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Everyone is back in Gendolrin. Rexel has done had enough of ogres, giants
and non-existent hippogriffs, and left, but Proziac, a shifty little guy
(except he's big) has joined up with the party from the forest, to go on
one of his unwelcome visits to the keep. The winter is setting in, and the
next event of importance in the area of the four keeps is the next
half-yearly meeting, about 5 months off at this point. Three months of
winter pass.
On the first day of the third month, a rider comes into Gendolrin,
announcing that a delegation from Celsus' folk will be heading up to
Gendolrin in the next couple of days. Celsus, it seems, has a daughter,
who wants to rustle herself up a hippogriff. Kerapitis, a mountaineer and
hippogriff buff at Gendolrin is contacted about the possibility of finding
a baby hippogriff or hippogriff egg for Celsus' daughter. A few days
later, a group of four arrive. Kerapitis is to escort two of them,
Adrienne (Celsus' daughter) and Leng (her burly protector) into the
mountains to procure a young hippogriff. He doesn't like the idea of the
frail and female Adrienne traipsing into the mountains, but it is
necessary for the prospective owner of the hippogriff to be the one to steal
it, and bond with it.
The party agree to accompany Kerapitis, Adrienne and Leng into the
mountains. They stock up on supplies, this time remembering lanterns, and
a whole pile of other stuff. Proziac goes to town on the 'free' equipment,
but there's only so much he can carry. Laureral supplies Marcus with a
couple of healing potions, to be returned if unused. Proziac and Rodion
carry the potions, but this is changed when Proziac expresses an interest
in drinking the one he is carrying just for the fun of it.
The group of six, Kerapitis, Adrienne, Leng and a mule head off for the
mountains. The group press on for a couple of days. Kerapitis comments
that the snow still seems quite heavy for this time of year, and is
concerned about the possibility of avalanche. Proziac's attempts at
conversation with Celsus' daughter are rebuffed, and she spends about half
her time riding silently on the mule. Gruff keeps the party fed with
'goodberries' when the perishable rations run out, and about four days
after setting out, now well into the mountains, Kerapitis says that he has
spotted as likely a place as any for a hippogriff nest. The party camp on
a broad ledge, with a steep climb up above towards where Kerapitis reckons
the nest is.
In the morning, the task is set upon. Kerapitis climbs up on his
own, securing ropes and spikes to make it easier for the others. He
returns, saying that there is indeed a nest, containing a single
hippogriff egg, about ready to hatch, which is ideal. Adrienne is strapped
to Leng's back, and he and Kerapitis reascend. About a half an hour later
they return, Adrienne carrying a hippogriff egg.
Leng begins to get back into his armour after the climb, and everyone
prepares to set back out for home. Gruff still isn't happy about helping
the daughter of Celsus, and doesn't mind saying so, except when Leng is
looking.
Sequoia spots three full-grown hippogriffs in the distance. Sequoia and
Proziac have shortbows, Marcus a light crossbow. Sequoia and Proziac have
time for two shots, Marcus for one, before the speedy lead hippogriff has
closed within a few feet of the ledge. Sequoia is the only one to hit it,
for 6, and Leng asks Rodion to pass him his heavy crossbow from the mule,
but changes his mind and draws his sword when he realises how quickly it
has closed. The lead hippogriff barges onto the ledge towards Adrienne
(who is cowering behind Leng) and claws Leng as it does. Marcus has no
angle to fire another bolt, and Proziac misses with his two arrow
shots. Sequoia drops her shortbow, draws her two swords, and dashes
towards the hippogriff attacking Leng. Rodion backs up against the ledge,
and tries to winch the heavy crossbow. Leng replies to the hippogriff's
first attack, but is again struck, this time by a vicious bite.
In the next round, Leng kills the hippogriff before Sequoia has a
chance to attack. There are still two more closing at long and short
(probably) bow range respectively. Proziac manages to stick the near one
with an arrow, but it is immediately upon Leng, heading for Adrienne.
Leng takes another raking and a bite, but still doesn't look too
badly off. Marcus' crossbow shot at the far off hippogriff misses, and
Rodion gives up on the heavy crossbow to get Kerapitis' sword from the
mule to pass it to him.
Things don't go too badly in the next round. The hippogriff misses with
both of its claw attacks on Leng, as does he miss with his first swing of
his sword. Sequoia attacks in her groovy two handed ranger style,
longsword in one hand, shortsword in the other, both strike home and the
hippogriff dies.
