Our heroes - Nigel Nonefriend, Gnome Ninja 4. Krasha, Human (originally Half-Orc, recently reincarnated) Cleric 1/Barbarian 1. Malachi, Elf Wizard 4, and his raven familiar Loki. Bob, Aasimar Cleric 1.
Once Krasha had gotten used to life in his new body, the heroes decided to set off for the remote settlement of Red Rock, as they had been advised by a dwarf brewer of their acquaintance that there were some ancient dwarven ruins in the area that might be full of treasure.
As they travelled along the King's Highway, the heroes came across a farmer and his son who were being attacked by three goblins riding dire bats. They slew two of the goblins and the bats and the surviving goblin flew off over the river. The farmer Relthor thanked them for saving him and his son Taran and drew them a map of the local area.
The party reached the outpost of Red Rock. They bought some healing potions from a shady merchant named Sergio the Vizier and tried to find out some more information about the area at the Mug Blade. Unfortunately their lack of social skills (average Charisma 9) meant they were unable to hear anything useful.
Next they tried to visit Lady Aborn, the brother of the local Baron, as they had heard she might be able to cast some divine spells to help them, but were turned away by the guards at the inner Keep.
Leaving Nigel's riding dog tied to a post by the inn, the heroes headed off into the Wilds, to explore the Goblin's lair.
They entered the goblin's cave. Nigel being the expert on traps went first. He crossed an exposed pit and was surprised by an ogre flying down the stairs at him. He was able to jump back over the pit and then some goblins charged down the pit to attack. The heroes were able to kill 2 of the goblins and capture the 3rd. Although no-one spoke goblin, with sign language they were able to intimidate their captive into telling them how many goblins were up ahead (he indicated 9).
Next they attacked the goblin barracks and were able to slay the warriors in short order. As the other heroes started to search the room, Nigel went through a curtain at the back and came across an old goblin who was rolling some dice. He tried to communicate with the goblin through sign language but was hit by a sleep spell instead. Hearing the noise of the spell casting, the other came in to investigate and arrived just in time to see the goblin perfom a coup de grace on a sleeping Nigel, who fortunately survived. Krasha then slew the goblin and they took his dice. Leading away from that room was a passage which had what seemed like a well at the end. The heroes decided to leave that well alone and carry on up the other staircase instead.
Storytime - Into the Wilds
Moderators: DJ LaBoss, finarvyn, Harley Stroh
After some healing spells and potions the heroes passed through a storeroom which they searched but didn't find anything interesting. They came to a trapdoor in the ceiling which was locked and decided to go back to the barracks and search it for a key, without success. They did however discover a wounded, emaciated shocker lizard that the warriors had been keeping in a crate. Nigel fed it and it started following them around. They went back to the tradoor and Nigel was able to pick the lock after several tries. When he opened it, some goblins in the room above emptied hot embers onto him. The heroes killed one of the goblins and pursued the other out across several platforms, slaying all the goblins they met. Krasha and Nigel (and the lizard) went into a cave that they assumed he must have entered and were attacked by two dire bats while outside Malachi and Bob were swooped upon by three goblins riding dire bats. A long battle ensued. Bob was grabbed by a dire bat whose maser had been slain but it let him go after Malachi hit it with a scorching ray. Between them they were able to slay all three goblins and drive off their bats, but then Bob, Krasha and the lizard were all bitten by one of the unharnessed bats and left for dead. Krasha was able to stabilize himself but Bob and the lizard both bled to death.
Meanwhile Malachi and Nigel had each withdrawn down tunnels that were hard for the bats to follow. Nigel's went through to a room where a lot of bodies were lying around and he was able to turn invisible and knock out the bat that was attacking him (it had been weakened by the lizard's shocks) and then slay it.
Malachi had withdrawn up some stairs and by focusing on defending himself was able to stay safe from the bat. He withdrew into the next room and fled past some goblins that were tending some complex machinery while Nigel and Malachi were able to slay the last bat with their attacks.
At this point the remaining heroes gathered up their dead and regrouped on the main platform. They looted the goblin huts, cut off some goblin ears to impress the guards at the keep and headed back to town.
Meanwhile Malachi and Nigel had each withdrawn down tunnels that were hard for the bats to follow. Nigel's went through to a room where a lot of bodies were lying around and he was able to turn invisible and knock out the bat that was attacking him (it had been weakened by the lizard's shocks) and then slay it.
Malachi had withdrawn up some stairs and by focusing on defending himself was able to stay safe from the bat. He withdrew into the next room and fled past some goblins that were tending some complex machinery while Nigel and Malachi were able to slay the last bat with their attacks.
At this point the remaining heroes gathered up their dead and regrouped on the main platform. They looted the goblin huts, cut off some goblin ears to impress the guards at the keep and headed back to town.
When the heroes returned back to Red Rock, they went to see Father Motter at the Temple of Pelor, hoping that he might be able to cast gentle repose on the body until such time as they could afford to get it reincarnated. Unfortunately this was beyond the good Father's capabilities as a cleric.
Nigel was most irritated to discover that someone had stolen his dog's saddlebags, taking also a bow and some armour he had stored there.
They rested for a day. Krasha and Nigel took a room together at the local inn, Malachi took a room by himself with only his raven for company. [Krasha went up a level, taking a level in ranger with favoured enemy in goblinoids as he was previously slain by the Goren the goblin from DCC#11: The Dragonfiend Pact] During this time they purchased more healing potions from the Vizier and tried again to speak with Lady Aborn, without success. That day their friend Tordal Halfbeard [Dwarf Fighter 2] arrived in town having gone back to his home town to settle his affairs and prepare for his new life as a wandering adventurer. He had then gotten directions from the Druid who had reincarnated Krasha as to where the heroes had headed next. Tordal slept in the common room.
The next morning the heroes were gathered downstairs, but Malachi failed to show. They went up to see him, but he explained that he was involved in some very important magical research and couldn't possibly accompany them until it was completed. So the three set off by themselves. They found there were a few more goblins in the caves but were able to fight there way through with little resistance until they reached the platfom after the large one with huts. There were 5 goblins there who spotted Nigel peeking around the corner of the spire. A ranged battle ensued. Krasha fired his heavy crossbow and Nigel used his shortbow, while Tordal tried to run across the rope bridge to the platform, getting only about 10 feet across before one of the goblins cut one of the ropes. He slipped but was able to grab the rope, saving him from a 120 foot drop. He went hand over hand back to the large platform. A goblin riding a dire bat joined the battle but Nigel was able to slay him, not before being hit with a barbed javelin. Fortunately the goblin dropped the rope as he plummeted to the ground. One of the goblins was able to fire twice as many arrows as anyone and when one hit Nigel he noticed that it had crimson feathers - this was none other than Goren Bloodshaft, the goblin who killed Krasha outside Tordal's hometown of Talar! Gradually the heroes were able to pick off their enemies until only Goren remained, but he hit Tordal with two arrows, rendering him unconscious and bleeding to death. Krasha was able to apply first aid to his fallen ally and Nigel got in a critical hit on the goblin. Then Krasha was able to finish him off. He was able to carefully cross the damaged bridge and jury-rig it, then he decapitated his enemy and took the head as a trophy. At this point the heroes decided to head back to town and rest up for a while, as the battle had taken quite a toll on them.
Nigel was most irritated to discover that someone had stolen his dog's saddlebags, taking also a bow and some armour he had stored there.
They rested for a day. Krasha and Nigel took a room together at the local inn, Malachi took a room by himself with only his raven for company. [Krasha went up a level, taking a level in ranger with favoured enemy in goblinoids as he was previously slain by the Goren the goblin from DCC#11: The Dragonfiend Pact] During this time they purchased more healing potions from the Vizier and tried again to speak with Lady Aborn, without success. That day their friend Tordal Halfbeard [Dwarf Fighter 2] arrived in town having gone back to his home town to settle his affairs and prepare for his new life as a wandering adventurer. He had then gotten directions from the Druid who had reincarnated Krasha as to where the heroes had headed next. Tordal slept in the common room.
