Stago asks, "Are the ruins always guarded?"<br /><br />"They weren't always. The excavations continued even after Eragyn disappeared. Not long ago, there was some kind of accident down there. I think they broke into a hidden room or something. Tren sent soldiers into the temple. They never came out, and rumor is they died. Since then, the work has stopped and nobody is allowed down in the ruins. There are always at least six guards on duty, day and night."<br /><br />Elessaria asks, "How often do they change the guard?"<br /><br />"Every 4 hours."<br /><br />Routunious says, "It is getting late, and there is still much to discuss. We have to leave the town before sunset unless we have a local sponsor who will vouch for us. Would you be willing to let us spend the night?"<br /><br />"Of course, it is good to have more help."<br /><br />Ada shows them to another room where they can put down improvised beds. Once they have their sleeping area prepared, they come back down and continue their discussion. <br /><br /><strong>6:00pm</strong><br />Their conversation is interrupted by a loud banging on the door. Ada motions for her visitors to remain seated, and she goes to the door. When she opens it she is surprised to see a black orc with a shield and mace standing in front of two burly thugs. One of the thugs, the party recognizes as the man who was watching them from the door of the Teshford Arms.Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-18715497266473245642007-08-23T11:59:00.000-04:002008-12-13T08:59:30.586-05:0020 Eleasias, 1368: Back to the Teshford Arms<strong>2:00pm</strong><br />After a restful night in Shandar's Tower, the company is teleported by the wizard back to the spot on the road where they had used the <em>Stone of Recall</em>. The companions, now numbering four, walk toward the Teshford Arms.<br /><br />Stago asks, "Isn't that the Red Rock Inn?"<br /><br />Elessaria answers, "No, that's the Teshford Arms."<br /><br />"Where is the Red Rock Inn?" <br /><br />Routunious answers, "Other side of town."<br /><br />Stago continues, "Aren't we supposed to go to the Red Rock Inn?"<br /><br />Elessaria gives him a stern look and motions for him to keep his voice low. Then she says, "We are, to get information to Randal Morn, but as of yet we don't have any information to give."<br /><br />"Oh."<br /><br />"And," Routunious interjects, "We've already paid for our rooms here in advance. I'd recommend stopping in, and consider our options in relative comfort before we strike out again. We may also want to extend our reservations by another ten-day as we don't know how long these investigations are going to take...but with each passing hour the story seems to become more complicated."<br /><br />The party enters the Teshford Arms. The day clerk employed by Olavia, a mousy little fop named Eb Farnum, has eyes that nearly pop out of his head at the sight of them.<br /><br />Farnum stammers, "The travellers have...have returned! What a joy it is...to see you here again...when these troubled times might stack the odds against your safe return so considerably!"<br /><br />"The road has not gotten the best of us yet," Routunious says.<br /><br />"And yet," Farnum says cautiously, "I see that your number is diminished since last you left our premisis. I hope that some dire calamity has not reduced your number permanently? Perhaps you are no longer in need of all of your rooms?"<br /><br />Elessaria, who has little patience for the wordy clerk's banter, interjects, "We are all of us, hale and whole and we would like to not only keep the rooms we have already paid for, but to extend the rental of those rooms for another full 10-day."<br /><br />"I see, I see," stammers Farnum, "That would be perfect, and we're as fortunate to have you under our roof as you are to still be hale and whole, as you say, and payment can be made in advance, as is the custom?"<br /><br />"Yes," Routunious says, sliding a small stack of gold coins to him. Farnum quickly pockets the coins as the company begins to walk past him to their rooms.<br /><br />Farnum shouts, "Oh, no, you can't go to your rooms at the moment."<br /><br />"May we ask why?" Elessaria asks with an icy tone.<br /><br />"I need time to, uh, get the rooms ready. We've simply been over-run with business today and the staff, which by staff, I mean me. I need to change the linens and beat the mattresses to ensure that no vermin have infested the rooms while you left them vacant." <br /><br />Elessaria sighs, "Very well, we will return for supper this evening. For now we'll venture into the town." The party turns to leave. As they exit the inn, a man stands and follows them to the door, watching from the steps as they head toward the river ford. Elessaria halts the party, sensing something. They turn around in the road and look back at the man who is watching them. <br /><br />This goes on for a long while, then, Elessaria says, "Let him watch." She turns and continues on her way. After a moment's hesitation, the rest of the party follows her.<br /><br />Stago asks, "What are we going to do?"<br /><br />Elessaria responds, "Go into town, check out the ruined temple."<br /><br />"Oh. Well, we could try going to the Red Rock Inn."<br /><br />"We still don't have anything to tell Loudon the Cooper."<br /><br />"Oh," Stago says, momentarily defeated. Brightening, he says, "What time is sundown, anyway?"<br /><br />Elessaria says, "In six or seven hours."<br /><br />Stago says, "Well, that's plenty of time to explore a burned down church. Let's go!"<br /><br />Inside the inn, Farnum watches as the zhent agent comes back inside and sits by the fire. The two exchange a knowing nod, then Farnum snaps his fingers and a hunchbacked, slack jawed, clubfooted woman shuffles up to him with a look of mild terror on her face.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcXw4qW3NNdwRc7AmWX3JkPoqrCHl1VudnVVau2nqF3lpMuo0nwQ8iA4LOvTXqlvdnk60XJU6U4M36QRy4ssKblYyyeTIs-H0W13eT6XFTcgoa5_WmbdvjJWaNdvqbAIZYLfr/s1600-h/farnum+and+jewel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcXw4qW3NNdwRc7AmWX3JkPoqrCHl1VudnVVau2nqF3lpMuo0nwQ8iA4LOvTXqlvdnk60XJU6U4M36QRy4ssKblYyyeTIs-H0W13eT6XFTcgoa5_WmbdvjJWaNdvqbAIZYLfr/s400/farnum+and+jewel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102132250505690322" /></a>"Jewel," Farnum says to her, "I never would have placed a single coin on those green adventurers coming back to stay a second night."<br /><br />"Nuh...nuh....No, sir." She stutters.<br /><br />"And I thought to myself, the rooms are paid for in advance and there's no reason not to let them again when their cold bodies are sleeping out in the woods somewhere and can't take advantage of the comforts of our accomodations in any respect."<br /><br />"Smuh...Smuh....Smahrt business, Mr. Farnum."<br /><br />"And now...instead of double the profit, we've got double the occupancy and I have to figure out how to get the merchants who've been double booked in those rooms out before these greenswords come back for dinner."<br /><br />"Miss...Misss...Olaaaahvia ain't going to like you double booking the rooms and pocketing the extra money."<br /><br />"No...you have, my humpbacked and clubfooted char woman, precisely pinpointed my problem."<br /><br />"Thahhh...Thahhh...That's a problem alright."<br /><br />"Solve it for me, would you?" Farnum says, returning to his seat behind the counter and the bottle of whisky he keeps there. Jewel looks sadly at Eb, who ignores her, then looks just as sadly up the stairs to the rooms. Slowly, she clumps her way up to evict the merchants trying to come up with some story along the way by which they will leave the inn without a refund, which she knows Eb will never give them.Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-3611821246459361092007-08-23T11:07:00.000-04:002007-08-25T13:49:38.956-04:0019 Eleasias, 1368: Back to Shandar's Tower<strong>1:00pm</strong><br />As they walk back toward the Teshford Arms, Routunious stops and asks, "Elessaria...do you think they are dead?"<br /><br />Elessaria says, "Selina isn't. I can see her and the cats inside the globe. She doesn't seem to be in any danger...probably the magic of the globe sustains her."<br /><br />"But, what about the other two. The ones who are now stone figures?"<br /><br />Elessaria reminds Routunious as she hands him the two small figurines, "If they are dead, the wizard could resurrect them. The contract said so, free of charge." <br /><br />Routunious puts the figurines in his pocket, and conducts an inventory of the contents of Tick-A-Tick's compartment. Stored in the automaton are 1pp, 1062gp, 51sp, and 13 cp. He says to Elessaria, "We've got plenty of money for the return trip."<br /><br />Holding the figurines of Stago and Merle, Elessaria says, "Dead or not, Shandar needs to be informed of this, and of the warning. He's the only wizard we know who is powerful enough to counteract something...this bad." <br /><br />Routunious says, "Use the stone, we've got enough to cover being sent back even after two or three resurrections."<br /><br />Elessaria pulls the Stone of Recall from her pack, and Routunious reaches out to hold her arm, and with his other hand, holds onto Tick-a=Tick. By using the command word, the stone is activated and they are instantly transported in a crackling flash of energy to Shandar's secluded tower.<br /><br />Once back in the safe company of the wizard and his band, Routunious and Elessaria realte the traumatic events of the previous day. Shandar listens to everything and then sits for a long moment, pulling on his pipe with a slow intake of breath. He says,"This is not a welcome development."<br /><br />Routunious sputters, "Of course, this isn't a welcome development! But why has this development happened? Who did this thng? And how are you going to undo it?"<br /><br />Shandar sighs and says,"You remember the evil wizard who first stole my items from me...Nesha?"<br /><br />"Yes, of course," Routunious riplies, "Nesha took your artifacts, and your spellbooks."<br /><br />Elessaria adds, "And people said that he used his power to make contact with the Lower Planes...and either consorted with or attracted the attention of a demonic entity. In either case, they say he was captured by evil forces and pulled into the Abyss."<br /><br />Shandar nods, and says, "Very good. You listen well."<br /><br />"So, do you think what we saw was some sort of demon?" Routunious asked.<br /><br />"That may be, though why any demon would want you to cease your quest, I can't say. I'd always thought that Nesha was being held a prisoner of his hoped for allies, tortured endlessly for the rest of time...but it may be that he has struck some hateful bargain and is himself becoming something infernal. Perhaps, my friends, you have met Nesha himself. One of his favorite illusions was to appear as a ball of green lightning, as you describe. Perhaps he is also looking for that which he has lost and wants to scare you from the trail so that he might find them before you can return those things to me." The old wizard stops then, a very puzzled look on his face.<br /><br />"Let me see the figurines of your companions...you have them with you?"<br /><br />Routunious pulls the two figurines from his pockets, and Elessaria carefully removes the snowglobe from her pack. Shandar raises his eyebrow even further.<br /><br />"Further unwelcome developments, I see."<br /><br />Elessaria says, "Indeed."<br /><br />"Well," the wizard sighed, "at least you all weren't killed or...immobilized."<br /><br />"If we'd all been killed, how could we have delivered the warning to you?" Routunious offered.<br /><br />"True. Message received, loudly and clearly. But, you realize this doesn't affect your contractual obligations?"<br /><br />"Part of the contract specifies your aid and assistance in things pertaining to recuperation, restoration and resurrection." Elessaria countered.<br /><br />"She reads as well as she listens," Shandar said through a smile.<br /><br />"We understand all applicable fees will be charged," Routunious says, "but I'm sure you understand that we are better off working for you with our original number than as we are now. Can you return them to their original forms?"<br /><br />Shandar studies the figurines and peers into the snow globe, at last he says, "I think I can help, but it will take time and if Nesha or his agents are already in Dagger Falls, then time is something we do not have in abundance. Which member of your party would you like me to concetrate on first?" <br /><br />The elven ranger and the human priest confer for some time, and in the end decide that they have the greatest need of the gnome illusionist's talents. Elessaria says, "Stago first."<br /><br />"So be it," Shandar says, as he retires to his conjuration chambers. <br /><br />Mina, Shandar's cleric steps forward to ask, "What else can you report? We should waste no time and while Shandar labors to bring your companion back to us, perhaps I can help make sense of the rest of your story."<br /><br />Elessaria removes the dwarven sword from her pack and unrolls it from the center of her bedroll onto the table. She says, "This sword was found in the dwarven outpost. It bears runes upon it which I lack the ability to read."<br /><br />The beautiful priestess examines the sword closely, while Routunious examines her. He gets somewhat flustered as he relates the tale of the sword's discovery. Eventually, his stammering makes Mina uncomfortable.<br /><br />"These runes are of a curious, ancient type...I think it would be better if I examined them in my private study."<br /><br />"Of course, of course..." Routunious assures her as she departs with the sword, "We'll be out here if you require any assistance!" Elessaria only rolls her eyes.<br /><br />After an hour the elf hears two sets of footsteps descending the stairs from the second level of the tower. Shandar is leading a very confused and slightly dizzy gnome.<br /><br />The wizard says, "It took a good deal of doing, but I brought this one back."<br /><br />"Stago!" Routunious shouts, overjoyed at the sight.<br /><br />Stago says, "I'm fine, I think."<br /><br />"You're as fine as you were, my diminuitive friend," Shandar says.<br /><br />Stago asks, "Would someone do me the very small favor of telling me what in the world happened up there? And could you do me the very great favor of telling me over a good, hot meal?"<br /><br />Everyone laughs and Shandar directs Marie to meet the request, and she heads to the kitchen to start cooking. As she does, the party sits with the wizard and the tale is recounted again. Shandar listens attentively to see if any new information comes to light the second time around.