Adrienne is still scrambling on the ledge, but is no longer really behind
Leng. Proziac gives his sword to Kerapitis and takes the opportunity to
paw/protect her. The last hippogriff turns from heading straight for Leng
towards Adrienne, still holding the egg, and the round ends with it right
upon her. The hippogriff is quicker. Both of its claws sink into Adrienne,
and the egg is dropped, now goo on the side of the cliff. Leng nearly
fumbles the attack he really wanted to hit with, but Marcus manages to
take a chunk of damage off the hippogriff with his sword. Predictably, the
hippogriff takes off clutching Adrienne. Leng drops his sword and jumps
onto it and Marcus again strikes the creature, this time about
half-and-half getting Leng and it.
The burdened hippogriff flaps slowly off away from the ledge. Leng seems
to be wrestling for a dagger, or just trying to hold on. Sequoia fires a
couple of shots at the bundle of people and hippogriff. The hippogriff is
still moving slowly away and Sequoia fires more arrows. The next shot hits
Leng, the next the hippogriff and seems to be enough to start to bring it
downwards. The hippogriff is no longer maintaining height, but still
flying off, and a couple of rounds later, in the distance, it plummets. A
long way. Gruff smiles. Leng _could_ have survived it. Kerapitis is
questioned about the possibility of getting to where it fell. He says no
way. Even if he were certain where they landed, it would be a treacherous
climb, accomplishable only by him, would take a couple of days and he
probably wouldn't make it. Gruff smiles.
The party stow their gear, and set back out for Gendolrin. The next day
passes. Along another ledge, Kerapitis utters 'against the wall'. Everyone
presses against the wall, and a tumble of rocks fall down past the
party. Rodion had nipped quickly against the wall, and got a good look at
the rocks as they tumbled by. One of them seemed not to be a rock, but a
chunk of wood or something too angular. He reports this, and Kerapitis and
Proziac climb up above to see what's up. They ascend and descend safely,
and say that it looks like something just hit the cliff above, out of the
blue, taking a couple of chunks of rock with it. They decide to climb
downwards to where most of the debris seems to have fallen. They both
return, Proziac carrying a large leather bound book with a face on the
cover. Rodion has a look at it, without opening it, and reckons he can
make out an invocation phrase on the cover. The party are still on a ledge
and Kerapitis says that there's a good campsite and larger area about an
hour off, where they can play with the book. The area is reached, and
Marcus and Rodion inspect the book. Marcus casts 'detect magic' and
confirms the book's magical nature, he also reckons there may be a
separate magic on the cover.
Rodion reckons he could read the invocation rune on the cover, but,
perhaps wisely, the others don't want to be around when he is speaking
words from books with grisly faces on the cover. Marcus and Rodion stay in
the rock clearing, and the others clear off aways.
Rodion speaks the words. "Klaatu, Verata.." and the face on the book says,
"Where is my master?". The others come back. The book says it has lost its
master, a Mr. Prophet, and that it can lead the party to him. With nothing
better to do than follow a talking book, the party agree. It takes the
party down the way they were following in any case, before stopping the
party and saying "Now he is to the right." Down a rocky slope to some
forest below.
Proziac and Kerapitis do their climbing thing again, and are soon back on
the ledge with a corpse. "That's him." Says the book. Prophet is decked in
rich robes, and even seems to have all his rings and jewellery after being
left alone with Proziac.
Gruff has a look at him. A 'cure light wounds' would almost certainly
bring him back, one of the healing potions would definitely bring him
back. Gruff pours one of the potions down him. He survives and says "Thank
you, I'm Prophet." He waves his fingers and a bunch of stuff floats up
from the forest below, jewellery and other stuff he must have lost when he
fell.
Prophet was attacked when out on his own hippogriff (or chariot, drawn by
four of them) and fell to his (temporary) death. He is pleased his groovy
spellbook got him found like it was meant to. Prophet is grateful, and
says that he can rewards the party if they head back to Glantor (where
he's from) with him. Sequoia is the only one really reluctant to leave
Gendolrin. Proziac is overjoyed at the prospect of getting out of the
inbred nowheresville. Prophet is asked if he is able to tell what happened
to Leng and Adrienne, and he is able to confirm that they are dead. Gruff
smiles.
Kerapitis and the mule don't want to go to Glantor, but the party
agree. Prophet takes out a whistle and blows no noise. Soon enough, four
hippogriffs arrive drawing a large chariot. Everyone gets in, and the
chariot takes off at great speed. A few hours later the party arrive at
the Cloud City of Glantor. Prophet introduces the party to his apprentice,
Bree, and then rewards the party. Sequoia and Proziac are given a bag of
200 platinum pieces (1000gp) each. Marcus and Rodion are given the
opportunity to learn as many first level spells as they are able. Gruff
has his own ideas for a reward, and gets Prophet to confirm all the stuff
he's been saying about Celsus, as well as asking to be left off somewhere
where boars are at.