The next morning the heroes were gathered downstairs, but Malachi failed to show. They went up to see him, but he explained that he was involved in some very important magical research and couldn't possibly accompany them until it was completed. So the three set off by themselves. They found there were a few more goblins in the caves but were able to fight there way through with little resistance until they reached the platfom after the large one with huts. There were 5 goblins there who spotted Nigel peeking around the corner of the spire. A ranged battle ensued. Krasha fired his heavy crossbow and Nigel used his shortbow, while Tordal tried to run across the rope bridge to the platform, getting only about 10 feet across before one of the goblins cut one of the ropes. He slipped but was able to grab the rope, saving him from a 120 foot drop. He went hand over hand back to the large platform. A goblin riding a dire bat joined the battle but Nigel was able to slay him, not before being hit with a barbed javelin. Fortunately the goblin dropped the rope as he plummeted to the ground. One of the goblins was able to fire twice as many arrows as anyone and when one hit Nigel he noticed that it had crimson feathers - this was none other than Goren Bloodshaft, the goblin who killed Krasha outside Tordal's hometown of Talar! Gradually the heroes were able to pick off their enemies until only Goren remained, but he hit Tordal with two arrows, rendering him unconscious and bleeding to death. Krasha was able to apply first aid to his fallen ally and Nigel got in a critical hit on the goblin. Then Krasha was able to finish him off. He was able to carefully cross the damaged bridge and jury-rig it, then he decapitated his enemy and took the head as a trophy. At this point the heroes decided to head back to town and rest up for a while, as the battle had taken quite a toll on them.
On the way back the heroes stopped and searched the storeroom again, Tordal found a mysertious demonic idol which was coated in dried blood. The next day the heroes went back to Father Motter and decided to give their late comrade Bob a decent burial as it seemed unlikely that they would get a chance to raise him. They showed the priest the idol they had found and then got Malachi to cast identify on it. They discovered it had some minor magical abilities, all of an evil bent, and handed it over to the Father for him to dispose of appropriately.
Malachi still refused to join them so the heroes returned to the Wilds, hoping o finally clear out the goblin lair. They found that the place was now largely deserted, exploring the room with the still which Malachi had passed through briefy. It too was now empty, and the still had exploded. Next the heroes went into the room that Nigel had fled to when fighting the bat and discovered that rather than being zombies as they initally suspected, all the bodies were in fact still alive but unconscious. Krasha used a healing potion to restore one to awareness, a farmer from Talar. He explained that the goblin chief had drunk his blood and this worried the heroes somewhat. They told the farmer to wait in that cave and if they didn't return to take one of the others and try to get back to town.
Then they crossed the bridge and confronted the chief of the goblins. 'So, the lady has sent you for the third key, eh? Well you can tell her that the vault of Zamuk the Swift is mine and mine alone!' He snarled, and stepped forward to attack them with his flail. Krasha and Nigel (a worshipper of Olidammara) got out their holy symbols and used them to keep the creature at bay. Krasha tred to turn the creature but was unsuccessful. The vampire was unimpressed and urged them to fight like men. As long as they stayed outside in the sunshine, the goblin was unable to approach them, and Nigel ran back to the cave where the bats ad been housed to get some javelins with rope attached to them, in the hope that they might be able to spear the vampire and then pull him into the sunlight. Krasha was able to ward off the vampire, Tordal firing arrows with his magic shortbow, until Nigel got back but was unable to hit the vampire with the javelins. Then swarms of bats arrived and caused the heroes to flee back into the cave with the bodies. One of the swarms rendered Nigel unconscious and they all moved to block the heroes escape.
The vampire shouted that the bats would leave them alone if they would come and fight him hand-to-hand. Krasha healed himself and Nigel and Tordal took a healing potion and then applied some oil of magic weapon to his battleaxe. The heroes moved across the bridge and engaged the vampire in melee, taking several good blows from the creatures flail and not really being able to hit him. Then Tordal landed a mighty blow and the vampire turned into a cloud of gas, which fled the cave. The heroes searched the cave and found a some treasure and a coffin. They opened it up expecting the vampire to be inside and were disappointed to find no vampire, but only a sack with some coins and a key. They went back to the room with bodies in it and collected the farmer. As they were all out of healing magic, they and the farmer each picked up an unconscious person (except for Nigel who had to drag them) and headed back to Red Rock. Sodersund the Regent was pleased and paid them 250gp for their efforts. He also lent them a magic sword to help slay the vampire. The heroes decided to go back and try to locate the chieftain and slay him that very afternoon so they headed back into the Wilds, pausing only to buy some more healing potions from the Vizier.
Malachi still refused to join them so the heroes returned to the Wilds, hoping o finally clear out the goblin lair. They found that the place was now largely deserted, exploring the room with the still which Malachi had passed through briefy. It too was now empty, and the still had exploded. Next the heroes went into the room that Nigel had fled to when fighting the bat and discovered that rather than being zombies as they initally suspected, all the bodies were in fact still alive but unconscious. Krasha used a healing potion to restore one to awareness, a farmer from Talar. He explained that the goblin chief had drunk his blood and this worried the heroes somewhat. They told the farmer to wait in that cave and if they didn't return to take one of the others and try to get back to town.
Then they crossed the bridge and confronted the chief of the goblins. 'So, the lady has sent you for the third key, eh? Well you can tell her that the vault of Zamuk the Swift is mine and mine alone!' He snarled, and stepped forward to attack them with his flail. Krasha and Nigel (a worshipper of Olidammara) got out their holy symbols and used them to keep the creature at bay. Krasha tred to turn the creature but was unsuccessful. The vampire was unimpressed and urged them to fight like men. As long as they stayed outside in the sunshine, the goblin was unable to approach them, and Nigel ran back to the cave where the bats ad been housed to get some javelins with rope attached to them, in the hope that they might be able to spear the vampire and then pull him into the sunlight. Krasha was able to ward off the vampire, Tordal firing arrows with his magic shortbow, until Nigel got back but was unable to hit the vampire with the javelins. Then swarms of bats arrived and caused the heroes to flee back into the cave with the bodies. One of the swarms rendered Nigel unconscious and they all moved to block the heroes escape.
The vampire shouted that the bats would leave them alone if they would come and fight him hand-to-hand. Krasha healed himself and Nigel and Tordal took a healing potion and then applied some oil of magic weapon to his battleaxe. The heroes moved across the bridge and engaged the vampire in melee, taking several good blows from the creatures flail and not really being able to hit him. Then Tordal landed a mighty blow and the vampire turned into a cloud of gas, which fled the cave. The heroes searched the cave and found a some treasure and a coffin. They opened it up expecting the vampire to be inside and were disappointed to find no vampire, but only a sack with some coins and a key. They went back to the room with bodies in it and collected the farmer. As they were all out of healing magic, they and the farmer each picked up an unconscious person (except for Nigel who had to drag them) and headed back to Red Rock. Sodersund the Regent was pleased and paid them 250gp for their efforts. He also lent them a magic sword to help slay the vampire. The heroes decided to go back and try to locate the chieftain and slay him that very afternoon so they headed back into the Wilds, pausing only to buy some more healing potions from the Vizier.
They also purchased some more oil of magic weapon for Tordal at an exorbitant price. As soon as the heroes got back to the Spires, they searched the vampire's cave again, convinced that his spare coffin had to be there somewhere. This proved fruitless so they healed two more of the unconscious commoners and tried to remove all of the rest between them.