<br /><br />"Don't discount anything, tell every detail," Shandar says, "you never know what might be important."<br /><br />They tell of the sleeping sickness and meeting Randal Morn. They relate how they haven't heard or discovered anything relating to the staff they seek. When they get to the point of the glowing green orb, Stago stops them.<br /><br />"Selina is in a snow globe? Let me see it!" <br /><br />Cautiously, the globe is handed to the gnome, who peers inside it and then shakes it.<br /><br />"Stop that!" Elessaria shouts.<br /><br />Stago hands back the globe, saying, "But that's what you do with a snow globe, isn't it?"<br /><br />Elessaria peers into the globe and sees a very tiny Selina shivering with her cats in a flurry of snow. Shandar offers to take the globe and says that he will keep her in the tower and work on her next.<br /><br />"The enchantment on the other figurine, that which now contains Merle, is of a different nature than that used on Stago. I am not sure how to undo it. It could well be that the effect is temporary in nature and will reverse of its own accord. To that end, you should take it with you, for she may return to normal at any moment. I've devised a break away pouch for you to carry her in, so that should the effect reverse, she won't pop up at the bottom of your pack."<br /><br />Stago asks, "Why can't we stay here until you can figure out how to restore her?"<br /> <br />Elessaria answers for the wizard, "That thing that struck you down is after the same thing we are, and there isn't time to sit around here while he researches the proper magics. He can do the research while we continue looking for the staff and if the effect wears off, then Merle and Selina will pop back up. If it doesn't, then Shandar may have found the answer by the time we return."<br /><br />Shandar agrees, "Correct, but I think it might be better to leave the snow globe here. The figurines are nearly impervious to damage, but I can't say what might happen should the snow globe shatter from the rigors of the road."<br /><br />At this point, Mina returns from her sanctuary, "The blade is magical, that is certain. This word, Olar, it is the name of the blade."<br /><br />Shandar's eyes widen, "Olar means--"<br /><br />"Mage Killer!" Stago finished for the wizard.<br /><br />"That is correct. A dwarven sword fashioned for the purpose of killing wizards." <br /><br />"May I see?" Stago asked. He looks at the runes on the blade, and says, "Yes, Olar is the name of the sword, and this name...Dorn the Grim, is the maker. Dwarven isn't so different a language from Gnomish, you know."<br /><br />Everyone in the room nodded as if they did know, whether they did or not. Stago reaches out to trace the runes with his index finger, though very careful not to touch the blade. <br /><br />"The blade," Stago continues, "possesses a keen and lethal edge, but is additionally perilous to any practicioners of the magical arts by virtue of exactly the sort of enchantments dwarves are so good at. The full inscription reads: <em>I am Olar, forged by Dorn the Grim of the Brightblade Clan, blood of Belgin and Miira.</em> Those last two names must be his parents or kinsmen or something."<br /><br />Shandar says, "Interesting find. What can you tell me of the finding of it? Leave nothing out."<br /><br />Routunious explains, "It was on an altar in the outpost, Elessaria pried it out of the hands of a dead dwarf."<br /><br />"And this blade," Elessaria begins with an icy tone, "only works on wizards and not priests?"<br /><br />"Can we keep it?" Stago asks.<br /><br />"You can't even hold it, why would you want to keep it?" Routunious says.<br /><br />Shandar interrupts, "Best not to hold onto it. Any dwarf, especially a member of the Brightblade Clan, who sees you toting it around or trying to sell this blade may consider you a blood enemy and call killing you for it a matter of racial honor."<br /><br />"That," Routunious says, "would be bad."<br /><br />"Do we put it back, then?" Stago asks.<br /><br />"No, I think that if the sword were meant to be returned to the altar, it wouldn't have allowed itself to leave. You say you had visions while in the outpost?"<br /><br />Elessaria answers, "Dreams...possibly visions. The priest and I were asleep, but we dreamed the exact same dream." She went on to recount the exact events of the dream, with Routunious chiming in to ensure that no detail was omitted.<br /><br />Shandar says, "Interesting." The old wizard spreads his hands above the blade, also careful not to touch, and mutters the incatation for an identify spell. The blade's deadly properties are fully revealed to him. <br /><br /><strong>THE SWORD "OLAR":</strong> <em>+1 short sword, +2 against mages. Any magic user touching it suffers 1d3 hp damage per round in addition to any damage which may have been dealt by its edge in combat.</em><br /><br />"I think that you have been chosen by the dwarven spirits to return the sword to its rightful owners, the surviving members of the Brightblade Clan. I would advise you to keep this curious item close at hand, and in secret, until the opportunity presents itself. And, given the great uncertainty at this stage of your quest, it is entirely possible that a weapon with these unique properites might be very useful. But I'd get rid of it at the first opportunity that presents itself to put it in the hands of the Brightblades."<br /><br />Routunious asks, "What can you tell us of the Bladebrights?"<br /><br />Shandar walks to a bookcase, and while removing a tome, says, "Little. This reference is a minor history of Daggerdale, it doesn't go any further back than after the vampire infestations."<br /><br />Stago croaks, "Vampires?" <br /><br />"Long ago, nothing to worry about now," the wizard said, flipping through the pages to find the spot he was looking for. "Here it is. The tale of Belesaria and the clan of the Brightblade dwarves."<br /><br />Stago asks, "Who is Belesaria?" Then, recognizing the similarity, at least phonetically, to the name of their elven leader, he eyes Elessaria with some fresh curiosity.<br /><br />Shandar answers, "The Mage-lords’s wife."<br /><br />Routunious interjects, "Who is the Mage-lord, again? I'm having a hard time keeping all this straight."<br /><br />Shandar sighs, and continues, "Colderan, who was the ruler of House Morn around 100 years ago."<br /><br />"Morn?" Asked Elessaria, "As in Randal Morn?"<br /><br />"The same, Colderan was Randal's great grandfather."<br /><br />"And Belessaria was his great grandmother!" Routunious said, happily. <br /><br />"Yes, you're paying attention, good." Shandar sat down with the book and waited for the party to calm sufficiently for him to continue. He read, "The Brightblade goldsmiths lived in delvings in Daggerdale, in peace with the ruler of House Morn, the Mage-lord Colderan. Belesaria, was a proud and arrogant woman, who believed that the people of the dale were her servants, not she their protector."<br /><br />"That usually leads to trouble." Stago says, getting engrossed in the tale.<br /><br />Shandar goes on, "One cold day in autumn she went to the Brightblade dwarves to buy fine jewels. The Brightblade dwarves had just finished crafting a masterpiece gemstone for their king under the mountain, and as soon as Belesaria saw it she demanded to buy it. The dwarves refused, Belesaria offered more for it, and still they refused. Vowing vengeance for this slight, she stormed off."<br /><br />Stago says to Routunious, "Straight to her hot head husband, I bet, to stir up a hornet's nest."<br /><br />"Exactly so," Shandar says, "When Belesaria returned, she told her husband that the dwarves would not sell her their finest work, only their trinkets. She told her husband that the dwarves had told her to her face that she was not fit to wear anything more than the baubles no dwarf would want. The Mage-lord's pride was wounded and he was so angered by the lies his wife had told him, that he swore to teach the dwarves a lesson."<br /><br />"Trouble. I told you." Stago says, and is hushed by a stern look from Elessaria. <br /> <br />Shandar continues, "Returning to the Brightblade delvings, the dwarves explained that the gem his wife sought was a tribute to their own king, and that they had meant no insult to Belesaria. The Mage-lord realized the difficult position his wife had put him in, but could not back down without a loss to his own prestige after the threats he had made against the dwarves in public. He told the dwarves they could keep their precious stones, and hoped that their king choked to death on their gift. But, he told them, they owed him an equal duty while they maintained an outpost in his dale, and equal respect. He threatened the dwarves with a sorcerous curse if they would not pay him a great tribute of gold and worked steel as an apology for their insults."<br /><br />Stago asked, "How did that work out for him?"<br /><br />Shandar looks up from the book as he says, "As you suspect, the dwarves refused, but, knowing the power of a mage’s wrath, the clan and all their kin gathered what they had and left to dwell with cousins under the mountains to the north."<br /><br />Elessaria asks, "But the two we found there...why did they stay behind?"<br /><br />"My guess," The wizard said, closing the book, "is that the dwarven skeletons are the remains of the chief priest and the clan leader of the Bladebright dwarves who once lived here. The two dwarven heroes probably tried to kill Colderan, even though they knew enough about his power to be aware that their end was upon them. Sending their kinsfolk to the halls of their cousins in the Mines of Tethyamar, Elshar Kurl, the priest, and Dorn the Grim, the chieftain, remained behind to buy time for their clan, knowing that they would probably die. They kept up the appearance of an entire clan resisting Colderan’s forces and the rest of the clan escaped. Since you found them in the forge room, it seems likely that the two dwarves sought to destroy the upstart mage and his curse by forging a sword of cold iron. Just as you saw in your vision, they made the blade of dark ironstar steel and chanted sorcery with every strike of the smith's hammer, but ultimately the blade must have failed them. Colderan could not touch the blade that was meant to slay him, and his magic was not powerful enough to destroy it. And so, it was left to the next living souls who entered that chamber to discover it...you."<br /><br />Elessaria says, "What a sad story."<br /><br />Shandar replies, "Yes, indeed, and it explains why to this day, the Brightblade dwarves will render no aid to descendants of House Morn, including their only male heir, Randal Morn."<br /><br />"Hmmm... And this fellow is Randal Morn's grandfather, eh?" Stago asks.<br /><br />"Don't judge a person by his forbears," says Shandar. "Now," he continues, "You mentioned some writing in dwarvish on the walls, writing you copied down?"<br /><br />"Yes," Elessaria says, pulling out the parchment upon which she had copied the runes.<br /><br />Stago takes the parchment and reads out the runes copied by Elessaria. "Your dream seems correct. It looks like it was written by Colderan: <em>Children of Earth, for your insults to Belesaria, my beloved, your axes shall be blunted and your crops shall wither. All living things shall flee my unhallowed might. In seven days, I shall tear down your halls, and leave no stone standing. Signed, Colderan the Mage-Lord</em>."<br /><br />Routunious asks, "If the dwarves fled and Colderan killed the priest and the chief...what happened to Mage-Lord and his wife? Why isn't Randal Morn the leader of Daggerdale today?"<br /><br />Elessaria interjects, "Zhentarim mercenaries and spies deposed the Morns after the fall of Teshendale, 50 years ago."<br /><br />"How do you know that?" Stago asked.<br /><br />Elessaria sighs and says, "Because, I listen when people tell me things. You should try it."<br /><br />"I listen, but I guess I'll need to start writing everything down. So, the Morn's were deposed 50 years ago, but that doesn't explain what happened to this Mage person."<br /><br />Shandar flips forward in the book, and says, "Historical data is sketchy at best, but indications are that not long after the dwarves left Eagle's Eryrie, Belesaria fell deathly ill. Colderon suspected it was poison, and blamed the dwarves. Nothing he tried, neither magical nor clerical seemed to halt the wasting effects of whatever she was afflicted with. There were some reports that the Mage-lord even sought the aid of dark elves, contacted through subterranean tunnels beneath the town. When Belesaria finally died, Colderan buried her in a secret location, fearful that the dwarves might return to exact even more retribution on his wife's corpse. He never revealed burial sight, even to his son, Randal's father, though it is said he frequently spend long periods of time their wailing in his grief. Colderon Morn died not long after his wife's death, a bitter, hate-filled man. Legend has it that his apprentices buried him secretly in a hidden laboratory somewhere beneath the town of Dagger Falls, and then stole his spell book. And that is the sum total of all that is known or written about him." <br /><br />Marie enters with a huge wooden platter piled high with strips of fried small game meat and mashed turnips, all covered in gravy. She says, "Time to eat, you can talk again later."<br /><br />As the others move to the table to enjoy the quickly prepared meal, Elessaria approaches Shandar, and draws her sword. She says, "Shandar...this is the sword which I recovered from the tor. The gnome said this inscription named it God's Bane, when he read it with the brooch of translation. I never had it identified...would you?"<br /><br />"Of course, my dear," Shandar says, and casts the spell. After reading the item, he tells her, "This is an amazing artifact, and one which may prove useful indeed one day. Against all common opponents it will always strike more quickly and deal more damage than a non-magical sword of its type...however, against creatures of other planes it will be even more deadly, and deadly in proportion to the level of its weilder."<br /><br /><strong>God's Bane:</strong> <em>+1 longsword, +1 per level of weilder against extra-planar entities.</em><br /><br />Shandar and Elessaria join the conversation at the table. While they eat, there is a discussion of hiring additional adventurers as subcontractors. Shandar says that is acceptable, but anyone brought into the party, regardless of the status given them by the original signators of contract are also bound by the terms of that contract and the original signators will be held responsible for any breeches of the contract by new members of the party.