Marcus and Rodion choose the spells they are to learn. Rodion learns some
of his specialist illusion spells, as well as a couple of useful
spells. Marcus learns some good offensive spells, as well as the 'armour'
spell, providing the magical protection of hide armour until a person
takes so much damage. Proziac spends his money on hookers, booze and
seeing what healing potions taste like. Sequoia has no use for the
products of a magical city, requiring more mundane items, but does buy a
healing potion, returning it to two in the possession of the party. The
party spend about a week in Glantor. Bree explains the concept of coinage
to Proziac and Sequoia. Bree opts to accompany the party when Prophet is
sending them down to the plains below (for Gruff) which are near his
hometown of Reso.
Marcus, Sequoia, Rodion, Proziac and Bree find themselves in a
horrible dusty plain. Gruff finds himself in a boar friendly, dirt filled
lovely plain, being followed by a little boar (whom he dubs Scruffy). The
party try to work out which way to Reso, which shouldn't be too far
off. It should be to the south, and Proziac declares confidently 'That
way's south' and the party set off, little Scruffy trotting behind
Gruff. A day passes, and in the night, the party are attacked.
Rodion and Bree are on watch, and spot a whole pile of goblins rushing out
of the darkness.
Bree blows on the signal whistle, and turns the lantern up full, kicking
people awake as he passes. Rodion casts 'phantasmal force', and as the
party stand from their slumber and draw weapons, so do three more
fighters. Leng, Kerapitis and another man from Gendolrin (the familiar
being more easy to recreate). Twelve goblins surround the party, and
Marcus is surely the most awake as is struck twice for a total of 5 damage
before he gets himself to his feet.
The goblins are fooled by the illusion, and as many surround to attack the
three illusory fighters as anyone else. Unfortunately, so is Sequoia, who
just can't handle what is going on and stands there, bemused. The goblins
attack.
Two of them fumble and trip badly. Marcus, Bree and Proziac are struck for
goblin sized damage, so is one of Rodion's illusions, and all three
disappear, having served their purpose. Marcus kills the goblin that had
been hitting him, and Proziac dispatches one of the ones that fell. Bree
casts 'burning hands' in an arc in front of him at two of the standing
goblins and the lantern. The two goblins are killed, and so is the
lantern. Marcus, Proziac and Bree are injured when the oil flask explodes,
as is another one of the goblins. The party gain the initiative. The
speedy spells occur first, and Rodion renders a goblin unconscious in a
flash of 'colour spray'. Gruff and Sequoia are hit, and Sequoia finally
snaps out of it. Gruff injures one of the remaining goblins, and Proziac
kills another.
Goblin bravery takes force. Rodion casts 'grease', but the two affected
goblins manage to flee safely. Proziac misses his parting blow, as does
Gruff, breaking his spear, but Sequoia kills one more. Gruff tends to
Bree's injuries, and Proziac pins one of the fallen injured goblins. The
unconscious goblin wakes up and runs off, and Proziac kills the other one
when it tries to scrape him. The fire caused by the lantern is spreading
to the brush and Rodion and Sequoia try to contain it. Gruff heals some of
the injured people, but uses all of his spells in curing for as much as
could have been achieved with one spell. Scruffy wanders back after having
scurried off during the fight, and it is decided that people who need to
meditate do so, even though it will take until late morning. Gruff fails
to recover his spells.
The party press on for a couple of hours, but there is no point in going
too far without healing spells, and Gruff again meditates, this time
finishing just as night is falling. Again he fails to recover his
spells. Scruffy seems to have lost interest in Gruff as a boar cleric, and
wanders off.
The group rest for the night, and Gruff again prays to the boar
spirit for its granted powers. Again he messes up, this time saying that
he thinks the boar spirit has abandoned him. That's what he gets for being
close to his god. It is morning, and Gruff tries to meditate until
afternoon. This time he doesn't fail, there's just nothing to succeed at.