At the bottom of the staircase, they found the vampire waiting for them. The two commoners fled but the heroes gently lowered the bodies they were carrying and engaged the creature in battle. It quickly hit Nigel with it's flail, rendering him mortally wounded, but Krasha showed it his holy symbol, driving it back. Tordal made his axe magic again and continued to fight the creature hitting a good blow which the monster healed up in short order. Krasha managed to stabilise the gnome ninja and Tordal swung his axe mightily, reducing his enemy to a cloud of gas once more. With Nigel taken care of but still out, Krasha and Tordal pursued the cloud of gas through the empty barracks and the room which had housed the very old goblin until it went down into the well Krasha had seen earlier. Tordal grabbed the rope in one hand and a torch in the other and Krasha started to lower him down into the cavern below. Unfortunately the rope gave way and Tordal plunged into the water, extinguishing the torch. With his darkvision Tordal was able to see the dread shape of a shadow as it glided towards him and started to drain his strength. He was having trouble just staying afloat and went under the water. Krasha meanwhile got his own rope out from his backpack and dropped one end down the well. Tordal was able to surface and grab the rope, although the undead kept draining his strength. Krasha was just able to lift him out in time, but to their horror the shadow followed them out of the well. It continued to draing Tordal's strength, leaving him perilously close to death. They fled, but luckily it didn't pursue them very far down the passage. Being once again out of healing, they rounded up the two cowardly commoners. Unfortunately two of the captives were left behind but there was nothing that could be done about that. With Krasha and the commoners carrying a body each and the greatly weakened Tordal dragging Nigel, they returned to Red Rock. A final reckoning awaits them with Azubal, Prince of Goblins...
At the bottom of the staircase, they found the vampire waiting for them. The two commoners fled but the heroes gently lowered the bodies they were carrying and engaged the creature in battle. It quickly hit Nigel with it's flail, rendering him mortally wounded, but Krasha showed it his holy symbol, driving it back. Tordal made his axe magic again and continued to fight the creature hitting a good blow which the monster healed up in short order. Krasha managed to stabilise the gnome ninja and Tordal swung his axe mightily, reducing his enemy to a cloud of gas once more. With Nigel taken care of but still out, Krasha and Tordal pursued the cloud of gas through the empty barracks and the room which had housed the very old goblin until it went down into the well Krasha had seen earlier. Tordal grabbed the rope in one hand and a torch in the other and Krasha started to lower him down into the cavern below. Unfortunately the rope gave way and Tordal plunged into the water, extinguishing the torch. With his darkvision Tordal was able to see the dread shape of a shadow as it glided towards him and started to drain his strength. He was having trouble just staying afloat and went under the water. Krasha meanwhile got his own rope out from his backpack and dropped one end down the well. Tordal was able to surface and grab the rope, although the undead kept draining his strength. Krasha was just able to lift him out in time, but to their horror the shadow followed them out of the well. It continued to draing Tordal's strength, leaving him perilously close to death. They fled, but luckily it didn't pursue them very far down the passage. Being once again out of healing, they rounded up the two cowardly commoners. Unfortunately two of the captives were left behind but there was nothing that could be done about that. With Krasha and the commoners carrying a body each and the greatly weakened Tordal dragging Nigel, they returned to Red Rock. A final reckoning awaits them with Azubal, Prince of Goblins...
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Harley Stroh
- Cold-Hearted Immortal
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...Jezza, this is an incredibly exciting read. I hope your players haven't been too frustrated. Thank you for taking the time to post the great stories!Jezza wrote: A final reckoning awaits them with Azubal, Prince of Goblins...
//H
The lucky guy who got to write some Dungeon Crawl Classics.
DCC Resource thread: character sheets, judge tools, and the world's fastest 0-level party creator.
DCC Resource thread: character sheets, judge tools, and the world's fastest 0-level party creator.
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Harley Stroh
- Cold-Hearted Immortal
- Posts: 1805
- Joined: Wed Sep 15, 2004 4:02 am
- Location: On the run.
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Jedi,
I can't help reading this and not think how pissed Ragnar would be to face these undead...
//H
I can't help reading this and not think how pissed Ragnar would be to face these undead...
//H
The lucky guy who got to write some Dungeon Crawl Classics.
DCC Resource thread: character sheets, judge tools, and the world's fastest 0-level party creator.
DCC Resource thread: character sheets, judge tools, and the world's fastest 0-level party creator.
Thanks for the feedback you guys.
Next session is tomorrow. (That'll be 2 in 3 days!)
I was ringing up Malachi's player to invite him tonight and I said 'Well, you didn't miss much. We played for 6 hours and they're marginally closer to finishing the first area.' He thought I was joking.
Still, despite the lack of progress, the session was tremendous fun. Both of the fights with the vampire they were really up against it, and it was great to see them pull it out of the hat.
Gee, if only they had gone down the well first... Or for that matter, explored the cave with the statue...
Can't wait to see what will happen tomorrow. The presence of the wizard will change things. I may have to beef Azubal up a bit.
Some of my players are convinced (thanks to the rumour chart) that Lady Aborn is a good cleric of some kind and that as she wants the ruby key, they can trade it to her in exchange for some helpful spells.
Next session is tomorrow. (That'll be 2 in 3 days!)
I was ringing up Malachi's player to invite him tonight and I said 'Well, you didn't miss much. We played for 6 hours and they're marginally closer to finishing the first area.' He thought I was joking.
Still, despite the lack of progress, the session was tremendous fun. Both of the fights with the vampire they were really up against it, and it was great to see them pull it out of the hat.
Gee, if only they had gone down the well first... Or for that matter, explored the cave with the statue...
Can't wait to see what will happen tomorrow. The presence of the wizard will change things. I may have to beef Azubal up a bit.
Some of my players are convinced (thanks to the rumour chart) that Lady Aborn is a good cleric of some kind and that as she wants the ruby key, they can trade it to her in exchange for some helpful spells.
-
Harley Stroh
- Cold-Hearted Immortal
- Posts: 1805
- Joined: Wed Sep 15, 2004 4:02 am
- Location: On the run.
- Contact:
Jezza wrote:Some of my players are convinced (thanks to the rumour chart) that Lady Aborn is a good cleric of some kind and that as she wants the ruby key, they can trade it to her in exchange for some helpful spells.
//H
The lucky guy who got to write some Dungeon Crawl Classics.
DCC Resource thread: character sheets, judge tools, and the world's fastest 0-level party creator.
DCC Resource thread: character sheets, judge tools, and the world's fastest 0-level party creator.
Session 3
That afternoon Nigel went to visit Malachi, who had finished his research. They went to the Mug and Blade to see if they could find out what had happened to the stuff stolen from Nigel's saddlebags, but without success. They did get talking to Cail, a young human priest of Pelor [Cleric 1]. They were pleased to hear that he specialised in combating undead and invited him to come and fight a vampire goblin the next day. He heartily agreed and they organized a rendevous for the next morning.
Their next visit was to Sergio the Vizier, to see if he had heard anything about set of plate mail armour, a composite longbow and a masterwork scimitar that might have fallen off the back of a cart. Sergio offered to use his contacts to try and locate these items in exchange for 30% of their value. Nigel reluctantly agreed, then they went and reported the theft to Marshak the Reeve and asked him if he had any suspects. He replied that Red Rock was a town with a shrine to a legendary thief, there were plenty of suspects.
Nigel and Malachi went to the shrine and examined it, tryng to find a secret entrance to the local thieves guild or some such. Nigel left some copper coins at the shrine, and then they staked it out until night fall, but no-one came past.
The next day Tordal stayed in bed, resting and getting his drained strength back. The other heroes met up and Nigel and Malachi introduced Cail to Krasha. They set off on what they hoped would be last expedition to the goblins' lair. Malachi used mage armour on himself and Nigel. The first place they headed for was the stairway, where they were able to determine that the two people they hadleft unconscious there were still alive, although they had both been recently drained of some blood. Next they visited the well, as destroying the vampire's coffin was the first priority.