<br /><br />After dinner, the company convince Shandar that it would be to the advantage of all to return to Dagger Falls in the morning, after the adventurers have rested.Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-26441900030917352282007-08-23T07:39:00.000-04:002008-12-13T08:59:30.820-05:0019 Eleasias, 1368: Dreams of Dwarves<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-j-XWhh4aXWCqq3IBrZPaOIFoV5dpUDsnnD6gSL4O5_8Dr6oLU7ZrIn1D_6ptrJVyqxR0s0Al2yzh-19YzeFIdny6WgKwWh-5dN9w70DqosOZOeBgCkKSG6joDVn6IvjKwPV/s1600-h/dream.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101888876183862178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-j-XWhh4aXWCqq3IBrZPaOIFoV5dpUDsnnD6gSL4O5_8Dr6oLU7ZrIn1D_6ptrJVyqxR0s0Al2yzh-19YzeFIdny6WgKwWh-5dN9w70DqosOZOeBgCkKSG6joDVn6IvjKwPV/s400/dream.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#000099;"><em>The dwarven priest and dwarven warrior are badly wounded and exhausted...they have staggered back into the sacred altar room for their last stand. A strange wizard surrounded by a garrison of soldiers enter the room. He speaks to the dwarves, but his speech is badly garbled...The dwarves stand defiant and prepare to charge the wizard.<br /><br />The wizard casts some sort of spell at the two dwarves, who are held fast as the soldiers come up to them. They spit on them and ridicule them before hacking their motionless bodies to pieces. The dwarves fall dead to the floor. The wizard pushes his way through the soldiers and gives them a command.<br /><br />As the soldiers set about searching the room for any sort of secret door out of the complex, the wizard bends to the bloodied corpses. He reaches out to grab the short sword held in the and of the dwarven warrior but shrieks in pain as his hand touches the blade. He recoils and growls something profane at the bodies. Then he turns, and climbs up on the altar. He asks for tools and is given a hammer and chisel.<br /><br />The wizard carves a series of runes in the stone above the altar and when he is finished everyone in the room who is still alive laughs in a horrible, jeering way. They look at the bodies and back at the altar and then the wizard leaps down and leads the soldiers out of the room.<br /><br />The two dwarves lie there in the gathering darkness, the waterwheel slowly turning and the sound of the water is all that can be heard. Then it seems as though time is rushing faster than normal, incredibly fast. The wheel is spinning whildly until the water stops flowing and it abruptly stops. The two bodies on the floor turn from meat to bone in a flash.<br /><br />Then, suddenly, the vision ends.</em><br /></span><br /><strong>2:00am</strong><br />Routunious and Elessaria both wake up in a cold sweat.<br /><br />"I had a dream, about the dwarves in the other room." Routunious says.<br /><br />Elessaria is stunned, "As did I." They excitedly tell each other the details of their dreams, and discover they were both having the same dream.<br /><br />Routunious says, "I couldn't see his face, the wizard, but everything else was so real."<br /><br />"I couldn't see him either," Elessaria says, "...but if the dream is true, he is the one who killed the dwarves and wrote the message on the wall."<br />we had the same dream!!!<br /><br />"Maybe we need to go back and re-examine the altar room. Those soldiers were looking for something they didn't find," says Routunious.<br /><br />"Yes. Perhaps going back in the room will help us remember more of the dream. Even now the details are fading," replies Elessaria.<br /><br />They check to see if the bear is still there. It is, though sleeping and snoring loudly. They creep into the altar room and instruct Tick-a-Tick to resume turning the air pump as the conduct a fruitless search for a secret doorway or hidden room.<br /><br />Routunious says, "This is useless. But, as long as we're awake anyway, let's check that room you said might be an armory. The one with the fire bugs."<br /><br />The elf agrees that they may as well, and so they creep across the main chamber, careful not to wake the bear. Before entering, Elessaria peeks into the abandoned armory again and sees that the fire bugs have departed.<br /><br />"Odd," she says, opening the door all the way and entering the empty room. They search everything and find nothing other than a hole in the corner of the room large enough to roll a canonball down. It was behind one of the rotting wooden racks, which is why Elessaria hadn't noticed it before.<br /><br />She says, "Even if that is another way in and out for those bugs, it isn't going to do either of us any good."<br /><br />Routunious agrees, "No, and I think now I'm tired enough again that I could sleep without thinking of the dreams I might have or being eaten by that bear."<br /><br /><strong>4:00am</strong><br /><br />With Tick-a-Tick standing watch, they sleep soundly through the rest of the night.<br /><br /><strong>7:00am</strong><br />The pair wake up, fully rested, and in good spirits prepare breakfast. After eating, they clean up and pack their belongings, including their now inanimate companions.<br /><br /><strong>8:00am</strong><br />Routunious and Elessaria sneak around edge of main chamber to secret entrance with Tick-a-Tick behind them. The bear wasn't in the main chamber, but might have gone back into its own, more familiar portion of the cave entrance. Cautiously they move through the tunnel and outside. The bear is gone.<br /><br />Elessaria stands at the edge of the cliff, thinking back over the events that have transpired over the past 24 hours. She considers the glowing green orb, the dwarven complex, and the dream.<br /><br />"I can't help but feel we are missing something obvious," she says.<br /><br />Routunious approaches and says, "You're frustrated that we've lost so much and found nothing to justify it."<br /><br />She looks at him, then asks, "Can we examine the altar room one more time? Especially the altar itself. I just can't' help feeling we're missing something. Where did all the dwarves go? How could they fool the wizard we dreamt about into thinking the dwarves were there unless there was a secret escape route?"<br /><br />Routunious shrugs, "We can look again, maybe we'll have better luck now that we are better rested."<br /><br />They return to the altar room and again put Tick-a-Tick on the waterwheel to pump fresh air into the chamber.<br /><br /><strong>10:00am</strong><br />"Elessaria," Routunious finally says, "it's no use. There is nothing here...or if there is the dwarves have hidden it so well that only a dwarf could find it."<br /><br />Elessaria's shoulders sag, "You're right. We should leave and find a dwarf to translate the runes."<br /><br />"Don't worry. We'll get our friends back and we'll solve this puzzle. It just isn't time to do it now."<br /><br />Only partially reassured, she leads the automaton and the uncharacteristically caring priest out of the dwarven complex and they start down the mountain trail. Looking back at the outpost from the road they realize how difficult it is to see the eyrie from below. The dwarves were exceedingly skillful in crafting their watch point. They travel without incident until they get to the ravine.<br /><br />They are glad that Stago convinced Selina to leave the rope bridge up, or the gorge might have proven impassable to the remaining members of the company. They manage to get to the bottom without incident. On the way back to the inn they stop at Farmer Navil's home to tell him that they explored the entire mountain but found no sign of sheep, shepard or little boy.<br /><br />He thanks them for their troubles, and implores them not to forget to keep an eye out for his son and shepard as they continue their travels.Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-58111154676902775612007-08-22T10:59:00.000-04:002008-12-13T08:59:31.752-05:0018 Eleasias, 1368: The Altar of the Last Stand<strong>4:00pm</strong><br />The next room the company explores is directly across from the rusty doors of the empty armory. This room has an ornately worked stone corridor, with a turn at the end of the visible passage. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAfgf7qBIfxT-m17eKAPveeIxGOE0dwqMSaam3VA-C59y_61BrTt7S7wLOHyCxDK_ok7TK1Bs5s9Ow7OufGnzISck_55JMg3qzyCXqfScO2ka-v0jQci-vTkgOMK2wp8GQFt8/s1600-h/ra5013.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAfgf7qBIfxT-m17eKAPveeIxGOE0dwqMSaam3VA-C59y_61BrTt7S7wLOHyCxDK_ok7TK1Bs5s9Ow7OufGnzISck_55JMg3qzyCXqfScO2ka-v0jQci-vTkgOMK2wp8GQFt8/s200/ra5013.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101566285485226770" /></a>Turning that corner they see a large, vaulted room and notice that the air is stuffy and makes their lights flicker low. There are two dwarven skeletons lying near an altarstone at the far end of the room. <br /><br />Before Routunious covers his light, they see dwarvish writing on the wall above the altar, and a silent water wheel standing motionless against the adjoining wall. <br /><br />Routunious says, "This would appear to be the chapel...I don't know enough about dwarves and their religion to know to what god it is dedicated."<br /><br />Elessaria holds her battle axe at the ready and Routunious holds his staff with the knife on the end. In the room, looking from the doorway, they see look at the altar and the writing carved into the walls above it. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SWK_kJR2XNSUPhbWrcVHc8SH-f5DmaYSke49pQvdqdSqSFrPlr8Yaohv9blxcIulZBO7vGWwKE7F_0kYqtoGOFr4fJgX_JniPRCWPpXEqkiIxjKvhugwDlFxzxpvP2lSWpQm/s1600-h/ra5014a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SWK_kJR2XNSUPhbWrcVHc8SH-f5DmaYSke49pQvdqdSqSFrPlr8Yaohv9blxcIulZBO7vGWwKE7F_0kYqtoGOFr4fJgX_JniPRCWPpXEqkiIxjKvhugwDlFxzxpvP2lSWpQm/s400/ra5014a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101566560363133730" /></a>Entering the room, the ranger and priest bend down to examine the dwarven dead carefully and without touching them. The skeletons each wear remnants of chain mail armor. One wears a holy symbol with markings similar to those on the altar--a gemstone inside a mountain. The other wears an elaborate helmet and holds a sword inscribed on the blade with dwarven runes.<br /><br />"Have you noticed it is getting harder to breathe?" Elessaria asks.<br /><br />Routunious nods, "I'm glad you said something, I thought it was just me being winded from the battle."<br /><br />Elessaria smiles at that, and says, "No, the air is bad and getting worse in here."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinx8nSvxrV5-FXPm5mojBfJtcCujTwDuhtZ_EvT2GbbgykXm3ryxRwCjRFatRqBfBaLcXoazIif75eQt9xjxISxZmnIlKxrIKjspOiqmxDxg7yGedK5rPsROwahC2tyAJHoJDy/s1600-h/ra5015.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinx8nSvxrV5-FXPm5mojBfJtcCujTwDuhtZ_EvT2GbbgykXm3ryxRwCjRFatRqBfBaLcXoazIif75eQt9xjxISxZmnIlKxrIKjspOiqmxDxg7yGedK5rPsROwahC2tyAJHoJDy/s200/ra5015.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101567032809536306" /></a>Routunious stands and walks over to examine the waterwheel and Elessaria guards his back. There is no water coming in, but it is clear that at one time a natural spring did flow from high on the wall and onto the wheel, before draining away through a crack in the floor. Without touching the apparatus it is impossible to tell if the wheel would still turn. Using his expertise in engineering, Routunious comes to some conclusions about the purpose of the wheel.<br /><br />The priest says to Elessaria, "The water wheel once provided power to circulate air throughout the dwarves’ complex. Machinery that powered fans and air ducts are behind the wheel. Without it, no fresh air, except that small amount that comes in through the forge. When the forge was in operation and the secret door closed, this machine would have been the main source of air. Everyone in the complex would suffocate without it."<br /><br />Elessaria ponders this, and says, "Maybe the dwarves are gone because the water source dried up?"<br /><br />Routunious says, "It may be so. I think we should copy the runes from the wall there, and take them back to town in order to translate them. Perhaps they will provide an important clue."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVUUVEIAWsm9EYindLho6LNgjh4Wq4hnnSJ_PlbG_tvW36BrwHQueDboYNRJOlC3pMb6Yo_AOX-Y82bJ50956Az-eF4EUVL7aECCYKEiOXKtYSD8jTelBpxL-2xXMvPbO3Sn5/s1600-h/ra5016.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVUUVEIAWsm9EYindLho6LNgjh4Wq4hnnSJ_PlbG_tvW36BrwHQueDboYNRJOlC3pMb6Yo_AOX-Y82bJ50956Az-eF4EUVL7aECCYKEiOXKtYSD8jTelBpxL-2xXMvPbO3Sn5/s200/ra5016.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101567466601233218" /></a>Copying the runes takes a long time, during which the air continues to worsen. Routunious nearly faints. He turns to Tick-a-Tick and commands, "Tick-a-Tick, turn the wheel until I tell you to cease."<br /><br />As the automaton begins turning the wheel, they hear a sound like the earth breathing. In a very short time the air in the room is fresh and clear. The pumps still function perfectly.<br /><br /><strong>6:00pm</strong><br />"Are you hungry?" Routunious asks, after a rumble growls out of his own belly.<br /><br />Elessaria says, "Yes. We should break into the rations." <br /><br />They eat while discussing what to do next. Routunious wants to return to the inn, but Elessaria notes that the climb up the mountain was difficult enough in full daylight, trying to navigate the narrow trail and crossing the ravine in darkness would be impossible.<br /><br />"We've done impossible things before," Routunious grumbled.<br /><br />"Only when there was no other choice. We have a choice. We're sleeping here tonight."<br /><br />"Not next to them," Routunious said, pointing at the two dwarven bodies with his stale bread.<br /><br />"The othe room then."<br /><br />Routunious asks, "Would it be...a sacrilige to loot their bodies?"<br /><br />"Yes." Elessaria says.<br /><br />"Not loot, I mean...search the bodies and carry their valuables back to..."<br /><br />"Someone who might pay a reward for them?" Elessaria interrupts.<br /><br />"Something like that. The sword has runes on it too, and is easier to transport than the wall...we should take it with us."<br /><br />They continue to discuss the matter until they finish their food, in the end deciding to take the sword. Then follows an equally long discussion of the logistics of doing so. Routunious insists that Elessaria do the honors.<br /><br />In the end, despite the trepidation inspired by the animated warhammer in the other room, taking the sword from the dwarven corpse is uneventful.<br /><br /><strong>7:00pm </strong><br />A great growlilng is heard echoing in the complex.