The party press on southwards, reaching a river by afternoon and walking
downriver until nightfall. The night passes, and by morning of the next,
the party reach a castle. It is not Reso, but it's a better introduction
to civilisation for the hicks (all those not Gruff or Bree) than a
city. The party gain admittance for a large fee (what comes from only
carrying platinum) and pay for a room and board. A barge is likely to be
passing the next day, and Sequoia pays a guardsman to raise the flag to
have it stop. Marcus sings, tells a few tales and plays his flute in the
castle Inn, and Proziac gets as drunk as a dwarf on payday. In the morning
the party are bundled onto the barge. A couple of hours later, Proziac
realises his pouch is missing, along with about 50 remaining platinum
pieces. One of the sailors takes offence to Gruff's aroma, and
unceremoniously bathes him with a thrown bucket of water. The barge sails
south for a couple of days, and Rodion provides entertainment in the
evening with a 'phantasmal force' spell, until one of the sailors tries to
grope the illusion and his concentration is broken. The sailors comment
that Rodion could earn some silver with a trick like that, and recommend
an Inn near the docks. Bree (from Reso) thinks otherwise of the suggested
establishment, and the next morning the barge arrives at what looks like a
giant garbage dump. Bree and Gruff explain that this is a city.
Bree gets the party out and away from the docks, and gets them
ushered quickly (for a platinum piece) to a private dining room in a nice
Inn. Inns are expensive and Sequoia (the only one with money) pays for the
party for two nights. It is still early, and variously accompanied by Bree
or Gruff, the party have a look 'round the city. Proziac goes off on his
own, and returns with a bloody nose, and suggests not to ask anyone
directly where the thief's guild is at. There are a few dwarves around
(familiar to Bree, known to the others and unheard of by Gruff).
Gruff, Sequoia and Bree head to a random temple and Gruff enquires about
the loss of his faith. The cleric is confident he could help, for 3000
gold pieces. Next option. There is a noticeboard in the market square, but
contains little of interest. The party are staying at the Levon Inn, quite
a secure (and expensive) establishment. Bree knows of the mage's guild,
but is not a member, having apprenticed individually with Prophet.
Bree and Rodion pay a visit. It is just a house, really, and the wizard at
the door talks to Bree and ignores Rodion. The wizard says he'll have to
contact Prophet to see if Bree is, in fact, finished his apprenticeship,
and says he'll contact him at the Inn.
The party retire to the Inn for the evening. Everyone has a drink in the
common room, and the wizard guy arrives and says that he has talked to
Prophet, who has sorted membership (10gp per annum) for Bree and
Rodion. The Inn is busy enough, adventuring sorts mostly, and Marcus chats
to a somewhat battered group in the corner.
They had just been out in the plains, searching for a magic sword, it
seems. The lost their healer and fighter (the one who wanted the sword) to
ogres (Sequoia expresses an interest in the conversation) and are done
with the venture. Apparently some kick ass fighter died in some mines, his
sword with him. Ogres inhabit the area, and group the party are talking to
got their asses kicked. They offer to sell the map they were following,
showing the location of the mines, and now showing how (probably) to avoid
the ogres. Sequoia doesn't like the city one bit, misses the forests, but
decides that killing ogres in the plains with a chance of getting a magic
sword will do. They are asking 100gp for the map. It's a lot, but it's
Sequoia's money, and she forks it over after Marcus bargains them down to
95gp. Everyone agrees to help, seeing as Sequoia didn't really want to
come here, but Proziac reckons that Sequoia has been bilked.
The party use up their two days stay at the Inn, and buy supplies
and rations prior to setting out. It is perhaps not a wise venture when
Gruff is in essence naught but a fighter who knows some natural healing,
but the party set out.
Two days later, well into the plains, Proziac is checking the map,
deciding that now is the time to circle around to come at the mine
entrance from the back, lest the party be spotted by ogre look-outs.
Two ogres are spotted in the distance. Everyone hits the deck, remaining
quiet, and the ogres wander off. It is definitely time to be circling
around. By nightfall the party have had no success at finding the
entrance, and set camp. The party are set upon by ogres during the
night. The group are up and ready to fight as the first two are upon them,
with two more ogres running in. Sequoia comments that two of the ogres
look mean. They are wielding swords, and one really doesn't want to get
hit by a sword when an ogre is swinging it.
Again the spells are first. Rodion casts 'grease' and one of the armed
ogre's blades flies from his now slippery grasp as he is swinging
it. Sequoia doesn't manage to hit the walking targets (as far as she in
concerned) with either of her attacks, nor does Marcus, with longsword,
nor Proziac, backing off firing arrows. Gruff sticks the remaining armed
ogre with his spear for 7 points of damage, and it attacks him. The sword
scores a deep gash across Gruff's chest, and Gruff takes 22 points of
damage. Gruff is pretty tough, and remains standing and ready to fight,
even after such a blow.
The party attack first next round. Proziac is still pinging two arrows per
round, but misses with the first. Marcus and Sequoia hit their opponents
for 8 and 13(total) respectively. One of the normal ogres is 'colour
sprayed' by Rodion, but merely rendered temporarily blind, not
unconscious, ogres having more mettle than goblins. Sequoia takes a little
damage, and Gruff attacks his opponent. It is really not his week. He
fumbles, breaks his new spear, and spends the next round regaining his
footing. Proziac's second arrow scratches one of the ogres.