Nigel threw a rock down into the well, hoping to attract the shadow. This had no effect, and so Krasha tied his rope around Nigel and lowered him into the well, with Cail helping to anchor him. The shadow glided over to Nigel to try and drain him, but he used his Ghost Step ability to vanish and the shadow was unable to penetrate his mage armour anyway.
Krasha yanked Nigel up and out of harm's way and they prepared to hit the shadow as soon as it appeared. Instead of coming through it well it appeared through the north wall, but the heroes had anticipated this possibility and Malachi blasted it with a scorching ray while Cail called down the poewr of his god to weaken it. Nigel also attacked it but it dodged out of his way. At this point Azubal, the Prince of Goblins, came down the corridor and wounded Cail, he had been following the heroes in gaseous form ever since they had entered the complex. A short battle ensued and Cail was able to destroy the shadow and force the vampire into gaseous form with his Greater Turning. Nigel and Malachi jumped into the well and swam over to the little ledge in pursuit of the vile little cloud. Then Malachi lifted up the lid and Nigel staked the unconscious vampire and dismembered his body. In the coffin they found some treasure and a short sword of just the right size for Nigel to use, much to his delight. Having slain the undead goblin, the heroes went on to explore the one cave they hadn't visited...
Their next visit was to Sergio the Vizier, to see if he had heard anything about set of plate mail armour, a composite longbow and a masterwork scimitar that might have fallen off the back of a cart. Sergio offered to use his contacts to try and locate these items in exchange for 30% of their value. Nigel reluctantly agreed, then they went and reported the theft to Marshak the Reeve and asked him if he had any suspects. He replied that Red Rock was a town with a shrine to a legendary thief, there were plenty of suspects.
Nigel and Malachi went to the shrine and examined it, tryng to find a secret entrance to the local thieves guild or some such. Nigel left some copper coins at the shrine, and then they staked it out until night fall, but no-one came past.
The next day Tordal stayed in bed, resting and getting his drained strength back. The other heroes met up and Nigel and Malachi introduced Cail to Krasha. They set off on what they hoped would be last expedition to the goblins' lair. Malachi used mage armour on himself and Nigel. The first place they headed for was the stairway, where they were able to determine that the two people they hadleft unconscious there were still alive, although they had both been recently drained of some blood. Next they visited the well, as destroying the vampire's coffin was the first priority.
Nigel threw a rock down into the well, hoping to attract the shadow. This had no effect, and so Krasha tied his rope around Nigel and lowered him into the well, with Cail helping to anchor him. The shadow glided over to Nigel to try and drain him, but he used his Ghost Step ability to vanish and the shadow was unable to penetrate his mage armour anyway.
Krasha yanked Nigel up and out of harm's way and they prepared to hit the shadow as soon as it appeared. Instead of coming through it well it appeared through the north wall, but the heroes had anticipated this possibility and Malachi blasted it with a scorching ray while Cail called down the poewr of his god to weaken it. Nigel also attacked it but it dodged out of his way. At this point Azubal, the Prince of Goblins, came down the corridor and wounded Cail, he had been following the heroes in gaseous form ever since they had entered the complex. A short battle ensued and Cail was able to destroy the shadow and force the vampire into gaseous form with his Greater Turning. Nigel and Malachi jumped into the well and swam over to the little ledge in pursuit of the vile little cloud. Then Malachi lifted up the lid and Nigel staked the unconscious vampire and dismembered his body. In the coffin they found some treasure and a short sword of just the right size for Nigel to use, much to his delight. Having slain the undead goblin, the heroes went on to explore the one cave they hadn't visited...
Session 3 cont.
They also took the goblin's flail, chain shirt and boots and went back up to the passage. Cail realized with disgust that the boots were made from halfling skin and they took them outside to give the boots a decent burial. They they headed upstairs and crossed a rope bridge to a cave with an enormous statue of a batwinged dwarf with tentacles for a beard and two enormous gems for eyes. Being something of a scholar, Malachi was able to identify this as Sodoutym, a dark dwarven god. Krasha cast a detect magic spell and they were intrigued to discover that the gems radiated some kind of transmutation magic. The others waited at the door as Nigel slowly crossed the chamber, checking for traps, and lassooed the statues head. He then climbed up the rope, examining the statue very carefully all the way. He looked inside it's mouth and was surpised to discover that the dwarf's epiglottis was in fact a switch of some kind. After considerable discussion with his comrades, he pressed it in with his quarterstaff, expecting the worst, and was surprised when a large secret compartment opened up inside the statue, containing a heavy crossbow, some armour fashioned to look like Sodoutym, a pearl on a chain and some potions. Nigel was able to use the staff to hook and remove the pearl and the crossbow (as he was loath to put his hands in the mouth for fear they would be bitten off) and hand them down to Krasha. But eventually he had to do this in order to remove the potions and the armour, piece by piece. Once he was certain the compartment was clear, the others moved back once more and he began to pry loose one of the eyes. Both gemstones immediately turned into a flock of bats and began to swarm all over him. Nigel grabbed the rope and slid down the statue, with the bats following him down. He ran straight for the exit and was relieved that they didn't follow him. Then Malachi went in and was able to disperse the swarm with a couple of well-placed uses of burning hands, taking only a small amount of wounding in the process.
Before they left, the heroes went around cutting all the rope bridges in order to discourage future inabitants of the caves.
The heroes then retrieved the last captives and returned to Red Rock.
The next day the heroes met up again. After Malachi maigcally identified the pearl, which was a periapt of wisdom, the goblin's flail, which was enchanted to kill elves, and the crossbow, which could fire magic flaming bolts, Nigel experimented with sips of the potions and was able to pick them as being potions of invisiblity. He kept one and gave one to Cail in case he needed to heal his comrades in battle without being seen. They debated selling the flail as Nigel was the only one small enough to use it and didn't really know how, but in the end it was decided that it might be useful against, say, drow and so Krasha should hang on to it for him as Nigel needed to be as lightly encumbered as possible for some of his ninja abilities to work.
With all that out of the way, it was agreed that Malachi and Cail would spend the day scribing scrolls and Nigel and Krasha would take care of various business. They went to the keep and visited Sodersund the Regent who congratulated them on a job well done and paid them the last of their reward money. He asked for the loaned magic weapons back and Krasha gave him the longsword and went back to the inn to get the dagger from Cail who had been carrying it.
Sodersund then mentioned to the heroes that while exploring the spires they should keep an eye out for duplicates of the Crown, Rod and Sword of Red Rock and that he would pay them 2,000 gp if they could locate these for him. Nigel and Krasha agreed warily. As they were inside the keep they went to pay a visit to Lady Aborn, the Baron's sister. The guards at the gate were quite unfriendly, but some quick talking on the part of Krasha [nat 20 on Diplomacy check] convinced one to send a servant to see if Lady Aborn wanted to talk to two adventurers about a key they thought she might want.
Lady Aborn summoned them inside and Nigel and Krasha were impressed by her presence and beauty. They told her about the key they had found and how the goblin vampire thought she had sent them. Lady Aborn said that she had no idea what the creature was talking about, it must have been driven mad by its condition. As far as the heroes could figure out, she was telling the truth so they left it at that and headed over to see if Sergio had managed to recover their goods.
The Vizier had indeed managed to track down the items, but demanded his 800 gold before he woul return them. Nigel had the bright idea of offering the suit of armour they had found inside the statue as a trade for what had been stolen from them and Sergio agreed. This was lucky as it meant that Cail was able to wear the normal heavy plate, and they gave the mighty composite longbow to Tordal, who was still back at the inn resting up.
Nigel and Krasha spent the rest of the afternoon getting drunk at the tavern, and then the next day Cail, Krasha, Malachi and Nigel set out for to explore the eastern side of the waterfall. They tossed a coin to decide where to go first, and it came up heads, so they headed for the abandoned dwarven caves...
Before they left, the heroes went around cutting all the rope bridges in order to discourage future inabitants of the caves.
The heroes then retrieved the last captives and returned to Red Rock.