<br /><br />"You've already eaten!" Elessaria says.<br /><br />"It isn't me...I think...the bear is home. We forgot to shut the door."<br /><br />There is more noise back in the main room. <br /><br />Routunious asks, "What do we do?"<br /><br />Elessaria says, "I'm a ranger...I will try using my <em>Animal Empathy </em> to make friends with it."<br /><br />Routunious is doubful, "Right...but what is the back up plan in case that doesn't work? Cast <em>Animal Friendship</em>?"<br /><br />"fine," Elessaria says, "and if all else fails, we fight the bear."<br /><br />Routunious asks, "You're better at fighting than making friends...couldn't 'we start with killing the bear? That plan seems most likely to yeild success."<br /><br />Elessaria insists, "I'm not going to kill anything unless I have to. A bear isn't an evil creature, and we are in its home. If we can remove the bear without killing it, that is what we will do."<br /><br />Routunious gives up the argument, "As you wish."<br /><br />Leaving the chapel, Elessaria enters the main room to see an enormous brown bear on all fours hungrily eating the remains of the Stago's dog.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1wrBCwlTY-KijD0FIHJTmBOxZwTwKR6tVjm9w82AyuSf9Q8Xb_XmI9axCL7ItcdQU4TYspjoe2PrBWfkDK9for98nD0G1jRXknibVZIoAmQ5FD8yql0_tc6wfHIDqsiLElZL/s1600-h/2878_G+Dire+BEar.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1wrBCwlTY-KijD0FIHJTmBOxZwTwKR6tVjm9w82AyuSf9Q8Xb_XmI9axCL7ItcdQU4TYspjoe2PrBWfkDK9for98nD0G1jRXknibVZIoAmQ5FD8yql0_tc6wfHIDqsiLElZL/s400/2878_G+Dire+BEar.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101567857443257170" /></a>The ranger senses that the bear is a little confused. It didn't know that it had a whole back room, and is enjoying the new space. One paw is on the squishy head of the dog, and one paw is on squishy tail section while its jaws happily rip apart the rest.<br /><br />Routunious steps up behind her and is sickened by the sight of the bear's meal. <br /><br />Elessaria asks, "Do you notice anything strange?"<br /><br />"Stranger than trapped by a bear in an abandoned stronghold after eating dinner in an airless chamber with two dead dwarves?"<br /><br />"Strange about the dog--look, each time the bear bites or paws it, clouds of dust seem to puff up from the animal, as if its bones were made of chalk that had been crushed."<br /><br />"Yeah...that is strange. What are you going to do about the bear?"<br /><br />With the priest prodding her, Elessaria enters the chamber with the bear. It is about 50 feet away, and doesn't seem to be bothered by her. She tries to employ her Animal Empathy ability and there is no change in the bear's activity.<br /><br />"We don't seem to be able to leave, even if we were planning to. Shall we explore the remaining passage?" Elessaria asks.<br /><br />Routunious replies, "Why not? Maybe it will be gone when we get back."<br /><br />They slide along the wall and down the corridor with the bear not seeming to even notice it is sharing the space. As with the first tunnel, this one leads to a lookout post which has excellent views of the Tesh River Valley through arrow slits, but after a thorough search, it is decided that there is no egress from here except into main chamber.<br /><br /><strong>8:00pm </strong><br />With Tick-a-Tick standing guard, Routunious and Elessaria set up camp in forge room and attempt to sleep until the bear leaves for its morning hunt. Routunious almost suggests killing the bear again, but the look Elessaria gives him stops him before the words can leave his mouth.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwP5um8AviJ7DD2gD9fn3-viOIGvMOIeFJhrpOxNI3KcGN_ZsODfkxauQGA6qvSnL2H8fuBy0_WcY3kgE6lln7PHdjwZPKH4UB-G0aK38GUppnTbkqtShWrZm41LWNpQ9XMpXU/s1600-h/eagle's+eyrie.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwP5um8AviJ7DD2gD9fn3-viOIGvMOIeFJhrpOxNI3KcGN_ZsODfkxauQGA6qvSnL2H8fuBy0_WcY3kgE6lln7PHdjwZPKH4UB-G0aK38GUppnTbkqtShWrZm41LWNpQ9XMpXU/s400/eagle's+eyrie.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101569618379848546" /></a><br /><strong>Sources:</strong><ul><li><a href="http://enworld.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=16840&it=1">Doom of Daggerdale Module</a> <i>(No copyright infringement intended, for reference use only)</i><br /><li><a href="http://www.reapermini.com/store/customer/product.php?productid=2394&cat=0&page=1">Reaper Miniatures Online Store</a><br /></ul>Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-70841085936195331652007-08-19T09:44:00.000-04:002008-12-13T08:59:32.746-05:0018 Eleasias, 1368: The Defender of the Forge<strong>3:30pm</strong><br />Elessaria, Routunious, and Tick-a-Tick enter the passage that leads to the forge room. The center of dwarven work and religious life is often a smithy, and this outpost was no exception.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUnlPX7NEAvgHaA2efbHd97k4OUtBZCvCYrsAmMWuLt1y5TRr9bP0GWWyeBdwo7cVvX2IrMamHaEBPT7RNo_jg5yquEuyFpaPP90ppQxvtzmNrOUdGNs-YZXmHEcFZASwdOXs/s1600-h/ra5009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUnlPX7NEAvgHaA2efbHd97k4OUtBZCvCYrsAmMWuLt1y5TRr9bP0GWWyeBdwo7cVvX2IrMamHaEBPT7RNo_jg5yquEuyFpaPP90ppQxvtzmNrOUdGNs-YZXmHEcFZASwdOXs/s400/ra5009.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101484981754313346" /></a><br />The anvil still rests here, with a warhammer lying upon it. Leather bellows stand unused beside the forge, and a small shrine sits in an alcove beside the anvil. The shrine has empty candle holders before it; the alcove itself is filled with an iron statue of a dwarven god holding up a hammer. All the blacksmithing tools are missing. <br /><br />As the remaining members of the party enter the room, they hear a clattering clanging sound. Astonished, they realize that the warhammer on the anvil is jumping around. Suddenly, it flies up into the air and moves toward them menacingly.<br /><br />The adventurers prepare to do battle with the guardian warhammer. Elessaria puts her bow aside in order to use her battle axe. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnX-VlDXxFzw3ck93nIlfo-fF2QnnFCylDVKmTbYcvvaBxO7-K69_1s8f6ud-J-URlwwVhS3BIn6_kMDjjFK0mezfkYZ_yQwGB9NefPPwrxn6l28C3rG0vzWW0Dv4J2NlAK6c-/s1600-h/ra5010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnX-VlDXxFzw3ck93nIlfo-fF2QnnFCylDVKmTbYcvvaBxO7-K69_1s8f6ud-J-URlwwVhS3BIn6_kMDjjFK0mezfkYZ_yQwGB9NefPPwrxn6l28C3rG0vzWW0Dv4J2NlAK6c-/s400/ra5010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101485355416468114" /></a><br />The warhammer attacks her twice in rapid succession, and Elessaria fends off both attacks. Routunious summons Tick-a-Tick and then retreats to a corner with knives drawn. Elessaria is struck by the hammer, taking minor damage, then she and the warforged fighter attack the hammer but it is able to dodge their blows. While Routunious watches from his corner, Elessaria lands a hit against the warhammer, although Tick-a-Tick misses again. The elf's strike on the hammer splits the haft...and if a warhammer could become angry, they feel certain that this one would be.<br /><br />The hammer flies at Elessaria, missing on its first attack but landing a serious blow on its second. Tick-a-Tick hits the warhammer and the handle breaks into 2 pieces, falling away from the hammerhead which, in turn, wavers and drops inert to clatter on the floor.<br /><br />Elessaria removes a bottle from her pack and takes one swallow of an extra-healing potion. With a warm tingle she is fully restored to health.<br /><br />Routunious examines the head of warhammer, fascinated by this magical opponent they have defeated. Holding the hammerhead in his hands, he says, "This weapon is finely worked steel but otherwise unremarkable. I don't have the knowledge to identify it further."<br /><br />Elessaria, in an effort to placate whatever angry dwarven spirits might be watching and to shed a little light into the alcove, places 4 candles in the empty holders in front of the statue in the shrine.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PAATP_1QhzV0bi1ZYrRP1u90dn9g2JRYJrP6o_YqiIMTGU2UL3DWWik6omphn2_NIGw6shgkSxrjDE-Vn2uYYSbruXjgro8hwTmbnRb58RV5XCZeUZJkBv5YalRmYY8EkeRN/s1600-h/ra5011.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PAATP_1QhzV0bi1ZYrRP1u90dn9g2JRYJrP6o_YqiIMTGU2UL3DWWik6omphn2_NIGw6shgkSxrjDE-Vn2uYYSbruXjgro8hwTmbnRb58RV5XCZeUZJkBv5YalRmYY8EkeRN/s320/ra5011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101485814977968802" /></a>Routunious asks, "Are you sure you want to light those?"<br /><br />"We've already defeated the guardian." Elessaria returns.<br /><br />"What if that statue thing comes to life?"<br /><br />"Then, we will defeat it, too."<br /><br />Elessaria lights the candles and holds her breath. Nothing happens, except that from the movment of the flames it is clear that there is air moving in this room.<br /><br />"Look," Elessaria says, "the flames are moving."<br /><br />"Where is the breeze coming from, I wonder?" Routunious thought out loud. They search the room carefully but cannot locate any concealed or secret door. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYOajdaUJWlaDZLOOcj67MIWuJqbqeEcjBwIN7nhoSqCweNYY0UuE2MKM9ujs6YyBTtZeZFbuQlP_rV_ZHVNDC19kjhixg2cyaMQuDYGbtEbXFiDyW4a6aPEPwCiRCmypGk30/s1600-h/ra5012a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYOajdaUJWlaDZLOOcj67MIWuJqbqeEcjBwIN7nhoSqCweNYY0UuE2MKM9ujs6YyBTtZeZFbuQlP_rV_ZHVNDC19kjhixg2cyaMQuDYGbtEbXFiDyW4a6aPEPwCiRCmypGk30/s400/ra5012a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101505481633217250" /></a><br />Routunious determines that the fresh air is likely coming from the area of the forge.<br /><br />"The chimney must still be clear all the way to the surface," he says.<br /><br />Satisfied with the explanation, Elessaria returns her attention to the alcove to the side. In it, they see a cache of iron which has over time rusted into a single large lump of metal. There appears to be nothing of value or any longer even of use. There is nothing but snapped blades, broken tools and plow blades, pitted and cracked horseshoes, twisted lanterns, irreparable bits of armor, and bars and sheets of iron that were never fully worked.Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-49862253283126547482007-08-19T09:37:00.000-04:002008-12-13T08:59:33.089-05:0018 Eleasias, 1368: Inside the Dwarven Outpost<strong>2:50pm</strong><br />The passageway seems to open on the living quarters of dwarves. A secret series of rooms that have remained well-hidden for a human lifetime, the air un-breathed until<br />the Company found the secret entrance. The secret, no doubt, helped to be kept by th bear taking up residence in front of it!<br /><br />As they move down the passageway, Elessaria and Routunious see a soft and diffuse blue light ahead of them. Elessaria's vision shifts back to the normal spectrum and Routunious puts a hand on the handle of a throwing knife. They round the corner and the great vault is revealed. Dozens of arches and flying buttresses shore up the ceiling of this enormous cavern 25 feet above. The blue light is stronger here, emanating from three bright blue globes that sit atop three of four great pillars standing in the centre of the room. The fourth pillar is dark, no globe sits atop it.<br /><br />Routunious asks, "Are these blue orbs related to the green one?"<br /><br />"I don't think so...They are much smaller."<br /><br />"Eggs?"<br /><br />"They appear to be nothing more than lamps, stone orbs upon which a <em>continual light </em>spell has been cast...as with your hat light...but stay alert to danger."<br /><br />They continue to examine the great, circular chamber. It is decorated with a bas relief border depicting bearded dwarven legions fighting hordes of orcs and trolls. The areas under the arches have been carved into niches, fire pits, and areas separated by low stone walls; perhaps tapestries or curtains once hung before them.<br /><br />There are six exits leading out of the room, including that from the secret passage where the Elessaria, Tick-a-Tick, and Routunious have entered. Large pillars stand before two of the passageways and statues of dwarven warriors line both sides of the corridors. Two other passageways are undecorated. A set of rusty iron double doors indicates the sixth exit.<br /><br />Routunious whispers, "You seem to be doing remarkably well."<br /><br />Elessaria responds, "What do you mean?"<br /><br />"I didn't think that elves were accustomed to environs more suited to dwarves."<br /><br />"I'm not exactly comfortable underground, it is true, but I've forced myself to get used to it by exploring the caves in the woods near my home," Elessaria explains.<br /><br />"How remarkably far-sighted of you."<br /><br />"Thank you...I do try to prepare for every contingency I can think of in advance."<br /><br />"Perhaps you'd like to carry our companions? They might be safer in your care than mine." Routunious says, as he offers her the two figurines. Elessaria accepts, and places them in her pouch with great care.<br /><br />Routunious suggests, "Perhaps we should be methodical in our search of these chambers. Begin with the natural opening here on our right side and work our way around the room?"<br /><br />Elessaria shrugs, it doesn't matter to her in what order the search is conducted, only that it be done quickly and thoroughly. Routunious arms himself with knives and Elessaria readies her bow.<br /><br /><strong>3:00pm</strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkeqNcX3DwajJ6PJSnP3tbxCyyXu8htbTBSIkPKcsubO00IuPkI4nCDzUNUt68yV6UC38L7DJ3XYd-c8KTKPJjpmv75ja9cEOhs3nhifSOcu-NBNs_is-Nz6QQhI_h41uSPS1/s1600-h/ra5008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkeqNcX3DwajJ6PJSnP3tbxCyyXu8htbTBSIkPKcsubO00IuPkI4nCDzUNUt68yV6UC38L7DJ3XYd-c8KTKPJjpmv75ja9cEOhs3nhifSOcu-NBNs_is-Nz6QQhI_h41uSPS1/s400/ra5008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101484234430003826" /></a>Peering down the darkened opening in the stone, they can see shafts of light coming in, several yards down the passage.<br /><br />"Another entrance?" Routunious asks.<br /><br />"Possibly. But we didn't notice anything like a doorway on the cliff wall outside. Judging the distance from the entrance to that point...this passage would end on the other side of the rock from where the eagles had nested. More likely this is a hidden observation point or more crossbow slits to shoot at any who might try to get in through the front door."<br /><br />"Not likely to be anything worth looking at then," Routunious says, "shall we try the double doors?"