Again the party go first. Rodion misses with a thrown dagger, and
Bree casts 'burning hands' but merely singes one of the ogres for
1. Proziac's first bowshot again fails to strike home. Sequoia continues
to pile on the damage with long and short sword, and deals out 11 in
total. Marcus has to contend with the remaining sword bearing ogre, and
hits, scraping it. Sequoia takes 7 more damage, and the blind ogre even
manages a wild swing at Marcus, hitting for 3. Gruff and Bree are both
hit, and both fall, though the way Bree toppled, it is doubtful he is
other than unconscious. Proziac's second bowshot finishes the injured
swordless ogre. Rodion is the only one to take damage in the next round,
and Sequoia arrives at his side in an effort to take the fighting of the
ogre upon herself.
The swinging and missing continues. Sequoia doesn't manage to change the
ogre's focus, but does injure it some more. Marcus is just one hit from
oblivion, but stands to fight another round. Sequoia is again the only
combatant to strike home in the next round, and finishes the ogre that was
attacking Rodion. The blinded ogre looks like he's coming 'round.
Rodion's thrown dagger is the first attack in the next round and lands
square in the chest of the ogre with the sword. It falls. Marcus' attack
on the fallen ogre is wasted, and Sequoia fails to hit the now seeing
ogre, almost fumbling.
The ogre takes off at ogre speed (too fast to follow) clanging a bell that
was on its back and shouting for help (presumably). The party lick their
wounds. Gruff and Bree are down. Marcus and Rodion are real low on
health. Sequoia is okay. Proziac is relatively unhurt.
After a quick decision to stay and tend to the fallen, despite the
probability of ogres returning with the one who ran off, Rodion says he
will create the illusion that their immediate area is vacant grassland
(after confirming with Sequoia that ogres don't smell too good). There are
two healing potions in possession of the party, and Gruff is the person
they need to be put into. If he can be restored, he should be able to tend
to Bree naturally. Proziac doesn't know squat about healing, or pouring a
potion into someone who doesn't seem to be breathing, but he has a go. The
first potion goes into Gruff's mouth, and drools back out. Gruff remains
down. If the potion had some effect (assuming Gruff is more than
unconscious) but not enough, Gruff is dead for good. The second potion is
poured into Gruff. Again, he doesn't seem to swallow any of it. That's all
of the options exhausted. Rodion is still maintaining the illusion of
vacant landscape around the group of four, and is confident he is
maintaining it well, despite the duration.
Four ogres wander into the party's vision, one of them the fled
combatant. They have a scratch 'round, and what looks like one of the big
types orders two of the others, and they wander off. The other two
continue to look around. The illusion is holding. The two continue to
scratch 'round, and come across one of their fallen comrades. One of them
walks forward into the area Rodion was hiding. The illusion ends. The
party attack. Only Marcus takes advantage of the surprise, and plants a
crossbow bolt into one of the ogre's legs.
The two ogres holler, and attack. Rodion reaches for Tharkon's spellbook
in his backpack, to read out 'flaming sphere', losing it for good, but
deemed necessary. Proziac tries to fire point blank at one of the ogres,
but misses, and, as risked, his bow is broken when the ogre strikes him
hard. Sequoia misses with longsword, and strikes with short, just as a
'flaming sphere' appears behind her opponent, finishing it.
The fled and injured ogre remains, but the other two can be heard running
in. Sequoia hits this one twice, and Rodion trundles the 'flaming sphere'
into it, finishing it.
The two charging ogres are about two rounds off, the 'flaming sphere'
about the same from ending. Sequoia and Rodion stand to one side, Marcus
and Proziac to the other. The ogre charging Marcus and Proziac manages to
blunder into the 'flaming sphere', taking 7 damage, just as the spell
ends. Proziac hits with a bowshot (using Sequoia's shortbow) just as the
same ogre closes. Sequoia and Rodion fight the tougher ogre on the other
side. Sequoia deals out 17 damage, and Rodion manages to scrape it with
his remaining dagger. On the other side, Marcus narrowly misses, and
Proziac finishes it with another arrow.
One ogre remains.
Rodion scrapes it again for 2 damage, but Sequoia misses with both of her
swords, again narrowly avoiding fumbling. Marcus' and Proziac's bolt and
arrows miss, and the ogre flees. Proziac and Marcus have time for 2 and 1
more shot at the ogre fleeing into the darkness, but all miss.
Hopefully this guy doesn't have more friends.
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