The next day the heroes met up again. After Malachi maigcally identified the pearl, which was a periapt of wisdom, the goblin's flail, which was enchanted to kill elves, and the crossbow, which could fire magic flaming bolts, Nigel experimented with sips of the potions and was able to pick them as being potions of invisiblity. He kept one and gave one to Cail in case he needed to heal his comrades in battle without being seen. They debated selling the flail as Nigel was the only one small enough to use it and didn't really know how, but in the end it was decided that it might be useful against, say, drow and so Krasha should hang on to it for him as Nigel needed to be as lightly encumbered as possible for some of his ninja abilities to work.
With all that out of the way, it was agreed that Malachi and Cail would spend the day scribing scrolls and Nigel and Krasha would take care of various business. They went to the keep and visited Sodersund the Regent who congratulated them on a job well done and paid them the last of their reward money. He asked for the loaned magic weapons back and Krasha gave him the longsword and went back to the inn to get the dagger from Cail who had been carrying it.
Sodersund then mentioned to the heroes that while exploring the spires they should keep an eye out for duplicates of the Crown, Rod and Sword of Red Rock and that he would pay them 2,000 gp if they could locate these for him. Nigel and Krasha agreed warily. As they were inside the keep they went to pay a visit to Lady Aborn, the Baron's sister. The guards at the gate were quite unfriendly, but some quick talking on the part of Krasha [nat 20 on Diplomacy check] convinced one to send a servant to see if Lady Aborn wanted to talk to two adventurers about a key they thought she might want.
Lady Aborn summoned them inside and Nigel and Krasha were impressed by her presence and beauty. They told her about the key they had found and how the goblin vampire thought she had sent them. Lady Aborn said that she had no idea what the creature was talking about, it must have been driven mad by its condition. As far as the heroes could figure out, she was telling the truth so they left it at that and headed over to see if Sergio had managed to recover their goods.
The Vizier had indeed managed to track down the items, but demanded his 800 gold before he woul return them. Nigel had the bright idea of offering the suit of armour they had found inside the statue as a trade for what had been stolen from them and Sergio agreed. This was lucky as it meant that Cail was able to wear the normal heavy plate, and they gave the mighty composite longbow to Tordal, who was still back at the inn resting up.
Nigel and Krasha spent the rest of the afternoon getting drunk at the tavern, and then the next day Cail, Krasha, Malachi and Nigel set out for to explore the eastern side of the waterfall. They tossed a coin to decide where to go first, and it came up heads, so they headed for the abandoned dwarven caves...
Session 3 cont.
As they crossed the old stone bridge of the River Saedre, the heroes were attacked by a couple of goblins on dire bats, but the heroes were able to kill the goblins before they even got close. They then followed the riverbank up towards the winding stairway. Malachi spotted some men hiding in the woods and alerted his fellows. They all had their bows out and when the wild-eyed men clad in hide armour and furs charged them they were able to start shooting at them. Unfortunately, no casulaties were sustained and the wildmen closed for battle. The heroes were able to defeat all of the savages except for one who ran off. However with barbarian sped Krasha was easily able to overtake him. The badly wounded savage jumped into the river in order to escape and was soon swept away as he was still wearing his armour. Cail cast a spell to revive one of the savages so they could interrogate him, but found that he only spoke a strange tongue that none of them recognized. They stripped him of his armour and threw him in the river, and then destroyed all the others' weapons and armour.
At length, they came to the bottom of the long staircase that led up into the mountain. On the right hand side were statues of dwarven heroes, on the left the river was far below. Nigel led the way as usual, and was attacked by a spear thrust through a hole in the wall. Malachi moved up to the corner and Krasha joined him. A bugbear came skidding around the corner and attacked Krasha. Nigel Ghost Stepped past the bugbear and attacked him from behind. The battle was brief and the outcome never really in doubt. On the bugbear corpse the heroes found a rusty iron key, and they investigated the gatehouse that the bugbear had been lurking in, finding a few coins and a silver chalice. As they continued on up the staircase, more goblins on bats came flying over the waterfalls but again the heroes were able to kill them before they even got close. When they reached the top of the stairs, they found a pair of enormous gates which were unlocked by the bugbear's key. Inside was a large hall with columns where the bottoms were carved into the images of dwarven heroes, each marked with a rune. There was also a pedestal which had three small keyholes, each next to a small ruby, emerald or sapphire. Nigel got out the key he had taken from the vampire, it had a ruby embedded in it. Being the learned scholar that he was, Malachi was able to identify who all the dwarves were and read the dwarven runes.
There was a stairway leading further into the bowels of the mountian, but at this point the heroes decided it would be best to have a dwarf along, so they headed back to town as it seemed like a good idea to wait until Tordal was ready to rejoin them once more.
At length, they came to the bottom of the long staircase that led up into the mountain. On the right hand side were statues of dwarven heroes, on the left the river was far below. Nigel led the way as usual, and was attacked by a spear thrust through a hole in the wall. Malachi moved up to the corner and Krasha joined him. A bugbear came skidding around the corner and attacked Krasha. Nigel Ghost Stepped past the bugbear and attacked him from behind. The battle was brief and the outcome never really in doubt. On the bugbear corpse the heroes found a rusty iron key, and they investigated the gatehouse that the bugbear had been lurking in, finding a few coins and a silver chalice. As they continued on up the staircase, more goblins on bats came flying over the waterfalls but again the heroes were able to kill them before they even got close. When they reached the top of the stairs, they found a pair of enormous gates which were unlocked by the bugbear's key. Inside was a large hall with columns where the bottoms were carved into the images of dwarven heroes, each marked with a rune. There was also a pedestal which had three small keyholes, each next to a small ruby, emerald or sapphire. Nigel got out the key he had taken from the vampire, it had a ruby embedded in it. Being the learned scholar that he was, Malachi was able to identify who all the dwarves were and read the dwarven runes.
There was a stairway leading further into the bowels of the mountian, but at this point the heroes decided it would be best to have a dwarf along, so they headed back to town as it seemed like a good idea to wait until Tordal was ready to rejoin them once more.
Session 4
That night, Father Motter had a seizure of some kind, and was unable to carry out his Priestly duties. As the only other cleric of Pelor in town, Cail decided he had to take over the running of the temple until Father Motter was feeling better. He did move Tordal into the temple, in the hope that he would be able to heal his drained strength faster.
So Nigel, Krasha and Malachi set off the next morning and decided to investigate the valley of the cannibals. They travelled through the Wilds with a strange feeling that they were being watched, but even when Malachi sent his familiar Loki up to scout around, they couldn't find any evidence of observers.
They were creeped out to find lots of tiny dolls hanging from the trees as they approached the cannibal's village.
Malachi cast mage armour on himself and Nigel, who went first down the ditch that led into the village, attempting to sneak around. They could hear drumbeats and chanting coming from inside. Suddenly 6 wild men hidden in blinds started throwing axes at him so he jumped up to where some of them were and turned invisible. The warriors came running towards him, trying to figure out where he was and he was able to kill one of them. Meanwhile Krasha had used his great speed to close the distance between them and Malachi attacked from a distance with his bow.
Then when Malachi got in closer, he used burning hands to kill two of the savages and wound another, while Krasha and Nigel finished the other three off between them. They hid the bodies in the blind and ventured further in.
Nigel went ahead to investigate the huts, and saw 10 more savages dancing around a massive bonfire while a dozen young women played drums and chanted. Human and elf corpses were being spit-roasted on the bonfire. This was in front of a flight of stairs with two zombies at the top. The cannibals seemed to be engrossed in what they were doing and didn't notice the heroes, who took up positions behind the huts and started attacking them with ranged weapons. The young woman fled out through the ditch as the cannibals engaged the heroes, who were quickly surrounded but slew their foes after a brief but vicious battle. Next they attacked the zombies, who came down the stairs to fight them. Krasha tried to use his turning to damage them but wasn't very successful. Malachi did the most damage by attacking them with his magic longsword, and they eventually overcame the horrible undead.