<br /><br />Elessaria examines the corridor wherein the rusty doors are set. They are made of iron and set with great skill into the natural stone with massive hinges. On each door is a handle covered in dust. The elven ranger uses her long sword to push on the doors very slightly. They do not give at all. She reaches out her gauntleted hand to grip the handle on the right door, turning it gently while pushing very slightly inward. From the open crack between the doors a soft red light spills out.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjri97vgc6MYYLsVaGKFrQ0Qg5ws9bVGv6-OJeyGZg_KqZxO13VVlvDB6K_N3ETBMWsUEHPlJ_wCvAGD1PFq9ABDBulvdnbGdaEVJfXh9I6tIEn1dkifCl6FMPNyIq3-q9ddxGQ/s1600-h/beetle,+fire.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjri97vgc6MYYLsVaGKFrQ0Qg5ws9bVGv6-OJeyGZg_KqZxO13VVlvDB6K_N3ETBMWsUEHPlJ_wCvAGD1PFq9ABDBulvdnbGdaEVJfXh9I6tIEn1dkifCl6FMPNyIq3-q9ddxGQ/s200/beetle,+fire.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101187297571027554" /></a>Elessaria peeks through the crack. Inside she sees wooden racks lining the walls and standing in the middle of a windowless room. The red glow comes from gigantic beetle-like creatures with a single large compound eye and some sort of vent atop their glowing abdomens, from which short bursts of flame periodically jet forth. The strange creatures are scuttling across the floor, clicking their mandibles and hissing. They do not seem to have noticed the elf, and she slowly closes the door again. <br /><br />Routunious asks, "What did you see?"<br /><br />She describes the room and the fire beetles, and then says, "I couldn't tell if anything was on the racks in the flickering light provided by those creatures, but I think they were empty." <br /><br />"Then, let's move on to the next room," he says, already walking toward it.Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-35429748982822788022007-08-19T09:32:00.000-04:002008-12-13T08:59:33.256-05:0018 Eleasias, 1368: The Warning<strong>2:15pm</strong><br />With the secret door's sliding open, the party prepares to enter the tunnel which has been exposed. Before the first step can be taken, however, they notice a glowing red "spot" on the floor in front of them. A red spot that was getting redder.<br /><br />Just as Routunious is about to examine this strange spot with the light from his hat, the spot becomes concave, and collapses into a hole from which a lightning bolt erupts. The lightning bolt ricochets around the walls with a sickening crackle. More lighting sparks up from the hole, which is now growing larger, and it looks like horrible electrical spider legs searching for anything upon which it can seize in order to lift its main body up from below.<br /><br />Unsure of what to do, the party decides to watch it to see if there is a pattern that might reveal its purpose. As they watch, green tendrils of smoke rise from the ground around the hole.<br /><br />Elessaria asks, "Stago, is this an illusion? Something put here by the dwarves to frighten intruders away?"<br /><br />The gnome concentrates on the lurid green display, his hair beginning to stand on end from the charged air. He shouts through the growing noise, "No, that's real smoke...real lightning!"<br /><br />More lightning fires out from the hole, bigger bolts with louder crackling and the growing stench of sulphur.<br /><br />Elessaria shouts to the rest of the party, "Time to leave!"<br /><br />Everyone but Merle quickly begins to exit the cave, but the strange young woman from the far east lags behind. She watches the green bolts of lightning, and sees a large, glowing green orb rises on legs of lightning and begins walking toward her. Merle comes to her senses and sprints to join the rest of the party.<br /><br />Just outside the mouth of the cave, the company stands their ground and looks back at the tunnel where green dancing lights crackling all over the place.<br /><br />Elessaria shouts into the tunnel, "Hello?"<br /><br />The glowing green energy ball comes around the corner.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCd0Z7AlEYd3IQmFRFC6CPiK4MbX_HLKwV92tpbcm14MukMH2XBR0_I-0kdu7rsEqdz3ua1h5TIqjzmy48QlQ77XtpRjmlBXCmN5BgbedNFRtn82oDgtipDNZFTUB9nQC0Xvcc/s1600-h/The+Green+Orb.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCd0Z7AlEYd3IQmFRFC6CPiK4MbX_HLKwV92tpbcm14MukMH2XBR0_I-0kdu7rsEqdz3ua1h5TIqjzmy48QlQ77XtpRjmlBXCmN5BgbedNFRtn82oDgtipDNZFTUB9nQC0Xvcc/s400/The+Green+Orb.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101092700916333122" /></a><br />In a voice that sounds like thunder and feels like ants inside of their heads, it says, "<strong><span style="color:#003300;">ABANDON YOUR QUEST</span></strong>"<br /><br />The members of the company are confused, and Routunious shouts back, "What quest?"<br /><br />"<strong><span style="color:#003300;">THE ITEMS YOU SEEK BELONG NOT TO YOU NOR TO THE ONE WHO SEEKS THEM</span></strong>"<br /><br />Stago doesn't hesitate...he never does...and fires magic missile from his ring of spell storing. The missiles fly out from the band of gold and sparkle as they impact the orb to no effect. Suddenly, the gnome is bathed in a green glow himself. Stago gives out a startled, strangled cry as he is lifted up into the air. He flails violently as he shrinks, his skin turning a deep green hue that shimmers. Then, with a thud, the impetuous gnome lies on the ground...transformed into a miniature version of himself seemingly made of emerald.<br /><br />"<strong><span style="color:#003300;">ABANDON YOUR QUEST</span></strong>"<br /><br />Selina, putting practicality first, grabs up her cats into a bag and jumps over the side of the cliff. She hangs there, fearfully watching as Merle turns toward the thing and then leaps to attack it with a flurry of kicks and punches. Before she can even make contact, the monk freezes in place. The purple of her costume turns black and she begins shrinking in size as the gnome had only moments before. Merle is also transformed into a miniature, this time in onyx.<br /><br />"<strong><span style="color:#003300;">ABANDON YOUR QUEST</span></strong>"<br /><br />Routunious attempts diplomacy over any form of physical or magical defense. He says, "We mean you no harm! We will do as you ask, just let us collect our friends and leave." Getting no response, the priest rushes forward and snatches up the two figures that had been his companions, and shoves them into a pouch on his belt.<br /><br />As Routunious scrambles back, he sees Stago's dog growling and barking in front of him. The snarling is overwhelmed by crackling and pops from whatever the green glowing creature is behind him. Then, the dog yelps and crumples into a pile of jelly that continues to whimper and whine in pain. Routunious kills it with a knife out of mercy.<br /><br />Overcome with fear and horror, Selina climbs back up on the ledge and tries to run away, but she is encased in a globe of green light. The light lifts her up and the ball begins to shrink in size, reducing Selina's form inside it as well. As the light fades it leaves behind a crystal ball about two fists wide. Elessaria picks it up and realizes the crystal ball is a snow globe. The elf is shocked to see that Selina and the cats are inside it, alive and shivering in what looked for all the world like a blizzard of green snow.<br /><br />"<strong><span style="color:#003300;">YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED</span></strong>"<br /><br />The orb hovers above its crackling legs of energy, but it seems to be giving the remaining party members time to consider options. Then, as mysteriously as it arrived, it sinks down into the ground and is gone.<br /><br />Tick-a-Tick stands silently as Routunious and Elessaria discuss the incredibly powerful force which has attacked them.<br /><br />Routunious says in a stunned voice, "I don't understand what it wants. Was this...thing...sent to warn us away from this cave or does it want us to end the quests that Shandar sent us on?"<br /><br />Elessaria considers it for a moment and responds, "I would guess the latter, but we can't know for certain. But, the thing is gone. I think we should go on, and explore this cave it worked so hard to divert us from."<br /><br />"What if it comes back?"<br /><br />"It could have done to us the same or worse than it did to our companions. Perhaps its time was limited, in which case, we should do our exploring quickly before it is able to return."<br /><br />"I'm not sure...maybe we should do what it said, and just leave."<br /><br />Elessaria ends the debate by saying, "If we get into immediate danger, we'll retreat, using the Stone of Recall, if necessary."<br /><br />Routunious responds, "Alright...but I'm shrouding the light from my hat. Your infravision will alert us more quickly than my eyes in light."<br /><br />Elessaria, leading the way into the cave, sees nothing dangerous. They creep slowly forward through the secret door and gingerly step over the depression where the red hole had opened up. They move down the tunnel, which is dwarf sized so the two humans and the automaton have to stoop. Movement is slow, but they manage the passage without any real difficulty.<br /><br /><br /><em>(Played June 24th, 2006. Special thanks to U. for transcribing the notes from the voice recorder used in the absence of the normal scribe.)</em><br /><br /><strong>Sources:</strong><ul><li><a href="http://involution.org/hallucinography/locnar.html">demimonde mesila thraam's artwork and website</a><br /></ul>Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-23478853315676843372007-08-14T14:57:00.000-04:002008-12-13T08:59:35.276-05:0018 Eleasias, 1368: On the way to Eagle's Eyrie<strong>MORNING</strong><br />The party wakes and begins preparations for their investigations. Stago casts an <em>identify</em> spell before breakfast, and discovers that the scroll taken from the goblin leader is a <em>fumble</em> spell.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GotGOoYbNy9FDt7kzHP0IGociVoCNXoKc0_wq4yukaUakM-on-u8nw_8AFQqM4yW-RDYXBHrqfeTqysNfNVRxpeca8U59DzXM_m95MBdwQZnzlyX71Xz4IZpCUtL2Z_Tn7ZF/s1600-h/eb+farnum.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GotGOoYbNy9FDt7kzHP0IGociVoCNXoKc0_wq4yukaUakM-on-u8nw_8AFQqM4yW-RDYXBHrqfeTqysNfNVRxpeca8U59DzXM_m95MBdwQZnzlyX71Xz4IZpCUtL2Z_Tn7ZF/s200/eb+farnum.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102133075139411170" /></a>When they go downstairs they see that Olavia has been replaced by a day clerk. He is a balding little fop with a twitchy attitude. They immediately suspect that he is likely to be a Zhentish agent, just by the way he constantly watches and listens to everything at once. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgfiXyfkSHqAKz_FZVNSrDiddyqD0tTbSA1dL4wATBTwURMtIfm8WFJUXMNRV-d_OOJP53GdLn6Q_I9dg32yuREJ-C0oKf9KGyoUN2frF1EaP0EqyzOW9I6o4UHfCD8TYcsa3/s1600-h/jewel.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgfiXyfkSHqAKz_FZVNSrDiddyqD0tTbSA1dL4wATBTwURMtIfm8WFJUXMNRV-d_OOJP53GdLn6Q_I9dg32yuREJ-C0oKf9KGyoUN2frF1EaP0EqyzOW9I6o4UHfCD8TYcsa3/s200/jewel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102133569060650226" /></a>Moving slowly among the tables with a broom and damp cloth for wiping up spills is a clubfooted woman with a hunched back.<br /><br />With the clerk listening attentively, the party keeps conversation over the morning meal to a minimum as they themselves strain to overhear the buzzing discussions taking place around them. Here are some of the things said that morning:<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#000099;">"Constable Tren caused the dream fever so he can cure it and win favor. Mark my words, Tren will bring some sorcerer into town to pretend to lift the curse, so that us simpletons will hail his bravery and forgive his past cruelties. What? You think that's daft? It's what I'd do if I was him. What do you mean that proves your point?"</span></em><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><em>"A man with a strange accent came into my shop the other night, and tried to buy odd bits of this and that with these gemstones engraved with dwarven runes. I could tell at a glance he was surely up to no good, so I run him off and told him to come back when he had proper money and not that bad luck bringing dwarven stuff."</em></span><br /><br />And lastly, <span style="color:#000099;"><em>"It’s more than likely outsiders up to no good. Strangers are always bad news."</em></span> Suddenly the entire tavern goes eerily quiet as all the patrons look directly at the Company of the Severed Head.<br /><br />The day clerk comes over to their table and clears his throat, "Ahem, my name is Eb, Eb Farnum, and I'm Miss Olavia's partner, of sorts, I run the hotel during the day for her while she...recovers from the exertions of the night shift. You folks are adventurers, I can tell by your togs and gear, and by the lack of scars on your faces and arms, I'd guess that you are somewhat new to the trade. As you are strangers to these parts, and likely looking for purposeful employment, might I offer whatever assistance I can in the area of steering you towards bodies that need guarding, caravans which might need protection, or dangerous dungeons which need exploring?"<br /><br />Elessaria says, politely, "No, we are already employed."<br /><br />Farnum, non-plussed, continues, "Might I inquire as to your employer and the service to which he has secured you? I am well aquainted with the environs and for a small fee could be induced to part with a great deal of useful knowledge."<br /><br />Routunious thanks him, and nudging Elessaria, he suggests that it might be an opportune time to settle the tab and leave the inn. Everyone agrees and in moments they stand blinking in the bright sunshine, grateful to be out of the presence of Eb Farnum.<br /><br />Merle mutters something incomprehensible and Stago says, "I think that is the Kara Turian phrase for 'Now what?', don't you?"<br /><br />Elessaria says, "We can either go into town now or we can scout around the perimeter. I suspect that once we get inside the gates, getting out again won't be as easy, so I'd like to nose around out here today."<br /><br />"I agree," Stago said, "Let's go up and look at the dwarven place."<br /><br />"Eagle's Eyrie."<br /><br />"The very same. We might as well, it sounds like dwarves are part of the trouble."<br /><br />"Olavia didn't seem to put much stock in dwarven spirits haunting the town," Elessaria said.<br /><br />"No, but she couldn't rule it out. Anyway, its here, we're here, and it is a lovely day for a hike up a mountain, don't you think?"<br /><br />And since there was no arguing with logic like that, the company began walking down the road toward the mountain with dwarven ruins at its summit.<br /><br /><strong>8:00 am</strong><br />At the base of the small mountain is a farmstead with an old stone house. The farmer comes out to greet the company.