Then they went up the stairs to a mound with a long hall and several small burial mounds. Nigel had a quick look inside one of the mounds and found some gold coins, but when the heroes heard laughter and shrieks from inside the hall they decided to investigate. Nigel tried to open the door and it took some effort. Inside were seven more cannibal types, sitting at a table being served some kind of meat by shackled wenches. They had taken up their weapons when they noticed Nigel's difficulty opening the door. Nigel fired an arrow at one, dopped his bow, turned invisible and ducked inside, to a corner. The wenches fled out into the village, and Krasha moved forward to cover their exit. The cannibals went into a rage and surrounded Krasha. Malachi stayed outside, firing spells into the combat. Nigel was fighting 3 of the barbarians, and tumbled under the table. The savages started trying to smash up the table to get to Nigel. One of the savages hit Krasha and incapacitated him, then another struck home and slew him outright!
Malachi ran away at this point as he was worried that Nigel would not survive either to mount a rescue mission. Nigel moved around under the table and used his prestidigitation to push open a door at the end of the room. It was a passage leading deeper into the mountain and the floor was covered in skulls.
At this point he too was being surrounded by barbarians, who had not yet been able to hit him under the table, so he turned invisible again and ran out. As he hurdled the body of his fallen comrade, he resolved to try and get him brought back to life. By the time the enraged barbarians realized he wasn't under the table anymore he had escaped.
Nigel and Malachi made it back to Red Rock safely. They shuddered to think about what was going to happen to their friends body though...
So Nigel, Krasha and Malachi set off the next morning and decided to investigate the valley of the cannibals. They travelled through the Wilds with a strange feeling that they were being watched, but even when Malachi sent his familiar Loki up to scout around, they couldn't find any evidence of observers.
They were creeped out to find lots of tiny dolls hanging from the trees as they approached the cannibal's village.
Malachi cast mage armour on himself and Nigel, who went first down the ditch that led into the village, attempting to sneak around. They could hear drumbeats and chanting coming from inside. Suddenly 6 wild men hidden in blinds started throwing axes at him so he jumped up to where some of them were and turned invisible. The warriors came running towards him, trying to figure out where he was and he was able to kill one of them. Meanwhile Krasha had used his great speed to close the distance between them and Malachi attacked from a distance with his bow.
Then when Malachi got in closer, he used burning hands to kill two of the savages and wound another, while Krasha and Nigel finished the other three off between them. They hid the bodies in the blind and ventured further in.
Nigel went ahead to investigate the huts, and saw 10 more savages dancing around a massive bonfire while a dozen young women played drums and chanted. Human and elf corpses were being spit-roasted on the bonfire. This was in front of a flight of stairs with two zombies at the top. The cannibals seemed to be engrossed in what they were doing and didn't notice the heroes, who took up positions behind the huts and started attacking them with ranged weapons. The young woman fled out through the ditch as the cannibals engaged the heroes, who were quickly surrounded but slew their foes after a brief but vicious battle. Next they attacked the zombies, who came down the stairs to fight them. Krasha tried to use his turning to damage them but wasn't very successful. Malachi did the most damage by attacking them with his magic longsword, and they eventually overcame the horrible undead.
Then they went up the stairs to a mound with a long hall and several small burial mounds. Nigel had a quick look inside one of the mounds and found some gold coins, but when the heroes heard laughter and shrieks from inside the hall they decided to investigate. Nigel tried to open the door and it took some effort. Inside were seven more cannibal types, sitting at a table being served some kind of meat by shackled wenches. They had taken up their weapons when they noticed Nigel's difficulty opening the door. Nigel fired an arrow at one, dopped his bow, turned invisible and ducked inside, to a corner. The wenches fled out into the village, and Krasha moved forward to cover their exit. The cannibals went into a rage and surrounded Krasha. Malachi stayed outside, firing spells into the combat. Nigel was fighting 3 of the barbarians, and tumbled under the table. The savages started trying to smash up the table to get to Nigel. One of the savages hit Krasha and incapacitated him, then another struck home and slew him outright!
Malachi ran away at this point as he was worried that Nigel would not survive either to mount a rescue mission. Nigel moved around under the table and used his prestidigitation to push open a door at the end of the room. It was a passage leading deeper into the mountain and the floor was covered in skulls.
At this point he too was being surrounded by barbarians, who had not yet been able to hit him under the table, so he turned invisible again and ran out. As he hurdled the body of his fallen comrade, he resolved to try and get him brought back to life. By the time the enraged barbarians realized he wasn't under the table anymore he had escaped.
Nigel and Malachi made it back to Red Rock safely. They shuddered to think about what was going to happen to their friends body though...
Session 4 continued.
Nigel went to see Sergio the Vizier and sold him his defending short sword as he needed some money to buy healing potions, and hopefully to raise Krasha. The Vizier offered him less than the going rate but Nigel didn't really have time to fuss over such things. Time was of the essence, so the elf and the gnome rounded up Cail and Tordal, who had recovered from his ordeal with the shadow, and returned the next day to try and retrieve some part of their friend Krasha in order to have him reincarnated. [Nigel and Malachi went up to level 5. Tordal was still 3rd level and Cail still 2nd.] They snuck back into the village and found 5 of the savages dancing around the bonfire, with several new corpses being roasted. Malachi hit them with his new spell, fireball and was able to wipe them all out in one go! Unfortunately, they were unable to determine if any of the bodies belonged to their ally. Next they searched through the huts and found Krasha's severed head. Todal put this in his sack. They also saw a large corral in the nortwest of the compound with more than 20 wild horses there.
Next they went and started searching through the burial mounds, finding a few trinkets and a couple of ghouls, which they were able to make short work of.
Then they went through the hall to enter the cave of skulls. The entry door had a symbol of Nerull, the god of slaughter on it. Inside the cave had a whole lot more of the voodoo dolls hanging down from the ceiling and a strange looking man sitting on a throne between two piles of skulls, wearing three dolls around his neck. He said threatened to eat them in a strange, croaky voice. Tordal charged in to attack him, only to be attacked by two of the dolls.
Malachi hit the back of the cave with a fireball, destroying 4 of the dolls haning from the ceiling but the witchdoctor was almost totally unscathed. One of the dolls he wore around his neck was burnt to a crisp though.
Nigel and Tordal moved forward to engage him in melee, with only Nigel hitting him initially. He cast a spell and used it to inflict wounds on Nigel, rendering him unconscious. Cail however, moved in to heal Nigel. (The witchdoctor was privately gutted that he couldn't cast death knell on the gnome.) The witchdoctor rubbed some of the blood from his wound on anotherof his dolls, but Malachi hit him with scorching ray again burning it to a crisp. The witchdoctor was able to inflict some moderate wounds on Tordal and the heroes and moved back momentarily to regroup. The witchdoctor used the time to smear his last doll with blood. Malachi was down to hitting the evil cleric with his cantrips. Nigel moved in and succesfully feinted, then slew the witchdoctor with his sudden strike. The heroes found all of Krasha's gear stashed behind one of the piles of skeletons and took the cleric's mithral chain mail which Cail detected as magical as well. Then they hurried back to Red Rock and set out for the next village, Witch Cross, arriving after a couple of days travel. Witch Cross was home to Adranna the Young, the druid who had reincarnated Krasha the last time he had been slain. Once the heroes stumped up the readies she brought him back to life as a human, disappointing Malachi, who had been hoping he would get a troglodyte body.
Next they went and started searching through the burial mounds, finding a few trinkets and a couple of ghouls, which they were able to make short work of.
Then they went through the hall to enter the cave of skulls. The entry door had a symbol of Nerull, the god of slaughter on it. Inside the cave had a whole lot more of the voodoo dolls hanging down from the ceiling and a strange looking man sitting on a throne between two piles of skulls, wearing three dolls around his neck. He said threatened to eat them in a strange, croaky voice. Tordal charged in to attack him, only to be attacked by two of the dolls.