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2CwBc0FtVXHiH10Gh72ZH9JI45VQns2HXdwRyxPjnRFaatHPIBm8veaj2_XQpJFI7b3ojf4ezr9EM7i_xZ29S8J7nW6A860kCveHk_svafbkFhVXsUX8IiKA2ulCf5QgNvy-/s1600-h/farmhouse.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2CwBc0FtVXHiH10Gh72ZH9JI45VQns2HXdwRyxPjnRFaatHPIBm8veaj2_XQpJFI7b3ojf4ezr9EM7i_xZ29S8J7nW6A860kCveHk_svafbkFhVXsUX8IiKA2ulCf5QgNvy-/s400/farmhouse.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098697804345422242" /></a><br />"My name is Navil," he says to the adventurers, "can I help you?"<br /><br />Elessaria speaks for all, "We are The Company of the Severed Head, and we would seek your permission to traverse your land in order to explore Eagle's Eyrie in search of the root of the current troubles in the dale."<br /><br />Navil looks dubious, and Selina uses her charms on him to sway his opinion of them in their favor. The farmer is taken by the cat suited thief and explains that he too, would be eager to have the troubles lifted. "Only a few days ago," he says, "I lost my shepherd and all of my sheep. They just disappeared, like those children that went missing from town. My son went looking for them, he thought they might be up at Eagle's Eyrie. Now, he's gone too."<br /><br />"We're so sorry for your loss," Selina purrs, "and if we can find him, we'll bring back your son."<br /><br />"What about my sheep?" Navil asked.<br /><br />"Your sheep too."<br /><br />"Alright, then...you can cross my land and climb my mountain. The trail isn't very good, though. You might have to cut your way through the brambles."<br /><br />The farmer's warning turns out to be accurate and it is very slow going as they hack their way through the thickets. Eventually, the path opens out on a deep ravine. Elessaria scouts for an alternate path, but there is no other choice.<br /><br /><strong>10:00 am</strong><br />With no alternate paths, the party must find a way to cross the ravine.<br /><br />Selina, utilizing her wall climbing skills is able to get to the other side. Then, using her phenomenal ropecraft abilities, she builds an elaborate harness large enough even for Tick-a-Tick, and a simple rope system to pull it across from one side to the other. Merle and Stago are the first to cross in the contraption, and then Routunious. Elessaria fastens the harness to Tick-a-Tick and Stago's dog, then she crosses without it--her elven dexterity affording her the confidence to do so. Once across, Elessaria and Routunious pull Tick-a-Tick and the dog across the ravine.<br /><br /><strong>11:00 am</strong><br />Selina beings to disassemble the riggedb harnes and rope bridge but Stago stops her.<br /><br />"Don't take it apart, we'll only have to build it all over again on the way down," reasoned the gnome.<br /><br />Seleina protests, "But what if we need the ropes up there?" <br /><br />Stago says, "We've got plenty of rope, and if we need more, then we know where this thing is and we can come down for it."<br /><br />"Easy for you to say, it's my rope we're leaving behind."<br /><br />"But think how glad you'll be when you come back down all tired from adventuring and mountain climing that you don't have to rig this thing up all over again. We're only going to be up there for a few hours and back in the inn by dark."<br /><br />Routunious grumbles at the gnome, "Excellent, gnome, you've just cursed us. We're likely never to see that inn again."<br /><br />Everyone laughs and they continue to climb, leaving the rope bridge behind.<br /><br /><strong>NOON</strong> <br />On the hilltop, the party observes a ring of stones, the ruins of an ancient tower. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlCS00X33_KNiy6tl1K-FvUmKYDUw1cMdsHivy5eBH4WmQj30V4wKq0ZLNd3yyaZVkxd9Bi_4GjScPkzTjx-YqN4THBQ1WOEcuzcKEwoPteJrgPsZew-2rQ_im5eamhBMUSoe/s1600-h/ra5005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlCS00X33_KNiy6tl1K-FvUmKYDUw1cMdsHivy5eBH4WmQj30V4wKq0ZLNd3yyaZVkxd9Bi_4GjScPkzTjx-YqN4THBQ1WOEcuzcKEwoPteJrgPsZew-2rQ_im5eamhBMUSoe/s400/ra5005.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098702941126308274" /></a>They also see a cave entrance, a natural opening which has been expanded and worked by dwarven hands. So engrossed are they in the examination of the entrance that they are suprised by a pair of mated eagles which attack them from the direction of the ruined tower.<br /><br />The male eagle attacks Elessaria, its talons and beak ripping into her shoulder. The female eagle claws at Nugget, but does no serious harm.<br /><br />Merle, watchful that fighting the eagles does not keep the party from noticing a greater threat scans the ledge and sees something move in the rocks of the ruined tower. She moves to tell Routunious.<br /><br />Elessaria is again attacked by the eagle, and the bird attacking Nugget scores another hit, causing the cat to fall limp. The eagle continues to peck at the unconcious cat, toying with it before the final kill. Selina howls in rage.<br /><br />Merle manages to get Routunious' attention and alerts him to the hidden danger. He yells, "Something's in the rocks!"<br /><br />Selina attacks the eagle still playing with her beloved cat while Elessaria continues to flail at the eagle batting her face with its wings and tearing at her flesh with its talons. <br /><br />Stago attempts to aid her by firing a bullet at the eagle, but misses.<br /><br />Routunious also attacks the same bird with a thrown knife, but misses. Fortunately, the aim is wide and he does not do any harm to the elf he is trying to aid.<br /><br />Selina stabs the eagle feeding on her cat with <em>Lifedrinker</em>. The bird falls lifeless to the ground.<br /><br />Elessaria finally manages a powerful hit on her bird of prey, and it too falls to the ground. Both the elf and the thief decapitate their eagles in short order. <br /><br />Selina demands that they use 2/3 of a <em>potion of extra healing </em>to revive Nugget, but Routunious casts healing spell on the cat and revives it, saving the 2/3 potion of extra healing for their own use later. <br /><br />Merle frantically gestures towards the rocks, she may be glad that the cat has been saved, but there is still danger nearby. She is still not confident of her translation brooch, and so she stammers, "I saw some thing!" <br /><br />Stago nods, but continues to retrieve his sling bullets.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcbBe04BfJg2dLkz2eWthGZ4u0z3acg-6mkAUp498oCJ9nzESkxukdfS8tYpphAbAGKIYS7xS-dAuFEbxlLpNSaPQMjih51ay_vokCnJwVFid_2E6HJydWt_t01DjPlLJ6V3_/s1600-h/ra5006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcbBe04BfJg2dLkz2eWthGZ4u0z3acg-6mkAUp498oCJ9nzESkxukdfS8tYpphAbAGKIYS7xS-dAuFEbxlLpNSaPQMjih51ay_vokCnJwVFid_2E6HJydWt_t01DjPlLJ6V3_/s400/ra5006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098709452296729026" /></a><br />Clambering over the tower ruins they see a hideous hulking figure. It is covered in a thick coat of green and black fur and a horrible maw of jagged teeth. It looks as though it is preparing to leap toward the party.<br /><br />Stago fires a magic missile, striking it in the chest. Tick-a-Tick and Elessaria close in to engage. The creature is gesturing and grunting at them, and as it does so the patterns of green and black fur seem to change accordingly. As Tick-a-Tick closes, the beastman swings its stone club at the automaton and misses. Tick and Elessaria score hits much more accurately and the beastman falls.<br /><br />Selina rushes to the ruins of the stone tower and searches it. In a carefully tended nest she finds an unhatched eagle egg. <br /><br />Stago says, "That's gonna die without the parents. Let's eat it." <br /><br />Elessaria looks at the nest and stops the gnome from gathering breakfast supplies. She has a very grim visage as she says, "They were protecting their nest."<br /><br />Routunious replies, "They nearly killed us. And this thing...This beastman...you think he is some kind of eagle farmer or something? He tried to kill us too."<br /><br />The elf turns her eyes, filled with sorrow, on the priest. She says, "I don't want to have killing things always be the first thing we do. I'm a ranger. I'm supposed to be protecting nature, not destroying it everywhere I go."<br /><br />"You're supposed to be protecting us," Routunious returned, "and you're doing a wonderful job of it."<br /><br />"He's right, El, without your help, we wouldn't have collected half so many of these!" Stago says as he saws at the bestman's neck to remove its head. <br /><br />"I just don't like feeling...evil."<br /><br />"You're not evil," says the priest.<br /><br />"How do you know?" Elessaria asked sincerely.<br /><br />"Because evil people don't worry about being evil."<br /><br />"He's right! So, stop worrying and help me search this body." Stago quipped, laughing at his own joke.<br /><br />Selina says, without turning to look at them, "I already checked him. Nothing but the club, his gerkin, and the shield."<br /><br />"Well, let's roll his body down the cliff, then, so it doesn't spoil our lunch."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfXvaddtnwWYLQZ_PM-3y1AexXTozSb7enEB2hif5pv3V1ZiYkMl10nd1XvwJ91kp8U5XiX7Ot3enqAg2ML0TRsqlnkj0FFLVPkra3CeuDRd04yLwDqak1Z6PbSpwJ2984mY8/s1600-h/ra5007.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfXvaddtnwWYLQZ_PM-3y1AexXTozSb7enEB2hif5pv3V1ZiYkMl10nd1XvwJ91kp8U5XiX7Ot3enqAg2ML0TRsqlnkj0FFLVPkra3CeuDRd04yLwDqak1Z6PbSpwJ2984mY8/s200/ra5007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098720791010390498" /></a>Elessaria comes over to Selina and looks out on the impressive view with her. She can see the entire town of Dagger Falls from this vantage point. <br /><br />She whispers to the thief, "I won't become evil." <br /><br />"Don't expect them to become good." Selina replies, and they both share a laugh.<br /><br />Routunious drops his pack on the ground after rolling the headless body of the beastman down the cliff. Wiping his hands on his robe, he asks, "What's for lunch, then?" <br /><br />Stago shouts, "Eagle egg!" <br /><br />"No!" snaps Elessaria and snatches the egg away from the constantly hungry gnome. <br /><br />"What's she going to do with it? Hoarding is wasting, and wasting is probably more evil than eating the egg would be," Stago grumbles.<br /><br />Selina puts her hand on the gnome's shoulder and says, "Let her be, and eat your rations. You can have all the eggs you want at the inn tonight for supper." <br /><br /><strong>2:00 pm</strong> <br />After their meal, the party prepares to enter and explore the cave. Only a few feet in and the top of the cave is black as tar. The elf and the gnome make use of their infra-vision and see that the cave cieling is carpeted with fist-sized thermal signatures.<br /><br />Stago says, "Bats." Then, before anyone can stop him, he lifts up a stone and throws it as hard as he can at the sleeping creatures. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsC9k6ASlI4UThda36WV-oR4bs5zE-e70WabDQxqsvaIcagzlRy_XWuzSegn7Z7iyeVGwXti6weG6rC2gYyeiT27aUqAl0016kSrfVcimdFooeuDVPkOqQ1KP-3fx_meIMX-Z/s1600-h/bats.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsC9k6ASlI4UThda36WV-oR4bs5zE-e70WabDQxqsvaIcagzlRy_XWuzSegn7Z7iyeVGwXti6weG6rC2gYyeiT27aUqAl0016kSrfVcimdFooeuDVPkOqQ1KP-3fx_meIMX-Z/s200/bats.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098716659251851730" /></a>They come to life in a flurry of leathery flapping and flee the cave in a thick swarm, biting Selina once and Stago twice as they pass.<br /><br />Stago doesn't feel well, but other than the scratch on her face, Selina appears fine. "What did you do that for?" She asks.<br /><br />Stago replies, "I can't help myself."<br /><br />Selina re-enters the cave with Routunious, who has opened the lantern lid on his hat allowing the illumination from the continual light spell cast on it to flood out. In the cave there are piles of guano, bones, garbage and what is presumed to be bear scat. The cave dead ends very quickly, with no appearant sign of any secret dwarven fortress. Selina carefully examines the walls and discoveres several narrow slits in the stone.<br /><br />She says, "These are not a natural feature."<br /><br />Elessaria asks her, "Do they look like arrow slits?"<br /><br />"Very much like arrow slits. I'll check for traps...you check for bears."<br /><br />Selina spends several minutes checking for traps and finds none. She takes a bit of string and ties it to a stone, which she then tosses through one of the arrow slits. She can hear it clatter to the floor but nothing else happens. <br /><br />She calls the others to her, "Everyone help me look for secret doors or panels." <br /><br />After a long time searchng Selina finds a secret door. The door slides open and a very long tunnel is revealed.<br /><br /><strong>Experience points awarded to the party:</strong> 218xp each,<br />not including bonuses.<br /><br /><strong>Sources:</strong><ul><li><a href="http://www.pardulon.com/catalog/hobby.php?param=k002&language=en">Pardulon Fantasy Building Series</a><br /></ul>Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-23457363449086658992007-08-14T06:05:00.000-04:002008-12-13T08:59:36.232-05:0017 Eleasias, 1368: The Teshford Arms<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOlnJh8rj_31dh0hqIiw43ULuchIQX5vJMi5-6kZOp3e1PzriR7oEoePso4SZpToDdmqaOA4t0n0XInnZzWdO4nE4adRgkB3AA5wTUX9WLBuUgagr3TYWEnwzN4rBJg5Cj480/s1600-h/0122a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOlnJh8rj_31dh0hqIiw43ULuchIQX5vJMi5-6kZOp3e1PzriR7oEoePso4SZpToDdmqaOA4t0n0XInnZzWdO4nE4adRgkB3AA5wTUX9WLBuUgagr3TYWEnwzN4rBJg5Cj480/s400/0122a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098514989062467890" /></a>Outside of <a href="http://www.angelfire.com/rpg/daggerdale/Image5.gif">town</a> stands the Teshford Arms Inn (13). It is a poor inn with pretensions of grandeur, but the smells of hearty food and promise of an actual bed upon which to sleep make it a welcome sight indeed. <br /><br />As the company enters, their eyes adjust to the darkness and pipe smoke quickly. The party sees a stout middle-aged matron moving among the tables delivering drinks and picking up empty tankards. They surmise she must be the owner. Seated by the cold hearth is a man in a yellow uniform, which they assume to be the dress of a Zhentish soldier or one of the city guard. Six other people are seated at tables or leaning on the bar in the tap room. A slender young female bard plays the flute, though no one seems to be listening.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWoO2yQjlxL7woNvBI751Nf9aCNM2LbncPXp05zSuYG4Nu4N2drDSxwbXHcK0Q8TK8LZt5SycGwAe-2h-Si-XWDMI8HBJD_N-HMzXg5gu_mZvl2Xd36p6bfoTNIsVRa_cOUZQ/s1600-h/olavia.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWoO2yQjlxL7woNvBI751Nf9aCNM2LbncPXp05zSuYG4Nu4N2drDSxwbXHcK0Q8TK8LZt5SycGwAe-2h-Si-XWDMI8HBJD_N-HMzXg5gu_mZvl2Xd36p6bfoTNIsVRa_cOUZQ/s200/olavia.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098589283406754130" /></a>Olavia Tsardruyn, the owner of the inn, eyes the newcomers with suspicion as she returns to her station behind the bar. Stago and Selina approach her.<br /><br />"We're interested in rooms," Selina says without introduction.<br /><br />"2 gold per person, per night." Olavia replies.<br /><br />Stago is shocked, sputtering, "2 gold per night! That's a bit steep, don't you think?"<br /><br />"Steep or not, it is what a bed costs at this inn, and this inn is the only inn in town," Olavia returns.<br /><br />Selina arranges a private room for herself and her cats, a room for Stago and Routunious to share, and another room for Elessaria and Merle. She pays in advance for three nights, promising to give two day's notice for each additional day they would like to keep the rooms beyond the initial reservation. Olavia accepts the 30 gold pieces, and Selina notices that the bartender counts them out into two seperate piles of coins on the bar. <br /><br />Stago, in an effort to grease the wheels for information gathering, orders a round of drinks for everyone in the bar. The Zhent soldier comes to the bar to claim his tankard and Selina notices Olavia gives him one of the two piles of coins in addtion to his beverage. She now undestands why the prices are so high, half of the profits go to the Zhents.<br /><br />With accomodations secured and social lubricant applied, the company begins the information gathering stage. Stago, Merle and Routunious approach the Zhent at the bar.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6No6yHQxn-SJOYUy2MEchpHvoo-k2vCz98u5ZDHYpk_G8gzTrpyodvk3pCeQcWdk9YpRDDcZZtXoV7VS6fBY61R40proHXG5sQ55EapZaVPWwBK3i5ips9fVFXxPKeDU4e1b/s1600-h/young+stranger.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6No6yHQxn-SJOYUy2MEchpHvoo-k2vCz98u5ZDHYpk_G8gzTrpyodvk3pCeQcWdk9YpRDDcZZtXoV7VS6fBY61R40proHXG5sQ55EapZaVPWwBK3i5ips9fVFXxPKeDU4e1b/s200/young+stranger.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098597615643308418" /></a>Selina moves to a table where the youngest man in the taproom sits playing with his food, but fails to attract his interest. "I'm new to the area," she purrs, "What is this town like?" <br /><br />The young man, without looking up from his plate of beans and hard bread replies, "What you'd expect from a frontier town. A backwater. Rough and tumble and utterly unintersting."<br /><br />"Are you from here?"<br /><br />"Gods no. I'm only stuck here waiting for the caravan to move on and take me with it to Waterdeep. Now that is a city."<br /><br />"Well, any city makes any town look awful by comparison."<br /><br />"More true with Dagger Falls than most towns. The people are all under the thumb of the constable and don't dare hope for any sort of lasting happiness or freedom. They keep their heads down and imaginations in check, and avoid getting involved with anything that doesn't concern their immediate survival. The Zhentish garrison commands is composed of brigands and looters, who bully everyone. The town is as full of intrigue and treachery as it is vacant of anything remotely interesting to a person of refined tastes and lofty dreams." <br /><br />Selina stands, satisfied there's nothing more worth mining here. "Enjoy your beans and I hope your journey's end makes undertaking it worthwhile."<br /><br />"Same to you," the young man said without much conviction. Selina moves to another table, this one with a pair of bearded merchants.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-yizeFowZwtHHGSksaA1CAc4uHsKmg2aOtIn8T5E0A-5umsYZ7CRlm_KCIGPBo7ARQni-F1Hs-oJEmINA9a1CL25yk5b5mu8cD-kTzJuEOED7rsymYCCREZQq5npZsT6mi_e/s1600-h/ra5003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-yizeFowZwtHHGSksaA1CAc4uHsKmg2aOtIn8T5E0A-5umsYZ7CRlm_KCIGPBo7ARQni-F1Hs-oJEmINA9a1CL25yk5b5mu8cD-kTzJuEOED7rsymYCCREZQq5npZsT6mi_e/s400/ra5003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098596825369325938" /></a>"Hello, beautiful lady. Please join our meager table and increase its worth a thousand fold simply by sitting bewteen us."<br /><br />"I'm always glad to converse with those who know great beauty when they see it," she replies.<br /><br />"Beauty is our stock and trade, my dear. We are traders in fine silk and dyed garments."<br /><br />"Are you based in Dagger Falls?"<br /><br />"Oh, no...we travel between Zhentil Keep and the Kingdom of Ool. Transporting goods back and forth across the desert is our speciality."<br /><br />Selina motions to the meloncholy young man at the other table, "Is he one of your goods?"<br /><br />The two silk merchants laugh out loud, drawing a confused look from the young man, but he is too morose to worry about whether they might be laughing at him.<br /><br />"We're transporting, him, but he's not anything we could get a profit from selling," the merchant with a thick ledger said. His friend finished the thought,"No, he's paying his fare and riding on a wagon of carpets."<br /><br />"Well, you'll be moving on soon, then?"<br /><br />"With the morning sun, though until we met you we were looking forward to leaving. You wouldn't be looking to book passage west, would you?" Asks the older merchant hopefully.<br /><br />"No, I'm staying in Dagger Falls for at least a few days on business."<br /><br />The younger blurted out, "Cyric keep you from the plague, then. Someone as delightful as you are shouldn't waste time in bed sleeping."<br /><br />"Plague?"<br /><br />"A terrible wasting disease has come to Dagger Falls. Haven't you heard? They are calling it the Dream Fever. You catch it, fall asleep, and you don't wake up...at least not in this life."<br /><br />"Tell me more," Selina encourages the young merchant.<br /><br />"They say it hits anyone, it does not seem to discriminate in any way. The symptoms of Dream Fever start with a normal fever, like many minor colds. After a day or two of fever and sweats, the victim falls into a fitful sleep and doesn’t wake up. About 190 victims have been claimed in Dagger Falls and nearby 11 farms, 60 of them from the garrison. Most victims have been asleep for several weeks, a few have disappeared, and several are dead." <br /><br />"Terrible!" Selina says, and walks her fingers up the arm of the younger merchant to twirl her finger in his beard. "Maybe you could tell me more about it while you show me samples of your silks...in your room?"<br /><br />The older merchant laughs out loud as the pair leave his table and head up the stairs.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Stago attempts to engage the Zhent soldier in conversation and instead of chatting, he gets a drink poured on him. Olavia offers him a towel and the gnome sits with the rest of his party at a table. They order food and dine.<br /><br /><strong>11:00 pm </strong><br />As the party eats, Olavia comes to their table and joins them.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTf0XPgQL_5bUkVcbvdGB06Ugt0ah8SjJ_2PPOC3Bp5hAXmpM7_iqgOhCMklplqkCGfwPncGNk-B-uz9nDLASJuf2FSHKaM8FugnfzIhfju2-LdwwOHQ-rCPUBxv57lJEULp16/s1600-h/ra5004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTf0XPgQL_5bUkVcbvdGB06Ugt0ah8SjJ_2PPOC3Bp5hAXmpM7_iqgOhCMklplqkCGfwPncGNk-B-uz9nDLASJuf2FSHKaM8FugnfzIhfju2-LdwwOHQ-rCPUBxv57lJEULp16/s400/ra5004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098600922768126354" /></a> The tavern owner asks, "Anything more I can get for you?"<br /><br />"We'd be interested in hearing any of the local news," Routunious says.<br /><br />"Or local history," Stago chimed in, "Such as histories of undiscovered treasure ripe for discovering!"<br /><br />"Adventurers are all alike," Olavia said with a smile. "Well, you no doubt saw the mountain beyond the farm, behind this inn on this side of the river?"<br /><br />"Of course," replied the gnome.<br /><br />"That small mountain is called Eagle's Eyrie, and at the very top, they say, is where an outpost of dwarves used to live."<br /><br />"Dwarves? They usually have treasure."<br /><br />"These were the Brightblade clan of Dwarves, and they say they made a great many treasures for the evil mage-lord who ruled this dale a hundred years ago. The very best treasure, them that speak of such things say, was a sword enchanted so as to be lethal to magic users."<br /><br />"I see...and how did the Mage Lord feel about that, I wonder?"<br /><br />"There ain't no more dwarves and there ain't no more mage-lord, so I think you figured right. People have poked around these parts looking for that sword for decades, but so far as I know, its still something to be looking for, though there are somethat say the sword was recovered and that's what brought back the curse of the dwarves."<br /><br />Elessaria asks, "Curse?"<br /><br />Olavia answers, "The Dream Fever. Nobody knows what it is, and blaming it on dwarves nobody has seen in a hundred years seems as good an answer as any. I've heard people say they've seen dwarven ghosts come down into town, Evil dwarven spirits from Eagle's Eyrie, bringing plague and mischief with them. They must be appeased with a blood sacrifice. The things people make up. Several children vanished recently, they blamed that on goblins taking them up in the hills. A few of the religious types were in here recently saying we're suffering from the Gods turning their backs on us."<br /><br />Routunious speaks up, "Do the people here suffer life without religion, or are there any temples?"<br /><br />Olavia replies, "Oh, we suffer through life, alright, but not from lack of religion. Most of us worship in private, there isn't any formal temple in town any more. We had a temple to <a href="http://www.geocities.com/vacred_dotal/lathander.htm">Lathander</a>, but it burned down quite a while ago. Half a dozen of the priests died in the fire and the temple has been a ruin since then. The rest of the priests left town...I suppose since the Cyricists started acting like the official religion of any place where a Zhent sits his bum down. They didn't feel like they could raise the money they'd need to rebuild, so they left."<br /><br />"So, <a href="http://wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=fr/fx20010620d">Cyric</a> is the primary god for the people of this Dale?"<br /><br />"If you ask a Zhent or the Constable. There was a priestess of The Dark Sun who came to town. She claimed the ruined temple for Cyric and started excavating the foundation. Then she disappeared. Just about that time the Dream Fever started."<br /><br />"Do you think the two events are connected?"<br /><br />"I wouldn't know. But if they ain't, its kind of a funny coincidence, ain't it? Maybe she woke something up down there that would rather have stayed asleep, so now its getting revenge." Olavia says ominously, as she picks up the dirty plates and starts heading for the kitchen.<br /><br /><strong>MIDNIGHT</strong><br />Stago steps outside to charge his <em>ring of spell storing </em>with <em>magic missle</em> and <em>spook</em>. <br /><br /><strong>1:00 am</strong><br />Selina returns from upstairs, somewhat surprised that a number of her compatriots take exception to her methods of information gathering. Nonplussed, she tells then that the townies blame the Zhents for the sleeping plague, but that her silk merchant doesn't believe the Zhents are to blame.<br /><br />Stago asks, "Well...isn't he a Zhent?" <br /><br />"I think so," Selina says, "but he isn't too patriotic. He just doesn't think that if the Zhentilar had the ability to infect an entire town like this that they would waste such a weapon on a backwater like Dagger Falls."<br /><br />"Good point," conceded the gnome.<br /><br />"I don't know about the rest of you," Selina says, "but I'm bushed. Shall we retire and meet for breakfast before we wander into town?"<br /><br />The rest of the company agrees, and they all exit to their rooms.<br /><br /><strong>Sources: </strong><ul><li><a href="http://www.angelfire.com/rpg/daggerdale/Daggerfalls.htm">Daggerdale 1370</a> (caution, Angelfire pop-ups)<br /><li><a href="http://www.miniaturebuildingauthority.com/Index.asp">miniature building authority</a><br /></ul>Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-14830646828654168462007-08-13T08:14:00.000-04:002008-12-13T08:59:36.550-05:0017 Eleasias, 1368: A Meeting on the Road<strong>7:00 am</strong> <br />The party arises. Merle does tai chi and Stago copies her motions but doesn't manage to break her concentration. Giving up his game, the gnome goes off to memorize his own spells and prepare for the journey into Dagger Falls. Elessaria prepares a morning meal, and after the group eats, they start off on the trail to the town.<br /><br />The landscape mellows as they descend into the Tesh river valley: the dark woods give way to soggy river land and occasional outlying farms and fields. Thoughts of drinking cider and eating spiced pies in Dagger Falls begin to crowd out any fears or caution.<br /><br /><strong>Noon</strong><br />Suddenly, the party hears pounding hoofbeats and in a moment a band of several riders comes into view on the road ahead, galloping towards you and throwing frequent glances behind them. Their leader is a handsome man with long brown hair. <br /><br />The company flags the horsemen down, to inquire as to the urgency of their ride.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMeJaclp6IG03XDufcowYqzQ4jPoFqCFmBhhDr5g3agvVo8RslM56wK1OZPFa58bICoSl1bzaRzp4CtydYn5eS9YkFUICGbF0UrXgO6XPWVHh6W4EIJJyXk9pIlaxAqCFAn-t/s1600-h/randall.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMeJaclp6IG03XDufcowYqzQ4jPoFqCFmBhhDr5g3agvVo8RslM56wK1OZPFa58bICoSl1bzaRzp4CtydYn5eS9YkFUICGbF0UrXgO6XPWVHh6W4EIJJyXk9pIlaxAqCFAn-t/s200/randall.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098159992835584290" /></a>The leader of the horsemen rides forward and greets the company: "Well met, travelers. I am Randal Morn, and my men and I are the protectors of Daggerdale. I could use some stout swordsmen...and bladesisters...like you."<br /><br />Elessaria speaks up, "I have heard your name, Randal Morn, and well have I heard when it is spoken. Tell me, what is your need, and how may we lend our assistance?"<br /><br />Randal Morn continues, "A strange fever is stalking Daggerdale by night, catching the good Dalefolk asleep and leaving them trapped in their slumber. The Dream Fever magic comes from Dagger Falls where the usurper Constable Tren rules. Any man who can put an end to the fever will have earned my thanks and my gold."