Malachi hit the back of the cave with a fireball, destroying 4 of the dolls haning from the ceiling but the witchdoctor was almost totally unscathed. One of the dolls he wore around his neck was burnt to a crisp though.
Nigel and Tordal moved forward to engage him in melee, with only Nigel hitting him initially. He cast a spell and used it to inflict wounds on Nigel, rendering him unconscious. Cail however, moved in to heal Nigel. (The witchdoctor was privately gutted that he couldn't cast death knell on the gnome.) The witchdoctor rubbed some of the blood from his wound on anotherof his dolls, but Malachi hit him with scorching ray again burning it to a crisp. The witchdoctor was able to inflict some moderate wounds on Tordal and the heroes and moved back momentarily to regroup. The witchdoctor used the time to smear his last doll with blood. Malachi was down to hitting the evil cleric with his cantrips. Nigel moved in and succesfully feinted, then slew the witchdoctor with his sudden strike. The heroes found all of Krasha's gear stashed behind one of the piles of skeletons and took the cleric's mithral chain mail which Cail detected as magical as well. Then they hurried back to Red Rock and set out for the next village, Witch Cross, arriving after a couple of days travel. Witch Cross was home to Adranna the Young, the druid who had reincarnated Krasha the last time he had been slain. Once the heroes stumped up the readies she brought him back to life as a human, disappointing Malachi, who had been hoping he would get a troglodyte body.
Session 4 continued.
Nigel, always looking to make a buck, asked around about who might be in need of some horses, and was told to talk to Captain Argun, leader of the Outriders, a team of cavalry responsible for protecting the ordinary folk of Red Rock who lived outside the stockade. Captain Argun sounded intrigued, but his interest waned when he was told it would require a trip to the Wilds. Nigel, however, was quite persuasive and so the heroes with Captain Argun and a couple of the Outriders set off for the now deserted cannibal village.
One look at the horses told Captain Argun that the animals were too wild to be easily tamed and not worth his time or effort so he and his men beat a hasty retreat back to Red Rock. In the end Nigel let the horses go as they were obviously too wild to be of any use and they stampeded out of the village, away into the wilds.
One look at the horses told Captain Argun that the animals were too wild to be easily tamed and not worth his time or effort so he and his men beat a hasty retreat back to Red Rock. In the end Nigel let the horses go as they were obviously too wild to be of any use and they stampeded out of the village, away into the wilds.
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Save Vs. Death Ray
- Hard-Bitten Adventurer
- Posts: 148
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2005 6:57 pm
- Location: Southport, World of Blackmoor
Re: Session 4 continued.
Jezza wrote:Once the heroes stumped up the readies she brought him back to life as a human, disappointing Malachi, who had been hoping he would get a troglodyte body.
Session Five
While Tordal and Nigel had gone to Witch Cross to get Krasha reincarnated, Cail [who went up to level 3 after last session] had been brewing healing potions and Malachi was creating scrolls of mage armour. After Adranna the young brought Krasha back, they headed for Red Rock. Tordal couldn't keep up with them as Krasha is very fleet of foot and Nigel has a riding dog and so it was agreed that they would go on ahead as the stubborn dwarf is afraid of riding [this isn't me making up an excuse due to Tordal's players not being available this session, he decided it when making up the character].
They got back and Nigel tried to sell used horses to Captain Argun, without any luck.
Tordal still hadn't arrived the next day and Cail was still busy running the Church of Pelor so Malachi, Nigel and Krasha decided to tackle the dwarven ruins.
They ventured into the wilds and after Malachi cast mage armour on Nigel and himself, they started climbing the dwarven staircase up the side of the mountain. At the guardpost halfway up they were attacked by an ogre, but Malachi was able to put it to sleep and Nigel slew it with a coup de grace. 'Before it was a gnoll' commented Malachi, 'now it's an ogre. Let's hope we don't have to come back again or we might have to fight a giant.'
They found a shiny new key on the ogre's body and went up to the Foehammer gates, which had had a new lock installed. They used the key and went inside. From the room with the statues they went down some stairs and descended down a dwarven lift. As they passed down the shaft Malachi spotted a ssafe in the wall. They didn't react quickly enough to open it but when they got to the bottom, he cast spider climb on Nigel who climed up and cracked the safe. Inside they found some coins, some crossbow bolts and a wand.
Next they came to an 4-way intersection with one passage caved in and another a dead end. Malachi sent Loki out to scout the room they could see to the north and reported in Draconic that he had seen some men there and they taken up positions when they saw him. The heroes thought the ruins were infested with undead and wondered what kind of creatures they could be.
Meanwhile Nigel had discovered a secret door in the dead end and they passed through it, being attacked by some dwarf skeletons which Krasha was able to destroy with his turning. They followed the corridor which had a small stream going down it and came to another shaft with the lift stuck about halfway down. Nigel's spider climb was still in effect so he went down the shaft and out into a large hall with dwarven runes on the floor and a golden anvil with a silver hammer floating above it. He went back up and aided his allies in climbing down the lift ropes - they avoided using the elevator itself as they felt it looked too unstable.
Nigel started walking down the hall, and the warhammer flew to attack him. By going into defensive mode he was able to avoid any of its attacks.
Meanwhile Malachi sent Loki out to examine the runes on the floor and call them out to him. Krasha went down to the end of the hall, which had a door halfway along and one at the end, to see if he could find a awy of deactivating the hammer. There didn't seem to be anything to do, so he went over to the door. Should he go through?
They got back and Nigel tried to sell used horses to Captain Argun, without any luck.
Tordal still hadn't arrived the next day and Cail was still busy running the Church of Pelor so Malachi, Nigel and Krasha decided to tackle the dwarven ruins.
They ventured into the wilds and after Malachi cast mage armour on Nigel and himself, they started climbing the dwarven staircase up the side of the mountain. At the guardpost halfway up they were attacked by an ogre, but Malachi was able to put it to sleep and Nigel slew it with a coup de grace. 'Before it was a gnoll' commented Malachi, 'now it's an ogre. Let's hope we don't have to come back again or we might have to fight a giant.'
They found a shiny new key on the ogre's body and went up to the Foehammer gates, which had had a new lock installed. They used the key and went inside. From the room with the statues they went down some stairs and descended down a dwarven lift. As they passed down the shaft Malachi spotted a ssafe in the wall. They didn't react quickly enough to open it but when they got to the bottom, he cast spider climb on Nigel who climed up and cracked the safe. Inside they found some coins, some crossbow bolts and a wand.
Next they came to an 4-way intersection with one passage caved in and another a dead end. Malachi sent Loki out to scout the room they could see to the north and reported in Draconic that he had seen some men there and they taken up positions when they saw him. The heroes thought the ruins were infested with undead and wondered what kind of creatures they could be.
Meanwhile Nigel had discovered a secret door in the dead end and they passed through it, being attacked by some dwarf skeletons which Krasha was able to destroy with his turning. They followed the corridor which had a small stream going down it and came to another shaft with the lift stuck about halfway down. Nigel's spider climb was still in effect so he went down the shaft and out into a large hall with dwarven runes on the floor and a golden anvil with a silver hammer floating above it. He went back up and aided his allies in climbing down the lift ropes - they avoided using the elevator itself as they felt it looked too unstable.
Nigel started walking down the hall, and the warhammer flew to attack him. By going into defensive mode he was able to avoid any of its attacks.
Meanwhile Malachi sent Loki out to examine the runes on the floor and call them out to him. Krasha went down to the end of the hall, which had a door halfway along and one at the end, to see if he could find a awy of deactivating the hammer. There didn't seem to be anything to do, so he went over to the door. Should he go through?
Session Five continued.
Fortunately, Krasha remembered that the first time he had died had been a result of going off by himself after Goren the goblin, who was a deft shot with the bow. So he decided to wait.
Meanwhile, Malachi was calling out the names of the dwarven heroes depicted in the statue room and Nigel had withdrawn behind the first rune, repeating the names after Malachi so the hammer left him alone and went after Krasha. Krasha was able to avoid the hammer and get back down to the end of the hall they had come in by. After he named all the heroes the hammer went back to the anvil. The heroes went to examine the first door. Nigel opened it a crack and looked through to see a forge with a small salamander inside. It was working the forge and moving around the room, ignoring him so he fired his bow at it but missed. After that it retreated around the corner where he couldn't hit it. He opened the door but spotted a strange sigil marked on the floor. Malachi identified it as preventing the creature from leaving, an effect that would be broken if one of them crossed the threshold. They called out to the creature in all the languages they knew, but it didn't reply.
So they decided to check out the other room. It was a large area with 6 pedestals, on them were a shired, a large, broken fang, an urgrosh, a crown, a tablet, and a large, cracked egg. Nigel went in to look for traps when a medium sized white dragon flew from around the corner and breathed cold on him, in a cone that was also big enough to affect the other two.
Nigel turned invisble and went round the other side of the creature to attack, but he failed to hit it. Krasha went through the door and down to the end of the room as he knew it was important to stay as spread out as possible.
The dragon focussed all it's attacks on Nigel and rendered him unconscious. Malachi cast a fireball which hurt the creature somewhat, being vulnerable to fire.
It flew down to attack Krasha, missed him and flew away. Malachi withdrew further into the large hall with the runes and burnt the creature with a scorching ray. It flew after him as he was the only one that had hurt it, provoking an attack from the magic hammer.
Krasha rushed over to help the dying Nigel by giving him a healing potion.
The dragon attacked the hammer but was unable to affect it and Malachi hit it with another scorching ray. The dragon turned its attention to Malachi as the hammer was no more than a nuisance, but it was only able to wound him slightly, and then he slew it with burning hands.
Krasha cast detect magic, and discovered that both the urgrosh and the crown were magical. Malachi was able to identify the crown as Stonefriend, which helps the wearer to influence dwarves, gnomes, halflings and earth elementals, enables them to read and speak dwarven, and gives them a slight magical armour effect.
Nigel noticed something odd about the tablet, and Malachi was able to decode it - it was a treasure map!
After having checked the exit from the room, which was caved in, the heroes decided to camp overnight and set about escaping in the morning, for the secret door they had come through had no way of opening from the side they were on.
Meanwhile, Malachi was calling out the names of the dwarven heroes depicted in the statue room and Nigel had withdrawn behind the first rune, repeating the names after Malachi so the hammer left him alone and went after Krasha. Krasha was able to avoid the hammer and get back down to the end of the hall they had come in by. After he named all the heroes the hammer went back to the anvil. The heroes went to examine the first door. Nigel opened it a crack and looked through to see a forge with a small salamander inside. It was working the forge and moving around the room, ignoring him so he fired his bow at it but missed. After that it retreated around the corner where he couldn't hit it. He opened the door but spotted a strange sigil marked on the floor. Malachi identified it as preventing the creature from leaving, an effect that would be broken if one of them crossed the threshold. They called out to the creature in all the languages they knew, but it didn't reply.
So they decided to check out the other room. It was a large area with 6 pedestals, on them were a shired, a large, broken fang, an urgrosh, a crown, a tablet, and a large, cracked egg. Nigel went in to look for traps when a medium sized white dragon flew from around the corner and breathed cold on him, in a cone that was also big enough to affect the other two.
Nigel turned invisble and went round the other side of the creature to attack, but he failed to hit it. Krasha went through the door and down to the end of the room as he knew it was important to stay as spread out as possible.
The dragon focussed all it's attacks on Nigel and rendered him unconscious. Malachi cast a fireball which hurt the creature somewhat, being vulnerable to fire.
It flew down to attack Krasha, missed him and flew away. Malachi withdrew further into the large hall with the runes and burnt the creature with a scorching ray. It flew after him as he was the only one that had hurt it, provoking an attack from the magic hammer.
Krasha rushed over to help the dying Nigel by giving him a healing potion.
The dragon attacked the hammer but was unable to affect it and Malachi hit it with another scorching ray. The dragon turned its attention to Malachi as the hammer was no more than a nuisance, but it was only able to wound him slightly, and then he slew it with burning hands.
Krasha cast detect magic, and discovered that both the urgrosh and the crown were magical. Malachi was able to identify the crown as Stonefriend, which helps the wearer to influence dwarves, gnomes, halflings and earth elementals, enables them to read and speak dwarven, and gives them a slight magical armour effect.
Nigel noticed something odd about the tablet, and Malachi was able to decode it - it was a treasure map!
After having checked the exit from the room, which was caved in, the heroes decided to camp overnight and set about escaping in the morning, for the secret door they had come through had no way of opening from the side they were on.
Session 5 continued
Here you go, Ogrepuppy...
The next morning, refreshed and revitalized, the heroes went back up to the secret door. Malachi cast spider climb on all of them to enable them to scale the lift shaft. By co-operating, all three of them were able to open the secret door. With the spells still in effect, they headed along the corridor to where Loki had seen some humans. They assumed these were undead and charged out to attack from above. The battle was brief and bloody., the rogues fired at them with their bows but were soon taken out. The heroes then crept along to the next room and saw some warriors practicing fighting against each other. Nigel went and got their attention and drew them into a
fireball ambush. Those that didn't succumb to the elvish flame were finished off by Krasha and Nigel between them.
In the next room Nigel scouting ahead found an elf and a half-orc standing over a table, along with a wolf. They spotted him and he ran back around the corner, expecting an attack. Instead they smelt smoke. Then a flaming sphere came around the corner and up the stairs. They went back around to see that the inhabitants of the room had set fire to a whole lot of papers, and battle was joined. The flaming sphere caused a lot of trouble but eventually Krasha was able to slay the wolf and the elf, at which point the Half-orc, Kos surrenedered. They interrogated him and he claimed to be a freedom fighter, trying to overthrow the evil Baron of Red Rock. Just for a second or two the heroes wondered if they had done something very stupid... but then Krasha was able to see through the fighter's bluff. They took Kos' claim that he was leader of the coup plotters at face value, though. Most of the room had been destroyed by fire, but in a little coffer on top of a shelf, they were ale to find the third key, much to their delight.
The next morning, refreshed and revitalized, the heroes went back up to the secret door. Malachi cast spider climb on all of them to enable them to scale the lift shaft. By co-operating, all three of them were able to open the secret door. With the spells still in effect, they headed along the corridor to where Loki had seen some humans. They assumed these were undead and charged out to attack from above. The battle was brief and bloody., the rogues fired at them with their bows but were soon taken out. The heroes then crept along to the next room and saw some warriors practicing fighting against each other. Nigel went and got their attention and drew them into a
fireball ambush. Those that didn't succumb to the elvish flame were finished off by Krasha and Nigel between them.
In the next room Nigel scouting ahead found an elf and a half-orc standing over a table, along with a wolf. They spotted him and he ran back around the corner, expecting an attack. Instead they smelt smoke. Then a flaming sphere came around the corner and up the stairs. They went back around to see that the inhabitants of the room had set fire to a whole lot of papers, and battle was joined. The flaming sphere caused a lot of trouble but eventually Krasha was able to slay the wolf and the elf, at which point the Half-orc, Kos surrenedered. They interrogated him and he claimed to be a freedom fighter, trying to overthrow the evil Baron of Red Rock. Just for a second or two the heroes wondered if they had done something very stupid... but then Krasha was able to see through the fighter's bluff. They took Kos' claim that he was leader of the coup plotters at face value, though. Most of the room had been destroyed by fire, but in a little coffer on top of a shelf, they were ale to find the third key, much to their delight.