<br /><br />Stago asked, "This Tren, is it him you wish us to take out?" <br /><br />"I don't know the cause of the fever or if Tren is behind it. I doubt that he is, but I do know that he is placing the blame for the illness upon my shoulders. Do not be deceived, I would do no harm to the dale that I love, only to those who already do it harm. Beware of the Constable. Tren is a lackey of the Zhentarim, a coward and a blackmailer, but he is not a man to be crossed lightly. What say you then, will you help us save the good people of this Dale from the Dream Fever?” <br /><br />Randal holds his reins with one hand and keeps the other on his sword. One rider watches back down the trail while Randal waits for your reply.<br /><br />Routunious asks, "If you have your own fighting force, why do you need the help of adventurers such as we?"<br /><br />"Strangers such as yourselves have a better chance at succeeding than any of my 200 irregulars, almost all of whom are known to Tren," Randal says, looking over his shoulder again before continuing, "Zhents may be following us, we must be away. What say you?" <br /><br />Routunious asks, "Any other advice you can give us?"<br /><br />"If we succeed, how do we find you?" Selina asks<br /><br />Randal waves his men on and shouts back to you, "If you succeed you may claim your reward from Loudon the Cooper at the Red Rock Tavern. May the gods be with you!"<br /><br />The adventurers discuss this turn of events as they continue to walk towards the town.<br /><br />"Elessaria, you said you had heard of this Morn person?" Routunious asked.<br /><br />"So have you, at Shandar's table. Karryn told us about him."<br /><br />"Ah, either I wasn't listening or have forgotten the important details. Can you refresh my memory?"<br /><br />"Randal Morn is the rightful ruler of Daggerdale, though his title was wrested by the Zhentarim 50 years ago. Randal is an adventurer who is the last survivor of House Morn. The Morns ruled Daggerdale for centuries, until Zhentarim mercenaries and spies deposed them After the fall of Teshendale Randal rules three-quarters of the Dale's countryside. The remaining heavily populated area surrounding Dagger Falls is controlled by the Zhentarim. Years of struggle have left Zhentish sympathizers in the heart of Morn's territory, but he retains some support in Dagger Falls itself."<br /><br />"Shandar's ranger told us all that?"<br /><br />"Well, we continued to talk after dessert."<br /><br />"You see! I knew I wasn't nodding off!"<br /><br />Selina says, "A good ally to have, but not one we should brag about in town."<br /><br />"Indeed." Elessaria replied.Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-67484650296962037462007-08-13T05:10:00.000-04:002008-12-13T08:59:36.718-05:0016 Eleasias, 1368: Goblin Parlay Gone Bad<strong>7:00 am</strong> <br />After morning preparations, the Company breaks camp and resumes their journey. The travel is again uneventful and they stop for a mid-day meal at highsun.<br /><br />While eating her rations, Elessaria said, "We should, if the map is accurate and my estimations correct, leave the Dagger Hills in nine hours."<br /><br />Routunious responded, "Better we press on then, I don't wish to press our luck. I don't imagine we would be so fortunate as to spend two peaceful nights camping in these rocks."<br /><br /><strong>4:00 pm</strong><br />The Company's march is interrupted by high pitched squeaking and movement on all sides.<br /><br />Stago whispers, "If we're surrounded...then let them think they've surrounded an army." The gnome draws the <em>Wand of Perfect Illusion</em> and generates a vision of an armed host around the Company. All around them are heard the startled cries of goblins suddenly uncertain what they should do.<br /><br />The crafty gnome shouts, "Goblins! In the spirit of fairness, the hallmark of all good peoples of these fair lands, we have asked our invisible army to reveal themselves so that you need not meet your deaths in ignorance should you foolishly decide to attack us!"<br /><br />Elessaria whispers to him, "Will this work?"<br /><br />"They're goblins...and this is a <em>wand of perfect</em> illusion."<br /><br />The elven ranger considers this while looking around her. Even though she knows the soldiers are not real, she can hear them speaking to each other in preparation for battle, smell their sweaty scent, and if she chose to reach out and touch them she knows that her fingers would believe they were touching hard steel and leather. If it could fool her so perfectly, the gnome was right, goblins would not doubt their eyes, ears, and noses.<br /><br />As these thoughts pass through her mind, the goblin leader steps out from behind a pile of stones and approaches them. Behind him at least seven other goblins block the road.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_xQDEHwkIgrqEcCKGySVYq1aZ1Ya2Wu_AR3zmsbBh0GJnC1Cg6gtVdD5KEe4xFrtFmMWt5YfaQr7euYOv6GwfKCTigSKzWsM_wCmS1wN1laUN2oTRM4SiJa5l2y-QJe4dRMJ/s1600-h/ra5002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_xQDEHwkIgrqEcCKGySVYq1aZ1Ya2Wu_AR3zmsbBh0GJnC1Cg6gtVdD5KEe4xFrtFmMWt5YfaQr7euYOv6GwfKCTigSKzWsM_wCmS1wN1laUN2oTRM4SiJa5l2y-QJe4dRMJ/s400/ra5002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098119882136006930" /></a><br />The goblin leader is taller by a head than the others behind him. He has bright yellow skin and wields a nasty looking double bladed battle axe. In broken common mixed with the goblinoid language, he says, "You pass, toll you must pay." The visible goblins behind him laugh and bark encouragement to their leader.<br /><br />Elessaria looks at her companions and motion to the illusory captain of her imaginary guard detail to hold their place. She pulls out her coin purse and moves toward the leader of the goblin band--to the yipping and gleeful delight of the hunched, pointy eared members of his band. The elven ranger steps forward and the goblin leader smiles a victorious grin as he holds his hand out to receive the coins. <br /><br />Instead of viewing shiny gold in his palm, the creature's smile turns to confused anguish as he sees a flash of steel and then his own hand opening and closing in a puddle of blood at his feet. The goblins behind him howl in betrayed rage as the goblin leader realizes he's been attacked.<br /><br />Stago orders the illusory soldiers to rush the goblins in the road and the wretched creatures stand frozen in fear.<br /><br />Selina attacks the goblin nearest her, who manages to return the assault with a deep wound of his own. She finishes him off with the jeweled dagger. As Lifedrinker slices deeply through the goblin's throat and blood pours out over the blade, Selina feels infused with a wondrous flood of energy and health, her wounds immediately healing as the goblin dies in front of her. <br /><br />Merle, in a blindingly fast display of unarmed martial combat engages a goblin. Stago is hit by a crossbow bolt, and he nearly swoons to unconsciousness from the loss of blood.<br /><br />As the illusory guard engages the goblins, at least one breaks ranks and flees. The goblin with the crossbow fires at Routunious, who makes an excellent target in his bright yellow robes. The bolt sinks deeply into his chest and has dealt a critical wound. He knows that if this wound isn't treated immediately he will be dead in a matter of days. <br /><br />Two more goblins flee from the illusory soldiers.<br /><br />Routunious casts a <em>cure light wounds</em> spell on himself, which affords only slight improvement in his condition.<br /><br />Stago, grimacing through the pain and forcing himself to concentrate, casts <em>magic<br />missile</em> that strikes and stuns the goblin which had hit him with the crossbow bolt.<br /><br />Tick-a-Tick moves forward and more goblins flee.<br /><br />Merle attacks thrice, her hands and feet striking her adversary with such force that the goblin's skull is crushed and it falls dead in front of her.<br /><br />The goblin leader struggles to lift the battle axe with its only remaining hand and with terror in its eyes, Elessaria dispatches him with a mighty swing of her sword.<br /><br />Stago fires another magic missile at the goblin with the crossbow, felling him with a smoking hole in his chest. "That <em>Ring of Spell Storing </em>is really handy," the gnome said as fatigue and blood loss started causing his vision to blur.<br /><br />Another goblin stops its attack and flees, leaving Routunious free to fumble for his healing potions. As Selina kills the last remaining goblin, transferring its life essence to her own, Routunious drinks a healing potion and is fully restored.<br /><br />Stago drinks one portion of his <em>extra healing potion </em>and is also fully restored to health.<br /><br />"Soldiers! Guard our perimeter!" Stago shouts to the illusory guard, who take up a defensive position around the Company as they check the bodies of the fallen goblins. Elessaria stands over the body of the goblin leader as the gnome approaches her.<br /><br />"That was an impressive act...you know, it's very likely that if we'd paid him a few coins we could have gotten past this encounter without it costing us any blood, spells, or charges off my wand here. Oh, and the healing potions would still be full too."<br /><br />"We don't know that."<br /><br />"No, we don't, but I wouldn't have expected that kind of initiative from such a goody goody."<br /><br />"What do you mean? It was an evil creature."<br /><br />"Which you tricked into an easily dispatched foe. Kudos!"<br /><br />"You think what I did was...evil?"<br /><br />"Well, that isn't my place to judge...but what I can say is that what you did took everyone by surprise...especially the goblins!" <br /><br />Elessaria stands silently contemplating what she's done, not even hearing the chuckles of the gnome as he bends down to examine the body of her victim.<br /><br />All the goblins are searched, but only the leader has anything of value. He has a bag of 800 gp and a snake armband made of gold. Stago shakes the coin purse at Elessaria and says, "I guess we're in charge of the toll road now!" The jibe breaks her from her darkening thoughts and she takes the armband from the gnome, handing it to Selina.<br /><br />She asks the thief, "What is this worth, do you think?" <br /><br />After careful examination, Selina says, "I'd guess 100 gold pieces. Not much more." <br /><br />They hear Stago let out a slow whistle as he pulls a scroll from the bag of the goblin leader. The gnome whispers, "Well, well, well....what would you be doing with this, I wonder?"<br /><br />"What is it?" Elessaria asks, still perturbed by her growing feelings of guilt at how she had engaged the goblin.<br /><br />"I won't know exactly what it is until I can use an <em>Identify</em> spell on it, but it is clearly a spell scroll of some kind."<br /><br />"Can't you just read it to find out what it is?"<br /><br />"I could, but if I did, it would trigger the spell. That would not only be wasteful, but potentially dangerous. Not as dangerous as you offering money, but dangerous."<br /><br />The gnome laughs at his own joke, but no one else doe. They can tell that Elessaria isn't likely to find any humor in his jabs. She says curtly, "Sever their heads, dismiss these guards and let's get moving."<br /><br />"Don't you think having them around might make us safer?"<br /><br />"Your illusion is too noisy, they will attract more trouble than they frighten off, and in numbers sufficient to take them on. We don't need to face off against that kind of force. Besides, I don't like the way they're looking at me."<br /><br />"Done and done, fearless leader!" Stago says, and with a wave of the wand, they are gone.<br /><br /><strong>9:00 pm</strong><br />As Elessaria had predicted, within nine hours of highsun they stood at the edge of the Dagger Hills and saw the smoothly rolling grasslands of Daggerdale. The company sets up camp.<br /><br /><strong>11:00 pm</strong> <br />The company's rest is disturbed by the sounds of scurrying paws and low, guttural growls. Merle moves to nearby rock pile to prepare for an attack. It doesn't take her long to discern the danger when she catches a glimpse of large shaggy shapes moving through the grass...A pack of wolves!<br /><br />Routunious casts a <em>continual light </em>spell and Tick-a-Tick now glows with a very bright light.<br /><br />Stago uses his sling to hit a wolf and it yelps in pain but doesn't seem very badly damaged. Still, the wolves seem not to have any fight in them, because the gnome's bullet and the bright light of the automaton drive them off in search of easier prey.<br /><br />Merle attempts to follow the wolves, but Selina throws her lasso in the direction of the monk. The rope misses her, but she gets the point and returns to camp.<br /><br />The party settles down and goes back to sleep....after Routunious removes the light from Tick-a-Tick.Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18847913.post-21479855064790054692007-08-13T03:50:00.000-04:002008-12-13T08:59:37.186-05:0015 Eleasias, 1368: Getting Underway<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPmmU3eYxTaEmVYUGdZoeN_n9VbVtg8fSJAJt7My_gQWwKCf2iZ08BAQzCl8FsLgDOWJNbtElUa05uViMKmEa3viGsUw64maCUL1pgBUKSiydaKl_dAtDKb3YKuA4UbnExTyX/s1600-h/mis_tor_025.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPmmU3eYxTaEmVYUGdZoeN_n9VbVtg8fSJAJt7My_gQWwKCf2iZ08BAQzCl8FsLgDOWJNbtElUa05uViMKmEa3viGsUw64maCUL1pgBUKSiydaKl_dAtDKb3YKuA4UbnExTyX/s200/mis_tor_025.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098098484608938242" /></a><strong>7:00 am</strong> <br />In the early morning of this summer day the Company of the Severed Head lift their heavy packs and start off on the journey through the Dagger Hills, northwest toward Daggerdale. They travel on the rough trail sometimes called The Cut. Although it speeds travel time, it also can be more dangerous because of the greater prospect of travellers to loot attracts both bandit and monster who wait impatiently for prey.<br /><br />Shandar could not give the company a map directly to the staff they sought, but he did previde a more detailed <a href="http://www.nettally.com/fincher1/images/daggdale.gif">map of Daggerdale</a>.<br /><br />The trek is uneventful. At highsun they stop for a meal, enjoying the rugged natural beauty of the terrain. After the repast, they continue on until dark.<br /><br /><strong>6:00 pm</strong> <br />The travellers set up camp just off the trail, and spend a peaceful night under the stars. <br /><br /><strong>Sources:</strong><ul><li><a href="http://www.tourbytor.co.uk/walks/grt_mis_12-03-05/grt_mis.htm">Tour by Tor</a><li><a href="http://www.nettally.com/fincher1/nj.html">Daggerdale Campaign Expansion</a><br /></ul>Shandar the Ashenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13526474698969239588noreply@blogger.com0